Nature’s Coastal Holiday moves for 2020 Traditional festival will move from Azalea Park to Highway 101 THE PILOT Organizers of Nature’s Coastal Holiday – Festival of Lights have announced a change in plans for the coming holiday season. Due to the challenges of COVID-19 requirements for social distancing, the organization will not decorate Azalea Park in Brookings this year. Instead, attention will be turned to the Highway 101 corridor and selected com-
Curry reports new case
mercial areas of the community. In a Facebook post a spokesperson said the organization plans over-the-top displays and will be inviting our local businesses and community members to help support the nonprofit organization’s efforts. “We felt that decorating Azalea Park would not best serve our community,” the Facebook post stated. “The narrow pathways of the park did not lend themselves to our large crowds and social distancing. We could not successfully control the number of visitors and stay within state-mandated guidelines.” The annual event began with a mere 22,000 lights in 1997 and grew to more than two million
dazzling lights by 2017. In that year over 25,000 people enjoyed visiting the lights during the holiday season (compared to 7,120 in 1997). According to the organization’s website, the event was the idea of the original volunteers, Olivia Abbott and Keith Pepper, and is a completely volunteer coordinated and staffed event. “In the early years,” according to the website, “there were only a few dozen people to help string the lights in the park. A few more individuals baked cookies and the local schools helped by designing and distributing posters. That same spirit of volunteering is still at the core of the event. A small group of individuals
plan and organize the event each year, but the Brookings-Harbor community is the main component when it comes to stringing lights and hosting the monthlong event.” Proceeds from the event are used to improve Azalea Park and other community organizations. Nature’s Coastal Holiday is a non-profit corporation bringing the spirit of giving to the community. Continued fundraising is key to the organization’s future. This year, financial donations will help the organization with annual bills, which include storage rental, content insurance and shop expenses. It will also be important for
commercial properties to agree to allow space for staging displays. “We hope everyone will understand and support us this year,” the organization said in the Facebook post. “We will not be able to display any sponsorship signage this year and hope you will still feel inclined to donate. Any amount is appreciated. Please show your support and include a donation to Nature’s Coastal Holiday by mail or visit our website naturescoastalholiday.com to donate online. For questions or more information send email to naturescoastalholidaybrookings@gmail. com Checks made payable to Nature’s Coastal Holiday, Inc.,
THE PILOT
Del Norte picked up only two new cases of COVID-19 over the past week. As of Thursday morning, the county reported three active cases, 121 inactive cases and one death. There have been three hospitalizations, but none are current. Curry County broke its winning streak on Sept. 1, reporting the first positive case since Aug. 19. As of the deadline for this edition, the county reported two active cases, 19 recovered cases and zero deaths. Both Curry County and Del Norte counties reported increases in testing over the past week. The week-to-week increase in Curry County was 57, totaling 1354 as of this week’s print deadline, with a total of 1333 negative results Del Norte’s numbers are higher, in part because they included staff and inmates from Pelican Bay State Prison. The week-to-week increase was 285 with a total of 7,310 tests, of which 7,186 appear to have been negative. More Covid on Page A4
Back to school Q&A
Brookings-Harbor superintendent outlines new year BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The start of the new school year for students will be quite different than what they have experienced in the past. Classes begin in Brookings-Harbor School District on Sept. 8 and in the remainder of the county on Sept. 14.
Claudia Elliott Photos, Curry Coastal Pilot
Jeremiah Rasmussen in an Action Trackchair provided by David’s Chair at Harris Beach near Brookings, with father Eric Rasmussen.
Beach access made possible by David’s Chair BY CLAUDIA ELLIOTT The Pilot Many people take for granted excursions often not available to those with mobility impairments. For some, walks in the woods, treks in the snow or beach outings are difficult, if not impossible. But the nonprofit organization David’s Chair, based in Medford, makes such outings possible. Last weekend the organization was again at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, doing just that. Twenty-some people had an opportunity to enjoy using one of three chairs brought to the beach by the organization. Harris Beach is a popular destination for the organization, which has also hosted excursions in the redwoods and to the snow. Spokesperson Natalie Weber said the group typically visits Harris Beach in the spring, but because of COVID-19, the recent outing was the first for 2020. David’s Chair was born in 2016, not long after David Hatrick and his wife, Mary Grace, learned of David’s diagnosis with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). An active outdoorsman, Hatrick’s mobility was already diminished, making his favorite
Jeremiah Rasmussen with Steve Furst, CEO of David’s Chair, left, and Natalie Weber, spokesperson for the organization. activities, including hunting and fishing, more difficult. According to an article published on the organization’s website, the diagnosis made it clear to Hatrick that his time to enjoy the activities he loved was limited.
When the shock wore off, David resolved to live what time he had left on his own terms. But how? He learned that a track chair — a small battery-powered all-terrain tank with a chair on top
— could provide him with mobility. But the chairs have a hefty price tag in the neighborhood of $20,000, and insurance doesn’t cover them. More Chair on Page A4