by Nancy Jacoby

In just a few weeks, Wabash Canal Days - City of Lights Festival will be going strong. Many of the favorite events and activities will once again be a part of the festival schedule -- the diaper derby, gospel night, eating contests and of course, the parade! Don't forget, it starts at 6:00 p.m. this year!

The Committee is pleased to announce several new events, such as a "Celebrity-Look-A-Like" Contest - should be exciting. (This is a pre-festival event.) Thursday evening will find the "Twin City Cloggers" downtown. Friday, a "Kids Carnival," sponsored by Wabash Community Service, will entertain the younger generation during the morning hours. "Memoirs of Elvis - The Vintage Years" with Red Carpenter, Elvis Impersonator, will "lite" up the parade reviewing stand just prior to the parade - check it out at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Following the parade, don't miss the Big Brothers/Big Sisters "Bachelor Auction" at Market Street Grill at 8:30 p.m. (I'm wondering does one have to be a bachelorette? I could trade a 40-year old for 2-20's couldn't I?)

We promise fun for one and all! A good supply of event brochures are available - a quick call to the Chamber office and one of our able-body committee members will deliver any number of brochures to you for distribution to your employees and customers.

Many thanks to all who help make Wabash Canal Days - City of Lights Festival happen -- the sponsors of events, the financial support from business and industry, the publicity from the media and the many capable bodies who spend their time before and during the festival.

(Nancy Jacoby, proprietor of Nancy J's Fabrics, is a member of the Wabash Canal Days - City of Lights Festival Committee, a committee of the Chamber )

Hipsher Tool & Die Celebrates 50 Years

Hipsher Tool & Die, Inc., 1593 South State Road 115, is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their company being in business. Congratulations to all at Hipsher Tool & Die.

Manpower Releases New Software

Manpower, 425 South Wabash Street, offers newly released computer software training on:

• Borland Paradox 5.0 for Windows 3.1
• Microsoft Access 7.0 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Excel 7.0 Windows 95
• Lotus Notes 3.3 for Windows 3.1 or 95

For more information, call Manpower at (219)563-1882.

Norwest's New Team Member

Norwest Investment Services Representative Brad Waltz recently joined the Norwest team at Norwest's 841 North Cass Street location.

Chess For Children

Chess classes will be offered at IVY Tech State College, Tuesdays beginning July 9 through August, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Enrollment cost is $25.00. Classes are offered for ages 11-18 years old. However, younger children may take the classes in tandem with a parent or older sibling for the price of one. Call IVY Tech State College for more information, (219)563-8828.

You Could Use a Little Indiana

Indiana Play Money Discount Coupons have arrived! This coupon book gives you discounts on motels, bed/breakfast inns, restaurants, historic sites, attractions, and even exotic getaway weekends. Many of these coupons will not expire until October 31, 1996. Now you can travel the state and discover the tempting treasures Indiana has in store for you and save yourself money.

Also available: the Indiana Travel Guide, Indiana Recreation Guide, State Travel Directory, Eastern Region Country Lanes & Landmarks, and the Indiana Travel Map, plus the Indiana Festival Guide. All available at the Wabash County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 111 South Wabash Street.

Resource Connection Expansion

Resource Connection announces the expansion of their employment services. Starting July 2, Resource Connection will increase services to include temporary to permanent employment services.

The expansion will open the doors for service to anyone looking for employment in the fields of clerical, manufacturing and business. Full time as well as part time positions will be available. Direct hire will also be an option.

Resource Connection will be in a position to provide extensive, specialized testing to assure employee and employer a good, successful job match. Businesses wishing to discuss their human resource requirements, should contact Pat Lynn, Field Representative, at (219)563-1144.

The Information Superhighway

In recent weeks we have heard much about the so-called information-superhighway and how it will connect all of us together in a novel approach to data sharing. Indeed, much has been said about this new tool and its implications for the future of information gathering and date processing.

As many know and realize, the Internet has hit Wabash County. From my perspective, this is wonderful for our county and its communities. Being a relatively new "surfer" on the net, I have been able to gather information for both personal and business uses that ordinarily would have taken months to compile. Now, it has to be said that much that is on the "net" is of little use to virtually no one. However, it has enabled many of us to connect with information sources that ordinarily we would not have had access to or even thought about prior to the introduction of the Internet.

Now, its time for my opinion. Having been somewhat of a computer enthusiast for several years (I have had eight different computer systems since my first in 1986), I am obviously excited about the Internet. It has the possibility of connecting our communities in an ever greater measure than before. Who would have thought that ten years ago, every office in the country (well, almost every office) would have a FAX machine. They are now an indispensable part of doing every day business.

I do believe that the Internet will become a similar aid to doing our every day business. The "e-mail" capabilities and the opportunity to communicate with so many people at one time and seek their opinions or advise is astronomical.

Now in the same vein, I must say that the "paperless" office will never be a reality. Personally, I still like paper. It does give you the feeling of having accomplished something rather than a 3.5 inch diskette that is visible on a screen.

The point of all of this is simple. Technology is marching on and is enabling all of us to communicate with all sorts of people all over the world. However, it is also giving us the opportunity to communicate with the person next door in a new and novel way. Just as in the days when the telephone was introduced, our world is shrinking just a little bit (or byte - no pun intended) more. It will be a valuable tool in economic development and especially in the realm of marketing. We hope to test that out in the very near future.

(Bill Bradley, Jr. is the Executive Director of Wabash Economic Development Corporation)