By Monica Chen

mchen@heraldsun.com; 419-6636

DURHAM -- Five months after the beloved brontosaurus in Northgate Park lost its head, the group of residents that came together to fix the dinosaur are throwing a birthday party in its honor Sunday.

"This is my way to say 'Thank You' to all my friends who helped me get my head back and for all the donations to my medical and retirement fund," the dinosaur told its fans on Facebook.

Nancy Rizzo, chairwoman of the Save the Bronto committee, a part of the Northgate Park Neighborhood Association, said the bash will mark the end of repairs and raise funds for the brontosaurus' long-term maintenance.

The event will be held on the brontosaurus' lawn on the Rock Quarry Trail, site of the Museum of Life and Science's old dinosaur trail.

The children and grandchildren of the brontosaurus' creator, Richard Wescott, will be in attendance. The dinosaur is believed to have been created in November 1967.

After vandals chopped off the dinosaur's head and neck in June, leaving only a rusted steel beam sticking out of its body, the community was spurred to action. A committee was founded by the nearby Northgate Park neighbors, a Facebook group was formed and money raised for repairs.

The head and neck were replaced in the summer, along with some body work on the brontosaurus. In September, a fence was also installed.

Save the Bronto is still selling T-shirts of the brontosaurus. The 77-foot-long dinosaur had been a familiar, if not well-publicized attraction of the old Dinosaur Trail, since its creation.

"People discover it almost by accident, and that seems to be part of the charm," said Julie Ketner Rigby, vice president of External Relations for the Museum of Life and Science. "They take visitors down the greenway and they don't tell them there's a big bronto. They wait for the visitor to be surprised."

The dinosaur's quiet charm embedded it in the memories of many kids who grew up gawking at it in awe. Rizzo said the committee receives T-shirt orders from as far away as California.

"It's really amazing the emotions that have been generated," Rizzo said. "It's almost like it's got some magical ability, some magical aura about it, where people feel that it has a life of its own."

The Birthday Bash will take place 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Save the Bronto committee is planning to announce the final tally of the money raised at the event, as well as a possible new name for the Rock Quarry Trail. For more information, go to www.savethebronto.com.