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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (July 22, 2009)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 22, 2009 (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter- writers.) * * * Typed, double-spaced letters are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double- spaced and legible also can be considered. “Thank you” submissions are not ac- cepted as letters. The Geezer (left) with son, Mike (rear) and granddaughters Ella, Natalie and Kim Yes, it’s been awhile since ol’ Bob wrote a new col- umn, and that leads to this week’s topic: Geezerism. My dictionary defines “geezer” as “an old person, especially a man.” Another dictionary states that a geezer is “a senior citizen, especially a man who is eccentric or irri- table.” Well, yes and no. First, I have a basic dislike of the term, “senior citizen.” Somehow our society has chosen some arbitrary ages (62 or 65 usually) and applied them to mean something special. Does that mean that those who are younger than “senior citizen” age are “junior citizens?” I don’t think so. How does one define “geezer”? One way is how you feel. Do I feel 65? No. (Not always; see below). In fact, I am often accused of being immature and acting like a 17-year-old. Geezers demand “senior citizen” discounts. Those I enjoy when offered. But it seems as though so- ciety is trying to reward people simply for being old. It’s OK with me, but what is “old”? Am I rambling? A sure sign of Geezerism. A friend wrote that the cure for being a geezer is a new drug: Dagnabitol. For sure, I experience the same symptoms as oth- ers: entering a room and not remembering why I’m there; recalling with clarity an incident from 30 years ago, but not remembering what I ate for breakfast; going to Shop Smart for groceries and wandering around try- ing to think of what I was supposed to buy. When do I “feel my age”? Here’s an example: Went on a raft outing last week with our son, Mike; his daugh- ter Kim, 13; and our visiting daughter, Vicki, and her children, Natalie, nearly 7, and Ella, who recently be- came 4. We took the “Cub Scout” version from Hog Creek to Galice, a Rogue River trip of approximately 7 miles. I didn’t want to go; a sure sign of Geezerism. I was deterred by the thought of getting wet and hot, pos- sibly capsizing, just being uncomfortable. But I went and had a grand time. It was really fun. However, upon awakening the next morning, I won- dered who had beaten me during the night, as many muscles were sore. I wondered who had stuck a fork in my right shoulder blade. The left shoulder blade was fine, as it was numb. Geezerism protested all that pad- dling from the day before. I didn’t care; it really was fun. Might even take another trip one of these days on a more adventurous scale (more rapid rapids). Now, as the late Walter Cronkite said, “And that’s the way it is.” So excuse me while I go take a slug of Dagnabitol. Thank you My son Josh Coronado is one of the names flying high in town. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who had part in the flags with our kids’ names on them. My son calls me time to time from Iraq and he sounds pretty bummed some times, but when I told him about his name flying in town and names of some of his classmates, too, he was very pleased to hear that the people of Cave Junction still take time to say thanks. It boosted him up a lot! He was the IVHS quarterback in 2005. He also fought the Biscuit Fire with Grayback Forestry. Again, I say thank you very much, from both of us. - Angelo Coronado Say you saw it in the I.V. News Illinois Valley News www.illinois-valley-news.com An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-publishers: Bob & Jan Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief: Michelle Binker Entered as second class matter June 11, 1937 at Post Office as Official Newspaper for Josephine County and Josephine County Three Rivers School District, published at 321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523 Periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction OR 97523 P.O. Box 1370 USPS 258-820 Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330 Email: newsroom1@frontiernet.net or newsdesk@illinois-valley-news.com Volume 72, No. 19 Staff: Zina Booth, Brenda Encinas, Scott Jorgensen and Millie Watkins Website design and maintenance by Ashgrove Visual Arts Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association DEADLINES: 9/12 Project From Harry Johnson O’Brien It’s becoming more ap- parent with each day that this country is in real trouble. So what are we going to do about it? Remember back to the dark days of 9/11. There were three types of people in this country. There were the 9/10 people who didn’t want to hear it and put their heads in the sand. We had the 9/11 people who ran around out of control and scared. What were they scared of? The big, bad terrorists, that’s who. We also had the 9/12 people, who got together with friends and family, and they let the terrorists know that we won’t take it anymore. Moving up to current times and current problems: Here in the United States of America we still have those three people. We have the 9/10 people sticking their heads in the sand and refusing to look at the current state of our government and our fail- ing economy. We also see those same people called the 9/11 people. They’re running around scared, but this time it’s not the terrorists that are keeping them up at night, it’s the U.S. Government that’s scaring them to death. We also have the third kind of people here in the United States, and they are the 9/12 people. They need to start telling the government that we’re mad as hell and we won’t take it anymore. When do we remind our Congress that the fact is they work for us? We need to start phoning, sending letters and e-mailing them to remind them that Crisis relief worker class offered by S.O. Red Cross A series of free classes in Medford for anyone inter- ested in becoming a Red Cross disaster relief volun- teer is offered by the Ameri- can Red Cross Southern Oregon Chapter. Class titles: Mass Care, Shelter Operations, Client Casework, and Health Ser- vices. Participants may take some or all classes, depend- ing on interests. For schedule informa- tion, location, and registra- tion, phone 779-3773. 