June 4, 2024 – Carmel

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

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ABOVE AND BEYOND

Carmel Boy Scout earns all U.S. merit badges — and then some / P11

Volunteer sleuths aim to solve IMPD cold case / P3 Report explores holiday winter market’s economic impact / P4

Carmel student named a Presidential Scholar / P7

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Volunteer sleuths, advanced AI programs aim to help IMPD solve decades-old cold case

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

While many people look forward to spending their summers in the sun, a newly formed group of volunteer sleuths is eager to spend the next three months immersed in something quite chilly.

INVESTIGATION

The eight members of Team Monocles are using their distinct backgrounds and advanced artificial intelligence programs to attempt to solve a decades-old cold case for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Ron Brumbarger, a Westfield resident who assembled the team, took a crack at the case with a group of students from Apprentice University in 2022 but was not able to solve it. Now, with improved technologies and a handpicked team, he is optimistic there will be a different result.

“I started thinking about who are the smartest people I know that I can bring to this challenge. I didn’t want somebody that was former law enforcement, I needed fresh lenses. So, I thought about people who have critical thinking skills, are articulate, the kind of people you want to be trapped in an escape room with,” Brumbarger said, adding that the group’s first in-person gathering included attempting an escape room in Fishers in late April.

Members of Team Monocles are not permitted to share details about the case, but Brumbarger said individuals will work independently and gather for weekly meetings to discuss their research, theories and to use highly advanced, secure AI programs to analyze boxes of case paperwork and other documents.

Brumbarger, who is certified in the Simplexity method of creative problem solving, founded Apprentice University in 2013 and served as its president for a decade. It has since rebranded as Vertical Immersive, and Brumbarger is no longer affiliated with it. During his time at Apprentice University, Brumbarger, now an entrepreneur in residence at Taylor University, examined two cold cases for IMPD but didn’t reach a definitive conclusion on either one.

Team Monocles will investigate one of those cases. Brumbarger knew many of the details of the case when he recruited the team but couldn’t share much of it un-

til the group’s May 28 meeting.

Sophia Delgado, Team Monocles’ project manager, said despite not knowing what she would be investigating, she was looking forward to the process.

“Whether or not we solve it, there’s so much that we’re going to gain from using these new tools,” she said. “We’ll be able to use this information that we learned and these skills and share them for other cases in the future.”

She expects the abilities she’s learned at her day job as a student services coordinator at Jet Access Flight Training to translate well to Team Monocles, and vice versa.

“I find it interesting to relate my flight school training with this case, in relation to attentiveness to detail and problem solving,” said Delgado, a Carmel resident. “I find some parallels that I think will be interesting.”

IMPD Capt. Roger Spurgeon said he tries to find “every way possible to bring violent crime cases to a successful conclusion.” Technological advances — such as DNA analysis — have helped solve previous cold

cases, and he is hopeful other emerging tools will do so in the future.

“While my ultimate goal is a successful conclusion, reasonable accomplishments for this team during this process would be to create a new list of action items for detectives to pursue down the line in our quest for justice,” Spurgeon said. “I have faith that this team has the drive and commitment to produce that, and I look forward to the final product.”

After working on the case for 90 days — plus an additional 30 days if the group is close to a breakthrough — Team Monocles will publish a whitepaper explaining its approach, tools, successes and failures. Brumbarger is hopeful the team’s work will lead to closure and possibly more.

“Our ultimate goal is to identify the perpetrator and equip our friends at IMPD with the information necessary to secure a conviction,” Brumbarger stated on a GoFundMe page he launched to cover costs of the AI program and other expenses.

Learn more and donate at bit. ly/3R28bMM.

About us

Founded October 24, 2006, at Carmel, IN Vol. XVIV, No. 25

Copyright 2023

Current Publishing, LLC

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30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444

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Team Monocles learns details of the case it will investigate during a May 28 meeting in north Indianapolis. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

Report explores holiday market’s economic boost to area

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

Multiple awards and recognitions have marked the continued success of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, and its recently released annual report crunched the numbers to show it, too.

CITY NEWS

Carmel Christkindlmarkt CEO/ President Maria Adele Rosenfeld presented the report during the May 20 meeting of the Carmel City Council.

Rosenfeld said the Christkindlmarkt, a nonprofit, will invest dollars from the 2023 season back into the event, with a focus this year on full-time staff.

According to the data, the annual German-inspired holiday market saw a 59 percent increase in sales from 2022 to 2023, leading to a direct impact of $23 million generated for the local economy. It concluded that for every dollar spent at the market, an additional $1.53 was spent at other businesses in Hamilton County.

“We do know that a lot of that is going to be spent in the vicinity of the market and in Carmel,” Rosenfeld said. “It’s a pretty significant economic impact the market is having.”

The report used data collected by Hamilton County Tourism and the Indiana Business Research Center at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. It showed that an estimated 475,000 people visited the market in 2023, which was held at Carter Green the month before Christmas.

New offerings in 2023 highlighted in the report included expanded space and programs for children, a first aid station (leading to a reduction in runs by the Carmel Fire Department), recycling stations and the inaugural Sankt Martinstag celebration.

“For our organization to be sustainable and to continue to bring this magical holiday experience to Carmel, we really need to build out the internal infrastructure of the market and creating more layers, so that if I get hit by the proverbial truck, there are others full time who know the operations and what is going on,” she said.

City Councilor Anita Joshi commended Rosenfeld for her team’s work to create a “fair and very culturally appropriate and accurate” market.

Earlier in the meeting, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam said that city leaders plan to meet soon with Christkindlmarkt officials to “reexamine this relationship” in light of the market’s sustained success. The city spent $400,000 to launch the Christkindlmarkt in 2017 and granted $125,000 in 2018. It has not provided direct funds for the market since then but has continued to support it in other ways, such as having city employees set up and tear down the huts each year.

“We’re going to formalize some things that haven’t been formalized yet, making sure that they are truly a separate 501C3 with expert leadership, and that we are then obviously a strong partner, and we have a (memorandum of understanding) clearly defined as far as what we’re going to provide and how we work together in times of change or challenge,” Finkam said.

Find a link to the Christkindlmarkt’s 2023 report at carmelchristkindlmarkt.com/ media.

Flower Market

Rosenfeld

CITY DEDICATES MAYOR JANE’S COURTYARD AT MÉLANGE

Former Carmel Mayor Jane Reiman stands near a plaque unveiled during a May 24 ceremony to dedicate Mayor Jane’s Courtyard, named in her honor. The courtyard is in the public green space at the Mélange development, which is along the east side of the Monon Greenway north of Civic Square. Reiman, 91, who served as mayor from 1980 to 1987, described Mélange as a “beautiful building” and encouraged those in attendance to give back to the community by considering service in elected office. (Photo

Mayor creates new department

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

To Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam, it didn’t make much sense to have the city’s communications and economic development efforts combined in one office.

