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Carmel-based megachurch under financial review

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

A Carmel-based megachurch that quietly quadrupled a retirement payout to its longtime senior pastor in 2022 is undergoing a formal compliance review by the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability, an organization that provides accreditation for religious organizations that agree to adhere to a set of standards that promote responsible stewardship.

FAITH

Staci Brown, ECFA senior vice president of member accountability and relations, confirmed the review of Northview Church but declined to provide details about what led to the review or specific concerns, directing questions to the church. The review was still underway as of April 25 and has been ongoing since at least December 2023.

Northview officials postponed a meeting with Current to discuss financial matters and then declined to reschedule it, asking for questions to be submitted by email instead. The church posted Current’s questions and responses from church elders in its app in early February and sent the document to Current more than two weeks later.

In the answers posted on the app, Northview elders acknowledged the ECFA’s ongoing compliance review.

“If there are allegations of noncompliance, then the ECFA will conduct a compliance review. The allegations in this matter came from sources taking things out of context,” the document states. “The review was not instigated because ECFA saw something in the financial data that caused them concern and warranted an investigation. Everything requested in the review has been submitted to the ECFA as they are still conducting their review.”

According to ECFA’s website, a formal compliance review occurs “when there is a serious concern of noncompliance.” If ECFA staff determine noncompliance, its board may suspend or terminate the organization’s membership.

Brown said she does not know when the review will be complete, but that ECFA aims in all cases to “conduct the reviews as expeditiously as possible, while being as thorough as necessary.” The results will not be publicly released by ECFA.

Northview has been accredited by ECFA since 2017. ECFA records show that Northview reported cash donations of more than

$27 million in 2022 and total revenues of more than $30 million. It reported $26.9 million in expenses.

ECFA and Northview did not provide information about specific concerns being addressed through the review, but a quadrupled retirement benefit provided to a retiring senior pastor caught the attention of the church’s auditor. It is not clear if the retirement benefit is being evaluated as part of ECFA’s compliance review.

According to Northview’s audit report for 2021 and 2022, conducted by Indianapolis-based firm Capin Crouse, in September 2022 the church increased its retirement benefit for longtime Senior Pastor Steve Poe from $700,000 over five years to $2.8 million over seven years, which was noted in the “subsequent events” portion of the document. Poe, now the church’s legacy pastor, retired in October 2022 after working at the church for two decades.

After a second request for comment, Poe responded to an email from Current by questioning Current’s motivations for reporting the story.

“A story about what?” he stated. “I’m having a hard time understanding what your motivation is?”

In response to Current’s questions, Northview’s elders explained the retirement benefit increase, which they stated was instigated by Poe “while discussing necessary due diligence/comparisons.”

“In 2015 the board of elders used an outside firm to conduct a salary audit of various leadership roles within the church including the senior pastor. This resulted in the discovery that the senior pastor’s salary and benefits package were significantly lower than other pastors of churches of similar size and had been for 10 to 12 years. This was adjusted in 2015 for future compensation,” the document states. “As Northview began preparations for succession there were multiple conversations

regarding the retirement benefit of our senior pastor amongst the elders. In light of compensation lagging behind the rapid growth of our church the elders again consulted with outside sources to help determine the best step forward. The decision was made to adjust the amount to more accurately reflect a complete compensation package both past and present.”

The elders also stated that they handle all compensation-related decisions regarding the senior pastor, which they said is outlined in the church bylaws.

Northview did not respond to questions about Poe’s salary or the salaries of other members of the executive team. Although most nonprofits are required to publicly report the compensation of employees who make $150,000 or more and its five highest-paid employees who make $100,000 or more, churches are exempt from these reporting requirements.

As president of MinistryWatch, an organization that advocates for donors to religious groups, Warren Cole Smith said he has reviewed many retirement compensation packages and that Poe’s “is not normal.”

“Big churches often do pay big salaries, but this kind of compensation is absolutely an outlier,” he said. “My personal opinion is that I consider it outrageous. I would consider it to be doubly outrageous if the congregation did not know about it.”

Northview did not alert the congregation of the compensation package until after Current contacted church leaders.

The elders stated in their response to Current’s questions that “the only person(s) that would be able to assess if this amount was too large would be someone that was able to review all the data and facts surrounding comparable situations/ circumstances.”

“For this reason, the church used multiple sources in its review and consultation. Northview also relied on information from various experts in this field in making the decision,” the elders stated in response to Cole Smith’s comments.

Cole Smith said he believes all church members and donors should have access to church financial data, including salaries of senior leadership. Although Northview’s website states that it will provide its audit report to those who request it, the audit does not include information on individual compensation.

Read the full story at youarecurrent. com/?p=242355.

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Founded October 24, 2006, at Carmel, IN Vol. XVIV, No. 23

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30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444

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Northview Church’s main campus is in Carmel on the southwest corner of Gray Road and 131st Street. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

Land scarcity increases costs, challenges for homebuilders

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

With undeveloped land becoming increasingly scarce in Carmel, area homebuilders are looking beyond detached single-family neighborhoods to increase the supply of for-sale dwellings in the city.

CITY NEWS

The Carmel Housing Task Force focused on the single-family housing market during its April 25 meeting at Carmel City Hall. Homebuilders Justin Moffett, CEO of Old Town Companies; Kelli Lawrence, CEO of Onyx+East and Clint Mitchell, CEO of Estridge Homes; provided insight and answered questions from the task force.

Mitchell said that development and construction costs have increased in recent years, which have led to higher home prices in Carmel and elsewhere.

“It’s getting close to impossible to build affordable in new construction,” Mitchell said.

Because of high land costs and other factors, Moffett said the average price to build a new home in Carmel is “eclipsing $1 million.”

detached cottage, on existing lots. These types of dwellings are often a fit for those looking to downsize or first-time homebuyers, two groups that often struggle to find homes in Carmel.

Task force member Adam Aasen, who also serves on the Carmel City Council, said the city considered an ordinance a few years ago that originally aimed to boost the number of ADUs in Carmel but that the measure did not pass.

“We scrapped it because there was so much pushback,” Aasen said, noting that the idea was challenged by Carmel homeowners and some elected officials.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Carmel resident Maurice Sellers urged the city to upgrade infrastructure and amenities in areas of the city with less expensive homes — such as Home Place, where he lives — rather than allowing older homes to be purchased and demolished to make way for a new home that sells at a much higher price point.

“I don’t see a world where we would ever deliver a home under $750,000 in Carmel again, with the few infill opportunities remaining. Even an apartment costs $300,000 to build,” Moffett said. “The reality of the costs are driving us vertical. That’s where there’s going to be a generational shift in what’s tolerable. A lot of people have this idealized dream that they want the suburban ranch home or the large lot, but even a small urban lot costs us about $90,000 to develop just the site infrastructure — not the land.”

Lawrence said increased density could help lower price points. She said that other municipalities have made it easier to add accessory dwelling units, such as a

“We feel like we’re being pushed out, and every time you build what we basically call a mini mansion on these properties, you make the neighborhood look disjointed. You ruin the atmosphere of a long-standing neighborhood,” Sellers said. “You already have affordable homes. If you would just improve our neighborhoods, and not redevelop our neighborhoods, that would really solve the problem.”

Task force member Christine Zoccola, who also serves on the Carmel Plan Commission, said that Carmel has older “neighborhoods that are worth preserving” and that it is an aspect the task force should consider as it puts together recommendations.

