Private Philanthropy in China

Peter F. Geithner, an expert on Chinese philanthropy, will lead a discussion on “The Growth of Private Philanthropy in China” from 3 to 4:3 p.m. Monday (3 October) in Room 309 of the Campus Center at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

He will be joined by two Chinese scholars currently visiting the Center on Philanthropy at I.U.: Li Li of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and Lu Bo of the Beijing Vantone Foundation.

Geithner is an advisor to the Asia Center at Harvard University and a consultant to the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium, Rockefeller Foundation, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and other organizations. He serves on the boards of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, the China Center for Economic Research (Peking University), the Center for the Advanced Study of India (University of Pennsylvania), Clemente (Holdings) Asia, Inc., and the Institute of Current World Affairs.

(Flag © 2011 ScientiaWeb)

Al Unser Jr. arrested for DWI

OK, it didn't happen in Indy, but Unser certainly is a well-known name 'round these parts.

According to KRQE.com: "Al Unser Jr, a retired American race car driver and two time Indianapolis 500 winner, was arrested early Thursday morning.

"Around 3 a.m., officials say Unser, 49, was in his white 2011 Chevrolet Suburban and racing another car going westbound on Paseo del Norte in Albuquerque. Deputies say they clocked both vehicles on radar going over 100 miles per hour. The posted speed limit in that particular stretch is around 60 mph."

"He has been charged with reckless driving, aggravated DWI and racing upon a highway."

"Unser is a member of the famous Albuquerque Unser racing family. His father Al Unser Sr. won back-to-back wins at the Indianapolis 500 in 1970 and 1971. He also took the checkered flag at Indy in 1978 and 1987.

"His uncle Bobby won at Indianapolis in 1968, 1975 and 1981. Al Unser Jr. himself won the Indy 500 in 1992 and 1994," KRQE.com notes.

Indiana Authors Award

Celebrate writers from the Hoosier state on 29 October at the Central Library, 40 East St. Clair Street, Indianapolis.

During the day, you can meet a host of Indiana authors, including the 2011 Indiana Authors Award honorees. You can purchase their books and get them signed, listen to author talks and attend workshops for writers and book lovers of all ages.

National winner for 2011 is Margaret McMullan (pictured), and the 2011 regional winner is Helen Frost.

This event -- which is free and open to the public -- is presented by the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation in partnership with the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library and the Writers' Center of Indiana.

In the evening, the winners and finalists of the award will be fêted. To purchase a ticket for the dinner, also to be held at the Central Library, go online or call 317:275-4700.

Could Mitch Have Made It?

That's the question discussed on Slate.com today.

Read this assessment of our governor via his newly-released book here, in an article by John Dickerson.

Gridiron, Resurrected

When's the last time you broke bread with your Hoosier political pals -- and then watched in shocked awe as they were raked over the coals by their peers?

Just a guess, but it might have been at the last Indiana Gridiron event a few years ago.

Well, the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute is bringing back the fabled dinner in all its glory.

The laughs. The cheap shots. And plenty of cheap shots, too. Because it's been far too long since we got together and senselessly mocked Indiana's political elite.

Mark your calendars for Feb. 22, 2012, and make a special note: "Second best event of the year."

This site will be up and running soon, so check back often for more information about tickets, tables and, of course, our lineup of helpless victims, er, featured speakers.

We guarantee you'll have so much fun you might just wind up offering someone your iPad or explaining yourself to a police officer in a gas station parking lot.

(And, a tip of the hat to Jennifer Wagner for reporting the good news in her column in the "Forefront" section of the Indianapolis Business Journal!)

Why Doesn't Cavanaugh Hall Have Windows?

Did you ever take a class in Cavanaugh Hall at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis?

Join the fun at the Cavanaugh Hall 40th Anniversary Reunion and Open House from 4:30-6:30 p.m. tomorrow (23 September).

Learn about Cavanaugh's construction and much more at the event featuring a six-story exhibit, "Cavanaugh Hall: 40 Years of Impact," light appetizers, and remarks by Dean William Blomquist at 6 p.m.

Retired faculty and staff, alumni, students, and the campus community are invited.

(Photo courtesy of IUPUI)

Taste of Germany Comes to Indy

For more on the event -- and to buy tickets -- go online.


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Fiesta Time

The 31st annual Fiesta takes place on the American Legion Mall downtown from noon until 11 p.m. Saturday (17 September).

First held in 1980, Fiesta become the largest Latino Festival in the state of Indiana, attracting 30,000 people to the event annually.

It's sponsored by La Plaza, whose mission is to serve, empower and integrate the central Indiana Latino community.

Plowman Guilty On Both Charges

Read more on Advance Indiana, which has done a great job covering the trial from opening statements to verdict.

The report on today's verdict is here.

Sangam 2011 is Saturday

Get a glimpse of the breadth and depth of Indian culture in Indiana during "Sangam: Crossroads of Culture 2011", set for Saturday (17 September) in the Pike Performing Arts Center, 6701 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis.

