Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl. ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at
We never stop searching for ways to move cancer treatment forward. You'll have access to advanced therapy options for oncology — including select Phase I clinical trials. With leading-edge cancer care, your circle of support just got stronger.
Learn more at eCommunity.com/cancer
Learn more at eCommunity.com/every-mile or call 317.621.2727
count of 300 words. Please include your city of residence and a contact phone number for verification.
A school-funding tax referendum will be on the City of Fishers’ ballot Nov. 7, following a vote July 12 by the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees. The special school board meeting was held in conjunction with the Fishers City Council, which voted unanimously to approve a resolution supporting the referendum.
In November, Fishers voters will decide whether to approve the new rate, which calls for a property tax levy of .1995 cents per $100 assessed value, providing annual school funding of an estimated $24 million. The current tax levy, approved by voters in 2016, expires at the end of the year. Through the 2016 referendum, property owners have paid .2275 cents per $100 assessed value.
HSE Schools Supt. Yvonne Stokes and HSE Schools Chief Financial Officer Katy Dowling gave a presentation during the meeting about how local funding has helped the district. Stokes said Hamilton Southeastern School District is rated A+ for Indiana public schools, and its two high schools are in the top five in the nation based on performance on assessments, and on how well they prepare students for life after high school.
Stokes said the graduation rate is estimated at 98 percent, compared to the state average of 80 percent, and the district’s students who graduate with honors also is above average. She lauded the district’s dual-credit program, allowing students to earn college credits, and the extra-curricular activities that help students gain life skills such as teamwork and cooperation.
“We are really proud of everything that’s happened as a result of the referendum,” Stokes said, noting that the district had to make difficult cuts before the 2016 vote.
Dowling provided what she referred to as the “mind-numbing-data part of the presen-
tation,” and said that the referendum rate going before voters this year is an almost 20 percent reduction. But, she said, it will provide what the district needs, especially considering increases in property values.
Dowling noted that state funding for public education is not keeping up with inflation, and the referendum is needed to make sure the district can continue to attract quality teachers and provide the level of education the community wants. If the referendum doesn’t pass, she said, the cuts will be challenging.
Dowling noted that most of the ballot language for the referendum is mandated by the state, and she said some of it is misleading. The language uses the word “increase” numerous times. She said the proposed levy is a decrease over the current rate, but they’re not allowed to say that in the ballot language.
This is what voters will see on their ballots Nov. 7:
“Shall Hamilton Southeastern Schools continue to impose increased property taxes paid to the school corporation by homeowners and businesses for eight (8) years immediately following the holding of the referendum for the purpose of funding aca-
demic and educationally related programs, maintaining class sizes, retaining and attracting of teachers, essential safety initiatives, and changing the previously approved maximum referendum tax rate from $0.2275 to $0.1995? The property tax increase requested in this referendum was originally approved by the voters in May, 2016 and if extended will increase the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence within the school corporation by 20.8 percent and if extended will increase the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a business property within the school corporation by 20.8 percent.”
During public comment, 11 people spoke, all in favor of the referendum.
Among them was Carolyn Porzuczek of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association. She said teachers leave other districts in favor of jobs with HSE Schools because the district is one of the best in the state.
“This is an amazing opportunity for the community,” she said. “We need to pass this to maintain our mission, to maintain academic excellence and continue to thrive. We have to move forward together.”
When introducing the city council resolution, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said residents are proud to be part of the Fishers community, because they believe it’s a place where their children will have a brighter future.
“This issue, it’s about our community,” he said. “This community has chosen time and again to invest in ourselves. I’m certain that with your leadership, the return on investment will be worth the investment and sacrifice.”
The school board vote approving the resolution passed 6-0 with Board Secretary Tiffany Pascoe abstaining. Pascoe did not respond by deadline to a message seeking comment about her decision to abstain.
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
“I hope my shoulders haven’t been too distracting for you today,” she said. “I think our wording on dress code now is fine.”
Thomas said Parks-Reese’s shirt was not a spaghetti-strap style, which is what Thomas objects to.
A work session July 12 focused on updates to the Hamilton Southeastern Schools student handbooks, including a discussion about dress codes.
The HSE Board of Trustees took no action during the work session but gave direction and provided feedback to staff. The usual process for amending handbooks would mean any changes would have to wait for the 2024-25 school year, but some board members expressed interest in implementing the changes earlier. The issue will come before the board during its July 26 meeting.
The liveliest discussion focused on language related to student clothing. Board member Suzanne Thomas was the most vocal, stating that she wants stronger language prohibiting certain styles.
“I don’t think the skin should be showing at all,” she said. “Nothing see-through. We have to make sure our kids are not wearing inappropriate clothing that’s see-through. If you’re going to wear skirts or dresses, (you have to make sure) that you’re covered. Shirts should have sleeves with no midriffs or bellybutton exposed. There should be no plunging necklines, excessive back exposure or visible undergarments.”
Thomas referred to a dress code from another school district that talked about the correlation between proper dress and good conduct. It notes that the major responsibility rests in the home, but that the school has an interest in maintaining a proper learning environment, and that school is not the place for “extreme” fashion choices that “violate cultural standards for modesty.”
Board member Juanita Albright said school is a student’s job, and they need to dress appropriately for that job, in preparation for their future careers.
HSE Chief Equity Officer Nataki Pettigrew cautioned the board about inserting language that can be seen as shaming toward female students.
“This comes across as misogynistic and targeted against girls,” she said.
Board member Sarah Parks-Reese, who was wearing a sleeveless shirt, disagreed with adding the language that Thomas proposed.
The existing handbook already does not allow spaghetti-strap tops for high school students.
By the end of the discussion about dress code, the board in general supported adding language that prohibited hats and hooded sweatshirts with the hood worn up, unless a teacher allows that in their class or a student with special needs is granted an exemption.
The board also talked about reinstating lunch time visits by parents, a practice that was halted during COVID-19. School district officials said they would prefer to not bring it back. They cited added staff time and responsibilities, and the capacity to accommodate parents who show up for lunch.
Board members, however, generally preferred allowing lunchtime visits. Board member Ben Orr said the district could limit the numbers and require parents to sign up ahead of time on a first-come, first-served basis, to limit capacity issues.
“Make it safe, make it efficient and everyone must fall under the code of conduct,” he said, adding that he believes it’s a good way to engage parents.
The July 12 work session started at 7:30 a.m. that day and lasted about two hours. It was the first of three school board meetings that day, with a special meeting set for 5:30 p.m., and a regular meeting that began around 7:30 p.m., lasting through 10:30 p.m.
During the regular meeting, several people spoke during public comment about the handbook work session. Mack Lapp, a recent Fishers High School graduate, cited a federal study that he said shows 90 percent of dress code rules target female students.
“This reinforces the idea that girls are responsible for the actions of others,” he said. “The focus of this conversation should be about respect, but it’s focusing on how girls should be covered up.”
Other speakers also expressed concern about the dress code discussion, and about the board potentially implementing changes sooner than called for in the established process.
July 27-29 6pm-11pm
THURSDAY – The Toons • FRIDAY – Country Summer • SATURDAY – Tastes Like Chicken
Live Music - Rides - Children’s Games - Beer Tent - Great Food RIDE NIGHT THURSDAY ($25 to ride all night)
Bingo - Casino (Friday & Saturday)
Fireworks (Friday & Saturday, weather permitting) IN Gaming License 002432
St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church
10655 Haverstick Road
Carmel, IN 46033
www.setoncarmel.org
Learn more about the inclusion of the Riley Children’s Health pediatric emergency department at our community feedback meetings.
Indiana University Health is investing $300 million to complete an expansion of IU Health Saxony Hospital—soon to be IU Health Fishers. As part of this expansion, Riley Children’s Health will have a dedicated pediatric emergency department.
Work is underway and will be complete by December 2025. Feedback meetings open to the public will be held on
Thursday, August 10
3 – 4 pm
IU Health Saxony Hospital
13100 E. 136th St., Fishers
Community Room A
Please enter through Door 4
Thursday, August 10
6 – 7 pm
IU Health Saxony Hospital
13100 E. 136th St., Fishers
Community Room A
Please enter through Door 4
These meetings will provide an opportunity for the IU Health project team to share information about the project and for the public to ask questions. iuhealth.org
The Geist 5K and Half Marathon is back and more exciting than ever! This year's races are walker and family-friendly, feature scenic courses across Geist Reservoir, and a new 5K course through the Geist Waterfront Park. Plus, VIP registration, a post-race party, finisher medals, and new race t-shirts. Secure your spot at the starting line today!
The City of Fishers’ list of candidates running for office in the Nov. 7 general election remains unchanged following the deadline for write-in candidates, or candidates nominated by their party.
The deadline for a state chairman of a political party to nominate a candidate by petition or for an individual to declare an intent to be a write-in candidate was noon July 3, according to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office. Nobody filed for any of the open elected positions for the City of Fishers, according to the final list provided by the Hamilton County Clerk’s office.
That means some candidates will remain unopposed in the fall election. Those guaranteed to win their bids are incumbent Republican Mayor Scott Fadness, who will continue as the only mayor Fishers has ever had; Republican District SE Councilor Pete Peterson; and Republican City Court Judge Daniel Henke.
The final list of Fishers candidates is:
• Fishers Mayor: Scott Fadness (R)
• Fishers Clerk: Jennifer L. Kehl (R); Janet Pritchett (D)
• Fishers Judge City Court: Daniel E. Henke (R)
• Fishers City Council District SE: Pete Peterson (R)
• Fishers City Council District NW: Selina Stoller (R); Bill McLellan (D)
• Fishers City Council District NC: John P. DeLucia (R); Crystal Neumann (D)
• Fishers City Council District SC: John W. Weingardt (R); Lane Skeeters (D)
• Fishers City Council District SW: David Giffel (R); Bill Stuart (D)
• Fishers City Council District NE: Brad DeReamer (R); Samantha R. Chapman (D)
• Fishers City Council At-Large (vote for 3): Cecilia Coble (R); Tiffanie Ditlevson (R); Todd Zimmerman (R); Howard Stevenson (D); Jocelyn Vare (D)
Incumbents seeking reelection for the next four years are Fadness, Kehl, Henke, Peterson, Stoller, Neumann, Weingardt, Giffel, DeReamer, Vare, Zimmerman and Coble.
