Smart Living Fort Wayne - March 18, 2021

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Smart L iving yne Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • March 2021

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Year-Round Farmers Markets Thriving in Fort Wayne Do Your Garage Doors Need Some TLC? What to Know Before You Install a New Roof Here’s What Smart Appliances Can Do for You Fort Wayne Dance Collective is on the Move

Quality, Smart Products & Services for Your Home, Family, Health, & Entertainment!

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 How Our Year-Round Farmers Markets Began Your Community ...............................................11 Dance Collective on the Move Your Home .........................................................13 Does Your Garage Door Need Some TLC? Inspiration & Worship ......................................14 Wave the Palms Your Remodeling .............................................19 What to Know Before Re-Roofing Your Home Your Health & Fitness ............................ .......... 23 Home Fitness Equipment to Love Your Kitchen ......................................................25 Here’s What Smart Appliances Can Do for You Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Pizza King Your Family Fun ....................................... ......... 28

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Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia Editor Sara Myers Graphics Director Samantha Behling Contributing Writers Paula Kalivoda Furniss General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Fort Wayne General Manager Sherri Cassedy Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky, Sherri Cassedy Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Distribution Kelly Fairbairn Published by Hughes Media Corp.

222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living.

Copyright 2021 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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Thinking About Home

t really is true: Home is where the heart is.

And I have to admit, my heart is right here in Fort Wayne. This is where we live and this is where our children have found their fit. Ever since moving here, we’ve been amazed at how warm and welcoming everyone is – and how much there is to enjoy. It’s the perfect balance of family-friendly, and there’s lots for we adults to enjoy, too.

Our cover story this issue highlights something that’s a true family favorite: the farmers market. So, how great is it that Fort Wayne now boasts two winter ones, on top of all the summer markets? Catch them indoors for a few more weeks, then follow these vendors outside.

Our cover story tells you how they got started and who runs them.

Home means something different to everyone, and our own dwellings can seriously affect how we feel. I don’t know about you, but it seems like, these days, we’re all starting to realize that our homes aren’t everything we dream about. Luckily, our region has plenty of experts to help fix up every part of our homes.

From window treatments that freshen up an interior to decks and patios that invoke an outdoors oasis, we have plenty of ideas to get you started and tips on how to be smart when you hire the help your home needs.

Maybe finding a new appliance or garage door is on your list. We can help you with that, too.

The remodeling experts we talk to are predicting a very big year for home improvement.

They have plenty of top-notch ideas to help you love the home you’re in.

The pages of this latest magazine have plenty more ideas to help you make the most of life in our region. From home fitness to dining out and everything in between, we have you covered.

If your heart is in Fort Wayne, we know the feeling. Enjoy the discovery and the unfolding of spring! ❚ Sherri Cassedy General Manager Tell them you saw it in ...

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Our Community

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Our Community

FW Collective Spreads the Joy of Dance B y Pe g g y We r n e r

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f you aspire to be a professional dancer or just love to dance and move about – or maybe you prefer to watch dance performances – Fort Wayne Dance Collective (FWDC) has something for you.

The Collective is the result of five women who met 43 years ago at a local modern dance workshop and were inspired to bring the enjoyment of dance to more people in their community.

Ashley Benninghoff “Dance is important because it benefits people in every way, including reducing stress, helping with coordination and social skills, and team building,” says FWDC Artistic Manager Ashley Benninghoff. “It gives everyone an outlet for self-expression, which can improve physical, mental and emotional health.”

Newly appointed FWDC Executive Director Lee Rainboth most recently managed an arts center in Haiti. He applied for this position because he identified with the organization’s interest in making dance available to everyone.

“Although this is a difficult time to come on board because of the pandemic, it’s also a good time to get to know the organization, understand its identity and work toward my goal of helping the community understand what we do,” says Rainboth. “We want people to know there’s a place for everyone with us.”

The dance collective is a non-profit arts organization and has grown to include dance classes, professional performances, touring groups and an outreach initiative that brings lessons and performances to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, business meetings, clubs and other organizations.

The FWDC Community Outreach Initiative was launched in 2016 to serve those with the greatest need and the least access in Northeast Indiana. For more than 20 years, the Collective has also provided quality movement programs for people with a range of cognitive and physical disabilities, empowering them to explore movement and music in ways that are stimulating and creative. The students range in age from preschool to seniors.

