Experience the arts in Hamilton County. View a wide variety of creative and free public art throughout the county. Immerse your inner artist in art classes, u-paint shops and festivals. Plus, sing along to your favorite songs with live music—from free to famous. With three recognized state cultural districts, no matter where you go in Hamilton County, experience the arts.
Start exploring at VisitHamiltonCounty.com/Art.
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Tobacco and vaping use among youth has risen in recent years. A Hamilton County organization is working to halt and reverse that trend, with the help of high school students.
Katie Jensen is executive director of Breathe Easy Hamilton County. She said a handful of high school seniors recently visited Fishers Junior High to talk about the dangers of tobacco.
The seniors were Nicole Liu and Maddie Stuckwisczh from Noblesville High School, and Suhita Chintalacharuva,and Terryn Green from Hamilton Southeastern High School. They talked to seven groups of seventh- and eighth-graders, sharing health information and personal anecdotes.
Liu talked about her grandfather’s struggle with tobacco.
“My grandpa had been a smoker for his entire life, and even though he would always try to quit, he couldn’t,” Liu told the younger kids. “It was devastating for my family, and he passed away from lung cancer due to using these addictive products. The tobacco industry killed my grandpa and kills thousands more every year.”
Chintalacharuva was pleased with how well the middle schoolers listened.
“I was so surprised and excited about how receptive the kids were to our presentation. They seemed very engaged and were always jumping to answer questions,” she said. “It really showed that a lot of kids don’t think vaping and smoking is cool and are willing to learn about this issue.”
Jensen said the younger grades are always much more engaged when older kids are the ones giving a presentation.
“When we take the high school kids with us, and they get up there, these kids are mesmerized,” she said, adding that they survey teachers and students after each presentation. “Repeatedly, their favorite part is hearing from high schoolers.”
Jensen said tobacco and vaping use generally starts around seventh and eighth grade. They offer prevention education programs for fifth- and sixth-graders. For the middle-schoolers, she said, they try to offer strategies for saying no.
“The strategy that’s the most successful is the one that feels natural,” Jensen said, noting that the strategies can be used if they’re presented with any situation where they feel uncomfortable. “We ask every
Hamilton
behavior.
student to come up with what they would do. We want every kid to leave our training knowing what they would do (if offered tobacco or vaping products).”
Prevention is the first goal, and helping youth to quit once they start is the second. Jensen said kids need help to stop just as much as adults, and more schools are moving away from suspension for breaking tobacco and vaping rules. Addiction treatment, education and resources are replacing that punitive response.
Jensen said the Breathe Easy Hamilton County program started small last year, and hopes to grow with time.
The youth education program is part of the statewide VOICE program, and Breathe Easy Hamilton County is part of the Good Samaritan Network. For more, visit breatheeasyhamiltoncounty.com.
news@currentinfishers.com
An exhibit showcasing artwork by Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers high school seniors is on display through April 27 at the Collaboration Hub, 11810 Technology Dr.
ART
The exhibit features 110 pieces by students. A reception celebrating their work is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. April 14, with an awards ceremony at 6:45 p.m. honoring the winning artists. Fishers resident Kathryn Haigh, recently chosen as the next president and CEO of the Eiteljorg Museum, will judge the pieces.
According to the arts council, art teachers in both schools have been working with their students all year to hone their skills and are proud of the work the students put into their pieces.
“I am constantly impressed by my students,” said Angela Fritz, the Visual Arts Dept. chair at HSE. “Every year, I think the work the next year won’t be as strong, and every year the students rise to the challenge. The work we are seeing at the top level in our high schools isn’t just college level. It is strong, advanced college-level work.”
The exhibit is sponsored by STAR Bank, along with Four Day Ray Brewing, Propeller Marketing, Schoolhouse 7 Café and Medium Cool Pictures.
The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays by appointment.
Nickel Plate Arts will celebrate the return of spring, creativity and youthful adventurers with its annual Welcome to Fairyville event throughout April.
ARTS
Welcome to Fairyville will feature crafts and activities for all ages and will be on the Nickel Plate Arts campus in Noblesville, 107 S. 8th St. Most events are free to attend or participate.
“Welcome to Fairyville is our most joyous celebration of the year, a time when we celebrate the return of spring, the endless creativity of our community, and the youthful adventurer inside our own hearts,” Nickel Plate Arts Director Ailithir McGill said. “The magic of Fairyville is that it brings out the kid in all of us and inspires wonder and curiosity that help us see beautiful downtown Noblesville in a whole new way.”
The event is centered on Earth Day and places a heavy emphasis on outdoor, na-
ture-themed activities, officials said. In addition to the scheduled events that will take place throughout downtown Noblesville, participants also can enjoy walk-in and take-home projects through local arts partners.
McGill said the event is a fun celebration that promotes the mission of Earth Day while also supporting local businesses and artists.
“My team looks forward to Fairyville every year because it gives us an extra outlet for all sorts of creativity. From identifying the best ways to include dozens of different artists and merchants, to figuring out how to build a giant salamander puppet, this program is a wonderful challenge,” McGill said. “We, along with the more than two dozen businesses and organizations who team up to bring Fairyville to the community, look forward to welcoming everyone to the Fairyville Trail.”
For more, visit nickelplatearts.org/ fairyville/.
Nickel Plate Arts, along with its partners and other local businesses, will host various events and activities for Welcome to Fairyville. The events are open to the public.
April 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Queen Titania’s Fairy Ball: Join the Queen of Fairyville at an enchanting ball for her beloved mortal friends at the Lacy Arts Building, 848 Logan St. (by invitation only, $100 per ticket).
April 19-April 22 – Fairy Home Show: The full collection of Fairy Houses made by local artists of all ages will be on display and open for voting on the Nickel Plate Arts campus, 107 S. 8th St., on April 19 and Thursday, April 20 from noon to 5 p.m.
and will move to the Fairyville Trail for Fairy Friday and Sprite Saturday. Visitors are encouraged to get a map on campus before beginning their tour of the Fairy Home Show (free).
April 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. and April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Fairy vendors: Fairy-inspired wares will be sold on the Noblesville Courthouse Square (individual booth costs).
April 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. - Fairyville After Dark: Join Nickel Plate Arts at various locations around downtown Noblesville for an adult-oriented experience that will include face and body effects painting, acrobatics and fire performing, Celtic music and dancing, and more. (free).
Vendors include:
AH Collection | Bash Boutique | Linden Tree Gifts
State of Grace | Tangerine Gifts & Cards
Clutch & Kindle | Jill Duzan
Presenting Sponsor:
Prevail strives to empower victims of crime and abuse on their path to healing, while engaging the community to support safe, healthy relationships. For more information visit prevailinc.org.
news@currentinfishers.com
Fishers residents and homeowner associations seeking to improve their neighborhoods have been chosen for the City of Fishers’ annual Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant Program.
According to an announcement from the city, the program will provide more than $87,000 this year to neighborhoods for 21 projects such as park benches, new fountains, replacing turf grass with native grasses and plants, new fencing and trail improvements.
The program began as the Neighborhood Matching Grant in 2000. A separate Tree Matching Grant program was established in 2012, and then they were combined into a single program in 2020.
“We are thrilled that this year’s Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant program marks over $1 million in funds invested back into the beautification of the Fishers community,” stated Megan Vukusich, Fishers director of planning and zoning. “Over the past 23 years, we have seen this program grow and offer neighborhoods the opportunity to add new, innovative and sustainable projects
where they live and play.”
Vukusich said funds for the program come from the city’s operating budget.
