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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We’ve been hearing reports from all over Fort Wayne than some gasoline stations are selling regular, unleaded gas for up to $3.79 a gallon.
What’s the highest price you’ve seen, and how will this affect your life? You can e-mail Anne “Scoop” Gregory at agregory@jg.net.
The Journal Gazette is working on a story for Wednesday’s print editions. You can see it at journalgazette.net after 7 a.m. Wednesday.
The Associated Press reports that 90,000 people have already cast ballots for next week’s Indiana primary, far outpacing the total number of absentee votes during the last presidential primary in 2004.
The Indiana Secretary of State’s office reports 89,408 people have voted early with their county clerk’s office or by mail-in ballots through Monday, the AP said.
Fewer than 57,000 such votes were cast four years ago.
An advisory from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. issued just after noon Tuesday said Gov. Mitch Daniels will be in Angola on Wednesday to make announcement about a “a new entrepreneurial company.”
The announcement is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. at 300 Industrial Drive in Angola.
A 12-year-old girl has been missing from the Angola area since Sunday evening. She was last seen at the Indiana Toll Road:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080429/LOCAL/574334057
If you have The Scoop as one of your favorites, it's moving to journalgazette.net/scoop or http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS01
The new platform allows me to post photos and be more creative with the blog. If you have any suggestions about The Scoop or www.journalgazette.net, please e-mail me at agregory@jg.net
*Fort Wayne City Council is expected to review tax abatements – 5:30 p.m., Room 126, City-County Building
*Mayor Tom Henry town meeting – 5 to 6 p.m. at Centennial Wireless Corporate Headquarters in the 2400 block of West State Boulevard. Tickets available at www.wowo.com.
*History Book Club – “Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad and the Empires of A.D. 800” by author Jeff Sypeck; 7 p.m.; Barnes & Noble, 4140 W. Jefferson Blvd., Jefferson Pointe; 432-3343.
*Sauder Village – Quilt show, ends Sunday; Archbold, Ohio; hours, 1-800-590-9755 or www.saudervillage.org.
*Little River Ramblers Nature Hike – 9 a.m.; Eagle Marsh; 478-2415.
*Harold Hatcher – Noon; Higher Grounds at Anchor Room, 4530 Lahmeyer Road; no cover; 485-0812.
*Eric Clancy Jazz Trio – 6 p.m.; Don Hall’s Tavern at Coventry, 5745 Coventry Lane; no cover; 459-2893.
Verbatim announcement issued Monday by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration:
The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced the dismissal of a consent decree signed by the State of Indiana and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on December 29, 2000. The DOJ sued FSSA alleging that conditions at the Muscatuck State Development Center (MSDC) and Fort Wayne State Developmental Center (FWSDC) violated the rights of the people who lived there. The DOJ acknowledged the great success Indiana had in meeting the terms of the Settlement Agreement that was filed on December 29, 2000.
"The DOJ’s agreement to dismiss this lawsuit validates the progress we have made on behalf of all Hoosiers with disabilities," said FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob. "I applaud the efforts of all those who have made such great strides over the last three years."
Since the investigation began, MSDC and FWSDC have both been closed. Former residents are now working, volunteering and involved in a variety of community-based activities. In addition, DDRS implemented a number of wide-reaching changes to the system that have ensured quality assurance mechanisms to further protect individuals from abuse, neglect, and mistreatment, and provided improved community placements and services.
"I think DDRS Director Peter Bisbecos and his staff should be congratulated on the leadership they have shown," said Anthony Wayne Services Vice President Steve Cook. "The provider community has also shared in this success by putting more consumer safe guards in place. All of these steps are major accomplishments for the agency."
The original complaint alleged that the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act had been violated by the failure of services provided at MSDC and FWSDC to meet constitutional minimums. Since receiving notice of the DOJ’s intent to investigate in July 1998, the state has fully cooperated and demonstrated willingness to improve conditions. The scope of jurisdiction the DOJ had throughout the settlement process was reduced several times thanks to the timely achievements Indiana made for individuals with developmental disabilities.
For more information on FSSA, go to www.in.gov/fssa.
If you missed Sunday's stories about 11 area cancer survivors, it is definitely worth your time to read:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=FEAT1001
*Fort Wayne Community Schools board meeting – 6 p.m., Grile Administrative Center, 1200 S. Clinton St.
*Storytime and crafts – 10 a.m.; Barnes & Noble, children’s department, 4140 W. Jefferson Blvd., Jefferson Pointe; 432-3343.
*“Amphibian Ecology and Conservation” – Presented by Dr. Bruce Kingsbury, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne biology professor and director of the Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management; 7 p.m.; sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project; Aboite Library, 5630 Coventry Lane; 478-2415.
What’s going on Tuesday
*Fort Wayne City Council meeting – 5:30 p.m., Room 126, City-County Building
*Mayor Tom Henry town meeting – 5 to 6 p.m. at Centennial Wireless Corporate Headquarters in the 2400 block of West State Boulevard. Tickets available at www.wowo.com.
