December 22, 2009

WILSON: THE PERFECT REMEDY TO HOLIDAY STRESS / P6

LOCAL GIRL SCOUTS PITCH IN TO REVAMP SANTA HOUSE / P7

PADRES PITCHER SPEAKS AT WESTFIELD ROTARY / P7

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I won’t be home for Christmas While most are opening gifts and enjoying a day off with family, the rest will be working on Dec. 25

By Kevin Kane Current in Westfield For some people, Christmas is just anot her day.

While most of the country visits with family, opens gifts and celebrates one of the year’s biggest holidays, men and wom en in the health and service fields are on the clock. In their professions, the calendar’s irrelevant, but that doesn’t mean Christm as isn’t celebrated. Each individual finds a way to work around the challenge of work ing on Christmas.

Mark Wooldridge Front Desk Agent, Comfort Suites, Westfield Mark Wooldridge of Carmel has worked six consecutive Christmases at Comfort Suites, and this year will make seven. However, he still finds time to celebrate with his seven-year-old brother – at the expense of sleep.

“I normally get up at 5 a.m.to open presents, go to bed for a little while, then come in later to work that night,” he said.

Aside from opening gifts before dawn, Wooldridge said his typical Christmas includes working a double shift at the hotel and sleeping through breakfast.

“It’s not something I look forward to,” he said. “The only reason I do it is because I’ll make time and a half plus holiday pay.”

llowell Sergeant Charles Ho rtment pa De e Westfield Polic ld Police fie est W e th Next year, -hour ove its officers to 12 Department will m yet, ge hasn’t happened shifts. But that chan ent id for Noblesville res and that’s good news ell.

Sgt. Charles Hollow the time I’m off I’m so “I work 6 to 2, by he e with my family,” still able to celebrat said. he gh, Hollowell said e Until that time, thou on their toes, as som ain rem to ve ha rs ce offi e th of t res and the very busy. e Christmases can be bad people don’t tak mes to happen but “You don’t want cri ing a holiholidays,” he said. ollowell won’t be tak H s, ase tm ris Ch o off, but since The next tw have taken the day d ul co he d sai e H eir chance this day, either. he let others have th st, pa e th in off it he’s had d year. that he doesn’t min rk,” he said, adding wo d to ul s co ha at ne th eo d sai om “S however, he ar, ye xt ne ge an ch s it. When the shift goes.”

“We’ll see how that be a different story.

Emily Agness Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, Clarian North Medical Center At Clarian North, the nurses are on a rotating, three-year holiday schedule. Among the group scheduled to work this Christmas, is Emily Agness of the NICU. Because of the rotating schedule, Agness said she doesn’t have a normal Christmas tradition with either her family or the Clarian staff when it’s her time to work on Christmas.

She traveled to her home town of Fort Wayne last weekend to see her family, but she’ll miss out on the family’s regular celebration while she’s working her 12-hour shift.

There may not be traditional means of celebrating at the hospital, but Agness said there will be a pitch-in to help make the day a little more special.

“We’ll try to make the difficult situation a little bit better,” she said.

Jaci Windau Licensed Practical Nurse, Maple Park Village “Usually in the medical field, it’s typical to work on holidays,” said Jaci Windau, who works with senior citizens at Maple Park Village. While working Dec. 25 may have been expected, Windau said she’s in the rare group that is completely unaffected by her holiday scheduling.

“For me, working on Christmas really works out well,” she said. “My family already celebrates on Christmas Eve anyways, so it isn’t any different...I just got lucky that this year I have Christmas Eve off.”

Dusty Ramer Registered Nurse, St. Vincent Carmel Hospital When Dusty Ramer of Kokomo isn’t taking care of the sick and injured as an RN at St. Vincent Carmel Hospital, he’s saving lives with the Kokomo Fire Department.

With 18 years’ experience as a firefighter and six as a nurse, he said he’s accustomed to coming in on holidays. nailed with a “Whether it’s this job or that job, I get to happen. g goin it’s lot of holidays,” he said. “I know ?’” work I will ay holid ich It’s just a matter of ‘Wh make just to ed learn he’s s year the Ramer said over the day’s staff the most of the situation. At St. Vincent, s, and item -in often brings in a ham and other pitch yone can ever l, though there’ s no time for a group mea ut the ugho thro l mea find some free time to enjoy the shift. ” he said.

“You just have to have a positive attitude, day.” that work “Someone has to

Photos by Kevin Kane

2 | December 22, 2009

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Snow days Founded Jan. 29, 2008, at Westfield, IN Vol. II, No. 46 Copyright 2008. 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

OUR VIEWS

It is our position that restrictions on school snow days should be considered with great caution. Believing kids need 180 days of instruction per year to achieve best results, the Indiana Department of Education recently made changes to the school instructional days policies, saying all schools must make up all snow days taken throughout the year, with no waivers accepted from schools in excess of “make-up” days built into many school calendars.

Westfield schools, like many others, have a few built-in calendar place-holders to accommodate these snow days, but we are not prepared to confront the exceptional year. In fact, in the event of a lengthy winter emergency, we could find schools in session well into the summer months and facing enormous budgetary challenges.

School and city leaders must coordinate road crews – accommodating for unusual or difficult topography – and those routes with large boundaries and a scattered population. In light of the new state rules, careful planning and cooperation must occur now before we face the challenge.

Alternatives to a longer year, like a lengthened day, might be considered. But regardless, concerns about extending the school year cannot lead to decisions based in economics or convenience rather than safety.

Tiger by the tail

It is our opinion that we in the media must remain mindful of the higher calling and value of professional journalism and work to avoid the salacious reporting of grocery-store tabloids. With more constant and thorough reporting on the death of Anna Nicole Smith, most Americans know more about her than Nancy Pelosi. And the recent maelstrom launched from Tiger Wood’s mansion has us mistaking the marital crisis of a philandering golf legend as “late breaking news.”

Is such info truly relevant, or have we simply substituted thoughtful consideration of issues with a voyeuristic tendency to celebrate another’s fall from grace?

Woods and others have made themselves and their families, homes and habits into a product. And Woods makes hundreds of millions selling a lifestyle – his lifestyle. Do we have right to know if the “product” works? Perhaps. Even so, we must demand a higher standard – of ourselves and for our readers. Is the price of modern celebrity shared by even innocents in their families? Do we have a right to demand access to the private lives of public figures? Can we lurk in hospitals and stalk loved ones to get an up-close photo of tears? We think not.

Advertising Sales Executive – Dennis O’Malia dennis@currentincarmel.com / 370.0749 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 Westfield are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.

strange laws

CONSTITUTION CLOSEUP

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

In California, it is illegal to set a mousetrap without a valid hunting license.

Source: Weird Laws (iPhone application)

www.youarecurrent.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 8. Continued To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures; To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and cur-

Current in Westfield

rent coin of the United States; To establish post offices and post roads; To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries; To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations; To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;

December 22, 2009 | 3

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Just do it COMMENTARY

By Terry Anker This week, I had occasion to attend the Indiana Humanities Council’s Governor’s Awards for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Each year, the council selects a group of 12 outstanding young (20-something) Hoosier business, political and philanthropic go-getters to recognize (and boost) their considerable commitment to our state and its communities.

As the evening news is filled with stories of kids who will be “tried as adults,” these folks are faith-restoring. Among them are all manner and sort of leader, innovator and entrepreneur. I cannot figure out when these young men and women find time to sleep.

Yet even as others show their tremendous capacity to give, I am considering a reduction in some of the community investments I am making. Earning a living and providing jobs is never particularly easy (and this year has been especially challenging). My own kids desire (and deserve) more of my attention. And it seems to take increasing effort with each passing year to

From the backshop

ensure my pants still fit.

But even as I struggle to juggle the obligations, I hang on to a few guilty pleasures. Is it wrong to reserve time to watch Godzilla movies on Saturday morning in hole-filled college sweat pants when there are open work shifts at the local soup kitchen? Is it better to focus on ourselves and someday leave an enormous estate to charity; or is the more ethical to spend our time and dollars along the way?

