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CTN all fired up

CURRENT INVESTMENTS

Organization burns mortgage ahead of schedule By Megan Knowles mknowles@kpcmedia.com

Members of the Community Transportation Network family were fired up May 31 as the young organization was able to ceremonially burn its mortgage as celebration of paying it off — 6.5 years ahead of schedule. The organization was founded in 2000 as a way to meet the transportation needs of various nonprofits, Executive Director Becky Weimerskirch said. CTN provides medical transportation for seniors and those with disabilities, transportation for Turnstone, shuttles for conventions in partnership with Visit Fort Wayne and transportation to help low-income families access programs, as well as transportation services for Headstart and for nonprofit field trips. In 2013 a feasibility study was done, which showed issues with CTN’s previous space. “We had outgrown our 20,000-squarefoot-space,” Weimerskirch said. “We knew it was expensive and we knew we needed to expand.” With support from some of its founding organizations, CTN was able to purchase its current home at 5601 Industrial Road for $1 million. “That was the turning point for this young organization to have a sustainable future,” Weimerskirch said. Since moving in, the organization has grown to include more than 22 vehicles making more than 50,000 trips annually and serving more than 3,800 people, board President Jeremy Hostetler said.

PHOTO BY MEGAN KNOWLES

Community Transportation Network Executive Director Becky Weimerskirch burns the organization’s mortgage on its building on May 31. CTN was able to pay off the mortgage in 3½ years.

“I don’t think I drive anywhere today … without seeing a bus or van from CTN,” he said. Despite its growth, paying down its mortgage aggressively was important for the organization, Weimerskirch said. “In the long run, [it was about] making the building work for us and not having to work for the building, to turn every penny that we could into direct operations, into more trips actually happening,” she said. Allen County Commissioner F. Nelson Peters commended the organization on its milestone. “With CTN, things continue to get better and better,” he said. “We’ve got a product that is so much better than when you started out.”

PHOTO BY BRIDGETT HERNANDEZ

The new canal boat, Sweet Breeze, carries passengers past the site slated for riverfront development near the Wells Street Bridge. See story on Page 2.

Three Rivers Distilling unveils expansion Tasting area, outdoor area slated to open in August Three Rivers Distilling Company is expanding, thanks in part to the help of the Indiana Legislature. On June 13, co-owner Aaron Pence and co-founder Stephen Blevins unveiled the company’s tasting room and bar area, which they hope to have open in August. The area will be complete with an indoor and outdoor bar, a tasting

area, a private lounge for personal events and outdoor games, Pence said. Food offerings and a covered outdoor dining area will also be available. The expansion is expected to cost about $500,000, Pence said, while Blevins told the gathered audience it would almost double Three Rivers Distilling’s workforce. “We can share our passion and craft with the public,” Blevins

said. “This will give the public access to our entire process.” Both Pence and Blevins were excited to add the offering to the distillery they founded in 2016 on the southeastern part of Fort Wayne. “We hope this will be a cool new venue in a portion of Fort Wayne that doesn’t have a lot to offer right now,” Pence said. Though construction is moving along at the See DISTILLING, Page A15

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Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

Rivers create a pull on public, businesses By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com

For years, local officials and river advocates referred to area rivers as “under-utilized,” but increased activity on the waterways suggests the current has changed course. Increased demand for riverside activities and riverfront development efforts are setting the stage for a wave of businesses that want to be where the action is, Fort Wayne officials say. Shifting perceptions

When Cara Hall opened Fort Wayne Outfitters & Bike Depot in 2007, many people had negative perceptions of the city’s river, she said. The business offers canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals. However, all it takes to change someone’s mind is to get them out on the water, she said. “Everybody who goes out and paddles comes in and says ‘Oh my gosh, I had no idea how beautiful it was here. What a great resource we have,’” she said. That attitude has spread through word of mouth and has been a driving force for growth, Hall said. “In 10 years, [the business has] more than doubled. We’ve added to our rental fleet each year, and I’ll still have busy days when all our boats are out on the water and I have people waiting,” she said. These days, she can feel the energy surrounding the river. That energy is only going to continue to grow, she said. As riverfront devel-

PHOTO BY BRIDGETT HERNANDEZ

River advocate Dan Wire gives passengers an overview of the new canal boat, Sweet Breeze.

opment progresses, she suspects businesses will try to get as close to the water as they can. The Deck at the Gas House, which provides outdoor dining overlooking the St. Marys River, is a great example of the demand for that sort of venue, Hall said. “People want to be out there. It’s always crowded and there’s always a wait,” she said. In addition to the popularity of brick and mortar businesses on the riverbank, there has also been an increase in the number of passenger vessels on the river. A new 54-foot canal boat named “Sweet Breeze” debuted on the river last week. The boat holds up to 40 people and can be rented for private parties. Setting the stage

Groundbreaking for the first phase of riverfront development is scheduled to take place June 29 and is slated to be completed

by the end of next year with a grand opening planned for the spring of 2019, according to Mark Becker, deputy director for riverfront development for the Fort Wayne parks department. The riverfront park between Harrison Street and the Historic Wells Street Bridge will be called Promenade Park. Becker said the development will set the table for private investment to happen all around the park. On the river itself, a new watercraft will help clear the way for recreational activity. The city of Fort Wayne and Allen County have purchased a 30-foot-long river barge with a crane attachment, which will start doing some maintenance on the rivers later this summer. The barge will help remove log jams that frequently occur at the base of bridges. The log jams are not just

unsightly – they can present a safety hazard, said Greg Leatherman, director of community development for the city of Fort Wayne. “If you have more people on the water, sometimes those log jams can break loose, and they become a real hazard so if you keep them from building up to a critical mass, you reduce the chances that anyone could be hurt in a kayak or canoe,” he said. In addition to cleaning up the rivers and developing public space, city officials also hope to acquire property along the river for future use. Similar efforts are being made in Bluffton where city officials are looking to revitalize its downtown. The river is a key feature of downtown. Bluffton Mayor Ted Ellis said acquiring property on the riverbank will allow the city to enhance the area. “That way, we have

PHOTO BY BRIDGETT HERNANDEZ

Sweet Breeze is steered past the Historic Old Fort.

and that business development will happen a block or two off either side of the river, Ellis said. Leatherman anticipates a similar pattern of development to occur in Fort Wayne. It’s likely to start out with restaurants and bars, but he envisions residential living spaces in the future. “You create a public space, a public venue that attracts people, and the private sector will want to invest right next to it,” he said. “We have no doubt that that’s what will happen in the next year or so as people begin to see the impact and the draw that this park’s going to have for people downtown.”

