Santas, elves and reindeer pose in front of Dollar Dog busses used to transport the well-wishers to care facilities. The Pilot/Bill Schlichting

The annual event, hosted by the Brookings-Harbor Lions Club, began in a storeroom at Fred Meyer. There, the 20 participants, including one Pilot reporter, donned their costumes. Most dressed as Santa Claus.

With song sheets in hand, the group walked through the store warming up their voices and greeting customers. They then boarded Chetco Federal Credit Union’s Dollar Dog busses, driven by CFCU employees in reindeer costumes, and headed for the first stop: Ocean Park (formerly Oceanic Meadows and Parkview Special Care).

Azalea music director Emmett McCutchenne leads Sound Wave choir in a holiday carol. The Pilot/Arwyn Rice

Azalea Middle School’s Wind Ensemble, Sound Wave choir and Concert Choir performed a winter concert Thursday night.

The concert featured classic and contemporary holiday selections, including Sleigh Ride, Little Drummer Boy and Jose, the Temporary Reindeer.

The concert was a fundraiser for the Wind Ensemble and Sound Wave. The two groups are raising money for a trip to a May music festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

People of all ages interested in learning a musical instrument, or giving music lessons as a Christmas gift, are invited to an open house and music workshop in Brookings Saturday hosted by Stagelights Musical Arts Community.

The nonprofit organization is hosting the event, scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. at 617 Chetco Ave. (south of the Redwood Theater), to celebrate the opening of its new music studios.

“We are so happy to have a new home for Stagelights, and a place to host our lesson program,” said Ted Erdahl, Stagelights’ newest board member and lesson program coordinator.

The crew of the Brookings-based Little Joe motor in to the Port of Brookings Harbor Sunday, perhaps with a hold full of fresh crab. Photo by Grant Fraley

The glowing white and orange lights of commercial fishing boats bobbing offshore are a sure sign that Dungeness crab season off the Southern Oregon Coast is in full swing.

Since Sunday, the boats and their crews are coming and going at all hours of the day and night, delivering fresh crab to buyers at the docks at the Port of Brookings Harbor. Most of the crab is boxed up, loaded on big rigs and transported to distant processing plants. Locally, those who love to eat crab can find fresh offerings at local restaurants and fish markets, and from individual fisherman who are selling it straight off the docks.