MAGIC OF ART
The Lawrence Township Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Smith Congratulate The Graduating Class of 2024!
Over $56M in Scholarships Awarded • 178 Distinguished Scholars
318 Academic Honors Diplomas • 65 Spanish Immersion Graduates
78 Technical Honors Diplomas • 23 IB Diploma Candidates
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Founded Jan. 27, 2015, at Fishers, IN Vol. X, No. 23
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Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in Lawrence/Geist are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
Lawrence resident earns Master Naturalist accreditation
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Lawrence resident Liz Masur has taken her interest in promoting sustainability and preserving native species to a new level through the monthslong Indiana Master Naturalist Program, offered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
CERTIFICATION
Masur, who is an elected member of the Lawrence Common Council, said she enrolled in the program to learn directly from experts about Indiana’s environment so she could better advocate for sustainability.
Indiana Master Naturalist classes take place at state parks throughout Indiana, and at different times in spring and early summer. This particular program kicked off mid-April, with about 20 participants meeting weekly through late June at Fort Harrison State Park in Lawrence.
Some of the topics included the geological history of Indiana, which was a shallow sea 500 million years ago, and plant and bird identification. Masur noted that Indiana is home to about 430 bird species.
There also were presentations about water quality and how chemicals used for lawns and agriculture in Indiana can flow through creeks and streams to the Mississippi River and eventually affect water quality and fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.
Masur added that Indiana has lost much of its wetlands, which can naturally filter water and reduce flooding.
The group also learned about amphibians and had a special presentation about whooping and sandhill cranes — the two crane species found in Indiana.
Each participant signed up to complete 24 hours of volunteer work. Masur’s volunteer time focused on removing invasive honeysuckle, which she said was a problem for a wetlands area near her home.
“At least one study has made a connection between a decline in frogs and the presence of invasive honeysuckle,” she said. “Evidently, as bush honeysuckle leaves decompose in water, they release tannin chemicals and those chemicals are harmful to frogs. This is a possible explanation for why we no longer hear frogs peeping in the spring, as we did when we first moved here.”
Masur said she used a battery-powered saw to cut down honeysuckle and dug up stumps when she could. She said it’s an ongoing process, but consistency will lead to its eradication.
Masur said the program was enjoyable and she particularly liked getting to know Fort Ben Naturalist Emilie Sweet, who Masur said bakes excellent banana bread.
“Another highlight was interacting with the other people in the class who are all passionate about the environment and who are curious about flora and fauna,” she said. “It was fun to be around people who were fascinated, instead of freaked out, when we stumbled across the still-flailing tail of a broad-headed skink on a trail.”
She explained that broad-headed skinks have a defense mechanism that allows them to break off their tails when grabbed by a predator. The tail continues to wiggle, distracting the predator while the skink escapes.
“In this situation, the frightened skink scuttled up the bare leg of one of the participants,” Masur said. “She, concerned about the well-being of the reptile, calmly stood still while I patted her down until I found the skink on her back, carefully cupped it and relocated it into the undergrowth.”
Masur said she hopes that her new certification will bolster her credibility when she advocates for sustainability, whether it’s through her work on the Lawrence Common Council, her HOA board or the community at large.
“The more educated I am about environmental best practices, the better I will be at advocating for the environment,” she said. “And what is better for the environment is, the majority of the time, better for the welfare of people.”
For more about the master naturalist program, visit in.gov/ dnr/state-parks/programs/ indiana-master-naturalist-program.
Liz Masur recently completed the Indiana Master Naturalist Program. (Photo courtesy of Liz Masur
COMMUNITY
DISPATCHES
Vaccine clinic set — CareSource and the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township are hosting an immunization clinic from 3 to 7 p.m. July 30 at Lawrence Education and Community Center, 6501 Sunnyside Rd. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. The online registration form can be completed at patients.vaxcare.com/registration. Enrollment code is IN65942. Please select Lawrence Township-7/30/24. All CDC-recommended vaccines will be available. Attendees are asked to bring immunization records for the individual who is getting vaccinated, as well as insurance cards. There is no cost for those without insurance, except for the shingles vaccine. To view required vaccinations for the 2024-2025 school year, visit ltschools.org/ services/health.
Applications open for fall Author Book Fair — Local authors can apply to be featured at the Indianapolis Public Library’s Meet an Author, Be an Author Book Fair, set for Oct. 19 at the IPL Central Library, 40 E. Saint Clair St. The fair provides an opportunity for the public to meet local authors, attend writing workshops and network with published writers, aspiring writers and fans. No registration is required to attend this free event. Featured authors receive free table space to sell and promote books, network with other authors and engage with the public. The application period opened July 1 and closes Aug. 26. An application link and more information are available at indypl.org.
