Founded Jan. 25, 2011, at Fishers, IN Vol. XIV, No. 33
Copyright 2023 Current Publishing, LLC
All Rights Reserved.
30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032
317.489.4444
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.
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A one-person state agency is tasked with helping state and local government officials maintain transparency and that one person has been doing the job for the past 11 years.
Luke Britt was appointed as the state’s nonpartisan Public Access Counselor in 2013 by then-Gov. Mike Pence. The Lawrence resident spoke about the state’s Open Door Law during the Aug. 20 Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon.
Britt said his role has been to ensure that Hoosiers are informed about what their governments do with the public’s money.
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.
“I draw a salary from the state; I have programming that I spend money on,” he said. “Every single dollar that I spend as a government official — that came from someone’s pocket who earned it and remitted it to the state in the form of a tax. In order that I be a good steward of that trust and of those resources, I make sure that my daily operations and what I do on a regular basis is transparent, so they know they’re getting the benefit of the bargain as far as what I do and also that I’m the right person for the job.”
Britt said that same transparency is important for all government agencies, state and local. One way he makes sure Hoosiers understand the Open Door Law is through outreach and education.
“Education is the No. 1 thing,” he said. “I love to go out and talk statewide to folks. I’ve been in (the) four corners of the state and everywhere in between. It is a joy and delight to talk to people face-to-face — that is kind of my wheelhouse. I make sure I get out about 50 times a year to various different communities and it’s a pleasure to be here in my hometown now.”
Britt also reviews and investigates complaints from citizens who believe the state’s Open Door Law has been violated by public officials. Most of the time, he said, his investigations show officials are doing what they’re supposed to do, but sometimes he issues an opinion of noncompliance.
To keep compliance problems at a minimum, Britt said he acts as a resource to not only the public but to public officials. The PAC website has resources about how officials should conduct meetings, what
counts as a meeting and what records need to be made available to the public. He also is available by phone for people with questions about public access rules.
“I think people like it that they can call up a state agency and get the agency head really quickly,” he said. “About 55 percent or so of all those requests for assistance actually come from other public officials. So, that’s satisfying as well, knowing that they’re trying to do the right thing.”
Britt said transparency can seem like a burden to government officials because it takes time and effort, but it’s important to show the public how and why decisions are made.
“We just have to go through certain steps to make sure that everything’s on the up-and-up,” he said. “I tell elected officials, ‘Use this as an opportunity to show off a little bit, to show your voters and your constituents that, yeah, you made the right choice in putting me in office, and here’s why.’”
Britt said the Open Door Law applies to public meetings of government agencies. That includes not only city councils and school boards, but plan commissions, finance committees, zoning boards and any other government-related bodies.
“What the Open Door Law says is that anytime a majority or a quorum are discussing or deliberating or taking action on public business, then that discussion has to be open to the public,” he said.
There are a few exceptions. If a government body is discussing a lawsuit, for ex-
ample, the Open Door Law allows members to meet in executive session. But that meeting still needs to be advertised so the public knows it’s happening.
A majority of a board could gather for a social event without notifying the public, he added, as long as they don’t talk about public business. Even then, though, it’s better to err on the side of caution and avoid any appearance of violating the Open Door Law.
Britt said public records also need to be easily accessible and agencies need to document pretty much everything they do. He noted that the public can access most local and state financial records through the Indiana Gateway portal, gateway.ifionline.org.
Alternatively, citizens can go to their city, town or county offices and request documents. Some documents are not public information, however, such as health records.
Britt said whenever there’s a question about whether to provide information or meet publicly, government should err on the side of transparency. He also had advice for the public.
“Go to meetings, make public records requests, know your way around some of those online resources like Gateway, make sure that I’m held accountable, make sure that the city’s held accountable,” he said. “I think that when there’s apathy on the part of the constituency, that allows government to cut corners and to run amok a little bit.”
For more, visit in.gov/pac.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Harvest Church has experienced growing pains the last several years.
That is being addressed through the addition of a new worship center at the Carmel church at 14550 River Rd. The expansion will add 34,000 square feet of space. Marty Baker, the church’s senior director of operations, said construction is on schedule to be completed in March 2025 if winter weather doesn’t create too many issues.
Brian White, who has been the lead pastor since the church was founded in 2007, said the groundbreaking ceremony was held earlier this year. There was a capital campaign to raise funds in 2023.
“We moved into this site in April 2015,” said White, a Noblesville resident. “We built an auditorium building that has some nursery classrooms in the back of it. In the smaller building, there are more classrooms and our offices. We figured this would serve the church until we got to about 1,400 or 1,500, and then we had to build some more.”
White said there was a master plan that included plans for a larger worship center.
“So, there will be a new worship center, expansion of some offices and then some changes of things to get more classrooms,” White said.
Harvest Church has Sunday services at 8, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. White said the larger worship center will allow the church to return to offering only two services on Sundays. The new worship center will seat approximately 1,200 while the present one holds about 600 people.
“In our second service, we typically have people in our overflow area in the lobby because we’re out of space,” Baker said.
