May 7, 2024 — Fishers

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Founded Jan. 25, 2011, at Fishers, IN Vol. XIV, No. 16

Copyright 2023

Current Publishing, LLC

All Rights Reserved.

30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444

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Opinions

The views of the columnists in Current in Fishers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.

Megachurch under financial review

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

A Carmel-based megachurch that quietly quadrupled a retirement payout to its longtime senior pastor in 2022 is undergoing a formal compliance review by the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability, an organization that provides accreditation for religious organizations that agree to adhere to a set of standards that promote responsible stewardship.

FAITH

Staci Brown, ECFA senior vice president of member accountability and relations, confirmed the review of Northview Church but declined to provide details about what led to the review or specific concerns, directing questions to the church. The review was still underway as of April 25 and has been ongoing since at least December 2023.

Northview officials postponed a meeting with Current to discuss financial matters and then declined to reschedule it, asking for questions to be submitted by email instead. The church posted Current’s questions and responses from church elders in its app in early February and sent the document to Current more than two weeks later.

In the answers posted on the app, Northview elders acknowledged the ECFA’s ongoing compliance review.

“If there are allegations of noncompliance, then the ECFA will conduct a compliance review. The allegations in this matter came from sources taking things out of context,” the document states. “The review was not instigated because ECFA saw something in the financial data that caused them concern and warranted an investigation. Everything requested in the review has been submitted to the ECFA as they are still conducting their review.”

According to ECFA’s website, a formal compliance review occurs “when there is a serious concern of noncompliance.” If ECFA staff determine noncompliance, its board may suspend or terminate the organization’s membership.

Brown said she does not know when the review will be complete, but that ECFA aims in all cases to “conduct the reviews as expeditiously as possible, while being as thorough as necessary.” The results will not be publicly released by ECFA.

Northview has been accredited by ECFA since 2017. ECFA records show that Northview reported cash donations of more than

$27 million in 2022 and total revenues of more than $30 million. It reported $26.9 million in expenses.

ECFA and Northview did not provide information about specific concerns being addressed through the review, but a quadrupled retirement benefit provided to a retiring senior pastor caught the attention of the church’s auditor. It is not clear if the retirement benefit is being evaluated as part of ECFA’s compliance review.

According to Northview’s audit report for 2021 and 2022, conducted by Indianapolis-based firm Capin Crouse, in September 2022 the church increased its retirement benefit for longtime Senior Pastor Steve Poe from $700,000 over five years to $2.8 million over seven years, which was noted in the “subsequent events” portion of the document. Poe, now the church’s legacy pastor, retired in October 2022 after working at the church for two decades.

After a second request for comment, Poe responded to an email from Current by questioning Current’s motivations for reporting the story.

“A story about what?” he stated. “I’m having a hard time understanding what your motivation is?”

In response to Current’s questions, Northview’s elders explained the retirement benefit increase, which they stated was instigated by Poe “while discussing necessary due diligence/comparisons.”

“In 2015 the board of elders used an outside firm to conduct a salary audit of various leadership roles within the church including the senior pastor. This resulted in the discovery that the senior pastor’s salary and benefits package were significantly lower than other pastors of churches of similar size and had been for 10 to 12 years. This was adjusted in 2015 for future compensation,” the document states. “As Northview began preparations for succession there were multiple conversations

regarding the retirement benefit of our senior pastor amongst the elders. In light of compensation lagging behind the rapid growth of our church the elders again consulted with outside sources to help determine the best step forward. The decision was made to adjust the amount to more accurately reflect a complete compensation package both past and present.”

The elders also stated that they handle all compensation-related decisions regarding the senior pastor, which they said is outlined in the church bylaws.

Northview did not respond to questions about Poe’s salary or the salaries of other members of the executive team. Although most nonprofits are required to publicly report the compensation of employees who make $150,000 or more and its five highest-paid employees who make $100,000 or more, churches are exempt from these reporting requirements.

As president of MinistryWatch, an organization that advocates for donors to religious groups, Warren Cole Smith said he has reviewed many retirement compensation packages and that Poe’s “is not normal.”

“Big churches often do pay big salaries, but this kind of compensation is absolutely an outlier,” he said. “My personal opinion is that I consider it outrageous. I would consider it to be doubly outrageous if the congregation did not know about it.”

Northview did not alert the congregation of the compensation package until after Current contacted church leaders.

The elders stated in their response to Current’s questions that “the only person(s) that would be able to assess if this amount was too large would be someone that was able to review all the data and facts surrounding comparable situations/ circumstances.”

“For this reason, the church used multiple sources in its review and consultation. Northview also relied on information from various experts in this field in making the decision,” the elders stated in response to Cole Smith’s comments.

Cole Smith said he believes all church members and donors should have access to church financial data, including salaries of senior leadership. Although Northview’s website states that it will provide its audit report to those who request it, the audit does not include information on individual compensation.

Northview operates 12 campuses across central Indiana.

Northview Church’s main campus is in Carmel on the southwest corner of Gray Road and 131st Street. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

COMMUNITY

DISPATCHES

Fishers road construction update — The following projects are underway and might affect traffic in the Fishers area:

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

• Allisonville Road remains closed north and south of 146th street. Bridge crews are continuing work on widening the eastbound bridge over the White River. Construction vehicles will be entering and exiting from this work area and drivers are asked to be vigilant. The contractor will occasionally restrict lane use for the delivery of materials from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. These lane restrictions will take place in the left-hand westbound lane of 146th Street.

• Construction has started on the 96th Street and Allisonville Road Roundabout Project. The existing Michigan Left intersection was eliminated and will transition to a two-lane roundabout next to the new River Place development. The project is scheduled to be completed at the end of the year, with minor enhancements completed in spring 2025.

• A 96th Street beautification project will involve installation of conduit on North by Northeast heading east to 96th and Cumberland Road for decorative streetlights along 96th Street. New medians with streetlights also will be installed along North by Northeast and Kincaid boulevards. Watch for intermittent eastbound lane restrictions from 9-3 p.m.

• 106th Street between Cumberland Road and Hamilton Pass is closed to all through traffic for a bridge replacement project. The anticipated roadway reopening date is Oct. 18. Local traffic will continue to have access to homes and through traffic should utilize the posted detour route of Cumberland Road, 96th Street and Mollenkopf Road.

