DANCES FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE: Sunday, May 14, 1-4 p.m. Free and open to all. Call 503-577-9851 for details.

AFRICAN DRUM GROUP: Every other Sunday, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Call Center for exact dates.

PUBLIC DANCE PARTY: Sponsored by the South Coast Folk Society, 7-9:30 p.m. every third Saturday. A free event featuring live music and international dances. Call Paul at 541-404-8267 for info.

YAZZI’S CHAIR YOGA: 10 a.m. Mon., Wed., and Fri. (by donation).

GAMES OF CHOICE: 1-5 p.m. Mon.

CRIBBAGE: 5:15-10 p.m. Mon.

WALK FOR HEALTH(free): Walk indoors or out, at your own pace, 10-11 a.m. Tues/Thur.

DANCERCIZE WITH ANGIE: Stretching and stepping to music, 4 p.m. Wed. (by donation).

DUPLICATE BRIDGE: 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs.

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS): weigh-in and meeting: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Fri.

BEGINNER BRIDGE LESSONS: 11:30 a.m. Fri.

OPEN BRIDGE: 1-4 p.m. Fri.

Volunteers are always needed. Call 541-347-4131 or drop by 1200 11th St. SW, behind the bright red door at the south end of the Bandon Community Center (“The Barn”).

Art Show

Now through July 31, paintings by local artists Vicki Affatati, Abby Lazerow and Victoria Tierney are on display at the library art gallery and in the library.

Book Sale

A Different Kind of BOOK SALE opens August 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with EVERYTHING 2 for $1. On Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., EVERYTHING $5/bag. And, Sunday. August 7, 12 to 2 p.m., EVERYTHING FREE!

Browse books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, and more. All proceeds benefit the library, sponsored by Bandon Library Friends and Foundation.

Author Presentation

Join author Mark Yaconelli for an interactive presentation on his latest book, “Between the Listening and the Telling: How Stories Can Save Us.” This free author talk is presented by the Bandon Public Library at the Sprague Community Theater on August 12 at 7 p.m. Visit our Event Calendar for more details.

Featured image by Vicki Affatati.

To join or to renew your membership, drop off your contact info and dues at the Center on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, when the “OPEN” sign is out.

The BSAC relies entirely on volunteers, so if you aren’t happy with the current situation, please consider volunteering to ‘host/hostess.’

Activity Update for February 2022

The Cribbage club plays Thursdays from 5:30 to 9 or 10 p.m. Call Doc or Sandy Nyhart at 503-508-0338 or 541-285-5399 for details.

Duplicate Bridge games are from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Open Bridge from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday.

Chair Yoga is offered on a donation basis from 10 to 11 a.m. Mon/Wed/Fri.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets 8 to 9:30 a.m. Fridays.

Pinochle is on hiatus until March. Contact Debbie at 541-253-1141 if you’re interested.

The BSAC is located behind the bright red door at the southern end of the Bandon Community Center, 1200 11th St. SW. Call 541-347-4131 for information, or visit www.BandonEvents.org. The Center abides by indoor COVID rules, and requires all participants to be vaccinated so everyone can enjoy activities safely.

Article contributed by the Bandon Senior Activity Center. Visit our Programs page for more information about the BSAC.

Those attending public events will find information for individual shows or events, such as audience capacity and party size, in our Event Calendar. Patrons are asked to follow directions from their event presenter for physical distancing and mask wearing.

Renters presenting private meetings or public events are invited to visit our Rentals page, or the OHA website, for more information. Renters may also contact Jeff Norris to discuss event plans. Visit our Contact page to send an email or call 541-290-5383.

Please Subscribe to our Mailing List for event and program updates– Thank you!

Women’s Health Day

The 18th annual Women’s Health Day goes digital this year. Join providers from the Southern Coos Multi-Specialty Clinic for a day of education, sharing, and a focus on empowering women to take care of their health. Sessions will be shared live via Facebook and the Southern Coos website.

Find the day’s program and registration options online at SouthernCoos.org.

Sign up soon to receive a box filled with Women’s Health Day information, recipes, expert recommendations from SCHHC providers, and more!

COVID Vaccinations at the Bandon Community Center

SCHHC will provide COVID vaccinations at the community center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for health care workers and educators in vaccination tiers 1a and 1b as defined by the Oregon Health Authority.

Visit our Event Calendar for more information, including registration options.

Patrons attending public events will find information for individual shows or events, such as audience capacity and party size, in our Event Calendar.

Renters presenting private meetings or public events are invited to visit our Rentals page, or the OHA website, for more information. Visit our Contact page to send an email or call 541-551-0099.

Please Subscribe to our Mailing List for event and program updates– Thank you!

Those who have reserved space at the Bandon Community Center for private meetings are invited to contact Jeff Norris, 541-290-5383.

The City of Bandon is following guidance from the Oregon Health Authority to protect the public and reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Thank you for your patience and support.

