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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, April 18, 2018
I woke up Saturday feeling a little blue; I have had some
depressing things on my mind like the mentally ill homeless in
our town and the news about the county commissioners fighting
for marijuana growing bans which has me picturing the town I
love becoming like a ghost town. Then, when I drove into town
and pulled into the Illinois Valley News parking lot to grab my
notebook, my mood darkened further because there was a big
pile of trash left near the front door of the office. I was short on
time so I grumbled and decided to pick up the mess later after I
was done taking photos at the I.V. Golf Club.
I made it to the I.V. Golf Club and immediately my spirits
lifted. The parking lot was so full of cars that people had to park
on the dirt lot next door. I have never seen so many cars at the
golf club. Community members showed up big time to support
the golf course for the membership drive/free golf tournament. I
was surprised to see so many people there with their children to
participate in this event and to welcome golf pro Rex Denham
back to the club house. I ended up having so much fun - taking
some great photos, meeting longtime Valley residents, talking to
Rex Denham and eating Kathy Kennedy’s delicious carrot cake.
I left the golf course feeling hope; hopeful that this
community cares and still wants to be involved in activities.
Next, I went to Lorna Byrne Middle School to take photos
of the latest RiverStars performance called “Red Gold.” I
walked into the theater room and was blown away. More than
200 people were in the room, standing room only, to support
our Valley youth. And then I really got a surprise, the show was
amazing!
Her life in
the Valley
of Riches
by Laura Mancuso,
editor
As a former school teacher I have seen many plays,
skits, dances, concerts, talent shows, etc. but I have never
seen such a special performance. It was nonstop entertainment
with music, dancing, acting, humor, colorful costumes with a
meaningful story. Kudos to all the RiverStars Performing Arts
staff performers and parents. Our Valley is lucky to have such
talent and dedication to the arts. I left the school feeling excited
and happy that so many people care and are involved with the
Valley’s youth.
Finally, I made it back to the Illinois Valley News office
and got one last surprise; someone had cleaned up the trash for
me.
Remember, the I.V. is a caring community and your
local newspaper cares about your opinion. We do publish your
opinion in the “Letters to the editor” section, even if your
opinion differs from ours, unless the contents are libelous or
scurrilous.
Enjoy this week’s paper!
Letters to the editor
Illinois Valley News welcomes letters
to the editor.
Please e-mail them to
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
POLICY ON LETTERS:
‘Illinois Valley News’ encourages letters
to the editor provided they are legible
and not libelous or scurrilous. All letters
must be signed, including name, 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. Letters are used
at the discretion of the publisher.
***
(Editor’s Note: Views and commen-
tary, including statements made as
fact are strictly those of the letter
writers.)
Fight Roundup not weed
The petty tyranny of the county
commissioners in Josephine County
is in your face. In their personal war
on marijuana they are now trying to
ban marijuana use and possession
on all county lands. Declaring it’s
to protect the children. Meanwhile
Josephine County maintains
a mandate to spray Roundup
herbicidal poison on all county
roads and lands. Roundup herbicidal
poison has nationwide lawsuits
against it for causing many types of
cancer and heart problems. So why
do the county commissioners not ban
the spraying of Roundup poison to
protect all citizens and children?
Mark Wichers
Cave Junction
Mental Health Issue, But
Not The Way You Think
I was appalled at Rick
Santorum’s comments on CNN’s
“State of the Union,” March 25,
regarding March For Our Lives.
He shifted the responsibility for the
shooting at Stoneman Douglas High
to the young people who have taken
a principled, outspoken stance by
criticizing their courage, saying they
should not look to others to make
a change; that they should go learn
CPR!
There is a deeper issue here
than blatant insensitivity.
Rick Santorum is only one
politician who appears to have
sold his soul to the National Rifle
Association (NRA), and the NRA
is only one entity who has greedily
bought our so-called leadership,
preserving at any cost their money
and privilege. To have sensitivity
to victims of such violence would
require empathy, and to have
empathy would mean to question
the legitimacy of a system that
values violence over lives; profits
over people. Santorum is a symbol
of the collective of beneficiaries of
this system. When he blames young
people, he defends violence and,
researchers know, violence connects
to shame. Selling one’s soul is
dishonorable at best; Santorum’s
comments are a refusal to feel
the shame and effects of his own
collusion.
Mass killings in America are a
national mental health issue, but not
just in the way we normally think.
Those who protect the existence of
massacres by refusing to act need
help and healing too.
Michelle Le Comte
Selma
Kudos to “Red Gold”
Wow! I went to see the Red
Gold dance/theatre show tonight.
