Christmas Comes To Lake Wawasee At 55th Flotilla
Members of the Buyrite float accept the Commodore’s Cup from Fire Chief Mickey Scott, one of the Commodores for the event.
SYRACUSE — It was almost a perfect day for the 55th Wawasee Flotilla. The event got underway under cloudy skies at 1:29 p.m. with close to a dozen wooden and antique boats kicking off the flotilla. The 20 flotilla entries fell in behind the Commodore’s boat for a trip around the lake.
Many motored around the staging area to get a look at the entries, with hundreds anchoring near shore or coming out onto their piers to see the entries.
Also seen around the lake were posters and banners thanking Turkey Creek Fire Territory for their service, some even thanking them for saving his/her life.
The majority of the entries had Christmas the decorated theme, with others creating their own themes or celebrating the state’s bicentennial.
Commodores – officers of the Turkey Creek Fire Territory, and judges had their hands full picking winners for the numerous awards.
Commodores Mickey Scott, Kevin Grindle and Tony Meek chose the entry of Buyrite Services. The company utilized a barge, a Polaris transformed into Rudolph and Polar Craft loaded down with gifts complete with Santa.
There was also a record number of shore and pier decorations.
Everyone came out a winner.
“What a great gift to see so many families and friends create fun memories on Lake Wawasee,” said Lisa Hill, Flotilla chairwoman.
Winners are:
Commodore — Buyrite Services
WPOA — Bob McNary Family
DNR — Oakwood Resort
List Family — Kroemer-Dulen Family
Wawasee History — Lakeland Youth Center
Indiana Bicentennial — Lemberg-Baker
Youth Spirited – Penny Nord
Neighborhood — Cindy and Dave Newcomer, Kale Island Christmas; Deb Farmer, second place.
Most Patriotic — Dennis Pynaert and Neighbors
Business/Commercial — Re/Max Partners
Most Spirited — Molly Marsh
Non-Profit — Habitat For Humanity
Most Original — Jody Julian
Youth — Best Gift Lakeside, first; Santa Express, second
Youth Inboard — Emma Johnson
Antique — Greg and Darla Brock
Wooden — Randall and Deborah Tobias
On shore winners are: Natalee Fuller, Pier 151, first; The Zipfel Circus, second.
Spirited — Wawasee Spink, first; Dave and Janine Hoover, second
Frosted — Barb and Jerry Cler
On Shore Patriotic – Al Campbell.
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- Buyrite’s entry won the 2016 Commodore Cup Trophy.
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- Greg and Darla Brock win the Antique Boat Award
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- Randall and Deborah Tobias win the Wooden Boat Award.
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- The Bob McNary family won the WPOA Award.
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- Jim Kroemer-Dulen Family Cub entry won the List Family Award.
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- Dennis Pynaert and Neighbors won Most Patriotic Award
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- Molly Marsh and Friends win the High Spirit Award
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- Cindy and Dave Newcomer’s Kale Island entry won the Neighborhood Award.
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- Jody Julian’s Gingerbread House won Most Original Award
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- Women of Toady won the Most Original Award.
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- This entry won the Most Original Business Award
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- Lakeland Youth Center won the Wawasee History Award.
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- Winning the Bicentennial Award was the entry by Lemberg-Baker.
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- Oakwood Hotel’s entry took the DNR Award.
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- Al Campbell placed a large Uncle Sam in his yard winning the On Shore Patriotic Award.
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- Pier 526 won second place Most Spirited Award.
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- Wawasee Spink’s crew won Most Spirited Award.
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- The Zipfel CIrcus won second place On Shore Award.
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- Barb & Jerry Cler won the Frosty Award for their pier decoration.
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- This group won Second Place Youth Award.
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- Penny Nord’s entry won Second Place Youth Spirited Award.
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- Deb Farmer’s entry won second place Neighborhood Award.
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- This entry won First Place In Youth.
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- This entry by Emma Johnson won First Place Youth In-Board Division.
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- ReMax won First Place Business/Commercial Award.
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- Pier 151 won the On Shore Award.
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- Habitat For Humanity won the Non-Profit Award.
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- Commodores representing the Turkey Creek Fire Territory include Tony Meek, EMS Captain; Kevin Grindle, assistant fire chief; and Mickey Scott, fire chief. The three are shown on the Commodore’s Boat with their wives and Duane Rauch, Flotilla Committee member
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- On duty firefighters and paramedics came out to the lake to support their officers.
