The public is invited to a City Park Master Plan Open House from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, at the Bandon Community Center.

This event is presented by the City of Bandon. For more information, email planning@bandon-or.gov.

Longtime community center and theater manager Jeff Norris has retired from his position as facilities director. Of course, neighbors and clients are still welcome to drop by his shop, Norris the Tailor, for custom tailoring and alterations.

New facilities directors started managing the community center and theater earlier this month.

Avery Richards is the new facilities director for the Bandon Community Center.

Avery spent most of her youth in Bandon. She has worked with a number of local businesses, including organizing events with the Bandon Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband, Danny Simons, have also traveled the state, serving as hosts in parks around Oregon.

Avery and Danny signed on as city park hosts for the City of Bandon in February 2022. And, when Jeff Norris announced his plan to retire from his community center management role, city staff invited Avery to consider the job. Avery enjoys assignments that allow her to work with the community and help make Bandon a great place to live and explore.

Check out Avery’s new community center Facebook page for event and program reminders at Facebook.com/bandonbarncommunitycenter.

Chip Cassin is the new facilities director for the Sprague Community Theater.

A native east coaster, Chip spent more than 20 years consulting with Fortune 500 ranked technology corporations, as a software engineer, in addition to managing various global projects.

Chip discovered Bandon on a cycling tour down the Pacific coast in 2017. He found Bandon the prettiest town on his ride, a place where people still smile and say hello to each other.

Jeff Norris recruited Chip to help install the theater’s new projection system in 2019. And Chip then volunteered his time assisting with movie nights and other theater events. Chip looks forward to following in Jeff’s solid footsteps in making sure the Sprague continues to hold a positive and integrated place in the community.

Find contact information for Avery and Chip on our Contact page.

Native Trees Mural in Bandon City Park

Resident artist Vicki Affatati designed a new a mural for the north wall of the public restroom in the park. The work celebrates trees native to the Southern Oregon Coast, depicting shore pine, grand fir, Sitka spruce, Port Orford cedar, Douglas fir, Western red cedar and hemlock.

In recent months, Bandon City Park has been replanted with a variety of native trees. Tree planting efforts are designed to replace trees lost to storms and aging. Along with the city parks department and Friends of Bandon Parks, the work is supported by local sponsors and volunteers.

For more information on supporting local parks, contact info@friendsofbandonparks.org.

Cranberry Country Jamboree is the theme for this year’s 76th Annual Bandon Cranberry Festival, sponsored by Rogue Credit Union. We’re planning a celebration with a lot of excitement, fun, and enjoyment for all. This year, Bandon City Park is the main venue, with additional events held around town.

The festival market, food court, and live music start at 11 a.m. on Saturday in City Park.

Visit Bandon.com/cranberry-festival for a full list of events and activities.

Did you know that Bandon has lost over 100 trees in City Park in just seven years? Storms and the aging of many of the trees are the culprits. With the assistance of many hands, we have the potential of creating a Tree-Mendous landscape. That’s why we need you! Get involved in planting trees for a lush and beautiful park!

Bring your family and join your community at the City Park Gazebo to plant your heritage trees. If you are new to our community, come meet people who care about trees in our parks and our city.

Trees are important to our environment. They provide oxygen, improve air quality and support wildlife. And they make us feel good!

Sponsors of the event are: City of Bandon, Stillwater Natives Nursery, Friends of Bandon Parks; and Samantha Stanger, who is the tree donor.

For more information, contact info@friendsofbandonparks.org.

Summer’s here! Ready to get moving? For the Health of Bandon Activity Challenge is a virtual fundraiser focused on promoting healthy lifestyles for residents of Bandon and beyond.

The Activity Challenge takes place June 14 through 28, presented by Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center with the Southern Coos Health Foundation. Participants choose any activity that gets them moving and exercising. All they have to do is log miles walked or hiked, the time spent golfing, surfing, playing tennis, gardening or doing yoga. Any activity or combination of activities qualifies.

Sign up online at SouthernCoos.org/healthybandon. Registration is only $10, and covers an event T-shirt, a medal, and a certificate. All will be sent to participants in advance of the event.

For the Health of Bandon is a fundraiser for the hospital’s foundation and will support services such as educational scholarships for local people working toward health care careers, as well as the annual drive-through free Flu Shot Clinic, along with other benefits to the hospital and community.

Bandon City Park is a great location to have fun and get moving. Take a stroll through the park, gather friends for a round of disc golf or a visit to the dog park. Kids of all ages can romp in the playground. Walk a few blocks west to explore trails and beach access at the Coquille Point headland viewpoint. (Visit our Contact page for Google map directions to the park.)

For more information about the activity challenge, visit the Southern Coos website, or call the health foundation at 541-329-1038.