Priority is given to proposals that focus on environmental and agricultural projects, recreation, public spaces, historical preservation or neighborhood improvements. Homeowner associations, neighborhoods, individual homeowners and nonprofits can submit proposals each year. Applicants must provide at least half the funds for the overall cost of a project, with a maximum grant award of $5,000.
For more, go to fishers.in.us/1076/ Matching-Grants
Hamilton County has partnered with LUNA Language Services to provide interpretation and professional translation services. The subscription service will allow Hamilton County employees to contact a native linguist to help translate for individuals with limited English proficiency.
national origin in any program or activity that receives Federal funds, which includes service to persons with limited English proficiency.
“Our community is changing and we’re serving more immigrants, refugees, and non-native speakers,” said Steven Rushforth, safety and risk manager for Hamilton County. “We want to ensure we can provide top-notch service to our entire community regardless of fluency in the English language.”
LUNA provides services in more than 200 languages, including American Sign Language. It estimates more than 100 different languages are spoken in different dialects in Indiana alone.
Rushforth
The on-demand service will provide county employees with an interpreter over video or phone as needed.
The service will also help the county meet requirements for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, officials said. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or
“LUNA even offers industry-specific language expertise in a wide range of professional topics,” Rushforth said. “For example, our nurses at the health department will now have access to a translator with medical knowledge to avoid confusing, and potentially harmful communication errors. The same goes for others dealing with legal documents.”
A trail that was part of the Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant program last year. (Image courtesy of the City of Fishers)
J.R. Sandadi of Carmel left the corporate world several years ago to focus on volunteer service. His efforts have included running marathons to raise money for charity and serving as a board member of the Carmel Interfaith Alliance.
How do you motivate yourself to keep going on marathon training runs or races?
Having a meaningful purpose for each marathon. For example, running to support a particular cause or charity can provide extra motivation to train harder and perform better during the race. Whatever the cause, having a purpose beyond personal goals can provide a sense of fulfillment and help to stay committed to training and performing at one’s best.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Never stop learning. My dad always used to say, life is a journey of continuous learning and growth. Stay curious, explore new things and embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and improve.
What is your dream vacation?
Banff and Jasper National Parks with serene lakes, stunning trails and abundant wildlife is a favorite vacation of mine. A close second is Iceland, a place of magically haunting beauty that mesmerized me with its stark landscapes and surreal natural wonders, with cascading waterfalls, vast glaciers and mesmerizing Northern Lights.
What food do you most dislike?
Cabbage. Enough said. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Healing powers. The ability to heal others would be a valuable superpower for situations where people are suffering from physical or emotional pain.
Fishers High School junior pitcher/ outfielder Jack Brown’s goal for the baseball season is single-minded.
“The goal for this season is to win as many games as we can,” Brown said. “Every person on this team wants to be celebrating on Victory Field at the end of the year.”
Fishers lost to Jasper in the 2021 IHSAA Class 4A state championship baseball game at Victory Field in Indianapolis.
“Losing in 2021 was definitely tough, but the loss in the sectional championship in ’22 was more motivating,” Brown said. “Last year’s loss left a very bad taste in our mouth.”
At the plate, Brown hit .429 with 29 runs batted in last season. On the mound, he had a 5-2 record with a 2.89 ERA.
Through the first five games this season, Brown was hitting .538 and had a 1-0 record
Favorite athlete: Gerrit Cole
Favorite subject: Oceanography
Favorite movie: “End of Watch”
Favorite musician: Lana Del Rey
with a 2.33 ERA.
Fishers coach Matthew Cherry said Brown gets better each year.
“He is obviously a very gifted and talented young man,” Cherry said. “He came in as a freshman already physically strong and ready to compete at a high level. Jack has a high baseball IQ and is very self-aware about his strengths and weaknesses and
try to do too much. He stays true to himself and hits line drives all over the field and allows extra-base hits to just happen.”
Brown said his biggest improvement has been becoming a better all-around baseball player.
“I made time to be a better pitcher, better hitter and I’ve gotten faster,” Brown said. “I love being a two-way player because I’m on the field every day. I like having an impact on the game in multiple ways, every time we play.”
Cherry said Brown has also grown as a leader.
about his own throwing and swing mechanics. Jack has really grown into a baseball player who can make adjustments to his swing and throwing mechanics at any point in the offseason, during the season, in the middle of a game, etc.
“He has always been a hitter who doesn’t
“He is very comfortable with who he is and has started to emerge as more of a vocal leader,” Cherry said. “His leadership is not so much of a ‘rah-rah’ kind of leadership as much as talking 1-on-1 with his teammates about their grips on their pitches or some tweaks guys could make in their swings. Jack does a good job of talking 1-on1 with his teammates, and together they’ve continued to learn and grow as players.”
Brown committed to the University of Louisville in the fall of 2021.
“Louisville checked all the boxes I was looking for in a place to go,” Brown said.
The nation’s most accomplished brain and spine team is right here in Central Indiana. Goodman Campbell physicians, physician specialists, and collaborative care teams deliver exceptional care that keeps you at the center.
YOU.Fishers High School junior Jack Brown had a 5-2 record last season. (Photo by Sharon McPeek) Brown
Duke Energy customers will see their electric bills drop starting this month after a rate decrease was approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
The utility company had filed a request to drop rates nearly 16 percent with the IURC in early March, which was approved by that agency March 29. For residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month, the decrease reflects a drop of $26 a month.
The latest rate decrease, which will continue through June, follows a 5-percent drop in rates that went into effect in January. Duke Energy officials said that customer electric bills were higher in 2022 primarily because of soaring fuel costs that affected the cost of power utilities produced as well as what they purchased on the energy markets.
In addition, officials pointed to volatility in the energy markets worldwide to labor shortages at railroads that delivered fuel that caused fuel costs to increase.
“Fuel and purchased power can account for as much as 25 to 45 percent of an average residential customer’s bill, so when the markets are volatile, it can have a big impact on energy bills,” Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar said. “We’re starting to see costs stabilize, and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved our request to pass those savings along to customers.”
Utilities adjust prices based on fluctuating fuel costs four times a year, which must be reviewed and approved by state utility regulators, officials said.
Women of Vision luncheon set for April 27 — The 19th annual Women of Vision luncheon will be held April 27 at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. Without Borders Boutique, Bash Boutique and Carolyn’s Corner Gift Shop will be in attendance to showcase their new spring clothing lines. Shopping begins at 10:30 a.m. with lunch and the program following at 11:30 a.m. featuring motivational speaker and comedian Amy Dee. Proceeds from the event benefit women and children served at Riverview Health. Register by visiting donate.riverview. org/23WomenofVision.
news@currentinfishers.com
The City of Fishers is planning a “soft” opening of the redeveloped Geist Waterfront Park between April 22 and May 22.
Area residents are invited to explore the park’s playground, walking trails and kayak/boat launch between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, with no charge for admission outside of official beach season.
There will be no lifeguards on duty during that time, so swimming is not allowed until May 27.
The city acquired the site about five years ago for just under $16 million, with the intention of creating a park for residents. Construction of park amenities began in May of 2021.
“I think what we’re creating here is truly an opportunity for our entire community to enjoy a truly wonderful natural amenity,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said at the time of the groundbreaking ceremony. “And the vision and collaboration that happened to get to this point, to develop something
that’s complimentary to the neighborhood, that accentuates the natural environment that’s here, and that is a vision that can be built out over the next several decades, is really a fun and exciting thing to be here and break ground on here today.”
The boat launch is for nonmotorized watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. There is no vehicle access to the boat launch.
Playground equipment includes a pirate ship-themed playground, and other equipment for children of different age groups. Those amenities include a sand and water play structure.
