BROCTON - Celebrating community pride is on the agenda for 2012/2013 for several committees of Brocton and Portland residents.
Portland Bicentennial Committee Chairman Dave Travis updated the Portland Town Council during its monthly meeting about how the 2013 celebration plans are taking shape. Travis said DFT Communications has agreed to sponsor the celebration's website, and the committee's recent meeting gave an opportunity for a rough draft of a budget to be drawn up.
"The community has been fantastic for responding to the committee's needs. We've got a good core group going, and the Brocton/Portland Community Festival committee has been a great help, I appreciate their support through this planning process and thank you, the Town of Portland leaders for your support too," Travis said.
The Community Festival committee members were also on hand Wednesday, while in the midst of planning their celebration details and events leading up to the July celebration.
The group was granted permission to hold their 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 31 at Portland Community Park, beginning at 1 p.m. The event, which is free for community children, will feature a grand prize for age divisions of 0-3; 4-6 and 7-10 year olds. A rain date has been set for April 7, which Committee Member Ed Wood reminded the council was used for last year's event.
The committee will also be sponsoring an April 22 Craft Show and Chicken and Rib Barbecue. For a better location, the committee has decided to hold the event on the lot of Wood's Repair on Main Street in Brocton, which they hope will generate more traffic for the barbecue as well as for the many craft vendors that take part each year.
"This year our vendors asked to be closer to Route 20. Since this year's proceeds from the craft show will be donated to the Little League, we're holding the event at Wood's Repair. Hopefully we can generate more money for our vendors, and for the Little League," Committee Member Steph-anie Halpainy said.
The official date for Community Fest has been set for July 13 15 this year, with several of the popular events making a return.
Councilman Jerry Boltz also briefed the rest of the council on the progress of the Brad Anderson Recognition Committee.
"So far we have had three meetings to present, and at this time we need the committee to be recognized as an agency of the Town of Portland, and permission for a statue of Brad and Marmaduke to be raised at the Portland Town Hall so that we can keep moving forward with our progress," stated Boltz.
The council resolved to recognize the committee as a town entity and allow for placement of the statue at the town hall site.
Councilman Al Valentin also reported that he and committee members have been in contact with members of the Anderson family, who remain excited about the project, and that the committee will be meeting with those who took part in memorializing President Abraham Lincoln and Grace Bedell in the center of Westfield. The same sculptor will be working on the Brad Anderson and Marmaduke memorial.
Travis also reminded council members of a March 25 Pancake Breakfast to be held at Applebee's from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The breakfast is being sponsored by Brocton Central School's chapter of the National Honor Society and Interact Club. Applebee's will be providing cooking the breakfast and club members will be seating and serving guests. All proceeds of the fundraiser breakfast will be generously donated to the Arch Restoration Project taking place in Brocton.
