WHAT’S HAPPENING IN COQUILLE
by Lowell Thomas

One of the Operation Coquille, Inc.’s  early projects performed every spring was  the annual “Down by the Riverside” event  sponsored statewide in May by SOLV.  SOLV (funded by the state LOTTO) provided  materials and we organized and oversaw  volunteers.

Early on As many as 50 volunteers  including members of the local Good  Sam RV club, CAP cadets, boy scouts,  church groups and many individuals collected  as much as two tons of weeds and trash  from around the core area and along the  Gay 90's Parade route each year. As the  community became more active in keeping  the area looking good throughout the year  the amount of materials collected each  spring has declined. For the past two years,  and again this year, the local Cub Scout  Troop has been responsible for this clean-up  effort. It has become one of their main community  service projects.

They can always  use help in this effort. Any one interested in  participating with them can contact John  Rowe at 396- 4674 . The event is scheduled  for May 16, between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.  Supplies will be available at the community  center during that time period.  The hanging flower baskets are snugly  housed in the cold frame structures at the  rear of the new Coquille Garden facility on  Central. It took two days (last Wednesday  and Thursday) to get them planted because  volunteers had to work between rain showers  and couldn’t finish in one day as originally  planned. The project committee said it  still needs more volunteers to man the watering  truck starting in late May and going  through early September.

Watering is done  twice each week by a three person crew. As  in the past, having several crews means that  each crew has to make fewer watering trips  (about 2 hours each trip) during the season.  Donations are also still needed for the cost  of running the truck and providing fertilizer  to feed the baskets to encourage them to  grow to their fullest glory. This project is  entirely funded by community donations  and manned by volunteers, so it is truly a  community project.  It is encouraging to witness the amount  of local fund raising that is going on to  restore Project Graduation’s misappropriated  funds.

To help out these efforts  Operation Coquille is sponsoring a concert  by The FunkyJahPunkys, at 8:00 PM on  April 8, 2009. Admission is free, but donations  will be taken at the door for the 2009  Project Graduation. (Receipts will be available  for those wishing to qualify their donations  for deductions on their federal tax  returns.) This band is currently in the midst  of a nationwide tour to promote their newly  released CD, “Corporate Takeover” and is  graciously making an extra stop in Coquille  to help out our senior class.

This performing  group is expected to provide a “ something  for everyone” variety due to their  musical versatility. The public is urged to  come to enjoy the performance, support the  worthy cause of Project Graduation, and to  also participate in providing a new impetus  for attracting other performing groups to  come to Coquille. Response so far to current  promotions indicate there will be a  good turn out for this event.  Operation Coquille Inc. needs more  volunteer members willing to help carry out  community benefit projects for improving  our quality of life. Individuals can become  members by coming into the Sentinel office  on First St., completing a membership  form, and leaving the form with a dues payment  on our desk.

(Dues are only $20 per  year.) Three new projects have been submitted  since the beginning of this year.  Staffing and funding these projects will  provide opportunities for all who wish to be  involved in enhancing the quality of life in  our community.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN COQUILLE
By Lowell Thomas

Operation Coquille, Inc. is getting ready  to enter into its seventh year of service to  Coquille and the surrounding area. Six years  ago some of the loosely organized group  operating under the title of Operation  Coquille recognized the need to form a tax  exempt corporation to provide an umbrella  for community benefit projects. The corporation  was formed and received its 501(C)3  approval from IRS in 2003.

Since then it has  fostered many projects which have helped  bring Coquille up out of the doldrums it had  been in since the early 1980s. The restoration  of community pride has been commented on  by many visitors who stop by to enjoy the  beauty and amenities (benches, awning covered  sidewalks, etc.) now present in the core  area of our city. No longer do our teenagers  say they “wouldn’t be seen dead” in the core  area because it was so badly run down and  “dirty”.

Building owners have become  encouraged and have made much progress in  restoring their buildings downtown. The true  character of the community is illustrated by  the local financial support of approximately  $300,000 donated to Operation Coquille, Inc.  for community benefit projects since 2003.  Many outsiders have expressed disbelief that  such a small community in one of the most  economically distressed area of the state  could do this. However, when they come for  visits they see for themselves the evidence  throughout the community that it is true.

In  light of this they can begin to understand how  “such a small community” can have very  active volunteer groups carrying out multimillion  dollar projects such as the pool  replacement and river walk trail projects  going on at the same time. Even in this  period of national and international economic  distress Coquille’s volunteers continue  to move forward with their projects  and even beginning more new projects to  further enhance the quality of life style they  came here and stay here to enjoy.

