SCI Team Leads HSE Schools’ Top Performance in Math League

Several Hamilton Southeastern schools participated in Indiana Math League contests in February and recently received results. Sand Creek Intermediate scored second in the state at the sixth grade level out of 101 participating schools.

According to math teacher Diane Ryan, “This is a contest consisting of 40 tough math questions. Few students score as high as 30 points (75 percent correct). It is so difficult that the contest authors state that students with half that score, 15 points, should be commended.”

Not only did Sand Creek earn second place, but Madeline Snipes was the highest scoring individual sixth-grader in the state with a perfect 40. Nate Smith was in 6th place, and Peter Bai tied for 11th. Scores from Carolina Vogel, Usama Kamran and Chris Bridge also contributed to Sand Creek’s runner-up performance. In its region, the SCI team was first and had the three top students in that area as well.
At the seventh grade level, Fishers Junior High’s team placed 7th out of 67 participating schools. Jake Crell tied for 11th individually, and the FJH team earned third in its region.

Among eighth grade teams, Hamilton Southeastern Junior High placed 5th in the state while Fishers Junior High tied for 8th and Riverside School tied for 13th. Riverside ’s Colin Mairet and HSEJH’s Tom Zhang tied for 12th individually. HSEJH was second in the region, and FJH was third.

Warning: Rare Coins on the Loose; You May Become Numismatic

Being numismatic is not something you can control with seasonal medication. If you empty your pockets or coin purse at the end of the day—collecting loose change in a large jar or some other receptacle—you could be at risk for “catching” the coin collecting bug.

Some say “collecting” is a disease. Nevertheless, exposing yourself to this germ could have a big payoff.

In view of the fact that the Indianapolis Coin Club is participating in National Coin Week (April 15-22) and making a bold move to generate interest in the hobby of coin collecting, you may want to give some consideration to becoming a coin “watcher,” if not a collector, at least for a while. During that week, club members will spend into general circulation 50 bags of obsolete coins throughout greater Indianapolis. The coins have value and will be everywhere in the central Indiana area.

“Here’s what to look for,” according to Matt Dinger, owner of the Lost Dutchman Rare Coin and Militaria shop at 5128 North Franklin Road:

Any coin that looks unusual, such as irregular die stamping; “Wheat” pennies (minted 1909 to 1959); Pennies dated 1909 and “DVDB” marked; Pennies with rare dates (i.e. 1931); and Silver coinage, minted before 1964 (not nickel and copper), which are worth double their face value.

“Some dimes and quarters minted before 1964 can be worth $2 and $3,” Dinger said.

He suggests visiting www.coinpeople.com and www.coinsite.com for more information.

There is also news the U.S. Mint has announced that an unknown number of defective coins have been released into circulation. Through an error in the minting process, some of the new George Washington dollars failed to be stamped with the historic “In God We Trust,” officially required to be on all U.S. currency.

The new George Washington dollars are the first in a series of Presidential coins. They are slightly larger and thicker than a quarter and are a light golden color. On February 15, the 300 million coins were released into circulation and are already being grabbed up by some collectors. The new coins were minted equally in Philadelphia and Denver; however, it appears the defective ones came from Philadelphia. Some are being sold on Ebay, the internet auction site, for $40 to $60, and the price is expected to eventually settle out at $50 each. It is reported that the first Ebay sale was $600 for one defective George Washington dollar. But that was before the public was aware of the large number of the coins in circulation. One estimate is that 50,000 defective coins were released.

The Presidential Coin Series will last a decade and will include the faces of each U.S. president — four issues per year to 2016, in the order of their service. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison will follow Washington in three-month intervals this year.

The 2006 law that authorized the new Presidential Coin Series included a second series provision of 24-karat, $10 gold coins depicting all the presidents’ wives. These will be sold to collectors and investors rather than being released for general circulation.

There is much, much more to coin collecting than this discussion of new, defective or obsolete coins released into circulation. The chronic numismatist finds a world of possibilities in the search for “old” coins of varying degrees of value, for an even larger variety of reasons.

