FORT WAYNE – The tradition began in 1940 when Santa’s sleigh and reindeer first lit up the Wolf & Dessauer department store downtown.  Over the last five decades as downtown Fort Wayne has evolved, many changes have occurred for this display, including this years update of its light bulbs for economical and longevity purposes.  Today, National City Bank proudly displays the lighted fantasy that awes children and adults alike every year, on the north side of its building.  The lighted display has approximately 24,717 light bulbs which have been replaced with LED lights and the old bulbs have been donated to Easter Seals Arc for our 55^th anniversary fundraiser.

The bulbs will be cleaned, prepared, and packaged as ornaments by individuals with developmental disabilities at the workshop located on the Easter Seals Arc campus.  “This is a wonderful opportunity for our clients to receive training and learn a new skill,” says Jud Chasey, Work Training Manager.  “After the bulbs are cleaned, a ring will be attached by soldering it to the bulb, decals added, and then packaged to sell.”

“We believe this is a great opportunity to share a part of the historic Santa display with the community as a keep-sake, and provide assistance to a local charity, as well as training for their clients,” says Mike Eikenberry, President of National City Bank in Fort Wayne.

The bulbs will be available for sale in the fall of 2009 at Anne’s Hallmark stores & Easter Seals Arc where holiday cards and prints are currently on sale at a reduced price.  Price for the bulbs has not been determined at this time.  Production is slated to begin in March 2009.  For more information, contact Darlene Amstutz at 260.456.4534 ext 264.

On Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 from 6-9pm Pine Ridge Racquet & Fitness Club (12124 Lima Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46818) will host the first “Battle @ The Ridge”.

Local wheelchair tennis players James Ezell and Kevin Hughes will compete along with the Pro Staff.

There will also be prizes, giveaways, raffles, a Kids Zone and much more.

To be apart of all the fun tickets only $5/person with proceeds from the event being donated to Turnstone.

***The big raffle item is a New 42″ HDTV.

As posted at: www.post-trib.com

September 16, 2008

By AMY LAVALLEY Post-Tribune correspondent

VALPARAISO — Last year, the first Spinal Cord Injury Walk/Roll/Ride drew more than 180 people and raised about $15,000.  This year, the event’s organizer and founder of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group hopes the fund-raiser will be even bigger.

“It’s amazing to me how receptive the public is to this cause. There are so many people who have a close connection to it,” said Valparaiso resident Joe White. “That’s what made me want to do it again this year — the feedback I got made me realize it was well worth the time and the effort.”

This year’s event will be held Sunday at Old Fairgrounds Park. In addition to food, music and other festivities, the fund-raiser also includes a poker run, which will end at Martini’s.  White is anticipating close to 300 people this year, including those who took part last year and the new participants who have contacted him in the weeks leading up to the walk. That will mean more money raised by the event.

“(Last year) we split it up three ways. One-third of it went to research; one-third of it went to advocacy; and one-third of it stayed with the group to facilitate activities and things like that,” White said.  White suffered a spinal-cord injury in July 2003 that left him a paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down.

In the years since his accident, White has started the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Support Group, and has become increasingly active in raising awareness about spinal-cord injuries.

More on the Spinal Cord Injury fund-raiser

Registration for the Spinal Cord Injury Walk/Roll/Ride 2008 is noon Sunday at Butterfield Pavilion at Old Fairgrounds Park in Valparaiso, with the 5K walk following at 1 p.m. There also is a poker run as part of the fund-raiser; registration for that is from 10:30 a.m. to noon, also at the park.

For more information about the walk or the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group, go to www.nwiscig.blogspot.com or contact Joe White at 531-0055.

Adaptive Sports in Northeast Indiana

Sep 20 2008   1:00P

2008 RUN ‘N’ ROLL TENNIS TOURNAMENT

@ Indianapolis Racquet Club

Indy

Walk N’ Roll  Saturday, September 13, 2008 Registration begins at 9:00 AM  Walk Starts at 10:00 AM  Walk is approximately 2 miles   

This is our main fund raiser for the year. Gather your friends and family to come out and support their favorite team or our league at  

White River State Park   801 West Washington Street  Indianapolis, IN 46204

 Parking available on surface lot at White River State Park or Indiana State Museum. Parking charges may apply  

Pre-Registration (before August 18)- $10 per person

Registration after August 18- T-shirt not guaranteed

Check out our Walk N’Roll Tab to register online OR Mail Walkers’ information and shirt sizes to:

P.O. Box 199191Indianapolis, IN 46219ORCall with credit card information to (317) 850-3753

Click here to download your pledge/registration formpowersoccerofindy.com/Documents.asp

 17th Annual Wine Cornucopia 

http://www.easterseals.com/site/R?i=URBSFmwVUsEfhfAjaiWhYw.. 