Bridget Rogers sent us this snapshot taken when she and her daughter, Elle, visited the Fishers Famers Market July 8. Their 3-year-old Rottweiler, Diana, got to meet little Luna, a King Charles Spaniel puppy. The Fishers Farmers Market is from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through September at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. (Photo courtesy of Bridget Rogers)
The Fishers Arts Council hosted a reception July 14 at its Hub Gallery, 11810 Technology Dr., for the “All Our Best” exhibit, featuring the work of Hamilton County Artists Association artists.
Les Reinhardt, executive director at FAC, said the council puts together art exhibits each month. For July, it hosted Hamilton County Artists Association members because of the organizations’ longstanding cooperative relationship.
“They’ve been around for 73 years,” Reinhardt said. “This one’s special to us because they keep coming back year after year.”
The exhibit featured artists throughout Hamilton County in mediums ranging from oils and collages to wool and mixed media.
Sue Payne is a Fishers resident and a textile specialist who’s been sewing for 50 years. She’s a former FAC president and works at Conner Prairie.
Payne said weaving comes naturally to her and it makes her feel centered. At the exhibit, she showed a handcrafted quilt she called “Indiana Sunset.”
“I took my time, but every piece was laid out until I found the balance that I wanted,”
Payne said.
Tresa Steenberg of Noblesville enjoys working with acrylic when creating collages. She’s been making collages for seven years and has been participating in monthly shows for HCAA for close to four years.
For the FAC exhibit, she showed her piece, “In the Midst,” a contemporary-styled collage she created using layering. A collage of material such as crosswords, pictures and newspapers are laid on top of a painting in a way that allows the painting to show through.
The “All Our Best” exhibit is on display at the Hub Gallery through July 28. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FISHERS
Project: Florida Road
Location:
Beginning on July 20, Florida Road is closed for 30 days to realign the S-curve. Local traffic only will be allowed between 113th Street and Southeastern Parkway.
Expected completion: Aug. 19
Project: 106th Street and Cumberland Road
Location: Eastbound 106th Street will be closed, just east of Cumberland Road for utility work. The detour route will use Cumberland Road to 116th Street to Hoosier Road or Cumberland Road to 96th Street to Mollenkopf Road.
Expected completion: Aug. 15
Project: 146th and Allisonville Interchange
Location: Phase 2A traffic restrictions are in place, which eliminate left turns from 146th Street onto Allisonville Road and reopen to two through lanes on eastbound and westbound 146th Street. Sowers Drive, Wellington Court and Kensington Drive will be closed at 146th Street during this phase. Increased utility relocation activity is expected along Allisonville Road south of 146th Street. Flaggers will be present when lane or shoulder restrictions are necessary. Construction crews will be working to complete the connection of Sowers Drive to Allisonville Road. Saville Road will be closed at 146th Street for construction crews to construct the new frontage road and Saville Road access at 146th Street. The worksite speed limit will be 35 mph.
Expected completion: The entire project is set for completion in summer 2025
Project: 106th Street and Allisonville Road
Location: A sanitary sewer project is taking place at Metro Airport at 106th Street and Allisonville Road. There are times where lane restrictions may be in place on Allisonville Road.
Expected completion: TBD
Project: 2023 resurfacing
Location: ADA ramp and curb reconstruction will begin taking place in the Bristols as part of the 2023 Resurfacing Project. 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: The entire project should be done by the end of summer
news@currentinfishers.com
OneZone Chamber and Northern Hamilton County Chamber announced that Fred Payne, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana, will be the upcoming “On the Menu: Do Something About it Lunch & Learn Series” presenter.
EVENTS
The “On the Menu” event is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 2 at LaunchFishers, 12175 Visionary Way, in Fishers.
United Way of Central Indiana is a social impact organization dedicated to advocating for the education, financial stability, health and basic needs of people in the community.
According to the OneZone announcement, Payne is considered an expert on workforce and employment topics and is frequently asked to speak in many venues. Payne was recently awarded the Sagamore of The Wabash, the highest honor given by a sitting governor to those who have rendered distinguished service to the state.
“On the Menu” attendees will hear from Payne as he shares insights into new data, what it means for Hamilton County and, most importantly, the collaborative community approach needed to accelerate financial stability for individual households.
Registration to attend the lunch is required by noon July 25. Admission is $28 for chamber members and $40 for nonmembers. Reservations can be made at onezonechamber.com or by calling 317-436-4653.
Website connects residents to resources – The Hamilton County Community Foundation, Duke Energy, the Hamilton County Trustees Association and Good Samaritan Network have partnered to launch Help4HamiltonCounty.org to provide residents with a one-stop resource for support services. The new resource offers connection in the areas of aging and seniors, food assistance, medical and mental health, youth and families, housing and education and employment.
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 Nickel Plate District Amphitheater free Tuesday concert series wraps up on Aug. 1 with a performance by Dude! The band originally was scheduled to perform June 13, but had to reschedule. The free concert starts at 8 p.m. Also scheduled to perform in August is Niko Moon, with special guests Brooke Lee and Christine Kindred. Gates open at 7 p.m. for the Aug. 11 concert, which costs $20 for general admission lawn seating. Children 2 and younger are admitted free. For more, visit npdamp.com.
The August StoryWalk book is “Hello, Little One,” by Zeena M. Piska. The monthly event is a partnership between Fishers Parks and Hamilton East Public Library. Parents and their young children can take a self-guided reading walk on their own time with a featured book. Book locations vary each month. In August, the book takes readers on a walk through Ritchey Woods. A special storytime and craft also is available, set for 10 a.m. Aug. 2 at the Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve.
There’s just one month left for the Saxony Farmers market. The Fishers Saxony Market at 13578 E. 131st St. runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday through the end of August. There’s a little more time for the main farmers market in Fishers, however. The Nickel Plate District Amphitheater market runs weekly from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday through September.
The following Fishers government meetings are scheduled during the month of August:
• Aug. 8 Board of Public Works & Safety, 9 a.m. at City Court, 3 Municipal Dr.
• Aug. 8 Fishers Armed Services Commission, 4 p.m. at the Pavilion at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater
• Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. Aug. 9 in the board room of HSE Central Office, 13485 Cumberland Rd.
• Aug. 21 City Council, 7 p.m. at LaunchFishers auditorium, 12175 Visionary Way
• Aug. 22 Board of Public Works & Safety, 9 a.m. at City Court, 3 Municipal Dr.
• Aug. 23 Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals, 6 p.m. at a location to be determined.
By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com
A Hamilton County nonprofit and Westfield Washington Schools are among the recipients that received grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation that will be used to help families impacted by food insecurity.
Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, which is based in Fishers, received $10,000, while Westfield Washington Schools received $15,000 in grant funds, according to the Duke Energy Foundation. The $200,000 in grant funding, which was awarded to 25 nonprofits and organizations across the state, will be used to support the purchase of canned goods, fresh produce and essential supplies to address food insecurity across the company’s Indiana service territory, officials said.
“Too many Hoosiers struggle with economic instability and food insecurity,” stated Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “When people don’t have enough
food to meet their needs or are uncertain of where their next meal might come from, it weighs heavily on families and communities. We hope to curb the number of Indiana families experiencing hunger and support local organizations extending a helping hand to their neighbors in need.”
Nancy Chance, executive director of Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, said in an earlier interview that the organization had seen an overwhelming demand for services last year. Among the services it provides includes assistance for energy, food, clothing and rent.
“All of our (food) pantries and agencies are getting a lot of requests for resources,” she said. “It’s been tough all the way around.”
She added that 2022 was worse in comparison to 2020 and 2021 due to a lack of grant money available to cover certain programs such as rent and utilities other than the Energy Assistance Program, noting that she has tried to stretch her agency’s dollars as much as possible.
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Well before the Human Library event started July 15, about a dozen people had lined up in the hall outside the event space at Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers, eager to read a new book.
Titles available for checkout included “Abortion,” “Buddhist,” “Neuro-Diverse” and “Transgender.” These books aren’t made of bound paper pages, though. These books are humans — real people with real experiences and personal stories that they were willing to share through 30-minute, 1-on-1 conversations with their readers.
The goal of Human Library events is to break down negative stereotypes and help people better understand other points of view by simply talking with someone they might not otherwise have an opportunity to meet.
Rachel Replogle was one of the “books” available for checkout during the Fishers library event. Her book title is “Ex-vangelical.” Her conversations with readers are confidential, but following the discussion, she agreed to a quick interview and for Current to use her full name.
Replogle said she was a brand-new book and decided to volunteer for the program because she believes a lot of what’s missing from conversations is nuance and the willingness to listen.
“There’s a lot of polarization that’s happening — echo chambers and social media,” she said. “And so, I think it makes having conversations with people who are different from you very difficult. Learning how to listen I think is a skill that we could all benefit from, and learning how to convey information in a way that’s not triggering or overwhelming, or info-dumping is also a skill. And also learning how to listen in a way that is affirming of other people, I think is a super important skill set for people to have right now. And I think events like this are doing a great job of cultivating those environments.”
Replogle, 25, said she was raised in an extremely religious Christian home. Her parents worked as missionaries on college campuses, she said, and their home life was wrapped up in strict interpretations of faith.
“Over the course of reading different theologians, actually, and slowly becoming more progressive within the Christian faith, I eventually reached a point where I felt that I no longer believed the core pieces of the faith that made it what it was,” Replogle said. “And that led me to leaving the faith — as well as being a queer person. It’s very difficult to find a Christian community as a queer person.”
She said it was difficult to leave the life she’d been raised in, but she was able to find a support network outside of the Christian faith.