The task force is set to discuss multi-family housing at its next meeting, set for 7:30 a.m. May 23 at Carmel City Hall. Learn more and view past meetings at bit. ly/4a2IVxf.

Class of ‘74 reunion – The Carmel High School Class of 1974 will have its 50th class reunion from 7 to 11 p.m. Aug. 24 at the VFW Post 10003, 12863 Old Meridian St., Carmel. For more or to RSVP, email Jocko Conley at jockochs74@gmail.com or call Jenny Johnson Rundle at 317-501-3034.

Data breach leads to lawsuit

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

A class action complaint has been filed against Carmel-based Otolaryngology Associates after a cyberattack in February led to personal and health information of patients being stolen.

COURTS

According to the complaint, which was filed April 16 in Marion County, the data breach occurred between Feb. 17 and 21 and affected nearly 317,000 people, including current and former patients, employees and providers. OA operates 13 medical offices throughout central Indiana.

The complaint states that those impacted were not notified until more than a month and a half after the data breach and that information potentially compromised includes names, codes related to services provided, Social Security numbers, contact information and driver’s license numbers.

“Plaintiff’s and Class members’ sensitive (personal identifying information) has been released into the public domain,” the complaint states. “They have had to, and will continue to, spend time to protect them-

selves from fraud and identity theft.”

OA and its attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to a notice it sent to those affected by the data breach, OA discovered the attack “within hours after it began” and took immediate steps to try to stop it. The notice states that on Feb. 20 and 21, the attacker sent three communications claiming to have stolen data and threatened to release it publicly.

OA contacted the FBI and hired a forensic cybersecurity response firm, and an investigation concluded that the attacker did not view individual documents but ran programs to exfiltrate data from OA’s systems, the notice states.

“The hacker did not gain access to the OA medical records system,” the notice states.

“For the vast majority of individuals, the information impacted included billing records and did not include Social Security numbers or driver’s license numbers.”

The complaint requests the court to require OA to notify those impacted by the breach of its full nature and extent, award damages (amount to be determined) and award attorneys’ fees.

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Carmel’s 3 female mayors featured at CCHS spring tea

By Jennifer A. Haire news@currentincarmel.com

The Carmel Clay Historical Society celebrated “trailblazing leadership” by recognizing the city’s three female mayors during its April 26 spring tea at The Barrington of Carmel.

CITY NEWS

Mayor Sue Finkam and former mayors Jane Reiman and Dottie Hancock spoke about their time in office, highlighting accomplishments and sharing humorous anecdotes.

Reiman was Carmel’s first female mayor and served two terms from 1980 to 1987, at a time when the population of Carmel was near 18,000. Her accomplishments included expanding Carmel Drive to Meridian Street and widening Range Line Road from two to four lanes.

She said she was adamant about increasing pay for police and firefighters.

“I believe that is the reason Carmel fire and police have the most outstanding departments in the state of Indiana,” Reiman said.

She said that early in her first term other people in meetings would often direct the conversation to the men in the room.

“(That happened) until I put up my hand one day and said, ‘I am the mayor,’” she said, adding that she learned to “act like a lady, think like a man and work like a dog.” Hancock served as clerk-treasurer for eight years before

becoming mayor in 1988, serving one term. Having already had a close working relationship with the city department leaders, she knew who she wanted on her team when she became mayor.

“We were a team and I surrounded myself with absolutely wonderful people,” she said.

Early in her term, Hancock worked closely with Carmel Chamber of Commerce Director Nancy Blondin to strengthen the relationship between the two entities. During those

discussions, the two women decided to launch CarmelFest to celebrate Independence Day.

“And look what CarmelFest is now, people come from all over,” Hanock said of the annual two-day festival now presented by the Rotary Club of Carmel.

She said she had some interesting requests during her term, such as when police Chief Gary Barney requested rocking chairs for his office, explaining that rocking was effective in calming people.

Sporting a blazer and a T-shirt emblazoned with “Women drive change,” Finkam, who took office Jan. 1, updated guests about several new city hires. She said that Nick Weber, recently hired to be the executive director of economic development, is working to study and address office space along U.S. 31 amid changing expectations and desires of workers.

“We have to be smart and make sure that the U.S. 31 corridor stays that amazing corridor it has been, and we don’t just ignore it and let it go vacant and empty,” Finkam said.

Finkam also spoke about changes to the city’s youth engagement programs. A new Mayor for a Day program will be open to middle school students in addition to the existing Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council for high schoolers.

“We want to involve the youth early in civic engagement and leadership,” Finkam said. “We will have a fun day for them to see what it’s like to be a mayor, which is convening people around big ideas and promoting the community.”

Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam, center, joins former Carmel Mayors

Dottie Hancock, left, and Jane Reiman April 26 at the Carmel Clay Historical Society’s annual spring tea. (Photo by Jennifer A. Haire)

HEROES CLUB MEETS, MINGLES AT 3UP

The Heroes Club held a Meet & Mingle event April 30 at 3Up Rooftop Lounge in Carmel. The organization is a nonprofit group of business executives and residents who support Carmel public safety employees. Learn more at theheroesclub.org. (Above) Carmel Police Department Chief Drake Sterling addresses the crowd after being introduced by Mayor Sue Finkam. Sterling became chief in February and previously worked for the Zionsville Police Department. (Right) Heroes Club President Tom Melangton welcomes attendees. (Photos by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

Groups address food insecurity

Commentary by Cindy Muse

More than 22,000 Hamilton County residents are food insecure, according to Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank. Multiple resources are available in Hamilton County to help address food insecurity, but the need continues to

One such resource is helping the environment while also assisting those who are food insecure. The Carmel United Methodist Church food pantry is on Range Line Road near downtown Carmel. It has served food insecure Hamilton County residents for more than 30 years. In 2023, it served more than 3,600 individuals, of which approximately 50 percent reside in Carmel. Many of these families come monthly for the fresh and healthy food choices the pantry provides through its partnerships. The food pantry teams up with a local restaurant, a local grocery store, the farmer’s market and several church gardens to supplement its offerings with deli and bakery products and fresh produce. The food pantry team “rescues” food by keeping

food surpluses out of the landfill and filling the bellies of hungry children and adults. According to Feeding America, the United States produces more than enough food to feed all of us if we did not waste millions of pounds of high-quality food each year. Recycle Track Systems estimates that grocery stores throw away about 30 percent of the food offered. When combined with uneaten food at restaurants and by consumers, $145 billion worth of meals goes to landfills every year. Not only does the food waste fill up landfills, but it also contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. As the organic waste decays over time in anaerobic conditions – landfills – the food waste emits methane gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food waste comprises approximately 24 percent of the municipal solid waste in landfills but causes 58 percent of the methane emissions.

Read the full column at youarecurrent. com.

Cindy Muse is a board member with Carmel Green Initiative, Inc. Learn more and contact the organization at carmelgreen.org.

CHS robotics team captures World Championship award

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Carmel High School senior Robert Nies regards his robotics team’s performance in the World Championship as a reward for its hard work.

ACHIEVEMENT

“Winning the Excellence in Engineering Award in the Galileo Division at the World Championship was an amazing reflection of the innovation and dedication of the team this year,” said Nies, the robot ops lead for the CHS TechHOUNDS. “After over 5,000 hours of work building and programming this year’s robot and four demanding competitions, it was inspiring to see our work recognized on the world stage.”