In-school and after-school programs give students an introduction to dance. “We strongly believe in the concept of helping others to achieve health and wellness through movement and rhythm and alternative approaches to taking care of oneself,” says Benninghoff. “We empower people and educate them about the body’s ability to be self-aware, selfmaintaining, self-healing and self-improving.”

The Collective’s touring groups are made up of professional and non-profesLee Rainboth

FWDC’s Guest Artist Residency attracts performers from around the world.

sional artists and include Taiko, which is a Japanese musical tradition that means “big drum.” Established in 1997, Fort Wayne Taiko was the first group of its kind in Indiana and is the only group like it in Northeast Indiana.

The Pineapple Dance Project is a youth company that performs for fundraisers, art openings and festivals. The pre-professional dancers offer unique and inspiring dance arrangements to their audiences.

FWDC Touring Company is made up of professional dancers and choreographers who perform locally and around the Midwest, while the Guest Artist Residency brings unique performers from around the world to Fort Wayne to expose the local community to new styles and perspectives in dance.

Although most lessons and performances went virtual during the pandemic, plans are underway to have live events including a Choreographer’s Lab in May, a family concert in June, and an all-original program by the Touring Company in August, even if a virtual option remains necessary for those who can’t attend in person.

Benninghoff says going virtual because of the pandemic has actually helped the organization to grow its audience.

“I’ve heard from people who took classes with us 20 years ago and moved away but have stayed connected with us through social media,” says Rainboth. “They’ve written to us saying they appreciate the greater access of lessons and performances online. They remember being a part of the Collective years ago and now can participate wherever they are.”

To register for classes or book any of the touring groups, visit fwdc.org or send an email to info@fwdc.org or call (260) 424-6574. ❚

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Outdoor Living

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Smart SmartLiving LivingFort FortWayne Wayne

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Your Home & Garden

Do Your Garage Doors Need Some TLC?

By Peggy Werner

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ne of the largest and most active parts of your home often gets the least amount of attention, says Jim Platt, general manager of Raynor Door Authority of Fort Wayne, 3636 Lima Road.

“People take for granted the garage door, which opens and closes at least four times a day for most households,” he says.

Garage doors should be checked annually by a professional during a maintenance appointment to examine and lubricate rollers and hinges and to adjust the tension of the springs, says Platt.

Garage doors need regular maintenance and task should be done by professionals. The very high tension of the spring This is not a do-it-your- systems make it too dangerous for most do-it-yourselfers. self project, he emphasizes.

Platt listened to Jack Curtis, founder and first general man“Those springs have a tremendous amount of tension and ager of the Fort Wayne location, talk about the plans he had for someone could get seriously hurt trying to take matters into their the company; he liked what he heard. Curtis said the company own hands.” would train people to service products and deliver customer serAdvances in technology are allowing garage doors to pervice that exceeded expectations. form additional functions these days.

“He painted this unbelievable picture of how things could “People don’t realize how garage door features can improve be, and I thought at the time that even if half of his plans came their lifestyles,” Platt says. true, it would be remarkable – but they all came true,” Platt says.

The Raynor Sentinel residential garage door opener is built Curtis, a Las Vegas native, is semi-retired now but still with an integrated HD camera that lets you see who is coming and works at Raynor. He grew up in the service industry and exceedgoing through a live feed or recording at all times. The opener is ing customer expectations was just part of who he is, Platt says. also equipped with an audio feature for real-time communication.

His customer service philosophy continues today at Raynor.

The MyQ technology enables you to monitor and control “Our whole mode of operation is that, when people come your garage door opener with your smartphone, tablet or computthrough the doors or call us, we want them to have an experience er. The garage door can be opened that convinces them to do business with us,” says Platt. “And we and closed for safe deliveries. do that by listening to their wants and needs and partnering with Alerts can be received as email or them to get the desired result.” pop-up notifications. MyQ mobile Raynor provides full-service garage door and opener sales, app is a free download and requires delivery, installation, repair and maintenance and 24-hour emerno activation fee. gency service for commercial and residential customers. In adPlatt got his start in the busidition to garage doors, it supplies and services entry and storm ness many years ago while workdoors, patio and screen doors. It also does sectional door repair ing for a competitor. A friend who and replacement for homeowners. worked for a Christian radio station To schedule an appointment or to obtain more information, told him Raynor was hiring. He call or email Platt at Raynor, (260) 471-5200, fortwaynesersent off a resume and got an intervice@raynordoorauthority.com. ❚ view.

