The Scoop

Heritage Square bids; lower property taxes

The Journal Gazette’s Benjamin Lanka reports that bids for the Harrison Square parking garage came in $900,000 lower that expected.

The redevelopment commission opened bids from three companies Friday, all from Fort Wayne. W.A. Sheets was the apparent low bidder.

He’ll also have a count of how many people signed for condos that are part of the Harrison Square development.

Among stories to look for in Saturday’s Journal Gazette

*The JG’s Niki Kelly reports that a newly released fiscal analysis of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ property tax plan shows homeowners statewide will see their bills drop an average 38.6 percent in 2009 from what they would have been with no changes to the system.

*High school basketball, Komets coverage.

*“Tin Man” takes the road less traveled to Oz.

What’s going on Saturday

*Local World AIDS Day observance; 1 p.m. Saturday; Union Baptist Church, 2200 Smith St.

LacPro wins IPFW business plan prize

The Journal Gazette's Michael Schroeder reports that Fort Wayne-based LacPro, the maker of a specialized smoothie drink designed to help with gastrointestinal health, won the $25,000 top prize Friday in a business plan competition at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

In all, 31 teams registered for the fourth-annual regional competition, completing workshops in August and submitting executive summaries of their plans in September.

ifteen semi-finalists were picked to write full business plans in October; five finalists presented their plans Friday.

Second place

The $15,000 second-place prize went to OrthoPediatrics, a Warsaw-based company focused on improving the resources available for treating orthopedic conditions in children and small-stature patients.

Third place

The third-place prize of $10,000 was awarded to Fort Wayne-based Regenesis Medical, a start-up founded to safely, economically reprocess single-use medical devices.

Fourth place

Finishing fourth was SorbaShock, which makes subflooring placed under commercial vinyl or carpet. A mobile communication company, Cell Works finished fifth. Both Fort Wayne companies won six months of free business coaching – valued at $1,800 – from the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center in Fort Wayne.

mschroeder@jg.net

Sunday’s Mind, Body & Soul canceled

The Journal Gazette

Mind, Body & Soul organized by Vicki Jenkins, six-time cancer survivor, is canceled for Sunday.

Jenkins plans to reschedule the Grand Wayne Center event in February or March, according to a written statement from Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.

The program hosted by the Fort Wayne African-American Cancer Alliance and the cancer services group was to include a style show, silent auction, speakers and oncology physicians.

Candle + holiday = danger

Verbatim statement from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security

Indianapolis, IN - Four of the five top days for fires caused by candles in the home are during the holidays, according to the National Fire Protection Association, and December is the most common time for home candle fires.

The top days are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Halloween.

“Candles are used more often over the holidays than at any other time of year,” said Michael S. Garvey, chief deputy of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) Fire and Building Safety Division. “And with added flammables of live and artificial Christmas trees and holiday decorations, we’re urging extra caution. The holidays should be memorable because of interaction with family and friends, not from a holiday tragedy.”

The IDHS has five divisions, one of which is Fire and Building Safety. As one of its many duties, the division gathers information about fires and fire prevention.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2005, the most recent year for which statistics are available, an estimated 15,600 home structure fires were started by candles. These fires resulted in an estimated 150 deaths, 1,270 injuries and an estimated direct property loss of $539 million. Homes include dwellings, duplexes, manufactured housing and apartments.

Here are some suggestions for candle safety:

*Never leave candles unattended.

*Extinguish candles before leaving a room, leaving your home or going to sleep. Falling asleep was a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 26% of associated deaths, according to the NFPA.

*Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, including decorations, paper, wreaths and bows.

*Keep all candles, matches and lighters out of reach of children and pets.

*Make sure lit candles are not in places where they can be accidentally knocked over.

*Use sturdy, non-flammable candle holders that will collect dripping wax.

*Trim wicks to ½ inch. Long or crooked wicks cause uneven burning and dripping.

*Don’t use candles in bedrooms and sleeping areas.

*Don’t use candles as a decoration on a Christmas tree.

*Use a flashlight, not a candle, for emergency lighting.

*Consider using battery-operated flameless candles.

