COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL May 27, 2015
7A
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Open House
me!’
“Our pool is ready for some
kitty-paddling.
Come
on
down!” invites cordial Moorea
to Mary Ellen Angel Scribe’s
famous swimming cats.
“Our cats would love to join
their new Celebra-Cat friend for
a swim,” said Mary Ellen, “but
they has a “bone” of contention
with me because they do not
have their own business cards or
return address labels like Mor-
rea does. So they chose to stay
home and stage a sleep-in!”
Fur Therapy
P
et Tips ‘n’ Tales was ahead
of the media curve featur-
ing Moorea, the therapy cat, in
May 2013. Moorea was recently
featured on “The Doctors” TV
show, so here is her article to
enjoy again: View her two seg-
ments on THE DOCTORS:
www.thedoctorstv.com/videos/
healing-power-of-pets
Not everyone has their own
business card, and even fewer
pets do! When I met Nancy,
at Woodburn,
Washington’s
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, she
handed me a brightly colored
business card with her beautiful,
rescued, 15-year-old calico cat
Morea’s photo and a synopses
of her successful career.
Nancy and Mike take Moorea
to nursing homes, hospice
facilities, senior centers, Al-
zheimer’s facilities, veterans’
apartments, and service clubs.
Which explains their matching
“Team Calico Love on a Leash”
T-shirts!
“Pet therapy stimulates pa-
tients’ brains as it relaxes their
bodies,” says Nancy. “Moorea
purr-forms a critical task that
humans can’t provide for pa-
tients with Traumatic Brain
Injuries. Our goal is that each
patient receive as much of a
blessing from seeing Moorea
as we feel bringing her to them.
She is a rescued cat who knows
that she has an important mis-
sion to bring smiles to the sick
and dying. Like any cat, she is
open for a good nap and lies be-
side patients so they can pet her
as she comforts them.”
When Moorea visits a hos-
pice patient, the blessings are
tenfold. On our fi rst hospice
visit, I placed Moorea on the
patient’s bed. She snuggled be-
tween the patient’s right arm
and side, where she stayed for
three hours. During this time,
hospital staff came in and
checked the patients’ vital signs.
They had to drape the tubing
across Moorea’s back and she
TIPS
Courtesy Photo
When Nancy and Mike enrolled, Moorea, as a San Diego
therapy cat, they had no idea she would become a TV
star!
never budged. Moorea’s “soul”
PURR-puss was geared to com-
forting the patient.
Then the cleaning staff came in
for the trash and swept the fl oor.
Again, Moorea never budged.
It was as if she KNEW she had
an important job to do as a Soul
Sitter. The woman passed a few
hours after we left.
A month later, a 92-year old
man’s dying wish was to pet
a cat. How could we say no?!
When we arrived, he was too
weak to speak so he nodded his
head “yes” when I asked if he
would like Moorea on his bed.
A tiny, frail smile appeared on
his gaunt face and his arm lifted
a few inches so he could reach
his hand to her back and pet her
soft fur. Moorea and the gentle-
man bonded as she snuggled
against his chest. In our next
visits, he gained the strength
to sit up in a wheelchair, sit on
the couch, and have Moorea
drape across his lap. This stoic
gentleman always had lots of
baby talk to whisper into his
cat-therapist’s ear. A year later,
we were present to celebrate his
93rd birthday with him!
We’ve had some unresponsive
patients who only stare and look
down. Their tightly curled hands
unfold after petting Moorea.
One person we visited was
almost in a coma but when she
saw Moorea, the woman tried to
sit up, vocalize and started pet-
ting the cat. I thought the hos-
pice nurse was going to faint.
She exclaimed, ‘I’ve never seen
my patient respond that much!
It was just miraculous,’” re-
members Nancy.
Moorea’s dedication to vol-
unteering earned her the 2010
California Veterinarian Medical
Association’s Animal Hall of
Fame award.
