Voices

We offer Voices as a place to share a story, a memory, an idea, a comment, a criticism, or a solution. Contributors must include name, address & phone number. (Please keep submissions under 500 words)

Crusin’

I had not had my license long and Dad was finally letting me go on dates. He had one stipulation however, “Do not go into Indianapolis.” Well, I had been in Indianapolis riding with my buddies and we would cruise around looking cool. There was a pattern everyone followed. You started by crusin the Pole Drive In Restaurant on West 16h St. Then you went south to Greenwood and cruised the South Side Tee Pee Restaurant on Madison Ave. Finally, you would go to the northside and cruise the North Side Tee Pee Restaurant which was on Fall Creek Parkway. If you had no action by this time it was back to the Pole.

Well, it was Saturday night, and I had a date. I needed to impress her with my savvy, so off to Indianapolis we went in my 1957 Plymouth Belvedere. Luckily, I did not get lost (which was a miracle in itself). We had made a couple of rounds and we became hungry. Now the Pole was where all the cool cars cruised through, but the food was too expensive. So, we went to the Frisch’s Big Boy down the street, ordered hamburgers and fries to go and then went back to the Pole. We backed into a spot and ordered two cokes. After paying, we broke out the hidden burgers and fries.

By this time my date was having second thoughts about me. We sat with the radio on listening to WIBC rock and roll and ate. Finally, I said it was time to go and tried to start the car. Bad news. It would not start. I could just see me calling by Dad to come and jump me. I would be grounded for the rest of my life. I turned everything off and we sat and prayed for about 15 minutes which seemed like and eternity. Finally, I tried it again and it started. Wow! There really is a God. I got my date and myself home on time, but she never went out with me again. I wonder why. Oh well, life at 17 can really be TOUGH.

Noel Gatlin ______________________________________________

A Bark From the Past: Henry

[Editor’s Note: The Republican’s first four-footed correspondent was Henry, a mixed breed rescue dog, who made observations about small town life from a dog’s point of view.

(From 2006, Henry shares his thoughts on how humans can be more humane.)

I saw my friends Carmen and Petey on my walk the other day. They told me that there is a need for a more humane county, and I couldn’t agree more. Two of my half-sisters were abandoned on the streets of Danville, and there is nothing humane about that.

Fortunately, there are some humans who are taking action locally, and they have named their group the Hendricks County Humane Society. They are now working with county officials to improve the quality of care given to my brothers and sisters who are dumped or just left behind by their humans.

Possible ways in which the Humane Society may take over sheltering are going to be on the agenda (I went on the agenda until I was housebroken) of the Hendricks County Commissioners. And there is going to be a joint meeting of the County Commissioners and the Hendricks County Council, and the Humane Society will be discussed there, too.

This is important for us, because it concerns how Hendricks County will treat its strayed and abandoned pets in the future and how those pets might have a better chance to be adopted.

Thought for the Day: The question is not ‘can they reason?’ nor ‘can they speak?’, but ‘can they suffer?’ -- Jeremy Bentham, in reference to animal welfare.

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Black History Month “More Than a Hashtag”

[Editor’s Note: Elshadai Aberra, The Republican’s student intern from Avon High School, shared this piece on what Black History Month means to her. After graduation she will be attending the School of Journalism at Northwestern University.]

A lot of people have only been exposed to the reality of being black in America starting this past year, but posting hashtags on social media or watching videos on Facebook just isn’t enough. Here’s what being black is to me– an Ethiopian immigrant, 17-year-old girl.

Being black to me is starting to wonder why God burdened me with melanin at just the age of 5.

Being black to me is only imagining characters of white skin in every book I’ve ever read.

Being black to me is never believing in my potential as a human being because people of my skin color are predisposed to fail.

Being black to me is never recognizing my shade of skin on a TV screen.

Being black to me is worrying that people think I only got into my dream school because of affirmative action or my ethnicity.

Being black to me is serving as the only if not one of 2 black kids in every class until intermediate school.

Being black to me is straightening my natural curls every 2 weeks and begging my mom to buy me $170 Ugg boots just to fit in.

Being black to me is getting called an African booty scratcher or “not actually black” by my own kind. Being black to me is getting asked if I speak African. Being black to me is applying fair & lovely skin lightening cream to my face every morning and night for years in hopes of even barely resembling those of privilege around me.

