Anne Gregory is the Web writer-editor for www.journalgazette.net and has been with The Journal Gazette since 2000, serving as Sunday editor, assistant news editor and Metro section editor. An award-winning editor and columnist, she has worked at newspapers in Ohio and Indiana. Gardeners know her work as author of "The Dirt" on the Sunday Garden page.
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On Monday’s Solutions page, the Journal Gazette’s Stefanie Scarlett offers tips on how to wrap the perfect present – perfectly.
Solutions also offers tips to survive the cold and flu season, experts offer advice on how to get the best holiday makeover and how to cope if you get “carded.”
In Fort Wayne and the region “The Nutcracker” – Presented by Fort Wayne Ballet; 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St.; tickets, 484-9646. “It’s A Wonderful Life” – 2 p.m. Sunday; First Presbyterian Theater, 300 W. Wayne St.; $16 general admission, $14 seniors and ages 22 and younger; 422-6329. Ends Dec. 23. “Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings” – 2 p.m. Sunday; Van Wert Civic Theatre, Van Wert, Ohio; tickets, 419-238-9689. Ends Dec. 15. 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. “White Christmas” – 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; Amish Acres, Nappanee; tickets, 1-800-800-4942, ext. 2. Ends Dec. 31. “Holiday on the Boulevard” – Ends Dec. 18; Centennial Wireless, 2422 W. State Blvd.; free; 260-760-5946. AWS Fantasy of Lights drive-through holiday light displays; Franke Park; 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; $5 car, $10 passenger van, $25 buses or trolleys; 744-6145; carriage rides available on weekends, $30, reservations, 260-691-3780. Ends Dec. 31. Polar Express Holiday Showcase – Ends Jan. 6; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St.; $4 adults, $2 ages 3 to 17, free to ages 2 and younger; Visit with Santa and the Reindeer, Saturday, also Dec. 15; Garden Luncheons, noon Tuesday and Wednesday; 427-6440 or www.botanicalconservatory.org. “A Tuna Christmas” – Arena Dinner Theatre, 719 Rockhill Ave.; $30; performance times, 424-5622. Ends Dec. 15. “Star of Bethlehem” – 5 p.m. Sunday; Schouweiler Planetarium, University of Saint Francis, 2701 Spring St.; $4 adults, $3 seniors and ages 17 and younger, $14 per family maximum; 434-3100. Ends Dec. 16. Castle Gallery Holiday Show – Artist reception, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday; 1202 W. Wayne St.; 426-6568 or www.castlegallery.com. Van Wert County Holiday Lights at the Fair – 6 to 9 p.m.; Van Wert County Fairgrounds, Van Wert, Ohio; $5 per car, $25 per bus; 419-238-1214. Ends Dec. 30. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Huber Opera House and Civic Center, Hicksville, Ohio; $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $6 ages 13 and younger; 419-487-0976 or www.HicksvilleVillagePlayers.com. Windmill Winter Wonderland – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Mid-America Windmill Museum, 732 S. Allen Chapel Road, Kendallville; 260-347-2334 or www.midamericawindmillmuseum.com. “Christmas in the Castle” – noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; Bass Mansion, University of Saint Francis, 2701 Spring St.; $5 a person, $10 per family; 434-3100. Fort Wayne Children’s Choir Rejoice Concert – 4 p.m.; Simpson United Methodist Church, 2501 S. Harrison St.; $7 adults, $5 seniors and students; 426-7464 or www.fwcchoir.org. Heartland Chamber Chorale Holiday Concert – 4 p.m. Sunday; Plymouth Congregational Church, 501 W. Berry St.; tickets, 436-8080. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Musical; 6 p.m.; New Haven United Methodist Church, 630 Lincoln Highway E., New Haven; $10 adults, $5 children; 749-9565. Live Nativity – 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday; Our Hope Lutheran Church, 1826 Trinity Drive, Huntertown. Rat Art Holiday Open House – Featuring works by Terry Ratliff; noon to 6 p.m.; 1029 W. Jefferson Blvd.; 414-6238 or www.ratart.biz. Brunch with Santa – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St., Wabash; $9.95 adults, half price for ages 5 to 12, free to ages 4 and younger; 260-563-1102 or www.honeywellcenter.org. Also Dec. 16. Advent/Christmas Candlelight Choral Vespers – 4 p.m.; Kramer Chapel, Concordia Theological Seminary, 6600 N. Clinton St.; freewill offering; 452-2100. Olde Fashioned Christmas Parade – Van Wert, Ohio; www.visitvanwert.org. Fort Wayne Philharmonic Holiday Pops Concert – 2:30 p.m.; Zurcher Auditorium in the Merillat Centre for the Arts, Huntington University, Huntington; tickets; 260-359-4261. “The Christmas Scene Revisited” – Children’s pageant; 6:30 p.m.; Covenant United Methodist Church, 10001 Coldwater Road; 489-1888. Christmas on the Lake – Second Sunday Series concert; 7:30 p.m.; Rodeheaver Auditorium, Winona Lake; free; 574-267-5973. Christmas at the Coffeehouse – 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.; St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 546 U.S. 224 W., Decatur; tickets, 260-724-7183. Annual Christmas Sing-A-Long – 2 p.m.; Wing Haven Nature Preserve, Steuben County; 260-637-2273 or www.acreslandtrust.org.
