Monday, April 30, 2012

Wondering About Work Zones?

You know that Indiana has two seasons: winter and road construction.

Well, we sorta skipped winter this year, but road construction is in full swing.

Drivers can learn the locations of work zones before getting in their cars by calling INDOT’s TrafficWise at 800:261-7623 or going online.

Friday, April 27, 2012

University Place to Close


According to IBJ.com, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis has decided to close the University Place Conference Center and Hotel and will use the space for student housing, dining and classrooms.

The conversion will begin in December.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Decorator Show House

Public tours begin 28 April for the annual Decorators' Show House sponsored by St. Margaret's Hospital Guild.

This year's location is the Tobias House, 5 East 71st Street, Indianapolis; tickets are $20 at the door.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. (Closed Mondays.)

Since St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild was founded in 1907, our projects have resulted in over $10 million being raised for Wishard Health Services.

(Photo courtesy of St. Margaret's Hospital Guild)

Friday, April 20, 2012

Centennial of the Cherry Blossoms

Indiana will celebrate the centennial of the planting of cherry trees from Japan in Washington, D.C., as part of the Earth Day festivities in White River State Park, downtown Indianapolis.

Highlights include public kite-flying, a taiko performance and free seeds for Japanese cherry trees to plant at home.

It all takes place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. 28 April.

Here's what's new: a mass planting of Japanese cherry trees in White River State Park! But, first, the 45 Yoshino cherry tree saplings already in Indiana will be cosseted in a nursery for three years -- until they're sturdy enough to be planted along the west bank of the White River. The walkway will be named the Japan – U.S. Cherry-Tree Promenade (see the artist's rendering, above left).

Organizers for the cherry tree celebration are the Japan-America Society of Indiana, Honorary Consul General of Japan at Indianapolis, Consulate General of Japan at Chicago and the Embassy of Japan in the United States.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Durham's Trial Remains on Schedule

According to IBJ.com, a federal judge has rejected a motion by Indianapolis financier Tim Durham to have his indictment dismissed on the grounds that the government used wiretaps before it had court authorization to do so.

Read it all here.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Hangzhou Celebration

The Indy portion of the Indianapolis-Hangzhou Sister City Partnership celebrates their shared relationship 9 May in the Central Library, 40 East St. Clair Street, Indianapolis -- and the public is invited.

It begins with a 6 p.m. reception in the Riley meeting room, followed by "cultural performances of China" in the Clowes auditorium at 7 p.m.

On display will be books donated to the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library by Hangzhou. This exhibit, "Reflections of West Lake: Hangzhou Public Library Book Exhibition," includes works representing the performing arts, calligraphy and painting, literature, musical instruments, arts and crafts and city development. It will be on display at Central Library from 7 May through 28 July (during regular library hours).

Nearly 100 donated Chinese or bilingual books in this collection are available for checkout from the Library's catalog. The Indianapolis Public Library in return has donated a similar collection of works representing American and Indiana literature to the Hangzhou Public Library.

A "taste" of Chinese cuisine is promised.

There's no admission charge, although seating is limited for the performances. For more information about this free Library program, call 317:275-4099.

Sponsors, in addition to the library and its foundation, are Eli Lilly and Company, the International School of Indiana, Indianapolis Chinese Community Center and the International & Cultural Affairs office of Mayor Greg Ballard.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Every 36 Years, Primary Fight for Indiana Senator

The Republican primary for the U.S. senator from Indiana is explored in today's New York Times:

"At age 80, Richard G. Lugar, one of the longest-serving members of the United States Senate, is getting a crash course in what a campaign looks like."

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Celebrating 140 Years

The Indianapolis Liederkranz is 140 years old in 2012.

The celebration is 28 April in the club headquarters, 1417 East Washington Street, Indianapolis.

It begins at 6:30 p.m. with bratwurst, knockwurst, German potato salad, sauerkraut and more to eat. A concert starts at 8 p.m. (this is a singing society after all), and after the concert, the Alpine Express will provide music for dancing. Admission is $8 for non-members.