“I have found community and emotional depth that I’ve never known before,” she said, “And I felt more comfort-
able and more confident in who I am since then, and I’ve never loved as deeply both of myself or another person as I have since making that life-altering decision.”
Paul Labbe of Noblesville was a reader during the event. He checked out a human book about international adoption. He had wanted to read a human book about immigration, but none were available that day,
“But I thought, ‘Well, let’s talk about international adoption and all the issues dealing with bringing kids back to the (United) States,’” he said, adding that he learned a lot from the reading. “It was fantastic. The book, she was very open. It was a great book. It was just fabulous.”
Labbe said the half-hour time limit wasn’t enough, and they could have talked for at least 20 more minutes. He considered checking out another book, but the line of readers was pretty long, and he didn’t have time to wait. But Labbe said he would attend another Human Library if it returns.
The Human Library is an international organization that was founded in 2000, with headquarters in Denmark. According to its website, humanlibrary.org, it operates on six continents and hosts activities in more than 80 countries.
According to the Human Library website, humanlibrary.org, a book is a volunteer who represents a stigmatized group in a community and can answer questions to help challenge stereotypes and promote understanding.
Those interested in volunteering can fill in an online application form, and then will be interviewed. If the volunteer seems like a good fit, they will be trained and then can start attending events.
Volunteers are not paid, but according to the website, they are compensated in other ways,
“You get to meet and learn about people that will inspire you and lift you and give your network new life,” the website states. “Perhaps make new friends and for sure you will gain insight into what others think, believe and dream of. You will become rich on humanity and you may gain a greater understanding of yourself also. Part of the rewards in this work is realizing that the only thing that is not reduced when shared is knowledge.”
To start the process for becoming a human book, visit humanlibrary.org/meet-our-human-books/ get-published.
a highly skilled orthopedics team
of pre-surgery coordinators orthopedic surgeons
nurses
post-surger y coordinators
physical therapists and rehab specialists
WORKING TOGETHER TO GET YOU BACK TO FEELING YOUR BEST.
Monday, August 21 | 6 pm
IU Health Saxony Hospital Medical Of ce
Building | 13100 E. 136th Street in Fishers
Free to attend but registration is required. Register at iuhealth.org/joints or scan the code.
Leonard Buller, MD
Community Hospital North recently hosted a reunion party at Conner Prairie for children who had been patients in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. The annual NICU reunion gives families and caregivers a chance to reconnect, according to the hospital. When babies are born early, have health problems or a difficult birth, they are cared for in the NICU, the hospital stated. This experience often creates a special bond between parents and caregivers who offer support in the baby’s first days, weeks and sometimes months of life. The NICU reunion allows caregivers to see how their once-tiny patients are growing and thriving, and parents have a chance to update caregivers and to show their appreciation. The NICU reunion was the ninth annual for Community Hospital North NICU. (Photo courtesy of Community Hospital North)
“The Carmel FOP Lodge 185 is once again proud to announce the endorsement of Mayoral candidate Sue Finkam in the upcoming general election. Sue demonstrated her tenacity and drive for success in the primary election. She won a hard-fought campaign through prioritizing public safety, transparency, and listening to what Carmel residents want from their next Mayor. While working alongside Sue during this campaign, we have heard from numerous residents that crime prevention is their top priority.
Our city is constantly targeted by those who want to take what we have built. In the past year we have seen a 27% rise in thefts, 22% rise in motor vehicle thefts, and 20% rise in burglaries. We must stand strong to keep our community safe and protect our quality of life. The Carmel FOP remains steadfast that this community deserves nothing less than the finest police officers in the nation, through recruitment and retention. Sue Finkam understands the need for a stronger police force now more than ever, so that we continue to remain one of the safest cities in America. Please join us in voting for Sue Finkam as your next Mayor of Carmel on November 7, 2023.”
Elder law is a specialized legal practice area that focuses on the unique legal needs of older adults. Here are some interesting statistics and points highlighting the importance of elder law:
The population of older adults is growing rapidly. According to the United States Census Bureau, the number of Americans 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060. This demographic shift underscores the increasing need for legal services tailored to the elderly population.
Estate planning is a crucial aspect of elder law. However, a significant number of Americans, including older adults, do not have essential estate planning documents in place. Elder law attorneys play a vital role in guiding individuals through the estate planning process, ensuring their wishes are documented and their assets are protected.
Long-term care is a significant concern for older adults and their families. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 70 percent of individuals aged 65 and older will require long-term care services at some point in their lives. Elder-law attorneys assist with planning for long-term care needs, including navigating Medicaid eligibility, setting up trusts, and developing asset protection strategies.
Older adults are vulnerable to financial exploitation and abuse. According to a study by the National Council on Aging, financial abuse costs older Americans $2.9 billion annually. Elder law attorneys play a critical role in preventing and addressing financial exploitation by establishing safeguards, advocating for their clients’ rights, and pursuing legal remedies when abuse occurs.
Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings are essential tools for protecting the rights and well-being of incapacitated older adults. Elder law attorneys assist families in initiating guardianship or conservatorship proceedings when necessary, ensuring that vulnerable individuals have responsible and trustworthy individuals appointed to make decisions on their behalf.
Advanced health care directives, including living wills and health care proxies, enable individuals to express their health care wishes and designate someone to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so. Elder law attorneys assist older adults in creating these important documents, ensuring that their healthcare preferences are respected and that they receive appropriate medical care.
Elder law attorneys play a crucial role in advocating for the rights and protection of older adults. They work to address legal issues specific to older individuals, such as elder abuse, age discrimination, access to healthcare, and social security benefits. Some firms, including Applegate & Dillman Elder Law, offer life care planning services, including Elder Care coordinators who assist older adults navigate the aging world.
Elder law encompasses various legal areas, and its importance lies in addressing the unique legal challenges faced by older adults, protecting their rights, and ensuring their well-being and dignity in the later stages of life.
Lisa Dillman is an attorney at Applegate & Dillman Elder Law. The firm has offices in Indianapolis, Carmel and Zionsville. Find out more at applegate-dillman.com.
Is walking regularly enough exercise?
As an ACSM-certified personal trainer working with older adults at Motion 4 Life Fitness, I often hear these three frustrations:
• “I walk regularly, why isn’t that enough exercise?”
• “I’ve been walking for exercise, but I still struggle when climbing stairs, carrying groceries and getting up from a chair.”
• “I’m worried about my balance.”
So, why is it important to add strength training to your walking routine? Although walking will help with cardiovascular health and help maintain endurance, muscular strength, power and flexibility have a tremendous impact on your ability to enjoy life to the fullest. For example, climbing stairs requires muscular strength and power, which also can improve your golf or pickleball game. Everyday activities like gardening, biking and even walking become easier when you have a well-rounded
Take a moment to reflect on the last time you were with your grandkids. Were you able to get down on the ground and play with them – and get back up? Were you able to lift them for a hug? Were you able to play catch or kick a ball? As we age, our bodies change, and while we think we can still do what we did when we were younger, at times like these, we realize it often is not the case.
For many of us as we age, we plan to travel. Are you worried about that upcoming trip? Walking through busy airports and moving through new environments can be challenging. Carrying luggage requires strength and balance as we maneuver through airports and hotels.
I’ve had the joy of watching my older adult clients improve their balance, strength and mobility. They are often amazed at the difference in their lives. So, keep up your walking routine and try to add in a little strength conditioning and balance with the guidance of a trainer. You deserve to have an active and mobile lifestyle.
Katrina Archer is a certified personal trainer for Motion 4 Life Fitness in Carmel.
“Walking is a great, lowimpact way to improve cardiovascular health, but it is just one component of a wellrounded exercise program.”
RN, LPN, CNA Monday-Friday
Music, Art, Specializing in seniors Private pay, longterm
*Offer incentives are valid on or after July 1, 2023 on purchase agreements, not contingent on the sale of another home, accepted by affiliates of Epcon Communities, on a limited number of inventory homes in specified communities and are subject to change or withdrawal at any time without notice. To qualify for the incentive the purchase of the home must close on or before December 31, 2023. The incentives are available only for certain financing options and do not apply to all lenders and loans. Some conditions, limitations, and restrictions apply. Offer may vary locally. See your Sales Consultant for more details. Finance incentives are capped at no more than $20,000 based on participation in this offer, including financing through Go Mortgage, LLC, (NMLS 1018). May require at least 10% down. Rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice. The 4.99% interest rate (5.124 APR) incentive is based on qualification and financing with Go Mortgage, a conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage, sales price of $600,000, loan amount of $420,000 with a 30% down payment, and a 760 FICO score and payment of 1.13 points. Some buyers may not qualify for this loan or this rate. A Higher rate or a different loan scenario may apply based on credit score and applicant characteristics. Additional closing costs will apply. Rates fluctuate daily based on market conditions and may increase until the rate is locked. Ask for a Loan Estimate. Loans are subject to underwriting guidelines and lender approval. Go Mortgage, 4215 Worth Ave., Suite 320, Columbus OH 43219. Ohio Mortgage Residential Mortgage Lending Act Certificate of Registration Number MB.804284.000, Indiana Mortgage Lender No. 10882. Additional licensing information may be viewed at: https://gomortgage.com/licensing-information. Prospective buyers are free to shop for the best rate and terms and use any mortgage lender of Buyer’s choosing in the purchase of their Epcon home, subject to the terms of the buyer’s home purchase agreement with Epcon. The purchase price for the house
Summer 2023
Dementia is an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities to function. Symptoms include difficulty problem solving, communication, and decreased memory.
Which stage of dementia do falls happen the most?
Stage 6 is high risk for falls because of confusion, decreased physical coordination and disorientation, although, falls can happen at any stage of dementia.
Incidence of falls with dementia
Falls happen almost twice than that of cognitively intact individuals. Most falls occur at home, about 6 percent
happen in the bathroom, on the stairs, or in the bedroom. Problems with memory, poor judgement/insight, depression and inability to express their needs. Other problems include weakness, lack of exercise, decreased balance, decreased vision and depth perception.
