december 22, 2009

Regain your health. Learn more on back page.

WILSON: THE PERFECT REMEDY TO

HOLIDAY STRESS / P6

LOCAL GIRL SCOUTS PITCH IN

TO REVAMP SANTA HOUSE / P7

PADRES PITCHER SPEAKS AT WESTFIELD ROTARY / P7

TuesdayDecember 22, 2009

FREE

Photo Illustration

2 | December 22, 2009 Current in Westfield www.youarecurrent.com

Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

Jaci Windau Licensed Practical Nurse, Maple Park Village

“Usually in the medical field, it’s typical to work on holidays,” said Jaci Windau, who works with senior citizens at Maple Park Village. While working Dec. 25 may have been expected, Windau said she’s in the rare group that is completely unaffected by her holiday scheduling.

“For me, working on Christmas really works out well,” she said. “My family already celebrates on Christmas Eve any-ways, so it isn’t any different...I just got lucky that this year I have Christmas Eve off.”

Dusty Ramer Registered Nurse, St. Vincent

Carmel HospitalWhen Dusty Ramer of Kokomo

isn’t taking care of the sick and

injured as an RN at St. Vincent

Carmel Hospital, he’s saving lives

with the Kokomo Fire Department.

With 18 years’ experience as a fire-

fighter and six as a nurse, he said he’s

accustomed to coming in on holidays.

“Whether it’s this job or that job, I get nailed with a

lot of holidays,” he said. “I know it’s going to happen.

It’s just a matter of ‘Which holiday will I work?’”

Ramer said over the years he’s learned to just make

the most of the situation. At St. Vincent, the day’s staff

often brings in a ham and other pitch-in items, and

though there’ s no time for a group meal, everyone can

find some free time to enjoy the meal throughout the

shift.“You just have to have a positive attitude,” he said.

“Someone has to work that day.”

Emily Agness Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, Clarian North Medical Center

At Clarian North, the nurses are on a rotating, three-year holiday schedule. Among the group scheduled to work this Christmas, is Emily Agness of the NICU. Because of the rotating schedule, Agness said she doesn’t have a normal Christmas tradition with either her family or the Clarian staff when it’s her time to work on Christmas.

She traveled to her home town of Fort Wayne last weekend to see her family, but she’ll miss out on the family’s regular celebration while she’s work-ing her 12-hour shift.

There may not be traditional means of celebrat-ing at the hospital, but Agness said there will be a pitch-in to help make the day a little more special.

“We’ll try to make the difficult situation a little bit better,” she said.

Mark Wooldridge Front Desk Agent, Comfort Suites, Westfield

Mark Wooldridge of Carmel has worked six consecutive Christmases at Comfort Suites, and this year will make seven. However, he still finds time to celebrate with his seven-year-old broth-er – at the expense of sleep.

“I normally get up at 5 a.m.to open presents, go to bed for a little while, then come in later to work that night,” he said. Aside from opening gifts before dawn, Wooldridge said his typical Christmas includes working a double shift at the hotel and sleeping through breakfast.

“It’s not something I look forward to,” he said. “The only reason I do it is because I’ll make time and a half plus holiday pay.”

By Kevin KaneCurrent in Westfield

For some people, Christmas is just another day. While most of the country visits with

family, opens gifts and celebrates one of the year’s biggest holidays, men and women in the health and service fields are on the clock. In their professions, the calendar’s irrelevant, but that doesn’t mean Christmas isn’t celebrated. Each individual finds a way to work around the challenge of working on Christmas.

While most are opening gifts and enjoying a day off with family, the rest will be working on Dec. 25I won’t be home for Christmas

Sergeant Charles Hollowell

Westfield Police Department

Next year, the Westfield Police

Department will move its officers to 12-hour

shifts. But that change hasn’t happened yet,

and that’s good news for Noblesville resident

Sgt. Charles Hollowell.

“I work 6 to 2, so by the time I’m off I’m

still able to celebrate with my family,” he

said. Until that time, though, Hollowell said he

and the rest of the officers have to remain on their toes, as some

Christmases can be very busy.

“You don’t want crimes to happen but bad people don’t take

holidays,” he said.

The next two Christmases, Hollowell won’t be taking a holi-

day, either. He said he could have taken the day off, but since

he’s had it off in the past, he let others have their chance this

year. “Someone has to work,” he said, adding that he doesn’t mind

it. When the shifts change next year, however, he said that could

be a different story. “We’ll see how that goes.”

Photos by Kevin Kane

www.youarecurrent.com Current in Westfield December 22, 2009 | 3

Our nation has all sorts of arcane, nonsensical laws on the books. Each week, we’ll share one with you.

In California, it is illegal to set a mousetrap with-out a valid hunting license.

Source: Weird Laws (iPhone application)

Photo Illustration

Founded Jan. 29, 2008, at Westfield, INVol. II, No. 46

Copyright 2008. Current Publishing, LLCAll Rights Reserved.

1 South Range Line Road, Suite 220Carmel, IN 46032

317.489.4444Publisher – Brian [email protected] / 414.7879General Manager – Steve [email protected] / 847.5022Content Editor – Bryan [email protected] / 308.0124Assignment Editor – Kevin [email protected] / 496-0020Associate Editor – Terry [email protected] Director – Zachary Ross [email protected] / 787-3291Associate Artist – Stefanie [email protected] / 340.1836Senior Reporter – Brandie [email protected] /260.750.4266

Advertising Sales Executive – Dennis O’[email protected] / 370.0749Sales 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 Westfield are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.

It is our position that restrictions on school snow days should be considered with great caution. Believing kids need 180 days of instruction per year to achieve best results, the Indiana Department of Education recently made changes to the school instructional days policies, saying all schools must make up all snow days taken throughout the year, with no waivers accepted from schools in excess of “make-up” days built into many school calendars.

Westfield schools, like many others, have a few built-in calendar place-holders to accommodate these snow days, but we are not prepared to confront the exceptional year. In fact, in the event of a lengthy winter emergency, we could find schools in session well into the summer months and facing enormous budgetary challenges.

School and city leaders must coordinate road crews – accommodating for unusual or difficult topography – and those routes with large bound-aries and a scattered population. In light of the new state rules, careful planning and cooperation must occur now before we face the challenge. Alternatives to a longer year, like a lengthened day, might be consid-ered. But regardless, concerns about extending the school year cannot lead to decisions based in economics or convenience rather than safety.

Snow days Tiger by the tailIt is our opinion that we in the media must

remain mindful of the higher calling and value of professional journalism and work to avoid the salacious reporting of grocery-store tabloids. With more constant and thorough reporting on the death of Anna Nicole Smith, most Americans know more about her than Nancy Pelosi. And the recent maelstrom launched from Tiger Wood’s mansion has us mistaking the marital crisis of a philandering golf legend as “late breaking news.”

Is such info truly relevant, or have we simply substituted thoughtful consideration of issues with a voyeuristic tendency to celebrate another’s fall from grace?

Woods and others have made themselves and their families, homes and habits into a product. And Woods makes hundreds of millions selling a lifestyle – his lifestyle. Do we have right to know if the “prod-uct” works? Perhaps. Even so, we must demand a higher standard – of ourselves and for our readers. Is the price of modern celebrity shared by even innocents in their families? Do we have a right to demand access to the private lives of public figures? Can we lurk in hospitals and stalk loved ones to get an up-close photo of tears? We think not.

OUR VIEWS

Every week, we will print a portion of the U.S. Constitution, followed by a portion of the Indiana Constitu-tion. We encourage you to bench-mark government policies against these bedrock documents. Today: the U.S. Constitution..

Section 8. Continued To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the

subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix

the standard of weights and measures; To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and cur-

rent coin of the United States; To establish post offices and

post roads; To promote the progress of

science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inven-tors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas,

and offenses against the law of nations; To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules

concerning captures on land and water;

VIEWS | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

CONSTITUTION CLOSEUP

STRaNgE LaWS


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Hamilton County’s Best Weekly Newspapers™. It has been a wonderful year here, thanks to all our loyal readers, advertisers and hard-working staff. We’ve grown as an organization, we’ve become more involved in our com-munities and we’re looking at (being urged is more truthful) expansion into possibly two more markets in 2010. Ideas for future cover-age are bouncing around this joint like atoms in a blender. As you may know, our content is research-based, all of it centered on what the readers have told us they want in their own newspaper. So we’re prepared to amp it up even more in the new year. First, we shall take a nap. Enjoy your holidays, be safe, get rested and be well. (We really do mean that.)

• • •Remember this next April 15: IRS statistics

from 2008 detailing the amount of money federal workers failed to pay the government in taxes showed $3.04 billion is owed by federal employees and retirees from dozens of agen-cies. Maybe they were too busy counting the generous raises they get every year. Also, ac-cording to The Washington Times, some mem-bers of Congress splurged with taxpayer money

on extravagant meals - including a $5,380 dinner enjoyed by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) at a Maryland banquet hall. The newspaper, citing a newly released report by watchdog.org, reported last week that Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo racked up the most expensive tab - $6,090 - for a single meal with members of the House Natural Resources Committee. We have to assume grapes had something to do with that tab.

• • •CORRECTION: Sen. Harry Reid (D)

represents Nevada. An editing error in the Backshop column in Dec. 15 editions resulted in aligning him with another state. We sincere-ly apologize to all the good folks out in Utah.

