August 29, 2023 — Carmel

9.23.23

11:00a - 12:00p John Alvarado – Classical Guitar

12:20p - 1:20p Ling's Oriental Martial Arts

1:40p - 2:40p Indianapolis Chinese Performing Arts Inc. – Dance

3:00p - 4:00p il Troubadore – World Music

4:20p - 5:20p The Dead Strings – Bluegrass

5:40p - 6:40p Ballet Theatre of Carmel

9.24.23

11:00a - 12:00p John Alvarado – Classical Guitar

12:20p - 1:20p Joven Jazz Band

1:40p - 2:40p Laughing Jack – Irish/Sea Shanties

3:00p - 4:00p Indiana Belly Dance Collective

Bluewater Kings Band

Saturday, September 23

7:30 - 10:30 P

About us

Founded October 24, 2006, at Carmel, IN Vol. XVIII, No. 39

Copyright 2023 Current Publishing, LLC

All Rights Reserved.

30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444

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After harrowing trip to Maui, Carmel students urge local support for Hawaii fire victims

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

Opinions

The views of the columnists in Current in Carmel are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.

DISASTER

It was supposed to be a week of rest; a rare break from hectic schedules and responsibilities before heading back to the daily grind of college life.

Instead, three students from Carmel found themselves desperate for information and basic supplies as black smoke rolled across the sky earlier this month in Lahaina, a village on the Hawaiian island of Maui. With electricity and cell service down, they learned about the wildfire raging nearby by word of mouth from local residents.

They were still in their bathing suits when they decided to flee to the airport, hoping the roads would be clear enough of traffic that a quarter tank of gas would get them there. As they traveled through the historic island town, they witnessed a sight they’ll never forget.

“We were all bawling our eyes out,” said Jillian Sager, a 2022 University High School graduate. “On the one side, there was the mountain with the ‘L’ for Lahaina and there’s a rainbow over it, and on the other side buildings were burning. It was just surreal.”

Since returning home, the women have been on a mission to raise awareness about the wildfires and funds for the people affected. The fire has burned 2,170 acres and killed at least 115 people, with approximately 850 still missing as of Aug. 24, making it one of the deadliest conflagrations in U.S. history.

Sager and her longtime friend, Madelyn Wood, traveled to Maui Aug. 5 to stay in a timeshare owned by the family of another Carmel friend, who also joined them on the trip. They spent their first day on the island picking up a rental car from a local resident and going on a sunset sailboat cruise.

“It was a very good welcome to the trip,” said Wood, a 2022 Carmel High School graduate. “We were like, ‘How can it get (any) better?’”

The next day, they went swimming at the bottom of a mountain waterfall, amazed by the island’s beauty. That evening, they visited Front Street, a tourist destination also rich in history and culture.

“That’s where we met a lot of the locals that we’re still connected with now and made some really good friends. We had

good conversations with a lot of great people,” Sager said. “Then when we went to bed, we woke up the next morning without power. We were really confused with what was going on.”

Later that day, the students attempted to drive into town, in part because they still hadn’t purchased groceries for the week.

“When we drove out five minutes down the road, we saw a big cloud of black smoke. We didn’t know what was going on,” Sager said, adding that they were directed by police to turn around. “Later that night we walked outside of our condo and the whole sky was orange. That’s when we started to know something was really wrong.”

Unbeknownst to many on the island, Front Street and other nearby areas were engulfed in flames. Sager and Wood said just days later they barely recognized the buildings where they had previously hung out and met local residents. But even worse, they had no idea if their new friends were safe. They ended up eventually connecting with some of them, learning that at least one had lost everything, including his dog.

Another local resident — the one who rented the students the car — also suffered great loss.

“He lives near Front Street in Lahaina, so everything he owns is now gone,” Sager said. “We didn’t know if he was OK for three days. We ended up having to sleep in his car at the airport. We had to leave his car. Just a couple days ago, I mailed his key back to him.”

The students later learned that the condo where they had stayed did not burn down, although many nearby structures did not survive the blaze.

Sager and Wood presented a brief update about their trip and continuing efforts to help Lahaina residents during the service Aug. 20 at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church in Carmel, where Wood’s mother is the senior pastor. They shared QR codes linked to fundraising efforts involving many of the people they met in Hawaii and urged Carmel residents to research the matter and give, if they feel led.

As Wood and Sager prepare to begin their sophomore year at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, they aren’t feeling as refreshed as they expected. But they are entering the school year with a new perspective on life.

“Once you see something that catastrophic and that fast, and how quickly something can be taken away from you, it gave me new insight,” Wood said.

HOW TO HELP

Madelyn Wood and Jillian Sager have been collecting information about how to help Lahaina residents in the area where they visited. To learn more and support Lahaina residents they recommend:

• Instagram.com/lahaina_ohana_venmo, a site that shares specific needs and ways to help

• Gofundme.com/f/lahaina-fire-fund, which is raising funds for supplies and ongoing assistance in relocating those who have been displaced

• Gofundme.com/f/wildfire-2023-relieffund, which provides relief to those affected by wildfires

• Ob.org/mc/obdisaster/?mot=058569, a nonprofit working with churches in Maui to help those in need as a result of the fire

A building burned by fire in the village of Lahaina in Maui. Carmel resident Madelyn Wood said she barely recognized the structure that she had hung out at in the previous days.

(Photo courtesy of Madelyn Wood)

MAYORAL DEBATE

7 P.M., MONDAY, OCT. 2

THE PALLADIUM AT THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, 1 CARTER GREEN Watch this space for free ticket information.

MILES NELSON SUE FINKAM

CRC eyes 3 parcels on Range Line

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

The Carmel Redevelopment Commission on Aug. 16 approved the purchase of three parcels along Range Line Road in the Midtown area to be aggregated with other nearby sites for future redevelopment.

The parcels, owned by Launderers of Indiana, are at 444, 506 and 508 S. Range Line Rd. and combine to total approximately 1.6 acres. The proposed purchase price is $2.9 million and requires approval from the Carmel City Council.

CRC Director Henry Mestetsky said the parcels are within the Midtown planned unit development area, which includes properties with different owners. The CRC is helping developer Old Town Companies, which already owns adjacent parcels, to aggregate the land for a future project.

“It would make no sense to build a project in a jigsaw area of what is otherwise part of a larger PUD that really needs a more thoughtful, purposeful proposal,” Mestetsky said. “Frankly, nothing has happened on these parcels because there is not one owner. So, this allows a project to be thoughtfully put together.”

Mestetsky said the purchase is contingent on an agreement to allow Old Town to purchase the land from the city once a project is approved. He said Old Town will have a right to purchase the land at the price paid by the CRC plus additional costs

incurred.

Future plans for the aggregated land have not been finalized.

“There is not a specific (redevelopment) proposal now, but any proposal that happens would come before the city council for approval and be fully vetted through city council and the CRC and the plan commission,” Mestetsky said.

The CRC plans to use funds from the 2021 TIF bond for the land purchase.

As part of the purchase, the city would receive full indemnity regarding any environmental issues discovered on the site.

“It is good policy that if the CRC is going to hold land temporarily, we get a full environmental indemnity,” Mestetsky stated in an email. “We don’t expect there to be any issues, however.”

CHS lacrosse coach killed in crash

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

Carmel High School boys lacrosse coach Jack Meachum died Aug. 22 in a two-vehicle crash near Sheridan.

CITY NEWS ACCIDENT

According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Ind. 38 near Six Points Road. First responders discovered a black Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Meachum, 31, in a ditch and a blue GMC Sierra, driven by Brennan Smith, 26, flipped over across the road.

Meachum was pronounced dead at the scene, and Smith died later at an Indianapolis hospital, according to HCSO. Both drivers were Sheridan residents.

Investigators believe Smith, who was heading westbound, crossed the center line and struck Meachum’s vehicle, which was heading eastbound, in a head-on collision. The accident is still under investigation. Meachum led the Greyhounds to a state championship in June.

“For six years, Jack poured his heart and soul into the Carmel Lacrosse program, achieving the remarkable feat of securing a state title just last year,” CHS Principal Tim Phares stated in an email to the CHS community. “Jack’s impact reached far beyond the field, as he mentored our student-athletes and dedicated significant time to working with youth.”

CHS had counselors available to meet with students on campus.

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The Carmel Redevelopment Commission is seeking to purchase three parcels along Range Line Road to help aggregate land for future redevelopment in the Midtown area. (Map source: Hamilton County GIS)

Meachum

personandsharingitwithfriends. #MoreThanAMileSquare

Proposed office building concerns councilors, residents

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

The Carmel City Council had its first chance Aug. 21 to publicly review plans to expand Conner Prairie west of the White River.

CONNER PRAIRIE

At the city council meeting, councilors heard a presentation on the project from the Conner Prairie planning team and gathered feedback from residents during a public hearing.

Conner Prairie, a living history museum, owns more than 1,000 acres that straddle the White River south of 146th Street, with all existing development east of the river in Fishers. It has requested a rezone of its land west of the river, which is in Carmel, to a planned unit development.

The proposed $100 million expansion includes a ticketed area with food, farm and energy exhibits; trails; White River education center; eco-lodge; office building; restaurant and more.

