Obituaries for the week of 02.28.10

By Submission For The Southside Times

Leon F. Cook, 94, of Indianapolis died on Jan. 25, 2010. He was born September 25, 1915, in Columbus, Ind., to Osten and Irene Cook. Leon was a quality control inspector at P. R. Mallory for 47 years; he retired in 1980. He was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church and P. R. Mallory Conservation Club. Leon assisted his son’s teams in Little League Baseball and loved to travel with his family. He was a devoted husband, beloved father, and loving grandfather. His wife, Esther Cook, and brothers, Billy and William Cook, precede him in death. Survivors include his children, Carole A. (Al) Ratz, Maureen F. (Harold Simmons) Haney; Michael L. (Yoke) Cook; Kathy (Larry) Cooke, and James V. (Mary Pat) Cook; seven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and his fishing buddy, Bill Harter. He will be deeply missed by many family and friends. Calling was held Wednesday, Jan. 27, at G. H. Herrmann Madison Avenue Funeral Home, 5141 Madison Avenue. Prayers will be held at 9:15 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. He will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.ghherrmann.com. [ad#single-post] Esther M. (Crihfield) Hylden, age 86, died Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. Born May 17, 1923, she was the daughter of Hubert and Stella (Harris) Crihfield, who also preceded her in death.She worked research for Dr. Mark Mothersill and Sir Alexander Flemming (UK) on penicillin at Eli Lilly.  Also, she worked at Grafton State Hospital with the mentally and psychologically challanged, St. John’s Hospital in Fargo North Dakota as a lab and x-ray technician, New York and New Jersey Squibb Lab, 22 years as investigator protective services at CICOA as a case manager, then retired at age 72 to volunteer at Victim Assistance and IPD. Esther was a gifted artist and World War II volunteer. She worked at Atterbury as a liberty bell and also at Army hospitals: Wakeman General and Camp Kilmer in Highland Park, N.J. She also was a Gray Lady at Juelletta, along with being a mentor and court advocate. Survivors include her son, Kristan (Janice) Hylden; her sister, Rosemary Kramer; her brother, Herb Crihfield; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Darla Reynolds. A memorial service will be Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, at 2 pm at G. H. Herrmann Madison Avenue Funeral Home, 5141 Madison Avenue, with calling one hour prior to services. Part of Esther’s ashes will be placed with her daughter, Jennifer R. Hylden, who was laid to rest at Round Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.ghherrmann.com.

Don’t trash your amaryllis

By Carol Michel

A few weeks after you’ve put up the last of the holiday decorations, it’s tempting to also toss out the poinsettia plants and amaryllis (Hippeastrum sp.) bulbs once their blooms have faded. I agree, go right ahead and send the poinsettias to the compost bin. Most of us can’t provide the kind of environment they need to re-bloom anyway, particularly the requirement for complete darkness for 12 hours each day for 10-12 weeks in the fall. But don’t toss the amaryllis bulbs out! With some simple care you can get the amaryllis bulbs to bloom again next year. [ad#single-post] Begin by cutting off the bloom stalk once the first flowers have faded and leave all the foliage. Then put the amaryllis where it will get bright light, such as a south facing window, and continue to water it through spring and summer like you would other houseplants, fertilizing it once or twice a month. Around mid-August, stop watering and let the bulb go dormant. As the foliage dies, cut it off. Sometime in mid to late November, start watering the bulb again. In a few weeks, you should see new foliage and a new bloom stalk and have another amaryllis bloom to enjoy. Now that you know how easy it is to get an Amaryllis to bloom again, here are a few other tips for growing them. Amaryllis in bloom can be top-heavy and may need to be staked. Plant the bulb in a sturdy, heavy pot that is about two inches wider than the diameter of the bulb. Water thoroughly each time you water and make sure the pot has good drainage. Keep the amaryllis indoors in a brightly lit window. If you put your amaryllis outside for the summer, check the container for insects before bringing it indoors in the fall. When the bulb is dormant, keep it as cool as possible — as cool as 55 degrees F is helpful. Once a year, replenish the soil around the bulb by removing the first inch or so of potting soil and adding new soil. Finally, enjoy the success of the re-bloom!