CITY NEWS

So, one of the first structural changes she made to city staffing was to relieve the marketing and communications department of its role in fostering economic development and create a separate office dedicated to retaining and attracting business. In March, the city announced that Nick Weber, a former deputy mayor for the City of Indianapolis, had been hired to fill the new role of director of economic development.

At the May 20 Carmel City Council meeting, the council took another step toward establishing the new Economic Development Department by officially funding it. The council unanimously voted to transfer $170,000 from the Marketing and Community Relations Department budget and $167,833 from the general fund to the Economic Development Department budget.

In a March interview with Current, Finkam

said she wants her administration to take a “much broader look at economic development” than had been done in the past.

“Typically, our economic development has been around redevelopment and some business attraction, but usually business attraction was because of a project,” Finkam said. “I really wanted to look at workforce issues and the broader development of areas, like along U.S. 31.”

Finkam said she wants a “seamless experience” for businesses looking to relocate to Carmel, and she believes that having a department committed solely to economic development will advance that goal.

She also wants the department to ensure businesses already in Carmel remain here. She pointed to SEP, a software product development firm that announced in 2020 it would relocate to Westfield, as a missed opportunity.

“We weren’t paying attention that they were growing so fast and needed more space, and there wasn’t anything they could immediately move into,” Finkam said.

Finkam said her administration has been reaching out to business owners in Carmel to ask what the city can do to help them.

Finkam Weber

by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

Roundabout, bridge work planned in Carmel this summer

news@currentincarmel.com

The City of Carmel has released its schedule of road work planned for the summer. Upcoming projects include:

TRANSPORTATION

• Construction of a new roundabout at Hazel Dell Parkway and E. 106th Street. Traffic traveling north and south will be maintained throughout the duration of the project, with limited access to E. 106th Street during all phases of work. The roundabout is expected to be complete in the fall.

• The Cherry Tree Road bridge over the Emily Vestal Ditch will be reconstructed by the Hamilton County Highway Department.

• A new sidewalk will be added between Streamside Drive and Klingensmith Boulevard. Expect a full closure of Cherry Tree Road through late September.

• INDOT will resurface several bridges over U.S. 31 throughout the summer. The schedule includes 111th Street

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

from Illinois Street to Pennsylvania Parkway (May 31 to June 3); W. Carmel Drive from Illinois Street to Pennsylvania Parkway (9 p.m. Fridays to 6 a.m. Mondays between June 21 and July 8); W. Main Street from Illinois Street to Pennsylvania Parkway (9 p.m. Fridays to 6 a.m. Mondays July 12 through 22); and at W. 136th Street and Smoky Row Road (August).

Contact Carmel Engineering Administrator Joshua Kirsh at JKirsh@carmel.in.gov with questions or for more information.

Former credit union employee sentenced for fraud

news@currentincarmel.com

A Carmel man has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to financial institution fraud. He must also pay $2,132,517 in restitution.

COURTS

According to court documents, from 2016 through August of 2019, Jose Prado-Valero, 35, served as the automated clearing house coordinator at a credit union beginning in 2019. His duties included posting and coordinating transactions into and out of the accounts of credit union members, which gave him access to members’ personally identifiable information, including Social Security numbers, date of birth, home address and telephone numbers. Prado-Valero also had access to members’ account numbers and account balances.

Sometime prior to Feb. 14, 2019, Prado-Valero was approached by individuals

not employed by the credit union who sought his assistance in conducting a scheme to defraud the financial institution and steal money held in member accounts.

The co-conspirators promised to pay Prado-Valero a portion of the fraud proceeds if he stole members’ identity and account information.

Prado-Valero agreed to join the scheme and used his position of trust at the credit union to access members’ account information and steal their money. Between Feb. 14 and Aug. 16, 2019, Prado-Valero and his accomplices made 34 fraudulent transfers to themselves out of credit union members’ accounts, in the aggregate amount of $2,078,725. Prado-Valero was paid more than $100,000 by his co-conspirators for his role in the scheme.

The FBI investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.

Source: U.S. Department. of Justice

The City of Carmel held its annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 24 at the Carmel Clay Veterans Memorial Plaza. The event included music and a keynote address to remember those lost while serving in the U.S. military.

The VFW Post 10003 and American Legion Post 155

The Carmel

and

DISPATCHES

Top Spinner contest — Indiana Artisan Gifts & Gallery, 22 N. Range Line Rd., will present the fifth annual Top Spinner Contest from 4 to 8 p.m. June 8. The winning time in 2023 was 1 minute and 36 seconds. The competition will be held during the monthly Meet Me on Main gallery walk in the Carmel Arts & Design District. The contest is free to enter and is open to all ages.

Osteria closes — Osteria, a restaurant by Chef Fabio Viviani in Carmel’s Market District, permanently closed May 25, according to a post on its Facebook page. The restaurant opened in 2021 and served rustic Italian fare. Viviani finished fourth in Bravo’s “Top Chef” in 2008 and was named “Top Chef Fan Favorite.” Market District is at 11505 Illinois St. Giant Eagle, the parent company of Market District, did not respond to a request for comment.

fire a 21-gun salute.

Maisie Shea, 8, places a carnation on the memorial.

Children’s Choir performs “America”

“Give Us Hope.”

U.S. Air Force veteran Dave Allen, left, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jerry Gould attend the ceremony. (Photo by Adam Seif)

Psychiatrist recalls competing in national spelling bee

By Amy Blakely news@currentincarmel.com

Carmel resident Dr. Mark Ogle is a geriatric psychiatrist, seeing older patients in his office and in nursing homes and treating them for everything from depression and anxiety to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

ACHIEVEMENT

But 50 years ago, long before he attended medical school, Ogle was a teenager who learned firsthand about anxiety and memory by competing in the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

As a student at Meridian Middle School in Indianapolis, Ogle won the right to compete in both the 1974 and 1975 national competitions. Both years, he represented now-defunct The Indianapolis News.

The 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee was May 28 to 30 in National Harbor, Md. The competition started with 245 competitors, including six from Indiana. This area was represented by Miah Miller, 13, a student at Creekside Middle School, who was sponsored by the Indiana University School of Education at IUPUI.

BACK IN THE DAY

Compared to today’s Scripps National Spelling Bee, 1974 and 1975 bees were much smaller and simpler. About 80 contestants competed each year.

“I remember my mom was giving me grief. She said, ‘Come on, Mark, you need to study more. You don’t want to embarrass yourself.’” Ogle said.

Ogle placed 38th in the 1974 National Spelling Bee after missing the word “ligustrum.”

In 1975, Ogle returned to Washington, D.C., with the advantage of experience, and he spelled his way to a showdown with competitor Hugh Tosteson Garcia, an eighth-grader from Puerto Rico.

Ogle stumbled first, missing the word “brilliantine.”

Garcia correctly spelled “brilliantine” and then aced “incisor” for the win.

Ogle had to settle for runner-up, which earned him $500.

MORE THAN SPELLING

The days before and after the National

Spelling Bee competitions were a mad dash of parties and sightseeing trips for the young spellers and their families.

The 1974 bee was Ogle’s first visit to Washington, D.C.

A self-described political junkie, he enjoyed staying in the historic Mayflower Hotel, which served as the National Spelling Bee headquarters both years.

“I remember seeing (former Vice President) Hubert Humphrey in the lobby,” he said.

In 1974, the spellers attended a reception hosted by first lady Pat Nixon. In 1975, first lady Betty Ford came out on the balcony over the Rose Garden to greet the group.

In 1975, Will Geer, the actor who played Grandpa Walton on the iconic 1970s TV show “The Waltons,” mingled with spellers and their families during the week while filming a TV special about the National Spelling Bee.

“I think competing in the National Spelling Bee really helped me learn how to perform under pressure or scrutiny,” he said.

“That whole process of being on stage and having to spell, helped me overcome anxiety.”

It also taught him resiliency.

“Even though I did well, I finished second and lost. No matter how good you are at something there’s a chance others will be better,” he said.

To read the full version of this story visit youarecurrent.com/?p=243949.

Ogle

Competitors in the 1974 Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee with first lady Pat Nixon at the White House. Mark Ogle is in the red jacket behind Nixon. (Photo courtesy of the 1975 NSB Project)

CHS student a 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholar

By Tirzah Rowland tirzah@youarecurrent.com

Joining a long tradition of Carmel High School graduates, Claire He, 18, has received the prestigious 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholar designation.

ACHIEVEMENT

She was notified May 9.

“It’s an absolute honor,” He said. “It feels so unbelievable being one of less than 200 seniors to be receiving this award. I’m in awe of the accomplishments and impact of so many of my fellow scholars. It’s a privilege to meet each of them; the work they’ve done in areas of research and advocacy has been so inspirational.”

The 161 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored in a virtual celebration June 24. The program, established in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, recognizes high school seniors who excel in academics and extracurricular involvement.

Selected based on SAT or ACT scores, the initial list of students, notified in January, was given the opportunity to apply for the program. He said she was among 5,700 students in this round.

In addition to test scores, the application process asked for school records, extracurricular activities and a series of essay questions.

“There were four short essays and one slightly longer essay that essentially asked about topics of personal significance. I wrote about my love for baking being a means of family connection in response to the last essay question, for instance,” He said.

He highlighted her volunteer work with Carmel Clay Public Library and her love for writing and reading as her favorite nonacademic interests. She also plays the violin and enjoys completing puzzles.

Enrolled at Columbia University in New York City for the fall semester, He plans to pursue the economics-philosophy joint major.

“I’m excited to see the intersections between the two fields of study as well as the complexities of a multidisciplinary approach,” He said.

CONGRATULATIONS

TO THE CATHEDRAL CLASS OF 2024

Where the Cathedral journey is taking the Class of 2024

Alabama A&M University

Arizona State University

Army National Guard

Ball State University

Barry University

Bellarmine University

Bowling Green State University

Bucknell University

Butler University

College of DuPage

DePauw University

Drake University

Eckerd College

Eture FC (Spain)

Florida A&M University

Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida State University

Furman University

Grand Canyon University

Hanover College

Holy Cross College

Howard University

Indiana Law Enforcement and Fire Dept. Academy

Indiana State University

Indiana Tech

Indiana University – Bloomington

Indiana University – Indianapolis

GREATNESS

Indiana University – South Bend

Ivy Tech Community College

Lehigh University

Louisiana State University and A&M College

Loyola University – Chicago

Marian University

Marshall University

Miami University – Oxford

Morehead State University

Morehouse College

New Jersey Institute of Technology

North Carolina Central University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Ohio Northern University

Purdue University – West Lafayette

Quinnipiac University

Saint Edward’s University

Saint Louis University

Saint Mary’s College

San Diego State University

Smith College

Spelman College

The University of Alabama

The University of Tennessee

Transylvania University

Trine University

United States Marine Corps

United States Military Academy

United States Military Academy Prep School

United States Naval Academy

University of Arizona

University of Cincinnati

University of Dayton

University of Florida

University of Indianapolis

University of Kentucky

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

University of North Carolina – Wilmington

University of Notre Dame

University of Toledo

University of Wisconsin

Valparaiso University

Vanderbilt University

Villanova University

Wabash College

Washington University in St. Louis

Western Kentucky University

Western Michigan University

Wheaton College

Xavier University

Youngstown State University

BATHROOMS

MASTER BATH WHJE manager earns top honor

BATHROOMS

BATHROOMS

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

ACHIEVEMENT

The station is run by students with seniors in key positions.

“One of the joys of the job is to work with students who have such passion and sense of responsibility that they are the ones who keep the station going,” James said.

A native of England, Dominic James has found a home at Carmel High School. James had been the WHJE-91.3 station manager and radio adviser since 2017. The Carmel Clay Schools board of trustees recently honored James for being named the 2024 National Teacher of the Year for Radio by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. The conference and competition were held in March in New York City.

James, who lives in north Indianapolis, has been in the United States since 2016 when his wife, Nicole Tremblay, took a job at Park Tudor School as a theater teacher. James was an English teacher at Park Tudor for one year before taking the CHS job.

“We had 26 individual winners in different categories, and we won the National High School Radio Station of the Year,” James said.

WHJE has won the national honor three of the last four years.

“We want to keep that tradition going,” James said.

Carmel’s only radio station runs 24 hours a day with an alternative rock format.

“Many of the students I teach have had parents or grandparents work there,” James said. “That sense of tradition and family is central to the station. People feel very fond of it for that reason. It’s important you can find a niche, and for many students, radio provides that.”

“My wife is American, and when my two daughters graduated from university and had jobs, we thought it might be a good time to do something different ourselves,” James said. “It’s great to start something completely new at this time of my life.”

James had previously taught theater, film and digital technology and was an assistant principal in Norwich, England.

“It gave me a lot of experience in teaching large groups of creative people, that’s what really being the radio adviser is,” James said. “There are 100 staff members all with fantastic ideas about things they like to broadcast and talk about. My job is to enable them to do that, often without getting in the way too much but just trying to advise them on the best way to do that.”

DISPATCHES

Sheriff’s office releases crash statistics — The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office recently released statistics that highlight common causes and locations of vehicle crashes in Hamilton County. The top three reasons for crashes in 2024 so far are following too closely, failure to yield right-of-way and animals or objects in the roadway. The top three crash locations are 146th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway, 146th Street and River Road and 146th Street and Allisonville Road.

Former Humane Society building repurposed — Hamilton County has begun demolishing the interior of the former Humane Society building to repurpose the space for three government offices. This initiative comes as part of a broader revitalization effort in Noblesville, with the city tearing down the Household and Hazardous Waste building to make way for the Reimagine Pleasant Street project. The

revamped facility will retain the original footprint of the Humane Society building, spanning 12,000 square feet, and will be built to accommodate the Household and Hazardous Waste Department, Soil and Water District and Weights and Measures offices. The renovation project is expected to take one year to complete.

