Blog Lafayette

My wife and I went to the Farmers Market in West Lafayette, Indiana this evening after work to see what our local farmers had to offer. I looks like it has been a good year so far for them. The corn is starting to show up at the market and the other vegetables like okra, zucchini, squash, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes are looking very nice. The farmers market is not the cheapest place to pick up you vegetables but it is certainly the freshest and probably the best tasting.

For those of you who want something more there are also assorted jewelry booths, a tie dye booth, and some very good smelling pastry booths. You should come out to the next Farmers Market and see what you can take home for the table.

For more information and upcoming places, dates, and times, go to www.lafayettefarmersmarket.com. See you there!

Is there any better time of the year than the Spring? Outdoor markets begin to offer up Fresh vegetables, crafts, flowers, and even peace of mind. The slow rhythm of small groups people as they move from booth to booth takes us back to a simpler time in our minds. It is time to put away the Winter blues and really start enjoying the outdoor life of Lafayette. Time to enjoy the craft and the talent of local growers, artists, bakers and more.

That is what will be taking place at the Downtown Farmers Market two days this week in the Greater Lafayette area. The first event will be held Tuesday May 10, 2011 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in downtown Lafayette on 5th Street between Main and Columbia Streets. And then later in the week on Thursday May 12, 2011 from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Purdue University Campus Dauch Alumni Center Parking Lot in West Lafayette.

Here is what the Farmers Market Website says about the long standing market:

“The Lafayette Farmers Market has been around for over 165 years! On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from early May through late October, the air in downtown Lafayette is filled with the smell of fresh garden flowers, baked goods, vegetables, fruits, plus honey, jams and jellies.”

What could be better than that? Come on out and pick up your fruits and veggies fresh at an outdoor market instead of the picked over selection at the supermarket.

If you would like further information then go to The Farmers Market Website or contact Greater Lafayette Commerce by phone at 765-742-4044.

It was great to hear the news today about the new Aluminum extrusion plant, Nanshan America Co. Ltd coming to Lafayette. The Chinese based company will bring over 200 new jobs to Lafayette in the next 2 to 3 years, according to the Lafayette Journal and Courier newspaper this afternoon. Our governor, Mitch Daniels made the announcement this afternoon at a meeting at Purdue University in West Lafayette.

This is great news for Lafayette. It means jobs that pay decent wages and benefits for a good number of people and it means investment money pouring into the local Lafayette economy. The cumulative effect of the money associated with an operation of this size will be another boost to our local economy. The article mentioned that Indiana is becoming known as a business friendly state. Thank goodness for that.

In light of the recent economic news over the last few years, it is heartening to know that we live in one of the few Midwestern states that is actively trying to draw business and investors rather than drive them away by levying restrictive tax policies and regulatory laws. I feel for our neighbors in Illinois. Their state government feels inclined to increase taxes on businesses in a time when businesses need a break to move out of the slow economy that we have been a part of for the last 3 years. I grew up in Illinois. I want to see them succeed but as it stands, I am very happy that my home is in Lafayette Indiana. I am glad that my state is making solid choices that are meant to make Indiana prosper and move ahead.

Full steam ahead. All engines full. Onward and upward. Be my guest, and pick a phrase. Thankfully for Lafayette, they all fit. Oh, and by the way. Have a great Lafayette Day!

Yesterday’s Journal and Courier article about Mitch Daniel’s support of Senate Bill 575, which introduces modifications to Public Law 217, a law that concerns collective bargaining by teachers unions was an interesting read. The lines are drawn, the sides are clearly defined and no-one trusts the other side to do what is right. I understand not trusting. Most of us do not trust our government to do what is right because there is too much bureaucracy interfering even if some of our legislators want to do what is right. The teachers do not trust the school boards to look to the interests of the teachers. The school board officials have their own levels of distrust of the other side, the teachers unions, and where does this all go? Nowhere.

So what should we do with all of this distrust? We need to get back to the real issue at hand. I think we should be more concerned with teaching the children who are in our Indiana public schools. What will make them learn more? What will motivate them? How do we get parents involved with the learning process? How do we pay for all of this? What are the most important things we can do to make our students more successful? I could go on and on. The main point is, and always should be, the students. It seems to me that all sides are becoming so polarized by their own perceptions that they are forgetting that most important fact.

One section of the article is worthy of being quoted. “TSC parent Shawn Comella said school boards and unions should both use common sense when negotiating and that it is unfortunate the issue has become so polarizing.

“I think what it goes back to is that there’s not a good working relationship in many school corporations between their union and board,” Comella said. “It all comes back to common sense.”

Comella said that Daniels should seek more input from unions in improving the process and that both corporations and unions should remain focused on the interests of students.”

I couldn’t agree more. It is about the students and only the students.

Now, as to whether this proposed legislation is better for the students or not, I couldn’t say. I will be reading the language of the bill later this evening, and then I can form a better opinion of that. I have to say that I like Mitch Daniels record of bringing the State of Indiana to a level of success fiscally that makes us the odd man out among our neighboring states, so I am inclined to trust him to do what is right. I hope that the students are his ultimate focus and not just saving a buck where he can. Time will tell on that front.

I truly understand the need to be fiscally responsible but I am also about balance and about teaching our kids. I hope that our state, our school boards, and Indiana’s teachers can find a place of commonality, put aside the bickering, and have that as their combined goal as well.

I am sad to say that the Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette is closed for the winter from October 11, 2010 through Mid-April 2011. But, If you haven’t been able to spent time at the zoo in Lafayette for awhile then this week you are in luck. You can still go to an event there. The Boo at the Zoo event is taking place for the youngsters this week. The event started on the 20th but you still have two more nights that you can attend, October 21 and 22 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. To quote the Columbian Park Zoo web-page, “This “spooktacular” event is family-friendly and offers several games and activities such as Pumpkin Bowling, Mad Scientist Laboratory, and the Enchanted Train Ride.”

Make sure to plan to go to the zoo when it opens again this next spring too. They have a lot of interesting animals, including a petting zoo, eagles, otters, monkeys, and many more. If you haven’t been in a while then you may be pleasantly surprised. The look and feel of the zoo and park has changed substantially in the last year with the major remodeling and redesign of the zoo. They did a good job. As a result, you get a fun day at the zoo that doesn’t cost anything! Can’t beat that.