“We believe there will be nothing like it in the Midwest,” said Andrew Bradford, Conner Prairie vice president and chief advancement officer.

The expansion is expected to occur over 25 years, according to Ken Alexander, Conner Prairie site master plan manager. Bradford said the first aspects to be constructed would likely be the food, farm and energy exhibits; White River education center; and trails.

Carmel City Councilor Sue Finkam, whose district includes Conner Prairie, said she

would like to see the council vote unanimously to approve the PUD but that she will not support the project if plans for a three-story office building — which could be used by up to 300 employees daily — on the White River remain. She said her constituents “don’t want a Midtown in east Carmel.”

“I would love to see (the office building) moved further north,” she said. “I would love to see it made smaller or eliminated and a reduction in the number of employees there every day.”

Other councilors asked for additional information about how the expansion would impact traffic and whether Conner Prairie would include a public boat launch area.

During the public hearing, several residents of The Overlook at Legacy neighborhood expressed concerns about the adjacent project, including proposed landscape buffers and the office building changing the character of the area.

“When I hear Conner Prairie say a developer wants to put in the office building, ‘developer’ to me is a scary word,” said Steve Baughman, a resident of The Overlook at Legacy, who is not against the expansion as a whole. “I believe also that office space in tod`ay’s environment with vacancy rates so high is a bad business idea.”

Others spoke in favor of the project, including Jack Russell, president of the OneZone chamber of commerce, and Brenda Myers, president and CEO of Hamilton County Tourism.

The council’s land use committee is set to review the proposed PUD before sending it back to the council by Oct. 25 for a vote.

Conner Prairie is planning an expansion on 220 acres in Carmel. (Map from documents submitted to the City of Carmel)

Egyptian Fest returns Sept. 2, 3

By Chris Bavender news@currentincarmel.com

St. Mary and St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, 12174 Shelborne Rd. in Carmel, will host an Egyptian Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 2 and 3. This will be the second festival since 2019.

FAITH

“We stopped due to COVID, and since life is back to normal and the CDC removed the mask mandate, we decided to resume this annual festival to strengthen our ties with the community we serve,” said Marline Hanna, festival marketing coordinator.

The idea for an Egyptian festival was sparked by interest in the church and its culture, Hanna said.

“Our Carmel neighbors are driving by the church all the time, dropping off and picking up their kids from the schools across the street, seeing it very busy on days other than Sundays at times,” she said. “We want our neighbors to know they are more than welcome to stop by.”

Attendees can tour the church and learn about the Coptic Orthodox faith, sample authentic Egyptian food and drinks and enjoy live music. There will also be face painting

and Henna, a bazaar for Egyptian souvenirs, a kids’ play zone and more.

Hanna said the overall message the church hopes to convey to the community is that all are welcome.

“Saint John the Evangelist tells us in his Gospel, ‘Come and see,’ and we recite that with him and say come and see how the Coptic orthodox culture preserved the faith as we took it firsthand from the Apostles,” she said. “Come and see our culture and authentic food, come and bring your kids to have fun in the kids’ fun zone.”

Admission is free. For more, visit stmarystmark.com.

Women’s race ready to debut

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The Indiana Women’s Half Marathon is finally ready for its Carmel debut.

opportunity from a cash purse perspective to make money.”

The purse is $4,000, with the winner earning $750.

The Carmel Road Racing Group acquired the event in 2014.

RUNNING

The race, in its 12th year, was supposed to be held in Carmel in 2022, but race director Todd Oliver decided about three months before to cancel it because of three areas of construction along the course.

“The reason why we didn’t stage it was because we had told the ladies how great it was going to be moving to Carmel, and if we staged it, we would not be able to showcase our full course because of the construction,” he said.

The Indiana Women’s Half Marathon and 5K is set for 8 a.m. Oct. 21. The races will start and end at the gazebo next to Carmel City Hall.

“Our event is the only women’s half marathon in the country that pays the top 20 (spots),” Oliver said. “The last time it was in full swing we had women from 37 states come in. We already have four ladies that have qualified for the Olympic Trials. They are coming because they know the competition is going to be good, and it’s a great

“We went through a complete rebrand and reimagining and by 2019 we had grown into the eighth-largest women’s half marathon in the country,” Oliver said.

There were more than 2,500 participants in 2019.

Oliver said the COVID-19 pandemic struck the event hard in 2020 and 2021.

“We were bounced around Indianapolis and lost our hotel space,” Oliver said.

Oliver is expecting 1,500 runners this year. Oliver said he wants to see the numbers return to around 2,500 participants within a few years.

The course will travel through Meadowlark Park, Central Park, the Monon Greenway and Home Place.

“We’re going to showcase some neighborhoods that have never had a big-time running event come through,” Oliver said.

For more, visit indywomenshalfmarathon. com.

The festival will include authentic Egyptian cuisine. (Photo courtesy of Marline Hanna)

P LEIN AIR PAINT OUT

DISPATCHES

Plan commission appointment — Mayor Jim Brainard has appointed Chaka Coleman, an attorney and business lobbyist, to the Carmel Plan Commission to fulfill the term left vacant by Leo Dierckman, who recently moved out of the city. Coleman will serve on the commission until Dec. 31, 2026. Coleman also serves on the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Human Relations. The plan commission meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at Carmel City Hall.

Golf scramble fundraiser – The third annual golf scramble to benefit the Scotty Michael Foundation is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 8 at Plum Creek Golf Club, 12401 Lynnwood Blvd. in Carmel. The foundation is dedicated to assisting families after the sudden loss of an infant. Learn more and register at ScottyMichael.org.

Sister Cities art contest — The Carmel Cortona Sister Cities Committee has launched a contest for painters ages 14-19 who can create a piece of art that pays honor to Luca Signorelli, an Italian Renaissance painter from Carmel’s Sister City, Cortona, Italy. On the 500th anniversary of Signorelli’s death, a highly anticipated “Signorelli 500” exhibit has been planned in Cortona and the young artists of Carmel will have their winning selections included alongside others in Cortona. Cash prizes will be paid to the winning artists. Entries are due by Aug. 31. Learn more at bit.ly/3KT4aan.

Share what you love about Carmel — The Carmel Clay Historical Society and the Carmel Clay Public Library are partnering to celebrate Hamilton County’s bicentennial with a video compilation. Community members are needed to share on film what they love about Carmel. The video stories will be shared at the Carmel History Fair to be held at the library in November. Filming will take place in the library’s Digital Media Lab from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 12 and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 14. Learn more and register at CarmelClayLibrary.org.

Hoosier Women Forward selection — Ti’Gre McNear of Carmel has been selected for the sixth class of the Hoosier Women Forward program, which aims to elevate Democratic women leaders across the state.

2022 Carmel on Canvas Best of Show Melinda Spear - Huff

Coleman

Competitive drive fuels Hamilton Southeastern setter

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

In Hamilton Southeastern High School volleyball coach Jason Young’s view, there are several things that make his senior setter Macy Hinshaw special, but one quality stands out.

“She is probably one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever had in our gym,” Young said. “She wants to win, and she knows every drill who wins. She is keeping score.”

Macy said she gets that drive from her mother and two older sisters.

“I am very competitive in everything I do,” Macy said.

Her sisters Kenzie and Makayla were varsity athletes at HSE. Kenzie, a 2017 HSE graduate, then played volleyball at the University of Tennessee Martin.

“I loved watching my sister play and we would always play together at home, too,” Macy said of Kenzie. “It was great having her as a role model.”

MEET MACY HINSHAW

Favorite subject: Science

Favorite athletes: Volleyball players Madison Lilley, Nicklin Hames. Favorite TV shows: “Gossip Girl,”

“One Tree Hill”

Favorite musicians: Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan

Makayla, a 2022 HSE graduate, played basketball in high school.

“Makayla played volleyball as well until she was a freshman, and then she decided to focus more on basketball, but I think she regrets not playing volleyball, too,” Macy said.

Their mother, Tisha Hinshaw, played basketball at Southern Illinois.

Macy has committed to play volleyball at Santa Clara University, choosing it over Fresno State and Utah State.

Young said Macy has been a strong defender for the team her entire career.

“She’s gotten better over the years with her decision-making,” Young said. “She always made good decisions, but I’ve seen

It become a next-level thing. She’s a great teammate. She is someone the kids respect a great deal. When she speaks, people listen.”

Macy has four teammates who have committed to NCAA Division I programs. They are senior middle hitter Breonna Goss, Duke University; senior outside hitter Lauren Harden; University of Florida; senior middle hitter Tiffany Snook; University of Memphis; and senior libero Sophie Ledbetter, Ball State University.

The Royals are the defending Class 4A state champions.

“It would be amazing to do a repeat, but that isn’t our main goal,” Macy said. “We are focusing on getting better as a team and enjoying our journey instead of worrying about our end goal.”

Hamilton Southeastern uses two setters because of its depth.

“I enjoy being on the court, of course, as much as possible,” Macy said. “However, with the talent we have at HSE, we have figured out what’s best for the team and how to be successful. It worked for us last year, so that’s what we are going to continue to do because it is best for our team.”

