INSIDE THIS ISSUE Business & Professional.............................................A12-13 Classifieds ...........................................................................A13 Community Calendar.........................................................A15 Dining & Entertainment....................................................A10 Back to School..................................................................A8-9 Sports.....................................................................................A3 Serving Northeast Fort Wayne & Allen County www.StJoeTimes.com August 5, 2011 Murosity murals engage community with art project By KELLY MCLENDON community and were pre-selected. [email protected] “Our ‘Everyday Stars’ are people who serve every day, beyond what their normal Jeffery Kinnie, a Parkview Hospital job might be,” Heather Schoegler, director employee, is making a difference in the of communications for the Parkview community one shift at a time. Kinnie Foundation, said. completes his work day, clocks out and “There are great teachers and then there then finds out from nurses which patients are teachers who go above and beyond haven’t had any visitors that day. He then and they bring in food for children [in takes time to check in with the patients need] and that would be an everyday and see how they are doing. star,” she said. Photo Courtesy Parkview Kinnie is known as an “Everyday Star,” The Murosity Project stemmed from an A student works on a canvas for the Murosity Project. and a canvas was recently completed in idea thought up by Larry Rowland, presi- “Murosity,” short for a mural depicting project is working with Junk-Wright. his likeness for The Murosity Project, an dent of the Parkview Foundation and Sue generosity in the region. “It is so wonderful to find a kindred initiative by Parkview Hospital. The Ehinger, chief operating officer of The program is not yet finished, Smith spirit that has so much talent and it is a project is ”a community-based art project Parkview Hospital. said, and several stages still need privilege to be able to work with them to reflecting generosity through the combi- They were looking for an innovative art completing. “The first was that [Junk- create something totally original,” Brink nation of a mosaic of images, that when project for the new Parkview Regional Wright] created the big picture of the said. “We share life, art and teaching placed together form a mural,” according Medical Center according to Stephanny countryside that you see when you look at philosophies.” to the Murosity website. Smith, director of annual giving at the picture from a distance. That picture Parkview co-workers, professional A total of 160 individual canvases make Parkview Health Foundation. was then divided into individual artists, community leaders and “celebri- up the mural, which will be displayed in Ehinger and Rowland also reached out canvases.” ties” are all working to prepare individual the emergency department of the new to Vicki Junk-Wright, a local artist who Smith said the mural will not be canvases. Parkview Regional Medical center in the has taught at Canterbury High School for installed in the new hospital until the end “Once all 160 artists are done, [Junk- fall. almost 20 years. of October or early November. Wright] will then apply a wash to the The canvases represent the program’s According to Smith, Junk-Wright Local artist Santa Brink, who is co- canvases, which will help blend every- chosen “Everyday Stars.” These stars developed the idea for the mural mosaic directing the art portion of the program, while Rowland coined the phrase embody generosity and caring in the said one of her favorite parts of the See MURAL, page A6 All church community picnic aims Gardening volunteers revel in to bring people back together ‘country in the city’ atmosphere By KELLY MCLENDON [email protected] By KELLY MCLENDON many. [email protected] In the morning, the sounds of chirping Several Presbyterian birds, swaying sunflowers and running churches in Fort Wayne Rows of arugula, beets, carrots, water surround the land. On Monday and will host a picnic on Aug. spinach, peas and squash make up the Thursday mornings, which are volunteer 21. While the event will garden at Salomon Farm Park. Of course days at the farm, the work never stops. be a traditional picnic, there are many other vegetables and Salomon Farm is owned by Fort Wayne complete with food and flowers, but naming them all is difficult Parks and Recreation. It was launched in games, the reason for the because there are so 1996 from a donation of land by Chris event is also to bring Salomon. people back together and “They wanted to run it like 1930s to have a “merging of working farm,” garden volunteer churches,” First Presbyte- Brenda Willis said. Photo by Lea Powers