WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the ninth consecutive year, volunteers from Purdue University and the city of West Lafayette will go around the New Chauncey neighborhood Tuesday (Aug. 25) evening to greet students living off campus and welcome them to West Lafayette and Purdue.

The main purpose of the Meet and Greet program is to foster a strong relationship between Purdue and the West Lafayette community.

“We want students to feel genuinely welcome,” said Thomas Robinson, vice president for student services. “Over the years, the response has been very, very positive from the students. They are really pleased when we knock on their doors and greet them.”

Adam Kline, president of Purdue Student Government, said “Meet and Greet” embodies Purdue’s friendly environment.

“I participated in this event last year,” Kline said. “When you first knock on someone’s door, they might be a bit hesitant, but when you greet them back to Purdue, they really appreciate it.”

Volunteers will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Purdue Visitors’ Information Center on Northwestern Avenue, Robinson said. Each volunteer will get a gold Meet and Greet T-shirt, a street map of the New Chauncey neighborhood showing student residences, and door hangers with information about Purdue and West Lafayette that they will leave at each residence they visit, Robinson said.

Volunteers will then divide into teams of two or three people and walk around New Chauncey making their visits.

Meet and Greet is arranged jointly by the Purdue University and West Lafayette Community Partnership teams. Robinson is the chair of the Purdue team and Kline is a member of the group.

The main purpose of the teams is to come together and foster a strong relationship between Purdue and the West Lafayette, said Chandler Poole, chair of the West Lafayette team and director of development for West Lafayette. “It also gives us a chance for us to make West Lafayette a great community for everyone.”

Meet and Greet is open to any West Lafayette resident and Purdue community member who wants to volunteer.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Volunteers are currently being sought to assist with the 2009 Taste of Tippecanoe festival scheduled for Saturday, June 20th in Downtown Lafayette.

The Taste of Tippecanoe is a one day, multi-stage festival that draws more than 50,000 people and features a smorgasbord of local restaurants, live music, and ends with a spectacular fireworks show for kids of all ages.

The Taste is looking for people for various duties to work 2-hour shifts on June 20th between 4 pm and midnight. Volunteers are needed to help with various duties. All volunteers will receive free entry to the Taste and a t-shirt marking the occasion.

Aspiring volunteers can sign-up in any of three ways: visit www.tasteoftippecanoe.org and click on the “Volunteer” link; call (765) 423-2787; or stop by TAF at the Wells Cultural Community Center at 638 North Street.

The 2009 Comcast Taste of Tippecanoe is the primary fundraising event for the Tippecanoe Arts Federation and supports over one hundred arts and education programs in a fourteen county area. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to TAF. Activities of the Tippecanoe Arts Federation are provided, in part, with support from the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, with funds from the Indiana General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Lafayette–West Lafayette Development Corporation announced details of the 17th Annual Dancing in the Streets festival today during a press conference on the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge. This year’s Dancing in the Streets presented by IBEW Local 668, will be on Saturday, July 19, 2008 from 4:00p–Midnight on the streets of Downtown Lafayette–West Lafayette.

This year’s theme is “Rockin’ Night of Fun” and features a full schedule of entertainment and activities. As part of the festivities, Lafayette’s Main Street will transform into a hot rod paradise when hundreds of classic cars and motorcycles cruise the streets of Downtown. Also back this year by popular demand is the Laser Light Show, sponsored by IBEW Local 668, in West Lafayette’s Tapawingo Park.

Advanced tickets are $5.00 and available at Guaranteed Transmission, IBEW Local 668, First Financial Bank locations, and the Lafayette–West Lafayette Development Corporation office at the Depot. Admission at the gate for adults is $8.00, children ages 5-12 are $1.00 and children under age 5 are free.

Entertainment: Two stages of entertainment will keep Downtown streets rockin’. Jayne Bond and the Pink Martinis will keep the energy elevated with their high-power act immediately after the classic car and motorcycle cruise. Other acts include Roy E. Reynolds’ “Tribute to Elvis” performing one show only from 6-7 pm, The Groove Catz, the Snake Charmers, American Cheese, Soulshine Band and The Late Show. Additional entertainment will be on the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge.

Food: Food will be provided by 12 local restaurants in Tapawingo Park and at Riehle Plaza including long time vendors Sgt. Preston’s and Arni’s Pizza and a new vendor this year, Scagnoli’s. Food and beverages will also be served by in-house vendors including Chumley’s, Skylight Coffeehouse, Java Roaster, the Black Sparrow, Red Seven, and The Vault.

