COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • AUGUST 29, 2018 •
Cottage Grove Th eatre to remodel
Th e community
theater also revealed
its new season
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
Cottage Th eatre’s look-
ing to break a leg next year
in the traditional theatre
sense of the phrase and an-
nounced its intentions last
week during a private gath-
ering for donors that re-
vealed next season’s line-up.
“We’re going to be doing
four shows instead of six,”
said executive director Su-
san Goes.
Th e pared down sched-
ule can be attributed to the
second-half of the theatre’s
good news: the building will
be undergoing an expansion
for seating, a remodel of the
exterior and a sprucing up of
the lobby.
Th e remodel, while wel-
comed, will mean Cottage
Th eatre’s stage will be dark
from May through Septem-
ber, cutting two of the tra-
ditional six shows per year.
However, the remaining
four shows were chosen with
the audience in mind with
Goes explaining that all of
the shows are well-known.
First on the schedule in
February is “Romeo and Ju-
liet,” the classic Shakespeare
play that will serve as a Val-
entine’s showcase under the
direction of Tony Rust who
has spent years interacting
with the Bard’s work.
Th e play was front and
center last week when do-
nors were given the oppor-
tunity to guess the season’s
shows with excerpts per-
formed from each play.
However, the more fa-
mous scenes, Goes said,
were left out making it more
diffi cult.
“We didn’t do the balcony
scene from ‘Romeo and Ju-
liet,’” she said.
And the famous tragedy
will not be the theatre’s only
attempt at Shakespeare next
season. In October, three ac-
tors will attempt the “Com-
plete Works of William
Shakespeare, Abridged,” a
play that sees its characters
attempting to cram all 37
of the famous plays into a
90-minute performance.
“It’s actually very physical
and very funny,” Goes said,
noting that it would be the
fi rst play performed in the
new space aft er the renova-
tion.
“We chose it on purpose
because it’s a cast of three…
We wanted a show that was
still ok if we had any con-
struction delays and that
could rehearse in someone’s
living room if they had to.”
While Shakespeare will re-
open the theatre in October,
something a little more fam-
ily-friendly will close it out
in April — with a little luck.
Th e theatre plans to stage
“Th e Sound of Music,” the
classic musical detailing the
Von Trapp family’s escape
from Nazi Austria in World
World II. However, the the-
atre hasn’t secured the rights
yet, which could prove diffi -
cult with a national tour cur-
rently on stage.
“We think it’ll be ok be-
cause the closest stop on the
tour is in California,” Goes
said, noting that the theatre
does have a back-up plan for
April’s show should “Sound
of Music” not be an option.
Th e 2019 season will close
out with “Oliver” as the hol-
iday show and mark the end
of the fi rst season aft er the
remodel which, according to
Goes, is set to cost approxi-
mately $1.5 million.
Th e project is expected
to add an estimated 50 new
seats to the theatre, replac-
ing the current fi ve sections
of seats with three sections.
Th e middle bank, that cur-
rently has fi ve rows made
up of used seats purchased
from a church 20 years ago,
will grow to seven and the
fl oor plan will be tweaked
slightly so that audience
members can see fully to the
back wall of the stage.
“We lose a little of the
stage up front but we gain
some in the back,” Goes
said. “We gain usable space
because the audience will be
able to see.”
Th e audience will also be
able to help choose the the-
atre’s new seating. During
this season’s showing of
“Shrek the Musical” this Oc-
tober, the theatre will hold
a “Goldilocks” event that
will showcase approximately
four seat choices and allow
audience members to try
each one and issue feedback
to the theatre.
While construction is set
to begin in May, the theatre
hasn’t quite secured the total
funding for the project.
Earlier this year, it was
awarded $40,000 grant
funds which added to ex-
isting grant funds from last
year. Several donors have
also contributed bringing
the estimated total already
raised to $400,000.
School district launches new website for 2018
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
South Lane School Dis-
trict will look a little diff er-
ent when school starts in
September.
A new Harrison Elemen-
tary School will stand at
Taylor and 10th Street and
the students at Al Kennedy
High School will start their
second year at Delight Val-
ley — but this time they’ll
do it with a remodeled
building that they don’t have
NOTICE OF CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCY
The City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission has one
vacancy. The commissioner appointed to this volunteer
body by the City Council in this position will hold the
term for the remainder of a three year term beginning
January 2018 (2018-2021). Applicants must complete
a Planning Commission application (available at the
Community Development Department at City Hall and
on-line at www.cottagegrove.org). The deadline for
receiving applications is September 28 by 5 p.m. For
further information pleased contact the Community
Development Department at 541-942-3340.
6
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weather forecast
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
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Sunny
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MONDAY
TUESDAY
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to share with HeadStart pre-
schoolers.
Parents will also notice
an update to the school dis-
trict’s website, the fi rst since
2015 when the site went
through a transition to ed-
ucate the public about the
eff orts to pass a $35 million
bond.
“Well, we are certainly in
the process of trying to redo
some things. Now that bond
items are starting to wrap
up a bit we have removed
the big button we had at the
top,” said communications
coordinator Garrett Brid-
gens.
