• Friendly reminder that the police non-emergency number is 372-3811. This is the number to call if you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood.
• The book collection for the Benton House Book Sale has started! For those folks who have switched to e-books, this is a great time to unload your paperbacks, hardcovers, etc. for a good cause. Drop off gently used books at Lazy Daze, Roll With It Bakery, Snips Hair Salon, Dufour’s, Jockamo’s, or Black Sheep Gifts in Irvington. The sale will be in August and proceeds go to support the historic Benton House.
• The little guys are standing up for themselves in the area. Farmers are fighting an involuntary annexation by the town of Fortville, saying it is a land grab to get more tax revenue from the 240 homes and businesses in the 9 square mile area. Most of the protestors are small farmers. In another development, there has been a big push-back for a developer’s request for $5 million in TIF funding to build a Whole Foods store on College Ave. Health food store The Good Earth, which has been around since forever, is spearheading the campaign, saying the plans use taxpayer dollars and would adversely affect small businesses in Broad Ripple.
• This year’s Irvington Folk Festival June 2-8 is looking like it will be a major event for the east side. A big music line-up, plus a children’s stage for entertainment for the younger set, and an Art Walk. Organizers are taking donations to help defray the costs — visit www.irvingtonfolk.com and make a tax deductible donation that will increase the east side’s cool cred in Indy. They are also asking for sponsorships from local businesses to help make this as a big a success as the Woody Guthrie festival was last year.
• Emerson Heights neighbors will hold their monthly meeting on May 16 from 6:45-8 p.m. at Wallace St. Evangelical Church, 4805 E. 10th St. Residents in the area are encouraged to attend the neighborhood meeting to discuss a variety of topics.
• There will be a Beautify Beech Grove Family Fun Walk May 11 at Sarah T. Bolton Park. This will be a 5K family fun walk or 1 mile participation walk. Fees are $20 per individual, $35 for two walkers, or $40 for three walkers in the same immediate family. Proceeds go towards purchasing holiday decorations for Beech Grove Main St. business area. Call 788-4986 for more information.
• Did you know that Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park is working on a big dog park? The park’s construction is underway already, only accessible from Fall Creek Road on the north side of the park. Plans call for three separate fenced areas, one of which will include a pond and an “adventure” area. (Lab owners take note.) Rates and fees for use of the park have yet to be determined. Stay tuned for future developments.