December 1, 2009 by Current Publishing

WE TRIED TO FOOL HER BUT THE JOKE IS ON US / P4

TRAVEL THROUGH HOLIDAY ALONG THE NICKEL PLATE TRAIL / P7

162 AREA GIRLS PERFORM IN CLASSIC 'NUTCRACKER' / P13

Tuesday December 1, 2009 FREE

Palin power

Former V.P. candidate’s return trip unites energized supporters / P2 Photo by CW Photography

Palin power

Former V.P. candidate’s return trip unites energized supporters

By Tia Nielsen Current in Noblesville Although the crowd was somewhat smaller than the throng of 24,000 who greeted Sarah Palin on her first visit to Noblesville last fall, her second stop here was huge on camaraderie and big hope as an energized crowd of “hardcore patriots” welcomed her after a long wait. The occasion for the former governor of Alaska and 2008 VicePresidential candidate was the third stop on her “Going Rogue” book tour Nov. 19 at the Borders book store in Hamilton Town Center. Addressing the gathered group of nearly 2,000, according to Borders officials, Palin fondly recalled last fall’s campaign experience at the Verizon Wireless Music Center across the street. While many of her supporters were rewarded for their wait, some would leave upset. Book publisher HarperCollins set a limit of 1,000 to get wristbands for the chance to have the book signed during the allotted time. Logistically, not that many people could pass through. Still, there was “a lot of good energy,” said Borders general manager Marty Beck Here is how Beck and others experienced the event.

Marty Beck, general manager, Borders

Beck was in the midst of intense preparations for the Christmas season. On short notice, his store was tapped as the site for Palin’s third stop of the book tour. Beck was all for Palin’s drop-by visit. “Anything that helps the community is good,” said Beck. Beck marshaled his 25 years of retail experience, 15 with Borders, to coordinate the book signing. Recruiting other metro stores managers, Beck said on the day Palin arrived, “Anybody who works here is here today.” People began calling the Hamilton Town Center store “from places she’s not going to be,” including Hawaii. They wanted Beck to let them buy a book, get it signed and mail it. He turned them all down. “I cater to the local folks,” he explained. But mid-day, Beck noted, “People were really excited. It was great considering how cold it was and how long they were (waiting) outside.”

Max and MaryKay Ellis, Noblesville

Caught near the end of the book signing line, and literally left out in the cold, the Ellises were philosophical. About 600 attendees with wristbands were able to get books signed. Although disappointed when time ran out, the Ellises were delighted to receive adhesivebacked bookplates autographed by Sarah Palin. Others were less pleased and chanted, “Sign my book!” Those rants evaporated when Palin emerged

2 | December 1, 2009

Photo by Leslie Webber

Sarah Palin reaches out to sign books for Sofie Senn (on the right), age 5, and Madeline Senn, age, 3 of Indianapolis. The daughters of Tammy Wyss Senn, who is assisting the girls, are the grandchildren of Sen. Tom Wyss of Fort Wayne.

from the store to get on the tour bus. Fans crowded around as she happily signed books extended her way. “I think she represents the heartland of America,” said Max, explaining Palin’s appeal was based on her values. “She has a real family with real problems. And so do we.” He added, “I’m envious of her because she’s a salmon fisherman, and I’d like to do that someday.” “You would?” chirped a surprised MaryKay.

She is considering running for 4H office following her successful first year. Amy Grace and her collie, Jezze, walked away from the 2009 Indiana State Fair as the 4H Showmanship Junior Champs. What did Palin say while signing Amy Grace’s book? “She asked me what age I was and what grade I was in.” Bubbling, “It was really, really fun. It was, like, really quick.” Taking a breath, “She was very, very pretty. I thought she was pretty cool.”

Amy Grace Clark, Carmel

Linda Greenwell, Taylorsville, Ky.

With chestnut hair and merry eyes, Amy Grace Clark of Carmel became a Palin fan in 2008 at the age of eight. “Everyone else (at her house) was watching,” she notes pragmatically. Seeking to instill balanced educational habits, Clark’s family watched both political conventions and most of the debates. The fourth-grade homeschooler astutely noticed the change when Gov. Palin was introduced: “Shows like that … I had never seen a lady. She’s interesting when she speaks,” said Clark, displaying intellect way beyond her years. Amy Grace appears to draw inspiration from Palin’s example.

Why did Linda Greenwell travel 180 miles to see Sarah Palin? “Integrity and hope,” she said. “We see ourselves in her.” Greenwell asserts Palin “made decisive moves.” The boldest move so far, “was quitting office (in July 2009). She didn’t quit being governor. She stepped aside to promote Alaska.” “America has been politically asleep and Sarah Palin said, ‘Good morning, America. The best is yet to come.’ ” What would Greenwell say to detractors? “They are cheating themselves if they don’t try to learn for themselves what she is saying.”

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

317.489.4444 Publisher – Brian Kelly brian@currentincarmel.com / 414.7879 General Manager – Steve Greenberg steve@currentincarmel.com / 847.5022 Managing Editor - Zach Dunkin zach@currentnoblesville.com / 908.2697 Associate Editor – Terry Anker terry@currentincarmel.com Art Director – Zachary Ross zross@ss-times.com / 787-3291 Associate Artist – Stefanie Lorenz stefanie@currentincarmel.com / 340.1836 Senior Reporter – Martha Allan

OUR VIEWS

It is our position that the federal government needs to keep appropriate distance from the provision of health care. Few things in life are more individualized than one’s physical health and the myriad of decisions supporting it. When it comes to making choices about wellness activities, treatment options for chronic conditions or critical choices in an acute illness or accident, the patient and patient’s family should be advised by their doctor. Doctors should be making the calls. While politicians supporting proposed legislation may have society’s best interest at heart, they do not have the necessary expertise at the individual level. There is a highly appropriate role for the federal government in the medical industry – in terms of setting quality standards and ensuring a level playing field for the free market to operate appropriately. While we understand that individuals in Congress and the White House are trying to make health care more efficient through sweeping provisions at the federal level, we do not believe efficiency results from giving the task to government officials. It is our firm belief that to improve the healthcare delivery system, patients – in concert with their healthcare providers – must remain in the decision-making drivers’ seat.

Give us credit

It is our position that the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act should be enacted before the holiday season. The act, which ends deceptive and predatory practices abundant in the credit card industry, gave credit card companies as long as 15 months to comply. Credit card companies have used the time since the act’s passage for predatory practices, such as increasing interest rates by an average of 20 percent on those customers who pay on time. Credit card companies and issuing banks continue to wreak havoc on American families in the nation’s most economically vulnerable state since the savings and loan crisis that ultimately cost the U.S. economy around $160 billion. This time around, a single credit card issuer alone may hit that mark. While a capitalist society must embrace what the market will bear for goods and services, this situation deserves exceptional action. Unlike other industries in which supply and demand drive price, the supply is largely owned by taxpayers and financial institution depositors, and the demand is being forced in a deregulated environment. As one of the primary forms of consumer credit, credit cards adversely affect the health of our nation’s economy with usury levels of profit that should not be legal.

Advertising Sales Executive – Maggie Green maggie@currentnoblesville.com / 538.3790 Sales Executive – Kate Holleman kate@currentnoblesville.com / 379.9400 Sales Executive – Dennis O’Malia dennis@currentincarmel.com / 370.0749 Sales executive – Mike Janssen mike@currentnoblesville.com / 490.7220

Business Office Bookkeeper - Deb Vlasich deb@currentincarmel.com / 489.4444 The views of the columnists in Current In Noblesville are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.

strange laws

CONSTITUTION CLOSEUP

Photo Illustration

Our nation has all sorts of arcane, nonsensical laws on the books. Each week, we’ll share one with you. In Arkansas, hunting camels is considered an illegal practice. Source: Weird Laws (iPhone application)

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

Every week, we will print a portion of the U.S. Constitution, followed by a portion of the Indiana Constitution. We encourage you to benchmark government policies against these bedrock documents. Today: the U.S. Constitution.. Section 6. Continued They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time: and no person holding any office under the United States, shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office. Section 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other Bills.

December 1, 2009 | 3

From the backshop Stay outta the handicapped parking spaces! We trust everyone had a safe, restful and Happy Thanksgiving weekend. Now that everyone is back in gear – or is mostly back in gear – we’re ecstatic to offer you a variety of some early holiday cheer: • The next person we see illegally parking in a handicapped spot is going to get “what for” from any number of us here at Hamilton County’s Best Weekly Newspaper™. Current advertising sales executive Dennis O’Malia, for one, was fuming the other day about “people who clearly are not handicapped. They take advantage of their parents’ (handicapped) mirror tags and look like they’re sprinting for daylight when they get out of the car.” It makes all of us sick to our stomachs, and we hope that’s the case with you. Those spots are there for a reason. Respect and honor that reason! • Noblesville represents the county’s latest Boom Town – at least to us. Where businesses are not opening at a break-neck pace in Westfield and Carmel, they seem to be in Noblesville. It’s good to see. We fully expect, once this lagging economy rights itself, that Westfield and Carmel will be back to their usual pace.

Brian Kelly & Steve Greenberg • Speaking of businesses, why do so many come and go … and rather quickly in some cases? Marketing! As in: NONE. If you can’t tout your wares, moving day comes more quickly for most. It’s very sad to witness. As has been the case, we’re rooting for every business this holiday season, and we urge our readers to ignore the negative mainstream headlines and the ire predictions for a “down retail season.” It has been our experience, thus far, that retailers are giving away more than ice cubes in winter. There are major discounts available earlier than we’ve previously witnessed. Support local business and save some dough-re-mi at the same time.