Recently, I enjoyed lunch with a good friend (and senior development officer for my alma mater), and we pondered these question questions. Being a wise man and all-around good guy, he responded that either gift is good. “Give as you can … give as you choose,” he said. If you can give more, do. If you can give less, do.

Just give. Good point.

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

Being a wise man and all-around good guy, he responded that either gift is good. “Give as you can … give as you choose,” he said.

We’re gonna amp it up in 2010!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Hamilton County’s Best Weekly Newspapers™.

It has been a wonderful year here, thanks to all our loyal readers, advertisers and hardworking staff. We’ve grown as an organization, we’ve become more involved in our communities and we’re looking at (being urged is more truthful) expansion into possibly two more markets in 2010. Ideas for future coverage are bouncing around this joint like atoms in a blender. As you may know, our content is research-based, all of it centered on what the readers have told us they want in their own newspaper. So we’re prepared to amp it up even more in the new year. First, we shall take a nap. Enjoy your holidays, be safe, get rested and be well. (We really do mean that.)

••• Remember this next April 15: IRS statistics from 2008 detailing the amount of money federal workers failed to pay the government in taxes showed $3.04 billion is owed by federal employees and retirees from dozens of agencies. Maybe they were too busy counting the generous raises they get every year. Also, according to The Washington Times, some members of Congress splurged with taxpayer money

Brian Kelly & Steve Greenberg on extravagant meals - including a $5,380 dinner enjoyed by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) at a Maryland banquet hall.

The newspaper, citing a newly released report by watchdog.org, reported last week that Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo racked up the most expensive tab - $6,090 - for a single meal with members of the House Natural Resources Committee. We have to assume grapes had something to do with that tab.

••• CORRECTION: Sen. Harry Reid (D) represents Nevada. An editing error in the Backshop column in Dec. 15 editions resulted in aligning him with another state. We sincerely apologize to all the good folks out in Utah.

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES December 24 — Christmas Eve Services, 5 & 11pm Sunday Services — 8:30 am and 10:45 am We invite you to join our congregation in celebrating the miracle of God’s gift of Jesus Christ!

318 N UNION STREET, WESTFIELD 896-5559 www.christwestfield.org 4 | December 22, 2009

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December 22, 2009 | 5

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Splitting the holidays – a remedy to family-related stress

DISPATCHES » Holiday trash pick-up – Ray’s Trash Service will pick up its Friday customers’ trash on the following two Saturdays after the holidays. All others will be picked-up on their regular day. Ray’s will provide unlimited pick-up from Dec. 25 through Jan. 8. Ray’s has asked that the trash be bagged and set in and alongside the carts. One Christmas tree per household will be picked up by Ray’s from Dec. 26 to Jan. 15. » Race to the New Year – Washington Township Parks and Recreation is once again hosting the Race to the New Year 5k run/walk through Cool Creek Park Jan. 2 at 9:30 a.m., and early bird registration, for $15, ends Dec. 21. Call 317-5741074 for more information » Countywide Borrowing Program begins Jan. 2 – Beginning Jan. 2, your Westfield Washington Public Library card can be used at any of the seven library locations across the county. Stop by the Circulation desk or visit www.wwpl. lib.in.us for more information. » Trash survey – The city is taking an online survey regarding residents’ satisfaction with the current program. To fill out a survey, go to the city’s Web site, www.westfield.in.gov, and click on the link to the survey on the home page.

day! It’s NOT fair!”).

Commentary Nope, none of that. We decided long ago to alternate our

By Danielle Wilson holidays. If Thanksgiving was to be spent in Indianapolis, than Sometimes I am jealous of friends and family who have both Christmas would be in Louisville, and vice versa the following year. sets of parents in town. They get more free babysitting, a stronger When our children became too numerous and their gifts too cumshowing at Grandparents Day and greater moral support when their bersome to haul (I mean when Santa’s Alzheimer’s kicked in and he 5-year-old takes a header off the monkey bars. My in-laws live here, couldn’t remember which chimney was Mamaw and Judge’s), we but my mom and dad are two hours away. And while they’re close issued an official Wilson proclamation that all Turkey Days would enough for weekend visits, they certainly aren’t any good for spontabe spent down south (except when one or more parties is in the neous date nights, soccer games or emergency-room runs. Tear.

Caribbean) and all Baby Jesus birthdays celebrated at home.

That being said, I am thrilled that I only have one family nearby So this will be my sixth Christmas without my parents and around the holidays! I can’t tell you how many people I know who sisters. Does it suck not partaking in Christmas Eve shopping, latecompletely stress out come mid-November, not because of the night movie re-enactments and my British brother-in-law's famous financial strain of presents and parties or the frenzy to find the perroast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner? Yes. But I wouldn't fect scarf for their son’s music teacher, but rather because they can’t have it any other way. I get to celebrate Christmas in Kentucky take the emotional toll that comes from trying to please two sets of either the weekend before or after Dec. 25, focusing solely on my parents and siblings. family, and the kids get an extended gift-giving session. On the real My husband and I will be enjoying (or perhaps suffering Christmas Day, my husband and I can spend quality time with through – only time will tell!) our 14th Christmas as a married our kids and his family, knowing our longest commute is the seven couple next week, and we’ve never once had to shuttle back and minutes to Pops and Grams'. forth between families during the 48-hour extravaganza that is So good luck to all of you splitting your Holly Days! If at all posChristmas Eve and Christmas.

But had my parents lived in the metro-Indy area, we’d have been sible, consider Dec. 24 with one side and the 25th with the other.

Your internal barometric pressure with thank you for it. And a quick screwed. Fights over where to spend Christmas Eve (my family note to all you doting grandparents out there: Allow your kids do is legendary for our post-feast skits, while my husband’s biggest what’s best for their family and keep the guilt-laden fruit cake stashed tradition is Brandy Alexanders while reading “The Night Before Christmas”), arguments over which grandparents get to see the kids in the cellar. Nobody likes that stuff anyway. Peace out! first on Christmas morning even though they’re running on too little sleep and too much sugar and won’t make for good company anyway (the children that is, not the grandparents), and finally, Danielle Wilson is a Carmel resident and contributing columnist. You may e-mail her at danielle@ snide comments about which family is enjoying more quality time currentincarmel.com. with us and which is being shafted (“We just spent eight hours Brisket-Resize_Dec09 12/4/09 9:26 AM Page 1 with your stupid brother, and my sister is only in town for another

Hunting for a real bargain this season?

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Stop in for great Music and Fun! • Free Prizes • Food • Win free music classes • Sign up to win Gift Cards

Featuring: Lowrey Concert Artist

Lori Graves Performing at 11 am 1 pm 3 pm 5 pm

During the holidays, everyone’s searching for a deal. So, for the month of December, Shapiro’s is offering our famous beef brisket sandwich for just six bucks! Now that’s a“Real Deal.”

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Mayor - John Ditslear and Noblesville Chamber of Commerce And The Lowrey Organ Co.

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Fax: 317-773-7009

© 2009 Shapiro’s. All rights reserved.

Refreshments will be served!

Downtown

808 S. Meridian Street Phone: 317-631-4041 Fax: 317-631-3958

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Roast Beef Brisket Sandwich One per customer, Dine-in Mon-Fri in December at Carmel location only.

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NOW at the Airport!

Indianapolis International Airport Located near gate B-15 Phone: 317-241-0645

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Local Girl Scouts pitch in to revamp Santa house

Padres pitcher speaks at Westfield Rotary

By Brandie Bohney Current in Westfield The Santa house for Westfield got a facelift this year.

Last year, when volunteering at the ice rink, Westfield Girl Scout Troop 731 discovered the interior of the Santa house to be worn, outdated and a bit unpleasant.

“We used the Santa house as a snack shack of sorts, so the girls spent a lot of time in there,” Troop Leader Beth Silcox said. “The outside was great, but the inside really needed some help.”

When the girls complained about the condition of the house, Silcox suggested that they give the house an interior makeover as a service project.

From March through November, the girls worked on the house. The Downtown Westfield Neighborhood Association helped to defray costs, and the girls found ways to lower the cost of materials.

