The 32nd running of the Flotilla Road Race at Lakeside Park brought a record number of participants to the streets of Syracuse. This year, 452 participants registered and trumped the 2008 record of 405 registrants.
Winning the 3.3-mile race overall was Elias Rojas of Ligonier at 16:50, with Clint Phares in second place at 18:16 and Jon Bontrager third at 18:43. Brian Shepherd was the 3.3 male masters winner at 18:30.

The overall 3.3-mile female winner was Alexis Gernhardt of Los Angeles at 22:20, followed closely by Sally Thompson at 22:27 and Kasy Crook in third at 22:52. Sarah Berlin-Moore was the 3.3 female masters winner at 25:02.

The overall eight-mile winner was Matt Blume of Fort Wayne, cruising in at 41:34, with Tim Davis in second place at 44:47 and Wes Kuhn third at 44:49. Chuck Schlemmer was the eight-mile male masters winner at 49:03.

Karissa Kominator of Middlebury defended her eight-mile title with a 54:38 win in the womens division. Melanie Mickley was second at 56:27 and Gina Gray was third at 56:36. Jenny Isenbarger also repeated as the eight-mile female masters winner at 64:59.

The fun walk was won by Angie Ellis of Middlebury for the third year in a row.

WAWASEE PROPERTY Owners Association scholarship fund for Wawasee High School students was the recipient of this lakeside lemonade stand’s earnings over the weekend. These cutie patooties are, from left, Anna Wright, Sydney Ewing, Alex Wolfe and Olivia Wright. They are grandchildren of John and Gayle Bloom, Pier 343 condos and Fort Wayne. Too adorable.

While speaking of WPOA, the second annual home tour July 18 is sold out. Six homes in the Cedar Point, Waveland Beach and Morrison Island areas will be open. Those lucky enough to have one of the 400 tickets will travel by boat between them. Last year was the first for this fundraiser for WPOA, which is open to the public. It seems to be a great success.

Syracuse resident Ted Rogers restarted the Flotilla Parade in the 1970s after a New Year's Eve fire left the parade without a sponsor in 1972.

Rogers moved to Syracuse from Huntington in 1971, and shortly after he joined chamber of commerce. At his first meeting the chamber members asked him if he had any ideas about things to happening in town as a newcomer. Rogers mentioned that he liked the Flotilla parade, and would like to see it restarted.

And they said, "well that's a great idea Rogers, why don't you just do it?" he said with a laugh.

Rogers rounded up a dozen of his friends and started the present day Flotilla committee. To this day, it is a stand alone committee that is not affiliated with any other organization.

At one of the first meetings, the committee thought the Flotilla should have some kind of a mascot. After no suggestions, the issue was tabled until the next meeting. At the next, Jo Graver unrolled a piece of paper that had a had a full scale drawing of a red, white and blue seal.

I said, "Jo, what in the world is that?" And she said "it's a seal," and I said "yeah I can see that, but we don't have any seals on Lake Wawasee,"Rogers explained.

She said "no, but seals like water and we"ve got plenty of water. We"ll call him Wawa-seal." And I said "that's the dumbest idea I've ever heard of."

It was put to a vote, which ended up as a favored 13-1, with Rogers being the only dissenting vote. So the committee began to work on the seals; they got some plywood and cut out around one dozen and began the process of painting them five different colors.

"So we'd paint a while, and then come in and drink a while while the paint dried," Rogers said with a laugh. "I think that first batch took a gallon of paint and about five gallons of booze."

Many of the Wawa-seals are still in use today, 35 years later.

The parade was back in session in 1974. Before the Flotilla was restarted, the parade had always been on Father's Day. However, because the holiday was still in the rainy season, the committee decided to move the parade to the fourth of July weekend, and it has been held on the new holiday weekend ever since. However, this year it was moved up to the 11th of July, so that those who are interested in being involved have time to make a float.

"One of the complaints they had recently was that on the fourth of July weekend, a lot of people had family here and they wanted to spend time with their relatives and their friends, and didn't have time to make a float," Rogers said. "So this year they moved it a week later, thinking that people would have time to build a float if it was not on the fourth of July weekend."