FROm ThE BaCKShOPCOmmENTaRYBy Terry anker

This week, I had occasion to attend the Indiana Humanities Council’s Governor’s Awards for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Each year, the council selects a group of 12 outstanding young (20-something) Hoosier business, political and philanthropic go-getters to recognize (and boost) their considerable commitment to our state and its communities.

As the evening news is filled with stories of kids who will be “tried as adults,” these folks are faith-restoring. Among them are all manner and sort of leader, innovator and entrepreneur. I cannot figure out when these young men and women find time to sleep.

Yet even as others show their tremendous capacity to give, I am considering a reduction in some of the community investments I am making. Earning a living and providing jobs is never particularly easy (and this year has been especially challenging). My own kids desire (and deserve) more of my attention. And it seems to take increasing effort with each passing year to

ensure my pants still fit. But even as I struggle to juggle the obliga-

tions, I hang on to a few guilty pleasures. Is it wrong to reserve time to watch Godzilla movies on Saturday morning in hole-filled college sweat pants when there are open work shifts at the local soup kitchen? Is it better to focus on our-selves and someday leave an enormous estate to charity; or is the more ethical to spend our time and dollars along the way?

Recently, I enjoyed lunch with a good friend (and senior development officer for my alma mater), and we pondered these question ques-tions. Being a wise man and all-around good guy, he responded that either gift is good. “Give as you can … give as you choose,” he said. If you can give more, do. If you can give less, do. Just give. Good point.

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

Brian Kelly & Steve greenberg

VIEWS | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

We’re gonna amp it up in 2010!

318 N UNION STREET, WESTFIELD896-5559 www.christwestfield.org

December 24 — Christmas Eve Services, 5 & 11pmSunday Services — 8:30 am and 10:45 am

We invite you to join our congregation in celebrating the miracle of God’s gift of Jesus Christ!

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

Just do it

Being a wise man and all-around good guy, he responded that either gift is good. “Give as

you can … give as you choose,” he said.


Views | COMMUNITY | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

» Holiday trash pick-up – Ray’s Trash Service will pick up its Friday customers’ trash on the following two Saturdays after the holidays. All others will be picked-up on their regular day. Ray’s will provide unlimited pick-up from Dec. 25 through Jan. 8. Ray’s has asked that the trash be bagged and set in and alongside the carts. One Christmas tree per house-hold will be picked up by Ray’s from Dec. 26 to Jan. 15.

» Race to the New Year – Washington Township Parks and Recreation is once again hosting the Race to the New Year 5k run/walk through Cool Creek Park Jan. 2 at 9:30 a.m., and early bird registration, for $15, ends Dec. 21. Call 317-574-1074 for more information

» Countywide Borrowing Program begins Jan. 2 – Beginning Jan. 2, your Westfield Washington Public Library card can be used at any of the seven library locations across the county. Stop by the Circulation desk or visit www.wwpl.lib.in.us for more information.

» Trash survey – The city is taking an online survey regard-ing residents’ satisfaction with the current program. To fill out a survey, go to the city’s Web site, www.westfield.in.gov, and click on the link to the survey on the home page.

COmmENTaRY By Danielle Wilson

Sometimes I am jealous of friends and family who have both sets of parents in town. They get more free babysitting, a stronger showing at Grandparents Day and greater moral support when their 5-year-old takes a header off the monkey bars. My in-laws live here, but my mom and dad are two hours away. And while they’re close enough for weekend visits, they certainly aren’t any good for sponta-neous date nights, soccer games or emergency-room runs. Tear.

That being said, I am thrilled that I only have one family nearby around the holidays! I can’t tell you how many people I know who completely stress out come mid-November, not because of the financial strain of presents and parties or the frenzy to find the per-fect scarf for their son’s music teacher, but rather because they can’t take the emotional toll that comes from trying to please two sets of parents and siblings.

My husband and I will be enjoying (or perhaps suffering through – only time will tell!) our 14th Christmas as a married couple next week, and we’ve never once had to shuttle back and forth between families during the 48-hour extravaganza that is Christmas Eve and Christmas.

But had my parents lived in the metro-Indy area, we’d have been screwed. Fights over where to spend Christmas Eve (my family is legendary for our post-feast skits, while my husband’s biggest tradition is Brandy Alexanders while reading “The Night Before Christmas”), arguments over which grandparents get to see the kids first on Christmas morning even though they’re running on too little sleep and too much sugar and won’t make for good company anyway (the children that is, not the grandparents), and finally, snide comments about which family is enjoying more quality time with us and which is being shafted (“We just spent eight hours with your stupid brother, and my sister is only in town for another

day! It’s NOT fair!”). Nope, none of that. We decided long ago to alternate our

holidays. If Thanksgiving was to be spent in Indianapolis, than Christmas would be in Louisville, and vice versa the following year. When our children became too numerous and their gifts too cum-bersome to haul (I mean when Santa’s Alzheimer’s kicked in and he couldn’t remember which chimney was Mamaw and Judge’s), we issued an official Wilson proclamation that all Turkey Days would be spent down south (except when one or more parties is in the Caribbean) and all Baby Jesus birthdays celebrated at home.

So this will be my sixth Christmas without my parents and sisters. Does it suck not partaking in Christmas Eve shopping, late-night movie re-enactments and my British brother-in-law's famous roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner? Yes. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I get to celebrate Christmas in Kentucky either the weekend before or after Dec. 25, focusing solely on my family, and the kids get an extended gift-giving session. On the real Christmas Day, my husband and I can spend quality time with our kids and his family, knowing our longest commute is the seven minutes to Pops and Grams'.

So good luck to all of you splitting your Holly Days! If at all pos-sible, consider Dec. 24 with one side and the 25th with the other. Your internal barometric pressure with thank you for it. And a quick note to all you doting grandparents out there: Allow your kids do what’s best for their family and keep the guilt-laden fruit cake stashed in the cellar. Nobody likes that stuff anyway. Peace out!

DISPaTChES

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

Splitting the holidays – a remedy to family-related stress

Stop in for great Music and Fun!

5 Minutes East of

Westfield!

Featuring: Lowrey Concert Artist

Lori GravesPerforming at11 am 1 pm 3 pm 5 pm

Celebrating Lowrey Organs in Noblesville!

Refreshments will be served!• Free Prizes • Food• Win free music classes• Sign up to win Gift Cards

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:Mayor - John Ditslear andNoblesville Chamber of CommerceAnd The Lowrey Organ Co.

Phone: 317-773-2002 Fax: 317-773-7009

One per customer, Dine-in Mon-Fri in December at Carmel location only.Not valid with other offers. This offer is not valid on holidays.

[email protected] www.shapiros.com

Downtown 808 S. Meridian StreetPhone: 317-631-4041Fax: 317-631-3958

Carmel 918 S. Rangeline Rd.

Phone: 317-573-DELI (3354)Fax: 317-573-3355

NOW at the Airport! Indianapolis International Airport

Located near gate B-15Phone: 317-241-0645

© 2

009

Sha

piro

’s. A

ll rig

hts

rese

rved

.

Hunting for a realbargain this season?

During the holidays, everyone’s searching for a deal. So, for the month of December, Shapiro’s is offering our famous beef brisket

sandwich for just six bucks! Now that’s a“Real Deal.”

Roast Beef Brisket Sandwich$6

Brisket-Resize_Dec09 12/4/09 9:26 AM Page 1



Submitted Photo

Freeman collects pajamas for the Pajama Program

Serving Carmel and surrounding communities since 1833

Carmel Cemetery Association1000 N. Rangeline Rd. Carmel, Indiana

317-730-5425 www.CarmelCemetery.org

• Individual & Family Burial Space• Estate Lots• Individual & Family Cremation Space• Cremation Inurnment Niche• Mausoleums• Monuments• Memorials

By Brandie BohneyCurrent in Westfield

The Santa house for Westfield got a facelift this year.

Last year, when volunteering at the ice rink, Westfield Girl Scout Troop 731 discovered the interior of the Santa house to be worn, outdated and a bit unpleasant.

“We used the Santa house as a snack shack of sorts, so the girls spent a lot of time in there,” Troop Leader Beth Silcox said. “The outside was great, but the inside really needed some help.”

When the girls complained about the condi-tion of the house, Silcox suggested that they give the house an interior makeover as a service project.

From March through November, the girls worked on the house. The Downtown Westfield Neighborhood Association helped to defray costs, and the girls found ways to lower the cost of materials.

“They put together a proposal with an esti-mated budget of what it would cost, and then they proceeded to search out ways to save them-selves money,” Silcox said.

One of those ways was using Asset Recycling in Indianapolis for many of their supplies. Silcox also recognizes the help of ELECTRIC COMPANY, which donated all the labor to install new electrical in the house.

The girls designed the interior with Mrs.

Claus in mind. Rather than the standard candy canes and gumdrops, they chose to decorate in a way that made the house seem more realistically livable.

“We put up crown molding … changed the interior colors, and put up some artwork on the walls,” Silcox said.

The girls did all the work themselves with minimal help from others, so they learned a lot about construction and design.

“It was really a great exercise for the girls,” Silcox said. “They had never undertaken such a feat before – hammering, sawing, nailing, and painting and painting and painting – but it worked out great.”

For more photos or information about the project, become a member of the troop’s Facebook page: Girl Scout Troop 731 – Santa House Makeover.

