There are no pet references in my column today. I just need to howl. This past summer seems to have spawned more graffiti taggers than ever. Recently, driving south on Central to downtown, I was amazed at how much I saw. Let me be clear, before I offend the "artists" and the community volunteers who have painted some lovely things. I am referring to the vandalism that is being done to private and public property such as store windows, brick walls, garage doors, bus stop shelters, utility boxes, signs, etc. There are some in our community who are the good guys and they deserve recognition for trying to keep up on clean up. It's nice to know that some are taking action. Here's what has happened that I am aware of:

A photo of Michele Childs was featured in a past Broad Ripple Gazette showing her painting a mural on a targeted building at 49th & College Avenue (the old Lindner's ice cream store). It is now complete and is a wall of hot air balloons. Michele has been a corner watchdog and has painted over a lot of undesirable graffiti over the last few years. She was one of many volunteers who painted other storefronts on E. 49th Street at the College Avenue corner. She is a decorative artist by trade. You can see some of her work on the front signs at Aristocrats in the garden. I have commissioned her to do my store's logo on the side of our building. One day, when she was down here talking about doing that logo, we noticed a municipal truck pull up to a utility cable box. A city employee got out and started painting over the grafitti. Michele and I went over to talk to her and learned she had been sent out to paint specific places but hadn't even gotten to her to-do list because she had stopped at so many utility boxes enroute. Of course we told her of spots that could use her attention most notably all the tagging that had been plastered up and down E. 54th Street around the Monon Shops and School #55.

Carter Keith of CAN DO! (College Avenue Neighborhood Development Organization) took loads of photos when the corner at 46th & College got plastered on the bus stops, grocery store front, furniture store parking lot wall and across the vacant gas station that is no longer there. He notified the city and police and that was when I first learned about officer Henry Castor. This man is prepared to fight the battle. He stocks his patrol car with paint, gloves, rags and solvents. As he is on the streets and sees the need to clean up, he tackles the problem. He can even be seen on days off combating the situation. I caught him on September 2nd cleaning graffiti off of the developers sign at 49th & College. He was working hard with a new solvent to try not to ruin the plexiglass covering of the sign. After his diligent efforts it was no time at all when a disgruntled citizen stenciled over the sign his particular sentiments, ruining the sign further. I learned of a sting operation that was planned to catch some known vandals. After that it seems as if the quantity of the tagging subsided. Some have suggested it is a coincidence that school is in session and kids are not out late. Having graffiti walls around the city could be fun and interesting. However, what I am citing is not art. It is territorial, malicious and damaging. It is against the law.