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Fishers hosts series of annexation open houses
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
The City of Fishers has wrapped up a series of six open houses providing information about a proposed annexation of what is now an unincorporated part of Hamilton County close to the Madison and Hancock county borders.
GOVERNMENT
During a July 29 open house at the downtown Fishers Municipal Center, Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander and department directors greeted people, walked them through the annexation process, answered questions and listened to concerns.
Alexander said attendance at the open houses has varied, but there were at least a couple that drew a pretty good crowd. Most concerns focused on taxes and sanitary sewer systems.
“There’s a lot of people that are on septic systems and a lot of people are curious if we’re going to force them to go on to sanitary,” she said. “We actually will not force anyone to go off of septic unless that septic is failing and beyond repair. But we have had some other individuals actually come to the meeting saying, ‘Hey, I do have a septic that is failing or going to be, can we explore connecting?’ And our engineers, they work with residents that are interested in that.”
Alexander said the city does have sanitary sewer infrastructure installed in the roadways for the proposed areas to be annexed. Those areas are, roughly, between Cyntheanne Road and the county line from East 101st Street to East 113th, with some carryover outside those roads.
The main concern has been taxes, though, and residents in the annexed area would see a tax increase. Alexander noted that there is a tax calculator online at fishersin.gov/annexation for people to plug in their address and see exactly how their taxes would change. She said the newly annexed area would have its own tax rate that, for example, would not include existing debt payments.
Alexander said there have been some positive responses, as well — many are happy that Fishers Police Department would be responding to law enforcement calls, because it is closer than the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. And then there are a lot of neutral questions about practical matters, such as would they have to switch water providers? They won’t — in fact, some of the residents get water from
nearby Fortville and would be able to continue that service.
There was some question about whether Fortville would actually try to annex the same area, even though that would mean crossing county lines. Alexander said to accomplish that, Fortville would have had to get approval from the Hamilton County Commissioners.
“Hamilton County Commissioners have indicated that they don’t really have an interest in allowing that,” she said, adding that the Fortville officials who initially proposed a competing annexation process were not familiar with the history of the area’s development. “I don’t think they were fully aware that we’ve kind of been tracking toward this for a while now.”
During an earlier interview, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness explained there has been a longheld understanding that those areas eventually would be annexed by the City of Fishers. The developers of the Vermillion and Flat Fork neighborhoods agreed during the development process that the properties would fall under a waiver so future owners couldn’t legally object to annexation.
The proposed annexation area includes about 950 parcels and about 75 percent of those have waivers attached.
Fall Creek Township Trustee Doug Allman was one of the citizens attending the July 29 open house. He doesn’t live in the area proposed to be annexed but said the township-managed Fall Creek Woods Natural Area would be part of the annexation.
Allman said annexation would, from what he can tell, be beneficial to the township’s property, in part because he would be able to work with the city to draft ordinances regulating what kind of activities can happen at the park.
“It will help us if we have some issues out there, so it’d be beneficial to the park,” he said. “And then, right now, local law enforcement is the sheriff’s department, so Fishers is probably a better first response.”
With the conclusion of the required open houses, the next step is for the Fishers City Council to introduce an ordinance and adopt a fiscal plan. That most likely will happen during the council’s Aug. 19 meeting. A public hearing is planned for October, with a final vote likely to take place in December.
Residents who do not have waivers attached to their property would then have until May 2025 to file objections.
For more details, visit fishersin.gov/ annexation.
About us
Founded Jan. 25, 2011, at Fishers, IN Vol. XIV, No. 29
Copyright 2023
Current Publishing, LLC All Rights Reserved.
30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444
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Information about a proposed annexation on display during a July 29 open house at the Fishers Municipal Center theater. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
DISPATCHES
Fishers road construction update — The following projects are underway and might affect traffic in the Fishers area:
CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION
• The City of Noblesville is constructing a roundabout at 141st and Promise Road. The intersection is closed through mid-August. Detour route signage is in place.
• Construction work is ongoing for the final interchange of the Ind. 37 Improvement Project at 141st Street. The west side of 141st St. at Ind. 37 has closed for a new phase of construction. Traffic transitioned to the east side, with Ind. 37 north and southbound lanes remaining open. This closure will remain in place through 2024. For more and to sign up for updates, visit 37thrives.com.
• Allisonville Road at 146th Street will have occasional lane restrictions for the delivery of materials in the work area. These lane restrictions will take place in the left-hand westbound lane of 146th Street.
• Construction is ongoing for the 96th Street and Allisonville Road Roundabout Project. Allisonville Road remains open with lane restrictions but 96th Street is closed from Allisonville to Hazel Dell Parkway. Construction has moved to phase 3B, which means traffic will shift from the east side of Allisonville to the west and will continue to flow north and south. The project is scheduled to be substantially completed at the end of the year.
• 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.
Volunteers needed — The City of Fishers has numerous volunteer opportunities available for upcoming and ongoing events. Those include the weekly farmers market, the Fishers AgriPark and Geist Half Marathon. For more, visit volunteerfishers.com.
Summer camp in Fishers helps homeless veterans
By Conrad Otto conrad@youarecurrent.com
Next Great Architects Teaching Studio had its third charrette, or summer design camp, July 22-26 at Office Works in Fishers. The camp teaches students how to create, develop and present a unique architectural design, with this year’s camp focusing on tiny homes.
ARCHITECTURE
NGA, which is based in Indianapolis, ran two camps this year — one for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and a second for students grades six through 12.
Campers worked alongside Sanctuary Indy, a nonprofit organization that is developing 5 acres of land to house homeless veterans. Each student chose a veteran to represent and created a tiny house design based on the veteran’s wants and needs.
NGA founder and CEO Kionna Walker said she was inspired for this year’s camp theme when she saw tiny homes in Detroit for kids aging out of the foster care system.
“Each year, we try to make it meaningful (with) the type projects that we have,” Walker said. “We try to connect it to something that makes sense to (camp students) and use architecture to allow them to explore that.”
Sydney Sanders, 15, who will be a sophomore at Brebeuf Jesuit, attended the camp for older kids. A first-time participant, she said she learned about the camp from her mom.
“I want to be an architect when I grow up,” Sanders said. “I’ve always liked Legos. My dad showed me a Lego model of the Eiffel Tower. I thought it was so cool, I wanted
to build something like that.”
The veteran Sanders chose asked for an open-design floor plan. She created a tiny house design inspired by Roman villas, but with a modern twist — a glass roof.
Walker said it’s rewarding to see students create houses and bring joy to what they are making.
“It is absolutely amazing. I can’t always put it into words and sometimes the way that it comes out is through tears,” Walker said. “When you see that lightbulb go off for them, it makes me feel like I’m doing something for a child that I wish that I had.”
To learn more about NGA, visit nextgreatarchitects.com.
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Kionna Walker speaks to Next Great Architects campers. (Photos by Conrad Otto)
Sydney Sanders works on design plans for an open-style tiny house.
New home permits increase
REAL ESTATE news@youarecurrent.com
Permits for new single-family homes were up 29 percent in June 2024 comparted to June 2023, according to a breakdown of permits issued across the Indianapolis metropolitan region by the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis.
The report outlines another month of increased new single-family home permits for central Indiana, despite steady interest rates and increased home prices.
“Permit numbers in central Indiana are indicative of a healthy market,” stated Steve Lains, CEO of BAGI. “Mortgage costs are still low in historical comparison. There’s record-high home equity and a tight labor market. We’ve seen a smaller percentage increase in home prices in the past two years and a steady — although higher than we’d like — interest rate.”
In Hamilton County, 257 new single-family home permits were issued in June, including 121 in Westfield, 45 in Noblesville, 42 in Carmel/Clay and 38 in Fishers.
In Boone County, 109 permits were
In Marion County, the total number of June permits was 123, including seven in Lawrence and 116 in Indianapolis.
Housing supply remains very low, adding to those increased permit numbers.