control over what goes there and what doesn’t. Secondly, we can do some conservation measures and actually take care of the riverbank,” he said. The river isn’t quite deep enough for bigger boats in the summer, but you can find people kayaking along in nice weather, Ellis said. Construction of the Kehoe Park Amphitheater on the river’s north bank has also attracted people to the riverside venue for concerts and other outdoor events. Pattern of development

The hope is that private investment will follow public investment in the city’s river, trail way and infrastructure,

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INfortwayne.com • A3

Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

Festival to open streets to pedestrians, bicycles By Megan Knowles

mknowles@kpcmedia.com

Another festival is taking over downtown Fort Wayne’s streets — literally. On Sunday, July 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Calhoun Street from the St. Marys River south to Williams Street will be closed to automobile traffic and open to the public for Fort Wayne’s first Open Streets Festival. “Open Streets Fort Wayne is a way we can…have people see the streets and draw more attention to the fact that we can bring pedestrians out into our community and there are places to go and walk to and [that are within] easy access to businesses and bicyclists,” city spokesperson Frank Suarez said. The concept behind Open Streets came from similar festivals in other cities as well as a 2010 Knight Foundation study called “Soul of the City,” which found people are attracted to cities that are welcoming and that have ample social opportunities. Coupled with a Realtor. org study that found millennials prefer to walk or ride their bikes versus driving, Open Streets made sense, Suarez said. “It hits on those points of building on community, bringing people together, having places where people can socialize, where they can meet new friends, maybe run into old friends. It also promotes physical activity…it also makes them feel more comfortable about those modes of transportation and knowing that there are options to connect and see their city in a different way,” he

said. The festival is also sponsored by the Knight Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. A variety of activities are planned for the event, arranged into hubs. On West Berry Street, the Adaptive Sports Activity Hub will have wheelchair basketball and rugby in partnership with Turnstone, said Amy Hartzog, program manager for Fort Wayne greenways and trails. The Family Fun Activity Hub will have a slack line, gaga pit, pickleball and shuffleboard in partnership with Operation Fight for a Fitter Fort and the YMCA. The Fitness Activity Hub on South Harrison Street will also have YMCA activities, a clinic by the Fort Wayne Outfitters and Bike Depot, and tours of both those buildings. On West Wayne Street the Giant Board Game Activity Hub will play host to giant checkers and chess, PBS Kids games and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Fine Arts activities. There will be BMX demonstrations, Fort Wayne Derby Girls demos, a helmet giveaway, Fort Wayne bike share coupons and other biking opportunities at the By Wheel or By Heel Activity Hub. The Soccer Skills Activity Hub will offer a clinic focused on soccer as well as a presentation on fresh foods by Parkview Health. The Transportation Activity Hub will feature Fort Wayne fire, police and public works

vehicles as well as Segways and children’s games from Mike’s Carwash. The southernmost activity hub, the Rock ‘n’ Roll hub, will feature performances by the Sweetwater Sound Academy Bands. There will also be musicians throughout the festival, a nine-hole mini golf course, a blessing of the wheels at Trinity English Lutheran Church and more, Hartzog said. In addition to the additional activities on Calhoun Street, businesses will also be open, including some that are traditionally closed on Sunday, Suarez said. The neighborhood associations surrounding the Calhoun Street corridor will also have a presence at the festival, he said. “Throughout history Calhoun has always been a gathering place in Fort Wayne. It’s been a place where people have gone to eat, to shop, to meet friends and that still is the case,” Suarez said. With so much activity, volunteers are still needed to help give direction and help run some of the activities. Shifts are two hours so people can enjoy the area festivities, Suarez said. “I do think it’s a great opportunity, whether you’re a store, whether you are a bank, whether you are a restaurant to get people involved and really the time commitment of a couple of hours isn’t a lot,” he said. To volunteer or for more information visit openstreetsfw. org.

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Pedal, paddle, play

The Perfect Neighborhood Gathering Place PHOTOS BY RAY STEUP

The 2nd annual 3Rivers Federal Credit Union Pedal, Paddle, and Play was June 10. The purpose of the event is to introduce people to the 560 miles of navigable water with 87 access points within the 10-county region of northeast Indiana, said Kyle Quandt, project manager for Northeast Indiana Water Trails. Participants carried a “passport,” which they had stamped at six different locations as they paddled or pedaled along the trails. One location was Fort Wayne’s water filtration plant where tours were given and the new canal boat “Sweet Breeze” was anchored at the confluence of the three rivers, said Quandt. The furthest check point was Stevie’s Island, 3 miles from the starting point of Fort Wayne Outfitters. Participants with stamped passports were eligible to win prizes, including a complete kayak package.

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Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

Babies take first steps in music By Megan Knowles

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The First Steps in Music program offered through the Allen County Public Library may look like child’s play, but it is, in fact, helping build the foundation for a lifetime of music. First Steps in Music is a music literacy curriculum created by John Feierabend of the Hartt School of Music, said Becky Walter, Fort Wayne Children’s Choir’s Whitley Community Choir director and First Steps in Music licensed instructor. The program being used through the ACPL is geared for babies from birth to 36 months, Walter said, though other versions can be used in preschool and beyond. “Our goal is to build musical concepts and foundations from birth all the way up through adulthood. So we make children tuneful and, we call it beatful,…and artful,” she said. The program has already been successful in Whitley County and across the country, Walter said, making bringing it to Fort Wayne ideal. “[FWCC Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Busarow and I] had lots of talks about, what would happen if we brought this program to Fort Wayne because I just kept saying it’s so good, Fort Wayne doesn’t have anything like this,” Walter said. “To offer this for free through the library is great.” In the classes, which are being offered at all the ACPL branches, Walter provides colorful

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PHOTOS BY MEGAN KNOWLES

Becky Walter leads a group in songs during the inaugural First Steps in Music class June 2 at the Aboite Branch of the Allen County Public Library June 2.

First Steps in Music licensed instructor Becky Walter plays a children’s song on the autoharp during the inaugural First Steps in Music class on June 2 at the Aboite Branch of the Allen County Public Library. Walter is the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir’s Whitley Community Choir director.

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Cara Maroney and her daughter, Myla, enjoy an activity during the First Steps in Music class June 2 at the Aboite Branch of the Allen County Public Library.

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through several classic children’s songs, nursery rhymes and activities they can continue with their little ones at home. Cara Maroney was one of the first attendees at the Aboite Branch with her daughter, Myla, almost 2. She said she was happy to have ideas to take home. “She likes music and dancing,” Cara said of Myla. “We had a really good time.” Ultimately, Walter sees the program as “building strong brains musically.” “I’m a huge believer in earliest education for children and I’m a huge believer in the best education for children,” Walter said. “[First Steps in Music] is fundamentally correct from birth all the way up until we are ready to take them into public school or private school or children’s choir. “They’re ready to go because they have the foundation.”

