November 24, 2009

WILSON: DEALING WITH ‘THAT’S NOT FAIR!’ / P6

LOW TAXES COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IN COUNTY / P8

CHS RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS KEEP ON ROLLING / P9

TUESDAY November 24, 2009 FREE

Inside

Gifts 2009

It may look dangerous, but Carmel’s Anne Green practices what her coach refers to as the safest equestrian sport.

Vaulting Pros

Indiana’s only equestrian vaulting club, based in Hamilton County, will perform on the streets of Chicago this Thanksgiving / P2 Photo by Karl Ahlrichs

Early detection is the best defense.

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Vaulting Pros

Indiana’s only equestrian vaulting club, based in Hamilton County, will perform on the streets of Chicago this Thanksgiving

By Kevin Kane Current in Carmel In equestrian vaulting, there are no helmets, no pads and no fear.

Essentially, vaulting is gymnastics on horseback. The sport has a long history in Europe, but it is still developing in the United States and almost nonexistent the Midwest. Indiana’s only vaulting club, Vaulting Pro, is located in Noblesville, with many of the young gymnasts residing in Carmel. This Thursday, the group will perform in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade and represent a sport that is largely unknown and misunderstood.

Ariane Panahi has run Vaulting Pro from her Noblesville home for the past two years, but she accumulated more than 20 years’ worth of experience in her home county of Germany before moving to the U.S. Thanks to performances at CarmelFest and word of mouth, Panahi said the club has slowly grown, but the sport itself has yet to gain awareness and popularity away from the east coast.

“People are hesitant in the Midwest, I think, because they hear about it and say ‘That’s crazy to do gymnastics on a horse,’” she said. “It’s really the safest equestrian sport.”

While Panahi jokes that the unitards keep some men from vaulting, she said she thinks the real deterrent for most is the lack of helmets.

That, she said, is something that stands out in the minds of most people, but Panahi stresses that helmets actually increase the risk for spinal injuries, especially in group routines. Helmets aren’t excluded for style, but rather for safety, which Panahi said is the top priority of all vaulters.

Vaulting horses, she said, are trained for about 18 months, and once they are used in practices or competitions, they are never free from the control of the lunger, who calls commands and guides the horse with the lunge line. Any accidents must be submitted to the American Vaulting Association for publication, and those who don’t are banned from the sport.

With so many regulations, Panahi said the sport some initially classify as “crazy” has yet to experience a death in its long history, and Vaulting Pro has remained almost completely injury free.

“The worst thing that’s happened is a sprained ankle,” she said.

Despite the lack of previous injuries, Panahi said the group will be cautious in Chicago. The hard city streets, loud noises and unpredictable crowds create the potential for problems, so only Panahi’s most experienced vaulters will

2 | November 24, 2009

Jana Gansen, an assistant trainer from Germany, performs a freestyle maneuver

Standing, from left to right: Alyssia Cubbort, Madeline O'Hara, Natalie Thanisch, Madeline Gaumer, Hannah Lambert, Abigale Gilchrist, Sophia Gaumer and Ariane Panahi. On the horse from left to right: Jana Gansen and Anne Green. Not pictured: Molly McKenzie, Erika Zirkelbach, Ariel Bohner and Lois Dennison

Alyssia Cubbort in the middle of her freestyle routine

The trio of Madeline O'Hara, Natalie Thanisch and Sophia Gaumer vaults together Photos by Karl Alhrichs

perform on horseback. One of the three gymnasts, however, is 14-year-old Anne Green from Carmel. Green has vaulted since she was 12, even placing third in a national competition while living in Minnesota. But the parade will be a new experience for her.

“It looks like it will be a really big event,” she said. “I think it will be a blast.”

The other vaulters – including Carmel’s Madeline and Sophia Gaumer, Erika Zirkelbach, Hannah Lambert and Madeline O’Hara – will perform their routines on barrel horses on the club’s float, and Panahi said they’re all excited to be a part of the parade. She added that she’s excited, too, both for her students as well as the sport. The group’s performance

at CarmelFest produced nearly 300 phone inquiries, and one family even commutes from Kentucky for monthly lessons. So Panahi said she’s anxious to see what her club can do for the sport this Thanksgiving, because any doubts or misunderstandings about vaulting can be resolved with a demonstration.

“You just have to see it,” she said.

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Making a trail Founded Oct. 24, 2006, at Carmel, IN Vol. IV, No. 4 Copyright 2009. Current Publishing, LLC All Rights Reserved.

1 South Range Line Road, Suite 220 Carmel, IN 46032

317.489.4444 Publisher – Brian Kelly brian@currentincarmel.com / 414.7879 General Manager – Steve Greenberg steve@currentincarmel.com / 847.5022 Content Editor – Bryan Unruh bryan@currentincarmel.com / 308.0124 Assignment Editor – Kevin Kane kkane@currentincarmel.com / 496-0020 Associate Editor – Terry Anker terry@currentincarmel.com Art Director – Zachary Ross zross@ss-times.com / 787-3291 Associate Artist – Stefanie Lorenz stefanie@currentincarmel.com / 340.1836 Senior Reporter – Brandie Bohney bbthegrammarguru@gmail.com /260.750.4266 Cartoonist – Tim Campbell tim@currentincarmel.com

OUR VIEWS

It is our position that the city of Carmel should follow Westfield’s lead by putting our community’s name on the Monon Trail signs. Not only is the rails-to-trails project something we should all be proud to support, but it also adds clarity to the often confusing borders between Carmel and neighboring communities. Westfield has done a good job branding the work they have put into the Westfield Monon Trail, and Carmel should follow that good example.

The Monon Trail is one of the special things about living and working in Carmel, and the city should get credit for all of the money and effort that has gone into making it such an attraction. Moreover, our name would remind us to continue to invest in and maintain the unique parkway. Though we don’t necessarily recommend replacing existing signage, we urge city leaders to consider modification of those already in place.

It would identify the city of Carmel and encourage Carmel residents to take advantage of (and ownership in) this important asset.

A Pandora's box

It is our position that HR 3458 (regarding Net Neutrality) could be a “Pandora’s Box” of government management of the Internet. Phone/cable companies and Internet service providers are at war, and much-needed infrastructure investment and innovation languish while the FCC mulls new regulations. Increasing government intervention sows growing suspicion of government involvement. Paid lobbyists are awash in Washington, but so too, are liberal versus conservative political agendas.

Net Neutrality is not supposed to be a “right” or “left” issue. Some are questioning the FCC agenda, the more that is learned about the players in this, supposedly, nonpartisan body. Mark Lloyd, newly appointed FCC Diversity Czar, and Jen Howard, spokesperson for the FCC chairman, have connections with an organization called Free Press, radical, left-leaning advocate of government control of the internet and all media.Free enterprise proponents worry that government regulation will stifle needed Internet infrastructure investment (more bandwidth). If government provides funds for infrastructure development, will it impose regulations regarding internet content, thus stifling free speech. H.R. 3458 allows the FCC to “take certain actions regarding transmission capacity services.” Open-ended, vague language deserves scrutiny.

Advertising Carmel Sales Executive – Dennis O’Malia dennis@currentincarmel.com / 370.0749 Carmel Sales Executive – Lara Acton lara@currentincarmel.com / 409.1418 Indianapolis Sales Consultant – Kevin Messmer kevin@currentincarmel.com / 513.4359

Business Office Bookkeeper - Deb Vlasich deb@currentincarmel.com / 489.4444 The views of the columnists in Current In Carmel are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.

strange laws

CONSTITUTION CLOSEUP

Photo Illustration

Our nation has all sorts of arcane, nonsensical laws on the books. Each week, we’ll share one with you.

In Arkansas, it is illegal to buy or sell blue light bulbs.

Source: Weird Laws (iPhone application)

www.currentincarmel.com

Every week, we will print a portion of the U.S. Constitution, followed by a portion of the Indiana Constitution. We encourage you to benchmark government policies against these bedrock documents. Today: the U.S. Constitution..

Section 5. Continued Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.

Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment

require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those

present, be entered on the journal.

Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.

November 24, 2009 | 3

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Honesty enhancement COMMENTARY

By Terry Anker The euphemisms rampant in today’s society have led to recent news reports bemoaning the lack of honesty in corporate and government communication. Tax increases are called “revenue enhancements” (but just whose revenue is being enhanced, and from which pocket is the money coming?). And firings are routinely called “right-sizing efforts.” Why would we use three words when a single, more accurate one would suffice?

In talking to my friends in politics and the private sector, a number of themes materialized.

Often, fear of litigation leads to painstaking word choice designed to be specific in defining (or obscuring) a point to avoid (or align with) some regulation or rule of law. If one is not “terminated,” can one have standing to sue under laws aimed at wrongful termination? “Sorry Ms. Jones, you cannot litigate because you were ‘right-sized’ out of a job.” Does it feel any different to Ms. Jones when she can’t pay the rent?

Also, the bureaucratic silly-speak is a part of the all-important American spin process. No speech or written communication can say, “We

think teenagers are good targets for our tobacco products.” Instead, it might read, “Demographic research suggests a strong market alignment using Miley Cyrus for promotion.”

And when our government misleads us, it is even more offensive (and dangerous). Has the science changed regarding mammograms, or is the “new” data simply a first step to healthcare rationing? Who knows for sure? But we do know that because of the constant “spin,” our confidence in the veracity of any statement is shaken.

Mostly, leaders claim to use obtuse and intentionally non-direct language to keep the discussion pleasant. “Reorganizing” sounds better than “going bankrupt.” Or does it? While civility is urgently needed to regulate human interaction, honesty is not antithetical to civility. Intentionally misleading is never polite. And never right.

Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may e-mail him at terry@ currentincarmell.com.

And when our government misleads us, it is even more offensive (and dangerous).

From the backshop

That for which we are thankful ’Tis the time of year to reflect on all the people and elements of our lives that mean so much to us – for varying reasons. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and may it be a safe, happy and restful break for all. Here’s our list, in random order (kinda like we think, actually): • We and our families are (mostly) healthy for the first time in a long time.

• The economy seems to be turning ever so slightly in everyone’s favor. (Remember to keep looking for “less bad” news.)

• Our spies. Keep it coming, folks. All of it!

• The vision agents (mayors) of Carmel, Westfield and Noblesville that are sticking to their plans. We love it!

• Hamilton County, without a doubt, is the “top of the food chain” in this state and the best place to live, work and raise a family.

• Keystone Parkway (yes, even as it is being built).

• Historic Square in Noblesville. The real deal!

• All the challengers lining up to go after Dan Burton’s seat in Congress.

• The Library executive chef Richelle Ryder’s chicken/apple/dumpling (whatever you call it) soup, which rocks more than you can imagine!

• Our readers and advertisers (should go

Brian Kelly & Steve Greenberg without saying).

• Steven Libman, whose tireless, expert work as executive director of the Regional Performing Arts Center, will pay huge dividends for all of us.

• Those who keep us on our toes in the interest of making the newspaper better.

• Our staff, correspondents and contributors.

Special “shout-outs” to Tim Campbell (our freelance cartoonist. Seen anyone better?

We thought not.) and Danielle Wilson (our freelance lightning rod/columnist. You go, girl, “just for funsies.”).

• Development and redevelopment. (Go for it!)

• Too many other folks and elements to mention. All appreciated, all valued.

READERS’ VIEWS Raise our property taxes

Check our website for up-to-date specials and order our Dinners To Go

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4 | November 24, 2009

Editor: Property taxes should be raised Carmel.

Carmel schools are broke. If you don’t believe that, you must be living in a cave.

The elementary schools are cutting back on aides, janitors and special-interest teachers. By next year, all the elementaries have to cut one aide. I also heard some elementaries will have to cut janitor services and foreign language teachers.

Many in Carmel are proud of the school system, but how can it continue to function

and pay award-winning teachers and aides if it doesn’t have any money? Mayor Jim Brainard says he will not raise property taxes for another 10 years. That is disgraceful. How are schools supposed to get funding if our property taxes are not raised? But I guess that is how he gets re-elected.

