Germs, germs, germs!! That’s the focus of a new exhibit at Science Central.

How do new and old diseases emerge? What about resistant bacteria? What does it all mean? Learn all this and more at Disease Detectives, a traveling exhibition about microbiology that puts visitors in the role of infectious-disease-fighting detectives.

Visitors will enjoy the interactive nature of this exhibit, which invites them to investigate a case by meeting a series of patients, interpreting their lab tests and exploring their environment to learn more about infectious disease transmission and prevention.

Each case highlights a different mode of disease transmission and the relevant illnesses. Hands-on topics include an introduction to diseases and disease research, and the types of food-, water-, airborne- and animal-borne diseases. The exhibition was developed by the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Science Central is a regional resource that provides inspiring and fun hands-on science education for people of all ages. Through more than 120 exhibits, school tours, distance learning programs, and weekend events, they bring the fun of science to more than 130,000 children and adults, annually. Science Central is open Wed.-Fri., 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday noon to 5 pm.

You can visit this exhibit now through Jan. 6, 2013.

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Do you need ideas for your child’s next party? Not interested in hosting all their friends at your house? Good news! There are plenty of great locations around Fort Wayne for you to celebrate your child’s next birthday.

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  Science Central staff makes Ice Cream

  Science Central – You choose a theme, science experiment, and invite the friends. Science Central will take care of the sweet treats – including ice cream made in front of your party using liquid nitrogen – and the educational fun! You have access to the “party room” from one hour but the price for the party includes admission to the museum for the entire day. Cost: $175 for non-members, $150 for members with additional fees for larger groups. Ages 3+ up.

• Bounce House at Canlan Ice Sports – This unique, fun option is available year-round. Hosting your party here provides one hour in the “Birthday Party Room” and one+ hour of bounce. These aren’t the moonwalks in the backyard. You will bounce, climb and slide for birthday fun! It is adjacent to the ice rinks, so be sure to bundle up and remember your socks; no socks, no bounce. Cost: $175 for 12 children. Ages 3+ up.

• Tea Party at Sweet Violets – Perfect for your darling daughter, Sweet Violets will host your fancy gathering complete with a hat and jewelry for the little ladies to wear during tea. You choose sandwiches, savories and cupcakes. Child-friendly beverages will be served in tea pots. Cost: $10.50/child, plus tax and 18% gratuity for parties over 10 people. Ages 3+ up.

• Art Party at Michael’s – This creative party couldn’t be simpler. Just schedule your party with one of our local Michael’s store, select your project and celebrate the special day with whatever food and sweet treats you provide. Michael’s will provide invitations, thank you cards or goodie bag tags, keepsake apron for the birthday child, crafting prep and instruction and all the clean-up. Cost: $50 staff/set-up/clean-up fee plus cost of selected craft. Ages 5+ up.

• Ice Skating at Canlan Ice Sports – Whether you have a hockey player in training or a budding figure skating star, this is the ideal location to host their next birthday party. Enjoy a private room with pizza, pop and snacks for one hour and then enjoy a free skate during public skate hours. Cost: $175 for 12 children. Ages 3+ up.
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  Pick up some cupcakes from a local bakery to complete your Park Party!

  Park Party – perfect for outdoor activities and kids who enjoy being active. There are many city parks that offer pavilions, splash pads, playgrounds and wide open spaces for you to enjoy. Keep in mind that you won’t have the park to yourself so there is no guarantee you will have tables to use. (Send someone early!) All Ages.

• Gymnastics Party – area gyms will allow you to host a party complete with gymnastics instruction for your child and their friends. This is a great idea if you have a child interested or enrolled in a gymnastics program. Check out More Than Gymnastics or Summit Academy for details and costs. Ages 5+ up.

• Laser X – Enjoy an hour and a half in the Birthday Party room plus two Laser X games and $4.00 in arcade tokens per person. Your birthday star will also receive a VIP Pass! Cost: Starting at $13.95/person plus any food and beverage you purchase. Ages 10+ up.