INfortwayne.com • A5

Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

9th Annual Le Tour de Fort

PHOTOS BY LUCRETIA CARDENAS

A sea of red-shirted cyclists took over downtown Fort Wayne June 3 for the 9th annual Le Tour de Fort. The bike crawl through the Summit City is hosted by VFW Post 857 and raises funds to support disabled veterans. Hundreds of cyclists participated in this year’s event, cycling from restaurants and bars in and around downtown from noon to 7 p.m. – with many continuing their tour of area food establishments into the late evening. For more photos and information, go to infortwayne.com.

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Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

Picturing GE from an artist’s perspective By Linda Lipp

llipp@kpcmedia.com

Artists are often the first to move in when a rundown urban neighborhood is renewed and redeveloped. They may choose the neighborhood primarily because it’s cheap, but their very presence creates that cool factor that makes others want to follow. “Then what happens? It becomes a high rent district and the affordability drops and the artists are pushed out,” said Kevan Biggs, of Biggs Development, one of the partners in the redevelopment of the

former General Electric campus in downtown Fort Wayne. Biggs and members of the Cross Street Partners redevelopment team met with a small group of artists, makers and gallery owners at the Wunderkammer Gallery on the south side of town on June 13 to talk about what the project could mean to the arts community. One of the intentions of the developers is to create living spaces that will be affordable to artists not just at first, but for the foreseeable future, Biggs said.

“We’re not just letting market forces play out… we don’t want to lose that interesting component. It’s intentional to get [artists] in early and make sure housing is affordable long-term,” Biggs said. To do that, the developers plan to make use of an IRS tax credit program that allows them to give preference to artists who fall within the low income guidelines for affordable housing. Beyond that, the vision for the campus also includes studio and gallery spaces, all the components that will

help make the local arts community more productive, Biggs added. Sharon Eisbart, of Sharon Eisbart Corporate Art, said she feels the community’s excitement about the project. Like Parkview Field, which had its naysayers before it was built, the Electric Works project is an “if you build it they will come” kind of project. “There’s not just living, there’s working, there’s learning, there’s producing, there’s selling,” she said. It’s an artist’s complete wish list. The informal meeting

with artists is one of a series the developers are having as they craft plans for the massive complex of buildings. Innovation and entrepreneurship are two major themes of the project, said Bill Steuver, CEO of Cross Street Partners. Creating the right mix within that means combining four groups: artists, makers, foodies and techies. Another meeting later the same today brought together people in the food industry to talk about the food hall, restaurant incubator and culinary training program the redeveloped campus

could contain. Rechristened Electric Works, the multiuse project also is expected to include market rate housing, office, retail and restaurant space and a hotel, among other elements. “It is going to be all of the above. It will be coffee shops, a brewery, retail shops, office space and innovation space for this collision to happen. “It truly will be a small city within a city and it will attract people not just from the suburbs, but South Bend, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati,” Biggs said.

J Taylors to play first of eight Aboite concerts By Garth Snow

gsnow@kpcmedia.com

Some of Fort Wayne’s most popular music acts will return to the 2017 Concerts on the Green series presented by the Aboite Township trustee. The music will flow from 7-9 p.m. eight consecutive Wednesdays at Indian Trails Park, just east of the Jorgensen Family YMCA on Aboite Center Road. Admission is free. The public will bring lawn chairs and blankets and relax on the lawn just south of the playground area. The Aboite Township Fire Department will sell hot dogs, chips and soft drinks. “It’s a good way to enjoy some music and to support the fire department,” Krisher said. Jonathan and Janelle Taylor — known as The J Taylors — will open the series again this year. They will present crowdpleasing summertime

favorites on July 12. Janelle Taylor is a graduate of Homestead High School. “My whole family is from the area, and it’s nice to be able to play in your own neck of the woods,” she said. Both Taylors attended Huntington College. They live in Fort Wayne. This marks the couple’s ninth year of presenting cover music. They deliver tunes from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Seeger, Jimmy Buffett, Linda Rondstadt, Patsy Cline and rock icons through the early 1990s. Loyal fans follow their show to area restaurants, such as Triangle Park about once a month. “We play a lot of shows in northeast Indiana but we’ve also traveled to several other states through the Midwest to play everything from festivals to corporate events and weddings,” Janelle said. They will perform June 30 at a Concert on the

Lawn in Greenfield, Ind. The couple also opened last year’s Aboite concert series. Janelle said the lawn concerts are always fun. “We typically see lots of people who I know and from [Emmanuel Community] church. We see our loyal followers in the audience and we always like to go around and say hello,” she said. Krisher said she is starting the series later this year because of troublesome rain in June 2016; there are no rain dates. She also has extended the series to eight concerts, just to accommodate the most popular bands. Another concert series favorite will perform on Week 2. Shannon Persinger said she has performed in the park seven or eight times since about 2005, with different bands. The new group is known simply as The Shannon Persinger Band. “We have

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Jonathan and Janelle Taylor perform as The J Taylors. The Fort Wayne couple will perform for a free concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, at Indian Trails Park, just east of the Jorgensen Family YMCA on Aboite Center Road. The duo will open the 2017 Concerts on the Green series, sponsored by Aboite Township Trustee Barb Krisher.

performed all over - Club Soda, Nick’s Martini & Wine Bar and JeFFFest in Huntington,” she said. “We play jazz, some pop, a little country,

some Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, even Johnny Cash,” Persinger said. The full schedule: July 12, The J Taylors, rock and country variety;

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INfortwayne.com • A7

Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

Tanzer engages youth in German dance By Megan Knowles

mknowles@kpcmedia.com

Though a relative newcomer to the Germanfest scene, the Fort Wayne Tanzer dance group seeks to keep alive an old tradition. “About six years ago [Patrice Fox] was approached and asked if she wanted to start a German dancing troupe,” member Sarah Hobson said. The name Tanzer comes from the German word meaning “to dance.” Several of the original members knew Fox through homeschooling circles and were asked if they wanted to help start the group, member Hannah Hobson said. “We all like to dance

and when we can come together and do it for fun and share it with others it makes it all the [better],” she said. “The first year was really small and informal but we continue to grow.” Today, Tanzer includes about 40 members, who range in age from 5 to 18. The group, who performed several times during Germanfest week, demonstrate traditional German and Austrian folk dances. “‘The Sound of Music,’ that time period,” member Sarah Hobson said. Members meet once or twice a month to start, then meetings get progressively more frequent as the festival nears, Sarah Hobson said. They often practice for

Related video n See Tanzer at Germanfest. Visit infortwayne.com.

several hours to learn the steps, claps and even flips needed for the variety of dances. “For me it’s just fun and something I enjoy doing. I get to hang out with friends,” member Julia Maxwell said. “Plus we get to wear awesome dresses, which is a big plus,” Sarah Hobson said, showing off the blue and white dress she and the other young women her age were wearing. The young men, meanwhile, sported black lederhosen with matching caps. “We just got them this year and one of our leaders made them all by hand.”

