26 minute read
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.
Hunting Tips & Reflections
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By Mike E. Neilson
Mike Neilson, longtime Danville High School teacher and longtime hunting enthusiast is sharing his hunting experience with our readers. He’s also shared his knowledge in book form with Class Dismissed: I’m Going Hunting! (2004); We’re Gonna Need More Arrows!: Hunting Adventurs Around the Country and Around the World (2009); and Pig Tails and Other Hunting Adventures (2014)
Scouting and Other Surveillance Skills Part 2
Scouting on public land versus private land. Most people won’t put up cameras on public land because, you know, it’s public. Lots of folks utilize these parcels and sometimes they “find” cameras in the woods. I usually hunt waterfowl on public waters and land and scouting is absolutely essential to help your success. Yes, you could stumble into a really great spot but that’s just dumb luck. If I can find where the birds want to be, where they like to rest and where they are feeding, I’ve upped my odds. Back in the day, I was gung-ho for scouting out Camp Atterbury’s duck and goose population. After school, I’d drive down to the ponds to watch the birds fly and get a pretty good idea where they were hanging out. By the next hunting morning, I knew where I wanted to set up to hunt. Now that I’m older, it’s a bit harder to get away from work to observe. I do have friends that will get up at O dark thirty and scout the ponds and lakes we hunt, bringing back fresh reconnaissance (yes, I trust them…mostly).
Sometimes, scouting is just not possible. Here’s where prior knowledge and experience comes into play. Mental notes are nice, but they can get a bit fuzzy as time goes by. A good map (either paper or electronic) of the property you are hunting, and fishing can help you store your observations. For game like deer and turkey, I like to mark where I have stands but also where I’ve taken game. Maps can help identify pinch-points, water sources and food sources. Keeping maps up to date keeps your information up to date as well. What crops are in what fields, when was a property logged, who owns the land around where you hunt, all this is valuable information in helping you decide where to hunt if you can’t physically or mechanically scout for game.
The same holds true for my angling friends. Fish detectors, sonar, whatever you want to call it, utilizing prior knowledge, information about bottom structure, points, laydowns, man-made fish structure for nesting, old roads and structures that have been flooded, all are great sources of knowledge. And don’t underestimate the power of talking with folks that live in the area. While some might not give you the time of day, others will talk about the old orchard that used to be on somebody’s property or where there was a bridge that is now under 15 feet of water. Most roads have ditches on either side of them and when they get flooded out, those become great havens for fish, if you can find them.
On a non-hunting/fishing/berry-picking/morel-finding note about scouting, if you are a person that likes to camp, hike, bike or explore places, gathering up as much information as you can, might pay off big. Little out of the way parks, campgrounds, parking areas, ramps for boating can enhance your outdoor experiences. Knowing where trails are, where they go, and their difficulty can make trips more enjoyable. Nothing wrong with taking the path less travelled, but sometimes knowing where the path leads never hurts. Biologists, property managers, day workers on public land, all are good sources of information and forms of scouting.
No matter how you go about keeping tabs on your favorite wood, field, or water, I wish you the best of luck and success in your outdoor activities. And if you have any property that need a few deer or a turkey taken out, just give me a shout!
A Note From Bee
Saturday my husband and I decided to go to the Friendly in Zionsville. We had talked about it for several weeks and just hadn’t made it. We had a very pleasant meal with excellent service as usual.
While we were so close I suggested we go to my husband’s family cemetery (Jones Cemetery) on Whitestown Rd. That was to result in a bad experience.
My husband got too close to the timber retaining wall for the parking lot and our left front tire went down over it. Ok, get out see if anything is noticeabley damaged. No visible damage. What is the next step? We live in Brownsburg and are not familiar with towing services in Whitestown.
We were so lucky we saw a Whitestown police car coming down the road. My husband flagged him down. Sgt. Klinger to the rescue. He called PSO Wines and PSO Thomas to see what they thought was the best way to proceed. Now we had three rescuers. We all decided maybe the best thing to do was to call the towing service. Unfortunately the towing service was not taking private towing calls. Back to square one. Sgt. Klinger started looking around the woods behind the cemetery. He found some pieces of wood that could go behind and under the tire. The other pitched in and built a ramp. We backed out and nothing fell out. We were so lucky.
