This article was featured in the 10/09/06 edition
of the Indianapolis Star by Susan Guyette

Hope it helps.
Locks of Love, Rachael
North Central High School senior Rachael Durkos didn't cut her hair for years so she could grow it long enough to benefit the Locks of Love program. Durkos, 17, showed up at West 86th Hair Design on Friday and had 10 inches of her thick brown hair snipped off to help a stranger who needed it.

Salon co-owner Rhonda McPheron gave Durkos all the time she needed before grabbing the scissors, offering support and praising her for the decision to give. Getting that much hair cut off can be difficult, even when it's for a good cause, McPheron said.

Durko's hair went into a plastic bag and eventually will be used in a hairpiece for someone who lost his or her hair because of a long-term medical condition. The salon, at 1482 W. 86th St., will be open October for anyone else thinking about cutting for a cause.

The stylists will do the cuts for free, and the salon will offer door prizes. A minimum of 10 inches is required for the Locks of Love donation. Call (317) 872-1295 for more information.

end of article

**Norma Leverenz is also a founding member of West 86th Hair Designs, Inc. and has been key in coordinating the effort to team up with Locks of Love and the local merchants who have donated GREAT door prizes for the event.

Orentlicher Hopes to Improve Healthcare for
Lower Income Workers
Aug. 21, 2006 10:39 AM EDT

State Representative David Orentlicher, a Democrat from Indianapolis, wants to improve access to health care for people on lower incomes who don't qualify for Medicaid. He made the announcement Sunday at West 86th Hair Salon.

He says his plan would help small businesses across the state. Orentlicher says the best model to follow is the federal Veterans Affairs health care system.

"And we have 850,000 uninsured in Indiana today. The other half is that there is a lot of small businesses, like this one at the West 86th Hair Salon, that can't afford to provide health care insurance currently, because it would cost them probably $5,000 per employee. This proposal will include a buy-in for small business," Orentlicher said.

"We've always wanted to try to supply some kind of benefits to our employees. The problem there is just simply been that it's just so expensive to us," said Terry Harris, co-owner of West 86th Hair Salon.

24-Hour News 8 tried to contact Orentlicher's opponent in the upcoming election, Katheryn Densborn, for comment, but she didn't return our calls.