Current in Westfield 4.15.08
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TUESDAY November 11, 2008 FREE TRAVELS ABROAD IMPACT LOCAL DENTIST / P6 THE ART OF HANGING ART / P11 DOGS NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE / P18 WESTFIELD’S FIRST COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM READY . JUST IN CASE / P2 Photo by Shane Rodimel Visit the back page for childbirth Get a healthy start for your family. education class listings. COVER STORY CERT workers Mary Ake, left, and Ulises Sirit tend to the would-be victim, while Mel Roach, back left, and Jim Ake lift fallen materials. Photo by Shane Rodimel 008 WESTFIELD’S FIRST COMMUNITY city.” The first CERT team consists of 12 members. Jim, a EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM StRENGTH IN NUMBERS small-business owner, says they understand what is re- Westfield’s first Community Emergency Response quired of them. READY … JUST IN CASE Team (CERT) consists of 12 members. “Our safety forces can get overwhelmed in an emer- By K.O. Jackson “To quote Dirty Harry, ‘you gotta know your gency. We want to limit damage, protect lives and give Current in Westfield limits. CERT helped me recognize that I could easily assistance,” says Jim. “Day in and day out I have a new After living through an Ohio tornado and the Sept. 11 be part of the problem rather than what CERT appreciation of what our safety forces do.” teaches, namely, to be part of the solution,” says disaster, Jim Ake understands the importance of having an Mary Ake got involved because “after 9/11, I wanted CERT member Ronald Roth. to do something. I wanted to volunteer. CERT makes me emergency plan. The first class, with neighborhood/organiza- think about my part and what I need to do. Sometimes He also understands how helpless one can feel without tions they represent, includes Ken Lipetz and Jeff Tuesday, November 11, one. Dickison of Village Farms, Deb Lewis of Brookside, when there is a disaster, you have to take care of yourself As a result, Ake and his wife, Mary, are members of Mel Roach of Cherrywood, Ulises Sirit of Ashfield, until help arrives. There are enormous physical demands Westfield’s first Community Emergency Response Team Larry Stewart of Downtown Westfield, Ronald for the job (first responders). Dragging a 160-pound body (CERT). Rothrock, Jim and Mary Ake, John and Carole and you wonder how do they do this? We take them for “We have lived through emergencies. We’ve watched Browning of Centennial and Megan Vawter, CERT granted. We don’t realize the physical demands of their communities torn apart and people separated from their coordinator and Westfield Fire Department. jobs. It gives you a whole new outlook. What I’ve learned loved ones,” says Jim, who has lived in Westfield for nine through CERT is to be aware of your environment.” years. Burton says current CERT members will continue with “I felt so terrible after 9/11 and I don’t want to have says Burton, adding CERT member can also be used to ongoing training and update their skills. In addition, he that feeling again. You want to help prepare the com- provide assistance during various community events. plans to have another class of CERT in the future. munity for a major event, but you hope it never happens “Citizens are trained on basic fire suppression, medi- “The more people we have, the better off the entire here.” cal triage and light search and rescue. When there is an community will be,” says Burton. “CERT is preparation Although Westfield already has Westfield READY, a emergency, first responders are overwhelmed. CERT helps and response. We want to continue with the ongoing citywide disaster plan outlining steps for the city to take to fill the gap until help arrives. It supplements what we training and hope they never have to use it. The more in the event of an emergency, Fire Chief Todd Burton says do. Usually after a disaster, it can be up to 72 hours where people we have involved with CERT the better. We teach CERT enhances what first responders do. citizens may have to rely on the help of individuals for how to take care of yourself and your family.” www.currentinwestfield.com “CERT is part of the national FEMA program. It trains life-saving needs. CERT is vital to how successfully we For additional information, call 317-896-2704 or email citizens how to prepare for emergencies and disasters,” plan and manage catastrophic events that may impact our [email protected]. OUR TAKES OR GIVE ME DEATH LESSONS (TO BE) LEARNED VIEWS It is our position that death threats do of this plot, there was a notable absence It is our position that the Keystone are a major problem; and this commu- not have a place in public discourse. It is of disdain when a relatively similar event Avenue project south of 136th Street nity