“Low, locked-in interest rates have locked people into their homes creating less existing inventory on the market and with delinquency rates at historical lows there are few distressed property sales,” Lains stated. “The only answer to demand currently is new home construction, which is why it continues to grow steadily.”
Read the full June 2024 permit report at bagi.com/permits.
Construction of new single-family homes increased in June 2024. (File photo) issued.
HSE Schools responds to unfair labor complaint
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton Southeastern School Corp. has filed its formal response to an unfair labor complaint the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association submitted in mid-June to the Indiana Education Employment Relations board.
EDUCATION
The response, which was filed July 19, denies HSEA’s allegations that Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brian Murphy acted inappropriately during interactions with HSEA President Abby Taylor and Indiana State Teachers Association UniServ Director Becky Slayton.
The district’s response repeatedly stated that the interactions were mischaracterized in the complaint.
The HSEA complaint cites text messages, in-person and telephone conversations, emails and voicemail messages. Screenshots of the text messages were included and in one thread, Murphy instructed Taylor on how to be a good advocate.
In its response, the district stated, “The text messages speak for themselves. The
school denies any allegations … which are inconsistent with the text messages.”
The complaint also alleges that Murphy threatened in a message and a phone conversation to contact Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston to “bring down collective bargaining.”
The HSE Schools’ response stated that “the school denies this telephone conversation between Brian Murphy and Becky Slayton is properly characterized.”
The complaint also alleges that Murphy physically and verbally intimidated Taylor during meetings and refused to reschedule a meeting when association representatives said they were not available.
According to the complaint, Taylor submitted a hostile work environment notice related to Murphy’s actions to Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley in early May. The following day, Murphy allegedly called Slayton and left a voicemail stating that he would be filing his own civil, criminal and civil complaints.
Murphy also allegedly warned both Taylor and Slayton about practicing law without a license when they cited Indiana law.
The district’s response to each of those
“The text messages speak for themselves. The school denies any allegations … which are inconsistent with the text messages.”
– HSE DISTRICT RESPONSE
allegations again stated that conversations between Murphy and union representatives were mischaracterized.
During the HSE Board of Trustees’ July 11 meeting, teachers and their supporters packed the audience and several speakers spoke in strong support of the union. During that meeting, the board announced that its regular July 24 meeting was canceled, but teachers organized a demonstration that day, anyway.
Taylor announced to the gathering that the district’s July 19 response didn’t follow proper procedures, which will delay the process. A prehearing conference had been scheduled for July 23. At deadline for this report, IEERB had not responded to a request for an updated hearing date.
DISPATCHES
City of Fishers seeks communications intern — College students majoring in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field are invited to apply for a part-time internship with the City of Fishers Public Relations and Community Engagement Department for fall 2024. Internship dates are August through December, with the potential to extend through spring 2025. Work hours are flexible to not conflict with classes. For more and to apply, visit bit.ly/4cKzIed.
FAC plans Second Friday receptions — The Fishers Arts Council is planning a double Second Friday event from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 9, with receptions at the FAC Hub Gallery at Hamilton County Community Foundation, 11810 Technology Dr., and the Art Gallery at City Hall, 1 Municipal Dr. The Hub Gallery will feature D Del Reverda-Jennings’ FLAVA FRESH 21! juried exhibit, and the Art Gallery at City Hall will have work by members of Indy Latina Artists. Both exhibits will be on display through August. For more, visit fishersartscouncil.org.
Hoosier State Instigators basketball team lands in Fishers
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
A new kind of professional basketball team is headed to Fishers.
SPORTS
The Hoosier State Instigators will play at Best Choice Fieldhouse, 11825 Technology Dr. The American Basketball Association season opens Oct. 19. There will be 10 home games and 10 road games, all on Saturday nights. The team is owned by Apex Athletic Collective, which gives fans voting power to make decisions.
“We came up with the idea of democratizing sports, where people have a subscription to Apex and help make decisions. Us playing in the ABA was a decision of those voters,” said Fishers resident Corey Kern, chairman and one of the founders of Apex Athletic Collective. “It’s truly fans running the team. Right now, most of our subscribers live outside of Indiana. They’re learning about Indiana and the basketball team because they are interested in making calls like the owners do. One is elected to sit on our board. Our hope is eventually we do this with more and more sports
teams in bigger and bigger leagues — really giving power to fans to shape their own teams, which has really been reserved for millionaire owners of major sports franchises.”
Apex previously was involved in Fan Controlled Football, an indoor football league that played two seasons in 2021 and 2022. Kern said fans called the offensive plays by vote.
Kern said the goal is for the Instigators to draw 150 fans per game.
each (other), so they don’t pull fans from each other,” Kern said.
The team previously played in the Clinton Community Recreation Center in Clinton. Kern said he loved that site.
“If we grow bigger, we’ll look for a bigger facility,” Kern said. “Players will sign autographs after the game. Kids can shoot at halftime when the teams go in the locker rooms. We’re trying to grow an environment where fans get to know the team and players.”
The team recently hired Jill Dobbs, who has run adult men’s leagues in the Indianapolis area and Chicago, as the head coach.
“Fishers was one of the areas we were super interested in when we were founding the team. We weren’t sure it was possible because teams have to be so far apart from
“Unfortunately, there were issues with technology and the community size with only 10,000 people or so living in Clinton, which made it unsustainable to stay there,” he said. “Since I’m from Fishers and one of the other owners lives on the northside of Indianapolis, as well, and we’ve seen all the other pro teams moving to Fishers, we thought we would revisit and take a stab at it. We worked it out with the league and worked it out with Best Choice Fieldhouse.”
In its debut 2023-24 season, the team played 16 regular-season games and two playoff games. There are approximately 160 ABA teams across the league in the United States.
Kern said the team is made up primarily of former college players, some who played overseas for a short time.
The ABA is divided into regions. The Instigators are with other teams in Indiana and
“We came up with the idea of democratizing sports, where people have a subscription to Apex and help make decisions.”
– COREY KERN
some teams in the Chicago area.
“I’d say half the team will be returning from last season,” Kern said. “Most of the players make under $100 a game, plus incentives. They are really doing it for the love of the game and the opportunity to go somewhere bigger. The league (pay) range varies because the league leaves it up to the teams.”
Among the returning players are leading scorer LaJuan Whitney, who averaged 25 points per game, and 7-foot Alex Brown, a former San Jose State player who led the ABA in blocked shots last season with an average of more than eight per game. Tickets will be $10 and $5 for seniors and children under 12. There is a season-ticket package of $90 for all 10 home games. For more, visit apexofsports.com.
A newborn baby was safely surrendered to the baby box at Fishers Fire Department’s Station 397, 15109 E. 136th St., according to a July 29 news release from FFP.
“Upon receiving the surrendered infant, our firefighters from Station 397 acted swiftly and provided the necessary medical attention and care,” the news release stated. “The baby is now under the watchful care of (Indiana) Children and Family Services, ensuring the highest standards of health and safety.”
Under Indiana’s Safe Haven Law, people may anonymously surrender an infant 30 days old or younger without prosecution at fire departments, hospitals and emergency medical services stations, or inside one of Indiana’s 130 Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
“This vital program ensures that infants are provided with a safe and secure environment while giving parents an alternative in times of crisis,” the news release stated. “Fishers Fire and Emergency Services encourages anyone in need to utilize the Safe Surrender program and to spread awareness about this lifesaving option.”
For more about the Safe Haven Law, visit the Indiana Department of Child Services at in.gov/dcs/newsroom/supplemental-information/safe-haven-law or Project Safe Haven Baby Boxes at shbb.org.
“This incident underscores the importance of community resources and support systems in safeguarding the most vulnerable among us,” the news release stated.