There’s nothing bogus about our girl, Hannah COMMENTARY By Zach Dunkin Fabricating a source is a cardinal sin in journalism. Making up a quote equally is a crime. I’m not quite certain where fabricating an assignment falls in the rule book. But I did it. It all started when Julie Davis, mother of Hannah Davis, our free-spirited high school contributor from Noblesville High, emailed me for some assistance. She explained that, as a senior with the proper academic qualifications, Hannah usually exercised her Honor Code option by skipping lunch and afternoon study hall on Fridays. Problem was a teacher had called to alert Julie and Hannah’s dad, Geoff, that their daughter had been selected for the school’s Merit Award, an honor a student can receive only once at NHS. The teacher also said the merit winners were kept secret until the afternoon of the ceremony. How, Julie asked me, could we make sure Hannah hung around? “No problem,” I said. “I’ll make her. I’ll assign her to cover the ceremony.” And that’s what I did. So, how cool this was going to be? Sending Hannah to cover her own happening. Wouldn’t she be stunned? No. Not really. Little did any of us know that Hannah already had been alerted by school officials about the award, and was planning on attending

anyway. The only shocker Hannah got that day was seeing her parents there – since Hannah had only casually mentioned the night before that she had won “some award.” “Imagine my surprise when I saw my parents strutting around my school,” Hannah told me afterwards. “I wasn’t expecting them to come at all.” And about that “assignment?” Even though Julie exposed our ruse and told Hannah she really didn’t need to report on the story, Hannah, being Hannah, continued her duty and took some notes and a few photos “just in case.” And that, perhaps, is why teacher Debbie Wittstein nominated Hannah for the award, describing her piano student as one with “exceptional qualities that define an outstanding role model -- compassion, humility, integrity, and dedication. And most importantly, she stands by her commitments, maintains high standards, and lives the values in which she believes.” We second that emotion. We at Current in Noblesville are proud to have Hannah on our team. Zach Dunkin is the managing editor for Current in Noblesville. You may e-mail him at zach@ currentnoblesville.com

Driven by deadlines

Check our website for up-to-date specials and order our Dinners To Go

www.theharvestfreshmarket.com Located in the Village of WestClay 12770 Horseferry, Carmel, IN 317-660-7333

Mon. thru Sat. – 7 am to 9 pm

Sun. – 9 am to 6 pm

Always Fresh. Locally Grown. Naturally Healthy.

4 | December 1, 2009

COMMENTARY By Terry Anker My kids manage to hit hard deadlines every week. Assignments are turned in, and tests are taken. And this paper seems to arrive in my mailbox like clockwork – on time and in full form – every week, without exception. Why is it then that we adults so often seem to struggle to make a deadline work? We commit that we will lose weight by a certain date, but it rarely happens. We pine about how we might finish our holiday shopping early, and yet the stores are filled to the very last minute with our unprepared selves. Do deadlines simply mean less to us the older we get, or do our lives become so full that prioritization simply supplants deadlines as the order of the day? Time management and organization are billion-dollar businesses in this country. And when asked to list the greatest stressors in modern life, many cite a lack of time above traditional worries like personal health and financial woes. Recently, I realized =I had crossed a major

bridge in my own perception of time – and I didn’t even notice. Fridays, reserved since childhood as among the most hallowed of all days – superseded only by the all-important Saturday – had suddenly become my nemesis. Friday mornings found me not “working for the weekend” but instead dreading the end of the day. What gives? To me, Friday represents the close of yet another week of unmet objectives and missed deadlines. Another week, and the garage door did not get painted, there is a drawer full of work awaiting attention, and the car is still dirty. I had committed to myself that this was the week all of these outstanding items were going to be crossed off the list. Yet it didn’t happen. And I’m going to do something about it. Maybe next week. Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may e-mail him at terry@ currentincarmell.com.

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

DISPATCHES » New name for youth help organization – Hamilton Centers Youth Services Bureau, a Hamilton County non-profit organization headquartered in Noblesville, will change its name to Promising Futures, beginning Jan. 1. The agency is evolving in response to community needs to provide programs to meet the physical, social, emotional, educational and self-discovery needs of at-risk youth and their families in Hamilton and surrounding counties. Current programs and services include: • Pregnant and parenting teens services • Safe Place, Host Homes • Anger management • Supervised visitation and exchange • Counseling • Teen Leaders in Action (Teen Advisory Board) » See Santa here – Santa’s House on the Courthouse Square will have extended hours, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 for First Friday Dec. 4 and there will be free hot chocolate offered at the tent next to the house. The remaining hours: • Dec. 5-6 – 1 p.m.-5 p.m. • Dec. 10 – 5 p.m.-8 p.m. • Dec. 12-13 – 1 p.m.-5 p.m. • Dec. 17 – 5 p.m.-8 p.m. • Dec. 19-20 – 1 p.m.-5 p.m. • Dec. 24 – Noon-3 p.m. Free hot chocolate also will be offered Dec. 12 and 19 by Noblesville Main Street. » First Holiday Home Tour downtown – The Noblesville Preservation Alliance, in cooperation with Noblesville Main Street, is hosting the first Candlelight Holiday Home Tour from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4. Three Victorian Era homes will be dressed in their Christmas finest. Interior designers taking part are Michael Delk and William Harger from the Faux Flower and Dot Strand and Marge Green of Interior Solutions, design consultants for Linden Tree. The décor items used will be available for purchase. The featured homes are on the 300 block of South Ninth Street, within easy walking distance of the Noblesville Main Street First Friday festivities. Tickets are $5 for adults, and children 12 and younger will be admitted free. Advance tickets can be purchased at Faux Flower, Linden Tree or the Noblesville Main Street office at 942 Maple Ave. Tickets will be available at the NMS tent on the Square the night of Dec. 4. For more information, please visit www.noblesvillepreservation.com.

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

How in the world did we miss this? Commentary By Danielle Wilson My husband and I feel like horrible parents. Our 8-year-old daughter apparently has been near-sighted for at least six months – but likely more than a year – and the only reason we know about it is because she failed two vision screenings at school. We always assumed her tendencies to sit two inches from the 46-inch flat screen and squint when trying to read billboards were just our of love for a particular chair and a blue-eyed sensitivity to light! I took her to the doctor, certain the optometrist would contradict the school’s findings. But when she tried to read the different lines of the E chart, I couldn’t believe it. At the 20/20 line, she couldn’t even make a guess. At 20/50, she thought the numbers on the wall were letters. Not until she got to 20/100 did my poor little sight-challenged girl finally make out most of the letters correctly. The doctor turned to me and said, “Yeah. She needs glasses. And she needs to wear them all the time.” Great. Well it really shouldn’t have come as a big surprise. My husband has worn Coke bottles since he was four, and all of his siblings have vision issues. But still, the fact that she had ob-

viously been struggling for some time just made us feel sick. How clueless were we? What else had we been missing? How much was her vision affecting her schoolwork? With guilt flooding into my brain, I told her to pick out whichever frames she wanted, price be damned. But then the receptionist came over to inform me that the kids were not on our vision insurance policy; my daughter’s visit and glasses would not be covered. Freakin’ wonderful. I took a deep breath. It’s OK. The kids’ glasses were reasonably priced and came with nuclearexplosion-resistant lenses. Unfortunately, we soon realized my daughter’s gi-normous head wouldn’t fit in them! The cutesy yet indestructible Barbie frames were too little! So she browsed some more, and, of course, found a designer pair from L.A. that were some of the most expensive in the place. Even the doctor tried to steer her towards some cheaper brands, but it was too late. She’d fallen hard for the hip, not cheap, pink and brown frames that made her look like a 20-year-old starlet. I was in a pickle. I knew we’d have to pay for everything up front, but I was also feeling supremely guilty about not picking up on her sight problems. And more importantly, I wanted

my daughter to feel beautiful in her new glasses and have the confidence to ignore whatever mean things mean kids say these days. ‘Cause you know they’re gonna say them. Fortunately, my optometrist is also a dad. He worked out a deal that cut the price in half, credited my account for a free visit, and included the same kid warrantee that came with the preschool pairs. Sold! When she tried on her new glasses, it made everything worth it. She said, “Wow! I can see really good. And you look really old. So many wrinkles!” I stopped feeling guilty immediately. Six days later, they were broken anyway. Turns out Hollywood frames aren’t built for kid games. Now on her second pair (thank you one-year warranty!), she is doing fabulously. It’s amazing how much easier third grade is when you can see. And she has so much self-confidence, she can joke easily with Daddy about them both having four eyes. Maybe we aren’t such bad parents after all. Peace out. Danielle Wilson is a Carmel resident and contributing columnist. You may e-mail her at danielle@ currentincarmel.com.

Schoolhouses and cemeteries COMMENTARY By Krista Bocko On a beautiful, crisp October day, we visited some old cemeteries. Old cemeteries are everywhere, often we don’t even know where they are. We live just down the street from one that now sits between a school and a grocery store. We were here for years before we even knew it existed. There are 2 south of us, both on busy roads, that I drove by a million times before I noticed them. One we visited is a secluded, fenced and treed spot that backs up to Verizon. There are only a handful of graves, only taking up a small part of the cemetery, the latest dating from the 40’s. There was a grave for a stillborn and a 2 month old, both alone. That was so poignant and sad. I wondered these people’s stories. It’s so hard to imagine that this spot, once distant to town and in the country, now is in such close proximity to loud rock concerts, something these people could never have dreamed. Now on concert nights the stillness is broken and the sound reverberates through the ground. As we traveled to another cemetery (we were geo-caching) we passed this old schoolhouse (pictured). Again, the questions. When was it built? What is the story? What was the teacher’s name and what was she like? What did the children go on to do? I wish I could go back in time and get glimpses, it’s so hard to imagine it at all. And again, it’s so desolate and sad. Why has it (and so many like it) been allowed to fall into ruin? I have always loved old schoolhouses. There used to be one in near ruins near my

Photo by Krista Bocko

Crumbling Hamilton County schoolhouses raises questions about its past.

house growing up, and I dreamed of fixing it up into a house. It was torn down. I was sad then too. Why do so few people seem to care to preserve our past?

Krista Bocko lives in Noblesville with her husband and four children and is passionate about old houses and preservation of stories and the past. She can be reached at www. cachetwrites.blogspot.com.

December 1, 2009 | 5

Now my kids can't blame me for melting ice caps COMMENTARY By Leslie Webber I’m not a person who solidly believes in man-made global warming. I don’t disagree that we should take steps to protect the environment. I just don’t buy into the theory huge climate change is occurring as a direct result from SUV’s idling in the carpool lane. So, it took me by surprise when I became an avid recycler. When the city switched garbage companies and dropped off our enormous cart, they also dropped off a 96-gallon recycling bin. I thought it would be a great place to store all the balls that roll out of our garage every time one of the doors is opened. Our son noticed the bin and guilted me into recycling. How could I argue when the city was making it so convenient? I read the information and it turned out I didn’t have to sort the recyclables and they accepted a lot of the junk I normally toss. I’m not even required to rinse the jars, cans or milk jugs. It’s recycling for the lazy and apathetic. Once I got started I couldn’t stop. I’m

Sorting the donations

boarder-line obsessive about recycling. My daily routine includes flipping over empties to see if they have a “1” or a “2”. Sometimes “5” looks like “2” and I realize my eyes are getting bad. The company only picks up the recycling every other week and lately we’ve had more recyclables than garbage. Prior to our trash compactor I insisted on installing, my husband dumping our lawn clippings on the empty lot next door, and my neurotic recycling habit, we needed two large carts for all our garbage. The garbage man even left us a nasty-gram. Twice. Now, most of the time our main garbage bin is three-fourths empty. I’m not naïve enough to believe all the stuff I put in the recycling bin is made into stationery and purses, but it gets me off the hook with our son. Leslie Webber is a Noblesville resident, wife and mother of two very young children. She writes a blog at www.lesliewebber. blogspot.com.

