June 6, 2023 — Lawrence/Geist

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Dive in t o D e l i ci o u s !

Lawrence council responds to mayor’s petition

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

The Lawrence Common Council submitted multiple court filings the week of May 22 related to a petition that Mayor Steve Collier’s administration filed March 23. Among them were a motion in support of its request for attorney fees to respond to the petition and a request for a hearing in that matter, and the council’s official response to the arguments in the mayor’s initial court filing.

POLITICS

The council’s lengthy response denied specific allegations in the mayor’s March 23 petition and includes counterclaims against the mayor’s office. In the counterclaims, it asks the court to determine:

• That the mayor can’t refuse to make funds available for an investigation into his administration or to retain its own attorneys.

• That the city’s controller improperly shifted funding between departments and projects in 2022; and that the controller or mayor must recoup those funds or repay the city.

• That the council’s resolution transferring funds to pay for its investigation into the 2022 budget is valid, and that the mayor’s office should release those funds and not block similar transfer-fund resolutions in the future.

• That the mayor’s office was at fault for failure to submit the 2022 budget, and that any expenditures above the council-approved 2022 budget should be restored to the city’s treasury.

The mayor’s petition was filed March 23 in Marion County Superior Court over the 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.

Collier’s 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.

In its counterclaim, the council alleges that Collier’s administration is attempting to avoid investigation.

“This petition is brought to seek a determination that the mayor does not have the power to determine the terms by which the council hires its attorneys to assist in the council’s statutory investigation of the city’s 2022 budget, and to declare that the mayor and the controller acted in concert and contrary to Indiana law to the detriment of the common council,” the counterclaim argues.

It cites state law that gives a city’s legislative body the authority to investigate the departments, officers and employees of the city.

The response also states that the council cut the mayor’s proposed 2022 budget by $3.6 million in the fall of 2021 in response to financial uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic continued. There also was concern about specific expenses from city reserves rather than from anticipated revenue.

The council argues that it asked for line-item details about those expenses, and the controller did not provide them. Instead, the deputy controller worked with council member Shawn Denney, head of the finance committee, to identify specific expenditures.

“Councilor Denney understood that the deputy controller would work with the administration to apply cuts to specific budget items and the council would simply approve a budget and appropriations at the fund level,” the counterclaim states.

On Oct. 4, the council introduced the reduced budget.

The counterclaim states that “the mayor, his advisors, and staff, including the

controller, conspired to thwart the will of the council by devising a strategy to cause the council’s adopted budget to be ineffective and to revert the budget to the 2021 approved budget. If the budget reverted to the 2021 approved budget, the mayor would have access to more funding than what was included in the (council-approved budget).”

On Oct 25, the council approved its final budget ordinance, again with the general reduction in funds and not the line-item details. The counterclaim states that city officials never told them the budget did not have the information needed to submit by deadline.

The council alleges in its counterclaim that there was no notice to the council that the budget it passed was not submitted until late November 2022.

The council also argues that the $250,000 it appropriated for the investigation into the budget issue was a budget transfer of 2022 funds, not a new expense, and therefore does not require a recommendation from the mayor.

The council’s counterclaim also states that during the controller’s deposition regarding the 2022 budget, he said that he moved at least $300,000 in consultation with his financial advisor and the mayor from professional services to salaries and wages without approval from the Council.

In his March 23 petition, Collier states that his office did inform the council and the council’s financial advisors before the deadline that if it did not have the detailed line-item budget cuts, the 2022 budget would not be submitted and the city’s budget would revert.

The mayor’s petition also 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 that summer. Collier’s petition states that each of those events included information about the reversion.

The case has been referred to a fivejudge panel for review. At deadline, no court hearing has been scheduled.

Geist Marina or 79th & Sunnyside

The views of the columnists in Current in Geist are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.

Collier

Breast cancer survivors encourage others to self-check monthly

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

see a doctor, the tumor was 2.6 centimeters. Morrow explained that triple-negative cancer is aggressive and grows fast.

meet up with Lauren, it feels good. It’s a comfort to have someone to go through it with you.”

HEALTH

Although breast cancer screenings generally don’t start until a person is in their 40s, it can develop at any age. Lauren Dages and Markeeta Morrow were both in their early 30s when they were diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, and they both caught it through self-exams.

Dages is a hairdresser who lives in Fishers; and Morrow, of Indianapolis, is a student driver representative for Schneider Trucking. They were introduced to each other as they endured cancer treatment because they had similar journeys to navigate, and they’ve continued their friendship since their diagnoses in 2021.

Both want to spread the message that self-exams can save lives.

“I always grew up being aware of my body and making sure I did those screenings,” Morrow said. “And it came in handy when I discovered a lump in my breast at the age of 31. It ended up being something that gave me a head start (on treatment).”

She said that by the time she was able to

Dages added that triple-negative means it’s a cancer that doesn’t “feed” off of any known source. Some tumors grow in the presence of hormones, she said, so suppressants can help. But that’s not the case with triple-negative cancer.

“What makes triple-negative so scary is doctors don’t know what the tumor feeds off of,” she said.

Dages’ experience was complicated. Her tumor was in a milk duct, and she was breast feeding at the time. Whenever her milk filled up, it felt like the tumor had gone away. Dages also was hesitant to go to a doctor right away because a few years prior, she had gone to a clinic because of unusual discharge from her breast. She had a mammogram at the time, and nothing was found.

“They said it was probably just my birth control,” she said. “That confused me and gave me a false sense of confidence. I probably had cancer for three years before diagnosis.”

Dages said many people don’t think about the need for screenings at a young age.

Lauren Dages had recently given birth to her first child, and was still breast feeding, when she found a lump during a self-check. (Photo courtesy of Community Health Network)

“I think we grew up with the understanding that it’s something that you don’t really have to worry about until you’re older, unless you have genetic mutations that you know, of or family history,” she said. “I personally didn’t have anything (like that).”

The two young women had a lot in common. They had both recently given birth — on the same day — they’re the same age, they were both navigating aggressive cancer treatment while dealing with toddlers at home, and they both have stories about not-so-sensitive friends and relatives.

“We have a bond,” Morrow said. “When I

Dages said she didn’t know of anyone else in Indiana going through treatment at such a young age.