Adaptive Sensory-Friendly Swim events — Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation will host several Adaptive Sensory-Friendly Swim events at The Waterpark in Carmel, 1195 Central Park Dr. W, this summer. The events, designed for individuals with disabilities and their families, are set for 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 4 and 18 and July 2, 16 and 30. During Adaptive Sensory-Friendly Swim events, the concession stand is closed, music is turned off and capacity is limited. Outside food and drink are welcome. Each event costs $20 per family to attend. Register at bit.ly/3yEo5q5.

James

CHS teams excel in global investing event

By Samantha Kupiainen news@currentincarmel.com

Each year, the University of Pennsylvania hosts the Wharton Global Youth Investment Competition, an annual event that provides an opportunity for high school students from around the world to learn about strategy, teamwork, risk and more.

AWARD

This year, two teams of juniors from Carmel High School placed in the top 50: Mice in Suits and Unreal Investments. Both teams advanced to the semifinals but did not move on to the finals.

Mice in Suits is an all-female team comprised of Michelle Xuan, Darby Miller, Helen Xu and Ella Guo. Unreal Investments team members are Siddarth Chavali, Richard Geng, Evan Witter, William Spence, Jason John and Yizhong “Rocky” Li.

Throughout the competition, both teams were guided by Scott Seymour, a chemistry teacher who was previously a business owner.

“It’s not a normal stock market competition where you just invest and try to make money,” said Chavali, a member of Unreal Investments. “It’s a case study. So, you’re taking the role of an investment team. You have a client, and you have to analyze her values, her goals and you kind of cater a portfolio to whatever she’s interested in that meets her goals.”

From there, the teams wrote a midterm report and then a final report. After the midterm, there were only 1,600 teams left. From there, the top 50 advanced to the semifinals. Of those, only 25 teams were from the U.S. All were notified by email.

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Mice in Suits team members are, from left, Michelle Xuan, Helen Xu, Ella Guo, and Darby Miller. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Xaun)

Commentary by Jeff Worrell

CIVILITY

Queen Victoria honored a visiting dignitary with a splendid, public banquet. Course after course was delivered to each guest by attentive staff. At the conclusion of the meal, finger bowls filled with water were passed around for the guests to clean their hands. The honored VIP, unfamiliar with the custom, lifted the bowl to his mouth and drank from it.

A hushed, awkward silence fell over the room until Queen Victoria, in a gracious display of empathy and acceptance, raised her own finger bowl to her lips and took a sip. In a touching expression of solidarity, like I trust would happen in Carmel, all of the guests followed suit. Whether steeped in truth or embellished with folklore, this tale helps prompt me about the princi-

ples of civility.

There will always be individuals quick to condemn the person who drinks out of the finger bowl. But we must resist the urge to laugh or criticize at the expense of others. This seems to be even more relevant in the lives of today’s children. I remember my children coming home from school talking about an embarrassing situation when they were laughed at. What if adult modeling of civility became such a way of life that it seeped through the doors of our schools? So that when our children see an embarrassing situation, they will react more like Queen Victoria and not be afraid to pick up the finger bowl and take a sip.

Jeff Worrell is a Carmel City Council member and a civility proponent. To contact him, you may email jeff4civility@gmail.com.

Veterans resource group to meet in Carmel June 12

By Samantha Kupiainen news@currentincarmel.com

In partnership with assisted living facility Woodland Terrace of Carmel, Caretenders Hospice launched the Veterans Canteen Resource Group in March.

MILITARY

The group’s main objective is to inform veterans of the benefits available to them, which includes mental health resources. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5.2 million veterans experienced a behavioral health condition in 2020.

The Veterans Canteen Resource Group meets quarterly at Woodland Terrace, 689 Pro-Med Lane., with the next gathering set for noon to 2 p.m. June 12. Representatives from the Hamilton County Veterans Corps and Stronger Veterans, Stronger Communities will attend to provide resources and information.

“They are going to be helping us understand there’s a program to help reduce

suicide and help some of the mental challenges that our veterans experience,” said Donna Hall, account executive at Caretenders Hospice.

Besides helping veterans, the group assists their families and surviving spouses.

Hall said some veterans might be eligible for programs they didn’t qualify for previously, because “things change as we get older.”

“One of the big (resources) is the aid and attendance pension that is available for veterans who have served during war time,” Hall said. “So, that’s World War II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam or the Gulf Wars. It is income based, and there are financial planners and people out there that can help veterans with setting up trusts and helping them with eligibility and applying.”

Besides providing resources, Caretenders Hospice also honors veterans who are in their care.

“Working with veterans and helping veterans in any way that we can is near and dear to our heart,” Hall said.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Carmel Boy Scout earns all U.S. merit badges — and then some

By Jennifer A. Haire news@currentincarmel.com

Boy Scouts in the U.S. are eligible to collect up to 138 merit badges, and it’s a rare feat to obtain them all.

Carmel’s Saint Cramer has gone above and beyond. He has earned 140.

Ten weeks before his 18th birthday — and his exit from the program — Saint completed the cycling requirement to receive his final badge.

Saint exceeded the maximum number of badges available in the U.S. by earning two badges in Japan, including one that required him to become a blackbelt in judo. His mother is Japanese, and the family travels there often.

The BSA merit badge program offers a wide range of learning opportunities through a diverse mix of experiences. Scouts can learn trade and business skills, science, the arts and sports. Saint was most challenged by scuba diving but enjoyed that and wilderness survival the most.

“You get to learn a bit about how to survive off the land. It was definitely the most fun,” he said. “I was able to build a shelter and sleep outside for a night. Most people’s shelters that I was with collapsed halfway through the night.”

Saint became interested in Scouting in third grade. But it wasn’t until two years later when he was inspired by the youth adventure novel, “My Side of the Mountain,” that he decided to join.

“It was a lot about wilderness survival and stuff like that, and Scouts was a way to get outdoors and practice wilderness survival,” said Saint, a member of Troop 180 in Carmel.

When he aged out of Cub Scouts and became a Boy Scout, he worked to earn enough badges to advance to the top rank of Eagle Scout.

Saint’s parents are supportive of his efforts, often including the whole family in the process.

“It was really a great experience for all of us, because in order to get all of them, a lot of times we would make family trips out of it,” said Daniel Cramer, Saint’s father.

The family took a ski trip so Saint could earn his winter sports badge and visited the National Railroad Museum in Wisconsin for the railroading badge.

“We did our fly fishing events down in the Smoky Mountains,” Daniel said. “It really became a family thing.”

Eric Sampson has been the Scoutmaster for Troop 180 in Carmel since 2014.

