Dar’s Hair Replacement offers something different in Anderson.

It’s a place where you can get a makeover or a haircut, but it’s also a haven for those seeking to rebound from hair loss.

Owner Darlene Harrington specializes in hair replacement — whether it’s cancer patients, or those suffering from hereditary or stress-related hair-loss. Dar’s is so unique, says Harrington, that she’s drawn customers from as far away as Fort Wayne.

“We do full hair service, but hair replacement is our specialty,” said Harrington. “Hair can be added without damaging existing hair.”

On Monday night Dar’s transformed from a specialty hair salon into a make-shift radio station as the eighth installment of “Takin’ it to the Street Beat” held court there. Street Beat is a monthly radio program sponsored by The Herald Bulletin and AM 1240 WHBU. The show broadcasts live on the third Monday of each month from a different Anderson hair salon or barbershop. Chairs were set up in Dar’s parlor (and she provided food) where residents gathered to talk about this month’s topic: Voting.

Dar’s has been a fixture in Anderson, having been open for 18 years at the same 1812 Nichol Ave. location. Eight years ago, said Harrington, she started the hair replacement aspect of the business. Dar’s even has a Web page at www.myspace.com/msdar3.

Dar’s provided an intimate setting for Street Beat as residents sat in chairs usually set-up for haircuts — but Monday night were used solely for discussion.

Street Beat opened up with a discussion of the iVotronic Touch-Screen Voting system — electronic voting booths that have replaced the old punch-card method in Madison County.

Some audience members said that at the May primary election, they experienced problems with the machines.

Jerusha Youngblood said when she went to cast her vote, she was forced to vote for other candidates that she didn’t want to vote for. Youngblood said she enjoyed Monday night’s discussion because it brought important issues to a larger audience.

“Discussions like this are definitely needed by the community,” said Youngblood. “It’s a way to ask questions, and gain information and engage minds in ways they might not usually.”

Street Beat’s host, James Burgess, stressed the importance of residents knowing how to use the new voting machines, as well as how to file absentee votes, and whom to contact in case of a voting problem.

Participant Lawrence Kayzer said that a lot of information was aired that some people might not know about.

“I learned about absentee voting,” said Kayzer. “And that’s a big part of voting.”

After the show, participants hung around at Dar’s and discussed issues further, while eating some of the fine food Harrington had arranged.