The Journal Gazette’s Michael Schroeder reports that Fort Wayne’s VA Hospital has temporarily halted all complex abdominal surgeries, including colon and gal bladder surgeries, pending a review of its surgical program.
Among stories to look for in Sunday’s Journal Gazette
*Preparations for what will be the largest deployment of Indiana National Guard soldiers since World War II will culminate this month as about 3,400 soldiers statewide get ready to deploy to Iraq early next year. Kara Lopp offers a glimpse of what is ahead for the Fort Wayne-based 1st Battalion 293rd Infantry.
*Fort Wayne’s program of divvying up tax money to district city council members has been compared to Congressional pork spending but also defended as a necessary way to complete unnoticed neighborhood projects. If Gov. Mitch Daniels’ plan to reduce property taxes across Indiana is approved, the JG’s Benjamin Lanka says it could lead to a new term to describe the program: finished.
Don’t expect to see The Scoop after Dec. 11. At least not for a few weeks.
While I am taking care of some family business, my blog is getting an overhaul and moving to a new platform.
The Scoop will return Jan. 14.
If you have any suggestions about how The Scoop can improve, please e-mail me at agregory@jg.net, with Scoop in the subject line.
For that matter, if there’s something you’d like to see journalgazette.net do differently, send me a line. I also happen to be the Web writer-editor for the online edition of The Journal Gazette.
If you’ve seen things elsewhere we should try or suffered through something on our site you don’t like, let me know. I’ll see what I can do. – Anne Gregory
What’s happening Saturday in Fort Wayne and the region
Christy Fossum – Author of “Sunday By Sunday: A Spiritual Journal”; 1 to 3 p.m.; MJ’s Bookmark, 414 S. Main St., Auburn; 260-925-2330.
“Holiday Lantern Tours” – Sauder Village, Archbold, Ohio; 419-445-9709, ext. 3051 or www.saudervillage.org.
“Saturday Christmas Celebrations” – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., also 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday; Cree Lake Gallery, Kendallville; 260-349-2576. Ends Dec. 22.
Santa’s Train – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; sponsored by Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society; $4 adults, $3 children; location, 493-0765 or www.765.org. Ends Dec. 15.
Kachmann Gallery 2007 Christmas Show – Ends Dec. 29; 1301 Lafayette St.; 424-3581 or www.kachmanngallery.com.
“Christmas at the Cabin” – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Limberlost State Historic Site, Geneva; $3 a person; 260-368-7428.
Holiday Shopping Extravaganza – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 1203 E. 7th St., Auburn.
“Merry Christmas Baby” – Featuring Memories of the King, Brent A. Cooper; 6 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. concert; Fort Wayne Turners, 3636 Parnell Ave.; $15 dinner and show, $8 show only; 471-8876.
Lakes Area Madrigal Dinner – 7 p.m.; Oakwood Christian Retreat Center, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse; $30 includes show and meal; for matinee schedule, call 574-457-5600.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – 8 p.m.; Pulse Opera House, Warren; $12 adults, $5 ages 12 and younger; 260-375-7017 or www.pulseoperahouse.org.
“Patricia Polacco’s Christmas Memories” – 7 p.m.; Tibbits Opera House, Coldwater, Mich.; $12 adults, $8 children; 517-278-6029.
Madrigal Dinners – 6:30 p.m.; Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St., Wabash; $50, $45; 260-563-1102 or www.honeywellcenter.org.
Fort Wayne Philharmonic Holiday Pops Concert – 8 p.m.; Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd.; tickets start at $20; 456-2224.
Country Christmas – 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday; First Congregational United Church of Christ, 314 W. Maumee St., Angola; 260-665-6584.
Walk to Bethlehem – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; First Christian Church, 4800 S. Calhoun St.; free; nativities display, 10 a.m. to noon; 744-3239.
