May 23, 2023 — Carmel

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Think Puccini’s Party Trays

CCS names director of mental health as board member questions hiring process transparency

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

An award-winning administrator has joined Carmel Clay Schools as its director of mental health

EDUCATION

after the school board voted 4-1 to fill the position at its May 15 meeting.

Brooke Lawson spent the previous six years in a similar role at Hamilton Southeastern Schools. During her time there, she was named the 2023 Indianapolis Colts Classroom Quarterback of the Year, the 2022 Administrator of the Year by the Indiana Counseling Association and the Hero of the Month by Prevail, among other honors.

In her new role, Lawson will lead the team of CCS school counselors and social workers and oversee contracted services with Ascension St. Vincent, which provides on-site mental health services.

“We follow an extensive process to recruit quality professionals through the initial application, multiple rounds of interviews, background and reference checks,” CCS Supt. Michael Beresford said. “Brooke rose to the top of a very competitive pool of candidates, and we are excited she is bringing her vast experience in mental health, leadership, expertise and heart for students to Carmel Clay Schools.”

Lawson replaces Stephanie Whiteside, who is leaving to work in the private sector. Whiteside joined CCS in 2019 as the district’s first mental health coordinator.

School board member Greg Brown voted against filling the position, which was part of the consent agenda. At the meeting, he proposed postponing the vote, saying he wanted board members to have more time to provide input on their vision for addressing students’ mental health before hiring for a “very important position.” He also said he believes it’s important for district offi-

cials to dig further into why many students struggle with mental health.

When reached by phone May 16, Brown said that his vote wasn’t against hiring Lawson, whom he said he knows very little about, but against the process that led to her hire.

He said the district didn’t provide any information to school board members about Lawson beyond her name in recommending her to fill the role. Personnel reports, which are included in the consent agenda vote at school board meetings, typically do not include detailed information.

Brown said he learned elsewhere that Lawson works at HSE. Last year, HSE voters elected four GOP-backed candidates to the school board who quickly used their majority to dismantle several initiatives. In part because of the upheaval in HSE, Brown said he would have liked an opportunity for CCS board members to ask questions and review the proposed hiring of Lawson during an executive session, a meeting closed to the public.

“Why would you recommend someone from Hamilton Southeastern? They just had a big change on the board, because people weren’t happy with the direction Hamilton Southeastern was going. Is that problem going to come over to Carmel? That would have been a question I would have asked,” said Brown, who was the only member of a slate of GOP-backed candidates in Carmel to be elected to the board in 2022.

At the meeting, school board member Louise Jackson said she agreed with Brown that educators should strive to understand the complexities of why many students struggle with mental health, but she didn’t believe those efforts should slow filling the open position.

“I do trust our administration has tried to really vet the best person to fill the role to support our children,” Jackson said to

Brown. “I’m happy to continue to discuss your concerns and needs; that’s why we are a board that is diverse, but I’m thankful we’re not going to delay filling that role any longer.”

Several hours before the meeting, Brown sent an email to a group he described to Current as a “handful of friends” alerting them of Lawson’s pending hire (and connections to HSE) and recommending they share any concerns they had about it at the school board meeting.

Brown, who stated in the email he was writing as a concerned Carmel citizen rather than a school board member, said he sent the note because without it the recipients would likely be unaware the board was being asked to fill the position. School board meeting agendas publicly list that the personnel report is part of the consent agenda, but the contents of the report are not included. Members of the public may request it by contacting CCS.

“If the public looked at the consent agenda, we have hidden the personnel report. There was no mention that this person was going to be brought in from Hamilton Southeastern in the agenda,” Brown said. “I felt it appropriate to let some of the community that has told me they’re interested in knowing about important board meetings know, because there’s no other way they would know that this has been brought up.”

School board President Katie Browning said she was disappointed that Brown “did not adhere to our board communication expectations and that he shared deliberative information.”

“As a board, our role is to make and adhere to policies and oversee the superintendent, not to manage the capable human resources personnel who continue to bring us the best talent for our schools,” Browning said. “I hope in the future all members will continue to follow best practices so that we may effectively perform the duties of the board with professionalism and positive collaboration.”

Lawson Brown

Referendum renewal process begins

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

Jump start your savings.

said. “We’re confident at this point in time (keeping the rate steady) is the right thing to do.”

EDUCATION

The Carmel Clay Schools board of trustees took the first step in seeking a renewal of its operating referendum by approving a resolution at its May 15 meeting that allows the superintendent to alert the county auditor of the proposed referendum tax rate.

In 2017, Carmel voters approved setting the operating referendum tax rate at 19 cents per $100 of assessed home value. In the Nov. 7 election, CCS expects to ask voters to approve the same rate for the next eight years, as rising assessed home values are expected to bring in enough dollars to offset the impact of inflation and other increased costs.

“I feel pretty confident with the way inflation works and costs rise, it should stay pretty even,” CCS Supt. Michael Beresford

With the proposed rate, a homeowner with property valued at $400,000 can expect to pay approximately $433 annually as a result of the referendum.

According to CCS, the operating referendum currently produces approximately $25 million per year, most of which is used to cover teacher salaries and benefits. Without the referendum, the district could be forced to cut up to 20 percent of its teaching positions.

The school board is expected to vote at its June 26 meeting on finalizing the wording of the question regarding the referendum that will appear on the November ballot.

Learn more about the proposed renewal of the operating referendum at ccs.k12. in.us/services/business/referendums/operating. The site also includes a tax bill calculator and information on registering to vote.

Holcomb OKs teacher firearms training bill

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed a bill allowing teachers to apply for state funding for firearms training.

LEGISLATION

House Bill 1177 authored by State Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, was signed into law by Holcomb earlier this month. Under the legislation, which takes effect July 1, it creates a 40-hour firearms safety, education and training curriculum for teachers, school staff and employees.

The law means employees can apply for grant funding for gun training through the state’s school secured fund, which would require schools to ensure that individuals comply with certain requirements.

Carmel Clay Schools has a school resource office at every campus which is not the case in many districts.

“In our commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment, we prioritize the expertise and training of dedicated school resource officers and the full Carmel Police Dept. to ensure the continued safety of students and staff,” said Emily Bauer, direc-

tor of community relations at Carmel Clay Schools.

The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., said on its website that Indiana generally prohibits individuals, including those who have a license to carry a handgun from knowingly or intentionally possessing a firearm on school property and property that is being used by a school for a school function or on a school bus. However, the organization also notes that Indiana law has exceptions to that restriction.

The legislation signed into law by Holcomb authorizes funds from the state’s secured school fund and school corporation and charter school safety advance program to be used “for the purpose of providing specialized firearms instruction to certain teachers, school staff, and school employees.”

Funding could also be used “for providing counseling services to students, teachers, school staff, and school employees in the event of a school shooting,” according to the legislation.

Editor Natalie Gargiulo contributed to this story.

Holcomb

Teacher ready for next adventure after 45 years at CHS

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

After 45 years of teaching at Carmel High School, Dan Bates is ready for his next adventure.

EDUCATION

A few days after the school year ends, the 73-year-old economics teacher plans to drive across the nation to his new home in Colorado, where he will reunite with his wife, Beth. The couple has been living apart since October, but once Bates is officially retired, they plan to make up for lost time skiing and hiking in the mountains together.

“(Teaching) is a closed chapter. I’ve moved on,” he said. “There’s nothing about my job I ever disliked, but there was never anything that I liked enough to never leave.”

Bates grew up in Beech Grove, and before he seriously considered teaching, he held a series of odd jobs, including tennis instructor, catching animals for the Dept. of Natural Resources and as a night watchman during Universal Pictures filming of “Winning” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

During his first stint at Indiana University, he studied Russian, but he stopped attending school before completing his degree. Eventually, he decided he needed to choose a career, and he gave teaching a try because he liked the idea of having summers off work. He completed a degree in political science at IU and accepted his first teaching job at a middle school in north Indianapolis. It wasn’t a great fit.

“(Teaching) middle school just takes a special kind of person,” Bates said.

Fortunately for Bates, CHS Principal Dale Graham contacted him after his first year in the classroom and asked him to consider teaching in Carmel. Bates accepted the job, although he didn’t know much about the community at the time.

“All I knew of Carmel was when I was in high school, I played my first varsity basketball game in (the CHS) gym,” he said. “I remember driving here in the bus, that it was just farmland. There was nothing between where I lived and Carmel. I just figured it was way out in the boonies somewhere.”

Bates soon became comfortable workign

with high school students and decided to commit to teaching for his career. He initially taught remedial world geography and sociology (before computers were commonplace) and later transitioned to teaching AP classes in economics after working to introduce the advanced courses to CHS.

After 45 years of teaching, Bates said he is most proud of the large number of students he was able to impact by writing letters of recommendation or helping them work through a difficult problem.

“I didn’t have to do something extraordinary to make that happen,” he said.

He also treasures the friendships he built among “three generations” of teachers he worked alongside at CHS. He’s always been surrounded by supportive co-workers, but he said their care and concern stood out two years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer during the pandemic.

As part of his treatment, he had his tonsils removed, but before the surgery a fellow teacher sent a package from St. Elmo Steak House with steak, shrimp and other delicacies for Bates to enjoy before his diet became limited.

“It was like the Last Supper,” Bates said, tearing up. “It touched me.”

Now cancer-free, Bates, who has two adult daughters, is looking forward to the future and remembering his past with a grateful heart.

“(I’ve had the) best life ever, with a great childhood and a great job,” he said. “I’ve helped a lot of people along the way, and I feel good about what I did.”

DISPATCH

Dan Bates in his classroom at Carmel High School. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

Correction — A cutline in the May 16 edition of Current in Carmel misspelled the last name of Evan Bever, senior minister of First Baptist Church of Indianapolis.

CCS named Green Ribbon District

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

Carmel Clay Schools has received the Green Ribbon District Sustainability Award for its efforts to improve the environment.

EDUCATION

The U.S Dept. of Education on April 20 announced the 2023 recipients of the award. Across the nation, 26 schools, 11 districts and four post-secondary institutions were honored.

Andrea Falken, special advisor for infrastructure and sustainability at the U.S Department of Education, said the award recognizes educational institutions that show progress in sustainability, environmental impact and cost-savings, promoting student health and ensuring effective sustainability education.

