16 COVER STORY
Mark Herrmann: CHS Legend Is New Voice for the Boilermakers
This month, Carmel Monthly is honored to feature former Carmel Greyhound, Purdue Hall of Famer and NFL Colt’s quarterback Mark Herrmann on the cover. Purdue University recently announced that Herrmann will join the Boilermaker Sports Network as the new analyst for Purdue football broadcasts. We sat down with Herrmann who discussed his formative years as a Carmel High School Football Greyhound where he was All-State Quarterback 1975 and 1976, and played on Carmel’s 1977 state championship basketball team, winning the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award. He also shared his experiences as a collegiate athlete at Purdue where he broke passing records and earned unanimous First Team All-American and Big Ten MVP in 1980, and his eleven seasons in the NFL.
Carr Workplaces Sets the Standard
FOR SERVICED OFFICES & COWORKING SPACES
Are you seeking a dynamic space to grow your business, surrounded by a collaborative community? Look no further! Carr Workplaces’ vibrant office and coworking environment offer everything you need to thrive, from modern private offices and state-of-the-art meeting rooms to high-speed Wi-Fi and comfortable common areas.
Enjoy the convenience of a fully equipped workspace with the flexibility to accommodate your unique business needs. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a growing team or a well-established company, Carr Workplaces provides the perfect blend of professionalism and creativity to help your business flourish.
PREMIUM LOCATION AND FLEXIBLE SPACE!
Situated on the north side of Indianapolis, Carr Workplaces at Parkwood Crossing offers modern workspace solutions adjacent to the upscale suburbs of Carmel, Indiana. This prime location provides unparalleled convenience with easy access to downtown Indianapolis, I-465, U.S. 31 and 96th Street. The newly
for a flexible workspace or collaborative opportunities, Carr Workplaces at Parkwood Crossing has it all.
Kelly Elmore, Principal at KSN Law, was in search of office space on the north side of Indianapolis following the Chicago-based firm’s acquisition of a small firm on the south side of the city. The availability of on-site meeting space and accompanying support offered by Carr Workplaces was of particular interest to Elmore. The firm often requires meeting and conference rooms for client meetings, mediation and depositions.
“What Carr Workplaces Parkwood Crossing has been able to offer us is on-demand conference room space,” shared Elmore. “I’ve been very impressed with the concierge support that goes with booking conference space. I had a lunch meeting a few weeks ago with about 15 individuals from various industries, and our concierge, Stacy, made it simple. We picked the restaurant, and she ordered everything, set up the lunch in the conference room and greeted guests as they arrived.”
renovated open atrium creates a welcoming environment for office tenants and visitors alike. The coworking center spans 23,000 square feet and includes 86 private office spaces in various configurations, three cutting-edge meeting rooms, multiple phone booths and a lively social hub with high-speed Wi-Fi, comfortable seating and freshly brewed coffee. Whether you’re looking
According to Dan Royal with Electron Charger, one of the major advantages of working from Carr Workplaces Parkwood Crossing is its location and accessibility for clients and team members.
Royal was introduced to Parkwood Crossing by one of the owners of the building where the coworking center is housed—who also hired Electron Charger to install EV charging stations there.
“It was a great opportunity for us to leverage an existing relationship and turn it into a wonderful space for us,”
Royal said. “We were really just starting to kick around the idea that we needed space in which to meet clients. We saw it as a great opportunity to have a nicer facility that we didn’t have to maintain or wor ry about. It just fit perfectly for what we were looking for.”
Carr Workplaces General Manager Jason Parks added, “We operate on the second floor of the Kittle [Property Group] building [at 310 E. 96th St.], and we have 86 independent offices here on the second floor. Just being inside of the Kittle building has led to growth for our clients, such as Electron Charger and HSI Solar. HSI Solar installed and maintains the solar operation for the Kittle building. On the flip side, it also works for HSI because they have something that’s up and running on-site that they can use as a sales tool and show their clients.”
One of the reasons why the coworking center has been a good fit for the HSI Solar team, according to Becky Pettit, Vice President of HSI Solar, is the number of collaborative space options available that may be leased for the short-term or the long-term. This flexibility is particularly attractive to growing companies.
Pettit also finds value and a deeper sense of community
working close to the other businesses and professionals based out of Parkwood Crossing.
“I just feel like we’re family, even though we’re not all working for the same employer,” said Pettit. “I think that’s really unique. The center hosts networking events as well. They might do a wind-down Thursday with a charcuterie and wine, or themed events like for the solar eclipse. It’s these little things that make you feel special and appreciated for being here, but then also allow you to network with the other tenants.”
