The Cottage Grove
Tree Planting in Cottage Grove See page 3
entinel entinel The CAthlete oTTage grove of the Week
Cottage Grove
68 42
Wednesday, April 23 Sunny
See page 8
Wednesday April 23, 2025 | Number 17, 136 years
www.cgsentinel.com
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Sports
$2.00
New Public 74 Market offers 49 introductory Spring Fun $2.00 Festival The mental health impact facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
Main Street Revitalization Project moving forward
Lifestyle
Life in Cottage Grove
CGHS Football Incredible Turnaround See page 8
See page 4
Wednesday October 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years
www.cgsentinel.com
Cottage Grove
Wednesday, Oct 9 Mostly Cloudy
City establishing mini homeless camp at 12th Street JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Despite early spring rainstorms that slowed construction, Cottage Grove’s Main Street Revitalization Project is moving ahead this month. The multi-million-dollar revitalization project is designed to improve the street, sidewalks, pedestrian JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel crossing areas, lighting, and landscapingPublic along works the busy route in in thethe city’s crews are Historic District. process of establishing a new The Sentinel hascamp reached to smaller homeless siteout at the Cottage Grove Project Coordinator vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage Shauna Grove. Neigh for insight into what hasCottage been done and City whatManager is ahead for Grove the project. Mike Sauerwein said the city is Sentinel: What has been done behind its original Oct. 1 timeline since the project began in February? is establishing the camp, following A and new cleanup water main theShauna Aug. 22Neigh: closure has been installed on Main Street of the 12th Street and Douglas from 9th Street to the bridge. Thethe Street homeless camps. During side street tie-ins have been attached transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog on both sides Street of 5th has Street, 6thused Street, Park at 12th been 7th Street, and 8th Street. The new as a homeless camp site with hours hydrants havetobeen placed on 5th from 7 p.m. 7 a.m. daily. Street and 8th Street. City Staff are in “None of us have ever managed the process of sanitizing the lines a homeless camp before, so we and will testing knewstart thatpressure date was a bit them. aspira-Once all tests come back, City staff tional,” Sauerwein said. “We will are start connecting service to the hoping that this the week we will be downtown buildings. able to make the transition. Our New manholes goal wasstormdrain to provideand folks with have been placed on 5th Street and a safe and secure place to spend 8th Street. In preparation of the the night and that’s what we arestreet and sidewalk excavation, the trees, doing.” traffic lights and Sauerwein saidstreetlights city staff have was been removed. cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to The Sentinel: needs Specific to reestablish it as aWhat dog park. be done over the next month and costs of that cleanup and establishbeyond? ing the smaller homeless camp at
CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
Twinberry Commons, one of Cottage Grove’s newest nonprofit organizations, plans an all-day Spring Festival and an evening fundraising dinner to reveal plans for transforming its building into a public market that serves Crews began developing the smaller homeless the needs of local residents and camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. attracts visitors to town. The building is located on the corner of Main Street and HighwayJEREMY 99 in Cottage Grove. C. RUARK The event is scheduled for Cottage Grove Sentinel Saturday, April 26. season is Oregon’s wildfire BACKGROUND expected to continue through this month, INFORMATION but the mental scares and One year this on month, more impact of theago season the firethan 120who customers and supfighters battle blazes in Lane County of andthe across theFork state,Farm and porters Coast their families, last Armory a lifetime, Stand gatheredmay at the Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel in according Jeff the founder responsetoto theDill, impending of Firefighter Behavioral Crews have been digging deep trenches along Main Street and the adjacent streets for the eviction of the business Health from its Alliance (FBHA). waterline replacements. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. long-time location on South 10th Dill established the FBHA in Street. 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. Neigh: Wildish will continue to how did they navigate through those The Sentinel: What concerns have The to get an update He wasgoal thanwas a Battalion Chief place the new storm drain system challenges? you and city officials heard from the on the situation, sign a petition for a fire department in northwest down Main Street, connecting to the Neigh: Wildish Crews have kept public about this project, and how ofChicago. support, and create an action side streets. an open line of communication with have those concerns been addressed? plan“I to ensure the business’ sursaw our brothers and sisters The removal of the street and side- the City, other than a few adjustments Neigh: The speed of traffic has vival. Owner Scott Burgwinthat told struggle from the devastation walk on the south side will follow to pipe locations, we have received been a concern downtown. Both theycrowd saw, sotheI went and susgot the farmback stand’s PHOTO JEREMY C. business RUARK / owners COTTAGE SENTINEL tained shortly. Phase 1 will affect the south no notification of challenges. andGROVE the construcmy degree and became a licensed existence was dependent counselor,” he said. “We started side of Main Street from the bridge The Sentinel: Any significant tion crew have commented with Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing on the ability to transition from The new mini homeless camp tracking EMS and firefighter to west of the 6th Street intersection changes in the project so far, and if concern of safety. The Cottage a location for folks to spend the a sole proprietorship into a suifood will include the same restrictions as have told the Sentinel, that there cides across America.” and former from thelarger 7th Street intersection so what changes and why? Grovefrom Police Department has sent are no additional plans to offer any night 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” cooperative. the camps. to “The west of the rules 8th Street Neigh: No significant changes. reminders via social media on the other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about The Behavioral Sentinel previously same will intersection. apply,” Impact During this time 6th Street and 8th The Sentinel: Is the project on increased fees associated with speed homeless. the homelessness challenges in reported on the significant outSauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters Street will remain time and on Grove budget?will follow in a construction zone. There has “Cottage Cottage Grove and follow new pouring of community be available from open 7 p.m.fortocrossing. 7 a.m. often don’t recognize thesupport behavioral challenges Neigh: The is tracking been an increased police presence state law as weproject understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com for the Coast impact of theirFork work.Farm Stand andThe theSentinel: rules willWhat be enforced have the crews experienced and about a week behind due to the high “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions (CFFS) and Buying Club, on through our contracting company, raindoing. we received in March. washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s are To change that is up to of The See Sentinel. Friday, May 10. A three-day old One Security of Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately PROJECT, Page 6 structural or wildland fires. So, weat the legislature. The city of Cottage plan, to move from its location during this transition period. They available. are meant to believe we are supGrove has no plans to do any kind 90 South 10th Street across Main are a very experienced homeless posed into to actthe strong, brave, be help, of a shelter beyond what we are Street former Covered camp management company.” don’t ask for help, and we don’t Bridge Brewery building, was want to look weak and not ask for enthusiastically completed in just help.” seven hours. Dill added that while firefighters Burgwin described the move are on the front lines battling the aswildfires, “a beautiful sheerchalcomone ofact theofbiggest munity resilience”. lenges they face is the unknown. how rapidly theses fires can A“It’s celebratory event, held CINDY WEELDREYER Birdy and Gail grew up in move, unknown iswith where last Julyand inthe conjunction Cottage Grove Sentinel Portland and graduated two years is it going to end? Where will this the Spirit of BMD celebration, apart from Madison High School. fire go to and how long will it thanked the community for last? Sisters Gail and Roberta “Birdy” In a foreshadowing of their future And that isthe a struggle,” he said. sustaining farm stand and Hoelze have spent the past five “So, when you are fighting that as book sellers, they grew up in revealed initial plans to transform decades creating and nurturing a fire, you’re trying to do your best the Rose City neighborhood made the largeit,building into a public welcoming place for locals to gather to stop and yet the wind kicks famous by Beverly Cleary, a wellmarket. up at 60 miles an hour and it drags and connect that also functions as a known children’s author, who used FAST FORWARD ONE YEAR it further and further behind them. magnet drawing visitors, from near it as a backdrop for the adventures In the past 12 months, much That aspect of the unknown is very CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL and far, seeking to know more about of her book characters, Ramona and behind-the-scenes work has difficult in wildland fires. The fireMatchbooks at cgsentinel.com. Cottage Grove. from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story Beezus. fighters have and anxiety, advanced