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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2019)
8A | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Executive directorship changes hands at FOOD For Lane County A major leadership change is happening this week at FOOD For Lane County. Longtime Executive Director Beverlee Potter is stepping into retirement and Tom Mulhern, former E.D. at Catholic Communi- ty Services, will take over Oregon’s second largest regional foodbank. “I have been at FFLC for 11 years, nine of those as executive director,” said Beverlee. “I’ve loved my job working with our staff, our board of directors, our volunteers, our Royal from A1 for the honor of being the first BMD Queen. Amelia Dunnavin (now Blowers) was one of them, with Wey- erhaeuser sponsoring her candidacy. The contestants competed in a swimsuit contest and answered ques- tions posed by the judges on the Main Stage, which was set up on 5th Street. Amelia won the crown and assumed her duty to promote Bohemia Mining Days in publications and by attending celebrations held in other Oregon com- munities. Amelia said at that time being a BMD Queen was a pretty big deal. The cor- onation was covered by both The Sentinel and The Register-Guard. As the fes- tival’s “The Nugget Girl”, she participated in a photo shoot with her picture used in promotional brochures. “I felt honored to rep- resent Bohemia Mining Days,” Amelia said. “There was nothing negative about the experience. As we trav- eled along all those parade routes what I loved most was seeing so many people having fun.” In the spring of 1967, Carolyn Cutts (now Rippy) entered the BMD Queen donors and our many, many com- munity partners. This community is special with its generous support for the work we do and its com- mitment to easing hunger for our neighbors in need.” During Beverlee’s tenure, FFLC has expanded its capacity for re- lieving hunger through the addi- tion of new programs to provide more food for the community. She served for four years as the Chair of the Oregon Food Bank Network Pageant. She competed with “four or five” of her Cottage Grove High School classmates in the swimsuit and oral interview com- petitions. She was cho- sen First Runner Up with Reba Wolford crowned as Queen. “Reba was unable to complete her reign and I was asked to fulfill her duties,” Carolyn recalled. “I accepted and was then asked to continue as Queen the following year. It was a great honor for me to rep- resent the Bohemia Mining Days Celebration and my hometown in many com- munity events and parades around the state.” Ray Nelson is recog- nized today as the “Father of BMD”. His wife loaned Carolyn an old-fashioned swimsuit to promote local parks and campgrounds. Her duties also included introducing the Old Time Fiddlers Contest, presiding at the Rodeo and attending the festival’s Street Dance. “In my opinion, the 1968 BMD Celebration was a huge success due to so much community involve- ment, support and promo- tion,” Carolyn said. Carolyn was born in Butler’s Maternity Home in 1948. She compared grow- ing up in Cottage Grove to JULY 2019 Calendar FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WEEKLY EVENTS VISIT THE CALENDAR CHOICES PAGE NEXT TO THE COMICS PAGE. 1 – MONDAY 5 p.m. LEGO Club for Big People [ages 13 and up] Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 6:30 p.m. Bilingual Family Storytime Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 2 – TUESDAY 5pm History Pub Axe & Fiddle 5pm Board Game Tuesdays Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 3 – WEDNESDAY 5 p.m. LEGO Club for Big People [ages 13 and up] Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 6:30pm Concerts in the Park - Greg Nestler Bohemia Park Amphitheater 4 - THURSDAY HAPPY 4 TH OF JULY 5 – FRIDAY 2:30 p.m. Lego Club Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E Gibbs Ave 5 p.m. American Legion BINGO! 826 W. Main Street For additional info call Jerry Kerns at 541- 942-0234 6 - SATURDAY 1 p.m. Saturday Crafternoon Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 1-4 p.m. Hats! Hats! Hats! The Cottage Grove Museum Corner of Birch & H Street 7 - SUNDAY 8 – MONDAY 6pm The Little Prince (Great American Read Book Club) Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 6:30 p.m. Bilingual Family Storytime Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 9 - TUESDAY 5pm Board Game Tuesdays Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave of 21 food banks and four years with United Way of Lane County’s Board of Directors. “The FFLC Board of Directors is grateful for the tremendous leader- ship Beverlee provided during her nine years as executive director,” said FFLC Board Chair Linda Ea- ton. “Beverlee is leaving the legacy of a compassionate and effective organization, poised for future growth and expanded service. We wish her all the best in her future growing up in Mayberry, the town depicted in the popular Andy Griffith tele- vision show of that era. “I have so many won- derful memories from that time,” Carolyn said. “Cot- tage Grove was a small town like Mayberry. I felt safe and could walk to school and downtown by myself. We all knew our neighbors and the commu- nity was like my family. My hometown and my lifelong friends who still live there remain dear to my heart.” Amelia, like many babies born before the Cottage Grove Hospital opened in 1951, arrived in this world in 1948 via SacredHeart Hospital in Eugene. Like Carolyn, she loved The Grove’s small-town atmo- adventures in life.” The FFLC Board of Directors also announced that Tom Mulhern is joining the team as the new ex- ecutive director. Mulhern is no stranger to FFLC; he has been the executive director of Catholic Com- munity Services, one of FFLC’s highest-volume food pantries, for the past eight years. “FOOD for Lane County plays a pivotal role in the effort to end hun- ger in Lane County. I’m honored sphere and the opportuni- ties it provided for a happy childhood. “I loved all the com- munity involvement back then; everyone knew ev- eryone,” Amelia