PHOTO BY RAY STEUP

About 40 dancers ages 5 to 18 present German and Austrian dances each year at Germanfest.

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Forest Park United Methodist Church will hold its fifth annual Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 9, during the Three Rivers Festival. Admission is free. The church invites the public to join in singing their favorite hymns, led by the pipe organ and grand piano. Forest Park U.M.C. is at 2100 Kentucky Ave., 2 blocks south of State Boulevard and 1 block west of Crescent Avenue in Fort Wayne.

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A8 • INfortwayne.com

Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

All-star cast to present ‘The Addams Family’ By Steve Penhollow

MEET THE CAST

For the IN|fw

When fine arts teacher Kirby Volz left North Side High School in 2012 for a job in Indianapolis, he made an unusual decision. He decided not to give up the Fort Wayne summer theater program he helped launch in 1998. Several times a year, Volz returns to the Summit City to keep the Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre up and running. And he spends every summer here. The group is open to middle-school-age and high-school-age kids who live in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. It is also open to area college students in the middle of their freshman and sophomore years. “This year, we have a kid that lives in Antwerp,” Volz said in a phone interview. “We have a girl that’s from Huntington. We’ve had kids from Kendallville.” The next Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre production is “The Addams Family,” which opens July 7 for a two-weekend run at Canterbury High School. The musical version of Charles Addams’ muchadapted cartoons debuted on Broadway in 2010. Volz has a particular and challenging set of guidelines for choosing shows. He wants to broaden kids’ artistic horizons and give them shows they wouldn’t encounter during the school year. But he also wants the

PHOTO BY GARTH SNOW

Cast members take on character and costume during a rehearsal for “The Addams Family” at Canterbury High School. The Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre cast includes (from left): Atticus Bennett, Homestead High School senior, as Gomez Addams; Janae Jeran, 2017 Carroll High School graduate, as Wednesday Addams; and Kalee McCullar, 2016 Snider High School graduate, as Morticia Addams.

shows to be as family friendly as possible. “The Addams Family,” a fresh show based on universally beloved material, really fit the bill this year. “It’s a lot of fun,” Volz said. “It’s one of those shows that has done well regionally, in community theaters. The only time I have seen it was last year up at Wagon Wheel (in Warsaw). And it was a fun evening.” As an ensemble show with many juicy characters, “The Addams Family” is well suited for use by the Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre, he said. The Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre funds its theatrical activities in several ways, Volz said. There are

fundraisers, including a cabaret night. There are program advertisements and sponsorships. There is also a participation fee, which Volz likens to fees charged by kids’ soccer and baseball leagues. “It just helps us get a little start,” he said. “It’s not anything huge by any stretch. In athletics, it can be hundreds of dollars. This is like $40. It’s just a little seed money.” The cast takes advantage of whatever free advertising is available, he said, like marching in the Three Rivers Festival parade. But Volz said the Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre has also built up a reputation. “We’ve been around long enough,” he said. “We

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’

Canterbury High School, 3210 Smith Road, Fort Wayne. July 7, 8, 14 and 15, 7:30 p.m.; July 9 and 16, 2 p.m. Admission $15 for adults, $12 for students high school age or younger, and $2 off with a Three Rivers Festival button. Presented by Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre. get the parents of the kids, of course, but word of mouth has gotten around to such an extent that we have a reliable audience base.” Proceeds from a silent auction and free-will donations are given to Broadway Cares, a theatrical organization that raises money for AIDS-related causes, Volz said. Volz was told one year that the Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre raises more money for Broadway Cares than any other

student group. One of the biggest challenges for the program has been location. The shows, by necessity and not by design, have been staged at various locales throughout Fort Wayne. “We don’t have a home,” he said. “It would be nice to have some place we could call home. Until then, we’ll just be a band of merry travelers.” Volz said he knows the day will come when he will have to hand the reins over to a new exec-

Gomez Addams — Atticus Bennett Morticia Addams — Kalee McCullar Wednesday Addams — Janae Jeran Pugsley Addams — Mason Brindle Fester Addams — Jason Wendt Lucas Beineke — Daniel Moser Mal Beineke — Holden Davenport Alice Beineke — Gwenyth Baer Grandma Addams — Zara McCord Lurch Addams — Dylan Record Cousin IT — Aaron Hawley Tassel — Olivia Elkins With 12 featured Addams Ancestors and an ensemble of 34. Director — Kirby Volz Music director — Ben Wedler Assistant director — Andrew Sherman Choreographer — Leslie Beauchamp Stage manager — Morgan Thoma Visit FWSMT.com for more information.

utive director. “I would still like to keep a foot in the door as a producer,” he said. Until then, he will enjoy his yearly opportunity to coach each summer. “They’re the top kids from everywhere,” he said. “I get them for six to eight weeks in the summer and it’s like it’s my all-star team.”

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Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

The days of roar:

INfortwayne.com • A9

Arcola gets loud and dusty and the loyal crowd loves it

By Garth Snow

gsnow@kpcmedia.com

With each passing year, Arcola adds just a bit more to the three-day truck and tractor pull that it has celebrated for more than six decades. The food concessions grow a little bolder. The competition categories expand. The thunder that pierces the clouds of clay dust increases demand for better earplugs. The Arcola Volunteer Fire Department takes in a little more money for equipment. Weather-permitting, the tiny Allen County village will celebrate that growth once again, July 6-8. Generations that have volunteered their energy for the pull will remember those who set it in motion, those who created the park where the diesel smoke now rises, and those who steered the tractors that pulled the immense weights back to the starting line. This year, yet another name joins the list of those remembered. John Brandon died March 16 at age 76. “My dad was the first fire chief out there,” Brandon said in a 2014 interview. That was 1954, when John C. “Cliff” Brandom Sr. headed the Arcola Fire Department and the first Arcola pull was part of the now-vanished Arcola Days celebration. For decades, Brandon and his friends from the Antique Power Club of the Mizpah Shrine would keep the pulls on schedule. Steering vintage tractors, they would bring the drag weights back to the starting line. The weight on those drags would shift into the tow position. Bigger tractors and trucks would pull those weights again, with the force shifting into an ever escalating, pull-stopping burden. Volunteers would reverse the weight, and the Shriners would tow the weights back to the line, again and again. Brandon was honored as the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department Citizen of the Year in 2009. He was still pulling and smiling during that interview five years later. “I believe firmly in giving back,” he said. “The good Lord was darn good to me and my family, and I firmly believe in giving back to the community, the Shrine and the kids.” Brandon said he and his father were close friends with Leonard “Babe” Branning, who left the tractor pull

