Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 October 2004 — Page 3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2004

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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BRIEFS ► Continued from Page 1 neighborhoods and create an agenda for continuing a dialogue about these issues. Health Department responds to reduction of flu vaccine The Marion County Health Department (MCHD) announced a reduction in the anticipated national supply of flu vaccine that resulted in changes to the county's flu vaccine program. The reduction will ensure that only those at high risk for the flu will receive the vaccine. High risk individuals include adults age 65 and older, children ages six to 23 months, adults and children with chronic illness, residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities, pregnant women, children and adolescents (six months to 18 years of age) who are receiving long term aspirin therapy and may be at risk for Reye’s syndrome after influenza. For more information call the MCHD flu hotline at (317) 221-2121. NADA proclaims October “Booster Seat

Open Mic Night at XPression Midtown Writers Association presents Kafe Kuumba Thursday Night Open Mic at Big Fella's Family Restaurant, 3469 N. College Ave. Open Night is held from 6 to 9 p.m. at X-Pression Bookstore & Gallery, 970 Ft. Wayne Ave. on every first and third Sundays of the month. Both events are free admission. NADA proclaims October “Booster Seat Safety Month“ The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has proclaimed October "Booster Seat Safety Month." The decision, which was made at a meeting of the association's board of directors in Amelia Island, Florida, supports NADA's growing commitment to child passenger safety. New-car dealers in all 50 states will host child seat safety events at their dealerships during the month of October as part of a national public awareness campaign. Safety experts have identified proper booster seat use for children in the four-to-eight age range as one of the nation's most important child passenger safety priorities. The campaign is part

of a partnership between NADA and NHTSA to promote child passenger safety. For more information contact Jeff Beddow at (703) 821-7121. BMV closed Monday s. open Saturday’s The Bureau of Motor Vehicles reminds its customers that all license branches are now closed every Monday. Additionally, BMV administrative offices will be closed Mon., Oct. 11 in observance of the Columbus Day holiday. "This is a more customerfriendly schedule that opens the branches when people need them,” said Commissioner Mary L. DePrez. "Closing on Monday allows us to provide these new hours at no additional operating cost.” Effective Oct. 4, business hours for all full-service license branches are: Monday: Closed, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Motorists can also use BMV Express automated services 24 hours a day to conduct business by phone, Internet or at any Self-Service Terminal (SST). Vehicle registrations can be renewed by phone with BMV Express Touch-Tone Renewal at 1-877-4-NEW-BMV. Standard

vehicle registrations and driver license renewals as well as SST location searches can be conducted over the Internet at www.bmvexpress.IN.gov. How to start your own business On Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. the U.S. Small Business Administration

(SBA) is sponsoring How to Start a Business at the SBA/ Bank One Business Information Center (BIC). The BIC is located at 2126 N. Meridian St. Attendees at this free seminar will learn about key considerations for starting and operating a successful business such as: family and personal consideration, management versus technical expertise needs,

options for the legal structure of the business, essential start-up accounting projections and realities of new business financing. Reservations for this free seminar are reguired, as seating is limited. To find out more information or to reserve your space, contact the SBA Indiana District at (317) 226-7272 or at www.sba.gov/in.

...Become Tomorrow’s Leaders. We’re living proof Today, local YMCA programs and services touch the lives of more than 140,000 people — living proof we’re making a difference even' day.

EX-OFFENDERS ► Continued from Page 1 ployment,” said Williams. “After you answer yes to the question ‘Have you ever been convicted of a crime?’ employers don’t look any further. You don’t even get a chance to explain. Especially post 9/11 has caused more barriers because people are just more distrustful.” The conference will discuss employment, housing, education and what it takes to seal a criminal record. Section 8 and similar programs exclude ex-offenders for housing, as well as many pri-vate-housing communities.

There are laws that exclude ex-offenders from getting certain licenses such as an ambulance driver or IPS bus driver. “It might not even be a related crime,” said Williams. “This makes it difficult to move forward in a career.” Currently there are efforts to pass legislation to help exoffenders. “There is legislation trying to pass to expunge the record after a certain period of time with no other offenses for certain non-violent crimes,” said Williams. The conference is free of

charge with lunch provided. Advanced registration is required by Oct. 20. Panelists will include judges, housing representatives, council representatives, ex-offenders and employers. For more information or to register e-mail your name/ title, organization, and address with state and zip code and email address to [email protected] or [email protected]. You can also fax the information to (317) 327-7937or (317) 635-1388, attention: Conference.

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At Indianapofis Power fit Light Compatr (IPL), we are dedicated to preserving our natural resources. To help, we created the IPL Golden Eagle Awards, through whiqh we provide grants for projects that will preserve, protect, enhance or restore our ’ environmental and biological resources. We are proud to present the wimers of this year’s awards. And we salute diem for their dedication, innovation, and boundless energy.

2004 IPL Golden Eagle Award Recipients Creating a Morgan County Park Plan Morgan County Eagle Creek frairfe end Forest Restoration Office of Land Stewardship, Indianapolis Parks ' ; and Recreation Fort Harrison State Park Habitat Restoration The Indianapolis Zoological Society HHC Knobstone Tfail Booster Hikers Cound McCloud Park '/ Hendricks County Park Board Neff Woods Stata Nature Preaerva Whitewater Valley Land Tfust Inc. Ounce of Prevention: Invasive Plant Spades The Indiana Chapter of the Nature Conservancy Prairie Creek Barrens Restoration Prefect Indiana Division of Nature Preserves

Royer/Nelson Project Central Indiana Land Trust Inc. f Saiamander Defense Project Evansville Department of Parks and Recreation

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