Smart Living Fort Wayne - March 3, 2022

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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • March 2022 • No. I

Shipshewana On The Road Comes to Town Home Show this Weekend!

How Smart is Your Kitchen?

Treating Knee Pain Without Surgery Tips for Crafting a Great Landscape Plan

Quality, Smart Products & Services for Your Home, Family, Health & Entertainment!

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If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect hearth for your home, Collier’s Fireplace Shoppe is here to help you turn your dream into a reality. We have 25 years experience transforming blank walls and generic builder’s grade fireplaces into showstoppers. Whether you’re looking for an elegant solution for your living room, a wood stove for a cozy family room, or an outdoor kitchen that will make your neighbors green with envy, make your first call to the experts at Collier’s.

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Celebrating 25 years!

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ......................Cover & p. 16 Shipshewana On The Road Returns Your Home ......................................................11, 19 49th Home & Garden Show; Stuckey’s Your Outdoor Living ..........................................13 A Great Landscape Plan Inspiration & Worship .......................................14 Caring for Angels Your Legal Tips ...................................................21 About Indiana Child Custody Laws Your Health & Fitness .......................................23 Treating Sore Knees Without Surgery Your Kitchen ........................................................27 How Smart is Your Kitchen?

Your Family Fun .................................................28

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia Editor Jim Taylor Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writer Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Lisa Brandt, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Distribution Kelly Fairbairn Published by Hughes Media Corp.

222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living.

Copyright 2022 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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Hello, March!

W

ith February behind us, we’ve officially entered Anticipation Season. It either flies by or drags on, depending on our attitudes and the weather. Either way, good things are just around the corner!

Soon we’ll spot robins on mushy lawns and feathered strangers at our birdfeeders.

Sleepy-eyed chipmunks will emerge from below our decks. All kinds of critters will start new families. The first smudge of yellow will appear on willow trees and the first crocuses, Lenten roses and witch hazels will bloom.

The first spring thunderstorm, the first local baseball game, the early, barely perceptible greening of the landscape, the first night we sleep with windows wide open – I look forward to all of it.

Gardeners are already starting seeds indoors and farmers are tuning up tractors for spring planting. Boat shows, home shows, bridal shows and RV shows are popping up on the urban landscape as business owners gear up to meet demand.

Among those shows is the 49th Annual Home & Garden Show here in Fort Wayne this weekend. Wise homeowners are using the final weeks of winter to garner estimates and order materials from a sluggish supply chain as they anticipate kitchen, bathroom, and landscaping updates.

Here at our magazine, we have late-winter rituals, too. We work with savvy planners who reserve dates on our pages to promote an explosion of warm-weather festivals, concerts and other special events.

As many Midwesterners relocate to warmer states, I count myself happy to stay put in our true, four-season climate and all the familiar rituals that go with it.

I like taking a break from outdoor tasks before plunging my hands into soil again. I like the shapely bones of bare trees. I like reading books by the fireplace. Snowflakes tumbling from the sky still make me giddy and watching for those first green shoots of spring is glorious. I love it all... including the anticipation itself.

Enjoy the final, quiet weeks of winter while you can! ❚ Janine Pumilia SL Editor Tell them you saw it in ...

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Your Home & Garden

Fort Wayne Home Show March 3-6

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he annual Fort Wayne Home and Garden Show will return in full strength for its 49th consecutive year at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum this weekend, March 3-6. The show is produced by Fort Wayne Shows Inc. and presented by Windows, Doors & More.

The show will feature more than 650 exhibitors and a portion of all ticket proceeds and revenue will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne.

“The Fort Wayne Home & Garden Show will be back at full strength this year,” says show owner Becky Williamson. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, the show couldn’t host traditional features including crowd-pleasing attractions & educational seminars. Plus, the Garden Gallery space was being used as a COVID vaccination site. But 2022 offers a rejuvenated show lineup.

