Smart Living Fort Wayne - March 23, 2023

Time is a Thief

Every so often, I’m unsure of what to write in this column. When ideas aren’t striking, I tend to look for inspiration in the columns of my predecessor, Janine Pumilia.

If you’re a longtime reader of “Smart Living,” you know Janine’s talent is extraordinary. How is it that she can make you think, laugh and weep with only 300 words of space??

At this time four years ago, Janine wrote a well-researched column about the spring equinox. Three years ago, she penned a moving column about keeping hope alive during the pandemic.

Two years ago, she wrote a column about parenting that I still reflect on when I can’t sleep at night. Here’s an excerpt:

I recall nodding when the well-wishers told me to “savor every minute because they grow so fast.” Now I wonder, “Did I do enough savoring?” Along with savoring, there was a lot of making sure everyone was clean, fed, rested, vaccinated, socialized, financially supported, caught up on homework and driven to wherever they needed to be next. Now, I’m one of the well-wishers.

The most natural thing in the world –generations replacing one another – is still the most miraculous.

As I write this, my 18-month-old is transferring his blocks one at a time from the floor to the coffee table. He’ll look at me when he’s finished for some sort of praise, and then he’ll sweep all his blocks back onto the floor and start again. He’s so easily entertained these days.

People say the toddler years can be tough, especially the tantrums, which I’m finding to be VERY ACCURATE. But I do try to heed the advice of all those who parented before me and savor this time. It might be cliche, but it’s true – our kids grow up so fast! Time is a thief.

Thank you to Janine for the wise reminder. You can still read her work in our Inspiration column.

Have a great week! ❚

Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor

Improving Your Indoor Air Quality

By Peggy Werner

For more than 65 years, people have relied on Brockman Heating & Air Conditioning for their home comfort and peace of mind.

“The small family business began with a focus on caring for people and the community,” says Ben Sherman, co-owner of the company with his brother, Jake. “Brockman has built a reputation as a business that goes above and beyond for its neighbors.”

Brockman’s, 3750 N. Wells St., Fort Wayne, specializes in the design, engineering and installation of heating systems, air conditioning units and water heaters. They carry a full line of indoor air quality systems, including humidifiers and air cleaners, and service all major brands of gas, propane, and oil furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, ductless mini-splits and water heaters. The company specializes in American Standard Equipment made in the USA.

“Taking pride in our work starts with putting in the best equipment possible,” Sherman says. “However, the best equipment is only as good as the craftsman installing it. We hire good, hard-working people with similar goals and values, especially those always looking to improve themselves.”

The technicians are fully licensed and insured and follow the best practices in terms of safety and professional conduct.

“It’s important to create a pleasant experience for our customers,” Sherman adds. “When a customer has a problem with equipment, they are often scared and stressed because of the un-

known, especially if they are caring for young children or elderly parents in the home, who are more sensitive to temperatures. Our goal is to settle their nerves by letting them know we are there to help them out and take care of any problems. We want to help educate people on their equipment by sharing good information, so people can make the best decisions for themselves.”

Brockman’s is unique in that they have a full-time technician support supervisor in charge of training and 24-hour support of all technicians. All technicians get weekly training on how to care for equipment and care for customers. There is detailed technical training on all manufacturers’ products to understand how equipment is to be installed and operated.

The brothers run the company their grandfather, Vernon, started. Both owners started working at the business as teenagers.

Sherman attended college at Purdue University at Fort Wayne and earned a management degree while working for his family. Growing up in the business, he learned the importance of quality work and caring for customers.

“Working in this business has always felt right to me,” he says. “I enjoyed working with my family and I always felt like it was something that I was meant to do. We are a company that treats you like a person, not a transaction.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Brockman’s at (260) 203-0230 ❚

Brockman Heating & Air Conditioning is a small, family-owned business that dates back to 1957. Current owners Jake and Ben Sherman follow in their grandfather Vernon’s footsteps.

Now’s the Time to Think About Your Lawn

By Peggy Werner

Abeautiful lawn makes any house look better, but like any other living thing, it needs to be monitored, fed, enriched, nurtured and loved.

