• On June 14, the Harrison Center for the Arts hosts the Independent Music + Art Festival. It is also across the street from the Talbot St. Art Festival, so you can do double duty. A favorite booth is the VSA’s annual Here’s the Scoop fundraiser — pick out a handcrafted bowl and they will fill it with ice cream and you keep the bowl! Prices are about $5; proceeds go to support VSA’s education programs for some very special artists.
• The St. Bernadette Festival is one of those amazing east side festivals that marks the beginning of summer. Running June 12-14 at 4838 E. Fletcher Ave., the festival offers rides, games, homemade dinners, carnival, live music, a raffle, and a huge yard sale on Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. This year’s festival is even more important to the community, as it was just announced that the church is closing — the school will remain open. Let’s hope they will be able to continue the festival.
• The Auxiliary to Community Hospital East will sponsor a “Books Are Fun” sale on June 18 and 19, in the breezeway near the main lobby. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Proceeds to benefit hospital programs/services. Payment by cash, checks, debit and payroll deduction. For further information, please contact Volunteer Services at 355-5120, 1500 S. Ritter Ave.
• Congratulations to Tina Ahlgren, Shortridge Magnet High School for Law & Public Policy teacher, for winning the 2014 Teacher of the Year award in IPS!
• Kindred Transitional Care & Rehab, 200 Green Meadows Drive in Greenfield, will be offering a Senior Education finance program June 21 from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Topics for discussion will include understanding medicare and Social Security, avoiding identity theft, reverse mortgages, probate, and much more. The program is free; call 317-318-8355 to RSVP.
• The YMCA recently announced it will break ground in July on a new facility in downtown Indianapolis in the CityWay development. The new facility will be on the second and third floors of CityWay, with two swimming pools on the second floor and a full-size gym on the third. It will serve downtown workers as well as kids living on the southeast side of the city.
• The Beech Grove Parks Department has some very interesting programs this summer, such as one on birds of prey on June 18 at 1 p.m. at Hornet Park. Kids have a chance to meet hawks, owls and falcons and find out about this amazing creatures. The park is located at 5245 Hornet Ave. Call 803-9086 for more information about special events and programs.
• If you live in zip code 46222, you can get neighborhood cats fixed for free, thanks to FACE Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic. Call 638-3223 to make an appointment.
Sunday is Father’s Day — a day to honor our dads, grandpas, uncles, and other father-figures in our lives. Happy Father’s Day!