• Congratulations to the organizers and participants in this year’s Irvington Winter Luminaria! It was a beautiful night for a stroll through the historic neighborhood. There was even a symbolic “dumpster fire” in the ‘hood celebrating (??) the end of a lousy year. Little Flower and Emerson Heights also represented, and it is great to see all the east side neighborhoods working in harmony. Sales of the Luminaria kits help to support next year’s event, so well done, everyone!
Ethel Winslow/Weekly View
Paula Nicewanger (L) and Judy Crawford (R) helped load Jan DeFerbrache’s (center) vehicle with donated toys and goods for Gaia Works to give to Coburn Place families, and to help stuff baskets of goodies for needy families for the holidays.
• Thank you to all the elves who brought items for our Gaia Works toy drive to help the families at Coburn Place. We had lots of gifts and stocking stuffers to put in the back of Jan’s SUV on Dec. 21. In addition, people gave food for pets — Jan also collects donations of food for seniors and is in need of food for seniors’ pets as well. Given everything everyone went through the year, it’s nice to know that a virus can’t kill the generosity of spirit in this community.
• The Lawrence community came together to provide toys through the Firefighters’ Family Assistance Fund. Cheerleaders from Cathedral High School and many volunteers donated amazing gifts for children in need this year, and delivered them to the FFAF over the weekend of Dec. 19-20.
• It looks like Indianapolis will be setting another record for all the wrong reasons. There have been over 200 criminal homicides this year, breaking last year’s record. We’ve also seen a rash of car thefts on the east side, including the theft of the utility trailer the PourHouse uses to help move people into housing. Please keep a lookout for porch pirates during the holiday season and report suspicious activity immediately to police — 911 is the emergency number, and non-emergency is 317-327-3811.
• Special thanks need to go out to our first responders who will spend this holiday season serving the community. Police, firefighters, EMTs, hospital doctors, nurses, and support staff, and the many unsung heroes who show up every day to keep us safe — we owe you a debt that can’t be repaid.
• The Little Timmy Project, a grassroots charity that supports women and children offers help with diapers, breastfeeding equipment, and much more. Several local shops collect for the LTP, so keep your eyes open! If you would like to help them directly, visit www.littletimmy,org for details.
• This edition of the Weekly View is a combo issue for Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Our office will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 4 for the holidays. We’d like to thank all our loyal readers and advertisers who stuck with us during this crazy year. We appreciate everyone who donated through our GoFundMe drive, and the many who sent donations and took out subscriptions this year.
We wish all of you a Happy Holidays and wonderful New Year!
See you in 2021!
