Announcements
Email ghostwalk@zvra.com to volunteer for this years GhostWalk.
July 4th Lions Park 4th of July Celebration; 5pm; corn hole
tournament, live music, kids' corner, food, and fireworks at dusk! This
event is only possible because of the great people in the Zionsville
Lions Club. Please remember to thank them and consider offering a
donation when you enter the park.
July 9th (Saturday)ZVRA Photo Workshop with local photographer,
Chris Bucher; 9am to 11:30am; Lincoln Park; more details on the ZVRA.com
"Meetings" page.
July 17th (Sunday) Symphony Under the Stars; 8pm.
July 19th (Tuesday) VRA June Garden Club Meeting; 7pm.
July 23rd (Saturday) Zionsville All-Class Reunion 7pm.
Sundays Live music and food/drinks for donation at Lions Park; July Only; 7pm.
Wednesdays Join your neighbors for an evening picnic and live music in Lincoln Park; through July; 7:30pm.
Saturdays Zionsville Farmer's Market 8am to 11am all summer; Zucchini Race July 2nd!
Letter From The President
With the summer on full bore, the ZVRA continues to keep you updated
with all the fun stuff going on in Zionsville! Our last meeting was full
of great information to keep you busy, fed and entertained all summer
long for young and old alike. For the few of you that weren’t there,
remember that we have the most comprehensive calendar of Zionsville
Happenings at ZVRA.com—just click the Happenings tab. You won’t believe
all the stuff going on and how much information there is there.
We
had two special announcements at the meeting; the first is that the
ZVRA is putting on a short Photography Workshop by a local photographer,
author and photo instructor on Saturday July 9th. More details in the
announcement panels above.
The much more exciting and interesting
announcement is that the ZVRA and the SullivanMunce Cultural Center are
teaming up to work on this fall’s Ghost Walk. This is great opportunity
to have a lot of fun, build great neighborhood camaraderie and do
something great for two great organizations! We will need all hands on
deck for this! There is a lot to do and many hands make for light work,
so let us all get on board and make this years Ghost Walk the best ever!
Email ghostwalk@zvra.com to get yourself on the list of volunteers and
we’ll get this show on the road. There are all manner of things that
will needed to be done, from selling tickets, to lighting the way, to
actually being a ghost- I will look forward to working with you on this
great annual event!
Remember that the next official ZVRA event is
the picnic on September 24th—as it has been for the last few years,
this will be on 100 block of North Main St and will be a traditional
pitch-in block party.
See you around the Village
Chris Bucher
VRA Garden Club News
By Delma Mindel
The VRA Garden Club met on June 15th at the lovely historic home of
Guinn and Marianne Doyle. We enjoyed seeing the new planting beds, the
re-located hosta beds, and the native stone pillars meandering
creatively towards the neighbor’s yard. The pillars, in the late 1800’s,
were part of an arbor. A leisurely stroll through the arbor allowed
people to walk down to the little bridge that crossed the creek and on
to the property beyond. We tried to imagine what the property looked
like “back then”, and this writer overheard several people thinking
about “returning” the weathered stone pagoda in the next yard back to
the Guinn property where, ahem, it “properly” belonged. As usual, the
conversation and the food were fun and delicious.
Our
next meeting will be held in the heirloom garden of Ralph and Jan Stacy on Tuesday, July 19th, 7pm. Please note that the meeting
day has been changed to Tuesday, because the Lincoln Park concert on
Wednesday evening takes up all available parking places. The Stacy’s
live in Ralph’s childhood home, circa early 1900’s. Some of the flowers
and plants were once in Jan’s mother’s garden. Please call or email the
Stacy’s if you plan to attend.
Ode to a Tomato
by Delma Mindel
Nestled in my hand, wet with dew
reflecting secret pleasures,
I inhale your aroma.
Elusive musky scent
of earth and succulence.
If you were a planet suspended coolly into space
we'd peer through our telescopes
and marvel at your luminosity.
Backyard Delights: Mulberries
by Carrie Ciula
When
walking through a forest~ or any other natural place that radiates
abundance~ I feel most alive. I know that I am far from alone when I
write that I deeply sense the power behind and artistry within the way
‘eco~pieces’ fit so perfectly into a rich and dynamic whole. I lack an
adequate description for how this harmony puts me at ease......
