Lake Oswego can feel absolutely great about turning 100 years old.
That was the theme delivered in a big way at the Lake Oswego Centennial Kickoff Celebration Tuesday night at the Lakewood Center.
“Happy Birthday, Lake Oswego!” boomed Mayor Jack Hoffman in his opening remarks to the crowd. “This city of 36,000 people is one of the most desirable places to live in Oregon. A lot of extraordinary people have come together to weave the fabric of this city.”
It is safe to assume that all 36,000 residents, and many others, will take part in the celebration in 2010. Not only are there major community events scheduled for July, August and October, but Centennial director Kathy Kern Schilling announced that more than 100 partnership events will be held in conjunction with the Centennial celebration.
The enthusiasm for the big anniversary could certainly be seen at Lakewood Center on Tuesday. The public got its first view of the 20-panel Building Blocks exhibit (created by historian and preservationist Mary Lou Colver, Corinna Campbell-Sack and Erin O’Rourke Meadors), and they were also introduced to the three Centennial Ambassadors — Dee Denton, Dorothy Stafford and Dick Durham.
There was also a surprise visit by Lake Oswego founder Alonzo Durham. As portrayed by actor Steve Knox, he had a strong resemblance to President Ulysses S. Grant, only funnier. Durham was at first stunned, then overjoyed at the changes have taken place in the city he founded.
The greatest crowd response was for the premiere of the Centennial video, as presented by documentary film producer Kevin D’Haeze, a resident of Lake Oswego. In less than 30 minutes the video told the story of how Lake Oswego evolved from a struggling post-industrial town to a thriving city famed for its lifestyle.
As one commentator in the film said, “Lake Oswego has reinvented itself several times. It will probably reinvent itself again.”
The underlying message of the video was quite reassuring. Lake Oswego may have lost a few good things in its century of existence, but it has gained so much more in becoming the city its people know today.
To keep up to date on all Lake Oswego Centennial happenings, follow the calendar in the Lake Oswego Review or see the new Web sitewww.lakeoswego100.com .