August 27, 2024
TO HAVE CURRENT DELIVERED TO YOUR PHONE
A RUNNING TRADITION
Geist Half Marathon returns for 16th year / P11
HSE IREAD scores show improvement / P3
Fishers noise ordinance amendment proposed / P6
Southeastern Swim Club hires new coaches / P8
THREE WEEKENDS // THURSDAY - SUNDAY SEPT. 12–15 SEPT. 19 – 22 SEPT. 26 – 29
Take advantage of early bird pricing to save $5 on your ticket through the start of the show!
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
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BAGI IS PROUD TO PRESENT SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENTS
Realtor Day
September 13th | 10am-2pm
Calling all Realtors! Join us for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at each show home on the 2024 Centier Bank Home-A-Rama. Tickets will be discounted and limited to Realtors only.
Ticket Cost: $10
September 19th | 4pm-6pm
This is a fan-favorite event with a twist! Join us as we tour each of the five custom homes of this year’s HomeA-Rama, enjoy some wine and hors d’oeuvres and hear directly from the interior designers of each showcase home to learn about the latest trends, inspiration behind their show home, and more.
Ticket Cost: $55 (includes food and drink)
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW
THREE WEEKENDS
THURSDAY - SUNDAY
SEPT. 12–15, SEPT. 19 – 22 & SEPT. 26 – 29
HOMETOWN HEROES
September 26th | All Day
Join us at this year’s Home-A-Rama for a special celebratory event honoring our hometown heroes. To show our appreciation, veterans, first responders, military personnel, healthcare workers, and teachers can enjoy 20% off the general admission ticket price. These unsung heroes are the heart of our community, and we thank you!
Ticket Cost: $20
Use code “Early Bird” to take advantage of early bird pricing to save $5 on your ticket through the start of the show!*
Early bird pricing ends 9/11 at 11:59 pm.
About us
Founded Jan. 25, 2011, at Fishers, IN Vol. XIV, No. 32
Copyright 2023
Current Publishing, LLC
All Rights Reserved.
30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032
317.489.4444
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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.
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Southwest corner of 116th &
HSE IREAD scores improve; budget process begins
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton Southeastern School District’s 2024 state IREAD test results for third-graders show improvement districtwide from 2023.
SCHOOLS
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The results, received Aug. 14, were presented that night to the HSE School Board by Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley, who said that district officials will dig into the data for a more detailed presentation at the next board meeting.
Overall results, though, show the district is headed in the right direction to meet the state goal of 95 percent or higher in third-grade reading skills. Five of the 13 elementaries achieved 95 percent or more and most schools showed improved scores. Three schools had lower scores than the previous year.
Kegley said the district overall had an IREADS-3 score of 94.2 percent, up from 92.9 percent last year.
“To have 94 percent of our kids in third grade pass IREAD-3, that’s a really remarkable benchmark,” he said.
District second-graders also took the IREAD-3 test to see where they were as they headed into third grade. Kegley said nearly 60 percent passed.
“(The test) provides us really almost an entire school year where we look at the 26 percent that are in the at-risk category and 15 percent that are on track — we know who those kids are and so do our teachers,” he said of the second-graders who have now started third grade. “They’ve got the balance of the school year, until the students take IREAD-3, to really work at and look at areas of improvement for those students.”
BUDGET TIMELINE
In other matters, the board received a timeline for the upcoming budget process, with a Finance Committee meeting on the topic set for Sept. 10. The timeline included board action in October to estab-
lish monthly transfers from the district’s education fund to operations, which some speakers took issue with during public comment.
Tyler Zerbe is a teacher at Hamilton Southeastern High School and a member of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association’s executive team. He said the transfers would remove money from the fund that directly impacts students.
“It pays for teachers, school counselors, speech pathologists, media and library staff, principal support staff and classroom supplies and equipment,” he said. “We as the union see it as just one more way that the HSE central office administration is predetermining the money available for bargaining. … We hope the administration is not trying to predetermine bargaining by creating this false sense of doom. And finally, we hope that the administration does not plan to deplete our education funds and in doing so, eliminate raises for our teachers — the true backbone of HSE.”
Later in the meeting, Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told the board that monthly transfers from the education fund
to the operating fund is standard practice for many school districts, including HSE. A similar motion was approved by the board last year, he said, and the district is allowed to transfer up to 15 percent of its education fund for operations.
District officials and union representatives will negotiate a new teacher contract this fall. The relationship between the two sides has been contentious, with HSEA filing an unfair labor complaint against the district following communications between Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brian Murphy and HSEA President Abby Taylor.
