On finally reading The Death and Life of Great American Cities
By Karrie Jacobs
The mistake made by Jacobs’s detractors and acolytes alike is to regard her as a champion of stasis—to believe she was advocating the world’s cities be built as simulacra of the West Village circa 1960. Admirers and opponents have routinely taken her arguments for complexity and turned them into formulas.
The purpose of the Northeast Indiana Green Build Coalition is to raise the awareness of area residents to green building and sustainable living issues.We will do this by providing educational opportunities for construction professionals, business owners, and the general public. >Link
Plan-it Allen! invites you to view Allen County and Fort Wayne in a whole new way. Your guide: John Norquist, nationally-known community development expert and former Mayor of Milwaukee.
Join John Norquist on Tuesday, December 13 in the IPFW Walb Union Ballroom. His take on “Turning Community Dreams into Livable Realities” is intriguing, innovative…and not to be missed.
Tuesday, December 13. A light hors d’oeuvres reception begins at 5 p.m. John Norquist’s highly-visual presentation starts at 6 p.m. Both events are free. Parking is also available free in the garage adjacent to Walb Union.
John Norquist’s appearance is sponsored proudly by the Fort Wayne Area Association of Realtors’ MLS Housing Symposium Fund, IPFW, the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County.
Norquist is currently the President of the Congress for the New Urbanism and is widely-recognized for his presentations on community design and development. He served as Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1988-2003. His hands-on experience in putting walkable, livable, mixed-use concepts to work successfully in his own community coupled with his appealing speaking style make him a natural ambassador for Plan-it Allen! and the new ideas being explored in our community.
Plan-it Allen! is the citizen-powered initiative to develop a new comprehensive land-use and development plan for Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne – the first, joint effort in our community’s history.
For additional information, check out the Plan-it Allen! Web site: www.planyourcommunity.org or contact Jane Yoh at 427-2175.
It's the BEST wine you've NEVER tasted before! Vino Novello, made from Cabernet Sauvignon grape, is the Italian version of the French Beaujolais Nouveau. Vino Novello makes its first ever appearance in Fort Wayne at a special pre-release party with great food and live jazz from Beeler, Steele, Klee Sunday, November 6, 2pm-5pm at Casa D'Angelo on Fairfield Avenue. Tickets are $30/person and $50/couple and are available at all CASA locations or from Northeast Indiana Public Radio, 452-1189. The event benefits the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana Disaster Relief Fund and NIPR.
New DID director wants to put plans into practice
By Ryan Lengerich
rlengerich@news-sentinel.com
Growing up in west Chicago, Dan Carmody knew from a young age he wanted to be involved in architecture and city planning.
He earned his urban regional planning degree from the University of Illinois, and landed in Rock Island, Ill., in 1977 as a city planner. Two years later, he left his job and founded a brewery, which thrived through the 1980s even as a major plant closing devastated the local economy.
He sold the brewery and returned to a leadership position with the city in 1988 as president of Renaissance Rock Island, a nonprofit group charged with reinvigorating a slumping downtown.
Now, 17 years later, with Carmody's help, Rock Island is a thriving city of 38,800 in the Quad Cities region along the western border of Illinois.
Last week, Fort Wayne leaders announced Carmody was selected as new director of the Downtown Improvement District.
An advocate for downtown
Carmody's first visit to Fort Wayne came on a Saturday during the Three Rivers Festival. Fort Wayne's most popular event reaffirmed his mind-set that downtowns are "everybody's neighborhood," even in times when suburban sprawl threatens midsize cities nationwide.
"There is only one place that (festival) can happen, and that is downtown," he said.
Carmody fills a position vacant nearly a year, a time when the board for the 10-year-old Downtown Improvement District revamped its direction and searched for a suitable leader. Once geared toward beautification projects, promotion and event hosting, the organization's new focus is economic development.
"The first positive reaction was the huge amount of community investment that has gone on there in the past few years. You can see the strong civic commitment to the big catalyst projects," Carmody said, citing the newly opened Grand Wayne Convention Center, library expansion project and Allen County Courthouse renovation.
"Now
how do we work with the private sector to see those market-based investments? You got to show them there is a market where they don't see a market."
That's a lesson Fort Wayne's 24-person delegation to Greenville, S.C., to study its downtown revitalization learned. Greenville has become a national model for merging public and private dollars in the interest of major development.
Filling in the gaps
Carmody, armed with his small-business knowledge, saw something lacking when he visited Fort Wayne.
"The first challenges I noticed were a limited amount of retail, limited amount of housing, and a limited amount of food and beverage for a town its size," he said.
"I think there are some great restaurants in Fort Wayne already, but there is not a great concentration of them, that I know."
John Freistroffer, owner of Columbia Street West, said he supports the Downtown Improvement District's new focus and looks for Carmody to reinvigorate the organization.
"He's a businessman and a city developer, so maybe he will have two different angles," Freistroffer said.
Though downtown's economic impact may fall short of expectations, Carmody said that does not mean its importance is waning.
"One huge aspect is the number of large churches that still remain in the downtown area," he said.
"That represented to me that downtown may have lost some of its economic hold on the region, but certainly had retained its spiritual heart of the community."
Not alone
The Downtown Improvement District represents only a small portion of the engine driving downtown revitalization.
A slew of community development and redevelopment officials crowd the City-County Building. The Economic Development Alliance attracts and maintains jobs in the city and county, and the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce plays its role in business development.
"Nothing we are going to do can be done ourselves," Carmody said. "It has to be done with others who have a stake in downtown."
Carmody said there is no shortage of ideas within the city's five-year downtown revitalization plan, or blueprint, started in 2003 by Mayor Graham Richard. In June, planner Gianni Longo submitted a report updating the blueprint, creating another useful tool with which to work.
But for Carmody, the blueprint alone means little.
"If the plan itself were going to get the job done, it would have been done 20 years ago," he said.
"But the plan is only as good as its implementation. I think there is a good plan in place. The challenging part is to put it into practice."
Dan Carmody
Age: 50
Born: Oak Park, Ill.
Education: Bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois
Family: Wife Vivian and six daughters
Accomplishments: Board member, International Downtown Association; Citizen of the Year, Rock Island, professional category
Philosophy on downtown revitalization: "Successful downtowns combine density, diversity, and details to become compelling places that are sustainable, equitable, and viable. Successful downtown organizations are effective, incremental, entrepreneurial, inclusive and organic."
On the Web
- Downtown Improvement District - www.downtownfortwayne.com
- Downtown Rock Island Arts and Entertainment District -
Vendors, backers like results, have big plans for next summer.
By Ryan Lengerich
rlengerich@news-sentinel.com
David Doud, a Wabash County farmer, sells his apples and cider at fresh markets in Roanoke and North Manchester.
This year, he took a chance and set up shop at the newly revived Barr Street Market in downtown Fort Wayne. He said he plans to return next year.
"The worst thing that ever happens at a market is you sit there and be bored, and that absolutely didn't happen," Doud said.
Andrew Thomas, with Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana, said the experiment to attract people downtown was a success, and said Young Leaders will brainstorm how to improve the market when it returns, likely in the spring.
Young Leaders is a volunteer group that formed in the spring and took the lead in organizing four Saturday markets, concluding last weekend. The group also has talked about eventually holding it year-round in some fashion.
"People were just happy to have a place to go," Thomas said. "I got this quote a lot of times: 'We need more things like this in Fort Wayne.'"
Thomas estimated some 400 shoppers turned out each week to buy wares from farmers and artists. Vendors included an organic farmer and a woman who did quick paintings of scenes from the market. A different local band performing each week completed the experience.
Thomas said Young Leaders did not profit from the venture. There was no vendor fee either -- though one may be instituted next year, with the fee money to be used to help publicize the market.
Young Leaders' other ideas for the future include staging a major athletic event -- such as a running or bike race -- and a music festival. Group members also have a keen interest in promoting the river area.
"It is a goal of ours to start working with the waterways a little bit," Thomas said.
On the Web
Learn more about Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana at www.ylni.com.
Reviving a market
Barr Street Market, which dates to the 1830s, was a downtown staple until it closed in 1957. It reopened on a smaller scale in the 1970s but never enjoyed the same prominence before closing. The land at Barr and Wayne streets, where the market was held, is owned by the Allen County/Fort Wayne Historical Society, which allowed Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana to revive it.
Young group to open Barr Market for local vendors
By Ryan Lengerich
A lost piece of downtown history will be revived when a group of young professionals opens the Barr Street Market next month.
Farmers will sell their produce and vegetables for four straight Saturday mornings beginning Sept. 10 thanks to the efforts of Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana. It marks a renewal for the once booming market that served Fort Wayne for more than a century. The market slowly crumbled as downtown changed after World War II and suburban sprawl made such marketplaces less relevant.
"The focus of the market is to provide people a place to come downtown and buy some products they can't get anywhere else," said Andrew Thomas, an organizer with Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana.
Young Leaders, a volunteer group that formed this spring, has about 400 members who promote youth involvement. At the group's first meeting members discussed the need for a downtown market. Breathing life into the Barr Street Market seemed a natural fit, and the group had the members to pull it off.
Opened in the 1830s, the Barr Street Market was a downtown staple until it closed in 1957. It opened again in a smaller capacity in the 1970s but never enjoyed the same prominence again.
The land is owned by the Allen County/Fort Wayne Historical Society, which operated the market in the early 1990s, but the society did not have the staff to keep it open, said Julie Morrison, marketing director for the History Center.
Thomas has secured verbal commitments from about eight vendors. Dan Flotow, a certified organic farmer in Allen County, might sell his produce on Barr Street if his schedule permits.
"Fort Wayne is underserved, that is the biggest thing," Flotow said. "In other cities the same size as Fort Wayne there are several farmers markets -- and (they are) downtown."
