Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes
Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden
Senior Editor Lindsey Lukas
Managing Editor Jim Taylor
Assistant Editor Steven Bonifazi
Graphics Director Samantha Behling
Graphic Designer Olivia Costello
Contributing Writers Janine Pumilia, Peggy Werner
General Sales Manager Brent Hughes
Sales Manager Brad Hughes
Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones
Lisa Hughes
Hana Hughes
Could I tell you the batting averages of the Fort Wayne TinCaps? Definitely not. Could I explain what an RBI is? Yes, but only because I just Googled it. However, I’ve always known this: summer is better with a ballpark hot dog in your hand and a warm evening breeze, and that alone is more than enough for me.
Every year, as soon as the weather starts hinting at summer, I begin mentally planning all the little traditions that make this season feel special. Now that I have kids ages 4 and 2, everything feels more exciting. The simplest outings feel like big adventures.
One place I know we’ll visit more than once is the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. The zoo somehow manages to feel both relaxing and exciting at the same time. My kids could watch the animals forever, and I love seeing what captures their attention each visit. Everything feels new to them, which makes it feel new to me, too.
We’re also very passionate about splash pads in this stage of life. Splash pads require zero packing beyond a towel and maybe a change of clothes, and the kids think they are the greatest invention of all time. Their joy is instant, and everyone sleeps well afterward. Parenting win.
As mentioned prior, summer also means cheering on the TinCaps at Parkview Field. Minor league baseball just has a certain charm. The games are fun, the atmosphere is easygoing, and there’s always something happening between innings to keep little kids entertained. Mascots? Obsessed. Snacks? Essential. Fireworks? Absolutely magical. And when we want to slow things down, we head to my family’s cottage in Michigan. We love the quiet mornings, the long afternoons outside, and the feeling of being completely unplugged.
I may not know the stats, but I do know this season of life goes fast. And honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Wishing you a wonderful season! ❚
Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor
At Outdoor Concepts, our focus is providing the best products and services for our customers. We pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop for all your outdoor needs. We carry a great selection of mowers and power equipment, but we don’t stop there, we also provide parts and service for all of the brands we offer and even some that we don’t. With this, we feel we separate ourselves from well-known box stores because we are with the customer throughout their entire journey from purchasing a new mower to getting parts to needing service work done; rather than our relationship ending after the customer’s mower purchase. As proud dealers of Grasshopper, Ferris, TYM, Toro, Gravely, and Echo, we have a vast selection of zero-turns and power equipment to make caring for your lawn easier and enjoyable. We also have a gorgeous nursery with a wide array of prod-
ucts. We offer landscape products including mulch, sand, stone, soil, boulders, flagstones, grass seed, straw, fertilizer, chemicals, as well as hardscape products, pond supplies, tools, décor, and even poly furniture. With the variety of products, services, and knowledge we offer, we are confident that we have everything
you could possibly need to revamp and maintain your lawn and landscaping. Our staff is always eager & ready to answer your questions and help you get started on your next project. From homeowners to contractors, we are ready to serve all our customers as we care for the outdoors together. ❚
In the middle of our Bibles is a collection of 150 psalms that offer a jarring roller coaster ride of human emotion directed toward God. Several authors wrote the psalms over a period of about 1,000 years; King David penned roughly half of them.
While we gravitate toward the psalms that reassure us (like the 23rd), many were composed during times of deep disappointment with God. Feelings of abandonment, anger and frustration are laid bare.
If we’re honest, all of us have been disappointed with God. Most of us have experienced or witnessed hardship, oppression, sickness, injustice, unanswered prayers. We may feel that our acknowledgement of reality conflicts with our faith life.
This is when the emotional poetry of the psalmists shows us what a healthy relationship with God looks like, suggests author Philip Yancey. We’re like third parties “peering over the shoulders” of these diary-writers. We witness their rants, but we also see them “talk themselves down from the ledge” as they journey from rage to a calm acknowledgement of what they know for sure about God: He is good, wise, powerful, loving.
The psalmists force themselves to recall the times God rescued ungrateful Israel from its self-inflicted messes and it helps them to regain perspective. Without God they would be nothing, have nothing.