Hamilton Southeastern senior setter Macy Hinshaw helped lead the Royals to the Class 4A state title last year. (Photo courtesy of Macy Hinshaw)

Hinshaw

Classic cars to stop in Carmel

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

With the City of Carmel recently installing sculptures of classic cars in several roundabouts, organizers of the Auburn Cord Dusenberg Festival figured the city was perfect for a stop on its annual Hoosier Tour.

EVENT

More than 35 Auburns, Cords and Dusenbergs will be on display for the public to view from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at Carter Green. The cars will be welcomed into Carmel with a police escort.

The car owners will be hosted at Feinstein’s for a private lunch and presentation by Arlon Bayliss, the sculptor who created the classic car roundabout sculptures on 96th Street between Keystone Parkway and the White River.

The 67th annual festival is set for Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 in Auburn in DeKalb County.

“What they started doing 47 years ago is they would take a drive a couple of days before the festival to promote the festival coming to Auburn,” said Amber Caccamo, who runs the DeKalb County Visitors Bureau. “Usually we do a 60- to 80-mile radius. We’ve never been as far as Carmel.”

Caccamo said three Dusenbergs are part of the tour.

“We haven’t had a Dusenberg actually take the tour in a long time,” Caccamo said.

More than 35 classic cars will stop in Carmel Aug. 30 on their way to the Auburn Cord Dusenberg Festival. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Church)

Dusenbergs are the most expensive of the three cars, with some worth several million dollars depending on the condition.

Caccamo said there are 50 events, including auctions, Great Gatsby gala, open car cruises, during the festival in Auburn.

Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard said the city is thrilled to host the Hoosier Tour.

“We share their passion for these beautiful classics, which inspired us to install the classic car sculptures on 96th Street, three of which are completed and one more to come,” Brainard stated.

Caccamo has arranged for Marmon Wasp, Stutz and Studebaker cars to be part of the display in Carmel.

There is an Auburn/Cord/Dusenberg sculpture at 96th Street and Delegates Way. The other sculptures are a Studebaker at 96th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway, the Marmon at 96th Street and Priority Way and Stutz at 96th Street and Gray Road.

SEPTEMBER CARMEL COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SUMMER FARMERS MARKET

The Carmel Farmers Market runs from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays through Sept. 30. Admission is free. The market is held at 2 Carter Green. Learn more at CarmelFarmersMarket.com.

EGYPTIAN FESTIVAL

St. Mary and St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church, 12174 Shelborne Rd., will present the Egyptian Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 2 and 3. The event will include Egyptian cuisine, live music, face painting, inflatables, activities and more. Learn more at stmarystmark.com.

GAZEBO CONCERT SERIES

This month, the summer concert series at the Carmel gazebo will feature Blue River Band (Sept. 6), The Nauti Yachtys (Sept. 13), Jai Baker Trio (Sept. 20) and Groovesmash (Sept. 27). The free concerts are held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 4. Learn more and see the full schedule at CarmelGazeboConcerts.org.

MEET ME ON MAIN

Restaurants and shops in Carmel’s Arts & Design District will stay open until 9 p.m. Sept. 9 for the monthly Meet Me on Main. The event will also offer a hands-on public art project and an opportunity to win a $100 gift card.

THE GREAT SQUIRREL STAMPEDE

The Great Squirrel Stampede Fun Run is set for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 16 at Coxhall Gardens, 11677 Town Rd. in Camel. Proceeds will benefit construction of the Carmel Clay History Museum in Midtown. The event will include 1K and 3K courses, activities, treats and more. Learn more at bit.ly/47Et2wh.

CARMEL INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

The Carmel International Arts Festival returns from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 23 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at Main Street and Range Line Road. The free event will feature more than 100 artists in nine mediums. Learn more at CarmelArtsFestival.org.

RibFest to benefit Kids Coats

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

RibFest returns next month to help provide winter coats for children in need.

FUNDRAISER

The annual fundraiser will be Sept. 3 at Bier Brewery, 13720 N. Meridian St., in Carmel. The proceeds benefit Hamilton County Kids Coats, a nonprofit that provides winter coats to people age 19 and younger.

According to Linda Withrow, executive director of Kids’ Coats, the nonprofit launched in 2004 and became the beneficiary of RibFest in 2018. Since then, the event has raised $52,000 for Kids Coats. RibFest admission and food, which includes ribs, pulled pork, tips and sides, are free.

“We just ask that people donate so that we can keep coats on kids,” Withrow said. Last year, Rib Fest raised $18,000 for Kids’ Coats. This year’s goal is $20,000.

RibFest will begin with a 5K run and bike ride at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served when participants return. Live music will start at noon. Free ribs and other food op-

VIEWABLE

tions will be served at 1 p.m. Big in Belgium and Sadie Johnson will perform live music from noon to 8 p.m. A silent auction will run all day until 7 p.m.

Withrow said anyone looking to donate can bring clean and gently used winter clothing to RibFest. She said the nonprofit needs large and small coats.

“We really need adult sizes, because anyone in middle school or high school wears an adult-sized coat,” Withrow said. Learn more at kidscoats.org.

INTEGIRLS supports girls in STEM

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

A Carmel High School junior is continuing her quest to support other girls interested in math.

INDULGE YOUR ARTISTIC SPIRIT by immersing yourself in the vibrant world of public art and engaging in creative activities such as u-paint classes and art events across the county. Unleash your inner artist as you embark on a journey of self-expression and discovery.

August 31

September 8–10

September 9

Palladiscope, Carter Green, Carmel Jupiter Balloon Flights, Conner Prairie, Fishers

Artomobilia, Carmel Arts & Design District

Sophia Fu founded INTEGIRLS her freshman year at Carmel High School. The group provides math competitions for girls in middle school and high school.

EDUCATION

Fu has competed in math competitions since she was in middle school.

“There were never really many girls,” Fu said. “Especially as the difficulty of the problems went up or as it became more selective to enter camps or different programs.”

Fu founded INTEGIRLS in 2022 to empower and support women in STEM disciplines through competitive problem-solving opportunities.

She said each year a math competition is held in the spring and fall.

“Usually, one of them is in person and the other one is virtual,” Fu said.

In the fall, the competition includes participants from areas that include Zionsville, Carmel and Indianapolis. The spring competition is done virtually through Zoom,

allowing international participation. Globally, INTEGIRLS has impacted approximately 20,000 students.

INTEGIRLS has raised more than $10,000 in cash and $50,000 in prizes for participants around the world through fundraisers and sponsorships.

Learn more at indyintegirls.org/home.

September 10

September 15–17

September 23–24

September 23–24

Harvest Fest, Heritage Park at White River, Fishers

Carmel on Canvas, Carmel Arts & Design District

Carmel International Arts Fair, Carmel Arts & Design District

Atlanta New Earth Festival

Back, from left, INTEGIRLS participants Maddie Xu, Sophia Fu, Allison Shen, Eesha Singh, and front, from left, Helena Wang, Jasmine Zhang and Jenny Li. (Photo courtesy of Sophia Fu)

RibFest was founded by the Leum family. From left, Brandon Leum, Cassidy Leum, Austin Leum and Sheri Leum. (Photo courtesy of Hamilton County Kids’ Coats)

‘SHE BRINGS A LOT OF JOY’

Cornerstone Lutheran Church commissions golden retriever to spread comfort, smiles

By Jeff Decker news@currentincarmel.com

Magdalene is a vital member of Cornerstone Lutheran Church. On Sundays, she can be found among the congregation at any of Cornerstone’s four locations, including Carmel and Fishers. She serves as an ambassador for the church in its community ministry efforts, and her calming demeanor comforts those mourning or traumatized. Even those who have never met her are drawn to her.

Visit Cornerstone’s website, and her photo is among those in the staff directory. Hers is easy to distinguish from the others. Magdalene is only 2 years old. And she’s a golden retriever.

In February, after undergoing rigorous training, Magdalene was commissioned to serve Cornerstone Lutheran by Lutheran Church Charities as part of its K-9 Comfort Dog

two caregiver families with whom she lives who care for her and get her to appointments, whether at a hospice facility or preschool, fire and police departments, local events or deployments to areas in crisis, including recent mass shootings in Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn.

She works six days a week, typically attending two or three functions a day. But she also enjoys her time off, said Jane Callahan, a Westfield resident and the “Top Dog” coordinator of Cornerstone’s comfort dog ministry.

“She’s a lot of fun,” Callahan said. “When her (work) vest is off, she’s a dog. She loves her ‘stuffies’ (stuffed animals). She loves to run and play. When a staff member runs with her, it’s hilarious to see them go at it.”

A message printed on Magdalene’s vest encourages those who approach her to pet her. Golden retrievers have a reputation for being gentle, smart and intuitive. Callahan noted that Golden retrievers oftentimes look like they are smiling, making them more approachable. Magdalene, like the other dogs in the Lutheran Church Charities comfort dog program, has been trained to respond to commands and has been observed to ensure she has the right disposition for the job.

“We take her to preschools, and kids lay all over her, and

she doesn’t care,” Callahan said.

The process of obtaining Magdalene took more than a year of interviews and training. Magdalene’s handlers and caregiver families traveled to the LCC headquarters in Northbrook, Ill., for 40 hours of instruction.