At Parkwood Crossing, options include high-end, fully furnished private offices, team suites, desks in shared office space and virtual offices.
All of the above workspace options may be leased by the hour, day, week, month or longer periods of time. For added convenience, on-site meeting and conference rooms, as well as event space, are also
available at Carr Workplaces Parkwood Crossing.
“We have a good mix of clientele here that feed off each other,” Parks stated. “We have several large accounts here and [are] running about 70% occupied right now. We’ve got 30 centers across the country, and Parkwood is our first location in Indianapolis, which we opened in November 2022. We have another location on the Purdue University campus and one at Electric Works in Fort Wayne. At Parkwood, we focus more on the full office clients—that’s our bread and butter, though we have shared workspace clients as well.”
Parks continued, “We have customer appreciation events every month, everything from ice cream socials to wine tastings. On National Bingo Day, we had a bingo party. Our community manager, Stacy Raysor-Mitchell, handles the front of the operation, the front desk, café and all of the social events. The key takeaway from this networking culture is you can be as small or as big a part of it as you want to be here at Carr Workplaces at Parkwood Crossing.”
For a schedule of upcoming events hosted by Carr Workplaces at Parkwood Crossing, visit carrworkplaces.com.
JOIN THE PARKWOOD CROSSING FAMILY
Take an interactive 3D tour online and get a feel for the
space at Carr Workplaces Parkwood Crossing. Once you have decided to make the call, contact Parks to schedule a personal tour!
“We have a very interactive online tour,” Parks said. “You can count the magnets on the fridge … it’s that detailed. Then I invite you to come in [and] take a tour to decide which space is right for you, what length of term is right for you and if a full office or coworking space is right for you. We have a promotional offer where you can come try a space for a week—no strings attached. The parking is free, and there is plenty of parking in the surface lots. Be sure to mention Carmel Monthly magazine when you come in for a tour, and we’ll waive the setup fees … a $300 savings!”
FREE WEEK TRIAL
Come in for a tour and mention Carmel Monthly magazine—we’ll waive the setup fees! A SAVINGS OF $300!
JASON PARKS General Manager
310 East 96th Street, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46240
D: (317) 527-0570 C: (260) 201-2879 carrworkplaces.com
PETOS GREEK CUISINE
Discover Feinstein's, where extraordinary live entertainment meets upscale dining & craft cocktails in an unforgettable intimate venue!
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN RETURNS
DAVE HAUSE | Punk-rock, Americana and Pop-Rock Covers
PAUL HUGHES | Tributes to Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin & Nat King Cole
JAZZ BRUNCH | Presented by Blair Clark Featuring Cathy Morris
INDY NIGHTS WITH RYAN AHLWARDT & FRIENDS | Straight No Chaser Alumni
DRAG ME TO BRUNCH: 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW | Hosted by Pat Yo’ Weave
SUMMER NIGHTS: THE MUSIC OF GREASE | Presented by Don Farrell
FRANK SINATRA: THE TRIBUTE | Presented by Don Farrell
ADAM B. SHAPIRO IN HOLLYWOOD OR BUST | Songs From The Silver Screen
AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN | Emmy & Grammy Award Nominee
DECEPTION | An Evening of Magic & Lies with David Ranalli
DUELING PIANOS | Live Jukebox Experience Presented by Brittany Brumfield
Market Magic With a Purpose
The Carmel Christkindlmarkt board and staff are pleased to announce a brand new event for 2024. Wundernacht will take place on November 20 from 6 to 9 p.m., the Wednesday before the market opens.
MISSION DRIVEN AND ECONOMICALLY IMPACTFUL
Hannah Kiefer, VP of Communications, shared, “We’re hoping that Wundernacht will have a similar vibe to Indy Rev or Zoobilation and will be the holiday version of those events. It will also serve as a fundraising event to benefit cultural exchange between Germany and America, taking us back to our mission of German education and culture. From a numbers perspective, in 2023, the total dollars spent at the market was $9.1 million—a 59% increase year over year from last year. This [number] represents what the vendors took home,
the ice skating took home and what the market made as a 501C3.”
Kiefer added, “We’re a nonprofit, so whatever we have goes right back into the cultural, educational mission while we are also supplying this incredible venue for our vendors to make a living. For many of them, having a booth at our market makes or breaks their year.”
Carmel Christkindlmarkt CEO/ President Maria Adele Rosenfeld expressed that she is pleased to be working with Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam and her administration.
“Since taking office, Mayor Finkam has been very supportive while expressing
Carmel Christkindlmarkt to Host Wundernacht:
Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Carmel Christkindlmarkt
the administration’s desire to ensure that the partnership between the market and the city is economically and mutually beneficial,” Rosenfeld said. “The mayor is very supportive of the market’s mission, and continuing to expand international cultural education in the community is a high priority for her.”
