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Lots of different activities happening around the area this weekend to forti-fy you and your family!

There are still a few Farmer’s Markets you can catch yet:

There is a MASSIVE amount of activity  – 40 different events – going on all day this Saturday!

Click here for all the details.

The Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival will run for seven weeks, with the opening day on September 13th, 2019 , and continued through October 27th, 2019. Admission includes all activities on the farm including: visiting the freestall barn, where the cows spend their time and eat; learning how baby calves are cared for; view modern farm machinery and watch robotic technology milking the cows! Activities included dairy cows, baby calves, 5-acre Corn Maze, Straw Mountain, Corn Pit Play Area, Cornhole Games, Tile Swing, Holy Cow Football, Pumpkin Checkers, Moo-go-Round, Tether Ball, Milk Bottle Bowling, Nutrition Stations, Hayrides, Robotic Milking Facility Viewing Room, bonfires, Pumpkins and pumpkin painting, Milkman’s Hamster wheel race, 2 Ninja Warrior courses, Jenga, Milk Truck Express, Scavenger Hunt, photo opportunities, Playground area, Jump Pad, and Farm Tours. New for 2019 – pedal kart track! Visitors enjoyed delicious dairy snacks featuring soft-serve ice cream, grilled cheese sandwiches, ice cold milk, and a hotdog and smores while sitting around a bonfire only feet away from the cows.

Located at: 6532 W Cook Rd. Fort Wayne, Indiana 46818, Take Hwy 33 North off West 30

Chick here for their website and lots of pictures and more info on this event.

WILD ZOO HALLOWEEN

October 11 – 13, 18 – 20, 25 – 27 / Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
Break out the costumes and enjoy some merry-not-scary fun during Wild Zoo Halloween See your favorite zoo animals, explore the Treat Trails, pick out your own mini pumpkin, and more. All info can be found here: https://kidszoo.org/

Fun for all ages; the 12-acre maze is the LARGEST in Northeast Indiana and features a new design every year. The events area includes games, 20 ft tube slide and other activities included in the admission price. Walkthrough the 6-acre pumpkin patch and select your favorite pumpkins and gourds to purchase. Held annually mid-Sept thru October. All info can be found here.

FARM SITE ADDRESS 3150 County Road 43 Waterloo, IN 46793

Friday 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Saturday 12;00 PM – 10:00 PM Sunday 12:00 – 6:00 PM Please note; Ticket booth sales stop 1 hour prior to closing.

Halloween Spooktacular

  Auer Performance Hall, Rhinehart Music Center,
Purdue University Fort Wayne. Get all the details here.

1808 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 260-747-0989


Hugh’s Bakery and Coffeehouse

Hugh’s Bakery and Coffeehouse

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When I saw this picture today, I just wished I lived a wee bit closer to Bluffton.  For those of you who are closer to Bluffton, consider yourself blessed!

These are all the creations of Lydia Yaste, owner of Hugh’s Bakery and Coffeehouse. She is the daughter of a good friend of mine.  Lydia has grown up alongside my kids – making crafts together as youngsters, camping trips and playing on the Frisbee field.  Several years ago she added “Business Owner” to her repertoire of skills.

And here you can view her skills……

 

 

Although not pictured above, rest assured that Hugh’s offers a tasty variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and quiches!

 

 

And this is what Lydia’s Customers have to say….

 “I have tried almost all the featured lattes and love them all! The caramel pecan rolls are great and I finally tried the quiche today and it was amazing! So glad Bluffton has a great coffee place like this!”

“More than just coffee. Their lunch is phenomenal! Best chicken salad sandwich (croissant) I’ve had; hands down. The staff is super friendly also.”

“Hugh’s potato soup is over the top delicious, better than my fav in Ft Wayne.
And the baked oatmeal is also delicious breakfast item, filling me up for a reasonable cost.”

“Always greeted by a smiling face and a cheerful “Good morning”. Everything I have tried has been incredible! Highly recommend this place to everyone!”

“Got a cinnamon mocha frappe and it was incredible. Service was great and everyone was very kind. Most certainly going back.”

“Took 2 dozen frosted cinnamon rolls to a volunteer work project this morning and everyone was commenting on how great the rolls where, thank you Hugh’s!!!!!!”

“The cozy atmosphere of Hugh’s Bakery & Coffeehouse makes guests feel relaxed and have a good time. The pleasant staff at this place can show how much they value their clients.”

Lydia named her bakery after her grandfather whom she love dearly, and apparently taught her a great many good things!

If you would like to work among all this wonderfulness, check out Hugh’s employment opportunities here.

