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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ May 2021 • No. II

It’s GearFest Time!

Sweetwater’s 20th Event Spans the Globe

A Local Author’s Dream: Denise Hunter How to Choose the Best Flooring for YOU 6 Ways Kitchen Custom Cabinetry Pays Off New Ideas to Improve Your Outdoor Spaces

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Sweetwater’s 20th GearFest Spans the Globe Your Community ...............................................11 No Regrets for Local Author Denise Hunter Your Home ........................................................13 Tips for Choosing New Flooring Wisely Inspiration & Worship ......................................14 Rahab: A Preview of Grace Your Outdoor Living .........................................19 How to Make Your Backyard More Enjoyable Your Home Exterior ............................ .............. 23 What to Ask Before Installing a New Roof Health & Fitness ............................ ................... 25 Tasty, Protein-Packed Summer Salad Your Kitchen ......................................................27 6 Reasons to Choose Custom Cabinetry Your Fun ....................................... ......... .............28

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writer Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Fort Wayne General Manager Sherri Cassedy Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky 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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Making a Difference

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ne person can make such a big difference in the community in which we live. Chuck Surack is such a person. From humble beginnings in 1979, Surack’s Sweetwater has grown to become the largest online music retailer in the world. From a staff of one, the Sweetwater Family Businesses now employ over 2,000 people and they’re still growing.

Sweetwater’s annual GearFest is online again this year, and its value to music lovers is as strong as ever. On a recent trip to their local music store, located at the company’s impressive local headquarters, we were immediately drawn to their vast display of guitars. If there’s a musician in your family, it’s highly likely they’ll feel the same attraction during this year’s GearFest, the highlight of this week’s cover story.

In my last column, I covered how important our locally owned businesses are to Fort Wayne and the surrounding communities. Studies show that these businesses make greater economic contributions to our region than national chain stores. They are more closely tied into, and supportive of, the local arts, entertainment, sports and educational institutions we value. As good as it is to support their needs financially right now, we might want to look out for their manpower needs.

You see, when COVID-19 hit, most of our local business owners were unsure about the challenges that laid ahead. Many of them weren’t prepared for a shortage of talented people once the economy began to recover. Drive around town today and it seems like “Now Hiring” signs are everywhere. How does this affect you? Perhaps you know someone in need of job, looking for a job, switching jobs … and you know of a business looking to hire. You might be able to make a difference in connecting the two. Recently, I visited with an executive at our TinCaps baseball team, and they said there could be greater attendance at games if they just had more volunteers coming forward. Might that be you or one of yours?

Here’s to making a difference in Fort Wayne!

Sherri Cassedy General Manager

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Our Community

‘No Regrets’ for this Successful Author

By Janine Pumilia any people want to write a novel, but only a few actually do it. Denise Hunter decided to be one of the “doers” 25 years ago, and put pen to paper while her young sons napped.

“My grandfather had died and suddenly the brevity of life became very real to me,” she says. “I didn’t want to get to the end of my life and regret not having tried.”

Hunter was a voracious reader and knew what she liked – “I wrote the book I wanted to read” – but she didn’t know the mechanics of novel writing, so turned to the Allen County Public Library to research her new craft.

She was drawn to small-town love stories about people struggling with real-life issues. Implicit in a romance novel is the promise that heartaches will be resolved by the last page.

“I didn’t have any idea if I had real writing talent,” she says. “I ran my book by a local editor who told me I should get started on a second book. That encouraged me.”

Hunter’s 38th book, “Bookshop by the Sea,” was released last month.

Barbour Publishing purchased her first book and that led to 37 titles and counting. The 38th was released in April, “BookShe also has a home in the Christian romance genre, and no shop by the Sea,” set on the North Carolina coast. plan to shift lanes.

Hunter’s clean prose, swift-moving plots and sympathetic “I hold a Christian world view, so that comes through in characters have earned her several writing awards. Three of her my stories, but not in a super overt way,” she explains. “I’m not stories have been adapted into Hallmark screenplays. But she a preacher, I’m a storyteller. The story is king. Maybe I have a says the best thing about her career is the fact that her three sons character who really needs to forgive someone but is finding it didn’t know she had one. difficult to do so. Forgiveness is a Christian principle.”