Tragic as it was to see the theft of Project  Graduation funds, it is encouraging to witness  the amount of local fund raising that is  being concentrated on to restore Project  Graduation’s funds. To help out these  efforts Operation Coquille is sponsoring a  concert by The FunkyJahPunkys, at 8:00  PM on April 8, 2009. Admission is free,  but donations will be taken at the door for  the 2009 Project Graduation. (Receipts will  be available for those wishing to qualify  their donations for deductions on their federal  tax returns.)

This band is currently in  the midst of a nationwide tour to promote  their newly released CD, “Corporate  Takeover” and is graciously making an  extra stop in Coquille to help out our senior  class. . This performing group is expected  to provide a “ something for everyone”  variety due to their musical versatility. The  public is urged to come to enjoy the performance,  support the worthy cause of  Project Graduation, and to also participate  in providing a new impetus for attracting  other performing groups to come to  Coquille.  Now is the time of year when local supporters  of the hanging flower baskets are  sending in their donations.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN COQUILLE
by Lowell Thomas

The political leaders of our country claim  that their intention for spending so much in  stimulus money is to allow “shovel ready”  projects to get under way immediately (within  90 to 120 days) to provide jobs for the  unemployed. Coquille’s river walk project  certainly qualifies under this definition  according to grant writer Kathy Ingram.

However, the Federal Government is turning  stimulus funds over to the states to disburse  as they see fit. For some time the governmental  leadership in Oregon has had a bias  for funding projects in the major metropolitan  areas, so Kathy Ingram said at last  week’s project meeting that she wasn’t too  optimistic about “stimulus money” making  its way to Coquille for this or any other project.

The project is concentrating on pursuing  “non-stimulus” sources of funding and hopes  to find funds sufficient to begin paving a  portion of the trail this year.  Local fund raising is being concentrated  on overcoming the emergency recently created  by the theft of Project Graduation’s  funds. To help out these efforts Operation  Coquille is sponsoring a concert by The  FunkyJahPunkys, at 8:00 PM on April 8,  2009.

Admission is free, but donations will  be taken at the door for the 2009 Project  Graduation. (Receipts will be available for  those wishing to qualify their donations for  deductions on their federal tax returns.) This  band is currently in the midst of a nationwide  tour to promote their newly released  CD, “Corporate Takeover” and is graciously  making an extra stop in Coquille to help out  our senior class.

The new Project  Graduation Committee reports that they have  received donations to replace almost 25% of  the funds stolen. They hope this event and  other fund raisers will shortly replace all the  missing funds so this year’s senior class  members can have the same alcohol-free  post graduation celebration that past classes  have enjoyed. The Operation Coquille board  indicates that a good turnout for this event  would encourage it to consider sponsoring  other concerts in the future. This performing  group is expected to provide a “ something  for everyone” variety due to their  musical versatility.

The public is urged to  come to enjoy the performance, support the  worthy cause of Project Graduation, and to  also participate in providing a new impetus  for attracting other performing groups to  come to Coquille.  Folks newly arrived in Coquille are  invited to call 396-3191 (the Sentinel) to  request one of the Operation Welcome newcomer’s  bags containing valuable information  about where to find goods and services  locally. Bags also contain coupons, special  offers and other introductory materials from  local merchants and service providers as  well as other general information about life  in Coquille.

Dian Courtright reports that  she and her volunteer helper are receiving  great support from local businesses.  Now is the time of year when local supporters  of the hanging flower baskets are  sending in their donations. The project  committee reminds the community that this  is entirely a volunteer project wholly supported  by funds donated by local citizens.  Seiya Nishi reports that volunteers are now  needed for planting the baskets and for  manning the watering truck for the 2009  season for the hanging flower basket project.

Planting is scheduled for 2:00 PM on  Wednesday March 25th.Volunteers are also  going to be needed for replanting the sidewalk  planters later in the spring. Volunteers  can drop by the new Coquille Garden Shop  (between Curves and the motel on Central)  and give Seyia their name and phone number  to sign up for this project.  Operation Coquille Inc. needs more volunteer  members willing to help carry out  community benefit projects for improving  our quality of life. Individuals can become  members by coming into the Sentinel office  on First St., completing a membership  form, and leaving the form with a dues payment  on our desk. (Dues are only $20 per  year.)

by Lowell Thomas
The pool committee held its regular monthly meeting last week. Efforts to complete acquiring more signatures on its petitions encouraging the Coquille Urban Renewal Agency to commit $250,000 to the pool replacement project were discussed. So far almost 200 signatures from city residents have been secured.