Geist/Germantown presentation scheduled — The Fishers Historical Society, Indianapolis Sailing Club and Log Cabin Animal Hospital have planned a presentation about Germantown and Geist Reservoir. FHS Historian Robert Bowling will discuss the history of Germantown and how it paved the way for Geist Reservoir, including photos and videos of Geist before construction. A representative of the ISC will discuss its history on Geist. After the presentation, the Log Cabin Animal Hospital will be open for visitors to tour its collection of Germantown/Geist photos. The grounds of the ISC will be open for visitors to tour and learn a little about sailing in the process. The presentation is set for 11 a.m. July 27 at the ISC, 11325 Fall Creek Rd. There is limited seating for the free event and attendees must register at bit.ly/3VG85Mk.
Walk-In-Closets
MSDLT mechanic wins statewide technician competition
news@geistcurrent.com
Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township mechanic Kenneth Brameier placed first in the recent School Transportation Association of Indiana statewide technician competition.
ACHIEVEMENT
The June 24 competition was part of the organization’s weeklong annual conference for school transportation workers.
“Kenny has been a steady presence in our department for years,” stated Reginald White, MSDLT’s transportation director.
“He has a great heart for this job. He is very deserving of this honor. He has a very bright future in this business.”
The School Transportation Association of Indiana is a nonprofit that provides education and training for members with the goal of enhancing safe school bus transportation for Indiana children.
“The purpose of the association is to promote and encourage safety, efficiency and economy in the operation of pupil transportation systems within the State of Indiana,” the organization’s website states. “This is done in cooperation with
Kenneth Brameier, left, a mechanic with the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township, competes in the June 24 School Transportation Association of Indiana statewide technician competition. (Photo courtesy of STAI)
other related agencies by bringing together the transportation personnel in the State of Indiana to share concerns and ideas in an attempt to provide safe, healthy and efficient transportation for school children with and through uniformity of standards and operational procedures.”
The annual conference started in 1974, with the first meetings in Nashville. It initially involved only directors. It later moved to Indianapolis and expanded membership to include drivers, attendants, mechanics and office staff, and added competitions and awards.
For more about STAI, visit stai.us.
PAYING RESPECT
The Lawrence Police Department announced July 7 that Justice, one of the department’s K-9s, died that morning while off-duty. Justice suffered a medical emergency known as gastric dilatation and volvulus, commonly known as bloat. According to LPD, Justice joined the LPD in August 2020 and served with his handler, Sgt. Stu Bishop, since January 2022. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lawrence)
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Fort Harrison State Park
summer programming picks up
EVENTS news@geistcurrent.com
Stargazing 101, guided hikes, art from leaves, free concerts and fungi identification are among the many programs available through the end of July at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park.
The park, 6000 N. Post Rd., Lawrence, offers interpretive programs and activities for all ages throughout the year. The visitor center and park office are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with most programming scheduled during those time frames. The following programs are planned through the end of July:
• Stargazing 101, a history of stars and information about constellations, set for 1 p.m. July 19 at the visitor center.
• Camp Creek Hike, a two-hour guided hike of Camp Creek Trail, starting at 9 a.m. July 20 at the Delaware Lake parking lot.
• The Korean Way Display, a special exhibit by the Museum of 20th Century Warfare will be on display in building 710, open 10 a.m to 4 p.m. July 20; and 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 21 — with a lecture about Task Force Smith, the first ground battle between North Korean and U.S. troops, starting at 2 p.m. each day in the visitor center’s program room.
• Rambunctious Raccoons, a presentation providing information about the common raccoon’s features and benefits followed by a craft, starts at 1 p.m. July 20 in the visitor center’s program room.
• Salamander Search, a 1.5-hour guided
walk in search of salamanders, including information about the amphibians, starts at 9 a.m. at the Delaware Lake parking lot.
• Leaf Print Painting, a 45-minute program that teaches about the trees of Indiana and how to make artwork using leaves and other natural mediums, starts at 1 p.m. July 21 at the visitor center’s program room.
• DIY Fungi, a 30-minute presentation about the role of mushrooms in the environment followed by a mushroom craft, is set for 1 p.m. July 26 in the visitor center’s program room.
• Tree ID Hike, a one-hour guided hike focusing on Indiana’s native trees and how to identify them, is set for 10 a.m. July 27 at the Schoen Creek parking lot.
• Stunning Salamanders, a presentation about salamanders followed by a lesson in making salamander slime, starts at 1 p.m. July 27 at the visitor center program room.