Fishers Fire Department Station 397 on 136th Street has a Safe Haven Baby Box. (Photo courtesy of the City of Fishers)
DISPATCHES
FULL SERVICE CLEANERS
Legislative internships available — The Indiana Senate Republican Caucus is offering paid spring semester college internships in communications, information technology, legal, legislative, page and policy offices for the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Sen. Kyle Walker (R-Lawrence) announced through his office that qualified candidates may be of any major and must be at least a college sophomore. Recent college graduates, as well as graduate and law school students, also are eligible. Interns earn a $900 biweekly stipend. The full-time positions typically begin with an orientation in late December or early January, concluding at the end of the legislative session in April 2025. For more and to apply, visit www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Intern.
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Shepherd’s Center social program – Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County hosts free social programs for residents 55 and older. The Together Today program is an opportunity for seniors to play cards, enjoy games, engage in conversations and attend educational programs. No reservations are required. Together Today meets throughout Hamilton County. Monday sessions begin at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Church, 504 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. Tuesday sessions begin at 9 a.m. at CrossRoads Church, 19201 Grassy Branch Rd. in Westfield. In Carmel, the group meets Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 1605 E. 106th St. Thursday sessions in Fishers are 10:30 a.m. at Christ The Savior Lutheran Church, 10500 E. 126th St. The Friday group meets 9:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1207 Conner St. in Noblesville. Learn more at shepherdscenterofhamiltoncounty.org.
Hamilton County court text program –Hamilton County Courts have joined a pilot program spearheaded by the Indiana Supreme Court’s Office of Court Technology to enhance communication and reduce failures to appear in court. The program sends text message reminders to petitioners and respondents in divorce, paternity, and other family cases. Participants receive text reminders about upcoming court hearings if they provide a cell phone number in their party record with the Court. Hamilton County began the pilot program in May and is assessing its effectiveness. Interested residents can update their cell phone numbers with the Clerk’s office, 1 Hamilton County Square Suite 106 in Noblesville.
Swanky fundraiser benefits Make-A-Wish
By Jennifer A. Haire northindy@yoaurecurrent.com
The second Wine, Women and Shoes event benefiting Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 16 at Lucas Estate in Carmel.
GIVING
MAW Director of Donor Advising Leslie Scott said the event “brings together up to 500 of central Indiana’s women of influence (to fulfill their) promise to grant wishes for local critically ill children who are already waiting for their wish to be granted.”
Guests can enjoy select culinary samplings from local restaurants and visit wine stations throughout the property. VIP ticket holders will also have access to a private bar and reserved lounge seating. The event includes a runway fashion show.
“The fashion show this year is hosted by Macy’s and they’re showcasing their highend brands,” Scott said.
Longtime wish granter and friend to Make-A-Wish, Nicole Pence Becker, owner and operator of Pence Media Group, will serve as emcee.
This year’s fashion show is presented by Macy’s and will showcase its high-end brands. (Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish)
Local high-fashion clothing retailers will be on-site with their latest items available for sale. Moyer Fine Jewelers will bring its most popular pieces.
“Twenty percent of the proceeds that they raise, they donate back to Make-AWish. So, ladies are shopping with a purpose,” Scott said.
The afternoon includes remarks from Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam and Carmel resident and MAW alumna Elizabeth Miller, who will share what the wish experience meant to her.
Additional activities include a live auction, 100-bottle “wine wall” raffle and a Key to the Closet raffle where one winner will go home with up to $20,000 in prizes. Each raffle entry receives a Moyer Fine Jewelers $100 store credit.
Guests are encouraged to dress in their best fashion-forward attire to be eligible to win prizes for “Best Dressed” and “Best Shoes.”
There are currently 224 promised wishes for central Indiana children.
“They are counting on us,” Scott said. “We look to our guests in attendance to help us try to grant as many as 40 with the event.”
To purchase tickets, donate or become a sponsor, visit one.bidpal.net/wws24/ welcome.
Choirs and programs for children in preschool through high school.
Input sought for Hamilton County’s CDBG long-term plan
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton County is in the process of finalizing its 2024-2029 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan, the planning document that serves as the overall guide for how CDBG funds are used.
SERVICES
The Noblesville Housing Authority administers and provides housing and community development services for all of Hamilton County. Community Development Program Manager Michelle Westermeier updated the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners on the consolidated planning process July 8. The housing authority partnered with Prosperity Indiana and Usona Development to gather the data presented in the plan. Westermeier said the Consolidated Plan identifies and updates community needs and priorities in areas of community development and affordable housing and proposes strategies on how to best use the resources available to meet those needs. The plan is a requirement to apply for CDBG funds, which are administered by the U.S.
Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.
“The intent is that it benefits households that are living with a low to moderate income, and that is up to 80 percent of what the area median income is,” Westermeier said, adding that more than 30,000 households in Hamilton County qualify for assistance.
“About one in every four of our households in Hamilton County qualify,” she said.
To create the draft plan, the housing authority held a series of meetings with stakeholders, including local government agencies, social service agencies and housing providers.
“We tried to get as much input and robust feedback as we could on the concerns (stakeholders) have with the clientele that they serve and any ideas on what we can possibly tweak or offer as we move forward,” Westermeier said. “Affordable housing was the No. 1 priority. Even our public service organizations, while they may be serving low-income folks with their programs and providing that firsthand assistance, they all across the board did feel that the CDBG funds would be best utilized focusing on affordable housing projects.”
Community Development Block Grants can be used for programs such as this sidewalk project in Westfield.
(Photo by Marney Simon)
Addressing homelessness and creating avenues for people who may be in danger of losing their homes is also a priority in the plan.
“We did have a couple mentions of offering a home repair program, which we have offered in the past,” Westermeier said. “There does seem to be a continued need for that.”
Additional proposed projects include:
• Community land trust — A capacitybuilding fund of $100,000 was recommended, with funds earmarked to kick start housing land trust activity to assist with an affordable housing
pilot project.
• Acquisition of land — $1.2 million would be allocated to acquire existing rental units throughout Hamilton County and placed in a land trust to remain affordable in perpetuity.
• Baker’s Corner — The recommendation utilizes $552,110 for infrastructure costs for acquisition and infrastructure development in northern Hamilton County.
• City infrastructure projects — The project proposed $2.2 million earmarked for projects in Noblesville, Westfield, Fishers and Carmel, including streets and sidewalks, flood drainage and ADA modifications. The plan would provide one large award to each city over the five-year period. Projects must serve CDBG eligible areas or CDBG eligible clientele.
The 2024-2029 Consolidated Plan draft is available for public review and comment through Aug. 9. The plan must be submitted to HUD by Aug. 15.
Learn more about Hamilton County’s Community Development Block Grant Program at gonha.org/cdbg.
Fishers awards neighborhood improvement grants
news@currentinfishers.com
The City of Fishers recently awarded about $335,000 in new grants to 18 neighborhoods through the city’s Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant Program.
FUNDING
About $400,000 in grant funding was awarded earlier in the year to 28 neighborhoods. Applications are now closed for 2024 neighborhood grants.
The city increased funding for the Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant program from $100,000 to $750,000 in 2024 and lowered the financial match requirements for applicants from 50 percent to 20 percent.