“During the services, children all the way from birth to sixth grade are in the classrooms,” White said of the Harvest Kids program. “Then on Sunday nights, the youth group meets and pretty much takes over most of the campus.”
There are approximately 450 children in the Harvest Kids program. The expansion also will include an additional 300 parking spots on the south side of the campus. There are 350 parking spots now.
Harvest Church started in 2007 with services held at Carmel High School for one year. Services then moved to Fishers Junior High School for five years and then Riverside Junior High School for less than two years.
“That was our process. We’d set up and tear down every week before we moved to this property,” White said.
The congregation was approximately 650 people when it moved to the site in 2015.
“We went from about 650 to 975 in about two weekends,” White said. “I’d say we’re averaging 1,700 to 1,800 at the site.”
White said when it started, there were about 150 Harvest Churches across the U.S.
“There are still a few Harvest Churches, but they are not formalized anymore,” White said. “It’s a nondenominational background as a church. We cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention for missions and church planning.”
Harvest Church is planning to launch a second location in Westfield in January 2025, which is expected to meet at Monon Trail Elementary School. White said the congregation primarily comes from Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Noblesville and the northside of Indianapolis.
For more, visit harvestchurch.org.
The new Fishers Freight Indoor Football League franchise has hired Dixie Wooten as the team’s first head coach and general manager.
Wooten is from the Houston area and was a quarterback for several indoor football teams, including two franchises in the Indoor Football League — the Centex Barracudas and River City Rage. Wooten has several years of coaching experience at the high school and junior college levels and in professional leagues before joining the Indoor Football League.
According to a Fishers Freight announcement, Wooten was head coach of the Iowa Barnstormers from 2017-19, winning Coach of the Year honors in 2017 and 2018 and leading the team to a championship in 2018.
From 2021-22, Wooten was head coach and general manager of the Tucson Sugar Skulls, leading the team to a playoff berth in 2022. Most recently, he was the offensive coordinator for the Bay Area Panthers, which won the 2023 championship and Wooten was named Assistant Coach of the Year.
Wooten looks forward to his new roles with the Fishers Freight.
“I’m thrilled to be the first head coach and general manager of this great, young organization,” Wooten stated. “Thanks to Jim Hallett, our owner, and Larry McQueary, our president and CEO, for believing in my plan to build a strong foundation for the Freight. With our front office experience and my winning background in the Indoor Football League, we’ll create something special that the Fishers community will be proud of, both on and off the field.”
McQueary said Wooten made an immediate impression on Freight officials.
“He’s a man of impeccable character and his coaching record speaks for itself,” he said. “He’ll represent the city well and we’re elated to have him as our franchise’s first Head Coach.”
The Fishers Freight begins its first season in March 2025 at the new Fishers Event Center. For more, visit fishersfreightfootball.com.
An upcoming event is designed to help women entrepreneurs from Hamilton and Marion counties network with their peers and learn more about funding their business ventures.
SCORE Indianapolis and Ivy Tech’s entrepreneurship program have teamed up for the Sept. 7 Women Entrepreneurs Fall Event at Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center, 2820 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis.
SCORE Indianapolis mentor Tricia Brace of Carmel stated that the event will provide attendees with an overview of fund-
ing options, including grants, microloans and traditional bank loans.
“A lot of people don’t even know what microlending is,” Brace stated. “Or what steps they need to take to secure funding.”
Brace is coordinating the event with fellow SCORE mentors Sylanda McKinnor of Fishers, Chris Ward of Geist and Debbie Guy of Indianapolis.
Speakers are:
• Rebecca Townsend, founder of Mantis Myofascial Massage Therapy in Indianapolis, will share how she made a career change from a decades-long career in journalism.
• Jean Lee of Carmel, a SCORE India-
By Tirzah Rowland tirzah@youarecurrent.com
Fishers-based More than a Phone, a nonprofit that donates cellphones to domestic violence support facilities, will host its seventh annual fundraiser from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, the Indianapolis Colts training facility, 7001 W. 56th St. in Indianapolis. Advance tickets are required.
“This event is really important to us because we only have one fundraiser a year, one annual event, and we try to make it fun and lighthearted,” said Julie Moorehead, More than a Phone’s founder and executive director. “But at the base, we’re still talking about a problem that affects one in four women, one in seven men, and that’s domestic violence.”
Called More than a Tailgate, the family-friendly event will feature entertainment by DJ Gabby Love and 15-year-old DJ Reese Ray; food catered by Ritz Charles’ Simply Served; and two large screens to view the Indianapolis Colts play the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Guests will have the opportunity to participate in silent and live auctions, have access to the Colts training field and participate in activities for all ages, including bounce houses.
Moorehead said silent auction baskets typically range from kid-friendly themes like Nerf and American Girl to Pacer’s tickets or vacation packages. Donations are still being accepted.
All proceeds go directly to More than
napolis mentee and founder of The Academy of Chaos, will discuss how she turned an educational need for her children into a business.
• Katina Washington, executive director of SHE.Events Indy, will share tips on finding and applying for grants.
• Stacey Walston of Indianapolis, a community relationship manager for Bankable, will discuss micro-loans and what lenders seek in applicants.