This was one of the finest youth
theater productions I’ve ever
seen. Catch it April 20 at the Cave
Junction Farmers’ Market at Jubilee
Park. You can read a synopsis of it
on IllinoisValleyWeb.org. A brief
quote: Told through dance and
theatre, this magical tale follows
the Vincent family’s quest to grow
a garden in a world that has been
devastated and overcome with
concrete and pollution; a polluted
broken community of scarcity,
(perhaps like life after a Cascadian
Subduction Level 9 Earthquake).
No food, no fuel, choking pollution,
having to relearn how to grow food,
how to work with beneficial insects,
and ultimately how to rebuild hope
and joy.
Some say when we give youth
a voice, we light a fight that can’t
be put out. These youth evoke the
pain of broken community, the
desperation of loss, the will to
fight back and work for renewal
and the jubilation and celebration
of community learning to live in
harmony again. From the talented
teen lead dancers, to the beautifully
costumed butterflies and bees to the
adorable bad-bugs played by little
children, to the wise grandmother,
the show was funny, musically
rhythmic, well-choreographed,
touching and upbeat.
The leadership work of
Gina Angelique and Lindsey
Gillette clearly shows in this fine
performance. I went home with a
spring in my step and a song in my
heart. What a blessing to have this
kind of fine work happening in our
community. Don’t miss it!
Jerry Allen
Selma
More kudos to
“Red Gold”
One of the most thrilling
theatrical productions that I have
ever witnessed took place on Friday
the 13th at Lorna Byrd Middle
School. The cast, made up primarily
of students of various ages, were
a cohesive group of dancers and
actors, moving seamlessly from one
musical number or set of dialogue
into another. I am not sure just how
large the cast was, but it was huge!
Yet the stage never seemed crowded.
Some of the most innovative
choreography I have ever witnessed
was on display. Some of the kids
were downright acrobatic! Every
single player appeared to really
enjoy and feel the moves they were
going through, rather than seeming
like they were just moving by rote.
Many times, we the audience,
could not contain our thrilling glee,
applauding and cheering even in
the middle of so many skillfully
rendered musical numbers.
And the costumes! How in
the world did costumer designer
Alisa Ocean design, produce
and outfit such a large cast, with
almost all cast members having
more than one costume change.
What an achievement! Major
kudos to the three Arts Educators,
Choreographers and Directors, Gina
Angelique, Lindsey Gillette and
Kari Kvittem! What an amazing
collective achievement! And I should
note that the whole production was
written by Gina Angelique.
I have to give a shout out to
the two lead performers, Isadora
Millay and Elijah Ocean. These two
are born performers. Both are not
just hard working and talented, they
are gifted. Another lead standout
was Taylor Hammers - who opens
the show with a brief narration and
remains a presence throughout as
Queen Eisenia.
This is high class theatrical
entertainment worthy of being staged
in a large city. I was utterly amazed
at the immense fountains of local
talent that were gathered, honed and
made to blossom. We should all be
very aware and proud that so much
talent and dedication to the Arts
thrives here in our little valley.
Congratulations to the entire
cast and crew! And a huge THANK
YOU!
Alan Laurie
Takilma
I llINoIs V alley F uNeral D Irectors
www.since1928Hull.com
541-592-4110
Save the date
April 18
IVHS track varsity invitational at Hid-
den Valley High School at 4 p.m.
IVHS JV baseball game at Lakeview
High School at 4:30 p.m.
April 20
IVHS varsity track invitational at South
Medford High School at 3:30 p.m.
IVHS girls’ softball game at home vs.
Ashland High School at 4:30 p.m.
April 21
IVHS boys’ varsity game at St. Mary’s
High School at noon.
IVHS boys’ varsity game at St. Mary’s
High School at 2 p.m.
April 21
The Rogue Valley Rose Society will
have a parking lot/plant sale on Saturday,
April 21, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at
the Dutch Bros. headquarters parking lot,
located at 4th and G. Street (across from
Grower’s Market).
We will be selling roses and other
plants household items, tools, books and
more.
For More Information, call Barbara
541-955-8629
April 21, 22 May 5 and 6
The Coast Guard Auxiliary has just two
more GPS and NAUTICAL CHART classes
scheduled for this year on the weekends of
April 21 -22 and May 5 – 6.
Saturday you will learn to read, use
and plot courses on nautical charts with lati-
tude and longitude with the tools provided
for your use.
Sunday you can use our GPS units
Illinois
Valley
News
Published weekly by
I.V. News LLC
Daniel J. Mancuso, Publisher
focusing on how the systems work, the dif-
ferent functions while navi-gating between
screens and actually creating way-point and
routes that you can follow outside.
The course offered by the Coast Guard
Auxiliary at the Southwestern Community
College Curry Campus at Brookings is from
12:30 to 4:30. April 21-22 and May 5–6.
Space is limited so please reserve your spot.
