June 6, 2023 — Fishers

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Fishers resident purchases Carmel Marathon

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The name Full Circle Events seemed appropriate for Jay Druba’s new race management company.

community. We don’t want to do a bunch of events. We want to focus on the Carmel Marathon.”

Oliver said there is “no one he trusts more with the future of the Carmel Marathon Weekend than Jay and Kati.”

Druba said he approached Oliver about the possibility of selling.

RUNNING

Druba was an intern in 2011 for the Carmel Marathon. Now, Druba and his wife, Kati, have purchased the rights to Carmel Marathon from the Carmel Road Racing Group.

“It’s more of a passion project for us,” Druba said. “We both have fulltime jobs.”

This will be the only event Full Circle Events plans to run at this time.

“We’re 100 percent focused on the Carmel Marathon,” said Druba, who lives in Fishers with his wife and two young daughters.

“We used to produce events a few years ago, but we took a job in Tampa. We moved back to the area in the summer of 2022. We wanted to get back involved in the running

The couple’s previous company was under a different name, so Full Circle Events was formed. Kati ran the Carmel Marathon in 2014 and 2015. Druba ran track and cross country at Franklin College.

Druba said there are no significant changes planned for the Carmel Marathon Weekend, which is set for April 6, 2024.

“We want to continue the legacy of a great event,” he said. “The most important thing for us is the runners’ experience and the relationship we build with event partners and the city.”

The Carmel Marathon is the biggest event CRRG Events owned and produced. “We started the event from the ground up,” said Todd Oliver, president of CRRG.

Oliver, who will serve as an advisor for Carmel Marathon in 2024, said the transition will allow CRRG to grow other events and expand into new markets.

The Indiana Women’s Half Marathon & 5K has been relocated from Indianapolis to Carmel for 2023 and will be Oct. 21.

“It was the eighth-largest women’s-only half marathon in the U.S. in 2019 and we are pushing hard to move it back into the top 10 now that it has a new permanent home in Carmel,” he said. “In 2019, it attracted ladies from 37 states, including seven USA Track & Field Olympic Trials qualifiers. It is the only women’s half marathon in the U.S. that offers a top-20 cash purse.”

For more, visit carmelmarathon.com.

Two motorcyclists injured in I-69 crash in Fishers

news@currentinfishers.com

At about 4 p.m. May 25, first responders were called to the scene of a serious crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 69 just north of 96th Street.

ACCIDENT

According to an announcement from the Indiana State Police, callers reported that a motorcycle had hit the back of a truck and the occupants were lying in the roadway.

“When first responders arrived, they found two adults severely injured, one of them was unconscious,” State Police reported, “Life-saving emergency medical aid was given, and the two victims were transported by ambulance to a local hospital.”

State police said that a preliminary investigation determined that a white pickup truck had slowed to a stop because of stopping traffic, and a motorcycle crashed into the back of the pickup truck, ejecting both

occupants off the motorcycle and onto the roadway. They were wearing helmets.

The

Troopers

proximately three hours.

State

Jay Druba Kati Druba

driver of the truck was not injured.

reported that the crash caused several lanes of I-69 to be closed for ap-

Two adults were seriously injured in a crash the afternoon of May 25 on I-69 north of 96th Street in Fishers. (Photo courtesy of the Indiana State Troopers)

police were assisted by the Fishers Police Department, the Fishers Fire Department and the Indiana Department of Transportation.

FISHERS RESIDENTS

United Way awards Basic Needs grants

news@currentinfishers.com

United Way of Central Indiana announced that it will award $12.45 million through its Basic Needs Fund to 60 nonprofits to help the region’s most vulnerable neighbors.

CHARITY

United Way’s Basic Needs Fund is intended to address access to food, housing, health care and transportation, according to the announcement. Funding is also granted to organizations proposing improvements to practices and policies to help eliminate barriers for people seeking services.

Grant awards range from $45,000 to $360,000 and will be distributed over 18 months. All 60 nonprofits that applied received funding.

The funds will help more than 90,000 people in the region have access to essentials, said Sara VanSlambrook, United Way’s chief impact officer.

“These grants are important because they support community organizations that are meeting the most essential needs of our community, like food and housing and transportation and health,” she said.

In alphabetical order, the grantees include:

• American Cancer Society – $45,000

• The Arc of Greater Boone County, Inc. – $100,000

• Boone County Senior Services, Inc. – $90,000

• Boys & Girls Club of Boone County – $120,000

• Catholic Charities Indianapolis, Inc. – $325,000

• CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions – $360,000

• Community Alliance of the Far Eastside – $300,000

• Concord Neighborhood Center – $275,000

• Damien Center – $345,000

• Reach For Youth – $60,000

• The Salvation Army Indiana – $300,000

• Second Helpings – $360,000

• Sheltering Wings – $210,000

• Shepherd Community Center – $90,000

• Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County – $250,000

For a complete list, see the online article at youarecurrent.com

COMMUNITY

FISHERS

Project: 126th STREET

Location: 126th Street between Royalty Drive and Bellingham Blvd. is closed for median and crosswalk construction. The detour shall use Olio Road to Southeastern Pkwy.

configuration.

Expected completion: The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the summer of 2023.

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

Expected completion: June 30

Project: 146th and Allisonville Interchange

Location: Phase 1 of construction for the grade separation intersection improvement has begun at 146th Street and Allisonville Road. One thru lane and one left turn lane in all directions will be closed through the intersection. Closures of Sowers Drive and Saville Road at 146th Street will be necessary in June. Please exercise caution while driving through this construction zone. In addition to these closures, the worksite speed limit will be 35 mph.

Expected completion: The entire project is set for completion in summer 2025

Project: Fall Creek Road

Location: Citizens Energy Group is mobilizing the lift station on Fall Creek Road near Geist Woods Way, resulting in the closure of Fall Creek Trail.

Expected completion: August

Project: 106th Street & Kincaid Drive

Location: Phase 1 started June 5 for construction of a new concrete median on 106th Street and to modify Kincaid Drive to a right-in-right-out entrance. During this phase, access to Kincaid Drive from 106th Street will be restricted. The detour shall use Lantern Road to Sunlight Drive. Phase 1 is anticipated to be completed by July 7.

Phase 2 is expected to start July 10. During that phase, lane restrictions will be in place on 106th Street, and both roundabouts at 106th and I-69, and 106th and Lantern Road will be converted into a single lane. This phase is anticipated to be completed by July 28.

Expected completion: The full project is expected to be completed by August 2023

Project: Roundabout preconstruction at 106th and Hoosier Road

Location: 106th Street and Hoosier Road. Utility relocation is underway for the project, which goes out to bid this spring.

Expected completion: To be determined.

Project: Ind. 37 Improvement Project

Location: Ind. 37 and 141st Street. A pre-construction phase is in place. During this phase, 141st Street will have a temporary right-in-right-out traffic

Project: Clear Path Improvement 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 Boulevard will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Boulevard will remain open. Drivers can expect to see significant activity on I-69 at the 82nd Street interchange. The ramp from I-69 North to 82nd Street and the ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 North is closed through late 2023. For detour routes and additional project information, visit clearpath465. com

Expected completion: Project lasts through 2024.

Project: Geist Greenway Trail

Location: Stone is currently being placed between 126th Street and Valley Crossing Drive as part of the Geist Greenway Project. When material is brought in, there will be an increase in construction traffic. Traffic will be briefly stopped as trucks are entering and exiting the road.

Expected completion: To be determined

Project: 2023 resurfacing

Location: ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is taking place in Sunblest Boulevard between Allisonville Road and Orchard Boulevard Homeowners will be notified via door hangers prior to any curb restoration near their home. After ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is completed, those areas will be restored with topsoil and seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions.

Expected completion: Summer 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 northbound right turn lane and the southbound passing blister will be closed. The full project is in the design phase.

Expected completion: The full project should begin in fall of 2023. A completion date has not been determined.

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HCLA names 2023 awardees

news@currentinfishers.com

Hamilton County Leadership Academy has announced Dan Stevens and David Heighway as its 2023 award winners.

ACCOLADES

According to the HCLA, the awards recognize alumni and community partners for commitment and service to the organization and for their impact on Hamilton County. Both men will be honored during the HCLA Leadership Summit, set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 20 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Noblesville.

Stevens will receive the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. It recognizes an alumnus who has made a difference in the organization’s network and the county through leadership efforts and community service.

“They have utilized the knowledge gained from the program to leave a mark in the community where they reside and work,” according to the HCLA.

Stevens joined the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department in 1974, where he worked as a dispatcher, corrections officer, process server, patrol deputy, division commander and chief deputy, and then served eight years as the elected county sheriff. He became director of administration for the Office of County Commissioners in 2009 and retired at the end of March.

“(Stevens) has received numerous community recognitions for his work, including the 2016 Community Service Award from Noblesville Sunrisers Kiwanis Club, 2020 Outstanding Administrator Award from the Indiana Association of County Commissioners, and in 2023 received the Hamilton

County Commissioners Continental Award for Service,” according to the HCLA. “He will continue to serve Hamilton County in his retirement as an appointment by the county commissioners on the Riverview Hospital Board of Trustees, president of the Hamilton County Redevelopment Commission, vice president of the Hamilton County Theater Guild, and on the board of directors for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Chaplaincy.”

Heighway will receive the 2023 HCLA Honorary Alumni Award, which recognizes a Hamilton County leader for their partnership with the organization.

“Honorees are not alumnus of the program but have a deep belief in the mission and vision of HCLA and the impact graduates can make in the community,” according to the HCLA.

Heighway is the county historian, and recently authored the book, “Hidden History of Hamilton County.” He works at Hamilton East Public Library and serves on the Noblesville Historic Preservation Commission and is on the board for the Hamilton County Historical Society.

According to its website, HCLA was established in 1991 to develop a pool of knowledgeable community leaders to apply their skills to government, business and civic activities, and positively shape the future of Hamilton County. HCLA selects a cohort of leaders each year to complete a comprehensive, 10-month curriculum exploring local issues. After completing the program, graduates are prepared to assume active roles in addressing critical issues facing Hamilton County. Learn more at hcla.net.

CORRECTION

In the May 23 article in Current in Fishers, “Fishers students participate in Indiana House Page Program,” Current was provided with the incorrect spelling of one of the students’ names. The correct spelling is Sarah Almaya.

DISPATCH

Senior fraud program set — Delaware Township Trustee's Office has planned a lunch and learn program for seniors from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 21, focusing on scams that target seniors. Dean Mucha from the Fishers Police Department will give a presentation about how seniors can protect themselves against fraud. This is a free event with lunch catered by City BBQ. Those interested in attending should RSVP by June 16 by calling 317-842-8595, or registering online at signupgenius.com/go/10c094eabaa2ba6f4c16-senior

Stevens

Heighway

Conner Prairie refines westward expansion

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

building.

DEVELOPMENT

Plans for the westward expansion of Conner Prairie amenities into Carmel continue to evolve as the living history museum works with neighbors and city officials to refine the project.

The proposed expansion in Carmel is divided into two zones, with the northern Zone 1 operating as a ticketed museum area that includes food, farm and energy exhibits; a modern farm; trails; a pedestrian bridge over the White River; and other amenities. The southern Zone 2 is proposed to include the White River Education Center, eco-lodge, office building, restaurant and more.

“Conner Prairie is trying to create something really special, something that exemplifies innovation and an eye toward the future but also links back toward the past,” said Aaron Kowalski, a planner with MKSK who has been heavily involved with the project.

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

The Carmel Plan Commission committee as a whole met May 23 to discuss the proposed PUD. Conner Prairie has made several changes to the proposed PUD since filing it with the city in August 2022, including reducing the number of rooms in the ecolodge from 140 to 70, increasing setbacks from nearby neighborhoods and adding a cap on nonmuseum uses in the office

Commissioners asked for additional modifications, including a request to consider relocating the eco-lodge, which is currently proposed to be directly across River Road from Prairie Trace Elementary. Kowalski said the project team will discuss it.

