TONY GREEN President South Central District #5 (317) 408-9071 agreen@carmel.in.gov
TERESA AYERS North Central District #1 (317) 296-1090 tayers@carmel.in.gov
Carmel City Council Quarterly Update
The Carmel City Council is comprised of nine members elected to four-year terms: three elected at-large and six elected from districts.
Carmel City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month unless holiday.
Agenda deadline is at noon, six business days before the Council meeting unless changed by Council (contact Clerk of the City for changes).
ADAM AASEN Vice President Southeast District #3 (317) 696-4640 aaasen@carmel.in.gov
SHANNON MINNAAR Northeast District #2 (317) 671-2968 sminnaar@carmel.in.gov
RICH TAYLOR Chaplain At-Large (317) 671-9864 rtaylor@carmel.in.gov
MATT SNYDER Parliamentarian At-Large (317) 671-2430 msnyder@carmel.in.gov
RYAN LOCKE Northwest District #4 (317) 671-3175 ralocke@carmel.in.gov
DR. ANITA JOSHI West District #6 (317) 671-9442 ajoshi@carmel.in.gov
JEFF WORRELL At-Large (317) 471-9836 jworrell@carmel.in.gov
The City Council constitutes the legislative body of the city. It has power over the city budget and passes city ordinances and resolutions.
136th & Meridian or 131st & Towne Rd
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The pizza that won the Best Classic Pizza in America at the World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy!
CTA makes first school board endorsements
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
The Carmel teachers’ union has endorsed candidates in a school board race for the first time.
ELECTION
On Sept. 12, the Carmel Teachers’ Association announced that it is endorsing Jon Shapiro and Kristina Wheeler in a fourway race for two at-large seats on the school board. The endorsement required a supermajority of support from more than twothirds of voting members.
“As an association, we feel it is both appropriate and crucial to give a voice to our teachers in this election,” CTA President Mark Wien stated. “Jon Shapiro and Kristina Wheeler have proven their dedication to building strong partnerships between teachers, staff, administration and the community — an approach that aligns with our belief in the power of collaboration and communication.”
According to CTA, the union believes Shapiro and Wheeler will “prioritize the needs of our schools and uphold the nonpartisan nature of the Carmel Clay School Board.”
Two other candidates, Dina Ferchmin and Robin Clark, are promoting their conservative values as part of their campaigns and have received support from the Hamilton County Republican Party. Ferchmin and Clark have been endorsed by the Carmel Excellence political action committee. Shapiro and Wheeler previously received an endorsement from the Support CCS PAC. Support CCS created a vetting committee of four Republicans, three Democrats and
one Independent to evaluate candidates before making an endorsement. Only Shapiro and Wheeler applied for the Support CCS endorsement.
The two at-large seats on the Nov. 5 ballot are held by Louise Jackson and Katie Browning. Neither incumbent is running for reelection.
CTA has represented CCS teachers since June 2017.
CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES CALL ENDORSEMENT ‘POLITICAL INTERFERENCE’
The day after the CTA announced its endorsement, the two candidates not receiving the union’s support questioned whether the endorsement conflicts with school policy.
Teachers unions elsewhere have long endorsed political candidates. But in CCS, district policy 9700.01 states that “no one may use his/her involvement or position in a school-related organization to promote his/her own or any other candidacy for public office.” CTA and CCS officials said the union is separate from the district, and thus not required to follow CCS policy, but candidates Clark and Ferchmin disagree.
In a Sept. 13 mass text sent to voters in Carmel, Clark and Ferchmin stated that candidates Kristina Wheeler and Jon Shapiro “shamelessly accepted support from school-adjacent political organizations, violating school policy and furthering their political crusade.”
“This is not just a breach of rules; it’s a direct threat to the integrity of our education system,” the text states. “We must put an end to this political interference and restore our schools to their core mission: providing a strong, foundational education. It’s time to fight back and ensure our children’s education isn’t hijacked by political agendas.”
Christopher Lubienski, director for the Center for Evaluation & Education Policy at Indiana University, said it’s common for teachers unions to endorse political candidates, and he has not heard of any other situation where a union’s decision to make an endorsement has been questioned.
“(In this case), it appears that any con-
troversy here comes down to the definition of a ‘school-related organization,’” Lubienski said. “I’m not sure if or how CCS classifies the union in that regard. But unions are not governed by their district, so it seems like there is some level of independence there.”
CCS Director of Community Relations Emily Bauer said CTA is an independent organization.
“The district cannot interpret our policies to govern or restrict the CTA’s activities without conflicting with well-established legal precedents,” she said. “These precedents protect labor unions and their leadership under the First Amendment, which guarantees the rights of free speech and association.”
Wien said although the union and CCS work closely together, the union is “free to function as we see fit” as long as it adheres to state campaign law.
LESS THAN HALF OF CTA MEMBERS VOTED ON ENDORSEMENT
CTA members were asked to vote online on whether they supported the union publicly endorsing Shapiro and Wheeler. Of the 307 CTA members who responded, 286 voted in favor, while 21 voted against it. CTA has approximately 850 members representing approximately 80 percent of CCS teachers.
Wien said he had numerous conversations with CTA officers and other union members during the past two months about the endorsements.
“Through the conversations with the officers and the board, it was abundantly clear that any CTA endorsement would be for Shapiro and Wheeler,” Wien said. “I asked for feedback from the officers, board and the building contacts before making any final decisions to ask the CTA members what they wanted to do. I did not present an explicit option to teachers asking if they wanted to endorse anyone else. At that point in the process, that decision had been made. Of course, teachers were free to vote no on the question of endorsement.”
Clark and Ferchmin did not respond to a request for comment.
About us
Founded October 24, 2006, at Carmel, IN Vol. XVIV, No. 48
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Shapiro
Wheeler
Clark
Ferchmin
Meet the District 20 candidates
Compiled by Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
State Sen. Scott Baldwin, a Republican, is facing Democratic challenger Joel Levi in the race for the District 20 seat in the Indiana legislature. Baldwin, a Noblesville resident and owner and CEO of Envoy Inc., first took office in 2020. Levi lives in Cicero and is a pharmacy technician at Riverview Health in Noblesville.
ELECTION
Learn more about Levi at JoelLeviForIndiana.com and about Baldwin at VoteBaldwin.com.
Why do you want to run for this office?
Levi: I’m running for office to make sure Indiana is a place where our kids can go to school to grow, learn and thrive without the fear of gun violence. There is no single perfect answer. If elected, I would spearhead legislation that would require background checks on private gun sales.
Baldwin: Whether as a U.S. Marine, a police officer in Indianapolis or now in the legislature as a state senator, my commitment to serving others has never wavered. We need leaders at the statehouse who will prioritize service and be unwavering advocates for Hamilton County families.
What sets you apart?
Levi: I’m focused on improving the lives of families here in Hamilton County. In 2024, my opponent chose to focus on making it legal to hunt bobcats in Indiana. I would focus on keeping our children safe with common sense gun legislation, supporting our public schools and addressing the housing crisis.
Baldwin: As a Marine Corps veteran, retired police officer, businessman and business owner, I have real life experience that helps me understand the challenges veterans, law enforcement and businesses owners face. I’m proud of my record in the legislature to grow our economy, improve public safety and help Hamilton County thrive.
What are your top 3 campaign issues?
Levi: 1. Keeping our children and families safe by requiring background checks on private gun sales. 2. Supporting the repro-
ductive rights of Hoosier women. 3. Advocating for the importance of public schools and working to increase teachers salaries.
Baldwin: As I’ve talked with constituents throughout District 20, the economy, education and public safety remain top issues. With a focus on a strong economy, a good education system and safe streets, we can continue to make Indiana a great state to live, work and raise a family.
How do you plan to address rising property taxes?
Levi: I would be an advocate for Jennifer McCormick’s plan, which includes capping property tax increases at 10 percent, combined with increasing the homeowner property tax deduction by 40 percent; increasing personal exemptions by 150 percent; and increasing the renters tax deduction by 33 percent. All changes provide relief through income tax filings.
Baldwin: Like many Hoosiers, I feel the pressure of rising property taxes, too. While this is predominantly a local government issue, I’m working closely with other legislators as a part of the State and Local Tax Review Task Force to find ways to ease the burden of property taxes.
Do you believe laws regarding the relationship between renters and landlords are fair in Indiana?
