TERRE HAUTE —
Unseasonably sweet weather had lines of people flowing freely into Fowler Park on Saturday.
Nearly 2,000 customers forked over donations at the 26th Annual Pancake Breakfast inside Fowler Park’s log barn. Temperatures danced into the upper 40s, and bright sunshine glowed on crumpled brown leaves throughout the park. Vehicles filled the parking lot outside the park’s Pioneer Village, and organizers guessed this year’s event would be among the best for attendance.
Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department, worked inside the kitchen where volunteers loaded pancakes onto plates as fast as they were flipped.
“We’ve had a good crowd out there today,” he said about noon, guessing attendance neared 2,000. The annual event kicked off at 8 a.m. and ran through 1 p.m. Volunteers return today for the same hours, same pancakes and same local maple syrup.
A table full of the department’s homemade syrup was available for sale, with pints, quarts and gallons stacked for the taking. Samples of “maple cream” were also available, and jars were ready for purchase. The maple cream, according to a brochure provided by the department, contains no fat and is an alternative to cream cheese, made by cooling and churning the syrup into a creamy, spreadable consistency. With 65 calories per tablespoon, the cream contains 17 grams of carbohydrates and 17 grams of sugar.
Ruble launched the department’s maple syrup program in 1976, beginning with the tapping of trees contained in the county’s parks. Today, more than 1,200 trees produce sap via 2,000 taps, and the group uses the latest in technology with vacuums and reverse osmosis pumps.
This weekend, the department plans to go through more than 30 gallons of the local syrup, which comes straight from the trees near Prairie Creek. The local mix used this weekend is a “Grade A Light Amber,” Ruble said, explaining that’s the best quality. Syrups are graded by coloring, ranging from light to dark. Most store-bought syrups are a medium-amber, he said.
The volume of syrup produced varies depending on the weather and seasonal “freeze-thaw” cycles, he said, remarking annual yields have ranged from 52 to 480 gallons. The ideal weather for producing sap is where nighttime temperatures drop below 28 degrees and daytime numbers exceed 35, he said.
Adult tickets for the breakfast are $5, with children under 6 years of age eating for $2. The park’s pioneer village and gift shop are open, as is Prairie Creek Park’s sugar camp.
Volunteers had served more than 1,152 sausage patties from 12 crates before noon, and parks department assistant superintendent Kara Kish was busy loading more onto trays. Her morning started at 5 a.m., and she said she’ll be ready to return this morning for the second round.
“Since I’ve been here this is the biggest crowd I’ve seen,” she said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Pancakes: Detail photo of pancakes being prepared at Fowler Park Saturday morning.
-
Yummy: Patrons enjoy pancakes and sausage as the serving line stays in constant motion during Saturday morning's event.
-
Waiting game: Jaimie Ellis, Johnathan Ellis and Donna Purviance patiently wait for fresh pancakes and sausage. They pass the time by talking with serving volunteers Peggy Harlan and Jenna Tyler.
-
Tasty: Terre Haute resident Bryce Helton, 2, enjoys his pancake breakfast Saturday morning at Fowler Park.
-
Golden syrup: Detail photo of maple syrup produced for the annual pancake breakfast at Fowler Park.
-
Ho hum: Two-year-old Zach Rogers yawns as he watches the pancake-making operation at Fowler Park Saturday morning. He did enjoy a stack of pancakes and sausage.
-
Breakfast walk: People attending the annual pancake and sausage breakfast at Fowler Park enjoy a walk through the pioneer village while taking advantage of the above-average temperatures.
Discussion
Sweet Saturday: 2,000 diners attend first day of annual Fowler Park Pancake Breakfast
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Water rescuers
Emergency personnel wheel a man who was removed from a vehicle that had been driven into the water at Crystal Lake on Boston Avenue near 14th Street at about 9 p.m. Friday.
-
For many, camping outdoors is the way to beat the heat, enjoy nature
Stringing up fishing poles in the shade of American flags, households full of Hoosiers are packing into parks across the state this weekend.
-
Towns along National Road readying for next week’s miles-long yard sale
Stretching 824 miles from Baltimore to St. Louis, the National Road — known as U.S. 40 through Indiana — will soon be the host site for perhaps the longest bargain market in the country.
-
Rose grads honoring late president Branam at commencement today
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Class of 2012 will honor the memory of Matt Branam during today’s commencement ceremony by wearing special pins with the phrase “Make It Happen; Make It Fun,” a favorite saying of the former Rose-Hulman president, who died unexpectedly on April 20.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 26, 2012
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Thursday and Friday, based on jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers but are not final until the Vigo County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
A fallen soldier returns home
An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Arronn D. Fields early Thursday morning at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
-
Official touts trade with northern neighbor
A top Canadian diplomat told a Terre Haute audience Thursday his country was “disappointed” when President Obama at least temporarily rejected a proposed transcontinental oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas.
-
Caution urged for summer’s kickoff
Lane restrictions in construction zones on Interstate 70 and other highways around the state will be lifted to accommodate holiday travel for the Memorial Day Weekend.
