TTD in D Fort? This Week: Tues-Sat: Canal Days in New Haven; Thurs: Family Fun Night @Friemann Sq.; Fri-Sun: SUMMERFEST; & Germanfest next week @HWP

Whom Doesn't Love The Follies Of Youth?

It Is Summertime In The Hoosier State! One of the first ways to tell when summer has set into full swing besides the smell of campfires and barbecue in the late night hours is all the hot young men running around shirtless in either board and khaki shorts or their underwear or other various states of nudity. The other way to tell is when grown men embrace their inner child and create a slip and slide in the middle of a dorm hallway, or a ravine, or in the middle of a particularly undisclosed *cough* City park....

Canal Days in New Haven: Shortened but better?

The tough economic times (*see below) that we are in have also affected the small town festivals we all love for that hometown flavour that sometimes gets lost in the big city. New Haven and Adams Township is hosting Canal Days this week @ Shnelker Park on Broadway (aka Trier or Landin Road in Fort Wayne). Proceed on Lincoln Highway East (or the straight road after the O'Daniel Ford Dealer on US930) and go 1 block south on Broadway to get to the Park. The festivities begin 6 p.m. Tuesday, 4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, and Noon on Saturday, closing @ 11 p.m. each night.

UPDATE: The NEWS SENTINEL posted an article on the issues surrounding festival funding on Thursday.
Please look below this post for relevant excerpts and commentary or go to the above link for the article.

In Fort Wayne we mark the beginning of summer with a jam concert and plenty of face painting to go around and of course alcohol out the ass. This is also the time of year when all the non profits and political hacks try to get their message out to the larger community, and increase their outreach heavily. F6 would like you to remember to drink responsibly and to have a designated driver when coming to events in Fort Wayne and recommend the Yellow Taxi Cab Company phone: 260-422-1010 for your non sobriety relief and assistance. The adage is true, You came to Allen County on vacation! Will you leave on probation? Be Sober, Be Safe!

Unlike last year when the Downtown Improvement District hosted Friemann Family Fun Night this years celebration kicking off to summer is just one night on this first Thursday the 4th instead of the whole month *tears*; however this means, that a whole lot of free fun is packed into three hours for kids of all ages, including: a Mario Kart Contest to win a Nintendo DSI c/o McVan's Video Game Traders (visit website for more details) and a young Hoosier celebrity Marnee August along with the traditional balloon launch and arts and crafts.

SUMMERFEST 2009: Celebrate Summer & Say Bye-bye Hunger!

During this first weekend in June Heartland Communities, Inc along with many others have come together to present SUMMERFEST 2009 on June 5th through the 7th @ Head Waters Park where over 40 original music acts, along with other talented performers and artists as well as a varied slate of vendors, education opportunities, and activities for all ages, will be coming together to begin "Kicking-off Summer and Alleviating Hunger in 09 "! The cost for all three days, is 18 dollars; and for one day admission, 8 dollars; with a 3 dollar discount on either with the donation of a non perishable food item which will be donated to the Community Harvest Food Bank.

We also have some free events and opportunities set up throughout the event for those whom cant afford admission; plus, there are still many ways to VOLUNTEER for SUMMERFEST and earn a free wristband! SUMMERFEST [Music Website] and [Main Website] will include a skate tournament and Punk Rock concert on Friday June 5th, 2009 followed by live music by many of the local Ft. Wayne favorites of all genres of music on a stage inside the West pavilion on Saturday June 6th, 2009 and ending with an a flag football game with participants being the performers and an acoustic concert on Sunday June 7th, 2009. Right click on image and open in a new tab to view the full band schedule for SUMMERFEST.

No, of course it wouldn't be Fort Wayne without Germanfest.....

The week long festival begins @ 11 a.m. Sunday the 7th of June, 2009 with German language Mass presided over by Fr. Chuck Herman @ Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church on DeWald Street followed by a brat dinner with "German style refreshments".

Grab your steins and learn to slap your jowels when asking your friends whats for dinner. Of course what is for dinner varies from vendor or the particular event during the week long festival but the main attraction has and will always be bratwurst and sauerkraut. Oh yeah ...I almost forgot.... and cold draft beer! There are many events going on during the week long festivities, you can plan your schedule accordingly by visiting the Germanfest Event Calendar.

The beer tent is open 10:30a.m. Wednesday and goes until midnight and opens the next three days @ 11 a.m. until midnight on Thursday and 1:00a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Admission and meal prices vary based on the events and locations, please check ahead to plan accordingly.

FESTIVAL FUNDING: Interesting Facts To Consider

New Haven Canal Days
1. Turnout expected to be @ 25 thousand, same as last year.
2. They are not competing with GermanFest at the same time.
3. Budget for this year total 8 thousand dollars, a shortfall of 15 thousand dollars
4. Budget for last year just for entertainment 6 thousand dollars (drastic)
5. Went from 8 food vendors to 5 and major attractions/events limited or discontinued.

Three Rivers Festival
1. Currently has 52 sponsors which is only a minor deficit from last year.
2. They are approximately 34 thousand dollars short in making their budget.
3. Introducing first ever Remote Control Vehicle Racing Competition.