*History Book Club – “Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad and the Empires of A.D. 800” by author Jeff Sypeck; 7 p.m.; Barnes & Noble, 4140 W. Jefferson Blvd., Jefferson Pointe; 432-3343.
*Little River Ramblers Nature Hike – 9 a.m.; Eagle Marsh, leave from Boy Scout office, parking at end of Olde Canal Place, Verizon exit, West Jefferson Boulevard; 478-2415.
*Town and Country New Home Tour – Sponsored by Home Builders Association of Fort Wayne Inc.; noon to 6 p.m.; free admission; buyers guide, www.fwdailynews.com/hba, information, 426-2020. Also May 3 and 4.
*“American Primitive” – 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Allen County Public Library Auditorium, 900 Library Plaza; $15 adults, $12 seniors, $10 students; 622-4610. Ends May 4.
*Hoosier Bird Buddies Spring Bird Festival – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Road; $3 general admission, free to ages 11 and younger; no pets allowed; 260-244-9690.
*Fort Wayne Record and CD Show – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Quality Hotel, 3330 Coliseum Blvd. W.; free admission; 482-2525.
*Trap and Skeet Shoot – 12:30 p.m.; South West Conservation Club, 5703 Bluffton Road; 747-4677.
*The Eco-Film Fest – 1 to 7 p.m.; Cinema Center at Indiana Tech, 1600 E. Washington Blvd.; free; accepting unwanted computer hardware for recycling or proper disposal; $5 deposit fee for monitors; 484-5848, ext. 111.
*Tippecanoe Audubon Society Field Trip – 1:30 p.m.; Heron rookery; Warsaw; directions, 574-658-4504 or ecoexpo@mchsi.com.
*Chain Reaction Challenge Workshop – 2 to 4 p.m.; Allen County Public Library Auditorium, library meeting room A, 900 Library Plaza; 432-1095.
*Wildflower Walk – 2 p.m.; Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Road; $2; reservations, 449-3777.
*Acres Along the Wabash – Sponsored by ACRES Land Trust; 2 p.m.; Wells County; directions, 637-2273 or www.acreslandtrust.org.
*Sunny Schick Digital Close-Up and Nature Photography – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Fox Island County Park, 7324 Yohne Road; $12 a person; register, 449-3180.
*Square dance – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Waynedale United Methodist Church, 2501 Church St.; 747-2026.
*Ballroom dance – Sponsored by Wabash Valley Ballroom Society; 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Geneva Library, Geneva; $5 a person; 260-346-2537.
From watching bird courtships, to a candidate rally to solemn remembrances, Saturday is absolutely packed with things to do:
*Community Open House – Arbor Day celebration; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Historic Hattersley House, 611 W. Wayne St.; tours, refreshments, music, yard sale and bake sale; 422-6821.
*Hillary Clinton to speak at Headwaters Park at 10 a.m.
*Public rain garden project; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., City Utilities Water Pollution Control Maintenance building, 515 E. Wallace St. Allen County Master Gardeners, Girl Scout Troop 369 and City Utilities employees to plant more than 550 plants.
*March for Peace: Begins at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of McKinnie Avenue and South Anthony Boulevard and ends at the Kmart shopping plaza parking lot near the intersection of Anthony and East Tillman Road.
*Prayer service for Liette Nicole Martinez: 2 p.m. outside Building H at the Waterfield Campus student housing at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne.
*Take Back the Night: 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the IPFW Alumni Plaza, between the Walb Student Union and Helmke Library. Includes one-mile walk around the campus, candlelight vigil and moment of silence for victims.
*“Let’s Be Friends: An Autism Awareness Storytime Event – 10 a.m.; Barnes & Noble, 4201 Coldwater Road, Glenbrook Square; 482-8780.
*Sizzlin’s Saturdays – Ballroom social dancing; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Fort Wayne Dance Collective, 437 E. Berry St.; $10 a person; 424-6574.
*The History Center – “Faces of Lincoln, Part 1” exhibit on display; ends May 16; 302 E. Berry St.; hours, 426-2882.
*Science Central – “Gaze into the Night,” study about the solar system, dusk to 11 p.m.; 1950 N. Clinton St.; $7 adults, seniors and ages 3 to 12; hours, 424-2400.
*Spring Car Show – Monroeville; registration at 6 a.m., awards presented at 4 p.m.; music, townwide garage sales, food, flea market; 260-740-9041.
*Southside Farmer’s Market – 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; produce, plants, meat, eggs, flea market, herbs; 3300 Warsaw St.
*“Bird Extravaganza” – 8:15 to 5:30 p.m.; Salamonie Reservoir, Lost Bridge West Recreation Area, Andrews; $10 a person; www.in.gov/dnr/uwis or 260-468-2127.
