COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MAY 31, 2017 9A
Adult water fi tness class strengthens body and spirit
By Cindy Weeldreyer
For The Sentinel
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un, fi tness and friendship
are the bonds shared by
participants in Paula Mance’s
shallow water aerobics class
three mornings a week from
7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Warren H.
Daugherty Aquatics Center. It is
one of three adult fi tness classes
offered at the pool each week,
the other two are in deep wa-
ter. Marjie Vaverka teaches the
early morning class on Mon-
days, Wednesdays and Fridays
from 5:45-6:30 a.m. and Pam
McReynolds teaches the eve-
ning deep water class on Mon-
days and Wednesdays from 6-7
p.m.
The pool opened in 1956
as a community response to
an alarming number of youth
drownings in area lakes and
rivers. For nearly 70 years, the
school district owned facility
has taught children to swim,
trained championship teams,
offered fi tness classes, provided
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Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. 6th St. • P.O. Box 35 • Cottage Grove, OR
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recreational hours for families
to spend quality time together
and birthed an untold number
of special memories and life-
long friendships.
Nadine Kelley, 57, is a
semi-retired bookkeeper and
community volunteer who
moved to Cottage Grove in
2005. She joined Mance’s class
three years ago for fi tness rea-
sons.
“The class has defi nitely im-
proved my health and it also
gives me the opportunity to so-
cialize while I exercise,” Kel-
ley said. “Paula is an excellent
instructor and there are differ-
ent levels so your workout can
be as intensive as you want it
to be.”
Terry Noah joined the class
nine years ago and, like Kel-
ley, she was motivated to get in
the water early in the morning
to accomplish personal fi tness
goals.
“I come to keep my body
moving at this stage of my life.
It takes a lot of dedication to
get up this early three days a
week,” the 67-year-old retired
nurse said. “I have this great
feeling at the end of each class
that I’ve accomplished some-
thing good and then I go home
and rest.”
Kelley and Noah enjoy the
camaraderie that is the hallmark
of their class. On the last Friday
of the month most go out and
enjoy breakfast together and so-
cialize at a local restaurant.
“Coming here I get exercise
and a connection with people
I probably wouldn’t have met
otherwise,” Kelley added.
Former City Councilor Pat
Patterson has long been a sup-
porter of the municipal pool and
considers the City of Cottage
Grove’s annual contribution to
pool operations to be a life-sav-
ing investment for all ages. He
strongly believes every child
should know how to swim. Af-
ter more than three decades as
a Pacifi c Power lineman, today
his 89-year-old body has its
challenges.
“I’m the pollywog of the
class because I joined only three
weeks ago,” Patterson said.
“I’m here because my daughter
and my physical therapist en-
couraged me to try it to improve
my balance after a back injury
– and it is helping me.”
As a child, Patterson learned
to swim in the ocean in Redon-
do Beach, Calif. in the 1930s.
He spent much of his life in the
water playing water polo, teach-
ing Boy Scouts how to swim,
and supporting his kids who
were high school swimmers.
He enjoyed family swims in
the same pool that now, in this
season of his life, provides him
with therapeutic relief for his
stiff joints in the morning.
“Of all the physical sports
such as football, track, basket-
ball, even golf, you can still
dip your toe in the water and
exercise long after you’re un-
able to participate in these other
sports,” Patterson added.
He believes if more trans-
portation was available, more
seniors could take advantage of
the therapeutic benefi ts of the
local swimming pool.
Mance attended this class off
and on for seven years under
the direction of her predeces-
sor, Mary Williams. Last year,
Williams wanted to retire and
personally recruited Mance to
take over the class because she
believed Mance’s 43 years as an
occupational therapist would be
a great asset to the class partic-
ipants.
An occupational therapist
works with people of all ages,
who need specialized assistance
to live as independently as pos-
sible and to enjoy life to the
fullest.
“The water adds support that
allows a person to move his or
her body in less stressful ways,”
Mance explained. “I have three
instructional goals for each
class I tailor to meet the specifi c
needs of people in my class: a
cardio workout, a gentle aero-
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bic workout and exercises that
encourage a functional range of
motion for joints. This type of
exercise is great for folks with
soft tissue problems and for
those with a sedentary lifestyle,
which is common as we age
and become less active,” Mance
said.
Attendance in her class ranges
from 7-15 students. The classes
are affordable. Adults pay $4.50
and Seniors (62+) pay $3.50
per class. A 30-day fi tness pass
can be used for classes and lap
swimming. The pass is $30 for
adults and $25 for seniors. An-
nual passes offer greater dis-
counts on pool use. The fi rst
class is always free. The pool
has purchased a new boiler,
which now keeps the water tem-
perature steady at a comfortable
83-84 degrees.
“Since the fi rst class is free, I
would love to have more people
come and try it,” Mance said.
“They will be impressed with
how friendly, engaging and in-
clusive our group is. They ea-
gerly support new people and
help newcomers learn the dif-
ferent body movements. They
are all just terrifi c people to
spend an hour with three times
a week.”
WATER SAFETY
DAY
The Douglas H. Daugh-
erty Aquatic Center will be
holding a water safety day
on June 3 from 10 a.m. to
12:30 p.m.
Learn valuable water
safety lessons and Hands
Only CPR. Bring your
old life jackets to be fi tted
or exchanged with Lane
County Sheriff Search and
Rescue.Free swim for the
whole family!
Lorane
News
Tonight, Wednesday, May
31 is senior recognition night
at 7 pm, showcasing their
accomplishments and joys
the last four years. Come
share with them.
Next, Thursday, June 1 is
the Crow HS Spring concert
at 7 pm. Friday, June 2 is
the seniors last day. The day
begins with the All School
Awards at 8:20 am.
On Sunday, June 4, join
the seniors for their Bacca-
laureate at Crow Nazarene
Church , near the school, at
6 pm.
Graduation for Crow High
School seniors is Friday,
June 9 at 7 pm in the gym.
Everyone is welcomed to
wish them well.
NOTICE TO CUT OR REMOVE
TALL GRASS –
HAZARDOUS VEGETATION –
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
Notice is hereby given that property owners or persons in control of property
are required in the City of Cottage Grove to cut or remove tall grass, hazardous
vegetation and combustible materials during the fi re season from June 15 th to
November 1 st (CGMC 8.12 Nuisances).
Tall grass and hazardous vegetation includes wild blackberry bushes; weeds &
grass more than 12 inches tall anywhere on your property including public lands
out to the street. Vegetation that is likely to endanger buildings or other property
should it catch on fi re must also be cut or removed.
During the fi re season inspections will be made and property owners notifi ed that
they must cut or remove the hazardous vegetation. Failure to cut or remove the
grass or vegetation will result in the City having to abate the problem. The cost
of abatement will be charged to the property and if unpaid will become a lien
against the property.
Property owners are reminded that they must keep hazardous vegetation and tall
grass cut less than 12 inches until November 1st. Questions can be answered by
the Public Works & Development Department at City Hall, by calling 541-942-
3340 or by email: planning@cottagegrove.org.