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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 3, 2005 Eleanor Holbrook sorts through clothes at the Senior Center Thrift Store in Central Point, where she volunteers. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Hometown hero: A better place By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune Cleaner roadways and healthier seniors for the city of Central Point are two things that keep volunteer Eleanor Holbrook doing what she does best. They are also two reasons she was nominated this week’s Hometown Hero. One of the city’s more active volunteers, the energetic 74-year-old spends several days each week — between regular jogging sessions — teaching the Central Point Senior Center’s "Sit and Be Fit" exercise class, volunteering at its thrift shop and pitching in where needed for city Parks and Recreation programs. In 2002, she partnered with another local resident to spearhead a citywide cleanup, rallying local businesses for support and recruiting volunteers. Advertisement Each year since, she has taken on more of the annual event’s details, which former Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Hanson said contributed to the idea ever "making it off the ground" and enjoying steady growth each year since. "She just has a heart of gold and an energy that is unbelievable," said Hanson. "She’s willing to go the extra mile. As a parks commission member, she was very forward-thinking and always trying to make our city a better place for youth. She’s always willing to help whenever we ask her and she’s very thorough when she takes on a job." Hanson said Holbrook had a genuine drive to make her small town a better place. "She came to me one day wanting to volunteer — which is a rarity in itself — and she’s been around ever since," Hanson said. Despite a recent bout with cancer, Holbrook seems undeterred in her busy volunteer schedule. She plans to continue "Sit and Be Fit" in addition to a more recently founded class for The Meadows senior community. After more than two decades competing in Medford’s annual Pear Blossom Run, she’s planning regular training to enter the popular event "just one more time." "I feel good," Holbrook said. "I’m very focused on feeling better right now and I’m anxious to get my old life back." Holbrook said she would continue to help with the annual cleanup event but hopes someone else will take the reins this year and learn how to coordinate the volunteer effort and support from local business owners. Last year, Holbrook said, showed her the event was on solid footing and would not be going away anytime soon. "I was just amazed at our last litter pickup," she noted. "We had a line like I’ve never seen before. It was very rewarding. � It’s a good thing to do to be a volunteer. It feels good because you feel like you’re doing something that people need and you get a lot of happy smiles." Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers