Good morning, Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control celebrated a key milestone as its partner Black Forest Cat Cafe reached its 1,000th cat adoption on August 13 by offering $5 admission to its cat lounge all week and hosting a pop-up kitten adoption event from 4—6 p.m.

Bishop Rhoades celebrated a Jubilee Mass yesterday at St. Anthony of Padua in Angola—the first of nine events during the Holy Year that marks the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation designated by the late Pope Francis.

He will celebrate additional masses throughout the diocese, with the final service scheduled for December 28.

Pearl Arts announced Wednesday—after securing a $475,000 three-year grant from the Don Wood Foundation—that an educational initiative will support music training and creative programming in partnership with Fort Wayne Community Schools.

The grant will fund events and programs that give local students direct instruction from professional musicians.

Pearl Arts received a $475,000 grant from the Don Wood Foundation to fund its three-year Innovation Institute in partnership with Fort Wayne Community Schools—this program gives students hands-on instruction in music production, sound technology, and business skills.

Classes began on August 7th and the institute will expand arts education in the community.

Northwest Allen County Schools celebrated a 94% pass rate on IREAD, up from 89.9% last year, showing strong progress in reading skills—Arcola Elementary and Cedar Canyon Elementary achieved 100% scores and the district will continue to provide resources to help students succeed.

Fort Wayne Community Schools reported an 82.5% passing rate on the 2024-25 IREAD-3 assessment on August 13, marking the fifth straight year of growth over pre-pandemic results.

Nineteen elementary schools showed significant gains with Study Elementary leading by increasing its rate by 38 percentage points—reflecting the success of targeted literacy instruction.

Indiana Tech received nearly $1 million from the state's Next Level Jobs program on August 13 to add six new certificate programs that train locals for high-demand careers—Advanced Accounting, Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Financial Services, Health Science, and Policing and Corrections. The grant will cover full tuition for eligible Hoosiers seeking skills in areas like business, health, and technology.

The president of City Utilities explained his plan to upgrade Fort Wayne's utility infrastructure—promising improvements in service and maintenance.

The plan calls for new projects that will start later this year to better serve local residents.

Allen County commissioners must develop a more detailed, phased plan to relocate county services—such as the Community Corrections Day Reporting Center—to the new jail campus at 2911 Meyer Road, following a federal court order and using a placeholder of over $5 million for planning a move aimed to be ready by 2028. Council members will review the detailed plan at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 to ensure the phased funding meets taxpayer expectations.

Tacarra Williams Live

7-8:30 p.m. — Summit City Comedy Club — Tickets available — Experience the comedic brilliance of Tacarra Williams, a rising star in the comedy scene.

1st Annual VetFest Celebration

11 a.m.-6 p.m. — Headwaters Park — Free entry with donations accepted — Celebrate our veterans with live music, food, games, and family activities before the 80s Night concert.

Summit City Vintage Fest 6

12-6 p.m. — Night Train — Drinks available for purchase — Explore 25 vintage clothing vendors in the heart of the city.

The Garden Night Market

6-9 p.m. — The Garden — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of artisan shopping, live music, and delicious food under the stars.

Fort Wayne Plein Air Competition and Sale

7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. — Auer Center for Arts and Culture — Cost varies — Explore a vibrant display of local art and purchase unique pieces at this competitive event.

Los Montoya, Maguey, Al Tiro Concert

9 PM – 3 AM — El Diamante Night Club — Tickets for sale — Experience an electrifying night of live music featuring Banda Maguey, Banda Los Montoya, and Altiro.

The Four Horsemen - Tribute to Metallica

8:00 – 9:30 PM — Clyde Theatre — Starting at $15 — Experience an authentic, high-energy tribute to Metallica showcasing their early masterpieces.

The Lost World Film Screening

3:00 – 4:30 PM — Embassy Theatre — $5 for kids/seniors, $10 for others — Experience the classic silent film adaptation of Conan Doyle's adventure with live organ music.

Dayton Dragons vs. Fort Wayne Tincaps

6:35-8:05 p.m. — Parkview Field — Family-friendly entertainment — Experience thrilling baseball action with the Fort Wayne Tincaps at their award-winning venue.

2025 Southwest Youth Mile Race Series

4:30-6:30 p.m. — Indian Trails Park — Registration required — Compete in a series of one-mile races for youth with awards for top finishers in multiple categories.