The new round of grant recipients include:
• Cottingham Estates ($8,061.34) for park and playground improvements
• Delaware Pointe ($15,000) to replace the wooden playground structure, refresh landscaping and repair a fence
• Fawnsbrook Woods ($22,830.31) to renovate neighborhood entrance signs and install new landscaping
• Oak Hall ($24,250) to install a new fountain aeration system for the neighborhood pond and repair entrance columns
• Sand Creek Farms ($21,670) to renovate neighborhood entrance signs and for sidewalk repairs
• Sandstone ($25,000) to remove and replace 33 trees
• Seven Oaks ($4,240) to relocate the path and install a bench near a pond
• Spyglass Falls ($25,000) to restore the waterfall at the entrance along East 116th Street
• Steeplechase ($23,117) to renovate
Fishers Neighborhood Vibrancy Grants go toward projects such as trails, benches and landscaping. (Photo courtesy of the City of Fishers)
five neighborhood entrance signs and install electrical and landscaping improvements
• Sterling Green ($25,000) to purchase and install 93 street trees
• Sweet Briar ($20,164.54) to install an inclusive playground
• Thorpe Creek ($25,000) to install lighting along the entrance parkway and make improvements to the trail system
• Townhomes at Avalon ($25,000) to install landscaping to screen utility boxes throughout the neighborhood
• Townhomes at Fishers Pointe ($10,000) to make improvements to the existing tree buffers
• Waterford Gardens ($19,178.40) to install a new fountain aeration system for the neighborhood pond
• Whispering Woods ($25,000) to remove and replace 31 pear trees, remove overgrown areas and install low-maintenance plantings
• Windermere ($14,000) to renovate neighborhood entrance signs and lighting and install native plants Learn more about the grant program at FishersIN.gov/Grants.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL LUNCHES
Hamilton Southeastern Schools’ culinary training focuses on nutrition, diversity
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Students at Hamilton Southeastern Schools will see fresher, made-fromscratch meals when school starts Aug. 7, part of the district’s ongoing effort to offer diverse and healthy food options to its more than 21,000 students.
“Our goal, because we are in education, is to educate students and introduce them to different foods,” HSE Director of Food Services Karen Ogden said. “Last year, we started our global meals, which we do monthly. We (pick) different regions and prepare a meal that (we) serve to the students. We also started our Harvest of the Month, introducing them to — whether it’s corn or watermelon, let’s say — and maybe it’s prepared a different way for them to taste or try.”
The district’s kitchens have made tikka masala, Caribbean black beans and rice and roasted jicama, to name a few items.
To help food service managers and kitchen staff learn more about preparing that kind of food and other fresh options, HSE hosted a training in late June — Culinary Skills for A+ School Meals, a weeklong workshop sponsored by the Indiana Department of Education.
Catering Manager Amy Reade attended the training. She was one of about 10 HSE Schools staff members there but said there was a total of 30 participants from several districts.
“It was awesome,” she said. “It was very eye opening. It was fun to learn to how to make scratch food in our four walls. I hope that we continue to move toward more of a scratch kitchen.”
A scratch kitchen is one where the food is prepared and cooked on-site. That’s challenging for a school kitchen that must produce food in large volumes, but Reade said they learned methods to do more preparation ahead of time and make sure everything is ready when hungry kids show up.
She said they will start making small changes right away while working toward a larger shift.
“Some of the things that we made during this (training) would probably be too complicated for us to do in our four walls at this time,” she said. “But there are little
things, like dressings, that we could make very easily in our cafeterias that taste so much better than the low-sodium ones that we’re getting in now.”
The training had different themes each day, Reade said, such as a grains day, salad day and sandwich day.
“The sandwiches — that was probably the best day, because there were just so many different sandwiches,” she said. “The Caprese sandwich was probably my favorite. But then there was a po’boy, a tofu one that was good — and I’m not a tofu person.”
Reade said the training also covered different cooking techniques, adding spic-
es to improve flavor and presentation — because if it looks good, the kids are more likely to try it.
“It was fun to learn, but it was also fun to be with the managers in our district and see how excited they were about this,” she said. “We broke into, I think, eight different groups every day and had four to six different items to make each. Then we would all eat lunch together, and that was our lunch.”
And, she said, the kids will benefit — which is the ultimate goal.
“Different meals that taste better and are made with love,” Reade said. “It’s not just heating stuff up.”
HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS
School meals have changed over the decades with more of a focus on health and taste. The June culinary training at Hamilton Southeastern Schools included recipes tailor-made for school districts, following federal nutrition guidelines.
The trainer, Chef Samantha Cowens-Gasbarro, works with Healthy School Recipes, an organization that specializes in K-12 nutrition. The organization’s website has numerous recipes for serving large numbers of students.
One example is a bibimbap bowl recipe that serves 50. The Korean-inspired dish has brown rice, tofu, edamame, carrots, cucumbers, sauces and spices. Notes at the end of the recipe help kitchen managers know how well the meal fits federal regulations for grain, protein and vegetable servings; and includes other nutrition information, such as calories, fat and sodium.
For more, visit healthyschoolrecipes. com.
Odgen agreed and added that it’s beneficial to introduce children to different types of food and ways of cooking. She said younger kids, especially, are open to trying new things. Food also can help foster understanding of different cultures.
Ogden noted that there are more than 100 languages spoken in the district. Kitchen managers try to find something they can prepare to represent some of the major regions represented within the student body, she said, and the more popular items — like ramen bowls — have been incorporated into the regular meal rotation.
A little more than half of the district’s students regularly eat a meal for breakfast and/or lunch at school. Others either bring their lunch or buy pizza, for example, which doesn’t count as a meal by federal guidelines. About 25 percent of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches, which Ogden said is lower than average, but has grown in the last few years.
For more about the state culinary training program, visit facebook.com/ K12culinaryskills.
ON THE COVER: Hamilton Southeastern Schools hosted a culinary training session for area school meals providers to learn new skills and recipes. (Photo courtesy of HSE Schools)
One of the culinary training days for HSE Schools meal providers focused on sandwiches. (Photos courtesy of HSE Schools) HSE Schools food services managers attend a summer training to learn new skills and recipes.
Carmel Jazz Festival feature high school, college musicians
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Carmel High School senior Michael Clarke knows this is a special opportunity for his band.
Clarke is the keyboardist for Europa, which will play on the Carter Green stage at 9 p.m. Aug. 10 in the Carmel Jazz Festival, which starts Aug. 9.
“The whole point of this band is to get us out there and get experience with playing, especially jazz,” Clarke said. “Playing at Jazz Fest is the culmination of that. It started with us wanting to get our names out there and play music. The fact we’re able to play in front of so many skilled musicians, it’s exactly what we were aiming to do. Even if we don’t play, like, a perfect concert, we’ll be able to watch others. We’ll get feedback and we’ll show we really do care about this kind of art.”
Clarke recently was on a School of Rock All-Stars tour of the Midwest.
The group includes 2024 CHS graduate Sam Rubin on guitar, along with Clarke and fellow CHS seniors Ben Krowiak, drums, and Tarek Osman, saxophone. Zionsville Community High School junior Gus Brown plays bass guitar. Rubin, Clarke, Osman and Krowiak got together to play jazz tunes about two years ago.
“We were making slow progress for a year and we ended up playing at our school’s Jazz a la Mode concert in 2023, which was a lot of fun,” Clarke said. “It was fun, but it didn’t sound amazing.”
Clarke invited Brown to join the band about a year ago.
“Having a bassist helped us fill out some of our sounds,” he said.
Brown joined Europa for the Jazz a la Mode concert at CHS this spring. He also was selected for the School of Rock AllStar tour and recently returned from a tour of Florida.
Clarke said they plan to continue as Europa as Rubin is attending Purdue Uni-
versity and should be able to join them for performances.
“I’m going to Purdue next year and none of us are planning to go too far away to college, so we’re planning to keep this going,” Clarke said. “It’s been a lot of fun and it’s much more successful than we ever thought it would be.”
At the Carmel Jazz Festival, CHS junior Delilah Seal will join the band to sing Erroll Garner’s “Misty.” Clarke said it’s a 30-minute set, so Europa is planning to perform six songs.
“We’ve narrowed down to playing the best of the best songs we know how to play,” Clarke said.
The name Europa is derived from the name of one of Jupiter’s moons.
“It’s why our logo is an astronaut,” Clarke said.
The Aug. 10 program also will feature The Jazz Professors at 9:30 p.m. on the Carter Green stage.
The group includes college professors Mark Buselli, Ball State University; Tom Walsh, Indiana University; Mark O’Connor, University of Indianapolis; and Matt Pivec, Butler University.
“The four of us will be performing with an all-star student from one of our
student combos,” said Buselli, who is director of jazz studies at BSU and is a northside Indianapolis resident.
