Dear Indy,
In her latest story, education reporter Carley Lanich explored RISE INDY’s Freedom Readers program, which helps parents teach their children to read.
Here’s how Carley started the article:
Diana Hernandez wants her children to experience reading like she never did.
The mother of three makes sure her kids spend 45 minutes reading every day regardless of whether they’re at home or at the lake or on a car ride. The Indy westsider likes to read with her kids, but when she can’t or when they want to read alone, she’s always sure to ask them questions about their stories.
She also plays games with her kids and practices interactive reading — all ideas she learned about from education nonprofit RISE INDY’s Freedom Readers program. She said it’s made a difference in her kids’ relationship with reading and empowered her to get more involved with their school …
“Our children only need a little push,” Hernandez said through a translator. “Our children, seeing that we’re involved in their education can get them anywhere.”
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In other news
Neighborhood reporter Enrique Saenz has been writing about the stories behind some of the most recognizable streets, parks and monuments on the west side.
Here’s how he sums up his second article in what will be a continuing series on the topic.
A childless family’s donation that led to a Haughville park for kids. An inscription that tells of the political battle from a century ago. And how one of Indiana’s most famous monuments celebrates something that happened in Texas.Here are those stories. And please -— keep the suggestions coming by signing up for the Westside Beat texting service by texting “WESTSIDE” to 317-659-7738
Today’s weather from WTHR
Warm and humid today with only spotty afternoon storms and highs in the upper 80s. Even hotter this weekend into early next week.
What’s going on around the city
- Tomorrow, July 13: The Philippine Cultural Community Center, 4141 S. East St., hosts a Cultural Dance Class starting at 1 p.m. Instructor Mark Ollesca leads the free workshop.
Sunday, July 14: Improv and film collide with Indy Film Fest’s 48 Hour Film Project. Given just a genre, a character, a prop and a line of dialogue to include, competing teams have 48 hours to produce a film. See the submissions starting at noon at Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St. Tickets are $11. - Sunday, July 14: If you’re looking to beef up your home garden, the Indy Plant Party may be the place for you. Starting at 1 p.m. at Liter House, 5301 Winthrop Ave., the party will have over 20 local plant vendors with thousands of plants available for sale. Free to attend.
— Breanna Cooper, arts and culture reporter
Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.
What else we’re reading today
- Indiana Capital Chronicle: Former Indiana Rep. Sean Eberhart, a Republican from Shelbyville, was sentenced to prison Wednesday in a gambling corruption case.
- WISH-TV: Vice President Kamala Harris will speak at a convention in Indianapolis later this month.
- IndyStar: Ever wonder what the most popular books are at the Indianapolis Public Library? Here’s a list, from a Brittany Spears biography to children’s book “Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea.”
Reporter’s notebook: Sophie Young
Back in the olden days when watching TV meant flipping through cable channels, my mom and I loved the PBS show “Finding Your Roots.” In it, celebrities seek out researchers to learn about their genealogy and also to learn about themselves.
I’ve been interviewing two Indiana genealogy experts for a story that will be published soon. Here are some things I’ve learned so far about preserving documents or family photos:
- Don’t store them in a garage, basement or attic. Inside your home, the temperature and moisture levels will fluctuate less.
- Use a pencil to write on the back of photos, not a pen, which could seep through the front.
- If you put a photo in an album, try not to use adhesive. If you decide to take them out later, it’s easier to tear a photo held in place with glue.
Do you keep a record of your family history? If you have old pictures, letters, a book of research or family tree, or an heirloom, please send me a picture and a description of what your photo shows. I may use them in my story, to showcase the personal histories of Indianapolis neighbors.
Send me anything you’d like to share to sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
Have a question or suggestion for our reporters? Contact them here.
Reflections
I’ve really enjoyed the arts coverage Mirror Indy is producing, especially the commitment to local poetry. Here’s a poem by Sophie Salerno that was included in an article about her work this week.
I warm my stone between my palms. Sit
across from the open gates. The ground:
half snow half green. Squirrels dig in dirt,
run up the dogwoods. I never trusted them.
Their franticness. Their rummaging— darting
for scraps in trash cans. Something about not liking in others
what we see in ourselves. Instinct to bury. Forgetting
what we shoved beneath the wood poppies. Have they forgotten
where they put the bounty? How do they remember
those scattered provisions? No one is coming. No one
comes to help. Alli says if nothing else we must
provision for ourselves. Now I keep wool socks
and canned green beans in the trunk. I speak soft,
mischief coins spilling from my pockets. I think
about the woman at Good Earth who said can you help me?
How her bird felt that seventy-two-degree breeze
and picked her feathers out— raged against her metal
cage in the morning. I feel that itch of the in between—
we are on the edge of spring.
My mouth thawing
– Chris
Anyone else notice toddlers are a lot like squirrels, hiding stuff away? If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at chris.sikich@mirrorindy.org. It helps us serve you better.
P.S. If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at chris.sikich@mirrorindy.org. It helps us serve you better.
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