Back by popular demand are high-flying stunt More than 650 vendors will offer information and answer questions about products and dogs from Elite Performance K9s. Christina Curtis services related to every aspect of your home and garden at the Home & Garden Show. and her 10 dogs will be on hand to run, jump, catch, Other highlights include the return of the Purdue Extension weave and perform multiple tricks. The Elite Performance K9s Master Gardener Seminars featuring Kylee Baumle. Baumle is stunts last appeared at the home show in 2019 and was a huge hit an award-winning author and expert on gardening in relation to with Fort Wayne residents. attracting the Monarch butterfly. Baumle will be on stage ThursThere will also be multiple opportunities to learn from the day and Friday at 2 and 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 12, 3 and 5 p.m.; pros at the Like a PRO Educational Stage. Here, showgoers can and Sunday at noon and 2 p.m. Other master gardeners from the learn to “Grow Grass Like a Pro” with tips from Fort Wayne region will share their expertise throughout the show, too.

TinCaps’ award-winning groundskeeper Keith Winter. He’ll Indiana Wild will bring furry, scaly, feathered and shelled share his knowledge of how to produce a perfect lawn in the Fort friends for attendees to meet. Their educational presentations Wayne climate; times are Thursday and Friday at 1 and 4 p.m. will take place on the PROs stage Thursday and Friday at 12:30 and Saturday at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. & 3:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at noon.

Attendees also will gain valuable tips during “Organize Three dinosaur “Meat & Greet” performances will take Your Home Like a PRO,” presented by professional organizer place on Sunday, where kids can learn from dino-handlers and Emily Fitzgerald, owner of OLS Organizing. She’ll share her interact with Little Nudge the baby raptor and her mother, Violet. knowledge on Thursday and Friday at 2 and 5 p.m.; Saturday at Performances are scheduled for Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 12, 3 and 6 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m.

3:30 p.m. Photo opportunities and free balloon dinosaurs will be The show’s Garden Gallery will be a welcome treat for winoffered after each performance. ter-weary visitors.

There will also be hourly $100 giveaways, a $1,000 cash “In the middle of winter, walking through the Garden Galgiveaway from WAJI, and more. lery gives an invigorating burst of hope for Spring,” says WilThe War Memorial Coliseum is located at 4000 Parnell Ave. liamson. Local landscapers, nurseries and garden suppliers will Show hours are Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday fill the traditional space below the arena floor with plenty of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. things to create a backyard oasis. New this year to the Garden Ticket prices are $12 at the door, $8 for seniors 62 and up Gallery is the Broadview Landscaping Nursery Stage, featuring and free for kids 14 and under. Find $2-off discount coupons at a variety of educational and entertaining acts from live music to Home-GardenShow.com. Parking at the Coliseum lot is $8. yoga, book signings and floral arranging demonstrations.

A family-owned business, Fort Wayne Shows was founded More than 650 exhibitors will feature products and services in 1973 by Ernie Kerns and led by his daughter, Karen Tejera, related to kitchen, bath, landscaping, interior decor, bedding, from 2003 to 2019. Now in third-generation leadership, Karen’s windows, siding, roofing, gutters, patios, driveways, garden acdaughter, Becky Williamson, leads the show production. Learn cessories, gifts, plants, fairy gardens, patio and landscape dismore at Home-GardenShow.com. ❚ plays and hundreds of spring flowers.

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Outdoor Living

Tips for Achieving a Beautiful Landscape

It’s no easy task to make sure your landscape offers lovely color and texture in any given week of the year, but professional landscape designers know how to conjure the magic. They also know how to create spaces from which you can best enjoy it.

By Janine Pumilia pring is just around the corner and, once it begins, plants grow fast. Now is the time to get your plan in place. If you’re not sure how to start, Jim Brubaker has some advice.

“Even if you can’t afford to implement it all at once, it’s a good idea to work with a professional to draw up a comprehensive landscape design plan that can be completed in stages,” he says.

“That way it will be cohesive when you’re done, not scattershot.”

Brubaker owns Jim Brubaker Designs, Inc., in Fort Wayne.

There’s more to know about landscaping than meets the eye.

Landscape designers know which plants thrive under various conditions, if and when they bloom, and which plants work well together. They know how to amend soil properly and how to make sure something offers color every week from early spring to late fall – no easy feat. They know which plants best accommodate children, pets and wildlife. They also know how to boost your property’s curb appeal and set your home apart from others.