Buselli plays trumpet and the rest of the professors play saxophone. The students will play piano, guitar, drums and bass guitar.
Buselli said the same four professors played together last year in the inaugural Carmel Jazz Festival.
“The experience was wonderful, especially for the students,” Buselli said. “They played to packed houses. They were very excited that people were actually listening to them and clapping. The energy was really nice.”
The Indiana University and Ball State combos will play 90-minute sets Aug. 10 at the Studio Theater in the Center for the Performing Arts. The University of Indianapolis and Butler jazz combos play Aug. 9 at the Studio Theater.
“It’s great for the students because they have to (have) a rehearsal schedule, they have to figure out as a group what music to play and who is playing on what songs,” Buselli said. “It’s a learning experience.”
For the schedule, visit carmeljazzfest. org.
‘LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL’
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” runs through Aug. 25 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
Zach Day will perform Aug. 9, followed by The Cohen-Rutkowski Project featuring Sandy Lomaz Aug. 10 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com
SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIE
Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA concert is set for Aug. 9, followed by Yächtley Crëw with opening act Rock E Bassoon Aug. 10 at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Both performances start at 8 p.m. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
Cage The Elephant will perform on its “Neon Pill” tour at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
DISPATCH
Indy Shorts awards prizes — Indy Shorts International Film Festival presented more than $35,000 in prizes July 27. The three grand prize-winning films, “Crust” (Jens Kevin Georg, Germany), “Wouldn’t Make It Any Other Way” (Hao Zhou, United States) and “The Brown Dog” (Jamie-James Medina and Nadia Hallgren, United States) received their qualification for the 2025 Academy Awards and $5,000 in cash awards. The Indiana Spotlight Award and the $2,000 cash prize went to directors Adam Oppenheim and Samuel-Ali Mirpoorian for their film “Saving Superman.” The Audience Choice Award Winners were announced July 29. The Overall Audience Choice Award and $2,000 cash prize went to “Jane Austen’s Period Drama” by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder (United States). The Indiana Spotlight Audience Choice Award and $500 cash prize went to “The Ice Cream Man” by Robert Moniot.
From left, Europa members Sam Rubin, Michael Clarke, Gus Brown, Ben Krowiak and Tarek Osman will play at Carmel Jazz Fest. (Photo courtesy of Europa)
Saturday, September 28 | 7:30 - 10:30PM
Reunited Doobies continue tour
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
When Pat Simmons asked Michael McDonald if he wanted to rejoin The Doobie Brothers for a few shows for the band’s 50th anniversary tour, he had no idea how long it would last.
CONCERT
“It turned out to be serendipitous,” said Simmons, the band’s guitarist and one of its founding members. “Mike joined us for a few shows. I think he was enjoying himself. It’s turned into more shows. He’s always been welcome to come and play with us. He’s been in and out through the years, singing on a few albums we’ve done and showing up at shows. It’s extended into years now. We’ll see how long he can stand us.”
McDonald will be part of The Doobie Brothers’ performance Aug. 17 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. Steve Winwood is the opening act at 7 p.m.
The 50th anniversary tour was supposed to start in 2020 but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Doobie Brothers appeared with McDonald in 2021.
McDonald joined the band in 1975 as a temporary replacement for Tom Johnston, who became ill during a national tour. He fit in so well, he became a full-time member until the band took a four-year hiatus in 1982.
“For me, it brings together both eras of the band,” Simmons said. “When Mike’s not there, we might do one or two of his songs. It’s nothing like having the real guy there singing his stuff. For the audience, it’s a pretty special experience. Mike certainly has his own fan base. Some might not even like The Doobie Brothers but they like Mike. We kind of pick up his audience as well.”
Simmons said the band is rehearsing a new song, “Walk This Road,” that it hopes to debut this summer.
“I think we’re ready to perform it now,” he said. “It’s getting it right and where do you put a song that nobody knows. I guess that’s where everybody wants to take a bathroom break.”
Simmons, 75, said the band tries to stay prepared for long tours.
“We do the best we can,” he said. “We do try to take care of ourselves. We’re not the young kids we once were. Playing live keeps you in the game. We’re lucky to have a great repertoire. Everybody has been involved in writing. Everybody contributes and everybody sings.”
Simmons, who wrote and sings “Black Water,” wrote “Cannonball” from the 2021 album “Liberté,” a song about motorcycles
“It goes family, band and motorcycles,” he said of his three loves. “It’s about a cross-country ride that I’ve done a few times called the Motorcycle Cannonball.”
For tickets, visit livenation.com
FREE EVENT SUMMER FEST
Feeling strapped for cash but still want to have some fun? Each week, Current helps you find things to do without breaking the bank. Here’s what’s on tap this week:
Each year, Janus hosts a day of summer fun. This year’s Summer Fest begins at 8 a.m. Aug. 16 at 1555 Westfield Rd. in Noblesville. All Janus staff and program participants join in on the fun. For more, visit janus-inc.org/ events-2.
OTHER FREE AREA EVENTS
CARNIVAL — The free Sensory-Friendly Summer Send-Off Carnival at Bierman Autism Centers in Westfield is from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 10.
TRAINING — The Hamilton County Health Department will have a free training at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at 18106 Cumberland Rd. in Noblesville to teach people to act with care and compassion if they come across a veteran in a crisis.
From left, Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and John McFee. (Photo courtesy of The Doobie Brothers)
JEROME COLLINS: REWIND–A JOURNEY TO MOTOWN & BEYOND
FRI, SEPT 13 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
VERONICA SWIFT
SAT, SEPT 14 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
CENTER CELEBRATION 2024 FEATURING CHRIS BOTTI
SAT, SEPT 21 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM
NICK CARTER: WHO I AM TOUR
THU, SEPT 26 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM
LEONID & FRIENDS: HE MUSIC OF CHICAGO AND MORE FRI, SEPT 27 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
DAMIEN ESCOBAR: VICTORY LAP TOUR
SAT, SEPT 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
BEN FOLDS: PAPER AIRPLANE REQUEST TOUR
THU, OCT 10 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM
#IMOMSOHARD: LADIES’ NIGHT! FRI, OCT 11 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY SAT, OCT 12 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
SUN, OCT 13 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD SAT, OCT 19 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
SPACE ODDITY: THE QUINTESSENTIAL DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE SAT, OCT 26 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
DANA & GREG NEWKIRK’S HAUNTED OBJECTS LIVE SUN, OCT 27 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON
VITAMIN STRING QUARTET: THE MUSIC OF TAYLOR SWIFT, BRIDGERTON AND BEYOND SUN, OCT 27 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM
ZAKIR HUSSAIN & RAHUL SHARMA FRI, NOV 1 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
BONEY JAMES: SLOW BURN TOUR SAT, NOV 2 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
THE MAGIC OF MICHAEL GRANDINETTI–EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC
SAT, NOV 2 AT 2PM & 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
GRUPO NICHE
FRI, NOV 8 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
THE PIANO GUYS
SAT, NOV 9 AT 4PM & 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
BUCKETS N BOARDS
SUN, NOV 17 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM
AN EVENING WITH LESLIE ODOM JR. FRI, NOV 22 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
CANADIAN BRASS
SAT, NOV 23 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
DIONNE WARWICK
SUN, NOV 24 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM
HOME FREE: ANY KIND OF CHRISTMAS TOUR
TUE DEC 3 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM
CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES: WWII TIKI XMAS CANTEEN
THU, DEC 5 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM
THE FOUR PHANTOMS: HOLIDAY SHOW FRI, DEC 6 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
JANE LYNCH’S A SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS SAT, DEC 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
MATTEO BOCELLI: A NIGHT WITH MATTEO THU DEC 12 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM
DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS
CHRISTMAS TOUR 2024 FRI, DEC 13 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SAT, DEC 14 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
MAC MCANALLY FRI, JAN 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
YESTERDAY AND TODAY: THE INTERACTIVE BEATLES EXPERIENCE SAT, JAN 18 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
FRI, FEB 21 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
KALANI PE’A: GRAMMY-WINNING SINGER, SONGWRITER SAT, FEB 22 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
DON WAS & THE PAN DETROIT ENSEMBLE FRI, FEB 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
THE STEPCREW FRI, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
BROOKLYN CHARMERS: A STEELY DAN TRIBUTE FRI, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
THE EVOLUTION OF JONI MITCHELL STARRING LAUREN FOX FRI, JAN 24 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
HEART OF AFGHANISTAN
FEATURING THE FANOOS ENSEMBLE SAT, JAN 25 AT 8PM || THE TARKINGTON
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS SUN, JAN 26 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM
THE KINGS OF QUEEN SAT, FEB 1 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
WELCOME BACK: THE RETURN OF EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER FRI, MAR 21 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
DUSTBOWL REVIVAL: A LAUREL CANYON RETROSPECTIVE FRI, MAR 21 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
THE RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS SUN, MAR 23 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON
GRIMMZ FAIRY TALES SUN, MAR 23 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM
LANG LANG FRI, MAR 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
BRITAIN SAT, APR 12 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
BACHELORS OF BROADWAY: GENTLEMEN OF THE THEATRE SUN, APR 13 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM
ITZHAK PERLMAN IN RECITAL THU, APR 17 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM
MICKY DOLENZ OF THE MONKEES: AN EVENING OF SONGS & STORIES FRI, APR 25 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
BLACK VIOLIN SAT, APR 26 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
OUR PLANET LIVE: A NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES WITH DAN TAPSTER TUES, APR 29 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM
MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES THU, MAY 1 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM
CELEBRATE THE SONGBOOK: MICHAEL FEINSTEIN WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SAT, MAY 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM
iLUMINATE SUN, MAY 11 AT 4PM | THE PALLADIUM
RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY
BEN FOLDS
LESLIE ODOM JR.