will take notice. Second, thorough a poverty of culture when a public official occurred in Hamilton County. One of our serves as a cautionary tale for our fine planning is a requirement for any proj- or a political candidate is a target of an local mayors was the subject last year of a and growing city. Our southern neigh- ect, particularly one of size and impor- assassination threat. It is even worse when repeated, local blog posting, wherein the bors have undertaken the road project, tance. Third, there is a significant learn- those making blogger contin- originally slated to cost $90 ing curve to climb when the threats and ued to advocate million and to be funded by advancing new civil technol- the causes that for the “$0.17 state dollars, but recently, ogy for a greener, safer and/ they represent solution,” which Carmel’s mayor announced or more livable city. Yet de- get attention in she defined as a significant underestimation spite considerable financial the media. The the price of one and under-resourcing of this investment in infrastructure recent threat to bullet that would ambitious initiative. That improvement and esthetic murder innocent school children when a be used to kill an elected mayor. Where community is paying some of the price enhancement across their community, United States Presidential candidate was was the media outcry? Ironically, this for being an infrastructure pioneer; and Carmel boasts one of the lowest tax rates in their presence is inexcusable. And the repeated reference to an assassination ap- often leadership is painful. in the region. City leaders and Mayor media’s constant attention to it only fueled peared on a blog hosted by a local newspa- While city council bickers in the Andy Cook take note – let’s learn from our outrage. per conglomerate. Such irresponsibility by realm of political finger-pointing, there both their successes and costly failures Moreover, while the national media was those entrusted with content in the public are important lessons to be learned for – whether Carmel manages to finish the incensed, justifiably so, at the discovery domain cannot be tolerated. Westfield. First, significant cost overruns half-completed project or not. CURRENTOON by Dave Galloway Founded Jan. 29, 2008, at Westfield, IN Vol. I, No. 42 Copyright 2008. Current Publishing, LLC All Rights Reserved. 1 South Range Line Road, Suite 220 Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444 Publisher – Brian Kelly [email protected] / 414.7879 Executive Editor – Steve Greenberg Tuesday, November 11, [email protected] / 847.5022 Associate Editor – Terry Anker [email protected] Managing Editor – Mike Beas [email protected] / 730.4833 Art Director – Zachary Ross [email protected] / 787-3291 Associate Artist – Stefanie Lorenz [email protected] / 340.1836 Reporter – Bryan Unruh [email protected] / 489.4444 Reporter – K.O. Jackson 008 [email protected] / 260.515.5142 Advertising www.currentinwestfield.com Sales Executive – Dennis O’Malia [email protected] / 370.0749 Sales Executive – Lara Acton [email protected] / 409.1418 Indianapolis Sales Consultant – Kevin Messmer [email protected] / 513.4359 Business Office Bookkeeper - Deb Vlasich [email protected] / 489.4444 The views of the columnists in Current In Westfield are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper. ANOTHER TAKE FROM THE BACKSHOP DON’T SNUFF OUT BORN IN A SMALL TOWN SMOKERS’ RIGHTS e live in an age that will be precisely repeated. So isn’t some effort Westfield City Council member VIEWS likely see the complete to embrace the change – all the while at- Melody Sweat has received a letter from urbanization of America. tempting to adapt the strengths of the past the Indiana Latino Institute and Indiana Land will either be – the better approach? Campaign for Smokefree Air requesting urban, restricted to pro- Having lived in a county of 20,000 or so the city’s examination of whether a smoke- Wfessionally managed agribusi- for half of my life, it occurs to free Westfield is a possibility. Brian Kelly & ness or in government reserve. me that the single most impor- The city wants to hear from residents Even now, small towns are tant element of small town life on this. It wants to know if taxpayers want Steve Greenberg disappearing at a rate not seen is the personal accountability Westfield to go the way of Indianapolis, since the dust bowl. City ame- each of us feel in living therein. Lawrence and Carmel by enacting a ban Speaking of government getting in- nities and the immense po- If there is one auto repair guy, on smoking in public places. volved, the city now is studying whether to litical power of urban voting you treat him well if you want Let us answer that question for you: ban fireworks. blocks have long ago shifted to get your car serviced.