“I did all of my writing while they were sleeping or at Now, happily situated at HarperCollins Christian Publishschool,” she says. “It was great for me to have my own thing, but ing, Hunter considers herself fortunate to work with book edion a schedule that allowed me to keep the kids my first priority.” tors and film producers who share her outlook. “The Goodbye With a chuckle, she recalls the day her youngest son, then 13, Bride” is her most recent book adapted by Hallmark. It aired in asked for help with schoolwork.

2019 as “Christmas On My Mind.” Christmas stories have the “I told him, ‘OK, after I finish this thing on my website.’ He highest viewership of all Hallmark films. said to me, ‘YOU have a website?’ This was at least 14 years into Although Hunter has visited film sets to observe producmy career, and I thought, ‘Maybe I should let the kids know that tion, she spends most days at a Fort Wayne coffee shop churning I do this thing.’” out “at least six good pages” per day.

Today the boys are Why a coffee shop? grown and Hunter enjoys “If I’m home, I feel like I should be throwing in laundry or her empty nest with husband making dinner.”

Kevin. Natives of southern Book sales climbed during the chaos of 2020.

Ohio, they moved to Fort “People are looking for escape,” says Hunter.

Wayne in 1989 so Kevin Readers find comfort knowing troubles will be resolved by could pursue a job. Denise the final page of a Denise Hunter novel, no matter what sticky studied commercial art in messes she’s gotten them into. college, but stopped her “All of us carry around wounds of some kind,” says Hunter. studies to clear her plate after “Maybe someone grew up with a very controlling parent or was their second son was born. abused as a child. We all end up with some kind of wound and “This is a wonderful my goal is for readers, when it’s applicable, to see themselves in place to raise a family,” she my characters and to see those characters get past the hurt and says. “We look back and land in a healthier place.” have no regrets. Fort Wayne Learn more about Hunter’s work and sign up for contests Denise Hunter will always be home.” and monthly giveaways at DeniseHunterBooks.com. ❚

M

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Your Home & Garden

How to Navigate Today’s Flooring Options

Durable luxury vinyl planks or tiles that imitate hardwood or stone are wildly popular for good reason, but be sure to do your homework. As with all types of flooring, quality matters. An educated sales professional can explain the differences among your options.

B y Pe g g y We r n e r ecent advances in flooring technology allow consumers to find just the right look they want at the quality and price point they need. Having so many options can be confusing, however, and all flooring is not equal, no matter how good it looks.

An educated salesperson can make all the difference between a frustrating or successful shopping experience as you navigate the many industry and marketing terms in the world of flooring.

“The flooring industry has come a long way and there’s a lot to know,” says Brittany Brouer, marketing director at Van’s Home Center, 106 Peckhart Ct., Auburn, Ind. “At our store, each customer is greeted by an educated and helpful salesperson who is with you the whole time.”

For example, although a manufacturer might state a type of flooring is waterproof, that may not mean it’s able to withstand a flooded basement. A consumer needs to understand its specific properties before buying.

“If you go somewhere thinking you’re getting a good deal on flooring that’s 99 cents a square foot, it may not be engineered to do what you want it to do,” says Brouer. “It’s important to know if the warranty is for a lifetime or a few years and if there’s a pet protection warranty. The guarantees indicate the quality of the floor.”

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Also, many warranties are not enforceable unless a product is professionally installed, something that should give pause to do-it-yourselfers who buy cheap flooring from chain stores.

A leading trend today is the wide array of low-maintenance luxury vinyl products made to look like hardwood planks (LVP) or natural stone tile (LVT).

Beveled edges, detailed grooves and excellent graining details make today’s hardwood look-alikes difficult to distinguish from more expensive engineered or solid hardwood.

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) gives the appearance of stone or marble, but resists moisture, stains and scratches. It won’t crack or dent, either. Homes in all price points are making good use of these attractive new vinyl products.

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 flooring, it sells appliances, furniture, mattresses, cabinetry, countertops and more, says Brouer.

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

Visit the store at 106 Peckhart Court, Auburn, Ind., call (260) 927-8267 to learn more. ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

Who Was Rahab?

Scripture: Joshua chapter 2

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hile the harlot Rahab may not come to mind as a Biblical heroine, she is nonetheless counted among the “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 11. Her story foreshadowed the Age of Grace we enjoy today. Who was she?

After Moses led the 12 tribes of Israel (Jacob) out of Egyptian slavery and into the Promised Land (Canaan), he handed his leadership authority to Joshua.

