4A | MAY 21, 2020 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. Sixth St.
Cottage Grove, Ore. 97424
ned hickson, managing editor | 541-902-3520 | nhickson@cgsentinel.com
Opinion
The First Amendment
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ongress shall make no law respect-
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prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
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press, or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Govern-
ment for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
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community discussion of issues on the local, state and national
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Political/Election Letters:
Save the date for BMD 2021
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub-
missions on this and other topics are
always welcome as part of our goal to
encourage community discussion and
exchange of perspectives.)
a one-day “Community Apprecia-
tion Celebration” as a fun picnic-
in-the-park style event on Labor
Day Weekend.
Sub-committee members con-
T
Guest Viewpoint
o our fellow citizens and
those who participate in our
spring and summer community
events:
Sadly, all of our annual large
spring and summer gatherings
have been canceled this year due
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was difficult for the Bohemia
Mining Days Board of Directors
to make its decision last month to
cancel the 61st annual festival.
Be assured we do not take this
type of decision lightly and the de-
cision was made with a great deal
of thought and investigation.
Shortly after our press release
announcing BMD would be
canceled this year, we created a
sub-committee to reach out to
other organizations with canceled
spring and summer events. The
idea was to work together and plan
By Don Williams,
BMD President
By Cindy Weeldreyer,
BMD Festival Coordinator
tacted colleagues in other com-
munity organizations, along with
many civic leaders, and the idea
was well-received.
The goal was to plan up to Aug.
24 in hopes the virus restrictions
subsided and the health officials
would allow a large gathering. If
not, we would not continue plan-
ning a Labor Day Weekend event.
On Friday, May 8, Governor
Brown announced there would be
no large gatherings through Sep-
tember, which halted our plans to
bring us together in this fun way.
We each have our own opinion
of how we conduct our person-
al lives. As much as our planning
committee wants to call people
together, we must first consider
the health of our community and
fellow human beings.
Opposing the county and state
health commissions would make
it impossible to obtain liability
insurance for a community event
and would create legal problems
as well.
Our BMD sub-committee con-
tinues to follow the mandate and
recommendation of county and
state officials. We would like the
celebration as much as the com-
munity does but the safety and
welfare of our fellow citizens must
be considered.
We continue to look for oppor-
tunities later this year to celebrate
together. If that’s not possible, we
will plan a memorable Bohemia
Mining Days Celebration next
year.
Save the date and we’ll see you
in “Bohemia City” July 16, 17 and
18, 2021.
LETTERS
Ban single-use plastics
Most nights at around 11 p.m.,
you can find my best friend and I
in our kitchen sharing some hot
coco and an existential crisis or
two.
Most of them revolve around
whether or not a future will exist
for us considering the significant
climate crisis facing the world to-
day.
While there are many contribu-
tors to climate change, one that is
particularly concerning is the use
of single-use plastic.
Single-use plastic never biode-
grades; instead, it breaks down
into smaller and smaller piec-
es that never leave the environ-
ment. These plastics end up in our
oceans, about 8 million tons per
year, and find their way into our
lakes and rivers as well.
This puts marine life at risk, as
they ingest plastic and are unable
to digest, leaving them to essen-
tially starve. The ocean and other
waterways may seem like a world
away, but we all rely on water and
the wildlife within it to live.
This is why we need to dramati-
cally reduce the amount of dispos-
able plastics being handed to con-
sumers everyday. While the effort
to limit single use plastics needs to
be a world-wide one, every mile
begins with a single step.
By banning polystyrene at a
county level, we are able to build
support for a state-wide ban.
Florence, Eugene, Ashland and
Portland have already banned
polystyrene. The residents of Lane
County have an opportunity to
lead the way towards a statewide
ban and more hopeful midnight
hot coco talks.
—Kaitlyn Champoux
Creswell
Coronavirus, that’s okay. But let’s be kind
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub-
missions on this and other topics are
always welcome as part of our goal to
encourage community discussion and
exchange of perspectives.)
D
ear Coronavirus: As we start
to open up let’s agree to one
thing: You do you, I’ll do me.
That’s what America’s about.
None of us have the same cir-
cumstances (medically: high risk
child/family member or a business
about to go under, etc.).
Let’s all stay in our own lanes and
keep the judgement down as we be-
gin to reopen. No one should feel
pressured either way.
Just a thought, as governors are
trying to figure out how to ease
back into normal, please remem-
ber:
Some people don’t agree with the
state opening. That’s okay. Be kind.
Some people are still planning
to stay home. That’s okay, too. Be
kind.
Guest Viewpoint
By Paul O’Gorman
Yuma, Az.
Some are still scared of getting
the virus and a second wave hap-
pening. That’s okay. Be kind.
Some are sighing with relief
to go back to work knowing they
may not lose their business or their
homes. That’s okay. Be kind.
Some are thankful they can fi-
nally have a surgery they have put
off. That’s okay. Be kind.
Some will be able to attend in-
terviews after weeks without a job.
That’s okay. Be kind.
Some will wear masks for weeks.
That’s okay. Be kind.
Some people will rush out, get
their hair or nails done. That’s okay.
Be kind.
The point is everyone has dif-
ferent viewpoints/feelings. That’s
okay. Be kind.
We each have a different story. If
you need to stay home, stay home.
But be kind.
If you need to go out, just respect
others when in public.
And be kind.
Don’t judge fellow humans be-
cause you’re not in their story. We
are all in different mental states,
than we were months ago.
So please remember:
Be Kind.
Election-related letters must address pertinent or timely
issues of interest to our readers at-large.
Letters must: 1) Not be a part of letter-writing campaigns
on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2) Ensure any information
about a candidate is accurate, fair and not from second-hand
knowledge or hearsay; and 3) explain the reasons to support
candidates based on personal experience and perspective
rather than partisanship and campaign-style rhetoric.
Candidates themselves may not use the letters to the editor
column to outline their views and platforms or to ask for votes;
this constitutes paid political advertising.
As with all letters and advertising content, the newspaper,
at the sole discretion of the publisher, general manager and
editor, reserves the right to reject any letter that doesn’t follow
the above criteria.
Send letters to:
nhickson@cgsentinel.com
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPS
Oregon state
representatives
Oregon federal
representatives
• Sen. Floyd Prozanski
• Rep. Peter DeFazio
District 4 State Senator
PO Box 11511
Eugene, Ore. 97440
Phone: 541-342-2447
Email : sen.fl oydprozanski@
state.or.us
(House of Representatives)
405 East 8th Ave.
#2030
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Email: defazio.house.gov/
contact/email-peter
Phone: 541-465-6732
• Rep. Cedric Hayden
Republican District 7 State
Representative
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Ore. 97301
Phone: 503-986-1407
Website: www.leg.state.or.
us/hayden
Email: rep.cedrichayden@
state.or.us
• Sen. Ron Wyden
405 East 8th Ave., Suite
2020
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Email: wyden.senate.gov
Phone: (541) 431-0229
• Sen. Jeff Merkley
Email: merkley.senate.gov
Phone: 541-465-6750
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