Raise your hand if you expect Haiti to help the U.S.

By Mike Redmond

I realize a good share of you nice folks turn to this space looking for something that will make you laugh. I also realize a good share turn to it and wonder why I still have a job, but that’s a topic for another time. Today I’d like to set the comedy aside and talk about something I saw on an Internet that just infuriated me, and still does. [ad#single-post] The subject was Haiti. A person on a social network site was appealing to friends to contribute whatever they could to the relief effort. For all intents and purposes, she was preaching to the choir. Most everyone answered that they had already given money and planned to donate more. And then came the entry that lit my fuse. Someone said that instead of Haiti we had a moral obligation to help people at home, and then asked, “What did Haiti do for us after 9/11?” I put that exact question to the Mr. Google and found another entry from another site saying: “They’re making such a big deal about how everyone should send money down to Haiti to help them out because of the earthquake. Has everyone forgotten that Haiti hates us? Have they ever tried to help us during any of our disasters?” Like I said, I was steamed. Ignorance and selfishness do that to me. Haiti, as we have all learned because it is said on every news program, is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Average income — measured back before the earthquake, when they still had places to eke out a living — is $20 a day. What, exactly, was Haiti supposed to offer after 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina? Certainly not money. The place exports coffee and sisal. Coffee we have. Sisal is used to make dartboards. I don’t recall anyone mentioning a dartboard shortage. And you know what? Neither do I remember anyone mentioning Haitian hatred of America. I have found people who want that to be true so it fits their narrative for how we’re wasting our money and manpower on those they assure us are ingrates. They don’t have any proof. They’ve never even met anyone from Haiti. They just “know.” My experience is that most people in this world don’t hate America. They are wary of our government, and in some cases rightfully so. They’re not exactly alone in that sentiment, you know. Plenty of people right here are wary of our government, too. I’m going to go out on a limb and bet that some of the people who said these things are among the 76 percent of Americans who identify themselves as Christian. I’m no Bible scholar, but I don’t remember Jesus ever saying anything about mercy having a residency requirement. Charity begins at home, I agree, but nobody said anything about it stopping there. And even if the Haitians DID hate us, what about Matthew 5:44? “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” Pope John Paul II once said, “Anything done for another is done for oneself.” Viewed that way, charity abroad IS charity at home. But I doubt I could get the Moron-American community to understand, because they are not paying attention to another saying by that same wise man: “Stupidity,” he said, “is also a gift of God, but one mustn’t misuse it.”

It’s all about where you start

By Kevin Kane

Like 90 percent of the people waiting in line at grocery store checkouts, I tend to glance at the magazine covers. The front-page “teasers” grab my attention, but that’s where the curiosity stops. I look but don’t touch. The most recent cover to catch my eye was Star’s exclusive on Octomom’s weight loss secrets. I wasn’t looking because I thought she looked good, though. It was more like an Arrested Development moment, as I looked at the cover and thought, “Her?” [ad#single-post] Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Octomom is fat, but she isn’t exactly ripped, either. What I mean is, her current body would likely be labeled one of the “Worst beach bods of ’09” if it were under someone else’s head, and I’m sure the photo’s heavily airbrushed. If Angelina Jolie had a body like Octomom, for example, the magazines would conclude her feuds with Brad caused her to overeat and inflate. The same publication would likely claim she’d lost control of her life and — “more importantly” — her weight. So I got to thinking about this. Fat, ugly, skinny, attractive — there’s no definite definition for any of these. It all depends on where someone started, and Octomom’s the perfect example. She became famous because of her story and its freak-show factor. The first time we saw her she literally had eight other people inside of her. In terms of appearance, there’s really little room to downgrade at that point. So when Nadya slimmed down to more average size, suddenly she was wearing bikinis on magazine covers in poses typically reserved for top actresses and supermodels. She was sharing tips on what helped her get fit, but if Jennifer Aniston’s head were on that body the headlines would “Jen loses battle vs. chocolate.” Like I said, Octomom doesn’t look bad, but she never would have been cover-worthy if she didn’t start with the body of an offensive lineman. Everyone loves a success story, and that’s what hers is. She lost the equivalent of another person in baby fat and returned to a pre-pregnancy body. While she doesn’t resemble someone Star would typically say looks great, because of where she started, she does, and they did. Seeing this example made me think that maybe it would be better to start life like Benjamin Button than Brad Pitt. Button came out the womb looking ready for the nursing home. As he aged, he looked like a younger old man, and even though he still resembled a troll, remembering what he used to look like made his current appearance seem better. So I guess this is all bad news for people who already have great bodies, and good news for those who don’t. Remember Gerard Butler in 300, with abs that looked capable of breaking bricks? He’s still in better shape than me, but compared to his previous physique he looks like a slob. Octomom, though, went from bad to decent, and her path to the cover of Star, I think, can be taken as a positive. People don’t have to look great for others to think they look amazing down the road. A few trips to the gym and a few less burgers is all it takes to be cover-worthy, because we all love a success story. Just making a noticeable change is enough to, well, get noticed — no matter what how the “before” picture looked. I suppose next we could see my boy Dennis Franz on the cover of some magazine, post-Taco Bell diet, shirtless and heralded as the new Bruce Willis. That should give hope to anyone.