Vendors will set the prices, though they may not be as cheap as they were in 1925, when cottage cheese was 25 cents per quart.
Thomas said arts and craft vendors may set up shop, but he is seeking quality food vendors.
"A lot of the people we have polled have been excited about this. We want to make sure we have a quality product," Thomas said. Feedback will determine whether Young Leaders will open for a full season from spring through fall next year.
"We will not be another festival or event," he said. "What we want to do is create a reoccurring event."
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Visit the Barr Street Market
- What: A revival of the once prominent downtown marketplace
- When: 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays from Sept. 10 through Oct. 1
- Where: Historic Barr Street Market, corner of Barr Street and Wayne Street, downtown
- Organizers: Young Leaders Northeast Indiana ( www.ylni.org)
- Sponsors: Area businesses will sponsor the market, said Andrew Thomas of YLNI.
- No admission price; vendors determine market prices.
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Vendors needed
- E-mail Andrew Thomas at impact@ylni.org. There is no vendor fee.
- Types of products that may be offered include but are not limited to: fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, herbs, spices, cheeses, jams, salsa, pasta sauces, soups, honey, maple syrup, breads, noodles, pastries
July 17, 2005 - Fort Wayne's first open-air music & education expo celebrating hip-hop & electronic music, art, and culture. This FREE event will be held from noon - 8pm at Freimann Square and noon - 10Ppm at the Barr St. Market downtown (Corner of Barr & Wayne. Live hip-hop performances, electronic dj's and a special performance by the Three Rivers Jenbe Ensemble at 2PM in Freimann Square. Plus, Wild 96.3 will be giving out prizes and doing a live remote all day long!
For more information or to become a sponsor, contact 260-918-3663 or visit www.schemexpo.com. This is an affiliated event of the 3Rivers Festival.
Meet us on Barr Street
Summer Walking Tour of downtown Fort Wayne
Every Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Want to know more about the City of Fort Wayne? Then grab your walking shoes and head downtown. This 1-1/2 hour journey highlights some of Fort Wayne's finest and most interesting historic and architectural features. Tours begin at the old Barr Street Market at the corner of Barr and Wayne Streets just south of the History Center.
Cost: $5 per adult. $2 for students ages 13-18. Kids 12 & under are free. Please park on the street at a parking meter. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. Tours offered through September 2005. Tours cancelled in case of rain or inclement weather. This weekly activity is offered by ARCH, Inc. - Fort Wayne's Historic Preservation Organization. Call ARCH at 260-426-5117 for more information
Downtown revitalization plan starts to take shape.
By Blake Sebring in The News Sentienel
Fort Wayne got a glimpse of its potential future Tuesday night.
Residents must become involved in the planning process and apply political pressure if that future is to materialize, however.
"You are expecting 300,000 new visitors per year to the Grand Wayne Center and library, but what will they do? Will they just walk by? The challenge is to develop downtown into a regional destination," said architect and planner Gianni Longo.
About 50 people showed up at the Embassy Theatre to check out Longo's part of the city's Downtown Blueprint Plus Action plan. Mayor Graham Richard began the effort in April at the midpoint of the five-year downtown revitalization plan.
"We are trying to find the vision of what downtown Fort Wayne could potentially become, and we want then to translate the vision into the policies, to guide public policy and private investment in downtown," Longo said.
"We want to design the public places and the buildings to be the interpreter of the vision. Then we want to identify the site-specific catalysts that we can use to invest in the city and attract other investors."
Those catalysts include a number of suggestions: a youth sports complex that would include an aquatic park with recreational and competitive pools, an expansion of Lawton Park, a new baseball stadium next to the Grand Wayne Center, converted lofts to encourage people to live downtown, and a buildup of business along Harrison Street. Existing property and empty lots could be converted to make it work, he said.
Longo, whom the city hired for $62,000, said the core of downtown has a walking distance of 1,200 feet, and the key is to expand that area with more parks and more attractions people would be willing to walk to. He envisions rebuilding downtown into an area that would draw pedestrians and families.
"We have to work on the notion that good parking does not mean always finding a spot three feet away from where you are going," he said. "We need to start developing the notion of parking and walking. Do we have to have parking available three feet away all the time? You need to change the attitude of people toward downtown."
Longo said part of the plan might include restructuring current traffic patterns and building onto existing infrastructure.
"What you have now is a vision, but it's going to take time," he said. "As you move forward, everything you do should point toward that vision. I have no intention of presenting a plan that can happen overnight. Many of the things we talked about can happen, but may take 10 to 15 years."
Longo, whose firm, ACP Vision and Planning, also is working with the city and county on the Plan-It Allen! comprehensive plan, said his next step is to develop directions for the city on how the plan could be put in place. He said Fort Wayne residents need to become involved to keep pushing the process along. He'll return to Fort Wayne in July for a final public meeting.
The city has issued a $10 million income tax-backed bond for downtown development and hopes to leverage the money with private investment.
"What do we want Fort Wayne to be like 20 years from now?" Richard asked. "We're going to continue to see good ideas that can be added to this."
Mayor will also attend U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Chicago
Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard will participate in the New Cities Project meeting in Chicago June 9-10. The New Cities Project is comprised of mayors from around the country working together on metropolitan development.
The topic at this week's meeting will be "Building a Competitive Advantage for Cities in Transportation and Energy." Mayor Richard will share how the City of Fort Wayne is working to conserve energy and make its transportation system better.
"We are committed to reducing ozone pollution, improving government services, enhancing the quality of life for our community, and reducing unnecessary travel by using technology," said Mayor Richard. "I look forward to sharing how our broadband programs and Green City initiative can serve as models for other communities across the country."
Mayor Richard will also attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Chicago June 10-14. The annual conference will focus on community development block grants, homeland security, tax reform, and unfunded federal mandates.
Want to be part of the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Centennial celebration and keep our streets green? The City is offering a low-cost way for residents to help maintain our long tradition as a Tree City USA and have trees planted along our city's streets. But time is running out for this year's program. The deadline for tree planting applications is July 1st; trees will be planted in the fall.
For an easy way to get involved, purchase trees for a $30 fee per tree and the City will provide and install a landscape size tree in appropriate locations along an applicant's street frontage. The fee may be waved for low-income citizens.
Applications are available at www.fortwayneparks.org (click Park Information/Street trees, and download a form from the question and answer section). They are available at the Community Development offices on the eighth floor of the City-County Building or at the Parks and Recreation Department, 705 E. State Blvd. Also, call 427-1140, and one will be sent in the mail.
Many varieties of shade trees are available, as the City wishes to maintain diversity among its tree types. Certain types have limited availability. Appropriate trees are listed with the application. Fort Wayne has been planting and maintaining street trees since the 1920's.
"I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. And I'm asking you sir, at the top of my lungs, unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." From The Loax by Dr. Seuss.
John Perlich, City Public Information, 427-6957
John McGauley, County Public Information, 449-3242
Fort Wayne, Ind. -- The City of Fort Wayne and Allen County are working together to reduce ozone pollution. For the past year, an ozone task force made up of city and county officials and community leaders have been meeting to develop strategies to improve government performance and raise public awareness about the impact of ozone pollution.
The City has implemented several programs to help reduce ozone. Seven hybrid vehicles have been purchased to replace older vehicles. The new vehicles will save the City $112,000 in fuel costs. The hybrid vehicles increase fuel efficiency and reduce ozone pollution. More than 300 City vehicles that previously ran on diesel fuel now run on biodiesel fuel. Emissions have been lowered at the City's asphalt plant resulting in a savings of $40,000. Cleaner burning methane gas is now used at the City's Water Pollution Control Plant. As a result, the City no longer purchases nearly 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year.
"We are moving in the right direction to reach attainment levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency," said Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard. "We must be committed to a clean environment to attract new businesses and jobs to our community. Quality of life issues are key elements to building a better city."
In 2004, the Allen County Commissioners created the Ozone Task Force to develop ways to reduce the amount of smog-producing materials emitted into the air during the warm summer months. Recommendations focused on education and voluntary steps for reducing emissions. County departments with older diesel-fueled equipment will install retrofits in the future to lower emissions. On ozone-action days, the County will post signs at the City- County Building, highway barns and other facilities to alert employees. The Allen County Highway Department has undertaken several road projects to reduce congestion that leads to ozone pollution. Those projects include expansions and extensions of Hillegas, Coldwater and Union Chapel roads.
"Ground-level ozone pollution is the most wide-spread air quality problem in the United States," said Linda Bloom, president of the Allen County Board of Commissioners. "This is an important quality of life issue that our community needs to address. Children, people with lung disease and even active, healthy adults feel the effects of ozone pollution. Fortunately, this is a problem that we can do something about."
"Ozone can cause significant health problems for people with asthma, especially children, and others who enjoy exercising outside," said Dr. Deborah McMahan, Health Commissioner. "Therefore, we need to develop the habit of checking the ozone levels when planning our outdoor activities."
Citilink will again this year provide its free downtown summertime lunch trolley. The free rides began today. The trolleys will be powered by soy biodiesel fuel. Citilink has also purchased 12 small buses with more efficient diesel engines.
City Utilities and AquaIndiana customers will receive a bill stuffer focusing on ozone in their June bill describing ways they can help reduce ozone pollution. Below is a list of some of those proactive measures.
- Delay lawn mowing until after 6 p.m. -- an hour of lawn mowing produces as much harmful exhaust as driving an average vehicle for 200 miles.
- Refuel your vehicle later in the day -- gas vapors escaping while filling your tank and especially "topping-off" contribute significant smog producing chemicals into the air.
- Slow down -- driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph reduces air pollution by 10%.
- Avoid using drive-thru windows -- sitting in a vehicle while waiting for food or a bank statement can increase engine run time by more than 20% per day.