The TechHOUNDS placed second in the Galileo Division of the FIRST World Championship April 17 to 20 in Houston. FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

“The judges were impressed by our advanced software, particularly our use of cameras and other sensors during the autonomous portion of each match and driver-assist features to make controlling the robot smoother,” Nies said. “From a mechanical standpoint, the judges recognized the work we did to modify our design between each competition to improve robustness and keep up with evolving strategies.”

The Excellence in Engineering award celebrates the team that demonstrates a pro-

fessional approach to the design process.

“At Worlds, we won this award for similar reasons as our Indiana competitions, specifically for the innovative automation on the robot and software control,” said Larry Griggs, the team’s coach. “The Excellence in Engineering award is overall regarded as a more prestigious version of the other technical awards.”

The team won the Innovation in Control Award and Dean’s List Finalist Award at the Indiana State Championship.

It was a satisfying season for the team, especially the seniors.

“The years of rebuilding the team after the pandemic culminated in our first competition win and trip to the World Championship since 2019,” Nies said. “It was a strong year in terms of rookie member engagement, with the momentum from our preseason intra-team competition carrying over into excellent design, prototyping and manufacturing work during the competition season.”

Griggs said the team is starting a fundraising drive for the 2024-25 school year.

“This program is not just about robotics. It’s about nurturing the skills and talents that our community values and needs,” Griggs said. “By supporting TechHOUNDS, companies aren’t just investing in a robotics team, they’re investing in the future workforce, helping to develop the skills and expertise that are essential for success in today’s rapidly evolving tech-driven world.”

The Carmel High School TechHOUNDS won the Excellence in Engineering award at the FIRST World Championship in Houston. (Photo courtesy of TechHOUNDS)

Shamrocks senior pitcher’s confidence keeps growing

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Westfield High School senior pitcher Ty Anderson’s confidence has continued to build throughout this career.

“I feel like I can get any batter out,” he said.

In his first five appearances this season, Anderson had a 3-2 record with a 1.64 earned run average for the Shamrocks baseball team. As a junior, he had a 5-1 record with a 1.12 ERA and was 2-2 with a 1.24 ERA as a sophomore.

“Ty’s strengths on the mound are the movement on his fastball and his slider is a tight, late-breaking pitch,” WHS coach Ryan Bunnell said. “He pairs those two pitches with a solid changeup to put together a way to attack every hitter.”

Bunnell said Anderson isn’t a high-velocity pitcher, usually throwing 84 to 86 mph, with a maximum of 87 to 88 mph.

“So, the movement on his pitches and his ability to execute the placement of

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pitches is fundamental to his success and his ability to pitch at the next level,” Bunnell said. “Ty is also a high-level strike thrower. He had multiple complete games last year on pitch counts in the 70s. I think the development of his changeup and the confidence he has to throw it, has been important for him, especially against left-handed hitters. He has always had confidence and competitiveness on the mound, along with the movement of his fastball and a tight slider.

“But without high velocity, the ability to execute multiple pitches for strikes is a must and developing the third pitch was important.”

Anderson, who has signed a National

Letter of Intent to play for Eastern Illinois University next season, said his changeup is a work in progress.

“But it has been much more effective for me this year than it has been in past years,” Anderson said. “My velocity has slightly increased from last year to this year, but that’s not what brings me success.”

Anderson started playing recreational league baseball in Westfield when he was 5 years old and began playing travel baseball three years later.

“I never had intended to become a pitcher only, but as I got older and threw harder, it became something that I grew passionate about,” he said. “I played basketball and football when I was younger, but once I got to middle school, I decided I wanted to focus on baseball because that was the sport I loved.”

Anderson, who played with the Indiana Bulls during the summer, committed to Eastern Illinois in October 2023.

“I chose Eastern Illinois because Coach (Jason) Anderson has confidence in my ability and believes I can be an asset to the team,” he said.

Westfield High School senior pitcher Ty Anderson has a 3-2 record in his first five outings. (Photo courtesy of Owen Ferreri)

Anderson

ZCHS hires CHS coach, teacher

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Jennifer Drudge’s last high school head coaching job ended 20 years ago at Carmel High School.

BASKETBALL

“I’ve always thought about being a head coach again,” she said. “I just love the game of basketball.”

Drudge, whose maiden name is Marlow, had to find the right opportunity in the right district. She found that when the Carmel resident was recently hired as Zionsville Community High School’s girls basketball coach. She replaces Andy Maguire, who resigned after his second stint as Eagles coach. In the last 14 seasons, the Eagles won four sectional titles and were 2018 Class 4A state runners-up.

about going into a culture that is already established.”

The Eagles will graduate four of their five starters, but Drudge said there are a lot of talented players returning.

Drudge, who was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, was a 1995 Indiana All-Star at Rushville High School and played at Butler University. She was a CHS assistant coach in 2000-01 and then became the head coach for three seasons. She returned as an assistant at CHS from 2009-13.

“During that time, I got hired as a department chair in science, so trying to be the department chair and assistant coach was a lot,” Drudge said.

Drudge returned as an assistant for first-year CHS coach Rick Risinger this past season after stepping down as department chair this school year.

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“It’s an honor to be taking over that program,” Drudge said. “Coach Maguire and his staff did such a fantastic job over the last several years. I enjoyed watching them offensively and defensively. They did a lot of good things on the court. I’m excited

Drudge will finish out the year teaching chemistry at CHS, her 24th year at the school. She will teach math at ZCHS.

“I have a math license, so I’m comfortable with that new role also,” Drudge said.

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Rally set for Olympic hopefuls — The Carmel Swim Club, Swim Academy and the City of Carmel will host a rally for 13 local swimmers who will compete June 15 to 23 at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium for a chance to compete in the Olympics this summer in Paris, France. The rally and send-off is set for 5 to 7 p.m. May 10 at Carter Green. Tickets for the trials will be available at the event.

Aviation Hall of Fame class announced — The Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame has announced the individuals selected for induction in the Class of 2024. They are:

• Joseph P. (“Joe”) Allen IV, Ph.D., NASA astronaut

• John D. Riddle, Maj. Gen., USAF, decorated Vietnam combat pilot and military commander

• Wilbur A. (“Wil”) Davis, US Navy veteran, decorated Vietnam pilot and aviation entrepreneur

• Larry W. Gross, Purdue University educator, Indiana’s longest-serving FAA pilot examiner

• Dr. Worthe S. Holt, Jr., major general., USAF, physician and flight surgeon

• Edmond Soliday, U.S. Army veteran, airline pilot, system safety engineer and Indiana state representative The honorees will be inducted at the Honors Banquet on Sept. 21 at the 502 East Event Center in Carmel. Learn more at inahof.org.

Art & Country craft fair — The Art & Country art and craft fair is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11 at the Carmel VFW, 12863 Old Meridian St. Local artists will showcase a

variety of handmade creations that include apparel, ceramics, glass, jewelry and more. The event supports local veteran programs. Admission is free.

Rookie Run returns — Registration is open for the 2024 Salesforce & JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Rookie Run, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 11 in downtown Indianapolis. The Rookie Run is designed to introduce kids ages 3 to 10 to the joy of running in a non competitive and festive atmosphere. This family-friendly event offers a unique opportunity for children to experience the excitement of a start and finish line, surrounded by cheering spectators. Learn more and register at 500Festival.com/Rookie.

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COMMUNITY

Can you trust me?

