🐦🔥 Weekly refresh
Good morning, Fort Wayne! 🌤️
Welcome back to Kekionga Today! As Labor Day weekend approaches, the Fort is buzzing with things to do. (and yes, also with orange cones, lane closures, and traffic slow-downs)
Here’s this weeks scoop ⬇️
🔥 City Releases Heat & Air Quality Study - The latest maps reveal how heat and pollution vary across FW neighborhoods, with denser, built-up areas notably hotter than leafy, water-rich zones. View the whole study here. (City of Fort Wayne)
🐆 New Zoo Animals Incoming - A male clouded leopard cub was born earlier this summer on June 22. This is the Fort Wayne Zoo’s second successful litter of the vulnerable species. Also, a bontebok joins the African Veldt! These are a South African antelope native to coastal grasslands. (Fort Wayne Zoo) (WANE)
🖥️ Data Centers Could Drain Groundwater - An Indiana Geological & Water Survey expert is cautioning that, as data centers proliferate, we lack enough studies to ensure they use water responsibly. Especially since much of their water use for cooling isn't properly tracked or regulated. (WANE)
🥕 Farmers Market Rebrands at Electric Works - After the founders departure amid a stalled ownership transition, the Fort Wayne Farmer’s Market name is being retired; EWPMT will continue Saturdays at Electric Works as the Summit City Farmers Market. (WANE)
📉 Fort Wayne Jobless Rate at 3.9% - Unemployment in the metro area dipped to 3.9% in July, lower than it was last year this time by more than 1.5%. Statewide, joblessness stood at 3.6%. (Indiana DWD / Journal Gazette)
📊 By the Numbers
Quick stats from this week.
2 New Animals → at the Fort Wayne Zoo this summer (clouded leopard cub + bontebok) 🐆
3.9% Unemployment Rate → for July in the Fort Wayne metro area. (statewide = 3.6%) 📉
14 Years → How long the Fort Wayne Farmers Market operated under its original name before rebranding. 🥕
40 Volunteers → Helped collect heat and air quality data by driving around the city with sensors last summer. 🌡️
🗓️ Upcoming Local Events
Touch Some Trucks, Taste Some Cider
Bored? Fort Wayne’s event calendar is truckin’ this week.
🚛 Touch-A-Truck Rolls into Huntington - Saturday, August 30, families are invited to Huntington Municipal Airport for “Touch‑a‑Truck” (9 a.m.–noon). Kids can climb inside big rigs, push buttons, honk horns, and more. (Visit Huntington)
🌙 Healing Hands Night Market - Saturday, August 30 (5 p.m.–11 p.m.) at 6527 Covington Road, live open mic, food trucks, art, and the Fort Wayne Youth Market. Free Admission! (Facebook)
🚗 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival - From Thursday, August 28 to Saturday, August 30 in downtown Auburn, this iconic festival returns with classic Auburn‑Cord‑Duesenberg cars, exotic “Fast & Fabulous” rides, live music, antique car shows, and more. (Whatzup)
🍎 Sip & Learn: Cider Tasting at Salomon Farm - Friday, September 5 (6:30–8:30 p.m.), join a cider tasting led by certified pommelier David Lugo. Tickets are $50, registration runs through August 29. (WPTA)
🎭 Youtheatre Academy - Open registration for fall session starting this September, welcoming aspiring performers to explore acting, stagecraft, and creative expression. (Yahoo)
🚦 Traffic Report
What to Avoid (and When)
🚧 Parnell × St. Joe River Drive Closed - August 25–29, the intersection of Parnell Avenue and St. Joe River Drive will be fully closed for bridge rehab. Detours are in place via Vance Avenue and North Anthony Boulevard. (City of Fort Wayne)
🚧 Lake Avenue Closed - August 26–28, Lake Avenue between Reed Road and Lakehurst Drive will be closed for utility work. Detours are in place via Reed Road → East State Blvd → Maplecrest Road. (WFFT)
🚧 Harrison Street Lane Closed for Midweek Cleaning - Wednesday–Friday, August 27–29, the left lane on Harrison Street (near downtown) will be closed for street cleaning. (WFFT)
🍴Fork Wayne
A Local Gem: Kuehnert Dairy Farm 🥛
Banana split!! 🍌
Few places let you snack while watching cows chill, but that’s part of the charm at Kuehnert Dairy Farm. 🐮
“What makes Kuehnert's special isn’t just the food, it’s the clean, modern space, the cows content outside the windows, and the sense that this farm takes pride in every detail.”
If you haven’t visited yet, you’re missing one of Fort Wayne’s tastiest and most welcoming gems.
Read the full story. 👇
💬 From the Community
Reddit & Beyond
🎨 Paint It Forward Makes Walls Smile - Fort Wayne’s Paint It Forward program from Three Rivers Painting Co. proudly offers free exterior painting (and even landscaping) each quarter to homeowners in historically underserved neighborhoods. (Three Rivers Painting Co.)
🗺️ Historic Fort Wayne Map Resurfaces - Reddit user liedel shared an 1795 pen-and-ink map made for General Anthony Wayne, showing early Fort Wayne near the old Miami village of Kekionga. Notes trace the post’s origins to 1794, at today’s Clay & Berry streets. (Reddit, Library of Congress)
📝 New Haven Seeks Local Voice on Wellness - The City of New Haven has launched a community-wide wellness survey open through October 19 and appointed two new roles: Community Health Coordinator and All-Abilities Coordinator. (newhaven.in.gov)
🧠 Fort Facts
Summit City
Fort Wayne’s “Summit City” nickname comes from the Wabash & Erie Canal. Built in the 1830s, the canal brought commerce and travelers through Fort Wayne.
“Fort Wayne's "Summit City" nickname dates from this period, referring to the city's position at the highest elevation along the canal's route.”
That’s the scoop for this week. 🍦
If you think we missed something cool, don’t keep it to yourself. Hit reply or DM us. 💌
- Kekionga Today 🐦🔥