“To have the drive to reach the rank of Eagle is a significant effort for any young person. However, Saint set the additional goal of earning all of the available merit badges that BSA offers,” Sampson said. “This goal took a great deal of perseverance, because some of the merit badges that he earned require a lot of effort or are not taught very often. The amazing support of Saint’s family and his pursuit of a lofty goal are inspirational.”

The BSA offers awards for specialized activities. Some involve collaborations with other organizations, others are prerequisites for certain merit badges. Saint has earned approximately 26. He received the Hometown USA Award by spending two weeks planting 100 trees in downtown Indianapolis for the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful organization.

“I was exposed to so much that I wouldn’t have had the chance otherwise, even stuff I didn’t think I would enjoy,” Saint said. “But I pushed through and found some new interests. I feel like I know something about everything.”

ON THE COVER: Saint Cramer, right, and his brother, Arch, put the finishing touches on Saint’s Eagle Scout project, a bee hotel, butterfly hotel and bat house near the rain garden at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park. Saint helped build the rain garden four years ago as part of a park naturalist program.

(Photo courtesy of Daniel Cramer)

an older sister and younger brother.

To earn his cycling merit badge, Cramer and his brother rode the Vandalia Trail from Coatsville to Ammo. His family met them at a local pizzeria before they got back on their bikes to complete the mileage and time requirements.

Cramer is ranked No. 12 in the U.S. in the International Judo Federation in the junior male 81kg division. He spent six years earning his black belt.

Cramer attended Carmel High School his freshman year. He began homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic through Indiana Online Academy. He recently received his diploma from Greenfield-Central High school and is on track to graduate with honors.

After graduation, he plans to take a year off to work and earn money for college and plans to study finance.

Saint Cramer is the middle child of three. He has

MEET SAINT CRAMER

From left, Saint Cramer with Troop 180 Scoutmaster Eric Sampson. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Cramer)

Saint Cramer, left, and his brother, Arch, at a Judo tournament. Saint earned a silver medal. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Cramer)

Taylor Morrison acquires Pyatt

By Samantha Kupiainen news@currentincarmel.com

Pyatt Builders, a private homebuilder based in Carmel, was acquired by Taylor Morrison in late April.

HOMEBUILDER

Taylor Morrison is a national land developer and homebuilder headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The acquisition of the Indianapolis market signifies Taylor Morrison’s expansion into the Midwest. Included in the merger is Pyatt Builders’ 1,500 lots, which are spread across 13 communities, including Fishers, McCordsville and Pittsboro. In 2022, Pyatt Builders worked on 283 homes.

“It was a great opportunistic plan for Pyatt Builders,” said Todd Pyatt, Taylor Morrison Indianapolis division president. “We were interested in growing and expanding and looking at more capital opportunities, and Taylor Morrison was a great fit for that. They were very much interested in being in the Indianapolis market, so it was a pair-up that worked very well for both of us and aligned very well culturally as well

as (in) business operations and overall plan for growth and strategy.”

Prior to joining Taylor Morrison, Pyatt served as president of Pyatt Builders. He founded the business in 2009.

Pyatt said those with a home under construction by Pyatt Builders should not notice or experience any changes because of the acquisition.

“It’ll still be all the same things that they choose — their house, their plan, their options, all of those things,” Pyatt said. “Everything stays the same, and the team that’s at Taylor Morrison now is the same Pyatt team that was there before.”

Learn more at taylormorrison.com/pyatt.

Construction firm to relocate

By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com

BK Property Group, LLC, held a groundbreaking ceremony May 15 for its anchor tenant, Centennial Construction & Remodeling, at its new location at 17265 Harger Court in Noblesville. Centennial Construction is a family-owned business that provides home improvement and remodeling services.

GROUNDBREAKING

The business will operate out of its current location at 940 3rd Ave. S.W. in Carmel until the end of the year.

Owner Brent Ash started the business with his father, Joe Ash, in 1994 while Brent was finishing engineering school.

“Through college, I was doing construction while Dad was doing work downtown for a couple of different nonprofit organizations,” Ash said. “When the money dried up for nonprofit work, Dad began trying to build the business even though I was at school. The company grew from there into what it is today, but when my dad died in 2013, I took the business in a completely different direction. We have more than

doubled, if not tripled, our sales.”

Although Ash said there will be upsides to the business moving to Noblesville relocating was not his choice.

“We have been at our Carmel location for many years, and that was going to be our home for life,” Ash said. “The building is getting new owners and gave all the tenants a time to be out. We looked in several places but chose this property because all the other businesses on the same streets have outside storage so I can park equipment outside. It is zoned for what we need to do.”

For more, visit centennialconstructionremodeling.com.

From left, Elliott Sommers, John Delucia, Krista Ash, Brent Ash, Don Meyer and Chad Arnold break ground at the new Noblesville location.

(Photo courtesy of Brent Ash)

A Pyatt Builders model home. (Photo courtesy of Tara Shultz)

New ‘dos remember Carmel boy

By Mary Farucci news@currentincarmel.com

To honor the memory of their 6-year-old son, Brooks, the Blackmore family of Carmel hosted the seventh annual St. Baldricks Foundation head-shaving event — Be Brooks Brave and Shave — May 17 at their home to raise funds for childhood cancer research.

FUNDRAISER

More than 20 participants — both children and adults — shaved their heads in support of the foundation’s mission and to remember Brooks, who had a zest for life and loved racing Hot Wheels cars.

“We’re doing this so no other family has to go through what we’ve been through,” said Tracey Blackmore, Brooks’ mother.

Brooks was a healthy and active child until his life changed June 13, 2015, when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 inoperable brain tumors, or glioblastoma multiforme. He fought the disease for the following 11 months and died May 21, 2016.

The event raised more than $54,000 and will go to childhood cancer research with the St. Baldricks Foundation.

Tammy Hartley gives Sam Bradley a buzz cut at the Be Brooks Brave and Shave fundraiser.

(Photo by Mary Farucci)

Home alone — what could possibly go wrong?

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

My wife Mary Ellen is in Boston with my sister, Linda. Before Mary Ellen left, she gave me precise directions on what to do and what not to do. My wife hopes that when she returns from her trip, she will walk into a house that looks somewhat like the one she left.

Mary Ellen’s plane gets in Saturday at 3:45 am. She should walk in the door at about 4:30. Our housekeeper is scheduled to leave that day at 4:15. After Nettie leaves, I cannot cook anything or open the fridge. I can’t walk out the front door and then come back into the house unless I take off my shoes. And if I go outside barefoot, I’m not allowed to return to the house.

Mary Ellen is particularly concerned with our cat, Angel. This cat hates me. Every time she sees me, she snarls and her hair stands up on her back. She tries to bite me when I come near Mary Ellen. That’s why I haven’t kissed my wife goodnight in 14 years.

But Mary Ellen wants me to play with Angel because she doesn’t want Angel to miss her too much, get bored or wish she had someone to snuggle with. Hey, what about me? Well, that’s in the rules, too. I’m not allowed to have anyone to snuggle with.

