December 9, 2008

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Be prepared. If you’re over 40, an EKG can be more important than a flu shot. Learn more on back page.

TUESDAYDecember 9, 2008

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By Stephanie Carlson CurtisCurrent in Carmel

Out with the old and in with the new. This seems to be the theme de-veloping in Carmel’s Historic Old Town. As turn-of-the-century homes and vacant structures are demolished to make way for new construction, preservationists are building a movement to advocate protection of historic properties.

“With all the new development projects that have been proposed that might threaten the integrity of residential old town, preservation is obvi-ously needed,” said Tom Rumer, historian with the Carmel Clay Historical Society. According to Rumer, recent unlawful demolitions and homes in danger of being destroyed prompted the concept of creating a preservation commission. The historical society hired Ball State’s Center for Historic Preservation to update a decade old survey. The new study designates more than 200 structures as contributing to the character of Old Town. The neighborhoods encompass an area bordered by 136th Street to the north, 4th Street to the south and spans for several blocks to the east and west of Rangeline Road.

According to Carol Schleif, a member of the historical society, 86 percent of residential Old Town is eligible to be on the map of character contributing landmarks. Contributing landmarks must be a minimum of 50-years old.

“We are looking at the possibility of creating a local historic district,” said Schleif, who holds a masters degree in architecture with an emphasis on historic preservation. “There has been frustration in the community with new things that don’t fit into the area and are non-contributing in nature.” The process of designating Old Town as a historic district is on track, and Rumer hopes parcel owners will support a preservation com-mission to protect homes built in the late-1800s and early-1900s. Rumer referred to the Peeler house, a historic cottage surrounded by construction, as an important link to our city’s past. The Quaker homeowner, Elizabeth Peeler, was instrumental in naming Carmel. “This is a grassroots kind of thing. It has to grow up out of Old Town with our guidance as a tool that owners can use to safeguard their properties,” said Rumer. “Neighbors can create their own guidelines and standards as a group. They can decide how far they want to go and what they want to regulate.” Steve Schutz, President of Builders Inc., who has been involved in Old Town develop-ments and has restored two homes along Rangeline Road, agrees with a commission that preserves homes that are worth saving. “If a property owner has no financial ability to repair a house and it becomes dilapidated or has asbestos issues, there are health and safety concerns,” he said.

Restoring old homes can present challenges as the three owners of Simply Sweet Shoppe and Second Story Playhouse found when they con-verted a home built in1872 to a candy store. “The wiring was so old there were burns on the inside of the walls. It would have eventually caught fire,” said Jill Zaniker. “We were excited to do our part to preserve the his-torical aspects of the Carmel Arts and Design District.” Zaniker welcomes the formation of a preservation alliance if it will benefit area residents and businesses. Planners envision that the commission would be comprised of professionals experienced in historic preservation, would host workshops to educate parcel owners and provide guidance for adding on or modify structures. The commission would create a petition with the input of area residents and file for an ordinance that would allow the alliance to oper-ate in a professional manner. “We find that designated historic districts increase property values, increase occupancy rates, enhance the character of area and promote tourism,” said Schleif. “Protecting the architectural heritage gives residents a chance to recreate a lifestyle like people had 100 years ago where families lived in quaint villages and could walk every-where. Carmel’s Old Town is a view to the past.”

Stephanie Curtis is a freelance writer and photographer. If you have a story idea, please contact her at [email protected].

Carmel Preservation Alliance Public Meeting

7-9 p.m.Dec. 10

Carmel Christian Church(Across from Carmel

High School on E. Main) Carmel and Old Town residents are

invited to learn more and offer input.

The fighT is on To proTecT carmel’s hisTorical properTies

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Pictured, clockwise from top right, are, an endan-gered historical home in Carmel, two historical homes dressed up for the holidays, the Peeler home on Main Street, the 1872 home converted to Simply Sweet Shoppe and Second Story Playhouse, a Bed and Breakfast in the historic district, the first homestead in Carmel and one of the city’s historic homes undergo-ing renovation.

VIEWS

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, Founded Oct. 24, 2006, at Carmel, IN

Vol. III, No. 8Copyright 2008. Current Publishing, LLC

All Rights Reserved.1 South Range Line Road, Suite 220

Carmel, IN 46032

317.489.4444

Publisher – Brian [email protected] / 414.7879Executive Editor – Steve [email protected] / 847.5022Associate Editor – Terry [email protected] Editor – Mike [email protected] / 730.4833Art Director – Zachary Ross [email protected] / 787-3291Associate Artist – Stefanie [email protected] / 340.1836Reporter – Brandon [email protected] / 489.4444Reporter – Bryan [email protected] / 489.4444Cartoonist – Tim [email protected]

Advertising Carmel Sales Executive – Dennis O’[email protected] / 370.0749Carmel Sales Executive – Lara [email protected] / 409.1418Indianapolis Sales Consultant – Kevin [email protected] / 513.4359

Business OfficeBookkeeper - Deb [email protected] / 489.4444

The views of the columnists in Current In Carmel are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.

OUR TAKES

CURRENTOON by Tim Campbell

To comment on Tim’s currentoons, contact him at: [email protected].

ThiS Year’S Killer GifTIt is our position that our culture

needs a refresher course on the reason for the season. As most of us know, the holidays should be a season of caring for others. That most simple fact was forgot-ten over Thanksgiving weekend in New York, as the world watched when a Wal-Mart worker was trampled to his death by eager shoppers trying to be among the first early-birds to enter the store. What was their desired pur-suit? While the demeanor of the crowd resembled the bread lines in the Russian Revolution of the Bolsheviks, the mem-bers of this Wal-Mart mob forgot that they were not standing in line to avoid

winter starvation. Their objective was the opportunity to potentially find a great deal on a flat screen TV, or perhaps a Wii electronic game system, or even Tonka Truck set. How can death be the result?

Perhaps a revised definition of holiday giving could be considered. In these dif-

ficult economic times, the gift list might include help-

ing an elderly neighbor to decorate for Christmas or to shovel snow. Couldn’t it be a gift to allow a fellow shopper the opportunity to take the last must-have toy on the shelf to make their child’s Christmas? Now that’s a gift worth giving.

our ConSTiTuTionS maTTerIt is our position that American citizens

should read and understand the constitu-tions of the United States and Indiana. We all can use a refresher course on what the founding fathers intended for the genera-tions that followed the launch of this nation.

Continuing this week, we are running an excerpt from an article of the U.S. Constitution. Today, we offer Article II, Section 1: “The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a

Compensation, which shall neither be in-creased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and

he shall not re-ceive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.”

To view the U.S. Constitution and the Indiana Constitution in their entirety, go to www.uscon-stitution.net and

www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/const/, respectively.

Progress with a PurPose

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8ANOTHER TAKE FROM THE BACKSHOP

Brian Kelly & Steve Greenberg

READERS’ VIEWS

Wanna write us a letter? You can do it a couple ways. The easiest is to e-mail it to [email protected]. The old-fashioned way is to snail mail it to Current in Carmel, 1 South Range

Line Road, Carmel, IN 46032. Keep letters to 200 words max (we may make exceptions), and be sure to include your home zip code and a daytime number for verification.

WRITERS’ RULES

Back in the day, it almost was romantic for musicians to record songs about their automotive favorites. Chief among those efforts were gems such as “Little Deuce Coupe” and “409.” The Beach Boys handled those with a driving sort of cool that transcended concert venues, leading streams of buyers into car dealerships. Can you imagine - we can’t; we tried, but we can’t - any musical act these days throw-ing its total weight behind any domestic auto? Really. John Mellencamp came up with a commercial (literally) success with “Our Country,” a nice melody and decent lyrics, but it was tied to General Motors (motion-sickness bag, please).

• • •As for GM’s grand plan, we’re convinced

that in the end the dinosaur of the indus-try will be unable to compete in the mar-ketplace. Period. Its management, board of directors and union do not care about the customer, and that was the culture 30 years ago, the antecedent to its doom. The right thing to do is to let the company go belly-up, file for bankruptcy protection and have it restyle itself as a customer-centric, high-quality, union-less titan of

domestic automotive change. As we sug-gested last month, the foreign automakers’ hold on quality in the marketplace is now all but a stranglehold. America deserves better.

• • •Here’s a “didja”: Did you know a

Christmas tree cost less last year than the same style and size of tree in 1980? Stunning, but true. Seems the tree farmers up yonder had to compete with the fake-fir industry. So that sticky, needle-drop-ping pine you bought in 1980 for $25 went last year for $22.

• • •Is it just us, or do you find that you,

too, are treated like an “intruder” when you go into a big-box store looking for pre-purchase answers? Service with a smile? Yeah, right.

People regularly defend bad behavior – on all fronts. They defend dads (and moms) who abandon their children. They defend those who

are dishonest and disloyal in every imaginable way. Maybe we don’t know the circum-stances. Maybe there was more to the story. Sure, and maybe cows talk about us behind our backs. It reminds me of the young naturist killed a few years ago by grizzly bears. He refused to believe the warnings of those more experienced in the wild than he. Until he saw the “bad” action himself, he believed it untrue. The death and consumption of both he and his girlfriend will hope-fully prove to be cautionary to others. As a rule of thumb, if one cannot be trusted by those to whom they have pledged loy-alty, does it make sense to think that they could be trusted by anyone else?

Today, we regularly support thieves and drug users. Because of this or that they should not be held accountable.

The system is unfair, they rail. I grew up shoulder-to-shoulder with my own poor white trash cousins. They sold dope and subsequently have been in and out of

jail. With my parents behind me, I worked hard, found a way, went to school and got the heck away from those folks. Some of them respect me for it. Others hate me for the same. At the end of the day, I don’t feel any obliga-tion or ownership whatsoever for their bad actions. Does that make me unsympathetic, pathetic or both? Do we feel blessed to have the life that we do or guilty because of it? For me, I cling to my family and my God. Shouldn’t we spend our energy defending those

who are trying to do right rather than excusing those who have most certainly done wrong?

Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current in Carmel. You may e-mail him at [email protected].

TerryAnker

no SWeeT TuneSfor DeTroiT noW

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Bovine ConverSaTion

The most overused and underem-ployed word of 2008 has to be “transparency.”

The use of the word has been picking up steam over the past

few years and likely increased rapidly as a result of the accounting scandals and subsequent passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. With corporate malfeasance, economic challenges and the presidential election filling the evening news this year, use of this word has taken on a new level. But the use of the word is so highly overused, people are tuning it out.

Companies are trying to be more transparent so that potential investors better un-derstand financial statements and want to invest. Healthcare is trying to be more transparent so patients can com-pare price and quality of service to make an informed choice as to where they seek care. Higher education is working to be more transparent and accountable so par-ents have reliable information from which they can compare institutions. Taxpayers want transparency from government so as to ensure they understand how tax dollars are used to fund projects, provide services

and meet the needs of citizens.Attempts by business, government and

individuals to enact transparency are often laughable. It seems sometimes that as long as the word “transparency” appears in some

company’s annual report or in a politician’s speech that a higher level of accountability to stake-holders has been achieved. In some cases, efforts as transparency often are actually covert. Financial statements so long and filled with jargon that no consumer could ever use them to determine a company’s financial status is often exactly what the authors intended.