FILE PHOTO BY JANE SNOW

Exhaust hangs over the pull strip as a tractor challenges the clay at Branning Park in Arcola.

grounds to the township. “He donated all that land,” Brandon said. Festival publicist Natalie Bultemeier said Brandon will receive special mention in the 2017 pull’s printed program. Bultemeier remembers all those who helped to create and build the Arcola tradition. “My grandpa was Babe Branning, who donated the land for the park,” she said. “It’s a family thing. You get involved and you just keep volunteering. Your mom and dad and grandparents do it and it’s just something you’re going to do.”“It’s been a long time,” she recalled. “I was secretary in ‘06-07 and prior to that I was in the elephant ear tent and prior to that I was a cashier. So I think I’ve worked almost every booth they have.” Last year’s pull was blessed with good weather and raised enough to allow the fire department to buy some gear and equipment and make some radio upgrades. Volunteers already are at work at the pull site. “The fire department will be down here two nights a week if not more, making sure everything is repaired and cleaned and painted,” she said. “They’ll tend to any trees that need to be trimmed. They’ll be setting up fences, putting up the netting, setting up the guardrails.” As for the pull itself, one new diesel tractor weight class has been added to the Michindoh (Michigan, Indiana, Ohio) pull on Thursday night, and a similar class has been added to the National Truck and Tractor Pull on Saturday evening. The popular beer tent also is adding an option.

PHOTO BY JANE SNOW

A future puller watches from the bleachers at the Arcola National Truck & Tractor Pull.

FILE PHOTO BY GARTH SNOW

National Tractor Pullers Association Region 2 Director Tom Jackson sells a T-shirt to a fan at the Arcola National Truck and Tractor Pull.

“We are going to offer Yuengling this year, and I know there are people who are on board with that,” Bultemeier said. The food tents again will feature favorites including whole-hog sausage with green peppers and onions, hot dogs, elephant ears and curly fries. Vendors of truck gear, T-shirts, novelties and earplugs will fill the space beyond the east bleachers. The Arcola Lions Club will be back with the popcorn trailer. Like last year and every year in memory, the Lions Club also will be back the Sunday morning after the tractor pull. Lions will recycle a significant number of cans while cleaning the grounds to await the 2018 pull. “We get huge support from the community,” Bultemeier said. “It’s all volunteers. We have a great crew. They all work together. They all pitch in.” Or, as Branning said just three noisy, dusty pulls ago. “That’s what really makes it happen. It takes a lot, but it’s a good organization, and it’s all done for the fire department.”

• • • • • • •

FILE PHOTO BY GARTH SNOW

Arcola Lions Club members Dale Nierman, from left, Joe Geller and John Geller greet their neighbors as they sell popcorn at Branning Park.

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Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

Summer returns with parade of festivals

Fort Wayne and surrounding communities are alive with festivals, right through autumn. Mark these June and July events on your calendars and watch for the full list and updates at infortwayne.com. Send festival news to gsnow@ kpcmedia.com.

FORT WAYNE FESTIVALS Fort Wayne Greek Festival, through June

25, Headwaters Park. Food, pastry, beverages, music and dance celebrating Greek traditions. For details, visit fortwaynegreekfestival.org.

FILE PHOTOS BY GARTH SNOW

The Rev. Steve Whetstone grills breakfast and lunch at the Zanesville Community Church of God tent at the 2016 Homespun Day. Church members will cook brats and onion rings again July 29 at the community ballpark. The festival is now the Zanesville Lions Club Summer Festival.

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Dragon Boat Races, June 24, on and along the St. Marys River near Fort Wayne Outfitters and Bike Depot. Sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council. For updates, follow visitfortwayne.com.

Fort Wayne Pride, July 21-22, Headwaters Park, Fort Wayne. Entertainment, food, vendors, KidSpace, workshops for the family. For details, visit fwpride.org.

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Buskerfest, June 24, downtown Fort Wayne. A celebration of street performers. For details, visit downtownfortwayne. com.

Three Rivers Festival, July 7-15, throughout Fort Wayne. More than 80 events plus daily concerts. The parade is at 10 a.m. Saturday; this year’s parade theme is Superheroes. For updates, visit threeriversfestival.org.

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Denis Partyka of Markle awaits admirers of his 1958 Cadillac at the 2016 Zanesville Homespun Day. The car show will be held again July 29 at the Zanesville United Methodist Church, as part of the Zanesville Lions Club Summer Festival.

Allen County Fair, July 25-30. Entertainment, Monster Truck rides, 4-H and open class awards, pedal car races, hot-air balloons, demolition derby, and more. Daily dinner specials by community organizations. Midway rides and food, too. Daily gate admission $5 for adults, free for children 5 and under. For details, visit allencountyfairgroundsin.com. Baals Music Festival,

July 28-29, downtown Fort Wayne. 5 p.m.-12 a.m. each night. $15 for all ages for two nights, $10 a night. For updates, visit itsbaals.com.

OTHER NEARBY FESTIVALS Columbia City Old Settlers Festival,

through June 24, throughout community. Parade, food, amusements, entertainment. For details, visit oldsettlers.net.

Woodburn Summerfest, June 23 and 24, in

and around the city park. Food, entertainment, drawings, parade, beer tent, trivia night. For details, visit woodburnsummerfest.com.

Covington Art Fair, June 24 and 25, Covington Plaza, West Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne. Juried artists display and offer their work from tents in the plaza parking lot. Food vendors and music, too. Free admission. For details, visit Covington Art Fair on Facebook. Shrine Charity Horse Show, June 24 and 25,

Mizpah Shrine Horse Grounds, 965 Indiana 9, Columbia City. Free admission. Food available. Open English, hunter/jumper, open show Western, dressage, and fun show. For details, visit shrinehorseshow.org. Leo-Cedarville Freedom Festival, June

30 and July 1, Riverside Gardens Park on the banks of the St. Josaeph River. Food, music and fireworks. For details, visit leocedarvillechamber.com. Arcola National Truck & Tractor Pull and Michindoh series pull,

July 6-8, Branning Park, Arcola. Beer garden, food. For hours, admission costs, pull categories, visit arcolapull.org. Zanesville Lions Club Summer Festival (formerly Zanesville Homespun Day), July

29, Zanesville on the Allen-Wells County Line. Car show, arts and crafts show, free horse-drawn wagon rides, lots of food, townwide garage sales. (No parade this year.) For more information, visit Zanesville Lion’s Club Summer Festival on Facebook.

