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Our Weekly Columnists
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Steven R. Barnett
100 Years Ago -
Rose Mary Clarke
Senior Lifestyle -
Al Hunter
Bumps in the Night -
Linda Hamer Kennett
What’s in the Attic? -
Steve Nicewanger
Sports Voice -
CJ Woods III
Words from Woods
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26th Annual Irvington Garden Tour
IRVINGTON —The Irvington Garden Club & Farmers Market will present their 26th Annual Garden Tour on June 28 from 1-5 p.m. Since their first tour in 2000, they’ve highlighted the best gardens in historic Irvington. Guests can take home a free plant donated from the gardeners in the club, located at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center. What can you expect on the tour? Lots of shade gardens, flower gardens, vegetable gardens, loads of creative landscaping, perhaps a pond or fountain, and perhaps an inspiration or two. Homeowners will be on … Read More
Eskenazi Mental Health Center Expands Services
INDIANAPOLIS — Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center has announced plans to expand its services as the designated community mental health center (CMHC) for behavioral health services in Warren and Lawrence townships. Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center has been approved by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to assume CMHC responsibilities currently held by Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health. Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center is working with Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health on the transition to support continued access to high-quality, community-based care. Both organizations are committed to providing a … Read More
Eastside Data Center Proposal Clears Hurdle
INDIANAPOLIS — A Metropolitan Development Commission hearing examiner has recommended approval of the petition for variance of use in DC Blox’s request for an east Indianapolis property where they plan to build a data center. Many residents turned out for the meeting to protest the building of the data center, as well as City-County Councilors Andy Nielsen and Michael-Paul Hart who spoke about the project. DC Blox will turn the property, the former Ford plant off South Kitley Avenue and Fintail Drive, into a three-building data center campus. The property … Read More
Irvington Historical Society Receives Grant
IRVINGTON — The Indiana Historical Society awarded the Irvington Historical Society an Heritage Support Grant to fund a digital update. With the grant money, the Irvington Historical Society will purchase two new laptop computers, an external hard drive, Microsoft Office software, and “Catalog It” museum management software. The two laptop computers will replace the Society’s one dying computer. The external hard drive will allow the Society to back up its computer entries. The “Catalog It” software will store information on the Society’s archival holdings. It will also allow the Society … Read More
Friends of Irving Circle Host 34th Year of Summer Concerts
IRVINGTON — Imagine the family sitting under big shade trees listening to home-grown music, munching on a hot dog while neighbor kids ride their bikes around a park. Sounds like something out of one of those sweet old-timey musicals, but it will be happening on Saturday, June 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. featuring Audio Diner. These monthly summer shows are a chance to catch up with neighbors, The July 25th concert features the fabulous Roundups and the August 29th concert features the amazing Blue Alchemy with Donn Smith. Friends … Read More
Juneteenth Program Features Film, Discussion, Celebration
INDIANAPOLIS — In celebration of Juneteenth, a federally designated holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, on June 19 Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program presents a program exploring the legacy of Marcus Garvey and his impact on Indiana. In the early twentieth century, Jamaican activist Marcus Mosiah Garvey’s started a movement known as Garveyism. Garvey’s efforts resulted in the creation of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1915 with three divisions operating in Indianapolis from 1919 until the late 1940s, comprised of the most educated and elite … Read More
Mid-North Food Pantry Launches Summer Saturday Pantries
INDIANAPOLIS — Mid-North Food Pantry is expanding access to food this summer by offering Saturday pantry hours throughout June and July to help families facing increased food insecurity while children are out of school. For many families, summer creates additional strain on already stretched household budgets. With Indiana opting out of the federal Summer EBT/SUN Bucks program, many parents are left searching for ways to replace meals that children would normally receive during the school year. To help bridge that gap, Mid-North Food Pantry will open its doors on Saturdays … Read More
Fiscal Package for the City Introduced
INDIANAPOLIS — Mayor Joe Hogsett and the City-County Council recently introduced Proposal No. 163, 2026, a fiscal ordinance that directs roughly $19.49 million in supplemental income tax funding toward investments in public safety, infrastructure, homelessness and housing stability, education, and quality of life. This proposal was sponsored by Council President Lewis, Vice President Barth, Majority Leader Evans, Assistant Majority Leader Nielsen, and Majority Whip Jones, and Chairman Boots. Proposal No. 163, 2026 will be heard at the Administration and Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 9 at 5:30 p.m., before advancing … Read More
Applause!: June 19-25
• To mark the Juneteenth holiday, all locations of the Indianapolis Public Library will be closed on Friday, June 19, except for the InfoZone at the Children’s Museum, which will be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Closures will … Read More
State Awards Grants to Help Victims of Crime
