November 2023
Editorial
Page 3
“The man who does not read, has no advantage over the man, who cannot read”
by Rusty Savage
So that’s what happens at
the end of a month of talking and
learning and listening and watch-
ing what is going on all around
me. It buzzes around in my head
and I struggle to organize and
balance out all the data. Like the
ripples in the pond when it rains.
The rings undulate out and collide
until they wash over each other
and creates the patterns that even-
tually settle down. Acceptance is
not always understanding, but it is
natural progress.
Hard to believe that Christmas
is bearing down on us. Wasn’t it
just the Fourth of July the other
day? I got a load of wood in
though and the cold and rain can
try to get me if they want, but I’m
ready for them. Thinking about
Christmas, I get a warm feeling,
thinking about family, kids and
grandkids. It just goes around
too fast, the season of giving, cel-
ebrating Faith and the promise of a
new year. Getting ready for the big
day, and it always seems to come
to soon and go too fast. And then
it’s around the corner again before
you know it. Oh well, it’s a jour-
ney, they say.
November is a month of a
couple of important holidays. Of
course, Thanksgiving is a major
shindig, no doubts about that.
Some of us prepare for weeks or
more with a big ol’ turkey and
all the fixin’s and desserts. And
there’s football and naps, dont
forget all the family and maybe
there is a roadtrip involved too.
Yea that’s Thanksgiving.
But the other biggee is Veter-
ans Day. Being a Veteran, it’s good
to see a day set aside to celebrate
and to be proud of your service.
But I don’t really think that is the
point of Veterans Day. Yes, we
honor the service of our Military
Veterans on Veteran’s Day. Maybe
remembering that honor every day
is not as easy as it would seem.
Honoring the premise that a man,
or a woman, for the love of their
country would willingly give
the full measure of their life, in
theory and in essence, in service
as needed by their Country. For
those who have done just that and
given some or all for this Country,
they deserve our honor and we set
aside one day to represent how we
feel about the Veteran everyday.
Parades for Veterans Day, that’s
a procession that marches right
into our national pride. It’s simple.
You like your freedom? Thank a
Veteran.
I hope that you enjoy the
November issue. There is more I
would have liked to have done.
More that I could have written
about and more that I would have
liked to cover and report for you. I
know there is more that you want
to know and to find out about. So,
it is for certain that I will be on the
hunt for news to bring you. I’m
also anxious to hear from you,
do you have something to report?
An observation or want to know
the answer? Shoot me a kite to
the Editor, I’ll let everyone know
what’s on your mind.
That’s is about it for this
month. Don’t forget, if a free
newspaper is worthwhile, thank
one of our Advertisers. Our Ad-
vertisers make it all possible, they
support the newspaper being free
so let’s support them. Whenever
you can, Shop Local.
Letters from the Librarian
“It looked like the world was covered in a
cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.”
— Sarah Addison Allen
It’s
getting
pretty crisp out
there.... I hope
you’re cozy
and stocked
up on books!
In
reading
jargon,
we
call that stack
of goodness a
“TBR,” or “to
be read” pile.
It can never be too diverse nor too tall.
Sometimes we have reading moods, and
we might need choices. Sometimes we are
about the finish the second in a series, and
it’s late Saturday afternoon, with the library
not open again until (gasp) Tuesday, so that
next book in the stack is a necessity!
November is for cookbooks and gath-
erings and gratitude. Are you a cookbook
fan? Some of us love a chatty cookbook,
in which we learn about the life and times
of its author. Some of us want to skip right
to the recipe. Either way, the library is a
great resource to try a new recipe or a new
cuisine altogether. As of this writing there
are 522 cookbooks in the Mildred Whipple
Library Catalog, and hundreds more avail-
able through reciprocal borrowing. Of
course, I’m partial to some of our book-
based selections. Eat second breakfast like
a hobbit? Attend a tea party like Alice in
Wonderland or explore the hearty offer-
ings of Outlander? All of these fictional
worlds and many more are represented in
the collection.
Oh! And while we are talking about
cooking, the library is cooking up a big
celebration for its fifth birthday this
month. The North Douglas Library Dis-
trict opened its doors in November of
2018. We’re so grateful for all of you and
our community. Please join us November
10th and 11th to celebrate.
Miriam Sisson, Director
Mildred Whipple Library, North Douglas
Library District
ndld.org
541-836-2648
- Mark Twain
Drain Civic Center
Continued from Front Page
It is very obvious that the Civic Center and the
Mildred Whipple branch of the North Douglas
Library District has many active supporters.
The history of our local library and a gather-
ing place for the citizenry goes back 90 years or
more.
The City of Drain has worked to help citizens
reach for improvements and a comfortable style
of living. By the same token, it is evident that citi-
zens of Drain have contributed an extra measure
of enthusiasm and no fear of investing sweat
equity to achieve greater comfort and to elevate
our residents general state of affairs.
On page 9 you will find a synopsis of the
history and efforts that culminated in the Civic
Center & Library that we have today.
The common thread that you find when
looking through that history, is the passion of
the individuals that brought the dreams to life. In
spite of the conditions and circumstance, even the
passage of time, they did whatever they could to
see it through.
These dedicated and persistant citizens
sought out the institutions and commitees that
would alloy them access to City governent. By
the sheer momentum of their efforts and sincerity
of purpose, citizen advocates made their common
causes a part of the fabric of the community.
Looking back at the growth and community
causes that defined the character of the little city
of Drain, it’s obvious that the grassroots here run
deep. The City of Drain had a reputation of City
officials and citizens working hand in hand to
accomplish the furtherance of the communities
well being.
In 1985, when the Civic Center was com-
pleted, the Civic Center Advisory Committee
was created to guide, forcast and network with
city officials to ensure that the focus and inten-
tions of the Center would be serving the public
at its best.
The advisory committee has been filled with
individuals who are committed and forward
thinking. They are focused on the minutia as well
as the big picture.
In fact it had been a tradition for City gov-
ernment to really rely on these committees and
boards to do the heavy lifting and provide the
City with needed data and observations.
\
Besides the Civic Center Committee there
is a Cemetary Committee that works in much the
same way and in fact, that committees’ efforts
have a huge impact on the appearance and over-
all operation to cultivate and care for the Drain
cemetary.
It’s in light of these dedicated folks who give
so much of their time and effort to hold stew-
ardship over these public resources, that I am
surprised to find the Drain City Council wants
to eliminate the Citizen Committees for the Civic
Center and the Cemetary.
There has been, now, several council meet-
ings that has set forth efforts to do just that. At
each of these meetings there has been a parade of
citizens pleading and editorilizing on the advan-
tages and the need for these Citizen Committees
as well as a tradition of Citizen involvement in
our city government.
After a council vote in October it appeared
that the committees were disbanded. It turns out
that the decision wasnt final and there may be
some sort of last gasp chance that this isnt a done
deal. I havent heard a good reason yet as to why
these are being cut out.. If you have an opinion,
there is a council meeting on November 13th.
Come down and express your opinion, or get
informed.
Ann Campbell is one of our citizen advo-
cates, she is on the Cemetary Committee. Below
is the letter she read at the last Council meeting.
I thought it was pretty compelling, what do you
think?