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Dr. Makund D. Patel</strong>, a non-invasive cardiologist, has joined Community Heart and Vascular, which is part
                     of Indianapolis-based                      Community Health Network. Patel received his medical degree from Grant Medical
                     College in India.</p>
                 

Indiana ranked No. 35—unchanged from last year—on UnitedHealth Foundation’s annual state-by-state ranking of overall public health. While Indiana ranks higher than it did three years ago, the state actually fell five places since UnitedHealth started compiling the ranking in 1990. Since then, obesity in Indiana has surged 130 percent while smoking rates have been stuck for a decade at 26 percent. UnitedHealth’s report says Indiana has good rates of health insurance coverage and does a good job of limiting infectious diseases. But the state suffers from poor air quality and very low public-health funding. The UnitedHealth Foundation is an arm of Minnesota-based health insurer UnitedHealth Group.

Researchers at Purdue University have shown how an experimental drug might restore the function of nerves damaged in spinal-cord injuries and could also treat multiple sclerosis. The experimental compound, 4-aminopyridine-3-methyl hydroxide, has been shown to restore function to damaged axons—slender fibers that extend from nerve cells and transmit electrical impulses in the spinal cord. The researchers’ findings, based on experiments with guinea pig spinal-cord tissue, appeared online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Neurophysiology.

Dr. John Hayes, vice president of Eli Lilly and Co.’s research laboratories and the company’s neuroscience branding leader, will deliver a keynote speech on the possibilities for neuroscience development in Indiana as part of the Neuroscience Summit organization by the Indiana Health Industry Forum. The summit will occur Dec. 4 at University Place Conference Center at IUPUI.

The merged operations of Carmel-based BehaviorCorp and Anderson-based Center for Mental Health will adopt the name Aspire Indiana Behavioral Health System on Jan. 1. The new organization has more than 400 mental health professionals and supporting staff members. Aspire Indiana will serve primarily patients in Madison, Hamilton, Boone and northern Marion counties.

Forty-seven percent of Americans say starting a government-run insurance plan is very or extremely important, the lowest ranking of eight possible priorities in health care reform. Americans’ highest priority, with 79 percent support, is making affordable health insurance available. http://www.kff.org/emails/113009chart1_large.gif

The five former Chesterfield town employees accused of stealing more than $250,000 in public funds from the Madison County
community may have to pay it all back. This week Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a lawsuit against the men, including
former clerk-treasurer and town manager Christopher Parrish and ex-town marshal James Kimm. They and the others are accused
of running several scams, including collecting money for bogus travel expenses, vehicle repairs and building improvements.

Board members for Franklin Township schools need to cut $9 million from next year’s budget. Job cuts are an option, according
to school officials. Earlier this year, voters rejected a referendum to help the district pay for projects and operations.
Several other school districts in central Indiana also are dealing with budget cuts.

A truck driver left his 5-year-old son in his vehicle while he went into a strip club, according to Indianapolis police. Officers
arrested Donald Crawford early this morning after he called 911 to report his truck was stolen and his son was lost. Police
say Crawford was intoxicated and couldn’t remember where he parked the truck outside of the Sassy Kat’s Showclub.
Police found the boy inside the truck watching cartoons. Crawford faces neglect and public intoxication charges. FOX59 will
have more at 4 p.m.

Folk-rocker Trina Hamlin, Nov. 28 at IndyFringe. Details here.

“Gingerbread Village,” Dec. 1-Jan. 3 at Conner Prairie. Details here.

Hananeel, Nov. 27 at the Jazz Kitchen. Details here.

Nov. 27-Jan. 3
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Twist endings weren’t created by O. Henry or M. Night Shyamalan. In fact, fellow initialed writer L. Frank Baum included one in “The Marvelous Land of Oz,” the first sequel to his now-iconic story.

I won’t give it away, but I will tell you that the story concerns Tip, a kid who follows in Dorothy’s footsteps, not only meeting the likes of the Scarecrow and Tin Man but also such new characters as Jack Pumpkinhead while facing off against Gen. Jinjur and her all-girl army. This week, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis launches its 40-minute production of the story, which is offered free (with museum admission) at its Lilly Theatre. Details here.

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Nov. 29
Artsgarden
    For some people, one tuba is enough. For others, well, there’s this free concert.
    Other Artsgarden performances this holiday season include Mistletoe Music, with school-age choirs featured Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the month, the Indianapolis Children’s Choir on Dec. 5, Circle City Men’s Barbershop Chorus on Dec. 6, and the all-trombone Jingle Bones ensemble on Dec. 6. For a full Artsgarden schedule, click here.
 

Nov. 27-Dec. 20
Phoenix Theatre

For the fourth year in a row, The Phoenix Theatre has solicited short holiday-themed plays, mixed them with songs, and created “A Very Phoenix Xmas.” Those who attended previous years know that one of the pleasures of these productions comes from not knowing what’s going to happen next. As such, I’ll refrain from looking into what “The Happy Hannu-Clog” could possibly be.

Performances begin on Black Friday, which could be a good distraction from your suddenly higher credit card bills. Details here.