As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
September 08, 2010
We don’t have many opportunities to “dress up” in Bandon, and a lot of us panic because we’re not sure what we’ll wear. But it was great to see so many people “dolled up” for the big 10th anniversary party of the Sprague Community Theater last Wednesday night. The evening started off with a few speeches … and “yours truly” found herself on the stage first, but I guess it was better than last as you don’t have to prolong the agony of wondering what you’re going to say, and how it will come across to the audience.
I quickly learned that with a spotlight shining on you, you can’t even see anyone in the audience. It’s like you’re talking to yourself. After the speeches, there was a 45-minute intermission so people could enjoy some tasty food and champagne, followed by presentations by each of the users of the Sprague Theater, ranging from Bandon Playhouse to Bandon Showcase, New Artists Productions, MarLo Dance Studio and the Bandon High School speech team.
It went on a little longer than expected, but for those of us who stayed for the entire program, it was truly a wonderful event.
Most communities our size have nothing that can compare to the Sprague Theater, let alone a fabulous library and a newly remodeled Barn/community center all in one location.
In my closing remarks, I said that my greatest wish for the theater would be that it was packed to capacity for every event.
I know there are people in the community who have never been to the Sprague, and they truly don’t know what they’re missing.
* * *
I’ve never been known for my culinary skills, and I pretty much demonstrated that Saturday night when I decided to cook a nice piece of salmon, purchased from Bandon Pacific Seafood, which (sadly) closed for good the next day.
I had purchased a new set of measuring spoons recently, as an after-thought when I was buying some makeup at Macy’s. It was the usual set of four or five spoons, with the largest one being the tablespoon (well, so I thought). As I was carefully measuring out the ingredients for my marinade, I wondered why the tablespoon had the words “2 teaspoons” stamped on the front of it, but I didn’t give it much thought. Later that evening, after burning the skin of the fish in a non-stick skillet, which probably had nothing to do with the amount of marinade, I wondered aloud if a tablespoon really was 2 teaspoons. I quickly learned that a tablespoon is actually 3 teaspoons, which could account for the flavor, which was not quite right. But, who knows, it could have been the smoke from the frying pan that changed the flavor.
At any rate, I will know better next time. My guess is that those measuring spoons came from China, and tomorrow I will head straight down to Ed and Beth’s at Bandon Mercantile and buy a legitimate set of measuring spoons.
Who would have thought …..?
I might keep them around just in case the next recipe calls for two-thirds of a tablespoon, but that’s pretty unlikely.
* * *
I have been putting plenty of bird seed and suet out for the birds lately, but it’s the two chipmunks that I really love to watch. The other day I was sitting quietly on a bench and about that time one of the little chipmunks came racing down the deck and got right to my foot when he suddenly looked up and realized there was a person connected to the shoe. He ran the 100-yard-dash in nine seconds flat.
I have a long lens on my digital camera (the equivalent of a 640 mm lens), and I have taken so many great pictures of birds and chipmunks from inside the house.
Now if I could just get one of my two printers to work. Well, actually they both work, but the pictures from one come out with a blue cast and the other prints magenta-colored people.
I’m either going to have to buy a new printer, or figure out how to clean the ones I have. I have hit the “clean” button many times on both printers, but I can’t seem to fix the problem.
I really want to share my pictures, but no one wants to see magenta chipmunks … or at least I don’t.
* * *
Earlier I mentioned Bandon Pacific Seafood, which closed on Sept. 4. What a shame. Everyone in my family absolutely loves their fresh seafood, and I am just hoping that someone (with a fishing boat) will decide to open a shop there. Seafood from the grocery store simply is not the same, and Graydon Stinnett and his crew have spoiled us over the years with their really fresh fish.
I miss them already ….
* * *
It was great to see that former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, who owns a home in Bandon, has been appointed to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council by Governor Ted Kulongoski.
The Portland-based council was created by the federal Northwest Power and Conservation Act in 1980 to balance environmental protection with energy development.
Bill was a worthy choice for that position.