Troy Lewis of Friend Irrigation, 258 Frontage Road, Columbia City, says people have many reasons why they choose to have an irrigation system installed in their yard.

“It keeps your yard in pristine condition and keeps your plants and shrubs watered, too,” he says. “Most homeowners know you have to water the lawn to keep it looking good, but many of those people don’t have the time to do it themselves. For some, the yard is too large.”

Lewis says it takes about an inch of precipitation a week to keep a yard looking nice. His irrigation systems can be programmed to go on and off at different times of the day and week. The systems have a sensor to turn off the water when it rains, he adds.

“Too little or too much rain is not good for a lawn. Grass needs just the right amount of moisture to maintain a healthy appearance. Because rainfall is unpredictable, we can go through periods of dryness and drought,” he says.

In addition to water, lawns need regular maintenance to monitor and prevent weeds, disease and harmful insects that can quickly destroy the look and health of a yard.

Ryan Meinika, owner of Spring Green of Northeastern Indiana, says late spring is when the thick, unsightly stalks of crabgrass are germinating and getting ready to take hold in yards.

“If people want to think of beautifying their yard, now is the time to get signed up and get their lawn care plan started,” he says.

Spring Green of Northeastern Indiana has its main office at 1115 S. Williams Dr., in Columbia City. A satellite office is at 5719 Dupont Road in Fort Wayne.

Their most popular program is the “Preferred Lawn Care,” which includes high-quality fertilizer, targeted weed control, free lawn and landscape evaluation, lawn care and maintenance tips, free service calls and the Spring Green guarantee. There are other programs for those on a limited budget and other services for specific needs.

In addition to lawn care, Spring Green also specializes in outdoor and indoor pest control, tree care, and more.

The lawn care program typically calls for a total of seven fertilizer applications, one every four to six weeks, Meinika says. All fertilizer applications include the right blend of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for the time of year.

“The first application is a quick-release fertilizer to wake up the grass out of dormancy, green it up and encourage growth. The second application is a pre-emergent to prevent crabgrass germination throughout the late spring and summer months. This is also when we begin to target broadleaf weeks like dandelions and clover,” he says.

This type of fertilizer releases a good dose of nitrogen into the soil when it is needed most. It is water soluble, so homeowners can often see quick results in the growth and greening of a lawn. Once warmer weather has set in and regular mowing takes place, Spring Green switches to a slow-release fertilizer to avoid too much growth too fast.

Meinika says what sets his business apart from the competition is the personalized service and the training technicians must go through. His employees have been with the company a long time, know about the products and services offered, and will respond quickly to customer calls.

Prior to working at Spring Green, applicants must pass a test to be a registered technician. They worked along veteran technicians until fully trained and then can work up to having their own team of workers in a designated area.

“Our training is extremely thorough and sets us apart,” Meinika says. “Each team has their own territories to care for, so they get to know the customers and their lawns, and are able to spot problems early. We’re all about service.”

For more information on caring for your lawn this spring, call Friend Irrigation at (260) 212-0460 or call Spring Green's Fort Wayne location at (260) 691-0200 or visit their website at spring-green.com. ❚

Ryan Meinika

Now is the time to think about beautifying your yard. Experts at Friend Irrigation and Spring Green can help make sure your lawn is prepared for the months ahead.

Spring is Coming

Withevery spring comes a reminder that life doesn’t end in wintertime for those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Scripture is vague about the date of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. And “no one knows” when he’ll return, not even the angels. (Matthew 24:36)

But it’s very clear that Jesus died and rose from the dead during the ancient Jewish Passover feast, which then, as now, began in early spring.

Passover commemorates the Jews’ miraculous release from four centuries of Egyptian bondage after God, working in Moses, sent 10 plagues to Egypt. Fifty days later is Shavuot, which marks Moses’ presentation of God’s law.