Join us on October 2, 2008, at The Westin Indianapolis for an evening for your senses–wine, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and music. 

And best of all. . .you will be helping children and adults with autism at Easter Seals Crossroads! 

Walk with Me for Easter Seals Crossroads 

http://www.easterseals.com/site/R?i=iT_O1hqRwlsLv0QKincl6w.. 

Contact everyone you know to raise money for Easter Seals Crossroads, and then walk for people with disabilities or special needs. There 

will be music, refreshments, and fun for the whole family on this special night when you can even wear your Halloween costume! 

RHI September Events ‘08 ——————————- (TBD) Horseback Riding13 Volunteer and Athlete Appreciation Dinner20 Archery Lessons23 Golf Fundraiser – The Bridgewater

Indianapolis-Noble of Indiana

2008 Annual Celebration - September 11, 2008Help Noble of Indiana recognize the people, organizations and businesses that help create opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to live meaningful lives at their Annual Celebration. A special thanks to Title Sponsor, Citizens Energy Group, and President’s Award Sponsor, Cannon IV. For ticket and sponsorship information, click here.

Fort Wayne, IN : Mayor Tom Henry and Al Moll , Director of Parks & Recreation, called on city residents to support a $1.3 million public campaign for Indiana ’s

first Boundless Playground . City Council members and representatives from Turnstone and League for the Blind & Disabled added their support to the project today.

“There are more than 100 Boundless Playgrounds across the nation, and we are proud to create Indiana ’s first facility of this nature,” said Mayor Henry. “This venue, which is the vision and dream of 6th-grader Taylor Reuille, will serve the region’s families and children with disabilities.”

The Fort Wayne Boundless Playground movement, called Taylor ’s Friendship Circle, got started when Taylor, a student at Harlan Elementary School, realized that there are many kids with disabilities who couldn’t play at playgrounds in this area . She researched and found that a Boundless Playground would offer amazing play opportunities for children with and without disabilities, including those with physical, sensory, developmental and cognitive disabilities.

Taylor and her mother, Kasandra Booher, presented the first Boundless Playground private contribution to the Mayor totaling $10,758.43. These proceeds came from small fundraisers that have been organized throughout the past few months, including funds contributed by Taylor’s teachers and fellow classmates at Harlan Elementary. They donated their nickels and dimes to the project.

“While the Kreager Endowment at the Parks & Recreation Department has submitted the first major private gift of $250,000 and the land for the facility, this project will require both public and

private financial support,” said Moll .  “Taylor ’s dream provides an excellent opportunity for the community to get behind a great cause for the right reason.”

Fort Wayne’s Boundless Playground at Kreager Park will have three pods of playground equipment and activity areas, a splash pad, accessible ramps and walkways, a picnic pavilion and accessible parking. Landscaping will add to the sensory experience of the facility, as will the multiple types of surface used in the various pods, including sand, poured-in-place rubber, mulch

and natural turf.

For details about the Boundless Playground and for those interested in helping support the campaign, visit www.fortwayneparks.org or call 260-427-6000. Checks made payable to the Fort Wayne Park Foundation may be sent to 705 E. State Blvd. , Fort Wayne , IN 46805 .

More information about Taylor ’s Friendship Circle Boundless Playground efforts can be found at www.taylorsdream.com and at www.boundlessplayground.com, 

The Spinal Cord Injury Walk 2008 is scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 2008.

Last year more than 180 people attended the walk and it was a huge success. This year should be even better. It is a great way to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries, exercise, and spend time with family and friends. There will be live music, a silent auction, door prizes, food, and a 5k-fitness walk. Pictures of the Spinal Cord Injury Walk 2007 can be found at  

The>http://picasaweb.google.com/nwiscig/SpinalCordInjuryWalk9292007

The proceeds will benefit spinal cord injury research, advocacy groups and the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group.

Volunteers and sponsors are needed for this event also. Please contact nwiscig@gmail for more information.

Reminder

As Previously Posted:

Wednesday, September 3 

Turnstone Golf Outing @ Autumn Ridge 

For more info go to: http://turnstone.org/specialeventfr.html