“I know some people online nationally that are young moms,” she said. “But I was very excited to be able to meet another fellow survivor in this area, and she’s awesome and we have lots of fun when we get together.”

It’s certainly not a fun situation to be in, they clarified, but they’ve been able to find ways to laugh through the pain.

Dages and Morrow have some advice for the friends and family of people with cancer: Don’t say, “Call if you need anything,” for example. Instead, be the one who calls and offers. Also — and this is a big one — don’t joke about survivors getting free breast enhancement surgery. First because it’s not free, and second because the pain, illness and fear leading up to reconstruction is not a joke.

They also have advice for women everywhere, of every age: Perform a self-exam monthly, and go to a medical provider if you find anything out of the ordinary. It could save your life.

Greenhouse proposal wins

news@geistcurrent.com

The Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township has announced the winners of the 2023 Excellence Design Challenge, sponsored by the Lawrence Township School Foundation.

able greenhouse that will provide hands-on learning opportunities for K-12 students in the MSD of Lawrence Township.

INNOVATION

The winning project will lead to a greenhouse-focused agricultural program.

The annual design challenge offers a cash prize to staff members for an innovative idea that, if implemented, will have a meaningful impact.

The $20,000 grand prize winners are Adriana McCullough and Adrianne Martin of Fall Creek Valley Middle School. The team’s proposal, titled “The Watering Can,” was identified by district leadership as the best for its potential impacts on efficiency, effectiveness and outcomes.

The goals of the initiative are to:

• Establish a functional and sustain-

• Incorporate a greenhouse-related curriculum for K-12 students that fosters personalized learning and opportunities for community engagement.

• Promote an agricultural pathway to provide students with workbased learning opportunities and an additional career pathway.

• Support the food security needs of our community by providing fresh produce to local food banks and other district organizations serving vulnerable populations.

• Facilitate greater national acknowledgement of the MSD of Lawrence Township as a “Green Ribbon District.”

McCullough and Martin are the joint recipients of the $20,000 personal prize, and their project will be implemented during the 2023-2024 school year.

McCullough

Martin

Jump start your savings

MSD of LT announces 2023 staff awards

The Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township recently announced annual staff member awards.

AWARDS

Sarah O’Reilly was chosen as Classified Staff Member of the Year, Franklyn Bush was named the Susan Jordan Administrator of the Year and Richar Torres was honored as Teacher of the Year.

O’Reilly is the routing administrative assistant in the Transportation Department. Her primary responsibilities include routing McKinney Vento students and those with special needs.

She works to find the best fit for students, often seeking to make the best of difficult circumstances, according to the announcement. This includes trying not to route students too early or have them on the bus too long.

During the holidays, she coordinates a transportation drive to help a family with Christmas.

O’Reilly has served in Transportation for nine years.

“Sarah’s heart and passion drive her, and she exemplifies the excellence we strive for in every employee in our department,” Director of Transportation Reginald White said. “She truly cares about the families we serve.”

Her award was sponsored by Forest Capital Management.

The Susan Jordan Administrator of the Year award is named to honor the legacy of exceptional educator Susan Jordan, according to the district. This year’s recipient, Franklyn Bush, is principal of Lawrence Central High School, a position he’s held since 2017.

In that position, he has implemented proactive academic and behavioral systems guided by supports and structures that enhance student learning, achievement and opportunities, all while effectively communicating with stakeholders, according to the announcement.

“The 2023 Susan Jordan Administrator of the Year represents Lawrence excellence

on all levels,” Superintendent Shawn Smith said. “Our winner is a district graduate, staff member and parent. While leading during a time of change, this leader has taken his school to new heights with a strong school culture, academic excellence and school pride. Students, parents and staff respect his leadership and work ethic. Mr. Franklyn Bush is, without question, the 2023 Susan Jordan Administrator of the Year.”

An Indianapolis native and 1996 Lawrence North High School graduate, Bush holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and management from Indiana Institute of Technology. In 2005, he completed a transition to a teaching program in special education K-12 at Butler University, later completing his master’s degree program at Butler in educational administration.

The Susan Jordan Administrator of the Year award is sponsored by Horace Mann.

Torres, the MSD of Lawrence Township 2023 teacher of the year, teaches Spanish at Lawrence Central High School.

A native of Peru, Torres worked in the district since 2007 and at Lawrence Central since 2008.

“Mr. Torres is key to the development of our world language programming and in the increase in student success,” Lawrence Central Principal Franklyn Bush said. “His success formula is simple: Care, effort, support and provide opportunities for students. We are grateful to have Mr. Torres as part of the Bear family.”

Torres has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from IUPUI and a Master of Arts in teaching from the University of Indianapolis. With 16 years of classroom experience, Torres is a master teacher in the classroom and a building leader. He understands the power in taking the time to build positive relationships, according to the announcement.

The MSD of Lawrence Township Teacher of the Year award is sponsored by Equitable Advisors.

O’Reilly Bush

Torres

United Way announces Basic Needs grants

news@currentinfishers.com

United Way of Central Indiana announced that it will award $12.45 million through its Basic Needs Fund to 60 nonprofits to help the region’s most vulnerable neighbors.

CHARITY

United Way’s Basic Needs Fund is intended to address access to food, housing, health care and transportation, according to the announcement. Funding is also granted to organizations proposing improvements to practices and policies to help eliminate barriers for people seeking services.

Grant awards range from $45,000 to $360,000 and will be distributed over 18 months. All 60 nonprofits that applied received funding.

The funds will help more than 90,000 people in the region have access to essentials, said Sara VanSlambrook, United Way’s chief impact officer.

“These grants are important because they support community organizations that are meeting the most essential needs of our community, like food and housing and transportation and health,” she said.

In alphabetical order, the grantees are:

• American Cancer Society – $45,000

• At Your School, Inc. – $75,000

• The Arc of Greater Boone County, Inc.

– $100,000

• Boone County Senior Services, Inc.

– $90,000

• Boys & Girls Club of Boone County

– $120,000

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis

– $275,000

• Catholic Charities Indianapolis, Inc.

– $325,000

• CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions

– $360,000

• Community Alliance of the Far Eastside

– $300,000

• Concord Neighborhood Center

– $275,000

• Damien Center – $345,000

• Edna Martin Christian Center

– $345,000

• Family Promise of Hendricks County

– $125,000

• Fathers and Families Center – $120,000

• Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center

– $150,000

• Firefly Children & Family Alliance

– $300,000

• Flanner House of Indianapolis, Inc.

– $345,000

• Foster Success – $90,000

• Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana – $325,000

• Hawthorne Community Center

– $300,000

• Hendricks County Senior Services

– $300,000

• Horizon House, Inc. – $345,000

• HVAF of Indiana, Inc. – $180,000

• Indiana Legal Services, Inc. – $75,000

• Indiana Youth Group – $225,000

• Indianapolis Legal Aid Society

– $180,000

• Indianapolis Urban League – $275,000

• John Boner Neighborhood Centers

– $325,000

• The Julian Center – $175,000

• La Plaza, Inc. – $165,000

• Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County

– $250,000

For a full list, see the story at youarecurrent.com

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

FISHERS RESIDENTS

Council president cancels June 5 meeting

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

Lawrence Common Council President Tyrrell Giles has canceled the regular June 5 council meeting, and instead scheduled a special meeting June 14. The regular midmonth meeting of June 21 remains on the calendar for now.

GOVERNMENT

In response to a request for a reason he canceled the regular meeting, Giles said he had no comment at this time.

The first meeting of each month is traditionally when public comment is heard, although that part of the agenda had been removed from the May 1 meeting agenda. At that meeting, Giles told Current that it was absent from the agenda “to keep the peace.”

The council last heard public comment at its March meeting. The first meeting in April was also canceled, so there was no public comment that month, either.

Members of the public can submit written comments. However, City Clerk Kathy Walton said in response to a request for copies of those comments that no written public comments to the council had been received by her office for the past three months.

The last three Lawrence Common Council meetings have been short — lasting five to 10 minutes each — and consisting mostly of approving claims. One item of new business — approving American Rescue Plan Act funds for public projects — was quickly referred to the finance committee for review.

When the April council meeting was canceled, Mayor Steve Collier and his administration held a town hall on the night that the meeting would have taken place. Chief of Staff Cori Korn told Current that another town hall was planned for 6:30 p.m. June 5 at One Government Center, 9001 East 59th St. in Lawrence. The focus of the town hall is public safety and streets.

Geist Half Marathon set

news@currentinfishers.com

• Water stops – maintain water stations (groups of 10 or more preferred)

EVENTS

Registration is open for the Sept. 16 Geist Half Marathon. Runners are invited to examine the racecourse map, check out medal designs and sign up to race across the bridge.

“Runners from all over central Indiana take on this course through nature-filled roads and waterfront neighborhoods along the north central portion of Geist Reservoir,” according to the City of Fishers, which hosts the event.

For those who aren’t up for a full 13.1 miles that comprise a half marathon, planners have a 5K option to get the legs pumping for 3.1 miles instead.

“The City of Fishers team has reimagined this experience with a focus on participants, volunteers and community experiences,” according to the announcement.

For those who want to participate, but don’t want to run, there are volunteer opportunities. Volunteers get special parking on the morning of the race.

Volunteer jobs include:

• Packet pick-up – assist runners and walkers during packet-pick up

• Start/finish prep – this is for the early riser! Help prepare the start/finish line for runners to make the beginning and end of their races memorable

• Finish line – hand out water and medals at the finish line

• Food area – support snack stations to ensure participants are replenished after the race

• Kids Play Zone – oversee a safe play area for the kids

• Course marshal – direct participants along the course. Keep our runners and walkers safe

• Racecourse clean-up crew

• Gear check

• Goody bag stuffing

• Results and awards

• Event tear down

The city also needs a group of early risers to help set up the racecourse from 4 to 7 a.m., and cheerleaders are always welcome at the finish line.

To register for the race, go to geisthalf. com. To volunteer, go to geisthalf.com/Race/ GeistHalfMarathon/Page-13.

Fishers Arts Council seeks exhibit submissions

news@currentinfishers.com

Artists from across Indiana are invited to submit pieces for upcoming exhibits sponsored by the Fishers Arts Council.

OPPORTUNITIES

The deadline for the October exhibit, “Fishers: An Historical Perspective,” is Sept. 15. The show celebrates Hamilton County’s Bicentennial with an exhibit focusing on Fishers and smalltown Indiana.

“Artwork that includes glimpses of the past, recreations of historic photos, and hints of yesteryear are the aim of this exhibit,” according to the announcement.

The special guest curator will be Mark Rouse of the Fishers Historical Society, a mixed-media artist. The exhibit will be on display Oct. 2 through Nov. 3.

In December, the exhibit will be the “Art of the Emerging Artist.”

“This exhibit is for artists of all mediums who are brand new to exhibiting their work, those who are new to Fishers, and

those who need that extra bump of exposure,” according to the announcement. “All work is welcome. Bring your best to make a great impression.”

The submission deadline for the December exhibit is Nov. 10. Artwork will be on display Dec. 4 through Dec. 29.

For both exhibits, 2D works must be able to be hung with a wire, weigh no more than 50 pounds, and not exceed more than 5 feet in any direction. Artists should be prepared to be interviewed during the opening reception by a board member.

To be eligible, artwork must be created by an Indiana resident, with priority given to Fishers residents; and must be family-friendly and match the theme of the exhibit. Artists must provide three to six pieces for consideration, and be able to drop the pieces off, have them on display for the entire exhibit, pick them up and, preferably, attend the reception.

For more, contact the Fishers Arts Council at info@FishersArtsCouncil.org.

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

LAWRENCE

Project: IndyGo Purpleline Construction

Location:

Northbound on Post Road between Pendleton Pike and the CSX Railroad will be closed during IndyGo Purpleline Construction. Southbound will remain open.

Expected completion: August

Project: Drainage Improvement project

Location: Drainage systems on Rainbow Lane north of Indian Lake are 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: 146th and Allisonville Interchange

Location: Phase 1 of construction for the grade separation intersection improvement has begun at 146th Street and Allisonville Road. One thru lane and one left turn lane in all directions will be closed through the intersection. Closures of Sowers Drive and Saville Road at 146th Street will be necessary in June. Please exercise caution while driving through this construction zone. In addition to these closures, the worksite speed limit will be 35 mph.

