BY STEVE KELMAN
CORRESPONDENT
CRESSKILL, N.J.—A small group of municipal officials and volunteers gathered recently to begin planning the borough’s quasquicentennial or 125th anniversary events.
“On May 11 the town will be 125 years old and I thought it would be nice if we could plan a number of different events,” Mayor Benedict Romeo told the assemblage that met in the borough council chambers on Jan. 16.
The group discussed several events that would kick off May 18 and continue through the end of September.
Those present at the meeting included Romeo, Council members Kathleen Savas and Mark Spina, Chief of Police Edward Wrixon, Deputy Police Chief Jim Domville and Borough Historian Tom Site.
Savas said that in order to generate interest and excitement throughout the borough, she would like to see at least two events per month.
Savas said that the kickoff on May 18 could include a ribbon cutting ceremony, music, a street fair, craft vendors and food. Borough officials including Wrixon said that they would be planning to have fireworks and a town picnic towards the end of September to conclude the events.
Other possible events for the late spring and summer months include a bus tour of the borough’s historic homes, a talent night, concerts during June, a 5K run, swim nights during the month of August, an alumni soccer game, a time capsule and a food truck festival.
There was also talk of planning an event on Sept. 11 to dedicate a new 9/11 memorial that officials said would be completed by that time.
Site said that he would work to prepare a 125th anniversary brochure and the mayor expressed an interest in getting the schools involved in many of the events.
“I want the kids to fully participate,” he said.
Wrixon called the meeting “a brainstorming session” and said that not all of the ideas and events that were discussed would necessarily take place.
Still, Romeo said he was pleased with the outcome of the first meeting.
“The first steps have been taken and we can go from here,” the mayor said.