LAFAYETTE-WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — On Saturday, October 11th, artists from all over Indiana and the general public are invited to draw and paint the beautiful fall landscape along the Wabash River. Spectators are also invited to wander through the area to see how paintings are created, and listen to acoustic music by local musicians. The event will be centered at the Train Depot in Riehle Plaza, but artists will be working along the Wabash in Tapawingo Park, on the Pedestrian Bridge, and in Riehle Plaza or nearby the trains. This is a free event and open to the public.

Beginning with the famous Indiana Impressionist painters of the turn of the century, people from far and wide have loved to interpret the Indiana landscape by sketching and painting outside in oil, watercolor, pastel, and graphite. During the past twenty years or so, plein air painting events, called “Paint-Outs”, have become a favorite of artists, collectors, and spectators. They give artists an opportunity to meet other artists and collectors while they enjoy the great out-of-doors. They also give everyone, including the public, an opportunity to watch the artists at work as they bring the landscape to life on canvas and paper.

Local artists paint scenery from the banks of the Wabash River.

OTHER EVENTS DURING THE DAY:

PLEIN AIRE PAINTING SALE in the Train Depot from 9am to 5pm
The Art Museum will host a sale of framed paintings by the artists who are participating in the Paint-Out. Artists will bring their paintings to the depot between 8-9am. People who purchase a painting will support both the artists and the art museum. This year’s event will also have Purchase Award Sponsors for the first time, and their pledge will be publicly recognized at the sale. Anyone interested in sponsoring a Purchase Award should contact the Art Museum or Kathryn Clark, chair of the event.

WORKSHOPS IN WATERCOLOR, PASTEL, SKETCHING, and ONE FOR CHILDREN
At last year’s event, many people expressed an interest in painting and drawing from nature but didn’t know how to get started. This year they can take a workshop to learn how. The Art Museum will offer workshops at the paint-out for the public. Prize winning artists Jeannie McLeish from Mooresville (watercolor), Carol Strock-Wasson from Union City (pastel), James Werner(sketching), and Cindy Krulitz (children) from Lafayette will teach these workshops along the Wabash. There will be a fee, and the number of participants is limited. For more information call the Art Museum at 742-1128.

FREE OIL PAINTING DEMONSTRATION AT RIEHLE PLAZA
For curious spectators, Lafayette’s well known painter, Jeff Klinker, will explain how he creates an oil painting as he paints the Train Depot during the event.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING RAFFLE
The Art Museum will raffle a painting of the Wabash River by Jeannie McLeish which she painted at last year’s Paint-Out. Tickets will be sold at the Art Museum and other local businesses. For more information on this, call the art museum or Kathryn Clark, chair (563-3210).

4PM GATHERING OF “WET” PAINTINGS
At 4pm, the artists will gather at Riehle Plaza to exhibit the paintings, pastels, and drawings they created that day. The public can meet the artists, enjoy the paintings, and purchase one directly from the artist if they wish.

RECEPTION FOR THE ARTISTS AT THE TRAIN DEPOT 5-7pm
After the “4pm Gathering” at Riehle Plaza, artists and those who purchased paintings will have a chance to meet at the train Depot Reception.

For more information including digital photos of last year’s paint-out, call Kathryn Clark, volunteer chair at 563-3210 or e-mail her at kclark@twinrocker.com, or call the art Museum 742-1128 (Glenda McClatchy at ext. 102).

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Immigration issues were a divisive force in the 2004 election, so this year’s candidates are taking a quieter, more direct approach to reaching the Latino population, says a Purdue University political scientist.

“What we’re seeing instead is microtargeting the Latino demographic,” says James McCann, a professor of political science who is surveying Mexican immigrants regarding political participation and other civic issues.

“Instead of mass appeals, commercials and speeches, the candidates are airing Spanish commercials in specific cities with large Latino populations. The Republican and Democratic parties also are reaching Latinos through surrogate leadership and outreach through the local grassroots levels and politicians. The emphasis on the demographic is there, but it’s not visible to everyone.”

McCann says this political strategy also is focusing on the candidates’ character issues instead of how they stand on issues such as immigration reform. The microtargeting strategy could change closer to the election if more public emphasis is placed on the Latino vote, McCann says.