These three rescuers were so kind and courteous. They could have taken the easy way out and told us to call a wrecker. We need to support law enforcement not downgrade them.
Bee Jones
Catch a Falling Star
Are you a night owl looking for something to do tonight? Are you an early bird that doesn’t mind getting up before the sun? How about an insomniac? Want something to stare at instead of your ceiling tonight while you’re not sleeping? This is one time everyone can be satisfied.
Every year from the middle of July through the middle of August, the Earth passes through the debris trail of the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The result is what some consider the best meteor shower of the year, The Perseid meteor shower. Others think of it as the best opportunity for making wishes.
At its peak, viewers can expect to see between 50 and 100 “falling stars” an hour! This year the optimal time is August 12, between 10 p.m. and dawn on August 13. Making the viewing potential even better, this year the peak falls during the New Moon (“no” moon) phase meaning the sky will be darker than usual. Darker skies mean observers see more and brighter stars. . . and meteors. Here are a few tips for enjoying this year’s show: Find a dark place. You’ll want to get as far away from the city lights, parking lots, and other sources of light pollution as you can. That’s rather challenging around here. If you live in The Boonies, your backyard may be ideal. I live in town. I’m thinking of finding a minimally traveled country road, pulling safely off to the side, spreading a blanket on the hood, and laying back. If you don’t mind
a bit of a drive or want to make a night of it, Shades State Park is recommended by EarthSky.org. Check out the website: cleardarksky.com for a list of dark sky locations in Indiana. (Please note: Call ahead to check if the area is open to the public after dark. Most close at dusk.)
Be patient. It takes up to 20 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the darkness.
Scan the sky. The meteor shower is named Perseid because the meteors seem to radiate from the constellation Perseus, but they streak across the sky. Don’t know where Perseus is? Use a stargazing app on your phone or look in the northeasterly direction. Enjoy the stationery stars while you’re waiting to be wowed.
Try again. If you’ve lived in Indiana long enough, you know there’s a good chance it will be cloudy the evening of August 12. This date is the peak of the shower. The show doesn’t stop on the 13th but slowly winds down until the 24th. If it rains, there’s always tomorrow night.
While the Perseids are the highlight of summer stargazing, there are other cool things happening in the night sky. On August 19, Jupiter will reach opposition or be on the opposite side of the sun from Earth’s perspective. Saturn reached opposition on August 2. So what’s that mean? The planets appear bigger and brighter. Again, this isn’t a “miss tonight and you’ll miss it all” situation. Both planets offer great viewing through the end of the month and slowly fade through the end of the year.
The Southern Taurids meteor shower begins September 10 and peaks on November 2-3. While the number of meteors is only about five per hour, the Taurids have a reputation for producing Fireballs or Bolides, bigger chunks of debris that create long, bright streaks. If you don’t mind the cold, The Geminids and Quadrantids peak on December 13-14 and January 2-3, 2022.
For more information on upcoming astronomical events, check out earthsky.org and in-the-sky.org
Have fun and happy wishing!
MASTERING THE HOUSE useful tips for homeowners
Tim Paino Owner/Inspector Heartland HouseMaster
Time For Exterior Painting – Get Ready
Exterior projects must always be planned around the weather, especially in our northern climate. Not only do we have to consider the rain, but we also all know that cold weather is just around the corner. Now is the time to jump on that exterior painting project you have been putting off. You may not want to attempt to apply the paint while it is still extremely hot and humid, but there is some work that needs to be done prior to applying the paint.
1) Repair, Scrape, Sand and Prime: Paint doesn’t stick to rotten wood, and it doesn’t make for the best finished product. The first thing you will want to do is assess what wood may need replaced and what may just need cleaned and filled. Use a filler that is made for exterior use and can be sanded and painted. If there is peeling paint you will want to scrape all loose paint to have a good solid surface to begin with. Sand and prime all repaired areas.
2) Caulk and Re-Caulk: Any seams or transitional areas need to be caulked to prevent moisture from causing future penetration issues. Old caulking may need to be removed to get a good, attractive seal.
