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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 22, 2009
(Editor’s Note: Views
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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
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(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
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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