The psalmists find God in the starry skies and fertile earth. Their rants turn to flights of praise – in spite of everything.
In “The Bible Jesus Read,” Yancey writes: “The odd mixture of psalms of cursing, psalms of praise and psalms of confession no longer jars me as it once did. Instead, I am continually amazed by the spiritual wholeness of the Hebrew poets, who sought to include God in every area of life by bringing to God every emotion experienced in daily activity. One need not ‘dress up’ or ‘put on a face’ to meet God. There are no walled-off areas; God can be trusted with reality.”
To experience Psalms is to feel kinship with people through the ages whose struggles were not so different from our own. ❚ – Janine Pumilia
By Peggy Werner
Harsh
Midwestern winters are one of the main reasons for much-needed maintenance and repair every few years on asphalt driveways and parking lots.
Moisture from snow and rain, below-zero temperatures and freezethaw cycles take a toll on asphalt. Regular spring maintenance helps to keep a driveway in good condition.
“Filling those cracks and regular sealcoating are the most important maintenance procedures any homeowner can do to get the most life out of a driveway or parking lot,” says Ayla Anthony, operations manager of Asphalt Maintenance Service, 6215 Commodity Ct., Fort Wayne.
Sealcoating protects asphalt from water penetration. Unsealed asphalt is like a big sponge, and leaving it that way can cause oils in the asphalt, as well as leaks from engine oil, diesel and hydraulic oil, to break down and deteriorate driveways and parking lots.
Asphalt Maintenance Service prides itself on being a business built on a foundation of trust, high-quality work and unwavering commitment to its clients, keeping their needs and satisfaction at the forefront, Anthony says. The family-owned company has been serving the Fort Wayne, northeast Indiana and western Ohio areas for more than 40 years. Services include asphalt
paving, concrete installation, sealcoating, patching, striping and crack filling for both residential and commercial properties. Regular maintenance adds life to your driveway.
“If properly maintained, a driveway can last at least 30 years,” Anthony says. “If not maintained, that lifespan will be cut in half or less.”
She recommends sealcoating driveways and most commercial lots every three years and more often for heavily-traveled areas. Sealcoating gives a driveway a clean look, too, because rainfall washes away dirt and debris from the smooth surface.
She also recommends being proactive and calling early to set up a free estimate and appointment during the busy spring season.
Sealcoating is a job that should be left to the professionals.
“We have the quality products, equipment and experience that makes a big difference when wanting a job done well,” Anthony says. ❚
Asphalt Maintenance Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Get a free estimate by filling out the online form at asphaltmaintenanceservice.net or calling (260) 422-6068.
By Lindsey Lukas, senior editor
For many people, the symptoms start subtly. Maybe it’s the persistent fatigue that coffee can’t quite fix, the brain fog that makes it harder to focus, or the mood swings that seem to arrive out of nowhere. Others notice physical changes – disrupted sleep, weight gain, a declining libido – and assume it’s simply part of getting older.
But according to Dr. Carol A. White, owner and nurse practitioner at Functional Medicine Partners, 602 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, these changes often have a deeper explanation.
Hormones.
As awareness grows around hormone health, more men and women are discovering that many of the challenges associated with aging may actually be linked to declining hormone levels, and that treatment options are evolving.
“Hormone Replacement Therapy is a treatment that supplements the body with estrogen, progesterone and testosterone to replace hormones that decline during menopause,” White explains. “These hormones are delivered via pills, patches, gels, injections or sprays, entering the bloodstream to bind with cell receptors.”
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is most commonly used to relieve menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness, White adds. However, HRT can also be used for men to focus on restoring testosterone levels to combat fatigue, muscle loss and low libido. But its benefits go well beyond comfort. Hormone therapy can also help protect bone health and support cardiovascular function, two areas that become increasingly important as people age.
Although HRT has existed for decades, conversations about it have surged in recent years, White says. The renewed attention isn’t just a social trend – it’s rooted in evolving medical understanding.
“It’s largely driven by a major reevaluation of scientific data, the removal of outdated, fear-based warnings and a ‘menopause revolution’ encouraging women to take back their health by replacing the hormones that aging has depleted,” White says.