During the years of slavery, many groups took up residence in Canaan, including those who built the walled city of Jericho. Joshua sent two spies to scout Jericho and they hid from the city’s soldiers in the house of Rahab, a prostitute who lived just inside the city wall.

Due to her line of work, Rahab met many travelers and heard about the miracles God did for the Israelites. She developed a strong faith in God, even to the point of risking her life by hiding the two spies on her rooftop beneath sheaves of grain.

Rahab helped the spies to escape by lowering them through her window to a safe location outside the city walls. First, however, Rahab made the spies promise that when Israel returned to destroy Jericho, she and her family would be spared. The spies agreed and instructed her to hang a scarlet cord from her window.

In time, Israel destroyed Jericho. It spared Rahab and her family, however, just as the spies had promised. Rahab then married one of the spies, who was named Salmon, and they parented Boaz. He, too, married a foreign woman with faith in God, named Ruth. Ruth came to personify not only faith, but also loyalty.

Rahab and Ruth, neither one born Jewish, are both named as ancestors of King David and therefore Jesus Christ.

In Rahab’s time, Israelites alone were called “God’s chosen people.” First by her faith, and later by marriage, Rahab became one of them, showing us that our faith is more important to God than our ethnicity or our sins. God judged Rahab by her heart, foreshadowing the amazing Age of Grace in which we live. In fact, in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus Christ, only the foreign women in Christ’s ancestry are named, perhaps to emphasize that Jesus came to rescue all of us from our sins – and we all are sinners. ❚

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-- Janine Pumilia

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Right in Our Region

GearFest: Fort Wayne’s Global Reach

Sweetwater’s GearFest pivoted from a location event to an exclusively online event with global reach last year. Bassist Ian Hill, of Judas Priest, and Peter Frampton are among headlining celebrities who’ll take part in this year’s online event June 25 & 26.

By Peggy Werner

F

or fans of Sweetwater GearFest, this time of year is music to their ears.

GearFest is known around the world as a free, action-packed, two-day event of online seminars, workshops, live performances, artist appearances, great deals, giveaways and, most of all, the latest gear news and products offered by Sweetwater of Fort Wayne, Ind. This year’s event will be June 25 & 26.

GearFest Executive Director Bob Bailey says there’s nothing like it anywhere else.

“The Deal Zone is the first place people run to and we have customers from all over the world wanting to meet up with the hundreds of companies showing the latest products and gear for recording artists,” he says.

Panels of engineers, producers, light designers and awardwinning song writers and musicians will talk about what they do and the art of achieving excellence in their fields. Watch demonstrations and videos of new gear featuring Sweetwater experts and vendor representatives. Attendees will get the inside scoop directly from manufacturers and learn what’s coming out next in brand-name equipment.

Traditionally held on the Sweetwater campus in Fort Wayne, 16

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GearFest pivoted to an exclusively online event last year and will be online again this year, Bailey says.

“This year’s online GearFest has been greatly expanded and improved with more presentations, more big-name artists and better deals,” he says.

Among the many headliners at this year’s festival are

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Right in Our Region Grammy-winning musician, singer, songwriter and producer Peter Frampton and bassist Ian Hill of Judas Priest. More big-name artists will be announced on Sweetwater.com in upcoming days.

Sweetwater is the largest online music retailer in the world. It specializes in recording equipment and software, guitars and guitar accessories, bass guitars and accessories, keyboards and synthesizers, drum sets and drum accessories, live sound equipment, DJ equipment, microphones and more. All shipping is free and products come with a two-year warranty. There’s live phone support, flexible pay options, an onsite was founded by Fort Wayne resident Chuck Surack in 1979. It specializes in recording equiprepair shop and an online Knowledge Sweetwater ment and software; guitars, keyboards, drums and their accessories; and other music technology items.

Base with more than 27,000 articles on free arcade, fitness center with a personal trainer, salon and music technology and audio engineering. spa, medical clinic staffed by a full-time doctor and a registered Sweetwater focuses on providing exceptional customer nurse. Everything is open to the public, except the fitness center service and employs more than 500 highly trained sales engineers, and medical clinic, which are for employees only. Sweetwater many of them musicians, explains Heather Herron, vice president employs more than 2,000 people. of corporate communications.