“They put together a proposal with an estimated budget of what it would cost, and then they proceeded to search out ways to save themselves money,” Silcox said.

One of those ways was using Asset Recycling in Indianapolis for many of their supplies.

Silcox also recognizes the help of ELECTRIC COMPANY, which donated all the labor to install new electrical in the house.

The girls designed the interior with Mrs.

By Arika Herron Current in Westfield The Dec. 15 Westfield Rotary luncheon, was much like any other—a catered meal at the Bridgewater Club followed by a guest speaker. But several special guests joined Rotary members that afternoon, including Westfield mayor Andy Cook and San Diego Padres Pitcher Joe Thatcher, the mayor’s nephew and that afternoon’s guest speaker.

Thatcher, a Kokomo native, spoke to the group of close to 40 Rotarians about his journey to the big leagues.

After graduating high school, Thatcher followed in his father’s footsteps and accepted a baseball scholarship to Indiana State. Thatcher had great freshman and sophomore seasons throwing for the Sycamores, only to be injured his junior year. But the draft was still a year away and Thatcher had time to get back in shape and have a great senior year.

But senior year was largely a disappointment for the left-handed pitcher, who struggled to come back from the injury. The major league draft came and went and Thatcher didn’t get a single call.

“The family was surprised and disappointed that Joe wasn’t drafted right out of Indiana State,” Cook said.

But Thatcher wasn’t ready to give up baseball. With the support of his parents and help of his coaches, Thatcher packed everything he

Submitted Photo

The Santa house is located on S.R. 32 next to M&I Bank

Claus in mind. Rather than the standard candy canes and gumdrops, they chose to decorate in a way that made the house seem more realistically livable.

“We put up crown molding … changed the interior colors, and put up some artwork on the walls,” Silcox said.

The girls did all the work themselves with minimal help from others, so they learned a lot about construction and design.

“It was really a great exercise for the girls,” Silcox said. “They had never undertaken such a feat before – hammering, sawing, nailing, and painting and painting and painting – but it worked out great.”

For more photos or information about the project, become a member of the troop’s Facebook page: Girl Scout Troop 731 – Santa House Makeover.

• • • • • • •

Photo by Arika Herron

Joe Thatcher, pitcher for the San Diego Padres, was the guest speaker at the Westfield Rotary Club's Dec. 15th meeting.

had into his car and tried out for an unaffiliated minor league team out of St. Louis.

“I still felt I could pitch at the next level,” Thatcher said. “I wasn’t ready to give up.”

With that minor league team, Thatcher had a good enough season to get signed to the Milwaukee Brewers. He spent several seasons playing in their farm system, making his way up to the Triple A team in Nashville.

Thatcher had just finished a game with the Nashville team when his manager called to tell him he’d been picked up by the San Diego Padres—where Thatcher has been a relief pitching since 2007.

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December 22, 2009 | 7

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Be good, for goodness’ sake COMMENTARY

By Robin Chaddock “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

– John Wesley I have a new favorite spot where I get my morning coffee before work. It’s a place called the Delicious Bakery in downtown Westfield.

Their coffee is good – it’s certainly good.

The pastries are authentic Mexican, so they’re a wonderful change of pace from other kinds of very sweet pastries.

But what’s really noteworthy about the bakery is Fillipe. As soon as I walk in, he asks me what I would like for the morning. Then he pours my coffee for me and waits beside me while I open and pour in my four small creamers, because he wants to take my trash from me so I don’t have to throw it away myself. Then he and his son ring up my sale, and Fillipe walks me to the door and opens it for me to wish me a good day. And he means it.

Goodness is somewhat underrated in our culture. There are certainly more showy traits

that seem to overtake simple goodness. People who are genuinely kind may get overlooked for promotions. Kids who are really good at heart may get picked last for the team. But when we hit snags in the road or become world-weary, it’s the good people in our lives that we turn to so we can relax, be nurtured, and enjoy a sense of belonging to the greater good of something bigger than the rat race.

We’re going to have our own definition and examples of the good people in our lives. And I hope all of us will be more intentional about finding them and letting them know how they impact life. They are the sometimes silent and unnoticed heroes and heroines that just make us feel more welcome in our families, friendships, and communities.

Fillipe is a really good man. And I’ll keep going into the Delicious Bakery, because there is just a big bunch of goodness going on in there.

Robin Chaddock is the executive director of the Downtown Westfield Neighborhood Association. She welcomes comments and can be reached at RobinCoaches@aol.com.

And I hope all of us will be more intentional about finding them and letting them know how they impact life.

When it comes to innovation, mayor and employees walk the talk Commentary

By Ken Kingshill “Webster’s Dictionary” defines innovation as “something newly introduced; new method, custom, device, etc.; change in the way of doing things.” In the first two years of his administration, Mayor Andy Cook has introduced several new and unique programs.

First, there is Eyes at Westfield. Under this program, you can use your cell phone (or any other camera) to take a picture of something in Westfield you want to bring to the attention of the city. You then send that picture via e-mail to eyes@westfield.in.gov. The appropriate department will be automatically alerted, and you will receive a response within 48 hours.

No more need to predetermine which department to contact; the system does it for you. You could use this to notify the street department of, say, a fresh pothole on your street. As far as we know, no other community in the country uses technology in this fashion.

Another newly minted program is the Westfield Youth Assistance Program. It will be a voluntary program for the targeted kids and their families, providing preventative services that will help them stay in school and ultimately lead a productive life. The goal is to intercept atrisk children before they are formally introduced

to the criminal justice system. Sadly, only one other county in the nation offers such a service.

Most recently, a new piece of Westfield innovation was previewed at the December City Council meeting. Soon, residents will be able to use their home computer to monitor, in real time, the status of snow removal on city streets. During a snowfall of three inches or more, you will be able to bring up a map on your computer screen that will show which streets are currently plowed, which ones are in the process of being plowed, and which ones have yet to be plowed.

With this up-to-the-minute information, you’ll be better able to plan your morning commute or your drive to the airport to catch your flight through Chicago (if it hasn’t already been cancelled). Again, it appears Westfield will be the first community anywhere to offer such a program.

These are just three examples of innovation in Westfield. Others are on the way. It definitely isn’t “business as usual” in Westfield.

City Council President Ken Kingshill is a Westfield resident and Realtor.

You may e-mail him at kkingshill@ westfield.in.gov.

1-888-800-7916 8 | December 22, 2009

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DISPATCHES » Peppermint Mocha Trio – Want a warm drink to liven up your holiday party? Steam some fresh milk to 150 degrees.

Put 2 tbsp. of bittersweet chocolate syrup and 1½ tbsp of frosted mint syrup in a mug. Add 2 shots of espresso, and mix well. Then add the steamed milk, leaving ½ inch of space at the top of the mug. Top with whipped cream. Leave out the espresso for a minty hot cocoa.

- editors.familyfeatures.com

» Hate gift tags? – If you dislike gift tags or trying to sort through the gifts to find which belongs to whom, consider colorcoding your gift wrapping. Each family member gets packages wrapped in a certain color or wrap. No tags are necessary, and it will be easy to determine who gets which gift.

- www.marthastewart.com

» Pop the cork – You don’t have to pop expensive champagne to enjoy the celebration. Consider instead one of these bargain bubblies: • Segura Viudas NV Brut Reserva, Spain ($9) • Gruet Brut NV, New Mexico ($14) • Paul Cheneau "Lady of Spain" Cava, Spain ($15) • Zonin Prosecco, Italy ($12) • Mionetto Prosecco Brut, Italy ($13) - www.delish.com

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Get outta town

Frankenmuth, Mich.

Getting there: Take I-69 north to I-75, then north to Exit 136, then east and north on Mich. 54 and Mich. 83. About 312 miles, 5 hours.

Info: www.frankenmuth.com, (800) 386-8696.

What: They say that “No Town Wears Winter Like Frankenmuth,” and warm-hearted Frankenmuth residents and more than 150,000 visitors seem to support that claim when they check out the annual Zehnder’s Snowfest. At the center of the five-day event Jan. 21-26 is snow sculpting and ice carving competition, with teams ranging from local amateurs to international experts competing for cash prizes. Kids can get in on the snow sculpting, and there’ s also a play area and petting zoo.