What’s happening Saturday and Sunday
“The Nutcracker” – Presented by Fort Wayne Ballet; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St.; tickets, 484-9646.
“It’s A Wonderful Life” – 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; First Presbyterian Theater, 300 W. Wayne St.; $16 general admission, $14 seniors and ages 22 and younger; 422-6329. Ends Dec. 23.
“Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings” – 8 Saturday and Thursday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Van Wert Civic Theatre, Van Wert, Ohio; tickets, 419-238-9689. Ends Dec. 15.
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.
“Holiday Wishes” – 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday through Thursday; 2 p.m. Sunday; Bearcreek Farms, Bryant; $12 adults, $6 children; reservations and performance times, 260-997-6822. Ends Dec. 23.
“White Christmas” – 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and Thursday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; Amish Acres, Nappanee; tickets, 1-800-800-4942, ext. 2. Ends Dec. 31.
“Holiday on the Boulevard” – Ends Dec. 18; Centennial Wireless, 2422 W. State Blvd.; free; 260-760-5946.
AWS Fantasy of Lights drive-through holiday light displays; Franke Park; 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; $5 car, $10 passenger van, $25 buses or trolleys; 744-6145; carriage rides available on weekends, $30, reservations, 260-691-3780. Ends Dec. 31.
Polar Express Holiday Showcase – Ends Jan. 6; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St.; $4 adults, $2 ages 3 to 17, free to ages 2 and younger; Visit with Santa and the Reindeer, Saturday, also Dec. 15; Garden Luncheons, noon Tuesday and Wednesday; 427-6440 or www.botanicalconservatory.org.
“A Tuna Christmas” – Arena Dinner Theatre, 719 Rockhill Ave.; $30; performance times, 424-5622. Ends Dec. 15.
“Star of Bethlehem” – 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday; Schouweiler Planetarium, University of Saint Francis, 2701 Spring St.; $4 adults, $3 seniors and ages 17 and younger, $14 per family maximum; 434-3100. Ends Dec. 16.
Castle Gallery Holiday Show – Artist reception, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 1202 W. Wayne St.; 426-6568 or www.castlegallery.com.
Van Wert County Holiday Lights at the Fair – 6 to 9 p.m.; Van Wert County Fairgrounds, Van Wert, Ohio; $5 per car, $25 per bus; 419-238-1214. Ends Dec. 30.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – 7 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Huber Opera House and Civic Center, Hicksville, Ohio; $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $6 ages 13 and younger; 419-487-0976 or www.HicksvilleVillagePlayers.com.
Windmill Winter Wonderland – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Mid-America Windmill Museum, 732 S. Allen Chapel Road, Kendallville; 260-347-2334 or www.midamericawindmillmuseum.com.
“Christmas in the Castle” – 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; Bass Mansion, University of Saint Francis, 2701 Spring St.; $5 a person, $10 per family; 434-3100.
Fort Wayne Children’s Choir Rejoice Concert – 4 p.m.; Simpson United Methodist Church, 2501 S. Harrison St.; $7 adults, $5 seniors and students; 426-7464 or www.fwcchoir.org.
Heartland Chamber Chorale Holiday Concert – 8 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday; Plymouth Congregational Church, 501 W. Berry St.; tickets, 436-8080.
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Musical; 6 p.m.; New Haven United Methodist Church, 630 Lincoln Highway E., New Haven; $10 adults, $5 children; 749-9565.
Live Nativity – 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday; Our Hope Lutheran Church, 1826 Trinity Drive, Huntertown.
Rat Art Holiday Open House – Featuring works by Terry Ratliff; noon to 6.p.m.; 1029 W. Jefferson Blvd.; 414-6238 or www.ratart.biz.
What’s happening Sunday
Brunch with Santa – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St., Wabash; $9.95 adults, half price for ages 5 to 12, free to ages 4 and younger; 260-563-1102 or www.honeywellcenter.org. Also Dec. 16.
Advent/Christmas Candlelight Choral Vespers – 4 p.m.; Kramer Chapel, Concordia Theological Seminary, 6600 N. Clinton St.; freewill offering; 452-2100.
Olde Fashioned Christmas Parade – Van Wert, Ohio; www.visitvanwert.org.
Fort Wayne Philharmonic Holiday Pops Concert – 2:30 p.m.; Zurcher Auditorium in the Merillat Centre for the Arts, Huntington University, Huntington; tickets; 260-359-4261.
