Where were you born?

Durban, South Africa, Mothers’ Hospital, third floor – overlooking the South Africa’s premier Grayville Horse Racing Course where the famed Durban July occurs (think Kentucky Derby).

Tell us about your life in home country.

Idyllic – and I am talking about in the 60’s, 70’s. 80’s, when I lived there – if you were white and had a seared or no conscience.

It was horrific if you were any other race and were unlucky enough to have still have feelings.

Thankfully these things have had radically shifted in the wake of the election of Nelson Mandela and all that has since transpired.

Durban is a seaport city on the Indian Ocean. It was bordered by sugar-cane fields and rolling hills on three sides. While the sugar industry is still very active and lucrative, many cane fields have been lost to urban sprawl. Nonetheless, it remains a very beautiful city.

Climate? I’d never seen a furnace until a bought a house near Butler University. My home in South Africa had neither heating nor cooling, which will tell you how wonderful is the climate.

Durban is a very modern city, a tourist destination for many, and a city with a reputation for some of the finest surfing conditions and for producing some of the finest surfers in the world. It is also home to the largest population of Asian Indians outside of India and thus the plethora of Indian restaurants. It’s the reason for my frequent visits to every Indian restaurant in this city. Sorry, they are good, but they don’t begin to match what my pummeled pallet would prefer.

What brought you to the United States?  Indianapolis? Historic Meridian Park (HMP)?

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (at 34th and Central) recruited me to TAB in 1990. This was initially to work with youth. I served on the pastoral staff of TAB from 1990 to the last day of 1997. The boys and I still attend TAB and regard it as our home church.

I moved to HMP at the suggestion of Ann and Steve Reynolds (who live diagonally across the street from me) so we could be intentional neighbors and continue our work with Open Hand, Inc. and Youth With A Mission (YWAM) around the world.

Tell us about your occupation(s), children, and hobbies.

I have always done a lot of things concurrently – and it is no different now:

1. My current and primary employment is at St. Richard’s Episcopal School (33rd and Meridian) where I teach middle school English – and I love it. St Richard’s has afforded me the privilege of meeting some of the brightest, nicest, most creative children I have ever met anywhere in the world.

After a 19-year break from teaching high school in South Africa I went back to the classroom. In a nutshell, I wanted my children (Thulani and Nathanael) to attend the best school in the city and I was fortunate enough to land a position at the same school. As a single dad this radically reduces the variables in our busy lives since we each go to the same building every day.

2. Open Hand, Inc. – Steve and Ann and MANY others in the neighborhood (and some from outside the neighborhood) and I run Open Hand, Inc. Open Hand, Inc. is a not-for-profit geared to the empowering of people who desire to do humanitarian work anywhere in the world. We are represented in Romania (adolescent rehabilitation center), Kenya (home for abandoned children), Australia (counseling center), and in Indianapolis (providing internship opportunities for persons from the University of the Nations who are completing their counseling degrees with that University). Open Hand, Inc. in Indianapolis held a contract to provide home-based counseling services for the Juvenile Court and for Child Protection Services.

3. The Mercury – my daily newspaper column has appeared in one of South Africa’s longest running newspapers (The Mercury). My column holds the newspaper’s record for being the longest running editorial under one name in their history. I began a website to serve newspaper readers who’d contact me for past issues of the column. The website now has far more than a million hits and might even be more widely read that the hard-copy column it was designed to support. (www.DifficultRelationhips.com)

4. Clients for Counseling / Private corporate, family, and individual clients – I see clients at my office which is housed in 124 East 32nd Street (the newly painted bright yellow house). I am a Butler graduate with a Master’s Degree in Family Therapy.

I have two sons: Thulani and Nathanael. Thulani and Nathanael attend St. Richard’s Episcopal School. Both of my children were adopted at birth.

Share with us something fascinating about yourself that few people know.

I lived in Hawaii for almost two years (before I immigrated to the USA) where, to earn my keep, I played keyboards in a luau band.

You travel quite a bit. Where are some of the places that you’ve travelled?  Which one was your favorite? Why?

Along with my colleagues, Steve and Ann Reynolds, I teach for the University of the Nations and Youth With a Mission (YWAM). I’ve done this since 1986 and it continues to take me to several nations each year. St. Richard’s Episcopal School has been very generous in allowing me to continue with this “calling” but I limit my “school time” travelling to once a year. Since teaching at SRES I travel and speak mostly in the summer. In the past few years I have been to Korea (three times), Australia (twice), to Singapore, Taiwan, and Hawaii on several occasions. When speaking abroad I teach family therapy and related subject areas.