Compiled by Garth Snow

Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

OAKDALE NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIC HOMES TOUR

PHOTOS BY RAY STEUP

The Oakdale Neighborhood Association hosted a historic homes tour on June 10. Much of Oakdale Neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The majority of homes were built between 1915 and 1930, many featuring the work of prominent architects. Nine homes and the South Wayne Evangelical United Brethren church were part of the tour. Funds raised from the event support the Oakdale Neighborhood Association. The room pictured is at 701 W. Oakdale. The house pictured is at 625 W. Oakdale.

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INfortwayne.com • A11

A12 • INfortwayne.com

Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

News briefs: Schedules, results, sign-up notes 122nd to fly over July 8 parade

Rep. Jim Banks, R-3rd, announced that the Air Force has approved a request for A-10s from the 122nd Fighter Wing to conduct a flyover prior to the annual Three Rivers Festival Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 8, in downtown Fort Wayne. “This is an opportunity to showcase a valuable asset to our region and highlight the importance of the 122nd Fighter Wing,” Banks said in a statement. “The 122nd is more than a fighter wing, they are members of our community. I am excited that they will be a part of northeast Indiana’s largest festival.” “There is no clear way to express the joy this news brings us,” said Jack Hammer, executive director for the Three Rivers Festival. “Being able to again include the tradition of a flyover from our very own community members to kick off the parade after an eight-year hiatus is humbling and symbolic.”

Event is benefit for Mental Health

Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana will hold its Evening of

Champions fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at Lincoln Financial Event Center at Parkview Field, 1301 Ewing St., Fort Wayne. Tickets are $50 per person. Casual attire is suggested. Order tickets by phone at (260) 422-6441 or visit MentalHealthFrontDoor. org. Sponsorships are available. The evening will celebrate community mental health champions. Guests will browse the auctions while supporting individuals and families facing mental health challenges.

followed by a shotgun start at noon. The format is a Florida scramble, with men’s, women’s and mixed teams welcome. A cocktail party will await golfers as they finish play, from 4:45-7 p.m. The cocktail party includes a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres, prizes and recognition of sponsors. The cost for the day is $125. The cocktail party alone is $15. To register to play, or to sponsor, or for more information, visit philharmonicfriends.com.

Phil Friends plan July golf outing

Works by IPFW art students are on display through Aug. 11 at the Visual Arts Gallery, 2110 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne. Hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends. The exhibition is free and open to the public. The works were created by students in the 100 Level through 400 Level classes of the Departments of Fine Arts and Visual Communication and Design. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Visual Art Gallery hours are 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekends.

A golf outing will support the work of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Friends. The Phil Friends assists the Philharmonic in many ways, including providing transportation and housing to visiting artists and providing snacks for the musicians’ rehearsals for the Masterwork concerts. The Swing for the Symphony III golf outing will be held Thursday, July 27, at Orchard Ridge Country Club, 4531 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne. Lunch will be served at 11:15 a.m.,

IPFW student artwork displayed

Fort Wayne’s

Storyteller Arts • Entertainment Community

Bryan to perform here again Oct. 5

Country music star Luke Bryan has booked an Allen County stop on his fall tour for the third straight year. Bryan will present six shows in as many states during the ninth annual Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour. Bryan will perform at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, at Spangler Farms West, 14329 E. Tillman Road, Fort Wayne. Tickets start at $49. Get tickets and VIP package information at lukebryan.com.

equipped to excel. Level 1 classes are for students entering second and third grades. Level II is for students entering fourth through sixth grades. Classes will be open to the public at these places and times: • Woodburn Branch Library, through June 26, 4-5 p.m. • Shawnee Branch Library, July 17-20, 2:303:30 p.m. • Tecumseh Branch Library, July 24-27, 1:302:30 p.m. • Hessen Cassel Branch Library, July 10-31, 2-3 p.m.

Science classes available for free

Artlink presents annual showcase

Science Central has been awarded a grant to deliver a nationwide GSK Science in the Summer program free of charge to northeast Indiana libraries, summer school programs, and community centers. This is the third summer Science Central has been awarded the grant by GSK Science in the Summer. The program content invites children to explore the role of science, technology, engineering and math in sports. Students discover that athletes need to be physically fit, mentally fit, and properly

Artlink Contemporary Gallery, 300 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, will present the 39th annual Members’ Showcase June 30-Aug. 4. This exhibition will feature artists working in a variety of media including sculpture and oil paintings, digital photography and ceramics. Local artist Jeremy Stroup will have a solo exhibition in the Fishman Gallery in conjunction with the Members’ Showcase opening Friday, June 30, from 6-9 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, noon-7 p.m., and

Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

Author to read and sign book

Ron Lucas will sign copies of “The Mother Goose Market” from 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 23, at Hyde Brothers Bookseller, 1428 Wells St., Fort Wayne. The event is free and open to the public. Born in Kendallville, Lucas was raised in the Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern Kentucky. He now lives in Fort Wayne and spends winters in Atlanta. After writing for decades, he turned to writing memories from his childhood. This is his first published poetry collection. For more information on the author, visit lummoxpress.com.

Concert for Hope to raise awareness

The Huntington’s Disease Foundation will host Concert of Hope 2017 at CS3, 1915 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 24. Get tickets for $7 in advance; visit concertofhopehd.com for advance See NEWS, Page A13

INfortwayne.com • A13

Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

NEWS from Page A12 tickets. Tickets will be $10 at the door. This fundraiser is designed to raise awareness of Huntington’s disease. James and the Drifters will be joined by Basketcase and the Addison Agen Band. Comedian Joe Deez will host the show. Huntington’s disease slowly diminishes the affected individual’s ability to walk, think, talk and reason. More than 30,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with HD and 200,000 are at risk. More information is available at concertofhopeHD.com.

Francine’s Friends lists locations

Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography released the mobile unit’s revised schedule for the next several weeks, including these local dates and locations: • June 26. PNC, 110 W. Berry St., Fort Wayne. • June 28. Signature HealthCARE, 6006 Brandy Chase Cove, Fort Wayne. • July 3. PPG Family Practice, 1331 Minnich Road, New Haven. • July 12. Parkview Health & Fitness, 3000 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne. • July 13. Center for Behavioral Health, 3910 Lima Road, Fort Wayne. • July 15. The Vitamin Shoppe, 4601 Illinois Road, Fort Wayne. • July 17. Wellspring Interfaith Social Services, 1316 Broadway, Fort Wayne. • July 18. Sweetwater Sound, 5501 U.S. 30 W, Fort Wayne. • July 21. Park Place Senior Living, 4411 Park Place Drive, Fort Wayne. • July 22. Christian Community Healthcare, 13720 First St., Grabill. • July 25. Fairington

Apartments, 4931 Fairington Drive, Fort Wayne. • July 27. Health Visions, 2135 S. Hanna St., Fort Wayne. • July 29. St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 2421 S. Hanna St., Fort Wayne. Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography is made possible through funding from Francine’s Friends, Parkview Health and the Breast Diagnostic Center. For an appointment, call (260) 483-1847. For the full schedule, visit francinesfriends.org.