In the early 2000s, a widely publicized study dramatically reduced the use of hormone therapy, White adds. Many physicians stopped prescribing it out of concern for potential health risks.
“The ‘Women’s Health Study’ was influential in causing medical providers to take people off HRT,”
she recalls. “I personally remember taking most women off HRT in the early 2000s.”
However, subsequent research revealed that the original study had been misinterpreted, and that the risks were overstated for many patients.
“Recently, we have found out that it was a flawed study, and we were putting more women at risk for cardiovascular and bone health issues by not starting HRT,” she adds.
Today, research suggests that for many women under age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of hormone therapy often outweigh the risks.
Hormonal changes typically begin earlier than many people expect, White continues. While menopause often arrives in a woman’s early 50s, hormonal fluctuations can start much sooner.
“Hormone-related issues typically begin in a woman’s late 30s and early 40s,” she says.
Women may notice symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats or mood swings. But there are other signs people frequently write off as normal aging.
“Brain fog, weight gain and vaginal dryness are symptoms people often dismiss,” she says.
The experience differs significantly between men and women. Women experience menopause, which involves a relatively rapid drop in estrogen and progesterone levels. Men, on the other hand, experience what is often called andropause: a gradual decline in testosterone over time.
“Men experience a gradual decline in testosterone, about 1 percent per year after age 30, resulting in slower-onset, subtler symptoms such as reduced libido, fatigue and muscle loss,” White says.
As testosterone continues to decline, men may also notice physical changes, including reduced erectile function or the development of excess chest tissue.
“As andropause progresses, men start to find the appearance of ‘man boobs,’ decreased erections and less firm erections,” White adds.
At Functional Medicine Partners, hormone therapy is never one-size-fits-all. White emphasizes that careful evaluation is essential before starting treatment.
“We do a thorough history and assess risk factors,” she says. Certain conditions, including a history of breast or endometrial cancer, unexplained vaginal bleeding, blood clots or severe liver disease, may make hormone therapy unsafe for some patients. Recent heart attacks, strokes or active cardiovascular disease can also influence treatment decisions.
In many cases, targeted treatments can still help address specific symptoms.
“For example, if the patient is only having vaginal dryness, then we often prescribe a vaginal estrogen that will not have so much systemic absorption, thereby decreasing the risks,” White says.
When therapy is appropriate, treatment plans are highly individualized based on symptoms, health history and personal goals.
Even when testosterone or estrogen therapy isn’t an option, other solutions may help address symptoms.
“For example, some men have erectile dysfunction and cannot take testosterone,” White says. “However, we can look at other options such as erectile dysfunction medications to target that symptom.”
When hormone levels begin to balance, patients often notice improvements across multiple areas of their lives.
“Mood improves, sex improves and motivation improves,” White says. “Men get better erections, sex is less painful since vaginal dryness improves, and brain fog lifts.”
The timeline for improvement varies between individuals,
but many patients begin noticing early results within weeks. For women, relief from hot flashes and brain fog can appear in as little as two to four weeks.
By four to eight weeks, many experience improvements in mood and energy.
“In three to six months, full benefits are typically reached, including stabilized mood, better skin and increased libido,” White says.
Men often notice improvements even sooner.
“In one to two weeks, they see improved energy, sleep quality and reduced fatigue or irritability,” she says. “In three to four weeks, increased libido, motivation and mental focus.”
Over the following months, physical changes such as improved erectile function, muscle gain and fat loss may begin to appear.
Despite the growing interest in hormone therapy, misconceptions remain common.
“People are hesitant to start hormone replacement therapy primarily due to fear of side effects, outdated concerns about cancer or blood clot risks and confusion surrounding contradictory medical advice,” White says.
Another myth she hears frequently involves testosterone.
“The biggest misconception I hear is that patients believe testosterone is only for men,” she says.
In reality, women also produce testosterone, and balanced levels can play an important role in energy, cognitive clarity and sexual health.
“Testosterone is very beneficial for women in that it lifts brain fog and improves libido, energy, mood and vaginal dryness,” White says.
Hormone health affects far more than physical symptoms. White says restoring hormonal balance can dramatically improve quality of life, including relationships.