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Inspiration & Worship

Wave the Palms O it?

n March 28, Christians worldwide will celebrate Palm Sunday. What is

It’s the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, as recorded in Mark 11:1–11, Matthew 21:1–11, Luke 19:28–44 and John 12:12– 19. It marks the start of Holy Week, the days and events that led up to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Crowds in Jerusalem welcomed Jesus enthusiastically. They waved palm fronds at him as he entered the city on a donkey, as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, NIV: Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The people had heard of the great miracles done by Jesus and dared to believe he was the long-awaited redeemer of Israel. Little did they know he would soon emerge not only as savior to Israel, but also as Messiah to all people who choose to believe on him, then and now.

Why didn’t they realize he would offer eternal life to all people? Because Jesus didn’t spell out the full plan during his ministry, not wanting Satan to stop the dark events that would unfold during Holy Week. Paul explains in I Corinthians 2:8: None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Powerful government and religious rulers, threatened by Jesus’ popularity, chose to humiliate, torture and execute him. Jesus endured their cruelty, even though he had the power to stop them. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” (Matt. 26:53-54 NIV) By one man’s disobedience (Adam’s) the world fell; By one man’s obedience it is redeemed. (Romans 5:19) Palm Sunday celebrates the beginning of the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth – and our joy at being in his presence forever.

Because of Jesus, we may approach God not as timid servants of a king, but as sons and daughters of a loving parent. Rejoice!❚ 14

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Right in Our Region

Year-Round Market Now in 9th Year

By Janine Pumila eigh Rowan is a towering figure in the world of local farmers markets, and not just because she’s 6 feet tall. Before she opened Ft Wayne Farmers Market in October 2012, she was a vendor selling fresh bread.

“It’s so funny because starting a farmers market was never on my radar as a life’s goal, but here we are,” she says with a chuckle. “I just wanted to sell my bread year-round, but the farmers market has grown into a larger business than my Big Brick House Bakery & Pasta.”

Now the market is on the verge of settling into a new home at Electric Works, the mixed-use redevelopment of the former GE campus on Swinney Avenue. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about that, says Rowan.

Rowan’s bread and pasta were a big hit at local markets when she relocated to Fort Wayne in 2011 from Wabash, Ind., with husband Kevin and children Luke and Bridjet.

“But the markets all closed in September. I heard shoppers saying they wished they could keep getting their local meat, eggs, cheese etc. year-round,” she says. “I also heard from vendors who wanted to sell their root vegetables into winter. I thought, ‘Why not? Let’s do this!’”

She headed to the downtown Fort Wayne Fire Station to seek advice.

“Who knows more about the large, empty buildings in downtown, and their floor plans, than firefighters?” Rowan reasoned.

She used her vendor’s eye to narrow a list of 15 spaces they suggested. There needed to be adequate parking, light, heat and restrooms for shoppers, but also room for multiple vendor trucks to unload simultaneously “so they don’t have to arrive at 5 a.m. and wait in line to unload.” Elevators large enough to accommodate loaded-up dollies were a must, too.

A light-filled indoor space at Parkview Field, 1301 Ewing St., checked the boxes, so she struck a deal and opened monthly, then twice monthly. Today the market is open every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“It went gangbusters immediately, even before local farmers had time to figure out how to grow fresh produce in their greenhouses,” she says.

“The farmers sold all their root crops and by May it was slim pickings. I thought, ‘OK, now we have one winter under our belt.’”

Rowan believes savvy shoppers appreciate the high standards she set. She’s all about minimally processed and Leigh Rowan 16

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Ft Wayne Farmers Market is a favorite Saturday activity for local families. It takes place downtown at Parkview Field from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

natural products grown or prepared within a 100-mile radius.

Non-food items – pottery, jewelry, hand-sewn items – are kept to 5 percent or less of her vendor mix. She actively solicits new vendors when a category opens up, to keep a good balance.

