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The weather could not have been better for First Friday, tonight, June 5, downtown Warsaw. In fact it was perfect for those enjoying ice cream and snow cones.

With the theme of Celebrating the Lakes, the evening kicked off at 5 p.m. with the recognition of two local student artists and their art teachers, whose art had been selected to increase awareness about protecting local lakes and streams.

Logan Haessig, a senior at Wawasee High School and Maren Lehman, a freshman at Whitko High School, had their creations unveiled in a brief ceremony. Their artwork is now displayed on the side of the Warsaw Public Works street sweeper. Their art directors are Bill Eby and Daniel Malicki.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer stated awareness is important to let individuals know what goes down storm sewers ends up in area lakes and streams and into the habitat of wildlife. The city street sweeper helps keep items from city streets from entering the storm sewer and eventually the lakes and streams.

Both artists’ renditions showed two of the habitats of lakes and streams. Haessig’s depicted twin turtles, while Lehman’s depicted two ducks.

The hotspot of the evening, outside of the performance of various groups with Deb Colliers School of Dance and the Warsaw Community High School Hip Hop Group, was the Center for Lakes & Streams.

Numerous activities for kids were held on the courthouse lawn and on Buffalo Street: corn hole toss, building of sand castles, opportunity to create colored sand necklace, making a sun catcher in the shape of a fish, a gold fish race and more. The Extension Service celebrated dairy month with a wheel of questions relating to the dairy industry.

Several motorcycle groups, church groups and civic organizations, and businesses, set up displays on the courthouse lawn, along Center and Buffalo streets. Food from area businesses set up in front of their shops or under tents in the municipal parking lot. And with the day being National Doughnut Day, Big Brothers Big Sisters helped with that celebration with doughnuts.

Some brought lawn chairs to sit and enjoy the music by Short Term Memories at the center stage or listen to Russ Weed singing hits of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett a half block to the south on Buffalo Street. There was also a special visit from The Little Mermaid Ariel who is at The Wagon Wheel Theatre.

If you haven’t been to a First Friday event, mark your calendar for Friday, July 3, where there will be entertainment, fun, education, information and food. All First Friday events are held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. downtown Warsaw.

Here are some scenes from First Friday