"Once again, we're batting 1,000. It appears if you want rain plan a WPOA event," commented Kay Young, president of the Wawasee Property Owners Association.
 Several downpours, however, didn't dampen the annual WPOA dinner Saturday evening. The dinner was held at the Wawasee Family Fishing Area overlooking Lake Wawasee.
At the end of the meeting it was fondly dubbed "Spike Ford" night.
Ford, whose full name is Clyde Ellsworth Ford III, not only was presented a $21,000 check on behalf of the WPOA for the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails fund, but was also named the 20011 WPOA Chief award recipient.
On both occasions he was found to be at a loss of words.
"I was wondering why my kids were here without their families," stated Ford after the presentation. He had seen his daughter and son at the dinner prior to the award presentation. He admitted it was during the description of the recipient he realized it was him.
Young jokingly told Ford he had the opportunity to say a few more words. "I don't know if I can," he replied. "There's so many people that should really get this - it's a team effort, so I'm accepting this on behalf of all of you. I'm really not this way," he stated as he was speechless, asking jokingly if he had to give the check back.
"Thank you very much. It speaks for itself. I accept this on behalf of the WPOA, WACF, and all the people that since 2002 our first meeting we worked on this, the people I'm accepting this in behalf are too many to mention individually. I will thank my wife."
 Young, in announcing this year's recipient, noted his time at Wawasee dated back to the mid-1960s when the family would come to the lake to visit relatives. These visits were accompanied by his spouse, two kids, a dog, fishing gear and a sailboat. "The love for the lake and its activities grew."
The Ford family became property owners in the mid-1980s and the weekend trips were "our 'chief's' to drive while the family spent the summer here. This was the way many of us grew up at the lake, mom and kids here, dad taking care of things at home and work."
In the mid-1990s, the move to the lake was permanent, the home remodeled and retirement was ahead. The home and Wawasee "became a multi-generational experience for the entire family."
Young noted with more "time here our chief became active in the neighborhood association where they lived, serving as its president for several years and also had an idea to benefit the area with a more inviting environment for walking, jogging and cycling, making exercise safer and more convenient for the lake are and the town of Syracuse.
"With the 'chief's' affinity for construction the work sites personally attract him like a magnet I am told. Thankfully he has not kept track of the number of hours spent on the trails project as I am sure it would number into the thousands of hours spent to make this project a reality and benefit to the community ."
Young concluded Ford is "a true example of going above and beyond the call to improve the lake area that he loves so much."
The award is annually presented to a person or persons that have gone above the call of duty in relation to the lake, WPOA and the surrounding area. Past recipients include Rookstools Pier Shop, Sudlows Pier Company, Dave Leichtenour, Senator Robert Meeks, Mike Kiley and Dick Ruddle.
TRANQUILITY — The harp music provided by Sarah Wall, Roanoke, at the annual Wawasee Property Owners Association dinner Saturday provided a sense of tranquility at the evening’s sunset dinner. Lake Wawasee was her backdrop as she played a variety of easy listening dining music, only to stop a few times as the rain drowned out the music. Fitting however, was the playing of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” as it was raining. But no rainbow was seen.
Wall was the recipient and winner of Young Artist Competition, has performed with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, won a scholarship to attend Interlochen National Music Camp and is an accomplished musician. She is also a registered nurse at Dupont Hospital, mother of three sons and a grandmother. |
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Check Presented
Earlier in the evening Young presented the proceeds from the annual home tour and artist series to Ford.
She noted the house tour, despite the rain, was a huge success with 500 participants and the current painting, the third in the artist series, has sold more to date than the previous paintings.
This year's featured painting shows the railroad bridge as one comes from Wawasee Lake and enter Syracuse Lake titled "Connections" painted by Susie Brandes. The third in the series is popular with residents of both lakes. "Conklin Bay" and "Regatta" as well as "Connections" are available to purchase at The Water Lilly Gallery, Syracuse.
Brief Meeting
A brief meeting was held that included the re-election of four directors: Steve Snyder, Ann Bonifas, Garth McClain and Dan Morris.
Dick Tillman expressed appreciation to those residents who have put rocks in front of seawalls helping with wave action and quality of water on the lake.
It was announced the 20th anniversary of the WACF will be celebrated at its annual meeting 8 a.m. Aug. 20, at the educational center on SR 13.
One member requested to know the progress on Oakwood property. Young noted the town has annexed Oakwood Park, Buckingham group is putting together a plan and would be going before the board of zoning. It was also noted a liquor license was granted for the hotel.
Ron Baumgartner, who frequently uses the trails, noted there are trash cans along the trail in the Chinese Gardens area and while he has been waiting to get sprayed with mace, has stopped other users and asked to help keep the trail clean and pick up the trash when seen. Referring to the technology of cameras at stoplights, he jokingly suggested WPOA look into some type of alarm be installed to go off when a can hits the pavement.
The conclusion of the meeting was a comical and theatrical presentation by Sally Gindling of the events leading up to the fireworks display July 2.
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