“It helps marriages because sex is happening, and sex with aging is simply better on HRT,” she says.
At Functional Medicine Partners, White says the goal is to help patients feel like themselves again by addressing the underlying causes of their symptoms rather than simply masking them.
“We take the time to get a thorough history and develop an individualized treatment plan to meet your needs,” she says.
The clinic also offers advanced blood testing and treatment options not always available through traditional medical settings.
“We order the blood levels that traditional medicine will not offer, and we can prescribe a variety of options for HRT,” White says.
For many patients, the result is a renewed sense of clarity, energy and confidence. It’s proof that aging doesn’t have to mean accepting chronic discomfort. Instead, as White sees it, hormone health represents an opportunity to reclaim vitality at any stage of life. ❚
By Peggy Werner
The Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury is more than a restaurant – it’s a “pleasant surprise in the country,” says Joel Miller, campus manager.
“When people arrive here, they see a park, lots of flowers, beautiful landscaping, a courtyard, playground, four gift shops, a bakery, a covered bridge, an Inn with a pool, two ponds and a walking path that connects to other paths covering 20 miles – all on 35 acres of land,” he says. “It’s a place where you can spend a whole day, not just have a meal.”
The newest addition to the property – a fully renovated building –opened this month and now features six indoor, air-conditioned pickleball courts.
The restaurant seats up to 1,000 people and serves Amishstyle food, many of the same recipes used when it opened in 1971.
Everything is homemade.
Mashed potatoes are made with real potatoes, milk and butter. All the breads and pie crusts are homemade from scratch. The Amish noodles are made right on the property and are available to purchase on site and in grocery stores around the country.
People dining at the restaurant have multiple options, including ordering from the menu, serving themselves from the buffet Monday through Saturday, or enjoying family-style dining from 3-8 p.m. Friday and noon-8 p.m. Saturday. A banquet room accommodates 15-220 people.
In the traditional Amish style, the restaurant believes in taking care of its employees and customers. They want everyone
who comes to the restaurant to experience the time-honored tradition of sharing a meal with friends and loved ones.
“We are a hospitality company and we are all about getting people connected,” Miller says. “We want people who come here to feel at home and share all we have to offer with loved ones and friends.”
Whatever option customers choose, they get to enjoy the Amish time-tested recipes. The most popular dishes include anything made with a pot roast-style beef and chicken that is marinated and deep fried.
“It’s hard to beat,” Miller says.
Amish foods are homemade with items from the garden with real, quality ingredients like whole milk, heavy cream and lots of real butter, Miller adds.
Breakfast menu items include eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, yogurt with fruit, choices of meat, biscuits and gravy and more. A couple signature dishes include stuffed French toast topped with fruit, and the Middlebury Breakfast made with two biscuits and home fries covered in sausage gravy. The Breakfast Scramble is made with scrambled eggs, home fries, sausage gravy, cheese, green pepper, spinach, mushrooms and choice of bacon, sausage or ham – all served in a warm tortilla.
Lunch favorites include Chicken Pot Pie with homemade crust, homemade egg noodles and beef over mashed potatoes, creamed chicken and biscuits and more. Dinner features broasted chicken, smoked roast pork, cod, salmon, baked steak, homemade meatloaf with a signature sauce and more. All salads come with a homemade dressing, three soups are offered daily, and a variety of sandwiches and desserts complete the menu. ❚
For more information, visit essenhaus.com.
By Peggy Werner
Updating or remodeling a kitchen or bath involves many steps, but working with a professional designer can make the process far less stressful.
Dana Knueve, an interior design consultant with Trinity Kitchen, Bath and Lighting in New Haven, says their team works with a wide range of budgets to create designs customers will love, tailoring each plan to the available space and the features that best enhance a homeowner’s lifestyle.
“From there, a designer can make general selections to create a quote and/or budget,” Knueve says. “The homeowner can then dial in further on styles, colors, lighting and material selections to create a final design, allowing them to navigate the space most efficiently. Cost-effective alternatives are always available to help customers save money while getting the look they want.”