Levi: No. Indiana is one of only five states that has no provision for rent escrow or withholding. The escrow provision would allow tenants whose landlords are not responding to serious habitability issues like no heat, mold, rodents, appliances not working, etc., the permission to pay their rent to the courts. When the landlord completes the repairs, they can petition the courts for the rent.
Baldwin: It’s important to balance the rights of tenants and property owners. Indiana’s “bill of rights” for tenants and property owners established important statewide standards, and we should continue to address any potential gaps.
How would you propose reining in health care costs?
Levi: Did not submit an answer to this question, citing the word limit.
Baldwin: Efforts to increase price and quality transparency that help make Hoosiers make informed decisions about the care they receive, as well as efforts to increase competition among providers, are vital to bringing down the cost of health care. I’ll continue to support efforts that improve affordability and quality.
September 28th
September 29th
Baldwin
Levi
ROBIN CLARK
The Proscenium III mixed-use development is set to include a hotel, office space, retail and apartments. Up to 40 apartments will be restricted to residents aged 55 and older in a building on the southwest corner of the site. (Rendering courtesy of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission)
City council approves Proscenium III TIF bonds
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
A mixed-use development with a hotel, retail, office space and apartments cleared a major hurdle Sept. 16 when the Carmel City Council voted 5-3 to approve up to $19 million in tax increment financing bonds to support the project.
REDEVELOPMENT
Proscenium III is planned at the corner of Range Line Road and Executive Drive just north of Carmel’s Proscenium development. The $123 million project is a public-private partnership between Birkla Investment Group and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission.
The development includes 151 apartments, with up to 40 being reserved for tenants aged 55 and older in a building on the southwest corner of the site. The age-targeted units were not part of the original proposal, and several councilors said adding them improved the project.
“The age-restricted apartments is a win and adds value to the whole package,” City Council President Tony Green said. “I’ve traditionally been very hesitant on apartments across the board, but it’s just one of those in the right place at the right time.”
Councilor Matt Snyder joined Councilors Anita Joshi and Teresa Ayers in voting against the project. Snyder said many Carmel residents have asked city leaders to stop or slow down efforts to add more apartments. He said he suggested three revisions to the project that removed the apartment component, with his “last-ditch effort” being a proposal for the city to use the TIF bond funds to buy the property and allow for more time to develop a plan that does not include apartments.
“The office space and the hotel helps the people that (already) live in Carmel. I’m tired of doing things that help the people that don’t live in Carmel,” Snyder said. “It’s about time we start taking care of our own, and that means listening to them and not just continuing to add more and more people, at least for a period of time, so we can see what the ramifications are from what’s already been built.”
Snyder also said he does not believe the project has enough parking spaces. The project includes a 508-space parking garage with 80 percent of the spaces open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. CRC Director Henry Mestetsky said the amount of parking spaces is sufficient because different parking space users will be on-site throughout the day. For example, he expects office employees to take up much of the parking during the morning and afternoon, while those who live in the apartments will use them more in the evenings and overnight.
Proscenium III is proposed to have 60,000 square feet of office space for corporate headquarters and 15,000 square feet of retail space, with 4,000 square feet designated for businesses owned by minorities, women or veterans. It also is set to include an outdoor plaza along Veterans Way and public art. The 125-room hotel will share many of its amenities with Proscenium III residents.
“This will be the first development in Carmel, and it may be in central Indiana, where we’re building a five-star hotel and all the amenities of the five-star hotel can be used by the residential projects, both the non-age-restricted and age-restricted,” said Tony Birkla, owner of Birkla Investment Group.
Mestetsky said construction could start in early 2025 and be complete in two years.
Council considering $110M bond
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
The Carmel City Council met Sept. 16 to discuss the issuance of lease rental bonds
to finance various road and capital improvements, review proposed designs for the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, and more.
Read the full story at youarecurrent.com.
What happened: The council introduced an ordinance for the Carmel Redevelopment Authority to issue $110 million in lease rental bonds to finance various road and capital projects in the city. It also refinances some outstanding bonds.
What it means: Projects the bonds could be used to finance include roundabouts and related improvements at Smoky Row Road and Ironwood Drive, Illinois Street and Zotec Drive, 106th Street and Lakeshore Drive, 106th Street and Haverstick Drive, 116th Street and Lakeshore Drive, and 116th Street and Haverstick Drive; streetscaping along Carmel Drive and Main Street; Monon Trail bridges over 106th Steet and under 111th Street; fire station improvements; Bear Creek park improvements; and Monon Greenway upgrades. The bonds would not be sufficient to fund all projects listed in the ordinance. The bonds are not expected to alter the city’s tax rate.
What’s next: The ordinance will be discussed by the council’s land use and finance committees before returning to the council for a vote.
What happened: The city unveiled potential sticker and sign designs for the pending DORA, and the council voted to form a DORA advisory committee with Councilor Jeff Worrell serving as chair.
What it means: Within the DORA, people may consume open alcoholic beverages purchased from participating vendors and served in a DORA-designated cup. A sticker would be placed on the cup to identify it as such. Signage would show the DORA’s boundaries.
What’s next: The DORA must be approved by state officials before going into effect. In the meantime, councilors, the mayor and Worrell will work to fill the advisory committee.
What happened: The council approved an ordinance adding speed humps to Heatherstone Place.
What it means: The speed humps will be installed between Bayhill Drive and Windpointe Pass to help slow traffic in the area. More than 75 percent of homeowners in the area signed a petition in favor of installing the speed humps. A vehicle speed analysis conducted on Heatherstone Place determined vehicles frequently drove faster than the posted speed limit of 25 mph.
DISPATCHES
CFD open houses – All six Carmel Fire Department stations will hold open houses from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 1. Guests can meet local firefighters, tour the station and get an up-close look at emergency vehicles. The event is free and open to the public.
I-465, U.S 31 interchange upgrades planned — INDOT will hold a public information meeting to present plans for improving the I-465 and U.S. 31 interchange at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at Drury Plaza Hotel, 9625 N. Meridian St. in Carmel. At the event, attendees can learn more about the Level Up 31 project, gather materials, view maps and meet with project team members. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Level Up 31 aims to
enhance the capacity and efficiency of the interchanges to alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety and support economic growth in the surrounding area. Learn more at LevelUp31.com.
Webinar for first-time voters – The Hamilton County Clerk’s Office will host a webinar at 6 p.m. Oct. 2 for new and first-time voters. Hamilton County Election Administrator Beth Sheller will offer advice on how to register to vote, the process for requesting an absentee ballot and details on early voting opportunities. Participation in the webinar requires advance registration. To secure a spot, register at tinyurl. com/first-time-voters.
Meridian Audiology puts patients first
By Tirzah Rowland
The seasoned hearing healthcare practitioners at Meridian Audiology in Indianapolis provide personal, attentive care to patients seeking hearing, tinnitus, and auditory processing evaluations and treatment.
With a combined 30 years of experience as licensed audiologists, Alison Wyss, Au.D and Kira VonBlon, M.S., opened their private practice in July 2021.
“Ali and I are very easy to get to know and get along with, and we’re going to do whatever our patient needs to make them happy,” VonBlon said. “We want people to feel comfortable.”
Flora designed to bring urban vibrancy to west Carmel
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Onyx+East, an Indianapolis-based full-service homebuilder, has completed the first phase of the Flora neighborhood at Illinois Street and Spring Mill Road on the west side of the city.
DEVELOPMENT
While Meridian Audiology will service all major brands of hearing aids, the group offers the newest Phonak line of hearing aid products, providing patients with automatic sound adjustment, Bluetooth connectivity for up to eight devices, and a first of its kind Deepsonic AI chip technology providing enhanced speech clarity.
you’ll be able to connect to the sound system of that gate, and that will come directly into the hearing aids.” When the technology becomes available Phonak wearers will be able to use the same technology to connect their hearing aids to sound systems at theatres and other venues.
Offering chargers, accessories and phone app control capabilities, the Phonak hearing aids come in a variety of colors. In addition to hair and skin tones, patients can choose from red, green and rose gold.
The $61 million community is the builder’s largest to date and will feature 121 homes, including single-family residences, rooftop-deck townhomes, pitched-roof townhomes and courtyard duet homes upon completion.
“We were recognizing that homebuyers want to live near the things they love,” Onyx+East CEO Kelli Lawrence said at the Sept. 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony. “They want the energy and action of being close to everything. They want to worry less about maintaining their home and yard and more about engaging in their community and enjoying their neighborhoods they chose to live in.”
The first phase of Flora includes three-bedroom townhomes available for sale at a starting price in the mid-$400,000s.
