• The death of Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy John Durm on July 10 is a blow to the community’s heart and soul. Deputy Durm was on the force for nearly 40 years, and comes from a family of law enforcement professionals. There is a memorial to Durm at the Community Justice Center, 675 Justice Way, in the Twin Aire neighborhood that is open to the public. Durm passed away after being attacked by an inmate he was transporting back from Eskenazi Hospital.
• The Indianapolis Obedience Training Club, established in 1938, is starting a new basic dog obedience class on July 18. The club is a non-profit and is the only AKC Member training club in Indianapolis. They offer basic and advanced obedience classes, plus conformation classes. They also volunteer for pet therapy at Community Hospital East. Call 317-359-2030 for more information and to register.
• On Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. at Fletcher Park, 1429 E. Brookside Ave. (in front of the Circle Center Industrial Complex), there will be Chess in the Park. Every Thursday between now and Aug. 3, chess players are welcome to come out to play in the park. Boards and pieces will be provided, but you can bring your own, and bring your own seats and tables for play. There will also be Solitaire Chess, checkers, Chinese checkers, and mancala.
• Seems like some of our east side businesses are getting national attention! Recently, Bon Appetit named the best bagel shops in the U.S. outside New York, and our Sidedoor Bagel shop at 1103 E. 10th St. was named one of the best. Check out their Facebook page for hours and offerings. In addition, Kismetic Beer Co. at 201 S. Rural St. is in the running for Best New Brewery contest run by USA Today. You can vote for them by visiting the USA Today Web page. Voting ends July 24. Congratulations to these independent businesses!
• Love’s Labors Lost, one of Shakespeare’s liveliest comedies, is getting the Indy Shakespeare Company’s treatment July 20-22 and 27-29 at 8 p.m. at the Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre, 1856 Burdsal Parkway at Riverside Park. Tickets are free for general admission; bring your own camp chair, blanket, and picnic if you wish. A limited number of chairs will be available for rent. Visit indyshakes.com/loveslaborslost to reserve tickets. You can buy a VIP Reservation for $25 by July 19 which reserves a table for 4-6 people (and helps support Indy Shakes).
• The Big Red Food Box needs donations throughout the summer at its boxes at 30 N. Audubon Circle and at 400 S. Ritter. Water and non-perishables can be dropped off in the boxes themselves. They are looking to build another box further east in Irvington.
• The Neighborhood Food Collective will be doing another distribution at Irvington Plaza on Saturday, July 22 from 2-3 p.m. or whenever the food runs out. The giveaway needs donations and volunteers; visit their Facebook page to register to lend a helping hand.