Expected completion: The entire project is set for completion in summer 2025

Project: 106th Street & Kincaid Drive

Location: Phase 1 started June 5 for construction of a new concrete median on 106th Street and to modify Kincaid Drive to a right-in-right-out entrance. During this phase, access to Kincaid Drive from 106th Street will be restricted. The detour shall use Lantern Road to Sunlight Drive. Phase 1 is anticipated to be completed by July 7. Phase 2 is expected to start July 10. During that phase, lane restrictions will be in place on 106th Street, and both roundabouts at 106th and I-69, and 106th and Lantern Road will be converted into a single lane. This phase is anticipated to be completed by July 28.

Expected completion: The full project is expected to be completed by August 2023

Concrete Cleaning Concrete Sealing Roof Cleaning Pressure Washing Epoxy Floors

GROWING KINDNESS

Budding nonprofit empowers kids to help others

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

A new nonprofit serving the greater Indianapolis area focuses on ways to encourage children to help other people. One of the first local Seeds of Caring projects involved Lawrence-based Girl Scout Troop 05493, whose members decorated cards, wrote encouraging messages and filled goody bags for young athletes with disabilities.

Recently, Troop leaders Stephanie Greenwald and Katie Lewis herded the approximately 30 girls into a classroom at Cathedral High School, where Lewis works and the Scouts were given a free space to meet. On long tables in the classroom were black-andwhite cards and a variety of colored pencils.

As the girls laughed, talked and settled in along the tables, Greenwald said, “We’re going to work with a company today called Seeds of Caring. They formed in Ohio a few years ago. And they just started programs in Indy. They are focused on things that kids like you guys can do. It helps you become kind, empathetic, caring humans. As you grow up, you learn to identify needs in your community and figure out a way to help solve the needs in your community.”

She told the girls that they were going to make good-luck bags for the Joseph Maley Foundation, which gives children with disabilities opportunities to compete in sports.

As the girls worked on their cards, Lewis talked about what it means to have a disability.

“There’s a lot of different types of disabilities,” she said. “There’s physical disabilities, there’s emotional disabilities. If you guys think about how you go throughout the day, and how when you get frustrated, you can calm yourself down. Can you guys think of times when you’ve calmed yourself down when you’re frustrated? Some kids can’t do that as easily. And some people maybe have something different about their body.”

The girls chimed in to talk about people with disabilities that they knew, and the different challenges they experienced. In addition to adding bright colors to the cards, the Girl Scouts also wrote encouraging words inside.

Ruby McCracken, 8, carefully wrote out her message on a card she just finished coloring. She read it out loud: “Good luck.

You can win. You can do anything.”

At the next table, Jaya Marie Coleman, 10; Jacey Carter, 8; and Dakota Chapman, 8, shared their messages: “I hope you win whatever you’re doing.” “You’re awesome. You can do this.” “You got this.”

The next phase involved an assembly linestyle method to fill all the goody bags. Each bag included a small bottle of Gatorade, a pair of sunglasses, sunscreen, a fruit snack and a hand-colored card. The girls filled 48 bags that day.

Blair Everett is the Seeds of Caring Indianapolis program manager. She said the orga-

nization started in Columbus, Ohio, and they just branched out to Indianapolis this March.

“We realized that the need to provide high-quality, meaningful opportunities for young kids to give back wasn’t unique to Columbus,” she said. “Our board of directors studied the data and advised us that Indianapolis would be a city that would be very receptive to the work we are doing.”

Everett said the mission is about more than a volunteer network — it’s designed with age-appropriate, guided discussion, opportunities for empathetic reflection, and meaningful service, social action and com-

munity-building activities.

“So, whether they’re packing food for a local shelter or creating welcome kits for new American families, kids are tapping into their ability to make a difference, now and in the future,” she said.

Everett said they plan to offer up to four projects a month with different themes. The projects can be completed at home, in a classroom, etc., and generally take 60 to 90 minutes. Families or youth leaders can register for a project at seedsofcaring.org/ Indianapolis and will receive a project guide with detailed instructions.

“At the conclusion of the project, families will drop the donations they’ve created off on the porch of one of our fabulous volunteers who will then deliver the donation to the local nonprofit who needs them at the time they need them,” Everett said.

Everett said the goal is for kids to learn early on to care about others.

“It’s important for children to get involved at a young age because empathy and kindness are learned behaviors that must be taught and nurtured,” she said. “Our kids watch us closely and therefore we have an opportunity to be intentional about raising little humans who can see the world through another’s eyes and who understand a very critical message that we repeat often to our child participants: That we all need help sometimes and we can all give help sometimes.”

on a card she personalized for a young athlete who will be competing in a Joseph Maley Foundation race this summer. The cards were part of a Seeds of Caring service project. (Photo by Adam Seif)

WHAT IS THE JOSEPH MALEY FOUNDATION?

The Joseph Maley Foundation was founded by the family of Joseph Maley, born July 6, 1990. Joseph, the oldest of five boys in the family, had numerous disabilities. To help his younger siblings talk with classmates and friends about their older brother’s experiences, mom Vivian Maley developed Disability Awareness, an educational program.

Joseph Maley died from leukemia at the age of 18. The family established the Joseph Maley Foundation in 2008 in his honor with a mission to “serve children of all abilities.”

The foundation provides education and awareness programs, along with service programs. Among the service projects are adaptive, inclusive fitness events that pair children with disabilities with experienced athletes to work together and compete in athletic events.

The foundation also offers support programs and resources for families of people with disabilities. For more go to josephmaley.org.

Clockwise from left, Girl Scout Troop 05493 members Ruby McCracken, Zoe Velasquez, Aria Fernandez, Skylar Frazee and Aveline Lewis work on cards that will be given to athletes with disabilities through a Seeds of Caring service project. (Photos by Adam Seif)

ON THE COVER: A member of Lawrence-based Girl Scout Troop 05493 draws a heart

ESKENAZI HEALTH FOUNDATION IS GRATEFUL TO Mike and Sue Smith FOR THEIR LEAD GIFT

Beyond Barriers is a campaign that through philanthropy and partnerships, addresses health equity in Central Indiana.

Signs of menopause, treatment options

Commentary by Linda Witham,

eskenazihealthfoundation.org

(Advertorial)

Tom Wood Subaru – Celebrating 40 Years!