3) Wash: Paint also does not stick well to dirt. A garden hose and possibly a soft brush to wash off any dirt and cobwebs should do the job.
4) Check Your Supplies: Tall enough / safe ladders, quality brushes, rags, roller, and roller sleeves along with a paint tray should all be on hand. I prefer using the five-gallon bucket and a roller screen over a tray for ease of moving and being able to have a larger supply available while working. A second five-gallon bucket should be used to mix your paint prior to going to the next gallon to prevent color variations.
The final step before you start painting is the selection of the paint itself. If you are thinking of making a change in the color, I strongly recommend buying a quart of each color you choose and paint a small area (large enough to step back and study) and make sure you really like it. This is a big job you are going to invest a lot of time and money in that should last for ten years. Be happy with your choices. You want the colors to complement the architectural details of your house and fit the character of your neighborhood. Many paint stores will have a designer on staff that can assist you in making a good decision. Now isn’t the time to bargain shop on quality. A good quality paint will go on easier, cover better, and last longer.
Next up, start painting.
A Squirrel About Town
By Archy
“Did you see the sky this morning?” I asked Archy. “Constable - undoubtedly Constable,” the squirrel replied. Sharing an interest in art history, we had been exchanging views on who painted the sky.
“It broadens one’s view to study the arts,” Archy said. “Most people see a bicycle seat, Picasso sees a bull. Seeing things differently helps you see them in a new way. And seeing in a new way can help you find new answers.”
I said that the arts are a common language but not always common knowledge.
“Not everyone sees things the same way,” the squirrel said. You really wouldn’t want them to. That’s what learning is about. You need to be able to share what you see without taking away other people’s vision. It’s all about addition and multiplication. When you start subtracting, that’s when humanity gets into trouble.
Brighten Up Your Home with Sunflowers
By Colletta Kosiba Hendricks County Master Gardener
Yes, You can add other flowers to your sunflower arrangement. Add some hosta leaves that are large (in scale) with the flowers around the bottom edge.
Sunflowers are so popular!
No wonder, they come in all heights and colors (yellow, red, orange, maroon and brown). The most common sunflower is bright yellow with brown center.
Sunflowers are excellent cut flowers: Cut early in the morning handling gently. Cut the main stem before the flower bud has a chance to open. Arrange the flowers in a tall container to provide support because their heads are so heavy. Be sure to change the water every day. Your bouquets should last a week at room temperature.
If you are having a garden party mason jars are great containers vases. Decorate jars with ribbon or with burlap. For a certain color, you could spray paint the jars. Place the sunflowers along with hydrangea flower heads in them.
If you want to use longer stems in a mixed bouquet you will have to wire the stems with floral stem wire to reinforce the stem- remember the flower head on sunflowers is very heavy.
I have seen sunflowers used in table wreath--to start you need wire form --add soaked floral foam cut to size-add sheet moss for fill and to cover the foam- -cut your sunflower stems short enough to still stick in wet foam—to finish add greenery, other flowers or use floral picks to add apples. This makes a charming center piece that will delight your guests. Sunflowers are known for being “happy” flowers.
The sunflower told me his love for me blossoms every day.
Got Questions? Call The Home-Landscaping-Garden Help Line and Master Gardeners will answer your questions every Tuesday. May 18 to Sept 28. Hours 9:00-Noon and 1-4:00pm call 317-745-9260 (Hendricks County Extension)
philanthropy fəˈlanTHrəpē
...the desire to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.
Liza L. Taylor holds a master’s degree in philanthropy and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management, both from IUPUI. She has taught philanthropy at the university level and provided consulting services to Hoosier nonprofit leaders. She is a member of the Hendricks County Crisis Response Team and on the board of the Hendricks County Trauma Resource Center.
What is a Foundation?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word “liaison” as a person who establishes and maintains communication for mutual understanding and cooperation. This definition makes me think of the role that foundations play in our community and in American society. A foundation is a formal, legal entity that allows people to communicate with each other to utilize their financial resources to establish and maintain relationships in a mutually cooperative way for a charitable cause.