Hamilton County vital records available online – Hamilton County has become the fourth county in Indiana to offer an online ordering system for birth and death certificates. Certified birth and death certificates are $15 per copy and online orders will incur a nonrefundable $5 service fee. To order, visit the Hamilton County Health Department’s online portal, hamiltoncounty.in.gov/255/Vital-Records.

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• Border Security • 2A supporter • Cost of living must come down • Energy Independence • Stop Funding Countries who hate us • Have to fight the squad • We have to stand up to big Pharma • I want to make Healthcare affordable for everyone

I am Married and have 3 Children. Retired from the Department of Corrections 27yrs. I have 4 Beagle Shih Tzu mix dogs. I love Golf, Football and baseball.

HSE schools working toward new education model

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

Hamilton Southeastern Schools is in the middle of a multiyear national program designed to better prepare students for whatever career path they choose to take.

EDUCATION

The HSE Board of Education heard an update from Director of K-12 Initiatives Steve Loser about the Ford Next Generation Learning program process during the board’s mid-month work session April 24.

environments, professional development practices, work-based learning and post-secondary coursework, community connections and empowering students.

Additional meetings are planned in the next couple of months to continue the process.

Loser said the result of those meetings will be a master plan that HSE Schools will submit in June to the Indiana Department of Education. The plan will include a three-year implementation framework and a process for assessing progress.

Loser said the program is a five-year process that results in a master plan to transform education. The district is about halfway through that process, which includes input from educators, students, parents and other community members. The most recent community-input meeting was in February.

“One of the things of note is we increased student attendance at this event,” he said. “Student voice has been a major component as we’ve gone through this process. We want to ensure that what we are creating has that student voice forefront, so we often open and close those days hearing from students.”

During those meetings, participants came up with a “transformational statement,” which Loser read to the board.

“Through ongoing collaboration with our community, HSE Schools strives to develop each student’s passion, ensure future readiness, provide every student with diverse and personalized learning experiences and create a culture for authentic relevant learning,” he said. ”This is the commitment that all the people in that room committed to as to how we’re going to go about transforming the student experience through this process.”

Teams have been formed to work on different concepts toward building a master plan for the school district. Those concepts include future-focused experiences and

The Ford NGL education model includes interest-themed “academies” that focus students on specific career paths.

“Ford NGL recognizes that most skilled employment now requires a foundation of academic, 21st century and technical knowledge and skills that must be mastered in high school, as well as additional education beyond high school,” the Ford NGL website states. “We believe that the most successful approach for high schools is one that infuses the high expectations and academic rigor of college preparatory academic programs with the real-world relevance and rigor of CTE. Such an integrated approach also promotes, supports and accelerates a smooth transition to postsecondary education.”

In an email exchange after the meeting, Loser said the process was funded through an Indiana Department of Education grant awarded to HSE through the Central Indiana Education Services Center.

“HSE Schools received a little over $630,000 to work with Ford Next Generation Learning to complete two years of a fiveyear transformation process with our community,” Loser stated. “Six other school districts also benefited from this grant — some rural, some urban and some suburban. The entire grant for all seven districts to engage with Ford NGL totaled $3,931,800.”

For more about the national program, visit fordngl.com.

DISPATCH

Invest Hamilton County podcasts — Invest Hamilton County has launched a new podcast titled “Hamilton County Conversations,” which features leaders across various sectors in Hamilton County in discussions with Invest Hamilton County President and CEO Mike Thibideau. Podcasts are released twice monthly and are available for listening through both Apple Music and Spotify.

Loser

HSE board OKs $49M bonds

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees approved a $49 million bond package during a short midmonth meeting April 24.

SCHOOLS

Nobody spoke during the second of two required public hearings for the general obligation bonds, which fund capital projects outside of the district’s annual budget.

“There’s not enough money in our operations fund budget to address all the needs, so we issue GO bonds instead,” HSE Business Director Cecilie Nunn told the board prior to the vote. “We have a 10-year facilities, a 10-year technology and a bus replacement plan that we review to determine the amount of money we need in these bonds.”

increase.

Also during the April 24 meeting, the board approved the hire of Christi Thomas as the district’s new director of student services. Thomas has been the principal at Geist Elementary School for the last 11 years, according to an announcement from the district.

“In her new role, Thomas will oversee critical aspects of student welfare, including enrollment, attendance and student discipline procedures,” the announcement stated. “Furthermore, Thomas will serve as the designated authority for Title VI and Title IX filings and support the needs of homeless students as the McKinney-Vento liaison.”

Thomas has 25 years of experience in various educational roles, including assistant principal and mathematics teacher at both the elementary and secondary levels.

We believe that saying “ THANK YOU” simply isn’t enough to express our gratitude for local heroes. That’s why we would like to offer you a FREE burial Space exclusively at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens or Hamilton Memorial Park.

Debt payments for older bonds that will be paid off this year will roll over to pay for the new bonds, which means that budgeted expenses for debt will not

Thomas will complete the school year in her current role at Geist Elementary.

The next HSE Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 8 at HSE’s central office, 13485 Cumberland Rd.

assistance or additional information scan QR code Ben R. Upton VP Advanced Planning Office: 317-241-6856

Thomas

Fishers resident earns Evans Scholarship

By Mark Ambrogi  mark@youarecurrent.com

Andrew Lupke has never played a round of golf, but he certainly has benefited from the game.

ACHIEVEMENT

The Fishers resident, who is a senior at Cathedral High School, has been awarded an Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to student caddies. An Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

Lupke, who plans to major in business at Indiana University, primarily caddies at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel and Wood Wind Golf Club in Westfield. Most of the 18 students from Indiana selected as Evans Scholars are expected to attend IU or Purdue University. The Western Golf Association, headquartered in Glenview, Ill., has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930.

“I’ve been a baseball player all my life, so most of my time has been spent playing baseball and caddying,” Lupke said. “I played my last summer of travel baseball last year and now am just focused on caddying and getting ready for college.”

To qualify for the Evans Scholarship, each student must meet the program’s four selection criteria and show a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and out-

standing character.

Lupke was quite familiar with the program as his older brother, Mike, was awarded an Evans Scholarship in 2022. Andrew said Mike never played golf, either, until he got to IU.

Andrew Lupke started caddying the summer following his freshman year.

