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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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Feast of Lanterns August 22 — Eastside Gets a Glow-Up
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 Feast of Lanterns takes place on Saturday, August 22, from 4- 11 p.m. at Spades Park (1800 Nowland Avenue). Admission is free for this family-friendly event, which features glowing paper lanterns, live music, local makers, and food trucks. The Near Eastside tradition transforms the park into a magical evening oasis, with many community booths, vendors, a beer and wine garden, kid’s zone, food trucks, and over 60 local artisans. There will be performances by Ethereal, Busman’s Holiday, Brandon Meeks, Rock E Bassoon, and Sweet Poison Victim. … Read More
Mechanical Skills Opens New Training Center in Beech Grove
BEECH GROVE — Mechanical Skills, Inc. and the City of Beech Grove celebrated the grand opening of a new plumbing apprenticeship training center on Monday, Aug. 10, marking the completion of a project that has transformed a longtime vacant parcel into a hub for the skilled trades in the heart of the city. Located at 1831 Albany Street, the site was once home to a Marsh and Safeway grocery store before sitting vacant for years. The new 20,000-square-foot facility now serves as a center for education and workforce development, while … Read More
Indianapolis Children’s Choir Expands Locations
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Children’s Choir is expanding choir locations across central Indiana to include choir sites on Indy’s south and east sides. All locations are enrolling singers now. See all choirs at icchoir.org/join Indianapolis Children’s Choir Irvington will provide a Preparatory Choir and Beginning Level Choir that will rehearse at Irvington Presbyterian Church, 55 Johnson Ave. Indianapolis Children’s Choir University of Indianapolis will have rehearsals at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, 1230 Greyhound Lane, on campus, and will offer a Preparatory Choir, Beginning Level Choir, and Lyric Choir. … Read More
New Playground Opens at Garfield Park
INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Parks and city leaders recently celebrated the opening of Garfield’s Park new signature playground. The oldest park in the city, Garfield Park received $5.5 million from the Lilly Endowment Grant to Indy Parks to restore the Sunken Garden Fountains and build a new playground. The Friends of Garfield Park oversaw the restoration of the Sunken Gardens which were reopened earlier this summer. As of August 5, 2026, Indy Parks and foundation partners have completed projects at 19 parks funded by the $80 million grant. Twenty-one other projects … Read More
IndyFringe Festival Turns 21
INDIANAPOLIS — The 21st annual IndyFringe Festival, presented by Everwise Credit Union, returns to Indianapolis August 13–23. Featuring 63 shows by more than 500 artists from around the world and right here in Indianapolis, this year’s festival offers a bold mix of drama, comedy, dance, puppetry, music, poetry, storytelling, magic, drag and LGBTQ+ theatre. Artists receive 70% of all box office revenue. Since its founding in 2005, IndyFringe has brought more than 234,000 visitors to the Mass Ave Cultural Arts District and returned over $2.6 million to artists. That makes … Read More
Point-in-Time Count Shows Little Change in Those Who are Unhoused
INDIANAPOLIS — The annual count of people experiencing homelessness is conducted by CHIP (Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention) on the night of Jan. 28. The data collected is used by government agencies and organizations to decide where to direct resources. The annual point-in-time count for how many individuals are experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis stayed virtually flat from last year’s count. The Indianapolis count was at 1,821 residents who experienced homelessness the night of Jan. 28 — only six more individuals than the 2025 count. Of those residents, 1,346 were … Read More
Irvington Halloween Poster Contest Winners Announced
IRVINGTON — The annual Historic Irvington Halloween Festival Poster Contest winners have been announced. There were 45 entries this year, with some amazing local talent competing for top prizes. This year’s judging was especially difficult because of the quality of the work, and the love all the artists put into their creations. The posters were on display at the Irvington Library, and online. This is one of the most beloved of the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival’s traditions. This year is the 80th year for the festival! So many people in … Read More
Mosquito Control Hosts Tire Recycle Event on Aug. 8
INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion County Public Health Department’s Mosquito Control program encourages residents to get rid of unused tires for free during its Tire Recycle Day on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Marion County residents can bring up to six tires, off the rim, from passenger vehicles only. This event is for individuals and not for use by tire retailers or auto salvage yards. All tires collected will be properly recycled. Two locations in Indianapolis have been designated as tire drop-off locations for this event: • Marion County … Read More
Federal Grant will Assist Ex-Offenders Through Training Programs
INDIANAPOLIS — The Dept. of Labor recently gave a $5.1 million federal grant for Indianapolis nonprofits funds job training, second chance for former inmates. The recipiens were Keys2Work and RecycleForce, long-standing programs to connect former inmates with jobs once they … Read More
Bio-Pic “Jimmy” to Open 35th Heartland Film Festival
