Announcements
Be sure to check out the Happenings page for town events, merchant's
live music nights, art receptions, children's activities, and much more!
Through October Help light up the Village this holiday season!
Order your Holiday Magic in the Village Tree to support the VRA and
other local groups! Pick-up will be Nov 19th and 20th.
Oct 3rd and 4th (Monday and Tuesday) Village Brush and Limb Pick-up; north/south streets on the 3rd; east/west streets on the 4th.
Oct 11th (Tuesday) VRA October Meeting; 7:30pm at SullivanMunce;
Tour SullivanMunce, learn about upcoming events in the village, and vote
in elections for VRA board members. All welcome.
Oct 14th and 15th (Friday and Saturday) GhostWalk; 6:30 to 10pm; The VRA will be selling fall snacks both nights as a fundraiser; See you there!
December 3rd (Saturday) Annual VRA Progressive Dinner; this
dinner is for VRA members ONLY with limited seating! Go to "How To Join"
to become a member today.
Letter From The President
I am still so excited about last weeks Annual VRA Block Party Picnic on
the bricks. We had nearly 90 people come to this pitch-in event, and it
was so great to meet a lot of new people and catch up with people we
haven’t seen in a while!
I think I did my best job of delegating
yet, and in that we had so many people help out to make the event a huge
success. Not only did we have at least 300 desserts, but there were all
manner of salads, sides, dips, stuffed peppers, pork carnitas and on
and on! I have to tip my hat to the huge crew of people who chipped in
to make it possible, Brad & Monique Schnabel who opened their
“little house” for an impromptu comfort station, doing set up and tear
down, and doing all the leg work. Brad, Ted Schrader, Guinn Doyle, Kerry
Dienhart, David Brown and Bill Burgman all worked hard to retrieve,
set-up, tear-down, and return all the tables and chairs. Kerry and Brad
also did a stellar job on the grills. If you got a flyer at your door,
it was because Judy Varner, Bill Burgman, Heather Lusk, Delma Mindel,
Ted Schrader, or Barry Hicks went door to door to get out the word about
the picnic. Sarah Zack also had plenty of things for the little ones to
do which was priceless. I am sure Kathy Brown and Carol Dienhart
spearheaded the party cleanup and got everything wrapped up just before
the downpour! Thanks to everyone for making the effort to come to our
block party picnic. I hope you had fun and I hope if you couldn’t make
it, you’ll be able to make it next year.
Don’t forget that our
next events are coming up quick with a trip to the Sullivan Munce
Historical Center for our October 11th meeting, followed quickly by the
Ghost Walk on October 14th and 15th. Many of you will be working for at
least a little bit to make that a big success this year, and I hope the
rest of you will take the Ghost Walk and enjoy such a fun village
weekend.
We are also looking for a few people to “support some
cider”! A donation of $5 will help us purchase the cider and other
supplies for the Ghost Walk. Money that we collect at the Ghost Walk
will go towards fun things like the Picnic and the Progressive Dinner as
well as topical things like the Town Council Candidate Forum. Contact
president@zvra.com to make a donation or learn more.
A couple of
news bits to keep your eye on… the progress on the1st Street
beautification process keeps coming with research on how to work in
consolidated trash cans and finish up the design. Kathy Scales
interviewed many of the merchants about their needs regarding the 1st
Street project, and then turned in a well documented report to the town
for consideration in the process. Nothing final has been decided, and
information on the sites are on the town's website or at:http://www.reasite.com/firststreet/
Also,
there is some movement on the Citgo property at the corner of Main and
116th. The town is working towards demolition of the structures, and the
owner is in negotiations with a buyer. The potential buyer, a developer
called Monument Construction is looking to buy the property from Citgo
to Compton's Trailer park. Their plan is to put in a mixed-use
development that includes retail space on the main level and apartments
on the upper floors—up to 30 apartment units per acre on the acres that
are not in a flood plain. Monument is based in downtown Indy and
according to their website has "participated in a number of multifamily
and light commercial projects, " and has completed "multifamily projects
utilizing Section 42 tax credit allocations and other municipal funding
sources." We will try to keep you up to date with this, but this is
definitely something that will affect our neighborhood quite a bit.
See you at the Sullivan Munce on October 11th!
Chris Bucher
Zionsville Autumn Artscape October 8th
When you think of autumn, a palette of colors comes to mind, like the
leaves falling from the trees. Set those hues to paint, sculpture, and
wood, and you’ve got a picture of the third annual Zionsville Autumn
Artscape.
The outdoor art fair on
Saturday, October 8th puts Zionsville’s most vivid season on display, along with the works of more than 40 Indiana artists.
The
Autumn Artscape is sponsored by the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce,
which created the event in 2009 to celebrate the creative energy for
which Zionsville is known.
