May 23, 2023 — Lawrence/Geist

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Lawrence budget court case slowly moving forward

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GOVERNMENT

A court case between Lawrence Mayor Steve Collier’s administration and the Lawrence Common Council is making slow progress as both sides have filed back-and-forth motions in court.

The petition initially was filed March 23 in Marion County Superior Court over the Lawrence Common Council’s decision to appropriate $250,000 to investigate who was at fault when the city’s 2022 budget was not submitted to the state by deadline.

The petition asks the court to declare the appropriation null and void, based on state statutes that say an appropriation cannot be made without the mayor’s recommendation. Collier’s petition also asks the court to rule that the council was at fault for the 2022 budget issue, because it allegedly failed to provide details needed for that budget to be submitted on time.

The petition does not seek monetary compensation; it asks only for a ruling on the legal process. A five-judge panel will consider the case.

Soon after the mayor’s petition was filed in court, naming all the Lawrence Common Council members as co-defendants, the council filed a motion for extra time to answer the petition, and a second motion asking the court to require the mayor’s office to release funds for the council’s legal fees in the case.

“In order to defend itself in this lawsuit, the council is entitled to legal counsel on the terms it deems appropriate to defend itself,” the motion states. “The mayor cannot obstruct that payment by refusing to cooperate in the appropriation, and this Court should order the mayor to make money available to the council to pay its attorneys on terms the council deems appropriate (provided that the council makes an appropriation available to the mayor to pay his attorneys at the same amount).”

The motion notes that, if successful, the mayor’s petition would essentially end the council’s investigation.

“In other words, the mayor is attempting to defund an investigation of himself,” the motion states. “The mayor is also seeking to sue the council and prevent the council from defending itself from the mayor’s own allegations.”

Collier’s administration responded to the motion May 15. In his response, the mayor stated that he is willing to work with the council to provide funds for a legal defense, “and in fact previously extended a unilateral offer to recommend an additional appropriation of $50,000 as an initial installment for the council’s professional fees budget. This court should deny the council’s request and require the council to work with the mayor to properly appropriate funds through the statutorily required budgetary process.”

The mayor’s response states that Indiana code does not exempt appropriations for a city council’s legal fees from the required appropriations process, which he said starts with a recommendation from the executive branch.

The council began its investigation into the 2022 budget last fall. The budget normally would have been submitted to the state in fall of 2021. According to the mayor’s March 23 petition, Collier’s office submitted a pro-

posed budget in September of that year, totaling $27.8 million. The council chose to reduce that budget by several million dollars. The mayor’s office did not support those cuts, and therefore let the council know that it must provide the details about where those cuts should be made.

According to the petition, the final budget ordinance that passed in late October did not include the specific line-item details required to submit it to the state. The mayor’s petition says that his office did inform the council and the council’s financial advisors that if it did not have that information, the 2022 budget would not be submitted and the city’s budget would revert to the 2021 budget.

The reversion meant that the spending plan for 2022 matched that of 2021, totaling $25.7 million. The mayor’s petition notes that the council’s financial advisor gave a presentation to the council in May of 2022, and the mayor’s office held budget workshops over the summer. Collier’s petition states that each of those events included information about the reversion,

In a statement, Council President Tyrrell Giles said the council did not know about the reversion until November of 2022.

At deadline for this story, the council’s response to the March 23 petition had not been filed.

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The Lawrence Common Council and Mayor Steve Collier’s administration have filed back-and-forth motions in an ongoing court case over the 2022 budget investigation. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lawrence)

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McCordsville native receives Navy award

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RECOGNITION

A 2009 Mt. Vernon High School graduate and McCordsville native was named the 2022 Sailor of the Year for Naval Education and Training Command during a May 11 ceremony at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida.

Naval Diver 1st Class Chase McCain serves as a leading petty officer for the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City Beach, Fla.

McCain is responsible for supervising high-risk instructors and officers, enlisted and international students in all facets of military diving, according to a U.S. Navy announcement. As the duty recompression chamber supervisor, he supervises hyperbaric chamber treatments on Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center staff and students.

“Serving as a leading petty officer at (Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center) has truly been the most rewarding tour of my career thus far,” McCain said. “I’ve had the unique opportunity to lead and develop not only officer, enlisted and international students, but junior instructors as well.”

Rear Admiral Pete Garvin praised the group of finalists.

“While we can only select one of these fine shipmates to be NETC’s Sailor of the Year, the close competition at this level is a testament to all of them, to their professionalism and dedication,” he said. “They truly embody what it means to serve in the United States Navy.”

McCain has been selected for advancement to chief petty officer and will be pinned in the fall.

4 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com COMMUNITY
Naval Diver 1st Class Chase McCain, left, receives his award from Rear Admiral Pete Garvin. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Daly gears up for another Indy 500 run

Conor Daly spent his youth preoccupied with the Indianapolis 500.

RACING

It’s not hard to understand as his father, Derek Daly, was a six-time Indy 500 driver in the 1980s. The younger Daly was born and raised in Noblesville and graduated from Heritage Christian School.

“Every day I could get out of school early and go to Indy 500 practice, I would do it,” Daly said. “This event more than any other means more to me because it’s just something I felt connected to.”

Daly’s ties to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway run even deeper as his stepfather, Doug Boles, is the IMS president. Boles and Daly’s mother, Beth, live in Zionsville.

Daly, 31, is expected to make his 10th start May 28 in the Indy 500. Daly said he was never certain he would have this many 500 starts.

“You just want to do as many races as

you can,” he said. “Now, I want to get to 25 Indy 500s, because every year I feel like I learn something new. Every year it never gets old showing up here every day. It’s just the best feeling ever, and it’s just so cool to be part of.”

Daly is coming off his best 500 finish, placing sixth last year. His previous best finish was 10th in 2019. Daly led 40 laps in 2021 but finished 13th after his car suffered damage from a flying tire on the 118th lap.

“In 2021, it really felt like we had a car to win the race and that was like the first time that I really felt that before,” said Daly, who lives in downtown Indianapolis. “Then last year, I wouldn’t say we felt the same speed, but we were confident enough to be at the front. The Ganassi (Racing) cars were the fastest cars, but we were right there with them. So, it feels good every time I get here. I feel like I have enough experience to take advantage of the situation, no matter where we start, no matter where we’re at in the race. I feel like I’ve gained enough patience to be there at the end.”

Daly, who finished 19th in the May 13 Grand Prix, said the Carpenter Racing team does better at IMS than anywhere else on

the IndyCar schedule.

“We’ve found what works, and thankfully for us, we haven’t had to stray away from that too much, so that’s good,” said Daly, who is in his fourth season with Carpenter’s team. “Everyone here for Ed Carpenter Racing has been quick the last few years here, so that’s been fun to be a part of.”

In February, Daly had the opportunity to compete in the Daytona 500 for Hall of Fame boxer Floyd Mayweather’s part-time NASCAR team. After needing some luck to make the field, Daly finished 29th.

“To be able to do the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 in the same year is a pretty cool group to be a part of, and the number of

drivers that have done both in the same year is even smaller,” Daly said. “I’ve been very lucky to drive so many different cars that every time I get into something else, I think it does add to my package as a driver.”

Daly was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 14. The hard work to monitor his condition never goes away.

“I don’t want to ruin it for any other diabetics that are growing up trying to be racecar drivers by having some sort of bad experience out on the track,” Daly said. “I definitely find myself capable of doing whatever I need to do in my life while living with it.”

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Daly Conor Daly takes a practice run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Courtesy of Carpenter Racing)

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Nonresidents to pay $50 to park at new Geist park

She asked how the community built a park with inadequate parking.

PARKS

In a split vote on May 15, the Fishers City Council approved a $50 fee for nonresidents to park at the soon-to-open Geist Waterfront Park. The motion passed 7-2, with council members Jocelyn Vare and Crystal Neumann dissenting. The fee will be revisited after one year.

Jake Reardon-McSoley, City of Fishers director of Recreation and Wellness, told the council the per-visit fee will be charged only during “beach season,” which is approximately Memorial Day weekend through early November. The rest of the year, there would be no charge.

Reardon-McSoley said parking is limited, which is part of the reason for the fee for nonresidents. Fishers residents can download a Smart App to park for free, but there may be times when even local residents would be turned away because of a full lot.

He noted that anyone can walk or bike to the park and be admitted at no charge. He added that at Saxony Beach, the community charged $7 per person — which averaged about $35 per vehicle — and that park had very little development compared to Geist Waterfront Park.

Vare said she is concerned that the $50 fee sends a message that nonresidents aren’t welcome.

“It seems extremely high for a parking charge,” she said. “I think it’s appropriate for a nonresident to pay a fee, but an affordable fee.”

Reardon-McSoley said the lot has 240 spots, and up to 20 will be used daily by staff. He said the parking lot actually reflects the park’s capacity from a safety standpoint.

“Essentially, the parking reflects peak usage at an appropriate and safe level,” he said.

Mayor Scott Fadness said safety must be a priority, and if there are capacity issues related to safety, then Fishers residents paying for the park through their taxes should have priority.

“If the demand isn’t there, the more the merrier,” he said. “But for now, we are on the side of safety and the side of taxpayers.”

Vare proposed reducing the fee to $10 per vehicle, but that motion didn’t receive a second.

Other council members said they believed the $50 fee was reasonable. Todd Zimmerman said the cost encourages efficiency because more people will carpool, rather than taking separate vehicles.

Council member Pete Peterson proposed approving the $50 per day fee, but for just one year. Then the city can revisit it and adjust if needed. That motion is the one that eventually passed with the 7-2 vote.

Geist Waterfront Park is a 70-acre site. About 40 acres are currently developed with a 900-yard beach, swimming in the summer months with lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., a pirate-themed playground, trails, a boat launch for non-motorized watercraft, and vendors on-site.

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Jake Reardon-McSoley, City of Fishers Director of Recreation and Wellness, discusses the $50 nonresident parking fee for the new Geist Waterfront Park with the Fishers City Council May 15. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)

Grand Park to host Umoja Games in July

everyone so that they want to return year after year.”

SPORTS

A soccer tournament hosted by a nonprofit organization that brings together the Muslim community through sports will come to the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield this summer.

The Umoja Games, hosted by the Umoja Outreach Foundation, will host its 10th annual Umoja Games soccer tournament July 7-9 and will feature soccer games for boys and girls of all ages. The tournament brings thousands of families from across the U.S. and beyond that allows them to build new relationships, officials said.

“Umoja Games has created a united Umoja family, using soccer as a driving force that transcends cultural, ethnic or geographic differences that otherwise exist in Muslim communities,” said Mustafa Dinani, co-founder of the Umoja Outreach Foundation. “Our focus at each tournament is to create a unique and inclusive experience for

The event, which started in 2012 with 100 individuals participating in an adult men’s tournament, has grown to an annual event with more than 1,000 participants. The youth and women’s divisions have seen the largest growth in population, officials said.

Organizers said the Umoja Games is the largest Muslim girls and women soccer tournament in North America. It will mark the first time the city of Westfield and Grand Park have hosted the event.

“Westfield is honored to host the Umoja soccer tournament, and we welcome the games to the nation’s finest youth sports facility,” said Mayor Andy Cook.

The Umoja Games is free to attend and is open to all spectators. Officials encourage visitors to learn more about different cultures participating in the tournament by visiting a special bazaar that will feature various goods sold by members of the Umoja community.

For more, visit umojaoutreach.org/games.

Sewer cleaning continues

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The City of Lawrence is continuing high-pressure sanitary sewer cleaning and video inspections in neighborhoods throughout the city.

UTILITIES

Work has begun in the Oaklandon area, according to a notice from the city. The work will be conducted between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily in the Sparrowood subdivision, along with the Oaklandon area on Van Spronsen Way, Riley Road, Old Orchard Drive, Mccord Lane and Sycamore Drive. Work started the week of May 15 and is expected to take up to two weeks.

The city stated that problems are not expected, but excessive debris, inadequate or damaged venting systems in homes or businesses, sags in the main or other conditions may cause issues at a home or business.

For example, high pressure can cause water to splash up from a toilet bowl. Residents and business owners are asked to make sure that the toilet is flushed and the lid is down when work is happening on their street.

The area outlined in red is the work zone through approximately May 30. (Map courtesy of the city of Lawrence)

High pressure also can draw the water from the “P-traps” or “J-bends” in floor drains and other fixtures. Should this occur, a resident or business owner might detect a sewer odor. In order to remedy the situation, they can run water in all suspect drains to fill the traps.