“Receiving an Evans Scholarship was a goal I had in my mind from the beginning,” he said. “There are ups and downs to it, but staying persistent and believing in myself was the way to get it done. It was keeping my grades up and getting as many rounds of golf in as I could. I’ve learned about hard work and trusting God.

“It’s a really long process. My brother really helped me keep my head up because he knew it would be worth it.”

Lupke said it was important to balance his time with his other commitments, including being a student manager for Cathedral’s boys soccer team.

Lupke said he has learned networking skills while caddying.

“I’ve met so many different people, whether it’s other caddies or golfers,” Lupke said. “The people I meet really make it enjoyable. There are regulars I see every week. It’s taught me a lot about making connections with people. I’ve learned to pick up a skill and be consistent with it and make it benefit you. I’ve learned everything I know about golf from caddying.”

Fishers resident Andrew Lupke has been awarded an Evans Scholarship for college tuition and housing. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Lupke)

Pierce Aerospace wins TechPoint Mira award

news@currentinfishers.com

Fishers-based Pierce Aerospace was named the TechPoint Mira Tech Innovation Team of the Year during the annual Mira Awards gala April 27.

INNOVATION

According to a news release from the City of Fishers, the Pierce Aerospace team received the award for designing and producing remote identification beacons for unmanned aerial vehicles. The company refers to the technology as “license plates for drones.”

The news release stated that during Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix in 2023, the team tested the beacons by attaching them to every federal and commercial aircraft protecting the stadium’s airspace. It was the first instance of remote ID use during a national special security event.

In their comments, Mira Awards judges complimented Pierce Aerospace for the team’s ingenuity in developing identifi-

cation solutions for unmanned aircraft systems and low-altitude airspace monitoring.

“The technological innovations we see coming from Fishers are incredible,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness stated. “We’re proud to have Pierce Aerospace call the city home and even more proud that the company’s team is being honored for their license plates for drones that are receiving nationwide recognition. This is another great example of the entrepreneurial spirit that the City of Fishers loves to embrace.”

The awards gala was presented by TechPoint, Indiana’s industry-led growth initiative for the state’s digital innovation economy, the Indiana Economic Development Corp., Salesforce and others.

The Mira Awards are Indiana’s largest technology awards. For more, visit miraawards.com.

To learn more about Pierce Aerospace, visit pierceaerospace.net.

Toward HOA Dues on the Purchase of Your New Epcon Home.*

We

our

and

us well. That is why May is Epcon’s Hometown Heroes Month. Throughout the month, we are celebrating educators, law enforcement, firefighters, military personnel and medical professionals.

When these Hometown Heroes* purchase an Epcon home in any of our low-maintenance communities, they will receive $3,000 towards HOA dues. This is our way of saying thank you and showing our gratitude to our heroes.

We invite you to visit our low-maintenance communities to discover single-level living and the luxurious lifestyle you have earned.

Target theft leads to car chase

CRIME news@currentinfishers.com

Two Indianapolis residents and a Cicero resident face criminal charges connected to an April 26 theft at the Fishers Target store that involved a vehicle chase.

According to an April 29 announcement from the Fishers Police Department, officers received a report at around noon April 26 of a theft in progress at the Target store on Commercial Drive near downtown Fishers.

“As officers arrived, the suspect vehicle was leaving and headed toward Technology Drive,” the news release stated.

public and the other suspects in danger due to the reckless nature of her driving,” the news release stated. “FPD officers initiated a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle and the female driver was detained.”

Officers pulled the vehicle over and detained three men, but a woman in the passenger seat then climbed into the driver’s seat and sped away.

“Our officers pursued the female driving on Technology Drive, putting officers, the

A PIT maneuver is a “precision immobilization technique,” and involves using a police vehicle to strategically strike the other vehicle’s side, causing the other vehicle to spin into the other lane.

Three of the occupants were arrested and taken to the Hamilton County Jail. They are Jaelyn Jones, 23, of Indianapolis, charged with resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness, theft, unlawful possession of a handgun and driving with a suspended license; Marquese Collins, 31, of Indianapolis, charged with unlawful possession of a handgun and driving with a suspended license; and Jayquan Guardiola, 27, of Cicero, who has an outstanding warrant out of Floyd County.

Jones Collins Guardiola

DISPATCHES

Registration open for 3-on-3 Tournament + 3-Point Contest — To celebrate the completion of a new mural at Brook School Park, Fishers Parks will host an outdoor 3-on-3 double-elimination tournament for ages 16+ and a 3-Point Contest for ages 8+ starting at 9 a.m. May 18, at Brooks School Park. To register, visit playfishers.com/759/ Buckets-at-Brooks-School.

International vendors sought for Fishers Farmers Market — The Fishers Farmers Market is looking for international food vendors for a new feature starting this season. Fishers Parks and the Fishers Farmers Market are adding a new section to the market dedicated to international food vendors. To apply, visit bit.ly/43SK4VI.

Used bike sale and donation day – Recycled Cycles will host a used bicycle sale and donation day from 10 a.m. until noon May 18 at their repair shop, 810 E. Main St. in Westfield north of Big Hoffa’s Barbecue. Several bicycles in good condition will be offered for sale at reduced prices. Proceeds from the sale will go toward the purchase of parts to repair additional bicycles. In 2023, Recycled Cycles repaired and gave away more than 375 bicycles to deserving families in Hamilton County. The group repairs both youth and adult bicycles year round under the sponsorship of Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County. Donations of any used bicycle no matter the condition will be accepted, as parts of unrepairable bikes are salvaged to make whole bikes. Payment by check is preferred.

Hamilton County Tourism seeks new president/CEO — A national search will begin soon to replace Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. President/CEO Brenda Myers, who plans to retire mid-summer. According to the nonprofit, Diversified Search Group — specifically its nonprofit and mission-driven division Koya Partners — will lead the search. Myers announced her planned retirement in 2022, ending a 19-year tenure. Hamilton County now attracts an estimated 6 million visitors annually. Myers also served as a founding board member of the tourism organization more than 30 years ago as a representative of Conner Prairie. Koya Partners will guide a search committee comprised of members from the HCT Board, Hamilton County Tourism Commission and the local community with the goal of having a new leader in place by the middle of summer.

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Shamrocks senior pitcher’s confidence keeps growing

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Westfield High School senior pitcher Ty Anderson’s confidence has continued to build throughout this career.

