Fort Wayne's Glo - May 2023

Glo Makeup

9 days only – April 25th thru May 5th. Must pay for product or service at time of purchase. All orders will be completed over the phone. Prepaid product orders can be set up for in person pickup. Appointments do not have to be within these 9 days – you can purchase and make your appointments for a future date!

As a “thank you” to all the mothers, soon-to-be mothers, and potential mothers, we offer you a special gift

“The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness” — Honore de Balzac

Moms”Celebrate

glo From the executive editor

Happy May glo readers, I’ve become two things in the last decade that I never imagined: a mom and a gardener. And May is the month that allows both roles to shine!

I have always loved Mother’s Day celebrating my mom and grandmothers was very special when I was younger. When I became a mom for the first time in 2016, the day took on new meaning. I was just two months into that new gig then and had no idea how much it would change me, but I was beginning to understand that my life was forever altered. Now, with two daughters, this year marks my eighth Mother’s Day as a mom, and it is the best “job” I’ve ever had. I love watching them blossom into their own personalities and map out their own paths in life. Of course, the time is passing too quickly, but I love the chance this month provides to reflect on my own journey as a mother and to savor all the gifts it has given to me. I hope all the mothers biological moms, adopted moms, stepmoms, and honorary moms have a wonderful Mother’s Day.

If you’re looking for a meaningful Mother’s Day gift for the special moms in your life, be sure to check out our Mother’s Day Local Gift Guide, featuring unique experiences and gifts on page 18.

May also means the beginning of gardening season. When I was little, my dad had a HUGE garden, and my brother and I always loved helping him okay, maybe love isn’t the right word because he often tasked us with weeding, which we didn’t love. Looking back, however, I can appreciate the hard work, and now, weeding the garden (and all the other tasks associated with gardening) is a kind of therapy. I enjoy getting my hands dirty, growing my own food, and teaching my girls to appreciate the time and effort it takes.

We live in a society that allows us to take our food for granted. We go to the store and pick out what we want. Food production has become an industrial complex that is both harmful to our planet and to our bodies. There’s value in learning about the process. What will you plant in your garden this year? I’d love to hear about it. Email me anytime!

And if you can’t garden yourself, I encourage you to seek food grown and produced locally.

We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, it is designed for you. a

cover artist: Anne Maddox

athe Cover

Title of piece: Ecosystem #1

Want to put your art on our front cover? Give it a glo!

To submit your entry, send art as an e-mail attachment to ambouthot@the-papers.com or send a production-ready image on a CD via mail to: glo Magazine, Attention: Amber Bouthot, PO Box 188, Milford, IN 46542.

The Nitty Gritty:

glo front covers are open to female artists. Submissions from all original 2D media (digital art photographs are OK) are welcome.

publisher

Hometown: Leeds in Kent, England

Current Town: Marion, Indiana

What inspired this piece?

Roadside flowers

Where do you draw inspiration for your artwork in general?

Nature

What is your preferred medium?

Watercolor

How long have you been creating art?

Since I was a young child. Professionally, since teaching in the Bahamas during the 80’s.

What advice do you have for other artists just starting out?

Don’t anticipate making a living at it.

Where can we find your work?

Facebook: Anne Maddox fine artist, writer and social advocate Instagram: @anne.c.maddox. a

PO Box 188 • 206 South Main St., Milford, IN 46542 800.733.4111 / Fax 800.886.3796

Editorial & Advertising Ext. 2491 • www.glo-mag.com

glo is a news magazine with emphasis on inspiring women of all ages. glo does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does glo or its staff assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial content appear in any publication. glo assumes no liability for any claims regarding services or products or claims made by advertisers. No reproduction of glo is allowed without express written permission. Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $45 for 12 issues; $77 for 24 issues. Mail your request, along with your check to glo, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542. Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt. Copyright © 2023

Artwork must be photographed at a high-resolution (300+ dpi) for reproduction.

Cover art selections are made at the discretion of glo staff. For cover placement, the artist will receive credit and added exposure via introductory copy and published photograph in a question and answer section.

Cover art is cropped approximately to 10” wide x 13” high. Submitted cover art should be sized as 10.5” wide x 13.25” tall and, when possible, please allow 4.5” at top of artwork for glo masthead placement. The art chosen will confer rights to the cover image only as it relates to the publication and glo. The artist shall retain all other rights.

Ron Baumgartner | rbaumgartner@the-papers.com

executive editor + publications manager

Amber Bouthot | ambouthot@the-papers.com

Eeditor-in-chief

Deb Patterson | dpatterson@the-papers.com

director of marketing

Steve Meadows | smeadows@the-papers.com

account executives

Melinda Musselman | mmusselman@the-papers.com

Rebecca Boone | rboone@the-papers.com

Lynn Blanchard | Lblanchard@the-papers.com

business manager

Annette Weaver | aweaver@the-papers.com

Connect with us on social media Facebook facebook.com/glofortwayne

director of circulation

Jerry Long | jlong@the-papers.com

graphic designer

Mary Lester

marketing assistants

Darlene Eichelberger, Taelynne Ousley photographers

Leaha Meinika, Eva Toscos

contributing writers

Stacie Ball, Ray Balogh, Bethany Beebe, Cassie Beer, Mary Jane Bogle, Lauren Caggiano, Jennifer Norris-Hale, Holli Hattery, Shelley Galbreath, Hillary Knipstein, Jennie Renner, Lindsey Sharp, Cathy Shouse, Wendy Stein, Julie Young

Twitter twitter.com/glofortwayne Instagram instagram.com/glofortwayne

Making the Most of

Swimsuit Season

By Lindsey Sharp

Swimsuit season is upon us, and whether that makes you squeal with glee or begin to fret, we’ve got a few tips for you for finding the best swimwear this season both to stay on-trend and to flatter your body.

Your clothes affect how people perceive you, and often how you perceive yourself.

Whether your biggest concern is making sure your swimwear makes you feel confident or whether you just want to be sure you’re donning what’s “in” this season, we’ve got you covered.

First, let’s dive into how to determine which cut and style of suit is best for you first.

Inverted Triangle:

If your shoulders or bust is wider than your hips, try this:

Draw your eyes down and away from your shoulders by adding volume to your lower body to balance a larger top. Choose suits with wide straps, skirts, side stripes, “boycut” legs, or patterns or prints that draw the eyes down.

Triangle

If your hips are wider than your shoulders or bust, try this: Draw your eyes up and away from your hips by looking for suits that slim your lower body and draw attention to your upper body with shapely necklines and bust detailing.

Suits that are most flattering may feature a front zipper, darker or solid colors on the bottoms, and an empirestyle waist.

Rectangle

If you have a balanced hip and shoulder width without a defined waist, try this:

Define your waistline by creating curves with details like princess seams, draping, and belts. Try suits with a drop-yoke waist, princess seams, lingerie straps, diagonal lines and prints, and a belt or sash—avoid solid colors.

Circle

If your waist is larger than your bust and hips, try this: Create the illusion of a defined waist by choosing suits that slim your lower body and create a slimming waistline with interesting necklines or side shirring. Suits with princess seams, tummy control panels, high backs, diagonal prints, and vertical color blocks will be your go-tos.

Now let’s get into what’s trending. According to a “Sports Illustrated” interview with Ivy Heilman, senior swimwear buyer for Anthropologie and an article by Sierra Mayhew, Associate Editor at “Who What Wear,” there are four trends that stand out among the rest for 2023’s swim season:

1. Added shine

We’re talking built-in jewelry, distinct beading, and jewels embellishing impressive points of your body.

2. Dimensional details

3D flowers, bows, cutouts, and fabric manipulation like ruching are in.

3. Matching minis

Ideal to give your suit the ability to go from the pool straight to the bar and to give you a bit more modest coverage, matching miniskirts are what some are considering the essential third piece to a bikini this season.

4. 2000s-era looks

Remember last month’s piece? The same is true for swimwear: skimpy and contrasting piping is the name of the game in 2023. There are many local shops that sell swimwear that may be able to give you specific advice, including our friends at Barabara’s New Beginnings!

Whatever suit you choose, rock it. If it’s any comfort at all, know that most of us have the same feelings when it comes to swimsuits: we just want to feel good in one to enjoy whatever activities require them! a

Self Care

By Lauren Caggiano

We can’t be our best if we don’t take care of ourselves. But life can be hectic and unrelenting, so it’s even more critical to stop and smell the roses. What that looks like will depend on the person and their preferences, but the fact remains we all need activities we can look to for respite.

Here are a few ways to recharge this spring and beyond. Add them to your Self Care Bucket List

1) Take a hike. Nature is a powerful antidote. It’s proven to have a healing property. Northeast Indiana is home to several nature preserves and trails. You might even inquire about programming. It’s a great way to meet likeminded people at the same time. Be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat for protection.

