Customers gather at the port owned and operated Bell and Whistle at the Port of Brookings Harbor boardwalk. Submitted photo

According to Port Manager Ted Fitzgerald, the port recently took over operations at the popular gathering place, located in the retail core of the port off Lower Harbor Road, and plans to establish it as “a profitable enterprise.” He declined to say why the Salty Dog owners have left.

Visitors tour ColumbiaCare’s 5-bedroom facility called “Bell Cove” during an open house. The Pilot/Jane Stebbins

The five-bedroom house blends in with its neighbors on the block, and starting next month will be home to five residents — three men and two women — from the Oregon State Hospital who will work to improve their social skills, become independent and integrate themselves into the community.

Les Cohen

“It’s been a fantastic 20 years, but it’s time to move on, and it’s time for the chamber to move ahead with new leadership,” Cohen said Friday.

You might say Tim and Theresa Williamson fell in love beneath the Golden Arches.

They were 19 and both working at neighboring McDonald’s restaurants. A crew meeting brought them together.

Shirts and pants pressed, wedding gown cleaned, clothing altered, draperies cleaned; check, check, check and check.

The ability of residents of Brookings and the surrounding areas to check these things off their to-do lists will remain intact as the only dry cleaning business within 30 miles of Brookings will remain open under new ownership.

Michelle Connolly gives a pedicure in a home. The Pilot/Lorna Rodriguez

Connolly offers manicures, pedicures, gel nails, basic reflexology and massage. She started the business in Brookings in October after being a nail tech in Washington state for more than 20 years. 

Beginning Monday, plastic bags will no longer be offered to customers at ShopSmart in Harbor and Ray’s Food Place in Brookings.

C&K Market, Inc., which owns the stores, as well those in Smith River and Crescent City, said in a press release that it was making the change as part of a “renewed commitment to be a leader ... when it come sto responsible, sustainable practices regarding plastic waste.”

Customers will now have two options: free paper bags or 99-cent reusable bags, both made from recyclable material.

The Brookings City Council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency, will discuss a conditional use permit that could bring a microbrewery to town.

The Urban Renewal Agency meeting will follow the regular city council meeting that begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Government offices are closed for Veterans Day Monday.

Dave Faires and Nathan Heath of central California propose to open a microbrewery at 625 Chetco Ave., in the basement of 625 Wine and Tap Room, that replaced MoVino’s this summer. Tight Line Brewery hopes to start small and expand over a period of years.

Larry Ball, who spoke on behalf of the Curry County Board of Realtors Association, encouraged voters to vote “yes” on Oregon Ballot Measure 79, and to educate the community about the measure during the September Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce forum at the Brookings Inn Resort. 

Ballot Measure 79 is an initiated Constitutional amendment that would “prohibit real estate transfer taxes, fees, other assessments, except those operative on December 31, 2009.” It will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

CRESCENT CITY – A sharp decrease in business this summer is prompting the local drive-in theater to close for the season earlier than normal while its owners pursue its possible sale.

Bill Thomas, whose family has owned and operated Red’s Crescent Drive-In since 1980, said the family has discussed selling the drive-in for about two years due to a gradual decline in business. At the beginning of this year, he said, he spoke to Crescent City real estate agent Donna Zorn, telling her he was looking for someone to purchase the theater. In the meantime, the drive-in will close at the end of September, Thomas said.