Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - The community center was dedicated Saturday with a ribbon-cutting, a long dedication ceremony and tours of the 16,350- square-foot building.
The afternoon began with a ribbon-cutting. Michael Hixenbaugh, Bill Wight, Barbara Carwile, Janet and Max Laudeman and Jannine and Doug Schrock applied the scissors to a star-spangled ribbon, and Wight invited everyone to their community center.
Citizens gathered in the future gymnasium to hear presentations from Hixenbaugh, superintendent of parks and recreation; Bill Wight, Syracuse Parks Board president; Carwile, the Syracuse Town Council president; State Sen. Robert Meeks; U.S. Rep. Mark Souder; Schrock, who donated the property; and Brian Redshaw, Syracuse town manager. The Rev. Michael Butler of St. Andrews United Methodist Church gave the invocation.
Construction for the project has occupied much of Hixenbaugh's and Wight's time over the last two years.
Wight described that process and told the audience of more than 200 people the center was their community center, with activities for all ages.
He recognized people who donated funds or contributed to the project in other ways, becoming emotional when mentioning the late Bill Cutter, who served on the town council.
Excepting $400,000 in local donations, the $1.8 million building has come from taxpayer-supported funds. Government monies include a Build Indiana Grant of $200,000; a Community Block Development Grant, $450,000; $50,000 from the town's capital funds account; a bond issue of $700,000; and $400,000 in local funds.
The facility houses the Syracuse - Wawasee Museum, two meeting rooms, a gymnasium, computer lab, arts and crafts room, fitness and wellness, a senior wing, kitchen, administrative offices and maintenance building.
In the future, the community center may include basketball leagues, summer day camp, a teen club and dance classes for youth; aerobics, bingo, trips, yoga and other activities for adults.
One architectural feature of the building is a towering ornamental lighthouse donated by Janet Hays and others in memory of Donald Hays.
The Hays were owners of The Beacon Restaurant from 1976 to 1990 and lighthouse enthusiasts.