In November 2023, the school board unanimously approved a new teacher contract following a collaborative interest-based bargaining process, which was lauded by administrators and union representatives for its nonadversarial approach.
The next HSE school board meeting is a work session scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at the district’s central office, 13485 Cumberland Rd. Meetings are livestreamed on the board’s website, hseschools.org/ board/board-of-school-trustees.
The Hamilton Southeastern School District Board of Trustees hears public comment during the Aug. 14 meeting. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
(Graphic courtesy of HSE Schools)
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
HSE to explore charter school proposal
Hamilton Southeastern School Corp. is exploring the idea of creating a charter school for high school students in partnership with the national nonprofit Opportunity Education that would focus on connecting education with workforce readiness.
EDUCATION
The HSE School Board voted unanimously Aug. 14 in favor of a memorandum of understanding with Opportunity Education, allowing the district to move forward while not fully committing to the project. The MOU also allows the district to apply for up to $2 million in grant funds to cover costs related to exploring the concept.
Before the vote, HSE Director of PK-12 Initiatives Steve Loser gave a presentation about what the district wants to achieve through the partnership. He said HSE underserves students who are interested in career exploration.
“We’re currently only serving 7 percent
of our high school students (with) these career technical education opportunities,” he said. “We know from our students, our community, state of Indiana Department of Education, (there will be) demand for more of those opportunities moving forward … but we are limited by the spaces on our own current high school campuses.”
Loser said district officials started meeting with Opportunity Education representatives in late July. They came to visit, toured the community and learned more about the industries that have moved into the area.
“Indiana policy provides a uniquely aligned environment for innovative partnerships with school districts and career-connected learning,” he said. “OE is speaking to multiple cities, and the Fishers community and school leaders rose to the top of alignment. They found synergy between their mission, our community (and) the work that we’ve already done.”
District officials had been working with Ford Next Generation Learning, another national career-exploration education pro-
“OE is speaking to multiple cities, and the Fishers community and school leaders rose to the top of alignment. They found synergy between their mission, our community (and) the work that we’ve already
done.”
– STEVE LOSER
gram. The district ended its participation in that program because the framework wasn’t a good fit but was continuing its work toward increased career exploration opportunities.
Loser said the goal of the partnership with OE is to open a charter school with HSE as the authorizer to serve 500 or more students, along with an academy that would offer career and technical education classes to students at Hamilton Southeastern or Fishers high schools who want to remain in those schools while working on specific career skills.
If it all works out, the new school would open in fall 2025.
Loser said next steps will include soliciting teacher and community input, formalizing the structure of a partnership and finding a location for the proposed charter school, along with securing the grant funding. He said the district would not have to repay the grant if the charter school proposal doesn’t work out.
A charter school authorized by HSE would have its own board and a separate budget. Funding follows the students, so a charter school would receive funds that otherwise would go into the HSE district budget. HSE would have some oversight as the authorizer but would not control dayto-day operations.
Opportunity Education was created in 2005 by Joe Ricketts, who founded financial services company Ameritrade in the 1970s. He also is the majority owner of the Chicago Cubs. The nonprofit initially focused on improving education in developing countries. More recently, it has been working on creating different education models in the United States.
For more, visit opportunityeducation.org.
Loser
COMMUNITY
DISPATCHES
Mayor’s Breakfast benefits YMI – Fish ers-based Youth Mentoring Initiative will host its annual Mayor’s Breakfast to Ben efit YMI, presented by Heartland Church, starting at 7 a.m. Aug. 29 at the Fishers Municipal Center theater, 1 Municipal Dr. The fundraising event benefits YMI’s mission to connect Hamilton Southeastern School District students with a volunteer mentor once a week. The event will feature Mayor Scott Fadness and Marissa Andretti, vice president of Andretti Global and Managing Director for Andretti Technologies. For more, visit youthmentoringinitiative-bloom. kindful.com/e/2024-mayors-breakfast-tosupport-ymi.
Boo Bash vendor applications open Bash returns from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26 to the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, and the City of Fishers Parks Department is taking applications from businesses interested in participating, with a deadline of Sept. 9. Businesses must supply their own tent, tent weights, tables and chairs for their booth space and are encouraged to hand out promotional items or small giveaways. Booths must be decorated in a family friendly theme for the “Best Themed Booth” contest. Learn more at playfishers. com/174/Boo-Bash.
Candle-making fundraiser scheduled
Ivy Tech Community College Hamilton Coun ty is hosting a Circle of Ivy candle-making event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 at Unplug Soy Candles in Fishers. Participants will make candles with help from instruc tors. Light refreshments will be provided and attendees will be able to take home their handmade candles the next day. Circle of Ivy is a women’s giving society within the Ivy Tech Foundation, dedicated to supporting Ivy Tech Community College students by raising funds for projects that help remove barriers to success. For more, visit engage.ivytech.edu/s/events.
