Feb 4, 2026 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) Athletics will host the annual BASA “Big Mike” South Coast All-Star Basketball games on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Speasl Court in Prosper Hall, featuring top high school basketball players from across the South Coast.
Proudly sponsored by the Bay Area Sportsman’s Association (BASA), the event honors the legacy of the late Mike “Big Mike” Helfrich, a longtime supporter and true champion of local athletics. Held each March following the conclusion of OSAA basketball, the All-Star Games bring together standout players from high schools across Southwestern Oregon. The South Coast All-Star tradition began in 2013 and continues to recognize both outstanding student-athletes and the legacy of Mike “Big Mike” Helfrich.
Participating schools include Bandon, Brookings-Harbor, Coquille, Gold Beach, Marshfield, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Pacific, Powers, and Reedsport. Referees, coaches, broadcasters, and game-management staff generously volunteer their time to support the event. All proceeds are deposited into the “Big Mike” account, which helps fund shooting shirts and uniforms for future All-Star Games.
Game Schedule & Format
Team practices take place at 2:00 p.m. (girls) and 3:00 p.m. (boys)
- Girls All-Star Game: 4:30 p.m.
- Boys All-Star Game: 6:00 p.m.
Players from each participating school will compete, with teammates matched against one another on opposing sides. Games will be played under college rules, including the use of a shot clock. The boys’ game will consist of two 20-minute halves, while the girls will play four 10-minute quarters.
Admission
- Adults: $10
- Seniors: $5
- High school students with ID: FREE
- Children 12 and under: FREE
Concessions will be available for purchase.
Community members are encouraged to attend and support South Coast basketball while honoring the memory of Big Mike Helfrich. The evening promises outstanding competition for a great cause.
Feb 3, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – In celebration of Black History Month, Southwestern Oregon Community College invites all to attend a free virtual presentation by Taylor Stewart of the Oregon Remembrance Project (ORP) titled “Maintaining Internal Hopefulness in the Midst of External Hopelessness” on February 27, 2026, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
Join the presentation by Zoom: https://socc-edu.zoom.us/j/97511641511
Taylor Stewart of the Oregon Remembrance Project will share his experience falling in and out of love with activism, rekindling joy, and finding hope in bleak times. Stewart will engage in conversation with Forrest Akers, Director of International Recruitment and Academic Partnerships at Southwestern, as they explore the difficulties facing justice organizers today and the lessons that help make their work more sustainable. In Stewart’s own words, “Justice work is hard work. It’s also draining and never ending.”
Stewart will discuss the challenges of maintaining internal hopefulness even in times when externally things may seem hopeless. Taylor Stewart launched the Oregon Remembrance Project in 2018 to help communities with truth and reconciliation projects around repairing historical injustice. Stewart first partnered with Coos Bay, OR to memorialize the 1902 lynching of Alonzo Tucker. Between 2018-2021, Stewart and Coos Bay community members held a series of acts of remembrance for Mr. Tucker, which culminated in the installation of a historical marker outside of the Coos History Museum in 2021. Today, ORP has grown to help communities around the state confront Oregon’s history of lynching, sundown towns, Black Exclusionary Laws, and KKK activity.
For more information contact Forrest Akers, Director of International Recruitment and Academic Partnerships, at 541-888-7185, forrest.akers@socc.edu.
Jan 30, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 pm, for “Fossil whales of the Pacific Northwest and the evolution of baleen” with Dr. Robert Boessenecker. This is a free event; all ages are welcome.
Coos County residents can join us in-person in the Umpqua Hall lecture room (room 184) on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
Curry County residents can join us for a watch party on the Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings.
For those not able to attend in person the lecture will be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@southwesternOR/streams.
About the Lecture:
Baleen whales are the largest animals ever to evolve – unlocked by the evolution of baleen. Baleen is a soft tissue structure made of keratin (‘horn’) and allows these oceanic giants to feed on krill and other tiny zooplankton. Further strange is the complete loss of teeth in baleen whales. Where did baleen come from, and what happened to their teeth? Strange fossil whales from the Oligocene epoch (34-23 million years ago) of Oregon, Washington, and beyond showcase many clues about the loss of teeth and the evolution of baleen.
About the Presenter:
Robert W. Boessenecker, Ph.D., grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and began collecting fossils as an amateur in high school. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman for his Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, where he worked on marine mammal fossils from the Purisima Formation near Santa Cruz, California – and met his wife and fellow paleontologist, Sarah Michalies. He attended the University of Otago in New Zealand from 2012-2015 for his doctoral studies on eomysticetid whales from the Oligocene of New Zealand. From 2015-2024 he worked in Charleston, South Carolina, on early toothed baleen whales and echolocating dolphins from the same time period, and since 2024 has come full circle and renewed work on Purisima Formation marine mammals in California.
For more information about the lecture series contact Dr. Win McLaughlin, Assistant Professor, Geology at win.mclaughlin@socc.edu or 541-888-7002.
For more information on upcoming lectures contact Cassie Coyner, STEAM Pathways Coordinator, at 541-888-7416, or cassie.coyner@socc.edu .
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
Jan 28, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 6:00 pm, for a group panel discussion on “The Future of Oregon’s Working Forests: Balancing Timber Production and Ecosystem Health,” hosted by Tasha Davison, Forestry Instructor at Southwestern. This is a free event; all ages are welcome.
