Why I rant about the Gazette-Times

I know I speak disparagingly about the Corvallis Gazette-Times from time to time, which some may consider to be simple sour grapes griping about a former employer. But no... in recent weeks, the GT has aptly demonstrated why they deserve disdain.

Of course, their biggest screw-up in recent history has to be the announcement of Kevin Mannix triumphantly defeating Ron Saxton in the Republican primary. By the time the paper hit doorsteps (or flower patches) around town, it was clear to everyone else that Saxton had actually won. I didn't bother mentioning that here because it was plastered everywhere else

But even their minor mistakes are annoying. In today's paper, there is a glaring grammatical error that should never have made it past the copy editors. If they still have copy editors. This one can't be considered a typo. The sentence should read "An Oregon State University study finds certain names elicit discrimination," not "illicit" discrimination.

Just about every week, there are spelling errors and AP wire articles that are cut off in mid sentence, often paragraphs short from the original article. Sometimes these are minor and easily ignored. But it's the headline, for crying out loud.

Local farmer is a real fun guy.

Somewhere in the Willamette Valley, a truffle farm planted in 2000 is about to produce the first harvest of French black truffles in our state. A farmer identified only as "Peter" planted several varieties of hazelnut trees six years ago from seedlings grown at the USDA Germplasm Repository near Corvallis. After babying the crop along, improving the acidity of the earth by dumping tons of lime on the soil, injecting the roots with fungal solution and watering during the local dry season, Peter is now on the lookout for a truffle-sniffing dog to help him find his expensive little fungi, which should net him roughly $1,000 per pound on the retail market.

Charles Lefevre, a forest mycologist and nursery owner in Eugene, is selling tree seedlings and instructions in cultivating truffles to farmers all over Oregon in an attempt to add another local delicacy to the region. Oregon is already known for dungeness crab, chinook salmon, pinot noir, marionberries, Tillamook cheese and Harry & David's apples and pears ... why not truffles?

I think I'll stick to the rum-laden chocolate kind, however. Mmmmm.

Duck!

As promised, the famous Jack in the Box ducks... and a reminder not to feed 'em, cute little featherballs that they are. (Click for full size and less grain.)

Bowling for Scholars

The Oregon State Barometer announced today that the bowling lanes in the basement of the Memorial Union may be closed due to lack of use, meaning lack of financial support. This would be a real shame. When I was a student there, I would go there a couple times a month with friends to escape hot days and enjoy the lack of crowds, which is the MU's real advantage over Highland Bowl on Ninth Street.

Then again, I was practically raised in a bowling alley. My first paid job was keeping score for American Bowling Congress tournament games for tip money, long before computers were brought in to replace 10-year-old kids with decent math skills.

The MU Basement also has billiards and an arcade that are not being used, maybe because college students these days find it too easy to get into Tailgaters. But also, the bowling lanes there are really not maintained. Even in the early '90s when I was a regular visitor, the lanes were never kept oiled and the wood was chipped in places. The lanes have since been resurfaced, but the lack of oil is still a problem.

The decision isn't final yet, and some students are considering various promotion ideas to bring in more customers. Two bowling classes continue to use the lanes and the entire basement can be rented out for private parties -- maybe an opportunity for the frat houses to hold an event that doesn't involve kegs. Or not.

I may have to dig out the old bowling shoes and drag the Corvallist offspring down there this weekend in a show of support. I'll be sure to complain bitterly about the dry lanes for old times' sake.

How to keep the kids out of trouble -- Part I

In the land of suburbia, far from the endless activity opportunities of city life, some kids will spend their free time channel surfing on the couch, instant message surfing on the computer, complaining about being bored, or wandering around town looking for something to do. A little bit of wandering is good for any childhood, but too much wandering leads to thinking that throwing a couple rocks through the window of that building might be sort of fun. In recent years, several studies have been published that show that kids who have hobbies or are involved with sports tend to avoid spraypainting graffiti on walls and such.

Corvallis has a lot of great activities for kids of all ages, some of which I will cover in the weeks leading up to summer. For now, I want to write about an activity that is tied more closely to the school year, but provides an amazing opportunity for kids from 3rd grade on up through high school.

Tonight, I attended a concert put on by the kids in Elementary Strings and the Middle School Orchestra. Elementary Strings is a program that offers violin, viola or cello lessons to kids from 3rd to 5th grades during the school day at a very reasonable cost. Due to tight school budgets, the elementary schools here do not have musical instrument lessons included in the curriculum, so the Corvallis Youth Symphony Association started offering lessons at each school in town, with half-price scholarships to any child eligible for free or reduced lunch. Even parents interested in taking lessons can be involved; it's sort of neat to see parents on stage with a slew of 9-year-old kids, plucking and bowing with the rest of them. In middle school, the program is subsidized so that students in the 3rd and 4th levels of orchestra can continue their lessons.

