Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

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Published: Thursday, 23 October 2014 14:46

Fort Wayne Marks Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

Fort Wayne will join with communities around the nation and the globe to observe Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week November 16-22. Locally, the Fort Wayne Planning Council on Homelessness and the Rescue Mission spearhead a week's worth of activities and events designed to open the community's eyes to the realities of our neighbors who struggle each day with these challenges.

Opportunities for participation during the week include:

1) A news conference with Mayor Tom Henry and Pastor Donovan Coley, executive director of the Rescue Mission is set for Monday, November 17 at noon on the Courthouse Green.

2) A Tour of several of the facilities in Fort Wayne where people can seek shelter and be connected to programs to help move them to self-sufficiency is set for Wednesday, November 19 at noon. This van tour takes starts in the parking lot across from the University of Saint Francis Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center (former Scottish Rite), 431 W. Berry St.

3) The "Real Change" Pop-Up Arts Event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19 from 5-9 p.m. at Wunderkammer, 3402 Fairfield Ave. The public is encouraged to attend this first-of-its-kind event where people will interact with local artists whose work features the topic of homelessness. Work created by homeless artists will also be exhibited. This event is designed to engage attendees in ongoing conversation about the community and how each individual can do something to address the challenge of homelessness. The event is free, but donations of non-perishable food items are welcome.

4) Skip a Lunch, Feed a Bunch is scheduled for Thursday, November 20. On this day, everyone is invited to donate the money they would typically spend on lunch to the Rescue Mission, which provides more than 217,000 meals a year to anyone who needs them.

Fairfield Corridor Revitalization

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Published: Thursday, 23 October 2014 11:11

PAPA Celebrates Fairfield Enhancements
October 2014

Neighborhoods along the Fairfield corridor recently celebrated more improvements to their area. The Packard Area Planning Alliance (PAPA), which is a coalition of seven near southwest neighborhood associations, dedicated 92 street trees and 73 ornamental lights along the Fairfield corridor on October 23, 2014.

The trees are being planted along Fairfield Ave. from Creighton Ave. to Rudisill Blvd. The trees and the lights together create a welcoming path from downtown into south Fort Wayne. The trees will not only beautify Fairfield Ave., they will also help reduce erosion, clean the air, provide habitat for wildlife, cut heating and cooling costs, and help restore some of our city's tree canopy lost to storms and pests.

And there's more than just lights and trees – the corridor is being renewed with façade grants for places like the Boys and Girls Club, Bushey's and Brian Schaper's Fairfield Shoppes. The City has also made street improvements along Fairfield by creating a center turn lane. Many others have invested in this important corridor, including the Lutheran Foundation, Dan Swartz of Wunderkammer, SAFY and Biggs Development with the Courtyard apartments, along with other businesses and homeowners.

The enthusiastic dedication of area residents is making the Fairfield corridor revitalization possible – the neighbors have rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly alongside the City in order to see the improvements take shape. Their work is all part of a strategic effort to enhance the near southwest side of Fort Wayne. Beginning in late 2003, members of PAPA began working on a Community Development Area Plan, or CDAP. The CDAP was approved by City Council in 2005 and the City and neighborhood residents have been working to implement the strategies and goals of the plan since then.

To read more about PAPA and local CDAPs, visit www.fwcommunitydevelopment.org/area-plans.

City of Fort Wayne & Elevate Ventures Team Up to Help Existing Businesses Grow

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Published: Thursday, 23 October 2014 10:31

Economic Gardening Program

"A tremendous asset to our company..."

"...exposed me to new insights and opportunities to grow as a CEO..."

"The Economic Gardening Program's expert team of consultants helped me formulate our strategic growth plan that has already begun paying dividends."

One company increased its sales by one million dollars. The average increase in revenue seen by participants was 17% in the first year.

Interested?

The Elevate Ventures Economic Gardening Program is a free set of services to help "second stage" companies grow. These are businesses that have been operating at least two years and have revenue between $750,000 and $25 million, with five to 100 employees, and which want to expand their sales. Targeted industries include manufacturing, software, and industrial and professional services with the capacity to grow beyond the local market.

The program is part of the Regional Entrepreneurship Action Plan (REAP) supported by the City of Fort Wayne, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, local funders and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. It includes a leadership assessment and consultation, market research and web/social media assistance, and follow-up implementation consulting. In all, the package is worth $7,500, but the value to a business is generally much greater.

