• Bradley Good is gathering oral histories/stories of the near-east side and is looking for volunteers to tell their stories. The interviews will be archived at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library Spades Park and East Washington branches, with a possibility of being included in the library’s online archives as well. For more information contact Bradley via e-mail at indyhistory@outlook.com. All interviews will be done at the library as well.
• EclecticPond is bringing back 10 x 10, but this time with a twist — their fans voted on which Shakespeare plays would get the 10 minute treatment. 10 x 10 x You will be presented Jan. 10-17. Shows on Jan. 10, 16, and 17 will be at 8 p.m., Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m. Shows will be at Irvington United Methodist Church, 30 N. Audubon. Tickets are $10 and available online at www.brownpapertickets.com.
• Cyclists can start the new year off by joining Mayor Greg Ballard for the 4th Annual Polar Bear Pedal on Jan. 3. Bike safety information, children’s bike helmets, door prizes, and snacks will be available for participants. FREE T-shirts will be provided to the first 200 participants that register (visit calendar.indy.gov). Shirts will also be available to purchase on the day of the ride. Registration and check in begins at 9 a.m. and the ride starts at 10 a.m. at City Market, 222 E. Market St.
• The Saint John’s Bible: An Exhibition of Illuminations and Texts will open Jan. 6 at the Indiana Interchurch Center, 1100 W. 42nd St. The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten and illuminated Bible since the 15th century, completed in 2011 by world-renowned calligrapher and illuminator Donald Jackson (senior scribe to Queen Elizabeth II). For more information and a list of companion events during the month of January, please visit www.indianainterchurch.org or call 317-923-3617. Additional history about the Bible is available at www.saintjohnsbible.org,
• Indiana Landmarks and the Central Indiana Community Foundation oversee a fund which awards grants to preserve Marion County Landmarks. Recent local recipients include Englewood Community Development for the preservation of the former Odd Fellows Building on East Washington St., the Friends of Garfield Park for an engineering analysis of the 1904 interurban stop at the park, the Historic Woodruff Place Foundation for repairs to the East Drive fountain, Lawrence Community Development for rehab costs on one of six original barracks in the Fort Benjamin Harrison Historic District, Oaklandon Unitarian Universalist Church for painting of soffits and porch of the 1926 church, United North East Community Development Corp. for window rehab in the Design Bank, and Old Northside Foundation for a reuse study for the 1912 First Church of Christ Scientist as a performing arts center.
• Everyone at the Weekly View wishes our readers and advertisers a Happy and Prosperous New Years!