The dog’s training was much more extensive than that. Lutheran Church Charities, which established the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry in 2008, starts working with purebred golden retrievers when they are 8 weeks old, said Deb Baran, director of communications for LCC. Magdalene went through about 2,000 hours of training before she was commissioned to work. Dogs that don’t seem to have the demeanor or focus for the job are placed with loving families, Baran said.

Golden retrievers make for good working comfort dogs because they are so trainable, Baran said.

“Part of their disposition is to learn and be trained,” she said. “They like to do what they are being asked to do.”

Cornerstone Lutheran Church’s comfort dog program is funded through donations, and there’s no charge for Magdalene’s services. Caring for her is a church community effort.

Magdalene’s primary caregiver family is Bob and Nicole Lewis, who moved to Carmel from Columbus, Ind., about six years ago. They have three young adult children. The family did not have a pet, and when Cornerstone began the process of establishing a comfort dog ministry, they filled out a multiple-page application and were interviewed and visited in their home to make sure they and Magdalene were the right fit for each other.

Nicole Lewis called their decision to care for Magdalene “one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”

“It’s exceeded my expectations,” she said. “She’s a great dog. The response to her has been so positive, so amazing. She brings a lot of joy to our lives, too.”

ON THE COVER: Magdalene, a golden retriever, with Nicole Lewis, her primary caregiver. (Photo by Adam Seif)

INSPIRED BY KATRINA

Lutheran Church Charities’ idea for a comfort dog program was born out of a natural disaster.

When Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans in August 2005, members of LCC were part of the response. When the Federal Emergency Management Agency found that residents were refusing to leave their flooded homes because they couldn’t take their pets, LCC was asked to step in and take the animals and their humans by boats to safety.

“That’s when our president saw the bond between humans and pets,” said Deb Baran, director of communications for the Northbrook, Ill.-based LCC.

The LCC’s K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry was established in 2008. The organization trains and commissions pure-

bred golden retrievers to serve churches through the program. Cornerstone Lutheran Church, with Carmel and Fishers among its four Indianapolis area locations, joined the ministry in February when Magdalene, a 2-year-old golden retriever, was commissioned for work.

The dogs in the ministry serve as ambassadors for LCC’s outreach efforts, whether dispatched to the scene of a mass shooting or making an appearance at a community event.

“These dogs really serve as that bridge for our people to connect with people,” Baran said. “We know people have lots of stresses, things going on in their lives. We’re there not only in times of crisis but in times of joy as well.”

Magdalene is a comfort dog for Cornerstone Lutheran Church. (Photo by Adam Seif)

A child pets Magdalene, Cornerstone Lutheran Church’s comfort dog. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Lewis)

Local meteorologist retires after long run at WISH-TV

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Former WISH-TV news anchor Dave Barras understands the measure of a man often can be determined by how he handles adversity.

MILESTONE

That’s certainly the case with his close friend Randy Ollis.

Five years into the meteorologist’s career at Channel 8, a general manager decided he didn’t like Ollis’ presentation and he was fired in 1989.

“Randy immediately went to work at a grocery store because he had to take care of his family,” said Barras, who retired in December 2017. “He’s a man of faith. He feels things will work out because he believes. That is who he is.”

It certainly worked out, because about six months later, that general manager was gone and Ollis was back at WISH-TV for good, much to the delight of many viewers who called and wrote to the station to complain about his dismissal. The 67-year-old Carmel resident will retire Aug. 31.

“I’m blessed. Not many people last nearly 39 years at one station,” Ollis said. “They said you (will) know when you’re ready to retire, and I am.”

Ollis was on the “Daybreak” and “Midday” weekday news broadcasts for about 36 years. In March 2021, he switched to co-host of “Life.Style.Life!” and “Midday.”

Ollis acknowledged he was out of his comfort zone co-hosting “Life.Style.Live!” where he often had to conduct interviews.

“I never dreamed I would end my career like that, because it’s so much not me,” he said. “But I’m glad I did it. I learned a lot during the last two-and-half years.”

Ollis started in September 1984 at “Daybreak” at WISH, a CBS affiliate until 2019, when it became a CW Network affiliate.

“Rumor was it would be canceled in a year because nobody thought people would watch morning news,” Ollis said. “Here we are 39 years later, it’s a six-hour show. It started out as a half-hour show.”

Ollis used to wake up around 2:45 a.m. and go into work.

“It was tough,” he said. “I’m really not a morning person. I’m a night person, so I almost didn’t take the job. I’m just trying to figure out if I like it or not.”

Ollis, however, did like being able to be with his family in the evenings when his

four daughters were growing up.

“I made the right decision,” Ollis said. “It was fun. It was a lot of pressure because it was a one-man job. But we didn’t have social media then, so there’s a lot more to do with everything going to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.”

Ollis does radio weather reports for WGNR, a Moody radio network, in Anderson, and WTRE in Greensburg. He might continue doing radio from home.

“I’d drive my wife nuts if I stayed home all the time and did nothing,” he said.

Ollis also plans to perform volunteer work for the Child Evangelism Fellowship to minister to children.

“I accepted Christ at 6 years old, so it’s dear to my heart,” said Ollis, who said he wants to do some speaking engagements as well.

He also plans to spend more time with his daughters, three of whom are married, and six grandchildren.

Six years ago, Ollis found out he was missed by viewers once again when he was diagnosed with large B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma but has been cancer-free since undergoing treatment.

Ollis, originally from Elgin, Ill., worked for TV stations in Wausau, Wis., Dayton, Ohio and Oklahoma City before arriving in Indianapolis. Ollis met his wife, Alison, when he worked in Dayton.

“I never even envisioned being in broadcasting,” he said. “I always thought it was somebody who was better looking or would have a better delivery on the air.”

But while attending Northern Illinois University, he volunteered when no one wanted to report weather on a student-run newscast. The self-proclaimed weather geek loved it.

Former WiSH-TV anchor Dave Barras, left, clowns with his close friend, Randy Ollis. (Photo courtesy of Randy Ollis)

Medical spa opens at Clay Terrace

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

A new medical spa is offering anti-aging treatments that can help clients look and feel their best, according to the owners.

MILESTONE

4EverYoung Anti-aging Solutions opened July 24 at Clay Terrace, 14405 Clay Terrace Blvd. Suite 100. The store is part of a franchise that originated in Boca Raton, Fla. The business offers a combination of products and services that help improve physical, aesthetic and wellness needs.

Samantha Rausch and her husband, Nathan Rausch, own the Clay Terrace location, the only one in Indiana. Rausch said her experience as a nurse practitioner inspired her to open the business.

Rausch said she wants to serve the community in ways that provide customers efficient and affordable access to wellness options. The business offers services that can have a wait time of up to 12 months at other places.

“Specifically for hormone replacement,” Rausch said. “There’s pretty large wait times to get into the low testosterone clinic and endocrinologist for weight loss options.”

According to the 4EverYoung Anti-aging Solutions website, other services include acne treatment, Botox and Dermaplaning. It also offers services for wellness needs like

hormone replacement therapy for men and women. An esthetician, fitness instructor and nutrition coach are available at the location, as well.

Rausch said she wants her business to be a place where residents can have all of their physical, aesthetic and wellness needs met.

“A lot of these things are offered at different places, but we’re a one stop shop,” Rausch said.

Learn more about 4Ever Young Clay Terrace at 4everyoungantiaging.com/location/ clay-terrace-indianapolis.

DISPATCHES

IU Health receives honor — Indiana University Health North Hospital in Carmel has received the American Heart Association’s SilverPlus Get With The Guidelines — Stroke quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

Immunization clinics — The Hamilton County Health Department will host a BackTo-School Immunization Clinic as part of a statewide effort to help families easily ac-

cess school immunizations prior to the start of the school year. The clinic is from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Hamilton County Health Department, 18030 Foundation Dr. in Noblesville. Register at patients. vaxcare.com/registration. Enter code IN15561 and then select preferred date. There is an $8 administration fee per vaccine for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Forté debuts new technology — Dr. Stephen Ritter of Carmel-based Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics is the first surgeon in the state to use Stryker’s Q Guidance System with Spine Guidance Software for navigation and guidance in surgery. The system’s state-of-the-art camera and enhanced software can produce real-time, 3D models of a patient’s spine, enabling surgeons such as Ritter to guide their tools and perform critical tasks more precisely and efficiently than ever before. Learn more at ForteOrtho.com.

Nathan and Samantha Rausch own 4EverYoung Anti-Aging Solutions in Clay Terrace. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Rausch)

What’s up with all our stuff?

Commentary by Terry Anker

Bet that’s funny-tasting beer

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

ESSAY

Recently, newspapers reported the overdose of a 25-year-old film star. He often portrayed a drug user, and it appears that art imitated life. We all invite others, who we will never meet or get to know, into our lives. We learn about them, what they think and how they dress. Whether actor, politician, musician or other, we ride along with them as if we are friends, even feeling great loss at their passing.

When gone, the times that we might have seen them in concert or attended the opening night of their masterwork become the stuff of folklore. Many remember the moment with far greater detail than our own graduations, weddings or the arrival of children! Tony Bennett on the apron of the Palladium singing a cappella, the return of Def Leppard’s drummer after losing an arm in an automobile accident, meeting Darth Vader at the opening of “Star Wars,” or maybe witnessing comedian George Carlin at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with

eviscerating observations about Americans and our stuff, such as, “Everybody’s got to have a little place for their stuff. That’s all life is about. Trying to find a place for your stuff,” sticks with us.

