Founded Jan. 25, 2011, at Fishers, IN Vol. XIV, No. 31
Copyright 2023
Current Publishing, LLC
All Rights Reserved.
30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032
317.489.4444
Contact the
editor
Have a news tip, calendar item or photo to share?
Contact Managing Editor Leila Kheiry at leila@youarecurrent.com or call 317.489.4444 ext. 804. You also may submit information at currentinfishers.com. Our print deadline is eight days prior to publication. Submissions for online accepted daily.
Share your thoughts
Letters to the editor may be sent for consideration to letters@youarecurrent.com.
Letters have a maximum word count of 300 words. Please include your city of residence and a contact phone number for verification. Current Publishing may refuse letters.
Advertise your business
If you’re interested in reaching the Fishers market (31,463 households), you may obtain more information by emailing ads@youarecurrent.com (subject: Fishers advertising) or by calling 317.748.2662.
Obituaries obits@youarecurrent.com
Legal advertising legals@youarecurrent.com
Delivery questions
circulation@youarecurrent.com
Join our community facebook.com/currentinfishers x.com/youarecurrent instagram.com/youarecurrent
Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in Fishers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
New Fishers Meijer store moving forward
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
DEVELOPMENT
Plans for a new 75,000-square-foot Meijer store were approved by the City of Fishers Planned Unit Development Committee and Plan Commission, both of which met Aug. 7 to review updated architectural renderings for the development, which includes a gas station.
The Fishers City Council will have final approval for the new grocery store, at the corner of Southeastern Parkway and North Cyntheanne Road.
Some of the revised architectural features in the plan included raised parapets to hide rooftop equipment, more color variations for the precast concrete siding, additional awnings on the exterior and visual barriers for exterior loading and storage areas. The gas station also was reconfigured, so the pumps will not face the road.
Brian Smallwood, a civil engineer working with Meijer, told the PUD Committee that the landscaping was modified with the intent of reducing the impact of car headlights on nearby residential neighborhoods. He said a berm — raised ground — is planned at the edges of the property.
“It’s shown… between 3- to 4-feet high with landscaping placed on top,” he said. “It sort of undulates through there. But the idea is that the landscaping berm all along Southeastern (Parkway) is the minimum height to help screen for traffic and head-
lights and that sort of thing.”
During the Plan Commission meeting, which directly followed the PUD Committee, numerous residents of adjacent neighborhoods spoke during a public hearing on the issue. Some were opposed — primarily citing increased traffic — while others supported the plans.
Marina McQueary said although the site is zoned for commercial use, she believes that zoning designation should have been reviewed.
“Many county planning and zoning commissions in Indiana have a time limit where, if (a site has) not been activated or developed within five to seven years, they come back and they get another approval,” she said. “The one thing about this is, I feel like we’ve kind of all moved out there in the middle of nothing and we have all these wonderful homes and now all of a sudden, we become a retail destination.”
McQueary pointed out that, in addition to more general traffic from people coming to shop at the store, there would be additional large-truck traffic because of deliveries.
Terry Wilkins said the new store would be a positive addition to the area, especially for senior citizens in a nearby 55-plus community.
“Proximity to pharmacies ensures that seniors can quickly obtain their medications, which is vital for managing chronic conditions,” he said. “Close-by stores save time and energy, making daily tasks less burdensome on seniors and this con-
venience can significantly improve the quality of life for seniors’ social and mental health. Local stores often serve as social hubs for seniors, who can interact with neighbors and friends, helping to combat loneliness and isolation, and they also provide employment opportunities, allowing seniors to supplement their income while contributing to the wellbeing of the community.”
During the Plan Commission’s discussion of the proposal, Commission Member Pete Peterson — who also is a city council member — said he understood some residents’ concerns, but the city can’t take away a property owner’s land rights.
“If it’s zoned in a certain fashion, we can’t go back and turn it around and rezone it in another way without the consent of that landowner,” he said. “This was zoned commercial. It was planned on being commercial.”
Peterson agreed with people who said traffic will be affected.
“I can’t bring a development in here, whether it be houses, apartments or even business, without somebody coming back and telling us, ‘You’re going to increase traffic,’” he said. “You’re not lying. Yes, we are going to increase traffic. That’s what happens when you’re in a growing community.”
The Plan Commission unanimously approved a favorable recommendation for the updated Meijer plans, which go to the Fishers City Council for approval.
Plans for a new Meijer store have been approved by the City of Fishers’ PUD Committee and Plan Commission. (Rendering courtesy of the City of Fishers)
COMMUNITY
DISPATCH
Fishers road construction update — The following projects are underway and might affect traffic in the Fishers area:
CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION
• A road closure has begun on South Street for utility installation between Lantern Road and the Nickel Plate Trail. Depending on weather, Phase 1 was expected to last through Aug. 19 and Phase 2 will last through Aug. 26. First Internet Bank parking garage access will remain open. Hotel Nickel Plate access from South Street will be restricted and drivers are encouraged to use 116th Street instead. Visitors also can park on the west side of the hotel off 116th Street.
• Construction crews have started preliminary work at the intersection of 141st Street and Prairie Lakes Blvd/Old Oak Lane for a new roundabout. Intersection closure is expected around Aug. 19. At that time, access to Woods of Britton apartments will be via Cumberland Road. For Prairie Lakes, use Cumberland Road and 146th Street. For Mundy Drive, access is via Ind. 37.
