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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2019)
6A | WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JULIE HANSEN now at SALON 7 SPECIALIZING in COLOR & CUTS • ASK ABOUT SPECIALS 1007 E. MAIN ST. COTTAGE GROVE, OR C: 541.968.2113 W: 541.942.7777 DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Performers read during the one-act play “We Are Neighbors” on Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church. Stories from A1 Alliance of Lane County (CALC) and the Minority Voices Theater. Both plays are modern adaptations of CALC’s 20-year-old “We Are Neighbors” project, which told the stories of local immigrants through stage play, photography exhibi- tion and quilting. While the general narra- tive has remained, the new version has been modified to reflect modern issues in the national discussion about immigration. “New things have hap- pened since then,” said Marion Malcom, CALC member and a performer last Saturday’s show. “All the stories in this play are based on interviews with people that we know, so there’s a whole lot of au- thenticity.” Stories were collect- ed from interviews of members of marginalized groups including Muslims, undocumented immi- grants, DREAMers (De- velopment, Relief, and Ed- ucation for Alien Minors) and Syrian refugees living in the Eugene-Springfield area. The touring version has been performed more than 30 times since its inception two years ago, Malcom said. The story is set at the 21st birthday party for Ele- na as she is surrounded by friends and neighbors with diverse backgrounds. As the celebration be- gins, characters share sto- ries about their immigra- tion and integration into the United States. Many of the characters experienced hurdles such as grappling with language barriers and facing dis- crimination for not speak- ing English. Some characters fled their homes to come to the U.S., like Miss Schormüller, a teacher, who escaped the Holocaust as a little girl. “Even though I came to the U.S. as a child, it took me long time to feel close to anybody,” she said. Ming Ping, an immi- grant from China, discuss- es the crackdown on polit- ical dissent by the Chinese government and her subse- quent decision to leave the country. Palestinian character Ashim came to the U.S. to escape Israeli occupation and start a series of restau- rants, only to be the target of attacks when racial ten- sions flared. Syrian refugee Khalil ran away from mandatory mil- itary service, taking with him only a small bag. Un- able to find work in Tur- key, he applied for refugee status and was eventually sponsored by someone in the U.S. After landing in Los An- geles, he found out that his sister and brother-in-law were killed the night before by ISIS. While the characters talk, a DREAMer’s mother, who is supposed to bring the cake, is noticed to be suspiciously absent and it’s feared she has been taken by Immigration and Cus- toms Enforcement. After reflecting on how difficult pathways to citi- zenship can be, the char- acters state how their lives have become rooted in the U.S. and how they hope ev- eryone can learn to respect differences and recognize similarities. The show ends on a note of hope from Elena: “May all beings be free from suffering. May all beings experience a deep sense of belonging. May all beings find true happiness and ev- erlasting peace.” A discussion with the audience and cast followed the performance. Audi- ence members shared ex- periences of people they know who have endured immigration-related hard- ships. Guanghong Atman, who played Ming Ping in the play, had participated in the older version of play years earlier. “I never expected that 20 years later this play is still so relevant,” she said, “and it is imperative that we share that with each other and know our roots, not only in the physical and hereditary sense, but also our roots of our shared hu- manity.” Saturday’s performance marked the first time Cot- tage Grove had hosted the play, owing in part to ef- forts of the Earth and So- cial Justice Committee of First Presbyterian Church. “The church is very in- terested in immigration is- sues and helping serve the Chateau Lorane immigrant population and the refugee community,” said Karen Hill, pastor of First Presbyterian Church. “So anything we can do to help tell the story and make sure this is a welcom- ing place, we want to be a part of that.” Malcolm hopes for the play to have impact on the way marginalized groups are perceived within the community. “It’s very important for them to be seen as people with agency — people who are resilient and resistant and not simply people who are victims of some terrible circumstance,” she said. “These are brave, resilient people who have a lot to offer and who do offer a lot to our community.” Public Notices The Lowest Rates in Lane County PUBLIC MEETINGS, TRUSTEE NOTICES, PROBATE, AUCTION & FORECLOSURE NOTICES, AND MORE. Published weekly in the Cottage Grove Sentinel and online at cgsentinel.com 25% to 45% OFF SELECT APPLIANCES UP TO 30% OFF POWER LAWN & GARDEN PRICES VALID MAY 16TH THRU MAY 27TH, 2019 Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-6:00pm | Sat 9am-6pm | Sun 11am-4pm 118 Gateway Blvd., Cottage Grove (Next to Bi-Mart) • 541-942-7377 TURNING 65 AND NEED HELP WITH YOUR MEDICARE CHOICES? Call Paul to help simplify the complicated. 541-517-7362 Paul Henrichs ~ Local Independent Agent coverage4oregon@gmail.com S entinel C ottage G rove Contact: Meg Fringer 541-942-3325 x1200 mfringer@cgsentinel.com F ACEBOOK . COM / CGSENTINEL !Wine at the Lake! Memorial Day Weekend May 25-27 • Noon-5pm each day 27415 Siuslaw Rd., Lorane Oregon 541.942.8082 • chateaulorane.com Celebrate spring at our special event facility on the shore of beautiful Lake Louise. Sample over 15 different wines for a $8 Tasting Fee. Picnic supplies available for purchase or bring your own lunch. Be sure to take advantage of our 27th Anniversary Wine Sale ending May 31st Summer Wine Tasting Hours: Daily Noon-5pm 13 miles west of Cottage Grove, 22miles southwest of Eugene Follow the signs! Cottage Grove 200 Gateway Blvd. Cottage Grove, OR 97424 4 (541) 942-5400 Mon. - Sat. 8am - 9pm Sun. 9am - 8pm Ed & Kori Sowa Independent Owner-Operators facebook.com/CottageGroveGroceryOutlet SAVE 40-70% ON GROCERIES. BEAUTIFUL, HUH? NOTICE TO CUT OR REMOVE TALL GRASS – HAZARDOUS VEGETATION – COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL Notice is hereby given that property owners or persons in control of property are required in the City of Cottage Grove to cut or remove tall JUDVVKD]DUGRXVYHJHWDWLRQDQGFRPEXVWLEOHPDWHULDOVGXULQJWKH¿UH season from June 15 th to November 1 st (CGMC 8.12 Nuisances). Tall grass and hazardous vegetation includes: wild blackberry bushes, weeds & grass more than 12 inches tall anywhere on your property, including public lands out to the street. Vegetation that is likely to HQGDQJHUEXLOGLQJVRURWKHUSURSHUW\VKRXOGLWFDWFKRQ¿UHPXVWDOVREH cut or removed. 'XULQJWKH¿UHVHDVRQLQVSHFWLRQVZLOOEHPDGHDQGSURSHUW\RZQHUV QRWL¿HGWKDWWKH\PXVWFXWRUUHPRYHWKHKD]DUGRXVYHJHWDWLRQ)DLOXUH to cut or remove the grass or vegetation will result in the City having to abate the problem. The cost of abatement will be charged to the property and if unpaid will become a lien against the property. Property owners are reminded that they must keep hazardous vegetation and tall grass cut less than 12 inches until November 1st. Questions can be answered by the Public Works & Development Department at City Hall, by calling 541-942-3340 or by email: planning@cottagegrove.org.