The intent of all of these uses of transparency is noble and neces-sary. And there is nothing wrong with providing more information, allowing consumers to make a more-informed choice. Being

more transparent in action provides a foun-dation for trust, which is the basis for every successful relationship, business or personal.

What do you think? Can we still aspire to transparency, or is it just rhetoric?

Sue Finkam is interested in making a difference in the community through healthy conversa-tion. You can participate in the conversation by posting a comment on her blog at www.youarecurrent.com.

SueFinkam

Editor:I very much agree with the comments

made by Jody Kuchar in the Dec. 2 issue of Current in Carmel.

I find your sarcasm annoying, negative and not very productive. I keep reading you paper thanks to great contributors that you have, like Danielle Wilson.

Why don’t you two learn from her?

Her writing is hilarious and funny. Irreverent, yes, but always pleasant. She is able to get to her point with humor in a gracious way. You often seem too bitter!

As President elect Barack Obama would say: “You can disagree without being disagreeable”!

Miria AllmanCarmel 46033

i aGree WiTh JoDi KuChar

MoNoN CENTER CuSToMER APPRECIATIoN WEEK - The Monon Center at Carmel’s Central Park (111th and Range Line Rd.) is hosting a week full of fun activities all this week (Dec. 8-13) during normal business hours 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday - Friday, and 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday. There will be tables throughout the Center with goodies spotlighting all the facilities activities. The fitness table will feature “Ask a Trainer” daily 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m., and Saturday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Visitors may ask anything fitness related. For further information on any of the Center’s activities, call 317-848-7275.

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DISPATCHES

I am the daughter of a life-long Democrat who started out with the Peace Corps and went on to become a public defender. I married the son of a staunch Republican who joined

the Marines before going into banking law. Needless to say, we grew up in somewhat dif-ferent political environments. Another key difference between our fathers is the desire to hunt. My dad gags when he has to change a dirty diaper and gets queasy over a paper cut, while my father-in-law positively glows when he’s slicing open Bambie’s mom and watching her guts spill out over the ground.

My husband isn’t quite as conservative as his father, (with his vote for Barack Obama, my liberal indoctrination is almost complete), but, unfortunately, he did inherit his love of hunting. So every November with the opening of deer season, I’m stuck at home with four kids while he’s off trying to procure meat for the coming winter. What-ever. He just wants to have an excuse to drink beer with his brothers/friends/dad and play with shot guns and Bowie knives.

And that’s fine. I get it. Though I can’t possibly fathom how sitting in a tree stand for five hours in the sleet and rain is enjoy-able, I understand the need to get away from the parent action and reconnect with the home team. I myself would prefer a lovely spa in Tempe, but to each his own. And if it were just one or even two weekends a year, I’d be thrilled to wash his camouflage thermal underwear and safety-orange knit cap. Hell, I’d even buy the beef jerky and case of Bud Light. But that’s the problem with hunting. It’s never just a couple of Saturdays.

October is bow season, which means you can relive your childhood fantasy and hunt deer with a bow and arrows. Shot-

gun is next, followed by muzzle loader. If there are any deer left in January after a second archery season, they get to live so they can have babies and produce next fall’s crop of targets. Added onto the days

actually hunting, you need at least two to three to set up tree stands at strategic locations and another couple to fire your rifles and perfect your aim. Let’s not forget a morning at Gander Mountain to buy a new com-pass or those insulated boots you’ve had your eyes on.

Alright, I’ll admit, I’m a little bitter. I’ve even thought about joining my husband’s posse to see what all the fuss is about. But I’ve got too much of my dad in me to want to kill any-thing, I loathe the cold, and I don’t relish the thought of swill-

ing whiskey in a cabin over beer nuts and fart jokes.

So what’s a poor defenseless wife to do? I can’t say no. He loves hunting too much for me to take it away. And I suppose he is helping to manage the deer population in Indiana, which in turn keeps predators at bay and car accidents down. I just pray each year that he’ll meet his quota quickly - kill a buck on his first morning out, fol-lowed by a doe that evening - and not shoot himself or a friend anywhere vital. I’m also secretly glad that with age, the early mornings in freezing temperatures are becoming less and less appealing to him.

If all else fails, I can hope that our children, the girls included, will inherit the hunting bug, just as my husband did. Then Daddy can spend quality time with his little shooters every November while I’m off getting that desert facial. Peace out.

Danielle Wilson is a Carmel resident and con-tributing columnist. You may e-mail her at [email protected].

noThinG aPPealinG aBouT hunTinG

DanielleWilson

HouSE DECoRATINg CoNTEST - To enter the Carmel Parks Department’s holiday house decorating contest, complete the contest form at www.carmelclayparks.com. The home must be located within Clay Township of Hamilton County. The awards will be announced Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

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ST.VINCENT oPENS NEW IMMEDIATE CARE CENTER - On Dec. 6, St.Vincent Physician Network opened its Immediate Care Center at 10801 N. Michigan Road in Zionsville. The new Immediate Care Center will be staffed by board-certified family medicine physicians who care for both adult and pediatric patients. The primary care office is conveniently located for patients from Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks and northwest Marion counties. Walk-in appointments are accepted, and the office will have extended hours Monday-Friday from 5-9 p.m.; weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on every holiday except Christmas.

RE/MAx LEgENDS gRouP ASSISTS ToY DRIVE - For the past eight years, WRTV-6 has been collecting toys for Hoosier children during the holiday season and Re/Max Legends Group has joined the effort by acting as a drop-off site for toy donations. New, unwrapped toys for boys and girls in any age group will be collected at the Re/Max Legends Group office through Dec. 18 and delivered to the station. Anyone wishing to donate toys may drop them off during business hours at the Re/Max Legends Group office, 5645 Castle Creek Parkway, Indianapolis. Anyone with questions, can call 317-849-7653.

DISPATCHES

The City of Carmel Utilities received a Laboratory Excellence Award at the 72nd Annual Conference of the Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA) held Nov. 18-20, in Indianapolis. The Laboratory Excellence Award is awarded for outstanding achievement in the implementation of laboratory technique and administration. The awards may be given to municipal facilities for each classification. Candidates for the award are determined by the Laboratory Committee and are based upon a graded evalua-tion of each laboratory that requests a site evaluation.

Submitted photoFrom left, David Dye, Teresa Lewis and Tara Rubush.

Carmel uTiliTieS WinS aWarD

By K.o. JacksonCurrent in Carmel

Maple Glen Elementary School teacher Angela Alexander has taught third-grade for three years.

She understands not all teaching and learning is done in the Westfield class-room. As a result, she recently took 83 Maple Glen third-graders to the “Build A Bear” store at the Castleton Mall.

The field trip was for each student to build a bear and donate it to the Carmel-based Chaucie’s Place.

“They each had $20 to build a bear, so that was a math/economic lesson. They donated the bears, so they learned public service and how important it is to benefit other children” says Alexander, adding her students have also completed community service work with Open Doors.

Chaucie’s Place, named after a Hamilton County child who committed suicide after child abuse, started in 2001. It provides a neutral, child-friendly, home-like envi-ronment where a single, comprehensive investigative interview takes place in cases

of alleged child abuse or neglect.Located in an old-fashioned, Carmel

farmhouse - decorated inside with chil-dren’s colorful handprints on the wall and a bookshelf of clothed Build A Bears - the center aims to reduce the trauma to chil-dren who visit.

Chaucie’s Place’s mission is to improve the quality of evidence gathered to quickly and efficiently resolve cases through the

use of a multi-disciplinary team and certified forensic interview-ers. Thousands of forensic inter-views have been conducted at Chaucie’s Place.

Including the Indiana Department of Child Services, Chaucie’s Place multi-disciplinary team includes 10 Hamilton County law-enforce-ment agencies, as well as the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.

“The place is beautiful,” says Alexander. “When children of suspected abuse go there, one person takes their statement instead of them giving it in court. They are given a bear. You want to make that phase for them as gentle as possible. They have been hurt and it has to be scary for them.”

STuDenTS Grin anD ‘Bear’ iT for ChauCie’S PlaCe

McKenna Janes, Megan Wampler, Hannah Rasnake, Annalise Snyder

HILEMAN JoINS CARMEL FAMILY CARE - H. James Hileman, MD, MS, joins Carmel Family Care and Methodist Medical Group (MMG), a Clarian Health Partner. Dr. Hileman is a board certified internal medicine physician specializing in arthritis, cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and sports injuries. “We’re pleased to have Dr. Hileman on board with us. He’ll make a great addition to the practice, and we’re looking forward to enhancing the health of our community together,” said Dr. Laura Johnson, who joined MMG in September.

CRAFTED BoWL To go To WINNER oF CARMEL gREEN AWARD - When Citizens for Greenspace, a 20-year Carmel citizen’s organization, receives the inaugural Carmel Green Award on Dec. 10, they will also receive an extraordinary piece of art – a wooden bowl and pedestal crafted by local artist Jennifer Shirley. Ms. Shirley, from Indianapolis, has been turning wood since 1999. She uses mostly indigenous Indiana hardwood for her pieces. The wood for this unique award was recycled from a Carmel cherry tree.

DISPATCHES

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By Bryan unruhCurrent in Carmel

Mayor Jim Brainard has agreed to an amended proposal for Keystone Avenue funding that would delay con-struction on at least one intersection.

Two City Council com-mittees are set to review the $28.5 million request, which is down from $52 million in November. The new amount, added to the $90 million granted to Carmel by the state, would pay for construction on five intersections.

Officials said they hoped to complete the 106th Street and 126th Street inter-sections and begin construction at 136th Street and 131st Street. That would delay the projects at Carmel Drive and 116th Street, which will require simultaneous construction because of their proximity to one another. Brainard said he would revisit those projects in a year.

Criticism of Brainard continued at the Dec. 1 council meeting with speakers calling the Keystone project a “laughing-stock.” Brainard promised last spring the project would not exceed $90 million. He also underestimated the cost of the Regional Performing Arts Center by about

$45 million.“I think you should be embarrassed,”

said Carmel resident Pat Lease. “You’ve let this problem fester and get way out of hand.”

City Council wasn’t free from blame, either. Recent reports said it knew for months Keystone would exceed its budget and failed to inform the public. But coun-cil members said they never intervened because, until recently, the project didn’t involve city money.

“We’re not blind,” Councilman Eric Seidensticker said. “We can see the costs and ex-penses. But knowledge of something does not mean you go out and wave a red flag.”

The council Finance, Administration and Rules

Committee and Utilities, Transportation and Public Safety Committee will discuss the issue at their upcoming meetings on Dec. 18 and Jan. 12, respectively.