*Frog Songs – 10 a.m.; Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Road; $2 a person; reservations, 449-3777.
*Spurgeon Nature Preserve – Sponsored by ACRES Land Trust; 2 p.m.; Noble County; directions, 637-2273 or www.acreslandtrust.org.
*American Woodcock Courtship Watch – 8 to 9:30 p.m.; Fox Island County Park, 7324 Yohne Road; $2 a person; register, 449-3180.
*Star viewing – Sponsored by Fort Wayne Astronomical Society; observatory opened for two hours starting one hour after sunset through Nov. 29; Fox Island County Park, 7324 Yohne Road; skies must be clear for viewing; donations accepted.
*Freedom vs. Marion, Ohio; 7 p.m.; Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave.; $30, $15, $10, $5; 483-1811.
*“The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” – Dinner at 7 p.m., performance at 8 p.m.; Arena Dinner Theatre, 719 Rockhill Ave.; $30 includes dinner and show; 424-5622. Ends May 3.
*“The Wizard of Oz” – 7 p.m. today, noon Saturday; Firehouse Theater, 1245 E. State Blvd.; $6 adults, $5 ages 15 and younger; dinner is extra; reservations, 750-9013 or www.firehouse-fw.com.
*“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Goodtimes Theatre, Bearcreek Farms, Bryant; $16; 260-997-6822. Ends May 24.
*“Doubt” – 8 p.m.; First Presbyterian Theater, 300 W. Wayne St.; $16 general admission, $14 seniors and ages 22 and younger; 422-6329. Ends May 10.
What’s happening Saturday and Sunday
*Town and Country New Home Tour – Sponsored by Home Builders Association of Fort Wayne Inc.; noon to 6 p.m.; free admission; buyers guide, www.fwdailynews.com/hba, information, 426-2020. Also May 3 and 4.
*“American Primitive” – 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Allen County Public Library Auditorium, 900 Library Plaza; $15 adults, $12 seniors, $10 students; 622-4610. Ends May 4.
What’s going on Sunday
*Hoosier Bird Buddies Spring Bird Festival – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Road; $3 general admission, free to ages 11 and younger; no pets allowed; 260-244-9690.
*Fort Wayne Record and CD Show – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Quality Hotel, 3330 Coliseum Blvd. W.; free admission; 482-2525.
*Trap and Skeet Shoot – 12:30 p.m.; South West Conservation Club, 5703 Bluffton Road; 747-4677.
*The Eco-Film Fest – 1 to 7 p.m.; Cinema Center at Indiana Tech, 1600 E. Washington Blvd.; free; accepting unwanted computer hardware for recycling or proper disposal; $5 deposit fee for monitors; 484-5848, ext. 111.
*Tippecanoe Audubon Society Field Trip – 1:30 p.m.; Heron rookery; Warsaw; directions, 574-658-4504 or ecoexpo@mchsi.com.
*Chain Reaction Challenge Workshop – 2 to 4 p.m.; Allen County Public Library Auditorium, library meeting room A, 900 Library Plaza; 432-1095.
*Wildflower Walk – 2 p.m.; Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Road; $2; reservations, 449-3777.
*Acres Along the Wabash – Sponsored by ACRES Land Trust; 2 p.m.; Wells County; directions, 637-2273 or www.acreslandtrust.org.
*Sunny Schick Digital Close-Up and Nature Photography – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Fox Island County Park, 7324 Yohne Road; $12 a person; register, 449-3180.
*Square dance – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Waynedale United Methodist Church, 2501 Church St.; 747-2026.
*Ballroom dance – Sponsored by Wabash Valley Ballroom Society; 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Geneva Library, Geneva; $5 a person; 260-346-2537.
Out & about in Friday's Weekender:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/FEAT14/804250432
Verbatim announcement from Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita:
With the May 6th Primary election approaching, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita is reminding Hoosier voters to make sure they are familiar with the approaching election-related deadlines. Voters who qualify to vote absentee by mail, need to make sure their application is received in the county election board office by Monday, April 28, 2008.
The form can be faxed, delivered, or mailed but it must be received (not postmarked) by the April 28th deadline.
Voters who are confined and need to have their ballot delivered by an absentee voter board (traveling board), need to make sure their application is received in the county election board office by Monday, May 5, 2008. The form can be faxed, delivered, or mailed but it must be received (not postmarked) by Noon, Monday May 5th.
For more information, please use the following Official State of Indiana resources:
*About IndianaVoters.com – Hoosiers can check their registration status, locate polling places, and look up county-specific contact information by visiting IndianaVoters.com www.indianavoters.com – a service made possible with the implementation of Indiana’s statewide voter registration system (SVRS) linking together all 92 Indiana counties with several key state agencies.
*About Hoosier Voter Hotline Line – The Hoosier Voter Hotline, 1-866-IN-1-VOTE (1-866-461-8683), is a comprehensive resource designed to answer any election questions. Voters are also encouraged to use the hotline to report suspected fraud or a polling place’s accessibility limitations.
