Grove residents, businesses respond

As Grovers try to map out their path through this newly imposed reality, here is the official news concerning COVID-19 and Cottage Grove. Stay safe out there, practice common sense and common courtesy, follow the hygiene rules,and help each other. Stay South Lane County strong!
Cottage Grove City Manager Richard Meyers said the City is working to ensure that all are safe, and that essential services will still be provided to citizens. He said that the drinking water system is being carefully attended and that the water is completely safe. Using the double system of filtration and disinfection offers twice the protection required and is proven to eliminate the threat of virus, he said, noting that the water quality is closely monitored three times daily at three separate locations. Drink up, Grove!
Meetings like the city council and zoning boards will meet using virtual meeting tools, and the public can watch via the City’s website at cottagegrove.org.
In downtown, The City has blocked off special drive up spaces outside of the restaurants for customers to pick up food they have ordered from our hard-hit local eateries. Please consider doing what you can to support them as they navigate the state law imposed recently.
The Library and Community Center are closed, but the staff can assist the public by phone. Links for children activities are live at the library’s website, and you can order books from the library catalog and staff will bring your order outside to you. A public portable bathroom and hand washing station is set up in the parking lot.
City parks are open and are a respite for getting some sunshine, fresh air and exercise. There is a limit of 25 visitors at a time, so if you see there are already 25 people there, head on to the next park — which is not hard to do here in Cottage Grove.
At the schools, grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches are available at Cottage Grove High, London and Dorena schools from 9-10 a.m. on March 30 and 31. Additional days will be added.
Walmart and Safeway are offering special senior hours for compromised people. Senior Hour at Walmart is from 6 -7 a.m. and Safeway’s are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 a.m. All the chain food stores will not be accepting deposit bottles and cans at least until the end of the month.
Coast Fork Farm Stand at 10th and Washington is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday. Available is locally-made products, and organic produce that can be bought in bulk.
Ar Community Sharing Program Center, a maximum of 10 people are allowed into the pantry at once. Call 541-942-2176 and let them know what you need and food boxes will be prepared and taken out to you.
The 98 Lane Transit District bus line has a modified Saturday schedule Monday-Friday and is using the Sunday schedule for Saturdays and Sundays. There will be no charge to ride the bus and passengers are asked to enter and exit the bus through the rear doors.
If a rider is older, disabled or requires assistance in boarding they may still use the front entrance. In Cottage Grove, the LTD Connector and EmGo have been suspended. While the LTD Connector service within Cottage Grove has been suspended, South Lane Wheels offers weekday door-to-door service locally and to the Eugene/Springfield areas. It is a low-cost service with no eligibility requirements. Same-day ride requests will be scheduled according to availability. Call 541-942-0456 ext. 1.
Visit Facebook @ Cottage Grove Mutual Aid, which is a group page created by community activist Ivan DelSol as a way to facilitate people’s needs in the community. Folks can post what they can offer or what they need and organically match up.
Dana Merryday is a Chronicle columnist for Cottage Grove. He can be reached at 541-942-7037 and [email protected].