“Zionsville is already a popular and
respected arts destination, so we’re excited to offer a high quality art
fair alongside our other attractions,” said Dusky Loebel, a Zionsville
artist who has helped coordinate the Autumn Artscape for three years.
“Our artists are very enthusiastic about this event, and several of them
will be demonstrating their art for our visitors.”
Painters,
potters, jewelry artists, and more from around Indiana will take part in
this juried show. Their work will be on display and for sale at a wide
array of prices, appealing to the casual art lover as well as the art
aficionado.
Like last year, the Autumn Artscape will coincide with the Annual Chili Cook-off near the Friendly Tavern.
In
addition to the variety of art, musical artists will perform, and Matt
Kenyon, an instructor at the Indianapolis Art Center, will present a
glass-blowing demonstration, sponsored by Robert Goodman Jewelers.
Bartenders will offer a variety of wines and beers.
The
Zionsville Autumn Artscape runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the event and
parking are free. It will be located at the corner of Main and Pine
Streets in historic downtown Zionsville. Come and spend an hour or a day
celebrating the beauty of art and autumn in Zionsville.
For more information, visit ZionsvilleChamber.org or call (317) 873-3836, and find us on Facebook.
The Breath
by Lisa
Daugherty
Inhale. Exhale. How often do you notice your breath? At its most
basic, the breath is an exchange of gases between the lungs and the
atmosphere. Throughout the day, your breath takes on different forms
and embodiments. The long, slow, even breaths that you take during deep
sleep are much different than your awake and alert breath. If your day
is busy, you may not even notice your breath the whole day. Waking up
with a head cold guarantees that the breath will be affected. You may
struggle to clear the nostrils and eventually give up, and have to rely
on mouth breathing. For those who suffer from asthma or other forms of
respiratory distress, the quality of the breath and breathing take on an
added dimension of importance and relevance. The breath certainly
changes during and after aerobic forms of movement and exercise. On a
crisp, cold day, the breath may sting and invigorate. On a humid, hot
day, the breath may feel thick and shallow.
Also, the breath
takes on and reflects the nuances of your emotional states. The breaths
that accompany strong emotions may remind you that the breath is
multi-dimensional. It is physical and meta-physical. For example, when
you are nervous or scared, you hold your breath. When you are in the
throes of sorrow or grief, the breath may become gasping or heaving. If
you are feeling joyful and happy, the breath takes on a lilting, easy
quality.
Yogis, monks and experienced meditators throughout the
ages, have shown us that the breath can be controlled through the power
of the mind and the will. The breath can be used to slow down or speed
up the heart rate of the practitioner. The breath can be forced in one
nostril and out the other. The breath can be manipulated to become
rapid or slow moving. Practitioners of breath control can create a
breath that is audible and rhythmic or nearly silent and imperceptible.
Athletes, singers and players of wind instruments also have copious
amounts of control over their patterns of breathing.
Have you
ever seen a baby draw in its first breath after emerging from its
mother’s womb? Have you experienced a dying person’s final breath?
These gateway breaths have substance to them….they feel important. But,
what about the breaths that come and go – the everyday breaths? We
humans breathe, on average, about 20,000 times each day. How many of
these breaths do you notice?
For the next few moments, follow
your breath. Don’t try to change it or make it different than what it
is. Just place your awareness on your next inhale – then, your exhale.
How did that feel? What did you notice? Was your breath shallow or
deep? Was it choppy or smooth? Can you feel a pause at the top of your
inhale – a pause at the bottom of your exhale? Do you feel the breath
in one nostril and not the other? Luckily, there are no right or wrong
answers to these questions. The idea is to simply notice what is
already there. See if you can take a few moments every day to become
aware of your breath. For without breath, life ceases to exist.
“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites
your body to your thoughts.” Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese Buddhist
monk, poet, scholar and human rights activist)
Lisa
Daugherty is a mother, yoga instructor and lover of all things kind and
beautiful – check out her yoga classes at Simply Yoga in Zionsville
www.simplyyogaindy.com, or her blog at www.familyoga.wordpress.com.
Back-to-School Bicycle Safety
Zionsville Fire Department
Many
bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated
with the bicyclist’s behavior, including such things as not wearing a
bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning left or
swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign,
and riding the wrong way in traffic. To maximize your safety, always
wear a helmet AND follow the rules of the road.
RIDE SMART RIDE SAFERules of the Road:Bicycling on the Road• Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes AND ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad
tracks,
or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need
your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don’t wear a
headset when you ride.
• Obey All Traffic Laws. A bicycle is a
vehicle and you’re a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all
traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
• Yield to Traffic When Appropriate. Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield for traffic on a major or larger
road.
If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a
smaller roadway you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear
before proceeding. This also means yielding to pedestrians who have
already entered a crosswalk.