While
enjoying the nutritionally rich ‘sparkle’ of a salad that was collected
five minutes before meal time (when much of the produce at the market
was grown a month ago) and curtailing grocery bills are both notable
benefits of foraging~ one of the greatest treasures of collecting and
eating wild foods is of a soulful and mindful nature. There is something
about picking and noshing on wild plants that ‘charms in’ the most
discerning of onlookers. Even folks who sport a serious disinterest in
nature will toss out a dozen questions when they spot you, trail side,
plucking up an ‘offensive’ weed and sticking it in your mouth. This
intrigue is more than just inquisitive criticism; it is an outward
expression of a deeper, more intuitive, nudging. Foraging reminds us
that our food is not created in a factory or a supermarket. It is
created by our Earth...and it reconnects us in a deep and sustaining
way~ going far beyond the boundaries of physical nutrition. No
advancement in science can make this variety of beautiful connection
obsolete. While the below is about dining directly from Earth’s garden,
if you have skills at reading between the lines, you’ll recognize a very
sincere plea for less consumption and more self~reliance. I encourage
all of us to do all that we can do to nourish ourselves, our children
& the planet that nourishes us all......
......dig up, dig in, ‘re~wild’ yourself.....and enjoy!!!
Mulberries
I
grew up picking black raspberries, and occasionally found interest in
the deep purple gems hanging just overhead- but, it wasn’t until very
recently that I took a serious look at these often unnoticed, untouched
‘beauts.’
There are two common mulberry tree species (plus many ‘off
shoot’ hybrids) here in the U.S.~ the native red mulberry and the Asian
white mulberry. The red mulberry, which reaches a height of about
sixty-five feet, has rough, reddish~brown bark and the leaves are
rounded, toothed- some oval shaped- some lobed. The fruit, also oval in
shape, hangs from a thin, green fruit stalk and is composed of many very
dark purple berries (when ripe.) Each little berry has its own seed.
Red mulberry trees will be the ones that you are more likely to come
across while foraging.
With
the thought of beginning a silk industry in mind, white mulberry trees
were imported from Asia during the 1800's. Being too much work, this
idea was quickly abandoned...though, not before this fertile tree swept
its way across much of America. As the name implies, white mulberries
are white with clearly visible black seeds in the center of each tiny
berry.
It is not surprising to me at all that these little
berries are being sold in stores as a superfood! As it turns out,
mulberries mean biz~i~nass in the nutrition department. They are fairly
high in protein- one handful contains about 3 grams of protein (for
comparison- bananas are about 4% protein and mulberries are about 11%.)
They are a sweet source of vitamin C with about one handful (I don’t
necessarily dig the ‘counting’ game when it comes to food, but when I
must- it is usually by the ‘handful’;)...it would be a 28-30 gram
serving) containing around 130% of the recommended daily amount. They’re
also a decent source of iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, potassium
and fiber.
Mulberries are one of those foods that I believe are best
enjoyed, solo~style.....still, I’ll post a recipe for a fantastic
smoothie and mulberry crisp below.......
Wild Mulberry & Celery Smoothie
1 cup wild mulberries
1 banana (omit if you have lower glycemic needs)
1/2 cup pineapple, chopped (again, lessen or leave out for less sugar)
1 cup nut or seed milk (hemp, almond, coconut milk, etc...)
3-4 stalks of celery
Blend until smooth & Enjoy!
Mulberry Crisp
Fruit Layer:
4 cups wild mulberries
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon (about 1 dropperful) liquid stevia (or 1 tablespoon honey)
Crumble Topping:
3/4-1 cup coconut flour
4 tablespoons coconut oil or ghee
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (1 dropperful) liquid stevia
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
(can add in ground nuts/seeds and/or oats......)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine fruit layer ingredients in a bowl and then pour the mixture into a fitting casserole dish.
3.
Combine the crumble topping ingredients (mix in coconut flour, slowly,
until reach ‘crumble’ consistency~ evenly distribute crumble mixture on
top of fruit layer.
