Page 2
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Recalling my Mom & Dad in last week’s issue was enter-
taining (for me, at least), and that has prompted me to tackle
some recollections of my maternal Granny and aunties.
My Mom and her six sisters and one brother all were born
in El Paso, Texas, right across the Rio Grande from Ciudad
Juarez, Mexico. When I was but a boy, sometimes one or two
of my aunts with my Mom and I would walk from the family
home to Downtown El Paso; take a trolley car to the border;
then walk across the bridge to go shopping or eat. Or both.
They were fun times, even though I was only around the
ages of 10 to 13. I recall that during our Texas visits, “street
urchins,” (my Dad’s term) hung around under the bridge with
cardboard cones attached to sticks. They’d hold them up, and
the idea was that pedestrians would toss coins for them to
catch. Dad stayed in San Diego to work during our summer
sojourns. Smart, as it’s much cooler there.
My Mom’s family brick home, up two flights of sparkly
concrete stairs from a tall curb, cracked sidewalk and sizzling
roadway, was at 1123 N. El Paso St. (Don’t ask how I remem-
ber the address, when I can’t even recall what I had for lunch
yesterday). Oh, the downtown included a large park-like area
with an open enclosure containing alligators. Never could fig-
ure out who came up with that idea. Occasionally, soldiers
from nearby Fort Bliss, apparently returning from Juarez canti-
nas, would loose an alligator, causing consternation.
The aunties who lived at 1123 with Granny Vicky were
Mary, Carrie and Flo. Mary and Carrie never married; Aunt
Flo was divorced. All had jobs, although Carrie was the only
one who stayed at the same place for many years. She
worked at Hotel Dieu Hospital, demolished years ago.
Granny Vicky had a heart condition, and became bedrid-
den after a time. She had a wonderful sense of humor, just
like my Mom, who was named Valentina, and who never liked
her full name, preferring “Val.”
Mary was famous for being late. At one point, no taxi
company would come to 1123 because cabbies don’t like to
wait for long, unpaid periods of time. Mary, a secretary, would
phone for a ride while drinking her coffee (from a saucer), and
before she had applied her makeup or dressed. So eventually
she found herself having to walk to work. Which meant she
had to get jobs fairly close.
Flo had some neat jobs, including one where damaged
goods were processed. Often she would bring home interest-
ing items for the house (or for a boy of around 13). Not to
mention food that was still good, but in dented or torn contain-
ers. I liked that, especially the tamales.
Carrie was a steady worker, a receptionist who did her
job and did it well. All three of my 1123 aunties bought me
“stuff” like ice cream and soft drinks. Or they’d slip me 50-
cents or a quarter so I could buy plastic soldiers or model race
cars. Most hot nights, and in El Paso all summer nights are
hot -- not as hot as the days, but close -- we’d sit on the front
porch overlooking the street. I’d guzzle ice cream floats while
my Mom and “the girls” enjoyed cans of Pearl beer.
Those are among my favorite childhood memories:
spending part of each summer at 1123, enjoying the compan-
ionship and conversation. And those ice cream floats.
Other of my Mom’s sisters were Vera, Stella (Sister
Grace Marie), and Frances. All fine folks, but they, like my
Mom, didn’t stay at 1123. More about them, another time.
Although my aunties,
Granny Vicky and Louie have
died in body, their spirits live,
and I do not feel that they’d
mind my sharing some
memories of them with you.
