COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL February 24, 2016
3A
Cowboy tunes: Slow Ponies offer a blend of harmony, history
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
T
o hear the Slow Ponies sing is to
journey back in time, to the mag-
ical era of television cowboys (and, the
group is quick to point out, cowgirls.)
On Friday, the Ponies — composed,
according to its promotional materials,
of a “veritable who’s-who of regional
folk artists” — journeyed back to Cot-
tage Grove and the Axe & Fiddle Pub
for a gig that’s become one of their fa-
vorites.
Their costumes and tunes are clas-
sic, though the Slow Ponies also boast
personal histories that are perhaps as
signifi cant to this area as the songs they
sing together with an undeniable famil-
iarity. Shannon and Susan Applegate
are the proud descendants of one of the
area’s oldest pioneer families, while
Esther Stutzman, an educator, storytell-
er and Kalapuya elder, has performed
regionally since she was a small child.
Liz Crain provides the bass tones for
the group, which also includes the re-
nowned fi ddle work of Linda Daniel-
son and the harmonies of Melissa Ruth,
a newcomer with a budding musical ca-
reer in her own right.
“We just love music, and some of
us have been singing together all our
lives,” Stutzman said. “We love the
history of the songs and how nostalgic
they are, and how simple.”
Many of the songs the group loves
share as their subject “a time when the
West was new and exciting,” Stutzman
said.
According to Shannon Applegate,
her love of cowboy music harkens
from a “little room at the old Applegate
House,” where the family’s cowboy
gear and radio lived.
“It’s a big deal to be able to get to-
gether and sing a song like ‘Ghost Rid-
ers in the Sky,” she said. “This is music
that has a rich tradition here, that was in
part inspired by this part of Oregon.”
Tradition is central to the bond that
has held the Slow Ponies together these
past 10 years.
photo by Jon Stinnett
The Slow Ponies perform at Cottage Grove's Axe & Fiddle. Pictured from left to right are Susan and
Shannon Applegate, Esther Stutzman, Melissa Ruth, Linda Danielson and Liz Crain.
Please see PONIES, Page 9A
Safe Haven gains
non-profi t status
Flyers gather at
CG Armory
Group hopes to found a home for recovering addicts
South Lane RC Modelers hoping to
attract a new generation
T
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
T
he Cottage Grove Armory was literally abuzz Friday
afternoon, the sound of small aircraft at times fi lling
its cavernous gymnasium space.
A gathering organized by the South Lane RC Modelers
and Cottage Grove’s Youth Advisory Council drew young
and old for an event that the club, which consists of enthusi-
asts of radio-controlled aviation that have gathered together
for nearly 30 years, hopes can become a regular happening.
“We’re hoping to get kids interested in model aviation,”
said club member Dave Sharpe. “It’s a fun hobby that’s
good for parents and kids.”
Sharpe said that he was interested in aviation as a young
man but soon realized that obtaining a pilot’s license would
be too expensive. Model aviation, he said, lets him indulge
his love of fl ying in less-than-ideal conditions.
“On a rainy day at home, it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “You
can fl y all around the cabinets, chase the dog…”
Sharpe said the group is mainly composed of retirees that
gather on Tuesdays to fl y their craft, which on Friday con-
sisted largely of small airplanes and helicopters. According
to the South Lane RC Modelers website, the year 1985 saw
the formation of the Cottage Grove R/C Club, and the name
Please see FLY, Page 11A
photo by Jon Stinnett
Dakota Roth gives his drone, or multi-rotor, a head start
at the Armory during a "Fun Fly" on Friday.
he efforts of community
members to establish a
home in Cottage Grove for those
recovering from addiction got a
recent boost with the establish-
ment of the group as a non-profi t
organization.
A recent press release an-
nounced that Safe Haven has been
approved as a non-profi t organi-
zation, and the group’s Dolores
Anderson said events planned in
April and May aim to get the word
out about its efforts.
Many of those committed to the
effort are participants in Alcohol-
ics Anonymous or other groups,
Anderson told the Sentinel in
December, adding that the begin-
nings of the Safe Haven effort can
be traced to Billie Bird, who ar-
rived in Cottage Grove 18 months
ago and noticed that the commu-
nity did not have its own “recov-
ery house.”
Anderson said that the group
appreciated the support of Oregon
State Representative Val Hoyle
and Chief District Judge Ann Aik-
en, each of whom attended a fund-
raiser before Christmas and ex-
pressed support for Safe Haven’s
efforts.
“We look forward to providing
necessary safe homes for recov-
ering addicts and alcoholics to
maintain sobriety in our commu-
nity,” the press release stated.
Anderson said donations have
helped fund a Post Offi ce box and
storage of furnishings that have
been donated for the house the
group hopes to purchase. Safe Ha-
ven seeks to establish a house and
an offi ce at a separate location, she
said.
“People are still very passionate
about this,” Anderson said. “We
had our fi rst meeting in July, and
we’re still going strong.” The group
will install more members of its
board of directors on Wednesday
at 5:30 p.m. in the Cottage Grove
Community Center.
Safe Haven can be reached at
PO Box 1146 in Cottage Grove
or at cottagegrovesafehaveninc@
gmail.com.
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Denta
Who’s the top-grossing ac tor in kids’ tooth decay stories? Sugar.
And in Fe bruary 2016, during National Children’s Dental Health
Month, the American Dental As sociation is bringing “Sugar
Wars” * to a dentist’s offi ce near you.
Your child’s dental hygiene isn’t only about brushing and fl ossing.
The best way to prevent tooth decay and the costly dental
cavities that result is to tackle the problem where it starts: eating
sugary foods.
Everyone likes a treat now and then, but when you and your kids do
indulge, it’s extra important to remember a couple of things.
• Don’t eat candies or sugary foods through out the day; the bacteria
that cause decay feed on sugar, so it’s important to give your
mouth a break.
Jonathan E. Backer, D.D.S.
Great dental health
starts young!
Family Dentistry
541-942-8437
New Patients Welcome
1551 E. Main St.
• Brush your teeth with a dentist-recommended toothpaste after
you’ve eaten a sugary snack or dessert. This does two things: it
re mo ves any stuck food particles from the teeth and gums, and
it helps the saliva return to a normal pH level that doesn’t favor
tooth decay.
Generally, it’s best to avoid eating sugary foods every day for your
dental health and overall health. Opt for desserts that feature fresh
or frozen fruits, nuts and low-sugar recipes. At snack time, choose
fresh fruit or vegetables, nuts, cheese, whole-grain pro ducts or other
low-sugar foods that don’t easily get stuck in the teeth. Plan an
attack on sugary sodas, fruit drinks pastries and candies.
Teaching your kids good dental habits is the best way to fi ght
the Sugar Wars. Remind them to brush at least twice a day (once
before going to bed), rinse after snacking, fl oss daily and choose
low-sugar snacks.
Douglas G. Maddess, DMD
Brightening Lives One Smile at a Time
Welcoming New Patients
Call for an appointment today!
914 South 4th St.
douglasgmaddessdmd.com
Shane Parsons, DMD
Brent Bitner, DDS
New patients welcome
Dentistry with Family in Mind
605 Jefferson Ave. • Cottage Grove
C ALL U S T ODAY !
Please call for an appointment.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
Emergency appts. available daily
www.shaneparsonsd md.com
541.942.7934
541
350 E. W ASHINGTON A VENUE • C OTTAGE G ROVE
942-9171
WWW.CGSMILES.COM