In the five-minute YouTube Carlin “stuff” clip, he makes a point that is even more poignant today. We have stuff in our garage. We have stuff in our inboxes. We have calendars packed with stuff. We are stuffed with stuff. We might wonder, are we hedging our bets that there might be a catastrophe or reassuring our insecure selves that we matter because of how overwhelmed we are? Is the memory of Carlin just another bit of stuff? Does our stuff define us anymore than the lack thereof would? If life ended today, what would happen to all our stuff? Would it matter that much?

Addicted to subtitles

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

Hi. My name is Danielle and it’s time to come clean. I’m addicted to closed captioning.

HUMOR

When did it start? Hard to say. I suppose like most things, my dependence on subtitles was gradual. I used them infrequently at first, finding excuses like, “It’s just while Andrew’s banging around in the kitchen” and “I’ll turn them off as soon as Doo finishes his phone call.”

But then I became so used to their blocky, black-and-white presence covering the bottom quarter of my 58-inch Panasonic that I found myself overwhelmed whenever they weren’t on. “Meredith Grey’s got legs?” Too. Much. Screen.

Now, I’m to the point that I become enraged when CC isn’t available, and even worse, I’ve noticed myself jonesing for them when I’m not watching television, like when I’m in a faculty meeting or sitting in a crowded restaurant. “What the heck are you people saying?”

Luckily, I think I’ve hit bottom. I went to see comedian Leanne Morgan perform down in Louisville recently. She speaks with a thick Knoxville accent, and from my seat in the balcony of a huge theater, I couldn’t understand roughly 20 percent of her show. My frustration drove me to contact her demanding a refund and/or a promise to install jumbotrons with voice-to-text capabilities for the remainder of her tour.

“Your fan base is old, we can’t hear!”

Clearly, I’ve lost my gosh darn mind.

It’s been quite the journey, to be sure, but I’m finally working on accepting the things I cannot change and garnering the courage to either learn lip reading or acquire hearing aids. My name is Danielle, and I’m addicted to closed captioning. Peace out.

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

I don’t remember the last time I cleaned out the fridge in our basement. It’s kind of my fridge. My wife, Mary Ellen, keeps her distance.  It was when I finally removed one of the vegetable bins for a quick hosing that I first set my eyes on it. Now, I know the excitement Louis Leakey must have felt when he gazed upon the skeletal remains of our early human ancestors. There, wedged behind the Hidden Valley Ranch on the bottom shelf, was an unopened bottle of Three Stooges Beer. Moe, Larry and Curly were grinning at me after several years chilling out in the back of our Whirlpool. Yes, gentlemen, there once was a Three Stooges Beer. No longer. No Curly Light or Moe Extra Dry, either. Sorry!

Lewis Chablis. In fact, that’s why most of you men have never even heard of Three Stooges Beer. For years, a dedicated band of women were buying this product and dumping it at chemical waste sites.

HUMOR

When women shop for food, they prefer brand names likes Mrs. Paul’s and Sara Lee. But, honestly ladies, did your Aunt Millie or Mama Mancini ever make you laugh?

So, in my opinion, more food should be named specifically after old-time comedians. Sadly, I don’t think Madison Avenue would take the chance of alienating women shoppers. I asked my wife if she’d ever buy Abbott and Costello Jell-O.

There, wedged behind the Hidden Valley Ranch on the bottom shelf, was an unopened bottle of Three Stooges Beer. Moe, Larry and Curly were grinning at me after several years chilling out in the back of our Whirlpool.

The bottle was part of an assortment of exotic brews I received years ago for emceeing a fundraising event. Why didn’t I know about this beer when I was in college? Why would I sprawl out on my dorm room bed with a can of Budweiser when I could have drunk myself stupid with the world’s funniest threesome?

So, what happened to Three Stooges Beer? Forgive me, but I blame the ladies. Stranded in the Sahara Desert, mouth parched, near death, no woman would drink a Three Stooges Beer. You know this, of course. We all instinctively recognize that women hate anything that has to do with The Three Stooges. If they won’t laugh at them, they certainly won’t chug them. You might as well offer them a Jerry

– DICK WOLFSIE

“Not a chance, Dick. I don’t want my food to taste funny. But I would buy Brad Pitt Olives. And I’d love some Idris Elba Macaroni. I already have stocked away 14 bottles of Paul Newman’s Own salad dressing.”

Personally, I’d buy Laurel and Hardy Beef Stew. Doesn’t John Cleese Cream Cheese sound good? And wouldn’t a bottle of Betty White Vinegar look good on your pantry shelf?

I know what you are wondering: “Dick, will you open that rare treasure and guzzle what might be the last bottle of Three Stooges Beer?

I might. But I’ll regret it. And then I’ll smack myself upside the head.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES

Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.

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

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

“I’m to the point that I become enraged when CC isn’t available.”

– DANIELLE WILSON

CHS senior overcomes hearing loss to follow her passion for music

By Mark Ambrogi  mark@youarecurrent.com

Carmel High School senior Sophia Stephens has had hearing issues her entire life.

‘GRUMPY OLD MEN’

“Grumpy Old Men” runs through Oct. 1 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

LIVE AT THE CENTER

CONCERTS

In seventh grade, she failed a school test and learned she had a cholesteatoma, an abnormal collection of skin cells deep in the ear. She had surgery to remove it, but she remains deaf in her right ear.

That hasn’t stopped her from singing and writing songs.

Stephens, 17, has been writing songs since first grade, but got serious when she was in eighth grade. She has written approximately 300 songs.

Some of the songs are pop and some are more of the indie genre.

“It’s hard to put a name on my style because I write so many different songs because I like experimenting with different things,” she said.

Her favorite songs to write are rock, but those aren’t the ones on her EP (extended play) recording that she released in June called “Remnantal,” featuring four songs.

“My dad got in touch with some producers, and the producers helped to take some of the instrumental pieces we already had and combine it with my voice to put it on these websites,” she said.

The producers were from London, Portugal and Nashville, Tenn.

Stephens said her brother, Jack, wrote the piano piece for her song “Familiar” when he was 10, and it kept evolving.

Stephens wrote the guitar part for “Never Spoke.” Jack, 14, wrote the piano part for “Submerge” when he was 10, too, and it’s still developing.

Stephens has been refining her songwriting throughout high school.

“I just wanted to really focus on getting stuff out there and sort of developing my brand before I go to college,” she said.

Stephens performs in the Blue and Gold choir. She has performed a few gigs at farmers markets and restaurants in

Zionsville.

“I’m hopeful that I’ll have more gigs in the future because it’s really fun, and there’s a lot of good opportunities in Carmel, especially to go perform,” she said.

Stephens enjoys the choir because she gets to meet more musicians and other songwriters.

“It’s also good to help develop my singing,” she said. “I started out at Carmel being a soprano and focusing on my high register, and last year because of choir

I’ve gone into an alto range and developed more of my lower vocals, which is where I sing on most of my EP. It just helps me develop my vocal cords, I guess, and focus on different elements of singing.”

Stephens, who carries a 4.2 grade point average, is a member of the National Honor Society, is ambassador for the Hamilton County Bicentennial and is co-president of the Singer/Songwriter Club. She takes lessons from voice coach Blair Clark.

Stephens said songwriting is therapeutic as far as writing out her thoughts.

Stephens started singing in fifth grade when she got the lead in her school musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” in Cincinnati. She didn’t know she could sing well before that because she didn’t have any training.

Stephens plans to at least minor in music while earning some type of business degree.

“I want to do something with music in the future,” she said. “Even if it’s just like playing at bars and stuff like that, just to be able to keep doing it.”

Stephens is designing a setlist with more cover songs, but mostly has been performing her original songs.

She has several albums she wants to release in the future with different themes with songs she has already developed.

Stephens has social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Her music is on Spotify among other sites.

The Sean Imboden Trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 in the Live at the Center at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts Center in Carmel. Tickets are $10 or register for livestream option. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIE

The Symphony on the Prairie series features Aeromyth: The Ultimate Aerosmith Tribute Experience Sept. 1; Pyromania: The Def Leppard Experience Sept. 2; and Voyage: The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band Sept. 3 at Conner Prairie in Fishers. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Indy Nights with Ryan Ahlwardt & Friends is set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 and Helpling “In the Pocket” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

FISHERS BLUES FEST

The Fishers Blues Fest, a free event, is set for 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 1-2 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers.

DISPATCH

Center for the Performing Arts adds to development team — The Carmel-based Center for the Performing Arts has selected Kathy Pataluch, a veteran of central Indiana’s nonprofit arts community, to be its new director of individual development. Pataluch began work this month as a key member of the development team for both the Center and the affiliated Great American Songbook Foundation. Her responsibilities include managing the Annual Fund; planned giving; major gifts and capital campaigns; developing fundraising campaigns focused on individual donors; and building the donor base locally and nationwide. Pataluch had served since 2019 as advancement director for the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center.

Sophia Stephens released an EP this summer. (Photo by Margaret Fallin)

RISE Fest to feature eight bands

By Mike Beas editorial@youarecurrent.com

Andy Binford has had Sept. 16 circled in his mind’s calendar for some time now.

