(Binghamton- NY) A group of eleven community quilters joined Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala to formally dedicate the Bi-Centennial Quit at the County Office Building today in downtown Binghamton. The quilters affiliated with Sew Many Quilts located in the Valley Plaza in Johnson City, patterned and crafted the quilt over a ten moth period of time during the County’s Bi-Centennial year in 2006. Their design was inspired by the Bi-Centennial poster created by then Vestal High School student Adam Lachmanski, which depicted many of the areas’ historical attributes. 

 

“I want to thank the skilled quilters from Sew Many Quilts for their creative ability to craft a quilt in honor of Broome County’s Bi-Centennial Anniversary,” said Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala. “This beautiful handcrafted piece depicts our area’s history and is a wonderful addition to the Broome County Office Building.”

 

The four by four foot quilt now adorns the wall in the County Office Building’s media briefing room. The original poster was interpreted by quilter Marilyn Belford into twenty different pieces. Each quilter was given two patterns to design and quilt. 

 

Along with Sew Many Quilts Owner Joyce Paulsen, quilters Cheryl Carpenter, Kim Chase-Deckar, Ann Herman, Cindy Martin, Sue McDonald, Kathy Nicholson, Rosemary Riley- Mahon, Carolyn Stella and Dianne Wessell contributed their handiwork to create the quilt.

 

“We are all so excited to dedicate this quilt to Broome County in honor of the Bi-Centennial Anniversary,” said Joyce Paulsen Owner of Sew Many Quilts. “Our work represents the progression of our area from 1806-2006 and we were happy to contribute a piece such as this to illustrate our community’s history.”

 

After unveiling the quilt, Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala presented the quilters from Sew Many Quilts with a citation thanking them for their contribution to the county.