SERVING HENDRICKS COUNTY SINCE 1847
Page A-6
Exploring Hendricks County
By Jackie Horn
The Republican
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Voices
ASK MR. TRAFFIC
Women’s History Month
By Chet Skwarcan, PE, President/ Founder of Traffic Engineering, Inc. Chet@TrafficEngineering.com
The Republican’s intern, Elshadai Abbera marked Women’s History Month by compiling a quiz and asking students at Avon High School what the observance means to them.
Powerful women in history quiz:
Arbuckle Acres: Oldie But Goodie Crazy how one day we’re sledding on 8” of snow and less than two weeks later, we’ve chucked our coats and think spring has arrived. This past weekend spring teased us with some sunshine and warm temperatures and the parks were packed! John and I joined the throng and checked out Arbuckle Acres in Brownsburg. Arbuckle Acres, the oldest park in Brownsburg, was established in 1958. Set on 52 acres, it offers something for everyone.
Two tennis/pickleball courts, a baseball diamond, two softball diamonds, and a youth baseball/softball field occupy the upper level/southeast side of the park. Two lighted basketball courts (also on the southeastern corner) mean the fun doesn’t have to stop at sunset. Three playgrounds offer plenty of equipment for all ages. Younger patrons can enjoy the Tiny Tots playground area designed especially for children 2-5-years old and a storybook trail co-sponsored by Brownsburg Public Library featuring a different book every quarter.
Over a mile of paved trails circle the lower-level, wooded half of the property. Over 5,000 trees have been tagged and inventoried in the park to allow better maintenance and management of the woods. A brick pedestrian bridge crosses the White Lick Creek which winds through the park.
1. Who was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the bus for a white citizen when she had already been sitting in the “blacks only” section of the bus, subsequently sparking a wave of protests? 2. Who was the female English novelist most known for writing the novels “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma” which surrounded around feminism in the late 1700’s? 3. Who was the first ever actress to win an Oscar? 4. Who was the first female supreme court justice? 5. Who was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean? 6. Who wrote the memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” which made literary history as the first nonfiction best-seller by an African American woman? 7. Who was “The Virgin Queen” known for choosing to marry her country rather than a man? 8. Who was known for giving passionate speeches about women’s rights and universal suffrage during the civil rights movement, one known as “Ain’t I a Woman?” 9. Who spoke publicly on women’s rights to education at the age of 15 and subsequently got shot by a gunman from the Taliban? 10. Who was the last Pharaoh of Egypt and not only known for her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony yet also for her superior intelligence and knack for leadership? Answers: 1. Rosa Parks; 2. Jane Austen; 3. Janet Gaynor; 4. Sandra Day O’Connor; 5. Amelia Earhart; 6. Maya Angelou; 7. Queen Elizabeth I; 8. Sojourner Truth; 9. Malala Yousafzai; 10. Cleopatra. ______
What does International Women’s History Month mean to you?
“I think it’s something to be proud of because women have come a long way and it makes me proud to be a woman because women are kind of the best.” - Maya Votapeck “Woman’s history month means people should remember the strong women of our past and celebrate them.” Alia Embry “To me it’s a celebration of women who were firsts in history. The ones who pushed the boundaries and status quo in order to open more doors for women.” - Jaila Wright “It’s a month to celebrate the accomplishments and positive changes that women have made over the years! Also, a great time to learn about history and to become empowered to work towards more equality in the workforce and in general.” - Marly Palanca “Celebrating the long way we’ve come, even if not perfect, from struggles and prejudices we have overcome.” - Skylar Jakresky “When I think of women’s history month, I think of the struggles that women have gone through in order to achieve equality and justice. It’s important to reflect on these moments in history and recognize the people who strived for a better world where women have equal opportunities.” - Dana Peng “Women’s history month is a time when we recognize the women who stood up for themselves in history. It’s a time that represents how women should be proud for who they are.” - Brittany Crabtree “Women’s history month is a time to celebrate all the progress and achievements women have made! Women have come so far and I’m glad we have this month to remember the women who came before us and shaped our history!” - Halima Alloosh “I think it’s wonderful that people have decided to dedicate a month to women but personally I feel like women should be uplifted and celebrated all year.” - Alexa Margolius ______
First Woman You Think to Celebrate During Women’s History Month?
Being the first sunny, warm (the temperature was close to 60!) day in months, the paths were teeming with multi-generational families strolling, people and their 4-legged companions stretching their legs, skateboarding teenagers, and people of all ages on bicycles. The presence of so many bikes made me curious. Where were they going? While 1.3 miles of path makes a nice walk, it’s a short bicycle trail. What I found was the trail has a spur connecting Arbuckle Acres to the Northridge neighborhood and from there to the recently completed Phase 1 of the White Lick Greenway. It permits bicycle and pedestrian travel from the park to the trailhead near the intersection of Green Street (SR 267) and I-74. Folks driving into town to use the trails can’t park at the Northridge entrance to Arbuckle Acres but patrons can park behind McAllister’s Deli off of West Northfield Drive. John and I enjoyed our Sunday stroll. It was wonderful to be outside in the sunshine and to see people shaking off the winter, getting out and about, and taking advantage of the spring-like weather and Arbuckle Acres’ excellent facilities.