“The Christmas Scene Revisited” – Children’s pageant; 6:30 p.m.; Covenant United Methodist Church, 10001 Coldwater Road; 489-1888.
Christmas on the Lake – Second Sunday Series concert; 7:30 p.m.; Rodeheaver Auditorium, Winona Lake; free; 574-267-5973.
Christmas at the Coffeehouse – 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.; St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 546 U.S. 224 W., Decatur; tickets, 260-724-7183.
Annual Christmas Sing-A-Long – 2 p.m.; Wing Haven Nature Preserve, Steuben County; 260-637-2273 or www.acreslandtrust.org.
Transcription of Hawkins’ suicide note, as provided by The Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha Police Department on Friday released a three-page suicide note left by Robert A. Hawkins, the 19-year-old who fatally shot eight people at an Omaha shopping mall before turning the gun on himself Wednesday.
The note is transcribed below, including misspellings but with expletives deleted:
family
I’m so sorry for what I’ve put you through I never meant to hurt all of you so much and I don’t blame any one of you for disowning me I just can’t be a burden to you and my friends any longer You are all better off without me. I’m so sorry for this.
I’ve just snapped I can’t take this meaningless existence anymore I’ve been a constant disappointment and that trend would have only continued. just remember the good times we had together
I love you mommy
I love you dad
I love you Kira
I love you Valancia
I love you Cynthia
I love you Zach
I love you Cayla
I love you Mark (P.S. I’m really sorry)
–––
friends
To all of my friends I’m so sorry for what I’ve done to you and put you through. I’ve been a peice of (expletive) my entire life it seems this is my only option. I know everyone will remember me as some sort of monster but please understand that I just don’t want to be a burden on the ones that I care for my entire life. I just want to take a few peices of (expletive) with me. I love all of you so much and I don’t want anyone to miss me just think about how much better you are off without me to support. I want my friends to remember all the good times we had together. Just think tho I’m gonna be (expletive) famous. You guys have always been there for me I’m just sad that I’m gonna have to go this alone. You guys are the best friends anyone could ever ask for. That’s all I have to say is that I (expletive) you guys.
P.S. I didn’t eat that (expletive) sandwich or the toielet thing either!
–––
my will
I’m giving my car back to my mom and my friends can have whatever else I leave behind
Signed (Hawkins’ signature)
Social (his Social Security number)
The Journal Gazette’s Benjamin Lanka reports that Indiana’s “premiere political organization” might not have enough money to keep the lights on at its Main Street headquarters, in part to some lingering resentment over the past election. Allen County Republican Party Chairman Steve Shine sent a letter Thursday to party supporters asking for donations.
He said a “perfect storm” of events have forced the party to seek $20,000 by Jan. 31 to pay its bills.
Among other stories to look for in Saturday’s Journal Gazette
*The JG’s Sylvia A. Smith in Washington reports that tax bills for nearly one in 10 Hoosier middle-class families will shoot up an average of $2,000 next year unless Congress makes a last-minute change in tax law.
*The JG’s Rosa Salter Rodriguez talks to local religious leaders about Mormon Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s “Faith in America” speech this week.
*Kent Mick is into detail work. For a living, he tunes engines in luxury cars. One of his hobbies is woodworking, including making miniature furniture. Another is making quilts. And he has the awards to prove it. The JG's Rosa Salter Rodriguez and Janelle Sou Roberts offer a look at this “man of the cloth.”
The Journal Gazette’s Rebecca S. Green reports that a convicted child molester who hurled himself off the third floor of the Allen County Courthouse last month will receive psychiatric care while he is serving out a two-year prison sentence.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071207/LOCAL/71207015
Among other stories we’re working on for Saturday’s Journal Gazette
*Al Moll, director of Parks & Recreation announced Friday that the primary funds to develop a two-acre park at Harrison Square were made from the estate of Robert E. Meyers. Meyers, who died in March, was a former judge and Fort Wayne mayor.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071207/LOCAL/71207016
*The JG’s Benjamin Lanka follows up on a reader’s question about swerving drivers at Wallen Road and Clinton Street in Road Sage.
*On Faith, Rosa Salter Rodriguez reminds those in the diocese that Bishop John M. D’Arcy will re-entrust the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend to its patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, during a Mass on Friday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1122 S. Clinton St.
*The Associated Press reports that Indiana will soon roll out a new high-tech testing program that allows teachers to give short, computer-based quizzes to students throughout the school year.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071207/LOCAL04/71207014
Verbatim announcement from the city of Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN: Al Moll, Director of Parks & Recreation today announced the primary funds to develop a two-acre park at the new Harrison Square was made from the estate of Robert E. Meyers.