Environmentally friendly initiatives in the CCS District Strategic Plan helped the district earn the honor, Falken said.

“They have all sorts of smart technology to make sure that all of their lights, water and computers all shut off,” Falken said. “They bought the first total electric school bus in the state of Indiana. Their other buses are (fueled by) propane.”

CCS offers students lunch options that include fruits and vegetables to improve their overall health. Some fruits and vegetables were picked from student-grown gardens. (Photo Courtesy U.S. Dept. of Education)

Another initiative is the Green Team in each CCS school. Ramona Rice, CCS supervisor of learning and Green Team founder, said the program as a group of students, parents and staff who encourage practices and initiatives that promote eco-friendly lifestyles within the school.

Rice said it was an honor for CCS to receive the Green Ribbon District Sustainability Award.

“It recognizes that sustainability is everyone’s responsibility,” Rice said.

The district will be officially presented with the award Aug. 8 during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Carmel bus driver Clarence Mason throws the first pitch before Carmel High School’s varsity softball game May 16 against Shelbyville. Mason attends all the team’s home and away games. The team selected Mason to throw out the first pitch because he is their favorite bus driver and a huge fan. (Photo by Ben Weir)

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Carmel Pride continues to grow EVENT

As one of the original organizers, Carmel High School senior Tatum Siebert is delighted to see how Carmel Pride has continued to grow since the inaugural 2021 event was put together in four weeks.

“We are able to welcome more vendors and informational booths to support even more small businesses and nonprofits,” Siebert said. “With the grant we received last year, we are able to put more of our funding towards performances, a bolder design (on social media and promotional materials) and event decoration and community outreach. We also are introducing a larger team with more diverse perspectives as we now have an adult advisory board that helps with maintaining the event long-term and a larger student team.”

After the 2022 event, Carmel Pride received a $10,000 grant from the 50 States, 50 Grants, 5,000 Voices Initiative, which was awarded by the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit whose aim is to uplift, empower and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth around the world.

Siebert is one of the senior executives of Carmel Pride, which is set for 3 to 9 p.m. June 25 at Carter Green in front of the Center for the Performing Arts. The free event is open to all ages and includes kids’ activities during the day.

“We are currently working on our performance schedule, and we will showcase community performers throughout Day Pride from 3 to 6:30 p.m. and then we will have our Sunset Showcase of incredibly talented drag performers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.,” Siebert said.

From left, Lars Ozkan, greets Taryn Snowden and Finn Ulm in June 2022 at Carmel Pride. (File photo)

COMMUNITY

CITY HOSTS INAUGURAL MIDTOWN BLOCK PARTY

The City of Carmel’s inaugural Midtown Block Party presented May 13 featured activities for all ages, including a photo booth, movie screening, face painting, cornhole and more.

From left, Myles Moore and Alex Riddle, both of Indianapolis, relax in Midtown Plaza.

Bill Schleifman and Julia Shildmyer enjoy the festivities with dog, Moshi. Zayden Pandya, 6, plays catch in Midtown Plaza.

The Midtown Block Party filled Midtown Plaza with various activities.

Rhonda Smith-Graham plays cornhole. (Photos by Adam Seif)

Woman celebrates 100th birthday with firetruck ride

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

When Ruby Brown turned 95, she celebrated by riding a motorcycle for the first time. When she turned 96, she finally went for a spin in a golf cart.

To celebrate her 100th birthday, Brown crossed the last — and biggest — item off her bucket list after going for a drive in a firetruck. It was an experience she’d been looking forward to for a long time.

“In the last four or five years, they’ll tell you that’s all I’ve talked about,” Brown said.

Brown, a Whiteland resident, and three family members — including a great-grandson who lives in Carmel — stopped by Carmel Fire Department. Station 41 May 16 for a quick tour of the city in CFD’s largest vehicle. Brown, whose 100th birthday is in October, was all smiles from the front passenger seat as the truck pulled out of the station.

“It was great. I enjoyed every minute of it,” she said after completing the ride.

It may have taken nearly 100 years for Brown to ride in a firetruck, but she’s no stranger to large vehicles. She used to live on a farm, where she drove combines and tractors and other large equipment. She also has experience as a bus driver and crossed the nation taking turns driving a semi-truck with her late husband.

For Debbie Wood, watching her grandmother complete the ride was especially meaningful because the family doesn’t

know how much time they have left together. Brown has a terminal diagnosis, Wood said, so the family is making the most of every opportunity.

“For her to be able to do part of her bucket list, especially at the end here, gives her more meaning to what her life has come to,” Wood said. “It makes her happy. (She had) a big smile on her face. That is everything to me. For her to have that happiness is everything.”

Riding in a firetruck wasn’t the only thing Brown experienced for the first time that day. It also marked her first visit to Carmel. “I enjoyed it,” she said. “Your city looks very nice.”

Mark Cromlich, captain at CFD Station 41, greets Ruby Brown before she boards the firetruck as her great-grandson Kory Wood, looks on.

Ruby Brown returns to CFD Station 41 after taking her first ride in a firetruck. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

CarmelFest Has Talent audition deadline approaches

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The CarmelFest Has Talent competition will kick off entertainment at the summer festival.

of which needs to be no more than four minutes. These 15 acts will make up the show July 3.”

The first-place prize is $300 for each of the three age categories, followed by $200 for second place and $100 for third place.

COMPETITION

“We have the first performance of the festival on the Gazebo stage,” said Kelli Lewis, co-chair of CarmelFest Has Talent along with Becca Wickman.

The talent competition will be at 1 p.m. July 3. The auditions are virtual and the deadline is June 1. There is a $30 entry fee, and registration details can be found at carmelfest.net/talent-show.

Lewis said the talent competition is open to musicians of all ages, vocalists and instrumentalists, soloists and groups.

There are three categories for ages 12-and-under, ages 13-16 and 17-and-older.

“A total of 15 finalists will be chosen from the virtual submissions,” Lewis said. “Each

CarmelFest Has Talent switched from a two-day format into a one-day show in 2021.

The talent competition began in 2009 and several performers have gone on to be selected for the Songbook Academy summer intensive program where 40 students are selected nationally each year.

Marrialle Sellars, a Lawrence Central High School graduate, was a winner in her division in 2011. She went on to reach Top 30 in “American Idol” in 2014.

Morgan Taylor Koontz, who performs as Morgan Taylor, was a two-time winner in CarmelFest Has Talent age division and finished second another time. The Carmel High School graduate appeared on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2022.

New offerings at KidsZone 2023

news@currentincarmel.com

The CarmelFest KidsZone will return to the festival with traditional favorites and some new offerings for the whole family. Presented by the Rotary Club of Carmel, CarmelFest is set for July 3 and 4 in Civic Square and surrounding areas.

CARMELFEST

“We truly want the KidsZone to be an enjoyable experience for all who attend,” said Christine Zoccola, co-chair of the KidsZone. “This year, we have a larger selection of rides than we have had in past years and a great stage line-up featuring performances tailored to kids. We hope this year’s KidsZone will be an amazing experience for families to enjoy together.”

Older children can enjoy the Ballistic Swing and the Pirates Revenge. For the younger crowd, there’s the Gyroscope and

the Toxic Melt Down — two mechanical rides. They can also try out several inflatables, including the Bungee Trampoline, the Obstacle Course, a rock-climbing wall and more. As in years past, Master Yoo will be presenting martial arts demonstrations during both days of the festival.

After the parade on July 4, kids can keep their eyes open for Disney princesses and superheroes as they make their way around the KidsZone.

New this year, guests can take a break in one of several shaded resting areas. There will also be a stage geared toward the younger crowd that will feature musical acts, dance groups and more.

Volunteers are needed for the KidsZone. Visit CarmelFest.net/Volunteer to learn more and sign up. Learn more about naming rights for the KidsZone by contacting CarmelFest Chair Steve Krusie at chairperson@ carmelfest.net.

World record attempt —The Carmel Fire Dept. will attempt to set a record for the most people wearing fire helmets at one time on July 4. Before the CarmelFest parade, volunteers will hand out plastic fire helmets to those along the route. Learn more and purchase a shirt to support the cause at linktr.ee/cfdauxiliary.

Memorial Day Ceremony

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

CARMEL

Project: Transmission line burial

Location: A half-block stretch of Veteran’s Way, south of Main Street. The road closure is expected to be limited to daytime hours and some weekends. Access to the public parking lot south of the Main Street shops will remain open.

Expected completion: This month

Project: Roundabout construction

Location: The westbound lanes of City Center Drive will be closed between Range Line Road and 3rd Avenue SW for construction of the northern half of the roundabout. Eastbound traffic will be maintained.

Expected completion: Mid-May, with work on additional phases beginning at that time

Project: Widening and improvements, including a roundabout, along Smoky Row Road

Location: Between the Monon Greenway and U.S. 31. The road will be fully closed during the project.

Expected completion: June

Project: Multi-use path construction

Location: Gray Road from 106th to 116th streets. The project is not expected to result in a full closure of the road.

Expected completion: June

Project: Roundabout construction

Location: E. Main Street and Lexington Boulevard. Beginning on or after May 29, the intersection will close for completion of the project.

Expected completion: July 4

FISHERS

Project: 146th and Allisonville Interchange

Location: Phase 1 of construction for the grade separation intersection improvement will begin at 146th Street and Allisonville Road. One thru lane and one left turn lane in all directions will be closed through the intersection. Closures of Sowers Drive and Saville Road at 146th Street will be necessary in June.

Expected completion: The entire project is set for completion in summer 2025

Project: Ind. 37 Improvement Project

Location: Ind. 37 and 141st Street. A pre-construction phase is in place. During this phase, 141st Street will have a temporary right-in-right-out traffic configuration.

Expected completion: The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provid-

Local robotics teams finish strong at World Championship

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

Last month, several students from Carmel and Zionsville competed on teams that enjoyed success at the 2023 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas.

has two members from Carmel and won the Amaze Award. The honor is presented to a team that created a high-scoring robot that exhibited overall quality.

ACHIEVEMENT

Team Robokauz Robotics, which has members from Carmel and Zionsville, placed 2nd at the tournament and won the VEX Robotics World Championship Excellence award, a top honor.

The award is given to a team that shows overall excellence in building a high-quality robotics program. Team Robokauz coach Bob Lach said the award is evidence of tremendous progress the team has recently made.