Residents also are asked to keep children away from the work zone, because the equipment is large and can be loud. There also could be open manholes in the area, and traffic restrictions are possible. For questions, contact Lawrence Utilities at 317-524-0511.

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MSD of Lawrence Township responds to gun bill

Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed a bill allowing teachers to apply for state funding for firearms training.

LEGISLATION

House Bill 1177 authored by State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour), was signed into law by Holcomb earlier this month. The legislation, which takes effect July 1, creates a 40-hour firearms safety, education and training curriculum for teachers, school staff and employees.

“Sadly, it’s something that’s necessary for the tragic world we live in today,” Lucas said.

In an interview with Current earlier this year State Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis) commented on arming teachers in schools.

“We talk a lot about parental rights in the Legislature. Parents should have the right to be informed of their school district’s policy on arming teachers,” Hunley said. “Parents should have the right to determine whether or not their child is in a classroom with a loaded weapon. I understand the argument that since the state allows teachers to carry guns, the state should support ensuring that the teachers are trained. What I don’t understand is why we aren’t addressing the root causes that got us to this point in the first place.

“Instead of addressing a symptom of lax gun regulations, let’s address the regulations we could put in place to make our entire state safer.”

The law means school employees can apply for grant funding for gun training through the state’s school secured fund.

The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., said on its website that Indiana generally prohibits individuals, including those who have a license to carry a handgun, from knowingly or intentionally possessing a firearm on school property and property that is being used by a school for a school function or on a school bus.

The legislation signed into law by Holcomb authorizes funds from the state’s secured school fund and school corpora-

tion and charter school safety advance program to be used “for the purpose of providing specialized firearms instruction to certain teachers, school staff, and school employees.”

Funding could also be used “for providing counseling services to students, teachers, school staff, and school employees in the event of a school shooting,” according to the legislation.

Dana Altemeyer is the Director of Communications with the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. She stated in an email response to a request for information that the MSD of Lawrence Township does not currently have policies allowing school employees to carry guns on school grounds. She said the district doesn’t have plans at this time to revisit that policy.

The district does have a school resource officer program in place with 53 officers visiting schools throughout the district.

Editors Natalie Gargiulo and Leila Kheiry contributed to this story.

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LAWRENCE

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

Project: Drainage Improvement project

Location: Drainage systems on Rainbow Lane north of Indian Lake are currently under construction.

Expected Completion: August

Project: Water main replacement

Location: 46th Street (between Franklin Road and Shadeland Avenue); Richardt Ave. (between 46th and 56th streets); Woodcroft Ave. (between 46th and 47th); Elmhurst Dr. (between 46th and 47th); Kingman Dr. (from 47th south to dead end); McGuire Court (46th north to dead end).

Expected completion: End of summer

Project: Sewer main replacement

Location: 50th Street between Franklin Road and Normal Avenue

Expected completion: End of June

FISHERS

Project: Fall Creek Road

Location: Citizens Energy Group is mobilizing the lift station on Fall Creek Road near Geist Woods Way, resulting in the closure of Fall Creek Trail.

Expected completion: August

Project: 106th Street & Kincaid Drive

Location: Construction of center curb on 106th Street and intersection improvement at 106th Street & Kincaid Drive to modify to a right-in/right-out entrance started.

Expected completion: August 2023

Project: Ind. 37 Improvement Project

Location: Ind. 37 and 141st Street. A pre-construction phase is in place. During this phase, 141st Street will have a temporary right-in-right-out traffic configuration.

Expected completion: The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Summer of 2023.

Project: Clear Path Improvement Project (I-465 and I-69 interchange)

Location: New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Boulevard. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Boulevard. will remain open. Drivers can expect to see significant activity on I-69 at the 82nd Street interchange. The ramp from I-69 North to 82nd Street and the ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 North is closed through late 2023. For detour routes and additional project information, visit clearpath465.com

Expected completion: Project lasts through 2024.

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University High School senior draws MLB attention

It’s easy for University High School senior pitcher Jake Hooker to pinpoint the biggest improvement of his career.

Fastball velocity, he said.

Trailblazers coach

Chris Estep said Hooker’s fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph this season.

“Every year, his velocity has climbed and climbed,” Estep said. “He has a really good slider and a nice changeup.”

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander also plays shortstop for University. Although his college future is as a pitcher, Hooker was recruited as a two-way player by Xavier University.

“I’ve put on 15 to 20 pounds since junior season,” said the Zionsville resident, who also credits work in the weight room for his added strength.

As of May 15, Hooker had a 3-3 record with a 2.77 earned run average. He was hit-

MEET JAKE HOOKER

Favorite athlete: Tiger Woods

Favorite subject: English Favorite movie: “Whiplash”

ting .270 with four homers.

“I started off slow (hitting) this year,” Hooker said. “I’ve been able to turn it on recently and heat up at the plate.”

Hooker struck out 12 and gave up only one earned run in six innings in a 4-0 loss to Cathedral.

“He was outstanding in that game,” Estep said. “He’s had a tremendous career for us.”

Last season, Hooker had a 3-2 record

with a 1.82 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings. He hit .405 with three homers.

“You couldn’t ask for a better player and better kid,” Estep said.

Hooker, who plans to major in finance at Xavier, also is drawing strong interest from Major League Baseball scouts. He chose Xavier over the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan. The MLB Draft is set for July 9-11. Prior to the season, Hooker was No. 224 on Prospects Live’s list of top 2023 MLB Draft prospects.

Hooker said his goal is to play professional baseball, whether that happens next season or after attending Xavier.

“It’s tricky, but it has to happen before you really think about it,” Hooker said of what his draft position would need to be for him to forego his scholarship. “It just depends on the dollar amount and those things.”

Hooker said the Trailblazers can make a run at the IHSAA Class 2A state title.

“Our bats need to come alive a little bit, but me and the other senior (Seth Hogg) are pretty dominant on the mound and we feel we can pretty much pitch to anybody,” Hooker said. “If we can score some runs, we’ll be fine and be able to make a long run, hopefully.”

