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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana Wednesday, May 24, 2023
griffith’s wawasee marina Family Owned Since 1946
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(260) 856-2286
9171 E. Ross Drive, SYRACUSE
themail-journal.com
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Milford Family Fun Fest will be May 27 %\ 3+2(%( 087+$57 6WDII :ULWHU The 2023 Milford Family Fun Fest is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 27, on Main Street. This community event is a long-standing tradition that brings entertainment to family and friends from around the Milford area year after year. Milford Family Fun Fest embodies the town motto, “Nice People. Nice Town.” The event will feature a wide variety of vendors, food stands and live entertainment. Sponsored carnival rides are provided at no cost to attendees. The festival is sponsored by Milford Lions Club. Entertainment will be occurring all day. John Gaut will perform from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Country with Q plays from 1-2 p.m., followed by Spaniels Forever from 2-4 p.m. The crowning of the Senior
King and Queen will be at 2:45 p.m. Quentin Flagg will perform from 4-6 p.m. Big Daddy Dupree Band plays from 6-9 p.m. The cutie contest is at 10 a.m. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The Friends of the Library book sale is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Milford Public Library. The Masonic Lodge No. 418 will host a classic car cruise-in from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free carnival rides will be from noon to 8 p.m. The free rides are sponsored by local area businesses. Ribeye sandwiches will be at the Milford Fire Station from 11 a.m. until sold out; drive-thru only and freewill donations will be accepted. The Milford Kiwanis Club will host a pancake and sausage breakfast from 7-10 a.m. at the community building with proceeds benefiting the KiContinued on page 2
10 additional day care openings approved in Syracuse %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI A day care, operating in an unoccupied home, received approval at the Thursday, May 18, meeting of the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals to open up 10 additional spaces. Leticia Howell, who operates a day care at 700 S. Syracuse-Webster Road, received approval from the board to increase the maximum number of children from 16 to 26. Howell has received state permits/licenses for a second day care at that location. The request was unanimously approved by the local board. Matt Sandy, county plan director, explained in 2021 zoning requirements were amended to allow nonoccupied home day care. This opened the door for day cares to be in a commercial or residential area. However, there are stringent criteria. Locally the ordinance stated no more than 16
children would be allowed in such situations. “There’s no doubt day care is needed,” Sandy stated. However, he stated the state statute has different criteria that allow expansion either by space or the number of children if a separate dwelling is created. Howell is in the process of adding a separate dwelling space. Steve Snyder, the attorney representing Howell, stated the number one concern is protection of children. What Howell is doing is adding a fire wall between the main portion of the home and the garage, creating two separate dwellings. The day care originally started in the garage and through remodeling there is now adequate space for 10 additional children. The home portion of the house will house 16 children, while the converted garage will hold 10. This meets the state statute. Snyder addressed all concerns to zoning board members. Letters of support were provided by area businesses and an offer by Wawasee Heights Baptist Church for the three employees to use the church parking lot. He also stated Howell has a degree in early childhood development and “knows what needs to be done. This is a significant asset.” Board members sought clarification on several issues, such as whether the child-to-adult ratio was being met, whether the number of children could continue to increase, which doors would be used for entrance, the ages of children and overall questions regarding day care requirements in Continued on page 2
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2023 American Legion 223 cruise-in set for Friday, May 26 Syracuse American Legion Post 223 is set to host their annual cruise-in from 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 26, at 1008 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome at the event. This is a family event with food, music and plenty of fun festivities. Last year, more than 30 automobiles and a motorcycle were displayed in the post’s parking lot. During the 2022 cruise-in, the flattop griddle raffle sold exactly 100 tickets at $5 each, and Legion volunteers grilled up and sold 40 hamburgers and 40 hot dogs to add to the fundraising efforts. American Legion Riders Director Chad Berkeypile discussed this year’s cruise-in. “There will be cornhole. There will be music, mostly ‘50s and ‘60s music like the Beach Boys, etc. There is no charge for any visitors or cars. The public is welcome. Kids are welcome, but they can’t go inside. We’ll have an outdoor Continued on page 2
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County Parks board approves master plan resolution %\ '$9,' 6/21( 7LPHV 8QLRQ After wrapping up the final actions needed to take on the parks master plan Thursday, May 18, the Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board moved on to discussions about a request for proposals for a trails and blueways master plan.
Board Vice President Troy Turley reported they received notification that the parks master plan had been reviewed and approved by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on April 28. “That’s a big step for our group,” he said. Board member Mike Cusick said, “I think it’s great. I com-
mend the board and the committee that helped us to do it. And, certainly, Donny (Ritsema) from MACOG (Michiana Area Council of Governments), who helped hold our hands through the entire process to get us where we got.” He said the master plan has created a lot of priorities and goals so the board has some ac-
tion items ahead of them to get completed. Aggie Sweeney, board member, said she was really pleased with how it went. Board President Rob Bishop and Secretary Matt Metzger were unable to attend Thursday’s meeting. Turley then brought up the Continued on page 2
Memorial Day celebrations in the area The communities of Milford, North Webster and Syracuse will be celebrating Memorial Day with parades and ceremonies. Below are the details for each community’s celebration. Milford Milford will host its annual Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 29. Lineup will begin at 9 a.m. with the parade stepping off at 10 a.m. sharp. This year, organizers hope to have 200 entries. A ceremony will be held afterward in Milford Cemetery. North Webster The North Webster Community Center will host a Run for
a Veteran 5K run/walk Saturday, May 27. Registration is at runsignup.com/Race/IN/NorthWebster/NWCCVeteRUNandWalkMemorialDay5k and closes Friday, May 26. Registration fees are $30 for both youth and adult participants. American Legion Post 253 will provide an honor guard at 8 a.m. prior to the start of the race. There will be a poppy table at the race to raise money for veterans. “Taps Across Webster Lake” will be held at 6:15 p.m. Sunday, May 28, at North Webster Town Park. Over 30 buglers
participated last year. There will be a gun volley to signal the buglers for the playing of “Taps.” A free community picnic and live patriotic music will follow. The American Legion’s honor guard will hold Memorial Day ceremonies at 8 a.m. at Oswego Cemetery; 8:30 a.m. at Thorn Cemetery; 9 a.m. at Salem Cemetery; 9:30 a.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery; 10 a.m. at Mock Cemetery and 10:30 a.m. at Post 253. A parade will be held at 10:45 a.m. Monday, May 29, with a ceremony in North Webster
Cemetery. A flag raising will be held at noon at the post. Syracuse Syracuse will have a Memorial Day Parade at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 29. The parade will step off at Medusa Street and travel north on SR 13 turning onto Main Street and ending at Syracuse Cemetery where a brief ceremony will be held. During the ceremony, Pastor Pat Park from Wawasee Baptist Church will give the opening and closing prayer while Town Manager Dave Wilkinson will be the featured speaker.
Indiana’s Largest Marina 6521 E. Cornelius Road Syracuse, IN 46567 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 am-5 pm Closed Sunday
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