“We were concerned when
fl ying from San Diego to San
Francisco with Moorea for
her to receive the award,” said
Nancy. “Would the jet engines
bother her? But she was totally
unfazed! When she spotted the
other passengers, her expression
was, ‘Hey, look at all the new
people who are going to love
“As Moorea and I age, carry-
ing her in my arms has became
diffi cult,” said Nancy, “so I
bought a Pet Gear stroller. When
a patient isn’t up for a visit,
Moorea still earns a big smile
because patients are expecting
to see a baby! Moorea looks so
darn cute sitting at the front of
her blue stroller as patients ex-
claim, “It’s a cat!”
At Halloween, I went to a
Build-A-Bear shop and pur-
chased a purr-fect costume for
her - green surgical scrubs. I
pushed her in the stroller, in
costume, down the hospital cor-
ridors calling out, ‘Dr. Katz!
Paging Dr. Katz to surgery!’
Even the most stoic doctors
cracked a smile.”
“People with pets need to
PROVIDE FOR THEM after
their death,” says Janetta Over-
holser, President of the Hu-
mane Society of Cottage Grove.
“Mention your pets in your
will and who they go to. If you
don’t, your beloved pet(s) end
up at a shelter. This tragic situa-
tion happens ALL the time. Last
week, we “inherited” two cats
and yesterday two Dachshunds
with this sad tale.”
Humane Society for Neuter/
Spay Assistance Program. (541)
942-2789
Tell me your pet’s story!
angelscribe@msn.com
Fern Hill Nursery announced
a special workshop entitled “Ten
Essential Medicinals for your
Northwest Garden” on Sunday,
May 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During this workshop, Brian
Basor, co-owner and manager
of Fern Hill Nursery and Bo-
tanical Sanctuary, will share his
expertise and experience with at
least 10 plants that he believes
are essential for a local me-
dicinal garden. The cost for the
workshop is $40 per person or
$75 per couple.
Pre-registration is required
with a $25 deposit and those
interested are asked to con-
tact Devon at 541-942-3118 or
info@fernhillnursery.com. The
nursery is located at 78703 Echo
Hollow Lane.
Students graduate
from George Fox
More than 800 students earned
a GPA of 3.5 or higher to earn
dean’s list honors at George Fox
University, a Christian college
in Oregon.
Among those earning the rec-
ognition were the following lo-
cal students:
Lauren Haga of Creswell, a
senior majoring in engineering
Mason Mueller of Cottage
Grove, a sophomore majoring
in management
Summer Reading
Kick-Off coming
The Summer Reading Kickoff
event at the Cottage Grove Pub-
lic Library is Wednesday, June
17 from 2-4 p.m. Kids can join
in for free books and free ice
cream.
Water Safety Play
Day
The Warren H. Daugherty
Aquatic Center in Cottage
Grove will host the fourth-an-
nual Water Safety Play Day Sat-
urday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to
Protect your world
12:30 p.m. Children of all ages
and their parents can learn about
swimming and boating safety
through a variety of fun activi-
ties at this free event.
The Lane County Sheriff’s
Offi ce Search and Rescue Team
will host a life jacket exchange
during the event. Children can
exchange old life jackets for
better-fi tting ones. The rescue
team will also have their patrol
boat on site and will share tips
on how to stay safe while boat-
ing.
Children will also have the op-
portunity to meet the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers mascot,
Bobber the Water Safety Dog.
Through free printed materi-
als and online cartoons (www.
Bobber.info), Bobber teaches
children how to stay safe while
visiting Corps reservoirs, such
as nearby Cottage Grove and
Dorena lakes.
During the event, families
will visit several interactive sta-
tions to learn about life jackets,
boating safety, water rescue and
hypothermia.
All registered
participants will receive a goody
bag and the opportunity to win a
raffl e for a Summer Pool Pass.
The pool will offer a free
swim following the water safety
stations. Participants should
bring suits and towels.
This Cottage Grove Water
Safety Play Day is being orga-
nized by “Friends of the Pool”
in partnership with the South
Lane School District, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Lane
County Sheriff’s Offi ce, South
Lane County Fire and Rescue,
Make A Splash Foundation and
the City of Cottage Grove. For
more information, contact Car-
rie McCasline at 541-942-5533.
Bluegrass in Drain
The North Douglas Perform-
ing Arts Council presents an eve-
ning of art and music featuring
Artist Jerry Ross and Umpqua
Valley Bluegrass on Friday,
June 19. The art show will be
from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with the
concert to follow at 7 p.m. at the
Drain Civic Center, 205 West A
Street in Drain.