Car and Motorcycle Show and Cruise: A classic car show, sponsored by Chase Bank has anchored the festival for years but has now been expanded to include motorcycles and show bikes. The classic car and motorcycle cruise will begin at 7 p.m. and includes a two mile oval on Main and Ferry Streets between 2nd and 10th Streets. This year $1,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to classic cars and motorcycles. Guaranteed Transmission and the Development Corporation are this year’s prize sponsors. All car exhibitors will receive gifts and coupons from our sponsors, vendors and local businesses. Awards will be given in several categories including the Mayors’ Awards. Car registration is available at the McDonald’s Open Cruise on July 18th at the McDonald’s on 510 Sagamore Pkwy N and the Fifth Third Bank branch on 2nd Street, in Downtown Lafayette, from 12 noon – 6:45 p.m. on July 19.

Laser Light Show: A laser light show will light up Tapawingo Park just after dark during the event. Sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 668.

Advanced Ticket Sales: Advanced tickets are $5 and are available at IBEW Local 668, AAMCO Transmission, Guaranteed Transmission Service, First Financial Bank locations, and at the Lafayette–West Lafayette Development Corporation.

Volunteers: Volunteers are still needed to work two-hour shifts at Admission Gates and Ticket Booths. All volunteers receive free admission and a Dancing in the Streets t-shirt. Please contact the Lafayette-West Lafayette Development Corporation at 742-4044 or by email at jness@lwldc.org for more information or to sign up.

Entertainment schedule:

Riehle Plaza:

• 4:00-6:00p: The Groove Catz
• 6:00-7:00p: Roy E. Reynolds – The Tribute to Elvis
• 7:00-8:00p: Classic Car and Motorcycle Cruise
• 8:00–10:00p: Jayne Bond & The Pink Martinis
• 10:00–10:15p: Lo Woods
• 10:00–12:00 midnight: Snake Charmers

Tapawingo Park:

• 4:00-5:00p: Lo Woods
• 4:30–7:30p: Smiles Unlimited providing face painting and balloon art
• 5:00–7:00p: American Cheese
• 7:00–9:00p: Soulshine Band
• 9:00–9:15p: Lo Woods
• 9:15-10:15p: The Late Show
• 10:00–10:30p: Laser Light Show
• 10:30–12 midnight: The Late Show returns

John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge:

• 5:30–6:00p: DMG’s StarCity Dancers
• 6:15–6:45p: Triple S Sassy Snake Stompers
• 8:00–9:00p: Oasis Dancers

Roving Entertainers

• 8:00–9:30p: First Class Only Civic Youth Theatre’s Traveling Thespians

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Tippecanoe County Sheriff Tracy Brown is announces the formation of a volunteer based auxiliary unit. The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Unit program is designed to supplement law enforcement duties currently performed by sheriff’s deputies who increasingly are deterred from proactive outreach and patrol duties.

“As our community grows so does the need to have additional resources to assist with the demands placed on the Sheriff’s Office”, said Sheriff Tracy Brown. “We are tasked with doing more with less in county government. This program provides us with cost effective resources that will provide services to supplement patrol and community outreach efforts for the Sheriff’s Office.”

Sheriff Brown emphasizes that Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers are not a substitute for fully trained and certified Sheriff’s Deputies.

Sheriff’s Auxiliary Unit members will perform non-emergency duties, which keep sworn deputies on the street available to respond to calls for service. After receiving orientation and training, some of the duties performed by Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers will include highly visible non-confrontational patrol, traffic direction and control, assistance with neighborhood watch programs, crime prevention education, and provide routine security checks of homes and businesses. Sheriff’s Auxiliary Unit members will wear a uniform that is distinctly different from the traditional brown and tan uniforms worn by full time Sheriff’s deputies in the county.

Persons interested in volunteering for the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Unit will undergo a detailed screening process and a criminal background check before final consideration and acceptance into the program.

For additional information about the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Unit contact:
Sergeant Doug Caldwell (765) 423-9388 ext. 351 or see Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s web site at www.tippecanoesheriff.com and click on the Sheriff’s Auxiliary link.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Volunteers are needed to help staff the ticket booths and admission gates at the 17th Annual Dancing in the Streets festival presented by the Lafayette-West Lafayette Development Corporation in Downtown Lafayette-West Lafayette on Saturday, July 19th.

They are seeking volunteers to work two-hour shifts at Admission Gates and Ticket Booths. There is also a need for volunteers to secure fenced areas, help with stage set up and during entertainment transitions, assist with car/motorcycle registration, and help at the information tent. Certified fork lift drivers would be especially appreciated. Volunteers are also needed to help with set up and tear down. All volunteers receive free admission to the street festival and a Dancing in the Streets t-shirt.

Dancing in the Streets supports the many programs of the Lafayette-West Lafayette Development Corporation’s Downtown Development Council. The event runs from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight and features dancing, live bands on 2 stages, a laser light show, an Elvis impersonator, food from over 15 local restaurants, 2 beer and wine gardens, motorcycle showcase and cruise, and one of the largest classic car cruises in the region.

Please contact Jane Ness at 742-4044 or by email at jness@lwldc.org for more information or to sign up.