Although setup begins ff at 9 a.m. Saturday, the public kickoff for the 150th anniversary of Slatington starts at 4 p.m.

Trucks are still needed for transportation and again for tearing down, said committee volunteer Ted Kistler. He added that he arranged for juveniles from Lehigh County to help with the clean-up on Sunday.The celebration is to be held at the covered bridge park where the bridge crosses Trout Creek.The evening is expected to end with a surprise bang.A basket raffle includes keepsake slate samples.The Price is Right will play for three hours but the schedule is finalized. CDs will be sold with all money going to the anniversary committee for future events and the parade.Speakers for the day will be Rep. Julie Harhart and Mayor Walter Niedermeyer who will be presenting proclamations. The co-chairs, Ed Bechtel and Christy Haydt, will make remarks. Members of the Slatington Borough Council will be introduced, all of which leads up to the featured speaker, Judge James Anthony.Danny Phillips will sing his specially written "Road Home" song dedicated to the town.Candace Merkel said people are anxious to order the history book. Bechtel said people come into his store and want to order a book but the forms are not ready.The daughter of Angelo Scarselletti, a band director at the school, said she has some 8 mm film including pictures of her father at the dedication of the turnpike. They will be checked if there is anything usable and then donated to the library for a permanent record.Tom Mergoni has his son's soapbox car and is willing to donate it.Robert Kutney said his focus is on the historical perspective. Why would anyone want to come to Slatington? He suggested cleanup and repair around Kern's Dam and Trucker's mill. At one time he recalls a saw blade was found in Ben Franklin's sawmill. Wagon rides between the trailhead and covered bridge should highlight the historic places such as the long-closed Bedbug factory.Haydt said more historical things will be coming up during the year.The Brothers of the Brush and maybe Sisters of the Swish will organizelater.The next meeting will be held Sept. 16 at the Vigilant firehouse, 7 p.m.