"All Your Tax Base Are Belong To Us" or "Tax Abasement and Tax Abatement"

"Two things are certain in life death and taxes."
Attributions

~Defoe, Franklin and possibly Christopher Bullock, less notably Edward Ward~

Is anything more confusing than tax abatements? I first became aware of tax abatements in 2012, the year I started caring about what the local paper had to say. I didn't know what they were so I popped into Morrison Reeves Library and read through as many articles with the words tax abatement mentioned that the librarian could find. I still wasn't sure what they were but I saw that city council was voting them through on a regular basis for all sorts of businesses. Obviously I know what taxes are, I pay them. Abate is a middle school level word I knew too, but there's something about business and finance that can take familiar words and float them in a fog of unfamiliar context, at least for someone who was not and is not likely to be a business major.

Tax Abatements are a common economic tool wielded by communities across the United States. Locally businesses that add or retain jobs are given a period of time (usually 8-10 years) when they are not held to taxes that they would normally pay on real estate or improvements. Before anyone gets huffy, know that businesses still pay other taxes so it's not a 100% scott free thing. However, tax abatements are still controversial, especially for cities such as Philadelphia where they are facing serious budget deficits due to their shrinking tax base. If you follow the Philly news, you'll know their situation, though on a grander scale seems strikingly similar to Richmond's own struggle for healthy city finances. Philly's nonprofit hospital and nonprofit universities have gobbled up real estate and left a deficit where taxes were once collected many moons ago.

Is Richmond in the same, albeit smaller boat? Much real estate in our area is held, as in Philadelphia, by tax exempt properties including but not limited to religious institutions, university as well as health care facilities. In a March article concerning Reid's announced changes to their pediatric center, Town Board President, Ernie Hendricks, voiced concern about Richmond's tax revenue. Hendricks requested that the city in conjunction with Reid Hospital consider extracting a sum from Reid to in part make up for the city's lack of taxable properties. From the Pal-Item article, I gather that at least half of our tax revenue once came from privately owned medical businesses. Now those businesses are almost exclusively Reid's, and Reid is tax exempt and seems highly unlikely to pay any funds to make up for the city's losses.  Reid CEO Craig Kinyon argued against paying any amount, citing their provision of jobs to the community, as well as community grants.

Now nobody loves taxes, but we all love smooth pavement (and sailing!). The forms are irritating to deal with- and a lot of people get nervous even if they have nothing to fear from the IRS, just as drivers who see a cop on their block all slow down in unison. No matter how you hate taxes they are certain in life and vital to the community. Without a healthy tax base you cannot have smooth roads, maintained infrastructure (sewage overflow alert used to be a permanent button on our city website!) or effective schools and libraries. If you do not have smooth roads, maintained infrastructure or effective schools, you end up quite desperate and companies are less likely to want to do business. It's one of those unhappy feedback loops I guess. And it's not really a good solution, when you only see fit to remove the public sewer overflow alert button. It doesn't stop the stench after a hard rain, just saying.

I wonder what the statistics are for home ownership in Richmond and the greater county? What is the dollar amount of tax revenue lost due to Reid's acquisitions? How have tax abatements contributed to our dearth of financial health? Have we been almost consistently too quick to abate? What are the real numbers behind our shrinking tax base?

Can we as a city and county, encourage home ownership in addition to working with sizable nonprofits in establishing PILOT funds to fix our cash problem? What other solutions, aside from grant seeking and belt tightening are we missing?

<3

the Local Gal

PS

Friendly Reminder: Did you file your taxes? ;)

Philadelphia Business: Can Improved Tax Collections Solve City Financial Crisis
Pal-Item: Reid Outlines Changes in Facilities

Why I am Fine with Paying Library Fines

"Your library is your paradise." -Erasmus

There are few cases in which being disorganized or not on time makes me feel good about myself. Honestly, I can only think of one particular case, which happens to be reoccurring.

I am notoriously bad at returning books to the library on time. There have only been one or two times that the library charges were off. Once a book was returned, reshelved but not properly checked in. That actually happened twice. Did I get miffed? A tad bit, but it was resolved swiftly when I produced the book that had been declared missing. It was several spaces out of place on the shelf and the librarians were just getting used to a computer system. The librarian was cool about it. Librarians are cool, as a rule, I think.

I take the books back. I do. Other people might want to read them, even though most times it seems to me that I am checking out very old books or very niche books that to my knowledge have never had a waiting list. I brought them home, as a young person, in tall stacks. I have been known to rack up fees in the double digits. I am talking about numbers in the tens place! Not a nickle, not a dime, not a single dollar! I pay up. I pay up happily.

Richmond, Indiana has several libraries. There are small libraries in our schools, campus libraries, even a few churches have libraries. Between my husband and I, we have quite our own library, but the public library is my special favorite. I remember going to Morrison Reeve's Library with my dad. I remember staring down the antique spiral staircase on display in the lobby and making myself dizzy. I remember the imposing portrait of the founder, the colorful displays in the children's library. I even remember the voice of the children's librarian as I filled out my first library card. I had the same library card for years. I did not get a new one until I was a teenager. It made me embarrassed to see the terrible signature of a six year old unaccustomed to signing and unaccustomed to such a formal strike of individuality and independence. Was it the first time that I felt like my own person? It seems likely. Now that I am older, I wouldn't mind still having that dog eared, beige card and I would not feel so embarrassed though I have a crisp, white one with a more careful cursive signature in my wallet today.

The libraries always impacted me through the books that were chosen to grace their shelves and by the experiences I had through our special lending systems. The first time I lost a school library book and the burning shame I felt upon discovering it on our family shelf, too late. Was I now a thief? The time a young girl held the bar open for me at the exit, and I got my first and only (thus far) black eye. Ah the perils of an avid early reader! The time I was terribly bored in the RHS library and discovered a very old book that helped foster my love of etymology. Every time a librarian ever shushed. The smell of the books, the dust jackets, the millions of lives I feel that I've led personally and the millions of endings I have grieved over in books. The feeling of care when carefully preserving a text and hopefully returning it so that it will be there again, not just for me but for every member of this community. Immortality is unattainable, but one can at least taste it in books.

Many years later I discovered other gems, first Lily Library on Earlham campus followed by IU East's library. I loved to study at Lily. I loved the newness of it. At MRL, I always seemed to gravitate to the same sections. I know the map by genre and subject. At Lily, all of the books and all of the layout was new. It was where I discovered philosophy. Seeing Des Cartes, Nietzche and Spinoza lined up- such strange names, not knowing how to pronounce them and the difficulty of trying to absorb them all and yet being magnetized again, believing that if I could just retain and know pieces it would be better than not ever trying. It was where I soaked up history, I recall stories of monks leaping from balconies as crowds of the religious cram inside a building to view perhaps the toe of a saint or a fragment of the cross- not even standing room only at such an event! I remember turning summersaults and picnicking on the lawn outside, after hours of poring over books and combing for details. IU's library experience was much more utilitarian, as I only used the library as needed for assignments. Maybe to find a textbook for class- always indispensable and there when I needed it.

Each library is special in its own way. But MRL is the first for me.

Have you ever been to a community that has no public library? I have, and where there is no public library there is a strange emptiness that I could not live with there. So when I bring my books in, often late, we happily pay a fee because our library has always been there for me and today it is there for my children, as it should be. And we remain ever thankful and grateful that knowledge at a library is free.

A Solilquy Nods in Shakespeare's General Direction

Every User's Soliloquy by the Local Lady

To Blog or Not To Blog-That is the conundrum:
Whether tis' nobler of a Mind
To engage the world on-line or to refrain From the web
To bask in the blue glow of the computer screen or
To shut Down this reality virtually and live one Life
Limited to the tangible and merely physical
To disconnect and escape from this Net
Not to be o'erwhelmed by Twitterers' Tweetings and Information's Constant Streams
Ah! But will even one born of this age remain Untagged? No!
Will not one born of this age cease the dream of swimming, perhaps sinking in this sea?
Will the type, the images, the influence, the rankings remain buoyant
However tenuous technology may be
The gravity of a mortal's type out living one's mortal coil-
One's thoughts shared and moving beyond the individual resolution.
To be stamped flat and shared in Meme, forgotten in Meme.
However altered by Time, we shall all be. And our data will outlast us
alongside the trappings of every day life, until every thing becomes antique

By new definitions as late as next week.

Local Lady Featured Interview: Ronald Deane of RDNA Art & Design Studio - Gallery, LLC

The Artist, Ronald Deane: Image Source

Ronald Deane is the artist behind RDNA Art & Design Studio - Gallery,  LLC located in downtown Richmond in the historic Odd Fellows building.

Since the first day I discovered RDNA, I've been wanting to feature this local artist on the Local Lady blog. It's a pleasure to host the man behind the many colorful works displayed in various locations in Richmond. Ron's paintings beautify local businesses & homes. His murals certainly lend vibrancy and color to Richmond, Indiana. They are a pleasure to see. Be sure to discover them for yourself!

Here we go:

What inspired you to locate your studio in Downtown Richmond? 

RDNA Studio: Image Source

"I've always had a dream of owning a business in downtown Richmond from the days of my grandmother Zoan Gordon walking me down to the Rose Festival. I also bought all my art supplies at John's Custom Framing for my high school art projects.

In January of 2013, I tested myself to see if I could make it an entire year living off of my freelance work in graphic design, custom painting and murals. I made it to December so I decided to go all in and open my business downtown, after receiving help from some good friends.

One of my friends told me about the Odd Fellows building in which he had a business set up, but he was moving out. So I checked it out and loved the historic feel to the building and space, especially the raw exposed brick wall."

Do you have a favorite subject and/or medium, if so why?

"I don't have a favorite subject, yet I tend to paint females quite often. I love painting and drawing nudes live whenever I can. You can't see all the detail, light & shadow complexities and forms using photos. I also love being outdoors in nature so I paint a lot of landscapes. One day the only nature we will get to experience is landscape paintings from an artist, if we don't take care of our planet.

As far as medium, I'm using oils currently. I'm developing a multi-media style right now where I use acrylics as my base and oils on top using palette knives. I use oils because I like the thick texture and richness in color that they provide."

What kind of events or classes do you offer at your studio?

"We offer Express Your heART Art classes to both youth and adults. 

Saturday is our Youth Art classes starting at 10-12 for ages 6-12 and 1-3 for ages 13-17

Adult art classes are Mon, Wed and Fri 5:30-8:30.

We also have a Lunch and Paint at noon. 

All classes are pre-registration only. All information is on my website.

We have had several events at my gallery. We had a birthday party for Patty Crawford of IU East and recently a HYPE event which was very exciting and fun. At both parties the crowd painted a collaboration painting. I will be leading a community art project for RAM during the City Life event at Glenn Miller Park as well as teaching art classes at Room 912 in May. My artwork is on display and for sell at Beatree Yoga and Roscoes currently. We have some exciting and energetic events coming up. Stay tuned!"

How can the arts enrich or strengthen a community?

"Creativity, innovation, ideas, concepts, ingenuity, problem solving and vision are all character traits of an artist. I believe wholeheartedly that art and artist can transform, build and beautify any community that has lost it's vision, or energy. Art brings a vibrancy, positive feeling and sense of unity and pride to any community that allows it to flow and grow. Art/artist can enrich and strengthen a community by bringing a new perspective, vision and positive thinking to youth, teens and adults. Everything was created and envisioned by an artist. I believe art reflects society and society reflects art." 

Image Source

Thank you so much, Mr. Deane for your time and answers. May your art continue to bring vibrancy to our community and may your studio and business thrive!

When you explore downtown Richmond, be sure to visit Ronald Deane's studio located at:

RDNA Art & Design Studio - Gallery, LLC

8 S 8th Street, Richmond, Indiana 47374

Hours:

Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Closed on ALL National Holidays

You can also discover RDNA via on-line at the Official Site, as well as via Facebook & Twitter.

<3 the Local Gal

Stay in the Loop with the Local Gal. Follow the Local Lady on Twitter and "like" the Local Lady on Facebook. 