2) Try a new recipe. Cooking is a great way to nourish your body and flex your culinary skills. Look to Pinterest, Instagram, your family cookbook, or your favorite recipe website for inspiration. If you feel so inclined, you might even invite friends over for a dinner party to show off your cooking chops. (As if you needed the excuse.)

3) Clean out your closet. While an active endeavor, some people find that purging clothes can be a form of letting go. By donating clothes that no longer serve you, you’re allowing room for pieces that speak to you. If the clothes are in good condition, you might consider selling them or donating to a cause.

4) Set boundaries. Being mindful of your limitations, whether at home or work, will help you avoid burnout and overwhelm. Be honest about what you can do and do your best to communicate your needs.

5) Connect with others: Spend time with people who support and encourage you. Join a club, group, or community that shares your interests. Likeminded people can motivate and energize you. You might even discover that you make a new friend in the process of getting out of your comfort zone.

6) Practice mindful eating: Mindful eating involves paying attention to the sensations you experience while eating, such as the taste, texture, and smell of your food. This can help you slow down and savor your food, leading to a more enjoyable eating experience. Plus, it can lead to better digestion and overall health.

7) Schedule yearly health screenings: Whether it’s an eye exam or mammogram, annual exams are important to diagnose and treat any health condition. Being proactive can mean peace of mind.

8) Try a new hobby: Trying a new activity can be a great way to help you get outside of your head. Consider trying something creative, such as painting, knitting, or writing.

9) Take a break from social media: Being overly online can be a major source of stress and anxiety. Consider taking a break from social media for a day or a week to help your outlook.

10) Start a morning practice: Some women swear by their morning yoga or meditation practice. Dabbling in a ritual can help you ease into the day.

Remember, self-care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Find what works best for you and prioritize your needs. a

she glows

By Mary Jane Bogle | Photo by Leaha Meinika

Advocating for marginalized populations is a top priority for Nikki Quintana, Executive Director of Fort Wayne Metropolitan Human Relations Commission (Fort Wayne Metro). It’s a trait that was instilled in her from an early age. “My parents really emphasized the value of giving back to my community,” she said.

In fact, it was Quintana’s mother who inspired her to pursue a career in law in the first place. “My mom was into Matlock and other legal shows,” she said. “Watching those shows with her sparked my interest in becoming a lawyer someone fighting for justice.”

That passion for justice, combined with her father’s insistence on hard work, lead to a groundbreaking degree and career. “My dad always understood the reality of me being a Mexican American female and made me aware that I would have to work hard,” she recalled.

Thanks to her parents’ support, Quintana became a first-generation college graduate. “For me,” she said, “it was about how I was going to achieve my dreams … not letting the skeptical voices prevail.”

And while Quintana managed to navigate those challenges, she wants to make the path a little easier for those coming behind her. “I’m passionate about creating pipelines for the next generation,” she said, “specifically Latina women.”

According to Quintana, roughly 1.3% of lawyers nationwide are Latina. “A big thing for me was making sure I got over the idea of letting people put me in a box,” she said. “Finding a role model of a Latina doing law even nationwide is rare.” Changing that lack of representation is important to her. “Representation affects what people think they can do. The more they see it, the more they realize it’s something they can do,” she said.

That’s why Quintana is passionate about serving on the scholarship committee with the Allen County Bar Foundation, where she helped propose the idea of providing a scholarship for racial and ethnic minorities. And so, the Allen County Bar Foundation Legal Opportunity Scholarship was born. The scholarship is designed to help students continue law school or prepare to join the legal profession.

Quintana is also an advocate for change at Fort Wayne Metro, where she works to educate the community about unfair treatment in housing, employment, public accommodation, and education. “We work to enforce both federal and local civil rights laws,” she said, “but we also strive to educate the community through outreach efforts.”

Some of those efforts include hosting the Fair Housing Summit, an event that has grown from a small gathering to a venue for 300 people or more. “This tells us people in our community want to learn more about emerging trends in the realm of fair housing,” she said. Her advocacy also resulted in the publication of Fort Wayne Metro’s Equity for All Study.

At the end of the day, Quintana’s motivation for advocacy begins and ends at home. “My husband Josh and I want to make sure that our children, Jocelyn and Joshua, have opportunities to pursue their hopes and dreams,” she said. a

he glows

By Shelley Galbreath | Photo by Eva Toscos

Tyler Kaiser always knew he wanted to be a Montessori teacher, which is why he is attending Trine University in Angola working on a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a Montessori Endorsement. Trine University is the first and only university in Indiana to offer this degree.

Kaiser said his grandmother, Donna Kaiser, has been an inspiration. She was a charter member of the faculty when Bunche Montessori School was implemented in 1991 by Fort Wayne Community Schools. She went on to be a teacher and trainer and to serve on the national board. While growing up, Kaiser was able to see firsthand how children’s lives can be changed by good leaders by not only his grandmother, but also by his parents, who are both teachers and coaches as well.

Kaiser and his two siblings attended Bunche Montessori, and he continued to Towles Montessori through the fifth grade and then he transferred north to attend Blackhawk Middle School and Snider High School. Kaiser enjoyed each school he attended and made many good memories along the way. “I really made great connections with my high school, middle school, and even elementary school teammates that I still have today,” Kaiser said. “And that is very special to me.”

Athletics were a big part of Kaiser’s childhood, with aquatic sports topping the list. “I grew up on the north side of Fort Wayne and spent most of my time at the pool a few years at Park Forest Swim Club before it closed, then many summers working and playing from 12 p.m. to close every day at Blackhawk Pool,” he said. While aquatic sports topped the list, Kaiser tried almost every sport, even doing four in high school, including baseball and tennis.

Kaiser said he’s always known being a Montessori teacher was in his future. “I love the freedom of a Montessori education. Children want to learn and are very curious. If you allow a student to explore in a way that is most comfortable for them, then great things can happen.”

While Kaiser admits going through stages of exploring other career paths, he always found himself going back to education. “My experience at Towles was so great that I knew then that that is what I wanted to do,” he said. “All of my teachers through my Montessori career Heather Fry, Jill Furniss, and Diana Crisler inspired me in different ways and to this day all three are very helpful and supportive in my endeavors.”

Kaiser is still quite active in aquatic sports. He is the head dive coach at Pocahontas Swim and Dive Club in Southeast Fort Wayne, the cohead coach for Prairie Heights High School Girls Tennis in LaGrange, and the swim coach for the Angola Wavemakers Swim Club in Angola. He also helps coach swim at Angola High School.

What are some of Kaiser’s favorite things? His favorite food? Kaiser said it’s probably pasta. “I love some good alfredo,” he said. When it comes to movies, it’s the Star Wars series. Favorite book? Kaiser said to this day it was a series he read in Middle School called “Michael Vey.” Favorite time of year? “I love summer,” he said. “Right in the heart of pool season. There is no better place to be.” a

glo GIRL

By Stacie Ball | Photo by Leaha Meinika

Most adults probably think they could defeat a 9-year-old in pinball, but don’t be so assured if that young lady is Huntertown celebrity Autumn Albertson! She has earned a few plaques from several pinball competitions and is the youngest player invited to be in the championship. This year she ranked 14th in the entire state of Indiana for the Women’s Division. This Oak View Elementary student is schooling the world in pinball one competition at a time.

It all started in 2020 when most businesses were closed, and people were going stir-crazy at home. “My brother and I were bored, so my mom decided to look online to see what was close by, open, and fun to do,” Autumn remembered. She discovered her hidden talent at an arcade called Wizards World in Huntertown. She dropped some quarters into a machine called Twister and began her very first pinball game. Thus began a whirlwind of an adventure.

Many games and several quarters later, Autumn decided to participate in the Kid’s Pinball tournaments held at Wizards World. They have categories for all ages and experience levels. Once participants check-in, the officials place their names in a queue. A computer randomly chooses 2 to 4 players and a pinball machine, and the battle begins.

“My first tournament that I played in was a Kid’s Tournament, and I got 1st place,” Autumn recalled. “I played in Kid’s Tournaments for a while and then decided I wanted to play in the Women’s.”

The stakes were a little higher in the Women’s Tournament, but that didn’t scare her. “The tournament itself is the same, but it could last longer because a lot of women with years of experience come from all over to play,” she explained. “It’s challenging going against top players, but it’s a lot of fun!” She was pleasantly surprised to snag two 3rd place plaques, one 1st place plaque, and an Indiana State Championship 5th place plaque.

Autumn is proud of her accomplishments but is staying grounded. “My proudest moment was winning 5th place in the Indiana Women’s State Championship!” she mused. “I knocked out the State Women’s Pinball Champ! These women are tough and amazing at pinball, and just being selected to play in a championship was such an honor.” She stated that it feels great to be the youngest player in the championship, but it hasn’t quite sunk in yet.

