“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.

The Taste of Syracuse 2015 will be held in and around Clinton Square on June 5 and 6.

World Oceans Day will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at the zoo. Event is free with paid admission or zoo membership. Life on earth depends on water, and oceans connect us all. Enjoy feeding demonstrations and keeper talks featuring our aquatic residents, and learn how you can help make a difference.

The Taste of Syracuse 2015 will be held in and around Clinton Square on June 5 and 6.

The 2015 Creekfloat will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6, starting at Armory Square in downtown. This floating art parade is free to attend and takes place on Onondaga Creek each year. Artists create floating artwork and send them through Armory Square in front of hundreds of spectators. Volunteers are also sought to retrieve the floats from the Creek when done and kayakers to help move the floats along. To volunteer, call Steve at (315) 345-2727 or Bob at (315) 396-2944 or email selent@msn.com.

Join ACR Health Sunday, June 7, for the 23rd Annual AIDS Walk/Run, sponsored by Empower Federal Credit Union, at Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville. The AIDS Walk/Run benefits ACR Health and features a 5K fundraising walk and a 10K timed run, with free food, drinks and fundraising incentives. Participants are encouraged to fundraise a minimum of $25. Those raising more, receive great incentives. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The AIDS Walk/Run starts at 10 a.m. – rain or shine. For more information about the AIDS Walk/Run visit www.AIDSwalkCNY.com or call AIDS Walk/Run Headquarters at 1.800.475.2430.

The 7th Annual Miss Central New York Scholarship Pageant will be held at 5 p.m. June 7 at the Palace Theatre, located at 2384 James St. For tickets call, (315) 446-1166.

Matt Leighninger, executive director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium, will speak at the Onondaga Citizens League's annual meeting on June 10. The Deliberative Democracy Consortium is an alliance of the major organizations and leading scholars in the field of democracy and public engagement. The Consortium represents more than 50 foundations, nonprofits and universities collaborating to advance democratic practices. Leighninger is one of the leading experts in the field of deliberative democracy, a new wave of efforts to engage citizens in policy discussion and decision-making traditionally left to elected officials and experts. Leighninger’s keynote address, “The Next Form of Democracy: Public Participation for the 21st Century,” will include examples of how other communities are using deliberative democracy and the potential for the movement to transform how citizens engage in democracy in the U.S. The June 10 annual meeting luncheon will be held at Drumlins at noon and is open to the community. Individual tickets are $35 for OCL members and $45 for non-members. Reservations can be made by calling (315) 443-4846 or emailing ocl@syr.edu. For more information, visit www.onondagacitizensleague.org.

Green Bag Lunch: Transportation Planning in CNY will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. June 12 at the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Room 203. Confirmed Panelists to date include: Samuel Gordon, director of Planning & Zoning for the Town of DeWitt, and Peter Sarver, The Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse (ACTS) & Moving People Transportation Coalition. This Event is Free. Seating is limited, and registration is required. Attendees are welcome to bring their Green Bag Lunch. To register, visit here.