by Lowell Thomas

The sidewalk planters in the core area are looking a bit sad after our recent cold snap. The pansies are beginning to come back, and a few of the geraniums may come back from their roots. Seiya Nishi says the ideal plants for surviving the cold would be primroses. However, the wholesale growers of the hybrid primroses that would do so well in our winters don’t have them available in late summer when we need them. A few years ago Seyia had some left over in his stock that had survived the summer in a very shady spot.

He put them in the planters that year, and they did great all winter. The past few years he hasn’t had any leftovers (Coquille residents bought all of his stock and have them in their own yards). He said that to have primroses in the planters next winter would require “summering over” about 100 plants next year. This is possible, but the flower project would have to raise more funds earlier in the year to purchase these plants when they are available in the spring. This reminds us that it is time to start making donations to support next summer’s hanging flower baskets as well. Donations received by December 31 can be used as tax deductions for 2009 tax returns. Donations postmarked by that date and mailed to Operation Coquille, PO Box 225, Coquille, OR, 97423, will be receipted as 2009 donations. This project costs between $2,000 and $3,000 each year and is entirely supported by public donations. The new light posts adjacent to the site of the new McKay’s store have hangers for two flower baskets on each pole. The baskets and their flowers are estimated to cost about $100 for each pole.

This will be the first expansion of the hanging flower baskets in several years. The project committee hopes that the public will be generous in supporting this extension of the project into the former GP mill site this coming year. These poles have builtin watering hoses, so the new baskets will not increase the hand watering labors of the volunteers who take care of the existing basket locations during the summer.

Several of the faithful volunteers in this project are not going to be able to continue next summer, so some new volunteers will be needed next summer. Persons interested in helping in this project can sign up at the Coquille Garden Shop on Central (between Curves and the Motel) with Seyia Nishi. One of the objectives of Operation Coquille is to foster and encourage the redevelopment of Coquille’s core area to restore it to its former position as the cultural and commercial center of southwestern Oregon. Operation Coquille would like to remind the folks looking at various sites for a modernized community library that phase 3 of the community center development project contains a much expanded space for the library and ought not to be forgotten during the decision making processes. That phase provides for a retractable cover for the pool, and expanded library and a new visitors center. Folks interested in supporting or being involved in these efforts are encouraged to become Operation Coquille members. Membership forms are available in The Sentinel office on First Street in downtown Coquille.

Operation Coquille provides a tax exempt umbrella for many projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life in our community. Those having project ideas can apply for inclusion under this umbrella to enable them to offer tax deductibility to their project supporters and to obtain help in fundraising. Member dues and, sometimes, a small portion of earnings from investing project funds cover the expense of overhead functions so that all funds donated for projects are used to accomplish them.

McKenzie Hubbard, a graduate of Dee LaVon Massage School in Coquille and a licensed Massage Therapist since 2008, is having a grand opening with food and drink and free 5-minute chair massages at her new shop, “McKenzie’s Massage Therapy,” at 183 East Second Street (next to Samm’s Hair Care), on Thursday Dec. 17 and Friday, Dec 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. McKenzie became interested in the benefits of massage after being given massage therapy treatments after an automobile accident. She said that’s when she became interested in becoming a massage therapist, because the treatments helped her tremendously. In her previous job as a CNA, she found she enjoyed helping others, and she felt massage therapy was a wonderful way to help make other peoples lives better.

 Besides offering on-site chair massage, deep tissue, and relaxation massage, McKenzie carries a line of health products, including Biofreeze. She also has specials and gift certificates available. Appointments can be scheduled by phone for Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Walk-ins welcome on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.¤

Saturday, despite the threat of falling snow, varsity and junior varsity chess teams from Southern Oregon converged at Coquille High School for the first Chess League chess tournament. An elementary individual chess tournament was held as well. Varsity teams Marshfield and Coquille battled it out and ended up in a absolute tie, so the trophies were deferred to a future tournament to battle out a tie breaker event.

