June 11, 2024 — Lawrence/Geist

June 11, 2024

TO HAVE CURRENT DELIVERED TO YOUR PHONE

IRISH TRADITION

Gaelic sports organization plays in Lawrence, plans international tournament / P12

Geist property owners hope to establish conservancy district / P2 Lawrence continues trades district plans / P5

Council OKs new all-way stop/ P6

LEEWARD SECTIONAL

7 Piece Set: 1 Sectional (4 pcs), 1 Swivel Chair, 1 End Table, 1 Cocktail Table $15,186

1 Sofa, 2 Swivel Chairs, 1 Bunching

Current in Lawrence/Geist

About us

Founded Jan. 27, 2015, at Fishers, IN Vol. X, No. 18

Copyright 2023

Current Publishing, LLC

All Rights Reserved.

30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032

317.489.4444

Contact the editor

Have a news tip, calendar item or photo to share?

Contact Managing Editor Leila Kheiry at leila@youarecurrent.com or call 317.489.4444 ext. 804. You also may submit information at geistcurrent. Our print deadline is eight days prior to publication. Submissions for online accepted daily.

Share your thoughts

Letters to the editor may be sent for consideration to letters@youarecurrent.com. Letters have a maximum word count of 300 words. Please include your city of residence and a contact phone number for verification. Current Publishing may refuse letters.

Advertise your business

If you’re interested in reaching the Lawrence/Geist market (14,974 households), you may obtain more information by emailing ads@youarecurrent.com (subject: Lawrence/Geist advertising) or by calling 317.748.2662.

Obituaries obits@youarecurrent.com

Legal advertising legals@youarecurrent.com

Delivery questions

circulation@youarecurrent.com

Join our community facebook.com/currentingeist x.com/youarecurrent instagram.com/youarecurrent

Opinions

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

Geist Marina or 79th & Sunnyside

THANKS D D

Geist property owners hope to establish conservancy district

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

A group of Geist Reservoir property owners is in the process of creating a Geist Conservancy District, with the aim of maintaining the body of water with more extensive algae treatments, dredging and sediment control.

CONSERVATION

The Geist Coalition is a volunteer organization that was formed about 20 years ago. Program Director Joni Forestal said the group is spearheading the effort to form the conservancy district, which would have a board of directors and the ability to set a tax rate and create a budget for maintaining the reservoir.

“A reservoir’s life expectancy is about 150 years if no one maintains it,” she said. “I don’t know the exact year that Geist was formed — in the 1940s, I believe. So, we’re coming up on that.”

Geist Reservoir first opened in 1943. It was developed by the Indianapolis Water Co., led by then-owner Clarence Geist. It is now owned by Citizens Energy Group, which provides water to the Indianapolis area.

Citizens Coordinator of Media Affairs Benjamin Easley said in an email exchange that Citizens’ focuses on supplying water and ensuring its quality for customers.

“The costs of maintenance are borne by our customers at rates established by the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission and must therefore have a direct benefit for our water customers,” he said.

Easley said Citizens has spent millions of dollars dredging the inlet area of Geist Reservoir east of Olio Road, most recently in 2018. The City of Fishers also conducted some dredging in 2020, he said, and added that water storage capacity at Geist has not changed significantly in recent years.

“Citizens also closely monitors all its water supply sources for vegetation and algae,” Easley said. “If the presence of

The Geist Coalition arranges weekly algae treatment for donors during summer months, an effort that would be expanded to the entire waterfront if formation of the Geist Conservancy District is successful. (Photo courtesy of the Geist Coalition)

these would impact drinking water quality or satisfaction, Citizens will chemically treat the reservoir (per Indiana Department of Environmental Management guidelines) to avoid such impacts.”

But, Easley said, the company doesn’t perform dredging or algae treatment to improve recreational boating or aesthetics in front of private property.

Forestal said the coalition arranges weekly algae treatments during the summer months for property owners who request it — and pay for it.

“It’s a voluntary contribution that homeowners make if they want their water treated in front of their house,” she said. “It is $1,250, and it’s not as effective because the wind and the waves carry it (away). If everyone is required to pay, costs will be less (per property).”

Dredging to remove sediment that builds up over time is another concern and a much more expensive one.

Coalition member Keith Mathews said sediment is carried in by various creeks that feed the reservoir. Some of the shallower locations close to those creeks have, at most, a foot of water, he said.

“There’s community docks there that are basically sitting on ground,” he said, add-

ing that individual property owners now have to pay for any dredging.

If the conservancy district is able to form, he said, the board could set a budget that could help with dredging. Even better, Mathews said, would be to install catch basins.

“Catch all that stuff before gets to the reservoir,” he said. “And then there’ll be a process to clean out the catch basins. So, if you’re asking me personally, I think catch basins will be a priority. Then you dredge, because if you dredge without catch basins — a year later, you have the same issue.”

Like everything else, catch basins are expensive.

The conservancy district’s proposed budget is $2 million a year, with most of the revenue coming from a property tax. A home assessed at $1 million would pay about $400 a year, according to the GCD website. There also is a proposed motorized watercraft permit fee for all users — $125 a year for residents of the district and $250 a year for nonresidents.

Forestal said they hope to have enough signatures from property owners to establish the new Geist Conservancy District by the end of this summer.

“It’s two-fold, what we need,” she said. “We need 30 percent of the waterfront homeowners signatures, (which they have). In addition to the 30 percent, we need 51 percent of the highest-assessed-value properties. That is where we are lacking.”

But, she said, they are only about 100 property owners shy of that 51 percent.

Forestal, a Realtor, said it makes financial sense for property owners to support the effort.

“If the reservoir goes away, that takes away a significant amount of property value,” she said, adding that if everyone contributes, Geist Reservoir will continue to be a great place to live.

For more about the Geist Conservancy District, visit geistconservancy.com.

DISPATCHES

Fort Harrison State Park saddle barn open — The Fort Harrison State Park Saddle Barn is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for trail riders ages 8 and older, and parent-assisted pony rides for children ages 2-7. The season ends in late October. Rides are $36 for a 60-minute, 2.5-mile trail; $31 for a 30-minute, 1.5-mile trail and $6 per lap for pony rides. For more, visit bit.ly/3X2rPfi.

Fourth Fest applications open — City of Lawrence 4th Fest vendor and parade applications are available for those wishing to participate in the Fourth of July parade and for businesses offering food, crafts or entertainment for the annual celebration. Online applications for vendors are available at bit.ly/4ax0B3l. Parade applications are at bit.ly/3QYDojF. For more, visit the City of Lawrence website, cityoflawrence. org.

IPL plans Meet Your Neighbor series —

The Indianapolis Public Library’s Meet Your Neighbor programming series introduces the public to diverse groups that live in Indianapolis. Upcoming sessions include: Democratic Republic of Congo, from noon to 1 p.m. June 13, an online session; Refugee 101, from 11:30 to 1 p.m. June 28 at the Glendale Branch, 3660 E 62nd St,; and Refugee 101, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Eagle Branch, 3905 Moller Rd. For more, visit attend.indypl.org/events.

Chamber Chew on This — The Greater Lawrence Chamber presents Chew on This, a monthly lunch series, starting at 11:30 a.m. June 18 at The Garrison, 6002 N. Post Rd. The featured speaker will be Alan Becker of Bose McKinney & Evans law firm, who will provide information about the Corporate Transparency Act. To register, visit greaterlawrencechamber.org and click on “events.”

CPR classes offered — The City of Lawrence Fire Department has free CPR classes planned for July 26 and Oct. 26. The classes are open to ages 15 and up. Participants will earn a certificate upon completion. To register, visit bit.ly/3wcZszY.

Resurfacing planned in Lawrence — The City of Lawrence had secured $1 million in funding through the state Community Crossing Matching Grant Program to resurface roads in Geist Valley Estates, the Fairways East neighborhood and 52nd St in Winding Ridge. Work will begin in fall.

The Lawrence Trades District is a primarily commercial and industrial area east of I-465 to Franklin Road, in between the CSX railroad tracks and Pendleton Pike. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lawrence)

Lawrence continuing long-term plans for Trades District

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

The City of Lawrence Trades District has been an ongoing economic development program since 2016, and while city officials are working on financing and priorities, Lawrence Economic Development Director Keith Johnson said the district’s long-term goals remain active and on track.

DEVELOPMENT

The Trades District is a primarily commercial and industrial area east of I-465 to Franklin Road, in between the CSX railroad tracks and Pendleton Pike. Some development already has taken place, with some companies, including Freije Engineering Solutions, moving into the area early in the process.

A 2021 update of plans for the district called for additional road and utilities improvements, along with a screen wall to reduce noise from the rail tracks. The plans also called for securing additional real estate in the area to redevelop.

Johnson said that plan is “very much alive and well, and a beautiful kind of vision document.”

“The trick is the implementation, the rollout and how long that will take,” he said. “There was a lot of infrastructure improvements that were identified in the plan and that’s just about the point where Dan Zuerner (the former economic development director) kind of handed it off to us.”

Zuerner left the position at the end of 2023.

The next phase for the city and the Lawrence Redevelopment Commission is to prioritize projects and secure financing to pay for those projects, Johnson said.

“You have these great plans, documents,

outlines, from my predecessors,” he said. “Now, implementation, rollout, investment — those are the priority decisions.”

Among the items handed off is a partially designed road in the district, he said, but additional design work on that has been paused. Other actions identified in the plan, including building that road, would require buying property.

“That takes a lot of money,” Johnson said. “Right now, a single parcel (at) Franklin Pike — that’s for sale for $2 million. Acquiring property is probably the biggest expense that we will undergo to execute the Trades District plan.”

In addition to improving infrastructure, the city, through the redevelopment commission, also can buy property to develop with a partner, with the goal of attracting high-end jobs to the community. Those kinds of development projects take time, he said.

“It’s definitely a long game, as it is a long-term vision,” Johnson said.

The first phase of the long-term master plan would cost an estimated $15 million, he said, and the commission has about 10 percent of that on hand.

In the meantime, Johnson said the commission is looking at parcels that are available, as well as what’s already been accomplished, to establish a list of priorities moving forward.

“I’d say it’s still an exploration of determining our priorities before we start spending money on those priorities and figuring out what’s available,” he said. “If you look up and down (Pendleton) Pike, it’s a lot of retail. We would like to see more offices and more residential. So, finding partners to do that is currently on my todo list.”

