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Founded Jan. 25, 2011, at Fishers, IN Vol. XIV, No. 34
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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Experts, candidates weigh in on impact of partisanship in school board races
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
In Indiana, school board seats are among the few nonpartisan elected positions, meaning candidates don’t have a party affiliation next to their name on the ballot.
EDUCATION
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But that hasn’t stopped some school board candidates from choosing to publicly align with a party during their campaigns, a practice that has become more widespread in recent years in the Hoosier state and beyond. Advocates believe that declaring a party promotes transparency and quickly informs voters of their positions, while those against it say it brings politics and division into a setting where it doesn’t belong.
our school boards had all of a sudden become extremely liberal and were pushing a progressive agenda, without preparing our kids for college or the real world after high school,” Massillamany said, referring to organizations associated with teachers unions and left-leaning groups with ties to local candidates. “Our academic curriculum and our rankings around the state were decreasing, especially in HSE, and that’s why we got more involved.”
In 2022, a slate of conservative-leaning Carmel school board candidates received public support and financial donations from the Hamilton County Republican Party at a level not seen before. One of the three candidates won and all three races were extremely close. In Hamilton Southeastern Schools, four GOP-backed conservative candidates swept the school board races, unseating two incumbents in the process and immediately gaining control of the seven-member board.
This year, the Hamilton County Republican Party is backing two candidates in Carmel and three in HSE. Party chair Mario Massillamany is continuing a training seminar he launched in 2022 for school board candidates to learn the basics of campaigning and running for office.
“I was watching school boards become politicized due to the fact that liberal progressive groups were recruiting, training and fundraising (candidates and getting them elected) to these school boards, and COVID gave us an opportunity to see that
Massillamany’s counterpart, Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Jocelyn Vare, agrees that the COVID-19 pandemic increased scrutiny and interest in how local schools are run and she does not take issue with candidates personally aligning with a political party. She doesn’t believe, however, that politicizing school board races will improve public education.
with a political party. One disadvantage is injecting politics into a role that often has little to do with traditional partisan issues, she said, while advantages include easily informing voters of a candidate’s beliefs and drawing increased attention — and potentially institutional resources — to a race.
“The only way (board members) can serve well is if they push politics aside and try to serve the school board in a nonpartisan way,” Vare said. “Unfortunately, today what we see with many school board races is these candidates are fully embracing a partisan partnership and that is the antithesis of the spirit of our Indiana law, and most importantly, the antithesis of being able to serve all students well.”
During the 2024 legislative session, Indiana lawmakers introduced a bill that would require school board candidates to declare their political affiliation on the ballot. The measure died in the House without a vote, but Laura Merrifield Wilson, an associate professor of political science at the University of Indianapolis who specializes in local government, said she expects public discussion on the matter to continue, whether it becomes law or not.
Wilson said she sees pros and cons to school board candidates publicly aligning
“It makes it easier for (candidates) to convey to voters who they really are. All of these candidates most likely have ideological and partisan preferences and when we talk about the nonpartisan ballot for school board, (it just means) you’re not listed as such,” Wilson said. “Typically, you wouldn’t want to turn off people that might disagree with your partnership but otherwise find you appealing as a candidate. If you have a nonpartisan ballot, (voters) have to find a way to differentiate you from the other candidates. What you see in particular with the Republican candidates is that they’re capitalizing on momentum for the party. Statewide, Republicans tend to dominate.”
In addition, influence from parties and organizations is something every candidate must consider, she said, no matter the office.
“Probably every elected official who runs with the party label has that tension. Sometimes you have to be beholden to your organization, sometimes you’re beholden to your constituents, sometimes you listen to your own heart and you’re like, ‘I think they’re both wrong,’” she said. “In Indiana, we don’t see (school board races) as partisan, but there’s always going to be influences in decision making, so I suppose there would be a risk there. I just don’t see it being any different than those other offices.”
Election Day is Nov. 5. Learn more about which races are on the ballot and how to vote in Hamilton County at hamiltoncounty. in.gov/222/Current-Election-Information.
86th & Ditch Rd or 82nd & Dean Rd
Massillamany
Wilson
Vare
HSE test scores improve
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton Southeastern Schools student test scores show improvement over the previous year in almost all categories and multiple grade levels.
EDUCATION
Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley gave a detailed and data-heavy presentation during the HSE Board of Trustees’ Aug. 28 meeting about the recently received spring 2024 standardized test results. He had announced at the previous board meeting that state IREAD reading comprehension scores for district third-graders showed improvement and promised at that time to return with more details.
Kegley’s Aug. 28 presentation delivered those details. It included state ILEARN test scores for third through eighth grades, which also had generally increased; and SAT and Advanced Placement test results for high school students.
“In ILEARN, looking at (English Language Arts) and math combined, we were up 2.1 points over the previous year and 9 points in the last four test administrations,” Kegley said. “Five out of six tested grade levels, plus the district overall, increased pass rates in language arts and in math and 11 of our 12 demographic areas increased in both ELA and math as well. Shifting to the high school level — we remain third among some comparison school districts in the SAT results for combined reading, writing and math.”
Kegley added that more district high school students passed AP tests — which can qualify for college credit — than in previous years.