Since beginning in late 2011, 26 Fort Wayne companies have participated out of over 160 throughout Northern Indiana.

Economic Gardening targets "second stage" businesses, which have experienced growth in the past but are unable to afford the kind of high quality market research available to large corporations. Such second stage businesses represent over one third of Northeast Indiana's economy. This makes helping second stage companies important to help our region's economy grow.

To find out whether this program is right for your business, contact Karen Goldner at Elevate Ventures: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 260-433-2444.

Seal out Raccoons

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Published: Wednesday, 01 October 2014 10:29

By John Caywood, Neighborhood Code Enforcement Administrator

The photo above shows what can happen when raccoons decide to make your attic their winter home. Because raccoons are generally nocturnal, Code Officers rarely see raccoons inside vacant houses. But, as the picture above shows, we see strong evidence of raccoon infestation on a regular basis.

How do you know if you have raccoons in your attic or crawl space? If you hear sounds in the house starting at dusk and then again around dawn, you probably have raccoons. If you see a space where a raccoon could slip into your home, you can block the hole loosely with wadded newspaper. If after a couple days the newspaper stays in place, then it's likely no animal is using that as a doorway into your home.

If you do suspect raccoons, it's best to call a professional to remove the animal(s) and seal up the places where they're entering. You'll also want to make sure a professional cleans up any of the raccoon waste, which can contain raccoon roundworm. This parasitic worm can infect humans (and even pets) and is spread by the egg spores, which easily become airborne and can be breathed in. These egg spores can live for years as dry pods. Raccoons can also carry other illness-causing bacteria, as well as lice and fleas. And while raccoons can carry rabies, most people never get close enough to be bitten and therefore infected.

When you're outside this fall raking leaves or clearing gutters, make sure you inspect your home for any cracks or holes an animal could squeeze through. Take a look at your roof lines, soffits, fascia and any areas where different building materials come together, such as window wells and dryer exhaust vents. The Humane Society of America offers some good tips for inspecting your homes for openings animals can get through. Sealing up any openings now can help prevent the problems the critters cause when they nest in your home.

Why can't the City of Fort Wayne enforce my Home Owner Association rules, deed restrictions, or covenants?
September 2014
By John Caywood, Neighborhood Code Enforcement Administrator

HOA rules, deed restrictions and covenants are civil agreements between a property owner and the developer or homeowners' association. When someone purchases a property, they agree to follow certain rules set by the developer or HOA. These rules are not set by the City, nor does the City have any responsibility in determining what they are. Chapter 150 & 152 of City ordinance establishes minimum standards required for the health, safety and well-being of its citizens, but deed restrictions generally establish a higher standard of living for a particular area. Violations of deed restrictions should be reported to your HOA. If there is not an active HOA, they may be enforced by one individual against another by filing a case in civil court. Search for restrictive covenants online here.

Time for a Home Electric Check Up?

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Published: Tuesday, 01 July 2014 10:27

By John Caywood, Neighborhood Code Enforcement Administrator

Is leaving the stove on or a malfunctioning furnace the leading cause of house fires? Not really. Electrical issues are the cause of many house fires that Neighborhood Code responds to when called out by the Fort Wayne Fire Department. A lot of what Neighborhood Code Officers see is faulty wiring that was either improperly installed or undersized for the current usage.

While electrical problems don't always reveal themselves until a fire occurs, sometimes there are signs of impending danger. Frequent tripping of breakers, cords that are hot to the touch, "ozone" smells, and black soot on outlet covers are just a few of the signs that may indicate a dangerous electrical problem.

The electrical systems of older homes are not designed for today's digital age. Home entertainment is a great example of this. The television of the 70's has been replaced by the plasma screen TV, a DVR/DVD player, surround sound, gaming systems, and cable/internet equipment. It doesn't take much to heat up wiring in the walls when all this equipment is running at once on the same circuit.

There are steps that can be taken if you are seeing any of the signs listed in this article. First, have a licensed electrician inspect your wiring. Ask whether you are overloading any circuits. Ask if you have any "knob and tube" wiring in your attic that is covered with cellulose insulation. Have the electrician replace any wiring that cannot handle current usage.

Don't ignore the warning signs of faulty electrical service. Too often Code Officers deal with owners and tenants staring at the burned-out shell of a house that would have been standing for the lack of a safe electrical system.