With the traditional, annual Independence Day events canceled due to the pandemic, organizers managed to pull together two excellent alternatives to keep people busy and full of hometown pride over the coming holiday week. Cindy Vosburg, director of the Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce, said the Independence Day Community Pride Committee has finalized the details of a Fourth of July Weekend Patriotic Decorating Contest and a Hometown Hero Scavenger Hunt. #placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write(''); “These two events are just for the fun of doing it with family over the July 4 weekend," she said. The organizing committee received “22 excellent nominations for hometown heroes last week," Vosburg said. “Any one of them could be a true hero.” Nominations were whittled down to the top 12. The heroes and a brief reason for their nominations are: • Joe Gregorio— for all his volunteer work. • Douglas Plack — for service to his community and helping to honor veterans at the Point of Honor Memorial. • George Pettit — for rescue work going back to the 1964 tsunami. • Denise Harnden — for service to teachers. • Angela Glore — for service to kids. • Hilary Fahning — for her work towards greater literacy in the community. • YengLo — for serving the Hmong community members. • Margaret Mathews — for preserving Native American history. • Ashley Buckskin — for serving the Native American members. • Shelly Pena — for serving the community’s furry members. • Emily Ricks — for serving community and country and representing our youth. • Kelly Schellong – for tons of work she has done for everyone in the community. Vosburg said posters featuring each hero will be hung at historical sites throughout the county. All areas of the county will be included, from Smith River up U.S. Highway 199, Gasquet and Klamath — and quite a few posters will be displayed in Crescent City. Scavengers are then encouraged to submit through social media a piece of information from each site. Individuals who provide correct information about the location of all 12 heroes will be placed in a drawing for prizes. Vosburg said winners will receive a gift basket delivered personally by a hometown hero. The committee is finalizing a map to place on social media that leads to find the locations of each Hometown Hero poster. Vosburg said to check with the chamber’s Facebook page to download a map showing locations. The hometown heroes also will be featured on a 2021 calendar that Del Norte High School media instructor Ron Gastineau will produce. Vosburg said the calendar will be sold for $10 throughout town and at the Visitor’s Center, located at 1001 Front St., Crescent City. Decorating contestThe decorating contest wrapped up registration today (Friday). Vosburg said a map will be made available July 1 for community members to view each entrant’s home or business. The displays are encouraged to remain up July 2-5. The contest will be organized by community — Klamath, Smith River, Fort Dick, Crescent City and Gasquet/Hiouchi. Vosburg said a committee of judges will view entries on July 2 and score each site based on quantity of decorations, originality, aesthetics and that “wow” factor. Winning categories from each community will include: Best Nighttime Decor (business and residence) and Best Daytime Decor (business and residence). Winners will be announced July 6. Residential winners will each receive a $50 gift certificate to Home Depot and bragging rights for having best house and patriotic business, Vosburg added. She said there also will be one Best in Show winner, who will receive a championship belt and be featured in The Triplicate. “The really cool thing about these events is they also follow social distancing guidelines,” Vosburg said. “You don’t have to be in crowd to enjoy.” For further details, Vosburg said to visit the chamber’s Facebook page or its website at https://visitdelnortecounty.com/chamber-of-commerce. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });