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Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee approves minutes, advances event and fundraising plans
Summary
The Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee on Oct. 9 unanimously approved its Sept. 25 minutes and moved forward on fundraising and event planning, including a town-wide photo/duck drop, ordered commemorative apparel expected Oct. 16, and a proposed time capsule ceremony on April 11, 2026.
The Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee met Oct. 9, 2025, approved the Sept. 25 meeting minutes unanimously and discussed a slate of fundraising and event plans for the town’s 150th anniversary.
Robert L. Gustison II, a committee member, moved to approve the prior meeting minutes; Lauren Santagate seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. The recorded ayes were Gustison II, Larry Fisher, Julie Fisher, Michelle Gustison, Lauren Santagate, Ron Ramsden and Gretchen Fuhr.
A Light Department representative attended to present ideas for a 2025 Holiday Light Contest fundraiser and the sale of light pole banners. The representative said the Light Department would review the suggestions at an upcoming meeting and suggested a banner placement at town hall or the fire station.
Committee members discussed progress on a town-wide photo and duck drop fundraiser, including logistics, materials and volunteer shifts. Merchandise orders — t-shirts, sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts — were placed with a vendor and are expected to be completed by Oct. 16, 2025; committee member Larry Fisher will manage online shirt sales and coordinate fulfillment with the vendor.
Members reported that grant applications have been started and that a sponsorship-level framework is under development. The committee also discussed a possible commemorative plaque inset for the town-hall entrance featuring the 150th emblem.
The group reviewed a list of potential events and assigned leads: a kickoff dinner or gala (location to be determined; Lauren Santagate researching), a food-truck party (Larry Fisher), commemorative coins (Larry Fisher to obtain pricing), a Santa parade float (Julie Fisher to complete registration), and a tentative time capsule ceremony planned for April 11, 2026. Additional programming under consideration included youth engagement (essay contests or school/library curriculum), history installations and a museum-style display at the library, a movie night, a block party in the Squircle, concerts and other community events.
At the close of the meeting, members received detailed action items: Gustison to pilot PayPal options for shirt sales, share spreadsheets, request Guilfoil PR set up online ordering and send Cindy Quinn artwork for yard-flag pricing; Fuhr to finalize sponsorship levels and continue grant work; Santagate to research smaller-event options for the gala pivot; Julie Fisher to file the Santa Parade registration; and Larry Fisher to contact Fiesta Shows about a carnival, organize the ducks for the duck drop, review sound options, digitize a 100-year-old photo and obtain coin pricing. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Nov. 6, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Merrimac Police Department Conference Room.
A motion to adjourn passed unanimously, with Robert L. Gustison II moving and Julie Fisher seconding.
