15 minute read
Voices
Exploring Hendricks County
By Jackie Horn
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Jackie Horn and her husband, John, transplanted from Warsaw to Plainfield to be near family. An Advanced Indiana Master Naturalist, Jackie is a retired substitute teacher who continues to teach (and learn) about all things outdoors. John is a retired CNC programmer and the photographer on the team. The Horns enjoy traveling, walking, hiking, kayaking, and bicycling.
Taking the Power Tour
I’m always on the lookout for cheap (preferably FREE), fun things to do. When I find something interesting, I like to share it. Normally this column, “Exploring Hendricks County,” is about finding parks, nature preserves, and occasionally I throw in an article about a plant, animal, or natural phenomenon. This week I had a blast doing something completely different. It was still free and still fun. Instead of a quiet walk or leisurely bike ride, it was all about noise, power, and speed.
On August 25 Lucas Oil Raceway welcomed Hot Rod Power Tour 2021.
Billed as the “World’s Largest Rolling Car Show”, the Power Tour began in 1995 with only 16 cars, half of which were driven by the staff of the magazine which sponsored the tour. Taking off from Los Angeles, Calif., the group crossed the country finishing nine days later in Norwalk, Ohio at the Power Festival. Over the next 24 years, the venues have changed. The tour was limited to a week. The event, like so many others, was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. This year, it returned with a reduced schedule of five cities (Norwalk, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, Brownsburg, Ind., St. Louis, Mo., and Champaign, Ill.) in five days… and 6,000+ vehicles!
The thrill-seeking among the attendees could take a run on three of the venue’s drag strips ....even the family sedan! (Yep, he ran it with the bikes on top!).
Tour participants may enter any car or truck (no motorcycles) regardless of age, make, or model. Entrants may come for one day or every day. Those completing the entire tour route earn the title, “Long-Hauler” and receive special recognition. Each morning of the tour, the group gathers, and following a suggested route, travels to the next city. For car enthusiasts in the towns they pass through, it’s a miles-long procession of muscle cars, pickup trucks, restored vintage automobiles, and even minivans that looked like they just dropped off the kids before joining the parade. Participants are encouraged to drive their vehicles so no haulers are allowed on the showgrounds. If a vehicle is trailered, it must be unloaded off-site and driven into the show area.
John and I arrived at the raceway in the early afternoon. The field surrounding the track was filled with the Power Tour participants and more were lined up to get into the grounds. Spectator admission was FREE. A courtesy shuttle was running between the parking area outside the track and into the grandstand area. Luckily it had rained earlier in the day, cooling the temperatures. Even with the overcast skies, it was HOT.
John and I strolled through the vendor exhibits gathering swag. We walked up and down several aisles checking out the cars, noting which models were familiar, and reminiscing over who drove what back in the day. We munched on pretzels and resisted the temptation of funnel cakes. And then the fun began… Drag races! Lucas Oil Raceway is THE world-famous, quarter-mile track where every Labor Day the National Hot Rod Association hold the U.S. Nationals. The entrance fee for the Tour includes unlimited runs on three of the venue’s drag strips. The opportunity to run a car down this historic strip is worth the Tour fee alone. There are no rules (other than safety equipment), no prizes, only the thrill of speeding down THE strip in your vehicle. As a car enthusiast and spectator, it was just plain entertaining.
The venues for the 2022 Hot Rod Power Tour won’t be announced until later this year. If you’re interested in seeing some of this year’s participants, activities, and announcements for upcoming tours, check out their Facebook page at Hot Rod Power Tour.
Just like looking at cool cars? It’s not too late this year to squeeze in a car show or two.
Amo Fall Fest Car Show is on September 18 from 1:00- 5:00 PM.
The last First Friday Cruise-In at the courthouse in Danville will be on October 1st. Me?
I’m calming my “need for speed” on Labor Day at the Nationals!
Side note: This is what I drove when I was a kid - ‘68 Camero - but mine was red and not in pristine condition.
Hey Jerry…
“…we will be having the “topping out” ceremony next Wednesday at 9am for the new jail. We would like to invite you to the ceremony and to sign the beam if you like”, was the voicemail from Hendricks County Facilities Manager and all-around good guy, Kevin Cavanaugh.
Never having been invited to a “topping out” ceremony, I straightaway put the event in my calendar. “Topping out” or “topping off” is a builder’s rite that goes back quite a ways. It signifies the completion of the structural portion of the building and moving on to the “finishes” portion.
The tradition can be traced back to ancient Scandinavian days when a tree would be placed on top of a new building to appease the “tree-spirits” that were displaced when they were cut for construction.
The tradition has lived on since then and a blue spruce was placed on the “top beam” along with the United States flag for good luck.
