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Allen County briefs and events �� A11 Save Maumee Community Calendar �� A18-19 �� A3 FairfieldRealtors_63254 3.25x1.5 INFW 3-31-17

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Canal boat is making a comeback Friends of the Rivers unveils touring boat to launch by June By Megan Knowles mknowles@kpcmedia.com

After a more than 100-year hiatus, canal boats are returning to Fort Wayne. Friends of the Rivers Inc. announced the launch of a 21st century canal boat on March 24 that will be capable of giving tours along Fort Wayne’s eight miles of downtown rivers. The boat can seat as many as 40 people but can also be arranged for dinner cruises and parties, said Dan Wire, river advocate and the man who came up with the idea for the canal boat. The boat is modeled from a canal boat housed at the Wabash and Erie Canal Museum in Delphi, Wire said. “They were real sticklers to try to recreate this to be as much as a canal boat as possible,” he said. However, unlike its

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early counterparts from the 1800s, this boat will be powered by a 55-horsepower diesel engine and be equipped with stereo and Bluetooth speakers – all hidden away inside the walls of the boat. This boat will also be wheelchair accessible thanks to funding from the AWS Foundation. The $550,000 price tag for the boat was supported through fundraising by the Community Foundation

of Greater Fort Wayne. Board treasurer Jonathan Hancock emphasized the funds were raised “through, not from, the community foundation.” The boat is expected to launch by June 1, with docking for the 2017 season at Headwaters Park West, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department Executive Director Al Moll said. As riverfront development continues, additional docking loca-

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Dan Wire speaks about the canal boat unveiled by Friends of the Rivers Inc. on March 24. Wire, a longtime river advocate, came up with the idea for the boat.

For more information or to vote for the canal boat’s name between April 22-May 10, visit forfw.org. tions will be considered. Fares, routes and hours will be discussed with Fort Wayne Outfitters, which will be operating the boat under a management agreement with Friends of the Rivers, the organization’s President

Irene Walters said. “This first year is really going to be learning by doing. … I’m asking all of you to indulge us in learning,” she said. Those details should be announced at the nonprofit’s next presentation in May, when the name of the canal boat will also be released, Walters said.

Five names have been selected as potential candidates – Sweet Breeze, Johnny Boat, Kekionga, John Brown and Big Chief. The names will be whittled down to three via voting by Allen County schoolchildren. The final three will be See BOAT, Page A15

A taste of Fort Wayne

Tour combines passions of food, history Randy Harter has found a way to bring a favorite travel experience back home. “My wife and I have been on food tours in three other cities while we were on vacation and really enjoyed them,” he said. “We decided, hey, it would be fun to do a Fort Wayne food tour. I think Fort Wayne’s ready, there’s enough going on, there’s a lot of interest in the downtown area. We like to walk, we like to talk about history, and we love eating.” With those passions in mind, Fort Wayne Food Tours was born. Harter started working on the tour in September, recruiting his daughter, Sarah Arnold, to help with social media, marketing and as a backup tour guide. Harter also reached out to area restaurants to gauge

Tickets are $55 for the three-hour tour and are available at fortwaynefoodtours.com. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tours begin at 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Fort Wayne Food Tours’ season runs March through October. interest and Visit Fort Wayne to see if it would be supportive. “(The visitors’ bureau people) were very enthusiastic about it,” Harter said. “They see it as one more thing in their bag of offerings of something interesting that people can do in the downtown core.” The three-hour tour has 11 stops – five for tasting local fare and six for learning local history. The tour starts at Don Hall’s Gas House, due in part to its ample parking and the owners’ enthusiasm for the project. “Ben Hall there was the very first person I talked to, who runs the Gas House, and he was very enthusiastic about it and right

from the get-go said, ‘yes, we want to be involved,’” Harter said. Restaurants picked the items they want to serve on the food tour, presenting dishes they are known for. “Ben Hall at the Gas House told me the most popular meal that they serve is a filet with mashed potatoes and mushrooms,” Harter explained. “That’s how the tour is going to start out, with a tasting of some slices of their cooked filet, some mashed potatoes with some mushrooms on them.” At the Hoppy Gnome, guests will sample huarache, a Mexican flatbread with spare rib and See FOOD, Page A15

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Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

Foellinger plans for the long haul Improvements set to provide greater in-house amenities, experience By Megan Knowles

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Although visitors will notice small changes to the Foellinger Theatre this summer, performers may soon notice a big boost to their amenities. At its Feb. 9 meeting, the Fort Wayne Board of Park Commissioners approved $186,940 in improvements and architectural design for the theater. One of the approved projects was hiring MKM Architecture+Design to assess the viability and design dressing rooms, showers and a green room space for performers. A contract with MKM was approved at the meeting for $45,000. The hope is to make the improvements in the theater’s currently unused basement, rather than having to build a separate structure, said Fort

Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Al Moll. “We hope to take what we have and leverage that,” he said. Some of the larger musical groups hosted by the Foellinger Theatre can bring 20 to 30 people, he said. Currently, the theater rents a trailer for the summer and set up tents for catering and food. “We’d like to bring that in-house,” Moll said. However, the basement has some dampness and flooding issues and hasn’t been used for years, he said. Other approved projects include installing new trench drains to deal with pooling water for a cost of $36,800, improving the theater’s ladder for $28,940 and installing steel panels to prevent the wear of the theater’s lam beams at a cost of $76,200. The drainage and

ladder improvement projects are coming out of the park department’s capital improvement fund, while the lam beam and dressing room work are being funded out of a recent $5-million parks department bond, of which $880,000 is set aside specifically for the Foellinger, Moll said. “We’re fortunate to have the support we do in this community,” Moll said. In the future, projects for the theater include adding fans to circulate air on hot days, repaving the parking lot, adding entrance gates off Goshen Road, converting parking lot lights to LED and updating the stage’s sound equipment, which was installed around 2007, Moll said. Last year, about 20 performances took place at the theater, with about five to seven of those coming close to selling out the 2,800-seat space, he said.

Foellinger Theatre summer concert lineup

Tickets are now on sale for the Foellinger Theater summer concert lineup. May 18 – Chicago, 7:30 p.m. May 19 – Kansas, 8 p.m. May 30 – ZZ Top, 7:30 p.m. June 10 – Christopher Cross with very special guest Stephen Bishop, 8 p.m. June 16 – Science Central Presents Pink Droyd, 9 p.m. June 17 – Journey former lead vocalist Steve Augeri, 8 p.m. June 24 — The Spinners, 8 p.m. July 1 – The Stranger, featuring Mike Santoro (Billy Joel Tribute), 8 p.m. July 7 – Blue Oyster Cult with guest Mark Farner, 7:30 p.m. July 8 – The Lettermen, 8 p.m. July 16 — Diana Ross, 7 p.m. July 22 – Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees Tribute), This year’s lineup was announced March 3, but the opening act of Chicago was announced in advance. The theater itself has been a part of Fort Wayne since the 1940s, though it’s popularity has

8 p.m. July 23 — Barenaked Ladies, 8 p.m. July 29 – Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles, 8 p.m. Aug. 3 – The Beach Boys, 7 p.m. Aug. 12 – Aretha Franklin, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 – BritBeat (Beatles Tribute), 8 p.m. Aug. 23 – Happy Together Tour, 7 p.m. The Parks & Recreation Department recommends that patrons go directly to www.foellingertheatre.org and click on “Purchase Theatre Tickets.” That link will lead patrons to a list of concerts with their correct ticket prices and a seating chart, as well as an option to purchase directly from the Parks & Recreation Department. Tickets may also be purchased by calling the Parks & Recreation office at 260-427-6000 or by visiting 705 East State Blvd., Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.

waxed and waned over the years. “A lot of people didn’t still don’t know it exists,” Moll said. That being said, Moll thinks the Foellinger Theatre will continue to be a part of Fort Wayne

summer fun for years to come. “Its provides, from a time of mid-May to midto late September…a great evening of bringing back a great experience and great memories,” he said.

New parking meters coming to downtown

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The city of Fort Wayne is moving forward with its plans to install parking meters that accept credit cards. The city has been testing the new parking meters for about three weeks, City Clerk Lana Keesling. The city has been testing about 20 meters from one vendor on Berry Street, Keesling said. On March 23, they installed meters from a

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second vendor. The city signed contracts with the two companies to test the meters at no cost to the city, Keesling said. Other vendors have also contacted the city and Keesling anticipates testing three to four companies overall. The vendors will be tested for 60 days. It will be about four months before making a decision and purchasing the meters, she said. While all the vendors

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parking garages and lots, Keesling said. “A lot of folks I’ve talked to don’t mind paying more for the technology, ease and convenience,” she said. Though only in a testing phase, people have been receptive to the new meters, Keesling said. “I heard a lot of comments from people who were very excited about having credit cards…and having new technology,” she said.

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being tested have an app that allows people to add time to their meter remotely, Keesling said these apps are not available during the testing phase, though they will be when a vendor is selected. She also reminded drivers they still need to obey ordinances as to how long they can be at a single parking spot. Once the meters are installed the city will “have to look at rates” for the meters as well as

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Save Maumee to plant 1,100 trees By Megan Knowles

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Save Maumee believes Earth Day is a time for action. So, from April 21-23, the group aims to plant 1,100 trees in Trier Ditch. Save Maumee began when Abigail King bought a house along the Maumee River. She was looking forward to her “beachfront” property, she said, but was told by many she shouldn’t go in the river due to its condition. In 2005, Save Maumee planted its first trees in an effort to improve that water quality. Recently, Save Maumee received a Federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Along with matching funds and donations, the organization has about $150,000 to help implement the Upper Maumee Watershed Management Plan. “Rivers are important because water is life,” King said “Our water sources are really important; that’s why the federal government is getting little groups money — all the easy fixes they have already tried.” Save Maumee’s goal is to plant 2,780 trees in the “most degraded” ditches of the Maumee River by 2018, including Trier, Bullerman and Sixmile ditches. In three days over April 21-23, they hope to plant 1,100 of those trees with the community’s help. On Friday and Sunday they will be planting near Heatherwood Park, with Saturday’s event — expected to be the largest

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A volunteer plants a tree during a Save Maumee tree-planting event in October 2016. The April planting will be based at two parks in New Haven.

— at Moser Park. The month before, the organization will be removing invasive species in preparation for the plantings, King said. Planting trees in ditches may not be the most glamorous work, but King said it is important. Shade over the water can increased dissolved oxygen in the river, helping the animals who call it home, she said. In addition, trees hold sediment, which King said is the “No. 1 problem” leading to degraded water quality. Trees can also capture excess nutrients and phosphorus in the water, with a tree on average being able to absorb 59 gallons of water per year of life. By planting in floodprone areas, “trees help with holding and retaining water on land longer instead of flooding areas downstream,” she said. King said they’ve had success at prior Earth Day events, with more than 260 people logging more

HOW TO HELP

To volunteer for Save Maumee’s Earth Day: Friday, April 21: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Heatherwood Park. Parking at 1000 Hartzell Road, New Haven Saturday, April 22: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Moser Park. Parking at 601 W. Main St., New Haven Sunday, April 23: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Heatherwood Park. Parking at 1000 Hartzell Road, New Haven Event will happen rain or shine. Dress appropriate for the weather, wearing boots or solid shoes and long pants. than 900 volunteer hours in a single day. This year’s plantings will take place rain or shine, King said. She recommended that those attending dress for the weather, wearing boots or “real shoes” and long pants. The event is family friendly and will include live entertainment as well, King said. In addition to Earth Day plantings, Save Maumee has also hosted an annual canoe cleanup and a seed harvest in partnership with Eagle Marsh or Fox Island. “We want to have clean water and clean things that

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live in there, so everybody is better and healthier,” King said. For more information, visit Save Maumee’s website at savemaumee. org.

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Volunteers plant trees during a Save Maumee treeplanting event in October 2016. The organization plans to plant 1,100 trees April 21-23.

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Fundraiser is pet owner’s thanks to ACSPCA By Garth Snow

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Marlene Lake tells the short version of a story of 37 years with her pets. Her husband, David, co-stars in that story, which wouldn’t be complete without dogs Holly, Major, Shadow or Jasper. Now there’s a cat, too, named Lucy or maybe Luke. Well, some stories just aren’t meant to be condensed. Lake’s appreciation of the Allen County SPCA isn’t told quickly, either. Her latest focus is an April 22 fundraiser at Franke Park. “We’re calling it Shop. Rescue. Support. Allen County SPCA Benefit,” she said. Lake can call it what she wants; it was her idea, and she’s been up past midnight since December pulling together the details.

“I decided to hold an event for two reasons,” she said. “One is to raise money for the ACSPCA because my husband and I got our first dog from the ACSPCA back in 1980. Her name was Holly. She was with us for 13 years.” The second goal is exposure for independent sales representatives who pay their bills by offering soap, candles, popcorn, plastic ware and cosmetics at such events. Lake sells jewelry and luxury bath and body products. Lake will share Park Pavilion No. 1 with at least 52 other vendors, who will be joined by three food trucks. They all know what it takes to move their business from place to place from spring through fall. “It’s a lot of work. For just my jewelry it takes me an hour and a half to set up my display,” she said.

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Marlene Lake, her husband, David, and their granddaughter Amaya walk Jasper at Franke Park, next to Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Marlene Lake organized a benefit for the Allen County SPCA, to be held April 22 at Franke Park.

She has booked vendors from across Indiana and even Ohio. “As soon as they heard it was for the ACSPCA they all wanted to be part of this,” she said. So from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Lake and company will offer their goods. There will be drawings and a silent auction. Allen County SPCA Community Relations Manager Melissa Gibson is working with Lake to plan out the day. “Marlene has such a beautiful heart for this organization and she has had rescue dogs herself,” Gibson said. “She came in here and said ‘I want to do this event’ and we said OK.” The ACSPCA will have adoptable pets on hand at the April 22 event. When everything is in place, dogs can be adopted in one day. “If you’re adopting a cat it’s a little looser,” Gibson said. “But if you’re adopting a doggy we want to make sure the entire family including Dad and the doggies are there. We want to make sure it’s a good fit.” “We are serving more animals than we’ve ever served,” Gibson said from

the Hanna Street shelter. “We had 2,600 adoptions last year, and the need is growing.” The Allen County SPCA also helps with a pet food bank and supports low-cost veterinary assistance, so Gibson said the agency welcomes the financial support from the Franke Park fundraiser. Admission is $1 for ages 3 and older. Back to Lake’s pets story, picking up with adopting Holly from the Allen County SPCA in 1980. “She was a good dog. She was a Heinz 57,” Lake said. Holly shared the house with Major, who was a miniature pinscher. “We just couldn’t let him stay in the pet store,” Lake said. In 1997, Shadow followed Lake’s daughter, Pam, home. “I don’t know how much it followed her,” Lake said. They called the ACSPCA, which put up posters to no avail; Shadow was now Pam’s dog. About two weeks after Shadow died in 2013, Lake checked out rescue sites online. “We came across this little black dog and I thought it was funny because if

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Shadow had been a puppy, I would swear that was what Shadow would have looked like,” Lake said. “And so we drove down to a rescue [shelter] in Indianapolis and that’s where we got Jasper.” That leaves only the cat portion of the story. No, not yet. Lake had kept pets while she was growing up, including but not limited to hamsters, iguanas, guinea pigs, turtles and birds. She owned two Siamese cats when she married David, who was not a cat person. So the Lakes kept dogs, only dogs. “And in 2013 again we lived with a pond behind us and there was this stray cat and it just cried. It had this ungodly cry,” she said. Then the cat decided to climb onto Marlene’s lap. She realized it was a former house cat because it had had its front claws removed. Then the cat climbed onto David’s lap. “He said ‘Just go ahead and let the cat stay,’ ” Marlene said. “And now they’re best buddies.” They thought the new pet was a little girl, Lucy. The veterinarian said the cat is really Luke. The family is not convinced. The feline companion is now Lucy-Luke, just to be safe. And Lucy-Luke is crying no longer. Marlene, David, Jasper and the new arrival live near Northrop High School. Now Marlene wants to repay the ACSPCA for helping her to find a pet, and for protecting so many other pets. She will repay the agency with a fundraiser. And that’s the short version.