• Janelle Campbell of Westfield will discuss traditional bank loans and community bank programs available for entrepreneurs through Community First Bank of Indiana, where she serves as senior vice president, director of consumer banking.
Live and silent auctions are part of the More than a Tailgate fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of More than a Phone)
a Phone. Its goal is to raise $230,000. More than a Phone distributes up to 5,000 phones to 125 domestic violence support facilities nationwide.
“What we’re able to do at More than a Phone is provide survivors with a smartphone that’s reliable and safe and four months of data service, talk and text so that they can communicate with family, friends, counselors, work, schools, the people that they need to and not have the fear of being tracked or stalked by a potential abuser,” Moorehead said. “Sometimes, that’s one of the last things that a survivor needs to do to break free from her abuser.”
More than a Phone partners with Verizon to provide service for donated phones. Moorehead said her team of four is thankful for several corporate sponsors.
“What we really need is a lot of small supporters and to spread the word,” she said.
Tickets for More than a Tailgate are $25 for kids and $75 for adults. Adult tickets include bar drink selections.
To purchase tickets or donate, visit morethanaphone.org
• Carlonda Davis, Community First Bank of Indiana chief administrative officer, who also leads the bank’s diversity, equity and inclusion team. She will discuss traditional bank loans and community bank programs available for business owners. For more or to register, visit: score.org/indianapolis/event/ women-entrepreneurs-fall-event.
By Tirzah Rowland tirzah@youarecurrent.com
Besides decluttering, Fishers-based Mendi Funk Consulting provides home organization and personal assistant services to individuals, families and businesses throughout Hamilton County.
“People are overwhelmed, paralyzed — they’re embarrassed, which they shouldn’t be, but they don’t realize how much something’s bothering them until they finally reach out,” Funk said. “And then, when I help them, they feel such a sense of relief.”
It didn’t cost as much as I would have thought. I wish I would have reached out sooner.”
Her clients range from young parents raising children to senior citizens facing the prospect of downsizing their homes.
“None of us have it all together all of the time,” Funk said. She works with each client based on their specific needs from cleaning, filing, laundry and meal preparation to organizing and decluttering.
Funk said her experiences owning homes and more than 25 years living in Fishers give her a wide range of resources to draw from.
When faced with a career change after 28 years in corporate sales, Funk received encouragement from friends and family to capitalize on her organization skills. She always enjoyed organizing and helping others.
“At the time, I didn’t realize how much it can change people’s lives,” Funk said. “I had two friends that lost their parents very suddenly and they had to suddenly clear out a home, and their hearts were broken. I helped them clear out the home, get it ready to go on the market, being caring, loving and empathetic along the way. I realized I’ve done a lot of this all my life. Might as well do it as a living.”
In 2017, she founded Mendi Funk Consulting and continues to help clients solve problems one step at a time. She has 27 five-star reviews on Google.
Funk said the feedback she hears most often is, “That was easier than I thought. You’re so much faster than I expected.
“When I meet with somebody, I just ask them, ‘What’s making you feel overwhelmed; what’s stressing you out; what mundane task can I take off your plate?’” Funk said. “I usually help with one of three things: a never-ending to-do list; disorganization that is costing time and money; and people that are not able to sleep because they’re overwhelmed and stressed.”
She wants to help clients “learn techniques to bring order to all forms of clutter — spiritual, mental, and physical” and believes organization “can help restore joy, peace and order in your life.”
Funk said the four core benefits to organization are productivity, sleep quality, lower stress and saving time and money. She charges by the hour and works with clients to come up with a schedule and pricing plan based on their needs.
For more, visit mendifunkconsulting. com.
Film screening scheduled — A screening of the short film “Sometimes I Imagine Your Funeral” by Fishers native Vince Dixon is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 21 at Butler University’s Schrott Center Theater, followed by a panel discussion. This event will help promote Community Fairbanks Recovery Center’s “Family Connections” program, which supports family members of those struggling with substance abuse disorders. The film is about Dixon’s older sister who died of an overdose at age 26.
5K to benefit transplant patient — A 5K run/walk to help Adriel, a 3-year-old Indianapolis-area child who had a heart transplant, is set for 8 a.m. Sept. 14, at Roy G. Holland Memorial Park, 1 Park Dr., Fishers. Adriel recently received a heart transplant at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Funds raised through the Children’s Organ Transplant Association event will assist with transplant-related expenses. A virtual option is available. To register, visit cota.org/cotaforadriel/events.
Harvest Fest scheduled — Fishers Arts Council’s annual Harvest Fest is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 8 at Fishers Heritage Park at White River, 10595 Eller Rd. Participants can browse booths featuring work by local artists and artisans, enjoy live music, sample local food and walk the gardens of the historic Ambassador House. This is a free event and no registration is required.
ReadUP volunteers needed — United Way of Central Indiana is looking for volunteers for its ReadUP program, a literacy initiative that sends volunteers into elementary schools to read with third-graders who are behind on their reading skills. Registration is open for those interested in volunteering for the coming school year. United Way is looking to recruit 350 volunteers in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties. For more, visit uwci.org/readup.