I, for one, would pay 10 percent more a year if it meant saving jobs at our schools.

Kurt Katterhenry Carmel

Do your part; recycle Editor: In celebration of America Recycles Day, many Carmel Clay schools participated in recycling education and collection events last week.

Recycling is a simple way for everyone in Carmel to protect the environment, preserve natural resources and contribute to the economic wellbeing and security of our nation.

Recycling saves energy. This reduces both pollution and consumer costs. For example, it takes 95 percent less energy to recycle aluminum than to make it from raw materials. Saving energy and conserving other natural resources can affect

national security.

Many have been recycling for a long time, and it may seem like we are doing all we can. But the reality is quite different. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, many easily recycled materials are still thrown away.

For an up-to-date list of free recycling locations in Carmel, visit CarmelGreen.org. Please do your part to ensure we all reap the many benefits of recycling. Every little bit helps, and it all comes back to us.

Margot Gibson Carmel Green Initiative

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Here's what I am thankful for Commentary

By Danielle Wilson Guess where I am right now? Cruising the Eastern Caribbean with my parents and four sisters! No husbands, no kids – just sun, surf, and all-you-can eat steak buffets. (Or so I hope.

I am writing this a couple weeks before I depart, just as Hurricane Ida is closing in on the Gulf!)

So this will be a very unique Thanksgiving for me, in a year where I have much to be thankful for. Here’s my list: Inheritance: Of course, I’m not thankful my grandmother died in May, but without her passing, my family would not currently be somewhere between Grand Turk and St. Maarten’s.

See, my mom took some of her inheritance to take me and my sisters on this cruise, in honor of my grandmother, who never got to go on one but would really have enjoyed it. Mamaw, this Turkey Day rum punch is for you!

Employment: I am so thankful that both my husband and I still have work. We know several people who have been hit hard by this recession, and though we too have faced cutbacks, we’re faring better than most. So a giant thank you to Doo’s employer and my sisters-in-law for keeping us close to the lifestyle we’ve become accustomed to.

Microwave: This may sound like a trivial thing to most, but what appliance do I miss the most when the power goes out? The microwave.

For bottles, leftovers and scrambled eggs, you can’t beat the little black box. Thank you, brilliant scientists of the past and the radiation you miraculously harnessed.

Health: The only illness I’m certain my children have contracted so far is the Whine Flu (or the FU virus). True, each of the older kids has been down for three-day stints with fever and coughs, but so far, our houseful has remained relatively healthy. Thank you Baby Jesus!

“True Blood”: We don’t have HBO, but

somehow my husband and I have become obsessed with this semi-pornographic vampire series. And you know what? I truly believe it has helped our relationship So thank you extended cable for bringing this fun series to life and spicing up our marriage with a little extra hot sauce!

Craig’s List: With Christmas looming and the Present Fund low, Craig’s List has been a lifesaver.

Local people selling everything from aluminum foil to zoo tickets; it’s convenient, cheap and just as fun as eBay without the meth-like bidding addition. Thank you, Craig, whoever you are, for making my holiday shopping a bit less painful.

Family: I am truly thankful for my in-law family. I’m not kidding when I say my closest friends are my husband’s siblings and their spouses, and that my mother and father-in-law are the best surrogate parents a liberal daywalker from Kentucky could have, despite their conservative Republican views. They like me; they really do! Thank you, Powers That Be, for legally binding me to an amazing family.

Readers: As a sometimes mommy-on-theedge, I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have such a wonderful (and drug-free) outlet for my day-to-day frustrations, triumphs, fears and dreams. And that’s only because I have you reading my articles every week and occasionally expressing to the Current editors both your support and disgust. So thank you, good people of Carmel, Westfield and Noblesville for allowing me to share my crazy life with you.

I wish you and your family a very happy and safe Thanksgiving! And now, if you’ll excuse me, I must locate a sarong for my shore excursion to St. Thomas. Peace out.

John Mikesell and izzy

want you to keeP ReCeiVinG CuRRent FoR FRee!

In a past issue, we inserted a postage-paid card that we hope that — if you haven’t already done so with the previous card or online — you’ll take 20 seconds to fill out and drop in the mail to us. If you didn’t receive a card, e-mail us at info@currentincarmel.com. If you prefer, you instead may go to www.currentincarmel.com/requestercard and fill out a virtual

Danielle Wilson is a Carmel resident and contributing columnist.

You may e-mail her at danielle@ currentincarmel.com.

card there. We’re attempting to qualify for a different (and better) permit from the U.S. Postal Service, and we need your help to get it done. Once we qualify for the permit, we’ll be able to invest our postage savings in the product, giving you more of the same topical information you have

DISPATCHES » Santa arrives at Clay Terrace – Santa Claus will arrive at Clay Terrace Nov. 27 at 10 a.m. He will parade from the south end to the north in an old-fashioned fire truck, before turning back to his home for the holidays in the Village Green. He will be available for photos during normal mall hours through Dec. 24. » Photos with Santa – Santa will visit King of Glory Church at 106th Street and Keystone Ave. Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photos will available for donation to Carmel Troop 180, and wreaths and garland will be sold as well.

Call 695-8115 for details. » Holiday Bazaar – Manor Care at Summer Trace will present its Second Annual Mistle-

www.currentincarmel.com

toe Mart, Holiday Bazaar and Silent Auction on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 12999 N. Pennsylvania in Carmel. The event will feature local vendors and will benefit The Indianapolis Children’s Bureau. For additional information, contact Angelique Clark at 317-848-2448.

requested and have come to expect. Join the owner of Izzy’s Place, A Dog Bakery (and her friend John,) and send us that card, please. (IF YOU ALREADY RESPONDED, PLEASE DO NOT MAIL BACK THE CARD A SECOND TIME.)

» Intern awarded – Margaret Sutherlin of DePauw University, a former intern with Current Publishing, won the 23rd Annual Thomas R. Keating Feature Writing Program in Indianapolis, earning a $2,500 prize. » Special event at Simply Sweet – Children’s entertainer Debi Derryberry, the voice of Nickelodeon’s Jimmy Neutron, and other cartoon voices, comes to the Simply Sweet Shoppe/Second Story Playhouse Nov. 27. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Visit www.30northrangeline. com for more information.

317.489.4444 or info@currentincarmel.com for more information November 24, 2009 | 5

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Hamilton County libraries announce big change

By Kevin Kane Current in Carmel Beginning Jan. 2, the materials of any Hamilton County library will be accessible with a library card from any of the five public library systems – Carmel Clay, Hamilton East, Hamilton North, Sheridan and Westfield Washington.

Currently, patrons are required to purchase a $30 Public Library Access Card (PLAC) to obtain materials away from their “home” library, but the announcement of the new county-wide borrowing program changes that. Beth Smietana, communications manager for the Carmel Clay Public Library, said the directors of the five libraries decided to make the change to make the library experience easier and more accessible for the patrons.

“Everyone agreed it was a good idea and went from there,” Smietana said. “Here at Carmel, we have quite a few people coming from Westfield, buying those (PLAC) cards, so they obviously

have an interest in coming to both libraries.”

Smietana said because some differences exist between the collections at each library, the new borrowing program will offer more materials to the nearly 182,000 cardholders across the county. Though the cardholders will be free to check out materials from any library, they will still need to be returned to the original location.

The added convenience of the reciprocal borrowing is expected to lead to an increase in new cardholders. Any resident and/or property tax payer within the five library districts in Hamilton County is eligible for library cards and use of the new borrowing features. Smietana said the changes, which were announced last week, have already sparked positive feedback.

“People are really excited about it,” she said.

More details on this new program will become available at all Hamilton County libraries and their respective Web sites as the launch date draws closer.

Superintendent search in final stages

By Brandie Bohney Current in Carmel The nationwide search for a new superintendent for Carmel Clay Schools has been narrowed to three very well qualified candidates from a field of nearly 30 applicants screened

by BWP & Associates, a search firm enlisted to assist in recruiting the best individual for the position.

School board president Andrew Klein said that the process has been intense but will yield amazing results.

“You’re looking at someone who’s going to operate effectively as the CEO of a $90 million corporation,” he said. “It’s not a job for amateurs, and [BWP] has done a tremendous job, the board has been fully involved, and I’m really optimistic that we’re going to have a good outcome.”

Last week, two of the three final candidates were introduced to the community at public forums in order for parents and others to have the opportunity to hear the candidates and ask questions. On Wednesday, current assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and assessment Dr. Jeff Swenssen met with the community. Thursday’s public forum was with Dr. Michael Benway, superintendent of Valparaiso Community Schools. As of press date, the public forum for the third candidate had not yet been announced.

When the meet-and-greet sessions with each

Photo by Kevin Kane

Dr. Michael Benway, superintendant of Valporaiso Community Schools and one of three finalists for the same position with Carmel Clay Schools, met with teachers and community members at an open forum on Nov. 19.

candidate are complete, the board will select a top choice and work to reach an agreement with that individual. The process should be complete, Klein said, in two to three weeks.

Regardless of which candidate the board selects, though, Klein said he’s confident that the new superintendent will be very well qualified and an excellent fit for the school system.

“I would say that we felt that way even among the six semi-finalists” he said. “It’s been a really labor-intensive process, but . . . probably the most important thing a school board does is hire the superintendent. So we’ve put in a lot of work.”

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November 24, 2009 | 7

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Civic Theatre to move to Regional Performing Arts Center

By Kevin Kane Current in Carmel The Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre of Indianapolis, Inc. announced on November 17 that it would be leaving its current home at Marian University to become the resident company in the theater room of the Regional Performing Arts Center beginning with its 2011-2012 season.

“Marian’s been a great place to be; no question about it,” said Civic board chairman Pete Anderson. “But the need to use our facility is growing, which is a good problem for them to have.”

Civic’s current lease at Marian doesn’t expire until June 2012, but Anderson said the decision on the Civic’s new home was one that needed to be made now. The Civic’s small staff and budget didn’t allot a great deal of time for the search process, so when the City of Carmel and the RPAC proposed a long-term deal with financial stability, Anderson said it couldn’t be passed up.

8 | November 24, 2009

“It’s a state-of-the-art facility and it’s the opportunity for us to grow our programs,” he said.

“This allows for us to achieve all of our results, and we’re thrilled that we were able to meet our needs through this process.”

The 95-year-old organization is now in a contract with the RPAC for 100 years, a deal offering funding, marketing and facilities that Anderson said couldn’t realistically be expected from Marian.

RPAC Executive Director Steven Libman said he enjoyed being able to assist the already established Civic but added that, while it is the largest of more than 70 community theaters in Indiana, the Civic will receive more than just stability from the new lease and will have opportunities to grow.

“What we’re building is a 500-seat theater will tremendous horsepower,” Libman said, adding that the theater will include trap doors, fly lofts and state-of-the-art lighting and sound.

The Civic will also have use of another 200-seat theater. “From a production standpoint they will be able to maintain and improve on what they’ve already been performing.”

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Please, get online to help your fire department COMMENTARY

BY Jeff Worrell True or false? Never use a fire extinguisher for a grease fire on the stove.

If you answered “true,” you know your fire safety facts. You obviously realize it is never a good idea to use water or discharge a fire extinguisher when grease is involved.

Since you answered this question correctly, the Carmel Fire Department would like to beg, plead and cajole you into using your intelligence to help it win the “Be Fire Smart” $10,000 community grant. All you need to do is complete a short online quiz.

Bryan Rodda of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company has created a Web site (www.

BeFireSmart.com/BryanRodda). There is a link to take a 10-question fire safety quiz. Once you complete the quiz, you have the opportunity to choose the fire department you want to receive credit for your correct answers. Of course, Keith Freer, public education officer for the CFD, wants you to pick Carmel!

Keith Freer is turning to us to help him secure the $10,000 grant. It seems residents in Westfield and Noblesville are right in the chase along with us. Just the thought of us losing gives me the shivers.

