Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/786984
ChipThompson, Editor How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@ redbluffdailynews.com Fax: 530-527-9251 Mail to: Daily News 728Main St., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Theoriginalintentionof the William Tells column was to share happenings in and around the his- toric State The- atre. With that in mind, following is a condensed version of our 2016 State The- atre Annual Re- port. State Theatre Purchase: After an entire year of due diligence activities, in early 2011 the State Theatre for the Arts came to an agreement with private owners Ben Sale and Ron Clark to purchase the State Theatre for $440,000. With the amazing support of this wonderful community, the entire mortgage was paid off in two years. Today the State The- atre is owned by the STFTA, free and clear. Green Room Purchase: The State Theatre functions almost exclusively as a performing arts venue. Because the theater does not have a suitable green room, or dressing area, within its structure, the old Taste of Te- hama building adjacent to the theater was purchased in 2014 for $110,000 to serve as the best green room in the entire world. The green room building is to- tally paid off, as well. Restoration Progress: Af- ter paying off our mortgage in 2013, the STFTA set about the important work of restoring the historic State Theatre to its original state of grandeur. With support from an amazing north state community, the results, simply put, have been amazing. Our great friends from the McConnell Fund of the Shasta Regional Community Founda- tion selected the historic State Theatre as a grant recipient in 2011, 2013 and 2015. With these grants, we have been able to ac- quire the foundation for a state of the art sound and lighting system, replace our State The- atre blade and marquee, and replace our 70-year-old boiler heater system. Needless to say we love our friends at SRCF. With the support of Dud- ley's Underground Construc- tion, Ben's Trucking, Foothill Redi-Mix, Robert Douglas Con- struction, Tullis Construction, Red Bluff Fence, and Sierra Pa- cific Industries, we were able at no cost to us replace alley pave- ment, and construct a 1,000- foot patio adjacent to the the- ater. With the support of the Te- hama County AB 109 cabinet- making program, we were able to replace our old makeshift concession area with a beauti- ful state-of-the-art concession area. With financial and in-kind support from the Sierra Pacific Foundation, Madera Framing, Transfer Flow and Bear Creek Contractors, we have been able to tear out and replace our un- dersized and outdated State Theatre stage. With the completion of the new Haleakala Stage, we in- stalled a beautiful new curtain system that not only looks ter- rific but enhances the effective- ness of our State Theatre sound system. In addition to the above listed projects, we have also re- placed tile flooring in the lobby, upgraded bathroom fixtures, enhanced our sound, lighting and electrical systems, restored our interior marquee, installed safety hand railing and doubled the size of our handicapped seating capacity. In addition to raising $550,000 to purchase the State Theatre and adjacent green room building, it is es- timated that STFTA has, in the past three years, received over $500,000 in cash and in-kind services in support of restoration projects at the State Theatre. What a com- munity. Performing Arts Product: At the same time we are rais- ing funds to restore the the- ater, we recognize that it will be the quantity and quality of pro- gramming that will determine the success of the State Theatre going forward. I am pleased to report that our performing arts product is healthy and getting stronger ev- ery year. In calendar year 2016 we hosted a total of 50 events and concerts held at the State, with 20 being sponsored by ST- FTA and the remaining events taking place on a rental basis. Some 15,000 persons, an- other record, of all ages, shapes and sizes attended State The- atre programming during 2016. In keeping with our mission, a dozen programs were specifi- cally targeted to children. FundingSources Memberships: Every year over 200 individuals and fami- lies sign up up to support us as a State Theatre member. Mem- berships start at $50, and for $150 members are included in our reserved seating program. Membership funds currently exceed $30,000 per year. Box Office Revenue: In cal- endar year 2016, box office re- ceipts totaled nearly $125,000 allowing us to bring high quality concert programming to the State Theatre. Rental Program: We re- ceived approximately $30,000 in rental income in 2016. We love our rental partners, and look forward to expanding the rental program in calendar year 2017. 2016-17 Performance Series Sponsor program: In 2015 the State Theatre rolled out our sponsorship program wherein businesses are recognized in various ways for contributing to State Theatre programming at levels ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. This program has been immensely successful, and we thank the following Performance Series Sponsors for their generous support of the historic State Theatre: Si- erra Pacific Foundation, Ken Miller, Attorney at Law, Te- hama Family Fitness, Cor- nerstone Community Bank, John Wheeler Logging, Dig- nity Health, Rolling Hills Ca- sino, Banner Bank, Mill Creek Ranch, KIXE Public Televi- sion, Tedon Specialties, Mill Creek Ranch, Tehama Angus, Haleakala Walnuts, Prescott Ballroom and PJ Helicopters. In-kind Contributions: Many, if not most, of the im- provements taking place at the State Theatre involve in-kind contributions from area crafts- men and companies. For their skill and generosity we are most appreciative. Donor Recognition Pro- gram: Within the State The- atre lobby you will find our Donor Recognition Board dis- playing the names of nearly 150 amazing individuals, busi- nesses and other entities who have contributed from $1,000 to more than $100,000 in sup- port of buildings, improve- ments and activities associ- ated with the historic State Theatre. Simply put, we can't thank you enough. We are in the middle of our single biggest restoration proj- ect to date, and we need your help. For $500 you can sponsor one of 725 brand new theater seats. Seat sponsors are able to honor someone or something on a seat nameplate. Check out seat program details at www. statetheatreredbluff.com, or call 529-2787 for additional in- formation. BillCorneliusisalifelong resident of Red Bluff, a retired Chief Probation Officer, a champion of the State Theatre and an exceptional athlete. He can be reached at bill. cornelius@sbcglobal.net. WilliamTells StateTheatre's annual report summary Cartoonist's take When I was a boy, my mother loved listening to American crooners on our old wooden ste- reo console — Dean Martin was her favorite. Though I hated his "old people" music as I kid, I listen to it