This evening's concert demonstrated the progression of levels 1 through 4, with kids ranging from 3rd graders (who seem incredibly tiny) to 8th graders. The songs start simply, with all children playing in unison, and gradually increase in difficulty to Vivaldi concertos. By the time these kids reach 4th level, let me tell you, they sound amazing.

CYSA also oversees the Corvallis Junior Symphony and Corvallis Youth Symphony for those kids who want to explore orchestral music more intensely. There are also private music lessons provided through Gracewinds Music downtown, and kids in middle school can take up traditional band instruments.

Small town slumlords

In a small college town like ours, there are plenty of property owners who take advantage of lower income renters, knowing that most are either transitory college students or those without the resources and wherewithal to stand up for their rights as tenants. I understand that property owners have a difficult time sorting the wheat from the chaff, as far as tenants go, and college students and lower income tenants can bring major headaches. However, one recent situation has been brought to my attention that warrants mention.

The Ashwood Apartments, formerly known as the Oceana Apartments, used to be simple quads, i.e., four studio bedroom apartments that shared one kitchen, with two apartments sharing each bathroom. The prices were low and utilities were included. A couple years ago, Sterling Management Group took over management of the complex and instituted some remodeling, converting some quads into one-bedroom apartments with private kitchens and bathrooms. Tenants rejoiced. (After sharing your bathroom with complete strangers, wouldn't you?) Unfortunately, the initial remodeling was apparently not up to code, so the tenants who moved into these one-bedroom apartments were later told that they would have to move into different apartments so the units could be remodeled a second time.

In the interim, the former complex manager left the employ of Sterling and someone new was brought in to oversee the changes. He has apparently decided that this would be a good time to flush out some of the old tenants in an effort to bring in new blood. He forced several tenants to sign new leases under threat of eviction. Under the new lease, pet owners who had previously been permitted to have cats were told to give up their kitties or move out. The option to sign a lease year-by-year was removed and everyone was put on a month-to-month basis -- not the most secure option for those whose incomes can't really absorb frequent rent increases. Some of the tenants who had moved from poorly remodeled apartments into the newer refurbished apartments were told after the fact that part of their previous deposits did not transfer to the new places. In other words, despite this information not being included on the new leases, tenants were told that they had to submit a new non-refundable deposit of several hundred dollars or be evicted.

The majority of Ashwood residents are working class Joes and Jills, or living on disability checks, who are now facing a rather nasty choice between coughing up money to move to a new place, or coughing up money for the privilege of remaining in their current apartments. These folks don't have the money to pay lawyers, and many of them don't know their rights under Housing Law in the state of Oregon.

Fine. I'll post it here and the word will hopefully spread: Avoid Sterling Management properties.

In addition, I'll mention a few property management companies and apartment complexes that actually adhere to tenant law. I'm a big fan of Duerksen & Associates. When the owner of a property that I was renting decided to sell without much warning, Jerry Duerksen personally transferred over all my deposits and waived new fees to lessen the trauma. I also think Witham Hill Oaks, Witham Village, and the complex including Forest Green Townhomes and Rolling Green Apartments offer decent apartments and quality management. Your mileage may vary.

A mouthful of bliss

In the midst of our nasty little heat wave, the Corvallist family stopped in for dinner at Francesco's Gelato Caffé. After an amazing half panini with spiced turkey on foccacia and a cup of divine lentil soup, I remembered that I need to eat there more often... and that I really should point people in the direction of 208 S.W. 2nd St so that they can share the love.

The panini and soup are always good, but the place has "gelato" in its name for a reason. This is real gelato, folks, not the imitation gelatin crap you'll find in other so-called gelaterias in the Eugene area. The owners decided to open Francesco's after a trip to Italy, and they took a special class to learn the secrets behind making real gelato. All their ingredients are imported from Italy. After a trip to Europe in which my traveling partner and I managed to eat at every single gelateria in Italy and Germany (or so it seemed), I have to agree that this is the real thing. My favorite is the lemon. They also have truffles that are pretty amazing. If you order one of those, it comes on its own plate drizzled in chocolate with a tiny truffle fork.

The food is reason enough to go, but the restaurant is also just lovely. The owners managed to create a little Tuscan café with marble floors and tile rooflets. Plus, a full dinner with beverages and heavenly dessert for three cost less than $30 including tip. Sure beats some of the other newer restaurants in town that apparently believe you have to charge 50% more than the rest of the restaurants in town so people will believe your food is better than it actually is.

Mangia!