Due to the lack of varsity teams that were developed at the schools, an adult team made up of coaches and parents was formed to give some variety and hopefully tough competition for the high school teams. Coquille beat Marshfield first round, 3 to 2, Marshfield fell to the adult team during the second round, 2 to 3, Coquille beat the adult team during the third round, 3 to 2 and then Marshfield managed their revenge and beat Coquille during the final round, 3 to 2. So Coquille and Marshfield ended 5 to 5 after the 2 rounds against each other. Coquille’s Varsity team was made up of Jessi Ross, Tasha Keller, Stephen Mast, Deven Johnson and Ivy Hallmark. In the Junior Varsity division with six teams, the Coquille Middle School junior varsity team were undefeated and won the first place trophy. The team was made up of Jasmine Lambson, Hailey Riley, Aaron Grabinsky, Tyler Neuschwander and Jonathan Logan. Coffenberry Junior Varsity team from Myrtle Creek got second place and Marshfield got third.

In the Elementary Division, fourth grader Josiah Perkins continued to dominate as he won all five rounds. Fifth grader Jace Sperling was second place overall with 4 wins. Elementary results: Fifth grade: Jace Sperling first place, Kaden Johnson second place, James Hoper third place. Fourth grade: Josiah Perkins first place, JJ Newman second place, Cooper Page third place. Third grade: Jed Wright first place, Jordan Henderson second place. Second grade: Ethan Zigler from Myrtle Creek first place, Izabella Sperling second place. Kindergarten/First grade: Joshua Grabinsky first place & Gracie Wright second place.¤

This past week Coquille has been visited by “Jack Frost.” It seems that about every eleven years this character brings with him an extra quantity of refrigeration that damages water pipes, kills many of our hardier plants and generally makes life miserable for all.

 It has been a good time to stay indoors and spend time thinking about the benefits of living in Coquille. After all we can make ourselves feel less miserable by reflecting that all week it was colder everywhere else in Oregon than in Coquille, so the rest of Oregonians were more miserable then we were. Many smaller critters have also been suffering from the cold, but they too realized they had it better off here than elsewhere. Robins, sparrows, blue birds, black birds, crows, ducks, geese, egrets, and other flying critters stay here each winter rather than migrate. Homeless cats, dogs and other furry critters seem to survive quite well in the “wilds” of Coquille where they frequently find kind hearted humans to help them when they need it.

Even homeless humans are able to find help in this community. It is interesting to muse about what attracts people and critters to this community. There must be more than just the physical climate (weather) that makes Coquille such a desirable refuge from other areas of the country. After much reflection one can conclude that it is so desirable because Coquille is the home to an 1890's style gracious living not commonly found in the present age. The 1890's style of gracious living is a low stress, slower paced alternative to the fast paced high stress life style that seems to be the standard of the 21st century. It is a life style that provides unique opportunities for being a part of a community that cares for its folks. Folks can greet one another while strolling along the community’s walkways and share their feelings, concerns, joys and general news informally.

Seats are scattered throughout the core area for folks to rest, have something to eat or drink from a nearby establishment and enjoy the beauty of hanging flower baskets and sidewalk planters. Floral displays abound in residential yards throughout the city outside the core area for further enjoyment by strollers. The core area features shops whose personnel are welcoming and helpful to shoppers. Cultural and recreational facilities provide special opportunities for personal growth, sharing knowledge and experiences, sharing results of creative abilities, and enjoying a variety of entertainment events. Prior to the current economic downturn there was a steady stream of folks leaving fast paced California urban areas to move into Coquille.

These folks were attracted by our gracious living life style. They recognized that the quality of life during their “golden years” would be much better up here. Over the years this influx from other areas has created a wealth of creative talents being concentrated in our community that is normally only found in large metropolitan areas. This bodes well for the restoration of Coquille as the cultural center of southwestern Oregon. One objective of Operation Coquille is to foster and encourage the redevelopment of Coquille’s core area to restore it to its former position as the cultural and commercial center of southwestern Oregon. Folks interested in supporting or being involved in these efforts are encouraged to become Operation Coquille members. Membership forms are available in The Sentinel office on First Street in downtown Coquille. Operation Coquille provides a tax exempt umbrella for many projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life in our community.

