"Spring Forward" tonight

OK, so it's not just affecting Indy, but don't forget to set all those clocks AHEAD one hour before you go to sleep this evening.

Daylight Savings Time in the United States begins early this year (officially, 2 a.m. tomorrow), thanks to actions of the United States Congress.

Complicating life for international travelers, Europe (for example) doesn't switch its clocks until 25 March. If you're flying overseas in the next two weeks: double and triple check your flight times, because connecting flights will be out of synch.

Exacq Technologies partners with PSA Security Network

Exacq Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of open architecture network video recording (NVR) solutions for use in security surveillance applications headquartered in Indianapolis, announces a partnership with PSA Security Network.

The partnership allows all of PSA’s over 200 security integrators to purchase exacqVision® surveillance systems and software through PSA®.

exacqVision Pro is a hybrid system that utilizes both analog and IP (network) video cameras on a rack mount or desktop PC-based chassis. exacqVision IP is an IP camera system that installs on a PC. All of the exacqVision systems utilize the same software which makes them completely scalable from one camera to thousands of cameras distributed across a network.

PSA Security Network is the world’s largest electronic security cooperative. Responsible for over $1.4 billion annually in security, fire, and life safety installations, members combine the purchasing power and resources of the largest vendors with the strengths and personal attention to detail of locally-owned companies.

A Reason Not to Live in Beech Grove?

According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers will stop offering inpatient services at its Beech Grove hospital and consolidate those services at its Indianapolis campus on the city's south side.

As IBJ reported in January, St. Francis had filed paperwork with Marion County to expand onto 30 acres near its Indianapolis campus on South Emerson Avenue. Today (8 March), St. Francis said it would build a five-story, 206-bed inpatient facility by 2010. The expansion also will include a larger and relocated emergency department, better imaging facilities and equipment, additional operating rooms and 1,000 extra parking spaces.

What happens to the Beech Grove campus is unclear, reports the IBJ. St. Francis said it is working with city planners and community leaders, including Beech Grove Mayor Joe Wright, to craft a plan to redevelop it within Beech Grove's Better, Brighter Beech Grove initiative. St. Francis said it would continue to operate either existing or new outpatient facilities in Beech Grove.

Explore the art of high fashion at the IMA this spring

Two new exhibitions at the Indianapolis Museum of Art explore the art of high fashion.

"All Dressed Up: The Latest Additions", an exhibition which features more than 30 recent additions to IMA’s permanent collection by some of the most well-known names in fashion opens 1 April and runs through 31 December.

On 10 June, "Dior: The King of Couture" will open, featuring more than 20 gowns by Christian Dior, a designer who considered couture an art form similar to architecture and painting. It closes 30 November.

The Textiles and Fashion Arts Collection at the IMA comprises approximately 6,000 items and represents virtually all of the world's traditions in fabric. Items from Asia include kimonos, Buddhist robes, Kashmir shawls, Baluchi rugs and other furnishing textiles. The American and European textile holdings feature silks from the late 16th to 19th centuries, a lace collection spanning 500 years, and many fine Indiana quilts and coverlets. The IMA also has European costumes dating from the 18th to the 20th century. Fashion of the 20th century is represented by collections from Norell, Bill Blass (that’s his red dress, above), Halston and other American and European fashion designers.

Located at 4000 Michigan Road, the IMA is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. IMA is closed Mondays and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s day.

Advance America is the KKK in 21st Century Clothes?

Don't miss "Evangelical Lobbyist Eric Miller: The Most Powerful Man in the Indiana Statehouse" by Laura McPhee in the latest edition of NUVO Newsweekly.

This Indianapolis Observer has long been wary of Eric Miller, and McPhee explains some of the reasons why we should be concerned about his activities.

The many parallels she draws between the Advance America agenda he promotes and that of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana in the 1920s are chilling.

"The political rhetoric and literal mission of lobbyists like Eric Miller and Advance America is a blend of patriotism and religion meant to shape government by giving a voice to the variety of fears and frustrations that resonate with Evangelicals — particularly their frustration over a declining morality and sinners who openly flaunt their disobedience to biblical principles; fear of the wave of immigrants who are threatening the economic and social order of things in their communities; and a post Sept. 11 fatigue that gives rise to a suspicion of all things foreign — including ideas, beliefs and lifestyles they consider alien," she writes.

UPDATE:

Jen Wagner over at Taking Down Words points out that Gary Welsh of Advance Indiana did the heavy lifting for this story without receiving credit. Well, McPhee, what about it?

Orchard in Bloom Garden Show

Orchard In Bloom, a nationally recognized garden show, is set for 26-29 April in Holliday Park, Indianapolis.

The show, now in its 18th year, has raised over $100,000 for outdoor education programs for the children of Indianapolis as a partnership between The Orchard School and Indy Parks.

Find inspiration in the garden displays of top local landscapers. Stroll through the garden markets in search of the perfect accessory for home or garden. Bring the whole family to experience the fun of face painting and craft making. Savor treats and sandwiches from the Garden Café while listening to gardening experts share their secrets for success.

The preview party, "Before The Bloom', is 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday (26 April); tickets are $45.

Show hours are 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday (27 April), 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday (28 April) and noon-5 p.m. Sunday (29 April). Advance sale tickets are $10 for a one-day pass for adults and $15 for a three-day pass. Children 14 and under are free.

The Garden Café is open 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday (27 April), 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday (28 April) and noon - 5 p.m. Sunday (29 April).

Carleton Varney to speak at IMA Alliance Spring Luncheon

Carleton Varney (pictured), the world renowned interior designer, is the headliner for the annual spring luncheon of the Alliance of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, on Wednesday (14 March).

Varney's presentation will be in the DeBoest Lecture Hall of the IMA at 10:30 a.m., followed by luncheon in Deer Zink Pavilion.

Tickets are $40 for the luncheon and program ($25 for program only). Reservations deadline was yesterday (5 March), but if you're interested, go ahead and call the Alliance Office at 317-923-1331 ext. 435. Chances are good you can still reserve a slot.

Carleton Varney is the President/Owner of Dorothy Draper & Co. Inc., located in New York City. It is the oldest established interior design firm in the United States and is named after the founder of the company, Dorothy Draper, one of the doyennes of interior design from the 1920's to the 1960's.

Carleton Vamey, one of America's best known interior designers, is also a well known newspaper columnist and author of more than 20 books. He was the design consultant to the Carter Presidential Library and for numerous functions at the White House. In years past, he restored and redecorated the Official Vice President's Residence in Washington D.C., the Governor's Mansion in West Virginia, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and is associated with the restoration and decoration of countless hotels and resorts all over the world, among them: Dromoland Castle in Ireland, The Waldorf Towers in New York, The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, The Breakers in Palm Beach and the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia.