COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MAY 9, 2018
3A
SLSD updated on
bond projects,
construction
City Councilor readies to
give away 1,000th bicycle
Bob Ehler completes his 990th bicycle repair
By Zach Silva
By Caitlyn May
zsilva@cgsentinel.com
cmay@cgsentinel.com
Cottage Grove City Coun-
cilman Bob Ehler is a man of
few words. But his actions
are loud and clear.
For the past three and a
half years, Ehler has been
donating his time and money
to provide bicycles to Cot-
tage Grove residents who
are in need of a ride. He tin-
kers with broken chains and
gummed-up gears, making
repairs for free and keep-
ing count with photographs
stored on his phone and
computer. This week, after a
quick count, he has fi xed and
donated his 990th bicycle.
So, what does closing in
on his 1,000th good deed feel
like?
“It’s just something I do,”
Ehler said after a pause, the
statement followed by anoth-
er long silence.
The only time he real-
ly speaks about his bicy-
cle philanthropy is when
he needs more bikes to fi x.
Such was the case in De-
cember when he made the
push to give away bicycles
for Christmas. Now, he has a
waiting list.
PHOTO BY CAITLYN MAY/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
The venture started on
In December of last year Councilor Bob Ehler stands next to one of the bikes he plans to repair and give away.
Facebook on a community
relies on the donation of bicycles through Ehler estimated that each bike’s repair ran
group when Ehler saw a post.
“I saw a lady on a Facebook group who the same Facebook page to fi ll those or- an average of $25; an amount that comes
was going to give away a bike but it had ders. His list often various based on the out of his own pocket.
Ehler doesn’t think it will be very long
to be fi xed,” he previously told The Sen- current need. Last winter, he needed 24”
tinel. “And I thought, ‘I can do that. I’ve girl bikes to keep pace with the requests until he’s handed out his 1,000th bicy-
been fi xing bikes since I was a kid.’ So, coming in. Other times, mountain bikes cle—it could be weeks—but he has no
intention of stopping and encourages peo-
I volunteered and the next thing I know, top the list.
He’s dedicated a fenced-in area in his ple who are in need of a bycicle to contact
people were giving me bikes.”
It’s a simple system. People looking backyard to the effort where bikes hang him through Facebook.
While the cost of fi xing the bicycles
for bicycles or bicycle repairs can contact from the rafters of a shop overhang and
Ehler through the community Facebook stand grouped in piles that make perfect sometimes increases wait times, plans to
group dubbed Pay it Forward. He keeps sense to Ehler. Some need chains, others continue providing rides.
a list of those in need of bikes and then brakes, others handgrips. In December,
M
att Allen can fi nally breathe a little easier. The South
Lane School District Maintenance and Facilities
manager has been working on the new Harrison El-
ementary School from its infancy and the fi nish line is now in
sight.
“Everything is just starting to take shape and it’s starting to feel
like home. Like a building we’re going to settle into,” Allen told
the board at Monday night’s school board meeting.
“I’m not worried now.”
With all major construction projects out of the way, Allen re-
ported that from now until August, when furniture will be put in
the building, the focus has changed.
“Just the fi ne details. When you walk around, I mean, I’m not a
perfectionist but it’s going to be right and tight. And our general
contractors are like-minded,” he said. “They’re proud. And we
have subs that are from here and they’re proud. So, it just feels
good. Everybody wants this.”
Glass has been placed in windows, and fl ooring and electronics
are now making their way into the building.
“It’s coming alive now,” he said.
Allen also reported on the other main project that SLSD is
working on: the pool renovation.
With money from a 2016 bond, the school district will be up-
dating the Warren H. Daughtery Aquatic Center. With that mon-
ey, the district is scheduled to spend $5.1 million on the pool. The
estimation for the current pool is currently at $5.7 million. While
community donors are working to raise enough to cover the dif-
ference, Allen is also working to avoid price escalation that has
been seen in other district projects as well as around the state.
“When you’re pushing through a design… there’s room for de-
sign cost escalation, material infl ation, all those things. Those are
variables that you have to build in at a really big contingency,”
said Allen.
“And I don’t think we want to do that with the pool. With the
pool we want to be fi nalized in design and hard bid this project.
That way when we come to you we’re not telling you what we
hope the project will cost, we’ll be telling you what the project
will cost.”
The renovation project will see new locker rooms at the aquatic
center as well as a pool that is regulation length so that events can
be held there. The pool will also feature wider steps that can be
used for swimming lessons.
“We will be concise going into this pool project and South
Lane will be proud,” said Allen.
The pool is scheduled to close in September and will be closed
for 11 months while the project is being completed.
Swim teams are expected to use nearby facilities to maintain
their practice schedule. The district will fund transportation costs.
WHY I TEACH...
From Baby to Graduate
I became a teacher because I started noticing a pattern in all my college jobs. No matter what I
did, x-ray orderly, receptionist at a doctor's offi ce, pharmacy assistant... I was drawn to the children.
When a child would come into my place of work, I would go out of my way to make them feel
more comfortable, not be afraid, or entertain them while their parents were busy. I guess I should
have known even earlier, as I always played "library" or "school" with my childhood friends. I love
being a kindergarten teacher because 5 and 6 year olds love to dance and sing and be silly, and they
are also very eager to learn new things and are not afraid to try and make mistakes. Children bring
me great joy!
-Amy Swearengin
Harrison Kindergartenteacher
(it seemed like just a few short years)
8th Grade, High School, or College
Grads name
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