Cave Junction
Wednesday, May 19
Breezy with rain
High--60 Low--42
Thursday, May 20
Showers possible
High--49 Low--40
Friday, May 21
Clouds and rain
High--49 Low--39
Saturday, May 22
Rather cloudy
High--55 Low--43
Sunday, May 23
Mostly cloudy
High--51 Low--42
Monday, May 24
Sun with clouds
High--64 Low--37
Tuesday, May 25
Sunny and warmer
High--78 Low--44
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall
recorded at The End of the Road
in O’Brien by Cheryl & Harry
Johnson:
*Fri., May 7
72 42 .00
*Sat., May 8
70 37 .00
*Sun., May 9
64 42 .00
*Mon., May 10 51 38 1.06
*Tue., May 11 59 38 .00
*Wed., May 12 73 33 .00
*Thu., May 13 79 38 .00
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures and rainfall
recorded by Illinois River Farm
in Cave Junction:
*Fri., May 7
74 42 .00
*Sat., May 8
71 34 .00
*Sun., May 9
67 40 .00
*Mon., May 10 51 38 1.07
*Tue., May 11 62 38 .00
*Wed., May 12 70 33 .00
*Thu., May 13 79 37 .00
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
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Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330
Email: newsroom1@frontiernet.net or newsdesk@illinois-valley-news.com
Volume 73, No. 10
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A veteran’s view
From Andrew Patton
O’Brien
Sandi Cassanelli is a pa-
thetically embarrassing
county commissioner, but we
can take solace in the fact
that she is free advertising for
whom not to vote for in any
coming election (who’s pull-
ing your strings, puppet?)
Living in a community
of fellow veterans, I can as-
sure that none of us served
our country on an oil tanker.
I would gladly donate a
thousand dollars – we could
have a parade – and wave
good-bye to Cassanelli,
Brown, Walter, et al., as they
leave the county, with the
blessing of whatever God you
choose to (or not) believe in.
Gambling big concern
From Jean A Linck;
Problem Gambling
Treatment, Prevention and
Outreach, Options for
Southern Oregon
Grants Pass
I am writing in regard to
the ballot issue on social
gambling in Cave Junction.
As a problem-gambling
counselor, I have a real con-
cern that people will be vot-
ing on an issue that they
really don’t understand. Any-
one denying the negative ef-
fect that gambling has on any
community is severely misin-
formed.
The more readily avail-
able is any addictive sub-
stance/behavior, in this case
gambling, the higher the rate
of problems – the kind that
arise usually are not readily
connected to problem-
gambling such as not being
able to pay the power bill or
buy groceries. The drain on
community resources in-
creases everywhere access to
gambling increases.
- IVHS School Menu -
Sponsored by
SISKIYOU
COMMUNITY
HEALTH
CENTER
In a recent article in the
Grants Pass newspaper, An-
drea Thomas states that Gold
Hill has had no problems
from the presence of social
gaming. Then tell me why
Gold Hill has its own Gam-
blers Anonymous meeting.
When she states that she
would like to donate part of
the profits to local charities I
have two responses.
First, the charities would
need the money more than
ever in the presence of gam-
bling; second, it sounds like
the same ploy used to bring
gambling to the state in the
first place. Another comment
she makes is that people
wouldn’t be sweating over
thousand-dollar pots; it is all
relative, but in the years I
have been treating problem
gamblers I know that many
people can’t afford to lose
even a hundred dollars.
Oregonians didn’t under-
stand the long-range effects
of gambling on the state when
they voted it in, and I am con-
cerned that the same thing
will happen in Cave Junction.
Problem-gambling af-
fects 3 to 5 percent of our
population, and that number
is up to 10 times higher
among people who already
suffer from another addiction.
Also, it is affecting twice as
many young men than any
other age group.
Did anyone notice who
was sitting at the Gold Hill
tables in the Daily Courier
photo? Mostly young men. If
CJ needs more recreational
outlets why not come up with
healthy, family oriented ideas
and nix social gambling?
For more information on
problem gambling the state
has a wonderful Website;
(1877mylimit.org) check it
and make an informed vote.
(Editor’s Note: The
preceding letter was re-
ceived prior to last week’s
issue, but due to space was
not used until this issue,
even though the election
was held Tuesday, May 18).
SFI not ‘eco-terrorists’
From Bob Litak
Cave Junction
When reading Letters to
the Editor in Illinois Valley
News, I am often reminded of
the advice that it is better to
keep one’s mouth shut and be
thought a fool, than to speak
up and remove any doubt.
