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Special events requests herald busy spring, summer in city
With a chill in the air and snow still on the ground, some warmer pursuits got attention from the Greencastle City Council at its February meeting.
Nine very seasonal requests for street closures and/or noise ordinance variances got the Council thinking about warmer -- and brighter -- days ahead.
“We’ve got a marathon of street closures and noise variance requests,” Mayor Bill Dory said at the outset of the meeting.
Council President Mark Hammer concurred.
“These are all really great,” he said, “because it’s about spring and summer and better weather and being outside. It’s great.”
Petitioner Gail Smith agreed as well, noting that her Sham Rock 5K, set for Saturday, March 5 is “another thing that keeps people outside and fosters good health.”
The Sham Rock 5K was the first of nine requests approved unanimously by the Council. In brief, the approvals were for:
-- Sham Rock 5K: Saturday, March 5, street closures of Franklin and Indiana streets in downtown Greencastle, along with rolling closures through the DePauw campus as the run moves through it. Event goal is to raise funds to help put on the annual Greencastle Music Fest. Run is at 10 a.m. with the street closures 6 a.m.-noon.
-- Greencastle Music Fest: Friday, Aug. 26 and Saturday, Aug. 27, noise waiver to allow music until 11 p.m. and street closures from 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 through 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 28 on Franklin Street (Jackson to Vine) and Indiana Street (Washington to Columbia).
-- First Friday: 4-11 p.m. Street closures and noise waiver requests from Main Street Greencastle Executive Director Mike Richmond for “the same event we’re all used to” on Fridays, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 2 and Oct. 7. Street closures will allow for three bands, one on the north side of the courthouse, a second at the end of Indiana Street where it meets Walnut Street and a third at Vine and Franklin in front of Wasser Brewing remains a possibility.
-- DePauw University commencement: “Just one (commencement) this year,” DePauw spokesman Rob Harper joked in the aftermath of the Covid-induced commencement doubleheader last year. Street closure request is for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 22 and 10 to 11 a.m. for short practice on Friday, May 20. Hanna Street will be closed from Locust to College and Simpson Street closed at Locust.
-- DePauw University Alumni Weekends: Noise waiver requests. Two reunions to be held this year -- June 2-5 and June 10-12. The first reunion will be for the 30-year classes “and more seasoned alumni,” Wendy Wippich of the DPU Office of Alumni Engagement noted, while the second date is for 25th anniversary and younger alumni group.
-- Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-noon street closures (Indiana and Franklin streets on their respective sides of the square). Market to begin Saturday, May 4 and continue Saturday mornings through Oct. 1, depending upon available produce.
-- Second Saturday: 6-11 p.m. May 14-Oct. 8 street closure request for the family friendly event sponsored by Greencastle Presbyterian Church and Big Bounce Fun House. It is confined to Indiana Street between Washington and Walnut. Approved with the one qualification that if DePauw Alumni Weekend closes down Indiana Street on June 11 (there are no current plans to do so), Second Saturday would move to another location or be held a week later.
Handling the many and varied requests seemed like a labor of love for City Council members, who were quick to praise the activities and persons in charge of them and even needle the petitioners on occasion.
Explaining the run on street closure and noise waiver requests, Mayor Dory said his staff contacted officials from annual events that routinely seek approvals “to get them done early this year.”
Concerning First Friday, Main Street has “bounced around the idea of pushing back and not starting until May this year,” Freeman said, promising to keep the Council posted on that possibility even though the popular event is approved for April 1.
Councilman Cody Eckert said if Main Street doesn’t hold First Friday on April 1, “it could be the epic April Fool’s prank.”
Thinking about her annual Music Fest, Smith told the Council, “We’re doing the same as we’ve done in the past. It’s a pretty well-oiled machine. It kind of sounds a long ways away but it’ll be here before you know it.”
Asked by Councilor Veronica Pejril if the Louisville Crashers, an acclaimed cover band that has played Music Fest to great response about the past five years, would be returning this year, Smith said yes.
Pejril quickly responded with, “Therefore I move to approve both requests.”
The City Council will next meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 at City Hall.
Pejril, Eckert, Hammer, Murray and Stacie Langdon were present for the February meeting. Councilman Adam Cohen was absent. A seventh Council seat remains open following the recent resignation of Jacob Widner.