Top ten rejected slogans for the Colts at the Super Bowl

By Torry Stiles

10. The Colts get an “A” — New Orleans is below “C” level. 9. Hey, New Orleans! We’re gonna blow right bayou! 8. February 7, 2010: Addai to remember. 7. Peyton Place to Dallas to South Beach ... and you won’t have to change the channel. 6. Sure beats sitting at home waiting for the draft. 5. We speak French, too ... Pierre Garçon. 4. Blue and white turns black and gold to black and blue. 3. Let’s hope Mayor Nagin saved you some buses for the ride back. 2. Your French Quarter won’t be worth two cents when we’re done. 1. ... and when we’re done we’re comin’ back for your FEMA trailers.

He had a big old plate of crow with his supper

By Sherri Coner-Eastburn

Ah yes. Finally. The farmer’s crown of perfection has been knocked sideways. He got a traffic ticket. And he stewed on the news for almost a week before sheepishly confessing his fall from grace. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” I said devilishly. [ad#single-post] “You heard me,” he groaned. “I got a ticket.” “No kidding?” I smiled. “And how do you feel about that?” He couldn’t take anymore of my brimming-with-happiness-at-your-bad-news behavior and ducked out the back door. This traffic-ticket business is a big deal since I happen to be the identified monster in this marriage. Any time disaster strikes around here, it has my name written all over it in neon letters. If something is broken, it’s me who did it. I’ve knocked over more than a few floor lamps while running the sweeper like a maniac. I drop things often since I fly through life in fifth gear. If tires are popped, it’s me. I am guilty of hitting potholes and curbs. It’s not on purpose. It just happens. If the car interior is trashed, it’s on me. In fact, at this very moment, I can safely guess that seven pairs of shoes, two jackets and at least 11 drink cups are hanging around on the backseat of my car. If the farmer opened that car door right this minute, he would hyperventilate in horror. He is the neat-as-a-pin type. And who knows why he decided to tie the knot with a pig pen. Until today, when I learned about the farmer’s traffic ticket, I also had the monopoly on court costs. If someone had a contest for how many tickets you can get from “rolling through stop signs,” I would be an easy winner. So the farmer’s traffic ticket was a big deal. I could finally save face for once while serving up a big old plate of crow to go along with the soggy chicken and the lumpy mashed potatoes. As I put supper on the table, I smiled. “I feel downright giddy about your moving violation.” “I’m nowhere near catching up with you, Miss Driving School,” he sneered. “I’m thinking you’re starting to slip,” I said. “You’re losing your reputation. Who knows? A traffic ticket this week and maybe a flat tire with a bent rim next week? The sky’s the limit when your crown gets knocked sideways.”

Are there tax breaks for that?