Artists use variety of tools

Commentary by Randy Sorrell

FUNDRAISER

The combination of live bands performing for various good causes with a late-summer backdrop is, in Binford’s mind, a visual that needs no touching up.

Hamilton County RISE Fest celebrates its third annual event on the acreage of Spencer Farm Winery in Noblesville.

Eight bands will perform on two different stages beginning at 1 p.m., with the final bands finishing their sets around 9:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to all ages, with donations and proceeds to benefit a selected nonprofit in each of the county’s four largest cities — Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville and Fishers.

“What RISE stands for is rockers impacting and serving everyone,” said Binford, 52, who lives in Westfield. “In late 2020, I hooked up with some local guys, and one of them knew Duke Tumatoe, who was doing some shows to raise money for Duke’s band.

Board Meeting will perform at this year’s event at Spencer Farm Winery in Noblesville. (Photo courtesy of Andy

“We ended up saying, ‘Let’s pick a nonprofit from the four major cities.’ ”

This year, proceeds will go to the following nonprofits: Heart and Soul Clinic (Westfield); Children’s TherAplay (Carmel); Hamilton County Veterans Corp (Noblesville); and HopeAnchor & Crew (Fishers).

In 2022, RISE Fest drew approximately 1,000 people and raised approximately $6,000.

Binford, the vice president of IWIS Drive Systems headquartered in Whitestown, id the event’s executive director.

For more, visit millionairefinancialcoach. com/rise-fest-2023.

Where’s Amy?

Where’s Amy attended the Carmel Community Players’ “Jerry’s Girls” gala fundraiser Aug. 18 at Woodland Country Club in Carmel. The outstanding musical revue included hors d’oeuvres and a fabulous silent auction of items from local vendors. Don’t miss CCP’s next production, “Amused,” set for Oct. 13-22. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.

PAINTINGS

The traditional tools of painting and creating works of art are brushes and palette knives. There are hundreds of versions of each with different sizes and materials designed to create various effects. There are brushes for extreme detail, broad brushes for large strokes and covering lots of territory with formal names like round, liner, wash, angular wash and fan. Then there are various materials for the bristle. And the same volume of variety for knives!

Many painters employ nontraditional methods of painting from twigs, window squeegees, spatulas, makeup brushes, wire, combs and plastic, and the list goes on.

But my favorite is a technique employed by Josep Domenech, a Barcelona artist who paints using pieces of cotton fabric and his fingers. He removes instead of adding, and he aims for synthesis. Apparently, this skill set is a result of having to economize on materials as a student when he experimented with old rags that

had been used to polish furniture. Now, he uses cloth of only the highest quality. And his art is amazing!

Domenech’s work can be viewed at Platinum Living Fine Art Gallery in Carmel, with heavy emphasis on the Fine! Tours by appointment only are available through platinumlivingfineartgallery.com.

Binford)

From left, “Jerry’s Girls” cast of Diane Tsao (Fishers), Georgeanna Teipen (Greenfield), Jill O’Malia (Fishers), Vickie Phipps (Carmel), Susan Smith (Carmel) and Heather Hansen (Zionsville). (Photo by Amy Pauszek)

Where’s Amy attends “Jerry’s Girls”

Amy Pauszek is a photographer, award winning film producer and scouting and casting associate for Talent Fusion Agency in Indianapolis. She can be reached at Amy@ youarecurrent.com. To see more of her photos, visit currentnightandday.com.

Randy Sorrell, a Carmel artist, can be reached at 317-6792565, rsorrellart@gmail.com or rsorrellart.com.

A painting by Josep Domenech, a Barcelona artist, who paints using pieces of cotton fabric and his fingers. (Photo courtesy of Platinum Living Fine Art Gallery)

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Venson to make area debut in Fishers Blues Fest

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Jackie Venson is eager for her first visit to the Indianapolis area.

well,” Venson said.

Venson, the youngest of nine siblings, was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and lives there now.

CONCERTS

“I was supposed to (visit) in 2021 but that was the year that touring was really precarious, and the show got canceled,” said Venson, a rhythm and blues and soul artist from Austin, Texas. “I think this will be an excellent way to expose myself to a new audience, and I am excited that it will be my debut Indianapolis show.”

Venson will be the headliner for the first night of the 11th annual Fishers Blues Fest, set for Sept. 1-2 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. Admission is free. Venson will perform from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 1.

“I play blues festivals, but I also play a ton of nongenre-specific festivals and festival-type events,” Venson said. “I enjoy these gigs because I have the potential to be discovered by a ton of people all at once. They usually happen outside, which means the capacity of the venue is always huge. It’s a fun and rewarding experience usually.”

Her set includes several original songs from her albums “Evolution of Joy” and “Love Transcends,” as well as her other two studio albums.

“I will definitely sneak some other selections from other albums into the set as

“There’s a very low likelihood that I will leave Austin anytime soon. My whole life is here,” said Venson, whose father, Andrew Venson, was a professional musician for 40 years before retiring.

Cedric Burnside, a blues guitarist and singer-songwriter from Mississippi, will headline the Sept. 2 show with a performance from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Burnside’s has two Grammy-nominated albums, “Descendants of Hill Country” in 2015 and “Benton County Relic” in 2018 Tickets aren’t required for the shows. Chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome. There is no outside alcohol permitted. There will be food and beverage vendors on-site.

FISHERS BLUES FEST SCHEDULE

SEPT. 1

5-6 p.m.: Django Knight

6:30-8 p.m.: Zach Person

8:30-10 p.m.: Jackie Venson.

SEPT. 2

5-5:45 p.m.: Scrapper & Skelton

6-7 p.m.: Yates McKendree

7:15-8:15 p.m.: Queen Delphine & The Crown Jewels

8:30-10 p.m.: Cedric Burnside.

Jackie Venson, a rhythm and blues and soul artist from Austin, Texas, will perform from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Fishers Blues Fest. (Photo courtesy of Fishers Parks)

‘Shortcomings’ explores relationships

Commentary by Julianna Childs

Admit it, you’ve done it. I’ve done it. We’ve all done it. For anyone who’s stalked an ex on social media comes a wickedly funny film, “Shortcomings,” about the crazy ends we’re driven to by love. In his directorial debut, Randall Park turns the awkward moment when you and your partner decide to take a breather from your relationship and spins it into a comedy of errors.

Meet Ben (Justin H. Min), the night manager of a Berkeley movie theater, and his girlfriend Miko (Ally Maki), young urbanities living in the Bay Area. Their relationship is strained because of his pessimistic and pretentious attitude toward life. When Miko gets an internship opportunity in New York, they decide to take a break.

Left to his own devices, Ben pursues excitement with an oddball co-worker, Autumn, and then a grad student, Sasha. When neither fling works out, he shadows Miko on Instagram as she explores her new city. As their communication fades, Ben decides to take matters into his own hands and visit her in N.Y. Little does he know, he’s about to get a crash course in closure, Big Apple style. Surprise, Miko is living her best life with her new beau.

Rejected and obsessed is never a good combination. Still, Ben recruits Alice (Sherry Cola), his expressive lesbian sidekick, to join him in N.Y. and gather intel. The two shadow Miko, lurking through the city streets with enthusiasm and shady decision-making, leading to a series of comic events.

Based on his acclaimed graphic novel, writer Adrian Tomine delivers a dramedy with sharp-witted characters and somehow endears the audience to Ben’s messy and hypercritical personality. In an auspicious directorial debut, Park skillfully weaves together the heartbreaking and heartfelt moments of the story.

Nut, fruit spreads add flavor

Commentary by Mark LaFay

The Indiana State Fair has ended, and I am happy to report back that my team took home third place in the barbeque competition. The top three were close in points and it was an exciting awards ceremony, to say the least!

Our team incorporated several jams into our barbecue glazes, and this got me thinking about an often-overlooked condiment on charcuterie boards: nut and fruit spreads. Often, I think we get hung up on keeping savory with savory and sweet with sweet. In reality, savory components almost always magnify or enhance the sweet.

Here are a few yummy spreads to check out. You can find them in the cheese section of local grocers Joe’s Butcher Shop, Tasteful Times, Cork and Cracker, Old Major Market and other area locations:

• Dalmatia Fig Spread: This is a staple item for every charcuterie board, made with figs from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. This spread has a smooth texture with pops of crunch from the fig seeds. It is sweet but

not overpowering. It goes great with nuts, crackers, brie, blue cheese, sharp cheddar and more.

• B-Happy Peanut Butter: This crew started in Zionsville, making nut butters with wild flavor combinations. Their joy to the world is honey roasted peanuts, dark chocolate, white chocolate and dried cranberries. Spread it on crackers with apples or pears. They have several other flavor combinations. Browse to find one that suits you best.

• Food For Thought Cherry Habanero: Tim Young started this brand about 25 years ago in Michigan, utilizing local ingredients. This is a tasty sweet cherry jelly that has a kick from habanero and red pepper flakes. It is fantastic with goat cheese, cheddar, brie, prosciutto and mild salami.