Aside from pinball, Autumn is involved in theater and enjoys acting, baking, crafts, painting, shopping, and photography. She loves spending time with her mom, dad, brother, and adorable dog, Bentley. One day, she hopes to become a photographer or an actor.

The Albertsons would like to thank Mike and Trisha Burgess for all they do in youth and women’s pinball. If you are ever at Wizard’s World, Autumn recommends playing El Dorado, Pinball, Jack-Bot, Wizard, and her favorite, Memory Lane. Who knows? You may discover a new talent as you unlock the exciting pinball universe. a

By Amber Bouthot | Photos Provided

It can be hard to know what to get your mom for Mother’s Day. Might we suggest a gift with a personal and local flair? We checked in with some of our partners around the region for some gift ideas. Happy Shopping!

A Gorgeous Geranium from Main’s Flower Garden (260) 749-5307

Mother’s Day typically tips off the summer gardening season. Treat your mom to some beautiful and colorful geraniums from Main’s Flower Garden.

ThirtyOne

mythirtyone.com/us/en/TammyAustin

Local ThirtyOne Consultant Tammy Austin has tons of darling gifts in her shop right now, including The Sunshine Edit. It offers new spring prints and bestselling styles for the ultimate season glow up.

Gifts, Savory Sweets & More from Tastefully Simply

tastefullysimple.com/web/dshoaf

Is your mom a foodie? Does she like to prepare meals for family and friends? Consider treating her to some upscale gifts, savory sweets, kitchenwares and more from local Tastefully Simple consultant Dana Shoaf.

Mother’s

Join

District

this

boutiques and treat your mom to one of the many diverse restaurant options during Mother’s Day Weekend Downtown, May 12 – May 14.

Shop

Experience the vibrancy of our growing community as you celebrate the annual Fort Wayne in Bloom spring window decorating contest. With beautifully decorated business windows and live entertainment throughout the heart of Downtown, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

The Sunshine Edit from

Mother’s Day Brunch at the Zoo

kidszoo.org

Take your mom to the zoo on May 13 and May 14 for a special Mother’s Day celebration. It is a great chance to get together as a family and treat mom to a delicious brunch in a beautiful outdoor setting.

A wellness package from 3 Rivers Co-op

3riversfood.coop

3 River Co-op offers more than just food! They have an entire wellness shop full of body care, hair products, local soaps, flower essences, essential oils, and more. Put together a gift basket and give your mom the gift of self-care.

Mom & Me Creative Hour at Indigo Studios

goindigostudio.com

A new art studio in downtown Fort Wayne is hosting Mom & Me Creative hour. These sessions are private bookings and are available until June 10. Sessions are just $25 per person. Participants may choose between watercolor, alcohol ink or jewelry. Schedule online.

Do you often ask people to repeat what they say?

Do you have trouble hearing in groups?

Do you think others mumble?

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, it is important to have a free hearing evaluation. Call today to schedule an appointment! 260-338-2942.

Mother’s Day in the Garden botanicalconservatory.org

Plan a special outing to the Botanical Conservatory where Moms get in FREE Mother’s Day weekend. Drop by Conjure Coffee, browse the Conservatory Shop, visit live butterflies, and admire all the lovely garden displays together. The first 800 mothers to visit receive a free plant! a

but not forgotten

By Jennie Renner | Photos Provided

As we recognize Mother’s Day this month, we are holding space for those whose mothers are no longer with us. Three women shared their experiences of loss, what they have learned, and how we all might do better to support those who are grieving.

Gina Kostoff’s mom, Marie, passed away at 82 years old. Although almost 23 years have passed by since her death, Kostoff said she still misses her every day.

“My grief has changed over the years,” she said. “Those first few years are always heartbreaking. You’re mourning what you don’t have in your life anymore, instead of remembering all the wonderful things that they brought to your life while they were here.”

For the first several years after losing her mother, Kostoff said she chose to ignore the Mother’s Day holiday. Now, she celebrates it.

“I usually buy some flowers in bright, beautiful colors because [my mom] loved bright, beautiful colors. That’s how I remember and celebrate her I wish she was here, but I know she’s watching from heaven,” she said.

Kostoff now lives in the house that her parents built and lived in and continues her mom’s tradition of hosting the family’s Christmas celebration. The first couple of years after her mom died, nobody sat in her chair at the dining room table during the holiday meal. Kostoff lit a candle and set it at her mother’s place. She said she could feel her mom’s presence there with the family.

“You walk into the house I grew up in, that I live in now, and you can just feel both my parents’ presence, especially my mom’s,” she said. “You feel that warmth envelop you and that’s who she was. She was a loving woman of faith. And she wanted everyone to feel comfortable in her home. And that’s what I’ve tried to do in that home.”

Kostoff enjoys honoring her mom by doing a lot of the same things that she did when she was alive, including cooking a nice meal for the family. “Everybody gets their favorite treats that my mom used to prepare for us,” she said. “So, there’s a little bit of her in every holiday celebration.”

She still has a lot of the furniture that her parents owned, including her mom’s favorite chair, which she sits in every day. Her mom also loved the sunroom on the back of the house so on beautiful mornings, she’ll take a cup of coffee and sit out there and think of her and how much she enjoyed being in that sunroom, especially in the spring.

“It was her favorite time of year with the flowers blooming, the trees budding, and the birds singing. She loved to watch everything come alive,” said Kostoff. “So I feel her presence every day.”

She offered these thoughts for anyone who is still in that initial stage of profound grief. “It does get better; It doesn’t go away it’s always there but it does get better,” she said. “And you focus more on the joy that that person brought to your life, and the beautiful memories, and all of the things that they instilled in you rather than the sting of not having them there.”

While Casey was home for Christmas break in 2010, her mom, Vicky, got bacterial meningitis. Hoffmann was in her senior year at Ball State and spent much of her last semester in Fort Wayne at the hospital with her mom. In March, Vicky was able to come home. She was there for about a week and a half before she passed away.

Her mom was 54; Hoffmann was 22. It has now been 12 years since her mom passed away. She said while she still feels the pain of her mother’s absence, letting go of the notion of what she thought grief was supposed to be like has helped.

“I thought [grief] was kind of like a linear thing. You know, you go through stages and once you go through that stage, you’re done with it, and then you move on to the next stage,” said Hoffmann. “But that’s not how it goes at all. And I kind of struggled with that for a while. There’s no timeline and it’s not something that you get through to get to the end. It’s just a process that kind of [takes a] lifetime.”

Once she was able to let go of her expectations about grief, Hoffmann started embracing her emotions. She was angry for a long time. She also found her grief showing up in unexpected ways. Sometimes she would just feel “off” and didn’t know where it was coming from. Now she recognizes those times as another way that her sadness was coming through.

“With time, you gain a different perspective,” she said. “We were so close; now I can be thankful for that, and not angry. I can see that grief and love go hand in hand. I can be thankful that I hurt as badly as I do sometimes, because I know how much love was there to begin with.”

When her grief was new, Hoffmann didn’t want to hear what anybody had to say. She appreciated those who would just be present with her and not try to say anything because there really wasn’t anything that anyone could say that made things better. She said knowing how helpful this was to her, she has used the same approach when comforting friends going through similar situations. Hoffmann called it “the gift of presence just sitting with them and their darkness.”

“I think the gift of presence is really powerful,” she said. “Even today when I’m having a rough day [I’m] thankful that people are willing to do that, and not try to fix it … just sitting.”

Courtney Tritch

Courtney Tritch’s mom, Jennifer, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 68 in July of 2016.

“There is no one way to grieve,” said Tritch. “I think it’s hard when the person passes away suddenly because it’s just such a shock that it takes you a while to get your head around it.”

Tritch doesn’t mind sharing what she’s been through, though. One of the things she said her mother taught her was to “talk about stuff.”

“I think what people don’t talk a lot about when it comes to grief is that we’re humans. And odds are, we have complicated relationships,” she said. “I loved my mom. She was my person. When I was little, we had our own secret language for a while. I just always felt like no one got me like she did.”

As Tritch got older, her relationship with her mother changed. Sometimes they were close and sometimes they weren’t. While she misses her mom, their complicated relationship has made grieving more difficult.

“Because our society doesn’t teach people that it’s okay to talk about, I think that that leads to a lot of inner turmoil and unresolved emotions,” she said. Tritch believes that we can grow and learn from people in our lives even after they’ve passed. She said she learned so much from her mom about being your own person.

“My mom had a bajillion different careers and raised five children. She had a radio show, she had all these different things, and so that really shaped who I am,” she said. “I think that if we can take the long view in thinking about ‘what are the things that still live on through me because of her influence?’ I think that’s what helps keep the person alive.”