“Ali and I went to the launch for the products earlier in August, and the biggest thing with the products is they’re really improving listening and understanding in noise, which is always the biggest problem for somebody with hearing loss,” VonBlon said.
The newest advancement offered by the Phonak line is Auracast compatibility.
“It’s not really out and about in our everyday settings yet, but it’s something where it’s going to be really useful,” VonBlon said. “Let’s say you’re in an airport and you’re wanting to hear the announcement at your gate,
Beyond hearing aids, Meridian Audiology offers Listening for Communication Enhancement, an independent training, to patients struggling with speech clarity and understanding speech.
Meridian Audiology accepts most major insurances, is independent of other medical practices or hospitals to provide the most beneficial patient care and quick scheduling.
Located at 911 E. 86th St., Suite 035, business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment only. Appointments can be made online at meridianaudiology.com or by calling the office directly. Meridian Audiology works with patients ages 5 and up.
“Flora was designed and conceived to bring new, diverse housing options to west Carmel, but also to celebrate the serene refuge that we’re in right now,” Lawrence said. “We’re literally in the middle of it all. We’re close to the job corridor. We’re close to restaurants and retail and lots of amazing parks. But it looks like we’re in a nature preserve, surrounded by amazing trees. We work really hard to celebrate nature in the design and planning of the
community with trails to connect with various neighborhoods that are going to be developed over time.”
There are outdoor open spaces and central gathering places for the homes to connect with each other. There will be a diverse range of housing options, Lawrence said.
Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam delivered a few remarks before taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We’re standing in front of a beautiful new housing addition that will help us do several things, continue to create a vibrant community, attract talent here and maintain our destination status,” Finkam said.
Homes range from three to four bedrooms and 1,715 to 3,021 square feet. Some of the larger homes are in the $600,000 range.
For more, visit onyxandeast.com.
From left, Josh Presits, Onyx+East, vice president of operations; Eric Lee, 621 Capital, senior portfolio manage and partner; Josh Lincoln, 621 Capital, CEO; Kelli Lawrence, Onyx+East, CEO; Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam; Laura Haynes, Stock Yards Bank & Trust, senior vice president; and Brandon Knox, Onyx+East director of land acquisition & development. (Photo courtesy of Onyx & East)
(Photo courtesy of Meridian Audiology.)
VonBlon Wyss
EV fire presents ‘unique challenges’ for Carmel FD
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Carmel firefighters try to prepare and plan for a variety of emergency situations, but a fire alarm at a local car dealership at 6 a.m. Sept. 15 presented “unique challenges,” according to Carmel Fire Department spokesman Tim Griffin.
CFD
When firefighters arrived at Audi Indianapolis on 96th Street, they discovered heavy smoke coming from an electric vehicle on a maintenance lift. They quickly got the blaze under control but wanted to remove the vehicle from the area because lithium ion batteries can reignite and make it difficult for fires to be fully extinguished.
CFD worked with dealership employees, who soon arrived on scene, to lower the vehicle from the lift, place it on dollies and use manpower and a forklift to push it to a safer area, according to a CFD Facebook post about the incident. Firefighters used water to “keep the fire in check” throughout the process, the post stated.
A CFD engine followed the vehicle to the salvage yard as a precaution in case a fire ignited again en route.
CFD spokesman Tim Griffin said the vehicle was not charging at the time of the incident and that a cause of the blaze has not been determined. He said the fire did not spread to the building or other vehicles, but that smoke may have caused some damage. One firefighter suffered a minor injury, he said.
Griffin said CFD hasn’t trained for this exact situation but that firefighters are prepared to think on their feet.
“We train for scenarios that will be sim-
ilar or that give our crews the ability to think outside the box on what they need to do in a quick manner to overcome those situations,” Griffin said. “That’s what they did.”
CFD is seeing an increased number of battery-related fires, although most do not ignite in electric vehicles, Griffin said. Departments across the nation are continuing to learn and evolve firefighting techniques as battery-powered vehicles and other items become more prevalent.
“Electric cars pose different challenges for us. If there’s a major car wreck, we’ve done trainings on where we need to do extrications or cut, because we’re going to have charged power lines in cars in different places, so we need to make sure we’re up to date and always training,” Griffin said. “As technology changes, so do the challenges of firefighting.”
Current reached out to Audi Indianapolis for comment but did not receive a response.
The Carmel Fire Department responds to an electric vehicle fire on a lift Sept. 15 at Audi Indianapolis on 96th Street. (Photo courtesy of the Carmel Fire Department)
open house
Ballet group rebrands, relocates
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Ballet Theatre of Carmel Academy has a new name and will soon have a new home.
NONPROFIT
The organization rebranded as Metropolitan Youth Ballet of Indiana this summer. It is preparing to move into a much larger space at 6210 Technology Dr. in Zionsville by late October.
presence in the arts communities of each of our neighboring counties. In January 2024, with the support and guidance of our board of directors, it was decided that the time was right to bring that name which we have held close to our hearts — Metropolitan Youth Ballet of Indiana — to light. It’s a name that truly reflects who we are and the broad reach and impact of our programming.”
Hachiya-Weiner
The Ballet Theatre of Carmel Academy was established as a nonprofit in 2018 by Artistic Director Jane Hachiya-Weiner and her husband, Frank Weiner, the associate artistic director. The organization then moved into studios at 96th Street and Ditch Road in Indianapolis.
“At that time, we had every intention of opening under the name Metropolitan Youth Ballet of Indiana, but unfortunately circumstances, and a very short timeline, made that impossible,” Hachiya-Weiner said. “Since then, we’ve had a Carmel name, an Indianapolis address, students from a wide geographic area and a strong
Hachiya-Weiner said the name more accurately reflects the diverse student population, which is composed of dancers ages 3 to 18 from across the metro Indianapolis area.
The new space is 9,000 square feet compared to 2,300 square feet in the present building. Hachiya-Weiner said the space will have three large sprung-floor studios, including a full-sized rehearsal studio with black-box theater potential, dancer and parent lounges and workspaces, faculty offices and storage for MYB’s collection of costumes, sets, props and backdrops.
For more about the move and grand opening, visit my-ballet.org.
When you hear the word neurosurgery, you might think of complicated procedures in the brain. But did you know that many neurosurgical procedures actually involve the spine?
If you’re living with pain, you might not know that neurosurgery is an option to help you live a more comfortable life. At Community Health Network, you can find relief from back, neck, arm and sciatica pain through minimally invasive neurosurgical solutions. Plus, Community makes it simple to find neurosurgical solutions — no physician referral required.
Learn more about how neurosurgery can help with your pain at eCommunity.com/neuro
Arts festival to feature international dance groups
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Carmel International Arts Festival will have a heavy international dance presence this year.
CULTURE
One group in the spotlight is the Latvian folk dance ensemble Lielupe from Jelgava, Latvia, which started as a seniors’ folk dance group in 1959. The group is now made up of five generations of dancers.
Jelgava is one of Carmel’s sister cities.
Carmel resident Andris Berzins, whose parents were from Latvia, is the chairman of the Sister Cities and Cultural Diversity Committee for CIAF. Berzins is the president of the Jelgava Sister City Committee.
Jelgava is sending the largest group to participate at the free festival Sept. 28-29 in the Carmel Arts & Design District. Lielupe also will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Carmel Middle School. There is a suggested donation for that performance.
“Even if you don’t donate, everyone is welcome,” said Berzins, who was born in Indianapolis and is a 1986 North Central High School graduate. “We are just trying to raise a little bit of money to cover some of their expenses.”
Berzins’ mother was from Jelgava, where his father was a police captain. Berzins, 56, is honorary consul for the Republic of Latvia to the state of Indiana.
Starting when he was a child, Berzins participated with the Latvian folk dance group in Indianapolis.
“So, it holds a special place in my heart,”
Lielupe, a Latvian folk dance ensemble, will perform at the Carmel International Arts Festival. (Photo courtesy of Lielupe)
he said. “I danced until I was 35. We all spoke English, but we spoke Latvian at home. I can read and write in Latvian.”
Other dance groups include a Mexican ballet, Folkorico Mosaicos; a group from the Indianapolis Chinese Community Center; Holy Trinity Hellenic Dance Group representing Greece; and the Vlad the Impaler Dracula Dance Group representing Romania.
The International State or East Stage is located north of Range Line Road on Main Street. Lielupe also will make an appearance each day on the Main Stage.