Back when the Flotilla was restarted, the new committee also promised the chamber that they wouldn't raise money by soliciting the merchants for donations. They would raise money some other way, and have done just that through casino nights, bingo, various other ways to finance the Flotilla.

According to Rogers, the committee has tried to hold other attractions in addition to the Flotilla parade throughout the years, such as fly overs by the Air National Guard, a parachute drop into the lake by troops from the South Bend Reserve, and an air sea rescue demonstration.

The purpose of the Flotilla is to have fun, Rogers said. He has seen many outstanding floats over the years; some people spend a lot of time, money and effort on their floats, while others are simple. According to Rogers, it takes about two hours to go around Lake Wawasee at 10 mph, and thousands of people are spread out on the lawns and piers to see the different floats.

This year, Rogers will have 10 or 12 National Guard men from the Warsaw Unit who just got back from Iraq on his float. He made a sign for the side of the boat, and sent a letter to the Warsaw National Guard Unit to see if any of the Guardsmen would like to participate.

Rogers retired from the Flotilla Committee after 21 years. According to Rogers, "for any organization like that to endure, you have to bring in younger people periodically." Now there are people running the Flotilla who are one or two generations younger than Rogers, and he is extremely glad to see that happening.

Wawasee Boat Company is celebrating its 80th year in business on Lake Wawasee.

It was founded in 1929, at the beginning of the depression by Ken Harkless and has grown to be one of Indiana's oldest and largest marinas. Harkless came from a mechanical family that had a machine shop on Lake Syracuse at the base of Main Street next to the park. Other Harkless relatives were instrumental in producing the Meier automobile, one of which is currently on exhibit in the Syracuse museum at the community center.
In 1929, a developer on Lake Wawasee had dredged a channel off of the north shoreline to create a small development for cottages. When the Great Depression hit, these lots could not be sold. Harkless purchased them to start a marina. His first building still exists; it is called "Main" and is the arched building just as one enters the Wawasee Boat Company facility. It is unique and has a specially arched steel roof that not only supports the roof, but also allows for a large monorail hoist to pull boats out of the lake.

In the early years, Harkless operated everything out of this one building with an office in the corner, storage for 10 or 20 boats on one side, and an area to exhibit new boats on the other. An area was also set aside for mechanical work. Wooden boats dominated in the 1930s and 1940s and on into the mid 1960s when fiberglass boats became popular.

Harkless would not recognize the boats Wawasee Boat Company sells now. These include Nautique by Correct Craft and pontoons by JC Mfg. The growth in horsepower and features on the boats would be almost incomprehensible to him. Yamaha WaveRunners, which are also sold by the boat company, were not even on the horizon at that time.

Harkless owned and operated the business with his wife, Lela, for 39 years. In the 1940s and 1950s, Lela operated an attractive store on the premises specializing in unique gifts. The business was sold with Ken and Lela's retirement in 1968, and had two interim owners until 1977 when Doug, Carolyn and Russell Anderson purchased it. The Anderson family has run it for 32 years. Doug had come to the lake since the age of 3, staying at the family home, which was bought in 1897. Carolyn and Russell adapted quickly to lake life and they moved from their home in the western suburbs of Chicago in Wayne, Ill., in 1977. Doug and Carolyn both taught as professors at Northern Illinois University. Doug also had a consulting business, which he started after graduating from the Harvard Business School in 1967.

Wawasee Boat Company now comprises 25 acres and 21 buildings. There are large storage facilities for boats, three large service shops and two large indoor showrooms; as well as five certified mechanics who staff the service department. Andy Wysong and Dave Haessig are the sales team.

Wawasee Boat Company is pleased to be an important part of the Lake Wawasee community for the last 80 years. It continues to grow and expand its operations to provide quality sales and service for the customers of Lake Wawasee and the surrounding lakes.

The 10th annual Kosciusko County Master Gardeners Garden Walk "Down the Garden Path" was a success with all 600 tickets sold.

