Building an Airplane

Dr. Tom Wolfe and Bob Bogigian spoke to the Kiwanis Club about their love of flying and their current project of building an RV12 kit plane in a garage at Dr. Wolfe’s home.  Dr. Wolfe is a pediatric anesthesiologist at Riley and Mr. Bogigian is a local attorney.  Both are licensed pilots. 

Dr. Wolfe began working with large radio controlled kit airplanes in 1981.  He told of his first plane losing its wings and crashing.  He moved on to ultra-lights, aircraft that have a maximum weight of 254 pounds, a maximum of 5 gallon fuel capacity, and carry only 1 person.  Dr. Wolfe built and soloed his first ultra-light, a Pterydactyl, 1984.

Next Dr. Wolfe built a Pulsar fiberglass aircraft that carried two people and had a 2 cylinder, water cooled, snow mobile engine.  This plane came to rest in a field north of Greenfield following deployment of a ballistic parachute system.   Shortly thereafter, Dr. Wolfe moved on to another kit plane with over 8,000 parts, a tube-and-rag fabric-covered aircraft, a Kitfox V, which he has flown over much of the United States.

When Mr. Bogigian and Dr. Wolfe met, Mr. Bogigian volunteered that he would enjoy helping if Dr. Wolfe ever decided to build another plane that he would enjoy helping.  Hence the RV-12 currently is being constructed in Dr. Wolfe’s garage.  The RV-12 is an all-metal LSA (light sport aircraft) design, a 2 person plane, weighing 740 pounds empty, 19’ 11’ in length, and a span of 26’ 9”.  It has a fuel capacity of 20 gallon and a range of approximately 500 miles.  It has a cruising speed of 116 mph at 5000 rpm and can fly at an elevation of up to 12,500 feet.  Bob & Tom hope to complete assembly and the FAA inspection this spring. 

GC School Foundation

Myra Bleill. Executive Director of the Greenfield Central School Foundation spoke to Kiwanis about the foundations programs.  The foundation started as Set a Good Example in 1986 with the name being changed in 2010 and Mrs. Bleill being hired in October 2011. 

The Greenfield Central School Foundation is the gateway for private investment in our schools so that Greenfield Central students and teachers have the tools and resources they need to succeed. The Foundation also is proactive in establishing programs that impact our schools to enhance education and build positive character. 

Project ARROW is a collaborative project of the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation and the Greenfield Central School Foundation. This highly successful program matches high school students (mentors) with at-risk students in the seventh and eighth grades, under the supervision of Master Mentors (community leaders). Goal-setting, skill building, and group activities are completed in an informal, supportive format. Each semester, a celebration brings all Project ARROW participants together for large group activities and projects.

E² or E squared stands for Educations Enrichment grants. The GCSF Educational Enrichment (E²) Grant program benefits students, teachers and schools within G-CCSC. The E² Grant program has recently expanded its criteria to provide opportunities for enhanced student learning and achievement. Our focus promotes character building plus innovative ways to enhance student learning and achievement.

The Greenfield Central School Foundation offers scholarships to graduating seniors from Greenfield-Central High School, recognizes students for their dedication to being a positive role model, and also honors community and educational leaders for the example they give within the school setting as well as within the community.

The foundation can accept contributions that help specific programs or to honor individuals who worked with the school system.  For more information contact Myra Bleill at 317-477-4103.

IGem from Greenfield Central

 

Pictured from Left: Mr. John Rihm, Bryce Herbert, Ms. Rebecca Schini, Chris Thompson, Tyler Girton, and Mason Keller 

 

The International Genetically Engineered Machine competition team from Greenfield-Central High School addressed Kiwanis about the Project Lead the Way Academies for Biomedicine and Pre-Engineering.  The iGEM team represents talents from both academies across all four grade levels at GCHS.  In addition to the two PLTW academies the high school also has a career academy and a finance academy. 

The four student presenters were:Chris Thompson, a Senior who is the author of Synthetic Biology, Brick by Brick published in the Johns Hopkins journal, Imagine, Jan/Feb 2012 issue; Bryce Herbert, also a senior; Mason Keller a Junior and Tyler Girton Sophomore.   Both Chris and Bryce will be attending Purdue University where they intend to continue their studies.