Th e removal of the bond
information at the top of
the site, he said, will allow
the district to feature pic-
tures and information on
the homepage.
Th e district’s social media
will also now be featured on
the homepage.
However, bond informa-
tion will still be available
on the website even if it’s no
longer on the homepage.
Th e district passed the
bond in 2016 to construct a
new elementary school and
improve technology and se-
curity throughout the dis-
trict.
Th e new website can be
found at www.slane.k12.or.
us.
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Flood policies must be
in place at least
6 weeks prior to a claim.
This coverage can be tricky.
Call your local agent today (541) 942-0555.
PayneWest.com/Cottage-Grove
DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS
541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE
VOICE YOUR OPINION!
Write a Letter to the Editor today.
Email CMAY @CGS ENTINEL . COM OR
NHICKSON @CGS ENTINEL . COM
5A
Pet tips
‘N’ tales
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
Splish! Splash! Success!
W
hat happens when you put 17 dogs in a
100-foot-long-by-50-foot-wide pool? Well,
listen! “Bark, Bark, Yap, Splash, Bark, Ruff -
ruff , Splash, Splash, ‘No Ted E. that is not your ball!’
Splash, Splash.”
Th e mayhem went on for two fun fi lled hours as pet
parents tossed balls and dogs fl ew in the pool to retrieve
them.
Th e Barking Mad puppy pool party was organized
by Lynn Boe and Christi Hill for Tucker’s Cupboard, a
non-profi t organization that helps fi nancially care for ca-
nine households in the South Lane School District. Th e
group assists with vet bills, pet medications and medical
equipment.
Th e local vet clinics refer candidates to them and they
are endorsed by the Humane Society of Cottage Grove.
“Th e dogs must be exhausted!” laughs Lynn aft er the
event, while sipping a well-deserved glass of wine. “We
had 17 dogs: 11 from town, fi ve from the Eugene area and
one from Veneta. Th en there were the folks who arrived
without a dog, just to spend time watching happy dogs
having fun. Th ey were not disappointed!
“Initially, some dogs were leery about jumping into
the pool, even ones who normally have no problem with
a lake or river, but once they got the idea there was no
stopping them. Th ere was tail wagging and doggy smiling
going on, that’s for sure. Other than occasionally stealing
each other’s balls or toys, all the dogs got along.
“Th ey were totally engrossed in playing and swim-
ming.”
Laurie’s Rottweiler, Ted E. Bear, was the second dog in
the pool and the last to leave.
“Ted E. was in the water the full two hours. We had a
blast. He was so happy,” said Laurie. “We would go ev-
Ted E. Bear wore his life jacket at Cottage Grove’s Pool
Puppy Party. It gave him the op-paw-tunity and endur-
ance to grab another dog’s ball and swim with it for two
hours.
ery week if we could. He was taking his green ball to any
available strangers to toss for him. He didn’t care, he was
all about fun in the pool. He wore his orange life jacket
and soon dropped his green ball in favor of another dog’s
red ball.
“His fi rst pool party was as exciting for him as a child’s
fi rst birthday party,” Laurie continued. “I was sure he
would crash aft er all that swimming, but instead when we
arrived home he was still so energized that he brought me
his squeaky toy to play.”
Terri’s dog, Diesel, was cautious when he arrived at the
pool, but eventually he took the plunge and had a great
time. Danny’s dog, Coco, eschewed the free tennis balls
and his own toy and went straight for the semi-defl ated
basketball.
Tom’s rescue dogs, Lulu a Pit/Doberman mix and Iris,
a Pit/Lab mix, “Had a blast!” according to Tom. “Even I
thought it was a blast. It was incredible! I wish it was a
yearly event or an extension of the dog park. My dogs
are socialized every day at the dog park and they were
excited to see their dog friends at the pool. It was Iris’s
fi rst time in water. She would fetch her ball, then swim to
me for a hug. Lulu had so much fun. Me too! When we
arrived home I told my neighbor, ‘You missed it man. It
was awesome!’”
“Every person enthusiastically thanked us and said they
had the best time,” said Lynn. “We want to thank Chuck
and Debbie at the Old Mill Farm Store for supporting our
event with gift bags for each K9 swimmer.”
“I won’t be surprised that when the Warren H. Daugh-
erty Aquatic Center in Cottage Grove, Oregon reopens
aft er being reFURbished that a dozen black Labrador
water-loving dogs don’t run away from home and line
up at the door to enter for another swim,” I (Mary Elen)
laughed. “Also, what happens when you have 17 soaking
wet dogs at a pool?”
“All those shaking dogs got me wet,” reports my fi ve-
year-old grandson, Yossa, as he shook his body like a dog.
TIPS:
Never miss a dog pool party!
Share your fun, amazing or crazing pet tips and tales at angelscribe@
msn.com or Follow Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
PetTipsandTales. Adopt loving pets online at www.PetFinder.com. For
spay or neutering, call the Humane Society at 541-942-2789.
