July 18, 2023 — Fishers

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Court documents in gas station homicide case detail domestic abuse

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

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Nearly a month before Noblesville resident Kaylah Ann Farmer was shot to death June 28 at the Speedway on 116th and Allisonville Road in Fishers, police in Noblesville started investigating allegations of domestic abuse by Farmer’s ex-husband, Joshua Alexander Farmer, who has been charged with her murder.

CRIME

The alleged abuse included strangulation, battery and criminal confinement, and using a firearm to threaten Kaylah Ann and one of their children.

According to a probable cause statement filed in Hamilton County Court by Noblesville Police Department Officer Hayley Allen, Kaylah Ann Farmer’s supervisor at work notified the Indiana Department of Child Services in late May that Kaylah Ann Farmer had been attempting to hide a black eye and bruises, including bruising on her neck.

Allen wrote that on June 2, she interviewed Kaylah Ann and Joshua Farmer’s three children, identified as victims 1, 2 and 3 — ages 11, 6 and 4, respectively — about an incident that took place May 21. The oldest of the three children allegedly told police that his parents had been arguing, and during the argument he saw his father choking his mother to the point where he could hear her struggling to breathe.

“(Victim 1) states he could hear the accused punching her,” Allen wrote. “The accused had told (the boy) to go sit in the corner in their downstairs living room. He stated at this point his younger brothers were located upstairs. (The boy) stated his mother was instructed to sit in the other corner. He stated at this point his mother was naked because the accused had ripped her clothes off. He noticed the ripped red shirt and what looked like boxers by her.”

The boy also told Allen that he saw red

marks on his mother’s body, that her eye was starting to bruise, and her neck was red. Allen wrote that the boy said his father then pointed a gun at the 11-year-old’s head and pushed the child’s head down with the end of the barrel and told his mother to choose between herself and the boy.

Allen wrote that she also interviewed Kaylah Ann Farmer, who said she tried to call 911 during the argument, but Joshua Farmer took the phone away from her. She told police that during the argument, her ex-husband bit her, punched her multiple times in the head and face, used a baseball bat to hit her on the back, held a gun to her head, kicked her in the torso and choked her several times.

“Kaylah reported that choking her was his go-to way,” Allen wrote. “She stated he applied pressure with both of his hands to the point it was hard to breathe. She stated he knows when to stop so she doesn’t pass out.”

Charges stemming from that incident were filed in Hamilton County Court on June 5, and no-contact orders were issued, along with an arrest warrant for Joshua Farmer. Noblesville law enforcement officers searched for Farmer, but he evaded arrest, according to court documents.

The probable cause statement connected to murder charges against Joshua Farmer was filed July 5 by Fishers Police Department Det. Jonathan Dossey. He wrote that the shooting was reported at about 5:20 p.m. June 28. Responding officers found Kaylah Ann Farmer in the driver’s seat of her maroon van, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Dossey obtained security video footage from the business, which showed the maroon van pull up to one of the pumps, and shortly after a Kia Soul drove up and stopped at the passenger side door of the van for about 9 seconds. The Kia Soul drove away, but then returned.

“The Kia Soul drove back into camera

DISPATCH

view and stopped at the front bumper of the maroon van,” Dossey wrote. “I observed the windshield of the maroon van appear to be taking rounds as it appeared the windshield glass was spraying from the windshield. The Kia Soul was stopped in front of the maroon van for approximately 6 seconds. The Kia Soul then drove around the driver side of the maroon van and parked for approximately 20 seconds.

The Kia Soul then drove out towards 116th Street and turned eastbound.”

Dossey wrote that it appears the suspect shot the victim from three locations — front passenger door, front bumper and driver’s door. Witnesses told police they heard up to 40 shots fired.

Farmer had allegedly borrowed the Kia Soul from a friend, and police later found the car and collected a spent 9mm shell casing from the interior. That shell allegedly matched other casings found at the scene of the Speedway shooting.

Farmer was arrested June 29 when law enforcement officers spotted him hiding behind some shrubs in the 1100 block of Roosevelt Avenue in Indianapolis. No weapons were found in the area or in his possession.

Dossey wrote that the autopsy of Kaylah Farmer revealed more than 15 gunshot wounds, and more than 25 bullet fragments were recovered from her body.

The next scheduled hearing in the case against Joshua Farmer is Aug. 18 in Hamilton County Superior Court. A trial has tentatively been set for Nov. 8. Farmer remains in custody at the Hamilton County Jail.

An obituary for Kaylah Ann Farmer states that she was born in Muncie and worked at IU Health. She previously served in the U.S. Air Force.

“Her three children were her whole life,” the obituary states. “She absolutely loved them and enjoyed watching them play soccer.”

Memorial contributions in her name can be given to domestic violence awareness groups, according to the obituary.

Joshua Farmer

Walk with Fishers Parks July 19 at the AgriPark — The monthly Walk with Fishers Parks will be 9 to 10 a.m. July 19 at the Fishers AgriPark with City of Fishers officials. This is an opportunity to learn more about what the parks department does, from largescale events at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, such as the

Fishers Farmers Market and Glow in the Park, to small community-favorite programs like StoryWalk, art classes at the Maker Playground, and more. Wednesday Walks will be offered on a monthly basis at rotating parks in Fishers. All are welcome. No RSVP or registration is required.

EVERY TUESDAY IS JUNE 27 – JULY 25

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Fishers resident killed in Arkansas crash

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

A 20-year-old Fishers woman was among three people killed in a July 5 vehicle crash in Arkansas.

FATALITY

According to the accident summary from the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, Abigail Cox was a passenger in a 2015 Chevy truck headed east on U.S. 62. There were four other people in the truck at the time who received injuries.

A 2020 Chevy Equinox with two people inside was headed west, and crossed the centerline, according to the summary. The vehicles hit head-on. Both people in the Chevy Equinox died.

The accident took place at about 9:30 a.m., according to the summary. Road conditions were dry and the weather was clear.

Cox

Cox was a student at Purdue University studying general management, according to her LinkedIn profile. She graduated in 2021 from Hamilton Southeastern High School.

Woofstock 5K benefits shelter’s Survivor Program

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

Registration is open for the annual Woofstock 5K race benefiting the Humane Society for Hamilton County’s Survivor Program.

EVENT

The race is set to start at 8 a.m. Aug. 12 at Four Day Brewing in Fishers, 11671 Lantern Rd. According to the race webpage, it’s open to the whole family — including dogs on leash or in strollers. There is also a virtual option.

“The Woofstock Survivor 5k and Dog Walk is a big deal at the Humane Society for Hamilton County, and I’ll tell you why,” said Lily Pesavento, community engagement manager for Humane Society for Hamilton County. “The proceeds and fundraising efforts associated with Woofstock are what fund our Survivor Program. The Survivor Program provides lifesaving medical care to over half the animals who come through our doors, and covers the costs associated with rescuing animals at risk of euthanasia in Indiana shelters.”

As Hamilton County’s only open-admission, no-kill shelter, Pesavento said the facility takes in the most heartbreaking cases.

“Hit-by-car, neglected pets, senior pets whose owners can no longer afford their care, we take them all in with open arms and we help them recover until they find their happily-ever-after (home),” she said.

“But that happily-ever-after is expensive.”

She encourages supporters to start a fundraiser for the program, register for the race or simply donate to Woofstock. Prizes for those who fundraise include the honor of naming a litter of kittens, T-shirts, or — for business fundraising teams — a special post on the HSHC’s social media.

