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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0in" class=MsoNormal><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape style="Z-INDEX: -1; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: -0.7pt; WIDTH: 40.7pt; HEIGHT: 65.9pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; mso-position-horizontal: left" id=_x0000_s1026 wrapcoords="-322 0 -322 21402 21600 21402 21600 0 -322 0" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="bw_shield_wordmark" src="cid:HWZEOMUPXXPF.clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><?xml:namespace prefix = w ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" /><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></v:shape><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; LETTER-SPACING: 1pt; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">OREGON</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">PARKS</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: 84pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 60pt; tab-stops: 3.5in 390.0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 60pt; tab-stops: 3.5in 5.0in 5.5in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>NEWS RELEASE<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></B><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">November 7, 2012</SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 348.0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">MEDIA CONTACTS:</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Kuri Gill<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">503-986-0685<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 348.0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><A href="mailto:Kuri.Gill@state.or.us"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Kuri.Gill@state.or.us</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></B></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Albany</B></st1:place></st1:City><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> receives Heritage All-Star Community designation<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Editor’s Note: The official presentation of the designation will be made during the Nov. 7 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Albany</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">City</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Council meeting.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></I></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Albany</st1:City></st1:place> is the first city designated by the Oregon Heritage Commission as an “Oregon Heritage All-Star Community.” The commission created the All-Star program to recognize the strong efforts by communities to broadly preserve and develop heritage resources. </FONT></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">An All-Star designation requires that communities meet at least 15 of 20 criteria related to local heritage. These include heritage tourism efforts, historic preservation programs, photo and document archives, museums, historic cemeteries and more. </FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">“<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Albany</st1:City></st1:place> fit the bill right out of the gate,” said Kyle Jansson, coordinator for the Oregon Heritage Commission. “They have the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Albany</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Regional</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, the Monteith House, a great preservation program with multiple historic districts, a strong <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Main Street</st1:address></st1:Street> effort with the Albany Downtown Association, and the city and community have made a commitment to heritage. They are working very collaboratively.”</FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">The city is required to maintain at least 15 of the criteria to maintain the Heritage All-Star status. Technical assistance will be provided to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Albany</st1:City></st1:place> and other all-star communities to maintain, sustain and expand the heritage offerings and facilities. </FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">“We are thrilled to be the first city to get this designation,” stated Anne Catlin, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Albany</st1:place></st1:City> city planner. “We still plan to work toward achieving all 20 criteria.”</FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Assistance is available for communities seeking to acquire Heritage All-Star Community status. Oregon Heritage of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, that houses the Oregon Heritage Commission, offers technical support, workshops, grants and other resources for all heritage projects in the state. To learn more, visit </FONT><A href="http://www.oregonheritage.org/"><FONT color=#800080 size=3 face="Times New Roman">www.oregonheritage.org</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"> or contact Kuri Gill at </FONT><A href="mailto:Kuri.Gill@state.or.us"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Kuri.Gill@state.or.us</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"> or 503-986-0685.</FONT></P>
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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT">Kuri Gill</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT">Oregon Heritage</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT">725 Summer St. NE, Suite C</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT">Salem, OR 97301-1266</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT">(503) 986-0685</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT">(503) 986-0793 (fax)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT"><A href="mailto:kuri.gill@state.or.us">kuri.gill@state.or.us</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT"><A href="http://www.oregonheritage.org/">www.oregonheritage.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Gill Sans MT"><A href="http://www.facebook.com/oregonheritage">www.facebook.com/oregonheritage</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/"><FONT face="Gill Sans MT">http://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/</FONT></A></DIV></BODY></HTML>