• The Benton House Home Tour is on Sunday, Sept. 21 from noon-5 p.m. There’s a great line-up of homes, including the Benton House itself and the Bona Thompson Memorial Center. There’s also a classy car show at the Benton House. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the tour (purchase tickets at any of the homes with cash or at the Benton House with cash or credit card).
• The September meeting of the Perry Township / Southport Historical Society features author Ashley Petry. She will be sharing items from her new book, Amazing Indianapolis, focusing on fun and interesting stories from the city’s past. The meeting is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the Perry Township Academic Center, 6548 Orinoco Ave. Enter through the center doors at the northwest corner of the building.
• On Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Bona Thompson Center, Indianapolis Historian and author Ed Fujawa will present a lecture “Navigable White River: Legality vs. Reality.” Admission is free.
• There will be a POW/MIA Recognition Day Escort and Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 9450 East 59th St.
• Lagers in Lawrence Oktoberfest will feature great food, beer, wine and spirits from local businesses on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 2-6 p.m. at the Fort Ben Cultural Campus, 8920 Otis Ave. There will also be wiener dog races! Tickets are available online at LagersInLawrence.com and range from $40 general admission at 3 p.m. to VIP advance sale at $45.
• Mark your calendar for the Garfield Art & Music Fest on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. at 2425 Conservatory Dr. at the Amphitheater. This free event features local musicians and bands performing original music, plus visual artists sharing their creativity. There will be food and drink for purchase. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are also welcome. Admission is free.
• The City-County Council will meet on Monday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. On the agenda is a vote to allow rezoning of part of Franklin Township to allow the building of a data center for Google. Residents in the area are concerned the facility will disrupt water and electric service, increase traffic, and negatively impact wildlife. The meeting will be held in the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St.
• Franciscan Health Beech Grove Farmers Market will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1300 Albany St. Fresh produce, fruits and more will be available for sale.
• It seems like the red fox population on the east side has increased significantly — we have a family of them here at the office! There have been numerous sightings in Irvington as well. Foxes are vital to the health of our ecosystem, eating rodents and insects, as well as berries and vegetables. They have adapted to living close to humans, eating outside pet food and rummaging garbage. The family of foxes at the office have left our mature feral cat colony alone, but that’s no guarantee they will not try to get kittens. They do not attack humans.