VERNON — He’s got a family history in art, and Cliff Edwards admits to drawing as a hobby, but he never thought he would enter a contest to design the bicentennial logo for Vernon. With the encouragement of his wife Mary, Edwards submitted a design – and won.
    Edwards’ design depicts the town seal of Vernon in the center of the logo, complete with Fox Hill Tower, and the four sections of town – Talcottville, Vernon, Rockville and Dobsonville – circling the outside, with a bicentennial banner of gold at the bottom.
    “The town wanted to make sure every section was properly recognized,” Edwards said.
    The logo’s blue and gold was also chosen for a particular reason – they were his school colors. Edwards is a 1961 graduate of Rockville High School.
    “It’s sort of a homage to my old high school,” he said.
    Edwards’ winning logo will grace town letterhead, commemorative merchandise such as flags, mugs, and t-shirts. Those items are expected to go on sale this year. — Also honored for submissions were Vernon students Adrienne Gruessner, John Sy and Damian Ostrowski.
    Edwards said submitting this design was his way of giving back to his community. He was thrilled to have had his design chosen to represent the town’s upcoming celebratory events, but he has someone to thank for his talent.
    “My father [Irving Edwards], for years, was about the only sign painter in Vernon,” he said. “He was also an artist. For me to be able to come through now and have something chosen – it’s because of him I have the inherent talent. I kind of dedicate this to my father – he’d be proud.
    The Bicentennial Committee is also kicking plans into high gear as they plan for the 2008 celebration. During a kickoff meeting last month, Bicentennial Committee chairman and newly-retired Vernon Police Chief Rudolf Rossmy put out a plea to the public to volunteer for 12-subcommittee assignments. Those committees include: general parade committee, a parade committee for Rockville, Vernon, and Talcottville; VIP and special guest committee, program committee, advertising book committee, publicity committee, fundraising committee, contests committee, historical committee, and scheduling committee.
    More than 50 volunteers are being sought for the parade committees, said Carl Schaefer, one of the directors of the parade committees.
    “It’s a monstrous undertaking,” he said, of organizing the upcoming schedule. The schedule includes a Ancient Fife and Drum Parade and Muster in Talcottville in May or June ’08, a Torchlight parade from Northeast School to the center of town to the Elks Lodge in September, and the main parade, scheduled for early October, which would step off from Rockville High School and end at Tri-City Plaza.
    Anyone interested in taking part in any of the committees can attend the next Bicentennial Committee meeting on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center second-floor meeting room, or contact the committee chairman by email at rudyrossmy@comcast.net.