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4021 Millersville Rd., Suite 107A, Indianapolis

During the past 14 years, Julieanna Childs has worked as a film studio representative, contracting for all the major Hollywood studios. Her film reviews can be found at TheJujuReview.com. She is a Hamilton County resident.

MOVIE REVIEW

This outdoor grill station has three fuel options: charcoal, gas and wood pellets. (Photo courtesy of Bill Bernard)

Now, you’re cooking with fire

Commentary by Bill Bernard

When it comes to planning your new outdoor kitchen, there are lots of options to consider.

One of the primary decisions is what type of grill you plan on using. Grill options can also come with different fuel options. Three of the most popular options are charcoal, gas (natural or propane) and wood pellets. Each option has its own unique benefits.

CHARCOAL

Charcoal briquettes are often the fuel of choice because the heat they provide is very reliable and predictable. Because of the long-lasting consistent temperature, charcoal is a good choice when cooking foods that require long cooking times.

GAS

The primary benefit of cooking outdoors with gas is convenience. Gas also provides a consistent heat source, but unlike other fuel types, gas will not infuse your food with a smoky flavor. Most gas grills give

you the option to easily raise or lower the cooking temperature.

WOOD PELLETS

If you’d like to infuse your grilled food with the delicious flavor of smoke, pellets may be a good option. Food-grade wood pellets are used with grills that are specifically designed for them. Pellets come in various wood species and each species will impart a different flavor of smoke.

In the outdoor kitchen pictured, our homeowner wanted to incorporate a variety of cooking options. They can cook using charcoal, gas and/or wood pellets, depending on what’s being prepared. Sometimes, it’s good to keep your options open.

Give us a call and let us help you fuel your dreams.

Stay home, be moved.

Visiting Indiana University’s Lilly Library

Commentary by Don Knebel

With our tour of Alaska over, we will visit often-overlooked places an easy drive from Indianapolis. Today, we explore the Lilly Library in Bloomington. By 1950, Josiah K. Lilly Jr., then president of Eli Lilly & Co., had amassed an extraordinary collection of rare books, manuscripts and works of art. Between 1954 and 1957, he donated thousands of those items to Indiana University, forming the nucleus of the Lilly Library, which opened in 1960 in a limestone building just south of Showalter Fountain. Hundreds of thousands of items have since been added to the collection, many donated by collectors. When the 52,516-square-foot building was reconfigured in 2019 to accommodate its growing collection, murals were added to the reading room.

TRAVEL

The Lilly Library’s 450,000 books include one of only 11 Gutenberg Bibles in the United States; the “Nuremberg Chronicles,” an elaborately illustrated account of the history of the world published in 149; the first printed edition of “The Canterbury Tales;” the first folio of Shakespeare’s collected works, published in London in 1623; and Thomas Jefferson’s personal copy of the first print-

ing of the Bill of Rights. The 8.5 million manuscripts include those for “Peter Pan” and “Auld Lang Syne” and two letters written by George Washington, one to Patrick Henry turning down a proposed stock gift and the other accepting the presidency. Sixteen-thousand miniature books, the world’s largest collection, include tiny versions of the Bible and Bhagavad Gita. Many of the

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CITY OF CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION

Docket No. PZ-2023-00138 DP/ADLS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Carmel Plan Commission will conduct a meeting on the 19th day of September, 2023 at 6:00 o’clock p.m., at the Carmel City Hall, Council Chambers, One Civic Square, 2nd Floor, Carmel, IN 46032, to hold a Public Hearing regarding an application identified by Docket Number PZ-2023-00138 DP/ADLS (the “Request”). The subject real estate consists of approximately 30 acres, is located at the southwest corner of 146th Street and Community Drive in The Legacy community and is a portion of the property that is identified by the Auditor of Hamilton County as Tax Parcel Identification Number 17-10-23-00-00-001.003 (collectively, the “Real Estate”).

The Real Estate is zoned pursuant to The Legacy PUD (Ordinance No. PUD Z-501-07 and PUD Z-67922) and the application filed by Advenir Oakley Development, LLC seeks development plan (“DP”) and architectural design, lighting, landscaping and signage (“ADLS”) approval for a build-for-rent residential community consisting of 350 cottage style homes and three (3) 4-story multi-family apartment buildings.

The Request and the associated plans and exhibits may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents – Laser Fische.

This Plan Commission can be viewed online via the City’s website or on Carmel TV. Further, all interested persons desiring to present their views on the above Request are encouraged to submit written comments, up to 4:00 p.m., the day of the meeting, via email to Joe Shestak administrative assistant: jshestak@carmel.in.gov and/or present their comments in-person by attending at this Plan Commission meeting. The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time as may be found necessary.

City of Carmel, Indiana:

Joe Shestak, Secretary, City of Carmel Plan Commission

Carmel City Hall

One Civic Square

Carmel, IN 46032

Phone: (317) 571-2417

Email: jshestak@carmel.in.gov

Attorney for Applicant Advenir Oakley Development, LLC:

Jim Shinaver, Attorney

Jon Dobosiewicz, Professional Land Planner

Nelson & Frankenberger, LLC

550 Congressional Blvd., Suite 210

Carmel, IN 46032

30,000 mechanical puzzles are displayed in the separate Slocum Room, with some available for solving. An eclectic collection of Americana includes two locks of Edgar Allen Poe’s hair — one sent in a letter to a lover just before his death — and four Oscars won by director John Ford.

The Lilly Library is open for research by appointment only. Guided tours are available every Friday at 2 p.m.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

City of Carmel, Indiana

Department Board of Public Works and Safety

One Civic Square City of Carmel, Indiana 46032

Project: Multi-Use Path Along Haverstick Road. from 96th Street to 99th Street (20-ENG-06)

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Public Works and Safety for the City of Carmel, Hamilton County, Indiana will receive sealed bids for the above described “Project” at the office of the Clerk Treasurer, One Civic Square, Carmel, Indiana (City Hall) until 9:45 EST and in the Council Chambers at the same address between the hours of 9:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. EST on or before September 20, 2023, and commencing as soon as practicable thereafter on the same date such bids will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Council Chambers of City Hall. No late bids will be accepted.

All bids and proposals shall be properly and completely executed on the proposal forms provided with the plans and specifications, which will include the non-collusion affidavit as required by the State of Indiana. The bid envelope must be sealed and have the words “BID – Multi-Use Path Along Haverstick Road. from 96th Street to 99th Street (20-ENG-06)”

A bid bond or certified check in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount bid must be submitted with each bid. A one hundred percent (100%) performance and payment bond will also be required of the successful bidder. It is intended that actual construction of all work divisions shall be started as soon as practicable, and each bidder shall be prepared to enter promptly into a construction contract, furnish a performance bond, and begin work without delay in the event the award is made to him.

The Project consists of, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

Construction of a new 10’ wide multi-use path on the east side of Haverstick Road 96th Street and 99th Street. New storm sewers, curb and gutter and ADA ramps will be constructed at various locations in the project.

Contract Documents for the Project have been assembled into one bound project manual, which together with drawings, may be examined at the following locations:

City of Carmel

Department of Engineering - 1st Floor

One Civic Square Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 571-2441

Copies of such drawings and project manuals must be obtained from Reprographix (Reprographix.com). Payments and costs of Contract Documents are non-refundable.

Bidders shall assure that they have obtained complete sets of drawings and Contract Documents and shall assume the risk of any errors or omissions in bids prepared in reliance on incomplete sets of drawings and Contract Documents.

This Project will be funded by the City of Carmel.

A pre-bid conference for discussions of the Project, the bidding requirements and other important matters will be held on September 6, 2023 at 10 am in the Caucus Room on the 2nd Floor of City Hall (One Civic Square). All prospective bidders are invited to attend the pre-bid conference. Email chaitanya. mamidala@clarkdietz.com to request a virtual meeting invitation. The pre-bid conference is not mandatory.

For special accommodations needed by handicapped individuals planning to attend the pre-bid conference or public bid opening meeting, please call or notify the city of Carmel, Engineer ’s Office, at (317) 571-2441 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior thereto.

No bidder may withdraw any bid or proposal within a period of thirty (30) days following the date set for receiving bids or proposals. The Carmel Board of Public Works and Safety reserves the right to hold any or all bids or proposals for a period of not more than thirty (30) days and said bids or proposal shall remain in full force and effect during said period. The City of Carmel reserves the right to reject and/or cancel any and all bids, solicitations and/or offers in whole or in part as specified in the solicitations when it is not in the best interests of the governmental body as determined by the purchasing agency in accordance with IC 5-22-18-2

Sue Wolfgang Clerk-Treasurer

Folio of Shakespeare’s collected works in Indiana University’s Lilly Library in Bloomington.

(Photos by Don Knebel)

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION

Docket No. PZ-2023-00166 OA

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Advisory Plan Commission will hold a public hearing upon a Petition to Amend the Unified Development Ordinance pursuant to documents filed with the Department of Community Services as follows: Amend the Unified Development Ordinance in order to require that Owners Association governing documents allow changes to rental restrictions with a simple majority vote of the members. Filed by the Department of Community Services on behalf of the Carmel Plan Commission.

Designated as Docket No. PZ-2023-00166 OA, the hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers, Carmel City Hall, One Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032.

The file for this proposal (Docket No. PZ2023-00166 OA) may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents – Laser Fiche.

