Friday

Birdwatching

Birdwatchers of all skill levels are invited to attend the Oregon Shorebird Festival from Friday through Sunday.

The festival is headquartered at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston and focuses on the fall shorebird migration.

The Friday evening presentation will be given by Louise Bacon-Ogden, a widely traveled educator and bird enthusiast. “Gardening for Wildlife” will focus on how to landscape a yard to entice birds and other wildlife to come and visit.

 Saturday’s keynote presentation will feature Audrey Taylor, a doctoral candidate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Taylor’s presentation will draw from her vast experience working with shorebirds on their breeding grounds on the North Slope of Alaska.

To register for the festival or for more information, visit the Web site at http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/shorebirdfestival.htm or call Dawn Grafe at (541) 867-4550.

Sunday

Beach worship

The North Bend United Methodist Church will conduct a worship service from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. each Sunday during August in the far west end of the parking lot at Sunset Bay State Park.

For more information, call Pastor Jerry Steele at 756-6959.

Free clinic

A free ear, nose and throat clinic will be held from 12:30 to 2:3 p.m.  Sunday at the North Bend First United Methodist Church, 2289 Meade Ave.

Dr. Steven G. Shimotakahara, ENT surgeon, will give free evaluations, treatment and referrals for people experiencing hearing difficulties or problems related to the ear, nose or throat.

The clinic is only for those with low incomes and no health insurance.

For more information, call 756-6959.

Wayward movie

A free movie, “Boy’s Town,” will be shown at 2:30 p.m.  Sunday at the North Bend United Methodist Church, 2289 Meade St., North Bend.  The movie is the story of Father Flanagan’s development of a home for wayward and homeless boys starring a young Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. Popcorn and soda will be provided.

For more information, call Vicki Morgan at 267-3969.

ER time

Corvallis emergency room physician Dr. Paul Hochfeld will present a free film and discussion on the country’s ailing health care system at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Bandon Public Library conference room.

According to a press release, Hochfeld has channeled “three decades of being frustrated with the multiple absurdities — and perverse incentives — of our health care system” to produce a video, “Health, Money and Fear,” which addresses three questions about it: Why does it cost so much? What does it say about us? What can we do about it?

Hochfeld believes there are multiple reasons why health care is so expensive, including developing technology, fear of liability, drug company marketing, a dwindling supply of primary care doctors, physician entrepreneurs who self-refer, unrealistic expectations at the end of life, the chaos of medical records and insurance companies.

A discussion period will follow the video presentation.

Hochfeld is an emergency room physician at Good Samaritan Hospital. He chairs the hospital’s peer review committee and serves as physician advisor to the Corvallis Fire Department Ambulance Service.

Next week

Single meeting

The South Coast Singles will host a Labor Day Picnic at noon Monday, Sept. 1, at Simpson Park in North Bend.

For more information, call 267-3443 or 267-4148.

Compassionate group

The Compassionate Friends has resumed monthly meetings for families who have lost a child.

They will meet at 6 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, at South Coast Hospice Bereavement and Education Center, 1620 Thompson Road, Coos Bay.

For more information, call Pam Lowry at 266-0282.

New meeting spot

In September, the Bay Area Young Life will meet in a new building, the former Christian and Missionary Alliance church at Fifth and Johnson in Coos Bay.

The club will meet at 7 p.m. Mondays. The Young Life Campaigners will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Young Life is looking for sound equipment and some musical equipment.

For more information and to make donations, call Todd Tardie at 290-6708 or Tad Jensen at 260-6334.

Bridge players wanted

The Charity Bridge Marathon will begin its 25th season this September and is looking for players.

The Charity Bridge Marathon is a group of ladies who gather together in each other’s homes to play rubber bridge, September through April.

The membership cost is $15. At the end of the season, after all the bills are paid, the balance is donated to the South Coast Hospice. Last spring, the group donated $440.

For more information, call 888-9634.