Schuylkill Plus Magazine

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT!

BICENTENNIAL 2013

The Public is invited to the county wide Bicentennial Celebration that will begin Friday, March 22, 2013 at Noon at the courthouse with a re-enactment of Columbia County separating from Northumberland County. A Proclamation with Representative David Millard and dignitaries and Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble Re-enactment of Columbia County’s first Commissioners’ session.

A Free Concert will be held by the Navy Band Northeast at the Bloomsburg High School. at 7 PM. This is a free event, however, tickets are required and can be acquired by calling Melissa at 389-5608 or Leslie at 387-3464.
Saturday, March 23, 2013 will kick off the day with a Bicentennial 5K Run/Walk followed by a large parade, exhibits at the Arts and Crafts Building and concluding with fireworks at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds.

Fairground Arts and Crafts – Building open 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. with vendors offering historical information about their club, business or organization, games and door prizes. Entertainment to include country singer Mike Lewis, David Morleand BTE’s Magic Show, and more. Exhibit registration forms due by March 1st, please contact Kathi Lynn at 784-9272 or Diane Belusko at 784-9291.

5K Run/Walk - Starts at 12:00 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Race Track (near the Grandstand). It is and out-and-back course that follows the Bicentennial Parade route. Pre-registration from 10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 5K Run/Walk Registration Form required and $18.00 fee if paid by March 16th, $20.00 after. Awards given to top three overall male and female finishers. Medals for top three places in each age group for both male and female. Commemorative Bicentennial High performance T-shirts for the first 125 entrants. More information please go to www.neparunner.com or contact Wendy Calarco, Race Director, at (570) 204-1521 or wcalarco11@gmail.com.

Parade – Forms at 12:45 p.m. and moves at 2:00 p.m. from Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital/Bloomsburg University parking lots to the grandstand entrance of the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. Large parade to include bands, entertainment, floats, walkers and will highlight our communities and services. Businesses, organizations and individuals welcome and are required to fit Bicentennial theme “Columbia County – 200 Years.” Pre-registration by March 1st, please contact Parade Co-Chairs, Jim Brown at (570) 764-4485 or Jimmy Gilliland at (570) 389-4344 or jgillila@bloomu.edu.
The Mummers from Philadelphia will be performing in the parade and another performance at the fairground following the conclusion of the parade.
Also recently joining the parade are the Catawissa Military Band and a County High School Band that is being formed from the bands of the six school districts that are in Columbia County.
A Weekend with Stuie. It was just announced that a Stuart Tank will be part of the parade. This tank, originally manufactured right here in Berwick, is being transported from Oregon to aide in the Bicentennial Celebration. Fred Sheperly, a former local mechanic who actually worked on Stuart Tanks while in the service, will ride in the tank in the parade. County World War II Veterans are invited to ride in a military vehicle provided to the parede directly behind the Stuart Tank. Those interested WWII veterans are asked to contact Melissa at 389-5608
Sponsors donations of $500 and above will have a vinyl banner in the parade that will be theirs to keep after the Bicentennial events.

Time Capsule – At 7:00 p.m. the contents of the Bicentennial Time Capsule will be displayed and sealed.

Fireworks – Show will begin at dusk set off at the Bloomsburg Fairground Race Track concluding the celebration.
Memorabilia – Commemorative mugs, metal sculpture by Kawneer, license plates available at courthouse and hstory book coming soon.
Special Bi-centennial cancellation stamp from the post office, will be at the community event at the fairgrounds.
Home Depot will be bringing its Kid’s Workshop to the Fairgrounds promising to provide plenty of fun family activities and Towne Camera will be there with a Photo Booth with several Bicentennial themed backgrounds.

Downtown Window Painting – Decorating of businesses along the Bicentennial Parade Route. For more information please contact Adrienne Mael at 784-2522 or dbimanager@columbiamontourchamber.com, or Mark Jones at 389-8430 or mjones@bloomsd.k12.pa.us
To learn more about our group, the Bicentennial events or to volunteer, please contact Commissioner David Kovach, Chairman, at (570) 389-5608 or Angela Crossley, Volunteer Chair at (570) 389-4526 or acrossle@bloomu.edu or the contact information listed below. We invite the community to be involved in the planning and implementation of this special event.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to:
http://www.csgiving.org/make_donation/donate.html
Bicentennial Committee Secretary, Leslie Chyko: (570) 387-3464 or lchyko@firstcolumbiabank.com
Website: www.columbia-200.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/columbiacounty200