Photo provided by Noblesville Schools

Savannah Picco (from left), Aubrey Brolsma, and Kalie Davidson, fourth-grade members of the North Elementary School Student Council, sort food that was donated by North families for the school’s annual food drive. North’s goal was to collect 1,000 food items to give to the Noblesville Fire Department’s food collection. Students far exceeded that goal, bringing in 2,342 items.

I gave my “ To-Do” list to Mr. Handyman... and he took care of everything!

To-Do list

Put up shelving Ha ng window treatments Grout tile f loor Powerwash deck Repair kitchen drywall F ix ca binet hinge Install smoke detectors Paint living room RICHARD KARN TV star and “home improvement guru.”

Ca ulk arou nd tu b Install moulding Repair wood on deck Install backsplash Ha ng mirror in hallway Cha nge ceiling light bulbs F ix door knob P Get more free time... call Mr. Ha ndyma n!

$25 OFF

Minimum of 4 hours of service. Offer valid one time per household. Available at participating locations This coupon is valid for $25 worth of services only. Not valid with any other offer. provided by Mr. Handyman.

317-431-4444

be sure to visit mrhandyman.com Fully Insured - General Liability and Workers’ Compensation. For franchise information call 1-866-822-6105. Each franchise independently owned and operated. Some services are subject to state or local licensing requirements and may not be available at all Mr. Handyman locations.

What’s on YOUR to-do list? Create your own easy reference list at mrhandyman.com.

Mr. Handyman is a member of the Service Brands International family.

6 | December 1, 2009

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

There’s plenty of holiday spirit along Nickel Plate Arts Trail Current in Noblesville The five communities that dot the Nickel Plate Arts Trail will open their doors this holiday season for special activities as well as Christmas shopping for one-of-a-kind items. Highlights include: • Get in the holiday spirit with Noblesville’s nostalgic First Friday, Holidays in Downtown on Dec. 4. Trail travelers can meet Santa on the Historic Square and enjoy their favorite holiday treats: hot chocolate, carriage rides, roasted chestnuts and Christmas carolers. Holiday shoppers will be sure to find a unique treasure or two, as the merchants have extended shopping hours. • Arcadia’s Christmas on Main Street on Dec. 5, is a celebration of the season at all of the Main Street merchants and Arcadia Arts Initiative studios. There will be music, food, arts and crafts, and, of course, Santa Claus. • Take a ride to the “North Pole” on the Indiana Transportation Museum’s Polar Bear Express on Dec. 4-6 and 11-13. Travelers will hear an original Christmas story, ride to Forest Park in Noblesville, and meet Santa and holiday friends. Visit www.ITM.org for a complete schedule. • Between Dec. 1 and Jan. 3, enjoy art that’s good enough to eat at Conner Prairie’s Gingerbread Village. During this time, the

Photo provided by City of Noblesville.

Just like in "The Christmas Song," they'll be roasting chestnuts on an open fire at First Friday on the Historic Square.

Conner Prairie gift shop will feature holiday food, gifts, and handcrafted items for sale. Visit www.connerprairie.com for more information. Extending 30 miles from Fishers to Tipton, the Historic Nickel Plate Arts Trail runs through Fishers, Noblesville, Cicero, Arcadia, Atlanta, and Tipton. One of eight Indiana Artisan

Trails adopted by the state, the Trail is accessible by rail through the Indiana Transportation Museum or automobile on Allisonville Road and State Road 19, as well as by river through canoe trips. Visit www.nickelplateartstrail.org for more information on all of the events.

$5000

Off*

Residential & Commercial

Must present coupon. *$150 Service Call Minimum. Can’t be used with any other coupon. Coupon expires 12/15/09 cc

NADCA Certified • IICRC Certified

Jim and Clella Lewis

No Experience Necessary

$19.95

Photo courtesy of Noblesville resident Sid Davis, owner of the Noblesville Golf and Batting Center.

SR 38

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

River Rd.

This was Wheaton’s Drive-in on South 10th Street in 1958. A small ice cream cone was 5 cents, and if you had a quarter you could get a hot fudge sundae or milk shake. A car rental business is on that spot today.

Westfield Ave./SR 32

317-773-2002 December 1, 2009 | 7

DISPATCHES » St. Vincent twice-honored – St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital and the St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana recently earned cardiovascular honors from two nationally-recognized organizations for top performance and quality care. Thomson Reuters recognized both facilities in its annual study – 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks. St.Vincent is the only teaching hospital in Indiana with cardiovascular residency programs to be recognized, and the St.Vincent Heart Center is listed in the community hospital category in the Thomson Reuters’ comparison groups. Also, Press Ganey Associates, Inc. named the St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana a 2009 Summit Award Winner for sustaining the highest level of customer satisfaction for three or more consecutive years (August 2006-July 2009). The freestanding heart facility at 106th and N. Meridian streets was recognized for its inpatient cardiovascular program and the Heart Emergency Unit. St.Vincent Heart Center is just one of the nation’s 74 health organizations to receive this prestigious honor in 2009. » Holiday spa - Join ClarityMD Med Spa Dec. 8 from 4-8 p.m. for its holiday open house event. Take advantage of featured one-night-only specials. Save on everything from skincare products and Botox to laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation packages. Door prizes, product giveaways and other specials you won’t want to miss. Wine and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. RSVP to 317-571-8900.

» Blown away – Blow drying your hair will dry it out, as will shampooing too frequently. The best solution may be a shower cap. Pull your hair back in a scrunchie (a regular ponytail holder may leave marks), slip the shower cap over your head, and shower as usual. The cap should prevent a lot of frizz from the steam, and a little dry shampoo can work out any oily patches. - www.health.com

8 | December 1, 2009

8 great tips to staying healthy through the holidays COMMENTARY By John Bellmore We’re in the holiday period of the year, which means we will be eating and drinking more, hanging out with family and friends, who may or may not exercise and eat properly, and having 100 more things added to our “to-do” list. This means weight gain! Here are some tips to help avoid this unwanted gain during the hectic schedule: 1. Change your workouts to accommodate the new holiday schedule. Try shorter durations with more circuits to help you avoid having to wait for machines. 2. Decide what foods you can eat in the morning on a normal basis to help get your mornings started. 3. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you are having a couple of alcoholic drinks at a party or gathering later. 4. Even if it’s cold, get outside. It will be refreshing. 5. If you are traveling to see family find out where a gym is located, what the holiday hours are and can talk a family member or friend into going with you to the gym. 6. For the road, pack all of this stuff first, so you won’t forget them: a duffle bag with running shoes, workout clothes and a lock and your favorite protein supplement and a plastic shaker so that you can make a shake at any time. This will ensure your

protein levels are high to avoid muscle loss and help keep your metabolism up. 7. Keep some fitness magazines or books with you so that you have a couple good reads to help keep your motivation. 8. Allow yourself to have fun and eat some holiday favorites. Don’t be hard on yourself if you indulge, just try to do your best. When the new year comes around you’ll be ready to attack your workout routine at full

I’m SORE, but it’s a good kind of SORE COMMENTARY By Tracy Line Fifteen days in on my lose-weight-for-charity gig and I’m down 3.6 lbs. I might appreciate this accomplishment more if I weren’t tired, cranky and SORE. And being SORE wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to go back to the gym. But I do. So, I go and meet with Trainer Bob again and guess what? He’s not SORE. Worse than that, he’s happy. Happy I’m there, happy with my progress, and happy to raise the weights on the machines. Apparently with strength training, the object is to continually do more. More reps, more weight, more work. Now, there are very real and valid scientific reasons for this, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. And today, I don’t. So, Bob is eagerly upping the weights and I’m over here dying. I’m already SORE and have zero desire to exacerbate the SORENESS or my foul mood. Outside I smile, but inside I’m thinking, “Enough already!” I’m eating right, exercising more than ever, and now you want me to work harder? It’s so unfair, and I really miss chocolate. Even so, I am the one that signed up for this

» Tracy’s progress report

Week 3: Tired, cranky and SORE Pounds (so far) : Lost: 3.6 Goal: Lose 10 lbs and raise money for Christel House Thoughts: Getting healthy takes work but is worth it

torture (just kidding, I really do like it). The truth is, after all my internal whining, I really did have a good session. It was hard, but worth it. I felt better and stronger after my work out. I left the gym and proceeded to have a great day. Moods are moods, nothing more. They’re moments in time that end, as does being SORE. If I’m going to get and stay healthy, I must learn to do so not only when I feel like it, but more importantly, when I don’t. Three cheers for over 3 lbs lost and aching muscles. Tracy Line is a wimpy yet soonto-be-fit freelance writer and Noblesville resident. To contact her or sponsor her in the Less is More Project, email her at Tracy. Line@comcast.net. To learn more about Bob the Trainer, visit www. precisionhealthandwellness.com.

If I’m going to get and stay healthy, I must learn to do so not only when I feel like it, but more importantly, when I don’t.

force to make some gains or lose those extra pounds. John Bellmore is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Health and Fitness and has been working with clients in the Noblesville area for the past six years. If you would like a more detailed explanation of this list, contact John at jwbellmore@hotmail.com.

