Before I die…

            I love historic homes, buildings, neighborhoods, all of it. Well, maybe not ALL of it, as I look at my endless list of house projects and wonder where I’ll find the time and cash. Last week was the Annual NPA Home Tour and before that was the Upstairs Downtown tour. We are drawn to these spaces that give us a sense of place—these spaces that have history and beauty and a richness to them unlike any other. I feel like these buildings and homes have so many stories and secrets to share, and we need to be innovative and find ways to utilize them fully in our ‘modern day’ times.

            I recently watched a TED talk by Candy Chang, who has begun a movement in her home city of New Orleans that resonates with me and makes me wish I would’ve thought of it.

            Chang was reflecting on the lightening pace of every day life as she mourned the loss of a friend, and she wished she could make her life and those around her more meaningful. “We don’t bump in to every neighbor (often, if at all), so a lot of wisdom never gets passed on. But we DO share the same public spaces.”

            “How can we lend and borrow more of our things without knocking on each other’s doors at a bad time? How can we share more of our memories of our abandoned buildings and gain a better understanding of our landscape?” Chang lives nearby an abandoned building that made her wonder how she could use it as a catalyst for others to gather and share a part of themselves. She painted one side of it with chalkboard paint and the words: Before I die, I want to….

            The side of the building filled up by the next day. It became a space of giving and taking—of sharing. I’ve written before about things I want to see in Noblesville, and it’s that sort of gathering spot and sharing our voices in public spaces that makes me go, “yeah, that’s what we need here right now. That’s the sort of world I want to live in.” 

Love local food, want more options

            Last week I was on vacation in Vermont—again—and again I was struck by what they’ve got going on that I want so badly to see take root here in Noblesville. There are multitudes of village stores where you can buy local food, there are recyling bins all over the place, and there are community bulletin boards for everything from local events to job postings to for sale listings, not to mention the tidy community gardens dotting the landscape. Sometimes, all of these amenities are located within the very same block. It’s so lovely and magical and I sigh and wonder, ‘why can’t we have that, too?’

I’ve been talking about starting up a small farmer’s market on the square for, oh, a couple years now. My vision is simple: to have another venue for farmers to share their hard work and another venue for consumers to come buy food that’s fresh and local. Yes, I know we have Farmer’s Markets already, but the problem as I see it is that is they are all on the same day and all at the same time. Four hours per week in the busy summertime doesn’t leave much room for error in shopping local for food. And if you can’t make it Saturday morning? Well, you’re out of luck.

            I want to see a small market within walking distance of downtown on a weeknight, with only local food and a charm and ambience you can only find in those tiny markets—just like they have in Vermont.   

            So my problem—again—is lack of time. I have people willing to help, but none of us can head it up. Shoot me a message if you’re feeling compelled to help bring a weekday farmer’s market to downtown Noblesville and let’s see what magic we can make happen.

We are the grasshoppers

             I’ve had the nagging question in my mind for awhile now—just how essential is it that I do what I do? Why do I spend time and energy writing what I do? Why do I spend an hour playing in my hoop when I could/should be doing something ‘more productive’? When I’m driven to create, what does it even matter, really?

 I’ve lived in Noblesville for over a decade now, which in and of itself blows my mind. It was a fluke that we even landed here, lured by a real estate ad in the Indy Star one lazy Sunday. It was as though, in brief moment of perusing the ads we decided it was time to buy a house, and since the old house listing we ‘fell in love with’ was in Noblesville (wherever that was) we decided this was ‘it’ and fell in love with this town, too.

            I thought back to this after attending the recent launch party of Noblesville’s first literary journal, The Polk Street Review. My husband and I walked from our house to the party, which was held at our friends’ lovely home just a few blocks from ours. The wide, shallow front steps led to the inviting wraparound porch. The tables of libations beckoned me and I poured some wine and said hello to our Old Town friends gathered on the porch in the crisp, cool air.

            The rooms were full of chairs and people, the light was welcoming and I was aware of the satisfying click of my brown boots on the oak floors. Of course, I also noticed the table of delicious food and made that my second stop.

            I’m so glad to live in this town, and that night full of readings and creative energy and laughter is one of my best memories of living here. I’m always so inspired by the talented people here who create—not for glory or money or recognition but because they love to and they want and need to. The final reading of the night, The Ant and The Grasshopper, answered my nagging question.

            “Work is important. But play, and discussion, and love of non-essential things is also important. We are the grasshoppers and we are necessary. Long live the grasshopper!” (Introduction to The Polk Street Review)

The 'ville is good, but could be great

I’ve tackled controversial topics in this column before, indeed.

            I’ve always shied away from writing about politics, however. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe because I know how divisive it can be, and in general I don’t feel qualified to discuss matters that seem way beyond my scope of understanding.