-
Letters delivered
Several positions will be eliminated this summer at the Terre Haute mail processing facility as the U.S. Postal Service begins moving the operation to Indianapolis, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman has confirmed.
-
Companies seek Vigo tax abatements
Two Vigo County companies are seeking tax abatements for expansion projects, one of which is included as part of a county incentive package.
-
High-speed chase suspect caught in West Virginia
The suspect in a cross-country, high-speed chase originating in Terre Haute last week was reportedly in federal custody Thursday evening.
-
Second victim of deadly I-70 semi-trailer crash identified
The Vigo County Coroner’s Office has identified the passenger of a semi-tractor crash on May 16 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 12-mile marker.
- VIGO COUNTY JAIL LOG: May 22-24, 2012
-
Burn ban in effect for Vigo County through holiday weekend
Vigo County officials have issued a burn ban effective Thursday and remains in effect until 8 a.m. Tuesday.
-
Brazil remembers a Fallen Son
A small town seemed sadly quiet Wednesday, waiting to honor a local fallen warrior.
-
ISU OKs four-year degree guarantee
Indiana State University has announced a four-year “graduation guarantee” for students enrolling this fall and beyond.
-
Dems tout good side of compromise
Indiana Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, chosen to run as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate John Gregg, said during a stop Wednesday in Terre Haute that bipartisan experience is a key factor in creating jobs and legislation to help Hoosiers statewide.
-
Motorcyclist dies, motorist charged after accident
A Terre Haute man has died of injuries he sustained in a two-motorcycle, one-car crash that also injured another motorcyclist late Tuesday. The incident has led to the arrest of the car’s driver.
-
Grant money will help replace Collett Park area tree canopy
A combination of city funds and a state grant is allowing TREES Inc. and the city of Terre Haute to plant 100 trees next year to replace a storm-destroyed street-tree canopy in the Collett Park neighborhood.
-
Schools surpass goal for Riley
The lives of about 5,000 children in Vigo County are touched each year by Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, and now, the Riley Children’s Foundation has been touched with gratitude by students in the Vigo County School Corp.
-
Historic preservation proposal discussed during open forum
More than three dozen people turned out Wednesday to ask questions about a proposed Terre Haute ordinance that would set up a formal process to preserve historic properties in the city.
-
Banks of the Wabash workers getting festival ready to roll
Concession stands and amusement rides lined the lawn, waiting for a crowd.
-
Search on for Gibault walkaway
The Indiana State Police are seeking help in finding a juvenile who they say walked away from a Vigo County treatment facility Sunday evening.
-
Graduate college in four years? ISU ‘guarantees’ it
Indiana State University has announced a four-year graduation guarantee for students enrolling this fall and beyond.
-
School bus crashes into central Indiana home
A school bus rumbled through the backyard of a suburban Indianapolis home and crashed into the side of the house.
-
Markets swoon, oil prices fall as anxiety about Europe takes hold
The threat of a financial crisis spreading from Europe shook markets on Wednesday. The euro dropped to a nearly two-year low against the dollar. Oil prices sank to their lowest this year, and stocks took another fall.
-
The closing of St. Ann Parish: Shuttered parish will help others live on
St. Ann Parish celebrated its last Mass on Sunday.
-
Foreclosure lawsuit questions dog mayor
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett said Tuesday he is “100 percent” certain the foreclosure suit filed against him by GMAC Mortgage on his eastside home will be resolved within the next “couple of weeks.”
-
TB case cause for concern, not panic
A suspected case of tuberculosis at a Vigo County middle school is cause for concern, but health officials are taking appropriate precautionary steps, says Union Hospital’s chief medical officer
Dr. John Bolinger said the suspected TB case at Woodrow Wilson Middle School “is a concern,” but Vigo County and state health departments “are there to handle situations like this. They’ll do the right thing.” -
Woodgate residents considering legal action
Residents came in force Tuesday to try to compel the Vigo County Board of Commissioners to change how a development is progressing near Woodgate subdivisions in southern Vigo County.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
Beer Here!: An Historic Exhibit
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: SpaceX Capsule's Docking Delayed
Sudden Storm Topples Wisconsin Trees
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Vegas Grocer Deported to Face War Crimes Charges
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Wildfire Burns 110 Square Miles
Kristen Stewart Is Red Hot
Shark Attacks Australian Fishing Boat
Bradley out for playoffs
Kayaker Survives Trip Over Washington Waterfall
Alison Brie Likes To Jog Naked
Heidi Klum Goes Sheer
Alton's Best Burger Ever
Ellie Kemper's Stripper Surprise on 'Ellen'
Maddie the Balancing Dog On Cross-Country Trip
Crawford's Sexy Leather Look
Boys eyes 'removed with spoon'
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
"Twilight" Stars Caught Kissing
Etan Patz Case: Suspect Arrested
Britney's Hot Pink Mini-Dress
Wrongfully accused rapist exonerated after 5 years in jail
Actress to Play Casey Anthony
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
Prince William on The Queen: 'Woman in Man's World'
