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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2018)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • OCTOBER 24, 2018 • Beds for Freezing Nights gears up for winter By Caitlyn May cmay@cgsentinel.com Local organization hopes to help more homeless stay warm this winter In 2009, Beds for Freez- ing Nights opened in Cottage Grove under a simple prem- ise: providing a warm place for people who had nowhere else to go when the nights grew cold. Th e organization was follow- ing the example of the Egan Centers, started by St. Vincent DePaul in Eugene to house the homeless between Nov. 15 and March 31, when temperatures routinely dip below 30 degrees at night. Th e center was named for Major Th omas Egan, a home- less veteran who froze to death without shelter in the cold of winter. Beds for Freezing Nights didn’t house any guests its fi rst year but now, nine years later, it’s gearing up for the winter and asking for volunteers to help with a guest load that has only grown. “Last year we averaged 17.6 guests a night,” said board member Christine Moats. “We had 176 stays and had between 12 and 24 people rotating in and out per night and 48 undu- plicated guests.” Guests include anyone who cannot fi nd shelter when the overnight average is 29 degrees or below — a stat that’s mon- itored by several members of the board and a policy that has led to confusion in the past. “People will say the center should have been open but they’re looking at the tempera- ture in the hills where it’s cold- er,” Moats said. “Or they’ll say the Egan Center was opened so we should be. But that’s the temperature in Eugene. It has to be an average of 29 degrees.” Th e number of people seek- ing a warm place to sleep has climbed steadily, according to Moats. Th e increase has led to the need for more funding and volunteers. Th e organization — which used to be run out of the local Catholic Church — op- erates in the First Presbyterian Church on Th ird Street and is completely funded by dona- tions. “Most of that goes to insur- ance,” Moats said. “Th at’s our largest expense. We do off er coff ee and some snacks too.” Ideally, the Beds for Freezing Nights board would staff each night with three volunteers but for the last few years, it’s been two people manning one of the three shift s. “At least one person is CPR certifi ed and we like to have one male and one female but more women have stepped up to volunteer,” Moats said. Th e number of homeless individuals in Lane County has increased with the latest point in time count — a statis- tic released once a year based on volunteer head counts of homeless individuals — Lane County has the second highest rate of homelessness in the state behind Multnomah County which houses Portland. While the center was activat- ed for just 10 nights last year, it still garnered its share of com- plaints. During a recent forum for city council candidates, the issue of homelessness led to a discussion of Beds for Freezing Nights and the reported behav- ior of some of the guests with one candidate relaying a story about residents fi nding needles in the area and children not be- ing able to play outside. “We have heard some com- plaints from the neighbors of the church,” Moats said. “Guests are allowed to go out- side and smoke but they’re re- minded to be quiet. We address those things as they come up.” To become a volunteer, do- nate or for more information on Beds for Freezing Nights, visit www.freezingnights.com. PeaceHealth off ering infl uenza shot clinics As fl u season approaches, PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center echoes the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion’s recommendation that ev- eryone age six months and old- er get a yearly vaccine against the infl uenza virus — and the sooner the better. “We are experiencing an ear- ly fl u season this year so we’re recommending getting the fl u shot as soon as possible,” said Th ea Petersen, MD, a family physician with PeaceHealth Medical Group at Cottage Grove Community Medical Center. “Remember, getting the fl u shot not only helps protect you, but everyone in our communi- ty, especially children, older adults and pregnant women,” Dr. Petersen said. PeaceHealth is off ering two upcoming walk-in fl u clinics at Cottage Grove Community Medical Center at 1515 Village Drive. No appointment is neces- sary. • Adult fl u clinic for patients age 19 and older: Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Community Room. Or call 541-767-5200 to make an appointment for other times. Th e fl u vaccine contains in- activated virus particles that cannot cause an actual infl uen- za infection. However, it is rel- atively common for some peo- Handguns Long Rifles Concealed carry classes Call for Schedules 6 -day ple to feel achy or run a fever aft er receiving the vaccine — a result of the immune system responding as it builds protec- tion in the body. Th ese minor symptoms last only a few days, and are much milder than full-blown infl uenza, which may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuff y nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and diarrhea and vom- iting. “Getting a fl u shot is not 100 percent eff ective at preventing the fl u, but if you were to get sick, your symptoms would be less severe and you’re less likely to pass it on to others,” Dr. Pe- tersen said. According to a recent report from the CDC, 80,000 people died from fl u complications in the 2017-18 fl u season, making it one of the deadliest seasons in at least 40 years. In addition to fl u shots, there are steps all of us can take to keep ourselves and our family, friends, coworkers and neigh- bors healthy, said Bob Pelz, MD, medical director