The main building is also home to the Sweetwater The sales engineers undergo 13 weeks of proprietary training Academy, serving more than 900 students. A large outdoor before interacting with customers. Continued training takes place covered amphitheater hosts summer concerts and other events. twice weekly so that they have the latest information on new Sweetwater was founded by Fort Wayne resident Chuck products. Customers are paired with a specific sales engineer Surack in 1979 as a recording studio in his home. He went who gets to know them and their goals. from the recording studio business into the music technology “That one-on-one approach is at the core of what we do. retail business after he was frustrated in his own attempts to It’s not about the sale, it’s about helping our friends make their find a reliable, knowledgeable music technology retailer with dreams come true,” Herron says. affordable prices, strong customer service and technical support.

The Sweetwater campus is 163 acres large, located on the In the early 1980s, the revolutionary Kurzweil K250 west side of Fort Wayne. The main building is about 400,000 keyboard emerged. The groundbreaking keyboard gave square feet large. There’s also a 500,000 square-foot distribution musicians and composers access to realistic orchestral sounds, center on the southwest side of the property. The campus houses among others, opening new possibilities for music composition the music store along with a performance theater, three large and performance. conference rooms, a full-service diner, gourmet coffee shop, Surack created his own sound library for the keyboard and gained a national reputation as an expert at programming the instrument. Renowned musicians such as Stevie Wonder and Kenny Rogers began consulting with Surack, purchasing K250 factory options and upgrades through him, and eventually Sweetwater became a Kurzweil dealer.

As Surack’s expertise became known, customers kept coming back to him for product advice and eventually the company began representing more product lines and rapidly developed and implemented its unique philosophy of relationship-based selling, which treats customers as friends. ❚ Hundreds of companies introduce their products to musicians worldwide during GearFest.

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Outdoor Living

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Outdoor Living

Ideas to Improve Your Outdoor Spaces

By Peggy Werner

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andemic restrictions made us realize, more than ever, just how important outdoor spaces are for the enjoyment of our homes.

And during the past year, many of us noticed those spaces could use some improvement. But how do we get started?

That’s where W.A. Zimmer of Huntington, Ind., comes in.

For 40 years, the company has been helping homeowners to make their outdoor spaces more comfortable year-round by installing maintenance-free, highquality sunrooms, pergolas, patio covers and retractable awnings and screens.

“People usually have an idea of what they want, but they don’t Homeowners enjoy the option of sun or shade from their Skyview patio cover and pergola installed by W.A. Zimmer. know what we have to match results and they look awesome, we started offering the product their needs,” says Bill Zimmer, who owns the business with wife this past year.”

Marcia.

Decades ago, most of the Zimmers’ business was building W.A. Zimmer takes responsibility for a whole project, start sunrooms. Today, sunroom construction is about 25 percent of to finish, including obtaining permits when needed. If the prodthe business. People are enhancing their patios and decks by ucts they build need servicing, they do that, too. adding shades, awnings and screens to make them more livable.

“One thing I learned right away is that everyone wants mainSince 1983, the Zimmers have purchased about 75 percent tenance-free products,” says Zimmer. “We don’t build anything of their materials from Temo Sunrooms, the largest sunroom and out of wood that needs paint and stain. We use grades of highpatio product manufacturer in the United States. quality aluminum.”

Zimmer’s first job out of high school was at a home imThe company evaluates trending products before offering provement center. There, he learned that helping people to make them to customers. their homes more enjoyable was what he wanted to do with his One of the newest products to impress the Zimmers is the life. He opened his own business and relocated it in the midSkyview roof – a whole roof or section of a roof made from tint1990s to the present address. The 3,500-square-foot showroom ed glass, made by Temo has displays set up indoors and outdoors so customers can see Sunrooms of Michigan. how structures will look at any time of the year.

It allows for light while A 5,000 square-foot warehouse stores bulk supplies to help providing a view and Zimmer cut wait times and cost for customers. protection from the eleA second showroom is planned for South Bend, Ind., and ments. will have its own sales staff and installation crew.

“These roofs have Sales Manager Ryan Lemon, the Zimmers’ son-in-law, will taken the place of skyone day take over the business when the Zimmers retire. This lights,” says Zimmer. succession plan will ensure customers enjoy the same quality “They’ve been around for of products and services they’ve come to expect, Zimmer says. a couple years and I’ve “Customers know that we do what we say we’re going to do been paying attention to and that brings them a lot of comfort.” see how they’re working Learn more by calling (260) 356-1621 or stop in at 1700 N. out for people. Because Bill and Marcia Zimmer and family Broadway, Huntington, Ind. ❚ people are happy with the Tell them you saw it in ...

