THE MANY FORMS OF COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

During this week’s City Council meeting, we had some good discussions about our parks and transportation options in our community. Some of the details of those discussions feel important to share, as they speak to the impact that we as individuals can have on our community, including most importantly creating connections and engagement. A great example of the impact of individuals is the recent financial support to get the Mingus Pool boiler replaced, which opened the facility back up to the many swimmers who regularly enjoy their pool time. We are beyond fortunate that each one of the individuals who donated funds saw beyond self and to the greater good of the community. We all have the capacity to bring something of value forward for the betterment of all. A contribution can come in many forms: financial, time, expertise, or even something as simple as approaching each day with kindness and sharing that with those you meet.

Another example of bringing something of value forward was shown by those who participated in the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Bay Area Brigade/Hwy 101 Cleanup this past Saturday. It was a horribly rainy day and a very small group of people showed up to lend a hand to clean up the Hwy 101 corridor. This small-but-mighty band of warriors gathered over 30 bags of garbage. This coming Saturday, Oregon Bay Area Beautification (OBAB) will be meeting at the Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery in preparation for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. You might consider putting on some gloves and helping OBAB clean up the cemetery grounds. I’ve also shared in the past another opportunity that individuals can regularly help with keeping the community free of garbage: the Adopt One Block project. With this project, an individual can sign up online to regularly clean up their preferred block. The project can provide the necessary tools needed to complete this regular task.

A very insightful comment was made by Councilor Matthews during our discussion about the safety and use of City parks. Essentially, he noted that parks have an intended use – recreation. Families and children, couples, and individuals regularly use the parks in our community to experience the outdoors, to play, and to get more movement in their lives. There are also those in the community who are using the parks for unintended use. Councilor Matthews made this distinction between intended and unintended use. He further shared that if we all made it our goal to increase intended use of the parks, the unintended use will organically shift and be reduced.

We can also support the businesses and organizations that are working hard in our community. Frequent the businesses that you value. Support the organizations that provide valuable services to the community. There's a chance to do just that this weekend. Plan to attend Celebrity Family Feud at the Egyptian Theatre this Saturday from 2-4 p.m. This fun afternoon will have three teams completing to showcase their wisdom on local topics. This free event, organized by the United Way, intends to highlight and fundraise for organizations supporting children in foster care. Staff from the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend, along staff from Oregon Department of Human Services local office, will compete for bragging rights on being the most well-versed in Coos County knowledge.

I also wanted to thank the volunteers who came to the first National Ride Your Bike to School Day. On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, a group of over thirty adults and children gathered at the Coos Bay Library with their bikes and helmets, backpacks, and smiles, and made the journey to the Lighthouse School. This coordinated effort, on a perfectly sunny day, is just another example of bringing what you can forward for the greater community good. Those kids, and likely all of the adults, enjoyed some healthy exercise and companionship, which kept them energized for that day and likely beyond. New friends were made and opportunities identified. A special thanks also to the City’s public safety departments – Police and Fire – who ensured the safe travel of this large group bicyclists. And thank you to all of those who were driving on the streets that morning, for giving more space, time, and patience while these kids rode their bikes to school.

Finally, one last thing we can all do is to vote. Most, if not all, should have received their ballots. Please take this opportunity to voice your preference for each of the items on the ballot, the results of which shape what tomorrow looks like in Coos County.

-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay

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