Scores were broken down by demo-
graphics, which include race, ethnicity, special education, English language learners and whether a student qualifies for free or reduced meals. All the demographics showed improvement in the ILEARN English Language Arts and math except one. Students identified as Hispanic showed a slight decrease compared to the previous year.
While district SAT scores were strong compared to similar districts, the results were down from the previous year, particularly in math. However, Kegley noted, all the comparable districts showed a decrease in SAT math scores.
‘I don’t know why. I’m sure SAT (and maybe the) college board might be investigating, because this would indicate maybe something with the test and not necessarily the kids, when all of these districts go down,” he said.
Kegley said test results will be used when schools update their improvement plans to highlight areas that need growth or improvement. The district also will continue to focus on achievement gaps that the test results revealed.
In other matters, the board held a public hearing on proposed $6.7 million in general obligation bonds that would pay off bus leases that have been paid through the district’s operations fund. The bonds would not increase the district’s tax rate, according to material provided by the district.
No member of the public spoke about the proposed bonds. The proposal will come back to the board during its next meeting, set for 6 p.m. Sept. 11 at 13485 Cumberland Rd. Meetings are livestreamed on the board’s website, hseschools.org/ board/board-of-school-trustees.
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Fishers Arts Council seeks submissions
Artists are invited to submit their work for two upcoming exhibits hosted by the Fishers Arts Council.
EXHIBITS
The October exhibit, “Scenes from Indiana and Beyond,” is open to artists from central Indiana — and beyond — and focuses on landscape art, according to the FAC website. The deadline for submissions is 3 p.m. Sept. 13.
All styles and techniques are welcome. Submissions must be two-dimensional, weigh no more than 50 pounds and not exceed 42 inches in any direction. The exhibit will open Sept. 30 and runs through Nov. 1 at the gallery at the Fishers Municipal Center, 1 Municipal Dr.
A public reception for the exhibit is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 11 with live music by Elizabeth Lee.
Submissions for the council’s December exhibit, “Art of the Emerging Artist,” are due by 3 p.m. Nov. 15.
“This exhibit is for artists of all mediums who are brand new to exhibiting their work or those who have never (previously) exhibited with Fishers Arts Council,” the website states. “All work is welcome — bring your best to make a great impression.”
Two-dimensional pieces must weigh no more than 50 pounds and not exceed 42 inches in any direction. A limited number of 3D work will be accepted. The exhibit will open Dec. 4 and runs through Dec. 27 at the gallery at the Fishers Municipal Center, 1 Municipal Dr.
A public reception for the December exhibit is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 with live music by Crossing Bridges.
For more about how to submit artwork for consideration, visit fishersartscouncil. org and click on the “Artist Call Outs” link under the “For Artists” tab.
DISPATCH
Code & Coffee — Software developers and those interested in becoming one, are invited to drop in, drink coffee and converse with other software developers from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at The Well Coffeehouse, 8890 E. 116th Suite #120, in Fishers.
FUN
Fishers business offers family adventures
By Conrad Otto conrad@youarecurrent.com
Adrenaline Family Adventure Park in Fishers offers 13 different activities for children and adults, including a trampoline park, ropes course, foam pit, warped wall and bumper cars. The space can be used for private parties, birthdays and group events.
General Manager Troy Craig answered the following questions from Current about the company.
WHAT WERE THE CONVERSATIONS LIKE WHEN PLANNING THE BUSINESS?
The biggest thing was trying to attract more than one age. We’re looking to attract more than one family. At the very beginning, it was a sky zone — it was all trampolines. We took about 10,000-15,000 square feet out of it and made it a dining area and arcade. As you come in, you see the dodgeball trampoline, then you have the big trampoline area, you have the rock wall trampoline, foam pit trampoline.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT THE PARK?
First and foremost is always safety. We keep it very safe. We do a check every day on everything before we open the doors. We keep the place very clean. That’s two of things that we really pride ourselves on above anything else.
WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES?
It’s always the main trampoline and dodgeball. They just stay packed. If you’re a small kid, we have a jungle gym in the back. We don’t allow big kids in it. We do manage every one of the pieces. We have someone there with a whistle managing
the basketball courts, managing the trampolines. We have a zero-cellphone policy. We don’t allow cell phones on the floor, because it only takes a quick second for something to go wrong. If you’re staring at and texting someone, you’re not watching the kids. We look for someone that has that ability to pay attention, that cares about those things.
WHY DO YOU THINK THE PARKIS SO POPULAR?
What drives us is the activities for the kids. They do it for hours upon hours. We had a whole family of 12 for six hours one day. They just had a blast. We just try to give the kids something to do rather than nothing.
HOW DOES IT FEEL SEEING PEOPLE HAVING FUN AT THE PARK?
It’s controlled chaos and that’s when it’s the funnest. On a Saturday afternoon, when we have 600 people in there, it’s just chaos. I love talking to the parents. We have a parent board that we chose — eight parents. We have a monthly meeting, and we talk about how we can do better. You need that perspective as someone who doesn’t see it every day. They tend to see things we don’t see.