Heirbrandt reappointed — Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt was recently reappointed to a second fouryear term as a member of the National Association of Counties Transportation Steering Committee. The committee reviews federal transportation legislation, funding and regulation and its impacts on county government. Heirbrandt is one of two members of the committee from Indiana.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Fishers High School senior wide receiver JonAnthony Hall’s first love was basketball.
“I feel like I picked that up first, but football came along pretty fast and took over,” Hall said.
Hall, however, enjoys the best of both worlds.
The three-sport standout was a key starter on the Tigers’ Class 4A boys basketball state championship team in March. Then he helped FHS capture the IHSAA boys state track and field championship in June. Hall finished second in the long jump and was on the third-place 4x100 relay.
“That thrill was unreal,” Hall said. “The buzz around the school and support was amazing and you just had to be there to experience the whole thing. It was so unique.”
Even though he has verbally committed to Stanford University to play football, Hall plans to play both sports this season be-
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite movie: “Spider-Man
Across the Spider-Verse”
Favorite subject: Strategic marketing
Favorite music genre: Rhythm and blues
cause he doesn’t want to miss a thing.
“I think in long jump I have a really good chance of being a state champion and our basketball team is looking really solid again this year, so there’s definitely potential to go back-to-back,” he said.
Hall said his personal football goal is to break his previous record of 1,055 receiving yards and 69 receptions. He said he wants to catch 10 or more touchdown
Fishers High School wide receiver JonAnthony Hall has committed to Stanford University. (Photo courtesy of Curt Funk)
passes this season. He’s off to a strong start with nine catches for 151 yards and a career-high four touchdown catches Aug. 23 in a season-opening 49-35 victory over North Central.
“A big team goal of ours is to win a sectional championship,” he said.
FHS football coach Curt Funk is confident in Hall’s ability
“JonAnthony Hall is not only a great player, but also a tremendous person,” Funk said. “He is a leader in our school, a
strong student in the classroom and an elite three-sport athlete. JonAnthony Hall is the total package when it comes to student-athlete.”
Hall has a grade point average of 3.85. He hasn’t decided on a major yet at Stanford.
“I’m not the type to want to switch majors in college, so I want to make sure I know what I want to do as a career,” he said.
Hall said the deciding factor in choosing Stanford over Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame, among others, was the people in the program.
“They made a great impression on me and my family and it felt like home even being many miles away from it,” Hall said. Stanford is joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, which means the California school will have some games closer to home.
“I’ve had multiple friends and family telling me that they are willing to make a drive to Notre Dame and Louisville to catch a game and see me, which I think is so awesome and supportive,” he said.
Sunday, October 6
12:30-4pm Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center (the Colts practice facility)
game from 2 large screen TVs! Join us for an upgraded watch party experience of the Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars away game! Enjoy tailgate food, an open bar, bounce houses for kids and more, all while supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
Learn more at morethanaphone.org.
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
At a southside neighborhood in Indianapolis where two brand-new Habitat for Humanity homes have been constructed, a group of volunteers gathered in mid-August to finish up landscaping for the homes’ new owners.
It was dirty, sweaty work. Some volunteers hauled heavy rolls of dense turf grass, placing the rolls carefully onto the front yards before unrolling them to create a patchwork of new, smooth lawn. Others used shovels and rakes to prepare the ground before grass was placed. They also planted trees and flower beds.
The vast majority of the volunteers was women, including about a dozen from the Fishers Police Department.
FPD Sgt. Angela Ellison said two co-captains at the department gathered the FPD volunteers for this special Women Build project with Habitat for Humanity.
“We are super honored to be here to help with this project and to be with a bunch of amazing women from different organizations,” she said. “To have such a huge showing from our own police department of sworn officers and civilians, it’s awesome.”
FPD volunteers made up about half the women who showed up to help that day. Ellison said programs like this one can help encourage women to step into less-traditional roles.
“I have never laid sod before in my life and now I have such a great respect for anyone who does any of this kind of work professionally,” she said. “And for our officers to be out here doing it — a lot of them are younger — and seeing that, no matter what the challenge is, (women) can do it.
I’m going to note that we have a 26-yearold officer who is 26 weeks pregnant. She’s a Marine, and she’s actually lifting sod, pushing wheelbarrows, using a pickaxe. She’s amazing. So, again, women can do anything.”
In addition to the physical labor, the FPD team raised more than $4,000 for Habitat for Humanity. Co-captain Kelsey Ramsey, FPD marketing and PR manager, said the funds went toward purchasing the sod and
equipment for the project.
Ellison said it’s an honor to help Fishers’ neighboring communities.
“Because all of that just makes us better,” she said. “And I’m so proud of all of my colleagues for doing this. I could not be
more proud and impressed by all of them.”
Habitat for Humanity Site Manager Olivia Kirk said the nonprofit’s Women Build event encourages women to participate in its volunteer homebuilding projects through fundraising and physical labor.
Habitat for Humanity Site Manager
Olivia Kirk said the nonprofit’s homebuyers go through a long process to qualify for a home.
First, they have to show a financial need for affordable housing, but they also have to show they can afford to pay the mortgage rate on top of regular home maintenance costs.