What an opportunity. You take a quiz de-

www.currentincarmel.com

signed to spot-check your knowledge and ensure you are prepared for a situation involving smoke. At the same time, our very own Carmel Fire Department has a shot at earning a significant sum of money, which it plans to use to purchase a fire safety teaching tool for use in our schools. This is our chance to save $10,000 in taxes – just by clicking on the Web. Wait … Breaking news … This just in. The Westfield Fire Department has taken the lead in the point race. Carmel had been the frontrunner, but Westfield has surged ahead, with Noblesville in a close third place, making this a very tight race. Everyone has their fingers crossed that Fishers hasn’t heard about the contest yet. The alarm is sounding.

This is your chance to support the men and women who work tirelessly to keep us safe. Wake up! Slide down the pole into your computer chair and take the quiz. Don’t let Westfield keep the lead. WE NEED YOU TO VOTE! We have until Dec. 21 to fight back and claim OUR prize.

Jeff Worrell is a local business owner. He recognizes volunteers on “Connecting with Carmel” on cable channel 16. Contact him at jworrell@advantagemedical.com

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November 24, 2009 | 9

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Money to spread around COMMENTARY

By Brian Shapiro To nobody’s surprise, Carmel’s taxing entities are under stress.

The Carmel Clay School Board has a dilemma – a shortfall of more than $3.5 million. The Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation Department is upside-down and draining funds. Mayor Jim Brainard’s 2010 budget BRAINARD is less than 2009’s.

The success of Carmel and Clay Township rests with good schools, safety, good streets, and a well-considered zoning plan. The numbers for the following year will be worse.

In Carmel, property values, income taxes and sales taxes have declined. We have enjoyed a lifetime of growth, which has given us an abundance of taxpayer money, and our elected officials have been able to keep taxes low. Now they are butting heads over spending.

No politician could survive if he or she raised taxes. As Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) said, “This is not a time to be adding taxes or fees to families that need the money to feed them and rebuild the economy.”

But there is a possible solution – with a little creativity and elected officials working together.

10 | November 24, 2009

First, all the players MUST work together.

Many years ago, Luci Snyder, Rick Sharp, Paul Spranger and I created the Michigan Road tax increment financing district. (A TIF is a taxing district whose taxes go into a fund for capital improvements by the government.) I was on a 96th Street Corridor Study, and I quickly realized the roads in West Clay were a disaster.

The county was not interested in fixing roads, because the area was too far from Noblesville.

Les Locke and Tom Stevens from the Hamilton County Highway Department told me the only way to fix the area was to create a TIF. Everybody was happy. Brainard blessed the rewritten Michigan Overlay Zone and the TIF district. A few developers went through the roof, but they all made money, and the city avoided massive land-use battles.

Sen. Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville) changed the law to prevent funds from being used outside or not connected to the TIF district. We added a provision to purchase and develop park land with the idea of buying the development rights to a few farms in Southwest Clay. That would have given us more green space and limited the supply of houses to keep values up.

The new law has reduced our flexibility. We still have some roads and intersections to build in the district, but we are going to have a big excess.

One could make an argument that if sewers did

not exist in the district, funds could be spent to bring sewers to the district. The same reasoning could be used for 106th Street and Shelbourne Road, because 106th is connected to the TIF. Schools can get money from the TIF, proportionately returning funds to the taxing districts. There is at least two years worth of money that can underwrite the shortfall for our school district. If we can merge the township into the city – or at least have the township reimburse the city for fire department money in Southwest Clay – we will have fixed Carmel’s shortfall.

The township has extra money it can use in these difficult times. The county can help fund some intersection improvements with our money. County commissioners Steve Holt, Steve Dillinger and Christine Altman had the conservative ability to save the money in the Michigan Road TIF. There is no debt!

Now we have to use our money for the betterment of the community and to avoid raising taxes. We can save 35 teaching jobs. This is the time for leadership to bring the government entities together. I hope there are takers.

Soft-filtered water ... not a hard decision

Brian Shapiro is a Carmel resident and contributing columnist. He owns Shapiro’s Deli and is a nonpracticing CPA/JD. You may e-mail him at brian@shapiros.com

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DISPATCHES » Kitchen/bath remodeling seminar – Case Handyman & Remodeling will host a free 90-minute seminar on Dec. 5, 9 a.m. at 108 W. Carmel Dr. Call 317-8462600 to RSVP by Nov. 30.

» Charger etiquette - A charger is an oversized decorative plate that sits beneath course plates. They are for decoration, so food is not to be served directly on a charger. From there, most people agree that first-course plates should be placed on top of chargers, both of which should be cleared before the main course arrives.

Some choose to leave chargers out for entrees, but you should definitely remove them from the table before dessert.

- www.marthastewart.com » Baby-doll dresses – The baby-doll dress was popular in the ‘60s, ‘80s and again recently. It comes back into style frequently because it is very forgiving. If you have one (or several), consider keeping it if it is made from a long-wearing fabric, like silk or wool, and has a trapeze or A-line shape.The most recent iteration was positively billowing, bordering on maternity gear, and it probably won’t be trendy again. Instead, store the subtler shapes that gradually flare away from the body.

- www.realsimple.com » No cheap ties, please! – Cheap silk ties may seem like a good idea at the check-out, but in reality, they look like paper and make weak, tiny knots. Go for a sturdier silk, which will make for a solid knot. Plus, keep any patterns understated. Also, a quick note on length: The tip of your tie should not hang below the waistline of your pants.

- lifestyle.msn.com

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Creating the perfect Christmas tree – with panache COMMENTARY

By Vicky Earley Christmas morning without the traditional tree overflowing with abundant reminders of childhood and Christmas past is inconceivable. The counterpoint to such memorymakers is the tree that regales wonder with holiday artistry.

The tree we recently decorated at the Boutique store is a tribute to the beauty of the peacock. The point and counterpoint of the shades of vibrant green with teals and deep blues is the start of a tree that is anything but traditional!

Creating a sophisticated version of the traditional Christmas tree is mastered with just a few tricks of the trade. Some items might be purchased; some might be waiting behind closed cabinet doors, just waiting to be enlisted for holiday splendor.

Regardless of the size of the tree, use some oversized ornaments. Large ornaments have a huge impact and are generally the element that distinguishes a tree with panache. Though oversized decorations may be pricey, you won’t need many for a stunning effect.

Repeat one type of ornament, creating color, shape, or theme through a tree. These monochromatic ornaments help unite the other one-of-a-kind ornaments. Various sizes, shapes or finishes of one color will add even more flair.

Try using ornaments that aren’t actually ornaments. Shiny accessories, such as silver trays, teapots, picture frames, mirrors or small lamps wired onto the sturdy branches of an artificial tree are a spellbinding twist to tradition. A petite crystal chandelier can act as a tree topper, while pheasant feathers can add texture and color.

Designers often create trees using colors and themes that relate to the room where the tree is displayed. Repeat a room’s hues and style using ribbon, fabric, garlands and ornaments to harmonize.

Rather than placing ornaments in a neatly spaced overall pattern, try spiraling from the top down with several types of garland. Concentrate lights deep in the tree and ornaments on the garland spiral. This provides a compelling depth to the tree. Try a totally monochromatic tree for a truly high-design look. One-color trees are successfully created with shape and texture. Vary the size of the decorations and mix up shiny and matte finishes.

Fill gaps between branches with some type of filler. Polyester fill from a fabric store creates a snowy iridescence if tucked deep in the branches so the lights twinkle through it.

Natural elements add an earthly quality to holiday decorating and are an inexpensive addition to a tree. Try wiring on pinecones (large and small), real holly sprigs, leafy garlands or branches of berries for a wonderfully rustic and elegant look.

Vicky Earley is the principal designer for Artichoke Designs in downtown Carmel. If you have an interior design question, please contact artichokedesigns@aol.com.

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November 24, 2009 | 11

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Holiday cards: a word of warning

By Brandie Bohney I realize it’s not yet Thanksgiving, and here I am writing a column about holiday cards. Unlike the retail season’s early introduction of Christmas paraphernalia, though, this is a very timely holiday issue.

Many of you will be sending out holiday cards of some sort in the next few weeks, and I have a word of warning about your family signature: Your family name should not be possessive.

I know, I know. I have railed against the misuse of possessives as plurals before. Still, the holidays seem to bring out the possessivemadness in many people.

When signing your Christmas cards (or formatting them online, or wherever else you may be purchasing them), I implore you not to write, “Happy Holidays from the Smith’s!”

Especially if your last name is not Smith.

Seriously, though, the sentence above indicates that a word has been left out. “The Smith” must be in possession of something in order to punctuate it with an apostrophe-s combination.

Consider some of the options: • Happy Holidays from the Smith’s anteater.

• Happy Holidays from the Smith’s neti pot.

• Happy Holidays from the Smith’s stockpile of moldy shoes.

Is that the sort of holiday greeting you want to imply?

And honestly, I doubt very much that too many of you out there in my reading audience are actually smiths.

Maybe a few of you own an anvil you use professionally, but I’m guessing it’s not a high percentage. Unless you refer to yourself as The Smith (or The Jones or The Gupta), the above punctuation isn’t merely wrong, it’s ridiculous.

So when signing your holiday cards this year, go for plurality rather than possession. You and your grammar-loving friends and family members will be glad you did.

NOTE TO MY READERS: Now that I have you in the holiday spirit, may I recommend attending “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” presented by Main Street Productions in Westfield? The show opens this weekend (Nov. 27) and runs for three weeks at the Westfield Playhouse in Eagletown, and your very own Grammar Guru plays the adult lead. I’d be glad to see you there. Call 317-896-2707 for more information.

Brandie Bohney is a grammar enthusiast and former English teacher. If you have a grammarrelated question, please email her at bbthegrammarguru@gmail.com.

To sleep or not to sleep COMMENTARY

By Becky Kapsalis A recent University of Michigan Health System report on the importance of sleep in children uncovered the following data: School-aged children need somewhere between 9-12 hours of sleep at night. At this age, kids usually start a trend toward becoming more sleep deprived, because there is an increasing demand on their time from homework, sports and other extracurricular and social activities.

You know your child is getting the right amount of sleep if they can go to bed, fall asleep easily (within 15-30 minutes), wake up easily (no nagging them to get out of bed) and are not tired during the day (don’t fall asleep in the car, need naps during the day, fall asleep in school, etc.). If the opposite is true, your child can be deprived of much more than sleep. For example, the inabilities to concentrate, behave properly or think clearly are signs

of sleep deprivation.

The chart below will give you an idea of the amount of sleep you should be aiming for, depending on your child’s age.

In the evening, look for the time when your child is starting to slow down and getting physically tired. That’s the time that they should be going to sleep, so get their routine done and get them into bed before that time.

Avoid caffeine products and keep TVs and computers out of the bedroom. One study shows that the difference between an “A” student and a “B” student is 15 minutes more sleep per night. Sleep on it. Happy Thanksgiving! Hugs!

AGE 5-7 years old 8-9 years old 10-11 years old 12-13 years old 14-15 years old 16 years old

Becky Kapsalis. aka YiaYia (pronounced Ya-Ya.) is a certified parenting advocate and child behavior coach. You may reach her at 317-848-7979 or e-mail becky@askyiayia.biz.

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Q. Is painting kitchen/bathroom cabinets a viable option?

A. It can be a very cost-friendly alternative to new cabinets and look fantastic, if done professionally.

Q. Our basement is pretty dark. Can the small windows be enlarged or turned into a walk-out?

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12 | November 24, 2009

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Teens, step out of that tanning bed COMMENTARY

By Maddi Bourgerie The lengths to which people have gone to get that sun-kissed bronzy glow are often laughable. In years past, different methods have been tested, including lathering oneself in baby oil or creating aluminum foil reflectors to maximize the opportunity for a tan.

Today, we have a more updated version, the tanning bed, which has turned into the weapon of choice for achieving a quicker tan. However, using this method too many times can result in some awful situations, such as premature wrinkles, brown spots, and – worst of all – skin cancer. With all the dangers of “fake baking,” why do so many of us still do it?

Tanning is actually not seen as a “cool” thing to do in most teens’ eyes. However, girls and even some boys will make up excuses for going tanning. Whether it’s before a school dance, a big event or spring break, many teenagers are familiar with indoor tanning.