• The 126th Street and Southeastern Parkway roundabout is open but remains an active construction site with intermittent lane restrictions.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
Walk-In-Closets
Reach -In- Closets
Garage Cabinets Pantries
Proposed boutique hotel in Saxony on hold
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Developers who want to build a boutique hotel in Saxony asked for more time to work with city planners Aug. 7 after it became clear that the City of Fishers Planned Unit Development Committee was going to reject the proposed design.
DEVELOPMENT
Striving Legacy Fishers LLC has plans to build Atwell Suites, a 113-room hotel at the southwest corner of Erlen Drive and Minden Drive, near IU Health Saxony.
Mindy Brown of Faegre Drinker LLP represented the developers in a presentation to the PUD Committee. She noted that there had been concerns raised by neighboring property owners, but those concerns focused on the use, not the architecture.
“We understand that neighbors don’t want a hotel at this location, but it’s an approved use at this specific location,” she said. “The current ask before you is related to architecture in what is the first commercial project in what will be a block
of commercial projects in a mixed-use designation. Therefore, we respectfully don’t believe the remonstrators are in the right place at the right time.”
Brown said developers have worked with city planners to meet architectural standards, but there were branding needs to meet, as well.
“This is a brand-new hotel type and so IHG had a lot of requests to protect the brand and the prototype,” she said. “As they’re bringing what I think is the fourthish IHG hotel to market, they wanted to make sure that they had some say in that.”
Striving Legacy Fishers LLC has plans to build Atwell Suites, a 113-room hotel at the southwest corner of Erlen Drive and Minden Drive, near IU Health Saxony. (Rendering courtesy of the City of Fishers)
Brown displayed images that she said showed how the proposed hotel design would fit with the character of the neighborhood. However, PUD Committee members didn’t agree.
Megan Baumgartner, who also is Fishers’ economic development director, said the city provided examples of preferred architectural styles after a May meeting with hotel developers.
“While some improvements have been made, it’s still, to me — and what I believe our PUD Committee is here for — is, does the architecture fit the character of the
overall development?” she said. “So, for me, tonight, it’s going to be — and I’ll let my other members share any comments — but for me, it will be a motion to deny this proposal.”
Baumgartner said the brand requirements are the sticking point. That’s an issue the city has dealt with in the past, she said, and sometimes that means saying “no.” She said there had been many conversations with Atwell Suites developers about the design, but architectural changes have not been significant.
Committee member Pete Peterson, who also is a Fishers City Council member, said he understands the need to comply with a brand.
“I also get the fact that you’ve got a compliancy with the character of (the neighborhood),” he said. “So, we’re kind of at that impasse.”
Other committee members agreed and were about to vote on a motion to deny the developer’s plans. Brown interrupted and asked for more time to work with city staff on the architectural designs. The committee then approved a motion to postpone action.
Three charged in June 30 Fishers Taco Bell robbery
CRIME news@currentinfishers.com
The Fishers Police Department announced Aug. 12 that it completed its investigation into the June 30 robbery at a Taco Bell on Allisonville Road.
Three Indianapolis men are in custody and each faces multiple charges. Fredrick Nance and Terrell Caudle are held on $1 million bonds in Hamilton County, according to FPD. Davonta Hilliard is held in Marion County and will be transferred to Hamilton County.
Fishers Police Department worked with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force to investigate the robbery, according to FPD, and received help from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Covert Robbery and SWAT teams and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
According to the June 30 report from FPD, several men drew guns at the restaurant’s drive-thru window at about 1:30 a.m. that morning and demanded money. One of the suspects — later identified as Nance — had left in a stolen blue Dodge Challenger.
Officers spotted the vehicle southbound on Allisonville and attempted to stop the car. A pursuit led into Marion County, where the vehicle stopped, Nance exited and fled on foot, according to the report. Several officers, including a K-9 team, gave chase and the K-9 was released by its handler for apprehension.
Nance allegedly fired a gun during the pursuit, but nobody was injured.
Nance
Caudle
Hilliard
Conner Prairie to host Parkinson’s Foundation event
By Jennifer A. Haire news@currentinfishers.com
The Parkinson’s Foundation Midwest chapter’s national Moving Day event will take place at Conner Prairie in Fishers this year, marking the first Moving Day walk in the greater Indianapolis area.
FUNDRAISER
The Sept. 21 fundraising event is an opportunity for people with Parkinson’s disease to get moving along with a supportive community, said Lori Prokash, a volunteer and planning committee member for the Parkinson’s Foundation Midwest chapter.
“Moving is one of the key parts of living with Parkinson’s,” she said. “Exercise is so important as part of your treatment plan.”
Seven years ago, Prokash’s father, now 77, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
“I just really wanted to understand more about the disease, what we could expect, what could be coming down the road, just to educate myself,” she said. “So, I think for individuals that themselves have Parkinson’s, or they have someone that they love that has Parkinson’s, really educating yourself and bringing awareness to the disease itself is important.”
Anyone affected by Parkinson’s disease is encouraged to attend Moving Day. Activities are from 9 to 11 a.m. and include exercise demonstrations; remarks from community members living with the disease; information about resources; available support through the Parkinson’s Foundation; and opportunities to connect with local vendors, such as Rock Steady Boxing, that encourage the movement mission.
Participants can choose between a
1.5- to 2-mile route or a quarter-mile short walk, with teams or as individuals.
Hamilton Southeastern High School’s Unified dance team will attend to cheer on the walkers, Prokash said, and the Indiana Fevers’ mascot Freddie Fever is expected to make an appearance.
Moving Day participants get free access to Conner Prairie for the day.
The Parkinson’s Foundation is a national nonprofit with a mission to make life better for people living with Parkinson’s. Funds raised through the Moving Day event support the Midwest chapter, and the goal is to raise $50,000.
“(Participating is) a show of support for people that you may know or that you care about that have the disease,” Prokash said. “It’s also a way to get educated on what to expect.”
The Midwest chapter serves the Parkinson’s Community throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 70,250 people with the disease live in those states.
For more, visit movingdaywalk.org/ event/moving-day-indianapolis.
AUGUST 22 - MONDAY, AUGUST 26 | 12-6pm
single-level living, there’s no need to climb stairs since everything you need is all on one floor. In addition, our private, garden courtyards offer comfortable outdoor space for your 4-legged friends to roam and explore.
A family gets ready to walk during a previous year’s Moving Day event. (Photo by Johnny Marszalkowski)
Cathedral High School congratulates Olympic Gold Medalist, Olympic recordsetter, and 2019 graduate Cole Hocker and extends a warm “you’re so welcome” to him. In a post-medal interview, Cole thanked Indianapolis, Indiana, and “especially Cathedral” for all the support. Cathedral is a faith-filled school where caring educators know, love, encourage, and support their students. And that support doesn’t end when a student graduates because of our Holy Cross value of Family. After winning Gold, Cole also stated, “I just felt like I was getting carried by the stadium and God.” How beautiful to see our Holy Cross value of Zeal on a world stage! Zeal, which is Cathedral’s Holy Cross Value for this school year, is the great desire to make God known, loved, and served. Those with this virtue fulfill their duties with eagerness, affection, courage, and perseverance. (Kind of like an Olympic Champion!) Greatness called, and you answered, Cole! You make our Holy Cross value of Excellence shine like GOLD!
GOCATHEDRAL.COM
Fishers man wins at Pan Am Masters
By Conrad Otto conrad@youarecurrent.com
Age is only a number for Kent Powers. In July, the Fishers resident competed in his first Pan-American Masters Games in Cleveland, where the 63-year-old won the long jump, triple jump and high jump events.
SPORTS
The Pan-American Games is a multisports event held every four years for athletes 30 and older. They bring together thousands of competitors from more than 50 countries.
During the July 12-21 event, Powers competed in the men’s 60-64 age division. He won the long jump with a mark of 4.91 meters; the high jump at 1.70 meters; and the triple jump at 10.20 meters. His high jump mark was the best in the U.S. and thirdbest in the world for his age group. His long and triple jumps put him in the top 10 nationwide.
“Winning all three events was a big surprise,” Powers said. “I thought I could make the podium and maybe squeak out one win, but certainly winning all three was unexpected.”
Kent Powers competed during a Masters track meet.
(Photo courtesy of Kent Powers)
the training for it. As I became aware of opportunities, I naturally gravitated to them.”
Powers self-coaches and trains yearround. He works on strength, speed and plyometrics — a type of strength training. He said it takes dedication and self-discipline to stay focused.
“I enjoy the training as much as I enjoy the competition,” he said. “As far as what I’m feeling before I jump, it’s weird because at my age, your performances aren’t improving each year. So, in the first jump of the year in the new season, you kind of wonder how it’s going to go. You always kind of think you’re ready, but you’re never quite certain until you’re actually out there and start competing.”
Powers said it’s special that he is still able to compete.
Powers said he found out about the Masters tournament through USA Track and Field, the Indianapolis-based governing body for track and field in the United States. He competed in track and field at Anderson University and stayed active after college.
“I really enjoy competing in track,” he said. “I like a lot of the aspects for it. I like
“I still feel the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, to borrow from an old ‘Wide World of Sports’ phrase,” he said. “Opportunities to compete are rare once you move from the college ranks. I consider it a blessing to be able to continue in track and field. I’m very thankful.”
For more about the Masters games, visit clevelandmasters2024.com.
Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers is one of many parks in Hamilton County that offers trails for different ability levels. (Photo courtesy of the City of Fishers)
Hamilton County has launched a new online tool to help outdoor enthusiasts explore trails throughout the county.
Trail Finder provides details about trail distance, surface material and trailhead locations, making it easy to plan a hike, bike ride or nature walk
According to a news release, each parks department in the county — including Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, Fishers Parks and Recreation, Noblesville Parks and Recreation, the Town of Atlanta, the Town of Sheridan, Arcadia, Cicero Parks and Westfield Parks — collaborated with Hamilton County’s Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, team to map out every trail in Hamilton County.
In fall of 2023, Park Finder was launched as a comprehensive program that provides detailed information regarding park amenities. People can choose a park on a map and view descriptions and details, or filter to search for a type of recreation activity. Trail Finder was added to the Park Finder program to provide additional details to the public.
Joan Keene, GIS director for Hamilton County, explained the need for Trail Finder.
“Adding Trail Finder to the Park Finder tool allows us to provide even more detailed and accessible information to the public to answer all their questions about the trail systems,” Keene said. “Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to explore and enjoy Hamilton County.”
To access the Trail Finder/Park Finder site, visit geohub.hamiltoncounty.in.gov.
Installation
Fishers academic’s book digs into politics and Christianity
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Religion and politics are entwined and, because the United States is majority-Christian, that means Christianity continues to play a large role in the politics of the nation.
AUTHOR
Fishers resident and historical theology professor Miranda Zapor Cruz has written a new book that looks into how people of different Christian beliefs apply faith to their civic duty. “Faithful Politics: Ten Approaches to Christian Citizenship and Why it Matters” was released Aug. 20 by InterVarsity Press, a faith-based publishing company.
