The Broad Ripple Gazette
Vol. 11 No. 5
9 Mar 7 - Mar 20, 2014
The Wine Scene as seen by The Broad of Ripple (Jill A. Ditmire)
Lambs, Lions & Lent March came in like a lamb. And a lion. The afternoon of March 1st I was dressed in a sweater, work gloves and my LL Bean boots, hauling fallen branches from my still mostly snow covered yard. The morning of March 2nd I was out in those boots again but also in my heavy winter coat, ski gloves and hat shoveling what was now a very snow covered driveway and sidewalk. The irony of the “lion and lamb” came as vision in my head of a snickering tiger wearing a wooly vest as he whistled his way through my yard snickering at me thinking that Saturday I thought Spring was here and Sunday I knew it was not. Thinking about the image made me wonder about wine bottles. Is what you see on the outside truly telling of what’s on the inside? Two recent samplings follow suit with weather. A bit of both. Lovely, elegant, inviting labels wrapped around a bottle filled with powerful aromas and flavors. And wines that on the outside looked so simple and easy going yet when tasted they opened into delicious food wines. And both made me crave summer grilled foods with which to pair them. 2013 Starborough Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand–eye appealing label with dreamy drawing of a starfish on a metallic olive green background. It conjures up images of the beach and hammocks and short sleeve shirts. Inside was zingy, tangy, welcoming juice with aromas and flavors of lemongrass and lime. I envisioned a glass with grilled shrimp or vegetable kabobs from the grill. The 2009 Chateau Cote Montpezat, Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux had the same affect. An elegant, simple label. Very French. Inside a dry, meaty, red wine with grippy leathery tannins and notes of soy, bacon, eucalyptus and black cherry. This with a steak or cut of prime rib would be a match made in meteorological heaven. (I could see that sheep clothed tiger smacking his lips again but THIS time he wants to be my friend if I am serving a bottle of this and a rare piece of meat.) Lent? If you’re giving up wine for Lent but still want a tasty beverage with a bit of fizz and fermentation you might try Reed’s Culture Club Kombucha drinks. I sampled the Coconut Water Lime which could be a swap for Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc with its lively citrus flavors. The Cranberry Ginger has similar red fruit and spice as found in Grenache, Tempranillo or Pinot Noir. Kombucha is a cultured beverage that originated in Northern China. “Cultured” as in enzymes and bacteria. GOOD bacteria that’s blended with oolong and yerba mate teas plus natural juices. In case you’ve been snowed under (oh wait...) probiotics and enzymes are good news for your tummy and digestive system. Also found in yogurt and recently recommended for baby formula to help calm colicky babies. And wine lovers trying to give up their pleasure for 40 days. Jill A. Ditmire is an Omnimedia Wine Specialist who shares wit and wisdom nationwide in print, TV and radio, and is also an AWS-certified wine judge. Jill and doggyboy Harp live in Warfleigh, where she also consults and teaches in an effort to keep the doggyboy’s treat jar filled with biscuits and her freezer stocked with ice cream. Send your questions and comments to Jill at jill@broadripplegazette.com
friendly event kept the public actively engaged in projects and exhibits designed to educate people on a wide array of environmental topics. Attendees learned about renewable energy sources, waterways, nature, recycling and more. Forty-seven community partners and many underwriting sponsors from all over the state presented almost 60 activities to make learning accessible, engaging and fun. The JCC requires that Earth Day partners provide an activity, as opposed to a passive exhibit, to enhance the learning experience. For example, JCC Earth Day visitors constructed mini-greenhouses, participated in an orienteering exercise in the woods, made crafts from recycled materials and took advantage of free e-recycling of old computers and electronics. A sampling of community partners includes Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Center for Urban Ecology at Butler University, Indiana Recycling Coalition, Ivy Tech, Purdue University Solar Racing Team, Circle City Rain Barrels and Indy Parks. Some of Indy’s favorite food trucks were on the premises, as well as non-food vendors with “green and sustainable” items for sale. As in the previous two years, the Earth Day Celebration will begin with a community tree planting on the JCC campus in partnership with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. KIB has helped the JCC plant more than 20 trees at the previous two Earth Day Celebrations and at an event in 2008 with the JCC’s preschool families. New this year, the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana are offering an official badge to girls who attend the JCC’s Earth Day Community Celebration. The event will count toward “It’s Your Planet-Love It” journey. Cost for the badge is $3. Plans for this year’s Earth Day Celebration at the JCC are well underway for the event on Sunday, April 27, 1-4 pm at the Arthur M. Glick JCC. The event kicks
Radiate Church - One Year Anniversary by Matthew VanTryon
Photo booths and the electric slide are not ordinary happenings at Radiate Church in Broad Ripple. Make no mistake, this was no ordinary Sunday. Sunday, Feb. 9 marked the one-year anniversary for Radiate Church, which meets in Broad Ripple Magnet High School. The church has grown substantially since its beginning, and has close to 150 attendees on a weekly basis. They moved to Broad Ripple in June. One of the first families to attend Radiate was the Horsfall family. JT and Beth moved from Cincinnati to Indianapolis with lead pastor Justin Bender. They had the not-so-small dream of starting a church. Beth said that despite extensive planning, there was still some doubt about whether or not people would come. That concern was alleviated quickly. “The people we invited soon invited more people,” Horsfall said. “It multiplied organically.” Radiate has embraced Broad Ripple as its home, and is making strides in the community. This spring, the congregation raised over $11,000 for the Julian Center in Indianapolis, who “provides shelter and counseling to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and survivors of child sexual abuse,” according to its website. Radiate serves because Jesus served, according to lead pastor Justin Bender. “He came to serve. As followers, we serve,” Bender said. “We love to serve because that’s who we are and that’s who Jesus was.” Bender believes in the power of practicing what is preached on Sunday every day of the week. “I don’t want to tell you what I believe, I want to show you what I believe,” Bender said. The effects of the mission have been wide-reaching. Young people are taking notice. One college student attended Radiate when services began a year ago. Now, 30-40 college students from a variety of campuses call Radiate home on a weekly basis. One of those students is Jeremy Kauffman, a second-year pharmacy student at Butler University. Kauffman has been attending the church since September after hearing about it through a campus Bible study. Radiate feels like home for Kauffman, regardless of what has happened during the course of the week. “[The congregation] truly does care about you,” Kauffman said. “You walk in and you feel at home, regardless of the week you’ve had or the burdens you’re carrying.” Kauffman described Radiate as authentic, echoing Bender’s sentiment that the church takes the message out the doors and into the community. “They’re fulfilling what their goal is,” said Kauffman. “Not only are they teaching and preaching, they’re actually doing it.” It comes down to love, according to Horsfall. “People need love,” Horsfall said. “It’s important as a church to not only love emotionally love but to love practically. It’s an obedience thing.” Each week at the end of the service, the congregation stands and recites the same phrase: “Let what we do in here fill the streets out there.” A year in, Radiate is making an impact inside and outside of the walls of the church. Time will only tell how that impact will continue to grow. Matthew VanTryon is a journalism student at Butler University.
off at noon until 1 pm with the traditional tree planting in partnership with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. Those interested in partnering by presenting an activity are invited to contact Bruce Sklare: bsklare@JCCindy.org or 317-439-9694. Sponsorship information can be found online at www.JCCindy.org or by emailing Martha Karatz at mkaratz@JCCindy.org. Volunteers (ages 16 and older) are needed (and appreciated)! The sign-up for volunteer shifts and tree planting can be found at https://secure.ujcfederations.org/ft2/form.html?__id=26878.