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 crocuses. And daffodils, and those startlingly green dots that are showing up on branches on their way to becoming proper leaves. Yes, although today's weather report threatens snow above 500 feet (and anyone who has lived here a while knows that some interloping flakes often sneak onto the valley floor in defiance of such a forecast), we say let them fall. Those hardy flowers can take it, just as we have endured a winter that beganwith a storm-fest, continued with falling trees and crushed roofs, then switched to frozen pipes, ice storms, more falling trees and yes … snow.

Now, at last, we see the end to all that, with color and light and fragrance officially returning in just 26 days. (Can't you almost hear the opening chords of Beethoven's Sixth in the background?) And speaking of music …

• RASPBERRIES to the continuing mystery surrounding a missing piece of melodic Corvallis history.

Someone with more taste than scruples stole the small, intricate and downright beautiful wrought iron sign that for eight decades identified 3560 N.W. Tyler Ave. in College Hill as "Casa Musica" - the house of music.

The Tudor-style house was built in 1927 by Paul and Lillian Petri. Professor Petri was the longtime director of the school of music at Oregon Agricultural College, Oregon State University's forerunner.

The 8-inch-by-36-inch sign went missing Dec. 13, and nobody has yet come forward to claim the reward for its return. Someone out there knows something. That person could either send the sign back to its owners and clear a guilty conscience or someone could simply call and inform the police where the sign can be found.

If you are either of those people, please act - or just call Corvallis police and put a harmonious end to this jarring loss. Deb Kadas and the folks at the Corvallis Historic Resources Commissioner would be most grateful, as would current owners Tammy and Chris Stehr and their College Hill neighbors.

• ROSE-BERRIES to an awkward conclusion to a great sporting event, contributed courtesy of reader Pam Comeleo of Corvallis. She wrote: "ROSES to the fans who stayed at Gill Coliseum to honor seniors Casey Nash and Ebony Young after California escaped with the win in last Saturday's double-overtime women's basketball game."

Cameleo explained the "raspberry" portion this way:

"Last Saturday, (Feb. 17), a very young Oregon State University women's basketball team - that was picked to finish 10th (i.e., last) in the PAC-10 this year - nearly defeated the 22nd ranked women's team in the country in an intensely competitive double-overtime home game at Gill Coliseum.

"Because this was the last home game for the two seniors on the team, Casey Nash (who had an incredible year and is the leading scorer in the PAC-10) and Ebony Young - there was a special ceremony honoring them after the game.

I was horrified to see the mass exodus of fans at the end of the game as the announcer was reminding people to stick around for the senior night ceremony. People were running for the exits as if a fire alarm had gone off!

"If the women's coach, LaVonda Wagner, had not grabbed a microphone and asked people to please take their seats, there would only have been a handful of fans left for the post-game ceremony.

"I realize it was disappointing that we lost the game, but what a slap in the face to a team that has played so hard all season and especially to Casey Nash, who is one of the most improved players in the PAC-10 and a credit to OSU and the community of Corvallis with her work ethic and her exemplary behavior both on and off the court. I didn't feel that this example of public rudeness warranted a letter to the editor with so many very serious problems facing the world right now (e.g., Iraq, Afghanistan, global warming, etc…) but I felt it might at least be worth a mention in the Roses 'N' Razzies section."

We agree.

• ROSES to the touching reunion of a python and its human. Albany police found the 8- or 9-foot Albany albino python outside an apartment complex in the 600 block of Ferry Street Southwest on Wednesday. The python, named Badfish, somehow had wiggled its way to freedom earlier in the week.

The grateful owner said she wasn't sure how the snake had escaped from its cage, but it's a good thing for neighborhood cats that he's back, basking under his warming light near a water dish. It's good for the snake, too; such cold-blooded natives of Burma don't do well when the forecast flirts with snow.

• RASPBERRIES to learning the hard way - again.

Martin Knoll of Albany now knows that when you find yourself facing hot water, jumping into the thick-flowing, frigid waters of the Willamette River only seems like a good idea.

Knoll, 42, spotted Linn County deputies approaching him outside of the courthouse Wednesday. The deputies said they wanted to talk to Knoll about the terms of a release agreement that ordered him to keep his distance from someone who was at the courthouse regarding a domestic violence case.

When Knoll saw the deputies, police said that he ran through downtown Albany and jumped into the river. He almost immediately regretted it. Knoll was trapped by a too-steep bank and the rapid onset of

hypothermia.

So, Albany fire rescue personnel and police officers lowered a ladder to Knoll. Two people helped him out of the water, and he ended up in the Linn County Jail anyway, charged with violating a release agreement.