Join the Fort Wayne Ballet for an enchanted performance about the boy who can fly!

This February, the Fort Wayne Ballet presents Peter Pan, based on the J.M. Barrie classic story about Peter and his friends as they share adventures on the island of Neverland.

As part of the Ballet’s Family Series, these performances allow the audience to get up close and personal with the dancers while enjoying all the classic tale of a mischievous boy whose refusal to grow up leads everyone on a magical adventure. During the 35-minute performance, you’ll be whisked away to Neverland where you’ll meet the Lost Boys and encounter pirates, mermaids and fairies. Following the performances, guests will enjoy an interactive party with the characters, so bring your camera for photos with the cast!

The Fort Wayne Ballet Presents Peter Pan Feb 18th, 2012

Performance is scheduled for Saturday, February 18 at 10 am and 11:30 am. Tickets are just $10 per person for all ages. Peter Pan will be performed in the new studios at 300 E. Main St. in Fort Wayne; please bring a blanket to sit on the floor for the performance. Seating is limited, so make plans to visit Neverland today!

Tickets are available by calling the Fort Wayne Ballet at (260) 484-9646, Mon.-Fri. between 9 am and 6 pm. You may also purchase tickets in person at the Auer Center for Arts & Culture, 300 E. Main St. in downtown Fort Wayne, daily between 9 am and 6 pm.

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Did you have a Fisher-Price farm when you were growing up? Remember back in 1968 when it first came out, there was a red barn with a silo, a chicken, a rooster, a cow, a horse and wagon, as well as four wooden people? I named those farmers something like Ma, Pa, Freddy and Mary. (I named everything Freddy and Mary back then—even my turtles.)

Enjoy Down on the Farm at the Botanical Conservatory

Those little people and animals with moveable parts were just the right size for little hands. Even today, they bring back such wonderful memories. I think that was when I decided I wanted to be a farmers’ wife someday. Then, of course as I got older, I realized that I didn’t have to marry a farmer. I could be a farmer myself. Unfortunately, all that fell apart the first time I visited a farm and sneezed my head off because I’m allergic to any kind of animal with fur.

The exhibit will feature a "Family Farm Day" on February 4th, 2012 from 10 am - 3 pm.

Luckily, I can still play with the Fisher-Price farm when I visit the grandkids — the new, spiffy version made out of sculpted plastic that emits an electronic “moo.” And even better, I can take my grandkids to Fort Wayne’s Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory through April 8^th and we can make memories together in the interactive, life-size version of the Fisher-Price farm.

There’s a big, red barn with a ladder to climb up and a slide to fly down. Inside the barn, children can gather eggs, milk the cow and churn butter. And outside, the wash needs hanging and the garden needs tending. Make sure Dad and Grandpa to check out the restored 1954 International Farmall tractor (sponsored by OPI Medical) that’s part of the “Down on the Fisher-Price Farm” Exhibit.

A special “Family Farm Day” will be held Saturday, February 4, 10 am – 3 pm. There will be farm-related crafts to make and games to play. Stop by our country lemonade stand for something to wet your whistle and some free range popcorn. And don’t forget to wander through the lush Tropical Garden filled with orchids, palms, and a cascading waterfall, or retreat to the quiet beauty of the Desert Garden, also included in the affordable admission fee: $5/adult, $3/child age 3-17. Children 2 and under free.

Give the family a treat! Come out of the cold and breathe in the fresh earth and fragrant flowers while the kids burn off some energy. For more information, visit www.botanicalconservatory.org.

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Did you know there is horseshoe-shaped earthwork that dates 800 AD that was constructed by the Iroquois on the St. Joe River here in Fort Wayne?

Did you know that there is an earthen solar temple called a henge (also located on the St. Joe River) that can be culturally tied to Stonehenge?

Did you know that there are over 50 historical accounts of prehistoric giant skeletons that have been reported in Indiana?