For more, visit chooselawrence.com.

MAYO CLINIC GIVES US EXPERTS FOR OUR EXPERTS.

Our relationship with Mayo Clinic lets our providers consult with some of the greatest medical specialists in the world. See how Hancock Health and Mayo Clinic work together at HancockHealth.org/MayoClinic.

Common council OKs all-way stop, recognizes Pride Month

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

The City of Lawrence will have a new all-way stop following action by the Lawrence Common Council June 3. The council voted unanimously in favor of new stop signs at Chadworth Way, Chadworth Court and Kensworth Drive. The traffic control measure was requested by a resident of that neighborhood, said Councilor Liz Masur (D-at-large) during a Code Committee meeting that immediately preceded the full council meeting.

GOVERNMENT

The City of Lawrence’s official Pride flag was made for Lawrence representatives to carry in the June 8 Indianapolis Pride Parade in downtown Indianapolis. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lawrence)

a lot of foot traffic as families are going to and from the pool.”

“She expressed concerns that she has small children and other people have small children, and that people driving along Kensworth go very quickly and that she thought a stop sign might reduce the speed of people driving through the neighborhood,” Masur said. “This is especially important in this area, because there is a pool not even two blocks away, so there is

Masur said the HOA for the area was in favor of adding stop signs at that intersection and Lawrence Police Department officials also approved. The Code Committee forwarded a favorable recommendation of the ordinance to the full council.

In order to approve the ordinance right

Continued on Page 7

Continued from Page 6

Fishers Fourth of July Fireworks set — Community fireworks displays for Independence Day are planned at three locations in Fishers: Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, with a free concert beginning at 8 p.m.; Cyntheanne Park, 12383 Cyntheanne Rd., with additional viewing from HSE Intermediate/Jr. High parking lots, 12278 Cyntheanne Rd.; and Geist Reservoir, with viewing from residences or from watercraft — no viewing is permitted from Fall Creek Bridge or Geist Marina.

Calls for artists — Artists who want to have tables at the Sept. 8 Harvest Fest must submit applications to the Fishers Arts Council by July 8. For more, visit fishersartscouncil.org, click on the “For Artists” tab and then on “artist call outs” from the drop-down menu.

Monsoon Madness set for July 20 — Holland Park transforms into pop-up water park during the popular Monsoon Madness event hosted by Fishers Parks. The annual event features giant waterslides, a mini-monsoon area for little ones and live entertainment. An early access wristband, which costs $20, allows participants to experience a smaller crowd and shorter wait times at waterslides and activities from 11 a.m. to noon and is limited to the first 500 registrants. Standard access wristbands are free for Fishers residents. Registration is required at playfishers.com/180/Monsoon-Madness.

Tuesday concerts free at NPD — Free Tuesday concerts, presented by 24/7 Dink, are scheduled through July at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. Tuesday concerts

are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Food trucks will be available. Outside food and nonalcoholic beverages are allowed, and participants can bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. For more, visit npdamp.com/180/Free-Tuesdays.

Sheriff’s office releases crash statistics — Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office recently released statistics that highlight common causes and locations of vehicle crashes in Hamilton County. The top three reasons for crashes in 2024 so far are following too closely, failure to yield right-of-way and animals or objects in the roadway. The top three crash locations are 146th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway, 146th and River Road and 146th and Allisonville Road.

2024 Annual Greater Lawrence Chamber Golf Outing

Old Oakland Golf Club

11611 E. 75th St, Indianapolis, IN 46236

Thursday, June 27th, 2024

Registration 11am • Tee Time 12pm

greaterlawrencechamber.org/events/details/2024-annual-greater-lawrencechamber-golf-outing-sponsored-by-the-brain-center-at-old-oakland-golf-club-3471

Teacher wins design challenge

news@geistcurrent.com

MSD of Lawrence Township teacher Ann Clough of Forest Glen Elementary School has won the 2024 Excellence Design Challenge, sponsored by the Lawrence Township School Foundation. According to an announcement from the district, the Design Challenge financially rewards district staff members for innovative ideas that can meaningfully impact the organization through efficiency, effectiveness and/or measurable improvements.

EDUCATION

Clough’s winning proposal, titled Revolutionizing Resources: Transforming Plastic Waste into 3D Printing Filament, was identified by district leadership as best affecting efficiency, effectiveness and improved outcomes. The initiative introduced students to the concept of automation with a focus on sustainability and recycling, while supporting the material needs of the 14 Makerspace programs within MSDLT.

“I am proud to celebrate the innovation of the challenge winner and finalists

and am grateful to the Foundation for their ongoing supportive role with this program,” Superintendent Shawn Smith stated. “Ms. Clough represents the innovative thinking taking place throughout the district, supporting both the broadening of our graduation pathways as well as our Strategic Plan.”

Clough won a $20,000 personal prize and her project will be implemented during the 2024-2025 school year, according to the district.

From left, MSDLT Superintendent Shawn Smith, Forest Glen Elementary teacher Ann Clough, Lawrence Township School Foundation President Misty Wick-Johnston and MSDLT Board

President Wendy Muston. (Photo courtesy of MSDLT)

IRISH TRADITION

Gaelic sports organization plays in Lawrence, plans international tournament

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

Gaelic football has elements similar to American football, soccer, basketball and volleyball. But — while its origins are not clear — it appears to predate them all, with recorded games traced back to the late 1600s.