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501st Legion: Vader’s Fist at ‘Pops: Star Wars 40th’

By Louisa Danielson For Downtown FW

The Fort Wayne Philharmonic will give a Pops concert after a visit from Star Wars heroes and villains. The Phil will present “Pops: Star Wars 40th Anniversary” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. Music and movie fans will recognize the works of John Williams, who wrote the film music for Star Wars films. Tickets start at $29. Visit fwphil.org for details or tickets. Characters from the 501st Legion: Vader’s Fist: Northern Darkness Garrison will be here in full costume, ready for photos and available to sign trading cards for those who want to see a character from the movies. According to Peter Schillace, the event coordinator of the Northern Darkness Garrison, members of the Rebel Legion will also be there to provide a balance between good guys and bad guys. Schillace became a Star Wars fan when he was growing up in Columbia City. He attended Churubusco High School through his freshman year, before moving to Arizona. “I remember going to see ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ at the Garrett Drive-In,” he said. That film was released in 1980. Schillace now lives in Fort Wayne. “The 501st is actually a worldwide organization,” Schillace explained, estimating that there are more than 10,000 members. Groups are divided into garrisons. Fort Wayne is part of the Northern Darkness Garrison, which covers 22 counties across northern Indiana. Members of the local garrison take personal responsibility for their own costumes. While there may be a number of Star Wars clothing items that can be found in costume stores and online, Schillace said that the 501st outfits “have to be screen accurate… It looks like we could walk right off the (movie) set.” To do this, members do a lot of research, examining the movies for costume details and referring to illustrations in comic books, for example, to make sure that their individual outfits are just right. Then, when it is time to make an appearance, the members don their

COURTESY PHOTO

Darth Vader and the Storm Troopers of 501st Legion: Vader’s Fist: Northern Darkness Garrison make an appearance at a comic book store. The Star Wars enthusiasts represent 22 northern Indiana counties.

costumes and prepare to meet the public. “We’re usually in character the whole time (during an appearance),” Schillace said. This means that the members try to maintain their Star Wars persona at all times. “It breaks the character if Vader takes off his helmet,” he explained. With a number of children in the audience, the members of the 501st like to preserve the enigma and the magic of the Star Wars moment. They pose for photos with fans and can sign autographs. “(We) do trading cards with our picture on it — each of us have our own unique ID numbers, so we’ll sign (the cards with our numbers),” Schillace explained. “It keeps us from breaking character.” With 50 to 100 appearances each year, the Northern Darkness Garrison of Star Wars re-enactors has a busy schedule for the all-volunteer group. But they think the effort is worth it. Schillace, who joined the group in December 2015, remembers one of his early appearances as a Star Wars figure. “We were in South Bend in December of 2015,” he recalled, “visiting children in the hospital, giving out Star Wars toys. Here we are, Darth Vader, Storm Troopers… walkin’ into the hospital (and) kids’ faces just light up.” That magical glow is what makes him enjoy his work. A pancreas and kidney transplant recipient himself, Schillace has sympathy for those who can really use a good distraction. After all, it’s part of fulfilling the 501st Legion: Vader’s Fist: Northern Darkness Garrison motto — “Bad Guys Doing Good.” Caleb Young will direct the Pops performance.

Faith United Methodist marking 150th anniversary Faith United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne will kick off its 150th anniversary celebration on Friday, April 28. A May 7 service will conclude the celebration at the church at 207 E. Dewald St. Community members are welcome at all events. Events include: • Friday, April 28, 6 p.m., dinner theater performance by the church’s youth group, which includes a spaghetti dinner. $8 per person. • Sunday, April 30, 10:15 a.m., the church will mark the passage of time with a Service of Music, including a mix of

hymns, gospel songs and audience requests. •Saturday, May 6, 7 p.m., The Festival Choir of Fort Wayne will help celebrate this milestone. • Sunday, May 7, 10:15 a.m., the anniversary will be marked with a commemorative service featuring a sermon by former pastor the Rev. Paul Arnold, a slide presentation of church memories and fellowship. A light meal will be provided after the service. For more information about 150th anniversary activities, contact Gloria Robinson at (260) 437-1548.

A6 • INfortwayne.com

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

The wait is over: Yuengling comes to Indiana By Megan Knowles

mknowles@kpcmedia.com

Patience has finally paid off for Hoosier Yuengling fans. The Pennsylvania-based brewery’s beloved Traditional Lager, Light Lager and Black and Tan were first poured locally on March 6, with some bars opening at 7 a.m. for the occasion. Though the country’s oldest brewery was founded in 1829, it has only ventured west in the past couple of years, coming to Ohio in 2011. Nationwide, Yuengling is served in Washington, D.C. and in 20 states, mostly along the East Coast. In order to make it out west, Yuengling had to ensure it had the capacity to satisfy the demand it would see in Indiana, 5 Star Distributing President Stan Ziherl said. Then, it selected Indiana wholesalers, with Columbia City’s 5 Star, as well as Indiana Beverages and Monarch Beverage, making the list. “The brewery makes the decision based on who they feel would be best to handle their brands,” Ziherl said, adding he believed 5 Star was selected “based

on the capability of the team we’ve assembled (and) our commitment to customer service.” For now, Yuengling will only be available in bars and restaurants, Ziherl said. “The brewery is going through a packaging renovation,” he said. “They want to start with the new packaging in Indiana, and that’s not available until April (3).” This had created a little confusion among customers, Lebamoff’s Cap ‘n’ Cork owner Andy Lebamoff said. “We’re starting to get a lot of calls” seeing if the product is in stores, he said. This past week, Cap ‘n’ Cork started putting in orders from 5 Star and doing cooler resets for the Yuengling products, Lebamoff said. Although Hoosiers are excited about Yuengling, Lebamoff doesn’t expect his stores to have to do a major cooler overhaul. Due to the amount of beer Yuengling is sending to the state, Lebamoff said he only expects a couple hundred cases per store of the products. For those who have access to the beverages now, having the brew available for events like March Madness and

What does a Yuengling taste like?

Yuengling’s Traditional Lager is “amber looking with a real crisp taste and clean finish, no fruitiness, you’re tasting primarily a malt that Yuengling uses.” — Deer Park Irish Pub owner Tony Henry St. Patrick’s Day was important, Ziherl said. “We worked with the brewer and thought it would be great for on-premise (customers) to drive some traffic to them,” Ziherl said. “We thought it was a great way to roll it out.” Yuengling has already received a warm welcome. “We had a launch party here at the Embassy (Theatre March 2) and had 600 retail customers,” Ziherl said. “(March 6) was our first day of delivery and we made deliveries at 7 a.m. Everybody is waiting.” Some of the bars who opened bright and early to provide customers their Yuengling fixes included O’Sullivan’s and Deer Park Irish Pub, both in Fort Wayne. “Knowing it was coming, a lot of people really wanted it,” O’Sullivan’s owner Frank Casagrande said. “We wanted to be one of the first to have it. A lot of customers couldn’t wait.”

Deer Park Irish Pub wanted to be the first to serve Yuengling locally, so it sent several workers out at 6 a.m. to pick up kegs from 5 Star’s warehouse. “It was really more of our wanting to really validate our customers… wanting Yuengling in our state (who have) never been afforded that opportunity until today,” Deer Park owner Tony Henry said. “We thought it would be an outward gesture on our part, this is how much we care about you. We opened at 7 just to celebrate.” When asked why Yuengling was such a popular beer, many shared the same answer: its longevity in the United States and its true-to-tradition taste. “What they do is make an outstanding beer,” Ziherl said. “They’ve always stayed tried and true to their culture of tradition, heritage, authenticity and quality.”