“Vendors come and go for various reasons – they launch into storefronts or wholesale work, for example – so it’s a work in progress to keep a good balance.”

About 12 vendors have stuck with Rowan’s market every year since it opened. In normal years (no pandemic) the market hosts 50 vendors during winter and 70-plus during summer.

“All of our vendors must be insured and registered for tax purposes. And all who sell prepared food or serve food samples must have ServSafe certification because if you’re handling food, I just think you should have some basic safety knowledge,” she says. She arranged for her vendors to get a discount when enrolling in the 3-hour ServSafe video class.

“We’re also the only local market doing farm visits to see if what’s being sold is actually locally grown. We can’t police every item but we do our best to enforce our requirements because it increases the traceability of the food we put on our tables.”

The pandemic never forced Ft Wayne Farmers Market to close – but staying open was a challenge.

“First I had to convince the powers that be that we’re an essential business, not just a cute weekend activity,” she says.

“I explained that the local food system is more important than ever at a time when the national supply chain is disrupted. When grocery store shelves were empty, the farmers market opened up, fully stocked, each Saturday.

“Since vendors had to be spaced apart, I had room for fewer of them and had to restrict participation to my core yearround group. That was hard. It really hurt to tell the others they couldn’t be part of it,” she says. “The smaller number of core vendors meant each one paid more to cover costs. They took it

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Cover photo by Caitlin Kenny

Right in Our Region on the chin and had to raise their prices. But our serious shoppers stuck with us.”

Year by year, Rowan has added part-time staff members to her privately owned market and now employs eight. She breaks the mold by paying them a living wage and is proud that her market does two good things: It offers high-quality food to area residents and it gives small businesses a The two local indoor markets will chance to develop their custom- move outdoors as of May 1. er bases. Her active support for small entrepreneurs was recognized by Greater Fort Wayne when she was named a Top Five Small Business.

“You don’t have to own a John Deere tractor to be part of our market if you just want to grow enough food to earn extra money for your family,” she says. “But if you have aspirations to build a

larger business, we’ll help you do that. If a vendor can’t afford $30 a month to maintain a website, for example, we’ll at least make sure they have a landing page on ours.”

Educating consumers about food quality is an ongoing passion for Rowan. She recently produced and posted to her website a slideshow about the difference between locally raised beef and imported beef processed in the U.S. and sold at big-box stores under a U.S. label.

A desire to provide better food to her voracious family – “We’re all over 6 feet tall and very active, so we didn’t want waif food” – drew Rowan into the food world when her children were young. She began grinding her own grain and baking her own bread after purchasing a $100 stone mill from eBay in 2004. Her sister “double-dog dared” her to produce “a whole-grain pasta that didn’t taste like gritty cardboard.” She met the challenge, combining sweet white wheat with fresh mushrooms or vegetables for a pasta with protein for staying power and complex carbohydrates for brain power. Learn more at FtWaynesFarmersMarket.com. ❚

YLNI’s New Indoor Market a Big Hit T

he region’s second indoor farmers market opened in downtown Fort Wayne last fall, owned by nonprofit Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI), which has managed a bustling outdoor summer market for 17 years. The new indoor market runs October to April on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the former Aunt Millie’s Perfection Bakery building at 350 Pearl St. The summer location of the YLNI Farmers Market is the northeast corner of Wayne and Barr streets, directly behind the Fort Wayne History Center. This market is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Its 75-plus summer vendors attract 10,000 shoppers on a typical Saturday,

says Brandon Noll, vice president for community impact at YLNI. “A lot of people don’t even know there are two different markets,” says Noll. “For shoppers it just means more opportunity to buy locally produced food and goods in downtown Fort Wayne.”

“We’re extremely fortunate to operate a winter market at the historic Aunt Millie’s,” says Ashley Adams Wagner, YLNI market manager. “The winter market has created so much momentum, and we’ll be carrying that into the summer market.”

YLNI expanded its market to yearround status at the request of vendors, says Noll. Some found themselves without a place to sell after Ft Wayne

Farmers Market was forced to reduce its number of indoor vendors to comply with COVID-19 spacing requirements.

Shoppers are turning out in high enough numbers to make the new winter market a success.

