6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL November 18, 2015
English Odyssey
Sentinel editor explores Devon's north coast
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
L
ifting the latch on a low-
slung wooden gate, we
step off the narrow road and
onto a rain-soaked path lead-
ing across an impossibly green
stretch of grass.
All around us, the wind howls
in from an angry sea as fl ocks
of wooly white sheep, seem-
ingly accustomed to the early-
November English weather,
continue their grazing unen-
cumbered on fi elds crisscrossed
by dense hedges. Overhead,
seagulls struggle to make head-
way against the salty gale, while
a gray cloud bank out at sea
promises more excitement to
come.
Reaching the edge of the
headland, we step onto the
rocky cliff path perched above
the sea far below as fl ecks of sea
foam ride the wind all around
us. Without warning, my wife’s
stocking hat fl ies from her head
and into the water in an instant,
never to be seen again. Soon,
our walk takes us to the main at-
traction, a point of land named
for the various mariners who
have met a salty fate there, and
we marvel at the crashing of
the waters of the famed North
Atlantic Ocean against those
of Woolacombe Bay (with the
south coast of Wales, visible on
a clear day, I’m told, just off the
horizon.) Turning around now
ahead of the gathering storm,
we navigate another path back
toward a tiny town, an ancient
pub full of dogs lounging before
a stoked fi re and a tall, dark pint
of local suds.
There were many such mem-
orable scenes over those several
days on the north coast of Dev-
on, an ancient English county
famed for its farmers, hunters,
pirates and smugglers, not to
mention its beautiful, rugged
coastline. The efforts of many
here at the Sentinel and our
sister newspaper allowed me
to join my family for a classic
wedding there, though the trip
also offered a look at a lifestyle
in many ways similar but in oth-
City Council Vacancy
photo by Jon Stinnett
Devon's Woolacombe Bay weathers another November
shower. The Woolacombe Bay Hotel can be seen in the
back left of the photo.
ers remarkably different from
our existence here in beautiful
Oregon.
By Saturday, I’d managed to
adjust to the rigors of a nine-
hour fl ight and the ensuing jet
lag, and as a family we walked
the few short blocks from our
fl at (apartment) to the historic
Woolacombe Bay Hotel, a maze
of beautifully decorated rooms
and lounges that hosted one of
the classiest wedding ceremo-
nies and ensuing parties I’ve ever
attended. Weddings in England
are a much more formal affair
tion at 541-687-5820 ext. 128.
rison on Wednesday, Nov. 18
beginning at 6 p.m. The public
is invited.
Please see DEVON, Page 11A
The City of Cottage Grove is seeking interested
applicants who reside within the City limits, to fi ll
a vacancy on the Cottage Grove City Council for
Councilor at Large. Applicants must be a registered
voter and reside within the City for at least one year
before appointment. The term for this position ends
on December 31, 2016. Applications are available
at City Hall from 8am to 5pm, Monday-Friday, or
online at www.cottagegrove.org . The deadline to apply
is Friday, December 18, 2015 at 5:00 pm. Please
submit completed applications to City Recorder,
Trudy Borrevik at City Hall. Any questions contact
the City Manager’s Offi ce at (541) 942-5501.
Douglas G. Maddess, DMD
FAMILY AND GENERAL DENTISTRY
Brightening Lives One Smile at a Time
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Thanksgiving
Dinner offered
Housing rehab
program
The First Baptist Church is of-
fering a free Thanksgiving din-
ner for all community members.
A full meal will be held on Nov.
26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
church located at 301 S. 6th St.
Local meal delivery orders may
be placed prior to Thanksgiv-
ing Day by calling the church at
541-942-8242 or Mercy John-
son at 541-942-5229. Those
who cannot place delivery or-
ders before Thanksgiving Day
can call First Baptist Church on
that day at 541-942-8242.
St. Vincent de Paul’s Regional
Housing Rehabilitation Program
RHRP currently has $150,000
spoken for to rehabilitate Cot-
tage Grove homes. In December
they will be receiving additional
funds for 15 more homes to be
serviced by the program. A
$25,000 typical loan enables
qualifi ed homeowners to im-
prove the livability, health and
safety of their homes.Cottage
Grove home repair RHRP proj-
ects have included new roofs,
foundation work, plumbing,
electrical, upgrading doors and
windows, paint and more.
Qualifying household in-
comes range from $31,000 for
one person to $58,450 for a
family of eight. There are no
payments added to the monthly
budget. The loans are due and
payable upon the sale or transfer
of the property. Those interested
can contact program manager
Andy Clay for more informa-
Scratchdog
Stringband
Portland’s Scratchdog String-
band will be playing its “rock-
grass” tunes at a free show at
7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5
at the Brewstation (106 South
Sixth St., Cottage Grove).
Salmon
Pub
Science
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, the
Coast Fork Willamette Water-
shed Council invites the public
to attend a Science Pub featur-
ing Jeff Ziller, ODFW District
Biologist, to present a talk en-
titled “Chinook Salmon in the
Coast Fork Willamette – Past,
Present and Future.” Next, the
event will feature a showing of
the movie “Upriver: A Film for
the Willamette,” by Freshwaters
Illustrated. The event is free to
attend with a suggested dona-
tion of $10 and it runs from 5-9
p.m.
Turkey Shoot
The Cottage Grove/Eugene
Sportsmen's Club will host tur-
key shoots (shooting only at
clay targets) on Sunday, Nov. 22
and Sunday, Dec. 13. The public
is invited to try this challenge.
Everyone who enters will win
a turkey. Registration starts at
9 a.m., and shooting starts at 10
a.m.
The cost is $35 for four
games. Eye and ear protection is
required, and no shot size larger
than 7.5# is allowed. Shells are
available at the club.
See our new website:
douglasgmaddessdmd.com
Bond conversation
South Lane School District
will host a community conver-
sation related to proposed bond
projects including a new Harri-
son Elementary School at Har-
Annual Rotary Children’s
Christmas Party
Thursday, Dec. 3rd, 6pm
Bohemia Elementar y School
COLORING CONTEST
Humane Society of Cottage Grove’s
5th Annual
Christmas Bazaar
American Legion Hall • 826 Main Street, CG
Friday, November 20th
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, November 21st
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Collectibles
Decorations
Christmas Cards
Lights
and Much More
All Proceeds Help Animals in Our Community.
November 27 & 28
Name
Age
Bring your colored picture
to the party!