            I’m not apathetic though. My parents’ words echo in my head every time an election comes around, “if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.” I always head to the polls.

            Well, I’m writing about politics now, and not because I have delved into matters of tax abatements and TIF districts and have any insights there, but there are some things that I have observed.

            We were happy to put our two cents in when the city hired a firm to garner citizen input and put together a strategic plan for downtown. We’d given our ideas as to what we’d like to see and we had this vision dangling before us of what Noblesville could be. A Riverwalk? More walkability and more diversity of shops downtown?  More public spaces, trails, and ooh, how about a theater to replace the ones (yes, multiple) that were torn down once upon a time in favor of parking lots?  The plan was put together and…nothing happened. This was in 2005, and downtown still pretty much looks the same.

            I’m concerned about the unprecedented Positron deal. $7 million given to a company called Positron, currently already based in Fishers, so that they would build a facility in Noblesville. $7 million. That could have gone a long way toward a parking garage or two and a downtown theater, both things that would have enhanced downtown and met needs for the public sector.

I have several friends new to Indiana and to Noblesville that have expressed their disappointment in our lack of voting pool diversity here.  One said to me, “I’m used to having a large pool to pick from either party. Not having that can’t promote true democracy.”

With the election coming up in two weeks, I’m thrilled there is an actual mayoral race. You’ve probably seen the signs around town, ‘Mike Corbett for Mayor.’

You can check out Mike’s website, www.mikecorbettformayor.com to read about his positions. Most important, make your voice heard on November 8. You can even vote prior to Election Day by going to the Election Office at the Judicial Center downtown. 

Pieces of You

(from Sept. exhibit at HEPL)

            With only three days left in the month (where did September go?), I recommend that you make a point to visit the library to see the Art exhibit Pieces of You. This collaborative Art project was made possible by Kandi Jamieson of Arthouse and her students at Cicero Adventist Elementary and Indiana Academy.

            Stapled onto the curved wall, you will see 2,947 small plastic bags, each containing a small object. These comprise a memorial representing all of those that died ten years ago on 9/11. On the anniversary of 9/11, amid a flurry of facebook questions and status updates asking and answering ‘where were you?,’ I stayed quiet.

            Where was I? I was safe in my tiny house, hundreds of miles from the horrors. I didn’t lose anyone I loved. I didn’t personally have to grieve the loss of a husband, a child, a friend. I didn’t know anyone that was there.

            The exhibit is poignant in its simplicity—ranging from items as common and mundane as a twist-tie or candy wrapper to a tiny dog biscuit to a crocheted flower. “Each item represents a person like you and me,” Jamieson said.

            “It’s ironic because all these items can be found in the junk drawer at some point, and just like the junk drawer where items are lost and forgotten, we’ve taken them out and put them on display to remember. I wanted to find a way we could connect it to our personal life.”

            After September, the exhibit will be on display at Arthouse, 195 S. 10^th Street, Noblesville.

Be Open Minded--Arthouse

(this also wasn't published, but hey, I'll blog it, too)

Art Teachers Billy and Kandi Jamieson of Arthouse recently wrapped up a Graffiti and Mural painting class, where the end result was a collaboration of ideas and designs painted onto a vintage VW bus.

Often graffiti is painted without permission, but “it’s also a style,” Kandi Jamieson said.  “In the class, we went through the whole history of it.  Graffiti art is a way to make political statements. Kids have something to say. Let’s allow them to speak their mind—they need a voice.”

The Jamiesons juxtaposed the concepts of graffiti and murals together in the class, allowing students to contribute ideas and collaborate on the design for the bus.  “We had to compromise and even agree to disagree sometimes.

One of the phrases that was painted on the bus, Be Open Minded, “really captured it,” Kandi said. “Even for adults who see graffiti art around, for them to be open minded and ask ‘why are kids doing this?’”

“Have we given them the opportunity to speak their mind and a place to create art? That’s what we want to do here.”

The Jamiesons plan to continue offering the Mural and Graffiti classes, and hope to do some inside murals in the colder months.  Stop by Arthouse at 195 S. 10^th Street, visit www.arthousenoblesville.blogspot.com or call 773.0038 for class schedules.

Photo cutline: “Billboards are all over and right in your face, why can’t art be like that?” Kandi Jamieson, who wants to see more public art in Noblesville.

Touring Noblesville's History

Read the story here (p.9)

Historic Homes of Noblesville-355 S. 9th St.

Location:  355 S. 9th St.

Owners:  Dr. Jason and Tina Bell, since 2005

Style & History:  The Sowerwine house was build in 1904 by Charles and Sarah Sowerwine.  The home, a late Queen Anne, exhibits numerous characteristics of this style, but without the exuberant ornamentation.  Edward and Eleanor Forsythe, who owned the home from 1918 to 1950, enlarged it with a 2-story addition in the 1920’s and converted it to apartment in the 1930’s.  After more than sixty-five years as apartments, the home was recently converted back into a single-family residence.

