We had a lengthy interview in his office back in early January.  As we talked about the Super Bowl, he encouraged us to be alert for something.  ”The thing to watch is really the energy in the ten days before the game.  I think that will be the story.” 

Evidence of that energy is everywhere downtown.  From the top of the Zipline down to the far end the Super Bowl Village. 

People crowded downtown today to be present for the ribbon cutting. 

We heard one Hoosier after another expressing pride about Indianapolis being the host city.  Now they’re eager to see the events go as smoothly as designed.  

Granted, traffic drew some complaints this afternoon.  One viewer e-mailed this blunt assessment: “Traffic is horrid!” 

Some of that may represent a surge of people who wanted to be first to visit the Village. 

It may also be the reason the Host Committee stressed “Know Before You Go”, to help people avoid the most congested areas. 

And, some of that congestion just comes with the game.  It will be over sooner than we realize.

Mayor Ballard told me we all need to “put on our best face because so much of the world will be watching [Indianapolis] for the first time.”   

And that means, for Indianapolis, the Super Bowl is more than a football game, even if it is the biggest game in the world.  “This puts Indianapolis on another stage, on a national and an international stage,” he said.  “Indianapolis will now be forever branded as a Super Bowl City.”

On February 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th: almost every Indygo ride will be free!

The only exception will be for people riding the Green Line Airport Express on those days.  Those riders will still have to pay.

Also, in the days before the game, Ohio Street will become the center for transfers — because bus shelters at Capitol and Market and Marylandand Penn will be closed.

The Host Committee wants you to “know before you go”, in case you’re a regular rider — or you’re a commuter who wants to avoid the congestion.     

The committee’s Mel Raines told me the goal “is certainly to make sure that the folks who live and work here every day can go about their lives as seamlessly as possible with also making it a welcoming environment” for Super Bowl visitors. 

Planners expect as many as 150,000 guests downtown — in addition to the 100,000 who work there every day.

The odd looking sign here is part of the “Know Before You Go” campaign.  Indygo will post these signs — in the form of big stickers — on its bus shelters to make sure everyone understands the schedules and routes.

Daniels referred to the endorsement he and Mayor Ballard gave to a company called Litebox. 

In October, we learned the CEO of Litebox said he would bring a manufacturing operation to Indianapolis, creating more than a thousand jobs.  Later, we learned he has some legal problems and unpaid tax bills.

That’s why Daniels said he would have waited before endorsing the company.

On Tuesday, Mayor Ballard told me he couldn’t call it an “Oops”.  

“No, I dont think so. We’ve got nothing invested in it.”  Ballard said.  “We won’t have anything invested in it unless there are jobs to be had. That was always the deal … We don’t have any skin in the game, unless the jobs materialize.”

“If the jobs materialize, we’ll try to help ‘em out — because it’s always been about jobs to us,” he said.

Now, I’ll tell you what I learned at the home. 

First, officially, it’s no longer the President Benjamin Harrison Home.  The property is called the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. 

Historians at the home can probably give you several reasons for the different designation.  If I’m not over-simplifying it, the change makes fundraising easier.

Seeing the home decorated for Christmas also offered an interesting history lesson. 

As the Harrison web site notes, “Benjamin Harrison was the first President to have a decorated Christmas tree in the White House and his home in Indianapolis reflects his fondness for celebrating the holiday.” 

The tree shown at left recalls what the Harrison family might have seen when they celebrated the holiday in Indianapolis.

I had not been inside the home for several years, until the meeting with the mayor.  A visit to the home might be a good way for you to spend some vacation time between Christmas and New Year’s Day — and learn a little local history along the way.

For decades, Indianapolis has offered the 500 as evidence of the city’s ability to host big events.

But, from a security standpoint, it’s not so big — at least not when compared to the Super Bowl. 

IMPD Deputy Chief Mike Bates says the Speedway “may put 300,000 people out there.  But it’s a one day event and it’s over with.”  The Super Bowl will attract fans over ten days.

That’s a reason why there’s such a big difference in federal security classifications for the two events – the race and the Super Bowl.

Bates says the Super Bowl is a “SEAR 1 event.  (SEAR stands for “Special Event Assessment Rating.”)

The government gives the 500 a SEAR 3 rating. 

Bates says “there’s quite a bit of a difference” between 1 and 3.  “With the SEAR 1,” he said, “you get a lot of federal resources, a lot of federal assets that are brought in to the planning stages – which we have received.”

Everyone in an Indianapolis uniform will be on duty, in shifts, from the Thursday before the game through Super Bowl Sunday.  All IMPD officers.  All firefighters and everyone in the emergency medical service.   That’s about 3000 people – and they’ll be augmented by state and federal officials.

Police officers will start taking positions as soon as NFL needs require, roughly two weeks out.