Worst times for the heart There are many surprising situations and times when the chance of heart attack rises dramatically. If you or someone you know has a history of heart trouble, here's when to be watchful: • Traffic. Being stuck in traffic raises blood pressure and triples heart attack risk. If you can take a route which will have fewer cars to compete with. • Mornings. The risk of heart attack increases 40 percent in the morning, Harvard researchers estimate. T’s especially true on Monday mornings. Build in extra time to wake up gradually, or if you exercise in the morning, allow more warm-up time than you would normally. • After high-fat, high-carb meals. Studies show these foods constrict blood vessels, making blood more prone to clot. • Vigorous exercise you’re unprepared for. Shoveling the driveway is a prefect example. The heart attack occurs because the victim isn't accustomed to that kind of effort and stress hormones skyrocket, causing blood pressure and heart rate to jump. • At the podium. Extreme nervousness raises blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels, all of which can make the presentation itself a secondary worry. -health.msn.com

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

Ballet Theatre of Carmel at Performer’s Edge

A Nutcracker Suite Dance Holiday

Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009 6:00PM Westfield H.S. Auditorium

Quick and healthy There aren’t always enough moments in the day to whip up grandma’s secret chocolate chip cookie recipe. But baking just got less stressful. We found pre-made doughs that are tasty enough to pass for homemade, but filled with all the natural ingredients we love. • Wholly Wholesome Oatmeal Raisin ($5 for 12 cookies) • Immaculate Baking Company Organic Chocolate Chunk and Vanilla Sugar ($5 for 24 cookies) • Ice Box Bakery Deluxe Chocolate Chip ($5 – 5.50 for 16 cookies) • Trader Joe’s Chunky Chocolate Chip ($3.49 for 16 cookies) • 600lb Gorillas Choclate Chip ($4.69 for 18 cookies) -www.health.com

Featuring PE Musical Theater Company

Eat like your friends Forget the old saying "You are what you eat." These days, the theory is that you are, instead, what your friends eat. A whole raft of research has looked at the effect that our loved ones' diet and exercise habits have on our own health. One long-term study of 12,000 adults found that a person's chances of becoming obese increased by about 40 percent if a spouse or sibling became obese—and jumped as high as 170 percent if a close friend became obese. Another study, in the Journal of Consumer Research, found that college students adjusted their food intake based on how much their companions ate. And it's not just adults who are vulnerable. New research says that children are subject to the influence of others as well. -health.msn.com

Artistic Director, Trish Roberts

Ron Morgan of Performer’s Edge Celebrates 15 years with the

NEW Ballet Theatre of Carmel Artistic Director, Nataly Lowder

Tickets $10 Box Office: Performer’s Edge 12955 Old Meridian St. Carmel, IN 46032

Or Call: 317-573-8085 www.BalletTheatreOfCarmel.org www.PerformersEdgeDanceTheatre.com

�wwww�ww�wwwwwww��wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwww wwww�wwwwww www�ww �wwww www�w w�wwww�w �wwww wwww wwwwwwwwwwwww w�ww�w wwww w�wwww wwwww wwwww�ww �wwwwwwww�w wwww wwwwwwwwww��w JHDJ Laww wwwwww wwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwww wwww wwwwwwwwwwwwww wwww wwwwwwwww www wwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwww wwww �wwwwwwww www wwwwwwww�w w�wwww wwwwww www�w wwwwwwww www�wwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww� ��www �wwwwwww wwww wwwwwww www wwwwwwww www�wwwwwww�wwwwwwww�wwwwwww��w�www wwwwwwww�ww��wwwwwwwwwwwww�wwwwwwwwww�w wwwwwwwwwwww�wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww��w�wwwwwwww�w Whether a client’s case involves a family law matter, business dispute or adoption, our attorneys can help. www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

December 1, 2009 | 9

DISPATCHES » Padgett open house – Noblesville nature and wildlife artist Anthony J. Padgett will host a Holiday Open House from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 in his gallery at 940 Logan St., Noblesville. There will be special pricing on Padgett’s artwork, door prizes and appetizers. » A drive-through light fest – The Noblesville First Church of the Nazarene, 1399 Greenfield Ave., is having a display of lights choreographed to the melodies of Christmas classics at “The Gift of Light.” Visitors watch a 15-minute program from their car while enjoying a complimentary hot drink. The display is open from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 5, 11, and12 between 6:30 and 8:30pm. Call (317) 7732411 for more information. » Miniature Show open house – The Hamilton County Art Center, 195 S. Fifth St., Noblesville is having an open house for its Miniature Show in the Bird Gallery from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 4.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian PG, 104 minutes

Payless Liquor

Second Annual “Bubble Bonanza”

Twentieth Century Fox.

Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) gets a helping hand from a statue of Abraham Lincoln, which has magically come to life in The Lincoln Memorial.

The “Night at the Museum” movies are the epitome of everything wrong with modern filmmaking. They have lots of whiz-bang special effects, two or three humorous moments, and no heart or brains. Night museum guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) survived a job inside a museum where all the exhibits come to life. Since then, he’s moved on to a successful career as a TV product pitchman -- which brings monetary benefits but not much fulfillment. Meanwhile, the living exhibits (which turn inanimate during daytime) are shipped off to storage at the Smithsonian museum complex, where the magic tablet brings all those exhibits to life, too. Unfortunately, one of them is an Egyptian pharaoh (Hank Azaria) who wants to use the tablet to

DEC. 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Payless Liquor The Wine Spot

Champagne and Sparkling Wine Tasting rule the world; he has recruited Ivan the Terrible, Al Capone and Napoleon as his henchman. And Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) fleshes out a bomber jacket long enough to give Larry a hand, along with a few slaps and smooches. There’s a few clever jokes -- the Jonas Brothers as cupids is cute, and I liked the spoof of the slo-mo action sequences from “300” performed by 2-inch-tall Romans. But mostly, it’s goofy computer-generated mayhem without much point. Grade: D-plus Read more of Chris Lloyd’s review of current films and DVD’s at www. captaincritic.blogspot.com or www. TheFilmYap.com.

10% discount on ALL CHAMPAGNES AND SPARKLING WINES

No reservations! Free! Buy your holiday bubbly at discounted prices!

W. Carmel Drive (between Guilford and Old Meridian)

Regular Hours 9am – 10pm, Mon. – Sat. Knowledgeable and friendly staff including, Lanny Boles, General Manager Tom Zmak, Wine Consultant

Founded by the early settlers of Carmel and the Quaker Church, Carmel Cemetery offers final resting space to people of all religious affiliations. Located on gently rolling hills between Rangeline Road and the Monon Trail, Carmel Cemetery is a peaceful, private sanctuary offering burial space for generations of loved ones. Our well-maintained property welcomes visitors for quiet reflection year round. • Individual & Family Burial Space • Individual & Family Cremation Space • Mausoleums • Monuments

• Estate Lots • Cremation Inurnment Niche • Memorials

Contact a Carmel Cemetery representative for more information regarding pre-planning or immediate need support and guidance. Serving Carmel and surrounding communities since 1833

Carmel Cemetery Association 1000 N. Rangeline Rd. Carmel, Indiana

317-730-5425 10 | December 1, 2009

www.CarmelCemetery.org www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

RESTaurant

SHANNA CLARK

LUTZ's STEAKHOUSE

Sugar Plum fairies dancing in your head?

COMMENTARY By Chef Michael Vlasich The holiday season is in full swing. It’s time for me to write menus for festive soirees of delectable cuisine and fanfare to entertain the party-goers for the season of cheer. No matter the religious background, cultural influences or basis of celebration, they all have a common denominator: sweet endings. From cream puffs to Yule logs, eggnog to crème Brule, or mint-chocolate cheesecake to spearmint ice cream, everything is full of that heavenly ingredient, sugar. Looking at history, it is easy to learn why all cultures revel in their sweets. Mankind has been passionate about the taste and sensations invoked by sugar for thousands of years, since its origin in Polynesia. From there, it spread through coastal routes, making its way to India, where it was formally transformed into a commodity of value. There, they developed the process of pressing the reeds and boiling the juice to make crystals easily stored and transported. In the middle ages, it was brought to Spain by the Arabs, who invaded the region in the Muslim/Christian wars. As the Moors spread, so did sugar’s popularity. Most historians leave out the fact that Christopher Columbus had two objectives for sailing the New World: There was the Pacific passage, and the quest to find suitable places to grow sugar reed, as Europe and Africa were not suitable. This quest was successful, as it turned out. The islands of the Caribbean, especially Santa Domingo, were ideal. Sugar was not indigenous to this hemisphere; however, no other single item has been respon-

Candied walnuts Ingredients: • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 cup cold water • 1 tbsp. corn syrup [optional for stability] • 2# whole walnuts • Salt • Cajun spice mix optional Directions: Make simple syrup by combining sugar, cold water and corn syrup; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Add ½ of the nuts, simmer for 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon, scoop out the nuts, and lay single layer on a sheets pan to drain and cool. Right away while hot, generously sprinkle salt over to make them sweet and salty. Optional add Cajun mix or your favorite seasoning blend. Repeat with remaining nuts.

Waitress at Wolfie’s Waterfront Grill Where do you like to eat? Olive Garden What do you like to eat there? Steak gorgonzola pasta and breadsticks What do you like about Olive Garden? It’s always a good, quiet atmosphere. It feels like a night out. Olive Garden 13285 Tegler Drive Noblesville, IN 46060 (317) 770-6091

Noblesville’s original go-to place for a night out on the town, Lutz’s has served loyal customers for more than 20 years. Lutz’s classic menu includes all the staples of a good steakhouse: ribeyes, T-bones, filet mignons, ribs, chicken, a smattering of seafood and a variety of traditional side items. Known for their butterscotch rolls and Super Monster Salad, served with hot bacon dressing and chunks of creamy Roquefort cheese, Lutz’s makes an effort to serve basic dishes with pizzazz. For a reliably exceptional meal, try the porterhouse or New York strip steak. Choose from the most traditional sides -- baked potatoes, green beans, or cottage cheese – or spring for something a little more atypical, like hot slaw or white asparagus served with onions and tomato vinaigrette. Lutz’s Steakhouse also offers catering, specializing in weddings, open houses, holiday dinners, and dinner banquets. 3100 Westfield Road | Noblesville Phone: 317-896-5002 Web site: www.lutzssteakhouse.com Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. | Closed Sundays

sible for the development of so many countries, industries and economies. Without Christopher Columbus, the world and history would be totally different, and there probably would never have been the slavery of Africans, as sugar is the sole reason the human slavery trade flourished. Chef Michael R. Vlasich, CEC, AAC, is a Carmel resident and the executive chef at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. You may e-mail him at chefmichael@currentincarmel.com

YOUR SOURCE FOR: Movie and DVD reviews Commentaries Interviews Podcasts

S Range Line Rd.

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

. Gradle Dr

3rd Ave. SW

Plus, free movie screenings and DVD giveaways!

126th St.

City Center Dr.

