Zionsville Monthly-December 2022

COVER STORY

Thank You, Mike Nielsen! For Your Years of Service as Boone County Sheriff

Zionsville Monthly is honored to feature on our cover this month the former Boone County Sheriff, Michael “Mike” Nielsen, who completed his second term as sheriff on Dec. 31, 2022. Nielsen was term-limited by the state’s constitution to serve two consecutive 4-year terms. Reflecting on his accomplishments and challenges throughout the last 8 years, Nielsen shared his personal thoughts and recollections as well as his optimism for what comes next for the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY

PUBLISHER / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803

PUBLISHER / Lena Lucas lena@collectivepub.com / 317-501-0418

DIRECTOR OF SALES / Lena Lucas lena@collectivepub.com / 317-501-0418

HEAD WRITER / Janelle Morrison janelle@collectivepub.com / 317-250-7298

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Cover photo // Laura Arick

Humane Society for Boone County this Winter

INFLATION IMPACTS EVERYONE

HSforBC Executive Director Susan Austin shared with Zionsville Monthly that although the renovations to the shelter are nearly complete and will address the space needs for the no-kill shelter to efficiently operate, the costs for supplies and services have greatly increased due to the inflationary climate of the nation’s economy.

Austin explained that HSforBC is extremely frugal and buys food and supplies on sale and in bulk whenever possible. When asked if she is struggling with supply chain issues, Austin replied, “There is a back order of some [supplies, so it’s slow, but we have enough distributors that if we can’t get from one, we can pivot and go to another, but it might cost us double. An example of a cost increase is the product that we use to sanitize the runs for the cats and dogs. It used to cost us $150 [per 5 gallons], and now it costs us $194.00.”

Austin continued, “Dry food has gone up 13 percent, and the cost of spay/ neuter is going up. Low Cost Spay and Neuter [Clinic] has increased their prices, and we use their services 90 percent of the time because [they’re] so efficient and cost effective. There are cats and dogs that have to be [spayed or neutered] at a veterinarian’s office due to other chronic illnesses or issues, and that’s not cheap. The costs for vaccinations and surgeries have also increased between 15 and 18 percent.”

Additionally, the shelter’s utilities have also increased despite frugal budgeting.

COSTS ARE AFFECTING THE PET PANTRIES

HSforBC understands there are times during which money just runs short. Instead of worrying about how to feed your pets, you can call them at 877-4736722. One of their volunteers will be in contact with you to find out how many and what kind of pets you need help feeding. HSforBC can arrange for food delivery or pickup at the shelter.

In order for this critical community service to sustain this winter, Austin shared that they are in need of

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

donors to help purchase the food — specifically cat food — at this time.

“We watch the sales and purchase in bulk when we can,” Austin said. “Pet pantry supplies [are] going to need to be supplemented by our generous residents and donors. We’ve had to miss a few [pantries] because we didn’t have enough food, and we’re having difficulty getting cat food.”

Austin explained that monetary donations are the best way to help support the pet pantry, as she is able to maximize the donations with bulk purchases. And it is worth noting that the HSforBC volunteers who run the animals to their appointments and deliver food and supplies to fosters and those in need do so on their own dime. They are not reimbursed for their gas or time. The donations go to the purchasing of supplies and services for the cats and dogs — not towards volunteers’ expenses.

PLEASE FOSTER IF YOU CAN

HSforBC desperately needs fosters for the cats and dogs in their care and that continue to be surrendered to HSforBC.

Rather than leaving these helpless animals to fend for themselves in the bitter temps and winter conditions, Austin is pleading with like-minded folks to open their homes and give a safe and caring envi-

ronment to a cat or dog that has been neglected or surrendered.

Austin added, “When you foster [an animal], you give hope back to them. And remember, adopt — don’t shop!”

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION

As Boone County’s population continues to grow, so does the number of animals needing rescue and welfare. In 2021, the HSforBC took care of more than 600 cats and dogs, which maximized its resources. Expansion and renovations to HSforBC’s shelter

facility were desperately needed to accommodate a fast-growing and never-ending demand.

If you donate on HSforBC’s website, it will go towards the needs of the shelter and to the needs of the helpless cats and dogs in its care.

LOVE CATS?

Then join the “Crazy Cat Catio Club” and help HSforBC fund shelter renovations for the cats! Your donation will go directly to the buildout of the new “Crazy Cat Catio” and renovated cattery area for HSFORBC’s future frisky felines.

LOVE DOGS?

Then the “K-9 Kennel Krew Klub” is just right for you, as your donation will help fund canine shelter renovations that include six new dog kennel isolation runs for future canine furry friends to run and play and be secure!

If you love cats AND dogs, you can certainly make a donation on behalf of each!

When you foster [an animal], you give hope back to them. And remember, adopt — don’t shop!”