When Tritch was upset about something, she said that one of her favorite things that her mom would say was, ‘Okay, what speech do you want?’ She said that was her way of saying, ‘Do you want me to encourage you to keep doing this or do you need me to talk you out of it?’ Tritch has used this approach with friends who are grieving.

“It is good to ask the person if they are ready to talk (‘What speech do you need?’ as my mom would say), or if they need to be distracted, but there is more to it than that,” said Tritch. “If they are in a place where they don’t know, then it’s important to ask if you can take the lead. Look around and see what needs to be done and offer to do something specific rather than just saying ‘let me know if there’s anything you need’ and walking away.” a

On Her Nightstand

By Wendy Stein

What are you currently reading?

“The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel, about how managing money is more about beliefs and behaviors than knowledge. It is a solid read; short stories that are interesting and engaging. It’s full of information about what truly drives people’s relationship with money. It is also a good opportunity for selfreflection on how the reader treats money. I highly recommend it.

“When You Are Mine” by Michael Robotham is a thriller about a police officer whose father is a criminal and her attempt to bring down a decorated detective for domestic abuse while becoming too involved in the life of the domestic abuse victim. It’s exciting. The main character’s need to pursue something that a reasonable person would let go is frustrating but also makes sense given her history. The characters are sophisticated, and I am looking forward to seeing when and where the twist will be revealed.

Also, “You’re Invited” by Amanda Jayatissa (audiobook). People gather in Sri Lanka for the wedding of a rich influencer with a bunch of admirers and enemies. The lead character is a disturbed, malicious but needy estranged friend and ex of the groom who shows up thinking she was invited. The bride disappears and the wedding is canceled. An investigation ensues. The main character is curious and off-putting. I have considered bailing on this a couple of times, but the suspense of delaying key details keeps me listening. The book’s organization is engaging as it bounces back and forth from the wedding events to the postdisappearance investigation interviews, which is especially effective in audiobook form.

What’s your favorite book of all time?

Whitney Bandemer is the founder and principal at WB Consulting, LLC based in Fort Wayne, specializing in organizational and people development, human resources strategy, and project management. Actively engaged in the community, she serves on various non-profit boards, including Indiana Tech, Fort Wayne Zoological Society, AWS Foundation, AWRC Industries, and Benchmark, LLC, and the Don Wood Foundation. She is also a 2014 graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne.

Tough one. “The Great Gatsby” or “Love is a Mix Tape.” Which I pick depends on the day. Today let’s go with “Love is a Mix Tape” by Rob Sheffield.

Is there a book you like to give as a gift?

“Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown and “Love is a Mix Tape” by Rob Sheffield.

What’s your favorite genre?

Historical fiction and psychological thrillers

Real books or e-reader? Or audio books?

Books and audiobooks. No e-reader, ever. a

Whitney Bandemer

We Play Everything!

Maternal Awareness Mental Health

By Jennifer Norris Hale, Mission: Motherhood

How does a mother say that she is not bonding with her baby? How does a mother say that she has anger—a sadness that she has never felt before? How does a mother say that she is afraid of being left alone with her baby or herself because she fears what she might do? How does a mother express these thoughts and believe that they will be understood?

According to The Blue Dot Project, “Maternal Mental Health (MMH) disorders include a range of disorders, including depression, anxiety, and psychosis and can occur within pregnancy or the postpartum period (together often referred to as the perinatal period). When left untreated, these disorders can cause devastating consequences for the mother, her baby, her family, and society.”

Modern motherhood can be isolating, overwhelming, and full of misconceptions, particularly thanks to the social media age in which we live. We have never been more connected while so deeply disconnected. Modern mothers are in dire need of spaces to be fully connected where they can feel safe enough to process their thoughts, experiences, and feelings and learn from each other.

From my own experience with postpartum depression and anxiety, I know that in the depths of those difficult times, the feelings did not want to hear what anyone else had to say. They are full of deception worthlessness as a mother, fear, sadness, and the daily unmet unrealistic expectations. But there is hope. You. A smile. A meal. A nap. A shower. A text from a friend. A simple, “how you are doing?”

As friends, family members, and a community, it is our responsibility to care for the mother, the caretaker, first. By doing so we ultimately raise our families and our children. That is why I started Mission: Motherhood to provide this level of emotional and social support to all mothers and remove barriers by getting back to basics by simply caring and wrapping support around mothers when it is needed most.

Every mother has her story. Every mother needs to be held and secure in her transition into motherhood. When a child is born, so is a mother. Every. Single. Time. Whether her story begins with natural birth, a medicated birth, a C-section, miscarriage, stillborn, adoption, or longing for a child in her heart it is hers and we are here for it.

It takes a village to raise a mother. That is why we are committed to raising community-wide awareness during Maternal Mental Health Awareness week (May 1-7), to raise the voices of our mothers and change the conversation surrounding modern motherhood.

All mothers must know that they will be heard, seen, and understood by an unconditionally supportive community. I encourage you to do your part. Hold the baby, yes, but hold the mother first.

If you or someone you know is struggling in their pregnancy or postpartum, please seek support. There are local resources available on our website for mothers, parents, and families. a

missionmotherhoodfw.com

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

What is an Ombudsman?

An Ombudsman is…

an advocate for residents of long-term care facilities, board and care homes, and assisted living. They are trained and certified to resolve problems, address complaints, advocate for improvements in the longterm care system, to have the responsibility to negotiate on a resident’s behalf, and to work with other state agencies for effective enforcement. All Ombudsman services are FREE to residents and/ or family members who seek our help.

The LTC Ombudsman Program is authorized by the Federal Older Americans Act. This act requires every state, through the Office on Aging, to create a statewide ombudsman program to investigate and resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of, individuals who are residents in long term care facilities. Our local office covers all nine counties in northeast Indiana and its services remain free and confidential. The LTC Ombudsman Program is the largest stand-alone ombudsman program in the state of Indiana. An integral part of its advocacy efforts is building its Volunteer Ombudsman Program, where community members are trained and certified to visit residents in nursing homes that may be having issues with their care.

We Love Your Style LINDA SHAFER

By Amber Bouthot

Each month, we feature someone whose style we admire. This month it is Linda Shafer. Linda is a teacher at Weisser Park Elementary, a mother to 3 adult children, and wife to a sculptor. She and her husband Cary live with two dogs: Olive and Pepito. Here’s a glimpse inside her fabulous home!

around the sliding door and how it contrasts the white table and chandelier.

Living Room and Entry Way: Our living room is where we display the Blenko glass that I have collected over the years. It’s on the wall around the corner fireplace. The living room is the only room with all white walls, so the colorful glass really pops.

How would you describe your style?

My style is Mid-century modern with a little sparkly glam and lots of color. Our house was built in 1961, and we have tried to keep the original details, but we have updated the floors, the lighting, and plumbing fixtures. We are lucky to have so much art in our lives! My husband, daughters, and many artist and photographer friends have created most all the art in our home.

Tell us a little about each of the areas you chose to highlight. Why did you choose them? What makes them your faves?

Dining Room: We use the dining room for many things: puzzling, board games, and of course, dining. When we have friends over, it seems that we spend hours around that table just eating laughing and playing games. I love the bright floral wallpaper

Kitchen: When we remodeled the kitchen, we decided to keep the cabinets but paint them and change the hardware. It’s a big open space and doubles as a dance floor. We all do a lot of dancing in that kitchen.

Bathroom: My bathroom is the last room we remodeled. It was all pink tile with a pink bathtub and sink. I struggled to let all that pink go because it is my favorite color, but it was getting tired looking, and a lot of the tile was broken. I chose a pink ceiling to remind me of the way the bathroom used to look.

When you think of your home, what’s the feeling you hope your family and visitors have?

I hope that when friends visit, they feel welcome and comfortable. We love to host big and small parties, and our adult children love to bring their friends over too. Fun is important to us, so I hope all our guests sense the fun in our style.

What’s your favorite color?

Pink. a

Name: A. L. DeLeon

Hometown: That’s a complicated answer. I spent a lot of my childhood years in the Columbia City, IN area, but I graduated high school in Albion, IN.

Current town: Columbia City, IN

Title of Piece: Only Now

What inspired this piece:

This is a poem that I wrote several years ago on my Instagram along with an amateur photo of a flower in bloom that I took while I was out walking in my hometown. It was inspired by three things: A significant change in my life, self-reflection, and gratitude.

What is your preferred writing style?

I love the challenge of writing epic fantasy fiction, sci-fi, and poetry, which also happens to be the three genres I read the most. I don’t know if I’d say that I have a preferred style other than I want to write and string words together in a way that is compelling and keeps a reader invested in the story I’m telling.