Local Girl Scouts pitch in to revamp Santa house

Visit us on the web: www.smilesbydrpaez.com

Most Major

Insurance

and Medicaid

Accepted!

Call us today and ask about ourNew Patient Special Offers!

317.581.1280Saturday Appointments Available • Se Habla Espanol

By arika herron Current in Westfield

The Dec. 15 Westfield Rotary luncheon, was much like any other—a catered meal at the Bridgewater Club followed by a guest speaker. But several special guests joined Rotary members that afternoon, including Westfield mayor Andy Cook and San Diego Padres Pitcher Joe Thatcher, the mayor’s nephew and that afternoon’s guest speaker.

Thatcher, a Kokomo native, spoke to the group of close to 40 Rotarians about his jour-ney to the big leagues.

After graduating high school, Thatcher fol-lowed in his father’s footsteps and accepted a baseball scholarship to Indiana State. Thatcher had great freshman and sophomore seasons throwing for the Sycamores, only to be injured his junior year. But the draft was still a year away and Thatcher had time to get back in shape and have a great senior year.

But senior year was largely a disappoint-ment for the left-handed pitcher, who strug-gled to come back from the injury. The major league draft came and went and Thatcher didn’t get a single call.

“The family was surprised and disappointed that Joe wasn’t drafted right out of Indiana State,” Cook said.

But Thatcher wasn’t ready to give up base-ball. With the support of his parents and help of his coaches, Thatcher packed everything he

had into his car and tried out for an unaffili-ated minor league team out of St. Louis.

“I still felt I could pitch at the next level,” Thatcher said. “I wasn’t ready to give up.”

With that minor league team, Thatcher had a good enough season to get signed to the Milwaukee Brewers. He spent several seasons playing in their farm system, making his way up to the Triple A team in Nashville.

Thatcher had just finished a game with the Nashville team when his manager called to tell him he’d been picked up by the San Diego Padres—where Thatcher has been a relief pitching since 2007.

Padres pitcher speaks at Westfield Rotary

Photo by Arika Herron

Joe Thatcher, pitcher for the San Diego Padres, was the guest speaker at the Westfield Rotary Club's Dec. 15th meeting.

Submitted Photo

The Santa house is located on S.R. 32 next to M&I Bank



1-888-800-7916

COmmENTaRY By Ken Kingshill

“Webster’s Dictionary” defines innovation as “something newly introduced; new method, custom, device, etc.; change in the way of doing things.” In the first two years of his administra-tion, Mayor Andy Cook has introduced several new and unique programs.

First, there is Eyes at Westfield. Under this program, you can use your cell phone (or any other camera) to take a picture of something in Westfield you want to bring to the attention of the city. You then send that picture via e-mail to [email protected]. The appropriate depart-ment will be automatically alerted, and you will receive a response within 48 hours.

No more need to predetermine which depart-ment to contact; the system does it for you. You could use this to notify the street department of, say, a fresh pothole on your street. As far as we know, no other community in the country uses technology in this fashion.

Another newly minted program is the Westfield Youth Assistance Program. It will be a voluntary program for the targeted kids and their families, providing preventative services that will help them stay in school and ultimately lead a productive life. The goal is to intercept at-risk children before they are formally introduced

to the criminal justice system. Sadly, only one other county in the nation offers such a service.

Most recently, a new piece of Westfield in-novation was previewed at the December City Council meeting. Soon, residents will be able to use their home computer to monitor, in real time, the status of snow removal on city streets. During a snowfall of three inches or more, you will be able to bring up a map on your computer screen that will show which streets are currently plowed, which ones are in the process of being plowed, and which ones have yet to be plowed.

With this up-to-the-minute information, you’ll be better able to plan your morning com-mute or your drive to the airport to catch your flight through Chicago (if it hasn’t already been cancelled). Again, it appears Westfield will be the first community anywhere to offer such a program.

These are just three examples of innovation in Westfield. Others are on the way. It definitely isn’t “business as usual” in Westfield.

City Council President Ken Kingshill is a Westfield resident and Realtor. You may e-mail him at [email protected].

Robin Chaddock is the executive director of the Downtown Westfield Neighborhood Association. She welcomes comments and can be reached at [email protected].

COmmENTaRYBy Robin Chaddock

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

– John WesleyI have a new favorite spot where I get my

morning coffee before work. It’s a place called the Delicious Bakery in downtown Westfield.

Their coffee is good – it’s certainly good. The pastries are authentic Mexican, so they’re a wonderful change of pace from other kinds of very sweet pastries.

But what’s really noteworthy about the bakery is Fillipe. As soon as I walk in, he asks me what I would like for the morning. Then he pours my coffee for me and waits beside me while I open and pour in my four small creamers, because he wants to take my trash from me so I don’t have to throw it away myself. Then he and his son ring up my sale, and Fillipe walks me to the door and opens it for me to wish me a good day. And he means it.

Goodness is somewhat underrated in our culture. There are certainly more showy traits

that seem to overtake simple goodness. People who are genuinely kind may get overlooked for promotions. Kids who are really good at heart may get picked last for the team. But when we hit snags in the road or become world-weary, it’s the good people in our lives that we turn to so we can relax, be nurtured, and enjoy a sense of belonging to the greater good of something bigger than the rat race.

We’re going to have our own definition and examples of the good people in our lives. And I hope all of us will be more intentional about finding them and letting them know how they impact life. They are the sometimes silent and unnoticed heroes and heroines that just make us feel more welcome in our families, friend-ships, and communities.

Fillipe is a really good man. And I’ll keep going into the Delicious Bakery, because there is just a big bunch of goodness going on in there.

When it comes to innovation, mayor and employees walk the talk

Be good, for goodness’ sake

And I hope all of us will be more intentional about finding them and letting them know how they impact life.


Views | Community | DIVERSIONS | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

» Peppermint Mocha Trio – Want a warm drink to liven up your holi-day party? Steam some fresh milk to 150 degrees. Put 2 tbsp. of bit-tersweet chocolate syrup and 1½ tbsp of frosted mint syrup in a mug. Add 2 shots of espresso, and mix well. Then add the steamed milk, leaving ½ inch of space at the top of the mug. Top with whipped cream. Leave out the espresso for a minty hot cocoa.

- editors.familyfeatures.com

» Hate gift tags? – If you dislike gift tags or trying to sort through the gifts to find which belongs to whom, consider color-coding your gift wrapping. Each family member gets packages wrapped in a certain color or wrap. No tags are neces-sary, and it will be easy to determine who gets which gift.

- www.marthastewart.com

» Pop the cork – You don’t have to pop expensive champagne to enjoy the celebration. Consider instead one of these bargain bubblies:

• Segura Viudas NV Brut Reserva, Spain ($9)

• Gruet Brut NV, New Mexico ($14) • Paul Cheneau "Lady of Spain" Cava,

Spain ($15) • Zonin Prosecco, Italy ($12) • Mionetto Prosecco Brut, Italy ($13)

- www.delish.com

DISPaTChES

Where: Indianapolis Civic Theatre 3200 Cold Spring Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46222Cost: $34Time: Thur. and Fri. 7 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sun. 2 p.m. untl Jan. 3, 2010Information: www.civictheatre.org or 317-923-4597Details: This Civic Theatre signature holiday extravaganza returns more spectacular than ever, bringing MGM’s popular movie to life on stage. Little Dorothy Gale of Kansas, like so many girls her age, dreams of what lies over the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and whisks her, and her little dog too, far away to the marvelous Land of Oz. She tries to get back home with the help of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Follow the yellow brick road with Dorothy, Toto and their three faithful friends as they travel the universe of their imagination in search of the great and powerful Wizard. There are witches, good and wicked, and plenty of adven-tures along the way.

PICK OF THE WEEK

The Wizard of oz

Getting there: Take I-69 north to I-75, then north to Exit 136, then east and north on Mich. 54 and Mich. 83. About 312 miles, 5 hours. Info: www.frankenmuth.com, (800) 386-8696.What: They say that “No Town Wears Winter Like Frankenmuth,” and warm-hearted Frankenmuth residents and more than 150,000 visitors seem to support that claim when they check out the annual Zehnder’s Snowfest. At the center of the five-day event Jan. 21-26 is snow sculpting and ice carving competition, with teams ranging from local amateurs to international experts competing for cash prizes. Kids can get in on the snow sculpting, and there’ s also a play area and petting zoo. Michigan’s “Little Bavaria” was founded in 1845 by a group of German Lutheran missionaries seeking to teach Christianity to the Chippewa Indians. Nearly 5,000 people live there, preserving the German heritage in Bavarian-style homes and farmhouses. Town

shops sell fudge, cheeses, sausages, jams and jellies, clocks, beads, Michigan wine and wool and leather goods. The most famous shop is Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland,

the world’s largest Christmas store, featuring more than 50,000 ornaments, trees, Nativity scenes, collectibles and a half-mile, light-filled Christmas Lane.

Photo provided by the Frankenmuth Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Ice sculptures by international carvers highlight the annual Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth, Mich.

GET OUTTA TOWN

frankenmuTh, mich.


COmmENTaRYBy Chef michael R. Vlasich

Down to the wire, hustle here and bustle there. Like most, I run around for last-minute Christmas needs to complete the list and make loved ones happy.