Cruz, a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, said the book was inspired in part by questions from her students over the past decade.
“They’re expressing confusion and distress and real concern for how they are supposed to engage with politics, or whether they’re even supposed to engage with politics,” she said of the 18- to 22-year-olds. “They’re wrestling with these
political questions for the first time, and they’re doing all of that in a context that is so tense, where there’s so much distrust and name-calling and division. I see their anxiety about politics and that’s kind of who I had in mind as I was writing the book.”
Cruz is Christian and said she was a college student herself when she became interested in the topic in the early 2000s.
“I got really interested in the ways that politicians use religious rhetoric and quote the Bible or use usually Christian phrases and the ways Christians respond to that,” she said. “So, for the last 20ish years, I’ve been paying attention to that and trying to think through what is that relationship? How are Christians or people of other faith traditions thinking about religion and politics? It’s academic for me, but it’s also personal because I’m navigating that same tension.”
“That’s not just my impression; there’s all kinds of data on the ways that Christians have aligned politically and the degree to which — especially evangelical Christians — align with the Republican Party,” she said.
Although the book focuses on Christianity and politics, she said readers who aren’t Christian will gain an understanding of the issues, as well.
“I think the tendency is to look at politics and to see the way that Christianity influences politics and to not understand what in the world is going on there, or to think of Christians as just one kind of monolithic group,” she said. “So, for someone who’s not a Christian reading the book, I think they (will gain) a good understanding of how it is that Christians actually do have a pretty broad spectrum of political views, even while holding to the same core beliefs.”
most books on politics, and especially on religion and politics, are written by people who are trying to convince others that they need to think a certain way. I’m not trying to convince anyone to think a particular way about politics. I’m mostly trying to get people to think about politics.”
Cruz said she does offer suggestions to readers about how to apply faith to politics, such as considering the common good and valuing a diverse society. She also differentiates Christian nationalism from other Christian approaches.
Cruz said politics in the United States has always been deeply infused with religion — Christianity, specifically — but religion has become more political in recent decades.
“Faithful Politics” is an academic, nonpartisan look at the topic and Cruz said people who have read advance copies tell her they can’t tell what her own positions are.
“That was my goal,” she said. “I think
“I explain why I don’t think Christian nationalism is a good or faithful way forward for Christians,” she said. “I think for a lot of people — Christian and not — it gets presented as: If you’re a Christian and you want your faith to influence your political thought, then that’s Christian nationalism. I kind of break that down more — what actually is Christian nationalism and why is it a problem? What are the alternatives for Christians who do believe that their faith has to influence their politics?”
For more, visit ivpress.com/faithful-politics. Cruz’s book also is available on Amazon.
Cruz
Fishers resident pens children’s book explaining digestion
By Samantha Kupiainen news@currentinfishers.com
Everything is new for children and they have a deep fascination with the world and how everything works.
AUTHOR
Fishers resident and author Keith Lowe recalled how on one particular morning that childhood curiosity ended with Lowe teaching his three young daughters how bladders work, using a bag of water as a visual example.
“It was amazing,” said Lowe, who teaches illustration at Indiana Wesleyan University. “Their eyes lit up because they had that example. My spouse, Joanna, said, ‘Well, you should just do a book on the body,’ so I went ahead and pursued that.”
That led to “Your Body: The Fuel Factory,” a children’s book written and illustrated by Lowe that depicts the body as a living machine. The main character, Foreman Blake, and a crew of engineers take readers on a journey throughout the body to discover how digestion works.
Most of the story takes place inside Lowe’s daughter Julia’s gastrointestinal tract, but readers also go outside the body to see the effects of the digestion journey.
Although the book was written for his own curious daughters, Lowe also wrote it to help instruct all kids about the human body and how it works.
“This book is designed to help teachers in the classroom and homeschool parents,” Lowe said.
“Your Body: The Fuel Factory” is Lowe’s second children’s book. His first, “The Titans of Taste,” was published in 2019 and encourages picky eaters to try differ-
Keith Lowe and his daughter, Julia, with a copy of the book she helped inspire, “Your Body: The Fuel Factory.”
(Photo courtesy of Joanna Lowe)
ent foods, with condiments depicted as superheroes.
Besides writing, Lowe is a trained illustrator and has been an assistant professor of illustration at Indiana Wesleyan University since 2020. Prior to that, he was a designer in the video game industry.
“I worked for video game strategy guide books,” Lowe said. “So, super geeky. I did that and then I ran a small business for a few years in board games. But eventually, I’ve been teaching at Indiana Wesleyan. I always kind of aspired to teach. I come from a family of teachers and eventually found myself joining the ranks of teachers as my siblings did.”
Lowe is raising funds to publish “Your Body: The Fuel Factory,” with different pledge levels available to those interested in supporting the work.
“Every backer who helps fund this book’s printing is going to receive a place of recognition in the book,” Lowe said.
For more, visit keithloweart.com/ the-fuel-factory.
CROSSTREK
Ignite plans match of week
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Indy Ignite are more than four months away from opening their inaugural volleyball season, but team officials are working on building their fan base.
VOLLEYBALL
The team will host the Ignite High School Match of the Week Presented by Team Rehab starting Aug. 22.
Indiana.”.
The team will select an Ignite Player of the Match and feature the player on the team’s social media platforms. The player also will receive Ignite gear and a pair of tickets to Ignite matches.
