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4A | SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Cottage Grove Sentinel 116 N. Sixth St. Cottage Grove, Ore. 97424 damien Sherwood, editor | 541-942-3325 | dsherwood@cgsentinel.com Opinion The First Amendment C ongress shall make no law respect- ing an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the 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) USPS#133880 One Year In – Taking Stock and Reaching Out that we’ve confronted and munity. Like just about every- overcome as a community thing that happens to us since then. And make no mistake these days, the virus — — there have been suc- and attempts to curb and cesses. Last fall, the city prevent it — are viewed purchased pallet shelters through the lens of a na- from Lane County that tional political climate I doubt that I’m the only provided a warm, safe that increasingly divides person who experiences place to sleep for many us, threatening our abil- the late summer/early au- during the season’s cold- ity to mobilize against a tumn as a time of reflec- tion, soul-searching, and a renewed commitment to planning for the days and From the City Council's desk months ahead. Ward 2 Councilor Jon Stinnett It seems this season brings several factors to- gether to create what can be a time of intense men- tal and emotional adjust- est nights. Local organi- common enemy. In fact, ment. Last week, we com- zations and volunteers it’s terrifying to think that memorated Labor Day, should be commended for even in a close-knit small which functions as the adapting their efforts to town like Cottage Grove, unofficial end of summer. ensure the success of this we might be getting used Here in Oregon, the real- project. to thinking of each other ity that the warm months The past year has seen as the main source of our are quickly fading and the the approval of multi-unit collective troubles, rather gray, wet gloom of winter housing developments than partners in the bet- lurks ahead can be more that will help alleviate terment of our communi- than a little unnerving. Cottage Grove’s profound ty and society. This year, we also recall need to fill this niche in its Nowhere is this more that the end of the chaotic housing market. This new evident than on social summer of 2020 brought construction will provide media, where our local us the terror of wildfires opportunities for many to conversations often con- raging all around us. The build their roots in Cot- tain all the vitriol and smoke from this year’s tage Grove or remain in negativity we can muster. fires reminds us of that the community they love. It’s truly disheartening to fear, as well as the sacri- Take a walk around Cot- think that those who wit- fices made and losses en- tage Grove these days, and ness these conversations dured by so many. you’re sure to see some from afar might believe Last week, our young fantastic new businesses, that this nastiness is per- people returned to envisioned and opened by vasive in Cottage Grove, school, which reminds courageous entrepreneurs that this is how we talk to us of their growth from in challenging times. They each other and treat each year to year and nurtures deserve our patronage and other in other settings. our pride in the people our best wishes. Last summer, spurred they are becoming. This Yes, successes large and to action by the drastic year, though, they’re go- small can always be found turns of events that de- ing back to school in an in a community such as fined 2020, I ran for City environment of intense Cottage Grove, one that Council with the hope of uncertainty, as a global gives its all and is proud of making a difference here pandemic that has altered its ability to fight its way in the home I’ve come to and taken millions of lives through adversity. love. I’d reasoned that my worldwide threatens those And of course, adver- background as editor of we know and love at home sity has abounded in the this newspaper for a de- like never before. last year. The “freeze” we cade and knowledge of On a personal note, this entered into in November city systems would help month also marks the one- to combat the spread of me become effective as year anniversary of my the coronavirus cast a pall a public servant. I also appointment to the Cot- over the entire winter, and thought that I possessed tage Grove City Council. in many ways, the second the ability to ask the right It’s been eye-opening and lockdown proved more questions, to help bring instructive to look back at difficult to weather than information about city my hopes and plans for my the first. Now, a nastier processes and decisions own participation in local variant of the virus threat- to the public and create a government, as well as the ens to take an even more stronger connection be- successes and challenges terrible toll on our com- tween Cottage Grove and its government. A year later, I can hon- estly say that I don’t know if my notions about my own potential as a coun- cilor have proven correct. Today’s political climate brings intense doubt along with its uncertainty. I’ve become reluctant to weigh in on local social media conversations, having witnessed the relentless- ness with which an ear- nest attempt to convey the truth can be attacked and discredited, and how quickly such interactions can become negative and disturbingly personal. It’s been difficult at times to find a way to connect with my constituency in a posi- tive, meaningful