Weekly View

This Week’s Issue: July 24-30

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:00:41 +0000

Ice Cream Social at the Bona Sunday, August 2

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:11:44 +0000

IRVINGTON — The Irvington Historical Society has held an annual Ice Cream Social on the first Sunday in August every year since its founding in 1964. This year’s event is Sunday, Aug. 2, from 1-4 p.m. at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 E. University Ave. (corner of University and Downey Avenues). Since moving to the Bona Thompson Memorial Center over 20 years ago, the society has expanded the Ice Cream Social to include live music, with this year’s featured band Audio Diner. In addition, several local organizations will also be available to provide information about their work in our community. The Black Hat Society will also have activities to keep the children entertained. Wild Boar BBQ food truck will be serving up hot chicken and pork sandwiches and more. Gourmet ice cream will be available for purchase as well. Proceeds go to support the IHS and its programs, as well as the museum in the Bona Thompson Memorial Center. At 2 p.m. they will be honoring Steve and Sue Barnett for their many years of service to the Irvington Historical Society.
The museum will be open with many interesting exhibits including Butler University Campus 1875-1928, art selections from the Irvington Historical Society Collection, exhibits about Irvingtonian’s contributions to America’s wars, and much more. Books about local history are also for sale inside.
The Irvington Historical Society is totally a volunteer organization, and the museum is available to the public with free admission. The building opened in October 2002 with all new heating and air conditioning units. It is dependent on contributions — large or small — from friends and neighbors. The Irvington Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit and all donations go into a common fund. Your donations may be tax-deductible. To contribute, visit https://www.irvingtonhistory.org or mail a check to the Irvington Historical Society, Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 University Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46219
The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. and donations in cash or card can be accepted when you visit.

Annual Back to School Bash at Westminster Neighborhood Services

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:10:47 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — As Indianapolis students get ready to head back to school, Westminster Neighborhood Services is ensuring they have the resources they need.
On July 25, Westminster will open its doors at 2325 E. New York St. for the annual Back to School Bash — a free community celebration that provides hundreds of Near Eastside families with school supplies, backpacks, and a warm send-off into the new school year. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and requires no registration, no ID, and no cost. Students must be present to receive items.
There will be family activities and haircuts available on site.
This year’s event is made possible through support from CareSource, Teachers’ Treasures, and the neighbors, businesses, and faith communities who have donated supplies, contributed financially, and volunteered their time in the weeks leading up to the event.

God’s Embrace Coffee Shop Open for Business

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:10:38 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — God’s Embrace Coffee Shop; is a not for profit (leashed pet friendly!) café on the east side of Indianapolis that also provides job training and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. The coffee shop is located in the Fatima Event Center at 1040 N Post Rd, just inside the Event Center entrance directly facing Post Road. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. They offer coffee, pastries, scones, breakfast sandwiches and lunch items including chicken salad, soups, casserole of the month and grilled cheese.
God’s Embrace began as a passion project for Colleen Simon, inspired by her desire to create a community for individuals like her daughter, Heather. At its core, this work is about changing perceptions — recognizing and celebrating the abilities of people with special needs, one cup of coffee at a time.
The goal is to create a God-centered residential and vocational campus for individuals with special needs who don’t have the ability to live independently. This physical location will offer entrepreneurial, vocational, educational, and social opportunities for adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
That goal stems from the concern that people with special needs, such as Heather, and the family members that care for them, such as the Simons, are getting older and will eventually need housing options for the individuals with special needs.
God’s Embrace will be holding a Be the Change Gala (fundraiser) on Sept. 19 from 5:30-9:00 p.m with dinner, dancing and a silent auction. General Admission tickets are $60 and available online at https://godsembraceindy.org

DC Blox Data Center Gets MDC Approval

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:10:34 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — The Metropolitan Development Commission voted 6-1 at its meeting on July 15 to give DC Blox final approval on a data center to be built on the east side. Residents have 30 days to challenge the decision in court.
Atlanta-based developer DC Blox proposed the $2 billion campus near South Kitley Avenue and the Pennsy Trail earlier this year. The project would be constructed on contaminated land located on the Thunderbird Commerce Center property, an industrial park that was once home to a Ford plant. The company estimates the project will create about 600 temporary jobs during construction and 21 permanent jobs once the campus is completed.
No further approvals are needed for the project to move ahead.

Vehicle Tax Increase Vetoed

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:09:56 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett recently vetoed a proposal to increase vehicle and wheel taxes to help pay for road improvements in Marion County.
Proposal 192 was approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council on July 6. The proposal says that Marion County residents with passenger vehicles pay a flat $100 annual fee at registration, rather than the average fee of $20 that is currently in place.
Under the proposal, vehicles subjected to county wheel taxes would pay a flat fee of $240 at registration, rather than the old fee that ranged between $10 to $40.
The proposed new fees were expected to generate $356 million in funding for road improvement projects over the next five years and would ensure Indy gets up to $50 million in new state road funding starting next year.
Indianapolis has a $279 million construction budget for the Department of Public Works, but estimates to fully address years of deferred maintenance run from $600 million to almost a billion. There is a significant funding gap to maintain the 8,500 lane miles of roads in the city.

