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MARCH 5, 2020 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
C H A M B E R
N E W S L E T T E R
Th e Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce promotes economic vitality through advocacy and collaboration with its members and the larger community.
Len Blackstone
A Call to Action
Our small town needs you to make a
diff erence. Not just talk about making a
diff erence. Not just think about making a
diff erence. We need you to act in ways that
will truly make a diff erence.
Every one of us has special talents which
can help Cottage Grove become healthier,
richer, and kinder. Some talents might
be loud and in the limelight; some might
be quiet and in the shadows. Regardless,
please act.
Want to start a business that creates
jobs? Go for it. Gather a group of friends
for fun? Just do it. Raise monies to help the
homeless? Make it happen. Create art that
celebrates beauty? By all means. Mentor a
young child or adult? Th ey need you. Write
a story that reveals truths or celebrates
traditions? We need you.
Quit thinking, “Tomorrow, tomorrow.”
Please take action and pursue your passion
and potential. When you do, you can help
us celebrate community. Each of us is
signifi cant, a contributing member where
all of us have something to off er.
You will not always be successful. My
wife, Deb, and I have lived in Cottage
Grove for 35 years. Raised a family. Seen
good times. But, we’ve also experienced the
bad. Yes, sometimes they linger and may
even leave scars – reminders that the next
time we need to be more cautious.
We’ve been bankrupt. Lost our home,
had our car repossessed, buried our son,
and nearly lost our daughter. We know
trauma. Th e highs of happiness and the
Special Th anks
to our 2020
Enhanced Members
depths of despair. We know the physical
pain of broken hearts. Been near the edge
of hopelessness more times than we care to
remember.
Th rough it all, we’ve learned to be
both tough-minded and tender-hearted.
Welcome to life.
As we go forward, you may fail. I may
fail. But please believe me when I say it’s
better to have tried and failed than never to
have tried at all. Kind of like love, don’t you
think? So, please, just try.
Be everything you can be. If you have
scars, turn them into stars. Th at’s what
we’re trying to do. When you do, we will be
a healthier, richer, and kinder community
because of you.
So, give it a shot. Do everything you can.
Together, let’s build a better tomorrow for
our children and our community.
Walking with you,
Len Blackstone
Len is Vice Chair of the Cottage Grove
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
He’s also an entrepreneur, management
consultant, and CEO of Blackstone Inc., a
real estate development fi rm based in Cottage
Grove. Blackstone is currently renovating the
Bank Building in Cottage Grove’s Downtown
Historic District.
Len Blackstone, Vice Chair
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of
Commerce
GOLD
Pacifi c Power
SILVER
Banner Bank
City of Cottage Grove
Emerald People’s Utility
District
Lane Community College -
Cottage Grove Center
Lane Electric Cooperative
Northwest Natural
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove
Community Medical
March Breakfast Club
Friday March 13, 2020
Th e Brewstation
106 S. 6th Street.
Program is FREE to Chamber Members.
$5 for Non-Chamber members
Breakfast can be purchased at the
Brewstation for $10
8:00am
-
Breakfast
is
served
8:00
-
8:30am
-
Networking
8:30 - 9:30am – Program
Let us know if you’ll be eating. Please
RSVP by noon to Beth at (541) 942-2411or
beth@cgchamber.com on Th ursday the 12th.
Chamber Gift
Certifi cates – Buy Yours
Today!
Lane Community College Cottage
Grove Center/Lane Small Business
Development Center will host this
month’s networking event on Th ursday,
March 19 from 5:30 to 7:00pm, 1275
S. River Road.  In addition to the usual
networking, food/drink, door prizes and
fun, Guests will be able to learn about
our upcoming spring term community
education classes as well as classes and
resources available for small businesses.
In addition to the normal food and
door prizes we will have an optional
mini cooking demo. Participants will
create their own vinaigrette or balsamic
salad dressing with a quick tutorial on
fl avoring options. Guests will be able
to take home their creation!  Cottage
Grove and Creswell Chamber members
are encouraged to attend this classic, fun
networking event!  We hope to see you
there!
Th e busiest shopping days of the year are
behind us but the need for goods and
services continue. If we make sure our
everyday purchases stay local, Cottage
Grove will continue to grow and thrive.
For a large percentage of Cottage Grove
residents that work in Eugene it can be a
temptation to also take care of everyday
needs while in Eugene. Th e chamber
would like to off er a challenge to all of our
residents who work outside of Cottage
Grove to refocus your spending right here
in our great community. It may take a little
extra planning but the return on investment
is worth it! Th ere are many reasons to shop
local but below are 6 main reasons why:
1. Building Community- Th e casual
encounters you enjoy at neighborhood
businesses build long term relationships
with business owners you can trust. Plus
you’re more likely to bump into friends and
neighbors.   
2. Economic Vitality- Each dollar you
spend at a local business returns 3 times
more money to our local economy than if
you were to shop in Eugene!
3. Character- Preserve the things that
make our town special. Cottage Grove is
full of unique businesses that you can’t fi nd
anywhere else. Support them so they will
remain here in the future.
4. A Healthier Environment- When you
spend your money at local businesses you
use less fuel, thereby reducing your carbon
footprint on our planet. You’ll also get
fresher produce from local markets in our
area.