The city is hiring lifeguards for the summer beach season, which begins May 27 and runs through Sept. 4. According to Play Fishers, the beach is fed by three underwater freshwater springs and includes aerators that run all the time. The water is tested regularly. However, swimmers are warned to not swallow the water and to shower before and after swimming.
Pets are not allowed on the beach, but leashed dogs can be walked in other areas of the park.
Lane Skeeters has announced his candidacy for the South Central District seat on the Fishers City Council. A Democrat, he is unopposed in the May 2 primary election.
has become more congested and less green, citing as an example The Yard at Fishers District. He said the original plans for the development showed more greenspace than what was actually created.
Republican John Weingart is the incumbent and is seeking reelection.
Skeeters, 37, ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2019 against Weingart. He said he is running again to apply his vision for the direction of the city. He grew up in Fort Wayne, studied graphic design at IUPU Fort Wayne, now known as Purdue Fort Wayne, and is a design manager for Image360.
Skeeters moved to Fishers with his family in 2015.
“I chose Fishers over Carmel, Avon and other communities because of the things that appealed to me,” he said. “Specifically, the schools. I loved how green and open it felt. It wasn’t overdeveloped.”
Skeeters said through the years, Fishers
“They didn’t make a big PR push about any changes that were happening to it,” Skeeters said. “They sell you one thing, and years down the road developers make changes to their plans and the (city) council approves.”
Skeeters said he wants to strengthen the relationship between the Fishers City Council and the community and improve city development. He said there is a disconnect between the community and the council, stating that better community engagement would result in better outcomes with city development.
“I don’t believe all of the voices in our district are being heard, and I want to give the rest of the community a choice,” Skeeters said.
If elected, Skeeters wants to increase community involvement and raise awareness about council decisions.
— Registered voters now can vote early for the May 2 primary election. Voters throughout Hamilton County can vote in person at Judicial Center, One Hamilton County Square, Noblesville, most days between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
To make early voting easier, voting locations will open starting April 19 in other communities. In Fishers, voters can go to Roy G Holland Memorial Park Building, 1 Park Drive, and Billericay Park Building, 12690 Promise Road. The times those locations are open are:
• April 19-20 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• April 21-22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• April 26-27 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• April 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is midnight on April 20. The form can be submitted electronically at indianavoters. com. Voters also can call 317-776-8476 and request an application over the phone. All mailed-in and dropped-off absentee ballots must be received by the Elections Office on or before 6 p.m. on Election Day.
City of Fishers recognized for accessibil-
ity efforts — The City of Fishers recently was honored with a resolution sponsored by state representatives for its work to become a more disability-inclusive community.
According to a news release from Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), “the Fishers Advisory Committee of Disability’s March Disability Awareness Month championed inclusion, collaboration and acceptance for all Fishers residents.” Garcia Wilburn authored the resolution, along with Republican Reps. Ross Huston and Chris Jeter. Republican Sen. Kyle Walker co-sponsored the resolution.
Poll workers needed for May 2 primary — The Hamilton County Election Office is seeking poll workers for the primary Election Day on May 2. Positions that need to be filled include inspectors, clerks, and judges. Volunteers must be registered to vote in Hamilton County, and they are paid for working on Election Day, for going through the training, and for meals. Republicans and Democrats are needed for various roles. Those interested in helping with the election can fill out an online form at hamiltoncounty.in.gov/1351/Poll-Worker-Form.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Aileen Cloonan’s heart stopped two years ago when she went into atrial fibrillation.
stopped to say he’s never delivered so many cards. I even got one from Norway. I heard from all these people that didn’t know me. I’m just overwhelmed. I didn’t realize having a 100th birthday was such a big deal.”
She went to Stanford on the G.I. Bill, which provided benefits for veterans, and then got married.
“Against my wishes, because I had said, ‘do not resuscitate,’ they put in a pacemaker,’” she said. “So, I’ve had two more years to reach my 100th birthday and be with my children.’
Cloonan turned 100 March 24 and had a party with family and friends two days later at her Fishers home.
“This birthday has been fabulous,” she said. “I’ve never had this much attention in my life.”
During the health scare two years ago, Cloonan had gone to the doctor because she wasn’t feeling well. She was given an EKG and taken to the hospital in an ambulance. When her heart stopped, she was given CPR.
She said she is exceedingly grateful that they ignored her DNR request.
Cloonan was a regular at PrimeLife Enrichment in Carmel for 25 years, mostly doing water aerobics. But she had to stop
after her heart episode in April 2021.
“(PrimeLife’s activities coordinator) Dee Timi posted my birthday on PrimeLife Enrichment’s Facebook page and I got about 100 cards,” Cloonan said. “The postman
Cloonan said she even received a greeting from President Joe Biden thanking her for her military service.
About five years ago, Timi arranged for Cloonan to take an Indy Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to see the World War II memorial. Timi accompanied her.
Cloonan, originally from the Cleveland area, went through training and served the U.S. Army during the latter stages of World War II.
She started with basic training in Fort Devens, Mass. Her first assignment was Nichols General Hospital in Louisville.
“The atomic bomb dropped four days after I went in,” she said. “So, the war was over 10 days later, and they were closing hospitals, so they closed Nichols after six months. Then I went to Camp Atterbury’s Wakeman General (in Edinburgh) for nine months. From there, the PTs that were left went to Letterman General in San Francisco and I stayed there for 18 months.”
“My husband, Ted, was recalled for the Korean War and we wound up in San Antonio,” Cloonan said.
From there, Ted, who died in 1979 from a heart attack, took a fellowship in psychology at Purdue University.
Cloonan stopped working when her two daughters were young. The couple moved to Indianapolis in 1968 and she has spent the last 30 years in Fishers. When her youngest, Leslie, went to kindergarten, she started work at Winona Hospital in Indianapolis. She then worked for nursing homes. Her oldest daughter, Holly, 68, lives in Indianapolis. Leslie, 64, lives in a Minneapolis suburb.
Cloonan credits her longevity to staying active mentally and physically.
“I forgive and forget and mostly be grateful,” she said.
An avid walker much of her life, Cloonan was once a member of an Indianapolis hiking club.
“We are super lucky and very thankful,” Leslie said of her mother’s longevity.
Project: State Road 37
Improvement Project
Location: SR 37 & 141st Street. A pre-construction phase is in place. During this phase, 141st Street will have a temporary Right-In-Right-Out configuration.
be an approximately 5 mile pedestrian path, stretching north and south from 96th Street to 131st Street.
Expected completion: Construction started in fall of 2022. A completion date has not been determined.
Expected completion: The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Summer of 2023.
Project: I-465 and I-69 interchange
Location: New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Blvd. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Blvd. will remain open.
Expected completion: Project lasts through 2024.
Project: Nickle Plate Trail
Location: The remaining paving work from 96th Street to 106th Street is underway, and construction crews are currently working to clear and prep the area for paving.
Expected completion: Fall of 2023.
Project: 2023 resurfacing
Location: ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is taking place in Rolling Knoll and will then begin in Spyglass Hills as part of the 2023 Resurfacing Project. Homeowners will be notified via door hangers prior to any curb restoration near their home.
Expected completion: July 2023.
Project: Cumberland Road Reconstruction
Location: Daily lane closures just south of 126th Street for sanitary and water line work, and between 106th Street and 116th Street for tree clearing. The full project is in the design phase.
Expected completion: The project should begin in fall of 2023. A completion date has not been determined.
Project: Geist Greenway
Location: The Geist Greenway Trail will
Project: Roundabout construction
Location: Full closure at 106th Street and College Avenue
Expected completion: Early May
Project: Roundabout construction
Location: The westbound lanes of City Center Drive will be closed between Range Line Road and 3rd Avenue SW for construction of the northern half of the roundabout. Eastbound traffic will be maintained.