• Summer Concert Series, the first of the park’s annual summer concerts featuring the Indianapolis Symphonic Band, starts at 7 p.m July 27 at the sledding hill.
• Creek Stomp, an outdoor presentation about water quality and animals that live in Lawrence Creek, starts at 11 a.m. July 28 at the Lawrence Creek gravel parking lot. Participants should wear shoes that can get wet.
• Birds of a Feather, a 45-minute presentation about birds, their characteristics and how to identify different birds, starts at 1 p.m. July 29 in the visitor center’s program room.
Fort Harrison State Park’s Delaware Lake is a popular spot for visitors. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
RAIN DOESN’T STOP LAWRENCE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE
A color guard from the Fort Benjamin Harrison American Legion Post 510 starts the 2024 Fourth Fest parade in Lawrence. (Photos courtesy of the City of Lawrence)
A serving of fish at the Kiwanis Club Fish Fry.
The Kiwanis Club hosts the annual Fourth Fest Fish Fry at Lawrence Community Park.
Lawrence residents line up with rain gear and umbrellas to watch the community’s Fourth of July parade — the only Independence Day parade in Marion County.
Humane Society for Hamilton County’s annual Woofstock 5K is planned for Aug. 10 at Four Day Ray Brewing in Fishers. (Photo courtesy of the Humane Society for Hamilton County)
Woofstock
FUNDRAISER
The Humane Society for Hamilton County’s annual Woofstock 5K walk and run is set for Aug. 10 at Four Day Ray Brewing, 11671 Lantern Rd., Fishers, with the pet-friendly race starting at 8 a.m., rain or shine.
The fundraising event supports the shelter’s Survivor Program, according to the HSHC website.
“Animal welfare is difficult and heart-wrenching. Every day we see some of the worst medical cases in Hamilton County and the state,” stated Lily Darling, HSHC community engagement manager. “As an open-admission, truly no-kill shelter, our Survivor Program and the support of our community allows us to provide second chances to animals who otherwise wouldn’t have them.”
The race is a timed course that participants can run, jog or walk with the entire family, including leashed and/or in-stroller dogs. Top youth, individual, corporate and team fundraisers will be awarded different prizes as well as overall 5K winners and age-group winners.
The first 1,000 participants who register before the race will receive finisher medals, shirts and swag bags. A virtual race option also is available. Any participant who registers to fundraise for the HSHC will have race fees waived if they raise at least $55.
Race participants also receive a free drink ticket to redeem at Four Day Ray on the day of the event.
For more and to register, visit runsignup. com/Race/IN/Fishers/woofstock.
Installation
COMMUNITY
New laws focus on education in Indiana
news@youarecurrent.com
New laws passed during the 2024 Indiana Legislative session took effect July 1, including several aimed at boosting opportunities for Hoosier students and teachers.
LEGISLATURE
High school students can apply for a Career Scholarship Account to pursue internships, apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities. The $5,000 scholarship covers certain expenses like training, career coaching, driver’s education, certification and credentialing exams.
“Hoosier high school students need more opportunities to participate in work-based learning, apprenticeships and internships,” House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) stated. “Expanding these scholarships will provide young Hoosiers these experiences that are key to determining career paths and developing high-demand skills for the 21st century workforce.”
State Rep. Chuck Goodrich (R-Noblesville) authored the new law.
“All students should be able to pursue educational opportunities that prepare them for what comes after graduation,” Goodrich stated. “This program is a game changer that will help young Hoosiers achieve success, no matter their career goals.”
third-graders struggle to read by strengthening remediation efforts and offer more targeted classroom support in second grade. Schools also will be required to offer summer courses to help with reading beginning this year.
Lawmakers said a measure aimed at boosting reading proficiency will address data that shows 1 in 5 Hoosier
“Reading is such a critical skill for all Hoosier students,” State Rep. Donna Schaibley (R-Carmel) stated.
“Providing targeted support for students who need the most help in improving their reading will better prepare these learners for future success.”
Hoosiers looking to make a career switch to education can apply for Transition to Teaching Scholarships. One-time, nonrenewable scholarships of up to $10,000 are available to applicants with a bachelor’s degree pursuing a transition to teaching certification.
“Like many other states and other industries, we’re facing a shortage of educators,” stated State Rep. Becky Cash (R-Zionsville), who serves as a member of the House Education Committee.
“Providing scholarships to Hoosiers who are enrolled in transition to teaching certification programs is a common-sense move to boost our talent pipeline and support our students and schools.”
A measure to provide nearly 90,000 retired public servants including teachers and first responders with a $360 pension boost to cover cost-of-living expenses also became law July 1.
