Tippecanoe Township Building

NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce received a check for $2,200 from Warsaw Morning Optimist Club for the chamber’s assistance with the recent Optimist golf outing at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club.

The money has been earmarked by the chamber board for beautification. President Jim Smith presented the check at the Monday, Oct. 14, chamber meeting in the chamber office, Tippecanoe Township Building.

Ballots were collected at the beginning of the meeting for a new president who will begin a two-year term Jan. 1, 2020. Mindy Scaggs, Re/Max Lakes Realtors, was elected. Board members who will serve three-year terms included four who were re-elected. They are Kim Bolt, Mutual Bank; Karilyn Metcalf, Dixie Sternwheeler; Susan Stump, The Papers; and Tammy Waliczek, Dixie Haven Resort. Kara Dobbins, North Webster Community Center, was also chosen as a new, first-time board member. Jim Smith announced he will serve as the presidential advisor as the by-laws call for.

The board voted to proceed with the downtown Christmas tree lighting ceremony as proposed by Vice President Amanda Meerzo. She will serve as chairman. It will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, on Pilcher’s Shoes lawn. All are urged to attend. Music will be provided. Refreshments will be served.

As has been discussed for several months, the big evergreen tree on the lawn will be lighted with all new lights purchased by the chamber. Chairman Sue Ward, Sue’s Creations Floral & Gifts said T-Square Crane and Rigging, Leesburg, is being hired to hang the lights as they have a tall enough crane. The chamber will also purchase three Christmas trees for decor on the lawn with Paula Miller, Miller Farm, being in charge. The chamber will also put up the Nativity scene and Santa and his elves as it does every year.

Elise Guy, Guy’s Lawn Care, is chairman of the small business community-wide open house. If enough retail businesses are interested, it will be held Saturday afternoon, Nov. 23, in conjunction with the town tree lighting. Advertising will be purchased for the events. The fall banners should be hung soon along SR 13. The chamber bought them new for 2019 and beyond.

Scaggs announced Third Thursday Business After Hours will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at Loose Moose Motorsports, corner of SR 13 and CR 200N, south of town. There will be plenty of networking time and refreshments will be served. All chamber members and their employees are invited to attend and see what is new.

In other business:

• The board voted to hold the annual dinner at the Owl’s Nest, owned by chamber member The Sleepy Owl, 5 p.m. Monday, March 9. Stump is the committee chairman.

• Meerzo will have the new computer purchased by December.

• Scaggs and Meerzo are in charge of the Members of the Month signs and photos. They will get the info to Waliczek for the chamber website and newsletter and to board member Martha Stoelting, The Papers, for newspapers, digital news and Facebook.

The next general and board meeting of the chamber of commerce will be noon Monday, Nov. 11, at the township building, 102 S. Morton St.