4. Bake for 40 minutes.
(Serve hot or cold)
The
one rule, sans exception, of foraging; KNOW YOUR PLANT. While the
benefits of eating wild plants are significant and very worthy~ there is
no room for error. You can, and should, take all of the time that you
need to get to securely know a plant before consuming it....in a way
that you can comfortably and positively identify it 100% of the time.
Carrie
Ciula is a writer, educator and mind/body therapist, focusing on health
and sustainability through indigenous nutrition and vibrational
medicine. Learn more at www.carrieciula.com.
Recipe of the Month: Five Foods for the Summer Season
Instead of an actual recipe this month, I thought I would share a list
of great "cooling" summer foods and their benefits given to me from one
of our Village Voice volunteer contributors, Carrie Ciula... Enjoy!
5 foods for the summer season that cool, nourish and detoxify the body
1. Watermelon
The
cooling qualities of watermelon make it wonderful for a quick and easy
summer detox staple- add the ‘delicious’ factor into the mix, and you’re
sailing along with a warm weather cleansing trifecta! With positive
effects on the kidney, bladder, heart, stomach, colon, liver, watermelon
works to cleanse (nearly) the entire body! According to Traditional
Chinese Medicine, it cools the energetic channels in the body that are
dominated by fire- making. It’s therapeutically helpful in cases of
urinary tract infections. For those who cannot tolerate high sugar
foods, watermelon juice can be fermented (using the same cultures and
process as kefir) into a refreshingly fizzy (sugarfree) drink.
2. Sprouts
Sprouts
are, literally, bursting with life. Sprouting is the natural process
transforming a dormant seed to a living seed. Grains, seeds and legumes
that have been sprouted sport an impressive amount of precious enzymes--
and aside from (in general) being important to digestion, enzymes play a
role in the ongoing process of detoxification. Sprouts are rich in
plant based protein and are an excellent source of dietary fiber,
vitamins and minerals. To top it all off, sprouts offer an easy way to
keep fresh, inexpensive food in your home, year round.
3. Cucumber
Largely
due to faddish eye covering cucumber pics strewn about nearly every
magazine, few of us are a stranger to the cooling potential of cucumber.
Chinese medicine believes that cucumber has a cleansing effect on the
blood and clears internal heat from the body~ which is helpful for
inflammatory conditions...it also believes cucumbers have a soothing
effect on the nerves and aid in the treatment of insomnia. While this
cooling fruit’s thirst quenching nature makes it a great summer treat
eaten alone~ it is equally incredible juiced, and/or infused into a
pitcher of water- in the same way many people do with lemon or lime.
4. Aloe Vera
There
is a reason that bottles of Aloe Vera gel line grocery store shelves
every summer season. If you have ever sliced open an aloe leaf to
slather it over a sunburn, you’re already familiar with its cooling
savvy. Taken internally, aloe reduces heat and has intestinal
stimulating abilities~ for this reason, when used mindfully, it can be
an effective treatment for constipation. While good quality, organic
bottled aloe can be found, it is best fresh- filleted or scooped-
straight from the leaf, with all of its cooling constituents entirely
intact.
5. Purslane
Ahhh.....purslane. ((Love!)) Purslane
is a special plant~ rare in its qualities, but not in its findings. It
is actually a very common and beneficial ‘weed.’ What is extraordinarily
brilliant about purslane is its omega 3 content- unusual for a land
vegetable, as most omega 3 comes from oily fish and microalgae.
Like
many of the other hot weather friendly foods, purslane is a contender
when it comes to cooling inflammation in the body. It is a potent
detoxifier and effectively dissipates internal heat. Make an omega
3~rich meal by adding a handful of purslane~ fresh from the yard~ into
your favorite salad or smoothie.
Summer Nights
by Heather Lusk
An
unmistakable pop-pop-pop followed by twinkling colorful lights dancing
across the night sky can only mean one thing - July fireworks. The
longstanding tradition of watching fireworks from Lion’s Park will
continue on Monday, July 4, at dusk. The evening will commence at 5 p.m.
with a new event - a corn hole tournament with half of the proceeds
going to the Lion’s Club and the other half to the winning team. Teams
may enter for $10 by emailing markw.lionsclub@gmail.com or may register
at the park. The July 4 event is the second largest fundraiser for the
Lion’s Club with this year’s funds likely being earmarked for the park’s
electrical upgrades already underway.
