Smart Living Fort Wayne - December 16, 2021

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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • December 2021 • No. II

Find the Best Gifts When You Shop Local!

Enjoy a Pergola All Year Long What Smart Appliances Can Do for You A Special Holiday Season for Philharmonic Meet the New Owners of Stucky Brothers

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

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ......................Cover & p. 16 Exciting Ideas for Shopping Local Your Outdoor Living ..........................................11 Enjoy a Pergola All Year-Round Inspiration & Worship .......................................14 The Dawn of Grace Your Community .................................................19 Constantine Leads His First Holiday Pops Your Kitchen ........................................................23 What Smart Appliances Can Do for You Your Home .............................................................25 Stucky’s New Owners Your Health & Fitness .......................................27 Treating Peripheral Neuropathy 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 2021 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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Why Buy Local?

I

f the commercialism of Christmas disturbs you, you’re not alone. Asked by pollsters what they least like about Christmas, Americans consistently name the materialism of the holiday as their No. 1 complaint.

And still we shop. And shop. And shop some more. Last year we spent a record $777 billion collectively.

I’m no different. I shake my head at the commercialism as I pull out my credit card.

We’re complicated creatures.

One thing that makes me feel better about spending, however, is doing business with locally owned retail stores. I’m of the opinion that Amazon and the big-box titans don’t need more of my money – but the mom-and-pop retailers sure do, especially during this pandemic era.

Shopping local is a gift to my community. For every $100 I spend locally, $68 stays close to home. By contrast, just $43 stays here when I shop online or at a chain whose HQ is in another state. Better wages and more local taxes and donations are benefits of buying local. And local business owners tend to support other local business owners when they need a website designed or taxes done or a store remodeled etc.

Gifts I buy locally tend to be more meaningful, too. From artwork by locals to tickets and gift cards to regional attractions and restaurants, they have the “wow” factor.

There’s something else, too. A gift that doesn’t require delivery to my door makes a smaller carbon footprint. That matters to me.

We hope our cover article will inspire you to check out some of the locally owned businesses and organizations in the Fort Wayne region as you make those last-minute purchases.

In the end, Christmas is what we make of it. Each of us can take time to reflect on what the season means to us and how we can best act on our beliefs.

From all of us at Smart Living, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! ❚ Janine Pumilia SL Editor

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Outdoor Living

Pergolas Add to Enjoyment All Year Long

A new pergola can be installed any time of year, weather permitting. Why wait for the spring rush?

By Peggy Werner

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ith COVID-19 still raging, many people are spending more time at home. Unseasonably warm temperatures are allowing them to take advantage of the outdoors on many winter days.

Pergolas add style, beauty, and definition to an outdoor space while also providing privacy, shade, and added value to a home, says Ryan Lemon, chief operating officer at W.A. Zimmer, 1700 N. Broadway, Huntington, Ind. “A lot of people are still spending more time at home and yet they don’t want to feel cooped up. Pergolas make it possible for people to work outdoors without sun glare on the computer screen, and some people use the space just for relaxing or entertaining by adding an outdoor kitchen,” he says.

A pergola is an outdoor structure consisting of columns that support an open roof of beams and rafters. Free-standing or attached to your house, a pergola can cover a patio, deck or any outdoor area and comes in a variety of styles and sizes. There are options like retractable side screens.

A standard pergola allows for partial shade. The open beams let in natural light and provide a perfect setting for stringing outdoor lights. A pergola can support climbing vines to enhance your home’s landscaping. An operable pergola has remote-controlled motorized louvres to give partial or complete shade with the push of a button.

A dry cool pergola is the newest way to cover an outdoor area and extend the time you can spend outdoors all year. The

unique structure combines the functionality of a patio cover with the look of a pergola. Insulated center panels help to protect a space from rain, snow and sun and yet this pergola has the openbeam look of a traditional pergola.

Pergolas account for the vast majority of sales today at W.A. Zimmer and the structures can be installed year-round. As long as temperatures stay above freezing, homeowners can adjust louvres, says Lemon.

All structures from W.A. Zimmer are custom built and are made from high quality and durable extruded aluminum, requiring no maintenance because the material doesn’t fade, rust, warp, mold or need painting or staining. Colors available are white, sandstone (light beige), and bronze, which is a rich dark brown.