“It is designed to bring attention to the fact that women’s professional volleyball at the highest level is coming to Indiana in 2025,” said Randi Raff, Indy Ignite’s director of community engagement,
The Indy Ignite begins play at the Fishers Event Center in January 2025.
“It is also designed to make a difference in the lives of young volleyball players,” said Raff, a former head volleyball coach at the University of Southern Indiana and Indiana University assistant coach. “While we establish pro volleyball in Indiana as one of eight teams competing in the Pro Volleyball Federation in 2025, we want to support volleyball at all levels across the state of
“There is no better place for Indy Ignite than central Indiana, which is a hotbed for women’s volleyball, with eight prominent clubs,” Raff said. “Many hold national championships, and the Class 4A reigning state girls champions, Hamilton Southeastern, is right here in Hamilton County.”
Indy Ignite High School Match of the Week schedule is:
Week 1: Aug. 22 — Pendleton Heights at Westfield; Week 2: Aug. 29 — Hamilton Southeastern at Brownsburg; Week 3: Sept. 3 — Roncalli at Cathedral; Week 4: Sept. 11 — Carmel at Zionsville, Sept. 12 — HSE at Fishers; Week 5: Sept. 17 — Brownsburg at Center Grove; Week 6: Sept. 25 — Noblesville at Carmel; Week 7: Oct. 2 — Westfield at Avon; Week 8: Wildcard Week — The Ignite will choose three matches and poll social media audiences to pick the match to attend.
Raff
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Teen Olympian comes long way since first swimming lessons
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Luke Whitlock started as a reluctant swimmer.
“It took (some) convincing to get him to swim,” said his mother, Kara Whitlock. “We laugh because he didn’t pass Level 1 in swimming lessons (at age 6) because he didn’t want to put his face in the water. Then his little brother Blake did it and then it was game on because he’s very competitive. He looked like a swimmer when he swam, so we were trying to convince him to join the swim team. It took a couple of years, but he decided to try it.”
The Fishers Area Swimming Tigers member has come a long way. Whitlock, 18, was the youngest U.S. male swimmer to make the U.S. Olympic team since Michael Phelps made it at age 15 in 2000. Whitlock qualified by finishing second to Bobby Finke in the 800-meter freestyle with a personal-best time of 7 minutes, 45.19 seconds, to make the team at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.
Whitlock, a Noblesville resident, finished 15th in the 800-meter heats July 29 at the Summer Olympics in Paris. He was about 4 seconds slower than his Olympic team qualifying time. Whitlock hadn’t felt well but didn’t test positive for COVID-19 until after his Olympic swim.
“I didn’t even know he wasn’t feeling well or sick,” FAST coach Joe Keller said. “He didn’t want to use that as an excuse. He still had a great performance, but I feel quite confident if he had felt better, he would have probably been a lot faster. In 2028, he should be in position to do some pretty awesome things.”
Whitlock was disappointed.
“I didn’t perform how I wanted to. I don’t want to make excuses for that, but it’s something that I couldn’t control,” said Whitlock, who is a freshman at the University of Florida. “After my race, I was like, I’m ready to get back to work and ready for next year and each year after, especially in four years. But I knew I needed to take a break because I didn’t take a break at all last year.”
So, he forced himself to rest for a few weeks but is eager to get back in training mode.
Still, Whitlock said the Olympic experience was great.
“I had to quarantine for two or three days but since I had been experiencing symptoms before, I started to feel better,” he said. “I was able to go around the Olympic Village for the last two days after I quarantined.”
Keller said Whitlock often isn’t happy with a performance or practice.
“Early on, when I started working with him, that could result in some outward frustration that was being demonstrated,” Keller said. “We talked about that a lot and felt that could be really negative. He’s learned how to control it and turn it into something positive. Sometimes, the things that are one of our biggest weaknesses can also be our biggest gift. It fueled him and created this hyper-speed to get to the
Olympic team.”
FAST held a welcome-home celebration for Whitlock Aug. 7 at Fishers High School with many younger team members asking questions and getting autographs.
Whitlock competed for Noblesville High School as a freshman in the 500-yard freestyle. He made the IHSAA state finals but finished 15th. After that, he chose to concentrate on the longer races in junior meets and didn’t compete at the high school level.
He took classes online but graduated with his class.
FAST coach Joe Keller is confident the best is yet to come for Luke Whitlock.
“He can train with the best in the world,” Keller said
Whitlock trained with Bobby Finke at the U.S. training camp and will train with him again at the University of Florida.
Finke, who earned a bronze medal in the 800 meters and won the gold in the 1,500 meters at the recent Summer Olympics in Paris, is a former Gators swimmer.
Whitlock is just under 6 feet and weighs approximately 140 pounds. One
of his primary goals is to put on weight.
“I’m going to have a goal meeting with my coach at the beginning of the season, but the top goal is to gain muscle and to get bigger and stronger,” Whitlock said. “All the guys are a lot bigger than me and you can see my turns aren’t as good and my legs aren’t as strong. I’m good at the swimming part but getting stronger will help some of my skills.”
Along with getting in the weight room, he looks forward to getting on more specific meal plans to add weight.
“Due to the days he was going to miss, (NHS) suggested online classes,” said Keller, who also is the Fishers High School boys and girls varsity swimming coach. “I think that component was helpful because there were times (when) he could get a little more sleep. I don’t want to necessarily promote that, but I think when you have an athlete that is a high level, I think there are some advantages.”
