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Fright Academy Haunted House is coming to The Children's Museum!
Fright Academy Haunted House is back at The Children’s Museum starting Oct. 9!
Join other monsters and villains in training at this fabled institution where potions, charms, shadow shifting, spellcasting, and other eerie subjects make up your course load.


Annual Tinkerfest opens Sept. 19 at Indiana State Museum
Inventors, designers, makers and imaginers can explore new creative opportunities during Tinkerfest, the Indiana State Museum’s beloved makers’ fair.
From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sept. 19, this seventh-annual event will feature interactive experiences, engaging demonstrations and family-friendly activities designed to inspire the curiosity of tinkerers of all ages and ability levels. As part of the year-long celebration of America’s 250th birthday,


Death of actress Shelley Fabares is a profound loss
There have been several celebrity deaths lately, but none have affected me like the loss of actress Shelley Fabares on August 22, 2026.
Like so many of us who grew up in the ’60s, Shelley Fabares (pronounced Fa-bah-RAY) was part of our childhood and teen years as Mary Stone on “The Donna Reed Show.” (Her aunt, actress Nanette Fabray, Americanized the spelling and pronunciation.)
Her acting career included three Elvis movies and many other movie and TV roles, including


Patty remembers the warmth of music icon Dolly Parton
Country music Dolly Parton has died at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. She was hospitalized for four days before her passing, which was announced by her family. Though cancer was confirmed as the cause, the specific type was not disclosed.
Patty Spitler, who interviewed Parton multiple times, remembers a woman who made everyone feel instantly at ease. “She wouldn’t let you be nervous,” Patty said. “She was just so warm.”


'Rocky Horror,' 'Clue' star Tim Curry has passed away
Tim Curry, the English actor and singer who played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has passed away at age 80. Curry studied drama at the University of Birmingham before making his professional splash in the London production of Hair (1968). He immortalized the "sweet transvestite" Dr. Frank-N-Furter on stage in 1973 and in the 1975 film adaptation, creating an enduring symbol of queer cinema and midnight-movie culture. Beyond "Rocky Horror," Curry captiva


Hear Indiana has reduced fee program for kids with hearing loss
Hearing loss doesn’t care about income. But access to services does — at least, it does without the right support in place. Hear Indiana’s reduced fee program exists to close that gap. Families who qualify can access our services on a sliding scale based on income — ensuring that cost alone is never the reason a child misses critical early intervention.


American Senior Communities facility receives Gold National Quality Award
Todd-Dickey Nursing and Rehabilitation of Leavenworth, Indiana, a member of American Senior Communities, has been recognized as a 2026 recipient of the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).
The Gold award is the final step in three progressive levels through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes providers achieving the highest standards of performance excell


Indianapolis TV icon Janie Hodge passes away
As president of the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers and a huge admirer of her impactful career, it saddens me to report that Janie Hodge, of WTTV’S “Popeye and Janie” show, has passed away.
Janie is beloved by several generations of Indiana children who watched her shows on WTTV over the years. I grew up in Chicago but know from my many interactions with her fans — and she has a great many — that Janie shaped many young lives, and for the better.
Patty Spitler hosts Great Day TV - a lifestyle TV program and streaming service
showcasing great things in Indiana.
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