Programs and Activities

November movie night at the Sprague Community Theater, “Jumanji The Next Level,” is postponed.

The Bandon Holiday Meals programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Bandon Community Center are cancelled this year to ensure the health and safety of volunteers and participants.

Senior Meals will continue take-out and meals on wheels services. Visit our Programs page for more information.

Activities at the Bandon Senior Activity Center will be limited to six participants, or fewer, through December 2.

Please Subscribe to our Mailing List for event and program updates– Thank you!

The Sprague Community Theater and Bandon Community Center are open by reservation for small group meetings and events.

The City of Bandon is following Phase 2 guidance from the Oregon Health Authority to protect the public and reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Guests are reminded to wear a mask or face covering and maintain six feet social distance as much as possible. Face covering is required indoors for those 5 years of age and older. If you have a medical condition which prevents mask-wearing, please speak with your event presenter.

Please follow directions provided by your event presenter for entering and exiting as well as seating.

Advance registration or ticket purchase is highly encouraged, and your event presenter is required to keep a record of attendance.

For Renters and Event Presenters

Renters are invited to visit our Rentals page to submit a reservation request and learn more about capacity and event guidelines consistent with Phase 2 Reopening Guidance from the Oregon Health Authority.

To make changes to existing reservations, please contact Jeff Norris by phone, 541-290-5383, or visit our Contact page to send an email.

Regular Programs and Activities

Bandon Senior Activity Center: The Senior Center will resume some activities beginning in June. Please call 541-347-4131 for more information.

Senior Meals, Ongoing: Bandon Senior Meals is serving prepared meals for take-out and Meals on Wheels delivery. Take-out service is offered 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at noon. Please use the back dining room door at the southwest side of the building.

Good Neighbors Food Distribution, Ongoing: Good Neighbors will provide supplemental food distribution the first Tuesday each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Bandon Community Center. The monthly distribution will take place in the usual location, but with a few changes to ensure safe interaction between participants and volunteers.

Volunteer staff will provide drive-up style delivery. Those arriving by car should enter the parking area from the 11th St. entrance and exit around the back between the community center and theater, toward 8th St. Pedestrians can pick up their groceries in a separate service line.

Tae Kwon Do: Martial arts classes will resume in June. Registration is required. Please contact Coquille Martial Arts for details, 541-396-5576.

Please Subscribe to our Mailing List for event and program updates– Thank you!

The City of Bandon has closed the Bandon Community Center and Sprague Community Theater until further notice.

Schedule Changes

All public and private events scheduled prior to March 2020 at the Sprague Community Theater and Bandon Community Center are tentative and may be rescheduled. We appreciate your patience and hope to open our doors again soon.

Nutrition Programs

Senior Meals, Ongoing

Bandon Senior Meals will offer prepared meals for take-out and continue Meals on Wheels delivery. Take-out service is offered 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at noon. Please use the back dining room door at the southwest side of the building.

Good Neighbors Food Distribution, Ongoing

Good Neighbors will provide supplemental food distribution the first Tuesday each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Bandon Community Center. This month’s distribution will take place in the usual location, but with a few changes to ensure safe interaction between participants and volunteers.

Volunteer staff will provide drive-up style delivery. Those arriving by car should enter the parking area from the 11th St. entrance and exit around the back between the community center and theater, toward 8th St. Pedestrians can pick up their groceries in a separate service line.

Read more about nutrition programs . . . 

Activities

Regular programs and activities at the theater and community center are cancelled until further notice, including the Senior Activity Center, EAT program, Lions Club meetings and martial arts classes.

For Renters and Event Presenters

We support local businesses and organizations in their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 by limiting public meetings and gatherings.

Those who have reserved meeting or event space at the Bandon Community Center or Sprague Community Theater may cancel or reschedule at no extra charge. To discuss reservation changes, please contact Jeff Norris by phone, 541-290-5383, or email events@ci.bandon.or.us.

In the Neighborhood

Bandon Public Library

While the Bandon Public Library remains closed to the public, the library is offering curbside pickup and mail service.

Mail service will start in May, and Library Director Jennifer Croft expects the service to continue through June. The Bandon Library Friends and Foundation will cover the cost of postage and packaging through their new Keep Bandon Reading program.

Request mail service by placing a hold online, or speak with library staff by phone during regular library hours. Items may be retuned at the book drop. (At present, the library is not charging late fees.) Bandon library hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To reach library staff by phone, call 541-347-3221.

To search the library catalogue online, place a hold, or browse e-books and audio books, visit cooslibraries.org.

Independence Day Celebrations

Public 4th of July events in Bandon have been cancelled, including the Bandon Lions Club annual BBQ in Bandon City Park.

Communication

Please Subscribe to our Mailing List for event and program updates.

The play celebrates an ongoing nostalgia for the work of Victorian novelist Charles Dickens in a contemporary comedy with heartfelt moments and plenty of humor.

