Perimeter lights will be displayed at downtown Warsaw businesses this holiday season. During Monday night’s city council meeting, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said the city will not look to facade grant funds to finance the lights. Instead, downtown businesses will pay for perimeter lights and the city will pay for the lights on city hall. “We are in full gear to get the lighting done for those merchants who want to participate and city hall also will participate,” Thallemer said. Thallemer announced during the Oct. 21 council meeting the city will not hang Christmas lights on traffic signal poles because the large garland creates stress on the light poles. Wreaths will continue to be used on light poles, and lights will be on the trees in the streetscapes. The perimeter lights will be on display from Dec. 5 to Jan. 5, according to Paula Bowman, downtown events coordinator. Bowman said 40 business owners have agreed to pay for and display perimeter lights, and 13 businesses are still considering participating. The cost is $5 per perimeter. Bowman said the lights will be on display at businesses located on Main, Market, Lake and Indiana streets. “We will still have wreaths on decorative light poles, but want to accent the streetscape,” Bowman said. Bowman said the perimeter lights will be on display in February during First Friday Fire and Ice that features ice sculptures in the downtown. No First Friday is planned for January as to not interfere with the New Year’s holiday. In other business, Thallemer said holiday pop-up shops will open Nov. 13 at the former license branch on Lake Street. There are at least three merchants who will participate in the shops and will be required to provide insurance, Thallemer said. The shops will continue until Jan. 2 and will be open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Mark Dobson, Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce president, said the pop-up shops will feature a custom jewelry maker, a purses and crafts vendor and a business that sells paintings and pottery. Indiana Urban Lumber, a business that makes furniture out of locally harvested wood, is considering being part of the pop-up shops. “This is a nice opportunity to highlight downtown businesses, and we hope this brings shoppers into the commercial district for the holidays,” Dobson said. In other business, Cindy Dobbins, councilwoman, said there was a great turnout at Spooktacular Friday night with more than 1,000 children in attendance. The city moved trick-or-treating to Friday night with poor weather conditions forecasted and Thallemer said the city felt that worked out well. Mike Ragan, Warsaw resident, requested if the city cancels First Friday due to poor weather conditions that there be an automatic date set to reschedule the event. Thallemer said if there is poor weather on First Friday, the event wil be rescheduled to the following Friday.