“A lot of people think of the Carmel International Arts Festival as a place to see paintings or art,” Berzins said. “Dance is an art as well. We want people to (not only) have a completely immersive opportunity to see, but also (to) hear and experience the arts. That’s why this part is so important to have this international dance performance. That means we’re covering all areas of the arts.”
Musical groups are on the Main Stage both days. Bluewater Kings Band will perform as the Art Rocks! musical entertainment at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28.
For more, visit carmelartsfestival.org.
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Berzins
Noblesville girls soccer player embraces team captain role
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Noblesville High School senior girls soccer player Atley Pittman has truly embodied the role of a leader.
“Atley has developed over the years from a very good piece to a very good puzzle to a team captain and, as she always has, she continues to put team first, which she understands is important to maintaining a winning culture,” Millers coach Mike Brady said. “Atley values wearing Noblesville on the front of her jersey and the community should be proud of how she has represented her school over the years. A lot of athletes want to talk the talk without walking the walk. Not Atley. She shows up every day determined to not only raise the bar for herself, but for the entire team.”
Pittman, a midfielder, has been a key contributor on the Millers’ past two Class 3A state championship teams.
“It has been beyond amazing to be a part of a program that has had such success,” Pittman said. “The best part is getting to play with such talented players throughout
MEET ATLEY PITTMAN
Favorite Subject: Math
Favorite Athlete: Mallory Swanson
Favorite TV Show: “Gossip Girl”
Favorite Musician: Taylor Swift
my four years. Many of them I have played with since I was 4 years old. These past years have given me a lifetime of cherished memories.”
Pittman had eight goals and seven assists last season. She has one goal and three assists this season for the Millers, who were 7-0-2 as of Sept. 17.
“We are always working and trying to be a better version of who we are,” Pittman
said. “We have a great foundation, but there is always room for improvement. I look forward to each and every game to see where we stand.”
Pittman has developed her soccer IQ through the years.
“I feel I have made improvements in understanding the game from different coaches’ styles as well as adapting my role on the field based on who I have the opportunity to play with,” she said.
Pittman was recruited by Indiana University and accepted a scholarship, but a recent lawsuit settlement by the NCAA has changed her plans.
“The NCAA lawsuit and roster cap has since changed all of my plans,” she said. “I am currently exploring my options and trying to find the best fit for me.”
The lawsuit settlement against the NCAA over name, image and likeness will cap soccer roster sizes at Power 4 programs. They are expected to be capped at between 24 and 28.
Pittman began playing soccer at age 4 at Noblesville United Soccer Club.
“I played tennis in middle school and basketball from third to eighth grade,” Pittman said. “I also did triathlons as a kid.”
To nominate a high school student for Athlete of the Week, contact mark@youarecurrent.com.
Atley Pittman is an overall leader for the Noblesville High School girls soccer team. (Photo courtesy of Julie Montgomery)
CFD AMONG FISH FRY RAFFLE WINNERS
The Carmel Fire Department was one of eight winners in the Carmel Lions Club’s 86th annual fish fry raffle drawing held Aug. 24. One of Carmel’s longest-running annual events, the fish fry raised more than $9,000 that will fund various Carmel Lions Club service projects. For the past several years, the Lions have partnered with White’s Ace Hardware to award $100 gift cards to eight winners, with the store’s donation offsetting the costs of the prizes. An anonymous Ace Hardware patron put “CFD” on a raffle ticket when the Lions were selling tickets at the hardware store earlier this summer. Pictured are, back row, from left, Ace Hardware Manager April Hensley, Lions Club raffle chair John Rodgers, Lions Club Past President Bryan Ferry, Lions Club Past President Angela Swenson, Nick White of Ace Hardware, and front row, from left, CFD Division Chief John Moriarty and CFD mascot Sparky. (Photo courtesy of Bryan Ferry)
Injury Care – X-ray and urgent care labs
Minor Procedures – We are stocked to perform laceration care, abscess and skin infection care, foreign body removals
Vaccination – TDAP specifically for updating with injuries
‘I
LIKE HELPING PEOPLE’
From volunteer EMT to state-level director, motivation doesn’t change for new CFD chief
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Joel Thacker’s journey to becoming chief of the Carmel Fire Department didn’t always follow the traditional path.
But in all his roles — from the cadet program at a volunteer fire station to director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security — he felt the same motivation to go to work each day.
“I like helping people,” he said. “That’s really at the heart of who I am, whether that’s in a fire, EMS or someone falls down at the grocery store.”
Thacker’s first day with CFD was Sept. 3, and the city held a public swearing-in ceremony the next week at The Tarkington theater. He replaced David Haboush, who retired after 32 years with CFD, the final nine of those as chief.
At the ceremony, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam said Thacker is well positioned to lead CFD at a time when “the role of our fire department has never been more crucial.”
“What truly sets Chief Thacker apart is not just his extensive experience but his vision for the future of fire safety and emergency services here,” she said. “As a licensed paramedic with advanced degrees in business administration and criminal justice and public safety, he brings a unique blend of operational experience as well as strategic thinking to this role. Chief Thacker understands that the challenges facing our fire department in the 21st century are complex and ever evolving.”
A WINDING PATH
During his early years at Center Grove High School, Thacker thought he might enlist in the military after graduation. That changed when he took part in a Johnson County Sheriff’s Office program exploring careers in law enforcement, which then led to a cadet program at a nearby volunteer fire station.
“I fell in love with the fire department and became an EMT in high school and started working for Myers Ambulance Service in Greenwood,” he said.
After turning 21, he began working for Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, going on EMS runs primarily in the inner city. He finished his paramedic training there and left
the position in 1996, working in Brownsburg and then White River Township as a firefighter paramedic.
In 2012, Thacker served as fire chief for the City of Columbus for a short period before becoming assistant chief with the Brownsburg Fire Territory and later chief of the Plainfield Fire Territory.
Thacker was set to become the state fire marshal in April 2020 but started the job a few weeks early when it became clear the COVID-19 pandemic was going to make a major impact on the Hoosier state.
“The governor’s office said, ‘Can you start early? Because things are getting serious, and we really need to start developing a plan to mitigate this,” Thacker said. “So, that was an interesting time.”
Thacker said he took part in daily cabinet-style meetings soon after starting the job as state officials tried to determine how to respond to the pandemic. Part of his role included determining how to best protect first responders — who didn’t have the option of isolating or working from home — as COVID-19 spread.
“A defining moment for me early on was in April (2020), when the Terre Haute Fire Department lost a firefighter to COVID,” he said. “That was the first line-of-duty death from that, and that’s when it really hit all of us that we have to figure this out. We have to be better and learn from (the firefighter’s) sacrifice, because to not help people is not an option.”
The state fire marshal works within the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, and when the previous director left in mid-2022, Thacker stepped into the role. He served until becoming CFD chief. After more than four years working in state government, he was ready for a change.
“(That CFD fire chief role) doesn’t open up to the outside very often, and to potentially have the opportunity to lead this organization in this city was something that I wanted to take a look at,” Thacker said. “The reason I went to the state as a fire chief was to make a difference there. The things that frustrated me at the local level, I wanted to try to understand at the state level and make things better, make
things easier for the local (departments). And I think we did that.”
ALWAYS IMPROVING
As he adjusts to his new role, Thacker is taking time to visit the Carmel fire stations to learn more about them and the surrounding areas they serve.
He described CFD as a top-level agency but said no matter how many accolades first responders receive, they must always look for ways to improve.
“The expectation is that when the men and women show up, they can solve the problem,” Thacker said. “That means we have to be ready and focus (on) always getting better.”
Thacker has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in criminal justice and public safety from Indiana University. He and his wife, Julie, a graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School, are the parents of two children, Elaina and Aidan.
For the last few years, Carmel Fire Department Chief Joel Thacker has carried former state fire marshal Roger Johnson’s badge with him wherever he goes. Johnson presented it to Thacker shortly before he died in April 2021.
The two met when Thacker was a young firefighter and Johnson was selling nozzles for Elkhart Brass. They developed a friendship, and Thacker said Johnson frequently advocated for him as he progressed in his career over the years.
“He is with me,” Thacker said. “He would be proud of my service to the state. He would be proud of my time as fire marshal and homeland security director. He would have loved to have been (at the CFD fire chief swearing-in ceremony) for the pomp and circumstance.”
