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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 2015)
A4 V IEWPOINT Hood River News, Wednesday, February 11, 2015 O ur readers write JOE PETSHOW Publisher/President, Eagle Newspapers, Inc. CHELSEA MARR General Manager JODY THOMPSON Advertising Manager DICK NAFSINGER Publisher, Emeritus (1933-2011) TOM LANCTOT Past President, Eagle Newspapers, Inc. KIRBY NEUMANN-REA Editor TONY METHVIN Columbia Gorge Press Manager DAVID MARVIN Production Manager Subscription $42 per year in Hood River trade area. $68 outside trade area. NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION Printed on OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION recycled paper. Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County Published Every Wednesday & Saturday by Hood River News, P.O. Box 390, Hood River, Oregon 97031 • (541) 386-1234 • FAX 386-6796 Member of the Associated Press Project Graduation It’s ‘only’ February, but still the season to support an important program The unseasonably warm weather we’ve seen points us even earlier than usual toward spring. This suggests turning attention all the sooner to an annual rite of spring that, no matter the weather in Feb- ruary, always needs help this time of year. We refer to Project Graduation 2015, which is on now. Project Graduation is the parent-driven, community- supported effort to provide a safe and fun final party for the graduating class of Hood River Valley High School. True, graduation isn’t until June 5, but the folks be- hind the effort have been planning since last fall. In- deed, the planning is nearly-year-round, as coordinators take over the to-do lists from their predecessors and start putting time and energy into it in the summer. It’s a big project, and one that needs plenty or organization and, with it, plenty of support. The Project Graduation committee is now collecting funds to pay for entertainment, food, prizes, and more. Any monetary donation makes a big difference in help- ing honor graduates for a job well done and giving them a safe place to celebrate with friends. Many in-kind donations make the all-night party hap- pen, including the donation of the facility — Hood River Elks is doing so in 2015 for the 50th year. Perhaps other groups will look at ways to celebrate that anniversary donation by rallying their own contribution, in-kind or monetary. (If your group or business comes up with a project or campaign to do this, we’d love to hear about it at the News.) The drug- and alcohol-free party happens every year; the graduates walk away tired and happy. It’s a program richly deserving of support. If you can help, send your tax deductible donation to Project Graduation 2015, 1767 12th St., No. 178, Hood River, OR 97031. ‘Pulpit props’ in letters The recent listing in this place of “Letters to the Editor” writers dur- ing 2014 set me to thinking about the variety in the letters I read there. Some have helpful informa- tion. Some are plain, concise state- ments of opinions. I value these. Others are not so. They make me think of my favorite “preacher story.” After 40 years as a “preach- er/pastor,” I think I am qualified to tell it. As the story goes, on a Mon- day morning the congregation’s janitor was cleaning up the meet- ing place. He noticed some papers left on the pulpit. Thinking them discards, he picked them up and found they were the preacher’s notes for the sermon the day be- fore. In bold script on the margin at one place it said, “Argument weak. Pound pulpit!” I think of that when I read a let- ter that uses exaggeration, leading questions, innuendo or name call- ing. It seems to me, then, that if the writer doesn’t think the letter is s t ro n g e n o u g h w i t h o u t t h e s e “props” to hold it up, then I should- n’t consider it to be strong either. Perhaps other readers will want to remember this story and be re- minded that a plain, concise state- ment of the “whole truth, and nothing but the truth” can stand tall without other “support.” John Ihle Hood River Watch for pedestrians I used to work downtown in Hood River. I was always proud of the po- liteness of drivers and felt respected when I would walk to work or walk to get lunch. I now work from an of- fice on the Heights and sadly, I find that I’ve left the polite drivers down- town. What on earth happens to dri- vers in that half mile up the hill? I find that it doesn’t matter which in- tersection you are (attempting) to cross, people often don’t stop. I don’t mind waiting a bit to cross the street, but watching local police and school buses fly by annoys me more than a little. I have had people honk at me, flip me off and nearly hit me. One lady waved me on and then, appar- ently, forgot about me and started inching forward right into me. I’m hoping she forgot, at any rate … And, yes, in all these instances, I was in the marked crosswalk. When I walk my dog, more than once I’ve had to jump into the ditch on the side of the road to avoid cars who “didn’t see” me. Unless I am walking downtown, I wait for cars to go by, then I hope for the best and run across a street. Hood River takes pride in their treatment of pedestrians and bicy- clists, at least downtown. Maybe we could take the time to remem- ber we are the same people where ever we drive. Thank you for listening! Rheva Wren Hood River ‘I am schizophrenic’ I just read an article in the Wash- ington Post from a schizophrenic man explaining some of his life’s dilemmas. The replies from the readers shook me to the core. They were god-awful. Somewhere along my way, I came to believe that there is no longer prejudice and stigma (especially, hate-filled) attached to mental illness. Recently, I had a book of poems and prose published. I have been elated with the idea of finally being a published poet. A business asked me to come do a signing. When I admitted that I was mental- ly ill, everything changed. No emails were returned. In fact, my emails were blocked. Later, a journalist asked me for an interview and a bio. When I emailed the jour nalist and re- vealed I am schizophrenic and ex- cited to finally be recognized and valued again, I was shut down. In- stead of taking the opportunity to elucidate the public, only a few friends and family know of my book. I am broken-hearted. I am schizophrenic, but I have never been violent. I aspire to being gentle, loving and hos- pitable. I despise violence at any level. “Normal” people love vio- lence ... see movies and video games. Not me. And I am schizo- phrenic. “Normal” people go to ballgames and argue with the op- posing teams. Do you? I don’t. And I’m