Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated January 27, 2010
(Editor“s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)
Typed, double-spaced letters are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be considered. “Thank you” submissions are not accepted as letters.
Museum milestone
From Dennis Strayer
Kerbyville Museum Board president and volunteer
2010 marks a milestone for the Kerbyville Museum “ it is 51-years old.
Like many other small museums, the Kerbyville Museum is facing declining donations, the loss of volunteers and lack of matching funds to qualify for major program-funding grants and/or maintenance.
The museum has a long, historic tie to Illinois Valley. In 1958, the Illinois Valley Federated Women“s Club purchased the 1.94 acres of land in Kerby that included the 1880 William & Nannie Naucke House. The club“s intent was to start a history museum to celebrate Oregon“s Centennial Statehood in 1959 and to serve as an official host site.
Women“s Club President Doris Boyd served as the Museum“s first curator.
A new main museum was built in the early 1960s to house many items that have been donated. The collection ranges from historic mining and logging items to U.S. military items, a mock General Store and old post office.
The management of the museum has gone from Josephine County, which leased the museum from the Women“s Club until 1998 when it returned the museum and property to the club, as the county wanted to get out of the museum operating business due to declining O&C funds.
Today, the museum is down to literally a handful of volunteers trying to maintain the historic buildings, keep the museum open and staffed five to six days a week.
While the museum is an IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we do not receive any discount on any of our utility bills, and we pay the same rates as any other business. In order for us to keep the doors open and the lights and heat on, we need to take in between $15 and $20 per day.
Recently, the museum received three grants, but these are tied to specific projects: our annual Heritage Day for the area fourth-grade students, and two restoration projects for the historic Naucke House.
Grants do not pay for operating expenses, including utility bills. Given the recent declines in the stock market, many grantors do not have the funds that they once had, so competition has made it harder for small museums like the Kerbyville Museum to qualify.
It is a simple fact that our museum admission fees have not kept pace with ever-increasing operating expenses. This past year, the museum had to pay almost $5,000 to make needed repairs to a leaking roof on the main museum and repair frozen water pipes and damaged plumbing.
In order for our all-volunteer group to keep the museum open to the community, we simply need assistance. There are several ways that people in our community can help:
1. Become a museum member. Your museum membership fees entitle you to four quarterly museum bulletins, free (unlimited) visits to the museum throughout the year, and a 10 percent discount on local and area history books sold at the museum.
2. Make a tax deductible donation to the Kerbyville Museum. All donations go to our grants account and are used directly for grant projects like the “Historic Naucke House Window Restoration Project.“
3. Purchase tickets for the “Historic Naucke House Doll House.“ All proceeds go toward a grant match to help restore the house. Tickets can be purchased at the museum; soon at three Cave Junction banks (on a rotating basis).
4. Become a board member and/or volunteer. The museum provides a New Volunteer Orientation Program, and we ask that you commit to at least one day a week. Various jobs are available from yard work and cleaning to writing text for exhibits and developing educational programs with our local schools.
So take a few minutes to fill out the Museum Membership form or phone 541-592-5252 and leave a message. I will return your call as soon as possible.
The museum will be open this winter on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Again, the modest admission is well worth a visit “ we have had people visit the museum for three or four hours and return again to see more.
All contributions go directly to help the Kerbyville Museum in its preservation of our valley“s rich heritage.
Crosswalk concerns
From Lloyd Franklin
Cave Junction
I have several points to emphasize.
I know I mentioned that I“m 66, live at the “Hopeful Rancho“ and come in Mondays and work at the Senior Center Thrift Shop.
Because of my eyesight and balance while walking, I need help to cross the street. Many drivers stop at the crosswalk when people cross, and it“s appreciated. But there are still some who buzz right by without stopping.
For those who agree with me about having a caution light and drainage system put in, write a note to Michelle Binker, I.V. News editor, so she can forward the letters. It takes more than one person to make a complaint to do anything.
Let“s get on the ball and do something before it“s too late for everyone.
Emphasize that we need a caution light and drain by the curb by I.V. Senior Center Thrift Shop.
