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6A Daily News – Thursday, March 8, 2012 Opinion Remembering Goldie Walston and her legacy D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer's home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Thousands of people use the Red Bluff Community/Senior Center each year, but many may not know that without the persis- tence of Goldie Walston, it might not be here. Although she was well into her seventies, she orga- nized the group to raise money for a center. In memory of Goldie and all who helped her, the Red Bluff Community Center, Inc., has an annual dinner as it continues to raise funds for the Center's needs. This year the dinner is on Sunday, March 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the center. Diners may chose from baked ham or oven tried chicken, roasted red potatoes, steamed yams, green beans, salad, "Death by Chocolate" dessert or orange cake. All this is offered for $8 in keeping with Goldie's philos- ophy of keeping prices within the reach of most people. As in past years Young Marines will be assisting the auxiliary vol- unteers. In the 1970s the city applied for a federal grant for a center, but it was denied. The city had an archi- tect draw up schematics and cost estimates, which were $3 million. Then the city put it up for a vote — a non-binding item asking whether voters would support financing a center. Although 42 percent agreed on the need, only 39 per- cent supported financing. The pro- posal went into limbo. That's when Goldie stepped in. As a woman who had worked hard all her life, she knew that without action, wishes were not likely to materialize. She asked the city manager, Dennis Fischer, how much money would be needed to show community support to get outside funding. He suggested $20,000. In August 1983 she and a group of her friends set out decorated coffee cans for donations. One of the first was put in Mike Folino's Sweet Shoppe. Rachel Walton drove Goldie all over town to col- lect the cans, some of which were unfortunately stolen. But they were undismayed. On Sept. 12, 1983, she made the first deposit with the city, and the account earned more than 10 percent interest for a while. Gene Penne became one of Goldie's advisors, and her group went through the lengthy process of incorporation and non-profit status as a 501(c)3 organization. Every day Goldie phoned all the people on her list, rallying her troops. State Assemblyman Stan Statham and his aides were prod- ded frequently. She and her helpers sponsored every kind of fundraiser they could think of. They sold baked goods at sidewalk sales, served coffee or cold drinks on the sidelines at parades summer and winter, held yard sales, put on luncheons, card parties and spaghetti dinners, saved grocery store receipts for rebates, served hot dogs and sodas at grand open- ings. But they also approached businesses and corporations for grants and donations. Effie Bonner, one of the origi- nal group, baked dozens of pies at a time for the bake sales, then went home and baked more if they sold out. Ella Costa's turnovers were one of the treats. If there were any leftovers, Goldie peddled them door to door downtown and at city hall. In less than four years, they reached the $20,000 goal, but fundraising continued and the city applied for a grant. Meanwhile the city received funds for a senior center replacing the decaying structure on the north edge of town. Those funds were later folded into plans for the center, and it became the Communi- ty/Senior Center. weeks before her death on Sept. 23, 1993, she was selling baked goods at a sidewalk sale. By then her focus was on a youth wing to be added on the west side of the building. After Goldie's death, Effie Bon- Guest View June When tidelands oil funds became available, Red Bluff resident Dr. Ron Clark contacted Assemblyman Stan Statham, who was well acquainted with the effort, and he agreed to carry a bill to provide $600,000. Even with a second grant of $300,000, the two fell short of estimated costs. Dona- tions of money, materials and labor, along with a $50,000 coun- ty anticipation note helped fill the gap. The state awarded the grants to Tehama county, and in 1989 ground was broken on city-owned property on the corner of Kimball and South Jackson streets. Even though incomplete, the Center opened its doors on Jan. 18, 1990. At the request of the city, the Auxiliary spent well over $50,000 of its funds for tables, chairs, caddies, furniture, window coverings, stage curtains, sports equipment, dishes and flatware, and half the cost of the walk-in refrigerator-freezer. The center was dedicated in June 1992, and Goldie received a bouquet of roses in recognition. Goldie never stopped raising money for the center. Just two Quincy ner, last of the original group, was elected president, and fundraising continued. When a separate endowment association was formed, the Auxil- iary stopped seeking grants from businesses and corporations so it would not be in conflict. The Auxiliary helped pay for fin- ishing the covered entrance, park- ing lot, outdoor lighting, bath- rooms