Stained art
Burkhart Elementary students craft glass windows with hands-on project
By Nicole Davis
Cut glass and a soldering iron aren’t typically tools a third, fourth and fifth grader gets to utilize. But in Henry-Burkhart Elementary School the last couple of weeks, students have gotten to use these items to make stained glass windows, with themes they drew themselves.
“I liked the cut glass and melting the iron on it,” said Hunter Bryant, fourth grader. “It was more fun than anything I’ve ever done in my class.”
Rita Wrighton, a stained glass artist now residing in Wisconsin, was brought into the Perry Township school for two weeks to teach the students how to put together the three large glass panes. Students submitted drawings to her with themes of Burkhart Elementary, Indianapolis and Indiana. Wrighton combined those drawings into the glass collage. On the weeks of the in-class project, parents volunteer to assist students in wrapping the copper foil around the edges of the cut glass and monitor as each child takes their turn soldering the foil-wrapped glass pieces together. Wrighton comes to the school every three years for this special project. This is her fourth visit.
“Each time I think I make them more complicated,” Wrighton said. “It’s definitely worth it. I personally like the soldering. The most challenging and rewarding is seeing the whole idea put together… I couldn’t do it without the parent volunteers.”
Wrighton, who has been crafting stained glass since 1980, says she loves watching the excitement in the students as they work on the hands-on project. Their eyes fill with a mixture excitement and fear as she explains the importance of being careful, as the soldering iron can get above 500 degrees, more than their ovens at home. When it is all done on Nov. 1, the panes will be hung around the school, the largest one located in the main office inside window for everyone to view.
“It’s pretty cool, the stuff melting,” said Brooke Gordon, fourth grader. “It hardens up so quickly. I thought it was going to be really hard. As soon as I got up there I was slow because I was afraid I would mess up in one spot and melt the glass.”
Kryslya Wickline and Brooke Gordon
Hunter Bryant
Faith Has a Voice
Franklin Township churchgoers find friendship in music
By Nicole Davis
Rob Hammes and Benjamin Mosier found a common interest while listening to the preaching at their church in 2010. Incorporating life lessons and religious beliefs in songs to be released on their contemporary Christian CD, Faith Has A Voice, on Nov. 10, the two said they have developed a strong friendship through their music.
“I have always written music and loved it, but I never got a change to use it in a positive way until I met Benjamin,” Hammes, 59, said. “It was such a blessed time to put these all together. You could just feel the presence of the Lord that you could slice the air with.”
They will have an “album party” to celebrate their music on Nov. 10, 3 p.m., at L.I.F.E. Church and Training Center, 5895 E. Thompson Rd., Suite D, Indianapolis. The party is open to the public, with free food and dancing.
“I was listening to a message preached here,” Mosier, 20, said. “The worship leader said what’s being said here should be made into a song. So, I wrote these lyrics and went to Rob… We didn’t intend for it to be a cd, it turned into that.”
The songs were written and recorded over a two-year span, completed by mid-2011. Hammes said the feedback they have gotten has been marvelous, and some other congregations have talked about picking up some of the songs. Churches who are members of Christian Copyright Licensing International can use the music for their worship. The album will officially be released Nov. 10 and sold on iTunes, Amazon and other locations.
“The things he comes up with are different,” Mosier said. “Each one of these songs is very unique in its own respect.”
Both have grown through their music, and said they aren’t in this for money but to spread the Word to all who will listen. Mosier said his experience has persuaded him to pursue his interest in music and he is currently learning to play the violin. Hammes said he has not only learned more about music, but about himself, too.
“I played around with a lot of different sounds and I never had so much fun in my life,” Hammes said. “I have learned to trust God, and relax.”
For more information or to inquire about a performance, contact Christena Hammes at (317) 902-1692.
In the spirit
Patrice Wright helps organize Beech Grove euchre tournament for Servant’s Heart
By Nicole Davis
Encouraged by the spirit of giving last year at Servant’s Heart of Indy, Patrice Wright has already been hard at work to contribute to the Beech Grove organization’s Christmas fund this year. With the help of local businesses and members of her Beech Grove High School class of ’71, Wright is co-chairing with former classmate Frieda Dowler to host a euchre tournament fundraiser on Nov. 10, 2012 at the Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave., to raise money for Servant’s Heart’s Christmas fund.
“I just think it’s a good cause,” Wright said. “This has the potential to be pretty good and pretty fun. I think we are going to do it like March Madness, with brackets for the competition.”