‘HE WOULD BE PROUD’
ON THE COVER: Carmel Fire Department Chief Joel Thacker (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)
Judge Michael Casati, right, swears in Carmel Fire Department Chief Joel Thacker during a Sept. 9 ceremony as Thacker’s wife, Julie, looks on. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)
Acting friends slip back into ‘Kinky Boots’ roles
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Jacob Butler and Jonathan Studdard are running it back one more time. Butler and Studdard are returning to the same roles in the cast of “Kinky Boots” for a different theater group.
The two will perform in Civic Theatre’s Oct. 4-19 production at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The friends were in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s presentation in 2022.
Butler, a Lawrence resident, plays Charlie Price, who has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Lola, a drag queen, played by Fishers resident Studdard, tries to help him.
“I love doing this role,” Butler said. “It’s a lot of fun for me. It’s the Cyndi Lauper music and the right vocals and getting to do those. There’s a lot of meat to dig into in the show.”
Butler said it’s a timely show during a heated political season.
“Getting to share the message of getting to know your neighbor, getting to know the people around you and not judging them before you know them is a great message to share right now,” he said. “This show is a little out of left field for the normal shows in town.”
Butler said he thinks the Beef & Boards audiences didn’t initially know what to expect.
“But once they came and saw us, they were rocking out in their seats,” Butler said. “They were smiling all the time like they were engaged in (the message) we were trying to share.”
Butler said he originally thought he was going to be too busy to do the show, but Studdard convinced him otherwise.
Butler and Studdard were previously in Civic’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
Studdard made his first Beef & Boards appearance in “Kinky Boots.”
“So, I felt very pressured because I
wanted to do well,” Studdard said. “Their runs are typically a lot longer than our runs, so we did 52 shows in comparison to the eight we do here. The rehearsal period is shorter, two weeks instead of seven weeks, so that made me a bit nervous.”
be his final show for the foreseeable future.
Studdard, 29, said there are a lot of things that can happen in a person’s life in two years and he hopes to bring those personal experiences to his acting.
“I’m really excited to have fun,” Studdard said. “Civic has always been home to me, so I’m really excited to take a dip in Lola’s waters again and close out my theater performance journey with ‘Kinky Boots’ because I got a new job I really love, but this takes me away from performing.”
Studdard, who is director of operations for the Indiana State Museum and historical sites, said “Kinky Boots” will
Caroline Sanchez, a Carmel resident, said she always wanted to perform in “Kinky Boots.”
“I hadn’t seen the show, but I really liked the songs,” said Sanchez, who plays the role of Trish. “I hadn’t done a musical in a very long time, so I just was really excited to get to sing and dance again.”
Sanchez said her biggest challenge is the singing and dancing parts.
“I’m a big Shakespeare and straight play actor,” Sanchez said.
Carmel resident Tommy McConnell, 11, plays the role of young Charlie. A Clay Middle School sixth-grader, he has performed previously in Junior Civic shows.
“I like performing with the adults,” he said. “The show really sends a good message of accepting others for who they are and celebrating our differences.”
For more, visit civictheatre.org.
‘MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET’
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Million Dollar Quartet” runs through Oct. 6 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
‘9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL’
The Belfry Theatre presents “9 to 5 The Musical’ through Sept. 29 at Noblesville First United Methodist Church. For more, visit thebelfrytheatre.com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
Freeform Concert Series presents “Hello World with John Boyle and Cam Melton” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25; “Deception: An Evening of Magic & Lies” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26; and “Dueling Pianos presented by Brittany Brumfield and Baby Grand Entertainment” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
SUPER DIAMOND
Super Diamond, a Neil Diamond tribute act, will join Carmel Symphony Orchestra at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
‘RING OF FIRE’
Actors Theatre of Indiana’s production of “Ring of Fire” runs through Sept. 29 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit atistage.org.
‘WHO I AM’
Nick Carter will perform in his “Who I Am” tour at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
LEONID & FRIENDS
“Leonid & Friends: The Music of Chicago & More” is set for 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘VICTORY
LAP’ TOUR
Damien Escobar’s “Victory Lap” tour is set for 8 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
MUSIC
From left, Jacob Butler, Jonathan Studdard and Kelsey McDaniel appear in Civic Theatre’s “Kinky Boots.” (Photo courtesy of Joshua Hasty)
Sanchez
McConnell
Ted Armulowicz
Skeeter Aschinger
Brandon DeNormandie
David Gilbertsen
Noah Gowen
Scott Matyjaszek
Eric Sauvageau
Ryan Slattery
Anthony Slichenmyer
Michele Strotman
Laura Walker
Meg White
Ruby Ballard-Harris
Sierra Cole
Kent Epler
Laura Gutzwiller
Elizabeth Holliday
Jessica Joy
Ireana Saparnis
Cheryl Ward
Yuliya & Ari Wolf
Michael Bryant
Karin Connolly
Derek Dammann
James Marsh
Matthew Platz
Radim Schreiber
Heidi Barron
Douglas Becker
Anne Brahaum
Angelo Fico
Matt Kolbrener
Robert Lagestee
Ed Martin
Thomas Nye
Marygail VanSledright
James Wilbat
Scott Johnson PHOTOGRAPHY
Kyle Spears
Kate Tillman
John Weller
Ed Bladen
Jennifer Boles
Doyle Borntrager
Emily Combs
Steve Frank
Nadia Ogle
Robert Schafer
William Steffen
Adrian Vogel
CSO to rotate guest conductors
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
After Janna Hymes left as music director of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra just before the 2023-24 season in October, the company named David Commanday as the guest conductor for the season-opening concert.
MUSIC
open the classical season with a tribute to Ludwig van Beethoven at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Palladium. Damien Geter will serve as the conductor and soloists from Indianapolis Opera will be featured.
He served two more stints as guest conductor before being named music director in December 2023. CSO Executive Director Anne Marie Chastain said negotiations were unsuccessful in bringing Commanday back for the 2024-25 season.
“It’s not that we wouldn’t ever work with him in the future, it’s just that this season didn’t work out,” Chastain said. “One of the things the board talked about when we went through the change last year is we did want to take the time to look through a variety of options for conductors. We still haven’t made a decision when we will launch a conductor search but we knew this coming season we wanted to bring in a few different conductors, so we can see what their styles are like and just expose the orchestra to a few different options.”
CSO will join Super Diamond, a tribute act devoted to Neil Diamond, in a season-opening concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. CSO will then
“We’re very excited about the lineup we have,” Chastain said.
“We have conductors who have experience all over the world coming to work with us.”
Chastain said the programming is diverse as well.
“We want the programs to really touch the souls of our audience and be that transformative musical and artistic experience we know that great art can provide,” Chastain said. “Art is a wonderful way for uniting people in the community and bringing people together.”
The “America the Beautiful” concert set for Nov. 16 will feature Antonin Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 9 From the New World.”
The “Family Pops: A Viennese Holiday” concert featuring romantic waltzes with sing-alongs is set for 2 p.m. Dec. 15, with a “Holiday in Vienna” set for 7 p.m. Fly Dance Company’s “Breakin’ Classical: A Fusion of Dance and Symphony” is set for Jan. 25, 2025, with breakdancing accompanying the orchestra.
The “Moonlights and Lanterns” concert Feb. 8 will feature the music of Chinese festivals of the Lunar New Year. Other concerts include “Carmel Artist Showcase,” Feb. 23; “Appalachian Spring,” March. 16 and “Easter Parade,” April 19.
For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
From left, Allison and Tim Gegax, Fishers; Chris Conley., Fishers; and Christopher Geltz, Indianapolis, watch PorchFest from a friend’s porch.
Hundreds of music fans visited downtown Carmel Sept. 15 to watch 67 bands on 23 porches for the annual Carmel PorchFest, which started in 2014. (Photo by Jennifer A. Haire)
Chastain
FREE EVENT OKTOBERFEST
Feeling strapped for cash but still want to have some fun? Each week, Current helps you find things to do without breaking the bank. Here’s what’s on tap this week:
The Cornerstone Lutheran Church Oktoberfest from 4 to 10 p.m. Sept. 27 at 4850 E. Main St. in Carmel is a family-friendly event with food, music and activities for children. Free events include Polka music and dancing, yard games, a costume contest and bingo. For more, visit cornerstonelutheran. church/oktoberfest.
ALSO CHECK OUT
BIKE WITH A COP — The community is invited to a free bike ride alongside local police officers through Dillon Park in Noblesville, 6001 Edenshall Lane Sept. 28. Registration is required at secure.rec1.com/ IN/city-of-noblesville-in/catalog.
