Back to school carnival
Indianapolis Public Schools and Perry Township are partnering with several local organizations to present the 12th Annual Family Fun Filled Back to School Carnival Celebration on Aug. 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will be at Julian Coleman Academies, 1740 E. 30th St., and will feature free health and dental screenings, immunizations, music, food, games, prizes, dancing, storytelling, and other activities. Admission is free, as long as youth are accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information, call Sheryl Wise at (317) 291-0338 or (317) 789-3968.
Swim, bike and run
The 6th Annual Indy Kids Triathlon will be held Aug. 7 at Sahm Park, 6804 East 91st St. This kids-only event combines swimming, biking and running in an exciting format to promote fun, physical activity and self-confidence. This is not a timed event – every kid is a winner. Participants are asked to bring proper equipment: swim clothes, swim cap, towel, bicycle, safety gear, helmet and shoes for running.
Children ages 5-8 years old will participate in a 25-yard swim, 1.5-mile bike and .5-mile run/walk; Children ages 11-15 years old, a 50-yard swim, 3.0-mile bike and 1-mile run/walk; children ages 9-10 years old will have the option to choose the short or long course.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the race starts promptly at 9 a.m. The cost is $25 per child.
For more information or to register, call (317) 327-PARK, email Cathy Marx at cmarx@indy.gov or visit www.indyparks.org.
New dance school set to open
On Aug. 16, the Indiana Ballet Conservatory is set to open its doors for the first time. In accordance with the school’s mission to become one of the most respected dance academies in the Midwest while touching the lives of the underserved in the community, it will offer free performances, scholarship opportunities and educational programs for a diverse community. The conservatory will start by holding classes at the Carmel Performing Arts Center, 575 W. Carmel Dr., and is looking into venues and opportunities to teach classes in more inner-city areas. For more information or to enroll, call (317) 379-1188 or visit indianaballetconservatory.org.
Indy Parks offers free concerts
Indy Parks and Recreation brings a wide variety of musical performances to Indianapolis at a reasonable cost each year.
As part of the Jazz on the Point series, Pharez Whitted and Frank Glover will come to Eagle Creek Park, 7840 W. 56th St., on Aug. 11 and Aug. 25, and can be heard for a $5 gate fee. Kenny Phelps and the Hananeel band, Cynthia Layne and Gary Walter and Friends will perform at Broad Ripple Park, 1450 Broad Ripple Ave., on Aug. 13, 30 and 27.
Visit concert.indyparks.org for more information.
Library events
Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library’s College Avenue Branch, 4180 N. College, will host the Birthday Bash! on Aug. 7 to celebrate its 10th birthday. Music, origami crafts, a magic show, door prizes and refreshments will be offered at the event, which will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Both the East 38th Street Branch, 5420 E. 38th St., and the Flanner House Branch, 2424 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., will host their monthly book discussions on Aug. 9. East 38th’s group will be discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett at 6 p.m. and Flanner House’s group will share their thoughts on Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva by Victoria Rowell at 6:30 p.m.
Block party
Residents of the near-eastside Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood will host a block party on Aug. 7 along Caroline Avenue between 25th and 30th streets. The party will last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature food, garage sales, back-to-school supplies, prizes for both the young and old, and a “real big water slide.”
Additionally, Democratic mayoral candidates Jose Evans and Melinda Kennedy will attend, and both are scheduled to deliver speeches starting at 3 p.m. Call Judy Secrest at (317) 926-1992 for more information.
Pizzeria to give away food for school supplies
An Indianapolis restaurant is giving away food in exchange for donations of school supplies from the public. Monical’s Pizza, 10625 Pendleton Pike, will receive the donations on Thursday, Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 7, noon to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 8, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and give them away to surrounding schools and churches.
Those who donate a new, unopened school supply item, including empty and filled book bags, among other supplies, will receive certain items on the pizzeria’s menu, such as breadsticks, cookies, cheese fries and other foods. For more information, contact General Manager Gary Cunningham at (317) 771-2238.
Lovett competes for pageant title
Kayanna Lovett of Indianapolis was recently selected to participate in Nationals’ 2010 Miss Pre-Teen Indianapolis pageant competition that will take place Aug. 22.
Lovett will be competing in the Miss Pre-Teen division, for young ladies ages 7 to 19 for her share of thousands of dollars in prizes and specialty gifts distributed to contestants. She must model casual and formal wear and display her personality and interviewing skills for a judging panel.
If Lovett wins, she will represent Indianapolis at the Cities of America National Competition that will take place in Orlando, Fla.
Those who are interested in sponsoring Lovett may contact her pageant coordinator at (800) 569-2487.