AMERICA’S MOST ACCOMPLISHED BRAIN AND SPINE TEAM— JUST MINUTES AWAY

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University High School senior pitcher Jake Hooker’s fastball has been clocked at 95 mph this season. (Photo courtesy of J. Scott Photography) Hooker

TAKE AKTION

Lawrence club for people with disabilities provides service to others

People with cognitive disabilities often are the recipients of services, but a club in Lawrence gives them an opportunity to help others and contribute meaningfully to the community.

Aktion Club is a Kiwanis-sponsored organization led by its members, all people in the community who have a cognitive disability. The organization had to slow down starting in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in the past six months has started to get back on track.

Kiwanis member Dave Hume helped kickstart the Lawrence Aktion Club, which started about four years ago. Hume, a financial advisor, started a Geist-based Aktion Club previously when he worked in that area and was a member of the Kiwanis Club there. But he switched membership to the Lawrence Kiwanis Club when he moved his offices to Lawrence.

“They asked me about what I did in the (Geist) club, and I said, ‘Well, most recently, I started an Aktion Club.’ And they go, ‘Oh, my god, we have been around here for 50 years, we’ve never had an Aktion Club. We’ve always wanted an Aktion Club. Please join us and be our club facilitator for Aktion Club of Lawrence.’ And I said, ‘Sure, great.’”

That was spring of 2019. To get the word out, Hume said they put notices on social media. They asked people to RSVP, but only a handful did, and so he was concerned that not many would attend. He said he was needlessly worried.

“We had probably about 100 people show up,” he said. “That was a combination of individuals with disabilities, their parents, their caregivers, their coaches. I told them what we wanted to accomplish, and I got just tremendous support from the community.”

Hume said about 30 people signed up that night to join the new Aktion Club. After that, they had their first meeting, selected officers and started working on service projects in their community.

One project involved stuffing pre-sewn neck pillows for patients at Riley Hospital for Children, he said. They had a large bag of stuffing and a bunch of empty neck pillows.

“They got into that to the point they didn’t want to have the meeting,” he said. “We tried to do the meeting while they were still stuffing pillows. And that was great. We ended up doing, I think, three leaf bags, which was I would say 150 pillows (that) we made for Riley.”

They also filled Easter eggs for the community Easter egg hunt and organized fundraisers such as a bowling tournament to benefit other organizations, such as Maddie Smiles.

Hume said the group has social get-togethers, as well. They’ve had picnics, Christmas and Halloween parties and had a float in the Lawrence Fourth of July Parade.

“They love that because they get in the back of the float,

and they pull slowly through the Lawrence area and they throw candy out,” he said.

Hume said the club was quite active until COVID-19 restrictions meant members couldn’t meet in person anymore. They tried Zoom, which was OK until one of their meetings was hacked by someone who used insulting and hurtful language toward the members. Hume said many of the members understandably didn’t want to meet by Zoom after that. So, the club was dormant for a while.

Now that they can meet in person again, they’re getting back on track.

“It’s getting better,” he said, “We’re probably not quite up to full speed, but I think we will be.”

Hume said they plan to work with Village of Merici to alternate a regular bingo night with service projects.

Village of Merici is a residential apartment building for people with cognitive disabilities. It provides an opportunity for its residents to live as independently as they can, but also offers services to residents as needed.

Hume said many Aktion Club members live at Village of Merici.

Jason Remie is the president of Aktion Club. He said he got involved through friends who had joined. At first, he was a regular member, and then was asked to become president. He said he enjoys the responsibility.

“It’s a good group,” he said. “We help out certain people and we do group events and stuff like that. It’s a good experience.”

Remie, 44, said he feels a sense of pride when he sees that they’ve done something helpful. Some of the events he’s enjoyed include filling Easter eggs and raising money for other organizations. He also appreciates the company of other Aktion Club members.

“The people who are in Aktion Club are good, reliable people,” he said. “It’s more of a family environment to me. It’s a good time and everybody is so proud to be there as well. It’s just a nice group of people.”

WHAT IS KIWANIS?

Kiwanis International was founded in Detroit in 1915 by a group of businessmen to network professionally. Four years later, it changed its mission to one of service to children.

Kiwanis quickly became an international organization with the founding of a chapter in Ontario, Canada, in 1916. It now has chapters worldwide.

The name is derived from an Indigenous American phrase that means “we trade,” according to the Kiwanis

International website. The group’s motto was “We Build” until 2005, when the organization changed the motto to “Serving the children of the world.”

According to its website, the clubs raise about $133 million annually to help children access resources to improve health, education and opportunities.

Kiwanis was a male-only organization until 1987. It is not religiously affiliated, and in 2008 its members voted on a resolution to celebrate and foster inclusiveness.

12 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com COVERCOMMUNITY STORY
ON THE COVER: Members of the Lawrence Aktion Club have regular get-togethers. (Photos courtesy of Dave Hume) Members of the Lawrence Aktion Club fill Easter eggs for the community’s annual Easter egg hunt. (Photo courtesy of Dave Hume) Lawrence Aktion Club members participate in the community’s annual Fourth of July Parade.

Progressively better sight Free smoke detectors for Lawrence homes in need

When it comes to seeing clearly at all distances and having the ability to scan your eyes from side to side without strain, there is a huge difference in progressive lens designs and manufacturing techniques. Let’s examine the two biggest variables that impact your vision.

VISION SAFETY

Field of View: If you look through a keyhole, the closer you get, the more of a room you can see. When your eyes are closer to the hole, you have less restrictions in your peripheral vision. As you move back, you see less and less of the room. In modern, digitally manufactured progressive lenses, the prescription is etched onto the back surface of the lens (closer to your eye) to give you a remarkably wider field of view. Older technologies that are hand ground onto the front surface of the lenses give a much narrower and restrictive peripheral field view.

Clarity: Another alarming difference between the quality of progressive lens designs is in the precision and accuracy of converting the prescription from the doctor’s office to the lens itself. The difference between manually grinding lenses at your local one-hour retailer or your typical insurance-grade/ mass-produced lenses versus a custom, digitally etched prescription is amazingly more accurate. In fact, the hand-shaving processes of lens fabrication is measured in 0.25 of a diopter, whereas digitally enhanced lenses are accurately produced in 0.01 diopter increments. That is 25 times more accurate! That precision and accuracy accounts for the difference between you watching your favorite movie on VHS or Blu-Ray or a 1-megapixel camera versus a 25-megapixel camera.