And remember, the highest donation between January 1 and January 31 will receive a $300 gift certificate to one of Indy’s finest dining establishments — Tony’s of Indianapolis, courtesy of Zionsville Monthly! The recipient will be announced on February 1, 2022, via the magazine’s and HSforBC’s social media!

Please join us in answering HSforBC’s call for help by making your donations and by fostering the cats and dogs in need! Visit hsforbc.org for more information and to donate! For those who prefer to send a check, please send your gift to HSforBC at P.O. Box 708, Lebanon, IN, 46052.

began. Her music has been featured in many major film and television soundtracks, including projects starring Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Martin Sheen, Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Sigourney Weaver, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Paxton and SpongeBob SquarePants.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS AT FEINSTEINSHC.COM.

courage and the initiative to keep doing it and to work through my shyness, insecurity and things like that. So, that’s how I got started, and then I did a lot of fairs, churches and political events. Back then, it wasn’t so ugly. You could actually sing at Democratic AND Republican events, and nobody would hate you.

JM: How old were you when you started recording?

Janelle Morrison: We’re thrilled that you’re coming to Carmel, Indiana, and are helping to kick off a new year with an incredible show at Feinstein’s. Before we talk about that, share with me how you got into “the business” and about the support you got from your family and hometown.

Mandy Barnett: My mother recognized that I had musical ability when I was quite young and that I could sing in time, sing in tune and remember words and things like that. And then as time went on, she — and people in my family — started cultivating that [talent]. I had a perfect place to hone my skills because we went to a very supportive church that my great-great grandfather founded. So, I had built-in support and loving people who would let me go up every Sunday and sing. My aunt actually guilt-tripped me into singing a solo for the Easter program because I was quite shy. But I had such a great response that it gave me the

MB: I ended up winning a contest when I was 10 years old at Dollywood. I worked there for a couple of summers and then I ended up getting a record deal with Universal Records when I was 12 years old and started out in Nashville. A very famous producer — James “Jimmy” Bowen, who ran Universal — he signed me. Jimmy produced Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and you name it. He came to Nashville and got into country music when things were starting to dry up in L.A. He ended up moving to Capital Records and took me with him. So, from 12 until about 18, I was with his label and worked on weekends. It gave me a really great opportunity to learn how to record and to try out material and new material. That experience was invaluable. I was working with James Taylor’s band when they would come to Nashville to do recording sessions with country artists. So, to be 14 years old and working with Leland Sklar and Carlos Vega — who were iconic then — was a great experience.

JM: You’ve had a plethora of mentors and influences. As you look back from where you are in your career, how invaluable are those to you?

MB: They were huge! I’m just very lucky that I got meet some of the people that I did, and the timing was just right. I got to meet some people like Owen Bradley, who produced Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee and some of my favorite [artists]. He was one of the most influential producers of all time. He and his brother [Harold] recorded a lot of music with Patsy and Brenda and were very pop-centric, even though they were doing it in Nashville. Patsy [Cline] was technically country, but they found the “sweet spot”

between country and pop so that it could cross over. You didn’t necessarily have to be a country [music] fan to love Patsy Cline. To meet them and work with them was very important to me. I was from a small town in Tennessee and was worried that I wouldn’t necessarily be “authentic” singing jazz. I worried about that, but [Owen and Harold] encouraged me to keep going into it, and I’m so glad I did. I realized that most jazz singers are from the South as well and have roots in other types of music.

JM: What can you share with me about your upcoming shows at Feinstein’s?

MB: The show is called “The Nashville Songbook,” and I’ll be showcasing a lot of those great songs that I was talking about being in that “sweet spot” between country and pop. I’ll be combining some of those songs from the Great American Songbook — songs from Patsy Cline, The Everly Brothers, and Roy Orbison. And I recorded an album in 2021, which has been my biggest commercial success. It’s an album that I cut with Sammy Nestico and a 60-piece orchestra. All are songs from Billie Holiday’s “Lady in Satin.” I’ll be singing some of those songs as well, so it’s a combination of the great country standards, the Great American pop standards and some from the Billie Holiday record. I think it’s good to mix things up a little bit so that there’s peaks and valleys, so you don’t know what’s coming next. I kind of like that when I’m doing shows.

Experience Feinstein’s and all that it has to offer in 2023

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

Back in January 2021, Carmel Monthly celebrated the long anticipated grand opening of Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael after an unprecedented hiatus throughout the entertainment world as a direct result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Feinstein’s gave us something to look forward to, and to this day, it continues to evolve itself and deliver first-rate entertainment, food and beverages.

Ispoke with Hotel Carmichael’s General Manager Jamie Hopwood and his dedicated team about how they are continuing to grow and diversify the venue’s programming as well as add to the already impressive food and beverage menus, with a renewed commitment to exceptional customer service.