Fishers Event Center plans career fair
The new Fishers Event Center, set to open its doors in November, will host a career fair showcasing the center’s full and parttime career options. The event is 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 29 at Launch Fishers, 12175 Visionary Way, Fishers. Open positions include ticket sellers, guest services coor dinators, premium staff concert runners, ice crew and Zamboni drivers. Registration is encouraged. For more, visit fishersev entcenter.com and scroll down to the FEC Career Fair link.
august 31 + september 1 august 31 + september 1
nickel plate district amphitheater nickel plate district amphitheater
open house
Frame of the Month:
The Dutz collection targets men & women of all ages. Dutz has paid special attention to those with large and small faces who have difficulty finding a frame that fits. Meeting the needs of those that require a larger or smaller size, yet do not want to compromise on design.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Fishers noise ordinance amendment proposed
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A proposed amendment to reduce the decibel levels allowed in most cases within the City of Fishers is moving forward after the Fishers City Council approved a first reading of the measure Aug. 19.
GOVERNMENT
The maximum allowed decibel level currently is 90, which Mayor Scott Fadness said was established for the Geist Reservoir area to minimize noise traveling across the water. Since then, the city has grown and many mixed-use developments have been built, placing bars and restaurants right next to residential apartments and condominiums.
The proposal calls for reducing the allowed maximum decibel level to 70. There would be some exceptions. Up to 80 decibels would be allowed on some holidays, such as Memorial Day and New Year’s Eve; and city-sponsored functions, such as Nickel Plate District Amphitheater concerts, would not be covered by the ordinance.
Fishers Police Department Assistant Chief Mike Taylor told the council that there have been ongoing issues and complaints about noise generated by commercial properties near homes, specifically related to music and crowds.
“We did some looking at some other area municipal noise ordinances and found some language that we think would help us with the growth we’ve experienced here and try and make some adjustments that can help our citizens out on the resident side, but also (help) businesses continue to thrive, as well,” he said.
Fadness noted that the language will be
reviewed as the amendment goes through the approval process, to make sure the business community can provide input.
FPD Chief Ed Gebhart said business owners were told that a change was likely.
“As we put this in motion, we’ll go back out into the community,” he said. “We’ll meet with those particular businesses that will be affected and residents as well.”
In other matters, the council unanimously approved an amendment to establish parallel parking regulations with related fines. City Attorney Lindsey Bennett said the city didn’t have a fine specifically related to parallel parking, so anyone who parked poorly would receive a $180 ticket. The amendment created a $20 ticket for bad parallel parking.
Before the vote, Councilor Todd Zimmerman recalled how he parallel parked as a teenager.
“I had a Toyota Tercel — little, small car — and we’d pile in my friends to go to basketball practice,” he said. “My parallel park was, we all got out and picked up my car and put it in the spot. True story.”
The council postponed action on a citywide waste removal contract until its next regular meeting. Three contractors submitted bids to provide citywide trash and recycling for the City of Fishers and city officials have recommended a 10-year contract with Republic Services.
The council also postponed a vote on a proposed Meijer at Southeastern Parkway and Cyntheanne Road.
The next regular Fishers City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at Fishers Municipal Center theater, 1 Municipal Dr. The meeting will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@ CityofFishers/streams.
The Fishers City Council met in regular session Aug. 19. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
Politics at play in nonpartisan HSE school board race
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
It may seem like Nov. 5 is far in the distance, but Election Day is fast approaching and with less than two months before early voting opens Oct. 8, local school board races are heating up.
ELECTION
School boards in Indiana are designed to be nonpartisan — candidates do not declare a party when running. However, conservative groups in Fishers have endorsed a slate of candidates for three open Hamilton Southeastern School Board seats and organized community meet-and-greet opportunities for those candidates.
Friends of Fishers, a political action committee that launched in 2022, advertised a candidate meet-and-greet and fundraiser Aug. 19. The online registration page stated, “Meet the HSE School Board Candidates” and listed three candidates — Greg Lannan (Delaware Township), John Stewart (Wayne Township) and Terry Tolle (Fall Creek Township). Those three have been endorsed by Fishers One, a conservative community organization.
There are six candidates running for school board. The other three are Latrica Schooley (Delaware Township), Suzanne Thomas (Fall Creek Township) and Sarah Parks-Reese (Wayne Township). Thomas and Parks-Reese are the incumbents.
