NOT about the Benjamins

Once upon a time ago (and some would say, in what seems like a galaxy far, far away) a rapper named P. Diddy - or Puff Daddy, as he was known back then - did a song called, "All about the Benjamins." In this grammatical nightmare, he attempts to convince his listeners that everything he does is for the money, and not just any money.  It's for the cool, crisp, hundred dollar bills with one of our founding fathers' face dead center. Not only does he love his money, but it's apparently important to him for people to see him with his money. We'd share some lyrics, but decided you could look them up at your own risk. 

Every new business that starts always knows, or should know, that the first 3 years are the hardest. Building clients, building supplies, start-up costs and other expenses can close many doors shortly after they open. So for many of us, it's still about the benjamins, right? Aren't we all here to make money, in the end?   

And here's why:

This year, our staff did a lot of volunteering, with over 700 hours combined. From fundraising at the Farmer's Market, operating a children's activity booth at various events, to even our web and graphics designers that donated their time to a new business to help them get off the ground. And something amazing happened. 

We discovered... 

A few of our volunteers have grown and changed so much over the last 6 months.  A couple were able to teach important life lessons to their children, who were able to volunteer with them. Some of our writing staff learned the value of getting up early and putting in a full day's work - because you know, writers lose sight of that, sometimes. Our technical team learned more about honing their web design craft, and is cranking out some amazing products. 

Some of the staff at the Farmer's Market fundraiser, The Lemonade Project, this summer

But best of all, our hearts were all opened to the people of this community. 

We met the people that walk our streets, and they shared their stories with us. We learns about the disabled, the small business owner, the single mom at home. We had many opportunities to listen to heart warming stories of triumph and struggle. We saw children playing, cooperating, in a imaginary land where they had the power to banish bullies. And we witnessed the joy of giving, in the light that shown in the smiles of someone plinking a dollar or two into the donation jar. 

Well, now it's back to work for most of us, who (for the most part) work hard at their daily job as well as donate their time. What does the future hold for us, in our volunteering adventures? As we look towards the joy of the holiday season, we see opportunities ministering to those at the mission, playing with the kids at the Children's Museum, or giving back through Toys for Tots. There are many more opportunities to volunteer, if you know where to look. 

And you won't be disappointed.

Remember: It's not always about the Benjamins.  Sometimes, it's about the Aarons, the Kelsies, and Sarahs, and the Davids. It's about the people and their lives you touch with a simple donations of your time. 

As always, follow us on Facebook and don't forget the new edition Chills and Thrills in the Klamath Hills is out just in time for Halloween.

So what do YOU think? Maybe  volunteer has touched your heart in a special way, or your had a an rewarding experience as a volunteer yourself. Maybe you're a local business owner who could benefits from some volunteers over the holidays to help lighten your load. Leave us a comment, post on our Facebook or webpage about your experience or need. 

Why Klamath Needs History

The Battle

The air is thick with smoke. The boom from the cannons shakes the ground. The reverberation in the air could be felt from miles away. With battle cries and rifles hoisted high, the soldiers rush into battle. Their heavy woolen blue coats seem to slow them down as they rush towards the gray and brown coats at the end of the field. In temperatures of 90 degrees or more, the gray coats took shelter in the shade of a large tree, watching the blues coming towards them. Nearby in the bushes stood their ally, a Cherokee warrior fully dressed in the tradition of his proud people. Off to the side are brightly colored creole soldiers from the Louisiana infantry, who are crying insults and taunts at the blue coats as they fire their long rifles. Infuriated, the blue coats rushed grays under the tree, where they met their "deaths." 

The South has one this day, but there are many other battles to be won. 

This weekend, the Cascade Civil War Society hosted an event out at Moore park, with historic camp life and battle reenactments. Despite participating in one of the most event-packed weekends of Klamath Falls, they had a decent turnout. With over 40 reenactors of all ages and a camp life that consisted of a medical demonstration, blacksmith tent, and a few time-period vendors, this was a great opportunity for an education experience about the time period in America known as "The Civil War."