Being black to me is having my first and only teacher of color my junior year of high school.

Being black to me isn’t just hashtag black lives matter or hashtag police brutality.

Being black to me is my entire life. My past, present, future - my reality. ______________________________________________

4 Black Innovations You May NotHave Learned About in School

By Elshadai Aberra

Hairbrush:

A black innovator as well as women’s rights advocate fighting for woman’s suffrage, Lyda Newman is best known for inventing the modern hairbrush. While there had been hairbrushes and combs beforehand, Newsman’s hairbrush was specifically crafted for African American hair and made of synthetic bristles rather than animal fur. Newsman patented her hairbrush in 1898 at the ripe age of just 13 years old.

Electric automatic traffic signal:

As not only a black innovator in the early 20th century, yet also the first black person to own a car in Cleveland, Ohio, Garrett Morgan patented the first electric automatic traffic signal in 1923. Morgan was the first to think beyond just telling drivers to “Stop” and “Go” as his traffic system stopped traffic in all directions, using a t-shaped pole with three positions to do so. Morgan sold the rights of his innovation to General Electric for a whopping $40,000.

Home Security System:

Born in Queens New York in 1922, Marie Van Brittan Brown invented the world’s first home security system, patenting the innovation in 1966. Influencing the modern home security systems we use to this day, the system was first created to simply keep Brown and her husband safe as the crime rate in their neighborhood had been sky high. Scared and looking to increase her home’s personal security, Brown took matters into her own hands and invented a system that one, notified her of who was at her home at all times and two, could contact the authorities as quickly as possible.

Ironing Board:

Before Sarah Boone, clothes were simply ironed onjagged wooden blocks. While most may not hold so much appreciation for the modern ironing board, thanks to Boone, our ironing boards now feature narrower, curved designs making it far easier to iron clothes, especially women’s clothes. Sarah Boone accomplished this and patented her invention is just 1892, even after spending the early years of her life enslaved, she continued to make life, as miniscule as ironing clothes sounds, easier for those around her. ______________________________________________

ASK MR. TRAFFIC

By Chet Skwarcan, PE, President/ Founder of Traffic Engineering, Inc. Chet@TrafficEngineering.com

Don’t Worry. Just Drive.

Apps Know What You Need

If you’ve ever used GPS apps while you travel, you’ve probably noticed location-specific advertising popping up (because after all, they know where you are and where you are headed). Also known as geo-fencing or location-based analytics, this technology creates a virtual perimeter — a dynamically generated radius around a point (i.e., “you”). Let’s fast forward to see where this technology is headed — remember, every place you go is recorded. This allows for some pretty interesting alerts — here are a few examples…

Because you tend to eat lunch at Chik-fil-A about once a week or so and it’s now approaching lunchtime, and because you’ll be driving by a Chick-fil-A in about two minutes, your GPS announces, “Can I place a Chick-fil-A lunch order for you? It will be ready when you arrive.”

Or, if you’re getting kind of low on gas, “The Sinclair gas station on your right has a better price than any other gas station along today’s route. And by the way, if you stop now, and I mean right now, you’ll get a free car wash if you mention this app.”

And, based on your “history” of mid-morning coffee stops, at the perfect confluence of time and location, “For the next ten minutes, get 50% off your espresso at Java Joe’s — just mention the phrase: Running Latte.”

The possibilities created when meshing location, time of day, travel history, and preferences, allow for a custom experience whenever you travel. It’s mimicking You- Tube’s algorithm making recommendations based on your viewing history meshed with preferences from users with a similar profile, except now it’s being applied to your driving experience.

Guess what? Do you need your weekly combo meal but you’re on a tight schedule — see that guy standing in the middle of the road? That’s for you. Roll down your window…NOW! ______________________________________________

A Squirrel About Town

By Archy

“You made the list.” Archy said when he paid an unexpected visit to The Republican office last week. I hesitated to ask which list, hoping he would continue the thought as he pulled the afghan from the back of the rocking chair and fashioned a cozy nest.

“The Squirrel Salon rarely takes in new members, but after the last meeting, it was voted to make an exception in your case.”

My thoughts bounced back and forth between feeling honored and puzzled.

“The topic was history,” he said, “and we agreed you might have some interesting input to offer.”