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Styles That Will Make You Say Pati-OHHH! Live outside in comfort & style this spring and summer! Shop now and save on the perfect outdoor furniture for your backyard oasis.

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Furniture | Appliances | Flooring | Mattresses | Cabinets & Countertops

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Your Home Exterior

What to Know Before You Choose 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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Your Healthful Recipe

A Tasty, Protein-Packed Summer Salad A

salad can fill an empty stomach for nearly any purpose, from an al fresco snack to a family appetizer. When combined with protein like chicken, it can become a full, nutritious meal all on its own.

If you’re looking for a way to take your salad from snack or side to a savory main course, consider this High-Protein Chicken, Onion and Quinoa Salad with its own from-scratch dressing. Ready in less than 30 minutes, it calls for a handful of everyday ingredients including sauteed onions as a key ingredient for added flavor.

Onions are a natural wonder because of their many “skills.” Onions add abundant flavor to a wide variety of foods with just 45 calories per serving as a source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and other key nutrients such as folate, calcium and iron. They’re also rich in heart-healthy nutrients and have been shown to help prevent some cancers.

Visit onions-usa.org for more recipe ideas.

High-Protein Chicken, Onion & Quinoa Salad Recipe courtesy of the National Onion Association

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 6

To make dressing: In bowl, whisk vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, honey and Dijon mustard until well combined.

Set aside.

In saucepan, bring quinoa and broth to boil. Simmer, covered, 12-15 minutes, or until broth has been absorbed. Cool completely.

In medium skillet, heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Saute onion 3-5

minutes, or until softened and translucent.

Remove from heat; cool completely.

In large bowl, toss onion, kale, apple, chicken, salt and pepper with dressing.

Stir in cooled quinoa.

Nutritional information per serving: 407 calories, 36.5 g protein, 11.6 g fat, 39 g carbohydrates, 297 mg sodium, 4.2 g fiber. ❚ Source: Family Features

Dressing: 1/4 2 1 1 1

cup apple cider vinegar TB olive oil TB lemon juice tsp. honey tsp. Dijon mustard

Salad:

1 1/2 cups red quinoa, rinsed 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1 tsp. canola oil 1 white onion, sliced 3 cups baby kale 1 red-skinned apple, chopped 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper

All About Onions: Did You Know?

Here are some fun facts related to onions, just in time to celebrate National Onion Day on June 27. Find more at onions-usa.org.

• Onions are high in Vitamin C and are a good source of dietary fiber and folic acid.

• They contain calcium, iron, and have a high protein quality (ratio of mg amino acid/ gram protein. They’re low in sodium and contain no fat.

• Onions contain quercetin, a flavonoid (one category of antioxidant compounds).

Quercetin helps to eliminate free radicals in the body and to inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation (an important reaction in the atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease).

• Onions contain organosulfur compounds that may offer unique health benefits.

Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison. ❚ Tell them you saw it in ...

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Photography by David C. Olson

Your Kitchen

6 Reasons to Choose Custom Cabinetry

By Janine Pumilia

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ustom cabinets made by hand, from scratch.

Sounds expensive, right? And yet many homeowners are surprised by the value proposition of custom work, says Designer Randall Snyder, J. Miller Cabinet Co., Columbia City, Ind. First, “Every inch of space is well used when you build custom cabinets,” he says. “Stock cabinets and even ‘semi-custom’ cabinets are often ordered in 3-inch increments, which means if you don’t have exactly the right space, fillers are used and space is wasted. We don’t fill the space, we fit the space.”

Second, custom cabinets are made to fit the customer – literally.

“We can build any height, depth and width that makes sense for you,” says Snyder.

A shorter person may want a lower kitchen counter height and wall cabinets placed 16 inchPainted cabinetry is very popular today, especially in shades of white, grey or blue. es above the counter rather than the standard 18 from the ordinary, improving resale value. Kitchens are the most inches, for example. A taller person may want a important room of the home for prospective buyers.

33-inch or higher bathroom vanity, not the standard 30-inch, to “Custom work can give your kitchen personality,” says make it easier to bend over the sink.

