The first of several important local anniversaries begins Tuesday, and by 2003 they'll be flying past with pomp and control flap.

        Although the Ohio Bicentennial in 2003 receives most of the attention, the region has other big commemorations looming, including the Wright Brothers' Centennial of Flight.

        In Warren County, Lebanon's bicentennial officially begins Jan. 1, 2002. A number of Ohio counties, including Warren and Butler, will have bicentennials in 2003. And don't forget in Adams County, the Bentonville Anti-Horse Thief Society will rejoice over its sesquicentennial in 2003.

        “There's such an interest in culture, heritage and history, so it's a good time to have all this happen,” said Margaret Drexel, marketing director for the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We expect to see a lot more visitors than usual.”

        Also that year, Dayton will celebrate the Wright Brothers' centennial, which will peak that July with 17 days of special events.

        “We've been in the planning stages for the Wright centennial for several years,” said Chris McGee, a spokesman for the U.S. Air Force Museum. “The 2003 story is a great one that will intensify every day until then. It will be a blowout year.”

        The Dayton story is familiar. In their bicycle shop, brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright dreamed of and tinkered with the idea of a sustained, controlled and powered flight.

        It finally came on Dec. 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, N.C., with Orville piloting the plane for 12 seconds — and 120 feet.

        Dayton will become the focal point of many events to commemorate the historic flight. Leading the mission is Inventing Flight, formed in 1989 to promote aviation, the Wrights and Dayton's role in the birth of aviation.

        As the umbrella organization for the centennial, Inventing Flight will join the museum and other groups to present activities in 2003, when the museum will open the 190,000-square-foot Eugene Kettering Gallery. Its Cold War Gallery will examine political and technological changes and honor the people who served in the Air Force during the long struggle against communism.

        It has an official countdown clock to 2003. Invent ing Flight started the centennial countdown in 1999, when former senator and astronaut John Glenn was named the group's secretary general.

        Down to earth in Lebanon, the Downtown Merchants' Association already is preparing for the city's first big bicentennial event — President's Day.

        It will feature sales and activities in the business district, not far from the planned Bicentennial Park. Two months ago, city council approved the layout of the park, which will take up much of the block bounded by Main, Cherry, Mechanic and Mulberry streets, just a street away from the city's main shopping district.

        A gazebo — double the size of the one that sits next to the Golden Lamb Inn on Broadway — was recently built there.

        “We've had a good response to the bicentennial so far,” said Marilyn Haley, a member of the city's bicentennial committee. “People are well aware of it. Events will be going on throughout the year. The largest will be over Labor Day — a major four-day event with parades and special worship services.”

        The city's Bicentennial Parade will start downtown at 10 a.m. Aug. 31, 2002, to coincide with the Bicentennial Festival, to be held Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

        Fortunately, Lebanon will look its age — well, almost. Its downtown is covered with 19th-century buildings, so the bicentennial will be held in comfortable surroundings.

        The city was surveyed in September 1802 on land owned by Ichabod Corwin, Ephraim Hathaway, Silus Hurin and Samuel Manning. Corwin started living there in 1800. Survey results weren't officially filed until 1803. Lebanon was incorporated in 1810.

        To commemorate the city's bicentennial, the Warren County Historical Society will offer a pictorial history of Lebanon. In February, the book will sell for $45 ($40 for members).

        On a lighter note, the Bentonville Anti-Horse Thief Society will turn 150 years old in 2003.

        Originally, the society was formed to catch horse thieves in Adams and part of Brown County. By the 20th century, the days of horse thievery had ended . But the group continued to meet, financially help area communities and celebrate its galloping history.

        “Good gracious, I don't know how many members we have — many honorary ones live throughout the country,” President Harriet Naylor said. “We want to do something for the anniversary, but I don't exactly know what yet. I'm sure we'll come up with something.”

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