After Mary Ellen had been gone about a week, I sent her this note:

Hi Mary Ellen,

I just wanted to update you on what’s going on here at home: Angel is fine. She got out once, but she seems very content to be on the roof. I’m sure she’ll be okay, even if we have that

“My wife hopes that when she returns from her trip, she will walk into a house that looks somewhat like the one she left.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

Evolution of idioms

Commentary by Terry Anker

ESSAY

expected tornado.

I borrowed your Prius one day to save on gas. Bad news: I hit a guy in the rear. Good News: No damage to your car. He was a pedestrian.

I am proud that I ran the dishwasher all by myself. I couldn’t find the dishwasher soap you said to use so I just put in some liquid hand soap. Did you know bubbles can stick to the ceiling? The house is so festive now. We should do this next Christmas. The lawn has not been cut in two weeks. Not my fault. We have no mower anymore. I left the garage door open one night. All my beer is gone, too. I hope whoever took all my winter coats off the garage rack will donate a few to kids who need them. Spring is here, so I’m sure the crook will find good use for all your gardening tools. Finally, our son is doing great. He just pulled into the driveway. He’s going up on the roof to chase Angel.

I hope you are having a good time. All is well here. Take care.

Love, Dick

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

LLC (“Duke Energy Indiana”) hereby provides notice that on or around May 30, 2024, in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10, will submit a request to create a new tariff, Rider No. 55, Rate GSA – Green Source Advantage Service, to

sustainability goals. Service under this tariff requires an agreement for service between the customer, renewable supplier and Company detailing the terms of service provided from a new renewable energy source. 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:

It is a natural feature of the evolution of language that our idiom trails our experience. We put our noses to the grindstone. We lead our horses to water. We bury the hatchet. These are all useful shorthand that help us to navigate the world. Yet, when was the last time we used a grindstone? When were we most recently hands-on with a horse? And who among us is in the regular deployment of a hatchet? There was a time, not that long ago, when these were common and conventional items. Grindstones, horses and hatchets might have been as ubiquitous as microwaves, smartphones and running shoes. One wonders how the average teenager would respond if we sent them to fetch a grindstone. What might they deliver?

No doubt there will someday be references to today’s common, everyday devices in our English figurative expressions. “Make sure your battery is charged,” might become the idiom to encourage us to get a good night’s sleep

Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent. com. before a long day of travel. “Don’t cook it on high for too long,” might be used to illustrate the concept that rushing to finish rather than moving more slowly can often destroy the desired outcome. Happily, our language evolves as we do. Strategizing recently about the modern problem of many young people deciding to forego any higher education, while folks with some form of post-high school education consistently outperform those without, one of those assembled to consider the matter quipped, “Well, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them thirsty.” Is it that we shouldn’t be trying to figure out how to make them drink but instead why it is that they are not parched? If we can’t make them drink, do we care if they go thirsty?

• Fabulous, modern layout with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms AND a fully finished basement!

• Patio area is perfect for entertaining-equipped with fireplace, Phantom Screen, and TV!

• Upgraded audio and video throughout the home!

• Corner lot with a 3-car garage fitted with premium cabinets and storage.

• Amenities such as basketball, pickleball, tennis, multiple pools, a gym, walking trails and more!

• Location, location, location! Just minutes from unique shopping, dining, and entertainment options! Call, text or email for more information about this beautiful property!

Rejuvenated Bentley to play new songs, familiar hits

By Alan Sculley editorial@youarecurrent.com

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, Dierks Bentley packed up his things and moved his wife and kids from Nashville to Colorado, where he spent much of the year unplugged from music and savoring life in the mountains.

“I was out in Colorado and I was living the life I’d been dreaming about for many years,” Bentley said in a phone interview. “I was back in the mountains biking, skiing, hiking, fishing and camping. I wasn’t interested in music at all.”

That all changed later in 2020 when Thomas Rhett and his family came to town to meet with the Bentleys for a hike and a visit.

“He’d been working on music a lot and he start ed playing me his record,” said Bentley, who will perform at 7 p.m. June 14 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. “I was like, this guy’s been busy.’ I ha ven’t been doing anything and he’s been out there writing songs. Maybe I should start thinking about getting something out there.”

But if there were any concerns that the several months in Colorado enjoying family time and his love of the outdoors had dulled Bentley’s passion for music or his willingness to put in the work it takes to maintain the high stan dard he’s set with his craft — those went out the window once Bentley picked up his guitar and started forming his next musical statement.

By late 2020, the wheels were in motion for a project that would turn into quite the odyssey on its way to becoming “Gravel and Gold,” the album Bentley released in February 2023.

“At the end of ’20, I picked the guitar back up and started doing some writing retreats and having people come out to Colorado (for songwriting),” Bentley said. “Anyway, long story short, I was collecting songs and felt pretty good about it, and I came back to Nashville and went into the studio, and back here it was still masks on and COVID testing in the studio. And trying to make a record wearing masks, it’s not really an en joyable experience. I was waiting for that little last bit that makes albums magic. It’s kind of an intangible thing that you can’t put your finger on. I

just felt like the record was just missing a little magic.”

So, Bentley scrapped the session, wrote more songs and returned to the studio awhile later, after COVID-19 protocols had been eased.

“So, I went back in and cut six songs. That was really fun,” he said. “But I felt like that session, it was really good at capturing a certain sound, but I wasn’t able to capture the whole sound I was thinking of.”

As that realization took hold, Bentley figured out what the album was trying to become and he set about taking a third run at making the album.

“I was like, ‘OK, I’m making my 10th album. What this album needs to be is a collection of my greatest sounds, not greatest hits,’” Bentley said. “I want to write all new songs but make sure I capture all of the different sounds I’ve been associated with,” he said. “I’m really happy with the way it turned

In the end, “Gravel and Gold” indeed fulfills the goal of showcasing the multiple styles of music — including contemporary country, traditional country and bluegrass — Bentley has woven into his music in a recording career that began 20 years ago with the release of his self-titled debut album.

That 2003 album put Bentley on the map with his first No. 1 country single, “What Was I Thinkin’” — and the hits have kept coming ever since.

Eighteen of his songs have topped either Billboard magazine’s Hot Country or Country Airplay singles chart (with four of those singles going No. 1 on both of those charts), while seven of Bentley’s 10 albums have topped Billboard’s country album chart.

Bentley is finding room to play several songs from the new album in his shows this summer alongside plenty of his hits. It’s also a big show visually, with a stage design that includes a video wall with footage that Bentley said has “unbelievable” depth and detail.

“It looks like a physical backdrop,” he said. “It looks like steel, or it looks like a wooden barn or it looks like Colorado in the middle of the mountains. It’s mind boggling, the technology.”

‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” runs through July 7 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

The Freeform Concert Series presents Josh Joplin with Jamie Drake June 5; Norman Lasiter’s Gray Pride June 6-7; and Andie Case June 8 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU’

Main Street Productions presents “You Can’t Take It With You” through June 9 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.

