COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL AUGUST 8, 2018 5A
Opal Center ready for a facelift
Pet tips
‘N’ tales
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
Pup Pool Party - A
Barking Mad Event!
COURTESY LANCE TROXLEY
A rendering of the planned remodel of the Opal Center's storefront is shown above. The project is currently in the
bidding phase and is expected to be completed by the fall of this year, in time for the theatre's holiday season.
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
While the turn over from
summer to fall usually means
it gets a bit darker a bit earlier,
passersby on Main Street
will notice more light
near the Opal Center.
Th e theatre, located at
513 Main Street, will be
undergoing a facelift , ex-
pected to be completed
by early fall.
“What we’re doing is,
we’re redoing the façade
of the Opal Center to
make it fi t better with
downtown as well as something
more representative of Opal it-
self because it's the theatre and
art space,” said Opal Center
board member and director
Lance Troxley.
Th e transformation will in-
clude a brand new marquee sign
with light up letters spelling out
Opal as well as changes to the
exterior windows. According
to Troxley, the windows will be
more representative of the win-
dows that the building would
have had originally.
“We’re going to remove the
out the year including dance
classes from Dancability—a
group dedicated to including
all body types and abilities in
dance. It also hosts Storybook
Th eatre, a week-long camp for
“I think it’s going to put a much more
accurate face on Opal."
-Lance Troxley, Opal board member
gable that’s there now,” Troxley
said. “Right now, it feels very
kid-ish and we have a whole
range of events that absolute-
ly include kids but also adults
from some of our serious plays
and during the holiday season.”
Opal, one of two theatres in
Cottage Grove, hosts several
plays and workshops through-
6
-day
high school students that cen-
ters around college-level the-
atre classes and culminates in
a showcase for a private panel
of professionals, followed by a
community show.
Th e owner of the building,
according to Troxely, is fund-
ing much of the project and the
board is looking for additional
funding options through the
city.
“I think it’s going to put a
much more accurate face on
Opal and refl ect the vibe of what
we do at Opal,” Troxley said.
“And it will, hopefully, pique
interest with the cool marque
letters.”
Th e project has just received
the greenlight from the his-
torical commission and is
currently collecting bids. It’s
expected to be complete this
fall.
Opal Exeutive Director
Leah Murray said of the proj-
ect, "We are very excited for
the upcoming changes to the
front of Opal's side of the
Lawson Building. Not only
will the improvements bring
back some of the historic
charm, but our new signage will
help us stand out on Main Street
to locals and tourists alike.
Downtown Cottage Grove is
really coming to life and we are
thrilled to be a part of it."
Th e project joins a slew of
new projects on Main Street
with the Stewart Building un-
dergoing a transformation that
includes the incorporation of
its original “Th e Club” sign. Th e
building will eventually feature
apartments upstairs and busi-
ness space on the ground fl oor.
weather forecast
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
98° | 59°
83° | 56°
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
82° | 53°
89° | 55°
Partly Cloudy
Mostly Sunny
MONDAY
TUESDAY
91° | 56°
88° | 56°
Mostly Sunny
Mostly sunny
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DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS
541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE
Has the public pool gone BARKING MAD?! Before closing
for upgrades, the pool is GOING TO THE DOGS!
Th is once in a century event is fur all breeds, sizes and
colors of dogs and humans to enjoy a PUPPY POOL PAR-
TY. Dogs abso-woof-ly will make a splash in what will paw-
roof to be a laughable mayhem-fi lled memory at Warren H
Daugherty Aquatic Center in Cottage Grove, Oregon.
Swimsuits are not required. Um, for K9's that is. Humans
must be dressed and attend to lifeguard duties on the deck.
Th ere will be no Saint Bernards paw-forming these life saving
duties - even if they arrive with a cask of brandy.
Lynn Boe and Christi Hill created Tucker’s Cupboard for
households in the South Lane School District that struggle
fi nancially to care for their canines. Th e group assists with
vet bills, pet medications and their medical equipment on
an as-needed basis. Th e local vet clinics refer candidates to
them and they are endorsed by the Humane Society of Cot-
tage Grove.
When Lynn, an avid swimmer, heard of the pool’s closure,
she grabbed onto the idea of a dogs’ summer swim party. She
asked the South Lane school district for a-purr-uval and they
excitedly said, “Yes!”.
In a small town, everyone “pools” together and they knew
that the entertaining event would be fun for the community’s
families while contributing donations for animal care.
“One trained lifeguard will be on scene since humans are
not allowed in the pool,” said Lynn. “Dogs paw-fur leaping off
the edge of the 100 by 20 foot pool instead of using the diving
board. No swimming cats please! Th is is strictly a dog event
and we don’t expect any pet parent to have to make a wild
jump in for an emergency.”
Swim safety tips are on www.Tuckerscupboard.org. At the
fun event, there will be a donation box for aiding local ca-
nines.
For paw-tici-pants paw-leasure there will be goodie bags.
Come to a Barking Mad Event! Bring your dog, beach
towel and tennis balls and family to this once in a life
time pool party!
Th e group is looking for donations of biscuits and bobbing
tennis balls etc.
Our city’s hard working narcotics detection and patrol
dogs, Kimber and Marco, will be on the job and unable to
make a guest appearance. However, they want to thank all the
swimming dogs for their help protecting their loving families
and guarding their own homes.
Before the pool was built in 1956, Cottage Grove lost 5-6
children a year to drowning. For this reason, Warren Daugh-
erty donated the funds to build the pool. What a hero! Be-
cause, once the pool was built not one Cottage Grove child
has drowned! Purr-oving that one purrs-on can make a dif-
ference in the lives of others!
SWIM PARTY INFO
Warren H Daugherty Aquatic Center
1440 S. 8th Street, Cottage Grove
Time: 1-3 P.M.
Date: Saturday, 25th of August
Cost: Each swimming dogs pays a $20 cash donation.
General public free.
Proceeds go to Tucker's Cupboard to help dogs in the area.
Don’t miss this once in a life time paw-purr-tunity, furb-
ulous, fun, wild crazy event! Watch dozens of dogs enjoying
a group swim!
(Share your fun, amazing or crazing pet tips and tales at an-
gelscribe@msn.com or Follow Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook at
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at www.PetFinder.com. For spay or neutering, call the Humane
Society at 541-942-2789.)