The family-owned company has been in business for more than 40 years and is owned by Bill and Marcia Zimmer. Their staff designs and builds maintenance-free and high-quality sunrooms, pergolas, patio covers and retractable awnings and screens. They take responsibility for the whole project, from start to finish, including getting permits to do the job. The company services only the products they build.

W.A. Zimmer plans to open second location in Elkhart, Ind., this spring. It also maintains a display at Ginger Valley Garden Center in Granger, Ind., near South Bend.

Learn more by calling (260) 356-1621 or visit the showroom at 1700 N. Broadway St., Huntington, Ind. ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

Christmas The Dawn of Grace

W

hile many details related to Jesus’ birth are murky, scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments couldn’t be clearer about his purpose for coming: to bring light and love to a dark world and everlasting life to those who choose to believe on him as their lord and savior.

In Luke 4:16-21, shortly after Jesus began his ministry, we read that he went to his hometown synogogue in Nazareth, opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah (part of the Old Testament, written some 700 years before he was born) and read: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Then Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the minister and sat down.

Everyone stared at him, and he told them, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

While many religions recognize Jesus as a prophet, only Christianity celebrates him as the son of God and the messiah prophesied in the Old Testament.

Christianity is entirely unique in its message of grace.

“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” writes Paul, the apostle, in Ephesians 2:8.

John 1:17 tells us, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came

by Jesus Christ.”

Spiritually, Jesus Christ ended all inequality by extending the option of salvation to all people, Jew and nonJew, male and female, slave and free (Galatians 3:28). Shortly before his death by crucifixion, Jesus prayed not only for people who already believed on him, but for “all those who shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20) – and that is us.

Why not take time this season to read for yourself the scriptures that describe Christ’s birth? You’ll find them in the first chapters of the gospels of Luke and Matthew. ❚

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–Janine Pumilia

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Outdoor Living

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Right in Our Region

Find the Best Gifts by Shopping Local

Above and below: Shoppers enjoy a selection of unique gift items at The Find, 133 W. Wayne St., in Fort Wayne.

By Peggy Werner

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hether people on your gift list have been naughty or nice, ing everything from stocking stuffers, mainly lip gloss and vothere’s no excuse not to find them a gift as unique as they tive candles, to things people want for themselves.” are, this holiday season, in one of the 40 locally owned shops in Big sellers this year include faux fur fingerless mittens, soft Fort Wayne. and cozy socks and throws, and a selection of men’s clothing, Small Business Saturday, traditionally held the Saturday afthe latter new to Wilson’s inventory this year. Helping people ter Thanksgiving, has been extended to every Saturday through with their selections, whether or not they’re comfortable getting Dec. 18 and is called Holly Shopping. outdoors, is the store’s updated Many stores are offering special deals and have extended website that includes a local hours. Christmas music and activities like the Snowman Scavenpickup option so customers can ger Hunt and Holiday Passport are taking place throughout the save time if they know what they season to encourage people to shop downtown. For a full list of want. what’s happening, visit downtownfortwayne.com.

The Find also carries items “Our customers are amazing,” says Melani Wilson, owner for babies and children, items of The Find, 133 W. Wayne St. “We’re seeing our regulars, as made by local artists, and skin well as a lot of new faces. I think the opening of the Bradley Hocare products, candles, clothing, tel and more and more restaurants in the downtown area is really jewelry and more. helping drive some of the foot traffic.”

Olive Twist, 6410 W. JefShe says people are shopping in person and loving it, since ferson Blvd., specializes in ultrapandemic restrictions on businesses have been lifted. premium extra virgin olive oil, “Customers seem to be buying loads of gifts,” she says. “I infused and specialty oils, dark think everyone wants a little treat this holiday season. We’re selland white balsamic vinegars, 16 Smart Living Fort Wayne December 2021 • II To Advertise Call 260-212-8968

Right in Our Region

Left: The Visit Fort Wayne Visitor’s Center, 927 Harrison St., sells prints, apparel and other goods from local artists and vendors. Right: A shopper (and her dog!) look over the merchandise at House to Home, 110 W. Columbia St., in Fort Wayne.

wine vinegars, teas and other beverages, 26 flavors of bulk tea, cooking utensils, gifts, snacks, olives, pickles, relishes and smallbatch, in-house blended herbs, spices and rubs, says Lori Berndt, owner.

“I’m doing a lot of custom baskets for people who have been very thoughtful in deciding what they want to give someone,” she says. “They aren’t just buying something. They’re thinking about what they’re purchasing.”