Source: Rain doesn't dampen Canal Days by Gina Potthoff News Sentinel 04 June 2009

SUMMERFEST 2009:

All donations are tax deductible. If you wish to donate time, money, or products, which can be either auctioned off or given away you may contact Alex or Grace personally to make arrangements for any level of sponsorship or assistance you or your company wishes to provide:
Alex MacDonald SUMMERFEST Founder
phone: 260-710-2061 email: Alexmacdonald24@hotmail.com or
Grace Strahm Heartland Communities Vice President
phone: 260-422-3853 email: musiclovestarspeace@yahoo.com

Thank you to the following (to be filled in later) for advertising and covering this event.

DISCLOSURE: The EDITOR OF F6 serves on the Board of Stewards of Heartland Communities, Inc.

IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS CAN YOU GET A TEAM OF 6 TOGETHER AND

NOTES: For a cleaner copy of the poster please right click and open in a new tab.

LINKS: Save Maumee: Web | MySpace | A Greener Indiana |

THANKS: Fair Play Beach Volleyball: Web | MySpace | Blog | Yahoo! |

BANDS: The Holiday | The Freezing Scene | Rosemary Gates @ 9 - 11 p.m. |

VENUE: River City Bar & Grill and Sports Complex

F6 RESOURCES:
Going Green? | Support 3 Rivers Athletics & Links |
Things To Do In Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne Links |

NYC gives a DIY boost to local entrepreneurs to make your City pretty!

As most are aware I serve on the Board of Heartland Communities, Inc., which is the fiscal agent for and partner with Abigail Frost @ Save Maumee Grassroots Organization. Recently we have received a lot of attention in regards to the local controversy over the City's plan to amend to the green infrastructure around the area in order to satisfy a consent decree with the EPA. We are currently discussing alternatives to the previous best laid plans of the Administration. The City Council shot them down, rightfully so, I will add. In an effort to bring the City and her citizens to an awareness of what can be done both locally by the people and through entrepreneurial initiative, I offer this video narrated by Ethan Hawke courtesy of Andy @ Towleroad:



To visit the Highline's website click here

A truly free market returns to Freiman Square third Sunday of every month from April through September

Once again I must disclose that I serve on the Board of Heartland Communities, Inc. which is the fiscal agent for and partner with Fort Wayne Community Action Network.

Come enjoy the market and then take a small detour and help us over @ Hosy Dam!

Please also remember that we are doing the river clean up and repair to the 1-2 mile marker on the Maumee river this Sunday from noon until six which is being coordinated through Save Maumee and the dedicated sacrifice of Abigail Frost and the work of Derek Reuter.

And who says there is nothing to do in Fort Wayne?

Come help clean the shit out of the three rivers on 4/20

Please Note: Before I begin this post I need to reveal to all of F6's readers that I also serve on the Board of Heartland Communities which is the fiscal agent for and is partnered with Save Maumee.

We have a strong effort to clean and rehab the rivers.

THIRD ANNUAL EARTH DAY CLEAN UP SERVICE PROJECT SUNDAY APRIL 20, 2008 NOON - 6PM

Please Join Save Maumee Grassroots Organization on Earth Day to celebrate the cleansing of the riverbanks. Our goal is to pick up ALL trash between mile marker one and two, reseed and pole plant the riparian area on the riverbanks and rally the community's awareness about our three rivers' condition in Ft. Wayne. Visit www.savemaumee.org to check out our website to see past projects and information.

Educational Info, Old Crown Coffee and Health Food Shoppe snacks will be provided all we need is you! We will be located on the N. Anthony Blvd. bridge over the Maumee River area. (Hosy Dam) Directly on Niagara Drive. You won't be able to miss it! Participation will be fun and easy for everyone! Our rivers need OUR help!

Donations are appreciated but not expected. All donations will go directly to community service projects like this one. We are establishing projects to clean up the Maumee River. These self-supported community projects will raise awareness about the unsanitary conditions and begin the slow process of reversing years of pollution. River Restoration is a necessity, NOT a luxury. U.S. citizens depend on the services that healthy streams and rivers provide! Please invest in Natural Capital!

To help, bring what you can:
+ All children, family, friends
(adult accompaniment for persons younger then 18 years old)
+ Garbage bags
+ Muddin' shoes/boots
+ Rumble Clothing
+ Gloves
+ Your able body (if you don' have anything on the list, Save Maumee will provide these things until supplies are gone!)

Abigail Frost
Founder
Save Maumee Grassroots Organization
www.savemaumee.org




Click here for the map and past riparian accomplishments

[EDITOR'S NOTE, PART TWO:]
This is a great opportunity for High School and College Students and members of Scouting Organizations to get some of your Community Service or Environmental Stewardship Credits/Merits taken care of also. Make sure to check with your Troop/Pack Leaders, Resident Assistants, and Fraternity/Sorority Outreach Chairs or Presidents, and Guidance Counselors, to verify and provide accountability!!

For more info about Heartland Communities, Inc.:

Heartland Communities is a Nonprofit based in Fort Wayne, Indiana that works in sustainability in the environment and community. Within our Federal designation we create, develop, and umbrella other Nonprofits or Cooperatives that work with in those guidelines. Many of our programs and projects can be made within sustainability in the environment and community. We want to create and live in a new paradigm. We collectively envision a new way of operating in our work life and community life that expresses our deepest values. The Organizational Cornerstones and By-Laws are about cooperation and sustainable living. The founders intended to work toward an intentional community / eco village, and to practice right livelihood. Just about any project that promotes sustainability in any way could be done under the auspices of the organization. It is set up to spin off other for-profit and non-profit ventures that are worker-owned.