“When we first started in high school, we got last place in a couple of tournaments. It’s a pretty dramatic transformation,” Lach said.

Team Killer Instinct, which placed 12th,

Coach Mallory Jurkash said the team advanced to the quarterfinals and tied during its first match against the top ranked team, which is rare in championship tournaments.

Team strategist Luke Alkin said despite not winning, the experience was an award in itself.

Team Ghost Code has members who are all from Carmel. The team placed 19th in the competition, a finish that pleased its members.

The team’s driver and lead strategist Matthew Bender said the team did well in comparison to their previous performance. In the 2022 championship, the team wplaced 62nd.

“The goal this year was to do better than last year,” Bender said. “Be a high seed in both qualification rankings and the eliminations. We ranked 19 out of 81 teams, which for us was a great goal to achieve.”

DISPATCHES

The Waterpark to open May 27 — The Waterpark in Carmel, 1195 Central Park Dr. W, will open for the season May 27. Featuring a lazy river, kiddie pool, slides and more, The Waterpark will be open daily rom 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from through Aug. 6. Guests may purchase day passes in person at The Waterpark. Day passes are $16 for adults (ages 16-64) and $13 for youth and seniors (ages 3-15; ages 65+). Season passes are available in person or online at carmelclayparks.com.

Golden Hoosier nominations — Nominations are being accepted for the 2023 Golden Hoosier Award, which honors senior Hoosiers for their lifetime of service and commitment to their communities. To be eligible, the nominee must currently be an Indiana resident, age 65 or older and have been a volunteer in the community for the past three years. The deadline for submitting applications is July 9. Nomination forms can be accessed at in.gov/lg/lt-governor-initiatives/ golden-hoosier-award.

Team Robokauz Robotics members from left, Theo Lach, Daniel Leatherwood, Colin Blank, Liam Blank and Jonathan Doud. (Photo courtesy of Bob Lach)

University High School senior draws MLB attention

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

It’s easy for University High School senior pitcher Jake Hooker to pinpoint the biggest improvement of his career.

Fastball velocity, he said.

Trailblazers coach

Chris Estep said Hooker’s fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph this season.

“Every year, his velocity has climbed and climbed,” Estep said. “He has a really good slider and a nice changeup.”

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander also plays shortstop for University. Although his college future is as a pitcher, Hooker was recruited as a two-way player by Xavier University.

“I’ve put on 15 to 20 pounds since junior season,” said the Zionsville resident, who also credits work in the weight room for his added strength.

As of May 15, Hooker had a 3-3 record with a 2.77 earned run average. He was hit-

Favorite athlete: Tiger Woods

Favorite subject: English

Favorite movie: “Whiplash”

ting .270 with four homers.

“I started off slow (hitting) this year,” Hooker said. “I’ve been able to turn it on recently and heat up at the plate.”

Hooker struck out 12 and gave up only one earned run in six innings in a 4-0 loss to Cathedral.

“He was outstanding in that game,” Estep said. “He’s had a tremendous career for us.”

Last season, Hooker had a 3-2 record

with a 1.82 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings. He hit .405 with three homers.

“You couldn’t ask for a better player and better kid,” Estep said.

Hooker, who plans to major in finance at Xavier, also is drawing strong interest from Major League Baseball scouts. He chose Xavier over the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan. The MLB Draft is set for July 9-11. Prior to the season, Hooker was No. 224 on Prospects Live’s list of top 2023 MLB Draft prospects.

Hooker said his goal is to play professional baseball, whether that happens next season or after attending Xavier.

“It’s tricky, but it has to happen before you really think about it,” Hooker said of what his draft position would need to be for him to forego his scholarship. “It just depends on the dollar amount and those things.”

Hooker said the Trailblazers can make a run at the IHSAA Class 2A state title.

“Our bats need to come alive a little bit, but me and the other senior (Seth Hogg) are pretty dominant on the mound and we feel we can pretty much pitch to anybody,” Hooker said. “If we can score some runs, we’ll be fine and be able to make a long run, hopefully.”

AMERICA’S MOST ACCOMPLISHED BRAIN AND SPINE TEAM— JUST MINUTES AWAY

Learn

MEET JAKE HOOKER

University High School senior pitcher Jake Hooker’s fastball has been clocked at 95 mph this season. (Photo courtesy of J. Scott Photography)

Hooker

Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine is a world-class neurosurgery team pioneering best practices and providing collaborative, patient-centered care—and right here in Central Indiana.

FBA facility improvements provide options for local families

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Michelle Duncan and her two siblings grew up playing softball, baseball, soccer and basketball at First Baptist Athletics in north Indianapolis. Now living in Carmel with three daughters, she still is involved with the program. Cara, 8, plays softball, soccer and basketball at FBA. Anna, 6, plays basketball and soccer, and her twin sister, Kate, plays soccer.

“While I enjoy coaching my kids, they have also had wonderful seasons with other coaches, which allows them to learn from other individuals. It has been fun for me to have my kids play on teams with children whose parents I played with.”

SPORTS

Duncan said she is excited about the future at FBA with the recent groundbreaking for the Denny Barrett Fieldhouse, which will have four basketball courts that can be converted into two full-size basketball courts. The courts could also be used for pickleball. There is only one basketball court now. The Chambers Family Park has renovated and improved fields, redesigned concession stand and new family pavilion. Duncan coached co-ed soccer and coached basketball with her dad, Joe Breen, this past season. Mark Duncan, the girls’ father, has coached soccer and softball.

“I think these new courts and renovations will allow First Baptist Athletics to meet the demand that is out there for youth sports,” Duncan said. “They will help keep kids healthy and active. They will give opportunities to foster community. Personally, I’m looking forward to the opportunity for pickleball.”

Duncan said she enjoys sports at First Baptist for many reasons.

“It allows the children to develop their athletic skills, spend time with friends from school, and meet new friends,” Duncan said.

Duncan is one of several families from Carmel who have children playing in the league.

Carmel resident Brian Carrico, who has coached four years in the program, plans to donate to the project.

“It’s a much-needed project for the community,” Carrico said. “The community needs these programs not only for kids to play sports, but to keep them active. It teaches them teamwork, discipline, responsibility and respect for coaches.”

Carrico said he likes the way FBA has put things together in one location and the scheduling. Carrico said athletic director Steve Carr and the administrators do a good job.

“They cover all sports,” Carrico said. “The scheduling for practice and games are as efficient as they can be. These additional basketball courts will allow many more kids to participate. I like that it’s all in one location.”

Carrico’s son, Harrison, who is nearly 4 years old, is playing tee-ball. Carrico is serving as the coach of tee-ball. His older son, Hunter, 7, is playing baseball.

Carrico is the assistant coach for 7–8-year-old boys baseball. He previously was assistant coach twice in basketball and head coach in flag football in 2022 and head coach of a baseball team last year. For more, visit firstbaptistathletics.com.

Joe Breen coaches a girls basketball team for First Baptist Athletics. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Duncan)

Meet Current in Carmel Managing Editor Ann Marie Shambaugh from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 13 at CoHatch, 38 W. Main St., Carmel. Suggest story ideas, ask questions and learn more about Current in Carmel. For more, email AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

Make Mathnasium part of your summer plans.

CCPR PRESENTS ADAPTIVE 5K IN CENTRAL PARK

The second Adaptive 5K, a sensory-friendly event on a completely accessible course, took place May 13 in Central Park. Organized by Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation, the race provided an opportunity for people of all ages and ability levels to compete.

It’s important for kids to keep up their math skills during the summer, so they’re ready for new material in the fall. Summer at Mathnasium allows them to do this right alongside their other summer activities, with flexible hours and in -center or online learning. And we make it so fun!

2023 Summer Opportunities

• Camp Mathnasium

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David Carnovale pins a race bib on Zachary Carnovale’s shirt.

Competitors prepare for the race to begin.

Jade McCade, 4, displays a sign to support participants.

Jamie McCade and Jordan McCade participate in the race.

Thomas Sliva of Indianapolis runs through Central Park.

From left, Carmel residents Sam Love, Abby Love, Ryan Carlson and Bob Carlson. (Photos by Adam Seif)

CHS junior authors book

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Tennis was originally Carmel High School junior Nick Stitle’s main passion.

AUTHOR

“But I was forced to take a few months off after getting stress fractures in both feet right before the start of my sophomore season,” Stitle said. “I was subsequently left with a lot of free time as my feet healed, and I decided to put a lot of that time toward writing. Even after my injuries were healed, I stuck to writing, rather than tennis, and I haven’t looked back since.”

Stitle recently released “Stormless,” a science-fiction/fantasy novel. He began writing the book in the fall of 2021, finishing the first draft in May 2022. He spent the next 10 months editing and finally finished the process in March.

“This was definitely an idea that was bouncing around my head for a while,” Stitle said. “I wrote many stories throughout my middle school years, and ‘Stormless’ is a sort of reincarnation of some aspects of those stories. I was also inspired a lot by the books I’ve read throughout my life, as well as the movies and shows that I’ve watched.”

Stitle said he is a huge fan of sci-fi and fantasy.

“Both of these genres allow the writer’s imagination to really shine through, and I think that fantasy simply gives the writer a much greater degree of freedom than any other genre when it comes to crafting a story,” he said. “Naturally, I am very passionate about writing as well. Books offer a way for everyone to tell their story, and they aren’t limited by budgets in the same ways that movies and TV shows are. I am a firm believer that books will be around forever, and that regardless of advances in entertainment, people will always enjoy a good read.”

Stitle said the series’ second book, “The Fire King,” is nearly finished.

“I know for certain that Book 2 will be greater in scope,” Stitle said. “Most of the continent that this story takes place on will be explored in Book 2.”

To purchase the book, visit nickstitle.com.

Stitle

Sim 4 STEM introduces girls to careers in motorsports

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

For Nicci Daly and Stefy Bau, who both grew up in Europe, launching their Sim 4 STEM initiative in Indianapolis made perfect sense.

SPORTS

The program features driving simulators and hands-on STEM stations to introduce high school girls to the variety of career options in the world of motorsports. It debuted this month with the final session held May 12 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the roar of IndyCars serving as background noise as the students worked.

