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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
SAL Commander Serves Community
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
One Nation Under God
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Syracuse BZA approves three cases By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer During the regular board meeting Thursday, Nov. 16, the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals approved three cases. Douglas Troyer went before the board to petition for a variance to allow a deck to remain at 20 feet to a right of way of Bishop Street when ordinance requires 25 feet. The property is located at 916 S. Hansing St. Troyer constructed the deck and installed a pergola over the deck. He received notice that he was in violation of the ordinance.
Since the pergola was not mentioned in the original petition, the board considered continuing the case. To avoid having to refile and repay fees, Troyer agreed to keep the pergola temporary and to take it down seasonally, about every 6 months. The board approved his petition for a variance. David Ganger went before the board to petition for an exception for the change and alteration of a nonconforming use to allow a 14-foot by 78-foot accessory addition to the business to be used for personal storage. The property is located at 215 E.
Palm Drive. As part of preparation for the board meetings, board members drive by and inspect properties that are on the agenda. While doing this, Randy Cox noticed the business owner was violating his 2012 exception conditions by storing items outside the fenced in storage area. The board was hesitant to approve Ganger’s accessory building because the building would lessen the business owner’s current storage space, possibly forcing him to store even more items outside the fenced in storage area. Continued on page2
THAT’S THE SOUND — The “Chain Gang” barbershop quartet performed prior to the lighting of the Christmas tree during last year’s Old Fashioned Christmas event. They will return to serenade the crowd at Oakwood Resort on Saturday, Nov. 25. Photo by Keith Knepp.
Chautauqua-Wawasee Old Fashioned Christmas —
A schedule of activities Old Fashioned Christmas kicks off the Christmas Season Saturday, Nov. 25, at Oakwood Resort in Syracuse. This extravagant event features Santa, 50-foot tree lighting, musical groups, caroling, live reindeer and six live characters such as Frosty, Grinch, Gingerbread Man, all done with the goal of keeping Christ in Christmas. The evening includes a reading from The Gospel of Luke at the historic chapel, live nativity and much more. Sixty volunteers and performers work to make this event the best of its kind in all of northern Indiana. Here is the schedule of activities: • 5:30-6 p.m. — Music groups sing from the stage, including Wawasee High School choir, Vo-
cal Artists of Heartland Sings and Chain Gang Sings. After 6:15 p.m., they will be strolling through the park singing carols. • 6:05 p.m. — The Grinch throws T-shirts from the stage. • 6:15 p.m. — Countdown to tree lighting. • 6:15 p.m. — Audience singalong caroling • 6:15 p.m. — Park area lighted. • 6:20 p.m. — All activities open: Santa, reindeer, wagon rides, elf reading and chapel. • 8 p.m. — All activities closed. A map will be available at the Chautauqua welcome tent, along with a glow necklace. Here’s a summary of where to go: • Map of activities — blue Chautauqua tent • Hot Chocolate — Rotary tent • S’mores — Boy Scouts by a fire pit
• Family Fun Photos — WACF tent • Kid’s holiday games — Lakeland Youth Center and Syracuse Wawasee Chamber tent • Horse wagon rides — Bonneyville Carriage in parking lot near event center • Cookies — by Chautauqua in cookie tent • Reindeer food — in Syracuse-Wawasee Museum tent • Elf reading Night Before Christmas — under Event Center veranda • Santa Claus — under Event Center veranda • Live nativity — take the path up to Historic Chapel • Reading of Biblical Christmas story from Luke — in Historic Chapel • Live reindeer — near a fire pit Continued on page 2
Syracuse Town Council tables decision on vacating alleyway By LAUREN ZEUGNER Staff Writer The Syracuse Town Council chose to table a request from Doug and Jeannine Schrock regarding an alley vacation during its regular meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 21. The council will review the matter at its Dec. 19 meeting. Local attorney Steve Snyder explained the Schrocks would like a short portion of an alley-
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way, located adjacent to two lots they recently purchased, vacated. By eliminating the public rightof-way the Schrocks would have greater setbacks for the new home they intend to build. Snyder explained by eliminating the right-of-way, the property would automatically revert to the Schrocks since the alleyway was originally platted to the lots they purchased. He noted the area is fully developed and adjacent Continued on page 2
Inside
By MARK KNECHT Chautauqua-Wawasee
THE FIRST OF SANTA’S VISITS — Santa made his first arrival in the area Saturday, Nov. 18, at North Webster’s Tree Lighting event. Santa will be in the area several more times before he makes his deliveries Christmas Eve. Among his upcoming visits will be at the Old Fashioned Christmas at Oakwood Resort Saturday, Nov. 25; the annual Breakfast with Santa at Syracuse Community Center, Dec. 2; the annual Santa Parade in Milford, Saturday, Dec. 9; the Leesburg Candelaria Saturday, Dec. 9; and the annual Breakfast with Santa at North Webster Community Center Saturday, Dec. 16. Shown above, Jade Patterson tells Santa what is on her list as he intently listens. Photo provided by Cody Patterson.
Solid waste board discusses ditch near former Syracuse recycling drop-off site By LIZ SHEPHERD Staff Writer The Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District’s board discussed a ditch near the former Syracuse recycling dropoff site during a Nov. 21 meeting. Board Member Cary Groninger asked KCSWMD Executive Director Tom Ganser if Kosciusko County Surveyor Mike Kissinger had contacted him about a ditch near the former Syracuse recycling drop-off site. Groninger said there’s a county ditch near the site, which is currently owned by the district, and Kissinger was seeking a dump location for spoil. Ganser said Kissinger had not contacted him, and Groninger said there was a possibility Kissinger found another location. If Kissinger contacts him, Ganser will reach out to Wawasee Community School Corporation to see if dumping spoil at that ditch would be a deal-breaker for the school corporation’s eventual purchase of the land. Additionally, Ganser asked the district’s board for permission to move $100,000 from the district’s checking account to its investment. Doing so would
Tree Lighting Delights Community See Page 5 See Public Notices On Page 11
bring the investment back to $1.4 million. Ganser said overall, the district’s collected volume and cash flow are staying positive. “We continue to see not only the positive trend with the landfill, but we’re better than we’ve been in the previous two years,” said Ganser. The board approved moving $100,000 to the investment and also approved a resolution to transfer $2,700 from the district’s recycling services budget
to three separate categories. This includes $600 to office supplies, $700 to meeting expenses, and $1,400 for building repairs. The board also: • Approved a salary ordinance for 2024 for the district’s employees. • Approved the board’s meeting dates for 2024. • Approved an interlocal agreement with the county auditor’s office for 2024. The board’s next meeting is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19.
November 25 5:30-8:00 pm
Oakwood Resort, Syracuse, Indiana Outdoor Family Event - Dress Warm Chautauqua-Wawasee’s Annual Event For Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma And Kids Of All Ages
Christmas Tree Lighting At 6:15 Santa, Live Nativity, Grinch, Frosty, Plus Other Characters, Chapel Reading Of The Christmas Story, Live Reindeer, Family Photobooth, Caroling And More! Musical Groups. Outdoors. Free.
Jointly sponsored by the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation and Syracuse Parks Department Free: Stay in touch at www.ChautauquaWawasee.org or our Facebook page or call 574-377-7543