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Commentary: Voting Has Never Been More Satisfying

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By Michael Leppert
MichaelLeppert.com

I was tapping my toes on Thursday afternoon near the corner of Alabama and Washington Streets, right on the edge of the new Richard G. Lugar Plaza outside of the City-County Building in Indianapolis. My wife was supposed to meet me there to vote. She was late, and the line looked long. But then a funny thing happened; the beautiful and talented Valerie Phelps and her band started playing their blend of jazz and Motown on a small stage in the middle of the plaza.

Her Aretha Franklin-style cover of “A Natural Woman” was stuck in my head for the rest of the day. She nailed it.

That’s right, America. I don’t know how everyone else is doing it, but Indy has live musical performances on a beautifully designed plaza while we wait to vote in the latest, most important election of our lives. There was a tent giving away bottled water, hand sanitizer and snacks for free. It took us 90 minutes to vote, and honestly, it was fun. Truly fun, like, I wish I could do it again tomorrow kind of fun.

Then I got home and made the mistake of watching the soon-to-be notorious interview President Donald Trump gave to Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes. It doesn’t air on CBS until Sunday night, but the bootlegged video that White House staff shot of it was put out on social media to display how unfair Stahl’s questioning was. That mission was absolutely not accomplished. It was as predictable and run of the mill as an interview could have been, though releasing the recording violated an agreement between the network and the White House.

Trump opened the conversation with complaints about how much better the media treats his challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden. No strategic communication approach ever materialized later. He ended the interview without being joined by Vice President Mike Pence as was planned, by simply proclaiming that Stahl and her team had been given enough. The entire 30 minutes played like a presidential spasm, a series of unhinged complaints, void of any coherence or dignity.

And that was the warmup material I consumed before the second and last presidential debate.

Kristen Welker’s first question was the obvious one, how will you lead the nation through the coronavirus? Aside from the revisionist history, it was clear the president was doing his best to behave this time. The Presidential Debate Commission and Welker both created the right environment and ran a good debate. The problem is that debates cannot have any meaningful role in the electoral process when so many of the tools of the debate are lies.

Zingers and pithiness make for good TV, but just like Trump’s beloved “ratings,” they don’t have presidential value. There won’t be another occasion in any president’s term where being a skilled, modern, stage-worthy “debater” equates to effective governing.

There are no Biden scandals. No matter how many times Trump and his campaign try to build them, they just aren’t there.

There is no Trump healthcare plan. There never has been one and there never will be one. Even though the “replace” part of his “repeal and replace” mantra in 2016 should be the plan, four years later, there really isn’t one. Even a global pandemic, one that is currently on the rise, has not inspired disclosure of a hint of an idea of what American healthcare will look like in a second Trump term.

Trump proclaimed he doesn’t know much about Black Lives Matters Thursday night, sharing a ridiculous story about a protest chant as his understanding of the non-violent group. The majority of Americans support the organization’s mission, but our current “least racist person in the room” of a president doesn’t know much about it.

What matters the most to me about Biden’s performance more briefly: he told the truth and displayed real empathy for all of America.

That contrast helped make voting on Thursday fun. It makes the choice an easy one. The country knows how they are going to vote. More than 40 million of us already have and Election Day is still 11 days away.

Voting was more fun on Thursday than I expect it will be on Nov. 3. For starters, 20,000 Hoosiers will become infected with COVID-19 between now and then. Some won’t vote at all because of it.

And those who do won’t have Valerie Phelps killing an Aretha Franklin inspired version of a Carole King song while they wait. We should all be so lucky.

FOOTNOTE: Michael Leppert is a public and governmental affairs consultant in Indianapolis and writes his thoughts about politics, government, and anything else that strikes him at MichaelLeppert.com.

THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER POSTED THIS ARTICLE WITHOUT BIAS, OPINION, OR EDITING.

INDiANA GROWN

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If there is one thing you can count on- it’s that the minute it gets a bit cool in the fall, you start to hear the call of apple orchards, sweaters, warm drinks and pumpkin-flavored everything.

Fall in Indiana is beautiful from the changing leaves to the decorative displays you see on your neighbor’s front porch- it’s hard to not love this time of year. But there is more to fall than the crunch of the orange leaves on the ground, cooler temps and shorter days- let’s not forget the apple and pumpkin recipes!

Have you ever had honey crisp apple bread? Try this RECIPE!

 apple bread
pumpkin stack

Did you know that Indiana ranks fourth in pumpkin production and on average produces over 34 varieties of apples every year? That’s a lot of apples for pies and pumpkins for carving.

Indiana Grown boasts many members who raise apples, pumpkins and operate an agritourism destination. Who doesn’t love a corn maze?

We have visited a few recently- check out our INDIANA GROWN ON THE ROAD video series for a glimpse of what APPLE WORKS and BEASLEY’S ORCHARD has to offer this fall.

corn

You can make a pie of course and applesauce- but have you ever thrown chopped apples into a sausage ball recipe? That added sweet crunch helps these SPICY CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUSAGE BALLS from becoming too dry.

 sausage balls
pumpkin butter

Apple butter is a treat you can buy anytime and is especially plentiful in the fall, but have you ever made pumpkin butter? Try this easy RECIPE, which not only tastes terrific but also makes a great gift!

PUMPKIN PIE DESSERT DIP is a crowd-pleasing dessert you can throw together in minutes, which is about how long it will last!

 pumpkin pie dessert dip

Learn more about APPLES and PUMPKINS from our
INDIANA GROWN PRODUCE POINTERS!

pumpkin and apple

So, as you can see, there are more ways to enjoy the Indiana fall bounty than we can fit on one page. We hope you had a chance to visit one of Indiana’s many apple orchards or pumpkin patches this fall. With all the agritourism destinations across our state, there is probably one close to your home.

Need some day-trip inspiration? Try our blog post on U-PICK FARMS & ORCHARDS as well as a list of Indiana Grown members who grow APPLES!

Visit INDIANAGROWN.ORG for more recipes or to find a farmer or producer in your area.

LOOKING LOCAL WITH INDIANA GROWN is a monthly publication from Indiana Grown featuring local products, members, recipes and more. Want to receive more future communications from Indiana Grown? SUBSCRIBE HERE

 

HOLLY’S HOUSE RECEIVES $50,000 FROM ALLSTATE FOUNDATION

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holly

Holly’s House, a local child and adult victim advocacy center that provides services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse in southwest Indiana, received a major gift of $50,000 from the Allstate Foundation to provide support services to survivors of Domestic Violence. Since 2006, the Allstate Foundation has contributed more than $680,000 dollars to Holly’s House.  This grant supports the collaborative services offered by Holly’s House, Albion Fellows Bacon Center and the Lampion Center. Each organization provides unique expertise. By working together, with the support of the Allstate Foundation, these organizations ensure a continuum of services is available for survivors of family violence and other intimate crimes in southwest Indiana.

Since opening its doors in September of 2008, Holly’s House has facilitated interviews for more than 3,600 adults and children while bridging connections between families and services with more than 1,700 recommendations and referrals to various community agencies each year. Holly’s House has also provided child abuse prevention education to more than 61,000 elementary school children. The agency’s services are now reaching eleven southwest Indiana counties. “We’re incredibly grateful for Allstate’s generosity and foresight in funding collaborative partnerships to meet community needs. We celebrate the many lives changed because of this partnership with both the Allstate team and our service partners at the Lampion Center and Albion Fellows Bacon Center,” states Holly’s House Executive Director, Kristine Cordts.

Since 2005, The Allstate Foundation has championed two signature causes: improving the safety of our teens on the road, and financially empowering domestic abuse survivors.  The Allstate Foundation has been bringing out the good in millions of lives. This belief has been at the core of The Allstate Foundation for more than 61 years.

 

HALLOWEEN ORIGINATED WITH THE ANCIENT CELTIC FESTIVAL OF SAMHAIN

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Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31, and Halloween 2020 will occur on Saturday, October 31.

The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints.

Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes, and eating treats.

Transitional Healthcare Team Connects Released Persons with Health Services

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Among the many challenges for soon to be released persons from Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) facilities are having a place to call home and securing employment.  Also of equal and sometimes greater importance is establishing health care connections for those who have ongoing health care concerns.

Recognizing this need, Dr. Kristen Dauss, the Chief Medical Officer for the IDOC, established a Transitional Healthcare Team in September of 2019.  Now, just over a year later, the team continues to address the need for enhanced release planning for incarcerated persons returning home by utilizing a holistic approach to the continuum of care, keeping in mind each person’s strengths and barriers while addressing social determinants of health.

The team ensures all releasing persons have active healthcare coverage and immediate access to services upon returning to their community.  Additionally, team members provide individualized release planning for IDOC’s most vulnerable persons, including those with physical or behavioral health concerns. “This department was created with a very specific mission in mind—to create holistic and person-centered transitional healthcare planning for people returning home”, said Christine Daniel, executive director of the IDOC Transitional Healthcare Team. “Busting down barriers, advocating for change, and delivering results for our most vulnerable continues to be our daily work.” Daniel concluded, “Unbelievably, transitional healthcare has expanded our reach and pushed our boundaries during the pandemic, taking on increased duties and developing new protocols for safe, healthy releases.”

While much attention is focused on the health care needs of persons being released, there’s a small population, in size and number, at the Indiana Women’s Prison who especially need transitional healthcare services.  We are speaking of women sentenced to prison while pregnant.  For the women who meet strict guidelines related to their criminal offense and the length of their sentence, they are able to care for their newborn baby while completing their sentence.  This takes place in a special area on the grounds of the women’s prison formerly known as the Wee Ones Nursery.  Now known as the Leath Maternal-Child Health Unit (LMCHU), in honor and memory Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Ofc. Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty April 9 of this year and also served as a former correctional officer at the women’s prison.