YLNI is a network of 1,000-plus young professionals bound by a common goal to attract, develop and retain emerging leaders through community, professional and social engagement. It was founded in 2004 to help reverse the “brain drain” of young professionals moving away from Indiana.

“The farmers market aligns with our mission to attract and keep young people rooted in Fort Wayne by adding to the quality of life here,” says Noll.

“It’s a very sociable event where people meet for coffee, beer or a mimosa while perusing crafts and other locally made items.”

The YLNI market also helps entrepreneurs to get on their feet.

Vendors must hand-make or produce everything they sell. YLNI’s market is run by one paid manager and a host of volunteers. Learn more at ylni.org. ❚

The YLNI Winter Farmers Market sets up at the former Aunt Millie’s Perfection Bakery, on Pearl Street downtown, every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Your Remodel

What to Know Before You Replace a Roof

By Janine Pumilia

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new roof is a big investment and there’s much to consider when choosing an installer and materials.

First, “A roofing warranty is only as good as the company that installs the materials,” says Kevin Hunter, coowner of Windows, Doors & More in Fort Wayne. “If a problem develops, you have to go back to the company that installed the roof to start a claims process.”

If that company no longer exists, you may be out of luck.

“It’s a sad fact that a lot of companies don’t have the working capital to withstand a rainy day,” says Hunter. “The average lifespan of roofing and siding companies is about two years.”

Be sure your new shingles are of a sufficient weight to withstand Midwest weather.

It’s also important to choose materials wisely. Avoid inferior shingles like those sold at big-box Every shingle is nailed six times to the underlayment. Alhome centers. though some building codes allow up to three roof layers, Hunt“You need a certain weight of shingle to withstand our Mider recommends no more than two. west weather,” says Hunter.

“The weight of three layers can be hard on the sheeting and Along with sufficient asphalt per shingle, you’ll want shincause it to cup or dip between the rafters,” he says. “This is esgles that are treated to resist streaking and mossing. Hunter uses pecially true now that manufacturers are making better, heavier Certainteed brand premium or premier asphalt shingles treated shingles than they did 20 years ago.” with a 3M Scotchguard product.

If your project requires a roofing tear-off, ask what precautions will be taken to prevent damage to landscaping. Windows, Doors & More uses a “roofer’s buggy” to catch debris.

Finally, choose your shingle color carefully.

“You’ll have to live with that shingle for a lot of years,” notes Hunter. He offers a photo computer program that previews how your home would look with various options.

Windows, Doors & More has been in business 37 years and serves homeowners within a 60-mile radius of Fort Wayne.

Along with selling and installing home exterior products, Windows, Doors & More is a full-service flooring and lighting center.

It also builds room additions/decks and is a one-stop kitchen and bath center with six licensed designers and an architect on staff.

Learn more by calling 260-399-6038 or visit Windows, Doors & More at 1121 W. WashingBefore hiring an installer, ask what precautions will be taken to protect landscaping from damage. ton Center Road. ❚ Tell them you saw it in ...

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Drops of Spring Photography by Brad Nordlof 20

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Your Health & Fitness

Enjoy Club Fitness Equipment at Home

By Peggy Werner

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f you’ve ever chosen a hotel based on the high-quality fitness equipment it offers, chances are good the equipment came from Hotel Fitness, a Brigadoon Fitness company in Fort Wayne. And if you’ve always wished you could bring that equipment home, you’re in luck.

Brigadoon has begun offering its commercial equipment to residential customers so they can enjoy club-quality equipment in their homes, says Brigadoon Vice President of Sales and Marketing Don Osika.

“If you don’t enjoy using your exercise equipment, it may end up collecting dust,” he says. “Quality commercial equipment motivates people to work out because it just feels better. From the ergonomics to the materials to the comfort, the difference is night and day, versus typical residential equipment. Beyond the benefits of physical health, exercise is also great for stress management and cognitive function.”