“Once you get through that application process, you start what we call our Habitat University classes, or Habitat U,” Kirk said. “It’s about four months where they do two hours a
week. They come into class and learn things like financial literacy, homeowner maintenance, even like how to be a good neighbor — things like that, to set them up for long-term success in home ownership.”
Once they graduate, the physical labor begins. Each new homeowner puts in a minimum of about 20 days in the field, helping to build their homes.
“It is a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice to be a Habitat homebuyer,” Kirk said. “We like to consider it a hand up and not a handout.”
“It is incredibly important to raise the money for (the homes), but beyond that, it’s bringing communities together and it’s spreading the word of Habitat, because these women are all fundraising themselves, so they’re reaching out, probably to, you know, five to 10 people at a minimum, each,” she said. “One of our missions is to bring people together and enrich the community. So, that’s also a very important part of Women Build is expanding our network and bringing the community together.”
She said getting women involved helps break gender barriers.
“Construction is obviously a male-dominated industry, so (women) kind of get it in their head that, well, maybe I shouldn’t go out and do framing,” Kirk said. “But we like to tell people that you don’t have to have any construction skills to start this. You can come out here and have never picked up a hammer, which happens all the time. And by the end of the day, you will be putting up walls, putting up siding, because we have fantastic teachers.”
The two new homeowners were due to move into their homes in late August. Kirk said both are women — one has three children and the other has one child. Both are buying their homes from the nonprofit.
“There’s a huge misconception about Habitat that we’re giving homes away for free and that is not the truth,” Kirk said. “We provide affordable home ownership for members of our homebuyer program. And to be in our homebuyer program, you have to display three things to us — you have to show us the need, the affordability and the willingness to partner.”
Habitat holds the mortgages for its homebuyers and works with them to find an affordable mortgage payment schedule, she said. So far, it’s been able to provide mortgages with a zero-percent interest rate.
For more about the local nonprofit, visit indyhabitat.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Lynyrd Skynyrd began The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour in 2018, but soon decided to forge on.
Then when Gary Rossington, the last of the band’s founding members, died in March 2023, some speculated the band would call it quits soon.
“Gary never wanted to see the band’s legacy and, of course, the music, over time fade,” guitarist Rickey Medlocke said. “He wanted Johnny (Van Zant) and I to keep the music alive. With millions of fans, he just thought it was well worth it for us to carry it on. He all but made us promise. Here we are, we’re out there and having a great time with it.”
The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, featuring ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd, returns at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 to Ruoff Music Center. The two groups played together at Ruoff in August 2023.
“One thing that is important when you carry on the legacy of a band is being committed to the songs and playing them like they are supposed to be played,” Medlocke said. “The integrity of the song has to be kept. If you play it great and right at what the original band did live, I think the fans love the music.”
During the band’s song “Skynyrd Nation,” there is a line about three generations of fans.
“I look out and I see four or five generations of fans,” Medlocke said. “When you see fans come out from 8 years old to 80, you can’t argue with it. What that is about is iconic songs. The songs will be out here a lot longer than we all are. Maybe in a thousand years if the old Earth is still here, someone will dig up a jar and it will have Lynyrd Skynyrd music in it. I just know people want to hear the songs no matter how many times they’ve heard them. They love coming out to experience it live.”
Medlocke’s first stint with Lynyrd Skynyrd was from 1971 to 1972, when he played drums and sang lead on a few songs. Not feeling he was a strong
enough drummer, he left to rejoin his previous band, Blackfoot, where he was the lead singer and guitarist.
Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, died in a plane crash in 1977 and everyone else suffered serious injuries. The band reformed in 1987 with Johnny Van Zant replacing his brother as lead singer. Medlocke, 74, returned to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996.
Medlocke said when asked what his favorite of the band’s songs is, he always says all of them. Two of his favorite songs to play in concert are “The Needle And The Spoon” and “Tuesday’s Gone,” when the band does a video tribute to Rossington.
“We try to pick a well-rounded set,” Medlocke said. “We could be out there four or five hours with all the ones people want to hear.”
ZZ Top is a perfect travel partner, Medlocke said.
“It’s been incredible being with the guys because we have a long history with ZZ Top,” Medlocke said. “Lynyrd Skynyrd’s history with ZZ Top goes back
to the ‘70s. One of the longest tours we did was in 1999 going into 2000. We did the Millennium Tour and we played New Year’s Eve night in Houston at the arena. If you remember, people thought the world was going to come to an end (with Y2K computer issues at the turn of century). We thought, ‘What a way to end the world, playing (a concert).’ We did 103 shows with those guys, which was a long tour.”
Medlocke said he was supposed to spend his 50th birthday in Hawaii, but had to give those plans up because the tour was extended.
Medlocke will keep playing as long as his band does.
“I promised Gary when I came back (in 1996) that I would be there until the last note in ‘Freebird’ was played,” Medlocke said. “I hoped he would still have been here to see it through. The creator above had other plans and Gary got off the bus. He saluted us. I’m still here and I hope I’m there until the last note in ‘Freebird’ is played, so I can fulfill that promise.”