the that goalstress of establishThe Bookmine is located in the The genesis of the Historic andathat struggle tobustling protect is a very ing year-round vendor oldest commercial building in town District’s iconic bookstore is a difficult challenge for the wildland market featuring owner-operated on the corner of 7th and Main. The group of college friends who first firefighters.”offering food, beverbusinesses, wooden 19th Century-era building, met at Oregon State University in It isartisan often very difficult for famages, products, music, that was once a brothel, is filled ily members of the firefighters to the mid-1970s and then transferred fresh produce, crafts, and more with thousands of colorful books of CINDY WEELDREYER understand what emotions there are, thethe way” during the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the to University of Oregon to for and visitors. For The Cottage Grove Sentinel all sizes carefully placed to appeal andboth that locals many firefighters don’t project. their respective degrees. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s complete Twinberry Commons leadexpress their emotions, according to all ages and interests. Helived said he given an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at They twowas doors down from In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle ers and Burgwin are now ready to Dill. showcases andopened sells theThe work ant famous job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, the author-to-be Ken Kesey andIt her sister Gail to reveal thefamily community the “We asktothe members of local authors, artisans and craftsdelivered to the house guest rooms Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. and their rented on 10thand and Bookmine they were familiar with details of their long-term plan to try to understand the cultural,” people who make recalled how coolahe felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort Jefferson became favorite gatherThe Village Green.unique giftshe said. “Be direct. Challenge and begin fundraising to make it giving hosts authors and the place. orange golf cart around the “My sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard ing Theiritems. fatherIttraveled a lot and with compassion when something Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel a reality. artists at the Last Friday Art Walk. property for assigned errands. feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some As graduation neared the fiveYears doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound often brought its matchboxes home Sisters Birdy (left) and Gail say they treasure the countless A $15,000 Woodard Family Itasiskeepsakes also the home its latest later, another special memory was shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and friends, Gail and her future husfor hisofgirls. The store sisright, and dogrant an internal size funded up, happy memories they’ve made with their customers in the Foundation last year kitty, Story. seeing the famous football player, the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. band-to-be Greg Lee, Birdy and her ters were in Fowers, their 20’splants, whengreeting they which we ask the firefighters to past 50 years. They invite people to join them this weekend the hiring of a project manager cards, chocolates are O.J. Simpson, runningEdonGresset, one of the do as well,” he said.” Internal size menu given to a woman had no future husband-to-be, openedand theEuphoria Main Street bookstore for a two-day celebration of their store’s milestone to spearhead the development of THROUGH THEanniverLENS also inside the up means asking why am I acting resort’s prices on it and foot pillows were and theirpaths. close friend, Alice Doyle, and, sold to enhance theirstore. income, sary. a solid foundation to support the Kris Woodard’s introductory Bob’s as Coffee Cornerat isthea cozy To the delight gathered,to this way, and why am I feeling this provided so ladies’ uncomfortable began hunting forofa those rural property worked waitresses resort. vision andbest planthing implementation. remarkswith included personal way? The we can do is plant-filled at the back conversation. was named to honor visiting people and wasmema great call Kris’home. brother, Woodard, shoes could beIt removed while dinOn Casey Sundays, they would “It was aspot wonderful placeoftothe ories he made through the lens of store hotnew beverages andit their say enjoyed storyteller. ing. Itfather, was awho verythey different era.” work offering and, being in town, a 12-year-old who was often “in See LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 a table with chairs that invites BACKGROUND See BOOKMINE, Page 6 See FESTIVAL Page 6
WHO WE ARE
The Bookmine celebrates 50 years
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
INSIDE News —3 —3 Lifestyles Obituaries — 4 Death Notice — 4
Opinion — 5 Classifieds — 7 Sports/News —8 Sports — 8
FollowDEVELOPING Developing New: FOLLOW NEWS @ CGSentinel CGSentinel @ www.cgsentinel.com www.cgsentinel.com
Your new home is waiting for you... just listed. This beautiful spacious