Vendors, contests, music and the official public unveiling of the Walk ’N’ Wander Seward Johnson statues at First Friday gave the families in the community something fun to do together last night. The theme of June’s First Friday was all about celebrating the 1940s and 1950s. As Indiana is honoring its bicentennial birthday this year, each First Friday in 2016 focuses on a different time period, leading up to Kosciusko County’s celebration of the state’s 200th birthday Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. The unveiling of the statues at First Friday was at 6 p.m. at the corner of Lake and Center streets. While there are 20 this year, up from 14 in 2014, Mayor Joe Thallemer and the Warsaw Public Arts Commission pulled the black sheet off the one standing in front of the Kosciusko War Memorial at the corner of Center and Lake streets. The statue represents “the common man” with Abraham Lincoln, showing that the Gettysburg Address is as relevant today as it was in 1863. Thallemer told the gathered crowd that the sculptures will be in downtown Warsaw for four months and that they want people to take as many photos with them as they can. The city is having a “most original photo of the sculptures” contest. People should take photos with the statutes and then post them on the city’s Facebook page, Thallemer said. Two winners with the most original pictures will be chosen and receive two tickets each for preferred seating and parking at the Classic Rock concert June 17 at Central Park. The concert features Dokken and Great White. Deadline is 6 p.m. June 10. Thallemer then introduced three of the seven members of the Public Arts Commission, including Walk ’N’ Wander chair Paulette Davis, Kosciusko County Community Foundation Executive Director Suzie Light and Julie Park, representing the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts. He said the Commission worked hard to bring the Johnson statues back to the community after everyone “had a ball” with them two years ago. All downtown merchants have brochures of where the statues can be found. Light then presented Davis with a token of thanks for chairing the Walk ’N’ Wander. “Thank you, Public Arts Commission and the city of Warsaw for supporting this project,” Davis said. After the unveiling, the public then could check out the 20 statues or check out the many activities going on during First Friday. Kruger Doodles was offering face painting, Kosciusko’s American Bikers Aimed Toward Education and Sacred Heart Catholic Church both had booths while Christian Motorcyclists Association had 15 bikes on display along Buffalo Street. By the county courthouse on Center Street, there was a ropemaker and a tractor display by Echoes of the Past, which also was offering ice cream for a donation. In the city hall parking lot, there was a variety of foods to snack on from caramel and kettle corn to Milford Scoops ice cream. Booths lined up both sides of Buffalo Street between Main and Center streets, including Rudy’s Dog Park and Lutheran Health Network. City of Warsaw Parks & Recreation Department was giving people a chance to win VIP tickets to a summer concert if they filled out a survey. Shaking up the crowd with his Elvis Presley impersonation was Brandon Howard, 37, Fairmount. His girlfriend, Hanna Slagal, said he’s been performing as Presley for 22 years and that he’s a “big Elvis fan.” “He likes to do more of his earlier life and gospel songs. He does his Las Vegas stuff, too, but he likes to do more of the stuff people don’t usually hear,” she said. Later in Howard’s performance was a kid’s Hula Hoop contest. It got down to 8-year-old Jasmine Hershberger and 9-year-old Alyssa Surface, both of whom went on for a very long time. Finally, Hershberger lost her hoop and Surface was given first choice of prizes. At about 7 p.m., there was a look alike contest. Brittany Elliott won first place looking like Marilyn Monroe, while Taylee Zorn took second as Lucille Ball from the television show “I Love Lucy.” The Northern Indiana Lakes Festival, which is June 11 and 12 at Central Park, also was being promoted by the Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College. The big highlight of next weekend will be the fireworks at 9:30 p.m. June 11, presented by Zimmer Biomet. It will be the first time fireworks have ever been shot over the lake, according to Dr. Nate Bosch, Center executive director. But before that, activities will start at 9 a.m. with the Northern Indiana Lakes Duck Calling Competition. Food vendors will open at 11 a.m., with the pony rides and petting farm offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A water show will be at noon and 3:30 p.m., and there will be a guided tour of Warsaw Biblical Gardens throughout the day. Before the fireworks will be an Island Breeze concert at 7:30 p.m. The June 12 activities will include a Lake City Skiers performance at 1 p.m. on Center Lake, an art contest awards ceremony at 2 p.m. and Mark’s Ark Animal Show at 3 p.m. For a complete listing of the two days of activities, visit the website at www.lakesfestival.org
