The Friends of Porterdale invites the public to its 2007 Porterdale Reunion this Saturday at the Porterdale Mill Lofts.

This year's event will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Porterdale reunion has been going on for a couple of years," said Charles Turner, vice president of The Friends of Porterdale Inc. "But this is the beginning of a new venture, a collaboration with the past."

With that in mind, the theme of this year's event is Bridging the Past to the Future.

Event organizers want the public to know the reunion isn't only for former Porterdale residents, but for all those who want to come and share in an appreciation for the historic mill town's rich and varied past as well as make plans for its future.

Registration for the reunion begins at 10 a.m. at the Lofts. From 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. a town meeting will take place between the old pharmacy building and the old White's Store building. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be lunch and fellowship followed by fun and fellowship from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Those with photographs or other memorabilia from Porterdale's past are encouraged to bring their keepsakes to the reunion. There will also be a display of Porterdale memorabilia at Chances' Gallery, located in the Lofts.

The event, said Turner, is largely a kickoff for The Friends of Porterdale, a newly formed 501(c) 3 organization.

"We're trying to really get people on board and make them aware of what we're doing," Turner said of the event.

The Friends of Porterdale Inc is a group of individuals with the common purpose of preserving the history of the city of Porterdale while also promoting a positive image of the community.

The Friends of Porterdale Inc. is currently raising funds for the renovation of the historic Porter Memorial Gymnasium which was nearly destroyed by a fire in 2005.

To raise funds, the group is selling memorial bricks which will be used in the reconstruction of the gym. The bricks are $50 each and can be engraved with the names of donors, organizations or in memory of loved ones.

For more information visit: www.friendsofporterdaleinc.org.