Any written comments or objections to the proposal should be filed with the Secretary of the Plan Commission on or before the date of the Public Hearing. All written comments and objections will be presented to the Commission. Any oral comments concerning the proposal will be heard by the Commission at the hearing according to its Rules of Procedure. In addition, the hearing may be continued from time to time by the Commission as it may find necessary.

Joe Shestak, Administrator

Carmel Plan Commission

(317) 571-2417

August 29, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION

Docket No. PZ-2023-00185 Z

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Plan Commission on September 19, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 1 Civic Square, Carmel, Indiana 46032, will hold a Public Hearing upon a petition to Rezone property pursuant to the application on file with the Department of Community Services, as follows:

Rezone 3.3 acres located at 154 W Carmel Drive from the I1/Industrial District within the Range Line Road Overlay to the C1/City Center District. The site is generally located at the northeast corner of Carmel Drive and the Monon Greenway and identified as parcel 16-09-36-00-00-031.000.

The Application is identified as Docket No. PZ2023-00185 Z, 154 W. Carmel Drive C1 Rezone. The file for this proposal may be viewed Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM in the office of the Department of Community Services, 1 Civic Square, Carmel, Indiana 46032. The materials may also be examined on the City’s website, at the Public Documents page via Laserfiche.

Any written comments to the proposal should be filed with the Secretary of the Plan Commission no later than 12:00 PM on the date of the Public Hearing. All written comments will be presented to the Commission. Any oral comments concerning the proposal will be heard by the Commission at the hearing according to its Rules of Procedure.

Joe

Shestak, Administrator

Carmel Plan Commission

(317) 571-2417

Dated: August 29, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE OF STANDARD CONTRACT RIDER NO. 33 SL - STREET LIGHTING SERVICE

DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC

DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Duke Energy Indiana”) hereby provides notice that on or around September 8, 2023

Duke Energy Indiana in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10 will file a request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) for approval under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines to revise its Standard Contract Rider No. 33, SL - Street Lighting Service. This rate is no longer available to customers and this revision clarifies the transition to new lighting options when a street lighting unit reaches the end of its useful life or becomes obsolete. The Company will replace the street lighting unit with an available similar lighting unit and customer will be billed on Rate LED. This submission is expected to be approved approximately thirty days after filing, unless an objection is made. Any objections may be made by contacting the Secretary of the Commission, or Randall C. Helmen of the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers:

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission - PNC Center

101 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 East Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407 317-232-2703

Duke Energy Indiana, LLC

Pirates always beat snakes

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor - PNC Center 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-232-2494

By: Stan Pinegar, President

LEGAL NOTICE OF DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC PILOT RATES

UPDATE DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Company”) hereby provides notice that on or around September 8, 2023, Duke Energy Indiana, in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10, will submit a request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (Commission) to update its Pilot Rates tariffs under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines. The Company’s Pilot program will no longer be available as of September 30, 2023. Rider 91 CS - Critical Peak Day Pricing and Rider 94 RS – Critical Peak Day Pricing will no longer be available. Customers currently in the Pilot program will return back to a standard base rate. This submission is expected to be approved approximately thirty days after filing, unless an objection is made. Any objections may be made by contacting the Secretary of the Commission, or Randall C. Helmen with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers:

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission - PNC Center

101 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 East Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407

Telephone: 317-232-2703

Duke Energy Indiana, LLC

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor - PNC Center

115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South Indianapolis, IN 46204 Telephone: 317-232-2494

By: Stan Pinegar, President

Let’s talk rivalries. Everyone has an opinion on Coke versus Pepsi. How about werewolves against vampires? DC versus Marvel? There are so many good matchups to entertain.

GRAMMAR GUY

In this case, we need to think about snakes versus pirates. Why in the world do we need to play out this battle? We can clear up a big grammar gaffe; It’s time to talk about “there is” and “there are.”

Increasingly I’ve heard people throwing around “there is” or “there’s” when they ought to say “there are.” Does this matter? Of course! After all, singular subjects need singular verbs; likewise, plural subjects get plural verbs. This is called subject-verb agreement.

However, with a subject like “there,” how do we know if the subject is singular or plural? Let’s use an example: There is/are many ways to get to this afternoon’s drum circle. But wait a second: “There” can’t possibly be the subject, can it? No, it’s not. In fact, the subject is “ways,” although it’s not clear when we’re beginning the sentence.

SCAN HERE

Think of it this way: there are = pirates. Pirates say “ARRRRR!” There is = snake. A snake says “HISSSS!” One snake is singular. Multiple pirates are plural. Let’s substitute “there” with “snake” and then “pirates” into our sentence: Snake is many ways to get to this afternoon’s drum circle. Pirates are many ways to get to this afternoon’s drum circle. Although they both sound ridiculous, “pirates” sounds better.

Here’s another way to determine which verb to use: Turn it into a sentence. Is/are there many ways to get to this afternoon’s drum circle? In this case, you would rightly say, “Are there many ways to get to this afternoon’s drum circle?”

A snake (which goes HISSSS!) is singular. Pirates (which go ARRRRR!) are plural. There is = singular. There are = plural. In a battle between one snake and a crew of pirates, I’d put my doubloons on the pirates; one snake couldn’t possibly take a whole pirate posse down. Pirates beat snakes. There’s plenty of room for argument here.

TO HAVE CURRENT DELIVERED TO YOUR PHONE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BEFORE THE CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION

Docket No. PZ-2023-00186 Z

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Plan Commission on September 19, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 1 Civic Square, Carmel, Indiana 46032, will hold a Public Hearing upon a petition to Rezone property pursuant to the application on file with the Department of Community Services, as follows:

Rezone 5.5 acres located at 988 3rd Avenue SW from the I1/Industrial District to the C1/ City Center District. The site is generally located at the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue SW and Gradle Drive and identified as parcel 16-09-36-00-00-007.000.

The Application is identified as Docket No. PZ2023-00186 Z, 988 3rd Avenue SW C1 Rezone. The file for this proposal may be viewed Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM in the office of the Department of Community Services, 1 Civic Square, Carmel, Indiana 46032. The materials may also be examined on the City’s website, at the Public Documents page via Laserfiche.

Any written comments to the proposal should be filed with the Secretary of the Plan Commission no later than 12:00 PM on the date of the Public Hearing. All written comments will be presented to the Commission. Any oral comments concerning the proposal will be heard by the Commission at the hearing according to its Rules of Procedure.

Joe Shestak, Administrator

Carmel Plan Commission

(317) 571-2417

Dated: August 29, 2023

Curtis Honeycutt is a national award-winning, syndicated humor writer. Connect with him on Twitter (@curtishoneycutt) or at curtishoneycutt.com.

1. Look bad when worn together

6. Sci-fi vehicles

10. Hamilton County appraiser’s map

14. Biathlon need

15. Band mate of Crosby, Stills and Young

16. Wander Indiana

17. Hammerin’ Hank

18. Early Peruvian

19. Mayberry boy

20. Smith’s Jewelers buy

22. Indianapolis Indians, for the Pittsburgh Pirates

24. Architect IM

25. Passion

26. Scrooge’s cry

29. Towel embroidery

31. Indianapolis Opera voice

35. Pacers’ initial league, initially

36. Crackers Comedy Club bit

37. Part of a Classic Cakes cake

38. Chapel with a famous ceiling

40. Alka-___

42. IND luggage attachment

43. Shoe part

44. Shoe width

45. Ogles the Colts cheerleaders

23. Ceiling-hung art

26. Herb

27. Tolerate

28. “___ makes waste”

30. Squeeze (out)

32. Small, medium and large

33. Show disdain

34. Mythical monsters

36. Picture puzzle

39. Herb

40. Distress signal

41. Tribal leader

43. Pearly Gates gatekeeper

46. Decontaminate

49. Kind of cavity

51. Stop from flowing

52. Joe’s Butcher Shop steak choice

53. Computer input

54. Showbiz awards “grand slam”

55. A horseshoe, for the Colts

57. Fiddle sticks?

46. Case for a Roudebush VA Hospital doc 47. Soon-to-be grads at FHS 48. Accumulated, as expenses 50. Westfield summer hrs. 53. Indy street between Pennsylvania and Alabama 56. ___-rouser 60. Spellbound 61. Spot, plot or lot 63. Responded to a cattle call

Like some orders at

Small amount

Not married

Large amount

Old harp

Super annoying Down

1. Ocean Prime selection

2. Boone County Court perjurer

3. Big ‘do

4. Regatta racer

5. Therefore

6. Half of bi-

7. Showy display

8. Tinseltown trophies

9. Pottery fragment 10. Extend

11. Carmel Equestrian Center gait

12. Nike alternative

13. Abound

21. Breezy spousal greeting

Tom Wood Ford Brands

Area Steakhouse Duo

5 Actresses Named Jennifer

First Word in a Dictionary after HOOSIER

58. Onion’s kin 59. Whirlpool 62. “She” sheep Answers on Page 20

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Oversight of these areas: Financial, Personnel, Property Management, Daily operations, Policies & Procedures.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with demonstrated high performance. 3-5 years with supervisory experience Interested persons email resume to mainoffice@christthesavior.org. Job summary, job description and application available at christthesavior.org