ON THE COVER: Luke Whitlock competes in the Olympics in Paris in the 800-meter preliminaries. (Photo courtesy of Mike Lewis/ USA Swimming)
From left, Kara, Luke, Trent and Blake Whitlock. (Photo courtesy of Kara Whitlock)
Luke Whitlock and FAST coach Joe Keller at a welcome-home celebration. (Photo courtesy of Mark Ambrogi)
Actor returns as Jerry Lee Lewis in ‘Million Dollar Quartet’
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For Brian Michael Henry, performing in “Million Dollar Quartet” expanded his musical horizons.
“I love rock ‘n’ roll music, and I love getting to be able to play with a real band onstage,” he said. “The first time I played with a band was in this show and I’ve done it in many different situations since, but ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ taught me how to play with other musicians.”
Henry reprises his role as Jerry Lee Lewis in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Million Dollar Quartet” Aug. 29 to Oct. 6 at the Indianapolis venue. Henry played Lewis in the 2018 production at Beef & Boards.
The musical recounts an event on Dec. 4, 1956, when a twist of fate brought Lewis, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash together at Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., for a legendary jam session.
“There’s a new challenge every time I do it,” Henry said. “Sometimes, it’s the physicality. I’ll need to really stretch for the piano jumps and playing backwards. It’s also a lot of energy to keep up over the course of the show. Jerry Lee doesn’t really leave the stage once he enters at the beginning, so it’s a bit of an endurance test.”
Henry said he is in at least his 10th production of the musical.
“Some of those include productions where I was an understudy but went on and performed the role multiple times during the run,” he said. “I recently understudied Jerry Lee and Sam Phillips in both the Christmas version of the show and the original version. I was able to go on for Sam Phillips in both versions and it was really great to see the show from that vantage point.” Naturally, the show has become one of Henry’s favorites.
sicals, so doing this show is really a fun departure,” he said.
Henry looks forward to returning to Beef & Boards.
“When I did the show here in 2018, I just had a wonderful time,” he said.
“Working with Eddie (Curry) and Jeff (Stockberger) and everyone at Beef & Boards was so much fun and I’m really looking forward to seeing them again. I have some other great friends who will be in this production, so I’m looking forward to working with them as well. I also really enjoyed Indianapolis and I can’t wait to explore the city again.”
Curry returns in the role of Sam Phillips. Stockberger returns as director. Stockberger and Curry are Indianapolis residents.
hattan (N.Y.) School of Music.
Henry has written and recorded two albums, one EP and some singles
“I come from a classical music background, but with singing,” he said. “I went to school and grad school for opera. I’ve been playing piano since I was about 14, which is a little old to become a concert pianist, But, while I’ve gravitated toward classical music with singing, I’ve always been drawn to rock music at the piano. I used to have to barter with my piano teacher and if I’d work on my classical pieces, she’d in turn let me work on a Billy Joel song.”
‘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
“Simply the Best: A Celebration of Tina Turner” is set for Aug. 22, followed by “Deceptions: An Evening of Magic & Lies” Aug. 23 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
“Free Fallin: The Tom Petty Concert Experience” is set for Aug. 23, followed by “Face 2 Face: A Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John” Aug. 24 at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Both performances start at 8 p.m. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
‘THE WOMAN IN BLACK’ Carmel Community Players’ production of “The Woman in Black” runs through Aug. 25 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
IMAGINE DRAGONS
Imagine Dragons: Loom World Tour is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
New Kids on the Block with Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com
DISPATCH
“I tend to do a lot of ‘Golden Age’ mu-
Henry, who is based in New York City, grew up in Lock Haven, Pa., and earned his undergraduate degree at Penn State University and his master’s at the Man-
Making their Beef & Boards debuts are Sam C. Jones as Johnny Cash, Cody Craven as Carl Perkins and Jesse Plourde as Elvis. The production’s hit songs include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Walk the Line,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?”, “Great Balls of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Hound Dog.”
For more, visit beefandboards.com.
Fishers Blues Fest announces headliners — The Nickel Plate District AMP will host the 12th annual Blues Fest Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The free two-night festival includes performances by local and national blues artists. Headliners for the all-ages, family-friendly concert lineup include Shemeika Copeland Aug. 31 and Bernard Allison Sept. 1. The full lineup for both nights will be released at npdamp.com/BluesFest. Tickets aren’t required for admission.
Brian Michael Henry reprises his role of Jerry Lee Lewis in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Million Dollar Quartet.” (Photo courtesy of Beef & Boards)
Henry
CARMEL JAZZ FESTIVAL ATTRACTS VISITORS
The second Carmel Jazz Festival’s Aug. 9 schedule included Danny Lerman on Carter Green stage and “America’s Got Talent” contestant Bryan Thompson, who performs as B. Thompson, opening for Antonia Bennett and Carmel Symphony Orchestra at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts. The two-day festival concluded Aug. 10. (Photos by Jennifer A. Haire)
“America’s Got Talent” fan and Connecticut resident Maceo Miller, 9, was excited to see B. Thompson perform live. He attended the concert with his grandfather Marvin Miller (Carmel). Maceo plays trumpet, bass and flute.
FREE EVENT LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
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:
Join Hamilton County Parks and Recreation for a free visual experience from 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 23 at Potter’s Bridge Park in Noblesville, 19401 Allisonville Rd. The historical bridge will be decorated with luminaries and the event will have live music, food trucks, a beer truck and lighted canoes.
