COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JULY 19, 2017 9A
Living 50 Plus in Cottage Grove
New Main St. Coordinator hits the ground running
By Caitlyn May
Carlene Girouard found herself with an
empty nest one day. She and her husband
had spent 30 years in Eugene raising three
girls and when they found themselves climbing three fl ights to do
laundry and discovered there was no need to heat and cool bed-
rooms no one slept in they decided to fi ll their nest again. A differ-
ent nest. With chickens.
“We knew we wanted land and to maybe grow food and fruit
trees and have a few chickens,” Girouard said. “I looked every-
where. Brownsville, Coburg and one day it just hit me. Look in
Cottage Grove.”
Girouard took the 20-minute drive from Eugene to the Grove and
says, it changed her life setting a course for her new position with
the city that has her connected businesses with people like her.
“I lived in Eugene for 30 years and had never been to Cottage
Grove. There are other people like me,” she said.
While there may be others in surrounding cities that have never
stepped foot in Cottage Grove, there’s not another Main Street Co-
ordinator; a position Girouard recently fi lled.
She’s an Oregon State University Graduate with a Bachelor’s of
Science in horticulture and business. She says it gave her a little bit
of everything but she was never sure if she was good at anything.
“I graduated in the ‘80s when the economy was really bad. There
were no jobs for anyone,” she said.
So, Girouard decided to go into business for herself as the owner
of TruScapes, a landscaping and design company. Now, she’ll use
what she learned to help other small businesses in Cottage Grove
cmay@cgsentinel.com
thrive.
The Main Street coordinator is a fl uid position. Prior to Gir-
ouard’s arrival, the coordinator was not a direct employee of the
city. That’s since changed. Girouard will work under city planner
Amanda Ferguson and work on addressing downtown businesses’
concerns and attempt to facilitate relationships.
It’s a job Girouard almost didn’t get.
“I read the newspaper every week. Every page,” she said. “I was
going through and I saw the ad for the job and my fi rst thought was,
‘That sounds like fun.’” But Girouard wasn’t convinced she had the
necessary skillset and so she left the ad pinned to the wall in her of-
fi ce until an urgency fi lled her days before the application deadline.
“I just fi lled it out and sent it in,” she said. “And I waited and
waited and didn’t hear so I thought they didn’t want me.”
But the city did want her and now less than a month on the job
she’s already connected with Cottage Grove’s merry band of char-
acters, including city councilor Ken Roberts.
“He came into the offi ce three times in my fi rst fi ve days,” Gir-
ouard said. “He said the planters on Main St. needed some love and
I thought he was right.”
After a phone call to a contact in Eugene, Giouard secured 150
plants for the city’s planters.
“I’m just taking things one day at a time,” she said. “I’m doing a
little traveling to a coordinator conference and then I’m going to be
meeting every business owner and making sure there’s an open line
of communication. It’s just making sure we have that relationship.”
CARLENE GIROUARD
Heading to the gym after 50
R
egular exercise and a nutritious diet are two of the best
things seniors can do to maintain their health. Exercise
can delay or prevent many of the health problems associ-
ated with aging, including weak bones and feelings of fatigue.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a person
age 65 or older who is generally fi t with no limiting health condi-
tions should try to get two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-inten-
sity aerobic activity per week, while also including weight training
and muscle-strengthening activities in their routines on two or more
N DIE’S BL OO MS
O
L
B
RRIES
& BE
erries
b
e
u
l
B are
y!
Read
days a week.
Individuals often fi nd that gyms have the array of fi t-
ness equipment they need to stay healthy. But many peo-
ple, including older men and women who have not ex-
ercised in some time, may be hesitant to join a gym for
fear of intimidation. Some seniors may avoid machines
and classes believing they will not use the apparatus prop-
erly, or that they will be judged by other gym members.
Some seniors may feel like gyms do not cater to their old-
er clientele, creating an atmosphere that is dominated by
younger members and loud music.
Such misconceptions are often unfounded, as many
gyms welcome older members with open arms. But even
if seniors fi nd gyms intimidating, they should still sign
up for memberships. In such situations, the following tips
can help seniors shed their fears and adapt to their new gyms.
• Start the process slowly. Shop around for a gym that makes
you feel comfortable. Get fully informed about which classes are
offered, and the benefi ts, if any, afforded to older members.
• Get a doctor’s go-ahead. Make sure to clear exercise and gym
membership with your doctor prior to purchasing a membership.
He or she also may have a list of gyms where fellow senior patients
have memberships.