5. Lower Taxes- Local businesses generate
more tax revenue per sales dollar, which
helps keep your taxes lower!
6. Save Time and Money – It can easily
cost over $8 in gas just to drive to Eugene
and back (more if you get less than 20mpg).
Your time is worth something too. Even
if you only value your time at $15.00 per
hour, that means it will cost you $23 just to
drive there and back. If you’re not saving
at least that much by shopping out of town
that means you’re probably losing money
by not shopping local!
Chamber Calendar
For more details on the events listed
below, visit the Event Calendar on our
website at
www.cgchamber.com
(Chamber events in bold)
* Bingo American Legion Hall every
Friday
* Penny Poker with Magnolia Gardens
Resident every Friday
*Grief Support Group 3rd Tue/mo
* Dementia Support Group – 4th Wed/mo
* Downtown Art Walk the last Friday/mo
March    
8      Daylight Savings Time Begins
9      Promotions/Events/Tourism
Committee
9      Regular City Council Meeting
10    Chamber Ambassadors
13    Breakfast Club
17    Poetry Night!
19    Business Aft er Hours – LCC/SBDC
23    Regular City Council Meeting
24    Jazz Jam at Th e Cottage
29    Bridal Open House
April      
3      Mamma Mia Opening at Cottage
Th eatre
7      History Pub (Partners in History)
10    Breakfast Club
13    Promotions/Events/Tourism
Committee
13    Regular City Council Meeting
14    Chamber Ambassadors
16    Business Aft er Hours - Opal Center
for Arts & Education
21    Poetry Night!
27    Regular City Council Meeting
28    Jazz Jam at Th e Cottage
2020 Chamber Board of Directors, Advisors and Staff:
To date there are 25 Chamber Member
businesses to choose from!
Th ose
participating businesses are: Ambrose
Collectibles, Apothecaria, Bochetto Day
Spa, Books on Main, Cascade Home Center,
D & D Automotive, Dirtcheapcopies.com,
El Tapatio, Emerald Fitness Club, Jack
Sprats, LLC, Lavender Field Embroidery,
Pinocchio’s Pizza, Quality Inn Cottage
Grove, Sanity Chocolate, Shoppe Free Rein,
South Lane Wheels, Stacy’s Covered Bridge,
Sweet Springs Family Farm, Territorial Seed
Company, Th e Bookmine, Th e Cottage Bowl,
Th e Espresso Bar’n, Th e Flower Basket, Th e
UPS Store and Wal-Mart.
THE
CHAMBER’S
NUMBER ONE
GOAL
is to create a strong
local economy. All
of the programs and
benefi ts supported by
chamber membership
investments go toward
achieving that goal.
Membership in the
chamber is also a
commitment to the
entire community and a pledge of support
for the economic growth and vitality
of the Cottage Grove area. Join us in
thanking Chamber member businesses
and support our local economy and “Shop
Chamber Members fi rst”!
Center
THANK YOU
Renewing Members
South Lane School District
Axe & Fiddle, Banner Bank, Bochetto
Day Spa, Bohemia Gold Mining Museum,
City of Cottage Grove/Middlefi eld Golf
Weyerhaeuser
Join us for March Business
aft er Hours
Spend Your Money in
Cottage Grove and See a
Return on Investment
PLATINUM PLUS
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Course, Cobalt Computer Services, Inc.,
Emerald People’s Utility District, Great
Days Education Center, Jack Sprats, LLC,
Lillibolero, Prospectors & GoldDiggers,
South Lane County Fire & Rescue,
South Valley Consulting, LLC, Th e Talk
of Th e Town, Torero’s Family Mexican
Restaurant,US Bank, Wal-Mart.
Thank you for your hours upon hours of volunteer time, commitment, and service!
OFFICERS
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Past Chair
Danny Solesbee, 5 Flying Monkeys
Len Blackstone, Blackstone, Inc. – Windermere Real Estate
Ruth Linoz, South Lane Wheels
Gary Manly, Cottage Grove Sentinel
Candace Solesbee, Shampoo Dolls Salon
DIRECTORS
Chrissy Chapman
Alyssa Gomez
Brent Hoover
James Kline
Shane May
Cameron Reiten
Dale Smith
Judd Van Gorder
Tiffanie Williams
Covered Bridge Brewing Group
Sweet Springs Family Farm
The Grove Café & Lounge
The Espresso Barʼn
Emerald Fitness Club
KNND
Coast Fork Feed Company
Carousel House B&B & Catering
PayneWest Insurance
ADVISORS
Richard Meyers
Candace Solebee
Tim Herrmann
Dr. Yvonne Curtis
Ryan Gifford
Molly Murai
City Manager
Cottage Grove City Council
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center
South Lane School District
Gifford & Gifford Attorneys at Law
Main Street Program
Visitor Center Volunteers:
Heidi Abbott, Sarah Heuser, Suzanne Huebner-Sannes, Tara Sue Hughart,
Susan Jeppesen, Rebecca Lane, Marie Longfellow, Judd Van Gorder, Sharon Van Gorder,
Penny Westling, Sherry Bricher-Wendt.
Staff:
Beth Martin, Offi ce Manager
Mavis Bradsby, Bookkeeper
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
700 E. Gibbs • Cottage Grove, OR
P. (541) 942-2411
info@cgchamber.com • www.cgchamber.com