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 the local families whose new year begins with grief over the loss of a child.

Many people became acquainted with 8-year-old Jenessa "Boey" Byers last July during the filming of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," when - despite suffering from a rare form of childhood cancer - she looked so vibrant and happy during filming of an episode that brought her and her family a splendid new house in Lewisburg intended to keep her healthy.

But her death a week ago of a rare form of childhood cancer crushed our hopes that a new, healthier environment could bring a miracle. We knew, of course, that hope, courage and determination aren't always enough to triumph over illness and untimely death.

That was a harsh reality this past Christmas week. On Christmas Eve, 15-year-old Dustin Heuston of Philomath, an accomplished and active young man, died of leukemia at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland on Christmas eve.

Former Corvallis Gazette-Times reporter Becky Barrett and her husband, Jason, lost their infant daughter, Claire Bela Barrett, who was born and died on Christmas Day.

Our condolences to them, and to all parents who have known this unimaginable loss.

• RASPBERRIES to a rash of local bank robberies that has us scratching our heads. Maybe emboldened by the FBI's apparent recent confusion in catching the wrong man as "the waddling bandit," a man described as in his 50s entered the Washington Mutual Bank branch at 2055 N.W. Circle Blvd. on Dec. 28 and handed a teller a note, demanding cash.

Two days earlier, two men robbed a Sweet Home bank and left with about $14,000. Two suspects in that robbery have been arrested. The two, Darren Fay Jacobsen, 39, of Toledo, and Kevin Scott Napolitano, 44, of Albany, were arraigned Dec. 27 in Linn County Circuit Court.

They are charged with second-degree robbery and first-degree aggravated theft. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each offense.

So, let's see … 10 years for $14,000 pencils out to about $4,000 a year. Gee, they could have made that kind of cash picking up tin cans by the road.

Let's say this again: When you walk into a place covered by cameras and in violation of a federal law that carries major-league hard time - and that law enforcement is ever so eager to foil - it is just bad career planning.

• RASPBERRIES to State Sen. Larry George, who this week filed suit to block the Oregon Legislature's planned "test drive" of annual sessions this year.

George, a Sherwood Republican who some say is posturing for a run for governor, claims the state Constitution prohibits the Legislature from meeting more often than every two years, except in cases of an emergency. The legislative legal office, however, has advised leaders of the state House and Senate that lawmakers indeed have the authority to call this year's session, which is to begin on Feb. 4.

Of course it's no surprise that politicians, or their legal advisers, might have differing opinions on things. But it did catch us somewhat by surprise that George - who said, "I don't have a big beef with annual sessions, but clearly there is no emergency" - would file suit to stop a legislative experiment that has support from both parties.

Oregon is one of only six states in which the Legislature meets just every other year. Most of these are states with relatively small populations and small budgets (North Dakota and Montana, for example).

Because of our state's growth - and the more complex legislative issues that come with that growth - it seemed more than reasonable when the Legislature decided to give annual meetings a try this year. We are hopeful that can still happen.

• ROSES to all those hardy folks who got up off the couch and made a real splash on New Year's Day by participating in the sixth annual Polar Bear Swim at Osborn Aquatic Center.

The water in the center's outdoor pool was a brisk 46.5 degrees and the air was even colder, but more than 140 people took the plunge.

Why? The folks at the Coney Island Polar Bear Club in New York - which traces its roots to back 1903 and claims to be the oldest such club in the country - say there are health benefits to cold-water bathing. The folks we talked to at the aquatic center here on New Year's Day said they were there just to have fun.

Whatever gets you out there, a brisk swim on New Year's Day seems like a better way to start 2008 than sitting on the couch, munching chips and watching football.

• RASPBERRIES to the town of Coburg, home of what just might be the most notorious speed trap anywhere on Interstate 5.

The small town just north of Eugene makes about one-third of its $1.1 million municipal budget from the fines it collects from motorists ticketed by its aggressive police patrol on I-5. (For context note that a survey by the League of Oregon Cities found that the state's municipalities, on average, collected total traffic fines equal to 4 percent of their city budgets.)

However, the ol' money maker ain't what she used to be. Back in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, Coburg collected $774,000 in speeding fines - prompting statewide legislation aimed at curtailing such speed traps.

Maybe things are getting better, but we still believe it's prudent when driving through Coburg to keep a close eye on your speedometer and your wallet.