Every year during the holiday season, Servant’s Heart gives away food and other items to those in need for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is the first time Wright and Dowler have tried to organize such an event and they aims to get 100 participants for the tournament, helping between two and four families with their Christmas celebrations including food and gifts.
“Christmas is special for everyone and we just wanted to share,” Dowler said. “I don’t like to see someone that doesn’t have something and that needs something.”
The event costs $20 per person, which includes play, food and entry for door prizes. Tickets for a raffle will be sold separately. Doors open at 6 p.m. and games begin at 7 p.m.
“We were trying to think of something different,” Dowler said. “We thought we’d just do a happy night to enjoy, talk, see people and have fun playing cards. In ’71 everyone enjoyed playing Euchre, too.”
Wright said she was inspired last Thanksgiving, volunteering for a turkey dinner drive where those in need waited in line to receive a turkey, pumpkin pie and vegetables for their holiday celebrations. She said they gave away well over 400 dinners in a two-hour time span. After that, she began thinking about a fundraiser she could help with. Loving euchre and hearing of a similar past event, she knew this was something she could do.
“They do a really nice job with what they do,” Wright said. “It was very impressive to me. I’ve volunteered at a lot of different places and they don’t usually have it so organized.”
For more information, call (317) 788-9433, visit servantsheartofindy.org or e-mail info@servantsheartofindy.org.
Ancient Flax Seed
Ancient Flax Seed
Wendell Fowler
With the belly-bursting, holiday gorge fest on the horizon, and since this classic, festive fibreless food loiters, decomposing in your colon for 3 days at 98.6°, whew; it’s prudent to explore an exit strategy. Fibrous foods ‘roto-rooter’ the ole pipes, preventing a backed-up, toxic Temple.
Prior to 5000 BC, Egyptians carried flaxseed in their medical bags. Later, Hippocrates stated in some of his writings that flaxseed was a curative for abdominal pains. For more than 8,000 years, flaxseed has been used as a laxative, a plant food responsible for adding and sustaining energy, and for its curative properties.
The flax plant, woven into the clothing that swaddled baby Jesus, is an Omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFA), high fiber food with protein, vitamins and minerals, lignans, and antioxidants. Flax seed contain vitamins B-1, B-2, C, E and carotene. These fibrous seeds that keep digested food flowing swiftly between point A and B, contain iron, zinc, and trace amounts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin E and carotene. Flax is potent sources of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) which may prevent bone loss. Flax contains DHA for brain, eye and heart health throughout all stages of life; a miracle of God’s creation.
Research indicates flax’s Lignin is a potent antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral antioxidant, which possibly has anti-breast and colon cancer properties too. They flush excess estrogen out of your temple, reducing the incidence of estrogen-linked cancers, such as breast cancer. Lignin can reduce oxidative DNA lesions in cancer too. Pretty cool, eh?
The American Heart Association reports Omega 3 is almost entirely missing from today’s Western diet. Its ALA keeps bad cholesterol levels and blood triglycerides in check, therefore lowering blood pressure. Flax seed helps prevent heart disease by lowering LDL, reducing blood pressure and reducing strokes from clots. The heart, a muscle, needs Omega 3’s too. EFA’s in gluten-free flax regulate nerve transmission and communication, supplying us vital energy for a pumping heart. Golden flax oil can lower pesky triglycerides, improved mental clarity, help manage diabetes, depression, arthritis, allergies, circulation problems, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, skin disorders and gout. Flax can stabilize blood sugar, boost immunity, protect against respiratory infections, and may prevent kidney damage in Lupus. (SLE)
Flax seed is a groovy addition to your proactive arsenal. The temple can’t break them down so grind them in a coffee grinder to release their healing power and then store the ground seeds in the freezer. Want a happy colon? Don’t allow food to stay there too long and decay. Sprinkle ground flax on hot and cold cereal, pancakes, soup, salads, smoothies, marinara, stir-fries, or to pasta dishes and get ‘moving’ my friends.
Torry’s Top Ten
Top ten signs your Halloween celebration is not for children
by Torry Stiles
10. All your party games’ rules include the phrase “must chug a beer”
9. The wife’s revealing witch outfit gets you both kicked out of the Moose lodge.
8. At the bonfire you’re serving tofu dogs and low-fat marshmallows.
7. You dress up in drag and folks not only recognize you but remember your stage name.
6. You only brought the kids so you would have someone to drive you home.
5. The Apple Dunking contest starts with Susie Apple from down the street and gets worse as the night goes on.
4. What you thought were cute cowboy, indian and policemen costumes were actually part of a Village People tribute.
3. Your costume contest has three categories: PG-13, R and XXX.
2. The pastor has to remind the congregation that it’s “Trunk or Treat” not “Drunk or Treat.”
1. Your candy apple recipe starts with two shots of apple schnapps.
Letters to the editor
Beech Grove seceding from State of Indiana
Either the mayor of Beech Grove is uninformed as to the Indiana Smoking ban, or the city is declaring its independence from the laws of the State of Indiana.