Ciaran Connery celebrates his Irish roots every Sunday, playing Gaelic football and hurling — another traditional Irish sport — with fellow members of the Indianapolis Gaelic Athletic Association at Eugene Burns Football Park on Glenn Road in Lawrence.

“If you ever meet anyone that plays hurling or Gaelic football, you’ll know it in two minutes, because it’s all we talk about,” he said. “It’s taken a very disproportionate amount of our lives.”

It’s taken even more of their lives than usual in recent months, because the IGAA is hosting a Gaelic games tournament, with teams traveling from as far away as Mexico to participate. The tournament is set for June 15 at the Indianapolis World Sports Park, 1313 S. Post Rd., with games starting at 9 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. Admission is free for spectators.

Andretta Erickson also plays Irish sports on Sundays and explained the rules of Gaelic football. She said it’s played on a grass field with a goal at either end, using a ball similar to a volleyball.

“The goal looks like a soccer goal with uprights on it,” she said. “If you hit it into the goal, it’s worth three points. If you hit it through the uprights, it’s one point. With Gaelic football, you can have the ball in your hands and you can take four steps (holding it) and then you have to do something with it. You can either pass it with your hands to your teammate, you can kick it to your teammate.”

Players also can dribble the ball and take four more steps, she said, or pass using a volleyball-style bump.

Hurling and the women’s version of hurling, camogie, are played with a stick and a smaller ball, more like a baseball.

Connery said the sticks look like field hockey sticks with ping-pong paddles on the end.

“I would say (hurling and camogie) look

like lacrosse, mixed with field hockey, mixed with full-contact baseball,” he said. “It has the same set of goals and the same field dimensions as Gaelic football fields — about 160, 170 yards long, about 90 yards wide — same H-shaped goals at either end.”

Scoring is similar to Gaelic football, with one point for getting the ball through the uprights and three for getting it into the net.

“They reckon it’s the fastest game played on grass in the world.” Connery said, noting that injuries are surprisingly uncommon. “It looks nuts when you see it for the first time. There’s sticks flying around the face and people are putting their bare hands up to catch the ball and people are swinging at the ball.”

All the Gaelic sports have a deep history in Ireland, Connery said. Back in the old country, teams represent their parishes and rivalries can be fierce.

“Passions can be inflamed, let’s say,” he said. “Especially when you’re playing against local rivals. I would say it’s kind of like, in terms of support and kind of the fervor, it might be like local high school basketball rivals here in Indiana.”

Erickson added that although Gaelic football, hurling and camogie are widespread and extremely popular in Ireland,

there are no professional teams.

“You have the highest level (of play), but they’re still, you know, teachers, bankers, working and then doing all of this on their time off,” she said. “We also follow that, clearly — we just do it for fun and everyone has lives, everyone has other things to do, but we do what we can when we can with practice and playing in tournaments.”

The Indianapolis Gaelic Athletic Association started in 2005 with only a few teams, Erickson said. It built from there and started hosting tournaments in 2010. She said those early tournaments attracted nearby clubs from Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis, for example. Now, it’s grown into something that attracts teams from near and far.

“This year, we have a team coming from Mexico City,” she said. “They’re a newer club. So, we’ve got the regional pull, plus an international pull this year, which is fun.”

Connery said exact accounts of how the local club started are “lost to the mists of time and made fuzzier by alcohol.” Very few members are recent immigrants like him, he said, and while some have a bit of Irish heritage, others have none.

Erickson said word-of-mouth has been the best recruiting tool, along with events such as trivia night.

“We do have one person that got recruited (because) they found one of our (balls) — the ball for hurling is called a sliotar,” she said. “They found one in the woods and it had our website on it, so they looked it up.”

Connery said the club is a great way for people to stay active and keep their competitive fire stoked as they mature. He added that it’s a good social opportunity.

“(We) tried to figure out how many marriages and babies have resulted from involvement in the club,” he said. “We’re into a couple of dozen, I think, marriages at this stage.”

Erickson noted that the Indianapolis club is one of the largest in the United States.

“We are very lucky that we can run our own league during the summer — we don’t have to go and play against other clubs from other cities,” she said. “Almost every Sunday morning during the summer, we play at the Eugene Burns Football Park (in Lawrence). We have four hours of games that we play, sometimes two fields running at the same time. And that is definitely the highlight of my week on Sunday mornings to go out to those fields.”

For more about the IGAA, visit /indygaa. com.

WHAT: The 2024 Indy Invitational Gaelic games tournament

WHO: 25 teams from the United States and Mexico, comprising between 200-300 players

WHEN: Games start at 9 a.m. June 15, with multiple games throughout the day

WHERE: Indianapolis World Sports Park, 1313 S. Post Rd.

HOW: Admission is free for spectators

OTHER: Food and beverage trucks will be on-site

(Above) Gaelic football is a traditional Irish sport that has elements similar to soccer, football, basketball and volleyball. (Photos courtesy of IGAA)

ON THE COVER: Hurling is one of the traditional Irish sports organized by the Indianapolis Gaelic Athletic Association, with league games taking place most Sundays at Eugene Burns Football Park, 5602 Glenn Rd., in Lawrence. (Photo courtesy of IGAA)

Hurling is a fast-paced field game involving a small ball and sticks.