High-quality fitness equipment, like that sold by Brigadoon, in Fort Wayne, is gaining For inspiration, Don points to the company’s owner popularity as more people choose to work out at home. and CEO, Bruce Dye, who lives a fit life. you need. Whether it’s just one treadmill and a set of dumbbells “Not only does Bruce work out every day, but he also meticor a full cardio/strength arsenal, your space and equipment will ulously documents his fitness regime,” says Osika. “From miles be a major part of your inspiration and motivation.” walked, to the weight lifted and number of reps on a bench press Other considerations, when setting up a home fitness area, or with dumbbells, he has his handwritten records dating back include having an adequate power source and good Wi-Fi covermore than 20 years. In his 60s, he’s one of the oldest yet fittest age. You’ll also want to have the room climate-controlled so you people at Brigadoon, both physically and cognitively. He’s a true can enjoy your space all year. testament to the quality of life someone can achieve by being fit.”

Begun as a fitness supplier to hotels in 1994, Brigadoon FitOne of the many things people have realized since the panness today is known for its products in health clubs, corporate demic is that quality home exercise equipment can complement a fitness centers, apartments, police and fire departments, schools gym membership. People are drawn to gyms for the classes, soand universities. A portion of its 70,000 square-foot warehouse cialization and variety of equipment they offer, but more people is dedicated to residential sales. are choosing to work out at home, also.

The company takes pride in its experienced staff and large “It’s a nice escape to be able to exercise at your convenience inventory of equipment and accessories. Its approach to busiin the comfort, privacy and safety of your own home,” says Osika. ness allows Brigadoon Fitness and its divisions, Hotel Fitness “Setting up your own gym allows you to create the type of space and Orange Italia Outdoor Furniture (residential expansion you want and allows you to pick the specific types of equipment coming in Spring 2021) to provide products and services more efficiently and for a great value, says Osika.

Company leaders believe that, to excel in business, they must also invest in their community. The company does this by supporting local nonprofits and sponsoring community events.

Brigadoon specializes in treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines and a variety of styles of bicycles and other cardio equipment made by TRUE Fitness. Its product offerings include seated ellipticals by Octane Fitness that are used to strengthen leg muscles. This is especially good for individuals with back or balance problems. The company also sells free weights and multi-use machines for strength training.

Learn more by stopping in at 1818 Research Drive, Fort Wayne, or call (800) 269-7130. ❚ Tell them you saw it in ...

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Your Kitchen

What ‘Smart’ Appliances Can Do for You

Control your household appliances from the palm of your hand, no matter where you are.

By Peggy Werner f that 30-year-old appliance quits working and you need to replace it, and you haven’t done your homework, you’ll be surprised to find out all the technological advances that allow you to manage your life from your smartphone, whether it’s doing laundry, preparing dinner, or turning on the oven.

“Everything is ‘smart’ now because we live in a ‘smart’ world where everything is connected and can be controlled from a phone held in the palm of your hand,” says Brittany Brouer, marketing director at Van’s Home Center, Auburn, Ind. For example, one of the most advanced appliances is the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator which is WI-FI enabled and allows you to send notes, sync schedules, see who’s at your front door, search recipes, get meal ideas, play music, and stream movies, and to look inside the refrigerator as you shop, she says.

Other Wi-Fi enabled appliances also allow you to start and stop equipment with your smartphone. A washing machine can hold a large amount of laundry detergent and dispense as needed, large loads of laundry can be finished in 30 minutes, and a small load left in the washer overnight will dry.

“So, you can start the laundry and pre-heat the oven before you even get home. There’s quite a range of what appliances can do for you today and it’s all about what you want and need and

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what you’re willing to pay for,” she says.

Most people interested in the smart appliances are between 25 and 40 years old, although there are people older and younger who love technology and are not afraid of it, she says.

“The advances give people lots of choice to make life easier and do more in one day. It’s all about personal preference and the choices are driven by consumers who want to do more with their time than doing laundry,” Brouer says.

Brouer suggests that people who are unsure about such technology should get online information from manufacturers about how to use appliances. YouTube, also, is a great source for learning how to do just about anything.

A locally-owned, family business, Van’s Home Center opened in 1973 and has expanded from a 1,500 square-foot store to a 75,000 square-foot “one stop” showroom for the home.

Along with appliances, it sells flooring, furniture, mattresses, cabinetry, countertops and more.

“We’re large enough to compete with big-box stores and we price competitively.”

