Oroville honors volunteers and preserves State Theater at annual awards

The City of Oroville used its April 28 State of the City program to present community awards, honor long-serving volunteers and recognize historic preservation work.

The Sam Norris award for excellence was presented posthumously to Janice Clay for decades of volunteer service to the city's cultural institutions; family members accepted the award and spoke briefly about her decades of service to the library, the Chinese temple and docent programs.

The Arts Commission presented "Your Voice in the Arts" recognitions and encouraged residents to nominate individuals and organizations that contribute to local murals, performances and youth arts programs. The commission also invited singers to join a reconstituted choir that will rehearse at Orville High.

The Planning Commission, acting as the city's Historic Advisory Committee, awarded preservation plaques and noted the Oroville State Theater as a recipient. Planning Commissioner Warren Jensen recounted the theater's history, noting its opening on April 7, 1928, the reinstallation of a Wurlitzer organ in 2018 and more than $2 million in fundraising and volunteer effort led by the State Theater Arts Guild (Stage) to restore the facility. Jensen said the theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and encouraged the audience to visit Stage and the theater's websites for more information.

Officials noted the city will place bronze plaques on honored buildings and is planning an open-doors tour in October to showcase restored properties.

The evening's awards preceded the city administrator's formal State of the City presentation.