Did you know that aliens came to Indiana nearly 40 years ago?

According to a classic movie written and directed by Steven Spielberg in 1977, two airplanes had a close encounter of the first kind (a sighting) with a UFO over Indianapolis, and Hoosiers had a close encounter of the second kind (physical evidence) with an alien craft in Muncie shortly thereafter.
 
On Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Royal Theater in Danville, aliens return to Indiana when the Kiwanis Club of Danville brings us "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in its latest installment of Kiwanis Klassic Family Movie Night.

Easter is right around the corner (Sunday, April 5), and if you're looking for Easter egg hunts for the kids, we've done the research for you.

Here are the Easter egg hunts in Hendricks County that we're aware of in 2015 (and if you know of any hunts that aren't listed here, please contact us so that we can add them!):

For some Villagers, there's no place like home for Spring Break.

If you're staying home, make plans to attend the tenth edition of Kiwanis Klassic Family Movie Night on Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at the Royal Theater in Danville.

The Kiwanis Club of Danville will be showing the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz" in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the movie's release.

Admission is just $3 per adult and $1 per child under the age of 12, with all proceeds from ticket sales benefiting the Kiwanis Club of Danville.

Members of the Plainfield High School Key Club worked with Plainfield Kiwanis Club over the holidays to raise $4075.88 for Riley Children's Hospital! 

Each year, Plainfield Kiwanis Club invites Santa to Plainfield Plaza to greet children in anticipation of Christmas and all its wonder.  Kiwanis is the parent and partner club of the PHS Key Club.  Student-members sign up for times to assist with pictures and organizing little ones waiting to whisper their wishes to the Big Man in the Red Suit. 

Allie Ridenour, a member of the PHS club, describes the event as one of her favorite service activities. 

“This is an annual event the club looks forward to every year,” says co-sponsor Kellie Jacobs.  “The Christmas visit to the Plaza is a family tradition many Key Club members remember from their own childhoods, and it is special to be able to be a part of making those memories for other families.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT PLAINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AT 839-7711.

(Submitted press release.)

An annual event in Danville is fast approaching: the Danville Elementary PTO Winter Festival. This year's event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 1-5 p.m. at Danville South Elementary School.

This is an event that my kids and I make a point to attend every year, as my kids always thoroughly enjoy the games and the bounce houses, and I enjoy the opportunity to see friends and meet new people while also learning about businesses and organizations within the community.

Plus, it raises funds for a great organization that further benefits OUR KIDS.

We are fast approaching the season for Daddy-Daughter Dances, Mother-Son activities and other similar types of family events, and there are a number of them to choose from in Hendricks County this year.

Here are the ones that we have found so far, but this is a constantly updated list, so feel free to add a comment to alert us to any events that we overlooked, and check back frequently for updates!

If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? Thirty years later, the answer is still the same:  Ghostbusters!

The 30th Anniversary Edition of Ghostbusters will be on the big screen on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Royal Theater in Danville for the eighth edition of Kiwanis Klassic Family Movie Night.

One of my many activities in the community is serving as Lieutenant Governor of the Circle City Division of the Indiana District of Kiwanis.

Yeah. Try fitting that on a business card.

Basically, it's a fancy way of saying that I oversee eight Kiwanis clubs in three counties. Four of those clubs are right here in Hendricks County:  Avon, Brownsburg, Danville and Plainfield. My home club is the Kiwanis Club of Danville.

For those who may not be aware, Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Basically, we do a lot of really cool stuff for OUR KIDS, and 2015 will mark the 100th year that we've been doing really cool stuff for OUR KIDS.

I'll be getting into more detail about Kiwanis in an upcoming guest column for Hendricks County Home magazine, so stay tuned for that. For the sake of this post, though, Kiwanis clubs raise money and complete community service projects in support of OUR KIDS in their community -- usually working closely with the community's school corporation -- across the state, and around the globe.

Were any of you ever in Key Club in high school? Or Circle K in college? Ever heard of the K-Kids Club, Builders Club, or Bring Up Grades (B.U.G.) Program? That's all Kiwanis.

Ever been to the Easter egg hunt in Ellis Park in Danville? That's Kiwanis. Ever bought an elephant ear at the Hendricks County 4-H Fair or at the Hendricks County Ribfest? That's Kiwanis. How about a strawberry shortcake at the Ribfest? That's Kiwanis. Ever heard of -- or attended -- Masquerade Mayhem in Avon? That's Kiwanis. I could go on and on, but you get the point:  Kiwanis is doing a lot of things in a lot of places that you may not be aware of.

One area where Kiwanis is not serving, however, is anywhere within the North West Hendricks School Corporation. And that's a situation I aim to fix.

To that end, I'm starting a new Kiwanis club in northwestern Hendricks County. I haven't determined if it'll be located in North Salem, Lizton or Pittsboro yet, but its focus will be to serve the school corporation there. In fact, superintendent Rusty King has already signed up to be a charter member of this new club!

Here's what I'm looking for at this point:  people who are interested in joining Mr. King as charter members of this new club. I need at least 15 people who are dedicated to making this happen. Thirty people or more would be even better.

Once I get the Kiwanis applications from at least 15 people, I'll set up an organizational meeting where these new Kiwanians -- not me -- will decide what to name the club, where to meet, when to meet, how often to meet, and what community service projects would best meet the needs of that area of our wonderful county.

Are you interested in learning more? Shoot me an email at eric@redzonewriting.com and let's set up a time to meet. I'll come to you.

Let's get this new Kiwanis club up and running by the end of September so that we can start serving OUR KIDS of North West Hendricks School Corporation as soon as possible!

(Oh, and Mill Creek parents? Don't think that I haven't noticed that there's no Kiwanis club serving OUR KIDS in your school corporation. I'll be coming to you next!)