What are the risk factors?
The fear of falling, medication side effects, depression, visual-depth perception and wearing the wrong type of shoes. There are many other intrinsic and external risk factors that play a part as well.
What are some consequences of falls?
Acceleration of the dementia process, decrease socialization because of fear of falling, loss of independence,
chronic pain and depression. Fractures can occur because of bones being more fragile, which can lead to surgery, and recovery time from healing can be increased. Limit distractions when walking, slower paced walk, ensure a clutter-free environment and the avoidance of overuse of narcotics. The use of contrasting colors, adequate lighting in a room, adaptive equipment such as rails, etc., can assist in the avoidance of falls. Regular exercise and an exercise program can potentially slow the progression of dementia.
I’m Darrell Blackburn, a licensed sales agent in Boone, Hamilton and Central Indiana. When it comes to Medicare, it’s important to consider all of your options. What works well for your neighbor may not be the best fit for you. I know the ins and outs of Medicare, and I’m ready to answer your questions and help you find a plan that fits your needs. Take advantage of my knowledge and experience to:
• Take the confusion out of Medicare
• Get help comparing plans
• Receive one-on-one service
• Make enrolling in a plan easier
I look forward to helping you explore your Medicare options so you can enroll in a plan with confidence. It’s
317-326-2332, TTY 711 bst3262332@gmail.com
www.MyUHCagent.com/darrell.blackburn
The summer months are a great time for grandparents to play outside with their grandkids. However, before participating in these activities, it is important to know potentially dangerous situations so you can avoid them. Here are some common child health concerns and tips to keep in mind this summer.
ASTHMA
Asthma is a condition in which the airways become narrowed, causing people to cough, wheeze and have difficulty breathing. Asthma is particularly relevant in the summer months because kids are typically more active, which can cause asthma flare ups. Common asthma irritants or triggers include cigarette smoke, pollen, dust, chemical fumes and even pet dander. After your grandchild encounters these triggers, they may start coughing and have trouble stopping. Asthma symptoms include experiencing shortness of breath, chest tightness, difficulties taking a deep breath, and whistling or squeaking when you breathe, commonly called wheezing. If your grandchild experiences one or more of these symptoms, let their physician know.
Three common heat-related illnesses are sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heat exhaustion is the body responding to losing an excessive amount of water and salt. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, elevated body temperature and decreased urine output. If you think a child is experiencing heat exhaustion, call 911, take off excess clothes, have them slowly drink water and give the child a cold compress on their head, face and neck.
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Signs of heat stroke include confusion, slurred speech, dry skin or profuse sweating, seizures or very high body temperature. You can help by calling 911 immediately, getting your grandchild cold by putting them in a cold bath or moving the child to a cool area. Finally, leaving children alone in the car during summer months is extremely dangerous. When left alone in the car for even a short period of time, children are at risk for injury, dehydration or even death.
Before getting into a pool this summer make sure your grandchild knows how to swim or at very least tread water. They should swim with adult supervision. More children ages one to four die of drowning than any other cause of death, according to the CDC. Make sure your grandchild is wearing some kind of flotation device when they are swimming as well.
When accidents, injuries or illnesses occur suddenly and unexpectedly, it can be hard to know the best place to seek medical care. Serious, complex or life-threatening medical emergencies always require evaluation and treatment in an emergency department. But for less severe, more common illnesses and conditions, neighborhood urgent care centers offer a variety of benefits, including lower costs, shorter wait times and less risk of exposure to ill patients. If you’re uncertain where to seek care, go to the nearest healthcare facility or arrange for emergency transportation for more serious situations. Be familiar with the healthcare services offered by your local urgent care center, and if it’s not an emergency, call the urgent care center to find out if they’re equipped to treat the situation.
While summer activities can be fun and lead to lasting memories, they can quickly go wrong without the proper preparation. IU Health North has a skilled Emergency department team, including Riley Children’s Health physicians and nurses, ready to care for patients of any age. If a serious injury does occur, call 911 or go to your local emergency department immediately.
ER
You can’t predict when kids will need emergency care. But you can always count on us to provide highly skilled, compassionate ER care for your kids anytime, day or night. We give you 24/7 access to current emergency room wait times when every minute counts. And your kids get the highest level of care to feel better. Soon.
To view emergency room wait times, scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit RileyChildrens.org/ERnorth
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Leslie Whitesell knows how important movement is to stay flexible.
“As we’re aging, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for people to keep moving,” she said.
Whitesell, a Carmel resident, opened Inala Movement Studio in Fishers in the summer of 2020.
She had lived in New York City for many years, working for two different studios. She then worked for a studio in Cincinnati before moving to the Indianapolis area.
Whitesell teaches the GYROTONIC Method, which is trademarked by the company.
“It’s a method of teaching movement to basically anybody,” Whitesell said. “It helps with mobility as well as strength. It’s a combination of things, so you’re not getting just strength training and you are not getting just flexibility. You are getting a lot of mobility, which is flexibility supported by strength, especially in the joints and spine, which, as we get older, in their 40s and 50s, people are starting to have their low back or hips hurting all the time. It allows you to keep the mobility and strength to go about your life with ease to deter many of the aches and pains that come with aging.”
Whitesell said the method helps improve posture.
When she teaches private lessons. Weights and tension resistance are involved.
“You are working with weight-bearing exercise as well, which is good as you age for your bones,” Whitesell said. “All of that is combined with work with breathing, which is important for the nervous system and your sense of well-being.”
Whitesell said some people don’t know how to breathe properly. She said improper breathing contributes to not feeling good.
“The equipment is unique to this work,” she said. “You want to be able to work in the full range of motion in the joints.”
Whitesell said group classes are conducted on a stool.
“It’s seated and standing work and sometimes on the floor, but there is no special equipment,” she said. “It’s sort of like a yoga class, but it’s not yoga.”
Whitesell works with a range of clients, including professional dancers in their 20s.
“I have people all the way up to their 70s,” she said. “They choose what they are most comfortable with.”
Continued on Page 11
Continued from Page 10
She has been teaching the method for more than 10 years.
Whitesell, 47, previously was a competitive ballroom dancer.
“When I moved to Indianapolis, I was still competing and dancing and working at a ballroom studio and teaching GYROTONICS on the side,” she said. “In 2020, I decided I was done competing. I wanted to have my own studio where I can teach GYROTONICS and ballroom dancing.”
Indianapolis resident James Brown is a firm believer in the method.
Brown’s former job was golf course maintenance.
“I’ve done yoga five times a week for 24 years because my job was so physically demanding,” Brown said. “I did yoga to alleviate back pain. I did it as a maintenance to keep from being injured. I didn’t want to take muscle relaxers. Yoga worked great but I started doing this and it’s like yoga on steroids. I’m as strong as a cat. I wrestled in high school and I’m as strong now at almost 65. It makes you engage all your muscles.”
Brown said there are a lot of wavy movements.
“But once you figure it out, you are standing straight for the first time in your life,” Brown said. “When you are driving a car, you are looking 4 inches above the windshield, so it’s like a weird body reformation.”
Brown said he takes two private lessons and two classes a week at Inala Movement Studio. He also does yoga one day a week and has taught yoga in the past.
“I feel like I’m 45 years old,” he said. “I’ve built six golf courses, so my body got beat up. I feel younger.”
When a session is over, he said he feels a natural high.
Brown learned about it through Miriam Resnick, who owned Mindful Movement Studio before it closed in 2019. She now gives private lessons.
Resnick, 65, said she loves Whitesell’s GRYROKENISIS classes.
“She is an excellent teacher,” the Carmel resident said. “She guides us through all the movements with beautiful imagery and important nuances to help everyone get the best experience. I always leave class a little taller and have a big smile on my face.”
Marquette is a not-for-pro t senior living community, giving you the life you want to live. With a wide variety of beautifully designed residential options and maintenance-free living, our community gives you the exibility and control over everything you do.
Spiritually connect with us at 4 p.m. daily for Mass in our beautiful chapel. Our community also offers various dining venues, a state-of-the-art aquatic center, and wellness programs for endless opportunities — and it’s all just steps from your front door.
Call (317)
Submitted by CarDon & Associates
Leah McManus never imagined she would find herself learning to walk again, especially while living in a senior community at the age of 34. Fortunately for her, rehab stays are available for all ages at Copper Trace, CarDon & Associates’ Westfield community. And that’s where she ended up taking her first steps while recovering from a horrific car accident.
In December 2022, McManus was on active duty as a military dietitian for the Navajo Nation in Arizona. While driving from the hospital there to a satellite clinic in a smaller community, she was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. The accident left her femur and pelvis broken, her knee fractured, her ankle shattered — and the left side of her body impaired after a stroke. The Copper Trace staff’s experience with older stroke patients proved to be vital during her recovery.
“It was just a weird time in my life,” McManus said. Last month, Copper Trace rolled out the red carpet for Leah’s “graduation” from rehab therapy. Her journey to that point was rocky yet rewarding.
While McManus was initially in intensive care in Arizona, her aunt and uncle visited and took care of her 3-year-old daughter. Given the fact that McManus had to be transferred to an acute rehab facility, her
relatives agreed to bring her daughter back home with them to Indianapolis. But McManus felt like she couldn’t fully recover without her daughter.
“I really needed to be near my daughter,” she said. “For mental health reasons and to heal. It was really hard being separated from her because we’re so close. She’s my only child, and I’m her only parent.”
Fortunately, the stars aligned for McManus to receive the rest of her therapy at Copper Trace. She took a military medical flight from Arizona to Indianapolis, where she made the most important milestones in her journey toward recovery.
“Mary was my favorite therapist at Copper Trace,” McManus said. “She really pushed my limits. She taught me how to use a cane, and she challenged me to climb my first flight of stairs — which was really scary, but she was wonderful. Learning to walk again was very exciting.”
Although fellow residents in the community were surprised to see someone so young among them, McManus appreciated the chance to socialize and engage in activities.
