Thanks to the generosity of the Conicelli family, the Norristown Bicentennial Committee is a little closer to reaching its $100,000 funding goal for this year's Bicentennial Celebration. Dominic Conicelli, founder of Conicelli Autoplex, along with his daughter Lori Hammond, turned up at last night's municipal council meeting to present the committee and members of council with an over-sized check for $25,000 to help fund the many activities planned for the celebration.

The Norristown Police Department's community engagement officer, Brian Saxon, was instrumental in securing Conicelli's help. Saxon is organizing one of the bicentennial's biggest events – a professional bike race to be held May 19.

"Thank you sounds so simple," Councilwoman Cathy Lawrence told Conicelli and Hammond. "but really, thank you very, very much. We will put it to really good use."

"Next year will be 50 years since we opened a little used car lot on East Main Street," Conicelli told The Times Herald. "We just want to take this opportunity to show our appreciation towards the residents of Norristown for their support during that time."

The Bicentennial Celebration Kick-Off event, originally scheduled for Elmwood Park Zoo, will now be held in Elmwood Park near the bandshell on Saturday, March 31. The event will include family-friendly activities including historical tours, old-time children’s games, a color guard and military salute, face painting, clowns and balloons, a mural project for the kids courtesy of the ACPPA Community Art Center, police and fire vehicles for the kids to inspect and live music.

The zoo isn't being left out though – Norristown residents (both in the 19401 and 19403 zip codes) will enjoy free admission to the Elmwood Park Zoo for its opening day of the season on Saturday, March 31 courtesy of Dave & Buster's.

Read more about this year's Bicentennial Celebration events here.