Hopefully, this info will allow you to make a more informed decision on your next pair of glasses so you can continue to see life in hi-definition!

Households in Lawrence that don’t have a working smoke detector can request one through the City of Lawrence’s website.

According to the website, the Lawrence Fire Department has teamed with Koorsen Fire Protection to provide a working smoke detector at no cost to any Lawrence household.

“Statistics show that early detection of smoke saves lives in homes,” the website states. “If you are a Lawrence resident and would like to request a smoke detector, please sign up, while supplies last. Once the LFD Fire Marshal’s office receives your request, someone will contact you and set

up a convenient time to deliver the lifesaving piece of equipment.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Smoke alarms were present in three-quarters of reported home fires from 2014–2018. Almost three out of five home-fire deaths were caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms, or smoke alarms that failed to operate.

The risk of dying in reported home structure fires is 55 percent lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or none that worked, the association reports.

The City of Lawrence smoke detector request form is online at cityoflawrence. org/smoke-detector-request

13 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com
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“Statistics show that early detection of smoke saves lives in homes. If you are a Lawrence resident and would like to request a smoke detector, please sign up, while supplies last.”
– LAWRENCE FIRE DEPARTMENT

Rush Bowls opens in Fishers

A new restaurant in Fishers offers fast food that’s healthy, along with a special treat for customers’ canine friends.

RESTAURANT

Rush Bowls is a Colorado-based chain known for fresh and healthy meals-in-a-bowl, said James Cunningham, who co-owns the new Fishers franchise with his wife, Marissa Cunningham. The meals include signature blended fruit and veggie bowls, smoothies, graband-go protein bites and bowls for dogs.

Rush Bowls in Fishers is at 11649 Maple St., Suite 123. The grand opening was May 13. Cunningham said he and his wife are grateful to reside in Fishers, and the restaurant’s concept aligned with their devotion to a healthy lifestyle.

He said Marissa has a background working in the food service industry, which will help them manage the business. He said the concept offers a unique service for customers.

Some of the signature bowls include the açaí beach bowl, the peanut butter and jelly bowl, and the yoga bowl with matcha green tea. The Bow Wow Bowl for dogs has a simple blend of banana, milk, peanut butter and frozen yogurt.

Rush Bowls in Fishers employs 17 people. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. James Cunningham said that pick-up, catering and delivery options are available, including online ordering through the Rush Bowls mobile app.

For more, visit rushbowls.com.

14 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com
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LIFESTYLE

A visit to the Whitney Museum of American Art

Today, in the continuing series about often-overlooked New York City destinations, we visit the Whitney Museum of American Art at its new location in the Meatpacking District.

ano, includes about 50,000 square feet of indoor gallery space and 18,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition space.

TRAVEL

Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, became a well-regarded sculptor after visiting Paris in the early 1900s. Living in New York, she learned that American artists were having difficulty selling art incorporating new ideas. She began purchasing pieces from living American artists, usually within a year of their creation. In 1931, after the Metropolitan Museum of Art declined her offer of 500 pieces from a collection of about 7,000, she opened the Whitney Museum of American Art, popularly called the “Whitney,” in Greenwich Village. In 1954, after Whitney’s death, the museum moved to 54th Street, and then in 1966, to a new building at Madison Avenue and 75th Street. In 2015, the Whitney moved to a new building in the Meatpacking District, between the Hudson River and the High Line, now an above-ground urban park. The eight-story building, designed by architect Renzo Pi-

Today, the Whitney, including more than 26,000 works by American artists from the 20th and 21st centuries, is considered the most comprehensive museum in the world displaying such art. The 3,800 artists represented include some of the best-known American artists from that period, including Ansel Adams, Thomas Hart Benton, Stuart Davis, Jasper Johns, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko and Andy Warhol. The collection also includes sculptures by Whitney herself and more than 3,000 works by Edward Hopper, including 133 oil paintings and 2,500 drawings, including sketches for his most famous works, including “Nighthawks.” When you visit the Whitney, stop at the vibrant Chelsea Market nearby, where Nabisco’s Oreo cookies were once made.

Don Knebel is a local resident. For the full column visit donknebel.com. You may contact him at editorial@ youarecurrent.com.

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“Soir Blue” by Edward Hopper in the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. (Photos by Don Knebel) Portrait of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.

Here’s the (ice cream) scoop

I am tired of celebrating the 100th anniversary of this, or the 75th anniversary of that.

POLICIES

HUMOR

What makes those numbers so special? I told my wife Mary Ellen I had big plans in a few years for our 53rd anniversary.

“Great,” she said, “but what about our 50th?”

“Mary Ellen, 50 is just a number,” I said. “Let’s wait until No. 53. Don’t give the 50th another thought.”

Ever since I said that, Mary Ellen has also not given another thought to making dinner, going shopping or editing my column. I guess it really is the thought that counts.

“I went to college with a guy named Herb Cohn. He claimed it was his great-great uncle who invented the ice cream cone. Cone? Cohen? I’m skeptical on this one.”

cone. But who could forget Italo Marchiony? Apparently everybody. You need a name that will stick. Like sandwich, for example. Some food writers think it was invented by the Earl of Sandwich back in the late 1700s, when he put meat between bread so he could play cards while he ate. I went to college with a guy named Herb Cohn. He claimed it was his greatgreat uncle who invented the ice cream cone. Cone? Cohen? I’m skeptical on this one.

ice cream is soft and you pack it down, by the time you’ve taken the 10th lick, it’s leaking out the bottom all over your new beige polyester pants.

If you’re a strong licker, the top scoop falls off in a big plop. And there’s no five-second rule for ice cream. When it hits the ground, it’s history. Except mint chip. I would eat mint chip off the pavement.

So, in keeping with my theory, this month I am celebrating the 121st anniversary of the ice cream cone. I skipped the 100th. The 121st? Now, there’s a cause for celebration.

Like other great inventions in history, there is some controversy about who created the first

Why did the ice cream cone ever catch on in the first place? An ice cream cone is poorly designed and constructed. Because of the pointed bottom, you can’t set it down. I want to put my cone down on the driving console so I can make a left-hand turn while I’m on my cellphone. There is one kind of cone that has a flat bottom; it also has no taste.