Taylor Morrison acquires Pyatt

By Samantha Kupiainen news@geistcurrent.com

Pyatt Builders, a private, new-home builder based in Carmel, was acquired by Taylor Morrison in late April. Taylor Morrison is a national land developer and homebuilder, and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz.

HOMEBUILDER

The acquisition of the Indianapolis market signifies Taylor Morrison’s expansion into the Midwest. Included in the merger is Pyatt Builders’ 1,500 lots, which are spread across 13 communities, including Fishers, McCordsville and Pittsboro. In 2022, Pyatt Builders worked on 283 homes.

“It was a great opportunistic plan for Pyatt Builders,” said Todd Pyatt, Taylor Morrison Indianapolis division president. “We were interested in growing and expanding and looking at more capital opportunities, and Taylor Morrison was a great fit for that. They were very much interested in being in the Indianapolis market, so it was a pair-up that worked very well for both of us and aligned very well culturally as well as (in) business

operations and overall plan for growth and strategy.”

Prior to joining Taylor Morrison, Pyatt served as the president and founder of Pyatt Builders.

Pyatt said those with a home under construction by Pyatt Builders should not notice or experience any changes because of the acquisition.

“It’ll still be all the same things that they choose — their house, their plan, their options, all of those things,” Pyatt said.

Pyatt said he was drawn to Taylor Morrison in part because of the value it places on its employees and customers and the trust it has built over the years.

Learn more at taylormorrison.com/pyatt.

A Pyatt Builders model home. (Photo courtesy of Tara Shultz)

Riley Childrens Health expands at IU Health North

news@currentinwestfield.com

Riley Children’s Health has expanded its pediatric emergency care options with the addition of dedicated space at Indiana University Health North Hospital in Carmel.

HOSPITALS

The addition creates eight pediatric patient rooms and support services within the emergency department, where services for children are provided by Riley

Children’s emergency medicine doctors, nurses and child life specialists. Pediatric care is available for children from infants to the age of 18.

“The expansion of our 24/7 Pediatric Emergency Medicine program into its own eight-bed department is paramount to the care of pediatric patients in Carmel and the surrounding communities,” stated Dr. Dan Slubowski, medical director of IU Health North’s Emergency Department. “This individualized pediatric care space

Eight pediatric emergency care rooms have been added to Indiana University Health North Hospital in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of IU Health North Hospital)

allows our health care providers to see the growing number of pediatric patients

seeking emergency care.”

A ribbon cutting was held May 2.

Riley emergency medicine doctors and nurses staff the IU Health North Hospital Emergency department 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to emergency medicine, Riley Children’s Health at IU Health North offers outpatient, inpatient and pediatric surgery services.

Learn more at rileychildrens.org/practice-location/emergency-medicine-rileychildrens-health-at-iu-health-north.

Dad, don’t forget to take a timeout for yourself

Talk about health screenings with a doctor or care team who listens

Health screenings are important for all of us. Taking care of yourself means being proactive about your health. Talk with your doctor or care team about the screenings that are right for you, based on your age and family history. They may help detect complex issues early, when they are most treatable.

If you need more care, including more advanced treatment options, you are connected to compassionate care teams that are right for you.

Farrell to add Buffett to list of tribute shows

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

It all started with Don Farrell paying tribute to the songs of Frank Sinatra in April 2021.

CONCERTS

That success had him follow up with Barry Manilow in 2022 and tributes to Tony Bennett and Neil Diamond in 2023.

Farrell, a co-founder of Actors Theatre of Indiana who left the company in 2023, will celebrate Jimmy Buffett with “Bubbles Up!” performances at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael June 21 and July 18 with Terry Woods, Steve Greenberg and Jim Lamson. A third “Bubbles Up!” is set for Aug. 17 with the lineup not yet set.

“We’re just going to tell the stories and celebrate Jimmy Buffett, who we lost last year,” Farrell said. “I love Jimmy Buffett. As I started delving more into his life, I looked at his journey and what he took to become this kind of a latter-day folk hero. And all the entrepreneurial businesses he started after the big hit, ‘Margaritaville’ and the stories that go behind it. We’re going to try to conjure up that world of sun, saltwater and nonstop parties.”

Farrell, who runs Crossroads Entertainment LLC, said the setlist will include escapist songs, such as “Margaritaville,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.”

Farrell said they will share the stories on how Buffett came up with his songs. Farrell describes it as a “docu-cabaret.”

“It’s all the great songs you expect,” he said. “We try to create whatever world and environment in Feinstein’s for the artists we’re celebrating. Sometimes, even aficionados walk away saying, ‘I didn’t know that.’”

The shows are launched at Feinstein’s and then occasionally Farrell and Woods take the show on the road to other sites and Georgia, where Farrell grew up.

On the third Thursday of each month, Feinstein’s has a “Don Farrell Presents” show.

“It can be bands I’m presenting or our new shows,” Farrell said.

It started in April with the music of

“Grease.”

“I had four other performers join me on stage and tell the backstory about the musical ‘Grease,’” Farrell said. “We created an environment where people were showing up in poodle skirts and leather jackets. We had a dance contest. It was a big party.”

In May, Farrell had the area band Ten Branches perform a concert. “A Thank You for the Music, a tribute to ABBA,” is set for June 20. Logan Hill, Maya Mays, Danny Kingston and Antony Winfrey will join Farrell.

Farrell will perform his Neil Diamond show July 20 with “Sweet Caroline: The Life & Music of Neil Diamond.”

Farrell will present “Simply the Best — A Celebration of Tina Turner,” Aug. 22 with Tiffany Gilliam performing Turner’s songs.

“I’m trying to find other artists who deserve a shot at the Feinstein’s stage,” Farrell said.

Farrell also will present Summer Music with Woods Band July 29 at Sugar Creek Winery in Carmel.

For more, visit feinsteinshc.com and crossroads-ent.com/team.html.

in Lawrence/Geist

‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” runs through July 7 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

JAMES TAYLOR

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter will perform at 8 p.m. June 11 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Noblesville students Eleanor Wilson and Tyler Cowan presents “Your Heart is Home” June 13, and Dueling Pianos presented by Brittany Brumfield June 15 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Both performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

DIERKS BENTLEY

Dierks Bentley’s concert is set for 7 p.m. June 14 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.

DISPATCH

Songbook Academy features area participants — From hundreds of applicants nationwide, 40 high school students from 14 states have been selected to participate in this year’s Songbook Academy, a weeklong summer intensive program that immerses young performers in America’s musical heritage and helps them develop as artists under the guidance of Broadway stars and other entertainment professionals and music educators. Among the 11 Indiana finalists are Carmel residents Sadie Cohen, Emmaline Colvin and Isaiah Henderson; Zionsville residents Izzy Casciani and Phoebe Sidebottom; Westfield residents Keegan Connor and Journee Woodley; and Noblesville resident Addie McMillan. Now in its 15th year, the Songbook Academy is the flagship education initiative of the Great American Songbook Foundation and its founder, performer and preservationist Michael Feinstein. Songbook Academy 2024 will take place July 13-20 at the Foundation’s headquarters at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

Don Farrell, left, with Terry Woods from “All The Way: A Frank Sinatra Tribute.” (Photo courtesy of Don Farrell)

CCP season features variety

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

SONGBOOK ACADEMY IN CONCERT

JUL 20 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

AVERAGE WHITE BAND: A FUNK FINALE

AUG 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

JEROME COLLINS: REWIND–A JOURNEY TO MOTOWN & BEYOND

SEPT 13 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON VERONICA SWIFT SAT, SEPT 14 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

CENTER CELEBRATION 2024 FEATURING CHRIS BOTTI

SEPT 21 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

NICK CARTER: WHO I AM TOUR THURS, SEPT 26 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

LEONID & FRIENDS: THE MUSIC OF CHICAGO AND MORE FRI, SEPT 27 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DAMIEN ESCOBAR: VICTORY LAP TOUR SAT, SEPT 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BEN FOLDS: PAPER AIRPLANE REQUEST TOUR

THURS, OCT 10 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

#IMOMSOHARD: LADIES’ NIGHT!

FRI, OCT 11 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY

SAT, OCT 12 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

SUN, OCT 13 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD

SAT, OCT 19 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

SPACE ODDITY: THE QUINTESSENTIAL

DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE

SAT, OCT 26 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DANA & GREG NEWKIRK’S

HAUNTED OBJECTS LIVE SUN, OCT 27 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON

VITAMIN STRING QUARTET: THE MUSIC OF TAYLOR SWIFT, BRIDGERTON AND BEYOND SUN, OCT 27 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

ZAKIR HUSSAIN & RAHUL SHARMA

FRI, NOV 1 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BONEY JAMES

SAT, NOV 2 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE MAGIC OF MICHAEL GRANDINETTI–EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC

SAT, NOV 2 AT 2PM & 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

GRUPO NICHE

FRI, NOV 8 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE PIANO GUYS

SAT, NOV 9 AT 4PM & 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BUCKETS N BOARDS SUN, NOV 17 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE STEPCREW FRI, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

AN EVENING WITH LESLIE ODOM JR. FRI, NOV 22 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

CANADIAN BRASS SAT, NOV 23 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DIONNE WARWICK SUN, NOV 24 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES:

WWII TIKI XMAS CANTEEN THURS, DEC 5 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE FOUR PHANTOMS: HOLIDAY SHOW FRI, DEC 6 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

JANE LYNCH’S A SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS SAT, DEC 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS

CHRISTMAS TOUR 2024

FRI, DEC 13 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

SAT, DEC 14 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

MAC MCANALLY

FRI, JAN 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

YESTERDAY AND TODAY: THE INTERACTIVE BEATLES EXPERIENCE

SAT, JAN 18 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE EVOLUTION OF JONI MITCHELL STARRING LAUREN FOX

FRI, JAN 24 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

HEART OF AFGHANISTAN

FEATURING THE FANOOS ENSEMBLE SAT, JAN 25 AT 8PM || THE TARKINGTON

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS SUN, JAN 26 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE KINGS OF QUEEN SAT, FEB 1 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

PETER SAGAL: HOST OF NPR’S WAIT WAIT...DON’T TELL ME! FRI, FEB 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

FOLSOM PRISON EXPERIENCE: LEGENDARY 1968 JOHNNY CASH

CONCERT

SAT, FEB 15 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH STEVE WARINER FRI, FEB 21 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

KALANI PE’A: GRAMMY-WINNING SINGER, SONGWRITER SAT, FEB 22 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DON WAS & THE PAN DETROIT

ENSEMBLE FRI, FEB 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BROOKLYN CHARMERS:

A STEELY DAN TRIBUTE FRI, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

WELCOME BACK: THE RETURN OF EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER FRI, MAR 21 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DUSTBOWL REVIVAL: A LAUREL CANYON RETROSPECTIVE FRI, MAR 21 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

THE RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS SUN, MAR 23 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON

GRIMMZ FAIRY TALES

SUN, MAR 23 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

LANG LANG FRI, MAR 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE SAT, APR 5 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

UNITED STATES ARMY FIELD BAND & SOLDIERS’ CHORUS WEDS, APR 9 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN SAT, APR 12 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BACHELORS OF BROADWAY: GENTLEMEN OF THE THEATRE SUN, APR 13 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

ITZHAK PERLMAN IN RECITAL THURS, APR 17 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

MICKY DOLENZ OF THE MONKEES: AN EVENING OF SONGS & STORIES FRI, APR 25 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BLACK VIOLIN SAT, APR 26 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

OUR PLANET LIVE: A NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES WITH DAN TAPSTER TUES, APR 29 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES THURS, MAY 1 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

CELEBRATE THE SONGBOOK: MICHAEL FEINSTEIN WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS CHAMBER

ORCHESTRA SAT, MAY 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

iLUMINATE SUN, MAY 11 AT 4PM | THE PALLADIUM

Carmel Community Players will present some familiar plays along with some new titles.

SCHEDULE

“This upcoming season is a mix of classics and newer pieces, an ebb and flow of ‘sit back and relax’ and ‘sit up and listen,’” CCP Artistic Director Hannah Janowicz said. “We anticipate a lot of laughs and a lot of gasps.”

“Ruthless! The Musical” is a dark comedy about a sociopathic child actor. It runs April 4-13 at The Switch Theatre in Fishers. “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing,” a modern-day fairytale about triplets, is the season’s Rising Star Production and is set for June 13-22 at The Cat.

Janowicz

“Steel Magnolias,” which opens the season Sept. 27 and runs through Oct. 3 at The Cat in Carmel, was staged by CCP in 1999 and 2013.

“So, I look forward to hearing the story with a new vision and generation of performers,” Janowicz said.

“Clue,” a funny murder-mystery inspired by the board game, is set for Nov. 15-24 at The Cat.

“Pride and Prejudice,” based on the classic Jane Austen novel, opens the 2025 portion of the season Feb. 28 and runs through March 9 at The Cat.

The premise of “American Son,” which centers around a missing Black teenager who might have been picked up by the police in Miami, closes the season Aug. 8-17 at The Switch Theatre. His parents, an estranged interracial couple, anxiously await news.

“I’m especially eager for our season closer, ‘American Son,’” Janowicz said. “It premiered on Broadway less than 10 years ago, has a powerfully relevant script and will definitely be a strong acting challenge for its small cast. It’s always fun to explore different time periods and eras in history, but ‘American Son’ draws us right back to the present day and demonstrates the importance of education through storytelling.”

For more, visit carmelplayers.org.

of Audiology expertise between us and pride ourselves on being able to give as much of our time to our patients as they need. We won’t rush you through the process like those in ENT or Retail Audiology, but we will spend the necessary and wanted time with you to help you know your questions are valuable and your patient experience is our top priority. Mention this ad and receive 10%

RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY

NICK CARTER

LESLIE ODOM JR.

MARTY STUART

LANG LANG

Red Barn to present premiere

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Luke McLaughlin has known Michael Clossin for a large part of his life.

COMEDY

Clossin said he is “apprehensively eager” to see the premiere.

“Michael and Luke are working with a talented group of young actors, so I’m pretty eager to see it come to life,” Clossin said. “The apprehension comes in from hoping I did my job well enough.”

“In fact, it was his rendition of ‘Leader of the Pack’ at Frankfort High School that made me fall in love with theater as an elementary student,” McLaughlin said. “Michael wears many hats for the Red Barn. He serves on the board of directors and coordinates all the musicians for our ‘Music on the Lawn’ pre-show programming. The Red Barn would not be what it is today without him. He was with the Barn when it first started and continues to play a major role in bringing our seasons to life.” So, it’s fitting that McLaughlin will direct the world premiere of Clossin’s “Keep the Change” June 12-16 and June 19-23 at Red Barn Summer Theatre. Michael Taylor is the Red Barn’s artistic director and McLaughlin is its associate artistic director.

Clossin said Taylor organized a table read with some Red Barn actors who encouraged him to keep working on it. Clossin said Jennie Otterman directed a staged reading at Basile Westfield Playhouse in October 2023 with actors from the Noblesville area that was very helpful.

“‘Keep the Change’ is my first opportunity to direct a world premiere, and though it is completely different from anything I’ve ever done theatrically, it is exciting to put my stamp on this script and fun collection of characters,” McLaughlin said.