Housing Authority to close waiting list

The Fort Wayne Housing Authority will close its Public Housing Waiting List at noon Friday, June 30. The waiting list will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21. Any applications that are received between those dates will not be accepted or processed. FWHA will not hold on to any applications received for processing once the waiting list reopens. Those who wish to apply for the Public Housing Program prior to the closing of the waiting list may do so in person at FWHA’s Administrative Building located at 7315 Hanna St., Fort Wayne, during normal business hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, or online by visiting the Applicant Portal located on the home page of fwha.org. All mailed applications must be postmarked no later than June 30.

FWCS offers summer meals

The Fort Wayne Community Schools summer meals program has begun serving

students throughout the district. Meals are served Monday-Friday, unless otherwise noted, at 40 sites. Most sites end Friday, July 28, though some serve through Aug. 4. No meals will be served on Tuesday, July 4. For a list of sites and hours and exceptions to the schedule, visit fortwayneschools.org and click the News and Events tab. FWCS sponsors the Summer Food Service Program for Children to provide free meals to all children ages 18 and younger and to adults who are enrolled in a state-approved educational program for the mentally or physically disabled. The meal program was created to serve nutritious meals to children when National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program meals are not available. To ensure all children receive proper nutrition throughout the year, SFSPC reimburses organizations that prepare and serve meals to eligible children during the summer.

Foundation grants $18,000 to MHANI

Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana has been awarded a grant of $18,000 by Lincoln Financial Foundation to support the Cedars Hope program. Cedars Hope currently houses 16 women and offers support services to past residents and one man living in the community. “The women living at Cedars Hope would very likely be homeless without the kind of permanent, supportive housing offered there,” MHANI said in a statement. “In addition to having a home, the residents learn to be

productive and independent while living at Cedars Hope, with the hope that one day they will be able to live on their own again.

Summer camps continue at Luers

Bishop Luers High School, 333 E. Paulding Road, Fort Wayne, is offering a series of summer camps. Football skills camp will be June 26-29, from 6-8 p.m., and is for grades 5-8 or students registered at Luers. Soccer camp will be from 10 a.m.-noon July 10-13, plus evening competitions, and is for incoming Luers students. Show choir camp will be from 9-11:30 a.m. Aug. 1-4 and is for pre-kindergarten through grade 8. Get details and registration instructions at bishopluers.org.

Triathlon invites four age groups

Jorgensen Family YMCA, 10313 Aboite Center Road, Fort Wayne, will hold the third annual Spirit, Mind, Body Youth and Adult Triathlon on Saturday, July 29, beginning at 7:30 a.m. This event is held each year at the Jorgensen’s outdoor pool. It is a beginner-friendly race with distances short enough that even beginner triathletes can compete. Ages 15 and older complete a 300-yard pool swim, an 8-mile bike, and a 2-mile run. Different distances apply to ages 10-14, 8-9 and 6-7. Registration is $45 per individual for kids and adults if registered by July 22. Register at fwymca.org/jorgensenytriathlon.php. Find other rates and race-day registration information at that same site. Proceeds from this event support the

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Printmaking show has works by four

Crestwoods Gallery is celebrating its 6-year anniversary while Crestwoods Frame Shop continues its 52 years of service. “Since taking ownership of Crestwoods six years it has been our honor to work with so many talented local artists. And we promise to continue our mission to put on shows that are ever-changing and feature every medium,” Crestwoods’ owners said in an email. The show “Printmaking and More” featuring the works of Stephanie Carpenter, Betty Fishman, Alan Larkin and Barbara Nohinek runs through July 8. All types of printmaking are represented in this exhibit. “Tim Brumbeloe Photography” opens July 22 and continues through August. The public may meet the artist from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, July 20. Crestwoods Gallery will help the Fort Wayne Weaver’s Guild celebrate 75 years. The public may meet the weavers and enjoy a variety of textiles from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, which is also the day of the Roanoke Plein Air and Art Show. The textiles show continues through Oct. 20. Crestwoods Frame Shop and Gallery is at 314 N. Main St. in Roanoke.

St. Michael hires preschool teacher

St. Michael Lutheran Church at 2131 Getz Road in Fort Wayne has hired Shannon Rose as the new preschool teacher. Rose is a graduate of Ball State University with

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Southwest Montessori Academy, 1625 Magnavox Way, Fort Wayne, has been validated by the United Montessori Schools of Indiana. The school received a certificate for completing the process. The academy offers a primary program for children ages 3-6. Founded in 2013, the academy is a private, not-for-profit school offering full-day and half-day school options for preschool through kindergarten, including beforeschool and after-school programs. For more information, visit southwestmontessoriacademy. org.

Exhibit features two photographers

Photographs by John Gevers and Tara Denny remains on exhibit through July 7 at the Garrett Museum of Art, 100 S. Randolph St., Garrett. Gallery hours are 5-8 p.m. Friday, 4-7 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit garrettmuseumofart.org. Compiled by Garth Snow

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a degree in elementary education with a concentration in kindergarten/ primary education. Rose student taught in a firstgrade classroom. She also brings experience as an instructional assistant at Mary Raber Elementary School and an early childhood educator at Sonshine Christian Academy. St. Michael Preschool has classes for ages 3-5. For details, visit stmfw. org/preschool or call (260) 432-2033.

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Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

ALL SET FOR SUMMER COURTESY PHOTO

The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department welcomed summer with three swimming pools and eight splash pads. Memorial Park Pool opened June 17 after the Parks Department found its quota of lifeguards and all personnel completed training. The pool’s summer schedule is Wednesday-Sunday, 12:30-5 p.m. Northside Pool and McMillen Park Pool (shown) also are open for the summer. Splash pads are operating at: Franklin School Park, Buckner Park, McCormick Park, Memorial Park, Robert E. Meyers Park at Parkview Field, Shoaff Park, Kreager Park and Waynedale Park. For hours, directions and admission prices, visit fortwayneparks.org/ FamilyAquaticCenters.