“It’s really important for this program that we attach it to major events like this, so these girls can actually see the cars (in action), they can hear it, they can smell it and they get to experience it as well,” Sim 4 STEM co-founder Nicci Daly said. “Indy is made for a launch pad like this. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Motorsports are in Daly’s blood, as her late father, Vivion Daly, and uncle, Carmel resident Derek Daly, were professional drivers, and her cousin, Connor Daly, is an IndyCar driver set to compete in the Indianapolis 500 on May 28. Growing up around racing led Daly to study motorsports engineering, and she spent several years working as a data engineer for Juncos Racing.

She grew used to being among a minority of females in the industry and became passionate about helping other women — who didn’t have her family ties to racing — connect to the sport, too. She launched the

Go Girls Karting Initiative in 2019 to offer STEM workshops to females interested in motorsports, with the top students forming teams to compete in her native Ireland.

Daly’s Sim 4 STEM co-founder Stefy Bau grew up in Italy with parents who were big fans of motocross. She shared their passion, and at age 4 she began riding, entering her first competition two years later. It launched a career that included several championships as she became the first woman to compete against male racers at the top level. An injury ended her career in 2005.

Years later, Bau launched INIT ESPORTS, which focuses on simulated racing events. That led her to create Screen to Speed, a virtual racing competition for females designed to introduce them to the motor-

sports industry and help them build connections if they decide to pursue a career in it.

“What’s incredibly important is to get a community around you to support you, and this is what we are doing with Sim 4 STEM and Screen to Speed,” Bau said. “We created a like-minded place where girls can come in and ask any question they want. If they want to take the step of pursuing a career in a male-dominated industry, now they have an army of girls behind them.”

Bau, who lives in San Francisco, and Daly, who resides in Ireland and competed in the 2018 Olympics as part of the nation’s field hockey team, connected online through

their similar interests and met for the first time in-person in Indianapolis to launch Sim 4 STEM. They received local support from Purpose HQ, a Carmel-based company that aims to help businesses thrive by building a purpose-driven, people-focused culture.

Purpose HQ President Natalie Engledow, a Carmel resident, said a focus of her company is diagnosing workforce challenges and that she was immediately drawn to Sim 4 STEM’s mission to introduce girls to an industry they may not have considered. She worked with area schools to identify participants for the program.

“There is a tremendous need for programs like this to build a pipeline of diverse talent in Indiana,” Engledow said. “I hope this is just the beginning and this can be part of a feeder to a whole pipeline of opportunities that lead toward careers. You’ve got to start somewhere, and this is a pretty great way to start.”

Learn more about Sim 4 STEM at sim4stem.com.

OBITUARY

Peggy Colleen Schildknecht, 93, of Carmel, passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023. She was born December 2, 1929 in Galena, KS, daughter of Walter F. and Mabel J. (Son) Allen. She graduated from Galena High School in 1947 and then received a degree from Joplin Business College.

For a few years, Peggy worked as private secretary to a General in the US Army in Washington, DC. She was also grateful for her experiences as a chief stewardess flying with Alleghany Airlines. Before retiring in 2010, Peggy was a Supervisor for Lazarus-Macy’s in the bridal department for 33 years.

Peggy was an avid reader, enjoyed working

crossword puzzles, loved to cook, and routinely followed the daily weather reports. She served as president of the Brendonridge Garden Club where many lasting friendships were made.

Survivors include her children, Robin Gilmour, Sue (Mike) Weber, Brad (Becky Cage) Schildknecht, and Trisha Schildnknecht; grandchildren, Ashley Baker Wethington, Lindsay Weber, Alyssa (Josh) Stott, Dylan Schildknecht, and Logan (Walker) Byers; 5 great-grandchildren; sisters, Marjorie Allen Fiigon, Ferrell Allen Phipps; and many nieces and nephews.

Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to care for Peggy and serve the Schildknecht family.

Daly

Bau Gabby Ivie, a sophomore at Danville High School, uses a simulator to race around a virtual Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photos by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

Leela Edwards, an intern at Dallara who previously worked for Chip Ganassi Racing, shows a group of Danville High School students how to remove a racecar tire.

MONON WARRIOR

Indy 500 champion Ericsson feels at home in Carmel

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Life in the fast lane isn’t just on the track for reigning Indy 500 champion Marcus Ericsson.

For the Carmel resident, it’s sometimes on his bicycle along the Monon Trail.

“I’m a big cyclist, so I use the Monon a lot to go north,” he said. “I ride up to Sheridan and back. It’s my normal thing I do a couple times a week when the weather is good.”

There are few IndyCar drivers that join him on bikes, such as fellow Carmel resident Felix Rosenqvist, Alexander Rossi and Scott Dixon.

“I have another group of friends who ride as well,” he said.

The 32-year-old Swede, who married Greek fashion model and influencer Iris Tritsaris Jondahl in April, feels at home in Carmel.

“I love it,” Ericsson said. “My first year in IndyCar I lived in downtown Indianapolis. I didn’t know the city when I came here. I really liked Carmel and really wanted to live there. I moved four years ago, and I’ve been there ever since. You can walk around, there are good restaurants, cafes and stuff.”

Ericsson is eager to aim for a repeat performance in the Indy 500, set for May 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“It feels cool to come here as the defending champion,” he said.

Ericsson is third in the IndyCar series point standings with five top 10 finishes, including a victory March 5 in the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. He finished eighth May 13 in the IndyCar Grand Prix of Indianapolis at IMS.

“We’ve been solid,” Ericsson said. “We had a bad day in Texas and (Alabama) and we were still in the Top 10. I’m happy with the progress we’ve made. I feel stronger this year than last year. It’s super competitive.”

Ericsson spent five frustrating years in Formula One. He then finished 17th in the IndyCar Series points in 2019, driving for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He moved to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020 with his best finish being fourth in the season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ericsson finished sixth in the point standings in 2021 and

2022.

“For me, all my career it’s been a long way to get where I am today,” Ericsson said. “I went through a lot of tough years. I went eight years without winning a race in F1. My F1 years were very tough. I was on a team that wasn’t very competitive. It was tough mentally to keep working and believing in myself. In IndyCar, it took a few years to get up to speed and be competitive. I’ve dedicated my life to put myself in a position where I can win a big race. To win the biggest one of all was hard to put into words what that means.”

Ericsson said there have been many special moments, but the biggest was being able to bring the Borg-Warner Trophy to his hometown of Kumla in Sweden.

“(I) brought it out to the city square and pretty much got the whole city out on the streets to celebrate it,” Ericsson said. “That day and moment is going to be with me forever.”

Ericsson would like to remain with Chip Ganassi Racing beyond the 2023 season but has not yet received a contract offer for 2024. Ericsson wants to be known as more than just a driver who brings sponsorship money with him.

“I want to be hired for my skills as a driver,” Ericsson said. “I think I deserve that.”

FOR THE KIDS

Marcus Ericsson wore a helmet in the Grand Prix with four different paintings from children at Riley Hospital for Children.

“An NHL goalkeeper did something similar. We came up with this idea for Riley,” he said. “When we contacted them with the idea of doing artwork from kids on my helmet, they thought it was a great idea. I got some different paintings and sent them to my design team.”

Ericsson is auctioning off the helmet with all proceeds going to Riley. The bidding was set to close May 22.

“We picked the Grand Prix because it’s Indianapolis and the community here,” he said. “It’s also Mental Health Awareness month, which I think is an important subject for kids these days the way it is. I think it’s for a great cause and I hope it’s going to for a lot of money.”

ON THE COVER: Indy 500 champion Marcus Ericsson, a Carmel resident, celebrates his 2022 victory. (Photo courtesy of IMS) Marcus Ericsson celebrates his 2022 Indy 500 triumph in Victory Lane. (Photo courtesy of IMS) Marcus Ericsson wears a helmet with designs by Riley Hospital for Children kids. (Photo courtesy of IMS)

BUSINESS LOCAL

MOTW coffee shop opens in Carmel

By Jeff Decker news@currentincarmel

A man’s decision to leave Pakistan more than 60 years ago and settle in Carmel is at the heart of a new coffee shop on Old Meridian Street.

NOW OPEN

Hafize Shah, who passed away in 2021, taught math at Carmel High School, and his children, including his daughter, Samina, graduated from the school. His grandson, Sajjad Shah (son of Samina) said Hafize Shah came to Carmel at a time when it was less diverse, breaking cultural barriers and bringing people together.

That’s exactly what owners Sajjad Shah and his wife, Fatimah, hope to continue to do, having opened their fourth Indianapolis area location of MOTW (Muslims of the World) Coffee and Pastries. Their newest shop opened April 30 at 12761 Old Meridian St. in Carmel.

“His students absolutely loved him, and when they figured out that I was the grandson of the famous Mr. Shah at Carmel High School, we were sent hundreds of messages from Carmel residents that had my grandfather as a math teacher in the early ’80s,” Sajjad Shah said. “So Carmel had a lot of sentimental value, and therefore we wanted to eventually open a shop there.”

MOTW began as an Instagram page designed as an outlet for Muslims to share their stories. The page amassed more than 700,000 followers from a variety of backgrounds and faiths, Shah said. From there, Sajjad and Fatimah Shah opened their first coffee shop at 38th Street and Lafayette Road in Indianapolis, 2 ½ years ago. MOTW also has locations in Castleton and Fishers.

Sajjad Shah said MOTW prides itself on being welcoming and connecting to its customers and obsesses over customer service.

Their shops offer drinks with unique flavors, including homemade syrups, and a variety of pastries, many with a cultural spin.

“Our Arabic pastries are to die for,” Shah said. “They are light on the stomach but absolutely delicious.”

MOTW also emphasizes aesthetics. Sajjad and Fatimah Shah, who live in Fishers, rented the Old Meridian Street location from family friend Bruce Pallman. Preparing the shop took about 2 1/2 months. It features high ceilings and a wealth of natural lighting, with real trees indoors, light colors and murals, including a wall-high painting of an Ethiopian farmer pouring coffee, by Venice, Calif.,-based artist Jules Muck.

“We want our customers to come into our shop with their problems, find peace within our shops and leave feeling lighter and optimistic,” Shah said.

The MOTW shops have proven to be popular with a diverse customer base, as the Shahs had intended.

“The truth is, there is no secret sauce,” Sajjad Shah said. “If you are nice, sincere and genuine with people – people actually like that.”

DISPATCHES

Cold Plunge Studios grand opening — Cold Plunge Studios, a health and wellness business in Carmel, will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening party from 5 to 8 p.m. May 25 at 2792 E. 146th St. Members of Cold Plunge Studios will have access to four state-of-the-art cold plunge tubs, a number of guided cold plunge sessions per month and other benefits. Learn more at ColdPlungeStudios.com.