Expected completion: Mid-May, with work on additional phases beginning at that time
Project: Widening and improvements, including a roundabout, along Smoky Row Road
Location: Between the Monon Greenway and U.S. 31. The road will be fully closed during the project.
Expected completion: June
Project: Multi-use path construction
Location: Gray Road from 106th to 116th streets. The project is not expected to result in a full closure of the road.
Expected completion: TBD
Project: Roundabout construction
Location: E. Main Street and Lexington Boulevard. Beginning on or after May 29, the intersection will close for completion of the project.
Expected completion: July 4
Project: Pleasant Street
Location: 1.1 miles west of River Road to 10th Street and includes work by Hamilton County for a bridge to be built over the White River.
Expected completion: End of 2024
One free Yoga Wednesday class in April — There is one Free Yoga Wednesday class scheduled for the month of April through Fishers Parks. It is set for 9 a.m. April 12 at the Billericay Park building. Free yoga classes are taught by Roots and Wings Yoga and Wellness. No registration is required, but participants must bring their own yoga mats. In May, classes are scheduled for May 10, 17, 24 and 31.
Garden and Grow Gardening 101 class rescheduled — The earlier Garden and Grow workshop was postponed due to weather, and has been rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. April 20 at the Fishers AgriPark. This free class does not require registration, It will focus on gardening basics for people to get their first garden up and growing. The class will include prepping soil, what seeds work best in this climate zone, when to plant and how to care for the garden before sprouts emerge.
SUN WILL BEAT ON IT. WINDS WILL RIP AT IT.
YOU’RE GONNA NEED SOMEONE WHO IS GOOD AT IT.
Mother Nature can be a real mother. Especially when it comes to roofs. That’s why you should consider a roof that stands the test of Father Time. Bone Dry. We’ve been around for over 30 years because we install roofs that last just as long. Nothing weathers the weather quite like a Bone Dry roof.
Fishers resident Carlie Oakley had known for a long time that she might need a kidney transplant someday. She didn’t know when that might be, though, and she definitely couldn’t predict that the donor would be her close friend, Jenny Deppen.
Oakley was 16, and like many teenagers was taking acne medication at the time. But then her creatinine levels — which indicate kidney health — became extremely elevated. That’s when doctors discovered she had been born with only one kidney.
That’s not a problem when that kidney is healthy.
“But when I was 23, I was diagnosed with Epstein Barr virus, and it took them about a year to figure out what was going on with me,” she said. “And that happens to be the kind of mono that causes lesions in your kidney. So, by the time they figured it out, my (kidney function) percentage had gone down quite a bit.”
Then she had children, which can take a toll on kidney function, too. With her first child, Meryn, her one kidney went down to 50 percent. When she had her second child, Gage, it dropped to 22 percent.
“And 20 is when you go on the donor list,” she said.
Oakley worked with a homeopathic doctor to bring her kidney function back up and was able to go 11 years without dropping to that 20 percent threshold, but then her function went down again. Although Oakley never had to undergo dialysis, she definitely needed a new kidney.
Deppen and a group of Oakley’s friends had known about Oakley’s health concerns.
“Initially, when she told me I always thought, ‘Oh, sure. I’ll get tested for that.’ Not really thinking too much about it or knowing anything that was involved,” Deppen said. “So, she sent a text — we have a fantastic friend group. They’re very supportive, but she sent out a text to us just giving us kind of background information but … she didn’t ask anyone, obviously, because I think that’s a hard thing to ask for. You’re not asking for a cup of sugar.”
But Deppen and many of those friends
signed up for testing to see if they were a good match. Deppen said other than worrying about the surgery itself, she wasn’t concerned about giving up a kidney.
“I just hoped that I had a healthy kidney to give,” she said. “So, I think my biggest concern was, we were going to do all this testing. We’re going to give her this kidney. And it was going to be a lemon.”
The testing process was thorough, though. When the donor is living, there’s time to make sure it’s as good a match as possible. From the start of testing to the day the match was confirmed took about four months. But Deppen didn’t tell Oakley that she had been moving forward in the testing process until three months in, when it had been narrowed down to two potential matches — she had been afraid of jinxing it.
“I felt like at that point — I know this isn’t the right word — but I felt like I was going to be the winner,” she said.
Deppen did “win,” and in November of 2021, just before Thanksgiving, the friends had their surgeries. It’s a quick transfer. The kidney is disconnected and removed from the donor and immediately implanted in the recipient. Oakley said the surgeons created all new connections for the new kidney rather than using vessels from her failing one — which was not removed.
Recovery was a little challenging in the beginning, partly because of a reaction
to the anesthesia. Deppen said she was released in a couple days, and Oakley was able to go home in only five days.
“They told me it could be two to three weeks,” Oakley said. “So, I think that’s what made the kids so nervous is that mom might be gone (and because of COVID-19), that was going to be three weeks of not being able to see me at all. I think that part was scary.”
Oakley’s two children are friends with Deppen’s daughters, and they also talked a little about how the process affected them.
Deppen’s daughter Mollie Deppen recalled how she felt.
“I was really proud of my mom for donating her kidney to Mrs. Oakley because I love my mom. And also I was really happy Mrs. Oakley was getting a kidney for my mom because I love Mrs. Oakley, and she’s like my second mother,” she said.
Oakely’s son Gage said he was nervous about the surgery and wanted as much information as possible.
“I didn’t know what would happen, really,” he said. “I was asking a lot of questions every night.”
Meryn Oakley said the hardest part of the process for her was seeing her dad so anxious.
“Just because he was so worried about my mom,” she said “And then I think the hardest day was Thanksgiving. Because my
mom wasn’t here for Thanksgiving.”
Now, though, Thanksgiving is extra special for both families. It’s a time to think back and be thankful for a precious gift from one friend to another.
April is National Donate Life Month. According to the Donate Life website, a living organ donor donates an organ or part of an organ to a person in need. A kidney donation is possible from a living donor, because people can live a healthy life with one functioning kidney. A liver donation is possible because a healthy liver will regenerate to normal size in up to three months.
Donors do not need to be related to a recipient, according to the website, and a donated organ from a living donor usually lasts longer for the recipient than organs from a recently deceased person.
For information about becoming an organ donor, visit donatelife.net.
Cannabis is now legal either for medical or recreational purposes in all four states bordering Indiana, and while there have been attempts to change Hoosier law related to cannabis use, those efforts have yet to gain traction.
A couple of Fishers business owners hope that public support for cannabis legalization can change lawmakers’ minds.
Katy Wiley and Scott Moorehead operate Stash Ventures, which owns cannabis businesses in Michigan. They do some administrative work in Fishers, but the product side of the operation is kept completely out of state.
Moorehead said his family ties to Indiana run deep.
“My family has been business owners in Indiana since the 1930s,” he said, noting one of the firms is the wireless services company Round Room, which is headquartered in Fishers.
Wiley said that while Stash has been successful in Michigan, they want to bring that economic success to Indiana, as well. She said they have worked with state lawmakers and were able to get sponsors in 2022 and this year for bills that would decriminalize cannabis. However, those bills were not picked up for a formal hearing.
Wiley said most Indiana residents favor legalization.
“There is good data that in the state (showing) constituents want legalized cannabis,” she said. “So, we’re trying to educate all the legislators.”
Wiley said a public campaign encouraging voters to advocate with lawmakers is a next step. Moorhead said he’d like people to do that even if they oppose legalization.
“No matter what your opinion is, contacting your representative and stating your opinion to have the discussion would be fantastic,” he said.
There has been some movement toward federal decriminalization of cannabis. However, Moorhead said it would benefit the state economically to legalize it before the feds.
