HAMILTON COUNTY Hamilton County’s Hometown Newspaper www.ReadTheReporter.com REPORTER Facebook.com/HamiltonCountyReporter TodAy’S Weather Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 Today: Periods of showers and storms. Tonight: Any showers Arcadia | Atlanta | Cicero | Sheridan and storms end early in the evening. Partly cloudy. Carmel | Fishers | Noblesville | Westfield NEWS GATHERING Like & PARTNER Follow us! HIGH: 85 LOW: 59 You are not the Mosquito tests positive for King or Queen West Nile virus in Noblesville of Mistakes The REPORTER 1. Wear long sleeves, pants, cans, bottles, buckets, jars, the Hamilton County Health I met a colleague COLUMNIST The Hamilton County socks, and shoes when out- drums, and other trash/rubbish). Department will increase sur- last Thursday morning Health Department Vector Con- doors. 2. Dump and invert wheel veillance and control activities at Noble Coffee and trol Program has received con- 2. Apply EPA approved in- barrows and kiddie/toddler in the sample positive area. Tea. I hadn’t seen this firmation notice from the Indi- sect repellent containing DEET, pools when not in use. Adult mosquito fogging will be gal in a couple of years ana State Department of Health Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eu- 3. Change water in bird- conducted to rapidly decrease due to the pandemic. (ISDH) that the first mosquito calyptus to any exposed skin. baths and pet bowls weekly. the number of adult mosquitoes One of my team mem- sample of the season has test- 3. Keep mosquitoes outside 4. Inspect water in flower in the sample positive area. bers was supposed to ed positive for West Nile Virus by keeping doors and windows pots and plant containers week- For current information meet us. (WNV). closed or making sure screens ly. about Hamilton County sur- I enjoyed catching AMY SHANKLAND The sample was collected are in good repair. 5. Clean rain gutters. veillance and control activities, up with my friend, Sandwiched from a trap site located in the 4. Avoid outdoor activities 6. Drain and fill tire ruts, please visit hamiltoncounty. but we soon began to near Greenfield Avenue and at dusk and dawn, when the stagnant pools, and puddles. in.gov/323/Mosquito-Control. worry. My teammate was 15 minutes late. Summer Road in Noblesville. mosquitoes that transmit WNV 7. Place tight covers over This site will be updated with When this happens, my mind has a funny The detection of WNV activ- are most active. cisterns, cesspools, septic tanks, positive WNV mosquito reports habit of thinking that someone’s stranded ity is evidence that the disease In addition, all Hamilton tubs, and rain barrels where wa- and spray schedules. Use the in a ditch in the middle of nowhere. I called is present in Hamilton County County residents are asked to ter is stored. “Notify Me” link to receive fu- her and was relieved to hear her voice. and the public should take prop- do the following in order to 8. Keep the margins of ture updates. She was instantly embarrassed. She had er precautions to stay protected. eliminate mosquito breeding ponds clear of vegetation and State of Indiana WNV and completely forgotten about the meeting, For optimum protection sites around their home: stock ornamental ponds with St. Louis Encephalitis sur- but reassured me that she would be there in the Health Department recom- 1. Remove all unneeded top – feeding minnows. veillance data can be found at less than 20 minutes. I told her that it was mends individuals: containers that hold water (tires, In response to finding WNV, gis.in.gov/apps/ISdh/Arbo. okay and that I’d catch her up on what she missed later. Do you know what my real thought was at that moment? It was “Thank God! She’s human.” Carmel Arts Council welcomes That may sound a little unusual. I’m embarrassed to admit that I used to be rath- er critical of people in my younger days. I Walt Thacker to ‘Art in the Garden’ was a bit spoiled and selfish growing up. I The REPORTER even had a college boyfriend tell me that. The Carmel Arts Council But age brings wisdom, especially (CAC) will welcome artist Walt when you’re in the sandwich generation. I Thacker to Art in the Garden pride myself on being organized, especially from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, with my schedule. I’m the Queen of Plan- Aug. 14. The artist will demon- ning. But over the last 10 years, my respon- strate oil painting in the garden sibilities have grown. I’ve been working for visitors during the monthly along with taking care of my family and Meet Me on Main event in the my mother. Arts & Design District. Most