Tom Wood Subaru just recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary! They opened their doors on April 1, 1982 and have been proudly serving the community since then.

Their biggest accomplishment is being nationally recognized for their dedication to their customers and community through the Subaru Love Promise. Tom Wood Subaru believes in making the world a better place and the Subaru Love Promise is their vision of respecting all people. They are committed to showing love and respect to their customers and their teammates in order to make a positive impact on the world.

SHOP ONLINE AND WE WILL DELIVER IT TO YOU!

They are grateful for their first 40 years of business, and look forward to another forty years of taking care of their customers! “It’s because of this

community that we are here, and for that, we say thank you” said Jeff Wood, President & CEO of Tom Wood Group.

HEALTH

Menopause occurs when a woman permanently stops having menstrual periods. Here, you can find out what menopause is, how it is diagnosed, the symptoms and treatment options.

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

Menopause most often occurs gradually, over several years, between ages 45 and 55. This stage signals the end of your ability to have children. As women age, the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries decreases. This is the perimenopausal transition. Eventually, the ovaries stop making enough estrogen to thicken the uterine lining. To diagnose menopause, a women must go a full 365 days without a menstrual cycle. It is not necessary to have blood work to confirm.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE?

The symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, excess fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, mood swings, irregular bleeding, vaginal dryness and painful intercourse from vaginal atrophy. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your medical provider. If you have any abnormal uterine bleeding, which would include longer, heavier or irregular periods, follow up with your medical provider.

WHAT ARE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MENOPAUSE?

There are many commercially prepared hormone products approved by the Food and Drug Administration that can be prescribed for menopause symptoms. FDA-ap-

proved indications for hormone replacement therapy are vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, as well as prevention of bone loss and to reduce bone fractures. HRT involves taking estrogen and progestin or estrogen alone if the uterus has been surgically removed. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who take estrogen have fewer hot flashes, better bone health, less cardiovascular disease, better sex lives, less insomnia, improvement in urinary symptoms, better mood, a reduction in Type 2 diabetes, lower risk of colon cancer, decreased joint pain, better skin and better quality of life. A woman’s risk of breast cancer should be evaluated before choosing HRT.

Providers can recommend nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes, such as antidepressants and vaginal moisturizers for vaginal symptoms.

For more, visit iuhealth.org/ find-medical-services/menopause.

Weiss and Jeff Wood, of Tom Wood Subaru, nationally

Linda Witham, WHNP-BC, NCMP, OB/ GYN, is a nurse practitioner at IU Health North Hospital

“As women age, the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries decreases. This is the perimenopausal transition.”

– LINDA WITHAM

VIEWS

READERS’ VIEWS HB 1177 merely sets up training mechanism

Editor,

I’m afraid your article in the May 23 edition of Current about HB 1177 may lead some readers to believe that any school employee in Indiana could theoretically apply for the state funded firearm training that the bill sets up and funds, and perhaps even believe that those employees could then possess a firearm in the school building where they are employed. That is not the case.

Indiana law allows school corporations to authorize certain employees to voluntarily possess firearms on school property and has for several years. I’m told that only about three to five school districts in Indiana currently do so. HB 1177 merely sets up a training mechanism and funding to ensure that those employees can get training similar to what new police officers receive.

The school districts that have authorized some personnel to possess a firearm on school property are rural school districts that can’t afford resource officers and where it might take as long as 20 minutes for law enforcement officers to respond. In those districts, it only makes sense that those employees have appropriate training.

State Rep. Jerry Torr, Carmel

POLICIES

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 contain a commercial message.

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Thoughts on prayers

Commentary by Terry

Anker

It seems inevitable that the morning news will deliver alongside the weather report and yesterday’s lottery numbers disappointing news about those humans among us who seem bent to exert their most sinister and destructive actions upon us. We blithely finish our corn flakes while seeing Putin’s army kill countless civilians and destroy all that Ukraine has built. The next segment carries images of road rage that turned from an argument over a preferred parking spot at the mall into a shooting incident with two in the hospital and one in a coffin. We switch to social media only to find more tales of woe. Sure, there are the sunny moments. Some of us work hard to keep the internet streets swept and even plant a few flowers on the path. But if we chose to see it, we are barraged with rage, cultural unrest, pornography and political intrigue.

ESSAY

it. The death of a friend’s family dog might have been cause for a note, phone call or even a casserole-in-hand visit. Now, might garner a sad face or prayer emoji on Facebook. With immediate access to the news of all, it is difficult to invest ourselves deeply. If we are sufficiently moved, we might offer our “thoughts and prayers” to the mourning. It is certainly better than ignoring their plight. Human connection matters, but what exactly are we doing for them?

Isn’t condolence an action as much as a sentiment? Can’t the same be asked about gratitude? Theologians and religious leaders have long urged followers to assume a “posture of gratitude” before God. Why isn’t the expectation to assume a thought of gratitude? By equating the two, are we giving ourselves a pass?

Much like walking through Times Square in the 1970s, we notice the filth but too quickly become tolerant, if not immune, to

A scary dog day afternoon

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

Friends, I almost killed our dog this week. I know! After 11 years of kinda-sorta hoping she’d quietly “disappear” (because I am not an animal lover and because, of course, I’m the one who became her primary caregiver), I must have subconsciously sought to hasten that end. I’m horrible. Here’s what happened.

that our black Lab Libby had hopped into the van. I was able to pull Doo’s dumb vehicle forward and then successfully close my door, but I completely forgot about Libby.

HUMOR

My husband, Doo, was renting a goblin-green Hyundai monstrosity (he’d just sold his Accord to our oldest, whose 2002 Ford Explorer had finally succumbed to a long-ago-diagnosed case of failing transmissionitis, may she rest in peace). I mention this fact because when I pulled into our garage with my big old minivan, I hyper-focused on the hideous color of said rental and then parked way too close to it — so close that my sliding passenger door gently kissed its automotive sister upon opening. Oops. While I was trying to figure out how to rectify the situation, I only half registered

DANIELLE

When she didn’t come running for breakfast the following morning, I began an increasingly panicked search of the house, during which I convinced myself that I would stumble upon her canine corpse. And then I remembered: She was still in the car!