Racers who register before Aug. 11 receive a T-shirt, medal and one drink ticket redeemable that day at Four Day Brewing, according to the registration page. Those who register on race day receive a medal and drink ticket.

The goal is to raise $65,000 through the Woofstock event.

For more or to sign up, visit hamiltonhumane.com/programs/events/woofstock.

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An adoptable dog waits for its new family at the Humane Society for Hamilton County. (File photo by Adam Seif)

County fair set for July 20-24

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

The Hamilton County 4-H Fair will return to Noblesville with plenty of food, animals and other activities for the public to enjoy.

EVENT

This year’s fair is set for July 20-24 and will feature the 4-H Showcase that will highlight what 4-H members have learned over the past year, said Kathleen Bohde, Hamilton County 4-H youth development extension educator. Bohde said judging of various 4-H projects ranging from aerospace to veterinary science takes place in advance of opening day.

“4-H’ers are working on their projects and are excited to let the public see what they’ve been working on throughout the year,” Bohde said.

Bohde said although many people think of 4-H as an agriculture program, it has grown and adapted over the years by incorporating robotics, photography and other areas. 4-H members had the opportunity to choose from 60 project options, according to Bohde.

“It’s really neat to see how youths have dived deep and have something to show at the county fair that they’ve learned,” she said.

There are 1,400 4-H members in Hamilton County, a figure that is slightly lower prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 4-H is offered at all school corporations throughout Hamilton County, according to Bohde.

“It is a countywide program that brings youths together, and it is a great way to get that sense of community and the youths can be competitive, but cooperative together,” Bohde said.

Bohde said there were 1,600 4-H members

in 2020. She projects 2024 will be a year in which 4-H grows exponentially in Hamilton County.

While many 4-H activities take place in the summer, Bohde said it is a year-round program and noted that the organization will accept applications from interested youths starting Oct. 1. Individuals who join 4-H can not only take away lifelong friendships, but also develop important life skills such as decision-making, time management and more, Bohde said.

But among the highlights of the county fair on an annual basis are the livestock competitions, which Bohde said gives 4-H’ers an opportunity to showcase their animals. Some 4-H members who plan to participate in the county fair’s beef show have been working with their steer or heifer for more than a year, according to Bohde.

Those individuals also spend a lot of time grooming, feeding and monitoring the nutrition of their animals as well, she added.

“We are learning about making sure that we have quality livestock that we know someday will come into the food supply,” Bohde said.

Bohde said many 4-H’ers are competitive and have enjoyed success at the Indiana State Fair and at national shows.

“(They are) highly competitive, but at the end of the day, when they come out of the show arena, they are good sportsmen and strive to be the best they can be,” Bohde said.

Other than livestock competitions, the Hamilton County 4-H Fair also will feature various activities for the public, including a county extension homemakers’ flower show, a 4-H agriculture tractor driving contest, live music, a pet parade and more. For more, visit https://bit.ly/3NMoHxL.

The Hamilton County 4-H Fair is set for July 20-24 in Noblesville. (Photo courtesy of the Hamilton County Purdue Extension Office)

Fishers HS grad now training U.S. Navy sailors

news@currentinfishers.com

A 2016 Fishers High School graduate is training sailors for service deep under the water.

MILITARY

According to a news release from the U.S. Navy, Petty Officer 2nd Class Wesley Ballensky is an instructor at the Navy Submarine School, teaching sailors skills to operate aboard submarines so they can successfully complete missions around the world.

“I joined the Navy because I didn’t want to go to college,” Ballensky said. “I wanted a more unique experience.”

He stated that values in Fishers are similar to those required to succeed in the military.

“I learned in my hometown to always chase after my goals, regardless of what anyone else thinks,” Ballensky stated. “I also learned that the best way to break through roadblocks is to just go through them.”

The Navy’s submarine force operates a large fleet of technically advanced vessels. According to the Navy, the submarines can

conduct rapid defensive and offensive operations around the world. With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy. Ballensky and sailors he serves with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service, according to the news release.

“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is when I earned my ‘dolphins.’ or submarine warfare device because it was the culmination of years of hard work,” Ballensky stated. “Serving in the Navy means being a part of something bigger and carrying on the tradition of defending our freedoms as United States citizens.”

Ballensky stated he is grateful to others for helping make his Navy career possible.

“I want to thank my mentors, Chief Fire Control Technical Watson and Chief Logistics Specialist (Submarines) Zapp, for going above and beyond and for showing me what a real leader looks like,” Ballensky stated.

Farm Aid returns to Ruoff Music Center Sept. 23

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Farm Aid will return to Noblesville for the second time in more than 20 years Sept. 23, with performances by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and other artists at Ruoff Music Center.

My home state holds deep meaning for me and for the generations of family farmers who have dedicated their lives to caring for the Earth and bringing us good food,” stated Mellencamp, a Seymour native and co-founder of Farm Aid.

BENEFIT

The music and food festival will feature a full day of concerts, agrarian experiences and family farmers with homegrown food.

The Farm Aid concert will be the third that has taken place in Indiana and the second in Noblesville. Farm Aid IV took place at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis in 1990, while Farm Aid 2001: A Concert for America, was presented in Noblesville just weeks after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

“We are honored and excited to bring the Farm Aid experience back to Indiana.

The festival will also feature performances by Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds); Margo Price; Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. featuring The Wolfpack; Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; Lukas Nelson; Allison Russell; The String Cheese Incident; and Particle Kid. The festival will highlight the work of family farmers to address climate change through regenerative, organic and sustainable farming practices, according to a news release.

Tickets, which will range from $75 to $315, went on sale at 10 a.m. July 15 at livenation.com,

For more, visit farmaid.org/festival.

Ballensky

Man dies after shooting in Noblesville

news@youarecurrent.com

An 18-year-old Cicero resident was killed after being shot July 2 in Noblesville, authorities said.

TRAILS & GREENWA

The City of Fishers is developing a plan for a better-connected network of trails and greenways in the community. Submit your feedback on Fishers' trails and the future of connectivity in our city.

FISHERS WHITE RIVER PARK

Share your thoughts, visions, and ideas on what amenities and activations you would like to see at the new 120+ acre site for the future Fishers White River Park located near the northwest corner of 96 Street and Allisonville Road. With more than 5,000 feet of riverfront, the Fishers White River Park property has a variety of unique features and opportunities for adventures throughout.

th

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said July 10 that Christopher Stumpf was found with a single gunshot wound to his back around 1:30 p.m. July 2. He was seated in the front passenger seat of a vehicle in a residential driveway in the 21000 block of Overdorf Road in Noblesville, authorities said.

Stumpf was transported to Riverview Health in Noblesville, where he died from his injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

An obituary from Hartley Funeral Home indicates Stumpf was a 2023 graduate of Hamilton Heights High School and was in the high school band. He was planning to attend Purdue University this fall to study construction management, according to the obituary.

“He had a big heart and if someone needed help, he would gladly help them,” the obituary stated.

Funeral services were held for Stumpf July 7 at Cicero Christian Church.

The sheriff’s office said in a news release that all persons of interest have been contacted and noted there was not an ongoing threat to the community. Authorities did not announce any arrests tied to the shooting.

CRIME DISPATCH

Fishers Farmers Market theme days — Fishers Farmers Markets in the Nickel Plate District and at Saxony have themes planned throughout the season. For the rest of July, the themes are: Ice Cream Sandwich Day, July 19 at the Saxony Market, 13578 E. 131st St, 4:30-7:30 p.m. featuring a make-your-own ice cream sandwich station; Day of Service, July 22 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater Market, 8 a.m. to noon, featuring nonprofit organizations; Blood Drive, July 29 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater Market, 8 a.m. to noon, where people can donate blood by registering ahead of time at donate.indiana.versiti.org, although walkups will be allowed.

