• All Indianapolis Public Library locations will be closed on Sunday, April 16 in observance of Easter. While the Library is closed, patrons can review the Library’s catalog of materials or renew and place holds on items at indypl.org. All IndyPL locations will reopen at their regular times on Monday, April 17.
• All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) branches will be closed Friday, April 14 in observance of the Good Friday holiday. Branches resume regularly scheduled business hours on Saturday, April 15. For more information on branch locations and hours, or to complete an online transaction, please visit myBMV.com.
• The Benton House Easter Egg Hunt will be held on April 15 beginning at 10 a.m. Kids can pose for pictures with the Easter Bunny and enjoy other fun activities. The Benton House is located at 312 S. Downey Ave.
• On April 12, Mayor Joe Hogsett joined IMPD Chief Bryan Roach and the IMPD K-9 Unit to swear in the newest class of K-9 ‘recruits.’ The K-9 class has been trained to detect prohibited substances. The dogs will serve the community alongside their human partners in IMPD’s Narcotics unit.
• Irvington Development Organization is looking for an artist to paint the traffic box on the corner of East Washington and Emerson. The box has been painted before, but it was lost to a hit-and-run driver a couple of years ago. Deadline for art submission is May 1, with work to begin June 1. There is a $1,200 stipend for the winning artist, and an opportunity to show work at the Bona Thompson Center. E-mail Margaret@irvingtondevelopment.org ASAP with a proposed design.
• IPS saw a big increase in meals served over spring break this year. The district saw an almost 30% increase over last year. Several schools provided camps and learning opportunities for students, which increased the number of children at school during breakfast and lunch hours.
• The Eastgate Neighborhood Association will be holding its spring meeting April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Warren Government Center, 501 N. Post Rd. Guest speakers include State Rep. Dan Forestal, City-County Councilman David Ray, Township Advocate Hannah Harper, and Cindy Oetjen from the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office speaking about Fraud Prevention. Eastgate neighbors and business owners are encouraged to attend.
• The George and Veronica Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) will be launching a new middle school this fall. The new middle school will accommodate over 200 children, grades 7-8, on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis.
• On April 3 the Indiana School for the Deaf’s (ISD) Academic Bowl Team won the 2017 Gallaudet National Academic Bowl, making this their fourth national championship. Gallaudet University also awarded each of the four members of the championship team with $3,000 scholarships to be used when they enroll in Gallaudet University.