.....
click here to return to November index

The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers.

Family Strengthening Summit

When: November 23rd, Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm

Where: Indiana State Fairgrounds, Marsh Ag/Hort Building

Who: Everyone is invited to participate

Cost: FREE

The Family Strengthening Coalition is hosting its third annual Summit this month. The event is free and includes a free box lunch, free parking, and free child care for those too young to participate. That’s in addition to free entertainment and free family activities. There will even be awards handed out.

Every aspect of this event is designed to meet one of the five goals established for strengthening Indy’s families. (See Mayor Peterson’s article on page 4 for those details.) There will be booths with interactive activities for the whole family, discussion groups on a wide variety of topics for the adults and a bunch of just plain fun stuff to do.

To give you a flavor of what is being offered this year we give you a couple of examples: BOOTHS — The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints is offering ‘Family History Starter in a Jar’ — Martin University is sponsoring smoking cessation information — the 911 Center is putting together a booth that will show kids how to place a call in an emergency — the Neighborhood Alliance for Child Safety has an interactive booth aimed at child abuse prevention — and, the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic’s Home Ownership Matters will be providing ways to tell predatory lenders from honest loan brokers.

FUN STUFF —a family hula hoop contest — a neighborhood banner contest — the Mayor’s Family Count Awards will be presented — youngster’s artwork depicting what families do together will be on display — crafts using mosaic tile will be offered for the kids — make a family flag — create holiday cards — and, decorate place mats for the family to use when they eat together.

While the Summit is keen on families having fun, the goals are deadly serious. Creating in Indianapolis, a city with strong and healthy families. There will be discussion groups and a lot of grown-up discussion (with electronic voting) on where the Family Strengthening Coalition should focus its efforts for the future.

You are asked to please RSVP at 423-1770, mainly so they know how many lunches to bring. You can also call that number for more information, or log on to www.indyfamilies.org.

One Book One City

'What would happen if all of Indianapolis read the same book?' That's the question Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and Edward Szynaka, chief executive officer of Public Libraries for the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, hope to answer with the "One Book, One City Indy's Choice" program.

"One Book, One City Indy's Choice" is designed to unite the community around reading and discussing one book. The program is sponsored by the City of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

Residents can submit their recommendations and post book reviews at http://onebook.imcpl.org until Nov. 15. Nomination forms and ballot boxes also are located at all Indianapolis Marion-County Library branches; all various Marion County bookstores; Café Patachou; The Abbey; the Monon Coffee Company and other locations.

"We hope residents will recommend books that have made a lasting impression on their lives," Szynaka said. "The ideal book will spark our imaginations, raise questions and challenge us to look at the world a little differently."

On Nov. 18, program officials will announce Indy's 25, a list of 25 books based on residents' recommendations. The final book, Indy's Choice, will be announced in mid-December. Throughout January, residents will be encouraged to participate in book discussions and other "One Book"-related programming at their local libraries and other locations.

Do you participate in Crime Watch? Are you concerned with your neighborhood? The environment? Or maybe, you like to plan outdoor events. Several City/County departments and agencies have made helpful data available to you on the Internet. One way to access this data is using a technology called GIS (Geographic Information Systems.) The GIS people at the City have put together a class designed to show you how to use GIS and the Internet to get information about your community.

 Three dates were scheduled specifically for classes for neighborhood groups and individuals who have a keen interest in:

**community development

**environmental issues

**home owner associations

**outdoor event planners (block parties, art fairs, walk/runs, etc)

What: Introduction to GIS – Adults

Where: Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Rd, 327-7180

Cost: $5 (includes a 2002 aerial photo of a selected Indy landmark)

When: 7-9pm Thursday November 21

Space is limited, attendees must be registered, call Holliday Park 327-7180

(Class is designed for those who have Internet access at home or office.)

Hope to see you there!

[ed.'s note: for more information and to schedule a speaker for your group on this topic, log onto www.indygov.org/gis]

Glorious Autumn is Here !

The 2002 DPW Leaf Collection Program gets underway on Monday, November 4, 2002 and will run until Friday, December 6, 2002. Participation is easy!

** Place leaves in plastic bags, paper bags or standard containers

** Place leaf bags out by 7 a.m. on regular trash day

** Leaves and trash may be collected at different times of the day by different crews

** Separate the leaves from regular trash (opposite sides of driveway, different colored bags, different colored tie wraps etc.)

** We'll collect 30 leaf bags each week in addition to the 10 regular trash bags allowed (10 trash bags + 30 leaf bags = 40 total bags per week)

** Leaves will be collected, composted, and available to the public free of charge next year

** Compost from last year's program may be available now at Southside Landfill. Call Southside at 247-6808 if you're interested in obtaining some.

Happy Yardwork!

Citizens on Patrol

Indianapolis Police Department will be conducting a Cellular Watch training program on Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Marion County Emergency Communications Center, 47 S. State St. Cellular Watch is part of IPD's Citizen on Patrol Program to boost cooperation between the police and citizens to reduce the fear of crime in neighborhoods. If you want to attend, you will need a valid Indiana driver's license, proof on insurance, a signed consent form for a criminal history check, and a letter of referral from your block club or neighborhood association.

Contact Shirley Purvitis at 327-3781 or p1527@indygov.org to reserve your seat no later than Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Great technique for block captains and others!