The objective of these petitions is to show the agency that voters living within the city limits are in support of their making this commitment. It was pointed out that use of these funds coming from the existing incremental urban renewal tax revenues could result in freeing some of the city’s general fund tax revenue currently budgeted for operation of the community pool for other city needs because the new pool requires less general funds to operate. (This was the conclusion of a feasibility and operating plan study completed out last year.)

This commitment, along with funds already raised will provide a strong basis for encouraging grant funding organizations to make commitments for the balance of funds to complete the project. Once commitment of funding is in hand, the committee plans to direct the architect to prepare construction detail documentation. Currently, the earliest construction could begin is in the fall of 2010. In the midst of nationwide economic distress we still see folks moving into Coquille.

In the past few weeks several newcomers’ welcome bags have been given out. Operation Welcome’s purpose is to help newcomers become integrated into the Coquille lifestyle more quickly than they could otherwise. Folks newly arrived in Coquille are invited to call 396-3191 (the Sentinel) to request one of the Operation Welcome newcomer’s bags containing valuable information about where to find goods and services locally. Bags also contain coupons, special offers and other introductory materials from local merchants and service providers as well as other general information about life in Coquille. Dian Courtright reports that she and her volunteer helper are receiving great support from local businesses.

Now is the time of year when local supporters of the hanging flower baskets send in their donations. The project committee reminds the community that this is entirely a volunteer project wholly supported by funds donated by local citizens. Seiya Nishi reports that volunteers are now needed for planting the baskets and for manning the watering truck for the 2009 season for the hanging flower basket project. Planting will occur later this month. Volunteers will also be needed for replanting the sidewalk planters later in the spring. Volunteers can drop by the new Coquille Garden Shop (between Curves and the motel on Central) and give Seyia their name and phone number to sign up for this project. Last week our City Council considered the matter of liability incurred at the community center during events held there by various groups.

In the past some have provided their own liability insurance and some have not. Operation Coquille’s liability insurance covers all activities of its projects and volunteers. Since the city is already named as an additional insured (because of the hanging flower basket project using space over city owned sidewalks) any of its activities at the community center are also automatically covered. Operation Coquille project committees use the center for meetings and fund raisers and feel it is proper for their organization to shoulder the responsibility for any liability caused by their functions.

Persons having community benefit projects which might need to use the community center or other city facilities are invited to apply for inclusion under the Operation Coquille, Inc. umbrella. Operation Coquille Inc. needs more volunteer members willing to help carry out community benefit projects for improving our quality of life. Individuals can become members by coming into the Sentinel office on First St., completing a membership form, and leaving the form with a dues payment on our desk. (Dues are only $20 per year.)

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN COQUILLE
by Lowell Thomas

It is March and signs of spring are appearing throughout Coquille. Some flowering trees are already in bloom, showing brilliant pinks and yellows. Daffodils, jonquils and various white, orange and purple crocus, primroses and even some frilly purple pinks are showing up in many yards. Groups are preparing for some new community gardens this summer. One project is taking shape between the Methodist Church and Auto Clinic. The city has already contributed a big pile or river silt.

Plans are under way to build raised beds which can be planted with various vegetables by interested volunteers and community families. The objective of this garden project is to make it possible for families to raise fresh vegetables for their own use and also allow them to contribute their surplus to the food bank (nearby) for the benefit of other needy citizens. Some volunteers who have limited needs expect to make most of their summer produce available to the needy. This garden complex is modeled on others sponsored by Rotary Clubs throughout southern Oregon and will be the 21st one to get under way. Persons interested in participating in this project can contact Elaine Steele, pastor at the Methodist Church, to get more information and to sign up.

The pool project has submitted a request to the Ford Family Foundation to reactivate its grant request for the replacement community pool. The original grant request was placed on hold a year ago while a financial feasibility study and operating plan (partially funded by a grant from Ford Family Foundation) was completed. The study showed that the new pool was not only financially feasible, but could be operated with fewer funds from the city’s general fund each year. Efforts are still under way to collect petition signatures supporting allocating $250,000 in urban renewal funds to the project.

