HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-12-LEX250-minSemiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
March 12, 2026 Meeting Minutes
Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerk, the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
convened in a hybrid format in the Select Board Meeting Room at the Town Office Building and
via Zoom video conference on Thursday March 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM by Mona Roy 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, Chair
Noah Michelson, Community Representative, Clerk
Cleve Coats, Community Representative
Barry Cunha, Business Representative
Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative
Melanie Lin, Community Representative
Julie O'Leary, Civic Representative
Present remotely:
Kerry Dunne, LPS Representative
Bebe Fallick, Tourism Committee Representative
Doug Lucente, Select Board Member
Paul O'Shaughnessy, Historical Organization Representative
Ashley Rooney, Community Representative
Sandhya Iyer, Economic Development Director
Absent:
Bridger McGaw, Community Representative, Vice Chair
Jillian Tung, Music & Arts Representative
• The meeting was called to order at 4:31 by M. Roy
• Approval of Minutes
o N. Michelson moved to approve minutes of 6/26/24, 1/8/2026, and 1/15/2026.
o Motion was seconded, and passed unanimously by roll call vote by all present
(less S. Conners, P. O'Shaughnessy, and B. Fallick)
• Working Group Updates
o Archive
■ Work is ongoing, and will make the report easily adaptable into the
Commission's contribution to the Town's Annual Report.
o VO250
■ Next arch lighting is March 15 at 7 PM.
■ April 17th at 8:15 will be the next after that, after the Awards Ceremony
■ Hours will continue to be collected through July. There will be a final
recognition and celebration in the summer or fall.
■ Arch has received HDC approval to remain up through October.
o Signature Events
■ The calendar of events has been updated. Getting all of the Signature
Events posted to the web calendar is in progress.
■ A Witness to 1775 walking tour has been confirmed. Tours will be run by
Town guides and include a visit inside either the Hancock Clarke House
or Munroe Tavern (varies per tour), courtesy of Lexington History
Museums.
o Riding Through History
■ Working group met with Jill Hai who agreed to represent the project's
extension request before HDC.
■ Either the post office horse or lantern horse will go to the Community
Center (depending on HDC approval).
• Lex250 Student Voices proposal
o Essay contest for Lexington students; prize would be one of the tours provided by
the Visitors Center. Essay submission in fall, winners chosen during winter, tours
redeemable beginning in April (when tours begin for the season).
■ Potentially shortening to 250 words to make entry more accessible, and
aiming questions towards personal experience.
■ Will work with TCC regarding existing essay contests.
o Sandhya will work with K. Dunne and others to continue developing and bring
back to a later meeting
• Support of TCC and Patriots' Day 2026
o Parade applications are up to about 115 units.
o SignUpGenius for adult volunteers is active and will be sent around.
o Parade steps off at 1:30, likely done by 3:30.
o Tower Park reenactment will be occurring prior to the parade.
o The Town has contracted with Conventures to coordinate media, security, and
parade logistics.
• Next meeting: April 9 at 4:30 PM via Zoom, then May 14.
• The meeting was adjourned at 5:47 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Noah Michelson