Council President Rick Sharp said resi-dents should not expect a quick resolution.

“Hasty action led us to this problem,” he said. “I don’t want to make the same mistake. There is a lot we need to under-stand before we can make a decision.”

BrainarD forCeD To Give in on KeYSTone

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Your Carmel firefighters have been busy this holiday season doing more than just fighting fires. With your help, 260 needy families in our area will receive

generous donations of food and gifts, and will go to bed know-ing they live in a community that cares. The annual Carmel Fire Department Christmas Assistance Program is well un-derway with delivery scheduled for Dec. 13.

The annual event matches sponsors with families or indi-vidual children that are regis-tered with the Good Samaritan Organization of Hamilton County. Many of the children already have a list ready to go for Santa or Santa’s helper. Some lists are lengthy, but one little 8-year-old boy this year skipped the list, choosing instead to make a simple request. “All I want for Christmas this year is a Christmas tree,” he wrote. Rest assure, the Carmel Fire Department will make sure that appeal becomes a reality, as well as a cherished memory long into the little boy’s adult life.

That is what motivates Public Education Officer Keith Freer to head up the

Christmas Assistance Program for CFD. The program actually consists of three parts all coordinated and managed by Fire Department personnel. As mentioned, food and gifts are collected and distributed

on Dec. 13. A lot of volunteers get involved, including the Boy Scouts and employees of Carmel Financial.

The third phase of the Christmas Assistance Program is a fun-filled day for a busload of kids starting at the Carmel Meijer Store. Volunteers accom-pany some 50 kids around the store looking for just the right coat, boots, mittens or hats.

Keith told me about the need in our community and how it is sometimes overwhelm-ing. But there are families like the one with an adult special

needs daughter. Their wish list was void of brand-name gadgets or the latest fads. They simply and humbly asked for any help possible with a “God Bless You” for all that CFD does. I will second that.

Jeff Worrell is a local business owner. He recognizes volunteers on “Connecting with Carmel” on cable channel 16. Contact him at [email protected]

Jeff Worrell

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8CuT CELL PHoNE BILL – If you do only one thing this month, lower your cell phone bill by visiting billshrink.com, a free service that determines the best calling plan for your mobile habits, factoring in testing and Internet activity.

READ THE FINE PRINT – Did you know that after 12 months of holding that gift card you received, $2 to $3 is deducted by the issuer ... each month? Dormancy fees for the cards issued by major retailers are rare, but credit-card companies penalize recipients who wait too long to use them. Advice: When you get one, spend it all ASAP, or risk losing money.

RETIRINg READINg - Getting close to retirement? Getting close to thinking about retirement? Here are five books on considering golden year finances:

• “The Little Book That Saves Your Assets,” by David M. Darst ($19.95), can be distilled into one word: diversify.

• “The Truth About Buying Annuities” by Steve Weisman ($18.99), good for some but, says the author, “dead wrong for many people.”

• “The Smartest 401(k) Book You’ll Ever Read,” by Daniel R. Solin (Perigree, $19.95), is a polemic against what the author contends is a “seriously broken retirement system.”

• “Working Longer: The Solution to the Retirement Income Challenge,” by Alicia H. Munnell and Steven A. Sass ($29.95), can be distilled into two words: “Keep working.”

• “Retire – And Start Your Own Business,” by Dennis and Martha Sargent ($24.99), for those who want to continue working, but for themselves.

- wsj.com

RETooLINg A 401(K) IN 2009 - If, like so many of us, you’re retooling your 401(k) after this very rough year, this is a good place to start looking.

• Vanguard Primecap (VPMCX)• Fidelity Blue Chip growth (FBGRX)• American Funds American Mutual

A (AMRMX)• Vanguard Small Cap growth Index

(VISGX)• oakmark International I (OAKIX)

Each has lost tons of money this year, but they’ve lost less than most of their rivals. They or funds like them can form the foundation of a dream retirement account.

- msn.com/money

DISPATCHES

I’m a fan of Costco. I’m frequently asked if I own stock. I don’t. I don’t even know if they are a public com-pany. I do know that I like their pric-ing, service, layout and the unpredict-

able inventory. I visit them every week as routinely as the sun rises. I’ve even gone out of my way to shop at out-of-town stores to see what they carry, but it is never the same as my store. My store brings with it a sense of being known and it originates with the employees.

Here are two contrasting stories to make the point. I buy everything I can from Costco, but it can’t fill the small-purchase needs which take me to another local store, much smaller in size. Two weeks ago I went to this smaller store to pick up a couple of items. I secured my purchases, went to the quickie checkout line, greeted the cashier with an offhand comment about the weather, answered “yes” to finding ev-erything I needed and “no” to the question about having a savings card, consummated the transaction and was out the door. I got to the car and realized I had forgotten one item. I ran back in and went through the same process, same line, and, surprisingly, the same questions and exchange. I depart-ed a bit confused and noticed a text mes-

sage that sent me back in the store to grab yet one more thing. Nothing changed. After three consecutive transactions the cashier still wanted to know if I had magi-cally created a savings card in the last 10

minutes and I still offered nonsense comments about the weather. How confusing.

Costco is a super-huge store, full of people, yet each week I’m greeted by the associate in the wine department with some relevant remark about previous purchases. He even remembers to ask about my daughter if she’s not with me, “Where’s your helper?” I trust all his recommendations and, while we aren’t friends, I feel known. On a similar note, my local Starbucks knows what I drink – I don’t even have to ask. For

that matter, “my” drink is a recommenda-tion of the barista from months previous. Doesn’t it seem funny that these gigantic companies understand how to make a customer feel “known” – like they belong? Well, maybe not. Maybe that’s how they got so big.

David Cain works at MediaSauce, a digital media and online marketing company in Carmel. David welcomes your questions or comments at [email protected].

David CainMarketing

feelinG liKe i BelonG

CHICAgo 34 CoNDoS ABSoLuTE AuCTIoN - Chicago, IL: New one-, two- and three-bedroom loft conversions. 10-foot ceilings, gourmet kitchens, SS appliances, granite countertops. Were priced to $374,900, opening bids just $85,000.

HAWAII MoDEL HoMES SALE - Honolulu, HI: Three-, four- and five-bedroom homes. Ten-year warranty. From $399k.

For more information on these and other real estate deals, visit www. toptenreales-tatedeals.com.

TOP REAL ESTATE DEALS

Construction crews work diligently on a new strip in front of the Meijer at 1424 W. Carmel Dr. The building will house a Mail Boxes, Etc. Several slots remain vacant.

neW STriP on Carmel Dr.

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MONEY MATTERSWhat is the most money you’ve ever spent on a

Christmas present?

“$500 on a guitar and amp for my son.”

Sheree Powell Carmel

“About $200 on a portable DVD player for my husband in Iraq.”

Kristin Sacksteder Carmel

“$300 just this year on an Xbox 360.”

Lillian TickleCarmel

Type: Ranch

Age: Built in 1976

Location: Lebanon, IN

Neighborhood: None

Square footage: 3,048 with an additional 966 square feet in the unfinished upstairs loft.

Rooms: This four-bedroom home offers three-and-a-half baths, kitchen with breakfast room, office, sizable laundry room, family room, and formal dining and living rooms.

Strengths: This home sits on a two-acre wooded lot and has a three-car garage. It is a great value for the square footage. The

upstairs loft can be finished and used as a fifth bedroom or studio. It is a 30 minute drive to Lafayette and a 30 minute drive to downtown Indianapolis.

Challenges: Built in 1976, cosmetic updates would help to better position this home on the market.

John Pacilio and his team specialize in Carmel real estate with RE/MAX Ability Plus. Contact him at 216.8500 or [email protected].

Simply organized Solutions, Inc.

owners: Kelli Gregor and Debbie KriegPhone: 317-847-5567

E-mail: [email protected]

“Clear the clutter, clear your mind” – that’s the motto of Carmel’s Simply Organized Solutions, a fledgling business that helps customers organize and eliminate clutter. Founded in late 2006, the company focuses on local families and small businesses. Owners Kelli Gregor, a former industrial engineer, and Debbie Krieg,

who has worked in retail management, said the company combines perfectly their lifestyles, interests and education. “On a day when I don’t have anything to do, I go organize my closet,” Gregor said. Gregor and Krieg each have two children, and they understand the chaotic clutter that can accompany family life. Their primary goal,

they said, is to work with customers to find the best solution for their personal needs. “Nothing we do is rocket science,” Gregor said. “Sometimes you just need someone to coach you through it. We provide information, hands-on help and, if you want, main-tenance.” They also help with filing, packing and unpacking.

NOW OPEN

WHAT’S IT WORTH By John Pacilio,RE/MAx Ability Plus

My opinion $255K

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Got DOUGH news? E-mail it to [email protected].

I recently went to Lowe’s to pick up a few things. Nothing major - dimmer switches, light bulbs, a couple of can lights. Though I am not a Mr. Fix It kind of guy (I am a pick-up-the-

phone-and-call-somebody kind of guy), on this day I was moti-vated and ready to take on a few projects. I hopped in my truck and headed to 146th Street, feeling very masculine as I went.

Though I am not intimate with the layout and merchan-dise at Lowe’s, I fear not. They have these guys in red vests running around to help people like me. As I walked around, I spotted several of them help-ing other customers. I saw one up ahead, quickened my steps to catch up, and while doing so, watched him answer pass-ing questions from a few customers. He was courteous and efficient. In position to ask my question, I asked, “Where are the dimmer switches?”

“Aisle 15, at the far end, on the left.”Off I went, and, sure enough, there they

were. Ah, the awesome power and grace

of the Lowe’s guy. As I continued to shop, I observed a few more of these creatures in action. They roam the store, fielding all types of random questions, smart ones and not-so-smart ones, seemingly always with

the right answer ready. They know what aisle, what shelf, what tool, what widget. As they glide up and down the aisles, I wonder if they are secretly daring some customer to pose a question they can’t answer.

I left the store, dimmer switches, light bulbs and can lights in hand - my shop-ping experience enhanced and electrified by the power of the Lowe’s guy. My fix it job? Not so good. Now my dining room light doesn’t work anymore, and I have the only pantry in Carmel controlled by a random

dimmer switch. Time to call somebody.

Kent Burns is a Carmel resident, investor and co-founder of CrossConfirm. He is also a professional speaker and author of What’s Your Why? He can be reached at [email protected].

Kent Burns On Success

The PoWer of The loWe’S GuY

Copyright©2008St.ClaireGroupClient: STVHC Job Name: VentrAssist ad Specs: half-page 4C Publication: Current in Carmel

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ART, PLEASE CALL 317-816-8810 FINAL MECHANICAL 4/8/08

CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF ARTWORK IS REQUIRED.

