Columnists

The Grape Vine

Spring is springing

Good reason to drink Sangrias and Mojitos

By Elizabeth Niezer

Columnist Elizabeth Niezer encourages us all to celebrate Spring right now with sangria.

The Long View

Educating for the future

The importance of our schools

By Jim Sparrow

The quality of our education determines the quality of our future, so Columnist Jim Sparrow explores the challenges we face.

Along the Heritage Trail

Blue Cast Springs eternal

Former site of sanitarium retains natural beauty

By Tom Castaldi

Historian Tom Castaldi tells the story of Blue Cast Springs, which is in the news now as ACRES Land Trust’s newest preserve.

The Long View

Dogs

Lessons, life, love

By Jim Sparrow

Coming to love dogs taught Columnist Jim Sparrow that people should emulate doggy wisdom.

Along the Heritage Trail

Pioneer industrialist

Comparet was one of the first county commissioners

By Tom Castaldi

In Francis Comparet’s story, Historian Tom Castaldi illustrates Fort Wayne’s transformation from wilderness trading post to emerging city.

The Grape Vine

Big wines

for a small budget

By Elizabeth Niezer

Enjoy big wines on a small budget thanks to Columnist Elizabeth Niezer.  

The Long View

Authentic — not perfect

For a future filled with personality

By Jim Sparrow

Our goal is authenticity more than perfection, Columnist Jim Sparrow says, for a future glowing with our city’s personality.

Along the Heritage Trail

Breaking new ground

Canal led the way west

By Tom Castaldi

Historian Tom Castaldi explains what George Washington has to do with the beginnings of the Wabash-Erie Canal.

The Grape Vine

Distilled knowledge

A guide to the world of whiskey

By Elizabeth Niezer

Columnist Elizabeth Niezer ventures outside the vineyard to explore whiskey.

The Long View

Lesson from my grandfather

How to build success

By Jim Sparrow

Columnist Jim Sparrow shares a lesson he learned from his grandfather about success.

The Grape Vine

Brighten dark days

with wine’s warmth

By Elizabeth Niezer

Wines to warm this chilly month are Columnist Elizabeth Niezer’s topic this time.

The Long View

Rethinking institutional models

Time to rebalance

By Jim Sparrow

It’s a wise time to rebalance, Columnist Jim Sparrow says, to sustain Fort Wayne’s successful arts institutions — and keep the arts vital here.

Along the Heritage Trail

Electrifying Christmas

in downtown Fort Wayne

By Tom Castaldi

We see a bright and wonderful past through the eyes of Historian Tom Castaldi as he tells the story of electrifying Fort Wayne’s Christmas.

The Grape Vine

Sweet dilemma

and the right wines for holiday treats

By Elizabeth Niezer

Columnist Elizabeth Niezer confronts a sweet dilemma and wins through to some interesting recommendations for the rest of us.

The Long View

Opportunity

Are we ready to capitalize?

By Jim Sparrow

Columnist Jim Sparrow says we do have a brand, and he suggests some words — and some reasons — to communicate it.