The cast has eight performers, including Westfield resident Lisa Warner Lowe. For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.

Clossin McLaughlin

A league of our own

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

A small, framed photo in my office corner is more than 60 years old. It’s a picture of my All-Star Little League team from New Rochelle, N.Y., back in 1959 -- all of us posed in our individual team uniforms and bound for the state championships in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Two more victories there, and we’d be headed to Williamsport, Penn., for the Little League World Championships.

HUMOR

I wrote about this years ago, but doing a replay seems appropriate. Despite my love for baseball, I had not attended a major league game in many years. The other day, with my friend Joe, I went to Cincinnati to see the Reds play the Cardinals at the Great American Ball Park. Sitting there, sipping a beer, smelling the field, hearing the crack of the bat and watching players round the bases brought back memories of 1959.

We were a motley crew: Jews, Hispanics, Italians, Blacks and Ryan, our Irish second baseman. We were all animals: Cubs, Panthers, Colts and Tigers -- our team names from regular-season play. Money was tight, so the city couldn’t dress us in spiffy new uniforms for the All-Star games. We couldn’t afford hotels, so the league arranged for us to stay in the homes of local residents. In the first game, I was thrown out at third base. I looked up to question the umpire’s call and it was the guy whose house I was staying in.

Our team was small in stature but big in talent. Our shortstop, Larry Seidman, absorbed every grounder and flicked it sidearm to first base. Pete Wagner threw a curveball that mystified every batter. Dickie Lipson majored in home runs. And then there was Dave Enoch, our other pitcher. He struck out the hitter or struck him …

“Money was tight, so the city couldn’t dress us in spiffy new uniforms for the All-Star games. We couldn’t afford hotels, so the league arranged for us to stay in the homes of local residents.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

on the arm … on the back … on the head. He was so wild that when the other team had runners on base, we sometimes put one of our outfielders behind the catcher. In the first game, the score was tied in the ninth. The coach told us all to bunt, so we laid down the perfect dribbler four times in a row. It worked. We won by one run. The other team called us wimps, but the Daily News called us winners. In the final game, we lost badly. I made an incredible catch in center field, so we only lost by 10 runs.

Look at the picture on my Facebook page. See the faces of 14 boys who never considered race, religion or family heritage as an issue. We were a team. And a good one. As a result of those experiences, my guess is that most of these young men grew up free of prejudice — the kind that may someday destroy our country. That photo makes me feel better about who we can be. And it makes me love baseball that much more.

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

Blueprint for Improvement: Bold basement in Carmel

Commentary by Larry Greene

Built in 2016 in the Village of West Clay, this home’s finished basement provided ample space but lacked intention. Our team got to work, transforming the layout to include distinctive spaces and purpose.

THE BLUEPRINT

• Wall-to-wall carpeting was replaced with luxury vinyl plank flooring, providing the look of natural wood with added durability and minimal maintenance.

• Poplar cabinetry stained a deep indigo, paired with glossy porcelain tiles in the same shade, makes a bold and stylish statement.

• With a dishwasher, beverage fridge and microwave, the new wet bar provides everything needed for effortless entertaining.

• Indigo wood paneling not only helps to protect the wall from errant darts, but also makes a style statement that hits the bullseye.

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.

Before After

LIFESTYLE

38. State agency in charge of highways, airports and railroads, briefly

39. “___, Brute?”

40. French water

41. Pun reaction, perhaps 42. Wicker material

43. Lose weight

45. Daniels School of Business deg.

46. Mapmaker ___ McNally

47. Maine’s capital

51. Churchill Downs event

54. Corroded

56. “___ the season...”

57. ISO woodwind

58. Ice cream treat at Indy Zoo

60. Tra-___

61. Frequently

62. Apt anagram of “evil”

63. Third largest city in France 64. Unemotional

65. Rapper-turned-actor Down 1. Prepare to “Wander Indiana” 2. Butler frat letter

Northside reservoir 4. Indiana tax ID 5. Shallow water hazards

6. Big name in insurance 7. Mirror image?

8. Generational development studied by Darwin

30. Learning method

Guided trip

Honey bunch

Spoken

Hawaiian island

35. Winter road blocker

38. Crooked Stick golf club

39. Jacob’s twin

41. Aussie’s greeting

42. IU Health delivery doc

44. Comic British character who rarely speaks

45. “___ on the Bounty”

47. Colorado ski resort

48. Showing no emotion

49. Owner’s document

50. Thing of value

51. Barbie or Ken

52. Where a signed copy of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five” sold for $240

53. Caramel-filled candy

55. ___ no good

58. Two, in Tijuana

Roman 506 Answers on Page 23

shidelerjay@gmail.com www.jayspersonalservices.com

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, good-natured 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

5 Piece Set: sofa, 2 lounge chairs, coffee table, nesting side table

3 Piece Set: sofa, 2 swivel gliders $4,317 THE HIXON $3,455

Book a complimentary in-showroom meeting with our design team.

BAINBRIDGE

THE DEL MAR

5 Piece Set: 3 armless sofas, 2 storage arm rests, ottoman

$5,578

Give your final approval and our team will schedule your install day! CONFIRM DESIGN & INSTALL 1 2 3

Meet your designer and review the outdoor space, budget, and style vision. DISCUSS YOUR DESIGN