• Look Before Turning. When turning left
or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic,then signal
before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.
• Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.
•
Watch for Parked Cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the
unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).
• Go With the Traffic Flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it.
Rules of the Road:Sidewalk Versus Street RidingThe
safest place for bicycle riding is on the street, where bicycles are
expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists and ride in
the same direction.
• Children less than 10 years old, however, are not mature enough to make the decisions necessary to safely ride in the
street.
• Children less than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.
• For anyone riding on a sidewalk:
o Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.
o Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for cars and to make sure the drivers see you before crossing.
o Enter a street at a corner and not between parked cars. Alert pedestrians that you are near by saying, “Excuse me,” or,
“Passing on your left,” or use a bell or horn.
A Helmet How-ToBike
helmets are so important that the U.S. government has created safety
standards for them. Your helmet should have a sticker that says it meets
standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). If your
helmet doesn't have a CPSC
sticker, ask your mom or dad to get you
one that does. Wear a bike helmet EVERY TIME YOU RIDE,even if you are
going for a short ride. Your bike helmet should fit you properly. You
don't want it too small or too big. Never wear a hat under your bike
helmet. If you're unsure if your helmet fits you well, ask someone at a
bike store.Once you have the right helmet,
you need to wear it the
right way so it will protect you. It should be worn level and cover your
forehead. Don't tip it back so your forehead is showing. The straps
should always be fastened. If the straps are flying,it's likely to fall
off your head when you need it most. Make sure the straps are adjusted
so they're snug enough that you can't pull or twist the helmet around on
your head.
Take care of your bike helmet and don't throw it around. That could damage the helmet and it won't protect you as well when
you
really need it. If you do fall down and put your helmet to the test, be
sure to get a new one. They don't work as well after a major crash.
Many bike helmets today are lightweight and come in cool colors. If you
don't love yours as it is, personalize it with some of your favorite
stickers. Reflective stickers are a great choice because they look cool
and make you more visible to people driving cars.
Why Is Bicycle Safety So Important? Bike riding is a lot of fun, but accidents happen. The safest way to use your bike is for transportation, not play. Every
year,
about 300,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike
injuries, and at least 10,000 kids have injuries that require a few days
in the hospital. Some of these injuries are so serious that children
die, usually from head injuries. A head injury can mean brain injury.
That's why it's so important to wear your bike helmet. Wearing one
doesn't mean you can be reckless, but a helmet will provide some
protection for your face, head, and brain in case you fall down.
While you are out enjoying the beautiful weather on your bicycle, stop in the fire
station
for a tour of the stations and check out our fire apparatus!You can
also call and arrange a tour for your family, community group or
friends.
Zionsville Fire Department
Station 91 located at 100 N. Ford Rd or Station 92 located at 998 S. US 421
Or call: 317-873-5356
Village Voice Arts
by Sarah Zack
(Click image to zoom.)
Holiday Magic in the Village Tree Sale
by Caroline Robbins
In
2007, beautiful light-adorned Christmas trees started popping up in the
Village the week after Thanksgiving. The trees, also known as "Holiday
Magic in the Village", have become an annual tradition and fundraising
event benefiting the VRA, PZAZ and Boy Scout Troop #358. Starting right
after Thanksgiving the trees bring a glow to the village all throughout
the holidays. Zionsville residents, Caroline Brown Robbins and Jane
Forbes brought this tradition to the village of Zionsville. The
beautiful Scotch pine trees line the streets of the Village and both
neighbors and merchants look forward to the event.
Zionsville
has been named an official Super Bowl Celebration Site. This year
residents are being encouraged to leave the trees out until February 7,
as the warm light builds on the warmth of Zionsville hospitality.
Residents are already expressing their desire to decorate their trees
with their favorite NFL team colors!
Village resident, Kathy Scales, has bought a tree since the program's inception. She enjoys leaving her tree up until spring and
watching the birds huddle on the lights to keep warm. She places bread
on the tree limbs and collects extra trees to lay at the base of her
birdhouses to provide the birds with a shelter from the weather.
Trees may be purchased by:Emailing: cvrobbins@sbcglobal.net
Emailing: janeforbes01@gmail.com
Calling: Caroline Robbins at 733.3509
Fresh Cut Indiana Scotch Pines 5 1/2- 7 feet tall
Prices range from $13.50 to $30.00 depending on what Boy Scout service you select.
Please order by October 31. No later than November 14th. Limited supply
Monthly Recipe:Congestion Relief with this Spicy Tomato Concoction
by Caron Peper
As
I was struggling with severe chest and sinus congestion brought on by
the recent chilly damp weather, I found this home remedy for chest and
sinus congestion. I was surprised both at how well it worked and how
pleasant (with a kick!) the taste was.