She had spent almost 12 hours locked in a janky people-mover in a closed garage, after a day when temperatures had climbed into the 80s. No water, no way to relieve herself, no fresh air. Ugh.

She was fine, but I was not. I almost killed our dog! Peace out.

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.

“I was able to pull Doo’s dumb vehicle forward and then successfully close my door, but I completely forgot about Libby.”

–

WILSON

VIEWS

(Bird) talk is cheep

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

A few weeks back, I mentioned an app called Smart News that features daily tantalizing headlines accompanied by brief articles. Here are some of their recent postings:

type out simple messages using a keyboard. This proved painfully slow, since most of the birds were unable to progress past the hunt-and-peck method.

HUMOR

• 6 Things to NEVER Buy at Costco

• 4 Dangerous Fast Foods

• 7 Canned Fruits to NEVER Buy

• 8 Great Things About Pickles

I only read the pickle one. Wow, they qualify as veggies. Finally, some good food news!

I also subscribe to a magazine called The Week. If you’re young and not familiar with what a magazine is, Google it. If you’re an older senior and don’t know what Google is, look through some of your old magazines. There’s probably an article about it somewhere.

Smart News deals with the big political stories of the day, but it also sprinkles in an assortment of newsy tidbits, like this one: “Birds taught to make video calls.”

That got my immediate attention. I’ve ignored FaceTime calls on my iPhone, assuming they were robo — not robin — calls. I block callers after these attempts to reach me, assuming it’s someone phishing. Maybe some calls were from pelicans, the best phishermen around.

Dr. Ilyena Hirskyj at Glasgow University says she has taught parrots to call each other using an iPad. Domestic parrots (of which there are 28 million globally) usually spend their very long life alone in cages and need some social interaction. Playing solitaire and munching on crackers for 75 years just doesn’t cut it.

Dr. Hirskyj’s subjects were also trained to

Many of the parrots, when reaching out to other parrots, would preen and display their colors in a mating posture in front of the camera. Florida’s legislature wants to ban such videos. Disney World’s Donald Duck and his nephews are planning a protest.

Adult parrots were thrilled to finally get calls from their kids: “I hadn’t heard a peep out of my son in 50 years,” one excited mama said. In a related story — and one I am totally making up — researchers in New York City equipped pigeons with miniature iPhones around their necks and taught them to communicate with each other while walking around Central Park. Testing was halted when in one week, 26,000 were killed crossing the street while talking on their cells.

Most birds just want to settle down and have a family. They are using a new app called hatch.com. Chickens are downloading scratch.com.

Having read this silly column, my wife, Mary Ellen, now summons me to the phone whenever she gets a call identified as spam.

“Dick, there’s some chick on the phone for you,” she says.

“How do you know it’s for me?”

“Well, she keeps saying, ‘Cheap, cheap!’”

POLICIES

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.

Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.

“Adult parrots were thrilled to finally get calls from their kids: “I hadn’t heard a peep out of my son in 50 years,” one excited mama said.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

Indy actor, ATI co-founder to reprise roles in ‘Million Dollar Quartet’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Brandon Alstott is ready to walk the line again.

MUSICAL

The Indianapolis resident will perform as Johnny Cash for the third time in Actors Theatre of Indiana’s “Million Dollar Quartet.” The performances will be at 7:30 p.m. June 16-17 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts.

“I’m happy to be back in the saddle again,” Alstott said. “It’s a really fun role to play. I’m a huge Johnny Cash fan. I’ve read multiple books and I play his music all the time, so to portray him on stage is just such a thrill.”

Alstott previously performed as Cash in ATI’s 2016 and 2018 productions in the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts. “Million Dollar Quartet” is based on the true story of Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins jamming together one December night in 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis.

Alstott said he is eager to perform on the Palladium stage.

“So many legends have performed on that stage and it’s such a beautiful venue,” Alstott said. “The acoustics are perfect. It will be a different setup and not as intimate as the smaller stage. The audience isn’t as close, so I might be a little bigger in my performance and a little more demonstrative. I might be a little more animated.”

ATI co-founder Don Farrell said Alstott does a great job as Cash.

“He’s an amazing actor and musician,” Farrell said.

Farrell will play Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records, for the third time.

“When I started delving into him and watching different interviews with him, he’s a very interesting person,” Farrell said. “There’s a fatherly quality about him. He found all these people before they became icons, like Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Howlin’ Wolf. He helped make them who they were, and he had an ear, kind of like Clive Davis. Sam Phillips nurtured these young voices into these icons. For me, ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is really about Sam Phillips and Sun Records.”

Farrell said he had no idea how integral Phillips was to music until he did more research.

“I knew he was big, but I didn’t realize how big he was in shaping the music that we listen to today,” Farrell said.

DJ Salisbury, who is based in Orlando, returns as the director for the third time. He also has directed the show for The Appalachian Center for the Arts in Pikesville, Ky.

“It’s a nice little slice of Americana,” Salisbury said. “There’s not any huge drama. It’s really all about the personalities and the music. Besides Brandon and Don, I’ve not worked with the other performers before, but they all know the show and have done it before.”

Jefferson McDonald is the music director and plays Jerry Lee Lewis.

Nathan Shew returns in the role of Fluke.

Indianapolis resident Amanda McCarthy said she is excited for her ATI debut, playing Elvis’ girlfriend.

“I have seen ‘MDQ’ performed a few times,” she said. “I love the live music, and playing Dyanne puts me right in the middle of all the action.”

McCarthy has performed locally, including at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre and with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. For more, visit atistage.org.

‘BEAUTY & THE BEAST’

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

‘AUGUST:

OSAGE COUNTY’

Main Street Productions will present “August: Osage County” from June 8 to 18 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

An Evening with Judy Kuhn is set for 7:30 p.m. June 8-9 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Jazz Brunch: Blair Clark Birthday Brunch is set for 11 a.m. June 11. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF ARTS

National Taiwan University of Arts: Enchanting Dance and Music Show is set for a free performance at 7 p.m. June 7 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘DIRECTOR’S CHOICE’

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre will feature “Director’s Choice” at 7 p.m. June 9-10 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

DISPATCH

More acts added to Carmel Jazz Festival — In addition to headliner Spyro Gyra, several other acts have been announced for the inaugural Carmel Jazz Fest taking place Aug. 11-12. Spyro Gyra will perform at the Palladium Aug. 12. The festival will feature more than 30 acts, including Evelyn Champagne King, a singer, songwriter and record producer best known for her hit disco single “Shame,” which was released in 1977. Carmel Jazz Fest is the first multi-performance event to utilize and unify the stateof-the-art venues, green spaces and stages throughout the Carmel Arts & Design District in a festival format. Other performers include Dave Bennett Quartet, Freddie Fox and Tim Cunningham. Area performers include Josh Kaufman, Tad Robinson Band and Pavel Polanco-Safadit.

