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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 2019)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019 | 5A Local musicians to celebrate Axe & Fiddle ‘Axe-a-Versary’ Friday In late 2006, a warm glow and the sounds of music began pulling peo- ple out of the chill autumn air and into a beautifully restored historic building on Main Street in Cottage Grove. Opening in November of that year, the Burk- holder Woods Building — which included the Axe & Fiddle Pub and Music Club, together with the adjacent Backstage Bak- ery and Kalapuya Books — gave a different kind of crowd a place to get to- gether, share stories and make plans. For many of the area’s musically minded, the talk natural- ly turned to tunes. As a result, several local bands and other artistic collab- orations can trace their beginnings to these early days downtown. “It had a galvanizing quality,” said Cottage Grove singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Forak- er, whose own group, Gui- tar Recovery Project, was formed back then from a need to replace an instru- ment stolen from his car outside the pub. “I didn’t feel like there was a place for me as a new transplant, and it gave a lot of people a chance to get together.” This Friday, Nov. 22, be- ginning at 7 p.m., Cottage Grove locals and visitors will again gather at the Axe & Fiddle — this time to celebrate the pub’s lucky 13th anniversary. Forak- er’s new group, Alaskan Wolverine, will be part of a locals-heavy lineup that also includes Sequel and Cottage Grove’s Flies with Honey. Local “character” Cletus the Puppet will serve as emcee. Over those 13 years, the Axe & Fiddle has hosted countless acts, from locals participating in an open mic for the first time to world-class bands stop- ping in on their way to a bigger city. For Foraker and others, the availability of a perfor- mance space downtown only accelerated the de- velopment of their own musical projects and iden- tities, along with a friend- ly audience to perform music for. “Is there a special qual- ity to this place that in- spires people to engage, to play music together?” Foraker asked. “Personal- ly, I really enjoy the com- munity that I live in. Part of enjoying it is wanting to make things that increase the joy of being here. “Music is one of those things we do outside of the need to make a living. We do it for the connection with people, to celebrate that we’re alive — and ex- periencing this fascinating universe together here in this town.” The event is free and open to the public, begin- ning at 7 p.m. Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales By Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe” A baby... Squ-itten? Cottage Grove Christian School to host bazaar at Armory Thirteen students from grades 1 through 7 cur- rently attend Cottage Grove Christian School, which is now in its fourth year in a shared class- room at Cottage Grove Seventh-day Adventist Church at 820 S. 10th St. Dianna Mohr, who heads the program along with a group of expe- rienced assistants, also coordinates having stu- dents put on programs for churches, nursing homes, meetings and events in the area. Students at CGCS, which is accredited and part of a large Christian school system, learn prac- tical living skills and par- ticipate in a mentorship program that pairs an adult with each child for cross-generational social and practical skills educa- tion. In keeping with those goals, the Home and School Association is hosting a Christmas Ben- efit Bazaar at the Cottage Grove Armory on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a silent auction that ends after the students sing at 3 p.m. The auction will provide for student financial aid and for other school needs. “We would be delighted to have donations for our silent auction,” said Home and School President Beth Boram. “We are thankful to the many businesses in town that have already given gift cards, vouch- ers and other items. We appreciate all of the com- munity support that has helped us function as a nonprofit charity to help young people be success- ful.” Vendors and donors interested in finding out how to participate in the upcoming bazaar can Bo- ram at 541-942-9500 for information. Elkton hosting holiday Wreath-making workshop Art & Wine Weekend to be held at ECEC Dec. 7 The upcoming Elkton Art & Wine Weekend will take place Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1. The event is a great way to kick off the holi- day season with tours of wineries and artist stu- dios, artisan craft booths, lodging specials at Big K Resorts and Elkton RV Park, and specials at area shops and restaurants. Pick up a passport and map at the Elkton Com- munity Education Cen- ter. For more information, visit www.elktonbutter- flies.com or call 541-584- 2692. On Saturday, Dec. 7, the community is invited to participate in holiday wreath making from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Elk- ton Community Educa- tion Center, 15850 High- way 38 in Elkton. The $20 workshop fee includes materials for one wreath, including a bow. Children under age 12 accompanied by an adult can participate for $5 for each additional wreath. Participants must RSVP by calling 541-584- 2692 or emailing Info@ elktonbutterflies.com. Bring gloves and prun- ers. Refreshments will be provided. LORANE NEWS Contributed by Lil Thompson for The Sentinel • Once again, there was a wonderful turn out for the annual Thanksgiving dinner for the commu- nity at the Grange hosted by the Lorane Christian Church. Special thanks to all who came. • Marissa will have the annual Angel Trees out at the Lorane