Mars approves new signage designed by vo-tech students
MARS — Some borough residents got an early peek at the new entrance sign expected to grace the roads of Mars Borough early next year.
At its meeting on Monday night, Dec. 1, borough council chose from one of three potential signs proposed by a group of graphic design students at Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School.
According to Mayor Gregg Hartung, the borough sought out the students because its current welcome sign, near Stick City Brewery, is in need of a replacement.
“The one we have is dilapidated and the others are gone, so it was obvious we needed new ones,” Hartung said.
The idea for consulting the school came from Councilwoman Christine Clutter, whose daughter, Lee Ann, is a graphic design teacher at the school.
Three potential sign designs were shown off before council and a packed house of Mars residents on Monday night. Council came to its decision after soliciting input from the crowd.
The winning design incorporates an astronomy theme, playing off the borough’s name. It features a flying saucer as well as a green alien and the planet Mars itself.
“We asked the crowd which one they liked. Most of the council liked that one and the business folks unanimously liked that one,” Hartung said. “It's got all of the elements in it. The alien, the spaceship downtown and the planet Mars.”
The signs shown were miniature replicas of what motorists will see starting in 2026.
“They'll be blown up to the size needed to be put along the road,” Hartung said.
The plans are for the chosen sign design to be placed at three locations: one along Mars-Valencia Road near Stick City Brewing Company, one along Mars-Evans City Road near Finn Chiropractic and one along Route 228 near CVS Pharmacy.
Hartung said the signs should be assembled and in place by spring 2026.
According to Hartung, the artwork for all three signs was hand-drawn by the students and not generated by any artificial intelligence.