America has approximately 224,000 foundations which give grants to 15 million recipients totaling $600 billion (Candid.org, 2020). In the USA, foundations have served human interests and needs for over 100 years. The United States legal code regulates the operation of foundations with applicable tax laws and mandates certain levels of grant giving which vary depending upon the foundation type.
Foundations can be either private or public. A private foundation’s money comes from an individual, family, or corporation. The government requires that the foundation give away about 5% of its assets every year and publish their grants for public awareness and accountability. So, if a family establishes a foundation with $1 million, they must award about $50,000 in grants annually. These payout schedules allow the foundation to give grants in perpetuity since the corpus of the original gift will be reinvested every year and hopefully gain interest and thereby replenish the grant money for the next year’s giving cycle.
A public foundation, also known as a grantmaking public charity, gets its money from various sources such as from other foundations, individuals, corporations, and/ or government agencies. Public foundation grants must be for scientific, educational, cultural, religious, or other charitable purposes. The Hendricks County Community Foundation is an example of this type. It is celebrating 25 years of service in 2021! This organization is a great community asset. People with philanthropic intentions are able to access expert advice on how to financially invest their philanthropic resources. The community foundation can also help donors discover which causes and nonprofits best match their personal interests. According to the Hendricks County Community Foundation website, it currently manages assets of $20.5 million in a collection of funds created by individuals, families, businesses and organizations for charitable purposes. These funds are invested to generate income that is granted back to the community. In 2018, the Community Foundation gave over $600,000 in grants to benefit individuals and charitable organizations. In addition, in 2019, they gave $1.6 million in grants and scholarships. In 2020, grants awarded totaled $1.7 million.
The Hendricks County Community Foundation, along with All In, Hendricks County Rapid Response Fund, has been involved in addressing emerging needs due to the coronavirus pandemic. With the help of donors great and small, they awarded $535,000 in covid response grants in 2020.
Foundations provide a unique expression for American philanthropy. They allow for preservation of financial capital over time thus enabling ongoing disbursement of financial gifts to address some of our most pressing needs and to promote human flourishing.
A Bark From the Past: Henry
[Editor’s Note: The Republican’s first four-footed correspondent was Henry. A mixed breed rescue dog, Henry would make observations about being a dog in a small town. The articles, which ran in 2006 - 2010, have been languishing in the computer’s memory and we thought a new audience might enjoy some canine commentary.]
Woof! Have we had some excitement around the house the last several days! There are some new additions to the family. We have two new cats living with us! My humans found them at a Humane Society and I know they will be great friends. Their names are Walter and Doris.
Walter is mostly gray with white on his face, chest, and tummy. He is eight years old and overweight. (I, on the other hand, am robust.) He came from Tennessee and has a wonderful accent. His meow is three syllables: Me- YAY-ow. And he is a real southern gentleman. When he talks about his previous life, he mentions the dog who didn’t like him and says things like, “He tried to bite me, but I gave him a biff on the snoot with my claws. He hated me and I hated him right back, but he meant well, bless his heart.”
Walter is very friendly and a little outspoken, a real hale kitty well met kind of guy.
Doris, however, is very shy and quiet. She is civil enough to me, but rather reluctant to talk. She is a beautiful light brown tiger with a white belly and golden eyes and her voice is refined and soft. She admits to being five. She won’t talk about her background, so we don’t know a lot about her. She does like to play with her cat toys (or as Walter says, KAY-ut tozz. Walter likes to bat paper balls around the floor better than anything.)
I tried to talk them into becoming part of the Animal Action Agenda Committee. I thought it would be handy to have a psychic in the house when we need to organize a meeting, but they said they didn’t know Danville well enough. Maybe later.
I really like both of them and I thing they will be wonderful additions to our family. But that’s why this column is a little late. I know it isn’t very professional to miss deadline, but we were all getting to know each other and that needed to come first. I know. If I were a human, I’d put work first, but I’m just a big old dumb dog, so what do I know? I have my own priorities, thank you.
So, whatever…HEY! That Walter just crumpled up a page of my copy and is ricocheting it all around the room. Pardon me while I retrieve it and flatten it out for Ms. Betty at the Republican.