“Passover” refers to the 10th plague, when the firstborn of every household in Egypt died, except in homes marked with blood from a sacrificial spring lamb. The angel of death “passed over” those homes. (Exodus 12)

Likewise, Christians are spared from eternal death by the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect lamb of God. On Easter we celebrate his resurrection and 50 days later, on Pentecost (pente means 50) we celebrate the birth of Christianity, when God gave holy spirit to all who believe in Christ, Jew and non-Jew alike.

Dates for Passover and Easter are tied to the lunar calendar, making them “movable feasts.”

Jesus was crucified soon after sharing a Passover meal (seder) with his 12 disciples in Jerusalem. After his resurrection, he remained on earth in his new spiritual body 40 days. (Acts 1)

“If the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His spirit that dwells in you.” Romans 8:11(NIV)

Just as winter’s deathly grasp is temporary, so, too, is our mortality.

Upon his return, the dead in Christ will rise and “we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air … Therefore encourage one another with these words.” Thessalonians 4:17 & 18 (NIV) ❚

- Janine Pumilia

A Day Trip to the Wabash County Museum

By Lindsey Lukas, senior editor

Downtown Wabash is brimming with activities that make for a fun visit. A four-block section of Market Street includes public art, several shops and restaurants, the Honeywell Center, the Eagles Theatre, and of course, the mustvisit Wabash County Museum at 36 E. Market Street.

“We are a great day-trip opportunity from Fort Wayne/Allen County,” says Teresa Galley, executive director of the Wabash County Museum. “The drive is just about an hour or less, and the amazing Charley Creek Inn is right downtown to make a weekend of it.”

The Wabash County Museum is a state-of-the-art facility that has seen many additions and improvements throughout the nearly 20 years since the building’s grand opening in 2005. The facility is 20,000 square feet of exhibit space with an additional 10,000 square feet of research and conservation space. It houses more than 90 educational and interactive exhibits, a theater, two children’s educational play spaces, The Den for ages 0 to 8, and the Dr. Brush Imagination Emporium for ages 2 to adult.

“Many families travel from the surrounding counties, including Fort Wayne and north Indianapolis, to explore and ‘play inside at the museum,’” Galley says. “Our collection includes about 200,000 artifacts, though not all are on display, of course.”

Exhibits include “Light It Up,” an interactive exhibit celebrating Wabash being the first electrically lighted city in the world. This exhibit allows guests to explore inside the courthouse tower and pull the lever that lights up the town.

The “Modoc” exhibit tells the story of the elephant who es-

caped from the circus in 1942 and spent five days on an adventure in Wabash County.

“The local coffee shop, Modoc’s Market, is named after her, and we have a fun 14-minute video about her that we show in our theater,” Galley says.

The Museum recently renovated and relocated its extensive military exhibit to allow for growth, Galley adds.

“Our armory collection was restored in 2020 and is on display with our guest curator for special occasions,” she says.

“We also have an electric train exhibit with up to five Ogauge trains running each day,” she continues. “Fun fact – this exhibit was designed by John W. Corso, a Wabash native who made his career in Hollywood as the artistic director for ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter,’ ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ and many other John Hughes movies. He was nominated for three Emmy’s and won one.”

With more than 90 exhibits in total, it’s hard for Galley to pick her favorite.

“However, I will say the most interesting exhibit deals with a beautiful piece of art created during the Victorian era and made completely from the artist’s friends’ hair,” Galley says. “The Hair Harp is very popular.”

There are also two kiosks that allow guests to look up topics and browse pictures from the vast archives.

As far as programming goes, the Museum offers many fun, family-friendly activities throughout the year. For example, during Wabash County’s spring break happening April 4-8, visitors

can play life-sized Snakes & Ladders (Chutes & Ladders) at the museum.

“Last year, we created a life-size Candy Land game and more than 1,000 people visited the Museum during spring break to play,” Galley says. “A ticket to play the game also includes admission to the full museum.”

On First Fridays, which run February through December in downtown Wabash, the Museum features an exhibit, an activity and a local surprise vendor.

During the summer, there’s a Museum Explorers program that allows young guests to complete a scavenger hunt of the Museum’s exhibits and win a prize. Multiple scavenger hunts are offered so youth can participate more than once.