While I love Europe and Southern Africa, my favorite destination is Australia. I have family there, the weather is much like it is in South Africa, and the cherry on top is that you can get a really good curry.

How long have lived in HMP?

14 years.

What do you like best about HMP?

My friends live here. This is our community. People know and love my children – very little else is important to me.

With the start of the new year brings new dreams and opportunities for the neighborhood. If there were ever a time that we could dream BIG, 2011 is the year! Our neighborhood, as well as several surrounding neighborhoods, is engaged in a “Quality of Life Plan”.  We are now conducting hundreds of interviews to understand the needs of the neighborhood, set out a vision to make improvements, and find donors to help fund projects. Several eastside neighborhoods went through this process and it resulted in $30 million being poured into their neighborhoods! Imagine what HMP could do with a few million dollars!

Additionally, HMP will focus on 3 key priorities in 2011:

• First, we will continue to focus on events that bring neighbors together and build community within HMP. However, we will also launch an “outreach committee’ to better reflect the diversity within HMP, hold events that will appeal to a more diverse audience, and institute a “helping neighbors in need” component to the Board’s efforts. So for those neighbors who do not normally attend neighborhood functions, we are coming for you!
• Second, we will increase beautification efforts within HMP such as pursuing historic lighting and neighborhood entrance markers as well as expand trash clean-up efforts to our streets in addition to alleyways.
• Last, we will develop historic renovation guidelines for the neighborhood and build partnerships with contractors to keep the historical integrity of our neighborhood intact.

Sound like lofty plans? I agree! But with determination, solidarity, and a good plan, we can take our neighborhood from a great place to live to one of the cities finest neighborhoods. We need the energy and diverse talents of ALL our neighbors to make it happen. Will you join us in making 2011 the year where we accomplished more than we ever dreamed imaginable?

Thank you for your confidence in me as your next HMPNA President. I understand that I have big shoes to fill! Many thanks to former President Doug Day for his three amazing years of leadership and service to HMP. Also thanks to our wonderful Board and their ongoing commitment and service to the neighborhood. They are the backbone of making HMP dreams come true!

All the best in 2011,
Cassie Mehlman-Rhys

Please join your neighbors at HMP’s annual holiday party on Sunday, December 5 at the Trinity Episcopal Corner House at 3264 Pennsylvania Street. This year we’re having a Kid’s Holiday Party from 4:00 to 5:00 PM and the HMP Neighborhood Holiday Open House from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

The Kid’s Party will consists of trimming the Christmas tree and making creative holiday ornaments. The evening’s Holiday Open House will feature live music and food. Everyone is welcome.

The event is being catered this year, so no need to bring any food items!  Wine will be available for purchase at $1/glass.

Any questions, call Joe Wood at 925-6194.

The race begins at 8:00 AM, with the fastest runners expected to hit the Meridian Park area at approximately 8:45 AM. (The half marathon course includes Washington Boulevard from 29th to 34th Streets, 34th Street to Central Avenue, and north on Central Avenue; west of 37th Street to Pennsylvania Street, south on Pennsylvania Street to 30th Street then the half marathon runners will head south on Meridian Street from 30th Street to the Monument Circle.) IMPD officers will be along the entire course to help direct traffic and ensure the safety of the runners and spectators.

One factor that can make or break a performance: encouragement from the sidelines! Many runners hope to beat their personal records, whatever they may be, on November 6 and spectators cheering them on will be a big help toward achieving those goals. Race organizers hope that Historic Meridian Park residents will come out to provide vocal, enthusiastic support and at the same time witness an inspiring community event along with friends and neighbors. Play music, banjo or drums, anything fun. Please talk with your friends and neighbors about plans to get together and form a cheering team!

As of early October, more than 5,500 participants (from 45 states and seven countries including Australia, Brazil and United Kingdom) were registered to set their pace with the cool event. Proceeds from the marathon benefit the Indianapolis Public Schools, the IPS Education Foundation, Mind Trust and College Summit.

To view the entire course maps or learn more about the event and volunteer opportunities, go to www.monumentalmarathon.com. Please contact Julie Patterson, IMM executive director at monumentaljulie@yahoo.com with any questions.

Butler and IPS faculty will collaborate in developing curricula, teaching and on-site educational research.

“With the IPS/Butler partnership already established at Shortridge Magnet High School, the University will further cement its ties with its northside Indianapolis neighbors, supporting students from preschool through completion of college degrees,” said Fong.

“IPS is pleased to collaborate once again with Butler University to offer an innovative educational choice for parents,” said White. “This new school will keep IPS on the cutting edge of educational options in an urban setting.”

Butler College of Education (COE) Dean Ena Shelley helped design the new school concept and will work with IPS to oversee its curriculum and assessment development. The curriculum will be largely based on the practices and inspirations of Reggio Emilia, an educational philosophy that Shelley has studied and helped introduced to several central Indiana schools over the past 13 years.

The curriculum is characterized by real life problem-solving and numerous opportunities for creative thinking and exploration. Teachers observe and question children about a topic of interest and, based on children’s responses, introduce materials, questions, and opportunities that provoke children to further explore the topic.

Children are encouraged to show their understanding through symbolic “languages” such as drawing, sculpture, dramatic play, and writing. Parents are encouraged to be active members of the education team. The Reggio Emilia learning environment, filled with plants, natural light and easily accessible equipment for art and play, is designed to support creativity and community.

Shelley predicts the school’s innovative practices “will inform the teaching profession and possibly shape Indiana educational policy.”

IPS and Butler will jointly select and evaluate the school’s principal and pay equal shares of that position’s salary. While the principal and all teachers will be IPS employees, the principal will also hold a non-tenure track faculty position in the Butler College of Education and be expected to teach and participate in research projects at the elementary school.

The school will begin operating next fall with kindergarten and first grade. The program will grow a grade level each year up to Grade 5. Preschool classes may be a future option.

Under the agreement, children of Butler employees may attend the College School if space is available, even if they reside outside of the district.  “Butler personnel are happy to have this option for their children to attend school close to campus,” said Fong.

Butler’s College of Education will hold on-site courses at the school, allowing education majors to witness and put instructional theory to work. “Starting in freshman year, Butler education undergraduates will be in classrooms, seeing both IPS and Butler instructors model professional best practices,” Shelley said.

For those of you who have been perfecting recipes since last year, here’s your big chance to win the Golden Ladle or Cornbread Plate — HMP’s de facto trophies! The judges will NOT accept bribes nor will they be swayed by threats or taunts, so let’s keep it clean this year.

Those who wish to compete must deliver their dishes by 4:45 pm to be included in the competition. Each competing dish is given a number, so the judges are “blind” to the creator, but not to the creation. Newcomers to the competition are welcome (and encouraged) to compete.

Our thanks to Tour Chair Cassie Mehlman-Rhys and to tour Steering Committee members Doug Day, Sharon Gamble, Kara Haughey, Margie Luchtman, Abby and Ben Nicol, Larry Sanner, Jay van Santen, and Lorraine Phillips Vavul for their leadership, imagination, and dedication in managing the tour activities. Special thanks to our neighbor and talented graphic designer, Katie Wertz, for creating our tour logo, all tour promotional materials, and the tour program. Also many thanks to David Bartley, neighbor and writer extraordinaire, for writing the copy for the home tour program. We would also like to thank Lee Smith for coordinating signage and once again graciously hosting the Friday evening Twilight Tour, Mark Herner and Joe Wood for their help in researching the architecture and the amenities of a century ago, Tina Noel for her exemplary PR initiatives, Krista Edstene for being our social media guru, and Brett Edstene for often picking up the slack when things didn’t go as planned. Also thanks to Don Watson for his prep and clean up efforts and Carlene Hiner for distribution of promotional materials.

For our “Front Porches: Reflecting & Connecting” home and garden tour, we especially thank our Home and Garden owners who allowed their properties to be put on display (including the countless hours of preparation to make their homes shine!): David Bartley and Annie Owen, John Carmer, Sharon Gamble, Jerry Johnson, John Chirgwin, Ken Keene, Jess LaNore, City-County Councilor Jackie Nytes and Michael O’Brien, Jeff and Stacey Patrick, Ben Solomon, Hope Tribble, State Senator Thomas Wyss, and the Trinity Episcopal Church Cloister Garden. We’d also like to thank our “welcoming porch” owners for their hospitality: Gretchen and Greg Turner, Jean and Lamar Richcreek, and Doug Day.

Special thanks to the vintage automobile owners who brought their cars here free of charge as well as to Mark Webb for coordinating the vintage car display. Special thanks to the musicians who donated their time and talent to entertain our patrons. Also special thanks to Ripple Bagel & Deli and The Goodie Box who provided food and beverages to our many guests.

Running a home and garden tour is a huge undertaking that could not be done without hundreds of volunteers. Our hats off to the more than 200 volunteers and docents helping us over the two-day tour; without them, this tour would not have been possible! We apologize for not having enough space to give them the individual recognition they deserve. Also special thanks to our tour sponsors: Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation (MFCDC), Wilds Restoration Services LLC, and Kevin Warren of Prudential Realty, as well as the many generous businesses who purchased ads in our program that underwrote many of our tour expenses.