Kids play dodgeball at Adrenaline Family Adventure Park. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Craig)
5th District candidate forum planned — The Leagues of Women Voters of Muncie-Delaware County, Anderson-Madison County, Hamilton County and Howard County in partnership with Woof Boom Radio and WXIN/ FOX AND WTTV/CBS will hold a free, public U.S. House 5th District candidate forum from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 12 in the auditorium of Anderson High School, 4610 S. Madison Ave., Anderson. Attendees should park in the North Lot and enter Door No. 1. All three candidates running for the office will participate. They are incumbent Victoria Spartz (Republican) and challengers Deborah A Pickett (Democrat) and Robby Slaughter (Independent).
Juried art exhibit — The 5th annual Juried Exhibit of Hamilton County Artists, sponsored by Jiffy Lube of Indi-
ana, is on display through Sept. 28 at the Art Gallery at City Hall, 1 Municipal Drive, Fishers. A Free public reception and awards ceremony will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 13, with awards presented at 7:15 p.m. People can vote for the People’s Choice award, sponsored by Noblesville Creates, online at Facebook.com/FishersArt or visit the gallery during business hours.
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 promote Community Fairbanks Recovery Center’s “Family Connections” program, which supports family members of those struggling with sub-
stance abuse disorders. The film is about Dixon’s older sister who died of an overdose at age 26.
Best Hoosier state parks – Indiana is home to three of the Top 50 state parks in the U.S., according to travel and vacation website hometogo.com. Indiana Dunes State Park, Turkey Run State Park and Potato Creek State Park were listed by the website as No. 6, No. 18 and No. 34, respectively. The Indiana State Parks system manages 24 state parks and seven small satellite locations, eight reservoir properties, two state forest recreation areas and two off-road riding areas. The state park system includes 700 miles of trails, 17 marinas, 15 beaches, 7,701 campsites and more than 200 shelters. Learn more at in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes.
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a specialist close to home at ascension.org/StVincentHeart Your heart will thank you.
Mayor joins IU Indy faculty
news@currentinfishers.com
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness is joining the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Indianapolis as an associate faculty member for the fall 2024 semester, teaching a course designed to help future leaders understand what it means to be a public servant.
HIGHER ED
of public service and how they can go on to make a difference in their communities.”
The course, “The Call of Public Service,” focuses on the history, philosophy, values and outcomes for careers in public service.
According to an announcement from the O’Neill School, Fadness received his Master of Public Administration from O’Neill in 2007. He is the first sitting mayor to serve on the school’s faculty in Indianapolis.
“We are thrilled and honored to add Mayor Fadness to our elite faculty roster at the O’Neill School,” Associate Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management Suzann Lupton stated. “Mayor Fadness will provide critical real-world insight and experience to O’Neill students, helping to guide up-and-coming leaders on the importance
“I am excited and honored to engage with the next generation of public servants,” Fadness stated. “The problems and opportunities facing our world today are as complex as they have ever been, and we need to equip the next generation with the tools to tackle them. I am grateful to do my small part.”
Fadness served as Fishers’ town manager from 2011 until 2015, when the town became a city. Fadness then was elected as mayor. He previously taught other courses with O’Neill, most recently in 2013.
The Call of Public Service course is part of O’Neill Indianapolis’ new Community and Organizational Leadership Studies program, which offers a bachelor’s degree, minor and certificate option.
For more, visit oneill.indianapolis.iu.edu.
Fadness
Fox Hollow memorial unveiled
Meridian Audiology puts patients first
By Tirzah Rowland
The seasoned hearing healthcare practitioners at Meridian Audiology in Indianapolis provide personal, attentive care to patients seeking hearing, tinnitus, and auditory processing evaluations and treatment.
With a combined 30 years of experience as licensed audiologists, Alison Wyss, Au.D and Kira VonBlon, M.S., opened their private practice in July 2021.
“Ali and I are very easy to get to know and get along with, and we’re going to do whatever our patient needs to make them happy,” VonBlon said. “We want people to feel comfortable.”
While Meridian Audiology will service all major brands of hearing aids, the group offers the newest Phonak line of hearing aid products, providing patients with automatic sound adjustment, Bluetooth connectivity for up to eight devices, and a first of its kind Deepsonic AI chip technology providing enhanced speech clarity.
you’ll be able to connect to the sound system of that gate, and that will come directly into the hearing aids.” When the technology becomes available Phonak wearers will be able to use the same technology to connect their hearing aids to sound systems at theatres and other venues.
Offering chargers, accessories and phone app control capabilities, the Phonak hearing aids come in a variety of colors. In addition to hair and skin tones, patients can choose from red, green and rose gold.
“Ali and I went to the launch for the products earlier in August, and the biggest thing with the products is they’re really improving listening and understanding in noise, which is always the biggest problem for somebody with hearing loss,” VonBlon said.
The newest advancement offered by the Phonak line is Auracast compatibility.
“It’s not really out and about in our everyday settings yet, but it’s something where it’s going to be really useful,” VonBlon said. “Let’s say you’re in an airport and you’re wanting to hear the announcement at your gate,
Beyond hearing aids, Meridian Audiology offers Listening for Communication Enhancement, an independent training, to patients struggling with speech clarity and understanding speech.
Meridian Audiology accepts most major insurances, is independent of other medical practices or hospitals to provide the most beneficial patient care and quick scheduling.
Located at 911 E. 86th St., Suite 035, business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment only. Appointments can be made online at meridianaudiology.com or by calling the office directly. Meridian Audiology works with patients ages 5 and up.
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
A memorial dedicated to victims of Fox Hollow Farms was unveiled Aug. 29 at Flanner Buchanan — Hamilton Memorial Park in Westfield.
IN REMEMBRANCE
The memorial was made possible through a partnership between Flanner Buchanan, He Knows Your Name ministry and Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison’s office. Remains of Fox Hollow victims Jeffrey Jones and Allen Livingston were interred in the ossuary at the memorial during the dedication.
He Knows Your Name founder Linda Znachko said the memorial is a way to remember those killed not just as victims, but as people.
“Bringing the human element to this is what’s going to really matter and hit the heart and souls of people,” she said. “This is a brother, a cousin. Until we bring that point home, people are going to think this is a distant thing. We as a community, when we say their names, it changes everything. For me, sandblasting their names in stone feels permanent. We’ve written it forever; they had purpose in their lives,
they had a story and they had futures that they never got to live.”
Herb Baumeister is suspected of killing at least 12 men at his estate on 156th Street in the 1990s. Four of those victims have yet to be identified. More than 10,000 charred human remains are undergoing testing for DNA extraction by the Indiana State Police Laboratory and Dr. Krista Latham of the Biology & Anthropology Department at the University of Indianapolis. Jellison said the total number of victims remains unknown.
Baumeister died by suicide in 1996.
Family members with missing loved ones are urged to contact the Hamilton County Coroner’s office for DNA testing.
Forbes names Ivy Tech one of Indiana’s best employers
news@youarecurrent.com
Ivy Tech Community College is among Forbes best employers in Indiana for the third consecutive year.
EDUCATION
The college was included on the 2024 America’s Best In-State Employers list. The ranking is determined based on surveys that ask employees how likely they are to recommend their employer on a scale of zero to 10. Responses, which were received from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., were tallied and incorporated into a scoring system, along with survey data from the past three years, with the most recent surveys given greater weight.
“Ivy Tech is Indiana’s workforce engine and we could not deliver on that commitment without the dedication of our faculty and staff,” stated Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College.
“Our people are what make us great, and it’s why we strive to create a culture where everyone feels valued, empowered and driven by a deep sense of purpose and belonging. This recognition reflects the impact of our efforts to engage our employees, invest in their growth and enhance our policies and programs to support their success in work and life.”
Ivy Tech was rated the 52nd-best employer out of 75 that received the honor in the Hoosier state, and is one of five higher education schools in Indiana on the list.
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, with 45 campus locations, including Noblesville and Indianapolis. The college has 6,500 employees statewide.
Learn more at ivytech.edu.
(Photo courtesy of Meridian Audiology.)
VonBlon
Wyss
A memorial for victims murdered at Fox Hollow was unveiled at Flanner BuchananHamilton Memorial Park Aug. 29 in Westfield. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Car hits Fishers home, causes fire
news@currentinfishers.com
There were no reported injuries from an Aug. 28 house fire in Fishers’ Sandstone Lakes neighborhood that was caused by a vehicle crashing into the home.
PUBLIC SAFETY
According to the Fishers Fire Department, multiple units responded and crews quickly extinguished the fire and took additional measures to ensure the scene was safe.
“Fortunately, the residents and the driver safely evacuated. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” a FFD announcement stated. “We commend our team for their swift response and effective actions in controlling the fire. We also appreciate the coordination of Fishers Police Department and CenterPoint Energy in ensuring everyone’s safety.”
A relative of the affected family wrote in a social media post that firefighters responded less than four minutes after the emergency call. They stated that the residents and their pets were unharmed.
Sandstone Lakes is near 116th Street and Brooks School Road in the Geist area, close to FFD Station 92.
A car crashed into a home in the Sandstone Lakes neighborhood, causing the home to catch fire. (Photo courtesy of the Fishers Fire Department)
Versatile wide receiver provides boost to Shamrocks
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Westfield High School wide receivers coach Matt Clark views versatility as senior Gabe Aramboles’ greatest strength.
“He has a unique blend of speed, strength and game awareness,” Clark said. “His speed allows him to outrun defenders and create separation, making him a constant threat downfield. His physical strength is equally impressive. He can power through tackles and is rarely brought down by the first defender. Additionally, Gabe excels in perimeter blocking, which plays a crucial role in the run game. What truly sets him apart is his deep understanding of the game. He reads defenses with precision, making smart route choices and finding openings that others might miss.
“Gabe consistently delivers big plays and contributes significantly to the team’s success.”
In the first two games, Aramboles
MEET GABE ARAMBOLES
Favorite subject: History
Favorite athlete: Deebo Samuel
Favorite type of music: R&B
Favorite vacation spot: Dominican Republic
had 15 receptions for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
Aramboles, who played in only 10 games last season because of an injury, caught 41 passes for 583 yards and six TDs as a sophomore. He has 117 career receptions.
“It was just the ability to be flexible,” Aramboles said of his improvement. “I moved outside and inside throughout the years. But being able to be coachable and
has committed to play football for Ball State University. (Photo courtesy of Westfield athletics)
flexible with what I was doing for the team (was helpful). But now I am confident in my ability to read coverages and study them on film. There are a few things you can still learn from others when learning coverages and my teammates and coaches are very helpful with teaching me that.”
