Here, There & Everywhere
COUNTY GAS TAX? - The possibility of a gasoline tax in Josephine and Jackson counties was to be discussed Tuesday, Sept. 11 in Grants Pass. ODOT reported that the topic would be examined during a meeting of the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation. We would have told you about it sooner, but the news release did not arrive until Sunday, Sept. 9.
TWO-DECADE DINNER - Pregnancy Center of the Illinois Valley will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a “See the Future” banquet Friday, Sept. 21 at I.V. Senior Center. The keynote speaker, registered nurse Cindy Nobile, will “share the miracles of prenatal development and ultrasound technology,” said Mary Lefner, pregnancy center executive director. Larry Nobile, of Focus On the Family, will be master of ceremonies. Tickets are available by phoning 592-6058; and they can be obtained via cash, check or credit card.
SIX-MILE CLEANING - Siskiyou Project is seeking volunteers to help remove rubbish from around the Wild & Scenic Illinois River near Six Mile Campground out Illinois River Road. On Friday, Sept. 21 volunteers are to meet at the Six Mile parking lot at noon. Serena Barry, a graduate of I.V. High School now attending Southern Oregon University at Ashland, is helping Siskiyou Project and the U.S. Forest Service to accomplish the clean-up before the winter rains wash it all downriver. Workers will spend the afternoon gathering trash from the river areas and dropping trash bags at a central location for pick up by the forest service. Joel King, Wild Rivers District ranger, has offered to cook beef and veggie-burgers for the volunteers at the end of the afternoon. Volunteers should come with sturdy shoes, clothes, gloves, and water. For more info, phone Kindi Fahrnkopf at 592-4459.
GRAPES A LA SOLE - As part of a fund-raiser for Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce, “amateur grape-stomping” will be among the features Saturday, Sept. 22. Bridgeview Vineyards Winery is the site for the fun event that also will feature live music, a silent auction, and hors d’oeuvres. See the ad on this page.
MAUER TOWN HALL - District 3 State Rep. Ron Maurer (R-Grants Pass) will host a Town Hall Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Redwood Elementary School in Grants Pass. He will focus on K-12 education and funding issues from the 2007 legislative session. He also will make a special presentation to the Williamson Family for passage of HB-3113 dealing with investigations of child abuse at child-care facilities.
PLINKIN’ PLEA - A few good string players are needed for the Rogue Community College Orchestra this school year. “We’re looking for violin, viola, cello, and bass violin players,” said T. Lund, orchestra director, who is retired music teacher from I.V. High School and Lorna Byrne Middle School. Rehearsals will be held Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. at the RCC Redwood Campus Rogue Bldg. beginning Sept. 26. For more information contact Lund at 592-6451.
GP BUSINESS BOOST - The ninth annual Grants Pass/Josephine County Business Retention & Expansion Awards Dinner, sponsored by Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce, will be held Thursday, Sept. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Riverside Lodge. Successful businesses will be honored with awards, and the keynote speaker will be Carmen Voilleque, a consultant from Extreme Arts & Sciences. For more information, phone 476-7717.
TO THE BAT CAVE! - Oregon Caves National Monument On Saturday, Sept. 29, will celebrate the 14th annual National Public Lands Day with a volunteer clean-up project. The National Park Service said that volunteers can join park staff with clean-up and restoration including lint removal, litter pickup and algae control at the site, 20 miles east of Cave Junction. Participants must sign up in advance. To sign up phone Elizabeth Hale at 592-2100, Ext. 254; or by using Elizabeth_Hale@nps.gov. Volunteers will receive a pass good for free entry any day during the next 12 months at public land sites managed by many public agencies.
BARTER FAIRE AFFAIR - Friday through Sunday, Oct. 5 through 7, are set for the fifth annual Hope Mountain Barter Faire. Sponsored by Dome School as a fund-raiser, it will be held on Page Creek Road, approximately 10 miles from Cave Junction. Features will include a family camp, bartering and trading, plus music, dance, workshops and a Kids Village. Watch for details.
NOTEPAD - Taylor Rose & Family will present a free program of musical entertainment at Horizon Village Active Retirement Community near RCC in Grants Pass on Friday, Sept. 21 beginning at 4 p.m. There also will be a barbecue. Phone 955-0777 for more information ... A golf tournament to benefit the I.V. Chamber is set in Cave Junction for Saturday, Sept. 29. See the ad elsewhere in this issue … Southern Oregon Antiques & Collectible Club will hold its 25th anniversary Fall Show the weekend of Sept. 29 and 30 at the Medford National Guard Armory. Hours will be 10 to 8 and 10 to 4 respectively … Actual headlines: *Specialist: Electric chair can be “extremely painful.” * Smokers productive, but death cuts efficiency. *Judge to rule on nude beach. *Old school pillars replaced by alumni.
LAST WORDS - I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it. (President Eisenhower/WWII U.S. Allied Supreme Commander)