For now, they’ll have to just imagine the challenges of the only events higher on the security scale.  Those events are designated National Special Security Events.  That term applies to anything with the President in attendance such as a political convention, a State of the Union Address or an inaugural.

If so, Mayor Greg Ballard challenges you to get it out and ready to roll again.

On January 2, he will host the Polar Bear Pedal.  That’s a 12.2 mile bike ride to, as a press release says, “celebrate the City’s connected bikeways and bicycyle-friendly infrastructure.”

The ride will start downtown at the Indy Bike Hub, 222 E. Market.

Riders will pedal to the Major Taylor Velodrome for a hot chocolate break and then return to the Bike Hub.

IMPD will escort the riders.

The ride starts at 11 that morning.  And, it’s free.  But, if you want to ride, you’ll need a helmet.

For more information, check this link.

The Indianapolis dance troupe will receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.  The NEA will present $15,000 to Dance Kaleidoscope for its 2012-2013 season.

In the DK release, Artistic Director David Hochoy expressed his gratitude for the NEA recognition.  ”We are affirmed by this recognition to continue to produce world class contemporary dance programs which inspire, educate and entertain our community and others all across the nation.”

David Hochoy

The NEA’s web site reveals how the grant will be used — and it’s clear this will be an opportunity for more than just Dance Kaleidoscope.

The NEA says the new work, choreographed by Hochoy, “will be set to Igor Stravinsky’s Les Noces, with live performances by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Children’s Choir, and the American Pianists Association.”

Dance Kaleidoscope says it is one of more than 800 grant recipients around the country.  The total value of the grants is more than $22 million.

Day 6

To everyone’s mild displeasure, the day after the parade got off to an early start. We were still very exhausted from the previous night’s activities, but the breakfast call was sounded at the break of dawn nonetheless.

After breakfast we split into our family groups for three hours of free time. Mr. Bieda took the Blue Group joined by Jennifer LaFara, Jamonikah Thompson, and Sydney Snow to the International Market in Honolulu, located only a couple of blocks from our hotel.

Surrounding the market were several little shops selling tourist type junk. I guess you’d call it souvenirs? We had a blast going around to the little stalls and practicing our bargaining techniques to buy the junk we had set our eyes on. Interestingly enough we all got “special deals” because we were the “first customers of the day”. For some reason I feel like they say those lines to lots of people … Anyways, Jennifer and I bought a little ukulele that we were able to get a “big discount” on. Now we just have to learn how to play!

After a bit we walked to the grocery store to stock up on snacks and then went up to the hotel pool. Despite temperatures bordering on the 80s – that water was cold! We didn’t have the strength to withstand the frigid pool for long so we went up to our room to get ready for the next activity.

At noon the band joined up in the lobby and  loaded the buses. After an hour-long scenic drive we arrived at the Polynesian Culture Center. The Polynesian Culture Center is an organization that educates visitors about the many different traditions and cultures of the various Polynesian peoples. They mostly employ college aged kids of Polynesian descent and they help put them through their schooling.

One of the first things we did was go to see the ‘Canoe Pageant’. This was where a group from each of the tribes rode down the stream in a canoe and acted out, danced, or sang some representation of their culture. The peoples of New Zealand and Fiji performed frightening war dances which featured a horrifying widening of the eyes, sticking out of the tongue, beating their bare bodies, and high pitched screeches. The peoples of Tahiti put on a calmer show of six women doing an extravagant version of the hula dance. Their grass skirt clad hips were rotating at speeds well over those of an Indy-car.

Other activities we tried at the Polynesian Culture Center were spear throwing, fishing, Polynesian Checkers, and canoeing. Everything was perfect and it was such an amazing educational experience. As I’ve said so many times – you can’t beat living history.

That night we came together for a Polynesian feast in the gathering hall. The food was pretty darn good! The rolls were delicious and the fish tasted ocean-fresh.

After dinner we united in the amphitheater at the Polynesian Culture Center for a show entitled “Breath of Life”. I really had no idea of what to expect of this show, but as it nearly brought me to tears I was blown away. This was one of the finest performances I’ve ever seen. Every single theme of the show tied into a concept that we’ve been focusing on this marching season, aside from music.

The “Breath of Life” followed a Polynesian boy through the stages of life, through manhood, and into death; however,  from death came new life. Our marching show this year: “The Circle of Life”. Coincidence? I think not…

Another theme was presented to the world by Tyler Kniess in a speech made after Jim Irsay and the Colts donated $130,000 to our Hawaiian Trip fund. Tyler cited Mr. Gary Doherty’s favorite Chinese proverb: “It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” The show ended when a Polynesian man of the village died in a tribal war. At the burial ceremony a man stood in the darkness with a single torch, and with that torch he lighted two other men’s torches. Those two men each lighted two other torches, and so on, and so on. Soon, there was no more darkness. And from this light – an innocent and pure child was born.