One of the most popular items she’s selling this holiday season are “grab and go” gift-wrapped sampler boxes of five olive oils and/or vinegars and free recipes to inform people how to bring out the flavor in dishes.

Some of the most popular olive oil flavors are Tuscan Herb, Butter infused and Garlic. An 18-year-old aged balsamic vinegar, raspberry and cranberry/pear are among the fastest selling vinegars, she says.

Artist Julie Wall, founder of The Hedge Creative House, 1016 Broadway, says many people are shopping local this holiday season and merchants couldn’t be happier.

“Our statement earrings are always popular and this year our hand-poured candles in up-cycled vessels and artwork have been flying out the door. It’s great to see so many people wanting to give unique gifts to their loved ones,” she says.

The shop specializes in jewelry, stationery and artistic house-

wares, and creates fine art prints. Workshops are offered at The Studio to teach techniques for creating your own gifts.

JBD Home, at landscape design company Jim Brubaker Designs, 909 Lawrence Dr., offers a year-round retail shop specializing in silk florals and garlands, unique ornaments, figurines, home décor and accessories, indoor and outdoor specialty lighting, and fresh greens.

The ornaments are a big seller at JBD Home. One collection from Germany is made from 100-year-old original molds, handpainted and available in 20 varieties.

The Paradigm Gallery is located inside the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 670 Lafayette St. Browse the shop’s hand-blown glass art, ornaments, paintings, jewelry and other items created by local and regional artists.

Creative Women of the World, a downtown boutique at 125 W. Walnut St., is a place to shop for gifts that keep on giving. It sells handmade goods made by marginalized women from around the globe.

Sharon’s Victorian House of Gifts, 634 W. Berry St., is on the first floor of a three-story brick historic family-owned home. The shop displays items related to Fort Wayne’s history.

Country Kitchen SweetArt, 4621 Speedway Dr., stocks more than 14,000 baking supplies and offers classes, ideas and inspiration to people of all ages. Shop in-person, online or schedule a store pick-up.

Of course, some of the best gifts are gifts of time.

Purchase a membership to Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, the Botanical Conservatory, Science Central or History Center. Learn about the Dream Pass at visitfortwayne.com. And remember that gift cards to locally owned restaurants make good gifts.

Get information on local events, retail stores, restaurants and more at the Visit Fort Wayne Visitor’s Center, 927 Harrison St, Suite 101. It features a wide array of Fort Wayne prints, apparel, goods from local artist and vendors.

It’s refreshing to get away from big-box and online chainstore shopping. Shopping and dining at locally owned stores and restaurants not only strengthens the local economy, but also leads Shoppers at GoodMRKT, at Jefferson Pointe Shopping Center in Fort Wayne, find products by brands committed to changing the world for the better. to finds that are as unique as the loved ones we’re buying for. ❚ 17 December 2021 • II Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Fort Wayne

MEET

AGAIN

EXPLORE

AGAIN

FLY

AGAIN

PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO DO IT ALL AGAIN. So, whether you’re planning your next business trip. Or, booking that long-awaited vacation.

We’ll provide the safe, sanitary, socially-distant terminal.

So, you can fly…again.

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Your Community

Constantine Conducts First Holiday Pops

By Peggy Werner

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ward-winning conductor Andrew Constantine began his musical studies at a young age and has spent his life honing the skills needed to bring out the best in musicians.

As Music Director of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, he’s been conducting Holiday Pops concerts this month for the first time in our region.

“It’s a mainstay of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, something the community has loved for decades and looks forward to every year,” he says.

The Philharmonic has been performing the program in five cities in Northeast Indiana. In Fort Wayne, the production is being performed six times over two weekends at the historic Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd. Catch remaining performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 2 p.m. Dec. 19.

Highlights of the program include traditional Christmas songs, dancing, visits from Santa and Mrs. Clause, a carol singalong and Handel’s rousing “Hallelujah” chorus. Lyric soprano and stage actress Lisa Vroman is the guest vocalist.

“The program almost chooses itself, with traditional and well-known Christmas classics that have a wide appeal, as well as involvement by Fort Wayne’s Children’s Choir and its Dance Collective,” he says.

Constantine also includes a Christmas Overture by English composer and conductor Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, whose music has received more exposure in recent years.

“Knowing Coleridge-Taylor had this gorgeous overture, I wanted to be sure to include it. I thought it would be a ‘first’ for Fort Wayne, but how wrong I was! It seems this wonderfully gifted composer, who was born of mixed race in 1875 and tragically died at the young age of 37, is already a firm favorite of our audience.”

In 1904, on his first tour of the U.S., Coleridge-Taylor was invited to the White House by President Theodore Roosevelt. It was rare for a man of African descent to receive such an invitation. His music was performed widely throughout the U.S. and he sought to integrate traditional African music into the classical realm.

The world of performing arts was “devastated” during the past 18 months of pandemic and venues and artists have been wondering about peoples’ readiness to return to the theater, he says.

“Our audiences are very sophisticated and know how to get life going again while being very cooperative and concerned for each other. We’re just pleased to be back on stage, performing live music for live audiences,” he says.

Constantine’s goals for the coming season include working more closely with Purdue University at Fort Wayne, with other local arts organizations and with churches performing Christmas specials. He’d also like to partner more often with the Fort Wayne Ballet.

The Holiday Pops concert of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic is a beloved local tradition that includes a sing-along and a visit from Santa.

Although his main residence is in Baltimore, Constantine spends three to four months each year in Fort Wayne to lead the Philharmonic.

“There will always be a core of loyal and dedicated listeners and followers of classical music,” he says. “But how we choose to present the music will always be changing. Some people struggle listening to classical music, but others come to classical music concerts to take time for themselves and reflect. Classical music requires involvement from the listener to be open and receptive. You have to participate when listening to classical music, rather than letting it come at you.”

Constantine speaks to audiences to help them know what to listen for and to provide background on the music piece and its composer. The conductor’s job is to connect the musicians with the music and also the audience with the music, he says.

“The audience’s energy creates a synergy with the performers, like an electrical current. Musicians feed off the audience and will feel what they are feeling, whether the crowd is large or small. And the audience can feel if the musicians are pumped up.

I like to be that person who makes it all happen.”

Born in Northeast England, Constantine learned to play the cello as a child. At the University of Leicester, he studied music, art, history and politics, and later was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in music.

Reading a library book about British conductor and cellist John Barbirolli helped Constantine to discover his own passion for conducting. He studied with British conductors John Carewe and Norman Del Mar in London and with Leonard Bernstein in Germany. He founded the Bardi Orchestra in Leicester and performed throughout Europe.

A scholarship took him to the Leningrad State Conservatory in 1991, where he studied with legendary Russian conductor llya Musin, whom he describes as his strongest influence.

“He taught me how to influence sound by first creating the image in your head and then transferring it into your hands. Extracting your own ego from the situation as much as possible is the only true way of serving the music.” ❚ 19 December 2021 • II Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Fort Wayne

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Your Kitchen

What ‘Smart’ Appliances Can Do for You

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

By Peggy Werner

I

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 Home & Garden

New Owners, Same Commitment at Stucky’s

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, the new 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 newly acquired Lafayette store, Beeson’s Appliance; three of their children work in the family business and a fourth is still 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 that soon will be 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

New 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. ❚ 25 December 2021 • II Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Fort Wayne

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Your Health

Effective Treatments for Peripheral Neuropathy

By Toni Rocha

T

he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 20 million Americans suffer from peripheral neuropathy (PN), a condition that results from damage to nerve networks in the hands, feet, ankles and other parts of the body.

At Health N.O.W., 2146 State Road, Auburn, patients find relief from symptoms ranging from mild to disabling, including numbness, tingling, twitching, throbbing and stabbing pain.

They also avoid further damage that a lack of feeling can cause, including wounds to the feet that don’t heal, which could eventually lead to amputation.

Dr. David M. Gafken, of Health N.O.W., in Auburn, has spent four decades using the latest advancements to diagnose “The symptoms can range and treat neuropathy before the condition becomes a graver concern for patients. from that ‘pins and needles’ feelGafken describes the course as quite effective as compared ing to severe pain,” explains Dr. David M. Gafken, DC. “Diabeto the medications usually prescribed to treat PN. tes is the No. 1 cause of PN.” “The drugs used to treat PN are high-powered and can have Patients come into the center for a thorough assessment, significant side effects,” he explains. which includes family history, existing conditions and testing to Gafken explains that the normal PN score for patients is 74. determine if they are candidates for chiropractic treatment courses.

“We had a woman whose PN score was 19 to 20 when she “Patients who fall inside certain ranges undergo testing came to the center,” Gafken says. “When her course of treatment to find where the source of the problem is,” Gafken explains. was complete, her score had improved to 60.”