John Reinhardt, who lives in The Overlook at Legacy neighborhood just north of the elementary school, attended the meeting and told Current May 24 he would prefer the eco-lodge and office building, which he described as “out of context” for the area, be moved east of the river. He’s also concerned about increased congestion on nearby roads and a potential lengthy construction timeline.

“The bottom line is we don’t want to look at a hotel or a lodging facility, nor do we want the constant in-and-out traffic that’s going to congest things more,” Reinhardt said. “It changes the nature of our living experience.”

Commissioner Josh Kirsh asked the petitioner to consider additional improvements to pedestrian connectivity along River Road and urged planners not to “dumb down” the project.

“I think that we should be bold. I think we should be adventurous,” he said. “I think we should recognize we’re providing a legacy project to our community.”

Project planners will use feedback from the meeting and additional input from the community to continue modifying the proposed project. The PUD is expected to be discussed by the committee as a whole again before eventually going back to the full plan commission for a vote. The Carmel City Council will have the final vote on the PUD.

Cumberland Cottages groundbreaking set

news@currentinfishers.com

A groundbreaking ceremony for Cumberland Cottages affordable housing development led by the nonprofit HAND is set for 2 p.m. June 15 at 13995 Cumberland Rd. in Fishers.

DEVELOPMENT

A rezone allowing the development to proceed was approved by city officials in 2021. The development will occupy 1.82 acres and will offer 11 detached two- to three-bedroom homes. The state has provided about $2 million toward the development.

Cumberland Cottages will be HAND’s first property in Fishers.

HAND formed informally in 2000 to address the housing needs in Hamilton County, particularly for lower- and middle-income residents. It became a registered nonprofit in 2003.

When the rezone was presented to the Fishers City Council in February of 2021, it was narrowly approved. Some council members expressed concern about the location

and the density of the proposed development. At the meeting, HAND Executive Director Andrea Davis said affordable housing is needed in Hamilton County, and although the county is considered the most affluent in the state, it is home to three dozen food pantries.

Those interested in attending the groundbreaking ceremony are asked to RSVP by email to kelley@handincorporated.org.

HAND’s planned Cumberland Cottages affordable housing development is located at 13995 Cumberland Road in Fishers. (Current file photo)

Registration open for Geist Half Marathon

news@currentinfishers.com

Registration is open for the Sept. 16 Geist Half Marathon. Runners are invited to examine the racecourse map, check out medal designs and sign up to race across the bridge.

JUNE 10, 4 – 8 P.M.

EVENTS

“Runners from all over central Indiana take on this course through nature-filled roads and waterfront neighborhoods along the north-central portion of Geist Reservoir,” according to the City of Fishers, which hosts the event.

For those who aren’t up for a full 13.1 miles, planners have a 5K option.

“The City of Fishers team has reimagined this experience with a focus on participants, volunteers and community experiences,” according to the announcement.

For those who want to participate, but don’t want to run, there are volunteer opportunities. Volunteers get special parking on the morning of the race.

Volunteer jobs include:

• Packet pick-up – assist runners and walkers during packet-pick up

• Water stops – maintain water stations (groups of 10 or more preferred)

• Start/finish prep – Help prepare the start/finish line for runners to make the beginning and end of their races memorable

• Finish line – hand out water and medals at the finish line

• Food area – support snack stations to ensure participants are replenished after the race

• Kids Play Zone – oversee a safe play area for the kids

• Course marshal – direct participants along the course. Keep our runners and walkers safe

• Racecourse clean-up crew

• Gear check

• Goody bag stuffing

• Results and awards

• Event tear down

The city also needs a group of early risers to help set up the racecourse from 4 to 7 a.m., and cheerleaders are always welcome at the finish line.

To register for the race, go to geisthalf. com. To volunteer, go to geisthalf.com/Race/ GeistHalfMarathon/Page-13.

SECOND SATURDAY GALLERY WALK

New exhibits and features in district galleries

EXPERIENCE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Live music at Chocolate Café (43 W. Main St.) and throughout the district featuring:

Marrialle Sellars: Anthony’s Plaza (201 W. Main St.)

Benito Dibartoli: Indiana Artisan (22 N. Range Line Rd.)

BINGO!

Pick up a BINGO card at the CCA Gallery for your chance to win a $250 gift basket.

Remember to get your BINGO cards stamped before turning them in at 7:30 p.m. See Bingo card for rules

Art on Main Gallery and Gifts

(111 W. Main St.)

CCA Gallery

(111 W. Main St. Suite 135)

Circle Gallery

(30 W. Main St.)

Indiana Artisan Gifts & Gallery

(22 N. Range Line Rd.)

Kuaba Gallery

(404 W. Main St.)

The Art Studio of Carmel

(30 N. Range Line Rd.)

FREE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES at these locations: @CarmelArtsAndDesignDistrict

CARMEL ARTS & DESIGN DISTRICT

Fishers Arts Council seeks exhibit submissions

news@currentinfishers.com

Artists from across Indiana are invited to submit pieces for upcoming exhibits sponsored by the Fishers Arts Council.

OPPORTUNITIES

The deadline for the October exhibit, “Fishers: An Historical Perspective,” is Sept. 15. The show celebrates Hamilton County’s Bicentennial with an exhibit focusing on Fishers and smalltown Indiana.

“Artwork that includes glimpses of the past, recreations of historic photos, and hints of yesteryear are the aim of this exhibit,” according to the announcement.

The special guest curator will be Mark Rouse of the Fishers Historical Society, a mixed-media artist.

The exhibit will be on display Oct. 2 through Nov. 3.

In December, the exhibit will be the “Art of the Emerging Artist.”

“This exhibit is for artists of all mediums who are brand new to exhibiting their work, those who are new to Fishers, and those who need that extra bump of exposure,” according to the announcement. “All work is welcome. Bring your best to make a great impression.”

The deadline for submission to the December exhibit is Nov. 10.

Artwork will be on display Dec. 4 through Dec. 29.

For both exhibits, 2D works must be able to be hung with a wire, weigh no more than 50 pounds, and not exceed more than 5 feet in any direction.