A DON’T-MISS EVENT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
This ticketed event for adults ages 21+ will be the soiree of the holiday season. With your ticket, you get access to the market before it opens to the public, including complimentary food and drink samples from vendors, special entertainment, signature cocktails from outside partners and more. Rentals and ice skating at Ice at Carter Green are included in the ticket purchase.
Attendees will get a first look at ALL of the merchandise available in the market’s gift huts.
Wundernacht means “night of miracles”—and this won’t only be a night of fun. It’s also a fundraiser to support future cultural exchange between America and Germany, making it a festive evening you can feel good about.
General Admission tickets grant you exclusive access to the market grounds and activities listed above. VIP tickets elevate your experience, including general admission benefits as well as more exclusive food and entertainment inside the Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts.
Companies can also sign on as sponsors and enjoy a private space inside the Palladium to entertain their guests. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, email the Christkindlmarkt team at sponsorships@carmelchristkindlmarkt.com.
REDEFINING DENTAL Excellence
Dr. Villanueva Dr. Soldatelli
Moontown Brewing
Opens in Carmel
Moontown Brewing Company is pleased to announce the grand opening of its new tasting room on August 16. It is located at the intersection of Old Meridian St. and W. Main St. in Carmel, Indiana, in The Signature Carmel building, opposite the new Harmony Steakhouse location—another popular business hailing from Whitestown in Boone County.
ionsville Monthly proudly featured Moontown on its December 2017 cover, highlighting the brewery’s grand opening in the former Whitestown High School gymnasium. This was soon followed by the opening of Moontown’s 1915 Room, a special event space and concert venue within the brewery.
Seven years and many beverages later, we are thrilled to help promote the opening of their taproom and Moontown’s outstanding line of award-winning craft beers.
WHAT BEGAN AS A HOBBY BECAME A BRAND
Moontown Brewing was founded by the Mattingly family and family friends and is operated by Robert “Bobby” Mattingly and head brewer and co-owner Cody Peczkowski. The idea for the brewery started over a decade ago when the Mattinglys pursued home brewing as a hobby. Their passion grew after winning the inaugural Whitestown Brew Fest’s Home Brew Competition, prompting them to establish Moontown Brewing.
Not long after winning the home brew competition, the Mattinglys toured the old Whitestown High School and gymnasium. They unanimously agreed that this location was perfect for brewing their award-winning brews and building community memories.
The 1915 Room’s design pays homage to Hoosier basketball roots, featuring the Moontown Brewing logo at center court, distressed flooring and repurposed wooden bleachers. The exposed brick walls remind guests of the building’s history as a school, now repurposed for community gatherings and memory-making—elements that are being carried over to the Moontown Brewing Carmel taproom.
“There’s going to be similar aesthetics on the inside,” Mattingly shared. “Our Carmel location will have the same faucets, similar tap handles, and we’ll be doing live oak wood tables and bar tops again. We have faux brick on one wall, and we’ll have a lounge area with a little couch, so we are in some ways trying to match the vibe, and it will be like a mini Moontown.”
Moontown Brewing in Carmel will undoubtedly be a smaller-scale space compared to the main brewery in Boone County, and seats 45 craft beer enthusiasts. It will not have a kitchen but will offer snack items from local Indiana vendors available for purchase.
“It’s a cool spot, a small tap room and space to enjoy our beer,” Mattingly explained. “We will allow people to bring in food, order in, or whatever they want. We will have ten taps and four side pull taps. As far as the beer goes, it will be from our world-class, award-winning line of craft beers that are produced at our brewery in Whitestown. Our brewery is capable of supplying more [locations], and we want to max ourselves out and challenge ourselves again. We love what we’ve done so far, and we believe there’s a lot more we can still do.”
Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Sean Mollin Creative and submitted
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Barring no delays in the final construction phase, Mattingly is planning for soft openings to begin the week of August 12 before the August 16 grand opening.
“We will be open Monday through Sunday, 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday.”
Mattingly expressed his excitement for this new location and his appreciation for those who have supported and continue to support the Moontown Brewing brand.
“I was raised in Zionsville and have been around Carmel and the north side pretty much my entire life,” Mattingly said. “We love being part of the growth in Boone County and are also excited to see the opportunities and the love from other parts of the north side of Indy, specifically Carmel, Westfield and the rest of Hamilton County. We think our beer will be well-represented here, and we think people will be happy to have us here. We’re already hearing from people about how excited they are that we’re coming to Carmel. We believe that there’s room in this market for us, and we honestly couldn’t have asked for a better spot … we’re really excited!”
