By GEORGE CUSTER/Editor/The Herald — Every year since the founding of the Uptown Business and Revitalization Association (UBRA), business owners and residents from around Oakridge gather to spruce up the Uptown District. The cleanup always takes place on a Saturday about two weeks before the annual Oakridge/Westfir Tree Planting Festival weekend.
A little rain never dampens the spirit of a good parade
This year’s festival will be on the weekend of May 3-5. Rain can always be a factor during springtime in the great Pacific Northwest. However, it rarely rains with any intensity to dampen spirits during the parade. The parade participants tend to be unfazed by a little liquid sunshine. The hundreds of locals, young and old, parents, and especially the children who come to line the parade route scoff at a drizzle or two. It’s to be expected.
Both food and artisan vendors will be lining the street during the event
UBRA started their project to beautify First Street at 8:00 a.m. with a lunch break around noon. Weeding, sweeping, washing of sidewalks and cleaning of the gutters make up the bulk of needed work.
The Tree Planting teen court were found tackling the weeds and trash in Banner Park, located in the heart of the Uptown District along First Street. Erica Mclaughlin helps the court in scheduling the various activities required of the teens. The 2024 teen court will be riding in the parade following the other courts as they have been for over 70 years.
This year the court is represented by Owen Pope, Kali Williams, Aaliyah Cano, Lexie Mason, Khloe Garrison, Eric Meske, and Jade Snyder.
Eugene Cathcart, president of UBRA, and all of its members take great pride in maintaining a neat and attractive appearance of the Uptown District. As a nonprofit organization, UBRA collects dues and accepts donations; all of which go toward projects that are aimed at improving the Uptown’s livability and attractiveness.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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