“It was great to get out of my room and get out of my head,” she said. “There were all sorts of fun things to do like arts and crafts, nail painting, bingo, games. That put me in a better mental state during recovery. And my daughter appreciated having things to do.”
While she looks forward to being back on duty, McManus is cherishing the time she has now at home with family. And she appreciates Copper Trace for making that possible.
At 94, Sycamore Reserve Senior Living resident Eleanor Best is still able to follow her passion.
“I’m still doing my machine embroidery,” she said. “I have a large machine here and I’ve been able to do quite complicated work. We’ve been making aprons for some of the residents. I amuse myself with the weaving and sewing.”
Best has lived at Sycamore Reserve since shortly after her husband, George, died at age 97 in September 2020. The couple, who were married for 68 years, previously lived nearby in Lawrence Township.
Best has written 15 books on weaving, which are available on Amazon. She switched to machine embroidering.
“I used to do workshops all over the country,” said Best, who was a member of the Indiana Weaving Guild. “I also belong to a sewing group that meets once a month. It originated 30 years ago and there are still a few of us left.”
Best said she is very active working on the computer.
“My husband made programs for me for weaving designs,” she said. “I
have three computers working.”
Best learned to weave while trying to get her daughter, Susan, interested in it while she was in school.
Best was born in Toronto and moved to Michigan before eventually moving to Indianapolis.
Best’s daughter, Susan Best, Indianapolis, died last year. She has two other children, Nancy, and Neil, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
“My children went to Lawrence Central and Lawrence North (high schools),” she said.
Best used to play tennis to stay active, playing on an adult tennis team. She skated and skied when she was younger.
“My husband and I traveled quite a lot,” she said. “We’ve been to Europe, the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland.”
Best likes the social aspect of Sycamore Reserve.
“We have some good chats,” she said.
Best gave up driving when she was 90.
“I just felt I was more of a menace than anyone else,” she said, laughing.
Commentary by Dr. David Sullivan
Do you experience painful cramps in your feet or legs?
Muscle cramps of the feet and legs are most often felt in the arch of the foot and the calf of the leg but may include the toes. Here are some common reasons for foot and leg cramps:
Exercise and dehydration
Intense physical activity can make your muscles contract, resulting in a cramp in your foot or leg. Insufficient fluid and electrolytes in your body can lead to muscle spasms and cramps, especially when exercising. Too much caffeine can also lead to dehydration and cause cramps. To prevent dehydration, try to drink 64 ounces of water daily.
Shoes and hard surfaces
Pointy-toed shoes, high heels or shoes without proper support can induce fatigue and cramping in the foot muscles. Hard surfaces can intensify the problem. Restrictive footwear impedes blood flow and oxygen.
Nerve disease, including peripheral neuropathy, can cause foot or leg cramps. With neuropathy, the nerves don’t send proper messages from the muscles to the brain, causing the muscles to fire or cramp at the wrong time.
Leg cramps are a classic symptom of peripheral arterial disease. With PAD, the arteries narrow, and the legs and feet don’t get enough oxygen to support activity. Leg cramps show up when walking or exercising, and the
Continued on Page 14
bottom, back behind the toes. It was miserable to go to work. Since being treated by Dr. Sullivan, I feel so much better, and I am more energetic since I am not in pain anymore.”
By Jeff Decker editorial@youarecurrent.com
An adult day center in the Castleton-area offers its 55-and-older guests life-enriching activities, faith-based routines, individual-focused care … and smiles.
According to Diana Keely, executive director of Still Waters Adult Day Center, 7160 Shadeland Station Way on the campus of Castleton United Methodist Church, smiles and laughter are contagious at the center.
“The guests uplift one another and support each other even on a tough day,” Keely said. “I love watching two ladies walking down the hallway to lunch together holding hands; the one man redirecting the other man that is having a difficult day; the guest that begins crying while petting the therapy dogs, remembering the dogs she had in her past.”
Still Waters opened in 2011 and is one of two adult day centers in Indianapolis focusing exclusively on seniors, according to Keely. The center has 32 registered guests that visit two to five times a week. Still Waters has a 1-to-4 staff-to-guests ratio, with an RN and LPN on staff and all direct caregivers CNAs.
Guests can participate in activities that promote physical, sensory, cognitive, social and spiritual health. Still Waters has received grants from the Central Indiana Community Foundation to provide art, music and expressive therapists weekly, Keely said. A grant from the AARP helped the center create a community garden, and
guests have enjoyed watching it grow, she said. Church volunteers and members of community organizations visit regularly to provide programming.
Many guests come from faith-based backgrounds, and the center opens with a daily devotional and a blessing before lunch. One guest is an ordained minister and leads a brief monthly church service. Guests also can attend a monthly service in the Prayer Chapel.
“Many of our guests are not physically or mentally capable of the activities that used to be such an important part of their lives,” Keely said. “However limited they are, their faith and Christian upbringing are still a very important part of who they are today, and we make every effort to respect and support them right where they are, both mentally and physically.”
For more, visit stillwatersadc.org or call 317-284-0837.
sive alcohol consumption.
Diagnosing foot and leg cramps
cramps improve when at rest. PAD is a serious medical condition and it’s crucial to be seen immediately.
Medications
Some of the most common medications include diuretics, statins and medications to lower blood pressure.
Diet
Diets low in potassium, calcium or magnesium, or deficiencies in vitamin B12 and vitamin D can cause foot and leg cramps. Another reason is exces-
If your foot or leg cramps don’t improve, you should schedule an immediate appointment with our office. Once we see you, we can diagnose the cause of your cramps and get you on the path to feeling better!
“I was on my feet all of the time cleaning and they were bothering me on theJaney Cox, cleaning business owner & ball of foot pain patient Lelola Thomas, left, and Shirley Green, both of Indianapolis, enjoy Still Waters’ New Year’s party. (Photo courtesy of Diana Keely) A board-certified foot surgeon and wound specialist, Dr. David Sullivan is the owner of Westfield Foot and Ankle, LLC. Contact him at drs@ westfieldfoot.com.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Elizabeth Lee has the perfect outlet for some daddy-daughter time.
Lee, a 31-year-old Carmel resident, and her father perform and write music together under the name Elizabeth Lee
Lee’s group includes her father Bobby Pugh, a 62-year-old Sheridan resident, and Jason McKay, a Noblesville resident who turns 64 in August.
“I think that’s the main thing for me is just being able to be together with your kid,” Pugh said. “I mean, I don’t know if I’d want to go out and play somewhere with my parents when I was a kid. So, I feel very blessed that she wants me to deal with her. No knock on my parents, it’s just a different generation.”
Lee said it’s just as fun for her as well.
“He has amazing harmonies,” she said. “I don’t think I would be gigging if it weren’t for him because I was too shy.”
The one drawback for Lee is Pugh and McKay have their dad jokes.
“I have to keep my eye on them so that they don’t do anything embarrassing in the show,” Lee said.
Lee performs on vocals and guitar. Pugh sings and plays guitar and sometimes plays keyboards. McKay plays bass guitar.
“Jason started out as a classical guitar player, so you can see that in his bass,” Lee said. “He’s awesome,”
McKay has played a few shows and performed on the recording of the single “Regal” that was released earlier this month.
“This is the first original song we’ve released in five years,” Lee said.
Lee and her father have an album out with 11 original songs called “Flyin’… Bye”.
“We’re both good at writing half songs, so we need each other,” Pugh said.
Lee said her mother, Cari, is a band mom, supporting their efforts.
Pugh said Lee started taking guitar lessons at age 9.
“My son started taking piano lessons and he would never practice,” Pugh said. “She said, ‘I didn’t want to disappoint you,’ so she kept practicing. She said she kind of liked it, so he never did play piano but she stuck with the guitar.”
Pugh said he loved to listen to his
daughter play classical music.
“Then one day she graduated from high school and went to college, (and) I thought, ‘It’s so quiet around here,’” Pugh said.
The father and daughter started playing together about six years ago.
“I wanted to major in music in college, but I got scared,” Lee said. “I had a mutual fund job, and it just crushed my soul, even though it was a great company.”
So, she got back into music five years ago. She did it part-time until this year when she went to full time.
“I talked her into working with my window cleaning business for a while and that crushed her spirit, too,” said Pugh, who retired earlier this year.
The group has been playing throughout the Indianapolis area, including wineries, restaurants and festivals.
“We’re fairly chill for the bar scene,” Lee said.
Lee said she describes their style as singer-songwriter or folk pop.
“We do covers from the 1960s on to now,” she said. “We do Jim Croce, The Beatles. I have to teach them some newer stuff, so we do some Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.
McKay has been playing bass for
about 30 years.
“Mainly I played praise and worship through church,” said McKay, a Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate.
McKay and Pugh played in a shortlived band several years ago. Pugh contacted McKay, who is retired, a few months ago to see if he wanted to play bass.
McKay said he was thinking about going into a different direction other than music before Pugh called.
“We gave him some direction,” Pugh said.
Lee said McKay is a fast learner.
“We joke that he knows some of our songs better than (we do) now,” she said.
The group’s music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon music.
One of the group’s songs, “Quicksand,” was used in a 2023 Lifetime movie called “Sabotaging the Squad.”
Lee said she hopes to have the group’s other original songs used in movies or TV shows.
For more, visit elizabethleeband.com.
With everything in the human-created social order, our mores shift and flex with fad and fashion like reeds in the wind. When 100 years ago most men owned a single suit and wore it daily, today many have closets full of clothing and almost never, if ever, wear a suit. In between, blue-collar or agrarian men sported what was colloquially coined the “marrying-and-burying” suit. It would be procured on the occasion of one’s wedding and maintained throughout the years to serve its final purpose in attiring its owner in the coffin. It might be called into use for the odd special occasion or Easter Sunday, but mostly, it was reserved for those times of deepest respect, like seeing a banker or flying on an airplane.
standard uniform, now we communicate our opinions directly on an often graphic, graphic Y-shirt. Today, standing in the taxi or ride-sharing service line anywhere, one is more likely to encounter folks attired for hiking than for appearing in public. Americans are now significantly more likely be overweight than at the turn of previous century, and it is easy to quip that we look like our last hike was from our table to the buffet. But as our culture dictates screen time over fun time, how do we resist? Even so, who gets to wear the costume of fitness? Are gym clothes reserved for the gym? Does one have to have muscles to wear a muscle shirt, practice yoga to wear the pants, or labor to wear Carhartt’s? Who gets to don the uniform? All of us, or only those deemed worthy?
