MAYOR'S MESSAGE Empty Bowls, Full Hearts, and a Generous Community This year’s Empty Bowls Coos County event was another wonderful example of what makes our community so special. I had the pleasure of serving as one of the soup judges, and I can tell you firsthand that the competition was tough! More importantly, the event brought our community together for a great cause, raising a record-breaking $26,000 to support local food banks. The Oregon Coast Culinary Institute once again hosted this annual fundraiser, bringing together talented chefs, local artists, volunteers, and community members who share a commitment to helping our neighbors facing food insecurity. As a judge, I had the opportunity to sample some outstanding soups alongside North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke, Jim Ring, and Svetlana Maslakova. After some difficult deliberation, we selected Chef Bryan Elam of Ko-Kwel Casino Resort as the Judges’ Choice winner for his delicious Roasted Chicken & Wild Mushroom Soup. Chef Elam received a beautiful handcrafted soup tureen created by local potters Sue Scott and Paige Rawitz. We also recognized the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute with the Judges’ Honorable Mention for Chef Chris Foltz’s Roasted Root Vegetable and Potato Soup. Congratulations to both winners and to all the participating chefs who shared their talents in support of this worthy cause. A special thank-you goes to Chef Randy Torres, Shawn Warren, and the culinary students who volunteered their time to help make the event a success. I also want to recognize the local potters whose handcrafted bowls are such an important part of this fundraiser, along with the organizers, sponsors, and everyone who attended or contributed. For those who missed the event, handcrafted bowls are still available for purchase this Sunday, November 8 from 2 - 4 p.m. at Black Market Gourmet, located at 495 Central Avenue in downtown Coos Bay. It's another opportunity to support the cause while taking home a beautiful piece of local artistry. Events like Empty Bowls remind us that even a simple bowl of soup can make a meaningful difference. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's event such an incredible success. Your generosity and community spirit continue to make Coos Bay a wonderful place to call home. -Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay