October 18, 2022 — Lawrence/Geist

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Geist Marina or 79th & Sunnyside

Geist resident allegedly murdered by roomate

By Taylor Dixon taylor@youarecurrent.com

21 on Nov. 15.

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

CRIME

Varun Manish Chheda, a Geist-area res ident and Purdue University student, was allegedly killed by his roommate early in the morning of Oct. 5.

Purdue University Police Chief Lesley Wiete identified Ji Min Sha, 22, a junior exchange student from South Korea, as the suspect in Ch heda’s death.

According to police, Sha called 911 stating that his roommate was dead. He was then taken into custody for question ing and keep being held on a preliminarily charge of murder. A motive for what police say was an unprovoked attack hasn’t been established, according to Purdue police. Chheda’s cause of death was multiple sharp force traumatic injuries, according to the autopsy.

Chheda, 20, was a senior studying data science at Purdue and a member of the Purdue Honors College. He was set to turn

Chheda was from the northside of In dianapolis in the Geist area. He attended Park Tudor School. Before that, he attended Sycamore School. According to his obituary, Chheda was a member of the Korea Taekwondo Academy and was a National Merit Scholarship Award Winner. He also was a runner-up in the 2016 national Science Bowl Competition.

“The entire Park Tudor community is incredibly saddened by the tragic loss of Varun Chheda, Park Tudor class of 2020. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time,” Dennis Bisgaard, Park Tudor interim head of school stated.

Chheda’s obituary said he was family-ori ented and smart.

“He was a player who necessitated his sister and cousins to gang up to win against him in any and all games involving strategy. To his friends he was the guy ‘you would want to hang with’,” Chheda’s obitu ary reads. “He loved the sciences, was very

inquisitive and his passion for any subject matter was contagious. He enjoyed the simple things in life and never sought out attention or praise for his accomplishments. His absence will be sorely felt by those who knew and loved him.”

Purdue University held a candlelight vigil the night of Oct. 5 at the campus’ “Unfin ished P,” a statue honoring students who do not get to finish their time at Purdue.

Purdue President Mitch Daniels released a statement that read in part:

“This is as tragic an event as we can imagine happening on our campus and our hearts and thoughts go out to all of those affected by this terrible event … I am ever grateful to all of you who continually take the time to care for each other and know you will do so in the days ahead.”

Daniels also stated that there is counsel ing support being offered for students who may need it.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for contribution to be made in Chheda’s honor to the Riley Children’s Foundation at riley kids.org.

Fishers approves 1 percent food and beverage tax

By Taylor Dixon taylor@youarecurrent.com

The Fishers City Council on Oct. 10 voted 8-1 to approve a 1 percent food and beverage tax that will go into effect Dec. 1. Councilor Jocelyn Vare cast the lone vote against the tax.

CITY NEWS

The meeting also included approval of plans to expand the Fishers District and ap proval of the 2023 budget, which lowers the tax rate from 71.65 to 71.15 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

The 1 percent increase in the food and beverage tax will be added to the 7 percent state sales tax and 1 percent already going to Hamilton County, meaning people who dine in Fishers will pay a 9 percent tax.

City officials estimate the tax would

generate approximately $3.2 million a year to help pay for a $170 million event center planned in the Fishers District. The center is projected to hold up to 8,500 guests and become the home of the Indianapolis Fuel hockey team. The event center is also planned to serve as a community center that will hold events like HSE and Fishers High School graduations and the Mudsock basketball game.

Also approved at the meeting is a $550 million expansion of the Fishers District, which is also set to include 60,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 70,000 square feet of office space, two hotels and luxury apartments.

At the council meeting, Vare tried and failed to add two amendments to the ordi nance. She proposed adding a clarification that the funds raised through the new tax

would only go toward the event center and that the tax would sunset after 40 years. Mayor Scott Fadness responded by saying if the city were to add a sunset clause, its leaders would then have to go back to the statehouse if they were to consider reim plementing it.

Fadness said he was proposing the food and beverage tax while at the same time lowering the city’s property tax rate, which was also passed at the Oct. 10 meeting. He noted that the event center will partially be paid for by visitors through the new food and beverage tax, easing the burden on Fishers residents.

“We’re accomplishing both goals and reducing the burden on the residents for property taxes, while at the same time delivering this amazing amenity to our resi dents,” Fadness said.

Chheda

Civic Plaza renovations near completion

By Edward Redd news@youarecurrent.com

Fort Harrison Reuse Authority President Jeff Vest estimates that renovations to the Civic Plaza at 5710 Lawrence Village Pkwy. in downtown Lawrence are 85 percent complete. Work has been underway for nearly five months.

LAWRENCE

According to Joe Murphy, former chief of staff for the City of Lawrence, the FHRA started designs and construc tion plans in late 2020. One major change is the new hardscape that replaced the previous greenspace.

In the past, the FHRA used the space for events such as week ly farmers markets, live music and the annual winter festival, Winter Fest, but it created challenges.

“The grass was not conducive to our previous events, espe cially in the fall and winter when we would get one or two days of heavy rainfall,” Murphy said. “ The space becomes torn up and unusable for the remainder of the season.”

Cori Korn, City of Lawrence chief of staff, said the solid surface will allow the city to program events at the improved space. There is more room for live entertainment, markets and activities for kids.

Additional benches, multi-use water fountains and electrical outlets are also being installed. The FHRA is waiting on lights and a wind tree to arrive for installation. The wind tree will be installed in the center of the plaza.

“This has allowed us to take a plain grass area and turn it into a beautiful hardscape that provides a great gathering area with

beautiful gardens around it,” Korn said.

Vest, a lifelong Lawrence resident, said he marvels at the city’s growth.

“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve lived out here my whole life. I never thought we’d have a cultural campus the way we have or a civic plaza that’ll be a central gathering place.”

According to Vest, the FHRA’s goal is to finish in time for Winter Fest, which begins the weekend after Thanksgiving. The event runs Nov. 26 through Dec. 23 with the tree lighting set for open ing night. The festival also includes vendors, ice skating and hol iday-themed events. The FHRA is planning a ribbon cutting for the Lawrence Civic Plaza that Vest hopes to happen by Nov. 2.

LPD CELEBRATES NATIONAL COFFEE WITH A COP DAY

BIKE SHARE LAWRENCETour

The Lawrence Police Dept. hosted Coffee with a Cop Oct. 5 at Brickhouse Coffee Co. in Lawrence.

LPD Deputy Chief of Police Curtis Bigsbee, above left, said the department has participated in the event for at least 10 years. He said it is a good way for police to connect with the community.

“(Events like these) bridge the gap with our community where they can come out here and be able to meet and speak with the officer that they might run into on a daily basis,” Bigsbee said. “This is just for us to reach out to the community, speak with them and also try to see what some of their needs or some concerns might be.” (Photo by Taylor Dixon

Rentals now include FREE entry to Fort Harrison State Park.

An aerial view of the unfinished Civic Plaza. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lawrence)

Alleged drive-by shooting leaves 2 teen’s injured

By Taylor Dixon taylor@youarecurrent.com

The Lawrence Police Dept. is investigating an alleged drive-by shooting Oct. 10 that left two teens injured. Officers responded to a 911 call saying a person had been shot at approximately 9:30 a.m. in the 4800 block of Hartman Drive. Once on the scene, officers came in contact with two teenage males with gunshot wounds. One teen had been struck in the leg, and the other ap peared to have been struck in the shoulder, according to police.

CRIME

The victims told police they had been walking along the 4600 block of Richardt Avenue near I-465 and 46th Street when someone in a nearby vehicle fired gunshots at them before heading east.

Both victims were transported to the hospital in stable condition.

LPD said they believe this is a contained, targeted event that does not pose a threat to the public. No vehicle information is avail able at this time. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact LPD at 317-545-7575.

Clarification — “The new redistricting map cuts parts of District 5 and District 2, mak ing both smaller, with District 6 taking al most half of District 5. This reconfiguration is done to ensure there is as close to equal population in each district as possible per the “one person one vote” law that states districts should be as near equal population as possible with the difference between the largest and smallest districts being no greater than 10 percent.”

MSDLT to partner with Lawrence Education Association — The MSD of Lawrence Township is pleased to announce that an agreement between Lawrence Township Schools and the Lawrence Education Asso ciation (LEA) for the 2022-2023 school year was approved by the Board of Education in a special meeting on Monday, October 10, 2022.

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County tests voting machines

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

“We’ve never had a wrong vote on them,” she said. “Every election, we do this.”

Hamilton County works with an election vendor, MicroVote, that oversees the tabu lation of votes on Election Day and provides training to the county, according to Sheller.

COUNTY

There appeared to be no issues earlier this month during a public test of voting machines that will be used during the Nov. 8 general election.

The public test, which was conducted Oct. 7 in the basement of the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center, allowed more than a half-dozen members of the public to participate in the process. It also gave the Hamilton County Election Board and the county clerk’s office an op portunity to test voting machines to deter mine if there were any errors or corrections that needed to be addressed leading up to the general election.

Of the county’s 619 total voting machines, 31 machines were randomly selected to be tested, Hamilton County Elections Adminis trator Beth Sheller said. The test is required to be conducted under state law and con firms the integrity of the voting machines, Sheller said.

She said the public test also offers trans parency, as well.

Ray Adler, chairman of the Hamilton Coun ty Election Board, said he has never seen any problems with the voting machines but noted the public test gives officials an op portunity to fix any issues that might come up ahead of Election Day.

“We’ve never had a bug, but if we pro gram something wrong, we want to make sure we correct it before the election,” Adler said.

The voting machines are also certified by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, meaning they have gone through rigorous testing, according to Sheller.

An EAC-certified voting system has been tested by a federally accredited test labora tory and has successfully met the require ments of federal voting system standards and/or guidelines, according to its website.

For more information on voting sites and times, visit hamiltoncounty.in.gov/219/ Election-Office

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Meet the MSDLT school board at-large candidates

By Taylor Dixon taylor@youarecurrent.com

The Metropolitan School District of Law rence Township school board race has four candidates – Jessica Dunn, Jennifer Tursi, Morgan Bailey and incumbent Reginald Mc Gregor – vying for an at-large school board seat. At the time of publication Bailey had not responded to requests to complete the questionnaire.

Jessica Dunn

Education: Graduated from Indiana Uni versity with an undergrad uate degree in Spanish and Butler University with a master’s degree in school administration

Occupation: Executive director of enrichment programs for Indianapolis Public Schools City: Lawrence Age: 50

Lived in district: 25 years

Immediate family: Husband: Rich Hast ings; daughters: Mackenzie Edge-Reetz and Gabriela Feeser; Son: Gavin Reetz Website: jessicadunn4msdlt.com

Previous political experience: None Why do you want to run for school board? As an educator and mother of three MSDLT students, I want to give back to the district that has given our family such wonderful educational experiences. While MSDLT is a district that families flock to for a quality education, there is still much work to accomplish. For example, when reviewing the data, our BIPOC students in MSDLT un derperform white students at an alarming rate. I am eager to evaluate the data, cre ate or discover solutions, and amplify our district from good to great.

What are your qualifications for this office? I have dedicated my life to edu cation. My career began as a first grade bilingual teacher in Oakland, Calif., before transitioning into a Spanish world language high school position in Williamsburg, Va. When my youngest was two we relocated to MSDLT. Since resettling in MSDLT I have taught middle school and English as a New Language in local districts. Most recently I have worked with IPS in various positions. As a lifelong educator and mother of chil dren in the district I am keenly aware of the struggles our educators, students and

families encounter. I am well positioned and committed to take them on.

What are your top three campaign is sues? Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have seen a decline in experienced individuals applying for jobs. We need to emphasize hiring and retaining great individuals so that MSDLT does not experience a shortage of staff. In addition, we must critically assess the data to en sure that every student experiences a world class, equitable education. Finally, we must focus on the social and emotional needs of our students and families by investing in and ensuring access to mental health support.

How do you believe public school districts should address diversity, equity and inclusion matters? I applaud the district for their recent work with equity. This is an important first step; however, the board must devise a dashboard to ensure that we are transparently sharing with our community how we are meeting, or not meeting, our goals. We must continually look at our data to determine who our new est neighbors are and how we can meet their needs. Finally, we have to continue to understand the diversity of our district. How are we ensuring that LGBTQIA+, immi grant, refugee and other marginalized com munities are feeling included?

How do you feel about MSDLT Schools’ efforts to address student safety? What changes, if any, would you like to see made? This is an area where I believe MSDLT has done an incredible job! I can’t walk into my daughter’s school without someone coming to greet me. As a board member I would like to see the school level plans to ensure alignment with national standards and protocols. However, at this time I be lieve the current board and superintendent have done an exceptional job.

Has your campaign received any endorsements? None at this time.

Jennifer M. Tursi

Education: Associate degree in legal studies; bachelor’s degree in political sci ence; and I am currently in a graduate de gree program at IUPUI pursuing a Master of Science in criminal justice and public safety.

Occupation: Paralegal

City: Lawrence Age: 33

Dunn

Lived in district: 27 years.

Immediate family: Spouse, Anthony Tursi; children, Cecelia (11) and Sebastian (7).

Website: jennifertis fightingforme.com

Previous political experience: I have not previously held an elected position.

Why do you want to run for school board? I attended Lawrence Township schools, and my children attend Lawrence Township schools. I love my community and the opportunities Lawrence Township has to offer. I believe that every child deserves to live in a community where they can thrive. As a mother to a child with an IEP, I understand the importance of providing additional support for students, parents and teachers, so every student can have the best learning experience and achieve their educational goals.

What are your qualifications for this office? I worked as a substitute teacher, so I have classroom experience. I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate. I have experience and training with children who experienced trauma, have been witness to or experienced abuse and neglect, and/ or have special social, emotional and edu cational needs. I am a certified social and behavioral researcher at Indiana University, and my focus is on adverse childhood expe riences and its effects on crime and juvenile recidivism.

What are your top three campaign issues? I believe in strong civic education; providing the necessary tools and support for each student’s individual social, emo tional, and educational needs; and commu nity involvement.

How do you believe public school dis tricts should address diversity, equity and inclusion matters? Public schools should embrace diversity, equity and inclu sion and put an emphasis on shared experi ences. A person from a different background may experience a situation differently, and when we engage in these conversations, we develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of matters that affect our communities and allow us to address these matters and eradicate unconscious biases.

How do you feel about MSDLT Schools’ efforts to address student safety? What changes, if any, would you like to see made? I like that the front office staff keeps the entrances to the school secure and

background checks need to be on file before an individual can be on campus. Schools can improve on checking identification of an in dividual picking up a student and verifying they are allowed to pick up the student.

Has your campaign received any en dorsements? I have not yet received any endorsements.

Reginald McGregor

Education: BS mech engineering & MBA

Occupation: Engineering City: Indianapolis Age: 58

How long have you resided in your school board district: over 20 yrs

Immediate family: Son and 2 daughters Website: reginaldmcgregor.com

Previous political experience (please include any elected office sought): Only pursued school board

Why do you want to run for school board? Our local involvement is critical to the vitality of our community. Education is a key component to a quality of life. I run to ensuring policies, access and resources are in place to ensure a better education system.

What are your qualifications for this office? Proven industry leader developing Business and education partnerships, Work ing with higher ed and other local and na tional education organization, relationships with our local elected leaders, developing strategic plans, empathetic listener and effective communicator.

What are the top 3 issues that your campaign will focus on? Continuing to em phasize accelerated learning, the teaching profession being recognized as a high wage career and ensuring that teachers, families and students have access to the resources they need to achieve.

How do you believe public school dis tricts should address diversity, equity and inclusion matters? Through policies, awareness, community support actions and accountability.

How can public schools help student test scores reach pre-pandemic levels?

Continue with effective instructional prac tices and knowing that test scores are just one data point. Providing additional tutoring as needed for all.

Has your campaign received any endorsements? Lawrence Education Association

To read more about these candidates, visit youarecurrent.com/2022election.

Welcome,

William Snyder, DO

Noblesville Family Medicine is pleased to welcome Dr. William Snyder to the team. Dr. Snyder prioritizes

having strong doctor-patient relationships with everyone he treats. Due to the often complex nature of medicine, he strives to advocate for his patients so they feel empowered and informed when they make decisions about their health. Dr. Snyder attended medical school at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is board-certified in family medicine.

What do you do for fun?

I enjoy the outdoors, driving all-terrain vehicles and spending time with my family.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Snyder, call 317.773.0002 or visit riverview.org.

Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com

Tursi

McGregor

Meet Indiana Senate District 31 candidates

By Taylor Dixon taylor@youarecurrent.com

Indiana Senate District 31 covers parts of Fishers and Lawrence. The incumbent, Repub lican Kyle Walker, has served District 31 since 2020. His opponent, Jocelyn Vare, became the first Democrat elected to the Fishers City council in 2019. District 31 extends from 146th street to as far as 63rd street and stretches from Atlantic Road to the White River.

Kyle Walker

Age: 45

Education: B.S., Busi ness management, Indiana Wesleyan University

Occupation: Execu tive vice president, MO Strategies

City: Lawrence

Immediate family: Wife, Jennifer. Sons, Chase and Cameron

Previous political experience: City of Lawrence Council, 2004-2008 Website: WalkerForIndiana.com

Why do you want to run for office? I’m running to help strengthen our economy, bring more, good-paying jobs to our region, keep taxes low, reduce the cost of living, increase public safety, support our public schools and improve the quality of life for all residents in the district. As senator, I’ve listened closely to residents, and my votes reflect the majority of residents’ views. I’m dedicated to making a difference and being the most effective voice for residents, fami lies and businesses here.

What are your qualifications for this office? As a small business owner, I un derstand what it takes to start and grow a business. I’m passionate about fostering entrepreneurship, encouraging innovation, and making it easier for businesses to grow and thrive. I also have past experience in local government, working to improve infra structure, drive investment and strengthen our cities. As senator, I authored several successful pieces of legislation that will in crease public safety and strengthen econom ic development and job growth in our region.

What are the top three issues that your campaign will focus on? I’m focused on

delivering common sense leadership for our district. I will continue to support fiscally responsible policies, balanced state budgets and low taxes. I’m also focused on acceler ating economic development and bringing high-paying jobs of the future to our dis trict. Additionally, I’ve led and will continue to lead efforts to strengthen public safety, support and appropriately fund our public schools and improve quality of life in our communities.

What sets you apart from other can didates for this office? I have a proven record of passing legislation in the senate and delivering results for our district. I au thored the second most bills that passed in 2022. I’ve led successful efforts to reduce crime, support law enforcement and first responders and attract investment and de velopment to our region. I’ve also effectively secured funding for programs important to the success of our community, including the IoT Lab in Fishers, which is accelerating local entrepreneurship.

How long have you lived in your dis trict? I’ve lived in what I know to be the past or current boundaries of the district my en tire life except when I was away for college.

Something you want people to know about you? I take my responsibility of rep resenting people seriously. I listen to resi dents then I lead and vote to represent the views of the district. I focus on issues that matter most to people and on actions I can take to make a difference in peoples’ lives. I strive to be a commonsense leader and the most effective voice for our suburban dis trict. I will always prioritize doing the right thing regardless of the consequences.

Jocelyn Vare

Age: 52

Education: B.A., Butler University

Occupation: Founder/owner of Propeller Marketing, a 20-year-old Fishers adver tising agency that specializes in tourism and economic development for Indiana

communities.

City: Fishers

Immediate family: A son (27), a daughter (25) and a dog (shih tzu-poodle).

Walker

Previous political experience: I am an at-large member of the Fishers City Council, elected in 2019.

Website: JocelynVareFo rIndiana.com

Why do you want to run for office? I want to serve you. You may have never voted for a Democrat before. That’s OK. But In diana’s state government has never been this extreme before. Instead of working to improve Hoosiers’ lives, In diana’s GOP supermajority is making life harder for all of us. I am running to provide better representation, real transparency and more balance. As a sensible Democrat with a proven track record of service, I am asking for your support and trust.

What are your qualifications for this office? I’ve been elected by the people of Fishers to serve the community. Now, the entire City of Fishers is in one State Senate district for the first time. You deserve a ded icated, proven voice to represent you in the statehouse. I am proud of my record as a representative who is accessible, engaged, open-minded, inviting and brave enough to stand up to a supermajority when they are too extreme or like to work behind closed doors.

DISPATCHES

LPD is hiring — Open enrollment for the Lawrence Police Dept. opens Oct. 19 with the hopes of hiring new officers by March of 2023. All interest forms must be submitted by Oct. 18 to the Lawrence Police Dept. at midnight and the first 20 eligible submis sions will have the first opportunity to participate.

Mission 22 Run for Hope 5K & 1 Mile — Sun day, October 23, 2022, the Mission 22 Run for Hope 5K & 1 Mile races will be held at the American Legion Department of Indiana in Indianapolis to support veterans with mental health issues. For more informa tion and to register, visit https://secure. getmeregistered.com/get_information. php?event_id=137330.

Trunk or Treat — Lake Meadows Senior As sisted Living will be hosting Trunk or Treat hours on Halloween from 3-5 p.m. at 11570 E. 126 St in Fishers. There will also be a con sume contest with winners in the catego ries of funniest, scariest and most creative.

What are the top three issues that your campaign will focus on? Repeal Indiana’s extreme abortion ban; pass sensible gun legislation, including the repeal of “permit less carry”; strengthen our public schools.

What sets you apart from other candi dates for this office? I will fight to repeal Indiana’s abortion ban. My opponent advo cated to further restrict women’s access to abortion care. I am a designated “Gun Sense Candidate,” which means you can count on me to fight for sensible gun legislation. My opponent is not. I’ll work to strengthen Indiana public schools and ensure that tax payer funds are dedicated to public school needs and addressing the teacher shortage, not funneled into private/charter schools without accountability.

How long have you lived in your dis trict? Twenty-four years

Something you want people to know about you?

If you live in Fishers or Geist and believe that our state needs a course correction, please know that I am the only state senate candidate on your ballot with a record of moderating a supermajority. On Fishers City Council, I have worked with a GOP super majority to deliver solutions for neighbors. I also know how to hold a supermajority accountable when it is out of control.

Lisa Beally, AAMS™, CRPC™ Financial Advisor

7002 Graham Rd Suite 110 Indianapolis, IN 46220-4197 317-899-4764

>

| Member SIPC

Vare

ZCHS No. 2 singles player key to Eagles’ postseason success

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Senior Sebastian Lisiak has been a key contributor to the Zionsville Com munity High School tennis team’s success postseason.

“He had some difficult matches early on, and now he is coming into form,” Eagles coach Earl Allen said. “At No. 2 sin gles, he’s rocking it.”

Lisiak took an 18-7 record into the No. 3 Eagles’ (20-2) match against No. 8 North Central Oct. 14 in the state quarterfinals.

“The issues I’ve been having this sea son mainly consist of struggling to finish points,” said Lisiak, who was unbeaten in the sectional, regional and semistate matches. “I would set up a point really well but miss on the last shot. I’ve also been struggling with my forehand crosscourt. I feel like I’m getting better during the post season. The main thing I’ve been working on is hitting the ball as clean as possible and being patient.”

MEET SEBASTIAN LISIAK

Favorite athlete: Roger Federer

Favorite movie: “Parasite”

Favorite TV shows: “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul”

Lisiak was dominant in his 6-2, 6-0 victory over Terre Haute South’s Vatsal Mannepalli Oct. 8 in the semistate at Center Grove.

Allen said Lisiak has improved in many areas, most importantly his mental game.

The 6-foot-1 Lisiak has been on varsity for three years after playing No. 1 singles on the freshman team. Lisiak was 15-2 at No. 2 singles last season before being sidelined

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by a back injury for most of the 2021 postseason.

Lisiak said his back had healed by the summer, but he was slowed by missing so much time.

“It was mainly during winter and early spring that my back was an is sue causing me to not be able to play in many tournaments,” he said. “This made me basically not be as match tough going into the season as I would have hoped. But I haven’t had any inju ries this season.”

Lisiak started playing tennis when he was around 6 years old.

“I also played a good amount of soc cer but stopped sometime in middle school,” he said.

Lisiak plans to go to Purdue Uni versity to study data science or engineering.

“I plan to play tennis just recreation ally,” Lisiak said.

Lisiak enjoys playing other sports, such as volleyball. He said other hobbies include playing video games and watching informative videos on YouTube.

Zionsville Community High School senior Sebastian Lisiak has been a key contributor in the Eagles’ suc cess this season. (Photo courtesy of Rosemary Papa)

Lisiak

Classes continue amidst continuing renovations at Lawrence North, Lawrence Central

OTHER PROJECTS

Brook Park Elementary, Forest Glen Elementary, Oakland Elementary, Winding Ridge Elementary and two early learning center sites had construction projects completed earlier this year.

Brook Park Elementary and Early Learn ing Center serves about 600 students and completed a nearly $6.7 million renovation in January. The school, which was origi nally constructed in 1960, received a ren ovated entrance, new paint and flooring, updated parking, exterior paint, updates to the front office and upgrades and reno vations of classrooms with the addition of a makerspace. The Early Learning Center received new paint and flooring, updated lighting, new playground equipment, se curity upgrades and a new mothers room.

By Taylor Dixon taylor@youarecurrent.com

Plywood lines the hallways at Lawrence Central and Lawrence North high schools as students attend classes in the midst of major renovations, set to be complete by the end of 2024.

“The students have been very good about living through the construction and navigating that,” Lawrence North principal Brett Crusore said.

The projects are funded through a $220 million capital referen dum approved by voters in 2019. It will help pay for renovations at LCHS, LNHS, Brook Park Elementary, Forest Glen Elementary, Oaklandon Elementary, Winding Ridge Elementary and two other early learning center sites. Approximately $180 million went to projects at the high schools.

“Our constituents and our community believe in our public schools and believe in the students who are attending here,” Crusore said. “Our board of education, (and) our superintendent, value space and value a beautiful campus. We will have the most beautiful high school, and I’m excited about what we will now be able to do with both Lawrence Central and Lawrence North mov ing forward.”

Both schools will receive updates to classrooms, many of which haven’t been updated since the schools were built, said Rodger Smith, MSDLT operations director. The schools are re ceiving a three-story building addition to house core academic classes such as English, math, science and history and new nata toriums to house 50 meter pools.

The three-story building is complete at LCHS. The original build ing is being renovated to house classrooms for elective courses, with the new pool being constructed on the south side of the building along East 56th Street, Bush said.

“Lawrence Central is landlocked, with neighborhoods and everything around us. So there’s really no opportunity for us to continue expanding out,” Bush said. “We ended up gaining more space by (constructing) in and going up.”

Smith said that neither of the schools have previously received renovations at this scale. LNHS, which was built in 1976, has had few upgrades since that time. LCHS, which was built in 1964, un derwent some modifications in the 1990s.

“It was time to do some major renovations to these build ings,” Smith said. “Every space in those buildings will be touched through this renovation. So we redesigned certain spaces and really made it so that it meets the needs of today’s curriculum.”

Students at LCHS have already seen some big changes. Smith said that the schools are working with different timelines, as LCHS already has its three-story building expansion but LNHS is twice as far along in constructing its pool. Work is expected to be complete at LCHS in the fall of 2024, with work wrapping up clos er to the end of 2024 at LNHS.

“We have students who take some classes at Lawrence Cen tral, so the students who have been to see what it looks like over there are just extremely excited,” Crusore said.

Crusore said construction and limited space has led to traffic jams during passing periods. He said the plan is for LNHS stu dents to move into the new three-story building by the start of the next semester on Jan. 4, 2023.

Upgrades also include increased safety measures, Crusore said. Each hallway at both high schools will be able to be locked down as well as being widened. There are also new LED lights and additional staircases.

The renovations are rejuvenating a sense of pride in the com munity, Bush said.

“We have way more multipurpose spaces instead of just wast ed dead spaces in our building,” Bush said. “I’m most excited about the access that our students and our families now have to this building.”

Learn more at ltschools.org/services/business-finance/ referendum.

ON THE COVER: LNHS prepares to tear down its main office and front of its building to add on a three-story structure that is expected to be completed by January 2023. (Photo by Taylor Dixon)

Forest Glen Elementary School of Span ish Immersion, which was built in 1994 and houses about 800 students, received $7.4 million in upgrades. Improvements in clude an updated entrance, new paint and flooring, renovated classrooms, addition of administrative spaces and the addition of a makerspace.

Oaklandon Elementary, constructed in 1974, serves about 520 students and saw previous renovations in 1999. The work at Oaklandon included an updated entrance, new paint and flooring, updated parking, front office renovation, addition of a mother’s room, addition of administrative spaces, renovation of food services and the renovation and relocation of class rooms to include a makerspace.

Winding Ridge Elementary was built in 2004 and received $4.3 million in updates, including a new entrance, new paint and flooring, updated parking, a front office renovation, addition of a mother’s room, renovation of food services, addition of administrative spaces and the renovation and relocation of classrooms to include a makerspace.

Amy Beverland and Mary Castle early learning centers received renovations. These projects totaled approximately $2.5 million and included security upgrades, new paint and flooring, updated light ing, a new playground, the addition of a mother’s room and new freezer/cooler equipment.

An artist rendering of what LCHS will look like once completed. (Render ing provided by MSDLT)

An artist rendering of what LNHS will look like once completed. (Render ing provided by MSDLT)

Watch out for wolves

Commentary by Terry Anker

For all of the shortcomings of our mod ern age, we enjoy many benefits. Today rarely finds us beating our clothing upon a rock, hoping to dislodge from it the many mites the garment had accumulat ed since its last annual washing. Most simply walk the aisles of vast super markets to collect nourishment for our bodies rather than hitching oxen to plow and tend to fields hoping to someday eat. And parents are unlikely concerned about wolves lurking as their children venture outside for play.

Comfort and safety bring innumerable pleasures. We relax, resting upon the accomplishments of our forebearers and ourselves, assured that danger is long since eradicated by our own supe rior intelligence and blocking from our collective memory the suffering of the past. We rewrite the narrative to over confidently boast of our triumph over the wolf.

Perhaps we are right in our hubris and deserving of the bragging rights. But could it be that the wolf is still there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for us to lower our guard? Are our chil dren safe from a different but equally dangerous predator? Will a drug dealer in their classroom lure them into the woods? Will socially inspired sloth lead them to miss their potential? Will cir cumstances leave them vulnerable to countless threats, many nearly impossi ble to predict or undo?

Even as we celebrate the eradication of old threats do we overlook the new ones emerging? Do we have an endless affirmative responsibility to identify and shine light upon what we imagine to be developing concerns, or can we stop looking once we’ve overcome the first?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Freedom of an empty nest

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

Well folks, I’m two months into my glorious stint as an empty nester, and I. Am. Thriving. I love it so much I can almost forget the horrors of being a stay-at-home mom for nine years and a working mother for 14. “Horrors” may be a bit strong, but keeping four offspring safe and warm and out of jail was ex hausting – emotionally, physically, and mentally.

With the last one finally away at col lege, that giant weight of constant par enting is gone. Woohoo! This introvert has truly found her happy place.

My husband Doo? Less so. Partly be cause he’s an extravert who has always been energized by interaction with our children, especially as they’ve grown older, but also because he was never as focused on the minutiae of their day-today existence as I was. At any moment I could have told you where everyone was, what they were doing and with whom, and what they would inevitably need. I felt maybe not entirely respon sible but certainly fully aware of all aspects of their lives, from friends and fears to food and footwear.

Doo, on the other hand, was able to maximize the joy of fatherhood while minimizing the stress of it. And now when he arrives home, instead of find ing a son or daughter with whom he can chat and laugh and generally engage, he sees me, perfectly content on the couch playing online Sudoku in beautiful silence until I cheerfully bid goodnight at 8:30 p.m.

POLICIES

— ALEXANDER POPE

Poor Doo. He misses his fun kids, and his boring wife is a poor substitute. But at least one of us is thriving in this empty nest!

Peace out.

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 letters@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.

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.

To err is human; to forgive, divine.

Snazzy way to nap in airports

We had just landed at LAX, excited about our vacation. I saw a man in the termi nal, head slumped over, legs draped over his carry-on bag. What caught my attention was the odd blanket covering his head and chest. Only his nose was visible.

Sacking out in airports has become com monplace. Canceled flights, airlines that won’t spring for ho tels and long delays between connections all contribute to the need to toss and turn right alongside the tarmac.

A web site, sleepinginair ports.net, offers tips for people who get stuck overnight between flights. Apparently, what he was wearing is called The Snazzy Napper (at least, that’s what he told me when I woke him up). This is a solution for travelers who have desperately sought a flattering way to position themselves while sleeping at the airport or in their seats aboard the aircraft. Now, you can scrunch and contort any humiliating which-way. Drool and scratch to your heart’s con tent: the Snazzy Napper will protect your identity.

This colorful piece of cloth fully covers your head and neck like a burqa, admittedly not the most inconspicuous garb at airports nowadays. The Snazzy Napper has one hole for your nose, or, if you have a cold, you can mouth-breathe there. You could place your eye or ear in the aperture, but you might suffocate, a minor design flaw casually referenced on the warning label. It also says not to drive a car or operate machin

ery while using their product, especially if you feel drowsy — which I thought was the whole reason to wear the thing.

When the item was first introduced, it was a big hit. But there were critics. One woman threatened a lawsuit, not because it didn’t work, but because it did. She caught some great zzz’s as her purse, iPhone and carry-on luggage were all stolen during her snoozefest.

QUALITY PRODUCTS, EXPERT INSTALLATION GUARANTEED!

SINCE 1993 QUALITY PRODUCTS, EXPERT INSTALLATION GUARANTEED!

– DICK WOLFSIE

One couple tried theirs on in the car be fore they left for the airport. They missed their flight, having lost precious minutes convincing a police officer that they were not on their way to a bank heist. Another guy was annoyed that the product didn’t come with a more complete set of instructions, which is odd: All you have to do is find the hole in the blanket and then stick your nose through it.

Folks who called The Snazzy Napper hotline were surprised that no one an swered. Considering the product they’re hawking, it’s easy to conjure up a good mental image of what was going on in their call center.

Mary Ellen tried to order me a Snazzy Napper, because on our flight home, I snored, drooled and fidgeted in my seat. Luckily, it’s no longer available, so I’ll never have to drape myself in that contraption, but I only avoided it by a nose.

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

BATHROOMS

BATHROOMS

BATHROOMS

COMPOSITE DECK & RAILINGS

BATHROOMS

QUALITY PRODUCTS, EXPERT INSTALLATION GUARANTEED!

SINCE 1993 QUALITY PRODUCTS, EXPERT INSTALLATION GUARANTEED!

REMODELERS

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

Drool and scratch to your heart’s content: the Snazzy Napper will protect your identity.

Fishers residents open state’s first Cinnaholic vegan bakery

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Sanya Strawser was seeking an invest ment of some sort, but not necessarily a franchise.

DESSERT

Then while in Westfield, N.J., she and her husband, David Strawser, parked across the street from a Cinnaholic bakery. They were in stantly sold on the concept of the plantbased, allergen-friendly cinnamon rolls and other desserts.

“The name was attractive. We went in and found out it was 100 percent vegan, which means no dairy, no egg,” Sanya said. “We have some allergies. We tried it, and it was spectacular. So, I reached out to them. Fourteen days later, we signed up, and that was an investment. Eight-and-a-half months later, here we are open.”

The first Cinnaholic in Indiana opened Sept. 30 at 1350 S. Range Line Road in Car mel. The Strawsers, who live in Fishers, co-own the franchise with their neighbor, Manjit Kaur, who owns several area gas stations. David is a director of engineer sup port for Carmel-based Bastian Solutions.

“I will definitely give the store my time and do a shift here and there,” Sanya said. “There is a lot of back-end management I do myself. I will not be hiring anyone. I will be doing the business part of it. Right now, I’m very plugged in because, first of all, we are brand new, and I have to get a handle on what the business is, and second, there is just an immense shortage of workers, so we haven’t been able to get fully staffed.”

Strawser owns People Factor, an orga nization development consulting firm. She is working on finishing her doctorate from

Cinnaholic sells vegan cinnamon rolls, edible cookie dough, brownies and other sweet treats. (Photo courtesy of Cinnaholic)

Grand Canyon University in Arizona.

Cinnaholic’s cinnamon rolls have more than 20 frosting flavors and more than 20 topping choices. Other desserts include ed ible cookie dough, brownies, cookies, “Cin nacakes” and Dole’s signature gluten-free, dairy-free soft serve.

“This just became the perfect opportu nity. It checked out all of my boxes,” Sanya said. “I didn’t want to go every 2 miles and there’s (a store). That was not a goal.”

Cinnaholic, based in Atlanta, and has grown rapidly the past two years with more than 70 stores in the United States and Can ada and more than 30 more in development. Fifty more are anticipated to open in 2023.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

How to tackle turf toe

Commentary by Dr. David Sullivan

fractures.

Now that football season is back, you may have heard sports commentators talking about turf toe. While it affects football players, turf toe can happen to anyone involved in sports activities. Partici pants in soccer, basketball, wrestling, gym nastics and dance are especially at risk.

PODIATRY

Turf toe is a sprain to the largest joint of the big toe and happens when the big toe joint is overextended. Often, this overexten sion occurs because the toe gets pushed forward too often. This injury can build up gradually over time. It gets worse without treatment, especially when you remain ath letically active. That’s why it’s important to recognize turf toe symptoms.

Turf toe causes pain, and often bruising may be noticeable at the bottom of the big toe. With severe injuries, the toe could even dislocate. It may hurt to walk, and the toe could feel stiff and show signs of limited mobility. Without treatment, symptoms will worsen, and the risk for future injury will increase. Usually diagnosed with a physical exam, an X-ray may be necessary to rule out

We’ll recommend rest and icing. Elevating the foot can reduce swelling and anti-in flammatory medications can offer pain relief. It’s also important to keep the big toe from moving while it heals. We may immobi lize your toe with taping. You’ll also need to change footwear, choosing stiff-soled shoes to prevent too much pressure on your toes.

In rare cases, surgery may be needed. But that’s more likely if the injury extends be yond the big toe joint or affects the plantar plate, which keeps the big toe stable. This is because turf toe and plantar plate inju ries can destabilize the entire foot. We will likely recommend a walking boot so you can stay mobile without hurting your recovery.

Don’t let the fear of downtime keep you from coming in. Instead, remember this: the sooner you come in, the less damage you’ll inflict on your toe.

A board-certified foot surgeon and wound specialist, Dr. David Sullivan is the owner of Westfield Foot and Ankle, LLC. Contact him at drs@ westfieldfoot.com.

DISPATCH

Dangers of juicing — Making your own juice from fresh fruits and veggies can be a healthy choice for many people. There is a risk, however, of getting an overdose of sugar. Removing the juice (and sugar) from the fiber of the fruit makes the sugar content more concentrated. A good rule of thumb is to use a rotating variety of greens as the base of your juice with only one serving of fruit. This will keep the sugar content much lower.

Souce: Naturalon.com

Get started running – Want to start run ning but are so out of shape you don’t know how to begin? Couch to 5K is a free app that takes you through an eight-week program designed to build up your endurance and stamina. It’s a great way to get started if you’ve never tried running. Available for iOS and Android.

Source: Greatist.com

Natural appetite suppressant – Research shows that a spinach extract, called Ap pethyl, can significantly reduce cravings and snacking. A teaspoon per day was given to women in the study and they lost

43 percent more weight than women in the placebo group. Appethyl is available online as spinach extract in powder or capsule form.

Source: BottomLineHealth.com

New radiation technique – For patients with cancer of the left breast, radiation therapy can be dangerous because it ex poses the heart and lungs to radiation. New research shows that holding one’s breath during radiation can push those organs out of the way and protect them. A machine assists with the process, so the patient breathes properly.

Source: Practical Radiation Oncology

Moving for better health – Sitting for most of the day is terrible for your health, raising your risk for diabetes, obesity, high choles terol and high blood pressure. For better health, try to get up and do some light ac tivity several times a day, even if you have a sedentary job. Moving around triggers blood flow, clears glucose from the blood and breaks down triglycerides.

Source: BottomLineHealth.com

currentnightandday.com

GHDT’s ‘There’s No Place Like Home’ returns

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Gregory Hancock often reaches into his repertoire to bring back a favorite.

The Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre executive artistic director doesn’t always bring a production back the following year, but he decided to do so with “There’s No Place Like Home,” which debuted in October 2021. The storyline, with a “Wizard of Oz” theme, is an autobiographical tale of how Hancock was moved by visiting India.

The Carmel-based Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre production is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 28-29 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. One of the main reasons Hancock decided to include it in the 25th season celebration was at the request of two board members.

“(They) were moved by the piece and were fascinated to see India through my eyes and my personal story come to life on stage,” he said. “While the dance is autobiographical, there is the universal struggle to find meaning and understand ing in our journey through life with all its triumphs and tragedies. During the past few years, I have intentionally made my work more personal, but by doing so it also makes me extremely vulnerable. While last year I left some aspects of the work open to the interpretation of the audience, this year I have added more intention and thus made the story more personal and emotional.”

The Carmel resident said the response from audiences and critics last season to “There’s No Place Like Home” was over whelming, so it made sense to give more people an opportunity to see it.

“The energy of each performance is uniquely different, and our work typically has multiple layers to the performance, so each viewing brings a new and fresh experience,” Hancock said. “One of the nice things about presenting repertoire is the ability to continue to enhance the work from the original presentation. These enhancements are usually in the form of contributions to the emotional impact of the narrative of the production. When

dancers repeat pieces, they can inhabit their characters and the choreography in stronger ways. They have a deeper under standing of the emotional aspects of the piece and the intention of the choreogra phy and character.”

Hancock said most dancers are per forming in the same role with some minor changes.

Company dancer Thomas Mason, a Carmel resident, returns in the role of a young Hancock.

“Last year the experience of learning the choreography and hearing the stories

was extremely special,” Mason said. “How ever, what makes this time more special is being able to dig deeper into my character to tell the story even stronger this time.”

Company dancer Abigail Lessaris, Ma son’s fiancee, said the story evokes pow erful emotions. Lessaris plays the roles of Mother India, Mother Ganges, Saraswati, Buddha and Hanuman. The roles all repre sent Hancock’s mother, Florence Hancock, who died in 2014.

“It is truly a journey of finding oneself, and finding your family in this world,” Lessaris said. “It is a timeless story that anyone can relate to in their own personal way.”

Lessaris said one of the biggest chal lenges of the show is the incorporation of different styles of dance. The choreogra phy is influenced by Bollywood, Bhangra, Kathak and many other forms of Indian dance styles, she said.

“The costumes are ornate, the backdrop is stunning, the lighting is fantastic and the choreography is athletic and exciting,” Lessaris said. “The extravagance of this performance is food for your eyes.”

For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’

“The Addams Family” runs through Nov. 20 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianap olis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

‘RENT’

Civic Theatre’s production of “Rent” runs through Oct. 22 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.

‘CARELESS LOVE’

Madeleine Peyroux will perform songs from her album “Careless Love” and Paula Cole will perform songs from her album “This Fire” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carm el. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘ONE DARK NIGHT’

Guitarist Nick Zaza will present his show “One Dark Night… A Rock Symphony of the Macabre” at 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Car mel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

ANGELIQUE KIDJO

Singer/songwriter Angelique Kidjo will per form at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carm el. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

’TICK, TICK … BOOM’

The Carmel Community Players will present the musical “Tick, Tick … Boom” through Oct. 23 at The Switch Theatre in Fishers. For more, visit carmelplayers.org

‘BILLY STRITCH: CY COLEMAN REVISITED’

ATI Live! Presents “Billy Stritch — Cy Coleman Revisited” is set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more feinsteinshc.com.

‘TIME TO LOVE AGAIN’

Nicole Henry’s performance of “Time to Love Again” is set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-22 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more feinsteinshc.com.

PEANUT BUTTER & JAM: DORIN

The Peanut Butter & Jam series will present pop and indie rock band Dorin at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 22 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

Abigail Lessaris performs in “There’s No Place Like Home.” (Photo by Vernon Jones)

Thomas Mason performs the role of a younger Gregory Hancock. (Photo by Joe Phillips)

Candlelight Theatre hosts play

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

productions that use the presidential site to its fullest capacity in presenting salon-style theater.”

PRODUCTION

Since Indianapolis is the Crossroads of America, Candlelight Theatre’s playwright in residence James Trofatter figures the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is a good place for ghosts to converge.

Donna Wing, Candlelight Theatre’s creative director and a Geist-area resident, plays Tabitha, an accused witch from Maine, who leads the audience on a geographical journey stop ping in places such as Philadelphia, San Antonio and Denver in “The Haunted States of America” at the Benjamin Harrison Presi dential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St., Indianapo lis. The play was set to begin Oct. 14-15 and will continue Oct. 21-22 and 28-29.

Noblesville resident Ann Richards, an onair personality at B105.7. plays Lizzie, wife of Dr. William Reddick Whitehead, a battlefield surgeon who might have helped his patients die.

Richards

“I’ve loved getting to be a part of their fall and holiday productions,” Richards said. “I’ve played every thing from the Christmas Spider to the wife of a president, a lady who dressed as a man so that she could fight in the Civil War, and one of the witch es in a scene from ‘MacBeth’ in this show.”

Westfield resident Peter Fowle portrays Dr. Francis Turner, an osteopath in the early 20th century in Savannah, Ga., and owner of The Hamilton-Turner Inn, which is consid ered haunted.

“A fun fact is that each of the 50 states is mentioned in the play in some fashion,” Wing said. “Each Halloween, Candlelight The atre presents a ghostly or macabre produc tion among the ambience and furnishings of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. I like that I have the creativity to design

“I have several minutes where I do not have any lines, so the challenge is to not stand like a statue waiting for my next line but also not to be so busy that I distract from the main action,” he said.

For more, visit bhpsite.org/events/ hauntedstatesofamerica/

Actress reprises role of Morticia

By Edward Redd editorial@youarecurrent.com

Audrey Larkin is eager to return to the stage as one of her favorite characters. Larkin will reprise the role of Morticia in Carmel Apprentice The atre’s production of “The Addams Family” from Oct. 27 to Nov. 13 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. Larkin previously played the role in the acting company’s 2018 production of the musical comedy.

PLAY

“I grew up on ‘The Addams Family.’ Morti cia was always amazing,” Larkin said.

Larkin said she appreciates Morticia’s confidence and that she is proud of who she is and having a partner who loves ev erything about her. Larkin said a lot of love is shown in the Addams family being true to themselves.

Larkin is a Baldwin Wallace University graduate who specialized in writing and theater. Larkin, who is the production man ager for The Cat, grew up in Carmel and lives in Westfield.

“I’ve been involved with the Carmel Ap prentice Theater, which is the program that is all inclusive, since they started,” Larkin

said. “It’s our fifth anniversary. The Cat opened in 2017.”

Indianapolis resident Sarah Gasper, who has Down syndrome, appears in the show. Larkin said Gasper’s favorite show is “The Addams Family.”

“She’s been to probably over a hundred productions,” Larkin said. “I just want peo ple to come to the show and see how joyful she is when she’s dancing as one of the ancestors.”

Larkin said the “The Addams Family” is about embracing yourself, no matter how obscure it is to other people. In doing that, it inspires others, she said.

For more, visit thecat.biz.

Audrey Larkin, who plays Morticia, and Jonathan “JB” Scoble, who plays Gomez, appear in “The Addams Family: A New Musical.” (Pho to courtesy of Audrey Larkin)

Third annual Juried Exhibit of Hamilton County Artists winners honored are, from left, Jerry Mannell, Best in Show winner; Jack Garrett, Fishers Jiffy Lube of Indiana general manag er, and front, from left, Shakila Garugu, third place; Abigail Staffelbach, second place; Laura Villanyi, Fishers Arts Council board president; and Maeve Asano, first place. (Photo courtesy of Fishers Arts Council)

Fishers Arts Council honors county winners

editorial@youarecurrent.com

The Fishers Arts Council honored winners of its third annual Juried Exhibit of Hamilton County Artists during a Sept. 9 reception. As in the two previous years, Jiffy Lube of Indiana was the art competi tion’s major sponsor, and Fishers Jiffy Lube General Manager Jack Garrett welcomed artists and guests and presented awards.

RECOGNITION

The Jiffy Lube of Indiana Best in Show winner was Carmel resident Jerry Mannell for his painting, “Tremors.” Mannell received an award of $850 and the following com ment from the show’s judge, Terry Lacy: Mannell’s painting “is contemplative and reminds me of reading a poem or listening to a song that crystallizes a relationship between the viewer and the art.”

The first-place winner, Maeve Asano, a former Carmel resident who now lives in Fort Wayne, received an award of $650 for her work “Maude’s Wonder,” which tells an “unfolding story” within the painting. The second-place award of $475 was given to Abigail Staffelbach, Fishers, for her dream like, fairy-tale piece, “Bleeding Heart,” and the third-place finisher was “Eternal Bond” and $350 to Shakila Garugu, Fishers, for her painting of a beautiful child. All winners were selected by Lacy.

There was also stiff competition for the People’s Choice award, with patrons voting on Facebook and in-person in the gallery. The winner was Fishers resident Jeremy Mallov, a Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township art teacher. Malloy’s work “Guadalupe Hills” received the most overall votes and a $100 cash prize.

Where’s Amy?

Amy Pauszek is a photographer, award-winning film producer and scouting and casting associate for Talent Fusion Agency in Indianapolis. She can be reached at Amy@ youarecurrent.com. To see more of her photos, visit currentnightandday.com.

Where’s Amy attends Civic Theatre’s ‘Rent’

Krissy Oeff (Geist), left, and Civic Theatre communications manager Christine Carlisle (Carmel) attend Civic Theatre’s “Rent” Oct. 9 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The talented cast had the audience’s attention from start to finish with a well-deserved standing ovation. The set, lighting, music and choreography were outstanding, and this was one of the best shows I’ve attended. Do not miss this show that runs until Oct. 22. Civic has so many wonderful productions coming up including “A Christmas Story: The Musical” from Dec. 2 to 24. For more, visit civictheatre.org. (Photo by Amy Pauszek)

Plenty of chorizo choices

Commentary by Mark LaFay

Let’s talk about chorizo. There are many great chorizos (a type of pork sausage) to be had in the world. You may or may not know that the origin of chorizo is Spanish. That is not to say that all chorizo is Spanish. In-fact, there are numerous types of chorizos (whether it is called chorizo or not) that can be found all throughout the new world.

say they are raw and must be cooked. Spain also blessed the world with a dry-cured chorizo. We think of this type of sausage as salami thanks to the ubiquitous nature of Italian culture.

CHARCUTERIE

Dried Spanish chorizo is a real treat. The best of the best types of Spanish chorizo are made with Iberico pork.

Mexico has several types of regional cho rizos that are red or green. The same goes for Argentina, where it is often found in links on buns covered in chimichurri. Chile has chorizo called “longaniza.” Peru has a chorizo that is fried and crumbled. Hondu ran chorizo is similar to Peruvian in that it uses green pepper and garlic, among other things.

Spanish chorizo and Argentinian chorizo are the most alike because they are pork sausages with paprika, a touch of garlic and maybe some black pepper.