From left, Betsy Norton, Adam Tran, Nathan Shew, Don Farrell and Brandon Alstott from the 2016 production of “Million Dollar Quartet.” (Photo courtesy of ATI)

McCarthy

Salisbury

Director embraces

‘August: Osage County’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Brent Wooldridge wanted to direct “August: Osage County” since seeing the movie in 2013.

THEATER Carter

“I fell in love with the movie,” said Wooldridge, a Plainfield resident.

Main Street Productions will present “August: Osage County” from June 8 to 18 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. The play centers on a dysfunctional family.

“It’s an actor’s piece,” Wooldridge said. “All the roles are very big. The set is big. I like the subject matter because it makes it more challenging to do.”

Indianapolis resident Sally Carter plays Violet Weston, the family matriarch.

“She has three daughters, and a husband who is missing,” Carter said. “They gather to be with one another before his disappearance is resolved. This is a troubled family on many levels. The family has experienced a lot of trauma and addiction. You can see through the course of this play how that has become intergenerational, starting with the parents before them and the effect it has on the children and the relationship with their parents. Each of them copes in a very different way. It’s something that is more prevalent than we might realize. These are subjects many families refuse to talk about, or deny, deflect or blame others. It’s a pretty intense presentation of how these things can happen.”

The tragicomedy play was written by Tracy Letts and won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Letts is from Oklahoma, like the family in the play.

Carter said Letts drew on some of his own family history for some of the incidents in the play.

“It’s an ensemble piece and everyone contributes substantially to this play,” Carter said. “We’ve been trying to familiarize ourselves with moving on the massive three-story set. It’s quite high. This play requires that kind of large set.”

Carter has performed for 30-plus years.

“This is my first post-pandemic production,” she said. “As one becomes older, learning lines becomes more difficult. Brent is extremely supportive and helpful and encouraging. He’s willing to listen to alter-

native viewpoints. I’m very blessed to be part of this particular production with these particular people. It’s a three-act play, so there are a lot of lines.”

Carter performed in Carmel Community Players’ “Lend Me a Tenor,” which closed March 8, 2020. Less than a week later, the lockdown was in effect because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Megan Janning, a 2022 Brownsburg High School graduate, plays Jean Fordham, a 14-year-old.

Janning aspires for a professional acting career.

“The goal is to save my money and move to Chicago or New York and pursue it further,” she said.

This is Janning’s first performance with Main Street Productions.

“It’s a difficult role, especially for me because it’s a lot of intense subject matter,” Janning said. “This is definitely the most mature show that I’ve done. Stepping into that has been nerve-racking, exciting, just all kinds of emotions. The cast has been so great with making me feel so comfortable with all of it.”

Janning concentrates on plays.

“I can’t sing to save my life,” she said. “But I’ve definitely done more lighter, child-friendly shows previously.”

Janning said the play is well-written.

“It’s like how people actually talk,” she said. “It’s very important to get the little things (right). It’s not the amount of the lines I have, it’s more how they are written and how I can pull out the nuance in them.”

Rob Lawson, Noblesville, is one of the cast members.

For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.

Megan Janning, a 2022 Brownsburg High School graduate, plays Jean Fordham, a 14-year-old, in “August: Osage County.” (Photo courtesy of Rob Slaven/Indy Ghost Light Theatrical Photography)

Farce opens Red Barn season

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

For Red Barn Summer Theatre Artistic Director Michael Taylor, precision is the key to “See How They Run.”

COMEDY

“Comedy is way harder than drama, especially because of the timing,” Taylor said. “In a show like this, the timing has to be on point.”

Red Barn will present “See How They Run” June 7-11 and June 14-18 at the Frankfort venue.

“We start off very light and something the family can come see,” Taylor said.

The play is set in England, where a conservative bishop’s home is turned upside down by the outlandish actions of an American actor and actress, an old maid who has touched alcohol for the first time, four suspicious men disguised as clergymen, and a cockney maid who has seen too many American movies.

There are nine cast members, including Taylor. Taylor is the theater director at Frankfort High School, and Kiara Wood, the music director at Frankfort High School, is in the show.

Most of the performers are from Lafayette and the Frankfort area. Taylor said some actors from outside the state will be in for the second show later in June.

“I love farces and Michael also loves farces — the slamming of doors, the falls, the pratfalls and mistaken identities,” said Luke McLaughlin, who is the director. “It’s fast-paced and zany. In my mind, there is nothing better than seeing a really fast, clean show just come together. When all the wheels are clicking, it’s really funny.” For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.

Songbook Academy set for July

editorial@youarecurrent.com

entertainment professionals and leading university educators.

MUSIC

From hundreds of applications nationwide, 40 finalists from 16 states have been selected to participate in this year’s Songbook Academy summer intensive, a pre-professional music program for young singers focusing on the timeless standards of jazz, pop, Broadway and Hollywood. Among the 11 finalists from Indiana are two Carmel residents, Jordan Pecar, who attends Park Tudor School; and Seth Jacobsen, who attends Carmel High School; and Eve Hodges, a Zionsville Community High School student.

Now in its 14th year, the Songbook Academy is the flagship education initiative of the Great American Songbook Foundation, providing an opportunity for talented high school performers to experience a life-changing week of classes, workshops and performances under the guidance of arts and

Pecar Jacobsen Hodges

The Songbook Academy will take place July 15-22 at the Foundation’s headquarters, the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The week includes three public performance events at the Palladium, which will take place before a live audience and will be livestreamed for viewers worldwide:

• Public Masterclass – 2-5 p.m.

July 19

• Songbook Showcase – 2-5 p.m.

July 20

• Songbook Academy in Concert – 7 p.m.