Coos County residents can join us in-person in the Umpqua Hall lecture room (room 184) on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
Curry County residents can join us for a watch party on the Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings.
For those not able to attend in person the lecture will be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@southwesternOR/streams.
About the Panel:
Explore how Oregon’s forests can continue to support a thriving timber industry while preserving biodiversity, water quality, and climate resilience. Experts will discuss innovative management strategies, policy considerations, and collaborative approaches to ensure sustainable forest practices for generations to come.
About the Panelists:
Participants will include Coos Watershed Association, Elliott State Research Forest Station, Coos Forest Protective Association, Weyerhaeuser, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Oregon Department of Forestry.
For more information about the lecture series contact DeAnne Varitek, Dean of Career & Technical Education at deanne.varitek@socc.edu or 541-888-7312.
To learn more about Southwestern’s Forestry & Natural Resources program visit: https://www.socc.edu/forestry/.
Jan 27, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 10:00 am, for a visit with Oregon State University’s (OSU) College of Forestry, including a presentation from guest speaker, Dr. John Bailey, and a demonstration from OSU’s Logging Sports Team. This is a free event; all ages are welcome.
Coos County residents can join us in-person in Lakeview E, F, and G at 10:00 am for Dr. Bailey’s presentation, followed by a demonstration outside in Henry Hansen Square (the quad) at 11:00 am from the Logging Sports Team on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
Curry County residents can join us for a watch party on the Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings.
For those not able to attend in person the presentation and demonstrations will be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@southwesternOR/streams.
About the Guest Speaker:
Dr. John Bailey graduated from Oregon State University in 1996 with a PhD in Forest Science. He is a professor at Oregon State University’s College of Forestry in the Forest Engineering, Resources and Management department (FERM), as well as the Forest Ecosystems & Society Department (FES). His research focuses on using traditional and experimental silviculture practices to achieve a spectrum of objectives in a landscape, including commodity production, habitat creation, fire risk reduction, and ecosystem restoration. His classes focus on wildland fire science and silviculture.
About the Logging Sports Team:
Housed within Oregon State University’s College of Forestry, the Logging Sports Team is open to all OSU students. The team travels to competitions in the Western U.S., including Humboldt State University, and the University of Idaho, Moscow. Additionally, members of the team compete in meets sanctioned by the American Lumberjack Association throughout the U.S., and some have traveled to Canada. The team competes in events that include the axe throw, birling (“log roll”), buck sawing, caber toss, choker race, chopping, limber pole, technical events, and the tree climb.
For more information about the lecture series contact DeAnne Varitek, Dean of Career & Technical Education at deanne.varitek@socc.edu or 541-888-7312.
To learn more about Southwestern’s Forestry & Natural Resources program visit: https://www.socc.edu/forestry/.
Jan 26, 2026 | Community, News, OCCI News
Sweets, Savories, and Student Support!
Coos Bay, OR – This Valentine’s Day, treat your loved ones — or yourself — to something truly special. Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI) is once again offering an array of delicious items prepared by talented pastry chefs and culinary students. Proceeds from the sales will directly benefit the culinary competition team, helping these students showcase their skills on a national stage.
VALENTINE’S DAY MENU ITEMS:
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries (GF): $7 each, or $35 for a box of 6
- Red & White French Macarons (GF): $18 for a box of 6, or $36 for a box of 12
- Vanilla and Strawberry flavored
- Frosted Sugar Valentine Cookie: $7 each, or $35 for 6
- Red Velvet Cupcakes: $5 each, or $18 for 4
- Chocolate Assortment Box (GF)*: $18 for a box of 6, $36 for a box of 12
- *NOTE: Available via online ordering only.
- Flavors Include: Strawberry, Passion Fruit, Caramel Marshmallow, Raspberry Dark Chocolate, Luxardo Cherry, Black Currant Cheesecake
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Shortbread: $25
- Dessert “Duo” – Chocolate Obsession/Strawberry Tiramisu: $30
- Pair of Lemon Pot de Creme with Huckleberries (GF): $12
- Charcuterie Plate for Two: $15
- Three-Course Meal for Two: $65
- Includes Shrimp Cocktail, Beef Tenderloin Tips in Mushroom Sauce with Pasta and Vegetables, plus the Dessert Duo
ORDERING DETAILS:
Place your order by Monday, February 9 at 5:00 p.m.:
Order Online
PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS:
Pickup is Friday, February 13 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at:
- OCCI (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay)
- If you placed your order in-person or by phone at Past to Present Emporium, please pick up your order there. Orders will be available for pickup until 5:00 p.m. (281 S. Broadway, Coos Bay | 541-808-9553).
Missed the order deadline? Limited items will be available for sale during the pickup window on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Questions? Contact OCCI at 541-888-7309 or via email: lena.chester@socc.edu.
Don’t miss out on these handcrafted Valentine’s favorites! From sweets to full meals, your purchase supports OCCI’s students and their culinary journey.
About Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI)
The Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI) is a professionally accredited culinary institution at Southwestern Oregon Community College located in Coos Bay, Oregon. OCCI offers both degrees and certificates in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts. The school is renowned for providing comprehensive culinary training programs that equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the culinary industry. With a focus on hands-on learning, experienced faculty, and affordable programs, OCCI is committed to nurturing culinary talent and shaping the next generation of talented chefs. For more information, visit www.socc.edu/occi.