We particularly agonize over our spouse, knowing one wrong item will make us pay dearly far into spring. This year, my beloved spouse is away for the holidays on a cruise with her parents. Over the years, she has impressed upon me that gifts with “meaning” are the real desire of every fair maiden. This year, I believe I finally got what she meant. Her favorite bath amenities are a blend using lemon verbena. So why not get her some travel-sized items for her trip – and dedicate this column to lemon ver-bena? How is that for “meaning?”

Lemon Verbena originated in Argentina and Chile, and it was brought to Europe and

America in the 1700s by Spanish explorers. It was originally imported for the lemon scent and as a landscape shrub that was easily shaped into decorative foliage. It was fully embraced in the colonial Deep South, traditionally on planta-tions for its beauty and aroma; however, it can not survive winters and so was less common in the north.

The entire plant has use – the leaves, stems, and flowers all make a variety of products like teas, medicines and fragrances found in bath amenities and home cleaning supplies. Currently, popularity is at a peak. I know one homeopathic-type granola-head who swears by using it in breads and teas, homemade soap and laundry detergent.

So tell me, is there a better gift to my wife than the full line of bath amenities with knowl-edge of its origin and uses? Knowing the answer, I formulated a back-up plan and purchased a piece of art I knew would heighten her apprecia-tion of “meaning.”

Hope you fare well this holiday season in your choices of gifts. Included is a great recipe for lemon verbena granita.


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]

Co-owner of Italia Mia Ristorante

Where do you like to eat? Maneki Neko

What do you eat there? The Spicy Tuna Roll or the regular sushi rolls

What do you like about Maneki Neko? They're very friendly. It's comfortable, and the prices are fair.

WHERE I DINE

ViTo L. ruggieri

Maneki Neko2009 E. Greyhound

Pass, Suite 8Carmel, IN 46033

317-844-0702

14636 US Highway 31, Carmel, 46032 Phone: (317) 846-5965

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

There are only 12 Charleston’s locations nation-wide, and two of them are in Indiana – Castleton and Westfield. As a chain of restaurants within a privately owned company, Charleston’s is able to offer its customers the quality and service of a small, local restaurant while keeping prices consistent with larger na-tional franchises. The restaurant prides itself on offering made-from-scratch American favorites, using fresh ingredients. Menu prices range to fit any budget, but the taste and quality of the food is con-sistently good throughout. With unique sandwiches and trade-mark soups, Charleston’s is a popular stop for a quick, quality lunch, but the specialty entrée items including baby back ribs, hardwood-grilled steaks and fresh-caught fish keep patrons coming back for dinner as well. One other noticeable difference between these restaurants and their casual dining competitors is the atmosphere. While others have random room décor, loud music and wall-to-wall TVs, Charleston’s uses candlelight, soft music and a fireplace for a dining experience that truly is casual.

RESTAURANT

charLesTon's

Ingredients:• 2 cups lemon verbena leaves (rinse and

pat dry)• 1 cup fine cane sugar (not granulated)• 1 large lemon washed, zest the rind (save

on the side)• 1 tbsp. lemon vodka

Directions:In a Cuisinart, blend the leaves with sugar and half the lemon zest until a fine powder. Place in a freezer-proof glass bowl, squeeze all the juice from the lemon and add the vodka, stir until blended. Next, add 2 ½ cups warm water, stir until the sugar is dissolved, place the covered bowl in a refrigerator for three hours. Remove from the refrigerator and strain the mixture. Place the bowl of liquid in the freezer, remove every hour, and use a fork to scrape the side, mixing vigorously from the outside in (mixing and in cooperating air). Repeat the process until fully frozen like an icy (approximately 10 times, depending on the freezer). Ice-cream maker could be used to produce sorbet.

Lemon Verbena graniTa

ProprietorLocally Owned and Operated

CALL TODAY for your free quote

.................

L e a fR e m o v a lH o l i d a y L i g h t i n g

www.revolution-EYES.com

Say goodbye to the hassle of reading glasses

A $50 Value!

FREE TRIAL PAIRFREE FITTING

Dr. Jeremy Ciano

Sometimes I come close



Renny Harrison • 876-3338 • www.fanfaretix.com

Buy and Sell

COLTS PLAYOFF TICKETS

Letters to SantaAmeriana Bank in Westfield collected letters to Santa over the past two weeks from local children. After these letters were scanned at Current Publishing, they were sent off to their final destination at the North Pole. Top: Emma Dell, 6. Bottom: Gracie Ward, 4

Current Publishing Holiday PartyOn Dec. 10, Current Publishing held its annual Christmas party. This year, the event was held at Loon Lake Lodge in Castleton and was attended by staff, advertisers and other friends.

1. Sue Finkam of Clarian and John Pacilio of ReMax. 2. Tim Wright. 3. Roger Huntzinger, publisher of The Southside Times, Current Publishing's Brian Kelly and Currentoonist Tim Campbell. 4. Gary Frey of American Insurance Solutions, Jeff and Shari Worrell of Advantage Medical. 5. Alex and Alla Morozov of Swan Software Solutions. Photos by Karl Ahlrichs.

1

2

3

4

5



3230 E. 96th Street, IndySales: (877) 205-1382

www.tomwoodsubaru.comSUBARU

SUBARU

Subaru Outback

Subaru Legacy

Get an

APR of 1.9% on 2010 MY Outbacks,

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

OnLY At tOM WOOd SubARuPay only $219 a month for a 36-month

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

2002 MINI COOPER S $14,988 S4240A

2005 G35 COUPE $19,613 SA6024

2007 LEXUS RX350 $27,994 SP5908

2007 NISSAN MAXIMA $21,988 SP5977

2007 LINCOLN MKZ $21,988 SP5986

2006 LEXUS IS350 $24,988 SP5988

2009 G37 $31,988 sP5994

2004 SAAB 9-5 AERO $13,988 S4591A

2007 LEXUS ES 350 $28,988 SP5998

2003 INFINITY M35 $26,988 SA6013

ThEaTRE LIVE mUSIC

aRT

mUSIC

Mickey’s Irish PubThe following musical acts will be playing live at Mickey’s Irish Pub,13644 N Meridian, Carmel. For more information, call 317-573-9746:Dec. 26: Toy FactoryDec. 31: Bunny Brothers Jan. 2: C.W. & The Working Class TrioJan. 8: Pack of ChihuahuasJan. 9: Twisted GoldJan. 15: Endless Summer BandJan. 16: Soul StreetJan. 22: Living Proof

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

‘A Christmas Carol’ at the IRT The IRT brings “A Christmas Carol” back to the main stage for the 14th consecutive year. The play runs through Dec. 27. Tickets for this St. Vincent Health-sponsored event start at $25. Call 317-635-5252 for details.

My Kid Can Paint That!Magdalena Gallery of Art in Carmel is presenting this art show, displaying artwork by local kids. Opening night was Nov. 21. All artwork is available for sale, ranging from $100 to $150. Call 317-844-0005 for details.

A Beef and Boards Christmas Anna Lasbury, 12, a seventh-grader at Carmel Middle School, is the featured young performer in A Beef & Boards Christmas 2009 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. On stage through New Year's Eve, the performance features singing, dancing, a salute to the military, a live Nativity, and a special segment for children. Call 317-872-9664 for ticket information.

Mo’s Irish PubThe following musical acts will play live at Mo’s Irish Pub, 13193 Levinson Lane in the Hamilton Town Center, Noblesville. For more information, call 317-770-9020.Dec. 26: Aberdeen ProjectDec. 31: TBA

‘The Wizard of Oz’Indianapolis Civic Theatre’s signature holiday extravaganza “The Wizard of OZ” returns to the stage for the holidays through Jan. 3. Directed by Civic Director of Music & Education Brent E. Marty and choreographed by Rory D. Shivers, the show will feature more than 40 munchkins, lavish sets, amazing special effects and all of the well-loved songs from the film. This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the popular MGM movie that made Judy Garland famous. For more information, visit www.civictheatre.org.

Musical grand openingLambert's Lowrey Organ Center will hold a musical grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 7 to celebrate the move to Noblesville Square Shopping Center. Artist Lori Graves will perform mini-concerts at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m. All are welcome. For more information call 317-773-2002.


A series of tightly interlinked stories follows Jane Rosenal through several failed love affairs, a career crisis in publishing and the death of a loved one. The reader first meets Jane as a precocious teenager observing her brother’s relationships. After a few failed relationships of her own, Jane decides that she can’t trust her own wisdom and instead buys the guidebook, “How to Meet and Marry Mr. Right.” But when she does meet Mr. Right, following the book’s advice produces all the wrong results.

Bank’s debut collection is a warm, funny read. Readers will be quickly drawn in by Jane’s wit and charm and will root for her throughout. “A Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing” is a fun, quickly paced book that would make a good beach read. But it can also be appreciated for its deeper insights on life, maturity and relationships.

