THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019
THE CHRONICLE — 11
COTTAGE
COMMUNITY
GROVE
The 17-piece Blue Skies Big Band of Eugene plays classic swing music for guests of the Mayor’s Ball to dance to.
CODY WARREN/THE CHRONICLE
Cottage Grove Mayor Jeff Gowing and his wife Celia greet
guests at the entrance of the newly-renovated Cottage
Grove Armory for the fourth annual Mayor’s Ball.
Mayor’s Ball shines for Armory fundraiser
BY ALIYA HALL
THE CHRONICLE
COTTAGE GROVE – Twinkling lights
against black curtains, gold stars hanging from
the armory ceiling and blue-white stars deco-
rating the stage truly made the Mayor’s Ball on
Oct. 12 as “Timeless as the Stars,” as commu-
nity members donned suits and gowns to partic-
ipate in a fundraiser for the Armory to fi nish
restoration.
“Tonight we celebrate and support one of the
most important historic buildings in Cottage
Grove,” Mayor Jeff Gowing said at the start of
the event.
This was the fourth annual Mayor’s Ball,
sponsored by Paktech, and it was a night full
of community giving. Along with the auctions,
raffl es and paddle raising, there was a special
presentation given by keynote speaker, Mary
Jennings “M.J.” Hegar with music by Jewel
Tones and the Blue Skies Big Band.
“Each October, we gather here at the Armory
to recall the contributions this beautiful building
has made to the past and present of our commu-
nity, and we look forward to a prosperous future
for our historic downtown that includes a beauti-
ful, functional and active armory,” Gowing said.
The Armory was constructed in 1931 for the
Oregon National Guard, but over the years has
served a different purpose as a community hub.
Since the City’s purchase of the Armory in 2009,
restoration efforts have included the removal
of lead paint from its exterior stairs; painting
and a new stage set; construction of main-level
restrooms; and the ongoing restoration of the Art
Deco exterior.
As of that evening, however, the City had
offi cially paid off the Armory’s mortgage. To
celebrate, Gowing and City Manager Richard
Meyers shredded the last bill.
“The Armory is now 100% owned by the citi-
zens of Cottage Grove,” Gowing said.
Special guests of the evening included: a
representative of Senator Ron Wyden; Senators
James Manning and Floyd Prozanski; East Lane
County Commissioner Heather Buch; former
mayors Jim Gilroy, Darrel Williams, Bill
Whiteman and Gary Williams; Kerry Brainard,
who represented the Confederated Tribes of the
Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Rivers; vice
chair of the South Lane School District Board,
Sherry Duerst-Higgins; SLSD superintendent,
Dr. Larry Sullivan; and South Lane County Fire
and Rescue Fire Chief John Wooten, Division
Chief Joe Raade and Division Chief and Fire
Marshal Danny Solesbee.
The fundraising started off with a paddle raise,
which were gifts from the community to the
Armory. The Stewart Family Foundation gifted
$25,000, and around 40 individuals donated gifts
at various levels.
Many of the fundraising efforts included
games, such as Jerry’s Heads or Tails, where
community members paid $25 to fl ip a coin
in hopes of winning a Jerry’s gift certifi cate.
Earlier, a Silent Auction took place, and Live
Auction included a wine tour, Jason Mraz tickets,
a TV, an experience in Victoria, B.C., rafting, an
Arizona getaway, grills and more.
Even dessert was an opportunity to give to the
Armory; whichever table donated the most for
dessert would have the fi rst opportunity to snag
one of the many treats available for the table.
After the fundraising portion, keynote speaker
Hegar gave a presentation. Earlier in the evening,
Hegar was signing copies of her book, “Shoot
Like a Girl,” and all proceeds from her book that
evening went to help the Armory.
Hegar, who was a National Guard Pilot, told
the story of how she received a Purple Heart for
a wound she sustained while protecting her crew
from enemy fi re. While injured, she strapped
herself to the skids of a helicopter and returned
enemy fi re during a Combat Search and Rescue
mission in Afghanistan. She details the experi-
ence more in her book, and a movie will also be
coming out about Hegar’s experiences.
Mary Kingston, chief executive offi cer for
PeaceHealth Oregon Network, introduced Hegar
and called her a “superwoman taking multitask-
ing to a new level.”
Hegar said that she “wanted to be Han Solo”
growing up and how much her experience in
the military meant to her. She later went on to
challenge the Armed Forces’ combat exclusion
policy for women and ran for Congress in her
home district. At the end of her presentation she
showed a photo of her two children and said,
“This is why I do what I do.”
After Hegar’s speech, the night’s festivities
concluded with dancing to the Blue Skies Big
Band, which specializes in music from the
1920s-’40s, and the bluesy Jewel Tones, captur-
ing and refl ecting the timelessness of the Armory
and evening itself.
Great selection
of beer, wine
& spirits
Featuring
local live
music
Cottage Grove’s Place To Be!
Science Pub
Now open
for Lunch!!
Beer and science!
October 22 • 5 pm FREE
Dodgy
Mountain Men
Everything made
in-house
October 23 • 8:30 pm $5
Open 11:30 am every day except Sunday Brunch at 9 am 541-942-5942 657 Main Street Cottage Grove
We have great outside seating! Go to www.axeandfiddle.com to see bands and daily events
▲
Distinguished guests (from left) Senator Floyd Prozanski, Cottage Grove City Manager
Richard Meyers and Senator James Manning Jr. chat during cocktail hour at the Cottage
Grove Mayor’s Ball.
Live Music Every Friday
6 to 9 pm || No Cover Charge
OCTOBER 18
The Killer Bs
C L A S S I C C O U N T R Y & O L D T I M E R O C K- N - R O L L
OCTOBER 25
Richie G & Ma Beat
AMERIC ANA, COUNTRY & ROCK
NOVEMBER 1
Hipbillys
A C O U S T I C F O L K- R O C K
Open Daily 11am for
Complimentary Tasting
942-1364 ◆ www.saginawvineyard.com
▲