SIDNEY — The Sidney Downtown Business Association, along with the Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, is finalizing plans for the Annual Winter Wonderland Lighting Rally and Parade. A tree lighting ceremony will begin on the east side of the courtsquare at 6:30 p.m. The parade will follow at 7:30 p.m. The parade route will start on Main Avenue at Water Street and continue north to North Street, then west to Ohio Avenue and south to South Street.

The Winter Wonderland Parade will have a reoccurring them of “Parade of Lights.” Each unit in the nighttime parade will be decked out in beautiful lights for the enjoyment of all ages.

The parade’s grand marshal is Kathy Lindsey, who has been an active community member since she was a Sidney High School student. In 1980, Lindsey became the first director of New Choices, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. She went on to serve in other human service organizations such as taking the lead with the Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) program with the Shelby County Juvenile Court. L

Lindsey was also the first director for Shelby County Victim Services. In 2012, she returned to New Choices and remains there today. Her knowledge in designing human service programs as well as securing funding for those programs is unmatched. Her drive to assist the victims of crime and their survivors has made her an invaluable citizen in our community.

Shelby County is peppered with many individuals who call Lindsey an advocate, adviser, confidant, crusader and friend. Lindsey has influenced the directors, coworkers and community she has worked with to fight for what is right and good in this world. She will be retiring in early 2017.