At a borough meeting Tuesday night, planning continued for the celebration of Mars’ 150th anniversary, slated for 2023. Butler Eagle file photo

MARS — At a borough meeting Tuesday night, secretary/treasurer Bonnie Forsythe and assistant secretary/treasurer Amy Brown discussed the ongoing plans for the celebration of Mars’ 150th anniversary, slated for 2023.

Forsythe and Brown shared plans that were formulated through the Mars 150 committee meetings among borough employees, Adams Township employees and residents, since the Mars 150 event was first brought up in April.

Brown said the committee brainstormed upward of 15 events to be spread throughout 2023, some in collaboration with Adams Township, as the event celebrates the anniversary of the entire Mars region.

Ideas include a “150 Challenge” event in conjunction with the Mars Area Public Library that commemorates walking 150 miles over the course of the year, volunteering 150 hours with community organizations, reading 150 books or doing 150 “acts of kindness.”

“We have launched the Facebook page already, just last week, and it’s gotten a good response for (having) only done a couple posts so far,” Brown said.

Brown added that a rough estimate pinned total costs for the Mars 150 initiative at around $75,000, but brought up the potential tourism grants, yearlong sponsors and individual sponsors to pay for the festivities.

Forsythe added that events also could be fundraisers for local organizations and offices, citing a murder mystery dinner as a police department fundraiser and a movie night in Adams Township Community Park as a library fundraiser.

“One idea Amy had was to do a field day to let kids experiment with sports and see if they really like something before they go out and join a team and their parents spend a lot of money,” Forsythe said. “We’re trying to get the whole Mars area involved. This isn’t a borough or township anniversary — it’s the whole Mars area.”

Mayor Gregg Hartung said he would like to have the borough contribute funding to the planning and be involved, in general.

“I think the borough needs to pledge some money in the budget next year toward the event, so we have some skin in the game, versus just allowing the committee to do everything on their own,” Hartung said. “I think they need to be supported.”

Forsythe expects a schedule to be ready online before the end of the month.

“We are also trying to make history a little part of everything, because that’s what we are celebrating,” she said. “The Mars Historical Society has, already, been a really big help.”