Another event billed as a “town hall with three Hamilton Southeastern at-large school board candidates” has been scheduled for Aug. 26 at Britton Falls, a 55-and-older neighborhood that has a particularly large voter turnout every election. That event also features only Lannan, Stewart and Tolle. Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Jocelyn Vare said she’s concerned about how nonpartisan school board elections have become more politicized in recent
CANDIDATE DEBATE
Current Publishing and WFYI are cohosting a debate for all Hamilton Southeastern Schools candidates at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Fishers Municipal Center theater. Seating is limited. Ticket information will be announced soon and the free event will be livestreamed for those who can’t attend in person. To submit questions for consideration, email news@currentinfishers.com.
years. She’s also heard concerns from Britton Falls residents about the Aug. 26 forum.
“It has not been transparent in notifying Britton Falls residents that it is, indeed, a partisan gathering,” she said. “It is a meetand-greet with some candidates who are endorsed by a political (action committee) and it is not representative of all the candidates — all the nonpartisan candidates.”
Vare said she supports residents and groups who want to endorse their preferred candidates but thinks that events like these should be more transparent.
“Either invite everyone to make it a true candidate meet-and-greet for a nonpartisan race, or just simply disclose who you are and what candidates you’ve selected,” she said.
Liberty Belle’s founder Lynne Goodin pub licized the Aug. 26 event at Britton Falls, but said it is not hosted by the organization. In an email response to questions about the event, Goodin said the notice clearly states who will be speaking at the town hall.
Goodin pointed out that another event — an Aug. 28 meet-and-greet with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick — has been scheduled at Britton Falls and doesn’t include all candidates for that office.
The governor’s race is a partisan race, though, unlike local school board elections.
DISPATCHES
Fall classes at Fishers Art Center — The Fishers Art Center at the Fishers Municipal Center, 1 Municipal Dr., offers art classes and programs for all ages, summer camps, gallery exhibitions and more. Registration is open for fall semester classes for children and adults, as well as various Make It Take It classes for adults. Learn more at FishersArtCenter.org.
New director at Family Promise – Alicia Klingerman has been named the executive director of Family Promise of Hamilton County. She will replace Nancy Ramsey, who is retiring this month. Klingerman previously held leadership roles at the Indiana Department of Child Services and Family Development Services. Learn more at familypromisehamiltoncountyin.org.
Fishers swim club announces new coaches
news@currentinfishers.com
Southeastern Swim Club of Fishers has hired a new head coach who will join the organization in June 2025.
AQUATICS
Jeff Thompson previously coached the Terre Haute Torpedoes for 17 years and at the Germantown Academy in Pennsylvania for 10 years and had four athletes at
the 2024 USA Olympic Swimming Trials.
“His deep connection to Indiana, combined with his national-level coaching experience, makes him uniquely qualified to lead SSC into its next chapter,” an announcement stated. “We are confident that Jeff’s leadership will propel SSC to new heights.”
SSC board president Kyle Hultgren stat-
ed that while the approach might be unconventional, the board believes Thompson is worth the yearlong wait. In the meantime, Rich Wolfred will come out of retirement to serve as SSC’s interim head coach. Wolfred previously coached for the Lawrence Swim Team and Noblesville High School.
SSC also announced that Andy Pedersen will serve as interim executive director. Thompson plans to hire a new executive director after he starts work next year.
role as head coach of Southeastern Area Masters Swimming.
Dan Johnson will be the interim age group director and will continue his
DISPATCH
Emily Thompson will join the organization as the new senior assistant coach and age group coach.
“Emily brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience from her successful tenure with FAST Tigers,” the announcement stated. “Emily finished her swimming career at DePauw University, graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of communications (with) a minor in English writing.”
For more about SSC, visit facebook.com/southeasternswimclub.
Event Center to host Mudsock Rivalry — Tickets are on sale for the annual Mudsock Rivalry boys and girls varsity basketball games between Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers high schools, set for Dec. 20 at the new Fishers Event Center. The girls game starts at 6 p.m. and the boys play at 8 p.m. For tickets, visit FishersEventCenter.com.
September 12th, 6 pm
Daniel’s Vineyard, Geist
Thompson
Pedersen Wolfred
Johnson
Thompson
Bridge installation set
The Bell Ford Bridge will move to its permanent home at Geist Park in Fishers Sept. 5 and 6, with a final completion date set for spring 2025.
RESTORATION
The historic covered bridge has been under construction this summer next to the Fishers AgriPark parking lot, less than a quarter mile from Geist Park. Contractors have been assembling the bridge from original restored wood beams and metal components.