By Steve Maple

Inquiring minds want to know. Here is a miscellany of questions. Does a durable power of attorney continue after the grantor’s death? The “durable” part allows the power of attorney to continue even if the grantor is no longer mentally or physically competent to manage his or her legal and financial affairs. However, the power of attorney does terminate at the grantor’s death. [ad#single-post] Is a written lease necessary and should it be drafted by a lawyer? Unless the rent is for a portable potty, a lease is essential to spell out the rights and duties for the landlord and tenant. Misunderstandings and lawsuits can often be avoided by a well drafted lease. Since the rent may be several hundred to many thousands of dollars, both landlord and tenant should consider using attorneys to draft and review the lease. How can I avoid probate of my estate when my two sole assets are a house and investment accounts? If your estate has one or two beneficiaries, then you may want to consider using a “paid on death” beneficiary designation for the accounts and a deed that specifies a “transfer on death” beneficiary. Upon death, these assets are transferred to the beneficiaries without probate. Putting the assets in a “joint ownership with rights of survivorship” could be an alternative, as could be establishing a trust. You should use an attorney to draft the deed and advise you on this transaction, because there may be some Indiana inheritance tax and income tax consequences. I am a grandparent raising my grandchildren. Are there any tax breaks? If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild and financially responsible for the child, then you may be eligible for the federal tax dependency exemption. You must provide over one-half the support of a grandchild who lives with you over one-half the year and is under age 19 (or a student under age 24). Additionally, you may be eligible for the child tax credit. My employer requires me to set-up on the job 30 minutes before I clock in. Am I owed the extra half hour pay each day? If you are working for your employer during those 30 minutes, then federal Wage and Hour laws require payment for the work. If the extra minutes added to the regular work time puts you over 40 hours in a week, you may also be eligible for time-and-half pay. Check with your local Wage and Hour division of the U.S. Labor Department. Can I cancel a purchase from a door-to-door salesman? You have a right to cancel a sale made in your residence if you do so in writing to the seller within three business days. You should keep a copy of the letter and consider sending the notice by certified mail-return receipt. Also, note that several sales people claim to be college students working their way through school. When one “college student” asked me to buy from him, I inquired about the college he attended. He couldn’t remember.

Talking property taxes

By Mike Alexander

State legislators representing the Greenwood-area would like to see the elimination of property taxes. About 50 voters heard Sens. Brent Waltz and Pat Miller, and Reps. Woody Burton and David Frizzell say property taxes tend to go out of control. That’s why an amendment to the state Constitution is necessary. [ad#single-post] In a public meeting in Greenwood Saturday, legislators answered questions about capping property taxes, and also cutting the state budget and moving township services to the county level. Recently, both the House and Senate in the state Legislature passed a joint resolution that would constitutionally cap property tax rates at 1 percent for homeowners, 2 percent for agricultural and rental properties, and 3 percent for businesses. That resolution will become a referendum for Indiana voters to decide in the November election whether an amendment should be made to the Constitution to establish those caps. The resolution was proposed after the taxpayers revolt in 2007. Both houses of the state legislature had to pass the resolution in sessions last year and this year to move it to a referendum vote. Would constitutionally putting in place property tax caps bankrupt local governments? In the audience, former Johnson County Councilman Ron West said it would. He said local governments are bound by fixed costs. For example, 70 percent of the Johnson County budget pays for criminal justice, and other things such as utilities and fuel. “It would be a terrible mistake to put on caps,” he said. As for property taxes, a more fair approach, he added, would be to tax property on a square footage basis. Local communities should have a choice of what they want to pay for, including the level of education, and police and fire protection. Burton answered that if it should reach a point where local services would be affected, then the state legislature will do something about it. In answer to a voter who had farm land in Johnson and Morgan counties and believed the 2 percent cap was unfair, Rep. Burton said farm land is taxed on yield (what it produces) value rather than market value. Sen Waltz said in 1816 Indiana was inhabited by about 90 percent farmers, with the remainder living in cities and towns. Since World War II, the reverse has become true. But farm lands still are basically being taxed the same way. Sen. Miller said she favored limiting rising assessments if tax rates are held down by caps. She liked what California does, keeping property tax rates the same from the date of purchase to date of sale. Miller said state revenues are funded by property taxes; local governments are funded by income taxes and sales tax. “If we would reduce the sales tax by 5.5 cents and put a tax on services, we could eliminate property taxes,” she said. Burton said the state has already cut 20 percent from its budget. “That’s not all bad, as far as I am concerned. If there are deficiencies in local government, then we, as legislators, will have to come up with a solution.” He added that state spending, despite drastic cuts, currently is running $3 million more a day above revenues. Miller said the state already has started spending the $1 billion it had in reserve. She said in 18 months, the state will be $1.6 billion in the red because of reduced state revenues brought on by the economic recession. She said the state must find a way to regain the $1.6 billion loss if it is to fund schools and higher level education at same level it is today. “State employees have not had a raise in three years,” she pointed out. As for township government, Sen Waltz said it is his contention that it is not cost efficient. As for residents in Greenwood and White River Township voting May 4 to decided whether to merge, thus eliminating its township government, Waltz said township residents would face a tax increase if there is a merger. He said township residents must consider if they will receive sufficient, additional services to merit the tax increase. If not, they should vote it down. Waltz said mergers can be complicated when there is the possibility of better services and lower salaries on one side, and higher salaries and lesser services on the other side. Sen. Pat Miller said there is sentiment in the state Legislature this session to eliminate township advisory boards. Sen. Frizzell said he would be in favor of consolidating township government into the county if the majority of people want it and the same level of services would be maintained.