208-863-8386, 541-469-8757, 805-350-0642
Continuing
*Evergreen Elementary school is look-
ing for SMART (Start Making A Reader To-
day) volunteers. The program will run Tues-
days through Thursdays and volunteers are
asked to come to Evergreen around 11:30
a.m. and will be out at 12:45 p.m. To learn
more about the SMART program you can call
541-734-5628 or visit the website at www.
getSMARToregon.org.
May 5
Join us for a Fiesta Luncheon Celebra-
tion on Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m. - 2
p.m. at Bridgeview Community Church at
5181 Holland Loop Road, Cave Junction,
Oregon. We’ll serve Mexican food and have
a silent auction to raise proceeds to benefit
the Pregnancy Center of the Illinois Valley.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 dol-
lars for children. Please call us at 541-592-
6058 for details and to purchase tickets.
May 6
3 RIVERS CHORALE presents “To
Carnegie Hall and Back”, the music of Ola
Gjeilo for chorus, piano and string orches-
tra on Sunday May 6, at 3 p.m. at Bethany
Presbyterian Church in Grants Pass. Tick-
ets are $15 and available at Oregon Books
and at the door. The Chorale is directed by
Kate Campbell and Janet O’Donovan is the
pianist.
The concert will also be presented on
Saturday May 5, 3 p.m. at Immanuel United
Methodist Church in Cave Junction with a
more limited orchestra.
Admission to the Saturday event will
be by donation.
Visit www.3riverschorale.org for more
information or phone 541-592-2981.
POSTMASTER: Please send
address changes to P.O. Box 1370,
Cave Junction, OR 97523
Illinois Valley News is published at
221 S. Redwood Hwy.,
Cave Junction, OR 97523
Telephone (541) 592-2541
Since 1937 periodicals postage
paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523
P.O. Box 1370 USPS 258-820
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One year in Josephine
County - $35
One year in Jackson and
Douglas counties - $36
One year in all other
Oregon counties and
out-of-state - $43.00
Illinois Valley News does not refund subscriptions.
Remainder of subscription will be donated to the
charity of your choice.
*The I.V. Senior Thrift Store: Join the
crew and make new friends. You don’t need
to be a senior citizen to volunteer at the store.
Call us at 541-592-6630. Open Monday –
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
*Illinois Valley Democrats meet the
2nd Saturday of every month from 10 a.m.
to 12 p.m. at the I.V. Family Coalition, 535
E. River St. in Cave Junction. Join with like-
minded people for camaraderie and to plan
actions in support of the Democratic agenda.
Call Anita 541-592-3073 to confirm meeting
days. Check us out on FB!
*The Sheriff’s Office Substation in
Cave Junction is now open on Mondays,
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 to 2. Volunteers
are still needed to staff additional days. Ap-
plications are available at the substation or on
line at http://www.co.josephine.or.us/Files/
Volunteer%20Application.Mar%202014.pdf.
*Cave Junction Patrol, LLC is looking
for volunteers. CJ Patrol is a private citizen
volunteer organization dedicated to effective-
ly addressing heretofore-unchecked property
crime in our city and neighborhoods. The
primary mission of CJ Patrol is to prevent,
interrupt, report and decrease property crime
in the city of Cave Junction. Call 541-592-
9665 or visit cjpatrol.org.
*Committee Meeting STATE OF JEF-
FERSON Josephine County 1st Thursday of
each month at 5:30 p.m. Black Forest Res-
taurant, Grants Pass and 3rd Thursday of
each month at 6 p.m., Wild River Pizza in
Cave Junction.
*Public Health Clinic- Location: I.V.
Family Coalition, 535, E. River St., CJ, 1st
Thursday of every Month services offered
STI Testing/Treatment, Women’s Health Ex-
ams (Annuals/Problem Visits), Birth Control
(All Methods Available), Pregnancy Testing,
Pre-pregnancy counseling. 3rd Thursday of
every Month: STI testing/treatment, birth
control counseling (methods limited), Preg-
nancy Testing, Immunizations. Call 541-
474-5329 for an appointment, and make sure
to tell the receptionist to schedule you in CJ.
Walk-ins welcome! Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30
p.m.
News - Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
Editor -Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Classified Ads -Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Circulation - Laura Mancuso
laura@illinois-valley-news.com
Advertising / Composition -
Dan Mancuso
dan@illinois-valley-news.com
Mailroom - Millie Watkins
DEADLINES:
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Letters
4 P.M. FRIDAYS
POLICY ON LETTERS:
‘Illinois Valley News’ encour-
ages letters to the editor pro-
vided they are legible and not
libelous or scurrilous. All let-
ters must be signed, including
name, 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.
Letters are used at the discre-
tion of the publisher.