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.

We hereby deliver:

• ROSES to Paul Gathercoal, a community pillar who died last week at the age of 100, after a lifetime devoted to making Corvallis a better place. Gathercoal and his brother, James, were responsible for a number of developments that now form the heart of Corvallis, including the area around Corvallis High School. Gathercoal also served his city as a member of the Corvallis City Council. And, of course, he and his wife, Marion, were huge supporters of the arts in Corvallis; Marion helped found the Corvallis Arts Center.

Our city is richer because of the contributions of Paul Gathercoal. He’ll be missed.

• RASPBERRIES to a lingering mystery. Nobody knows where the tall, distinguished man in his late 60s whom witnesses saw walking his purebred lapdog near Peavey Arboretum has gone. Or even if he existed at all.

All we are sure of is that a Bichon Frise (literally translated from the French for “curly lap dog”) was found Nov. 6 wearing a red collar and trailing his leash near the parking lot of Peavey Arboretum at the McDonald Dunn Research Forest north of Corvallis. The white dog still was relatively clean, but he had no identifying tags or microchip.

It’s was like the opening scene of a mystery movie, with no clues in sight. Despite searches and news coverage and inquiries to all the likely vets, pet groomers, emergency rooms or police agencies, we’ve heard nothing.

The healthy dog remains at the Heartland Humane Society, and no owner has come forward looking for him. He will remain for at least a few weeks. If his owner cannot be located in the next few weeks, the nameless stray will be adopted through a Bichon Frise rescue group. Anyone who can speed up the conclusion to this aging mystery is asked to call the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at 766-6858.

• ROSES to everyone who braved a windy and rainy Tuesday to participate in Albany’s mammoth Veterans Day parade. Putting up with some inclement weather seems like the least we can do to honor the sacrifices veterans made on our behalf.

And speaking of veterans’ issues: ROSES to a change in military regulations that gives veterans a unique opportunity to show their respect to the nation they served during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Thanks to a change in federal law, veterans and active-duty military not in uniform now can render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the anthem.

A little-known change to the law last year authorized veterans to use the hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but the law was silent on the issue of whether veterans could salute during the anthem. That particular issue was resolved in legislation sponsored by Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, which was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009.

• RASPBERRIES to the few in the crowd who urged an agitated man who climbed a tree late on the night of Nov. 7 near the intersection of 14th Street and Monroe Avenue to “Jump! Jump!”

Many in the crowd of 100 who watched the police and fire department bring the 45-minute incident to a resolution appeared concerned. Others seemed to be entertained until firefighters resolved the matter by propping a ladder against the tree and helping the man down, where was arrested on charges that included disorderly conduct.

But it’s the ones who seemed to urge the man on with displays of public bravado who get the raspberries. Each time someone yelled at him, he wobbled on the tree, broke off branches and came close to losing his grip. A fall surely would have produced blood. Is that what the shouters wanted to see?

• ROSES to Corvallis author Ehud Havazelet, for his triumph last weekend at the Oregon Book Awards. Havazelet, who teaches creative writing at the University of Oregon, won the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction for his novel “Bearing the Body.” It’s the second Oregon Book Award for Havazelet, and it marks the second year in a row that a Corvallis writer has won the Kesey award: Alison Clement won last year for her novel “Twenty Questions.”

ROSES to those who, despite hard times, are donating money and food so that the less fortunate can have a Thanksgiving dinner.

We realize that charity indeed begins at home. But even a small donation of food or money or service to the Community Holiday Food Drive would make a big difference to someone.

Those who can help are asked to drop off or mail cash donations to Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers, 1109 N.W. Ninth St., in care of the Holiday Food Drive. Volunteers also are needed to assemble food boxes between Nov. 17 and Nov. 20 and to drop them off Nov. 24. So volunteer times can be coordinated, please call Judy Gibson at 740-8938.

It’s a meaningful way to observe a holiday created during the darkest days of the Civil War.