To view new laws, visit iga.in.gov.
DISPATCHES
Chamber After Hours planned — The Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Chamber After Hours is scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. July 25 at Denver’s Garage Pizza and Brews, 110 E. Broadway St. in Fortville. Registration is required for this free networking event. For more, visit greaterlawrencechamber.org/events.
Faultless wins President’s Award — Personal injury attorney Scott A. Faultless is a recipient of the Indiana Trial Lawyers
Association President’s Award for the third time. Faultless is a founding partner of Craig, Kelley & Faultless, a Lawrence-based personal injury law firm specializing in commercial motor vehicle wrecks. The award is one of several recognizing Faultless’ success representing victims in wrongful death and personal injury cases. The ITLA is an organization of lawyers throughout Indiana. Faultless is treasurer of its executive committee.
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Huston
Goodrich
Schaibley
Cash
THE MAGIC OF ART
Arts for Lawrence’s summer camp participants learn performance tricks
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
About 20 elementary-age kids laughed, talked and were generally distracted as they gathered on the Arts for Lawrence Theater at the Fort stage. They suddenly stopped talking, though, when magician Jamahl Keyes made a ball disappear in front of their eyes. They were even more focused as he showed them, step-by-step, how to perform the same trick themselves.
Arts for Lawrence’s annual summer arts camp is underway, with each weeklong camp offering different visual and performing arts classes. The week of July 8 was a magical week, with Indianapolis-based Keyes returning for his second year to teach the kids magic tricks and general performance tips.
Keyes, the “Magic Comic,” said that during camps like this one, he considers himself a “Magical Motivator.”
“We use the magic of the visual arts, of magic, to build self-esteem and self-awareness in children,” he said. “You know as well as I do that the arts helps you stand in front of a crowd — you have to speak clearly. You have to present yourself and you have to present yourself with a sense of confidence. So, all I do with the Magic In You Camp is, I teach that through magic.”
July 8 was the first day of magic camp and Keyes started the kids off slowly by inviting them to introduce themselves and think about what they wanted for their stage name. Over the next few days, he said, the goal was for each kid to learn three or four tricks, along with basic stage terminology — upstage, downstage, stage right and stage left — leading up to two performances in front of their families and the public.
“Some of them will learn a close-up trick, so they’ll come out in the audience and do a close-up trick with their parents,” he said. “Some will learn a stage trick — you’ll perform on stage, and music will go (while) they perform. The whole idea is to build self-confidence and self-worth in the child through the visual arts. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Keyes said he tailors the tricks he teaches to each kid’s strengths.
“Some students will be good with mental tricks, some will be very good with the math trick, some will learn car tricks, some will learn rope tricks,” he said. “I pretty much have a trick for everybody’s level of learning, The magic is really after they learn that (first) trick and they do it, I have no more problems trying to teach.”
Because, he said, as soon as they learn one trick, they want more.
But it’s not just magic tricks that make a magician. Stage presence is important, too.
“Everybody has a magic pose and then
I’ll tell them throughout the camp, come up with a name — a magic name — that’s part of your identity,” Keyes said. “I think it was Harry Houdini who said that I’m not a magician on stage — I’m acting as a magician.”
Arts for Lawrence Program Manager Lecia Floyd first recruited Keyes for magic camp in 2023.
“He has done performances here at the Art for Lawrence Theater at the Fort off and on over the past several years,” she said. “Last year, when I took over as program manager, I wanted to bring
A JOURNEY TOWARD MAGIC
Indianapolis-based magician Jamahl Keyes started his magical journey as a kid at the family dinner table.
Keyes said his parents were both educators in South Bend, but he wasn’t a fan of reading when he was young. His mom came up with a unique way to motivate him.
“She would grab the magic books from her school and perform a magic trick at dinner time,” he said. “I (would) say, ‘Mom, how do you learn how to do that?’ She said, ‘I’m not telling you how to do it. You have to learn from this book.’”
Keyes started reading magic books and learning as many tricks as he
could. He said he performed in school musicals, too, and became comfortable on stage. When he told his parents he wanted to be a professional magician rather than go to college, his mom made a deal with him — he had one year to earn a certain amount of money as a magician. If he didn’t make at least that much, he had to go to college.
Keyes achieved that goal and then some. As a professional magician for 30-plus years, he’s traveled throughout the United States and internationally, won a Society of American Magicians award and started a business offering magic camps for kids.
For more, visit themagiccomic.com.
something new to the camp and Jamahl is so great with kids and teachers, not only just the comedy and magic, but he brings in that theater and stage presence. So, I thought that that would be a really great addition to the camp. When I reached out to him and and asked about that, he was like, ‘Yep, I’m on board.’ Last year was such a success and the kids loved it. So, of course, I had to bring it back this year.”
Floyd stressed the importance of arts education.
“Not every kid is an athletic kid,” she said. “Some kids, they don’t have that athletic bone (and) the arts are just such an important outlet. It saddens me that the arts are sometimes the first things to be pulled out of schools. I think it’s important for kids to be able to express themselves through the arts. I know, for me, personally, all these years later, the friends that I still have from school were all kids that I was in the performing arts with. It’s just such a strong bond.”
The summer arts camp has had about 50 participants each week this year, she said, with some returning campers and others who are new.
For more, visit artsforlawrence.org.
ON THE COVER:
Magician Jamahl Keyes demonstrates a magic trick to children attending the annual Arts for Lawrence summer arts camp. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
Jamahl Keyes gives away the secret to a magic trick to a group of Arts for Lawrence summer arts camp participants. (Photos by Leila Kheiry)
This is the second year Indianapolisbased magician
Jamahl Keyes has spent a week teaching Arts for Lawrence summer arts camp children how to perform magic tricks.
‘Cats’ gets new life in Civic Theatre YAP show
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Anne Beck conducted a survey of Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program members and alumni of possible future musicals.
“Cats” was listed in the top three by all 75 participants. One reason it was listed so high is because most high schools don’t attempt to present it.
“It’s incredibly challenging,” said Beck, the YAP coordinator. “It forces them to think about character from beginning to end. The program itself is all about building people up and (the performers) have to be on the side, kind of building up the character that’s in the forefront at the time. It’s a big theme about acceptance and forgiveness and being who you are and not having to apologize for it. I love the messages and it’s great for this age group.
“They are working really hard and they’re killing it. It’s just really exciting to see they love it, too.”
The Fishers resident is direct ing the YAP production of “Cats,” which runs July 25-28 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Civic Theatre has not performed the An drew Lloyd Webber classic at any level.
Beck performed in “Cats” at the Gate way Playhouse in Bellport, N.Y., in 2012 with Ken Page, who was reprising his Broadway role as Old Deuteronomy, and director Jacob Brent, who portrayed Mr. Mistoffelees in the original video production.
“Learning it from them, I know it so well,” Beck said.
There are 30 cast members — 15 males and 15 females — from 14 high schools.
Emma Hornbecker, a Lebanon High School graduate who will attend Indiana University this fall, plays Grizabella.
“I wasn’t very familiar with ‘Cats,’’’ Hornbecker said. “I don’t think a lot of theaters around here take it on because it’s very daunting. I listened to all the music before auditions and really fell in love with it.”
This is Hornbecker’s first appearance in a YAP production. She played Liesl Von Trapp in Civic’s main stage production of “The Sound of Music ‘’ in 2023.
“I think through Grizabella I’ve learned a lot about the themes of forgiveness and compassion and I really like how she teaches that to the other cats,” Hornbecker said.
Hornbecker sings “Memory,” the musical’s signature song.
Andrew Horras, who will be a Fishers High School sophomore, plays
in Junior Civic’s “Newsies Jr.” in 2023.
Noah Greer, a 2024 Fishers High School graduate who will study dance at Ball State University this fall, enjoys his role as Mongojerrie.
“He’s very energetic, very fun,” he said. “He’s mischievous.”
Greer and Horras perform an energetic number together.
“He tumbles a lot and that’s definitely kind of taxing but it’s all a part of the process,” Greer said. “It’s very hard also doing like a five-minute number with just two people on stage. You don’t have a lot of people on stage to back you up, so it’s really important that you’re locked in for the full five minutes there.”
The chemistry comes naturally as Greer and Horras are close friends.
“I think people will enjoy just watching us get into the characters,” Greer said. “It’s very different. You have to stay in character for the full two hours. I think that it’s really just fascinating getting to watch everybody do that because you just see different things in each corner of the stage. Everybody’s doing something different. I think that’s something that audiences will really enjoy.”
Taylor Smith, who will be a Lawrence North High School senior, plays Old Deuteronomy.
“I enjoy playing a character that can really command a room,” Smith said. “That’s not something that I’ve really been able to play before. I’ve often played a comedic side character, but I don’t often get to play characters that really are about like majesty and grandeur. I think it’s really cool to try something new.”
Beck said Adrienne Conces, Civic’s resident costume designer, has done an amazing job.
“She puts a unitard on a mannequin and is hand-airbrushing all the different colors and stripes and dots for each character,” said Beck, who is designing the wigs.
