centennial committee

The Batavia Centennial Committee and its Legacy Sponsors are ready to present a gift to the city that LeAnna DiRisio, director of Vibrant Batavia, says will stand the test of time -- a sundial.

The sculpture, designed by local architect Ed Smart, would sit in the plaza in front of City Hall. The $15,000 to $20,000 expense is being paid for by the contributions several local businesses made to the Centennial Celebration as "Legacy Sponsors."

There's no expense to the city, but the City Council must approve placement of the sculpture on city property. The council will vote on the proposal at its next business meeting.

Made of steel and teak, with stainless steel lettering, DiRisio said the sculpture will be virtually maintenance free.

"The materials are solid," DiRisio told the council Monday night. "It will last a long time."

The committee hopes to start installation by the end of October and finish the project in early November so it's in place as the city wraps up its year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the city's incorporation.

The big flashy bow is sure to catch the eyes of anyone who drives past City Hall.

To spruce up City Hall and evoke some community spirit for the celebration of the city's 100th anniversary, the Centennial Committee decorated the sign with a banner and bow this week.

The committee originally planned on buying a bow to complement the 100-years banner but the cost was more than $200. Lisa Casey, secretary at City Hall, came up with the idea to make the bow by hand and did it for a fraction of the cost.

At first, Casey didn't know how to make a bow large enough so she asked design experts at Michael's Arts and Crafts Store for some advice. They helped her come up with a solution to make several bows and attach them to a hula hoop. From there, Casey put her creative skills to work and finished the project in a half hour.

The ribbon for the bow is made out of poly-deco mesh. The color gold was chosen to match the color scheme on the other banners hanging throughout the city. The banner on the sign was purchased from John's Studio.

The committee hopes to keep the banner and bow up for as long as possible.