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Deer Park Irish Pub owner Tony Henry fills a glass from the Yuengling tap. The popular beer was first poured locally on March 6.

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INfortwayne.com • A7

A8 • INfortwayne.com

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

Nature Preserve Act celebrates 50 years By Megan Knowles

mknowles@kpcmedia.com

A conservation-minded group, led by Fort Wayne attorney James Barrett and ACRES Land Trust founders Tom and Jane Dustin, got something accomplished on March 13, 1967, they hoped would affect Indiana forever – the passage of the Nature Preserves Act. “It was a bold act at a time when society was kind of in turmoil. It was the ’60s,” said Jason Kissell, the director of the Huntertown-based ACRES Land Trust. “ACRES was proud that we were a big part of that, it was this area of the state that kind of led the charge. We wrote the act, we helped get it pushed through and then the state took it on and it expanded statewide and now we have this beautiful system.” By 1967, much of Indiana’s landscape had been altered since the first settlers had arrived in the

state, Division of Nature Preserves Director John Bacone said. “(People realized) if we don’t act soon we’re not going to have hardly anything left that looks like our natural legacy,” he said. How it works

“What’s special about (the Nature Preserve Act) is it actually gives a piece of land in Indiana the highest level of protection of any land in the state,” higher even than that of state parks, Bacone said. Once a tract of land is dedicated as a nature preserve, it is intended to stay that way forever. In fact, under the act, the land takes the “existence of an imperative and unavoidable public necessity” and the approval of the governor is required to remove the designation. Because of this level of protection, not every piece of land can qualify as a nature preserve,

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Bacone said. “We definitely do not want to put things in the nature preserve system that really aren’t deserving because we know it might need to be defended someday and it’s a lot easier to defend an old-growth forest than it is a woods that looks just like the woods on the other side of the street,” he said. The state is looking for “high quality natural areas” that don’t show a history of disturbance, Bacone said. Other criteria include being the last known example of a type of habitat or the home of a threatened plant or animal species. The land itself

Nature preserve properties can be acquired via donation or purchase, either at full or reduced prices. Entities cannot condemn properties in order to make nature preserves, Bacone said. The first step in creating nature preserves is to have property owners appreciate the land and build relationships that may not yield a preserve for decades, Kissell said. “We started talking to (the owners of Hanging Rock Nature Preserve in Wabash County) in 1959, even before ACRES was ACRES. … We didn’t close on that until about six years ago,” he said. “So, it’s developing these relationships, reminding people how interesting and unique their property is, because it makes them respect it. Then they start to gain trust in the organization, and then over time we’re able to acquire these properties.” Conversations often

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begin with letting landowners know what they have is significant statewide and bringing in scientists to help explain why the space is so special, Kissell said. “So, they become attached to their land and they want to see it protected in some way,” he said. However, some know they have something special from the start. Gretel Smith’s family bought the land that is now the Five Points Nature Preserve in 1920. Her grandfather, who later helped found Creek Chub Bait Company, hunted in the woods there. Her father took the Interurban Railroad that ran through the property to catch and sell furs at the local hardware store. Her family hosted church picnics there, and she remembers members of her family playing in those woods. In 2005, after both her parents passed away, Smith and her family were looking to make sure the land remained a natural space. In 2014, they were able to work with ACRES to make that come true. “I was very pleased when it finally happened, very gratified that we could finally get it to come about,” she said. “My brothers are happy to have it saved. They have always expressed the desire to keep it as a public area.” Smith echoed Kissell’s sentiments that landowners learn to love their space and want to see it enjoyed by future generations. “From what I’ve learned from other people (who) have given

properties and they think it should be saved,” she said. “I feel very strongly about a city spreading out to the country, so it’s very important to me to have space that is kept as natural as possible for people to use.” The results of the Nature Preserve Act

Fifty years later, both Bacone and Kissell agree the Nature Preserve Act has been successful. “Of all the natural community types… that occur in the state, we have (at least) one example protected in the nature preserve system except for one type,” Bacone said. The remaining system is limestone sinkhole ponds in south central Indiana. Nature preserves has protected about 93 percent of the 420 land species considered rare or endangered in the state, he said. For ACRES itself, the act gives landowners and donors assurance, Kissell said. “In 1967, ACRES was telling everyone our commitment was to defend and keep this land forever,” he said. “Then to have the Nature Preserve Act created and implemented that added another layer of protection that we couldn’t do as private owners, so it gave the state’s authority to say this highest and best use is as a nature preserve.” Across the state, there are 277 nature preserves owned by 46 different owners, Bacone said. “The Nature Preserve Act itself was a great program for partnership as well. … Indiana law was written so that includes any owner,” not

just the state, Bacone said. “There’s no competition between DNR, local land trust, parks. We all are pursuing the same thing and figure out who’s the best person to own it, the best person to manage it and how can we help each other do it,” Kissell said. Looking ahead to the next 50 years

Looking forward, the goal of the Nature Preserve Act continues to expand. “Fifty years is such a short time in the history of nature, so that’s why we’re so excited. It’s in perpetuity, so we’re just starting. So our hope is it continues to grow,” Kissell said. In the early years of the act, the state and land trusts were interested in preserving the gems of natural spaces, Bacone said. As time has passed, the focus has been on expanding those areas to create more viable ecosystems. “For Cedar Creek Corridor, because it’s not just a 200-acre forest but a 3,000- or 4,000acre forest that is owned by ACRES, partners and private individuals, we see the bald eagles, we see the river otters, we see the bobcats, we see the pileated woodpeckers. They can’t be sustained on a 50-acre woodlot,” Kissell said. The other goal moving forward is to get locals to realize what they have right in their own backyards. “The hope is we can keep making the neighborhood aware of these special places so they can get to appreciate them and use them and take ownership of them and help us be protective of them,” Bacone said. “We live in a really exciting place,” Kissell said. “There’s a lot of really cool natural areas from waterfalls to jellyfish to 8-foot sturgeon going down the river system to the badgers we have here to the river otters. … And this system of nature preserves provides that nearby nature.” While society has generally moved away from the connection to the land the earliest settlers felt, Kissell believes it will always be drawn back. “People have this longing for what was or what should be. Nature preserves give examples of that,” he said. “There’s always this human desire to be in nature in some way.”

INfortwayne.com • A9

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

Tradition marches on with Cadet Battalion By Garth Snow

gsnow@kpcmedia.com

Families watched March 18 as their JROTC cadets marched in unison or stood for inspection. When the final drill meet of the season was over, the JROTC Cadet Battalion had even more awards to carry back to Concordia Lutheran High School. The Cadets earned some intangibles, too, parents said. Jeanene Kerlegrand watched as her son Preston joined the color guard in precise and intricate steps. “They work extremely hard, and lots of hours, before and after school,” she said. “They get there at 6 in the morning before school and work on their drills, whether they’re in snap squad or IDR or color guard, and work on their routines. And then some of them stay after school also to do their duets or individual work.” The drill meets are voluntary, beyond the normal commitment, she said. “Preston would like to go to the military. Some of them do go to the military and continue on, and others just use it as a leadership program and for discipline,” she said. Joel Flaningan and family watched as his daughter — senior Caitlynn Flaningan — and stepdaughter — freshman Caroline Snuggs — marched in competition. “This is the armed regulation event where they have to follow the military regulation codes, the drill movements with rifles, exact marching and rifle movements, almost like a precision event,” he said. He echoed Kerlegrand’s descriptions of the long hours, and then he told of the long season.

PHOTO BY GARTH SNOW

Emma Martin directs Concordia’s Infantry Drill Regulation Platoon at a JROTC meet at IPFW. COURTESY PHOTO

Concordia’s Infantry Drill Regulation Platoon competes at IPFW. The squad leaders at the head of each column are (from left) Caitlynn Flaningan, Ian Brown and Cody Hough. Emma Martin leads the platoon.