Since November of 2019 the LMCHU, now commonly referred to as the Leath MCHU, has operated under the direction and supervision of transitional healthcare staff.  The change placed more emphasis on empowering and educating the women and has resulted in an increase in the number of mother and infant participants at the Leath Unit.  The benefits of expanded maternal health initiatives has also reached well beyond the Leath MCHU, to include the entire female population of the women’s prison and other IDOC facilities where women are serving their sentences.

“Empowering women to reach their full potential while supporting them in their motherhood journey has been inspiring to see. I am proud of the Transitional Healthcare team and the meaningful work they have done to elevate maternal and child health not only within the medical division, but within the agency. Life changing work is being done here!” says Dr. Kristen Dauss.

In the continuing effort to meet the needs of men, women and children who are returning to their local communities transitional healthcare team members have, since March, conducted monthly virtual “Meet and Greet” events with state and local government service providers as well as private organizations who all have a vested interest in connecting released persons with needed services.  IDOC Transitional Healthcare Manager Maranda Sparks commented, “I am excited the transitional healthcare team is bridging gaps in communication with fellow agencies to ensure we are providing the highest level of care to our releasing citizens. It has been an intense first year for the team and I am proud of the work our staff has done to protect the community and give our releasing citizens the greatest opportunity for success.”

The IDOC will continue to support and build the model of success the Transitional Healthcare Team champions to connect returning citizens with vital healthcare services.

Madison Arts and Cultural District

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Sitting prominently on the Ohio River between the hubs of Cincinnati and Louisville, the Madison Arts and Cultural District presents an outstanding collection of early American architecture – representing the cultural history of the river, the founding of the state of Indiana, and the nation’s expansion westward. Beautifully preserved, historic in nature, but, interestingly progressive and contemporary, it has the fresh vibe of residents who are choosing to live ‘off the grid’ in a rural yet, urban setting. The natural and built environment invites the visitor and inspires the artist to tell the story with their art, their words, and images that are unique to this lovely little city. Madison’s history is deeply rooted in arts, crafts, and architecture. Every corner lies a history designed by traditional craftsmen, architects, and master builders from the East Coast and the South. It is not unusual to find options for live music, artist receptions, figure drawing events, drum circles, painting classes, a play, yoga or massage, culinary event, poetry reading, a farmer’s market, and a book review all in one day!

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

EPD REPORT

“Left Jab” And “Middle Jab” And “Right Jab” October 31, 2020

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“Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab” was created because we have a couple of commenters that post on a daily basis either in our “IS IT TRUE” or “Readers Forum” columns concerning National or International issues.

The majority of our “IS IT TRUE” columns are about local or state issues, so we have decided to give our more opinionated readers exclusive access to our newly created “LEFT JAB and Middle Jab and RIGHT JAB”  column. They now have this post to exclusively discuss national or world issues that they feel passionate about.
We shall be posting the “LEFT JAB” AND “MIDDLE JAB” AND “RIGHT JAB” several times a week.  Oh, “LEFT JAB” is a liberal view, “MIDDLE JAB” is the libertarian view and the “RIGHT JAB is representative of the more conservative views. Also, any reader who would like to react to the written comments in this column is free to do so.

“Left Jab” And “Middle Jab” And “Right Jab” October 31, 2020

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“Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab” was created because we have a couple of commenters that post on a daily basis either in our “IS IT TRUE” or “Readers Forum” columns concerning National or International issues.

The majority of our “IS IT TRUE” columns are about local or state issues, so we have decided to give our more opinionated readers exclusive access to our newly created “LEFT JAB and Middle Jab and RIGHT JAB”  column. They now have this post to exclusively discuss national or world issues that they feel passionate about.
We shall be posting the “LEFT JAB” AND “MIDDLE JAB” AND “RIGHT JAB” several times a week.  Oh, “LEFT JAB” is a liberal view, “MIDDLE JAB” is the libertarian view and the “RIGHT JAB is representative of the more conservative views. Also, any reader who would like to react to the written comments in this column is free to do so.

Falls of the Ohio and Clifty Falls State Park

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Indiana is home to a variety of fascinating geological features. The state is well-known for its limestone formations dating from 570 to 245 million years ago. This was a time when our continent was located closer to the equator, allowing for warmer temperatures. In addition, the land was covered by a shallow sea teeming with life, including clams, snails, and other ancient animals. These creatures had shells full of calcium and as they died, their shells created layers upon the sea floor. Over time, the weight of the shells formed solid rock called limestone.

These limestone formations are often home to fossils. Fossils are created when shells are buried without breaking into smaller pieces. Over time, the shell deteriorated and were replaced with limestone, forming a fossil replica or print.

Falls of the Ohio State Park and Clifty Falls State Park, both located along the Ohio River, are home to large fossil formations. Clifty Creek’s stony bed is full of fossils, including ancient corals, ancestral squids, brachiopods, and much more. But please know, fossil collecting within any Indiana State Park is prohibited.

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