HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-08-LEX250-minSemiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
January 8, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerk, the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
convened in a hybrid format in the Parker Room at the Town Office Building and via Zoom video
conference on Wednesday January 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM by Ms. Barry as allowed by legislation
(S.2475) extending the suspension of certain provisions of the Massachusetts Open Meeting
Law.
Present in person:
Mona Roy, Community Representative, Vice Chair
Noah Michelson, Community Representative, Clerk
Cleve Coats, Community Representative
Steve Conners, Reenactment Community Representative
Barry Cunha, Business Representative
Jane Hundley, LPS 6-8 Social Science Department Head
Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative
Melanie Lin, Community Representative
Bridger McGaw, Community Representative
Cpt. John Mazerall, LPD
Cpt. Chris Barry, LPD
Present remotely:
Suzie Barry, Select Board Member, Chair
Bebe Fa!lick, Tourism Committee Representative
Doug Lucente, Select Board Member
Julie O'Leary
Paul O'Shaughnessy, Historical Organization Representative
Ashley Rooney, Community Representative
John Rossi, Commission on Disability Liaison
David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works
Sgt. David Bresnihan, LPD
Tim Goncalves, IT
Asst. Chief Don Chisholm, Fire Department
Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation & Community Programs
Staff from John Guilfoil Public Relations (JGPR)
• The meeting was called to order at by Ms. Barry
• Minutes
o Noah moved to approve the meeting minutes of September 18.
■ The motion was seconded. Steve Connors abstained, and all others voted
to approve in a roll call vote.
• New Clerk
o Tabled
• Publicity Update
o Reconvening of JGPR and LEx250 PR teams. Another meeting along with local
media to review publicity until april
o JGPR in touch with Ken Burns' PR team and WGBH on how to integrate publicity
with their schedules. Ken Burns is announcing film tomorrow, no specifics, JGPR
will put out short post welcoming, will be bringing CBS Sunday Morning
broadcast, Globe will be involved. No other work need ATM. March will see
national publicity on larger educational program. April will see more specifics on
lex and concord. Right now plan is to let ken burns and wgbh make their
announcements and amplify after those have been made.
o NYT listed lex and concord as part of 52 places to visit in america, local NBC
article soon featuring suzie re:NYT article. Will most likely come out day 100
o NBC 10 is leading candidate for 250 media sponsor, following national push by
NBC to cover 250 events. Another local station will make a major presence
known in the week leading up to the weekend
o Current focus on events tied into Iex250, following lead of event partners and
helping to cast a wider net
o Working with state 250 to navigate technical calendar issues inre pushing events
from our calendar to theirs, america250
o Lunar New Years Gala on January 18, offered ad space in program book at no
cost
• Logistics
o Media sponsor finalizing will answer a number of logistics of broadcast, coverage
o Conversations continue with army, will hear next after inauguration, can work with
some existing known factors
o Road race logistics in between reenactment and 11 event are still in the works,
need tentative route
o Public safety plans continue to evolve and adapt as needs and circumstances
change
o Parade steps off in east Lexington at Mass and Maple
o Please document questions about specifics and pass on to logistics team to
incorporate, can triage through bridger
• Witness House Banners
o Banner order is in; all but 5 recipients have responded, all positively; working to
finalize distribution event, possibly in cary hall foyer; no date set yet, most likely
march
• Invitations
o Invitations are in, being sent out by end of the week; all commission members will
receive one, RSVPs will go through Select Board Office. Need help identifying
families descended from those present at battle, Lexington Minute Men can help
with that
o Responses for attendance at 11 AM ceremony, reenactment, parade
• Monument
o Secured location and time , lexart saturday january 25 2 to 4, posters up around
town
o Feb 6 mm meeting, sb after that
• Volunteers
o Contacted all new volunteers about upcoming event, put on list identifying
interests, keeping informed on what's happening and what's needed
o Hanscom AFB is interested in getting members, families, and civilian employees
involved
o LexHist has gotten in touch indicating some members are interested in helping
out
• Training
o Saturday January 11, Until Help Arrives training in Concord, nine to noon, two to
five
■ Have asked MEMA to schedule training in Lexington closer to event date,
Saturday March 15 has been floated
o Trainings open to anyone on the front lines / involved in the event
• Other Lexi ngtons
o Steve has developed spreadsheet of other lexingtons and contacts, has handed
off to ashley, are all getting invitations
o Only interactions have been with Lexington SC
• Schools
o Schools continuing to work on curriculum to start in march with eighth graders
o Battle of the bands march 4 at concord carlisle
o Studesnts will participate in ken burns event
o 14+ clubs signed up as calendar keepers
o Met with PPC in december on how to work together, curriculum already in place
at elementary level
o Attempts to coordinate with athletic director have stalled
• Fundraising
o Full page ad in lex times last two editions, had a slow start
o Hoping to do townwide letter in february, push in february lex times with full
article
o 21 Lexington center banners to be sponsored, worked with eagle scout to identify
candidate locations around town for more
• LexVolunteer / Awards Ceremony
o Penciled in for Thursday April 17
o Joint event to present 3 major awards as well as kick off yearlong volunteer
initiative
o Book potentially Cary hall, have hold from 17 to 22
• Loose Ends
o Events to be scheduled
■ Events to be planned should be encouraged to be 17th or 21st
■ Mona, ashley, paul, doug, jillian will meet to consider additional events for
monday
• Housekeeping
o Suzie and Noah will investigate creation of challenge coin
o Bridger contact Venue
0
• Next meeting:
• The meeting was adjourned at 6:03
Respectfully Submitted,
Noah Michelson