To keep up with all of Lydia’s goodies, check out the Hugh’s Bakery and Coffeehouse Facebook page here:

Supporting Families in Crisis

Supporting Families in Crisis

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(November 2019)

Have you ever desired to help out families in crisis in your community but didn’t really know how to do that? Or you liked the idea of serving, but thought you might not have the time?

Well, Safe Families might be just the opportunity that you have been looking for!

It was about 5 years ago when visiting Kyle and Hope over Thanksgiving that they mentioned they were considering becoming foster parents.

I really knew nothing about fostering – it was never in my “sphere of consciousness”, but because of Kyle and Hope, I became much more aware of “all things fostering”.

So last year when something came up in my Facebook news feed called “Safe Families” – I clicked on the link and found out about a really incredible organization, right here in our community.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, Kyle and Hope had been trying to get Safe Families approved in Colorado for over a year. So when I called them and told them about this great resource I had found, they already knew all about it!

The basic premise of Safe Families for Children was born out of the need to keep children safe, keep families intact, and reduce the need for foster care.

You might be thinking if Kyle and Hope were interested in fostering, how did Safe Families enter into the picture? Well Kyle and Hope did end up becoming very involved with foster care and were foster parents for 4 different children. While working within the foster care system they realized the tremendous needs within that system. And because of what they saw, Hope started her own non-profit called Foster Together, which is similar to providing the support system within the traditional foster care system that Safe Families provides to their families.  But they also knew that one of the best ways to help the foster care system was to keep more kids from entering it!

One of their very good friend’s parents were one of the original host families back when Safe Families was just getting started. That friend, Michelle, had recently moved to Colorado and told Kyle and Hope about the organization. So Kyle and Hope went and checked it out…and they were determined to get Safe Families in Colorado. With the help of hardworking law makers Kim Ransom and Jonathan Singer, and a determined lobbyist, Benjamin Waters, they did just that.  After Kyle’s tragic passing earlier this year, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, signed the Kyle Forti Act into law. You can watch the video here.

So, since my husband and I knew we wanted our family to be involved serving our local communitity here in Indiana in some capacity, Safe Families provided us a way to serve that worked within our own family dynamic and their organization. A win for everyone!

Safe Families for Children, founded in 2003, is collaboration among area churches, Christian Families and individuals, and community agencies designed to help families in crisis by giving them a network of support.  Volunteer host families, recruited through local churches, provide parents a loving home where they can safely place their children while they get back on their feet. Family coaches come alongside parents during the hosting, giving them support and mentorship. Through its dedicated volunteers, SFFC help prevent abuse, deflect children from the foster care system, stabilize families and share the light and hope of Christ with vulnerable families in our community.
There are so many different ways you can help! Whether you have just a little time and can drop off a meal once in awhile, or maybe provide or drop off some needed supplies, or perhaps you have the ability to host some kiddos, or love the idea of being a mentor and a family coach – there is a place for you to serve at Safe Families!

Make A Difference!

I would really encourage anyone who may be reading this to attend the upcoming training. You will be able to see just how you can make a difference in helping those families in our area that are in crisis.

Would you like to help, but can’t make the training?

Safe Families is also an organization that you can trust to be good stewards with your tax-deductible donations – providing everything from diapers to car seats!  Right now is a perfect time to donate, as your gift will be matched, up to $1000, until the end of 2019! Click HERE for all the details to give your help today!

Do you ever shop at Kroger?

Here’s another way you can help – at no cost to you! Safe Families has been made a recipient of the Kroger Community Rewards program!  You can now select Safe Families Fort Wayne Area to receive funds every time you scan your Kroger Plus Card. Even after selecting a Community Rewards recipient, Kroger Plus members receive the same amount of points for groceries and fuel. Click HERE for everything you need to know to get started on helping those around you – while you shop!

My son, Kyle, was always encouraging people to just “show up” and do something – anything – to make a difference in the lives of  those around you who are in need.

Safe Families is an opportunity where we can all do just that!

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Memory Eternal, Kyle.

Find All the Information you Need Here:

Human Library

Human Library

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This was listed in our “Weekend Happenings”, but we are also highlighting it here as it presents a great opportunity to “Forti-fy” Civility – which is one of the goals of Forti-fy.

One of my favorite things to do is listen to another person’s life story. I am utterly amazed at times what people have lived through or how creative they are in their talents. There is just so much to learn from one another. At this event, you will be able to meet and talk with those whose life’s story may be very different than yours. Which means you will be learning a great deal and gain a greater understanding of those around you.

