It’s a banner year for the town of Salina. In 2009, the town will celebrate 200 years in existence.
In order to commemorate the occasion, the town has formed a committee to plan events that will mark the bicentennial and the town’s history.
Judy Tassone, who heads the committee, said several events have already been planned, including a kickoff from 10 to 2 p.m. March 28 at Salina Town Hall. Other events include campfire stories at Ste. Marie Among the Iroquois, a tram ride at Onondaga Lake, a tour of Civil War monuments in Liverpool as well as a Civil War reenactment and a walking tour through the village.
The committee has also established a website, salinacitizensbicentennial.pbwiki.com, which includes an events calendar and histories of all of the neighborhoods in Salina — Galeville, Liverpool, Mattydale/Hinsdale, Pitcher Hill/North Syracuse and Lyncourt. The site is interactive, allowing community members to add their stories, photos and more.
In addition, the committee has hooked up with the International “Wizard of Oz” Club’s 40h Munchkin Convention. The club is holding events in Mattydale and North Syracuse, where “Oz” author L. Frank Baum lived from 1862-1888, on July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2. According to a press release from the IWOC, the “Oz” event “will celebrate the ‘Oz’ phenomenon through a remarkanle variety of events and features, including movies, an auction, lectures by scholarly ‘Oz’ experts and opportunities to meet with celebrities associated with the movie In addition, this 2009 Munchkin convention will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1939 MGM movie classic as well as the 100th anniversary of Baum’s fifth book in the ‘Oz’ series, ‘The Road to Oz,’ published in 1909.”
Kathleen Sorbello DiScenna, a Baum historian and organizer of the Munchkin convention, said the two events seemed to fit together well.
“We wanted to include the Mattydale and North Syracuse area,” DiScenna said, “and I thought between [Judy’s] ideas and mine, maybe we could help each other.”
And the committee is looking for more suggestions.
“We want to make this a year-long celebration,” Tassone said. “We’ll be planning more events in the future.”
For more information or to contribute an idea, photo or story, contact Tassone at 457-5484 or [email protected].
Salina: We need you!
In celebration of the town of Salina’s 200th anniversary, Eagle Newspapers is putting together a special supplement, “Salina’s 200th.” We’re looking for your input — historical photos, remembrances, stories and more. Please submit any materials to Eagle Newspapers, Attn: Salina Bicentennial, 5910 Firestone Drive, Syracuse, NY 13206, or [email protected]. You can also call us at 434-8889 ext. 334. The deadline is ??.
If you’re a local business interested in advertising in the section, contact Hollie Miller at 434-8889 ext. 313.