“They have competitions throughout the year. They travel all over, Chicago, Indianapolis, Michigan City and this one,” he said. The students strive to be the best when competing against other schools, he said. “They have to get inspected, so it’s not just marching movements but also memorization of military history, terminology, special events, chain of command throughout the United States military,” he said. “So they’re quizzed on common knowledge, and (they are judged) on how clean their uniform is, how things are lined up, their movements, how they speak, and their mannerisms and demeanor.” He said the skills can serve the students for a lifetime. “A lot of kids get to learn about how to be a leader and how to be an upcoming citizen, and it helps them with careers and jobs,” he said. “It’s not just all about the military.

It’s about how to uphold yourself as a citizen. So it prepares them for jobs and resumés and how to interview and how to just know how to carry themselves as human beings.” For the first time, the Homer L. Clendenen Memorial Drill Meet was held at IPFW, at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center. Concordia Lutheran High School originated the drill meet 46 years ago and hosted it for 45 years. Clendenen was a senior Army instructor from 1968 until his death in 1972. In a statement, CLHS said, “Capt. Clendenen brought the CLHS Army JROTC Cadet Battalion into the new age of instruction. Capt. Clendenen was focused on training the Cadets to make decisions, plan and execute those strategies. With this in mind, he founded the Concordia Drill Meet in the winter of 1971. After his passing, the Cadets changed the name to honor

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the memory of his efforts at Concordia Lutheran High School. For this year, the site was changed to IPFW.” But it was still Concordia’s home meet, said Major (retired) John C. Sheaffer, the Concordia JROTC senior Army instructor. Sheaffer said CLHS was blessed to place in several categories.

• Unarmed Exhibition Squad, led by Abby Goertzen: 3rd. • Unarmed Exhibition Platoon, led by Austin Whaley: 3rd. • Armed Exhibition Platoon, led by Tucker Bennett: 1st. • Unarmed Exhibition Duet. Lindsay Bennett and Kaneise Mitchell-Casey, 4th. Sam Blanchard and Grace Donley, 2nd. • Armed Exhibition Duet. Preston Kerlegrand and Gavin Seifert, 1st.

• Unarmed Individual Drill. Dashanae Davis, 3rd. Caitlynn Flaningan, 2nd. Ian Brown, 1st. • Armed Individual Drill. Caroline Snuggs, 2nd. Garrett Spires, 1st. The meet was sponsored by the IPFW ROTC and the Indiana Army National Guard. Junior ROTC units from Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky consisting of more than 500 cadets in total represented the branches of the military at this event.

A10 • INfortwayne.com

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Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

Allen County news briefs: Events, results and more Arts Festival deadline April 28

Fort Wayne Arts Festival at Jefferson Pointe will celebrate original music and original fine art. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Application deadline is Saturday, April 29. For fees and rules, visit JeffersonShopping.com or visit the mall office. This exclusive juried outdoor festival will showcase the master works of local and regional fine artists. Offerings will include an array of works in clay, fiber, photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry, metal, wood, glass, printmaking, and drawing. Original music by local musicians will be performed from 6-8 p.m Saturday, Sept. 9, near the Courtyard Fountain.

Cedar Creek Lions offer fish, chicken

The Cedar Creek Lions Club is having a fish fry and chicken fundraiser from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Grabill Fire Station of Northeast Allen County Fire & EMS. Proceeds will be shared with the fire department to support the Northeast Allen County Fire & EMS and local community needs. The all-you-can-eat dinner will consist of fish and/or chicken, baked beans, applesauce, potato chips, bread, coffee or lemonade. Carry-out dinners are available. Adults pay $10, children 4-9 pay $7 and children 3 and under eat for free. The Grabill Fire Station is at 13413 State St., Grabill. Indoor seating is available in the fire station for dining.

smwc.edu/alumni/events/ week-service/.

Covenant drama set at Last Supper

Covenant United Methodist Church will host the drama “One of You Will Betray Me” at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 2. The drama lasts about one hour. Covenant UMC is at 10001 Coldwater Road, Fort Wayne. A free-will offering will be accepted. In 1970, a group from Simpson United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne began presenting a drama based on the Last Supper. This drama has been presented every Lenten season since 1970, up to six times a year in northern Indiana, western Ohio and southern Michigan. The drama is based on a 1954 work by a North Carolina pastor, the Rev. Ernest K. Emurian. Each of the disciples tells something about their life with Jesus. A drama spokesman said offerings defray expenses, with any extra money donated to the needy. For more information on the group, or the full schedule, visit http:// www.orgsites.com/in/ lsdramafw/. The drama also will be presented at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 9, at Southwinds Church of Christ, 3410 Dicke Road, Fort Wayne.

4-H archery class May 4 to June 17

Allen County 4-H Shooting Sports Club will host an archery class open to all youth in grades 4-12. The first meeting will be Thursday, May 4, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Allen County

Extension Office, 4001 Crescent Ave., Fort Wayne. All other meetings will be Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon at the Allen County Fairgrounds, on Carroll Road. Those dates are May 6, 13 and 20, and June 3, 10 and 17. The cost of the program is $40 per child which includes state and county enrollment fees, and archery project fee. All equipment is provided. This series will teach safe handling of archery equipment, proper care of equipment, shooting techniques and ethics of good shooters. Instructors are certified through the Indiana 4-H Shooting Sports Program of Purdue University and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The class is limited to the first 30 participants who have registered and paid. A minimum number is required to hold the class. Required registration with payment is due April 20. For registration information or any additional questions, contact Barb Thuma, Extension educator 4-H Youth, Allen County Extension Office, at (260) 481-6826. Materials also are available at www. extension.purdue.edu/ allen.

Canterbury invites public to book fair

Canterbury School will hold its annual Spring Book Fair, which is open to the community April 18-20, from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., at 5601 Covington Road, Fort Wayne. The event will have books for purchase for ages 2 through adult, and will be a venue for a variety of local guest author,

included in the book fair,” the school said in a statement. Gallery Guests are scheduled throughout each day. This year’s guests include local authors John Baumgartner, Matthew Weigelt, Holly Niner, Bonnie Manning, Julie Perkins, PeggySue Wells, Mary Coons, Kristine Papillon, Carol Butler, Blake Sebring

and Doris Gaines Rapp. Other guest presenters include student writer Naomi Gephart, artists Hannah Burnworth and Janet Lynch, family historian Betsy Gephart, craftswoman Ardis Behrendt, science teacher Ted King, educator Laura Semba, potter Sara Drury, student See BRIEFS, Page A12

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Alumni group to aid Charis House clients

Saint Mary-of-theWoods College alumni will host Easter activities for the women and children being served at Charis House, and the alumni are looking for volunteers to assist. The party will be 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 15, at Charis House in Fort Wayne. Cash and food donations for the Charis House are also being accepted. For more information, contact event coordinator Ann Cozad at tacozad@ frontier.com. To honor their college and its foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, the SMWC alumni plan a global SMWC Week of Service, April 16-23. For more information, visit

artist and expert presentations. Parent volunteers, school librarians and teachers selected thousands of books for the sale. Mixed Media Mantra Art by Janet Lynch will be for sale and pottery by Sara Drury will be for sale. “Some of Indiana’s premier authors of young adult fiction are

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BRIEFS from Page A11 athlete Kyle Towner representing author mom Colleen Kachmann, and Fort Wayne Ballet company dancers. For more information about the Spring Book Fair, contact Helen Presser at hpresser@ canterburyschool. org. See the complete schedule and a list of books available by featured local authors at canterburyschool.org/ bookfair. Proceeds from the Spring Book Fair benefit the library programs at Canterbury School for early childhood, lower school, middle school and high school.

‘Memories of Mom’ is just for daughters

Visiting Nurse has invited the public to attend Memories of Mom on Saturday, May 6, at The Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center, 5920 Homestead Road, on the Visiting Nurse campus in southwest Fort Wayne. This daylong retreat is offered at no charge to any daughter who has experienced the loss of her mother and is a day for daughters to reflect, remember and reminisce about their mothers. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with

the program beginning at 9 a.m. and ending by 4 p.m. The program will feature presentations on grief, the mother-daughter relationship and healing through music with Visiting Nurse’s music therapist Emily Paar. Lunch will be served, and there will be time to focus on self-care. Seating is limited. Register by May 3, by calling (260) 465-3261.