Half the time, an ice cream cone crumbles when you try to balance the second ice cream scoop on top and apply a little pressure. If the

We should just be thankful today that we have two alternatives for enjoying America’s favorite frozen treat by using either a cup or cone. What would it be like if people had to carry around a scoop of ice cream in their bare hands? I shiver to think.

By the way, some food historians claim a guy named Reuben Kulakofsky invented that popular corned beef-based sandwich called, of course, a Reuben. I’ll tell you more when we all celebrate the very important 108th anniversary of the Reuben next year.

Letters to the editor: Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 150 words. Letters must be thoroughly vetted prior to submission. Current retains the right to reject or return any letter it deems to carry unsubstantiated content. Current also retains the right to edit letters, but not their intent. Send letters to info@ youarecurrent.com. Writers must include a hometown and a daytime phone number for verification. Guest columns: The policy for guest columns is the same as the aforementioned, but the allowable length is 240 words. Guest columns should address the whole of Current’s readership, not simply special-interest groups, and may not in any way contain a commercial message.

16 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com VIEWS FORD’S FLOOR COVERING, INC MONDAY - THURSDAY 10-6 | FRIDAY 10-5 SATURDAY 10-2 | CLOSED ON SUNDAY AFTER HOURS APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE 209 W Main St., Greenfield, IN 46140 317-477-3673 Come in for a Great Experience! ALL FLOORING TYPES KITCHEN & BATH REMODELS CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS COMPLIMENTARY MEASURES • DESIGN CONSULTANT AVAILABLE Meet Current in Lawrence/Geist Managing Editor Leila Kheiry from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Friday at Launch Fishers, 12175 Visionary Way, Fishers,. Suggest story ideas, ask questions and learn more about Current in Lawrence/Geist. For more, email leila@youarecurrent.com
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@ aol.com.

Heaven can wait?

Commentary by Terry Anker

We learn from the earliest stages of our corporal existence that we are born obligated with choice. The youngest among us evaluates with discerning palate between creamed carrot and pureed meat. Even as the tiny jars appear identical and Mom’s encouraging airplane-spoon-trick urges the tyke to eat, they decide, with some indignity, what to ingest.

ESSAY

As we mature, the thought experiments begin, and by elementary school we might deliberate if we’d rather eat a bug or have a pop quiz in math. By high school, we ponder skipping the prom or going with our best friend’s sister, who pities our date-lessness. Today, we ruminate on sitting in cheap seats versus staying home to watch on television. Mostly, they are imagined alternatives. The teacher is unlikely to cancel the test even if the insect consumed is of considerable heft. Yet the questions help us define our own limits. They bound what we might do for opportunity, for options, for hope.

In a group of first-generation Americans recently talking about their origin story to join Team USA, one Central African told of the question often asked of youngsters in his hometown, now some 8,000 miles away: “Would you rather go to heaven or America?” As if his sitting in the room didn’t make the response self-evident, someone asked how he responded. “Well,” he said, “heaven can wait.”

A wise person once proclaimed America “the world’s migration to freedom.” The very prospect of gaining command of English, securing passage and bringing all that he had in himself to contribute to this place was enough to propel and imbed a young African here in the Hoosier heartland. This would be a better place, and for living here, he would be a better person. It may not be the story for all, but it is his story.

Recipe for a savory Mother’s Day

HUMOR

Friends, after nearly 25 years of being a mom, I think I’ve finally honed my Mother’s Day recipe to perfection. Please enjoy!

1. Preheat Sunday by letting your partner know that you’ll be AWOL for most of the day. If your kitchen does not include a Sunday or if, like me, your Sunday is generally broken because of anxiety ahead of the looming school week, you can always reposition the rack to Saturday.

2. The night before, be sure to place the entire package of Restful Sleep in a cool, dark space. Personally, I prefer the larger 10-hour bag, but the eight will work, too. Chef’s choice!

3. Begin by mixing the chilled Restful Sleep with one cup of coffee and six tablespoons of social media scrolling. Add your favorite flavor of Breakfast

4. On a nonstick cookie sheet, carefully

toss together Amanda’s Exchange, Macy’s and a broccoli-cheddar bread bowl from Panera. Bake at 350 for 180 minutes or until you’ve found a miracle one-piece that both slims and lifts.

5. Now, combine ingredients from Steps 3 and 4 in a medium saucepan. Stir in several cans of sisters-inlaw, along with a jar of family tea. Simmer for two hours at Java House.

6. Remove from heat; let stand until cool. Serve with a side of buttered popcorn and a solo viewing of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Add parenting affirmations to taste.

There you have it, folks. My recipe for a perfect Mother’s Day. Peace out.

17 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com Start living YOUR ideal life Ready to Plan? Contact us now! admin@beckfs.com www.beckfs.com 5825 N. Post Road, Indianapolis, IN 46216 Complimentary Consultation FREE copy of The Art of the Plan 317-547-1200 Play More! Create Your Ideal Life Securities offered through J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. (JWC) Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. (JWCA). Beck Financial Strategies and JWC/JWCA are unaffiliated entities. Use your smart phone to visit our website It Takes A It Takes A It Takes A Dream Plan Team
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Danielle Wilson is a contributing columnist. You may email her at info@youarecurrent.com. Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent.com.
“If your kitchen does not include a Sunday or if, like me, your Sunday is generally broken because of anxiety ahead of the looming school week, you can always reposition the rack to Saturday.”
WILSON

Center for the Performing Arts 2023-24 schedule features diverse offerings

‘BEAUTY & THE BEAST’

“Beauty & the Beast” runs through July 9 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

LIVE AT THE CENTER

MUSIC

The Center for the Performing Arts 202324 schedule is slated to be a diverse presentation of musical genres with a mix of newcomers and old favorites.

“We’ve managed to curate what I think is going to be a really diverse set of performances throughout the entire season starting earlier than we have in the past with shows in August,” said Jeff McDermott, president and chief executive officer of the Center for the Performing Arts. “We have a great mix of everything from jazz, pop, rock, comedy, country, classical, songbook, international family, you know, all in the past with bringing back some favorites or bringing a lot of new stuff. I would say that the programming isn’t done. We know as we have done in the past that we’ll continue to add significant shows throughout the season. There’s lots of different types of artists who work on shorter windows and time.

“You have three and four months out rather than nine to 12 months out, and so we’ll be bringing in those opportunities as we go as well.”

