Holliday Park will offer a volunteer "basic" training which introduces citizens and educators to water quality monitoring utilizing hands-on habitat, chemical, and biological assessment methods. Hoosier Riverwatch is a program of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Registration is required. The date is Saturday, Sep. 26, 2015, from 9:00-4:00 pm. Register by calling or emailing John Ulmer, 317-769-3500 or watersheds@tds.net

Electric car sharing has arrived in the Ripple. We are the northernmost outpost of BlueIndy with a station located across the street from the Monon Coffee Company on Westfield Boulevard.

Ambassadors Alex Freeman (shown in picture with Shannon and Jana) and Bill Powell explained details to Shannon Pehler and Jana Pehler. BlueIndy allows you to pick up a car in Broad Ripple and return it in Midtown, downtown, or even the airport. See BlueIndy's website for more details.

Broad Ripple Park has a couple of events coming up including:

• September 23rd, 2015 - Yappy Hour for Stress Reduction at Broad Ripple Bark Park from 4:00-7:00pm. Just bring your dog's vaccination records for Rabies, Parvo, Distempter and Bordetella and check it out for free. If you like what you see, they've cut the cost of the Bark Park membership in half. For just $40, you and your pup will have unlimited use of the Broad Ripple Bark Park for four months.

• October 3rd, 2015 - 3rd Annual Haunted Gingerbread Houses. Create a ghoulish and spooky gingerbread houses! Pre-registration is required, low cost of $10 per child. Call (317) 327-7161 to register.

The September 4th, 2015, Indianapolis Recorder featured a story with more details on the proposed Red Line bus rapid transit proposal. The first phase will begin at 66th and College in Broad Ripple, travel through the new downtown transit center (set to open soon) and on to the University of Indianapolis. Other stops in the Ripple will be at Broad Ripple Avenue, Kessler Boulevard, 54th Street, 52nd Street, and 46th Street according to the article. For details on the transit proposal, see the Recorder story (www.indianpolisrecorder.com), go to www.indygo.net/redline ,or www.indy-Connect.org.

On Friday September 25, 2015, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Indianapolis Art Center fall exhibit opening reception will be held. "Plain Airs" features a grouping of shows that examine how contemporary artists are reexamining traditional methodologies and techniques.

Get a first look at the exhibition, meet the curators and artists; and enjoy free food and Sun King Brewing beer, music from DJ Kyle Long, as well as art activities and demonstrations" according to their Facebook posting.

You can't beat a fall trip to the Badger State. The fall colors are spectacular on the rolling hills which are dotted with red barns. Visit Madison, the state capitol and home of the UW Badgers football team. Don't miss Olbrich Gardens and the UW Arboretum. On Saturday, the farmers market on the Capitol Square is a must. In Milwaukee, visit the Art Museum over-hanging Lake Michigan. The Milwaukee Public Market is a gem. Travel to Milwaukee by bus or train (7 trains a day from Chicago take just 90 minutes and go 89 mph) and arrive at the new Inter-Modal Transit Station. Another must is Door County, a peninsula in Northeast Wisconsin located between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. (Did I forget to mention the Packers?) You can't beat fall in Wisconsin, arguably the most beautiful state in the Midwest. Don't forget to pick up some brats and cheese curds to bring home and sample the many micro-brews while you are there.