our view

These aren’t easy times — anyone who has looked out the window recently knows that.

Medford’s progress is hovered over by the cloud created by homelessness and safety concerns. Ashland’s stability is muddied by the financial challenges faced by two of its primary institutions — the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Southern Oregon University.

The Rogue Valley is far from immune to the partisan sniping of politics, the heated debates over national issues, and the unsettling undercurrent of bias that permeates our culture and our country.

And, as if all that were not enough, the flipping of the calendar and the taste of early-summer heat this weekend only announces that — even with the favorable weather that blessed the first four months of the year — fire season is just around the corner.

That’s why the outpouring of empathy and sympathy by community members in reaction to a couple of recent stories — one heartwarming, the other heart-wrenching — has been a welcome sight and a reminder that there’s still room in uncertain times for generosity of spirit.

It’s all but impossible to imagine the frantic nature of the tragedy suffered by the Acord family of Grants Pass — who had moved to Oregon from Arkansas last summer — and a young friend last weekend during what was to be a fun outing to the Oregon Coast.

On a trail in search of the popular Secret Beach spot north of Brookings, first young Nolan Haptonstall slipped and slid down a steep embankment, followed in short order by two Acord brothers.

Finally, 36-year-old Ryan Acord — who worked with his wife, Jordan, at the Southern Oregon Education Service District office in Medford — fatally fell some 200 feet to the rocks below as he tried to reach the boys.

Family, friends and co-workers immediately went into support-mode to help manage such incalculable grief. And, as so often happens these days when sympathies can be shared through social media, GoFundMe accounts were established:

— One for the care of 8-year-old Nolan Haptonstall, who suffered brain trauma but is expected to make a full recovery even though he will remain hospitalized in Portland for a while. (See gofundme.com/f/the-haptonstall-family)

— The other for the Acord family, as Jordan Acorn and the three sons will be moving back to Arkansas to be near her family. (See gofundme.com/f/jordan-and-the-boys-need-our-love-and-support)

On a far lighter front, the community has reached out to help secure the retirement of a local institution known to the public as “Winco Betty.”

Betty Glover has worked at the Medford grocery story for more than a decade, and into her 90s. After down-shifting from four to two weekly shifts a year ago, she found herself in need of funds so that she could pay off what she owed on her fifth-wheel that she calls home.

A granddaughter helped set up the account, gofundme.com/f/efsqhv-help-me-retire-please, and donations started pouring in from friends, co-workers and customers alike who recognized her duties checking groceries.

“It really is heartwarming, and it makes me want to cry,” Betty told the Rogue Valley Times. “… I thought, ‘Nobody’s gonna do anything. Nobody cares about others anymore’.”

As Betty, the Haptonstall and Acord families — and all of us — were reminded once again this week, regardless of what else is going on in our worlds, caring is never in short supply.