By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews
YACHATS — Like many local groups, the Yachats Lions Club is emerging from its pandemic den and wanting to bring more community to the community.
The latest evidence — a series of free presentations on topics of special interest to the coast, and a revived “Lunch Bunch” program that’s growing in popularity.
“We’re coming back to visibility from pre-Covid times,” said David Okelley, Lions president. “My goal is to make the Lions more of a community resource.”
To meet that goal, the Lions have five speakers coming up over the next several weeks. Each one-hour session will take place at 2 p.m. at the Lions Hall on West Fourth Street, followed by a half-hour question-and-answer period. On each date, doors open at 1:30 p.m. with light snacks and beverages.
Next up on Sunday, March 24, is a talk on “Life Flight Services” by Polli Buzzini of the Life Flight network that serves the Oregon coast. Life Flight is the largest not-for-profit air medical transport program in the United States and has a helicopter stationed at the Newport Airport to transport patients into the valley or elsewhere for medical care.
On Sunday, April 28, Dr. Kelsey Terland will speak on palliative care, courtesy of Samaritan Health Services. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure.
“Coastal Conservation Issues and Strategies” is the topic Saturday, May 11, with speaker Paul Engelmeyer of the Bird Alliance of Oregon. Engelmeyer is a resident of Tenmile.
On Sunday, June 9, speakers Nathan LeClear and Margaret Treadwell will speak on “Waite Ranch/Central Coast Conservation.” The two represent the McKenzie River Trust, one of the groups involved in restoring the former Waite Ranch on the Siuslaw River near Florence for a home for wildlife.
A newly-published book “Canopy of Titans” is the subject when co-author Paul Koberstein speaks on Sunday, June 23. Subtitled “The Life and Times of the Great North American Temperate Rainforest,” the book examines the global environmental importance of this rainforest, which stretches from northern California to Alaska.
“We’re trying to pick topics that matter to people on the Oregon coast,” said Okelley, who noted that one of the Lions’ global causes is the environment.
Future presentations may include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and representatives of the PacWave energy project north of Waldport. Planned for the fall is a talk by Yachats resident Dick Brack, sexton of Yachats Memorial Park cemetery.
Another local Lions outreach, “Lunch Bunch” is going strong. The monthly program takes place the third Thursday of the month – including this week — at the Lions Hall, with a suggested donation of $5. Shuttered during the pandemic, Lunch Bunch resumed in December.
“We had 24 people in December, 36 in January and 49 in February,” Okelley said. “We’re moving back up to pre-Covid attendance numbers.”
The meals are open to all. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon seating.
Also back from its pandemic closure is the Lions Hall itself.
“It’s open again for business,” Okelley said. “It’s one of the few big spaces available in town” besides the Commons and the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, he noted. Already it is being rented once a week for a gymnastic class for children.
People interested in any Lions functions — speakers, Lunch Bunch, joining the club or volunteering — are urged to visit the club website (https://yachatslionsclub.org/) or call 541-547-3800.
- Cheryl Romano is a Yachats freelance reporter who contributes regularly to YachatsNews.com. She can be reached at Wordsell@gmail.com