When the bridge is moved to Geist Park, Florida Road will be closed from 113th Street to Martha Street. Local access to properties will be provided, according to a news release from Hamilton County.
The Bell Ford Bridge, built in 1869, is originally from Seymour in Jackson County. There, it allowed people to cross the White River for about 100 years until it was deemed unsafe. A windstorm destroyed half of the structure and the other half fell into the White River in 2006 Its pieces were retrieved from the river and stored until 2018, when Hamilton
County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt and Hamilton County Parks and Recreation collaborated with Jackson County Commissioners to acquire the bridge.
Six years later, it will be installed at Geist Park and used as a pedestrian walkway and bike path.
“Bringing the Bell Ford Bridge to Geist Park is a tremendous achievement made possible by the efforts of many partners,’ Hamilton County Parks Director Chris Stice said.
The project cost approximately $7.5 million, with nearly $3 million from federal funding.
The historic Bell Ford Bridge was assembled over the summer at Fishers AgriPark. (Photo courtesy of Hamilton County Parks)
A RUNNING TRADITION
Geist Half Marathon returns for 16th year
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Geist Half Marathon organizers learned a few things in 2023 — the first year that the marathon moved from May to September — including the need for a slightly later start time because of fall’s waning morning light.
“Last year, we started the race at 7 a.m. and a lot of our participants were getting to the start line and it was still pitch black outside,” race organizer Ginny Zimmerman said. “So, we’re delaying start time 30 minutes and we’re working with Hamilton County Emergency Management System to bring more light towers to the start line.”
The Geist Half was founded about 15 years ago by a group of Geist residents. The City of Fishers took over organizing the event in time for the 2023 race and moved it to fall to not conflict with other big central Indiana races that happen in May.
This year’s start time is 7:30 a.m. Sept. 14 at the north end of the bridge that crosses Geist Reservoir at Olio Road — approximately 11300 Olio Rd.
Zimmerman is the city’s Culture of Health Ambassador. Part of her relatively new job is to lead the charge on the annual race. She said that, based on feedback from runners in 2023, the city has made a few tweaks to the big event, including the addition of a 10K option on top of the 5K and half marathon; and the return of age-level awards.
“Last year, it was one of those details where it’s one more thing to add,” she said. “But we heard from a lot of participants in the post-race survey that, ‘Hey, you know, I’m trying to get my age award. I’ve really been pushing it.’”
The top three male and top three female finishers of each race will receive awards in the following age group categories: 10 to 14; 15 to 19; 20 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 69; 70 to 79; and 80-plus.
The city also is changing its VIP benefits. Last year, there was an exclusive post-race VIP area for runners who signed up for that experience. But, Zimmerman said, it turns out runners don’t want exclusivity.
“We want everybody to be able to come together and really celebrate their accom-
plishments,” she said. “So, we swapped to more of offering our VIP participants just perks with merchandise or an additional drink ticket and a little bit closer parking — trying to elevate their overall experience instead of making it a totally separate experience from the rest of the group.”
The post-race party will feature local nonprofits, including Hero Hut, which will serve breakfast to runners and spectators.
“Proceeds go directly to Hero Hut,” Zimmerman said. “Their mission is to provide first responders and veterans with a place that they can gather at events nationwide. So, it’s kind of their unique way of saying, ‘Hey, everybody’s welcome here.’”
The post-race party also will have a vendor offering smoothies and another serving nonalcoholic beer as an option, in addition to the regular beverage vendors.
“We know there’s a large push across the nation and especially in our community to offer more nonalcoholic options to people who are either sober, curious or maybe don’t celebrate in that way, but still want to be a participant,” Zimmerman said.
Although the post-race party is an important celebration, Zimmerman said the city is working to make the entire race an enjoyable experience. They have secured some entertainment for sections of the racecourse and she said she hopes lots
GEIST HALF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The City of Fishers needs a variety of volunteers to help the Geist Half run smoothly from start to finish.
Some volunteer jobs open include course marshals, cheerleaders, course entertainment and bike teams who ride in front of the lead runners.
To view the list of volunteer positions and descriptions of each job, visit fishersin.gov/our-city/geist-half-marathon and scroll down to the volunteer link.
of residents come out to cheer on the runners.
“(Hamilton Southeastern High School) has a student group called Bring Change to Mind and their focus is on breaking the stigma of mental health and really highlighting how we can have more positive interactions around mental health,” she said. “All of our half marathoners between miles 5 and 6 — which is kind of where you’re getting into a groove but your body starts talking to you a little bit and so you need out of your head — the Bring Change to Mind kiddos will either be at that water station that’s at mile 5 or kind of sprinkled throughout miles 5 and 6 to provide some positive messages and encourage people to move through that tough spot.”