The War

Any historian can tell you that the Civil War, from 1861-1865, was the bloodiest conflict that America has ever seen. With over 900,000 causalities on the Confederate side and an estimated 1.2 million for the Union, there were more deaths in this war that any other conflict combined. Why were their so many causalities, and what made this fratricide - brother against brother - so deadly? Why is this even important, it did happen, after all, over 150 years ago. But there are few very important things we can learn about our own society from the Civil War. 


1. Medical Advances: While the world of the 1860's was before antibiotics, antiseptics, and theories of how germs spread, the Civil War is responsible for huge leaps of medical advancement, including issues with pain management and the role of surgery triage. With so many patients flying into hospital wards, doctors had to learn more about the drugs they were using, and how to quickly and efficiently treat the wounded. 

2. The Roles of Women: Before the Civil War, the term "nurse" was synoptic with "prostitute". In many cases, they had no knowledge, no experience, and were typically abused by the troops. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln created the Sanitary Commission, where women could provide specific help to the soldiers - even if they weren't on the battlefield. The brace women of the Sanitary Commission arranged "mercy ships" to rescue dying soldiers from the front lines of battle, and we responsible for making quilts, soap, and food to send to the soldiers in need. Never before had so many women been involved in the war effort, and this practice even continues today with soldiers stationed abroad.

3. The Roles of Children: over 300 Northern soldiers were under age 13, having lied about their age to join what seems like a glamorous adventure. A few boys were even under 10 years of age! For the most part, younger children were musicians or drummer boys. Their fatality rate was very high, as they were usually responsible for leading the troops into battle. A few boys even served as heroes, using nothing by their bluff skills and non-weapons to capture enemy soldiers! (You can read about their adventures here.) After the war, however, the military realized that lying about age was a problem, and realized they need tighter registration restrictions. 

Klamath Kulture

So, by now you are probably wondering how this ties in with Klamath Falls, Oregon. Oregon, where the only effects of the Civil War were small skirmishes, feelings of dissent, and trouble with the local Native Americans. The Civil War was a country away back then, and the fighting and deaths didn't seem real. 

Klamath Falls is steeped in rich history of Oregon. As a stop on the Applegate Trail, we have seen many different cultures pass through out town in the last 150 years. We have seen names changed, lakes created, and building erected, burned down, and built again. We made it through the years of racism and inequality, and have come out still standing strong.

Wouldn't it be great to have one day a year when we celebrate our community? With men, women, and children in period dress that strolls the streets of main? What an awesome tourism event this could be! By bringing together Klamath Kulture and displaying it out loud, we could demonstrate how important our town is to us. 

Please join The 13th Floor for our new edition on August 13th, Klamath Kulture, and examine the rich history we have in our past, as well as our future. 

And while you're at it, please see our friends over at the Cascade Civil War Society. They could use your love and your bodies - for reenactments, silly! - to be a part of living history, and keep the memories of this important American event alive. 

The Boiled Frog Syndrome

Take a six-quart pan. Fill it with water. Put it on the oven. Turn the heat on high. While waiting for the water to reach a rolling boil, catch one mid-sized frog. When the water achieves that boil, toss the frog in. Don’t worry; the frog won’t get hurt. The shock of the temperature change will compel the amphibian to immediately leap out. It happens every time.

Now refill the same pot with warm water. Put the frong in before turning on the heat. Enjoy watching the frog demonstrate the backstroke. Turn the heat on "low." Every couple of minutes, increase the heat incrimentally until the water is boiling. At that point and with apologies to the ASPCA and PETA, you'll have one very dead (and well done) frog. The gradual change in temperature will go unnoticed by the little guy into it's too late.

What just occurred is called boiled frog syndrome. 