Walter! You bring that back here RAT NAY-oh. (Oh, no! I’m already picking up his accent.)
Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor
I hear Danville Town Council now has approved construction of over 2,000 homes in the recent past. This trend it seems will continue under this administration. If you can believe wikipedia we were at 10,126 residents as of 2019, an increase of 35 percent from 2000. Assuming 2.4 residents per home, I estimate we will reach at minimum 16,000 by 2030, nearly triple our size 20 years ago.
My only experience tracking suburban growth is with Chicago. Circa 1996 the Sun Times reported Chicago had 166 suburbs in four states. Naperville went from 13,000 to 131,000 from 1996 to 2007 I hear.
What does this mean for us? No expert I but it seems home prices first will fall (how could those not?) then rise as demand to leave or avoid the city increases. (You may have heard of Chicago’s murder rate. Ergo 166 suburbs, surely more today.) Demand also will come from Danville itself, a splendid community. But what if demand precedes preparation?
Again the alarm is not with inexorable progress but with opportunity foregone to have a bypass constructed. United States Highway 36 is not what it was in 1978 when we came here. Now retired I was at the courthouse driving east to Avon (like many others) at noon on a Thursday when to my surprise I happened on what I term a “five ten,” 50 west bound vehicles in box cars coming at me.
The shock was seeing so many headed for Rockville outside of rush hour! Hold on. Many of these drivers coming from the east have to be going near Danville’s west side or other peripheral points.
Here’s the dangerous rhetorical question. When will Council - of whatever make up - finally do the heavy lifting to begin the laborious process of a bypass? With planned unit developments coming in hordes any luxury of time is long gone. “Heavy lifting” means confronting land owners to take their land by purchase in court. It means lobbying, cajoling, importuning (read nagging) The General Assembly to pay for & BUILD the bypass.
Heavy lifting is not fast. It is like watching trees grow. We knew in the 70’s this was coming. I fear what 2038 will look like, to our grandkids.
Sincerely, Greg Black
Rupert Sheldrake
Thought for the Day: Accept others for what they are – not what you think you can get them to be. They must do that for themselves.
John Ruskin
ALLEN’S CORNER ON THE MUSIC SCENE
By Allen Kiger
The Kentucky Headhunters performed for fans at Danville’ Ellis Park Amphitheater: Left to rightGreg Martin on Lead guitar Doug Phelps on Bass Richard Young on guitar and Fred Young on drums
Saturday night Ellis Park’s Amphitheater was rockin’ as Danville welcomed the Grammy winning band, The Kentucky Headhunters!
A big thank you goes out to all of the great local sponsors, the Danville Parks Department, Visit Hendricks County, Danville Town Hall, and all of the volunteers who helped Sights N Sounds Promotions LLC put on this great event that was two years in the making.
Danville native Jeff Daugherty started off the evening by singing our National Anthem followed by the opening band Cornfield Mafia, who took to the stage singing some of their original songs and a few great cover songs.
A huge crowd had anxiously waited all evening for The Kentucky Headhunters to take the stage and the band did not disappoint. They started it up with “Dixie Lullaby” followed by “It’s Chitlin’ Time.” That’s the way to get the crowd started. Throughout the evening, The Kentucky Headhunters played many of their hits including “ Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine,” “Oh, Lonesome Me,” “Spirit In The Sky,” “My Daddy Was a Milkman,” and of course their signature song “Dumas Walker.”
It was nearing the end of the show when The Kentucky Headhunters invited Danville’s own Levi Riggs to the stage to help them sing “The Ballad of Davy Crockett.” The fans exploded with excitement!
Pictured left to right: Greg Martin on guitar Doug Phelps on Bass Fred Young on Drums Richard Young on Guitar & Levi Riggs singing.
Pictured left to right: Greg Martin on guitar Doug Phelps on Bass Fred Young on Drums Richard Young on Guitar & Levi Riggs singing.
The Kentucky Headhunters left the stage but fans were treated to an encore, something I had never seen them do before. The Kentucky Headhunters talked about how great our town is and felt welcomed here. Fred Young the drummer just loves small towns. In fact, he loves reading The Republican Newspaper.