The Indiana smoking ban which went into effect on July 1, 2012, exempts certain fraternal organizations (American Legions, VFWs, etc.) from the ban, provided they comply with HEA 1149, which has compulsory signage, timely notification requirement and mandates either the club provide a separate smoking area, that prevents the migration of smoke to designated non-smoking areas, or the club declare they are a smoking establishment (which must be voted upon by its membership) and not admit anyone under the age of 18 into the building.
However, the letter from the mayor’s office, posted on the entry way of the Post, the mayor states that he is proud of the veteran’s service and they can continue to smoke and allow children under the age of 18 in the smoking area. This is a direct violation of HEA 1149. I have tried to inform the post of the requirements of HEA 1149 until I am blue in the face, but the reply I get is that the mayor of this city has been given his green light to ignore the state statute. I am but an informed citizen, he is the mayor.
The last time I checked Beech Grove is a municipality of Indiana and therefore is subject to the laws of the State of Indiana.
The issues I have with the Mayor’s stance are, first all other clubs and businesses in Beech Grove have been forced to make a decision, infer extra costs, loss of business from their decision to comply with the law. Secondly, the VFW is being given incorrect information which could lead to fines enforceable by the Marion County Department of Health, Alcohol Tobacco Commission and in most extreme case a possible loss of license after repeated violations. Thirdly, the health of the children, which this law has been created to protect, is endangered by this blatant disregard of the law.
I personally do not care which direction the Post chooses to go. I do feel it should be subject to the laws everyone else is required to comply. And lastly, should not a mayor of a city, or somebody on his staff, be knowledgeable of state law and how it affects the citizens of that city.
-John Rainbolt, Beech Grove
Council Happenings
Recently, I proposed legislation to create a Youth Advisory Board and pleased to announce its passage. This Board will consist of 11 high school members in grades 9-12. The board is open to students in public, private, or home schooled that reside in the Beech Grove city limits. The Board will meet at least once a month and advise the Beech Grove City Council on issues that affect the youth and provide how we as a city can improve. Details of how to apply for a position will be posted on the City of Beech Grove website soon.
At the last Beech Grove City Council meeting, Mayor Dennis Buckley broke a 3-3 tie vote to increase his secretary’s salary to $41,689.96/year from last year for that position $36,400. My question for the Mayor would be why does he need a secretary and why would he want an increase in the salary for that position when he wrote a letter in the paper complaining when former Mayor Terry Dilk hired an assistant?
A proposal to the council introduced by Mayor Buckley calls for an increase to our sewage works bill. A study was done at the expense of tax payer funds to justify such a raise. The study failed to take into account for new fees for trash pick-up and a commercial trash pick-up service. First, I will tell you as it sits I am against this rate increase. We cannot justify an increase for the citizens of Beech Grove when all options have not been explored to decrease the sanitation budget.
Anthony Davidson
Beech Grove City Council, District 3
November 6th School Board Election
To the Editor
What do you expect out of your school board? I expect accountability; I expect uniformity within the school corporation. I expect the school board members to fight for what is right for the children and parents they serve. Education should not just be for the popular, education should not just be for the rich, education should be for all children, those that have dreams, and the willingness to strive to attain them. And if that is your child, I want to fight for your child. The members should be people who are willing to stand up to whoever they have to so that the children of Beech Grove are taken care of, and are getting what they need from their education and extra-curricular activities available to them. I feel that I am that person; we all know that I can be out spoken about things that I am passionate about, your children’s education as well as mine, is something that I am passionate about. An education is something that should never be taken for granted. Nor should a position as a School Board member, it’s a position to be proud of, a position of honor and one of hard work, and I feel that I am capable of being and doing all of those things for you and your children.
As many of you may know and some may not, I have been a Classroom Aide at Hornet Park in the Special Needs Preschool program; I have also worked with special needs children as a Bus Monitor through Franklin Township Schools. I am past president of the PTA of South Grove Intermediate School; I worked to pass the School Bus Referendum, as well as attending the workshop meetings and Anti-bullying meetings. As you can see I am no stranger to fighting for the rights of our children. With budget cut backs and the unemployment rate on the rise it is ever more crucial as parents to have the ability as parents to have our voices heard. I want to assure you that if elected I will listen to what the parents of our school corporation are thinking and feeling. I have graduated 3 children; have 1 that is a senior and 2 that are sophomores. I remember my time in school and how fast that time flew by, and how important those years were to me. My goal is to give our children the 12 best years in school, as well as seeing they are provided with the educational background to go as far as their dreams will allow. With that being said I appreciate your time, and would like your vote on Tuesday November 6th.
