MyMenu After-Hours Event

Chamber members, you're invited... to an MyMenu exclusive after-hours event!

MyMenu is keeping its doors open for special customers to savor new and favorite tastes and find hundreds of entertaining ideas perfect for the holiday season.

What: MyMenu Exclusive After Hours Event
When: Monday, Dec. 15, 2008 from 6 pm – 9 pm
Where: All three Fort Wayne MyMenu locations – 6425 West Jefferson Boulevard, 9811 Lima Road and 10140 Maysville Road

Visit http://www.mymenustores.com/ for an eFlyer and festive holiday ideas!

Holiday Happenings at the Botanical Conservatory

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SHOWCASE

Now - Jan. 4
Botanical Conservatory’s holiday showcase – imagine yourself back in time to the bittersweet post-World War II era in U.S. history! Enjoy a retro holiday, a thousand poinsettias, holiday activities and more. Regular admission applies. Sponsored by PBS39 and the Kuhne Foundation.

HANDS-ON HOLIDAY NIGHTS
Dec. 18 5-8pm
Explore the gardens that are all dressed up for the season, including our 1950s nostalgia. Make a fun holiday craft with your family to take home! Regular admission applies.

VISIT WITH SANTA & REINDEER
Dec. 13, 20 Noon – 4pm
Children are invited to meet a pair of live reindeer and climb onto Santa’s lap to share their holiday wishes. Regular admission applies.

REINDEER RUN
Dec. 13 10:30am
Try this fun 5K (3.2 mile) holiday run. Runners and walkers will loop through one of Fort Wayne’s historic business districts. Participants are invited to enjoy the Conservatory’s holiday gardens after the race. Wear a costume and win a prize! Organized by: VEEP Races LLC. Registration deadline is December 10.

$1 SATURDAY
Dec. 27 10am – 5pm
Enjoy a visit to the gardens during the holiday season for just $1 per person. The Showcase Garden theme, Home for the Holidays, will capture your imagination amidst poinsettias & other seasonal plants.

The Conservatory is located at 1100 S. Calhoun Street in the heart of downtown. Don’t worry about parking – use the Civic Center Garage diagonally across the street from the Conservatory. Tickets are validated with paid admission. For more information on any holiday happenings, call (260) 427-6440 or visit http://www.botanicalconservatory.org/.

Regular admission: adults $4, children 3-17 $2, ages 2 and under free.

In This Issue...

In this issue of the Chamber's Emphasis magazine...

Learn how to give the "Gift of Community"

Nu- Tec Coatings Receives HUBZone Certification

Mayor Tom Henry Talks About "Making City Government Friendly to Business"

Plus an Upcoming Event You Won't Want to Miss...

Emphasis runs bi-weekly as the center section of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly. Be sure to pick up a copy today! Chamber members receive a free Business Weekly subscription with their membership.

Indiana's First Sled Hockey Tournament Honors Local Personality

In an event hosted by the McMillen Ice Arena(MAC) and Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation, Indiana’s first sled hockey team gathered to announce the name of their first tournament: the Bob Chase Frostbite Sled Hockey Tournament. The Turnstone Flyers named Indiana’s first sled hockey tournament for area celebrity Bob Chase, who has been a fixture for the past 50+ years with the hockey community.

Bob Chase enthusiastically gave his support for the new sled hockey team and their upcoming tournament. “This is a great honor to be associated with this inclusive sport,” he said. “This is a great hockey town, and sled hockey broadens opportunities and opens the door for people who weren’t able to play in the past.”

The sled hockey movement has taken off quickly in Fort Wayne. It began about one year ago, when new resident Randy Kwapis approached officials at the Ice Arena to see if they would consider bringing sled hockey to the City. Randy’s son Matt is a disabled athlete and played this adaptive sport in Detroit. Kwapis provided a number of sleds that he manufactured, and play time was set aside for interested athletes.