Thousands of Hoosiers will be diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) this year. So it’s good to know that the physicians of St.Vincent Congestive Heart Failure Program have a variety of treatment options—and “failure” isn’t one of them. From lifestyle modification programs to pacemakers, innovative devices such as the VentrAssist® blood pump to heart transplants, all the resources you need are right here. More ways to help patients with CHF make us best. Period.

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It’s called “congestive heart failure.”But we have other ideas.

Image reproduced with permission from VentrAssist Pty Ltd. ©2003. All rights reserved.

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8STARTINg THE DAY - Natural medicine guru Dr. David Williams recommends the following five steps to start your day on the right foot:

• Get up a half-hour early.

• Take a good probiotic.• Limber up with a full-

body stretch.• Eat a hearty breakfast.• Devote five minutes

to morning dental care.

- drdavidwilliams.com

BooST YouR BRAINPoWER - “If you want a sharper mind, actively start caring for your brain and acting for its betterment, says Daniel Amen, MD, author of Magnificent Mind at Any Age. Here are 10 steps and 10 suggestions.

• Break your routine (brush your teeth with the other hand).

• Hydrate your mind (more water, less alcohol and caffeine).

• Clock seven hours of shut-eye (lack of sleep inhibits learning, concentration and memory, sleep seven hours for higher brain function).

• Make your brain purr (deep, very slow breathing for 10 minutes; say a relaxing word while exhaling).

• Dance, dance, dance (stimulates a variety of brain systems).

• Limit TV time (more than two hours per day increases risk of Alzheimers).

• Join a reading group (social thinking and sharing bolsters cognitive functions).

• Fight pain the smart way (ibuprofen lessens Alzheimers risk; acetaminophen, however, inhibits liver production of important antioxidents).

• Kill the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts inflame anxiety and stress hormones kill brain cells. Write them down, devise plan to eliminate them).

- BestLifeOnline.com

PRESSuRE SoCKS - Swollen feet, achy legs, chicken-foot veins? Varicose veins? Poor blood flow in our feet, especially as we age, is the common culprit of these symptoms. Natural healing expert Dr. David Williams recommends Jobst Compression socks for all-day support and long-term blood flow improvement. “I love to uncover simple, low-cost solutions for common problems,” says Dr. Williams. “And this is a good one.” Jobst “SensiFoot” ($20) and “Medical Leg Wear” ($35) socks provide exacting, stimulating pressure and relieve these common blood flow problems.

- drdavidwilliams.com

DISPATCHESYou hear about it, but have you

seen a “what and why” list lately? Protein is the main source of fuel for you brain, and your brain also needs foods rich in crucial vitamins and minerals. Dr. Joe Mercola advises these nutrients for these reasons:• Vitamin A is needed to protect brain

cell membranes.• B Vitamins are essential for neuronal

growth and vitality.• Vitamin C is so vital for brain

function that its levels in your brain are 15 times higher than anywhere outside your brain.

• Vitamin E prevents and actually reverses brain deterioration.

• Magnesium maintains the metabolic viability of neurons.

• Zinc rids your brain of impurities.• Amino Acids are necessary

to the growth and health of neurotransmitters.

- mercola.com

Brain fooD

The holidays can be a busy time with many extra social events and activities that put extra demand on our daily routine. With so much going on, it may seem dif-

ficult to stick to your normal workout routine, but it is still possible to fit in fitness and stay active even with a hectic holiday schedule.

Here are some ways:

• Try to keep your exercise routine going as much as possible. If you are running short on time, you can try a condensed version of your usual workout. If you do not have time for 30 minutes of continuous exercise you can do 10-minute spurts of cardio several times throughout the day. You can also try a cardio and strength circuit. It combines short bouts of higher-intensity cardiovascular exercise in between strength training exercises with minimal rest periods. This way you can get a full workout in a shorter amount of time.

• Do jumping jacks, jog or march in place, or walk up and down stairs during the commercial breaks of your

favorite holiday TV shows.

• Shovel snow yourself instead of hiring someone to do it for you.

• The holidays are a time to spend with family and friends, so why not have them join you on a walk or go caroling throughout the neighborhood. You can also get everyone involved in a game of tag, building a snowman or a snowball fight.

• Use your shopping trips as a mode of physical activity. It is hard to find a good parking spot during the holiday frenzy, so park towards the back of the parking lot and walk briskly to the store entrance. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator or walk up the escala-tor if it is not crowded.

By keeping fitness a priority and work-ing it into your day wherever possible, you can stay fit and prevent holiday weight gain.

Eve Olson, M.D., is the owner and founder of the Olson Center for Wellness. For more infor-mation, please e-mail [email protected], or call 705.1400.

Dr. Eve OlsonWellness

STaYinG fiT over The holiDaYS

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Pictured above is the office of Dr. C. M. Donahue, M.D., which was located along the second block of E. Main St., on the northside.

Photo courtesy of Carmel Clay Historical Society

BACK IN THE DAY

OBITUARIESMarie Lucy Klein Kuszewski, 71, of Carmel, passed away Nov. 29. She was a graduate of Marquette University. Marie worked as a chemical abstractor for DuPont and as a technical writer for Princeton Gamma-Tech before retiring in 2001. She is survived by her husband, James Kuszewski of Carmel; children, John (Diane) Kuszewski of Damascus, MD, Judy (Ian) Welsh of Buckinghamshire, England and Bob (Laurel) Kuszewski of Winchester, MA; six grandchildren and a brother, Carl Klein of Wilmington, DE. Family and friends gathered on Dec. 4 in Leppert Mortuary, Smith Carmel Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 5 in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 1045 W 146th Street, Carmel, of which Marie was a parishioner and was involved in various ministries within the parish. Please visit www.leppertmortuary.com where you may share a memory, sign the guest book or make a memorial contribution to Birthright of Cicero, 50 South Peru Street, Cicero, IN 46034. Marie grace Mitchell, 86, of Carmel, passed away Dec. 4, 2008 in St. Vincent Hospice after a courageous struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. She was born on Nov. 24, 1922 in Kane, PA, to the late David and Dorothy Smith. In addition to her parents, Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Charles F. Mitchell, Sr.; son, Charles F. Mitchell Jr. and brother David Smith Jr. Survivors include her daughter, Charlene (Brooks) Heaton of Louisiana; daughter-in-law, Mary Scamardo Mitchell of Carmel; two grandsons, Joshua (Nicole) Williams of Taylors, South Carolina, and Christopher Mitchell of Carmel; great granddaughter, Ella Williams and several nieces and nephews. Family and friends gathered Dec. 6 in Leppert Mortuary, Smith Carmel Chapel. Burial followed in Carmel Cemetery. Please visit www.leppertmortuary.com where you may sign the guest book, share a memory or make a memorial contribution to St. Vincent Heart Center, 10580 NMeridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46920

POLICE RUNSNovember 2612:00:43 a.m., investigation, 12545 Meeting House Road12:37:49 a.m., suspicious activity, Old Meridian Street / West Carmel Drive2:18:14 a.m., investigation, East 131st St / Gray Road4:35:55 a.m., suspicious activity 14200 River Road7:26:05 a.m., alarm burglar, 109 Maplecrest Drive7:42:01 a.m., accident property damage, 5150 E 126th St7:41:45 a.m., animal complaint, 5188 Oldfield

Court7:57:06 a.m., investigation, 10404 Orchard Park Drive S8:27:02 a.m., driving complaint, South Rangeline Road / East Carmel Drive8:54:15 a.m., accident property damage, Ash Drive / Belden Drive9:05:08 a.m., alarm burglar, 14511 Clay Terrace Blvd9:10:34 a.m., accident property damage, 10101 N Meridian St9:16:54 a.m., investigation, 12415 Shelborne Road9:19:36 a.m., criminal mischief, 14596 Oak Ridge Road9:48:25 a.m., accident property damage, I 465 E / North Meridian Street10:05:17 a.m., suspicious activity, 1898 Trowbridge High St10:06:22 a.m., accident property damage, Keystone Avenue North / East Carmel Drive10:21:36 a.m., suspicious activity, 13135 Sherbern Drive W10:32:43 a.m., criminal mischief, 2450 E 136th St10:36:05 a.m., theft, 13686 N Meridian St10:43:50 a.m., alarm burglar, 14381 Whisper Wind Drive10:53:03 a.m., alarm burglar, 12571 Robinbrook Drive11:22:30 a.m., investigation, 9755 Randall Drive12:15:24 p.m., burglary, 1460 E 111th St12:23:28 p.m., missing person, 1412 S Rangeline Road1:24:23 p.m., theft, 520 E Main St1:52:09 p.m., alarm burglar, 12347 Amethyst Circle2:01:25 p.m., investigation, 3010 Whispering Trail3:04:17 p.m., accident property damage, Keystone Avenue North / East 98th St3:26:53 p.m., accident property damage, East Main St / Keystone Avenue South3:27:44 p.m., accident property damage, 2450 E 136th St3:41:30 p.m., accident property damage, East 126th St / South Rangeline Road4:30:45 p.m., alarm burglar, 14516 Cherry Ridge Road4:38:40 p.m., investigation, 13228 Briarwood Trace4:59:22 p.m., f als serious, 930 Nevelle Lane6:26:17 p.m., driving complaint, West 116th St / Towne Road6:40:49 p.m., investigation, 1059 Timber Creek Drive7:32:21 p.m., alarm burglar, 11555 N Meridian St7:48:47 p.m., security check, 715 W Carmel Drive8:21:21 p.m., theft, 1424 W Carmel Drive9:24:28 p.m., alarm burglar, 2910 E 96th St9:59:47 p.m., f fire residence, 987 Queensborough Court10:14:45 p.m., criminal mischief, 627 Ash Drive10:39:16 p.m., alarm burglar, 1752 E 116th St10:53:02 p.m., driving complaint, 14550 Gray Road

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ISTEP RESuLTS NoW oNLINE - The Indiana Department of Education is launching an online system called “Indiana Parent Network” as the new way for parents/guardians to receive ISTEP+ results. Carmel Clay Schools will mail the individual access codes to parents of students in grades 3-8 to explain how to use this new system. If you have a problem with, or question about, this system after trying to access your child’s ISTEP+ results from this past fall, contact the “Indiana Parent Network” site, [email protected].

gRIMBLE EARNS AWARD - Carmel High School media specialist Bonnie Grimble has been named recipient of this year’s Peggy L. Pfeiffer Award for outstanding service from the Indiana Library Federation Association for Indiana Media Educators. Grimble was presented with the award at the federation’s dinner at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis. “No one is more deserving of this award,” said Sue Moeschl, director of information services for the Carmel Clay Schools.

SWIM LESSoNS CoMINg IN JANuARY - The Carmel Aquatic Center is offering swim lessons starting in January. Swimmers must be at least 3-years-old and potty trained. The weekday sessions will run two days a week (a total of six classes) for three weeks. Fee: $60 per session per child. Registration will be held in the CHS Aquatic Center lobby, entrance #21N at Carmel High School, from 6-7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, and from 10 a.m.-noon on Dec. 13.