Michigan’s “Little Bavaria” was Photo provided by the Frankenmuth Convention and Visitors Bureau. founded in 1845 by a group of Ice sculptures by international carvers highlight the annual Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth, Mich.

German Lutheran missionaries seeking to teach Christianity to shops sell fudge, cheeses, sausages, jams the world’s largest Christmas store, featuring the Chippewa Indians. Nearly 5,000 people more than 50,000 ornaments, trees, Nativity and jellies, clocks, beads, Michigan wine and live there, preserving the German heritage in wool and leather goods. The most famous scenes, collectibles and a half-mile, light-filled Bavarian-style homes and farmhouses. Town shop is Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, Christmas Lane.

PICK OF THE WEEK

The Wizard of oz Where: Indianapolis Civic Theatre 3200 Cold Spring Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46222 Cost: $34 Time: Thur. and Fri. 7 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sun. 2 p.m. untl Jan. 3, 2010 Information: www.civictheatre.org or 317-923-4597 Details: This Civic Theatre signature holiday extravaganza returns more spectacular than ever, bringing MGM’s popular movie to life on stage. Little Dorothy Gale of Kansas, like so many girls her age, dreams of what lies over the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and whisks her, and her little dog too, far away to the marvelous Land of Oz. She tries to get back home with the help of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Follow the yellow brick road with Dorothy, Toto and their three faithful friends as they travel the universe of their imagination in search of the great and powerful Wizard. There are witches, good and wicked, and plenty of adventures along the way.

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December 22, 2009 | 9

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Sometimes I come close COMMENTARY

By Chef Michael R. Vlasich Down to the wire, hustle here and bustle there. Like most, I run around for last-minute Christmas needs to complete the list and make loved ones happy.

We particularly agonize over our spouse, knowing one wrong item will make us pay dearly far into spring. This year, my beloved spouse is away for the holidays on a cruise with her parents. Over the years, she has impressed upon me that gifts with “meaning” are the real desire of every fair maiden. This year, I believe I finally got what she meant. Her favorite bath amenities are a blend using lemon verbena. So why not get her some travel-sized items for her trip – and dedicate this column to lemon verbena? How is that for “meaning?”

Lemon Verbena originated in Argentina and Chile, and it was brought to Europe and

lemon verbena granita Ingredients: • 2 cups lemon verbena leaves (rinse and pat dry) • 1 cup fine cane sugar (not granulated) • 1 large lemon washed, zest the rind (save on the side) • 1 tbsp. lemon vodka Directions: In a Cuisinart, blend the leaves with sugar and half the lemon zest until a fine powder. Place in a freezer-proof glass bowl, squeeze all the juice from the lemon and add the vodka, stir until blended. Next, add 2 ½ cups warm water, stir until the sugar is dissolved, place the covered bowl in a refrigerator for three hours. Remove from the refrigerator and strain the mixture. Place the bowl of liquid in the freezer, remove every hour, and use a fork to scrape the side, mixing vigorously from the outside in (mixing and in cooperating air). Repeat the process until fully frozen like an icy (approximately 10 times, depending on the freezer). Ice-cream maker could be used to produce sorbet.

Where I Dine

RESTaurant

Vito L. Ruggieri

Charleston's

Co-owner of Italia Mia Ristorante Where do you like to eat? Maneki Neko

America in the 1700s by Spanish explorers. It was originally imported for the lemon scent and as a landscape shrub that was easily shaped into decorative foliage. It was fully embraced in the colonial Deep South, traditionally on plantations for its beauty and aroma; however, it can not survive winters and so was less common in the north.

The entire plant has use – the leaves, stems, and flowers all make a variety of products like teas, medicines and fragrances found in bath amenities and home cleaning supplies.

Currently, popularity is at a peak. I know one homeopathic-type granola-head who swears by using it in breads and teas, homemade soap and laundry detergent.

So tell me, is there a better gift to my wife than the full line of bath amenities with knowledge of its origin and uses? Knowing the answer, I formulated a back-up plan and purchased a piece of art I knew would heighten her appreciation of “meaning.”

Hope you fare well this holiday season in your choices of gifts. Included is a great recipe for lemon verbena granita.

Say goodbye to the

hassle of reading glasses

What do you eat there?

The Spicy Tuna Roll or the regular sushi rolls What do you like about Maneki Neko?

They're very friendly. It's comfortable, and the prices are fair.

Maneki Neko 2009 E. Greyhound Pass, Suite 8 Carmel, IN 46033 317-844-0702

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

FREE TRIAL PAIR FREE FITTING A $50 Value!

There are only 12 Charleston’s locations nationwide, and two of them are in Indiana – Castleton and Westfield. As a chain of restaurants within a privately owned company, Charleston’s is able to offer its customers the quality and service of a small, local restaurant while keeping prices consistent with larger national franchises.

The restaurant prides itself on offering made-from-scratch American favorites, using fresh ingredients. Menu prices range to fit any budget, but the taste and quality of the food is consistently good throughout. With unique sandwiches and trademark soups, Charleston’s is a popular stop for a quick, quality lunch, but the specialty entrée items including baby back ribs, hardwood-grilled steaks and fresh-caught fish keep patrons coming back for dinner as well.

One other noticeable difference between these restaurants and their casual dining competitors is the atmosphere. While others have random room décor, loud music and wall-to-wall TVs, Charleston’s uses candlelight, soft music and a fireplace for a dining experience that truly is casual.

14636 US Highway 31, Carmel, 46032 Phone: (317) 846-5965 Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

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10 | December 22, 2009

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Current Publishing Holiday Party

On Dec. 10, Current Publishing held its annual Christmas party. This year, the event was held at Loon Lake Lodge in Castleton and was attended by staff, advertisers and other friends.

Letters to Santa

Ameriana Bank in Westfield collected letters to Santa over the past two weeks from local children. After these letters were scanned at Current Publishing, they were sent off to their final destination at the North Pole. Top: Emma Dell, 6. Bottom: Gracie Ward, 4

1

2

3

4

5

COLTS PLAYOFF TICKETS 1. Sue Finkam of Clarian and John Pacilio of ReMax. 2. Tim Wright. 3. Roger Huntzinger, publisher of The Southside Times, Current Publishing's Brian Kelly and Currentoonist Tim Campbell. 4. Gary Frey of American Insurance Solutions, Jeff and Shari Worrell of Advantage Medical. 5. Alex and Alla Morozov of Swan Software Solutions. Photos by Karl Ahlrichs.

www.youarecurrent.com

Buy and Sel l Renny Harrison • 876-3338 • www.fanfaretix.com

Current in Westfield

December 22, 2009 | 11

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THEATRE

MUSIC Musical grand opening

‘The Wizard of Oz’

Indianapolis Civic Theatre’s signature holiday extravaganza “The Wizard of OZ” returns to the stage for the holidays through Jan. 3. Directed by Civic Director of Music & Education Brent E. Marty and choreographed by Rory D. Shivers, the show will feature more than 40 munchkins, lavish sets, amazing special effects and all of the well-loved songs from the film. This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the popular MGM movie that made Judy Garland famous.

For more information, visit www.civictheatre.org.

‘A Christmas Carol’ at the IRT

The IRT brings “A Christmas Carol” back to the main stage for the 14th consecutive year. The play runs through Dec. 27. Tickets for this St. Vincent Health-sponsored event start at $25. Call 317-635-5252 for details.

A Beef and Boards Christmas

LIVE MUSIC

Anna Lasbury, 12, a seventh-grader at Carmel Middle School, is the featured young performer in A Beef & Boards Christmas 2009 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. On stage through New Year's Eve, the performance features singing, dancing, a salute to the military, a live Nativity, and a special segment for children. Call 317-872-9664 for ticket information.

Lambert's Lowrey Organ Center will hold a musical grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 7 to celebrate the move to Noblesville Square Shopping Center. Artist Lori Graves will perform mini-concerts at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m. All are welcome. For more information call 317-773-2002.

