Friends, family honor Jerry Cranmer with community service project

Cranmer, who was murdered on Sept. 10, 2009, was “heavily involved in the community,” said nephew Grant Polson, who now owns the lodge. “He would just go out and do things — he felt personal responsibility to bear the community anywhere he could.”

As a kid, Polson would help his uncle paint over graffiti covering underpasses around the valley.

“Nobody would tell him to do it,” Polson said. “We just went and did it.”

It’s that spirit of service that inspired the annual tradition, although it has never been advertised beforehand.

“In the past, we were keeping it to close friends and family, but since we’ve been doing it a while, we welcome more people to come and do something nice for the community,” he said.

Last year, he estimates between 15 and 20 people met at Waterfront Park. This year, he’s hoping more will come to honor Cranmer.

On Sept. 10, the group will meet at 9 a.m. at Waterfront Park. Those who volunteer are encouraged to bring their own weeding and gardening tools, as well as anything that could be used to spruce up the grounds.

“In the last few years, we’ve focused on that area because it’s a new feature in Hood River and a nice public space everyone can enjoy,” he said. “It’s something that the community has put in, but has relied on volunteerism in the community in order to take care of it and maintain it.”

In all, he expects to be at the Waterfront Park for a couple of hours.

In the past, they have also worked in Mosier and at the Hood River Skate Park.

“We’re always looking for projects we can do on the 10th, so if we stayed at the Waterfront, that’s great, and if there’s something else we can turn our attention to, we’re open to suggestions or ideas,” he said. “We want to put our effort into creating good things that everyone can enjoy.”

For more information or to suggest a project for 2016, call Polson at 503-516-3934.