 Welcome to in the world of when you see where we learn about on goings in our community. I'm Mayor Christine lots. And today we're talking about when you see Centennial, when you see is approaching our 100th birthday as a city. Next March 7. And since last spring, a committee of volunteers has been helping us plan a celebration and with me is the committee chair Amy Lafayette welcome Amy. I'm really happy to have you and excited to talk about this very auspicious occasion coming right up. Can you start by telling me a little bit about the committee and how you all have been working to plan for our celebration. Sure. So let me share a screen about presentation for you. So yeah, I'm there like you were saying, you know when you see is turning 100 years old on March 7, and really what this occasion is parking is the way that we used to be came its own city. And a committee was formed to plan a series of events to celebrate. So we've got a really awesome group of people working on this, you know what's so great about it is that we've got people from all different parts of parts of our city represented. So, myself, I'm the chair I'm a former UC City Councilor. We've got Meredith Bay tie up advice chair, who is the executive director of downtown the new ski. Miriam lot over at the heritage, no museum Emily Hacker from the windows to school district, as well as to windows to school district students Indra Valley and Susanna will launch up. And then we've got Dan Piggins was a really well known photographer and also faculty at the end. Craig Mitchell, who pretty much does everything and anything around the new Steve that is also a founding member of the strong Joe Aaron, who is the president of the historical society. And also our staff liaison communications director at the city, and Irene from Webster from the LB also is performing partners. And I just wanted to shout out to this group, you know we've been working together for eight or nine months at this point and they've really been full of awesome ideas and they're bringing a lot of passion to the project so it's been great to work with them. It's a really exciting group there's a lot of different experiences here. Yes, absolutely. So tell us about the work you've all been doing. So, like I've said we've been meeting for the past eight or nine months, you know really trying to be thinking about some events that we could plan, especially in the context of covid obviously changed a lot of what's possible but you know we wanted to come up with some events to celebrate the centennial and really centered them around two themes welcoming and opportunity. Those things come from this idea that we used to always been a place where we as a city and people are trying to improve our city and also welcome our next. I love that very much in line with our strategic vision and themes that I have heard throughout my time serving from from various community members. So tell us, what do you all have planned. We've got a lot of different stuff going on. Everything kicks off on Sunday, March 6 so technically one day before the anniversary. We've got a week long series of events. It's going to be a mix of things that are self guided virtual and in person. And then we also have some events plan for the warmer weather. To get into specifics we've got the Mill Museum of Historical Society they're going to be opened every day the week of the centennial. And for those who don't know they're located in the Chamfering Mill. The Mill Museum, especially is going to be putting on a really cool exhibit called Mill to Mall Historic Space Reimagined. And those of you that might remember the Chamfering Mill back in the 80s and 90s was actually a shopping mall. And they have been collecting photos and stories from people around the city to share their experiences about they remember when it was a mall, and that exhibit will open the week of the centennial. We also are going to be putting on a self guided historical walking tour. So we've got a list of places around the city and you see that are historic in some way and short descriptions to describe each one. And books can participate in this by either downloading the map from our website and walking around themselves. Or what's nice about this is that you could also participate from home online. So you'll be able to see these locations on a Google map and read the descriptions. And we also are going to have some pre reported audio of each location. And we thought that that would be a nice feature, especially in terms of accessibility, you know, someone can't get out and walk around or has trouble reading, we're offering this audio description into location as well. Then on Tuesday of that week, we're going to be doing new seeking trivia at Waterworks and we'll also have some great prizes to give away. And we're working on an ACCOM component for this as well so that people can participate from home as well as in person. Then we have photo exhibit that will be hung up around the city called one hundred faces. And folks, I remember that a couple months ago we sought out people to participate in a photo shoot. And that was taken at the Champlain middle we had over 100 people come and participate in that photo shoot, including the mayor. So all of those photos will be hung up and really large portraits all around the city at local businesses and, you know, City Hall and places around to really show the community, this is who we are. And again, just putting together a photo book of the past 100 years of the news and history so going all the way back to the 1920s, and hopes to have those at our celebration event in the summer to pass out to folks and also, you know, he's really hoping to engage the community in looking at the photo book and hearing the stories when you see these photos and asking them what sorts of things they remember and what the photos prompt for them in terms of there. A couple more of us just to talk from here so when you see school district as I mentioned we've got folks on the committee from the school district, and they're doing lots of things with their students. One thing we're really excited to see is they're putting together a music video for the Centennial, and they're also going to be working with their students to make birthday cards, and it will be celebrating taking up the experience. We've also teamed up with PBS to reair past when you see the documentaries on the TV channels and also on the website. So one of them with the photo lounge chronicles and begins. Another one will be about the great flood history. And that's really. Oh yeah, sorry. I was just going to say that's, that's really exciting. I, you know, it sounds like there's a lot of different ways to engage and a lot of different voices to be heard. It's really important to