*Extinguish candles when they burn down to within two inches of their holder or decorations.

*To avoid hot wax spatter, blow out a candle by holding your finger in front of the flame and blow at it. The air will flow around your finger and extinguish the candle from both sides, preventing spatter.

Living with AIDS

The Journal Gazette’s Emma Downs talks to a local man who knows what it is like to live with AIDS – for nearly two decades. He credits lots of pills. And God.

Saturday is World AIDS Day.

Other stories we’re working on for Saturday’s Journal Gazette

*The JG’s Ben Lanka answers a reader’s question about problems with the traffic lights at the Tonkel/Dupont and Clinton/Mayhew intersections in Road Rage.

*The JG’s Rosa Salter Rodriguez says two local groups are working to comfort those who are grieving a loved one or suffering from loneliness, sadness or loss, especially through the difficult holiday season. In Faith.

*Uncorked reports some good news for those who want to give wine this holiday season.

Friday’s top 10 list of the area’s holiday events

1) “The Nutcracker” – Presented by Fort Wayne Ballet; 8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Fort Wayne Children’s Choir perform at 8 p.m. today and Saturday; Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St.; tickets, 484-9646. Ends Dec. 9.

2) “It’s A Wonderful Life” – 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; First Presbyterian Theater, 300 W. Wayne St.; $8; 422-6329. Ends Dec. 23.

3) Auburn Festival of Trees – Ends Jan. 7; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; World War II Victory Museum and Kruse Automotive & Carriage Museum, both located in Auburn; tickets, 260-927-9144.

4) Festival of Trees preview celebration, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, $12; 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday; Creative Arts Council of Wells County, 211 Water St., Bluffton; $3 adults, $2 children; 260-824-5222.

5) “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Thursday; Pulse Opera House, Warren; $12 adults, $5 ages 12 and younger; 260-375-7017 or www.pulseoperahouse.org. Ends Dec. 8.

6) “Royal Feastes” Madrigal Dinner – 8 p.m. Friday, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday; Walb Union Ballroom, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 Coliseum Blvd. E.; $400, $320, $30, $25; 481-6811.

7) “The Gift of Magi” – Performed by Huntington University Theatre Ensemble; 9 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Studio Theatre, Merillat Centre for the Arts, Huntington University, Huntington; $2; 260-359-4261.

8) “A Christmas Celebration” – Presented by Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Women’s Chorale, Handbell Choir; 7:30 p.m.; Zurcher Auditorium, Merillat Centre for the Arts, Huntington University, Huntington; $5 adults, $3 seniors and students; 260-359-4261.

9) Holiday Ball – 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Dec. 14, reservations due today; Community Center, 233 W. Main St.; $14; for ages 21 and older; 427-6460.

10) Lakes Area Madrigal Dinner – Ends Dec. 8; 7 p.m.; Oakwood Christian Retreat Center, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse; $30 includes show and meal; for matinee schedule, call 574-457-5600.

For a comprehensive list of area holiday happenings through the weekend, please pick up today’s Weekender in The Journal Gazette.

IPFW team 2nd in Fed Challenge

Verbatim announcement from IPFW University Relations and Communications

Five students at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW)
recently competed with other collegiate teams from Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin in the annual Fed Challenge at the Seventh
District Federal Reserve offices in Chicago. The IPFW team competed
against teams from the University of Chicago, Grand Valley State
University, and Western Illinois University. The IPFW team placed second
to the University of Chicago. According to Carolyn Stumph, assistant
professor of economics in the Doermer School of Business and Management
Sciences at IPFW, the competition encourages students to apply
theoretical topics in macroeconomics and monetary policy to actual,
current economic situations. Stumph said she was pleased with the
outcome of the competition. “Given that many would consider the
University of Chicago to be one of the best schools in the world for the
study of economics, we in the department are very proud of the
performance of our team.”  The team included Joel Colglazier of
Harlan, David Fish of Roanoke, Maja Hasic and Brad Hill of Fort Wayne,
and Kevin McKay of Woodburn.

At the competition, each team gave a twenty-minute presentation to
members of the Federal Reserve Board and then had to answer questions
and, in some cases, defend their recommendations.