*About PhotoID – www.PhotoID.IN.gov explains the basics of Indiana’s photo ID law, including how to get an ID, what kinds of IDs are acceptable, and exemptions to the law. The site walks voters through steps to get a free state-issued ID from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) as provided by law, and provides details on the necessary documentation to obtain a free ID.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804250411
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804250326
Friday’s Weekender in The Journal is packed full of things to do and places to go.
If you’re thinking about heading to a movie theater, check out the Weekender’s movie reviews first. “Baby Mama,” for example, got 3 1/2 stars and features a heck of a cast.
Verbatim announcement Thursday from Citation Corp.:
Novi, Mich., April 24, 2008 – Citation Corp. today announced that it will idle its Butler, Ind., permanent and semi-permanent aluminum molding operations by the end of July 2008, transferring production and equipment to foundries located in Bristol, Ind., and Milwaukee, Wisc., owned by Diversified Machine Incorporated (DMI). The transition is part of Citation’s long-term business strategy aimed at enhancing its manufacturing efficiencies and refocusing on core competencies.
“Exiting permanent and semi-permanent molding allows us to focus on the growing sectors of our foundry business,” said Citation’s Chief Executive Officer Doug Grimm. “This strategic decision supports capital investments we’ve made in our ductile iron and die casting businesses and positions Citation to better support our customers served by these core business areas.”
Citation employs 138 workers at its Butler facility, which manufactures permanent molded aluminum suspension and brake components for the automotive industry. The company anticipates gradually transitioning business and reducing its workforce starting in May. Displaced employees will receive job counseling through the local Bureau of Workforce Development and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
“We continue to focus our strategy on opportunities that enable us to meet our long-term business objectives,” added Grimm. “Divesting a non-core business is a logical step in that process and will ensure Citation remains a strong and viable company.”
The Butler division has been part of Citation since 1996 when Citation acquired Bohn Aluminum Corp.
Citation is a privately held corporation headquartered in Novi, Michigan. Citation employs 2,700 associates in Alabama, Texas, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The company designs, develops and manufactures high-quality cast, machined and assembled components for the automotive, heavy truck and industrial markets.
Verbatim announcement from the Home Builder’s Association of Fort Wayne:
FORT WAYNE – An economic impact study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Policy Department shows that Fort Wayne’s home building industry not only pays for itself, its economic impact results in new income and jobs for Indiana and additional revenue for local governments.
Every 100 single-family and eight multifamily homes that were built in Allen County in 2007 will generate a cumulative $10.3 million in revenue, compared to only $8.9 million in costs over the next 15 years.
By the end of the second year the housing industry’s economic impacts more than offset the fiscal costs resulting in a fiscal surplus to local governments, and by the end of the 9th year the fiscal surpluses are more than enough to pay off all debt and result in a surplus available to pay for additional government services.
Single-family and multifamily housing produces a net income to local governments of $198,144 the eighth year, $206,864 the ninth year, and $208,747 in each and every subsequent year thereafter.
“These results show that home building is more than paying its own way and should put to rest the notion that existing home owners are subsidizing new home construction here in Fort Wayne,” said Dr. Elliot Eisenberg, the Senior Economist who conducted the analysis of the impact of home building in Allen County, Indiana. “This is an excellent result and tells me that Fort Wayne residents should be thanking the building industry for footing the bill for a lot of city services.”
The economic impact study looks at the impact of the construction industry in three phases: the construction phase; the ripple effect; and, the occupancy phase. The impact of the three phases are added up, and then compared to the cost of services such as education, fire, police, utilities, parks and recreation and roads that are required to support the new housing units.
During the construction phase, the building of every 100 single-family and every eight multifamily homes creates 201 jobs (145 jobs in construction alone), generates $450,000 in local taxes and $9.4 million of local income in the first year. The ripple effect of those homes, which includes the wages and profits local area residents earn during the construction period that are spent on other local goods and services, results in 92 jobs, $366,000 in local taxes and $4.1 million in local income, also in the first year. The ongoing annual effect of those homes, which includes local jobs, income and taxes generated as a result of the home being occupied, is 74 jobs, $654,000 in local taxes and $3.1 million in local income per year.
“It is important for us to look closely at these numbers,” said HBA President Matt Lancia. “We’ve been saying for a long time that local home builders are doing their part to build community, and these numbers show that we are a very important player in the overall economic health of the Fort Wayne economy.”
Dr. Elliot Eisenberg, the Senior Economist for NAHB will be in Fort Wayne on May 29th and will address the Home Builders Association of Fort Wayne at their General Membership Meeting and lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Goeglein’s, 7311 Maysville Road, Fort Wayne.
