Sheltering Wings Offers Help for Domestic Abuse Victims
Even in this holiday season, domestic violence can strike.
"We see different reactions around Christmas time," said Marina Hennessy, Director of Outreach for Sheltering Wings. "Sometimes (husbands and wives) draw close to each other, but sometimes the stress of the holidays brings out abuse. It is a stressful time." Hennessy said anyone who is experiencing domestic violence should get help immediately.
Sheltering Wings is a domestic violence shelter located in Danville, the county seat of Hendricks County. "We're available for women and children that are experiencing domestic violence and need to leave the situation," said Hennessy. "We accept women who are experiencing any kinds of abuse, so it doesn't have to be physical abuse." She said the shelter's emergency line, 317-745-1496, is a 24-hour line. Someone is there every hour of every day whom women can talk to.
When a family (a woman and her children) or a single woman arrives at the shelter, Sheltering Wings tries to provide for their needs. "We provide them with safe housing, food, hygiene items, clothing, and then case management support," Hennessy added. "That support can be learning how to find a job, how to manage money, or even how to use a computer. We also teach parenting classes."
Hennessy said that case management support can be as immediate as getting a victim to the doctor, whether or not the abuse victim has insurance. Sheltering Wings can also help victims get an advocate with the prosecutor's office. "Then, when she's been here awhile, that's when we help with finding a job, a safe place to live, and those kinds of things."
If women are unsure whether or not their situation is abusive, they can still call.
"We recommend that if ladies are questioning their relationship, if they're afraid, or if they feel threatened, or they just don't know, it's never the wrong decision to call us," she said. "(Our operators) understand, they'll listen to concerns and offer solutions to their problems."
To contact Sheltering Wings, call 317-745-1496.
Recycle Christmas Trees at Plainfield Yard Waste Site!
The Plainfield Yard Waste Site, sponsored by the Hendricks County Solid Waster Management District, will be a drop-off site for disposal of Christmas trees and will be open December 23, 2005 to January 16, 2006. There is no charge for the service. The site is located at 501 North Vine Street, one block east of North Center Street.
Don't have a way to get the tree there? Boy Scout Troop #304 is having its annual tree pick-up fund raiser again this year. For $5, the troop will pick up your tree on Saturday, January 7, 2006 and take it to the drop-off site. Call 838-0431 for details or for more information.
Spring Fling Date Moves to March
Plainfield's own 15K race, the Spring Fling, will move to March 18 for the 2006 running. Organizer Steve Huckstep says trying to arrange around other events is the reason for the move.
"There were too many conflicting dates to work around in April," he said. "Between other races and bigger events, like the 500 Festival's 15K training race on April 15 and the Race for the Cure on April 22, we couldn't find a date that fit. So we decided to move it to March 18. It will be one of the first distance races of the year. It will be a good training run for everybody."
For those who are interested in training for the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in May, Huckstep will serve as the running instructor for a new class offered through the Plainfield Recreation and Aquatic Center. Donnie Phillips will serve as the walking instructor.
"We're going to take our years of experience in running and walking and teaching others to put together the program," said Huckstep. "Runner's Forum will be cosponsoring the class and will provide their expertise as well. The second week they'll be there to help participants get fit with the right shoes. We'll have a nutritionist come in and talk about what you should be eating while training. There will also be talks about form, pace, and mental preparation. Participants will have weekly mileage they'll need to cover, and there will be scheduled races they'll need to get on their calendar, one of which is the Spring Fling. Two weeks before the Mini, we'll have a 10-mile rehearsal training run. We'll take everyone in the class right up to the week before the Mini."
Huckstep said that they will break the class down into three categories, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. They will work with participants at their own level.
The Mini-Marathon training class starts Sunday, January 22, 2006, at 4 p.m. at the Recreation Center. Registration should be made in advance. For information, contact the Rec Center at 838-7665.
Didn't get registered in time for the Mini? (The entire race is now sold out.) Huckstep says their training program will also prepare people to run in the Kentucky Derby minimarathon, which runs the weekend before the 500 Festival race.
Summer Sewer Rates Available to Residents
Residents who tend to use a lot of water during the summer may want to take advantage of summer sewer rates which will be available June through October. For a non-refundable $50 application fee, residents may sign up for the special rate at the Town Hall, 206 West Main Street.
The special rate, an unmetered $25.20/month (sewer only), applies to single-family residential sewer service only. It does not apply to sewer service for any premises used wholly or in part as commercial, industrial, or multi-family (two units or more) property.
For 2006 the summer sewage rate will begin with the June billing and end with the October billing. Residents who want to take full advantage of the program should sign up as soon as possible - the deadline is April 15. New customers will be allowed to sign up until July 1.
Summer sewer rates will be in effect when the application is completed and the application fee has been paid, subject to the June start date. The fee helps offset the town's operational costs.
"The goal of the program is to provide relief for single family residential customers who sprinkle their lawns," said Kent McPhail, a Town Council member who acts as the liaison between the Council and the Sewer Department.
Questions may be directed to Lois Burgner, Utility Billing Director, at 317-837-0000. To complete the application, residents should go to the Town Hall, 206 West Main Street.