Running coach Jon Wade confirmed that section can be a little rough to get through. But, he said, the overall racecourse is more challenging than people who haven’t run it might think.
“There’s a surprising amount of hills,” he said. “That seems to be the thing that people always talk about. The beginning of the race, because that first mile, well, mile 2, I would suppose, through Cambridge, there’s a big downhill and people forget that you come right back up that at mile 11.”
Wade said the course is unique, taking runners through Fishers neighborhoods and across Geist Reservoir.
“There are multiple lake views,” he said. “The course is beautiful — I don’t think there’s another course like it, really. It’s definitely got a more intimate feel to it, I think, especially for people that run a lot of races. It’s nice to get to the start line and you’re not there with 20,000 people — you’ve got a couple thousand, tops.”
Zimmerman said the Geist Half is a good race for first-time runners, especially if they sign up with a friend or two.
“You can have a lot more accountability for one another to say, ‘I’m showing up if you’re showing up,’” she said.
Race registration prices increase after Aug. 31. For more information and to register, visit geisthalf.com.
ON THE COVER: Fishers Running Club members gather after the 2023 Geist Half Marathon. (Photo courtesy of the City of Fishers)
(Above) Race ambassador and running coach Jon Wade runs the 2023 Geist Half alongside fellow Fishers Running Club member Carly Quinn. (Photos courtesy of the City of Fishers)
(Below) Runners participate in the 2023 Geist Half, the first year the race was moved to September.
Fishers Blues Fest headliners follow fathers’ footsteps
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Bernard Allison was always taught not to copy other performers’ styles.
MUSIC
“Every song I do is my own spin,” Allison said. “My dad always said if you are going to do somebody’s music, you have to do it how you do it, not how it’s been done before. I’ve stuck to that strategy.”
Allison’s love for blues, however, did come from his late father, Chicago blues legend Luther Allison, who died at 58 in 1997.
Allison is the Sept. 1 headliner at the two-day 12th annual Fishers Blues Fest at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. Shemekia Copeland is the Aug. 31 headliner for the free festival. The hours are 4 to 10 p.m. each day.
Allison, 58, performed on one of his father’s live albums at age 13 and later toured as a member of his father’s band.
“This whole year is based on ‘Luther’s Blues’ and my previously recorded songs with my father,” Allison said. “Our set is combined with my last albums, pretty much all original songs. I do one cover, but pretty much Allison material.”
“Luther’s Blues,” which has 20 songs, was released earlier this year.
Allison was his father’s band leader for nearly three years.
“I just pick and choose which (songs) suit me,” he said. “I look for certain songs that I felt were overlooked as opposed to ones that everyone knows. We’re excited to have a blues party and meet some old fans and some new fans.”
This is the 30th anniversary of Ruf Records, the label for Allison and his father.
Prior to his Fishers appearance, Allison performed several concerts in Europe. He will return for a five-week tour of France starting in September.
“In the U.S., we’re mostly performing in the festival period between European tours,” he said. “There’s tons of clubs but over the years I’ve done them all. We
don’t drive anywhere. We fly everywhere.”
Like Allison, Copeland’s devotion to blues came from her father.
“My father was a great blues musician named Johnny Copeland, so I grew up with it,” she said.
Copeland, who lives in California, grew up in New York City and then spent 20 years in Chicago. Her songs often address social issues.
“I feel if you are going to make music, you should make good music that is good for the heart,” she said.
Copeland has been a blues fan since she was a child.
“Blues, gospel, soul, just American-roots music,” she said.
Copeland is releasing a new album, “Blame It On Eve,” Aug. 30. She will play some of that new music at the Blues Fest.
“Summer is always busy with the festivals,” she said. “We’re all running around. I travel year-round, but this is the busiest time. It’s a good time to see everyone at festivals, otherwise we’re missing each other. When you play at a big festival, you get to run into people you love.”
Copeland has five Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Blues Album. She has been named Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year seven times.
Two songs she said she always must perform for her fans are “Ghetto Child” and “It’s 2 A.M.”
Copeland hosts a SiriusXM satellite radio show called “B.B. King’s Bluesville.”
Other announced Aug. 31 performers are Phillip-Michael Scales and Skelton & Rice. Other Sept. 1 performers are Jonathan Ellison and Buffalo Nichols. For more, visit npdamp.com.