Effective vs. Ineffective Protesting

I've mentioned here before that I have been a long-time participant (off and on) in the peace vigil that takes place in front of the Benton County Courthouse every night from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. I participated in larger events in San Francisco and Portland as the momentum for the Iraq invasion increased, and helped block access to the Federal Building in Eugene the day the war began.

I've been politically active since I was a teenager, and have always believed in standing up for what I feel is right, or standing against what is wrong. It started when I was 15, living in a small town where religion was oppressive, and Operation Rescue came to town. I donned an orange vest and started volunteering as an escort at the local abortion clinic, escorting young women through the picket lines every weekend.

I only mention this to show that I wholeheartedly support the act of protest. Thomas Jefferson may never have actually said that dissent is the highest form of patriotism, but I do believe it is a celebration of our constitutional rights and, indeed, an act of patriotism. This country might not exist if it weren't for the unwashed masses standing up against their long distance king.

So, it may seem a bit odd to those who know me that I am completely disgusted with the vigil that was recently held in front of the National Guard armory on Kings Blvd. Originally, it sounded like a good idea: a march in the spirit of the original Mothers' Day, ending at the armory with a vigil intended to show support for veterans returning from the war, who haven't been particularly well-supported by their government for their service. Instead, the organizers decided to turn it into a confrontation, targeting the Guardsmen with accusations about local recruiting practices, marking up the armory memorial with sidewalk chalk, and littering the sidewalk with flag-draped coffins.

This basically proves the knee-jerk, flag-waving, "Support our troops!" folks right. By targeting the military personnel who do all the actual work, living through an unpleasantness few others can imagine, these protestors are sadly misguided. The government makes these decisions... they are fair game. But this protest brings to mind the pathetic mistreatment of troops returning from Vietnam. Way to go, guys.

Meanwhile, there was a silent bike ride yesterday to raise awareness for bike safety issues, also serving as a memorial to Robin Jensen, the teenager who was killed on her way home from work in 2004. It was a poignant tribute and an effective way to send a message.

(A final note: Local bloggers who post political messages but then refuse to publish any comments that show disagreement are really doing a disservice. If you don't actually want comments, maybe you should disable the option.)

A few updates to previous Corvallist rantings

Before diving back into current news, a few updates:

• Brenda Duran (formerly Kirkelie) has entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter in the 1982 shooting death of her husband. She will probably serve 20 years, after a nice long 24-year vacation.


• The Corvallis Police Department has determined that two of the police officers who posed with scantily-clad college girls acted inappropriately. Can I hear a resounding "Duh" from the audience? Ryan Thayer, who later started sleeping with one of the coeds when he was supposed to be rounding up bike thieves and stopping all those teenage drunks from running rampant in town, stated that now the public will "be able to see what we have to deal with, what type of people we deal with on a daily basis." Girls in lingerie? Poor baby.


• Sheriff wannabee Jack Burright, who claimed he never used his fake Farington University degree for advancement or promotion, apparently lied again. He listed the degree on an application seeking a lieutenant position in 2004. Burright is currently on administrative leave during the investigation. I'm surprised at the number of people writing in to the Gazette-Times to support his candidacy, but an awful lot of them seem to be old farts who have a problem with the idea of a gurl being sheriff. One of them, Tim Smith of Corvallis, even wrote a diatribe disclosing that Diana Simpson's "real name" is actually Diana Godfrey-Simpson. Oh no! She actually hyphenated her married name? Must be one of those feminists or something.


• The Corvallis city council passed the cell phone tax, despite the bizarre "Say no! SAY NO!" mass mailer sent out by the Oregon Telecommunications Association.


• The city planning commission rejected plans for the Seventh Street Station development, asking the developers to create a new plan that takes neighbors' complaints into consideration. Fair enough.


• And finally, our favorite local presidential candidate, Michael Smith, is holding a fundraiser this Saturday, May 20th, at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Go dance with the Hilltop Big Band from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and cough up a little pocket change to support the campaign.

This hiatus has been brought to you by the letters R and R

Yes, dear readers, I have returned. Really, I had not gone anywhere, but had decided to take a week off to finish up some other projects, catch up on sleep (always cherished with my absurdly busy schedule) and spend some quality Mothers' Day time with the Corvallist offspring. Thanks for the emails asking where I was. It was a rather pleasant surprise to receive those queries, so in the future, I will try to mention planned absences ahead of time.

So, the big news today, of course, was the bloody hot weather. Weather service put the official high at 92 degrees at 7 p.m., breaking the previous record high of 86 degrees for this particular date, set back in 1922. It's supposed to sink back down to the 80s for the remainder of the week, then into the 70s again, and maybe even rain this weekend. I hope it does. I don't mind a gradual climb to the expected higher temps in July, but a 20-degree change from one day to the next seems almost cruel.