Unfortunately, a recent
letter-writer does not seem to
have learned the wisdom of
this axiom. In a misguided
and desperate attempt to pro-
mote his own political candi-
date, he has attempted to as-
sociate the Siskiyou Field
Institute (SFI) with “eco-
terrorists,” apparently be-
cause Josephine County
Commissioner Dave Toler
once worked at SFI.
To set the record straight,
SFI is an independent non-
profit organization that exists
to promote education, re-
search, and tourism in Illinois
Valley. SFI’s mission is to
deepen people’s scientific
understanding and intimate
connection to the Klamath-
Siskiyou bioregion by provid-
ing educational programs and
outdoor experiences to a
broad spectrum of the public.
As far as I know, SFI is
unique in attracting financial
support from organizations as
diverse as Rough & Ready
Lumber Co., and, yes, the
Siskiyou Project.
SFI’s board of directors
(the “players” in the letter-
writer’s jargon) consists of
President Kathy Burkey, the
Executive Dean Emeritus of
the Rogue Community Col-
lege Redwood Campus; Vice
President Kathy Krauss,
semiretired professor at RCC
and a long-time resident of
Illinois Valley, (where she
and her late husband, Lew,
raised seven children); Rick
Levine, President Emeritus of
RCC; Lee Webb, retired bi-
ologist for the U.S. Forest
Service; Meadow Martell,
former executive director of
Siskiyou Community Health
Center; Kristi Merganthaler, a
botanist who works with
BLM; Bruce Gibbs and my-
self, both local businessmen
with geoscience backgrounds.
I would challenge the
letter-writer to stop any of us
on the street and accuse us of
being terrorists.
Since Toler also did vol-
unteer work for I.V. Fire Dis-
trict and Three Rivers School
District, I wouldn’t be sur-
prised if those organizations
are accused of being terror-
ists, communists, or who-
knows-what. Regardless of
their political affiliation, I
expect that readers of the I.V.
News will have more sense
than to listen to those rants.
Who will save you?
From John Bazen
Cave Junction
Most church-goers, even
those who only go twice a
year, have some knowledge
about the “End Time” woes,
given us in Matthew 24,
Mark 13, and Luke 21.
Sadly, many of those,
even the ones who seldom
miss a sermon, and even
those who teach/speak, must
not fully know nor under-
stand Matthew 23.
We need only listen to
what passes today as
“Biblical knowledge,” and
ask why are so many of your
dearly held ideas and beliefs
not Biblical in the least?
I ask, “Who will save
you?” Your preacher, or your
church, or your traditions, or
self, or Jesus?
Touching upon man’s
traditions, have you not read
Matt. 23:9”...call no man
your father, upon earth, for
there is your Father, which is
in Heaven...” Again, where
do you put your faith? In
man, men or God?
You must know by now
that the Deceiver, Satan, has
many helpers in his attempts
to divide humanity from God.
Can anyone think of a better
place to deceive than from the
pulpits?
Never take the words of
men, over, or for, the Word of
God; learn this for your-
selves. There’s no other book
given to men, other than the
Bible, given to us by our
Creator, as His “blue-print”
for pointing out our require-
ments for our Salvation, by
the works of the Holy Spirit.
We must choose Him.
All who scoff at this and
reject God will themselves be
rejected, because our Father
knows that for these, life in
Heaven would be as our ideas
of Hell.
Say you saw it in the
Illinois Valley News
25647 Redwood Hwy.
Cave Junction
541-592-4111
THURSDAY, MAY 20
Pasta with marinara / meat
sauce, bean & cheese burrito,
chicken burger, cheeseburger;
cheese, barbecue chicken or
supreme pizza; Italian or turkey
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chicken wrap; chef, antipasto
or garden salad
FRIDAY, MAY 21
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chef, antipasto or garden salad
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chicken rice bowl, spicy
chicken burger, hamburger;
pepperoni, sausage, cheese or
Italian griller pizza; veggie or
turkey & cheese sandwich,
turkey wrap; chef, garden or
Mandarin chicken salad
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