Held June 27, it featured nine area gardens. This year the part of the county featured was the northeast, particularly gardens at Lake Wawasee, Syracuse, near North Webster and on Sechrist Lake.

The evening before, hosts and hostesses, sponsors and workers and guests were feted at a catered dinner at the Syracuse Community Center where the hosts received gifts made by Judy Marquart, master gardener and Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club member. Guests were welcomed by master gardener chairmen, Trudy Hall and Becky Lambert.

After the dinner, a twilight tour of the three Lilly estate gardens was taken. All the homes there are owned by descendants of the family who founded Eli Lilly Drug Co., Indianapolis.

The next day, tickets were already running low by lunchtime at the tent in front of Wawasee Cafe, Syracuse. Those arriving at the Lilly estate parked in an area next to Wawasee Golf Course and were bussed to Cedar Beach, the original Col. Eli Lilly"s home which now belongs to Ted and Deb Lilly. After being shown the new gardens there, guests were escorted by docents who were masters gardeners or members of the local garden club to the Peter and Ginny Nicholas gardens.

Last were those of Bill and Irene McCutcheon. The original part of the McCutcheon home was the gift and tea shop for the Sargeant Hotel. The Lilly family purchased the property when the hotel closed. The McCutcheons have maintained and expanded the gardens built to enhance a pavilion.

Visitors returned to their vehicles and continued on to the gardens of Dr. George and Peggy Rapp on Waco Drive which featured colorful and well-thought out beds, as did two gardens down the street belonging to Frank and Catherine Hoffman.

Then it was off to rural North Webster where mother and daughter team Norma Roose and Sue Guy tend three acres called Serenity Garden. It presented paths, rooms and open spaces with a wide variety of blooms.
Becky and Stewart Lambert's garden encompassed many types of ideas and plantings overlooking the lake. A water feature was set off by hundreds of caladiums.

Funds raised by the tour will go toward educating the public through the Purdue Extension Master Gardeners program, the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club community projects and the Syracuse-Wawasee trail system, the designated recipient of the Wawasee Property Owners Association.

Next year's tour will feature a different part of Kosciusko County.

The Wawasee Family Fishing Area lost three large trees along Hatchery Road as well as branches from younger trees at the boat launch. Numerous boat lifts were also moved about with several still reportedly missing.

The photo above was taken at 9744 N Koher Road East, Syracuse, at the home of Calvin and Denise Yoder. Not only did the tree damage a corner of their home and the garage, but a red PT Cruiser is faintly seen under the large tree branch. It was not believed there was damage to the truck.

There was a lot to discuss for the members of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee Tuesday night.
Jack Arnott, a new member to the committee, said he has heard some opposition to having sidewalks installed along North Shore and East Shore due to concerns about drainage and landscaping. Another complaint he has heard is about grant money not being used for those sections of trail, instead residents were asked to help pay for it. He said he even heard complaints about residents on the lake side of the streets being asked, and their neighbors across the street not being asked.

"Any objection by property owners is valid and needs to be brought fourth," said Spike Ford, committee chair.
Ford reported several property owners on the off-lake side of the road expressed interest in participating in the project and others in the North Shore/East Shore corridor offered to pay to have sidewalk installed in areas that are vacant. Ford added unless a committee member wants to be the segment manager, the matter was a moot point.

Tom Knopp, a member of the trail committee and Syracuse Lake Association, said a lot of property owners in the area cooperated and put trail down in front of their home.

Mike Buhrt suggested approaching property owners on East Shore and North Shore and offering a refund to them as money comes in. Donn Baird, treasurer, pointed out if that was done, homeowners would have to be warned they would have a tax issue if they used the cost of the sidewalk as charitable giving on their taxes.
There was also discussion regarding the SR 13 segment. Dave Brandes, segment manager, explained the Wawasee Area Conservation Foundation is willing to allow a closed loop trail be laid on its property. The trail would essentially be boardwalk and grade and resemble the Peter Nicholas trail on Eli Lilly Road.

The trail on WACF property would have an overlook; two locations have already been selected. Brandes explained once the trail is put down, it will be easier to go to the Indiana Department of Transportation and discuss funding a shorter segment down by Harkless, or about getting permission to come into the right of way.