Artists should be prepared to be interviewed during the opening reception by a board member.

To be eligible, artwork must be created by an Indiana resident, with priority given to Fishers residents; and must be family friendly and match the theme of the exhibit. Artists must provide three to six pieces for consideration, and be able to drop the pieces off, have them on display for the entire exhibit, pick them up and, preferably, attend the reception.

For more, contact the Fishers Arts Council at info@FishersArtsCouncil.org.

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COMMIT TO ONE

Two breast cancer survivors encourage others to self-check monthly

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

Although breast cancer screenings generally don’t start until a person is in their 40s, it can develop at any age. Lauren Dages and Markeeta Morrow were both in their early 30s when they were diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, and they both caught it through self-exams.

Dages is a hairdresser who lives in Fishers; and Morrow, of Indianapolis, is a student driver representative for Schneider Trucking. They were introduced to each other as they endured cancer treatment because they had similar journeys to navigate, and they’ve continued their friendship since their diagnoses in 2021.

Both want to spread the message that committing to one self-exam a month can save lives.

“I always grew up being aware of my body and making sure I did those screenings,” Morrow said. “And it came in handy when I discovered a lump in my breast at the age of 31. It ended up being something that gave me a head start (on treatment).”

She said that by the time she was able to see a doctor, the tumor was 2.6 centimeters. Morrow explained that triple-negative cancer is aggressive and grows fast.

Dages added that triple-negative means it’s a cancer that doesn’t “feed” off of any known source. Some tumors grow in the presence of hormones, she said, so suppressants can help. But that’s not the case with triple-negative cancer.

“What makes triple-negative so scary is doctors don’t know what the tumor feeds off of,” she said.

Dages’ experience was complicated. Her tumor was in a milk duct, and she was breast feeding at the time. Whenever her milk filled up, it felt like the tumor had gone away. Dages also was hesitant to see a doctor right away because a few years prior, she had gone to a clinic because of unusual discharge from her breast. She had a mammogram at the time, and nothing was found.

“They said it was probably just my birth control,” she said. “That confused me and gave me a false sense of confidence. I probably had cancer for three years before diagnosis.”

Dages said many people don’t think about

the need for screenings at a young age.

“I think we grew up with the understanding that it’s something that you don’t really have to worry about until you’re older, unless you have genetic mutations that you know, of or family history,” she said. “I personally didn’t have anything (like that).”

Once the tumor “broke out” of the milk duct, though, it grew quickly and became an obvious lump that Lauren felt during a regular self-exam. One of the clients at her hairdressing business is a nurse practitioner, and the nurse told her to go in as soon as possible to get it checked. Dages’ official diagnosis was May 22, 2021. Morrow’s was August of that year, and the two connected when a hospital representative introduced them.

The two young women had a lot in common. They had both recently given birth — on the same day. They’re the same age, they

Lauren Dages had recently given birth to her first child, and was still breast feeding, when she found a lump during a selfcheck. (Photo courtesy of Community Health Network)

were both navigating aggressive cancer treatment while dealing with toddlers at home, and they both have stories about not-so-sensitive friends and relatives.

“We have a bond,” Morrow said. “When I meet up with Lauren, it feels good. It’s a comfort to have someone to go through it with you.”

Dages said she didn’t know of anyone else in Indiana going through treatment at such a young age.

“I know some people online nationally that are young moms,” she said. “But I was very excited to be able to meet another fellow survivor in this area, and she’s awesome and we have lots of fun when we get together.”

It’s certainly not a fun situation to be in, they clarified, but they’ve been able to find ways to laugh through the pain.

Both women had chemotherapy and dou-

HOW YOU CAN ‘COMMIT TO ONE’

Women of every age, and especially those who are not eligible for insurance-provided breast cancer screenings, can perform a self-exam monthly to check for signs of cancer.

Community Health Network has a web page where women can commit to one self-check a month. It walks you through the process:

Pick a time several days after a regular menstrual cycle, when breasts are less likely to be swollen or tender. Women who no longer have periods can pick a day of the month and mark it on the calendar to make it easy to remember.

In front of a mirror, stand with your hands on your hips and look for any differences in your breasts. You’re looking for any changes in the color of your skin, or your breast’s size and shape.

While you’re still in front of the mirror, raise your arms above your head and place your hands together. Look for the same changes. Check to see if your nipples have become inverted, or if

ble mastectomies. Dages had to follow up with radiation treatment and an additional round of chemotherapy. Both had to take steroids, which led to weight gain. Both have struggled with body image on top of the physical and emotional toll of cancer treatment.

“I feel like I have better perspective as a survivor and being a survivor at such a young age of how precious time is,” Dages said. “I was always rushing to the next thing or thinking I had so much time to do the things that I wanted, (and now) I definitely cherish this new perspective I have of really trying to make the most of my time.”

Dages and Morrow have some advice for the friends and family of people with cancer: Don’t say, “Call if you need anything,” for example. Instead, be the one who calls and offers. Also — and this is a big one — don’t joke about survivors getting free breast enhancement surgery. First, because it’s not free, and second because the pain, illness and fear leading up to reconstruction is not a joke.

They also have advice for women everywhere, of every age: Perform a self-exam monthly, and go to a medical provider if you find anything out of the ordinary. It could save your life.

ON THE COVER: Lauren Dages of Fishers, left, and Markeeta Morrow of Indianapolis were in their early 30s when they were diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. (Photo courtesy of Community Health Network)

there is discharge.

Lie down on a bed or a comfortable flat surface. Keep two or three fingers together, and using the underside of your fingers firmly touch your breast in a small, circular motion. Repeat this motion for your entire breast, using more pressure at the back of your breast where the tissue is deeper. You’re trying to feel for any lumps or abnormal density.

During your next shower, repeat the same motions as described above. Wet skin will make it easier as you continue to search for lumps or abnormalities.

If you find something, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cancer, according to the website. A lot of breast lumps are benign. But they still should be checked.

To take the pledge, go to ecommunity.com/services/ breast-care/commit-to-one.