The NAHB model used to determine the economic impact of the housing industry was first developed by NAHB in 1997 and has been applied to construction in more than 500 areas of the country. This study looks at economic impact of collectively building 100 average priced single–family homes and eight average priced multifamily homes across Allen County, IN. Complete copies of the study are available by contacting the HBA at (260) 420-2020.
The Home Builder’s Association of Fort Wayne (HBA) is a non-profit trade association representing more than 550 members who employ more than 5,000 people in the Fort Wayne, IN MSA. HBA members include residential builders, remodelers and businesses related to the housing industry. Learn more at www.hbafortwayne.com.
*“Doubt” – Preview performance; 7:30 p.m.; First Presbyterian Theater, 300 W. Wayne St.; $8; 422-6329.
*Sevendust with Saliva: Piere’s Entertainment Center, 5629 St. Joe Road; $20 advance, $23 day of show; Ticketmaster, 424-1811.
*Huntington University Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble – 7:30 p.m.; Zurcher Auditorium, Merillat Centre for the Arts, Huntington University; $5 general admission, $3 seniors; 260-359-4261.
*Harold Hatcher – Noon; Higher Grounds at Anchor Room, 4530 Lahmeyer Road; no cover; 485-0812.
*Devin and Bob Berhalter – Dueling pianos, 8:30 p.m.; Rum Runners, 305 E. Washington Center Road; cover, 484-9380.
Taking a stand against violence Saturday
*March for Peace: Begins at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of McKinnie Avenue and South Anthony Boulevard and end at the Kmart shopping plaza parking lot near the intersection of South Anthony and East Tillman Road.
It is about two miles. A Citilink bus will provide transportation to the plaza for a nominal fee for those who can not complete the march, the Fort Wayne Urban League organizer said.
*Prayer service for Liette Nicole Martinez: 2 p.m. Saturday outside Building H at the Waterfield Campus student housing at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. Martinez, 22, was killed last Friday in her fourth-floor apartment.
*Take Back the Night: 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the IPFW Alumni Plaza, between the Walb Student Union and Helmke Library. Includes a one-mile walk around the campus, a candlelight vigil and a moment of silence for victims.
Participants will have the opportunity to make a shirt for the Clothesline Project, a display of T-shirts created by violence survivors or their loved ones.
Bishop D’Arcy announces St. Patrick School, Walkerton, will merge with St. Michael School, Plymouth:
Bishop John M. D’Arcy announced to parishioners and staff at St. Patrick Parish, Walkerton, this past weekend that next fall the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend will merge St. Patrick School with St. Michael School, Plymouth. In making the decision, Bishop D’Arcy said, “We have kept St. Patrick School going as long as possible, but it is no longer educationally viable. We need always to do what is best for our students.”
In March 2005, Bishop D’Arcy shared with St. Patrick parishioners a decision he had made after extensive consultation that the parish school would close at the end of the 2005 school year. The following June, however, Bishop D’Arcy announced to parishioners that due to the efforts by members of the parish to reach part of the goals which the diocese set out for them -- so St. Patrick’s could be sound both financially and educationally -- the school would remain open for three more years.
“As you know, I have been very patient on this matter,” Bishop D’Arcy told parishioners recently, “and three years ago a number of people at St. Patrick urged that the school be continued. I accepted this under certain conditions and agreed that we would continue for three years. One of the conditions was that we have an enrollment of 55 students from Kindergarten through sixth grade. We never attained that,” he emphasized. “At the last open house on April 1, 2008, no one came. At that time there were only 28 students pre-registered. This has now risen to 40 students. Therefore, I have concluded that it is best for the students if we place as many as we can in St. Michael School, Plymouth. Simply put, they will get a much better education in that school. We have kept St. Patrick School going as long as possible, but it is no longer educationally viable. We need always to do what is best for our students,” Bishop D’Arcy stressed.
Bishop D’Arcy related he had met at length will his education advisors on the matter; namely, Fr. Stephen Kempinger, CSC, superintendent of schools; Mary Ann Bachman, associate superintendent for the South Bend area; and Trudy Nawara, principal of St. Michael School, Plymouth, who also has been serving as acting principal at St. Patrick School.
The diocese will do everything it can to place all the students at St. Michael School, which has a current enrollment of 182 students in grades K-8, Bishop D’Arcy said. “I also wish to make clear it is the policy of the diocese that all former teaching staff that is from a school experiencing this type of change will be given first priority in interviewing for any openings in any diocesan school. According to those polices, we do not tell the parishes whom they must hire but we do indicate they must interview all teachers who come from schools that have been closed,” he added.
Bishop D’Arcy made the following additional points in his announcement:
*In the past 13 years, St. Patrick School has had a drop in enrollment to as low as 39 students this year from a high of 68 students 11 years ago. In addition, religious education classes for students not attending a diocesan Catholic school has seen a decline in enrollment to 50 students this year from a high of 73 students 11 years ago.
*Because St. Patrick is a relatively small parish of 312 families, the cost per pupil is very high. During the current academic year, it amounts to $6,500, while the average cost per pupil throughout the diocese is $4,038.