Commentary by Jeff Worrell

Can I trust you? Can you trust me? Trust is the cornerstone of a civil community where the act of civility is founded on seeing each other as moral equals and worthy of our respect. It forms the basis for open communication, constructive collaboration and respectful interactions. When people trust each other, they are more likely to engage in meaningful conversations, listen with an open mind and work together toward common goals. When there is trust, it is much easier to buffer against a conflict, allowing individuals to seek constructive solutions rather than resorting to hostility.

CIVILITY

It’s not easy. Building and maintaining trust requires consistency, integrity and transparency in actions and communications.

All of us play an exemplary role in setting the tone for trust and civility, inspiring others through their respectful behavior and inclusive approach. Despite the challenges, fostering trust and promoting civility is possible through community dialogues, reconciliation efforts and education on empathy and understanding. It starts with you. Let’s commit to building trust and promoting civility in our interactions, starting with active listening and empathy in our daily lives.

Jeff Worrell is

and a

To contact him, you may email jeff4civility@gmail.com.

DISPATCH

Westermeier Commons closed — Westermeier Commons in Carmel’s Central Park at 920 Central Park Dr. W. is closed for a planned playground resurfacing project. The playground, splash pad, restrooms, community shelter, shelter No. 1 and the western half of the parking lot will be closed and fenced off during the project. The eastern half of the parking lot will remain open and trails to the lagoon will not be impacted. The park is expected to reopen in mid-May but is dependent on weather and other factors.

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GOLDEN MILESTONE

CCS recognizes CHS alum for 50 years of service as science teacher, bus driver

By Tirzah Rowland tirzah@youarecurrent.com

When his parents moved to Carmel from Michigan in 1963, George Ohmer was heading into seventh grade. At age 11, he had no way of knowing he would still be involved in the school district more than 60 years later and how much the city would grow.

“Carmel was a small town back then,” said Ohmer, who was honored at the April 15 school board meeting for 50 years of work at Carmel Clay Schools.

Ohmer, 71, was in the first class to attend Carmel Junior High School (now Carmel Middle School) and would go on to graduate from Carmel High School, where he met his wife, then Nancy Walton, in 1970.

Ohmer said it was a cadet teaching class at CHS that sparked his interest in the profession. The program allowed him to teach in an elementary classroom.

“I really enjoyed teaching and thought that’s what I’d like to do,” Ohmer said. “I knew that I really liked science and wanted to be in the science field.”

He double majored in biology and general science with a minor in education at Ball State University. He and Walton continued to date as she also attended Ball State and majored in elementary education.

Upon graduation in 1974, Ohmer searched for a teaching position.

“At the time, it was hard to get hired as a teacher. Unlike now, there was a teacher surplus and teaching jobs were few and far between,” Ohmer said. “The only offer I had was from Carmel.”

At the time, Clay Junior High School (now Clay Middle School) was set to open.

“They had to hire a whole new staff for that building. And so, I interviewed. They knew me. The administrators knew my parents,” Ohmer said.

CCS offered him a job teaching science.

“So, 1974 was a pretty big year. I graduated from college and got married and got my first job teaching,” Ohmer said.

Ohmer taught at Clay for 21 years and transferred to CHS in 1995.

“(The district) decided to move the freshmen to the high school,” he said. “I decided to move to the high school in order to be able to continue teaching the higher-level life sciences.”

While teaching at CHS, Ohmer developed a human genetics course. He said it was his favorite class to teach.

“I loved that the students were juniors and seniors and all of them had plans on going to college and most had plans on becoming either doctors or nurses,” Ohmer said. “They were motivated and ideal students to have in the classroom situation.”

In 2010, he took an early retirement incentive and retired from teaching but knew he wanted to keep busy.

“I’ve always worked jobs ever since

I was about 12 years old — paper routes and many little part-time jobs,” Ohmer said.

Taking only summers off, Ohmer started driving a bus route and now serves as lead bus driver for Prairie Trace Elementary School, where his granddaughters attend.

“It’s a great part-time job and has given me something to do,” Ohmer said. “It gets me up in the morning and I’m still home for quite a few hours in the middle of the day. I still have all the evenings and weekends and school vacation time off. It works out well.”

While he likes driving his bus routes, he does miss the personal connections with students that teaching provided.

“I really liked interacting with them. I see students on my bus, but I don’t have the opportunity to have long conversations with them and get to know them very well,” Ohmer said.

For now, Ohmer said “I’m going year by year” and has no immediate plans to retire.

“I’ve enjoyed my employment at Carmel. It’s been a great place to work. I don’t know if I would have lasted 50 years at a lot of other school corporations. I really liked everything about teaching there,” Ohmer said.

He credits the quality of the school system with much of the growth in Carmel.

“I think what the main draw is and why the population of Carmel has grown so much is because of the attractiveness of the schools,” Ohmer said.

His wife, Nancy, was born in Carmel and recalls watching the town grow exponentially starting in 1989.

“There was a humongous amount of change, and it came about quickly. I think when I first started teaching elementary there were maybe three elementaries, and by the time I was done it was 11 elementaries,” Nancy Ohmer said.

She taught at Orchard Park Elementary School, where she attended as a child, for 25 years, and five years at Woodbrook Elementary school, where the Ohmer’s three children attended. She retired in 2011.

Post-teaching, the Ohmers are thankful all three of their children live in the area. The family enjoys outdoor games and bonfires and are avid Detroit Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and University of Michigan fans.

Longtime Carmel educators George and Nancy Ohmer met at Carmel High School in the late 1960s and will celebrate 50 years of marriage on July 20. They raised three children and have two granddaughters.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

ON THE COVER: George Ohmer is the lead bus driver for Prairie Trace Elementary, where his granddaughters Marley, left, and Delaney attend school. (Photo by Adam Seif)

Nancy and George Ohmer on their wedding day, July 20, 1974. (Photo courtesy of George Ohmer)

George Ohmer’s senior picture (circa 1969-’70)

Nancy Walton’s senior picture (circa 1969-’70)

George Ohmer in the mid-’90s. He transferred from working at Clay Junior High School to Carmel High School around that time.

George Ohmer is the lead bus driver for Prairie Trace Elementary. (Photo by Adam Seif)

By Tirzah Rowland tirzah@youarecurrent.com

Ascension St. Vincent Carmel welcomed Chad Dilley as president March 25. He joins the hospital with more than 15 years’ experience in medical leadership, most recently with IU Health throughout the northern Indianapolis suburbs.

LEADERSHIP

“I’m honored to serve. I appreciate being able to serve in a faith-based organization and look forward to carrying the mission forward,” Dilley said.

sion to be clear and for the team to be focused on the mission,” Dilley said of what to expect under his leadership.

A Zionsville resident, Dilley is pleased to serve the hospital closest to his home.

As a first-generation college graduate, he saw his dad, grandfather and brother serve their communities as firefighters and knew he wanted to find a way to serve the community but also use his business degree.

“You can expect (the Ascension team) to be involved in the community, for the mis-

“This is also the community that I live in. I tell everybody I live 10 roundabouts away from the hospital,” he said. “Carmel is where I work, where I worship, do life, seek my entertainment, so to be able to serve the community in this capacity with this team and with this mission is an absolute honor.”

Dilley has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Olivet Nazarene University and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Outside of work, he is a soccer and Little League coach, a Zionsville parks board member, a church children’s ministry volunteer and a husband and father.