What are your favorite features?  “We like that the house has large size rooms with plenty of storage, the large wrap-around front porch and our in-ground swimming pool.”

What work have you done on your house?  “The entire house has been renovated and has all new electrical and plumbing.  We have added some new windows, a wood pellet stove, new porch railing, hardi plank siding, and landscaping.”

What do you like about this area/neighborhood?  “What we like about the neighborhood, is that the community is starting to focus more on green living and restoring these beautiful homes and structures.”

Serendipity and Schoolhouses

Serendipity.  That’s what Dottie said as we got back into her car after a chat with a local man after we stopped to snap a picture of his house.  The front door was open and he invited us in and showed us around.  We connected because we’re ‘old house’ people, or more accurately, ‘old building’ people.  Old buildings are a way to connect with the past, with people who came before us, a way to honor the hard lives they led, and a way to be a part of what will be history someday.

            After I interviewed Dottie Young, who grew up right in Clarksville, for some of the history on last week’s schoolhouse cover story, she invited me to go along on a tour of old remaining schoolhouses in the area. She told me fascinating stories of people and places as we passed mile after mile of cornfields. “That house was constructed without nails,” she said as we passed a large white farmhouse, and “my mother was born in a house that used to stand here on this corner.” 

Dottie told me of tiny, nearly forgotten cemeteries tucked in the acres.  She has ancestors buried at many of them, dating back to when this area was settled.  She took me to an early surviving log cabin—and I was amazed.  It still has a wood shingle roof!

I’d never been on most of these roads, but I’d been to one of the old schoolhouses we visited.  I actually wrote about it here back when I first discovered it by accident. Just a shell now, in ruins but still standing, it touched me so deeply then and still does.  Dottie thinks it was called ‘Willow Pond’.

Down the road from that schoolhouse is where we met Josh Reynolds.  His is an amazing story of how he and his wife Laura purchased their schoolhouse and have renovated it into a beautiful, cozy home with soaring fourteen foot ceilings and wood floors. What’s now the front door wasn’t the original entrance, but there was a big hole in the wall from where a tractor had been driven right through the wall—on purpose—a common practice back then.  The limestone plaque is inscribed with the name Charles Zeis, Dottie’s great-grandfather.

I feel so much gratitude for those who work to preserve our stories and our buildings and our past. 

CF Walk update and another fundraiser coming up

What a thrill for me to be able to do the cover story on Fritz Mills and the Cystic Fibrosis walk a few weeks ago. He’s one of the coolest people I know and I admire him. Fritz is courageous, kind, and pretty awesome all around.

In the very soggy month of May, the day of the walk was sunny and warm. The total raised for the Noblesville walk was $19,570, with $7,407.00 of that coming from Fritz’s Fantastic Friends team, surpassing their goal of $5,000. Thank you to all who participated and gave to this great cause.

Mark your calendars for another fun upcoming event right here in Noblesville. On Sunday June 12, Sid Davis will be hosting his annual Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser at the Noblesville Golf and Batting Center, located at 14700 Willow View Road, just off State Road 32 West.

Golf and Batting is open from 12-8 PM on Sundays and Davis will donate gross proceeds from the entire day to the CF Foundation. Festivities will be ongoing from 12-5 PM. Activities include a Driving Range, Putt Putt, Batting Cages, Sand Volleyball and Arcade Games.

For the third year there will also be a cornhole tournament. Teams of two register for a fee and the Grand Prize is half of the total pot going to the winners and the other half going to the CF Foundation (if the winner chooses to donate their winnings to the CF Foundation too, all the better). Contact Davis at www.golfandbattingcenter.com or 773.2909 to register. Info can also be found on the facebook page, Noblesville Golf and Batting Center.

As far as food goes, there will be Black Diamond BBQ available for purchase. You’ll also want to check out the raffle items, including: an autographed Steve Wariner guitar, a fireworks package, a gear/gift certificate from Nurpu, concert tickets from HANK 97.1 FM, autographed items from this year’s Indy 500 winner, Alex Tagliani, a custom hula hoop (donated by me) and more.

There’ll be entertainment, too. Linda Lee and the Noble Creek Boys will play live from 1-3 and I’m going to be there from 3-5 hooping it up, so come out and hoop, too. I’ll have music and community hoops of all sizes and weights to use. What great activities to do as a family and support a great cause. Hope to see you there!

Memorial Day--more than a car race

My first memories of Memorial Day go back to the tiny town I was raised in and my dad’s famous potato salad and celebratory first-grilled-hamburgers-of-the-season. When I was in junior high and high school and in the marching band, I participated in the Memorial Day parade that went down the main street in town and ended at the American Legion just across the railroad tracks. I stood at attention during the ceremony—a solemn salute to people I didn’t know and wars I difficult to comprehend.


