The Greater Bandon Association has named the July recipient of its Volunteer of the Month award. John Towne becomes the ninth winner of the second year of this award created in 2016. John was presented the award in the form of a plaque and a gift certificate from The Loft at the July 10th, 2017 meeting of Bandon’s City Council.

John was nominated by multiple members of our community this month, …likely due to the fact that he has been instrumental in making so many projects happen over the years. In addition to the many hours that John and his wife, Peggi, put in to make the Old Town Marketplace a hub of activity with music, food, and crafts, John is also involved in the Good Earth Community Garden, Bandon Community Youth Center, and the Gorse Blossom Festival (just to name a few!). Some of his accomplishments include: starting the annual community garden plant sale fundraiser (and donating 250 plants each year!), designing and building the 8th street walking path, and building garden beds, fencing, and a greenhouse for the youth center. John was also a huge asset to the inaugural Gorse Blossom Festival taking on the giant task of managing trash and helping out with the kitchen. And, luckily John does it all with a smile. Fellow volunteers at the community garden said, “When we think about John, we think about the happiness he exudes, his energy, his kindness, his absolute pleasure he shows while working in the Garden. He always has a big smile”.