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Tony’s of Indianapolis
and CCPL Foundation Define Community Spirit
It’s been several months since the last wine-pairing dinner hosted by Tony’s of Indianapolis to benefit the Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL) Foundation. On behalf of our fellow organizers, the editorial staff of Carmel Monthly is excited to invite you to the next dinner, which will take place at Tony’s at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
FIRST-CLASS HOSPITALITY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
As many of our readers may recall, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tony’s Steaks and Seafood of Indianapolis partnered with the Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL) Foundation to host a series of themed wine-pairing dinners at their beautiful downtown location. These events, held once a quarter, were designed to support the nearly 2,000 free programs offered by CCPL and funded by the CCPL Foundation.
Tony Ricci and his compassionate staff continue to assist their Hoosier neighbors and nonprofit organizations such as the CCPL Foundation via fundraising events similar to these impactful pairing dinners.
The previous dinners of this quarterly series were sellouts and an astounding success for the CCPL Foundation. Ricci donates the costs, including food, wine and venue, so the foundation retains all the proceeds from these dinners.
Michael Morgan, quality assurance manager for Tony Ricci’s restaurants,
including the Indianapolis location, has hosted all of the wine-tasting events benefiting CCPL Foundation. He is eager to greet the guests with an enticing new menu and a reconfigured bar menu, and with the same level of exceptional hospitality and humble service that repeat attendees have come to appreciate and value.
“We’ve been working on a fun mocktail and non-alcoholic beverage list, and we’ve just put new menus out in Cincinnati and Lexington, and we’re
Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Staff and submitted
Roasted Chicken entre
getting ready to reveal our new menu in Indianapolis,” Morgan shared. “We have some really cool items that Chef Ryan [Montgomery] has come up with. We’re not changing our [signature] steaks, of course, but we have some new appetizers, seafood and pasta dishes, and some other fun stuff.”
EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF DINING OUT AGAIN
Since the pandemic, dining out has become less enjoyable for many due
to a decline in service quality and an increase in toxic behavior from both customers and staff. The hospitality industry, already struggling with staff shortages and changing regulations, faces additional stress and uncertainty. This has often led to slower service, mistakes and a general sense of chaos in some establishments. Additionally, impatience and rudeness from customers have become more common, making the dining experience uncomfortable. What was once a relaxing outing has, for some, turned into a stressful ordeal.
Morgan and his staff want to remind everyone that Tony’s is not just a place for first-class culinary excellence and exceptional service; it’s also a place where memories are made and friendships are cultivated. Whether you’re celebrating a special event, enjoying a romantic evening or spending time with family and friends,
Tony’s provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You can also enjoy a more casual meal at the bar before a game or after an event, relaxing with an excellent cocktail or a pour from their impressive wine locker. On Friday and Saturday evenings, live jazz by Jaden Street Jazz sets the mood from 7 to 10 p.m. At Tony’s, the staff—all the way up to the owner—go out of their way to make you feel more than just a guest. They make you feel like a cherished friend.
“Let us spoil you for two hours,” Morgan expressed. “Enjoy the convenience of our valet parking service, our new appetizers and menu, or go to the bar and enjoy our more casual fare featuring our delicious stuffed cheeseburger. Relax and unwind to the live music on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s a saying written on the hostess stand, ‘Privileged to be here. Honored to serve you. Let’s become friends.’ That is something Tony always says when he leaves a table and shakes somebody’s hand, so I’m inviting you to come experience Tony’s of Indianapolis, and let’s become friends!”
So, whether you’re joining us at Tony’s to support the CCPL Foundation, celebrating a special occasion or enjoying a night out, we encourage you to support our fellow community partner. By dining with Tony’s, you contribute to the Carmel community and help sustain our library.
To request more information and/or to reserve your seats for the next Tasting at Tony’s of Indianapolis Benefiting the Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, please email Elizabeth Hamilton at ehamilton@carmel.lib.in.us.
For more information about Tony’s of Indianapolis or to make reservations, visit tonysofindianapolis.com
New Zealand Rack of Lamb entre
CHS Legend Is New Voice for the Boilermakers
Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Laura Arick and submitted
This month, Carmel Monthly is honored to feature former Carmel Greyhound, Purdue Hall of Famer and NFL Colts quarterback Mark Herrmann on the latest cover.
Purdue University recently announced that Herrmann will join the Boilermaker Sports Network as the new analyst for Purdue football broadcasts, succeeding Purdue football alum Pete Quinn, who retired after 32 seasons. This season, Herrmann will pair up with the Voice of the Boilermakers, Tim Newton.