Clark said Aramboles has elevated his game through remarkable growth in his leadership.
“On the field, his vocal presence and strategic direction have inspired his teammates, while his commitment to personal
HERE
IN FISHERS
It’s Time to Take Control of your Back Pain
excellence and consistent effort have set a new standard for work ethic,” Clark said. “Off the field, he has become a mentor, taking younger players under his wing and fostering a culture of accountability and unity within the team.”
The Shamrocks opened the season with victories over Center Grove and Carmel. Aramboles said the primary team goal is to win the Class 6A state championship.
“But my personal goal is to create memories with this team,” Aramboles said.
Aramboles has verbally committed to Ball State University.
“Something just felt right about Ball State,” Aramboles said. “I have a few teammates and friends that play football on the team and I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Ball State staff. Along with building a relationship with the coaching staff, they made me feel like it was home. I’m sure they’ll develop me to be a better man and player, so overall, it was just the right fit for me.”
Aramboles’ brother, Alex Aramboles, is a senior defensive end for the Shamrocks. He had four sacks Aug. 30 in the 17-13 victory over Carmel.
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If there is one rule for thrill seekers, it’s that there is no age limit.
SKYDIVING
Twelve residents of Zionsville’s Hoosier Village retirement community proved that, when they took to the skies — then promptly fell back to earth — during a skydiving outing at Frankfort Municipal Airport Aug. 12.
The group participated in tandem jumps with instructors from Skydive Indianapolis.
“We have an adventurous population,” said Luke Haskough, life enrichment manager at Hoosier Village. “A few said they’d go if I arranged a trip. We’ve done gliding every year for the past five years, but this is the first time we’ve gone skydiving.”
Rose Conrad has called Zionsville home for 30 years. She moved to Hoosier Village two years ago and said events like skydiving are simply ways to keep adventure alive while also coming home to a comfortable environment for seniors.
“I thought it was a pretty cool idea,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to skydive. I’ve always loved a little adventure in my life. I like ziplining, I like roller coasters. For my 65th birthday I went to Universal in Florida and had to ride that big steel coaster one more time.”
The residents who took the leap ranged in age from 70 to 89. Bill Latimer was the oldest of the group. The outing was his first time skydiving.
“Why did I lose my freaking mind?” Latimer joked. “But, I couldn’t resist it, I just had to do it. I’m excited to be exhilarated with the jump. I was in the service and we had parachute trials jumping, but it was on a string. When you’re close to the surface,
it looks scary. But when you’re up in the sky and you look down, it’s just unreal; stepping out into something unreal.”
The outing included an instructional video before the participants were outfitted in proper gear. Tandem skydiving involves exiting a plane at 13,000 feet and free falling at 120 mph before the instructor pulls the chute. Instructors at Skydive Indianapolis are USPA-certified and take responsibility for pulling, steering and landing softly and safely while the tandem partners enjoy the ride.
For the seniors who took part, the jump was a once-in-a-lifetime event that they simply couldn’t pass up.
“If I don’t do it now when I have this opportunity, I probably never will. So, here I am!” Conrad said. “I want to see the earth from up there unrestricted. Not inside a plane looking out a little window. I just want to see the earth and feel free and fly.
That’s what I want.”
A group of 12 seniors from Hoosier Village went skydiving in Frankfort Aug. 12. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Hoosier Village resident Rose Conrad skydives with Skydive Indianapolis. (Photos courtesy of Skydive Indianapolis)
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Fishers firefighters create U.S. flags from retired fire hoses
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Rob Demlow and Scott Carr are not the type of people who like a lot of down time — the Fishers Fire Department firefighters prefer to keep busy with projects. One of those projects led to the creation of Brotherhood Designs, a Fishers-based company that builds American flags from old fire hose — material that otherwise would end up in a landfill.
“In 2018, we had some fire hose laying around (Station 392) that was bad — it failed pump testing or burned up in the fire, whatever it was,” Carr said. “What we’ve always done in the past is just throw it away. We thought, ‘What can we do other than just going and throwing it in the Dumpster like our industry does everywhere?’ And we came up with, ‘Well, let’s make something cool.’ And what’s cooler than an American flag made out of fire hose?”
That was the first flag they made and for a while it was their only flag. About four years later, though, they were inspired to make more.
“We have some local places like the Ale Emporium (11501 Geist Pavilion Dr. Suite 100) that we like here and then we got to know some people,” Demlow said. “They treated us like family. And that’s probably where the beginning of it started, because we just thought, ‘Hey, it’d be cool to put flags up on the wall at places where we like to go and eat and drink and take family.”
Their first flag commissions came from Nashville, Tenn., where the two like to visit and listen to music at Tootsies, an iconic honky-tonk. They met the bar manager and showed her a photo of their flag hanging at Ale Emporium and she quickly ordered two — one for the bar and one for her husband, a retired New York firefighter who had been one of the first responders during the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.
That same bar manager connected them to country singer John Rich in 2022, which launched the business.