schizophrenic. “Normal” peo- ple drive aggressively, being rude, vulgar, making dangerous moves. Do you? I don’t. I’m schizophrenic. “Normal” people have tantrums that involve everyone around. Do you? If I begin to feel unsettled, hallu- cinate, or perhaps feel an episode of confusion and voices, I excuse myself, go home and deal with it on my own. This takes strength, cre- ativity, tenacity, patience and a strong will. Do you? I see it all around. Because it is me, I am schizophrenic, and that is a power- ful force. It takes a powerful mind to deal with it. My activities include writing, a walk to the post office, calling friends, playing with my dog and reading. See, I am a schizophrenic, well-read, well-travelled, well-spo- ken (or out-spoken). I am busy being schizophrenic. The hardest part? Having to explain. Leatha Ann Martin White Salmon Work with Republicans I believe that Mr.Tauscher is missing the whole point. President Obama is eroding the very foundation of our country and form of government. This sets a dangerous precedent where fu- ture presidents can flout any law they happen to disagree with and a l t e r t h e l aw w i t h o u t g o i n g through Congress. Each branch of government is to act as a check against the others and not sit idly by as one exercises authority it does not have. The President has said 22 times that he doesn’t have the authority to do what he has done. If it wasn’t crooked he would have done it before the mid-term elections. Twenty-five states are now part of a lawsuit challenging Obama’s lawless amnesty. Obama’s first goal should be to work with Republicans to secure the border, then work on the immigration issue, all while coming up with a plan to come up with enough new jobs so that we are not adding a few million people to our welfare sys- tem. We are already playing “Musi- cal Chairs” with the job market. Ron Morgan Mount Hood Parkdale Panorama pix What’s your ‘Favorite Photo of the Gorge’ The Columbia River Gorge provides endless scenes of beauty, and the Hood River News’ Panorama special sec- tion each April helps celebrate that. Readers are hereby invited to help us do that, in “My Favorite Photo of the Gorge,” an annual feature of Panorama. Send us your scenic photo from the past year — any season is welcome — with a short description of the place and circumstances. If you have more than one “fa- vorite,” a couple extras are welcome; we’ll pick and choose or use them all as space allows. Photos should be 1MB, 6-10 inches wide, jpg attach- ments preferred; send them to hrnews@hoodrivernews.com by March 1. W HERE TO WRITE President — Barack Obama, White House, 1600 Pennsylva- nia Ave., Washington D.C., 20500 E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov U.S. Senators — Jeff Merkley, SDB-40B, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington D.C., 20510. Phone: 202-224-3753; E-mail: oregon@merkley.senate.gov; Ron Wyden, 717 Hart Office Build- ing, Washington D.C., 20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Web address: www.senate.gov/member/or/wyden/general/ 2nd Congressional District Representative — Greg Walden, 14 N. Central Ave., Suite 112, Medford, OR 97504. Phone: 541-776-4646; E-mail: www.walden.house.gov/contactgreg Governor — John Kitzhaber, 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310. Phone: 503-378-3111; E-mail: www.governor.state.or.us/email.htm District 26 State Senator — Chuck Thomsen, 900 Court St. N.E., S-307, State Capitol, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986- 1726; E-mail sen.chuckthomsen@state.or.us District 52 State Representative — Mark Johnson, 900 Court St. N.E., Bldg. H-385, State Capitol, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1452; E-mail: rep.markjohnson@state.or.us Hood River County Board of Commissioners — Chair Ron Rivers, Vice Chair Maui Meyer, members Les Perkins, Bob Ben- ton and Karen Joplin, Hood River County Courthouse, Hood River, OR, 97031. Phone: 541-386-3970. County Administrator — Dave Meriwether, Hood River County Courthouse, Hood River, OR, 97031. Phone: 541-386- 3970. ON THE AGENDA Hood River County School board meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Westside Elementary School. These are the regular meeting times of governing bodies for these agencies: Cascade Locks Cascade Locks City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 140 W. WaNaPa St., second and fourth Mondays of the month. Cascade Locks Planning Commis- sion, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Cham- bers, 140 W. WaNaPa St., second Thursday of the month. Cascade Locks Port Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 140 W. WaNaPa St., first and third Thursdays of the month. Hood River City of Hood River Planning Com- mission meeting, 5:30 p.m., Hood River City Hall Council Chambers, 211 Second St., generally the first and third Mondays of the month. Place and dates subject to change. Hood River Port Commission, 5 p.m., 100 E. Port Marina Drive, board room, first and third Tuesdays of the month. Hood River City Council, 6 p.m., Hood River City Hall Council Cham- bers, 211 Second St., second and fourth Mondays of the month. Hood River Soil and Water Con- servation District Board of Direc- tors meeting, 4 p.m., OSU Extension Service Building, 2990 Experiment Station Road, first Thursday of the month. Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District, 6 p.m., Aquatic Center, 1601 May St., third Wednes- day of the month. Place subject to change. Hood River County Hood River County Board of Com- missioners regular session, 6 p.m., 601 State St., first floor conference room, third Monday of the month. Time subject to change. Library District Board meeting, 7 p.m., 502 State St., conference room, third Tuesday of the month. Hood River County Planning Commission meeting, 7 p.m., 601 State St., first floor, generally second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Hood River County Water Plan- ning Group, 2 p.m., 601 State St., first floor conference room, generally first Wednesday of the month . Hood River County Commission on Children and Families Board meeting, 5:15 p.m., Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital board- room, generally first Tuesday of the month. Hood River County School Board, 6:30 p.m., meets at schools and dis- trict facilities on a rotating schedule (visit hoodriver.k12.or.us for loca- tion), second and fourth Wednesdays of the month unless school vaca- tions or other holidays interrupt the schedule. Hood River County Transporta- tion District, 9 a.m., Hood River County Transportation District Board Room, 224 Wasco Loop, sec- ond Wednesday of the month.