When did you first start writing?

I wrote a book in third grade as part of a class project called “Pound Puppies” that I still have. That was my very first time trying to write fiction. However, it wasn’t until I became an adult mired in a very unhealthy marriage, that I was inspired to try my hand at writing novels and poetry. That was nearly 18 years ago. I’m sure many women can relate to this sentiment, but I did not want to lose the creative side of myself in addition to everything else that I thought I had lost back then. Writing, it turns out, is also very therapeutic.

Creativeorner

What advice do you have for other writers?

Believe in yourself more than others believe in you. Only you know exactly what you are capable of and what you aren’t. No one else has that knowledge about yourself. Also, read as many books, in as many genres as you can. Reading will be your best teacher in your journey to learn how to write well.

Where can we find your work?

My epic fantasy novel “Song of Life” can be found at our local Barnes & Noble stores and online, or on Amazon, as well. I also have an e-book, sci-fi short story, 15 pages short to be exact, that is available only on Amazon titled “Xersa’s Red.” The cover art for that short story was done by local artist Doug Egolf of Columbia City. He does some amazing sci-fi art, and I highly recommend people check out his work.

Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ aldeleonauthor/ to follow along with my authorship journey and learn when the next book will be released. a

Only Now

By A.L. DeLeon

Years have passed. Days have been filled with lessons, some painful beyond compare and some so deep with joy it takes your breath away. A fraction’s worth of what the Universe has to offer. And only now… only now do I smile at the path behind me. It has brought me here to eyes that hold a galaxy’s depth of tenderness and mirth. And, has brought me here, to this wilderness inside my heart.

I count myself lucky for this alone.

App Security

By Lauren Caggiano

App-related scams are becoming increasingly common in today’s marketplace, which means consumers need to be on guard to protect their finances. The security team at STAR Financial Bank has words of advice for people who use these apps.

“Speaking on our end, we see all of those kinds of transactions come out of people’s accounts,” Fraud Investigation Manager David Greenwood said. “When it comes to Zelle, that’s an easy way for our customers to go in and send funds from their account. Zelle is a very secure and platform.”

Conversely, other apps with the same use aren’t as secure. That’s why there are more cases of fraud and in some cases, consumers have little recourse, depending on how quickly they noticed the fraud and when they acted.

With this in mind, Greenwood said that consumers need to be leery of scams. Oftentimes perpetrators leverage the power of social engineering to get people to act. Social engineering is a manipulation technique that exploits human error to gain private information, access, or valuables. In cybercrime, these human hacking scams can lure users to act and are not in their best interest.

While the nature of the scams can differ, there are some common threads. One red flag is marked by a sense of urgency.

“I think there used to be this idea that there was only a certain demographic, maybe [only] certain types of people that could be scammed,” said Greenwood. “I think we’re seeing [that] everybody’s a target. And the scam artists are getting good. For instance, customers might receive phone calls and it could show (it originates from their) bank, that’s being spoofed.”

Another way to safeguard your financial well-being is to monitor transactions like you would on your credit card statement and look for suspicious activity. For instance, you might pay the cleaning lady via Cash App but maybe you see a request for a payment you don’t recognize. In this case, you might be a target of a scam.

It pays to pay attention, and not just for your own sake. Tracy Hanlin, enterprise risk officer, said that helping your friends and family understand the vulnerabilities of these apps can pay dividends.

“Make sure that your family, your kids, your parents everyone knows the risks. Because once [fraud is] open and out there, it’s really

Also, know that your bank is a great resource to lean on when you have concerns about security or a potential scam. Whether it’s STAR or another institution, look to the experts for help and direction.

“We’re here to help you,” said Hanlin. “The second you find out about it, that first call should be to us to help you protect your accounts as much as we can and try and recover what we can. But we find that people wait because they’re humiliated. You shouldn’t feel that way you’re a victim it shouldn’t be something to be embarrassed about.” a

The Invisible Workload of Moms

By Cassie Bear, Director of Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne

When Mother’s Day comes around each spring, we take time to honor and appreciate the many roles that mothers serve. They are often not only responsible for their jobs outside the home but also for children, partners, and other family members. While we recognize the visible acts that mothers perform, we often fail to acknowledge the invisible work required.

What is emotional labor?

Emotional labor is the mental activity required to manage or perform the routine tasks necessary for maintaining relationships and ensuring the smooth running of a household or process. This includes tasks typically regarded as unappreciated or unacknowledged: the burdens borne disproportionately by women. This can include tasks such as listening to others, providing emotional support, and anticipating the needs of others.

Emotional Labor at Home

Mothers are often responsible for managing the emotional labor at home. This can include tasks like keeping track of appointments and medications, scheduling social activities and meals, securing childcare, planning and packing for vacations, and managing the household budget. In addition, working mothers are often responsible for providing and facilitating emotional support to their children and partner.

Emotional Labor at Work

Women also carry emotional labor in their professional lives. This can look like being expected to be the emotional regulators in group situations, serving as therapists for coworkers, knowing details of calendars or work schedules, and cleaning up or taking notes for work events.

Women are also most likely to be the champions for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within their workplaces. In addition, they may have to navigate a work culture that does not prioritize work-life balance or support for working parents.

The Toll of Emotional Labor

Emotional labor can be exhausting and affect a working mother’s mental and physical health. The constant emotional demands can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression. It can also impact their relationships with their children and partner, as they may not have the energy or emotional bandwidth to provide the support they need. A lack of recognition for this type of labor can be demoralizing and lead to feelings of resentment and frustration. It is essential that we recognize and appreciate the emotional labor that working mothers carry both at home and in the workplace.

How to Help Carry the Load

To support working mothers, it is important to acknowledge the emotional labor that they carry, to look for ways to more equitably shoulder the load, and to provide everyone with resources to manage it. This can include flexible work schedules, sharing responsibility for planning and scheduling both at home and at work. Helping to carry the invisible labor of emotional work helps lighten the load for us all. a

Banking on the STAR Women in Our Community

Brittainy Chaffee

Janna Henney

Kim Christmon Tracy Hanlin

Melissa Schenkel

Brenda Boerger

Medina Habibic

Angie Dane

Traci Bohdan

Lisa Keirns

Kate Miller

Kristin Marcuccilli

Erika Dornseif

Jean Hershberger

Make Your Backyard a Pollinator Oasis

By Bethany Beebe

Whether or not you prize growing rows of radishes and columns of corn as part of a backyard garden, your planting selections affect the web of life. Pollinators like bees, beetles, and wasps, are small but powerful members of the ecological community that have a serious impact on the economy, too (1) . In the United States alone, over 100 crops require or are strongly assisted by pollinators whose value is estimated at $3 billion annually (1). With both economic gain and general environmental benefit in mind, you can forward the cause of pollinators in your own backyard.

Habitat loss and misuse of chemicals have proven themselves especially troublesome to pollinators, and you can play an active role in addressing these problems (2)

Habitat

Especially in urban areas, gardens provide oasis (2). Pollinators especially appreciate groupings of flowers that are close to one another, attracted by colorful blooms (2). Purdue Extension suggests having three types of flowers at a time blooming. A need for shelter from the rain, wind, and sun of the Hoosier landscape coupled with a need for food and water make your efforts as a gardener appreciated as the garden offers respite against forces of nature and hunger.

Chemical Use

Chemical controls can be quite troublesome to pollinators. Some of these agents can weaken immunity, leaving room for illness (2). When these agents are applied, using them early in the morning or around dusk is best from the perspective of the pollinator because they generally are least active during these times (2). Using spray chemicals instead of dust can reduce contact, as can establishing areas where no agents are applied (2). Mowing the yard to trim down the flowers of weeds and waiting to spray until blooms have fallen from garden flowers are also ways to mediate the struggle between hopes to forward the aesthetics of one’s yard and cause of helping our flying environmental benefactors of choice (2)

Selecting flowers

Protecting special garden visitors is an active concern, but the menu of plants from which the gardener might choose is extensive. For gardens here in Indiana, the Xerces Society offers these recommendations, among others. Early-season, we could enjoy wild geranium, Golden Alexanders, or cream wild indigo plants. Moving into warmer weather, smooth penstemon, swamp milkweed, or pale purple coneflower might grace the garden. Missouri ironwood, rattlesnake master, or prairie blazing star could be conversation starters during your summer garden parties. And smooth blue aster or wingstem could make later in the season just as look-worthy. For more suggested plantings, photos of the flowers, and a description of what each plant needs to flourish, check out the Xerces Society page (3). After making selections, planting patches of flower clumps closer together rather than further apart is preferred by pollinators. Generally, these plants prefer full sun as a more ideal

(1) https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation

(2) https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/gardening-for-pollinators/

(3) https://www.xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/17-050_03_XercesSoc_ PollinatorPlants_Midwest-Region_web-3page.pdf

and remediation

By Cathy Shouse

It’s fairly well known that having mold in the home is a health hazard. But knowing what to look for and what to do about mold can involve some research, and sometimes it seems there are no easy answers. So, it’s important to pursue best practices when it comes to the potential of mold growing, and to seek professional help when needed.