December 1, 2009 | 11

White River company shares wealth of talent in ‘Nutcracker’ By Martha Allan Current in Noblesville ‘Tis the season for nutcrackers, dancing mice and sugar plum fairies to return from wherever they spend their spring and summer and enchant us once again. This year, a group of young Noblesville dancers will be presenting “The Nutcracker,” which follows the adventures of young Clara and her nutcracker-turned-prince. Diana Ephlin, owner of The Dancin’ Place in Noblesville, says all 162 dance students will perform in her school’s winter performance of the ballet favorite Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 at Westfield High School. Members of the White River Dance Company, 21 teenagers who are the most advanced students at Ephlin’s dancing school school, will handle the starring roles. “There are lots of featured parts in ‘The Nutcracker,’ ” Ephlin said. Each performance will showcase different dancers in the lead roles. “We started to double-cast some time ago so that as many girls as possible would have a chance to dance leads and featured parts,” explained Shannon Jenkins, who teaches the company ballet classes. Katie Curtis, a junior at Noblesville High School, will be performing in her seventh “Nutcracker,” this time playing the Snow in Saturday’s dance. “Most of us have been in classes together since we were little,” said Curtis, who has been dancing with “Miss Diana” since she was four years old. “We all get real close.” “The Nutcracker” is based on the story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” by

» The Dancin’ Place

Where: 1222 Westfield Road in the Noblesville Square Shopping Center. Info: (317) 773-2105, www.thedancinplace.com

Photo by Leslie Webber

Back Row L to R: Alex Rulon, Jessica Rang, Alex Kalbfus, Sally Meyer, Claire Towle, Katie DeBoy, Ashly Meyer, Paisley Larson Middle Row L to R: Meredith Brown, Katie Curtis, Ariel Eads, Allison Yaney, Devon Herchenroeder, Bailey Purvis, Sara King Front Row L to R: Brooke Chastain, Abby Finta, Hannah Lodin, Caroline Cronin, Bethie Bailey, Abby Ephlin

E.T.A. Hoffman. The lead character, Clara, dreams a nutcracker given to her comes to life as a prince and the two of them venture off to the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets and to battle the Mouse King. Christopher Fairbank, a professional dancer from Texas, was hired for the role as the male lead of Prince Cavalier. The classic score by 19th century Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky is as integral to the “Nutcracker” experience as the dancing, at times light and playful, at other times powerful and dramatic. A supportive parent board spearheads fundrais-

SUBARU

ing to defray costs of staging major productions twice a year. A Nutcracker Tea was held at the Forest Park Inn on Thanksgiving weekend. In addition to enjoying pastries and tea, the students performed excerpts from their upcoming show. “It gives our kids an extra chance to perform,” Jenkins said, ‘and get the nervousness out.” Ephlin, a Lafayette native who studied at the Miami Conservatory and toured professionally, has staged story ballets twice a year since she started her school 22 years ago. The school’s repertoire includes well-known classics such as “Swan Lake,” “Giselle” and “Coppelia.” A mutual friend introduced her and Jenkins, who has dance degrees from the University of Oklahoma and Butler University, and also danced professionally. Students, who also can study tap, jazz, hip-hop and tumbling, have embraced them all, Ephlin said, enjoying learning about the stories behind the dance, the composers and choreography. “It just used to be a dream of mine to do the real ballets,” said Ephlin, “That keeps you going, when you see the children have the same passion that you are trying to impart.”

OnLY At tO

Pay only $219

a month for a 36-month lease on Legacys!

Subaru Legacy

2.5 manual. $1,919 down. Taxes and fees not included. MSRP $20,690. See dealer for details.

SUBARU

2003 INFINITY M35

$26,988

SA6013

Get an

APR of 1.9%

on 2010 MY Outbacks, Foresters, and Legacys!

Subaru Outback 12 | December 1, 2009

Ten percent (10%) down, 24-month term, 750 credit score to qualify. In-stock units only. See dealer for complete details.

2007 LINCOLN MKZ

$21,988

SP5986

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

THEATRE

HOLIDAY

‘A Carol for Christmas’

The Family Praise Center, 2140 Greenfield Ave., is presenting “A Carol of Christmas,” an original musical production based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. A dinner and show will be Dec. 4 and 5 with dining at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for reserved seating. Family & Community Day is Dec. 6 with free general admission for the show at 2 p.m. Call (317) 773-4630 for more information.

Christmas Joy

Carmel Brass, Indiana’s only fully-professional large brass ensemble, will present the second concert in its 2009-10 series Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. in the East Building of the Monon Center in Carmel. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students under 18 and seniors 65 and over, and $20 for an immediate family group, regardless of size.

‘A Christmas Carol’ at the IRT

The Nutcracker

The IRT brings “A Christmas Carol” back to the main stage for the 14th consecutive year. Opening night is Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets for this St. Vincent Healthsponsored event start at $25. Call 317-635-5252 for details.

The Dancin’ Place, featuring 21 members of the White River Dance Company, perform “The Nutcracker,” the holiday classical ballet at the Westfield High School Auditorium, 18250 N. Union St., Westfield. The performances will at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 and 2 p.m. Dec. 5. Tickets are $5.

Hear the Christmas story

Greater Indianapolis Community Choir sings the Christmas Portion of Handel's Messiah Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. at Carmel Lutheran Church, 131st and Gray Roads in Carmel. Performance includes a full Baroque Orchestra, and childcare is available. Call 8144252 for details.

Native contemporary art

$28,988

SP5998

2007 NISSAN MAXIMA

$21,988

SP5977

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

2004 SAAB 9-5 AERO

$13,988

S4591A

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art will present its biennial Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art through Jan. 18. The sixth cycle of the initiative features an exhibition of artwork, called Art Quantum.

2007 LEXUS RX350

$27,994

SP5908

2009 G37

$31,988

The following musical acts will play live at Mo’s Irish Pub, 13193 Levinson Lane in the Hamilton Town Center, Noblesville. For more information, call 317-770-9020. Dec. 3 – Jai Baker Dec. 4 – The Bishops Dec. 5 – Something Naughty Dec. 10 – Power of 2 Dec. 11 – Janet 51 Dec. 12 – Jester Kings Dec. 17 – Greta Sparks Dec. 18 – Lemon Wheel Dec. 19 – THUMP! Dec. 26 – Aberdeen Project

The following musical acts will be playing live at Mickey’s Irish Pub,13644 N Meridian, Carmel. For more information, call 317-573-9746: Dec. 4 – Peace Train & the Flower Power Brass Dec. 5 – Alan Kaye & the Toons Dec. 11 – KJ and the Jester Kings Dec. 12 – Meatball Band Dec. 18 – Zanna-Doo! Dec. 19 – Big Daddy Caddy Dec. 26 – Toy Factory

3230 E. 96th Street, Indy Sales: (877) 205-1382 www.tomwoodsubaru.com

2006 LEXUS IS350 sP5994

2005 G35 COUPE

$19,613

Mo’s Irish Pub

Mickey’s Irish Pub

ART

OM WOOd SubARu 2007 LEXUS ES 350

LIVE MUSIC

SA6024

$24,988

SP5988

2002 MINI COOPER S

$14,988

S4240A

December 1, 2009 | 13

winter wonderfest package Where: Navy Pier and Affinia Chicago Hotel. How far, how long: About 180 miles, 3 ¼ hours. Cost: From $169 per night for stays Dec. 4 through Jan. 3. Book by calling (866) 246-2203 or by visiting www.affinia.com. Mention promotional code WFEST. What: Offered by Affinia Chicago and Navy Pier, the package includes a pair of tickets to Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier in Downtown Chicago, a Navy Pier Savings Book with dining and shopping discounts and hotel room customized by the guest at My Affinia on the hotel’s Web site. Guests can choose from six different pillows and have items such as a guitar, putter, exercise mat and even a yellow rubber ducky to their room. On Dec. 5, 12 and 19 guests can enjoy a complimentary trolley ride with Santa’s elves to Navy Pier for a private meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. The Wonderfest includes entertainment, strolling holiday characters, a FLO TV Sports Lounge and a 170,000-square foot indoor family fun park with rides, games, 750,000 sparkling lights and even a two-story, fake snow sliding hill.

14 | December 1, 2009

PICK OF THE WEEK

The nutcracker Where: Clowes Hall, Butler University, Indianapolis When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, 8 p.m. Dec. 4, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 5 and 2 p.m. Dec. 6. Details: A newly choreographed party scene and an old favorite dancing the role of Herr Drosselmeyer will highlight Butler Ballet’s 27th annual production. Retired dance professor Bud Kerwin will reprise his role as Drosselmeyer for the first time since 1996. The production also will feature Kristianne Kleine and Jamie Ripsky as the Sugar Plum Fairy and James Kopecky and Holt Walborn as the Nutcracker. Michael Galloway will play the Cavalier, and the dancing the role of Clara will be Grace Phelps. Tickets: $21.50-$28.50 for adults; $17-$23 for children, students and seniors; and $14-$20 for groups of 20 or more. They’re Available at the at the Clowes Hall box office and Ticketmaster. Info: (317) 940-6444.

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

DISPATCHES » M&I Bank helps the homeless – Matt Patterson, branch manager of M&I Bank at Stony Creek in Noblesville, presented The PourHouse, Inc. with a $500 check to help provide services for the homeless in Indianapolis and surrounding areas. As an award for winning an M&I Bank employee competition, the branch was given $500 to donate to an organization of its choice. The Stony Creek branch donated the prize money to The PourHouse, a local organization dedicated to providing the homeless population of greater Indianapolis with practical needs and community support. The organization’s approach is based on relationships, treating every person as part of the family - celebrating birthdays, new jobs and milestones. For more information about The PourHouse, Inc., call (317) 5078982 or visit the Web site at www.pourhouse.org. » Free 60-Plus forum open to the public --Financial consultant Ron Hanson will present “Are You a Target? Current Trends with Senior Fraud” at 2 p.m., Dec. 3 at the 60-Plus Adult Day Care Center, 1101 S. 10th St., Noblesville. Hanson, a consultant with Hanson & Snyder Personal Financial Advisors in Carmel, will discuss fraud, investment scams and identity theft and how to protect you from them. The presentation, open to the public and free of charge, is part of the 60-Plus Club Educational Forum, sponsored by the Noblesville Evening Rotary Club. The talks are held the first Thursday of each month. No products or services are sold at the forums. For more information, call (317) 294-5352.