Jennifer Spitz
-Beech Grove
Response to 10/25 street paint damage letter to editor
To the editor,
I drive Thompson Road and take a left turn on Emerson every day. There is no orange paint there. As far as paying $500 for car repairs, that business (as they say) saw you coming. You ever heard of an auto parts store? Rubbing compound $5.00, a wet rag and you’re done. Get over it.
-Brian Wilkins
Beech Grove
On the South Side, 11/01
Reflections on Halloween hauntings
Well, Halloween has passed and a quick search tells me there are 10 or so places on the South Side that are said to be haunted. I don’t know if it is true or not and I am not of a mind to visit them all and verify their claims. Let’s just assume that they are.
Now, I will tell you that there were, in my childhood, many, many moons ago, two verifiable haunted houses in Amarillo, Texas where I grew up. That is where my Halloween story for this year will come from. I only have space for one house story. I’ll tell you about the other one next year.
The house in question was a dark yellow wood clapboard house and had been an old farm residence at one time in the distant past. It sat between two fields that we played at on a regular basis. It was a single story house with a detached garage. The house had a lot of windows and the shades were never opened, not even once. We did see an occasional light on inside but none of the ten or so little boys that I grew up with ever saw anybody enter or leave the house. We were told that there was a light on in the garage late at night but we ever had the nerve to look into the matter. Well, almost none of us. There was, sadly, the matter of Rusty’s little brother.
“Tommy” was, I recollect, five or six at the time. He was a quiet boy and did not join the older boys very often. We only saw him on weekends. Rusty told us he was never allowed outside during the week because he never finished his dinner. Anyway, on one particular Saturday evening we were playing baseball in the field next to the house. Gary had hit one of his well-known foul balls which bounced off the roof of the haunted house and dropped on the other side. We decided to let that ball go on the idea that none of us wanted to see just what was haunting that old house.
While we were discussing our options, little Tommy (who did not know the house was haunted) took off to retrieve ball from the other side of the house.
We never saw him again. We did a search the next day and all we found was our ball and his footsteps. The footsteps ended suddenly. We decided he was abducted by aliens.
Where we Worship: Friendship Church
A church for all ages
Ralph McCoy finds the atmosphere of Friendship Church true to its name
Ralph McCoy began attending Friendship Church after moving to Whiteland from Greenwood four years ago. Enjoying the welcoming staff, McCoy now participates in welcoming members to the church every Sunday.
“My wife just recently passed away, but I was happy that we did start attending that church because she was very happy there,” McCoy said. “It was a very friendly church. Every person that I have talked to that is new goes out of it really impressed, so that speaks a lot for the church.”
The hardest adjustment to make when switching churches, McCoy said was the change from traditional church music to contemporary. Now enjoying the inspirational lyrics of the music, he said everything about the church has grown on him. He said he loves how many small children attend the church, making it a place good for all ages.
“This ministry, the pastor, puts out an excellent service every week,” McCoy said. “It’s very easy and clear to understand.”
What is it about your place of worship that helps you to grow spiritually?
The people in the church. They are very supportive and were very supportive of me when my wife passed. Again, the pastor and his family are living a good life and his messages are very clear and understandable. He reads scripture of both new and Old Testament and relates it to history, what the times were like at that point. As far as myself, I am growing. I’ve never been strong in my faith, and I am growing.
What is it about your place of worship that helps you to feel connected to your spouse, children or family?
I’ve always been connected to my family.
What is one meaningful event that has taken place at your place of worship?
Small groups. My wife and I started attending a little over a year ago. It’s where we gather in someone’s home and discuss a book. Currently we are discussing the book of John. We get together, have a meal and worship after, and learn. It’s more in place of a Sunday school class. The small group is where I got most of my support from when my wife passed. They showed me how many people in that church really care.
Why would you recommend your place of worship to someone?
I think number one, to learn about God and Jesus. The pastor puts out a clear message every week. You won’t go away from there wondering what he said. There are a lot of young people there, young families that really seem to enjoy the church and that is inspirational to me as well.
Friendship Church
963 E. Worthsville Rd.
Greenwood, IN 46143
Service: Sundays at 9 & 10:30a.m.