Related Posts:

For Posterity: "l'art pour l'art"

Relevant Links:

Official Site: RDNA Art & Studio Gallery
RDNA on Facebook
RDNA Twitter
Slice of Lime and a Dash of Salt: Ron Deane

Interview with Waynet: Jane Holman, Director & Photographer (Republished from 3/6/14)

Image Source: Self Portrait, Jane Holman

Waynet is an on-line gem of  all things local for Wayne County residents and visitors. Jane Holman, the expert behind the site is both Director of Waynet, avid photographer and all around awesome local lady. Because Jane is the head of Waynet and because she has amassed an outstanding collection of images of not just Richmond, but all of Wayne County, I requested a brief interview. She was gracious enough to respond! Here we go:


Since 1997, Waynet has existed as an on-line community resource for both residents and visitors of Wayne County, Indiana, what are some of the successes you've witnessed as the Director?

"The most important success is that WayNet.org is still here and still serving the community.  Community networks were created in more than 30 counties across Indiana in the mid-90's and very few of them remain.  We found a niche and a loyal group of members who continue to support our mission. 

Our visitor base has grown from a monthly average of less than 3,500 in 1998 to over 50,000 a month currently. That doesn't include the additional people we reach with our Flickr, Twitter and Facebook accounts.  That's a lot of positive light we're able to shine on Wayne County!

Jane Holman Photo: Source (copyright)

As a photographer, how has your immediate surroundings inspired you? What are some of your favorite shots showcasing the beauty of Richmond?

I like to use photography to put a focus on the positive, beautiful and interesting things I see right here in our own community.  It's too easy to pass by people or places daily and become so used to them, you don't really "see" them.  The camera forces you to think about color, light and composition and in the process of doing that - you see familiar places in a new way.  









With nearly 10.000 photos total on my personal Flickr and the WayNet Flickr account, it's too difficult to pick favorites, but I gravitate to the ones that feature nature, people having fun at local events, and those that would cause me to go - "Hey...I'd like to visit there!" - if I didn't already know the location!  

Jane Holman Photo: Source 

I hope your readers will visit the Wayne County, Indiana Flickr group too.  We have a lot of very talented photographers here in Wayne County that have contributed to the group.  Scrolling through the photos is like looking at a "year in the life" of Wayne County, Indiana."
  
What do you love most about our city/county?

"So many things!  I like the landscape.  I've lived near oceans and mountains, but I find I'm more of a rivers and hills kind of gal.  I like the wide variety of cultural opportunities - museums, theater, symphony. The values the community holds make it a good place to raise a family.  And, it has to be said, it's so easy to visit nearby metropolitan areas for the big city benefits and still not have to deal with the big city headaches of traffic, pollution and noise on a daily basis."

Do you have a best Richmond memory?

"Times with family and friends, of course, but also watching the fireworks from Roosevelt Hill in Glen Miller Park, cheering our high school basketball team at the sectional in Civic Hall, watching parades, catching up with friends and neighbors at the Wayne County 4-H Fair, taking my boys to Morrisson-Reeves Library, bicycling along the Cardinal Greenway."

As a lifelong Richmond resident, have you noticed a shift in attitude or greater positivity in the community recently?

"I think it's something we as a community seem to be more aware of and I do see a shift towards a more positive attitude.  There are a lot of positive things happening in Richmond and Wayne County right now.  The positive change in the Depot District over the past few years has been huge.  I see great things happening with our local museums and important collaborations taking place.  With Richmond being named a Stellar Community we're going to continue to see additional exciting changes take place downtown.  We still have big issues to deal with, it's true, but so do most other communities.  

As we learn to toot our own horn regarding the many wonderful events, restaurants, recreational opportunities, etc. that are happening here, those outside our borders are starting to notice and spread the word.  That's going to keep the ball rolling and hopefully we'll gain even greater momentum towards a positive landslide!"

Waynet: Image Source

Thank you so much for your dedication to our community on-line and off, for sharing your beautiful photography and for your time spent on the Local-Lady! 

I would encourage my readers who want to brush up on local history, find a local business, or just browse and enjoy the beauty of our nick of the woods, to visit Waynet, Richmond and Wayne County's on-line community resource. When you do, be sure to send a note of thanks to the Director, Jane Holman for keeping the Waynet site of All Things Local running!


Related Posts:

Interview with Scott Zimmerman, City Planner 
Interview with Local Author, Connie Wooldridge


Pertinent Links:

Waynet
Wayne County, Indiana Flickr

Local-Lady Featured Interview: Julie Shank of Sweet Annie Soapworks

Supplied Image: Julie Shank

We are in the clutches of winter, and as much as I love the beauty of freshly fallen snow, I can't stand how dry my hands get every year! Luckily, I discovered  Sweet Annie's Soapworks. On a stand by the counter at Ply Fiber Arts, are bars of soaps, lotions and balms arranged attractively and scenting the air oh so sweetly & delicately. I was won over completely by a bar of Lavender and Eucalyptus, and I was delighted to discover the scent of Frankincense, as I had never smelled it before, just before Christmas.


Behind the moisturizing power & subtle scents is Sweet Annie Soapwork's founder, Julie Shank, a country gal from Fountain City Indiana. Julie was gracious enough to grant me an interview. Here we go:


What's your best Richmond memory?

I lived in the country north of Fountain City until I graduated from Northeastern High School in 1974. Just a little country girl! I can remember going to downtown Richmond with my mom when I was 5 or 6 and thinking how huge and stinky the city was! So many people on the sidewalks and the big city buses with their stinky exhaust. I think I probably held onto my mom's hand tightly as we crossed the streets. We would go into Woolworth's on the corner and and sit in a booth or at the counter. We shopped at the Hoosier store and Osco's drug store. I think I lost my mom one day in Osco's and I was scared to death. 

How things have changed!

What's the story behind Sweet Annie Soapworks? How long have you been making soap?

I started making soap on a whim! In 97' (or 96'), my aunt had a craft show in her barn. There were two ladies with booths. One had candles and the other had homemade soap. I was intrigued by the soap and knew I wanted to give soap making a try. The first time I made soap I actually rendered suet and used the fat as my oil to put with the lye. It was pretty crude, but it did suds up a little just like soap should! I was so excited! 

 I made soap for several years and sold it at shows and then stopped selling for a while. My friend, Mary Porfidio, who makes Grey Barn Candles convinced me to start selling soap again and to do craft shows with her. In 2009, when Verizon closed the doors on my job of 30 years, I decided to really commit to making soap and other skin products. By the way, the candles being sold at my aunt's craft show in 1997 were Warm Glow Candles!

