Page A8 The Sentinel December 19, 2012
A visit to
World Economic Resources
When you walk into the World Economic Resources,
LLC storefront in Coquille, the impression is one of barely
controlled chaos.
The visual effect--rustic false walls, odd looking inven-
tions and an eclectic assortment of paintings hung and
propped helter-skelter--is overwhelming. The scent of
fresh-cut wood fills the air. Add to it the poster boards of
• simple text: quotations from assorted philosophers and his-
torians, and it sets the mind whirling.
Everywhere, there is creation. In one comer, a hybrid bi-
cycle awaits a rider. In another lies a stuffed pair of blue
jeans. On shelves and tucked into comers are small steel
claws-with-handles for the gardener. Each of these is an in-
vention that is ready to sweep the local market.
In the center of it all, with a ready laugh and booming
baritone .voice, stands Doug Landes, founder and dreamer.
Self-described as an "old hippie", he eschews patents and
urges immediate marketing of new inventions.
The innovator follows his own advice; the stuffed blue jeans
are comfortable beds for cats and dogs. He markets them as
the "Pet Lap". The wooden handled claw is a gardening rake
designed to get in close to delicate plants. Neither is
patented and both are offered for sale.
Doug's dream is to bring prosperity without greed, to in-
crease the possibilities for everyone in the Coquille valley
area. He offers workspace and advice to neophyte inventors.
He asks only that in return, when the inventors become suc-
cessful, that they give a portion back to the workshop.
He also hopes to remind people of the basic value of innova-
tion, of labor and of ability. His philosophies are infectious,
with the emphasis on human value carrying an undertone of
Russian philosopher Ayn Rand.
His very enthusiasm hinders the project, however.
When asked about his ideas, one can expect to have to sort
through a plethora of information and theory to get the basic
gist. There is also, in society, the teaching that "if it sounds
too good to be true, it is". Skepticism is a protective mecha-
nism, but it's a great frustration to Doug Landes, who can't
understand why his venture isn't always embraced whole-
heartedly.
Visiting the World Economic Resources center is a lesson
in grandiosity and vision. Not everyone will agree with
Doug but all can surely identify with a dream of a better
world.
For your loving
companion... The PET LAP
541-396-1431
THIS CHRISTMAS TELL HER
YOU LOVE HER
With a Personal Protection Device
BANDON FEEI00
& FIREARMS
Hwy 42S, 1 mile from Bandon
Handguns, Rifles, Knives and
Pepper Spray
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Rare Guns and Special Order
Amino Available
541-347-1105
www bandonfeedandfirearms corn
I
Help Fight Hunger this
Holiday Season!
A number of community partners have stepped up to
fight hunger on the South Coast this holiday season. Do
your part to lend a helping hand by bringing in donations to
one of the many drives put on by our partners - you might
even get something in retum!
The holiday season is tough for many in our community.
Many have to choose between keeping their houses warm,
getting food on the table, or putting gas in their car. The
South Coast Food Share wants to make sure no one has to
fight hunger alone this holiday season. Thanks to several of
our community partners, there are a number of opportuni-
ties to donate. The following is a list of ongoing food drives
in the Bay Area:
• Safeway - donate a $10 bag of groceries at the
Coos Bay & North Bend stores until Dec. 31
• Aaron's Furniture - donate 5 cans and receive 50%
off a payment on a new agreement, ends Dec. 31
• Southern Oregon Regional Brokerage - 320 Cen-
tral Ave., Suite 222, Coos Bay, ends Dec. 31
: • Back on the Rack - food and toy drive, 28 W. 1st
Ave, Coquille, ends Dec. 20 - all donated items will go to
individuals in the Coquille Valley area
• ServPro & Bank of America - Dec. 20-21 11 am -
4pm, Walmart parking lot
• Oregon Dunes Raceway - donate 4 cans and get a
free run down the pass - Dec. 28 - Jan. 2
All food donated to the South Coast Food Share is dis-
tributed to one of our 30 partner agencies at no cost. Al-
ready the Mill Casino, Marshfield High School, Fed Ex,
and Bus Jam have brought in thousands of pounds of food
to distribute out to the community.
Can't make it out to any of the food drives? You can do-
nate straight from your computer or smartphone! Visit
www.orcca.us/vfd and donate to the virtual food drive! For
every $1 you donate, we can move 7 pounds of food out to
those who need it. Donations can also be brought in directly
to the South Coast Food Share for distribution.