Sheri Ann Richerson is an author who is known for homesteading, which means having a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. She wrote “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Year Round Gardening,” as well as “101 SelfSufficiency Tips,” among other titles. But when it came to her own challenges with mold, she found out there was a lot to learn.

Richerson lives in an older home, although newer homes may also have mold, which is caused by a unique set of circumstances. Experts say the root cause that creates an environment for mold to grow is an environment that has high moisture.

“We were using the basement as our pantry, and we went downstairs and found mold growing on the canning jars that had food in them,” Richerson said. “So, we investigated further and, sure enough, the dampness was causing a mold issue. I was unable to keep anything down there because of this.”

Also, she had always suffered from allergies but her symptoms seemed to worsen and she eventually attributed that, in part, to the mold in her house.

Once it was determined that moisture was bringing mold, she learned that a dehumidifier could help to reduce moisture. She went online and purchased dehumidifiers that specified they could be used for an entire house. But when those didn’t get the job done, she called in a company to help, and they said overloading the unit can cause it to catch on fire.

“They warned me about using one of those whole house dehumidifiers, and they installed a nice, new commercial dehumidifier, as well as a sump pump,” Richerson said. “The heavy-duty ones have filters that need changed and are very heavy. My basement is now dry. There is

no more mold issue.” The company also reinforced the basement walls and added a wetness barrier.

Since fixing the mold last summer, her health issues seem to be gradually improving.

Richerson said that if someone has a limited mold issue, restricted to a small space, they might potentially handle it themselves. However, if there is any doubt about the seriousness of the situation, she recommends getting an expert evaluation.

“I was told by FEMA when they dropped off a cleaning kit years ago, when there was a lot of rain and flooding in the area, that bleach could get rid of mold,” she said. “If you try this, wear gloves and I would recommend wearing an N95 mask because mold can make you really sick.”

One difficulty in finding mold is that it is often in interior walls and hard to see.

“Another place I found mold that people don’t think about, at least I didn’t, is we had a toilet that sweat really, really bad,” Richerson said. “When we tore the toilet out and replaced it, the whole area behind the toilet tank was covered in mold.”

Purdue University has some useful online information. One article cautioned about needing to rebuild or renovate after flooding, and outlined the dangers of moisture building up in wood. Wood should have a moisture content of less than 15 percent, and homeowners can rent or purchase a moisture meter at a hardware store or lumberyard. In severe cases, consider having a professional do an inspection. Wood can take weeks to dry out but having patience can avoid the need for thousands of dollars of remediation work later. a

Whimsical Dresser

Makeover

Every month, we highlight do-it-yourself projects from our readers. Do you want to see your project featured in our magazine? Email ambouthot@the-papers.com and tell me about it.

By Amber Bouthot

This month’s Reader DIY is by Karen Schnabel. She was born in Santa Cruz, CA; spent most of her life in southern Oregon; and recently moved to Fort Wayne to be with her sister Candace after Candace’s husband passed away. They purchased a house together and plan to welcome their crone years together by creating surroundings that make them smile, and on occasion produce some hilarious belly laughs. For them, fabulous gardens, wild and crazy art, and a menagerie of rescued animal companions is what this stage of life is about.

Karen and Candace are both in the Master Gardeners program at Purdue, hoping to learn what they don’t know and meet some like-minded individuals.

For this feature, we are highlighting a whimsical dresser makeover.

What was your inspiration for the project?

Although the dresser is a lovely piece of furniture, and has great bones, it was plain brown and my thoughts were “It needs pizazz.” I am attracted to color and a variety of designs, so I knew that’s the direction I was headed. In the past I have hand-painted my designs and was going to do so on the drawer fronts, but then I remembered I had lots of peel-n-stick remnants. Since the drawer fronts are flat and have no intricate details, the peel-n-stick route was much easier and faster.

How long did it take from start to finish?

With dry time, maybe three or four days.

Was it easier or harder than you anticipated?

It was about the level I expected. Not hard by any means. It was light prep work then paint, dry, seal, cut peel-n-stick incorrectly, cuss and rant a bit, rethink then recut, peel-n-stick again. Ta-da!

What was the total cost of the project

Eek. Hard to say as I used things I already had on hand. The paint was left over from another project my sister Candace did, and the peel-n-stick paper on the front of the drawers were remnants from various other projects we have done.

What did you like best about the undertaking?

Finally figuring out what I wanted to do with the dresser. It has been staring at me for some time asking, “What cha gonna do, eh?” It’s fun to see something come to life the way I was hoping it would (it doesn’t always) so of course I like the result. I think it has the pizazz I was hoping to achieve. The seriously big hoot is when what is in my head ends up in front of me in a finished project. That calls for the Snoopy dance.

What was the most challenging aspect?

It was cutting the peel-n-stick to fit exactly at the edges of the drawer fronts, which are beveled slightly. I wasted a couple of pieces trying to measure and cut it before putting it on, then I figured out it was best to make it a bit large, place it, and then use a sharp razor at an angle to really get it right. That worked well... um, but don’t look too closely. It is, after all, hand done. Handmade items are NOT perfect... So, I guess embracing THAT concept that it must be perfect is the most challenging aspect of everything I create.

Where did you source the materials?

I bought the dresser off Craigslist when I lived in Oregon. I’ve had it for three years and knew I wanted to do something but, hmmm, what?? Ahh, I must await inspiration (forcing never produces good results) and, honestly, I never quite know what will inspire me until it hits.

I’ve always worked within a tight budget, I don’t like waste, and, you can ask my sister, I don’t throw stuff away because, you never know, right? It’s how I can use my leftover and saved stuff I guess. I’ll get an inkling of an idea and I look through all my craft stuff to see what sparks my imagination. I think, “Ooooo, I could do this with that, or that with this.” a

By Holli Hattery

Donald Will was always very artistic and loved working on projects, and he was good at it. In his early years, he held multiple jobs repairing jewelry, watches, and clocks for other jewelers, but one day, he decided that he wanted more. In 1959, he broke free of the grind of working for others and, with his wife Doris by his side, opened his own small storefront in Versailles, Ohio — the very first Will Jewelers. Don, a pregnant Doris, and their five kids made their home in the apartment above that Main Street shop.

Shortly after, the Wills decided to move to the Delphos, Ohio, a larger community, where they were planted for a few years before finally putting down roots with their now ten children in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Will Jewelers has been a staple in Fort Wayne since their opening in 1964.

Will Jewelers knows how to set themselves apart, and the Will siblings know that a huge part of being able to keep and maintain a client base takes customer service and great products. When a customer walks into Will Jewelers, they will be immediately overtaken by their huge selection of fine jewelry, fashion jewelry, engagement rings, and watches. Their customer service is top notch, and an experienced salesperson will be ready and waiting to promptly assist with any questions.

Will’s sets themselves apart by not only selling top quality jewelry, but by restyling old and out of date jewelry, as well. They also offer free cleanings and professional appraiser, Douglas Will G.G. Will Jewelers also has their own “Bridal Center,” which is a store within the store. Often, Will can get your GIA certified diamond set within a few hours of picking it out and purchasing, so spur of the moment proposals to happen.

It’s not just the customers that love Will Jewelers. Their employees are very happy to work with the Will family as they continue the legacy of Don and Doris. Heather Bushong started working for the Will family as a goldsmith and a sales associate. Sixteen years later she considers them her family. “I am so glad that I sent my resume to Will Jewelers when I was looking for work. I have learned so much about the industry,” she says.

Pam Schmidtchen has been working with Will Jewelers for over 30 years. She prefers working for family-owned businesses because she feels that she gets to be a part of their family and the Will family has been no different.

Will Jewelers is located on Carnegie Blvd. in Southwest Fort Wayne. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and from 9:30 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. Come check them out in May for storewide sales for Mother’s Day and Graduation gifts. a

Will Jewelers, Fort Wayne, 260.432.5126, willjewelers.com

Dixie Will-Clark, Pam Schmidtchen, Heather Bushong

Dale Will, Â Darren Will, Dan Will, and Dean Will our Goldsmiths

HOME I am Robin Strasser

By Julie Young |

Robin Strasser has never been afraid to take on a new challenge. As the director of administration and finance for the Fort Wayne – Allen County Airport Authority, she has overseen everything from accounting to purchasing and IT to HR. However, this month, she will become the CFO of Lasting Change, Inc., a faith-based non-profit that serves as a parent company to a family of nonprofits designed to help individuals succeed, families thrive, and communities prosper.

