BRAG News and Happenings

Join us every Saturday morning at the Binford Farmers Market at 62nd and Binford throughout the growing season until October 24th for the best Indiana meats, freshest local produce, baked goods, garden plants, seasonal items, and foodie delights. Free entertainment. Easy parking.

Great gifts for any occasion – flowers, food, gourmet items, and Hoosier favorites.

The new Kroger store is now open at 71st and Binford!

Kroger management and staff, local dignitaries and neighbors gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new Kroger store at 71st and Binford on January 28th. Kroger Central Division President Bob Moeder noted, "We are very proud of Unit Manager Steve McGhee and his team. Today we celebrate not just the grand opening of our 47th central Indiana Kroger store, but the talent and dedication of associates who worked very hard to prepare this store for our customers. This new store is a demonstration of the outstanding teamwork that makes Kroger Central Division a success story of economic investment and job creation in the midst of a very challenging national economy. Our real estate department set the tone for long-term, collaborative relationship with our friend, neighbor and landlord Donna Carr in building a deal that already is having a catalytic economic impact on this neighborhood. Donna has made her own economic and job creation investments in the adjacent center, magnifying the positive impact for this Northeast Indianapolis neighborhood. Our friends from BRAG have been very welcoming and helpful. They are exactly the kind of new neighbors all of us love to have. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful has become one of our most important community partners. We have deep respect and admiration for their effective, passionate protection of the environment Kroger’s associates and customers all share."

BRAG held its annual meeting in the store and received a very generous contribution from Kroger. The store was open for neighbors to tour and sample the many products available from vendors.

Joe Komenda, BRAG board member and Crime Watch coordinator, received the Mayors Community Service Award in December.   The Mayor’s Community Service Awards have been created to recognize Indianapolis citizens for their volunteer contributions and commitments to community service. Mayor Greg Ballard will honor MCS award recipients at a city event and a brick will be engraved with their names.  The bricks are placed at the Mayor’s Volunteer Plaza at the 11th Street Admiral Spruance basin on the Canal. 

BRAG received a thank you letter from the Indianapolis chapter of the American Red Cross thanking us for collecting almost $1000 for Indiana Tornado and Flood Relief.  This amount was collected at the Binford Farmers Market in the weeks following the floods and tornados this summer.  Many thanks to all who contributed!

MAJOR MOVES 465/69 Northeast Project
Full details at 465-69northeast.in.gov 
This project involves adding lanes to I-465 from Meridian Street interchange to the Fall Creek interchange, and the addition of lanes and access from and to I-69 to I-465.

Phase 1 of the project will be the renovation and expansion of I-465 from the Meridian Street interchange to just east of Keystone.  Work on this phase will begin in 2012.  In this first phase additional lanes will be constructed in I-465, and the bridges at College Avenue and Westfield will be reconstructed to provide for the added lanes and raise the clearance on I-465 to at least 16 feet.  The Keystone interchange will be reconstructed into what is called a modified cloverleaf eliminating all of the left turn access to I-465.

Phase 2 of the project will continue beyond Keystone to the 82nd Street Bridge.  As with the first phase additional lanes will be added to I-465 and the interchange at Allisonville will be reconstructed   Bridges at North River Road, White River and Allisonville will be reconstructed.  The Allisonville interchange will be reconstructed to be a SUI, or an interchange like that at I-465 and Emerson Avenue on the south side.

Phase 3 of the project will shift focus to I-69, just north of I-465 to a point about a half mile south of 96th Street.  Additional travel lanes will be added.

Phase 4 will include the reconstruction of the interchange at I-465, I-69 and Binford Boulevard. Travel lanes will also be added on I-465 from just east of 82nd Street to just north of Fall Creek Road. This project also includes the bridges over East 71st and 75th streets.
The time line for the four phases of construction are:
· Phase 1 – 2012
· Phase 2 – 2013
· Phase 3 – 2014
· Phase 4 – 2015

See the website for full details:  465-69northeast.in.gov 

RECYCLING BINS!!!

Because of the global glut of recycling material, the 5 bins have been removed from the loading dock just south of the former Entenmann’s.  Thank you SO much for your enthusiastic support of recycling.  We hope to resume this community service as soon as it becomes profitable once again. 

In the meantime, please continue your good recycling habits by taking your items to the following places: 

• O’Malia’s (56th and Fall Creek) to dispose of glass, aluminum, #1 and 2 plastic bottles
• Wal-Mart parking lot (73rd and Keystone) for your glass, aluminum, plastic bottles
• Inside the front door of non-grocery entrance of Wal-Mart to dispose of your plastic bags
• Your favorite school, church, library’s Abitibi bins to unload paper items
• Check this website to find out where to dispose of cell phones, phone books, and cardboard throughout Marion County:   www.kibi.org/recycle  
• If you’re interested in Republic’s residential recycling service, please contact 917.7302 ext 0 to learn more.  They provide a 95 gallon recycle cart that is picked up every other week for $6/month.   Check www.indywaste.com  for details re the extensive list of items that they take. 
• Batteries Plus, about a 10 minute hop down 465S then 1 blk West to 7325 Pendleton Pike, will take ANY disposable/rechargeable batteries.

The Oktoberfest held on October 11th at Hillcrest Country Club in conjunction with the Hillcrest Historic Foundation was a huge success.  About 250 people attended raising nearly $12,000.  BRAGs share of the loot is just shy of $6000!   A big thank you is owed to the staff of Hillcrest and the large number of volunteers from the Foundation.  And thank you to all who attended this fun and rewarding event.  Click here for photos. 

Ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Fall Creek Greenway

Neighborhood Liaisons are your direct link to the Mayor's office, as well as any city department and service. 

• The Neighborhood Liaison for Lawrence Township is Noelle Malatestinic, 327-5580.
• The Neighborhood Liaison for Washington Township is Catherine Moore, 327-5380.

TRIBUTE WITH TREES PROGRAM
Click here to learn more about how to honor the memory of someone special or commemorate a special event by purchasing a tree to be planted as a part of the Binford Beautification Project.