recalled. “I have great memories of shopping at J.C. Penney, attending the little movie theater and the many trips to the lake to swim and wa- ter ski.” One of Amelia’s keep- sakes from her reign is the 1965 BMD promotional brochure. Events in that year included the Bohe- mia Pageant, Timber Show, Fiddler’s Contest, Tal- ent Show and Train Ride. Carolyn and Amelia agree broad community involve- ment has fallen off since the mid-1960’s. to take on the role of executive di- rector, and I’m excited to join the board, staff, volunteers and partner organizations working together in this critically-important enter- prise,” said Mulhern, new FFLC executive director. “Joining FFLC gives me the opportunity to have an even wider and deeper impact on the issues of food, hunger and pov- erty in our community.” Amelia recalls more peo- ple dressed up in costumes and most businesses dec- orated their stores during Bohemia Mining Days. The parade came through downtown and all the ac- tivities were concentrated in what today is known as the Historic Downtown District. Both former Queens went on to college (Carolyn became a Duck and Amelia a Beaver) then married and started their families. Amelia married Steve Blowers in 1969. Today, the Blowers live on five acres in the Corval- lis area and enjoy the time they spend with their three children and four grand- children. Carolyn married her PROUD TO SERVE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1939 Live Music Every Friday CELEBRATING 80 YEARS 541-484-1151 | laneelectric.com 6 to 9 pm || No Cover Charge June 21 • Ben Johnson and Company blues, rock, soul, country June 28 • Calvary Creek pop, folk, rock July 5 • The Mike Davis Band 60s thru 80s hits July 12 • The Huckleberrys sour mash country Open Daily 11am for Complimentary Tasting 5:30 p.m. Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Business Afterhours with Lane Electric at Bohemia Mining Days 19 - FRIDAY ALL DAY - Bohemia Mining Days Festival Coiner Park 11am Bohemia Mining Days Kiddie Parade Historic Downtown 5 p.m. American Legion BINGO! 826 W. Main Street For additional info call Jerry Kerns at 541- 942-0234 11 - THURSDAY 9 a.m. Ukulele Morning Jam Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 12 – FRIDAY 5 p.m. American Legion BINGO! 826 W. Main Street For additional info call Jerry Kerns at 541- 942-0234 6:30 p.m. Cottage Grove Toast People (future Toastmasters Group) The Cottage Events Venue, 2915 Row River Rd 13 - SATURDAY 9am Coast Fork Community River Project July Work Party - Silk Creek Park located at Old Mill Pl. & South River Rd., Cottage Grove (near the Old Mill farm store) 1 p.m. Saturday Crafternoon Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 15 - MONDAY 6:30 p.m. Bilingual Family Storytime Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 16 – TUESDAY 5pm Board Game Tuesdays Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 7:30 p.m. Third Tuesday Poetry Night at Axe & Fiddle, hosted by Kalapuya Books at the Axe & Fiddle Public House 657 E. Main Street Providing safe, reliable, and economical energy services that enhance our members' quality of life. 942-1364 X www.saginawvineyard.com 10 – WEDNESDAY 6:30pm Concerts in the Park – Inner Limits Band Bohemia Park Amphitheater 14 - SUNDAY 8:30 Breakfast Club Cottage Events Venue 2915 Row River Road. For more information call the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce 20 - SATURDAY All DAY Bohemia Mining Days Festival Coiner Park 1 p.m. Saturday Crafternoon Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 21 – SUNDAY 6am Miners Breakfast on the Mountatin Bohemia Saddle Park 40 miles Southeast of Cottage Grove (Use map at www.BohemiaMiningDays.org) Events Venue, 2915 Row River Rd 24 - WEDNESDAY 6:30pm Concerts in the Park – Corwin Bolt and the Wingnuts Bohemia Park Amphitheater 25 – THURSDAY 9 a.m. Ukulele Morning Jam Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 26 – FRIDAY 5 p.m. American Legion BINGO! 826 W. Main Street For additional info call Jerry Kerns at 541- 942-0234 27 - SATURDAY 8am Rolf Prima Tri at the Grove Lakeside Park at Cottage Grove Lake ALL DAY - KNND’s Rock Roll and Rumble Historic Downtown 11am Coast Fork Kiwanis Chili Cook Off Historic Downtown 28 - SUNDAY 22 - MONDAY 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oregon Trail Lace Makers, Willamette Oaks Retirement Center, Eugene. 6:30 p.m. Bilingual Family Storytime Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 29 - MONDAY 1:30 p.m. Classic Movie Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 6:30 p.m. Bilingual Family Storytime Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 23 - TUESDAY 4pm VisionKeepers Meeting Reception Hall, Cottage Grove Community Center, 700 East Gibbs Street 5pm Board Game Tuesdays Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 6:30 p.m. Jazz Jam at The Cottage - The Cottage 30 - TUESDAY 5pm Board Game Tuesdays Cottage Grove Community Center 700 E. Gibbs Ave 31- WEDNESDAY 6:30pm Concerts in the Park – Calvary Creek Bohemia Park Amphitheater 17 - WEDNESDAY 6:30pm Concerts in the Park – Rockin’ Reveleers Bohemia Park Amphitheater 18 - THURSDAY 9 a.m. Ukulele Morning Jam Cottage Grove Public Library 700 E. Gibbs Ave 4pm Bohemia Mining Days Festival Coiner Park fellow 1967 high school classmate Bruce Rippy in 1983. They now live in Swan Valley, Mont., where her husband is a church pastor. They have six adult children who have blessed them with 17 grandchil- dren and nine great-grand- children. In 2016, BMD organiz- ers invited the two former Queens to participate in the celebration. They had Victorian-era dresses cus- tom made for the occasion and said it was an honor they enjoyed immensely. They eagerly look for- ward to once again rid- ing in a convertible in the Grand Miners Parade and being interviewed on the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Friday night. Old Mill Farm Store 327 South River Rd. • Cottage Grove 541-942-3042 600 Jefferson Ave. Cottage Grove (541) 942-3371 www.nwcu.com 319 E. Main St. Cottage Grove (541) 942-7423