What's Up

Deadline Feb. 5 for senior citizens’ dinner at New Hope Lutheran
New Hope Lutheran Church on the south edge of Ossian will again host its quarterly senior citizens’ dinner for anyone in the community age 55 or better on Thursday, Feb. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

Enjoy a sing along with Ed Higgins, and naturalist Jody Heaston will talk about “The Wonder of Snowflakes.” A freewill offering dinner will be served by the ladies of New Hope.

RSVP by calling 260-622-7954 by Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Chocolate tasting at Fort Wayne church Feb. 9
The 13th annual Taste of Chocolate, sponsored by the Lincolnshire Church at 6404 South Calhoun, Fort Wayne, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9.

Two seatings will be offered for the evening of chocolate tasting, featuring a chocolate fountain and fruit bar. Coffee, live music and a silent auction will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.

The first seating will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The second seating will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A $3 carry-out is available during the last 15 minutes of each seating.

Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for kids (age 4-10) and free to those three and younger.
To order tickets call 260-456-1993.

Railroad Celebration Feb. 9 & 10
The Three Rivers Railroad Heritage Council, a not-for-profit organization, will host its fourth annual Railroad Celebration Saturday, Feb. 9, and Sunday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the restored former Pennsylvania Railroad Baker Street Railroad Station at 221 W. Baker Street in Fort Wayne.

The theme this year will be The Nickel Plate Railroad in the Tri-State Area.

Displays will include hundreds of items covering all past and present activities the railroad and its successors. There will also be three operating model railroad layouts.  This is a family-oriented, all-ages event.

The public is welcome and to attend. Admission is $5 per person. Children under age 12 are free.

For more information, call 260-747-2766 or 260-436-6158 or email cjberndt@yahoo.com.

What's Up

Art lecture at Saint Francis Jan. 19
An art lecture by artists Diana Farfan and Lisa Clague will be presented on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. in the North Campus Auditorium on the campus of the University of Saint Francis. The lecture will be part of the opening of the exhibit of Figurative Ceramics Lisa Clague, Nancy Kubale and Diana Farfan, at the Rolland Art Center. Open house hours on Saturday, Jan. 19, will be from 5 to 9 p.m.  Also featured will be photographs by Jason Swisher.

CAC's annual meeting Jan. 21
Members of the Wells County Creative Arts Council and their volunteers will meet Monday, Jan. 21, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Arts Commerce & Visitors Centre for their annual meeting. Director Audrey Dean announced that those attending will hear a review of activities held in 2012 and hear of plans for 2013. Light refreshments will be provided.

Master Gardener Training to be offered in February
The Purdue Extension Service will offer a Master Gardener training series that will consist of 12 to 14 weekly sessions beginning in mid-February. Classes will be held Wednesday evenings at the Wells County 4-H Park in Bluffton. Applications for participation are due by January 30. For more information and an application, please contact the Purdue Extension Service at 824-6412.

Mennonite Choral Spring Concert practices to begin Feb. 5
Members of the community are invited to join the singers of the Mennonite Choral society as they prepare for for the spring concert of hymns of faith. The hymns to be performed are sung widely throughout the Mennonite denomination as well as hymns that have been favorites in Christian circles  through the years.

Rehearsals will begin Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at the First Mennonite Church in Berne. Practices will continue weekly through Tuesday, April 30.  A dress rehearsal will be held Saturday, May 4. The concert will be held Sunday, May 5, 2013.

Club Calendar

Wednesday, Jan. 16

• Kitco Ladies Retirees — Corner Depot for lunch; 11:30 a.m.
• O.D.O. Club — Corner Depot; 6:30 p.m.
• Bible Study Club — First United Methodist Church; 12:45-2 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 17

• Bluffton Lions Club — Corner Depot; noon.

Saturday, Jan. 19

• River Terrace Estates — Vickie Kibellus; 3 p.m. in Healthcare.

Sunday, Jan. 20

• River Terrace Estates — Sherry Mann; 2:30 p.m. in AL.

Monday, Jan. 28
Swiss Stitchers Quilt Guild — Social Corner at Swiss Village in Berne; 7 p.m. Susan Lesh will present “Arrowheads, the easy Way.” There will be a review of personal goals for 2012 and the opportunity to write new goals for 2013. Also, The Noble Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild is planning The Gathering of Quilters 2013.  It will take place in Auburn on March 16. There will be will be a signup sheet at the January meeting or go to the website: www.noblenimblethimbles.com for details, and online registration. Show and Tell will be furnished.  Visitors are welcome. For more information call Susan Lesch  at 260-589-8425.

Club Calendar

Monday, Jan. 14
• Wells County Man-to-Man Prostate Support Group — Wells County Council on Aging at 225 W. Water Street, Bluffton; 4-5:30 p.m. All men and others interested are welcome to attend the meeting.
• Bluffton Christian Writers Group — River Terrace Estates Library; 6:30 p.m. Widowed to Widowed--Corner Depot; 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 16
• Kitco Ladies Retirees — Corner Depot for lunch; 11:30 a.m.
• O.D.O. Club — Corner Depot; 6:30 p.m.
• Bible Study Club — First United Methodist Church; 12:45-2 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 19
• River Terrace Estates — Vickie Kibellus; 3 p.m. in Healthcare.
Sunday, Jan. 20
• River Terrace Estates — Sherry Mann; 2:30 p.m. in AL.

What's Up

NW Dollars for Scholars fundraiser Jan. 7 & 8 at Richards Restaurant
Richards Restaurant in Bluffton has offered to donate five percent of all sales generated on Monday, Jan. 7 and Tuesday, Jan. 8 to the Norwell Dollars for Scholars program. The public is encouraged to participate.

Hiromi Sasaki Blinchevsky Piano Recital Jan. 7
Ball State doctoral student Hiromi Sasaki Blinchevsky will perform Monday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Arts Place Portland Center.

For more information call 260-726-4809 or visit the Arts Place Portland Center.

Woodcarvers Exhibit Jan. 7-Feb. 15 in Portland
The Wood carvers Exhibit will be displayed from Jan. 7th - February 15 at Arts Place Collective Center located at 142 E. Spring St., St. Marys, Ohio. The exhibit includes the talents of John Andreoni, Gene Knox and Weston Hirschfeld.

There will be an opening reception in honor of the artists at the Arts Place Collective Center on Friday, Jan. 11 from 6-8 p.m. The opening reception is free and open to the public. If you have questions about the exhibit or programs of the Arts Place Collective Center, please call Mary Hone at 419-394-0707. The Arts Place Collective Center is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m.