“Today, because of the federal laws, if a state does choose to legalize cannabis in some way, that product has to be grown, processed, produced (in the state),” he said.
“So it creates an entire infrastructure — jobs in farming, biology, chemistry, testing, regulation. That infrastructure is important to get set up ahead of federal legalization because once that happens, crossing state lines becomes an opportunity.”
Established businesses in neighboring states that already have that infrastructure would be able to take advantage of interstate commerce. Moorhead said Indiana would miss out on high-paying jobs that go with the cannabis industry.
“What you’re left with is retail,” he said. “You’ll have missed out on the opportunity to do the things that Hoosiers are really, really good at.”
Wiley added that legalizing cannabis provides an opportunity for the state to regulate it, and to learn from mistakes other states have made through the legalization process. She said that as a parent, she wants to make sure cannabis is properly regulated. But that can’t happen until it’s been legalized.
“By not acting, we’re behaving as though cannabis isn’t in the state,” she said. “It very much is.”
Indiana’s state government is controlled by Republican lawmakers. An email to the state GOP asking for comment regarding cannabis legalization was not answered. The governor’s press secretary responded to a request for comment with a short message stating, “If the governor releases a statement regarding this topic I will let you know.”
For decades, Sherrie Allsup couldn’t bring herself to share details of her traumatic childhood in public.
“Ten years ago, I attempted suicide, and after that failed attempt, I decided to take my power back,” Allsup said. “I had been in therapy for years, but I started a new therapy, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) that worked well for me. I was able to move some stuff stuck in my brain. I was able to reprocess them, and I began to live my life and take my power back.”
Allsup, now 61, was sexually abused by her father from around age 6 until she left her Kansas home at 17 to get away from him.
“When I finished my EMDR, that kicked me into telling my story,” Allsup said. “Statistically, only 7 percent of incest survivors go on to tell their story. We’re filled with guilt, shame and humiliation.”
Allsup will recount her story at the Indi-
ana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse & Suicide’s Rise Up for Kids Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. April 27 at Ritz Charles in Carmel. Doors open at 7 a.m. and the event ends at 9 a.m.
She said she shares her story to help others know they are not alone.
“I have found that people are very responsive to me,” Allsup said. “It doesn’t harm my mental health to tell my story over and over. As long as people keep inviting me, I’m going to keep going.”
This fundraiser is the second-largest annually for the Carmel-based ICPYAS. This is the 14th annual Rise Up for Kids Breakfast. Admission is free.
“The primary purpose of the event is to create awareness,” said Melissa Peregrin, executive director of the center. “Not all people realize 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. We don’t want it to be a depressing event. We want it to be a story of hope and resilience. There’s something so powerful about a survivor taking their story and using it to create change and do good in the world.” For more, visit indianaprevention.org. For more on Allsup, visit sherrieallsup.com.
Let’s continue our series exploring the instruments you may encounter in the pretest room at your optometrist’s office.
These next two instruments have been around in some form or fashion for years, but they are also evolving.
The visual field is that test where you press a handheld clicker whenever you see the squiggle (frequency change) in your side vision, or an actual light, depending on the machine. Here, we are testing how far out, and at what sensitivity, you can see a visual stimulus without moving your eye.
This is the quintessential test for not only glaucoma, but other conditions such as brain tumors, brain injuries, stroke, medicine toxicity and more. It can be tedious to test, and scary to know what it is looking for, but new advances are making it fun, easier and faster.
You can expect to start running into a super cool yet still super accurate, virtual-reality headset version of this in the near future! It’s a far cry from the old days when we used a giant bowl and the technician
had to stand behind it and manually move a target, requiring tons of time, coordination and skill.
Everyone loves a good snapshot of their eyeballs, right? Retinal cameras have come a long way, but you will still notice a bright camera flash. If you are asked to smash your face against a giant machine, it is called the Optomap. You may not enjoy the quick flash but be thankful for it. Getting that close to the camera face allows a much larger field of view, much like how the closer you get to the keyhole of a door, the more you can see of what is on the other side.
With Optos, we can view up to 200 degrees of the inside of your eye, which is quite impressive! This technology allows a thorough examination without having to use the dreaded dilating drops in most cases. Your day should not be ruined by an annual eye exam!
Editor,
Growing up, I always adored my Aunt Pam. She took great care of her nails and would always say “yes” to my eager request for a back scratch. She never married or had children, so when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018, I became her primary caregiver when Pam moved to the Fishers area.
I am not alone. Right now, 216,000 Hoosiers are serving as unpaid caregivers for family and friends living with Alzheimer's or another dementia. The Alzheimer's Association provides care and support for all those affected through education programs, caregiver support groups and the 24/7 Helpline. These programs are free of charge thanks to The Longest Day, a do-it-yourself fundraiser culminating on the summer solstice. Participants can support the event through any activity they choose – golf, card games, arts and crafts and more. In addition to funding programs and services, these events help the Alzheimer’s Association advance research, bringing us closer to our ultimate goal of ending the disease.
I am proud to be serving as the new volunteer chair of The Longest Day for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter in honor of my aunt and all those affected. Please join me in the fight against this disease. Visit alz.org/thelongestday to register and select your activity.
Pete van Overwalle Fishers
“Earth Month” started as a movement to resist the abusive consumption of leaded gas the 1960s. Since its inception, each April is designated as an opportunity to be proactive and environmentally conscious. It seems fitting that with “Earth Month” upon us that we share some of the innovative and collaborative high school programs that are being afforded to students in the upcoming school year, which focus on the Earth, our environment and agriculture.
The Pursuit Institute has developed four programs in partnership with Conner Prairie Living History Museum that focus on exposing students to the natural world around us through hands-on educational opportunities. Each of these programs are designed to introduce students to environmental issues and interdisciplinary techniques for addressing environmental problems. Students will make new intellectual and emotional connections to the world around us as they explore current environmental challenges through scientific, social, economic, philosophical, ethical and political perspectives.
issues and viable solutions. Students will explore and engage with our local environment and learn more about the world of agriculture, horticulture, plant and animal science, and landscape and turf management. These programs are designed to give students hands-on opportunities to clarify and refine their career interests, as well as assisting in cultivating opportunities to define college majors, and future career options.
Carrie Lively, Executive Director, The Pursuit InstituteHands-on field experiences, such as investigating water samples and aquatic microorganisms, measuring and monitoring plant and animal growth and maturity, and testing and applying theories of plant sustainability, will open students’ eyes to a whole new view of the environment and develop understanding of the interconnected complexities of our society and the world at large.
Programs offered in conjunction wth Conner Prairie Living History Museum for 2023-24 include:
• AGRI-SCIENCE
• HORTICULTURE
• LANDSCAPING
• NATURAL RESOURCES
Most of us find our inboxes filled every day with offers, newsletters, promises and threats, nearly always unsolicited, from folks we’ve not heard of and don’t know. “The nation’s leading dietician recommends this tree bark to melt fat,” shouts the headline. Maybe, but probably not. Regardless, we find ourselves confronted with claims to be sorted. This week, a dear friend, unknown until now, named Hadley, urged reading of her recent study that discovered that 1 in 3 good Hoosier workers fear that artificial intelligence, or AI, will take their jobs. While Hadley insinuates that the closeness of our imagined friendship is all that is required to establish her expertise, a reasonable person might question the veracity of her findings.