South Coast Food Share is a program of Ore-
gon Coast Community Action. Oregon Coast
Community Action is a non-profit network of
programs that help feed, house; warm, and edu-
cate the communities of the South Coast. For
more information on food drives or the South
Coast Food Share, please call (541) 435-7754 or
visit www.orcca.us.
f
Halfway Tavern
(Hwy 42, halfway between Coquille & Coos Bay)
New Year's Eve Bash!
FREE MIDNIGHT BUFFET
to Live Music from
*FORGOTTEN COUNTRY*
Free Coffee ttt! ./ FREE
for Party
Designated Favors
Drivers ...............
J
Best Wishes and
Happy Holidays from
The Sentinel
and staff..
Jean, Dian Cheri Dawn00 Matt
and Rick
What Is Happeningin Coquille
by Lowell Thomas
The local economy is still in the doldrums and many
local residents find themselves struggling to take care of !
basic needs. Currently the skills of those looking for work
do not match the needs of jobs Currently open. Those jobs
will probably end up being filled by people having the nec-
essary skills recruited from outside our immediate area.
Meanwhile those whose work skills are no longer in de-
mand have to continue their existence struggles. Some may
ultimately have to leave the area to find employment. Some
may not even be employable any where because recent
technology advances have entirely eliminated the needs for
some work sklls. I can still remember the time in the Seat-
te area when the aerospace industry experienced major
changes and many well paying jobs were eliminated. (There
were even billboards advising the last one leaving town to
turn out the lights.) Many found their job skills that they
had developed and used so well for many years were no
longer needed anywhere because their industry had changed
everywhere. A number of those chose to become entrepre-
neurs and go into business for themselves. At that time
SBA and SCORE stepped into provide free classes for those
starting new businesses. I'm sure that many who attended
the classes I taught as a volunteer probably didn't succeed
in business, but those who did ended up providing employ-
ment for others as well as themselves.
Recent information from the Ford Family Foundation in-
dicates that rural cities like Coquille will be dependent on
entrepreneurs starting new small businesses for new job for-
mation. Two questions need answering - 1.Are any of our,
unemployed capable of and interested in becoming entre: ,
preneurs? And 2. Do any of them have the finances to capi-
talize a new business? Those up in Seattle coming out of
the aerospace industry had accumulated funds during their
working years in that industry to finance business start-ups.
Most of our unemployed probably didn't have high enough
paying jobs to have been able to do the same. Our City
Manager has suggested seeing if a new business incubator
could be developed on the former GP Mill site. That would
still leave the question of obtaining statrt-up financing up in
the air. Perhaps answers to these questions will be forth-
coming in 2013. Perhaps some new folks with capital will
move here and start up some new businesses. Before the
economy fell apart a few years ago, folks from the San
Francisco Bay area were selling their homes for a lot of
money, moving up here and buying a better home for much
less and ending up having considerable cash left over.
When the Bay area real estate market gets s bit more im-
proved that movement will probably resume. Perhaps some
of those folks will be interested in becoming entrepreneurs
and start up some new businesses.
Meanwhile, the problem of finding a job still exists for
our currently struggling unemployed. Since their skills are
unlikely to be of any economic value how are they going to
be able to acquire new skills that local businesses are going
to need? Some sort of adult work skill training program is
needed. SWOCC has some programs, but most of our cur-
rently unemployed can't afford the tuitions and fees. Also,
some of our unemployed don't have the basic education to
qualify for the training needed for tomorrow's jobs. Per-
haps some programs could be developed st Winterlake High.
to help these folks. If not, perhaps a new community non- '
profit training organization could be sponsored by the local'
businesses to prepare prospective employees with the cur-
re.ntly needed work skills. Maybe Coquille will end up
forming its own SCORE (made up of retired former busi-.
ness persons and skilled workers) to provide the needed
training at no cost to the trainees. We already have some
retired business people and will likely have more in the fu-
ture.
I !
CITY OF COQUILLE
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Coquille is accepting letters of inter-
est to the following committee vacancies: ....
Budget Committee (3 year term) - 3 vacancies
Planning Commission (4year term) - 4 vacancies
Parks & Recreation Committee (2 year term) - 5
vacancies
Administrative Committee (2 year term) - 4 va-
cancies :
Public Works Committee - (2 year term) - 2 va-
cancies
Public Safety Committee - (2 year term) - 5 va-
cancies
Forest Land Management Board - (2 year term)- I
5 vacancies
Interested individuals may submit a letter of inter-
est to the City of Coquille, City Recorder, 851 N.
Central Blvd., Coquille, OR 97423. The closing
date for receiving letters of application is January
2, 2013. The Mayor will review the applications
and make recommendations to the City Council at
the January 7, 2013 meeting.
Publish Week of December 17, 2012 & December
24, 2012