Heartland Film festival announces movie lineup
editorial@youarecurrent.com
Heartland Film has announced the lineup for the 33rd Heartland International Film Festival Powered by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., taking place Oct. 10-20 in Indianapolis.
SCHEDULE
“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accressorize.”
BY ROBERT HARLING
Directed by Elizabeth Ruddell
TICKETS: $18 (Fri, Sat, Sun) Thursdays $13
VENUE: The Cat in Carmel, 254 Veterans Way Carmel 46032 Thursdays,
- 7:30 pm
- 2:30 pm
The 11-day festival, which was named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World for 2023, will showcase more than 110 feature films, including 28 world/North American/U.S. premieres, 73 regional premieres, 20 special presentations from major distributors and 10 Indiana Spotlight films.
Opening night showcases “A Real Pain” from Searchlight Pictures. Directed, written by and starring Jesse Eisenberg, the film follows mismatched cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) as they reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. Centerpiece Screening, set for Oct. 16, features
“Small Things Like These” from Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, starring Oscar winner Cillian Murphy. In his follow-up performance to “Oppenheimer,” Murphy plays a coal merchant who discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent. Director Tim Mielants is scheduled to attend and participate in a post-screening discussion. Closing night spotlights “Emilia Pérez” from Netflix, directed by Jacques Audiard. “Emilia Pérez” stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz, who shared the Best Actress Award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. This year’s theme is “Expand Your Universe.” Attendees are encouraged to explore the 110-plus films with screenings at Emagine Noblesville, Kan-Kan Cinema and Restaurant, Landmark Glendale 12, Living Room Theaters and Newfields. All film selections will have in-person screenings, and many also will be available to view virtually. Individual tickets and Fest Passes are available at HeartlandFilmFestival.org.
Bolt for the Heart 5K to return to Carmel Thanksgiving Day
By Samantha Kupiainen news@youarecurrent.com
Since founding Bolt for the Heart in 2010, Pierre Twer’s Carmel-based nonprofit has raised more than $5 million to purchase nearly 3,500 AEDs to place in law enforcement vehicles, sports facilities and elsewhere.
FUNDRAISER
The organization raises much of its funds through its biggest annual event, a Thanksgiving Day 5K run. The 2024 race is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 28, beginning near the Palladium in Carmel.
“It’s grown into a really nice event that raises roughly a quarter million dollars a year,” Twer said. “It’s really become a family tradition for a lot of people. We get people registering four, five, six people at a time, and you can tell its families doing this year after year. People come up and say, ‘What a great family tradition we’ve started with Bolt,’ which really warms my heart.”
The inspiration to launch Bolt for the Heart came in 2009 when Twer learned his friend, cardiac and thoracic surgeon Dr. Walt Halloran, had started his own nonprofit in northern Indiana to purchase AEDs for police vehicles.
“He would do a big golf outing, and when it was all done, he’d raise a sizable amount of money and turn around and buy AEDs and put them in police cars in northern Indiana,” said Twer, president of Bolt for the Heart. “I asked him if I could do this in Carmel, and he gave me permission to do that.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, more
than 356,000 Americans each year experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, and nearly 90 percent of those cases are fatal.
Twer’s decision to start his own version of the nonprofit was solidified when he was running the Boston Marathon in 2010, and at mile 21 witnessed a man experience sudden cardiac arrest. He was later saved by a nearby medic with an AED.
“It was kind of an “aha” moment for us, and I came back from Boston and put together an LCC,” Twer said.
Twer works full-time in medical sales. Eventually, he hopes to commit more time to the nonprofit.
“It’s my retirement plan,” he said. “I plan to do this after I retire from corporate America, just keep building Bolt in Carmel. The city has been very supportive of us. We’ll continue making sure that we put an AED in every police car in the state of Indiana. That’s our goal.”
Learn more and register for the 5K at boltfortheheart.com.
DISPATCHES
Run for Wellness — The Trinity Free Clinic Run for Wellness 5K is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 28 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 14598 Oak Ridge Rd. in Carmel. Cost is $35 per person. To register or donate visit trinityfreeclinic.org.
Hockey event to support Peachey Fund — Carmel and Zionsville hockey teams will face off Sept. 29 in games that will benefit selected charities, including the Catherine Peachey Fund, which supports breast cancer research. The junior varsity game will begin at 12:10 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 2:05 p.m. Both games are at the Carmel Ice Skadium, 1040 3rd Ave. SW.
Heart center named top hospital — Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center has been ranked the top hospital in Indiana and second in the nation for cardiac care by Money Magazine. The ranking compared all shortterm, acute care hospitals in the nation that offer deep expertise with highly experienced cardiologists and heart specialists and have earned a four- or five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Independent
Living Assisted Living
Memory Care • Skilled Nursing • Rehab Carmel’s Premier Retirement Community 2460 Glebe Street • Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 793-3140 • Stratford-Living.com
Pierre Twer, center, and his daughters, Erika Twer Hicks, left, and Ashley Twer, cross the finish line at a previous Bolt for the Heart 5K. (Photo courtesy of Pierre Twer)
Rosie’s Gardens builds on history
By Tirzah Rowland tirzah@youarecurrent.com
Rosie’s Gardens and Hughes Landscaping is open during construction and will be ready to unveil a new store in 2025. The family-owned garden center, founded in 1983 by Kevin and Mary Beth Hughes, has a history of growth.
EXPANSION
When construction started this year along College Avenue, the Hughes family took it as an opportunity to enhance their 15-acre garden and landscape facilities at 10402 N. College Ave. The first phase allowed for a new entrance to accommodate semis, two new barns and new office space. Next spring they will unveil a new store building.
Rose Hughes-Kelly, the namesake of the business, said her dad was running a small mowing and landscaping company when she was born. Her parents lived across College Avenue in a rental house and jumped at the chance to buy the original plot of land that would become Rosie’s Gardens. She now works at the garden center, along with her sister, Emma Hughes.
“The first year they just sold Christmas trees,” Hughes-Kelly said. “It wasn’t like this plan to always sell Christmas trees or have a garden center. But it just kind of unfolded that way. And I was a baby, and they called it Rosie’s Christmas tree stand.”
Her dad would often use the property to store supplies for his landscaping business. She said interest arose and people would ask to purchase items.
Her parents built the first store building in 1985. It is set for demolition.
“It started out really small. And luckily for them, adjacent pieces of property became for sale over time where they got to grow slower and could add on as it fit them. And so, it wasn’t one big purchase of property,” Hughes-Kelly said.
“We’ve been emptying (the store), and uncovered in the concrete floor is writing of our names and the date,” Hughes-Kelly
said.
Hughes-Kelly says her parents have no plans to retire, and she is poised to assume operations with her sister when the time comes. They want to continue “providing the independent family-based experience everyone is used to.”
Hughes-Kelly said she has an eye for quality and is particularly proud of the pottery and fountains the store sells.
“Our nursery manager, Ryan, who’s been with us for over 25 years, he really tries to find very unique evergreens from the West Coast, and just the amount of inventory that we have all the time is also pretty unique,” Hughes-Kelly said. “We never get to a point where we’re done for the year and sell out.”
Rosie’s Gardens and Hughes Landscaping employs 15 full-time workers and up to 25 additional seasonal workers. They are open year-round and sell landscape and gardening supplies, trees, shrubs and flowers. Landscaping services and local delivery are available. Hours vary by season.
The store sources products locally from other family-owned businesses and have longstanding relationships with most of their suppliers. Their Christmas trees come from Wisconsin and Michigan.
For more visit, rosiesgardens.com
DISPATCH
Coolest things made in Indiana — Businesses and budding entrepreneurs have an opportunity to show off their wares at the Indiana Chamber’s fourth annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana competition. Companies entered in the tournament compete in a single-elimination bracket format. Products entered must be made in the Hoosier state. Businesses are limited to one submitted product. Online fan voting determines the winner of each matchup. The tournament tips off in late October and concludes in November. Entry is free. Applications are accepted through Oct. 18 at indianachamber.com/coolest.
Mary Beth and Kevin Hughes circa 1984. (Photo courtesy of the Hughes family)
Hearing the cold, hard truth
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
My wife Mary Ellen convinced me to get hearing aids about three years ago. However, I frequently forgot to wear them. I had to keep asking, “What?” After a while, it annoyed my friends and family, so I added a little variety, like, “Say what?” and “Excuse me?” When I returned to New York for a visit, I asked, “Are you talking to me?”