“We were meeting him on Feb. 9, I believe, (and) 10 days before we were going there, we decided to create the LLC just for the possibility of — something could come out of it,” Demlow said. “When we went down there, he asked us to pitch the com-
pany and we had no idea what we were doing.”
They did something right, because now — a couple years later — Brotherhood Designs, LLC, has flags in several Nashville bars as well as locations in California, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida, to name a few.
Some of their designs allow them to be extra creative. For example, the 80th flag hangs in Current Publishing’s new offices at 525 North End Dr. Suite 175 in Carmel.
“The Current has helped us develop a new technique that we didn’t even think we could do and we thought it was crazy in the beginning,” Carr said. “When (co-owner) Ben Weir contacted us about that — ‘Can you print it with some of our news articles on there?’ And, I mean, we both kind of looked at each other like, ‘This guy’s insane.’”
But they figured it out, placed news articles on one of the flag’s white stripes and Carr said the results were great.
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Brotherhood Designs will take all the used fire hose they can get.
Owners Rob Demlow and Scott Carr said if they can’t use it for their flags, they will donate old fire hose to zoos and animal sanctuaries in Indiana and nationwide, which reuse the material for their habitats.
“We’ve taken a bunch of that down to Project Chimps, down in Georgia — a chimpanzee sanctuary,” Carr said.
“They’ll use it for swinging vines. They’ll make, like, climbing ladders out of the
fire hose.”
Demlow said they wanted to do more than just make and sell flags and this was a way to help others while reducing waste. They estimated about 450,000 pounds of old fire hose is discarded every year.
“It’s kind of become another mission for us to make sure that hose doesn’t get put in the landfill and it goes to something that actually can be useful,” Demlow said.
Demlow said all their flags are based on U.S. flag standards, using an app to make sure the measurements are correct for each flag’s size. They use the outer fabric of the fire hose after removing the inner rubber core, with some designs including one or two metal hose couplings. Fire hose comes in different colors, so they’re able to make flags without paint, but some flags are painted — it all depends on what the customer wants.
“Our hope is to produce one of the best-quality products,” Demlow said. “However, we’ve gotten away from saying that — you know, this isn’t a flag that we’re going to salute to. This is a piece of art. We want to be respectful to the flag, to our nation, but it’s a piece of art.”
With their 89th flag headed to its new home and the 90th on order, it seems to be the kind of art that speaks to a lot of people.
For more, visit brotherhooddesigns.net.
ON THE COVER: Rob Demlow, left, and Scott Carr, both Fishers Fire Department firefighters, make American flags from old fire hoses and sell them through their business, Brotherhood Designs. (Photo courtesy of Brotherhood Designs)
(Above) The 80th flag created by Brotherhood Designs hangs at Current Publishing offices in Carmel and features news stories printed on one of the white stripes. (Photos courtesy of Brotherhood Designs)
(Below) The Vernon Township Fire Department hung one of the Brotherhood Designs flags at its Station 431 in 2022. All the hose used to make that station’s flag came from Vernon Township Fire Department.
ATI performer well in tune with Johnny Cash musical
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Appearing in his seventh production of “Ring of Fire,” Kevin M. Lewis joked that he is starting to get it.
Lewis is performing and directing in Actors Theatre of Indiana’s production of “Ring of Fire” Sept. 13 to 29 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“I play the older but wiser Johnny Cash,” Lewis said. “I act somewhat like a narrator. The way our story unfolds, Johnny comes to the end of the line, and he’s come to a heavenly portal that for him looks just like a train station. And he goes through a lot of the memories of his life and I’m the one representing that older Johnny looking back at all the things that have happened.”
Lewis, who lives in New York City, said each production is a little different but he always plays Cash at the end of the show.
Brandon Alstott, an Indianapolis resident, has played Cash in three ATI productions of “Million Dollar Quartet.”
Although he portrayed a young Cash in that show, in this production, he plays Cash from a younger age through his 40s.
“He’s one of my favorite artists of all time, so any chance I get to portray him in some form of fashion on stage, I absolutely want to,” Alstott said.
Alstott said “Cry, Cry, Cry” is one of his favorite songs because it was Cash’s first big hit.
Sarah Hund plays all of the women in Cash’s life, including first wife Vivian, his second wife, singer June Carter, and a mother figure. Hund said she wears four different wigs and outfits.
Hund appeared in a production in Utah earlier this year.
“This is a lot different from the last production I did because in that previous production there were several women, so
I just got to do a few of the things,” Hund said. “This time I get to do all of the roles. The great thing about this show is just the music. I’m happy I get to play some Johnny Cash songs, too.”
Hund, also a New York City resident, plays several instruments, including the fiddle, guitar, upright bass and ukulele.
Mike McClure, an Atlanta resident, plays the roles of several different people Cash encountered in life.
“This is a smaller production, so I get to wear a lot more hats,” he said. “I think it will be a lot of fun.”
Jordan Simmons, a Noblesville resident and 2002 Carmel High School graduate, plays several roles.
“I’m primarily the string bass player,” Simmons said. “I play pretty much all of (Cash’s) friends, including some he’s up to no good with. I’m just kind of always there.”
Simmons has never been on stage,
usually playing bass in the orchestra pit.