But inspecting your change for a valuable or collectible coin may well begin a “fever” for contracting more serious numismatic symptoms — like trading and investing. The prognosis could be that one might get over the ailment, in time — or it could progressively worsen. Being a Numismatic though, is treatable, and definitely a condition you can live with. Now let’s all pay more attention to our coins!

Timmy Foundation Receives $2,000 from HSE Seniors

The senior class at Hamilton Southeastern High school will present a check for $2,000 to the Timmy Foundation Monday, April 16. Seniors came up with the idea that follows the “ONE Campaign” example. ONE Campaign is a nationwide initiative to inform Americans about global issues such as poverty, AIDS, hunger, clean water, etc. Its mission is purely to inform and inspire, not to seek donations. Seniors chose the Timmy Foundation, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit group that puts ONE Campaign beliefs into action when it helps organize international service trips in order to create “a world in which basic healthcare and education are available to children.”

To raise the funds, the class sponsored a dance March 17, to express a concern for global issues. Seniors could get pledge sheets and raise at least $10 and attend the dance for three community service hours, or they could pay $5 for a ticket to attend.

A week of activities promoted the event. A Timmy Foundation representative came and showed a movie about Darfur in Africa and talked to the students about global issues A huge banner in the commons advertised the event along with alerts on student announcements each day. Seniors passed out ONE bracelets and flyers paid for by the class. In addition, during SMART period, senior officers presented information about the campaign, and underclassmen participated in a curriculum developed by the seniors.

“This was a huge undertaking, and we are very proud of our seniors with their concern, dedication, time and awareness. Our hope for this campaign was not only to raise money but, more importantly, to spark an interest in these kids for future opportunities to help those less fortunate,” said Vicki Gray, guidance counselor and class sponsor. “ONE person can make a difference, and we are so very proud of our HSE seniors who came up with the idea and did all the work.” Other class sponsors include Bill Zoeller and Greg Davidson.

To learn more about the ONE Campaign go to www.one.org or about the Timmy Foundation go to www.timmyfoundation.org

atGeist Newsletter Celebrates Third Anniversary This Month

It’s hard to believe, but this month marks our third year anniversary of the “atGeist Community Newsletter”. It seems like only yesterday we had an assembly line of kids gathered around our kitchen table prepping our little four-page black and white newsletter for the post office. They were excited because I was paying them $10 an hour (a bit high, but it was the weekend after all) and I was excited because we were a week from leaving on spring break to Hilton Head Island.

We drove to Hilton Head the following week and I fielded no less than 20 phone calls from the beach on my cell phone from curious residents and advertisers. The next month, the newsletter jumped to eight pages, then 16, then 28 pages after only four months. Our kids learned what job security meant at an early age.
Over the last three years, we’ve been able to help facilitate a great sense of community in the Geist area. Highlighting residents in the area that are giving back, operating phenomenal charities and not for profits, volunteering their time, serving on homeowners association boards, or just being good neighbors has allowed me to meet the best that Geist has to offer.

As a pseudo curtain call on three years, I want to acknowledge some people that I have been blessed to meet through publishing atGeist.com that I can proudly call friends today. These are some of the best of the best and I want to thank them for all they do for Geist Reservoir:

John and Tina Gianfagna
Bob and Pat Tollini
Steve and Patty King
Brent McFerran
Dr. Sandor Gal
Ron & Connie Cruthers
Scott Rodgers
Rachel Quade
Pete Peterson
Tom DiMartino
Ginny Cain
Debbie Britt
Kim & Marissa Manlove
Henri & Shelley Najem

I hope you have enjoyed meeting these and the dozens of other residents we have profiled over the last three years. Thanks for your continued support, words of encouragement, and warm embrace of the “atGeist Community Newsletter” and website.

Watch Your Teen’s Risky Driving with American Family Insurance’s Teen Safe Driver Program

Handing over the car keys to your teenager can be frightening. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 19 in the United States.

But what if you could actually see when your child engages in risky driving behaviors—without hanging out in the backseat 24-7? Now you can with the new Teen Safe Driver Program offered by American Family Insurance.