be aware of our history as we look towards our future. And I know you all have been working with the city communications coordinator to put some sort of features on the city's website, you can visit legacy dot when you ski bt dot go. And that holds your anticipation towards this event right. Yeah, absolutely. Paul, Sarah has been doing an amazing job on that section of the website. The feature section includes information about people, places and traditions and so he's been doing lots of different write ups there was one of my favorites was about the history of how women when you see and you know lots of different photos over the years of that. And also a great one the other day about Carol Eric who is our outgoing city clerk and just her tremendous history working at the city so yes, definitely, you know, feel free to check out the website. Now, there's lots of information on there and we'll be adding more as we get all the finalize details about this event as well. That's great. And then I see here. The big celebration is it's going to be later in the year right. So, you know, we were trying to think about a way to bring a lot of people together in a safe way to do that and we thought, we really need to kick that event to the summer. So, at the beginning of June, we'll have a 100% party, very likely at the rotary. There will be live music, vendors, a kick cutting ceremony with the Man City Council. And then, you know, local businesses will be able to participate that day as well. We're shooting for a Saturday so our hope is to get as many people out and about walking around, and then, you know, they can walk over to local businesses and restaurants and participate in whatever sort of sessions they want to run that day. It's really exciting. Sorry, just wanted to say, like, I think the posting that in the summer will make for a much better celebration we can do outdoors with more people and also appreciate being conscientious of the current health situation. Yes, absolutely. Our original plan was to hold a birthday party inside the O'Brien Community Center and, you know, before Omicron and the numbers were surging and we just, you know, we made the decision recently that that's just not in the best interest of our city to do something like that at this time. So, moving it outside, there's tons of perks that come with that. You know, I think we'll get a greater turnout and also who just doesn't want to be outside in the summer. So it's kind of a way to move it. And then the last thing that we have planned for the summer is going to be a centennial tree planting ceremony and an avanaki land acknowledgement. And this was actually the tree planting ceremony was an idea from Council of Great Oak Leaf, which was a great idea, just acknowledging that a lot of the events we have planned are celebrating communities history, and it would be nice to have a forward looking way to continue to celebrate history. So we will be planting a tree or a tree park. And also acknowledging that the avanaki people were here in Winooski, you know, far longer than 100 years ago and technology. Well, and the name Winooski is from the avanaki language actually. And I think a lot of folks don't know, you know, we have historic sites in Memorial Park down by the river. Also near Cassavent. So there is a lot of history here going back that far. Yeah, absolutely. And to your point, there is a little mention about that and historical walking tour that's the Winooski River site is one of the places in the walking tour so people will be able to participate and hopefully know more about the avanaki. There are a lot of events and ways to participate and folks can do so on their own. They can also, you know, attend some of these events and get to know other members of the community. And I think we have some other ways to celebrate. Yeah, just a couple more things. So, right before the holidays we have launched a store and online sales for Winooski themed 100th anniversary apparel. And sweatshirts, two different kinds of t-shirts, two different kinds of hats, and that website is still very much up and running. We still have lots of inventory and folks will be able to make a purchase. Very likely anytime this year, but you can purchase stuff now and schedule it on a pick up a local pick up the theater brand. So I wanted to let you know that that stuff is still available for purchase. I want to show your Winooski pride and also celebrate our heritage. Really looking forward to, you know, it's kind of monumental to be reaching our 100th anniversary. Looking forward for the opportunity to celebrate that just across the community to learn more about our history. You know, for those of us who didn't grow up here. I might not, I don't remember the Mill as a mall, although it's stories I've heard from from older residents, and I'm excited to be closer to that history. Yeah, also, the pushing this information out sending reminders out getting more information out to community members as we approach the state. So we're at your point, we're, you know, just in the process of starting to promote now that will be kicking off in the next couple of weeks, once we work out finalize details. So, definitely you're not already followed the city on social media. That's probably one of the best ways to stay up to date on events, but also we're going to be posting from form pretty regularly. And then, you know, fully all the partners that we're working with here like the school and waterworks and the different museums they will likely be cross promoting these events on their channels as well so we'll follow. Yeah, so March 1, Tuesday that Tuesday that's town meeting day. And then the following week that Monday the seventh. That is our official birth date and Centennial and those celebrations will start Sunday the six. You can follow at when you ski vt on social media, or visit when you ski vt.gov, and sign up for email updates from the city to keep on top of things. Thank you Amy I want to thank you for joining us today for coming to tell us a little bit about these upcoming events, and how we are celebrating this anniversary in our city. I really want to thank everyone who's participated in the Centennial committee. It's a really good group that I think brings a lot of different voices history and perspective to the planning process. So we can have really inclusive celebrations that can can appeal to all members of our community. Absolutely. Thank you for having me and I also just want to give a shout out to the committee because they're a great really great group to work with so I think them all for their participation. Thank you everyone for joining us again for another episode of in the world of when you ski. Looking forward to the when you ski Centennial on March 7 of this year.