Retired teacher urges screenings Hospital welcomes new president

By Jennifer A. Haire news@currentincarmel.com

For Sandra Baker, an annual doctor’s visit may have saved her life. What began as a routine checkup led to the unexpected discovery of uterine cancer.

CANCER

Baker, 66, is a 25year resident of Carmel. Having taught for Carmel Clay Schools for 21 years, she retired from teaching kindergarten at College Wood Elementary in 2021. She said she has always been proactive about taking care of her health, getting regular exams since she was 18 years old, and encouraging her friends to do the same.

spreading further. Doctors prescribed six rounds of chemotherapy and a full hysterectomy.

Baker agreed with her doctors that a hysterectomy was the right choice.

“I’m a mother of three daughters and I’m done having children,” she said. “I didn’t need it anymore.”

It was important to Baker to maintain her routine as much as possible during the treatments to stay mentally and physically healthy. She continued to work full time, now as a nanny and tutor for a 3-year-old and 14-month-old.

“I have a lot of lady friends and we all try to be proactive about taking care of ourselves and doing what we’re supposed to be doing, which is our mammograms and Pap smears and just trying to stay healthy,” she said.

In March 2023, abnormal PAP smear results and a biopsy led to the cancer diagnosis. Having experienced no symptoms, Baker says she was blindsided when she got the news from her gynecologist. Her diligence in getting checked annually meant the cancer could be treated before

As of September 2023, Baker is cancer free and will stay on a three-year preventative maintenance plan. She’s getting married to her fiancée, Dr. Dave Gardner, in the fall.

“Awareness is really an important thing for me,” Baker said. She hopes by sharing her story other women will prioritize their health by getting regular exams, rather than putting it off.

“If I would have waited a couple of years, I would be dead right now,” she said. “I keep telling my children you have to be advocates for your own body. It’s the most precious thing you have. Take care of it.”

Baker

Dilley

ALLIED SOLUTIONS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING CITY EVENTS

DISPATCHES

Hamilton County Tourism CEO search — A national search is under way to replace Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. President/ CEO Brenda Myers who will retire this summer. Diversified Search Group will lead the HCT board of directors in the search. Myers announced her planned retirement in 2022, ending a 19-year tenure as the organization’s leader. The goal is to have a new leader in place by mid-summer.

InvestAbility expands — Invest Hamilton County has launched a new initiative throughout the County called InvestAbility, which is aimed at delivering dynamic and inclusive career exploration services to students and adults who have disabilities. Through inter-governmental coordination, the program will expand this year to encompass five community-based, paid trainings countywide. Locations will include three hotels, a senior living facility and a fifth site to be determined. The goal is to ramp up to training more than 130 participants per year. InvestAbility will also facilitate one-on-one career discovery meetings for local students and adults with disabilities who are looking to learn more about a given career or occupation. Learn more

at investhamiltoncounty.com/initiatives/ investability.

Centier Bank makes donation — Centier Bank recently presented a $65,000 donation to United Way of NWI, impacting nine United Way agencies across Indiana as part of its annual Workplace Campaign. For the past several years, Centier Bank has partnered with United Way chapters across the state, resulting in the advancement of initiatives designed to impact thousands of families and individuals in need. The donation supports the United Way organizations in 11 counties, including Hamilton county. For more, visit unitedway. org and centier.com.

First Farmers Bank to open in Carmel — First Farmers Bank & Trust plans to open a new branch in downtown Carmel in late 2024. The bank signed a lease for 2,800 square feet of space at 111 S. Rangeline Rd. This new branch will be part of a mixed-used building from developer LOR Corporation, which will include office space for BSA LifeStructures, Teays River Investments and upscale restaurant 1933 Lounge. Learn more at ffbt.com.

From left, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam joins Allied Solutions CEO Pete Hilger April 24 at Midtown Plaza during a ceremony to announce the renewal of a corporate partnership. The three-year, $500,000 investment by Allied Solutions, a financial services company headquartered in Carmel, will support more than a dozen events planned by the city, including Meet Me on Main, Movies at Midtown, Brews on the Boulevard and more. (Photo by Adam Seif)

VIEWS

READERS’ VIEWS Help Stamp Out Hunger May 11

Editor,

May 11 marks the 32nd anniversary of one of America’s great days of giving: the National Association Of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Letter carriers walk through the community every day, often coming face to face with a sad reality for too many: hunger. So, each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from our customers. Here in Indiana, these donations go directly to over 50 different local food pantries to provide food to people who need our help.

Central Indiana food pantries that the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch #888 provides for include: Open Doors Food Pantry (Carmel), Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank (Noblesville), Delaware Township Trustees (Fishers), Open Doors Food Pantry (Westfield) and Zionsville Presbyterian Church (Zionsville). From this one day of collection Branch

No. 888 has averaged over 90,000 pounds of food delivered to these pantries. This year, our goal is over 100,000 pounds of food collected. Over the course of its 30year history, the drive has collected well over 1.82 billion pounds of food, thanks to a postal service universal delivery network that spans the nation.

Our food drive’s timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need.

Participating in this year’s Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Just leave a nonperishable food donation in a bag by your mailbox on May 11 and your letter carrier will do the rest.

Greg Gormong, Carmel city letter carrier

Donate healthy foods to local pantries

Editor,

I recently visited a local food pantry with my school and realized the issue of lack of healthy food choices for those in need. Later, I did some research and discovered on health.gov that “low-income groups tend to rely on food(s) that are cheap and convenient to access but are often low in nutrients.” Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, “more than 35 percent of the population in states with median household incomes below $45,000 were obese. In states with median incomes above $65,000, less than 25 percent of the population were obese.”

By donating healthier food, individuals are supporting better health outcomes

for the recipient, reducing risks of chronic diseases and illnesses related to diets such as obesity and diabetes, and overall improving their physical and mental lives regardless of socioeconomic status.

I wish to encourage people to donate healthier food to food pantries. Instead of donating food with high salt, sugar and highly processed ingredients, switch to food with high protein, healthy fat and whole grains. For example, donate canned vegetables, canned fish and lean meat, peanut butter/nut butter, low-sodium, natural brands of canned soup/stew, canned or dried beans, whole grains, etc.

Ellie

Wang, Clay Middle School eighth-grade student

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES

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Saturday, June 8, 2024 | 6 - 9:00 p.m.

502 East Event Centre, Carmel

Time is not on my side

“When I counted all this time up and divided it by my compensation, I was better off working at a fastfood joint, especially when they raise employee pay to 20 bucks an hour.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

Tickets available at WineWagsandWhiskers.com

Wine, Wags & Whiskers is back for a night of fun, including:

Wine, Beer, & Vodka Tastings

Chef Crafted Hors d'oeuvres

A Paw-Some Silent Auction

HSHC Adoptable Animals

I explained this all to my family and it backfired. The other night my son, Brett,

came over for dinner. I asked him to read a short story I was working on. He does a little writing himself and I wanted his

“Hey, Dad. I’m done. Let’s have dinner.”  “Done already? I worked so hard on that. You took only five minutes to read it.”

“Dad, it may seem like five minutes, but did you consider my grade-school years when I spent hours and hours learning the alphabet? You may recall the summer of ‘95 when we drove around Indianapolis and you made me look for misspelled words on store signs. Or our trip to Hawaii, when I was 11 and I wasn’t allowed to have dessert until I found the misplaced apostrophe on the menu. Or the time you’ve spent drumming into my head that even when we have a conversation, I need a topic sentence. Dad, not counting all that time is not fair to me and the work I did to

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

Which purposes drive life?