The passing years have led to far greater access for all of us. What may have been once-in-a-lifetime has become significantly more commonplace. When humans, especially men, once sought to conform with a
Commentary by Danielle Wilson
Remember the Life Alert commercial with the elderly woman who cries, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up”? Friends, that was me the other day. Read on for a tale of AI salvation during a muscle mutiny.
I was paying absolutely no attention to engaging my core or quads when I went to lift our newly arrived meal prep delivery. An instant twinge in my lower back had me dropping the box and gingerly tiptoeing to the kitchen for drugs. But when I reached for the Aleve, I felt the muscles give way in a spasm of pain. I managed to snag the bottle before collapsing onto all fours, where even the slightest attempt to move had me groaning in agony.
Luckily, I’m excellent in a crisis. I quickly assessed my situation and determined I was pathetically incapacitated. “Hey, Siri!” I shouted at my phone. “Text Doo Wilson!” My husband Doo was purportedly in the basement. “Come upstairs now! Need help!” No response; new plan. “Hey, Siri! Call Doo Wilson on speaker!”
Doo, sounding irritated, “Yes?”
Me, trying to keep it light, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up.”
Doo, not bothering to hide his amusement, “Hold tight. Be right there.”
And so, after multiple pills, a Salonpas patch and 40 minutes in modified child’s pose, I was mostly fine. I walked hunched over for the rest of the day and had to wave off one very concerned father-in-law who’d accidentally received my first text, but otherwise, no worse for wear.
Bottom line, dear readers? Siri is the new Life Alert, especially when you’re a middle-aged woman who’s fallen and can’t get up.
Peace out.
ESKENAZI HEALTH IS GRATEFUL TO FOR THEIR GENEROUS GIFT
Thank you to IndyGo for the donation of a 40-foot-bus, which has been transformed into the Eskenazi Health Fresh for You Market on Wheels – a one-of-a-kind mobile grocery store/food pantry hybrid.
Danielle Wilson is a contributing columnist. You may email her at info@youarecurrent.com.
eskenazihealth.edu
“Luckily, I’m excellent in a crisis. I quickly assessed my situation and determined I was pathetically incapacitated.”
– DANIELLE WILSON
Saturday, August 12, 2023 | Four Day Ray, Fishers Register at WoofstockRocks.com or scan below!
Race in-person or virtually
Fundraise for PAWsome prizes
Leashed & in-stroller dogs welcome
Shirt, medal and swag for all participants
Proceeds benefit HSHC's Survivor Program and h d d f i l i d
DECLAN 2022 Top Fundraiser
Last week, I shared with you some of the most common inquiries I have received from readers about the writing of humor. Here are a few more: Are there taboo subjects in humor?
A comic named Tig Notaro learned the day before a performance that she had breast cancer. She then created a monologue for her next stand-up about receiving the bad news. Was that an appropriate topic for comedy? Yes! Keep in mind it was her own diagnosis she was joking about. That gave her some leeway. As Tig has reported, it was those people with cancer who enjoyed her riff the most.
Jon Stewart said the key to writing about sensitive topics is to make fun of the smoke, not the fire. Example: Stewart did a show satirizing the way reporters covered Michael Jackson’s death. Not the fact the legend died, but how it was handled in the press. Mel Brooks skewered Hitler, not the Holocaust.
Comedy is about going right to the edge and sometimes over, which means you risk alienating some. Sarah Silverman is brilliant, but she crosses that line for many. She does make Holocaust jokes. I don’t find them funny, but if I don’t like what I am hearing, I grab the remote. Or walk out of the club. Some old “Seinfeld” episodes seem extremely politically incorrect now. Would I ban them from TV? Of course not.
You once said puns were the lowest form of humor? Why?
I was wrong. In order to understand a
(good) pun, you must hold two very different ideas in your head at the same time. In poems, the words rhyme. With puns, the ideas rhyme. Some puns do require a little thought to see the connection of two separate ideas. The story goes that a rich passenger on a sinking ship asked the captain if he could choose himself to row the lifeboat or not. “Of course,” the captain said, “either oar.”
“Make me the subject of a joke,” the king said to the court jester. In fear of getting himself in trouble, the jokester responded, “I cannot do that, the king is not a subject.” Of course, some puns are groan worthy. For example, I hate puns about sausages They are the wurst. See what I mean?
How long does it take to write a column?
Actual writing takes about two hours at the keyboard after several days with the idea rattling around in my brain. I never sit down to write without already knowing the topic and having some direction. Otherwise, I’d be sitting there all day.
Mark Twain once said, “Humor is easy. If something funny occurs to you, just write about it.” Then he said, “The writing is easy; the hard part is the occurring.”
Next week, I’ll write a real humor column. Hopefully, something will occur to me.
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.
In order to understand a (good) pun, you must hold two very different ideas in your head at the same time. In poems, the words rhyme. With puns, the ideas rhyme.
– DICK WOLFSIE
For Gregory Hancock, his musical based on Mexican artist Frida Kahlo gives him the opportunity to exhibit a different side of his talents.
DANCE
“While most people are familiar with my work as a choreographer/ director, I am also a composer/musician,” said Hancock, executive artistic director of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. “This is a wonderful opportunity for people to experience another side of my interests and skills. Honestly, this will be a dream come true to hear my music played by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and sung by 20 talented vocalists at the beautiful Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts.
“It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and the entire cast of instrumentalists, vocalists, dancers, directors and audience.”
Hancock’s production of “The Music of La Casa Azul” is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 5 in a different format than the original production. It is a sung-through musical inspired by the life of Kahlo.
“Previous productions have been the presentation of the complete theatrical musical experience,” Hancock said. “This production is a concert version with the focus of the music of ‘La Casa Azul.’ Concert versions of musicals allow the audience to focus solely on the music and have a different and unique perspective of a production. Of course, because it is a sung-through musical, the audience will still understand the narrative of the storyline. The vocalists will be dressed in evening attire and staging is more minimal without all the usual stage action to aid in progressing the storyline.”
Dancers will be dressed in costumes from the theatrical production and will add color and a visual element to the production.
Hancock said a few edits have been made to enhance the concert experience. The musical was first performed in 2015.
“I feel productions are often a living
organism, which continues to evolve with our world,” Hancock said. “Whenever I return to this production, I see and learn new things about myself and the piece itself. Just as we grow and evolve throughout our lives, so it is with works of performance art as well.”
Hancock said 16 of the 20 dancers have been in previous productions, including Abigail Lessaris, who will again portray La Muerte (Death) as Frida’s constant companion.
Bibi Heredia, a TV personality from Telemundo, will be the emcee for the evening.
Jessica Crum Hawkins, a Fishers resident, will sing the role of Kahlo.
“Jessica has appeared in all the previous productions and was the originator
of the role in the premiere production,” Hancock said. “Jessica not only brings an incredible voice to the incredibly vocally demanding role, (but also provides) by a depth of understanding to the trials and tribulations of Frida Kahlo. While the musical is inspired by the life of Frida, it is ultimately about the resilience of the human spirit in us all. Frida took her tragedies and turned them into unique and personal creativity. I have done the same throughout the previous productions, and this time it is another cathartic journey for me.”
Staging will be directed by director and playwright Georgina Escobar, with vocal direction by Tammy Anderson.
“Georgina is a brilliant (New York City)-based playwright/director, and as a Mexican woman brings her world of experiences to the production,” Hancock said. “Tammy is an exceptional vocal director and knows exactly how to bring out the best in each singer. Both are completely invaluable to the production.”
Carmel Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director Janna Hymes said it’s always special to collaborate with other arts organizations.
“This project is extra special because I will be working with my friend, Gregory Hancock, who is an incredible artist in many ways,” Hymes said. “A choreographer, dancer, painter, costume designer and maker, he also composed this epic piece about the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. It is rare to meet someone who excels in so many areas, and Gregory is very special in that regard.”
Hymes said the concert will feature a chamber orchestra of about 40 musicians.
“There are always challenges when you put on a production that involves singers, musicians, staging, lighting, dancing,” she said. “I wouldn’t call them challenges as much as components which need to come together seamlessly to seem as one. I don’t foresee any issues and we are all looking forward to an incredible experience.”
For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.
‘SOPHISTICATED
“Sophisticated Ladies” runs through Aug. 20 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
“Deception: An Evening of Magic & Lies” is set for 7:30 p.m. July 27 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. “Opal Staples: Inspiration at a Bar” is set for 7:30 p.m. July 29. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘A TRIBUTE TO BILLY JOEL & ELTON JOHN’
“Face to Face: A Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John” will be presented at 8 p.m. July 28-29 in the Symphony on the Prairie series at Conner Prairie in Fishers. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
‘THE SOMEWHAT TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD’
Main Street Productions presents the youth production of “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood” July 27 to Aug. 6 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
The Palace, a soul rock sextet, will perform in the Live at the Center series at 7:30 p.m. July 26 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $10 for in-person or register for a livestream at thecenterpresents.org.
‘MEAN GIRLS’
Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program will perform “Mean Girls” from July 27-30 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
Indy film festivals get recognition — The Indy Shorts International Film Festival and the Heartland International Film Festival have been named among the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World for 2023 by MovieMaker Magazine. The Indy Shorts Festival was set to conclude July 23. Heartland Film Festival starts Oct. 15. For more, visit heartlandfilm.org.
For Larry Adams, the challenge of mastering the accent of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is secondary.