In particular, McDermott said comedians tend to be booked three to four months out.

McDermott said he is eager to have Katharine McPhee and her husband David Foster perform Nov. 4. The couple were on the schedule twice but were postponed because of the pandemic, and then the third scheduled appearance in 2021 was canceled.

“We’re glad to get them back on our schedule,” McDermott said.

On Oct. 20, Harry Chapin at 80 features members of the Chapin family singing the late singer’s classics.

“I’m a big Harry Chapin fan, so I’m excited for that,” McDermott said.

The action kicks off early with August solo performances by rockers Chris Daughtry (Aug. 9) and Ben Harper (Aug. 15),

both making their debut appearances at the Center for the Performing Arts.

Spyro Gyra will be the headliner at the Carmel Jazz Festival Aug. 12.

Other first-timers on the 2023-2024 schedule include The Police drummer

Stewart Copeland (Oct. 19), Bruce Cockburn (Nov. 1), singer-songwriters Meshell Ndegeocello (Nov. 18), New Orleans sax great Branford Marsalis (Jan. 26, 2024) and Indiana singer Carrie Newcomer (March 9) in The Tarkington.

Copeland’s Police Deranged for Orchestra features a 28-piece orchestra, three vocalists and a rock trio with Copeland on drums. It is packed with Police hits such as “Roxanne,” “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” and “Message in a Bottle.”

McDermott said returning to the Palladium are favorites from seasons past, including the Righteous Brothers (Oct. 6), jazz guitarist Bill Frisell (Oct. 21) and singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby (March 9, 2024).

The Little Mermen: The Ultimate Disney Tribute Band will have two performances Nov. 5.

Tribute acts performing will include Wish You Were Here: The Sight and Sound of Pink Floyd (Oct. 14) and Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute (April 20, 2024)

“We really like bringing in tribute bands if they are high quality,” McDermott said.

A.J. Croce, son of the late singer Jim Croce, will perform “Croce Plays Croce” March 30, 2024, at the Palladium.

“We had A.J. Croce in at The Tarkington (in March 2022) and thought we would get 500 people and we doubled that and added a second show,” McDermott said. “We are looking forward to bringing him to the Palladium for one big show.”

McDermott said the Holiday Series is always special.

“Dave Koz has become a perennial favorite,” McDermott said. “We’ll bring him back here every year as long as he wants to keep coming back.”

Koz & Friends Christmas Tour will stop Dec. 5. Some other holiday concerts include Jim Brickman: A Joyful Christmas, Nov. 30; The Midtown Men: Holiday Hits, Dec. 1; and Jon McLaughlin & Friends: Home for the Holidays, Dec. 8

The season will close with Michael Feinstein performing with a yet-to-be-announced special guest May 17, 2024.

The season presents live education events free for area students and school groups in matinees. Shows include Animaniacs (Oct. 5), Mad River: Keep Marching (Jan. 18, 2024) and Sammy Miller and the Congregation (April 19, 2024).

For the full schedule, visit thecenterpresents.org.

The Live at the Center series presents Public Universal Friend at 7:30 p.m. May 31 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $5 for in-person or register for the free livestream at thecenterpresents.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

The Freeform Concert Series will feature Tall Tall Trees with Kristen Bales at 6:30 p.m. May 24 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. “Deception: An Evening of Magic and Lies” featuring David Ranalli is set for 7:30 p.m. May 25. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘THE SLEEPING BEAUTY’

Ballet Theatre of Carmel Academy presents “The Sleeping Beauty” at 7:30 p.m. May 26 and 2 p.m. May 27 at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville. For more, visit ballettheatreofcarmel.org.

DISPATCH

Zadek set for Feinstein’s show — Broadway performer Zack Zadek will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 1 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. “I couldn’t be more stoked to return to Indiana for a second concert, this time at Feinstein’s,” Zadek stated. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There is a $25 per guest food and beverage minimum. For more, visit feinsteinhc.com.

Art on Main – An Art on Main meet the artists reception will feature Kim Greene and Beth Forst from 5 to 8 p.m. at Art on Main Gallery & Gifts, 110 W. Main St., Suite 140, Carmel. The June show will feature Barb Gregory and daughter Deb Slack with “Love in Color” show. The meet the artists reception is from 4 to 8 p.m. June 10.

18 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com NIGHT & DAY currentnightandday.com
Harry Chapin at 80 will feature family members singing the late singer’s classic songs. (Photo courtesy of Center for the Performing Arts)

NIGHT

& DAY ‘Elf the Musical’ returns

2019 production of “Elf” was available for screening.

CIVIC THEATRE

Civic Theatre’s 2023-24 season will include a regional premiere, a return of a huge holiday favorite and the first local community production of “Anastasia.”

The season opens with the regional premiere of “The Prom” Oct. 6-21. Civic Theatre Executive Artistic Director Michael Lasley said “The Prom” is definitely a topical show but the selection process is more about selecting compelling stories.

“The narrative of ‘The Prom’ is about acceptance and the reality that we are all more alike than we are different,” Lasley said. “That is universal, and while some specific details may be challenging, we believe the story is impactful and, most importantly, entertaining.”

“Elf the Musical” is set for Dec. 1-24. “Elf” was presented in 2019 and 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there were no shows, but a recorded version of the

“‘Elf’ is our most successful show ever — holiday or otherwise,” Lasley said. “So, while it’s unusual to bring a show back for the third time in five years, the public has made it clear that they love this production.”

The 2024 portion starts with “Romeo & Juliet” Feb. 9-24, 2024 and “Driving Miss Daisy” March 14-30. The final show will be “Anastasia” April 26-May 11. The performances will be at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, except for “Driving Miss Daisy,” set for the Studio Theater.

“As someone who loves the 1997 animated feature film, ‘Anastasia’ is a show I was excited to see brought to the stage,” Lasley said.

Along with the main stage productions, Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” will return in February 2024. In the summer of 2024, the Jr. Civic musical will be “Finding Nemo Jr.” and the Young Artists Program will present “Revue!” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.” For more, visit civictheatre.org

WHEN IT’S TIME TO CALL BONE DRY YOU’LL KNOW IT IN YOUR GUT. AND YOUR GUTTERS.