We would also like to thank Trinity Episcopal Church, Broadway United Methodist Church, and Tabernacle Presbyterian Church for their continuing, generous support of the tour. Many thanks to Dick Luchtman, HMP’s “Titan of Trash” for helping our neighborhood look its best, to Printing Partners for their role in providing beautiful and affordable printed materials, and to Jay van Santen for his photography talents and expertise. Also thanks to Marsh Supermarkets, Old National Bank, and the Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation (MFCDC) for selling advance tickets on behalf of the tour.

Last, but not least, we thank you for visiting our neighborhood and appreciating the historic homes and community within Historic Meridian Park. We always enjoy offering these tours and hope that you left the tour with some new ideas about Indianapolis history, a new appreciation of Arts & Crafts architecture, and a new opportunity to “reflect and connect” on one of our welcoming porches!

Tickets

Advance tickets are available for $13 at:

• The following Marsh Supermarkets:
  • 01, 8766 E. 96th Street    Fishers    IN, 46037
  • 04, 5249 E. Thompson Rd., Indianapolis 46237
  • 6, 6243 E. Washington St., Indianapolis    46219
  • 14, 2140 East 116th Street, Carmel 46032
  • 17, 7400 E. Fishers Station, Fishers 46038
  • 19, 1440 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis 46240
  • 21, 10679 N. Michigan Rd., Zionsville 46077
  • 37, 14450 Mundy Drive, Noblesville 46060
  • 38, 5624 Georgetown Rd., Indianapolis 46254
  • 41, 5151 E. 82nd Street, Indianapolis 46250
  • 46, 6121 Crawfordsville Rd., Speedway 46224
  • 48, 35 Lynhurst, Indianapolis 46224
  • 52, 2002 Stafford Road, Plainfield 46168
  • 58, 17901 River Avenue, Noblesville 46062
  • 72, 2135 N. Post Road, Indianapolis 46219
  • 73, 10901 E. Washington, Indianapolis 46229
  • 79, 7481 Shadeland, Indianapolis 46250
  • 80, 1960 E. Greyhound Pass, Carmel 46032
  • 83, 6965 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis 46254
  • 90, 1435 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis 46260
  • 93, 2350 Broadripple Ave., Indianapolis 46220
  • 104, 5830 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis 46278
  • 209, 320 N. New Jersey, Indianapolis 46204
• The following Old National Bank Branches:
  • Broad Ripple branch at 6135 North College Ave.
  • Downtown Indy branch at 136 North Delaware St.
  • Glendale branch at 6100 North Keystone Ave.
• Mapleton Fall-Creek Development Corporation (MFCDC) at 30th and Pennsylvania/Talbott Streets

On June 26 and 27, the days of the tour, tickets may be purchased on site at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3243 N. Meridian St., for $15.  Trinity is the suggested starting point for the tour, and parking is available in the lot north of the church.  Tour homes will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on both days of the tour.  Please note that the “Tuckaway” home will only be open to the public on Sunday.

“Front Porches: Reflecting and Connecting” Theme of First Home Tour in 4 Years

Historic Meridian Park, one of Indianapolis’ pre-eminent early 20^th century neighborhoods, will offer a rare glimpse inside a number of its beautifully maintained and restored homes, as well as some of its gorgeous porches, gardens and antique cars, during the 2010 Tour of Homes set for June 26 and 27, from noon to 5 PM.

Located within Mapleton Fall Creek, Historic Meridian Park is bounded by Pennsylvania St. and Washington Blvd. from 30^th to 34^th streets.  Tour organizers say they’re looking forward to sharing the splendor of their near north side community with the public for the first time since 2006.  In particular, they’re excited to shine the spotlight on the front porches in their neighborhood, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We decided on ‘Front Porches: Reflecting and Connecting’ as our theme because our porches illustrate not just the beauty of our neighborhood, but also utility and social connection,” said Cassie Mehlman-Rhys, chair of the 2010 Tour of Homes.  “Just as a kitchen serves as a gathering place within a home, a front porch serves as the same kind of place for a neighborhood.  I’ve met many of my neighbors, and made many friends, by simply sitting on my front porch and greeting people as they come and go.”

Tour attendees will be invited to stop and take a breather at “welcoming porches” between their visits to houses.  Antique cars will be found in the 3200 block of Pennsylvania St..; food and drinks can be purchased on Washington Ct.

Also of note for 2010, six of the tour homes have been restored to their former glory after being gutted down to the studs.  But you’d never know it with the attention to historic detail that has been preserved.

