• Check out the Hoosier-centric Webzine (magazine on the web) Punchnel’s at punchnels.com. They are seeking stories set in Indiana for its Indiana Wants My Story short fiction contest. Entry deadline is March 3. For consideration, stories must be 1,000 words or fewer in length, and must be set in Indiana. There is no entry fee. First prize in the Indiana Wants My Story Contest is $50 and publication in Punchnel’s. Up to four additional winners will receive $20 and publication in Punchnel’s. Other stories may be considered for publication at the magazine’s standard rate. In addition, winners will be invited to read their work at a public reception in March, sharing the stage with Indiana author Frank Bill. Bill is the author of Crimes in Southern Indiana. His new novel Donnybrook will be released nationally on March 5. Complete details and links to the contest entry form are available at punchnels.com.
• Some alert Irvington neighbors noted that an old hitching post had been knocked over on a property that is currently unoccupied but up for sale. A back-and-forth conversation on Facebook evolved into a clear plan of action. Thanks to the organizing efforts of Leslie Ebbinghause Walsh, and several neighbors put the post on Julian at Hawthorne upright and cemented it into place on Saturday morning. (The owner of the home was contacted and they got permission first.) There are a lot more GOOD neighbors than bad, especially on the east side!
• A week or so ago, I noticed that there were a few streetlights out in the IRV. Then, bolt from the blue, Margaret Banning of Irvington Development Organization sent out an e-mail noting that it had been called in and IPL had checked things out. The bulbs are fine, but there is a wiring problem that will be fixed in the next week or so. Thanks for keeping on top of things, Margaret.
• Local high school Color Guard units will be competing in the 2013 Indianapolis Color Guard Regional competition Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 at Warren Central. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 23 and at 10 a.m. on Feb. 24. Tickets are $12 for preliminaries and $17 for the finals. For a full schedule and tickets, visit www.wgi.org. Come out and support these hard-working and talented kids.
• The near-northside is getting a new mixed-use development on Senate and Vermont streets. The “Block 400” project will bring retail, apartments, a new “urban prototype” Marsh Supermarket, and a parking garage to the area. On a much smaller scale, a Lincoln Square Pancake House is going in at 23rd and Meridian. East siders are already familiar with Lincoln Square — now it’s time the downtown and northside crowd discovered them as well.
• There will be a job fair hosted by Congressmen Andre Carson and Larry Bucshon on Feb. 21 from 3-6 p.m. at the Ivy Tech Corporate College at 2535 N. Capital Ave. A special one-hour Veteran’s opportunity to talk to potential employers will be held from 2-3 p.m.