OTHER FREE AREA EVENTS
FEATURING REPRESENTATIVES AND PERFORMERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD!
carmelartsfestival.org
CULTURAL DISPLAYS FROM: Cortona, Italy | Jelgava, Latvia | Kawachinagano, Japan
Rueil-Malmaison, France | Seiffen, Germany | Visakhapatnam, India
Ataturk Organization (Turkiye) | Ukrainian Society of Indiana
DANCE PERFORMANCES BY:
Lielupe Folk Dance Ensemble (Jelgava, Latvia)
Holy Trinity Hellenic Dance Troupe (Greek Dance)
Ballet Folklorico Mosaicos (Mexican Dance)
The Indianapolis Chinese Community Center
GREEKFEST — GreekFest, an event with authentic Greek food, live Greek bands, cooking demonstrations and more will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. Aug. 23 and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 24 at 3500 W. 106th St. in Carmel. Admission is free and items will be available for purchase.
Rob and Ingrid Perdue (Carmel)
Kenneth and Diane Wendeln (Carmel)
Barkeep Vodka hits market
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
THE PALLADIUM
Craig Huse is convinced Barkeep Vodka will be popular with vodka drinkers.
BEVERAGES
The Center Celebration 2024 presented by Ice Miller is SOLD OUT! We’re so grateful to the many generous people and companies who have signed on to support the Center’s wide range of arts and educational programming, from big-name concerts to classes and lectures to free events for schools to our Prism Project arts camp for youth with disabilities – and the list goes on.
Even if you missed this opportunity, you can still join us in continuing to bring these programs to the community. Just visit our website at TheCenterPresents.org/Donate to make a tax-deductible donation to the Center and its mission.
“In my 35 years in the hospitality industry, I’ve had the privilege of sampling nearly every premium vodka on the market,” said Huse, CEO of Huse Culinary who also is one of four partners in Barkeep Vodka. “Yet nothing compares to the purity and smoothness of Barkeep Vodka, crafted using True Essence Foods’ patented compression filtering process. This groundbreaking technology has set a new standard for vodka and is poised to revolutionize the spirits industry as a whole. We are thrilled to pioneer this transformation with Barkeep Vodka, delivering the cleanest-tasting vodka experience to Hoosiers.”
Huse Culinary operates several Indianapolis-area restaurants, including St. Elmo Steak House, 1933 Lounge and HC Tavern + Kitchen.
“True Essence Foods Flavor Balancing equipment is a proprietary, nonadditive mechanical filtration system that uses controlled pressure to eliminate off-flavors, resulting in a cleaner, balanced, more consistent tasting spirit without additives or preservatives,” said Matt Rubin, CEO of True Essence.
Proceeds benefit the Center’s arts and educational programming
Special thanks to our community partners, including Ice Miller, First Merchants Bank, Aaron Wealth Advisors, Open Gate Design, the Payne & Mencias Group, Studio M Architecture, Will and Yasmin Stump and Shiel Sexton
The product is available at most package liquor stores and is expected to be available soon at major grocery stores. Along with Huse Culinary restaurants, Barkeep Vodka is available at other area restaurants.
Along with Jones and Craig Huse, the other partners are Jamie Blake and Chris Clifford. All live in the Indianapolis area.
“We feel this is an important fact when zero of the top 10 best-selling vodkas in Indiana are both owned and operated in the Midwest,” Jones said.
For more, visit barkeepvodka.com.
Barkeep Vodka was recently launched by four Indianapolis-area partners.
(Photo courtesy of David Puimer)
Kitchen Social to open in Fishers
By Conrad Otto conrad@youarecurrent.com
Ohio-based Kitchen Social plans to open its first Indiana restaurant at The Union at Fishers District. Set to open in 2026, it will be Kitchen Social’s sixth location.
FOOD
Kitchen Social business partner Brian O’Malley said he had wanted to expand the franchise into the greater Indianapolis area and bring the same experience that guests had from the Ohio restaurants into Fishers.
“We wanted to create something noncorporate, ‘nonchainy,’” he said. “We want you to come in for the experience.”
Kitchen Social has menu items inspired by global traditions. O’Malley said its signature dishes include cheddar scallion biscuits with honey butter, eggplant meatballs with Moroccan tomato sauce and Korean barbecue cauliflower.
O’Malley partnered with Indianapolis-based real estate developers Thompson Thrift to plan the new Fishers restaurant.
According to a Thompson Thrift announcement, Kitchen Social “was named
Best New Restaurant when it opened in Columbus and was named the best overall restaurant in the Columbus market for the following three years.”
The 4,500-square-foot restaurant marks Thompson Thrift’s second signed lease at the development. The first was Piedra Mexican Restaurant.
The Union has about 55,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space, along with apartment homes, hotel rooms and office space. It is an expansion of Fishers District, adjacent to IKEA off 116th Street near I-69.
For more about Kitchen Social, visit ourkitchensocial.com.
• Maintenance-free living with seasonal lawn care and 24-hour maintenance
• Functional and stylish floor plans with wooded and waterfront views
• Wide array of amenities including community trails, fitness center, pool and a pet spa
• Planned social activities, trips and educational events
• TrailSEEKERS wellness program for a more fulfilling experience
Hear this (if you can stand it)
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
What is misophonia?
Well, if you have misophonia, you’re not going to like the sound of this. Actually, if you have it, you are not going to like the sound of a few things. The malady is characterized by an aversion to certain everyday sounds. This is a serious disorder, but let’s look at the lighter side of it by going to its website.