- Conserve energy -- turning off lights and turning up the thermostat can improve air quality by reducing energy needs from power plants.
Gianni Longo to again lead second round of public input sessions.
Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m.-noon
Monday, June 6, 5-6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 7, 6:30-9 p.m.
The City of Fort Wayne will host a second round of public input sessions in an effort to take downtown revitalization to the next level.
Nationally-recognized architect and planning visionary Gianni Longo will again facilitate the meetings. He is founding Principal of ACP Visioning & Planning, New York City and Columbus, Ohio.
The schedule for public participation is listed below. The events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m.-noon
Design Workshop -- this will include small group discussions
Performing Arts Center, 303 E. Main St.
Monday, June 6, 5-6:30 p.m.
Open House
FourthWave Building, 300 E. Main St.
Tuesday, June 7, 6:30-9 p.m.
Final Presentation
Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd.
The first series of meetings were held May 17-19. The City is looking to build on the significant progress already achieved through the Downtown Blueprint for the Future.
Series of open houses for Preserve-it Allen!
May 24,25,26th
The City of Fort Wayne will host three Preserve-it Allen! open houses to celebrate National Historic Preservation Month.
Preserve-it Allen! is exploring ways to enhance the preservation of historic structures and other cultural resources in Allen County. The public is asked to attend one of the three open houses to learn more about the project and provide ideas and comments. The outcome will be a set of suggested policy recommendations for local legislative bodies to consider and strategies for stakeholders to use to promote and preserve Allen County's past.
Preserve-it Allen! is a partnership between the City of Fort Wayne Historic Preservation Review Board, ARCH, The History Center, IPFW Archaeological Survey, Williams Woodland Park Neighborhood Association, West Central Neighborhood Association, Fort Wayne Area Association of REALTORS, and elected officials from Fort Wayne, Allen County, Grabill, Huntertown, Leo-Cedarville, Monroeville, New Haven, and Woodburn.
Open house schedule:
Tuesday, May 24, 5-7 p.m.
Huntertown Elementary School, 15330 Lima Rd. in Huntertown
Wednesday, May 25, 5-7 p.m.
New Haven Library, 648 Green St. in New Haven
Thursday, May 26, 5-7 p.m.
The History Center, 302 E. Berry St. in Fort Wayne
For more information, visit www.cityoffortwayne.org or call 260-427-1140.
Thursday - May 19, 2005
5pm to 8pm
Free
Join us as we celebrate National Preservation Month (an annual event sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation) and promote some of the unique businesses that are in the West Central neighborhood.
Dreks' (220 Pearl St.)
Urban Chic Designs (614 Harrison St.)
Home Grown Bead & Candle Shoppe (125 W. Wayne St.)
Art Up (125 W. Wayne St.)
BeadRageous (1113 Broadway)
Antiques on Broadway (1115 Broadway)
Sage Traders (1126 Broadway)
All of the businesses participating in the Open House are in historic buildings. The event will be free! You may drop in at any and all sites during the hours of the Open House.
For more information call 385-WEST.
Tuesday, May 17th, 2005
6:30-9:00pm
At the Grand Wayne Center — Downtown's Newest Showcase.
120 W. Jefferson Blvd.
The City of Fort Wayne invites you to help shape the future of Downtown. Free parking at the Civic Center parking garage, Jefferson at Calhoun. >Link
Public participation is encouraged
Fort Wayne, Ind. -- The future of downtown Fort Wayne is the focus of an upcoming community workshop and open house titled "BlueprintPlus." The goal is to build on the significant progress already achieved through the Downtown Blueprint for the Future and take downtown revitalization to the next level. Public participation is encouraged.
Nationally-recognized architect and planning visionary Gianni Longo will facilitate the meetings. He is a founding Principal of ACP Visioning & Planning, New York City and Columbus, Ohio.
Regarded as a leader in strategic public engagement processes, Longo directed Chattanooga's "Vision 2000" effort in the mid-1980s that led to the renaissance of its downtown. More recently, he has been at the forefront of projects in New York City for Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center site, Washington, D.C., Houston and the Knoxville, Birmingham and Kansas City regions, among others.
The public work sessions will examine what specific projects, initiatives and developments will make downtown the centerpiece of the region. Where should projects be located? How will they create vibrant and prosperous streets and public places? When will implementation start and what goes first? Which incentives, partnerships and collaborations will make it happen?
Schedule for public participation. The events are free and open to the public.
Tuesday, May 17, 6:30-9 p.m.
BlueprintPlus Summit (Community Workshop)
Grand Wayne Center, 120 W. Jefferson Blvd.
At the workshop, participants will be divided into small groups to help identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities that exist today in downtown. The information will enable Longo's team to develop possible development alternatives that can be expanded and tested.
Wednesday, May 18, 5-6:30 p.m.
BlueprintPlus Open House
FourthWave Building, 300 E. Main St.
At the open house, the public will be able to look over the shoulders of the design team to see how the ideas developed at the community workshop are shaping the plan.
Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard has established a steering committee to help guide the process and spearhead community consensus building. The committee is chaired by Bob Taylor, President of Do-it Best. George Huber with the Downtown Improvement District serves as co-chair.
Since the Blueprint's unveiling late in 2002, the public sector has been a primary catalyst to implementation. The City has championed the creation of foundational elements to position downtown for private investment. These financial tools and resources include the downtown Community Revitalization Enhancement District, the 2005 CEDIT bond which dedicated $10 million to downtown projects, the 2002 CEDIT bond which dedicated $2.5 million to downtown projects, a $500,000 transportation enhancement grant focused on urban trails for downtown, and other urban tax incentives.
Another BlueprintPlus community workshop and open house will take place June 4-7.
Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI) is a young, dynamic group committed to making our community a vibrant and viable place to live, work and play. www.ylni.org
Friday, May 20 - 6–10 p.m.
Dash-In
814 South Calhoun, Fort Wayne, IN
(must be 21 or over to enter)
Free parking in the parking garage on the corner of Wayne and Calhoun.
Get involved.
Make a difference.
JOIN US!
Sponsored by: Fort Wayne Business Journal
Please R.S.V.P. to rsvp@ylni.org
Fort Wayne, Ind.- This year, Earth Day is being celebrated at Cinema Center Tech on the campus of Indiana Tech. On Thursday, April 21 at 7:00pm, the public can enjoy a free evening at Cinema Center Tech and view two half-hour films, Fate of a River: Apathy or Action (1965) & Fate of a River: Revisited (2000). Attendees can learn about the condition of our Maumee River watershed in the 1960s and how it has improved in the past 40 years. Before the films, the public can visit booths of local environmental groups; afterward a panel of local stakeholders will take questions and foster discussion about water quality.
The event and refreshments are free and sponsored by Cinema Center, Indiana Tech and the Allen County Partnership for Water Quality.
The Allen County Partnership for Water Quality was created in 2002 by the City of Fort Wayne, City of New Haven and Allen County, with a mission of better educating residents about our water resources. This program, and others sponsored by the ACPWQ, is free to the public.
Cinema Center Tech is located in Andorfer Commons on the Indiana Tech campus at 1600 E. Washington. For more information about this event, contact Allison Van Zandt with the ACPWQ at 484-5848 ext.111.
Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard today joined officials from General Motors to celebrate the addition of four new GM hybrid pickup trucks to the City's fleet.
"By making innovative investments, we become more competitive in attracting new businesses and jobs to our community," said Mayor Richard. "We are a leader in providing excellent services in a way that promotes fiscal responsibility and a clean environment."
The GMC Sierra hybrid pickup trucks, assembled at the Fort Wayne GM plant, combine a conventional gasoline engine with an electric motor to provide a fuel economy savings of 10 percent. That is the highest estimated fuel economy of any full-size truck. The trucks get more miles from each gallon of gas because of the engine start/stop function and regenerative braking, which turns the motor into a generator as the truck decelerates. For additional savings, the fuel is shut off instantly any time the truck is coasting or braking.
The electric motor provides fast, quiet starting power and the ability to generate up to 14,000 watts of continuous electric power. The electricity has many uses including providing 20 amps of 120-volt household-like power through outlets in the cab and pickup bed to operate power tools at a construction site.
Three of the trucks will be used by the Water Pollution Control Maintenance Department. The fourth truck will be used by the Water Maintenance Department.
Hybrid vehicles are part of Mayor Richard's "Green City" initiative aimed at improving government services and making the City more environmentally friendly. The vehicles were purchased from Don Ayres Pontiac-GMC-Honda in Fort Wayne.
Tomorrow Starts: Right Now at the Plan-it Allen! Community Choices Workshops
Submitted by Angela Boerger
We collected our dreams. We explored all the data. Now it’s time to begin charting a new course for our community.
Join your friends and neighbors in crafting our first-ever, joint plan for land and living in Allen County/Fort Wayne.
Come to a Plan-it Allen! Community Choices Workshop.
Monday, April 18
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Homestead High School
4310 Homestead Road
Tuesday, April 19
6:30 – 8:30 pm
New Haven High School Auditeria
1300 Green Road, New Haven
It’s our tomorrow. Plan-it Allen! today.
Call Jane Yoh at 427.2175 or check out www.planyourcommunity.org for more info.
By Ryan Lengerich in The News-Sentinel
Allen County should focus on creating neighborhoods with nearby retail, community centers and green space, a consultant told city and county planning officials Tuesday.
Members of the city-county Comprehensive Plan Committee listened for more than two hours as Kim Littleton of ACP-Visioning and Planning in Columbus, Ohio, outlined land-use goals and projected where and how the county will grow.
The meeting was another step toward developing the first comprehensive land-use and development plan for the city and county. "Plan-it Allen!," now in a draft phase, must be approved by city and county plan commissions, which could happen by year's end.
Littleton challenged committee members to think about how they will address population growth projected at 68,000 people in the next 20 years.