Snyder. “I’ve been known to place a dishwasher at a 45-degree “Do you have a special collection of dishes you love, but angle in a corner, or even a range or a sink. As long as things are there’s a 13-inch platter that won’t fit in a standard 12-inch-deep symmetrical, proportional and functionally efficient, your kitchcabinet? Not a problem, as long as you tell us during the planning en doesn’t have to look like every other kitchen in the world.” process,” says Snyder.

Fifth, there’s no shipping hassle. J. Miller typically delivThird, custom work allows for “any door style in any wood ers a kitchen within three weeks of placing an order, although with any finish,” unlike stock cabinets. “Maybe you like this door this year is extra busy and turn-arounds are longer. At big-box style but you can’t get it in that color. We can do any style in any stores, customers not only risk delays for cabinetry to arrive, but color on the color wheel.” also risk damage caused by shipping, which can force a re-order.

Fourth, custom work allows your new kitchen to stand out Perhaps the top reason to choose custom cabinetry over stock cabinets is quality. J. Miller customers deal with accessible local folks, not far-away corporations.

“We use only hardwood for doors and frames, and plywood with veneer – never particle board, which absorbs moisture – for shelving and side pieces,” Snyder notes. “We tell people, ‘If you can dream it up, we can build it.’”

All cabinetry is made in the same shop that the late John Miller opened in 1949 and the business remains family owned. It specializes in custom kitchens and baths, entertainment centers, bookcases, mantels and “anything wood that a home needs, except the flooring and staircase,” says Snyder.

J. Miller also sells countertops in quartz, granite, laminate and cultured marble.

Learn more by calling Randy at (260) 691-2032 or stop into the shop, 5874 North 350 East, Columbia City, at the east end of Round Lake. ❚ Tell them you saw it in ...

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May 2021 • II

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Your Fun

Entertainment & Events

Open Acoustic Jam Each second Tuesday, 5-8 p.m. at Sweetwater, 5501 US Hwy 30 West, Fort Wayne. For musicians of all skill levels. sweetwater.com.

Trek the Trails Weekly Tuesday evening bicycle rides, 6-7:30 p.m., on various trails. fwtrails.org.

Lost Man Blues Thru June 13, Jon Schueler’s Art and War exhibition encompasses his experiences during World War II when he served as a navigator in the U.S. Army Air Corp. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, (260) 422-6467, fwmoa.org.

Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau June 5-Sept. 26 daily except Mondays. Learn about the Czech painter and graphic artist admired for his stylized theater posters and so much more. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St. fwmoa.org, (260) 422-6467.

Zoofari Fundraiser On June 10, SYM Financial Advisors presents “Zoofari: Brews, Bites, & Beasts,” a WILD fundraising event on June 10 that offers guests

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Smart Living Fort Wayne

aged 21 and older the chance to sample delicious bites and beverages from 50 regional establishments all while enjoying live music and connecting with the zoo’s 1,400 animals. development@kidszoo.org org, (260) 4272040.

Drive-Thru Fort Wayne Germanfest June 12, noon-5 p.m. In lieu of the traditional festival, pick up German meals for $10 at three locations. germanfest.org.

Community Chess at Promenade Park June 13 & 27; July 25. Noon to 6 p.m. Learn and play chess, no matter your skill level.

Promenade Park, 202 W. Superior St., Fort Wayne. Call (260) 433-1147 to learn more.

Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers Wed. June 16, 7 p.m. at the Clyde Theatre.

GearFest June 25 & 26. Sweetwater presents its 20th GearFest, all online, with seminars, panels and workshops related to all things music technology. Guest celebrities include Peter Frampton. See our cover story and learn more at Sweewater.com.

May 2021 • II

To Advertise Call 260-267-5350

The Art Nouveau work of Alphonse Mucha comes to Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

Butterfly Exhibit Thru June 27. See colorful live butterflies in motion at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., (260) 4276440.

Billy Currington July 23, 8 p.m., Clyde Theater, 1808 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. Currington has charted 11 No. 1 singles. (260) 747-0989, clydetheatre. com. ❚

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Smart Living Fort Wayne

May 2021 • II

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Smart Living Fort Wayne

May 2021 • II

To Advertise Call 260-600-7340

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

May 2021 • II

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Smart Living Fort Wayne

May 2021 • II

To Advertise Call 260-600-7340