“It’s a fun way to connect families to the Museum and it provides a great experience for kids looking for something to do during summer break,” Galley says.

The Museum is the producer of Wabash County Founders Fest in mid-September each year. This year, on Saturday, Sept. 16, downtown Wabash comes alive with vendors, food trucks, an adult kickball tournament, parade and more.

“For the full month of October, we pop up our regulation 9-hole golf course through the Museum. Yes, we do own a regulation 9-hole golf course,” Galley says. “Area businesses sponsor the holes and have the chance to decorate them. The theme is ‘Haunted Mini Golf.’ Anytime we are open in October, guests can pay to play a round which also includes full admission to the Museum.”

In November and December, the Museum offers indoor sock skating for kids and the specialty Winter Weekends programming that includes visits from Santa, a real reindeer, the Grinch and Olaf from “Frozen.”

“We just purchased the Indianapolis Children’s Museum

Reindeer Barn exhibit, so it will be joining our other holiday activities in 2023,” Galley says.

She values giving visitors the opportunity to connect the present to the past.

“People often think that history is static and that a museum’s exhibits reflect that,” she says. “But our collections and archive are constantly growing, which means exhibits are being updated and changed as we learn more. People think of science as a field that is evolving, but that history doesn’t change. The truth is, we ‘unearth’ more of the stories every day. It is exciting to research and put the pieces together. The Museum showcases our stories that need to be passed down to the next generation. It celebrates our accomplishments and shows how they impact the larger world. It also gives a glimpse of how things that happened in the past are tied directly to things that are happening today.”

The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $6 for ages 12 and older and $4 for ages 2-11. Veterans and active-duty military receive free admission, and seniors can receive a discount.

“Our membership program is an incredible deal,” Galley adds.

For $70, parents and their children in their household can visit the Museum for free for a year. They also receive a 10% discount in the gift shop, early notification for events, as well as lower admission fees for events. Membership also includes two free family guest passes so the member household can bring another family with them for free a few times per year.

“We also offer a grandparent membership for $60 per year,” Galley says. “This allows grandparents to bring any of their grandchildren ages 18 or under with them to the Museum for free with the same perks. We also offer individual and student memberships.”

For more information, visit wabashmuseum.org or call (260) 563-9070. ❚

The Wabash County Museum has an extensive military exhibit. The case pictured above displays artifacts from the Vietnam and Korean Wars.

The Wabash County Museum has multiple play spaces for children, including “The Den” for kids ages 0 to 8. There’s also family-friendly events occurring throughout the year.

Shop Three Floors of Furniture & Flooring

By Lindsey Lukas, senior editor

When purchasing new furniture or flooring, you obviously want to love what you buy. And as you go through the process of shopping, making a selection, waiting for delivery, and overseeing installation, you’d hope for quality, dependable customer service at every step.

That’s what the staff aims to provide at Ruhl Furniture & Flooring, 511 Broadway St., New Haven.

“We are proud to be a locally owned family business offering quality value and service,” says John Pape, owner and president.

The store offers a one-stop shop for furniture and flooring. Top furniture brands in stock include La-Z-Boy, made-in-America England furniture, Superior Furniture and BarcaLounger. Shoppers can also find Restonic mattresses, as well as flooring options by Engineered Floors, Shaw, Mannington, Congoleum and Tarkett USA.

“You’re sure to get your exercise while shopping our three floors of new furniture and flooring, and collectibles and antiques, too,” Pape says. “We’ve been servicing the New Haven, Fort Wayne and Allen County area since 1956.”

Pape’s goal is to provide quality products that are customized

to the homeowner’s specifications. “You can select furniture from hundreds of styles and fabrics, and we will have it made especially for you,” he says.

Even better, the customized furniture can be delivered in as few as six weeks. There’s also free in-home measuring and estimates, as well as complimentary in-home design consultations.

“Our sales staff will guide you every step of the way,” Pape says. “Selecting the right furniture and flooring for your home is our No. 1 goal. When you step into our showroom, you will be delighted by our wide selection.”

Ruhl Furniture & Flooring also provides one of the most extensive floor covering showrooms in the Allen County area.

