2019 CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
The annual Creswell city-wide yard sale is scheduled on Mother’s Day weekend May 7-9. Residents can sign up at City Hall and have their residence included on a map to be published in The Chronicle. Registrants will also be eligible for a free “Yard Sale” sign.
CRESWELL – Let’s go yard, hard.
The City of Creswell’s annual community-wide yard sale on Mother’s Day weekend is happening this year after taking off 2020 due to the pandemic.
City officials and The Chronicle have teamed up to sponsor the May 7-9 celebration of all things Spring, mom – and old stuff from the garage and attic.
“We want people to come and enjoy themselves and attend as many yard sales as possible that weekend, and through the summer,” said Michelle Amberg, city manager. “Let’s get out in the fresh air and be safe and have fun at the yard sales.”
Chronicle co-owner Denise Nash said the paper is eager to promote one of the city’s most popular events. “We all hated to see the cancellation last year, and we’re in a position now to do it safely,” she said. The Chronicle will contribute with promotion across its print, digital and social media platforms, a map of registered homes and a yard sale sign for registrants, among other items.
Maps will be available starting Thursday, May 6 in The Chronicle and activities run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
A yard sale address must be submitted to City Hall by April 30 by 5 p.m. to be included in the map. More details regarding the event are still being determined.
And it’s not the only yard sale event being organized. Facebook posts have featured discussions of an organized community-wide yard sale for Father’s Day weekend June 18-20. A Google document is attached to the social media thread, allowing people to register.
“The more the merrier,” Amberg said.
It’s not the first time Amberg and City officials have tried to maintain Creswell’s small-town traditions during the uncertainty of a yearlong pandemic, when the state’s public health guidelines and Lane County “health safety levels” were moving targets. City leaders also tried to fill the gap of a Chamber of Commerce that was depleted both in people and cash; the chamber had helped run events like the yard sale, Fourth of July pancake breakfast, parade and fireworks, and a winter holiday event. The pandemic wreaked havoc with the Chamber’s fundraising and event-scheduling abilities.
Amberg sponsored house-decorating contests last July 4 holiday and in December with 12 nights of contest winners, sidewalk chalk-drawing activities, and now the citywide yard sale.
City officials also plan to promote the yard sale by handing out flyers during the annual “Clean Up Day” on May 1 from 8-11 a.m. at the Public Works Shop on Highway 99. Residents must show a photo ID, live within City limits, and can bring up to three loads.
Meanwhile, all eyes remain on Lane County’s coronavirus status, which moved to “Low” last week.
Through March 29, the total number of people fully vaccinated was 61,278; those who received first shots totaled 46,309; and the total doses administered so far stood at 166,473.
The County has a new online vaccine appointment scheduler at lanecounty.org/vaxclinics. This system will be used to address the increased eligibility groups and prepare for vaccinating all who become eligible by May 1.
You must be eligible under current Oregon Health Authority guidelines to schedule an appointment.