Taste of the Southside expands its menu

By Submission For The Southside Times

Food and wine enthusiasts should start preparing their palates for Sunday’s 18th annual Taste of the Southside. This popular community event will feature food and beverage samples from more than 40 restaurants, bakeries, caterers and wineries. New for 2010 Four local chefs will showcase their culinary talents in an “iron chef” cook-off. The challengers are Keith Angell, Hal’s Fabulous Vegas Bar and Grille; Richard Goss, Richard’s Kitchen; Aaron O`Mara, Augustino’s Italian Restaurant; and Chris Porter, Bravo Italian Kitchen. The participating chefs will have only 30 minutes to prepare three dishes that must incorporate a plate of secret ingredients revealed to them just before their time begins. Each chef will have access to a pantry of cooking staples and common spices. All dishes will be judged on plate presentation, flavor, portion size and how creatively they incorporate the secret ingredients. The cook-offs will take place at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Attendance hit an all-time high in 2009 so organizers are expanding the event layout to create more elbow room where attendees can nibble and network to their heart’s content. In all, this year’s guests will enjoy 25,000 square feet of food and fun. In addition to cheering for the chefs and enjoying more breathing — and eating — room, Taste attendees can bid on a variety of auction items. Proceeds from this year’s feature auction item will benefit the American Red Cross Haiti relief efforts. That featured auction item is an autographed Peyton Manning action photo from Super Bowl XLI, along with a commemorative Super Bowl XLI trading card set, both matted and framed. The estimated value of this exciting collectible is more than $1,000. In addition to Colts memorabilia, the Taste offers a popular silent auction featuring sports memorabilia, wine baskets, restaurant gift certificates and getaway packages. “We are proud to partner with Community Health Network in delivering this hallmark community event to Southside food and beverage lovers and are thrilled that this event has become a tradition people look forward to attending. We have fun spicing it up to create a memorable experience each year,” said Christian Maslowski, executive director at the Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. Participants A Piece of Cake Albatross Pizza Emporium America’s Incredible Pizza Company Cold Stone Creamery GFS Marketplace Kinetico Quality Water Systems Moe’s Southwest Grill Oliver Winery Wing’n It Arni’s Restaurant Bravo Italian Kitchen Chateau Thomas Winery Fireside Brewhouse Napoli Villa Italian Restaurant Jonathan Byrd’s Catering & Banquets Max & Erma’s The Cheesecake Factory The Melting Pot Hal’s Fabulous Vegas Bar & Grille Paradise Bakery & Café Mallow Run Winery Qdoba Mexican Grill Community Hospital South Nutrition & Food Services Donatos Pizza Sammy’s Pizza and Salad Buck Creek Winery Gallagher’s Place Easley Winery Monarch Beverage Brozinni Pizza McAlister’s Deli Shallo’s Antique Restaurant Smoke Eaters BBQ Don Pablo’s Stir Crazy The Coffee Shop Aqua Systems Cakes by Cathy Sunshine Bakery Applebee’s Fairytales Custom Cakery Mexico City Grill Noodles and Company Richard’s Kitchen When: 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31 Where: Valle Vista Golf Club and Conference Center, 755 E. Main St., Greenwood Tickets: $30 for one, $50 for two in advance; $35 each at the door Additional Info: Attendees must be 21 or older Web: Visit www.greenwood-chamber.com