Commentary by Terry Anker

Important 20th century American philosopher Robert Nozick introduced the thought experiment of the “experience machine” in his 1974 book, “Anarchy, State, and Utopia.” He imagined a device into which we could plug ourselves and effectively deliver whatever pleasure we might desire directly into our minds. If we wanted to have the experience of being the MVP of a Super Bowl, ruling as the king of a foreign land or, in the more mundane, living as the most erudite and compelling of all others in our would-be existence, the gadget would deliver it to us. We would satisfy all our desires, prurient or otherwise, with little required effort or consequence.

ESSAY

He predicted, with remarkable effect, the living now on the horizon for many of us. With computer-generated reality, we will soon be able to be anything we might imagine. We could eliminate disappointment and coercion. We would never be challenged to let someone else talk

or limit our demands to the extent of our ability or resources. We’d be delivered to hedonistic paradise. Pleasure would be the order of the day, every day. To some, it will be heaven on Earth.

Why wouldn’t we retreat into a world of our own making? We could sing vocals with Elvis and continue to spend time with our deceased loved ones. Still, is this our best selves? What is the purpose of a human life? Pleasure? Suffering? Wisdom? Ignorance? Can we find our way in a life that is untested in interaction? Are we simply an accumulation of our best moments, or are we better having endured the slings and arrows of a corporal life fully lived? Like the promise of flying automobiles, it may be a while before a substitute existence is realized — and yet signs advise us of the coming off-ramp.

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

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June 19, 2024, at Pebble Brook Golf Club in Noblesville 11 a.m. shotgun start Register at Riverview.org/24Golf. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Polly Craig at 317.776.7938.

Average White Band will serve as Palladium headliner for Carmel Jazz Fest

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The second Carmel Jazz Festival lineup is starting to take shape.

MUSIC

Blair Clark, founder and artistic director, announced Average White Band will be the Aug. 10 headliner at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. As previously announced, Antonia Bennett, daughter of the late Tony Bennett, will be the Aug. 9 headliner at the Palladium in the two-day festival. She will be joined by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.

Average White Band, a Scottish funk and R&B band, includes founding membes Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre. The band, which was formed in 1972, is known for hits such as “Pick Up the Pieces,” “Cut the Cake, “Queen of My Soul,” “Walk On By” and “Schoolboy Crush.”

“I was able to communicate with an agent I had in the past when I lived in California and got a recommendation for the Average White Band,” Clark said. “We’re really excited about them coming and excited about the collaboration with the Palladium as always.”

“Dave Bennett is coming back by popular demand,” Clark said. “He’s a phenomenal artist.”

Clark said the same is true of Cunningham, who also returns as a performer.

“We brought back acts that people really loved last year and we’re looking forward to them coming as well as our new artists,” Clark said.

In The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts, saxophonist Danny Lerman will be the headliner Aug. 9. The Tarkington headliner for Aug. 10 will be announced later.

“What I love is we have a mixture of jazz, blues and R&B and jazz sounds,” Clark said.

“With Antonia Bennett and Carmel

Symphony, we have that element. With the Average White Band, you have an R&B funk kind of feel. Tim Cunningham is very jazz funk and Dave Bennett is very traditional jazz with a kick. We want to make sure we give our audience a great blend of blues, jazz and R&B. It’s staying in that jazz world but we’re mixing it up so people are entertained and have a great time.”

One difference this year is the outdoor concerts on Carter Green will be free

to the public. There will be a section at Carter Green for VIP ticket holders. There will be drink tickets and food vouchers with the VIP tickets, Clark said.

Clark said there will be separate acts at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael during the Carmel Jazz Festival. Those will be announced later with separate ticketed events.

The event is 5 to 10:30 p.m. each day. For more information and tickets, visit carmeljazzfest.org.

‘THE KING AND I’

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “The King and I” runs through May 19 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Corey Williams will perform May 8, followed by Marty Brown May 9 and John Lloyd Young May 10-11 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. All performances start at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘ANASTASIA’

Civic Theatre’s production of “Anastasia” runs through May 11 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.

‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY’

Actors Theatre of Indiana presents “Forbidden Broadway” through May 12 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit atistage.org.

THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN

The Magic of Motown will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 11 at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

DISPATCH

Carmel resident receives New Works prize — A proposal from a former dean of the Herron School of Art and Design has won the first visual arts prize awarded through the Center for the Performing Arts’ annual New Works commission program. Carmel resident Valerie Eickmeier will receive $2,500 to support the creation of a triptych of oil paintings, each 24-by-36 inches, titled “The Wind Makes the Sea Dance,’ inspired by the three movements of Claude Debussy’s 1905 Impressionist composition “La mer.” “When I’m painting, I listen to it over and over,” she said. A St. Louis native, Eickmeier received her MFA from Washington University and moved to central Indiana in 1982 to teach at Herron, where she was dean from 1998 to 2018. She has lived in Carmel since 2001.

From left, Average White Band members are Cliff Lyons, Rob Aries, Onnie McIntyre, Brent Carter, Alan Gorrie, Rocky Bryant and Fred “Freddy V” Vigdor. (Photo courtesy of Average White Band)

Saxophonist Tim Cunningham will be the 9 p.m. Aug. 10 Carter Green headliner. (Photos courtesy of Carmel Jazz Fest)

Jazz clarinetist Dave Bennett will be the Carter Green headliner at 9 p.m. Aug. 9.

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

As a former Ballet Theatre of Carmel Academy student, Emmanuelle Hendrickson views her return as a guest artist as special.

Hendrickson and Erica Lohman share the title role of “The Firebird” as part of BTCA’s production of “Enchanted Tales” May 24-25 at the STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville. “Enchanted Tales” includes “The Firebird,” a one-act ballet, and “Les Sylphides” and an “Anna Pavlova Tribute.”

Lohman, a Mt. Vernon High School graduate, will perform in the 7:30 p.m. May 24 presentation, and Hendrickson, a former Indianapolis resident, will be in the 2 p.m. May 25 show.

Hendrickson was in the performance as a background dancer in BTCA’s “The Firebird” in 2016.

“I watched Erica dance as The Firebird

DANCE FILM

ediitorial@youarecurrent.com

The Great American Songbook Foundation will host two special film screening events as part of its StageStruck! Conference to honor the 100th anniversary of MGM. The celebration will feature participation by distinguished guests including Patricia Ward Kelly and Lorna Luft to shed light on the life and legacies of film icons Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.

The first event will take place May 14 and will highlight the enduring impact of Gene Kelly and his contributions to classic films like “Singin’ in the Rain.” The Songbook Foundation will welcome Patricia Ward Kelly, wife and official biographer of the legendary dancer, director and choreographer. She will host a pre-screening presentation featuring behind-the-scenes stories about the production process of “Singin’ in the Rain” and Gene Kelly’s experience starring in

and I was really inspired by her,” said Hendrickson, a 2023 Indiana University graduate who performs with the Colorado School of Ballet. “It feels like a full-circle moment because I get to watch her perform as The Firebird again and I also get to do it myself. It’s so amazing to dance alongside her this time. My parents are so excited because it’s hard to come to watch me dance in Colorado.”

BTCA Artistic Director

Jane Hachiya-Weiner said this is the fourth time BTCA has presented “The Firebird.”

“It is special to me because of Igor Stravinsky’s moving and exciting score and the dramatic imagery of the darkness of Kachei’s Kingdom in direct contrast to the bright light of the savior, The Phoenix — The Firebird,” she said.