“I feel like I can get any batter out,” he said.

In his first five appearances this season, Anderson had a 3-2 record with a 1.64 earned run average for the Shamrocks baseball team. As a junior, he had a 5-1 record with a 1.12 ERA and was 2-2 with a 1.24 ERA as a sophomore.

“Ty’s strengths on the mound are the movement on his fastball and his slider is a tight, late-breaking pitch,” WHS coach Ryan Bunnell said. “He pairs those two pitches with a solid changeup to put together a way to attack every hitter.”

Bunnell said Anderson isn’t a high-velocity pitcher, usually throwing 84 to 86 mph, with a maximum of 87 to 88 mph.

“So, the movement on his pitches and his ability to execute the placement of

MEET TY ANDERSON

Favorite athlete: Anthony Rizzo

Favorite subject: History

Favorite TV show: “Reacher”

Favorite musician: Koe Wetzel

pitches is fundamental to his success and his ability to pitch at the next level,” Bunnell said. “Ty is also a high-level strike thrower. He had multiple complete games last year on pitch counts in the 70s. I think the development of his changeup and the confidence he has to throw it, has been important for him, especially against left-handed hitters. He has always had confidence and competitiveness on the mound, along with the movement of his fastball and a tight slider.

Letter of Intent to play for Eastern Illinois University next season, said his changeup is a work in progress.

“But it has been much more effective for me this year than it has been in past years,” Anderson said. “My velocity has slightly increased from last year to this year, but that’s not what brings me success.”

Anderson started playing recreational league baseball in Westfield when he was 5 years old and began playing travel baseball three years later.

“I never had intended to become a pitcher only, but as I got older and threw harder, it became something that I grew passionate about,” he said. “I played basketball and football when I was younger, but once I got to middle school, I decided I wanted to focus on baseball because that was the sport I loved.”

“But without high velocity, the ability to execute multiple pitches for strikes is a must and developing the third pitch was important.”

Anderson, who has signed a National

Anderson, who played with the Indiana Bulls during the summer, committed to Eastern Illinois in October 2023.

“I chose Eastern Illinois because Coach (Jason) Anderson has confidence in my ability and believes I can be an asset to the team,” he said.

Westfield High School senior pitcher Ty Anderson has a 3-2 record in his first five outings. (Photo courtesy of Owen Ferreri)

Anderson

Brooke’s Place seeks volunteers – Brooke’s Place for Grieving Young People is looking for volunteers to serve as support group facilitators for its westside, eastside and northside program nights. Volunteers provide a safe and supportive environment for young people, ages 3-29, and their caregivers, to grieve. Facilitators engage groups through conversation as well as age-appropriate therapeutic activities such as crafts and games. Facilitators serve families twice a month on either Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. To learn more about becoming a facilitator or to apply, contact chelsea@brookesplace.org or visit brookesplace.org/grief-support-volunteer.

Free weather radios for hard of hearing – Hamilton County Emergency Management is giving away free

weather radios to Hamilton County residents who are deaf and hard of hearing. Grant dollars allowed EMA to purchase hundreds of the radios that come equipped with a pillow shaker and strobe lights. Anyone who qualifies should contact Monica Peterson at Monica.Peterson@HamiltonCounty.in.gov to receive a radio.

Registration open for Spark!Fishers 5K and 1-Mile Run/ Walk — New to the Spark!Fishers 5K events in 2024 is the Spark!Fishers 1-Mile Run/Walk. The shortened version of the 5K route invites any age or ability to join the Spark!Fishers 5K festivities, presented by IU Health Fishers. Participants receive a T-shirt, medal and admission into the Spark!Fishers 5K after party. The 1-Mile Run/Walk begins at 6:15 p.m. June 26. Registration is $24.99 per

person. Kids 12 and younger are $19.99 per person. The 2024 Spark!Fishers Festival, presented by Meijer, is June 25-29 in downtown Fishers’ Nickel Plate District. See the full event schedule and learn more at sparkfishers.com.

Register for Rookie Run – Registration is open for the 2024 Salesforce & JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Rookie Run, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 11 in downtown Indianapolis. The Rookie Run is designed to introduce kids ages 3 to 10 to the joy of running in a noncompetitive and festive atmosphere. This family-friendly event offers a unique opportunity for children to experience the excitement of a start and finish line, surrounded by cheering spectators. Learn more and register at 500Festival.com/Rookie.

Oh baby!

births and counting

We’re tickled pink — and blue — to be celebrating 5,000 births at St. Vincent Fishers Our team, including experienced OB-GYNs and 24/7 Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital newborn specialists, is ready to be by your side when you deliver.

Start a conversation with an OB-GYN today at ascension.org/FishersWomensHealth

HAPPY TRAILS

Conner Prairie’s new trails system part of its Prairie Pathways Campaign

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

During a celebration of the new Trails at Conner Prairie, the Fishers-based outdoor museum’s President and CEO Norman Burns began his part of the presentation with a moment of silence — not in remembrance of any individual, but to honor the sounds of nature surrounding the peaceful location.

“You’re hearing the land and the river speak to you,” he said. “And that’s really what this unique place is — Conner Prairie is a unique place, always will be, and what we’re doing with our master plan, what we’re doing with this land, what we’re doing with this river is very unique.”

Conner Prairie’s new trails system consists of two 2-mile trails. One is paved and accessible for people with disabilities and the other — which takes walkers up onto a berm — is more rugged, with a gravel tread. They are both part of the museum’s master plan with a goal of bringing more people out to see everything Conner Prairie has to offer.

Burns recalled when he first came to Conner Prairie in 2016 and spent many hours walking on the berm, which was installed in the 1940s to control flooding for farmland.

“I’d walk along the berm all the way around and see nature, see the river and think to myself, ‘Why are more people not engaging with this?’” he said, adding that the master planning process started soon after. “We were looking at these 1,046 acres of land and 3.3 miles of river — we wanted to make sure that we develop things that would engage people.”

Conner Prairie Vice President Andrew Bradford said the new trails will help educate the public about the importance of habitat preservation.

“What we are excited about is the culmination of years of work to think about these 260 acres, to think about the White River that runs directly through the center of our property and how can we use that to educate people about the role these waterways play in our everyday lives?” he said. “How can we educate people about the fact that this is the drinking water? How can we get people to understand that

it is the ecosystem that supports the habitats that make sure we’ve got healthy bee populations and the butterflies that we want in our backyards?”