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

Define success based on what you can deliver COMMENTARY By David Cain Metaphorically, do you ever feel like you are a plant trapped in a pot? Like a plant that has reached it’s potential, unable to expand? No matter what you do, you are unable to grow? Your roots are trapped, cramped and constricted. So what’s trapping you? Is it your job? Is it your boss? Is it your motivation to work harder? Stronger? To go further? And how do you even begin to measure your success? How do you begin to realize you are stuck and not growing? Growing is vital to living a fulfilling life or running a successful business. If you aren’t growing, you’re going to be outrun by other individuals or businesses with more promise and drive. There is no status quo; you either get bigger or slowly get smaller as you fight to stay the same size. So how do you get out of your restraining pot and get your roots in the unrestrictive soil of the flowerbed? Success in anything is measured against expectations for that success. Winning is whatever we define as winning. In most sports, it’s the high score. In golf, it’s the low score. In business, it might be revenue or positive change. The point is that success can be whatever you define. And your certainty is more easily a reality if you define success in a realistic way to meet it. I end up in a lot of meetings that are organized by other people. Some go well, and some don’t. Recently, I’ve learned that the best meetings are the ones where I set the expectations for success. Define success based on what you can deliver,

and more often than not, you will exceed the expectations. David Cain works at MediaSauce, a digital media and online marketing company in Carmel. David welcomes your questions or comments at David.Cain@MediaSauce. com.

The point is that success can be whatever you define.

December 1, 2009 | 15

MONEY MATTERS As an employed high school student, how much money are you planning on spending on gifts this year?

“Maybe $50. I want to save what money I have for things I need.” Evan Slusher Noblesville

“I’m going to save as much as possible. I have to pay for car insurance and gas.” Geremiah Gonzalez Noblesville

“Not much. I’m going to hand-make all my gifts. The best gifts are the ones from the heart.” Molly Grooms Noblesville

16 | December 1, 2009

NOW OPEN

WHAT’S IT WORTH

carolyn's consignments

MY OPINION

Carolyn’s Consignments sells home furnishings, women’s apparel and accessories and is a member of the National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops (NARTS). “I’ve wanted to do this for about 20 years,” said owner Carolyn Harlow, who has lived in Noblesville for 10 years. “I really started concentrating on it last fall. I had collected lot of stuff.” Harlow is not purchasing items to sell yet, but is taking in merchandise on consignment. She shares the profit 50/50 on any item sold. The store is having a Grand Opening with refreshments from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 5. Bring five canned goods for charity and receive 10 percent off your total purchase. 2370 E. Conner St., Noblesville Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Phone: (317) 773-7655; fax: (317) 770-5010 Web site: www.carolynsconsignments.com Owner: Carolyn Harlow

213K

Type: Traditional Age: Built in 2005 Location: Near 191st and Allisonville Neighborhood: Highlands Prairie is a newer community that offers residents a community pool and playground. Square footage: 2,724 Rooms: This three-bedroom home has three full baths, a main floor den that can be used as a fourth bedroom, Corian and granite countertops, new carpet, upstairs bonus room, and finished three-car garage. Strengths: This home is priced at $78 per square foot while the rest of the homes for sale in the neighborhood have an average price per square foot of $108 (based on information obtained from the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors). Challenges: This home is a possible short sale which may cause a delay in closing. The home is being sold as-is.

John Pacilio and his team specialize in Hamilton County real estate with RE/MAX Ability Plus. Contact him at 216.8500 or John@JohnPacilio.com.

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

DISPATCHES

» Rent couture – Want a couture designer dress, but can’t afford the giant price tag? Try renting. Using a system similar to Netflix, Harvard Business School graduates, Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Carter Fleiss have created Rent the Runway ( renttherunway.com). The site allows users to rent that showstopping outfit for four days. The dress is delivered directly to your doorstep, just like a Netflix movie. And just like the movie site, when the four day rental period is over, simply place the dress in the included prepaid envelope and send it back. No muss or fuss. Rentals run from $50-200, which includes dry cleaning fees. - www.popgadget.net

Sometimes kids can say it better than the adults COMMENTARY By Joe Shearer A couple of weeks back I got a call at work. My wife and father-in-law were picking up my mother-in-law’s ashes. Riley, who had gone with them, was on the phone. “Daddy, they put Mamaw in a box,” he told me, repeating what he’d been told. “They folded her up and put her in.” Then, a pause. “So, she’s not in heaven anymore.” I appreciated my son’s logic, and his uncanny (and unwitting) ability to break the tension of even the saddest moments in our lives. And it’s always at an odd time, when you’re least expecting a gem like that. Once, while standing at the counter at McDonald’s, he looked at the donation box for the Ronald McDonald House, and said “I wish I was money, so you could put me in here.” Notwithstanding the implications of donating my son to charity, I love the raw imagination a child can display at the oddest moments. It’s perhaps the greatest part of being a parent: rediscovering that place that Peter Pan always talked about, where bedtime is the door to a whole new world, and anything can be a canvas for an artistic masterpiece. It’s something adults, and even I, who takes pride in never completely growing up, lose sight of too easily. We get wrapped up in finances and work and taking care of the house (and keep-

Photo by Joe Shearer

Mamaw-in-a-box and cold-and-spicy water? Riley Shearer sees the world much differently than his daddy does.

ing our kids from enacting that creativity with, say, a butcher knife, their brother, and a ball of yarn), and we forget the sheer joy of just living in the world, when deep philosophical questions center on why McAlister’s Deli doesn’t have toys with their meals (a valid question, I must say). So, the next time your kids are in the bathtub and mention parenthetically that they don’t like water dripping from the showerhead because it’s “all cold and spicy,” take a look at the world

from their eyes, and rather than laugh at how they used a word incorrectly, wonder if it’s they who know what it really means. Joe Shearer is an editor, freelance writer and the father of three children living in Noblesville. He blogs at daddyheaven.blogspot. com and also writes for www. thefilmyap.com. E-mail him at joeshearer@gmail.com.

» Warm and stylish - You need to keep your head warm in the wintertime. Simple as that. And your hat should be simple, too. Go with a classic knit version, one that's as much about style as function. If your knit cap comes with a turned-up fold, wear it that way. (You don't want there to be any creases or seams showing.) Pull it on nice and tight. If your hat comes flat, then don't try and turn it up—you'll get a bulky, donut-like effect. Wear it unrolled, and consider letting it hang a little off the back of your head. It's a laid-back, slouchy look that's more about looking cool than keeping warm. - www.gq.com/style

Call now to book your holiday party! Catering by Kelties 8355 E. 116th Street Fishers, Indiana 317.585.4929 270 W. Carmel Drive Carmel, INdiana 317.566.AWAX (2929) www.thenakedmonkeyspa.com

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

December 1, 2009 | 17

All That Glitters Is... at the 2009 “A Home for the Holidays,” presented by the Circle City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. Room Design, Furniture and Accessories by Platinum Living. Artwork from Tenth and Cherry Galleria. Platinum Living is a private interior design showroom located in Noblesville. To schedule your private appointment please call 317-776-8701. The 11th annual “A Home for the Holidays” runs from Thursday, December 3rd through Sunday, December 6th. 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm Thursday through Saturday, 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm Sunday. Tickets $10.00. The home is located at 7215 Normandy Way, Indianapolis, IN 46268. 18 | December 1, 2009

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

Think before you plant; it will grow on you COMMENTARY By Holly Funk Funny how, after the fact, what seemed like a good idea at the time just isn’t. I’ve experienced this many times in my life, as I’m sure most have. You know what they say… hindsight is 20/20. I can remember getting a sweet deal on burning bushes once, many years ago. So, I bought four of them, needing a foundation planting for the east side of the house. First of all, I bought four, knowing that I like to plant in odd numbers. And second, why did I plant them all within, like, six inches of the siding of the house? Sigh. Yes, it looked good at the time but before long, they just looked uncomfortable…and it was my fault. But, I learned. Why, oh why, did I then plant a gi-normous butterfly bush in my Mom’s yard? I knew that she would love it, because it set off the corner of the yard beautifully. And then swallowed that whole section of the garden in one season. Cutting and digging that bad boy out just about forced me into seclusion. I almost never wanted to plant one of those again. The fun doesn’t stop there. At my first house, I planted the whole back yard in grass seed, covering it with straw. I then watched from my window as gale force winds swept all of it down the street. And the birds finished off what was

left. Man, my back was sore that week. What can you do? You have to experience things the hard way sometimes in order to get it through your head. Like, I will never plant a shrub without consulting a book for its mature spread. And who needs grass when you can plant groundcover? Live and learn. Holly Funk is an Indiana accredited horticulturist and advanced master gardener residing in Noblesville. Email your gardening woes (or wisdom) to hollyfunk75@yahoo. com.

An airtight case for a draft COMMENTARY By Craig Todd It’s OK if your home breathes a little bit. Modern home construction, including windows, doors, roofing, insulation and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) equipment can virtually seal an interior space off from outside air. Yet generally speaking, outside air is healthier than inside air. Indoor air quality is one of the Environmental Protection Agency’s top three health concerns. The agency reports that with dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, skin flakes, chemical fumes, cigarette smoke, radon gas and more, the air inside your home can be two to five times dirtier than outside air. The answer though, obviously, is not leaving the doors and windows open. It’s important to realize that not all leaks are created equally. From an air-quality standpoint, minor leaks around windows and doors are good leaks, since they let in fresh outdoor air. Bad leaks – typically a result of dirty or faulty duct work – let in dusty, moldy or polluted air from you attic, garage and crawl space. Balancing indoor air quality, temperature comfort, environmental conscientiousness and economic limitations typically requires teamwork between the home owner and a profes-

sional home HVAC specialist. By teamwork, I mean all the adults in the household should meet with the HVAC specialist. Dad may not know that the floor of the laundry room is cold; mom may not be aware that the crawlspace is damp. Then it’s time to check the house. Our best tool for diagnosing interior air tightness and efficiency is called “Blower Door” technology. This machine hooks to the front door and creates a mild vacuum inside the house, exposing exterior leaks and sub-par interior air flow. A professional home HVAC specialist will take time to thoroughly interview you about your needs, and thoroughly evaluate your home’s air flow profile. Next time: You (and your home) breathing easier.

Craig Todd (ctodd@gottabegodby. com, 317-244-3444) is the CEO of Godby Family of Services.