DISPATCHES

Most Purchasing Power — SmartAssest released its annual study on the places with the most purchasing power. The study measures the places where average living expenses are most affordable for people living there by measuring the cost of living relative to local income in each county. According to the study, Hamilton County has a $54,165 cost of living and a median income of $98,173, ranking it first in Indiana with a purchasing power index of 91.70.

Artists invited to submit work — Artists from across Indiana are invited to submit pieces for upcoming exhibits sponsored by the Fishers Arts Council. The deadline for the October exhibit, “Fishers: An Historical Perspective,” is Sept. 15. This exhibit celebrates Hamilton County’s Bicentennial with an exhibit focusing on Fishers and smalltown Indiana. In December, the exhibit will be the “Art of the Emerging Artist.” The deadline for submission to the December exhibit is Nov. 10. To be eligible for either exhibit, 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, 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 information, contact the Fishers Arts Council at info@FishersArtsCouncil.org.

Hoosiers encouraged to test for lead exposure — The Indiana Department of Health is encouraging all parents of children under age 6 to have their children tested for lead exposure. House Enrolled Act 1313 requires all healthcare providers serving children to offer lead testing to patients. Testing is recommended at a child’s 1- and 2-year checkups but can be done at anytime if a child aged 3-6 hasn’t previously been tested. Exposure to lead can cause damage in the brain and nervous system, causing delayed growth and development, learning and behavioral difficulties, issues with hearing and speech, nausea and other debilitating effects. Lead exposure can also negatively impact adults but is especially toxic for developing fetuses and young children. Visit the Indiana Department of Health website at health.in.gov for more information.

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Local groups receive arts grants

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Seventeen organizations in Hamilton County have been awarded grant funding through the Indiana Arts Commission.

A total of $3,431,351 was awarded to 414 nonprofits to fund arts projects and organizations around the state through both grant programs. Funding was awarded in 75 out of Indiana’s 92 counties, according to the organization.

The following Hamilton County organizations received funding:

• Front Porch Music Festival ($4,000)

• City of Westfield ($4,000)

• Conner Prairie Museum Inc. ($3,600)

• Resounding Joy ($4,000)

• Gal’s Guide to the Galaxy ($4,000)

• Nickel Plate Arts, Inc. ($15,937)

• Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre ($17,621)

• Fishers Arts Council ($7,576)

• Carmel Repertory Theatre Inc. ($4,529)

• Christian Youth Theater, Indianapolis, Inc. ($13,274)

• International Talent Academy ($7,264)

• Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections, Inc. ($13,274)

• The Center for the Performing Arts ($17,467)

• The Great American Songbook Foundation ($16,294)

• Central Indiana Dance Ensemble ($14,900)

• Indiana Artisan Inc. ($13,437)

• Hamilton County Artist Association ($5,993)

For more, visit in.gov/arts/.

Business pitched on TV show

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

A Grove City College student from Fishers and his business partner pitched their startup this spring to investors for an entrepreneurial-themed TV show and received a $10,000 grant for their company

On Aug. 31, 2022, Entrepreneur Media reached out to Fishers resident Luke Gilligan as a potential guest for its show, “Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch,” a show where guests are given 60 seconds to pitch their business ideas to investors. On May 9, Gilligan made it onto the show, where he and his business partner, Logan Mays, introduced their startup, Resense, and one of its products, the Resense Registry.

Gilligan said that during his freshman year in college, he took a class called Lean Launchpad. The class requires students to come up with a business idea, pitch it, and later launch it, if desired.

Resense was inspired by Gilligan’s experience working in nursing homes. He said he saw residents given children’s coloring books and often not treated as adults.

“It really broke my heart seeing these individuals treated like children,” Gilligan said.

For the show, he gave investors a sample of the Resense Registry, a dementia-friendly newspaper typed in 16-point-font.

Gilligan said the newspaper is made for individuals with dementia of all stages.

“They can range from early stage to late stage,” Gilligan said. “In the late stage, these individuals only have long-term memory. That’s where current news goes in one ear and out the other. We wanted to create something they can still enjoy.”

According to the company’s website, the Resense Register is produced bimonthly. It contains timeless articles with no reference to dates, and articles that are designed to help people reminisce.

For the show, Gilligan and Mays asked for a $150,000 investment in exchange for 10 percent ownership. Investors who included Netflix founder, Marc Randolf, Kim Perell and Jonathan Hung, turned down that pitch but were still impressed and wanted to help Resense with its mission.

The startup was given a $10,000 grant on behalf of Amazon Business. Gilligan said they were one of the only recipients of the grant. The episode aired June 21. For more, visit resensebox.com.

Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch can be viewed at youtube.com/@entrepreneur.

A fishers resident pitched his startup, Resense, on the show Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch.

(Photo courtesy of resensebox. com)

Hey there, folks! Take a good look at this zoomed-in image we’ve snagged from a spot in Fishers. We want you to channel your inner Sherlock and head over to youarecurrent.com/mysterysnapshot to submit your best guess about where this photo was taken. Ready for the challenge? Check back next week for the answer.

The IKEA store in Fishers is the only one in Indiana. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)

MBA program open to all Hamilton Co. residents

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Fishers HS grad new ‘Voice of the Bison’

news@currentinfishers.com

EDUCATION

Westfield Washington Schools and Indiana State University are partnering to offer a Master of Business Administration program this fall.

The Professional MBA program, which is open to all Hamilton County residents, will be held in person on Thursday evenings at Westfield Washington Schools’ central office. It will be led by a faculty member from Indiana State University’s Scott College of Business.

Applications are being accepted by Indiana State University for its first cohort of Professional MBA students through the 21-month program, which costs around $30,000 and represents an all-inclusive fee. The program is open to individuals who have an undergraduate degree and have five or more years of professional work experience.

“The Scott College of Business is com-

mitted to providing a distinct student-centered education in our Professional MBA program that combines world-class faculty with individualized career development and coaching to help professionals advance in business. Strong community collaborations make this possible and we are proud to serve the Indianapolis area,” said Terry Daugherty, dean of the Scott College of Business at Indiana State University.

Under the program that begins Sept. 7, students will take two courses per term with classes being offered from 5:30 to 10 p.m. once a week. Classes would alternate from one week to the next, according to ISU, which will assist students with registration and textbook delivery.

Westfield Washington Schools will host an informal information session at 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at Westfield Washington Schools’ central office community board room, 19500 Tomlinson Rd., Suite B. To RSVP, visit indianastate.edu/westfield.

For more information or to register, visit indstate.edu/business/mba/promba.

SPORTS

Sam Neidermann got his start on the air in 2014 as a student at Fishers High School. He helped launch the Fishers Sports Network, a streaming service, with friends and faculty. Now, he’s the “Voice of the Bison” for North Dakota State University and sports director for Radio FM Media and director of operations for BISON 1660 and 92.7 FM, according to a NDSU news release.

Neidermann will officially join the Bison media team July 24. In his new role, he will handle play-by-play duties for football and men’s basketball, according to the university. He also will host one-hour coaches shows for radio and television during sports seasons.

“As the ‘Voice of the Bison,’ Sam will play an important role in bringing the excitement of our football and basketball games to our fans across the country,” NDSU Director of Athletics Matt Larsen said. “We look forward to Sam joining our team to help convey the NDSU Athletics story and the rich tradition of success to our passionate Bison nation.”

