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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2017)
6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL AUGUST 2, 2017 I t’s a typical summer day at our house. The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing and the fl owers are in full bloom. I’m writing this column sitting outside and counting my blessings as I listen to the squirrels chatter at the bird feeder while a variety of birds and our two Dachshunds try and chase them away. I love living in the country. I am a born and bred big-city girl but every summer my family vacationed at our cabin in Crestline in the San Bernardino Moun- tains. It was there that I learned to love fresh air, listen to the mys- terious sounds of critters in the forest, ride horseback and watch the black bear families forage at midnight through a nearby dump by the headlights of visitor’s cars. It was also there that I learned to love birds and enjoy the fun side of my grandfather. Grandpa J.D., the business man, always wore a 3-piece suit in the city. In the mountains he wore casual clothes and trained Blue Jays to sit on his fi nger. He would sit for hours, gently tugging a peanut on a string, enticing the birds to come closer. It took days but ultimately they became friends and a peanut award awaited them. I never mastered that art. I always dreamed that someday we would live on a tree-lined property, near a lake. Well, surprise! Dreams do come true. Twen- ty-eight years ago we moved to Cottage Grove Lake where all kinds of adventures awaited. Our animal adventures began immediately. The fi rst critters that we heard were scratching in the walls of our bedroom! Our house had been unoccupied for awhile and MICE moved in. They were not welcome and had to go. Later, on a walk, a fox ran through the meadow and a bear surprised us at the lake by scrambling down a nearby hill. Across the street from our house, a lot of squawking was going on. Looking up we saw the biggest nest ever—an Osprey family The Chatterbox By Betty Kaiser had hatched their noisy chicks. Their parents were vigilant and pro- tective. One day I looked up to see an eagle headed down the creek towards the nest fl anked by two Osprey. It wisely turned away from the chicks before a confrontation. Whenever logging goes on up the hill from us it chases wildlife out of their habitat into our neighborhood. Our former neighbors, Jay and Audrey, had a pond on their property that a local cougar claimed as his own! Summer days he would sprawl out on the street in front of their house and at night come onto the property for a drink! He was also interested in their sheep but their Dobermans and a tight barn kept them safe. Rumor is that there’s been another cougar down at the lake recently. One morning Audrey called to say that there were three long- horn cattle on their property. Did I know who they belonged to? I didn’t but someone later claimed them. Another day we woke up to three ponies at the back fence trailing their ropes. Their owners also found them. And then there was what the cat drug in. One day Misty Mouser came home from the meadow dragging a rabbit! He was still alive and we took him back to the park. Learning to co-exist with the deer is an ongoing battle. They love our roses—all 75 bushes. Early on they circled the property during the day scouting out their nighttime dessert. At dusk they sometimes would just camp out on the driveway where they made a friend of Lady, our German Shepherd! Deer and dog would greet and touch noses like old friends! The same deer regularly decimated the vegetable garden until Chuck built a Stalag 17 type enclosure and now the tomatoes and cucumbers grow in peace. It took hot wires around the rose beds to protect the fl owers. Of course, we have to be careful if there’s a power outage. Critters know when that hot wire is cold! Recently, I saw the sweetest sight ever. It was evening and a tiny newborn fawn on wobbly legs was following her little mama up the road to a safe place. Absolutely precious. Oh, how I love country living! Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox is about people, places, family, and other matters of the heart. Contact her at 942-1317 or e-mail — bchatty@bettykaiser.com Heat wave Continued from A1 the rest of the week hover fairly close to those forecasted for Cottage Grove. As a result of the heat, Con- certs in the Park is set for cancellation as of press time. According to Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce Execu- tive Director Travis Palmer, the organizations is reaching out to several entities for expert opin- ions on the effect of the heat on possible concert crowds. "We've contacted Lane Coun- ty Public Health but right now it's looking like it will be can- celed," he said. The city will be offering cool- ing stations Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. Both the library and city hall will be open to those looking to escape the heat and according to Meyers, the city will provide ice water at both locations. As tempertures climb, seniors and children are especially at risk. According to OHSU, it is critical that caretakers be aware of early symptoms of heat stroke and that those who are able, check on elderly neighbors throughout the day. The Red Cross issued tips for staying healthy and cool during Oregon's heat wave as well: Triple digit temperatures are expected across the region this week and in order to stay safe, the American Red Cross urg- es residents to be aware of the steps they should take to avoid heat-related illness. Follow these simple steps to keep your- self and others safe before and during a heat wave. Before - Be aware of both the tem- perature and the heat index. The heat index is the temperature the body feels when the effects of heat and humidity are com- bined. - Check the contents of your disaster preparedness kit to en- sure it has enough water and non-perishable food items, just in case. For a full kit list, visit redcross.org/PrepareGuide. - Look out for your neighbors -- people who are elderly, young or sick are more susceptible to heat-related illness and may need your help. - If you do not have air condi- tioning, locate places you could go to fi nd relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day (schools, libraries, theaters, malls). Many government web- sites provide a list of available cooling centers. - Ensure that your animals' needs for water and shade are met. During - Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical updates from the National Weather Service (NWS). - Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles, not even for a few minutes. Ac- cording to the National Weather Service, a car left in 80 degree weather yielded an inside tem- perature of 95 degrees and ris- ing in just two minutes. - Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fl uids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol. - Eat small meals and eat more often. - Wear loose-fi tting, light- weight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun's rays. - Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day (late afternoon/evening). - Postpone outdoor games and activities (participants and spectators). - Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. - Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors. - Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by WANTED! 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A nationwide survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older found 86 percent of wom- en brush their teeth twice or more a day, yet only 66 percent of men do so. Th e survey also found that women say they change their toothbrush or power toothbrush head every 3 to 4 months on average, yet men hang on to theirs an av- erage of 5 months. Th e ADA recommends replacing toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months or when the bristles become frayed since frayed and worn bristles decrease cleaning eff ectiveness. Most people need to do a better job of fl ossing their teeth. Only half of those surveyed (49 percent) say they signal gum disease or another health problem. fl oss their teeth once a day or more oft en. And 1 out of Oral health is an important part of overall health. 3 people surveyed think a little blood in the sink aft er Regular dental check-ups are important not only to brushing their teeth is normal, yet it’s not -- it could diagnose and treat gum disease and tooth decay, but also because some diseases or medical conditions, such as oral cancer, have symptoms that can appear in the mouth. Growing research indicates there may be an associa- tion between oral health and serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, underscor- ing the importance of good oral hygiene habits. “We need to constantly get the word out how im- portant it is to stay on top of your oral health,” says Dr. Ada Cooper, an ADA consumer advisor and practicing dentist in New York City. “Brushing twice a day with fl uoride toothpaste, fl ossing daily, eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly can help keep your smile healthy.” Forget hair, eyes and body ... a recent survey found For more information on oral health, visit the Amer- that people consider the smile the most attractive fea- ican Dental Association’s Web site at: www.ada.org. ture in a person. This message is brought to you by these local sponsors: Douglas G. Maddess, DMD Dentistry with Family in Mind Brent Bitner, DDS C ALL U S T ODAY ! 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