I asked the squirrel about the conversations at the last meeting.

“Oscar opened the meeting with a quote from Pieter Geyl, ‘History is an argument without an end.’ I’m sure you would agree,” he said.

I felt the tug of being reeled in. I said, “Geyl also said, ‘Imagination plays too important a role in the writing of history, and what is imagination but the projection of the author’s personality.’”

“Precisely!,” Archy exclaimed. “Being one of authors of history’s first draft I knew you would fit right in.” I inquired how often the Squirrel Salon met and where. “We are utterly free-form, as Oscar would put it. When the mood strikes us, we send a message by telepathic telegraph. There is some back-and-forth discussion about the topic to be tackled.” He pause a moment, then added, “Of course, I’ll relay the discussion to you since you haven’t had telepathic contact with any of the other members yet. Besides, you won’t earn your voting credentials until you’ve passed muster.”

A feeling of inadequacy started to creep over me. What if I weren’t up to the Squirrel Salon standards? I think Archy noticed.

“Frankly, we have some legacy members I’d love to see booted out, but I’m sure you’ll meet our standards,” he said with a comforting tone. I asked where the meetings would take place. “When you join us, they meetings will take place here. More than enough room. And do you have anymore of these afghans? We’ll need more of them.”

Not only was I hooked, it turned out I was a sucker.

Aloe Vera: Grow Your Own First Aid Kit

Hendricks County Master Gardener

By Colletta Kosiba

One of aloe’s most well-known uses is to soothe sunburnt skin, or as an aid for an oven burn. We had an aloe plant in our home for years. One day I removed a roast from the oven, then I picked up the hot lid, dropped it. Oh my! how my fingers hurt.

Not finding anything in medicine cabinet. I remembered hearing how aloe works on burns. I cut off a fleshy leaf, slit is open, applied to my aching fingers. It was like magic! The pain went away and my fingers never blistered up.

Scientific evidence supports using the jellylike substance inside aloe vera leaves to heal everyday burns, abrasions, and bruises.

At right: The aloe gel is visiblewhen a leaf is cut

The fleshy leaves have been used medically, 6,000 years. To use on a burn, just remove a thick sword-like leaf from outer section of the plant: slice it open along its length, squeeze out the gelatinous material and apply to the affected part.

There are numerous aloe-containing products for sale, but using the leaf is the freshest, least expensive way to take advantage of aloe’s healing properties.

Aloe vera is an inexpensive plant. Put it in bright indirect sun light and water

when the soil is dry about two pups. inches below the surface - (use your finger to determine how dry the soil is.) The only way to kill an aloe is to overwater or deprive it of light.

Put an aloe vera on your kitchen shelf, enjoy it’s attractive green shape. Now, you have a first-aid kit handy too.

How do they answer the phone at the burn center? Aloe!

Exploring Hendricks County

By Jackie Horn

Baby, It’s COLD Outside! It was a little cold for outdoor adventuring this week, so I decided to do a little indoor exploring...

A friend had told me about an article theorizing that the extremely cold temperatures could potentially kill off invasive insects. The idea merited some investigation.

First on my list was the Emerald Ash Borer(EAB). The EAB first came to the attention of USDA in 2002 in Detroit MI. Originally from northeastern Asia (Japan, China, North and South Korea, and Russia Far East) is believed to have arrived in the 1990’s in wooden shipping crates. The bug itself does little damage to Ash trees. It nibbles the leaves. The adult lays its eggs in cracks of the bark. When they hatch into larvae, the “worms” burrow under the bark and feed on the inner bark and phloem. This is where the damage, and ultimately the death of the tree, occurs. Untreated EAB is 100% fatal to all native North American Ash trees. Currently, 35 states have reported EAB infestations.

Above: The Emerald Ash Borer. Below: Damage caused by its larvae

Wouldn’t it be grand if a good cold snap could wipe out this destructive,invasive pest?! Unfortunately, the Emerald Ash Borer, will not be affected by the current cold temperatures. Experts point out that it gets much colder in Canada than here and they still have the pest. To even get a good kill going the mercury needs to dip to -30 degrees Fahrenheit for four to five hours. Even then, it would only slow them down and wouldn’t kill off all of the bugs.