A good designer learns about you – your tastes and lifestyle – and can suggest options you may never have thought about.

Maybe this means installing a stone wall or walkway, a trellis to support vertical beauty, a water feature or something else.

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“Aside from improper planning, the biggest mistake we see people make is placing plants in spaces that will be too small for the plant at maturity or that are too close to a sidewalk or structure,” says Brubaker. “You don’t want to prune plants to fit a space – you want plants to take their natural shape and complement your home, not hide it.”

Brubaker’s goal as a landscape designer is to increase the enjoyment people experience outdoors.

“In the end, it’s their garden, not mine,” he says. “I love working with people, I love plants and I love being outdoors. I enjoy watching a vision come to life, surrounding people with beauty and making them happy.”

Brubaker has worked with plants and people all of his adult life, first as a florist and later as the co-owner/president of a landscape design company. He opened Jim Brubaker Design with his late wife, Vicki, in 2008. It includes a gift shop, JBD Home, specializing in unique indoor and outdoor home décor, from furniture and lamps to fountains and planters.

Learn more by calling (260) 436-3639 or stop in at 909 Lawrence Dr. ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

Caring for Angels

C

hristians argue about many points, but most of what Jesus Christ taught us is very straightforward. Even so, we find ways to ignore it or rationalize our disobedience.

Consider Jesus’ words about caring for the people least valued by society. From Matthew 25: 32-45: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”

Jesus doesn’t tell us to help only those people we think “deserve” it. We help people not because they’re good but because God is good and lavished us with undeserved grace.

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for by doing that some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” – Hebrews 13:1-2.

Caring for others is the will of God. ❚ 14

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Right in Our Region

Shipshewana On The Road Returns

By Peggy Werner

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ulie and Darrell Lepper visited a flea market in Shipshewana, ordinator Gregory Fountain, the couple’s son. “It’s time to put Ind., more than 20 years ago, and it sparked an idea for a way the winter doldrums aside and see what’s new in spring for the to usher in springtime with family fun in cities throughout the yard, the home and for personal use. It’s a very fun event and Midwest. there’s something exciting and unique for the entire family.”

Shipshewana On The Road is a gift, food and craft show The show will feature 300 booths with jewelry, home décor, founded in 1992 and introduced to Fort Wayne in 2014. The pine furniture, specialty foods, fashion accessories, personal care event travels to about 20 cities per year throughout Indiana, items, pet supplies, cookware, cleaning supplies, books, home lower Michigan, western Ohio and Eastern Illinois from midparty items, toys for children, artwork and much more. About October to early May. one-third of the vendors bring handcrafted items to the show and This year’s event in Fort Wayne will be March 12 & 13, about a quarter of the vendors have an online business. from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. SunSince the last Fort Wayne show, prior to the pandemic, there day, at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave. are 30% more vendors, says Fountain. About half of the booths “Everyone is experiencing cabin fever and it’s time get out are occupied by crafters, 20% by food vendors and 30% sell of the house, be with friends and enjoy the day,” says Event Coother items.

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Right in Our Region Julie Lepper, President of JDL Corporation, says the event includes a carefully selected mix of vendors who sell items that are nearly impossible to find at most retail stores.

Among the vendors is Cory Rairigh of Peru, Ind., owner of Rustic Livin’. He recycles wood from cut-down or fallen-down trees by making yard art for people at reasonable prices. He carves the likeness of bears, fox, racoons, rabbits, birds, flowers, butterflies, owls, and other animals. He has 1,200 pieces ready for this year’s show.

At the request of his customers, Rairigh’s newest items are varieties of dogs and bald eagles. His most popular subjects are bears holding tools, flowers, or signs that can be personalized.

“No two pieces are alike because no two pieces of wood are the same and each item has its own personality,” he says.

Rairigh comes from a long line of woodworkers and, even as a child, made things out of wood and sold them at the Shipshewana Flea Market, where his parents had a booth. He continues to sell his items at that market May through September.

Rairigh says there’s a family feeling among the vendors as they prepare and sell items for families to enjoy.