Sometimes you don’t need a new roof. Sometimes it’s what’s at the end of your roof that goes first. Bone Dry has become as well known for gutters and downspouts as we have for roofs. So if you’re staring at a waterfall and you’re not on vacation, it’s time to call Bone Dry. You’ll know it in your gutters.

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20 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com NIGHT & DAY These activities made possible in part with support from the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. 317.843.3800 | THECENTERPRESENTS.ORG PICK 4 OR MORE & SAVE UP TO 20% ASK ABOUT THE SUITE EXPERIENCE! SEASON PARTNE R AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH DAVID FOSTER & KATHARINE MCPHEE Sat Nov 4 at 8pm

NIGHT

DAY

GHDT presents ‘Director’s Cut’

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s 25th anniversary season has been a celebration of its many works.

DANCE

“Throughout the entire season, GHDT has been showcasing repertoire pieces from the company’s distant and recent past,” said Gregory Hancock, GHDT’s executive artistic director. “Part of the 25th-season celebration was to demonstrate how the company’s past has shaped where the company is today. Audience members have been able to see repertoire never seen before or not seen for several years. Dancers have also been able to experience many new works throughout the season.”

The season will conclude with “Director’s Choice,” which is set for 7 p.m. June 9-10 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

“As a director and choreographer, it has been wonderful to look back at many vintage pieces,” Hancock said. “One beautiful aspect of a repertoire program is that I can see all the past dancers who have per-

formed in these pieces, as well as shape new dancers into the dances. So, while it is exciting to see new dancers in roles, it is also sentimental to think of the past performers or where my life was at the creation of each dance.”

“Director’s Choice” features seven repertoire pieces.

“Every dance piece is not always a fulllength piece, but often shorter repertoire pieces, which allows the audience to experience a variety of emotions and styles of dance unique to each piece,” Hancock said. For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

21 May 23, 2023 Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com
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Abigail Lessaris performs in Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s “Director’s Choice.” (Photo by Joe Phillips)
10/6 - 10/21 2/9 - 2/24 3/15 - 3/30 4/26 - 5/11 12/1 - 12/24 2024 Season Current Ad.indd 1 5/8/2023 11:08:45 AM

Season for sparkling wine

Spring is in full swing in Indiana, and that has my mind gravitating toward refreshing outdoor wine. When you think about the quintessential “patio pounder,” where does your mind go? Naturally, rosé and crispy white wines are a great option. I, however, tend to go with sparkling wine.  In full disclosure, I am a sparkling wine evangelist. In the U.S, we tend to only drink the stuff on special occasions, and I think that is a shame.

Sparkling wine is quite possibly one of the most food-versatile wines made. That might be because sparkling wine is made in the majority of wine-making regions around the globe.

There are several options available for sparkling wine that will get you a variety of experiences across a variety of price points. First, a note about sparkling. Champagne, Cava, Franciacorta, Prosecco and Lambrusco are all sparkling wines. However, not all sparkling wines are the aforementioned.

Champagne is only Champagne if it is made in the Champagne region of France. Cava is only made in the Penedes region of Spain, Franciacorta in Lombardy, Italy, and so-on. Call something Champagne that isn’t made in Champagne, and the French will take to the streets.  Anyway, here are three great sparkling wines to help you celebrate the weekend:

Pierre Sparr, Crémant D’Alsace, Brut Rose is a delicious pink sparkling wine from the

Alsace region of France. It is bright, vibrant and fresh. It has loads of strawberry and raspberry on the nose. The fruit is forward on the palate, along with some bready flavor and a clean smooth finish. This is a killer wine you can find for around $25.

Juve & Camps Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva Brut Cava comes from the Penedes region of Spain. The nose is floral with hints of lemon, toast and spice. On the palate, the wine is dry, crisp, with bright acidity, the bready characteristics combined with tart apple, and citrus are very nice. This wine punches above its weight class at $19 a bottle.

Nominé-Renard

Brut Champagne is a delicious grower Champagne. That means the person that grows the grapes made the Champagne. On the nose is lemon curd, toast and spice. On the palate, the wine is dry with crisp acidity. There are hints of red fruit that peek through with lemon zest, toasted bread and subtle marzipan flavors. There is an ever-soslight sweetness on the finish. You can find this gem for less than $50.

Whether you try one or all of these wines or a different wine, get the sparkling wine into your regular rotation. Pair it with cheese and meat, caviar and butter, seafood or grilled veggies. Cheers to spring!

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Across

1. Perform with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir

5. Mud Creek Players play part

10. BODHI cuisine

14. Eiteljorg Museum tribe

15. “Black” in a Fishers HS French class

16. Dictionary listing

17. Where to catch some Colts highlights

18. Downtown Indy waterway

19. Indiana neighbor

20. IRT and NHS, e.g.

22. Part of AV at Terre Haute?

24. Gets in sync

27. Fraction of a min.

28. Chicago Fire FC org.

29. Start to unlace

30. Helicopter blade

32. Charged particle

33. End-of-workweek cry

35. “Wargames” acronym

39. Tells all

42. Grand Junction Brewing Co. brew letters

43. Palladium platform

44. Muslim religion

45. “___ do it!”

47. Reason for overtime at an Indy Fuel game

48. Fabulous fabulist

50. Indiana Gov. Handley

53. ___ Malnati’s Pizzeria

56. Yes vote

57. Big name in wipes

58. Nonsensical at Muncie?

60. Toothbrush brand

61. Pho 36 pho, e.g.

62. Finger-pointer

64. Food safety org.

68. Indy Eleven ticket info

69. Stiff-backed

70. Lose traction on I-69

71. Capital hidden in

Czechoslovakia?

72. Jerks

73. Sign on a jar at a bar

Down

1. Lay eyes on

2. Its website

24. Cover story in Hamilton County Court

25. Workshop collection

26. Melodic

27. Living room furniture

30. Tear to pieces at West Lafayette?

31. Go bad

34. Toy soldier

36. Boca ___, Fla.

37. Nimble

38. Title documents

40. Sheepish remark

41. Lipstick mishap

46. Dance, theater, music, etc.

49. Australian city

51. Hawks on a Pacers scoreboard

52. Strong and healthy at Indianapolis?

53. Rodeo rope

54. ISO instruments

55. Standard

57.

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in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com
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59. No later than 60. Sign of things to come 63. Coach Parseghian LIFESTYLE
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