• The Irvington Summer Music Series continues with a Summer Bluegrass Concert with Flatland Harmony Experiment with their special guest Blue Collar Bluegrass on Fri. ,Sept. 29th at 7p.m at the Irvington Ice House, 400 S. Ritter. Tickets $10 at Eventbrite.com. Sponsored by the Irvington Community Council.
• Indianapolis Public Library has launched their new online catalog that makes resources more accessible. Visit indypl.org to see the new look and features.
• On Sept. 18, Indianapolis Public Schools announced they will be closing Broad Ripple High School and John Marshall Middle School, and converting Northwest and Arlington high schools to middle schools. Many in the community have fond memories of their student years at those schools. IPS plans on selling Broad Ripple and John Marshall properties. The fate of Manual and Howe High Schools, which are “turnaround” schools operated by charter companies, will be decided when those schools are returned to the IPS system.
• Broad Ripple Village Association organized a whole bunch of volunteers on Sept. 17 to remove invasive honeysuckle from a part of the Monon. They also removed 110 gallons of trash and 4,500 square feet of honeysuckle. Looks great!
• The Wheeler Mission recently announced that they are sending a team to help St. Matthew’s House, a Naples, Florida homeless shelter that was devastated by Hurricane Irma. The team will provide relief to staff at St. Matthew’s, who have been working around the clock in very adverse conditions.
• Congratulations to Near East Area Renewal (NEAR) for breaking ground on their 100th home on the east side. It’s a huge achievement in an area that was once considered “hopeless” — but many saw the potential to bring affordable home ownership and safe neighborhoods out of the “diamond the rough.”
• It’s Circle City Classic weekend Sept. 23 — the parade starts at 10 a.m., followed by the football game at 3 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium. Also a huge draw is the Battle of the Bands at half-time. It’s a great day downtown — visit www.circlecityclassic.com for more information. That also means downtown is going to be crowded and hectic, so plan ahead!
• On Sept. 23, the Irvington Development Organization has organized a Streetscape Cleanup from 8:30 a.m.-noon at 5625 E. Washington St. Volunteer to help tidy up the streets and sidewalks along the streetscape between Ritter and Audubon. They will also be doing some gardening, replacing the dead tree in front of Black Sheep, and possibly staking the leaning one in the median. Bring your work gloves, a wheelbarrow and gardening tools. This event will take place rain or shine.
• Join Indiana Humanities to kick off One State/One Story: Frankenstein with a 12-hour read-a-thon of Frankenstein at the nation’s oldest pathology lab — the Indiana Medical History Museum, 3405 W. Vermont St. In addition to the all-day read-a-thon featuring celebrity readers, the 12 hour festival will include a pop-up exhibit of rare anatomical texts, curatorial talks, hands-on art activities, Franken Yard Games, guided tours of the Medical History Museum, a theatrical performance, a “Franks-N-Steins” beer garden and lots more from noon-midnight. The event is free, but you should register on the Eventbrite Web site.