• All Indianapolis Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, January 21 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, except the InfoZone, located within The Children’s Museum at 3000 N. Meridian Street, which will be open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Federal, state and local offices will also be closed for the day. There will be no mail service.
• Congratulations to the Indiana Writers Center as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. Founded in 1979 as an extension of the Free University, the organization grew over the decades, creating the Flying Island anthology of the best of Indiana writing, putting on workshops and bringing in speakers on writing. After several moves, they are currently located at the Circle City Industrial Complex. On March 8 they will be publishing Jim Powell’s story collection; he was the founder of the organization and their Executive Director for many years.
• The exhibit “Irvington’s Golden Age of Ghouls” at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 E. University will be coming down by the end of January. Thanks to the Indiana Medical History Museum, https://www.imhm.org/, for lending them a selection of vintage medical tools that surgeons, morticians or grave robbers would have used when HH Holmes stopped in Irvington. Visit the Bona Wed. 1-3p.m. or Sat./Sun. 1-4 p.m.
• Congratulations to Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer, who was recently named the Vice-Chair for the Marion County Republican Central Committee.
• More neighborhood meetings are scheduled for the upcoming weeks. Englewood will meet Mon., Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. at Englewood Christian Church (57 N Rural St.). Spades Park will meet Mon., Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Spades Park Library (91801 Nowland Ave.). There will be a NESCO Board Meeting on Tues., Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at John Boner Neighborhood Center, Board Room (2236 E 10th St.). This is a great time to get involved in improving your neighborhood!
• Craig McCartt, a 24-year veteran of the IMPD, has been appointed Commander of East District. McCartt has worked most recently as the Major of the Criminal Investigations Unit. Roger Spurgeon, who has been Commander, will return to the Homicide Unit as a Captain.
• The Indianapolis Public Library will hold a book sale Jan. 18-19 and Jan. 24-26. Friends Night will be the 18th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. where Friends of the Library can get first crack at books, CDs, and other goodies (memberships can be purchased in the lobby). The sale is open to the public Jan. 19 and 24 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and noon-7 p.m. respectively. Half-price day is Jan. 25 from noon-7 p.m. and $7 Bag Day is Jan. 26 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The sale will be held at the Library Services Center, 2450 N. Meridian. Next to the Benton House book sale, the Library book sale is the place to find some great reads!
• SnowTime Storytime at the Warren Branch (9701 East 21st St.) will be held Jan 22 at 10:15 a.m. Children ages 2 – 6 are invited to marvel in the frozen precipitation called SNOW with Professor Watermelon. They’ll enjoy fun stories, puppets, songs and dances while learning that snowflakes, like our thumbprints, are uniquely designed.