July First Friday Cancelled

June 6, 2020 at 1:00 a.m.

By Teresa [email protected]

Following two previous First Friday cancellations, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer announced the upcoming July First Friday event, when military veterans serving from post-Vietnam to present day would have been honored, also has been cancelled.

At Friday’s Board of Works meeting, Thallemer said the decision was made because of the uptick in COVID-19 cases.

“He was very involved in the veterans’ event,” said First Friday co-coordinator Paula Bowman. “We were expecting 400 to 500 veterans.

“I thought this would be the first party of the year, but Joe keeps more up to date on the COVID cases than I do.”

The First Friday for veterans has been moved to the June 2021 event, which also closely coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The decision to cancel the July First Friday was made Thursday in the interest of public safety and in accordance with state-mandated social distancing during the pandemic.

This is the 12th year for First Friday events and Bowman said it has been interesting, planning, getting delayed or postponed.

“We move things and replan,” she said. “It’s been an interesting juggle.”

The next First Friday will possibly be Aug. 7, which will feature the popular car show. September’s First Friday is a rescheduling of the May’s Kids United – United Way event for literacy. October is for Art-ober, November for Thanks for Giving and December is for Hometown Hollydays.

Bowman and WCDC’s Trisha Steger work on the First Friday events, along with various organization or group members sponsoring the event theme.

Following two previous First Friday cancellations, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer announced the upcoming July First Friday event, when military veterans serving from post-Vietnam to present day would have been honored, also has been cancelled.

At Friday’s Board of Works meeting, Thallemer said the decision was made because of the uptick in COVID-19 cases.

“He was very involved in the veterans’ event,” said First Friday co-coordinator Paula Bowman. “We were expecting 400 to 500 veterans.

“I thought this would be the first party of the year, but Joe keeps more up to date on the COVID cases than I do.”

The First Friday for veterans has been moved to the June 2021 event, which also closely coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The decision to cancel the July First Friday was made Thursday in the interest of public safety and in accordance with state-mandated social distancing during the pandemic.

This is the 12th year for First Friday events and Bowman said it has been interesting, planning, getting delayed or postponed.

“We move things and replan,” she said. “It’s been an interesting juggle.”

The next First Friday will possibly be Aug. 7, which will feature the popular car show. September’s First Friday is a rescheduling of the May’s Kids United – United Way event for literacy. October is for Art-ober, November for Thanks for Giving and December is for Hometown Hollydays.

Bowman and WCDC’s Trisha Steger work on the First Friday events, along with various organization or group members sponsoring the event theme.
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