WHAT IS THE FEINSTEIN AT HOTEL CARMICHAEL EXPERIENCE?

Feinstein’s is an upscale entertainment venue developed in partnership with legendary musician Michael Feinstein. This signature cabaret offers a creative and inspiring space to enjoy live music, elevated menus and a refined bar and spirits selection. Modeled after Feinstein’s/54 Below in New York City and in the spirit of the Great American Songbook, this unique cabaret promises an unforgettable experience.

In addition to the intimate main room, Feinstein’s offers a private dining option in a room partitioned off the main room that

seats up to 16 people. The wall opens, allowing the private dinner party to watch and enjoy the entertainment. Audience members can order off a brilliant menu that showcases [Vivante’s] Chef Jason Crouch’s talents and features distinctive cocktails from the nightclub’s refined bar and spirits collection while enjoying the show.

EXPANDING ON ITS STRENGTHS

As with any new establishment, there are learning curves that under the right leadership become opportunities for growth. Hopwood, a seasoned general manager, acknowledges that he and his team have learned a great deal since the doors officially opened at Feinstein’s, and they are excited about taking that knowledge and feedback from performers and guests and amplifying the experience this new year.

“From a food and beverage standpoint, we identified that we needed a separate line out of the kitchen, and we couldn’t execute to the level that we wanted coming out of the Vivante line,” Hopwood shared. “So, one

of the things we have done is rebuild the entire back banquet line into a Feinstein’s kitchen line, which has allowed us to really elevate the food and beverage experience.”

Hopwood continued, “The evolution continues with us expanding our focus from our national acts to exploring local entertainment fields as well. As the [pandemic] environment allowed, we focused on our partnerships with Actors Theater of Indiana and Don Farrell’s Frank Sinatra shows. And as those evolved, we looked at having [Don’s] Barry Manilow shows as well. Obviously, the draw to the Sinatra name and Don’s execution of these shows has made these shows very popular.”

Hopwood shared that as he and his team continued to explore local talent, they were also looking at what has happening on the national stage in terms of entertainment and what some of the other Feinstein’s clubs were featuring on their stages.

“That’s when we kind of shifted our strategy,” Hopwood said. “We looked at how we could schedule some regular programming during the week while still focusing on the national acts that we bring in on Friday and Saturday nights. We are very much aligned with the Great American Songbook and Broadway talent, and we work with John Iachetti on lining up that entertainment and then we rely on our internal team to focus on new programming that features improv and standup comedy, magicians, burlesque, drag brunches, jazz brunches and cover bands with the goal to attract different clientele through our doors to experience Feinstein’s for the amazing venue that it is. I think it is an important strategy as we see Carmel continue to grow and diversify as a key member of the community.”

INPUT FROM THE FEINSTEIN’S TEAM

I asked the team members what they enjoy most about Feinstein’s and what they wanted to share with the Carmel and greater Indianapolis communities, especially those who have yet to experience a show or event at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael.

In addition to the free parking, Kathy Ray, catering sales manager at Hotel Carmichael, shared, “While I may not have known the name Franc D’Ambrosio at first, I do know The Phantom of the Opera After the first time I saw [Franc] perform here, I thought he was phenomenal, and he brought tears to my eyes and goosebumps. When he performed here again a few months ago, I had exactly the same feeling. And I feel the same way when [Don] performs Sinatra. He’s got Frank [Sinatra] down! When he tells the historical stories about Frank Sinatra’s life, those eras really relate to the people who come

to the shows. When you go home with a smile on your face and say, ‘I can’t remember the last time I was really moved by someone like that’ … that’s Feinstein’s. It’s a fabulous emotion.”

Director of outlets at Hotel Carmichael Tyler Upshaw added, “If I would say one word [to describe Feinstein’s] it’s ‘Experience.’ My first day here was actually a sold-out show for Five for Fighting, and just being in that room with the energy from the performance, staff and guests, it got me energized as well! My passion for food and beverage has carried over to a passion for the performing arts as they go hand in hand. We’ve got the entertainment on our stage and these great dishes that chef and his team are preparing and the new cocktails menu that we’ve rolled out. We’re making sure that our cocktails are a high quality and higher standard. We’re doing unique infusions and table side activations with smoke and dry ice.”

Lastly, Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael Manager Greg Wisinski shared many exciting happenings that are coming up and some that are under development and will debut in 2023. In addition to local and national performances by popular artists, like Don Farrell, Actors Theater of Indiana, Blair Clark, and many others, Feinstein’s will be developing some additional unique

and diverse entertainment lineups. Be sure to visit feinsteinshc.com for more details and to purchase tickets!