and roof repair, much of it channeled through the endow- ment. About a year ago the endowment was dissolved and spent the last of its funds on the center. Now that the center has been in use for 22 years, replacements are needed for some of the Auxiliary's original purchases. They have recently bought new tables, dishes and flatware. Chairs are on order. Through the years the Auxiliary's donations have been more than $122,000. Goldie's dinner is in memory of her and the countless others who have helped. Many were seniors when they started, and have died since them. The dinner is one of the Auxiliary's major projects, along with a fall craft fair. Goldie's portrait by Ralph Ehorn beams down on us from the wall of the fireplace room, encour- aging the Auxiliary's efforts. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. In health care – affordability is accessibility Commentary Conservatives really wanted a fight about religious freedom. It appeared to be an easy win: turn an ObamaCare mandate that insurers cover birth control into a war on religion. The GOP, void of any ideas Obama hasn't contaminated by agreeing with, finds itself in an election year frantically looking for a bold battle cry. That sweet hot button issue that can excite their party and (hopefully) win them the White House (or maybe the Sen- ate). Their old standbys have fallen flat: Iran, abortion, climate change, child labor laws, and even gay mar- riage don't have the sparkle they once had for the Grand Old Party. Republicans can't seem to get excited about Mitt Romney as their '80s-teen-movie-smug-rich-guy- stock-character nominee. Worse yet, he's Mormon, which makes evangelical leaders grumble. So having a common enemy is the best way to bring everyone togeth- er for the proverbial good fight: Freedom. "It's important for us to win this issue," Speaker John Boehner told reporters last week. "Our govern- ment for 220 years has respected the religious views of the Ameri- can people and for all of this time there's been an exception for those churches and other groups to pro- tect the religious beliefs that they believe in. And that's being violat- ed here." Is Boehner coming out against anti-Sharia laws?! Or is he just conveniently forgetting the govern- ment isn't always so deferential to the pious? Mormons had to forsake polygamy to gain statehood, for one. In 1862 the then-General Ulysses S. Grant expelled Jews from his district of Tennessee, Mis- sissippi and Kentucky. And there were plenty of states where you couldn't hold public office if you didn't swear to believe in God (as opposed to Allah, Buddha or a fly- ing plate of spaghetti) until the Tor- caso v. Watkins decision in 1961. This whole charade of religious freedom collapsed under the girth of Rush Limbaugh. He pivoted what was supposed to be a church and state issue into snickering about young women having sex. For three days Limbaugh railed on law student, Sandra Fluke, who testified for congressional Democ- rats, calling her a prostitute and a slut for speaking in public about the need for birth control coverage. So the GOP was trying to take the high (read: holy) road and there was their mouthpiece driving them all off a cliff demanding Ms. Fluke post sex videos on the Internet. Now here's the thing: Even Rick Santorum who (oddly) thinks birth control leads to more teen pregnancies – who has previously said states should have the right to ban contraception – now tells Piers Morgan, "It should be available." This was tempered with the now irrelevant point about religious freedom. But even the way-out, cringe-inducing, extrem- ist-in-a-sweater-vest has to confess birth control should be available. Affordability is acces- Tina sibility. If it's out of your price range – it's out of your grasp. It doesn't matter if the pill is offered over-the-counter or in vending machines – if you can't afford it – you can't have it. Fluke's testimony was not about the legali- ty or morality of contraception – it was about students not being about to shell out over $1,000 a year for a medication in addition to purchas- ing medical insurance. If Republicans admit they think birth control should be available – that means they believe it should be within price range. The conservative talking point Dupuy on health care reform was summed up by Rep. Virginia Foxx: "There are no Americans who don't have healthcare," adding, "Everybody in this country has access to healthcare." In other words: Everyone has access to cake! We don't say every- one accused of a crime has access to a lawyer without providing one. We don't say everyone has access to police protection but charge more than anyone can pay. We don't say every child has access to education but require an outrageous tuition. Access is not abstract … unless you're a Republican law- maker. No, when you're a Republican "access" gets muddied with what- ever sham controversy they hope will help them. This week it's basic health care services for women. Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and the managing editor of Crooks and Liars. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.