The sport of sled hockey has been eagerly embraced by officials at the MAC, Fort Wayne Youth Hockey, Turnstone and the League for the Blind and Disabled. These organizations have been involved in building community support to make this program a success. Over the past six months, 15 sleds have been donated to the program and funders are coming forward to help continue the tournament.

For those familiar with wheelchair basketball and tennis, sled hockey is similar in that it is a great sport for youth and adults, and men and women. Sled hockey got its start in Sweden during the 1960’s when two men with disabilities wanted to continue playing hockey. The equipment hasn’t changed much since then – players sit in sleds with two blades on the bottom. They propel and maneuver themselves with two short hockey sticks, curved on one end with short ice picks on the other end.

For more information visit http://www.mcmillenicearena.org/ or call the Ice Arena at (260) 427-6769.

Learn United Seeks to Strengthen Education & Community

Learn United is an initiative of United Way in partnership with East Allen County Schools, Fort Wayne Community Schools, The Allen County Education Partnership, the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way Women's Initiative.

Click here to learn about improving children's literacy in Fort Wayne.

TCT Prayer Center Open House

New Chamber member, TCT Prayer Center (Total Christian Television - Ch. 43, DT-12, Ch 63) is holding an open house next Monday, December 15 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Join TCT as they celebrate the grand opening of the new TCT Prayer Center. Meet the founders of TCT, Dr. Garth and Tina Coonce. See how prayer calls are received world wide through their televised 800# and pick up information on how to be a part of their volunteer ministry. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome!

For more information please contact Marlene Sutton, TCT Prayer Coordinator at (260) 483-9809.

TCT Prayer Center is located at 3737 Lake Avenue (one block west of Coliseum).

Star of Bethlehem Show at Saint Francis Planetarium

Come to the Edwin E. Schouweiler Planetarium in Achatz Hall of Science at the University of Saint Francis for the annual Christmas-themed Star of Bethlehem show.

The show begins under the Mideastern sky of 3 B.C. and follows the star of the Wise Men. During the live portion of the show, planetarium staff will guide attendees through the wonders of the Fort Wayne winter night sky. Parking is available off Leesburg Road.

Admission: $4 Adults, $3 Senior Citizens and children under 18, $14 maximum per family.

For more information visit www.sf.edu/planetarium or call (260) 399-8068.

Upcoming Shows:

Friday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 13 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 14 at 5 p.m.
Friday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 20 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 21 at 5 p.m.

Tomorrow's Meet Me @ 5

The final Meet Me @ 5 of 2008 is TOMORROW, Thursday December 11 and will be hosted by Tower Bank from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Tower Bank is located at 116 East Berry Street in downtown Fort Wayne. This holiday networking event is a huge Fort Wayne favorite. Enjoy the beautifully decorated Tower Bank lobby, food and business connections.

The cost to attend is $5 plus a business card for Chamber members or $10 plus a business card for non-Chamber members. For more information, contact the Chamber at (260) 424-1435 or register online at fwchamber.org.

Parks & Recreation Sponsors Monthly Free Event at Georgetown

Chamber member Parks & Recreation is sponsoring a monthly free movie feature for seniors, 55+ years, at Georgetown Movie Theatre, 6414 E. State Blvd.

Join other seniors for a movie, door prizes, and refreshments at no cost on December 10 at 9:30 am, where Wall-E will be the featured presentation. Other movie dates are: January 11th, February 11th, and March 11th. For more information, call the Community Center at (260) 427-6460.

Senator Dick Lugar Northeast Indiana Community Service Center

Clothing Drive

• Coats, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and blankets are being collected.


• Coats sizes needed for adults are small and medium. All kids sizes are needed.


• Senator Lugar’s office and Don Ayers Pontiac on Lima Road are drop off sites.


• Monetary donations may be made to purchase additional items for the drive.


• All items will go to assist immigrants in the Greater Fort Wayne community during the winter months through the host agency.

