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FC to host WGI
Editor,
2010 is here and we are at the commencement of another amazing indoor drum line season. Mixed in with Winter Guard International regional competitions will be previews, local competitions, aggressive rehearsal schedules, road trips and beautiful memories, all of which will culminate at the “Sport of the Arts” World Percussion Finals in Dayton, Ohio, April 15-17.
Franklin Central High School is honored to once again host the Indianapolis Percussion Regional, and what a show! On March 6, 36 ensembles will be performing. Considering last year’s level of performances at the Indy Percussion Regional, fans should expect this year’s exciting event to be full of many WOW moments. The drum lines competing at the Indy Regional will perform with an intensity and excellence matched only at the highest levels of pageantry arts. Read the rest of this entry »
Letter to the editor
Editor,
While the process is continuing to remove our 911 services this year, some city councilors have introduced a piece of legislation to the Beech Grove City Council. It is ordinance NO.1,2010. If passed it would require that no city departments(i.e, Dispatch, Fire & Police) or functions could be terminated or transferred outside of Beech Grove without a referendum (our vote). Please contact your Beech Grove City Council person and mayor. Our 911 services are too important for us to lose them. In addition to this, State Representative John Barnes is fighting hard in the State legislature to pass legislation that would allow us to keep our 911 services. I’m sorry to say I don’t think he has much support. Other legislators are afraid that their communities will want the same thing. I thank John for spending so much time to promote that which Beech Grove citizens find to be a vital service to our community. As a community we need to speak out! I know everyone is busy, but retaining all our city services is too important! Don’t be silent on this! Sometimes our elected officials have a difficult time hearing us. Let them know we are here, and we are listening to them and watching them. Our 911 services are scheduled to be moved sometime this year! Speak out in support of ORDINANCE NO.1, 2010. Go to www.beechgrove.com/cityhall.htm to look up your Beech Grove representative, or call 788-4977. Thank you.
Susie McMillan
Beech Grove Resident
Proud of BG Administration
Editor,
I want to thank Dr. Kaiser. As a Beech Grove City Schools employee — I am happy that you are NOT going to participate in a delay or closing of school on Monday due to the Super Bowl. I think it is sad that other schools can’t enforce their staff to take more pride in their jobs (especially since the economy is in the shape that it is) and want to make sure the kids are not missing out on the curriculum. It is funny to me how they will use this to close or delay, but they do not blink an eye on the children’s health when it is 10 degrees below zero wind chill. Strange concept! Anyway, I wanted to thank you for once again upholding the classiness that Beech Grove holds. I am proud to be a Beech Grove City Schools employee!
Shelly Ham
Office Assistant,
Central Elementary
Beech Grove
Council meetings are crucial for discussing issues at hand
Editor,
We have had so many people ask why the regular monthly meeting of the Beech Grove City Council was postponed just hours before its scheduled time. It’s a question we can’t answer, as we continue to seek an explanation ourselves. But of course the silence on the subject really is the answer; there was no good reason for the postponement. Read the rest of this entry »
Readers’ Views
Editor,
I heard recently that the Beech Grove Public Library will be laying off their children’s librarian and discontinuing the position. As someone who grew up going to that library and who was inspired to become a children’s librarian after working there, I find this decision disturbing.
I know the library has been struggling financially, but surely there were better options than removing the only position dedicated to serving children. In a time when many libraries have adopted early literacy as a primary objective, the Beech Grove library has decided that providing quality service to children is less important than other services (like the Dining Car Café, for example). I am stunned that the library sees no need to have someone who is solely dedicated to serving children and their parents and has also been educated and trained to work directly with them.
It is a sad day when a library purposely chooses other services over the children of the community. I hope the people of Beech Grove realize what they are losing.
William D. Smither
Indianapolis
Readers’ Views
Editor,
I would homeschool my son (age 5 in February) if it was financially possible for me to. Unfortunately I am a single mother and must work to provide for us. I also take college courses online. However, my reasons for wanting to homeschool my son are one on one learning (he would get all the attention and help he might need to excell in his work), not having to worry about his safety and having more control over who he makes friends with and what kind of families they have. I feel that public schools do not offer the best educational experience for children, and he will have classmates whose parents do not care or help their children learn or show their children how important being educated is. I feel that part of raising a child is to ensure that they become well-educated individuals that are capable of thinking critically and are able to support themselves. I would also rather see faith involved in the learning experience, which is not a possibility in public schools. I do not agree with the learning of evoloution theory in grade school. I would like my child to grow up to be an outstanding american citizen who values education, hard work, honesty and faith. I do not see it as the school’s role to instill that in America’s children, but more so the parents’ role, as such parents should be extremely involved in their children’s education. I wish with all my heart that I could homeschool my son.
Kortney Bewley
Indianapolis
Readers’ Views
Editor,
I just wanted to thank you for your article on the homeschooling family! I was homeschooled myself from 3rd grade to 12th grade, and when I tell people I was homeschooled, they don’t seem to know what to think. Even my college psychology teacher immediately asked, “What did you do to socialize?” There’s such a stigma connected to the word that people don’t even consider the possibility of homeschooling.
Sarah Skirvin
Beech Grove
Disgusted by lack of respect
Editor,
After the killings at Fr. Hood, the American flag was flying at half-mast at the White House as TV filmed the president speaking.
I was curious as to how many in Beech Grove would be showing this mark of respect for the dead.
On Nov. 10 (the day before Veterans Day), I drove the length of Albany Street. There were two: Beech Grove Meadows and Marsh. On 13th Avenue, the middle school’s. On Churchman, the one at the fire departments. Read the rest of this entry »
In praise of the SST
Editor,
Ms. Gentry provides a short but thorough explanation of one complex aspect of local property taxes. She describes how the state (DLGF) determines tax rates (levies) and how revenue from TIF districts can be used to improve the health of a central business district. Many more citizens would benefit if each elected official had such a studied understanding of how this process works.
Illustrator B. Gentry graphically shows how the Indiana property tax pie is shared among different taxing units. Southport gets a lot less (40 percent less) of that pie that other Indiana cities (10.5 percent vs. 18 percent). Many Southport residents don’t realize that the other three excluded cities depend on tax rates that are two, three or nearly four times our local city rate. Read the rest of this entry »
Citizens pay taxes, government spends taxes
Editor,
A news anchor on one of our national TV networks asked the question on Friday evening’s news, “When will the nation’s unemployment rate quit rising and turn in the other direction?”
The answer is simple and known to us all. Read the rest of this entry »