After the show I went to Mr. Doherty and asked him, “Did you plan this perfectly, or what?” This was the conclusion to our great trip. The final night. The bang we went out with.

But is this the end of this dramatic tale? I think not. This is the beginning. The duty of the Tech Band is to take the candle back to Indianapolis from Honolulu and to eliminate the darkness. We must complete the circle of life. There has been too much progress to give up now. We are far past the point of no return. And now, I plead to you: join the cause. Make a difference. The cry is simple but important.

The Tech Band overcame impossible odds, but our work has not yet begun. Join us in Indianapolis and you will be a part of this revolution soon to sweep education everywhere.

Join now. Your community needs you. We need you. This is the future; shape it how you want it to be. Nothing you ever do will be as important. Our city. Our. Children. Right?

Thank you sincerely for following along from the beginning. It’s meant the world to us all.

Jacob Miller

Arsenal Technical HS Titan Marching Band

Honolulu, Hawaii

Day 5

December 7, 1941 – A day that lives in infamy…

December 7, 2011 – a day to honor the valor and sacrifice of our great nation’s heroes in a time of dire need and a day to make a statement on behalf of the Tech Band, the school, the district and all of education in Indiana…

The 70^th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor was the big day. The day we had all dreamed of. The reason we were in Hawaii. The culmination of 14 months of preparation and hard work. The band nervously began the countdown until time came for us to march in the parade.

Wake up. Shower. Breakfast. Very orderly and methodically executed. As always, discipline is the key to the success of the Tech Band – especially on performance days.

Mr. Doherty along with the other band instructors marched  us down to Waikiki Beach for our pre-show warm-ups.  Drum Majors Tyler Kniess and Eric Cervantes instructed us to  remove our shoes and bury our feet in the sand. We stretched, breathed, and warmed up our instruments from this position.

Mr. Doherty then asked us to face the ocean and march sixteen paces forward. The band was extremely happy to get in the great Pacific because we haven’t been allowed to once since our first night in Hawaii. The band was grateful for Mr. Doherty’s understanding that we can be responsible, but we like to have fun as well.

The band walked back to the hotel to get cleaned up and ready for the big show.

By 3 pm the band was dressed and on the buses. We were dropped off at the parade start point where we unloaded and set up our instruments, warmed up again, and blocked up into our parade formation. There was a long ceremony in which we heard from the Governor of Hawaii, the Mayor of Honolulu, the leader of the Hawaiian Parks Department, and dozens of gentlemen who are proud survivors of Pearl Harbor.

Band Members with Harold Dove

Among the survivors were Mr. Paul Kennedy and Mr. Harold Dove whom we have traveled and acquainted ourselves with. There were eight high school bands in the parade- each one from a city or state related to a ship that held significance to the attack on Pearl Harbor. A band from Arizona represented the USS Arizona, a band from Maryland represented the USS Maryland, and the Arsenal Technical HS Titan Marching Band represented the USS Indianapolis. The eight bands joined by the US Marine Band played together a beautiful rendition of  “America the Beautiful”.

The parade started at 6 pm. Night had fallen. The breeze blew through the palm fronds. The waves could be heard crashing on the shore to my right. Around 150,000 people came to watch the parade and they looked to be excitedly anticipating our performance.

I heard the command from Tyler and Eric accompanied by the lead snare, “Hut, hut, hut, push,” and from there my brain went into lock down mode and all I could keep a clear focus on was what I had to do for the parade to be successful.

Earlier in the day Mr. Doherty brought us all together to give us a few important words. He told us, “Without a stunning musical performance, this whole trip has just been one big charity case.” None of us were prepared to let that happen. We wanted to put on a show so good that it would tear down negative perceptions about IPS.

We did it. From the very first chord we knew that we had accomplished every single objective that had brought us 5,000 miles from home. The parade route was 2.5 miles long. By the end of the parade we were exhausted, but we stood tall and proud. The Tech Band defeated the odds and completed the season of a lifetime.

Drum Majors Tyler and Eric told us that the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade was their single proudest moment of their time with the band. For Jennifer LaFara the pay-off may have been even grander. This was her fourth marching season at Tech. Jennifer remembers when the band had only 12 members and to see this much progress in such a short amount of time is truly heartwarming. For band members like Marco Garcia who joined band for the first time this year it has meant something different. It shows that they can find good people in IPS and that dreams and goals can be met. Ohana means family in Hawaiian. The Tech Band is an Ohana that will stick together through anything and find success through hard work and unity.

We got back to the hotel very late after the parade. We were all asleep within moments of hitting the bed.

Thanks for reading!

Check back later for the final installment of my Hawaii Trip Blog.

Aloha and Mahalo!

Jacob Miller

Arsenal Technical HS Titan Marching Band

Honolulu, Hawaii