Lunch & Learn series — OneZone Chamber’s next On the Menu: Lunch & Learn Series

will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 6 at Iron & Ember. Attendees will hear from Jay Schemanske of Hirons, an Indianapolis based research-based, results-driven advertising, public relations and digital agency. Schemanske will discuss key B2B marketing tips and best practices, learn cost-effective strategies to engage prospects, amplify their brand, and elevate industry leadership. Registration is required by noon May 23. Reservations can be made at onezonechamber.com or 317-436-4653.

A marshmallow bonfire latte available at MOTW. (Photo courtesy of MOTW)

Rahal Piaggio Indianapolis sets June opening in Carmel

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

IndyCar series driver Graham Rahal is growing his portfolio of companies with the addition of Rahal Piaggio Indianapolis, set to open in June at 9830 N. Michigan Rd. in Carmel.

COMING SOON

The dealership will sell Piaggio luxury brands of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, which include Piaggio, Vespa, Aprili and Moto Guzzi.

“We are thrilled to announce the addi-

tion of Rahal Piaggio Indianapolis to our expanding portfolio,” Rahal said. “There is a growing market in Central Indiana, and we are energized by the opportunity to play a key role in developing relationships with new customers and partners in the region.”

Rahal is developing a 115,000-square-foot headquarters for his company, GR Brands, in Creekside Corporate Park in Zionsville, which is set to open in 2024. Eventually, Rahal Piaggio Indianapolis is set to relocate there. Learn more at rahalpiaggio.com.

CHS team debuts in Top 10

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

A team from Carmel High School made its Wharton Global High School Investment Competition debut a special one.

EDUCATION

The team, JADE Co., finished in the top 10 April 22 after its presentation at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia.

CHS sophomore Melody Meng started the team of six in August 2022.

Meng said the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition involves creating a strategy for a client selected by Wharton that fits its preferences and financial goals. The competition began with a 10-week trading period, then three rounds of selection. There were 5,000 teams at the start, then the next cut was to 1,470 teams.

“We started with writing a midterm and final report to submit to Wharton, which determines the 55 teams that move up to the semifinal round,” Meng said. “Next, we created a 10-minute video discussing our strat-

egy, and from this, 10 teams are determined that will move on to the Global Finale.”

From the 10 finalists, the judges select the top three and a champion.

The CHS team didn’t make the top three. No other places in the top 10 were announced.

“The most valuable part of the competition is undeniably my teammates,” Meng said. “Each one of my team members did their best, and I am extremely proud of their efforts. From this, I learned to play to each person’s strengths in order to maximize the efficiency of our hard work and become a better team leader.

Meng plans to form a school club for business-oriented students for grades 10-12 in the 2023-24 school year.

“While an important part of the club will be competing in Wharton Global High School Investment Competition, I hope to be able to provide other educational opportunities related to investment for all club members to benefit from,” Meng said.

Anyone interested in the club should contact Meng at t4talk2003@yahoo.com, with the subject line of Wharton Competition.

Rahal

From left, Wharton Global Youth Program official Eli Lesser, the CHS team members are Melody Meng, Maxwell Gootee, Jenny Li, Katherine Yu, Jessica Ding and Ellen Jiang. (Photo courtesy of Melody Meng)

WHO WE ARE…

Carmel family’s podcast offers hope in the midst of trauma

By Jeff Decker news@currentincarmel.com

A Carmel family is sharing its story in the hopes that it can help those who have experienced trauma.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023

An inner call to share and help others drove the decision to record the podcast.

HEALING

The lives of Brad and Amanda Swearingen, their children — Ally, 16; Kenna, 13; and Gavin, 11 — and those around them were forever changed on May 5, 2014.

That day, 2-year-old Gavin — whom the family affectionately nicknamed “Moose” because he was large for a preemie — fell out of a swing at the family’s Carmel home, hitting his head. He started having seizures. Emergency responders were quick to arrive, and Gavin was taken to a nearby hospital and transferred to Riley Hospital for Children, where he received the best of care.

The Swearingens kept hoping for a hint of optimism from those treating Gavin, but the outlook initially was not good, with Gavin’s survival in doubt.

But Gavin and his family recently celebrated “Moose Day” on the ninth anniversary of his accident. That same week, a fivepart podcast detailing the family’s journey launched. In “Threads Unseen: Unraveling a Story of Trauma,” the Swearingens and others affected by the trauma discuss Gavin’s journey, the challenges it presented and the healing process. The podcast is narrated by Sheri Fella, founder and CEO of Bloombase, who has worked with Brad Swearingen as a master executive coach.

“Trauma is scary, to face alone or even as an outsider,” Brad said. “The stories in the podcast are to help provide a view that’s rarely seen, to share a story to help others and help others not feel afraid or alone.”

The podcast was in the works for nearly a year and was “extremely difficult” at times, Amanda said.

“But we always knew our goal was to help at least one other person or family, and the process really has been helpful to us as well,” she said.

One of the themes of the podcast is that dealing with trauma requires help. That was difficult for Brad and Amanda at first. But the situation was affecting not only their marriage (they will celebrate their 18th anniversary in June) but work relationships and the family dynamic. Both eventually sought professional counseling and coaching.

The healing process shifted the family’s priorities. They now make having dinner together an emphasis, and each day they ask, “What are you grateful for today?”

They are, of course, grateful Gavin survived. In the podcast, Amanda described “Moose” as a shy toddler. But now he is energetic and talkative.

“People have told me that Gavin is a bright spot in their day, and I think that’s an excellent way to describe him,” Amanda Swearingen said.

The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other streaming services.

Scheerer McCulloch Relocation Services is your one-stop solution to the most common challenges of settling an estate, moving and downsizing.

Our process eliminates the stress and hassle associated with the sale of real estate and personal property. We set out to serve the complete needs of each move not outsourcing any parts of the task.

To the seniors who have been part of the library’s staff, Teen Library Council, and Teen Volunteer Corps and to those who have grown up visiting the library, we wish you all the best in your next chapter.

From left, Amanda, Gavin, Kenna, Ally and Brad Swearingen. (Photo courtesy of Communications Redefined)

Have a heart

Commentary by Lorene Burkhart

As I approach the ninth anniversary of surviving open heart surgery, I began to think about the word “heart” in other ways than the heart as the most important organ in our bodies. Think of all the ways we use the word heart in our conversations.

heart shape. The person is showing us their “heartfelt” feelings. I still haven’t figured out how to make a heart shape on my computer unless I use an emoji (this grandma is savvy!).

PLAIN TALK

Some examples: We might say that another person is heartless in their approach, meaning that they are negative. Or how about, take heart, meaning to have courage. Or you might see a puppy at the pound and say that it’s after your heart.

Then there’s a heart-to-heart conversation, meaning that we will bare our souls. We often refer to the heart as if it can physically become two pieces when it is “broken.”

Sometimes, we have a heartfelt moment. Mine happens when I see the American flag displayed at a parade. Or when I get a new picture of my 2-year-old great-grandson.

Increasingly, we see the heart motif used by putting hands together to form a

When we pour our heart into a project, we mean that we are giving it our best effort because we don’t want to appear heartless (canceling the construction of the community pool, for instance).

Words are so much fun. Imagine trying to learn the English language and then figuring out the different meanings for just one word, such as heart.

Have a heart and offer assistance when your new friend is struggling to use the English language. It would be heartless to let them be embarrassed.

Ninth anniversary and my heart is still ticking!

READERS’ VIEWS

Carmel Dads’ Club should revisit its name

Editor,

It is time for Carmel Dads’ Club to revisit its name. The club was formed in 1958 by a group of fathers, who created the name that was pertinent in that time, but in today’s world, it is totally irrelevant. What message are we sending to the thousands of girl participants, that only the “dads” can be involved in the coaching and volunteer-

ing? It is extremely frustrating for myself, as a mom volunteer in the organization, to have to wear a T-shirt that says “Carmel Dads’ Club.” Let’s show our next generation of athletes that all are welcome and able to participate in any capacity in our wonderful city, not just the dads.

Carrie Franzo, Carmel

Sad to see city more crowded

Editor,

I just finished reading the letters to the editor by Rev. Krista Cameron and Shelley Carey in the May 16, 2023 edition and I agree wholeheartedly with both of them. How can we remedy both the issues they’ve brought up?

I am writing because I have noticed that as I’m driving around Carmel, I come home with this feeling of sadness. Happy to be home but I feel sad.

It makes me feel sad that our city streets seem so much more crowded.

I used to drive up Range Line Road and be able to look around, see what new busi-

nesses have arrived, maybe stop in Ace to look around, but now it’s so busy! You constantly have to be on the lookout for people trying to cut in front of you,it’s just so busy! And you have to be very careful in the roundabouts.

Mayor Brainard and city councilors, you’ve done a very nice job of making our city a beautiful and fun place to live, but it’s like you didn’t know when to quit. Don’t even try to navigate Main Street anymore. It’s always bumper to bumper pretty much any time of day.

Nancy Foerster, Carmel

world to explore, a vibrant community to come home to. A lifestyle that embraces true independence, friendships, culinary celebrations, & the safety of community. It’s time to enjoy retirement the way it’s meant to be.

Lorene Burkhart resides at The Stratford in West Clay. She is the author of seven books.

Heaven can wait?

In a group of first-generation Americans recently talking about their origin story to join Team USA, one Central African told of the question often asked of youngsters in his hometown, now some 8,000 miles away: “Would you rather go to heaven or America?” As if his sitting in the room didn’t make the response self-evident, someone asked how he responded. “Well,” he said, “heaven

A wise person once proclaimed America “the world’s migration to freedom.” The very prospect of gaining command of English, securing passage and bringing all that he had in himself to contribute to this place was enough to propel and imbed a young African here in the Hoosier heartland. This would be a better place, and for living here, he would be a better person. It may not be the story

Recipe for a savory Mother’s Day

fection. Please enjoy!

1. Preheat Sunday by letting your partner know that you’ll be AWOL for most of the day. If your kitchen does not include a Sunday or if, like me, your Sunday is generally broken because of anxiety ahead of the looming school week, you can always reposition the rack to Saturday.