Family Store and the Crow HS gym. Plus there will be food boxes up in all or- ganizations to help those 6-day weather forecast THURSDAY FRIDAY 54° | 31° 55° | 33° Sunny Sunny SATURDAY SUNDAY 54° | 36° 49° | 37° Partly Cloudy Rain MONDAY TUESDAY 47° | 37° Rain 48° | 36° Rain Prepare more than a policy to plan in event of disaster. We can develop your business’ emergency plan. Call today (541) 942-0555. PayneWest.com/Cottage-Grove families less fortunate than others. If you know if some- one in need of assistance or you, yourself, needs help in the Lorane/ Crow area, contact Marissa Cooper. Or if you can help get an Angel from the tree to help a child have a better Christmas. • Congratulations to all the Fall Sports teams for a great season. • Just a reminder to all interested in the 1995 Mustang at the high school; drawing for win- ner is noon on Nov. 25. Contact Mr. Bloom in Shop class or the high school office for more information. • Conferences at Crow M/HS School are Tues- day, Nov. 26, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 8 a.m. to noon. Transmissions Plus & AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALTIES PRACTICING THE ART OF TRANSMISSION REPAIR SERVICE SINCE 1991 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 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 Emme, a purr-eviously homeless tabby has “Pay(ed) it For- ward” by fostering a baby squirrel, Rocky, the Squ-itten! (photo by Jim Watkins) J im and his wife, Karen, started The Accidental Cat- tery, well... accidently. “When we realized we couldn’t save every cat in the world,” said Karen, “we began saving those in our corner of it by providing vaccinations, emergency care and preventing future feral cat litters through TNR (trap/neuter/release). Before retiring, we had rescued and helped hundreds of cats.” One rescue, Emme, had been “adopted” by a woman who witnessed the starving, pregnant cat begging door- to-door at her apartment complex. Disregarding the “No Pets” rule, the woman hid the expectant mom in her apartment allowing Emme to safely give birth to her litter. Days later, the woman saw a baby squirrel fall from a tree. Unable to return it to the tree, she gave it to Emme who judiciously welcomed the squirrel, grooming and caring for it like one of her kittens. When he’d wander away from his ‘siblings’, Emme would lovingly reach over and gently pull him back to her. When the wom- an’s apartment was scheduled for an inspection, she took Emme and her “babies” to a veterinary clinic. The clinic knew of Jim and Karen’s rescue group so they phoned them. Jim and Karen brought the furry family home, having no idea that their act of kindness would bring them international fame! “We named the little grey squirrel ‘Rocky,’ after the flying squirrel in the animated ‘The Rocky & Bullwin- kle Show’ television series,” said Jim. “The oddest thing about Rocky is that he purred when we held him and rubbed his head. Curiously, I looked up purring on Wikipedia and discovered that rabbits, squirrels, guinea pigs, tapirs, ring-tailed lemurs, elephants, raccoons and gorillas also purr.” Initially, Emme’s family was corralled in a dog kennel, until Rocky crawled out and up their walls. So, they were moved to the screened back porch, where Rocky enthu- siastically and safely crawled up and down screens and brick walls. “From Emme’s expression, it was obvious that she was unaccustomed to having a kitten able to perform this marvelous feat,” laughed Jim. “Soon, Rocky found ways to wiggle out of the screens to climb trees, so I fixed all the holes in the rafter area. He chattered his disapproval at me, and it wasn’t long before his natural instincts led him to chew his way out to freedom.” At five months of age, Rocky left to sow his wild oats, despite the steady supply of food and nuts that were put out for him. Poor Emme sat on our porch pining for her “squ-itten” baby. When Rocky occasionally returned for a visit, Emme was thrilled to see him, rushing over and reaching out her paw to pull him to her. Seeing “mor- tal enemies” displaying love for each other was moving, said Jim. “We learned a lot about love from Emme and Rocky.” Whatever happened to gentle Emme? “After her kittens were weaned and she was spayed, her kindness was “Pay(ed) Forward” by a loving a family who adopted and cares for her as she did Rocky,” said Jim. Whether Rocky considers himself a former kitten or “squi-tten” remains a mystery. Their story has gone viral into homes and hearts via the internet. “I was surprised at the response to Rocky’s CNN news report,” admits Jim, “It’s been seen 12 million times on YouTube.” View them on CNN at www.youtube.com/watch?v=f- HT1nAX46dM&feature=youtube_gdata_player Information on Jim’s series of “Emme and Rocky” children’s books: AccidentalCattery@att.net TIPS: “As a child I had two red fox pups who ate with our dogs,” said Jim. “But at seven months the foxes reverted to their true nature and became aggressive. I also had two cuddly bobcat kittens, but it did not take long before they were too dangerous to have around. The goal with wild animals should always remain to release them to follow their instincts and live their lives naturally. Often, fostered wild animals’ kidneys suffer because they are not fed what their bodies need, resulting in shorter, un- healthy lives.” Jim urges animal lovers to adopt cats and dogs from rescue groups, “They have amazing, lovable pets available.” Share your fur-avorite pet memory or adventure at angelscribe@msn.com. Visit Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook at/www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance Program. 541-942-2789