For example, a fiberglass shower base is more affordable than a tile base, and laminate countertops can have the look of real stone without the cost. Cabinet door styles have a wide range of prices. Certain faucet designs, features and finishes can be
more expensive than others. Specialty finishes like matte black and champagne bronze are more costly than chrome.
Trinity offers cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, flooring, tile options and lighting. A designer can produce renderings of what a project will look like once finished. In addition, the business has licensed and insured contractors. When needed, they can make structural changes to walls, windows and doors.
About 25 years ago, owner Kevin Walsh purchased the business with the goal of breathing new life into it by expanding product lines, increasing sales, strengthening relationships with existing customers and attracting new ones.
Just a few years ago, Walsh changed the name of the New Haven store from Trinity Home Design Center to Trinity Kitchen, Bath and Lighting to reflect the growth that had taken place by adding cabinets, countertops and other products for home renovation. ❚
To work with a designer, call (260) 493-2574 or visit trinityhomecenter.com.
Fort Wayne TinCaps
Thru September. Lots of exciting baseball action along with special events and spectacles including fireworks on select nights, discounted food nights and more. Find the whole schedule at milb.com/fort-wayne. Parkview Field, 1301 Ewing St., Fort Wayne.
I Love Saturdays at Club Room at The Clyde Enjoy the best in pop, soul, R&B and funk every Saturday from 8-11 p.m. at the Club Room at the Clyde, 1806 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. Visit clydeclubroom.com/live to see the complete lineup of performers.
YLNI Winter Farmers Market
Thru April 25, Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for fresh produce, a wide variety of organic fruits and vegetables, hand-made jewelry and crafts, local artwork and more. 3811 Illinois Road, Fort Wayne, visitfortwayne.com.
Glo Wild at the Fort Wayne Zoo
Thru May 31, select evenings. See the Zoo transform into a wild and wonderful night-time lantern festival. Fort Wayne Zoo, 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne, fwzoo.com.
The Art of Ezra Tucker
Thru June 28, recurring weekly except Mondays. Ezra Tucker is one of the most skilled and ambitious wildlife and Western painters working today. Favoring dynamic compositions at large scales, Tucker seeks to make his subjects come alive for viewers as well as inspire them to protect the endangered species of our planet. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, fwmoa.org/exhibition/ezratucker.
‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’
April 24-26, Fri. 7:30 p.m.; Sat. 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Join Fort Wayne Ballet in Shakespeare’s world of spritely fairies, comedy
of errors, and mischief. With the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, “Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a lighthearted and comedic ballet for the whole family to enjoy. Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, fortwayneballet.org.
2026 Michiana Wine Festival
April 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy wine samples from Indiana wine vendors, explore a spring craft market, savor delicious offerings from local food trucks and groove to live music. The first 2,000 people who walk through the door receive a free souvenir wine glass. Ages 21+ only. Headwaters Park Pavilions, 333 S. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, visitfortwayne.com.
Fort Wayne Philharmonic
May 6, 7 p.m. Experience the Philharmonic
musicians playing chamber music. Enjoy commentary by insightful hosts. Dinner and drinks available for purchase. Clyde Theatre 1806 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, fwphil.org.
Mother’s Day in the Garden
May 9-10. Moms get free admission all Mother’s Day weekend. Stroll through garden displays, enjoy a visit to Café Flora and browse the Conservatory Shop. Mothers receive a free plant while supplies last. Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, cityoffortwayne.in.gov.
‘Elmo’s Got the Moves’
May 15, 6 p.m. Make memories with your little ones at the all-new Sesame Street Live show. The experience brings Elmo and his Sesame Street friends to the stage with singing, dancing and favorite songs like “Sunny Days,” “Elmo’s Got the Moves” and “Letter of the Day.” Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, fwembassytheatre.org.
Safari Bus Tour
May 15 & 29, tours at 3:30 & 4:30 p.m. Climb aboard for a close-up look at LC Nature Park. These guided tours travel the full loop around the enclosure fence—your best chance to spot bison, elk and other wildlife. LC Nature Park, 9744 Aboite Road, Roanoke, lcnaturepark.org.
World Bee Day
May 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors can buzz about while enjoying tabletop activities, special guests, and demonstrations – all about bees. Science Central, 1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, sciencecentral.org. ❚