Yearning for more? Do you have an interest in history and the mysteries behind ancient artifacts?

An upcoming conference at the Hilton at the Grand Wayne and Convention Center might interest you!

All day February 4, the Mysterious Ancient America Conference will include speakers, presentations and free artificial appraisal.  Speakers include Wayne May, Frank Joseph, Mary Sutherland, Rick Osman, Ross Hamilton and Fritz Zimmerman.  According to the event’s Facebook page, these speakers are the most noted authors on the burial mounds and earthworks in the Ohio Valley and Midwest will present their evidence on migrations to North America and present on the topic “Who Really Built the Mounds and Earthworks in the Midwest?” Presentations will focus on the mounds and earthworks in the Ohio Valley with topics of Giant Skeletons, Numerology, Sacred Geometry, Hilltop Enclosures, Atlantis, Stonehenge and Diffusion theories.

The conference runs from 9 am to 8 pm.  An artifact appraiser will be on hand in the lobby from 9 am to 5 pm. An all-day pass is $30; $109 with a single or double occupancy room at The Hilton. For more information, call Kent Christon, 260.750.9500.

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If you like to crank up the volume on the radio or sit next to the stage during a musical performance (in other words, if you like your music big, loud and fast) you’ll love the unique show coming to the Embassy Theatre in February 21 called ‘Blast!’

Blast! Is a highly complex musical presentation that evolved in the 1990s from the Star of Indiana marching drum corps. Since then, its various troupes have performed around the world, taking the pageantry and precision of an outdoor marching band performance to stages everywhere. The Blast! cast members play a variety of music styles, including jazz, classical and New Age on percussion instruments from around the world. As in traditional drum corps, there are non-musical members who carry flags. It’s a fast, high-spirited two-hour show that may leave you gasping for breath – and wishing it could start over again!

Hint: You may want to take ear plugs. Many of the cast members wear them.

Be sure to hang around until the end of the show when the cast takes the show into the Embassy’s lobby for an encore. Have your dancing shoes on as the audience is invited to kick up its heels to a fast tempo, foreign number. Pluck your camera from your pocket and snap photos of Blast! cast members during this time (they promise to sign autographs too).

Blast! comes to Fort Wayne’s historic Embassy Theatre on Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. and you can WIN TICKETS!

Blast! tickets are on sale now at the Embassy box office, all other Ticketmaster locations and online at Ticketmaster.com and range from $52.50, $40 and $27.50.

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Mention the name Bob Chase to people from Fort Wayne and most will recognize him as the well-known and well-loved Voice of the Komets.

Chase began announcing Komet Hockey games on WOWO AM 1190 radio in 1953 and hasn’t missed a season since.

After serving in the Navy during WWII, Chase began his radio career in Marquette, Michigan, in 1949 at Northern Michigan University where he attended.

After accepting a position as a member of the WOWO radio staff, Chase served as sports director, general on-air voice and afternoon show host during the 1960s. During his career, he interviewed Elvis Presley, Vice President Dan Quayle, Bob Hope, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Wayne Gretzky. He has also called seven Komets playoff championships.

Bob Chase has been proudly announcing Komet Hockey games since 1953.

In 2009 Chase retired as Sports Director of WOWO Radio but continues broadcasting Fort Wayne Komets games.

For his efforts Chase has received high honors. He is a recipient of a Sagamore of the Wabash award. He is also a member of the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Fort Wayne Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1993 Chase was honored for his 40th season with the team during a ceremony in which the number 40 was retired with his name and added to a list of retired Komet jersey numbers.

In 2009 the International Hockey League named Chase the IHL Broadcaster of the Year. In addition, Chase has written a book about his hockey career — Live From Radio Rinkside, the Bob Chase Story (Authorhouse).

Chase resides in Fort Wayne with his wife Muriel (Murph). Bob and Muriel have four children; Michael, Kurt, Karin and David.

Just one more reason to love the great tradition of Fort Wayne Komet Hockey!

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