’SAGAS

AND SUPERSTITIONS’

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre presents “Sagas and Superstitions” at 7 p.m. June 7-8 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

DISPATCH

ICC accounces season theme — The Indianapolis Children’s Choir has announced its 2024-25 concert season titled “Sounds of Progress” as the organization celebrates its 39th season. The voices of singers from more than 25 different ICC choirs will be featured in this eight-concert series. Singers will range in age from kindergarten to high school, in addition to ICC alumni singers going as far back as the 1986 founding year. The concerts are “Lights. Camera Song” at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville; “A Vintage Holiday” with various concert times from Dec. 13-15 at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis; “Now is the Time” at 4 p.m. March 9, 2025, at Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis; “Christel DeHaan In Harmony: A Beautiful Tomorrow” at 3 p.m. May 3, 2025 at Pike Performing Arts Center in Indianapolis; and “Dawning” at 4 p.m. May 18, 2025 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. For tickets, visit icchoir.org/tickets.

Dierks Bentley will perform June 14 at Ruoff Music Center (Photo courtesy of Jim Wright)

CHS grad in Broadway show

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Actress Monica Tulia Ramirez took a leap of faith when she moved to New York City.

THEATER

“I moved to New York in 2016, and you never know how it’s going to turn out. This career is extremely competitive,” the 2012 Carmel High School graduate said. “You think every final Broadway callback could be it.”

Awards, including Best Musical.

“I love it so much,” Ramirez said. “Each ensemble track has a couple of featured roles throughout the musical. It’s a mixed track because I pivot between characters throughout the show and get to be different women/men. I am also an on-stage swing (understudy) for two principal roles, Inez Milholland and Ruza Wenclawska.”

Ramirez

Ramirez is appearing in the ensemble of “Suffs The Musical,” which opened in April on Broadway.

“This whole debut journey started when we did the production/workshop at the Public Theater in 2021 and 2022 (in New York),” she said. “You always think a transfer to Broadway is possible, but it’s never a guarantee. Almost three years later, here we are and it feels so worth the wait. It feels like all the work that started way back in 2016 and even before has paid off. Dreams come true if you continue to work hard, be kind and push your limits.”

“Suffs” has been nominated for six Tony

Ramirez has appeared in TV shows such as “Elementary,” “Evil,” “Uncoupled” and “Madam Secretary.”

Ramirez was a part of the Ambassadors, CHS’ mixed show choir, and president of the school’s drama club.

“Carmel High School’s performing arts department gave me so many skills while prepping for college auditions,” Ramirez said. “Carmel is extremely competitive and pushes their students to be the best young artists they can be. My senior year at Carmel I played Éponine in ‘Les Misérables’ and the head of the department of theater and dance at Ball State University, Bill Jenkins, came to see the show, loved the performance as well as my college audition and asked me to come to BSU.”

Save the Date for The O'Connor House

Baby on the Way 5K

Saturday, July 13th

Race begins at 9:00am

Guerin Catholic High School 15300 Gray Road Noblesville, Indiana

Enjoy a fun morning of walking or running while helping improve the lives of homeless, pregnant women and their toddlers and babies!

NIGHT & DAY

In a pickle about vegetables

Commentary by Mark LaFay

Pickling involves immersing vegetables in a vinegar-based brine, which not only preserves them but also imparts a delightful tangy flavor. The key to successful pickling is ensuring that the vegetables are fresh, clean and properly prepared.

Here’s a recipe to get you started on pickling your favorite spring vegetables:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of spring vegetables (such as sliced radishes, asparagus tips, carrot sticks or green beans)

• 1 cup white vinegar

• 1 cup water

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds

• 1 teaspoon dill seeds or a few fresh dill sprigs

Instructions:

1. Prepare the vegetables: Wash and trim the vegetables, cutting them into uniform sizes to ensure even pickling.

2. Make the brine: In a medium saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, salt and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved. Remove from heat.

3. Pack the jars: Place the garlic, peppercorns, mustard seeds and dill into a clean, sterilized jar. Pack the vegetables tightly into the jar, leaving a little space at the top.

4. Add the brine: Pour the hot brine over the vegetables, ensuring they are fully submerged. Tap the jar gently to remove any air bubbles and add more brine if needed.

5. Seal and store: Seal the jar with a lid and let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, refrigerate the pickles. They will be ready to enjoy in about 24 hours but will develop more flavor if left to pickle for a few days.

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4201 Millersville Rd., Suite 119, Indianapolis

Artists team up for show

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Tresa Steenberg is convinced this will be a special collaboration.

DISPLAY

Steenberg, a Noblesville resident, and Diane Staver of Kokomo, will display their artwork at Art on Main, 111 W. Main St., Suite 140, in Carmel throughout June. The opening reception is set for 5 to 8 p.m. June 8 as part of Meet Me on Main.

“I am also looking forward to this show as I love Diane’s work and am enjoying working on this show together,” said Steenberg, whose work also is on display at High Frequency Arts in Fishers.

Steenberg has displayed her art at Art on Main since June 2022.

“I usually show four to six pieces per month,” Steenberg said. “For this show, I will have 15 to 20 pieces on display of mixed media and collage work.”

Steenberg specializes in abstract art by using mixed media. She uses traditional mediums such as acrylics, pens, pencils and unexpected materials like book pages, kids’ homework and found paper.

Staver is a retired college professor who taught at the Art Institute of Indianapolis for more than 12 years and now paints full time.

“I enjoy her work and feel our artistic styles complement one another,” Staver said. “I am also pleased to show a larger body of my work in Carmel, which will be a first for me.”

Staver does everything digitally for her art.

“I use Photoshop and original digital photos to create my concept art,” she said. “I combine photos, then manipulate, merge, add to and eliminate areas and filter until the final image emerges.”

Noblesville artist Tresa Steenberg’s abstract painting called “Daydream.” (Photo courtesy of Tresa Steenberg)

A visit to Abydos

Commentary by Don Knebel

As we continue our tour of Egypt, we visit Abydos, one of the country’s most important archeological sites. Located 7 miles west of the Nile River about 109 miles north of Luxor, Abydos was the burial site of Egyptian pharaohs beginning in about 3000 B.C. Later pharaohs built temples in the area to honor themselves and these earlier rulers. Abydos is most famous today for the extraordinarily well-preserved memorial temple begun by Pharaoh Seti I, who ruled Egypt from 1294 to 1279 B.C. Artists decorated the temple walls with colorful scenes carved in positive bas relief, many showing pharaohs and gods. A famous scene illustrates the miraculous resurrection of Osiris, who became god of the afterlife, after he had been killed by his evil brother Set. Another scene shows Seti I offering gifts to Osiris, Isis and Horus, the most important divine triad at the time. Osiris is depicted with a curved beard reflecting his physical death. Isis, his sister/wife, is crowned with the sun disk. Horus, their falcon-faced son,

TRAVEL

holds a cross-shaped ankh, the key of life. These and similar images influenced Christian images. Seti also constructed the Osireion, an underground shrine outside his temple honoring the god Osiris, representing either his birthplace or his tomb.