“The vendors all know each other and although they’re competing for business, they’re also a teamworking together to make sales,” he says. “There’s something for everyone.”

Cherie Carigon, owner of DC Vending, sells home décor, yard art and handmade soaps at Shipshewana On The Road, and for 20 years has been to every location.

She says the show is unlike any other, in that it’s well organized and focused on giving shoppers a wide variety of items to browse and purchase.

“There are many unique, one-of-a-kind items you would never find anywhere else and they’re not all handmade,” Carigon says.

Shoppers will browse merchandise in about 300 booths at this year’s event.

She enjoys making her booth look different every season and never sells the same item for very long. Her specialty is handmade glycerin soaps, which she says are hard to find in stores.

“Because people love the soaps, I get customers who will stock up for the entire year. I always try to make my booth so attractive that people can’t help but stop in to see what I have to offer. People love country-style home décor and whatever is new and interesting in yard stakes. More and more people are making little oases in their yards and changing the look from season to season.”

There’s pent-up demand this year because of the pandemic, she says.

“I think a lot of people took a good, hard look at their homes and yards during the pandemic and decided to clean things up and redo areas of their homes. A lot of people are choosing to work in the yard and make that space look more appealing and be more functional,” says Carigon.

Yard items with butterflies and hummingbirds are always big sellers, and yard stakes with spinners are used to keep critters from invading gardens for a meal.

Over the years, Shipshewana On The Road has earned a reputation for being a quality show offering quality products, Carigon says. For that reason, shoppers return year after year to see what new items their favorite vendors are offering.

“There’s such a large variety of fun things to see and do. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s just a fun place to be,” Carigon says.

Many of the food vendors make their products at their booths and people enjoy watching snacks being made, such as pretzels, kettle corn and roasted almonds and pecans.

A concession area operated by the coliseum will offer hot dogs, hamburgers, soups and other items.

The event attracts about 10,000 people a year and the show headquarters is located in East Leroy, Mich. Adult admission at the door is $5. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

Learn more at shipshewanaontheroad.com or call (269) 979-8888. ❚

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Your Home & Garden

Stucky’s: ‘It’s All About Customer Service’

By Janine Pumilia

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hen a homegrown retailer thrives for 107 years and holds its own against big-box competition, you know it’s doing a lot of things right. And when local folks vote it “Best Appliance Store” 14 years in a row, you know its commitment to customer service is exceptional.

That’s the view of Bill and Polly Shuee and Brent and Lori Shuee, owners of Stucky Furniture & Appliance in Fort Wayne.

The brothers purchased the business in July from longtime friend and mentor Jim Benninghoff, whose grandfather Joseph Stucky established it in 1914 – years before electricity had come to Allen County.

“The connection between this store and generations of customers in this town runs very deep,” says Bill Shuee. “We have one employee who began working here in high school and just marked her 45th anniversary, for example. The reputation for customer service earned by the Stucky brand is something very special and we only intend to grow it.”

The Shuee brothers bring their own expertise to the Fort Wayne store. Since 1987, they’ve managed a Greencastle, Ind., appliance store established in 1970 by their late father, Bob Shuee. They also own a furniture store in Greencastle and furniture & appliance stores in Brazil and Lafayette, Ind. “We started as very young boys growing up in the business, cleaning the toilets and sweeping the floors in the store, and then became involved with delivery to peoples’ homes and then sales positions and finally learning the back-office work,” says Bill Shuee. “This helps us relate to the employees in various positions who make a well-run store succeed.”

Bill and Polly live in Fort Wayne. Married 34 years, they became sweethearts in 8th grade and reared two children, one of whom works in the business – a third-generation retailer. Brent and Lori oversee the recently acquired Lafayette store, Beeson’s Appliance; three of their children work in the family business and a fourth is in college.

Because the Shuees decided to add a furniture line to the Fort Wayne store, they changed the name from Stucky Brothers to Stucky’s Furniture & Appliance. Klaussner and Flexsteel are among furniture brands available in the 30,000-square-foot store, along with Serta mattresses, electronic products and most brands of appliances.