Patchouli Soap in a Basket: Sweet Annie's Soap

What do you feel sets Sweet Annie Soapworks apart from other soaps?

My soap, as well as most handmade soaps, are good for your skin but it is my own simple, natural recipe using oils that are good for your skin that many seem to love. I make soaps scented with fragrance oils or essential oils and they both smell good. I give people lots of choices on the scent. I thought I would sell less of the fragrance oil scented soaps but people seem to love them even more than the essential oil scented ones!  

I have received so many wonderful compliments from people who have purchased my soap! They tell me how much better their skin is since they have started using Sweet Annie. It thrills me to hear that from people. I work hard to have a good product that people will want to keep buying.


What are your most popular scents? What's your personal favorite?

Cary Grant: Image Source

It depends on what day it is as to what scent is the most popular! Green Irish Tweed has to be the most popular of all though. That is a knock-off of a scent created for Cary Grant. It's masculine enough for a guy but clean smelling and the ladies love it, too. Ginger Lime is popular and Patchouli is frequently sold out.

It depends on the day as to what is my favorite! I love Patchouli, Cuppa Joe (nice in the morning), and Lavender & Frankincense. I do try out many of my different scented soaps to see how they are in the shower, to wash my hands, etc.


What other skin care products do you make?

Liquid soap was new last fall. It's a little different process to make the liquid soap, but I do like it. I am selling it in the foaming bottles and it is so nice for hand washing and is a little less mess in the soap dish. I use it for shaving my legs. 

Natural Hand Sanitizer uses Aloe Vera and Witch Hazel, lavender and tea tree essential oils with no added alcohol, so it is less drying to your hands.  Lip Balm - Great stuff and its petroleum free. A lot of  commercial lip balms contain petroleum, which actually dries your skin. 

Lotion Bars - Lotion in a sweet little flower shape inside a tin. you can put on as much or little as you want. great for elbows, heels, hands or the rest of your body. Perfect fit for your purse, desk or pocket.

I will be experimenting soon on foot balm, cleanser, scrub and maybe a lotion or cream!

Supplied Image: Sweet Annie's Facebook Page

Finally, where can we find your products?

Sweet Annie's is available in Richmond and Cambridge at the following destinations:

Ply Fiber Arts 921 East Main Street, Richmond, Indiana 

From Pieces to Peace, 128 South 9th Street Richmond, Indiana 

Country Classics, 183 Fort Wayne Avenue Richmond, Indiana 

Rusty Dusty Stuff, 7 W Main Street, Cambridge, Indiana 

Special thanks to Julie Shank of Sweet Annie Soapworks. Thank you, Julie! It's my pleasure to hostess another "Local Lady" on the blog! 

I love your products!

You can "like" Sweet Annie's on Facebook HERE and watch for the launch of their new website HERE.

<3

the Local Gal

Sweet Annie's is occasionally available at the local farmer's markets and at craft fairs.

So remember to Shop Local and watch the Local-Lady Community Calendar for dates & details!

Follow the Local Lady on Facebook or Twitter! I do my best to keep you in the loop of What's Happening in Richmond, Indiana!

Loving the Rose City: A year in Richmond, Indiana 2013

If 2013 had a theme it would be learning to grow optimism, even in rocky soil. We needn't be insouciant about the future, but we cannot cave to despair. Our community is not blithe. We are all aware of the challenges we face in Richmond. We can plan for the future, no matter how uncertain, and invest in what is best for this city. Events unfolded infusing the downtown with hope. Entrepreneurs and small businesses are building up our local economy, our real estate. Historic preservationists are fighting to save our unique architectural assets. Friends and neighbors have rallied in times of crisis in ways that are great and small. Sometimes, it's as simple as eating a donut and saying a prayer. Sometimes it's relaying a message for someone searching for family on-line. Sometimes it's just being in the right place at a bad time and lending a hand. Richmond is good at that.

If I learned anything in a year of being the Local-Lady, I learned this:

Cultivate your own garden. Explore your backyard. Appreciate what is close. Love your hometown. Fight the worst faults. Champion its best features. Don't ignore either. Safeguard the future. Remember the past, but look forward. Don't hesitate to serve where and when you can. Pick up litter, even if it's not yours. Look out for your neighbors. Don't look at development in terms of "sides". Cheer on progress whether it comes to the North or South, East or West. Attend public meetings or at least, watch on-line. They might just discuss that pothole that rankles you, and you'll smile when they name the date it will be filled in (this really happened).Vote. Support the doers. Encourage the thinkers. Say thank you. Shop Local. If you must, be cautious, but remain friendly.

You can't save it all, and sometimes you have to let go, but there's almost always something to salvage, even if it's only a lesson to carry with you in the future.

Avoid Adapting Other People's Negative Views

Local Lady Snapshot: Richmond's Rose Garden

by Sharon Dolin

after Epictetus

"To gaze upon the fatal
without commiserating gloom:
what every friend should be--
not one who rends her coat of doom
nor one who lets her ankle rankle
nor her dogged love to the hounds.

Be the cat in catastrophe
who survives eight more dives.
Though in the clutch of damage
a dame must age,
in the crazy-quilt of guilt
it was never your fault.

In the company of morose

always pull out the rose."

From Poets.

So many people shared expressions of bitterness & disappointment in our community in the past. We dwelt there. Naysayers still do, and sometimes they have a point to make so we shouldn't even try to shush them completely. Committees met to ask, "How can we foster community attachment?" I believe it was already there. We just need to express it, and this past year and in the future, we are and we will. Why else would we still be here?

What people are saying about Richmond, Indiana:

Local Lady Snapshot: Madonna of the Trail

"People from Richmond are tough and resilient like the Madonna Of The Trail. It's no mistake that she is here. People from the Midwest are the toughest people you will ever meet. They always have a story to tell and will lend you the shirt off their back. Richmond people rock." 
Sean Butler

"When there is a family in need I have never seen a more giving community than Richmond. We moved here from South Florida almost 5 years ago and have never been happier."
Shelli Erwin

May 2014 bring new roots and further growth.