The first misconception is that indoor tanning is safer than outdoor tanning. Tanning indoors with the light indoor UVA rays is just as bad as tanning outdoors. In fact, UVA rays from tanning beds are much stronger than from the sun. And the risks aren’t only getting burnt; indoor tanning thins the skin, decreasing the ability to heal.

My uncle is an optometrist, and he has always pushed on us that tanning is awful. I was never

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really sure why he cared so much; maybe it was just because he didn’t want us tanning.

However, I learned that another misconception of tanning is that it only affects the skin.

Tanning can actually hurt the retinas or burn the corneas.

One of the scariest statistics I have ever come across while researching this topic is that indoor tanning raises the risk of skin cancer by 70 percent!

Many people know there is a risk to tanning.

It will remain a risk until one considers making a change to stop. With the main customer base of tanning salons being teens, it’s time for a change. Teens need to realize the consequences.

Weigh the pros and cons. Risking skin cancer, or being a little pasty for the winter just like everyone else? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Maddi Bourgerie is a student at Carmel High School. Contact her at maddiclarexo10@aol.com

Manor Care at Summer Trace in Carmel presents its second annual

Mistletoe Mart, Holiday Bazaar & Silent Auction to benefit the Indianapolis Children’s Bureau, Inc.

Saturday, December 5 10:00am - 3:00pm For more information, call Angelique Clark at 317-848-2448

HCR Manor Care at Summer Trace 12999 N. Pennsylvania Carmel, IN 46032 (Located directly behind the Meijer in Carmel)

November 24, 2009 | 13

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DISPATCHES » Guest performers – Ballet Theatre of Carmel at Performer’s Edge announced Cincinnati guest couple Anthony Krutzkamp and Jill Marlow will play Cavalier and Sugar Plum Fairy in “A Nutcracker Suite Dance Holiday,” Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Westfield High School auditorium.

Tickets are $10. Call 573-8085 for details. » National cook-off finalist – Theresa Johnson of Carmel was selected from over 2,500 entries as one of French’s Foods top 20 finalists in its first-ever live National Cook-Off to be held Feb. 25, 2010. Only 5 contestants will advance to the final round, with one of them chosen by the public. Vote through Nov. 25 for the “People’s Choice” award winner at www.frenchsfoods.com and to help Johnson win the $25,000 grand prize. » Thanksgiving centerpiece – Take advantage of nature's bounty to create a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece by mixing branches and berries from your backyard with dried flowers. Add an assortment of colorful leafy sprigs to bring texture and vibrance to your arrangement. Build your arrangement horizontally -- wide and low -- instead of vertically. This will allow conversation to flow easily across your Thanksgiving table without guests having to peer between the branches.

- www.goodhousekeeping.com » Involving the kids – Let’s face it: for children, Thanksgiving can be a very long day. Consider then, the idea of one mom in Denver: serve pretzels, popcorn, jelly beans, and buttered toast a la Chef Snoopy to the kids mid-morning on Thanksgiving Day. While eating, they watch the Peanuts DVD. It’s a great way to tide their tummies over to the real feast, usually served mid-afternoon.

They also love to help prepare Snoopy Thanksgiving. It’s hard for preschoolers to help baste a turkey, but they can butter toast and put jellybeans in a bowl. They are involved in the day, while learning the importance of family and cultural tradition.

- www.milehighmamas.com

Kishbaugh wants to funkify your life

By Arika Herron Current in Westfield Kishbaugh has been creating art her whole life, but she didn’t make a successful business out of it until the last 10 years. Kishbaugh, graduated from Indiana University with a degree in theater, before moving to Chicago and attending graduate school at Columbia College for creative writing.

“I started out majoring in art,” Kishbaugh said. “But I loved art so much I thought, ‘I’m not going to major in this. I’m going to save this for my soul, because they’ll ruin it for me.’”

Kishbaugh stayed in Chicago for 20 years, working at an advertising agency and doing her art on the side. But 10 years ago, Kishbaugh left advertising and went to work on her art full time.

Kishbaugh is a mixed-media artist who does everything from canvas to bottle cap necklaces. The past five years, Kishbaugh has made a successful business out of selling her jewelry and art handbags.

“Right now, it’s taking off,” she said. “It’s selling, and I’m being

Submitted Photo

Photos from Kishbaugh's Fashion Week show for Quiet Riot (inset) a sample of Kishbauh’s Twilight jewelry

rewarded. Who knows where that may go?”

So far, it’s taken Kishbaugh from her home in Westfield all the way to New York City’s Fashion Week.

Kishbaugh designed all of the jewelry and handbags for the fashion week show of up-and-coming clothing designer Quiet Riot. Kishbaugh hand made 30 pieces for the show.

“It was so great to sit on the runway and see my jewelry come out,” Kishbaugh said. “Each time somebody came out, it just took by breath away. It was thrilling; my heart was racing.”

Kishbaugh hopes to continue showing in fashion week and may even have her own runway show of jewelry and handbags next year.

For now, Kishbaugh will continue selling her mixed-media pieces around town. Through November, Kishbaugh has a line of “Twilight” inspired jewelry at the Carmel Barnes & Noble. The pieces will be traded out in December.

Kishbaugh will also have work available through the holidays at the SullivanMunce Cultural Center in Zionsville.

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Come for one of the Open Houses as hundreds of flickering luminaria in the gardens transform the landscape into a winter wonderland.

Info: www.imamuseum.org or 317-9231331

Harvest Salad with Field Greens, Pears, Gorgonzola and Pralines Signature Grille 39 Chopped Salad Fruit Salad Grilled Vegetable Salad Mulligatawny Soup Charcuterie Display Smoked Salmon with Traditional Garnishes Imported and Domestic Cheese Display

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Carved Tom Turkey with Cranberry Sauce Carved Prime Rib with Horseradish Cream and Au Jus Baked Sweet Potatoes Cornbread and Oyster Stuffing Steamed Asparagus with Red Pepper Accent Honey Glazed Baby Carrots Fresh Cranberry and Orange Relish Assorted Artisan Breads and Rolls

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Orange-Chocolate Bread Pudding with Crème Anglaise Pumpkin Pie Southern Pecan Pie Chef’s Selection of Pastries and Petit Fours

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14 | November 24, 2009

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Do you eat atoca, bounceberries, cowberries, cranberries or bearberries?

COMMENTARY

By Chef Michael Vlasich Most of us eat and love these little red berries, especially with turkey at the Thanksgiving table.

Above are the original names for cranberries.

Native Americans called them “atoca,” which they used to dye clothes and in body paint, medicine for mass healing and preservatives.

The Pilgrims learned all about these berries and their uses from the Indians. Cranberries are only found in North America. From one European colony to the next, cultures and cuisines quickly adopted them into their daily diet in the fall and winter months, when the cranberries were ripe and harvested in the wild. And near the end of the Revolutionary War, veteran Captain Henry Hall began commercially planting and farming cranberries in Massachusetts.

Having seen the uses in extensive battles, he noticed whalers and mariners could carry dried cranberries as a cheaper way to prevent scurvy.

Throughout history, the armed forces have continued to play a role in the increasing popularity of this fruit. It was documented in the Civil War that General Ulysses S. Grant placed orders for cranberries to feed the troops in long campaigns. Again, in the 20th century, they were sent overseas, this time in the canned form for both world wars and the war with Korea.

Currently, 95 percent of cranberries grown are used in drinks, sauces (compote or jelly) and the sweetened dried form. The remaining 5 percent are sold as fresh product, especially during the holiday season.

Science has proven cranberries are very nutritious, high in vitamin C and dietary fiber, as

Cranberry salad Ingredients: • 1 cup chopped cranberries • 1/3 cup sugar • 1 soup can mandarin oranges drained • 1 small red onion small diced • 1 large green delicious apple peeled and small diced • 4 cups finely shredded white cabbage • 1/3 cup mayonnaise • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar Directions: Mix cranberries and sugar and refrigerate overnight. Fold all ingredients together with salt and pepper to taste, and serve once chilled.

well as many other balanced essential minerals and micronutrients. It has become one of the favorite antioxidants of many, not only great for the urinary tract and bladder, but also benefiting the cardiovascular and immune systems. Other recent studies have shown their properties are good for preventing tooth decay and kidney stones.

Save your body by making the included salad as a Thanksgiving treat.

Chef Michael R. Vlasich, CEC, AAC, is a Carmel resident and the executive chef at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. You may e-mail him at chefmichael@currentincarmel.com

If it’s Thanksgiving, then you gotta have squash

By Molly Herner Current inCarmel Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday because I get to eat as much as I can and am congratulated for my gluttony.

Thanksgiving in my family is traditionally a day spent cooking and cleaning and, of course, feasting.

In my opinion you cannot “do” Thanksgiving without a squash dish.

The word “squash” comes from the Massachuset Indian word “askutasquash”,

Granite City Food & Brewery Granite City prides itself on being a made-fromscratch restaurant, and that applies to its freshly made food and in-house beer selection. Most of the restaurant’s signature menu items are classic entrées – such as meatloaf, steaks and pork chops – with a unique twist. But Granite City also has a number of items not typically found in most menus. The restaurant offers a variety of flatbread pizzas, a long list of unique sandwich and pasta selections and “small-plate” options for those who want a lot of taste in a smaller serving.

But the real trademark of Granite City is its custom brews. The restaurant has six in-house brews on tap at all times. Serving everything from a light lager to a two-beer mix called the Two Pull, this brewery has a beer selection for any preference, and each beer has a list of recommended entrée pairings. Seasonal beers are also available, as the brewery will offer its 100th batch – a double IPA – in December. For those wanting more than just a glass, Granite City offers two-liter growlers so patrons can bring beer home, and membership in the restaurant’s Mug Club provides 10-percent discounts on food and free upgrades to a large beer.

Molly Herner, is the baker/pastry chef at Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano. You may email her at odette05@aol.com.

Butternut squash soup Ingredients • One butternut squash • Butter • Olive oil • One large spanish onion • Four cloves of garlic, minced • Two carrots • Orange juice • Chicken or vegetable stock • One pint heavy cream Directions: 1. Chop vegetables into small pieces. Their exact size does not matter since the soup will be pureed in the end. When chopping your squash first cut it in half and then peel it with a sharp potato peeler for easier chopping. Remove all of the seeds from your squash.

2. Coat the bottom of your soup pot with olive oil and add a few pats of butter.

Where I Dine

RESTaurant

meaning “eaten raw or uncooked.” Although the Indians may have eaten some forms of squash without cooking, most of us like our squashes cooked or as a soup.

A creamy butternut squash soup is wonderful first course for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Shelley Rethlake Server/bartender at the Brockaway Public House Where do you like to eat?

Buffalo Wild Wings

3. Sautee onion and garlic first until translucent and then add your carrot and squash.

4. When vegetables are cooked through add about a 1/4 cup of flour and allow it to coat all vegetables.

5. Pour one pint of heavy cream over the vegetables and mix until thick and combined. You can add some grated parmesan cheese at this point for added flavor.

6. Pour in about 6 cups of chicken or vegetable stock and let the soup simmer on medium heat for half an hour.

7. Puree the soup using an immersion hand blender or regular blender.

8. Finally add one small shot of orange juice and salt to taste if necessary. The juice gives the soup a tartness and depth of flavor.

What do you like to eat there?

Wings and boneless wings What do you like about Buffalo Wild Wings? I like it because it’s easy and convenient.

Buffalo Wild Wings 2510 East 146th Street 317-848-2500

150 W. 96th St. | Indianapolis, Ind. 46290 Phone: 317-218-7185 Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Friday & Saturday – 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. | Sunday – 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

www.currentincarmel.com

November 24, 2009 | 15

Views | Community | Panache | Education | Diversions | Dough | Anti-Aging | In Spirit | Relationships | Toys | Laughs | Inside & Out | Births | Classifieds RECIPE

sweet potato pie

Book OF THE WEEK

the widow of the south By robert hicks

Ingredients: • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature • 1/3 cup light brown sugar • 1 large egg • 1 tbsp. fresh orange juice • 1 tbsp. honey • 1 large sweet potato, cooked and mashed • 1/2 12-oz. can evaporated milk • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon • 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg • 1 9-inch refrigerated pie crust Directions: 1. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium, beat the butter and sugar for 3 minutes. Add the egg, orange juice, and honey and beat for 2 minutes. Add the sweet potato, evaporated milk, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg and combine.

2. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the crust. Bake until the filling is set; 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool for at least 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature.

On a warm Indian summer day in November of 1864, Carrie McGavock sits alone in her room at Carnton House, mourning the death of three of her five children. Just a few miles from the McGavock’s plantation, the armies of the Union and the Confederacy are engaged in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Her house becomes a hospital for the wounded and dying, and Carrie finds the strength to embrace life amid the carnage of battle. Carrie saves the life of wounded soldier Zachariah Cashwell, and the two form a bond that lasts more than 30 years. After the war, when a wealthy neighbor decides to plow a field where many of the Confederate dead were buried, Carrie and Zachariah take steps to prevent the dead from being lost forever.

This story is based on a previously forgotten real-life heroine of the Civil War, Carrie McGavock. She aided the wounded and dying in her house and tended the graveyard of the 1,500 Confederate soldiers beside her house for the rest of her life. The battle and its aftermath are told by real-life characters Carrie and John McGavock and Carrie’s slave Mariah, and fictional characters including Zachariah Cashwell and soldiers of both sides. These perspectives provide a very personal and compelling story. This is a touching story that would appeal to readers who liked “Cold Mountain” by Charles Frazier.

Reviewed by Nina Kennedy CCPL Readers’ Advisory Librarian Visit the Carmel Clay Public Library’s Web site at www.carmel.lib.in.us for more book reviews.

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THEATRE

MUSIC

Family show opens Friday

Main Street Productions presents “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” beginning this weekend and running for three weekends at the Westfield Playhouse in Eagletown. The true meaning of Christmas is central to this rollicking, hilarious show that’s suitable for the whole family. For more information and ticket reservations, call 317-896-2707.

The Nutcracker

The Central Indiana Dance Ensemble (CIDE) will perform “The Nutcracker,” a two act classical ballet at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center, 1000 Mulberry St., Zionsville, 46077. The performances will be held Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 18 and under.

ART

Christmas Joy

Carmel Brass, Indiana’s only fully-professional large brass ensemble, will present the second concert in its 2009-10 series Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. in the East Building of the Monon Center in Carmel. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students under 18 and seniors 65 and over, and $20 for an immediate family group, regardless of size.

Holiday spectacular

More than 400 choral students from Carmel High School will present their “Holiday Spectacular” at the Dale E. Graham Auditorium at Carmel High School over four days: Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 4 in the CHS book store.

Music at Shaarey Tefilla

‘A Christmas Carol’ at the IRT

The IRT brings “A Christmas Carol” back to the main stage for the 14th consecutive year. Opening night is Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets for this St. Vincent Healthsponsored event start at $25. Call 317-635-5252 for details.

On Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., “Music of Mendelssohn: 200th Birthday Celebration” will be performed by Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Concertmasters Alex Kerr and Zach De Pue, Principal Violist Michael Strauss with violist Sheldon Person and cellist William Grubb, Butler University faculty member. Tickets are $12; $10 for senior citizens and CST members; and $5 for students. Congregation Shaarey Tefilla is located at 3085 W. 116th Street, Carmel. Call 317-985-3420 for more information.

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The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art will present its biennial Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art through Jan. 18. The sixth cycle of the initiative features an exhibition of artwork, called Art Quantum.

LIVE MUSIC Mickey’s Irish Pub

The following musical acts will be playing live at Mickey’s Irish Pub,13644 N Meridian, Carmel. For more information, call 317-573-9746: Nov. 25: Barometer Soup (Benefit for breast cancer research) Nov. 27: Endless Summer Band Nov. 28: Living Proof Dec. 4: Peace Train & the Flower Power Brass Dec. 5: Alan Kaye & the Toons

Mo’s Irish Pub

The following musical acts will play live at Mo’s Irish Pub, 13193 Levinson Lane in the Hamilton Town Center, Noblesville. For more information, call 317-770-9020.

Nov. 27: Jester King Nov. 28: Janet 51

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2

1

In the name of philanthropy Legacy Fund, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Fund, held its inaugural Celebration of Philanthropy on November 12 at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. The Crosser family was given the firstever Living Legacy Award. 1. From bottom left: Gary Bilbrey, Jacque Bilbrey, Barbara Boyd, Kris Hare, Pam Robinson dine with Brian & Maggie Kelly of Current Publishing. 2. The speaker, Craig Crosser is a member of the Crosser family, which was honored at the event. Janet Crosser, holding the award behind him, stands with Christi Crosser, Carrie Renner and her husband, Scott Renner. 3. From left to right, Brenda Bush, one of the event’s organizers with Maggie Kelly and Jack Badger.

3 Photos by Karl Ahlrichs

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Exploring ‘the most romantic of wines’ COMMENTARY

By Mo Merhoff and Luci Snyder Pinot Noir may be the oldest of grapes.

Romans were describing it well before the movie “Sideways.” Hailing from France, the grape’s name translates to “pine black,” describing the shape of the grapes on the vine (like a pine cone) and the dark color.

As one wine expert put it, “God made Cabernet Sauvignon; the devil made Pinot.”

That’s because it’s hard to grow – needing warm days but consistently cool nights – and definitely takes on the flavors of the site where it’s grown.

It’s also prone to mutation. It is typical for several pinot vines within a vineyard to produce shoots unlike the others. Winemakers who then duplicate these shoots will produce a new varietal. That accounts for the huge differences in taste and color, from bold raspberries and cherries to woody, earthy clove and mushroom.

But all that hard work is worth it. Vanity

18 | November 24, 2009

Mo Merhoff & Luci Snyder Fair’s wine expert Joel Fleischman has called it “the most romantic of wines.” If you have only two wines in your rack – a red and a white – the red should be a pinot noir. It pairs with a wide variety of food – from hamburgers to turkey to salmon to dessert – and its lack of tannin means those who get headaches from red wine may find a pinot the solution.

Siduri: Bright, fruity and great with salmon.

Food & Wine’s Best American Pinot Noir under

$20. At Joe’s for $18.99 Irony: This is a WOW! A new pinot from Monterey – a subtle blend of flavors, but with that earthy, complex nose of a much more expensive wine. If you’re going to try a pinot, try this one. At Vine & Table, Classic Spirits, Hamilton Beverage and Crown for $14.95-$16.95 LaCrema: A lighter, fruity pinot that’s always consistent. At Costco, Payless, Marsh, Crown and Hamilton Beverage for $19.95-22.95 Finally, for those who want to taste the best – truly “sex in a glass.”

Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve: Polished, round, subtle with refined fruit flavors and a lingering finish. At Hamilton Beverage, Crown, Vine & Table and Classic Spirits for $59.95-$69.95 Have fun exploring wine. A votre santé!

You may contact wine lovers Luci Snyder at lsnyder1@ indy.rr.com and Mo Merhoff- mm@carmelchamber. com.

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Five points about social media

DISPATCHES » MAS 90/200 ERP Users Group meeting – Come to learn new tips and techniques to handle your accounting or reporting challenges, share your area of expertise and meet your peers in other local businesses. This meeting is free and will be held Dec. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Somerset Conference Center in Indianapolis. » Hottest five-star stocks 1. SMART Modular Technologies (SMOD) 2. GSC Investment Corp. (GNV) 3. Oilexco (OILXF) - moneycentral.msn.com » Energy marketing firm expands again – Carmel-based ACES Power Marketing LLC (APM) is expanding its headquarters and creating 40 jobs over the next several years.

The wholesale energy risk management firm plans to invest $6.6 million to improve its Hamilton County facility. This is APM’s second major expansion in two years. In 2007, the company invested $4 million and added 25 positions.

COMMENTARY

By David Cain What does it mean to be social? What is media? What happens when they collide? Below are five points about social media – five things you should know in this world of transformation.

1. The world is having a social makeover. When you meet someone for the first time, you start by exploring what you have in common: “Do you have any kids?” “Where do you work?” “Come here often?” We search for micro-connections – small things we have in common. Sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes it seems impossible to find commonality. And it’s no different online. Social media is not about the technology; it’s about people. Whether in a room full of people or inside a social network, being social hasn’t changed, it is just happening in new places. It’s a global social makeover.

2. Be true to you, and get comfortable. Being social means something different for everyone. I’m certain my weekend plans look different than for somebody who is 25 and single Just like weekend plans vary, so should your choice of social networks. Do what is comfortable. Explore, and find what fits you best. If it’s not a fit, you won’t stick with it.

3. Get in the game. You’ve got to be in the game to change it.

Social media is here to stay, and to understand your choices,

» Town Center selling gift cards – The new American Express Simon Giftcard is now available at Guest Services Hamilton Town Center. The cards can be purchased in any denomination between $20 and $500. There is a $2.95 handling fee, but there are no fees after purchase for checking a balance, monthly servicing, or card replacement. The funds on the cards never expire.

you must explore. Mark Twain once wrote, “I knew a man that grabbed a cat by the tail. He learned 40 percent more about cats than the man that didn’t.” The moral of the story: Grab a few tails and get some experience.

4. A little matters a lot. Nearly everyone has heard Pres. Obama’s social media plan that captured him the election. Even so, less than 1 percent of the American population of registered voters actually joined the network and campaigned. It’s like exercising: It doesn’t take much to make a big difference. You can cut your risk of a stroke by nearly 60 percent with a 20-minute walk each day. You can also make a big impact by having 1-2 percent of your audience actively supporting you.

5. Make it matter. You have to find relevance in an irrelevant world.

Search engines look for relevance. They want to know that people with an interest in your subject think you are a good source of information. You have to be relevant on the subjects you want to an be expert on. And to matter, you have to be relevant.

David Cain works at MediaSauce, a digital media and online marketing company in Carmel. David welcomes your questions or comments at David.Cain@MediaSauce. com.

Whether in a room full of people or inside a social network, being social hasn’t changed, it is just happening in new places.

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MONEY MATTERS How much of your Christmas shopping will be done on Black Friday?

“I’m hoping to have it all done before then.”

Jennifer Ash Carmel

“None. I just can’t deal with the crowds.”

Susan Boor Carmel

“Zero. I don’t go near the stores on Black Friday.”

Tom McElmurry Carmel

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Fanfare tickets

MY OPINION

Fanfare Tickets is offering a local alternative to overpriced ticket services. Owners Renny Harrison and Wendi Louks opened their doors Aug. 14, touting specialties in tickets to sold-out events and Photo by Arika Herron discounted tickets.

Harrison is not new to Left to right: Employee Brittini Faherty, Louks and Harrison the game of selling and reselling tickers. A 20-year veteran, Harrison co-founded Circle City Tickets, Indiana’s largest reseller of sports tickets. Harrison recently sold Circle City Tickets to start Fanfare and has relocated in the heart of the Carmel Arts & Design District. Fanfare Tickets specializes in local events, such as Colts, Pacers, Notre Dame, Purdue and Indiana games, concerts like Transiberian Orchestra, and theater. While local is their focus, fanfare can get tickets to events nationwide. Harrison said because Fanfare is a smaller company, it is able to provide more competitive prices than its counterparts, while still buying and selling tickets to sold-out events up until showtime.“If the Colts make the Super Bowl,” Louks said, “we’ll be the ones to call.” Tickets can be ordered by stopping in or calling during business hours, or on the Web site 24/7.

