How do you rate a cemetery? Well, I will start by saying West Ridge Park is great at maintaining…read morethe property and addressing any issues or questions I have. At the time of urgent need they are caring, patient and extremely helpful. Preplanning is also something they offer. I guess by purchasing 5 plots it is the ultimate rating of approval and a cemetery I'm comfortable visiting. Mostly, for me, I appreciate they allow us to "decorate" the grave sites for holidays and add personal items. Not having a fence enclose the entire cemetery is something I'm a fan of. Yes, it allows folks entrances who probably have no business here but it also allows us the opportunity to visit whenever we need to.

Wendi was wonderful and empathetic from start to finish. We buried my mother on 5/28 and the…read moreprocess here and through Flanner and Buchanan was seamless. Nothing but praise for the staff here and at Flanner and Buchanan.

Plots to Plates Organic Community Garden is located on the grounds of Carmel Middle School. Not…read moregonna lie: I didn't know this existed until a couple of months ago when my 3rd grader had a field trip here and I was one of the parent helpers. I arrived at the garden and was like, "What the heck? I've been to this school multiple times and I never saw this entire garden ecosystem flourishing here?" But yeah, there's a community garden at the back of Carmel Middle School! So good. To get to the garden, use the entrance by the tennis courts and then drive all the way back to the woods. This community garden is used often in the spring for Carmel Clay school field trips, but it's also used by the community as a place to plant and harvest produce. According to the website, the space is intended for public gardening, education and community fellowship. You can apply for one of the 123 garden plots available to the general public and schools. Garden plots are 4 feet by 15 feet. There is usually a waitlist for these garden plots, but you can get on the waitlist by visiting the website. Spots usually open at the beginning of the year. This is a very tidy and nice community garden, and you can tell that the people who use it love it and take care of it. There's a designated space for compost, which is neat. There's also a small playground at the garden, which is nice for people who visit with children: the kids can play while and adult gardens.

Back in 2015 a local foundation was started to honor those local veterans who served in the…read moremilitary from the Speedway area. Although small in size, there are bricks leading up to the memorial with the names of local veterans from all branches of the service. There is a stone monument with the insignias of the different branches. Behind the monument is an American Flag . This location is ideal for locals to gather to pay their respects with lots of space and parking along the streets. Foot traffic can pass at a respectful distance, but close enough to be able to tell the purpose of the memorial. If you know where Daredevil Brewery is in Speedway, the memorial is located across Main Street. I understand that not every memorial has access to large funds, so this modest memorial was maintained well and though not as grand as many of the memorials I have found around the state, most of them funded by the entire county they represent. You won't find any statuary here, but a simple and respectful space to honor those who served. Review #3913

I have placed this memorial for years. You can actually see it from I-70 as you are approaching the…read morePost Road exit. It is kind of difficult to get to, but not impossible. I was on a mission. I had to call the number they provided and they opened the black gate for me to drive my car through. I drove all the way to the back and parked and then walked through another black gate that leads you right to the Remembrance Walk. Don't worry, if you get lost, just remember that the memorial is adjacent to I-70, so just follow the highway and you should find it. The Remembrance Walk will take you to the memorial and eternal flame. This memorial is respectfully done and pays tribute to the State Troopers that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The memorial itself consists of the names of the fallen Troopers inscribed on three black granite tablets and a flame that is always lit. There are also two stone benches facing the memorial where you can sitThe website also claims that the sound of Taps echoes every hour from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm through a grove of trees surrounding the memorial site, but I was not there at the top of the hour, so I did not experience it first hand. The memorial is open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM, but you will probably need to call to get the gate open so that you can go back there. This is not a place that you would probably spend a lot of time, but this is a spot to pay respect to Indiana's finest that died in the line of duty.

While driving in Atlanta, IN, I saw a small chapel out of the corner of my eye that grabbed my…read moreattention. I just had to stop. It happened to be the Roberts Settlement. Roberts Settlement is the historic site where black pioneers, who sought security and opportunity, established a community in 1835. The site consists of a chapel, a legacy walk, and a graveyard. The Legacy walk is very nice. It is relatively new, opening in 2024, and is not a very long walk, though. I would say it covers about 40 yards. The Walk offers visitors a self-guided journey through the history of the Roberts Settlement. It is also intended to be a place to reflect. You will find benches along the outer perimeter of the walk behind each title monolith. Visitors on the walk are greeted by "Morning Light," a dazzling entry feature symbolizing exploration, discovery, opportunity, and hope. The walk is divided into four separate themed sections: Roots & Migration, Progress & Perseverance, Faith & Education, and Legacy & Footprints. Each section includes a title monolith and a bench, both constructed of steel and faux stone. There are also informational placards with interpretive content at each section. Additionally, you will see QR code links you can scan for more information about each section. There is no parking lot, but a little pull-off area in front of the chapel that can hold about 2 or 3 vehicles. There is also a small public bathroom here, located right behind the chapel. This site is marked by an historical marker and is in great shape. It is very well-maintained. Guided tours of the Roberts Settlement are ONLY available between April 1st and October 31st. The Chapel is not open to the general public. It is only open for guided tours by appointment only. It should be noted that the Walk is open year-round, during daylight hours. This is a nice piece of history in Hamilton County that I had no idea existed. It was a nice stop, but I would not call it a long one though. I am still glad I made it here, and I recommend checking this place out if you are in the area.

