We hereby deliver: ROSES to everyone who opened the door and set a place for someone this Thanksgiving.

As evidenced by a letter we recently ran from a woman who was warmed by our community’s generosity during a recent hardship, kindness to strangers during the holidays is remembered each holiday thereafter.

In this emotional and evocative time, we hope that woman’s experience will serve as a reminder of generosity’s lasting rewards. And we toast all the founders of feasts, givers of gifts and keepers of the holiday spirit.

• ROSES to another local holiday tradition, the Corvallis Community Christmas Parade, which kicks off its 23rd annual edition tonight at 7. And roses to all of you who will gather tonight to either march in the parade or watch it. Bundle up: It looks like it’s going to be a chilly evening, but at least it is supposed to be dry. the Corvallis Lions Club, which does ... well ... the lion’s share of the work to make this parade happen, and one final rose to Lion Skip Volkmann, who will again serve as the parade’s announcer — and who does his homework beforehand.

• ROSES to polite and timely snowfall. We’re talking about the kind that falls in the wee hours of the morning, doesn’t snarl traffic or cause accidents and confines itself mostly to the mountains. The snow that fell overnight Monday also fell in time to put “first ski trip of the season” on the our holiday weekend menu of our things to do that don’t involve vegging out in front the TV.

Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor-area ski

resorts are open, and Hoodoo Mountain Resort plans to open in a week or so. However, the area has snow — and so does Marys Peak, where the road is partially opened.

So, take care. Pack plenty of safety gear (and that includes a huge container of hot cocoa), and enjoy a rare Thanksgiving holiday playing in the snow. (For those new to the area: Be sure to purchase a Sno-Park permit. You’ll need it to park near mountain passes. They’re sold at resorts, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets.)

• ROSES to keeping a tradition alive.

You’ll recall that Philomath’s 105-foot giant

Sequoia, decorated for decades as its official Christmas tree, was cut down during highway construction in March.

Traditions are important to communities, and it’s hard to watch one die. Seeing the season of discontent that accompanied the highway-

construction project didn’t help.

But give credit to the Philomath volunteers who are launching a new tradition: The Philomath Chamber of Commerce has plans to plant a new Sequoia this spring. Give credit as well to all the volunteers who helped this week to erect a 30-foot noble fir that now stands in front of the Benton County Historical Museum; that tree will serve the community this holiday season until the new tree can take root.

You’re invited to Philomath’s launch of its newest holiday tradition next Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m., when the community gathers for a tree-lighting ceremony. And we look forward to watching the tree that’s planted next spring grow taller and stronger year after year, just like the community it represents.

• RASPBERRIES to what’s starting to sound like much ado about little. Yes, it was exceedingly bad judgment for Hillsboro teacher Elizabeth Logan to sell a student’s coat online instead of simply leaving it in the “Lost and Found” section.

The teacher, who resigned her job at Jackson Elementary School, made some excuse that a janitor told her the coat would be discarded, so she said that is why she attempted to sell it.

Logan endured a jury trial, was found guilty and sentenced. If there ever was a case that should have been plea-bargained, this was it. In fact, it’s pitiful that the matter wasn’t quickly mediated between the teacher and the parent, with apologies, compensation and handshakes.

How sad to realize how naive our wish must sound.

• ROSES to a grandfather whose love of his ailing little grandson and clear-headed knack for innovation has dramatically improved the tyke’s quality of life.

James Bell, the infant son of LeAnn and Jeff Bell, was born in July with a rare condition: He cannot breath when he is asleep. Because most infants fall easily in and out of sleep at this age, James has to have breathing tubes assisting his breathing through a tracheotomy in his throat. He always must be on a respirator, and that meant being restrained.

Seeing his grandson’s frustrated tugging at the tubes that tethered him, Jim Preston came up with the idea of a little harness that would both hold those tubes secure, yet enable his grandson to move more freely.

The device, constructed with the help of Kent Rudisill, the owner of Outdoor Gear Repair in Corvallis, impressed the learned doctors and specialists at Oregon Health & Science University. It has impressed us, too. We couldn’t do without doctors, but neither could we do without such a smart, practical and loving grandpa.

ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation.

RASPBERRY (raz’ber’e) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer.