Community, Creswell

Front-porch 4th

Sharon Norman, 53, at 693 Creswood Drive in Creswell, said that while she can’t celebrate the Fourth of July in the usual “Friendly City” style, she’s still decorating and plans for a small family gathering this weekend.

This Fourth of July weekend having to be spent in a pandemic may have canceled the traditional celebratory events in South Lane County, though alternative activities that both encourage the celebration of holiday and adhere to social distancing requirements have been scheduled. And in the days leading up to the Fourth, local officials are preparing to possibly deal with an anticipated increase in illegal fireworks and ignorance of social distance and gathering measures. 

Lane County Sheriff Sgt. Scott Denham is keeping an eye on crowd control. Denham said he expects activity to pick up around noon on the Fourth, and is monitoring rumors of “protest” conversations in order to have a makeshift parade. 

The Sheriff’s Office is coordinating with the Creswell School District, which is closing all its parking lots and fields for the weekend, and will be posted with signs and barriers to discourage grassroots large-group protests or parade staging, Denham said.  

These measures “should remove most of the possible staging areas should anything develop,” Denham said. “The schools are considered private property and I can enforce Trespass there regardless of free speech.” 

He and the deputies are well-versed of the laws and ordinances they have at their disposal, including: 

Illegal fireworks: “I am expecting this will be our biggest issue this year without a display,” Denham said. Fine is $500 and all leftover fireworks seized.

Parade: There is no organization or participation in a parade without a permit. Fine is $50. “A few vehicles driving together but obeying traffic laws minus a police escort does not constitute a parade,” Denham said. “If they start adding walkers and other things we will fall back to the American Civil Liberties Union verbiage.”

No riding or leading a horse on Oregon Avenue between 10th and Front streets or in a park, unless you are a part of a parade approved by the City. Fine is $500.

No vending goods on streets and sidewalks without a permit from the city. Fine is $500.

Unlawful operation of ATV on a highway or roadway is a $276 fine.

Fine for Trespassing under municipal code is $1,000 or a possible arrest. 

Park rule violations, including setting up booths and carts without a permit is a $500 fine. This does not include the possible changes to the park rules due to Gov. Kate Brown’s new social distance guidelines released this week. 

“My hope is to not issue any citations this weekend and only warn people of the ordinances and they will comply,” Denham said. “However, there will be no warnings on fireworks this year with as dry as it already is.”

In what would have been its 29th year, Creswell’s Fourth of July Celebration has drawn thousands of visitors to the parade and a fireworks display. Due to the pandemic, the event was canceled by the event organizer, Creswell Chamber of Commerce, so the City of Creswell stepped in to encourage a social distance-supported celebration.

The jet flyover is planned, Creswell Airport aviators will take to the skies throughout the day and Kona Ice is giving out up to four free shaved ices per household. 

Community contests include Most Patriotic House, Best Light Display, Best Sidewalk Chalk Art, Most Patriotic Pet, Best Decorated Business, a grand prize for Most Patriotic Household, and perhaps with some tongue-and-cheek and a nod to Creswell’s past parade behavior, the Best Lawn Chair Display. 

Residents are already gearing up for the weekend by decorating their houses and making plans to meet with family and friends. 

Decorated houses are popping up all over Creswell, and barbeques will soon be set up in backyards. 

Bethany Cross, 43, at 246 Robin Court, said she bought sidewalk chalk for her kids to decorate, and their close family will come over for a barbeque. 

Jeni Burnette, 44, 515 N. 1st St,. and Gloria Barnes, 75, at 113 Morse Ave., decorated their homes and are having small barbeques with close friends and family.  

Dan and Angie Koch at 11 Almond Way said that although they normally go camping for the Fourth of July, they are staying home this year and celebrating with some legal fireworks they stocked up on last year.

George Scott, 71, of Creswell at 83254 N. 6th St. said that he and his wife, Patricia Scott, 73, will be celebrating with family, legal fireworks and a barbeque.

In Springfield this weekend, the Oregon Performance Cruise will drive in to celebrate Fourth of July. 

The cruise will begin at PacificSource, the old Symantec building, at 110 International Way in Springfield at 10:30 a.m. 

Springfield Police will assist with freeway entrance onto Interstate 5, and will cruise to Heritage Mall in Albany at 1895 14th Ave., where 350 parking spots await for safe social distancing and enjoyment. The cruise will resume back to the Eugene-Springfield area at 1:30 p.m. and once returned, participants are able to go enjoy the rest of the holiday with their families. 

During the Oregon Performance Cruise, event coordinator Craig Noel, 56, of Eugene, encourages event participants to record their experience. Noel plans on compiling the videos together and playing them at Goddard’s memorial in September. 

The cruise also commemorates late Eugene resident Patrick Goddard, who died in a fatal car accident this May in rural Lincoln County when he was 23 years old. 

Goddard’s blue Camaro will be featured on t-shirts for $20. Because of his love for basketball at the school, all proceeds will go to a GoFundMe Charity account for Lane Community College (LCC) scholarship program. Money raised contributes to a scholarship that is awarded to one female and one male athlete at LCC.  

Be sure to come with a car-themed face mask for some friendly creative competition, Noel said. All kinds of cars are welcome.

CRESWELL: LOTS TO DO

• Patriotic Rock Art Hide and Seek on July 3

• Look to the skies – jet flyover around 11-11:30 a.m. Local aviators will be soaring over town all morning.

• Kona Shaved Ice will serve free shaved ices in neighborhoods 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 

• Holt Park Light Display the evenings on July 3 and 4

2020 FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES

COMMUNITY CONTESTS

Most Patriotic House

1st Place: $100 Cascade Home Center gift certificate

2nd Place: $75 Farmlands gift certificate

3rd Place: $50 Creswell Bakery gift certificate

Best Light Display

1st Place: $100 Cascade Home Center gift certificate

2nd Place: $75 Tractor Supply gift certificate

3rd Place: $50 Blue Valley Bistro gift certificate

Best lawn chair display

$100 BiMart gift certificate

Sidewalk Chalk Art

Most Red White & Blue

$50 Dairy Queen gift certificate

Best Hometown July 4th 

$50 Dairy Queen gift certificate

Best Summer Fun

$50 Dairy Queen gift certificate

Most Patriotic Pet

$50 Tractor Supply gift certificate

Most Photogenic Pet

One-year subscription to The Chronicle

Best Pet Haircut

$50 Blue Ribbon Pet Grooming gift certificate

Best decorated business 

$100 gas card

Grand Prize for Most Patriotic Household 

1-year free subscription to Sanipac for residential pick up (1 medium cart – sponsored by Sanipac)

Sponsored by the City of Creswell. More info: [email protected] and ci.creswell.or.us

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