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Salem named an America 250-Ohio Community

By MORGAN AHART 3 min read
City officials and community leaders alike joined in celebration of Salem’s official designation as an America 250-Ohio Community during city council’s meeting Tuesday. The city will collaborate with the America 250 Ohio Commission as the nation’s semiquincentennial approaches on July 4, 2026, to plan special events in celebration of the anniversary which will promote collaboration between communities across the state and pay homage to Ohio diverse cultural history. Shown from left area City Councilman Ron Zellers, City Councilwoman and America 250 Ohio Liaison Sara Baer, City Administrative Secretary Debbie Bricker, City Service Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello, America 250 Ohio Liaison Robert Viencek, City Councilman Jeff Stockman, Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey, City Council President Sara Baronzzi, City Councilman Andrew Null, City Councilwoman Jayne Bricker, Utilities Superintendent Butch Donnalley, City Law Director Brooke Zellers, City Councilman Evan Newman and City Auditor Sal Salvino. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

SALEM -- The city of Salem has officially been named an America 250-Ohio Community.

"It is an honor to be recognized by the America 250 Ohio Commission as an Official Community. We look forward to collaborating with Salem's parks and many community organizations to recognize and highlight Salem’s rich past and bright future," said America 250 Ohio Liaison and City Councilwoman Sara Baer.

The city will be collaborating with the America 250-Ohio Commission in the lead up to the nation's semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, as part of the America 250-Ohio Community Program. According to a press release the community program "is a cornerstone of the commission's community engagement initiatives" which are intended to "foster collaboration across Ohio's 88 counties as the state prepares to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary." The release also noted that the program "is designed for all levels of municipalities from across the state, and it offers a unique opportunity for Salem leaders to network, partner and exchange information with the state commission."

The city and the commission will work together to design the local participation in the anniversary celebration and Salem "will have the opportunity to showcase its commitment to honoring the state's diverse history and cultural heritage." In addition to statewide recognition, as part of its participation and designation as an America 250-Ohio Community the city will be able to take advantage of several resources including signage, event promotion, planning resources, access to an online community platform, regular check-ins with other America-250 Ohio Communities, and contact information for a network of leaders from other communities throughout the state.

During the parks commission's March meeting Parks Director Kelli Pastore announced that the department would be participating in the celebrations as Waterworth Memorial Park had been approved as one of 50 locations across the state that will host a movie night for Gov. Mike DeWine's Ohio Goes to the Movies event. Each location will be given a stipend of $3,500 to defray the associated planning and movie costs and will show a movie with some connection to Ohio.

Pastore said that the department's assigned screening time would be 9:30 p.m. Aug. 1, 2026, and that the department was set to show the Shawshank Redemption, which was partially filmed in Ohio at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield.

"The goal of bringing Ohioans together to celebrate and commemorate our state's place in American history is central to the work of the America 250-Ohio Commission," said Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist at America 250-Ohio Taylor Tomu. "The commission is thrilled to welcome Salem as an official partner, and we look forward to working together to make the America 250-Ohio commemoration the biggest in our state's history."

For information about America 250-Ohio, visit America250-Ohio.org and follow America 250-Ohio on Facebook and Instagram for updates on programming and ways to get involved.

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