fre- quently on satel- lite radio when I'm driving my truck. Here's why: Dino celebrated romance, "a feeling of excite- ment and mystery associated with love," says Dictionary.com. And if modern music is the measure, romance is dead. I point to Billboard Maga- zine's Hot 100 list. Last week's No. 1 hit was "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran. His song is popular, no doubt, because of its eloquent lyrics: I'm in love with the shape of you We push and pull like a mag- net do Although my heart is fall- ing too I'm in love with your body And last night you were in my room And now my bedsheets smell like you... No. 2 on the charts was "Bad and Boujee" by American hip hop group Migos. Many of the lyrics for the song are unpub- lishable in a family newspaper, but, with edits in parentheses, these lines will do: (Fornicating) on your (derog- atory term for a woman that sounds like witch) she a (pros- titute, prostitute, prostitute, prostitute) Cookin' up dope in the crock- pot, (pot)... Ah, modern romance. Things sure have changed since Dino dropped off the charts. Whereas today's top hits cele- brate human nature at its most base, Dino's music spoke to the heart. Consider the lyrics to "Amore," which means "love" in Italian: When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie That's amore When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine That's amore In 1964, when The Beatles' new sound made them the most popular band on Earth, Dino knocked "Hard Day's Night" out of the top spot on the charts. He did so with "Everybody Loves Somebody," an old-fash- ioned song that still resonates with all age groups: Everybody loves somebody sometime Everybody falls in love some- how Something in your kiss just told me That sometime is now Whereas many of today's hit songs are vulgar and cynical, Dino's songs celebrate the sub- tle dance of the spirit between a man and a woman — the magic that occurs when two comple- mentary natures collide. Dino's songs celebrate mys- tery — the deep interest and curiosity a man holds for a woman and a woman for a man. They celebrate optimism — the hope that one day a special person will enter your life and sweep you off your feet, a per- son you will love forever. The simple, intense lyrics of his song "Sway" sum up this longing well: Other dancers may be on the floor Dear, but my eyes will see only you Only you have the magic technique When we sway I go weak I know Dino had his pecca- dilloes in his personal life, but his music remains untainted. With every passing year, as coarseness seeps into our cul- ture a little more, his songs hold more power over me. Their sweetness and respectfulness uplift me. We need to get back to that spirit — the spirit of romance. I can't think of a better day to do so than Valentine's Day. All we need to do is study the older couples who attend the annual Dean Martin Festi- val in Steubenville, Ohio, Dino's hometown. As the Dean Martin imper- sonator takes the stage — a fel- low so convincing you think the old crooner is there in the flesh — they saunter to the front of the stage holding hands. They begin to sway with a sweetness and easiness that couples knew long ago. When there was romance. Tom Purcell, author of "Misadventures of a 1970s Childhood" and "Wicked Is the Whiskey," a Sean McClanahan mystery novel, both available at Amazon.com, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist. Send comments to Tom@TomPurcell.com. Tom Purcell When there was romance Tom Purcell Last month marked 44 years since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision declaring a constitutional right to abor- tion. Roe remains one of the Su- preme Court's most controver- sial decisions. Even some pro- gressive legal theorists who favor legalized abortion have criticized Roe for judicial over- reach and faulty reasoning. Throughout my medical and political careers, I have opposed abortion. I believe abortion is the killing of an innocent hu- man life and, thus, violates the non-aggression principle that is the basis of libertarianism. Un- fortunately many libertarians, including some of my close al- lies, support legalized abortion. These pro-abortion libertari- ans make a serious philosoph- ical error that undermines the libertarian cause. If the least accountable branch of govern- ment can unilaterally deny pro- tection of the right to life to an entire class of persons, then none of our rights are safe. While I oppose abortion, I also oppose federal laws impos- ing a nationwide ban on abor- tion. The federal government has no authority to legalize, outlaw, regulate, or fund abor- tion. Instead of further nation- alizing abortion, pro-life Amer- icas should advocate legislation ending federal involvement in abortion by restoring authority over abortion to the states. Congress should also end all taxpayer funding of abortion and repeal Obamacare's abor- tion mandates, along with the rest of Obamacare. Forcing pro-life Americans to subsidize what they believe to be mur- der is, to paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, "sinful and tyran- nical." That is why I was glad that one of the first actions of the new House of Represen- tatives was to pass legislation ending all taxpayer support for abortion. Hopefully the bill will soon pass in the Senate and be signed into law by President Trump. Congress should follow this action by passing legisla- tion allowing antiwar taxpayers to opt out of funding the mili- tary-industrial complex as well. The House-passed bill also repeals Obamacare's mandates forcing private businesses to cover abortion and birth con- trol under their health insur- ance plans. Of course I oppose these mandates. But, unlike many other opponents of the mandates, I oppose them be- cause they violate the rights of property and contract, not be- cause they violate religious lib- erty. Opposing the mandates be- cause they violate the religious liberty of a few, instead of the property rights of all, means implicitly accepting the legiti- macy of government mandates as long as special exemptions are granted for certain groups of people from certain groups of mandates. President Trump has al- ready protected pro-life taxpay- ers (and unborn children) by re- instating President Reagan's Mexico City policy. The Mexico City policy forbids US taxpayer money from being used to sup- port any international organi- zation that performs abortions or promotes abortions. Using taxpayer money to perform and promote abortions overseas is not only unconstitutional and immoral, it also increases re- sentment of the U.S. govern- ment. Ron Paul is a former Congressman and Presidential candidate. He can be reached at the RonPaulInstitute.org. Ron Paul Will Congress stop forcing Americans to subsidize abortion? Bill Cornelius OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, February 15, 2017 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4