*Finally, I wish to make clear that St. Patrick Parish is not closing. I am meeting currently with our Priest Personnel Board. It is my hope and intention that when we make our full assignments in June, we will be able to place a fulltime pastor at St. Patrick. Our present shortage is severe; but, to repeat, it is my intention to see that a fulltime priest is present in Walkerton no later than early July.
*At the same time I am most grateful to Fr. William Kummer, pastor of St. Michael Parish, Plymouth, for his presence in the parish and for continuing to act as administrator. I am also grateful to Fr. Edward Fernando who has continued to provide weekend Mass and who has been present from Wednesday through Sunday at the parish. And more recently, Fr. J. Steele, CSC, has been present and will be present for the next few months so that the Eucharist is celebrated on weekends and also during the week.
“I know many in the parish will greet the decision to close and merge the school with sadness. Others will welcome it. And I know before the good Lord that I believe I have done the right thing,” Bishop D’Arcy concluded.
Verbatim announcement from the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission:
The Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission has chosen the team of Will Clark, a sculptor from Fort Wayne, and George Morrison of the Fort Wayne architectural firm of Morrison Kattman Menze, as the recipient of the Lincoln Public Art Program Grant created as part of the statewide celebration of Lincoln’s Indiana roots.
Clark and Morrison were among artists from across the state who submitted proposals to create a piece of public art or arts experience reflective of 1816 to 1830, which is when Lincoln lived in Indiana.
This project will commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday and become a permanent fixture at Lincoln State Park, which is near the homestead where Lincoln spent 14 formative years of his life, from the ages of 7 to 21.
The program has a budget of $300,000 for the creation of the chosen work, which will be installed at Lincoln State Park in 2009.
The public art plaza consists of a large circular plaza punctuated with limestone pedestals signifying key milestones in Lincoln’s formative Indiana years and a twice life size bronze bust of President Lincoln.
“It will truly be a destination for visitors to Lincoln State Park,” said Connie Nass, chairperson of the Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (IALBC). “It’s educational in that it provides facts and information about Abraham’s life and his impact on the world, but it’s also fun in that there’s surprise and discovery.”
From the layout of the display to the limestone markers that express the different heights of a child growing from seven years of age to an adult, the memorial is interactive and provides a tangible experience for visitors. The setting will be on the knoll in the Oak Grove area of the park.
“It’s a beautiful location, and it will help attract people to come and learn more about Abraham Lincoln and his time in Indiana,” said Nass.
The public art project is one of several local, regional and national events and programs scheduled through February 2010 to commemorate Lincoln’s 200thbirthday. Indiana’s bicentennial celebration kicks off this year on Mother’s Day weekend – May 10 and 11– at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Spencer County. It will include a Sunday afternoon ceremony honoring Lincoln, his Indiana heritage and his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, who is buried nearby.
Lincoln State Park is located in Lincoln City in Spencer County. The 1,747-acre park was created in 1932 as a memorial to Nancy Hanks Lincoln. The park includes the historic home of Colonel Jones – Lincoln’s merchant employer – hiking trails, scenic lakes and the Sarah Lincoln Woods Nature Preserve, named after Lincoln’s sister, who is buried there.
>br> >br>To see the winning entry:
>br>http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/LOCAL/577438243
*Mark Garr – 7 p.m.; Paula’s On Main, 1732 E. Main St.; no cover, 424-2300.
*Larry Garner – 9:30 p.m.; Skip’s Party Place, 110 W. Maumee St., Angola; $3 cover after 8 p.m.; 260-665-3922.
*The Francie Zucco Jazz Trio – 7 p.m.; Don Hall’s Triangle Park, 3010 Trier Road; no cover; 482-4342.
*Mike Conley – 9 p.m.; Columbia Street West, 135 W. Columbia St.; no cover; 422-5055.
*Firefly Coffee House Open Stage – 7 to 9:30 p.m.; 3523 N. Anthony Blvd.; 373-0505.
*“The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” – 10 a.m. and noon; Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St., Wabash; $4; 260-563-1102 or www.honeywellcenter.org.
Verbatim announcement Tuesday from the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce:
The Board of Directors of the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce has announced that Ms. Kristine G. Foate will be the new President/CEO of the organization, effective May 15, 2008.
The Board is pleased to welcome Ms. Foate to the Chamber after a thorough six-month selection process.
“This is a pivotal time in the Chamber’s legacy and the Board has full confidence that Kristine Foate is exactly the right person to lead us into the next chapter,” according to Don Schenkel, Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “With her impressive credentials and demonstrated community involvement, she will provide the inspired leadership that our organization needs.”
Ms. Foate is an award winning professional with more than 20 years of leadership experience in radio, television and publishing. Most recently, she has held positions as President and CEO of Summit City Radio Group, Senior Vice President of Operations for Pinpoint Publishing and Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne.