“By adding furniture, both upholstered and case goods, we hope to make it easier for our customers to enjoy a one-stop shopping experience,” says Bill Shuee. “With appliances, we offer reliable, mid-line products to fit any budget, but we also offer super-premium brands like Sub-Zero and Wolf for people who want all the bells and whistles.”

The deep product knowledge of the sales staff – Benninghoff called them “service information specialists” – is another feather in the store’s cap.

Because the new owners want to safeguard and grow the

Owner Bill Shuee says maintaining an on-staff customer service department is essential to upholding the sterling reputation of Stucky’s.

store’s strong reputation for customer service, they’re expanding the on-staff team of delivery, installation and repair service professionals.

“Maintaining an on-staff customer service department is very unique these days, but we think it’s essential,” says Shuee.

“We have a couple of young folks in training to make sure the skills are being passed along to the next generation. Our people can do the more difficult things, like installing dishwashers or wall ovens – things that require plumbing and electrical expertise. We not only employ six servicemen, but also a manager to oversee and fully integrate delivery, installation and service needs, plus two office staff who order parts, handle calls and so forth. When you call us, a human being here in our store – not across the world – answers the phone to help you.”

Stucky’s is price-competitive against big-box retailers because it belongs to a huge buying group.

“It has thousands of member stores and the clout of $19 billion annually in buying power, so that enables us to compete with the big guys.”

The Shuees view their purchase of the Fort Wayne and Lafayette stores as huge steps for their family-owned company.

Both markets are much larger than those in Greencastle and Brazil and the family is fully committed to hands-on involvement.

“We still help to unload trucks or whatever else is needed at a given moment,” Bill Shuee says. “We’re just very excited to be here in Fort Wayne. Our family goes way back with Jim [Benninghoff] and that’s also true of the previous owners of the Lafayette store. They were great people to work with and learn from and we’re happy to be here.”

Learn more about Stucky Furniture & Appliance by stopping in at the store, 5601 Coldwater Road, or by calling (260) 482-8402. ❚ 19 March 2022 • I Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Fort Wayne

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Legal Tips

Understanding Parental Custody in Indiana

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ecisions about child custody can be stressful for everyone involved, but they can also be managed amicably. Here are some things to keep in mind, according to Robert H. Bellinger, principal attorney at Bellinger Law Office, 116 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne.

First, it’s the responsibility of the court to determine what’s in the best interest of the child.

“That may not always be what the child wants, and it may not be what the parents want, either,” says Bellinger. “Nonetheless, it’s the foremost consideration for the court, when deciding these matters.”

Indiana law makes room for two types of custody, says Bellinger. Just because a child primarily lives with one parent doesn’t mean that the other parent does not have custody of the child. One parent may have physical custody, while another or both parents have legal custody.

“Legal custody is a different concept that refers to the right of a parent to make critical decisions on the child’s behalf,” says Bellinger. “This includes the ability to make health care and education decisions for the child. When both parents have legal custody of a child, we call it joint custody. When one parent has legal custody of a child, we say that parent has sole custody.

However, that does not mean that the other parent does not have visitation rights. It simply means that important decisions are vested with only one parent.”

The reasons for denying a parent legal custody can range

anywhere from prior incidents of abuse in the household to the fact that they simply cannot get along with their former spouse.

“In cases in which a parent is opposed to the choices of the other parent, it can create serious conflict for the family,” Bellinger explains. “The court must then weigh the child’s best interests against the parents’ conduct and will render a decision based only on the child’s best interests. Oftentimes, courts will enlist the aid of social workers or psychologists to determine if one or the other parent is unfit to have decision-making power.”

Parents with legal custody have powers and responsibilities.

They also have rights to make specific decisions for the child. In most cases, the decisions will involve what school the child goes to, what medical interventions they receive, and their access to religion or cultural institutions.

“Parents who do not have legal custody of their child must accept the decisions of the parent with legal custody or petition the court to review their decisions, under the litmus test of the best interests of the child,” he says.

Bellinger says his job is to argue to the court how his client’s interests are best aligned with the child’s interests.

“When parents put the best interest of the child first and foremost, custody issues often can be managed amicably,” he says. “Other times, more aggressive tactics are needed.”