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) announced more than $57 million in grant funding to organizations across the state dedicated to supporting crime victims, strengthening community-based services, and improving outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, … Read More
Eiteljorg Receives Major Donation to Acquire More Art
INDIANAPOLIS — Thanks to a longtime supporter’s generous estate gift of $3.74 million, the Eiteljorg Museum has started a new acquisition fund to make important additions to its collection, including a piece by renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly and a … Read More
Work Begins on 10th & Rural Infrastructure Project
INDIANAPOLIS — As a part of the 10th and Rural infrastructure project, Citizens Energy Group has been reaching out to residents along the project boundaries to conduct lead service line replacement on private property. While Citizens has no active lead … Read More
Indiana State Fair Schedules Free Concerts
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Fair recently unveiled the first full wave of its 2026 list of scheduled concerts as a part of the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage schedule, August 7-23 (Fair is closed on Mondays). The Hoosier Lottery Free … Read More
Arts for Learning Indiana Community Open House June 27
INDIANAPOLIS — Creativity in all its shapes, sounds and forms will be on display on Saturday, June 27 when Arts for Learning Indiana (AFLI) celebrates 65 years of providing youth arts education throughout the state with a community open house … Read More
Eastside Games Highlight Great Neighborhood June 20-27
INDIANAPOLIS — The annual Eastside Games are taking place June 20-27. The games celebrate friendships, good-natured competition, light-hearted fun, and community cooperation. Events such as bocce ball, scavenger hunt, horseshoes, corn hole, cooking, frisbee golf, field day, karaoke, euchre, pickleball, … Read More
Impossible Dreams (Two)
In May 1969, the R & B group “The Temptations” appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and sang a song that became a theme for me and the woman I would marry in July of that same year. “The Impossible … Read More
100 Years Ago: June 19-25
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, June 23, 1926: “The Crossroads of America” as the slogan for Indianapolis was officially adopted yesterday by the publicity committee of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. The slogan conveys a definite idea telling the world … Read More
Parenting Skills, Part 2
Last week, I pondered the parenting skills of our sixteenth President Abraham Lincoln. I came to the conclusion that I probably wouldn’t want to sit next to Abe and Mary’s kids on an airplane. Witnesses, acquaintances and close friends often … Read More
Indiana Improving on Education but Challenges Remain
INDIANA — Indiana has moved up in a national education ranking but the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book showed many students still face challenges in reading and math. The report ranked Indiana 11th nationally in education, … Read More
Applause!: June 12-18
• The Second Chance Workshop returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, June 17, offering free license reinstatement assistance and expungement screenings for those looking for a fresh start. Hours are 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. … Read More
Central Library Opens Up Kids Central and Teen Central
INDIANAPOLIS — Central Library unveiled Kid Central and Teen Central on June 6. Across the second and third floors, 46,000 square feet have been transformed to create more accessible and engaging experiences for young readers and learners. Kid Central and … Read More
Indiana Black Expo Announces Honorees for the 2026 Luncheon
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Black Expo has named the honorees for the 2026 Pacers Sports & Entertainment Corporate Luncheon. The event will take place during Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration, during the week of July 8-19, with the luncheon being … Read More
Fathers and Families Center Launch Campaign to Help More Dads
INDIANAPOLIS — With a waiting list of as many as 100 Central Indiana men per month, the nonprofit Fathers and Families Center (FFC) is announcing its $5.5 million campaign with the goal of doubling the number of fathers and families … Read More
City-County Infrastructure Plan Proposes to Raise Excise Surtax
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis City-County Council Infrastructure Plan is a long-term funding proposal that would generate the local matching revenue needed to unlock $50 million annually in state road funding and move Indianapolis from repair and patch local roads, toward planned … Read More
41st Annual Italian Street Festival June 12-13
INDIANAPOLIS — Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 520 Stevens St. will host the 41st annual Italian Street Festival from 5-11 p.m. June 12-13 from 5-11 p.m. both nights. Admission is free, and parking is free. Entertainment includes classic Italian music, inflatables … Read More
100 Years Ago: June 12-18
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, June 13, 1926: “From producer to consumer” is the slogan of the new producers’ market (farmers’ market) at South and New Jersey Streets which was dedicated yesterday afternoon with a parade over downtown streets. Led … Read More
Impossible Dreams
In 2003, I was living in St. Louis Missouri; I’d relocated there after my job in the L.S. Ayres’ advertising department was eliminated when the store closed. My new job with Famous Barr, the St. Louis department store, was also … Read More
Parenting Skills, Part 1
Effective parenting is defined as a matter of strengthening the bond between the parent and child, and building positive parenting skills. I just returned from a two-day getaway to the Springfield, Illinois home of President Abraham Lincoln. I love to … Read More