“These can include a full metabolic workup, blood sugar/glucose Along with relief from the discomfort of PN, patients also reading (AIC), an evaluation of genetic components plus cigabenefit from improved sleep patterns, he says. rette and alcohol usage. Based on the results of these tests, we “After treatment, patients can walk better and more safely,” arrive at a score which reflects the severity of the PN they are Gafken says. “This is vital because patients who cannot feel experiencing. Then we determine if they are good candidates for their feet are prone to falls and other situations in which they a treatment course or if the nerve damage has progressed too far can cut or damage the affected tissue. We can save them the loss to treat effectively.” of their toes and feet because the treatment course helps them For patients who fall into the treatable score range, Gafken get more efficient blood flow back into their feet and ankles.” says laser is one of the methods he uses. Laser therapy involves With improved capabilities, patients are better able to rethe use of low-level waves that can be set at one of four depths, sume or initiate exercise programs and enjoy participating in depending on how deep into the muscle and bone tissue the damsports without fear or discomfort, Gafken says. They can also age has occurred. Laser can successfully be used to increase work at their jobs and around the house and yard, a benefit that blood flow and repair nerve damage to the ankles and feet, hands directly improves their quality of life. and fingers, and other areas of the body.

“How active they are depends on their overall health and age, “One of the main areas we address is the lower spine, using but we want them to be as active as they can be,” Gafken says. decompression therapy combined with laser treatment to reduce “We have an incredibly positive effect on our patients’ lives.” inflammation, encourage stronger blood flow and to build new Learn more about PN treatment, or make an appointment pathways to healthier nerve networks,” Gafken adds. “The dewith Health N.O.W., by calling (260) 920-8811. Learn more at compression course takes place over a six- to eight-week period, seekhealthnow.com. ❚ teamed with other appropriate soundwave electrical methods.”

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Your Fun

Entertainment & Events

Holiday Pops - Fort Wayne Philharmonic Dec. 18 & 19. Dec. 18 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Revel in the traditional music and popular culture of Christmas.

Andrew Constantine, conductor, and Lisa Vroman, vocalist. Embassy Theatre, fwembassytheatre.org.

Festival of Gingerbread Through Dec. 19. Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m.

One of Fort Wayne’s most cherished holiday traditions. Gingerbread creations by local artists are set up in the historic Shields Room of Fort Wayne History Center, 302 E. Berry St. fwhistorycenter.org Holiday Market at the Zoo Through Dec. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Decorate cookies, say hello to animals on the farm, hear a Christmas tale during Story Time and have your picture taken with Santa Claus.

Story Time every hour 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Indiana Family Farm open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Blue Jacket’s Fantasy of Lights Through Dec. 31, 5:30-9 p.m. and until 10

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p.m. on Fri. and Sat. This drive-through holiday light display transforms Franke Park into a spectacular winter wonderland with more than 130 larger-than-life scenes and 500,000 LED lights. $10 per car. On Dec. 16-20, food and craft vendors welcome you to the Christmas Village at the end of the 2-mile driving route. 2826 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. bluejacketinc.org Science Central: Our Weakening Web Until Jan. 22, Thurs.-Sun. With displays, dioramas and interactive components that encourage hands-on learning, visitors learn about the ecological relationships that bind all life forms together. 1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne. ScienceCentral.org.

Savor Fort Wayne Jan. 12-23. For 12 delicious days, Fort Wayne restaurants will offer special deals on threecourse menu options for dine-in or carryout.

Learn more at SavorFortWayne.com.

Nouvelle Annee 1750s Jan. 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Fort Saint Philippe Post des Miamis and help celebrate Nouvelle Annee, the new year. See French

December 2021 • II

To Advertise Call 260-212-8968

Enjoy the Fantasy of Lights at Franke Park. soldiers, settlers, voyageurs and their Miami Native Allies. Sponsored by Historic Fort Wayne and Les Garrison du Pays den Haut.

Learn more at oldfortwayne.org.

Nashville Thursdays 7-10 p.m. Free live music in the Club Room at Clyde Theater, 1808 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. Clydetheatre.com.

Open Acoustic Jam Each second Tuesday, 5-8 p.m. at Sweetwater, 5501 US Hwy 30 West, Fort Wayne. All skill levels welcome. sweetwater.com. ❚

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To Advertise Call 260-212-8968

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December 2021 • II

To Advertise Call 260-212-8968