More Road Works On South Side in Store

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:09:52 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — Shelby Street work on the bridge over Pleasant Run closed the street in April, and is expected to remain closed until November of this year. Crews are rehabilitating the arch bridge by reconstructing the arch ring, replacing spandrel walls, sidewalks, and railings. Drivers are directed to use the Fountain Square detour route via Raymond Street, South Keystone Avenue, and Southeastern Avenue, or via Calvary Street and East McCarty Street.
DPW has also announced that on or after Monday, July 27, the Raymond Street Bridge over Bean Creek will close for bridge deck patching for about three weeks. Raymond Street will be closed to traffic between Sherman Drive and Emerson Avenue. Pedestrian and bike access will be maintained.
Detours are: Northern Detour: Sherman – Prospect – Southeastern – Emerson; and Southern Detour: Sherman/17th – Troy – Emerson

Applause!: July 24-30

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:09:43 +0000

• Charles Braun will be the guest speaker at the July 28 meeting of the Perry Township/Southport Historical Society. His topic will be “America’s Constellation of Constitutions.” Braun is an attorney and host of “Legally Speaking,” a Saturday morning radio program on WICR 88.7. The meeting is at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, in the Perry Township Education Center, 6548 Orinoco Ave. Enter through the center doors at the northwest corner of the building.
• The Irving Circle Concert Series continues on Saturday, July 25 from 7-9 p.m. with the Roundups. Admission is free. The park is located at the intersection of Audubon and University in the heart of Irvington. Audubon and University will be blocked off to traffic before the concert. Bring a lawn chair! Food will be available for purchase, with the proceeds going to support maintenance on the Irving Circle.
• Poets Laureate of Lawrence is meeting at Benjamin Court Apartments (Independent 55+ Living Center), 5810 Lee Rd., Bldg. 1, Tuesday, July 28, from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Mary Sexson & Rosaleen Crowley are presenting. Poets Laureate attendees are welcome to attend. They plan to resume meeting at the Theater at the Fort on Tuesday, August 25.
• Indianapolis Public Library will welcome nationally renowned criminal defense attorney James H. Voyles Jr. for a conversation about his new memoir ALL RISE: My Life and Trials with the Famous, the Infamous, and the Misunderstood on Tuesday, July 28 from 6- 9 p.m. at the Central Library. Voyles has represented high-profile athletes and public figures such as Mike Tyson, Jim Irsay, and many more. The event will be in the Clowes Auditorium at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair.
• IMPD East District will offer “Coffee with a Cop” at the Starbucks at 5702 E. Washington St. on Wednesday, July 29 from 1-2 p.m. This is an opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in the neighborhood.
• Get ready for the Raiders of the Lost Antiques at locations on the near eastside on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Pick up a passport at any participating location, like Audrey’s on 10th St. or Stomping Ground at 1625 Nowland Ave., and start your antiquing adventure. Turn your passport in by the end of the day to win one of the many $25 gift cards from local businesses. This is a great way to explore what the near eastside businesses have to offer!
• The Holy Cross Wine and Cheese Festival will be held on Saturday, July 25 from 4-9 p.m. at the church, located at Sturm and Arsenal on the near eastside. Tickets are available online at indyholycross.org/festival/tickets. Enjoy wine samples, and cheese boxes from Tulip Tree Creamery. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. There will be a kid’s zone pass or $10.85 with all activities that kids love. Other packages include a 12 ticket bundle for $47.24, or a 24 ticket “Wine & Dine” for $92.18.

Catalytic Converters Stolen Off Beech Grove City School Buses

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:09:40 +0000

BEECH GROVE — For the second time this year, catalytic converters have again been stolen from an entire fleet of school buses in Beech Grove. Sometime overnight Friday July 17, the school was targeted for theft of the catalytic converters on buses. The stolen equipment had recently been replaced after a similar theft in May 2026.
The Beech Grove Police Department is now actively investigating the latest theft. The Board of School Trustees also said they have previously authorized a comprehensive security system upgrade and are currently awaiting its installation.
Despite the latest setback, school officials said that the semester will still begin as scheduled on Wednesday, July 29. Some students may temporarily ride buses or vehicles that do not belong to Beech Grove City Schools while repairs are completed.

State Will Not Participate in SUN Bucks Program Next Year

Weekly View — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:09:06 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will not participate in the federal SUN Bucks Program in 2027, according to the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA).
The program (also known as Summer EBT) gives low-income families $120 per student to pay for groceries in the summer. It’s meant to fill the gap when kids aren’t getting free meals at school. The state chose to opt out in 2025 and 2026. In 2024, the program helped keep more than 650,000 Indiana children fed.
Last year, the FSSA said Indiana wouldn’t participate in 2026 because it was too expensive to administer the program. In December 2025, FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob estimated the state would need an additional $5-7 million to do so.