Neidermann’s play-by-play experience

includes Westwood One, ESPN and Stony Brook University. He has called nationally broadcast college football for the last two seasons, including Ohio State vs. Michigan (2021) and Alabama vs. Tennessee (2022); as well as college basketball coverage, including the 2022 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Neidermann also was a part of ESPN’s college football coverage during the 2022 season, including the first two rounds of the Division I FCS Playoffs.

Neidermann is a graduate of Indiana University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Media. According to his professional website, Neidermann spent two seasons as the voice of Indiana University softball. In addition, he called IU hoops, football and soccer on student radio and Big Ten Network Plus (BTN+).

“I am honored to join the winning tradition at North Dakota State and feel so blessed to be a part of the NDSU family,” he stated. “I cannot wait to get to Fargo and meet Bison Nation. Go Bison!”

Neidermann’s debut behind the mic will be Sept. 2, when the Bison football team opens its season at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis against Eastern Washington. For more, visit samneidermann.com.

DISPATCH

Learn about Assistance League — Learn more about membership in the Assistance League of Indianapolis at an informational coffee meeting set for 10 a.m. Aug. 17 at the ALI chapter office, 1475 W. 86th St., Suite E, in Indianapolis. Membership in ALI, an all-volunteer philanthropic nonprofit, is open to residents in Indianapolis and surrounding communities. RSVP to Janine Bercovitz, vice president of membership, at membership@alindy.org. Learn more at ALIndy.org.

Neidermann

LEGACY OF CARE

Longtime patient becomes the new dentist at a Fishers clinic

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

When Fishers resident Joel Wilcox was in the first grade, he fell and chipped his tooth. His parents took him to My Dental Care to get it fixed. That was his first introduction to the Fishers dental practice.

Fast forward about 20 years, and Wilcox — now Dr. Wilcox — has graduated from the IU School of Dentistry and is joining the practice starting Aug. 1.

Wilcox, 26, said his somewhat traumatic introduction to dentistry so long ago was inspiring, even at a young age.

“They were able to do a lot of work with me, and they really helped me regain my confidence and my smile,” he said. “And that was one of the things that made me want to pursue dentistry in the first place, just seeing the impact that they were able to have on my life personally. It seemed like something that would be rewarding for me going forward.”

Wilcox said Dr. Cynthia Becker and the clinic staff became like family through the years, as he went in for checkups twice annually every year for decades. He said he always had an inclination for the field of health and medicine, because he wanted to help others. Dentistry in particular appealed to him because of the relationships he could build with patients.

“I tend to see a doctor’s office as a bit more in and out. You have a problem, and you go, and then you don’t get to see that person again,” he said. “Whereas in dentistry, similar to the experience that I had, you get to see people over and over. You get to get to know them, get to know their families, get to see them grow up, and I enjoy talking to people, so that was a big draw for me.”

It didn’t hurt that he had an eager recruiter at My Dental Care. Lou Ann Dale has worked at the practice for 36 years and was Wilcox’s hygienist when he was a patient there.

“As he made that transition (in college) and started talking about dentistry, I became the recruiter, like, ‘I’m telling you that we are going to need a young, awesome dentist at about the time you’re going to be ready to be employed,’” she said. “And what better place for a young man that grew up in the community, if he wanted to stay in the area? The timing was going to be perfect.”

Dale said she was basically recruiting her new boss and wanted to make sure she got a good one for herself and the rest of the staff.

“It’s way more than my job,” she said. “It’s a very family atmosphere in the office that we work in, so having a longtime patient become the newest part of the team is fun. It’s exciting. I’m looking forward to watching him take the lead as the doctor in the office, and I think everybody is very ready to support him as he begins his career and support him in becoming a successful practitioner.”

Becker, the clinic’s owner and primary dentist, has been practicing for 40 years. She turns 65 this year and said fol-

lowing a couple years of practicing solo after her longtime associate left, she’s more than ready for another dentist in the office, especially someone young with lots of energy.

“And he’s just a very mature young man,” she said of Wilcox. “I think that I’m going to have a real good time working with him. He’s been my patient for a long time since he was a very young man. So, I’m glad he decided to be a dentist.”

Becker said she doesn’t have kids of her own, and she didn’t have anyone lined up to take over the practice when she decides to retire. She said it would be great to be able to hand the reins to Wilcox. But it won’t happen right away.

“I like doing what I’m doing,” she said. “I just don’t want to do quite as many days a week of it. We kind of have plans in the works, (if) everything works out perfectly, that

Joel would end up taking over the practice. I guess then it’s just a matter of how long does he want to keep me around.”

Becker and Dale noted that Wilcox is going to be the only man working in an office with 11 women. He’ll also be the second-youngest person there. So, it will be an interesting transition for everyone.

“It’s going to be quite the journey,” Becker said. “I’m kind of counting down the days until he comes in so that we can get him going and have him take the helm, so to speak. And I can just be a mentor.”

Wilcox said he, too, is looking forward to starting at My Dental Care. The 2015 Fishers High School graduate completed four years as an undergrad, and then another four in the IU School of Dentistry. He said the graduate studies include direct patient care, so he’ll come in with experience along with the knowledge base.

For more about the clinic, visit mydentalcare.com.

ON THE COVER: My Dental Care in Fishers will add another dentist starting Aug. 1, when longtime patient Joel Wilcox starts his new job. (Photo courtesy of My Dental Care)

MORE TIME FOR TRAINING DOGS

Dr. Cynthia Becker is not only enthusiastic about healthy teeth, but she is also enthusiastic about dogs. Chow chows, specifically.

For the past couple of years, she’s been too busy with her practice to spend as much time as she likes training her chow chows, but with the addition of Dr. Joel Wilcox, she hopes to be able to get back into the sports and confirmation arena.

Chow chows are not the easiest breed to train.

“I’ve had this breed since 1990, and it suits me right down to the ground,” she said. “It’s a really interesting breed. I tell everybody (that) If you think of them as a cat wearing dog fur, then you’ve got the breed in a nutshell.”

And cats can be trained. You just have to make it worth their time, she said. It’s the same with chow chows. Becker’s dogs have won numerous titles and have worked as therapy dogs. She said she looks forward to getting back to her favorite hobby.

One of Becker’s dogs is listed on the clinic’s website as a member of the My Dental Care staff. Zinnia does agility, obedience and other dog sports, according to the website.

“(She) loves visiting our patients and the patients of Community East Hospital in Indianapolis,” the website states. “She thoroughly enjoys people of all ages and greets them with tail wags and a smile and she maybe even shakes paws.”

Joel Wilcox has been a patient at My Dental Care since he was in first grade. He’ll be joining the practice Aug. 1 as the new dentist. (Photo courtesy of My Dental Care)

STEM school opens in Fishers

By Kiersten Riedford kiersten@youarecurrent.com

The iCode School, a STEM school for students ages 5 to 18 that uses hands-on learning techniques, opened its newest location in Fishers June 7.

EDUCATION

The school offers programs that teach students the skills and knowledge they need to compete in tomorrow’s technology-driven environment, according to Sandeep Dosanjh, director of iCode Fishers.

iCode students learn how to use drones, robots, micro-processors and 3D printers.

“We can all see how technology has changed our daily lives, and we’ve heard of innovations to come, but who will build and maintain this technological infrastructure?” Dosanjh said. “There is a growing demand for trained technical workers. It’s estimated that 3.5 million jobs will need to be filled by 2025.”

Dosanjh said many traditional schools struggle teaching students technological topics because of the shortage of teachers trained in those areas; the lack of funding for the technology; and the need for the

curriculum to be regularly changed.

