A special logo is being used by Zelienople on its letterheads this year in observance of its 175th anniversary.

ZELIENOPLE — A volunteer committee is shaping plans for the 175th anniversary of the incorporation of the borough.

Mayor Tom Oliverio, who helped organize the borough’s 150th anniversary celebration, is committee chairman.

“I’m getting a great, great, great response. As time goes on, more people will be pitching in,” Oliverio said.

The borough was incorporated on May 29, 1840. The events for the celebration are planned around that May date, which is the Friday after Memorial Day, although no activity will conflict with honoring the military on Memorial Day, Oliverio said.

Plans include a donkey softball game, a dinner, concerts, a parade and fireworks for May 26 to 30. The committee also is working on a commemorative book and a scholarship contest.

At a Feb. 2 meeting, the committee decided to move the fireworks display to Saturday night.

The group also altered plans for the parade. It will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 30. Instead of having a picnic at the Community Park following the parade, volunteers from churches will man stands on Main Street to sell foods.

The parade will chronicle borough history starting with horses and historical re-enactors and older vehicles before moving on to modern vehicles and floats. It will be coordinated by the Zelienople Rotary Club, though the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau is accepting registration forms. Churches and community groups are welcome to enter.

Organizers need to know in advance who will participate to line units up in the correct order, said Jack Cohen, tourism bureau president.

“We want everybody to be registered so we know ahead of time,” Cohen said.

That Friday is a sit-down dinner at St. Gregory Church. The goal is to sell 400 tickets and to invite state lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf, Oliverio said.

Cohen encouraged the committee to have a more elaborate sit-down dinner as oppose to a buffet. It should use china, tablecloths and centerpieces, some of which could be donated, Cohen said.

“You want to make it special. Do it right, get real china,” he said.

Huckestein Printing in Zelienople is putting together photographs and a short history of the borough to be printed in a 60-page commemorative book that will be sold at the events, said Tammi Kaufman, who is working on the book.

“Zelie has an incredible story to tell. A lot of influential people came from Zelie,” she said.

The committee will award two $500 scholarships from an essay contest. To be eligible, the entrants must be 16 to 22 years old and attend high school, college or a post-high school technical school.

The essays will address the topic: “What it means to grow up and live in a small town.”

They also can address how a small-town environment shaped them, why growing up in Zelienople was beneficial on the student’s outlook and what changes Zelienople could make to enrich the lives for younger residents.

Submissions will be accepted at the borough building, 111 W. New Castle St., April 1 to 15.

For information about the 175th celebration, visit zelie175.weebly.com or search “Zelie 175” on Facebook.