Signs of menopause, treatment options

Commentary by Linda Witham, Menopause occurs when a woman permanently stops having menstrual periods. Here, you can find out what menopause is, how it is diagnosed, the symptoms and treatment options.

HEALTH

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WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

“Eventually, the ovaries stop making enough estrogen to thicken the uterine lining. To diagnose menopause, a women must go a full 365 days without a menstrual cycle. It is not necessary to have blood work to confirm.”

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Unique Quality Merchandise for Everyone!

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Free Admission Hamilton County Fairgrounds

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Admission Hamilton County Fairgrounds

2003 Pleasant St. Noblesville, IN 46060

2003 Pleasant St. Noblesville, IN 46060

Menopause most often occurs gradually, over several years, between ages 45 and 55. This stage signals the end of your ability to have children. As women age, the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries decreases. This is the perimenopausal transition. Eventually, the ovaries stop making enough estrogen to thicken the uterine lining. To diagnose menopause, a women must go a full 365 days without a menstrual cycle. It is not necessary to have blood work to confirm.

phy. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your medical provider. If you have any abnormal uterine bleeding, which would include longer, heavier or irregular periods, follow up with your medical provider.

WHAT ARE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MENOPAUSE?

as well as prevention of bone loss and to reduce bone fractures. HRT involves taking estrogen and progestin or estrogen alone if the uterus has been surgically removed. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who take estrogen have fewer hot flashes, better bone health, less cardiovascular disease, better sex lives, less insomnia, improvement in urinary symptoms, better mood, a reduction in Type 2 diabetes, lower risk of colon cancer, decreased joint pain, better skin and better quality of life. A woman’s risk of breast cancer should be evaluated before choosing HRT.

Providers can recommend nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes, such as antidepressants and vaginal moisturizers for vaginal symptoms.

For more, visit iuhealth.org/ find-medical-services/menopause.

Free Admission Hamilton County Fairgrounds

Hosted By Spooner Markets

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE?

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The symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, excess fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, mood swings, irregular bleeding, vaginal dryness and painful intercourse from vaginal atro-

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VIEWS

READERS’ VIEWS

HB 1177 merely sets up training mechanism

Editor,

I’m afraid your article in the May 23 edition of Current about HB 1177 may lead some readers to believe that any school employee in Indiana could theoretically apply for the state funded firearm training that the bill sets up and funds, and perhaps even believe that those employees could then possess a firearm in the school building where they are employed. That is not the case.

Indiana law allows school corporations to authorize certain employees to voluntarily possess firearms on school property and has for several years. I’m told that only about three to five school districts in Indiana currently do so. HB 1177 merely sets up a training mechanism and funding to ensure that those employees can get training similar to what new police officers receive.

The school districts that have authorized some personnel to possess a firearm on school property are rural school districts that can’t afford resource officers and where it might take as long as 20 minutes for law enforcement officers to respond. In those districts, it only makes sense that those employees have appropriate training.

State Rep. Jerry Torr, Carmel

POLICIES

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 contain a commercial message.

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Thoughts on prayers

Commentary by Terry Anker

It seems inevitable that the morning news will deliver alongside the weather report and yesterday’s lottery numbers disappointing news about those humans among us who seem bent to exert their most sinister and destructive actions upon us. We blithely finish our corn flakes while seeing Putin’s army kill countless civilians and destroy all that Ukraine has built. The next segment carries images of road rage that turned from an argument over a preferred parking spot at the mall into a shooting incident with two in the hospital and one in a coffin. We switch to social media only to find more tales of woe. Sure, there are the sunny moments. Some of us work hard to keep the internet streets swept and even plant a few flowers on the path. But if we chose to see it, we are barraged with rage, cultural unrest, pornography and political intrigue.

ESSAY

it. The death of a friend’s family dog might have been cause for a note, phone call or even a casserole-in-hand visit. Now, might garner a sad face or prayer emoji on Facebook. With immediate access to the news of all, it is difficult to invest ourselves deeply. If we are sufficiently moved, we might offer our “thoughts and prayers” to the mourning. It is certainly better than ignoring their plight. Human connection matters, but what exactly are we doing for them?

Isn’t condolence an action as much as a sentiment? Can’t the same be asked about gratitude? Theologians and religious leaders have long urged followers to assume a “posture of gratitude” before God. Why isn’t the expectation to assume a thought of gratitude? By equating the two, are we giving ourselves a pass?

Much like walking through Times Square in the 1970s, we notice the filth but too quickly become tolerant, if not immune, to

A scary dog day afternoon

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

Friends, I almost killed our dog this week. I know! After 11 years of kinda-sorta hoping she’d quietly “disappear” (because I am not an animal lover and because, of course, I’m the one who became her primary caregiver), I must have subconsciously sought to hasten that end. I’m horrible. Here’s what happened.

that our black Lab Libby had hopped into the van. I was able to pull Doo’s dumb vehicle forward and then successfully close my door, but I completely forgot about Libby.

HUMOR

My husband, Doo, was renting a goblin-green Hyundai monstrosity (he’d just sold his Accord to our oldest, whose 2002 Ford Explorer had finally succumbed to a long-ago-diagnosed case of failing transmissionitis, may she rest in peace). I mention this fact because when I pulled into our garage with my big old minivan, I hyper-focused on the hideous color of said rental and then parked way too close to it — so close that my sliding passenger door gently kissed its automotive sister upon opening. Oops. While I was trying to figure out how to rectify the situation, I only half registered

When she didn’t come running for breakfast the following morning, I began an increasingly panicked search of the house, during which I convinced myself that I would stumble upon her canine corpse. And then I remembered: She was still in the car!

She had spent almost 12 hours locked in a janky people-mover in a closed garage, after a day when temperatures had climbed into the 80s. No water, no way to relieve herself, no fresh air. Ugh.

She was fine, but I was not. I almost killed our dog! Peace out.

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

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

“I was able to pull Doo’s dumb vehicle forward and then successfully close my door, but I completely forgot about Libby.”

– DANIELLE WILSON

VIEWS

(Bird) talk is cheep

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

A few weeks back, I mentioned an app called Smart News that features daily tantalizing headlines accompanied by brief articles. Here are some of their recent postings:

type out simple messages using a keyboard. This proved painfully slow, since most of the birds were unable to progress past the hunt-and-peck method.