Still, AI is worthy of further consideration. While it is likely premature to prepare “Terminator” movie-style for the coming hordes of occupying machines, we can see clearly that many of the mundane human tasks of a generation ago have already been supplanted by “smart” devices. Automobiles do
not require tuning, and long-distance telephone calls occur without the intervention of an operator. Good. Rather than lament the emerging technology as cataclysmic, is there a path to its use that benefits those of us who might be replaced? Could this column have been written by a smart bot? Probably, and some will assert that it would be better. Would it follow then that some AI “writer” might build a following and celebrity? Would we send letters of praise and criticism? Or would we recognize that arguing with an algorithm is unlikely to advance humankind?
If so, does the human element remain essential? Can AI, with all the data in the known universe, come to “feel”? Will it know fear, hope, longing, pride or envy? Will it teach us how to swim yet never touch the water?
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent.com.
Students will be immersed in an active, collaborative and transformational educational experience with a primary goal to engage students to help them understand the interdisciplinary nature of environmental
To learn more about these programs and others offered through The Pursuit Institute, scan our QR code. There is still time to register for these programs for the 2023-24 school year. Talk to your school counselor today!
To learn more about The Pursuit Institute, visit thepursuitinstitute.org
Friends, most of you know that I am not a night person, nor even really an evening one. My ideal dinner time is 5 p.m., with bed around 8 p.m. If I can’t adhere to this schedule, let’s just say I degrade rapidly. And if sleep deprivation is already in the house, well, god help you all.
Such was the case recently when I headed over to a fancy steak restaurant with my sisters-in-law to celebrate one of their milestone birthdays. I’d slept terribly and was running on cheese sticks and willpower when I showed up for the 6:30 reservation. We had to wait another 20 minutes to be seated before receiving notably slow service and didn’t place our orders until 7:30. Seven. Freaking. Thirty. Can you feel my pain? See preferred timeline above. I could sense myself becoming more withdrawn from the conversation, falling into a familiar flight or fight space where
I’m trying to calm my panic and figure out a polite way to bail. Should I tell the truth and leave? Is that rude? Should I suck it up and persevere? It’s her birthday! Ugh. Oh, lord, what if they want dessert?
Ultimately, I pulled it together and stayed to split the check. But the lateness of the meal and the day was simply too much. I stomped into the house at 9:30, growled at my husband, Doo, and grumpily hit the sack, wearing full-eye makeup and a cloak of bitterness.
Anyhoo, this is why I’d rather eat an afternoon frozen pizza on the couch and then make my way to bed before dark. Everyone’s happy, no one gets hurt. Peace out.
Danielle Wilson is a contributing columnist. You may email her at info@youarecurrent.com.
I could sense myself becoming more withdrawn from the conversation, falling into a familiar flight or fight space where I’m trying to calm my panic and figure out a polite way to bail.
— DANIELLE WILSON
A British researcher has come up with a fascinating theory. His premise is that when fathers tell dumb jokes and lame puns, it prepares their kids to deal with awkward circumstances, giving them a little experience in life with embarrassing and demeaning situations. So, were the jokes I told my son bad, and if so, was that a good thing?
I called Brett, who is now an adult, to share the story I had just read.
“Brett, it’s Dad. I need to tell you something.”
“Geesh, Dad, I’m 35 years old. Not another juvenile joke!“
“That’s just what I was hoping you’d say. I read an article that claims my telling dumb jokes to you when you were a kid helped you grow into a well-adjusted adult.”
“It’s true, Dad. I never thought you were funny, but reacting to your lame puns really did help me deal with other awkward experiences down the road.”
“Brett, that is exactly what the British psychologist said. Are there any jokes that were particularly bad that might have really led you to a more productive and satisfying life?”
“Well, I remember one about the duck who walked into a pharmacy and said, ‘I need some lip balm, and you can put it on my bill.’ Now, Dad, that’s just a dreadful joke. I found it demeaning and insulting for both of us.”
“Thank you so much for saying that. How lucky you were to have such a humorless
And now, a 100 percent true story of how I really did humiliate Brett some 30 years ago.
Brett was in the fourth grade, and I was doing field reporting for WISH-TV. The Broadway show “Cats” was playing at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, and I thought it would be fun to have the makeup artist apply the same cosmetics on me as she did for the actors in the show. The process took quite a while. When I looked at myself in the mirror some two hours later, it was bizarre feeling like my normal self but staring at a cat in the reflection. That’s when I had an idea. I would go to my son’s class and surprise the kids with my new feline face. When I reached the school, I checked in to the main office, explained my plan and made my way to Brett’s room. After getting the teacher’s attention through the tiny side window and identifying myself, I slithered in through the door.
The kids went wild — screaming, laughing, meowing. “Who is it?” asked one kid in the front row. No one knew who I was, of course, with one notable exception.
From the back of the room came my son’s voice dripping in embarrassment, “Probably my father.”
Letters to the editor: Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 150 words. Letters must be thoroughly vetted prior to submission. Current retains the right to reject or return any letter it deems to carry unsubstantiated content. Current also retains the right to edit letters, but not their intent. Send letters to info@youarecurrent.com. Writers must include a hometown and a daytime phone number for verification. Guest columns: The policy for guest columns is the same as the aforementioned, but the allowable length is 240 words. Guest columns should address the whole of Current’s readership, not simply special-interest groups, and may not in any way contain a commercial message.
When I looked at myself in the mirror some two hours later, it was bizarre feeling like my normal self but staring at a cat in the reflection.
— DICK WOLFSIE
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Composer John Berners’ admiration for author William Faulkner inspired a piece called “In Rowan Oak.”
‘AN
“An American in Paris” runs through May 14 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
‘THE
“I wanted to write a dramatic, new romantic-kind of Gothic-sounding piece,” said Berners, a Greenwood resident and music professor at the University of Indianapolis. “The title came after I was already working on music. But Faulkner is described as a Southern gothic writer, and his books are all set in Mississippi in the early 20th century. There’s lots of tension in that society, for sure. There is a tragic aura hanging over everything, and that does match the music. I named the piece after his home in Oxford, Mississippi.”
Berners wrote the original piece for a chamber orchestra.
“I reworked the whole thing for a full symphony orchestra,” Berners said. “I tore out half of it and replaced it, so all of it has been rewritten. It’s not really the same piece anymore, even though the title is the same and some of the themes are the same. It was pretty much comparable to writing a whole new piece.”
The world premiere of the composition will be included in Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks 5 concert at 7:30 p.m. April 22 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
Berners is married to CSO principal flute player Tammy Thweat.
“I heard John’s music online and was immediately attracted to it,” CSO Artistic Director Janna Hymes said. “There is an angular, percussive sound to it with a compelling result.”
Berners wrote the original piece more than 12 years ago.
After talking with Hymes, Berners decided to expand the piece to include a full brass and percussion section.
“So that became my summer project of 2022,” he said. “The original piece had things that Janna liked and things I liked,
so I didn’t want to just discard it. I wanted to rejuvenate that material. We made it bigger, and we think it will have more drama to it with the full orchestra and the huge concert hall because it is gothic music.”
Hymes said she loves premiering new works.
“There is always an excitement about playing a world premiere, a piece that has never been played before as there are no expectations or comparisons to other performances,” Hymes said. “It’s always a treat to work with living composers.”
Cellist Sterling Elliott will be a special guest at the concert, performing on selections from Camille Saint-Saens and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
“Sterling is an amazing young man,” Hymes said. “At 23, he is mature, calm and has an extremely warm heart. His playing is spectacular with a depth and sophistication beyond his years. This will be our third time working together. I just performed with him in a concert in Arizona and he was brilliant.”
Hymes said Elliott possesses tremendous charisma.
“I know our audience is going to fall in love with this young musician and his extraordinary abilities,” she said.