“I have worked in engineering companies in the past and have seen students who graduate from universities struggle with making the transition from learned skills to real-world application, especially when it comes to working in project teams,” Dosanjh said. “So, the hands-on learning experience and the soft skills (we teach) is what I believe differentiates iCode offerings.”

The curriculum at iCode is developed in-house and is designed to make it easier for younger children to comprehend complex technological concepts, according to Dosanjh.

For more, visit icodeschool.com/fishers.

The iCode School, a STEM school for students ages 5 to 18, opened its newest location in Fishers on June 7. (Photo courtesy of Sandeep Dosanjh)

BUSINESS LOCAL Hyatt selected to lead chamber

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

A Westfield resident will serve as executive director of the Northern Hamilton County Chamber in Cicero.

ORGANIZATION

Tonya Hyatt, who was recently named to lead the chamber, will be responsible for the operational aspects of the organization, in addition to oversight of member acquisition and retention, member services and events. The Northern Hamilton County Chamber serves Arcadia, Atlanta, Cicero and Sheridan.

“I am thrilled and honored for this opportunity to advocate for the businesses, communities and people of northern Hamilton County,” Hyatt said. “Great things are happening in this great section of the county, and I am excited to represent the Northern Hamilton County Chamber as the new executive director.”

Hyatt, who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Purdue University,

has served in various professional roles throughout her career, including an accountant and senior financial analyst for large multi-hospital systems and as an operations coordinator for Community Growth with a focus of growing businesses and improving its respective community.

Northern Hamilton County Chamber and OneZone Chamber President Jack Russell lauded Hyatt’s abilities and described her as “a community focused leader with a passion to build strong networks and communities and has a long history of community advocacy and volunteering.” She serves on the Noblesville Youth Assistance Program board and is a coach for Girls on the Run, according to Russell.

The OneZone Chamber, which serves Fishers and Carmel, and the Northern Hamilton County Chamber announced last month that they were merging. Russell will continue to serve as president of both organizations, according to the announcement, which said that the Northern Hamilton County Chamber would keep its identity and branding.

Hyatt

OPEN POSITIONS ABOUT US

Lead and Assistant positions are available ages 2 through Kindergarten.

• Our Staff is passionate about building life-long learners through a play-based and faith-focused early childhood education program.

• For more information and to apply visit: www.geistwdm.org/our-staff or call 317-578-4591

Fishers Health Dept. launches ‘Stigma Free Fishers’ website

news@currentinfishers.com

The City of Fishers and Fishers Health Department have launched the revamped Stigma Free Fishers website, a new, free online service for Fishers residents to access mental health education, resources and assessments.

According to the city, the platform offers expert-rated and vetted videos, podcasts, apps, online programs, books and articles in one easy-to-use place. The website is confidential and available to provide assistance at all times of the day and night.

“You can learn new skills, understand your own mental health, take a mental health assessment and browse the library of thousands of mental wellbeing resources,” the announcement states.

The resources on the website are provided by Credible Mind, a California-based company that provides online mental health information using human experts and artificial intelligence technology, according to the company’s LinkedIn profile.

The Fishers website, stigmafreefishers. com, includes information about numerous mental health topics, including anxiety, stress, work-life balance and relationships. It also provides information for minority groups, people who want to age gracefully, and people who have a loved one struggling with addiction.

Much of the content on the website can be accessed without signing up. Creating an account allows the service to store assessment results to review later and to personalize recommendations.

Registration open for Geist Half Marathon & 5K

news@currentinfishers.com

Runners and walkers interested in participating in the Geist Half Marathon and 5K can register now for the Sept. 16 event.

MENTAL HEALTH RUNNING

According to the event webpage, the annual race was founded by a group of Geist Reservoir-area residents with a goal of improving health and building a sense of community. The City of Fishers has taken on planning and organizing the event, with a focus on participants, volunteers and community experiences, according to the webpage.

Registration fees through Aug. 17 are $69.99 for the half marathon and $34.99 for the 5K. Virtual race options are available. The price will increase after Aug. 17.

According to the Frequently Asked Questions portion of the webpage, the half marathon will have a four-hour cutoff for participants, and the 5K will have an 80-minute cutoff. The 5K is considered walker-friendly, and strollers are permitted. The 5K also is an all-ages event, but the half marathon has a minimum age of 12 for participants.

“The 2023 Geist Half Marathon and 5K is a community race filled with nice views of Geist waterfront, laid-back neighborhoods

and minor hills,” the webpage states. “This year’s updated 5K course will take participants through the new Geist Waterfront Park off Olio Road.”

On race day, there will be no parking at the start or finish areas. Free parking will be available at Fall Creek Intermediate School, Fall Creek Elementary School, and the Hamilton Southeastern High School student and athletic lots. Parking is not allowed at the Kroger or Walgreens parking lots, and that rule will be enforced by Fishers police.

For more, visit geisthalf.com.

The course map for the Sept. 16 Geist Half Marathon takes runners past the Geist Reservoir waterfront, including a portion that runs through the new Fishers Geist Waterfront Park. (Photo courtesy of the City of Fishers)

READERS’VIEWS Redevelopment boosts business

Editor,

Redevelopment in downtown Fishers often strikes the ire of residents struggling with changes, correlating growth with negative impacts on small businesses. The naysayers want you to believe that we’re shrinking the opportunities for small businesses, but as president of the city council, and 30-year small business owner, my colleagues and I are delivering the opposite.

I am proud of the vision and steadfast execution we’ve supported that turned downtown from a place with little to no foot traffic to what is now a vibrant and sought-after destination.

I know that small businesses are the lifeblood of any thriving community, realized in so many ways: neighbors as customers, contributions to nonprofits and athletic clubs, and investments in this city. We will continue to support policies and projects that benefit our small businesses while creating a community for all.

John Weingardt, Fishers City Council president

M4L ‘wins’ not victories for all

Editor,

I was extremely disappointed in the article about Moms for Liberty apologizing for using a Hitler quote that was in the July 4 print issue. The article did include quotes from those who were appalled that a group would use a Hitler quote, but the entire last column of the article listed Mom 4 Liberty “wins.” These are not wins for everyone.

Moms 4 Liberty acts like they are fighting for parents’ rights, but really they are about the rights of conservative, white, Christian parents. These “wins” don’t feel like wins to my family. It was really disappointing to see this article presented as news when it felt like Current was justifying and endorsing the views of a hate group and further allowing them to share their talking points. I do hope you will consider how you report on this group and not simply repeat their talking points about their “wins,” when those wins often discriminate against many families.

Mary Ajango, Carmel

Challenges of sticking together

Commentary by Terry Anker

Funny you should ask…

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

ESSAY

There are more than a handful of handy, intuitive inventions that, once discovered, seem to have been with us from the beginning. We wonder how humans might have survived before the simple, elegant and eminently useful ideas, gadgets and solutions came along, but each one had an origin point in some dreamer imagining a resolution to a vexing problem, with prototypes, refinements and collaborations until a stable and replicable process took hold. Someone rubbed sticks or sparked a particular kind of stone to carry fire in their pockets. Someone imagined and built a box to hold and store — then someone else fabricated a pair of wheels to make the whole thing mobile.

In 1941 a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral was walking his dog and, annoyed by the burrs sticking to his woolen socks and the animal’s thick fur coat, was inspired to eventually create hook and loop fabric strips that became Velcro. The relatively modest leap in engineering became a global blockbuster. Now, the product is every-

where, connecting everything. For Mestral, inspiration came from burdock seeds. Others have been initiated by Mestral’s Velcro to push the limits of its uses. Still more have applied the ubiquitous awareness of the straightforward function and utility of Velcro as a metaphor for countless other interactions.