“I would choose Taylor Swift because I love her, and her music was life changing for me.” - Brooke Pelkey “Harriet Tubman because she was so brave and saved a lot of lives!” - Salma Chemmaoui “Maya Angelou! She was so amazing at capturing the experience of being a woman.” - Katherine Langford “Michelle Obama because she’s cool and extremely influential and smart.” - Drake Kincaid “Black Widow, or Natasha Romanova, because she is one of the first female avengers and I love her.” - Gracie Breuer “I don’t necessarily have a first woman that comes to mind. I’d say the prominent female figures in my life.” Joseph “Stacy Abrams because she’s helping America get closer to a democracy one step at a time!” - Shai Bardin “Wanda Maximoff, Leia Organa, and Ellen Ripley have been my go-to answers for years.” - Matthew Barton “Kari Faux because she’s a queen.” - Gavin York “Diana Prince (Wonder Woman).” - Clay Peters “Every woman ever because women are great.” - Megan Williams ______________________________________________
You Can Get There From Here It May Take Longer Before It Gets Faster As an Indiana traffic engineer, we study traffic problems all throughout...wait for it... Indiana. And we have come to understand that each community has a different definition of what they consider a traffic “problem.” Fortunately, computer models are available to standardize traffic problems by converting intersection geometry and peak hour traffic volumes to a “level of service” rating (LOS). The LOS represents vehicle delay — typically calculated during peak hour traffic conditions. The rating can be determined for each individual lane of traffic (including turn lanes) or, for the overall intersection. Ratings range from “A” to “F” where a level of service “D” is considered passing (just like school). And keep in mind, a level of service “F” does not always mean something must be done. For example, almost every driveway along almost every highway experiences a LOS of “F” (especially if you are trying to exit left onto the roadway during the peak hour). The LOS of most intersections can be improved by adding turn lanes (or making turn lanes longer), adding a traffic signal (or adding turn arrows), or converting a traditional intersection to a roundabout. In some cases, the only way to improve the LOS is by adding through lanes. This level of improvement is identified in the community’s thoroughfare plan. Additional options may include new roadway corridors, perimeter roads, or modifying traffic patterns (e.g., 1-way vs 2-way, restricting certain turn movements, prohibiting trucks, etc.). In general, traffic increases every year. It’s the cumulative result of increased development both near and far. It’s like what Benjamin Franklin said (or was it my uncle?), “Where you have a lot of cars, you have a lot of traffic.” Remember, transportation planning is not a static task. Traffic growth and traffic patterns change and should be monitored to ensure transportation plans are not only doable but also, make sense. And although the best time to plan for traffic growth may have been ten years ago — the second best time is today. ______________________________________________
Uncle Tim
By Noel Gatlin The World War ll Veterans are all but gone now. What a loss of the stories of days gone by. What was it like during those years? My Dad never talked about war days, but my Uncle Tim did. He had dropped out of High School and joined the Army. He was stationed in Germany and was a Military Policeman as well as a truck driver, driving right up to the fighting lines. He used to say, “Them Germans shot at me but they never hit me.” His son said he did not think Uncle Tim was ever shot at so he might have embellished the story a bit. He was a small man only standing about 5 ft. 2 in. and I would say “Well. Uncle Tim, you were such a small target. LOL. After Germany surrendered, he was sent to Seattle, Washington and was told he would go to the Pacific War but it ended too. When he was discharged in Seattle, his cousin Bob Watson, talked him in to going to work for his dad, Uncle Tom Watson, on the ranch. Uncle Tim lasted until that first winter where it got down to 50 below zero. He said, “Man, I’m going back to Indiana before I freeze to death.” He left a broken-hearted little red head one day and started hitch hiking back to Indiana. She wanted to come too, but he slipped out when she wasn’t looking. Our Cousin Chuck who lives in Hobson Montana, said he knew her and she really was broken hearted. Uncle Tim came back to Indiana and eventually married my Aunt Emma Lou who was a wonderful woman. Now, it was hard to buy a new car back then. The war had left a big shortage of cars. Uncle Tim had signed up on the waiting list in Hodson, Montana before leaving and it was now a year later and he received word that his name had been drawn. He talked his mother-in-law in to fronting him the money, took a train back to Montana, bought the car and drove it home and sold it. He said he had to avoid the red head while he was in Montana. LOL. He sold the car in Indiana and made enough money to buy a truck and start his own business, “The Tim Rader Trucking Company.” He passed away a couple of years ago and I sure miss him. He was 96 years old and had such a good outlook on life. He was a character and always made us laugh. We salute you, Sargent Tim Rader, for your service to your country.
