By Jaime Yarbrough – July 1, 2022 Am still working (sort of) on my final chapter of ‘brainwashing’ in my “Why Do I Need to Know about Science” column. But in our last Crescent City Times Staff meeting a few topics were brought up I thought were worth bringing to the community’s attention. Sam has delivered an excellent article about our community swimming pool. As we discussed it I was reminded of….in the olden days . . . I think I was @ 7 years old (3rd grade) circa 1959 and the county had a swimming program where parents could send their children (via school busses) to ‘Gurney’s Pool’ in the Gasquet loop. Buck Gurney gladly offered the possibly one and only pool in the county for swimming lessons. The bus rides were the best part with everyone’s adrenalin pumping we would sing a variety of camp songs. It’s where I learned ’99 bottles of beer on the wall” and others I can only remember a few words of. There were no rules except, no running, and no one in the pool 45 minutes after eating (anything). There was a snack bar for ‘snacks’ and beverages. Various age groups attended and the highlights were after learning how to swim, getting to go into the ‘deep end’ and diving off the diving board. It was a glorious time to be a kid. Reflecting on todays ‘situation’ I was saddened to learn there are currently (possibly) less than 30 full time users of the Endert’s Pool. Very few if any children. There is no support from the “Parks and Recreation Department”/ School District to see the county’s kids know how to swim. Nor are there any ‘swim teams’ like there are football, baseball, basketball and tennis teams. As I pondered out loud why that couldn’t happen again I was quickly reminded of the ‘sue yourself rich crowd’ and the first kid who skins their knee closes down any effort for a private pool owner to follow in the footsteps of the past. And heavens forbid the cost . . . ?? This is where I hung my head in disbelief….asking ‘How did we do it then ?’ NEXT UP- Gamblng in California As most of you have seen there is a drive by the ‘tribes’ in California to keep control of their semi-monopoly of gaming in the State. Aside from government sanctioned horse racing, card rooms and the lottery, OR on a sovereign nations property there will be no casinos/slot machines/ or card gambling…unless the proposed online gaming measure is passed in November by ‘greedy corporations’ bent on depriving the tribes from their supportive income. This is NOT Nevada. Supposedly, if you vote for the measure you are opening the gates of hell and taking the food from native American children… and the money that they so frequently use to buy up more of California land. Plus or minus the evils of gambling, and gambling addiction this is a complex issue, but with the current casinos we are half way down that road already and there’s no turning back. Something to consider and research. 3 . . . . The 53 rd Gasquet Raft Race “Sponsored by The American Legion Post 548 Come join us at the 53rd Annual Gasquet Raft Race on July 9, Sign-ups start at 10AM at the American Legion Hall. The race Starts at 12PM at the forks. The sign-up fee this year is $35.00 which includes a t-shirt. There will be prizes for the winner of the race and for Best Raft. We will have Taylor's hotdogs for sale, vendors, and Port-O-Pints will be there with beer. The American Legion bar will also be opened and a Margarita stand. There will be live music as well. Please join us for our first Official Raft Race in three years! Thank you to all of our contributors for this years race. As always, it is hosted by the American Legion, and all proceeds are for the benefit of the community and the veterans. We would greatly appreciate any and all much needed monetary donations, which are tax deductible. NON-PROFIT NUMBER- 946102302. Checks can be made payable to American Legion, mail to: PO Box 375, Gasquet, Ca. 95543. Thank you in advance for keeping the tradition alive! Sincerely, Gasquet Raft Race Admin” [Taken from the https://gasquetraftrace.com website]