Why is it that some people are like Velcro? We seem to stick to them quickly and effortlessly. Even if life pulls us apart over time and geography, when together again we reconnect as if we’d never been separated. And in parting once more, we don’t harm one another. Yet for others, no matter how great the effort, we cannot attach. Is it because there needs to be a hook-andloop to have the effect? Is it our differences that make this work? Or consistency? Or providence?

Love the hate mail

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

I’ve got mail! Hate mail, to be precise. Two avid readers have finally had enough of my nonsensical shenanigans and chosen to share their loathing with me. One was an honest-to-god handwritten postcard! Talk about your old school. I love the commitment, Carol! (This is not her real name, of course. Or is it?)

HUMOR

There was a time when notes like these would have sent me into either a defensive spiral or rage haze, both entailing creative combinations of swear words and harsh adjectives. But I’ve been doing this for more than 16 years. Sixteen! And I’ve seen some stuff, readers. This is nothing. I’m honestly rather flattered that two women took the time from their clearly busy lives to have a go at me. I matter, I really do!

I was disappointed, however, in the level of critique. There were no righteous accusations of spousal, child or alcohol abuse; no cruel indictments of my un-American stupid liberal politics; no brutal declarations that my hopefully-soon-to-be afterlife be spent in, ‘Hell-o operator, give me No. 9.” Come on! If you’re going to dish it out,

“If you’re going to dish it out, make sure it’s got meat on it. Mean-girl correspondence should be juicy, people.”

make sure it’s got meat on it. Mean-girl correspondence should be juicy, people. No, my new special friends simply think I’m boring, irrelevant and a waste of paper space. They’ve been reading me forever but can’t stand another minute of my dumb column and they’re vowing to, from now on, throw me out with the trash where I belong.

Beverly, I hear you, I do (again, this is not her real name. Probably). But I also thank you because mail is mail, hate or otherwise. I’ll take it! Peace out.

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

Through the years, I have written about 1,200 columns. I find that people are curious about the humor-writing process. So, this week and next will not be humor columns; they will be columns about humor. Here are some of the most common questions I get.

HUMOR

Do you write about things that really happened, or do you make all this stuff up?

You know how sometimes a movie begins with this phrase, inspired by a true story? That’s pretty much like my column. The idea is always based on something real. A week or so ago, I fell out of a small bed at a downtown inn where we were staying for our anniversary. That was 100 percent true. As soon as my head hit the floor, I knew I had a column. And a headache. Did I exaggerate the story just a bit? Of course.

Have people ever been angry at you for a column you wrote?

Yes. Here’s an example:

Several years ago, I wrote about why my wife never mows the lawn. In the piece, I suggested that I didn’t want her to mow because it would jeopardize her femininity as evidenced by other women in the neighborhood who were outside grunting and sweating as they pushed their mowers. I got a lot of nasty notes from the ladies on our street. My wife said I had to go apologize to each of them. I had a better idea. We moved.

You make fun of your wife, Mary Ellen. Is she OK with that?

The truth is that in most of my columns, I make fun of myself, not her. Self-deprecating humor is the best form of comedy. About 75 percent of President Barack Obama’s jokes at the 2012 annual White House Broadcasters Dinner were mocking himself. Trump only managed self-deprecation 30 percent of the time when he had his turn. Even Biden has now started to parody his advancing age. I recently wrote a column about all the dumb questions Mary Ellen asked me about baseball. Truth is, I couldn’t answer any of them myself. I was poking fun at myself for pretending I was an expert.

The last line of your story is my favorite part. What’s the key to a good ending?

I once had a newspaper (no name) whose copy editor chopped off my last several sentences when he needed the space. That’s when I started believing in capital punishment. People were telling me they liked my columns but didn’t understand the endings. The last line or two of a humor column are crucial. It ties it all up and goes back to something I may have mentioned maybe 400 words ago. I work really hard on that. I hope you like the ending to this one.

Do you ever run out of funny ideas?

I did this week. That’s why you are reading this column.

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 specialinterest groups, and may not in any way contain a commercial message.

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

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

“As soon as my head hit the floor, I knew I had a column. And a headache. Did I exaggerate the story just a bit? Of course.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

– DANIELLE WILSON

Pavel & Direct Contact to bring Latin flavor to Carmel Jazz Fest

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Pavel & Direct Contact will present its unique Latin jazz sound in a prime spot in the Carmel Jazz Fest.

“We’re always excited to bring exposure to the culture to different parts of the city and state,” said Pavel Polanco-Safadit, a pianist who grew up in the Dominican Republic. “As far as I know, we are the only Latin-flavored band this year in the Carmel Jazz Fest. I give it up to (the organizers) to do something different, to do some Latin jazz.”

The Indianapolis-based Pavel & Direct Contact will perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 12 on the Carter Green stage. The twoday festival is set for Aug. 11-12 at six sites.

Vocalist Leah Crane said the band is known for its high-energy performances.

“Sometimes, it’s hard to follow that much energy, so I think it’s good we’re going to close out the night,” Crane said.

Evelyn “Champagne” King will perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 12 on the Gazebo stage. King had a hit disco single, “Shame,” during the height of disco’s popularity in 1977.

Polanco-Safadit said the band’s music features Afro-Cuban rhythms during the set.

“What people love is we take cover songs that people know and put a Latin rhythm to it,” Crane said. “I’ll sing songs in Spanish, and some of the songs have both English and Spanish in it.”

One cover they usually put a spin on is “I Will Survive.”

Polanco-Safadit said the band also will feature its Latin jazz originals.

Direct Contact’s music contains an experience of Latin jazz, salsa and Latin-infused American pop songs.

“For us, it’s very important to connect cultures,” Polanco-Safadit said. “Sometimes, they hear the rhythms. Some might say I don’t know that song, in particular, but I like it. They recognize the rhythms.

We have amazing musicians for this.”

Besides Polanco-Safadit and Crane, the band consists of Steve Dokken, bass; David Allee, trumpet; Rob Dixon, saxophone; Freddie Mendoza, trombone; and Matt McGraw, percussion. Allee is the owner of The Jazz Kitchen and has been the band’s trumpet player for more than 15 years.

“We had the opportunity to come to Carmel when we played for the Carmel Symphony Orchestra,” Crane said. “That was the first time they ever had a local Latin band.”

Polanco-Safadit said that to say the

band has been very busy of late is in an understatement.

“In this past year, we’ve traveled to different countries -- the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Canada,” Polanco-Safadit said. “We’ll be doing the Indy Jazz Fest (in September). We’re doing a lot of private gigs as well.”

Polanco-Safadit will join Blair Clark at 11 a.m. Aug. 13 at Feinstein’s at the Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

For tickets and the complete lineup, visit carmeljazzfest.org.

‘SOPHISTICATED LADIES’

“Sophisticated Ladies” runs through Aug. 20 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

“The Piano Man: A Billy Joel Tribute” is set for 7:30 p.m. July 20 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. ATI Live presents Un5Gettable at 7:30 p.m. July 21, and Wayne Powers will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 22. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS’

“Broadway Under the Stars” will be presented at 8 p.m. July 21-22 in the Symphony on the Prairie series at Conner Prairie in Fishers. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.