KNERR NAMED FINALIST FoR AWARD - Clay Middle School math teacher Amy Knerr has been named one of Indiana’s two math finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. As a state finalist, Knerr is a candidate to be Indiana’s math recipient of the Presidential Award. One math and one science winner from each state will receive an award of $10,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., where these teachers will be honored at a variety of events.

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DISPATCHES

Prejudice, as most behaviors, is a learned behavior. Are we subliminally teaching our chil-dren subtle prejudices? Do we make fun of someone’s weight,

what they are wear-ing, not play with someone because she/he isn’t athletic, call people names because of their skin color, ignore someone who is in a wheel chair, not let our daughters play with race cars because she is a girl and not let boys take dance lessons because he is a boy? When we ‘pre-judge’ we form our

opinions based on insufficient knowledge, irrational feelings or inaccurate stereotypes - by definition - prejudiced. How to teach our children to overcome prejudices? • Teach them to treat people the way we

want our children to be treated. • Teach our children to form opinions of

people based on how well they know them or how they make them feel before deciding whether or not to like them.

• Teach them to learn to stand up for people who are being mistreated. To not go along with the crowd when someone is being treated unfairly based on preju-dices and get the attention of an adult if the situation puts them at risk.

• By having family discussions on any experiences our children may have had with prejudice and how it affected them or the family.

• Discuss what prejudice is and what kinds of behaviors demonstrate prejudice.

• Have open discussions on ways in which the child deals with instances of prejudice and how they can safely handle the situation at home or school.

• By helping our children become aware of their behaviors or language that may be of a prejudiced nature.

• While watching TV together, for one week, keep listings of television programs having language, dialogue or actions that demonstrate prejudiced behavior.

Finally, follow and practice all of the above yourself. Being the example is the best lesson taught.

Hugs!

Have a parenting topic or question? Submit it to Ask Yiayia, aka Becky Kapsalis, Certified Parent Coach, at [email protected] or call 810.9358.

Becky KapsalisAsk YiaYia

PoSSeSSive PronounS WiTh GerunDS

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By Brandie BohneyCurrent in Carmel

You don’t have to be the town gossip to have an affin-ity for talking about others’ actions. You do, however, have to understand how to use possessive pronouns with gerunds in order to do that talking without making a grammatical error that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

But before I go wild about this hair-raising error, I need to back up and explain gerunds a bit. I once had a student who thought that gerund sounded enough like geriatric to mean that it was a type of word that only old folks use; they aren’t something you’ll find exclusively at retirement homes, however. If you, too, aren’t sure what a gerund is or how to use one correctly with pronouns, read on:

Gerunds are verbs that end in -ing that function as nouns:Swimming is his favorite sport.

Gertrude really enjoys fishing.

He’s looking forward to trying sushi.

In almost every case, we can substitute a so-called normal noun for the gerund:

Baseball is his favorite sport.

Gertrude really enjoys trout.

He’s looking forward to his first sushi.

Now that we have that settled, the real meat of this column is using pronouns in conjunction with gerunds.

That’s where your gossipy side comes in.If you want to explain how you feel about someone’s

actions, you may use a construction like this: I was really offended by his leaving. It’s the need to use the possessive pronoun his that is the equivalent of a giant grammatical pothole. You can get stuck there, and many people do.

Many people (I think I could say most English-speak-ing people, but I don’t have the stats to verify most) want to use subjective or objective personal pronouns instead of possessive pronouns. If I just lost you in jargon, let me give you an example to clarify. This is how many people construct the combination: I was really offended by him leaving. Because leaving functions as a noun, this construction is ridiculous. If you need proof, insert a different noun: I was really offended by him socks. Ridiculous, isn’t it?

So this type of gerund usage requires possessive pronouns. Actually, even if you use a proper noun or common noun, you still need the possessive form:

Jim appreciates Sally’s being proactive in her sales approach.

The dog’s barking surprised Allen.So if you must indulge your inner gossip, use the ap-

propriate possessive noun or pronoun with that gerund. The hair on the back of my neck will appreciate the rest.

Brandie Bohney is a grammar enthusiast and former English teacher who developed a mastery-learning system of teaching grammar to high school seniors. If you have a grammar-related question, please email her at [email protected].

TeaChinG ChilDren ThaT PreJuDiCe iS WronG

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Christmas is around the corner, a time for shopping, gift-giving and feasting. This year, however, seems to be a little less extrava-gant. Something seems different.

Last year teens were fretting over their Christmas lists and if they were going to receive ev-erything they wanted.

The topic of the month was who was getting the best pres-ent. Students would compare one’s designer hand bag to another’s Wii game system or pair of Ugg Boots. I think this year is different because of one downfall, the economy.

This year, checking items off the Christmas list and receiv-ing the best gift is no longer the greatest concern for teens. So parents, stop stressing about creating an amazing holiday.

Last year, the conversations were about the hot items for Christmas. This year when asked about the holidays, peers don’t speak about gifts. Many speak about their plans with family and the traditions they are looking forward to. Whether meeting with family they rarely see or creating new traditions, I think teens are adjusting to the economic change, as well, and realize the impact.

We all need to accept this holiday won’t be the most successful in the gift-giving department. As for me, I am going to look for alternate ways to make my holiday a spectacular event, even if I don’t get a new

pair of Ugg Boots.The first step is to reach out

and help the less fortunate. Like many say, it’s better to give than receive. Carmel High School is putting on a charity event called Care to Share. Each stu-dent resource class gets a child and they then provide them with Christmas gifts. This proj-ect has put students in the spirit of giving, along with the spirit of Christmas.

Holidays aren’t all about gifts, either. It is important to spend it with friends and loved ones. Traditions are a big part

of the holidays. Without them I know my Christmas would not be the same. Missing out on my dad reading Christmas books on Christmas Eve or my mom baking her variety of cookies just wouldn’t be Christmas. So forget the expensive gifts and the plunging economy and focus on the real meaning of Christmas.

Maddi Bourgerie is a student at Carmel High School. Contact her at [email protected]

eConomY BrinGS holiDaY inTo foCuS

Maddi Bourgerie

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RuSCHMAN gALLERY HoLIDAY SHoW - The Ruschman Gallery Holiday Show will be today through the end of December in the Midland Arts & Antiques Market, 488 Gradle Drive, Carmel. Original works of Art at affordable prices. Continuing exhibits by Robert Eberle, Constance Scopelitis and Steve Mannheimer. Hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays noon to 5 p.m. Open until 9 p.m. on Dec. 13. For more information, call 317-569-9105.

SouNDS oF CHRISTMAS - King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2201 E. 106th St., Carmel, will celebrate A Festival of Lessons & Carols at its annual Sounds of Christmas on Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Come see and listen to all the musical ensembles that call King of Glory home, including vocal choirs of all ages, hand bell choirs, liturgical dance and the Sounds of Glory singers. Ellen Handlin and the Drama Team will offer several favorite Christmas scriptures in a unique story telling fashion and all will join voices in favorite carols of the season.

SPECIAL HoLIDAY EVENTS - The Monon Center at Central Park is hosting several holiday themed events this week. Here is a listing. If you have questions or need more information, call the Center at 317-848-7275.

Daddy Daughter Dance at Central Park• Dec. 12, 6-9 p.m., $15/person, banquet

roomsBreakfast with Santa

• Dec. 13, 9-11:30 a.m., $15/person, banquet rooms

Children’s Candy Cane Hunt• Dec. 13, 12 noon, free,

Central ParkFetch the Fruitcake

• Dec. 13. 12:30 p.m., free, Central ParkGrinch Scramble (West Park)

• Dec. 13, 7 p.m., free

DISPATCHES HoLIDAY HAPPENINgS THAT ARE SIMPLY SWEET - On Dec. 13 at Simply Sweet Shoppe, you are invited to make your own edible Christmas tree out of sweet treats. This is free with donation of canned food item for each tree for local food bank. Times are noon to 6 p.m. Also, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, author of Children’s Poet and picture book, will be having a reading and signing event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. From 5-10 p.m. there will be sampling of holiday treats during the Gallery Walk. Treats include European sipping chocolate, truffles, tortes and more. Peppermint and gingerbread lattes available, as well.

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Book Signing for The Puddinhead Story

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Kids flocked to the Carmel Clay Public Library last week to meet the star of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff. 1. The mouse, played by Beth Weaver. 2. Bridget Green, 3, dances along. 3. Library employees (left to right) Anne Marie Moser, Holly Halvorson and Rhonda Hunnicutt sing and dance for the audience. 4. Moser and Hunnicutt read the mouse her bedtime story. 5. Gabby Hall, 16 months, and her nanny, Tiffany Barr enjoy the show.

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CozY HoLIDAY DINNER - Kevin “Woody” and Richelle Rider, owners of Woody’s Library Restaurant, 40 E. Main, provide a cozy holiday stop in Carmel’s Arts District. They have gift cards available for holiday gifts and remind all that the next “Wine Dinner” is Feb. 23. Early ticket purchasers get “in the game.” Call Woody’s at 317-573-4444 for details.

RACINg DISCouNTS - For the Brickyard motor racing fan, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway online gift shop is knocking 15 percent off of all online purchases until Dec. 25. Whether it’s for Indycar, NASCAR, motorcycles or the upcoming Centennial celebration, everything available on the newly redesigned website is available at a discount until Christmas.

HoLIDAY TRAVEL ANSWERS - John Van Kirk spent 30 years organizing charter trips and directing world travel as an executive with Ambassadair, the once-popular Indianapolis-based travel club. Since Ambassadair closed up shop in 2005, Van Kirk has re-invested those decades of travel experience into a new Carmel-based website called travelanswerman.com. From trip-planning ideas and advice, to online travel booking by land air or sea anywhere in the world, Van Kirk has himself done it all and now has developed an extensive and informative travel website to share his advice and services. Check out the website and take a minute to watch his introductory video. Talk about a guy who has “been there” . . . he has.

- travelanswerman.com

BuTT DouBLES: WHICH CELEBS HAD RuMP REPLACEMENTS? The practice of using butt doubles in movies is more common than you might think. A derriere double stood in for Luke Wilson’s cheeks in “My Super Ex-Girlfriend.” Professional doubles covered for the behinds of Mandy Moore in “Liberty” and Owen Wilson’s booty was not his own in “You, Me and Dupree.” Stuntwoman Anita Hart brought up the rear for Liz Hurley in “Austin Powers” and Pamela Anderson in “V.I.P.” Christopher Walken reportedly has a clause written in his contract that gives him casting approval of his butt doubles.

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Carmel’s Sofiya Inger is the featured artist through Feb. 2, 2009, at Art@Clowes, which spotlights the work of Hoosier artists, in the Grand Lobby at Clowes Memorial Hall (www.cloweshall.org) of Butler University.

Inger’s work focuses on “matters of the heart,” expression of inner emo-tions and our ties to nature, which she calls “one of the most powerful forces orchestrating our lives.”