The problem now is INDOT requires a tremendous amount of room for separation and extension of the grade.
Baird asked who would grant permission for the boardwalk on WACF property. Brandes said Department of Natural Resources and Indiana Department of Environmental Management would have to grant permission.
Brandes presented an offer from A-Z Engineering to do a engineering feasibility study, which would cost between $16,000 and $19,900, on the proposed SR 13 segment. Ford pointed out the committee needs to determine where the next segment of trail is going to go. The committee has the funds for the study.
John Dalton pointed out there would be lots of visibility in that area if the trail was installed. Kim Mundy pointed out the area is currently too dangerous for bike riders and pedestrians as it is now.

Dalton asked if the committee received a lot of contributions from the South Shore area. Ford said he would have to look back at the demographics, but said there has been lots of interest from people living in that area.

After some more discussion about whether the committee should interview other engineering firms or go with A-Z Engineering, the committee moved to spend no more than $20,000 on the engineering study.
In the public relations report, Ralph Smith reported he has a contact at the governor's office who says DNR grant money is available for trails. He also reported John Kellogg called asking if the committee was still taking matching funds for the Lilly grant. He was told no, but matching dollars were being sought for the Laudeman's most recent gift.

Ford reported there are several fundraising events coming up that will benefit the trails committee. The first is the 10th annual Kosciusko County Master Gardeners Down the Garden Path Garden Tour which will be held this Saturday. Dalton reported tickets are still available for the event. The other event is the WPOA annual home tour which will be held on July 18. Ford recommended proceeds from both events be put into a separate account for maintenance of the trails.

Brandes told the committee that was one of the issues he ran into when he made a presentation for an INDOT grant last fall. Smith asked if the committee had the means to keep the trails swept and suggested purchasing a tractor with a sweeper.

Ford said he would rather see someone from the committee go to service clubs with an adopt-a-trail idea and have volunteers clean up the trails once or twice a year. Brandes suggested approaching neighborhood associations with a similar idea.

Ford reported the connection of the high school segment is stalled because paperwork from Parker Hannifin is still sitting on an attorney's desk.

The meeting wrapped up with Ford suggesting moving the trail out from under the Syracuse Park Foundation and going to the Syracuse Park board. Knopp, who serves as an advisor on the park board, pointed out the park board covers only the town limits.

The Artisans and Farmers Market in Syracuse is a new idea but one that has really taken off.

"It's been well received," said parks superintendent Chad Jonsson. "I think we hit it at the right time."

The market opened May 16, and each Saturday, the market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everything sold is either home grown or handmade. The market is located at the Veteran Memorial at Crosson Mill Park just off SR 13.

The market is a project of the Syracuse Parks Department, the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, and Creative Fish Art Gallery and Workshop.

"Area artists, crafters, and gardeners have the opportunity to display and sell their wares right in the center of Syracuse on the main drag," said Jonsson.

Added chamber director Tammy Cotton: "The construction of the new pavilion with restrooms and the playground made this a perfect location. It also has great visibility being right on SR 13."

Currently, the market vendors are selling mostly artisan-type items. But once gardens start producing fruits and vegetables those will be available, too, said Jonsson. Currently, 13 vendors, on average, have set up space at the market but there is room for up to 30 vendors who sell a variety of wares. "We have a little bit of everything," Jonsson said.

Food concessions are also available for sale by various community groups.

The "casual neighborhood gardener" area is where gardeners can bring a chair, their produce, plant starts or seeds, visit and share the bounty of their gardens. "It's a spot to get rid of stuff they can't give away," said Jonsson.

Depending on the weather, the market is expected to stay open by mid-October.

The deadline to reserve a spot at the market is by 4 p.m. the Friday before the Saturday market. The cost for a spot is $10. Non-profit organizations wishing to operate a food concession stand may call the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce at (574) 457-5637; the cost is $5 to be a food vendor.
For more information, call the parks department at (574) 457-3440.

On the day of the walk, June 27, tickets may be purchased at the Wawasee Cafe, SR 13, Wawasee Village, Syracuse. There will be a tent out front to purchase tickets.