"Neighborhoods are the building block of the community," Littleton said. "We want to create a community that works efficiently, not just looks efficient."
Littleton said the county needs to maximize land containing higher-density housing, while planning for greenbelts, or areas of green space within a community, and stores and public transportation stops within walking distance of where people live. He said commercial retail should exist within neighborhoods, a move that would force planning commissions to zone land for multiple uses.
Allan Frisinger, county plan commission vice president, said he remembers growing up in areas where businesses, parks and schools were within walking distance.
"Mixed-use development is something that has probably been ignored for a long time," Frisinger said. "It doesn't hurt to think along the lines that we need to go away from this segregated block of residential, block of commercial, block of industrial."
Littleton presented a map showing about 61,000 acres in the county are available for development with sewer service, much of it north and west. Committee members will decide in upcoming months whether that is the direction they want the county to continue to grow.
Mike Bynum, city plan commission president, said he envisions potential growth downtown.
"What we are finding a lot is people want to see downtown development, and the high-density housing would be apartments. A lot of your younger people want to move to the downtown areas to have those lofts or apartments where you can walk within a certain area to do things -- not just move out to the suburbs."
Submitted by Karen Goldner
Whether you love theater, OR if you're not sure what you like and aren't good at committing, here is the event for you. For the first time ever (at least in anyone's memory), all of the theater groups in town are getting together in one place, one time, one fun show:
"BECAUSE WE CAN"
Saturday, April 9, 2005
Scottish Rite Center Auditorium
431 West Berry Street
Downtown Fort Wayne
8 PM
$21 per person
Should be a great night out -- and not EVERYONE in Fort Wayne heads south over spring break!
The show is a benefit performance for the Clark family whose 16-month old daughter, Elizabeth, is being treated at Riley Children's Hospital for cancer, sponsored by the Clarks' church, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne.
This event will showcase scenes, music, and dance performed by local performing artists from Arena Dinner Theatre, First Presbyterian Theater, Fort Wayne Civic Theatre, Fort Wayne Youththeatre, IPFW Department of Theatre, the 24hour Playhouse, and more. The theater community has really come together in the spirit of "hey kids, let's put on a show" and the evening promises to be enormous fun.
This is a one night only event. Tickets are available at the Scottish Rite Box Office, (260) 423-2593 ext. 1, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, (260) 744-1867, or at the door the evening of the performance.
Fort Wayne, Ind. — Volunteers are needed for this year's Great American Cleanup. The annual cleanup is from 8-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 21.
Individuals interested in volunteering can sign up online at www.cityoffortwayne.org or by calling the City's Solid Waste Department at 427-1270 to request a registration form. The registration deadline is April 15.
Volunteers will be provided with T-shirts, gloves, flower seeds, and garbage bags. Volunteers will also be treated to a party at Headwaters Park following the cleanup. The party runs from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and will feature food, music, games, and raffle prizes.
The Great American Cleanup is the country's largest litter prevention, beautification and community improvement program. Last year, more than 2,000 volunteers helped clean Fort Wayne's neighborhoods, parks and rivers.
Fort Wayne, IN: The Parks and Recreation Department is announcing a new program that will improve the Greenway by enlisting the help of community volunteers. The new program is called the Greenway Rangers, and requires some dedicated and civic-minded volunteers to patrol the greenway.
"Mayor Richard has committed $2 million dollars to improve the existing Greenway and to expand its length beyond the current 14 miles," said Dawn Ritchie, Greenway Coordinator. "As a step toward maintaining what we have, I am looking for volunteers who would serve as the Parks and Recreation's 'eyes' every week or so on a designated section of the Greenway."
Training for the Rangers will begin in late April, so that they will be prepared to identify and report problems such as maintenance, graffiti, litter concerns and security issues. Greenway Rangers will check an approximate 1/2 mile section of the Greenway each week during the spring, summer and fall, and will be identified with a cap, shirt and ID tag.
"The Ranger program is a great way for any interested and dedicated citizen to help beautify Fort Wayne," said Ritchie. "While these volunteers get regular exercise, their reports will also help make Fort Wayne a safer place."
If you are interested in becoming a Greenway Ranger, contact Dawn Ritchie by March 30th at 427-6002 or dawn.ritchie@ci.ft-wayne.in.us.
Over the past 15 years, there has been an amazing renaissance in downtowns across America. From 1990 to 2000 the number of households living in a sample of 45 U.S. downtowns increased 10.6 percent.2 The fact that many downtowns have experienced such growth and development—in spite of zoning laws spurring suburban sprawl and real estate and financial industries that don't understand how to build and finance alternatives—is testament to the emotional commitment to our urban heritage and the pent-up consumer demand for walkable, vibrant places in which to live and work.The appeal of traditional downtowns--and the defining characteristic that sets those that are successful apart from their suburban competitors--is largely based on what can be summarized as walkable urbanity. >Link
Ask Congress to Preserve Investment in Community Development
February 15, 2005
>Link
In its proposed FY 2006 budget, the Bush Administration proposed an historic, sweeping restructuring of federal aid to municipalities for community development. The plan calls for 18 existing programs, mostly based in HUD's community planning and development program, to be consolidated into a new "Strengthening America's Communities Initiative" grant program to be administered by the Department of Commerce. Overall funding for community development would be dramatically scaled back under the plan. The popular and effective Community Development Block Grant would be eliminated outright.
Congress must approve the President's plan when it adopts the FY 2006 budget. Contact Congress today and urge your elected representatives to preserve CDBG and the federal commitment to improving America's communities. Tell Congress that CDBG should be maintained as a separate program with funding at least equal to its current allocation. Access and eligibility to CDBG funding should not be further restricted.
Funding for the new "Strengthening America's Communities" program would be pegged at $3.71 billion, however that amount represents a significant cut. FY 2005 funding for the Community Development Block Grant, one of the 18 consolidated programs, was $4.7 billion. Other consolidated programs include the Empowerment Zone / Enterprise Community and the Brownfields Economic Development Initiative.
The existing CDBG program would be eliminated. The new Commerce Department-led grant program would be based on new criteria. Administration officials indicated that the new criteria, although not yet fully defined, would likely be considerably more restrictive. The White House Office of Management and Budget also alluded to new 'accountability measures' that communities would have to meet. Officials at a HUD budget briefing stated that separate authorizing legislation outlining the program would be sent to Congress with the Commerce Department taking responsibility for drafting that proposal.
CDBG has been a critical resource for America's cities and neighborhoods for 30 years. The program has a proven track record in attracting private investment averaging a return of three private dollars to every public dollar invested.
CDBG is an essential tool for creating and sustaining affordable housing. HUD estimates that in 2004 alone CDBG directly supported the rehabilitation of 19,000 rental units and 112,000 single- family homes. Last year, CDBG resources aided more than 11,000 families to become new homeowners.
CDBG creates jobs and builds infrastructure. CDBG is the tool planners and cities use to improve neighborhoods and communities. As more communities struggle with the costs of repairing, securing and modernizing critical infrastructure, CDBG resources will be needed more than ever. Nine million Americans benefited last year from infrastructure build or repaired with CDBG funds.
Act now to save CDBG and renew our national commitment to building strong, safe, vital communities. Tell Congress to maintain CDBG as a separate program providing direct and flexible funding to local governments.
Get involved in APA's grassroots network, Planners Legislative Action Network -- PLAN, at www.planning.org/legislation. Make your voice heard directly during APA's Legislative Conference and Advocacy Day, May 11-13. Details are available at www.planning.org/legislation/2005policyconf.htm.
Submitted by:
John Perlich, Public Information, 260-427-6957
Fort Wayne, Ind. - Mayor Graham Richard tonight announced his 'Green City' initiative aimed at improving government services and making the City more environmentally friendly. Mayor Richard made the announcement during his Report to the People speech at the Northwest Area Partnership.
'Green City' initiative
Purchase hybrid vehicles
Repave Rivergreenway
Floral gardens along major corridors
Endorse environmentally friendly construction
The City will purchase seven hybrid vehicles, which combine a conventional gasoline engine with an electric motor. The new vehicles will save the City $112,000 in fuel costs. The hybrid vehicles increase fuel efficiency and will assist the City in its efforts to reduce ozone pollution. City diesel trucks will also begin converting to biodiesel fuel.
City crews will repave the Rivergreenway system and make landscaping and signage upgrades. The repaving of the entire greenway is expected to take three years. Beginning this spring, crews will repave the one-mile section of greenway from the Harrison Street bridge to the Main Street bridge, and the one thousand feet of greenway along West Jefferson Boulevard in East Swinney Park. Last September, Mayor Richard announced a $2 million commitment to improve and add trails and greenways. The City's financial support combined with other funding sources could bring the total to $8 million.
"Our commitment to innovative investments helps us attract new businesses and jobs," said Mayor Richard. "Our ability to be inspired to make positive changes will enhance the quality of life in Fort Wayne. We will be a leader in providing the best amenities and services."
Floral gardens will be created along four major corridors. Clinton Street from Northcrest Shopping Center to Washington Center Road; West Jefferson Boulevard from Covington/Getz roads to Ardmore Avenue; Lafayette Street from Tillman Road to South Anthony Boulevard; and East Washington Boulevard east of Memorial Park to the Auto Auction. The City also plans to update City markers, which will include improving electrical systems and new landscaping.
Mayor Richard encouraged businesses to gain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for new commercial buildings and major renovations of existing buildings. LEED standards address water conservation, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and the use of sustainable materials in construction.
Mayor Richard endorsed the work of the Northeast Indiana Green Build Coalition. The local organization's purpose is to educate construction professionals, business owners and the public about green building.
The Mayor's next and final Report to the People will be on Thurs. Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Homestead High School, 4310 Homestead Rd.
