This and That: A Sunday edition
A handful of things to catch up on.
Thanks to sponsor Stuart & Branigin for ongoing support of the Based in Lafayette reporting project.
And thanks for sponsorship help from The Arts Federation, as it prepares for the TASTE of Tippecanoe. Food, Drink, Music and Art: Celebrate the arts at the TASTE of Tippecanoe on June 17, 6 p.m.-midnight in downtown Lafayette. Presale tickets are only $5. Purchase tickets at TAF or online at tasteoftippecanoe.org/buy-tickets.
This and That on a Sunday …
LFD CHANGE OF COMMAND: The Lafayette Fire Department will honor outgoing Chief Richard Doyle and swear in incoming Chief Brian Alkire during a change of command ceremony at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St. Refreshments will follow in the St. John Pavilion next to the Long Center. Doyle is retiring after 39 years with the Lafayette Fire Department, including leading the department since 2012. Mayor Tony Roswarski named Alkire, who joined LFD as a firefighter in 2000, to be the next chief in March. Currently the assistant chief of fire prevention, Alkire oversees fire inspectors and investigators and manages the fire prevention division.
FAITH CHRISTIAN EXPANSION: Faith Christian School broke ground last week on a pair of construction projects that will expand its campus on Indiana 26, just east of Lafayette. The $8.6 million project will include a two-story, 11-classroom addition that will include a chemistry and physics lab on the north side of the school, Arvid Olson, director of development for Faith Ministries and a Faith Christian School board member, said. Olson said the additional classrooms for the K-12 private school will expand enrollment capacity from 750 students to 1,000 students when it opens in time for the 2024-25 school year. The other part of the project includes an athletic training center for the high school, which will be an addition to Faith Community Center on the Faith Church campus. The athletic training center will go where Faith had a skate park. (Olson said plans are in the works for a replacement skate park in another location on the campus.)
COMMENTS ON INDIANA AMERICAN WATER RATE HIKE PROPOSAL: An $86.7 million, 31% rate increase proposal from Indiana American Water, which serves areas of the state that include West Lafayette, could raise the average water bill in West Lafayette by $14 a month by the end of a three-phase increase over the course of two years, starting in January 2024.
The IURC will hold a public field hearing at 6 p.m. June 29 at the Hamilton County East Library’s Fishers branch, 5 Municipal Drive, in Fishers. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is taking written comments on the proposal through July 5. To submit comments, go to www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm; email to uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov; or by mail to Public Comments, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
LAFAYETTE PARKS SURVEY: As it develops its next five-year masterplan, Lafayette Parks and Recreation is looking for input through an online survey. “This survey is really critical for us to hear the community’s opinions about the things they like, things they would like to see improved and new things they would like to see in the future,” Parks Superintendent Claudine Laufman said. The new masterplan will help guide the parks department through 2028. The survey will be live through Sunday, June 18.
GLC BOARD CHANGES: Rachel Hazaray, deputy general counsel and senior manager at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, was named chair of the Greater Lafayette Commerce board of directors. She replaces Tom Murtaugh, a Tippecanoe County commissioner who was chair for the past two years. Jody Hamilton, external affairs director at Tipmont REMC and a Tippecanoe County Council member, will be vice chair, GLC announced last week. The GLC board, which includes business, community and elected leaders from Greater Lafayette, helps advocate for economic development and quality of life in the region.
GREEN EXPO AT THE FAIRGROUNDS: The Greater Lafayette Climate Action Plan Committee will host its annual Green Expo from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, June 25, at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road in the Lafayette. Admission is free. The expo will include businesses and organizations with information on electrification, renewable energy, electric/hybrid vehicles, locally produced food, energy efficiency in buildings, waste reduction, urban gardens, land conservation, bike transit or “other means helping people to reduce their environmental impact,” according to the committee. The expo also will include a visit from a paper shredding truck from noon-2 p.m. that day, providing shedding for up to five boxes of materials per vehicle.
COMING MONDAY, LOEB STADIUM’S NEXT CONCERT: Long Center, which books shows for three Lafayette-owned venues, teased that the next Loeb Stadium show will be announced Monday. (Loeb already is booked for ‘80s soft rock hitmakers Air Supply on July 28; and the city’s first foray into Loeb Stadium shows came in 2022 with America and county singer Justin Moore.)
So, any guesses for the next show? Hit the Comment button below.
OTHER READS …
Purdue Exponent reporters Seth Nelson and Marco Rivero Luna took a deep dive into “slumlord” accusations against Chaofeng Liu, an adjunct Purdue professor and landlord who has tenants and some public officials questioning the safety of his properties, even as he says he’s operating within code. Here’s their account: “'Pattern of abuse'? Tenants allege Purdue prof's rental properties unsafe.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Casey Smith had details on a lawsuit filed last week that contends Indiana’s new law that requires Indiana schools to notify parents when a student asks for name or pronoun changes and prohibits human sexuality instruction to the youngest Hoosier students poses First Amendment violations for teachers. The lawsuit also contends that the law is overly broad, given that neither “instruction” nor “human sexuality” is defined. For more, here’s Smith’s account: “Indianapolis teacher, ACLU file lawsuit to challenge new K-3 ban on ‘human sexuality’ education.”
The Indianapolis Star (which reporter, I’m not sure, because Guild members in the newsroom are withholding their bylines in a battle with Gannett on pay and benefits) had an interesting piece on the rise of a certain style of mixed-use developments in the burgeoning suburban cities around Indy. Here’s the story: “History lost? Mixed-use housing 'blandmarks' taking over downtown suburbia in Indiana.”
Thanks to today’s sponsors, Stuart & Branigin and The Arts Federation, preparing for the Taste of Tippecanoe June 17.
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