As a pre-professional ballet academy, Hachiya-Weiner said the goal is to train its dancers to be become successful professional dancers if that is their goal.

For more, visit ballettheatreofcarmel.org/ enchanted-tales/.

BTCA grads return in ‘The Firebird’ StageStruck! screenings set

and directing the film.

On May 15, the Songbook Foundation will welcome Luft, an esteemed actress and singer known for her versatile talents and rich family legacy in the entertainment industry. She will share memories of her mother, Judy Garland, and insights into her work and legacy, including her starring role in the film “Meet Me in St. Louis.” The screening event is part of a yearlong celebration of Judy Garland as a recent inductee to the Songbook Hall of Fame.

Both screenings will take place on the campus of the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, the home of the Great American Songbook Foundation. Free general admission tickets can be reserved online at thesongbook.org/stagestruckscreenings or through the Center’s Fifth Third Bank Box Office at Tickets@thecenterpresents. org or 317-843-3800.

For more, including event details, visit thesongbook.org

Kelly

Hendrickson Luft

Lohman

SnowWhite Presents

Civic Theatre offers variety

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Civic Theatre Executive Artistic Director Michael Lasley knows selecting a season can be a challenging balance.

SCHEDULE

“You are trying to appeal to the broadest possible audience while putting together a set of titles that seem to make some sense together, and at the same time advancing the storytelling and educational goals of the institution,” Lasley said. “I think we achieved that with this season. There truly is something for everyone. It’s artistically challenging but also hits those notes of comfort and nostalgia.”

and acceptance — in this case with a very popular and critically acclaimed title. ‘Kinky Boots’ won both the Tony Award and the Olivier Award for Best Musical.”

“White Christmas” will also be a firsttime production for Civic.

“In fact, the stage version of the show has only been around for about 20 years, so it’s likely to be new for many people,” Lasley said. “But it features most of the music and story of the classic film, including the title song. This classic Christmas show with its ties to the Great American Songbook is a perfect fit for our patrons.”

In contrast, Civic’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is its 10th since 2000.

The 2024-25 season opens with “Kinky Boots” Oct. 4-19, followed by “White Christmas” Nov. 29 to Dec. 24. The 2025 portion of the season opens with “Pride & Prejudice” Feb. 7-22, followed by “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” March 14-29 and “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” April 25 to May 10. The performances are at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, except for “The Curious Incident,” which will be at the Studio Theater.

“Kinky Boots” will be a Civic Theatre premiere.

“I believe it’s only been produced one other time locally,” Lasley said. “It’s an exciting title for us and provides another opportunity to present a story of diversity

“It is incredibly popular and was the anchor of our holiday rotation until we recently switched to a holiday-themed title,” Lasley said. “The classic Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice collaboration has its roots in the earliest year of their partnership and is one of their most enduring shows. ‘Joseph’ represents in many ways what so many of our patrons look for in Civic productions — high energy, family friendly, technically exciting and just plain fun.”

“The Cat in the Hat” returns from Feb. 25 to March 6, 2025. Other 2025 shows include Junior Civic production of “Seussical Jr.” June 20-25, Young Artists Program’s “Revue!” June 23 and “Legally Blonde: The Musical” July 24-27.

For more, visit civictheatre.org.

CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS ‘ANASTASIA’

Lasley

More than 400 people attended Civic Theatre’s production of “Anastasia” April 27. The performances opened April 26 and run through May 11.

From left, family members Katie Montieth and Ava Johnson-Guerrero of Carmel, Kylie Benakovich, Clara Benakovich, Lauren Benakovich of Crawfordsville, Ava Montieth, Andrew Montieth and Carter Montieth of Carmel attend the show. (Photo by Jennifer Haire)

Pandemic-inspired concerts now a tradition at Holliday Park

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

What started as an effort to present live music during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a summer tradition that aims to bring the community together at Holliday Park in Indianapolis.

MUSIC

The Rock the Ruins concert series will kick off its fourth season May 24, with 13 shows featuring a variety of sounds and styles scheduled through Sept. 20. The stage and viewing area are nestled between trees and the Ruins, which features a trio of sculptures made of Indiana limestone relocated from a New York City building facing demolition in the 1950s.

The partners at Forty5, which owns and operates several local performance venues, launched Rock the Ruins after COVID-19 restrictions halted most live events just months after they purchased The Vogue Theatre in Broad Ripple. They knew that nearby Holliday Park had hosted outdoor concerts in the past and could provide a unique setting to bring people together while still providing enough space for social distancing. It also allowed staff to keep working through the pandemic.

“That first year had spray-painted boxes, and you didn’t leave your box in the COVID days,” Forty5 CEO Jenny Boyts said. “It’s continued to evolve and this year is a really full calendar and full lineup. This wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan idea, but there were people and citywide institutions who believed that parks are an asset.”

Forty5 works with Indy Parks & Recreation and the Holliday Park Foundation to coordinate Rock the Ruins.

Adam Barnes, executive director of the Holliday Park Foundation, said the nonprofit had previously organized a small summer concert series at the park in the past and felt it was ripe for expansion. The partnerships finally allowed that to occur, he said, leading to one of the most “laid back” concert experiences in town.

“It’s just a very relaxed atmosphere. It’s very family friendly,” Barnes said. “There’s some incredible venues around town, but I’ve never seen one that has as many families here. So, it’s friends, families, neighbors just enjoying being outside. Then the music starts and everybody comes together around that, but it really is a unique

atmosphere.”

Rock the Ruins aims to present a variety of musical genres throughout the season from artists with diverse voices.

“We’re trying to get better across gender lines and across sexuality lines and race and putting those kinds of artists on stage,” Boyts said.

Rock the Ruins has space for up to 2,500 attendees and guests are invited to bring their own chairs or reserve them onsite. For the first time, this year a space called “the pit” will be designated for those who would rather stand or move around during the performance, Boyts said. Food trucks will be available at all shows to provide refreshments.

The limited parking spaces at Holliday Park must be reserved and purchased in advance, but free offsite parking is available at The Orchard School or Congregation B’Nai Torah. Shuttle buses will transport guests from the offsite lots to the park.

Ticket prices vary by concert and various upgrades are available. Learn more and purchase tickets at RockTheRuins.com.

May 23 – The Decemberists

June 8 – Greensky Bluegrass

June 9 – Orville Peck

June 22 – Amos Lee

June 30 – Band of Horses

July 11 – Elle King

Aug. 8 – Andrew Bird with Amadou & Mariam

Aug. 15 – Switchfoot/Blue October/Matt

Nathanson – Help From My Friends Tour

Aug. 16 – The Struts

Aug. 17 – The Mavericks

Aug. 18 – Charley Crockett

Sept. 20 – Manchester Orchestra

Rock the Ruins returns to Holliday Park in Indianapolis May 24. (Photo Doug Fellegy / Rock the Ruins)

ROCK THE RUINS 2024 LINEUP

Visiting Medinet Habu on the Nile River

Commentary by Don Knebel

In our continuing tour of Egypt, we visit Medinet Habu on the west bank of the Nile River across from Luxor.

TRAVEL

Medinet Habu is the name for the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramses III, who ruled Egypt from 1186 B.C. until his death in 1155 B.C. The well-preserved temple celebrated the pharaoh’s earthly achievements and allowed priests to nourish his soul so he could live forever as a god. Columns in the hypostyle hall of his 150-meter-long temple show Ramses among the gods. Statues in a courtyard portray him as Osiris, god of the afterlife.