The show presents 27 paintings and mixed-media wall hangings (with prices ranging from $150 to $4,500) in an in-formal retrospective of her career. Most are acrylic on canvas paintings in frames, although recent work breaks free from tra-ditional frames and spans larger spaces than earlier work did.

The exhibition is an opportunity to ex-plore the roots of the Russian-born artist’s work and the exciting new direction her art is heading.

Inger just returned from a month-long residency at the Vermont Studio Center that gave her the gift of uninterrupted time and total focus on painting in her own studio. The residency provided freedom

from the “excuses” of family life that can keep a painter from being productive, as well as the gift of camaraderie with other creative people from around the world,

including painters, sculp-tors, writers and poets.

Inger used the op-portunity to create one large work – “Gardening in Times of War” (mixed media on canvas, 78 x 56 inches, $4,500) – which is a key item in the Clowes exhibit. The piece started to take

shape as Inger flew into Vermont over the lush landscape of the Green Mountains.

“It was so clean and cute and beautiful, with the water running through the moun-tains and rolling hills,” Inger said. “I was thinking of how the people divide the land and tear it into pieces and try to make it their own.”

To learn more about Inger’s paintings or the Vermont residency, join her for a gallery walk/talk on Friday or Saturday at 6:45 p.m., prior to Clowes’ presentation of, Rejoice!, a free choral and orchestral show of familiar seasonal pieces that begins at 7:30 p.m.

Barbara E. Cohen covers the arts for the Current community newspapers. Please send comments or story ideas to [email protected].

What: A Year with Frog and ToadWhen: Friday through Dec. 21: Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m.Where: Pike Performing Arts Center, 6701 Zionsville Road, IndianapolisCost: Adult tickets half price with purchase of a child’s ticket.Details: The whole family will enjoy the antics of cheerful Frog and grumpy Toad, as the Actors Theatre of Indiana, central Indiana’s newest professional theater company, performs the musical version of Arnold Lobel’s well-loved children’s story. Follow the characters through four seasons as they learn the value of friendship in its many guises.Tickets: 317-216-5455, www.pikepac.org.Info: www.actorstheatreofindiana.org.

arT@CloWeS hanGS inGer reTroSPeCTive

Sofiya Inger in the studio

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$1 Off Kosher-style Franks and Shapiro’s Beef Burgers$2 Off Turkey Sandwiches

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Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.Saturday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.Sunday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Alexander’s On the Square is an old-fashioned ice cream shop and restaurant. The restaurant is housed in a building that dates back to 1889 with its original tin ceiling still in tact. Alexander’s On the Square, the origi-nal of the two Alexander’s restaurants, offers over 30 hand dipped ice cream flavors, old fashioned sodas, malts, and shakes. Alexander’s On the Square also offers great food, from a signature Reuben sandwich to soups and salads. Their second location, Alexander’s On the Water, is open seasonally in the summer. Alexander’s On the Water is located on Morse Reservoir in Cicero.

Loretta Roberts Manager at Longhorn Steakhouse

Where she likes to eat? Bravo! Cucina Italiana (Italian Kitchen)

What she likes to eat there? My favorite is the Shrimp Fra Diavolo. It’s a penne pasta with a spicy tomato cream sauce and shrimp.

What she likes about Bravo Italian Kitchen. It has a really nice atmosphere, the servers are professional and courteous and the wine list is great.

Bravo! Cucina Italiana2658 Lake Circle Drive Indianapolis, IN 46268Phone: 317-879-1444

Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Ingredients1 1/2 oz tequila1/2 oz white crème de cacao1/2 oz blue curaçao1/2 oz creammaraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation• Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.• Shake well.• Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or in an ice-filled old-fashioned glass.• Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

FROSTBITE

This time of year, the celebratory foods make their way to the mar-kets, restaurants and our homes in great abundance. One that is associated more than others for

the Yuletide season is “Posset” as the Europeans know it, or “Egg Nog” as we are familiar.

Throughout my career I have worked with many chefs who have of-fered not only their recipe, but their opinions of the egg nog’s origin. However, none have been confirmed in any manner. The following are some

of the theories I have heard over the years. You can believe the one you decide to be true. The only real fact is that the first recorded mention in this country was that of Captain John Smith serving it in Jamestown, VA, in 1607, according to his private journal.

One theory says egg nog is derived from the English drink Posset, which was made from Ale. This was a hot beverage made with sweetened milk and ale or sometimes from a Spanish wine called sack. Another theory I learned from an English chef stated that it was partly named for “noggin” which was a small wooden mug used to serve alcoholic beverages. He remembered being served egg nog in one as a child. One lastly I recall was that it came from a drink made with rum called “egg and grog”, shortened over the years from egg-n-grog down to egg nog.

No matter the story you choose, they all have one flaw. They all originate from European roots many centuries ago where it was of the common man. However, neither milk nor diaries were common to anyone except the very rich who had the animals on their estates and farms. The only real fact known is since the early 1700s it has been part of American holi-

day heritage and celebrations. I researched a few older recipes to

compare according to these myths. One uses ale for the alcohol and the other uses rum or brandy. The funny thing is, I did find mention of it in early American cook books as a cure for different sicknesses from arthritis to pneumonia.

Bonus this week, two recipes! Here are the two basic types mentioned above;

• Take a pint of beer, warm it on the fire, place an egg in a jug with a spoonful of sugar and grated nutmeg. Beat these together and slowly add the hot ale in the fashion to taking care not to curdle egg. Add a few spoons of cow’s cream, shake well and drink.

• Separate and beat separately six whites and yolks. Stir the yolks into a quart of rich cream with a half pound of sugar. Add a half pint of rum or brandy with ground nutmeg to your liking. Add in half the beaten egg whites mix well and drink.

I will warn you of a few things should you try one of these recipes for your next party:• Eggs these days should be pasteur-ized to not run a risk of food poison.

• If you use the ale recipe, use a medium dark beer, relatively flat. Back then

the ale was not as we think it to be, and carbon-ation was slight to none.

• Sugar is more refined now. For the real effect use un-processed or brown sugar or

even honey.

• When they speak of cream or diary products, it is the equivalent of heavy whipping cream. This is very rich to our digestive systems.

• These recipes feature large amounts of alcohol. We are not accustom to this ratio as a spirited drink or high-alcohol flavor.

• Beware on over-consuming due to the last two points, or ride the porcelain bus.

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 [email protected]

WhaT’S a noG, anYWaY?

Chef Michael Vlasich

Culinary Explorer

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New Holiday Hours!Beginning the weekend of November 7, 2008,

Midland Arts & Antiques Market/Carmel will be open Sundays, noon - 5pm; closed on Mondays

THEATREThe Wizard of ozIndianapolis Civic Theatre brings this classic 1939 film to life in a wild and wonderful musical journey to that magical place where dreams come true. Dorothy, a wistful, little Kansas farm girl, gets caught up in a tornado and whisked off, far over the rainbow, to the marvelous Land of Oz. With the help of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, she battles the Wicked Witch of the West while trying to reach the great and powerful Wizard in hopes that he can help her get back home. There are plenty of adventures along the way as Dorothy and her three faithful friends follow the yellow brick

road in search of the heart, knowledge and courage they’ve always had. Featuring a large children’s chorus and an array of special effects, including a full-blown tornado, this is the musical favorite for all ages. The production runs from Dec. 12 to Jan. 4 with 7 p.m. show times on Thursdays and Fridays. Saturday shows are at 2 and 7 p.m. with Sunday shows starting at 2 p.m. Signed performance is Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. and the audience sing-a-long is Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $34 apiece and available at www.civictheatre.org.

LIVE MuSICThe following musical acts will be

playing live at Mickey’s Irish Pub, 13644 N. Meridian, Carmel.

For more information, call 317-573-9746:

Dec. 12 - Big Daddy Caddy.Dec. 13 - Meatball Band.

Dec. 19 - zanna-Doo!Dec. 20 - Aberdeen Project.

Dec. 26 - Endless Summer Band.Dec. 27-31 - The Late Show.The following musical acts will be playing live at Muldoon’s Irish Pub. Shows begin at 7 p.m. For more information, call 317-571-1116:Dec. 13 - Doug Henthorn.Dec. 20 - one In The Same.Dec. 27 - Jeff DeHerdt.

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And the Word became flesh … John 1:14

When Jesus spoke, people listened.

Some were enraptured, many were enraged. Some believed and many were incredulous. Some followed, some shunned and some attacked.

Yet, they listened. His words were unlike anything heard in the history of mankind. His words talked of truth, light, life and eternity. They described a God of love and good, not wrath and power. Christ’s words spoke not of earthly goals for survival, but of a divine plan for salvation.

Jesus spoke, with human words, of His eternal Father and of His oneness with the Spirit of Life. He talked of humility and service. He revealed not only God, but a new covenant of faith. He became flesh – a man – not only to save a needy world from death and sin, but also to call mankind to share in the divine glory of God.

It was radical stuff in the world of Jewish Law and Roman Rule 2,000 years ago. It is radical for all time.

Even in this day and age of instant, global, personal, mass communication, we too often dwell on the Bible’s words (Greek: rema) and miss the actual Word of

God (Greek: Logos), Jesus Christ.The Bible is the immutable word (small

“w”) of God. Amen. I love the Bible, and even if you don’t love or even believe the Bible, you should read it: it’ll make you

smarter. The Bible isn’t so much a rule book, a science book or even a history or literature book. It is a relationship book; it de-scribes God’s relationship with mankind.

And the key, top, No.1 com-ponent of that relationship is God’s Word (capital “W”), and that divine Word is the incarnate Christ Jesus, not the Bible.

This brings us back to John 1:14. The Bible presents good words, yes, but they are manmade words even as they express a Godly idea. Christ joining humanity (i.e., becoming flesh) brought to us the

Word: a relationship with the Creator God, the Father Almighty. This is not something we could do on our own, and it is an action manmade words could never accomplish.

Read the Bible, go to Church, love your neighbor, take care of your family, and tend to your business, but don’t worship them. Worship God and His Word.

Bob Walters ([email protected]) is making a point about the true meaning of Christmas. This is the second of a four-part series.

Bob WaltersSpirituality

noT a WorD, the WorD

BEST BETS uNDER $25 - So maybe this space is a normally a little more high tech than Marshmallow Blasters or Monopoly for pre-schoolers, but holiday shoppers can span the spectrum of gift giving for 25 bucks or less a shot.

• Marshmallow Blaster (air blast the air-pufts), drug-store.com.

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• Crinkle Plaid Scarf (instant trend to any outfit), Nordstrom.com.

• PedEgg Pro Pedicure (revolutionary foot file),

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• My Meebas (quirky game with plush surprise), aol.com/shopping.

• Momiji Doll (carved wood Japanese friendship dolls), aol.com/shopping.

• Talking Monopoly Town (talking car prompts young players), aol.com/shopping.

