Positive partnership
Parts of Columbus got a bit greener thanks to a service project by Rotary Club of Columbus and its a tree-planting partnership with Parkside Elementary School students.
The service organization planted about 20 trees along Haw Creek after Thanksgiving, and on April 26 worked with 50 students in Parkside’s after-school iCare program to plant a 10-foot Sugar Tyme flowering tree near the school’s front entrance. Rotary Club of Columbus also plans to plant 10 to 20 Linen trees at Columbus Signature Academy’s Lincoln campus as part of the school’s Linden project.
The partnership was an opportunity for the Parkside students to learn more about trees and the environment, and how they can help make the city a better place. That’s a good learning experience.
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Taste of success
Local craft brewers are having quite a bit of success in the trendy industry. Significant expansions are being undertaken by 450 North Brewing/Simmons winery west of Columbus and ZwanzigZ on the edge of downtown, both making $1 million-plus investments in local operations.
ZwanzigZ invested $3 million in a renovation of a warehouse at 315 12th St. to expand its brewing operation and provide more dining space and customer improvements at its pizzeria, 1038 Lafayette Ave. Simmons Winery and 450 North Brewing, 8111 E. County Road 450N, is spending $1.3 to $1.6 million to construct a new 8,192 square-foot building west of its current facilities to house a new restaurant, tasting and brewing facility.
Considering that both popular breweries/restaurants are expanding is a healthy sign for the businesses and entrepreneurship in Bartholomew County.
Fun history lesson
Learning history can be fun, especially with a rock ‘n roll soundtrack accompanying the lesson. That’s been the formula for the annual American Pie concert, the 33rd edition of which was May 11 at Judson Erne Auditorium at Columbus North High School.
More than 900 people attended the show, which this year focused on the country’s changes from 1955 to 1975. Coming up with a new angle each year has to be a challenge, but event founder Ed Niespodziani and his volunteers and the students always rise to the occasion.
It was a night of fun — for the audience and the hard-working high school entertainers.