A four-man band of
brothers, The Marlins will perform during the evening. The Lion’s Club
will raise additional funds by selling some favorite summer foods
including ice cream, snow cones and hot dogs. Also present will be a
large group of vendors selling everything from elephant ears and Kettle
Korn to Friendly Tavern tenderloins and Chick-fil-A. There will be an
area to entertain the kids complete with a bounce house, face painting,
clowns mascots and more. Traditional contests like watermelon eating, a
three-legged race and more will allow participants to win prizes. For
close parking the Lion’s Park lot opens at 4 p.m. and requires a $5
donation.
The previous night, Westfield Rocks the Fourth (which
technically will be rocked on the third), from 4-10 p.m. at Asa Bales
Park located at 205 W. Hoover St. in Westfield. The evening includes a
Battle of the Bands competition, a car show of both classic and modern
varieties, and concludes with a fireworks display.
After the
fireworks of the fourth enjoy the glittering skies of nature. July 9th
at Hamilton County’s Strawtown Koteewi Park two astronomers will teach a
group of star gazers about constellations, stars and planets, and
provide some insight into quasars and black holes. Attendees may wish to
bring their own binoculars or telescope, although two telescopes will
be available that evening. The program meets near the Taylor Center of
Natural History and lasts for one to two hours. While ideal for adults,
it’s also recommended for families with school age children. Bug spray
is also recommended.
Gather ‘round the campfire at Cool Creek
Park, 156th Street and Meridian, Wednesday evenings the entire month of
July. Each week at 7 p.m. families can learn about different animals
including reptiles, tarantulas and neighborhood critters. Marshmallows
and sticks are provided so families may wish to bring along chocolate
and graham crackers with their chairs or blankets and bug spray. The
campfire location is on the north side of the park.
Finally
listen to the Symphony Under the Stars on Sunday, July 17 at Wild Air
Farms (7400 Hunt Club Road). The concert marks the first time the
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has performed outdoors in Zionsville.
Musical selections include Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael. Tickets may
be purchased at IndianapolisSymphony.org, the ISO box office or at
several local businesses. The concert will close with an unmistakable
pop-pop-pop and twinkling colors dancing across the night sky, reminding
us all what makes July so special.
Summer Camp?
For those thinking about a few weeks of camp for their kids now that
summer... and boredom... has set in, I found a few one week summer camps
sure to please! You can check our April and May Village Voice
Newsletters on our "The Village Voice" webpage to find a fairly complete
list of all summer camps offered in Zionsville this summer! It was so
large I split it over two months.
Mythology Rocks!, Zionsville Town Hall Community Room 1100 W. Oak St. (Grades 5-9)
Designed
specifically for children entering grades 5-9 in the fall. Everyone
plays a part during this intensive, weeklong day camp where participants
will collaborate to stage, rehearse, and present theatrical scenes
inspired by stories from classic Greek mythology - presented along with
classic rock music - in a performance for family and friends at the end
of each camp week.
