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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2024

Brookings, Oregon

Curry Health Foundation Awards Grants to local Nonproﬁts BY NATE SCHWARTZ

Curry Coastal Pilot

The Curry Health Foundation (CHF) announced the recipients of their Grant Awards for the 2024 Spring Cycle at an event on June 21, 2024. Hosted at the Curry Public Library. Representatives from 13 local nonproﬁts and 501 (c)(3) organizations, were on hand to receive a total of $26,087 dollars in grant money for local projects. The event began with remarks from CHF President, Jane Doroff, followed by the presentation of the awards by Steven Denney, Chair of the Please see GRANTS, Page 10

NB Mayor Anti-windmills protestors Appointed to sprayed during demonstration South Coast Regional Solutions Advisory Committee

BY NATE SCHWARTZ Curry Coastal Pilot

An anti-windmill protest in Brookings was disrupted by local business owners after they decided to ‘wash their sign’ in the middle of their gathering, spraying multiple protesters with cold water. The group Oregonians Against Wind Turbines have been hosting demonstrations over BOEM’s decision to lease Wind Energy Areas off the coast of Coos Bay and Brookings Oregon. They clashed with the owners of the local boutique A.ell Atelier and Design over Memorial Day weekend. The group had gathered to protest on a public sidewalk along Chetco Boulevard, where they assumed there would be healthy traffic. One of the organizers, Joe Wilson, expressed the typical response from locals. “The response has been 100-1 against the windmills, from people and businesses,” explained Joe, “I don’t know if they we’re against the message or just don’t want people in front of their business, but we weren’t blocking traffic or the entrance to their building” The owners, who have yet to provide comment, took it upon themselves to make the protesters feel unwelcome. On that Memorial Day, one owner threw a protestor’s sign into oncoming traffic on Chetco.

Wilson noticed something was off when they returned for the next protest two weeks later. Large vehicles had been parked for the assumed purpose of blocking vision of the protestors. The boutique also had a power sprayer set up outside. The business owner and her brother claimed to be washing their sign outside, but video taken by the protesters clearly shows that the intention was to indirectly spray the demonstrators, who seemed to take it in stride, and with good humor. This ‘sign washing’ carried on

for almost an hour according to protestors. Their response was to contact the local authorities to see what could be done. Brookings Police Chief, Kelby McCrae, responded with the solution. “The sidewalk is public property and the graveled portion in front of the doors of the business is a roadway. Neither can be blocked and neither is her property. You certainly have your freedom of speech and assembly. From the videos you provided, I did not see you violate any law,” said McCrae in an email to

protestors. However, those same rights do extend to the business owners as well. “Additionally, while annoying, his spraying the sign above you (“indirectly” as you point out) is not in and of itself illegal,” McCrae continued, “Lieutenant Dotson told me that both ofﬁces handled the situation well and I hope that this does not occur again.” Brookings PD had sent a pair of ofﬁcers to diffuse the situation. Apparently, they had Please see SPRAY, Page 3

Ocean Suites Celebrate its Silver Anniversary BY NATE SCHWARTZ Curry Coastal Pilot

A favorite of many Brookings visitors celebrated its silver anniversary this month. The Ocean Suites Motel at 16045 Lower Harbor Road has been renowned for its customer service and cleanliness for 25 years. To celebrate their two and a half decades of award-winning service the Griffith’s, the longtime family owners, hosted a celebration. The anniversary brought together long-time regulars, former employees, and architects that worked on the original building. In fact, the motel’s very first guest, Martha Harrison, returned for another stay. Arriving with her late husband Jim back in 1999, the Ocean Suites showed a level of customer service that is still a part of the motel’s lore. The Harrisons had brought along Jim’s recliner, which helped him sleep better with a bad back. Loren Griffith, and and back down again after the his son Don, helped to carry the stay. recliner up to the second floor, It was this interaction that

INDEX Opinion

inspired Loren and Dee Grifﬁth to include recliners in every suite moving forward. Why?

“Because that’s probably Please see MOTEL, Page 10

Governor Tina Kotek has appointed North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke to the South Coast Regional Solutions Advisory Committee, representing Coos, Curry, and Douglas Counties. Mayor Engelke will serve as the city representative through June 30, 2026. Regional Solutions is a uniquely Oregon approach to community and economic development, fostering collaboration among public, private, and civic sectors to advance projects, solve problems, seize opportunities, and respond to emerging local needs. This program builds on a long tradition of collaborative governance, regional coordination, and creative problem-solving. Mayor Engelke expressed her enthusiasm for the appointment: “Being part of the South Coast Regional Solutions Advisory Committee allows me to further my commitment to our community. I’m excited to collaborate with leaders across sectors to advance projects that will beneﬁt our beautiful South Coast. Our region is unique and full of potential. Together, we can seize opportunities and tackle challenges to create a thriving community.” The Regional Solutions Program, established by legislation in 2014, is divided into 11 Economic Development Districts. Each district has a Governor-appointed Advisory Committee composed of community leaders, including local government ofﬁcials and tribal representatives. These committees set regional priorities and identify resources to support local projects, ensuring effective state government support for local partners. Mayor Engelke was elected to serve as North Bend’s Mayor in November 2022, after serving as a Council Member since 2018. She is a tenured Business Professor at Southwestern Oregon Community College and has over 25 years of hands-on experience in the business community. Her extensive involvement in local boards and organizations, including past president of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and current role as Vice President of the League of Oregon Cities, highlights her dedication to enhancing the welfare of her community. For more information on the Regional Solutions Program, please visit https://www.oregon. gov/gov/regional-solutions/pages/default.aspx.

Phone Number: 541-813-1717 • Address: 519 Chetco Avenue, Unit 7, Brookings, OR 97415 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net 3

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