Fort Wayne Observed

Waynedale News news: The Torch has Been Passed to a New Generation

Yesterday saw a record turnout at the Waynedale community picnic. 

Numerous non-profits, churches and businesses were present at the free community picnic to sponsor the event.  Wayne Township Trustee Rick Stevenson and 4th District City Councilman Mitch Harper were among those on hand.

This year's picnic was the first for new proprietors of the Waynedale News newspaper. Shown above are new owners Alex Cornwell and Michael Alberico (left and center). Also present was Eric Pennycoff (right), who is working in a public relations capacity for the veteran community publication serving Waynedale and southwest Fort Wayne.

Mr. Cornwell, an University of St. Francis graduate, has long been associated with the newspaper.  He and Mr. Alberico are sure to carry on the tradition of community promotion and news.

Congratulations to the new owners, whose first publication is this week.  Also, congratulations to Bob Stark, who has given such devotion and time to the newspaper and to the people, businesses and institutions of Waynedale during his ownership - and stewardship - of the Waynedale News. 

Summit Club Closes: Passing of an Era

After nearly 40 years of hospitality overlooking the skyline of Fort Wayne, the Summit Club is closing. Its passing is a coda to the a prior era's plans for downtown revitalization.

The mid to late 60's were a time of retail contraction downtown. But by 1970, the initiatives of the City-County Building, the Performing Arts Center, Three Rivers Apartments, Freimann Square, and the Fort Wayne National Bank Building were all constructed or in the process of being planned and constructed.

The Summit Club was two floors consisting of luncheon and function rooms below and a bar and dining room above. It was also the site of Republican primary and general election night gatherings for two decades.

This week was its last.=

100% Late - National Record Set in June by Flight Serving Fort Wayne

The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bob Von Sternberg reports that the Minneapolis to Fort Wayne flight operated by Pinnacle Airlines for Northwest had the worst on-time record in the United States for June.

The percentage of times in June the flight was late? 100%.

The flight will no longer exist after September 1.  WANE reported that Delta Airlines, the parent of Northwest, announced yesterday the once a week flight to Minneapolis would be ending. 

However, there was plenty of good news for Pinnacle today, too.  It was announced that an agreement had tentatively been reached with the pilot's union that represent's Pinnacle Airlines pilots.  Pinnacle's stock jumped 7.45% on news of the agreement.

Smoked Glass Shattered

Riegel's Pipe and Tobacco store was missing its front window today. The venerable Calhoun Street business is the oldest downtown retailer.

Frank Bougher reported that the window was shattered early Sunday morning by a young woman  employed by a nearby bar who had  just broken up with her boyfriend.  The woman received minor injuries to her hand.  The cigar store Indian was uninjured and back at his post Monday morning.

Downtown Improvement District head Rich Davis and Embassy Theatre Development Director Steve Linsenmayer are pictured at left lamenting the injury to a downtown Fort Wayne landmark.

Worman Again in 2010

Denny Worman of Leo provided a bit of a clue as to his political intentions at the Harlan Days festival this past weekend.  The photo above of Mr. Worman was taken in the Harlan Days merchant tent.

Mr. Worman is likely to once again challenge incumbent State Representative Phyllis Pond of New Haven for the Republican nomination in Indiana House District 85. Mr. Worman has sought the post before, most recently in 2008, when he and former County Treasurer Robert Lee lost to Mrs. Pond.

Challenger Audrey Queckboerner has already announced her intention to seek the post; she had an entry in the Harlan Days parade on Saturday. (Gary and Audrey Queckboerner shown at left).

Both of Mr. Worman's parents served in the Indiana House of Representives. His father, Dick Worman, served in the House in the early 1970's.  Dick Worman was elected to the state senate in 1978.  Marna Jo Worman, Denny's mother, succeeded her husband in the House in the mid-1970's and served until deciding not to seek re-election in 1978 when her husband ran for the state senate.