Green Power

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency designated Corvallis as the third Green Power Community in the nation, after Moab, Utah and Boulder, Colorado. This means we exceed the EPA's recommendations on using renewable energy, a fairly remarkable commitment from the entire community.

Last November, city council president Charlie Tomlinson issued a challenge to our community: If 1,900 Corvallis households would sign up for renewable energy through Pacific Power's Blue Sky program, then we would have the highest usage of renewable energy in all of Oregon. We beat that number, with a grand total of 2,811 households and 93 businesses signing up for Blue Sky's renewable wind energy. The wind energy we purchase reduces the levels of carbon dioxide emissions in an amount equivalent to the removing 3,500 cars from the roads, or planting 300,000 trees each month.

In addition, several businesses in town have converted over to solar power through the Solar CREEK program. First Alternative Coop and Old World Deli were among the first businesses to install solar panels. Lincoln Elementary School also has a solar array and both high schools will switch to part solar power by 2007.

If you haven't already made the switch to renewable energy yourself, please at least consider doing so. It does cost slightly more, just as organic foods tend to cost slightly more than food from industrial farms. But the cost difference is a matter of pennies and the benefits to the environment are worth it. The Corvallist household switched over to Blue Sky about six months ago and the average power bill each month increased by less than $2 per month.

Corvallis has been a green community for ages, but it's nice to garner a little formal recognition. We have an extensive group of car owners in town who use biodiesel, including Jacques Chiron and his famous Turf Car. We have one of the highest percentages of bike commuters in the nation. We have organic food in virtually every store in town, not just the Coop, and Corvallis was one of the first cities in the country to start a free curbside recycling program. It's like there are tree-hugging hippies on every corner! Or maybe not. But our green-ness is definitely something to be proud of.

Jack Burright demonstrates his qualifications for sheriff by shooting himself in the foot

Jack Burright, candidate for Benton County Sheriff, apparently doesn't buy into this whole "integrity" concept. In a routine check of public records regarding Mr. Burright's employment and educational background, there were several discrepancies uncovered in his files.

First of all, his college degree and 3.9 GPA were bogus. He purchased these "credentials"in 2003 from Farington University, a University Consulting, Inc. diploma mill that doesn't actually exist as an educational facility. That BA degree probably cost less than $200.

"It seemed like a simple way to get things done," was Burright's rather lame response.

There were several other blatant falsifications, including checking that he was a graduate of Corvallis High School, when he actually dropped out and obtained his GED. He claimed to have a "pending" associate's degree from Linn-Benton Community College, but their office records show that he has not completed the required credits. That didn't stop LBCC from allowing him to teach criminal justice courses, however.

"I’m admitting to all of this. I didn’t pay close enough attention," said Burright.

While supplying false information on the application to run for office is a class C felony, punishable by up to five years in jail and a $125,000 fine, Mr. Burright announced Thursday that he plans to stay in the campaign. He firmly believes that falsifying records "not an issue." I hope it is. I would rather have a sheriff who actually believes in the law.

Diana Simpson, currently the undersheriff, is the only other candidate. By default, she will have my vote this fall. She is also endorsed by the current sheriff, Jim Swinyard, who has been a positive force in the community. More importantly, she apparently did something remarkable: she was honest.

"What's with all the religion?"

That's a favorite quote by a friend of mine, in response to the increasing religiosity in our society of late.

Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer, something that takes place on the first Thursday of every May, as it apparently has for the past 55 years. The self-declared official website of the NDOP actually mandates, "America, Honor God," then offers up a paragraph explaining that they are only talking about the Judeo-Christian observation of the holiday, although others can "celebrate in their own tradition," if they choose to do so.

Locally, a group of people will observe the occasion by hanging around on the courthouse lawn at noon and again at 5 p.m. to pray en masse, depending on how many masse show up. They're aiming for 500 people. That will be an amazing feat, should they manage to pull it off, considering Oregon is the second least religious state in the country and Corvallis specifically is one of the least religious cities in the country. In the past few years, the local group hasn't broken into triple digits, so this is a rather lofty goal. At least here in town, the group is more inclusive, and welcomes people of non-Judeo-Christian faiths to join in the prayerful fun.

And why? I know and admire people who hold their religions close and I would argue that they undoubtedly pray on a daily basis. They don't feel the need to climb up on a pulpit and demonstrate to the world what good faithful people they are. There was a time when I would've believed that this gathering was intended to strengthen community bonds, but now, in the era of rabid Us vs. Them mentality, it seems more sinister.

I tend to despair at religion in general, especially since it seems to be directly related to the closing of the American mind. So I'm debating showing up tomorrow with a giant poster of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or maybe a sign asking, "What's with all the religion?"