By By SPIROS GALLOS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Niles DDA-Main Street Promotions Committee got a helping hand from volunteers looking to decorate downtown in preparation for the city's "Holiday Homecoming" event.
Gloria Cooper, chair of the promotions committee, said the turnout of volunteers was overwhelming for Sunday's downtown decorating work.
Although the volunteers were invited to attend a decorating workshop put on by local artist Toni Smith at 1:30 p.m., they came early Cooper said, as she saw wreaths already put up along Main Street when she arrived at the Niles DDA office around 12:45.
Volunteers hung lights on approximately 22 trees, decorated lamp posts with wreaths, and strung garland on fences downtown during the decorating.
Mark Schlutt, owner of M.A.A.C Property Management, also donated his time and labor to the decorating Sunday.
In all, Cooper said all the decorating was done in under two hours.
Afterwards, the promotions committee treated all the volunteers with a pizza party in appreciation of their hard work.
Niles DDA-Main Street Director Lisa Croteau was impressed with the volunteers' work.
All the decorations downtown will be lit at approximately 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, during the "Holiday Homecoming" event.
To kick off the lighting, Mayor Michael McCauslin will arrive by horse-drawn carriage from the Amtrak Train Depot.
Cooper and Croteau invite everyone to attend the day-long celebration which begins at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast with Rudolph and Friends at the Golden Nuggett, 202 East Main Street.
Stores will be open with holiday specials.
At 11 a.m., children and their families can visit with Santa at the Children's Christmas Shop at 210 East Main Street
The Four Flags Garden Club will be sponsoring the annual lighting of the train depot at 4:30 p.m.
The evening festivities come to a close with the lighting of Main Street and the dedication of the city holiday tree at the corner of Fifth and Main streets beginning at 6:15 p.m., and lasting until 9 p.m.
Carriage rides, Refreshments, and special store hours are included in the evening events, which are free.