MYSTERY“The real challenge is in portraying such a supremely confident, black-and-white sort of man confronting the grayest of moral dilemmas,” Adams said. “I think that is really what makes ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ the most unique and compelling of Agatha Christie’s mysteries.”
The Pittsboro resident plays the legendary detective in Carmel Community Players’ production of Ken Ludwig’s “Murder on the Orient Express” Aug. 4 through Aug. 13 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel.
Adams said he doesn’t want to sound cartoonish with his accent because Poirot is such a serious character.
Olivia Carrier, who was born and reared in Noblesville and is a 2018 Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate, plays Mary Debenham, a British governess. This is the first time the Broad Ripple resident has used a British accent for a play.
“I was pleasantly surprised that it was easier than I initially anticipated,” Carrier said. “I was really nervous going into the audition that I would have to work on it. It hasn’t been too difficult. I catch myself with a few phrases that don’t roll off the tongue very well. Those I have to keep in mind and
practice at home.”
“I decided to jump back into it after not doing it for four years,” she said. “I got the theater bug again.”
Fishers resident Jonathan Young, a 2015 Fishers High School graduate, plays Hector McQueen, the secretary of the murder victim.
“The roles I’ve played in the past are big, bombastic, confident characters,” Young said. “My character in this show is against the type I normally play. It’s very mousy, nervous. The person he worked for berated him and called him all these terrible things, so he’s used to being shy, skittish and nervous. It’s fun to play against type.”
Young has been involved in theater for many years.
This is Young’s first role since performing in “Monty Python’s Spamalot” at Footlite Musicals in 2016.
For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
In 1959, the world was first introduced to Barbara Millicent Roberts from Willows, Wis., a.k.a., Barbie.
Creator Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel with her husband, launched the doll by advertising directly to children on TV. Barbie was the first “toy” commercial to appear during “The Mickey Mouse Club.”
In 1961, Mattel introduced Barbie’s ultimate “accessory” boyfriend, Ken, who is two years younger than his affluent sweetheart.
An alternative to the limiting gender roles of the time, Barbie was a freethinking, independent gal with the most colorful costumes ever. She’s had more than 250 careers and is limitless in opportunities. Barbie is the No. 1-selling doll in the world, with three sold every second. Her Dreamhouse is sold every two minutes.
Directed and co-written by Oscar-nominee Greta Gerwig (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”), the film shows what happens when Barbie experiences an existential crisis. The story is smart and witty, with fast-paced dialogue, silly montages and emotional, introspective flashes between Barbieland and the real world. And loads of costume changes.
Every protagonist embarks on a hero’s journey, and Barbie is no exception. Narrated by Helen Mirren, Barbie (Margot Robbie) begins questioning the natural order of life in Barbieland, where extravagant dance numbers and beach parties are daily life. On the advice of Gymnast Barbie (Kate McKinnon), she ventures into the real world to find the person who may hold the key to her dilemma. Along the way, she is confronted by societal expectations, outsmarts Mattel’s CEO (Will Ferrell), rollerblades on Venice Beach and faces the reality of her legacy. Ultimately, the “Barbie” movie is a nostalgic, highly creative and playful journey. It teaches us that self-discovery is an adventure and the important roles imagination and teamwork play along the way. And sometimes, a flashy dance number is just what we need to make life a little more fun.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Indianapolis Children’s Choir’s 202324 season is designed to take audiences on a musical journey around the world.
“This season will showcase the history, culture and languages from across the globe, and I am excited for our singers and audience to have this culturally immersive opportunity,” ICC Artistic Director Joshua Pedde said. “Rather than jumping from one place in the world to another during a single concert, we will get to focus on different parts of the world in each performance. By the end of the season, our singers and our audiences will see how so many cultures have more in common than they do differences. It also allows our singers to truly immerse themselves in the music and cultures of these areas of the world, which is very exciting for them as they continue to experience various genres of music.”
The eight-concert series is called “A World Showcase.” The season begins with “Reflections: Sounds of the Pacific,” which will reflect the sounds of fiery volcanoes balanced with shaded, tranquil gardens. Singers will perform songs from India, China and the Pacific Islands, among other destinations, in an Oct. 14 concert at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville.
“A European Holiday” will be presented Dec. 15-17 at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. On March 24, 2024, the ICC will present “The Crossroads of America” at Hilton Circle Theatre in Indianapolis.
“Christel DeHaan In Harmony: Rhythm
of the Lands” is set for May 4, 2024, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Indianapolis. The concert season concludes with “Sacred Harmonies: The Soul of Misa Criolla” May 19, 2024, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Indianapolis.
Pedde said the ICC also is very excited about “A World Showcase” because it allows ICC great opportunities to partner and collaborate with other organizations within the community.
“We know that these collaborations and partnerships will enhance the singers’ understanding of the music they are singing, and it will give the audiences an opportunity to learn more about each area of the world represented in each performance,” Pedde said. “We have had standalone concerts throughout our 38year history that have represented music from around the globe, but nothing to this extent where each concert focuses on a specific part of the world. Again, by arranging our season around this theme, we have some unique opportunities that will benefit our singers, audience members, and our community.”
Pedde said there are unique challenges to every season.
“I think this year’s challenge will be for our singers to master the various languages we will be singing in throughout the season,” he said. “However, by focusing on one area of the globe for each concert, that will help the singers to learn these new languages.”
Season tickets are $12 for each performance; advance single tickets are $14 each; and ages 5 and under are admitted free. For more, visit icchoir.org.
The cast of “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood,” will perform July 27 to Aug. 6 at Basile Westfield Playhouse.
(Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Ella Crites is getting a bit typecast, but she doesn’t mind.
“I really enjoy playing sassy, kind of outspoken characters,” Crites said.
Crites, who will be a Westfield High School senior, plays the Lady in Waiting in Main Street Productions’ summer youth presentation of “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood” July 27 to Aug. 6 at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. The play is a humorous spin on Robin Hood and his Merry Men’s quest to aid the needy.
“It’s just super silly and we all have a lot of fun on stage,” Crites said. “I have some good lines. The Lady in Waiting is over the top. There are some fight scenes that are really funny to watch and there also is quick-witted (lines).”
Crites said she prefers dramas because she can showcase more of her acting abilities.
“But I love being in comedies,” said Crites, who performs in musicals as well at WHS.
Harrison Coon, who will be a WHS sophomore, portrays Prince John, one of the villains. He said he has been cast before as a villain.
“It’s fun because you don’t have to take it as seriously as the main character or side character, you can be over the top,” Coon said. “I seem to gravitate toward those roles. It’s a fun character to play. I get to wear a fun crown and fancy costume.”
Cook said his character has a highpitched, pouty British accent.
“One you would expect from British royalty who never had to work for anything,” Coon said.
Becca Bartley, a Westfield resident, and Nikki Lynch, Noblesville, are the co-direc-
tors. There is a cast of 20 students, ages 12 to 19.
“We’ve worked with much bigger casts before,” Lynch said.
Lynch said she approached Main Street Productions about directing the play for adults.
“I read the script when I was looking up scripts to submit to Westfield Playhouse and I came accross this one,” Lynch said. “I love comedies, so that was primarily what I was looking for. I actually submitted it to direct adults. Then (the board) came back and said, ‘How would you like to do our youth production?’”
Lynch agreed.
“It’s the perfect show for youth,” she said. “There are lots of puns, word play and physical comedy. It’s very Monty Pythonesque.”
Bartley said she describes the show as a larger-than-life comedy.
“The first night we had off-book (without scripts) was one of the best first nights I’ve ever been to, so they were ready,” Bartley said.
Owen Yeater of Cicero plays Robin Hood. His brother, Quinn Yeater, plays the Sheriff of Nottingham.
There will be a food drive during the performances. Main Street Productions is partnering with Open Doors, a Westfield food pantry.
Bartley said it fits with the idea of Robin Hood stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
There will be a bin inside where audience members can donate nonperishable food items and canned items, such as soups, vegetables, pasta and tuna. Among other accepted items are breakfast protein bars and cereal bowls.
For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
When Brenda Williams is on stage, she’s more than a vocalist singing songs. “I never call what I do singing,” the Indianapolis resident said. “Yes, I’m a performer. There is excitement in performing. There’s nothing I’d rather do than perform.”
and others who will give the festival local flavor. The event will show off their talent and Carmel’s state-of-the-art performance facilities, he said.
JAZZ
Williams will do just that at the first Carmel Jazz Fest. Brenda Williams and Friends will take the stage at 5 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Gazebo stage. They will be among 30 acts performing Aug. 11-12, culminating with a headlining performance by Spyro Gyra at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts. Find scheduling and ticket information at carmeljazzfest.org.
Williams is no stranger to performing at the Carmel Gazebo — or just about anywhere that hosts live music in the area. She declined to say how long she has been performing (so as to not reveal her age). But she has been a mainstay on the local music scene for decades, with appearances at the Cabaret, the Indiana Repertory Theater, Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre and the Jazz Kitchen. And she has performed for three U.S. presidents: George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
She looks forward to performing at Carmel Jazz Fest and supporting the new event.
“I believe it is paramount that we, as musicians/artists, support our communities, give back in ways that will help them grow by sharing our talents, not only by using our talents but giving of our time and energy,” she said.
Blair Clark, executive director of Carmel Jazz Fest, said the Indianapolis area is lucky to have talented performers like Williams
“She is a phenomenal performer, a phenomenal entertainer,” Clark said of Williams. “She knows how to captivate a crowd.”
Josh Weirich, a saxophone player who lives in Zionsville and is the music department chair and a band director for Zionsville Middle School, has been performing with Williams since the early 2000s. Weirich compared Williams’ style to such vocalists as Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Sade, Etta James and Nina Simone.
The ability to connect with audiences helps make Williams special, he said.
“In addition to being a great singer, people find her endearing, and she makes everyone feel like they’re her best friends,” Weirich said. “People just gravitate to her, and as a sideman, it’s just really cool to see and be a part of.”