HUMOR
Mary Ellen kept telling me I wasn’t hearing well. I’m not sure if she was correct. I think the proper grammar is, “You are not hearing good,” but I need to check that with my editor, who is my wife, so now the case is closed.
This kind of problem is usually more apparent with glasses. I didn’t need my spouse to point out vision issues. I got a lot of practical feedback walking into a glass door or putting on two different-colored socks — or a sneaker and a loafer.
When Mary Ellen realized I was having vision issues, she first said I wasn’t good looking and then said I didn’t look well. I didn’t care about the grammar. I didn’t like the sound of either one.
Hearing aids are relatively easy to use. You put them in your ears, both of them; then you put both of the hearing aids into both of your ears. Then, you take them out of both of your ears at night. I’m glad I read the directions. I am quite good at inserting them, although sometimes I would put them in the wrong ears, making it hard to understand people on my right. Sorry, I don’t mean that politically,
I fell asleep the other night in my La-ZBoy while listening to music in the family room, so I neglected to remove the devices
“Mary Ellen kept telling me I wasn’t hearing well. I’m not sure if she was correct. I think the proper grammar is, ‘You are not hearing good.’”
– DICK WOLFSIE
from my ears. I thrash around when I doze, so when I woke up, they had fallen out, lost somewhere in my chair, I assumed. The search began. First, I felt around the insides of the cushion. I found two pencils, three dimes and my Costco card. I also found a cluster of dog hair, which is pretty troubling because we haven’t had a dog for 10 years.
My wife is usually quite helpful in situations like this. The last time I thought I had misplaced my glasses, she pointed out I was still wearing them, so her question, “Did you check your ears?” seemed quite reasonable.
No, they weren’t in my ears, lost in the cushion or on the floor. Because I take prescription sleep meds, I wondered if I could have unknowingly wandered about the house in my sleep, a possible side effect of this drug. I checked the bathroom, the laundry room and the second bedroom. I finally found them in a very unlikely place. They seemed to work fine … after I defrosted them.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS CARMEL, INDIANA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION from the GENERAL FUND (#101) Ordinance D-2731-24
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, at their regular meeting place at Carmel City Hall, One Civic Square, Council Chambers at 6 p.m. on the 7th day of October, 2024, will consider the following appropriation in excess of the budget for 2024: FROM $50,000.00 from the GENERAL FUND OPERATING Balances To Carmel Fire Department (#1120): 100-00 Full Time - $44,080.00 Carmel Fire Department (#1120): 570-03 Instructional Fees Internal - $4,347.30 Carmel Fire Department (#1120): 570-01 Training Fees (Internal) - $1,572.70
The source of revenue for the above is the General Fund (#101).
Taxpayers appearing at the meeting shall have a right to be heard. The additional appropriation as finally made will be referred to the Department of Local Government Finance. The Department will make a written determination as to the sufficiency of funds within fifteen (15) days of receipt of a certified copy of the action taken.
Jacob Quinn, Clerk
Maintaining remote focus
Commentary by Terry Anker
Remote work has always been around. Most of human existence was not spent within the confines of the office. Dictionaries define the space “a room, set of rooms or building used as a place for commercial, professional or bureaucratic work.”
ESSAY
The latter is especially salient. As the British Empire expanded and prospered in the 18th century, dedicated suites to assemble necessary bureaucrats began to be constructed in London to house the hordes of clerks and administrators managing the paperwork and record-keeping for the far-flung realm.
The arrangement caught on and became the global standard. Today, many, if not most of us find ourselves toiling shoulder-to-shoulder with others in these shared rooms. The recent interventions related to the global pandemic have spawned countless cultural shifts. Primary among them may be the desire
Notice of Self Storage Sale
Please take notice Prime Storage - Fishers Ford Dr. located at 12650 Ford Dr., Fishers, IN 46038 intends to hold a sale to sell the property stored at the Facility by the below list of Occupants whom are in default at a Auction. The sale will occur or otherwise disposed as an online auction via www.selfstorageauction.com on 10/10/2024 at 12:00PM. Brian Maslowski unit #236. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply. See manager for details.
by many to dissolve the long-standing corporate gathering places by substituting virtual workspaces and video conferencing. Whether productivity is enhanced or debilitated in a shared space is deliberated. We are left to consider new habits if we no longer find our way to our employer’s edifice. There are scores of “working” activities that are not work at all — rather, they are personal amusements. Surfing is not working. One works or one does not. To be sure, these cheats are rampant in the corporate cube farm. But with little oversight in our daily routine, how can we be expected to maintain focus? Perhaps the best is to remember our own biases, officed or not, and how we expect to earn our pay.
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent. com.
Notice of Self Storage Sale
Please take notice Prime Storage - Fishers Britton Park Rd. located at 13323 Britton Park Rd., Fishers, IN 46038 intends to hold a sale to sell the property stored at the Facility by the below list of Occupant who is in default at an Auction. The sale will occur or otherwise disposed as an online auction via www.storagetreasures. com on 10/10/2024 at 12:00PM. Brian Maslowski unit #C44; Teresa Whittern unit #C52. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply. See manager for details.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING
AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF THE CITY OF CARMEL,
INDIANA
Notice is hereby given to the residents and taxpayers of the City of Carmel, Indiana (the “City”), that the Common Council of the City (the “Council”) will hold a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. (local time) on October 7, 2024, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at One Civic Square Drive, Carmel, Indiana, on the matter of appropriating a portion of the proceeds of certain lease rental revenue bonds of the City of Carmel Redevelopment Authority (the “Authority”), to be issued in one or more series (collectively, the “Bonds”), which will be paid to the City by the Authority as the purchase price for the acquisition of certain existing street and road rights-of-way, as more particularly described and identified in the New Money Lease (as defined herein) (collectively, the “Leased Premises”), all located in, and currently owned by, the City. The purchase price to be paid by the Authority to the City for the Leased Premises will not exceed $110,000,000.
The proceeds received by the City from the sale of the Leased Premises, together with all interest earnings thereon, will be used by the City to finance or reimburse the cost of the acquisition, design, construction, renovation, improvement and/or equipping of various local and arterial road and street system projects and/or one or more other independent capital projects at facilities owned or operated by or on behalf of the City or a related party, each of which will not cost the City more than $6,350,000 (collectively, the “Projects”), all of which are located in, or directly serving or benefiting, one or more redevelopment areas or economic development areas in the City, all as identified by the Common Council of the City (the “Common Council”) in a resolution or ordinance of the Common Council approving the issuance of the Bonds and the terms of a lease agreement related to the Projects (the “New Money Lease”), between the Authority, as lessor, and the City of Carmel Redevelopment Commission, as lessee, and to pay all or a portion of the costs or expenses incurred in connection therewith.
Said appropriation is in addition to any appropriation provided for in the existing budget and tax law or on any other date. Funds to cover said appropriation are to be provided from a portion of the proceeds of the Bonds, and interest earnings thereon in the amount set forth in this notice. At said public hearing, all persons shall have the right to appear and be heard on the necessity of said appropriation.
Dated this 24th day of September, 2024.
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA
Belonging helps us thrive
Commentary by Jeff Worrell
I walked into the room and I immediately realized I stuck out. I felt like people were staring at me. Not a single other guest was dressed as I was. The food, music, dancing and even the language were unknown to me. I could feel a sense of dread as I realized I didn’t fit in.
CIVILITY
A culture of belonging is critical as we navigate the workplace, our neighborhoods, social interactions and our entire city. A community where everyone feels like they belong and can learn from our differences requires awareness to recognize when those around us feel uncomfortable and not included. In my case, it was just moments before a person in the room could sense my discomfort and made an effort to include me. Her empathy and hospitality quickly had me integrated into the event and feeling a sense of relief. I felt like
I belonged, and I was then able to enjoy the richness of their culture.
Belonging is crucial in cultivating civility and a supportive environment where people thrive. When individuals feel valued and connected, they’re more likely to engage in respectful dialogue and support one another. This sense of inclusion encourages open conversations with neighbors and colleagues, breaking down barriers and fostering understanding. This is essential for addressing conflicts and promoting harmony in our diverse society.
Each one of us plays a vital role in promoting a sense of belonging by being willing to step in and include those around us. Belonging is an outcome that will increase our sense of civility.
Jeff Worrell is a Carmel City Council member and a civility proponent. To contact him, you may email jeff4civility@gmail. com.