After the death of Seti I, construction of the temple was continued by his son, Ramses II, often considered the pharaoh of the Jewish exodus from Egypt. Ramses added scenes showing his own physical prowess and, like his father, offering gifts to Osiris, Isis and Horus, but the relief is the less impressive negative image. The Abydos temple begun by Seti I is also famous for its unique list of 76 pharaohs, beginning with Narmer, the pharaoh who united Egypt, and ending with Seti I. Missing from the list are the female Hatshepsut and the short-lived Tutankhamen.

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

is hereby given that the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Officer meeting on the 24th day of June, 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: Owners are requesting a variance from the required dedication of right of way as part of a simple subdivision. Owners are dedicating a portion of the ROW pursuant to the UDO Section 6.03 but are not dedicating all of the ROW due to utility easements. Owners are platting for a subdivision, seeking Variance of Development Standards for right-of-way, from UDO Section 1.07. The requested variance will not detrimentally impact the property, adjacent properties, or the City of Carmel in any way. The requested variance will only serve to prevent an undue economic hardship on the property owners. Under the current UDO requirements, the Owners would have to spend a large amount of money to lay concrete over some of the utilities on the property. By granting this variance, the property owners will not be so economically burdened.

With the property being known as: 4281 W. 106th Street, Carmel, IN 46032

The application is identified as Docket No. PZ-2024-00087.

The real estate affected by said application is described as follows:

Local Parcel Number: 17-13-07-00-00-016.001

State Parcel Number: 29-13-07-000-016.001-018

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.

/s/ Patrick M. Rooney

Patrick M. Rooney, Attorney at Law

Artwork of Seti 1 receiving the key of life. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Osireion, an underground shrine in Abydos.

Across

1. Make over 5. Beginning of a conclusion 9. Sail supports 14. Tied

15. “Indy Now” co-host Ahlwardt

16. Tusk material

17. Submitted a Current reporter’s story?

19. Font flourish

20. Covers with goo, like in “Ghostbusters”

21. Children

23. Plaything

24. ___-lock brakes

26. Praise

31. Ran away from hogs?

36. Word of assent

37. Words of assent in Acapulco

39. Type of dive

40. Crash-probing agcy.

42. Aristocratic

44. Sports org. with headquarters on the Canal Walk

45. Salsa brand

47. “Jane ___”

49. FedEx alternative

50. Talk smack about Santa’s just hired helper?

52. Swear

54. Balkan native

55. ‘Vette option

57. Sleep stage letters

28. Went on a buying spree blowers

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

Docket No. PZ-2024-00083

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Officer meeting on the 24th of June, 2024 at 5:15 pm. in the Carmel City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd Flr., 1Civic Sq., Carmel, Indiana 46032 will hold a Public Hearing upon a Special Exception application to: seeking approval for a boutique memory care home with 10 beds.

On the property being known as: 4423 East 116th Street, Carmel, IN 46033

The application is identified as Docket No. PZ-2024-00083

The real estate affected by said application is described as follows: 16-14-05-02-03-002.000

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

Al 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.

Andrew R. Hein

PETITIONERS

60. Some Indiana Senate votes

62. Notwithstanding

66. Inactive

68. Indy’s place for nature and the arts...and an anagram of 17-, 31- and 50-Across

70. “The Teflon Don”

71. End-of-week cry

72. On the briny

73. Pale

74. PlayStation maker

75. Race around I-465 Down

1. Hinkle Fieldhouse whistle

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

Docket No. PZ-2024-00084 V

Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Officer meeting on the 24th day of June, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. in the Carmel City Council Chambers, 1 Civic Sq., 2nd Flr., Carmel, IN 46032, will hold a Public Hearing upon a Development Standards Variance application to:

UDO Section 2.18 Minimum 25’ rear yard building setback allowed, 36.17’ requested.

With the property being known as 865 Rosemary Gardens, Carmel, IN 46032.

The application is identified as Docket No. PZ2024-00084 V.

The real estate affected by said application is described as follows: Tax ID 17-09-24-00-06060.000

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.

The Old Town Design Group, LLC

PETITIONERS

2. Wicked

3. Shapiro’s, e.g.

4. Kind of band or show

5. Young’s accounting partner

6. Leviathan Bakehouse bread choice

7. Get an eyeful

8. At the scene

9. Annual pageant winner

10. Keystone or College, briefly

11. Categorize

12. Jazz Kitchen group, maybe

13. “Resident Alien” airer

18. Cars’ scars

22. Los Angeles baseball player

25. In that case

Ordinance Z-690-24

27. Mattress size

Church council

Lab dish

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS CARMEL, INDIANA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Z-690-24

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, June 17, 2024, to consider the following: Amend the Carmel Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to add standards and definitions for the establishment of Non-Dwelling Short-Term Rentals.

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

City of Carmel, Petitioner

30. Indianapolis Bridge Club positions

32. Defame in print

33. Bring about

Certain tides

Clean the slate

Stein and Stiller

Uber rival

Wiggly dessert

Dangerous bacteria

Current ___

Optimistic

Indiana State Fair chewy treat

Latvia’s capital

Son of Seth 59.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SHOP TO CALL HOME?

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, good-natured work environment. The best candidate is a motivated, well-organized technician with at least three years hands on experience in automotive diagnosis, problem-solving and repair. Able to interpret and apply diagnostic/repair information from computerized databases and other sources. Also able communicate clearly and effectively with your supervisor, your fellow employees and, as needed, with customers. A complete job description is available with a request to frontdesk@ integrityautomotive.net. We offer competitive pay with a Monday through Friday work week and (after 90 days) up to four sick/personal days per year and 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

PUZZLE ANSWERS

Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Directions: CHOP, CUBE, DICE, MINCE, MIX, STIR; Cities: ALEXANDRIA, DELPHI, EDINBURGH, WARSAW, WATERLOO; Marys: BLOODY, HAIL, PROUD, VIRGIN; Words: BUREAU, MOTOR, VEHICLES; Streets: MARKET, MERIDIAN; Speaker: TODD HUSTON

5 Piece Set: sofa, 2 lounge chairs, coffee table, nesting side table

3 Piece Set: sofa, 2 swivel gliders $4,317 THE HIXON $3,455

Book a complimentary in-showroom meeting with our design team.

BAINBRIDGE

THE DEL MAR

5 Piece Set: 3 armless sofas, 2 storage arm rests, ottoman $5,578

Give your final approval and our team will schedule your install day! CONFIRM DESIGN & INSTALL 1 2 3

Meet your designer and review the outdoor space, budget, and style vision. DISCUSS YOUR DESIGN