By TYLER MCLEAD Program Director, Syracuse Parks And Recreation Syracuse Parks Department is hosting its Third Annual Kids Safety Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Syracuse Community Center, North Long Drive. This annual event is designed to educate kids on how to stay safe in a variety of …read more.

There are still some spots available for the spring mommy and son dance. It is being held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Syracuse Community Center, 1013 N. Long Drive. Reservations are required but admission will be collected at the door. To reserve your spot call Babes & Combs Hair Salon between …read more.

Syracuse Parks and Recreation board heard committee and department reports at the meeting Monday evening. Jerry Riffle reported the tree board continues to work on planting sites for the parks. Riffle also provided information about the black walnut twig beetle which was found in Indiana for the first time last week. Department reports were presented …read more.

Following the annual Easter egg hunt held Saturday morning at the Syracuse Community Center, the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Committee held their own welcoming of Spring rite with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the loop trail around Syracuse Lake. The event coincided with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s designated “Opening Day for Trails.” According to Megan McClellan, executive director …read more.

Although the temperature was unseasonably cold, the annual Easter egg hunt at the Syracuse Community Center kicked off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday as planned. The gathered children were separated into three age groups: 0-3, 4-6 and 7-10 years old, prior to being turned loose into their designated search areas. The event, sponsored by the Syracuse …read more.

Syracuse-Wawasee Parks Foundation board convened Tuesday evening for a brief meeting to hear reports on parks projects. Dr. Tom Edington announced a trails project community meeting. The agenda will include a presentation of future trail development, followed by a question and answer session for homeowners with concerns regarding the Harkless trail. Representatives from the trails …read more.

Turkey Creek Fire Territory took the next step toward outfitting the exercise room at Fire Station 1 by accepting a $36,549 bid from Direct Fitness Solutions, the vendor supplying physical fitness equipment for the Syracuse Community Center. The proposed acquisition includes a treadmill, elliptical trainer, multi-station fitness machine, dumbbells and related accessories. Two additional pieces …read more.

Martha Bishop Ferguson will give tips for keeping lake water clean while establishing beautiful yards and lakefronts. Her talk will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21, in the Syracuse Community Center. It is open to the public and sponsored by LaPSI, Lake Papakeechie Sustainability Initiative. “If you enjoy watching butterflies, birds, dragonflies and …read more.

The Wawasee Kiwanis Club invites the community to a fun trivia night on Thursday, March 5, to help support the Shrock Athletic Complex, Syracuse; Riley Children’s Hospital, Indianapolis, and other youth-oriented charities. Trivia Time begins at 6: 30 p.m. when doors open. The contest runs from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. There is a $50 …read more.

The Kosciusko Cares Coalition meeting took place today at the Syracuse Community Center. The meeting involved discussions about upcoming projects such as a documentary that will be shot in the Kosciusko county area this spring to showcase local businesses and organizations that serve youth Lunch was prepared by Wawasee Culinary Arts students. The meeting was …read more.

Expect plenty of activities at the 2015 Winterfest, Jan. 30-31, which will occur alongside the annual Wawasee Kiwanis Soup Supper and Snowmobile Drags. This year’s event will also be split between three venues: Syracuse Community Center, Harold Schrock Athletic Complex and Oakwood Resort. Winterfest starts from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, for …read more.

Saturday morning, Santa made his annual appearance at the Syracuse Community Center for breakfast with Santa. Visitors ate pancakes and cookies and decorated Christmas crafts, sponsored by the Syracuse Public Library. Wawasee High School’s band kept the mood festive by playing classic Christmas tunes. And, of course, children could sit on Santa’s lap and recite …read more.

Tuesday seemed to be a fitting time to talk about loss of loved ones. At 6 p.m. Veterans Day, members of the Syracuse community gathered together to talk about the white elephant in the room, suicide. With the help of the Bowen Center, Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, and Syracuse Police Department, the Syracuse Community Center …read more.

At the monthly Syracuse Parks board meeting Monday, members continued to discuss progress at the athletic complex, community center and reported upcoming holiday events. Parks superintendent Chad Jonsson reported the work on the ice rink has begun at the Harold Schrock Athletic Complex. Equipment has arrived and setup for the rink is underway. In regards …read more.

Nate Bosch speaks on preserving Lake Papakeechie at Syracuse Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 1. (Photo by Maggie Kenworthy) BY MAGGIE KENWORTHY Kosciusko County is home to hundreds of lakes and streams. When it comes to natural bodies of water there are always concerns about conservation. This past Saturday the Lake Papakeechie Sustainability Initiative (LaPSI) …read more.

Suicide is a topic some simply do not want to talk about, but considering a Wawasee High School student committed suicide just a couple of years ago and others attempted it, the topic does hit close to home. During Tuesday’s regular monthly Wawasee school board meeting in Syracuse, the board heard a presentation from Mary …read more.

The Wawasee Walk, a fundraiser for two Kosciusko County charities, will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Syracuse Community Center. Participants will have a choice of two routes. The longer route, about 4.5 miles, involves a walk around Syracuse Lake. The 2.5 mile route will take walkers to and from Rose Home, …read more.

Syracuse Parks Department will host its punt pass and kick event at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Harold Schrock Athletic Complex. NFL Punt Pass and Kick local competition is free and open to boys and girls ages 6-15. Participants may register in person at the Syracuse Community Center, online by locating the event …read more.