(From http://www.randgolletz.com/articles/2012/12/dont-succumb-to-the-boiled-frog-syndrome/)

This syndrome has been applied to everything from education, business, and even to politics and religion. Click here for a video on this concept: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBKz1wdK0M

How can we apply this in our own community? It seems a tad bit silly to compare the activity of a cold-blooded animal to the actions of a warm-blooded animal like humans. But look around, and you can see the temperature of the pot of water - our community - rising on a constant basis.

How do we know we are sitting in a pot of boiled water? Unlike the frog, humans have the cognitive awareness to look around them and make assumptions based on their situation. When it looks like the temperature is getting hotter, are you going to sit and bake, slowly adjusting to the surrounding changing until you die, or will you hope out of the pot and make a difference?

How may times have you heard this:

"That government leader, he/she is so wrong about everything."
"I hate that school, they have so many problems."
"I'm so mad at [insert big box business here]. They are destroying our local businesses."
"It's cheaper to eat unhealthy food, I can't afford anything healthy."
"I hate living in this neighborhood, no one seems to take care of their car/yard/children." 

Stop letting the water boil around you. 

Tired of your government? Vote to change it. Better yet, run for office and take a stand against changes.

Tired of schools closing? Join a board to help spread the word about budget changes and legislature. Take an active stance in your Parent Teacher's Association and bring about change. Don't wait for some agency to advise children on bullying issues. Take a stand in your own home and don't let you children bully, or be bullied, or be a vicimized bystander.

Tired of big box stores destroying local business? Don't shop there. Klamath is blessed with many local places for all your needs. Go to the local Farmer's Market (runs from June - October every year) and support local farmers who produce healthy alternatives. Shop at Thunderbird, a locally owned and operated grocery store. 

Tired of of your neighborhood? Offer to do some yard work, and plant some flowers to brighten the front of the house for know that neighbor that struggles to mow their over grown lawn once a week. Offer to let the use of your trailer to help them that neighbor that has garbage piling up outside their house, who probably doesn't have the resources to take care of it themselves. 

It's easier to complain than it is to change the world.

It's also easier to let the water boil around you instead of getting out and making a stand. 

Don't be a boiled frog.

(Special thanks to M.F. for sharing this concept with us.)

“The Bystander”

Anti-Bullying Art Showcase by Dave Carpenter

This week we talked to local artist Dave Carpenter about his upcoming showcase, “The Bystander.” This anti-bullying display will feature art related to victims of bullying, as well as actually bullying testimonies from those who were bullied, bullies, and those who lost their lives as a result of bullying. This is an important issue in our community. Citizens for Safe Schools has been actively campaigning to start anti-bullying classes and information spread around our schools, including raising money for a national program and hiring more professional staff to instruct kids about the effects of bullying.

Nevada Parents Educating Parents Reports these startling statistics about bullying. 

Why is this a passionate issue for Dave? It begins with a song. Inspired by rock artist Shinedown’s song “Unity,” Dave first began the concept of an anti-bullying showcase. Last year, Dave, a navy veteran, and a fellow veteran attended a Shinedown concert in Knoxville, TN. Dave purchased front row seats and backstage passes, so that he could meet with the band personally and tell them how they had personally inspired him. After hearing their new release, “Bully,” he was intrigued at the story behind the song. Research lead him to the distressing story of Amanda Todd, a young woman who recently committed suicide due to bullying. Dave was appalled to see how many negative responses there was to the case of Ms. Todd, and decided that Shinedown had a point – Bullying happened everyday, everywhere, and there wasn't enough people doing anything about it to make a difference.

Dave and Shinedown 

(See the video with lyrics for Shinedown’s “Bully” here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWPjk5iwGac)

Already with a heart for the impact of social art, Dave decided that he could reach out to others, before they ended their life like Amanda. He wanted to create a mural, dedicated to those that lost their life to bullying, and create awareness that the bystander holds the life and death of a victim in his or her hands.