“This is a terrific opportunity for parents to help their young drivers identify the issues that all new drivers share,” said Tom Hendrix, an American Family Insurance agent who serves the Geist area.

American Family has teamed up with a company called “DriveCam,” which uses technology to capture audiovisual data from both the inside and the outside of the vehicle. A monitor installed by the rear view mirror will click on if it senses any sudden motion, such as immediate breaking, swerving and/or acceleration. Once triggered, the DriveCam unit will record 10 seconds both before and after the incident.

Each week, parents can log onto www.teensafedriver.com to view the audiovisual data online with their teens. Together they can see a “report card” and receive important feedback and tips from a professional driving coach. Teens can track and compare their performance with a national peer group.

DriveCam offers you confidential access to your teen driver’s results, and your policy and rates are not affected by any risky driving incidents that are recorded.

Adding to its appeal, the Teen Safe Driver Program is free for one year to all American Family auto insurance policyholders. In the long run, American Family benefits because less accidents will occur, meaning fewer claims will be filed. The program will help the company’s bottom line while creating safer drivers, Hendrix said.

“Good habits will develop and remain long after the camera is gone,” said Hendrix, a hard-working and congenial guy who recently was named American Family Insurance’s 2006 Indiana Agent of the Year, out of 240 agents statewide.

Some parents may be reluctant to become a part of this program for fear of invading their child’s privacy. But this program was designed not to infringe on anyone’s freedom. Driving incidents are documented only when high-risk driving behavior occurs, not during any other driving time.

“Teen Safe Driver is a completely voluntary program, and families who participated in a pilot program found it really reduced the number of risky driving incidents,” Hendrix said.

In fact, this program reduced the risky driving behavior by 70 to 90 percent in a pilot study offered in Minnesota and Wisconsin high schools. Another comforting result found from this 18-study was that the program actually increased seatbelt compliance to 100 percent.

So if you have a teen driver, consider giving Tom a call at 577-2722. He and his wife, Stefanie, signify a down-to-earth combo. The office has a casual, down-home atmosphere, and the Hendrix’s have been known to drive their boat to work since their office is located near the marina (above Puccini’s and Eddy’s).

“We’re just a little family shop,” said Tom, who has lived on Geist for 17 years. “We offer a more personalized approach to insurance. Instead of using cookie cutter coverages, we tailor your coverage to your individual family’s needs.”

With the weather getting nicer, you can get in your boat (or car) and drive over to see Tom and Stefanie. If this program ever becomes popular enough, we may just end up with a camera in our boats!

Admirals Sound, Lawrence Central Center Signs with Kentucky State University

Lawrence Central’s 6’ 9” center, Alex Somerville, has signed a National Letter of Intent for a full athletic scholarship to play basketball for Kentucky State University. Alex was recruited by Division I schools Wyoming, Coppin State and IUPUI; Division II schools Bellarmine University, Lees-McRae and St. Francis Presbyterian College; Division III schools Indiana Wesleyan, Anderson College, Tiffin University and Wilmington College.

Alex was named All-Marion County Boys Basketball Honorable Mention. Alex is the son of Exum and Vickie Somerville, shown here during his signing.

Steeped in History, Mud Creek Players Share Passion for Theatre and Community (Video)

As the Mud Creek Players prepare to wrap up their season with “Father of the Bride,” I sat down with director Larry Aull and several cast members to find out just what goes on inside that barn on the corner of Mud Creek and 86th.

It’s one of the Geist area’s most identifiable landmarks, yet surprisingly, many residents have never ventured inside this unique community theatre. I was lucky enough to have a guided tour from founding member Dottie Pierdos.

A spry 83-year-old, Dottie is the only original member still active at Mud Creek. Dottie proudly showed me around the Barn, which was built in the mid-’60s and modeled after a real barn (owned by Merz and Mary Condit) where the group met before a fire brought it down in 1963. But the show went on, setting the stage for what is now the oldest continuously-operated community theatre in Central Indiana.

In recent years, the Barn has seen several improvements, including upgraded lighting equipment, new dressing rooms and a paved parking lot. Members build all of their own sets on-site in a new studio area behind the stage.

