By Mandy McFarland Editor
NAPPANEE — Seven months after a tornado cut a path of destruction through a large section of town, Nappanee is back and again ready for business.
Next Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24, the city will celebrate with a concert and ribbon cutting.
According to event coordinators, the idea is to get the word out that Nappanee is returning to normal and most of the damage is gone.

“There have been so many negatives that have been talked about,” Liz Mullett, owner of Liz’s Furniture downtown, said. “I’m tired of people telling me we’re dead in the water. Nappanee is open for business and we are celebrating big time.”
Friday’s festivities will include a concert by Nappanee native Caleb Shaw at 7:30 p.m. at Dal-mar Banquet Hall. A 2003 graduate of NorthWood High School, Shaw earned his B.A. in music and vocal performance from Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles, Calif. He has made his mark in the music world, successfully auditioning for American Idol, has toured the world and plans to perform this summer at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, among numerous other accomplishments.
There will be a prize drawing every 15 to 20 minutes from favorite Nappanee retailers.
Ron Bedward will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
Proceeds from concert tickets and drawing entries will go back into Nappanee.
Each time someone buys a cup of coffee or a brownie, that person receives four tickets for the prize drawing of more than 100 door prizes.
“We’re really getting great support from the retail committee,” Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce and Redevelopment Executive Director Larry Andrews said.
The purchase of a banana split made by mayor Larry Thompson will earn five tickets toward a separate drawing for a grandfather clock.
Saturday will mark the grand opening of the downtown area. Activities will begin at 8 am. and last through the morning. Mayor Larry Thompson will read a proclamation and there will be an official ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. to formally introduce the downtown streetscape and building facades.
Nappanee’s two quilt gardens and four quilt murals for the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau quilt garden tour will also be unveiled.
The ribbon cutting was originally scheduled for last October, shortly after the downtown improvement project was completed. However, following the tornado officials decided to wait until the city was back on its feet.
Andrews and Mullett look forward to celebrating Nappanee’s future and its heritage.
“If you want furniture, you want fine craftsmanship, this is the community to come to,” Andrews said.