WGVA 106.3FM 1240AMMix 98.5101.7 The WallWFLR Finger Lakes Country Classic Hits 99.3The Lake 100.1/104.5 WAUB 96.3FM 1590AM

Wanted: Wayne County Bicentennial Torch Runners

SHARE NOW

In conjunction with Wayne County’s Bicentennial, a 200-mile Torch Relay has been mapped out to take the Bicentennial Torch through each town in the County. The relay requires at least 200 runners and will take place over five days from Monday, August 14th to Friday, August 18th.

Runners can sign up now to carry the torch for one (or more) of those miles. Each runner pays a small fee and can choose which mile of the relay and which day they want to run. If runners want to run with a friend, two people may sign up for the same mile. The cost is $22.20 per runner which will include a commemorative T-shirt, medal, and collectible race bib. The relay will start at the Palmyra Fair Grounds on the first day of the Wayne County Fair and conclude in the same place 5 days later. All participants are invited to run the 200th mile on August 18th as the Torch will lead the Wayne County Fair parade through the Village to the fairgrounds in Palmyra at 6:30 p.m. This is at no additional charge and runners do not need to sign up for this last mile.

Bicentennial Committee members Jeff Washburn and Jim Paprocki spearheaded the effort by creating the route and online mapping, mile by mile, with each route passing by numerous local historic sites. “We wanted more people to be aware of the variety and quantity of historic sites in Wayne County,” says Washburn. “This route highlights some of the significant ones, like the Soldiers Monument at Marion Cemetery.” Paprocki, who created the online maps in conjunction with his work with the Wayne Historians Organization, said, “We have a huge online database of documented historic sites that we hope to showcase concerning Wayne County history.”

The route will average about 40 miles per day and will pass more than 100 historic sites. The route will also vary from village streets to rural roads. It will use parts of the Erie Canal Trail and have gathering points at select sites to transfer the torch. All runners will be accompanied by a crew car and historic vehicles. Each day will start where the last day ended.

Transportation will be provided to get the runners from the gathering point to the start of their mile and then back to the gathering point.

Get the top stories on your radio 24/7 on Finger Lakes News Radio 96.3 and 1590, WAUB and 106.3 and 1240, WGVA, and on Finger Lakes Country, 96.1/96.9/101.9/1570 WFLR.