“A Christmas Carol” was published in England in 1843 as an illustrated novella. Today, it’s one of Dickens’ best-known tales. Through the years, the holiday ghost story has been republished, adapted for movie scripts, stage plays and ballet.

“A Bandon Christmas Carol” follows Dickens’ original narrative: Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly, self-centered gentleman who confronts his shortcomings in a series of ghostly visits. First is the ghost of his late friend and business partner, Jacob Marley, then the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

After reflecting on his past and present– and glimpsing a possible future– Scrooge rediscovers this own capacity for kindness and sharing.

Creative Collaboration

Neal Davis and Mike Dempsey have performed or worked behind the scenes at the Sprague Community Theater on projects for Bandon Playhouse, Gaels Readers Theater, Bandon Feeds the Hungry, and others. And, “A Bandon Christmas Carol” isn’t their first writer/director collaboration.

“Helen and Anne: Through Their Eyes,” was commissioned by the Bandon Lions Club in 2010. The play honors Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, women who overcame visual and hearing impairments and became two of the most inspiring communicators in American history. Davis adapted the play from biographical texts, Dempsey directed the two-woman show, and Ruthanne McSurdy-Wong provided artistic direction and set design.

The dramatic comedy “Bethlehem Road” follows a modern-day family on a fantastic trip back in time to the first Christmas. It was Davis’ first holiday-themed script. The 2007 debut was presented by the Bandon Playhouse, (directed by Sally Ford), and the play enjoyed a reprise in 2015 with Dempsey as director.

Here, Davis and Dempsey answer questions about writing and directing a new play for Bandon audiences.

Q: Why do the Dickens story and characters still appeal to audiences– more than 150 years after its debut?

Davis: Dickens knew we all love a good redemption story. It’s a universal theme that transcends time and culture. That it occurs over three stages of life – childhood, the present, and the unknown future, allows us to discover new truths each time we experience it. The story I saw as a kid is different than how I see it today. Plus, for me personally, the fact that it’s royalty-free, (the novella is in the public domain), was a tremendous lure.

Dempsey: It’s got the key elements – suspense, family, loss, hope, redemption. These appeal to modern audiences just as much as when the story was created.

Q: What literary or historic discoveries did you make while writing the script and preparing to direct the play?

Davis: Writing this was easy and not. Dickens’ template is near perfect, but adapting it wasn’t as idiot-proof as I’d hoped. Finding the right tone and language took a little time, as did balancing the humor to drama. Since this was for all ages, I also wanted a sound and look to the piece that would appeal to everyone in the audience. With our great cast and crew, I think we’ve succeeded in making a fun and meaningful experience.

Dempsey: Dickens really knew how to tell a human story. That we could transfer it to modern day, and with loads of literary license, yet still keep the tale’s spirit and heart, shows how brilliant his creation is.

Q: Community theater productions by Bandon Playhouse draw cast members of all ages and levels of performance experience. What can you tell us about writing for and directing this cast?

Davis: The script had to be adaptable to a variety of skill levels. We got a Christmas miracle with our principal casting. Scrooge is played by Nameer El-Kadi, who brings over 30 years of stage and screen experience to the role. Others are local stage vets, from Heather Bouher, David Wyatt, Gareth Williams and Annie Giardinelli from Bandon; and Dave Elst from Coos Bay; to newcomers to the Bandon Playhouse. Their dedication is amazing.

Dempsey: This is one of the hardest working casts I’ve ever worked with. They’re eager, they learn, and they seem to be having the time of their lives. Nameer is one of the best – he lifts everyone’s performance and puts his whole heart into becoming Ebenezer Scrooge. His performance is one you’ll remember. That’s true of many of our performers – they’re having fun, and it shows.

Q: The title of this adaptation is “A Bandon Christmas Carol.” What elements, in the script or staging, are unique to Bandon, Oregon?

Davis: The scenery is all Bandon, as are a few of the situations. You won’t hear your street name or business, but you’ll definitely know it’s Bandon.

Dempsey: We’re in modern day Bandon, from Old Town to the cranberry bogs. We’re harvesting, partying, and working hard as a community. And the main character is a real crab.

More about the Show

Looking forward to the play? Browse the Bandon Events calendar for dates, times and ticket info.

The play is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, presented without intermission. It’s suitable for audiences of all ages.

Cast and Crew

Ebenezer Scrooge: Nameer El-Kadi
Ghost of Christmas Present: Heather Bouher
Ghost of Christmas Past: Annie Giardinelli
Marly and the Ghost of Christmas Future: Dave Elst
Ensemble: Linda Baldwin, Bella Blackard, Jaden Blackard, Kailynn Blackard, Aspen Elst, Dennis Hawkins, Merle Morrigan, Olwyn Reed, Linda Schoff, Meara Stadelman, Daniel Undell, Gareth Williams, David Wyatt

Tech and Stage Crew: Breezy Fiscus, Jeff Norris, Steve Shoff, and David Yeatts

Article and photos by Geneva Miller.