The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Allen County recently celebrated the opening of the Pufferbelly Trail extension. The 4.33-mile asphalt trail was constructed by Allen County with help from a $3.2 million grant from Next Level Trails.
“This extension of the Pufferbelly Trail is a key connection — in the region and as part of our continued growth of trails across the state as part of the Next Level Trails initiative,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director.
The trail extends Pufferbelly Trail north from the Life Bridge Church Trailhead at Union Chapel Road to Fitch Road near the Allen-DeKalb county line.
The trail is a part of the planned Poka-Bache Trail, an 81.3-mile State Visionary Trail. The Poka-Bache Trail will ultimately connect Pokagon State Park in Angola to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton.
In April, Fort Wayne received a round-three NLT grant to complete the final gap of the Pufferbelly Trail. Once complete, the entire trail will extend more than 13 miles from downtown Fort Wayne to the county line.
“There are now over 140 miles of trail in Allen County creating a network of well-used active transportation and recreation opportunities,” said Megan McClellan, Fort Wayne Trails executive director. “This new 4.33-mile stretch of the Pufferbelly Trail will connect thousands of additional residents to this system while also connecting to beautiful natural areas like Payton County Park and Willow Creek.”
Former CEO of Fox Products, Alan Fox, dies
Alan Fox, 89, former owner and CEO of Fox Products Corporation in South Whitley, died Nov. 14.
A champion of the bassoon and double reed instruments, Fox oversaw huge developments at Fox Products during his time leading the company from 1960-2012.
Son of founder Hugo Fox, and the only non-musician in the family, Alan Fox left a career in chemical engineering to run the family bassoon-making business. He learned the art of instrument manufacturing and oversaw the company through numerous innovations, including North America’s first contrabassoon, the development of the Renard student line, the creation of polypropylene bassoons, and the production of Fox oboe family instruments. He also brought Fox Products to the world stage through international distribution.
Arena Theatre presents One Christmas Eve
Arena Dinner Theatre is getting in on the Christmas scene with their production of One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall.
Running each Thursday-Saturday from Dec. 1-17, as well as matinees on Sunday, Dec. 3 and 10, the show centers around eight intertwined stories in a Midwestern mall the night before Christmas. From a misfit teenagers to a lovesick mall Santa and overeager mall cop, the show “wraps the joys and sorrows of the season into one festive package.”
The shows at 719 Rockhill St. will begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday, with dinner being served at 7 p.m. Dinner is served at 1 p.m. for the Sunday shows with the curtain rising at 2 p.m.
For tickets, go to tickets.artstix.org or call (260) 422-4266.
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