Williams also has a keen sense of reading the room. Because of that, Weirich and the rest of the players must be ready for changes to the setlist.
“There’s a joke amongst musicians that work with her. You have to be able to ‘speak Brenda,’ which means knowing lots of songs and having the ability to adapt quickly on the bandstand,” Weirich said. “As a result, the players that work regularly with her are truly the top in the city.”
Williams will be on stage with four musicians during her set at Carmel Jazz Fest. She suggested the evening would be about more than just music.
“It’s all about growth and understanding as well as showing love to your brother,” she said. “Also, you may just enjoy the experience and learn to be a better neighbor.”
Commentary by Larry Greene
Built in 2007 in The Village of WestClay, this home’s owners were ready for an exterior upgrade to improve both style and function. Our team got to work transforming the home’s façade, creating a brighter and more modern visual appeal.
• We reimagined the home’s exterior — transforming the previously stark federal-style appearance into a warm and welcoming entryway.
• A new portico over the front door provides added dimension, while a new, sleek staircase railing creates a more modern aesthetic throughout the length of the front walkway.
• Eze-Breeze windows were added to the back porch, allowing the homeowners to effortlessly move from sunroom to screened porch, depending on the weather and time of day.
• A new patio and stone fireplace were added to the back of the home, creating the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors (almost) year-round.
friend Byron with his new job answering phones at the conspiracy theory hotline.
We set up our BattleBot so it would never attack humans.
I don’t attend many movies with groups anymore. I was always the guy who arrived early. Because of my promptness, I ended up saving seats for the whole group. I’d start declaring my group’s territory by draping my jacket over a pair of seats. Then I’d put my popcorn and drink in the cupholders a few seats away.
As the minutes ticked on, I’d have to fend off more people who also wanted middle-middle of the theater. The anxiety of saving six to eight seats for my friends who were chronically five minutes late ended up being too much for me; I did not like this setup one bit.
That brings me to the crux of some more important grammar guidance: What’s the difference between setup and set up?
Let’s start with setup. Use setup (or set-up) as either a noun or an adjective. As a noun, setup means the arrangement or organization of something. For example: The camera setup was all wrong, so the director kept adjusting the shot.
As an adjective, setup often gets used in technology situations: Go to the setup screen to change your network settings. As a verb, use set up: I set up my
Think about it this way: the verb version of the word spreads out. It is in motion; it stretches and moves. The noun version (setup or set-up) is compact. It’s a box — a static thing.
Interestingly, you can apply this same model (noun and adjective vs. verbs) to other sets of words. Some include workout and work out, makeup and make up, dropout and drop out, and checkout and check out. When used as a noun or an adjective, these words are either one word or one word with a hyphen; when used as a verb, these words are two words.
Now that movie theaters have a different setup (with seats you reserve ahead of time), I don’t have to be so upset all the time. After all, the most important part of the movie is during the last five minutes, when they set up the perfect conditions for yet another sequel.
Curtis Honeycutt is a national award-winning, syndicated humor writer. Connect with him on Twitter (@curtishoneycutt) or at curtishoneycutt.com.
Notice is hereby given that the Common Council of the City of Fishers, during a regular meeting, on June 19, 2023, approved and adopted Ordinance No. 051523C, An Ordinance Creating Chapter 100 of the City of Fishers Code of Ordinances (Public Safety Nuisance). This Ordinance created Chapter 100, Public Safety Notice and included a Penalty as follows:
§ 100.99
(A) Any Owner, Commercial Tenant, and/or Operator violating the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the following penalties:
(1) Citations: after a Commercial Business Property has been designated as a Chronic Violator, any subsequent Calls for Service, Valid Complaint or Citation at the Commercial Business Property shall result in a fine of Two Hundred Fifty and No/100 Dollars ($250) to the Owner, Commercial Tenant or Operator given notice under §100.05 in addition to any other penalty imposed by ordinance.
(2) Citations under this Section may be issued by the Fishers Police Department or the Fishers Fire & Emergency Services Department to the Owner, Commercial Tenant or Operator who received noticed under §100.05 and shall be payable to the Ordinance Violations Bureau.
(3) In addition to the collection of fines resulting from the issuance of citation(s), the Legal Department is authorized to bring civil action against any alleged violator of this chapter for all unpaid repeat nuisance service call fees.
(B) In addition to the penalties in §100.99(A), the City may file an action in any court of general jurisdiction against the Owner, Commercial Tenant or Operator of the Commercial Business Property to enjoin the activity giving rise to the Calls for Service, Valid Complaint or Citation and/or any other remedy allowed by Indiana law, and to recover the fines, costs and attorneys’ fees associated with the action, as prescribed in IC §32-30-6-7, as amended.
(C) Each violation of this chapter shall be deemed a separate offense.
Section 36.08 is hereby amended to include the following:
§ 36.08 SCHEDULE OF FINES.
(A) Fines or fees imposed by reason of a violation of any of the following ordinances shall be eligible for disposition at the Ordinance Violations Bureau established within the city.
Commentary by Don Knebel
Today, in our continuing tour of Alaska, we visit sites around Juneau, Alaska’s capital city.
Juneau began as a tent city on the east bank of the Gastineau Channel soon after Joe Juneau and Richard Harris discovered gold nearby in 1879. In 1881, 72 miners named the town, on the Alaska Panhandle along its border with British Columbia, for Juneau. Juneau was the first European settlement in Alaska after the United States purchased the territory from Russia in 1867. In 1906, Juneau, with a population of about 2,000, replaced Sitka, further down the Panhandle, as the territorial capital.
Juneau is famous for the Juneau Icefield to the north. This 1,500-square-mile field of ice includes more than 40 valley glaciers, gradually moving down the valleys because of their massive weight, creating fjords as the ice wears down the adjacent mountain peaks. Much of the Juneau Icefield lies within the 16.7-million-acre Tongass National Forest, the United States’ largest national
forest. All but one of the glaciers within the Juneau Icefield reached their maximum size in about 1700 and have been retreating ever since. Only the Taku Glacier, the name the local Tlingit people gave it, continues to advance and is now the largest glacier in the icefield.
A popular activity for visitors to Juneau is a floating bush plane trip over five glaciers in the Juneau Icefield, with a stop at Taku Glacier Lodge, across the Taku River from the face of the Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier, a branch of the Taku Glacier. Guests at the lodge are treated to a meal including grilled wild salmon. The salmon attracts black bears, which have become their own attractions to the lodge. After dining, visitors can also take a walk in the scenic woods near the lodge, where they are warned to be on the lookout for bears.
Across
1. Performs with the Carmel Community Players
5. Delight
10. Pack away
14. Gentlemen
15. Hoosier Park paddock papas
16. Faith, ___ and Charity
17. Indiana city: Royal headwear + scoreboard unit
19. Still-life pitcher
20. Spanish gold
21. Top-of-the-line
22. Fishers HS prom, e.g.
23. Biggby Coffee change collector
25. Gumshoe
28. Colts QB mistakes
30. Indiana city: Big deer + male deer
33. Invitation letters
36. WFYI’s “___ Street”
38. Commit perjury in Hamilton County Court
39. Commandment word
41. Crossed out
42. Seasons, in a way
44. Luau strings
45. Respect
48. Future DA’s exam
49. Indiana city: Sailor’s stopover + grow old
51. Out-of-this-world org.
53. Got beaten by
55. Pickleball kin
59. Swiped a mink?
61. Train track
63. Monument Circle musical grp.
64. Crooked Stick caddie’s suggestion
65. Indiana city: Unadorned + pasture
68. Like Current printing presses
69. Squiggle in a Zionsville
HS Spanish class
70. IU sports overseer
71. Flat-topped hill
72. “The Zoo Story”
perhaps
31. “Lovely” Beatles meter maid
32. Butler midterm, say
33. Bra spec
34. Ms. Ono
35. Misses
37. Observe
40. Do hair-raising work
43. Indiana Basketball Hall of Famer Henderson
46. IMPD rank
47. Keystone Art Cinema early show
50. “I knew it!”
52. Part of SASE
54. Big name in toothbrushes
56. Sister’s daughter
57. Muslim religion
58. Pops
59. Do laps at Carmel’s Waterpark
60. Voicemail prompt
62. Indiana Senate staffer
65. School support group
Schuyler Nehrig, Agent 1488 E 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46240
O: (317) 830-4444, ext. 2492
C: (317) 918-9744
Schuyler.Nehrig@infarmbureau.com
Larry & Rhonda Stewart, Owners
$75
Integrity Automotive is looking for a full time automotive technician. In business for 28 years in downtown Carmel with a solid, happy customer base and a positive, good-natured work environment. The best candidate is a motivated, well-organized technician with at least three years hands on experience in automotive diagnosis, problem-solving and repair. Able to interpret and apply diagnostic/repair information from computerized databases and other sources. Also able communicate clearly and effectively with your supervisor, your fellow employees and, as needed, with customers.
A complete job description is available with a request to frontdesk@integrityautomotive. net. We offer competitive pay with a Monday through Friday work week and (after 90 days) up to four sick/personal days per year and paid holidays. To schedule an interview, send your resume with contact information to: frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net
40 S Rangeline Rd Carmel Indiana 46032 www.IntegrityAutomotive.net
please help this young family and contact Janet Emerson’s Realty at 317.431.1868.
LOVE
HUNT CLUB IS HIRING Part time Kennel Assistant : responsible for the daily care of dogs, kennel upkeep, and other tasks related to keeping our guests happy and comfortable. Hours are from 7 AM to 12 PM or 3 to 8 PM with potential for 18 - 35 hours per week. Part-time Front Desk Assistant: responsible for corresponding with clients through emails ,phone, and in- person as well as various computer tasks. Hours are 8:30 to 11:30 AM or 4:30 to 7:30 PM and as needed. Applicants should have availability on weekdays as well as occasional weekends and holidays. Interested? Have questions Email:huntclubkennal@gmail.com
