Delaware Day at the Eiteljorg

No, not the state, but the Native Americans also known as the Lenape will be featured from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow (1 August) at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis. Traditions, customs and lifeways are explored through drum and dance, frybread demonstrations, a woodlands camp, storytelling and more. Delaware elders and tribal historians Dee and Annette Ketchum, interpreter and historian Mike Pace will show the traditional and contemporary world of the Delaware.

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Indy Linked with Campinas, Brazil

Inside INdiana Business reports that Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and Mayor Helio De Oliveria Santos of Campinas, Brazil, on Tuesday (28 July) signed an agreement to make Campinas the newest Sister City of Indianapolis. The city has existing partnerships with Cologne, Germany; Monza, Italy; Piran, Slovenia; Hangzhou, China; and Taipei, Taiwan.

According to Inside INdiana Business, the Indy Mayor's criteria for selecting a Sister City include "having a metropolitan population of more than one million, an international airport, economic vitality in multiple industries and an education and cultural infrastructure able to foster exchanges with Indianapolis institutions". However, neither Monza nor Piran meet all of those criteria. Last year, the mayor canceled a nascent Sister City agreement with Eldoret, Kenya, where the Indiana University School of Medicine and Moi University School of Medicine have engaged in a cooperative program since 1989.

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Indiana Links with Hidalgo

The Indianapolis Star reports, "On July 20, Hidalgo Gov. Miguel A. Osorio Chong and other officials visited Indiana to sign agreements that would boost agricultural trade, establish an educational exchange program and formalize a language and cultural exchange program for public safety officers."

However, The Ethnic Hoosier is unable to confirm those agreements with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels office. When asked, his press officer, Jane Jankowski, told the Ethnic Hoosier on Wednesday (29 July 2009): "I'm not familiar with what you are asking about."

She did point to Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman's office, which issued this release on 20 July:

"Lt. Governor Becky Skillman welcomed Hidalgo Governor Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong of Mexico and his delegation to Indiana's Statehouse today, and the two signed an Agricultural Memo of Understanding between the states.

"The agricultural agreement is meant to support, promote and propel activities of cooperation in the area of agriculture. The two states agreed to promote technology transfer, promote international trade and pursue the exchange of academic and research information among the states' universities."

Whoever signed the other two agreements, the "educational exchange program" and "language and cultural exchange program for public safety officers" remains unknown.

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The Berlin Airlift - A Legacy of Friendship

"The Berlin Airlift - A Legacy of Friendship" is a traveling exhibit with 70 black-and-white photos tracing the story of the Berlin Airlift: In 1948, the Soviets blockaded the western portion of Berlin, Germany. In response, the United States and her Allies took to the skies flying in provisions for West Berlin’s over 2 million residents, an effort that grew into the Luftbrücke: an unending 'conveyor belt of planes' landing at Tempelhof Airport. During the Airlift, the aircraft supplied the city with 700 tons a day in June 1948 to 12,940 tons daily by April 1949. On May 12, 1949, the Soviets finally gave in, and reopened land and water routes into Berlin. Airlift missions finally ended in late September 1949.

The “Friends Always” exhibit will be on display at the Indiana War Memorial, 431 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, 5-16 August. It then moves to the Columbus (Ind.) Learning Center for 21 August - 5 September. Both exhibits are open to the public at no charge. The exhibit also will be on display 11-12 September at Indianapolis Executive Airport, Zionsville.

There will be an opening reception at noon 5 August in the Indiana War Memorial.

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Indiana Batteries to Power Japan Postal Service

The lithium-ion battery system produced by Indianapolis-based EnerDel has been selected to power vehicles for a testing program by the Japan Postal Service, reports Inside INdiana Business. The EnerDel batteries are combined with the electric drivetrain developed by Norway-based Think. The drivetrain has been sent to Zero Sports in Japan for a testing program by that country's postal service. Japan Post is working to electrify its fleet of 22,000 delivery vehicles.

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University of Evansville to Welcome Iraqi Students

Iraqi officials this morning announced the University of Evansville as one of only 22 colleges and universities across the nation participating in the first year of the new Iraq Education Initiative, reports Inside INdiana Business.