For more, visit civictheatre.org.
‘LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL’
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” runs through Aug. 25 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
‘THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE’ Main Street Productions presents “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” at Basile Westfield Playhouse July 18-28. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“Bubbles up! Let’s Celebrate Jimmy Buffett” is set for July 18; Dueling Pianos: ‘80s Music July 18; and Sweet Caroline: The Life and Music of Jimmy Buffett” July 20 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUSICAL’ Red Barn Summer Theatre presents “Young Frankenstein, The Musical” July 17-21 in Frankfort. For more, visit redbarntheatre. net.
SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIE
“Best of John Williams” is set for 8 p.m. July 19-20 at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
DAN + SHAY
Dan + Shay: Heartbreak on the Map is set for 7 p.m. July 19 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE & CHICAGO
Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago’s Heart & Soul Tour stops at 7:30 p.m. July 20 at Ruoff. For more, visit livenation.com.
DISPATCH
Broadway star set for Public Masterclass — Three-time Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry will team up with Michael Feinstein at 2 p.m. July 16 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel for the Great American Songbook Foundation’s annual Songbook Academy summer intensive to critique performances by 10 randomly selected students. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
MUSICAL
Clockwise from the top, Andrew Horras, Fishers, Austin Lizama, Zionsville, Lyra Montalvo, Fishers, and Emma Hornbecker, Lebanon. (Photo courtesy of Joshua Hasty)
SATURDAY, JULY 20 7 p . m . – M idnigh t 9 p . m .
Country Summer is a modern country/pop party band built for fun and here for the party. Country Summer delivers an upbeat show for singing and dancing! The street party begins at 7 p.m. with plenty of food and beverage vendors. The School of Rock band performs at 7:30 p.m.
You won't want to miss this fun, free community event! Bring your non-perishable food items to donate to the Carmel Summer Meals program
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 TH , 2024 11AM to 3PM at Lucas Estate, Carmel, IN
Filmmaker ‘pedals’ documentary at Indy Shorts
By Jennifer A. Haire editorial@youarecurrent.com
Joe Rudy considers himself a community social worker. A Noblesville resident and owner of Rudy’s Re:Cycle shop in Cicero, he is a former youth pastor and property manager of Bethel Lutheran Church and is now a bicycle shop owner.
DOCUMENTARY
“He’s everyone’s friend, and he’s a person that’s always willing to lend a hand,” said 12 Stars Media co-founder Rocky Walls, noting that Rudy’s shop focuses on bicycle repair and provides the community access to affordable bikes. Rudy is featured in the documentary short film “Bike Story,” directed by Walls and produced by his Noblesville-based company, 12 Stars Media. The film’s world premiere is at 7:30 p.m. July 23 at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival. 12 Stars Media has had a film at Indy Shorts every year since 2021. The July 23 premiere is at Living Room Theaters. There will be a showing at 12:30 p.m. July 28 at The Tobias Theatre at Newfields in Indianapolis.
maybe the ‘70s,” Walls said.
Walls said he recognized there was a story to be told through the bikes and immediately thought of Rudy, who he’s known for years through their mutual community work. Rudy was also a subject in the short they were filming at the time, “Toboggan ‘Bout Town.”
“I felt comfortable with Rocky’s vision from the very beginning,” Rudy said. “My hope is when people see this film, they might feel the importance and impact they have on their own community. When we don’t feel like we have a choice in what’s going on in the world, we can put the work in, get a little grimy, learn some new things and make some new friends right where we are.”
Walls said people use “our bikes to get places or to get together with people and go on a journey.”
While filming another local short documentary in 2022, Walls — also a Noblesville resident — received a call from a friend that the new owners of the nearby Lacy building were clearing it out and might have some things he’d be interested in. Hoping to find a unique addition to his typewriter collection among the 30-, 40-year-old untouched items, Walls paid them a visit.
“While I was there, I happened to see, and it truly was like out of a movie, there was this window where this light was kind of pouring in, and it was illuminating these four bicycles hung upside down in a corner that truly didn’t look like (they) had been touched or certainly not ridden since
The film explores “the concept of bikes as a symbol of freedom and coming of age,” said Walls, emphasizing how the importance of bicycles changes throughout people’s lives. “Adolescent experiences sort of revolve around a bicycle, often being the first means you have to explore further out into the neighborhood to go do things with friends that you couldn’t before.”
As Rudy restores the bikes, Walls said the film evokes nostalgia, encouraging viewers to restore what used to bring them joy.
“It might be picking up something from your childhood and revisiting something that you used to really love,” Walls said.