“I would like for the community to know that Feinstein’s menu is a chef-inspired menu that rotates every two weeks and stays seasonal,” Wisinski said. “It’s an opportunity for Chef Jason to get in the kitchen and get his creative juices flowing. And when it comes to the venue itself, there’s a lot of opportunities to seeing any type of entertainment in the area, but none of them are in the setting that Feinstein’s offers — the intimacy of the room. Every seat is a great seat, and our dedicated staff are definitely worth mentioning!”

Wisinski is currently working on the Wednesday night programing and some more “regular” programming, such as the Jazz Brunches, Drag Me To Brunch events and many more impressive and diverse shows that are expanding the venue into other markets and communities throughout central Indiana.

“I am working on a ‘Feinstein’s Original’ program that will be a variety show,” Wisinski said. “And I’m working on the ‘Feinstein’s Live’ programming for Wednesday nights. That’s where I see this new variety show [fitting into the schedule], and I’m working with Ball State, Butler and IUPUI’s graduate programs on

developing a ‘Stroll through the Decades,’ which will feature seven great storytellers and utilize the performing arts that’s right here in central Indiana. We’ll have some great storytellers come in and tell a really fun and interesting 5-to-7-minute story about the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s and so on until we run out of decades, and then we’ll start back over again.”

There are some exciting things coming for 2023 that are in production so be sure to stay in the loop and follow Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael on Facebook and on Instagram.

For tickets and general information, visit feinsteinshc.com.

CSO PRESENTS SERPENTINE FIRE:

THE MUSIC OF

EARTH, WIND & FIRE

THE PALLADIUM // JANUARY 28 @ 7:30 P.M.

Let’s groove tonight with Carmel Symphony Orchestra under Artistic Director Janna Hymes and Serpentine Fire: The Music of Earth, Wind & Fire! Serpentine Fire is comprised of Las Vegas’ best instrumental and vocal talents. The show is a dynamic and fast-paced journey through the ’70s and ’80s hits of EW&F. This Symphony/Pops presentation has uplifting and funky music with sophisticated orchestration to create an irresistible, crowdpleasing show for all ages! Be a “Shining Star” and gather family and friends together at the Palladium on Jan. 28 for these hot sounds on a (likely) cold night.

We spoke with CSO Artistic Director Janna Hymes, as well as Mariano Longo and Tyriq Johnson of Serpentine Fire, about the upcoming concert and how energizing the night will be for all attendees.

Purchase your tickets at thecenterpresents.org.

CSO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JANNA HYMES

“This [CSO] season has been so much fun, and I’ve loved every concert,” Hymes shared. “They’ve all been so different, and I love how the orchestra is playing. It’s just super fun! This music — of Earth, Wind & Fire — is music that I grew up with and listened to all the time. This particular concert is going to be very energetic!”

Hymes continued, “I absolutely love the energy, I love the style and I love the slow ballads, the

funk tunes and the rhythm section just playing in that groove. I think anyone, even if they don’t know who the band was, would come to this concert and love it just because it moves your body. It’s not intellectual. It’s not something that you have to study or know about before. It’s just a raw, built-in rhythm and movement to this music that anybody in the audience will react to.”

It is important for attendees to know that the experience will be an exuberant amount of fun but not so loud that they can’t [audibly] enjoy the concert.

“I don’t want anyone to feel like it’s so loud that they can’t handle it,” Hymes expressed. “These guys have been doing this show for a while, and they are solid. I think it’s going to be a great way to open the new year — with an energy that we’ve already started to create this season. I’m excited about the momentum that we’re continuing. I think to open [the year] with a program like this is really great. And the rest of the year to follow is also stellar, in my opinion. We’re getting a lot of feedback from the audience, and they’re loving the programming because everything is extremely varied and thought out. Specifically with the music of Earth, Wind & Fire, it’s been in the background of people’s lives, and [they] have been heard on commercials, movies, etc. These songs are nostalgic. They take us back to when

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Carmel Symphony Orchestra

MARIANO LONGO, PIANIST/ARRANGER/ CONDUCTOR – SERPENTINE FIRE

The arranger and conductor behind the Serpentine Fire show is incomparable pianist Mariano Longo. Longo shared his passion for the project as well as his reverence for the founding members of Earth, Wind & Fire and the lasting impact their music has made on generations of fans.

“For my entire career, I’ve been working on arranging and producing music for artists,” Longo said. “When we started [this project] about 10 years ago, I had no idea what was going to happen. Tyriq [Johnson] is a mercenary as far has his talent, delivery and execution. He is just a magnificent talent, and I’ve worked with a lot of stars and recording artists over the years. Tyriq is every bit a national caliber talent and has an incredible voice. As this project began to unfold, it became apparent to me that this music should be expanded to symphony orchestra.”

Longo added, “It was just clear as a bell to me, because unlike a lot of pop music, there is a lot of melodic and harmonic content in every song. All of the elements are there in the catalog of Maurice White. And Earth, Wind & Fire is very rich and fertile grounds for orchestration.”