“Once you choose the perfect flooring for your home, professional installation will be arranged to coordinate with your schedule so you can begin to enjoy the home of your dreams,” Pape says.

“We are reputable, knowledgeable and family owned. It’s our job to help make your experience a positive one.”

Contact Ruhl Furniture & Flooring by calling (260) 7494717, faxing (260) 749-9435, or by emailing ruhlfurniture@ gmail.com. ❚

Beautiful Jewelry From a Dependable Source

By Peggy Werner

Carbaugh Jewelers, 108 E. Seventh St., is the oldest business in historic downtown Auburn and has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, many other economic downturns, changes in fashion trends and fads, and a pandemic.

Mike Littlejohn, the store’s fourth owner, says the business has endured 121 years because it offers customers a unique experience shopping for fine jewelry in the same place where their great-grandparents shopped.

“The life of this store has endured a lot over the years, and we have greatly struggled at times, but we have stayed in business because of the repairs and custom work we do,” he says. “If we just relied on retail sales, we would have closed our doors a long time ago.”

Even during a six-week shutdown because of the pandemic, he continued working, catching up on repairs and custom orders, and allowing curbside pickups.

He says his customer base from a three-state area is loyal because of the quality work they expect and get from him. Littlejohn is known as the one who can best repurpose jewelry.

A customer will often bring in a piece of heirloom jewelry, which has a lot of meaning and beautiful stones, but isn’t worn because it’s not their style. Littlejohn can take the stones and make something new, even if the customer doesn’t want the piece totally melted down and changed.

He recalls one woman whose husband had died. She wanted to make a special piece of jewelry out of their wedding rings, without destroying them.

Littlejohn put one ring inside of the other, on an angle, welded it together to form a circular design within a circle and the woman now wears the rings as a pendant.

“She says she wears it all the time and it is a perfect piece to help her grieve because the rings are intact, but put together in a unique design that has a completely new look.”

For those who appreciate the history of Carbaugh’s, they also understand the meaning of giving the jeweler the time he needs to create. Repairs and custom orders brought in today won’t be finished until early spring, Littlejohn says, and most people are patient and willing to wait.

The full-service store specializes in retail sales, custom work and repairs on all types of jewelry. Services include ring sizing, stone setting, fabrication and restyling, engraving and watch repair. The store offers the newest styles and designs, specializing in

diamonds and colored stones from makers like Rego, Bentelli, Aiden, Color Merchants and Bertke Brothers, as well as having a large selection of watches and clocks made by Seiko.

Edward O. Little was the first owner of Little’s Jewelers in 1901. In 1915, Charles Carbaugh, a high school student, started working for him. The two men eventually formed a partnership and ran the business together, until Little passed away in 1955. Charles became the sole owner and changed the name of the store to Carbaugh Jewelers in 1960. Charles’s son and daughterin-law, Robert and Betty, took over the business when he died in 1962. The couple retired in 1997, at which time they sold the business to Littlejohn.

Littlejohn started working part time for Robert and Betty in 1980 while in high school. He was taking a metals class and needed to do a report on someone in the business. Because he was dating the couple’s daughter, Littlejohn interviewed Robert.

“In the course of the interview, he offered me a job and I jumped at the chance. They taught me a lot and I eventually went to school in Memphis to become a certified jeweler,” he says.

While he and the owner’s daughter went their separate ways, her sister has worked at the store for 42 years and oversees inventory, records and office work.

“When I am able to make something that makes people that happy, it’s not a job. The reward is what people feel and say about their experience with me. It tells me I made the right career choice,” Littlejohn says.

Business hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. ❚

Left: Charles Carbaugh, a former owner. Right: Edward Little, the original owner.

Mike Littlejohn, owner of Carbaugh Jewelers, in Auburn, is known for his excellence in repurposing jewelry. He can also create custom items or repair heirloom pieces.

Unique Merchandise at This & That

By Lindsey Lukas, senior editor

Afew years ago, the McCroy family had a dream to open a store filled with interesting merchandise. Together, Greg, Sonja, Kari and Cynthia McCrory made it happen.

