International Festival is This Weekend in Indy

You are coming to Indy's International Festival, yes?

It's Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis.

Just one of the reasons: a traditional, European puppet theater featuring the characters of Mr. Punch and his wife, Judy, will be staging performances at booth 251 throughout the festival.

An Outside Look at Ritz' Defeat of Bennett

"For waging such a scorched-earth campaign against teachers and public education, Bennett was rewarded with a whopping $1.3 million in campaign contributions, much of which came from out of state....

"Ultimately, he was able to grossly outspend his underfinanced opponent, local educator Glenda Ritz, by more than $1 million. Yet, in the conservative union-averse state of Indiana, he was nonetheless booted out of office in what the Star called 'the Election Night shocker'. That was thanks not to some brilliantly vague personality campaign by Ritz, but to a substantive, laser-focused assault on Bennett’s corporate-driven privatization agenda."

Read the rest of the analysis here: Phony school “reform” agenda takes a beating

Indy's International Festival is This Weekend!

For a preview of what's happening at this year's International Festival, check out the fest's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/INDYInternationalFestival

Water Is Life

It's something so simple, and yet so complicated: clean water.

It's something we take for granted in Central Indiana, but not so in Sierra Leone.

The Fishers Rotary Club (along with support from clubs in Westfield, Carmel and Noblesville, and a matching grant from Rotary International) launched the Water is Life program in 2009 to provide Sierra Leoneans with clean drinking water through the purchase and installation of 100 fresh-water wells.

Here's one way they raise the funds to continue their project: the 2012 Water Is Life Charity Ball. The black tie optional event is set for 7 p.m. 1 December in the Forum Credit Union Conference Center, 11313 USA Parkway, Fishers.

The event also includes a Christmas Tree Trail with trees to be auctioned at the ball. See the 12 holiday tree, festooned by local decorators, starting at Allisonville Nursery.

And, check out the video:


(Photo, of the tree decorated by J. Baker Interiors, courtesy of the Fishers Rotary Club -- as is the video)

God Has Spoken

If God plans everything, then Mourdock's defeat was preordained, n'est-ce pas?

Understanding U.S. Cultural Norms

Ansuyah Naiken of the International Center of Indianapolis will explain U.S. social customs and manners, ways in which Americans communicate, and how Americans view time and the role of family during a presentation beginning at 6 p.m. 27 November in the Senior Room of the Glick Center at Crooked Creek, 2990 West 71st Street, Indianapolis.

Dr. Juana Watson of Marian University will discuss the difference between assimilation and acculturation.

This program is part of the Reuben Educational Series sponsored by the Immigrant Welcome Center. It is free and open to the public.

Reserve a chair by calling 317:808-2302, ext. 2388, or sending an email to rsvp@immigrantwelcomecenter.org.

First Friday Food Trucks

First Friday now means food trucks in Indy, thanks to Leinenkugel's.

The parking lot of the venue formerly known as the Murat Theatre (map) will be filled with at least 15 different food trucks from 5 to 9 p.m. 2 November -- not to mention music, games and art. Green River Ordinance is playing this weekend.

Admission is $5 (plus whatever food, beer etc. you purchase). And, yes, the event is family friendly.