HUMOR

• 6 Things to NEVER Buy at Costco

• 4 Dangerous Fast Foods

• 7 Canned Fruits to NEVER Buy

• 8 Great Things About Pickles

I only read the pickle one. Wow, they qualify as veggies. Finally, some good food news!

I also subscribe to a magazine called The Week. If you’re young and not familiar with what a magazine is, Google it. If you’re an older senior and don’t know what Google is, look through some of your old magazines. There’s probably an article about it somewhere.

Smart News deals with the big political stories of the day, but it also sprinkles in an assortment of newsy tidbits, like this one: “Birds taught to make video calls.”

That got my immediate attention. I’ve ignored FaceTime calls on my iPhone, assuming they were robo — not robin — calls. I block callers after these attempts to reach me, assuming it’s someone phishing. Maybe some calls were from pelicans, the best phishermen around.

Dr. Ilyena Hirskyj at Glasgow University says she has taught parrots to call each other using an iPad. Domestic parrots (of which there are 28 million globally) usually spend their very long life alone in cages and need some social interaction. Playing solitaire and munching on crackers for 75 years just doesn’t cut it.

Dr. Hirskyj’s subjects were also trained to

Many of the parrots, when reaching out to other parrots, would preen and display their colors in a mating posture in front of the camera. Florida’s legislature wants to ban such videos. Disney World’s Donald Duck and his nephews are planning a protest.

Adult parrots were thrilled to finally get calls from their kids: “I hadn’t heard a peep out of my son in 50 years,” one excited mama said. In a related story — and one I am totally making up — researchers in New York City equipped pigeons with miniature iPhones around their necks and taught them to communicate with each other while walking around Central Park. Testing was halted when in one week, 26,000 were killed crossing the street while talking on their cells.

Most birds just want to settle down and have a family. They are using a new app called hatch.com. Chickens are downloading scratch.com.

Having read this silly column, my wife, Mary Ellen, now summons me to the phone whenever she gets a call identified as spam.

“Dick, there’s some chick on the phone for you,” she says.

“How do you know it’s for me?”

“Well, she keeps saying, ‘Cheap, cheap!’”

POLICIES

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.

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

“Adult parrots were thrilled to finally get calls from their kids: “I hadn’t heard a peep out of my son in 50 years,” one excited mama said.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

Indy actor, ATI co-founder to reprise roles in ‘Million Dollar Quartet’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Brandon Alstott is ready to walk the line again.

MUSICAL

The Indianapolis resident will perform as Johnny Cash for the third time in Actors Theatre of Indiana’s “Million Dollar Quartet.” The performances will be at 7:30 p.m. June 16-17 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts.

“I’m happy to be back in the saddle again,” Alstott said. “It’s a really fun role to play. I’m a huge Johnny Cash fan. I’ve read multiple books and I play his music all the time, so to portray him on stage is just such a thrill.”

Alstott previously performed as Cash in ATI’s 2016 and 2018 productions in the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts. “Million Dollar Quartet” is based on the true story of Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins jamming together one December night in 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis.

Alstott said he is eager to perform on the Palladium stage.

“So many legends have performed on that stage and it’s such a beautiful venue,” Alstott said. “The acoustics are perfect. It will be a different setup and not as intimate as the smaller stage. The audience isn’t as close, so I might be a little bigger in my performance and a little more demonstrative. I might be a little more animated.”

ATI co-founder Don Farrell said Alstott does a great job as Cash.

“He’s an amazing actor and musician,” Farrell said.

Farrell will play Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records, for the third time.

“When I started delving into him and watching different interviews with him, he’s a very interesting person,” Farrell said. “There’s a fatherly quality about him. He found all these people before they became icons, like Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Howlin’ Wolf. He helped make them who they were, and he had an ear, kind of like Clive Davis. Sam Phillips nurtured these young voices into these icons. For me, ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is really about Sam Phillips and Sun Records.”

Farrell said he had no idea how integral Phillips was to music until he did more research.

“I knew he was big, but I didn’t realize how big he was in shaping the music that we listen to today,” Farrell said.

DJ Salisbury, who is based in Orlando, returns as the director for the third time. He also has directed the show for The Appalachian Center for the Arts in Pikesville, Ky.

“It’s a nice little slice of Americana,” Salisbury said. “There’s not any huge drama. It’s really all about the personalities and the music. Besides Brandon and Don, I’ve not worked with the other performers before, but they all know the show and have done it before.”

Jefferson McDonald is the music director and plays Jerry Lee Lewis.

Nathan Shew returns in the role of Fluke.

Indianapolis resident Amanda McCarthy said she is excited for her ATI debut, playing Elvis’ girlfriend.

“I have seen ‘MDQ’ performed a few times,” she said. “I love the live music, and playing Dyanne puts me right in the middle of all the action.”

McCarthy has performed locally, including at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre and with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. For more, visit atistage.org.

‘BEAUTY & THE BEAST’

“Beauty & the Beast” runs through July 9 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

‘AUGUST:

OSAGE COUNTY’

Main Street Productions will present “August: Osage County” from June 8 to 18 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

An Evening with Judy Kuhn is set for 7:30 p.m. June 8-9 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Jazz Brunch: Blair Clark Birthday Brunch is set for 11 a.m. June 11. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF ARTS

National Taiwan University of Arts: Enchanting Dance and Music Show is set for a free performance at 7 p.m. June 7 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘DIRECTOR’S CHOICE’

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre will feature “Director’s Choice” at 7 p.m. June 9-10 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

DISPATCH

More acts added to Carmel Jazz Festival — In addition to headliner Spyro Gyra, several other acts have been announced for the inaugural Carmel Jazz Fest taking place Aug. 11-12. Spyro Gyra will perform at the Palladium Aug. 12. The festival will feature more than 30 acts, including Evelyn Champagne King, a singer, songwriter and record producer best known for her hit disco single “Shame,” which was released in 1977. Carmel Jazz Fest is the first multi-performance event to utilize and unify the stateof-the-art venues, green spaces and stages throughout the Carmel Arts & Design District in a festival format. Other performers include Dave Bennett Quartet, Freddie Fox and Tim Cunningham. Area performers include Josh Kaufman, Tad Robinson Band and Pavel Polanco-Safadit.