3230 E. 96th Street, IndySales: (877) 205-1382

www.tomwoodsubaru.comSUBARU

SUBARU

Subaru Outback

Subaru Legacy

Get an

APR of 1.9% on 2010 MY Outbacks,

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

OnLY At tOM WOOd SubARuPay only $219 a month for a 36-month

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

2002 MINI COOPER S $14,988 S4240A

2005 G35 COUPE $19,613 SA6024

2007 LEXUS RX350 $27,994 SP5908

2007 NISSAN MAXIMA $21,988 SP5977

2007 LINCOLN MKZ $21,988 SP5986

2006 LEXUS IS350 $24,988 SP5988

2009 G37 $31,988 sP5994

2004 SAAB 9-5 AERO $13,988 S4591A

2007 LEXUS ES 350 $28,988 SP5998

2003 INFINITY M35 $26,988 SA6013

Reviewed by Katie BuckCCPL Readers’ Advisory Librarian

Visit the Carmel Clay Public Library’s Web site at www.carmel.lib.in.us for more book reviews.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

The girLs’ guide To hunTing & fishingBY MELISSA BANK

RECIPE

garLic and herb roasTed Prime rib

Ingredients:• 1 prime rib, no less

than 4#, de-boned and tied

• Paste uses … • 2 tbsp. fresh ground

black pepper• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh

rosemary• 3 tbsp. granulated

garlic• 3 tbsp. kosher salt

Directions:• Let prime rib come to room temperature for an hour.• Make paste using above ingredients.• Rub paste onto meat.• Bake at 500 degrees for 5 minutes• Turn heat down to 325• Cook for 20 minutes per pound for rare to

medium rare. If the roast is over 6 lbs., cook for 25 minutes per pound.

Allison Campbell is the executive chef at Harvest Fresh Market. You may e-mail her at [email protected].



Views | Community | Diversions | ANTI-AGING | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

» Clarian North resumes normal visitation – Effective Dec. 11, Clarian North resumed normal visitation hours, after restricting them in October to prevent the spread of H1N1. All hospital units, with the exception of the Neona-tal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), are again open to visitors around the clock. Visitors will continue to be screened for signs and symptoms of illness according to hospital visita-tion policy.

» Alcohol and pain relief - In general, the safest pain reliever for older adults is acetaminophen, or Tylenol. How-ever, acetaminophen carries a warning against taking it while drinking more than three alcoholic drinks a day. This is because excessive alcohol consumption damages the liver, and acetaminophen may not be safe for those whose livers are impaired. Unfortunately, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are not necessarily any safer. In short, level with your doctor about your alcohol intake when discussing pain relievers.

- health.msn.com

» > Clarian's Smirz appointed to licensing board – Clarian North's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lynda Smirz, was ap-pointed to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board by Governor Mitch Daniels on Dec. 14. She is the first female in Indiana to sit on the board since the 1980s.

DISPaTChESCOmmENTaRYBy Dr. Barry Eppley

Some may have read the recent story of a 38-year-old ex-Miss Argentina who died from complications after undergoing plastic surgery on her buttocks. Solange Magnano, who won the crown in 1994, died of a pulmonary embolism three days after having buttock augmentation in Buenos Aires.

For many, this tragic story points to the inherent dangers of cosmetic surgery. There is some truth to that perception. Surgery of any kind always involves some risk. The potential for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus has become a big prevention emphasis in any kind of surgery.

But Magnano did not die from a vein-clot related pulmonary embolism. Closer inspection of this story shows that she died from a lung embolus, which resulted directly from what was in-jected into her.

When I first read this story, I thought she died from a fat em-bolus from having had buttock enlargement by fat injections. It is rare, but fat emboli have been reported to occur from liposuction and fat injections. But when pictures showed how thin she was, it became obvious that she did not have enough fat to use.

What was not printed was that a liquid filling material con-taining tiny beads was used. Such a material is used here in the United States for facial injection purposes, but never anywhere else in the body. With thousands of beads and clumps of beads injected, it would be very easy for some of them to get into the larger veins in the buttock – and to be transported through the heart and into the lungs. Such a risk does not exist in the face, where such materials were developed and intended for use.

What does this story tells us about the risks of cosmetic sur-gery? Does it indicate cosmetic surgery is inherently dangerous?

The answer is no – when done under the proper circumstances with good medical judgment.

Almost every one of these tragic stories ends up showing some breach of the known standards of care. Whether how the surgery was performed, by whom, or in what type of setting and circum-stance, violating established methods and standards of care can have catastrophic results.

Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and there are no shortcuts. Sacrificing safety for what appears to be easy and quick has not proven to be a good tradeoff.

Outside the United States, there are few rules governing what “cosmetic doctors” do. In the United States, the plethora of regulations and training requirements for plastic surgeons, while certainly contributing to costs, go a long way toward a much safer experience.

Dr. Barry Eppley is a certified plastic surgeon at Ology Medical Spa in Carmel. You may reach him at [email protected].

What a way to welcome the new decade!Come experience how your guests will feel being welcomed by the grandest of entries. Granite kitchen countertops, lavish baths

and closets, home theater. With over 6,000 sq. ft, there’s plenty of space for

pool table and workout area in the lower level. Located in the prestigious Brookside

subdivision just north of Bridgewater Country Club.

Proudly offered by A. M. Home Rentals for a monthly rental in the 3’s. Contact Jim Canull

for a private viewing. 507-4431.

A. M. Feature Home for the Holidays

Proper procedures key in cosmetic surgeryCosmetic surgery is real surgery,

and there are no shortcuts. Sacrificing safety for what appears

to be easy and quick has not proven to be a good tradeoff.

SMIRZ


COMMENTARYBy Sally Feldman

Did you know you have more stress in one year than your grandparents had in a lifetime?

When you have stress, you feel it all over; every cell in your body is involved. Your blood pressure goes up, and you elevate your levels of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.

Riding home from work with your teeth clenched may not only catch up with you this flu season, but it might contribute to the heart attack you can look forward to in 2013.

Massage therapy is one way of combating this phenomenon of the 21st century. A regi-men of massage not only calms you, but it also attends to the lymphatic and immune systems. The stimulation of lymph nodes removes toxins, fights nasty microorganisms and keeps the body healthy and strong. Add some essential oils in the mix and you have a great cocktail for defense.

Is massage therapy just for sore muscles? What do you think?

• Among other benefits, massage …• Increases circulation, which can speed heal-

ing and recovery• Enhances the mind/body connection• Aids in the fight against bacteria and

infection.• Improves the body’s ability to get nourish-

ment to important areas• Reduces stress• Lowers blood pressure• Helps in releasing endorphins, the body’s

natural painkillersGo, fight (and) win back your health.

COMMENTARYBy Dr. Jodie R. Harper and Dr. Angela Corea

Age spots, liver spots, sun spots, solar lenti-genes. If you have neglected sunscreen and wor-shiped the sun instead, you may have a few of these sun spots on your face, neck and hands.

These spots are the result of over activity of pigment-manufacturing cells (melanocytes), usually caused by sun damage decades ago. Some people have extra melanocytes and a greater occurrence of problematic pigmentation. Exposure to the sun, heat, trauma and hormon-al shifts contribute to the production of melanin in disorders such as pigmented scars, melasma or sun damage.

Hydroquinone, which has been used in cosmetics for more than 40 years, is the most effective topical solution. It does not “bleach” the skin, but prevents the production of extra melanin. It is deemed safe under the supervision of a physician at the strengths necessary to fade these problem pigmented spots.

Using sunscreen every day and avoiding un-necessary sun exposure will prevent further damage and also allow your skin to repair itself. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Your skincare specialist can suggest the most effective products on the market.

Solely using topical products to fade these spots and sun damage can take quite some time to correct, so complementing topical treatment

with procedures like chemical peels and lasers can be dramatic. Cutera Limelight/IPL, Pearl and Pearl Fractional treatments can have ex-traordinary effects on pigment disorders in just one or a few treatments.

Forming an individualized treatment plan is most important, as each patient’s pigment disor-ders and extent of sun damage is quite unique. Winter is the perfect time to treat. See your sk-incare specialist for a plan that works for you!

Views | Community | Diversions | ANTI-AGING | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

Sally Feldman is a certified massage therapist and a member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. For more information, e-mail her at [email protected]

Dr. Jodie R. Harper is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatrics and wound care. Dr. Angela Corea is board certified in internal medicine. They are the medical directors at

ClarityMD. They can be reached at [email protected] or 317-571-8900.

10% off any repair with a

copy of this ad thru Jan. 9, 2009

Dealing with sun spots on the skin

When you’re stressed or anxious, you subconsciously clench your jaw and teeth; this strains the muscle that connects your jaw to your temples and can trigger a tension headache. A solution: “Put a pencil between your teeth but don’t bite,” says Fred Sheftell, M.D., director of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Conn. You automati-cally relax your jaw muscle to do this, which can prevent the pain.

- www.prevention.com

Head off your headache

Back in 1983, researchers first discovered that eating more protein increases the amount of blood your kidneys are filtering per minute. From this finding, many scien-tists made the leap that a higher GFR places your kidneys under greater stress. Dutch researchers found a few years later that protein-rich meals didn't have an adverse effect on overall kidney function. In fact, there's zero published research showing that downing hefty amounts of protein damages healthy kidneys. As a rule of thumb, shoot to eat your target body weight in grams of protein daily.

- www.menshealth.com

High-protein harm?

Massage therapy isn’t just for sore muscles


COMMENTARYBy Vicky Earley

I only wish all my clients would come run-ning with such intense enthusiasm that they crash into the door when I ring the bell. I look forward to the day they will cry out for me to hurry up and come in when they see me through the window.

Alas, only the family dog provides such a greeting.

These prepackaged bundles of unconditional love, energy and unadulterated dirt are a mixed blessing. I am, however, a believer that you can live happily ever after with a pet – and have a lovely home, too.

Flooring is probably the first decorating ele-ment to consider. How will the material hold up to scratches from nails? How easy is it to clean and maintain? Will the material attract dog hair and odor?

