Danville

DanvilleDefining Danville: A New Comprehensive Plan

“There’s no time like the present, the saying goes. Another proverb adds, “A thousand unforeseen circumstances may interrupt you at a future time.”

Those attending at an open house last Wednesday found themselves in that hazy world between the present and the future as they examined a presentation of the Town of Danville’s Comprehensive Plan on display in the Bosstick Gymnasium. Panels highlighting the areas being included in the study were lined up on the basketball court. Visitors were given stickers to place on the panels if they agree or disagree with the contents. They also were given pads of sticky notes for short written comments.

Vision Statement: Danville is a community inspired by its hometown charm and prepared to embrace strategic investmens that cultivate sustainable growth and development. Priorities listed included managing growth, preserving the character and mix of local businesses, and using “livable neighborhoods, premier parks, walkable districts, and outstanding event programming” to strengthen quality of live. Comments included “Define livable neighborhoods,” and “Boom town is not quality of life.”

Land Use: Priorities were maintaining the court house ssquare as the central core by prioritizing local businesses within the downtown. Maintain US 36/Main St. as commercial corridor with mix of local and chain businesses. Reserve land for: future parks; space for future roadway and utility infrastructure. One comment was “Seems smarter to build to the east of town.”

Assistant Town Manager Will Lacey (right) answers questions.

Parks, Recreation & Natural Areas: With the mission to promote a safe and active lifestyle through recreation opportunities, a goal is to implement the 5-year plan to provide park space within half-mile walking distance of each neighborhoos and improve the trail network. Establish environmental polices to limit development in floodway and sensitive areas. Provide incentives for developments to preserve or dedicate natural areas for park, trails and open space. One note commented: “I like the idea of Danville striving to preserve wildelife areas/planting native grasses to help maintain water retention. New development & asphalt can lead to diminishing habitat. I’d love to see the town approach new develpment differently”

Community Characer - Neighborhoods: Create diverse housing opportunities in north and northwest. Discourage residential developments with only one housing type. Ensure develpment proposals contribute to Danville’s overall community character - new develpments to provide non-motorized links to existing & planned trails; develop connects to existing sub streets; maintain grid pattern; require right-of-way dedication for future trails/roadways. Comment: “Love the plans for new housing but worry about too many apartments. Is there a cap or monitoring of this?” and “Concerned that too many apartments would bring too many people without financial benefits to town”

Community Character - Downtown: Support infill and redevelpment of existing urban areas - maintain compact develpment pattern with mixed uses and activities; maintain small scale buildings (1-3 stories) that house local businesses; encourage specialty retail shops downtown; emphasize local businesses downtown & mix of local/ chains outside downtown. Prioritize pedestrian environment downtown - incorporate a multi-use path on Main street; Use plantngs, street furniture, decorative paving and ornamental lighting to support downtown character; Encourage businesses to create outdoor dining along sidewalk. Comment: “So excited for more walk-ablilty” and “We love our downtown! I’m excited to see the thoughtfulness in our leadership is using in plans for future improvement. This place is special”

Placemaking: Mission to expand activities, events and programming offered in Danville. Support growth and enhancement of year-round events. Partner with Visit Hendricks County to advertise & promote. Coordinate events across public and private sector. Offer diversity of programs - youth, family, seniors. Take community survey on types of programs. Establish community brand that celebrates Town’s heritage and identity - implement 2010 wayfinding study; Identify locations for gateway signage. Comments: “Consider signs that point to specific businesses on the square” and “Strongly agree with partnering with VHC - they do excellent work.”

Vehicular Transportation: This panel attraced the most attention. Goals are: Develop east-west corridors to alleviate Main St traffic. Extend CR 100 N from Money Lane to SR 39. Establish parallel routes along Broadway and/or Lincoln. Construct missing segments along 200N to connect with Marion County. Develop unofficial bypass to improve flow: a. use CR 300E and CR 200 S to connect US 36 & SR 39 b. evaluate route for SR 39 bypass along east side. c. investigate truck bypass on CR 75W as short term option

3. investigate turning downtown back to 2-way (so could traffic signal at E. Main& Tennessee could be eliminated.

Coments: “Traffic thru town is nothing compared to almost any other town” and “30 years too late.”

Pedestrian Infrastructure: Implement Pedestrian Pathways & Trails Plan of 2020 - evaluate best way to provide a major east-west trail on Main Steet. Require developers to construct shared-use trails on adjacent roadways & Town projects to follow same as outside develpments. Begin coordinatin with INDOT on longterm plan for trail & pedestrican connecivity along Main St/ US36, by-pass, trials and Safe Routes to School. Provide ADA compliant sidewalks and trails. Develop network of safe inclusive pedestiral pathways - Complete SRTS master plan & encourage students to walk & Bike to school - provid ADA compliant sidewalks & trails

Economic Development: - Promote quality of place to support workforce attraction & new business. Promote inventory of available development ready sites. Use proximity of airport by attracting complimentary development. Promote “Buy Local” campaign. Support comprehensive ed & lifelong learning opportinities, collaboration among educational institutions, employers, workforce devopent partners to create training advancement.

If you couldn’t make the public input session to the the following link to take part in the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DefiningDanville

North Elementary Students Learn About Trees

Students have their free saplings ready to take home.

Trees. We often take them for granted, but on April 30, students at Danville North Elementary learned how important they are to our environment and how they can serve as a memorial to someone special. Best of all, thanks to the Danville Tree Advisory Committee, third grade students at North Elementary received free saplings to take home and plant with their families.

Mrs. Barber, North Elementary Librarian, read “The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever.” to all the third grade students. The book tells the story of activist Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens. Mrs. Barber discussed Arbor Day and all the useful benefits of trees.

