an edition of
Bandon
Western World Thursday, December 4, 2014
Coastal Harvest:
theworldlink.com/bandon © $1.00
Nutcracker:
New home? See page A2 for the full story.
Angels coming to Sprague, see page A6 for the full story.
Inside this edition:
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4
Arts and Entertainment. . . . . . . A5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8-9 Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10
City manager candidates vetted Deadline AMY MOSS STRONG Bandon Western World
BANDON – The search for a new city manager has been narrowed down from 25 applicants to three finalists. All three addressed the public at a special meeting Monday night in council chambers. The interview panel met with and asked questions of the candidates in an executive session Tuesday morning, and the City Council then held their formal interviews, also in executive session. The council and the panel
Good
Pascale
were then scheduled to meet in executive session to discuss their impressions of the finalists. City Manager Matt Winkel, who is set to retire at the end of the month, said he didn’t believe the council would make a decision Tuesday and would likely
h old another special meeti ng this week t o further d iscuss the potential hiring. T he canSinnard d idates were s creened by t he Prothman Company, who w ill be paid between $22,700 and $24,400 for their services. The interview panel includes Fire Chief Lanny Boston, Police Chief Bob Webb, Port of Bandon Commissioner Reg Pullen, C hamber President Margaret
Pounder, Southern Coos Health D istrict Board Member Carol Acklin, Planning Commissioner and Greater Bandon Association chairman Harv Schubothe, and Public Works director Richard Anderson. The city hiring committee includes Mayor Mary Schamehorn and current councilors Brian Vick, Chris Powell, Geri Procetto, Nancy Drew, Claudine Hundhausen and Mike Claassen, as well and incoming councilors Peter Braun and Madeline Seymour. See CANDIDATES, A7
Night of 10,000 Lights
AMY MOSS STRONG, Bandon Western World
Santa and Mrs. Claus pose with, from left, Olivia, Jackson and Addison Allen of Coos Bay during Bandon’s Night of 10,000 Lights tree lighting event Saturday afternoon in the Visitor Center parking lot. The event drew dozens of people who enjoyed the festivities and shopped and dined in Old Town.
A twinkling tree
Bringing music to the streets of Old Town
BANDON — The approaching holiday season can cause sadness and confusion for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Professional counseling, group support or holiday memorial events can help ease the grieving process during the holidays and throughout the year. Advice on handling grief
ahead, notes Louise Cackowski, Licensed Professional Counselor and Bereavement Coordinator for South Coast Hospice and Palliative Care. Ask what experience each individual would find meaningful during the holidays. Some may choose to skip events that are uncomfortable, or find a new way to honor loved ones who have passed. “The rule is, there is no rule,” said Cackowski.
Crab season opens TIM NOVOTNY
Bandon Western World
See SUPPORT, A7
See SEASON, A7
Support groups offer help with grief — offered by well meaning friends and family members— can be helpful, or frustrating. Take what works, and ignore what doesn’t, suggests Lynne Meininger, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Bereavement Coordinator for Coastal Home Health and Hospice. “Be kind to yourself. Try not to put too many expectations on yourself or others,” said Meininger. Families benefit from planning
BANDON — The deadline for Medicare patients to apply for or change prescription drug insurance plans is Dec. 7. Online enrollment closes midnight Dec. 7 at Medicare.gov. Residents 65 years and older can take advantage of free Medicare information through the federal Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program, hosted in Coos County by Coast Community Health Center. In person SHIBA services are available by appointment Monday through Friday. Call the health center to schedule an appointment with a trained SHIBA volunteer. Appointments are available in other locations in Coos and Curry counties by request. For information by telephone, call the SHIBA office in Salem, Oregon. To connect with an assister, hold the line, and do not follow the prompt for your postal zip code. Supplemental insurance policies may be purchased to cover some costs not covered by Medicare plans. Patients may change supplemental plans or companies during a 30 day period each year, starting on their birthday. Insurance companies may not legally sell Medigap or supplemental insurance through the on-line Health Insurance Marketplace to individuals enrolled in Medicare.
Families caring for a sick loved one might also consider a change of routine. It’s easy to get caught up just managing illness, said Jenée Anderson, Community Outreach Manager for South Coast Hospice. Families may change traditions before a loved one has passed. Celebrating holidays at an alternate time or location to include a sick family member
LEFT: City Manager Matt Winkel pulled the switch to light the community Christmas tree Saturday evening, which drew a round of applause from those attending the event.
GENEVA MILLER
GENEVA MILLER
Bandon Western World
C OOS BAY — The Oregon Dungeness commercial crab fishing season started on time this year. It’s been delayed the last two years, but this year we’ve got a Dec. 1 opener,” Hugh Link said last week. Link, the executive director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, said the opening is set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and is based, up and down the coast, on the percentage of fill rate of the crab. This year, he said, the percentage was above average, to say the least. “The testing, not only in Oregon but northern California and southern Washington, showed that the crab are extremely full and ready for harvest,” he said. “We haven’t seen fill percentage rates in crab like this in my 11 years that I’ve been doing this.” But a prompt start of the season depends on three things. The weather must make for safe conditions, the crab must be sufficiently filled with meat, and a price must be set between fishermen and processors. It is that last part of the equation that most often trips up the opening of the season. This year, however, that piece of the puzzle fell into place right away. “Typically we set aside two days for the processors and fishermen to meet in a room under the umbrella of the Oregon Department of Agriculture,” Link said. “Monday we had our state supervised price negotiations started (and) we settled the price on the first day. “I think the fishermen and the processors both agreed that we had a quality crab on
ABOVE: A group of carolers stroll through Old Town Saturday afternoon, as part of the Night of 10,000 Lights.
Bandon Western World
nears to enroll in Medicare