SUNDERLAND — Selectboard members has given a metaphorical pat on the back to the Sunderland 300th Anniversary Committee, commending its appointed members this week now that the tricentennial festivities have ended.
Nine of the committee’s 10 members attended Monday’s Selectboard meeting to recap its activities and thank the town for its support. Selectboard Chairman Tom Fydenkevez, who sat in on the committee’s meetings, said the yearlong schedule of celebrations was a huge success.
“There was never a bump in the road that was too big for your guys,” he said to the committee members. Gayle Drake Thompson was not in attendance.
Selectboard member David Pierce asked if plans for the 325th anniversary begin now.
“I didn’t hear that,” Committee Chairman Tom Zimnowski said to light laughter.
Zimnowski started his update to the Selectboard by praising his committee members for a job well done over the past roughly three years of planning.
“You have a really dedicated group of people here that got this thing done,” he said.
He said it is remarkable that in the wettest year in New England history, the town’s festivities boasted days of sunshine.
The 300th Anniversary Celebration weekend on June 15, 16 and 17 included a birthday cake contest for children, food trucks, polka dancing and a parade. Columbus Day weekend festivities on Oct. 6 consisted of a car show and The Ghosts of Sunderland Tour, a production in which volunteers portrayed deceased significant people of Sunderland’s past. There were then Veterans Day services and the 300th Anniversary Ball on Nov. 11.
Zimnowski also paid kudos to municipal employees, including Town Administrator Sherry Patch and various town departments.
“Everyone cooperated,” he said. “The people that you have working here for the town — splendid, super job.”
Brenda Wozniakewicz, chairwoman of the parade subcommittee, said local businesses stepped up to sponsor divisions of the parade.
“I think we had a really good parade, for not costing the town any money,” she said. “That was really exciting for us.”
She also said the conclusion of the festivities is bittersweet for many because committee members had fun organizing the event for the town they love, and they met a lot of wonderful people in the process.
Committee Treasurer Una Miller said the town allotted $67,000 to the committee, which generated $157,000 through fundraising and souvenir sales. She said the committee will return an estimated $52,000 to the town.
Committee Vice Chairwoman Cindy Benjamin, who was chairwoman of the souvenirs subcommittee, read to the Selectboard a list of local vendors that produced items sold as souvenirs.
The committee members were: Zimnowski, Benjamin, Miller, Fydenkevez, Brenda and Mike Wozniakewicz, Vinny Grandonico, Amanda Hanley, Gayle Drake Thomspon and Janet Conley.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.