<3 the Local Gal


A Local-Lady in Review:

Speaking to Strangers
Sunflowers and Moths
Landscape and Thoughts
Roots and New Growth

Local-Lady Loves Thai Thara

เสียงฦๅเสียงเล่าอ้าง		อันใด พี่เอย
เสียงย่อมยอยศใคร		ทั่วหล้า
สองเขือพี่หลับใหล		ลืมตื่น ฤๅพี่
สองพี่คิดเองอ้า		อย่าได้ถามเผือ

—Unknown, Lilit Phra Lo (ลิลิตพระลอ), c 15th–16th centuries

Do you need a little spice in your life? When we do, we go straight away to Thai Thara, our local Thai restaurant. Walk in and be sure to greet the ladies with a Wai.

If Jack can, you can too!

Jack's Wai is a little wobbly. Here's a chance to practice along with a few experts who will share how and when to Wai, when not to Wai and why to Wai!



Too shy to Wai? That's okay! Say "hello" if you're most comfortable with a Sawat Dee or simply say, "Hi, I read a rave review on the Local-Lady!"

What to order? Try anything! It's delicious! We like our curries hot! No worries! As they say in Thailand Mai Pen Rai, which is a sort of equivalent to Hakuna Matata.  They'll accommodate your palate whether you like it hot or not. Choose a lower number, if you like your food mild. Choose a higher number up to a 5 for quite a kick! If you've never sampled Thai food, I'd suggest trying a soup, salad and Chicken Satay served with peanut sauce or a dish of Kua Gai, popular selections that are sure to please. If you want a curry, you can't go wrong with Panang. For meat lovers, try the Nam Tok the beefy "Waterfall" which features slices of beef and black pepper on a bed of crispy greens with mint garnish. The food is always especially fresh and delicious. If you can, save room for dessert. It's definitely worth it! Especially if you order sticky rice and coconut custard! Yum!

Local-Lady Snap Shot: A Beautiful Bowl of Chicken Panang

My family loves Thai Thara, especially my husband who fell in love with Thailands' culture, people and FOOD, during a year of study in Hua Hin. He loves Thai Thara so much, he created a handy mobile menu for Free available HERE.

If you are a sweet tooth, be sure to order a round of Thai Iced Teas to go with your meal. It cools the tongue and is exceptionally tasty.

<3

the Local Gal

PS

Many dishes are not safe for those with food allergies. Please be sure to make your server aware of any food issues or allergies you may have. Ingredients such as Fish Sauce (contains wheat), Soy Sauce (likewise) and Peanuts are common allergens. When in doubt, err on the side of safety. Thus far, as a Celiac, I have not had issues with the sticky rice, coconut custard or clear chicken with rice noodle soups. However, wheat allergies can vary greatly from person to person. Be safe!

I promise all of their food is Aroi mak mak. Very, very delicious!

Related Posts:

Main Street Diner
I Love Pho

"Like" the Local-Lady on Facebook and Follow via Twitter to keep tabs on what's happening in Richmond, Indiana.

Winter Morning in Richmond, Indiana

Sometimes my dreams are like stories and I wake up more like a traveler stepping off of a long flight in an airplane than a woman rolling out of bed after a long night's "rest".



While I'm dreaming, Orion's belt is shining along with the moon that is waxing above my house in Richmond, Indiana. But I am a long way off in a landscape that could be only familiar to someone on another side of the world. There are different languages spoken and an unnameable river. I'm walking along.

Then I wake up again in this small town. Inside, the noises become mundane: the hum of the furnace down the stairs, the creaks my feet come to expect over the wooden floorboards. My neighbor's lights are on. The dogs are barking at the world outside their gates. Plows rattle on their mission to clear the slick roads. Snow accumulates on the branches. The kettle, my kettle wails its time for tea.

I look out: It is still night, but the light is reflecting off the freshly fallen snow conjuring colors mauve and violet in the sky and on the ground. The patio furniture, especially the table, looks like a sugary confection. Rusty fences, walks and gutters are transformed. Icicles hang densely like crystal cave formations. Everything looks like a sugary confection. Everything is transformed.

I wonder at the lights above each porch. The lives we lead in each little house with so much and so little in common. How many are still dreaming, and where are we in our sleep? Somewhere the next moment hangs in suspension with a mood of its own.

I'm awake. What will happen today?

Asleep or awake, near or far, life is adventure.

<3 the Local Gal

TEDxRichmond 2013: Ideas Worth Acting On (11/8/2013)

"Ideas are more powerful than guns." 

Joseph Stalin 

The first ever TEDxRichmond was held in the spring of this year in downtown Richmond, Indiana's Innovation Center. Attendees at that event were primarily local business people. In contrast, Earlham College's TEDxRichmond, held this November, was attended almost entirely by Earlham students, employees, alumni & yours truly. Earlham has been working steadily towards greater sustainability and environmental awareness for some time. As early as 2005, the college has adopted an Environmental Plan and has been recognized by the National Wildlife Federation report for its work. I was excited about Earlham's chosen theme, "Sustainability: A Mantra for a Greener Tomorrow", a subject that was not covered in the first TEDx in March.

Bill Hewitt urged students to eliminate meat from their diets and barraged the audience from the beginning with gloomy environmental headlines. Kevin McCurdy, a local architect pursuing sustainable building design, urged that sustainability must be made beautiful if it is to catch on and become more valued by society. Janice Tran shared a formula for successful world change: educate, inspire, unite. Douglas Bell shared a frustrating story of wind turbines & bird conservation to remind students to consider the deeper effects of sustainable solutions on biodiversity, which may not be easy but is nevertheless extremely important. (Dear Douglas, please research bird friendly wind turbines (which do exist), as your problem seems to be a design issue more than a site or placement issue!)

The conference began with a moment of silence for the Phillipines. The importance of the theme and true empathy was felt, especially as one of the speakers, Esperanza Garcia of Cebu, was in attendance. The timing of the conference & the necessity of its theme could not have seemed more pertinent, as we all paused in silent recognition of the events that were unfolding so far away, so near to heart. Esperanza had come prepared with slides of the devastating storm from last year.

Esperanza Garcia (Photography Credit: Earlham College The Word Publication Source)

She gave excellent advice to students to live sustainable lives- a reminder that you cannot change the world if you do not take good care of yourself. If you do not live a sustainable life, even down to the  details, you simply cannot make the world a more sustainable place. She proclaimed that it is the youth today who are to lead the world to better environmental and social practices. Janice Tran's speech and the attendance of so many enthusiastic Earlham students attested to that.