of in- fection prevention for Peace- Health Oregon. “Community members should be vigilant about thor- oughly washing their hands throughout the day and cov- ering their mouths when they cough or sneeze,” he advised. “Sick individuals — both adults and children — should stay home from work or school in order to prevent spreading.” Community members invited to help track criminal activity Th e Cottage Grove Prowler Tracker Network’s (CGPTN) goal is to give Cottage Grove residents a place to report and keep track of criminal activity. Using this forum, neigh- bors can look out for each other and raise awareness of suspicious behavior in the area. Th e key to this group’s success is numbers: See it, post it and get instant feed- back in order to make Cot- tage Grove a connected, informed and safer com- munity. To fi nd out more infor- mation, fi nd the private Cottage Grove Prowler Tracker Network group on Facebook by search- ing facebook.com/groups/ CGPTN/. weather forecast THURSDAY FRIDAY 62° | 50° 67° | 48° Showers Showers SATURDAY SUNDAY 73° | 49° 67° | 48° Transmissions Plus & AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALTIES PRACTICING THE ART OF TRANSMISSION REPAIR SERVICE SINCE 1991 Partly Cloudy Showers MONDAY TUESDAY 62° | 45° 62° | 42° Showers Showers Manual & Automatic Transmission Repair Tune ups 30-60-90K Services Brakes, belts, hoses and cooling system services Muffl ers & Custom Exhaust All makes and models. MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE AFFORDABLY 1 in 4 employees are ill prepared for emergency. PayneWest can develop your business’ emergency plan. Call today (541) 942-0555. PayneWest.com/Cottage-Grove 5A Pet tips ‘N’ tales By Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe” ‘Diesel’ runs the family “Our family’s six-year-old Labrador, Diesel, appears to have consumed a magic pill as a puppy to expand into his over-sized height and 110-pound weight,” jokes Terri. “We joke that his puppy chow must have been named, ‘Miracle Grow.’ His massive body and tail are weapons of household destruction. He is table-height and can clear any table with one wiggle or swish of a tail. Our daugh- ters, Abby and Ava, love playing with their furry broth- er who is a combination of joy and rambunctious that makes us smile every day.” Labs love water, but Diesel steps it up a notch; he is pas- sionate about fi shing with his daddy, Jereme. As soon as the dog sees a fi shing pole he can't contain his joy. It is a win/win for Diesel because car rides and hiking are his other favorite things. When asked, “What do you want to do?” his bark response sounds like, “Go!” When he cat-ches his family snacking, he lets them know that he wants to “share” by sitting directly in front of them, all the while his front paws do a little jig dance. Diesel is not the family’s only pet but the craziest, causing them to laugh hysterically as he does “zoomies” around the house for no reason. “He’s a big lovable, wiggly, goofb all who thinks he be- longs wherever we are,” said Terri. “He squeezes himself on our bed along with our two cats. As mellow as he is, he is also protective. When my husband is out of town, Diesel sleeps with his head on dad's pillow positioning himself so he can see into our daughters’ room.” As much as Diesel loves car rides, he is forbidden to go with his older dog brother, Reilly, to the vet clinic. “Diesel is too protective. He won’t let the veterinarian examine his elderly brother. He winds himself around Reilly so the vet can’t get close,” said Terri. “Our two dogs Terri and her daughters Abby, Ava and elderly Labrador, Reilly, are used to Diesel running the show. and two cats have taught our children compassion and about the unconditional love that only comes from pets. “Th ree years ago, we lost our 11-year-old dog, Maggie. Her passing taught the girls about death and the import- ant place that dogs hold in a family. We all mourned, even Diesel. “When we lived in Georgia, both Diesel and Reilly were bitten by copperhead snakes. Reilly was bitten in the back leg, Diesel in the face, which tells you a lot about their personalities. Right aft er it happened, I thought Die- sel had a tennis ball in his mouth. Th en I saw that he was swollen. He is such a big-love bug, that I bet his feelings were hurt that something would bite him. We rushed him to the vet and he did great.” In the spirit of optimism, Terri had to rename her dog and cats' massive shedding to “magical fi bers of joy and love.” “Our four fur babies have taught us unconditional love, acceptance, to hold our heads high, be confi dent, and ask for what we need,” said Terri. “Th eir ’presents’ gift our family with comfort, laughter and pure joy. We wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Also, our UPS driv- er fi nally admitted, ‘Your dog smiles at me!’” TIPS: Th e Furminator brush is a helpful tool to pet house- holds because it cat-ches 80 percent of the fur before it hits the fl oor and breeds into dust bunnies. Th e Humane Society of Cottage Grove says, "Stop put- ting dogs in truck beds. 100,000 dogs die each year from jumping or bouncing out of moving vehicles. Th ey are a danger for vehicles driving behind them as they land on them from this unsafe method of transporting." “I love my cats because I love my home, and little by little they become its visible soul.” —Jean Couteau WE LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN WE WORK IN “WE MAKE SHIFT HAPPEN!” www.automotivespecialties.biz DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS 541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE Share your fun, amazing or crazing pet tips and tales at an- gelscribe@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 So- ciety at 541-942-2789.