• Build up gradually. Begin with exercises you feel comfortable
performing. Spend time walking on the treadmill while observing
other gym members. Tour the circuit of machines and other equip-
ment. Find out if you can sample a class to see if it might be a good
fi t.
• Find a gym buddy. Working out with a partner in your age group
may encourage you to keep going to the gym and increase your
comfort level. You each can offer support and enjoy a good laugh
through the learning process.
• Don’t get discouraged. Anyone working out for the fi rst time,
regardless of age, will feel somewhat out of place until exercise
becomes part of a routine. Give it some time before throwing in
the towel. Once you catch on, you may discover you enjoy working
out.
• Choose a senior-friendly gym. Some gyms cater to senior mem-
bers. They may offer “SilverSneakers” classes at their facility. Oth-
er niche gyms may only accept members of a certain age group.
Investigate these gyms if working out with a younger crowd is
proving too great a deterrent.
Fitness is important for healthy seniors. It can prolong life, help
seniors maintain healthy weights and reduce their risk of injury.
NEW: Digital X-Rays (use less radiation)
Implants •Teeth Whitening • Extractions
Lumineers (no prep veneers as seen on TV)
Pints
1/2 F ,
or 1 F lat
lat
C
ll Blueberr
e
w
s
ie
re
34030 Orchard Ave., Creswell
541-895-8907
s
U-Pick or Call to Order
Open Daily 8-5pm
Accommodate off hour picking by appointment
Cottage Grove Dental
Closing the nursery section.
1/2 OFF on shubs, trees, and perennials.
July –August with
eight different varieties
No Spray!
We provide buckets & boxes
Please leave pets at home.
Dr. Brent Bitner, DDS
350 Washington, Cottage Grove (behind Better Bodies)
541-912-0931
541.942.7934
83404 Rodgers Road • Creswell, Oregon 97426 • License#179798
DENTAL Insurance
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve
If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about
$1 a day*
Keep your own dentist! NO networks to worry about
NO annual or lifetime cap o n the cash benefi ts
No wait for preventive care and no deductibles
– you could get a checkup tomorrow
Coverage for over 350 procedures including
cleanings, exams, fi llings, crowns…even dentures
you can receive
S o me
So
e time
t i me
ti
m e s,
mes,
s p a
am
m pe
peri
r ing
ri
ng i s no
n t en
enou
ough
ou
u gh t o ke
keep
ep y ou
our r fe
f e
eet
e
et
FREE Information Kit
h al
he
alth
th
hy.
y I f you
yo
o u ar
a e a se
s e ni
nior
or o r ha
h ve
v f ee
eet t th
that
at r eq
equi
uire
ui
re s pe
p ci
cial
a c ar
al
are,
e
e,
1-877-599-0125
y yo
o u’
u r re
e n ot t a lo
o ne
ne.. Ou
O u r serv
Our
se
e rvic
rv v ic c es a re
e s pe
p ci
c al
ally
ly d es
esig
ig
gne
e d fo
for r th
thos
o e
os
wh
who
h o ha
ave
v e t he
h se a nd o th
t er
e m ed
edic
i al
ic
a l c on
ondi
d iti
di
ti i ons:
on
n s:
s
www.dental50plus.com/25
*Individual plan. Product not available in MN, MT, NH, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details
about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q);
Insurance Policy P150(GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096C
MB16-NM001Gc
arthritis mobility limitations diabetes limited vision
O r ce
Ou
cert
r ifi
rt
fie
fi
e d Re
Regi
gi i st
g
ster
ered
er
ed
d N ur
u se a ss
s s es
e sse
sess an
se
nd ca
care
ress fo
re
forr yo
y ur f ee
eet:
t :
t:
Nail trimming
Debridement or buffi ng of corns and calluses
Education regarding diabetic foot care
Education for preventative care
Home treatment for athlete’s foot and tinea pedis
To
o s ch
c edul
ed
d ul l e an a pp
p o
oi i nt
ntme
m nt,
me
nt t , ca
c all
l l 5 41
ll
41-7
-767
-7
7 67
7-5
5 40
4 0.
0
1515
15
5 15
1 5 V il illa
la
age
e D ri i ve
ve, , Co
Cott
ttag
tt
ag
g e G
Gr rov
r o
ov ve,
v e, O R 97
9 42
2 4
TURNING 65 AND NEED HELP WITH
YOUR MEDICARE CHOICES?
Call Paul to
help simplify
the complicated.
541-517-7362
ww
w w.
w . pe
peac
aceh
ac
c eh
ehea
e lt
ea
l t h.
h or
org/
r g/
g/cg
c g ch
cg
c
Paul Henrichs ~ Independent Agent
coverage4oregon@gmail.com