This year’s team was sponsored by STAR Financial Bank of Fort Wayne.
This is the second year the bank has been involved with the IPFW
students. Jim Marcuccilli, president of STAR Financial Bank, said the
competition is good for the students. “The students must do their
research, present their findings and recommendations and stand by their
decisions. It’s great practice for what they will encounter in the
real world.”       

Franke Park’s Sherman Boulevard entrance opens

The Allen County Highway Department announced Thursday that the main entrance to Franke Park is now open from Sherman Boulevard, despite continued construction on the Spy Run bridge. Access is still limited to traffic traveling north from State Boulevard.

The entrance to Foellinger Theatre off Sherman Boulevard remains closed to traffic until completion of related road repairs for the bridge project. The Spy Run Creek bridge construction on Sherman is expected to be completed by Dec. 7, weather permitting. At that time, the theater’s entrance will be opened and access to the park will be available from the north and the south.

Construction began in July, and the entrance to Franke Park was detoured so that access could be made only from the south side of the park on Sherman.

For more information, call 449-7369.

Child molester appeals 6-year sentence

The Journal Gazette’s Niki Kelly reports that a Huntington County child molester wants the Indiana Supreme Court to review his six-year prison term even though he agreed to waive all appeals of that sentence as part of his plea agreement. Oral arguments were conducted Thursday.

Other stories we’re working on for Friday’s Journal Gazette

*Weekender features the self portrait exhibit at Artlink and offers an extensive list of family friendly activities.

*The Journal Gazette’s Ben Smith hangs out at Saint Francis, looking for a little angst, a little bile, over its upcoming matchup with Carroll.

Other stories to look for in Friday’s Journal Gazette

*Foreclosures were up 94 percent for October:

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/BIZ/71129024

*The Anchorage Daily News reports that a bull moose went on a crab-apple bender, got tangled in Christmas lights and then staggered to a downtown bar, glassy eyed and dizzy. A repeat offender, the townfolk call him Buzzwinkle.

*Like UV rays and diesel exhaust fumes, working the graveyard shift will soon be listed as a “probable” cause of cancer. The Associated Press reports that the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization, will add overnight shift work as a probable carcinogen. The American Cancer Society says it will likely follow. Up to now, the U.S. organization has considered the work-cancer link to be “uncertain, controversial or unproven.”

Rokita collects phone cards for injured troops

Verbatim statement from Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita

(Indianapolis) -- While the task of picking up a phone and calling a loved one in the U.S. is easy, the act becomes a bit more complicated when you’re overseas. And in the military. And in a hospital.

This summer, Secretary of State Todd Rokita visited Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a military casualty hospital operated by the U.S. European Military Command. It's also a primary medical evacuation destination for U.S. troops participating in Iraq and Afghanistan military operations. When told that international calling charges are not covered and injured troops were unable to contact home, he was determined to help meet this small but important need.

"I was deeply moved by the commitment, courage and high-spirits of the wounded soldiers I met," Rokita said. "More than one hospital staff member told me that when wounded soldiers regained consciousness, their first words were often identical: before asking about their own injuries, they would inquire if their fellow soldiers were okay, and then ask how soon they could get back to the field because their unit would be counting on them."

Being able to call home is something often taken for granted at home but is something injured troops overseas treasure.

"A lot of families’ fears could be alleviated if their wounded loved ones were able to contact them," Rokita said. "This is why I was determined to help collect the domestic phone cards for the soldiers, especially during the holiday season."

As a result, Rokita and his office are collecting 60 to 120 minute domestic prepaid telephone cards to be sent to wounded troops stationed overseas. The effort has been ongoing since Rokita returned home from his trip abroad, and the number of cards collected and sent has slowly been growing.

Phone cards can be purchased at local retailers. Please mail or deliver the cards to: Military Phone Card Program, c/o Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, 201 Statehouse, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Rokita will forward the collection starting December 19 so the soldiers can have the cards in time to call their loved ones over the holidays.

Additional information can be obtained by calling 312-232-6531 or by visiting www.in.gov/sos/desk/PhoneCards.html.