BMV Announces Holiday Hours
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) license branches will be closed on Thurs., Dec. 24 and Fri., Dec. 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. All license branches resume normal business hours on Saturday, Dec. 26.
In addition, license branches will be closed on Fri., Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s Day. All license branches resume normal hours of operation on Saturday, Jan. 2.
Franciscan CityWay Provides Services in Downtown Indy
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – An already-thriving Downtown Indianapolis will soon have new neighbors. Franciscan St. Francis Health and the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis opened their doors Dec. 15 at CityWay.
Franciscan CityWay is located at 426 S. Alabama St. The adjoining YMCA facility (430 S. Alabama St.) is a three-story, 87,000-square-foot complex which has been under development since mid-2014.
Both organizations unveiled plans for the partnership in November 2014. Franciscan St. Francis is leasing 13,000 square feet from the YMCA at an estimated capital investment of $2.3 million.
In addition to primary and specialty care, Franciscan CityWay will have physical therapy and lab and imaging services. Depending on future demands, other specialty care services might be available at that office.
For more information or to make an appointment at Franciscan CityWay, call (317) 528-2489 (CITY).
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and Franciscan St. Francis Health are planning a Community Day event Saturday, Jan. 16. The public may tour their facilities from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Home Storm Shelters Funds Available
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) has opened a program that will provide financial support to Indiana residents who wish to construct and install a severe weather safe room in their home.
Funds for the program will be made available for up to 53 applicants. Those interested must complete an online application at http://bit.ly/1TijCt4. Applicants must provide information about their home, including the year it was built, the parcel ID number and if it’s located in a flood plain. Applications will be reviewed by IDHS Mitigation staff.
The program, which is voluntary, will reimburse homeowners for 75 percent of the eligible costs (up to $4,500) to construct and install Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) compliant safe rooms in their homes. Funding for the program is provided through FEMA.
Those who participate will be required to obtain a building permit from a certified building department and have the safe room inspected during installation and/or after installation completion. Participants will also be required to build their safe rooms to meet or exceed the standards dictated in FEMA 320 or 361 guidelines. Visit www.fema.gov/ for more information about the standards.
Questions can be directed to the IDHS Mitigation staff at mitigation@dhs.in.gov.
Peace Learning Center Receives Lilly Grant
INDIANAPOLIS — Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded Peace Learning Center an $800,000 grant to support its efforts to educate students, teachers, and parents in conflict resolution and social emotional learning skills. PLC’s education programs are designed to improve academic outcomes while reducing school discipline problems. The grant will also support a major partnership with ACT OUT — an interactive theater troupe directed by Claude McNeal Productions — and create more program partnerships with underserved area schools.
The goal of Peace Learning Center and Act Out’s program partnership is to improve academic performance and build character through relationship and conflict management education.
During the next two years, Peace Learning Center will create partnerships with schools that serve students who live in six neighborhoods that are high-priority areas due to high levels of crime and other factors.
These schools, referred to as One Indy Schools, receive Peace Learning Center programming for students in PreK through first grade. Students in fifth and sixth grade will be given the opportunity to serve as peer mediators for handling peer-to-peer conflict. Teachers and families from each One Indy School will participate in workshops tailored to improve positive connections between the school and community.