ART

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: Dec. 26: Toy Factory Dec. 31: Bunny Brothers Jan. 2: C.W. & The Working Class Trio Jan. 8: Pack of Chihuahuas Jan. 9: Twisted Gold Jan. 15: Endless Summer Band Jan. 16: Soul Street Jan. 22: Living Proof

Mo’s Irish Pub

Native contemporary art

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.

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.

Dec. 26: Aberdeen Project Dec. 31: TBA

My Kid Can Paint That!

Magdalena Gallery of Art in Carmel is presenting this art show, displaying artwork by local kids. Opening night was Nov. 21. All artwork is available for sale, ranging from $100 to $150. Call 317-8440005 for details.

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Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds Book OF THE WEEK

RECIPE

The Girls’ Guide to Hunting & Fishing

GARLIC AND HERB ROASTED PRIME RIB

By Melissa Bank

Ingredients: • 1 prime rib, no less than 4#, de-boned and tied • Paste uses …

• 2 tbsp. fresh ground black pepper • 2 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary • 3 tbsp. granulated garlic • 3 tbsp. kosher salt Directions: • Let prime rib come to room temperature for an hour.

• Make paste using above ingredients.

• Rub paste onto meat.

• Bake at 500 degrees for 5 minutes • Turn heat down to 325 • Cook for 20 minutes per pound for rare to medium rare. If the roast is over 6 lbs., cook for 25 minutes per pound.

Allison Campbell is the executive chef at Harvest Fresh Market.

You may e-mail her at allison@ theharvestfreshmarket.com.

A series of tightly interlinked stories follows Jane Rosenal through several failed love affairs, a career crisis in publishing and the death of a loved one. The reader first meets Jane as a precocious teenager observing her brother’s relationships. After a few failed relationships of her own, Jane decides that she can’t trust her own wisdom and instead buys the guidebook, “How to Meet and Marry Mr. Right.” But when she does meet Mr. Right, following the book’s advice produces all the wrong results.

Bank’s debut collection is a warm, funny read. Readers will be quickly drawn in by Jane’s wit and charm and will root for her throughout. “A Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing” is a fun, quickly paced book that would make a good beach read. But it can also be appreciated for its deeper insights on life, maturity and relationships.

Reviewed by Katie Buck 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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December 22, 2009 | 13

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Proper procedures key in cosmetic surgery

DISPATCHES » Clarian North resumes normal visitation – Effective Dec. 11, Clarian North resumed normal visitation hours, after restricting them in October to prevent the spread of H1N1. All hospital units, with the exception of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), are again open to visitors around the clock. Visitors will continue to be screened for signs and symptoms of illness according to hospital visitation policy. » Alcohol and pain relief - In general, the safest pain reliever for older adults is acetaminophen, or Tylenol. However, acetaminophen carries a warning against taking it while drinking more than three alcoholic drinks a day. This is because excessive alcohol consumption damages the liver, and acetaminophen may not be safe for those whose livers are impaired. Unfortunately, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are not necessarily any safer. In short, level with your doctor about your alcohol intake when discussing pain relievers.

- health.msn.com » > Clarian's Smirz appointed to licensing board – Clarian North's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lynda Smirz, was appointed to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board by Governor Mitch Daniels on Dec. 14. She is the first female in Indiana to sit on the board since the 1980s.

SMIRZ

COMMENTARY

By Dr. Barry Eppley Some may have read the recent story of a 38-year-old ex-Miss Argentina who died from complications after undergoing plastic surgery on her buttocks. Solange Magnano, who won the crown in 1994, died of a pulmonary embolism three days after having buttock augmentation in Buenos Aires.

For many, this tragic story points to the inherent dangers of cosmetic surgery. There is some truth to that perception. Surgery of any kind always involves some risk. The potential for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus has become a big prevention emphasis in any kind of surgery.

But Magnano did not die from a vein-clot related pulmonary embolism. Closer inspection of this story shows that she died from a lung embolus, which resulted directly from what was injected into her.

When I first read this story, I thought she died from a fat embolus from having had buttock enlargement by fat injections. It is rare, but fat emboli have been reported to occur from liposuction and fat injections. But when pictures showed how thin she was, it became obvious that she did not have enough fat to use.

What was not printed was that a liquid filling material containing tiny beads was used. Such a material is used here in the United States for facial injection purposes, but never anywhere else in the body. With thousands of beads and clumps of beads injected, it would be very easy for some of them to get into the larger veins in the buttock – and to be transported through the heart and into the lungs. Such a risk does not exist in the face, where such materials were developed and intended for use.

What does this story tells us about the risks of cosmetic surgery? Does it indicate cosmetic surgery is inherently dangerous?

Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and there are no shortcuts.

Sacrificing safety for what appears to be easy and quick has not proven to be a good tradeoff.

The answer is no – when done under the proper circumstances with good medical judgment.

Almost every one of these tragic stories ends up showing some breach of the known standards of care. Whether how the surgery was performed, by whom, or in what type of setting and circumstance, violating established methods and standards of care can have catastrophic results.

Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and there are no shortcuts.

Sacrificing safety for what appears to be easy and quick has not proven to be a good tradeoff.

Outside the United States, there are few rules governing what “cosmetic doctors” do. In the United States, the plethora of regulations and training requirements for plastic surgeons, while certainly contributing to costs, go a long way toward a much safer experience.

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

A. M. Feature Home for the Holidays What a way to welcome the new decade!

Come experience how your guests will feel being welcomed by the grandest of entries.

Granite kitchen countertops, lavish baths and closets, home theater. With over 6,000 sq. ft, there’s plenty of space for pool table and workout area in the lower level. Located in the prestigious Brookside subdivision just north of Bridgewater Country Club.

Proudly offered by A. M. Home Rentals for a monthly rental in the 3’s. Contact Jim Canull for a private viewing. 507-4431.

14 | December 22, 2009

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Dealing with sun spots on the skin COMMENTARY

By Dr. Jodie R. Harper and Dr. Angela Corea Age spots, liver spots, sun spots, solar lentigenes. If you have neglected sunscreen and worshiped the sun instead, you may have a few of these sun spots on your face, neck and hands.

These spots are the result of over activity of pigment-manufacturing cells (melanocytes), usually caused by sun damage decades ago.

Some people have extra melanocytes and a greater occurrence of problematic pigmentation.

Exposure to the sun, heat, trauma and hormonal shifts contribute to the production of melanin in disorders such as pigmented scars, melasma or sun damage.

Hydroquinone, which has been used in cosmetics for more than 40 years, is the most effective topical solution. It does not “bleach” the skin, but prevents the production of extra melanin. It is deemed safe under the supervision of a physician at the strengths necessary to fade these problem pigmented spots.

Using sunscreen every day and avoiding unnecessary sun exposure will prevent further damage and also allow your skin to repair itself.

Be sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Your skincare specialist can suggest the most effective products on the market.

Solely using topical products to fade these spots and sun damage can take quite some time to correct, so complementing topical treatment

with procedures like chemical peels and lasers can be dramatic. Cutera Limelight/IPL, Pearl and Pearl Fractional treatments can have extraordinary effects on pigment disorders in just one or a few treatments.

Forming an individualized treatment plan is most important, as each patient’s pigment disorders and extent of sun damage is quite unique.

Winter is the perfect time to treat. See your skincare specialist for a plan that works for you!

Dr. Jodie R. Harper is boardcertified in internal medicine, geriatrics and wound care. Dr. Angela Corea is board certified in internal medicine. They are the medical directors at ClarityMD. They can be reached at info@claritymd.com or 317-571-8900.

High-protein harm?

Head off your headache When you’re stressed or anxious, you subconsciously clench your jaw and teeth; this strains the muscle that connects your jaw to your temples and can trigger a tension headache. A solution: “Put a pencil between your teeth but don’t bite,” says Fred Sheftell, M.D., director of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Conn. You automatically relax your jaw muscle to do this, which can prevent the pain.

