BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — The Massena Mega Reunion is coming together, with nearly 2,000 people expected to attend this summer.

The event will take place from Aug. 5-7 and will include all Massena Central classes from 1980-1989, officials say.

Organizer Lori Collins presented the current progress to town board members on March 16, highlighting a number of events and initiatives for the event.

“We hope to highlight the progress Massena has made in recent years. We want to bring people back and help boost the economy in Massena,” Collins said.

Collins highlighted the numerous local businesses that have expanded or began operations within the town in recent years, along with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative that will introduce $10 million in funding to aid local businesses.

“We expect to see a huge influx of traffic that will help our hotels, restaurants, gas stations and small businesses during the reunion,” Collins said.

A golf tournament will be held on Friday as festivities begin, with the former Massena Country Club playing host to the event.

Other events include a block party on Saturday that will include food trucks and a beer garden, a memorial service for class members who have passed, school tours and a Sunday beach day.

“All ten classes will be attending on Sunday, which we did not anticipate but are really excited for,” Collins said.

More than 300 individuals have signed up for the reunion, over six-months in advance, according to Collins.

The Massena AMVETS will also host a picnic on Sunday for retired and active duty military personnel, Collins said.

“The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will also host a panel discussion about investment opportunities and recent business and economic growth. We think that will play a large part in getting people to return to Massena, to come home and invest back into the community,” Collins said.

For more information and a full list of events for the Mega Reunion, visit massenamega.org.