Book Drive

• Books should be for birth to 5th grade reading level – new or lightly used.


• Books will be donated to two local schools in need of books who do not meet Title 1 qualifications.


• Encourage everyone to donate books.


• Make a monetary donation to pay for additional books.

Reading in Schools

• Volunteer to read once a week for one hour at a site near you.


• Sign up with a buddy & read every other week for one hour at sites near you.


• One simple application at no cost.


• Children are Kindergarten – 8th grade.
  

Other projects are available! If you are interested in any of these projects or learning about other opportunities contact the Lugar Community Service Center at (260) 422-1505 or email fw_lugar@lugar.senate.gov.

"A Night to Shine" Special Event for Women

Ladies, gather your friends and join Elite Woman for a night of live entertainment, a free wine tasting and delectable desserts on Tuesday, December 9 from 7 - 9 p.m.

What to expect:

• 25% off all laser packages

• 10% off all gift card purchases from December 1- December 22

• Free goodie bags and gifts*

• Free test spot laser treatments

• Free mini facials

• Free chair massages from IPT Woman

• Free jewelry cleaner from Will Jewelers*

• Free bra fittings from Victoria’s Secret

• Free hair consultations from Elite Visions Hair by Lisa Wills

• Holiday décor provided by A Party Apart

*Offer only valid while supplies last.

You could win:

• A free Green Peel® ($300.00 value!)

• An AGE smart™ skin care package ($200.00 value!)

• A hair make-over by Elite Visions Hair

• A designer handbag from Beijo Bags

• A one hour massage from IPT Woman

• An Elite Facial Treatment

Call (260) 969-5080 to reserve your spot today or visit www.NightToShine.com for more information. Elite Woman is located at 8028 Carnegie Boulevard, Suite 250. To learn more about Elite Woman visit www.becomingelite.com.

Deadline Approaching for Commercial Facade Grant Program

In October Mayor Tom Henry shared details of the City’s new Commercial Façade Grant program with members of the business community at the unveiling of the Broadway Corridor project.

“I wanted to make opportunities available to property owners in designated corridors that would help make every corner of our community commercially attractive for investment and commerce.” The Mayor explained the new program will make funds available to offset the costs of facades, signage, lighting, awnings, parking improvements, decorative fencing, and other enhancements owners may wish to make to their property.

The average matching amount of the grant is expected to be about $20,000, but larger projects may qualify for more assistance, the mayor said.

Administered through the Redevelopment Department, the grant applications are available in the City-County Building and online. The deadline is fast approaching for property and business owners who meet proper criteria - applications will be accepted through Friday, December 19. Projects must be located in City Council-designated economic development target areas (EDTAs), several of which exist throughout the community. An EDTA area map is available at the city’s website.

Businesses with questions or wanting more information may call Julie Sanchez at (260) 427-2147.

Summit City Metal Recycling Celebrates Grand Opening

Summit City Metal Recycling will celebrate their grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, December 10 at 10 a.m. Summit City Metal Recycling is located southeast of downtown at 1412 South Anthony Boulevard (at Hayden Street).

Participating in the ribbon cutting, along with company officials, will be representatives from the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fort Wayne.

Summit City Metal Recycling (SCMR) is Fort Wayne’s newest metal recycling center. Unlike other places, SCMR accepts and pays you cash on the spot for most household, commercial, and industrial metal, such as aluminum, brass, copper, steel, stainless steel, tool steel, cast iron, insulated wire, and alloys.

SCMR’s mission is to be committed to your business recycling needs and to the recycling needs of our community. Services that SCMR provides include transportation (roll-off boxes, dump trailers, van and flatbed trailers, and overseas containers), brokerage and trading, turn-key facility recycling programs and an indoor retail buying center.

For more information about Summit City Metal Recycling, contact Justin Miller at (260) 399-4843 or Justin@scmr.bz, or visit the Web site at www.scmr.bz.