The rest of the “book” was written by Longo during the pandemic, and he enthusiastically shared that they will be brining two brand-new arrangements to Carmel when they perform with CSO.

TYRIQ JOHNSON, PRIMARY LEAD VOCALIST – SERPENTINE FIRE

Johnson also shared his passion for the Earth, Wind & Fire catalog and what he hopes the audience will take away from the experience.

“The music stands the test of time,” Johnson said. “It’s all-around great music. And it’s very special to me. I grew up listening to it. I’m happy that people enjoy and love to hear these songs that have a special place in my heart. The music not only sounds great, but it gives message to certain songs that you listen to. The innovator and leader of the band, Maurice White, wrote a song called ‘All About Love,’ and he’s talking about things like prosperity and kindness to one another.”

Johnson added, “We’re coming together, and we’re having a great time, and we should always feel this way about one another. Everyone has a ‘favorite’ song or something that they can go back on, and [the music] takes you back there. You get everybody in the same groove and just having a good time. So, we hope we can do that and bring that [energy] there and get people up

out of their seats and dancing in the aisles. To me, that’s cool.”

Johnson spoke about working with Longo on the Serpentine Fire project.

“Working with Mariano is a great and awesome experience,” Johnson said. “He’s a great writer, conductor and musical director for me. He is a great person to work with, and I don’t think I’d have it any other way. We hope that people will really enjoy what we bring to the table with this music, and I would just love for people to come together and spread love — just love on one another and enjoy this music. I’m looking forward to having a great time and to putting on a wonderful show!”

Provides Insight on Area Connectivity Issues

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

Zionsville resident Tom Santelli completed his last term as a Boone County Commissioner on December 31, 2022. Although Santelli can be applauded for working on a multitude of projects that benefit the county as a whole, there is one particular area of infrastructure that he championed that now poses the question: Who will pick up the baton and continue the work that Santelli commenced with regards to the county’s broadband and cellular connectivity?

Moreover, with a growing population, who will ensure the necessary digital and cellular infrastructure is in place over the course of the next 10+ years?

Boone County Commissioner Jeff Wolfe stated, “Tom [Santelli] was certainly a champion for expanding broadband in our area. He had been dedicated to that and we — the commissioners — have no intentions of letting his efforts go in vain. We intend to continue those efforts.”

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES

We would be hard pressed to find someone, particularly with cellular service from Verizon and T-Mobile, who hasn’t

been experiencing dropped calls, bad con nections and delayed voicemails in certain areas of Zionsville and Whitestown. Addi tionally, there are still rural areas in need of broadband services, and since 2020, we have seen digital services go from being seen as a “luxury” utility to a necessity like heat and electricity. Case in point: It’s become nearly impossible to apply for a job without internet access.

“There’s a lot of dynamics working here,” Santelli said. “If you think about it, between now and 2025, there will be at

Former Commissioner Tom Santelli

least 25 devices vying for time on your broadband connection. Whether it’s your refrigerator, your HVAC controller, your security cameras, media centers, computers and phones … that is all vying for a piece of that one gig[abit] connection.”

When asked whose job it is, whether at the county level or individual municipalities, to ensure that specific infrastructure is keeping up with the demand, Santelli replied, “I don’t have a good answer for you. At the county level, across the rural areas, I really jumped on that. Had I not done that, we would not have received the $2.3 million that came from the state’s Next Level Connections [Grant Program]. Somebody has to take charge of that with some knowledge of what you’re trying to accomplish, where you’re trying to accomplish it and why.”

Santelli also mentioned that it is necessary to coordinate with all 11 of the broadband and cellular service providers in the county, such as AT&T, Spectrum, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.

“It takes a well-coordinated effort,” Santelli said. “It also takes someone who is willing to work with getting the available grants to get installations [of 5G towers, etc.] and upgrades done. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration — which is part of the United States Department of Commerce — is working to engage a range of efforts to increase broadband internet access

because it feels it’s fundamental to economic growth and job creation. It’s also fundamental to education, health care and public safety.”

BROADBAND AND CELLULAR SOLUTIONS FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE

During his tenure as one of the county’s three commissioners, Santelli secured grants for broadband upgrades in the county and other areas of focus, benefitting Boone County and beyond.

“President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021,” Santelli stated. “That provided $65 billion to help start to close the digital divide, which is high-speed, affordable broadband and deployment. That involves the FCC, that involves the mobile providers as well as the Charters, Comcasts and all of those folks. And seeing as we are the fastest growing county in the state, as com-

missioner, I set aside ARPA funds when Charter submitted their request about a year ago. We committed $250,000 of ARPA funding to Charter because they were the only [provider] who jumped on board. We did talk with AT&T and others, but Charter was the only one who engaged.”

According to Santelli, there is an abundance of funding available to individual states and territories that trickles down to individual counties and municipalities. But it takes someone to “champion” the efforts and apply for the funding.