“Even though there is more attention on the black and female vote because of the candidates who ran for president this year, the Latino demographic will play a strong role and could be a deciding factor,” McCann says. “And the Latino population’s influence exceeds just those who are able to vote. Even immigrants who cannot vote in U.S. elections contribute to American politics by attending rallies and meetings, talking informally with others about elections, convincing U.S. citizens to vote and contributing funds to parties and other political causes.

“We call this group the emerging electorate. They are part of our cultural fabric, and we should not underestimate their influence and contributions to the American political process,” McCann said.

For example, McCann found in 2006 that 30 percent of those surveyed who were not citizens reported encouraging someone who could vote in an American election to do so.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Purdue University board of trustees, meeting at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, on Friday (Sept. 26) approved a proposal to add a parental leave benefit for employees.

The new parental leave policy allows both male and female faculty, staff and graduate staff to take paid time off for a birth or adoption, effective Oct. 1.

“Flexibility and family-friendly policies are becoming more essential as the work force continues to change,” Purdue President France A. Córdova said. “Adopting policies such as paid parental leave will be critical for Purdue if it is to continue on its path to preeminence and our goal of balancing the demands of work life and family life. This also will help Purdue be competitive in the hiring of the brightest and the best faculty and staff.”

The policy provides up to six weeks paid leave for the birth mother and up to three weeks for the father of the child, the same-sex domestic partner of the birth mother, the same-sex domestic partner of the birth father, an adoptive mother or father, or the same-sex domestic partner of an adoptive mother or father.

To be eligible for paid parental leave, employees must have worked at the university for at least one continuous year at half-time or more. The policy applies to those giving birth and/or adopting children on or after Oct. 1.

If both parents are eligible, they may choose to combine the total of their leave and allocate the total between them. The maximum paid parental leave for one employee is six weeks.

Parental leave may not be used for eldercare, to care for a sick child, or to attend child-related activities or events such as parent-teacher conferences and sporting events.

The cost of the benefit will be distributed and managed within existing departmental budgets.

“Creating this benefit will help to enrich the quality of life on campus, which is an integral part of our new strategic plan,” said Morgan R. Olsen, executive vice president and treasurer. “The paid parental leave policy will give parents additional flexibility and time to bond with their new child, adjust to their new family situation and balance their professional obligations.”

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to a single vehicle personal injury crash in the 700 block E 900 N, shortly after 10:00pm on Monday, September 29. The crash killed a West Lafayette man and injured three others when the vehicle they were riding in left the roadway and flipped.

Bradley A Spencer, age 20, of 7511 North 75 East, West Lafayette was killed when he was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Three others in the car sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

Injured were 18 year old, Billy R. Burrow of Lafayette; 18 year old James D. Seamans of Battle Ground; and a 16 year old minor.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle was traveling east on 900 N and left the roadway for an unknown reason. The vehicle lost control and struck a drainage tile causing the vehicle to roll. The inverted vehicle came to rest in the 700 block E 900 N.

Emergency personnel arrived to find four occupants from the vehicle. Two of the occupants were transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Medical Center and one occupant was transported by ambulance to Home Hospital. A fourth occupant had been ejected from the vehicle during the crash and received fatal injuries at the scene.

None of the occupants were believed to be wearing seatbelts. Alcohol and or illegal drugs have not been ruled out at this time.

The Fatal Alcohol Crash Team was dispatched to assist with the investigation. The Battle Ground Fire Department, Tippecanoe Ambulance Service and Indiana State Police also assisted with the investigation. The crash is still under investigation at this time.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette awarded a Community Beautification Field of Interest Grant, in the amount of $1,800, to the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. The funds will be applied to landscaping the Art Museum grounds.

John Collier, Director of Campus Planning for Purdue, has volunteered to design a new landscaping plan for the museum on the Ninth Street hill, in Lafayette. Master Gardener, David Lahr volunteered to oversee and direct the installation and maintenance. This grant, combined with a $5,000 grant received from Tipmont REMC, in August, will fund the materials and labor necessary to complete the project. Work will begin this fall and be completed in spring, 2009.