In 2004, 2005 and 2006, she was named Radio Ink’s 50 Most Influential Women in Radio. Kris was also recognized as an ATHENA Award nominee in 2006.
Kris takes her responsibility to the community seriously. She is active in United Way of Allen County and is a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne. Kris also serves on numerous boards including Leadership Fort Wayne, Artlink, and Erin’s House and is the Chair of Invent Tomorrow. She is a graduate of the Leadership Fort Wayne class of 2006 and holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin.
“Kris Foate knows our people and organizations, has experienced the challenges we face and believes in the possibilities for our community. She is committed both to the bottom line and to the common good,” adds Don Schenkel.
“After moving to Fort Wayne in 2004, I quickly developed a passion for this community,” commented Kris. “I am thrilled to live and work in Northeast Indiana and look forward to building upon the great efforts of all those associated with the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.”
*“Gypsy”: Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd.; $49, $39, $29; Ticketmaster, 424-1811.
*Little River Ramblers Nature Hike – 9 a.m.; Eagle Marsh, leave from Boy Scout office parking at end of Olde Canal Place, Verizon exit, West Jefferson Boulevard; 478-2415.
*Earth Day – Self-guided projects; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fox Island County Nature Center, 7324 Yohne Road; $2 a person; 449-3180.
*Shirley Needham – “Lemur Paradise”; 7:30 p.m.; Manchester College Student Union, North Manchester; 260-982-2471.
*Shade Jonze – 6 to 8 p.m.; Crossroads Inn, corner of Indiana 9 and 14, Columbia City; cover, 260-396-2144.
*Open Jam with Keep Your Day Job and Kurt Roberts – 7 p.m.; Deer Park Irish Pub, 1530 Leesburg Road; no cover; 402-7095.
*Harold Hatcher – Noon; Higher Grounds at Anchor Room, 4530 Lahmeyer Road; no cover; 485-0812.
*Trombone Studio Showcase – 7:30 p.m.; Rhinehart Recital Hall, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 Coliseum Blvd. E.; $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 non-IPFW students; 481-6714.
*Eric Clancy Jazz Trio – 5:30 p.m.; Don Hall’s Guesthouse, 1313 W. Washington Center Road, no cover, 489-2524.
*“My Name Is Rachel Corrie” – One woman play about Rachel Corrie, who was killed attempting to defend homes in Gaza; 7 p.m.; Studio Theater, Kettler Hall, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 Coliseum Blvd. E.; $5 (students free).
Justin Hodgman had four goals and eight points in 11 games during the regular season, and he has one goal and two points so far in the playoffs.
The Journal Gazette’s Justin A. Cohn talks to Hodgman, just 19 and still considered an amateur, for a story in Tuesday’s Journal Gazette.
*Percussion Ensemble – 7:30 p.m.; Auer Performance Hall, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 Coliseum Blvd. E.; $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 non-IPFW students; 481-6714.
*Dan Smyth with Kurt Roberts – 6 p.m.; Deer Park Irish Pub, 1530 Leesburg Road; no cover; 402-7095.
*Sam Chase Band – 7:30 p.m.; Come2go, 323 Baker St.; no cover; 426-6464.
*Wizards – vs. Quad City; 2 p.m. Sunday; Memorial Stadium; reserved tickets, $9, $8, $6.50, seniors and kids bleachers seats, $5.50; 424-1811.
*Quilt Show – Presented by Piecemakers Quilt Guild and the Historic Forks of the Wabash; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; Historic Forks of the Wabash Historical Park, corner of Indiana 9 and 24, Huntington; admission fee; 260-358-6982.
*“Tuesdays with Morrie” – 2 p.m. Sunday; presented by Fort Wayne Civic Theatre; Allen County Public Library Auditorium, 900 Library Plaza; $15 adults, $10 ages 23 and younger, $12 Sunday senior matinees; 424-5220.
*“Annie Jr.” – 2 p.m.; Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St.; $12 adults, $8 children and students; 422-4226.
*Stamp Collecting Show – Sponsored by Anthony Wayne Stamp Society; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Concordia Lutheran High School, 1601 St. Joe River Drive; free admission; 471-2469.
*Komets Playoff Game 3 ; vs. Muskegon; 6 p.m.; Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave.; $20, $17, $14, $10 adults, $16, $13, $12, $8 seniors and ages 12 to 18, $10, $8, $7, $6, ages 11 and younger; 424-1811.
*“The Wizard of Oz” – 3 p.m. Sunday; Firehouse Theater, 1245 E. State Blvd.; $6 adults, $5 ages 15 and younger; optional dinner available one hour before show, $5 to $10 extra; reservations, 750-9013 or www.firehouse-fw.com.
*3-D Archery Shoot – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; South West Conservation Club, 5703 Bluffton Road; 747-4677.
*Wildflower Walk – 2 p.m.; Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Road; $2; reservations, 449-3777.