SYRACUSE – The Syracuse Community Center is hosting its Syracuse Adult Co-Ed Fall Softball League. Registration is underway, which ends Sept. 8 for the league that begins Sept. 16. Games will be held at Harold Schrock Athletic Complex on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 5:30 p.m. Cost per team is $250. Roster forms and league …read more.

Syracuse-Wawasee Park Foundation board members heard updates on several projects during its Tuesday meeting. Two quotes, one for equipment and the other for work to the building, were presented for the expansion of the fitness room located at the Syracuse Community Center. Combined, the two estimates would bring the project to almost $54,000. Park Superintendent …read more.

[weaver_youtube mkKVCJx2h30 rel=0] SYRACUSE – There is so much natural beauty in Kosciusko County, and the Tour des Lakes was one way to spotlight long paths of enjoyable visual, as well as physical, wellness. The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, the Syracuse Rotary and the Syracuse Parks Department again sponsored the Tour des Lakes, or also …read more.

SYRACUSE – The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, the Syracuse Rotary and the Syracuse Parks Department are again sponsoring the Tour des Lakes, or also known as the Liberty Bike Ride, set for July 12. The event will emanate from the Syracuse Community Center and Lakeside Park. Registration for the Tour begins at 7 a.m. and …read more.

July is National Parks and Recreation Month. To celebrate, Syracuse Parks and Recreation is organizing a photo contest that will highlight the vibrant park system. All amateur photographers in grades 12 and under are eligible to participate. Contest categories include, “Fun in the Sun, ”“Playing in the Parks,” “Picturesque Park,” and “Park Selfies.” All photos …read more.

Rainy and chilly weather made it feel more like March than past the midpoint of May, but the 26th annual Wawasee Kiwanis Cruisin’ Cuse car show went on as planned in Syracuse Saturday. Because of the weather, the number of cars for the show was considerably below normal. Classic rides were on display in the …read more.

Syracuse Park Foundation learned Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, will be applying for a K21 Foundation grant to help with the expansion of the fitness room at the Syracuse Community Center during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night. Jonsson explained he wants to remove the wall between the fitness center and the computer room, making the …read more.

[weaver_youtube eKay4P1Q7yM rel=0] SYRACUSE – March Madness spread Sunday to a lesser known Syracuse basketball court. While brackets were busted all over America this weekend, including Obama’s picks of Michigan State and Lousiville, chalk talked in the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Basketball Tournament played at the Syracuse Community Center. The top two seeds, No. 1 …read more.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Meet the Candidates Night” event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, at the Syracuse Community Center, Celebration Hall, 1013 N. Long Dr., Syracuse. The chamber has invited local candidates to attend this meet and greet event. Each candidate will have a few minutes to …read more.

Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a Meet the Candidates Night from 6 p.m. 8 p.m. March 25 at the Syracuse Community Center. Board members looked at the invitations for primary candidates during the chamber’s meeting, March 5. The event will be an informal meeting, allowing voters in Kosciusko County the opportunity to meet …read more.

Cub Scout Pack 3828 is having its Pinewood Derby at 6 p.m. Monday at the Syracuse Community Center. The public is welcome. Scouts are judged on the three fastest times per den and overall and also three deep for design and creativity. Each scout will also earn a participation ribbon. There will also be a …read more.

Local businesses took center stage during Tuesday’s Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce annual awards dinner — catered by Grill-N-Grate — as several were recognized for their various services. There was a record-breaking attendance with 183 people filling the Syracuse Community Center’s gym. Chamber President Richard Owen noted the chamber had decided against having a speaker this …read more.

The much anticipated, annual snowmobile drag races presented by the Wawasee Kiwanis and held on Syracuse Lake at Lakeside Park, 1013 N. Long Drive, will be Saturday, Feb. 1. There is no black out date. Lunch will be available on site on the day of the race. Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. …read more.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum is proud to sponsor a two-part presentation entitled “A History of Syracuse and the Indians of Kosciusko County” by Jack Elam, local historian. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, and will take place in Syracuse Community Center’s Celebration Hall, located at 1013 North Long Drive in Syracuse. …read more.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to act on stage or on television or film? The syracuse Community Center located at 310 N. Huntington St., Syracuse, will be hosting a course to teach the basics of acting. The courses will be taught from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, from Sept. 18 …read more.

IU Health Goshen will present a Childhood Obesity Seminar at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Syracuse Community Center, 1013 North Long Dr. A registered dietitian will provide information on childhood obesity trends as well as what parents can do to encourage and maintain a healthy lifestyle for the entire family. Elkhart County residents have identified …read more.

All you Angry Birds, Super Heros, princesses and assorted spooks and goblins need to be at the Syracuse Community Center, 1013 N. Long Dr., for the free Halloween Carnival from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. The annual community event will be hosted by the Lakeland Youth Center with assistance from the Syracuse-Wawasee Parks Department, …read more.

The opportunity for northern Indiana residents to have their prehistoric artifacts (arrowheads, Indian stones, etc.) and historic Native American artifacts (bead work, pottery, etc.) identified, authenticated and evaluated will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the Syracuse Community Center, 1013 N. Long Drive. A portion of the Bickel Collection …read more.