An order form for tickets is also available on the Web site. Be sure to purchase tickets early because there are a limited number.

A guided tour has been arranged at the Lilly Estate Gardens, so be sure to refer to your ticket for further information and tips for a successful garden walk. The tickets also provide detailed driving directions, descriptions, and garden photos. All gardens will feature master gardener or garden club docents who will provide participants with pertinent information.

Proceeds from the garden walk are used to educate the community on "best practice" gardening techniques as well as to benefit the community organizations involved.

For more information, please contact the Kosciusko County Extension office (574) 372-2340 or (574) 457-5757 and ask for the Purdue office or go online, www.extension.purdue.edu/kosciusko and go to the Master Gardener page.

This summer, the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Public Library is celebrating its 100th birthday with activities and festivities.

As part of the centennial celebration, a speakers series is being offered free to the public each Saturday afternoon in June. Each week a new speaker will share his or her knowledge of the Syracuse area history.

On Saturday, June 13, at 3:30 p.m., Ron Sharp, a local historian, will be leading a walking tour of uptown Syracuse. He will explain the history of the area. Sharp is an expert on Syracuse history and is the author of the History of Syracuse book series available for purchase at the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum.

Come find out what stories and secrets uptown holds. This tour will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes, and will depart at 3:30 p.m. from the downstairs meeting room at the library. Please wear comfortable shoes.

The next speaker will be Erin Lomax, reader's services coordinator for library, at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20, during the Centennial open house. She will be presenting the history of the Syracuse Library, how it transformed from a small library in the basement of a high school into today's library. Immediately after the presentation, a time capsule will be sealed. It is to be placed in the foyer and to be opened June 20, 2109.

Those with items they would like to be placed in the time capsule - such as letters, old cell phones, photographs or anything typical of life in the 21st century - drop it by the library and it will be put in the capsule. More information can be found in the next edition of The Mail-Journal or call the library at (574) 457-3022.

Also during the open house June 20, the library will be displaying historical documents, giving away free Colorado blue spruce saplings and showing a continuous slide show presentation of historical photographs. Enjoy delectable free food and drinks and talk with other patrons about memories of the library.

It’s the preliminary plat petition that doesn’t seem to ever go away. For the fourth month in a row, the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission considered The Lodge petition, the latest time at its June 3 regular monthly meeting in Warsaw. And no final decision was reached last week, so the petition will be considered yet again at the July 1 meeting.

The Lodge is a proposed housing subdivision, 13 lots total, on the south side of Crow Road at the intersection with Cedar Point Low Road at Lake Wawasee. The property is owned by the Mavis family.

Last week’s petition included another revised plat, this time with a 50-foot road right of way and updated restrictive covenants. At previous meetings, members of the APC had objected to the previous right of way proposal, which they said did not meet the county standards.

Attorney Richard Helm represented the petitioners. He said comments made by those objecting to the subdivision that building houses would change the level of the water in the lake are simply not true. “It is still the same amount of rain,” he said.

Helm also noted it has not been proven homes can’t be built on the type of soils present on the property and some of the property is not under a floodplain as has been stated by remonstrators. “Homes can be built with the right engineering,” he said.

Ken Miller, an engineer with Wightman-Petrie, gave testimony before the APC. “The soils are all suitable for construction of residences and also property development,” he said, citing extensive testing including soil boring.

But several are objecting to the proposal and essentially offered the same concerns as in previous meetings. Steve Snyder, an attorney representing a group of remonstrators, said the wetlands on the property are “not being protected and are being used by the developers.”

He questioned one of the restrictions in the covenant, saying it does not really protect the wetlands and gives no one but the property owners authority to do so.

“Some of the wetlands will be filled actually,” Snyder said. “There is no surface water retention, it is being dumped into the wetlands instead,” citing two of the lots in particular.

As he had in the past, Snyder stated some of the homes would be built in a floodplain, creating limitations on the lots. “This is not good ground to build on,” he said. “There is muck, it is too low and it is in a floodplain.”
Other remonstrators included Clyde Ford and Dave Speakman, who live nearby. Ford expressed concern about how the development would affect the navigability of a nearby channel, while Speakman wondered how many developments the APC has ever approved with so many questions involved.