“I love Johnny Cash and I love singing Johnny Cash,” Simmons said. “When I found they needed a bass player who liked Johnny Cash, that gave me the courage to sing and be in front of a lot of people. I’m very excited because it’s a new experience that I haven’t previously had the opportunity to do, so hopefully (I’ll) have more to do.”
Nathan Perry, a north side Indianapolis resident, is the music director and keyboardist.
“I’m also elevated in the show with some lines as the train station master,” said Perry, who has been in several shows with ATI.
Usually in the orchestra pit or background, Perry said he has been on stage on occasion in a similar role.
The show features more than 30 of Cash’s songs. For more, visit atistage.org.
‘MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET’
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Million Dollar Quartet” runs through Oct. 6 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
VIRGINIA SWIFT
Jazz vocalist Veronica Swift will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 14 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘RING OF FIRE’
Actors Theatre of Indiana’s production of “Ring of Fire” runs Sept. 13 to Sept. 29 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit atistage.org.
STAIND & BREAKING BENJAMIN
Staind & Breaking Benjamin, with special guest Daughtry, will perform at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
SHARP DRESSED SIMPLE MAN
The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, featuring ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd, will perform at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
’TOO MANY RULES’
Carmel comedian Dave Dugan’s tour “Too Many Rules” will debut at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel, at Theatre in Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.
DISPATCH
“CRYSTAL” set for Fishers Event Center — Cirque du Soleil’s “CRYSTAL,” a one-of-akind production that brings the circus arts to the ice for the very first time, comes to the new Fishers Event Center for five performances Jan. 23-26, 2025. With seven traditional circus acts all adapted for Cirque du Soleil’s first foray into a brandnew creative territory – the ice – “CRYSTAL” takes audiences on a journey into the vivid and whimsical world of imagination. For more and for tickets, visit cirquedusoleil. com/crystal.
From left, Nathan Perry, Brandon Alstott, Sarah Hund, Matt McClure, Kent M. Lewis and Jordan Simmons appear in “Ring of Fire.” (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
NIGHT & DAY
STP in ‘Purple’ phase
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Jeff Gutt wasn’t a member when the band started, but its first two albums made a great impression on him.
CONCERT
Stone Temple Pilots will perform “Purple,” the band’s second studio album, in its entirety during its Sept. 15 visit to Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. The band +LIVE+ will open at 7 p.m.
This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the release of “Purple.” Stone Temple Pilots’ first album, “Core,” came out in September 1992.
“I fell in love with ‘Core’ when I was 16,” Gutt said. “That’s when I was putting down the guitar and singing. It had a big effect on me when it comes to that. When ‘Purple’ came out, it was different. It wasn’t like they tried to make ‘Core Part II.’ A lot of bands do that because of pressure from the (record) label to match the success they had. ‘Purple’ had different vibes on it, and I had so much respect for that.”
Gutt was hired as the lead singer in
November 2017. He previously was the lead singer for Dry Cell.
Scott Weiland, Stone Temple Pilots’ original lead singer, was fired in 2013. Chester Bennington, of Linkin Park, joined the band for two years as lead singer before leaving to concentrate on Linkin Park. Weiland died of an alcohol and drug overdose in December 2015. Bennington took his own life in July 2017.
Gutt said after the tour, the group might look to create new songs.
“We always work on things individually, so that way when we get together, we have a plethora of things we can throw at each other,” Gutt said.
For tickets, visit livenation.com.
SEPTEMBER 28-29
At the Carmel International Arts Festival, your taste buds are in for a treat as diverse and vibrant as the art on display! Enjoy fair food classics like elephant ears, soft serve ice cream, and lemon shakeups. Savor flavorful Indian street food, smoky BBQ, and treat yourself to fresh donuts and kettle corn Energize with a coffee and look out for the Lions Club’s special menu. There's something delicious for everyone at the Carmel International Arts Festival!
From left, Stone Temple Pilots members Dean DeLeo, Jeff Gutt, Eric Kretz and Robert DeLeo. (Photo courtesy of PR Brown)
Small Town City returns
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The time seemed right for Ryan Ahlwardt and Mike Luginbill to reprise their Small Town City act.
MUSIC
The 1999 Hamilton Southeastern High School graduates are performing as Small Town City for the first time since 2021. The friends will open for Jerome Collins at 8 p.m. Sept. 13 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“We’re looking forward to sharing our original music with a new audience and supporting our friend Jerome Collins as he brings his Motown revue show to Indiana,” said Ahlwardt, a Fishers resident and former member of the a cappella group Straight No Chaser.
Luginbill, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., and Collins are still members of Straight No Chaser. Ahlwardt, Luginbill and Collins were all members of Straight No Chaser when they were students at Indiana University.
Luginbill will join Ahlwardt and Friends for an Indy Nights show at 7:30 p.m. Sept.
14 at Feinstein’s in Hotel
Ahlwardt said The Tarkington set is slated for 30 minutes.
“We’ll perform several original songs along with our rendition of James Taylor’s song ‘Her Town Too,’ which has a lyric in it that inspired our songwriting duo’s name,” Ahlwardt said.
The song line is “Lord knows that this is just a small town city and everyone can see you fall.”
For more, visit thecenterpresents.org and feinsteinhc.com.