- www.prevention.com

Back in 1983, researchers first discovered that eating more protein increases the amount of blood your kidneys are filtering per minute. From this finding, many scientists made the leap that a higher GFR places your kidneys under greater stress. Dutch researchers found a few years later that protein-rich meals didn't have an adverse effect on overall kidney function. In fact, there's zero published research showing that downing hefty amounts of protein damages healthy kidneys. As a rule of thumb, shoot to eat your target body weight in grams of protein daily.

- www.menshealth.com

Massage therapy isn’t just for sore muscles COMMENTARY

By Sally Feldman Did you know you have more stress in one year than your grandparents had in a lifetime?

When you have stress, you feel it all over; every cell in your body is involved. Your blood pressure goes up, and you elevate your levels of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.

Riding home from work with your teeth clenched may not only catch up with you this flu season, but it might contribute to the heart attack you can look forward to in 2013.

Massage therapy is one way of combating this phenomenon of the 21st century. A regimen of massage not only calms you, but it also attends to the lymphatic and immune systems.

The stimulation of lymph nodes removes toxins, fights nasty microorganisms and keeps the body healthy and strong. Add some essential oils in the mix and you have a great cocktail for defense.

Is massage therapy just for sore muscles?

What do you think?

• Among other benefits, massage …

• Increases circulation, which can speed healing and recovery • Enhances the mind/body connection • Aids in the fight against bacteria and infection.

• Improves the body’s ability to get nourish-

www.youarecurrent.com

ment to important areas • Reduces stress • Lowers blood pressure • Helps in releasing endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers Go, fight (and) win back your health.

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Sally Feldman is a certified massage therapist and a member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. For more information, e-mail her at sfeld427@gmail.com

Current in Westfield

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DISPATCHES » Fair isle sweaters – These sweaters have horizontal bands of geometric patterns, which can be quite intricate. The style originated on a small remote Scottish island of that name, and it has been widely copied. Like many fashion trends, these knits were popularized by the Duke of Windsor. They can be quite charming. They certainly aren’t macho, having a tweedy, English-schoolboy provenance, but they are popular among well-dressed ski bums and have been worn by rockers over the years.

- www.gq.com » Keeping the peace – Sometimes the best statement you can make at holiday get-togethers is one that keeps the peace.

Regardless of how much you dislike certain co-workers, acquaintances, or relatives, resolve to be the bigger person and put your differences aside for the season. Tell yourself that any and all touchy subjects are off limits. Don’t ignore someone who brings up a touchy subject; just respond neutrally, and then change the subject. Remember your audience, and you can be the hero of the party.

- living.health.com

'Who let the dogs out?' Decorating around Fido COMMENTARY

By Vicky Earley I only wish all my clients would come running with such intense enthusiasm that they crash into the door when I ring the bell. I look forward to the day they will cry out for me to hurry up and come in when they see me through the window.

Alas, only the family dog provides such a greeting.

These prepackaged bundles of unconditional love, energy and unadulterated dirt are a mixed blessing. I am, however, a believer that you can live happily ever after with a pet – and have a lovely home, too.

Flooring is probably the first decorating element to consider. How will the material hold up to scratches from nails? How easy is it to clean and maintain? Will the material attract dog hair and odor?

Wood and ceramic tiles are my first line of defense when pets are in the home. Regular cleaning and vacuuming takes care of nearly all the requirements. Of course, wood floors scratch, but a few scratches can provide a warm, stately look in a room! Also, scratches are eliminated when wood is refinished.

Another consideration is the “slide factor.”

Older dogs and dogs with incredible energy are likely to bite the dust with frequency on hard surface flooring. Area rugs can help break the tumble.

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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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» Hostess gifts – Looking for the best gifts for party hosts? Harper’s Bazaar has put together a list of trendy, tasteful, haute hostess gifts. From Jean Rouget Notecards ($24.95 for 25) to a Dean & Deluca spice rack ($165) to Edwina Hunt carved eggs ($220 - $340), there are stylish gifts for nearly any price range.

- www.harpersbazaar.com

Wool area rugs are excellent choices, because they hide dirt, repel moisture and handle the ongoing abuse of muddy paws. A pattern provides an additional layer of defense by concealing a multitude of doggy sins.

For wall-to-wall carpet, a dense, cut pile, rather than a loop carpet, is best if “Buddy” has long nails. Berber carpet can be a disaster if just one fiber gets loose.

If you’re not willing to trade your golden retriever for a Mexican hairless, furry indiscre-

tions may be your biggest dilemma. If your best friend has nails like needles, a tough textile is in order!

Tight weave blends provide the best defense from a canine assault. I do my own version of a textile stress test in which I scratch, poke and dig at a fabric. Rarely do I chew. If a fabric can withstand this endurance test, it can probably stand up to the worst “Basil” can dish out.

Silk and loose weave textiles are a no-no unless “Barkly” is trained to stay off the furniture and always does as he is told!

Leather is an exceptional choice and works beautifully if fur and dirt are the main concerns.

Leather is easy to clean and disinfect with a mild detergent solution, but it really won’t stand up to sharp nails.

Regardless of material, pattern is the great disguise in the world of pet-friendly upholstery fabrics. If pet hair is an issue, select a fabric color that is close to the shade of Fuffy’s highlights.

Keep these suggestions in mind when making design decisions, and your best friend will be out of the doghouse and into the comfort of your home!

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MONEY MATTERS At what age did you get your first bank account?

"I can't remember. It was a long time ago but I think I was a teenager."

Richard Clarke Westfield

"My parents set up a savings account for me probably a year after I was born."

Brian Chapman Westfield

"When I was 9. It was a savings account."

Marcus McGee Westfield

DISPATCHES » Income tax planning for women – Susan of Somerset CPAs will present the basics of individual income taxes with particular focus on income and adjustments, Jan. 14 from 8:15 to 10 a.m. at the Somerset Conference Center, 3925 River Crossing Parkway in Indianapolis. » Carmel Chamber Look Award – On Dec. 9, the Carmel Chamber presented the Look Award to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for New Construction and Chateau Design Centre for Renovation. The award is presented to organizations that improve the overall look of the community. » 8 strangest mutual funds 1. Congressional Effect Fund (CEFFX) 2. StockCar Stocks Index Fund (SCARX) 3. The Blue Chip Winery Fund 4. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund (CUBA) 5. Marketocracy Masters 100 Fund (MOFQX) 6. Vice Fund (VICEX) 7. Monetta Young Investor Fund (MYIFX) 8. Timothy Plan Aggressive Growth Fund (TAAGX) -moneycentral.msn.com

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NOW OPEN

WHAT’S IT WORTH

Prosthetic denistry north

MY OPINION

$

Dr. Carmen Y. Páez de Mendoza can do more than the average dentist. She went through an additional three years of schooling to become a specialist in cosmetic dentistry. After years of teaching others the trade at the Indiana University School of Dentistry at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis, she decided to open her own practice in mid-August.

At Prosthetic Dentistry North, patients can come in for essentially any dental needs. Not only are Páez de Mendoza’s specialty services ofPáez de Mendoza fered, such as veneers, crowns, bridges and implants, but she also performs routine cleanings and the standard services available at any other practice. In a new office, located around 157th St. and Gray Rd., Páez de Mendoza is able to assist each of her patients using the latest technologies.

But just because the board-certified doctor can do many things doesn’t mean that her patients get lost in the shuffle.

“I’m a specialist,” she said. “I don’t like bulk. I like to be able to get to know my patients.”

150K

Type: Traditional Age: Built in 1997 Location: Emerald Green Circle in Westfield Square footage: 1,596 Rooms: Four bedrooms, two full and one half baths, great room, kitchen, breakfast room, main-floor master, laundry room, two-car garage Strengths: The home is priced under value for the neighborhood, features a great cul-de-sac lot, is in good condition, and has new carpet on main level.

Weaknesses: No formal dining room; small lot

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

Owner: Dr. Carmen Y. Páez de Mendoza, DDS, MSD, FACP Address: 4728 Limerick Drive Suite A Phone: 317-581-1280

Five tips from the kitchen COMMENTARY

By David Cain It’s the holiday week for many. As I reflect on entertaining the family, I think some lessons from the kitchen will transfer to your professional life. When it comes to marketing, consider these five lessons from the heart of the house and their relationship to a business.