INDIANAPOLIS Heartland Film is honored to announce that the Opening Night film for the 35th Heartland Film Festival will be the Festival World Premiere of Jimmy the untold true story of Jimmy Stewart starring KJ Apa. The Heartland Film Festival, … Read More
Tax Incentives for Metrobloks Data Center Under Discussion
INDIANAPOLIS — The Metropolitan Development Commission was set to hear and vote on a proposed $56 million incentive package for the Metroblocks high-density data center in Martindale-Brightwood at the commission’s Aug. 5 meeting. However, a city official with the Department … Read More
Indiana Literacy Rates Increase for Fifth Consecutive Year
INDIANAPOLIS — For the fifth consecutive year, Hoosier students continue to achieve gains on the Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment. Following a historic jump last year, scores once again increased in 2026 — climbing 7.5 percentage points since … Read More
Applause!: Aug. 14-20
• It seems like every other day, there is a new recall on food and medications. Stay up-to-date on the latest recalls online at fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts — bookmark it! • Every Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon, the Cumberland Farmers Market is open … Read More
Washington Square Mall Pre-Development Meeting Held
INDIANAPOLIS — East side residents participated in City-County Councilor Michael-Paul Hart (R) town hall on Monday, Aug. 3. Based on a pre-development site study in February, led by Schmidt Associates, and privately funded by real estate group, Lauth Group, the … Read More
The Use of Language
A woman called the office I managed in Culver City California, and I answered the phone; she asked for me and I replied, “This is he.” She then exclaimed, “Your mother taught you well!” Her comment about my reply was … Read More
100 Years Ago: Aug. 14-20
From The Indianapolis Times, Thursday, August 19, 1926: The police have started a campaign against “jay walking” in an effort to decrease the fast-growing death toll among pedestrian who fail to observe traffic regulations Inspector Lester Jones, of the traffic … Read More
James Brown’s Hair
James Brown is remembered as the “Godfather of Soul” for his many contributions to music made during a six-decades-long career. Brown’s influence is a little more complicated than that. Truth is, not only was Brown a music legend, he was … Read More
City Agency Supports IF Theatre’s Sustainability Projects
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability and community development financial institution IFF recently announced that IF Theatre, the home of the IndyFringe Festival presented by Everwise Credit Union, was one of 12 recipients to join the second Thriving Nonprofits … Read More
Applause!: Aug. 7-13
• Indianapolis Public Library Summer Reading Program participants have logged more than 22,000,000 minutes, and have met their community goal. All readers who have logged time are eligible for grand prizes. Kids’ grand prizes include a Nintendo Switch 2, Beats … Read More
BIG Red Box Project Helps Hundreds Every Day
INDIANAPOLIS – The BIG Red Box Project was started in October of 2020 by an Irvington couple, Linda and John Kennett, looking for a way to help fight hunger in their community. It is sustained by donations from the community … Read More
INDOT Supports Bridge Strike Prevention Campaign
INDIANAPOLIS — INDOT is joining state transportation agencies across the U.S. in a public awareness campaign aimed at helping drivers avoid striking low bridges with their vehicles or oversize loads. The “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” campaign encourages drivers … Read More
Tim Mooney Brings a Six-Person “BREAKNECK MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM” to the Indy Fringe
INDIANAPOLIS — After a dozen solo show presentations, Tim Mooney is bringing his very first multi-actor show “Breakneck Midsummer Night’s Dream,” to the Indy Fringe Festival this year. Kansas City’s Beth Byrd-Lonski, and Maggie Killian, as well as Mooney and … Read More
Indy Library Store Book Sale
INDIANAPOLIS — Tax dollars fund the Library’s primary operations, including Library staffing, collection materials and facility and technology maintenance. However, the majority of the Library’s programs and services patrons know and love are possible because of support from The Library … Read More
Facts Versus Fiction about Breastfeeding
August is National Breastfeeding Month. Whether to breastfeed is up to every expectant mother, and there may be reasons to favor one decision more than the other. For example, some mothers choose not to breastfeed once they learn their baby … Read More
Indy Shorts Announces Awards
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 Indy Shorts Film Festival (Indy Shorts) concluded on Sunday, July 26, with a record number of filmmakers in attendance (350), World Premieres (37) and short film programs (40). The Indy Shorts presented over $35,000 in cash … Read More
The Diary of Anne Frank, Part 2
The Diary of Anne Frank has been praised for its literary merits. Eleanor Roosevelt described it as “one of the wisest and most moving commentaries on war and its impact on human beings that I have ever read.” John F. … Read More
Let There Be Music
A friend from a social media site sent me a message, inviting me to attend a concert at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis, on August 1st. She included information about the headliner, Clint Breeze, who was to be joined by … Read More
100 Years Ago: Aug. 7-13
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, August 11, 1926: Twenty-five hundred persons gathered last night on the lawn of the Prest-O-Lite Co to celebrate the recent incorporation of the town of Speedway and to hear from candidates vying for various town … Read More