• Pocket Guitar Hero (popular riffs from GHI and GHII), aol.com/shopping.

oNE CooL STRoLLER - If you think strolling around with the baby can’t become cool enough for parents, here is a quite unique stroller designed with coolness in mind. Imagine a stroller de-signed with one of the popular brands known for coolness in mind and you have the Oakley Roddler Stroller from Kid Kustoms. Its military based color seems to add to its appeal aside from the cool and innovative stroller structure typical of a Kid Kustoms creation. Carbon fiber car seat makes it sturdy enough for the small human cargo on board and the canopy provides the shade. The overall striking design provides the added cool-ness for parents while taking their pre-cious and cuddly cargo out for a stroll.

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Older scanners generally came with software that had two options: scan the item as an image or scan the item as text. Scanning items as an

image is much like making an electronic photocopy, but the resulting file size can often be too large for sending via e-mail, especially in higher-resolution modes.

Scanning items as editable text will make for a small file size, but you generally lose most of your formatting. When you scan to

the PDF file format, not only can you reduce the file size, you can retain the exact formatting of the document and make it very easy for any recipient to view the file because of the universal nature of the file format.

Newer scanners generally come with software that includes the PDF option, but that does not mean you need to go out and buy a new scanner. Just to make sure your current scanner software pro-

gram isn’t capable, look for menus such as “Output type” or “Settings” for a spe-cific PDF option for the output file. If it doesn’t exist, your next step is to search the Help section for “PDF” to see if product-specific information exists.

If nothing turns up in either area, the next step is to see if your current software has any updates or upgrade options by visiting the Support section of your scan-ner company’s website. If you can’t find any clear options from your current scan-ner software, your next option would be to install a third party application that offers the PDF alternative.

A free option for your scanner is called

Scan2PDF, which works with Windows 2000, XP and Vista and can be download-ed at http://www.snapfiles.com (search for Scan2PDF). If you want a little more flex-ibility creating PDFs, you can do so from any program that has a print option with PDF Printer (available at http://www.bul-lzip.com). This cool little program installs itself as a printer option for everything in Windows, so you simply choose it from the Print menu of any program to generate a PDF.

Gary Hubbard is Owner of Data Doctors Computer Services - www.datadoctors.com Have a technology question? Send it to [email protected]

Gary HubbardTechnology

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Hello, handsome studs of the north side. I recently wrote about “tweaking” your image a bit to be more “dating mar-ketable”. This is a tough one

because on one hand, you have to be your fabulous, wonderful self, right? Of course. But a little improvement never hurt anyone. Here are a few more tips for ya’:

Match what you want to at-tract. Do opposites really attract? Maybe so, but I beg to differ. If you keep getting turned down by a certain type of girl, maybe it’s because you’re a certain type of guy. You are basically going to attract the type of girl that you match. For instance, if you don’t have a job, dress like Mr. Disco Dude from the ’70’s and your gut looks like it’s sporting a bowling ball (no offense to your “pride and joy” . . . I know you’ve spent a lot of money on the beers you’ve guzzled into that belly of yours), you’re probably not going to attract Ms. Successful who dresses a little more savvy and is physically fit. Another example: if all you do is drink and party, guess what? You’re going to attract Ms. Party Girl. Now isn’t that a concept? I’m amazed at how

many slobbering drunk dudes tell me (as they’re spitting in my face) that they can’t seem to find a good woman.

Hmmm. I wonder why. And ladies, this goes for you, too.

Get your act together, Mr. Couch Potato. There are some great gals out there that will accept your video-game-playing all day long, but for the most part, we well-rounded gals want a man who works hard, is find-ing success (don’t get me wrong - success doesn’t always mean you have to be wealthy – just stable), doesn’t live in a dirty pig sty, isn’t still driving on that donut tire after his last blowout and is bet-tering himself by reading, work-ing out and finding ways to help his community. Don’t you want the same from us?

So pry yourself off that couch, clear your empty beer bottles off of your weight bench and become what you are looking for in a mate. You can do it.

Rachael Noble is a single Carmel resident and contributing columnist. She can be reached at [email protected].

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8HAPPY FEET - Quirky “Happy Feet” socks from Sweden in bright colors and bold patterns will make your cold little piggies warm on the way to market. Just $10 per

pair shipped all the way from Sweden. Free shipping on three or more pairs, see HappySocks.com.

PREPACKAgED ICE CuBES - Not for your average ice queen, these pre-packaged beverage chillers are real ice made of real spring water from the Vendee region of France. This is Bottled Water 2.0, but these pre-shaped, plastic encased water “cubes” when frozen are the freshest and cleanest of ice. See aquamaestro.com.

BoTTLED WATER IN . . . gLASS? - So the “Save the Planet” crowd is making it hard for your plastic water bottle to be seen in the daylight, what with all that plastic choking landfills, etc. (not to mention the pre-packaged designer ice cubes from France mentioned above). But anyway, the Seletti Italian refillable designer water bottle is all bottle and no water. A blown, glass bottle in elegant, distinctive, 1-liter shapes. These $38 bottles pay for themselves if you fill them up, oh, 19 times or so. Of course, if you treat them like plastic bottles, the economics of replacing broken glass might be prohibitive for the bourgeoisie. See lekkerhome.com.

QuEEN oF CHRISTMAS CooKIES - Indianapolis pastry chef Clare Welage has developed a national reputation as a cookie artist – she’s been on national cooking shows and designed cookies for Disney movie releases. All this despite the fact that her bakery is not a storefront business; orders are by phone or online only. You can see Clare’s holiday offerings at whimsicalwhisk.com, or call in an order at 317-730-6802.

Christmas morning without the traditional tree overflowing with abundant reminders of childhood and Christmas past is inconceiv-able. The counterpoint to such

memory makers is the tree that regales wonder with holi-day artistry.

Creating this so-phisticated version of the traditional Christmas tree is mastered with just a few tricks of the trade. Some items might be purchased, some might be wait-ing behind closed cabinet doors just waiting to be en-listed for holiday

splendor.Regardless of the size of the tree, use

some oversized ornaments. Large orna-ments have a huge impact and are gener-ally the element that distinguishes a tree with panache. Though oversized decora-tions may be pricey, you won’t need many for a stunning effect. If purchased, con-sider a color that can be paired with other colors in the future for different effects. Our favorite is green.

Try using ornaments that aren’t actually ornaments. Shiny accessories such as silver trays, teapots, picture frames, mirrors or small lamps wired onto the sturdy branch-es of an artificial tree are a spellbinding twist to tradition. A petite crystal chande-lier can act as a tree topper, while pheasant feathers can add texture and color.

Repeat one type of ornament so it cre-ates a color, shape or theme through a tree. These monochromatic ornaments help unite the other one-of-a-kind ornaments. Various sizes, shapes or finishes of such one color will add even more flair.

Designers often create trees using colors and themes that relate to the room where

the tree is displayed. Repeat a room’s hues and style using ribbon, fabric, garlands and ornaments to harmonize.

Rather than placing ornaments in a neatly spaced overall pattern, try spiraling from the top down with several types of garland. Concentrate lights deep in the tree and ornaments on the garland spiral. This provides a compelling depth to the tree.

Try a totally monochromatic tree for a truly high-design look. One-color trees are successfully created with shape and tex-ture. Vary the size of the decorations and mix up shiny and matte finishes.

Fill gaps between branches with some type of filler. Inexpensive white tulle from the fabric store creates a magical irides-cence. Silk flowers are a perfect way to add a softer texture to a tree. Choose large blooms or add sprays of smaller blooms nestled into branches.

Natural elements add an earthly quality to holiday decorating and are an inexpen-sive addition to a tree. Try wiring on pine-cones (large and small), real holly sprigs, leafy garlands or branches of berries for a wonderfully rustic and elegant look.

Vicky Earley is the principal designer for Artichoke Designs in downtown Carmel. If you have an interior design question, please contact [email protected].

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SHELTER WANTS To FIND HoMES BY CHRISTMAS - The Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) is asking for the community’s support in finding homes for 200 unwanted animals during the month of December during its Home for the Holidays campaign. The shelter is filled beyond capacity and is making this urgent plea as a result. The Home for the Holidays campaign lasts until Dec. 31. The shelter created an ‘adopt-o-meter’ to display where it is towards reaching its goal of placing 200 animals in new homes. For every adoption, clear stockings will be filled with pet food until the 200th adoption is marked.

HoLIDAY PET PHoToS - The Monon Center at Carmel’s Central Park is taking holiday pet photos in Program Room A this week. Dates are Dec. 9 from 6-9:30 p.m. and Dec. 11 and 13 from 12-3:30 p.m. The fee is $6 for a 5x7 picture. For more information, call 317-848-7275.

CAT CHRISTMAS SAFETY - The only fool-proof way to keep your cat away from your Christmas tree is to put the tree in a room the cat can’t access. Unfortunately, this is often not practical. So the next best solution is to make the tree as safe as possible. Here are some thoughts:

• Real Christmas trees are more dangerous to cats than fake plastic ones. Pine needles can puncture internal organs if eaten, they are also toxic to cats.

• If you do have a real tree, make sure the drink stand has plenty of water to prevent the tree drying out and losing needles.

• It is important that your cat isn’t able to get to this water and drink it as it could result in poisoning.

• Be careful with tinsel. Expensive to remove if eaten.

• You may want to try applying a cat repellent such as bitter apple to the lights to deter your cat from chewing the wires. If this was to happen it could cause a fatal electric shock.

• Artificial snow is toxic to cats, so is best avoided.

• Make sure your cat can’t get close to lit candles.

• Your cat isn’t a novelty item and it is dangerous to try to decorate your cat with ribbons, etc.

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If you are shopping for an aquarium, chances are you have been told to buy the biggest aquarium you can afford. The advice is based on some well-known fish-keeping truths:

WATER QuALITY: A long-held mis-conception among novice fish keepers is that the smaller the aquarium, the easier it is to maintain. Actually, the opposite is true. The larger the aquarium, the slower the change is in water quality factors. Ammonia, hardness, nitrates, pH and temperature are common testable gauges for water quality in an aquarium.

A sudden change in temperature could be fatal to the aquarium inhabitants. The temperature in a 10-gallon aquarium can change drastically in a couple of hours. However, the temperature in a 100-gallon aquarium may take a couple of days to change a couple of degrees. Having a

larger aquarium basically gives you more time to react when it comes to changes in water quality because, in essence, these water quality variables take a bit more time to change. Overall, the result of having a larger aquarium generally translates into you being a more successful fish keeper.

MoRE AND BIggER FISH: It is not uncommon for a fish keeper’s interest to grow as soon as he or she sets up a small aquarium. There will be more than 100 species of fish in which you may select to keep in your aquarium. As a general rule,

only one inch of fish should be kept per gallon of aquarium water. For a 10-gallon aquarium with gravel and decorations taking up two to three gallons of space, this translates into six or seven fish averag-ing about one inch in length or two to three fish averaging two inches in length.