From left, Betsy Norton, Adam Tran, Nathan Shew, Don Farrell and Brandon Alstott from the 2016 production of “Million Dollar Quartet.” (Photo courtesy of ATI)

McCarthy

Salisbury

Director embraces

‘August: Osage County’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Brent Wooldridge wanted to direct “August: Osage County” since seeing the movie in 2013.

THEATER Carter

“I fell in love with the movie,” said Wooldridge, a Plainfield resident.

Main Street Productions will present “August: Osage County” from June 8 to 18 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. The play centers on a dysfunctional family.

“It’s an actor’s piece,” Wooldridge said. “All the roles are very big. The set is big. I like the subject matter because it makes it more challenging to do.”

Indianapolis resident Sally Carter plays Violet Weston, the family matriarch.

“She has three daughters, and a husband who is missing,” Carter said. “They gather to be with one another before his disappearance is resolved. This is a troubled family on many levels. The family has experienced a lot of trauma and addiction. You can see through the course of this play how that has become intergenerational, starting with the parents before them and the effect it has on the children and the relationship with their parents. Each of them copes in a very different way. It’s something that is more prevalent than we might realize. These are subjects many families refuse to talk about, or deny, deflect or blame others. It’s a pretty intense presentation of how these things can happen.”

The tragicomedy play was written by Tracy Letts and won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Letts is from Oklahoma, like the family in the play.

Carter said Letts drew on some of his own family history for some of the incidents in the play.

“It’s an ensemble piece and everyone contributes substantially to this play,” Carter said. “We’ve been trying to familiarize ourselves with moving on the massive three-story set. It’s quite high. This play requires that kind of large set.”

Carter has performed for 30-plus years.

“This is my first post-pandemic production,” she said. “As one becomes older, learning lines becomes more difficult. Brent is extremely supportive and helpful and encouraging. He’s willing to listen to alter-

native viewpoints. I’m very blessed to be part of this particular production with these particular people. It’s a three-act play, so there are a lot of lines.”

Carter performed in Carmel Community Players’ “Lend Me a Tenor,” which closed March 8, 2020. Less than a week later, the lockdown was in effect because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Megan Janning, a 2022 Brownsburg High School graduate, plays Jean Fordham, a 14-year-old.

Janning aspires for a professional acting career.

“The goal is to save my money and move to Chicago or New York and pursue it further,” she said.

This is Janning’s first performance with Main Street Productions.

“It’s a difficult role, especially for me because it’s a lot of intense subject matter,” Janning said. “This is definitely the most mature show that I’ve done. Stepping into that has been nerve-racking, exciting, just all kinds of emotions. The cast has been so great with making me feel so comfortable with all of it.”

Janning concentrates on plays.

“I can’t sing to save my life,” she said. “But I’ve definitely done more lighter, child-friendly shows previously.”

Janning said the play is well-written.

“It’s like how people actually talk,” she said. “It’s very important to get the little things (right). It’s not the amount of the lines I have, it’s more how they are written and how I can pull out the nuance in them.”

Rob Lawson, Noblesville, is one of the cast members.

For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.

Megan Janning, a 2022 Brownsburg High School graduate, plays Jean Fordham, a 14-year-old, in “August: Osage County.” (Photo courtesy of Rob Slaven/Indy Ghost Light Theatrical Photography)

Farce opens Red Barn season

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

For Red Barn Summer Theatre Artistic Director Michael Taylor, precision is the key to “See How They Run.”

COMEDY

“Comedy is way harder than drama, especially because of the timing,” Taylor said. “In a show like this, the timing has to be on point.”

Red Barn will present “See How They Run” June 7-11 and June 14-18 at the Frankfort venue.

“We start off very light and something the family can come see,” Taylor said.

The play is set in England, where a conservative bishop’s home is turned upside down by the outlandish actions of an American actor and actress, an old maid who has touched alcohol for the first time, four suspicious men disguised as clergymen, and a cockney maid who has seen too many American movies.

There are nine cast members, including Taylor. Taylor is the theater director at Frankfort High School, and Kiara Wood, the music director at Frankfort High School, is in the show.

Most of the performers are from Lafayette and the Frankfort area. Taylor said some actors from outside the state will be in for the second show later in June.

“I love farces and Michael also loves farces — the slamming of doors, the falls, the pratfalls and mistaken identities,” said Luke McLaughlin, who is the director. “It’s fast-paced and zany. In my mind, there is nothing better than seeing a really fast, clean show just come together. When all the wheels are clicking, it’s really funny.” For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.

Songbook Academy set for July

editorial@youarecurrent.com

entertainment professionals and leading university educators.

MUSIC

From hundreds of applications nationwide, 40 finalists from 16 states have been selected to participate in this year’s Songbook Academy summer intensive, a pre-professional music program for young singers focusing on the timeless standards of jazz, pop, Broadway and Hollywood. Among the 11 finalists from Indiana are two Carmel residents, Jordan Pecar, who attends Park Tudor School; and Seth Jacobsen, who attends Carmel High School; and Eve Hodges, a Zionsville Community High School student.

Now in its 14th year, the Songbook Academy is the flagship education initiative of the Great American Songbook Foundation, providing an opportunity for talented high school performers to experience a life-changing week of classes, workshops and performances under the guidance of arts and

Pecar Jacobsen Hodges

The Songbook Academy will take place July 15-22 at the Foundation’s headquarters, the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The week includes three public performance events at the Palladium, which will take place before a live audience and will be livestreamed for viewers worldwide:

• Public Masterclass – 2-5 p.m.

July 19

• Songbook Showcase – 2-5 p.m.

July 20

• Songbook Academy in Concert – 7 p.m.

July 22

For the July 19-20 events, on-site tickets and livestream registration are pay-what-you-can with no minimum price. For the final concert, on-site tickets start at just $25, and the livestream option is paywhat-you-can with a $10 minimum.