21 S. Range Line Rd., Suite 200 | Carmel, IN 46032 Owners: Renny Harrison and Wendi Louks Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Phone: 317-876-3338 | Web: www.fanfaretix.com

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Style: Traditional Age: Built in 2001 Location: Deer Lake Drive in Carmel Square footage: 4,746 Rooms: Six bedrooms, 5.5 baths, great room, kitchen, breakfast nook, hearth room, den, master suite with sitting room, four-car garage Strengths: Large kitchen with hearth Room and fireplace, good neighborhood, walk-out lower level with recreational area, hometheater area with wet bar and guest quarters Weaknesses: Shallow lot, needs more custom finishes, forced walkout basement

Keith Albrecht is a Carmel resident and realtor with RE/MAX Real Estate Groups. Contact him at 317-819-3388 or Keith@ KeithsHomes.com.

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» Living Nativity - St.Vincent Carmel Hospital will present a Living Nativity, a re-enactment of the birth of Christ, on Dec. 12, on the hospital grounds. Sharon Gamble, WFYI Public Radio, will narrate each of the four performances, at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. » Partnership announced - OrthoIndy and Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital officials announced a new partnership with St.Vincent Health that will increase access to services for patients and families throughout Indiana. The new orthopaedic partnership will streamline procedures, improve efficiencies, and establish one program with many locations for Indiana’s underserved areas. » Goodbye, dandruff – Here are two inexpensive, natural remedies for dandruff: Simmer a handful of nettles in a quart of water for two hours, let cool and apply to scalp for glossy, dandruff-free locks. You can also buy the powder from a health store. Or mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with one quart of water and use as a scalp rinse after shampooing, twice weekly.

It’s rich in acids that kill dandruff-causing yeast.

- www.quickandsimple.com » Foods that fight fat - Your allies in battling bulge? Foods that do the work for you. These edibles have proven lipid-melting powers that help you slim. That’s a win.

Almonds: Almonds are high in alphalinolenic acid, which can speed the metabolism of fats. Stick to 12 per serving.

Berries: Vitamin C–loaded fruit such as strawberries and raspberries can help you sizzle up to 30 percent more fat during exercise.

Cinnamon: Sprinkling ¼ teaspoon on your food may prevent a post-meal insulin spike.

Mustard: The spice that gives mustard its color, turmeric, may slow the growth of fat tissues, a study in the journal Endocrinology notes.

Oranges: It contains fat-torching compounds called flavones.

Soybeans: These green gems are rich in choline, a compound that blocks fat absorption and breaks down fatty deposits.

Sweet potatoes: They’re high in fiber, which means no drastic insulin jumps and thus less fat packed onto your hips.

Swiss cheese: Put toe to toe with some of its cheesy counterparts, Swiss is a heavy hitter in the calcium department.

- health.msn.com

www.currentincarmel.com

Breast reduction reduces risk of breast cancer

COMMENTARY Dr. Barry Eppley Breast cancer remains a threat to every woman, and the emphasis on early detection can not be overemphasized. As Breast Cancer Awareness Month has passed, the upcoming holiday season may temporarily displace some of these concerns. Plastic surgery throughout the year, however, plays an inadvertent but beneficial role in the detection and management of this disease.

Breast reduction remains a popular and common plastic surgery procedure. It provides a dual reconstructive and cosmetic benefit by making the breast better shaped and more uplifted and improving back, shoulder and neck pain. As part of the reduction procedure, removed breast tissue is almost always sent to a pathologist for examination.

While I have yet to encounter a positive cancer result, reports exist that it is occasionally found.

A recent study shows the finding of breast cancer or precancerous tissue in pathology specimens existed in 12 percent of patients studied in one treatment center.

This is a rather surprising finding, because prior published reports have not shown such high rates of cancer in breast-reduction patients.

However, given the relatively high incidence

Healthier holiday desserts

of breast cancer in women, it does seem logical that a significant number of as-of-yet symptomatic women have the disease.

This raises an interesting and obvious question.

Does breast reduction surgery decrease the incidence of breast cancer? Will it decrease the risk that some women will get the disease? The answer is an emphatic yes – for some but not all women.

A study published in the prestigious Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported a difference in risk of breast cancer after breast reduction surgery. This appears to be especially true in women more than 40 years old at the time of surgery. Risk of cancer reduction in this age group was 28-50 percent. No reduction was seen in women having the surgery before the age of 40.

Although the complete removal of a woman’s breasts (prophylactic mastectomy) can virtually eliminate the risk of breast cancer, most women find it extremely difficult to elect to remove all of their breast tissue. I would emphasize that breast reduction is a risk reducer, not a preventative guarantee.

Dr. Barry Eppley is a certified plastic surgeon at Ology Medical Spa in Carmel. You may reach him at info@ currentincarmel.com.

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Carmel, Noblesville and Westfield November 24, 2009 | 21

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The benefits of laser skin rejuvenation

with a complete new patient exam, appropriate cleaning, and xrays.

Aileen C. Helton DDS • total health dental care • friendly and comfortable environment • invisalign® (invisible braces) • cosmetic smile makeovers • sedation dentistry for fearful patients • most insurances accepted

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Remember to use your dental benefits before the end of the year.

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COMMENTARY

By Dr. Jodie Harper and Dr. Angela Corea As we age, the effects of our sun-loving-days begin to take their toll on our skin.

Lines, wrinkles, dark spots and uneven texture are all signs of sun damage. How can we help reverse these signs?

Laser skin rejuvenation is a great option to consider. The laser is used to remove layers of damaged skin so that new, smoother, more vibrant, youthful-looking skin is revealed.

Other lasers have been used for this problem for years, but there were many risks. Patients often had to endure post-procedure redness and wound healing for months. Other lasers can ablate the skin but are not much more effective than a chemical peel.

Using cutting-edge technology, Cutera® created and perfected the first FDA-cleared laser, using the 2,790 wavelength for the treatment of wrinkles, known as the “PEARL.” The PEARL is the true balance of aggressive, effective ablation along with safety. The epidermis is treated with pulses of light, eliminating the damaged skin while leaving a natural protective dressing.

Collagen is stimulated in the deeper layers of the skin for long-lasting results. This laser allows experienced technicians to safely control the depth of the laser according to patient concerns.

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Scott M. Wharton, LUTCF 3091 E. 98th St., Suite 150 Indianapolis, Indiana 46280 (317) 663-4138 www.wifsinc.com

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Thanks is a God thing COMMENTARY

By Bob Walters Maybe it is so obviously a “God thing” that we don’t give it a second thought, but the simple word “thanks” has little meaning without God. At least that’s what the Bible seems to say.

We learn early in American life that the magic words of our culture are “please” and “thank you.” “Please” expresses humility and requests a kindness or indulgence; “thank you” acknowledges a kindness or indulgence.

“Please” appears throughout the Bible (225 times in the NIV), split evenly addressing requests both to God and among people.

“Thanks,” “thank you” and “thanksgiving” show up 144 times, 141 of them referring to God. This is what convinces me Thanksgiving is a religious holiday.

“Give thanks to the Lord” and “thanks be to God” are two of the most common phrases in the Bible, stretching through both the Old and New Testaments.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever” is a constant refrain in the Old Testament (e.g. Psalm 106:1, 107:1, 118:1 and others) and provides the opening phrase of one of contemporary worship’s most popular songs, “Forever God is Faithful” by Michael W. Smith.

The line, however, does not appear in the

New Testament.

Instead, the focus of New Testament “thanks” is often on food, especially on our communion with Christ represented by bread and wine.

Which brings us to the American holiday of Thanksgiving.

It is a happy, collegial stuff-fest in most homes. We gather with our families and eat too much – surely a blessing of abundance. An even greater blessing is had by the people who feed strangers on Thanksgiving at community feasts.

God has certainly shed great grace on us, but my concern isn’t that we eat too much; it’s that on Thanksgiving, we pray too little, or pray from the wrong point of view.

The worst prayer in the Bible is described in Luke 18:11: “The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.”

How good and pleasing it is to pray a prayer of deep thanks, in faith with humility and love, and not with the Pharisee’s pride.

Pray, and be glad, and give thanks unto the Lord. Happy Thanksgiving.

Bob Walters (www.believerbob. blogspot.com, email rlwcom@aol. com) thanks God daily for the love of his children, the grace of our being and the beauty of this world.

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Alone again for the holidays?

COMMENTARY

By Rachael Noble Here they come again – the holidays. For singles, this can be a very traumatic time of year.

I don’t have any family here, and I remember one year I wasn’t able to go home for Christmas. Times were tough, because it wasn’t too long after my divorce and someone gave me a coupon for the Old Time Country Buffet.

There we sat, my little daughter and I – looking around at all the families celebrating together.

My loneliness took over. I couldn’t hold back the tears as I pathetically started sobbing over my mashed potatoes and gravy. My daughter looked at me, puzzled. Seeing her chubby little face and blue eyes was enough to pull me out of my sentiment to focus on the fact that I was blessed to have her.

Although I typically think I’m pretty strong, there is something about the holidays that get me every year. I’m already starting to prepare myself for the cheesiness around the corner. I watch couples and families walk down the street or eating at a restaurant together, and I wonder if they know how lucky they are.

I mean, we single people hear married people complaining about their spouses, and we would trade them in a heartbeat over the holidays.

Your husband is lazy? Heck, I’ll take him if

you’d rather be alone. Your wife nags you? Mr. Single over there would love to have someone to go to the Christmas parties with him. Makes me think there should be some kind of loaner spouse program over the holidays. Of course, “the marrieds” would only adopt this practice once and never again, because they’d realize how depressing it can be to be alone – to wake up alone, to go to bed alone, to face the work week alone, to be surrounded by married people alone, to not have anyone help them change a flat tire, to not have someone to run to when times get tough or anyone to help them through a death in the family. No, I think they’d go back to married-ness pretty quickly.

My apologies for not being very positive. But I’m not really looking forward to being alone again for the holidays. For all of you singles out there feeling the pains of what is to come, I’m raising my eggnog to you. This too shall pass – and then we have Valentines Day to look forward to. Ugh. Rachael Noble is a single Carmel resident and contributing columnist. She can be reached at nobleadvice@yahoo.com.

My apologies for not being very positive. But I’m not really looking forward to being alone again for the holidays.

24 | November 24, 2009

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DISPATCHES » Concept car/spa - Renault has joined forces with cosmetics maker Biotherm to create the Zoe Z.E. electric car concept.

The car is sporting a climate control system that is similar to a spa. The Zoe keeps the air inside the car cool and hydrated, preventing the skin from drying out. The car also deals with outside toxicity levels by shutting the car’s air vents when the built-in toxicity sensor detects too many free radicals. But it just wouldn’t be a spa without soothing scents, so the car has been set up to diffuse essential oils created by Biotherm to keep the driver calm no matter what time of the day, using three different scents to take care of morning, noon, and night.

- www.popgadget.net » Great baby photos – If you have a baby, you no doubt take photos. And you also no doubt have the frustrating task of trying to get your infant to look at the camera and pay attention just long enough to get a great shot. Enter ShutterBuddy. While not entirely scientific, the pattern supposedly grabs a baby’s attention and holds it long enough to get a decent photo. At $20, the ShutterBuddy is cheapish. Could be worth a look if you’ve got a bunch of holiday greeting cards to send out this year.

- www.gizmodo.com » Shrinking drives - At just 1.2 x 0.5 x 0.1 inches in size, and weighing just 1/20 of an ounce, Active Media Products claims their new 16GB USB Wink flash drive is the smallest on the planet. And thanks to the electronics being encapsulated in a waterproof COB unit, which is then covered in a high-impact polymer outer shell, the Wink can survive a dip in the drink, or most of the daily abuse you can throw at it. Just don’t expect it to be the fastest flash drive you’ve ever used. The 16GB version of the Wink has a price tag of $37.95, but the drives are also available in 8, 4 and 2GB capacities for $19.95, $10.95 and $7.95 respectively.

- www.ohgizmo.com

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Holiday tech shopping ‘gotchas’ Commentary

By Gary Hubbard The holiday shopping season brings out the bargains and the gimmicks, especially when it comes to the confusing world of technology.

Retailers and manufacturers know that because most consumers can’t decipher the technical details when making a decision, most default to the price.

Below are my top five tech-shopping “gotchas.”