We sat down with Herrmann, who discussed his formative years as a Carmel High School Football Greyhound, where he was All-State Quarterback 1975 and 1976 and played on Carmel’s 1977 state championship basketball team, winning the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award. He also shared his experiences as a collegiate athlete at Purdue, where he broke passing records and earned unanimous First Team All-American and Big Ten MVP in 1980, along with his 11 seasons in the NFL, where he finished his career
with the Indianapolis Colts with 1,334 passing attempts and 561 completions—a 59.5% completion percentage for a total of 4,015 yards completed and 16 touchdowns.
A Solid Foundation to Grow On
“Coach Dick Dullaghan was my football coach … one of the all-time greats in high school football history,” Herrmann shared.
“He was a great and enthusiastic leader. He had a big impact on my [early] career, and I was very thankful to be able to play for him. My family moved to Carmel when I was in sixth grade and went to [what was then] Carmel Junior High School. I had a lot of support and wonderful teammates and coaches. I am very pleased to have played in Carmel.”
Growing up in central Indiana as a young Catholic football player, Herrmann aspired to play for Notre Dame University, but as he began planning for his future
post-graduation from CHS, Herrmann decided to traverse a different path … one that would eventually come full circle.
“I narrowed it down to Purdue or Notre Dame,” Herrmann said. “Notre Dame recruited me very hard, but I had a gut feeling that Purdue was the right choice for me and I’d have a sooner opportunity to play. Purdue had just hired Coach Jim Young from Arizona, and I had a lot of trust in him and his vision for the [football] program for me as a quarterback. I wanted to be part of that, and I felt like we could start to build something special up there.”
Herrmann, a Krannert School of Management graduate, shared how he sought to experience everything he could as a college student-athlete and learned to balance athletics and academics while figuring out what his next steps would be.
“I tried to maximize my experiences, my
interactions and my relationships,” Herrmann said. “I had a pretty good freshman year. I made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot, and it was kind of like on-the-job training. I just focused on getting better in the offseason and getting ready to really put together three good years. We had three great years [on the field] after my freshman year, and I felt that by the end of those four years [at Purdue], I had really grown and developed. I feel like I had really accomplished something during those years, and they are some of the fondest memories of my entire life.”
When asked what he feels has evolved the most since his days as a Boilermaker and student-athlete, Herrmann replied, “We certainly didn’t have pressures from social media —we were barely on TV. We weren’t worried about how many followers we had, so it was a simpler time for sure. Student-athletes are getting pulled in a lot of different directions with NIL [name, image, likeness], and they’re trying to see what kind of deals they can muster up. Additionally, nobody transferred [schools] back then. If you weren’t playing, you had to get better and find an opportunity. Now, it seems that if you’re not playing, you can go somewhere else, and the next day, you can be on another campus.”
Herrmann added, “The transient nature of college sports, big TV contracts, etc., is so amplified now, and it’s big business. Back then, it was about playing for and representing your school. It was definitely a much simpler time.”
Going Pro and Retiring as a Colt
Spanning 11 years in the NFL, Herrmann began his pro football career with the Denver Broncos, with whom he was selected in the fourth round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He played with the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Rams and the Indianapolis Colts.
“Certainly, you never know what’s going to happen and what’s going to transpire,” Herrmann stated. “I was picked by Denver, and [on] one side, it was frustrating that I had slipped back to the fourth [round], but on the other side, it was very gratifying that I was selected in the draft. I went to Denver, which is a great city, with a good attitude and went to work trying to be
the best pro that I could be. I ended [up] in Baltimore [with the Colts] for the John Elway trade, and I spent one year in Baltimore—certainly not a great year. I broke my collarbone in the last pre-season game, so I had to sit on the sidelines. There was rumbling that the team was going to pick up and leave [Baltimore]. That was a dark cloud hovering over that year. I headed back to Denver, and all of [a] sudden, like everybody else, I saw the Mayflower trucks heading into Indy [March of 1984]. Mayor [William] Hudnut and Robert Irsay were hand in hand, and there was great enthusiasm about the franchise.”
Herrmann played with the Colts first at Baltimore, then at Indianapolis from 1983 to 1984.
“It was a great homecoming,” Herrmann said. “It was fun playing in the [newly
constructed] Hoosier Dome and to come back home.”
Herrmann would leave the franchise to play for the Chargers and Rams before returning to Indianapolis in 1990, where he would finish his career in 1992.