“The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment [BEAD] Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access in all 50 states and territories,” Santelli reported. “That’s specifically for deployment, mapping and adoption projects. You’ve also got the state’s Digital Equity Planning Grant program that’s $60 million, the state’s Digital Equity Capacity Grant program that’s $1.44 billion, the state’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant program that’s $1.25 billion and the Broadband Infrastructure Program that is another $288 million deployment program. There [are] several [funding] opportunities. I focused on the Next Level Connections programs and stayed engaged to see it through. But if you’re not engaged, you’re not going to get any access to any of those available funds.”

Santelli added, “The municipalities and county need to optimize, leverage and amplify our digital world in Boone County and in Zionsville and Whitestown. We need the advocacy and somebody to champion the coordination between the providers and the state with all of these available dollars. The grants, once received, accelerate the [project] timeline, and there’s a lower cost to the folks that are subscribers to those services. As [Boone County] commissioner, I was the only person doing that. As the county continues to grow exponentially, the investments needed to build upon the whole infrastructure are even more critical to residents, businesses, governments, schools and health care providers. We’ve put in the two-lane roads, now we need to build the superhighways in each community. And we need to be planning for the next 10–15 years-plus.”

Thank You,

Mike Nielsen!

For Your Years of Service as Boone County Sheriff

Zionsville Monthly is honored to feature on our cover this month the former Boone County Sheriff, Michael “Mike” Nielsen, who completed his second term as sheriff on Dec. 31, 2022. Nielsen was term-limited by the state’s constitution to serve two consecutive 4-year terms. Reflecting on his accomplishments and challenges throughout the last 8 years, Nielsen shared his personal thoughts and recollections as well as his optimism for what comes next for the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

in love with the job. It was about serving others and being a servant leader.”

Nielsen was with ZPD from 1983 until 1989 and had worked his way up the ranks.

A

dditionally, Nielsen spoke about the goals that he and the Boone County Commissioners have set for his new role as the executive project manager [reporting directly to the commissioners] that will oversee the county’s Justice Center expansion project, which officially broke ground this past December. Nielsen was instrumental in getting the Justice Center expansion project moving forward and remains a staunch advocate of its purpose.

WORKING UP THE LAW ENFORCEMENT LADDER

It’s likely that a majority of the public doesn’t know that Nielsen’s career path first began as an engineer who was contracted by Eli Lilly. A transplant from Iowa, Nielsen moved to Zionsville, Indiana, in 1983.

“I’m an engineer by trade and by education,” Nielsen said. “I got into law enforcement by way of Bob [Robert] Musgrave, who is still with the Zionsville Police Department. Long story made short, when I got recruited [to ZPD], I fell

“I came up to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office in 1989,” Nielsen shared. “I started out as a deputy, and then I was honored to be promoted to lieutenant in our enforcement division, and I knew as soon as I put those lieutenant bars on, I wanted to be in [law enforcement] management, and eventually I wanted to be sheriff of this county.”

Amid controversy within the BCSO leadership and a federal investigation involving the former sheriff, Ken Campbell, Nielsen — who was the chief deputy at that time — took over as acting sheriff in June of 2014.

“I wanted to eventually work my way up the ladder, and I’d been successful in moving into every rank in that

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Laura Arick and courtesy of BCSO

sheriff’s office,” Nielsen said. “So, I was excited about the opportunity to run [for sheriff] in 2014. The time as ‘acting’ sheriff was a test for me that was only 6 months before the general election, and I had competition right after the news broke out about the FBI investigation. But I never looked back, and we hit this head on. I said, ‘We’re going to move on,’ and we were able to take that turmoil and turn [it] into something positive.”

Nielsen shared that he and his team increased the morale of the BSCO and fixed the issues that needed to be addressed.

“I was elected to sheriff in November of 2014 with 84 percent of the vote, I believe, and it instilled the confidence in me that not only was the sheriff’s office behind me, but the people in this county were behind me. I’ve always said that I’ve lived in a political office [as sheriff], but I am not a politician. I think that’s why when I stand up for what I believe in and don’t do things because they’re politically motivated, some folks sometimes may not agree and are critics of mine. I’ve always done what is right for the community and always said to my staff, ‘Always do the right thing, for the right reason, at the right time.’”

CHARTING THE COURSE

As Nielsen and his team navigated the first 4 of his 8 years at the helm, he said he set the goals high.

“When I took over as the official sheriff and not just acting sheriff in January of 2015, it was a very proud moment for me,” Nielsen expressed. “I had finally achieved my goal of where I wanted to be, and now the challenges lay ahead. There was so much that I needed to accomplish within those first years. We finally got the sheriff’s office morale back, and the issues with the previous administration were behind us and the investigation was closed. We started anew and made our office what we wanted.”