One home currently in the beginning stages of major renovations will be opening its doors to tour goers.

“We want to showcase the sometimes long and difficult work that goes into maintaining and restoring homes that are more than 100 years old,” Mehlman-Rhys added.  “Seeing a renovation project in progress is often inspiring.”

Among Indianapolis’ first suburbs, Historic Meridian Park is best known for its Arts & Crafts architecture, including Mission-, American Four-Square-, and Prairie-style homes; but it also features outstanding examples of Tudor, Dutch Colonial Revival, Italian Villa and French Eclectic styles.  All of the buildings in the area reflect the use of natural materials such as brick, stucco, wood siding and tile, and they emphasize visible structural elements such as beams and large overhangs.

Profits from the 2010 Tour of Homes will benefit neighborhood beautification as well as ongoing neighborhood projects.

In the Press

Don’t miss the excellent article about the home tour in the Urban Times.

Homes on The Tour

The following homes and gardens (listed with their owners and notes) are currently scheduled to participate in the Historic Meridian Park 2010 Tour of Homes:

• 201 Washington Ct.; Jerry Johnson; American Foursquare
• 215 Washington Ct.; Annie Owen and David Bartley; Garden oasis on unique Washington Ct.
• 3015 Pennsylvania St., Apt. 12 Esplanade; John Carmer; Three-story apartment in Historic Esplanade Apartments
• 3054 Pennsylvania St.; State Sen. Tom Wyss; Daughter and son-in-law renovated this home plus several others in neighborhood
• 3128 Pennsylvania St.; Ken Keene; Legendary “Tuckaway” (Sunday only)
• 3064 Delaware St.; Sharon Gamble, managing director for the Phoenix Theatre and host of WFYI’s “The Art of the Matter”; Gardens featuring a dozen varieties of hydrangea
• 3157 Delaware St.; Jeff and Stacy Patrick; Gardens grown from scratch
• 3210 Washington Blvd.; Hope Tribble; Modern decor
• 3363 Washington Blvd.; Jess LaNore; Previously a duplex, now under renovation
• 3444 Washington Blvd.; City-Co. Councilor Jackie Nytes, executive director of Mapleton Fall Creek CDC, and Michael O’Brien; Formerly housed a business
• 55 E. 32nd St.; Ben Solomon; Antique decor
• 3243 N. Meridian St.; Trinity Episcopal Church; English-style garden

Volunteer Opportunities

For volunteer opportunities, please review our many committees and contact one of our Committee Chairs.

Research Committee: The Research Committee works collaboratively to research and document the homes and gardens on the tour and to put the homes and gardens in a context that is useful to our tour patrons. Contact Sharon Gamble @ 317-283-1698.

Tour Staffing: The Staffing Committee is charged with recruiting, scheduling, and training the volunteers necessary to staff the home tour and its leadership committees. Volunteers are needed to serve as home and garden docents, committee members, and in other positions throughout the tour. Additionally, the committee assists with community marketing initiatives. Contact Ben and Abby Nicol @ 616-334-1012 or bsn@pkpfoundation.org.

Event Planning: The Event Planning Committee plans and coordinates all activities that will form entertainment aspects of the home tour, including food and beverage, antique cars, and music spotlights provided by vendors and volunteers.  Contact Kara Haughey @ 317-730-3812 or karahaughey@dci.org.

Coordination of Tour Homes: This Home Coordination Committee acts as the liaison between homeowners whose homes or gardens will be on the tour and the Tour Committees.
Contact Lorraine Vavul @ 317-931-9236 or Margie Luchtman @ 317-927-8970

Prep and Clean-up: The Prep and Clean-up Committee works to works together to plan and coordinate both set-up and tear-down of the event, including all material needs in homes and stations. Volunteers must be available on the tour dates to participate in this committee. Contact Larry Sanner @ 317-503-4212.

Marketing: The Marketing Committee works to promote the home tour via PR channels, promotional materials, community events marketing, and social networking. The committee also develops the home tour program and sells advertising space within the program. Contact Cassie Mehlman-Rhys @ 317-997-2791 or csm34@sbcglobal.net.

Mailing List

To receive news and updates about the tour via e-mail, subscribe to the Home Tour Mailing List.

The event will be held from 11:30 AM to 2 PM. Drs. Jeanette Holloway and Stephen Towns have offered to host the event in their Meridian Park home located at 3074 North Pennsylvania Street.

Attendees are welcome to bring snacks or desserts to share at this neighborhood pitch-in and social event. If you are a new to the neighborhood or know someone who is, please contact Wade Clark at 997-8957.