Carvings on the north exterior wall portray Ramses and his troops battling a confederation of invading “sea people,” predominantly people the Egyptians called Pelesets and the Bible calls Philistines. The carvings show the invaders riding three-man chariots pulled by two horses, wielding double-edged swords and long spears, carrying round shields and wearing feathered headdresses. According to the hieroglyphic account, Ramses defeated the invaders, taking many of them prisoner. Most scholars believe the sea people described at Medinet Habu left the Aegean Sea area in about 1200 B.C. for reasons unknown and sought to settle in Egypt. After Ramses III beat them back, they moved

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS HEARING OFFICER

Docket No. PZ-2024-00058 V

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Officer meeting on the 28th day of May, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1 Civic Sq., 2nd Flr., Carmel, IN 46032, will hold a Public Hearing upon a Development Standards Variance application to: Build a Stamped and Poured Concrete Patio and Install an Aluminum Automatic Pergola, within the 15 ‘ Building Setback when no building is allowed in that area.

With the property being known as: 536 Terhune Lane, Carmel IN 46032

The application is identified as Docket No. PZ-2024-00058 V

The real estate affected by said application is described as follows:_Legal Descripon: Acreage .22 Secon 34, Township 18, Range 3 JACKSONS GRANT ON WILLIAMS CREEK Secon 5 Lot 272 Irregular Shape

The petition may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents - Laserfiche.

All interested persons desiring to present their views on the above application, either in writing or verbally, will be given an opportunity to be heard at the above-mentioned time and place.

Charles J Damler III , The Perfect Pergola

Karen Fuson, Homeowner

PETITIONERS

into nearby areas. The Philistines took what is now the Gaza Strip area along the eastern Mediterranean coast. According to the Bible, as the Israelites entered their Promised Land, they stayed clear of the Philistines, apparently because of their superior iron weapons and fighting skill. The Philistines later moved aggressively into Israel’s heartland until young David killed

their

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

Ordinance Z-688-24

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS

CARMEL, INDIANA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Z-688-24

Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the City of Carmel, Hamilton County, Indiana, that the proper legal officers of the City of Carmel will meet at their regular meeting place, Council Chambers, Carmel City Hall, One Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032, at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 2024, to consider the following: Amend the Unified Development Ordinance in order to revise the Park and Recreation Impact Fee (PRIF) Ordinance pertaining to credits in lieu of payment, establishment of the Impact Fee Fund, and the use of impact fees.

Taxpayers appearing at the meeting shall have the right to be heard.

City of Carmel, Petitioner

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

Docket No. PZ-2024-00060 UV

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on the 28th of May, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Carmel City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 1 Civic Sq., Carmel, IN 46032 will hold a Public Hearing upon a Use Variance application to: Variance of Use and Special Use Approval to operate a day care and preschool facility.

On the property being known as: 10455 N College Ave, Carmel, IN 46280

The application is identified as Docket No. PZ-2024-00060 UV.

The real estate affected by said application is described as follows: Parcel Number17-13-12-01-02-031.000

The petition may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents - Laserfiche. All interested persons desiring to present their views on the above application, either in writing or verbally, will be given an opportunity to be heard at the above-mentioned time and place.

Joy M. Skidmore

Single Source Real Estate Services

On behalf of

Dr. Charity Holland

The Family Place LLC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS HEARING OFFICER

Docket No. PZ-2024-00061 V

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Officer meeting on the 28th day of May, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1 Civic Sq., 2nd Flr., Carmel, IN 46032, will hold a Public Hearing upon a Development Standards Variance application to: seek approval to add 250 sq. feet of concrete to exsisting pool deck to install a gazebo. This will take the coverage of solid surface/house/pool to 38% which exceeds the maximum allowable lot coverage of 35%.

With the property being known as 2993 Topaz Lane

The application is identified as Docket No.PZ-2024-00061 V.

The real estate affected by said application is described as follows: Kings Mill lot 116, Parcel # 17-13-05-00-13-014.000

The petition may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents - Laserfiche. All interested persons desiring to present their views on the above application, either in writing or verbally, will be given an opportunity to be heard at the above-mentioned time and place.

Mike and Robyn Brown

PETITIONERS

champion Goliath and they retreated to five cities along the coast.

Hypostyle hall inside the Medinet Habu. (Photos by Don Knebel)

LIFESTYLE

36. Service charge

37. Fishers HS math class

39. Brought forth

41. Butler frat letter

42. Gillette razor

44. Waiting, in a way

45. Palladium concert equipment

47. “Fine by me”

49. ___-bitsy

50. Sense of self

52. Pick up the tab

54. Heptagram

59. Portent

60. Jog on the Monon Trail

61. Rich soil

62. Delhi dress

63. Zionsville HS subj.

64. Mystical glow

65. Curved molding

66. Colts stats

67. Put one’s foot down Down

1. Shapiro’s, e.g.

2. Crooked Stick golf club

3. Kind of view

4. “Now you ___, now you don’t”

5. Lacking a musical key

6. Pittsburgh team Indianapolis Indians players move up to

7. Chick’s chirp

8. Weeps loudly

9. More spine-tingling

10. Historical periods

11. Taylor Swift, e.g. 19. Distribute pro rata

20. Very vocal

23. Tom Roush Mazda

roadster

24. Muslim faith

25. Prepare to advance on a fly ball

27. Some batteries

29. “___ now, when?”

30. Senses

31. A Roosevelt

33. Pacers’ org.

35. ___ Diego

38. Kuaba Gallery piece

40. Blizzard hazard

43. Astonish

46. Extreme

48. Space shuttle gaskets

51. Bottled spirit

53. Book of maps

54. Ho-hum

55. Online ‘zine

56. Quarry

WE DO CONTACTLESS EXTERIOR ESTIMATES

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WILL DO BOBCAT WORK

WILL MOW LAWNS

Trim/Remove trees & shrubs Building Demolitions Clean Gutters Build Decks Painting inside or Outdoors Property Clean Outs FULLY INSURED Text or Call Jay 574-398-2135 shidelerjay@gmail.com www.jayspersonalservices.com

HELP WANTED FEMALE

VOCALIST - An Indy-based variety band has an opening for an experienced female singer for background vocals and some lead vocals. Energetic stage presence required. Tell us about your qualifications for immediate consideration at otrbandindy@gmail.com.

Neighborhood Garage Sale in The Bristols 126th Street & Brooks School Road in Fishers (46037) Friday, May 10 & Saturday, May 11 8AM - 1PM each day

Waterstone Neighborhood Garage Sale

Tons of homes participate. Make sure you get to all four neighborhoods!

Designer clothing, furniture, housewares, kids’ stuff, and incredible deals! This sale is too good to miss!

Waterstone is east of Gray Road between 116th and 126th Entrances to neighborhood are at 116th, 126th, and Gray Road

Includes Bayhill, Brookfield, Stonewick and Windpointe.

Thursday May 9th

Friday May 10th

Saturday May 11th

From 8:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m daily

Integrity Automotive is looking for a full time automotive technician. In business for 28 years in downtown Carmel with a solid, happy customer base and a positive,

paid holidays. To schedule an interview, send your resume with contact information to: frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net . 40 S Rangeline Rd Carmel Indiana 46032 www.IntegrityAutomotive.net

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