“There were a lot of different things happening with the franchise, and they were still trying to find their way,” Herrmann reflected. “I had one good game before I was released the next day, so I can’t say it was a great finish, but it was nearing the end of my [pro] career, and it made sense that I finished in Indianapolis. Even though my time with the Colts was over, I felt like good things were happening for the city and for the franchise.”
Life After the NFL
Herrmann shared that he and his wife Susie were raising their three kids, Brady, Whitney and Tory—who all graduated from Purdue—in the Geist area. Herrmann was content staying in Hamilton County, so he went on to work in a few different industries before coming back to his alma mater to fundraise for Krannert—now the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business at Purdue University.
Herrmann added, “I jumped on that opportunity and have been there for the last ten years. It went full circle back to where I started, which is pretty special.”
Purdue alum Pete Quinn played with Herrmann as his center during their college years, and when Quinn announced his retirement from broadcasting with Purdue, he suggested that Herrmann fill the vacant spot.
“I had a broadcasting background and did some work for ESPN doing the Mid-American Conference games for about seven years,” Herrmann said. “I thought I’ll give this a try and plug in what I know with my insights and observations and all those things. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun having a chance to cover Purdue on a weekly basis. It will be intriguing and interesting. I also think it will be gratifying to talk about football from my alma mater, and bring some excitement and enthusiasm. Having the chance to work with Tim Newton, Rob Blackman and all those guys is going to be great!”
A FEAST OF FRESH FOOD AND ART Carmel Farmers Market:
Once again, internationally renowned graffiti artist and muralist Jules Muck with Muck Rock has blown through town in typical “Jules Muck fashion” to create another exceptional mural for the CFM Winter Market.
CBock announced that with the CFM Winter Market’s recent relocation and the support of a generous donor, the committee had the opportunity to reconnect with Muck. As a result, Muck came out last month to create a new mural for the [winter market] building.
Bock added, “It’s important that [our] building has our mark and that people are able to easily find our winter market.”
Muck began her career as a graffiti artist in the ‘90s across Europe and the UK. She trained under Lady Pink in NYC and has collaborated with artists like Spek and Since. Her work has been featured in publications such as “Broken Windows” and “Graffiti Women,” and she has contributed to projects like Wooster Collective’s “11 Spring Street” and Hanksy’s “Surplus Candy.” Muck has painted murals for TV shows like “Under the Dome” and
movies like “IT,” as well as at Miami’s Art Basel. She resides in Venice Beach, where she continues to create under “Muckrock” on Instagram.
In 2019 and 2020, Muck provided CFM with family-friendly murals featuring her signature bunnies. Her work can be found throughout central Indiana and the Mid west. During her visit here last month, Muck shared that she had completed a mural for a local Indy brewery and several private homes in Broad Ripple.
Muck was thrilled to be warmly welcomed by enthusiastic CFM committee members upon her arrival. She also expressed her gratitude for the lift provided by Sunbelt Rentals, which replaced the need for a ladder.
“The CFM committee arranged everything and made it easy for me [to work], which was really nice,” Muck shared. “The collective call for the murals is why I stop here [central Indiana] so often. ‘Flower Alley’ in Broad Ripple started because a bunch of neighbors came together, which made it possible for me to put aside some of my larger projects and spend time doing these murals for private homeowners and smaller businesses. I did murals for three people before the [farmers] market mural. It’s fun, and I love driving through this part of the country.”
Muck continued, “I’ve had my eyes open to the diversity and forward-thinking of the people in the Midwest, in towns and cities in Indiana, and recently in Nebraska and Wisconsin. I think the transgression of spray paint from graffiti art and legal vandalism to mural work has made it popular and affordable for everyday people to have murals. I’m not sitting there hand-painting something that would take a month to create, but can spray paint for someone in an afternoon, and it’s affordable to those who don’t have the disposable funding of a government agency to spend on a mural. They can afford to have flowers on their garage doors or a buffalo on the wall of a small business.”
When asked where she gets her energy to keep painting and traveling, Muck replied, “There’s so much enthusiasm [for murals] and happiness around me—that kind of energy is contagious.”
Rain on Main is an annual event in Carmel promoting water quality and conservation. Local artists transform 65-gallon urn-style rain barrels into unique pieces of art. The barrels are displayed along Main Street in the Arts and Design District, where the public can vote for their favorite in a People’s Choice contest on Facebook. There’s also a judged art competition with cash prizes for the top three artists. The event concludes with an online auction and a display of all the
barrels at 5 Carter Green during the CFM Summer Market on the third Saturday of August. The proceeds of the silent auction go toward water quality education in Carmel. This year’s Rain on Main silent auction will run through August 9-17 and ends at 11:00 a.m. on the 17th.