Wood and ceramic tiles are my first line of defense when pets are in the home. Regular cleaning and vacuuming takes care of nearly all the requirements. Of course, wood floors scratch, but a few scratches can provide a warm, stately look in a room! Also, scratches are elimi-nated when wood is refinished.

Another consideration is the “slide factor.” Older dogs and dogs with incredible energy are likely to bite the dust with frequency on hard surface flooring. Area rugs can help break the tumble.

Wool area rugs are excellent choices, because they hide dirt, repel moisture and handle the ongoing abuse of muddy paws. A pattern pro-vides an additional layer of defense by conceal-ing a multitude of doggy sins.

For wall-to-wall carpet, a dense, cut pile, rather than a loop carpet, is best if “Buddy” has long nails. Berber carpet can be a disaster if just one fiber gets loose.

If you’re not willing to trade your golden retriever for a Mexican hairless, furry indiscre-

tions may be your biggest dilemma. If your best friend has nails like needles, a tough textile is in order!

Tight weave blends provide the best defense from a canine assault. I do my own version of a textile stress test in which I scratch, poke and dig at a fabric. Rarely do I chew. If a fabric can withstand this endurance test, it can probably stand up to the worst “Basil” can dish out.

Silk and loose weave textiles are a no-no unless “Barkly” is trained to stay off the furni-ture and always does as he is told!

Leather is an exceptional choice and works beautifully if fur and dirt are the main concerns. Leather is easy to clean and disinfect with a mild detergent solution, but it really won’t stand up to sharp nails.

Regardless of material, pattern is the great disguise in the world of pet-friendly uphol-stery fabrics. If pet hair is an issue, select a fabric color that is close to the shade of Fuffy’s highlights.

Keep these suggestions in mind when making design decisions, and your best friend will be out of the doghouse and into the comfort of your home!

» Fair isle sweaters – These sweaters have hori-zontal bands of geometric patterns, which can be quite intricate. The style origi-nated on a small remote Scottish island of that name, and it has been widely copied. Like many fashion trends, these knits were popular-ized by the Duke of Windsor. They can be quite charming. They certainly aren’t ma-cho, having a tweedy, English-schoolboy provenance, but they are popular among well-dressed ski bums and have been worn by rockers over the years.

- www.gq.com

» Keeping the peace – Sometimes the best statement you can make at holiday get-togethers is one that keeps the peace. Regardless of how much you dislike certain co-workers, acquaintances, or relatives, resolve to be the bigger person and put your differences aside for the sea-son. Tell yourself that any and all touchy subjects are off limits. Don’t ignore some-one who brings up a touchy subject; just respond neutrally, and then change the subject. Remember your audience, and you can be the hero of the party.

- living.health.com

» Hostess gifts – Looking for the best gifts for party hosts? Harper’s Bazaar has put together a list of trendy, tasteful, haute hostess gifts. From Jean Rouget Notecards ($24.95 for 25) to a Dean & Deluca spice rack ($165) to Edwina Hunt carved eggs ($220 - $340), there are styl-ish gifts for nearly any price range.

- www.harpersbazaar.com

DISPaTChES

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

'Who let the dogs out?' Decorating around Fido

Fine Lines, Inc.Hair & Nail Salon

815-8480811 West Main Street #120, Carmel

www.finelinessalon.com

Mon - Sat: 9am - 7pm

Holiday SpeCialS!Receive a

Free MaNiCure with a

pediCure* Call for your appointment

with Sue or Lynn!

Haircut, Color, eyebrow Wax/$80 or

Haircut, Partial Highlight, eyebrow Wax/$85*

Call Alissa, Christie, Euray or Sharyl for this special!

*Offers good one time per customer.

Terry

euray

CHriSTie

BeTH

aliSSa

KiM

lyNN

NaNCy

NiCole

SHaryl

Sue

RE/MAX Ability Plus (317) 216-8500 | [email protected]

HONEST.LOYAL.DEPENDABLE.(and so is the dog)

Named “TOP ALL STAR AGENT” by IBJ

2009

Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | PANACHE | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds


COmmENTaRYBy David Cain

It’s the holiday week for many. As I reflect on entertaining the family, I think some lessons from the kitchen will transfer to your profes-sional life. When it comes to marketing, consid-er these five lessons from the heart of the house and their relationship to a business.

1. Get a recipe. You can’t make a sterling meal without a plan. I’m a big fan of ad-libbing, but I also know the true secret to a good meal is a plan, even if you like to pretend you just came up with it.

2. Try new things and cook for your guests. While a recipe is a great starting point, it should be that – a place to start. Don’t be afraid to explore. I substitute red things with other red things and green things with other green things. I leave out what I don’t like and replace it with things I do like. And it usually tastes better. I also ask my guests if there are things they don’t like. There’s nothing worse than trying to serve meat to a vegetarian or filling the entree with onions for a group that hates those layered tear-makers.

3. Don’t have too many chefs. Not every-thing has to be solitary, but at the end of it all, someone has to take responsibility. I can hear my aunt now, “This is my kitchen, so if you are going to help, you’ll do what I

say.” Nothing beats the sounds of collabora-tion when they are doing what you want.

4. Buy good ingredients. The old adage holds true in the kitchen: You get what you pay for. The ingredients are founda-tional to the outcome. If you buy cheap things, your outcome will disappoint. I’m not suggesting, however, that more expen-sive things are always better, or that you shouldn’t be frugal. But I have found that when you buy your steaks from a farmer, they taste better.

5. Serve an experience. There are more senses than just taste. Be sure you hit as many as you can – the smell, the ap-pearance, the sounds – it’s all important. You are providing an experience for your guests, not just a meal. Turn off the televi-sion and put on some music. Create an escape. Create an experience … for them.

Marketing is a lot like entertaining; it’s best with a loose plan mixed with a lot of spirit (and sometimes spirits help too). As you entertain and engage this holiday season, reflect on how your hospitality might serve your business well too.

Five tips from the kitchen

Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | DOUGH | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

Coupon Exp. 1-5-10

Dr. Carmen Y. Páez de Mendoza can do more than the average den-tist. She went through an additional three years of schooling to become a specialist in cosmetic dentistry. After years of teaching others the trade at the Indiana University School of Dentistry at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, she decided to open her own practice in mid-August.

At Prosthetic Dentistry North, patients can come in for essentially any dental needs. Not only are Páez de Mendoza’s specialty services of-fered, such as veneers, crowns, bridges and implants, but she also performs routine cleanings and the standard services available at any other practice. In a new office, located around 157th St. and Gray Rd., Páez de Mendoza is able to assist each of her patients using the latest technologies.

But just because the board-certified doctor can do many things doesn’t mean that her patients get lost in the shuffle.

“I’m a specialist,” she said. “I don’t like bulk. I like to be able to get to know my patients.”

At what age did you get your first bank account?

"My parents set up a savings account for me probably a year after I was born."

Brian Chapman Westfield

"When I was 9. It was a savings account."

Marcus McGee Westfield

"I can't remember. It was a long time ago but I think I was a teenager."

Richard Clarke Westfield

mONEY maTTERS

Type: TraditionalAge: Built in 1997Location: Emerald Green Circle in WestfieldSquare footage: 1,596Rooms: Four bedrooms, two full and one half baths, great room, kitchen, breakfast room, main-floor master, laundry room, two-car garageStrengths: The home is priced under value for the neighborhood, features a great cul-de-sac lot, is in good condition, and has new carpet on main level.Weaknesses: No formal dining room; small lot

Owner: Dr. Carmen Y. Páez de Mendoza, DDS, MSD, FACPAddress: 4728 Limerick Drive Suite A

Phone: 317-581-1280

WHAT’S IT WORTH

MY OPINION$150k

NOW OPEN

ProsTheTic denisTry norTh

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

» Income tax planning for women – Susan of Somerset CPAs will present the basics of individual income taxes with particular focus on income and adjust-ments, Jan. 14 from 8:15 to 10 a.m. at the Somerset Conference Center, 3925 River Crossing Parkway in Indianapolis.

» Carmel Chamber Look Award – On Dec. 9, the Carmel Chamber presented the Look Award to Holy Trinity Greek Ortho-dox Church for New Construction and Chateau Design Centre for Renovation. The award is presented to organizations that improve the overall look of the community.

» 8 strangest mutual funds 1. Congressional Effect Fund (CEFFX) 2. StockCar Stocks Index Fund (SCARX) 3. The Blue Chip Winery Fund 4. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund (CUBA) 5. Marketocracy Masters 100 Fund (MOFQX) 6. Vice Fund (VICEX) 7. Monetta Young Investor Fund (MYIFX) 8. Timothy Plan Aggressive Growth Fund (TAAGX)

-moneycentral.msn.com

DISPaTChES

Keith Albrecht is a Carmel resident and realtor with RE/MAX Real Estate Groups. Contact him at 317-819-3388 or [email protected].

PáEZ DE MENDOZA


COmmENTaRYBy Randy Sorrell

Oh, the joys of small children and the fun volume of toys that seems to accumulate, especially after Christmas. While I love the toys and the joys they produce, I am not as jazzed about the cor-responding gigabyte of accessories that accompany them. Barbie shoes, doll dresses and hair gizmos surface in the some of the wildest places and inappropriate times – often causing a good laugh.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a dedicated area for your kids’ toys (yours too) that would miraculously contain the pieces/parts of the Wii or the other latest craze? Of course, it could just as easily be a multi-purpose area dedicated for crafting, gift wrapping or your favorite hobby.