The project, which was announced in Washington, D.C., this morning by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, was created as part of an effort to help rebuild Iraq by offering its citizens access to quality education in foreign countries. Among the goals of the Initiative is to send up to 10,000 Iraqi students per year over the next five years to the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia to complete their higher education studies.

The program will kick off in 2009/10 with 500 students going to the 22 universities announced this morning, including the University of Evansville. It is not yet known, however, how many of the students will attend UE.

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Japanese Regulators Look at Indiana Corn

A team of Japanese regulators involved in the food, feed and environmental approvals of biotech corn events in Japan are visiting Indianapolis on 29 July, reports Inside INdiana Business. Indiana Corn Marketing Council is hosting the group for lunch next Wednesday as part of their visit.

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Production to Move from Sweden to Elkhart

Dometic Corp. is relocating some production from Sweden to Elkhart, Ind., following preliminary approval of a 10-year property tax phase-in plan by the city council, reports Inside INdiana Business. With the move come 241 jobs.

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Pierogi Fest This Weekend

Mr. Pierogi (pictured) hosts the annual Pierogi Fest in Whiting 24-26 July. This year there will be more than 40 vendors serving pierogis, pierogis and more pierogis (the little dumplings can be filled with anything from meat to sauerkraut to plum jam), plus other "delicious delights". (If you come with a cooler and buy 'em frozen, you can take your selection home to enjoy later.)

The first Pierogi Fest came about, according to legend, when a group of friends met for breakfast eleven years ago at Dimitri's Cake and Steak in that northern Indiana town. They decided to honor their grandparents with a festival...but what they needed was a symbol. "Thankfully, the group settled upon the innocent and darling little Eastern European dumpling, the pierogi or pirohi, depending on which church you go to here.... [Let] Pierogi Fest bring you back 'home' to a time when grandmas still wore babushkas, rolled their r's, and took the time to let your little hands help make the homemade dough."

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Indy's Mayor Sponsors Latino Soccer Cup

Indianapolis Mayor Gregory A. Ballard's Latino Soccer Cup will be played between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. 8 August in the Kuntz Memorial Soccer Stadium, 1502 West 16th Street, Indianapolis.

Registration is Friday, 24 July. For information on registration -- and the soccer cup itself-- contact Perla A. Williams in the mayor's office, 317:327-2721.

Forum on Election Protests in Iran

A panel of Indiana University faculty and students will present a forum on the recent elections and protests in Iran tomorrow (18 July). The question-and-answer session will begin at 4 p.m. in Ernie Pyle Auditorium in the IU School of Journalism, 940 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, reports the IU News Bureau. The public is invited.

Panelists will include:
* Daniel Beben, a Ph.D. student in Iranian history in the departments of history and Central Eurasian studies
* Jamsheed Choksy, professor of Central Eurasian studies, history and religious studies and a member of the National Council on the Humanities
* Shahyar Daneshgar, professor of Persian language in the Department of Central Eurasian Studies
* Paul Losensky, professor of Persian language and literature in the departments of Central Eurasian studies and comparative literature
* Abdulkader Sinno, professor of Middle Eastern politics in the departments of political science and Near Eastern languages and cultures.

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Dow AgroSciences Collaborates in Australia

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, and NemGenix, a biotechnology company based in Perth, Austrialia, have announced a newly established collaboration agreement to pursue novel technologies to produce nematode- resistant crops. The collaboration will support a number of full-time researchers at NemGenix’s facilities in Perth.

NemGenix is a privately held agricultural biotechnology company based at the Western Australia State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre in Perth. The company's focus is the research and development of new controls for plant parasitic nematodes (endemic soil borne pathogens), which are estimated to cause $15bn of crop damage worldwide with losses of more than 15 percent in some crops, such as sugar cane.

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Another Ethnic Restaurant Closes in Indy

Indianapolis Business Journal reporter Cory Schouten reports that Café Nora, a casual Southern European restaurant on East 86th Street in Indianapolis, has closed after a more than seven-year run. Owner Jim Nethercott told IBJ that he had to shut down Saturday because of falling traffic and other financial troubles; sales were down 34 percent from two years ago.

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Mask Making to the Extreme!

In "Mask Making to the Extreme!" students aged 7 to 11 will learn about artists' masks, then have fun making their own versions in the Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis. They'll use foiling metal to create an African-inspired mask, and use materials like paper maché, colorful tissue paper, feathers, mosaic squares, beans, beads, and glitter to create four different masks. The class fee ($47) includes materials. Two sessions are offered -- 4-7 August and 11-14 August. For registration and information, go online or call 317:327-PARK.