During this time, the county was poised to see substantial growth in the immediate future, and Nielsen was one of county’s leaders who managed to stay ahead of the curve when it came to public safety and quality of services amid changing economic, political and social landscapes.

“As part of my personal goals that I set, I went back and finished up a second degree,” Nielsen shared. “I got my second bachelor’s [degree] in Business Administration and then I finished up my master’s [degree] in Business Management. I did that because if you look at the way the sheriff’s office is ran, it is a multi-million-dollar business — the difference being that the money is taxpayer money, so we have to not only do the right things to keep people safe, but we have to be fiscally responsible as well.”

head on with facts, statistics and real-life testimonials.

“Some people did not and still may not agree with the public safety LIT [Local Income Tax],” Nielsen said. “But the majority of people supported me, [and] the list of what we’ve achieved is long. If we didn’t have that [public safety] LIT today, the city/towns of Zionsville, Whitestown and Lebanon wouldn’t have the police officers that they have, and the fire departments wouldn’t have the personnel and equipment that they have today. That tax generates about $16.5 million dollars, and over the course of this year, it will be close to $18 million.”

Additionally, that public safety LIT supports the school resource officer program. Currently, there is a school resource officer assigned to every public school within the county. And according to Nielsen, the public safety LIT made it possible for the installation and operation of Flock cameras throughout the county, making it possible to capture the license plates of stolen vehicles and persons with outstanding warrants. Nielsen has also been instrumental in strengthening the communications and technology used in BSCO, in part because of his engineering background as well as getting the public safety LIT passed.

surrounding himself with good people during his tenure as sheriff.

“We can sit here and talk about me, but it’s the good people that I put in place to surround me that were able to do that work, and all of us together is how we accomplished those goals,” Nielsen stated. “I was steering the ship, but I had a core group of navigators, and we were able to navigate the ship along the way. We’d get off course once in a while, but we’d always get back on course.”

WITHOUT RAIN, THERE IS NO GROWTH

Over his two terms, Nielsen implemented many initiatives within the BSCO operation as well as some that impacted the county as a whole. Not all were immensely popular, and some faced opposition, which Nielsen met

Another major benchmark for Nielsen began when he was rewriting policies and procedures for BCSO as chief deputy prior to 2007 that were antiquated and hadn’t been updated since 1979. And he updated and implemented those policies and procedures during his first term as sheriff, ensuring that BSCO was practicing the best standards of its industry. Additionally, at the close of 2022, BSCO has certified policies and procedures by way of Lexipol — a risk management solution for law enforcement and government — for the jail and has contracted with the same contractor to created certified policies and procedures for its communications office, making BCSO the only client of Lexipol’s to have certified policies and procedures for its communications protocols.

Nielsen spoke about some of the exciting highs and some of the devastating lows that he endured, along with the men and women at BSCO and

the residents of Boone County. Nielsen named two events that he wished he hadn’t witnessed and survived during his time as sheriff. One was the unfathomable loss of Deputy Jacob Pickett in 2018. The other was the unforeseeable global pandemic and the veritable chaos that ensued in its wake in 2020 into 2021.

“When you lose somebody under your watch … I still can’t sleep well at night because of it,” Nielsen contemplated. “It brought a lot of things to focus within our office. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow, and things can happen in a split second that not only change the lives of family and friends but also the lives of our entire family in Boone. I have to live with [losing Jake] for the rest of my life, and while I kept saying that we would find our new normal, I’m not sure that we have found one since we lost Jake.”

If a silver lining could come from that tragedy, Nielsen shared that it was the counseling that had been receiving prior to Deputy Pickett’s death that had given him guidance and comfort during the

most challenging days as the county’s sheriff. Along with his daughter, Taylor, who was also in law enforcement, Nielsen had seen the importance of mental health therapy, and he shared the importance of providing that service to everyone employed and connected with BSCO.

“I was in counseling before Jake passed, and it had done something good for me then,” Nielsen shared. “[Counseling] saved my daughter’s life, and frankly, it saved mine. BCSO has a contracted therapist, and I think we’re saving lives every single day by having these officer wellness initiatives.”

Nielsen added, “The other [event] that I wish I would’ve never had to go through was the pandemic. I wish that I had never gone through either one of these events. In 2020, I had 250 inmates and staff I had to worry about. We put all of the measures into place to make sure we took care of our own people, those who were in our care and the people of the county by helping to prevent the spread of COVID. I honestly think God led me

down this path, and through the tragedy and my daughter’s and my own personal journeys, it has made me a much stronger man, a much better husband and father than I was in my first term. My faith runs deep, and my family is in every decision that I make.”

Nielsen spoke about working with current BCSO Sheriff Tony Harris over the period of many years and how he had helped prepare Harris and the command staff for their new roles.

