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, in a youth-centered theme this week:

• ROSES to Michelle Turpin and Kayla Chestnut, for being in the right place at a frightening time and acting with courage.

Turpin said she stepped out onto her front porch around 11 Monday night to see flames shooting up from the porch of her neighbors' manufactured home. She called the fire department and she and another neighbor - blocked from the front entrance by the burning porch - went to the back and woke the occupant, Sobriety Miller, 23, her 2-year-old son Vincent and 6-month-old daughter Jocelyn.

Although Miller lost almost everything she owned in the fire - including her new car - she and her children escaped unharmed, and she is rich in support from neighbors and relatives. We wish her a phoenix-like recovery!

• RASPBERRIES to what must have been a conspiracy of silence that has prompted San Diego State University students and alumni across the nation to hang their head in shame. We speak of the huge drug raid Tuesday that involved the arrest of 75 students at nine locations. Six fraternities have been suspended. Authorities seized a virtual illegal one-stop-store of marijuana, cocaine, Ecstacy pills, psychedelic mushrooms, hash oil, methamphetamine and illegal prescription drugs. Of course, guns were also seized, as was $60,000 in cash.

The investigation was the culmination of a five-month investigation. It began after the cocaine overdose death of a student. Police allege that the drug trade among SDSU's involved fraternities was so open, the traffickers sent e-mails notifying clients of a break on cocaine rates.

The incident reminded us of the recent arrest on the Oregon State University campus of a man who was stopped for speeding and who had in his vehicle a smaller store of drugs. Authorities said he was suspected of making deliveries.

We've recently noted that there's been no binge drinking deaths in recent years at OSU and that students seem more focused on academics rather than high jinks. Let's hope the raid at SDSU serves to frighten any local drug suppliers who might be plying their trade among our students.

• ROSES to an Oregon teen who made the ultimate sacrifice for another. The body of Aloha teen Ross Barfuss, 16, was found on a Lincoln City beach last month and positively identified this week. Ross drowned March 8 while trying to rescue 11-year-old River Jenison, who became caught in a rip tide that tore him out to sea. Tragically, although River was helped from the water by another rescuer, he later died at the hospital. Ross disappeared during the rescue attempt.

Ross was a red-haired, freckle-faced kid whose classmates at Aloha High School said was quick to smile and to put others at ease. Early TV news reports of his rescue efforts dubbed him a "would-be" hero. But to echo one of his classmates, who posed a comment online in his honor: If giving your life to try to save the life of someone you've never met doesn't make you a hero, what does?

Our condolences to his family and many friends on the loss of such a fine young man.

• RASPBERRIES to further evidence that language is moving toward grunting. We speak of all the emoticons (sideways smiley faces) and abbreviations such as lol (laugh out loud) that are creeping into students' written assignments.

We'd be the first to say that language - written and spoken - should be dynamic and reflect the times in which we live. However, it is best when it is most precise and descriptive.

According to The Pew Internet and American Life Project, in a study released a week ago, "teens who keep blogs or use social-networking sites like Facebook or News Corp.'s MySpace have a greater tendency to slip nonstandard elements into assignments."

However, in a hopeful twist, Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist at Pew, said "It's a teachable moment … If you find (an emoticon) in a child's or student's writing, that's an opportunity to address the differences between formal and informal writing. They learn to make the distinction … just as they learn not to use slang terms in formal writing."

Like, totally.

Another plus: Young people who keep such sites often show more interest in pursuing other kinds of writing. That makes us :-)

• ROSES to the Corvallis Youth Symphony Association. We'll just let its founder and director Charles Creighton, who can be rightfully proud of the group, note that the group deserves honors for "celebrating its 25th anniversary of 'Great Kids, Great Music' in our community. CYS final concert was last April 26th at LaSells. CYSA provides an exceptional musical experience for more than 350 kids (who participate) in our Elementary Strings, Junior Honors Symphony and Corvallis Youth Symphony programs. (For more info, see www.cysassoc.org.)"

We're only too glad to pass along roses to a group that has enriched the lives of young people by teaching them the pleasures of making music - and brought joy to the community at the same time.