‘MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET’
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Million Dollar Quartet” runs from Aug. 29 to Oct. 6 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
Dueling Pianos presented by Brittany Brumfield and Baby Grand Entertainment is set for Aug. 30, followed by Eric Baker & Friends presents: Southern California in the ’70s Aug. 31 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
Proud Tina: The Ultimate Tribute to Tina Turner is set for Aug. 30, followed by The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute Aug. 31 at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Both performances start at 8 p.m. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
‘WE ARE FAMILY? THE STAGE PLAY’
Shandrea Funnye presents “We are Family? The Stage Play” Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.
SAMMY HAGAR
Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds Tour with special guest Loverboy will appear at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
ROB ZOMBIE
Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper: Freaks on Parade concert is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
PITBULL: PARTY AFTER DARK TOUR
Pitbull and special guest T-Pain will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 1 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
DISPATCH
Fork + Ale holds holds weekly concert series — Fork + Ale, 350 Veterans Way, Suite 150, Carmel will hold a concert series from 6 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday through Nov. 6. The series, which started Aug. 21, continues Aug. 28 with Sam King.
(Above) Bernard Allison will perform Sept. 1 at Fishers Blues Fest. (Photo courtesy of Bernard Allison)
(Below) Shemekia Copeland will perform Aug. 31 at the Fishers Blues Fest. (Photo courtesy of Dave Specter)
Carmel resident singing the blues on own album
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Christopher Wyze has played in several blues cover bands but never expected to write his own songs.
MUSIC
A longtime Carmel resident whose actual last name is Wirthwein, Wyze didn’t think his German name would work well on a blues record. In July, the song “Back to Clarksdale” reached No. 1 on the RMR, or Roots Music Report, song chart. The album, Christopher Wyze & The Tellers’ “Stuck In The Mud,” reached No. 2 on the RMR blues chart based on worldwide radio play.
Wyze co-wrote all the songs, is the lead vocalist and plays harmonica. The Tellers’ name comes from songs as a form of storytelling.
“These aren’t pop songs,” Wyze said. “This is about people with real stuff going on in their lives. They’re not doing very well.”
Wyze, 67, wrote eight songs with Ralph Carter, a Los Angeles producer, who he met in Mississippi.
Carter was a bandmate and musical tour director for Eddie Money.
“Ralph was in that big rock ‘n’ roll world and I met him at (a) blues camp in Mississippi,” Wyze said. “I started to learn the harmonica. Ralph said you have to start writing songs. I said, ‘Yeah, right. I don’t write.’ I hadn’t written any songs.”
Approximately three years ago, Wyze saw a Wall Street Journal article about a new recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala. He sent it to Carter, half-jokingly writing that it would be a good place to record the album. But Carter said Wyze needed
to write the songs and they would do the album together.
Six months later, Wyze had written the songs and he and Carter had turned them into music.
“Carter had auditioned and hired the studio musicians,” Wyze said. “We packed up and went to Muscle Shoals, where all the great musicians in the world recorded and we recorded the record.”
Wyze was signed by Big Radio, a division of Select-O-Hits, in December 2023.
One of the band members is Wyze’s friend, Westfield resident and bass player Gerry Murphy, who co-wrote two songs, including “Back to Clarksdale.” One of the musicians on the album was Eric Deaton, a guitarist who also plays with the Black Keys.
“He’s a monster talent,” Wyze said of Deaton.
Wyze said some of his favorite blues artists are Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells and Jimmy Reed.
For more, visit christopherwyzeandthetellers.com
FREE EVENT GAME 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:
Options Westfield will present a free game night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at 17721 Gunther Blvd. in Westfield with Wii Sports, Just Dance and refreshments for middle and high schoolers. Attendees can learn more about Options Schools. RSVP at facebook.com/ events/1241259203532830.
OTHER FREE AREA EVENTS
CONCERT — Concerts in the Centerpiece will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 1 at Coxhall Gardens in Carmel, 2000 W. 116th St. The night will feature musical entertainment from the terraced seating of The Centerpiece. Bring lawn chairs or spread a blanket in Coxhall Gardens’ amphitheater.
Christopher Wyze on the railroad track in Clarksdale, Miss., in March. (Photo courtesy of Christopher Wyze)
Opera in the Park returns
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For Lyndsay Moy, Indianapolis Opera’s Opera in the Park is always special and this one has special significance.
CONCERT
Moy, director of education and community engagement for Indianapolis Opera, will be joined by Ganson Salmon as feature performers in Opera in the Park in a 7 p.m. free concert Sept. 7 at Garfield Park in Indianapolis.
“Since this is our 50th anniversary season, we really wanted to highlight Hoosier talent, so (general director) David (Starkey) graciously asked me to sing because I was raised in Indianapolis,” Moy said.