In rebuttal, Helm said swails will take care of the drainage and it is legal to use wetlands for drainage. He said property owners should be responsible for their own lots, as well as the builders of those lots. And he questioned Snyder’s comments about the engineering involved, saying Snyder is not an engineer and is not qualified to make such statements.

“There are houses nearby built on the same soil types and they are not falling down,” Helm noted.
Each of the seven APC members offered comments when talking amongst themselves after the hearing was closed to public comment. Bob Conley said the ground is simply not good to build on. Tony Etienne said he is originally from southern Indiana and saw many structures built over rivers or water. He wondered why the same thing can’t be done at the lake, though the builders and property owners must understand risks are involved.

Dick Kemper said he didn’t feel the board would be exercising good judgement if it approved the petition. Chuck Haffner said the developers have done everything they were asked to and know the risks. Kevin McSherry said he could see both sides, noting the property could be an asset to the county but the road could be a liability.

And Larry Coplen said he would much rather see houses built on marginal ground and to use the good soils for farming.

Ultimately, the APC voted to approve the petition 4-3, but five votes are needed to approve or disapprove a motion because nine seats constitute the board. Two of the members were not present. Charlene Knispel was absent and Norm Lovell is no longer serving on the board and his seat has not been filled yet. Another motion was made to continue the petition until July, which passed 5-2.

In another agenda item, the APC voted unanimously to recommend approval of a rezoning petition presented by a Church of God in Seward Township. The 1.19 acre property is located on CR 850S, just east of CR 700W near Yellow Creek Lake.

Mike Rogers, representing the church, said the church hopes to raise money for a nearby campground and also to square off the property lines by selling the property. The county commissioners will have the final vote and will consider whether to rezone the property from Agricultural to Residential at their June 23 meeting.

Also at last week’s meeting, a proposed wind tower ordinance was briefly discussed, but no vote was taken. Instead, APC members want to review an ordinance already in place in Howard County, Ind., before proceeding with a vote.

Jon Goon, a local farmer and president of Kosciusko County Farm Bureau, said he has heard mostly positive comments about wind towers in the county. “The negative comments haven’t been enough to really amount to anything,” he said.

APC meetings are held at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month, normally in the commissioners room in the county courthouse building in Warsaw.

Syracuse Public Library has been a part of the community for a century, and this summer is celebrating its 100th birthday with activities and festivities.

As part of the Centennial Celebration, a speakers series is being offered free to the public each Saturday afternoon in June. Each week a new speaker will share his or her knowledge of Syracuse-area history.

At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, Anna Sudlow, co-founder of Sudlows Pier Shop, will be speaking about her life in Syracuse. Sudlow has lived in the Syracuse area for all of her 96 years and has seen the many changes the town has undergone since then. A lively person, Sudlow is sure to inform and entertain. Snacks and refreshments will be offered.

The next speaker will be Ron Sharp, a local historian, at 3:30 p.m. June 13, with a walking tour of downtown Syracuse. More information can be found in the next edition of The Mail-Journal or call the library at (574) 457-3022.

In 1909, Syracuses first library opened in the basement of Syracuse School, a high school which was across the street from the current library and has since been torn down. Thanks to a dedicated group of people and a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the new library known today opened its doors in 1921.

An open house is scheduled for Saturday, June 20. There will be historical documents displayed, Colorado blue spruce saplings will be given away and a time capsule will be sealed, to be opened June 20, 2109. Enjoy free food and drinks, and then join in for a presentation in the afternoon about the history of the library in Syracuse.

More information is available at the library.

"This is the call to worship this Sunday. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad," said Pastor Harlan Steffen, kicking off the 40th season of boat-in from the upper deck of the Lilly Pad.

