The NAACP's 2015 Awards Ceremony will be held Thursday, May 14, at the Holiday Inn on Electronics Parkway in Liverpool. Keynote Speaker will be the former Police Chief Dennis Duval. Reception & Silent Auction at 6 p.m. followed by ceremony at 7 p.m.

The Salt City BBQ Festival is a BBQ event featuring BBQ restaurants sampling and selling great BBQ, a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned BBQ contest, music and beer.  This is a fundraiser for Phoenix Philosophies, an organization that purchases and renovates homes to house our homeless veterans here in Syracuse. Come on down and eat …

Celebration Luncheon for Onondaga County Seniors will be held at noon Thursday, May 21, at the CNY Regional Market “F” Shed, 2100 Park St. There is no charge for age 60+; a $2.75 suggested donation is requested. Under 60 is $12. Event honors three Onondaga County Residents: Senior Citizen of the Year, Senior Services Professional of the Year and Flanders Memorial Caregiver of the Year. All guests must register by calling (315) 435-2362 ext. 4945.

Ancestral Dinner to be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 29, at the Sky Armory, located at 351 S. Clinton St. Event will feature a silent auction and present the NIA Award to Minister Mark Muhammad & the Honorable Joanne Mahoney. Tickets are $35/per person and tables are available. For individual tickets, contact Bridget McCarthy at (315) 464-4579 or (315) 372-3840. For table information, please contact Kitty Rice at (315) 475-9693.

The TNT Area 3 Planning Council meets regularly on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at South Side Innovation Center, 2610 S. Salina Street. TNT meetings are subject to change as necessary. For more information, email TNT@SyrGov.net or call (315) 448-8005.

“Lender Matchmaker” is a free event that gives small business owners and startup entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet with lenders one-on-one to discuss financing options for their existing or startup small businesses. Representatives of more than 25 banks, credit unions and alternative lending institutions will be on-hand to answer questions. Attendees can register for the event at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/lender-matchmaker-tickets-15895468775?Pre-event questions can be directed to Tania Hanouille with the Small Business Development Center at hanouilt@sunyocc.edu or (315) 498-6076. The event will take place at Onondaga Community College campus, Academic II building, room P112, 4585 West Seneca Turnpike.