The $300,000 bequest will fund a downtown park between the new baseball stadium and a hotel at Harrison Square, south of the Grand Wayne Center. The park’s major features will include a water park and a small amphitheatre.
“Park Board President Rick Samek spoke to the Meyers’ family about applying the bequest to a new downtown park, and they were delighted,” said Moll. “We will honor Judge Meyers when the park is finished in the spring of 2009.”
Development of the park at Harrison Square will cost about $500,000, and will be funded by Judge Meyer’s contribution, $150,000 in bond funds and other private donations.
The park will be open to the public except during home baseball games, which will provide attendees with an outstanding family experience at the events.
Meyers was a former judge and Mayor of Fort Wayne in the 1950’s who died in March.
Lakes Area Madrigal Dinner – 7 p.m.; Oakwood Christian Retreat Center, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse; $30 includes show and meal; for matinee schedule, call 574-457-5600.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – 8 p.m.; Pulse Opera House, Warren; $12 adults, $5 ages 12 and younger; 260-375-7017 or www.pulseoperahouse.org.
“Patricia Polacco’s Christmas Memories” – 7 p.m.; Tibbits Opera House, Coldwater, Mich.; $12 adults, $8 children; 517-278-6029.
Madrigal Dinners – 6:30 p.m.; Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St., Wabash; $50, $45; 260-563-1102 or www.honeywellcenter.org.
Fort Wayne Philharmonic Holiday Pops Concert – 8 p.m.; Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd.; tickets start at $20; 456-2224.
Country Christmas – 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday; First Congregational United Church of Christ, 314 W. Maumee St., Angola; 260-665-6584.
Walk to Bethlehem – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; First Christian Church, 4800 S. Calhoun St.; free; nativities display, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday; 744-3239.
All weekend
“The Nutcracker” – Presented by Fort Wayne Ballet; 8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St.; tickets, 484-9646.
“It’s A Wonderful Life” – 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; First Presbyterian Theater, 300 W. Wayne St.; $16 general admission, $14 seniors and ages 22 and younger; 422-6329. Ends Dec. 23.
“Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings” – 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Thursday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Van Wert Civic Theatre, Van Wert, Ohio; tickets, 419-238-9689. Ends Dec. 15.
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.
“Holiday Wishes” – 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Tuesday through Thursday; 2 p.m. Sunday; Bearcreek Farms, Bryant; $12 adults, $6 children; reservations and performance times, 260-997-6822. Ends Dec. 23.
“White Christmas” – 8 p.m. Friday and Wednesday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and Thursday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; Amish Acres, Nappanee; tickets, 1-800-800-4942, ext. 2. Ends Dec. 31.
“Holiday on the Boulevard” – Ends Dec. 18; Centennial Wireless, 2422 W. State Blvd.; free; 260-760-5946.
AWS Fantasy of Lights drive-through holiday light displays – Franke Park; 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6 to 9p.m. Sunday through Thursday; $5 car, $10 passenger van, $25 buses or trolleys; 744-6145; carriage rides available on weekends, $30, reservations, 260-691-3780. Ends Dec. 31.
Polar Express Holiday Showcase – Ends Jan. 6; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St.; $4 adults, $2 ages 3 to 17, free to ages 2 and younger; Visit with Santa and the Reindeer, Saturday, also Dec. 15; Garden Luncheons, noon Tuesday and Wednesday; 427-6440 or www.botanicalconservatory.org.
“A Tuna Christmas” – Arena Dinner Theatre, 719 Rockhill Ave.; $30; performance times, 424-5622. Ends Dec. 15.
Star of Bethlehem – 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday; Schouweiler Planetarium, University of Saint Francis, 2701 Spring St.; $4 adults, $3 seniors and ages 17 and younger, $14 per family maximum; 434-3100. Ends Dec. 16.
Castle Gallery Holiday Show – Artist reception, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 1202 W. Wayne St.; 426-6568 or www.castlegallery.com.
Van Wert County Holiday Lights at the Fair – 6 to 9 p.m.; Van Wert County Fairgrounds, Van Wert, Ohio; $5 per car, $25 per bus; 419-238-1214. Ends Dec. 30.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Huber Opera House and Civic Center, Hicksville, Ohio; $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $6 ages 13 and younger; 419-487-0976 or www.HicksvilleVillagePlayers.com.
Windmill Winter Wonderland – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Mid-America Windmill Museum, 732 S. Allen Chapel Road, Kendallville; 260-347-2334 or www.midamericawindmillmuseum.com.
