Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 December 2003 — Page 3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2003

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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THE BUS ► Continued from Pago 1 1 cities, but has to do so with far ! fewer buses and the lowest budget of the group. M idwest public transportation , experts say former Mayor ! Stephen Goldsmith’s 1990’s overtures towards privatizing mass transit crippled IndyGo, leaving a hare-bones system that isn’t considered a viable transportation option by most Indianapolis residents. IndyGo President and CEO . Gilbert Holmes, who took over ; thejob last year said, “The kind of ; minimalist system we have had has made it unattractive to nearly everyone but those who cannot drive and thus have no alterna- . tive.” A 2001 IndyGo survey showed that 80 percent of its riders have , household incomes of less than

SCHOOL 65 ► Continued from Page 1 moved to their new location, there wasn’t a question whether they should continue. The event has gotten bigger every year, with 145 kids this year, said Taylor. “It makes you feel good when ■;.you see the expressions on their • faces when they open their gifts,” said Kimberly Hunt, a machine operator at Pepsico, who has participated the past two years. I

$25,000, and 77 percent of the system’s riders do not have a car available to them. Holmes and IndyGo board president Gregory Fehribach can rattle off an extensive list of services they would like to offer, but can’t because the money simply isn’t there: a downtown-to-air-port shuttle, more park-and-ride and express services, and, most importantly, greater frequency and later pick-ups on its most used routes. Ronald Barnes, CEO of the Central Ohio Transit Authority in Columbus, was surprised to learn that I ndyGo’s most frequent bus routes have a 30-minute gap between buses arriving at stops. In contrast, Columbus has 13 routes that run at frequencies of every 5-10 minutes during peak

The employees get almost as excited as the students do about giving the children something to look forward to. “It feels real good,” said Wesley Cobb, forklift operator for Pepsico. “It’s fun to see the glow in their eyes when they open the gift. If more people could see how they react, I know they would want to give also.” Pepsico sponsored the meal,

time. “It’s very hard to get dedicated riders with 30 minute frequency,” Barnes says. “Busy people can’t afford to miss a bus and lose a half-hour out of their work day. You also need later hours these days; people don’t always get off at 5 p.m. anymore. But it takes funds to provide that type of service.” It will ultimately be up to legislators and [local government] to decide where more public transit dollars will come from, but IndyGo officials insist the funds need to be found somewhere. “There is precedent out there,” says IndyGo’s Holmes. “We can look to the examples of other communities who decided they want to have good public transit, then sucked it up and funded it.”

which included turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, macaroni and cheese and an assortment of holiday cookies. The students also treated employees in attendance by singing Christmas carols like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Jolly Old St. Nicholas.” In addition, each student made an ornament for his or her gift-giver.

BRIEFS ► Continued from Page 1 $384,241 grant to Lawrence Township Fire Department Congresswoman Julia Carson has announced that Indianapolis' Lawrence Township Fire Department is to receive a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $384,241 for fire operations and firefighter safety. The award is made under the provisions of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The program awards one-year grants directly to local fire .departments, enhancing their abilities to respond to fire and fire-related hazards in their .communities.

Mayor Peterson ELECTED TO NATIONAL League of Cities board Mayor Bart Peterson was elected to the board of directors of the National League of Cities (NLC) at the recent NLC Congress of Cities in Nashville, Tenn. NLC is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States and serves as a resource and advocate for 18,000 U.S. cities. The board is the NLC's governing body.

Homeless shelter receives Lilly funds Dayspring Center Inc. announced the award of a $100,000 grant from Lilly Endowment. The award is for transitional support and will assist the agency with the operations of its family emergency homeless shelter and its transitional housing complex. The award comes at a critical time for the agency. On Dec. 9, 2002, the agency reopened after a two-month closure. During the time, programs were cut and funds were raised so that the agency could continue to serve the homeless families with children that are its client base.

TORRENCE Continued from Page 1 mechanics, and my ordained minister’s license.” i But Torrence warns that with ' all his skills and training, he cannot land a job, or assistance to help him live. “I went to a church to get help, and was told if I had a ■ job, then they would help me,” he commented. “But if no one will hire me, what can I do to survive? ,• He emphatically denies that he is doing anything illegal, including using or selling drugs. “I . have learned my lesson, being a former gang-banger, and doing everything that was bad,” said Torrence. “But now I am desper-

ately trying to turn my life around, and make something of myself.” The straight-talking Torrence has applied at United Parcel Service (UPS), Mayflower Transit Co., and numerous other businesses, but was turned down, because of his record. Further, he sought assistance from a township trustee and other government agencies, which offer no assistance to former felons with drug cases. He was fired from Indianapolis Fruit, because of time off to spend with his adopted father, who is dying of cancer. “They told me that it had to be me in the

hospital for my job not to be affected,” Torrence said. He now lives with his grandmother, whom he loves and appreciates very much. “She is very good to me, and I really love what she has done for me,” he continued. Torrence’s qualifications include, but are not limited to pouring cement, doing concrete and brick work, doing agricultural work, lawn care and limited landscaping. Anyone needing help in these areas, please contact Torrence at (317) 283-3034.

Homeless iniHaHve receives naHonal recognition

Sptclal to Tho Recorder • The Action Coalition to Ensure Stability, an Indianapolis program that coordinates services for Marion County 'adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness who experience mental illness and substance abuse issues, was .selected as one of six sites .across the country for the 2003 Center for Mental Health Services Homeless . Programs Branch Exemplary Programs. ACES accepted the award during the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sponsored conference “Hope: The Key to Ending Homelessness for People with Mental Illnesses

and/or Substance Use Disorders” in Phoenix recently. ACES was selected to receive the award based on its contributions to the community, commitment to serving those in need, collaborations with other community service providers, consumer involvement, consumer outcomes and culturally sensitive services. “This award is a tribute to the entire community for the collaborative efforts in serving those most in need," said ACES Director Brent Matthews. “Together, we are demonstrating that through collaborations that promote permanent supported housing, we can end homelessness and promote that there is help and hope for recovery.”

The ACES Project is a community collaboration with Midtown Community Mental Health Center, a division of Wishard Health Services and Health & Hospital Corp. of Marion County, and the city of Indianapolis’ Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention and many more agencies. ACES is made possible through the funding and efforts of Lilly Endowment, United Way of Central Indiana, Choices Inc., CHIP and the ACES Achievers Council. For more information about ACES, or any of the Choices programs, call (317) 726-2121 or visit www.kidwrap.org.

Merry Christmas ^

Louise Stamps September 5,1923 -- December 27 9 2002 Mother, this is the time of year I miss you most for it was you who put the merry in all my Christmases. Trimming the tree, wrapping the presents, and leaving cookies for Santa. Most of all, it was you who taught us the true meaning of Christmas: faith, charity and love. Merry Christmas, Mother... Love, Janet

! 1 il « V t :♦

141st Observance and Our 60th Annual EMANCIPATION BAY CELEBRATION GUESTPREACHER

1863

2004

The Honorable Indiana State Representative William Crawford House District 98 Chairman of Ways and Means Committee Thursday, January 1,2004 10:00 a.m. t0r¥k*$ SpwnS hf Foresight Ministers Alliance Rev. Otis Jetter, President

Interdenominational Ministers’Alliance

Dr. Fitzhugh L Lyons, Sr.

Missionary Baptist Ministers' Alliance of Indianapolis Rev Rayford Brown,

President

Services Held at Christ Missionary Baptist Church 1001 Eugene Street • Indianapolis, IN Dr. M.B. Girton, Sr., Host Pastor