Aging doesn’t have to suck

By Wendell Fowler

Are you persistently sapped and mentally done in? Feel like a wrinkled up dog-doo snow-cone? Do tackling weekend mental and physical chores feel like swimming through Jell-O? Is that what’s bumming you out, bucko? Guess what? You’re aging. The oxidative effects of aging are predictable, but you needn’t hand over your youth to age-related disease until you’re darned good and ready. After all, no one is charge of your health but you. Disease is not a natural progression of aging. It’s a result of nutrient deficiencies and, occasionally, genes. You are what you absorb from food and drink. What you eat becomes part of you, profoundly affecting the aging process. Maximum-quality building materials from the universe, not a CEO, make a measurable difference in how you feel now and how your body wears for tomorrow. If you feed yourself poorly, you’ll look and feel old sooner rather than later, and all the spa spackle on earth won’t conceal it. [ad#single-post] With the back-breaking cost of healthcare, chowing sun-drenched antioxidant-dense foods becomes germane. Tonight Show host Jay Leno recently displayed his dented intellect saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever had a salad, actually. And I don’t think I’ve had a vegetable since 1969.” Jay, there’s a reason 57 percent of savvy Americans are improving how they eat by consuming more fresh fruits and salads: nutritional literacy and personal stewardship. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish oils, nuts, seeds, clean water and green leafy vegetables speed-bump aging. “Dietary choices are critical to delay aging and age-related diseases, and the sooner you start, the greater the benefit,” states the American Dietetic Association. How we age is affected by everything we place into our often indiscriminate mouths. Even though fewer calories reverse the aging process, it’s simply not enough; it’s quality over quantity. We take a load off our digestive tract by eating less and zeroing in on easy-to-digest whole foods in balance with our bodies. Highly nutritious lentils and the seed quinoa are wonderful examples. Your daily diet needs informed planning to maximize nutrition. But you already know this. The uber-American lifestyle and the consumption of dead food nibble at the crispy edges of a nation’s collective health, weakening its stability. Eating processed food with unpronounceable fuel sucks the life right out of your health equity. That’s shifting as numerous green chefs and green grocers are embracing local foods, supporting the concerns of their customer’s increasingly nutritional awareness and sense of community. Still, the food best suiting holy temple biochemistry comes from locally procured sustainable foods combined with your own scratch efforts in the home kitchen where you manage the ingredients. As you feed the temple fresh, clean, pure foods bursting with the intelligence of the cosmos, you’ll feel the rush of nutritional righteousness speed-bumping the aging process. By contrast, greasy fast food sweetened with fructose, contaminated with trans-fat is a real drag for your body to digest. Such food terrorizes your innards, holds energy hostage; freaks out bodily functions putting the aging process pedal to the metal. If food doesn’t occur in nature, put it back on the shelf, slowly back away and no one will get hurt. You’ll send a powerful message to the ethically malnourished clowns who make it. You deserve to age gracefully. Life is such a beautiful gift, but way too short. To discover your fountain of youth, eat a balanced diet of whole plant foods, reduce calories and take a multi-vitamin food-based supplement. Savor an occasional nap, sit in the sunshine, do a good deed, adopt a pet, develop a sense of humor, loosen up your sphincter and get some moderate, daily exercise. Your body is your buddy.