Submitted by Vince in San Francisco:
I saw your link to freecycle on your links directory. I want to request that you also put in a link to www.ABCfree.com. Both sites let users give and get all kinds of stuff for free. However, ABC Free also helps local schools in two ways. First, schools get a first look at all items posted. Second, ABC Free donates a portion of its advertising based revenue to local schools.
ABC Free has some product features that freecycle lacks. For example, you can build a "wish list" and be emailed when something on your list becomes available in your area. This way you don't get bogged down with lots of emails that you have to sort through. >Link
It will become a cultural center for immigrants and refugees
By Kevin Kilbane
From The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel
Old plaster has been pounded and chiseled free from red brick walls. Water-damaged drop ceilings have been ripped out. Office wall partitions have been removed upstairs, creating a large open space.
The Rialto Theater may not look much different on the outside. But a two-story pile of rubble and debris on the inside attests to what has been accomplished so far in the effort to reclaim the architectural gem. Once one of the city's grand neighborhood theaters, it fell on hard times in the 1970s and early 1980s, closing its career as a porn theater.
"We don't have a total on man-hours that have been donated, but it has been staggering," said Joe Johns, director of cross-cultural programming for the Reclamation Project.
The nonprofit organization began work in late 2003 to acquire the 1920s-era theater in the 2600 block of South Calhoun Street. The goal is to transform it into a café and cultural center serving the needs of Fort Wayne's immigrant and refugee communities.
"It will be a bridge from the old Fort Wayne community to the new Fort Wayne community," Johns said.
New immigrants and refugees can become a huge asset for the city, he said.
Most of those who have settled here in recent years are very bright and motivated to build new lives, he said. They are hard-working, honest and have the drive to open their own businesses, he said.
They also bring arts, crafts and other aspects of their native culture that can enrich the lives of people in Fort Wayne, Johns said.
"They help us understand the world a little bit better and to get outside our world," he added.
The actual bricks-and-mortar work on renovating the theater has gone a little slower than expected, however, said Kristie Jacobson, the Reclamation Project's executive director.
"Everything is so much more complicated than I thought it would be," Jacobson said.
For example, she wasn't aware so many permits would be required to restore water and sewer service to the building.
A few puddles inside the building also indicate they have an urgent problem with the roof, she said. The cost to replace the roof has been estimated at $160,000 to $170,000.
They may be able to do the work in phases, however, starting with portions over the theater lobby and office area and the adjacent Tobacco Road store.
They hope to start roof replacement this spring, Jacobson said.
On the positive side, individuals, companies, the city and foundations donated about $100,000 toward the project last year, Jacobson said.
Those donations and countless hours of volunteer labor have helped move the project along both inside and outside the Rialto building.
This spring, the Reclamation Project plans to move into the Tobacco Road storefront, Jacobson said. A small portion of the space will be used for an office. The remaining room will be used for meetings and as a gallery for displaying art and crafts made by local immigrants and refugees.
As time and money permit, the theater lobby will become a café where people from all parts of the world can mingle, Johns said. The theater auditorium eventually will be remodeled into a large space for meetings, cultural performances and special events.
Along with stopping by for a cup of coffee, immigrants and refugees also will be able to get help with resettlement questions and needs, Jacobson said.
"It will be a great resource when it is done," she added.
The Reclamation Project, which is collaborating with other groups assisting new immigrants, already has started two programs that could move to the Rialto when it is ready, Johns said.
A newly hired language coordinator will do more than just help new immigrants learn to speak English, Johns said. The program also emphasizes life skills and adapting to American culture.
A second program, Circle of Friends, matches a new immigrant or refugee family with 10-20 people from the Fort Wayne community. The local people serve as mentors and friends as the individual or family adjusts to life in the United States.
"What they need most is American friendships," Johns said.
The Reclamation Project foresees leaders developing within the different immigrant communities here, Johns and Jacobson said. Those leaders eventually can assume responsibility for operating the Rialto center and meeting the needs of current and future immigrants.
"I'd love to work my way out of a job," Jacobson said.
Save the theater:
To learn more about the Rialto Café and Cultural Center or to donate to or volunteer on the project, go to www.thereclamationproject.org on the Web.
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
John Perlich, Public Information, 427-6957
www.cityoffortwayne.org
Fort Wayne, Ind. - Mayor Graham Richard tonight announced his "Invest Fort Wayne" initiative that sets a goal of $1 billion of urban investment in the City over the next three years. Mayor Richard made the announcement during his Report to the People speech at the Southeast Area Partnership.
$1 Billion Invest Fort Wayne
* Tax incentives
* Investment Partnership - City, Alliance, DID
* Urban Investment Strategy
"We must strengthen our city with a goal for significantly increasing urban investments," said Mayor Richard. "Making these investments help us build a better city to retain and gain jobs. We are actively pursuing investments that are innovative and inspiring."
Two Community Revitalization Enhancement Districts (CRED) help Fort Wayne offer tax incentives to investors. The downtown CRED district allows the City to capture increased sales and income tax dollars generated by new investment in downtown. It also allows for a 25% investment tax credit for qualified investment that occurs downtown. The CRED district for the Southtown area offers similar benefits to investors.
The City will partner with the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance and the Downtown Improvement District (DID) to create an investment partnership. Members of each entity will work together to aggressively seek the interest of developers to make investments in the City.
The City-County joint comprehensive plan (Plan-it Allen!) will include components of an urban investment strategy to examine how to effectively attract businesses and jobs to the community. The plan is expected to be complete in late 2005.
"We have set an ambitious goal," said Mayor Richard. "We must be willing to set ourselves apart from everyone else if we are to become a city that is known for being a leader in developing the very best investment opportunities."
Recent investments by Verizon and Fort Wayne Newspapers give the City a jump-start on reaching the $1 billion goal by January 2008. Verizon's fiber to the premise program is a $65-$75 million investment. Fort Wayne Newspapers' new printing press and facility is a $35 million investment. The commitments from Menards and STAR Financial Bank at Southtown Centre will add to the investment total.
"Our commitment to increased infrastructure investments over the past five years has positioned us to attract innovative and high-tech jobs," said Mayor Richard. "Investors know Fort Wayne is a city where we do the basics well. The City provides excellent water and sewer services, fast permitting and good roads. We are prepared to bring the most innovative businesses to the community."
Recap of Mayor's previous Report to the People sessions Jan. 24/Downtown Rotary (Report to the People preview) Mayor Richard emphasized the importance of innovation and investment and announced his support of House Bill 1283, House Bill 1182 and Senate Bill 51. Those particular bills in the Indiana General Assembly encourage investment in Fort Wayne through tax abatements, tax increment financing and the selling of tax credits.
Feb. 1/Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce Mayor Richard announced his Innovation Initiative that supports new business development and job creation. The Innovation Initiative includes an Innovators Forum, the formation of venture capital funds, and iTeams for Broadband.
Visit www.planyourcommunity.org/ for more info.
Research on existing conditions and trends is complete. It's the factual foundation for our first-ever, joint plan for land and living. Now it's your chance to scope out the results. Debunk some myths. And connect the dots between what's in our dreams and what's the real-life data.
Plan on Attending one of the following Plan-it Allen Public Open Houses and discover how we stack up, how we compare with other communities, and what the trends are for the future.
Tuesday, February 1, 2005, 4-7 p.m.
Allen County Fairgrounds, Administrative Building
2726 Carroll Road
Wednesday, February 2, 2005, 12-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m.
City County Building Main Lobby
One East Main Street
Thursday, February 3, 2005, 4-7 p.m.
Pontiac Branch Library
2215 South Hanna Street
Contact Jane Yoh at 260-427-2175 for more information.
Project for Public Spaces [PPS] announces its new Great Cities Initiative, which applies the principles of Placemaking to entire cities.
At PPS, we believe this timeless way of building can be reinvigorated, and we offer a common-sense way to do it: by empowering people to initiate improvements to their local neighborhoods place by place. These small steps to enliven streets, parks, and other public spaces are the building blocks of a thriving city. >Link
Vote by December 1 for your favorite Idea! Fort Wayne's Janette Luu is a finalist in this national contest for ideas. Here's her link, vote for her if you like her idea! — Jeanne Shaheen
My Vietnamese parents raised me Buddhist, but living in Indiana, it has always been difficult for me to discuss Buddhism with my friends and how it is similar to their faiths (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism.) To help provide understanding and to show connections between all religions, I want to create a traveling immersive experience called Project Inspire that would take you on a unique spiritual journey by enveloping you in images, light and sound. >Link
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department has become one of only 54 park systems in the country to receive national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The announcement was made October 12th at the National Recreation and Parks Association?s national congress.
National accreditation requires parks and recreation departments to engage in a two-year self-assessment and peer review process. Agencies must respond to 156 standards in 10 categories that represent elements of effective and efficient operations.
"We have always recognized that we have a tremendous park system, and now the entire country will know that our Parks and Recreation Department is among the nation's best," said Mayor Graham Richard. "Congratulations to our parks and recreation employees for their hard work in achieving this accreditation and helping us build a better city."
CAPRA implemented its standards in 1989 as a blend for academic and practitioner benchmarking. These professional practices have helped raise the quality of parks and recreation departments nationwide.
"Becoming an accredited agency is a major accomplishment for our department," said Dianne Hoover, Director of Parks and Recreation. "By engaging in this intense self-assessment effort, our department has increased its efficiency and enhanced service to the citizens of Fort Wayne."
Accredited agencies are located throughout the United States — from Texas to Wisconsin, and from the state of Washington to Rhode Island. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.
Fort Wayne, IN - The Salvation Army Fort Wayne Corps has applied for planning funds through the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center initiative. If approved, the Fort Wayne Corps would receive up to $860,000 to develop a proposal that could lead to the creation of a Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in central Fort Wayne. It is expected that the Center would include a variety of family recreation, human service, arts, athletic, educational and religious facilities to complement current and planned investment in the near-downtown area. Contact: Karen Goldner, FourthWave Director of Special Projects 260-469-4411 >Link.
