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Stage set for Opal program expansions, additions
By Damien Sherwood
dsherwood@cgsentinel.com
Th e Opal Center for Arts & Edu-
cation welcomed its new executive
director Michele Rose this month,
preparing for a year of events that
include old favorites and new addi-
tions.
Rose, who had served as acting
director since last October, hopes
to bring young people into the spot-
light this year by expanding on the
center’s youth program.
“My main focus is to make it
year-round program,” said Rose.
“So there’s always something going
on around here that involves kids.”
Past iterations of the program
have been show-specifi c, revolving
around fi nding and training young
actors for a chosen performance.
Set to arrive this spring, the new-
ly-dubbed Opal Young Performers
program is opening its doors to
youths from ages fi ve to 18, prom-
ising a wide range of opportunities
for participants. Th e program is
intended to run the gamut of the-
ater-related experiences including
playwriting, musical scoring, set
design and lighting.
“Th e whole thing. Not just the
acting part,” said Rose. “And we’re
trying to encourage young play-
wrights to write something and put
it on our stage. Age doesn’t matter.
As long as you have motivation,
there’s a lot you can do.”
DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Michele Rose, new executive director at the Opal Center for Arts & Education, aims to give young people a spotlight as the theater focuses on the
expansion of its youth program.
to our summer camp,” said Rose.
shops that help young people hone
As an introductory event, the
“We’ll have kids of all ages partici-
youth program will hold a talent
pating in the talent show and one of
Th e summer camps, also part of
show May 3 and 4.
the prizes will be a full scholarship
the expansion, are week-long work-
See Opal A6
Library
Armory closes for restroom construction
introduces
exoplanet
exhibition
SLSD starts
preparing
for Latham
closure
their theater-related craft ,
By Damien Sherwood
dsherwood@cgsentinel.com
Th e Cottage Grove Public Library
has successfully launched into the
fi rst month of its newest exhibition,
Discover Exoplanets: Th e Search for
Alien Worlds, a national traveling
exhibition developed by the Space
Science Institute’s National Center
for Interactive Learning.
“It’s a free-standing exhibit that
tells the story of NASA’s search for
exoplanets,” said the library’s Com-
munity Services Director Pete Bar-
rell.
Surrounded by informational
stands, four interactive kiosks invite
users to learn about planets outside
our own solar system on touch-
screen interfaces.
“Th ey’re very user-friendly,” said
Saturday’s Crab Feed hosted
by Habitat for Humanity marked
the Cottage Grove Armory’s last
event until April 13, highlighting a
much-welcomed renovation of the
building’s upstairs restroom.
Th e project, estimated to cost be-
tween $75,000 and $85,000, will see
the installation of two restrooms with
multiple sinks, at least four toilet fi x-
tures per room and isolated HVAC
systems.
“It’s going to be beautiful,” said
Meyers. “It will fi t in with the 1930s
décor and art deco look of the build-
ing. … with modern plumbing and
modern water supply and meeting
the modern standards for ADA
(Americans with Disabilities Act) ac-
cessibility.”
Th e city’s plan to realize the Ar-
mory as a community space has been
a process of piecemeal changes to its
internal and external structure, fund-
ed in part by renting out space and
securing grants.
“Our vision is to put it back to what
it was when it was constructed in
1931,” said Meyers.
See Exoplanet A8
See Armory A9
By Damien Sherwood
dsherwood@cgsentinel.com
DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
COMMUNITY
First Responder Brunch
Titanic
Awards were given to fi rst
responders in recognition
of their service to the city
and surrounding area.
Historical Society, and the
Cottage Grove Museum, is
hosting a presentation on
the RMS Titanic
PAGE A3
PAGE A5
EVERYONE DESERVES A GREAT SMILE!
EUGENE
CRESWELL
622 E. 22nd Ave Suite C
195 Melton Rd.
5 41. 6 8 6 .17 3 2
541.686.1732
Aft er January’s decision to close
Latham School at the end of this
school year, the district now faces
the realities that come with closing
a school.
At the February South Lane
School District school board meet-
ing, communications coordinator
Garrett Bridgens discussed the up-
coming steps for the school. Th e
most pressing of the issues discussed
was where current Latham students
will attend school next year. Th e dis-
trict is in the process of re-drawing
school district boundaries.
“One of our missions is to keep
our neighborhoods together. If we
have an area separated by a line, we
have to determine where those are
A blueprint on display at the Armory shows plans for the new upstairs
restrooms.
INDEX
COMMUNITY
By Zach Silva
zsilva@cgsentinel.com
or visit us at www.thornton-ortho.com
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Calendar ...................................... B12
Channel Guide ............................... B5
Classifieds ...................................... B7
Obituaries ...................................... A2
Opinion ......................................... A4
Sports ............................................ B1
See Closure A9
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