July 22

For the July 19-20 events, on-site tickets and livestream registration are pay-what-you-can with no minimum price. For the final concert, on-site tickets start at just $25, and the livestream option is paywhat-you-can with a $10 minimum.

Tickets are on sale now atTheSongbook.org, by phone at 1-317-8433800 or toll-free at 1-877-909-2787.

From left, Aaron Moon, Cole Riegle, Kiara Wood, Xander Haan and Brenna Coogan rehearse for “See How They Run.” (Photo courtesy of Luke McLaughlin)

Turn heavy baggage into litotes

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

A visit to The Hermitage

Commentary by Don Knebel

GRAMMAR GUY

It’s someone’s job to name new medications. Drug Company A approaches Marketing Company B and says, “Hey, we’ve got this new drug. It makes people happy in the short run, but they’ll still have to deal with all their baggage in the long run. And, boy, does it have a ton of side effects!”

Marketing Company B comes back with “Litotes: The medicine that makes your baggage feel lighter. May cause ironic understatements that convey affirmations by negating their opposites. Use as directed.”

You may be thinking, “Boy, he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.” Great — that’s a litote! Also, my reply to your retort is, “You’re not wrong about that.” Yes, folks, that was another litote. Sometimes,you have to be light on your toes to notice them.

In the above examples, I expressed positive statements by canceling out their opposites. Litotes flip negative meanings around to create a positive statement. By saying, “He’s not the sharpest tool in the

shed,” you’re implying I am dull. And when I reply, “You’re not wrong about that,” I’m suggesting that you are correct in your rude (albeit astute) accusation.

Litotes are all around us. In my opinion, litotes are brilliant literary devices.

We get the word “litote” from the Greek word “litotes,” which means “plainness” or “simplicity.” It’s not rocket science once you think about it.

When I think of litotes, I hear the voice and tone of David Spade in my head. It’s a dry, witty way of actually conveying something positive. What did you think of the play? Well, I didn’t hate it. In fact, it wasn’t bad at all.

Okay, you get the idea at this point.

I’m a fan of litotes. Before using litotes, just make sure to consult your doctor to see if litotes are right for you. When you only want to be a little positive, try litotes.

TRAVEL

Today, we visit The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson’s famous estate about 10 miles east of downtown Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Jackson, a war hero and seventh president of the United States, was also a lawyer, merchant, tavern owner, land speculator, planter, racehorse breeder and judge. In 1804, after losing a farm because of a business failure, he and his wife, Rachel, purchased 425 acres for growing cotton and raising horses. The plantation, named The Hermitage, was later expanded to 1,050 acres, operated by more than 150 enslaved people who lived in cabins on the property.

Beginning in 1819, the Jacksons built an eight-room Federal-style brick house on the grounds, flanked by a formal garden. When Rachel died in 1828, she was buried in the garden. In 1831, during Jackson’s first term as president, he expanded the house, which was severely damaged in a fire three years later. Jackson then built an elegant Greek-Revival mansion on the existing foundation. The 13-room house featured a large entry hall lined with French wallpaper depicting scenes from Homer’s “Odyssey.”

A self-supporting elliptical staircase led to four upstairs bedrooms. Visitors approached the house on a guitar-shaped driveway lined with cedar trees.

In 1837, after his second term as president, Jackson returned to The Hermitage, where he lived until his death in 1845. He was buried alongside Rachel beneath a colonnaded Greek-style monument evoking

the entry hall wallpaper. In 1998, an F5 tornado hit the property, uprooting 1,000 trees, including those planted by Jackson almost 200 years earlier.

Today, The Hermitage, including 1,000 acres of land, is open to the public. The mansion, which includes original furnishings, is considered the best preserved of all early presidential homes. A visitors’ center provides information about Andrew Jackson’s life and family. Special attention is given to the enslaved persons who worked and died at The Hermitage.

Curtis Honeycutt is a national award-winning, syndicated humor writer. Connect with him on Twitter (@curtishoneycutt) or at curtishoneycutt.com.

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

Parlor room inside The Hermitage near Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Don Knebel)

1. Consumer protection org.

4. Frenzied

9. Coffee alternative

12. ___ Speedwagon

13. 34-Across flag inspiration represented by the puzzle’s colored squares

15. BTK Villeion genre

16. Back of a boat

17. Owl sound 18. Tax agcy.

19. Kind of candle 21. Salon solvent 23. Lowest deck on a ship 24. Regard highly 26. Spotted

Blvd. crossers 28. Spritelike

32. Blueprint detail, briefly 33. Unoccupied 34. Annual June celebration

39. Latin for “womb”

40. Shapiro’s, e.g.

41. Magic lamp occupant

42. Await action

43. I-465 exit

47. Awesomely tough

49. Toys on strings

50. Take shape

53. Average speed on I-69, it seems

54. University of Utah player

55. Asian Kitchen

33. African plain

34. Car nut

35. Old AT&T rival

36. ___ Davis HS

37. Eiteljorg Museum group

38. Cozy retreats

42. Tropical fruit

43. 18-wheeler

44. In one’s house

45. Scotland yards?

46. Freud topic

48. Idiots

49. Chicken ___

50. Hoodwink

51. IND postings

52. Rant and rave

53. Mideast ruler

56. Classic British sports car

57. Indiana’s Lincoln, familiarly

Answers on Page 20

menu item

58. Tolkien beast

59. Yats cookware

60. 13-Across mnemonic guy

61. So-so

62. Zionsville winter hrs. 63. Epee kin

64. Nationality suffix Down

1. Indianapolis Opera cheers

2. Prior

3. Oliver Winery purchase

4. Self-defense spray

5. Latest Affleck/Damon film

6. Carmel-to-Fort Wayne dir.

7. Construction girders

8. Some bacteria

9. Threesome

10. Make money

11. Church area

13. Invitation letters

14. Question from one who’s lost

20. WIPX net.

22. AT&T, e.g.

24. Declare 25. Chooses 27. iPhone downloads 29. Shamrocks rooter 30. Colts QB stat 31. Highest degree 32. Informant

Meats

Rhymes of “Indy”

Lake Michigan Cities

Sewing Kit Items 1 Sleepy Bear Campground Shelter

“A trip to the cath lab and I’m on the mend.”

RIGHT SIZE. RIGHT CARE. RIGHT HERE.

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