North Webster Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce members Emily Shipley, left, Mindy Scaggs and Tammy Waliczek listen to remarks from Joe Long, who, with his wife, Elizabeth, and son Will, spent many hours of volunteer time on this year’s Dixie Day celebration. Photo by Ray Balogh.

By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The board members of North Webster Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce spent most of the Monday, Aug. 9, meeting recapping the details of the 2021 Dixie Day.

And by all accounts, it was a highly successful event.

Attendance figures are always difficult to calculate with such outdoor events, where revelers come and go and rarely stand still long enough to be reliably counted. But Mindy Scaggs, the board’s president, reported, “It was packed, and from the feedback I received, everybody had a great time.”

Emily Shipley said the event’s 5K run “went awesome,” noting 51 participants entered the race and extending particular thanks to the local fire department for helping with barricades and the police department “who protected the runners.”

Tammy Waliczek gave the report on food vendors. “The vendors were more than happy with the business they had,” she said. “We put out more picnic tables than last year.”

The car show attracted 50 entrants, including cars, trucks and motorcycles. Paula Miller suggested starting the show a little later in the day next year to accommodate the heavier afternoon crowds.

Arts and crafts vendors numbered 36 and “all of them had a great day,” commented Scaggs.

Treasurer Kim Bolt reported the chamber netted $1,081 in “overall profit” from the festival.

Special kudos were extended to Joe, Elizabeth and Will Long of Ace Pest Control for their extensive volunteer efforts; The Pearl of North Webster “for adding additional ambiance to the festival by hosting musicians and the graffiti artist show;” and Pilcher’s Shoes, Lake City Bank, North Webster Ace Hardware and North Webster Lions Club for their assistance in bringing about the successful event.

Several suggestions were ventured to improve the Dixie Day festival next year, but no official board action was taken on any of them.

In other business:

• Dr. Mary Baker, DDS, of Syracuse, was named chamber member of the month.

• The chamber’s general fund has a reported balance of $16,029.43; the money market account, $12,266.62.

• The board formed an ad hoc committee to plan this year’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

• It was announced the next Small Business Saturday will be held Nov. 27.

The board will next meet at noon Monday, Sept. 13, at the township office in North Webster.