All in all this might be a little one sided as far as reviews go since I’m a member of Sights N Sounds Promotions LLC. But from my perspective, watching the crowd and hearing feedback from fans who attended the concert, it was a great evening of music! Our town has character that people love. So, be proud to live in Danville-A town that a band which travels the country, had such nice things to say about our hospitality and our beautiful park.
Make your plans now to attend our September 11th concert presenting Crush, a Bon Jovi tribute band with opening band Snakeskin Cowboy. Tickets just $10. Gates open at 6:00 with concert starting at 7:00 p.m.
Renee Bowman is a former classroom teacher, reading specialist, school librarian and forever learner, and one-half of the blog Raising Real Readers. You can connect with her @ raisingreal on Twitter and @RaisingRealReaders on Instagram and Facebook.
Bedtime Reading Struggles
Not surprising, as bedtime reading is one of those staples from childhood that has stood the test of time, from generation to generation. I imagine (perhaps naively) families gathered around candlelight reading aloud together from treasured books centuries ago, and I know many parents still make reading together at night before bed a daily priority, even in the era of screens.
But that doesn’t mean bedtime reading always goes smoothly, or that there aren’t phases of life when it feels like more of a hassle than a habit. Having a simple, predictable structure for a bedtime reading routine can (alas!) add a bit of sanity to the end of a long day.
Here are three common struggles and a few solutions for each that might help your family settle into a calmer, more fun and functional bedtime reading routine.
My Child Has Too Much Energy at Bedtime
▪ Keep some simple fidget toys or notebooks for doodling by your child’s bed. Many parents and educators find kids actually pay better attention when they have something simple to release some energy while also listening to the story.
▪ Try different seating options. If your child is reading to you and is having trouble laying still in bed, think about allowing them some movement while they read. Reading while bouncing on an exercise ball, for example, may work well.
▪ Bedtime reading doesn’t have to take place in bed. Incorporate movement into your bedtime reading. For example, do some fun stretches before, during, or after you read together (mimicking animal movements is always a crowd pleaser). Or try out books that involve movement.
▪ End with conversation. Active kids love knowing they’ll get a chance to chat with you after the book. Or pause a few times throughout to talk about what you’ve read so far and predict what might happen next. This one-on-one conversation may go a long way toward calming your child down and getting them mentally prepared to fall asleep.
My Child Is Too Sleepy/ Grouchy at Bedtime
▪ Take turns reading. After a long day of school, after school activities, dinner, chores, homework, etc., your child’s brain may need more breaks than usual at this time of day. Even when they’re working on independent reading skills, it’s still very appropriate for adults to read every other paragraph or every other page to them.
▪ Choose easier books. If you find this is a difficult time of day for your child, don’t push them over the edge with a challenging book. Think light, fun reads at night if your child is often tired in the evenings. For babies and toddlers that really struggle in the evenings, books with simple illustrations and sentence structure are key to making this a more pleasant time.
▪ Keep it short. Find other times during the day to incorporate reading to make up for shorter bedtime reading.
My Family Has a Wide Age Range Among Siblings
▪ Gear a read-aloud toward the youngest child. Don’t force older kids to join in, and you just may find that they do so anyway. They may have forgotten how much they loved old favorites or they may just enjoy the calm snuggles as a family. And if they opt not to join, respect that.
▪ Read quick snippets of books together before older children move on to their own books.
▪ Split up. The whole family snuggled together may seem like the ideal, but in your family, it may work best to read with each child separately, especially during certain phases of life. Don’t see this as a failure. See it as meeting each child where they are at this particular moment. You can always try group reading again another time or if they all express an interest in the same book at some point. If children are still too young to read independently, consider getting some audio books from the library for them to listen to while you read with their siblings.
Bedtime reading doesn’t have to look like scenes from a movie to be effective and enjoyable.Don’t be afraid to mix up the routine from time to time to find what works best for you and your children. Children outgrow certain reading habits almost as quickly as they do clothes. The bottom line: time is the most precious commodity we have. Winding down the long days with some reading can set lifelong, healthy habits in place.