For more, visit livenation.com.
Civic Theatre fundraiser set — Civic Singsation Family Karaoke Night is set for 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 13 at Carter Green outside the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The family-friendly fundraiser features a karaoke raffle for chances to sing your favorite songs and sing along as friends sing. The event is hosted by Civic Theatre’s Brent Marty, director of music and education. Advance admission tickets are $35 and karaoke raffle tickets are $10. The more raffle tickets a person purchases, the greater the chances to perform. Food trucks will be available to purchase food, beverages and treats and, after dark, the evening will end with a glow party. Tickets at the entrance will be $45. This is a cashfree event. For more, visit givebutter.com/ Singsation2024.
Children’s music series begins — Families can introduce young children to the joy of live performance through Carmel’s Center for the Performing Arts’ monthly Peanut Butter & Jam series, which begins a new season Sept. 14 with Soulful Music and Melodies with Allison Victoria. The fun and informal sessions designed specifically for ages 1-7 takes place one Saturday each month from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., in the Palladium’s Robert Adam Room or across Carter Green in the Studio Theater. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Artomobilia founder John Leonard tries some new elements each year.
“Some we keep and some we say, ‘Let’s not do that again,’” said Leonard, who also is executive director of the annual Carmel car show.
Artomobilia, which started in 2008, is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 7 in the Carmel Arts & Design District with the awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at the Indiana Design Center parking lot.
Voloce, featuring collector cars and aircraft, begins at 7 p.m. Sept 6 at the Indianapolis Executive Airport in Zionsville.
Leonard, a Carmel resident, said a new element this year is the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge. He said there are 12 or 13 cars coming from Porsche dealerships across the U.S.
“They’ve all been restored and Porsche will judge them and then decide which one they think will be the best at Artomobilia at Porsche-Palooza,” Leonard said.
Electric vehicle that will be on display.
“It will be undercover and then revealed at noon by the team at Tom Wood Porsche,” Leonard said. “It’s their smaller sports utility vehicle but this is the first all-electric one.”
The Porsche display is on North Rangeline Road, north of Main Street.
Another new event is the Artistry & Elegance Ladies Luncheon for approximately 50 women at Anthony’s Chophouse.
There will be two speakers, Stephanie Kim, chief administrative officer of Telamon and Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam.
Leonard said there will be a VIP area hosted by Evans May Wealth at 3UP above Anthony’s Chophouse.
Another new feature is a Porsche Macan
For more, visit artomobilia.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s 2025 schedule will feature five new shows for the Indianapolis venue, headlined by the Broadway hits “Jersey Boys” and “Waitress.”
“New shows are controlled by the theatrical licensing houses,” Beef & Boards owner Doug Stark said. “We were lucky to have so many new shows become available to us and felt that this was the perfect year to do them — regional premieres in central Indiana. I believe ‘Waitress’ and ‘Tootsie’ have played in the Broadway series, but this will be the regional premiere and ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ will be brand new to our audience.”
The first show to make its Beef & Boards debut is Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” which runs Jan. 9 to Feb. 9.
The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is featured in “Jersey Boys,” which runs Feb. 14 through April 13. The musical
won the Tony Award for Best Musical.
“Church Basement Ladies,” a musical comedy, runs from April 17 through May 18. Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” returns from May 22 through July 13. As the season’s family show, tickets are discounted by $10 for all children ages 3-15.
“Waitress” will open July 17 and conclude Aug. 31. The musical centers on Jenna, a talented piemaker and waitress whose goal is to leave her small town.
“Heartbreak Hotel” follows the legendary ascent of Elvis Presley. The musical, which runs Sept. 4 through Oct. 12, features more than 40 of Presley’s hits.
“Tootsie” opens Oct. 16 and runs through Nov. 23. To land his dream role, out-of-work actor Michael Dorsey disguises himself as actress “Dorothy Michaels.”
Back for the holidays is the original variety show “A Beef & Boards Christmas,” which runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 31.
“The thing I love about this season is its diversity,” Stark said. “There’s something for everyone, from kids to grandparents, to rockers and everyone in between.”
For more, visit beefandboards.com
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:
The Fishers Arts Council will hold its Harvest Fest from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 8 at Fishers Heritage Park at White River, 10595 Eller Rd. Attendees will have the opportunity to browse and shop, enjoy live music, try local food and walk the gardens of the Ambassador House. For more, visit fishersartscouncil. org/event-info/harvest-fest-1-2.
ARTOMOBILIA — Artomobilia will gather recognized artists, collector cars and automotive enthusiasts on the streets of the Carmel Arts & Design District from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 7. For more, visit artomobilia.org/ artomobilia.
LEGAL NOTICE OF DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC ELECTRIC VEHICLE FAST CHARGE (EVFC) RATE
DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Duke Energy Indiana”) hereby provides notice that on or around September 5, 2024, Duke Energy Indiana, in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10, will submit a request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) to update its Electric Vehicle Fast Charge (“EVFC”) tariff, Rider 28, under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines. The tariff revision will be an update to the EVFC rate based on the revised statewide average, as of August 2024, for EVFC charging offered by individual fast charge stations in Indiana that charge a consumption-based fee, are greater than 50KW in charging capacity and are available 24 hours a day. This submission is expected to be approved approximately thirty days after filing, unless an objection is made. Any objections may be made by contacting the Secretary of the Commission, or Randall C. Helmen with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers:
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Samantha Pauly took some personal days off from her role in “The Great Gatsby” on Broadway.