Proud of her efforts
From Judy Hoyle
Cave Junction
I wondered why a man who lives north of Grants Pass would be reading the I.V. News and, frankly, hurt that this stranger would write a letter to the editor attacking me (Illinois Valley News, Jan. 13, 2010).
He evidently thinks he“s my superior because his ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War. Isn“t this the sort of elitism and oppression folks moved to America to escape“
Until now, I couldn“t imagine how anyone could misinterpret the words “social“ (like Social Security) or “justice,“ but he did a bang-up job. For the record, Social Justice Alliance works to defend the Bill of Rights; and my war veteran husband and I own property and guns.
This guy states that he“s against clean air and clean water, which made me wonder why he lives here and not someplace like Texas where the predatory capitalism he favors has pretty much destroyed the environment upon which humans, plants and animals rely.
Since we have socialism for the rich in this country and capitalism for us taxpayers; he must think it“s great that Republicans deregulated Wall Street to the point where Goldman Sachs made more than $12 billion this year. Their employees averaged half a million dollars in bonuses. This, after the president has us taxpayers bail them out. Surely he doesn“t think Dr. Ron Paul favors this sort of greed — which will destroy us all in the end.
Then I realized that this writer must belong to that cabal of right-wing nuts who conspire to take over our county government by adding Jack Brown“s incompetence to Sandi Cassanelli“s ignorance. Brown has run for various offices for years, but never gets elected. You“d think he“d take the hint.
Well, we all work to bring about our own ideas of Heaven-on-Earth. I“m proud of my volunteer efforts to build our community and have served on seven non-profit boards devoted to improving life in the Illinois Valley since moving here 12 years ago. I“ve organized everything from litter pick-up along Hwy. 199 to fund-raisers, educational events and business promotions.
I believe it“s not who we (think) we are, but what we do in this life that counts, and I do what I can to preserve and protect this beautiful world God gave us.
This shrill minority of “holier-than-thou“ extremists spend hours and days doing everything they can to disrupt public meetings in the orderly business of our county government. Since the majority of us have a life, they pretty much succeed. It sickens me to see the infantile way Dale Matthews and these other anarchists behave. I wonder if they really believe that“s what Jesus would do“
Toler, Ellis reprehensible
From Steve Shepherd
Selma
I am always amazed and amused when someone implies that the Illinois Valley News or Scott Jorgensen’s stories show bias in any direction. I read the I.V. News and believe its staff makes every attempt to keep personal opinion out of their reporting.
There are times when articles do not represent my view of the world. Is that bias“ I don’t think so, it“s just the way it is.
Recently a reader was offended when an I.V. News article illuminated the atrocious and outrageous behavior (my words not the reporter“s) of Dave Toler and Dwight Ellis in the matter of Sandi Cassanelli being denied her turn as chairman. The vast historical data of previous successions, while curious, is useless information and has no bearing on what Toler and Ellis did. That was then, this is now.
In bypassing Cassanelli, Toler once again looked like a smug, arrogant, control freak with an agenda and an over-inflated view of his own importance. Cassanelli doesn“t share his agenda, so she was deemed unqualified to ascend to the lofty perch of chairman of the Board Josephine County Commissioners.
Ellis on the other hand is Toler“s lap dog, who does what he“s told and doesn“t make waves. For that reason, Ellis was a very suitable candidate to continue as chairman.
Their excuse for passing over Cassanelli was that she might not be able to handle meetings. Can anyone forget Toler summoning sheriff“s deputies to the commission meeting to protect him from his constituents“ Now, that“s controlling a meeting, and a really great use of taxpayer resources.
Would Cassanelli have done worse“ I don“t know. Thanks to Toler and Ellis the citizens of Josephine County have been denied the opportunity to find out if she“s up to the job. Toler“s vision is to run the county like a Banana Republic — he dictates, we salute, sit down, and shut up.
Everyone should remember, a benevolent dictator is still a dictator.
Some readers feel that Toler and Ellis are treated unfairly in news articles. This reader believes they“re not treated harshly enough. Who is right“ That depends on your view of the world. My view of the world tells me what these two commissioners did regarding Cassanelli was inappropriate and reprehensible
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