“Rain on Main is a big draw for the market, and the public can come out and see all of the rain barrels, together, on display,” Bock explained. “This event also promotes sustainable practices, which is one of the tenets of the market. I think it’s remarkable how all of the different departments and sectors of the city work together on this event to make Carmel a better place. It moves us all forward.”
Bock added, “The conclusion of Rain on Main is a great time for the community to gather at the market and enjoy looking at the artwork on each of the rain barrels. It’s also a great venue for the artists to display their talents and the rain barrels.”
For more information on Rain on Main, visit rainonmain.com, and for a complete list of vendors, entertainment and upcoming events at CFM, visit carmelfarmersmarket.com
CFM SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT
AUGUST 24, 2024
Marrialle Sellars
Marrialle Sellars has a unique and powerful sound that fills the room with warmth and passion.
AUGUST 31, 2024
Tim Wright
Tim Wright has a voice as nimble as his fingers, picking a seemingly endless succession of stringed instruments.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2024
Island Breeze
Two steel drums, keyboard, guitar, Island hand percussion and great vocals make this band unique.
Coxhall Guild
Hosts 6th Annual Posh Picnic
Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Coxhall and staff
The Coxhall Guild will be hosting the sixth annual Posh Picnic on the evening of Saturday, August 17, 2024. This annual fundraiser is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate summer in a setting you will help create under the stars in Coxhall’s Crêpe Pavilion. This year’s Posh is presented by the Coxhall Guild, The Stratford, and Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department.
THE MISSION OF THE COXHALL GUILD
The mission of the guild is to promote events, sponsor activities, raise funds to enhance the overall beauty of the Coxhall Estate and Gardens, and to educate the public about this historic property.
Over the years, the guild has held many successful events, including dinners in the gardens, ice cream socials, hoedowns, madrigal dinners, mother-daughter teas, Christmas tours through the mansion and tablescapes, just to name a few. All of the proceeds go back into the Coxhall Estate. The biggest fundraiser for the past few years has been Posh Picnic, a special event held outside every summer filled with creativity, music, dancing and a silent auction.
Recently, Coxhall Guild President Mary Robinson announced that the guild has officially established its 501C3 and emphasized that its partnership with
Hamilton County Parks and Rec will continue to strengthen as the guild looks to increase its collaborative efforts throughout the county.
“It took a bit of work and time, but we’re finally there,” Robinson said. “We previously had fallen under a different 501C3, and now that we’ve established our own, we can completely focus on Coxhall for the betterment of the gardens and mansion. We’re collaborating with a lot of people and organizations within the community and are excited for the opportunities that are opening up for us now. By establishing our 501C3, we’re able to foster new relationships with local organizations and build upon our existing relationships.”
Coxhall Guild members Sandra Pirkle and Joey Kempler also spoke about the recent 501C3 designation and growing interest in the Coxhall Guild.
“We’re bringing in a lot of new people, which is really nice,” Pirkle said. “The intent to serve the community was there from the beginning [of the guild], and now we will have more opportunities being a nonprofit. It’s already opening more doors, and people are coming to us with their collaborative ideas.”
Kempler added, “Our main goal [in the beginning] was to restore and keep up the mansion and the property’s history. That was our goal for several years, and we just kept growing and chipping away at that, and now there’s even more interest [in Coxhall] and more projects for the guild to work on. When [the guild] first started, there were just a few of us sitting around a table, and now we’ve grown to about 60 members.”
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Through their fundraising efforts, the Coxhall Guild has provided the following:
- Statuaries that depict children enjoying various nature experiences
- Large urns throughout the park with a variety of seasonal flowers and decorations, which are maintained by the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation staff
- An atomic kaleidoscope
- An open-air pavilion for meetings and family gatherings
- Support for the Hamilton County Master Gardeners
- Participating sponsor for the Cool Creek summer concert series
- Assistance to Carmel Symphony Orchestra with their presentation of summer concerts at Coxhall Park
- Support for the Hosta Society and their contribution to the new Hosta garden located at Coxhall Mansion
- Docent support for the monthly tours of Coxhall Mansion
- Decorating Coxhall Mansion for the holidays and providing openhouse tours for the community
- Participation in other events through the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department to provide community awareness of this beautiful historical park and former home of Jesse Cox, local philanthropist and business owner
Visit the Coxhall Guild’s website at coxhallguild.com and visit coxhallguild.com/sponsorships for further information on how you can participate as a sponsor or volunteer.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 5PM THE PALLADIUM
First Merchants Bank Red Carpet Arrival and Cocktail Reception
Elegant dinner in partnership with Aaron Wealth Advisors
Live auction supporting arts programming for the community
Celebrate, dance and revel at the Gala After-Parties
HEADLINE PERFORMANCE BY Grammy-winning master trumpeter and composer
CHRIS BOTTI
PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE CENTER’S ARTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Find more information and our table reservation guide at THECENTERPRESENTS.ORG/GALA
Dr. Michael Beresford’s Time as a Greyhound
Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of CCS
Over the past six years, Carmel Monthly has had the privilege of working with Dr. Michael Beresford and reporting on issues affecting the Carmel Clay School district. As Dr. Beresford completes his final mile as CCS superintendent during the 2024-25 school year, our editorial staff thought it appropriate to reflect on some of his key milestones
A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST SIX YEARS
After six years at CCS, Beresford is wrapping up his 43 years in education. Beresford has been instrumental in advancing academic excellence, fostering a safe and inclusive school environment, implementing innovative educational programs, updating facilities and adding supports to enrich the learning experience for students and families across the district.