October 2, 2004, Volunteers Needed
Invent Tomorrow and the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department need additional volunteers to assist with the riverview restoration scheduled for October 2, 2004 from 8 AM till 12 noon. Interested individuals should register with Invent Tomorrow by calling 260-407-2015 or by e-mailing inventtomorrow@aol.com.
This year volunteers will continue along the path west of Trader’s Point (Fourth Street) in their cleanup efforts. The purpose of the Riverview Restoration project is to raise awareness of the beauty and history of the rivers’ role in Fort Wayne's development and to help promote recreational activities along the Greenway.
Volunteers are requested to wear appropriate work clothes such as long sleeved shirts and long pants, work shoes and work gloves. In addition insect repellent and safety glasses are recommended. Volunteers are asked to bring their own hand tools if possible and will be required to sign damage and injury waivers. Young men and women 16 years and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult and anyone under 18 years of age must have a consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian to participate. Everyone is required to check-in and sign a waiver the morning of the event.
Invent Tomorrow was established in 2000 to support and connect individuals and organizations to create solutions that improve the educational, economic and social well being of all citizens. The Rivers Committee of Invent Tomorrow is dedicated to promoting community awareness and pride in our rivers through activities that provide social and economic benefits. To learn about all of Invent Tomorrow's activities visit our website at www.inventtomorrow.com.
Sunday, September 12th
Visit 14 of Fort Wayne's premier attractions for FREE Sunday, September 12th.
Just pick up your passport at any Scott's location or any of the participating attractions.
African/African-American Historical Museum, Allen County Courthouse, Artlink, Cathedral Museum, The Embassy Theatre, Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Fort Wayne Firefighter's Museum, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, History Center, Scottish Rite Center, The Lincoln Museum, the Lincoln Tower. >Link
September 11th and 12th
11am-5pm
Ticket price is $10 in advance, $12 on days of tours
Available prior to the tour at Antiques On Broadway, Neuhouser Nursery, Neuhouser Garden & Gifts, Umber's Ace Hardware Stores, and Tower Bank locations.
Available the weekend of the tour at the Swinney Homestead and St Joseph Hospital plaza.
Free trolley and carriage rides on route.
Free parking at the Swinney Homestead and in the lot in front of the Scottish Rite Center. For more information call Jill at 260-385-WEST
To see a preview of the tour check out here.
You know us as Cinema Center Downtown, We hope you’ll recognize us at our new location — Cinema Center at Indiana Tech!
You are cordially invited to the first screening.
Andorfer Student Commons - Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech)
1600 East Washington Blvd. - Just down the road from Cinema Center,
-Look for the Big Round Building!
The Big Sleep - Thursday, August 26th at 6:30 & 9PM at Indiana Tech
"You begin to interest me, vaguely."
So says Dorothy Malone to Humprey Bogart in film noir classic, "The Big Sleep."
We hope you’ll be very interested in our new, second home.
Join us for the premiere screening in the new theater in the Andorforer Commons at Indiana Tech for a special screening of the pre-release version of the film noir classic, "The Big Sleep."
Thursday, August 26th, 2004 at 6:30pm. and 9:00 pm.
Tickets are $4.00. Additional donations are always welcome.
Members can reserve seats if they choose, by calling 426-3456.
Why start with "The Big Sleep?"
We have lots of good reasons. "The Big Sleep" is the first movie Cinema Center ever presented back in 1976. Our film loving founders started with a film full of sparks directed by legendary film director Howard Hawks, who was born in Goshen, Indiana. We have shown it many times over the years, including a special screening for our 20th anniversary party at first permanent home, downtown in the Hall Center. We want honor their hard work and tenacity, and we’re a bit superstitious.
And, this is a special presentation of the recently discovered pre-release version of "The Big Sleep." Cinema Center audiences may think they know this film, but the film most audiences know is not the film as originally shot. "The Big Sleep" was in the can ready for theaters before "To Have and Have Not," was released. Once audiences sparked to the chemistry between Bogart and Bacall, Warner Brothers asked for reshoots to "The Big Sleep" which were duly made and added the famously coy dialogue about horse racing, making a sexier if somewhat less comprehensible.
The original edit of the film was discovered several years ago sitting on a shelf. True, the 1944 version sacrifices some very suggestive dialogue, but the chemistry between the stars is still undeniable. And the movie actually makes sense!
Bogart, Bacall, Malone, blackmail, gambling, murder, drinking, drugs, tough men, cool women…
What more do you need?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Cinema Center at Indiana Tech Movies for 8/27-9/2
The Door in the Floor
"Extraordinary in every way, from the pitch-perfect performances to the delicate handling of explosive subject matter, The Door in the Floor is also a model of page-to-screen adaptation."—Rolling Stone. "A thoughtful, melancholy story of love, loss, pain, betrayal and the lingering after-effects of tragedy."—Variety. "[I]t's so strong and the performance by Basinger and by Bridges and this young actor, there's such good work and there are some quiet moments of grief that really hit you ..."—Richard Roeper. "It's easily the most robust and compelling movie ever spun off from Irving's work."—Entertainment Weekly. 111 min. Rated R for strong sexuality and graphic images, and language.
Friday at 6:30PM & 8:45PM, Saturday at 6:30 & 8:45PM, Sunday at 2PM & 4:15PM,
Monday at 7PM, Tuesday at 7PM, Wednesday at 7PM, Thursday at 7PM
The Door in the Floor
"The Door in the Floor" is a compelling, beautifully acted drama about a couple ill-equipped to deal with tragedy. Transposing one section of John Irving's novel "A Widow for One Year" from 1958 to the present, writer-director Tod Williams has crystallized the story's searing, darkly comic events through the prism of a haunted marriage. As the central couple, Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger are variously charming, repellent and heartbreaking. Bridges' indelible portrayal of a dissolute children's book author could reap the major award this fine actor has yet to receive. Williams' adaptation shifts the focus from the little girl born into a shattered household to the coming-of-age of a teenage boy caught smack in its middle. It's been years since Ted and Marion Cole's two sons died in an accident--the details of which are not revealed until late in the film--but their memory maintains a terrible grip on the family. Four-year-old Ruth (Elle Fanning) ritualistically communes with photos of the dead brothers she never met, and seems to know them better than she does her emotionally absent parents. Into the chasm steps 16-year-old Eddie (Jon Foster), an aspiring writer hired as a summer assistant for Ted, a bestselling writer-illustrator who says with practiced disingenuousness, "I'm just an entertainer of children and I like to draw." (The film's title is the name of one of his books.) Though he's asked to type minor revisions, in truth Eddie's chief role is that of chauffeur for the hard-drinking, license-deprived Ted. Eddie falls hard for Marion, who finds respite from her paralyzing grief in their affair. Ted, meanwhile, indulges his taste for lonely women under the transparent cover of artist's modeling sessions. Mimi Rogers bares it all in a brave, harsh portrait of the desperate Hamptonite currently caught in a mutually exploitive entanglement with Ted. Widescreen camerawork underscores the divide between the serene Long Island setting, suffused with summer light, and the domestic chaos beneath the moneyed surface. "Extraordinary in every way, from the pitch-perfect performances to the delicate handling of explosive subject matter, The Door in the Floor is also a model of page-to-screen adaptation."—Rolling Stone. "A thoughtful, melancholy story of love, loss, pain, betrayal and the lingering after-effects of tragedy."—Variety. "[I]t's so strong and the performance by Basinger and by Bridges and this young actor, there's such good work and there are some quiet moments of grief that really hit you ..."—Richard Roeper. "It's easily the most robust and compelling movie ever spun off from Irving's work."—Entertainment Weekly. 111 min. Rated R for strong sexuality and graphic images, and language.
Firestone/McMahon Tire Building For Sale
The former Firestone/McMahon Tire building at 502 W. Jefferson Blvd. is now for sale. Built in 1929 for DeWald Service Stores, Inc. in the Art Deco style, it is an example of the L-shape type of service station and is about the only example left in Fort Wayne. It is a contributing structure to the West Central National Register District and is listed as an endangered structure by ARCH, Inc., Fort Wayne's local historic preservation organization.
Funding toward rehabilitating this building, for uses such as a restaurant, market, art gallery or other commercial space, is potentially available due to the fact that it is in an historic district. Also, the City of Fort Wayne has a Brownfield Assistance Program that may provide grants and low-interest loans to help encourage the redevelopment of properties such as this.
For more information, call CB Richard Ellis Sturges at 260-424-8448, or call Jill Downs at 260-385-9378. >Link
More on Jane Jacobs: Wikipedia, Jane Jacobs Page, Citzine, Amazon.Her activism permanently altered urban planning
From Business Week OnlineJane Jacobs had no formal training in city planning or architecture, or even a college degree. But when this daughter of a doctor and a schoolteacher moved from Scranton, Pa., to New York City in 1938, a job at Architectural Forum and marriage to an architect soon blossomed into a lifelong passion for understanding how cities are built and lived in. From her home in Manhattan's bustling Greenwich Village, the opinionated young woman watched with growing disgust as the urban renewal movement that had swept the U.S. after World War II cleared whole neighborhoods in New York and other cities. >Link
You're Invited to the Party:
"FIESTA FORT WAYNE"- The 30th Annual Fort Wayne Hispanic Heritage Festival is scheduled for Friday & Saturday September 3 & 4th, 2004
The FREE Festival will take place in downtown Fort Wayne.
The Fort Wayne Performing Art Center Plaza, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Freimann Square and Main Street will be transformed into FIESTA FORT WAYNE.
Tribute to Carlos Santana, Friday, September 3rd.