2. The night before, be sure to place the entire package of Restful Sleep in a cool, dark space. Personally, I prefer the larger 10-hour bag, but the eight will work, too. Chef’s choice!

3. Begin by mixing the chilled Restful Sleep with one cup of coffee and six tablespoons of social media scrolling. Add your favorite flavor of Breakfast

4. On a nonstick cookie sheet, carefully toss together Amanda’s Exchange, Macy’s and a broccoli-cheddar bread bowl from Panera. Bake at 350 for 180 minutes or until you’ve found a miracle one-piece that both slims and lifts.

“If your kitchen does not include a Sunday or if, like me, your Sunday is generally broken because of anxiety ahead of the looming school week, you can always reposition the rack to Saturday.”

– DANIELLE WILSON

5. Now, combine ingredients from Steps 3 and 4 in a medium saucepan. Stir in several cans of sisters-in-law, along with a jar of family tea. Simmer for two hours at Java House.

6. Remove from heat; let stand until cool. Serve with a side of buttered popcorn and a solo viewing of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Add parenting affirmations to taste.

There you have it, folks. My recipe for a perfect Mother’s Day. Peace out.

Danielle Wilson is a contributing columnist. You may email her at info@youarecurrent.com.

Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent.com.

Benefiting the Humane Society for Hamilton County

Here’s the (ice cream) scoop

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

I am tired of celebrating the 100th anniversary of this, or the 75th anniversary of that. What makes those numbers so special? I told my wife Mary Ellen I had big plans in a few years for our 53rd anniversary.

HUMOR

“Great,” she said, “but what about our 50th?”

“Mary Ellen, 50 is just a number,” I said. “Let’s wait until No. 53. Don’t give the 50th another thought.”

Ever since I said that, Mary Ellen has also not given another thought to making dinner, going shopping or editing my column. I guess it really is the thought that counts.

So, in keeping with my theory, this month I am celebrating the 121st anniversary of the ice cream cone.

I skipped the 100th. The 121st? Now, there’s a cause for celebration.

Like other great inventions in history, there is some controversy about who created the first cone. But who could forget Italo Marchiony? Apparently, everybody. You need a name that will stick. Like sandwich, for example. Some food writers think it was invented by the Earl of Sandwich back in the late 1700s, when he put meat between bread so he could play cards while he ate. I went to college with a guy named Herb Cohn. He claimed it was his great-great uncle who invented the ice cream cone. Cone? Cohen? I’m skeptical on this one.

Why did the ice cream cone ever catch on in the first place? An ice cream cone is poorly designed and constructed. Because

of the pointed bottom, you can’t set it down. I want to put my cone down on the driving console so I can make a left-hand turn while I’m on my cellphone. There is one kind of cone that has a flat bottom; it also has no taste.

Half the time, an ice cream cone crumbles when you try to balance the second ice cream scoop on top and apply a little pressure. If the ice cream is soft and you pack it down, by the time you’ve taken the 10th lick it’s leaking out the bottom all over your new beige polyester pants. If you’re a strong licker, the top scoop falls off in a big plop. And there’s no five-second rule for ice cream. When it hits the ground, it’s history. Except mint chip. I would eat mint chip off the pavement. We should just be thankful today that we have two alternatives for enjoying America’s favorite frozen treat by using either a cup or cone. What would it be like if people had to carry around a scoop of ice cream in their bare hands? I shiver to think.

By the way, some food historians claim a guy named Reuben Kulakofsky invented that popular corned beef-based sandwich called, of course, a Reuben. I’ll tell you more when we all celebrate the very important 108th anniversary of the Reuben next year.

Sometimes you don’t need a new roof. Sometimes it’s what’s at the end of your roof that goes first. Bone Dry has become as well known for gutters and downspouts as we have for roofs. So if you’re staring at a waterfall and you’re not on vacation, it’s time to call Bone Dry. You’ll know it in your gutters.

POLICIES

Letters to the editor: Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 150 words. Letters must be thoroughly vetted prior to submission. Current retains the right to reject or return any letter it deems to carry unsubstantiated content. Current also retains the right to edit letters, but not their intent. Send letters to info@youarecurrent.com. Writers must include a hometown and a daytime phone number for verification. Guest columns: The policy for guest columns is the same as the aforementioned, but the allowable length is 240 words. Guest columns should address the whole of Current’s readership, not simply special-interest groups, and may not in any way contain a commercial message.

WHEN IT’S TIME TO CALL BONE DRY YOU’LL KNOW IT IN YOUR GUT. AND YOUR GUTTERS.

Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.

“Like other great inventions in history, there is some controversy about who created the first cone. But who could forget Italo Marchiony? Apparently, everybody. You need a name that will stick. Like sandwich, for example.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

Share businessyourwith

67,403 households and more than 1,300 businesses!

OF 2023!

BUSINESS GUIDE

KEY COMMUNITY TOPICS, RESOURCES AND DIRECTORY

Carmel and Fishers comprise one of the top commerce areas in all of Indiana. With no end in sight for growth and development, the cities represent the present and future of enterprise to our more than 1,300 members and tens of thousands of consumers in our midst. Business Guide will publish June 27. It will be distributed to 67,403 households in our two cities. It, again, will be a magazinestyle publication and will include a complete chamber membership directory and stories on key topics that drive commerce in our cities as well as a look at the future. Directory listings are free of charge to members. Additional ad prices below.

Ad Deadline: May 30

For Carmel and Zionville businesses: Steve Greenberg, 317.847.5022, steve@youarecurrent.com

For Fishers and Noblesville businesses: Ben Weir, 317.748.2662, ben@youarecurrent.com

For Indianapolis, Westfield, and surrounding areas: Chad Barkdull, 317.437.7869, chad@youarecurrent.com

Center for the Performing Arts 2023-24 schedule features diverse offerings

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

‘BEAUTY & THE BEAST’

“Beauty & the Beast” runs through July 9 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

LIVE AT THE CENTER

MUSIC

The Center for the Performing Arts 202324 schedule is slated to be a diverse presentation of musical genres with a mix of newcomers and old favorites.

“We’ve managed to curate what I think is going to be a really diverse set of performances throughout the entire season starting earlier than we have in the past with shows in August,” said Jeff McDermott, president and chief executive officer of the Center for the Performing Arts. “We have a great mix of everything from jazz, pop, rock, comedy, country, classical, songbook, international family, you know, all in the past with bringing back some favorites or bringing a lot of new stuff. I would say that the programming isn’t done. We know as we have done in the past that we’ll continue to add significant shows throughout the season. There’s lots of different types of artists who work on shorter windows and time.

“You have three and four months out rather than nine to 12 months out, and so we’ll be bringing in those opportunities as we go as well.”

In particular, McDermott said comedians tend to be booked three to four months out.

McDermott said he is eager to have Katharine McPhee and her husband David Foster perform Nov. 4. The couple were on the schedule twice but were postponed because of the pandemic, and then the third scheduled appearance in 2021 was canceled.

“We’re glad to get them back on our schedule,” McDermott said.

On Oct. 20, Harry Chapin at 80 features members of the Chapin family singing the late singer’s classics.

“I’m a big Harry Chapin fan, so I’m excited for that,” McDermott said.

The action kicks off early with August solo performances by rockers Chris Daughtry (Aug. 9) and Ben Harper (Aug. 15), both making their debut appearances at

the Center for the Performing Arts.

Spyro Gyra will be the headliner at the Carmel Jazz Festival Aug. 12.

Other first-timers on the 2023-2024 schedule include The Police drummer Stewart Copeland (Oct. 19), Bruce Cockburn (Nov. 1), singer-songwriters Meshell Ndegeocello (Nov. 18), New Orleans sax great Branford Marsalis (Jan. 26, 2024) and Indiana singer Carrie Newcomer (March 9) in The Tarkington.

Copeland’s Police Deranged for Orchestra features a 28-piece orchestra, three vocalists and a rock trio with Copeland on drums. It is packed with Police hits such as “Roxanne,” “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” and “Message in a Bottle.”

McDermott said returning to the Palladium are favorites from seasons past, including the Righteous Brothers (Oct. 6), jazz guitarist Bill Frisell (Oct. 21) and singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby (March 9, 2024).

The Little Mermen: The Ultimate Disney Tribute Band will have two performances Nov. 5.

Tribute acts performing will include Wish You Were Here: The Sight and Sound of Pink Floyd (Oct. 14) and Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute (April 20, 2024)

“We really like bringing in tribute bands if they are high quality,” McDermott said.

A.J. Croce, son of the late singer Jim Croce, will perform “Croce Plays Croce” March 30, 2024, at the Palladium.

“We had A.J. Croce in at The Tarkington (in March 2022) and thought we would get 500 people and we doubled that and added a second show,” McDermott said. “We are looking forward to bringing him to the Palladium for one big show.”

McDermott said the Holiday Series is always special.

“Dave Koz has become a perennial favorite,” McDermott said. “We’ll bring him back here every year as long as he wants to keep coming back.”

Koz & Friends Christmas Tour will stop Dec. 5. Some other holiday concerts include Jim Brickman: A Joyful Christmas, Nov. 30; The Midtown Men: Holiday Hits, Dec. 1; and Jon McLaughlin & Friends: Home for the Holidays, Dec. 8

The season will close with Michael Feinstein performing with a yet-to-be-announced special guest May 17, 2024.

The season presents live education events free for area students and school groups in matinees. Shows include Animaniacs (Oct. 5), Mad River: Keep Marching (Jan. 18, 2024) and Sammy Miller and the Congregation (April 19, 2024).

For the full schedule, visit thecenterpresents.org.

The Live at the Center series presents Public Universal Friend at 7:30 p.m. May 31 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $5 for in-person or register for the free livestream at thecenterpresents.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

The Freeform Concert Series will feature Tall Tall Trees with Kristen Bales at 6:30 p.m. May 24 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. “Deception: An Evening of Magic and Lies” featuring David Ranalli is set for 7:30 p.m. May 25. For more, visit feinsteinshc. com.

‘THE SLEEPING BEAUTY’

Ballet Theatre of Carmel Academy presents “The Sleeping Beauty” at 7:30 p.m. May 26 and 2 p.m. May 27 at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville. For more, visit ballettheatreofcarmel.org.