Shhh! Quiet … I’m hunting forebears COMMENTARY By Darla Kinney Scoles Genealogical definitions abound, as the endeavor truly does have a language of its own, but one comical descriptive explanation of the work seems to fit exactly where I am at the moment. “Research: What I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing.” Luckily for me, there is a quiet place where I can go to get a little help and friendly, free information – the (shhh…) library. Recently my editor sent an email making note of an upcoming genealogy-related class taking place at the Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL). A bit of quick browsing on their Web site revealed a calendar filled with free classes for family history buffs. (Find upcoming classes at http://www.hepl.lib.in.us/ref/indiana_room.html) Additionally, HEPL features the Indiana Room, a treasure-trove of information for those searching Indiana roots as well as other far-flung branches. In this room, dedicated to all things historical, researchers can find Indiana obituary files, cemetery listings, county histories, bound family histories, newspaper archives, birth, death and marriage certificates, pension files and

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

plenty of computers on which to access additional databases. More importantly, this room is staffed with people who do know what they are doing when it comes to research, including Nancy Massey. Says Massey, “My personal goal when someone comes in, is to make sure they go home with something.” Massey also conducts two classes and a roundtable discussion each month – great genealogical getaways in the upcoming winter weather. If the weather is really, really bad, a library card will grant one access to much of what the building holds utilizing Heritage Quest Online, Vital Information Exchange and other searchable resources. Summers in the room are quite busy, notes Massey, who receives information requests from as far away as Alaska and Switzerland, so right now is a good time to go to the (shhh…) library. Darla Kinney Scoles is a freelance journalist living in Noblesville. Her most recent work involves the creation of “Stories,” an individualized writing service helping people get their personal histories down on paper. Contact her at darlas@mpinet.net

December 1, 2009 | 19

DISPATCHES

PETS OF THE WEEK

» Pet pictures - Pet pictures will be held at The Monon Center on Dec. 3 and 4 from 6 to 8 p.m., and Dec. 5 from 12:302:30 p.m. Fee is $6/picture. Price includes a professional 5x7 photo. Additional photos and sizes are available at an additional fee. Pre-registration is required. Call 317-848-7275 for more information.

Mollie is a 1-year-old female black with white spots lab mix. Mollie is the cutest little girl and has a great big smile. Mollie arrived at the shelter in midSeptember when her previous family could no longer keep her. Mollie is house trained and would prefer a home where she can be the only dog and be around adults, as children tend to make her nervous and anxious. She is already spayed, and she knows the command “sit.” She is also a very social girl, and she enjoys playing with toys and a good doggie treat once in a while.

» Finding a friend – When searching for the prefect pet, you may have a particular breed in mind. If that is the case, be sure to check animal shelters in your area first. If you can't find what you're looking for, you might be placed on a waiting list for a particular breed. Animals are relinquished to shelters every day, so the kinds of animals offered for adoption change frequently. You might want to ask your local shelter if there are rescue groups in your area that specialize in the breed you are looking for. - www.hsus.org

Sweet treats for our pets

» Neuter your bunny! – We’ve all heard the mantra to spay and neuter dogs and cats, but does the same apply to domestic rabbits? Yes! In fact, neutering pet rabbits can cut down on a number of behavior and physical problems such as spraying aggressive behavior, uterine and testicular diseases, and false pregnancies (not to mention real pregnancies!). Bunnies need the procedure to prevent overpopulation just as much as dogs and cats. - www.veterinarypartner.com

COMMENTARY By John Mikesell It’s easier to find tasty, healthy treats for our dogs than for ourselves! WHAT YOU CAN DO • Don’t buy commercially made dog treats at the grocery store! • Read the ingredients panel of any treat you consider buying. Pass it by if it contains artificial preservatives and/or colors • Also check the ingredients list for foods your dog may be allergic to or intolerant of. • Look for treats that contain whole grains and/or fresh meats, fruits and vegetables. To our dogs, food is love and security, affirmation and reinforcement. When we give our dogs what trainers refer to as “high value” treats – foods that are especially sweet, meaty, or pungent –our message gets through to them especially loud and clear. Behaviorists are highly appreciative of the ability of food treats to “classically condition” a dog to tolerate – even enjoy

Santa Claus Open House

Come visit Santa Claus at his house on the Noblesville courthouse square and tell him what you’d like for Christmas! Fri, Dec 4 Sat, Dec 5 Sun, Dec 6 Thu, Dec 10 Sat, Dec 12

20 | December 1, 2009

4:30 – 8:30pm* 1 – 5pm 1 – 5pm 5 – 8pm 1 – 5pm*

Sun, Dec 13 Thurs, Dec 17 Sat, Dec 19 Sun, Dec 20 Thurs, Dec 24

1 – 5pm 5 – 8pm 1 – 5pm* 1 – 5pm noon – 3pm

–environmental stimuli he previously found frightening or threatening. HOLD OUT FOR HEALTH The problem is treats are probably the most likely of all dog-related items that a person might buy impulsively, without (horrors!) even a glance at the ingredients list. That’s because treats are often so darn cute. The packaging is frequently adorable, and the names are hilarious. No matter how cute the cartoon dog on the label looks, don’t buy it without looking at the ingredients. Its pointless to spend so much time, energy and money finding the best healthy foods for your dog if you are going to subvert your own efforts with low-quality, additive-filled garbage. Nowhere are these deleterious junk foods more prevalent than at your local grocery store.

Vada is a 3-year-old female gray tabby DSH. Vada is truly a lovely girl with beautiful green and yellow eyes. She has a really nice personality and is outgoing and friendly with everyone she meets. Vada is spayed and has been waiting to find her forever home since Sept. 3, which is when she was found wandering the streets of Hamilton County. Vada is really looking forward to moving on to the next phase of her life with a family she can love who will let her curl up on their laps and provide a nice window for her to watch the day go by. For more information on these and other animals at the Humane Society, call 317-773-4974 or go to www.hamiltonhumane.com.

John Mikesell, owner of Izzy’s Place, A dog Bakery in Carmel, can be reached at john.mikesell@att.net.

Join the Adventure

Journey to Bethlehem Presented by Refuge Christian Church

11772 E. 196th Street, Noblesville 317-773-3475

Saturday, December 5th

5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Free indoor event. Tours take approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Call 776-6367 for more information. A free photo of your children with Santa is available or parents are welcome to bring their own camera.

Take a tour led by a Roman Centurion through the prophecy and anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ. Encounter life in Bethlehem and experience the wonder of the arrival of the Savior. Come away with a renewed sense of awe at God’s miracle and grace sent for all. Come and experience what Christmas is really about.

*On December 4, December 12, and December 19, stop by the tent next to Santa’s house and enjoy a free cup of cocoa, thanks to Noblesville Main Street!

Directions: S.R. 37 to 191st Street, east on 191st to promise Road, north on Promise Road to 196th Street, then east on 196th Street to the church. Directions are also available www.refugechristianchurch.org .

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

DISPATCHES » School forums added – Noblesville Schools will be taking a plan for construction to registered voters in the form of a referendum in 2010. Before the plan is made final, however, district administrators and school board members are hosting public forums to share their thoughts with the public, answer questions, and listen to the community’s thoughts and concerns. Two forums have been added to the school district’s original schedule of 10 forums and both will be in the Noblesville Middle School auditorium, 300 N. 17th St. The first one is at 6 p.m. Dec. 8, and the second one is at 2 p.m. Dec. 13. Enrollment in Noblesville’s schools continues to increase. This year, the district welcomed 8,964 students, nearly 300 more than last year and 2,535 more than in 2000. » Elementary school food drives – The White River Elementary School Student Council is heading the school’s annual Noblesville Fire Department Christmas food drive, beginning Dec. 7 and continuing through Dec. 11. The school will have boxes in the lobby for donations. Student councils at Forest Hill, Stony Creek and Noble Crossing have already begun their drives, which will also continue through Dec. 11. The fire department is asking the various grade levels at all schools to bring in the following food items: • EC and kindergarten: Pasta items. • 1st grade: Rice, crackers, cereals. • 2nd grade: Dried beans, canned vegetables, canned fruit. • 3rd grade: Instant mashed potatoes, dried milk, canned soups. • 4th Grade: Boxed mixes (stuffing, macaroni & cheese, Tuna & Hamburger Helper, Rice-A-Roni, etc.) The following items are also needed from all grade levels: Canned meats, canned main courses, dried fruits, Jell-O, KoolAid and hot chocolate mix. » Stony Creek Night at Pacers game – Stony Creek Elementary is having a fundraiser night Dec. 9 at the Indiana Pacers game. The school choir will be performing the National Anthem that night. With each ticket sold, a portion of the cost comes back to help with Stony Creek activities. Ticket prices range from $10 to $63.

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

Gift cards may be boring, but since you asked… COMMENTARY By Hannah Davis What’s at the top of my Christmas list this year? Good question. I have a hard time justifying asking for XYZ when all I really need is money, or things to get ready for college next year. I’m a pretty practical gal. So, like every other teenager who’s faced with abandoning Christmas cheer, I’ll ask for gift cards. A fair compromise, I think. I have one problem, though: my grandma hates giving gift cards. My sister traditionally asks for things like woodpeckers (yes, woodpeckers) and Little Red Riding Hood costumes, so Granny can hardly complain when I ask for a little plastic card. But she does anyway.

“Those aren’t any fun, Hannah,” she says. I couldn’t agree more. Gift cards aren’t any fun. They’re downright boring. But when time is short and I’m desperate for a little practicality in frivolous season, they’re what work best. I hate to be a Scrooge, but I could use the spending money. Those little, boring pieces of plastic allow for unexpected purchases that I may not have been able to make otherwise. If it weren’t for a few cards last year, I’d be entirely without my very handy book of Shakespeare Sparknotes. And a new coat.

Hannah’s unofficial poll of top 5 asked-for gifts • • • • •

Gift cards iPhone 3G Customized shoes Hoodies Magazine subscriptions

Hannah Davis is a senior at Noblesville High School and the opinions editor for The Mill Stream.

Fitness Fixers of Indiana Mobile Fitness repair “We come to you!” Don’t carry your heavy fitness equipment in for repairs or try to arrange for transportation.

We come to your house!

Photo provided by Noblesville Christian School

The Noblesville Christian School FIRST LEGO team includes (front row, from left): Tyler Marcum, Alan Kassel, Josh Perdue, Olivia Carrier, Kate Eystera and Katy Wilhelm, and (back row, from left) coaches Rich Eyster and Deanna Gholson.and student Benjamin Grimsey.

Noblesville Christian moves on to LEGO state finals Current in Noblesville A team from Noblesville Christian School, 1627 N. Tenth St., took top honors in the FIRST LEGO League qualifying tournament held in Columbus, Ind. The NCS kids won first place in Teamwork and will move on to the Indiana Championship Tournament Dec. 12 at Indiana UniversityPurdue University-Fort Wayne.