Mythology Rocks! is a fun program that encourages
team building to achieve common goals. Campers will have the opportunity
to build on existing acting and musical theatre performance skills
through creative expression while developing real-world skills-like
self-discipline and self-confidence. Camp is from 9AM - 3PM July 25-29
ONLY Cost: $180 per student. Register online at
www.offmainstreetplayers.com
Adventure Camp, Boys and Girls Club of Zionsville 1575 Mulberry St
Club
members will train with expert outdoorsmen throughout the week, then go
on an overnight camping trip. July 25-30 ONLY. Go to www.bagcoz.org or
call 317-873-6670
Indiana Pacers Basketball Camp, Boys and Girls Club of Zionsville 1575 Mulberry St (ages 7-16)
The
camp, which will feature all-time Pacers great Darnell Hillman, will
include daily skill competitions, 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 games and more. Each
camper will also receive a ticket to a 2011-12 Pacers home game, a
skills packet, a Pacers tee-shirt and their very own basketball. August
1-5th ONLY from 9am to 2:30pm. Register online through the Pacers link
on our home page
Horseback lessons and clinics, Irish Acres Stables 475 South 1200 East
English
and Western riding lessons, contesting, and hunter and hunter/jumper
instructions are available, as well as problem solving and training
horses. Clinics are also offered, so please check the website
periodically for scheduled events. Call 317-586-7833, email
melisssa@irishacresstable.com or go to www.irishacrestablesstable.com
Summer Cheer Camp, Zionsville West Middle School Gymnasium (entering PreK to 4th grades)
You'll
have tons of fun with the ZCHS Cheerleaders while learning 3 dances, 4
cheers, 8 chants and proper jump and motion technique. Each participant
will also receive an award, a hair bow, and camp dance music CD. There
will be a performance for parents at the end of camp. July 13th and
14th from 9am to 12pm. Register online at www.zcs.k12.in.us and click
Registration Information on Summer Camps. Cost $85
Summer Fun Reading Packets, Eagle Elementary website (entering 1st to 5th grades)
For
a little at home fun and learning, try the Summer Fun Reading Packets
on the Eagle Elementary webpage... cms.zcs.k12.in.us/eag/
Humorous Tales from the Village: Basement Terrors
by Beth Bugbee
I’m
not a fan of basements. I never have been and probably never will be.
So when I moved to my home in the village, my plan was to store nothing
in my basement but seasonal decorations. If I didn’t have a place for
it my living space, I didn’t need it. So, after a garage sale and many
trips to the Goodwill store, I had gotten rid of much of my stuff.
My
“new” basement is very primitive. It has a Michigan wall (which I’m
still not sure what that means) and the rafters are logs that still have
bark. There is a round room which no one can explain what use it had.
All in all, it is an area to be avoided. I do venture below to get my
holiday decorations, but I am always accompanied by someone. The
furnace/air conditioner worker descends into the creepy area to service
my equipment. I bravely flip the light switch at the top of the stairs.
On
a lovely summer day, I was talking to my neighbor about interesting
past happenings in the village. He has lived in his house for over
fifty years and is a wealth of knowledge. He explained how the former
owner had called him over to get his advice on what the hundreds of red
dots in the basement’s open crawl space could be. He didn’t have any
idea, but offered to come over to take a look. Down to the basement
they went and to their surprise, he informed her that her basement was
infested with rats! Yes, RATS!!! At this point, I could feel them
crawling all over me at the same time they were making their awful
squeaky sound. Could I ever sleep in the house again?
My
neighbor, not sensing my terror, went on to say that the village dump
was located in the backyard. When it was closed years ago, the rats no
longer had a food supply and moved to the (my) basement. The town sent
out people to rid the basement of rats and that was that. THAT WAS
THAT! Are you nuts? I am convinced generations of rats have been
reared in my basement and are still lurking there today. Who knows?
There could be rat family reunions in my basement every year.
I
love my home and Zionsville, so I have come to terms with my “over the
top” thoughts. But I must admit, the Easter, Halloween and Thanksgiving
decorations haven’t made it up from below in a long time. I have
steeled myself to bring the Christmas stuff up, but that is only when I
invite a few friends to precede me into the bowels of my home. With a
few more years of therapy, I’m sure I can overcome my phobia. You
think?
Aging in Place Announcement
"If it takes a village……….”
Many of us have heard the
saying “It takes a village to raise a child”. That may also apply to the
care of an aging population. Beginning in 2011 and continuing thru
2019, ten thousand baby boomers are turning 65 daily. A large study done
in 2010 revealed that 85-90% of those people desire to remain in their
own homes as they age.
There is a “village movement” in the US
that has been going on for a decade. It began in Boston in 2001, and is
called Beacon Hill Village. It was the start of an innovative model that
has spread across the United States. This model consists of a nonprofit
membership organization for residents that are 55 years and up who
desire to “age in place”. Membership fees provide an individual with
options that will help them remain in their homes longer, as well as
opportunities for social connection and educational programs.
Tina
Voelker, a resident of Zionsville and healthcare professional for 28
years, is bringing this concept to the Zionsville area. She is currently
planning an informational meeting for late July(date and location to be
announced). If you are interested in learning more, email Tina so she can keep you posted on the meeting date. If
you would like more information sooner, feel free to call her.
