Sean C. Morgan
Whether Sweet Home will have a Christmas parade this year is in the city government’s hands now.
The Chamber of Commerce won’t organize it this year, President Lerena Ruby said. “The chamber doesn’t have the manpower, so we weren’t going to do it.”
Instead, local resident Sue Olson is heading up a committee to get it started, Ruby said. “She’s trying to put together a tree lighting and Santa down at the chamber.”
The Warm and Cozy Tour will not happen this year.
“The chamber and SHARE (Sweet Home Active Revitalization Effort) have both decided not to hold events,” Olson said. They’ll focus more on their business.
“They needed somebody to step forward and start doing events,” Olson said.
Olson, who also is president of the Singing Christmas Tree, decided to do it because she cares about Christmas in Sweet Home, she said.
Olson wrote a letter to the editor last week, and several people have stepped up to help her, including Cassie Richey, Chris Pinto, Andrea Culy, Wendy Smith and her daughter, Debbie Olson.
Tree lighting and activities begins at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Chamber of Commerce, Ruby said. There will be singing and food.
As the sun sets, Santa will roll into the chamber for the lighting, Ruby said.
Cascade Timber Consulting is donating the tree for the lighting, Olson said.
Olson’s committee is still organizing those activities as well as attempting to keep the annual parade going.
“We are waiting for city approval depending on the budget to handle paying the personnel it takes from the city to run it,” Olson said. If the city approves it, there will be an application process for the parade. Once it’s approved, the committee will get the word out as soon as it can.
Right now, the committee is also looking for businesses and churches to step up with tables and food for the lighting event, Olson said. The committee also could use additional volunteers.
She anticipated a decision by Wednesday, Nov. 16, and anyone interested in joining the parade or volunteering may contact her at (541) 367-4639.