DREAMY LOWER-LEVEL PLAY AREA This project’s custom-built exposed storage shelves are ideal for

a kids’ play area. The durable laminate counter was intentionally craft appropriate and budget friendly and could easily be upgrad-ed to granite, whose price is suddenly amazingly attractive.

Our carpenters installed rich crown and base molding, which both formalized the space and echoed the trim in the remainder of this dreamy, lower-level remodeled space. Tracks allowed for self adjusting shelves, and the subtle back lighting, accomplished with hidden rope lights, offered a touch of multi-color playful-ness. The face and sides were finished with drywall and paint in an effort to blend with the adjoining open floor plan.

Most basements have a non-finished area where utility shelves can be built using simple 2”x4”s and plywood or more formalized mesh panels. They are often hidden behind classic six-panel doors and simply do not have to look pretty, just be functional to store Christmas decorations, old brokerage statements and awkward

gizmos we can’t seem to part with. More organized … sounds like a New Year’s resolution.

It’s these fantastic spaces that allow us to accumulate and store treasures our memory can recapture later when needed. Joys, toys, memories and miracles.

Merry Christmas … a Child is born!

Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | INSIDE & OUT | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds

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

1-866-815-1000

Need somewhere to store the Christmas haul?


COmmENTaRYBy Becky Kapsalis

Spirituality is universal and lives within each of our hearts. Religions are territorial. I’ve come to realize religion is our teacher; how we live out our religion is our spirituality.

One definition of religion is to become a be-liever or join a religious organization and, usu-ally, start to lead a life that follows its teachings. There is nothing in the definition of religion that distinguishes our spirit (somebody or some-thing that is a divine, inspiring or animating influence).

It moves my spirit to recognize that we are one Universe connected through our hearts. Our divine influence blessed us with a heart. An organ that none of us could exist without, there-fore a divine spiritual connection for all of us to share. We are one Universe. We are one spirit. The wonderment of all of our spiritual holidays begins with the love within us, from our first heartbeat.

We are taught a religion, but without a heartbeat, we cannot learn. We choose to live a religious life, but without a heart, we cannot

choose. It is not the intention of our divine influences to divide us, cause wars, pit one reli-gion over another. It is, as I believe, the intent to live amongst one another in peace, teaching our children to believe there comes a greater good from our spiritual influences and that fighting the forces of evil (notice the word evil in devil) as we know exists, is to place spirituality at a higher level for goodness to prevail.

In wishing you a Merry Christmas, I am shar-ing my heart and my spirit of peace and love with you above and beyond what my religion has taught me. I believe we are of one God, one Universe, one heart, one spirit for justice, peace, freedom and love. May your heart reflect the love, peace and joy of your religious teachings during this spiritual season and throughout the New Year! Merry Christmas!

Hugs!

COmmENTaRYBy Brandie Bohney

I came across the topic for today’s column when I was baking cookies with some friends. Cookie Day is an annual Christmas tradi-tion for us, and we chat about all sorts of things. This year, I asked for some sugges-tions for a Christmas-specific grammar column. One friend sug-gested I write about the use of Xmas instead of Christmas. Another friend explained that X, the Greek letter chi, was used as an abbreviation for Christ dating back to the printing press.

Yeah, my friends are as geeky as I am. Still, I wasn’t aware of the Greek alphabet

argument for Xmas, so I’ve done some digging. I know some people may believe that a secu-

lar world attacking Christian ideals might use such a tactic to remove the religious aspect of the holiday, but the truth is, my friend with a background in Greek was right: X has been used as an abbreviation for Christ for centuries.

In Greek, Christ’s name begins with chi, a letter that looks like the modern English X. Christ in Greek is written cristoV. With the advent (no pun intended) of the printing press, abbreviations in print were fairly common in order to save time and money. Typesetting was a tedious and expensive process, and several

sources indicate that the abbreviation X was regularly used by the church in place

of Christ to cut down on printing cost. Xmas, then, became a common way to abbreviate

Christmas. At the same time, Xtian became a regular abbreviation for Christian.

So I’d like to set the record straight: While there are probably people or institutions out there who write Xmas instead of Christmas as a way to slight Christians and our beliefs, the abbreviation has a long history beginning with the church itself. So those people are actually carrying on a sort of Christian tradition. Sure, some businesses might use Xmas instead of Christmas in order to use larger letters on the same size of sign or publica-tion, but Christians shouldn’t feel slighted.

And whether it’s written as Xmas or Christmas, the pronunciation should be the same: kris-muhs, not ex-muhs.

Regardless of how you write it, I wish you a blessed Christmas!

Becky Kapsalis. aka YiaYia (pronounced Ya-Ya.) is a certified parenting advocate and child behavior coach. You may reach her at 317-848-7979 or e-mail [email protected].

Brandie Bohney is a grammar enthusiast and former English teacher. If you have a grammar-related question, please email her at [email protected].

Christmas vs. Xmas – Maybe the latter isn’t as secular as you thought

May the spirit be with you

86.PIZZABuy one large pizza,get a 2nd large pizza(of equal or lesser value) for

HALF OFFExpires 1/31/10

86.PIZZABuy one large, one topping pizza for

$999

Expires 1/31/10

86.PIZZAAny carry-out or delivery

over $2500, take an additional

$500 OFFExpires 1/31/10

86.PIZZASTIMULUS PACKAGELg. 3-topping pizza, lg.

breadsticks & a 2-liter for$1799Expires 1/31/10

Call 86.PIZZA

(867-4992)Daily Lunch Specials

Any 6” Sandwich, Bowl of Soup and Drink

OR Personal Pizza and Drink $5.99Pick Up, Delivery and Dine-InCelebrate New Year’s

Eve with us!$20 per person$35 per couple

Party Favors • Champagne • Buffet DinnerLIVE Band “The Secrets” starts at 9 pm

GO

ROCKS! GO SMGANGELS

515 WEST PARK STREET, WESTFIELD(south of Hardee’s at US 31 and SR 32)

Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | EDUCATION | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | Classifieds


Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | LAUGHS | PUZZLES | Toys | Classifieds

Answers to INDIANA WORDSMITH CHALLENGE: CLAIMED, DECIMAL, MEDICAL, ALLIED, CALLED, CALMED, CLAWED, DECLAW, JAILED, MAILED, MALICE, MILDEW, MILLED, WAILED, WALLED, WILLED, AILED, AIMED, CAMEL, CAWED, CLAIM, DECAL, DWELL, EMAIL, IDEAL, JAWED, LACED, LADLE, LILAC, MACED, MEDAL, MEDIA, MEDIC, WALED, WIELD, WILED, ACED, ACID, ACME, AIDE, ALEC, AMID, AWED, CALL, CALM, CAME, CELL, CLAD, CLAM, CLAW, DALE, DAME, DEAL, DELI, DELL, DIAL, DICE, DILL, DIME, ICED, IDEA, IDLE, JADE, JAIL, LACE, LADE, LAIC, LAID, LAME, LEAD, LEWD, LICE, LIED, LIME, MACE, MADE, MAID, MAIL, MALE, MALL, MEAD, MEAL, MELD, MICE, MILD, MILE, MILL, WADE, WAIL, WALE, WALL, WELD, WELL, WIDE, WILD, WILE, WILL.

Answers to BUILD THE WORDS: SANTA CLAUS, JOHN MELLENCAMP, DISNEY WORLD, HAMILTON COUNTY, COPENHAGEN

Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Reindeer: BLITZEN, COMET, DANCER, DASHER, PRANCER, VIXEN; Shades: BURGUNDY, CRIMSON, MAROON, PINK, SCARLET; Decorations: LIGHTS, ORNAMENTS, STAR, TINSEL; Coaches: CALDWELL, DUNGY, MORA; Sites: INDIANAPOLIS, WEST LAFAYETTE; Tree: TULIP

Indiana Wordsmith ChallengeBuild the words

Hoosier Hodge Podge

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

COmmENTaRYBy Dick Wolfsie

We were ready to leave the restaurant last Thursday night, but Mary Ellen was stalling. She had been fussing with her purse and made a couple of extra trips to the ladies’ room.

“Let’s go,” I said. “I want get home by 8:45 so we don’t miss ‘The Office.’”

“Dick, we can’t leave just yet. If we go back to the house now, we’ll be in the gray zone. You know how I hate the gray zone.”

On most evenings, Mary Ellen pulls into our driveway about 6:30, enters the house, turns on the network news and plays with the cat. She then takes off her professional business apparel – clearly not suitable for a three-hour stint of TV crime dramas – and slings on an old pair of jeans or sweats along with a flannel shirt. By 10 p.m., a good night’s sleep is on the radar, requiring a change into her cuddly PJs. She may watch a re-run of “Law and Order” in her sleeping garb before getting into bed with a good book.

That’s the routine. It seldom varies. But wait! On that particu-lar evening we were going to arrive home from the restaurant somewhere between 8:30 and 9. Yes, that is the gray zone she

was fretting about. The question: Is it worth going through the second clothing change or does one get directly into sleep attire? It’s not as sticky an issue as establishing peace in the Middle East, but it does pose a quandary.