Club says thanks to ski event backers

The Fort Wayne Ski Club thanked several local businesses for their support of the Toucan Snow Adventure IX, which the club sponsored. Club President Michael Ehle thanked Legacy Heating and Air Conditioning, Rogers Electric, Sunny 103.9, Lima Road Dentistry, Haller & Colvin Attorneys at Law, Fort Wayne TinCaps, 96.3 WXKE and the Ski Pole. “With the help of these businesses and 53 skiers and snowboarders, we raised $1,404 for Honor Flight of Northeast Indiana, and 119 pounds of food for St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen,” Ehle said in a statement. The Toucan Snow Adventure was held Feb. 11 at Timber Ridge Resort in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Sacred elements available all day

Harlan United Methodist Church will observe Maundy Thursday by offering the elements at worshippers’ convenience, from 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Maundy Thursday, April 13. Also known in Christian faiths as Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ final meal with his disciples, a biblical event that has become known as the Last Supper. Harlan United Methodist Church is at 16434 State Road 37, Harlan. The Rev. Robert

Kloepping, pastor, will bless the elements at 6 a.m. Individual cups and blessed bread will be available in the sanctuary. Kloepping said the convenience is intended to accommodate the varied schedules of worshippers. Kloepping said he had favorable response to a similar program at his former church in Evansville. Kloepping also will lead a brief service at about 9 a.m.

Heritage FFA gets Brodbeck donation

Heritage High School’s

FFA chapter received a $500 donation from Brodbeck Seeds. The chapter plans to use the donation to offset costs for leadership conferences and to help educate children in Adams and Allen counties about agriculture. Heritage FFA adviser Chris Hall explained that each year the chapter hosts 1,500 kindergarten students at a farm in Hoagland for an agricultural tour. “We see the kindergarten tours as a ‘Farm to Fork’ event. The kids come from area schools and the FFA students teach them

PHOTO BY RAY STEUP

The 2017 Ladies With Purpose Debutante Cotillion took place March 25. The event is designed to promote scholarship and excellence for African American female high school juniors and seniors in the Fort Wayne community. To view photos and video of the event, visit infortwayne.com.

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about agriculture in order to show them early on where their food comes from,” Hall said. The donation stems from a drawing at the Brodbeck Seeds booth during the 2017 Fort Wayne Farm Show. Drawing winner Randy Schlaundroff selected Heritage FFA to receive the donation. Schlaundroff and Brodbeck Seeds representative Dan Meyer were at Heritage to help present the donation. Hall and fellow adviser Mike Shirey and several FFA members were on hand.

SITTING PRETTY

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

INfortwayne.com • A13

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

Miffed tot has her say with local author’s help By Garth Snow

“The Day I Ran Away”

gsnow@kpcmedia.com

A generation before she became a children’s author, Holly Niner was an avid reader. Niner will meet her young audience and sign copies of “The Day I Ran Away” twice in April at Barnes & Noble in Jefferson Pointe. “This would probably be for the 4-to-7 age range,” the Fort Wayne writer said. She remembers reading “a lot of Dr. Seuss at that age.” She also read Childcraft books. “It was like a kids’ encyclopedia, but it had a poetry section and a short story section, so we would read a lot of those,” she said. “My dad would tell us stories, too, so there were the made-up stories.” Niner has made up yet another story, this time about little Grace telling her dad about her complicated day. “It’s just a fun book about a little girl who’s having a bad day,” Niner said. “Her favorite shirt’s dirty, her favorite cereal’s gone, and her mom sends her for a time-out after a tantrum and she decides to run away.” But Grace is oh-soyoung that she isn’t allowed to cross the street to run away. “And so Mom comes up with a way she can have the space they probably both need without crossing the street,” Niner said. “And she’s relating this day’s events to her father as he tucks her in. So in one of the father-daughter scenes Grace is actually doing bedtime yoga as she transitions to sleep.” Niner’s fascination with books continued

By Holly Niner, with illustrations by Isabella Ongaro. Independent Publishers Group. Hardback. $17.95. Niner will sign books at noon Saturday, April 1, and Saturday, April 8, at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Jefferson Pointe, 4140 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne.

COURTESY PHOTO

Children’s author Holly Niner holds her latest book, “The Day I Ran Away,” at Barnes & Noble at Jefferson Pointe. The Fort Wayne writer will hold a book-signing at the store on April 1 and 8.

through her childhood. “In elementary school we could take three books out a week, and a friend and I would pick our books out together and exchange our books midway through the week because both of us needed more than three books to get through the week,” she said. “This would have been like fourth, fifth or sixth grade.” She and her husband, Keith, read to their children at a very early age. “We read with them before they were born,” Niner said. “They had to read every night. Nobody watched TV after dinner and there was reading before bed and then we read together even into high school. We even read the first couple of Harry Potter books together. So we always enjoyed that time together.”

Her children are now ages 27 and 29. “They read all the time,” she said. Niner said children gain both knowledge and insights by reading or listening at a very early age. “They may learn about things they don’t know, or people, or places,” she said. “But it’s also a way to experience emotions safely and see how someone handles them. That’s why with a lot of books for small children, the illustrations — the main characters — might be animals who are personified. They’re acting like people because they can explore even adult-like behaviors that a child wouldn’t explore themselves.” Niner is a speech therapist, working at skilled nursing facilities. She also does skill modifications for people

who speak English as a second language. “I actually started writing for children back in 1991 or 1992,” she said. “My children were toddlers and I did not work outside the home then.” Her mother reminded Niner of her longtime love for reading and writing. “She sent me information on a correspondence writing for children course. So that was the beginning,”

she said. As with many authors, much of her early contributions netted rejection letters. “It’s really a business where you need a very thick skin,” she said. “About 2000 I decided to learn more about the business and once I understood about the publishing business the rejections started hurting a lot less. So I started reading and going to some conferences and I first got into publishing with the magazine market.” Her first book, “Mr. Worry: A Story About OCD,” was released in 2002. Next came “I Can’t Stop: A Story about Tourette Syndrome.” Those were niche books, each addressing an issue, she said. “The Day I Ran Away”

offers a lesson through a fun story. In September, readers can learn about a mole named Jackson in Niner’s “No More Noisy Nights.” She looks forward to meeting illustrator Isabella Ongaro, who brought Grace to the pages of “The Day I Ran Away.” “The editor really manages how the book comes together,” Niner said. “So during the whole process she is the go-between. I would see sketches and make comments, but I never had contact with Isabella until the book was finished and then I was able to contact her and tell her how much I liked her illustrations.” Read more about the author and her works at hollyniner.com.

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A14 • INfortwayne.com

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

Blessing of the Bikes heralds in season for many By Megan Knowles mknowles@kpcmedia.com

If you ride motorcycles in northeast Indiana, you know spring actually starts the Saturday after Easter, with the Blessing of the Bikes in Arcola. The 2017 event begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 12305 Arcola Road.

The event began in 1989 after St. Pat’s parishioner Jerry Gordon decided to put something he saw in a magazine into action locally. “The priest at the time was all for it,” Gordon said. “So we started out with just a few bikes, 16 or so. Then it went from that to a hundred to a couple hundred.

“It depends on the weather. If it’s even a cloudy day like this but not raining, we’ll have all the parking lots full of bikes. On a nice sunny day…there could be anywhere from a thousand to two, three, four thousand bikes plus.” The event is simple: Riders from northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio and southern Michigan

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gather at the church in Arcola. The event consists usually of a couple of readings and a prayer, with everyone gathered saying an “Our Father,” Gordon said. Then comes the official blessing of the bikes. In the early days, the priest would walk from bike to bike, christening them with holy water. “It got so big for a couple years that we have it set up so it’s more of a drive through (now),” Gordon said. In addition to the blessing, the church youth group provides hot dogs, bratwurst and refreshments, Gordon said. There is also a 50/50 drawing that benefits the youth group’s summer

trip. “It’s a community affair. The whole church gets involved in it,” he said. Though the official event ends after the ceremony, local businesses have taken to hosting after parties. The Arcola Inn and Ale has been holding an after party for several years, manager Katie Martin said. This year, there will be drink specials and the Hubie Ashcraft Band will play from 2-5 p.m. Martin said the after party is usually well attended. “We’re pretty packed,” Gordon said. “It’s the first biggest motorcycle event of the year in town. Rain or shine people are out riding.”

