Main Street & Broadway

The following is an email my Uncle from Albuquerque, New Mexico sent to me on 02 Sept 09. I have been interested in The Tea Party Movement, but really didn’t know much about it… it sure is making an impact across the country though! I hope to enlighten those not familiar with The Tea Party… and like our other freedoms we enjoy, blessed we still have freedom of speech

~hoosiergirl

“Yesterday, Rosie & I attended the Tea Party Express Rally. It was very hot out there, but worth it, to hear the songs and the speeches, see old friends and meet new ones. It is all about Freedom. That is the thing that has made America great. That is what so many of us have fought to protect. That is the reason millions have flocked to our shores over the years. This is the one place in the world where Freedom reigns supreme. Yet there are now forces in power that are trying to take our Freedom away from us. Legislation is now pending that will take away our freedom to choose our own doctors and choice of medical treatment. It may even take away our choice to live. Other legislation, based on ‘junk science’, which has been thoroughly debunked by thousands of reputable scientists the world over, will raise the cost of energy so high that we will not be able to afford to use it. It will cause manufacturers to raise their prices beyond our reach, because of their increased energy costs and that of their suppliers.

Even the right to express our opinions is being attacked. Our right to representation in Washington is now a thing of the past. Politicians do what they want regardless of what their constituents says. That is the reason for the growing Tea Party Movement. We demand that Washington listens to the voice of the People. They have forgotten who they work for. They have forgotten what we sent them to Washington to do. We sent them to be our voice. But they have found that they like living in Washington. They like the excitement and the perks. They like the lavish lifestyle. Now their job has become to do whatever it takes to keep that job and preserve that lifestyle. They no longer have that desire to make a difference that drove them to Washington in the first place. It has ceased to be a mission and has now become a way of life that they do not want to lose. That is why we are speaking up – finally. That is what the Tea Parties are all about. Its about FREEDOM. “

Recently I attended a wheelchair rugby practice with my son down in Indy, whom is a new player this year with the  Indy Brawlers and  something very interesting happened. No, not witnessing these guys (and one young woman that is faster than all of them, sorry boys) whiz around the court nearly knocking each other unconscious but I realized I was in their world. Yeah, their world.

Not ours where us non-disabled (or insert your politically correct term) folks can without a second thought enter a restaurant, go to the ATM, or a myriad of other things we do on a daily basis without ever thinking about it, but a world where we are considered “AB’s”. This was a new term for me. An AB is “able bodied”. One of the players was saying “I need an AB over here” and for a few seconds it didn’t dawn on me that “Hey, he’s talking to me!”. That meant I was needed to perform some manual task in which he was unable to do himself, or would have required a much greater time period than it would for me. So, as a labeled AB I hoped myself over and got busy.

I was in a world where I was the outsider, a person whose abilities were considered prior to the person I am/was. Does that make sense? I’m not sure if I can put into words what I thought at the time in a manner that will convey correctly how I felt at that moment.

I will not for a moment even pretend that I know what it is like to live my life as one with a physical disability because this would be impossible. I can however speak as a caregiver to one with a disability and I have witnessed the reactions by others and it was rather strange in a sense for a full morning to be labeled. Perhaps similar in nature to how one w/a disability must be labeled. Oh you know, because I’ve heard it over and over from AB’s (like that huh?) of so and so who’s got this or that.  So the next time you see Billy down the street don’t refer to him as the guy that has this or that. It’s just nice Billy that lives down the street and who cares if he’s in a chair. Because ol’ Billy might be on the rugby team and run your AB butt over!

To learn more about wheelchair rugby (aka Murderball) slide over to YouTube and perform a search for Mark Zapan.

Help Us Finish The Corridor!!!

On Tuesday, September 1, 2009 there will be a Golf Outing at Rock Hollow Golf Course in Peru to support the completion of the Hoosier Heartland Industrial Corridor. Entry is $100 per person which includes Cart, Green Fees, & Boxed Lunch. Check-In Time is 10:00 a.m. with a Shotgun Start at 11:00 a.m..

For more information or to make reservations call Dana at 765-742-4041.

Hope to see you there!!!!!!

The Hoosier Heartland Small Business Development Center, located in Kokomo at Inventrek Technology Park, 700 East Firmin Street, is holding a “Funding For Small Businesses” Seminar on Tuesday, August 25, 2009. The hours for the FREE seminar are 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m..

Topics covered in the seminar will be information on SBA Loans, Cash Flow Statement, Business Plan Components, and Commercial Lending Requirements.

There will also be representatives from SCORE, Salin Bank, ISBDC, and the SBA on hand presenting information. This information will include Banking Requirements and SBA Loan Processes.

If you are considering starting your own business or need assistance locating financing for your existing small business, then this FREE seminar is for you.

The Hoosier Heartland Small Business Development Center also provides consulting, seminars, and conferences, along with access to information to help you set up or expand your business.

To get signed up for this FREE seminar or for more information on the HHSBDC’s Many Programs, call Ruth Sampson at 866-961-7232.

Do you know of any Local Happenings that Area Residents would like to hear about? Is your Civic Organization, Church, or Business involved with planning an event and needs assistance with “Getting the Word Out”?

If so, let us at MainStreetandBroadway.com know about the event that you are planning.

This Saturday, August 22, 2009 marks the United Way of Miami County’s Annual Kick-Off. Festivites will include a Canoe Rally, Poker Run, Car Show, DJ, Food Vendor, Agency Boot w/ Games & Prizes, Obstacle Course, and Bed Race.

The event will open at 9:00 am with a Balloon Launch which coincides with the start of the Poker Run in front of the Fire Station. At the same time, the Canoe Rally begins.

The Poker Run, sponsored by the Indiana Blue Knights XIII, leaves Canal Street directly in front of the Fire Station at 9:00 am on a 1 1/2 hour journey.

The Bed Race will take in front of the Fire Station on Canal Street and end at Peru Screen & Glass. The starting time for the Bed Race is 1:00 pm.

The Car Show will be located at River Walk Way on Canal Street. Registration is only $8, begins at 8:00 am-11:00 am. Show begins at 11:00 am and runs until 3:00pm. There will be Trophies Awarded, Door Prizes, 50/50 Drawing and much, much more.

For more information regarding this event please contact Deb Miser @ 765 473 4240.

I hope to see you there!!!

Please join the members of the First Church of Christ for their N.A.R.V.R.E. Fish Fry Fundraiser this Saturday, August 22, during the hours of 4:00-7:00 pm. The Fundraiser will take place at their church located at 2584 S. Business 31, Peru, Indiana. The meal will include Fish, Baked Potato, Cole Slaw, Dessert & Drink. The Fundraiser Meal will cost only $8, Children under 5 Free!

I hope to see you all there!!!!