HOULTON – Intermingling the past with the present and tying it all together for a big celebration has always been the goal of the town’s bicentennial committee.

Now it has an image that reflects that. After a contest that ran for two months, the Houlton Bicentennial Committee has adopted a logo for next year’s fete.

The celebration, planned for August, will be held 200 years after Joseph Houlton and his wife, Sarah, founded the town.

Designed by local artist Kim Forrest, the imprint will be placed on all information that goes out about the celebration.

The black and white image depicts the historic clock tower that stands atop the Aroostook County Superior Court building in Houlton. A sketch of the town’s newest architectural landmark – the pedestrian footbridge – also lingers nearby.

The footbridge was christened “Gateway Crossing” when it opened to the public last July, and it stretches from the North Street Bridge across the Meduxnekeag River.

The logo adoption is the latest step taken by the bicentennial group, which has stepped up its planning efforts this year.

Before the installation of Joyce Fitzpatrick, who was appointed chairwoman of the bicentennial committee in March, a crew of volunteers and members of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce had worked for more than a year to plan next year’s festivities.

Forrest’s submission, along with two others, was posted for public viewing during the town’s Midnight Madness celebration. Residents were asked to vote for their favorite design. Out of the 270 votes that were cast, 176 favored Forrest’s entry.

For submitting the winning design, Forrest will receive a free pass to Houlton’s 2007 Agricultural Fair.