SONGBOOK ACADEMY IN CONCERT

The Great American Songbook Foundation’s annual Songbook Academy, a summer intensive program, will conclude with a concert at 7 p.m. July 22 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

DISPATCHES

Indy Shorts presents ‘The Hoosier Way’ —

The Indy Shorts International Film Festival, set for July 18-23, will hold a free, all-ages screening of “The Hoosier Way” at The Toby Theatre in Newfields, 4000 N Michigan Rd., Indianapolis, at 5:30 p.m. July 23. Using a tapestry of clips from more than 40 16mm educational, promotional and home movies, the program features people, places and events that make Indiana unique. Footage includes the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911; Oscar Robertson leading Indianapolis Crispus Attucks to become the first all-Black high school sports team in the U.S. to win a state championship; Kurt Vonnegut at home; behind the scenes inside Gary’s steel mills; and more. The program will be introduced by curators/directors Jennifer and Jon Vickers and will be followed by a brief Q&A with filmmakers and Indiana University archivists. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for interactive 16mm film handling demonstrations. For more on Indy Shorts schedule of films, visit heartlandfilm.org/indyshorts.

Pavel & Direct Contact members, from left, David Allee, Freddie Mendoza, Matt McGraw, Leah Crane, Pavel Polanco-Safadit, Rob Dixon, Gerardo Becerra and Steve Dokken at the Palladium. (Photo courtesy of Mark Sheldon)

Pavel Polanco-Safadit and Leah Crane performing with Pavel & Direct Contact. (Photo courtesy of Larry Goshen)

YAP takes on ‘Mean Girls’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Keegan Connor is taking a break in her duties as Miss Indiana’s Teen to explore her love of theater.

“I’ve never played a super-mean character like her,” Kauffman said. “She’s horrible. It’s definitely fun because in real life, I don’t act like her, so it’s kind of challenging for me.”

MUSICAL

Connor, who will be a Westfield High School senior, captured the title June 17 and since then has done some TV shows and personal appearances.

“It’s been crazy since I was crowned,” said Connor, who recently was in a parade and sang the national anthem at a South Bend Cubs baseball game. “But I found time to prioritize the show because I wouldn’t have signed up for it if I didn’t think I could handle both.”

Connor is now preparing for her lead role of Cady Heron in Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program’s production of “Mean Girls,” set for July 27-30 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

“I think Cady is relatable from the get-go, even if you didn’t move from school to school to school,” Connor said. “She resembles a lot of people who are going through high school life, because no matter, what you are going to get picked on, going to get judged. She does have a big character arc. By the start of Act 2, she steps into (queen mean girl) Regina’s role, and I think that shows how you can be influenced by people around you. Peer pressure is really real.”

Connor said this is the largest role of her career. The musical is based on the 2004 movie.

“I’m very honored and humbled to step into this role,” said Connor, who saw “Mean Girls” on Broadway and twice on tour. “A lot of the things from the movie are pulled into the musical as well, with iconic lines. I think the musical is a lot better than the movie, in my opinion. It brings more sense of community by the end of it all.”

Connor started with Jr. Civic when she was in seventh grade. She performed in “The Sound of Music” on the main stage this spring.

Claire Kauffman, who will be a Zionsville Community High School junior, plays Regina George.

Kauffman said her favorite song is “Someone Gets Hurt.”

Kauffman has been in several shows for YAP and Jr. Civic, including YAP’s “42nd Street” in 2022 and “Matilda the Musical” on the main stage last year.

Kauffman played the title role of “Annie” at Beef & Boards in 2018. She also performed in “Annie” at Civic Theatre.

Maddux Morrison, a 2023 Noblesville High School graduate who will attend Ball State University to major in musical theater, plays Cady’s gay friend, Damian.

“I was a fan of the movie, and then when it became a musical and went to Broadway, I was a fan of that as well,” Morrison said. “Damian is a fun role to play. He’s very confident and sassy. He really knows who he is. Playing the character has helped me as a person. He’s helped my confidence as a performer and also in real life. Something I love about the show and also this character is the show doesn’t take itself too seriously. When I was in high school, I took everything seriously. I didn’t stop and have fun that much. Doing this show and role has helped me to explore that side of myself.”

Morrison has been performing at Jr. Civic and YAP for eight years.

Amelia Schoeff, who will be a senior at Lebanon High School, plays Cady’s friend, Janis.

“She’s a goth and a victim of Regina,” Schoeff said. “I’ve never played a goth before, and it’s so different from me in real life. She’s so fun. She has a hysterical, dry sense of humor. She’s also relatable to a common high school experience for girls where she has been picked on by the main character.”

This is her first performance with Civic Theatre.

“Everyone that works on the show and the cast members are all incredible,” Schoeff said.

For more, visit civictheatre.org.

Kauffman

Morrison

Connor

Schoeff

Beat the heat with lighter fare

Commentary by Mark LaFay

Foreigner set for farewells

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

FOOD

It appears the summer heat and humidity have finally found us. I normally like to avoid the heat and humidity, unless there is a frosty beverage in my hand and some water nearby. But even in the absence of such vacation-esque accommodations, I still love to be outside as much as possible.

The higher heat and humidity do cause some behavior modification in me, if only in what, and how much, I eat. Maybe you’re like me and you gravitate toward the lighter fare in the hot weather. We tend to consume more fresh fruit and vegetables in this weather, and meals can often look more like party grazing than a proper meal. You don’t have to eat like a rabbit to eat lighter and fresher in the warm weather. There are several different fruit, vegetable, meat and cheese combos that we like to assemble for a filling but lighter approach to dinner inside and outside, such as:

Prosciutto and cantaloupe: Pork and melons are two things you can find plenty of in Indiana. This combo is, however, very Italian in origin. Once in Italy, we enjoyed fresh, ripe cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto, with a little high-quality olive oil drizzled over the top. Sweet and savory, but overall, somewhat mild in flavor and not heavy in the belly. Try LaQuercia Acorn Prosciutto.

Sharp Vermont cheddar and apple slices: I’m sure you’ve heard of apple pie with cheddar cheese slices, right? If not, try crisp Granny Smith apples and thin slices of Vermont cheddar cheese. The sharp and savory nature of the cheddar pairs nicely with the tart and sweet apple. The difference in texture is nice as well — crunchy and creamy. Try Cabot Sharp Cheddar.

Grapes and brie cheese: Another classic light snack is grapes and brie. The sweet nature of the grapes goes wonderfully with the brie, which can be, at times, a little sharp with a bitter edge. Try this with Point Reyes Quinta, Tulip Tree Creamery Trillium or an imported triple-cream cheese from France.

CONCERT

With Foreigner’s heavy touring schedule for the past 18 years, keyboardist Michael Bluestein knows it’s appropriate that this tour “feels like the last time” for the band.

“There certainly is a collective exhaustion that has crept up in the band,” Bluestein said. “I mean, we’re proud of the fact that we still put on a killer show, but there’s a sense that the ability to do that won’t go on forever, and we’d like to ‘go out on top,’ as they say.”

Foreigner will perform at 7 p.m. July 21 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. Loverboy is joining Foreigner as a special guest on the tour, which began July 6 and extends into 2024.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Bluestein said. “We’re all proud of what we’ve done and very excited to give it all on this farewell tour, but we’ll certainly miss performing for our awesome fans and miss playing these fantastic songs with each other.”

Keyboardist Michael Bluestein has been with Foreigner since 2008.

(Photo courtesy of Live Nation)

Bluestein said he always looks forward to performing “Juke Box Hero” and “Long, Long Way from Home” because they are hard-driving rockers that always pump up the band and the fans.