Learn more about The Bellinger Law Office by calling (260) 428-2214. ❚ 21 March 2022 • I Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Fort Wayne

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Your Health

Regenerative Therapies for Sore Knees

By Toni Rocha

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nee injuries and longterm damage need not result in surgery. For alternative treatment methods, patients are looking to Dr. David M. Gafken, D.A.CN.B., of Health N.O.W., 2146 State Road, Auburn, Ind., for help in relieving pain.

Gafken says patients come to him either with undiagnosed knee pain or because they have seen other medical professionals and are seeking nonsurgical alternatives to bone-on-bone and other knee issues.

“These patients have had X-rays, MRIs and/or have been receiving cortisone shots without achieving any Regenerative therapies can reduce knee pain and induce healing. lasting relief,” Gafken adds. the production of stem cells, and to generate venous nitric oxide “We conduct a thorough exam which may include additional to increase peripheral blood flow to the afflicted areas around nerve testing, X-rays and MRIs if significant time has passed the knee. since their last tests.”

“This is called photo bio modulat,” Gafken adds. “It aids in Knee injuries or age-related damage rarely heal by themthe growth of new blood vessels while flushing out any damaged selves, he continues. It is better to seek alternative methods of tissue, alleviating pain.” treating knee issues than to tough it out alone.

Acoustic and focus shockwave therapy have been in use for Once the examination is complete and the patient is apmore than 10 years, Gafken explains. The method sends pulses proved as a candidate for therapy, Gafken says he decides on through the joint to promote stem cell growth, encourage the dea course of treatment using several highly effective methods to velopment of new blood vessels and increased blood flow, and promote joint regeneration, such as decompression, laser, plus to induce quicker healing. radial pressure, shockwave or acoustic waves.

“It’s a tool that hasn’t been used as much as it could be beGafken says decompression on knee joints is achieved by cause powerful tools are expensive,” Gafken adds. “The treatseating the patient in a chair and hooking the knee up to a mament not only reduces pain but also induces biochemical changchine which gently pulls the joint open and closed using less es that promote healing.” than 16 pounds of force. By gently separating the joint space Basically, the patient is given a course of treatment which between the bottom of the femur (thigh bone) and the top of the employs one or several of the above methods. As a rule, the patibia (shin bone), Gafken adds this creates a vacuum effect inside tient is treated up to three times each week during which all of the knee joint which brings more nutrient rich fluid to the area. the selected methods are applied in a stepped order.

The method also stretches the tendons, ligaments and other soft Along with treatment in the Gafken office, patients are entissue around the joint. Together, this helps re-establish some of couraged to exercise as appropriate, ice the knee joint to reduce the natural joint space and cushioning in the knee. inflammation and swelling, as well as various at-home remedies.

“We gently work the knee for about seven to eight min“We have a 90-percent success rate with this course of treatutes,” Gafken adds. “The course of treatment is given three times ment,” Gafken concludes. weekly for four to five weeks.”

For more information or to make an appointment, call the High intensity laser therapy consists of using four different Gafken-Steinberg Chriopractic Center at (260) 920-8811 or visit levels of intensity to penetrate the appropriate depth in the knee its website. ❚ joint, Gafken says. These waves have a healing effect, increase Tell them you saw it in ...

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VAN’S HOME CENTER

New Year. New Style.

Welcome Home To Style And Comfort.

With our large selection of quality home furnishings from today’s top brands, you’re sure to find the perfect style, at the perfect price, for any room in your home.

Use Our New Design Center To Customize Your Furniture To Fit Your Style

FURNITURE | APPLIANCES | FLOORING MATTRESSES | CABINETS | COUNTERTOPS 20 Minutes From Fort Wayne! Just Off I-69 & State Road 8 In Auburn! www.VansHomeCenter.com 106 Peckhart Ct. Auburn, IN | 260.927.8267 Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Fort Wayne

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Your Kitchen

How ‘Smart’ is Your Kitchen?

Today we can control our household appliances from the palm of our hands, no matter where we are.

By Peggy Werner

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f that 30-year-old appliance quits working and you need to replace it, and you haven’t done your homework, you’ll be surprised to learn how technological advances allow you to manage your life from your smartphone. That could improve the way you do laundry, prepare dinner, turn on the oven and more.