1. Get a recipe. You can’t make a sterling meal without a plan. I’m a big fan of adlibbing, but I also know the true secret to a good meal is a plan, even if you like to pretend you just came up with it.

2. Try new things and cook for your guests.

While a recipe is a great starting point, it should be that – a place to start. Don’t be afraid to explore. I substitute red things with other red things and green things with other green things. I leave out what I don’t like and replace it with things I do like. And it usually tastes better. I also ask my guests if there are things they don’t like. There’s nothing worse than trying to serve meat to a vegetarian or filling the entree with onions for a group that hates those layered tear-makers.

3. Don’t have too many chefs. Not everything has to be solitary, but at the end of it all, someone has to take responsibility. I can hear my aunt now, “This is my kitchen, so if you are going to help, you’ll do what I

say.” Nothing beats the sounds of collaboration when they are doing what you want.

4. Buy good ingredients. The old adage holds true in the kitchen: You get what you pay for. The ingredients are foundational to the outcome. If you buy cheap things, your outcome will disappoint. I’m not suggesting, however, that more expensive things are always better, or that you shouldn’t be frugal. But I have found that when you buy your steaks from a farmer, they taste better.

5. Serve an experience. There are more senses than just taste. Be sure you hit as many as you can – the smell, the appearance, the sounds – it’s all important.

You are providing an experience for your guests, not just a meal. Turn off the television and put on some music. Create an escape. Create an experience … for them.

Marketing is a lot like entertaining; it’s best with a loose plan mixed with a lot of spirit (and sometimes spirits help too). As you entertain and engage this holiday season, reflect on how your hospitality might serve your business well too.

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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.

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Need somewhere to store the Christmas haul?

COMMENTARY

By Randy Sorrell Oh, the joys of small children and the fun volume of toys that seems to accumulate, especially after Christmas. While I love the toys and the joys they produce, I am not as jazzed about the corresponding gigabyte of accessories that accompany them. Barbie shoes, doll dresses and hair gizmos surface in the some of the wildest places and inappropriate times – often causing a good laugh.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a dedicated area for your kids’ toys (yours too) that would miraculously contain the pieces/parts of the Wii or the other latest craze? Of course, it could just as easily be a multi-purpose area dedicated for crafting, gift wrapping or your favorite hobby.

DREAMY LOWER-LEVEL PLAY AREA

This project’s custom-built exposed storage shelves are ideal for a kids’ play area. The durable laminate counter was intentionally craft appropriate and budget friendly and could easily be upgraded to granite, whose price is suddenly amazingly attractive.

Our carpenters installed rich crown and base molding, which both formalized the space and echoed the trim in the remainder of this dreamy, lower-level remodeled space. Tracks allowed for self adjusting shelves, and the subtle back lighting, accomplished with hidden rope lights, offered a touch of multi-color playfulness. The face and sides were finished with drywall and paint in an effort to blend with the adjoining open floor plan.

Most basements have a non-finished area where utility shelves can be built using simple 2”x4”s and plywood or more formalized mesh panels. They are often hidden behind classic six-panel doors and simply do not have to look pretty, just be functional to store Christmas decorations, old brokerage statements and awkward

gizmos we can’t seem to part with. More organized … sounds like a New Year’s resolution.

It’s these fantastic spaces that allow us to accumulate and store treasures our memory can recapture later when needed. Joys, toys, memories and miracles.

Merry Christmas … a Child is born!

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.

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Christmas vs. Xmas – Maybe the latter isn’t as secular as you thought COMMENTARY

By Brandie Bohney I came across the topic for today’s column when I was baking cookies with some friends. Cookie Day is an annual Christmas tradition for us, and we chat about all sorts of things. This year, I asked for some suggestions for a Christmasspecific grammar column. One friend suggested I write about the use of Xmas instead of Christmas. Another friend explained that X, the Greek letter chi, was used as an abbreviation for Christ dating back to the printing press.

Yeah, my friends are as geeky as I am.

Still, I wasn’t aware of the Greek alphabet argument for Xmas, so I’ve done some digging.

I know some people may believe that a secular world attacking Christian ideals might use such a tactic to remove the religious aspect of the holiday, but the truth is, my friend with a background in Greek was right: X has been used as an abbreviation for Christ for centuries.

In Greek, Christ’s name begins with chi, a letter that looks like the modern English X. Christ in Greek is written cristoV. With the advent (no pun intended) of the printing press, abbreviations in print were fairly common in order to save time and money. Typesetting was a tedious and expensive process, and several

sources indicate that the abbreviation X was regularly used by the church in place of Christ to cut down on printing cost. Xmas, then, became a common way to abbreviate Christmas. At the same time, Xtian became a regular abbreviation for Christian.

So I’d like to set the record straight: While there are probably people or institutions out there who write Xmas instead of Christmas as a way to slight Christians and our beliefs, the abbreviation has a long history beginning with the church itself. So those people are actually carrying on a sort of Christian tradition. Sure, some businesses might use Xmas instead of Christmas in order to use larger letters on the same size of sign or publication, but Christians shouldn’t feel slighted.

And whether it’s written as Xmas or Christmas, the pronunciation should be the same: kris-muhs, not ex-muhs.

Regardless of how you write it, I wish you a blessed Christmas!

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choose. It is not the intention of our divine influences to divide us, cause wars, pit one religion over another. It is, as I believe, the intent to live amongst one another in peace, teaching our children to believe there comes a greater good from our spiritual influences and that fighting the forces of evil (notice the word evil in devil) as we know exists, is to place spirituality at a higher level for goodness to prevail.

In wishing you a Merry Christmas, I am sharing my heart and my spirit of peace and love with you above and beyond what my religion has taught me. I believe we are of one God, one Universe, one heart, one spirit for justice, peace, freedom and love. May your heart reflect the love, peace and joy of your religious teachings during this spiritual season and throughout the New Year! Merry Christmas!

Hugs!

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

May the spirit be with you COMMENTARY

By Becky Kapsalis Spirituality is universal and lives within each of our hearts. Religions are territorial. I’ve come to realize religion is our teacher; how we live out our religion is our spirituality.

One definition of religion is to become a believer or join a religious organization and, usually, start to lead a life that follows its teachings.

There is nothing in the definition of religion that distinguishes our spirit (somebody or something that is a divine, inspiring or animating influence).

It moves my spirit to recognize that we are one Universe connected through our hearts.

Our divine influence blessed us with a heart. An organ that none of us could exist without, therefore a divine spiritual connection for all of us to share. We are one Universe. We are one spirit.

The wonderment of all of our spiritual holidays begins with the love within us, from our first heartbeat.

We are taught a religion, but without a heartbeat, we cannot learn. We choose to live a religious life, but without a heart, we cannot

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Changing clothes twice per night COMMENTARY

By Dick Wolfsie We were ready to leave the restaurant last Thursday night, but Mary Ellen was stalling. She had been fussing with her purse and made a couple of extra trips to the ladies’ room.

“Let’s go,” I said. “I want get home by 8:45 so we don’t miss ‘The Office.’”

“Dick, we can’t leave just yet. If we go back to the house now, we’ll be in the gray zone. You know how I hate the gray zone.”

On most evenings, Mary Ellen pulls into our driveway about 6:30, enters the house, turns on the network news and plays with the cat. She then takes off her professional business apparel – clearly not suitable for a three-hour stint of TV crime dramas – and slings on an old pair of jeans or sweats along with a flannel shirt. By 10 p.m., a good night’s sleep is on the radar, requiring a change into her cuddly PJs. She may watch a re-run of “Law and Order” in her sleeping garb before getting into bed with a good book.

That’s the routine. It seldom varies. But wait! On that particular evening we were going to arrive home from the restaurant somewhere between 8:30 and 9. Yes, that is the gray zone she

was fretting about. The question: Is it worth going through the second clothing change or does one get directly into sleep attire?

It’s not as sticky an issue as establishing peace in the Middle East, but it does pose a quandary.

