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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v15n24)
Round the Ripple - by Bill Malcolm
posted: Nov. 30, 2018

Round the Ripple header

Last Call For 2019 Health Insurance Enrollment
Enrollment ends in just a few days to enroll in health insurance for next year. Go to www.healthcare.gov to sign up. You may qualify for a subsidy or tax credit. (This is the Federally run Affordable Care Act insurance.)


City Sued Over Plan To Abandon Regional Rail Corridor
Trails council executive Richard Vonnegut has sued the City of Indianapolis for its violation of changing the thoroughfare plan without public input regarding converting the Nickel Plate Railroad rail tracks into a trail. The suit apparently asks for public comment hearings.
The Nickel Plate tracks, which run from downtown Indianapolis north beyond Noblesville, can handle joint rail and trail use according to advocate Logan Day of Save the Nickel Plate.
Separately, advocates of preserving the corridor met November 19 at Faegre Baker Daniels in downtown Indianapolis to form a new regional coalition to stop Fishers' plan for a trail-only option despite public protest.
The Surface Transportation Board which has jurisdiction over the matter has yet to ok abandonment. Over 1,200 persons have objected to Fisher's proposal and the suburb refuses to consider joint rail and trail use according to critics.
Vonnegut's lawsuit brought by attorney Terry Tolliver asks the STB to halt consideration of the request of Fisher's to allow abandonment of the rail corridor pending resolution of the lawsuit.
The unique rail corridor has been used for freight, the State Fair Train, and the Indiana Transportation Museum special events trains such as the North Pole Express.
Join Save the Nickel Plate on Facebook or ride your bike along the Monon Trail to see the corridor. The lack of regional transit leadership is appalling. As we learned with the recent bid for Amazon, we need to work together as a region and not as individual cities. This includes having a viable regional transit system.


Santa and the Reindeer Coming December 8th
The Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Annual Holiday Tree Sale and Family event, Saturday, December 8th, 2018, (at 7725 N. College Avenue), starts with breakfast in the Churchman Dining Room (8:30 to 11:30 am, with a visit with Santa from 9 to 10). Then, the Holiday Open House and Plant Sale will start at 9 am in the Greenhouse with a visit with Santa starting at 10:15 am and the Indy Ukulele Club at 12:30 pm.
The Christmas Tree sale begins at 9 am with a visit with Santa at 11:15 am and petting of live reindeer starting at 12:15 pm.


College Avenue Construction Begins
Construction has begun on College Avenue due to the IndyGo Red Line and gas main relocation that will result in delays and closure of all or parts of College Avenue starting soon. Per IndyGo, crews will be relocating sections of water main and/or fire hydrants at several intersections over the next several months, with gas main relocation to follow from 40th to 66th Street.


Get out of the Ripple-Your Southern Florida Car Free, Care Free Getaway
Fort Lauderdale and Miami are perfect for a car free, carefree holiday.
I took Amtrak down from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale through the beautiful countryside to Ft. Lauderdale. I flew back on Southwest.
The #1 bus serves the FLL airport from the rental car area for $2 and you can connect to the #40 for a short trip to Fort Lauderdale beach area.
I stayed at the Best Western Oceanside Inn near the beach. They have bikes to rent. The Swimming Hall of Fame is a half mile away and offers public lap swims for $4.
Check Sunny.org for other lodging ideas (or use Trip Advisor).
Being a transit fan, I took the new Brightline train from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. It is a privately run train which serves cocktails in the waiting area and on board (as well as snacks). Look out Amtrak. Once there, you can hop on the Miami Metro Mover.
The Miami financial district features lots of interesting new architecture or you can hang out along the harbor. Check out Bayfront Park along Brickell Avenue where you can hop on the Brickell Avenue Trolley to see downtown Miami. Take the Metro Mover from the Brightline Station in Miami. It is a free people mover that runs around downtown on 3 separate routes. A mini version of the L without the noise nor the fare.
On the way home, I took the Metrorail subway to MIA Airport station to hop on the Tri-Rail commuter rail back to Ft. Lauderdale. Details at miamidade.gov/transit or at the Tri Rail website. (You can also catch the 150 bus to Miami Beach from the Airport transit center in Miami.) A free bus from Tri Rail takes you back to the transit center where you can hop on the #50 back to Wilton Manor.
You can't beat south Florida for a winter time visit. Temperatures rarely dip below the 60s and highs are routinely in the 80s. Using my tips you can enjoy the area without the hassle of a rental car nor even having to use UBER or Lyft.


Art Center Holiday Fun
Don't miss these upcoming events at the Indianapolis Art Center:
Winter Fest: Winter Art Sale - Dec. 1, 2018, 10 am to 4 pm & Dec. 2, 2018, Noon to 4 pm
81st Annual Student Show - Opening Reception Dec. 14, 2018, 6 to 9 pm. The exhibition is the largest juried exhibition of work made by IAC students.


Upcoming
December 8, 2018 - Drag Show with the Banana Babes at The Monkey's Tale, 11 pm. (Karaoke starts at 8 pm).



Bill Malcolm also writes a travel column in The Midwest Eagle and is a reporter for All Aboard Indiana (as a volunteer for both). He advocates for fair and affordable utility rates for a national association based in Washington, D.C. He welcomes reader feedback and story ideas. Send to Bill@BroadRippleGazette.com




bill@broadripplegazette.com
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