• Paintball Plex – Located just north of Fort Wayne on US 3 in LaOtto, the Paintball Plex offers year-round birthday fun. The cost of the party includes up to two and a half hours of play, reserved tables, gun, mask, air and paintballs. Cost: Starting at $199 for up to 8 players plus any food and beverage you purchase. Ages 10+ up.

Happy celebrating!

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The public is invited to celebrate the holiday season with the University of Saint Francis (USF). Below are a few events you don’t want to miss:

• Christmas in the Castle, Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8 &9. : Historic Brookside, the former Bass family mansion, will be decorated for Christmas by local florists and designers. Visitors can view all three floors of the mansion as it comes alive for Christmas. Tickets can be purchased on the days of the event in the North Campus lobby (across Spring Street from Brookside). Ample free parking is available at the North Campus. Golf cart shuttles will be available for those with mobility difficulties. Admission is $5 per person, $20 maximum per family of up to six people, including parents and children. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.sf.edu/christmas.

• Fair Trade Alternative Shopping Bazaar, Sunday, Dec. 2 from noon-5:30 p.m.: Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) present high-quality, fairly-traded hand-crafted items from disadvantaged producers all over the world at the Fair Trade Alternative Shopping Bazaar at the North Campus. Fairly-traded items are sold by artists who earn a fair price in producing them, receive access to credit and training, and maintain long-term relationships with organizations rooted in the principles of human dignity and economic justice.

• Living Nativity, Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.: As Advent begins, members of the university community present a living Nativity as a witness to the power and presence of God’s incarnate love in the world. The character of Saint Francis will narrate the Christmas story as it unfolds, and all gathered will sing “Silent Night.” The living Nativity will be presented in the amphitheater next to the Pope John Paul II Center. Parking is available off Leesburg Road, and there is no admission charge. A petting zoo with the animals for the living Nativity will be available for children from 5-5:50 p.m. free of charge at the living Nativity site.

• Lighting of the Lake, Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.: Vigil lights will encircle the area of Mirror Lake closest to Spring Street for a shining symbol of Christmas. Those who wish may dedicate one or more luminaries at $10 per luminary to a loved one, in memory of someone special, in recognition of a special occasion, or just to wish a student good luck with final exams. Call (260) 399-8037 to order luminaries by Dec. 1. There is no charge for admission.

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Nowadays, it seems like our tech gadgets are the central focus of our busy lives. Phone calls, emails, texting, social media networking, TV, music… the list goes on and on. In an age where we seem to be losing the focus of family and real relationships, it’s nice to take a “tech break” and enjoy some wholesome family fun—especially around the holidays.

So turn off the devices and spend a traditional Christmas celebration on the farm at Salomon Farm Park!

On Saturday, December 1, Salomon Farm Park offers Christmas on the Farm from 6 to 9 pm. Salomon Farm is a wonderful place to take your family and see how life is lived in a rural setting any time of year. But with Christmas on the Farm, it becomes even more magical. At this celebration you’ll enjoy a live nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus, authentic horse- and tractor-drawn wagon rides, as well as cherished stories from St. Nicholas and yummy refreshments.

There’s honestly nothing better than seeing your children spend time together doing things outdoors, totally unplugged, and actually having a good time! Enjoy the holidays together, and be sure to drive up to Christmas on the Farm. It will definitely become an annual holiday tradition.

Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. For more information, visit them online.

Salomon Farm Park, 817 W. Dupont Rd.

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Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself.
~Norman Wesley Brooks

Saturday, December 8, 9-10

Cost: $11

Call 427-6440

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Sunday, December 16, 8:30 and 10:30 am

Cost: $15 children; $10 adults

Call 427-6800

Bob Evans at Jefferson Pointe

Saturday, December 8, 8 – 11 am

Cost: $price of meal

Call 432-5545

Let us know if you know of any other sightings, and make plans today to get in one more wish with the Big Guy!

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