2008 marks the 150 years since S

2008 marks the 150 years since Sycamore was incorporated as a Village in on May 9th, 1858. To commemorate the sesquicentennial, a volunteer committee has been established to celebrate our past, present and future. There are five sub-committees, events, history, fundraising, marketing and opening/closing that are all planning the community celebration beginning Friday May 9th.

The Sesquicentennial theme will be incorporated into the many successful Sycamore events throughout the year. These include Cinco de Mayo, Summer on State, Fizz Ehrler Car Show, Discover Sycamore Block Party and Pumpkin Festival.

COMMEMORATIVE ITEMS:

The Sycamore Sesquicentennial Committee is seeking vendors, marketers and freebee distributors!

The following items available to purchase (click on the image to see a larger picture):

Embroidered and Screen Printed Sesquicentennial Shirts, T-Shirts, Windbreakers, Hats and more available at Priority Promotions, 337 E. State Street in Sycamore. Phone: 815-899-6609.

Engraved Sesquicentennial items, including charms and other jewelry available at Ben Franklin of Sycamore, 341 W. State Street. Phone: 815-895-3011.
	Custom made Longaberger Sesquicentennial baskets available! Please contact Terri Cole, Longaberger Consultant @ 815-899-3028 (home) or 815-761-2083 (cell). Or visit www.longaberger.com/terricole.

If you are a not-for profit, a business or just someone that would like to be associated with Sycamore's year long 150th birthday celebration, we have an opportunity for you. Imagine 50 or 100 years from now and the community is celebrating its bicentennial or its bicentennial plus 50 (250th) birthday and there were no mementos of the 150th birthday around. No flags, mugs, coozies, coins, wooden nickels, t-shirts, golf shirts, commemorative plates, hats, postcards, nothing to remember what we were about in 2008.

We would like businesses to produce items they could sell or giveaway. If the items are for sale we would only ask that you pay the committee a $50 fee to be recognized as the "official" vendor for that item. This way there would not be a lot of competing items in the same category. If this is an item you would give away, we would allow you to use the copyrighted Sesquicentennial logo for free if we are able to put our OK on the item. We certainly wouldn't like to see items in bad taste circulated.

We can imagine that a group might want to produce a commemorative flag and sell it at various community events throughout the year. We would authorize one flag vendor. Maybe it is a commemorative plate you would like to design and sell.

All of the events and activities will be funded through donations. An account has been established at the DeKalb County Community Foundation for anyone that wishes to contribute.

DOWNTOWN BANNERS:

The Sycamore Sesquicentennial Committee is offering business and individuals an opportunity to purchase one of 60 banners that have been designed especially for the celebration of our 150th birthday. The banners are 37 1/2 inches tall and 23 inches wide. They are in four colors. Below each banner there will be a 5 inch space for the name of the sponsor. The banners will be hung in the downtown area from the time they are produced until Pumpkin Festival. After they are removed, they will be given to the business/individual. It would make a great item to display at your place of business or front porch. As soon as the banner is produced you will be given a paper replica that you can display during that time the banner is being displayed downtown.

The cost of the banner is $150. Banners will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. If there are more requests than banners we will have a lottery for the last requests that are received. Orders with payments will be accepted at Banner Up Signs, 1170 E. State Street, 815-899-9211.