Come enjoy the Mexican, South & Central American and Caribbean focused movies, music and food that will be highlighted at this annual festival. Additionally, there will be a car show and talent showcase.
Volunteer and sponsor opportunities are still available, call 260-426-3000 for more information.
This event is presented by DeSoto Translation & Marketing
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR 2003 & 2004 SPONSORS: Midwest Federal Credit Union, Arts United, Comcast, St. Joseph Hospital, Lutheran Health Network, Citilink, Science Central, American Family Insurance, Bank One, State Farm Insurance, International Truck and Engine, Lebamoff Law Offices, National City Bank, OmniSource, Ink Newspapers, Wells Fargo and Parkview Health
Michael A. McKay, AIA, Partner Morrison Kattman Menze, Inc. Architecture Planning Interiors, and a Member of the U.S. Green Building Council
119 W. Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46802-2503
Phone: 260-422-0783, Fax: 260-426-4561, E-mail: mmckay@MKMdesign.com
Simply put, buildings have a fundamental impact on humans and the health of our planet. While consuming our natural resources, these buildings are also occupying more and more of our land, land that once provided valuable ecological services. How long can we continue on this path before our 'progress' leads to a rapid decline for all people on this Earth, including those of us who call Fort Wayne and Allen County home? We need to design toward a more sustainable future, and we need to begin building it today. >Link
MORRISON KATTMAN MENZE, INC INC.
A R C H I T E C T U R E P L A N N I N G I N T E R I O R S
119 West Wayne Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone 260/422-0783 Fax 260/426-4561
www.MKMdesign.com
January 13, 2003
Designing toward a sustainable future, and Why we must build it today.
The building design and construction industry is one of the largest in our nation, if not the largest when compared as a percentage of the gross national product. In Allen County and Fort Wayne, it is the overall largest employer and one of the few that has continued growth, all be it small, through this recession. The products are buildings of all types: residential, commercial and institutional – both private and public.
Buildings also consume an incredible amount of our natural resources, both for their construction by using our natural resources and their occupancy through the large amounts of energy needed to heat and cool their interiors. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that buildings (both residential and commercial) consume over 65% of the generated electricity and 12% of potable water in the United States. Buildings represent over 36% of primary energy use in the U.S. and they are responsible for 30% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings generate over 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste while consuming more than 40% (over 3 billion tons) annually of the Earth’s raw materials. Simply put, buildings have a fundamental impact on humans and the health of our planet. While consuming our natural resources, these buildings are also occupying more and more of our land, land that once provided valuable ecological services. How long can we continue on this path before our “progress” leads to a rapid decline for all people on this Earth, including those of us who call Fort Wayne and Allen County home?
We need to design toward a more sustainable future, and we need to begin building it today. Sustainable design or green design and green architecture as it is often referred to is an emerging response to our over consumption within the building industry. Green design includes design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and their occupants. How? By focusing the planning, design and construction of a building on five broad areas: 1. Sustainable site planning; 2. Safeguarding water and the efficient use of water; 3. Maximizing energy efficiency and using renewable energy; 4. Conservation of materials and resources; and 5. Indoor environmental quality. What are the benefits? There are several, both environmental and economic, and both local and global. The local and global environment benefits from protecting air quality, water quality, overall bio-diversity and Eco-system health. Economic benefits are experienced in lower utility and building operation costs, increased asset value, and higher worker productivity, which in turn benefits the local economy. Building occupants benefit from better health and safety features, which in turn alleviates the upward trend of risk management concerns. (The average American spends more than 90% of their time indoors according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The U.S. EPA concurs, and adds that indoor air quality can be two to five times worse than outdoor air quality.) Community and municipal benefits include a lessened demand for large-scale infrastructure such as landfills, water supply, storm water and sanitary sewers, and their related development and operational costs (i.e. taxes). Locally, a building that integrates green design can expect lower utility cost (i.e. $0.60 to $1.20 per square foot versus $1.50 or more per square foot.)
Green building projects that are well planned, designed, integrated, and are comprehensive in their scope, can and do result in lower or neutral project development costs. Some examples of this approach include: Energy efficient building envelopes that reduce heating and cooling equipment needs – downsizing some equipment such as chillers or eliminating equipment, such as perimeter heating (the cost savings of which pay for the integrated green design). Using pervious paving combined with run-off prevention strategies can reduce the size and cost of storm water management structures or eliminate them entirely by allowing the building and the site to process all storm water on site. Building sewage can also be processed on site through ecological engines and constructed wetlands, with water as the outsource, which in turn can be used back in the building to flush toilets and water the landscape. Day-lighting strategies can reduce the use of artificial lighting (a huge consumer of power) for building interiors, and combined with other green technologies such as photovoltaic panels could eliminate the use of power from the grid for lighting of the building, even at night.
The result is a healthy building and site, one that does not harm its occupants or the environment. Employees in healthy building interiors have less absenteeism and tend to stay in their jobs, and that has a healthy impact on the bottom line. One example as reported through the U.S. Green Building Council, the Internationale Nederlanden (ING) Bank Headquarters in Amsterdam uses only 10% of the energy its predecessor and has cut worker absenteeism by 15%. The combined savings equal over 3.4 million dollars per year. Another example, the corporate headquarters for AT&T in suburban Chicago used their annual site maintenance budget (watering, fertilizing, mowing, and grooming) to replace their traditional green lawn and asphalt parking lots with a restored prairie landscape, pervious paving and on-site storm water management system. The result has been a landscape that is natural and beautiful, requiring very little maintenance other than an annual burn, and the complete elimination of storm water run-off infrastructure from their site. The yearly maintenance budget is now reflected in the company’s bottom line as profit rather than expense, with the initial capital cost paid from what was already budgeted for maintenance. Sustainable design and construction is entirely possible, and it is entirely affordable. To make it so with its successful application to the building process, sustainable design must be through an integrated approach to design and construction, where the full extent and possibility of sustainable design can be merged with the project’s goals, mission, and budget. Green design and construction is not a trend, nor an application, but it is necessary for a sustainable future. Michael A. McKay, AIA, Partner
Morrison Kattman Menze, Inc.
Architecture – Planning – Interiors, and a Member of the U.S. Green Building Council
119 W. Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46802-2503
Phone: 260-422-0783, Fax: 260-426-4561, E-mail: mmckay@MKMdesign.com
Invent Tomorrow, a local civic organization dedicated to implementing a strategic Action Plan for the Fort Wayne community, announces the appointment of their new Executive Director, Cheri Becker. A native of Fort Wayne, Cheri's experience includes program and community development. Cheri will begin immediately and is replacing Jeanne Shaheen who is retiring.
Since its beginnings Invent Tomorrow has coordinated several projects starting with the Millennium Celebration and including the annual Riverview Restoration projects along the Saint Mary's River, the Allen County Invent Tomorrow Education Consortium, which recently announced the formation of a countywide education broadband network. Invent Tomorrow also helped to ensure Fort Wayne's place on the map for the Midwest Regional Passenger Rail Initiative.
Through collaborative efforts with other community organizations Invent Tomorrow hosted author and economist, Richard Florida in 2003 and in January of this year hosted Deputy Mayor Joan Riehm of Louisville Metro, Kentucky to discuss how their local governments merged their executive branches.
Working with volunteers throughout the community, Invent Tomorrow works to support, connect and create community organizations, and groups with similar community driven interests as exampled by the Education Consortium. The goal of the Education Corsortium is to act as the clearinghouse for continious quality improvement of education that will ensure academic excellence aligned with State and National goals for all Allen County Children as outlined in the citizen-derived Action Plan. For additrional information on The Action Plan and Invent Tomorrow projects visit the website.
Fri., August 6 & Sat., August 7 at Headwaters Park
Featuring top jazz and blues performers, fine dining and elegant atmosphere, tickets to Northeast Indiana's premier music festival are going fast!
Friday: Denny Jiosa, Better Than Chocolate, The Freak Brothers, Troolee Dangerous Blues Revue Saturday: Peter White, Big James & The Chicago Playboys, Ty Causey, Sounds of Essence
TICKETS are available at the Scottish Rite Box Office (or visit http://www.fwjbf.org) Friday, August 6 - $10 advance, $12 at the gate. Saturday, August 7 - $20 advance, $25 at the gate, $30 Golden Circle reserved seating
Gates open at 3:00 p.m. both days. Fine dining and beer & wine available. Food by Don Hall's Gas House & Biaggis
For more information, please visit http://www.fwjbf.org
Fort Wayne Jazz & Blues Festival, inc. is a non-profit corporation. 110 West Berry Street, suite 2000, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802 Telephone 260.422.1235
Cinema Center is delighted to be part of an exciting new venture with the Indiana Institute of Technology.
Indiana Tech, located about a mile east of Cinema Center at 1600 East Washington Blvd., is growing and Cinema Center is going to be part of that growth.
Under construction now is the Andorfer Commons, Tech's new library and student center. Included in this building is a movie theater that will be a second home for Cinema Center.
Scheduled to open in September, 2004, the new theater will boast a big screen, stadium seating for 200, digital sound and many other amenities.
Cinema Center at Indiana Tech will be open Friday through Monday throughout the school year. The theater will be open to the general public as well as students of Indiana Tech. Member discounts will apply at both locations.
At Tech, we will place a special emphasis on programming that serves student interests. We will present a diverse mix of films--not the same films we're showing downtown--but films that fit our mission.
What's Cinema Center's mission you ask? Read on. The mission of Cinema Center is to present the best in independent, foreign, documentary, classic and specialty films enhanced by special events, educational programs, and community outreach.
We'll have some fun events to kick off the opening of the new theater. Watch the site for further updates and get ready to join us for more great films at a great new location. >Link
Skate Park Update
For more info call (260) 427-6000
Concrete is flowing or spaying which ever you prefer at the Skatepark. The crew from California Skatepark has been working hard. R.E. Crosby is continuing laying out, forming, and pouring the Fun Boxes across the streetscape in the middle of the park. The skate park is about 60-70% complete. Weather depending, we are hoping for a September opening.