Those having project ideas can apply for inclusion under this umbrella to enable them to offer tax deductibility to their project supporters and to obtain help in fundraising. Member dues and, sometimes, a small portion of earnings from investing project funds covers the expense of overhead functions so that all funds donated for projects are used to accomplish them.

The Coquille Valley Museum is open on Saturdays from 12 noon to 4 p.m. during the fall and winter months. We have gifts for sale, such as T-shirts with a picture of the Coquille Water Front in the early days as everything was shipped in and out on the river boats.

We have many books by local authors: “My Valley” by Boyd Stone, “The Coquille Valley” by Patti Strain, and “Doing of the Thing,” which tells about local hero Buzz Holmstrom building his own boat and the fact that he is the only man who conquered the Colorado River by himself. We also offer Myrtlewood Pens for $10 and Myrtlewood Walking Sticks. We accept donations to preserve our history. If you would be interested in volunteering your time to the Museum, we would like to hear from you! Please come in and browse around - This is YOUR Museum, and we do need community support! Special tours can be arranged by calling Bob Taylor at 396-2773.

A Museum Membership for 2010 cost $12 per year for singles and $15 per year for a family. You may send in your membership dues to Coquille Valley Museum, PO Box 723, Coquille, OR 97423. For further information, please call 541-824- 0076.¤

“Black Friday” has come and gone. The holiday season is in full swing and the community finds itself engulfed in a combination of commercial and sharing activities. At this time of year the needs of residents who are not having a very good year come to the forefront of community concern. The character of Coquille shines brightly, especially in these economic hard times, as it supports many benefits and giving opportunities to help local folks having special needs. Just last month the benefit program for the fund administered by Whoozits raised a record amount.

 Food boxes and free meals abounded throughout the area as people expressed their thankfulness for their blessings and shared some of these blessings with others who hadn’t been as well blessed. Efforts are under way to continue these sharing events through Christmas week at the end of the year. Then comes January and the end of the “holiday season” when the community turns to getting along in the new year, and the needy folks tend to sink into the background of their concerns. Organizations such as Whoozits and the food bank find themselves having to increase appeals for support from the public so they can continue helping the needy.

Readers are urged to include consideration of “extra” gifts to these and others (church and civic organizations) this month to make it possible for them to continue helping the needy during the early part of the new year. Residents are creating a festive, holiday atmosphere throughout Coquille. The Rotarians from the Coquille Rotary Club have completed renovation of the lighted decorations and placed them on power poles around the city. The hanging flower basket fixtures are again sporting Christmas decorations created by the Coquille High School art classes. The few which were damaged by wind last year have been restored by this year’s art class. The Coquille Chamber of Commerce will again have a community lighting contest for residential decorations. Details for this contest can be obtained at the visitors center.

The community is waiting with eager anticipation to see how many new and improved displays appear this year. In addition to all the decorating for the holiday season, various organizations and churches have scheduled an outstanding variety of events to celebrate the season. Information about these events are contained elsewhere in The Sentinel. New promotional efforts for restoring Coquille to its former position as the cultural and commercial center of southwestern Oregon will be getting under way under the direction of a new joint committee formed by the Coquille Chamber of Commerce, The Coquille Merchants Association and Operation Coquille, Inc. The committee hopes that increasing the effective “market area” for Coquille will enable it to again attract people from throughout southwestern Oregon to participate in and support cultural and commercial events here. Efforts will be concentrated next year on effectively spreading information about happenings in Coquille.

 Cultural and commercial event providers will be encouraged to stage frequent enough events that can be advertised to effectively attract regional residents to come to Coquille on a regular basis. The committee may be able to find a means to provide ticket purchase access to people around (and even outside) the region for performances being staged in Coquille. At one time, Coquille was the home for performances that had audiences of over 800 in its community center. Bill Marino, Chamber of Commerce representative, says he would like to see restoration of this level of cultural activity for the benefit of residents throughout the region. Operation Coquille, Inc. exists to enhance the quality of life in Coquille, providing a tax exempt umbrella for volunteer manned projects. Anyone having a new project idea that would help improve local quality of life is invited to bring their prospective project to our desk at The Sentinel office, or send a letter to us at PO Box 525, Coquille, OR 97423.