From their website:

“Human Library Fort Wayne believes that the same concept of the founding Human Library™ can be applied to our community. That is, the prejudices and stereotypes present in our community can be interrupted and dismantled by creating positive environments and a safe spaces for compassionate and open conversation. We have brought together a library of people from diverse walks of life who have faced challenge, stigma and/or discrimination as part of their life’s story – real people who are eager to be ‘on loan’ to readers in their own community for a dialogue that challenges, moves and opens them to new understanding and perspectives.”

Website information is here.

Date: Saturday, October 12, 2019

Location:  Allen County Public Library

900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

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Lots of different activities happening around the area this weekend to forti-fy you and your family!

Seriously A Mac and Cheese festival? Wow!

Enjoy UNLIMITED samples of mac & cheese from about 20 local culinary partners included in your ticket price.

Happening Saturday ,October 12, 2019 Headwaters Park

Get all the details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/404876040164601/?active_tab=about

 

Brickworld Fort Wayne 2019 – LEGO® Fan Exposition

October 12 & 13, 2019 at the Grand Wayne Center.

Open to the public

Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

Bring the entire family for an afternoon of fun! See 32,000 square feet of spectacular creations all built from LEGO bricks by local LEGO enthusiasts.

Find all the information you need here: https://brickworld.com/brickworld-fort-wayne/

 

3rd Annual Pumpkin Train

The perfect fall event for families and train lovers! Join us between 9AM and Noon on Saturday, October 12th and Noon to 3PM on October 13th. Trains run rain or shine. Tickets sales begin September 25th.

Take a festive 15-minute train ride aboard a historic, heated caboose and select a pumpkin at the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s 3rd Annual Pumpkin Train. All trains depart 15808 Edgerton Road, New Haven. Each ticket purchase includes one pumpkin. For additional pumpkins, please purchase additional tickets.

All info can be found here: https://fortwaynerailroad.org/event/2nd-annual-pumpkin-train/all/

 

The Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival will run for seven weeks, with the opening day on September 13th, 2019 , and continued through October 27th, 2019. Admission includes all activities on the farm including: visiting the freestall barn, where the cows spend their time and eat; learning how baby calves are cared for; view modern farm machinery and watch robotic technology milking the cows! Activities included dairy cows, baby calves, 5-acre Corn Maze, Straw Mountain, Corn Pit Play Area, Cornhole Games, Tile Swing, Holy Cow Football, Pumpkin Checkers, Moo-go-Round, Tether Ball, Milk Bottle Bowling, Nutrition Stations, Hayrides, Robotic Milking Facility Viewing Room, bonfires, Pumpkins and pumpkin painting, Milkman’s Hamster wheel race, 2 Ninja Warrior courses, Jenga, Milk Truck Express, Scavenger Hunt, photo opportunities, Playground area, Jump Pad, and Farm Tours. New for 2019 – pedal kart track! Visitors enjoyed delicious dairy snacks featuring soft-serve ice cream, grilled cheese sandwiches, ice cold milk, and a hotdog and smores while sitting around a bonfire only feet away from the cows.

Located at: 6532 W Cook Rd. Fort Wayne, Indiana 46818, Take Hwy 33 North off West 30

Chick here for their website and lots of pictures and more info on this event.

 

WILD ZOO HALLOWEEN

October 11 – 13, 18 – 20, 25 – 27 / Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
Break out the costumes and enjoy some merry-not-scary fun during Wild Zoo Halloweeen See your favorite zoo animals, explore the Treat Trails, pick out your own mini pumpkin, and more. All info can be found here: https://kidszoo.org/

 

Human Library

This sounds absolutely fascinating!

The second annual Human Library Fort Wayne MAIN event will be held at the Allen County Public Library, On October 12, 2019. 9am-5pm.

At the Human Library, people from your very own community become ‘open books’, sharing their story with Readers (that’s you!) who ‘check them out’ for a short time to listen and dialogue. It’s a great opportunity to talk with someone you may never otherwise meet in order to open to new ideas and experiences.

Get all the info here: https://www.humanlibraryfw.com/books

 

Fun for all ages; the 12-acre maze is the LARGEST in Northeast Indiana and features a new design every year. The events area includes games, 20 ft tube slide and other activities included in the admission price. Walkthrough the 6-acre pumpkin patch and select your favorite pumpkins and gourds to purchase. Held annually mid-Sept thru October. All info can be found here.

FARM SITE ADDRESS 3150 County Road 43 Waterloo, IN 46793

Friday 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Saturday 12;00 PM – 10:00 PM Sunday 12:00 – 6:00 PM Please note; Ticket booth sales stop 1 hour prior to closing.