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Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee sets Oct. 18 drone photo and Duck Drop fundraiser, assigns follow-up tasks
Summary
The Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee on Aug. 13, 2025 reviewed event and fundraising ideas for the town's sesquicentennial, confirmed a town-wide drone photo and Duck Drop fundraiser for Oct. 18, 2025, and assigned members to secure vendors, venues and online sales support.
The Merrimac 150th Celebration Committee agreed on Aug. 13 to hold a town-wide drone photograph and a Duck Drop fundraiser at Donahue Field on Oct. 18, 2025, with a rain date of Oct. 19.
The committee recorded that John Guilfoil will manage the committee's website and social media pro bono and that a verbal agreement is in place for the artist to release the 150th logo; a written logo-release is being prepared. The drone photo will be taken at 1:00 p.m. and a copy with attendees' names will be placed in the planned time capsule; copies of the photo will be sold.
Committee members outlined Duck Drop fundraising details: ducks will sell for $10 each or three for $25, there will be three winners, and the committee will confirm whether Guilfoil's website can support online sales and arrange in-person sales tables and publicity (including notices in Wolfpack Weekly). The committee asked members to identify local outlets for sales if online sales are not feasible.
Other fundraising and event proposals discussed included a 2025 Holiday Light Contest, sale of light pole banners (with the Light Department expected to attend the next meeting to discuss logistics), a possible carnival, a kickoff dinner or gala (potential venue: Slip Lounge), food-truck events, merchandise (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats), restaurant fundraisers (Little Caesars, Flatbread, Sylvan Street Grille), sale of commemorative bricks and coins, and a projected museum-style historical display at the library.
The committee discussed legacy and participation items under the working label "What we leave behind," asking members to brainstorm ideas for a legacy contribution to the town. Committee members proposed youth-focused programs such as essay contests or curriculum at the school or library, senior engagement to document Merrimac's recent history, and a time capsule ceremony tentatively scheduled for April 11, 2026; the new capsule may be stored in the town's old ballot box for display in Town Hall.
Members were given specific follow-up assignments: Robert L. Gustison II, Lauren Santagate and Larry Fisher will contact apparel vendors for pricing; Santagate and Gustison II will approach restaurants about fundraiser nights; Gustison II will contact the cultural council and a person named Gretchen about grant progress, check website sales capability with John Guilfoil, and reserve Donahue Field for the Oct. 18 events; Michelle Gustison will contact Fiesta Shows about a carnival and draft a tentative events calendar for posting; Larry Fisher will pursue contacts for a historical quilt display, confirm the ballot-box size with Gwen, and work with Brianne Walsh to engage seniors in documenting local history.
The committee postponed approval of minutes from July 16 and July 29, 2025 to the next meeting and set its next session for Sept. 10, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Merrimac Police Department Conference Room.
Details not specified in the meeting minutes: whether the Duck Drop website sales will be enabled (to be confirmed), precise revenue targets or fee schedules for events, and which Light Department representative(s) will attend the next meeting to discuss banners and the holiday-light contest.