Dave has a different idea about anti-bullying programs. Unlike many programs that are informational based, his showcase seeks to present to the public the very real, and often lethal, consequences of bullying. He will also be demonstrating how kids that witness bullying, “the bystander” are affected.

Once a bystander himself, Dave looks back on the instance, and realized he had stood by and done nothing. Later in life, in the workplace, he was again a bystander. But this time, he took an active role and saved someone’s life. He wondered how many other people had had the same experience. He told us: “If you’re a bystander, the situation is gray. You’re forced to make a last minute decision that will impact your life forever. If you have a true heart to help someone, you can save someone’s life.”

Inspired by his professor at Klamath Community College, Dave decided to put his artist abilities to use by creating a large display of bullying inspired art and testimonies. Via the use of social media and personal contact, Dave has collected over 20 true stories about the bully, the victim, and the bystander.

Although Dave is hoping that his mural showcase will provide children and adults with the tools they need to stop bullying, he is also hoping to reach out to people who are bullies – not only children, but the parents that may not be aware of their child’s aggressive actions. David said, “It’s always easy [for parents] to say their kids is being bullied, but are you strong enough as a parent or loved one to step up and say your child IS the bully? Will you do something about it, so they don’t continue to hurt others people?”

 Whether you have been a victim, a bystander, or even been the bully, come witness Dave’s powerful art and messages about the effects of bullying. It will change your life. Stay tuned to their website below for information about this powerful showcase.

For more information about The Bystander and to submit a testimonial to become part of this bullying awareness project, please go to http://thebystander.org/.

Puppies. Oh, and Bunnies.

We just thought we'd take a moment to share some submissions with you. 

For a full article on Pets of the Basin, please visit our website, The 13th Floor, for the upcoming edition, out on April 13th, 2013.

Jenn and 5-month old malamute, Luxer

Jessica's dog Cocoa, a 3-month old Patterdale Terrier, rescued from the local shelter

Madison and chocolate lab Chevy

Madison is definitely an animal lover! She also has 2 bunnies, Hershey and Pepper

Would you like to see your adorable puppy, kitty, birdie, bunnie, or snakey featured in our magazine? (And no, your children don't count as pets - even though they usually act like one!) Visit us on Facebook or send us an E-mail with a brief 300 word description of your pet, and no more than 3 pictures, with a resolution of 300x300 or greater. We look forward to showing the world the love of your life!

It's Warming Up, You Say?

With highs in the 60 today, it's pretty safe to say that Klamath Falls is having spring-like weather. This is, however, Klamath Falls. The winter-like weather could be here tomorrow. So enjoy it while you can! We have heard a lot of complaints - "There's nothing to do here!" So, we asked some of our readers what there is to do when it gets warmer. 

Warning - some of them will have you rolling in your seat. Apparently, people in Klamath Falls have a great sense of humor when it comes to our little community. So if you want to get outside, but not sure how to fully enjoy the sunshine, here's some suggestions (at your own risk):

1. Take down your Christmas lights. Christmas was, after all, 3 months ago. There's only so long you can use the excuse "I don't want to freeze out there!" 

2. Sunbathe in the front yard in a bikini. What? My grandma does it all the time!

3. Go to Wal-mart and go people watching. This is VERY entertaining.

4. Take a stroll downtown with your family, and support local business. While you're there, feed the ducks at Veteran's park. Avoid the greedy ducks that like your pockets.

5. Start your garden prep and yard clean up. Even though the weather can turn nasty at any moment, you can still clear out planting beds of weeds and put down potting soil. Also, good punishment for children.

6. Bake some cookies for your neighbor  It's not hot enough to avoid the oven yet, and baking can be a and all day relaxing activity. Not to mention the look of surprise on your neighbor's face when you deliver them! Please, don't do it naked. That's just awkward... for the neighbor.

Frisbee shooting robots! They get an "E" for Epic.

7. Build a robot that shoots frisbees in your front yard. Let nieghborhood kids load the frisbees. Please do not shoot it at your mother, she hasn't fixed dinner yet.



