The Hamlin Sesquicentennial Committee announces nominations are now being accepted for the 1st annual Hamlin Heritage Awards to be presented on Hamlin Heritage Day, Wednesday, August 27, at ceremonies planned at the Hamlin Town Hall.

The award is intended to honor residents who, in the town's 150 year history, have made a lasting and/or significant contribution to the town and have enhanced the quality of life in the community.

Guidelines for the award include that the recipient must have made a lasting contribution to the town and/or its residents since 1852 (the year the town was divided from the Town of Clarkson) to the present and must have been a resident of the town for more than 10 years. Both the person making the nomination and the nominee (or their descendent) are required to complete the two part nomination form. The official forms may be found at the Hamlin Town Hall on Lake Road, the Hamlin Library on Hamlin Clarkson Town Line Road or the North Star History Center at 864 Walker-Lake Ontario Road. Nomination forms must be returned to the Town Hall prior to July 4.

It was the first Tuesday in March, 1853 that the Town of Union held its first organizational meeting at the tavern of James C. Paterson at the present Hamlin Center. Eight years later, the NYS Legislature officially changed the town's name to Hamlin in honor of Hannibal Hamlin, the then current Vice-President of the United States serving with President Abraham Lincoln.

In recognition of Hannibal Hamlin's birthday, August 27, Hamlin Heritage Day will be celebrated annually on that day and new Heritage Awards will be considered each year. Recipients of the Heritage Awards will be inscribed on a plaque permanently displayed at the Town Hall.

For information contact Mary Smith, town historian, at 964-7385.