She also told the students about the Danville Tree Advisory Committee and their goal to see that the community has an abundance of healthy trees to help the environment and add to the beauty of our town.

Several students wanted to know how old you must be to be on the Committee, in hopes of being a member someday!

The school had purchased a larger tree in memory of MRs. Michele Russell, a third grade teacher who passed away last fall. Faculty and staff joined a tree-planting ceremony on the school grounds.

Down With the Old, Up With the New

Workers took the role of temporatry traffic signals on the court house square last Thursday after the old signals were taken down.

The new signals, in black with yellow trim quickly went up in place of the old ones and traffic hustled on.

MerchantChatter

Forget-Me-Nots

We have various sizes and species of Live Edge lumber. Come check out the Osage Orange 5-ft piece. Perfect for a table top.

Gallery On The Square

Stop by to check out Joan Kisner’s artwork that recreates yesteryears: “The Circus Is In Town.” Prints and cards available. One of our local artists.

Radiant Skin

2021 Brides-- Wedding season is right around the corner. We have everything you need to get your skin radiant before your big day. Call us today to book your Signature Hydrafacial and mention that you are getting your skin “wedding ready”!

The Locker Room

Hello Danville, Suppliers are having shortages. If you are planning a big event and need t-shirts, I would plan for at least 15 business days for production. Have a great week!!

Danville Dips

says, “Come in for ice cream and buy your ticket for the Levi Riggs show at the Ellis Park amphitheater on Friday, May 21st. Only $10.” (Treat yourself to ice cream while you’re there!)

Getting ready to fire up the grill for Memorial Day Weekend? The Beehive has grass-fed beef in the freezer. Don’t want to cook at all? Check out their selection of frozen cassaroles - just bake and serve. Grab some desserts and take the weekend off!

1 st Annual Warrior Football Golf Outing Planned

In 2020 our Warriors took on the challenge of playing during an unprecedented time. The Warriors not only stepped up but put it through the uprights. Coach Comer is set to lead our program in 2021 and will honor the rich tradition of Warrior football. Comer continues to provide important lessons of family, discipline, and character that only High School Football can provide.

The First Annual Danville Warrior Football Golf Outing will take place Friday, June 18, with a box lunch at noon, and shotgun start at 1 p.m. Fundraising goals include video review equipment to improve player development, locker room equipment and improvemtns, goal boards, and Hall of Fame pictures.

It is our goal to make this year’s event one of our most successful to date and we need your help to make that happen. If you are unable to attend, please take advantage of one of our sponsorship opportunities. Your support in funding these activities and student athletes is greatly appreciated!

You can register online at: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/warrior-football-golf-outing-tickets-144279149821

For more information about the outing/sponsorships, contact Jayme Comer at jcomer@danvillek12.in.us.

Reeling Through the Past: History of the Royal Theater

“The Birth of a Nation” was not only the first epic film of the silent film era, but a controversy that continues to today. The story of the Civil War and the Reconstruction period that followed helped to spread the myth of the South’s “Lost Cause” and triggered a re-birth of the Ku Klux Klan across America from the 1910’s into the 1920’s.

The three-hour movie was first issued in 1915 under the title, “The Clansman” and was based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Dixon, Jr. and was the first movie to be shown at the White House. While previous movies were two or three reels; this was 12 reels. It featured innovations still used in today’s films: the close-up; zooming in; and crosscutting scenes.

The Royal Theater featured a re-release of the movie in 1923. An advertisement in The Republican proclaimed “Nothing Ever Like It Before” and that “18,000 people, 3,000 horses appear in this great All-American Picture.” A press release promised “This realistic picture of history in the making is of untold value to both old and young. Besides the historical worth of this great spectacle, the constant emotional throb of the romantic story thrills the hearts of all.”

Before the age of the Internet, theaters like The Royal were a means to connect people throughout the nation with a common experience - watching a movie.

Danville Tri Kappa Awards Grants at May Meeting

Aimee Ketterer and Jennifer Robinson-Springfield, Sycamore Services, received a grant for their sensory garden located at Sycamore Services Annex on Sycamore Lane.

Chrissy Larkin, Danville Lunch Bunch & Nutrition Club, received a grant to assist with the 89 backpacks of food that are passed out to Danville students every Friday during the school year to help with hunger over the weekend

Kirsten Simon, Danville Post Prom, received a grant to rent activities for students to enjoy during this on-site event.

Helen Corbitt & Pat Baldwin, Friends of the Hendricks County Historical Museum received a grant for cricut machine to help with their displays and equipment to film their docents in rooms that are inaccessible due to the stairs and guests can view this from the main floor.

Retirement Celebration For Jerry Crisp

The public is invited to a drop-in Retirement Celebration for Jerry Crisp on Wednesday, May 27, 5 - 7 p.m. at Court House Grounds, 65 South Washington St., Danville. Jerry is retiring as Superintendent at Danville’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Get Free Dips Ice Cream!

Wright Realtors wants to make the last day of school special! On Thursday, May 27, get free ice cream from Danville Dips - just mention “Wright Realtors Free Ice Cream” when checking out!

It’s Plantin’ Time on the Square

After consulting the almanac and checking on the phase of the moon, the Downtown Danville Partnership began bedecking the court house square with flowers.

DDP volunteers joined the family from Neier Farms (whose flowers will be blooming through the season) to put the crops in.

New top soil was added (see DDP Executive Director Anne Johansson at right) and a variety of red and white flowers and greenery were added. Now residents and visitors can enjoy the added beauty as they shop and attend events.