LANG LANG
MICKY DOLENZ
AmericanFlags and PatrioticItems MadeFrom RetiredFireHose
Brotherhood Designs utilizes their Retired Fire Hose Waste Reduction Program to create Patriotic art as well as to supply zoos and animal sanctuaries with material they upcycle for rehabilitation and enhancement of their habitat.
Prairie presents bassoon band
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Doug Spaniol knows his band has a unique approach to music.
CONCERT
“For the audience to hear a band of electric bassoons is unusual, a novelty,” Spaniol said. “The amazing thing is how we can make it sound like a regular old rock band using bassoons.”
This is the third consecutive year Rock E Bassoon will perform at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Rock E Bassoon will open for Yächtley Crëw at 8 p.m. Aug. 10.
“From our perspective, playing at Conner Prairie is great,” said Spaniol, a professor of bassoon at Butler University. “It’s a great venue, lovely audience, awesome sound system and the weather is nice. It’s a great evening for everyone. It’s my favorite gig of all the gigs that I do and Conner Prairie is my favorite venue.”
Matt Gutwein formed the band with Spaniol, Mark Ortwein and Diana Ortega to play a set of Beatles music at the Tonic Ball in 2016. They enjoyed it so much they
kept playing together. Eventually, Ortega moved from Indianapolis.
The other members are Mike Muszynski, Kelly Swensson, Kara Stolle and drummer Craig Hetrick. Swensson and Stolle live in Zionsville and the other members live in Indianapolis. Ortwein, Muszynski and Hetrick are full-time ISO members.
Carmel resident PJ Woolston will sub for Gutwein at Symphony on the Prairie.
Spaniol said “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Uptown Funk,” “Crazy Town” and “Toxic” are among the songs the band performs. For more, visit rockebassoon.com.
Pairing tips with craft brews
Commentary by Mark LaFay
As summer wanes, beer enthusiasts on the north side of Indianapolis have a wealth of options to enjoy locally brewed craft beer.
DRINKS
UPLAND BREWING CO.
(Bloomington and two Carmel locations)
Standout beer: Dragonfly IPA
Description: A well-balanced IPA with a mix of pine and citrus notes.
Pairing tip: Perfect with spicy grilled chicken or a hearty burger.
SUN KING BREWERY (Indianapolis)
Visit the Carmel tap room and chill on the green. There is a Fishers spot as well.
Standout beer: Sunlight Cream Ale
Description: This cream ale is light and refreshing with a smooth finish.
Pairing tip: Pair this cream ale with light summer salads or grilled fish.
BIG LUG CANTEEN
(Indianapolis) 86th Street and the Monon
Standout beer: Kings Jive
Description: A rich, full-bodied Märzen, Kings Jive has a perfect blend of malty sweetness and subtle hop bitterness.
Pairing tip: Enjoy with grilled sausages or a pretzel with mustard.
MOONTOWN BREWING CO.
(Whitestown; new tap room opening in Carmel this fall)
Standout beer: King of Troy Dortmunder
Description: This Dortmunder-style lager is crisp and slightly malty.
Pairing tip: Great with seafood dishes like mussels or shrimp.
5. TAXMAN BREWING CO.
(Bargersville; visit its location in Fortville for a lovely beer and vibe)
Standout beer: Deduction Dubbel
Description: A Belgian-style Dubbel with notes of caramel, dark fruit, and spice.
Pairing tip: Pair with rich, meaty dishes like roasted pork or beef stew.
Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4201 Millersville Rd., Suite 119, Indianapolis
From left, Matt Gutwein, Doug Spaniol, Mark Ortwein, Craig Hetrick, Kelly Swensson, Mike Muszynski and Kara Stolle. (Photo courtesy of Rock E. Bassoon)
Resource fair offers assistance for veterans, families
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
The Hamilton County Veterans Corps assists military veterans in need. In July, the organization hosted a resource fair at the Noblesville Schools’ Community Center in Noblesville, providing vital information to those veterans and their families.
ASSISTANCE
“We’re here to bring resources to one place that our military veteran community can come to and get the help that they need, instead of looking and searching for whatever issues they have the answers to,” said Bill Doss, secretary of the Hamilton County Veterans Corp.
The event featured 78 resource tables, including veterans organizations, health and wellness organizations, educational services, businesses, nonprofits and local, county, state and federal elected leaders.
“(We’re) bringing the resources to one place — we can amplify them to reach the veteran who is not connected, the ones who aren’t talking to anyone else,” Doss said. “They don’t go to (veterans organiza-
tions) and they don’t have knowledge about what is going on at the VA. Those veterans who aren’t connected, those are the ones who are in the darker place. To reach them, we need to invite the community.”
Doss said the resource fair is designed for veterans, but also serves anyone in Hamilton County. The organization will
move the fair to the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds for two events in spring and fall 2025.
The Hamilton County Veterans Corps also partners with the Indiana Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and their Families. Doss said the organization wants to get more
community involvement.
“We are all trying to bring resources to people, but we still need to reach the public to let them know what is happening with these different coalitions and different groups that we work with,” Doss said. Learn more at hamiltoncountyveterans. com.
Hundreds of people visited the Hamilton County Veterans Corps resource fair July 20 in Noblesville. (Photos by Marney Simon)
iFlex opens Noblesville location
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
iFlex Stretch Studio, a franchise that has developed a series of assisted stretches to address several muscle issues, opened its fifth studio in the United States at 11170 E. 146th St. in Noblesville last month.
WELLNESS
The location will have a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 9 with the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce. The event will include free sample stretches and tents, as well as opportunities to win prizes and discounted memberships.
Kevin Needler, regional developer for iFlex in Indiana, said iFlex uses proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation to help trigger neurological responses and reprogram muscles.
“The resistance part of the stretching is kind of the magic pill in the therapy,” Needler said. “We use a simple age range of 8 to 88.”
Needler said Noblesville was chosen for the new location because there are few competitors in the area, and the city continues to expand.