“Sonja and I were on a vacation to Cedar Point, taking the scenic route, stopping at out-of-the-way shops,” Greg says. “We were talking about family and what our futures could be, and the legacy we would leave for our children and grandchildren. We thought it would be fun to open a shop. Then, we said we could absolutely do this.”

The four McCroys officially opened This & That in February 2018 in a small retail space on North Coliseum Boulevard. The shop quickly outgrew its initial location, so the family moved their livelihood to its current space at 3209 N. Anthony Blvd. A, Fort Wayne, in December 2018.

“Shoppers can find a little of this and a lot of that,” Greg says. “We work hard as a family to bring current and older merchandise to keep our store updated and interesting. We offer midrange furniture, kitchen items, small appliances, vintage items, home decor, books, games, curtains, rugs, collectibles and so much more. We are proud to also feature books from local authors and have ‘meet the author’ events and book signings.”

Inventory is constantly changing at This & That, with new items in the shop daily. The owners find new and used items from many sources, including online auctions, garage sales, other thrift shops, estate sales, store clearance aisles, store closeouts and sales from individuals.

It’s important to the owners to pay close attention to customer service. In 2022, they received the “Best of 2022 Home Goods Store” award and strive to live up to that honor.

“We are a local, family-owned business that values our community,” Greg says. “We go the extra mile and put together the flat pack furniture, so the customer does not have to. We offer below-retail prices on our products. We offer a wide variety of product to choose from. We run our store as a family and hope that carries over to our customers. We always have a little of this and a lot of that.”

Store hours recently changed. This & That is now open Monday-Thursday from noon-4 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays.

Customers can also visit This & That’s online store.

“Just go to our Facebook page and hit the link that’s there,” Greg says. “We are always striving to improve and expand upon our service and products. We’ve done this by adding online shopping and customer service by answering questions online whenever we can.”

If there’s one thing Greg is thankful for, it’s the people who have made This & That a reality.

“We want to thank our family and friends for all the hard work, effort, love and support they give us,” he says. “Without them, it would not be possible for us to continue. Also, a big thank you to our customers, who without them, This & That would still be a discussion on our way to Cedar Point.” ❚

Shoppers can find furniture, kitchen items, small appliances, vintage items, home decor, books, games, collectibles and more at This & That.

Time for Financial ‘Spring Cleaning’

Now that we’ve put winter behind us — at least on the calendar — it’s time for us to think about sprucing up our homes, inside and out. But it also may be time to do some financial spring cleaning.

Some of the same ideas involved in tidying up your home can also be used to help put your financial house in order. Here are a few suggestions:

• Dust off your investment strategy. As you look around your home, you might find that many items — tables, desks, bookshelves, and computer and television screens — could benefit from a good dusting. And, once you’ve accomplished this, you’ll get a clearer view of all these objects. Similarly, your investment strategy needs to be “dusted off” every so often, so you can see if it’s still working to help you move toward your financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement. Over time, your personal circumstances and risk tolerance can change, and these changes may lead you to reexamine your future financial and investment decisions.

• De-clutter your portfolio. If you took a survey of your home, would you find duplicates or even triplicates of some things — brooms, vacuum cleaners, toasters, and so on? If so, it may be time to do some de-cluttering. And the same could be true of your portfolio — you might have several identical, or substantially identical, investments taking up space. If so, you might want to replace these redundancies with investments that can improve your diversification. While diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against losses in a declining market, it may help reduce the impact of market volatility on your holdings.

• Get organized. If your closets are overstuffed, with clothes and miscellaneous items crammed on shelves and the floor, you may well have trouble finding what you’re looking for — but with a little straightening up, your searches will become much easier. And when you’re trying to locate financial documents, such as investment statements or insurance policies, you’ll also benefit from having everything organized in one central location. Even if you get most of these documents online, you can save what you need and keep them in a file on your desktop, laptop or tablet. (And it’s also a good idea to tell your spouse, adult child or another close relative how these documents can be accessed, just in case something happens to you.)

