The Sweet Home Beautification Committee and the City of Sweet Home lit up Main Street Wednesday night last week in the Santiam Supply parking lot when they turned on the decorative median strip lighting for the first time.
“It has been a dream of many people for many years,” City Manager Craig Martin said.
The lighting and median strip landscaping project is the result of groups of community volunteers coming together in various capacities, Mayor Tim McQueary said. The project was just one more example of how Sweet Home’s people come together for the benefit of the community.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Sweet Home Economic Development Group President Ron Moore said. It is proof of how well the community comes together.
Sweet Home High School Principal Pat Stineff thanked the Sweet Home community for allowing students the opportunity to help out on the project. High School students are still helping out. Right now, art students are cleaning and painting the concrete planters that have spent the last decade decorating Sweet Home sidewalks. Manufacturing class students are making flower baskets, and most students will participate in Pride Day on May 2 where they will clean up around town.
“We live in a community we should all be proud of,” Hometown Drug owner Dave Redden said. “Everyone steps up to the plate when there’s a need.”
He thanked Alice Grovom, Beautification Committee, for her efforts to involve the merchants and her work in raising donations for the project.
“On behalf of the Beautification Committee, we want to thank you for your support, thank the community for all their support in so many ways,” Bill Summers said.
Mary Betts shared a poem dedicated to Sweet Home and Debbie Cooley led the group attending the lighting ceremony in “You are My Sunshine.”
She added a verse, “While all around us the world is changing,” she sang. “We need some light to light our way. As we all travel along the roadways, flip the switch to light our way.”
With that, some 50 persons gathered around a ribbon and ceremonial light for the cutting, keeping an eye on the new street lamps as they were powered up.
Work to provide power was completed about two weeks ago. Northwest Natural employees use donated Northwest Natural equipment and volunteered their time to run power conduit to the lights in December.
The Beautification Committee is moving forward with plans to extend its landscaping project east to 18th Avenue and possibly in spots farther along the highway.
Several groups provided funding for the project so far, including SHEDG and the Sweet Home Community Foundation.
Sweet Home
By Mary Betts
Surrounded by the dark Douglas fir,
Mirrored by Foster Lake,
It lies protected and safe
As if in the hand of God,
Sweet Home…
For the most part,
Old-fashioned values reign,
Like a mother caring for her child
Or a strong silent father,
Sweet Home…
It honors older citizens
And cheers on its youth.
Together, the community makes
A strong foundation built to survive,
Sweet Home…
The loggers walk with pride.
They give freely from the heart.
Retirees find solace here.
New businesses begin,
Sweet Home…
The fast life has no future here.
We walk a gentler pace.
The town shuts down early,
But neighbors help neighbors,
Sweet Home….
Surrounded by the dark Douglas fir,
Mirrored by Foster Lake,
It lies protected and safe
As if in the hand of God,
Sweet Home…