5 P.M. THURSDAYS 592-2126, 955-8839 SUBSCRIPTION RATES I dragged him into so many goofy jobs, so many times for people that just plain needed help. Not once did he not respond to their needs and work out some- thing to help them. So, to Kristy, Dustin, Aaron and Adam, and all the rest of his family, I can only tell you what a privilege it is to have worked with and known Joe and how much I will miss him. I.V. library opening nearer Another step was taken on Thursday, July 16 toward reopening the Illinois Valley Branch of the Josephine County Library, as the county commissioners voted to approve the lease and grant agreements with Jose- phine Community Libraries Inc. (JCLI) for the branch in Cave Junction. “It’s now official. We are ready to roll,” said Com- missioner Dave Toler. For Toler, the continu- ing challenge is to encourage his fellow Illinois Valley residents to become mem- bers of the library system in proportion to their numbers in the county. Approxi- mately 20 percent of county residents live in Illinois Val- ley. Said Toler, “My concern is, there is a strong notion from some folks (in I.V.) that we don’t get our piece of the pie -- the money gets spent on the other side of the hill. Well sometimes it’s the other way around, and this is a good example of that." “If we fall a little short of 20 percent in terms of donations and revenue, hey, we are lower income, and I think we can excuse that. But not in terms of member- ship, especially when you can join for as little as 10 bucks per year.” “I look at it as a per- sonal challenge,” said Toler. “I’m proud of my commu- nity, and I don’t like other people having to take up for me.” The I.V. Library is set to open on Sept. 5. Contact JCLI’s I.V. coordinators at 592-3289 for more member- ship information. OIT Honors Three From Cave Junction Three students from Cave Junction have attained 2009 Spring Term deans lists at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) at Klamath Falls. Those cited and their majors: Padraic Cotta, computer engi- neering technology; Kevin LaPierre, civil engineering; Louis Levison, renewable energy engineering. Inclusion on the lists requires a 3.30 to 3.69 grade point av- erage. Only full-time students (12 credit hours or more) are eligi- ble for academic honors. to a Community Open House Saturday, July 25 th , 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the newly remodeled and expanded facility of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Cave Junction Ward 209 S. Junction Ave. (next to Jubilee Park) I ncluding: • Open-play volleyball and a look at the new basketball court • Samples of freshly-baked bread by the Relief Society • Food storage and emergency preparedness information • Genealogy assistance in the Family History Room • Music in the Chapel and more No charge or obligation. S P O R T S Meals are served in the CJ County Bldg. One year in Josephine County - $22.80 One year in Jackson and Douglas counties - $26.40 One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state - $36 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523 A friend’s passing From David MacKechnie Cave Junction I just received a phone call an hour ago informing me that my friend, Joe Crutchfield, had passed. I just want anyone who knows me to know what a hole this will make in my life. Joe has been a great friend to me. We shared a lot of work and a whole lot more laughs. Senior Nutrition Menu Sponsored by News, Classified & Display Ads, Announcements & Letters (Classified ads & uncomplicated display ads can be accepted until noon Fridays with an additional charge.) POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ welcomes letters to the editor provided they are of general interest, in good taste, legible and not libelous. All letters must be signed, using complete name, and contain the writer’s address and telephone number. The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity. The ‘News’ reserves the right to edit letters. Gener- ally, one letter per person per month at publisher’s discretion. Letters are used at the discretion of the publisher. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the publisher’s opinion. POLICY ON “HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE,” DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADS & NOTICES: All submissions must be hand-delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for publication. Submissions must be resubmitted weekly if the item is to run more than one week. very fact. Tell them that if they don’t do what we want we’ll fire them. I would like for people to read the nine principles listed here and then read the 12 values list of the 912 Pro- ject. Those who agree to seven or more of the nine principles have a lot in com- mon with me. The Nine Principles: 1. America is good. 2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life. 3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday. 4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ulti- mate authority, not the gov- ernment. 5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it. 6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happi- ness, but there is no guarantee of equal results. 7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charita- ble. 8. It is not unAmerican for me to disagree with au- thority or to share my opin- ions. 9. The government works for me. I do not answer to it; it answers to me. The Twelve Values: Honesty, Reverence, Hope, Thrift, Humility, Charity, Sincerity, Moderation, Hard Work, Courage, Personal Responsibility, Gratitude. For those who agree with the above and want to meet with others who feel the same, we will meet on Wednesday, July 29 at the RCC Kerby Belt Bldg. at 7 p.m. People might want to look at the 912 Website: The912Project.com. There, they will read about others just like them and me. I really would love to meet them and hear what they think. FRIDAY, JULY 24 BEEF MUSHROOM PATTY Lyonnaise potatoes, broccoli cuts, multi-grain bread, Grace’s chocolate cookie MONDAY, JULY 27 VEGETABLE CHEESE STRATA Herbed carrots, marinated vegetable salad, dill wheat roll, chocolate & vanilla swirl pudding WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN WITH RICE Oriental blend vegetables, oriental pea salad, bran wheat roll, banana chocolate chip bar C A M P Physicals only $20* Cave Junction & Grants Pass Call today to schedule your exam! 541-592-4111 Siskiyou Community Health Center M ED I CAL CLI N I CS Grant s Pass 125 NE Manzanit a 541- 471- 3455 Cave Junct ion 25647 Redwood Hwy. 541- 592- 4111 * La b fe e s e x t r a . D EN TAL CLI N I C 1035 NE 6t h St . St e. B Grant s Pass 541- 479- 6393 w w w .sisk iyou h e a lt h ce n t e r .com OUTREACH Grant s Pass 125 NE Manzanit a 541- 471- 3455 Cave Junct ion 216 S. Caves Ave. 541- 592- 6444