“This [new position] will allow me to be part of a team that is making a difference in our communities by restoring and strengthening individuals and families,” she said.

Strasser has lived in the Fort Wayne area her whole life, growing up just east of the city in Woodburn where she attended Woodlan High School. She earned her degree in business administration from Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne. She received her certified public accountant license, which allowed her to have a varied and interesting career right in her own backyard, so to speak.

“I have literally never left the area,” she said. “My first job out of college was with Baden, Gage & Schroeder on the audit staff, and then I went on to work in CFO positions for a long-term care facility, credit union, communications tower start-up, nonprofits, and local governmental units. I also worked in the financial services industry for several years. It’s been fun and has provided a journey of life-long learning.”

Strasser said that Fort Wayne has been a great place to live and work because the people are friendly, and there are several entrepreneurs who run successful businesses and add jobs to the local economy. With safe neighborhoods and an affordable cost of living, Fort Wayne is family-friendly and continues to expand the entertainment and activity options for those who call it home.

“When I am at home, I enjoy relaxing on my covered patio when the weather is warm, often with a good book or a knitting project,” she said. “Around town, my husband Mark and I enjoy live music and

a good cocktail. One of our favorite places is The Club Room at the Clyde, but I also enjoy getting out on the trails for a long walk or a leisurely bike ride.”

Of course, family time is also important, and Strasser loves spending time with her two grown children and two grandchildren who also make Fort Wayne their home. When she is out and about, she can often be found at Baker Street Steakhouse, Proximo, or the Hoppy Gnome.

“I also enjoy a visit to Knitting off Broadway for creative inspiration,” she said.

As the next chapter of her life takes flight, Strasser said she likes to look at the big picture and determine strategies in order to attain goals, but in a world that seems to be moving at the speed of light, it is important to remain flexible.

“It’s rewarding to help others learn something new or expand their skills [so that they can] grow in their careers,” she said. a

Photo provided

Robin Strasser’s next chapter is taking flight

By Hillary Knipstein

The Francis Shoppe’s founder and owner Marjorie Francis’s eye for fashion started early. When she was a teenager, she worked at a boutique. The owner encouraged her to pursue fashion because she had an eye for it.

When a storefront vacancy opened in Wabash, Marjorie and her late husband took that advice, and opened the Francis Shoppe. Since opening in 1961, the Francis Shoppe has styled the women of Northeast Indiana for all their big moments. Marjorie’s daughter, Terri Francis Alfred, grew up with the store and began working there as a teenager. After college, Terri returned to run the business and has been there ever since.

Terri describes the Francis Shoppe’s merchandise in three categories ranging from a size 4 to a 24: sportswear; street-length dresses; and long, formal dresses. The Francis Shoppe organically fell into the mother/grandmother of the bride niche in the early 2000’s. After Terri began attending bridal and women’s events in Fort Wayne, the Francis Shoppe has grown into one of the region’s preeminent vendors for mother of the bride/grandmother of the bride dresses. It also developed a by-appointment personal shopping service, which provides clients with customized recommendations for building a wardrobe for a particular event.

After decades of working with clients, Terri prides herself on her extensive knowledge about her customers’ needs. “If you don’t know what to wear, I will tell you what will be right for you!” she said.

As she is choosing her merchandise, she has specific customers and their tastes in mind. “You can’t buy for yourself; you have to buy for your customers” she said. To make sure she has the best merchandise, Terri attends trade shows throughout the country and uses her long-standing relationships with suppliers.

In addition to knowing their customers, the Francis Shoppe stands out for its impeccable customer service. It has inhouse fitting and tailoring services, so customers leave with clothing that is customized to their individual measurements, eliminating the stressful process of getting alterations before

Terri’s favorite part of running the Francis Shoppe is helping customers find the right attire for important events and seeing them wear the final, customized products with confidence. The customers share her enthusiasm, and many become repeat customers. For example, Terri helped a customer select a dress for her child’s wedding and ensured that the fit was perfect. After the event, the customer called and glowed about her experience and asked for help finding a dress for another big event. After looking at the customer’s inspiration pictures, Terri selected a dress and called the customer in to try it

Would you like to submit an event to be considered for glo’s To-Do List? Our deadline is the 6th of the month prior to publication. E-mail us your event 40 words or less to: rbalogh@the-papers.com. Please type ‘To-Do List’ in the subject line. Or you may mail info to glo, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542.

By Ray Balogh

to-do list . . .

4 | Friday |

Trashy Thursday

2 | Tuesday |

Community Band Concert: “Outer Space”

Fort Wayne Area Community Band will perform music from the “Star Wars” trilogy, “Star Trek,” a cosmic fanfare from “Legends of the Galaxy,” “Jupiter Hymn” and Mars from “The Planets” and more. Audience members are encouraged to dress in space costumes. $9/adults, $8/ seniors, free for children and youths under 18. 7:30 p.m., John & Ruth Rhinehart Music Center, Purdue Fort Wayne campus, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne. Contact Rod King at 260.493.3318 or coknoll75@yahoo.com.

2, 9, 16, 23 | Tuesday |

Little River Ramblers

Nature hikes, dress for the weather, boots are recommended, bring binoculars for a closeup view. 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Meet at Boy Scout Office, 8315 W. Jefferson, Fort Wayne. 260.478.2515, lrwp.org..

3-4 | Wednesday-Thursday | Spring Rummage Sale

Sponsored by New Haven United Methodist Women, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. both days, New Haven United Methodist Church, 630 Lincoln Highway East, New Haven. 260.749.9565, newhavenumc.com.

4 | Friday | Open House

Main floor and basement open for walkthrough, display of Settlers Inc. 2023-2024 hand arts programs. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., May 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; 1424 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne; Main floor and basement open for walk through; display of Settlers, Inc. 2023-2024 hand arts programs. Parking by tennis courts. 260.637.8622, settlersinc.org.

Volunteers help keep wildlife safe and preserves clean. Pick up trash along Smith and Engle roads. Wear close-toed shoes and long pants. Other safety gear is provided. 10 a.m.-noon. 260.478.2515, lrwp.org.

5-6 | Friday & Saturday | Herbs and Perennials Plant Sale

Herbs in the basement. Perennial “diggings” on back lawn. Proceeds from this event support Fort Wayne’s Historic Swinney Homestead. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.–noon Saturday, 1424 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. Parking by tennis courts. 260.637.8622, settlersinc.org.

7 | Sunday | Decatur Coin Show and Marketplace

Nearly 100 indoor vendors, hot food available. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. (year-round), Riverside Center, 231 E. Monroe St. (Highway 224 East), Decatur. Contact Carla at 260.517.8182, decaturfleamarket.com

11 | Thursday | Historic Hand Arts Class: “The Herbal Garden”

A general history of culinary herbs and their various uses, including potpourri, herbal tea, sachet, and making a tarragon vinegar to take home; refreshments. $20. 9-11:30 am, Historic Swinney Homestead, 1424 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. Reservations at 260.637.6692. settlersinc.org.

13-14 | Saturday-Sunday | Mother’s Day Weekend Downtown

Create new memories during Mother’s Day Weekend Downtown by supporting locally owned boutiques and restaurants, May 13-14, presented by Downtown Fort Wayne. Five vehicles will transport event attendees around Downtown Fort Wayne and the three gateway corridors. downtownfortwayne.com/events/mothers-day-downtown.

13-14 | Saturday-Sunday | Muster on the St. Mary’s: A Timeline Event

Historical reenactors from early Romans through World War II demonstrate lifestyle, uniforms, cooking, gardening, military life, and more. Free admission, donations appreciated. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, The Old Fort, 1201 Spy Run Ave., Fort Wayne. 260.437.2836, oldfortwayne.org, facebook.com/historicfortwayne.

17 | Wednesday | Short Hikes for Short Legs:

Seed to Eagle Marsh

Investigate wetland plant seeds and how they travel. Dress for the weather, boots are recommended. For children 3-5 with responsible adult. 9 a.m.-10 a.m. Meet at Eagle Marsh Barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. 260.387.0399, lrwp.org.

20 | Saturday | Plant with the Pros Plant Sale

The Allen County Master Gardeners Association will host its annual fundraising plant sale where they will sell divisions from their Display Gardens, as well as plants Master Gardeners have grown in their home gardens. Several other vendors will be on site as well. Purdue Extension – Allen County, 4001 Crescent Avenue, Fort Wayne. facebook.com/AllenCoMasterGardeners.

