• The City of Beech Grove has a new Police Chief, Michael Maurice, and a new Deputy Police Chief, Bob Mercuri. Former Police Chief Mark Swartz announced his retirement in late 2019.
• The Indianapolis City-County Council had its first public meeting on Monday, Jan. 6. If you want to keep tabs on the Council as it ushers in a new year, you can visit the Web site www.indy.gov/agency/city-county-council for agendas and minutes. Public meetings are also broadcast on cable channels 16 on Comcast, 340 on Spectrum, and 99 on AT&T.
• The Ten Point Coalition, an organization that patrols troubled neighborhoods to help curb violent crime, will begin patrolling the area between Mitthoefer and German Church Rd. between 38th and 42nd streets due to escalating crime in the area. The group has been patrolling Post Rd. between 38th and 42nd streets. The organization works also provides re-entry programs for ex-offenders and support at homicide scenes.
• Hospitals in the area are asking that people refrain from going to emergency rooms if they have mild flu symptoms, but instead visit a clinic or their primary-care physician first. Emergency rooms are being flooded with patients with non-emergency illnesses. In addition, some hospitals have imposed restrictions on visitors showing signs of the flu. According to news reports, the Type B flu is the most prevalent strain going around. Experts are asking everyone to wash their hands frequently, use hand sanitizers, and avoid contact with individuals who are showing signs of the flu.
• The 44th Annual Greater Indianapolis Garage Sale & Marketplace will be held Saturday, Jan. 11 and Sunday, Jan. 12 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. This very popular mega-garage sale will be in the Blue Ribbon and Champions Pavilions and feature hundreds of vendors selling pretty much anything you can imagine. Southport Antique Mall experts are offering a free item valuation (one item only per person). Adult tickets are $5 at the gate, and kids under 12 are free. Visit www.GarageSaleAndMarketplace.com for more information.
• A team of three FFA members at Mt. Vernon High School will be traveling to Denver to compete at the National FFA Competition in the Meats Evaluation Contest. Madison Carns, Kaeden Smith and Ruthie Lamaster were all tested on their knowledge of meat retail cuts and other aspects of the meat science industry and will now advance to the national competition.
• Chess players of all skill levels and ages are invited to play chess at the Second Mondays Chess program at the Irvington branch library on Monday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. Chess boards and pieces will be provided, but players may bring their own chess clocks. The library is located at 5625 E. Washington St.
• The Irvington Historical Society is holding two very interesting exhibitions this month: “Power Hats and Irvington Women,” and “Twenty Portraits.” The latter show 20 portraits from the collection of the IHS of remarkable faces. The exhibits are at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 University Ave. which is open to the public on Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m., Saturdays from 1 p.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Admission is free, but a donation would be appreciated.