Cousins & Co. music store, which has been in business 14 years at various locations in the Brookings-Harbor area, has moved from Earl E. Books to a new location: 615 Chetco Ave.

A grand re-opening, featuring music and refreshments, is scheduled for noon through 6 p.m. today (Oct. 30).

“The new location will give us the opportunity to once again become a full service music store,” said owner Kim Banfield.

C&K Market, Inc., a Brookings-based family and employee-owned independent grocer, was recently ranked No. 6 by the Portland Business Journal.

The company operates grocery stores and pharmacies under the banners of Ray’s Food Place, Shop Smart, C&K Market, and Pharmacy Express.

 The local grocery company achieved its high-ranking position on the Healthiest Employers in Oregon list, which includes companies with 1,500-plus employees. 

Sheila Zia, FNP, Brookings’ newest family nurse practitioner, is a native Oregonian. She grew up in Ashland, graduated from Ashland High School in 1981, and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Southern Oregon University (SOU) in 1989.

She moved on to Oregon Health Science University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2004, a master’s degree and FNP certification in 2008, and worked in labor and delivery.

Kurt Madar prepares a healthy dish in the kitchen of The Shack on Chetco Avenue. The Pilot/Marge Woodfin

The two men said they are on a mission to encourage healthy eating. Mader said, “Most of the U.S. is addicted to fast food.”

He added, “One reason Don and I started this is that we want to change the model for fast food. It doesn’t have to be heavy in fat, cooked, frozen and reheated. It can be quickly cooked and fresh, with healthy veggies.”

Dale Lowcock and Dani Kitchel have been busy breathing new life into a nearly 100-year-old tavern in downtown Brookings. The Pilot/Arwyn Rice

Bryan, a consultant who travels the U.S. advising new bar owners, turned them on to the Pine Cone Tavern.

“It’s a wonderful little bar and has great atmosphere,” he told them.

Dr. Kevin Hardesty, who will be traveling to India in November to perform dental implants, looks at computer images at his Brookings office. The Pilot/Marge Woodfin

Because of his expertise in implantation dentistry, Hardesty was invited to participate in the academy’s annual Indirect World Congress three day meeting in New Delhi.

Hardesty, who will be out of his office from Nov. 18 to 26, will join other members of AAID in India  to do implant surgery and sinus grafts. Participation is by invitation only.

Jason Ramsey, who took over management of the The Salty Dog Coffee Bar at the Port of Brookings Harbor Sept. 3, said he is excited about his opportunity to become part owner.

Ramsey worked for the previous owners of the coffee house and “They brought me in and I kinda’ caught on real quick,” he said.

In addition to his experience at The Salty Dog, Ramsey has also worked at MoJoe’s in Brookings, and said enjoys the business.

GOLD BEACH — Curry County homeowners are receiving their property tax statements this week and discovering that while the estimated real value of their homes has dropped, their taxes are higher than last year.

“I need to remind people, at least annually, that we are in a recession and property values are dropping, but with Measure 50, they’re not going to get lower taxes,” County Assessor Jim Kolen said Tuesday.

“For the most part, market values remain higher than assessed values,” he added.

Dr. Tom Dodson, of Oregon Psychiatric Association, presents award to Jan Kaplan, director of Curry County Health and Humane Services, and Tom Soule, Curry General Hospital director of nursing. The Pilot/Val Corley

The award was presented to the hospital on Thursday by the association’s Dr. Tom Dodson of Portland, who came up with the idea for the award about three years ago.

“This award is to honor and acknowledge people who are doing good things in community access to mental health,” Dodson said before presenting the award.

Kathleen Dickson, market manager for the Wednesday Farmers Market at the Chetco Grange Community Center, announced that the market will be moving indoors, Wednesday, Oct. 6.

Every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., shoppers will continue to find fresh produce from local farms, homemade, special bakery goodies, jams and jellies, and hot ready-to-eat specialties, plus arts and crafts from local artisans.

Dickson said, “In addition to local farmers and food artisans, we will have a few local crafters and artists, including Vi and Len Burton and jewelry artist Jean Johnston.”