He said they worked with the Indiana Wildlife Federation on some of those questions, and the the new trail system is now certified as sustainable.

A ribbon cutting and a flurry of photos followed the official presentations at the event.

Later, as visitors waited for a tram tour of the trail, Burns said the master plan is a 30-year plan to develop educational programming and opportunities at Conner Prairie. The new trails, which run along the

“oxbow” of the White River, will have educational hubs to teach visitors about the river and the ecology of the area.

“That’s a big part of what we’re doing with this oxbow trail system, is allow people to begin to understand — let the land and the river speak to them and speak for itself, in a way, instead of us trying to speak for it,” Burns said.

Also in the master plan are additional trails and the White River Education and Ecology Center on the west side of the property, which is in the City of Carmel. Those will be developed later, along with many of the plan’s 28 identified projects.

Other projects in the works and due for

WEST SIDE EXPANSION PLANS

Conner Prairie’s plans for the west wide of its property — the part that is in Carmel — was approved by the Carmel City Council in fall 2023 following a few adjustments.

The expansion will be on land south 146th Street and east of River Road. It will include food and farm exhibits, the White River Education and Ecology Center, an office building, a hotel and cabins.

To secure approval from the city, Conner Prairie officials reduced the size of the proposed office building to no more than 55,000 square feet, limited the space for retail sales, limited the height of a proposed windmill and limited the number of special events.

For more about the outdoor museum’s master plan, visit connerprairie.org/ conner-prairie-master-plan.

completion this year are the Promised Land as a Proving Ground exhibit, which focuses on the history of Black Americans, and a major renovation of the museum’s main experience center.

“This was by far one of the more substantial as far as the use of land, because now 2.4 miles of land has trails around it,” Burns said said of the newly opened trails system. “And 240 acres is what’s inside the oxbow here that is going to continue to be farmed. But we’re also going to have about 35 acres of wetland that’s going to be put in as part of the filtration system. And then we’re going to reintroduce some prairie grass and some other plantings on the northern side.”

The trails project cost about $2 million. It was funded through donations, along with the rest of Conner Prairie’s ongoing projects. Overall, Burns said, the Prairie Pathways Campaign to fund the museum’s master plan raised more than $42 million. For more about Conner Prairie, visit connerprairie.org.

ON THE COVER: A group of supporters gathered at Conner Prairie April 19 to celebrate the completion of the outdoor museum’s newly built trails — two 2-mile pathways.

The Trails at Conner Prairie consist of a paved 2-mile path that’s accessible for people with disabilities, along with a more rugged 2-mile option. (Photos by Leila Kheiry)

(Photo by Leila Kheiry)

A tram ride takes visitors along the newly opened paved trail at Conner Prairie. A painted canoe in the foreground is one of many art installations along the trail.

New Fishers sports bar offers Cajun flair

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

A sports bar and restaurant with a Cajun flair is moving into the Fishers market, offering Louisiana specialties like po’boys and deep-fried alligator, along with more traditional sports-bar fare like burgers and onion rings.

FOOD

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is based out of Baton Rouge, La., said co-owner Todd Johnson. The Fishers store, opening May 6, is the 89th in the franchise, which boasts a handful of sports stars among its owners. They include NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks and Super Bowl champion Drew Brees, who played quarterback for Purdue University and the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

The restaurant’s name comes from the co-founders Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, who were both walk-on basketball players for Louisiana State University, according to the company’s website.

Clearly, the sports theme has strong roots at Walk-Ons, and they make sure customers have plenty of access to a variety of sports broadcasts. Johnson said they will have 80 big-screen TVs in the new location, 11655 Fishers Corner Blvd.

“Anywhere you sit, you can see four TVs,” he said, adding that the scratch kitchen — which means they cook everything from scratch — sets the venue apart from other sports bars. “We have a lot of seafood. It has a New Orleans kind of flair to it. We have a thing called Devils on Horseback, which is a shrimp where we cut the back of it put a small jalapeno and cream cheese and wrap it in bacon and bread it and fry it. We have gator on the menu. We fry that up into chunks — it looks just like boneless chicken bites — and deep fry. It is wonderful.”

He said gator tastes just like chicken.

“We also have a lot of a lot of shrimp, seafood, pastas. We have a hamburger where we put six hand-breaded onion rings on top of — it’s called the hickory burger,” he said. “If you order a chicken sandwich, all of our chicken sandwiches come with two breast patties, not just one, stacked on top of each other.”

If a customer is still hungry for dessert after all that, the restaurant has beignets, traditional Cajun doughnuts covered with

powdered sugar, and bread pudding — but not a typical bread pudding.

“Our bread pudding is made out of Krispy Kreme doughnuts,” Johnson said. “It’s amazing. I mean, you put 72 Krispy Kreme doughnuts in there and smash them all down, shred them all up almost like a stuffing you do for Christmas with bread. And then we let it congeal up overnight. And then we cut it out and then we take the actual sweet glaze that you put on a glazed doughnut and we drizzle it over the top (and serve it with) whipped cream.”

A ribbon cutting was May 6, and Johnson said for the week of May 6, all proceeds from the bar up to $5,000 will go to Mudsock Youth Athletics, a Fishers-based nonprofit that offers sports opportunities to young residents. A larger grand opening celebration is planned for some time in June.

For more about Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux, visit walk-ons.com.

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux’s bread pudding is made from Krispy Kreme doughnuts. (Photos courtesy of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux)

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux hickory burger is topped with six onion rings

Which purposes drive life?

Commentary by

Terry Anker

Important 20th century American philosopher Robert Nozick introduced the thought experiment of the “experience machine” in his 1974 book, “Anarchy, State, and Utopia.” He imagined a device into which we could plug ourselves and effectively deliver whatever pleasure we might desire directly into our minds. If we wanted to have the experience of being the MVP of a Super Bowl, ruling as the king of a foreign land or, in the more mundane, living as the most erudite and compelling of all others in our would-be existence, the gadget would deliver it to us. We would satisfy all our desires, prurient or otherwise, with little required effort or

He predicted, with remarkable effect, the living now on the horizon for many of us. With computer-generated reality, we will soon be able to be anything we might imagine. We could eliminate disappointment and coercion. We would never be challenged to let someone else talk

or limit our demands to the extent of our ability or resources. We’d be delivered to hedonistic paradise. Pleasure would be the order of the day, every day. To some, it will be heaven on Earth.