This year, Steffen presided over the service aboard the Lilly Pad, which was full of worshippers. "Thank you for coming to boat-in this morning. This is an experiment," Steffen said. "We appreciate The Frog's willingness to have us."Approximately 170 people gathered on shore at Oakwood beach, some still trailing in after the service started, while 65 to 70 boats anchored around the Lilly Pad out in Lake Wawasee. It was reported this was a slightly larger crowd for the beginning of boat-in.

Where to have boat-in turned controversial earlier this spring after the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church told the Syracuse-Wawasee Area Ministerial Association it could not have boat-in at the Oakwood beach. However, local attorney Steve Snyder reviewed the property owner agreements for residents in Oakwood Park and determined property owners were allowed access to the common areas, which included the beach, and they could invite guests to share the common areas with them.

Howard Brembeck, who has an apartment in the inn, and businessman Bill Johnson, who owns a home in Oakwood Park, invited the community to be their guests on the beach. Both men attended the service.

"This is lovely," said Brembeck. "This is where it belongs and the inn needs to be here. I want to see the inn open and prosper. I'm not giving up. They (the conference) may be waiting for me to die, but I'm not going to do it until this is over. In my 70 years of business, I've never sued anyone, except the church."
Miriam Redsecker of Goshen attended boat-in with Brembeck. "They must have gotten the news out," she said, taking in the crowd. "The boats are here, people were here early. The people are happy (about boat-in) because I know they were disappointed."Judging by The Frog's parking lot, which was full, the Lilly Pad was full of worshippers. Because there were no piers this year, Cripe Boats donated a boat which had the fishing nets for the freewill donations.

"Dogs, we did not forget you. The Cripes are prepared with the dog biscuits," Steffen announced. Several dogs who attended the service with their families were happy with the news.

During the service, John Schmidt a singer/songwriter from Berlin, Ohio, performed several songs. During silent prayer, Steffen suggested people consider those serving in the military and the nation's leaders. He asked for prayers for Rev. Ken Robinson, who helped establish boat-in 40 years ago, and for Oakwood. Robinson was in the hospital and unable to attend.

Pastor Brad Cox of Wawasee Lakeside Chapel gave the sermon called "Start Your Hope," using the Indianapolis 500 as an analogy for life and how people need to lean on their faith in God to get them through life.

Boat-in will be held at Oakwood at 8:30 a.m. on the beach. Janet Norris will be the singer. Anyone wishing to ride the Lilly Pad for boat-in service should be at The Frog by 7:45 a.m. for loading.

Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of the weekly Sunday service on the shores of Oakwood Park.

This is a half-hour service from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday, May 24.

The theme for this year’s boat-in season is "There is Hope."

This year the service will be held off the Frog Lilly Pad boat. The boat will be parked in front of the Oakwood Inn. Those who wish to be seated on the boat need to board by 7:45 a.m. at the Frog Restaurant. There is no charge to ride the Lilly Pad.

Others may come by boat or sit on shore as they have for the past 39 years. Pastor Harlan Steffen explained Howard Brembeck called him and told him he wanted boat-in to be held on the beach at Oakwood, like it has been for the last 39 years. "He’s insisting that we come back to the same site. He is the reason for us going back there," Steffen said.

Concerned about the response of the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, Steffen consulted local attorney, Steve Snyder, as to whether boat-in could return to the beach area. Snyder checked into the matter and explained residents of Oakwood Park and their guests are allowed to use the common areas, which includes the beach.

Bill Johnson, Brembeck and other Oakwood residents have invited the community back to the beach as their guests. "We have been invited," said Steffen.

This service is sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Area Ministerial Association. There is a different music group each Sunday along with a short sermon.

Music this Sunday is John Schmidt from Berlin, Ohio. Schmidt is a singer/songwriter involved in prison ministry in Ohio and has an association with Gospel Echoes prison ministry in Goshen. After boat-in, Schmidt will also sing at services at Wawasee Lakeside Chapel.

Steffen will be the worship leader and the sermon will be given by Brad Cox, co-pastor at Wawasee Lakeside Chapel and SWAMA president. The theme of his sermon will be "Start Your Hope," a play on "Start Your Engines," from the Indianapolis 500.

Sunday, May 31, is the popular Janet Norris. All are welcome.