After earning a master’s degree at Cleveland Institute of Music, she returned for her residency at Indianapolis Opera in 2015.
“I’ve been here with the company ever since,” she said. “That’s just been a big joy for me.
Moy, a Brownsburg resident and Pike High School graduate, will perform the Italian version of “Gabriel’s Oboe/Nella Fantasia” with oboe player Pam Ajango. She also sings “Alto’s Lament.”
“It features a lot of musical theater and a lot of comedy, which is my bread and butter,” Moy said.
There will be some pieces from “Barber of Seville,” which Indy Opera will perform in November.
Salmon is appearing in Opera in the Park for the first time since 2021.
Salmon will sing “Nessun Dorma” from “Turandot” and a piece from “Rigoletto.”
A Heritage Christian School graduate, Salmon grew up in the Lawrence area and returned during the COVID-19 pandemic when theaters were closed in New York City.
“Being an Indy-bred tenor, it feels only right that I get the honor of playing a part in this 50th anniversary season,” said Salmon, who lives in Whitestown.
For more, visit indyopera.org.
Moy Salmon
Color vision deficiency
Commentary by Dr. Kennedy Neukam
You have probably heard the term “color blind” before. Perhaps you have a family member or child that is color blind, or maybe you are color blind yourself. It is a common misconception that anyone who is color blind cannot see colors at all, which is not true! This is why the term color vision deficiency, or CVD, is a more accurate way of describing this range of conditions.
VISION
Color is perceived from special types of cells, called cones, that are concentrated in the back of our eyes. We have three types of cones, each responsible for recognizing a different range of the color spectrum. All three cones work together to create the colorful world we live in. In a person with CVD, one type of cone may have a shifted recognition or lack recognition altogether. This doesn’t always mean that they cannot see color at all, it just means they have a harder time differentiating between colors.
The most common type of CVD is redgreen deficiency. This type of color deficiency is genetic and X-linked, so it more
commonly affects boys whose mother has a color vision deficient family member. There are other forms of CVD, too, such as blue-yellow deficiency or achromatopsia. Achromatopsia means you don’t have any cones, so you don’t have any way to perceive color. This leaves a world of only black, white and gray.
Many patients aren’t aware of their condition because they have had it since birth. But many early learning tests rely on color coordination or perception. This is another supporting reason the American Optometric Association recommends that all children have a comprehensive eye exam before beginning school.
There is no cure for color deficiency, but those who are affected may learn their world a little bit differently.
CVD rarely poses a serious threat to vision and patients can fully adapt.
Dr. Kennedy Neukam is an optometrist at Little Eyes Pediatric Eye Care in Carmel and Fishers.
LIFESTYLE
Across 1. Witches’ group 6. Recipe amt. 10. Part of MSG 14. Butler frat letter
15. “___ Abby”
16. Castleton Square Mall store sign
17. In first place in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference
18. I-65 big rig
19. Hawaiian island
20. Track meet starter’s gun
22. Area pizza place 24. Meadow 26. Gillette razor 27. City known for its zoo 32. Cornell’s home 36. Clumps of dirt
Absurd
Voyage preceder?
40. Ye ___ Shoppe
41. Area pizza place
42. Rainbow guy: ___ Biv
43. Hoosier Park feedbag morsel
44. “Now you ___, now you don’t”
45. Delaware’s capital
46. Fear
48. Petroleum plant
50. Blunders
52. Spy org.
53. Area pizza place
57. Make equal
62. Fishers N-S road
63. French cheese
65. Muscat native
66. IndyGo map dot
67. Neckwear at 19-Across
68. Vision-correcting surgery
69. Many millennia
70. Gov. Holcomb
71. Playing marble Down
1. Henhouse
2. ___ Severin Hotel
3. Pet docs
4. Showbiz award “grand slam”
5. Area pizza place
6. Colts stats
7. Broken Barrel bar order
8. Pago Pago’s place 9. Unsullied 10. Dough
11. October birthstone
12. Fruity soda brand
13. Burden
21. “To Kill a Mockingbird” author
23. Art Deco designer 25. Nimble
27. Current reporter’s coup
28. Muslim deity
29. Signal, in a way
30. JFK’s predecessor
31. WFMS studio sign
33. Over
34. More demure
35. Furious
38. Ancient Mexican
41. Not too bad
42. Indy Councilor Gibson
44. Foal’s father
45. Area pizza place
47. Gets into some Jazz Kitchen music
49. “Fee, ___, foe, fum”
51. More certain
53. Big name in speakers
54. Indianapolis Opera voice
55. Utah national park
56. 13, in old Rome
58. Online publication, briefly
Space inits.
Army outfit
Locally
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