Filming took place in Noblesville and Cicero on and off for two years from January 2022 to April 2024, with a crew of six to eight people.
Walls said he plans for the film to be available in the fall on the Hoosier documentary streaming platform Hoodox, which he co-founded in 2021 with 12 Stars Media co-founder Zach Downs.
DISPATCH
Submissions due for county artists exhibit — Hamilton County artists, and those who live slightly beyond, are invited to submit work by July 26 for the 2024 Juried Exhibit of Hamilton County Artists. The Fishers Arts Council expanded the boundary for eligible artists this year to two miles beyond Hamilton County. The top prize is $1,000 for Best in Show plus a solo exhibit in 2025 in the Art Gallery at City Hall. For more, visit fishersartscouncil.org/blog.
Walls
Rudy
BATHROOMS
BATHROOMS
Foreigner to visit Ruoff
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youcurent.com
For Foreigner keyboardist Michael Bluestein, the time is right to slow down a bit.
CONCERT
“We’re in the middle of a two-year farewell tour,” Bluestein said. “We’re not saying goodbye completely but basically we’re entering a new chapter where we’ll not be traveling as extensively as we have been because it’s been about nine months a year for about 20 years. It’s going to be considerably less, so this is a full-on, going out with a bang during these two years.”
Foreigner has paused its official farewell tour concerts to perform a Renegades and Juke Box Heroes summer tour with Styx. The tour will visit Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville at 6:45 p.m. July 26. John Waite serves as the opening act.
Foreigner brought its farewell tour with Loverboy to Noblesville in July 2024, shortly after the tour started. The tour with Styx will feature a few less songs than the farewell tour, but will include all the major hits.
“It’s a leaner, meaner set,” Bluestein said. “Instead of 100 minutes, this is closer to 80 minutes.”
Foreigner will be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Oct. 19 in Cleveland as part of the class of 2024.
“It’s a buzz, for sure. A lot of people think it’s long overdue,” said Bluestein, who joined Foreigner in 2008. “It’s a thrill and it looks like we’ll all be there. It will be a nice reunion for the older members as well as newer members. It’s kind of hallowed ground and pretty amazing to be inducted to a prestigious institute. I think it’s going to be kind of a then-and-now scenario.”
Mick Jones, the band’s founder and guitarist, and former lead singer Lou Gramm co-wrote most of the band’s hit songs. Jones, the last original member, hasn’t been able to tour with the band since 2022 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
Bluestein, 55, is looking forward to spending more time with his 8-month old daughter.
“I’m a first-time dad. I’m looking forward to being a dad more full time, or at least half time,” Bluestein said.
Bluestein started playing classical music and then began performing more jazz in high school. Before joining Foreigner, he toured with Enrique Iglesias, Anastacia Lyn Newkirk and Boz Scaggs.
“Versatility is something I was shooting for to have a lot of opportunities and be employed in different situations,” he said. “It’s served me well. I’ve always loved different styles of music. Duke Ellington used to say there are two kinds of music, don’t worry about genres, there is good and bad. I feel Foreigner music is really good music.”
Bluestein, who also serves as a record producer, writes music for TV and movies. Bluestein and his girlfriend Tina Terry perform as a duo called Tina Blue.
For more, visit livenation.com.
FREE EVENT THE NOBLESVILLE STREET DANCE
Feeling strapped for cash but still want to have some fun? Each week, Current helps you find things to do without breaking the bank. Here’s what’s on tap this week:
The Noblesville Street Dance is a family-friendly community event in downtown Noblesville from 6 to 11 p.m. July 20. Admission is free. There will be a free kids zone and live music. Food vendors will be onsite with items available for purchase.
OTHER FREE AREA EVENTS
LATE NIGHT ON MAIN: The free street party begins at 7 p.m. July 20 with food and beverage vendors opening for business. The stage where the band Country Summer will perform will be located on West Main Street and Range Line Road near The Olive Mill in Carmel.
Michael Bluestein has been the keyboardist for Foreigner since 2008. (Photo courtesy of Krishta Photography)
Brewing up community, culture, connections
Commentary by Mark LaFay
For many people, coffee isn’t simply a morning ritual. It’s a way to connect with others. Making it is a craft to be mastered and a reflection of the community’s evolving tastes. Through conversations with several roasters in Hamilton County, I’ve discovered how coffee has become a cornerstone of community life here.
Let’s start with Indie Coffee Roasters in Carmel. In 2018, Diane McAndrews opened Indie Coffee Roasters on Main Street. Since then, it has expanded to multiple locations, including a second in Carmel at North End, at Purdue University and in Noblesville.