Elliott learned to play the cello at age 3 and made his concerto debut at age 7. He is a student at New York’s Juilliard School of Music
For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
Main Street Productions will present “The Spitfire Grill, a musical, will run from April 13 to 23 at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
MARC
Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 13 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
ABILENE
Abilene will perform at 8 p.m. April 15 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘HOLLYWOOD
Indiana Wind Symphony’s “Hollywood Musical Magic” concert is set for 6:30 p.m. April 16 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
Celebrate Opera Day is set — Indianapolis Opera is encouraging fans to participate in Celebrate Opera Day April 19 to play opera, post about opera, talk about opera, and support opera. The Indianapolis Opera’s Facebook and Instagram will provide updates, feature short videos, opportunity to compete in contests and win prizes. Fans are encouraged to watch #CelebrateIndyOpera and share favorite operatic moments with the Indianapolis Opera For more, visit indyopera.org.
Son to discuss artist Nancy Noel documentary — Alex Noel Kosene will speak April 13 at The Bluffs of the Chinese House at Conner Prairie in Fishers. The speaker is a filmmaker whose forthcoming documentary is about his late mother, famed artist, Nancy Noel, whose studio was in Zionsville. The Contemporary Club of Indianapolis event begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and viewing of N.A. Noel Gallery works.
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Conner Prairie announced April 4 the 2023 season of Kroger Symphony on the Prairie starting June 23 at the Conner Prairie Amphitheatre in Fishers. Tickets to the general public will go on sale April 11 on the ISO website. Tickets can also be purchased at central Indiana Kroger stores, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office at 45 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, or by calling the box office at 317-639-4300. A new feature this year is those purchasing tickets to three or more concerts automatically receive a 10 percent discount, with no code needed. The discount is calculated at checkout.
The schedule is as follows (*denotes concerts featuring the ISO):
*June 23-24: The Music of Harry Potter with conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez.; *June 30-July 3: Star-Spangled Symphony, patriotic celebration, complete with fireworks. Featuring Conductor Alfred Savia and vocalist Vanessa Thomas;;*July 7-8: “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” in concert featuring the ISO led by former ISO Assis-
tant Conductor Jacob Joyce. The original film will be shown on the large screens as the orchestra performs the soundtrack. Program starts at 8:30 p.m.; *July 14-15: Arrival from Sweden: Music of ABBA with Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly leading the ISO; *July 21-22: Broadway under the Stars. Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly leads a performance of Broadway favorites featuring vocalists Victor Robertson, Katie Swaney, AshLee Baskin, and Jim Hogan; July 28-29: Face2Face: A Tribute to Elton John & Billy Joel; Aug. 4: Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston (not associated with the Estate of Whitney Houston); Aug. 5: Tusk: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band; Aug. 11: The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute; Aug. 12: Here Come the Mummies with Rock E Bassoon (featuring musicians of the ISO); Aug. 18: Marshall Tucker Band.; Aug. 19: Unforgettable Fire: U2 Tribute Show; Aug. 25-26: One Night of Queen with Gary Mullen and the Works; Sept. 1: Aeromyth: The Ultimate Aerosmith Tribute Experience; Sept. 2: Pyromania: The Def Leppard Experience; Sept. 3: Voyage – The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band.
For more, visit IndianapolisSymphony.org.
Commentary by Julieanna Childs
“Air” is a great American sports story about the unconventional team behind the rise of the Air Jordan brand.
It was 1984. “The A-Team” was a hit with TV audiences, Cyndi Lauper and Run DMC occupied the airwaves, Cabbage Patch Dolls made every girl’s Christmas list, and Larry Bird, Moses Malone and Magic Johnson dominated the NBA. Adidas and Converse captured most of the sports shoe market, while Nike had only 7 percent of the industry’s sales.
Directed and produced by Ben Affleck, “Air” is an inspiring story about the pressures of risking it all. Matt Damon, who also serves as a producer on the film, plays Sonny Vaccaro and is tasked with delivering a much-needed boost to Nike’s floundering basketball division. Relying on instincts, he decides to bet everything on then-rookie Michael Jordan, the third-overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.
In competing for Jordan’s attention, Vaccaro builds a relationship with Deloris, played by EGOT winner Viola Davis, the
mother who negotiated the unprecedented deal that changed the world of sports marketing forever. The casting of Davis, the story’s central character, was Michael Jordan’s idea.
“Air” breaks all the rules in an entertaining and heartwarming story for sports and movie fans alike.
During the past 14 years, Julieanna Childs has worked as a film studio representative, contracting for all the major Hollywood studios. Her film reviews can be found at TheJujuReview.com. She is a Hamilton County resident.
Location: Ritz Charles Carmel
Register online by April 13 at riverview.org/23WomenofVision.
For questions , contact Polly Craig at pcraig@riverview.org or 317.776.7938.
Diamond
The Indiana Wind Symphony is going back to the movies for its next concert.
Earlier this year, the IWS performed a tribute to film composer John Williams.
The “Hollywood Musical Magic” concert set for 6:30 p.m. April 16 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel and will feature Williams along with other famous composers such as Max Steiner, Meredith Willson, Bernard Herrmann and Ennio Morricone.
phony’s principal oboe player, will be the featured soloist on Morricone’s “Gabriel’s Oboe” from “The Mission.”
The concert’s guest conductor Todd McCready had served as the director of concert bands at Fishers High School for eight years, and 14 years overall in the Hamilton Southeastern Schools district. He is now a project management consultant with BCforward in Indianapolis.
McCready
“It’s going to be a wide range,” IWS musical director Charles Conrad said. “We’re going to hit some big early film scores like ‘Gone with The Wind,’ ‘Citizen Kane’ and “The Wizard of Oz.’”
Conrad said the concert will include a piece from “Lawrence of Arabia,” a 1962 film.
“Then we’ll do some more recent ones like ‘The Mission,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Cowboys’ and ‘Titanic,’”
Fishers resident Ellen Huckabee, the sym-
“All the film scores on this concert are fun, but I am probably looking forward to the ‘Suite from Titanic’ by Jari Villanueva,” McCready said. “It’s a 15-minute, four-movement suite that includes a whole range of memorable music from the movie, and of course it ends with ‘My Heart Will Go On.’ The band sounds great, and I’m honored to get to work with them on this concert.”
McCready also is conducting a piece from “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.”
Conrad said he is intrigued by Hermann’s “Citizen Kane” overture, which he didn’t remember.
For more, visit Indianawindsymphony.org.
Vocalist Morgan James’ recent albums have featured a classic soul sound. But she said as a 1990s kid, she wanted to return to her rhythm and blues roots.
James released the album “Nobody’s Fool” March 31 and has embarked on a tour in support of it. James is set to perform at Feinstein’s at 7:30 p.m. April 14-15 at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel.
James’ first studio album, “Hunter,” featured R&B music.
“We’re returning a little bit to the R&B sound after making two back-to-back classic soul records,” James said. “We brought in more of those ‘90s flavors. The songwriting, the singing and the background vocals and all that is still what my fans know and love, but we’ve brought in more of the R&B flavors. It’s been amazing to sing some of the songs from ‘Hunter’ and some of the songs from my other albums on this tour as well because they go really well together. So, it’s nice to integrate all the albums.”
James said she is excited to make her debut at Feinstein’s in Carmel. She has performed in Feinstein’s clubs in New York and San Francisco.
James said the set will be varied.
“We do a couple of fan favorites as well as covers people know and love,” James said. “We’re going to do a couple of songs from each of my albums. I think there is something for everybody.”
James co-wrote most of the songs with husband Doug Wamble, who also produced and arranged the album. The sole cover on the album is Jeff Buckley’s “Everybody Here Wants You.” Wamble also accompanies James on guitar on tour.
