Despite the relatively warm winter weather this season, a series of snowmen have been popping up along the downtown Main Street area.
The 2- to 3-foot tall wooden snowmen were created by the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Authority and have been sponsored by local businesses since Nov. 20 to help raise money for new decorations for next year’s holiday season.
Niles Main Street Downtown Development Authority Program Manager Lisa Croteau said that while each year they face financial challenges to cover the cost of decorating, it is creative projects like the snowmen that bring ingenuity to fundraising and decorating. While Croteau said a portion of the funds earned from the snowmen will cover the cost of materials, the remaining funds will be used to support next year’s decorating fund.
So far, 54 snowmen have been sold. The 2-foot snowmen cost $10 and the 3-foot snowmen cost $15.
This is the first year the Niles Main Street DDA  has created and utilized the wooden snowmen and Croteau said she hopes it is not the last. She also recognized community donors and businesses that have come together to support the downtown.
“It just makes you feel wonderful,” Croteau said. “The town looks beautiful, people are smiling, it just makes you feel good when your town looks good.”
The Niles Art Association members crafted the snowman from wooden planks, which they painted white. To add variety, each snowmen has its own character from the facial features to the attire. No two snowmen are alike. Each business was also given the option of decorating their own snowman.

This is the first year Croteau said they have created the snowmen as part of downtown decorating, and the wooden figures have gotten a very good response.
Croteau praised the work of Sandy Whitmyer, of Niles, who is a member of the Promotions and the Design Committee. Whitmyer came up with the idea.
“Part of the Design Committee’s task is to make the downtown look good,” Croteau said. “And we have done that for the past 16 to 17 years. It is truly, truly a community effort.”
In addition volunteers and local businesses helped the decorating come together.
Whitmyer said she wanted to come up with a new craft that could brighten the downtown through out the winter. With years of experience crafting a variety of art projects as a decorative artist, Whitmyer brought her idea for the snowmen to the Niles Art Association, where she is president.
“Niles is starting to become a booming town,” Whitmyer said. “And I love seeing the community be involved in this project.”
Whitmyer also painted a snowman mural, which can be seen over a stretch of gate near the intersection of Front and Main streets. The roughly 5 foot tall mural was added as part of the downtown decorating as a place for families to take photos.
The downtown lampposts were also decorated with wreaths adorned with bows. The bows were a donation from The Flower Cart. The downtown area trees are also strung with lights.
“It is not work. It is fun,” Whitmyer said. “And nice to be able to have the community enjoy it with you.”