Renowned artist Ken Means is considered to be a master woodcarver and painter of carousel animals, and many other bigger than life sculptures carved out of wood, as well as finishing details. He has a carving school in Myrtle Point, Ore., and there are several carvers from the Eugene/Springfield area who are currently or have taken carving classes from him.

When I was first considering starting a carousel committee in Cottage Grove, to bring a carousel to the citizens of South Valley, I formed a meeting of like-minded carousel people in Albany and at the carousel museum. Around 26 folks fr...