* * *
We’re all keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate this weekend for the annual Bandon Cranberry Festival. There are a lot of big events planned, and it’s always the highlight of the year for those of us who love festivals.
The weather has been so “hit and miss” this summer. We’ve had a lot of foggy, misty days, then last week we had two of the most glorious days we’ve had all year.
So let’s hope that the weatherman smiles on us Saturday.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
September 01, 2010
I’ve learned of a few more incidents involving Register-Guard boxes in the last week … and one could definitely be described as theft. Well both of them could, but the victim was the R-G box (carrier) in the first instance … and the “potential” reader in the second case.
A friend of mine was going into the post office one day last week when she observed a woman standing in front of the R-G box concerned because she had just lost her quarter(s) in the box, and the coin return wasn’t working. My friend showed her how to tip the box up, and her quarters came rolling out. But a few minutes later, after getting her mail, my friend noticed that the woman was still tilting the box … and she had already gotten nine quarters out of the box. It was like she’d hit the jackpot. My friend said she wasn’t sure what the woman intended to do with all those quarters, but I doubt that she planned to buy newspapers with them.
I forwarded her e-mail to the police chief … and said “now that really is theft,” referring to the “uproar” after I took two papers after paying for four.
A second incident occurred at that box in front of The Minute Café, which I wrote about several weeks ago. My pal Jason Tree, who has a shop next door, heard a man swearing, and he went out to see what had happened. The man had already put $3 in the box in an attempt to get a paper, but again the coin return was malfunctioning .. and he walked away with no paper, no quarters … and no sense of humor.
* * *
I’m not sure what is going on in the Edna Lane area outside of Bandon, but there appears to be a pretty serious feud between neighbors. There have been numerous calls to the sheriff’s office, and a 53-year-old man called the SO shortly before 8:30 a.m. Saturday to say that his neighbor “had shot toward him.” The deputy seized a Bulldog .44 caliber handgun, and referred the neighbor to the District Attorney for menacing and unlawful use of a weapon. The last sentence on the log entry says: “The (family name) said they will purchase new gun today.” I have chosen not to name the person who is being referred to the DA because I am not sure if it is the father or the son.
I’m not sure how this is going to end, or what has caused this long-standing problem, but it seems to be escalating – and that’s not good.
* * *
My neighbor, here on Harlem Avenue, asked me if I’d heard gunshots Friday night around 8:30 p.m. (or it could have been 9:30). He said several police cars were in the area, but it wasn’t until after I went in the house did I remember that as we were headed home from dinner, we saw that someone was shooting off some pretty big fireworks in the sky near Harvard Street Apartments, and my boyfriend said there was more than one, so my guess is that’s what people heard – and not gunshots.
* * *
I’ve noticed that there have been several burglaries in our area in recent weeks, and it might be wise for people to take a little extra precaution about locking their house and their vehicles.
In an incident, which took place at the dock at Bullards Beach State Park, Friday, it appears that the fisherman actually left his fishing bag on the dock at the boat launch, and it was gone when he returned. In this day and age, I can’t imagine leaving anything unattended in a public place and then expecting it to be there when you return. Not only did the box contain various fishing equipment and a Leatherman tool, but the guy’s fishing licenses were in there, as well. It’s my guess that he didn’t leave it behind on purpose; he must have simply gone off without it. At any rate it was gone when he got back.
* * *
It must have been a full moon Friday night . . . judging from the number of bar fights in the county. The first call came in shortly before midnight when the Coquille police requested cover for an officer trying to break up a “large fight at the Broiler.” One person was taken to jail.
Less than an hour later, about 20 minutes after midnight, Coquille again requested cover at what I am assuming was the same bar. Police closed down the bar and removed approximately 30 people from the premises. About a half an hour later, Myrtle Point police requested assistance for a fight on Maple Street, involving eight or nine people.
Sounds like the Coquille group might have headed over to Myrtle Point after the bar in Coquille was closed down.
Glad they didn’t head to Bandon …..
previous columns by mary schamehorn