Williams and Bluitt were awesome!! There services were phenomenal. My Granddaughter Emirah looked…read moreso beautiful. When I tell You when they say how she was going to look they did not lie. They owned up to what they said they were going to do. They just did an amazing job. I want to thank Angela Jones for being there with us every step of the way she made it much more easier and less stressful. And the team that made her looked like a princess I'm loss for words, thank you, thank you, thank you. God is Good all the time God is Good. Thank you so much, Clara Rowe

So I know I'm normally reviewing restaurants and such I just had to come here and give a spot on…read morereview of Williams & Bluitt funeral home. So our loved one recently passed away and it was quite sudden so when leaving the hospital they provide you with a list of funeral homes and you need to make a decision within 24 hours of your loved ones passing! We first contact W&B because they came highly recommended and am I glad we did choose them! LaMonde Nixon the director was really patient with us and not judgmental of our family dynamics and dysfunction but helped us maneuver through the most difficult time of someone's life! From Ms. Norma at the front to Kayla everyone was so warm and understanding! As Mr Nixon was able to smoothly work with our insurance company and we found a plan that was suitable for our needs! So if you're ever in the need of a good funeral home and I pray that you won't be in a need any time soon but if you are I truly recommend Williams & Bluitt Funeral Home!

Les and the staff at Conkle were extremely helpful when I recently had to plan my mother's memorial…read moreservice. (I had had a very different experience when trying to work with Crown Hill Cemetery). Conkle supported me every step of the way, knowing that I was planning all of this while living out of state-- they went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly. They were also very knowledgeable when I asked for recommendations for everything from a minister, an organist, to a local restaurant. I appreciate their helpfulness and attention to detail. Highly recommend them.

Selecting a funeral home is something we never like to think about until the time is facing us…read more Should that happen and you are put in the path of selecting a funeral home for your loved one, I'd recommend Conkle on 16th Street. They also offer Pre-Planning packages to avoid putting your loved ones through this experience. They are compassionate, kind, respectful of your loved ones, and they gently walk you through the selection process. They realize you're numb from grief and no one is ever ready for this process in our lives. Conkle's interior remains as it has been for years but is clean, well maintained and cared for even though the drapes are certainly out of style. I know! Who's looking at the drapes at a time like this? The chapels are large and can be increased or decreased as necessary. They try to accommodate every person's budget and are helpful even after the service when you need death certificates or have questions. One additional thought is many restaurants are located within walking distance of Conkles in Speedway for those who spend hours supporting the family. This was brought to my attention and much appreciated for those assisting the family and friends.

The Memorial is where Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc was started on the original Butler University…read morecampus in Irvington. The walk around the neighborhood was very eye opening. I learned a lot about my sorority. After the neighborhood walk, I went inside of the old library to see the history. I was totally surprised to see a picture of my aunt, Janice Walker, the past Southwest Region Syntaktes as part of the sorority history for 1991. Very impressed with the information provided. Ten stars.

If you've never traveled around Irvington, I highly recommend it. Along the way, you'll find little…read moregems like the Bona Thompson Memorial Center that serves as the home for the Irvington Historical Society and its art collection and historical documents. Not everyone knows that Butler University was originally located in Irvington. This building is one of only a couple buildings of the original campus that continues to exist. It was designed by Henry Dupont and Jesse T. Johnson and constructed in 1903. This building used to be the library, while what is now the Irvington United Methodist Church was the former university president's home. Stick with me. I'll review places and give you some history! The Bona Thompson Memorial Center now has a renovated gallery space and in addition to its regular collection includes a yearly juried exhibit and offers other exhibits. The Center also hosts weddings and receptions. The museum is open weekends from 1-4pm. Current special exhibits include one on Irvington businesses and one on Trees! Both are quite cool. As is true of nearly any building from the early 20th century, there are accessibility concerns here and because this is a historic building it is largely exempt from ADA requirements. You can get into the building, though! You can check out some of it on the Irvington Historical Society's website. As a little more history, Bona Thompson was a young woman who graduated from what was then Butler College in 1897 but then passed away from Typhoid Fever in 1899. In her honor, her family donated $40,000 to build the library. The library is built from Bedford limestone and was built by the still in existence Jungclaus Construction (builders of Murat Temple, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and the Barnes-Thornburg building). This is a beautiful, historic building in a neighborhood known for its beauty and known for embracing its history. In this time of social distancing and spending more time alone, it'd be a great little fun afternoon activity to go check it out.