FLL is an international science-based competition for elementary and middle school students, ages 9-14. This year’s challenge was “Smart Moves”. The kids from NCS chose cars as their research topic. They built a robot that completed specific missions to win points in competition against 23 other teams from the area.

treadmills, elliptical, stair climbers, indoor cycles serving Carmel, Fishers, noblesville, Zionsville, tipton and surrounding communities for over 24 years

765-434-7114 fitnessfixersofindiana@yahoo.com December 1, 2009 | 21

Not everything you read on the Internet is true. Or is it? COMMENTARY By Dick Wolfsie Do you know what’s wrong with the world today? We know too much that isn’t true. That’s right. We have too much inaccurate knowledge. When I was growing up, nobody knew anything. When my father challenged me, “What makes you so smart?” he had a point. I just didn’t realize it then. What did I know? When people you really trusted told you something, like at a cocktail party, you assumed they got it from a reliable source. “Hey, did you know that if you drink a quart of water a day, you’ll live an extra 20 years?” Well, that was pretty much the end of the conversation for me. I’d put down my bourbon and soda and immediately switch to scotch and water. Before I met my wife, I dated a young lady based entirely on what I learned from watching the old game show “Hollywood Squares.” To get her in a romantic mood, I’d say intelligent things like: “Did you know Howard Taft was our fattest president?” She was always impressed with how well-read I was. I thought we were great together, but she went off to medical school, and the thought of my having to watch “Quincy” reruns was too high a price even for love. Nowadays, if you don’t know weird stuff, you’re an outcast,

a computer illiterate who hasn’t yet figured out that if you have access to the Internet, you’re supposed to know everything. None of it is true, of course. But you know it. That’s all that is important. Here are a few things people told me this past week that they learned on the Internet. Whether it’s true is irrelevant. I’m going to repeat it anyway. I don’t want to look stupid. It is dangerous to blow your nose. (This totally depressed me. There are some great medical techniques out there to reduce plaque in your bloodstream, but there is no way to unblow your nose after 60 years.) Expensive toilet paper and cheap toilet paper are roughly the same. (This is probably true. I just don’t like one of the word choices.) Due to a typo in an Indiana statute, you have to wait two weeks before you can purchase gum. If you point your finger at something, a dog will look where you’re pointing. A cat, and most ferrets, won’t. (Neither will a hermit crab.) Due to a shortage of pitchforks in the l920s, angry mobs had to carry plungers. The first English muffins had nooks, but no crannies. (Actually David Letterman said this, so it may be true.) There is a law in Muncie that a doctor can’t use a tongue depressor to depress other parts of your body.

Talking about doctors, they have really been affected by the Internet. Years ago, the doctor didn’t have to explain much of anything. He went to medical school – and you were an idiot. He alone was in possession of the information. “But, doctor,” you’d plead, “there must be some explanation for that extra nose growing on my face.” The doctor was reassuring. “Now don’t you worry your pretty little head (or what was your pretty little head) about this. I went to Indiana University.” Doctors nowadays are afraid you’ll go to your computer and get information. “Well, Mr. Smartypants Doctor, that’s not an extra nose at all. I just Googled my symptom. It’s actually a rare poisonous mushroom. Don’t you ever surf the net?” Recently, I made a promise to myself that I would not repeat anything I saw on the Web for a week. Apparently, only one out of 1,000 people can keep this pledge. I refuse to tell you where I got that statistic.

Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist, and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.

Hoosier Hodge Podge

Indiana Wordsmith Challenge

Build the words

Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Teams: CHIEFS, COLTS, EAGLES, JETS, RAMS, RAVENS; Bones: CLAVICLE, FEMUR, FIBULA, RIB, TIBIA; Words: INDIANA, DEPARTMENT, OF, TRANSPORTATION; Colleges: BUTLER, IUPUI, MARIAN; Cities: BEIJING, SHANGHAI; Lt. Governor: SKILLMAN Answers to BUILD THE WORDS: BARBIE DOLL, SHAMROCKS, FLASH GORDON, ST. ELMO, NEIL SIMON Answers to INDIANA WORDSMITH CHALLENGE: DECREE, EMCEED, RECEDE, REDEEM, BREED, CREED, CREME, EMBED, EMBER, EMCEE, BEER, BERM, BRED, CEDE, CRED, DEEM, DEER, MERE, REED

22 | December 1, 2009

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

SERVICES

489.4444 ext. 202

Classifieds SERVICES

SERVICES

RENTALS

Shopping for car insurance? Call me first. Save even more than before with Allstate. Drivers who switched to Allstate saved an average of $353 a year. You could be surprised by how much you’ll save. Ranj Puthran 844-4683 www.carmelallstate.com

Guitar Lessons With Baker Scott

Beginners thru Advanced All styles Electric-Acoustic-Bass Private Lessons Parent-Child Lessons near Carey Road & 146th Carmel 317-

910-6990

.com

LEAVE THE RAKING TO ME AND GUTTERS TOO

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Do you know three reasons you should consider living in THE NEW YORKER APARTMENTS located at 3707 – 3715 N. Meridian Street in Downtown Indianapolis. • You will save time & money • You will meet new people and new friends • You will have access to public transportation, to churches, schools, entertainment and shopping You work hard, so by living at The New Yorker Apartments you will have time to enjoy your life … and to have all the convenience of living downtown. Come on in and visit The New Yorker Apartments. Call - 784-5899 or 435-8618 and make an appointment. You might be surprised at the pleasant, large apartments that are available at such affordable prices. IT’S TRUE: Schedule an appointment to just come and see how much time and money you can save.

Very Reasonable and dependable Call for estimates 580-9230 Carmel - Westfield - Noblesville Indy North/Zionsville

Interior Painting

Winter Special, Most Rooms $100-150 Jonathan Walla, College Student at IUPUI Experienced Painter / Detailed Service Brand Name Paints at Discounted Prices Call (317) 698-5480 for Free Estimate

STUDIOS, 1-2 BEDROOMS - FENCED PARKING LOT Professionally Managed by: MOYNAHAN-WILLIAMS Call Debbie – 317-435-8618

FOr sale

The Holiday’s are around the corner. Think Tupperware for a gift that will last a life time and sure to please.

Pet & House Sitting Service

Ashley Knott 317-607-8623 • aknott@gotown.net

317-802-6565 317-432-1627

www.mytupperware.com/aknott

Years Experience 119Years

“The Safe and Reliable Alternative to Boarding” Insured/Bonded Member of Pet Sitters Int’l References Available

FOR SALE

All New FULL MATTRESS SET $100 still in bag Can Deliver (317) 223-9301

FOR SALE

Wanted to buy I BUY: Jewelry, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Rolex, Diamonds, Old Coins, Bullion Coins, silverware, Old watches, estate items and anything of value. Call 317-4965581 or visit us today at www. indyestatebuyer.com

All New QUEEN PILLOW TOP Mattress Set. $125 still in bag Can Deliver (317) 223-9301

FOR SALE

All New KING PILLOW TOP Mattress Set. $175 still in bag Can Deliver (317) 223-9301

www.currentnoblesville.com (coming soon)

OBITUARIES Barbara “Rose” (Everling) Barr, 81, Noblesville, passed away Nov. 22 at her home in Noblesville. She was born Jan. 16, 1928 in Elwood, Ind., to Wayne Carl Everling and Mamie Everling (Gwinn). Barbara worked for Central Indiana Weight Watchers as a clerk for 10 years. She attended Elwood High School. She was also a member of White River Christian Church. She is survived by daughter, Jeneva (Jim) Wood, daughter, Beverly (Basil) Leeman of Noblesville, son, Jeff (Dawn) Barr, brother, Bob (Barbara) Everling of Marion, sister, Betty Swinford of Noblesville, sister, Carolyn (David) Hahn of Arizona, sisterin-law, Gertrude Everling of Elwood, sister-inlaw, Reva Smith of Franklin, sister-in-law, Ruth Huntzinger of Noblesville. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and several great- great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, She is preceded in death by husband William Lester Barr in 1999. Sister Thelma Swinford, brother Wayne Everling. Christopher ‘Scott’ Jennings, 43, Cicero, passed Nov. 18 at home. He was born Sept. 18, 1966 in Noblesville. Scott was a truck driver for the Lusco Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Michelle Jennings; son, Aaron Jennings; step-daughter, Chantel Bianchi-Hoffman; grandson, Conner Cummings; mother, Vicki (Gary) Bailey; sister, Shelli Jennings; three step-sisters, Kris Dellingner, Terry Massingill and Dee McKinney; step-mother, Peggy Jennings; niece and nephew, Amanda Gooding and Justin Ridings; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, Carl Jennings. Rev. Charles Edwin Voit Jr., 64, Noblesville, passed away Nov. 20 in Noblesville. He was born July 3, 1945 in Louisville, Ky., to Charles Edwin and Anna Louise (Markwell) Voit Sr.. Charles is a graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. He was ordained into ministry in 1971 at Christ Lutheran Church in Jeffersontown, Ky., and several

churches including Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Noblesville. He was also a member of Mystic Tie Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite in Indianapolis. He is survived by wife, Candy (Evans) Voit of Noblesville, IN; mother, Anna Louise (Markwell) Voit of Louisville, Ky.; sons, Chad Brandenburg (wife Estacia) of Fishers, IN, Ben David Voit (Wife Angie) of Ft. Meyers, Fla., and Jason Matthew Voit of Richmond, Ind.; sisters, Bonnie L Clark of Louisville, Ky., Diane M. Taylor of Louisville, Ky., and Vickie L. Hale of Louisville, Ky.; granddaughter, Norah Brandenburg; grandson, Chandler Voit; and several nieces, nephews and special friends. He is preceded in death by his father. Memorial contributions may be made to Third Phase 15755 Allisonville Road, Noblesville, IN 46060 or Prevail Incorporated, 1100 S. 9th Street, Suite 100, Noblesville, IN 46060.

BUY SUPER FUN MEAL DEAL Receive 300 Redemption Tickets, Large 1-Topping Pizza, Pitcher of Soda, and 50 Tokens

$24.99

cafe catering bakery

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

809 conner street noblesville, in p 317.674.8668 f 317.674.8669

Now Hiring

RENTALS

Direct Support Professional

For Rent 1321 Brookton Ct

Have Something to sell?

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1650 sq ft home, Washington township schools, Brick exterior, NO GAS BILL! Huge yard, Attached garage, Stove, Refrigerator, Dishwasher, Microwave. Available Now. $1,195 per month. Call 253-1533

Call Dennis O'Malia 489.4444 ext. 202

Responsible people needed to provide direct support services to individuals with developmental disabilities and autism. Apply in person, by fax or online: Mon-Fri 9am-3pm Cornerstone Associates, LLC 6967 Hillsdale Court Indianapolis, IN 46250 Office (317) 299-6088 Fax (317) 299-7076 www.cornersassoc.com $9/hr Part time North side Indianapolis

December 1, 2009 | 23

24 | December 1, 2009