COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL APRIL 25, 2018 3A
Groups in the Grove
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A look at local events, achievements and things to know in Cottage Grove
Community health advocate Ana Maria
Dudley receives Excellence in Public
Health award
P
eaceHealth community health worker
Ana-Maria Dudley has received an
Excellence in Public Health Award in
recognition of her exceptional work in south
Lane County.
This award is bestowed annually by the Lane
County Board of Commissioners, also acting
as the Lane County Board of Health.
Dudley was honored for her more than two
decades of service within south Lane County,
including her support and advocacy for Cot-
tage Grove’s Guatemalan community.
An immigrant herself, Dudley moved to the
United States from war-torn El Salvador in
1980.
She was hired as an interpreter at Peace-
Health Cottage Grove Community Medical
Center almost 15 years ago and previously was
a hospital volunteer.
“If a community had a guardian angel, it
would be Ana-Maria Dudley,” said Tim Her-
rmann, chief administrative offi cer of Cottage
Grove Community Medical Center (CGCMC).
“She’s a phenomenal person. She has done so
much, and she has done it with such grace.
She really pops up everywhere. She knows so
much about this community and how to weave
together a safety net for people.”
Dudley works half-time as a community
health worker at the hospital and half time with
the South Lane School District Family Re-
source Center.
As a community health worker, Dudley
reaches out to and advocates for families who
need healthcare but, for a variety of reasons,
struggle to obtain it.
Additionally, Dudley supports children and
families at the school district’s Family Re-
source Center, also known as Peggy’s Primary
Connection. Dudley describes the center as the
“port of entry” for immigrant families.
The center, located in the Cottage Grove
Lane Community College building at 1275 S.
River Road, offers parent education, early ed-
ucation, homework tutoring, dental health ser-
vices and many other services.
“Ana-Maria is truly a pillar of her
community, striving to give mothers
a place to feel supported and loved
through Peggy’s Primary Connection at
the South Lane School District’s Fami-
ly Resource Center,” according to the
Lane County Board of Commissioners
proclamation announcing the award.
“Ana-Maria welcomes everyone with
love and warmth. She works very close-
ly with the Guatemalan community
and Peggy’s center has become a place
where the Guatemalan community feels
safe visiting for resources.”
Dudley also supports Lane County’s
“I’m healthy!/¡Soy Sano!” program and works
with the county and other partners to boost im-
munization in the Guatemalan community.
Dudley received the PeaceHealth Spirit of
Healing Award in recognition of her support of
Social Justice - a core PeaceHealth Value - in
2015.
Dudley was the individual honored this year
with an Excellence in Public Health Award.
Lane County Commissioners also bestowed
the award on an organization: Crisis Assistance
Helping Out on the Streets (CAHOOTS) ser-
vice of White Bird Clinic. CAHOOTS often is
the fi rst responder assisting people experienc-
ing mental health crises or behavioral issues.
From the city of Cottage Grove
Bird-watching opportunity
Join the Coast Fork Birders at Lakeside
Park on Saturday, April 28 at 8a.m. for a
spring bird walk along Cottage Grove Res-
ervoir. Julie Parker will lead the group in
looking for waterfowl, raptors and song-
birds. The terrain at Lakeside Park is varied
and will include paved, unpaved, uneven
and potentially muddy surfaces. Be sure to
bring weather appropriate clothing and foot-
wear, binoculars and bird identifi cation book
if you have them (we have some spares in case you don't), and your
own snacks and water. Park in the Lakeside Park parking lot (there
is no parking fee). RSVP to the Coast Fork Offi ce (541) 767-9717
or email maggie@coastfork.org.
Spring is Finally Here?
According to Punxsutawney Phil, winter was supposed to end several weeks ago but apparently someone forgot to tell win-
ter. It seems that winter has fi nally gotten the message and more spring-like weather has fi nally begun to arrive. The spring
sunshine is fi nally opening up the blossoms and the potholes. The blossoms are beautiful and wonderful to see, the potholes
not so beautiful. So remember we love to see the potholes disappear and everyone can help us make those holes vanish. The
Pothole Spotter is a great way to help the crew know the location of the blossoming potholes. Last year over 80 responses
were received. The Pothole Spotter is available on the city’s webpage and is mobile friendly.
Regional Solutions Team Meeting
Wednesday, the Governor's Regional Solutions Team met with representatives from the city council, business owners,
Economic Business Improvement District, Community Development Corporation, real estate, and city staff. The meeting
was coordinated by Len Blackstone with the intent to share the great work taking place in Cottage Grove and some of the
challenges we're facing to develop needed housing and jobs. Twenty-three people participated in the meeting. The meeting
was a great opportunity for everyone to learn how the State can assist with our challenges and created connections to the
services the State provides and its employees. A big "thank you' goes out to Len for setting up this important and informative
meeting.
Art Walk
The 2018 Cottage Grove Art Walk will kick off on Friday, April 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Art Walk will be held on the last
Friday of the month through October in downtown Cottage Grove.
Enter to win 4 tickets to
COTTAGE THEATRE *
T ai Chi and Qigong celebration
PeaceHealth’s 14th annual World Tai Chi & Qigong Day celebration will be held on Saturday, April
28, 10 a.m. to noon, by the gazebo on the south end of the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center
at RiverBend campus, 3333 RiverBend Dr. in Springfi eld.
The free, all-ages event, presented by PeaceHealth’s Sensei Suman Barkhas, will include tai chi and
qigong demonstrations and group participation. The celebration aims to highlight the physical and
mental health benefi ts of these ancient forms of martial arts and body movement.
For information, call 541-222-7216.
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