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African Festival in August

Come Meet the Nationalities Council of Indiana

Have you ever wondered about who makes up the various ethnic groups forming the cultural mosaic of the Hoosier state? Come and see, up close and personal, during the next meeting of the Nationalities Council of Indiana!

We gather at 7 p.m. tomorrow (13 July) in the Max Kade Room of the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. All are welcome -- especially if you're a member of an ethnic organization not represented at the council!

Questions? Contact the NCI president, Allen Galloway or take a walk through the myriad pages of our website, NationalitiesCouncil.org.

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German Wines from "Off the Beaten Path"

"Lutherans in Purgatory" is the provocative title for a fund-raiser benefitting the Foundation for Lutheran Child and Family Services. It will feature German wines from "off the beaten path" and take place in the Purgatory Golf Club. 12160 East 216th Street, Noblesville, from 7-9 p.m. 30 July. Michael Strong, a German wine consultant, is the presenter for the event, sponsored by the Lutherwood Society.

Lutherwood is a residential treatment center in Indianapolis for children who are recovering from the effects of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment.

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African Children's Choir to Sing in Greenfield

The African Children's Choir will sing at 9 and 10:45 a.m. 19 July in Brandywine Community Church, 1551 East New Road, Greenfield. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

The choir has established schools in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan and Uganda.

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Simon Unit Opens Another Outlet Mall in Japan

Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc. says its Chelsea division has opened its eighth Premium Outlet Center in Japan. Ami Premium Outlets is located about 34 miles from Tokyo, reports Inside INdiana Business.

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Giesecke Takes Position in Greece

The president and chief executive officer of Independent Colleges of Indiana is leaving to lead an institution in Greece, reports Inside INdiana Business. Dr. Hans Giesecke has been named the 10th president of Anatolia College. He is expected to start his new job next month.

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Prof. Robert Dewey Elected a Fellow of Britain's Royal Historical Society

Robert Dewey (pictured), assistant professor of history at DePauw University, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (RHS). Dr. Dewey is being honored for his recently published book, British National Identity and Opposition to Membership of Europe, 1961-63: The Anti-Marketeers.

Founded in 1868, the Society received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria after a campaign by Henry Austin Bruce, Lord Aberdare. According to its Web site, the RHS "remains the foremost society in Great Britain promoting and defending the scholarly study of the past." Election to fellowship status is conferred on those who have made "an original contribution to historical scholarship in the form of significant published work."

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Diversity in Practice Awards

Nominations are sought for the 2009 Diversity in Practice Awards, sponsored by the Indiana Lawyer. The goal is "to recognize and celebrate those who have excelled in their commitment to diversity in all its aspects,m and to inspire others to strive for similar excellence in diversity efforts". (All nominees are, of course, law-related.) Deadline is 4 September 2009. For information, contact Kim Harlow, marketing director for IBJ Media, 317:472-5315.

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Students Learn Leadership in London

Seventeen Butler University students are visiting England, through 24 July as part of a new site-based course called "Leadership London", reports the Butler news bureau.

Taught by College of Business Dean Chuck Williams (pictured), the course focuses on leadership by utilizing the resources, institutions and history of London. Williams said he chose London for the course because its one of the largest financial centers in the world.

The city is also familiar to him because he taught a similar course for 12 consecutive years at his previous institutions, Texas Christian University and the University of the Pacific.

Follow their adventures in London through the Leadership London blog.

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Indy International Film Festival

This year's Indianapolis International Film Festival takes place 15-25 July at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 North Michigan Road, Indianapolis. From American works to world cinema, the 2009 festival features 105 original, independent films made in 20 countries

There's a benefit and preview party at the Melody Inn, 3826 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis, at 8 p.m. 9 July.

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Grote Industries Moves from Spain to Germany

Grote Industries, a producer of LED lighting technology, has announced the relocation of its European headquarters from Spain to Niederwinkling, near Straubing, Germany. In addition to its world headquarters in Madison, Indiana, Grote maintains facilities in Canada, Mexico and Asia and had conducted its European operations from Spain since 2005.

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