Harley-Davidson of Fort Wayne is hosting its second after party this year, spokesperson Becca Reichard said. There will be food and beer provided by the Red Rock Saloon from noon to 6 p.m. and the Grateful Groove, a Grateful Dead cover band, will begin playing at 2 p.m. “It’s kind of a little gathering to hang out and check out everybody’s bike afterward,” Reichard said, adding last year’s event was well attended. For many, Blessings of the Bikes is a good way to start the riding year. “People look forward to it, to start the riding season on the right foot,” Gordon said.

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INfortwayne.com • A15

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

FOOD from Page A1

SHORT LIVED

other items, Harter said. The Dash-In, famous for its grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato bisque soup, will serve those items. “I think people who haven’t had a grilled cheese sandwich and soup there are going to be shocked at how good it is,” Harter said. “The Golden changes their menu every day… they’re famous for their farm-to-fork concept. So every time we go there

it’s going to be something different,” he added about the fourth stop. The final food stop will be at DeBrand Fine Chocolates. In addition to the tastings, local chefs, when available, will talk about the dishes they’ve prepared, Harter said. Arnold said this gives a food tour an “exclusive” feel. “Not everybody is going to hear right from the chef’s mouth what he has prepared and how he’s prepared

it and like at the Golden where the ingredients came from, because they source local ingredients for their food. It’s just this behindthe-scenes tour of Fort Wayne that hasn’t been done before,” she said. In between, tour guests will learn about the architecture and history of the Summit City. “The whole idea is to make it an interesting food experience, to take a little wander around downtown and learn some of the interesting historical factoids

about the city…without putting people to sleep,” Harter said. The tour has a benefit for the restaurants as well, he added. “It’s designed to get people into a restaurant and get a taste for what the offerings are, see what the place looks like, what the ambiance is, and then not only spread the word to their friends but then also themselves come back for a full meal,” Harter said. “It’s supposed to be a win-win for everyone.”

Free Health Checks April 18 – 22 and April 25 – 29, 2017 Get checked at a location near you! Blood pressure, height, weight and vision Other free health checks available at some sites: Bone density, hearing, balance and more PHOTO BY RAY STEUP

A amorphophallus konjac, often referred to as a “corpse flower,” bloomed on St. Patrick’s Day at the Botanical Conservatory. Two bulbs of the flower were donated to the Conservatory in January. These unique flowers reach up to 6 feet in height and smell like rotting flesh for a day or two when the blooms open, which is why they are often referred to as a corpse flower. The flowers will last for a couple of weeks, although the odor does not.

BOAT from Page A1 announced April 22, after which the community will have until May 10 to pick its favorite. “Because this boat is your boat, the community’s boat, we want everyone to help in naming it,” Walters said. In addition to the name, Wire encouraged the community to come up with ideas to best utilize the vessel. “It’s your canal boat to use, enjoy and share and

I encourage all of you to think outside the box, dream big and share the excitement,” he said. Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry also spoke, saying the canal boat fits well into the overall efforts of downtown revitalization. “If you haven’t experienced the momentum, the passion, the drive that people are having in our city about what our city can be, then you must not live in our city,” he said. “This can only add to the quality of life of our community.”

Lab tests available for a nominal fee at all sites: Blood chemistry, hemogram, TSH (thyroid), PSA (prostate), A1C (glucose) and Vitamin D

2017 Parkview Focus on Health Locations All locations open 7:30 – 11 a.m. and are handicapped accessible. Tuesday, April 18 Carew Medical Park 1818 Carew Street, Fort Wayne

Tuesday, April 25 Mount Calvary Lutheran Church 1819 Reservation Drive, Fort Wayne

Wednesday, April 19 Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation 10622 Parkview Plaza Drive, Fort Wayne

Wednesday, April 26 Parkview/NHC Center for Healthy Living 3350 E. Paulding Road, Fort Wayne

Thursday, April 20 American Red Cross, N.E. IN 1212 E. California Road, Fort Wayne

Thursday, April 27 Towne House Retirement Center 2209 St. Joe Center Road, Fort Wayne

Friday, April 21 University of St. Francis – North Campus 2702 Spring Street, Fort Wayne

Friday, April 28 Messiah Lutheran Church 7211 Stellhorn Road, Fort Wayne

Saturday, April 22 Presence Sacred Heart Home 515 N. Main Street, Avilla

Saturday, April 29 New Haven High School 1300 Green Street, New Haven

For more information, call (260) 266-2472 or visit fohealth.com.

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A16 • INfortwayne.com

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

Diners support Honor Flight, Waynedale project By Garth Snow

gsnow@kpcmedia.com

Sponsors said the 2017 Kingston’s Taste of Waynedale was the biggest and best in its nine-year history. “We have more food vendors and there are more items in the auction, and we appreciate the support of the community,” said Camille Garrison, who organized the March 21 evening at Mount Calvary Family Life Center in Waynedale. Hundreds of people sampled Azar’s Big Boy’s strawberry shortcake, The Stand chili, Culver’s ice cream, Miami Grill sandwiches, Waynedale Bakery cupcakes and the trademark dishes from two dozen other restaurants. Belmont Beverages offered samples of wine and Mad Anthony Brewing Co. served generous tastes of three craft beers. “Everything’s delicious,” said Landrie Levitz of Ossian, who toured the Taste with her boyfriend Alex Brownell, of Fort Wayne. They had finished sampling food but were still circulating among the crowd. Serving tables lined each side of the hall.

PHOTO BY GARTH SNOW

Sue and Ted Jansen of Waynedale support the 9th annual Taste of Waynedale, held March 21 at Mount Calvary Family Life Center. Visit INFortWayne.com for more photos.

Guests swapped seats and stories as they shared tables with other diners. The stage held more tables. Gerrett and Ruth Swearingen of Ossian found seats on storage cabinets along the wall. Gerrett, who practices law in Fort Wayne, donated a gift certificate for a will to the Taste’s silent auction. Certificates for fine dining, oil changes and

flowers sold for more than face value. Once again, the Taste raised money for Honor Flight Northeast Indiana. A second charity usually shares in the proceeds, and this year the Waynedale Corridor Project had that honor. Garrison, community relations coordinator for Kingston Residence on Winchester Road, also serves on the Honor Flight Northeast Indiana

board. Four times each year, she and the Honor

Flight leaders accompany dozens of veterans on a one-day flight to the military memorials in the nation’s capital. Peter Meyer served coffee samples from Sharing Peace Café inside Faith Lutheran Church on Fairfield Avenue in Fort Wayne. He told Honor Flight board member Tom Meyers, of Roanoke, that he is “grateful to serve all of our veterans at such a community event.” Honor Flight NEI chairman Dennis Covert thanked the community for supporting the fundraiser. “The Taste of Waynedale is a big success and we are thrilled and thankful to Camille Garrison at Kingston for putting this on,” he said. Community fundraisers are essential, he said: “This is what keeps Honor Flight flying.”

Last year’s Taste of Waynedale raised more than $4,000 for Honor Flight and a second charity. Honor Flight NEI will take 340 veterans to Washington, D.C., and return to Fort Wayne International Airport this year. The first of four flights will take off April 26. Covert said said 27 World War II veterans will be aboard that flight. Twelve more will board the May 24 flight. Two flights will follow in October. He said families and veterans keep stepping forward, accepting the invitation to see the World War II Memorial. “We keep thinking we’re done,” he said. Veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnam War also are waiting. For details on how to apply to Honor Flight, visit hfnei.org.

