Weekly Clips for February 6

Welcome to The Chronicle Newsletter

Hyper-local highlights delivered to your inbox each week.

The Chronicle Foundation provides a tax-deductible way for you to support your community newspaper. No matter the amount, you can make a one-time payment or set up a monthly, recurring gift.

This week’s top highlights…

Springfield State of the City outlines ‘Our Way Forward’ in 2025

SPRINGFIELD – From the lively musical stylings of the Springfield High School Jazz Band to enthusiastic pre-event conversation amongst attendees, the Wildish Theater in Springfield was abuzz on Jan. 30…

5 Feb 2025

Springfield State of the City outlines ‘Our Way Forward’ in 2025

5 Feb 2025

A Capitol experience for Springfield, Creswell, & Cottage Grove leadership

SALEM – On Jan. 28, hundreds of community leaders, including leaders from Springfield, Creswell, and Cottage Grove, flocked to Salem for City Day at the Capitol. The event, led…

5 Feb 2025

A Capitol experience for Springfield, Creswell, & Cottage Grove leadership

SALEM – On Jan. 28, hundreds of community leaders, including leaders from Springfield, Creswell, and Cottage Grove, flocked to Salem for City Day at the Capitol. The event, led…

5 Feb 2025

Fighting the blight: Dorris Ranch replant initiative nearly complete

SPRINGFIELD – Willamalane Park and Recreation District is in the final stages of replanting 35 acres of blight-resistant filbert trees at Dorris Ranch. “This multi-phase project started in 2016,” said…

5 Feb 2025

Fighting the blight: Dorris Ranch replant initiative nearly complete

5 Feb 2025

Safety & Service: Strahan, longtime volunteer, bids farewell

COTTAGE GROVE — Outdoor enthusiasts revere the Row River Trail, as do fans of the coming-of-age cult classic Stand By Me. It is a renowned stretch that bridges idyllic scenery…

5 Feb 2025

Safety & Service: Strahan, longtime volunteer, bids farewell

COTTAGE GROVE — Outdoor enthusiasts revere the Row River Trail, as do fans of the coming-of-age cult classic Stand By Me. It is a renowned stretch that bridges idyllic scenery…

5 Feb 2025

Downtown Cottage Grove welcomes 3 new businesses

PHOTOS BY BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE Gaming fans form a line down the block in historic downtown Cottage Grove for a first chance to get inside the new arcade business.

Main Street in Cottage Grove hasn’t been hopping like this for a long, long time.

On Saturday, between 11 a.m. and noon, three new businesses – all within about 1½ blocks of each other – held their grand openings. And they turned out to be even grander than anybody anticipated.

“It was a greater turnout than I could have ever imagined,” proprietor Bashi Ale said after the opening of his Quarter Drop Arcade at 537 Main St. “There was a line a whole block down the road on a cold, frigid day when I opened up the doors at 11 a.m. It’s heartwarming to see people really enjoying these machines.”

The arcade features 44 machines, many dating back to the ’80s and ’90s.

“We have some newer machines,” Ale said, “but it’s an old-school retro arcade.”

Likewise, the White Rabbit Vintage and Curiosities store at 517 E. Main St., formerly the Crafty Mercantile, has borrowed its name from Alice in Wonderland. Co-owners Erika Peterson, Terrisa West and Jeremy Evans say their shop offers something for everyone.

As Saturday’s noontime hour approached, Cottage Groove bookstore owners Greg and Lisa Ingold broke out the oversized scissors for a riveting, confetti-filled ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Read it here

Let’s keep in touch…

Our newsroom can’t be everywhere, and we rely on you to help keep us in the loop about what’s happening. What are journalists missing in our communities? We want to hear from you. Click The Chronicle logo below to fill out an entry form.