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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2025

Brookings, Oregon

Jazz, Swing, and Community: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy played their hearts out

It was non-stop entertainment as the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy band played to a sold-out crowd at Azalea Park.

Brookings-Harbor and Del Norte High School jazz band members take to the floor to show their dance moves.

The venue was packed and the dance floor was crowded at the concert.

Drums & Percussion Co-founder Kurt; Bass & Vocals Dirk Shumaker; Baritone Saxophone & Vocals Andy Rowley; Trumpet (the kid) Glen Marhevka; Tenor, Alto and Soprano Saxophones & Clarinet featured soloist Karl Hunter; Piano & Arranger Joshua Levy; Trombone Alex (Crazy legs); Lead Trumpet Mitch Cooper for local school music programs. “Our future is only as good as the opportunities we provide for our youth,” said Nick Rail, PPA's founder. “The money we raise from the concert will provide much-needed musical instruments and support for our kids that other communities take for granted.” The PPA aims to strengthen the vitality of the community by investing in educational opportunities and building shared resources. The concert was a prime example of its vision in action, fostering an alliance between school districts to maximize the impact of their programs. “Ninety-five percent of us got

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

Acclaimed jazz and swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy thrilled the community at a fundraising concert in Azalea Park on the last day of summer. The concert was orchestrated by the Partnership for the Performing Arts (PPA), and featured a special opening act with the combined high school jazz bands from Brookings-Harbor and Crescent City who stole the hearts of the community with their outstanding performance. This wasn't just any show, it was a major event with a mission: to raise much-needed funds

our start in a high school band,” said Scotty Morris, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s lead singer and songwriter. “We know this is just the beginning.” Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has been a force in the jazz world, celebrated for its unique blend of classic American music with a modern twist. The band, famously named after an autograph by blues legend Albert Collins, has sold millions of records and had their music featured in hundreds of movies and TV shows. With a long list of sold-out concerts and appearances with prestigious symphony orchestras, the nine-piece band continues its mission to "celebrate

and revitalize jazz and swing music," bringing their high-energy performances to audiences worldwide. “The performing arts prepare students for success. Students learn to share and express their feelings,” said Rail. “They build skills, confidence and perseverance and they learn to collaborate with partners from diverse backgrounds.” All profits from the event will go directly to support the music departments at Brookings-Har-

bor School District and the Del Norte Unified School District. The event was a powerful day of music that left a lasting impact on the community and also a chance for residents to come together, enjoy a world-class performance and directly support the next generation of local musicians. For more information log onto: https://www.ppadelnorte. org. For information about the band, log onto: https://www. bbvd.com.

$50,000 matching fund drive for Chetco Activity Center is under way which includes both congregate meals served at the center and the Meals on Wheels delivery service, for those aged 60 or over. While the suggested donation is $6, the true cost to the center is closer to $10 per meal. On an average, sixty meals are delivered every day for the Meals on Wheels program, and an average of twenty-five meals are provided in house; unless it’s turkey day, then the in-house number jumps to near seventy as the turkey seems to be the favorite meal provided. "We're not allowed to charge for the meals," Mitchell explained. "We rely on donations, and people give what they can." The Meals on Wheels program serves an average of sixty-three meals a day, five days a week. A seven-day meal plan is available with two frozen meals being delivered on Thursdays, for weekend consumption. For many, these deliveries are not just about food, they're a critical safety check. Mitchell recounted a story of a volunteer who, after getting no response to a knock, looked through a window and saw a client in distress. "He (the delivery person)

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Costal Pilot

Facing dwindling government funding and rising costs, the Chetco Activity Center is launching a campaign to raise money to keep its essential services running. The center, a long-standing community pillar, provides a lifeline for local seniors, from daily meals to social and wellness activities. The campaign, spearheaded by board president Roger Mitchell and his wife Jennie Mitchell, a fellow board member, seeks to match donations up to $50,000. So far, one donor has already contributed $1,000. The goal is to raise the full amount by the board meeting on December 17th, with all proceeds going toward next year's budget. "We have to pull about $6,000 every month, that’s in addition to the government resources, just to keep Meals on Wheels on the road and the congregate meals served at the center," Mitchell said. “And that does not include unexpected expenses like having to replace toilets or the elevator.” The center's most critical service is its nutrition program,

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Chetco Activity Center President Roger Mitchell, board member Jennie Mitchell and programs administrator and assistant general manager Carol Owens (r) each volunteer their time to keep the center running. called the ambulance, and we were told afterwards that in another twenty minutes, she would have been dead," he said. "These people are very much on their own and they're pleased to see us." Serving the community for

nearly forty years at its current location, the activity center's history dates back to 1986 when an acre of land was donated by Virginia Manley and community members gathered the necessary funds to build the center. At that Please see CAC Page 4

Phone Number: 707-460-8655 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

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