Signing the beam for posterity is another tradition for those who played a part of the building project. This usually includes the contractors, vendors and local dignitaries. Being asked to sign the beam is an honor, and among other names on that top beam are the words: The Republican newspaper. Founded 1847.
At around 9:00 a.m. prior to the lifting of the beam into place, Councilman Larry Scott and Commissioner Phyllis Palmer and construction manager Tony Anderson each said a few words about the project.
Of course, Sheriff Brett Clark was the first to grab the microphone and in his hallmark fashion, took the time to thank everyone that had a hand in the project.
Not missing a beat, the Sheriff looks straight at me and says, “Looking up some of the traditions of the “topping out” ceremony, I’m sorry to say Jerry, we won’t be going out and drinking a bunch of beer.”
Believing that traditions are important, I was disappointed.
Jerry Vornholt
[Editor’s Note: Look for more about the topping out ceremony for the new jail in next week’s issue.]
A Squirrel About Town
By Archy
“I have a theory,” Archy greeted me and plowed straight through my hesitation. “Humans have allowed meteroroligists to dull their connection with nature. Instead of looking at the weather they look at their phones to see if it’s raining.”
The squirrel was right again. I had seen people do that very thing more often than I can count.
“Humans used to make their own forecasts by studying what’s around them,” he went on. “They kept track of the weather by watching trees and plants and by observing the behavior of animals.”
I recalled seeing the leaves on the trees “show silver” or turn their backs when rain was approaching. I’ve observed the leaves on the field corn cling tighter to the stalk to preserve moisture during a drought.
“Precisely,” Archy said. “And you’ve seen the cows turn their backs on an approaching storm and felt the change in the wind when rain was close. Animals can sense the weather without the help of doppler radar.” The squirrel stopped, paused, then said, “You’re remembering standing in the rain.”
It was after a long drought, when the earth sounded hollow when you walked on it and the dry grass crunched like shredded wheat before you poured the milk on it. I had been checking the garden and it began to rain. I stood in it a long time, remembering how it felt to run in the rain when I was a child, to jump in the mud puddles. How the wet grass felt like silk under my feet.
“Some say people who don’t come in out of the rain don’t have good sense,” the squirrel said. “I think sometimes the people who stand in the rain have more sense than others.”
Time to Harvest Your Popcorn Before Frost Hits
By Colletta Kosiba Hendricks County Master Gardener
Harvest your popcorn before frost hits.
First year raising popcorn? Never tried raising it? There’s only one variety of maize(corn) that is popcorn – Zea mays everta. There are several cultivars of this variety of corn that has the ability to pop and turn into a delicious snack
Leave popcorn in garden until the stalks and husks are dry and brown, then harvest by twisting and snapping from the stalk.
Strip away husk from the ears. The kernels are only partially dried or “cured “now.
Popcorn needs 4-6 weeks of drying in a warm, well-ventilated area in your house. (The corn won’t pop until there is the right amount of moisture inside the kernel. The moisture turns to steam- when heated ,the kernels burst!)
Spread ears out in an area so the warm air circulates around them.
You could also hang mesh bags full of popcorn ears in your garage for about six weeks. Note: if you have an abundance of popcorn after curing; the popcorn keeps for years in cool dry dark place.
Next, shell the corn kernels and store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator. These tiny grains will pop and expand to 30 or 40 times its original size
Enjoy! A whole quart of popcorn has less than 100 calories, so even waist watchers can afford a little melted butter.
Popcorn is a whole grain.
Popcorn’s Place in History
Historians doubt that turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving dinner, but they know that popcorn was there. An Quandequina Indian brought a deerskin sack filled with popcorn to the feast. Popcorn was a staple for Native Americans, it stored well and could be popped fresh all winter long.
You might be surprised at just how easy it is to plant, grow, and harvest a crop of popcorn in your own backyard garden. Just imagined the delight of watching your crop pop into a delicious snack!!
The corn was worried he had a cough, his voice was getting a little bit husky. _
Free Gardening Program
“Putting your garden to bed for winter” tips by popular garden speaker Colletta Kosiba Sept 14 at Plainfield Library from 6:30- 7:30 Free!! call Library at 317-839- 6602 to register
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)
MASTERING THE HOUSE useful tips for homeowners
Tim Paino
Owner/Inspector Heartland HouseMaster
Stuff, Stuff Everywhere!
Here are some startling statistics. The average size of the American home has nearly tripled in size over the past 50 years. (NPR). Even with that, 1 out of 10 Americans rent offsite storage – the fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the past four decades. (New York Times Magazine). 25% of people with two-car garages don’t have room to park cars inside them and 32% only have room for one vehicle. (U.S. Department of Energy). British research found that the average 10-year-old owns 238 toys but plays with just 12 daily. (The Telegraph). Americans spend $1.2 trillion annually on nonessential goods – in other words, items they do not need. (The Wall Street Journal). And finally, the $8 billion home organization industry has more than doubled in size since the early 2000’s – growing a staggering rate of 10% each year.