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Easterseals Arc is now hiring Direct Support Professionals to assist people with disabilities. Resumes may be submitted to: Oversee maintenance department • Pay scale starts at $10.50/hr with more Due to continuing growth we hiring:Arc HVAC, Due to continuing growth we are hiring: HVAC, employment@kortedoesitall.com, for are experience as well as coordinate any projects Due to continuing growth we are hiring: HVAC, Easterseals is now hiring Due to continuing growth we are hiring: HVAC, • Full- and part-time openings with plant manager or director ofPlumbing Electrical, and Plumbing Journeymen, Installers, Electrical, and Journeymen, Installers, orElectrical, they can be completed with an online and Plumbing Journeymen, Installers, Direct Support Electrical, and Plumbing Journeymen, Installers, • Shift differentials forProfessionals evenings, overnightsto operations. Service Techs, and experienced Apprentices. Service and weekends application at www.kortedoesitall.com assist people with disabilities. Service Apprentices. Techs, and experienced Apprentices. ServiceTechs, Techs,and andexperienced experienced Apprentices. • Extensive training offered GENERAL PRODUCTION or they may be faxed to 260-493-0934. • Benefits Pay include scalevacation, startssick at time, $10.50/hr 1st shift (7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) health insurance, on-site clinic

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Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

DISTILLING from Page A1 distillery’s location at 224 E. Wallace St., the owners took a gamble in getting it started, Pence said. Until recently, craft distilleries had to wait three years to add tasting rooms to their offerings, according to a Three Rivers Distilling statement. “Last summer we decided to really focus our efforts on the structure of the artisan distiller’s permit and the effect it had on our business and the other startup distilleries in Indiana,” Pence said. “We had a great opportunity to present

our case to Rep. [Matt] Lehman, who was the interim House Public Policy [Committee] chairman, who took the time to understand our issue and supported our efforts for small business growth.” The company also contacted its representative, Phillip GiaQuinta. “Rep. GiaQuinta did an amazing job of supporting our efforts all the way through the session,” Pence said. “I will always remember a three-way phone call with myself, my partner Steve and Rep. GiaQuinta on Easter weekend. We will look back on that as a life-changing moment in the history of our busi-

ness.” Pence and Blevins also spoke to Rep. Ben Smaltz, who took over as the chair of the House public policy committee. Smaltz later authored House Bill 1496, which reduced the wait time for craft distilleries from three years to 18 months, according to the press release. “Today we get to announce a major expansion and thank those legislators who helped us make this dream a reality,” Pence said. Three Rivers Distilling Company distills a variety of spirits including vodka, bourbon, gin, rum and whisky.

PHOTO BY MEGAN KNOWLES

Three Rivers Distilling Co. Vice President of Sales and Marketing Aaron Pence gives guests a tour of the new tasting room and outdoor area, which was unveiled June 13. The expansion of the current building. located at 224 E. Wallace St., and its services will be open to the public in August. The local distiller is able to have a tasting room and additional offerings due to recent legislation being passed at the State House this spring.

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Environmental and Bio-Hazard Job Coordinator (Northeast Indiana) At Paul Davis we help people during a time when they need help now. If you are passionate about helping people, if you enjoy working in a team environment, if you provide excellent customer service and are responsive and accountable Paul Davis is a good fit for you. This position would require training not only by the Paul Davis team but also by the IICRC and other certifying agencies. Our technicians’ average day starts at 8 AM and ends at 4:30 PM with opportunity for overtime. We are emergency services so the ability to work after hours and the weekends is required. This position has many varied activities. If you like doing different tasks this is a good fit for you as you will not be doing the same thing from one day to the next. Do you like physical activity? This position will require quick movement and the lifting of objects weighing 40 or more pounds at times as well as working in small spaces. The coordinator not only performs on the jobsite but is the key to communication between Paul Davis and the property owners. The job coordinator works with the Environmental and Bio-Hazard Associate to promote Paul Davis as a leader in the mitigation of mold, meth, trauma and Hazmat. A valid driver’s license is required as well as a background check clear of felonies. If you want to become a part of a growing company where employee growth is just as important as company growth then please send your resume to the address below. Wages – annual wages of 35,000 – 45,000 per year. Paid hourly with OT and DT applying

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A16 • INfortwayne.com

Downtown FW • June 23, 2017

Phyllo and friendship: group bakes pastries for Greek Fest By Megan Knowles

mknowles@kpcmedia.com

While Greek Fest kicked off June 22 for most of Fort Wayne, for the women of Philoptochos at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church preparations began in April. The group makes hundreds of cookies and pastries for the four-day festival, including almost 500 trays of baklava and more than 200 pans of spanakopita, said Philoptochos President Deanna Gountras. All those baked goods take a lot of time to prepare. “For each one of our cookies we have a separate day,” Gountras said. “Every week we’re doing something. … We take care of the spinach and cheese [spanakopita] then

we do the baklava then we start working on our cookies a little closer to the festival.” The baklava alone takes four days to prepare, with the assembly being done in the spring. The layered pastries are then frozen before being baked before the festival. Gountras said Greece’s most famous pastry isn’t hard to make but can be time consuming. Everything goes better with a group of friends, however. “It’s fun, we just all get together and we sit around the tables and everybody has their own pan and their own set of supplies with their butter and their brush and their phyllo dough and their walnut mixture and they’re assembling it and we’re all talking,” Gountras said. Many of the baking

PHOTO BY RAY STEUP

Pans of baklava come fresh out of the oven at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in preparation for Greek Fest. Cups of honeyed syrup are poured over the pastries and allowed to soak in to complete the dessert.

group are members of Philoptochos or Holy Trinity, but some are just friends of the church. “Some people just like to come with their friends and help bake too,” Goun-

tras said. “[Then] they become kind of part of our group. It’s really nice.” In all, there are about 20 to 30 women who help bake, with many coming back year after year.

Recently, as a group of women baked the baklava and covered it with a honeyed syrup, they talked about how they had known each other for a long time. Some had known each other from when the church was on North Anthony Boulevard when Greek Fest first began. Some even knew each other from Greece. No matter the length or point of origin of their acquaintance, all asserted they were friends and that a lot of love had gone into the sweet treat they were making. That sense of friendship and passion for Greek food is how Greek Fest began 37 years ago, Gountras said. “We have a camaraderie and kind of a sisterhood together. It’s all for a good cause, we raise money for

our church and we bring everybody together and we share the Greek culture with everyone and we think that’s something that is valuable to Fort Wayne,” she said. Gountras said she believes Fort Wayne has embraced that as well, especially when it comes to the food. “I think that’s why people come down to Greek Fest to tell you the truth, for the food,” she said. “Greek people in general are very proud of their food and they take pride in their cuisine. All of our ingredients are natural. … I think people can taste that and that’s what they come for. And hopefully they’ll enjoy the dancing and the music and seeing people and just milling around and enjoying.”

WEDNESDAYS ON WAYNE

PHOTO BY GARTH SNOW

Geoffrey North of First Wayne Street United Methodist Church presents a music program for the Germanfest week organ tour and for the church’s Wednesdays on Wayne music series. Another 30-minute, free recital will be held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 28. IPFW voice professor Mark Stachovsky and classical guitarist Daniel Quinn will perform favorite selections from the classical repertoire. A light luncheon follows the recital. Wednesdays on Wayne will be repeated in October at the church, 300 E. Wayne St., Fort Wayne.

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