I have often been glad to live in a city with so many opportunities provided by our colleges. Our local universities have made many events welcome to the public, and I would like to see more people take advantage of those offerings.

It's my hope to see more of Earlham's sustainable influence extend locally in our hometown.

Earlham College Sustainability Office Site

Let's work towards a greener tomorrow for us all locally and globally!

"What's your mantra?"

<3

the Local Gal

PS

Wanna know more about Earlham's TEDx speakers? Visit: the Official Event Site

Read more by Esperanza Garcia on blogger and her article on the Huffington Post.

Also, please consider donating $10 to the nonprofit, Bundles of Joy to encourage the people affected by Haiyan.

Related Posts:

Richmond, Indiana: A Mantra for a Greener Tomorrow
TEDxRichmond 

Stay in the loop! Follow the Local Lady on Facebook & Twitter! Did you miss this event? Don't miss another! Bookmark the Local Lady Calendar it's mobile friendly & always free!

PPS

Kudos again to the planning committee for Earlham's TEDxRichmond event. Their event was a success! Kudos also to Jay Roberts for sharing the powerful opening quote. Indeed!

Richmond, Indiana: Un Lugar Para Todos

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" 

Image Source

Emma Lazarus, American Poet

As much as I defend and love this community, there are facets to it that make my stomach turn. But because I love it, I call out when I see something is wrong, as any true friend would do.

Our local Mexican restaurants were raided early this week. No charges were filed. Multiple restaurants throughout the area are under investigation. We still don't know why. Speculations have been wild.

The Indiana State Police raids brought out some of the worst and some of the best in our people. Although much of the commentary hurt my heart, there were many who wrote good words, but the din of the hateful seemed to overwhelm them. "Go back to Mexico" among other things were typed in commentary to the headline on Facebook. There were calls for deportations.

 We are all almost entirely descendants of immigrants in this country. Only native peoples can truly claim to be of this place. Most of Richmond's population is of German descent. However, our community in recent years has become more diverse.

If someone were to tell your family to "go back", where would you go?

Where would we go? The Netherlands? The Phillipines? Kentucky? Ireland? The state where I was born?

There is nowhere to go to, nowhere to belong to but here, where I am.

Our country now and in its history has welcomed so many strangers to our land to make a home and a refuge. That's the beauty of the United States. It is what makes me proud to be a part of our melting pot.

People who are courageous enough to leave the familiarity and/or danger of their homes to seek out the benefits of our states are more appreciative of America than some who are born to the rights and privileges of citizenship. I believe they will make our country greater. Stories like these move me to tears: watching Luma Mufleh of the Fugees being sworn in as a citizen of the United States.


Some people don't want further melting. They want to build walls. They want to shut you out of our society, especially if you are brown.

I may not look brown, but half of my family is and they are beautiful.

Sometimes people assume my mother, my sisters or brothers are Mexican or Indian or Lebanese or anything but not essentially American. We look different so we must not belong here.

When that happens to my mother, the teller where she has banked for years suspiciously, disdainfully asks for her ID.

When that happens, people yell nasty slurs at her while she is shopping for groceries.

After 9/11, because she is brown there was more:

• Young men yelled "jihad" at her. 
• People flip her off. 
• They hurl curses at her.

They ask where we are from, and they tell our family in these ways to leave, to "go home." 

We are already there.

My mother is one of the most patient souls I know. She smiles at her offenders and quietly asks God to bless them or at least to forgive them for not knowing better.

When someone threw a rock shattering the new window at La Chiquita, the just renovated market in town, my mother was angry with the ignorance.

This is what she does: she orders a feast and tells them it was the best marketing they could have received.

When the restaurants were shut down and raided Monday morning, no one seems to ask why the state is allowed to interfere without publicly declaring a reason. The prosecuting attorney offices of Marion and Tippecanoe swear to silence until charges are formally filed. The investigation is not put on a timeline, but remains vaguely ongoing. Businesses were shut down publicly in the middle of the day and the process is shrouded in secrecy. It makes one wonder if the establishments were anything but Mexican restaurants would there have been such a public spectacle?

Local-Lady Snapshot

The largest regret I carry through life happened in less than 60 seconds seven years ago. It was a quiet moment. A young woman laughingly stated that because of the sound of a young man's name he was "not even American!" She scoffed at his American t-shirts, emblazoned with our flag. I was stunned into silence. My heart pounded and my stomach fell into a pit. I carry that moment today. I carry an image of that young boy's brown eyes and American pride, and I carry the crushing weight of my silence.

I carry the burden of her ignorance.

Emma Lazarus' poem would not be grand, if it included bureaucratic obstacles or stipulations on color, on language. Our country would be devoid of innovation, stagnant and in decline if it ceased to welcome those who are "yearning to breathe free".

By our greatest laws, we are all innocent until proven guilty. There is no need to make ugly remarks.
El Rodeo and the Latino community in our city are our friends, our neighbors. This is their home, too.

I may not be as patient, but I am my mother's daughter. Our El Rodeo feast was delicious.
This censure is given only in love,

<3

the Local Gal

A Local-Lady Snapshot

Richmond, Indiana: A Mantra for a Greener Tomorrow

Covering TEDxRichmond in the spring of this year was one of the very first posts I typed as the Local-Lady. This year Earlham hosts one more 2013 TEDxRichmond. The theme is sustainability. From the event page:

"With a population of over 36,000 people, Richmond, Indiana is a beautiful and historic city that plays a role not just in Indiana, but in the larger world. Within Indiana, it has deserved its recent recognition as a Stellar Community, which will bring new investment to the city that will improve the lives of its’ residents and businesses. But Richmond is also an innovative, small-scale player in the current state of sustainability and the world environment. This year’s TEDx Richmond aims to showcase some of the smaller, more feasible ways towards environmental sustainability, by presenting various topics and issues currently relevant to the Richmond community."



What will be your mantra for a greener tomorrow? 

You've heard the quote, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".
There is another translation: "The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet."