Why wouldn’t we retreat into a world of our own making? We could sing vocals with Elvis and continue to spend time with our deceased loved ones. Still, is this our best selves? What is the purpose of a human life? Pleasure? Suffering? Wisdom? Ignorance? Can we find our way in a life that is untested in interaction? Are we simply an accumulation of our best moments, or are we better having endured the slings and arrows of a corporal life fully lived? Like the promise of flying automobiles, it may be a while before a substitute existence is realized — and yet signs advise us of the coming off-ramp.

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

Time is not on my side

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

My computer can calculate how long it takes me to write each of my columns. It adds the time I took to write the first draft and then revise it.

HUMOR

For my last column, the computer program said I worked about three hours, but the computer did not count the time I rolled around in bed banging my cranium against the headboard trying to think of an idea or the three hours last week that I spent riding on my stationary bicycle trying to think of a clever ending.

Nor did the computer consider the two hours I spent lost in Franklin when I missed my exit trying to think of a cute title.

When I counted all this time up and divided it by my compensation, I was better off working at a fast-food joint, especially when they raise employee pay to 20 bucks an hour.

My wife asked me to clean up the garage the other day. When I was through, she said, “You’re done? In only an hour? You couldn’t have done a very thorough job.”

How insulting. I’d been thinking about cleaning that garage for more than a year. I got no credit for that. I also spent a fair amount of time planning how I would attack the mess. Should I move everything out of the garage, or just pile things up in the corner and then move stuff around? All that time should be counted. Before cleaning the garage, I went to three stores to find my favorite beer. Then an endless wait while the cans and the glass got frosty in the fridge. Did I get credit for all that time? I did not.

I explained this all to my family and it backfired. The other night my son, Brett, came over for dinner. I asked him to read a short story I was working on. He does a little writing himself and I wanted his

“When I counted all this time up and divided it by my compensation, I was better off working at a fast-food joint, especially when they raise employee pay to 20 bucks an hour.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

opinion.

“Hey, Dad. I’m done. Let’s have dinner.”

“Done already? I worked so hard on that. You took only five minutes to read it.”

“Dad, it may seem like five minutes, but did you consider my grade-school years when I spent hours and hours learning the alphabet? You may recall the summer of ‘95 when we drove around Indianapolis and you made me look for misspelled words on store signs. Or our trip to Hawaii, when I was 11 and I wasn’t allowed to have dessert until I found the misplaced apostrophe on the menu. Or the time you’ve spent drumming into my head that even when we have a conversation, I need a topic sentence. Dad, not counting all that time is not fair to me and the work I did to read that story.”

“Brett!”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Let’s have dinner.”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES

Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.

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

Average White Band will serve as Palladium headliner for Carmel Jazz Fest

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The second Carmel Jazz Festival lineup is starting to take shape.

MUSIC

Blair Clark, founder and artistic director, announced Average White Band will be the Aug. 10 headliner at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. As previously announced, Antonia Bennett, daughter of the late Tony Bennett, will be the Aug. 9 headliner at the Palladium in the two-day festival. She will be joined by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.

Average White Band, a Scottish funk and R&B band, includes founding membes Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre. The band, which was formed in 1972, is known for hits such as “Pick Up the Pieces,” “Cut the Cake, “Queen of My Soul,” “Walk On By” and “Schoolboy Crush.”

“I was able to communicate with an agent I had in the past when I lived in California and got a recommendation for the Average White Band,” Clark said. “We’re really excited about them coming and excited about the collaboration with the Palladium as always.”

“Dave Bennett is coming back by popular demand,” Clark said. “He’s a phenomenal artist.”

Clark said the same is true of Cunningham, who also returns as a performer.

“We brought back acts that people really loved last year and we’re looking forward to them coming as well as our new artists,” Clark said.

In The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts, saxophonist Danny Lerman will be the headliner Aug. 9. The Tarkington headliner for Aug. 10 will be announced later.

“What I love is we have a mixture of jazz, blues and R&B and jazz sounds,” Clark said.

“With Antonia Bennett and Carmel

Symphony, we have that element. With the Average White Band, you have an R&B funk kind of feel. Tim Cunningham is very jazz funk and Dave Bennett is very traditional jazz with a kick. We want to make sure we give our audience a great blend of blues, jazz and R&B. It’s staying in that jazz world but we’re mixing it up so people are entertained and have a great time.”

One difference this year is the outdoor concerts on Carter Green will be free

to the public. There will be a section at Carter Green for VIP ticket holders. There will be drink tickets and food vouchers with the VIP tickets, Clark said.

Clark said there will be separate acts at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael during the Carmel Jazz Festival. Those will be announced later with separate ticketed events.

The event is 5 to 10:30 p.m. each day. For more information and tickets, visit carmeljazzfest.org.

‘THE KING AND I’

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “The King and I” runs through May 19 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Corey Williams will perform May 8, followed by Marty Brown May 9 and John Lloyd Young May 10-11 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. All performances start at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘ANASTASIA’

Civic Theatre’s production of “Anastasia” runs through May 11 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.

‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY’

Actors Theatre of Indiana presents “Forbidden Broadway” through May 12 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit atistage.org.

THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN

The Magic of Motown will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 11 at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

DISPATCH

Carmel resident receives New Works prize — A proposal from a former dean of the Herron School of Art and Design has won the first visual arts prize awarded through the Center for the Performing Arts’ annual New Works commission program. Carmel resident Valerie Eickmeier will receive $2,500 to support the creation of a triptych of oil paintings, each 24-by-36 inches, titled “The Wind Makes the Sea Dance,’ inspired by the three movements of Claude Debussy’s 1905 Impressionist composition “La mer.” “When I’m painting, I listen to it over and over,” she said. A St. Louis native, Eickmeier received her MFA from Washington University and moved to central Indiana in 1982 to teach at Herron, where she was dean from 1998 to 2018. She has lived in Carmel since 2001.