way. Still, the examples of resilience I constantly wit- ness among those around me compel me onward, as does the notion that I’m not alone in my times of skepticism and even de- spair. Humans are at their best, I firmly believe, when we work together despite our differences. With the help and encour- agement of those around us, we can accomplish just about anything. By view- ing each other as enemies, we undermine our own potential to make prog- ress and create a better world for those who will follow us. And so, having made a short story extreme- ly long, I’ll simply close with the questions I posed to the people of Cottage Grove a year ago — how can I help? What do you love about your com- munity? What needs to change around here for the betterment of each of us? Who are we, and who do we want to be? It’s my sincere hope that our ongoing conversation can bear fruit and bring positive change. I can be contacted at councilorst- innett@cottagegrove.org anytime, and I can’t wait to hear from you. Copyright 2021 © COTTAGE GROVE SENTINAL Letters to the Editor Policy The Sentinel welcomes letters to the editor as part of a community discussion of issues on the local, state and national level. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. All letters need to include full name, address and phone number; only name and city will be printed. Letters should be limited to about 300 words. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumentative, sarcastic or contain accusations that are unsourced or without documentation will not be published. Letters containing poetry or from outside The Sentinel readership area will only be published at the discretion of the editor. Political/Election Letters: 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: dsherwood@cgsentinel.com HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPS Oregon state representatives • Sen. Floyd Prozanski District 4 State Senator PO Box 11511 Eugene, Ore. 97440 Phone: 541-342-2447 Email : sen.fl oydprozanski@ state.or.us • Rep. Cedric Hayden Republican District 7 State Representative 900 Court St. NE Salem, Ore. 97301 Phone: 503-986-1407 Email: rep.cedrichayden@ state.or.us • Rep. Peter DeFazio (House of Representatives) 405 East 8th Ave. #2030 Eugene, Ore. 97401 Oregon federal representatives Email: defazio.house.gov/ contact/email-peter Phone: 541-465-6732 • 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 • Heather Buch Lane County Commissioner - District 5 Email: Heather.Buch@lane countyorg.gov 125 E. Eighth Ave. Eugene, OR 97401 Or call 541-682-4203 S entinel C ottage G rove 541-942-3325 Administration Jenna Bartlett, Group Publisher Gary Manly, General Manager... Ext. 1207 gmanly@cgsentinel.com Advertising Gerald Santana, Multi-Media Sales Consultant... Ext. 1216 gsantana@cgsentinel.com Carla Skeel, Inside Multi-Media Sales Consultant... Ext. 1203 csummers@cgsentinel.com Editorial LETTERS Finding ‘Proof’ on the Internet Imagine if the internet had been around when AIDS hit. First, there would’ve been a die- hard group of folks who found on- line ‘proof ’ the virus wasn’t real. Then, after the disease became rampant, they would’ve found ‘proof ’ it was no worse than com- mon herpes. After the death toll became too large to ignore, they would’ve found ‘proof ’ that only gay men died from it. They would’ve found ‘proof ’ that wearing condoms wasn’t effective in preventing the spread of the virus. They would’ve found ‘proof ’ it was all a huge con- spiracy designed by Big Pharma to make lots of money. If the internet had been around in the early 1980s, AIDS would’ve killed over half a million Ameri- cans in less than a year and there’d still be folks who’d swear it wasn’t real. There’d be anti-condom demonstrations. There’d be parents who’d pull their kids out of school if condom-use was being promoted. Anyone caught buying condoms would’ve been accused of ‘living in fear.’ Sounds completely insane, doesn’t it? Sure does ... —Matthew Emrich Cottage Grove More Driver Awareness Needed Dear Hit and Run Driver, Sometime during the first week of this month you exited a parking space in Cottage Grove. You were parked to the left of my car and pulled around the front of it. In the process, you hit my car, impacting the driver’s side front fender. I must admit that you were per- sistent because you kept going. This continued the damage to my car from the fender around to the right side of the front bumper. How nice of you. I can only assume two things: either you were not aware that you hit another car, which is rea- son enough to disqualify you from driving a car; or you knew you hit a car, did not care, and continued driving your car until it lost contact with my car. This would also pre- clude you from driving a car. Please consider this. What if it was a small child next to your car? A senior who couldn’t move out of your way fast enough? What do you think of your possible lack of awareness or not caring while driv- ing your 3,000 pound weapon? Damien Sherwood, Editor... Ext. 1212 dsherwood@cgsentinel.com Kendrick Murphy, Sports/Education Reporter... Ext 1204 kmurphy@cgsentinel.com Sophia Edelblute, Features Intern sedelblute@cgsentinel.com Daniel Friis, Sports Intern Customer Service Office Manager, Legals, Classifieds... Ext. 1200 mfringer@cgsentinel.com Kurt Krueger, Circulation... Ext. 1213 kkrueger@cgsentinel.com Production Ron Annis, Production Supervisor... 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