DISPATCHES

Zadek set for Feinstein’s show — Broadway performer Zack Zadek will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 1 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. “I couldn’t be more stoked to return to Indiana for a second concert, this time at Feinstein’s,” Zadek stated. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There is a $25 per guest food and beverage minimum. For more, visit feinsteinhc.com.

Art on Main – An Art on Main meet the artists reception will feature Kim Greene and Beth Forst from 5 to 8 p.m. at Art on Main Gallery & Gifts, 110 W. Main St., Suite 140, Carmel. The June show will feature Barb Gregory and daughter Deb Slack with “Love in Color” show. The meet the artists reception is from 4 to 8 p.m. June 10.

Harry Chapin at 80 will feature family members singing the late singer’s classic songs. (Photo courtesy of Center for the Performing Arts)

‘Elf the Musical’ returns

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Civic Theatre’s 2023-24 season will include a regional premiere, a return of a huge holiday favorite and the first local community production of “Anastasia.”

The season opens with the regional premiere of “The Prom” Oct 6-21. Civic Theatre Executive Artistic Director Michael Lasley said “The Prom” is definitely a topical show but the selection process is more about selecting compelling stories.

2019 production of “Elf” was available for screening.

“‘Elf’ is our most successful show ever — holiday or otherwise,” Lasley said. “So, while it’s unusual to bring a show back for the third time in five years, the public has made it clear that they love this production.”

CIVIC THEATRE Lasley

The 2024 portion starts with “Romeo & Juliet” Feb. 9-24, 2024 and “Driving Miss Daisy” March 14-30. The final show will be “Anastasia” April 26-May 11. The performances will be at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, except for “Driving Miss Daisy,” set for the Studio Theater.

“The narrative of ‘The Prom’ is about acceptance and the reality that we are all more alike than we are different,” Lasley said. “That is universal, and while some specific details may be challenging, we believe the story is impactful and, most importantly, entertaining.”

“Elf the Musical” is set for Dec. 1-24. “Elf” was presented in 2019 and 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there were no shows, but a recorded version of the

“As someone who loves the 1997 animated feature film, ‘Anastasia’ is a show I was excited to see brought to the stage,” Lasley said.

Along with the main stage productions, Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” will return in February 2024. In the summer of 2024, the Jr. Civic musical will be “Finding Nemo Jr.” and the Young Artists Program will present “Revue!” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.” For more, visit civictheatre.org

Play focuses on sisters’ rivalry

By Jeff Decker editorial@youarecurrent.com

GHDT presents ‘Director’s Cut’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s 25th anniversary season has been a celebration of its many works.

the Performing Arts in Carmel.

DANCE

PERFORMANCES

A local performing arts organization’s decision to cap its pilot season with an original work is a double-edged sword.

When the Hyperion Players perform “Call Me Sister” June 8 through 11 at the Ivy Tech Auditorium in Noblesville, it will mark the play’s world premiere. As such, the cast and crew are without a previous frame of reference, and attracting an audience to an unknown work can be challenging.

But staging an original work is “almost liberating,” said Ian Hauer, Hyperion’s executive artistic director and writer/director of “Call Me Sister.”

“As a writer and director, I can work with each cast member and designer to create characters and ideas from scratch,” the Noblesville resident said. “It allows for a very collaborative process.”

Set in England during the 16th century,

“Call Me Sister” tells the story of Mary Tudor (played by Duana Menefee of Cincinnati) and younger sister Elizabeth Tudor (Becky Larson of Zionsville) as they vie for the throne of their father, King Henry VIII. Hauer said the play is about the bond between sisters, the corrupting influence of power, how women wielding power are treated relative to their male counterparts, and “the different faces we all wear.”

Larson

Menefee, appearing in her first Hyperion Players production, said it is challenging to play historical figures.

“Playing Mary, particularly the turmoil of her ascension and reign, has been an interesting exercise in balance,” Menefee said.

Larson is also making her Hyperion Players debut. She described Elizabeth as incredibly intelligent and quick-witted.

“I appreciate the opportunity to portray the expansive journey she goes on,” Larson said. “From a feral teenager to the threshold of the monarchy, Elizabeth goes through a lot.”

Tickets for “Call Me Sister” are $12 and are available at hyperionplayers.com.

“Throughout the entire season, GHDT has been showcasing repertoire pieces from the company’s distant and recent past,” said Gregory Hancock, GHDT’s executive artistic director. “Part of the 25th-season celebration was to demonstrate how the company’s past has shaped where the company is today. Audience members have been able to see repertoire never seen before or not seen for several years. Dancers have also been able to experience many new works throughout the season.”

The season will conclude with “Director’s Choice,” which is set for 7 p.m. June 9-10 at The Tarkington at the Center for

“As a director and choreographer, it has been wonderful to look back at many vintage pieces,” Hancock said. “One beautiful aspect of a repertoire program is that I can see all the past dancers who have performed in these pieces, as well as shape new dancers into the dances. So, while it is exciting to see new dancers in roles, it is also sentimental to think of the past performers or where my life was at the creation of each dance.”

“Director’s Choice” features seven repertoire pieces.

“Every dance piece is not always a fulllength piece, but often shorter repertoire pieces, which allows the audience to experience a variety of emotions and styles of dance unique to each piece,” Hancock said.

For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

Abigail Lessaris performs in Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s “Director’s Choice.” (Photo by Joe Phillips)

NIGHT & DAY

Season for sparkling wine

Commentary by Mark LaFay

Spring is in full swing in Indiana, and that has my mind gravitating toward refreshing outdoor wine. When you think about the quintessential “patio pounder,” where does your mind go? Naturally, rosé and crispy white wines are a great option. I, however, tend to go with sparkling wine.  In full disclosure, I am a sparkling wine evangelist. In the U.S, we tend to only drink the stuff on special occasions, and I think that is a shame. Sparkling wine is quite possibly one of the most food-versatile wines made. That might be because sparkling wine is made in the majority of wine-making regions around the globe. There are several options available for sparkling wine that will get you a variety of experiences across a variety of price points. First, a note about sparkling. Champagne, Cava, Franciacorta, Prosecco and Lambrusco are all sparkling wines. However, not all sparkling wines are the aforementioned. Champagne is only Champagne if it is made in the Champagne region of France. Cava is only made in the Penedes region of Spain, Franciacorta in Lombardy, Italy, and so-on. Call something Champagne that isn’t made in Champagne, and the French will take to the streets.  Anyway, here are three great sparkling wines to help you celebrate the weekend:

and fresh. It has loads of strawberry and raspberry on the nose. The fruit is forward on the palate, along with some bready flavor and a clean smooth finish. This is a killer wine you can find for around $25.

BEVERAGE

Juve & Camps Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva Brut Cava comes from the Penedes region of Spain. The nose is floral with hints of lemon, toast and spice. On the palate, the wine is dry, crisp, with bright acidity, the bready characteristics combined with tart apple, and citrus are very nice. This wine punches above its weight class at $19 a bottle.

Nominé-Renard

Brut Champagne is a delicious grower Champagne. That means the person that grows the grapes made the Champagne. On the nose is lemon curd, toast and spice. On the palate, the wine is dry with crisp acidity. There are hints of red fruit that peek through with lemon zest, toasted bread and subtle marzipan flavors. There is an ever-soslight sweetness on the finish. You can find this gem for less than $50.

Whether you try one or all of these wines or a different wine, get the sparkling wine into your regular rotation. Pair it with cheese and meat, caviar and butter, seafood or grilled veggies. Cheers to spring!

Pierre Sparr, Crémant D’Alsace, Brut Rose is a delicious pink sparkling wine from the Alsace region of France. It is bright, vibrant

DISPATCH

Red Barn Summer Theatre schedules open house — Frankfort’s Red Barn Summer Theatre will open its doors to the public from 2 to 5 p.m. June 3 for its second Summer KickOff open house. The box office will also be open during that time to answer questions and fulfill ticket requests. Red Barn patrons can preview their seats or take an informal tour of the theater. Sheridan’s Blackhawk Winery will conduct a free wine-tasting event and the popular duo, Luna Worldcast, will entertain on the lawn. Vendors from the Frankfort Farmers Market will display their wares and Red Barn company members will greet the public and give tours of the Red Barn. From 6 to 9 p.m., the Red Barn Cellar

will open to provide Blackhawk wines, beer and Barn Box snacks as the Bloomington duo Davis & Devitt entertain on the outdoor stage. Half of the duo, Frankfort native and Red Barn alumnus Sharlee Davis, will make her return to the Barn Theatre after a long absence. Patrons are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and come enjoy the music of this very talented duo. In the event of inclement weather, the Davis & Devitt concert will be moved inside the Barn. The Red Barn Summer Theatre will open its 55th season June 7 with the British comedy “See How They Run.” Tickets are available at redbarntheatre.net or by phone 765-659-1657 beginning June 1.

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4201 Millersville Rd., Suite 107A, Indianapolis.

“Sparkling wine is quite possibly one of the most food-versatile wines made.”

– MARK LAFAY

Praising librocubicularianism

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

I’m a proud librocubicularist. As much as you probably want this to mean I’m starting a new political party of which I will be its presidential candidate, alas, this isn’t the case. The Word Nerd party would be a better name, although “librocubicularist” is my current favorite sesquipedalian word.

GRAMMAR GUY

To be a librocubicularist is to be someone who reads in bed. I love reading in bed. After kids are asleep and I’m winding down for the day, I read for about 20 to 30 minutes. And, for me, it has to be fiction. You see, I used to read nonfiction books about ways to help right the wrongs of the world, or about problems of injustice. While these books are definitely important, reading them before bed would get my mind ramped back up, leading to trouble sleeping.

When I’m lost in a good work of fiction (or even a so-so one), my brain can escape to a make-believe world where the outcome has no real-world ramifications. Right now, I’m about to finish Stephen

King’s seven-book “Dark Tower” series for the fourth time. Each time I read it, I find new details. While King’s magnum opus may not be for everyone, I highly suggest you give Book 1, “The Gunslinger,” a try. Reading for 20 minutes a day has incredibly positive effects on kids. For instance, if you read to your child for 20 minutes per day, they’ll be exposed to 1.8 million words per year. Spending screenfree time with your children gives you great bonding time and allows you to enter into literature as a team.

I encourage you to become a librocubicularist. Whether you read physical or digital books, I recommend winding down your day in bed with a good book. It will allow your mind to forget the troubles of today as well as the challenges you’ll face tomorrow. After all, each day holds enough trouble of its own.

