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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2008)
CHINOOK WINDS CASINO RESORT Bret Lucich Packs House on Opening Night Quite the crowd came to celebrate Bret Lucich, the man of many voices, at his opening at Chinook's Seafood Grill in late May. This longtime local man of the keyboards is performing five nights a week in the lounge. You can enjoy the sounds of this music man's talents in a relaxed setting four hours nightly every Wednesday through Sunday. Lucich enjoys working with the crowd to play favorite songs requested by the audience. His performances cre ate toe-tapping rhythm for some and life changing moments for others, adding happy memories to all occasions. He also holds the title of‘’On the Job Composer.” “When there is an anniversary, birthday or other special event being celebrated. I develop a song specifi cally for them,” said Lucich. He has been performing in Lincoln City since 1985, beginning in the Over the Waves Lounge at Surftides. “I started at my parent’s restaurant. Sunset West Restaurant and Lounge in Pacific City, as a freshman in high school. I played every weekend with my brother, Todd,” said Lucich. Most recently at Salishan for the past seven years, Lucich has developed an audience both locally and with guests from out of town. New Bridge and Sand at Golf Resort Chinook Winds Golf Resort re cently completed the replacement of a longstanding bridge connecting the men's first tee to the first fairway. The original bridge was shut down because of structural and safety issues shortly after the course was purchased by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz In dians in April 2005. With summer ap proaching. the completion of the bridge came at a good time. “We are looking forward to a great summer of golf. Great care and time was taken to ensure little environmental impact of the structure. The Tribe and the casino are committed to the sustainability of our natural resources and arc not willing to cut corners where the environment is concerned, so the project took a little longer to ensure little impact on the wetlands," said Bill Davis, director of Golf and Hotel Operations. The bridge was constructed by Western Wood Structures in Tualitan, Ore. Planning began in June 2007 and the structure was completed in April 2008. The first day of use was May 17, with golf course member Mike Gallagher making the first crossing. The key to the construction was the helical anchors designed by Earth An chor Systems. These anchors were in strumental to the protection of the wet lands that the bridge crosses. C' “Jody Picconi, our superintendent, worked closely with the construction crew throughout the process to ensure little disruption to the wetlands," said Davis. Not only is there a new bridge for golfers to use that once again is envi ronmentally sound, but new sand has been put into 90 percent of the bunkers on the course. The #202 white sand from Idaho is not only aesthetically pleas ing, but also is more player-friendly. Chinook Winds Golf Resort is lo cated at 3245 NE 50lh St. in Lincoln City with an indoor driving range, full service pro shop, restaurant and fitness center. For more information, please go to our website al www.chinook winds casino.com or call for a tee time at 541- 994-8442. Mike Gallagher drives across the new bridge at Chinook Winds Golf Resort on May ¡7. Jody Picconi. golf resort superintendent, is next to him. Lincoln City to Hold Celebration of Honor in September To honor all veterans and their families, a small patriotic town on the Central Oregon Coast, Lincoln City, will host a city-wide “Celebration of Honor” on Sept. 24-28, 2008. Over the past several years, Lincoln City has established itself as a welcome safe haven for veterans and their fami lies, a place for a weekend getaway or to vacation for several days. The community has welcomed vet erans with open arms with the display of the traveling Vietnam Wall in 2004: a welcome home celebration for the Oregon Army National Guard in 2005; the annual rededication of the Veter ans Memorial at Chinook Winds; the dinner sponsored by Mo's Restaurant in 2006, that fed 900 members of the Oregon Army National Guard before they deployed for Afghanistan; the Field of Flags & Oregon Veterans Medal Presentation in September 2007 at Chi nook Winds; and the ongoing veterans discounts offered by many of the city’s motels through the Lincoln City Visi tor and Convention Bureau. Events will be held city-wide by civic and charitable organizations, merchants associations, the Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Department and Chinook Winds Casino Resort. The Lincoln City Kiwanis Club will hold a pulled-pork barbeque at Kenny's IGA North store parking lot from 1 1 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 27. The Lincoln City Parks and Recre ation Department is sponsoring “Ad ventures in Geocaching.” Please arrive at the Lincoln City Community Center (2150 NE Oar Place) and register by 2 p.m. on Sept. 27. At 2:15, participants will be released to complete the adven ture. All participants need a GPS and a mode of transportation. A fun run will be another of the events sponsored by the Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Department. Also, the community center will of fer free admission to veterans and their families during the Celebration of Honor. This includes the swimming pool, bas ketball gym. weight and cardio rooms, and rock climbing wall. Veterans need to present identification at the front counter. At the south end of town on 5 I'1 Street (near Mo's Restaurant and Siletz Bay), the Roundabouts will offer kite making and bean bag games. The Bay Area Merchants Association is planning a flag raising ceremony. To commemorate Celebration of Honor weekend, the Lincoln City VCB will place 400 red, white and blue glass floats on the beach for visitors to find. Oregon Coast Community College will hold a revival of its annual MASH BASH at the Chinook Winds Hotel ban quet facility the evening of Sept. 27. complete with dancing, raffle items, light hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar. The traveling Vietnam Wall is re turning to Chin(X)k Winds on Sept. 24-28. If you would like to volunteer to help set up the wall, act as a guide or stand guard at the wall during this event, con tact Teresa Simmons at 541-996-5815. As part of the annual rededication of the Veterans Memorial in front of Chinook Winds, a presentation of med als will be made to Oregon veterans on Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. Chinook Winds' annual Run for the Wind Poker Run also will be part of the weekend's festivities. Tanger Outlet Mall will have a blood drive on Sept. 27. l imes of events and other pertinent information will be posted on the Chinook Winds website at www.chinookwinds casino.com in the coming months. July 2008 • Siletz News • 21