Dottie plays a small role in “Father of the Bride” but serves as wardrobe coordinator, seamstress and resident historian. She also stores dozens of costumes and props at her home—within walking distance from the Barn. She spends hours at the library researching whichever era a production is set in and making sure costumes look authentic.

“If I can’t find it, I make it,” says Dottie, who’s been involved in some way with nearly every show that’s been performed by the Players since the group’s founding in 1950.

Aside from all that, she brings homemade cookies to play practice! They’re quite a hit with the other members, most of whom come to practice after a full day of work or school.

Joey Box and Cory Robison, both sophomores at Lawrence North, are rehearsing for two plays simultaneously. After school, they practice for their school musical “Annie” until 6 p.m., grab a quick bite to eat and head to the Barn for rehearsals until 9 p.m. Homework is either done late at night or during breaks in rehearsals.

All of the actors do it for the love of the theatre. No one is paid, and everyone is expected to pitch in with less glamorous tasks as well – like cleaning the newly expanded bathrooms.

“Among theaters we are atypical,” said Larry, a member since 1979 who has directed and acted in numerous plays (as well as done his share of floor sweeping and chair stacking). “We don’t have any ‘stars’ at Mud Creek.”

The drama group prefers to cast from within its membership, giving everyone a chance to get on stage in some capacity. Dottie tells new members to “start backstage or in the kitchen.”

Admiral’s Sound resident Kris Harper (making her debut as a maid in “Father of the Bride”), started by helping out behind the scenes. She’s thrilled with the new creative outlet she has discovered in mid-life.

“It’s all fun,” Kris said. “You can be in every single production doing something. It’s sort of a social club with a theatre background.”

Perhaps that’s because the Players started out as a group of women gathering to make bandages for wounded soldiers during WWII. When their husbands joined the group, they began reading plays aloud for entertainment. Their first play was performed on Oct. 22, 1950 in a barn on Sergeant Road where “they barely had time to throw the cows out before opening night,” according to Dottie.

The Mud Creek Players were also political activists. Had it not been for the Players, the Mud Creek Valley would look significantly different or even be obsolete today. Players used proceeds from their productions to successfully fight the construction of an interstate in 1956 and an airport in 1962, as well as a proposal from the water company to dam up Mud Creek to create another reservoir.

Through the years, the Barn has housed its share of pitch-ins, book club meetings and costume parties, and it remains a community center where groups gather and voters cast their ballots.

During the summer, the Players host “Barn Rats” theatre classes for kids. That’s where 10-year-old Andres Alejos (who plays Tommy Banks) caught the acting bug.

“Out of nowhere, I was good!” he says with no regard to modesty.

“Father of the Bride” opens May 4 and will be playing each Friday and Saturday night through May 19 at 8 p.m. There is also a special Mother’s Day matinee at 2:30 p.m. May 13. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $8 for students and seniors.

For more information on all of the happenings at Mud Creek, visit www.mudcreekplayers.org.

Interesting Directions from Google.com

How do you get from New York to London? Hmm, well, go to Google.com, click on “Get Directions” and type in “new york” to “london” on their maps and see what step #23 says.

My Husband Enjoyed his Over Over Over the Hill Birthday!

I never did such a crazy and such an on the spur of the moment thing, as I recently did for my husband’s 50th birthday party. I hired Dancing the Night Away on the suggestion of my girlfriend who recently went to one of their bachelorette parties. She told me she had emptied her purse of all her $1.00 bills and had an absolutely fantastic time and thought George would love an over the hill birthday party celebration that Dancing the Night away custom designs for each birthday. I even went so far as kept the party a surprise and that was very hard with over 50 guests, especially since some of the guests were bowling buddies that get very chatty over beers. The DJ was a guy name Ice. He wouldn’t tell me his real name and that only added to the fun. I got my neighbor to get George out of the area for several hours before the party was to start and I made the guest’s park in a church parking lot and walk to our house. Of course, I promised rides back to their cars afterwards. The best part was that I locked the front door. This is the door George always enters from. When he could open the door because I removed his house key before he left with our neighbor, I had Ice answer the door. Everyone was in the basement or kitchen except me who was hiding in our dining room. George and I have been married for 30 years and I wanted to see his face when this strange guy answered the door. So there I am hiding in the dining room and Ice is answering the door acting like he lives in our house not George and George was completely lost for words. I saw him take two steps back to look at the address on the house to make sure it was the right house. Then Ice asked him what he wanted and George looked at him and wanted to know what he was doing in his house. Ice just shut the door and locked it. Everyone is laughing but George who is now calling me on his cell phone. When I answered all I told him was that Ice was a friend of mine. The phone went dead the banging on the door began and Ice kicked up the music by playing Happy Birthday.

