It's time to party: Town will celebrate nation's 250th anniversary

by Mark Jahne

Editor

The United States of America is 250 years old this year and the town is planning multiple events to mark the occasion. It started by forming a Newington America 250 Committee and holding a logo design content.

Resident Crystal Plakunov submitted the winning entry. It was selected for its creativity, symbolism and strong connection to this town’s local identity. A prominent feature is a stylized representation of the Mill Pond Falls.

The committee, led by Mary Wood, already held a pair of events to kick things off. The U.S. Cruisers, a Navy band from Washington, D.C., performed a live concert May 2 at Mill Pond Park. A flag raising took place May 5 at Town Hall to add a special America 250 flag to the main pole outside the building.

Next up is a patriotic concert at 6:30 p.m. June 2 at Mill Pond Park. The 102^nd Army National Guard will provide the music.

Parks and Recreation summer camp programs will hold a “Recreate Stars and Stripes” theme week the week of June 23-27. There will be two showings of the motion picture “1776” on June 30 at the Newington Senior & Disabled Center.

Town officials are planning to attend a statewide recommitment ceremony in Hartford on July 4. This year’s Life Be in it Extravaganza from July 15-18 will feature an America 250 theme.

The Friends of the Lucy Robbins Welles Library are sponsoring multiple programs this summer related to this celebration. Four adult programs will be offered.

“Liberty’s Gender: Women, Popular Culture and the American Revolution,” kicks things off at 1 p.m. June 22. “Declaring Independence: The Language That Changed America,” follows at 6 p.m. June 30.

Mayor Jon Trister and members of the Newington America 250 Committee raise a special flag outside Town Hall designating 2026 as America’s 250^th anniversary. (Jahne)

Those who enjoy Broadway musicals can attend “From Liberty to Legacy: Exploring American Ideals in the Musicals ‘1776’ and ‘Hamilton’” at 6 p.m. July 6. The final adult program is “Do You Know Who You Are?” at 1 p.m. Aug. 17. Attendees will learn how to use the library edition of Ancestry.com.

Three programs are scheduled for children. “Crafternoon: Stars & Stripes” takes place at 4:15 p.m. June 11. “Learn to Write Like Thomas Jefferson” follows at 6:15 p.m. June 15. The final program is “Our Founding Mothers” at 6:15 p.m. June 25.

The Friends have also planned two programs for people of all ages. A “Hamilton” sing-along takes place at 5:30 p.m. June 29 and America 250 Trivia Night is 7 p.m. Aug. 28.

“I am very active in the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I’m very interested in history,” Wood said.

She added that is why Mayor Jon Trister asked her to chair the planning committee.

She is also a longtime member and former president of the Friends of the Lucy Robbins Welles Library. Add to that secretary of the Soccer Club of Newington and an active member of Anunciation Parish.

“Connecticut was dubbed by George Washington as the provision state” because of its role in feeding and supplying the troops, Wood said.

“The Parks Department is heavily involved,” Senior Center Director Jaime Trevethan said. “The town staff has pooled our knowledge and resources.”

Library Director Lisa Masten praised former parks and recreation superintendent Bill DeMaio for arranging a lot of what will take place in the coming months.

“We have some children’s programs, a couple of all ages programs and some adult programs, too,” she added.

All these events are free to the public. The three women added that they enjoy working together on the planning committee.

“We wanted to keep costs down,” Wood said. NL