From left, Average White Band members are Cliff Lyons, Rob Aries, Onnie McIntyre, Brent Carter, Alan Gorrie, Rocky Bryant and Fred “Freddy V” Vigdor. (Photo courtesy of Average White Band)

Saxophonist Tim Cunningham will be the 9 p.m. Aug. 10 Carter Green headliner. (Photos courtesy of Carmel Jazz Fest)

Jazz clarinetist Dave Bennett will be the Carter Green headliner at 9 p.m. Aug. 9.

HSE to perform teacher’s play

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Hamilton Southeastern High School teacher Ethan Mathias is giving his theater students another opportunity to perform one of his plays.

PRODUCTION

HSE will present director Mathias’ play “Where’s There’s a Will” as its thespian show at 7 p.m. May 9-11 at the school’s Little Theatre. In 2022, the students performed in his play “Provenance.”

“The most special thing about this show is having the playwright on hand throughout the entire process,” senior Gloria Lane said. “It has been immensely helpful in getting to know my character. It is great to ask questions about who your character is and get introspective answers instead of guesses. Out of all of my shows, this is the character I feel most connected with. As I experienced with Mr. Mathias’ previous work, it is great to experience the revisions,

some of which are to comply with the school policies, but others help with flow and storytelling, and it is a great experience to see the thought behind it.”

Mathias said the plot centers on three women facing vastly different choices and challenges when their grandmother leaves each of them a sizable portion of her estate with very particular final wishes.

“Navigating drama in the family, pressure in the local rural community and prejudices in a changing society, this women-centered dramedy makes some hard twists and turns as it confronts difficult issues with humor, heart and humanity,” he said.

The story was originally planned as a short play, but Mathias revisited and expanded it. There have been some informal readings.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. It is intended for audiences 14 and older. For tickets, visit HSEDrama.org.

StageStruck! screenings set

ediitorial@youarecurrent.com

The Great American Songbook Foundation will host two special film screening events as part of its StageStruck! Conference to honor the 100th anniversary of MGM. The celebration will feature participation by distinguished guests including Patricia Ward Kelly and Lorna Luft to shed light on the life and legacies of film icons Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.

FILM

The first event will take place May 14 and will highlight the enduring impact of Gene Kelly and his contributions to classic films like “Singin’ in the Rain.” The Songbook Foundation will welcome Patricia Ward Kelly, wife and official biographer of the legendary dancer, director and choreographer. She will host a pre-screening presentation featuring behind-the-scenes stories about the production process of “Singin’ in the Rain” and Gene Kelly’s experience starring in and directing the film.

On May 15, the Songbook Foundation will welcome Luft, an esteemed actress and singer known for her versatile talents and rich family legacy in the entertainment industry. She will share memories of her mother, Judy Garland, and insights into her work and legacy, including her starring role in the film “Meet Me in St. Louis.” The screening event is part of a yearlong celebration of Judy Garland as a recent inductee to the Songbook Hall of Fame.

Both screenings will take place on the campus of the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, the home of the Great American Songbook Foundation. Free general admission tickets can be reserved online at thesongbook.org/stagestruckscreenings or through the Center’s Fifth Third Bank Box Office at Tickets@thecenterpresents. org or 317-843-3800.

For more, including event details, visit thesongbook.org

Kelly

Lane Luft

Mathias

Civic Theatre offers variety

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Civic Theatre Executive Artistic Director

Michael Lasley knows selecting a season can be a challenging balance.

SCHEDULE

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and acceptance — in this case with a very popular and critically acclaimed title. ‘Kinky Boots’ won both the Tony Award and the Olivier Award for Best Musical.”

“White Christmas” will also be a firsttime production for Civic.

“You are trying to appeal to the broadest possible audience while putting together a set of titles that seem to make some sense together, and at the same time advancing the storytelling and educational goals of the institution,” Lasley said. “I think we achieved that with this season. There truly is something for everyone. It’s artistically challenging but also hits those notes of comfort and nostalgia.”

The 2024-25 season opens with “Kinky Boots” Oct. 4-19, followed by “White Christmas” Nov. 29 to Dec. 24. The 2025 portion of the season opens with “Pride & Prejudice” Feb. 7-22, followed by “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” March 14-29 and “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” April 25 to May 10. The performances are at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, except for “The Curious Incident,” which will be at the Studio Theater.

“Kinky Boots” will be a Civic Theatre premiere.

“I believe it’s only been produced one other time locally,” Lasley said. “It’s an exciting title for us and provides another opportunity to present a story of diversity

Lasley

“In fact, the stage version of the show has only been around for about 20 years, so it’s likely to be new for many people,” Lasley said. “But it features most of the music and story of the classic film, including the title song. This classic Christmas show with its ties to the Great American Songbook is a perfect fit for our patrons.”

In contrast, Civic’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is its 10th since 2000.

“It is incredibly popular and was the anchor of our holiday rotation until we recently switched to a holiday-themed title,” Lasley said. “The classic Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice collaboration has its roots in the earliest year of their partnership and is one of their most enduring shows. ‘Joseph’ represents in many ways what so many of our patrons look for in Civic productions — high energy, family friendly, technically exciting and just plain fun.”

“The Cat in the Hat” returns from Feb. 25 to March 6, 2025. Other 2025 shows include Junior Civic production of “Seussical Jr.” June 20-25, Young Artists Program’s “Revue!” June 23 and “Legally Blonde: The Musical” July 24-27.

For more, visit civictheatre.org.

CIVIC SNAPSHOT

More than 400 people attended Civic Theatre’s production of “Anastasia” April 27. The performances opened April 26 and run through May 11.

Laurie Hoadley from Illinois, left, with Emily Hoadley of Fishers. (Photo by Jennifer Haire)

Pandemic-inspired concerts now a tradition at Holliday Park

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

What started as an effort to present live music during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a summer tradition that aims to bring the community together at Holliday Park in Indianapolis.

MUSIC

The Rock the Ruins concert series will kick off its fourth season May 24, with 13 shows featuring a variety of sounds and styles scheduled through Sept. 20. The stage and viewing area are nestled between trees and the Ruins, which features a trio of sculptures made of Indiana limestone relocated from a New York City building facing demolition in the 1950s.

The partners at Forty5, which owns and operates several local performance venues, launched Rock the Ruins after COVID-19 restrictions halted most live events just months after they purchased The Vogue Theatre in Broad Ripple. They knew that nearby Holliday Park had hosted outdoor concerts in the past and could provide a unique setting to bring people together while still providing enough space for social distancing. It also allowed staff to keep working through the pandemic.