I could go on, but it doesn’t take a ton of research to see we have more stuff than we know what to do with. As I drive around Hendricks County, I see more and more storage units being constructed to make room for all our stuff. The problem is twofold, first, everything we buy takes both past labors to pay for it and future labor to maintain it (or store it). We simply run out of time to take care of everything we have. And second, all this stuff gets in the way to be able to see and properly maintain our homes.
When we perform a home inspection, we open the closet doors to make sure they function, look in cabinets under sinks to make sure there are no leaks and attempt getting to the electrical panel in the cluttered garage. It is amazing how many reports we must put “not inspected” because of all the stuff that prevents us from getting to different elements of the home. There is no better time than the present to declutter and organize. Here are some helpful starting points:
• Start slow. If you are new to decluttering, dedicate just 5 minutes a day to the task and build momentum.
• Start Small. Pick a drawer, a countertop, a cabinet and work up to the larger areas.
• Give one item away each day. In a year that would be 365 things you no longer have to store. Just think if you moved it up to two items!
• Donate clothes you never wear. Tag all your hangers once a year. When You wear the garment remove the tag. At the end of the year anything with a tag remaining goes to the Goodwill.
• Get help from a friend. Many times, we need both a set of fresh eyes to see what needs to go and the encouragement of a close friend to take on the task.
Maintaining our homes is much easier when stuff isn’t in our way. With less to maintain, we have more time to maintain the stuff we do have. Winter is coming and your car would really like to be inside before it snows. Don’t delay. Make decluttering a priority. You will save both time and money in the long run.
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! I’m back! It’s been a while since I’ve been able to write my column. My humans have been so busy with other stuff that they haven’t had the computer on at all. I finally figured out how to turn the computer on—I can push the little button with my nose. But, I don’t know the secret word that lets you work the typer. The next time one of my humans uses this computer, I’m going to keep my eyes open for that word. Once I get it, I’ll be able to write any time!
I have had so much fun watching my humans for the last couple of weeks. Two of the cats have really been giving them the run-around! Phyllis and her son, Possum, managed to lift the metal cover off the floor hole for the air cooler. They got down into the tubes under the house! They even broke a couple of the tubes loose from their holes in the floor!
My human went into the crawling space under that part of the house. Some of the tubes were bendy, like great big hoses, and he could see them sag and sway as the cats ran through! But, he couldn’t get them out. By the time he unhooked the tube, they’d be somewhere else. So, finally, he unhooked all the tubes. He looked through them all, but he couldn’t find the cats. He and his mate both thought the cats had somehow gotten outside.
They called the air cooler repair people. They went through all the tubes, too, before they hooked them up again. They were sure that the cats weren’t there.
The next morning though, one of the metal covers had been pushed up out of its hole in the floor. The cats had still been in there somewhere! They had come up into the room where they are fed, ate something, probably used the litter boxes, and went back into the tubes!
My humans have been wondering why I have been panting so much lately. Don’t they realize that’s how we dogs laugh?
There is a little hole in the wall between the crawling space and the basement (my human could squeeze through, so it couldn’t be THAT small). They thought maybe the cats had gone through that. Anyway, my human oochied through that hole a couple of times. He couldn’t find the cats there either.
They finally set live traps and managed to catch Phyllis and Possum. Once they were back in the cats’ quarters, my human screwed the metal covers onto the floor so they couldn’t get out again.
Cats are such trouble-makers! Do you think that dogs would do that? Of course not! We know where our food comes from. NO! We’re all too big to fit through the holes in the floor.
A Note From Bee
My father-in-law, Cleo, was known for his bargaining abilities. His biggest coup goes back to 1932. He wanted a 1920 Chevrolet that was on the lot of Horner’s Chevrolet in Crawfordsville. Russ Horner, the owner of the dealership was struggling to keep the dealership open because the depression was going on. Cleo made it a point of walking by Horner’s every day on his way to work. And every day he went in and offered Russ a price considerably lower than Russ was asking. This routine went on for a month. Finally Russ caved and said,”Cleo I am tired of bargaining with you. You can have it for your price.”
For 49 years, Cleo bought cars from Horner’s. Cleo died in 1981. My husband bought his first car from Horner’s in 1955. The last car we bought from them was in 2013. They did so many extra things to make it convenient for their customers to buy cars from them. They truly wanted to satisfy their customers.
Bee Jones
-George Bernard Shaw