Carmichael in Carmel.
Mike Luginbill, left, and Ryan Ahlwardt perform together as Small Town City. (Photo courtesy of Megan Mellinger)
Don’t forget
Eye Exam off your Back to School List!
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Editor,
READERS’ VIEWS
Sediment pollution concerns
On May 17, I was walking through Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve and noticed a substantial amount of sediment pollution in a small stream leading to Cheeney Creek. Being an amateur naturalist, I followed the stream where it meets a farm field. It was obvious that the pollution was coming from the field, where days before there was active construction associated with the Andretti Autosports HQ.
I notified the Fishers Parks Department of the sediment pollution, which, according to the department, was caused by a silt fence collapse. Marissa Deckert stated in an email, “months ago, a silt fence did collapse and was repaired immediately. We have had DNR out since and our city team has been monitoring. There has not been any cause for concern.”
There is no record of a permit to impact wetlands or streams for the new HQ on file with state or federal environmental agencies (even though a stream was im-
pacted by the development). A brief wetland analysis was submitted to the city, but the developers ultimately decided they did not need to submit that analysis for a follow up from environmental agencies.
A representative from the Army Corps of Engineers stated in an email that “the developer chooses to accept a level of risk by not completing [a wetland delineation] and having it verified by the agencies.” Another representative from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management stated, “there were definitely wetland signatures in that field before the development.”
Unfortunately, the developers decided to not seek a permit and Ritchey Woods seems to be paying the price. I urge Hoosiers to start paying careful attention to developments that put our natural resources at risk and ask your city and environmental agencies questions, because you never know what you may uncover.
Susie
McGovern, Fishers
Debatable rules of engagement
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
Negotiations continue regarding the upcoming presidential debates. Each candidate has certain preferences. My wife Mary Ellen and I were married the same year Ronald Reagan debated Jimmy Carter. Motivated by that exchange, we established our own instructions should we ever disagree in our relationship. Which happens much more than once every four years.
HUMOR
Here are our guidelines and a note on who benefits from each rule:
NO RISERS OR PLATFORMS
My wife towers over me in high heels, giving her an unfair psychological advantage when we argue. I’d rather debate Marco Rubio than Mary Ellen, unless he is wearing high-heeled boots.
Advantage: Wife
NO PROPS OR CHARTS
It would be much more effective if I could wave a few Kohl’s bills in front of Mary Ellen’s face while I complain that she is not keeping to our budget. On the other hand, if my wife ever finds those
dry-cleaning receipts for my T-shirts, I’m in trouble.
Advantage: Draw
AN OBJECTIVE MODERATOR
We have been using my friend, Bob. He likes it when I use his name in my column. But I think Bob likes Mary Ellen more than he likes me. Same with his wife, Cathy.
Advantage: Wife
NO BEHIND-THE-BACK CONFRONTATION
Mary Ellen is upstairs complaining that I left the fridge open, but I’m grousing about how she parked on my side of the garage. Neither of us can follow the other person around the house to make the other uncomfortable. Trump did that to Hillary eight years ago and won the election, but I doubt this method will work for me.
Advantage: Wife
THE STUDIO AUDIENCE MAY NOT APPLAUD
How are you supposed to know how you’re doing in an argument if there aren’t lots of people cheering or booing? I need immediate feedback. After the Trump-Biden debate four years ago, they probably both asked their wives who they thought won.
That way of measuring success would clearly not work for me.
Advantage: Wife
MUTED MICROPHONES
We have nothing to mute except ourselves. I finally agreed to this compromise: If Mary Ellen is talking, I may not interrupt her. And when I am listening to her, she can speak for as long as she likes. Yes, I actually agreed to that.
Advantage: Wife
THE DEBATE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH A HANDSHAKE
Mary Ellen and I have never started a disagreement with a handshake. And we never ended with one. A hug works best. There will be very little hugging between Trump and Harris. Or handshakes.
Advantage: Draw
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@ youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
LEGAL NOTICE OF DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC’s STANDARD CONTRACT RIDER NO. 58 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Duke Energy Indiana”) hereby provides notice that on or around September 11, 2024, Duke Energy Indiana in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10 will submit its Standard Contract Rider No. 58, Economic Development (“Standard Contract Rider 58”), to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) for approval under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines. This filing of Standard Contract Rider 58 updates the minimum hours use demand an Economic Development customer 20 MW or larger may be required to maintain during each month of the bill reduction period. The minimum hours use demand requirement is in accordance with the agreed upon Service Agreement. 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, Dana Kosco, or Lorraine Hitz of the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers:
28. 401(k) alternative
29. Immigrant’s subj.
31. Prejudice
33. Itty-bitty
36. “What a shame”
37. Salon 01 supplies
39. Colts coach Marchibroda
40. Venn visual
41. Big name in ice cream
42. Actress Longoria
45. Bearded bovine
46. Tic-tac-toe loser
48. PNC Bank machine
49. Dos y dos
51. Nuclear weapon
53. It might be a mirage
56. Deets
58. Kerplunk kin
59. Duke Energy unit
60. Reclined
61. “If you ask me,” online
63. Rowing need
64. Astronaut Grissom 65. ___ and outs
Colts passing stat Answers on Page 22
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