SOUTH LANE COUNTY
FIRE & RESCUE
Auto • Home • Life • Retirement
SAVE MONEY. SAVE LIVES.
Matt Bjornn ChFC, Agent
1481 Gateway Blvd
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Bus: 541-942-2623
matt@bjornninsurance.com
Call me today to discuss your options.
Jfd\ g\fgc\ k_`eb 8ccjkXk\ fecp gifk\Zkj pfli
ZXi%Kilk_`j#8ccjkXk\ZXeXcjfgifk\Zkpfli_fd\
fiXgXikd\ek#pfliYfXk#dfkfiZpZc\$\m\epfli
i\k`i\d\ek Xe[ pfli c`]\% 8e[ k_\ dfi\ f] pfli
nfic[ pfl glk `e >ff[ ?Xe[j# k_\ dfi\ pfl
ZXejXm\%
… and I’m one of them.
Ground Ambulance
Memberships
$65 per year
My customers know who to
turn to for help with their
insurance or financial planning.
Don’t stress over figuring it out
on your own.
I exist to assist.
CALL ME TODAY.
Ground Ambulance
&
Air Membership
ERIK BENSON
541-942-2605
$110 per year
(*'>8K<N8P9CM;
:FKK8><>IFM<
\i`bY\ejfe7XccjkXk\%Zfd
Insurance subject to terms, qualifications and availability. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate
Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Co. Life insurance and annuities issued by Lincoln Benefit Life Company,
Lincoln, NE, Allstate Life Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. In New York, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, Hauppauge, NY. Northbrook, IL.
© 2010 Allstate Insurance Co.
113896
Call 541-942-4493 for info.
FOR EMERGENCY DIAL 911
1408556
Serving South Lane County.
State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL
Cottage Grove Board of REALTORS®
Joe Ward, Broker
Territorial Land Company, REALTORS
R
75426 WILLIAMS CREEK LOOP, COTTAGE GROVE
Êx{££ÓäÎ{ÊUÊ"Ê*" É8Êx{£{ÓÎxn
joewardproperties@gmail.com www.joewardrealestate.com
A1-REALITY
JOHN & LUCETTE
REAKSECKER
“We Sell Real Estate”
Real Estate Brokerage & Property Management
(541) 683-6241
COMMERCIAL SPACE IN COTTAGE GROVE.
READY TO GO NOW!!
541-221-4004 cell
751 RIVER ROAD, COTTAGE GROVE
www.a1-reality.com
(Member Lane County Realtors Million Dollar Club)
Approximately 1300 sq. ft., Zoned residential/commercial. Good
visibility, high traffic count location. New laminate flooring,
fresh paint, new ADA bathroom. Water is included in the lease. Off
road parking. $975/month to month contract (lease negotiable),
$1,500 Security Deposit with proper
income documentation and good references.
DOUG PERKEY, Broker
ppp'm^kkbmhkbZeeZg]'\hf
LAKEVIEW RANCHETTE:
15.68 ac. w/fenced pastures,
timber, organic garden, orchard,
berries and more. 4 bd, 2 ba, 2800
sq. ft. updated tri-level
w/stunning views of CG Lake and
Williams Lagoon. Large barn,
shop, greenhouse, machine shed,
RV pad, springs and more.
$565,000.
FIND A PENNY – PICK IT UP THEN
ALL DAY YOU’LL HAVE GOOD
LUCK! Sell or Buy Your Real Estate
through John Reaksecker, Broker of
A1-Reality and you’ll find/save 100,000
pennies! ($1,000) Decades of experience
in helping Sellers and Buyers make money
and save money in Real Estate.
Call John first! 541-221-4004 cell.
We Appreciate our Affi liates
Commonwealth Financial Network
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cynergy Pest Control
Eagle Home Mortgage
ENG Lending
Evergreen Land Title Escrow
First American Title & Escrow
First American Home Warranty
Siuslaw Mortgage
State Farm Insurance
Umpqua Bank
PayneWest Insurance
White Water Well Drilling & Pump Service
Williams & Mathis Accounting Service