Willis has been volunteering See PICNIC, page A11 Visitors to last year’s all-church picnic sit back and relax in the at the farm’s garden for more shade of the Franke Park Pavilion. than a decade. She and the other volunteers keep the gardens and flowers on the Snacks and travel trivia are key points property growing and thriving. for summer trips “We’re always itching to put something in the When you’re on a road trip, munchies trail mix, string cheese and crackers. ground,” she said. are a must. But how do you keep the (Just think of all the money you’ll Most of the people who nibbling under control? Here are several save, too!) work in the garden are tips for surviving the inevitable snack • Don’t overdo the drinks. This is espe- volunteers. Willis describes attack. cially important for kids, but any them as “dedicated,” and • Pack a meal or two. Fast food can get overzealous sipper is bound to need old quickly. Do yourself a favor and plenty of potty breaks. A good rule of See COUNTRY, page A2 pack a cooler with sandwiches, pretzels thumb - drink only water in the car. and fruit. Other quick and easy snacks You’re less likely to go overboard, it’s include baggies of carrots and celery, See TRAVEL, page A6 Volunteer Brenda Willis works in the garden at Salomon Farm. Willis has been a volunteer for 826 Ewing Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 IN Wayne, Fort Street, Ewing 826 more than a Times Community Publications Community Times decade. Photo by Kelly McLendon A2 • www.StJoeTimes.com St. Joe Times • August 5, 2011 COUNTRY from page A1 FACT: A child who has learned “very valuable.” They make up a wide how to play an instrument also variety of ages and interests. The garden grows vegetables to sell at graduates with higher grades. the Salomon farmers market. Only natural methods of crop management are used. While the produce is not certified organic, the volunteers do not use pesti- cides. The season starts in April, sometimes before. Willis said there is some gardening lore about “planting peas on St. Patrick’s Day.” Some of the vegetables start out in the greenhouse before the planting season. She said May 15 is the typical last frost date for area five, which Indiana is included in. The crops are rotated each year and Willis tries to plant according to the plans she has made. Invest in your child’s future The volunteers are very “self- sustaining,” she said, adding that many as well as investing in a piano! whimsical objects are used, such as an old ladder for cucumbers to grow up around. Herbs are also grown in the garden. We have a great selection of pre-owned Steinways The group has a “Spring Salad Day,” Photo by Kelly McLendon Kim Leahy volunteers at the garden. where they eat foods like spinach from & Yamahas. Almost any price range. the garden and have lunch carry-ins. They volunteering, however, may be the smell Call or stop at our new location on Coldwater. also work together to learn tricks of the of the flowers. trade. “The scent in the early morning is just “We trade ideas with each other,” Willis intoxicating,” she said, proving that said. “We’re not real rigid.” working in the garden provides the best While regular gardening tasks like of both worlds-time to stop and smell the CHUPP’S weeding are done by the volunteers, flowers, and time to go back and experi- sometimes they get a little help from the ence 1930s farm life. Salomon Farm campers, who like to help “de-bug,” the plants. PIANOS The environment is open and relaxing, Salomon Farm Park We Service & Sell All Makes & Models with a berry patch, apple orchard and 17 W. Dupont Rd. chicken coop. Fort Wayne, IN 46825 “It’s my country in the city,” Willis 260.484.9053 It is open sunrise through sunset said. She estimates that she donates about 5328 Coldwater Rd. - Fort Wayne. IN 46825 - www.chuppspianos.com 200 hours of service time during the each day of the week. www.fortwayneparks.org. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 12:00-6:00pm Fri. & Sat. 9:00am-7:00pm course of a year. One of the best parts of Everyday people, giving what they can. Come help us kick off a year of Lending a Hand. Join us in gearing up for the first Year of Lending a Hand, in collaboration with the City’s Discover Join us Fort Wayne initiative. We will be highlighting the important role of charitable organizations in our August 18 community and galvanizing support for grassroots Noon at One Summit Square projects. On August 18 we will be celebrating the Everyday People” performed by Sugar Shot. for the debut of “ debut of our theme song, written and performed by featuring Jen Fisher of Sugar Shot and featuring the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir. Look for more details to come at Lendingahand.net, and find out how you can join us in giving back to our community.