At 4:30 p.m., an Indian culture program begins, including some seven examples of dance from the Indian subcontinent. Tickets are $5 per person.

After the entertainment, an Indian dinner will be available for purchase.

The event is sponsored by Lilly India Network and the India Association of Indianapolis.

Your Indianapolis Observer's favorite dancer, Madhusmita Bora, will perform the Sattriya form of Indian dance.

Georgia Street

Amazing sometimes how out of touch "city leadership" can be.

Case in point: the proposed renaming of Georgia Street.

This Indianapolis Observer -- and thousands of Indy residents -- are wondering just why this is necessary/important/desirable.

It was named Georgia Street when the city was platted almost two hundred years ago -- and we should change it, why? Because we're gonna host a Super Bowl?

Paul K. Ogden has a nice discussion of the decision on his blog, where he notes that the discussion became so rancorous that The Indianapolis Star had to disable comments.

Don't let 'em get away with it, folks. Save Georgia Street from disappearing! Contact the mayor and tell him what you think: contact form here.

Indy Irish Fest This Weekend

From Irish breed dogs to Irish brews to Irish dancing -- it's all gonna be in Military Park, downtown Indianapolis, next weekend at the 16th annual Indy Irish Fest.

It starts Friday (16 September) with an early bird special: get through the gates between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., and there's no admission charge. The fest runs through Sunday (18 September).

For a complete listing of entertainment, go online.

(Photo courtesy of Indy Irish Fest)

Dress Code: Western Wear

A "Hoe Down and Wild West Casino" is set for 7 p.m. to midnight 24 September to benefit the Children's TherAplay Foundation.

There'll be a silent auction, martini saloon, casino, music by Blonde Sonja and (wow!) a mechanical bull-riding contest.

Tickets are $100 per person.

It all takes place at TherAplay, 9919 Towne Road, Carmel, a nonprofit, outpatient rehabilitation clinic for kids with special needs using hippotherapy.

Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational or speech and language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. Hippotherapy literally means "treatment with the help of the horse" from the Greek word, "hippos" meaning horse.

Specially trained physical and occupational therapists use this treatment for clients with movement dysfunction. In Hippotherapy, the movement of the horse influences the client. The client is positioned on the horse and actively responds to his movement. The therapist directs the movement of the horse; analyzes the client's responses, and adjusts the treatment accordingly. This strategy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes.

Oktoberfest in German Park

What a Weekend in Indy!

Don't plan to be home this weekend. There's far too much going on in our favorite Heartland city.

German Oktoberfest, Indianapolis, is today through Sunday: details here.

Greek Fest, Carmel, is Friday and Saturday. details here.

Penrod, Indianapolis' nicest afternoon, is Saturday: details here.

French Market, Indianapolis, is Saturday: details here. (yes, the photo is from the French Market!)

Emigration from Bavaria to the USA

Many thousands of people from Germany emigrated to the United States of America in the 19th century. Dr. Ekkehard Hübschmann, an ethnologist and genealogist from Harsdorf, Germany, will discuss the reasons and the methods during a presentation a 7 p.m. Thursday (8 September) in the Max Kade Room of the Athenæum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis.

His lecture describes the official process of emigration from Franconia (Kingdom of Bavaria): getting a birth certificate from the local church or synagogue, applying for an emigration permit and passport. The lecture also describes the conditions aboard the sailing ships.

The event is open to the public at no charge. It's sponsored by the Max Kade German-American Center. For questions, email Dr. Daniel Nützel or call 317:274-2300.

Trash Collection Delayed by Holiday

There's no curbside recycling, residential or heavy trash collection today.

All residential trash, heavy trash and curbside recycling routes will run one day behind for the entire week. Monday routes will be serviced on Tuesday, 6 September; Tuesday routes will be serviced on Wednesday, 7 September, and so on. Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday, 10 September.

All services will return to normal schedules next Monday, 12 September.

For more information, call the Mayor’s Action Center, 317:327-4622.

An Evening with Paul Theroux

Paul Theroux (pictured, at left) will speak at 7 p.m. 26 September in Room 450 of the Campus Center at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, 420 University Boulevard, Indianapolis.

He's the author of The Tao of Travel, Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, The Old Patagonia Express, A Dead Hand, The Mosquito Coast and more, including your Indianapolis Observer's favorite, The Pillars of Hercules.

There's no admission charge.

His appearance is part of the Efroymson Lectures on International Art, Culture and Heritage.

(Photo by William Furniss, courtesy of Lyceum Agency)

Steve Goldsmith Arrested for Domestic Violence

According to IBJ.com, former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith says he stepped down as deputy mayor of New York City early last month because he was arrested over a domestic violence incident involving his (second) wife, Margaret.

The former Indy mayor spent two days in jail, according to the report.

UPDATE:
Here is a link to the New York Times story.

"C-1 stated to S-1 "Your [sic] not going to do this to me again, I'm calling the police." Excerpted from the DC police report.

Note that C-1 [Margaret] called the police because this incident wasn't the first.