Originally the pool committee had hoped to present their petitions at this week’s Urban Renewal Agency meeting, but has not yet reached the desired number of signers and has decided to wait until more petitions are signed before making their presentation. Folks newly arrived in Coquille are invited to call 396-3191 (the Sentinel) to request one of the Operation Welcome newcomer’s bags containing valuable information about where to find goods and services locally. Bags also contain coupons, special offers and other introductory materials from local merchants and service providers. Dian Courtright reports that she and her volunteer helper are receiving great support from local businesses. Seiya Nishi reports that volunteers are needed for planting and manning the watering truck for the 2009 season for the hanging flower basket project.

Planting will occur in later this month. Volunteers will also be needed for replanting the sidewalk planters later in the spring. Volunteers can drop by the new Coquille Garden Shop (between Curves and the motel on Central) and give Seyia their name and phone number to sign up for this project. The Operation Coquille, Inc. board has reviewed the 2008 financial reports presented at its meeting this week. It noted that its conservative investment strategies have produced positive results for all project funds it holds. Because it has consistently stayed with interest bearing accounts and CD’s none of its funds have suffered the losses being reported by other tax exempt non-profit organizations who had stocks and bonds in their investment portfolios.

The board is pleased to report that all funds donated to Operation Coquille, Inc. projects are intact and will ultimately be used in the projects for which they were intended. Operation Coquille Inc. needs more volunteer members willing to help carry out community benefit projects for improving our quality of life. Individuals can become members by coming into the Sentinel office on First St., completing a membership form, and leaving the form with a dues payment on our desk.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN COQUILLE
by Lowell Thomas

It is March and signs of spring are appearing throughout Coquille. Some flowering trees are already in bloom, showing brilliant pinks and yellows. Daffodils, jonquils and various white, orange and purple crocus, primroses and even some frilly purple pinks are showing up in many yards. Groups are preparing for some new community gardens this summer. One project is taking shape between the Methodist Church and Auto Clinic. The city has already contributed a big pile or river silt.

Plans are under way to build raised beds which can be planted with various vegetables by interested volunteers and community families. The objective of this garden project is to make it possible for families to raise fresh vegetables for their own use and also allow them to contribute their surplus to the food bank (nearby) for the benefit of other needy citizens. Some volunteers who have limited needs expect to make most of their summer produce available to the needy. This garden complex is modeled on others sponsored by Rotary Clubs throughout southern Oregon and will be the 21st one to get under way. Persons interested in participating in this project can contact Elaine Steele, pastor at the Methodist Church, to get more information and to sign up.

The pool project has submitted a request to the Ford Family Foundation to reactivate its grant request for the replacement community pool. The original grant request was placed on hold a year ago while a financial feasibility study and operating plan (partially funded by a grant from Ford Family Foundation) was completed. The study showed that the new pool was not only financially feasible, but could be operated with fewer funds from the city’s general fund each year. Efforts are still under way to collect petition signatures supporting allocating $250,000 in urban renewal funds to the project.

Originally the pool committee had hoped to present their petitions at this week’s Urban Renewal Agency meeting, but has not yet reached the desired number of signers and has decided to wait until more petitions are signed before making their presentation. Folks newly arrived in Coquille are invited to call 396-3191 (the Sentinel) to request one of the Operation Welcome newcomer’s bags containing valuable information about where to find goods and services locally. Bags also contain coupons, special offers and other introductory materials from local merchants and service providers. Dian Courtright reports that she and her volunteer helper are receiving great support from local businesses. Seiya Nishi reports that volunteers are needed for planting and manning the watering truck for the 2009 season for the hanging flower basket project.

Planting will occur in later this month. Volunteers will also be needed for replanting the sidewalk planters later in the spring. Volunteers can drop by the new Coquille Garden Shop (between Curves and the motel on Central) and give Seyia their name and phone number to sign up for this project. The Operation Coquille, Inc. board has reviewed the 2008 financial reports presented at its meeting this week. It noted that its conservative investment strategies have produced positive results for all project funds it holds. Because it has consistently stayed with interest bearing accounts and CD’s none of its funds have suffered the losses being reported by other tax exempt non-profit organizations who had stocks and bonds in their investment portfolios.

The board is pleased to report that all funds donated to Operation Coquille, Inc. projects are intact and will ultimately be used in the projects for which they were intended. Operation Coquille Inc. needs more volunteer members willing to help carry out community benefit projects for improving our quality of life. Individuals can become members by coming into the Sentinel office on First St., completing a membership form, and leaving the form with a dues payment on our desk.