“First of all, Noblesville is expanding. We just felt like of all the cities that are next to expand, Noblesville is definitely one of them,” Needler said. “This location was perfect, and we can bring in the Fishers
folks, too. Our goal is to open 21 studios in Indiana.”
Joshua Reed, CEO of iFlex, is excited for Needler and his team to immerse themselves in the Noblesville community.
“Our goal is to improve the lives of as many people as possible through customized professionally assisted stretch therapy programs, and this location is well on its way to doing just that,” Reed said.
iFlex Noblesville offers two memberships: $158 for two 50-minute full-body stretch sessions per month and $79 for two 25-minute targeted stretch sessions per month.
For more, visit iflexstretchstudios.com.
DISPATCHES
OneZone August speakers — OneZone Chamber of Commerce will host Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg for its Aug. 9 Eggs & Issues morning program; Andy Mork of Mork Productions for the Aug. 13 Caffeinated Conversations; and Realtor Crystal White for the OWN Tactical Workshop conversation Aug. 28. Reservations for OneZone events can be made at onezonechamber.com or by calling 317-436-4653.
Drones used to improve electric grid –Duke Energy announced that it is deploying aerial drones to inspect overhead power lines and electrical equipment across Hamilton and Boone counties to improve power reliability and strengthen the electric grid. With drones, crews can safely and efficiently inspect areas that are difficult to access. The aerial vantage point allows the company to identify equipment that needs repair or replacement and to get a clear view of
vegetation growth around power lines. Drone inspections are underway in Carmel, Cicero, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield and Zionsville. Work in the area is scheduled to conclude by the end of August.
Workers comp conference set — Keeping workers’ compensation premium rates low directly affects the bottom line for Indiana businesses. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Indiana Workers’ Compensation Conference will feature presentations that teach effective strategies to handle claims and cut expenses. The Aug. 27 conference at the Ritz Charles in Carmel will be presented by statewide law firm Kightlinger & Gray LLP in partnership with Clearpath Specialty and takes place. Registration is $449 for Indiana Chamber members and $549 for non-members. The event also offers a virtual attendance option. To register, visit indianachamber.com/ conferences.
iFlex Stretch Studio at 11170 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. (Photo by Jessica Todd)
Art of managing expectations
Commentary by Terry Anker
Big promises are made. We get our hopes up. Perhaps so much so that disappointment is inevitable. Will they overpromise and underdeliver? Is it possible that they could conjure up everything outlined and more? Commitments often have a lifecycle. They start with big aspirations and unchecked hubris about the resources required to accomplish the goal. Excitement of the potential can anesthetize us from critical thought. We imagine all manner of impossibilities to be not only possible but easily attained. Sometimes it is the spin of a good sell job, but often we are complicit in the ride. We want to catch what they are pitching.
ESSAY
Invariably, we soon find our ability to effect the grand changes promised to require more heavy lifting and compromise than expected. Persistence demands stamina and both take effort. So, we adjust and begin to dial down the rhetoric of our role in the change and aim the spotlight at those who would be potential scapegoats
in a failure. Ultimately, the dramatic and sweeping reform is scaled back or put on hold. The product was already sold, so we come to realize that we bought a longshot chance rather than efficacy. Blame flies and accountability is in short supply. Political, professional or late-night television infomercial, we are surrounded by those who promise big knowing that little is likely to be delivered.
Should we scold ourselves for not being critical enough of them for leading us down the primrose path or of them for taking advantage of our slumber? But if we are always thinking critically, how do we remain optimistic? Who is responsible for managing our expectations — the one making the promises or those of us naive enough to follow? If we invite them to do it, is it our fault that they lie to us?
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent. com.
READERS’ VIEWS
Editor,
World Lung Cancer Day was Aug. 1, a time to raise awareness about this serious disease.
Lung cancer can affect anyone, but individuals with a history of tobacco use/exposure are at significantly higher risk. The American Lung Association reports that smoking is directly responsible for about 90 percent of lung cancer deaths.
Indiana, unfortunately, has one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the Midwest, at 99 cents since 1997. According to the American Cancer Society, raising Indiana’s cig-
arette tax could prevent 16,800 premature deaths among Hoosiers and raise funding for prevention and cessation education programs across the state.
In recognition of World Lung Cancer Day, let’s come together to advocate for a healthier Indiana. Write or call your legislators, encouraging them to support a $2 increase in the cigarette tax during the 2025 legislative session.
Learn more and join the alliance at breatheeasyhamiltoncounty.com.
Stacy Collins, executive director, Breathe Easy Hamilton County
Of all the cheesy monthly topics
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
I’m always nervous about traveling overseas because I’m afraid I’ll miss something important here in the United States. For example, we will be gone during part of February next year. My wife Mary Ellen could not have picked a worse month to be away. With a simple Google search, I realized I’d miss many exciting celebrations.
HUMOR
To name just a few: National Chocolate Month, National Pie Month, National Dental Health Month, National Age-related Macular Degeneration Month, Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, International Brownie Camera Day, National Goat Yoga Month, Spunky Old Broads Month, National Creative Romance Month and, finally, Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.
Our family is headed on vacation this month. I just realized that August is National Goat Cheese Month. How time flies. It seems like just yesterday, I was celebrating this holiday with some of my
Notice is hereby given that online bids will be received:
Project:
Until: Agripark Building 11:00 A.M., local time, Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Online Bids for the construction of the Project will be received for the project until August 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. local time. At that time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read at a Bid Opening meeting at 11:00 am (local time) on August 13, 2024, in the City of Fishers City Hall, 3rd Floor, Nickel Plate Conference Room, 1 Municipal Drive Fishers IN 46038. The bid opening can also be joined virtually. No late bids will be accepted
Microsoft Teams Information can be obtained by contacting (317) 595-3214.
Bids received after the stated time will be unopened. Bidders shall submit financial data, statement of experience, proposed plan for performing the Work and the equipment the Bidder has available for the performance of the Work, along with a properly signed Affidavit of Non-Collusion as required by Form No. 96.
Bids will ONLY be received and accepted through vBid via QuestCDN.com. Prospective bidders must be on the plan holder list through QuestCDN for bids to be accepted.
Pre-Bid Meeting: An optional Pre-Bid meeting for interested parties will be held on August 7, 2024, at 10:00 A.M., local time at City of Fishers Parks Department, Hub & Spoke Building, 8100 E. 106th Street, Fishers, IN 46038. Attendance is encouraged but not required.
Microsoft Teams Information for the Pre-Bid meeting can be obtained by contacting (317) 5953214.
For special accommodations for individuals planning to attend the Pre-Bid meeting or public bid opening, please call or notify the City of Fishers at (317) 595-3111 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior thereto.
The Work: The Work shall be completed by
closest friends, going to wine and cheese parties and getting high on cholesterol. Has it really been a year?
How did goat cheese get an entire month? I don’t want to insult goat cheese lovers (or goats), but I don’t think goat cheese deserves four weeks. I figure with a good party planner and some forethought, you could celebrate everything about goat cheese in a day — maybe in two hours. But “National Goat Cheese Two Hours” just doesn’t have the same ring. You probably just said to your spouse, “Where is Wolfsie going with this goat cheese thing? He can’t write an entire column about goat cheese.”
And the response you got, “You’re selling the guy short, sweetheart. I’ve seen him write about way dumber things.”
I’m not going to take the easy way out by bringing in National Peanut Butter Month, which started slowly but spread over the years. And I won’t mention National Kite Month, which had trouble getting off the ground.
No, this is about National Goat Cheese Month. And I’m sticking to it (that line would have been better during National Peanut Butter Month).
Now that I know it’s National Goat Cheese Month, I don’t want to fritter it away (I’d do that during National Apple Month).
After dinner we’ll … or maybe we’ll go down to … how about a nice evening of … See what I mean? You can’t even fill two hours celebrating goat cheese. Why didn’t they partner with Goat Yoga Month?
I wrote 480 words about goat cheese, which is the maximum I’m required to turn in for my column.
Four hundred and eighty.