Additional information (including updated photos) will be shared as it becomes available. >Link
Are you looking for something to spice up your summer? Do you want to put your volunteer skills to work to create a more 'creative' Fort Wayne? Read the message below from Janette Luu and contact her if you (and your friends) can help with the 'City Prototype' event, August 10 - 14, 2004.
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Hello, everyone.
First of all, I want to let you know that there is a temporary look to the cityprototype.com website, but feel free to check the page for information on the week. I met with a few volunteers last week, but I can always use more help. Please let me know if you can volunteer for any of the following:
Prototype Art Campaign: - I have to finalize the times for the TV painting, but I'm considering 10am-6pm on July 31st and August 1st. I'd like to have some folks around to help the artists in any way and to talk to the public about the CP week.
Prototype News Conference: - Markey's Audio Visual will begin setting up at 8-8:30am, so I'd like to have some people on hand just in case. Any other help with setup/teardown would be good.
Prototype Collaboration: - I'm working on getting Higher Grounds, where we'd like the teens to congregate. With the use of Science Central's video gear, we will interview students about Fort Wayne and possibly go out with them and shoot some downtown video. We'll also take them up to the Summit Club from 1-3pm. We'll have free boxed lunches for the students from the Summit Club. Whatever the number of teens, we need to be prepared with as many people as possible for setup, video production, guides, etc.
Prototype Product Launch: - Markey's will begin setup around 1pm, so it'd be good to have some folks around for that and other setup needs. I'd like to have someone who can work closely with Northeast Indiana Innovation Center to make sure their needs are taken care of.
Prototype Storefront: - I should be hearing soon whether the Redevelopment Commission has given us permission to use the Midtowne Crossing space. Our digital storefront has moved to the vacant space right next to Columbia Street West, so we'll be able to do something different at Midtowne if the space is approved. We will invite artists to create a prototype studio space/virtual gallery. Anyone who would be interested in organizing this, let me know.
Pop Filter: - I need volunteers all day, before, during and after the event. Imagine organizing three huge parties and everything it entails. Need I say more? :)
Thanks!
Janette Luu
Anchor/Reporter
WPTA 21Alive News
Fort Wayne, IN
260.483.8111 work
260.804.6669 cell
JAZZ MASTers
Friday, June 25, 2004
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Headwaters Park - West
From theory and now into practice, youth from across Fort Wayne will be performing a variety of blues and jazz at Headwaters Park - West. Under the instruction of Ed King II and Kevin Drew, students of MASTer Camp have studied the art of improvisation, the history of jazz, and what made the "Greats" great.
Come enjoy the sounds of Coltrane, Gershwin and other timeless tunes performed by our next generation of -- Jazz MASTers!
Headwaters Park - West is located directly across N. Clinton from the tented pavilion area. Paid parking is available at the corner of N. Clinton and Superior. Free parking is available to the west of the performance area.
Saturday, June 5, 2004
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Headwaters Park
Visit TasteofFW.com for ticket info and a list of sponsors and participating restaurants.
June 5th is National Trails Day. So, get out and use the trails!
The Greenway Consortium is busy planning for this special day. For more information please contact: Rivergreenway Consortium, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department, 705 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 or e-mail: Kathy.pargmann@ci.ft-wayne.in.us . The Consortium acts in an advisory capacity to the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department and lends support to the establishment of future sections of the trail. Learn more about the rivergreenway and area trails here.
May 5-13th at various locations.
Visit http://www.planyourcommunity.org
Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne are embarking on a historic partnership to develop the first Allen County / Fort Wayne Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan lays out the 'vision' for the future growth and development of the community; what the community will be like and look like in the future; it then serves as a guide for community decisions, and provides policy and program guidance to promote the community's vision. To do this we need your ideas! The Comprehensive Plan Community Meeting dates have been set for May 5-13, 2004. http://www.planyourcommunity.org/calendar.asp . Attend a meeting or submit your comments on our website.
Several issues that Comprehensive Plan will address:
The West Central Neighborhood Association (WCNA) and ARCH, Inc., Fort Wayne's historic preservation organization, in cooperation with the City of Fort Wayne, will be hosting a workshop on brick street repair and restoration on Friday May 7, 2004 during National Preservation Week.
This day-long workshop will be conducted by Royce Baier of Brick Street Restorers in Paxton, Illinois. Mr. Baier will begin with a free public lecture on the history of brick streets and the processes used to repair and restore them to a proper integrity. The actual workshop, for which a fee will be charged, will demonstrate the basic restoration steps including the removal of depressed or improperly patched areas followed by the application of a new concrete base and sand layer. Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to assist with putting the brick surface into place.
For registration information, contact: The WCNA at 260-385-9378 or ARCH, Inc. at 260-426-5117
SECOND SUNDAY AT SIX
VALUES IN SOCIETY
March 14, 2004
6 PM
Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse
5310 Old Mill Road
Speaker: John Stafford, Director of IPFW's Community Research Institute
Topic: Appointed Not Elected: The Question of Personal Bias When Influencing Public Policy
John Stafford, who has served Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana for many years in many capacities as an appointed public official and consultant working with elected public officials on long-range planning, economic development and community development, will reflect on his experience in local government and lobbying at the Statehouse. He will explore the role of an appointed public official in the formulation of public policy in local government and pose the questions, How can you provide useful information to elected officials without bringing in personal bias when it is fundamentally impossible to do so? How do you attempt to provide balanced information and yet offer something of value to keep the process moving?
Future Programs:
May 9 at 6 PM
Rusty York, Fort Wayne Chief of Police
June 13 at 6 PM
Wendy Robinson, Superintendent, Fort Wayne Community Schools
Question and answer and conversation time with the speaker will be provided.
RECLAIM. REDEEM. RESTORE.
The Reclamation Project is a Fort Wayne non-profit redeeming the potential of the Rialto Theater to once again bring people together. We are breathing life back into the grand Rialto Theater and her wonderfully diverse and historic South Calhoun corridor through a unique synergy of community theater and community development. Please help and support this effort! Link
A CD Release party is planned for November 13, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm at Bills Bistro on Spy Run. The CD, "A Cool Cat in a Dog's World" is a compilation of many favorite local jazz artists, all of whom have donated original work to benefit the Learning & Development Center behavioral programs for Autism sufferers. Steve Smeltzer, local Fort Wayne cartoonist, has donated his talent for the Album cover.
Autism Spectral Disorder or ASD is a neurological order that manifests itself in a myriad of symptoms. THis CD also features, young Matt Savage, the 10-year-old jazz pianist and Autism sufferer who was recently featured on The TODAY Show, 20/20 with Barbara Walters, Montel Williams, The View, NPR, PEOPLE Magazine and others. All proceeds from the sale of the CD which can also be purchased online at www.songbirdpromotions.com go to aid Autism organizations. Please come out on November 13th! to hear LIVE jazz at Bill's Bistro and purchase your copy of this incredible CD.
You can obtain additional information on the project on the HOME page of www.songbirdpromotions.com, or by contacting Cathy Serrano, at 260-428-2203.
Support local musicians, Ask for THEIR CDs in your favorite store! Link
Mayor Graham Richard joined Rea Magnet Wire executives and representatives from the City today in dedicating a new city park. Adjacent to McCormick Park at Holly and 2300 Raymond Dr., Rea Park will serve the citizens who live and work in southeast Fort Wayne.
"The development of Rea Park is another step toward revitalization of the Southeast Industrial Corridor of the City," said Mayor Richard. "Collaboration by the City's Planning Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and Rea Magnet Wire created more desirable land use along Pontiac, and will help to promote business retention."
Rea Magnet Wire executives recognized an opportunity to create a beautiful green space, in conjunction with the City's plans. The company donated several unused blocks of land near its facility, and the Vann Family Foundation sponsored the transformation of these deserted blocks into a 5.5 acre park. "Rea Park is a place where Rea Magnet Wire employees and area residents can picnic, walk the paths, or simply enjoy being outside," said Jim Vann, Chairman of the Board for Rea Magnet Wire. "Rea Magnet Wire has been a good neighbor since 1933, and this is our way to thank past, current and future employees and residents."
The dedication of Rea Park coincides with the construction of roadway and beautification improvements at the Pontiac Street and Wayne Trace intersections. The changes will help traffic flow more smoothly and are expected to be completed by November.
"With the cooperation of Rea Magnet Wire, we are creating an urban design along Pontiac Street that results in harmony between business and residential needs," said Mayor Richard.
Founded in 1933, Rea Magnet Wire Company, Inc. is celebrating its 70th anniversary of producing magnet wire, used in electric motors and generators. Rea‚s corporate headquarters and a manufacturing facility are located in Fort Wayne. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in New Mexico, Connecticut, Virginia, Arkansas, China and Lafayette, Indiana.
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Source: Creative Fort Wayne Listserv
Wednesday, June 25, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
The Landing (100 Block of Columbia Street, between Calhoun and Harrison)
You've heard a lot about the Downtown Blueprint for Tomorrow....you've seen the construction beginning for the Grand Wayne Center and Downtown Library expansions....come check out the progress on the rest of the plan at a special Open House held during the monthly Downtown Block Party....and join in the free food and live music.
Free Parking (if you leave after 6 p.m.) in the City-County Building Parking Garage on Calhoun. Rain date - one week later, same time, same place. (Because this is held in conjunction with the Block Party, you must be 21 or older to attend.)
The Block Party is hosted by the Downtown Improvement District and sponsored by The LandPlan Group, LLC, PBI on the Landing, Nakos Law Office and Patterson Riegel Advertising. The band will be Tres/Martini Fish, food by Columbia Street West and the radio sponsor is X102.