The history of what we now call Memorial Day is interesting. Held on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and it was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to honor those killed in the Civil War by decorating their graves.


In some small way, my family tries to pay our respects to veterans by attending the ceremonies held here in Old Town on Memorial Day. I appreciate the efforts to honor those who are no longer here, to take some time remember them somehow even though I never knew them, and to help my kids know the meaning of the holiday and its origins. I feel that since they’re in such close proximity to the Indy 500 it would be easy for them to think it’s a holiday devoted to a car race.


Ceremonies this year start at the Courthouse lawn at 11 AM with the past commander of the American Legion giving a speech, followed by a 21 gun salute and Taps. The next stop is Riverside Cemetery, located off of 5th Street along the banks of the White River, where veterans names will be read, then the procession will move to Crownland Cemetery on Monument St. where there will be a short ceremony. Following the ceremony, all attendees are invited to the American Legion at 1094 Conner Street for lunch.

Another reason why you should recycle more and throw away less

Several readers emailed me with comments and questions on the recycling story I wrote a couple of months back, and I wanted to address one in particular. I’d mentioned that 50 percent of the money made through the recycling program comes back to the city to offset cost increases in the contract with Republic and we should all participate as much as possible.


Deb Webster wrote to me: “In your article on garbage collection/recycling in Noblesville you mentioned that our recycling actually provides a kick-back of sorts to the city's bill by Republic. I have never read that anywhere but in your column! This information needs to be posted on our water bills, on a banner in town, the city's website... Is it possible to get people recycling to the point that it would subsidize our garbage costs sufficiently to stop raising our bills?


Dan and I produce more recycling by far than garbage. We always have a full to overflowing recycle bin and one bag of garbage in our big garbage bin. We're just 2 people. I would think families would far out strip us in recycling if they were just more aware.”


I put the question to Len Finchum, Noblesville’s Street Commissioner, who replied that yes, half of the monies made from our recycle program reverts back to the City to help offset the expenses, and he agreed that if it was posted from time to time to the Noblesville residents it may help with their decision to recycle more.


Finchum also stated that while the return of monies helps with the recycle portion of the contract, the overall contract cost outweighs the possibilities of the funds being reduced enough to save a substantial amount, but it does help.


Finchum went on to say, “If Noblesville showed that it could recycle to a level exceeding the general trash amounts, then the contract could be written to address this. The contract will be up next year and I will look at the verbiage to possibly address a tonnage comparison of trash and recycling. Anything is possible if enough people support the idea and put forth the effort to see it done. Thank you for your thoughts and positive support that Noblesville residents can make better things happen.”


Thanks for your great question, Deb, and for your thoughtful response, Len. And again, rock on, recyclers.

Rallying Point

I was lucky to be able to do a story on one of the most amazing people I know, Fritz Mills.  Go here to read Fritz's story. Rallying Point

City's first literary journal to debut this fall

A little known Noblesville trivia fact: 8th Street, now the route used by some motorists to avoid the busier 9th and 10th Streets, used to be the main north-south drag through town.


The street, originally named Polk Street, has seen a lot of change since 1823, from mills that once stood at the north bend on the river to bars and liveries and hotels lining the once bustling street on the south side of Conner. Depots connected Noblesville to St. Louis, Chicago, and Louisville.

Now a new literary journal, named The Polk Street Review, is seeking submissions from local writers. Old Town resident and high school teacher Bill Kenley, who applied for a Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant to start a literary journal in Noblesville recently was awarded the grant.

Kenley and fellow Old Town resident Kurt Meyer are collaborating on the project, which will be published in October of 2011.

“We wanted to do something to create an outlet for local writers, to enhance the cultural identity of Noblesville, and at the same time broaden the notion of what living in small-town Indiana means,” Meyer said.

“Polk Street became the line between the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ part of town, between blue collar and white collar, flood plain and high ground. It’s touched many of the defining aspects of local life for almost two centuries. The pages will be filled with stories that straddle the same lines of local experience.”

There are a number of literary journals in cities across the nation, and this will be the first of its kind in Noblesville as far as Meyer and Kenley know, who regularly trade fiction and review each others work.

“We agreed that opportunities for getting your work published were few,” Kenley said of his collaboration with Meyer in this new project. As far as the vision they have for the journal, Kenley said “we want the journal to look something like The Paris Review or McSweeney’s,” referring to some popular literary journals.

The journal is seeking fiction, non-fiction, poetry, interviews, photography, art and even has an undefined category. “All works must have a Noblesville connection, no matter how tenuous,” according to the journal’s page, The Polk Street Review, on facebook.

People interested in submitting work should send it to thepolkstreetreview@hotmail.com.