of the time, I can juggle all of Thacker is an oil painter the balls up in the air like a pro. Some with a talent for taking ordinary days I feel energetic and confidently pro- landscapes and turning them claim in my head “I’ve got this!” Others into masterpieces. … well, I drop one of those balls … or “I've always been a good art- two … or three. ist but getting married and start- I used to beat myself up regularly over ing a family, I had to have a ca- those instances. Then one day, I read a reer with a consistent paycheck,” phrase from Jen Sincero, author of numer- Thacker said. “At this time, my ous self-help books. She wrote, “You are art endeavors went well beyond not the Queen of Mistakes.” the back burner for several years. I think I read Jen’s phrase 10 times that At age 36, I was reaching a dif- day. I felt something shift within me. Sud- ferent state of mind. Many men denly, I realized that all of my self-criticism go through this, and you con- over my mistakes was almost ridiculous. template just about everything – You’ve heard it before – we all make your life, your marriage, career. mistakes. We’re human. We have to dust In retrospect, I have a great wife, ourselves off, learn from them, and move on. good kids, work was hard, but But we also need to extend grace to rec- going along well. Still, is this all ognize that others make mistakes, too. Boy, there is?” is this hard. Especially with that guy who Thacker continued, “Some- cut you off in traffic. Or the lady standing thing told me to get back into in the middle of the grocery aisle right in oil painting, and this was a great front of the item you need. Or the person awakening for me. It filled a lot who was late to your meeting. of the voids I thought I was ex- However, I’ll bet you almost anything periencing. Thirty years later Photo provided that if we think back, we’ve made the same Oil painter Walt Thacker will be on hand Saturday to demonstrate his craft for visitors I'm at my best! My artwork is error or something similar. We can only during Carmel’s Meet Me on Main event. always upbeat and it helps me work to do better and hope that others can keep an upbeat outlook. I do watch Thacker as he works to of Artomobilia coming up later be open for visitors to view the forgive us for these blunders. eat healthy and exercise, which complete one of his oil paint- this month in the Arts & Design CAC scholarship winners' art. Since I’ve adopted my new attitude, I is keeping me in good shape in ings in progress. In addition, District. This is a free event. For more information, visit find that I treat myself and other people bet- my senior years. I'm an avid there will be a children's table. The World’s Smallest Chil- CarmelArtsCouncil.org. ter. It’s a more peaceful way to live know- gardener and make most of the Carmel Arts Council volunteers dren’s Art Gallery at 40 W. Turn to Page 3 to see what ing that we are not the Kings and Queens of frames for my artwork.” will help children paint trucks, Main St. – where Art in the else this Saturday’s Meet Me Mistakes and a gentler way to exist in the This Saturday, you can jeeps, and cars in anticipation Garden will take place – will on Main event has in store. sandwich generation. Actors Theatre of Indiana receives grant from Indiana Arts Commission The REPORTER around the state specializing in The annual distribution totaling explained ATI Executive Director The Indiana Arts Commission arts, community development, and $11,978 is an AOS Grant – Art Op- James Reilly. announced its award of an Arts Or- finance. erations and Support. Funding for the Indiana Arts ganization Support grant to Actors “The projects and organiza- “This two-year grant will as- Commission and its programs is Theatre of Indiana (ATI) on July tions that are receiving funding sist ATI to further its mission to provided by the Indiana General 12. This grant of nearly $24,000 have major positive impact on the enhancing the quality of life in Assembly and the National En- will be paid out annually over the culture, economic, and education- Central Indiana by offering high dowment for the Arts, a federal next two years. al climate of Indiana,” said Indiana quality professional theatre perfor- agency. Over 590 applications were Arts Commission Chair Alberta mances and programs that engage, Learn more about Actors The- reviewed by 167 Hoosiers from Barker. inspire, educate, and entertain,” atre of Indiana at atistage.org. reilly 2 News Life Insurance Affordable and Flexible Life Insurance plans to fit YOUR budget! 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