Guitarist Mick Jones is the last original member still with the band, which started in New York in 1976. Kelly Hansen replaced Lou Gramm as the lead singer in 2005. Bluestein has toured with the band since 2008.

“It has been touching to see how special this band has been to so many people,” Bluestein said. “We have people practically begging us not to stop touring, and that definitely is moving.”

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4021 Millersville Rd., Suite 107A, Indianapolis.

Presenting Sponsor: SOLD! Bar Sponsor: $3,000

Partner Sponsor: SOLD! Table Sponsor: $2,500

Companion Sponsor: $5,000 Auction Sponsor: $1,500

Band Sponsor: $3,000 Dessert Sponsor: $1,500

VIP Ticket: $250

Individual Ticket: $175

Stage Door Theatre features 4th Wall Players

By Mike Beas editorial@youarecurrent.com

Josh Gibson and Alan Keith have more in common than their hometown. A mutual passion for theater inspired Gibson and Keith, 2006 and 2004 graduates of Kokomo High School, respectively, to found the 4th Wall Players, a core group of entertainers bringing the arts to a broader audience.

PLAY

Case in point being later this month.

The 4th Wall Players will perform Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” the weekends of July 21-23 and July 28-30 at the recently revamped Stage Door Theatre, 5235 Bonna Ave., Indianapolis.

The play, first performed in 1895 in London, is, by its name, a trivial comedy for serious people.

Gibson is directing the show, while his wife, Katherine Gibson, is assistant director. The couple lives in the Lawrence area, as does Keith.

The cast of characters for the upcoming

show are Brent Williamson as Jack Worthing; Garrett Rowe (Algernon Moncrieff); Silvia Seidle (Gwendolen Fairfax); Lizzie Schultz (Cecily Cardew); Kelly Melcho (Lady Bracknell); Leah Hodson (Miss Prism); Daniel Clymer (Reverend Chasuble); and Kelly McKinney as two characters (Lane/Merriman). Schultz is a Noblesville resident.

To purchase tickets for “The Importance of Being Earnest,” visit Eventbrite.com.

Join

The 4th Wall Players will present “The Importance of Being Earnest.” (Photo courtesy of Josh Gibson)

From Seward to Juneau

Commentary by Don Knebel

Today, in our continuing tour of Alaska, we travel by ship from Seward to Juneau, Alaska’s capital, where we make the first of two stops.

TRAVEL

Disenchantment Bay, a narrow inlet at the head of Yakutat Bay, is a popular stop for cruise ships sailing to or from Seward’s well-equipped port on the Gulf of Alaska. It was named for Spanish explorer Alejandro Malaspina’s disappointment that it did not lead to the legendary Northwest Passage.

Ship captains now willingly sail to the end of Disenchantment Bay to take passengers to see Hubbard Glacier, North America’s largest tidewater glacier. The 76-mile-long glacier is 7 miles wide and 600 feet high where it meets the water, with 250 feet below the water line. The ice in Hubbard Glacier moves forward at about 1,000 feet per year, which means that the ice at the face is 400 years old. Some of the so-called “calves” that constantly break off and fall into the water are more than 100 feet tall, creating hazards for

Set sail with a sale

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

ships in the area.

Juneau, about 200 miles southeast of Hubbard Glacier, includes both an area lying between the base of Mount Juneau and Gastineau Channel, and Douglas Island, across the channel. Surrounded completely by mountains and water, no roads connect Juneau with the rest of Alaska. Visitors and goods come and go only by ships or planes. Despite its location, Juneau has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, and efforts to move the capital have failed.

Today, Juneau has a permanent population of about 32,000, making it the third-largest city in Alaska after Anchorage and Fairbanks. In the summer, about 6,000 people a day enter the city from cruise ships. Many of them take the Goldbelt Tram from the cruise ship dock up 1,800 feet to get a spectacular view of the city.

The difference between the words sail, sale, sell and cell are salient. And, before you can accuse me of being a sellout, let me assure you — this argument will hold water.

it is the act of working towards the goal of making the sale. You can sell a boat. Once you sell the boat, you have made a sale.

GRAMMAR GUY

First, let’s tackle the difference between sail and sale. Sail can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, sail refers to a piece of fabric attached to a boat to help steer it using wind. As a verb, sail refers to a trip taken on a sailboat. Most of what I know about sailboats I learned from The Beach Boys’ version of “Sloop John B.”

A sale is a noun that refers to the act of selling, specifically when a good or service is traded for some kind of currency.

For example: Mattress stores all think it’s a great idea to have big sales over Labor Day weekend. It’s as if the store owners all got together and decided to celebrate hard work by giving people a great excuse to do the exact opposite. Sale is different from sell. Sell is a verb;

A cell is a noun. It can refer to a few different things. A cell is a small room in which a prisoner is locked. A cell is also a small group acting within a larger organization. A cell is a basic structural unit of all organisms. A cell is a battery. “Cell” is short for “cellular,” so some people refer to their cellular or mobile phones as their “cell” or, more commonly, “cell phone.” I hope my clarification of sail, sale, sell and cell went swimmingly — which is more than I can say about my own swimming skills. I do plan to take one-on-one adult swimming lessons at some point; it’s not exactly “cool” to show up to a friend’s hot tub cocktail party wearing a lifejacket over one’s swim shirt.

Juneau, Alaska, from Goldbelt Tram. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Douglas Island near Juneau.

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

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

1. Prime Palladium seating spot

5. IU grad

9. A/C measure

13. Black, to 15-Across

14. Anthony’s Chophouse steak order

15. Masters of rhyme

16. Indiana’s “Summit City”

18. Fairy tale meanies

19. 12th grader at Fishers HS

20. Rhino relative 22. Hawaiian island 25. Shirt part 28. Butler anatomy class display 32. Miss Indiana pageant accessories 33. Kind of band or story 34. Windshield device 36. Colts punt path 37. “I smell ___!”

38. Fancy tie

39. I-69 sight

40. Big ___ Conference

41. What dogs and babies do

42. Speak

43. Mattel rival

45. Document file format

47. Covets

48. Genesis patri-ark?

49. “Ghosts” playwright

51. Bird in some clocks

56. Crooked Stick pro shop purchase

58. Indiana’s “Wagon City”

61. ___ Hospital for Children

62. German wife

63. Author Bagnold

64. Mine finds

65. Amazes

66. Goes bad Down

1.

5.

partner

28. Criticize harshly

29. Seoul man

30. Indiana’s “Pocket City”

31. Permit

35. Salk’s vaccine target

38. Stood up

39. Colts QB stat

9.

41. Formally attired

42. Slangy affirmative

44. Holy books

46. Desert plant

50. Website warning letters

52. Radio-active trucker

53. Numbers game

54. “Step ___!”

55. Hoosier Park race figures

56. Sis’ sib

57. Number one cause of inflation?

59. Spanish gold

60. GM labor group

Answers on Page 27

Hinkle Fieldhouse whistle blowers

2. ISO woodwind

3. Weather-beaten

4. Opposed

Landfall for 48-Across

6. “Now I ___ me down...”

7. IMA vase

8. Noblesville HS swimming competition

Isn’t up to par? (Var.)

10. Indiana’s “Queen City of the Wabash”

11. Eiteljorg Museum Western tribe

12. Leak sound

15. Indiana state tree, by another name

17. Suitor

21. Liability’s opposite 23. “In what way?”

24. Mythical horse with a horn

26. Polygon’s corner

27. Zionsville HS prom

6 WRTV Storm Team Words 4 German Cities 3 Indiana State Fair Barns

2 Adhesives

5 Royal Titles

1 “Libations by the Levee” Festival Site

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