It can be so difficult to even begin that journey, even the smallest personal lifestyle change that you know would be healthier for the planet seems to ask a lot of you. You can easily get bogged down by thinking: oceans of trash, toxins lurking everywhere and plastic coated everything.  I read recently a piece that resonated with me. Melinda Epler is a blogger with a mission to change the world by changing her own lifestyle and helping others to do so as well. She acknowledges here that:

"Awareness can be overwhelming. Fear can be debilitating. But we cannot let ourselves become overwhelmed and debilitated, because for one thing, that is not a good quality of life, and for another, those feelings get us nowhere. There are a lot of people talking about change, but not really doing anything about it – and maybe feeling guilty that they aren’t doing anything. I believe the best way to handle this feeling of being overwhelmed and debilitated is to just start somewhere, anywhere, big or small. From there, we can support one another and continue on our journey toward change."

So for me the mantra is both " the single step" and "beneath our feet".

Refocus to where you are and what you can do.

It's exciting to see young people who are in our community, who want to make those changes for a better tomorrow! I'm eager to see Richmond, Indiana move towards greater sustainability. I'm definitely enthusiastic about this TEDx theme.

Kudos to Earlham College's TedxTeam!

Image Source

What can we do now to work toward a greener tomorrow for our family and for our community right here in Richmond, Indiana? What is the single step we can take today to begin?

<3 the Local Gal

PS

There are a few spots left. It's not too late to register today for Saturday's TEDxRichmond event at Earlham College! Register HERE.

PPS

I love story telling. I love TED Talks. You watched one of my absolute favorite talks Here. Watch another talk on storytelling and fear below:

Local-Lady Richmond Interview: Angel Gray, Tourism Bureau

Over the summer, I was invited to attend a session at the
Institute for Creative Leadership, a sort of

Angel Gray & Adorable Son: Image Source

community activist think tank in Richmond, where I first met fellow blogger Angel Gray. Angel is the Social Media Communications Director at Visit Richmond, the Welcome Center. Angel Gray is a multifaceted, talented local gal with a diverse set of hobbies. Geo-caching is one in particular, which I find fascinating. She agreed to take some time out of her busy schedule to chat with the Local Lady! Thank you, Angel! Here we go:

What do you like best about your job at the Tourism Bureau?

"My favorite thing about working with the Wayne County Tourism Bureau is having the unique opportunity to interact with locals and visitors through social media. I enjoy answering questions about Wayne County for visitors as well as encouraging locals to appreciate their home town through social media games and promotions such as our photo contests, “Where’s Angel” contest, and trivia questions. 

I also love the opportunities that allow me to become an active participant in community projects. Earlier this year I was blessed with the ability to attend the Institute for Creative Leadership. Here, I learned more about myself along with my own strengths and weaknesses. With this new information, I was able to team up with fellow Institute for Creative Leadership graduates to work on a community project, Pedals for People, which took donated bikes and refurbished them to give to families in the community who could not afford bikes. I love the ability to give back to the community and encouraging others to do so as well. I am lucky enough to have a job I love and a job that allows me to express my individuality and my unique perspective about the community. My job here is more than just a job, it’s a career and a hobby and I look forward to many more years here."

Image Source

As a blogger for Visit Richmond, what entry was the most fun for you to write? 

"One that will always stick with me as my favorite is Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History. I had so much fun taking my young son to the museum for his first time and seeing the reactions on his face as he discovers dinosaur bones, snake skins, and more. I love when I can share personal experiences in my blog posts because I believe personal experiences is what intrigues readers the most and it give me the chance to connect with my readers on a personal level."


What's the story behind geocaching? How did you get started & where can a Richmond beginner go for more information on how to do it?

"I’ve always enjoyed hiking and anything involving the outdoors. I would often travel to state parks to hike. It wasn’t until I started searching for more local outdoor activities that I stumbled upon geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices (handheld gps or a smartphone app). Participants navigate to a specific set of coordinates found online, and then attempt to find the geocache (the container) hidden at that location. 

Richmond has countless geocaches hidden among the town: at the Welcome Center, Hayes Arboretum, Depot District and many other spots in the area. The goal of geocaching is to get people out in the community to visit unique places they may not have chosen to visit otherwise. We often have geocachers come in the Welcome Center to find our hidden geocache and they come from as far away as California, Texas, and Florida. 

If someone is interested in learning more about geocaching they can certainly come visit me at the Welcome Center! I would love to offer a few pointers, also I would recommend visiting the official site Geocaching for more information."

The Geocaching Logo is a registered trademark of Groundspeak, Inc. Used with permission.

What's your best Richmond memory or what do you love about Richmond? 

"Having grown up here all my life, I would have to say my favorite memory is my childhood in general. I have a lot of wonderful memories growing up here but my favorite part is now the ability to share these memories with my 2 year old son. I am ecstatic to relive some of my favorite childhood memories as I watch my son experience them for the first time. The ability to explain to him that mommy did this same thing when she was little always makes me smile. 

The one experience that stands out in my mind is the day my son got his Veach’s birthday card in the mail when he turned 1. I remember growing up and getting my Veach’s card in the mail for the birthday castle and always begging to go to Veach's Toy Station as soon as possible. I think I was more excited than my son was as we hopped in the car and took a trip downtown. The experience is still the same and the enjoyment of opening the door and picking out a wrapped present brings a smile to every child’s face. I love the fact that these simple childhood memories are still around for our children to experience!"

Thanks for chatting with the Local-Lady, Angel! And thank you for the work you do to connect and highlight some of the best in our community! Kudos!

Play Where's Angel? on Facebook at the Official Visit Richmond Facebook page and be sure to stop by the Visit Richmond blog.

<3 the Local Gal

PS

Enjoy the interview? Stay in the loop with the Local Gal via Twitter or Facebook & feel free to sign up for e-mail page updates below!

Main Street by Sinclair Lewis Distilled by the Local-Lady

"a rebellious girl is the spirit of that bewildered empire called the American Middlewest"

~Main Street~

Sinclair Lewis 

(for all of the Carols of the world)

"Even when she was tired her dark eyes were observant. She did not yet know the immense ability of the world to be casually cruel and proudly dull, but if she should ever learn those dismaying powers, her eyes would never become sullen or heavy or rheumily amorous."

"She took walks, and was sensible about shoes and diet. And never did she feel that she was living."