LASTINg FoCAL PoINT: Those of you who invest in aquariums enjoy the thought of observing and raising fish. You also want the aquarium to be a decorative, lasting focal point in your living room or entertainment room. You want it to be like the attractive aquarium you saw in the dentist’s office, restaurant or local zoo. Large aquariums will command more at-tention from guests and tend to hold your interest much longer than smaller aquari-ums. Why? Because larger aquariums allow room for growth of the hobby.

Article courtesy of Petland, Carmel. For more information, contact Juan Lopez at 317-569-PETS.

Lacey is a 4-year-old female black Lab mix. Lacey is a gorgeous girl who loves to go on walks. She knows the command “sit” and is ready and raring to go to obedience school to learn more. Lacey is very friendly with everyone she meets. However, she is a bit unsure of her current surroundings and gets a little startled by sudden movements. While she is very gentle taking treats from your hand, she can be a little protective of her food bowl. Therefore, we feel she is best suited in a home with children age 10 and older. She is an intelligent girl with tons of potential, she just needs a loving family willing to work with her and help her feel safe and comfortable in her new home.

Ninja is a 1-year-old male orange-and-white tabby DSH. Ninja is an outgoing boy who loves everyone he meets. He is neutered and good with dogs and other cats, and he enjoys playing with children, too. Ninja arrived at the shelter on Aug. 11 when his family divorced and decided they couldn’t keep him. Ninja has managed to keep his spirits up by bunking up with other kitties at the shelter, but what he wants most is a home he can call his own. He is a low-main-tenance guy who would make a wonderful family pet.

It seems we often prefer what we don’t have. You’ve heard the saying that “the grass is greener on the other side”. Maybe this time it’s for real. Me? I prefer some deviation, but this

market is insane. Amazingly, with the global economy in dire straits, the stock market on a roller coaster ride that makes Disney World jealous and car dealership lots stagnant with shiny inventories, this may be one of the most opportune times in our generation to invest, spend and complete home improvements.

Volatility has also been the norm regarding the prices of building materials, witnessed in part by the Keystone road proj-ect cost excesses.

After months of vicious price increases for most construction materials (in excess of 20 percent since July 2007 for asphalt felts and coatings, plastics and steel), relief appears on the way. Dave Carter with Carter Lee Lumber, a leading supplier in Indianapolis, noted that the cost of materials for their “model home” used precisely for these calculations has fallen 8½ percent since the same time last year driven predominantly by a substantial drop in commodity lumber. Some prices

are at a 15-year lows.What does this mean to you? Well, as

Karen Blumenthal reported in the Wall Street Journal, “With home building in a tailspin, more remodelers and contrac-

tors are looking for jobs, so you might get work done more quickly and possibly at better rates than a few years ago.” Ever wish your home was a little more livable?

Of course, most of us are appropriately focused on Christmas celebrations and 2009 business plans as opposed to thinking about sunroom additions, lower-level updates, tile selection and construction traffic. Nevertheless, if you are planning on some sort of remodeling project next year, now is an awesome time to plan

and secure the competitive nature of this hungry market.

Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side. But usually it’s a result of a septic system leak.

Randy Sorrell is president of SURROUNDINGS by NatureWorks+, a Carmel home improve-ment firm. He may be reached at 317-679-2565, [email protected] or www.choosesurroundings.com.

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normalCY. WhaT’S ThaT?

PrePare roSeS for WinTer WeaTherFor many gardeners rose bushes are a

prized possession. As the gardening season comes to a close, it’s time to prepare your roses for the cold, harsh winter ahead. Knowing the best feeding and prepping techniques will ensure your cherished roses survive the winter and bloom beautifully in the spring.

Proper feed-ing is the first step in put-ting healthy roses to bed for the winter. Remember to continue feed-ing the plants every seven to 14 days with a specially formulated plant food for roses, such as Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Rose Plant Food 18-24-6. If temperatures fall below 1°, switch to plant food containing only phosphorus and potassium to help strengthen the plant over the winter.

Other preparation secrets include proper cleaning, pruning and inspection to ensure roses are strong, as well as insect and

disease-free. Here are some more simple tips to prepare your roses for the fall and winter:

• Rake leaves and mulch away from the base of the plants as disease spores or insect eggs may be hidden there.

• Examine roses for any insects or diseases - especially rust and black spot.

• Trim off flowers and buds. This will encourage the plant’s energy to go into underground growth for the winter.

• When regular frost begins, mound several spadefuls of soil over the

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Answers to HOOSIER HODGEpODGE: Snow: Ball, BloWer, DrifT, Shoe, Shovel, SKi; Cities: alBion, anGola, aTTiCa, auBurn, avon; Toppings: CheeSe, muShroomS, PePPeroni, SauSaGe; Pen makers: BiC, CroSS, PaPermaTe; Stars: freiTaG, neWTon; Coliseum: Ball

Dick WolfsieHumor

I wrote this column early on Thanksgiving morning. I hope you had a joyous day, but Thanksgiving was pretty much blown for me by the poor TV view-

ing choice I made the night before. I knew that in a few hours, I’d be at our friends’ house enjoying good food and snappy con-versation, but I was feeling pretty down.

I made the mistake of watch-ing a documen-tary about the first Thanksgiving in 1623. Here’s a little advice: If you really enjoy something, like sausage, don’t watch a show about it on the History or Discovery Channel. They’re great for things like the battles of WWII or how the pyramids were constructed, but when they start getting into the accounts of everyday stuff, you can be sure they’ll suck the fun right out of them.

This year The History Channel enlisted a bunch of PhDs and other researchers to bleed dry any traditional Thanksgiving feelings that may still linger. This is where the TV censors are missing the boat. Instead of scouring the TV shows for gratuitous sex and wanton violence, how about some protection for dreamers like me who still believe that there were bun-nies at the first Easter.

What they know now about the first Thanksgiving is this: the Pilgrims probably didn’t eat turkey; they had no cranberry relish; they didn’t have forks. No football or big parade. The idea of stuffing never dawned on them and there probably wasn’t a single string bean casserole on the table, if they even had tables, which also seems open to question. Oh, and they probably didn’t have sweet potatoes. The next day, the malls weren’t open. You couldn’t buy a trinket on sale. The pilgrims had a lot of nerve even calling it Thanksgiving, which, maybe, they didn’t.

I should have learned my lesson. A couple of weeks ago I watched an endless hour on the history of glue. I learned more about glue than I ever wanted to know. The program covered everything from Elmer’s to wallpaper paste. Up until that point, I couldn’t have told you one darn thing about glue, except that it’s sticky. Now I know that they have found broken pots still stuck together from 4000 BC. How could that be, when the handle keeps falling off my coffee mug. I also learned that Egyptians used egg whites, bones, milk, cheese, vegetables and grains to make glue, which sounded pretty close to

the eggnog I had been guzzling all day.And then there was the History

Channel’s “The Story of the Ice Cream Cone.” Apparently, the mafia didn’t like the invention because the pointy end meant they couldn’t rest the cone next to them while they counted their protection money. A triple scoop of Rocky Road will never be the same.

I saw a fascinating show on the evolu-

tion of nuts, bolts and screws. They did an entire 20 minutes on this genius Henry Phillips, who invented the Phillips head screw. Then he spent most of his weekend in search of the right screwdriver.

So now I am off to this time-honored holiday get-together, but I am concerned that if one of the guests starts waxing on about the great tradition of Turkey Day, I’ll feel obligated to inform him that

the Cool Whip he just slathered all over his pumpkin pie was not at the origi-nal Thanksgiving Dinner. I’m an expert on stuff like that. I watch the History Channel.

Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist, and speaker. Contact him at [email protected].

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The Thanksgiving leftovers weren’t even in their Tupperware yet when my brother-in-law sighed, pushed himself away from the table and began trudging away in the general direction of the attic.

“Where’s he going?” my brother P.D. asked our sister Amy, John’s wife.

John overheard and hollered . . . well, what he said was not exactly in the spirit of Thanksgiving, if you get my drift.

“He has to be bringing down the Christmas decorations,” Amy interpreted. “I’m going to have this place all together by Saturday.”

We pause here to look at the timeline of events that is about to unfold:

It is Thanksgiving afternoon, about 3 p.m.The Christmas decorations are coming out of

their hiding places.The next day will be Black Friday, when

my sister joins the hordes of Frantic Holiday Shoppers out there jamming the highways and clogging the malls in search of four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and this year’s Elmo doll.

My sister traditionally takes Black Friday at face value. That is, she starts shopping when the sky is black, and she

doesn’t return until it’s black again.The deadline for decorating the house is Saturday.OK. So much for the timeline.Now let’s go to inventory.

Amy is not one of those people who believes that less is more where Christmas is concerned. Oh, no. More is more. And more is what she wants.

She has three Christmas trees. Garland on every horizontal surface. Pictures on the walls. Knickknacks on the mantle. Lighted figures outside. Lighted figures inside. Boughs of holly. Mistletoe. Candy dishes. Candles. Lords-a-leaping. Ladies dancing. Patridges. Pear trees.

I honestly believe she won’t be happy until she can just to move everything in her house to temporary storage each December and replace it with Christmas furniture, right down to the Christmas footstools and Christmas lamps.

Add the inventory to the timeline and you can see my sister’s plan to have her house Santa Claus Ship-Shape by Saturday is the dream of someone who is out of her mind.

She gets it from Mom. Mom was a Christmas nut in her day, too, although not to the degree that Amy ex-hibits. Mom’s focus was the tree. According to the mom

rules, each branch of a tree was capable of holding two to three ornaments, in addition to a light bulb. The objec-tive was to display mom’s collection of ornaments, which numbered in the thousands or, as she liked to remind us, one more than Aunt Nelta’s.

For Amy to get it all done, and done by her exacting standards (mom times two) requires several things. An abundance of energy for the all-nighter you’re about to pull. As much help as you can get from family, including Mom, P.D. and two teenagers who would rather eat dog food than hang Christmas ornaments. And most of all, an understanding husband who learned long ago not to stand between my sister and Festive Yuletide Splendor.

And every year, somehow, it gets done.Really, it’s an inspiration to us all. Not the husband-and-wife stuff. Or the family stuff. I mean the decorations. They’re fabulous. They really make the house a holiday delight.

Which reminds me: Time for me to head to MY attic. Amy’s not the only one to fall under mom’s bad influence.

I should invite John over to help.

Mike Redmond is an author, journalist, humorist and speaker. Write him at [email protected] or P.O. Box 44385, Indianapolis, IN 46244. For information on speaking fees and availability, visit www.spotlightwww.com.

Mike RedmondHumor

SiS SaYS ThiS ChriSTmaS STuff iS SeriouS BuSineSS

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Joe, living a normal life with heart disease

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Clarian North offers comprehensive heart care, including emergency services and interventional cardiology (stress tests, advanced diagnostic testing, etc.) to help identify, predict and treat future problems. Visit clariannorth.com for more information.