[OMS_MANAGERS] Sad news to share from Alberta Main Street

[STUART Sheri * OPRD]

We are sorry to share that we lost one of our bright stars in the Oregon Main Street family. Sara Wittenberg was the executive director of the Alberta Main Street program. I loved Sara's passion and compassion for the members of the Alberta neighborhood, her dedication to community, and her warm smile and sense of humor - she will be sorely missed. Following is a message from her board:

Alberta Main Street has lost a member of our immediate family. Sara Wittenberg, our one and only Executive Director since the formation of our organization in 2010, passed peacefully over the weekend. Her presence will be missed, but the legacy of her work lives on.

Sara was dedicated to and believed in the power of community. She worked tirelessly, aiding and assisting the scores of residents, business owners and property owners who sought assistance at her door. She was giving of self, and we are all better for it.

Running a Main Street Program is no easy task, one needs to consider the past, be present today and maintain a vision for the future - Sara did this all with aplomb. She embraced Alberta Street-understood its rhythm and rhyme-was able and willing to rise to the challenge of the work and offered a seat at the table for all who were concerned. Her dedication to our organization's mission was real, tangible and lasting.

The National Main Street Center recently announced that Alberta Main Street is a Semifinalist for the 2019 Great American Award. The full list of winners will be announced at the National Main Street Council in Seattle, March 25-27, 2019. We are thankful to share with you that Sara was all smiles when she learned of the news earlier this month.

As founding board members of Alberta Main Street that is how we will choose to remember her, being passionate about the community she served and all of us, better off for her time, efforts and dedication.

Thank you Sara, from the bottom of our hearts.

Robert W. Cross
Larry Holmes
Founding Board Members
Alberta Main Street

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