I never face this predicament. Unlike my wife, whose career requires dressing like a grownup, I spend most of the day working in my basement home office, snapping the elastic band on my gray sweat pants and wiping mustard stains off my Bill Belichick pullover. Nevertheless, I’m tempted to get “sleep ready” way before my wife arrives home. “Why are you dressed for bed?”

Mary Ellen will inquire when she walks in the house.

“I just got ready a little early.”

“I’d feel a lot better if you put your jeans back on. Otherwise, when we sit down for dinner, I’ll feel like I’m visiting you at the assisted living facility. I’m not ready to start thinking about that yet.”

“Why don’t you put on your pajamas, too, Mary Ellen?”

“What if someone rang the doorbell, Dick? What would the neighbors say about us if they thought we got ready for bed before ‘Wheel of Fortune’? We might as well head out to MCL in our slippers.”

She had a point. Lounging around in a robe at dinnertime may have made Hugh Hefner an icon, but it was going to wreck my reputation in the cul de sac. I did wonder who else wrestled with this issue. I called my friend Bob last night, in the middle of the gray zone, about 8 p.m.

“Bob, this is Dick. What are you wearing?”

“Wow, you get weirder every day, don’t you?”

Bob didn’t really relate to this problem. Nor did most of my friends who I tried to explain it to. I did a little Googling. Not even one support group. There’s a lot of denial out there.

Right now, I have to wrap up this column. Mary Ellen is on her way home, and I don’t want her to know I’ve been in my pajamas all day. I’m going to put on my jeans, so I can put my pajamas back on in a couple of hours. This is more stress than a high-powered job. Maybe we should all retire early.

Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist, and speaker.

Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.

Hoosier Hodge Podge

Indiana Wordsmith Challenge

Build the words

Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Reindeer: BLITZEN, COMET, DANCER, DASHER, PRANCER, VIXEN; Shades: BURGUNDY, CRIMSON, MAROON, PINK, SCARLET; Decorations: LIGHTS, ORNAMENTS, STAR, TINSEL; Coaches: CALDWELL, DUNGY, MORA; Sites: INDIANAPOLIS, WEST LAFAYETTE; Tree: TULIP Answers to BUILD THE WORDS: SANTA CLAUS, JOHN MELLENCAMP, DISNEY WORLD, HAMILTON COUNTY, COPENHAGEN Answers to INDIANA WORDSMITH CHALLENGE: CLAIMED, DECIMAL, MEDICAL, ALLIED, CALLED, CALMED, CLAWED, DECLAW, JAILED, MAILED, MALICE, MILDEW, MILLED, WAILED, WALLED, WILLED, AILED, AIMED, CAMEL, CAWED, CLAIM, DECAL, DWELL, EMAIL, IDEAL, JAWED, LACED, LADLE, LILAC, MACED, MEDAL, MEDIA, MEDIC, WALED, WIELD, WILED, ACED, ACID, ACME, AIDE, ALEC, AMID, AWED, CALL, CALM, CAME, CELL, CLAD, CLAM, CLAW, DALE, DAME, DEAL, DELI, DELL, DIAL, DICE, DILL, DIME, ICED, IDEA, IDLE, JADE, JAIL, LACE, LADE, LAIC, LAID, LAME, LEAD, LEWD, LICE, LIED, LIME, MACE, MADE, MAID, MAIL, MALE, MALL, MEAD, MEAL, MELD, MICE, MILD, MILE, MILL, WADE, WAIL, WALE, WALL, WELD, WELL, WIDE, WILD, WILE, WILL.

20 | December 22, 2009

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DISPATCHES » Addicted to the Internet? – Rehab is now available for addiction to social networking and online gaming. For only $14,500, Internet addicts can spend 45 days kicking the habit at the first U.S. Internet addiction rehab center, Heavensfield Retreat Center in Fall City, Wash. If you don't happen to have $14,500 handy to help you swear off Facebook and/or World of Warcraft permanently, maybe you could just move to an obscure corner of the US where wi-fi has not yet arrived.

- www.popgadget.net » Mark the spot – Lately Verizon has gotten pretty bold with their ads, specifically targeting AT&T’s poor coverage. Rather than complain about Verizon picking on them, they’re trying to actually fix the core issue. iPhone users can now download the free ‘AT&T Mark the Spot’ app, which will let them report to the phone giant whenever they have connection issues. AT&T will then take the information and use it to determine what parts of their network are in need of an upgrade.

- www.ohgizmo.com

» Tech for germophobes – The Keystick collapsible keyboard concept looks like it was designed with portability in mind, but its true purpose is actually rooted more in swine flu than road warrior.

Indeed, designers Yoonsang Kim and Eunsung Park designed this keyboard with true paranoia in mind. They even slapped a "None Bacteria Project" label on there so there's no confusion about the design's true purpose. Bring this Japanese fan of a keyboard around with you, and never have to touch a filthy public terminal ever again. Or something.

- www.gizmodo.com

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Should you upgrade or replace your computer?

COMMENTARY

By Gary Hubbatd Far too many people are opting to buy a new computer without understanding what is causing their existing computer to be slow. This often leads to the same situation a few months after buying a new computer: It’s slow again, because the human behavior causing the slowdown wasn’t changed.

There are so many malicious programs traversing the Internet that anyone who is online on a daily basis can’t help but pick up some of this “grime,” regardless of how careful they are.

And it’s even worse for careless users (especially teenagers!).

Before you assume your old computer is too slow, make sure you understand what is making it slow. Start by rebooting your computer and checking the number of running processes in the Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del, then look in the lower left corner of the Task Manager window).

For desktop computers, a cleaned-up machine should have 30-40 processes, laptops generally 35-45. The higher this number is, the more likely that getting the operating system cleaned up will return your computer to its old glory.

While you have the Task Manager open, click over to the “performance” tab to see if your CPU Usage meter is jumping up and down or is running at a level higher than 10 percent. This is generally another clear indicator of malicious

or unnecessary software operating behind the scenes on your computer.

If the computer was fast enough two years ago and you are essentially using the same programs, the computer’s hardware is likely not the problem. If you have no interest in adding any new programs that require additional “horsepower” (gaming, video editing, etc.), and pretty much live your life on the Internet, paying to clean up your operating system and adding a little extra RAM will likely be the “best bang for the buck.”

If your computer has few running processes, isn’t exhibiting strange CPU usage (via the meter) and is just too slow for your needs, getting a new computer is likely your best option.

The reality of the computer world is that everything gets faster and cheaper over time, so the longer you can postpone your next computer purchase, the more you will get for the same money.

While we are on the subject of new computers, let’s make sure you are completely aware of all of the issues surrounding the migration and actual costs should you decide to go the new computer route.

Retailers and manufacturers routinely generate ads to make it look like computers only cost $200 to $300, but if you spend any time looking into these “deals,” you’ll likely realize you will end up spending 2-3 times that amount for a reasonable performing properly configured

system.

The practice of Installing “trialware,” charging to remove unnecessary programs that shouldn’t have been installed in the first place or “starter” batteries on low-end laptops are just a couple of the hidden cost tricks played on really cheap computers.

In addition, think about what it’s going to take to get your new computer to look and act like your old computer. Programs and their associated data must be installed and imported from your old computer, along with your address book, favorites, desktop images, screen savers, printer and scanner drivers, photo download and editing systems, network settings and a host of other items most folks don’t take into consideration up front.

Be sure to calculate the additional expense for having the migration work done for you if you are not capable or willing to spend the time to do it yourself.

Cleaning up and updating your old system eliminates all these migration issues and costs, so make sure you understand everything involved in both scenarios before you make your decision.

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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22 | December 22, 2009

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December 22, 2009 | 23

A journey to better health takes strong support.

ACallToChange.org Surgical weight loss isn’t just about losing weight - it’s about regaining your health.

Reaching your goals requires a strong will - as well as support from those around you.

Learning about the Bariatric process and determining a support person are the essential first steps. Visit ACallToChange.org to browse a blog with insights from former patients or to sign up for a free weight loss surgery seminar with dedicated medical professionals. Find the support and encouragement you need on your journey to better health at ACallToChange.org

24 | December 22, 2009

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