HUMOR
One primary care physician claims there are certain noises he can’t tolerate. Hopefully, “Ouch!” and “ahhh…” are not examples. He admits being overly sensitive to yawners and to people whose “saliva is audible when they speak.” By the way, if your saliva is saying anything interesting, I’d like to interview you for a column. Over the phone. Many people expressed relief at discovering that other people had this problem. One man said that he suffered from the disorder way before he knew there was a word for it. This is not so unusual. As a kid, I often took candy bars off the shelf at the supermarket and stuck them in my pocket. I had a bachelor’s degree in psychology before I realized I was a kleptomaniac. One woman hated the sound of heavy breathing, and when she heard anyone doing it, she immediately left the room. She signed her post as “Chastity.” Makes sense. Another lady said that she hated it when people whistled through their noses and still another said that she could not stand the sound of her own chewing. OK, lady, just keep your mouth shut. All the time. The sound of people eating popcorn was mentioned in several posts. And the crunching of apples drives a lot of people bonkers. One farmer said when her husband eats an apple, she must cover her ears, “but listening to my horse eating
“One woman hated the sound of heavy breathing, and when she heard anyone doing it, she immediately left the room.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
an apple doesn’t bother me at all.” Here’s another post: “I can’t stand any sounds that are emitted orally.” So, apparently if her partner doesn’t snore or burp, she’s happy with anything. A newlywed said that her husband’s eating sounds disgust her and she’s thinking of leaving him. What? She’s just now discovering this? Waiting until marriage for intimacy is one thing, but waiting for your first meal together? What cult is that?
The sounds made by ice cream eaters are also annoying to some people — what with the lip-smacking and the spoon hitting the bottom of the bowl. One woman confessed she was thinking about doing away with her husband, but instead she told him he was lactose intolerant. A senior citizen said that when his wife slurps soup, he wants to wring her neck. By the way, ringing is another sound some people hate. Check out the website misophonia. com. Are these real people with legitimate concerns? Who knows. Maybe it’s all just hearsay.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
Brotherhood
utilizes their Retired Fire Hose
as well as to supply zoos and animal sanctuaries with material they upcycle for rehabilitation and enhancement of their habitat.
Blueprint for Improvement: Open concept overhaul in Carmel
Commentary by Larry Greene
You had us at open concept! Our team was thrilled to help our clients reimagine their east Carmel home’s first floor. We transformed a dated layout into a modern, functional space that balances aesthetics and practicality. By removing walls and reworking the floorplan, a spacious open-concept kitchen and dining area were created — now ideal for entertaining both family and guests.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The former kitchen and dining room spaces were combined to create a new, larger kitchen that serves as the heart of the home.
• An underutilized formal living room evolved into the new dining room, improving flow and expanding gathering space.
• The new island is the perfect combination of form and function–increasing prep and convening space, while also defining the kitchen and dining areas.
• Rich wood tones on the new flooring and windows add a warm contrast to the cool hues of the cabinets, pendant lights and polished chrome hardware.
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.
After
Before
kayo count
32. Pub projectile
33. First-aid kit item
34. See 17-Across
36. Decrease
39. “In that case...”
40. Chum
43. Bird-related
44. Pound hound
45. Havana’s home
46. Pretzel topping
47. Viral GIF, e.g.
48. Arm part
49. Moving day rental
51. DePauw vs. Wabash, for one
53. Spoofs or pranks
55. See 17-Across
56. Common soccer score
57. Charged particle
58. Drug addict
59. Stoli and Smirnoff
60. Hoosier astronaut
Grissom
61. IU profs’ degrees Down
1. Sure thing
2. Create motion pictures? 3. Balkan native
4. Gym wear
5. Fourth rock from the Sun
6. Mess hall grub
7. UFO crew
8. Cried like a kitten
9. Workplace safety org.
10. No-nos for Olympians
11. Shapiro’s dessert choice
12. Non-Rx
13. Teensy
18. Stubborn beast
21. “___ It Be”
24. Chemical element in batteries
26. Buddhism branch
27. Opposite of WNW
29. Advise of danger
30. Kind of list
32. Day’s first light
33. Rose-Hulman, e.g. (Abbr.)
34. Geist docking device
35. “Please, go ahead”
36. Car fuel
37. Indianapolis Fertility Center lab eggs
38. Not at full strength
40. Put into print
41. Scrubbed, at NASA
42. Barnes & Thornburg staffers
44. A Simon
45. Keep mum
47. Ponders
48. Juan Peron’s first lady
50. Palindromic girl’s name
52. Brown County lodgings
53. WFYI film series
54. Numero ___
55. Zionsville HS volleyball team stat Answers on Page 23
SR. SOFTWARE ENGINEER
BorgWarner PDS (USA), Inc. seeks a Sr. Software Engineer based out of our office at 2151 E Lincoln Road, Kokomo, Indiana 46902. Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned office address; from our technical center, 13975 BorgWarner Drive, Noblesville, Indiana 46060; and from home. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance of the aforementioned office address. Note, this position does not require travel. Design and implement embedded software solutions for automotive controllers, among other duties. Email resume to ccregar@borgwarner.com and reference job number R2024-1124.
PUZZLE ANSWERS
Glaziers / Glass Installers –Gatsby Glass of NW Indianapolis is now hiring! Join now to support our rapidly growing business – apply by email at GG135@gatsbybyglass.com
Discover cancer care that empowers you to simply focus on getting better. We bring together the right expertise, the right plan and the right resources for you. With our team guiding you every step along the way, you’re never alone.