Tickets are on sale now atTheSongbook.org, by phone at 1-317-8433800 or toll-free at 1-877-909-2787.

From left, Aaron Moon, Cole Riegle, Kiara Wood, Xander Haan and Brenna Coogan rehearse for “See How They Run.” (Photo courtesy of Luke McLaughlin)

Turn heavy baggage into litotes

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

A visit to The Hermitage

Commentary by Don Knebel

GRAMMAR GUY

It’s someone’s job to name new medications. Drug Company A approaches Marketing Company B and says, “Hey, we’ve got this new drug. It makes people happy in the short run, but they’ll still have to deal with all their baggage in the long run. And, boy, does it have a ton of side effects!”

Marketing Company B comes back with “Litotes: The medicine that makes your baggage feel lighter. May cause ironic understatements that convey affirmations by negating their opposites. Use as directed.”

You may be thinking, “Boy, he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.” Great — that’s a litote! Also, my reply to your retort is, “You’re not wrong about that.” Yes, folks, that was another litote. Sometimes,you have to be light on your toes to notice them.

In the above examples, I expressed positive statements by canceling out their opposites. Litotes flip negative meanings around to create a positive statement. By saying, “He’s not the sharpest tool in the

shed,” you’re implying I am dull. And when I reply, “You’re not wrong about that,” I’m suggesting that you are correct in your rude (albeit astute) accusation.

Litotes are all around us. In my opinion, litotes are brilliant literary devices.

We get the word “litote” from the Greek word “litotes,” which means “plainness” or “simplicity.” It’s not rocket science once you think about it.

When I think of litotes, I hear the voice and tone of David Spade in my head. It’s a dry, witty way of actually conveying something positive. What did you think of the play? Well, I didn’t hate it. In fact, it wasn’t bad at all.

Okay, you get the idea at this point.

I’m a fan of litotes. Before using litotes, just make sure to consult your doctor to see if litotes are right for you. When you only want to be a little positive, try litotes.

Today, we visit The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson’s famous estate about 10 miles east of downtown Nashville, Tenn.

TRAVEL

Andrew Jackson, a war hero and seventh president of the United States, was also a lawyer, merchant, tavern owner, land speculator, planter, racehorse breeder and judge. In 1804, after losing a farm because of a business failure, he and his wife, Rachel, purchased 425 acres for growing cotton and raising horses. The plantation, named The Hermitage, was later expanded to 1,050 acres, operated by more than 150 enslaved people who lived in cabins on the property.

Beginning in 1819, the Jacksons built an eight-room Federal-style brick house on the grounds, flanked by a formal garden. When Rachel died in 1828, she was buried in the garden. In 1831, during Jackson’s first term as president, he expanded the house, which was severely damaged in a fire three years later. Jackson then built an elegant Greek-Revival mansion on the existing foundation. The 13-room house featured a large entry hall lined with French wallpaper depicting scenes from Homer’s “Odyssey.” A self-supporting elliptical staircase led to four upstairs bedrooms. Visitors approached the house on a guitar-shaped driveway lined with cedar trees.

In 1837, after his second term as president, Jackson returned to The Hermitage, where he lived until his death in 1845. He was buried alongside Rachel beneath a colonnaded Greek-style monument evoking

the entry hall wallpaper. In 1998, an F5 tornado hit the property, uprooting 1,000 trees, including those planted by Jackson almost 200 years earlier.

Today, The Hermitage, including 1,000 acres of land, is open to the public. The mansion, which includes original furnishings, is considered the best preserved of all early presidential homes. A visitors’ center provides information about Andrew Jackson’s life and family. Special attention is given to the enslaved persons who worked and died at The Hermitage.

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

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

Parlor room inside The Hermitage near Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Don Knebel)

4. Frenzied

9. Coffee alternative

12. ___ Speedwagon

13. 34-Across flag inspiration represented by the puzzle’s colored squares

15. BTK Villeion genre

16. Back of a boat 17. Owl sound 18. Tax agcy. 19. Kind of candle 21. Salon solvent 23. Lowest deck on a ship 24. Regard highly 26. Spotted 27. Blvd. crossers 28. Spritelike

32. Blueprint detail, briefly 33. Unoccupied 34. Annual June celebration

39. Latin for “womb”

40. Shapiro’s, e.g.

41. Magic lamp occupant

42. Await action

43. I-465 exit

47. Awesomely tough

49. Toys on strings

50. Take shape

53. Average speed on I-69, it seems

54. University of Utah player

55. Asian Kitchen menu item

33. African plain

34. Car nut

35. Old AT&T rival

36. ___ Davis HS

37. Eiteljorg Museum group

38. Cozy retreats

42. Tropical fruit

43. 18-wheeler

44. In one’s house

45. Scotland yards?

46. Freud topic

48. Idiots

49. Chicken ___ 50. Hoodwink

51. IND postings

52. Rant and rave

53. Mideast ruler

56. Classic British sports car

57. Indiana’s Lincoln, familiarly

Answers on Page 20

58. Tolkien beast

59. Yats cookware

60. 13-Across mnemonic guy

61. So-so

62. Zionsville winter hrs.

63. Epee kin

64. Nationality suffix Down

1. Indianapolis Opera cheers

2. Prior

3. Oliver Winery purchase

4. Self-defense spray

5. Latest Affleck/Damon film

6. Carmel-to-Fort Wayne dir.

7. Construction girders

8. Some bacteria

9. Threesome

10. Make money

11. Church area

13. Invitation letters

14. Question from one who’s lost

20. WIPX net.

22. AT&T, e.g.

24. Declare 25. Chooses 27. iPhone downloads 29. Shamrocks rooter 30. Colts QB stat 31. Highest degree 32. Informant

Meats

Rhymes of “Indy”

Lake Michigan Cities

Sewing Kit Items 1 Sleepy Bear Campground Shelter

“A trip to the cath lab and I’m on the mend.”

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/ WESTFIELD / CARMEL / CICERO / FISHERS / SHERIDAN / ZIONSVILLE

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