So, what did she do during the break? She attended a Discovering Broadway “Great Gatsby”-themed reception in Indianapolis.
Pauly answered questions from Discovering Broadway founder Joel Kirk, a 2012 Carmel High School graduate, and sang a few songs with pianist Adam Cole Klepper Aug. 21 at Laurel Hall. The following day, she taught master classes at Grace Church in Noblesville.
“Sometimes opportunities like this come up, and if I take a personal day and go get paid for my time, do something different, meet new people, come back to the Midwest, I always come back here,” Pauly said. “I love being with Adam and performing with him.”
Pauly and Klepper performed in 2023 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel.
“I really love doing the solo shows, but it’s just not as consistent as when I’m in a long-running show that I think ‘Great Gatsby’ is going to be,” said Pauly, who made her Broadway debut as Kathrine Howard in “Six.”
“When you are singing the same thing every day in a show (it’s repetitive). I don’t always get the opportunity to sing some of these songs that we love to do together,” Pauly said. “So, it’s a nice chance for me to sing something different for a couple of days.”
She also enjoys teaching.
“I really didn’t get into that until the pandemic, which kind of forced me to make money and do something,” Pauly said. “Now that I can do things in person, I love teaching.”
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
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.
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
Proceeds benefit the Center’s arts and educational programming
• Can be used with Sensitive Fabrics
• Removes Oil & Grease
• Aids in removing Water Soluble Soil
• Virtually Odorless
• Compatible with Fabric-Finish Additives
in common use by drycleaners. Since that time, DF-2000 Fluid has gained widespread acceptance and today is used in thousands of drycleaning plants in the United States alone.
The growth of DF-2000 Fluid has outpaced all of the alternative technologies offered for drycleaning. This is a result of many factors including health, safety and environmental benefits, excellent cleaning performance, proven equipment technology, commercial practicality, and a reduced regulatory burden.
DF-2000 Fluid provides you with the peace of mind that comes from a well-developed, broadly supported technology with a track record of proven performance.
• Proven Cleaning Performance
When used with properly designed processes, additives and equipment, DF-2000 Fluid provides cleaning performance comparable to perchloroethylene.
• Consistent, Premium Quality
DF-2000 Fluid is manufactured and packaged to high standards of consistency and purity to deliver the same high-quality performance time after time. DF-2000 Fluid remains stable through multiple distillation and reclamation cycles.
• Virtually Odorless
Samantha Kupiainen news@currentinfishers.com
For 25-plus years, Josh Ross has been an entrepreneur by building, growing and scaling companies. His most recent company, KLaunch, is based in Fishers and is a subsidiary of Kerauno holdings.
KLaunch offers artificial intelligence communication tools.
“Our mission statement is, we help people by creating a culture that fosters personal, professional and spiritual growth that leads to life changing relationships,” said Ross, the company’s owner and CEO. “We want to use AI for good and we want to be able to connect people to the central services and to the benefits. That’s the purpose of our technology.”
KLaunch’s stated mission is to advance human interaction.
“What we’ve done with this platform is, we incubated this out of another telecommunications company that I owned and sold to private equity in October 2020,” Ross said. “We’ve taken our technology platform that we started building in 2014, and that platform is now our conversation AI platform that we have available to clients.”
Solvents with a higher level of aromatics contain more solvent odor. DF-2000 Fluid has the lowest aromatic content of any HFHC drycleaning solvent.
• Gentle on Dyes, Safer on Trims
The gentle cleaning action of DF-2000 Fluid is safer for most dyes and trims, so you can rely on it to safely clean a wider range of fancy and fragile articles with less risk of dye bleeding.
• Cost Effective
There are no usage, franchise or royalty fees required. In states where a solvent usage tax has been imposed, DF-2000 Fluid is either exempt or the usage tax per gallon is minimal. When coupled with effective processes and additives, labor and production costs are reasonable.
• Proven Equipment Technology
Equipment makers have more experience with DF-2000 Fluid than any other alternative solvent. Modern filtration, distillation, solvent recovery, water separation and safety technologies are
• Proven Additive Technologies Detergent and fabric finish additives are essential to provide important enhancements to cleaning performance in
According to IBM, 34 percent of companies use AI and 42 percent are exploring AI. KLaunch allows users to build autonomous bots for communication. It developed software for businesses to reach customers via text messages. KLaunch also is leveraging its technology in the philanthropic space by allowing nonprofits to reach more people.
Ross said he is passionate about helping nonprofits, because of his own previous struggles raising a young family when they relied on food programs for assistance.
“As I built and established organizations and grew and scaled and sold companies, it became really important for me to be able to give back to our society in the same way that I was helped,” Ross said. For more, visit klaunch.io/.