*Belles & Beaus Square Dance Club – 6 p.m.; Scout Hall, Warvel Park, North Manchester; information, 260-982-7152.
*Singles and Couples Dance – 6 to 10 p.m.; The Lantern, 4420 Ardmore Ave.; $5 cover; 747-9120.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/LOCAL/576254828
*Jamie Paul Wessler – Author of “Where the Birds Go When it Rains”; 2 to 9 p.m.; Mitchell Books, 6360 W. Jefferson Blvd.; 432-2665.
*Julie Young – Author of “A Belief in Providence”; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Mitchell Books, 6360 W. Jefferson Blvd.; 432-2665.
*Ballroom Dance – 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.; music by Melvin Mullins; Starr Commonwealth Gymnasium, 15145 Lincoln Highway, Van Wert, Ohio; $5 a person; 419-495-2900.
*Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo opens – 3411 Sherman Blvd.; $9.50 adults, $6.50 ages 2 to 14, $8.50 ages 60 and older; hours, 427-6800 or www.kidszoo.org.
*ATA Black Belt Academy Regional Taekwondo Tournament – Doors open at 8 a.m.; Grand Wayne Center, 120 W. Jefferson Blvd.; $5 at the door, free to ages 4 and younger; 260-925-4282.
*Birding at Wabash County Preserves – By ACRES Land Trust; 8:45 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Kokiwanee Nature Preserve and Hathaway Preserve at Ross Run, Wabash County; directions, 637-2273 or www.acreslandtrust.org.
*Adopt-A-Tree Festival – By ACRES Land Trust; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wing Haven Nature Preserve, Steuben County; directions, 637-2273 or www.acreslandtrust.org.
*Arbor/Earth Day Event – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Lindenwood Nature Preserve, 600 Lindenwood Ave.; free; 427-6005.
*Wildflower Fest – 2 p.m.; J. Edward Roush Lake, Huntington; $10; reservations, 260-468-2127.
*Star viewing – Sponsored by Fort Wayne Astronomical Society; observatory opened for two hours starting one hour after sunset through Nov. 29; Fox Island County Park, 7324 Yohne Road; skies must be clear for viewing; donations accepted.
*Freedom vs. Rock River; 7 p.m.; Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave.; $30, $15, $10, $5; 483-1811.
*Fort Wayne Derby Girls – Smokin’ Guns vs. Lucky Harmers; 7 p.m.; The Plex, 1805 E. California Road; $10 advance, $12 at the door; jredrum@fwderbygirls.com.
*“Improvysteria” – Featuring magic of Joey D; 7 p.m.; Firehouse Live Theater, 1245 E. State Blvd.; $4; 750-9013.
*“War Bonds: The Songs and Letters of World War II” – 8 p.m.; Sturges-Young Auditorium, Sturgis, Mich.; $26 adults, $13 students through high school; 269-651-8541.
Saturday and Sunday
*Wizards – vs. Quad City; 4 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Memorial Stadium; reserved tickets, $9, $8, $6.50, seniors and kids bleachers seats, $5.50; 424-1811.
*Quilt Show – Presented by Piecemakers Quilt Guild and the Historic Forks of the Wabash; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; Historic Forks of the Wabash Historical Park, corner of Indiana 9 and 24, Huntington; admission fee; 260-358-6982.
*“Tuesdays with Morrie” – 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; presented by Fort Wayne Civic Theatre; Allen County Public Library Auditorium, 900 Library Plaza; $15 adults, $10 ages 23 and younger, $12 Sunday senior matinees; 424-5220.
*“Annie Jr.” – 2 p.m.; Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St.; $12 adults, $8 children and students; 422-4226.
*Stamp Collecting Show – Sponsored by Anthony Wayne Stamp Society; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Concordia Lutheran High School, 1601 St. Joe River Drive; free admission; 471-2469.
What’s happening Sunday
*Komets Playoff Game 3 ; vs. Muskegon; 6 p.m.; Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave.; $20, $17, $14, $10 adults, $16, $13, $12, $8 seniors and ages 12 to 18, $10, $8, $7, $6, ages 11 and younger; 424-1811.
*“The Wizard of Oz” – 3 p.m. Sunday; Firehouse Theater, 1245 E. State Blvd.; $6 adults, $5 ages 15 and younger; optional dinner available one hour before show, $5 to $10 extra; reservations, 750-9013 or www.firehouse-fw.com.
*3-D Archery Shoot – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; South West Conservation Club, 5703 Bluffton Road; 747-4677.
*Wildflower Walk – 2 p.m.; Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Road; $2; reservations, 449-3777.
*Belles & Beaus Square Dance Club – 6 p.m.; Scout Hall, Warvel Park, North Manchester; information, 260-982-7152.
*Singles and Couples Dance – 6 to 10 p.m.; The Lantern, 4420 Ardmore Ave.; $5 cover; 747-9120.