Botanical Conservatory

• Through June 25, “Color in Motion” live butterfly exhibit, public hours, regular admission

• Friday-Sunday, May 12-14, Mother’s Day Plant Sale, 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, McMillen Park Community Center, 3901 Abbott St., Fort Wayne

• Saturday-Sunday, May 13-14, Mother’s Day in the Garden, public hours

• Tuesday-Saturday, May 16-20, National Public Gardens Week, public hours, regular admission

• Saturday, May 20, Spring Bonsai Show, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., regular admission

• Sunday, May 28, Iris Flower Show, noon-3 p.m., regular admission

Adults $7, children (3-17) $5, children (2 and under) free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.

1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. 260.427.6440, botanicalconservatory.org.

Embassy Theatre

• Thursday, May 4, Marquee Gala — a fundraising event for the historic Embassy Theatre, 5:30 p.m., performance by Matt Doyle on stage at 8 p.m., $300

• Saturday, May 6, Pops 5 Constantine conducts classic Broadway, 7:30 p.m., $27 to $86

• Tuesday-Wednesday, May 9-10, Project Ballet Spring Concert, 7 p.m., $19/$23/$28

• Thursday, May 11, “Annie” (touring), 7:30 p.m., $40/$55

• Friday, May 12, Masterworks 7: “Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue,” 7:30 p.m., $23 to $81

• Saturday, May 13, Katt Williams: 2023 and Me Tour, 8 p.m., $59 to $250

• Monday-Tuesday, May 15-16, John Mellencamp: Live and in Person, 8 p.m., $66 to $136

• Saturday, May 20, Buddy Nolan Memorial Concert with organist Dave Wickerham, 7:30 p.m., $75 to $250

NOTE: Ticket prices are subject to fluctuation based on demand. 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. 800.745.3000, fwembassytheatre.org.

Memorial Coliseum

• Tuesday, May 2, Alice Cooper “Too Close For Comfort” Concert, 7:30 p.m., $48 to $258

• Saturday, May 13, disABILITIES Expo, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., free admission

• Thursday, May 18, Kenny Chesney “I Go Back Tour” with special guest Kelsea Ballerini, 7:30 p.m., $42 to $152

• Saturday-Sunday, May 20-21, Gun & Knife Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, $7/adults, $6/seniors 60+, free for children 12 and under Parking $8 main lot, $12 preferred lot. Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., Fort Wayne. 260.482.9502, memorialcoliseum.com.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

Exhibitions:

• Garden Party: Outdoor Sculptures by Dorothy Gillespie (through June 4)

• Miro in New York, 1947: Miro, Hayter and Atelier 17 (through June 25)

• William S. Dutterer, Below the Surface: A Deep “See” (through July 9)

• Natural Appeal: Differing Approaches to the Landscape (through July 16)

• Art Deco Glass from the David Huchthausen Collection (through Aug. 6)

• Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Classic Toys and Americana (ongoing)

• The Glass Wing of FWMoA (ongoing)

• Kaiyodo: Mini Artworks for the Modern Age (ongoing)

Events:

• Thursday, May 4, Curator’s Tour: Miro in New York 1947: Miro, Hayter and Atelier 17, 12:15 p.m., free with museum admission

• Thursday, May 11, 2nd Thursday at FWMoA: Garden Party, 5 p.m., cash bar, light appetizers, tour outdoor sculptures by Dorothy Gillespie, free admission

• Saturday, May 13, Second Saturday Family Tour, 10:30 a.m.

• Wednesday, May 17, Print Room Talks: Screenprint, 2 p.m., free with museum admission

Adults $8, students (pre-K through college) $6, seniors (65 and older) $6, families $20, free admission for veterans and veterans’ families, free general admission 5 p.m.-8 p.m. every Thursday. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday (closed Mondays), 311 E. Main St., Fort Wayne. 260.422.6467, fwmoa.org.

The Clyde Theatre

• Saturday, May 6, Ministry with Gary Numan and special guest Front Line Assembly, 7 p.m., $42.50 and up

• Saturday, May 13, Spyro Gyra, 8 p.m., $20 and up

• Sunday, May 14, So Amazing, Mother’s Day salute with special guest Fatima Washington, 7 p.m., $25 and up

• Sunday, May 21, Al Stewart and The Empty Pockets, 7 p.m., $34.50 and up

• Tuesday, May 23, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness with special guests The Unlikely Candidates and Griffin William Sherry, 8 p.m., $25 advance/$29.50 day of show

• Saturday, May 27, 98.9 The Bear presents Sleeping with Sirens: Family Tree Tour, 7:30 p.m., $29.50 and up

• Sunday, May 28, Bad Omens with Erra and Invent Animate, 7 p.m., $45 and up The Clyde Theatre, 1808 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. 260.747.0989, clydetheatre.com.

Honeywell Center

• Thursday, May 4, Riders in the Sky, 7:30 p.m., ET, $25/$35

• Saturday, May 6, Trey Kennedy, 7 p.m., HC, $39/$59/$79

• Tuesday, May 9, Wabash High School Art Program, 7 p.m., HH, free admission

• Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, May 9, 11, 13, “Roll With It,” 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 1 p.m. Saturday, ET, $6/adult, $4/children 12 and under

• Wednesday, May 10, Lunch & Learn: Mandala Art, 12:15 p.m.-1 p.m., CCG, $10

• Friday, May 12, Wabash Valley Dance Theater, 7 p.m., HC, $15/adults, $10/students 3-12, free for children 2 and under

• Saturday, May 13, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, 7:30 p.m., HC, $29 to $79

• Sunday, May 14, “The Wizard of Oz,” 6 p.m., ET, $4

• Sunday, May 14, Mother’s Day Brunch, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., HC, $24.95/adults, $11.95/children 5-12, free for children 4 and under

• Tuesday, May 16, Stryper, 7:30 p.m., ET, $29 to $79

• Thursday, May 18, Westbound Situation, 7:30 p.m., ET, $10 general admission

• Friday-Saturday, May 19-20, 26-27, “Fast X,” 9:30 p.m., Drive-In, $6/adult, $4/children 3-12/free for children 2 and under, $20/carload

• Sunday, May 21, “Oregonda Star Force Galactic Command,” 6 p.m., ET, $4

• Tuesday, May 23, An Evening with Groucho, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., ET, $25

• Tuesday, May 23, Travis Tritt, 7:30 p.m., HC, $45 to $145

• Thursday, May 25, Bloody Mary BBQ, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., ET, $29.95/adults, $14.95/children

5-12, free for children 4 and under

• Tuesday, May 30, Honeywell Arts in Education, 7 p.m., HH, free admission

VENUES:

HC — Honeywell Center/Ford Theater, 275 W. Market St., Wabash.

ET — Eagles Theatre/Ballroom, 106 W. Market St., Wabash.

HH — Honeywell House, 720 N. Wabash St., Wabash. Drive-In — 13-24 Drive-In, 890 IN 13.

Ford — Dr. Ford Home, 177 W. Hill St., Wabash.

CCG — Charlie Creek Gardens, 551 N. Miami St., Wabash. 260.563.1102, honeywellarts.org.

Shipshewana Blue Gate Theatre

• Friday, May 5, LeAnn Rimes: the story... so far tour, 7:30 p.m., PAC, $39.95 to $109.95

• Saturday, May 6, Boys in the Band: The Alabama Tribute, 8 p.m., PAC, $19.95 to $49.95

• Friday, May 12, Twitty Lynn, 8 p.m., PAC, $19.95 to $59.95

• Saturday, May 13, Randy Houser, 7:30 p.m., PAC, $39.95 to $99.95

• Thursday, May 18, Shenandoah: 35th Anniversary Tour, 8 p.m., PAC, $19.95 to $64.95

• Friday, May 19, Dailey & Vincent, 8 p.m., PAC, $19.95 to $59.95

• Friday, May 19, “A Nashville Night” in Shipshewana, 6 p.m., MEC, $15

• Saturday, May 20, Anthem Lights, 8 p.m., PAC, $24.95 to $59.95

• Saturday, May 20, Three Redneck Tenors, 7 p.m., MH, $49.95

• Thursday, May 25, Yachtley Crew: Yacht Rock Band, 8 p.m., PAC, $29.95 to $44.95

• Friday, May 26, Kentucky Headhunters & Confederate Railroad, 8 p.m, PAC, $24.95 to $79.95

• Friday, May 26, “Tied Up in Knotts” with Karen Knotts, 7 p.m., MH, $24.95

• Saturday, May 27, Three Dog Night, 8 p.m., PAC, $34.95 to $99.95

• Saturday, May 27, Marcus Luttrell: Salute to Freedom, 2 p.m., MEC, $40/$80/$250 (VIP) All shows add $18 for dinner theater. Performing Arts Center (PAC), 760 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana. Music Hall (MH), 195 N. Van Buren, Shipshewana. Michiana Event Center (MEC), 455 E. Farver St., Shipshewana. 888.447.4725, thebluegate.com.

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