I never face this predicament. Unlike my wife, whose career requires dressing like a grownup, I spend most of the day work-ing in my basement home office, snapping the elastic band on my gray sweat pants and wiping mustard stains off my Bill Belichick pullover. Nevertheless, I’m tempted to get “sleep ready” way before my wife arrives home. “Why are you dressed for bed?” Mary Ellen will inquire when she walks in the house.

“I just got ready a little early.”“I’d feel a lot better if you put your jeans back on. Otherwise,

when we sit down for dinner, I’ll feel like I’m visiting you at the assisted living facility. I’m not ready to start thinking about that yet.”

“Why don’t you put on your pajamas, too, Mary Ellen?”“What if someone rang the doorbell, Dick? What would the

neighbors say about us if they thought we got ready for bed before ‘Wheel of Fortune’? We might as well head out to MCL in our slippers.”

She had a point. Lounging around in a robe at dinnertime may have made Hugh Hefner an icon, but it was going to wreck my reputation in the cul de sac. I did wonder who else wrestled with this issue. I called my friend Bob last night, in the middle of the gray zone, about 8 p.m.

“Bob, this is Dick. What are you wearing?”“Wow, you get weirder every day, don’t you?”Bob didn’t really relate to this problem. Nor did most of my

friends who I tried to explain it to. I did a little Googling. Not even one support group. There’s a lot of denial out there.

Right now, I have to wrap up this column. Mary Ellen is on her way home, and I don’t want her to know I’ve been in my pajamas all day. I’m going to put on my jeans, so I can put my pajamas back on in a couple of hours. This is more stress than a high-powered job. Maybe we should all retire early.

Changing clothes twice per night


COmmENTaRYBy gary hubbatd

Far too many people are opting to buy a new computer without understanding what is caus-ing their existing computer to be slow. This often leads to the same situation a few months after buying a new computer: It’s slow again, because the human behavior causing the slow-down wasn’t changed.

There are so many malicious programs tra-versing the Internet that anyone who is online on a daily basis can’t help but pick up some of this “grime,” regardless of how careful they are. And it’s even worse for careless users (especially teenagers!).

Before you assume your old computer is too slow, make sure you understand what is making it slow. Start by rebooting your computer and checking the number of running processes in the Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del, then look in the lower left corner of the Task Manager window).

For desktop computers, a cleaned-up machine should have 30-40 processes, laptops generally 35-45. The higher this number is, the more likely that getting the operating system cleaned up will return your computer to its old glory.

While you have the Task Manager open, click over to the “performance” tab to see if your CPU Usage meter is jumping up and down or is running at a level higher than 10 percent. This is generally another clear indicator of malicious

or unnecessary software operating behind the scenes on your computer.

If the computer was fast enough two years ago and you are essentially using the same pro-grams, the computer’s hardware is likely not the problem. If you have no interest in adding any new programs that require additional “horse-power” (gaming, video editing, etc.), and pretty much live your life on the Internet, paying to clean up your operating system and adding a little extra RAM will likely be the “best bang for the buck.”

If your computer has few running processes, isn’t exhibiting strange CPU usage (via the meter) and is just too slow for your needs, get-ting a new computer is likely your best option.

The reality of the computer world is that everything gets faster and cheaper over time, so the longer you can postpone your next com-puter purchase, the more you will get for the same money.

While we are on the subject of new comput-ers, let’s make sure you are completely aware of all of the issues surrounding the migration and actual costs should you decide to go the new computer route.

Retailers and manufacturers routinely gener-ate ads to make it look like computers only cost $200 to $300, but if you spend any time look-ing into these “deals,” you’ll likely realize you will end up spending 2-3 times that amount for a reasonable performing properly configured

system. The practice of Installing “trialware,” charging

to remove unnecessary programs that shouldn’t have been installed in the first place or “starter” batteries on low-end laptops are just a couple of the hidden cost tricks played on really cheap computers.

In addition, think about what it’s going to take to get your new computer to look and act like your old computer. Programs and their as-sociated data must be installed and imported from your old computer, along with your ad-dress book, favorites, desktop images, screen savers, printer and scanner drivers, photo down-load and editing systems, network settings and a host of other items most folks don’t take into consideration up front.

Be sure to calculate the additional expense for having the migration work done for you if you are not capable or willing to spend the time to do it yourself.

Cleaning up and updating your old system eliminates all these migration issues and costs, so make sure you understand everything in-volved in both scenarios before you make your decision.

1/3/10

Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | TOYS | Classifieds

» Addicted to the Internet? – Rehab is now available for addiction to social networking and online gaming. For only $14,500, Internet addicts can spend 45 days kicking the habit at the first U.S. Internet addiction rehab center, Heavens-field Retreat Center in Fall City, Wash. If you don't happen to have $14,500 handy to help you swear off Facebook and/or World of Warcraft permanently, maybe you could just move to an obscure corner of the US where wi-fi has not yet arrived.

- www.popgadget.net

» Mark the spot – Lately Verizon has gotten pretty bold with their ads, specifi-cally targeting AT&T’s poor coverage. Rather than complain about Verizon picking on them, they’re trying to actually fix the core issue. iPhone users can now download the free ‘AT&T Mark the Spot’ app, which will let them report to the phone giant whenever they have connection issues. AT&T will then take the information and use it to determine what parts of their network are in need of an upgrade.

- www.ohgizmo.com

» Tech for germophobes – The Keystick collapsible keyboard concept looks like it was designed with portability in mind, but its true purpose is actually rooted more in swine flu than road warrior. Indeed, designers Yoonsang Kim and Eun-sung Park designed this keyboard with true paranoia in mind. They even slapped a "None Bacteria Project" label on there so there's no confusion about the design's true purpose. Bring this Japanese fan of a keyboard around with you, and never have to touch a filthy public terminal ever again. Or something.

- www.gizmodo.com

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

DISPaTChES Should you upgrade or replace your computer?


Views | Community | Diversions | Anti-Aging | Panache | Dough | Inside & Out | Education | Laughs | Puzzles | Toys | CLASSIFIEDS

HAVE SOMETHING

TO SELL?Call Dennis

O'Malia489.4444 ext. 202

ClassifiedsVISA, MasterCard acceptedReach 62,719 homes weekly 489.4444 ext. 202

SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES

RENTALSRENTALS

WANTED TO BUY

APARTMENTS FOR RENTDo you know three reasons you should consider living in THE NEW YORKER

APARTMENTS located at 3707 – 3715 N. Meridian Street in Downtown Indianapolis.• You will save time & money• You will meet new people and new friends• You will have access to public transportation, to churches, schools,

entertainment and shoppingYou work hard, so by living at The New Yorker Apartments you will have time to

enjoy your life … and to have all the convenience of living downtown.Come on in and visit The New Yorker Apartments. Call - 784-5899 or 435-8618

and make an appointment. You might be surprised at the pleasant, large apartments that are available at such affordable prices.

IT’S TRUE: Schedule an appointment to just come and see how much time and money you can save.

STUDIOS, 1-2 BEDROOMS - FENCED PARKING LOTProfessionally Managed by:

MOYNAHAN-WILLIAMSCall Debbie – 317-435-8618

For Rent1321 Brookton Ct

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1650 sq ft home, Washington township schools, Brick exterior, NO GAS BILL! Huge yard,

Attached garage, Stove, Refrigerator, Dishwasher, Microwave. Available Now.

$1,095 per month. Call 253-1533

I BUY: Jewelry, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Rolex, Diamonds, Old Coins, Bullion Coins, silverware, Old watches, estate items and anything of value. Call 317-496-5581 or visit us today at www.indyestatebuyer.com

Guitar LessonsWith Baker Scott

Beginners thru AdvancedAll styles

Electric-Acoustic-BassPrivate Lessons

Parent-Child Lessons

near Carey Road & 146th

Carmel317-910-6990

.com

FOR SALEAll New

KING PILLOW TOPMattress Set. $175 still in bag

Can Deliver(317) 223-9301

FOR SALEAll New

QUEEN PILLOW TOPMattress Set. $125 still in bag


FOR SALEAll New

FULL MATTRESS SET $100 still in bag


SN PAINTING INC.INTERIOR – EXTERIOR

Quality WorkmanshipOver 25 Years Experience

Reasonable Prices & ReferencesFree Estimates Insured

Call Steve 317-773-1834

489.4444

489.4444

“Fantastic Exposure.

489.4444

We have had nothing but compliments and praise from our agents.”S i Johnson , V i ce Pres ident /Rea l tor /Manager

Carme l F.C . Tucker Of f i ce

489.4444


We have had nothing but compliments and praise from our agents.”

“Fantastic Exposure.We have had nothing but compliments and praise from our agents.”


We have had nothing but

compliments and praise from our

agents.”

S i Johnson , Vice President/Realtor/Manager


S i Johnson , V i ce Pres ident /Rea l tor /Manager

Carme l F.C . Tucker Of f i ceS i Johnson ,

V i ce Pres ident / Rea l tor /Manager



A journey tobetter health takesstrong support.ACallToChange.org

Surgical weight loss isn’t just about losing weight - it’s about regaining your health. Reaching your goals requires a strong will - as well as support from those around you. Learning about the Bariatric process and determining a support person are the essential first steps. Visit ACallToChange.org to browse a blog with insights from formerpatients or to sign up for a free weight loss surgery seminar with dedicated medical professionals. Find the support and encouragement you need on your journey to better health at ACallToChange.org

december 22, 2009

Documents