“I started working with Tony and the command staff as soon as I became sheriff to teach them how to do my job,” Nielsen said. “I wanted somebody to come into this position really understanding what they’re doing. I can sleep at night knowing that I’ve done my job and that Tony and his team have the experience and knowledge to carry on. I’ve been steering that ship for the last 8 years, and while I can tell you it wasn’t an easy journey — it’s been hard at times — it has been some of the most rewarding years in my entire life.”

Body Outfitters On Physical Fitness and Its Influence on the

Immune System

Outfitters

It’s a new year but the same viruses are still circulating throughout the nation and since it’s obvious that exercise is good for both the body and mind, we dove a little deeper into how physical exercise influences one’s immunological response. We not only looked at ways to stay healthy this winter/flu season, but also at how staying active impacts mental health.

Sharing his expertise and advice on these subjects is the Assistant Site Manager at Body Outfitters in Carmel, Alex Jaquez. Jaquez has been a personal trainer since 2015 and has a bachelor’s in Kinesiology.

THE BENEFITS EXERCISE HAS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

We don’t need Bill Nye the Science Guy to explain how keeping our bodies fit helps to keep us healthy but a better understanding of how intensity and frequency plays into the science of good health may motivate some of us to get our bodies moving.

“I found studies that discuss how staying active and fit boosts your immune health,” Jaquez shared. “To quote a study published in 2020, Physical exercise as a tool to help the immune system against COVID-19: an integrative review of the current literature stated, ‘The practice of physical exercise, both in its acute form and in its chronic form, significantly alters the immune system. Studies indicate that the modulation of the immune response related to exercise depends on factors such as regularity, intensity, duration and type of effort applied.’ And ‘Moderate-intensity physical exercises stimulate cellular immunity, while

prolonged or high-intensity practices without appropriate rest can trigger decreased cellular immunity, increasing the propensity for infectious diseases.’”

Jaquez added, “[Exercise] stimulates your immune response and it will actually increase the amount of T cells you have circulating in your blood. Think of T cells — a type of white blood cell —, as the ‘fighters’ in your immune system that help to identify and destroy any kind of pathogens in your body. Another study, Protective Effects of Exercise Become Especially Important for the Aging Immune System in The Covid-19 Era stated, ‘Regular, moderate exercise will help boost the immune system at any age, thus reducing the risk of incidence or severe course of many diseases.’ And ‘Just 10 consecutive days of endurance exercise contributes to significant protection against respiratory dysfunctions.’”

It’s important to note that while the intensity of the exercise does matter, as Jaquez emphasizes, “If we have somebody who’s never really exercised before, we are going to have them exercise at a lower intensity because we want to make sure that their body has been primed to deal with the stimulus we’re about to place on it rather than overdo it.”

BATTLING THE WINTER BLUES WITH EXERCISE

In the absence of sufficient Vitamin D from the sun during the winter months, many people experience the “Winter Blues.” Jaquez shared how exercise and working up to higher intensity levels will bump up your brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitters, called endorphins.

“Whenever you exercise, endorphins get released, which are essentially your body’s feel good chemicals,” Jaquez said. “And exercise has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression. As endorphin levels increase, stress and anxiety have been shown to decrease. An increase in endorphins can help push your confidence and self-esteem and it will also help regulate your appetite.”

The caveat that Jaquez emphasized was that someone who’s not accustomed to working out will need to work up to increase their intensity levels of exercise

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Body

and will need to allow more recovery time between the bouts of exercise.

When asked when a person should focus on staying healthy before the flu and cold season officially commences, Jaquez replied, “I start by asking my clients, ‘When is the best time to plant a tree?’ It should have been 20 years ago but the second-best time to plant a tree is right now. I understand that people are busy with life, families and work but the assumption is that it’s going to take 365 days to be in the gym to see any kind of noticeable results when in reality, it could be two days a week for 30-minutes. And it doesn’t even have to be 20-30-minutes a day. It shouldn’t be all or nothing. It should be how much time do you have and with that in mind, how much are you willing to set aside?”

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

Help your body battle the nasty viruses and bacteria that are prevalent this time of year and contact Body Outfitters in Carmel

or Zionsville to schedule your consultation.

Body Outfitters believes everybody is different and deserves a tailored level of personal training exercise that is demanding enough to create improvement while safe enough to match current physical condition. Their certified team delivers personal training services working alongside clients to help them progress to the next level and reach goals.

Jaquez added, “[As a trainer], I take into account more about what the person wants long term and what motivates them. We should start thinking of exercise kind of like our financial [health]. If we look at it more like a Roth IRA; the more you end up investing in it, the more you’re going to reap and enjoy as you are aging. If we start at 45-years-old, we’re still going to compound, we’re still going to get a solid benefit but it’s always going to be better the quicker you start.”

For more information and to register for classes or sessions, visit bodyoutfitters.com.

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