Exactly.
CITY OF FISHERS NOTICE TO BIDDERS
certified/qualified Contractor(s) and Subcontractor(s) for the Project all as required by the Bidding Documents which have been assembled into a bound Project Manual and consists of: Construction of an insulated workshop style building for a farm store, classroom and restrooms at the City of Fishers Agripark.
The Project has a projected completion date of March 1, 2025.
Contract Award: Any Bid may be withdrawn prior to the deadline for receipt of Bids, but no Bidder shall withdraw its Bid within sixty (60) days after the opening of the Bids. If a contract is awarded, it will be to the “lowest responsible and responsive bidder” in accordance with Indiana Code 36-1-12-1 et seq. The Owner, however, reserves the right to reject and/ or cancel any and all Bids, solicitations and/or offers in whole or in part as specified in the solicitation when it is not in the best interests of the Owner, and waive any informalities, discrepancies, omissions, variances, or irregularities in bids received in its sole discretion. The Bid Bonds and certified checks of unsuccessful bidders will be returned upon selection of the successful Bidder, execution of the Agreement, and provision of the required Performance and Payment Bonds and Certificate of Insurance.
Bid Documents: Interested Bidders may obtain electronic Bidding Documents from https://qcpi.questcdn.com/cdn/posting/ ?group=8012654&provider=8012654&projType=all or www.questcdn.com, Reference Quest Number 9230619
To be considered a plan holder for bids, register with QuestCDN.com for a free Regular membership and download the bidding documents in digital form at a cost of $42.00. Downloading the documents and becoming a plan holder is recommended as plan holder’s receive automatic notice of addenda, other bid updates and access to vBid, online bidding via QuestCDN.
Contact QuestCDN Customer Support at 952-
233-1632 orSupport@QuestCDN.com for assistance in membership registration, downloading digital bidding documents and vBid questions. Interested parties may view the contract documents at no cost prior to deciding to become a plan holder. To access the electronic bid form, download the digital bidding documents and click the ‘Online Bid’ button or Online Bidding ‘Available’ button on the bid posting page.
Any bid may be withdrawn prior to the above scheduled time for the opening of bids or authorized postponement thereof. No bidder may withdraw any bid or proposal within a period of ninety (90) days following the date set for receiving bids or proposals. The City of Fishers reserves the right to hold any or all bids or proposals for a period of not more than ninety (90) days and said bids or proposal shall remain in full force and effect during said period.
Submission of a signed Bid by the Bidder constitutes acknowledgment of and acceptance of all the documents and terms and conditions of the documents in the Project Manual.
Bid Documents – Review:
Bidders shall assure that they have obtained complete sets of Bidding Documents and the Project Manual and shall assume the risk of any errors or omissions in Bids prepared in reliance on incomplete sets of Bidding Documents or Project Manual. Bids must be submitted on the forms contained in the Project Manual and must contain the names of every person or company interested therein.
Bid Security:
Each Bid shall be accompanied by bid security in the form of a Bid Bond as provided in the Project Manual in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total Bid amount, including alternates with a satisfactory corporate surety qualified to do business in the State of Indiana or by a certified check made payable to the City of Fishers, on a solvent bank in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the total Bid including alternates. The Bid Bond or certified check shall be security that the successful Bidder will, within ten (10) calendar days or such
LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES
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other time specified by Owner from the acceptance of the Bid, execute the Agreement and provide the required Payment and Performance Bonds, included in the Project Manual and Certificate of Insurance. Performance Bond and Labor and Material Payment Bond:
A Performance Bond with good and sufficient surety as required by the Owner on the Form provided in the Project Manual, shall be required of the successful Bidder in an amount equal to at least one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Sum, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the Agreement. The surety of the Performance Bond may not be released until one (1) year after the Owner’s final settlement with the Contractor.
The Contractor shall provide a Payment Bond with a good and sufficient surety as required by the Owner on Form provided in the Project Manual, in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Sum. The Payment Bond is binding on the Contractor, its subcontractors, and their successors and assigns for the payment of all indebtedness to a person for labor and services performed, material furnished, or services rendered. The Payment Bond must state that it is for the benefit of the subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, and those performing services. The surety of the Payment Bond may not be released until one (1) year after the Owner’s final settlement with the Contractor.
In addition to being timely, responsive, and responsible, as of December 31, 2016, a bidder may also be required to pre-qualify with the Indiana Department of Transportation, or Indiana Department of Administration, pursuant to IC 4-13.6-4, in order to be awarded a contract. A pre-qualification statement must be attached to all bids $300,000 and above. All out-of-state bidder corporations must have a Certificate of Authority to do business in the State. Application forms may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of State, State of Indiana, Statehouse, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
CITY OF FISHERS
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
Blueprint for Improvement: Transforming tradition in Indianapolis
Commentary by Larry Greene
We believe every home should be customized to its family’s unique personality and needs, which can mean reimagining traditional spaces. When our clients envisioned transforming their Fall Creek home’s underutilized formal dining room into a chic gathering space, we were ready! Our team revitalized the area, creating the perfect bar room for relaxing and entertaining, while ensuring the space remains versatile for future resale.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The material mix sets a layered and stylish tone. Ebony cabinetry and rich wood tones lend a touch of sophistication, while antiqued mirrored shelving, seeded glass cabinet fronts and a hammered sink add texture and shine.
• The beverage fridge and sink make entertaining or unwinding with a drink easy and effortless.
• Wood tones on the counter, molding and plantation shutters lend organic appeal and depth, balanced by neutral tones on the walls and upholstery.
• In contrast to the room’s clean lines, the conversation area features graceful curves in the club chairs, cocktail table and lighting fixture. This juxtaposition helps define the space and creates a striking focal point.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
43. WFYI’s “___ Street”
44. The first H of HHH
47. Moist
48. Suitable
51. Old Roman 21
52. Tear
54. Cosmetician Lauder
56. Colts coach...and an anagram of 20- and 38-Across
61. Silently understood
63. British conservative
64. Prime seating spot at the Palladium
65. Unrefined
66. Lotion additive
67. Prayer’s end
68. Headquartered
69. “Shall we?” response
70. Carmel HS swim event Down
1. Unexpected wins for the Pacers
2. Steamy spots
3. Engraves
4. Recovery program, for short
5. PC alternative
6. Musical symbol
7. Nautical speed unit
8. Second-year students at ZCHS
9. California city
10. German auto
11. Advise against 12. Opposite of WSW
13. ISP option
Taboos 22. Have a burger at Wolfies 26. “Now hear ___!”
Fishers winter hrs.
Civic Theatre stage prompt
Crafts’ partner
Oohed and ___
34. Philosopher Descartes
35. Notoriety
36. Butte’s kin
38. Essence
39. Hawaiian state flower
40. ‘60s war zone
41. Architect of an Indy airport traffic control tower that was razed in 2006
42. Text of gratitude
45. Like “Joker” and “Oppenheimer”
46. “Cat on a Hot ___ Roof”
48. Where telecommuters work
49. Itsy-bitsy
50. Lease signer
53. Flower part
55. “Shoo!”
57. Conceal
58. Oceanaire menu choice
59. Hoosier Park race pace
60. Watches
SEEKS Part-Time Kennel Assistant responsible for the daily care of dogs, kennel maintenance, and other duties, as assigned. Exceptional customer service and good communication skills via in-person interaction. Team Member availability includes weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Interested candidates submit resume to: huntclubkennel@gmail.com.
Looking for p/t front desk manager for health care office in Carmel Indiana. Must have strong people skills to work in pleasant, low stress clinic setting. Competitive wages and retirement funding. Please email or fax resume to Terri at: Indyspinect@gmail.com Fax 317-817-9903
The Envision collection is available as a sectional, sofa, chair, or ottoman. Choose fabric, arm style, seat depth, back height, silhouette, back pillow and seam detail, base and wood finishes. Custom order yours today!
KAREN KING, OWNER