How about Japanese beetles? I hate them. Will the cold kill them off? Nope. The Japanese beetle larvae are snuggled up and insulated from the cold in the relative warmth of your lawn dreaming of the feast that awaits them this summer in your garden.

Two insects that don’t survive the cold well are Gypsy Moths and bagworms.

Gypsy Moth larvae eat tree foliage, up to one square foot per caterpillar per day. An infestation can strip the trees bare. Continuous defoliation can eventually kill the tree. Gypsy moths are particularly devastating to conifers as they don’t grow replacement needles. The moths lay their eggs in fuzzy sacks that they attach to to tree bark, outdoor furniture and exterior surfaces. There’s not much to insulate the eggs. Even then, the temperature needs to drop to -20 degrees to kill the eggs.

Bagworms are those nasty caterpillars that form web-like bags in trees. The worms feed on the canopy and like Gypsy moths, defoliate the trees and potentially killing them. The femaleshang their egg sacks from tree branches. It has no real protection from extremelycold temperatures. Twenty-four hours at -1 degree should eliminate plenty of bagworms.

Depending on how you look at it, fortunately, or unfortunately, our temperatures locally have been cold, but just below zero, not cold enough to do much good eliminating destructive invasive insect populations. Entomologists are quick to point out that insects have been around for over 300 million years and have adapted to weather and climate changes. Insects such as Monarch butterflies migrate to warmer areas. Other insects winter over in different stages of development, some as eggs, protected by leaf debris or soil, some as larvae, deep underground where the temperature doesn’t affect them. Adult insects may enter into diapause or a dormant state. Others have developed survival mechanisms such as changing their body chemistry into antifreeze to protect them against freezing weather. It doesn’t appear that we’ll be “bug-free” anytime soon.

In the meantime, I think I’ll stay inside my afghan cocoon, sip herbal tea antifreeze, and maybe try that diapause thing.

Keep warm!

The Idiom Challenge

Livestock and farm-related expressions are a good source for idioms. Use one of the following idioms in a conversation this week:

Worthless as tits on a boar.

The sun will shine even on a dog’s butt once in a while.

Happy as a pig in mud.

Independent as a hog on ice.He can talk the hind end off a donkey.Pretty as a shiny red pickup with a good spare tire.It’s as thick as ticks on a dogs back.

[Got a favorite idiom? Send it to us and we’ll try to “spread the word.” Just email to betty@TheRepublicanNewspaper.com, put in the mail to P.O. Box 149, Danville, IN 46122, or give us a call at 317-745-2777.

Our Readers Write

I do love garage sales. I find all kinds of things. Where else can you find children’s clothes for 50 cents, books for 50 cents etc. My greatest find was 15 crisp brand new 10 dollar bills in a pair of jeans. I paid $2 for the jeans.

I always wash garage sale clothes before wearing them. I was emptying out the pockets not expecting to find anything and what to my amazement did I find but the money. I had been to about 10 sales that day. Darned if I didn’t remember where I had bought the jeans. I remembered the woman who was having the sale telling me her mother hid money. I have to admit I wrestled with my conscience as to whether I should take the money back or not. My conscience won out. When I explalined to the woman what I found she told me what a good Christian I was. That took about 2 minutes then it took another 15 minutes for her to tell me she would have done the same thing because she was such a good Christian. I was rather rushed that day and needed to get going. A sincere thank you would have been sufficient. I started to drive away and the woman started running after me. She gave me my $2 back. She told me she wouldn’t feel right if she didn’t give me my money back.

Bee Jones Brownsburg ______________________________________________

To the Editor:

Indiana tax forms will not be available in your Public Libraries except for a reference copy. You must fill out those forms on line or print those forms as well as the instructions. I have called Governor Eric Holcomb at 317- 232-4567, my State Senator John Crane at 317-232-9400 and my State Representative Jeff Thompson at 317-232- 9600. I asked them to have these tax forms and instructions delivered to the Public Libraries. All taxpayers need to call their Governor, State Senator and Representative.

A reference copy of the 2020 Indiana tax forms and instructions were available at my Public Library on Saturday 1/16/21. The librarian had to copy the forms for me because of Covid 19. She spent 15-20 minutes to make 12 copies and an addition set of 12 copies of just the forms for individual taxpayers.

M Brent Pittman Brownsburg ______________________________________________

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