"She slowly confessed that she was not visibly affecting lives." 

But

"Whatever she might become she would never be static."

"I think perhaps we want a more conscious life. We're tired of drudging and sleeping and dying. We're tired of seeing just a few people able to be individualists. We're tired of always deferring hope till the next generation. We're tired of hearing politicians and priests and cautious reformers... coax us, 'Be calm! Be patient! Wait! We have the plans for a Utopia already made; just wiser than you.' For ten thousand years they've said that. We want our Utopia now — and we're going to try our hands at it."

There is a passage in Main Street, that describes in a few words the sameness of America's small towns: the doctor could "wake up anywhere" stumble out of bed walk down Main Street towards his office and not realize he was in another city until he reached the door with another name above it. It's true that if you drive for long periods of time along an interstate today that you may find yourself turned around, discouraged by the sameness & the sprawl, or perhaps you are one of those comforted by the familiarity and you might see the brand logos as helpful angels along your way. Not only are our streets names the same in many cities, even the names of our cities are duplicated: Portland, Oregon, Portland, Maine, Portland, Indiana. Main Street, America. 

But while, Lewis wrote of human nature, exposing the worst of us, that lurks even in small towns, I also see Carol on Main Street, the heroine doing her best and never admitting defeat,

"I do not admit that Main Street is as beautiful as it should be! I do not admit that Gopher Prairie is greater or more generous than Europe! I do not admit that dish-washing is enough to satisfy all women! I may not have fought the good fight, but I have kept the faith."...

I see the name above the door and the implications of our individuality, our involvement and the fact that it is who we are and what we do in the towns where we live that potentially makes the difference, the impact. And if we never succeed in altering human nature or the dynamics of our Main Street, our existence and attitude runs through the fabric like a bright and lively thread, adding beauty to it. 

"But I have won in this: I've never excused my failures by sneering at my aspirations, by pretending to have gone beyond them."

It is your "name above the door" that signals the possibility of change. This was not Lewis's intent or point, but it's what I come away with from Main Street believing. 

It's autumn in Richmond, Indiana, and the colors of the foliage outside blaze against the gray sky. The ground this morning was covered in icy frosts. It's a perfect Sunday for reading cozily inside. What are you reading? 

Here are a few titles popular in Richmond, Indiana now:

I hope your Sunday is peaceful. 

<3 the Local Gal

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Local Lady Featured Interview: Hoosier Girls STEM KickStarter Project

Image Source

As small children we are all primarily driven by a natural, innate scientific curiosity, but as young children mature into young men and women a divide occurs. Girls are not as actively encouraged to pursue math, science, technology or engineering as equally as their male counterparts. Erin Albert is passionately pursuing a plan to change this, especially in the Hoosier state.

Frazier Designs is a one woman Graphic Design company recently relocated to Richmond, Indiana. Pam Frazier is a part of Erin's Kickstarter project designed to encourage Hoosier girls to get involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) through an exciting story (written by Erin Albert) about Princesses who save the world from ignorance in The Amazing Adventures of the Princesses from Planet STEM.

The dynamic duo are on a quest to promote STEM to Indiana's young girls, one book per library at a time. I chatted with both author, Erin Albert & illustrator, Pam Fraizer below. Here we go:

Erin Albert/Pharm, LLC:

Statistics show that girls aren't encouraged to pursue STEM careers nationwide. What makes you especially eager to encourage girls specifically in your home state of Indiana?

"See this article I wrote for Inside Indiana Business on the terrible stats for girls in Indiana and STEM: Why It Is Imperative to Get Girls in Indiana Engaged in STEM.  

Image Source

Also, relative to Indiana - I grew up in Indiana (not in Indianapolis--actually outside of South Bend).  I was a first generation college graduate.  And although at the time when I went to college, I had no idea that first generation college grads really struggle with completing college, let alone going into STEM as a girl - the stats were against me completing.  But, I did.  And now that I'm in STEM (I'm a professor of pharmacy practice at Butler University during the day), I feel an intrinsic motivation to give back in a way that I can best accomplish (through writing a book) and make sure we reverse the abysmal trends in Indiana when it comes to STEM performance and girls."

In addition to funding your Kickstarter project and hopefully one day reading this fantastic story to young girls, what can adults do to help encourage the young women in their lives to pursue this type of knowledge (STEM)?

"The most successful women in STEM now had a wide variety of interests when they were girls (myself included).  

• Get girls (and boys for that matter) a library card early.  
• Take them often to the library.  
• Take children to museums.  
• Get engaged and excited about what they want to learn more about, and co-learn as a family.  
• Don't as a parent get sucked into the gender bias when it comes to toys - if a girl wants to play with Legos or Matchbox cars - encourage her.  

Getting girls and boys interested in a variety of subjects when they are young is the best way to get them to think broadly about their careers and their lives later on in life.  As an aside, I will include a link in the book to resources I'm finding for after school programs, summer camps, and learning programs outside of the traditional classroom that encourage kids and girls in particular in STEM."

Pam Fraizer/FraizerDesigns:

Is this your first gig as an illustrator for a children's book?

"This is the 2nd children's book I've illustrated. The first one was a "customizable" book "God Smiled." It was published by two entrepreneurs as a fund-raising vehicle for churches and schools There were over 30 customizable fields for parents/grandparents to complete. Each book ends up being a story about an individual child—featuring their name, parents and grandparents names, time and place where the child was born, school they first attended, first teacher, friends, etc."

Do you have a favorite fictional character? 

"Charlotte's Web is one of my favorite books! It's an important book about loyalty, friendship and love. This book also has fantastically sensitive illustrations by Garth Williams. Garth's illustrations have an honesty to them that makes the characters come alive. I would have to say Charlotte is one of my favorite characters and a beautiful female role model—smart, resourceful, imaginative and brave."

(For more positive Princess characteristics see Erin Albert's Princess Manifesto HERE)

Thank you so much Erin & Pam! Best of luck to you both! Indiana is lucky to have such creative STEM advocates. 

To make this book happen it needs funding! It's not too late to be a part of the Princesses from Planet STEM- visit the Official Kickstarter Page HERE!!!

I can't wait to introduce the Princesses of the Planet STEM to my kids!

<3 the Local Gal

PS Never heard of Kickstarter? Learn more HERE.