READER’S VIEW
Literary guardrails needed at Carmel High School
Editor,
Two weeks into this school year, my minor child brought home the book “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison from an English literature class at Carmel High School. I had never read it, but now I have. The book is laced with profanity, sexually explicit content and intense violence worthy of an R rating if it were a movie.
As a parent, why aren’t I receiving a notification that my 14-year-old child is checking out a book with mature content from the school library at the very least? “Song of Solomon” is part of the curriculum for two AP-level English classes at Carmel High School. The class that my child is in was not one of those two classes, so it was especially surprising that this book was brought home.
The book was hand-selected with about 40 other books by the school librarian for a class
project that the students could choose from. After reading the book and voicing my concern, I was told by the English department that this book was not intended to be one of the books chosen for the class project. The teacher was surprised to know that the book was included and thankfully allowed my son to pick out a different book to read.
So, needless to say, I was pleased to read in Current in Carmel that most of the school board members are in favor of reviewing the existing book review policy and providing the tools to assist parents. I believe there needs to be some guardrails to be put in place, especially after my minor child was allowed to bring this book home for a class project without either the child or parent being warned about the mature content within the pages of this particular book.
Brooks Burtch, Carmel
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
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Political expression shouldn’t invoke name calling
Editor,
I enjoy reading Jeff Worrell’s weekly article on civility. Jeff is a Republican and I am a Democrat. We agree on the importance of respectful exchanges –even when we disagree.
My husband and I joined Carmel Democratic Club members at a recent farmers market before heading out to canvas for candidates. My husband, wearing his Democratic Club T-shirt and a veteran’s hat, was standing with other members as we prepared to take a group photo.
A woman walked by him and said, “You are an idiot,” pointing at his T-shirt. He did not engage with her. I thought, did a child hear her? And how would a child process such an unkind message?
As a Democrat, I feel Indiana needs greater balance in our Statehouse as a super majority is limiting us from fully addressing issues such as women’s rights, education and health care. Balance to help build civil discourse as important decisions are made.
Yes, I vote for Democrats most of the time. For this election, I am voting very blue as I feel the Democrats on my ballot represent policies and positions we need to move forward as a town, state, nation.
All of us have a right in America to express our political choices without being called “an idiot.”
Shelley Carey, Carmel
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CITY OF CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION Docket Number PZ-2024-00140
Biking in Carmel a life-threatening endeavor
Editor,
I think my family and friends would consider me to be level-headed and not prone to overreaction, but the last few weeks of road biking in west Carmel have been particularly unnerving. I’ve been riding in Carmel for over 20 years, and I am aware of the general risks. I wear a red or fluorescent yellow jersey so that I’m easily seen, have bright LED flashers on my bike and helmet, obey the rules of the road, yield to cars in any questionable situation and ride as close to the white line as safely possible.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had two near collisions with cars speeding through a roundabout. In both situations, I was stopped or riding under 5 mph as I reached the roundabout. I checked to be sure that all the traffic coming from the left had cleared and then did the same for the traffic coming from the right. In both instances, a car coming from the right was moving so fast that it wasn’t even in sight as I proceeded into the traffic circle.
I have also had numerous instances of cars and pick-ups passing me intentionally close to send a message of their annoyance or passing me and then swerving back in front of me to let me know that my slowing them down for 15 seconds wasn’t appreciated. These events may all be part of a general deterioration of social awareness, but I thought that Carmel residents were more considerate.
Most Carmel drivers are courteous and careful, but it only takes one careless, distracted, annoyed or rushed driver to kill a bike rider. Is getting to your location 15 seconds sooner or demonstrating your annoyance with a biker on the road worth changing your life and the rider’s life forever?
Scott Savader, Carmel
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION Docket Number: PZ-2024-00164 SW PZ-2024-00169 ZW
Notice is hereby given that the Plan Commission meeting on October 15, 2024 at 6:00pm in the Carmel City Hall Council Chambers, 1 Civic Square, 2nd Flr, Carmel, Indiana 46032 will hold a Public Hearing upon a Design and Development Standards Waivers in order to gain approval for waivers associated with the gravel material used in an urban garden’s proposed parking lot within a Special Flood Hazard Area.
The site is 1.42 acres and located north of Smoky Row and west of Rangeline Road at 270 W Smoky Row, Carmel, IN. It is in Section 24, Township 18 North, Range 3. The property is in Clay Township.
The application is identified as Docket Nos. PZ-2024-00164 SW and PZ-2024-00169 ZW Design Standard Waivers.
The real estate affected by said application is described as follows: 17-09-24-00-00-031.401
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.
Petitioner: Rebecca McGuckin, Fields Market Garden, LLC
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Carmel Plan Commission will conduct a meeting on the 15th day of October, 2024 at 6:00 o’clock p.m., at the Carmel City Hall, Council Chambers, One Civic Square, 2nd Floor, Carmel, IN 46032, to hold a Public Hearing regarding an application identified by Docket Number PZ-2024-00140 (collectively, the “Request”). The subject site includes the parcels that are identified by the Auditor of Hamilton County, Indiana as Tax Parcel Identification Numbers 1610-31-00-00-002.202; 16-10-31-00-00-001.000; 16-10-31-00-00-003.000; 16-10-31-00-00-002.402 and 16-10-31-00-00-002.412, which parcels consist of approximately 33 acres which are located south of and adjacent to City Center Drive along the east and west sides of Kinzer Avenue (the “Real Estate”).
The Real Estate is currently zoned pursuant to the Gramercy Planned Unit Development District, Ordinance Number Z-493-06 (the “Gramercy PUD”), and Buckingham seeks to amend the Gramercy PUD with a plan designed as an urban residential development on the Real Estate and the zoning request is referred to as the “2024 Gramercy PUD Amendment Ordinance” and the portion of the development that is the subject of the 2024 Gramercy PUD Amendment is referred to as “Gramercy East”.
The Request and the associated plans and exhibits may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents – Laser Fische.
All interested persons desiring to present their views on the above Request are encouraged to submit written comments to bbutler@carmel.in.gov, up to 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting, via email to Bric Butler Administrative Assistant City of Carmel Plan Commission, and/or, present their comments in-person by attending at this Plan Commission meeting. The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time as may be found necessary.
City of Carmel, Indiana:
Bric Butler, City of Carmel Plan Commission Administrative Assistant Carmel City Hall
One Civic Square
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: (317) 571-2416
Email: bbutler@carmel.in.gov
Attorney for Applicant Buckingham Properties, LLC:
Jim Shinaver, Attorney
Jon Dobosiewicz, Professional Land Planner
Nelson & Frankenberger, LLC
550 Congressional Blvd., Suite 210
Carmel, IN 46032
1. Gov. Holcomb
5. Poet’s Muse 10. Wallop
14. Kind of light
15. Kind of jar
16. Musical sound
17. Pana Donuts choice
20. Swerved wildly
21. Bad-mouth
22. IU Health IV units
25. Famed movie studio
26. “Blue ___ Shoes”
28. Get ready, briefly
30. Like Fright Manor
34. Be nosy
35. Juliet’s love
37. Map within an Indiana map
39. Pana Donuts choice
44. One of Santa’s reindeer
45. Fast food chain known for roast beef
47. Butler frat letter
49. Turkish bigwig
52. Defense acronym
53. Julia of “Julie & Julia”
55. UIndy URL ending
57. Attach a button
58. Anger
59. Get a table for one, say
64. Pana Donuts choice
69. “___ It Romantic?”
70. Hog the mirror
71. Lilly lab vessel
72. Civic Theatre headliner
73. Former anchor store at Castleton Square Mall
74. Goes off course Down
1. Colts lineman
2. ___ Speedwagon
3. Debtor’s letters
4. “Mad Money” network
5. Come up
6. “To the end of the block! C’mon!”
7. Tennis great Arthur
8. Bullwinkle, e.g.
9. A single time 10. Cardinals cap letters 11. Construction site machine
12. Messy
Gaggle members 18. Felon’s flight
23. Gator’s kin
24. I-65 big rig
27. Rising trend
29. Writing tool
31. Mob scenes
32. Brown County lodging
33. PC key
36. Lennon’s lady
38. Indianapolis Indians pitching stat
40. Mellencamp guitar attachment 41. ___ culpa 42. IU’s Kelley School graduate degs.
56. Half of bi60. Swiss peaks
61. Weight allowance
62. On a voyage
63. A deadly sin
65. “___ be an honor”
66. Napleton car brand
67. Indiana House work?
68. Chicago trains Answers on Page 32
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