Plans discussed for 150th anniversary in Mars
MARS — At a meeting Monday night, borough council members and borough staff discussed plans for an upcoming 150th anniversary celebration for the Mars area, scheduled for 2023.
Secretary/treasurer Bonnie Forsythe said a small group of local businesses and representatives have come up with a number of ideas for potential celebrations to honor the area’s history next year.
“Some things are things that we know, (like) the Mars New Year Blast Off Dinner is going to happen, and we definitely are going to focus on green initiatives,” she said. “We know when Mars New Year is going to be. But then there’s other things, like adding some community events, like movie nights.”
The anniversary preparations also will see the formation of several volunteer committees, open to Mars area residents, on topics including fundraising, marketing, events and history.
“This is more than just the borough, it’s Adams, it’s anywhere that is Mars, Pa.,” she said. “By doing a committee, where we are able to get people from the entire community to participate, it just relieves a lot of the burden of planning everything and doing everything as a municipality.”
The group will meet more formally with interested local residents at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Mars Borough Education Building, 301 Arch St.
“So far, we’ve had a fair number of people interested in attending,” Forsythe said.
Council president Michael Fleming noted that it would be a good idea to plan early financially for the event.
“We’re probably going to need to budget more significant funds than we might normally for throughout that year,” said Fleming.
The Borough Council also discussed the potential of adding veteran memorial banners to downtown Mars.
Forsythe said she and Adams Township parks and recreation director Haley Zaliponi discussed the potential of expanding the banner program, and that Zaliponi had mentioned the municipalities’ public works departments may be able to work together on the project.
Council member Michael Fleming proposed putting an announcement up on the borough’s website about the project.