Focus on Health offers free or low-cost checks Parkview Health will present a series of community outreach events, with some health checks available at low cost and some available for free. The Parkview Focus on Health 2017 health fairs begin Tuesday, April 18, at Carew Medical Park, 1818 Carew St., Fort Wayne. Each health fair is from 7:30-11 a.m. Each health fair will offer these free health checks: blood pressure, height/weight/BMI, vision, bone density, hearing, balance screening and more. Each person visiting the health fair must be 18 or older. Prices are subject to change. For more information, call (260) 266-2472 or visit fohealth.com. Various other labs are

available starting at $10. For services, fees and notes on how to prepare for the health checks, visit fohealth.com. Health fairs also will be offered: • Wednesday, April 19, Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation, 10622 Parkview Plaza Drive, Fort Wayne. • Thursday, April 20, American Red Cross Northeast Indiana, 1212 E. California Road, Fort Wayne. • Friday, April 21, University of Saint Francis North Campus, 2702 Spring St., Fort Wayne. • Saturday, April 22, Presence Sacred Heart Home, 515 N. Main St., Avilla. • Tuesday, April 25, Mount Calvary Lutheran

Church, 1819 Reservation Drive, Fort Wayne. • Wednesday, April 26, Parkview/NHC Center for Healthy Living, 3350 E. Paulding Road, Fort Wayne. • Thursday, April 27, Towne House Retirement Center, 2209 St. Joe Center Road, Fort Wayne. • Friday, April 28, Messiah Lutheran Church, 7211 Stellhorn Road, Fort Wayne. • Saturday, April 29, New Haven High School, 1300 Green St., New Haven. Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography will be at University of Saint Francis and Presence Sacred Heart Home locations. Call (260) 266-8120 to schedule an appointment.

30 YEARS OF FAME

Fort Wayne’s

Storyteller Arts • Entertainment Community

PHOTO BY RAY STEUP

This was the FAME Festival’s 30th year of giving area elementary and middleschool students an opportunity to create, exhibit and perform works of art. The festival was started in 1987 by Dorothy Kittaka, music specialist, and Mike Schmid, art specialist at Haverhill Elementary School. FAME Executive Director T. Irmscher says that the festival has grown every year. Now, about 100 schools participate with more than 6,000 pieces of student artwork displayed and more than 2,000 children performing. To view a video about the recent festival, visit infortwayne.com.

INfortwayne.com • A17

Downtown FW • March 31, 2017

Bowser buildings set for demolition

By Linda Lipp

llipp@kpcmedia.com

In 2014, when the city of Huntington was about to demolish a trio of downtown buildings known as the United Brethren Block, Indiana Landmarks stepped in and helped put together a plan to preserve the historic buildings. It made a similar, lastditch effort in late March to save the old Bowser buildings, at 1302 E. Creighton Ave., from the wrecking ball. But, the McMillen Foundation, which owns the owner of the Bowser building, notified the city of Fort Wayne that it still desires for the buildings to be demolished, the city said in a March 24 statement. “The McMillen Foundation has communicated its decision with Indiana Landmarks,” the statement said. “The city of Fort Wayne supports the wishes of the McMillen Foundation. Work at the site will restart next week and take a number of months to complete.” The city of Fort Wayne erected construction barriers around the site on March 16 in preparation for demolition to begin. But after Indiana Landmarks representatives, Councilman Glynn Hines and others toured the building and met with Mayor Tom Henry the following day, the plan was put on hold temporarily. In a statement announcing the reprieve, the city made it clear it did not expect the effort to produce results. “It’s our belief that it will be difficult for them to find a developer and demolition will ultimately be the end result. Efforts over several years have not led to a developer expressing interest in the properties due to the conditions of the structures,” the city warned. The century old Bowser buildings represent “a phenomenal piece of construction for that time period,” said Paul Hayden, of the Indiana Landmarks office in Wabash. Built by Sylvanus Bowser, whose invention opened the door for the creation of the modern fuel pump, the buildings also play a role in Fort Wayne’s industrial history. Last used by the Fort Wayne Police Department, the buildings have been vacant for several years, but have been maintained “fairly well,” Hayden said. The heating, plumbing and electrical systems are out of date, but Indiana Landmarks hopes to consult with developers with experience in this kind of project about

options for repair and reuse. The McMillen Foundation requested assistance from the city to remove the buildings because it said developers had found them too costly to rehabilitate. It wants to clear the site and then donate the property to the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, to be used for recreational purposes by the adjacent Renaissance Pointe YMCA. About $530,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds allocated to the neighborhood have been earmarked to cover demolition costs. When local preservationists and Indiana Landmarks intervened in Huntington, the three buildings in the Huntington Courthouse Square National Register Historic District were perhaps just days away from demolition. Huntington’s Department of Redevelopment had taken possession of the property in March 2014 after the previous owner became delinquent on property taxes, and code enforcement and the health department decreed that the buildings were unfit. Indiana Landmarks persuaded the city that fall Business Weekly

PHOTO BY RAY STEUP

Fort Wayne erected construction barriers around the site on March 16 in preparation for demolition to begin.

to delay demolition for a year to see if it could come up with a redevelopment plan. Two years later, the project was awarded a $1.6 million grant of Regional Cities Initiative funds, about 20 percent of the total $8 million cost. Through a partnership between Huntington University and Pathfinder Services, innovation and entrepreneurial spaces will be developed for people of all abilities; and 35 apartment units will be created.

ARCH reveals its annual endangered property list Staff reports In honor of National Preservation Month, ARCH released its annual “most endangered” list of properties on March 19. During the year, ARCH closely monitors the properties and places an emphasis on their preservation. Nominations for this list are taken from the public throughout the year, via an online nomination form found at archfw.org. The 2016 list includes: • Brookview‐Irvington Park, a National Register Historic District that will be drastically altered when construction begins on the West State Boulevard realignment. • General Electric’s Broadway Campus, which closed in 2014 and continues to be under threat of vandalism and demolition. • Fort Wayne Bible College buildings: Schultz, Bethany and Hausser halls. After a redevelopment proposal was abandoned last summer, the future of these three vacant buildings is uncertain. • S.F. Bowser administration building on Creighton Avenue. The former headquarters of Bowser’s gas pump company and the

remaining industrial buildings are threatened by demolition. Neighborhood residents are searching for a possible reuse strategy. • Fort Wayne Park resources: Foster Park Pavilion No. 3 and historic footbridges. Set along the St. Marys River in west Foster Park, Pavilion No. 3 has become an easy target for graffiti and is in need of roof repairs. New Deal‐era resources like this pavilion represent a threatened legacy in our public parks that transformed the role of parks in public life. The historic park footbridges, in particular the Mechanic Street Bridge, are in need of significant repairs. • Township era schools: Elmhurst High School. Built as a township school and later expanded and absorbed by the Fort Wayne Community Schools system, the building today is threatened by vacancy and uncertainty over its future use. • C.F. Bleke Farmhouse, State Road 3. The historic brick Italianate farmhouse was recently sold as development property and its future is uncertain. • Canal House, Superior Street. The vacant building is flanked by a

parking lot and vacant bus depot. With new developments planned in the area, there is concern about parking needs. The Canal House’s unique masonry construction would prevent it from being moved. • Streetcar commercial corridors: Lake Avenue and North Anthony Boulevard. The historic commercial corridors served streetcar riders throughout the city during the early 20th century. Now, some suffer from underuse, changing traffic patterns and vacancy. • Paul Kinder House, West Washington Boulevard. The impressive Craftsman‐style home is the only residential structure on a block that was identified as a potential site for a downtown arena. • Rialto Theatre, South Calhoun Street. The Reclamation Project announced its former home was for sale in early 2016. • FW Box Co., Superior and Harrison streets. Early riverfront development plans call for the demotion of this Art Moderne industrial building, the only building of this style downtown and one of three buildings in the National Register‐ eligible Fort Wayne Box Co.

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