“That first year had spray-painted boxes, and you didn’t leave your box in the COVID days,” Forty5 CEO Jenny Boyts said. “It’s continued to evolve and this year is a really full calendar and full lineup. This wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan idea, but there were people and citywide institutions who believed that parks are an asset.”

Forty5 works with Indy Parks & Recreation and the Holliday Park Foundation to coordinate Rock the Ruins.

Adam Barnes, executive director of the Holliday Park Foundation, said the nonprofit had previously organized a small summer concert series at the park in the past and felt it was ripe for expansion. The partnerships finally allowed that to occur, he said, leading to one of the most “laid back” concert experiences in town.

“It’s just a very relaxed atmosphere. It’s very family friendly,” Barnes said. “There’s some incredible venues around town, but I’ve never seen one that has as many families here. So, it’s friends, families, neighbors just enjoying being outside. Then the music starts and everybody comes together around that, but it really is a unique

atmosphere.”

Rock the Ruins aims to present a variety of musical genres throughout the season from artists with diverse voices.

“We’re trying to get better across gender lines and across sexuality lines and race and putting those kinds of artists on stage,” Boyts said.

Rock the Ruins has space for up to 2,500 attendees and guests are invited to bring their own chairs or reserve them onsite. For the first time, this year a space called “the pit” will be designated for those who would rather stand or move around during the performance, Boyts said. Food trucks will be available at all shows to provide refreshments.

The limited parking spaces at Holliday Park must be reserved and purchased in advance, but free offsite parking is available at The Orchard School or Congregation B’Nai Torah. Shuttle buses will transport guests from the offsite lots to the park.

Ticket prices vary by concert and various upgrades are available. Learn more and purchase tickets at RockTheRuins.com.

May 23 – The Decemberists

June 8 – Greensky Bluegrass

June 9 – Orville Peck

June 22 – Amos Lee

June 30 – Band of Horses

July 11 – Elle King

Aug. 8 – Andrew Bird with Amadou & Mariam

Aug. 15 – Switchfoot/Blue October/Matt

Nathanson – Help From My Friends Tour

Aug. 16 – The Struts

Aug. 17 – The Mavericks

Aug. 18 – Charley Crockett

Sept. 20 – Manchester Orchestra

Rock the Ruins returns to Holliday Park in Indianapolis May 24. (Photo Doug Fellegy / Rock the Ruins)

ROCK THE RUINS 2024 LINEUP

Visiting Medinet Habu

Commentary by Don Knebel

In our continuing tour of Egypt, we visit Medinet Habu on the west bank of the Nile River across from Luxor.

TRAVEL

Medinet Habu is the name for the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramses III, who ruled Egypt from 1186 B.C. until his death in 1155 B.C. The well-preserved temple celebrated the pharaoh’s earthly achievements and allowed priests to nourish his soul so he could live forever as a god. Columns in the hypostyle hall of his 150-meter-long temple show Ramses among the gods. Statues in a courtyard portray him as Osiris, god of the afterlife.

Carvings on the north exterior wall portray Ramses and his troops battling a confederation of invading “sea people,” predominantly people the Egyptians called Pelesets and the Bible calls Philistines. The carvings show the invaders riding three-man chariots pulled by two horses, wielding double-edged swords and long spears, carrying round shields and wearing

feathered headdresses. According to the hieroglyphic account, Ramses defeated the invaders, taking many of them prisoner.

Most scholars believe the sea people described at Medinet Habu left the Aegean Sea area in about 1200 B.C. for reasons unknown and sought to settle in Egypt. After Ramses III beat them back, they moved into nearby areas. The Philistines took what is now the Gaza Strip area along the eastern Mediterranean coast. According to the Bible, as the Israelites entered their Promised Land, they stayed clear of the Philistines, apparently because of their superior iron weapons and fighting skill. The Philistines later moved aggressively into Israel’s heartland until young David killed their champion Goliath and they retreated to five cities along the coast.

Entrance to Medinet Habu.

Hypostyle hall inside the Medinet Habu. (Photos by Don Knebel)

LIFESTYLE

36. Service charge

37. Fishers HS math class

39. Brought forth

41. Butler frat letter

42. Gillette razor

44. Waiting, in a way

45. Palladium concert equipment

47. “Fine by me”

49. ___-bitsy

50. Sense of self

52. Pick up the tab

54. Heptagram

59. Portent

60. Jog on the Monon Trail

61. Rich soil

62. Delhi dress

63. Zionsville HS subj.

64. Mystical glow

65. Curved molding

66. Colts stats

67. Put one’s foot down Down

1. Shapiro’s, e.g.

2. Crooked Stick golf club

3. Kind of view

4. “Now you ___, now you don’t”

5. Lacking a musical key

6. Pittsburgh team Indianapolis Indians players move up to

7. Chick’s chirp

8. Weeps loudly

9. More spine-tingling

10. Historical periods

11. Taylor Swift, e.g.

19. Distribute pro rata

20. Very vocal

23. Tom Roush Mazda

roadster

24. Muslim faith

25. Prepare to advance on a fly ball

27. Some batteries

29. “___ now, when?”

30. Senses

31. A Roosevelt

33. Pacers’ org.

35. ___ Diego

38. Kuaba Gallery piece

40. Blizzard hazard

43. Astonish

46. Extreme

48. Space shuttle gaskets

51. Bottled spirit

53. Book of maps

54. Ho-hum

55. Online ‘zine

56. Quarry

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Neighborhood Garage Sale in The Bristols 126th Street & Brooks School Road in Fishers (46037) Friday, May 10 & Saturday, May 11 8AM - 1PM each day

Waterstone Neighborhood Garage Sale

Tons of homes participate. Make sure you get to all four neighborhoods!

Designer clothing, furniture, housewares, kids’ stuff, and incredible deals! This sale is too good to miss!

Waterstone is east of Gray Road between 116th and 126th Entrances to neighborhood are at 116th, 126th, and Gray Road

Includes Bayhill, Brookfield, Stonewick and Windpointe.

Thursday May 9th

Friday May 10th

Saturday May 11th

From 8:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m daily

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,

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

THE NEST MODULAR SECTIONAL