James said she enjoys playing in listening rooms such as Feinstein’s.
“I definitely like to tell people what some of the songs are about or why we wrote them,” James said. “I think that is the benefit of playing listening rooms is that people want to hear personal stories. I definitely tell several of those.”
For more, visit feinsteinshc.com
Brenna Whitaker has a lasting connection to “The Spitfire Grill.”
“I love the show,” Whitaker said. “I was in it (as Shelby) and vocally directed it 10 years ago (at the Belfry Theatre). It has stayed in my head the last decade, so I was thrilled to be a part of it again.”
Whitaker will direct Main Street Productions’ presentation of “The Spitfire Grill,” a musical, April 13-23 at Basile Westfield Playhouse.
Whitaker was originally slated to be the vocal director, but when the director had to withdraw, she took on both duties. This is the first time the Noblesville resident has directed with Main Street Productions.
“There aren’t any songs that you want to skip because it’s just lovely music,” Whitaker said. “I always love a small-cast musical. There are seven members in the cast. You bond in a way that is really remarkable with a smaller cast. I think that every character has such an interesting arc that they go through. For me, it’s just such a lovely story of redemption and second chances. It has stuck with me, and when I saw that it was on the schedule, I wanted to be a part of it.”
The musical is based on the 1996 movie. Westfield resident Chrissy Crawley plays the role of Percy Talbott, who was just released after serving five years for manslaughter. She sees a photo of Gilead, Wis., in and old travel book in prison and decides that would be a good place for a fresh start.
“Every character is trying to take a step forward and figure out who they are, change and continue to grow,” Whitaker said. “It’s the story of rebirth and starting over for everyone, not just Percy.”
Crawley said Percy shows up and thinks she might have made a mistake because people aren’t nice to her and gossip a lot.
“She thinks, ‘Did I make a mistake? Was this really a good place to start again?’”
Crawley said. “Then over time, they warm to her, and she grows a tight-knit little family and decides to stay long term.”
Crawley said she had never heard of the musical or the movie it was based on.
“I’ve never done a show with audio tracks before. I’ve always either had a pianist or a small string orchestra,” she said. “So it’s kind of a learning curve for me. We have
songs and then there’s dialogue and then there’s more songs and there’s more dialogue, so the timing has to be so precise. That’s been the biggest challenge for me. I think the (lines) memorization kind of comes back to you like riding the bike.”
Crawley said she took time off because her son turned 2 in January.
“I thought I wanted to get back into (acting) now that we have things under control,” she said.
Crawley said the show is her first serious musical.
“I love all the songs in the show. They are really catchy,” she said.
This is Crawley’s first show since moving to Westfield. Her most recent performance was in “Mamma Mia!” at Civic Theatre of Lafayette in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.
Crawley, who started singing in her school choir in third or fourth grade, performed in musicals and choir at Crown Point High School. She performed in a choir at Purdue University, where she met her husband, who also is a singer.
Georgie Teipen, Greenfield, plays Hannah, who owns the restaurant where Percy works. Like Crawley, Teipen hadn’t seen the musical before.
“I think audiences are going to be moved by it,” Teipen said. “It’s funny. It’s heart-touching. It’s about issues that face all of us and coming to a place of forgiveness. There’s lots of very meaningful songs.”
For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
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Don’t you love when linguistics and geography collide? No, I’m not talking about the town of Noun, Alaska, where people, places, things and ideas live in harmony; I’m talking about different names for different places. Different pen strokes for different kin folks, I suppose. And, just so you know, Noun, Alaska, is not real (although it should be).
Based on my one semester as an English major and my finalist status in the fourth-grade geography bee, I am completely qualified to cover the intersection of the two topics.
We should start with the world’s tallest mountain, although it will be all downhill from here. Famously, Mount Everest was named after 19th-century Surveyor General of India George Everest. Although I can confirm Everest never climbed his eponymous mountain, legend has it that he never even set eyes on it. Mount Everest is the mountain’s exonym, while its Tibetan endonym is Chomolungma, and the Nepali endonym is Sagarmatha.
Regarding some of the world’s largest capital, their inhabitants and fellow countrymen have local names (endonyms) for them, while in the U.S. and elsewhere, we have other names (exonyms). For instance, Rome (exonym) is known locally as Roma (endonym). Russia’s capital city of Moscow (exonym) is known internally as Moskva (endonym).
Today, in our continuing tour of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, we come to Jericho, a city with biblical significance and many historic firsts.
Jericho, with a population of about 20,000, is in the Palestinian Territories just west of the Jordan River and about 20 miles east of Jerusalem. Although located within the Judean Desert, Jericho has long been known as the City of Palms because of its lush tropical landscape, watered by underground springs. Nomads attracted by those springs founded Jericho in about 10,000 B.C., creating what many believe is the world’s first permanent settlement. In about 9,400 B.C., Jericho residents erected the world’s first city walls. A cylindrical stone tower in Jericho, built in about 8,000 B.C., was the tallest man-made structure in the world until about 2,650 B.C., when it was surpassed by the stepped pyramid of Djoser in Egypt. At 846 feet below sea level, Jericho is the lowest city in the world.
Jericho is the site of the biblical story where Joshua “fought the battle” and the “walls came tumbling down.” Most archaeologists today believe that the walls of Jericho were destroyed by an earthquake hundreds of years before the presumed time of Joshua and that Jericho was not occupied at that time. Jericho is near where the Bible says Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights before he began his ministry. The Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Temptation in the hills above Jericho, a popular tourist destination reachable by cable car, remembers that story. Jericho is
the eastern terminus of the treacherous Jericho Road leading to Jerusalem that was the setting for Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. Jericho is also the site of the story of Jesus healing the blind beggar and dining with Zacchaeus while on his way to Jerusalem for the last time.
Today, we’re delving into the world of endonyms and exonyms. If that sounds Greek to you, that’s because it is! Endonyms and exonyms are both toponyms, or “place names.” The suffix “-nym” translates to “name,” while “endo-” and “exo-” respectively mean “in” and “out.”
This means endonyms are place names used by people inside a place, while exonyms are those used by people outside a place. How about some examples?
40. Woolly mama
41. Gaucho’s lasso
43. Kind of cord
45. Barrel maker in an I-69 city?
48. Lip-puckering
49. ___ and downs
50. Mideast land
53. Analogy words
55. Sports grp. with an office on the Downtown Canal
Walk
59. Scoundrel
60. Toilets in a Dubois County city?
63. “Evita” role
64. Those opposed
65. IRT or PU, e.g.
66. Rep. rival
67. “It ___ me!”
68. French impressionist
Down
1. Genie’s home
2. Trendy berry
3. Silent assents
4. Indianapolis Opera highlight
5. ___ and outs
6. Call off
7. “Fernando” foursome
8. Mercy from a Hamilton County Court judge
9. “___ Haw”
10. Blunder
11. Cookie with the same colors as a crossword
12. Metric weight
13. Spiral shape
18. Japan’s third largest city
22. “Evita” role
23. Albuquerque college (Abbr.)
25. Suitable
26. Spy org.
27. Sent by jet
28. Competed in the Mini-Marathon
29. ___ Wednesday
30. Out-of-town fan at the Big Ten Tournament, maybe 31. Geneva’s river
32. Nicky Blaine’s smoke producer
33. Footnote abbr. 34. “Not guilty,” for one
creators
waiting
6 Comic Strips
4 Eye Parts
3 Broad Ripple Restaurants
buddy
5 IUPUI Math Classes
2 U.S. Neighbors
1 Indiana City Known As “Athens on the Prairie”
“bone” or “breaker”
61. “Wheel of Fortune” buy
62. US Rep. Banks
Answers on Page 31
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