Be cautious of the “cheapest.” For any item in technology to be the cheapest in any category, corners have to be cut. In some cases, those corners aren’t important on the surface, but the biggest games are played with the cheapest items, so be suspicious. If it sounds too good to be true, there’s probably a catch.

Beware the battery. Batteries are a profit center for manufacturers and retailers. Low-cost technology often comes with low-capacity batteries. Always ask if an “upgraded battery” is available for any device you are buying, and compare the difference. This can quickly expose any tricks being played in this area.

Avoid the “premium cable.” Cables are another big profit center for retailers, which is why you will see really cheap printers advertised that don’t come with a cable. Unlike analog cables (like speaker wire), there is no improvement when buying “premium” cables for digital devices. Digital signals are either on or off; there is no “quality” improvement possible.

Bypass the “B.S.” – bundling and subsidies.

A common ploy in recent times is the use of “bundling” or “subsidies” to attract customers who aren’t paying attention. Bundling is the practice of requiring a customer to purchase the “bundle” to get the price on the base item.

For instance, you may see a digital camera advertised at a really low price, but the fine print disclaims that only a handful of units are available at the price unless you also buy the optional carry case, memory card and spare battery bundle.

Subsidies are how the cell phone industry has tied their customers to long-term contracts

for years, and now we are seeing computer “deals,” especially with netbooks, that are using the same tactic but with caps and overage fees if you use the Internet too much!

Eyeball extended warranties. Extended warranties continue to be one of the most confusing purchases for tech buyers, because what is covered is not clear at the point of purchase. Let’s be very clear on this: Extended warranties are a big profit center for retailers.

Bonus tip: Don’t get flogged! The Internet is a great resource for researching your potential purchases, and getting recommendations from others is a great help. The popularity of blogs has created a new category of “informational” sites known as “flogs” (fake blogs). What appears to be a personal recommendation for a product or service is nothing more than a clever marketing strategy by some organizations.

Gary Hubbard is the owner of Data Doctors Computer Services - www.datadoctors.com. Have a technology question? Send it to CurrentInCarmel@datadoctors.com

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HONEST. LOYAL. DEPENDABLE. (and so is the dog)

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(317) 216-8500 | John@JohnPacilio.com November 24, 2009 | 25

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Mike: Ordered it online. Pretty expensive, too. It’s going to cost (price withheld due to embarrassment at spending so much on something that’s just going to become leftovers.)

Mom: For a turkey? I don’t even like turkey.

Mike: Maybe you’ll like this one.

Mom: I doubt it.

Amy: OK, so Mike can do the turkey, I’ll do sides and we can all do a dessert.

Mom: Did you hear how much he paid for that turkey?

Amy: Yes, and that’s his business. I’ve wanted to get a heritage turkey but I’ve always put it off.

Mike: Why? Amy: Because I figured you’d buy one first and then I’d know if it was worth it.

Mom: No turkey is worth (price withheld, but it was a doozy).

Mike: You want me to do gravy and dressing, too?

Amy: Yes. Although I’ll probably roast a small turkey because I saw this recipe I wanted to try.

Mike: Wait a minute. You’re doing a turkey, too?

Amy: A small one.

Mike: (Extremely unprintable.)

Mom: See why I don’t like turkey?

Mike: (Darkly) All right. Whatever. What time?

Amy: Well, the way you’re acting maybe we should just have our own Thanksgivings. I hope you can eat 20 pounds of turkey, you big jerk.

Mom: We’re not having separate Thanksgivings. That’s just silly.

Mike: OK, OK. I have an idea. We can have two turkeys, the sides, the desserts, everything.

We’ll just …

Amy: I’m way ahead of you. We’ll have Thanksgiving at Mom’s! (Singing) Over the river and through the woods…

Mike: Be sure to tell P.D. and Vicky. Gotta go. Bye! Amy: Bye! Mom: (Unprintable.)

4th Ave. SW

COMMENTARY

By Mike Redmond Over the river and through the woods…

Mid-November means time for the annual Family Holiday Conference Call, in which we debate the age-old question: Aw, geez, what are we doing for Thanksgiving this year?

This year’s participants are (as usual) Mom, my sister Amy (mother of Deniece and Denephew) and yours truly. Also as usual, my brother P.D. and sister Vicky know enough to be busy during conference call time.

We join the gang right after Amy has spent a half-hour explaining to Mom how to activate the “conference” feature on her telephone. Hey, 30 minutes is pretty good for someone who was still on a party line not that long ago.

Amy: All right, are we all here?

Mike: Here.

Mom: Hello?

Amy: Mom, can you hear us?

Mom: P.D.?

Amy: OK, she can hear something.

Mom: I think I have a call coming in. Hello?

P.D.? Is that you?

Mike: (Unprintable.)

Amy: MOM! It’s Mike and Amy. We need to talk about Thanksgiving.

Mom: Thanksgiving is at Amy’s this year. I know I don’t want it here.

Mike: (Unprintable.)

Mom: Amy? I think P.D. just called but I couldn’t hear him very well.

Mike: MOM! Mom: Oh, hi, Mike. Amy wants to talk to you about Thanksgiving.

Amy: (Unprintable).

Mike: (Sighing) OK, Mom. I just ordered the turkey. It’s a heritage breed raised on a special farm out in Kansas. It’ll be about 20 pounds.

Mom: Heritage?

Mike: Heritage – a breed that was close to being lost because of the way turkeys have been ruined by selective inbreeding to make them all white meat and no flavor. This is a turkey that tastes like turkey.

Mom: I don’t like turkey.

Amy: You don’t have to eat it, Mom. Where did you get it?

City Center Dr.

317-846-0661

Mike Redmond is an author, journalist, humorist and speaker. Write him at mike@ mikeredmondonline.com or P.O. Box 44385, Indianapolis, IN 46244.

Join the Email List for Upcoming Events & Monthly Chef Specials Call for Private Parties & In-Home Catering

26 | November 24, 2009

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Where do Rowdy, Rex ... and BarfBoy come from?

COMMENTARY

By Dick Wolfsie It’s a question parents dread. But sooner or later, every youngster will want to know, “Where do mascots come from?”

In my travels around the Hoosier state for the new edition of my book, “Indiana Curiosities,” I found the answer to that question from Jennifer Smith. She oughta know. She makes mascots.

Like a good comedian, she does need the right material, but after that it’s all about the design and creation.

Her business, AvantGarb, is considered one of the premier mascot design creators in the country, and it all happens in a workshop in the Stutz Building just north of downtown Indy.

Walk inside, and it’s like Santa’s Workshop, with Jennifer’s associates busy sewing, stitching and hemming. They may be making feet, painting eyes or attaching hair.

Jennifer got her start in San Francisco in 1986, where she was making costumes for local playhouses. To earn a few extra bucks, she created a giant chocolate chip cookie for a local bakery.

The mascot ended up on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, and that’s when she got this half-baked idea to focus her work on creating living, heavy-breathing (it can get hot in there) corporate identities.

She now makes mascots for companies all over the country.

Locally, she has designed Rex of the Children’s Museum, Rowdy of the Indianapolis Indians and JJ Jumper of the NCAA. “Companies with mascots are fun to work with. They’re family-oriented and have a sense of humor,” notes Jennifer.

Sometimes people come with a concept; sometimes she makes suggestions. In the case of the World Basketball mascot, Jennifer started with the huge nose fashioned like a globe of the earth, then built the body around it. “We did it nose-backwards,” she muses, which is a clever phrase, but I don’t think it’s going to catch on.

A successful mascot, says Jennifer, must be artfully constructed to please adults and (spoiler alert!) allow the person inside to move freely and safely during his public appearances. Eyes are important, too, adds Jennifer. “They must be able to focus on the crowd or the individual, so people observing can feel like they are interacting.” This is even true for BarfBoy, a mascot she created for a museum’s exhibition to get kids interested in the grosser aspects of the human body (like your 6-year-old needs any encouragement).

Mascots are like rodeo clowns: They can have a calming effect.

However, this theory has never been proven at European soccer matches.

Each mascot comes with a manual that includes both safety instructions and acting tips. “You must perform big,” says Jennifer.

“Big gestures, big waves.” I hope that doesn’t go for BarfBoy. Here’s another thing that’s big: the prices. Most mascots are in the $8,000 range. And sometimes they get stolen, as happened to the Butler Bulldog recently. Most thieves are motivated by the thrill of the caper, not the money. It’s hard to find a fence for foam rubber.

Mascots last about three to five years. It gets a little hot and humid inside, so Jennifer suggests they come in for occasional cleanings. FYI, there are no coupons for this on any of the dry cleaners’ Web sites.

By the way, mascots are not just for kids or sports teams. She has produced, for example, several for pharmaceutical shows.

“Who wouldn’t want their picture taken with a pancreas?” asks Jennifer. I’ll let you answer that for yourself.

Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist, and speaker.

Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.

Hoosier Hodge Podge

Build the words Carmelku

Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Synonyms: COMELY, CUTE, LOVELY, PRETTY, RADIANT, STUNNING; Hats: COWBOY, FEDORA, PANAMA, SOMBRERO, STRAW; Terms: PILGRIM, PUMPKIN PIE, TURKEY, YAMS; Avenues: INDIANA, KENTUCKY, VIRGINIA; Coaches: HINKLE, STEVENS; Nickname: TRAILBLAZERS Answers to BUILD THE WORDS: CLINT EASTWOOD, BROAD RIPPLE, KUALA LUMPUR, FINISH LINE, KOALA BEAR

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November 24, 2009 | 27

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The term ‘basement’ hardly does justice to this amazing space COMMENTARY

By Randy Sorrell This stylish lower-level full bathroom consumed approximately 90 labor hours of a more substantial nine-week project. As evidenced, the client preferred bold colors, which contributed volumes of drama and elegance to the entire basement.

With all the amenities involved, “basement” hardly seems fitting to describe the entire space. But let’s focus on the bathroom, instead of the dry sauna, exercise room, media room, or the custom brick refreshment center with oak trim and a brass foot rail.

The tile floor, free-standing pedestal sink and custom-cut mirror fit the hoped-for look in this very spacious bathroom. Fortunately, the builder had pre-installed the necessary plumbing and no special lift stations or floor removal was necessary. Older homes can be more challenging, yet manageable, for bathroom installations.

The pre-fabricated four-panel shower unit snapped together quickly and actually looked terrific with the upscale fixtures and glass door (installed later, not pictured). The homeowner searched tirelessly for the modern wall mounted lights … very edgy!

As with most remodeling projects, construction drawings and building permits were necessary, and multiple inspections were required. While this may seem intimidating, the process is very common and typically straightforward. Finishing a lower level without a permit will likely cause issues in the future, and unless

BEFORE

AFTER

you have ample time, loads of patience and decent drafting skills, I would encourage you to let the contractor handle this process.

With Colts games upon us and more dark than light, spending time in the basement just comes naturally this time of year.

Randy Sorrell is president of SURROUNDINGS by NatureWorks+, a Carmel home improvement firm. He may be reached at 317-679-2565, randy@choosesurroundings. com or www.choosesurroundings.com.

Home maintenance problems?

Just ask a handyman Dear Mr. Handyman, I’ve got water leaking into my upper-story ceiling. What might be causing this, and how can I get it repaired? – Steve S., Carmel Dear Steve, This is very common this time of year. Most likely, your gutters are overflowing from an aggregation of leaves from the fall. Water builds up behind the gutter and backs up underneath shingles and flashing. Cleaning the gutters and securing any flashing around the chimney, as well as applying new caulk to your windows, should solve the problem.

Dear Mr. Handyman, Recently, my dryer stopped working. I checked the outlet with a volt meter and found that one leg delivered 120 volts, while the other only delivered about 30 volts. Is this a bad breaker or a bad outlet? - Robyn T., Noblesville Dear Robyn, The first rule is if you haven’t worked with electricity before, you should consult a professional. The second rule is: Start at the source.

Put one lead on the ground/neutral bar in the power panel and the other on the screw on the first leg of the breaker. It should read 110v to 124v.

Do the same with the second leg of the

28 | November 24, 2009

breaker. If you have 110 on each leg, then power is being sent to the outlet. If not, change the breaker.

If power is going to both sides of the breaker, test the outlet.

Put one lead of your volt meter into the bottom round hole on the outlet, or a source that is grounded.

Next check the other two parts of the outlet one at a time. If each one does not read about 110v, turn the breaker off and pull the outlet.

Make sure the outlet isn’t being grounded.

Turn the power back on and check the voltage of the incoming wires. If they have power and the outlet does not, then it’s a bad outlet.

In summary, if there is no voltage at the breaker it’s most likely the breaker. If there is no power at the outlet, then it’s a line break or a bad outlet.

If there is power to the outlet on both sides, and between the two you get 220v, then you have a problem with your dryer or other device.

Ellen Rosebrock is the owner of Mr. Handyman of Southern Hamilton County. You may reach her at ellen. rosebrock@mrhandyman .com.

www.currentincarmel.com

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BIRTHS

is a graduate of Carmel High School and is self employed as a home and service repair specialist.

Hillary graduated from Ben Davis High School and is employed at Kroger in Avon as a baker. The couple is planning a fall wedding.

Mr. and Mrs. William T. Greenwood of Carmel are proud to announce the engagement of David. M. Greenwood to Hillary Nicole Dreher, daughter of Donald and Karen Dreher of Indianapolis. David

Nov. 13 Girl- Thompson, Patrick & Jennifer Nov. 14 Boys- McKenna, Daniel & Jeanne; Minks, Jeffrey C. & Emilee S.

Clarian North Medical Center Nov. 11 Boy- Donovan, Brian & Kathleen Twin boys- Delaney, John & Lisa

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT Indiana Department of Insurance 311 W. Washington St., Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2787 LIFE – STATEMENT OF CONDITION On the 31st day of December, 2008 Company Name: IdeaLife Insurance Company Address: 695 East Main Street City, State Zip code: Stamford, CT 06901 Organized under state of: CT Fein: 06-1053475 Naic Code: 97764 Contact Person: Phyllis A. Casarella Phone: (203) 352-3045 Email: pcasarel@genre.com Assets of Company (Nearest Dollar) Bonds (Schedule D): $3,831,472

Stocks (Schedule D): $0 Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Schedule B): $0 Real Estate (Schedule A): $3,943,773 Policy Loans: $0 Premium Notes: $11,675,104 Cash & Short Term Investments (Schedule DA & E): $621,347 Deferred and Uncollected Premiums: $995,639 Other Assets: $0 Total Assets: $21,067,335 Liabilities, Surplus and Other Funds Aggregate Reserve for Life Policies and Contracts: $4,719,982 Aggregate Reserve for Accident and Health Policies: $60,639 Policy and Contract Claims—Life: $449,640

-Accident and Health: $30,160 Taxes, licenses and fees due or accrued: $28,919 All other Liabilities: $1,159,739 Total Liabilities: $6,449,079 Special Surplus Funds: $0 Capital Stock: $2,500,000 Gross Paid in and Contributed Surplus: $4,900,000 Unassigned Surplus: $ 7,218,256 Surplus as regards Policyholders: $14,618,256 Total Liabilities and Surplus: $21,067,335 Steven James Mannik President Christopher Robert Bello Secretary

Photo courtesy of the Carmel Clay Historical Society

So

Ld

The demolition of old Carmel High School in 1991.

24485 S R 13 N $1,300,000 MLS# 2930404

5BR 4.5BA w/incrdbl quality & attention to detail! Hdwd flrs, gourmt kitchen, LL w/wet bar & Media rm, huge BRs w/walkin clsts, prof landscpng, cul-de-sac, a must see! SpeNCeR kLiNe, 753-7282

4877 MoRgANS CReek Ct $699,900 MLS# 2945735

4BR/3.5BA new construction, hdwd flrs, grmt kit w/granite cntrs, main flr mstr, huge LL w/ wet bar & media rm, wooded cul-de-sac lot, incrdbl attn to detail.

SpeNCeR kLiNe, 753-7282

2590 S 875 e $600,000 MLS# 2918003

Custom 4B 3.5BA Colonial on 2.81 acres in Zionsville Schools. SS appliances, granite and imported tile. Don’t miss it! ANgeLA RAAb, 735-9610

2825 WoLveRiNe WAy $435,000 MLS# 2956325

Fabulous custom 5 bed 4 bath home in Zionsville w/finished basement on park-like setting with 1 ½ acre wooded lot.

Gourmet kitchen with tons of updates!

SuSAN vAN deN HeuveL, 508-1276

Re

du

Ce

d!

Fabulous 47 acre estate with private pond. 11 ft ceilings, gourmet kitchen w/custom cabinets and granite tops.

Walk-out basement and huge heated outbldg. ANgeLA RAAb, 735-9610

4830 MoRgANS CReek Ct $699,900 MLS# 2945734

13919 FeRNLeAF $197,000 MLS# 2944500

www.TalkToTucker.com

Come & visit this deluxe 3BR/2+BA. Striking highlights in this outstanding home include breakfast nook, rec room & formal dining room. Great rm & pantry.

ANgeLA RAAb, 735-9610

1218/1222 tuRNeR dR $155,900 MLS# 2948762

One-year-old 4BR/2+BA home.

Vinyl/brick townhome w/ private master suite, huge foyer. Walk-in closets, 2nd-floor laundry. Two-car garage, mature trees.

ANgeLA RAAb, 735-9610

www.currentincarmel.com

632 SuNSet bvLd $185,000 MLS# 2952366

4BR includes all appliances & Home Warranty. Hardwood floors & chair moldings throughout. Basement. Deck.

Updates: roof, siding & appliances.

ANgeLA RAAb, 735-9610

3148 e FALL CReek pkWy $125,000 MLS# 2938652

Gorgeous 4B 2BA historic home close to downtown. A little polish will return this home to its former glory. Great value! ANgeLA RAAb, 735-9610

11585 CReekSide LANe $182,900 MLS# 2949272

Country living! Lg .45 acre wooded lot! 3 BR, 2 BA, sep DR. New lodge room w/ Pella win & door, roof, gutters, siding, stone, garage door, barn, full fence & dec. blk fence, paver patio. keRNS teAM, 258-8154

16947 FuLtoN pL $112,900 MLS# 2952268

Bright & immaculate 2BR 2.5BA. New carpet & paint, large BRs, loft area, all appliances stay. 2car garage.

Washer & dryer included. Maintenance free, move-in ready. SpeNCeR kLiNe, 753-7282

November 24, 2009 | 29

Community Business ContaCts

FOLEY & TURNER ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS OF LAW ALAN M. GILL, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW

alang@foleyandturner.com 342 Massachusetts Ave, #300 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2132 ph: (317) 261-0900 www.foleyandturner.com

Representing Indiana Businesses and Individuals ● Business Transactions ● Business Formation ● Business Litigation ● Real Estate ● Construction ● Franchise ● Estate Planning ● Estate Administration

This Community Business Card spot could be yours!

This Community Business Card spot could be yours!

Call Dennis O’Malia

Call Dennis O’Malia

370-0749

370-0749

Community Business Contacts reaches over 37,200 residences in Carmel and Westfield

30 | November 24, 2009

Community Business Contacts reaches over 37,200 residences in Carmel and Westfield

www.currentincarmel.com

Views | Community | Panache | Education | Diversions | Dough | Anti-Aging | In Spirit | Relationships | Toys | Laughs | Inside & Out | Births | Classifieds VISA, MasterCard accepted Reach 62,719 homes weekly

SERVICES

489.4444 ext. 202

Classifieds SERVICES

SERVICES

Shopping for car insurance?

Call me first. Save even more than before with Allstate.

Drivers who switched to Allstate saved an average of $353 a year. You could be surprised by how much you’ll save.

Ranj Puthran 844-4683 www.carmelallstate.com

120 E. Main Street • Carmel

317.846.8923

CARMEL’S LOWEST-PRICE CLEANER Fine-Tune your Sharp image For The holidayS We’re happy to clean your suits, dresses, sweaters, and other holiday finery.

Guitar Lessons With Baker Scott

Beginners thru Advanced All styles Electric-Acoustic-Bass Private Lessons Parent-Child Lessons near Carey Road & 146th Carmel 317-

910-6990

.com

LEAVE THE RAKING TO ME AND GUTTERS TOO Very Reasonable and dependable Call for estimates 580-9230 Carmel - Westfield - Noblesville Indy North/Zionsville

Interior Painting

Winter Special, Most Rooms $100-150 Jonathan Walla, College Student at IUPUI Experienced Painter / Detailed Service Brand Name Paints at Discounted Prices Call (317) 698-5480 for Free Estimate

Private Assisted Living

For Your Elderly Loved One; Unique Family EnvironmentHome cooked meals Housekeeping & LaundryTotal Assisted 24 Hr. Care Over 17 years experience with references.

Call 317-773-3783

Now Hiring Direct Support Professional

Responsible people needed to provide direct support services to individuals with developmental disabilities and autism.

Apply in person, by fax or online: Mon-Fri 9am-3pm Cornerstone Associates, LLC 6967 Hillsdale Court Indianapolis, IN 46250 Office (317) 299-6088 Fax (317) 299-7076 www.cornersassoc.com $9/hr Part time North side Indianapolis

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RENTALS

RENTALS

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Do you know three reasons you should consider living in THE NEW YORKER APARTMENTS located at 3707 – 3715 N. Meridian Street in Downtown Indianapolis.

• You will save time & money • You will meet new people and new friends • You will have access to public transportation, to churches, schools, entertainment and shopping You work hard, so by living at The New Yorker Apartments you will have time to enjoy your life … and to have all the convenience of living downtown.

Come on in and visit The New Yorker Apartments. Call - 784-5899 or 435-8618 and make an appointment. You might be surprised at the pleasant, large apartments that are available at such affordable prices.

IT’S TRUE: Schedule an appointment to just come and see how much time and money you can save.

STUDIOS, 1-2 BEDROOMS - FENCED PARKING LOT Professionally Managed by: MOYNAHAN-WILLIAMS Call Debbie – 317-435-8618

HOME FOR RENT

2 story home in Noblesville, home is like new, w/stainless steelappliances Fireplace in living room and a Garden tub in master, $1250 a month. 12359 Deerview Dr. Call 985-4361 if interested

HOME FOR RENT

For Rent: 3300 s.f. brick ranch on 10 wooded acres in Westfield.

3 BR, 3 baths, walk-out basement, 2-car garage, abundant storage $1600/month - references required 317- 867-2880

For Rent 1321 Brookton Ct

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1650 sq ft home, Washington township schools, Brick exterior, NO GAS BILL! Huge yard, Attached garage, Stove, Refrigerator, Dishwasher, Microwave. Available Now. $1,195 per month. Call 253-1533

Real Estate

FOr sale FOR SALE

All New FULL MATTRESS SET $100 still in bag Can Deliver (317) 223-9301

FOR SALE

All New QUEEN PILLOW TOP Mattress Set. $125 still in bag Can Deliver (317) 223-9301

FOR SALE

All New KING PILLOW TOP Mattress Set. $175 still in bag Can Deliver (317) 223-9301

For Sale – Real Estate Country Western Church Campus In Old Town Noblesville The Railroad Place Bob Arbuckle 317-773-3985 Arbuckles-rrp.com

Wanted to buy I BUY: Jewelry, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Rolex, Diamonds, Old Coins, Bullion Coins, silverware, Old watches, estate items and anything of value. Call 317-4965581 or visit us today at www. indyestatebuyer.com

November 24, 2009 | 31

Clarian North Breast Care is the only Indiana breast program to earn full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

The accreditation was awarded for our dedication to comprehensive care and support of breast cancer patients from diagnosis to survivorship, along with our commitment to quality and use of scientific evidence to guide care.

Because early detection is the best defense against breast cancer, we urge all women over 40 to schedule a yearly mammogram. To make an appointment or for other breast concerns, call 317-688-3158.

Learn more at www.clariannorth.com/breasthealth.

We dedicate this award to early detection.

32 | November 24, 2009

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