CARMEL/CLAY BOARD OF PARKS & RECREATION NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Owner: Carmel/Clay Board of Parks & Recreation

1411 East 116th Street

Carmel, Indiana 46032

Project: River Heritage Park Forest Mitigation Project

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel/Clay Board of Parks and Recreation (the “Owner”), will receive sealed bids for the above referenced Project at the Board’s Administrative Offices located at 1411 East 116th Street, Carmel Indiana 46032 on June 13, 2023 at 10:00 am local time, and as soon as practicable thereafter on the same date, the Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Conference Room of the Administrative Offices. The outside of the sealed envelope in which the Bid is enclosed, shall be clearly marked “BID – RIVER HERITAGE PARK FOREST MITIGATION PROJECT”, and as otherwise set forth in the Bid Documents. Any Bid received after the designated time will be returned to the Bidder unopened. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference for discussion of the Project, the bidding requirements and other important matters will be held on May 30, 2023 at 2:00 pm local time at River Heritage Park; 11813 River Road. and, weather permitting, shall conclude with a visit to the location where the Work is to be performed. Prospective bidders are encouraged, but- not required, to attend the pre-bid conference. For special accommodations needed by individuals with disabilities planning to attend the pre-bid conference or public bid opening meeting, please notify Michael Krosschell at (317) 414-7398 or krosschellm@weihe.net at least forty-eight (48) hours prior thereto.

In general, the Work for the Project consists of native plant restoration plantings, seeding, and tree protection fencing, all as set forth in the Contract Documents for the Project which, except for those items not included due to timing, size or other factors, have been assembled into a Project Manual and includes the Bid Documents. The Project Manual and any and all full size drawings may be examined at and obtained from, the office of Eastern Engineering Supply Company, 9901 Allisonville Road, Fishers, Indiana 46038; Phone: (317) 598-0661. The plan charge will be listed on the online plan room. Payment may be made by check, credit card, or cash. NO DEPOSITS ACCEPTED. Make checks payable to Eastern Engineering. All payments and costs of Contract Documents and related supplemental materials are non-refundable. Bidders shall assure that they have obtained complete sets, whether hard copy or electronic, of the Project Manual and drawings and shall assume the risk of any errors or omissions in Bids prepared in reliance on incomplete sets.

Bids must be submitted on the forms in the Project Manual, must contain the names of every person or company interested therein, and shall be accompanied by:

(1) Properly and completely executed Form 96 (revised 2013) prescribed by the Indiana State Board of Accounts which includes a financial statement, a statement of experience, a proposed plan or plans for performing the Work and the equipment the Bidder has available for the performance of the Work;

(2) Bid Bond in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total Bid amount, including any alternates, with a satisfactory corporate surety or by a certified check on a solvent bank in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the Bid. The Bid Bond or certified check shall be evidence of good faith that the successful Bidder will execute within ten (10) calendar days from the acceptance of the Bid, the Agreement as included in the Project Manual. The Bid Bond or certified check shall be made payable to Carmel/Clay Board of Parks & Recreation;

(3) A Non-Collusion Affidavit complying with the requirements of Ind. Code § 36-1-2-4.

Owner reserves the right to hold any or all Bids for a period of not more than sixty (60) days after the date on which the Bids are opened and, for such sixty (60) day period, all such Bids shall be in full force and effect. Any Bid may be withdrawn prior to the scheduled closing time for the receipt of Bids but no Bidder shall withdraw a Bid within the sixty (60) day period after opening of the Bids. All bid security of unsuccessful bidders will be returned by the Owner upon selection of the successful Bidder and execution of the Agreement, and provision of the required Performance Bond and Payment Bond.

In the event that the total amount of the contract awarded to the successful Contractor is $300,000 or more, the successful Contractor must be qualified under either Ind. Code § 4-13.6-4 or Ind. Code § 8-23-10 before doing any work on the Project.

Pursuant to Ind. Code § 5-22-17-6, Owner reserves the right to specify in the contract with the successful bidder one or both of the following:

1. Early performance of the contract will result in increased compensation;

2. Completion of the contract after the termination or designated completion date(s) will result in a deduction from the compensation.

A Performance Bond and Payment Bond with good and sufficient surety, acceptable to the Owner and Architect/Engineer, shall be required in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the Agreement. The surety of the Bonds may not be released until one (1) year after the Owner’s final settlement with the Contractor. Retainage will be as required by Ind. Code § 36-1-12 et seq

All out-of-state entities must have a certificate of authority to do business in the State of Indiana. Application forms may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of State, State of Indiana, Statehouse, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.

Owner reserves the right to (1) cancel this solicitation pursuant to Ind. Code § 5-22-18-2 and/or (2) reject any offers, in whole or in part as specified in the solicitation when Owner determines in accordance with applicable Indiana laws including but not limited to Ind. Code § 36-1-12-4, that such action is in the best interests of the Owner. Owner reserves the right to delay the opening of the Bids pursuant to Ind. Code § 36-1-12-4. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Owner reserves the right to waive any of the terms, conditions or provisions contained in this Notice to Bidders or the Bid Documents or any informality, irregularity or omission in the bid process or in any Bid which waiver is deemed in the Owner’s discretion to be to the advantage of the Owner and which does not afford any Bidder a material competitive advantage over other Bidders. Except as specifically otherwise provided herein and as allowed by applicable Indiana law, a contract for the Project shall be awarded in accordance with this Notice to Bidders, Ind. Code § 5-1613 et seq. and Ind. Code § 36-1-12 et seq., to the lowest responsible and responsive Bidder whose bid does not exceed the funds available for the Project. The Owner shall have the right to accept any Alternates in any order or combination or accept on the basis of the Base Bid alone, unless otherwise specifically provided in the Bidding Documents and to determine the lowest responsible and responsive Bidder on the basis of the sum of the Base Bid and Alternates accepted.

Questions regarding this Project should be directed to Michael Krosschell by email only at krosschellm@ weihe.net.

Carmel/Clay Board of Parks & Recreation

Michael Klitzing, director

A visit to the Whitney Museum of American Art

Commentary by Don Knebel

Today, in the continuing series about often-overlooked New York City destinations, we visit the Whitney Museum of American Art at its new location in the Meatpacking District.

includes about 50,000 square feet of indoor gallery space and 18,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition space.

TRAVEL

Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, became a well-regarded sculptor after visiting Paris in the early 1900s. Living in New York, she learned that American artists were having difficulty selling art incorporating new ideas. She began purchasing pieces from living American artists, usually within a year of their creation. In 1931, after the Metropolitan Museum of Art declined her offer of 500 pieces from a collection of about 7,000, she opened the Whitney Museum of American Art, popularly called the “Whitney,” in Greenwich Village. In 1954, after Whitney’s death, the museum moved to 54th Street, and then in 1966, to a new building at Madison Avenue and 75th Street. In 2015, the Whitney moved to a new building in the Meatpacking District, between the Hudson River and the High Line, now an above-ground urban park. The eight-story building, designed by architect Renzo Piano,

Today, the Whitney, including more than 26,000 works by American artists from the 20th and 21st centuries, is considered the most comprehensive museum in the world displaying such art. The 3,800 artists represented include some of the best-known American artists from that period, including Ansel Adams, Thomas Hart Benton, Stuart Davis, Jasper Johns, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko and Andy Warhol. The collection also includes sculptures by Whitney herself and more than 3,000 works by Edward Hopper, including 133 oil paintings and 2,500 drawings, including sketches for his most famous works, including “Nighthawks.” When you visit the Whitney, stop at the vibrant Chelsea Market nearby, where Nabisco’s Oreo cookies were once made.

Don Knebel is a local resident. For the full column visit donknebel.com. You may contact him at editorial@ youarecurrent.com.

“Soir Blue” by Edward Hopper in the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Portrait of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.

Across

1. Perform with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir

5. Mud Creek Players play part

10. BODHI cuisine

14. Eiteljorg Museum tribe

15. “Black” in a Fishers HS French class

16. Dictionary listing

17. Where to catch some Colts highlights

18. Downtown Indy waterway

19. Indiana neighbor

20. IRT and NHS, e.g.

22. Part of AV at Terre Haute?

24. Gets in sync

27. Fraction of a min.

28. Chicago Fire FC org.

29. Start to unlace

30. Helicopter blade

32. Charged particle

33. End-of-workweek cry

35. “Wargames” acronym

39. Tells all

42. Grand Junction Brewing Co. brew letters

43. Palladium platform

44. Muslim religion

45. “___ do it!”

47. Reason for overtime at an Indy Fuel game

48. Fabulous fabulist

50. Indiana Gov. Handley

53. ___ Malnati’s Pizzeria

56. Yes vote

57. Big name in wipes

58. Nonsensical at Muncie?

60. Toothbrush brand

61. Pho 36 pho, e.g.

62. Finger-pointer

64. Food safety org.

68. Indy Eleven ticket info

69. Stiff-backed

70. Lose traction on I-69

71. Capital hidden in

Czechoslovakia?

72. Jerks

73. Sign on a jar at a bar Down

1. Lay eyes on

2. Its website has

24. Cover story in Hamilton County Court

25. Workshop collection

26. Melodic

27. Living room furniture

30. Tear to pieces at West Lafayette?

31. Go bad

34. Toy soldier

36. Boca ___, Fla.

37. Nimble

38. Title documents

40. Sheepish remark

41. Lipstick mishap

46. Dance, theater, music, etc.

49. Australian city

51. Hawks on a Pacers scoreboard

52. Strong and healthy at Indianapolis?

53. Rodeo rope

54. ISO instruments

55. Standard

57.

6

4

1

3

2

a “Where’s My Refund?” page

3. ___ and tuck

4. Mensa material at Bloomington?

5. Very old

6. US Senator from Indiana, twice

7. Cookie containers

8. 401(k) kin

9. Soft fabric 10. “Terrible” age 11. Meh

12. Popular typeface

13. Fan favorites

21. Evansville-to-Zionsville dir.

23. Clickable screen images

Female Relatives (4+ letters)

Notables Buried at Crown Hill

Indy Flag Colors

TV Bars

5 “I” Countries

Marian University Mascot

I-465 backup cause

59. No later than

60. Sign of things to come

63. Coach Parseghian

65. Go downhill willfully 66. Go down 67. Current revenue source Answers on Page 39