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Chamber Communique: Nominations sought for 4th of July theme, Grand Marshal Ashland Chamber of Commerce logo Monday Jan 9, 2017 at 5:56 PM Jan 9, 2017 at 5:56 PM By Dana Preston Ashland Chamber of Commerce We may have just seen the most snowfall on the valley floor in nearly 100 years, but the Ashland Chamber staff and volunteers are hard at work planning the 2017 4th of July Celebration. For more than 100 years, the Ashland Chamber has produced this community event, including the parade, activities in the park and band shell and the public fireworks display in the evening. Each year there is a theme, something that ties the event together, to celebrate the event. Themes have included community celebrations, such as "Commitment to Community," to themes that celebrate patriotism, such as "Let Freedom Ring" and "American Music." In 2016, the 4th of July event celebrated the Lithia Park Centennial, a gem in our community. Additionally, the event celebrates an individual, or group of individuals, deserving of recognition for their accomplishments, related to or unrelated to the year’s theme. In 2016, Parks & Recreation Foundation board members, parks elected officials, staff and volunteers were recognized in celebration with the theme but there is no requirement that the Grand Marshal is connected directly. Other examples of previous Grand Marshals are former City Administrator Brian Almquist, former Ashland High School Principal Julie Reynolds, and former OSF Executive Director Paul Nicholson, just to name a few. If you have nominations for theme and/or Grand Marshal, please deliver them to the Ashland Chamber office at 110 E. Main or email them to Kelsey Frantz at [email protected] by noon Monday, Feb. 13. Please include reasoning and descriptive information about each theme and Grand Marshal nomination for the committee. There are so many ways to take part in the 4th of July celebration. Rally your neighborhood and put together a float for the parade, listen to music groups at the band shell in the afternoon, attend the American Band College concert at the Ashland High School stadium and watch the public fireworks display, sponsor the event, or participate in our crowd-funding campaign. For more information on Ashland’s largest community event, visit www.ashlandchamber.com/4thofjuly. Dana Preston is membership development manager for the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. For more information, go to www.ashlandchamber.com, call 541-482-3486 or stop by the office at 110 East Main St.