• Great news from the owner of the former Eastgate Mall. They recently got the go-ahead to install a solar generation facility at the property. They’ll be able to generate 4 megawatts of power — enough to power the entire facility. Owner Alex Carroll also said that the generator will be the final piece of exterior additions for a large part of the property, which means a major portion of the parking lot and all of the access road will be repaved.
• Much needed repairs in Broad Ripple have started. On Feb. 18 Westfield Boulevard closed from Broadway Street to College Avenue for the construction of storm drains, curbs and sidewalks. It will remain closed for three to four weeks, during which time commuters will follow a marked detour route of Kessler East Drive to College Avenue. The Guilford Avenue bridge over the Indianapolis Water Company Canal will be closed for maintenance 75 days beginning on or close to March 1. The bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic, but pedestrian traffic will be maintained throughout the construction duration. DPW’s work in this area is expected to be complete mid-summer.
• NESCO’s 5th Annual PI (pie) Day, March 14 (3.14) at 6:30 p.m. involves a pie (pi?) contest with celebrity judges. Pie entry cost is $9.86, and are judged on taste, complexity, uniqueness, and largest percentage of ingredients purchased at Pogues Run Grocer. The day of judging, tickets are only $3.14 and kids under 10 are free. Pie with ice cream is only $3.14. Want more info? E-mail Zack Adamson at indyjeepboy@aol.com. Dig out those old family recipes!
• The Windsor Park Neighborhood Association recently announced that they have finally acquired the triangle park on Arsenal between 12th and Brookside, and have received a grant from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful to restore and rejuvenate the park. The neighbors have been working on getting this park for the past 12 years — they have big plans for public art, a central fountain, raised beds and benches.
• Congratulations to Black Acre Brewing Company on their 1st Anniversary, which will be on Saturday.
• Main Street in Beech Grove is closing near Central Elementary. As of March 1, students will be dropped off on the south side of the building and diverted through the parking lot and library.
• The City of Lawrence public safety officials now use mobile interpretation devices to communicate with residents who don’t speak English. Each Lawrence Fire Dept. ambulance has one of the devices. Responders push a button and the RTT Mobile Interpretation connects the officers with a interpreters speaking 180 different languages.
• On a sad note, IMPD K-9 Bart passed away after 12 years of service to the community. IMPD K-9 Officer Ron Santa was his human partner, and together they captured about 400 criminals, and got illegal drugs off our streets. Officer Santa was with him when he passed from cancer.