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
I have never aerated my lawn. I wasn’t familiar with the need for this procedure until I started getting emails from my lawn service. Basically, they said I needed to put holes in my lawn to stimulate growth. If holes are so good for your lawn, why did they charge me $129.95 in June to eliminate grubs and moles? I thought they were already doing a great job.
Recently, my wife and I arrived home from a Sunday brunch and saw our neighbor Steve wrestling with what appeared to be a 200-horsepower lawn machine. The really strange part was that Steve was not aerating his own lawn, but Norm’s lawn — an apparent act of great selflessness, unless you consider that he had simply lost control of the behemoth and was desperately trying to steer the machine back to his own front yard. Then Mark, watching Steve from his living room window, came outside to request that he be given a chance to aerate. Norm also wanted in. This scam was so ingenious that it made Tom Sawyer look like an amateur.
I don’t think I’ve ever said or written the word “aerated” before. If it weren’t for spell check on my computer, the first line of this story would have been: “I have never airrated my lawn.” Once, I accidentally went from liquefy to aerate while making a strawberry shake in my wife’s blender. That’s the extent of my experience.
Mark explained to me why it’s important to aerate your lawn, but that required that I listen. I kept hearing the word “plugs,” which made me mildly interested because I once had a hair transplant. During the operation, the surgeon put more than 1,000 plugs in my head. My hair does look a lot thicker now and there has been no sign of moles. I had one grub.
“Mark
– DICK WOLFSIE
Norm was now being whipped into unspeakable contortions and had to pull the emergency button after he aerated Mark’s newly paved driveway. After observing my neighbors, I agreed to try aeration myself. I took hold of the handles, pressed the bar and was quickly propelled into action. I had never realized how exciting it would be to poke holes in a lawn. It was the most fun I’ve had in my entire life. But four seconds was way long enough. I soon passed the privilege back to Jeff, who happily aerated his yard again. Twice as much work, but twice as many holes.
Aerators make me nervous. They are huge, powerful and potentially very dangerous. Someone could get hurt. There should be a background check if you buy or rent one. Jeff could see I was uncomfortable with an aerator in the neighborhood, but he put my mind at ease.
“Aerators don’t poke holes in lawns,” he told me. “People poke holes in lawns.”
That made me feel so much better.
Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
Commentary by Larry Greene
Tailoring each project to our clients’ unique needs and style is always our top priority. For this Village of West Clay bathroom remodel, our clients opted to forgo the traditional soaking tub in favor of a luxurious walk-in shower and expanded closet space — resulting in a more functional layout, enhanced aesthetics and additional space for the adjoining primary closet.
THE BLUEPRINT
• Removing the soaking tub allowed for a complete reimagining of the room’s layout — including larger quartz-topped vanities that provide practical storage.
• The new zero-entry, dual-head shower features a sleek hidden niche and built-in bench, transforming daily routine into a luxurious experience.
• A frosted glass pocket door replaced the standard door to the water closet, allowing light to filter through while maintaining privacy and enhancing the room’s flow by eliminating the door swing.
• Matte black hardware adds depth to the room’s serene palette, while crystal accents on the knobs and pulls bring a touch of sparkle.
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.
Poems of praise
Being bad, in a way, on
Slight character flaw 37. Where the Pacers play the Celtics in TD Garden
38. Negligible amount
39. Yemen neighbor
41. List-ending abbr.
42. Kids’ “magic words”
45. Like den walls, often
46. Letters of gratitude, in a text
49. Hosiery mishap
50. Some bank transactions (Abbr.)
54. Mogadishu native
57. Manicurist’s extension
59. Not digital
60. Kids’ “magic words”
61. Quit one’s job
62. Straightens up Down
1. IndyCar dashboard letters
2. “The Time Machine” people
3. Parts of speech
4. Really bothers
5. Cape Town’s country (Abbr.)
6. Balkan capital
7. Gives a double cluck of reproach
8. “You bet!” 9. ___ kwon do
Swiss peak
Cry while playing tag
“That’s my cue!” 13. Kind of PU prof
Top-rated
Infectious disease
Never
Noble Coffee to-go vessels 27. Frequently, in verse
Whig’s rival
29. “Ta-ta!”
32. List entry
33. ISO music bit
34. Glendale Town Center
health supplement co.
36. Bra spec
37. Victory Field event
39. Spencer’s county
40. Skin pigment
43. Navy rank
44. Fewer than 100 shares of stock
46. Old Russian ruler
47. Sharpen
48. Dec. 25, briefly
51. Raison d’ ___
52. Reel-like device
53. 1974 CIA spoof film
55. Boxing legend
56. Fireplace wood
58. “This ___ test” Answers on Page 19
UNLEASH SCOOPING
Save your back and your time!
Family/locally owned dog waste
scooping service with 16 years of experience. Prices start at $16/week for one visit for up to two dogs. More frequency also available. Email: UnleashedScooping@gmail.com. Phone 317.764.4777.
at
Don’t miss out on the biggest luxury home event of the year, featuring five showcase homes over three spectacular weekends.
SEPT. 12–15, SEPT. 19 – 22 & SEPT. 26 – 29