After I led George downstairs to the basement and everyone yelled Happy Birthday George, he said Pat I was going to punch that guy in the nose. I told him that wouldn’t be a nice thing to do to the DJ. After a few beers and some food Ice had George dancing and much later singing. I can’t tell you enough how much fun this over the hill party was. I highly recommend Dancing the Night Away if you are looking for something special. I also heard that their bachlorette parties are quite enjoyable. Thanks Dancing the Night Away for a great evening and thanks Ice for being a sport. I never forget the look on George’s face when you answered the door.

Indy Ski School’s 2007 Summer Schedule is ready!

WOW! This is our 4th year! I hope that you are looking forward to another exciting summer on the water with us!

I know a lot of you are anxious to get your summer planned, so I won’t wait any longer to publish Indy Ski School’s summer schedule.

We have some exciting changes to our summer line-up! In addition to our normal 4-day classes, we are stoked to offer advanced wakeboard lessons with CWB team rider and Arizona State University “WAKE-DEVIL”, Matt Crowe. Plus we are going to offer special adult classes so all of you parents out there can start having some fun on the water too!

CLASS INFORMATION
Beginning and intermediate classes will be held every Monday-Thursday (except July 4th week) from either 8:00am-10:00am or 10:30am-1:00pm. There will be a maximum of 4 students in the 8:00 class, and a maximum of 5 students in the 10:30 class. The cost for the 4 day camp is $225/student (I did not raise prices from last year!). These classes are open to skiers and boarders of all abilities ages 6 and up.

Advanced wakeboardingwith Matt Crowe requires pre-approval from either me or Matt. These classes are for serious riders who are looking to compete in tournaments. Advanced classes will be held from 8:00am-10:30am Monday-Thursday the weeks of June 25th-28th, July 9th-12th, and July 16th-19th. Only 4 students per session. The cost for advanced lessons is $250/student.

Adult classes - Finally, for all of you adults who are young at heart; Indy Ski School is pleased to offer Friday morning sessions for skiers and wakeboarders ages 21 and up. Classes will meet on 4 consecutive Friday mornings from 7:00am-9:00am. Our instructors will be there to guide you every step of the way, and give you tips to “work-on” during the week. Send and e-mail to indyskischool@comcast.net find out the exact dates. The cost is $225/adult student.

REGISTRATION

TO CHECK CLASS AVAILABILITY OF CLASSES AND TO GET AN APPLICATION SIMPLY SEND AN E-MAIL TO indyskischool@comcast.net WITH THE KEY WORDS “APPLICATION” OR “SCHEDULE” IN THE “RE: BOX” OR THE BODY. YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY FORWARDED THE APPLICATION AND THE CURRENT AVAILIBILTY SCHEDULE

BECAUSE CLASSES FILL UP QUICKLY, THE ONLY WAY TO RESERVE A SPOT IS BY A $100 DEPOSIT PER STUDENT AND A COMPLETED APPLICATION.

When I receive the completed form and deposit I will then update the schedule to reflect how many spots are still available for each session. I hope that made sense! It worked last year!

As always, every student will receive an Indy Ski School t-shirt, and drinks and snacks will be provided during each session (ocps of course…ask your kid what it means!). All we ask is that every student bring their own “Coast Guard Approved” life vest and a towel.

Looking forward to seeing you on the Lake!

Derek Dechert & the Staff of Indy Ski School

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