Now, what all of these chorizos have in common is that they are fresh. That is to

Coro is a delicious salami made by a com pany called Salumi out of Seattle. This is a delicious salami that is made with cocoa, cinnamon, and chipotle peppers. It has a delicious savory, spicy flavor that is bal anced nicely with the richness of the pork and the cocoa.

The next time you dust off your char cuterie platter, included a dry-cured chorizo salami. There are several to choose from, and it’s the exploration of new foods that makes charcuterie so much fun.

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4011 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis.

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Blueprint for Improvement: Sleek and stylish Carmel living room

After

Built in 1992 in downtown Carmel, this home’s owners were ready to transform their dated liv ing room into a modern and sophisticated space.

THE BLUEPRINT

The nondistinctive fireplace now makes a sophisticated statement, with chic floor-toceiling tile and a custom gas insert for easy operation.

• Grass cloth wallpaper pairs perfectly with the sleek fireplace tile, adding texture and modern style.

The first floor flows seamlessly by replacing wall-to-wall carpet with luxury vinyl plank flooring that gives the appearance of wood but with easy upkeep.

• The new island features a unique custom curved support that serves as a stylish transition piece between the living room and kitchen.

Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.

Become a volunteer today

Riverview Health is looking for volunteers to join its great team. Some of the many volunteer service areas include patient transport, guest services and the gift shop. Shifts are available in the morning or afternoon, at least one day per week, Monday-Friday.

If you’re interested in volunteering at Riverview Health in Noblesville or Westfield, please contact the manager of Volunteer Services, Melinda Nash, at 317.776.7236 or mnash@riverview.org. You can also scan the QR code to download an application.

Before

Commentary by Larry Greene

A grammar horror story

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

fusion or misinterpretation.

My general rule is: use commas sparingly. Pretend they’re shotgun shells and you’re trying to survive in a zombie apocalypse. Ac cording to AP, “If a comma doesn’t help make clear what is being said, don’t use it.”

GRAMMAR GUY

On days like this, kids in costumes aren’t the only spooky things in the neigh borhood. Did you know commas can save innocent lives? I wanted to avoid controversial sub jects like killing in this column, but here we are discussing the only two certain ties in life: death and punctuation.

In today’s article, I’m going to settle the Oxford comma debate once and for all. How’s that for a bold statement?

Suppose I wanted to list a few (three, to be precise) of my favorite things. I could say: I like eating, children and small ani mals. That was intended to read as a list of three things — not a list of one thing followed by examples (although I’ve heard squirrel bacon is excellent)! Most people think the Oxford comma (a.k.a. the serial, series or Harvard comma) is at odds with the AP Stylebook. I’m not sure if this will come as a trick or a treat to you, but the AP Stylebook actually makes clear that it’s perfectly appropriate to use an Oxford comma when doing so helps to avoid con

Hopefully this nuanced take on the comma controversy provides a diacritical middle ground for the two feuding punc tuation parties. I’m not naive enough to assume I will be able to change anyone’s mind on a polarizing topic such as this; I merely wanted to illustrate how two opposing factions can (theoretically) peacefully coexist. I know, I know, you probably think this is a not-so-subtle way of addressing the age-old rivalry between vampires and werewolves. For the record, you are correct. I believe in a world in which vampires and werewolves can — and do — get along.

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

A visit to Harvard University

Commentary by Don Knebel

Today, on our return from Cape Cod, we stop by Harvard University, where I studied 50 years ago.

RAKING LEAVES

TRAVEL

In 1636, the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Col ony appropriated £400 to establish “Newe College,” the first institution of higher education in the colonies, with a goal of training Puritan ministers. The college was in Newe Town, a new settlement along the Charles River, now known as Cambridge, about 3 miles northwest of Boston. In 1638, John Harvard, a recent immigrant from England, died childless and left £780, half of his estate, and his 400-volume library to the college, subsequently renamed “Harvard College” in his honor. President Charles W. Eliot, who served between 1869 and 1909, eliminated the Christian orientation of Har vard, creating a modern research university. During Eliot’s term, Harvard dedicated a bronze statue of a seated John Harvard with a book in his lap, his face based on that of a Harvard student.

Since its founding, Harvard graduates have had an important impact on the nation. Eight

ANSWERS

Harvard graduates have become presidents of the United States, 21 have become jus tices of the U.S. Supreme Court and 161 have won Nobel Prizes. Harvard living graduates include 188 billionaires, more than twice as many as second-place Stanford.

Today, Harvard University is among the world’s preeminent educational institutions. Its main campus comprises 209 acres in Cambridge. The center of the campus is Har vard Yard, the oldest part of the university, containing most of the first-year dormito ries and Harvard’s most important libraries, collectively including more than 20 million items. The statue of John Harvard now sits in Harvard Yard in front of University Hall. Seeking good luck, visitors rub the toe of his left boot, making it perpetually shiny. Eight million people each year visit nearby Harvard Square, a bustling center of dining, public discourse and culture.

Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. (Photo by Don Knebel)

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

TREE

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NOW HIRING

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A PART – TIME DENTAL ASSISTANT JOB?

We are currently seeking for a front and back part-time dental assistant who is energetic friendly and organized for a dental practice in Fishers IN. that provides excellent individualized dental care to all our patients.

Applicants must have strong work ethic, at least a year of experience and X-ray certification.

We work Tuesdays to Thursdays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Fridays 8:00 – 12:00 pm. To schedule an interview, send resume with contact information to: bfsdental @gmail.com or fax it to: (317) 845-7566

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR SKILLED CARPENTERS!

Looking for job security? Simpson Construction Services has so much work that it must hire five people for residential remodeling NOW. The skilled carpenters we select will have strong abilities in bathroom remodeling, but also with respect to kitchens, decks, basements, wood and tile flooring, doors and windows, interior and exterior painting, drywall, plumbing and electrical, siding and room additions.

Again: Only skilled carpenters need apply. For immediate consideration, call Gary Simpson at 317.703.9575.

HIRING

HIRING

UPSCALE HOTEL AND SPA FOR DOG SEEKS ADDITIONAL STAFF:

Hotel /daycare attendant, Bather, Groomer & Front desk. Full time and part time positions available. 18 or older.

Our staff works as a team and we require a team minded spirit, client satisfaction driven, detail oriented, professional, and a dog loving candidates.

If you meet this criterion, we want to hear from you.

Email your resume to: Kim@happydoghotelandspa.com

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SHOP TO CALL HOME?

Integrity Automotive is looking for a full time automotive technician. In business for 28 years in downtown Carmel with a solid, happy customer base and a positive, goodnatured work environment.

The best candidate is a motivated, well-organized technician with at least three years hands on experience in automotive diagnosis, problem-solving and repair. Able to interpret and apply diagnostic/repair information from computerized databases and other sources. Also able communicate clearly and effectively with your supervisor, your fellow employees and, as needed, with customers. A complete job description is available with a request to frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net.

We offer competitive pay with a Monday through Friday work week and (after 90 days) up to four sick/personal days per year and paid holidays.

To schedule an interview, send your resume with contact information to: frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net 40 S Rangeline Rd Carmel Indiana 46032 www.IntegrityAutomotive.net

A new level of cancer care.

Introducing Community Health Network MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership committed to eliminating cancer in the state of Indiana, and beyond.

For almost a decade, Community has been a member of MD Anderson Cancer Network. And this next step in our collaboration makes Community Health Network just the sixth partner in the country and the first partner in the Midwest.

Community MD Anderson combines the exceptional cancer care that Community already offers with better access, greater options, and a more robust connection to one of the nation’s top cancer centers, MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Let’s start the journey together at eCommunity.com/cancer