Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 2019)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 | 5A Topical and Timely Book Reviews by Siuslaw News reporter Mark Brennan B O O K M A R K S “The Good Neighbor, the Life and Work of Fred Rogers” By Maxwell King “Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best oppor- tunity for growing into the healthiest of people.” — Fred Rogers T he renewed inter- est in the unusual- ly low-key and quirky children’s show “Mr. Rogers Neighbrhood,” which ran nationwide from 1968 to 2001 — and its iconic host Fred Rogers — has resulted in a new major feature film release, a best-sell- ing biography and an award-winning docu- mentary. The new film, “A beau- tiful day in the neighbor- hood,” stars Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers. The film has garnered good re- views from the viewing public as well as critics, and is currently playing at City Lights Cinema through this Wednesday. The book “The Good Neighbor, the Life and Work of Fred Rogers” is an entertaining and well-researched look at Rogers life and the important cultural de- velopments introduced for the first time on the long-running show. The show also set the stan- dard for an intelligent, thoughtful approach to children’s programming, which until then was lacking. The new Rogers bi- ography was written by Maxwell King and pres- ents, for the first-time, material from the Rog- ers’ family archives and interviews with his co- workers and friends. It also provides a fresh in- terpretation of the work done over the decades by the show’s primary writ- er, host and producer, Fred McFeely Rogers. The book begins by recapping Rogers’ early years as an unhealthy youth in Pennsylvania. His family was well off and his mother was an active presence in the community of Latrobe, Penn., often writing a check or giving cash directly to neighbors in-need. The family’s strong ties to the Pres- byterian Church and its ability to help others was one of the lessons Rogers carried with him throughout his life. Religion was import- ant to Rogers as well, but as in most areas of his life he was accepting and respectful of the dif- ferences inherent in the world. Rogers was mar- ried to his wife, Joanne, for more than 50 years and she was often on the set during filming. Her council and support of her husband knew no bounds and she was an early and constant contributor to the ideas shared during the show. Helping others, either through the words he wrote for his characters or the actions he took out-side of the show, would always remain a central element of his life. “The real issue in life is not how many bless- ings we have but what we do with our bless- ings. Some people have many blessings and hoard them. Some have few and give everything away,” Rogers said. This message was the foundation upon which he built not only his per- sonal life, but also was one of the underpinning of Mr. Rogers Neighbor- hood. “I went into television because I hated it so,” Rogers once said in an interview with CNN. “I thought there was some way of using this fabu- lous instrument to nur- ture to those who would watch and listen.” The sense that Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was a place where ev- eryone was welcome, regardless of ethnici- ty or physical abilities, was a cornerstone of the show’s message to its young viewers. The inclusion of ac- tors of color, women and characters that were puppets was done in a way that was unusual at the time but, in retro- spect, can be appreciat- ed for its inclusivity and lack of bias. These unique aspects of the show, coupled with the low-key deliv- ery of Rogers, led some to the opinion that the persona of Fred Rogers was fake, according to Basil Cox, an executive with the nonprofit es- tablished by Fred and Joanne. “Fred was very contro- versial for most of his ca- reer. There were always a significant number of people who just didn’t believe him and thought it was an act,” said Cox. “They thought that somehow he was phony.” One of the most memorable and J OIN U S I N W ORSHIP THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Located at Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road Worship Services 10:00 AM Sunday All are welcome! 541-997-7268 FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Worship Services 10:00 a.m. Sunday Adult class 8:30am • Sunday school 10am Coffee Fellowship Following Service 2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025 FOURSQUARE CHURCH COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418 Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45 Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m. 1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337 Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family. Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 6pm-7pm Website:florence4square.com CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A. Corner of 10th & Maple –997-3533 Wednesday, 7 p.m. - Family Connections Adult Bible Class, 9:30am on Sundays. Sunday Services, 9am and 10:45am. florencecrossroadag.org • office@florencecrossroadag.org 21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113 Pastor Rachel Simonson – All are welcome Adult Forum 9:00 a.m. – Sunday school !0:30 Worship Service Sun. 10:30 a.m. www.florencenewlife Lutheran.org FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW 1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Ron Allen Wednesday 6 p.m., Sun.; 11 am & 6pm, Bible Study 9:45am Sharing the Hope and Love of Jesus Christ to our community by being Living Proof of a Loving God FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational Worship Service: 9:00 am & 10:30 am Middle School and High School youth groups meet on Wednesday. FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16) 1833 Tamarack Street (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.) Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m. www.churchofchristflorence.org FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 12th and Nopal –997-9020 • Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Online Worship Service@ florencenaz.church Wednesdays Celebrate Recovery 5:30 pm facebook:florenceoregonchurchofthenazarene FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH 1318 Rhododendron Dr. • 541-997-2523 Sunday Service 11am ( Children Sunday School) Mid-Week Activities, all ages. Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. , Reverend Greg Wood Sunday School and Nursery – Organ and Choir All Welcome. Come as you are. 3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136 RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) “War is still not the answer.” FCNL We worship in homes at 11am Sundays Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations. RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S. Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m. 85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038 DVD of Weekly worship service available. Pastor Randy Benscoter ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2135 19th St. –- 997-6600 8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m. Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth. meaningful moments from the show was a segment which includ- ed a discussion between Rogers and Jeff Erlanger, who at the time of his appearance was 10 years old. The two talked can- didly about Erlanger’s physical challenges and the reasons he needed a wheelchair. The conver- sation ended with the two singing a touching version of “It’s you like,” a song that became a regular part of the show. The willingness of Rogers to actually show Erlanger sitting in his electric wheelchair, and discuss his life, was groundbreaking at the time and remains an ex- cellent example of the changes Rogers made to traditional children’s programming. This was quintessen- tial Rogers, who felt that there were no sub- jects that were off limits if handled in a simple, straight forward man- ner. As appreciation for the manner in which he produced and hosted the show, Rogers was asked to speak before Congress in favor of a bill which would fund an entity that would become the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Nixon was opposed to funding a new form of media and wanted the hearings to show that the need for a publicly funded television net- work was overstated. He also wanted to use the $20 million that was being discussed to fund public broadcasting for the war effort. Rogers’ testimony that day forever changed the future of broadcasting and of children’s televi- sion. Senator John Pa- store was Chairperson of the Communications subcommittee which was holding the hearing, and Nixon hoped that the conservative senator would oppose the fund- ing. Pastore was inclined to do so, according to one of his former aides, until he heard Rogers’ testimony after which he said. “I think it’s won- derful, just wonderful. It looks like you’ve just earned $20 million.” Fred Rogers died from stomach cancer in 2003. But before he passed, he received the highest American civilian honor, The Presidential Med- al of Freedom, award- ed by President George W. Bush. Fred Rogers Productions continues the work of its founder, creating and producing meaningful children’s programming. A lifelong reader and learner, Mark Brennan will review one nonfiction book each month in BookMarks, a new feature of the Siuslaw News. Christmas with On The HT G I N TO Siuslaw News + Coast Charles Suniga and the Angels Saturday , December 14th • 6pm Florence Events Center Charles Suniga a Florence native, Siuslaw High School Alum, and two time grammy nominee brings his classic holiday cheer back to the coast. Charles will be backed up by the “Angels” Audrey Breznikar, Jeannine Harwood, and Julia Weiss along with returning guest vocalists performing many of the holiday tunes we all grew up with. For more information or to charge by phone, call the Florence Events Center’s ticket offi ce at 541-997-1994 or visit their website at www.eventcenter.org Tickets for the performance are $20 each Sponsored by: LOFY CONSTRUCTION, LLC You’re Invited 5 1 r e b m e c e D y a Sund Kids, Teens & Adults Present 11:00 AM SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES CATHOLIC CHURCH Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m. 1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312 FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST 4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951 Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M. Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M. FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP 87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road RUAUU? All are welcome to explore the answer. Sunday Worship Service ~ 10:00 a.m. www.FlorenceUUF.org - (541) 997.2840 Join Us In Worship 4 lines, approx 15 words, $10 a week 4 week Minimum Deadline 3 p.m. Mondays. To be included in this directory contact the Siuslaw News at 997-3441, or drop off information at 148 Maple St., Old Town, Florence. First Baptist Church Florence 1935 25th Street Come join us as we celebrate Jesus! www.shoppelocal.biz