Learn more by calling (260) 927-8267 or stop in at 106 Peckhart Ct., Auburn, Ind. ❚

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WeDineLocal

Pizza King Adds a New Location

By Peggy Werner or more than 60 years, Pizza King has prided itself on providing premium ingredients in pizzerias across northeast Indiana. It continues that tradition with the opening of a fourth location in Fort Wayne at 9805 Illinois Road.

“This new location is one of the most modern and unique store designs in our entire company,” says Austin Prather, Pizza King director of marketing. “We wanted to give the community a dining room as beautiful as the community itself. The store features a brick wall facade, exposed ductwork and black ceilings.

We also wanted to commemorate how we’ve grown Austin Prather through the years,

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by displaying custom artwork about our history and brand throughout the store.”

The family-owned brand has supply agreements with 50 independently owned stores in eastern Indiana. It delivers freshly made dough and other premium core ingredients to the stores daily.

Community members are excited about the newest pizzeria’s interior, with its classic red phones for dine-in orders and a striking wall mural filled with phrases and menu items unique to the brand, says Prather.

“We’ve had numerous residents leave us messages about how they got hooked on Pizza King during their time at Ball State University in Muncie. Many of these graduates have moved to this area now and are ecstatic to have a pizza brand they love within such close proximity.”

The menu will feature iconic Pizza King “Feast” specialty pizzas as well as

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submarine sandwiches, pastas, wrap-ups and salads. Dill-butter-brushed breadsticks are also a favorite.

Traditional pizzas come with a thin, crispy crust, but there’s also a thicker, pan crust option. The Royal Feast Pizza, the brand’s most popular menu item for decades, features a special blend of pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions and red and green peppers.

The Pizza King brand has focused on one goal over the decades, says Prather.

“We just want to serve the highestquality products and give fast, friendly service.”

Call the new Illinois Road location at (260) 800-3821. ❚

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Your Fun

Entertainment & Events

Art on Call March 23, 2 p.m. Experience art from the comfort of your home. Programs alternate between a tour of a current exhibition and a theme-based Gallery on Wheels collection.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, (260) 422-9-6467, fwmoa.org.

‘Sleeping Beauty’ Mar. 26-28, Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sat. 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Things go awry when the wicked fairy Carabosse is not invited to the party celebrating the birth of Princess Aurora. Fort Wayne Ballet, 300 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, (260) 484-9646, fortwayneballet.org.

Bunny Talks in the Garden April 2-3, Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admire spring blooms and Easter animals. Find Easter eggs and fuzzy bunny tails along the way through the gardens and make a spring craft.

Botanical Conservatory, Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Parks, fortwayneparks.org.

Dog Dress-up Day April 3, 1-3 p.m. Unleash your pet’s sense of style. Meet at Auer Lawn. Promenade Park, Fort Wayne Parks, fortwayneparks.org.

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Live Butterfly Exhibit April 10-June 27, Tue.-Wed, Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.5 p.m., Thu. to 8 p.m., Sun. noon-4 p.m.

Blue Morpho, Emerald Peacock and Scarlet Mormon are just some of the butterflies making up the “Color in Motion” exhibit.

Enjoy lots of spring flowers and groundcover displays. Botanical Conservatory, Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Parks, fortwayneparks.org.

Home & Garden Show April 15-18, Thu. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri.-Sat. to 9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Over 650 exhibitors display the latest in contemporary home and garden products and services. Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, (260) 482-9502, memorialcoliseum.com.

‘The Color Purple’ April 24-25, Sat. 3 & 7:30 p.m., Sun. 4 p.m.

Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, (260) 425-6287, fwembassytheatre. org.

Ft Wayne Farmers Market Thru April 24, Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Parkview FIeld, 216 W. Douglas Ave., Fort Wayne, ftwaynesfarmersmarket.com. Market moves

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Dress up your dog on April 3.

outside May 1; watch for announcements on a location change.

YLNI Winter Farmers Market Thru April 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Former Aunt Millie’s Bakery, 302 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne, ylni.org. Market moves outdoors May 1.

Nature Banners Thru May 30, Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. noon-4 p.m. Explore conservation topics including bees, wolves, elephants, tigers, sharks and coral reefs, using bright-colored banners. Tickets online. Science Central, 1950 N. Clinton St., (260) 424-2400, sciencecentral.org. ❚

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To Advertise Call 260-267-5350

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March 2021 • II

To Advertise Call 260-267-5350