Spicy Tomato Tea1 c tomato juice
1 t fresh minced garlic
1/2 t hot sauce (cayenne pepper will also work)
1 t lemon juice
pinch or two of celery salt
Warm drink and drink before it cools.
Backyard Delights: American Hazelnuts
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!!!HazelnutsThere
are two main varieties of hazelnuts in North America; the beaked hazels
stretch across the northern United States and parts of Canada…while the
American hazelnut rules these Midwestern parts and is what you will
want to (officially) look up if you would like to do more research
before collecting—from this point forward, I’ll simply refer to these
beauts as hazelnuts.
My first experience collecting hazelnuts
was over a decade ago. I was staying with a friend at (her great uncle)
John’s house in Kentucky and we rode in the back of a pickup to a sweet
stand of 10-or-so foot tall (thick foliaged and shrub-like) trees. I
remember the clusters of funky looking ‘leaves.’ Carefully prying these
leaves apart revealed a brown, smooth-shelled nut. I cannot recall how
we cracked open these small hazelnuts that day, but I DO remember how
incredibly delicious they were fresh from the tree……
Hazelnut
trees, range from 8 to 12 feet tall and contain green, round’ish (almost
heart-shaped), alternate leaves. The leaves are 8–12 cm long and 4–8
cm wide, are serrated, have pointed tips and a backside that is a bit
lighter in color than the front. They are often found in old-growth
woodlands as an understory shrub~ especially growing well in areas that
have opened up due to fire, logging or the like. This tree/shrub also
grows well and is easily found along riverbanks, abandoned fields and
woodland edges. The nuts themselves will be covered in a leafy green
shell (sheaths) and are typically found in clusters of 3. Due to their
bountiful nature, hazels are an important wildlife food in North
America. They are enjoyed by squirrels, mice and chipmunks…bears nosh
on both nuts and sheathing, packing on the weight for the winter months,
and deer browse on hazelnut twigs.
Nutritionally, hazelnuts
would be a ‘must find’ food if you ever found yourself lost in a forest.
Few foods would be as sustaining~ due both to their ease of collection
and caloric abundance. Hazels are rich in beneficial oils, protein,
fiber, the B spectrum of vitamins, vitamin E and minerals (manganese,
potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium). That
they are so agreeable, taste-wise, is also worth a mention;).
I’ve
only enjoyed a handful of opportunities to collect hazelnuts since my
first experience on ‘Uncle John’s’ farm, but I’ve learned enough for
successful gatherings. When collecting hazelnuts~ twist the entire
cluster from the tree, being careful to avoid pulling off the whole twig
as well. The riper the nuts are, the easier it is to separate them
from their leaf shells. If the nuts are already ripe, they can be
removed from the sheathing by pulling both it and the base (called
bracts or involucre- just below the flower, connecting to the stalk)
apart and pushing the nut out. If it does not detach easily, it may not
be ripe and/or the kernel may be bad. The nuts can also be spread out
to dry (where they cannot be easily discovered by critters;)) for about a
week or so—or until the base (bracts) turn brown allowing the nut to
become a bit easier to remove from the shell.
After the nuts are
separated from their sheaths-> it is time to crack and eat!!! The
nuts can be cracked with a traditional nutcracker (though their small
size can make this a tedious task depending on the size of the cracker)
or by using a hammer. When using a hammer to crack nuts, I like to
either place the nuts in a bag or between two towels to keep the pieces
from flying everywhere. Hazelnut meat can, then, be easily picked out
by hand. While the flavor of fresh hazelnuts is, in my opinion,
unbeatable~ they can be stored, both at room and cold temperatures, for
fairly long periods of time.
Hazelnut MilkIn
a high-speed blender, blend 1 cup of hazelnuts with 3 cups of spring or
filtered water. Strain the mixture through a nut milk bag or a fine
mesh colander. Enjoy as is, or add in flavors- such as vanilla, stevia,
dash of sea salt, cinnamon, etc..
Pear and Hazel TorteCrust:2 cups hazelnuts, finely ground in food processor or coffee grinder
3 tablespoons high quality coconut oil or ghee
1 dropperful vanilla stevia (or 1-2 tablespoons of other natural sweetener—honey, maple syrup, etc..)
1 tsp. sea salt
In a bowl, mix together above ingredients until crumble-like, press into a pie pan.
Cream:2 cups of coconut yogurt/kefir, coconut cream or traditional yogurt
1
dropperful vanilla stevia (or a dash of vanilla along with 1-2
tablespoons of other natural sweetener—honey, maple syrup, etc..)
Pour into crust, and top with slices of fresh pear and sprinkles of cinnamon.
(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 and educator, focusing on health and sustainability
through indigenous nutrition and vibrational medicine.
(Learn more at www.carrieciula.com) 
