North Webster Chamber office.

NORTH WEBSTER — Warmer weather brings with it the promise of change and new beginnings. It heralded planning for the future for the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce at its meeting Monday, April 8, at its office in the Tippecanoe Township Building. Jim Smith presided.

The Dixie Day Festival is first and foremost on the chamber’s to do list. It will be held Saturday, July 27, in downtown along SR 13, West Washington Street, Mermaid Fairgrounds and of course, the Dixie boat will be offering additional cruises. Applications are online at www.northwebster.com for artisans and crafters, food, novelty and home sales vendors, 5K participants and the car, truck and tractor shows. A companion boat dealer show will be held at the Mermaid Fairgrounds Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27.

Mindy Scaggs, Re/Max Lakes, is the chairman and Sue Ward, Sue’s Creations Floral & Gifts, is the cochairman. A meeting of the Dixie Festival committee members will be held 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 18, at the chamber office.

Scaggs announced two Third Thursday Business After Hours Events are booked. The first is at the new Re/Max Lakes office 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16 and the second at Mutual Bank Thursday, July 18. Any business that would like to host is to contact her. She is the one to get in touch with for ribbon cuttings for new businesses and new locations as well.

The chamber board agreed to have chamber member Clayton’s Garden Center do the downtown planter boxes again this season. They are sat next to the chamber donated benches.

The chamber scholarship to a graduating Wawasee High School senior will go to Abigail Stump. “She has been earning the scholarship for the past three years by maintaining the chamber sign south of town on SR 13. She will be awarded $500 for each year,” said scholarship chairman Linda Land, Lake-Land Cottages and it will be presented at senior night.

The summer banners have been hung by the North Webster Utilities Department, Smith noted. He will check with them about the two banners that say “welcome,” which seem to be missing.

Smith also had a update on the Warsaw Morning Optimist golf outing to be held at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club Sept. 9. The chamber is assisting with it. The committee from the chamber includes Smith, Gary Parsons and Brenda Peterson, Lake City Bank.

Vice-President Amanda Meerzo, Mohawk Pier & Lift, gave an update on finding a suitable laptop computer for the chamber. After discussion, the board voted to approve $1,200 not including software. Longer use was a primary consideration in the decision to increase the amount spent on the computer.

The North Webster Community Guide is ready for printing reported chamber Secretary Susan Stump, The Papers. It will be delivered Wednesday, April 17, to the chamber office and copies will begin to be distributed to area businesses.

Smith reported attending the North Webster Town Council meeting in support of local businesses in regard to the East Washington Street lake access issue. He feels the council has resolved the issue with the businesses affected.

Ward was selected to coordinate with Clear Vision on the North Webster video and Stump reported on the successful awards banquet held in March.