By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- The Great Niles Garage Barrage is the first of several special events planned for downtown Niles this year.
The community garage sale is being organized by the Niles Main Street Initiative Promotions Committee. It will be held Saturday, June 14, from. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Committee is dedicated to revitalizing downtown Niles by bringing more people to the downtown area.
Lisa Croteau, Downtown Development Authority director, is responsible for selling spaces for the garage barrage.
She said 100 10-foot lots have been counted out for the garage sale.
She said one 10-foot lot costs $20.
However, it is possible to buy several lots to increase the space to display items, she said.
The lots are located from Front to Fifth streets, as well as on Second Street's lower parking lot, she said.
Croteau estimates 30 people have signed up to take part in the garage sale so far.
Although similar events have been held in the area before, Croteau said she has never experienced so many people being involved before.
Croteau said the Niles District Library and the Niles City Police Department are among those who have purchased spaces for the Garage Barrage.
In addition to the Garage Barrage, several other events will also be be going on downtown on the same day.
Croteau said WNIL, the local radio station, will have a live radio show from downtown beginning at 10 a.m.
A band called "The Deep Fried Pickle Project" will also play at 10 a.m., she said.
Croteau said Support the Fort will also have a Rendezvous stand downtown that Saturday.
In relation to that stand, staff from the Fort St. Joseph Museum will dress up in costumes and sell the museum's calender, Croteau said.
She said the Pregnancy Care Center in Niles will also have a Life Walk to raise money for the center. Timothy Mark, a singer who is high up on the Christian music charts, will also sing and sign autographs, she said.
And, those who bring stuff to sell during the garage barrage, but don't want to take it home at the end of the day, are free to leave their things behind. Croteau said Goodwill will come to pick up unwanted items.
For more information about the garage barrage, or to buy the remaining 10-foot lots, call Lisa Croteau on: 687-4332.