Weekly Movie Review, 11/01
FUN SIZE: Isn’t too much fun
Fun Size is the newest film put out by Nickelodeon and just in time to try and capitalize off the Halloween celebration. Fun Size is the story of a high school student making college plans, who takes her much younger brother trick or treating so her mother can attend a Halloween party with her much younger boyfriend. Of course, all kinds of madness and mayhem ensue during the candy seeking outing.
First of all, I know I’m not the target demographic for a film like this or any film produced by Disney or Nickelodeon for that matter. But, then again, I’m not really sure who this film is intended for. There is too much objectionable content for the average Nickelodeon viewer as its rated PG-13 and I’m not sure what would draw older kids to it. Parents who do decide to take their youngsters to see this will find themselves continually looking at their watch and extremely bored.
The characters are stupid, the acting is awful, and the writing is pedestrian at best. The laughs are few and far between, (and that’s being very generous) which is kind of a problem when your film is considered a comedy. I can’t really say anything positive about Fun Size, except that it’s a relatively short film at just short of 90 minutes. So, at least it has that going for it, I guess.
Does Fun Size have potential? Yes. An older sister takes her younger brother trick or treating and loses him, an interesting idea. Does it have some talented people in its cast? Yes. Chelsea Handler, Johnny Knoxville, Anna Gasteyer, and Kerri Kenney all appear in the film. Does it squander all potential and the talents of its cast at every opportunity? Yes.
However, Fun Size isn’t a bad film or a good film. It’s a terrible film. It’s in the running for the worst film I’ve seen this year and that’s saying a lot because I’ve seen the Apparition. If you’re looking to take your children to a film, go see Hotel Transylvania, Wreck-It Ralph or anything else. Believe me; the only fun in Fun Size is in the title.
Cooking with Clint, 11/01
Your voice in the culinary conversation
Giving credit where credit is due, I owe my colleague, chef Jodi Traub, a nod of thanks for this week’s recipe. “I was looking for a new way to serve cornish game hens,” says Traub, who has a penchant for recipes with complicated flavor combinations. “Brining,” she points out, “is the key to making the birds so succulent.” But Traub also gives a nod to the original dish, explaining that she’d made some alterations to a recipe she’d discovered on a popular cooking website.
And in keeping with this perpetual cycle of recipe tinkering, that’s what I’ve done here: replacing the game hens with chicken thighs and making my own minor variations. Chicken thighs are woefully economic and, when properly prepared, succulent and flavorful. I’ve also employed a bit of stock to add some cooking liquid to the braising mixture.
Traub often serves rice pilaf and steamed green beans as accompaniments for this dish, but I encourage you to devise your own favorite combination. In fact, that’s what this is all about, right?—taking these recipes and coming up with your own gastronomic permutations and alterations. So don’t be shy: join the culinary conversation.
Clint Smith is an honors graduate of The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, Le Cordon Bleu, and is currently a culinary arts instructor at Central Nine Career Center in Greenwood. To read more about techniques and recipes, visit cookingwithclint.com.
Apricot chicken with balsamic and pistachios
Serves 2
• Brining solution: ½ cup sea salt plus 40 fluid ounces water
• 4 medium chicken thighs
• As needed, olive oil
• ½ onion, small dice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar plus ¾ cup water
• ½ cup apricot preserves
• ¾ cup chopped dried apricots
• ¼ cup chopped, shelled pistachios
• As needed, chopped fresh parsley
• To taste, kosher salt and cracked black pepper
1. In a large pot, warm water and dissolve sea salt for brine. Allow mixture to cool completely before pouring over thighs in a container large enough to cover thighs. Soak in brine for at least two hours. Afterwards, remove from solution and pat dry.
2. Preheat oven to 400° F. Heat olive oil in a high-side sauté pan; season skin-side of thighs with kosher salt and cracked black pepper, and pan-sear thighs (skin-side down) until exterior is golden brown and crispy. Remove chicken from pan and reserve on plate.
3. Add onions and cook until translucent and tender; add garlic and sweat briefly. Add a bit of oil along with flour; stir to form a paste (called a roux). Add in balsamic and water; stir in apricot preserves. Return thighs (along with rendered juices) to pan and cover; place in oven for fifteen to twenty minutes, or until thighs juices are running clear.
4. Remove braised thighs and keep warm. Strain braising liquid through a colander or chinois and keep warm. If you like, add a bit of chopped apricot to this sauce. Serve thighs with sauce, and garnish with chopped apricot, parsley, and pistachio.