“No superintendent can accomplish anything by themselves, especially in a big district,” Beresford expressed. “It’s about collaboration and bringing in the right people to the team. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in six years. It’s been an interesting path, but the secret sauce of Carmel is we’ve got good kids that come prepared for school because that’s the expectation of the parents, and then you put that with the
talented staff. That’s one of [the administration’s] jobs: to work hard at finding the best of the best, to develop the best of the best and then to support the best of the best so that the magic can happen in the classroom.”
Going into the 2018-19 school year, following the previous [school] year’s Noblesville school shooting, Dr. Michael Beresford was new to the Carmel Clay Schools district. Aware of the concerns among parents, faculty and community members, Beresford quickly acclimated to the school community and familiarized himself with the needs and strengths of each school within the district.
“I came into a situation where I’m learning this district on the fly, and the immediate focus was how safe are our schools,” Beresford recalled. “We immediately began working on beefing up our security and worked on strengthening our access points in all the buildings. We hired David Woodward as director of student services, who had run the school safety specialist academy for the state for years. We were fortunate to be able to get Dave.”
Beresford continued, “I remember we had a school safety town hall presentation and I met a group of moms, [whom] I call the ‘safety moms.’ They were really well-informed and had done their research, and they helped to pass the safety referendum. Because of these moms and all the parents working together, we are able to have one SRO [school resource officer] in every building and contract with mental health services that reduce barriers and provide services … which turned out to be right on time because of the pandemic. We were the first [district] to pass a safety referendum, and we’ve continued to add layer after layer, getting better and better so that we can do our best to keep our kids safe.”
CCS launched a rebranding project from 2018-20 that was a collaborative effort between CHS DECA students for the tagline and student artists for the logo.
“I got this idea to have the kids do it instead of hiring a company,” Beresford shared. “The DECA kids zeroed in on when we say ‘Carmel Clay Schools,’ what’s the best way to capture that in just a few words, and that’s where ‘Together We
Achieve’ came from. The art students submitted their three best logos, and [this] one is now our current logo. It was a total student-led project and was a lot of fun.”
Beresford could never have predicted that during his 43 years in education, he would have to contend with a global pandemic and face the challenge of guiding the entire school district through unprecedented circumstances without a handbook on the subject.
“There was no handbook for superintendents, governors, state legislators or anybody,” Beresford said. “To be fair, I don’t believe anybody really knew what we were getting into and how deadly or not deadly it would be. I couldn’t be prouder of our CCS team in the way that we worked together with the rules we were given, following protocols in a way that kept the school in a consistent place. My takeaway and memory of all that is
The CCS Board of Trustees exemplified a forward-thinking approach to executing one of its most significant responsibilities: selecting the next superintendent of schools. The board named Dr. Thomas Oestreich, the current assistant superintendent of staff and student services, to this pivotal role. Oestreich will maintain his current duties while working closely with Beresford this year before assuming the role of superintendent in July 2025.
“The learning curve is already in place, so Dr. Oestreich is already more informed about the district than I was when I started,” Beresford stated. “When I finish my last mile here at CCS, I want the district in a place where Dr. Oestreich and the team that we’ve built here will have everything they need to continue to do the good work here. I will walk away feeling pretty good about the time spent here, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. It’s been a real blessing, and it’s something that I will always cherish.”
When asked what the immediate future looks like once he has officially retired, Beresford said, “My first job will be to figure out what I’m going to do post-retirement. I’m really interested in service dogs, and I can’t see myself not being involved with that either through ICAN [Indiana Canine Assistance Network] or some other organization. As his handler, Jim Dandee [current service dog] and I will still be visiting schools and hospitals … wherever a little dog magic would help. I won’t be too far away and will try to help when help is needed.”