• Protect yourself from dangers. If you look around your garage, shed or other storage area, you may well find some objects — such as gardening tools, paint thinners, engine fluids

and leaning ladders — that could be dangerous if they aren’t stored properly. As part of your spring cleaning, you’ll want to remove these hazards to safeguard yourself and your family. But have you addressed the various financial risks that could threaten your loved ones? For example, if something were to happen to you, could your family members maintain their lifestyle? Could your children still go to college? To guard against this risk, you may want to discuss protection strategies with a financial professional.

Spring cleaning can pay off — in a cleaner, safer home environment and in helping ensure your financial strategy continues to work hard for you. ❚

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington D.C. through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C., Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C., and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C. California Insurance License OC24309.

Pamela S. Covington, CFP® RICP® AAMS® Financial Advisor

6525 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN, 46804 (260) 478-8038

edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/ pam-covington

Entertainment & Events

Fort Wayne Komets

Join the Jungle and cheer on the Fort Wayne Komets as they finish out their season. Games are at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., Fort Wayne. Visit komets. com to see the complete 2023 schedule.

Art of Florence

Thru April 2, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. A display of student works from an annual study abroad program, along with drawings and prints by Professor Christopher Ganz from the same trip and from his recent artist’s residency in Tusa, Sicily in July 2022. Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, pfw. edu/events/art-florence.

YLNI Winter Farmers Market

Thru April 29, Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for fresh produce, organic fruits and vegetables, hand-made jewelry and crafts, local artwork and more at the former Wayne Candy Factory building, 1501 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne, facebook.com/YLNIFarmersMarket/.

Wiz Kidz Pinball Tournament

Thru Dec. 30, Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon. A 4-strike pinball tournament for kids presented by Wizard’s World Pinball Arcade, 14613 Lima Road, Fort Wayne, (260) 760-6314, fortwaynepinball.com.

“Riverdance”

March 23, 7:30 p.m. A powerful reinvention of this beloved favorite, celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. Embassy Theatre, Fort Wayne, fwembassytheatre.org.

“Godspell”

March 24, 7:30 p.m. A masterful retelling of the original sensation, injected with contemporary references and dazzling new arrangements, include a score with chart-topping songs. Rated G for all audiences. First Presbyterian Theater, 300 W. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, (260) 426-7421, firstpresfortwayne. org/theater/.

Lantern Light Hike

March 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m. A guided hike after sunset through lantern-lit trails. Presented by LC Nature Park at 9744 Aboite Road, Roanoke, lcnaturepark.org/events.

“Swan Lake”

March 24-26, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bittersweet love takes flight in Tchaikovsky’s romantic tragedy. Discover this timeless classic and find out why it continues to live on in the hearts of aspiring princesses around the world. Presented by Fort Wayne Ballet at the Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, fortwayneballet. org/performance/swan-lake/.

Jason Cheny, Stand-up Comedy

March 30-April 1, 7 p.m. daily. Born and raised in Taiwan, re-raised in America. With a cross-cultural perspective, and a goofy personality, Jason points out social absurdities within his family, upbringing and the society he constantly tries to find his belonging in. Summit City Comedy Club, 5535 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne, (260) 844-8444, summitcitycomedy.com/events/71291.

Water Lantern Festival

April 15, 5:30-9:30 p.m. This floating lantern event includes food, games, activities, vendors, music and the beauty of thousands of lanterns adorned with letters of love, hope and dreams reflected upon the water. Ivan Lebamoff Reservoir Park, 2300 S. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, waterlanternfestival.com/fortwayne.php.

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: Opening Day April 22, 9-5 p.m. See lions, hyenas and monkeys, hand feed the giraffes, ride the Sky Safari, trek through the Indonesian Rain Forest, say hello to orangutans and pet the stingrays in the brand-new Australian Adventure. Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne, 260-427-6800, kidszoo.org.

Opening day at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is April 22 from 9-5 p.m. See lions, hyenas and monkeys, feed the giraffes, ride the Sky Safari, trek through the Indonesian Rain Forest, pet stingrays and more.

Thousands of lanterns take off April 15 at the Water Lantern Festival in Fort Wayne.