8. Enjoy a water gun fight. Because compared to -5 a few weeks ago, and large hail and snow balls 1 week ago, 60 is HOT.

9. Take your dog to the park, but make sure you keep him/her on a leash. This will help avoid those embarrassing "need to hump everything" moments. Also, extra entertaining if you have a smaller dog. 



10. How to walk your cat: 

Yeah... It's pretty much exactly like this.

• Buy a harness and leash for your cat.     
• Put harness on animal. 
• Attempt to walk. 
• Attempt to get cat to move at all for over an hour. 
•  Laugh hysterically. 
• Take frightened, vicious, clawing, insane animal inside. 
• Return harness and leash to store the next day for a full refund.

Well there you have it folks, a little good humor to go with your sunshine today. We hope you are out there enjoying it! 

The Shops of Yesterday

Egyptian plaza on the corner of Esplande and Main, whiched opened
with much fanfare in 1930 and quickly became a social center

For anyone that has traversed downtown, Klamath Falls has a certain feeling of nostalgia to it. In the 1930's, consumers came from all over to shop at our rustic shops, diners, and take in a movie at the old Poole theater.  Farmer's, politicians, and local businessmen alike all gathered for parties and dances at the Egyptian, dressed in identical black tie and driving the same model-T Ford (pictured above).

Montgomery Ward, Willard Hotel and Furniture Store, The Dimbat Motors, late 1930's

One of the biggest shopping draws during that time was the old 3-story Montgomery Ward, the first and only of it's kind of hundreds of miles (pictured on the far left in above photo). This huge shopping mall had the latest in women's, men's, and children's fashion, as well as hardware and farming supplies. Although many pictures are lost to the ages, this building still stands strong:

Today, residents know it as Yesterday's Plaza. This old mall still holds must of the boutique beauty it once had. It still features rows of trendy and fashionable clothing, designed for any special occasion. From wispy white wedding dresses, to adorable smaller versions for bridal parties, and to an everyday fun dress or suit for your loved one,  this boutique has everything. The friendly staff with even remind you of the personal shopping available for the elite back when this was still Montgomery Wards. My, how times have changed! But walking into Yesterday's Plaza is a blast from the past, and will make you long for the simplicity of those days. 

Gone are the farming and hardware selection of yesterday, and has been instead replaced with an extensive interior decorating section - Petri's Interiors - for any rock, granite, slate, shade, and carpet needs. This is a great opportunity not only to shop locally, but also work one-on-one with an expert who can help you choose the right brand and color for your home.

Yesterday's Plaza also offers a classy dining atmosphere with their newest adventure - the Social Supper Club. The continental dinners every Friday at 7pm offer a time to relax in the nostalgic yet stylish atmosphere, surrounded by the crimson and gold decor, drinking from crystal glasses and shiny plates. With every 4-course dinner is a fresh piping serving of tri tip, cut and served right at your table. If only the shoppers of 1930 had this experience! 

Not in the mood for dinner? The City Club, a sports bar located on the second floor of Yesterday's Plaza, keeps up the modern chic looks of black, white, and brown decor, with the nostalgic addition of the owner's past baseball celebrity awards and admonishments. Enjoy a drink at the bar and watch the game, or lounge in luxury leather on one of the many couches.  

Do you think the people of 1930 would be surprised or shocked to see what Montgomery Ward has evolved into over the years? Why or why not? Comment in the section below. 

For more info on current downtown, please read our Connecting the Puzzle of Downtown blog here. For full menus of events and more pictures of the boutique, City Club, or Petri's, please visit Yesterday's Plaza's Facebook page. For a full article on this long time building of the community, see our article in the February edition of The 13th Floor.  

(For more then-and-now photos of this site at www.whatwasthere.com; search for Klamath Falls. Don't forget to use the cool fader button to see how much this town has changed over the decades! You'll be surprised what we have replaced.)