There is free parking in the Ivy Tech parking lots off of Oriental Street, south of Washington Street, and in the FOP parking lot off of McKim Street south of Washington.

Friday, April 13, 2012

"Misplaced" State Revenue

"Former Fifth Third Bank president Mike Alley will take over as the state's revenue commissioner. He'll replace John Eckart, who resigned last week amid controversy over misplaced local option income taxes," reports IBJ.com.

This Indianapolis Observer says "misplaced" taxes? How can a state official "misplace" taxes? Is that like misplacing your car keys?

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

BR "Parking Garage" Saga Continues

Here's the story, according to Advance Indiana: "The bottom line is that [Ersal] Ozdemir purchased a $6.3 million gift from Indianapolis taxpayers in consideration for about $50,000 in campaign contributions to [Mayor Greg] Ballard and a six-figure job for Ballard's former chief of staff, Paul Okeson, to boot."

Ain't insider dealing grand?

Monday, April 9, 2012

Concert with Piano and Ocarina

ピアノとオカリナによる春のファミリー・コンサート -- that is, a Spring Family Concert with Piano and Ocarina will be presented twice in Indiana later this month.

Kozo Kaneko, pianist from Hyogo, Japan, will perform at 7:30 p.m. 21 April in Asbury United Methodist Church, 1751 27th Street, Columbus, and at 1 p.m. 22 April in Carmel Lutheran Church, 4850 East Main Street, Carmel. Hiromi Mori, a Columbus resident, will accompany on the Ocarina.

There is no admission charge for either location. The performances are sponsored by the Japan-America Society of Indiana.

兵庫県を中心に日本国内で幅広く活動され、現・神戸山の手女子高校音楽講師のピアニスト・金子浩三氏をお迎えして、4月21日(土曜日)コロンバス市、4月22日(日曜日)カーメル市の2か所でピアノ・コンサートを開催します。 コロンバス市内在住のオカリナ奏者・森 宏美さんのオカリナとの共演も予定しております。

プロのオカリナ奏者の演奏を聴くことのできる機会はなかなかないと思います。まさしく春にふさわしい、とてもきれいな音色です。ご家族向けのコンサートですので、お子様連れで、皆さんお誘いあわせの上、ぜひお出かけください。

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Zoobilation: Grand Voyage

If you want to go to this one, you're probably already too late to get a ticket (it always sells out).

The annual Zoobilation takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight 8 June at (where else?) the Indianapolis Zoo, white River State Park, Indianapolis.

The VIP party is 5:30 to 7 p.m. ahead of the black tie event (for which you must be 21 or older).

Friday, April 6, 2012

New York Times Reports on Indy

"The story of Southside begins with two epic exoduses. One brought thousands of Sephardic Jews.... The other exodus involved black Africans brought to America as slaves and emancipated only centuries later."

See: "Christians and Jews Rediscover Interracial Haven" (in today's New York Times).

To this Indianapolis Observer, there's nothing like a uplifting story on race relations in Indy, even if it has to be written by someone from out of town. Fortunately, it was Samuel G. Freedman.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Indy Remembers Genocide in Rwanda

“Generations of Forgiveness”, the 18th commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda, will be held from noon until 3 p.m. 14 April in the Decatur Discovery Academy, 5106 South High School Road, Indianapolis.

Sponsored by Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, the Global Genocide Prevention Alliance and the Decatur Discovery Academy, the commemoration is focused on the quest for recovery and reconciliation, in particular forgiveness as an avenue to empower victims of injustice, war, and genocide.

The keynote address ‘Generations of Forgiveness’ will be in the form of a discussion between Rwandan genocide survivor Kizito Kalima and holocaust survivor and ‘Mengele twin’ Eva Kor (pictured).

There will also be an international panel entitled ‘The Struggle Within’ with
representatives from the Ivory Coast, Venezuela, Syria and Rwanda.

This event is free and open to the public. For further information, contact Ian McIntosh, 317:274-3776.