“Everything is ‘smart’ now because we live in a ‘smart’ world where everything is connected and can be controlled from a phone held in the palm of your hand,” says Brittany Brouer, marketing director at Van’s Home Center, Auburn, Ind. For example, one of the most advanced appliances is the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator which is WI-FI enabled and allows you to send notes, sync schedules, see who’s at your front door, search recipes, get meal ideas, play music, stream movies and look inside the refrigerator as you shop, she says.

Other Wi-Fi enabled appliances also allow you to start and stop equipment with your smartphone. A washing machine can hold a large amount of laundry detergent and dispense as needed.

Large loads of laundry can be finished in 30 minutes and a small load left in the washer overnight will dry.

“So, you can start the laundry and pre-heat the oven before you even get home. There’s quite a range of what appliances can do for you today and it’s all about what you want and need and

what you’re willing to pay for,” she says.

Most people interested in the smart appliances are between 25 and 40 years old, but many others also love technology and are not afraid of it, she says.

“The advances give people lots of choice to make life easier and do more in one day. It’s all about personal preference and the choices are driven by consumers who want to do more with their time than laundry,” Brouer says.

Brouer suggests that people who are unsure about such technology should get online information from manufacturers about how to use appliances. YouTube, also, is a great source for learning how to do just about anything.

A locally-owned, family business, Van’s Home Center opened in 1973 and has expanded from a 1,500 square-foot store to a 75,000 square-foot “one stop” showroom for the home.

Along with appliances, it sells flooring, furniture, mattresses, cabinetry, countertops and more.

“We’re large enough to compete with big-box stores and we price competitively.”

Learn more by calling (260) 927-8267 or stop in at 106 Peckhart Ct., Auburn, Ind. ❚

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Your Fun

Entertainment & Events

49 Fort Wayne Home Show March 3-6. More than 650 exhibitors will fill Allen County War Memorial Coliseum with ideas and products for all types of home improvement projects for kitchen, bath, landscaping, interior decor, windows, siding, roofing, gutters, patios, driveways and more. 4000 Parnell Ave., Fort Wayne. HomeGardenShow.com. th

Shipshewana On the Road March 12 & 13, Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Two fun days of browsing the same unique trinkets, treasures, foods, gifts and crafts found in the high quality, Amishinfluenced community of Shipshewana, Ind. Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Shipshewanaontheroad.com.

Eric Johnson at Club Room at the Clyde March 13, 7 p.m. This pianist/vocalist is among the most accomplished guitar players of his generation. Clyde Theater, 1806 Bluffton Road. Clydetheatre.com.

Sweetheart Orchid Display Through March 13, Tues.-Sun. Enjoy a display of orchids in bloom at the botanical conservatory’s tropical garden, including strik-

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ing Cattleyas, fragrant Dendrobiums, dainty Oncidiums and moth-like Phalaenopsis.

Orchids and other plants available for purchase. Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. botanicalconservatory.org ‘A Sense of Place: Abstract Art in N. Indiana’ Through March 13, daily. Highlighting the beauty and meaning of abstract art that relies on expressive qualities of color and non-representational marks. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St., fwmoa.org.

Under the Big Top Through April 17, daily. Attempt great feats of derring-do including acrobatics and tightrope walking at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, (260) 427-6440, botanicalconservatory.org.

Our Weakening Web Through May 29, daily, Science Central, 1950 N. Clinton St. Developed by the Cincinnati Museum Center, “Our Weakening Web: The Story of Extinction” explains extinction as a natural occurrence over millions of years, using life-like dioramas. It also explains what’s

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Enjoy blooming orchids at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory through March 13.

happening today and why environmental conservation is important. (260) 424-2400, sciencecentral.org.

Smooth Tuesdays Every Tuesday, 6-9 p.m., enjoy the best in soft rock and classic hits with rotating artists. Clyde Theater, 1806 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, (574) 344-0566, Clydetheatre.com.

100 Years of Collecting Tues.-Sun. Showcasing works of art that the museum acquired through purchases or gifts.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St., fwmoa.org. ❚

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