COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MAY 16, 2018 Willamette Watershed earns $4,880 Cottage Grove Retrospective A look back at Sentinel stories from 30 and 60 years ago Volunteer receives prestigious award The Siltez Tribe donated $4,880 to the Willamette Watershed Council on May 4. Pictured left to right: Amanda Gilbert, Mike Rundell and Kurt Arden. Amanda Gilbert and Mike Rundell of the Willamette Watershed Council accepted a check from Siletz charitable fund member Kurt Arden on May 4. Th e Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund distributed $202,557.74 to 48 organizations as it con- tinued its quarterly donations to nonprofi t groups. Th e Siletz Tribe has made contri- butions through employment, monetary donations and cooperative measures to the Siletz community, Lincoln County and the state of Oregon. Th e seven-member char- itable fund advisory board has distributed more than $11.6 million since its inception in 2001. Overall, the tribe has honored its tra- dition of sharing within the community by distributing more than $14.9 million through the charitable fund and other Tribal resources. Chinook Winds has donated more than $2.8 million in cash and fund-raising items since it opened in 1995. Th e next deadline to submit applications is May 28, 2018. Eligibility for money from the charitable fund is limited to two categories: Entities and activities located in the Siletz Tribe’s 11-county service area (Lin- coln, Tillamook, Linn, Lane, Benton, Polk, Yamhill, Marion, Multnomah, Washing- ton and Clackamas counties) or Native American entities and activities located anywhere in the United States. Applications and requirements can be obtained at ctsi. nsn.us/charitable-contribution-fund; by calling 800-922-1399, ext. 1227, or 541-444- 8227; or by mailing Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549. Applications can be submitted via e-mail at stccf@live.com. Monica Alleven Sentinel staff of 1988 C Free press release writing workshop tonight at library Writing a press release, or public service announcement (PSA), to submit to a newspaper requires certain elements to improve the likelihood of it getting printed or posted. During a free one-hour workshop led by Cottage Grove Sentinel managing editor Ned Hickson and editor Caitlyn May, participants will learn the proper formatting of press releases, including elements of Associated Press style that are utilized by media outlets around the world. Th e workshop will cover what to include in a press release as well as what to leave out; eff ective PSA structure; standard photo formatting used by media outlets; how to contact media outlets and which formats are preferred by editors receiving submissions. Th e workshop, sponsored by Th e Cottage Grove Sentinel, will be held tonight, May 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Cottage Grove Public Library, 700 E. Gibbs Ave. “Th e workshop will be a great opportunity for publicists and individuals from local organizations of all kinds to get the basics on eff ective press release writing in a fun and relaxed setting,” said Hickson. “Newspaper editors see hundreds of press releases each week, and many submissions make the same mistakes. We’re looking forward to helping folks improve their press release writing, which helps get the word out about their group or organization..." 6 Public invited to plant fl ower boxes Last week, community members and South Lane Mental Health staff created garden boxes with donated materials. Th e public is invited to partici- pate in another free planting event this Th ursday, May 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. at South Lane Mental Health’s 1345 Birch Ave. offi ces. Anyone who plants a box is wel- -day come to take it home at no charge, or donate it to a client. Th e event is in celebration of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. According to Mental Health America, one out of every four adults and one out of every fi ve children suff er from some form of mental or emotional health problem each year. OPEN NOW weather forecast THURSDAY May 17 FRIDAY May 18 68° | 46° 73° | 47° Mostly Cloudy Mostly cloudy SATURDAY May 19 SUNDAY May 20 75° | 49° 69° | 49° Sunny Partly sunny MONDAY May 21 TUESDAY May 22 70° | 49° 77° | 50° COTTAGE GROVE HOUSE-MADE CARLTON FARMS PORKSAUSAGE 100% GRASSFED BEEF LOCAL & IN-HOUSE BREADS German-ish Partly sunny Partly sunny 60% of smalled businesses close their doors within 6 months following a cyber-attack. Call today (541) 942-0555. PayneWest.com/Cottage-Grove German inspired cooking • Housemade Breads & Meats Many Menu Items Gluten Free • Locally Sourced Foods 60 Gateway Blvd. Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-942-6130 www.pigandturnip.com Check out our online menu! 418 A St. Springfi eld, OR 97477 • 541-968-2403 onditions and rights for the handicapped have come a long way since Becky Venice was told 22 years ago that her infant daughter should be institutionalized. So far, in fact, that many other children and young adults are being integrated and made a part of society along with her daughter. Venice, 50, recently received the 1987-88 Sylvia Mann Capper Memorial Award sponsored by the Arc of Oregon for her outstanding contribution to the fi eld of special needs. Th e most precious of Arc’s awards, it was named for the founding members of Arc, and recipients of the award are lauded for their accomplishments. To say that Venice has accomplished much in the fi eld of special needs would be an understatement; her life has been fi lled with fi rsts. When she and her husband Bob, were told that fateful May in 1965that their sixth- month-old daughter had Down’s Syndrome, she would be embarking on a course to make her daughter’s condition not a curse, but a blessing of sorts. Down’s Syndrome is a congenital condition with physical characterizations, such as a broad, fl at face and obliquely set, narrow eyes. Th e Venice family was one of the fi rst to go through the March of Dimes clinic in Eugene, where Monica participated in research on DNA and Down’s Syndrome. No known cause or cure exits, but “they’re still doing a lot of research,” she said. While Monica was still an infant, Venice decided then that if her daughter were ever going to be accepted, she would have to use her resources to make that happen in Cottage Grove. Such boldness at that time was unique. Just 11 years ago before federal legislation mandated public schools to off er appropriate education for those with disabilities, new handicapped students were in schools. “Back then you didn’t see many handicapped people out in public,” Venice says. “It was just due to ignorance on the part of the public at large, but now that’s changing.” She hopes to see even more people with handicaps doing things that everybody else does. “Th ey enjoy doing this everybody else does, and they should be able to.” Venice gained her knowledge by attending training sessions, workshops and reading on her own, she said. When she fi rst started her eff orts to help improve the lives of the handicapped, she visited libraries, seeking books and informing herself on the subject of special needs and disabilities. Over the years, she has been steadily and diligent- ly working to improve conditions for those who have disabilities. In 1978, she was named the 1978 woman of the year in Cottage Grove. She was instrumental in organizing Cottage Grove’s Special Olympic and other local support groups. About eight years ago, she helped launch the local Independent Opportunism Unlimited, a group of parents and families who want young adults with disabilities to have the opportunity to be integrated with others. “We want them to be part of the community, apart of the neighborhood in which they live, “she says of the IOU. Venice is also a member of the ARC board of directors. She’s done more than “a lot” of advocating for the rights and other issues pertaining to handicapped children and adults. Many other children have benefi tted from her determination, and some are working in the community. But even though the movement has come a long way, there’s still more to be done. Venice acknowledges that there’s much more to be done. She would like to get more younger children involved in Special Olympics, for example. “Th ings are getting better,” she says. “We’re looking toward more integration. Th ey need to be integrated into the schools and into the community – into society – at large.” *Th e story has been updated from the 1988 version to refl ect updated use of language around individuals with 5A