Chris talked the basics of iGEM, a competition that combines engineering principles with biology.  In 2011 the GC iGEM team won Best Poster, Best Presentation, Best New Part, and Best Overall Project.

Bryce Herbert spoke of the effects on iGEM students of gaining a head start on future studies, networking, learning important skills especially communications, and gaining experience as scientists.   It is hoped that the communities where iGEM include creating more Biotech companies, retention of educated workers and more innovation.

Mason and Tyler spoke about this year’s project for the iGEM competition.  There project is to produce a Blood Galactose and Glucose tester that will help patients and physicians monitor GALT activity.  GALT is an enzyme which does not occur in 1 in 60,000 births resulting in the disease Galactosemia.  The second project is develop a e-coli tester for Mycobacterium Marinum in acquariums.  The bacteria causes Fish Tuberculosis. 

This year’s iGEM high school competition will be held in Greenfield, June 30 at Greenfield Central High School.  For more information contact either Rebecca Schini or John Rihm at G-CHS. 

Hancock Hope House

 

 

Steve Vail, Executive Director of Hancock Hope House spoke to Kiwanis about history, mission and future of the Hope House.  Hancock Hope House, established in 1991, is a shelter serving homeless men, women, and family units including children.  Hope House serves Hancock, Rush, and Shelby counties.

In 2011, 103 people spent 3,600 shelter nights at Hope House down from 2010 when 106 people spent 4,500 shelter nights there.  The mission of Hancock Hope House is to provide hope to the community while strengthening individuals and families on their journey to self-sufficiency.

·         Provide short-term housing to homeless families and individuals

·         Provide training through our Life Leads program to teach adults essential life-skills.

·         Provide our community with low-cost thrift clothing and household items through the WEARhouse thrift store.

·         Allow individuals in our community to build ownership in our mission through our volunteer program.

·         The Hope House utilizes and manages individual and corporate monetary donations given to our 501-c3 non-profit organization to help community families and individuals in need.

The facility located at 35 East Pierson Street in Greenfield provides the residents with laundry and kitchen facilities.  Meals are not provided.  It is a working shelter which means that there is an expectation that residents will be working or seeking work during the day.  It does not serves transients.

In addition to government funding and donations the Hope House derives funds from the operation of the thrift store.  The Hope House hopes to upgrade their kitchen to commercial standards and train residents in culinary skills including Serve Safe certification.  A raised bed garden is planned outside the kitchen where residents could grow some of their food. 

In partnership with the DAV and Leaderhsip Hancock County the Hope House is establishing a textile recycling program that allows Hancock County residents an alternative to throwing away clothing and other textiles that are beyond use as a donation to thrift shops.  A recycling day for such items will be held Saturday, April 14 at the Hope House.

Additional information may be found at their website http://hancockhopehouse.com.

 

Carrots Made in Record Time

Unbelievable!!!  This morning Kiwanis members, their kids and grandkids arrived at the Greenfield Christian Church ready to make our candy carrots.  By 1:00 pm all the carrots had been made, loaded into the trailer, the floor swept, and the church doors locked!  Thank you to all who came. 

The bunnies were expecting to spend all day, and maybe again next Saturday, on this project, but we had to turn away members who were to work in the afternoon.  Needless to say, there was no grass growing under anyone’s feet today.

Now it is time to get the carrots out for sale in the community.  We will have a supply at next Tuesday’s meeting, so plan on attending at Ponderosa Steakhouse.  If you can’t be there and want to be sure to get your favorite kinds of carrot, contact one of the bunnies and we will see that you get what you need.  Prices are $3 each, or 2 for $5 and we have orange slices, jelly beans, regular M&Ms and pastel M&Ms. 

We will be selling March 30 and 31 and April 6 & 7 at Greenfield Banking Company, Kroger and Wal-Mart.  We will have sign-up sheets for 3-hour shifts at the meetings the next few weeks, so check your calendars and be ready to volunteer.

 

Thank you for participating with this project.

 

Becky  Karen    Sondra