“Consumer interest is growing and people are getting more curious about coffee,” McAndrews said. “It is very culinary. We don’t serve food. It was our strategy from Day 1. We focus on coffee and community, knowing people.”
Jeremy Balch at Geist Coffee also emphasizes quality and community engagement. He took over an existing shop in 2018 and revitalized it. He uses beans from Utopian Coffee Roasters, known for their direct sourcing from farmers.
“Over the past few years, customers have been asking deeper questions about coffee origins and processing,” Balch said. “Our culture is shifting from blind consumerism to educated purchasing. Farmers are now able to invest in better equipment and processing methods that truly affect quality and taste in the cup.”
Allie Commons, founder and owner of RIVET Coffee Bar & Roastery in Westfield, said she started roasting beans even before the shop opened in May 2021.
“We would roast beans in the ‘garage’ while the shop was being built out,” Commons said. “Neighbors would smell the roasting, see the activity and it built a bit of buzz prior to opening,”
The staff often encourages customers to check out the roastery. Educational cupping classes are also an interactive opportunity to teach customers about the nuances of artisanal coffee.
MOTW Coffee & Pastries, established in 2021, with locations in Carmel, Fishers and Indianapolis, has made education a cornerstone of its business. With a foundation rooted in community and a commitment to local causes, MOTW trains its baristas
to share their extensive coffee knowledge with customers.
“MOTW’s foundation has always been about community,” Nasif Rahman with MOTW said. “Our baristas go through extensive training and testing to be prepared to give guests a great experience.”
Ken Julian of Julian Coffee Roasters in Zionsville has seen the evolution of coffee culture firsthand. Founded in 2004, Julian Coffee Roasters initially operated several coffee shops but now focuses on wholesale and online retail. It ensures quality through state-of-the-art roasting equipment and direct trade relationships with farmers in Honduras.
“Coffee is similar to wine in that every coffee can have a variety of flavor profiles based on how it is processed at the farms and how it is roasted,” said Julian, noting that his shop’s subscription service introduces customers to new micro-lot coffees each month, keeping things fresh and exciting.
These personal stories reveal quite a bit about our local coffee culture. The common thread running through each roaster is their passion for education, quality and community engagement. Whether it’s offering cupping classes where consumers learn to drink and smell coffee, inviting customers into the roastery, or training baristas to be coffee educators, these shops are fostering a deeper connection between consumers and the coffee they drink.
COFFEE
Geist Coffee, 10110 Brooks School Rd, ephasizes quality and community engagement. (Photo courtesy of Geist Coffee)
Park provides ‘passive nature’
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Rumbling traffic along U.S. 31 and Ind. 38 can’t drown out the peaceful tranquility of MacGregor Park.
A passive nature preserve, MacGregor Park is in a conservation easement, making it protected land, immune from development. The 96-acre, dog-friendly park was donated by Sheila MacGregor Beals to Westfield Washington Township in 1999. Born in 1909 in Scotland, MacGregor Beals moved to the United States following World War II and lived on the property. The preserve’s 3 miles of trails follow the regular path she took while walking the property.
Along the prairie and wetlands trails in the northern portion of the park, visitors will find a Peace Pole — a monument that displays the message “Let Peace Prevail on Earth” in four languages.
Blossoms are plentiful in the preserve, including beebalm, cone flowers, blackeyed Susans, butterfly weed, milkweed, buttonbush, false sunflowers, crownvetch, raspberry bushes, prairie roses, daisies and clover.
Visitors can bring a natural material ornament to leave on the Christmas tree near the northwest portion of the property. The origins of the tree are not fully known, only that a patron placed an ornament on an evergreen in 2004, and ever since, other hikers have added to that collection.
MacGregor Park is owned and operated by Westfield Washington Township. Learn more at westfieldwashingtontwp.us/162/ MacGregor-Park.
TAKE A HIKE!
MacGregor Park is at Ind. 38 and U.S. 31 in Westfield Washington Township. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Lost art of scamming
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
Have you noticed that scamming is attracting fewer and fewer people who are really good at it? I am beginning to note a real lack of know-how in their approach. In the past week, I have had dozens of messages in both my email inbox and my spam folder that lack the expertise required to be successful at being a fraud. Here’s one I received the other day (NOTE: ALL THE SCAM TEXTS WILL BE IN CAPS):
HUMOR
DEAR DICK WOLFSIE:
YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS HAVE REPORTED DICK WOLFSIE FOR PRETENDING TO BE YOU. WE WILL REVIEW YOUR PROFILE AND LET YOU KNOW IF IT VIOLATES OUR COMMUNITY STANDARDS. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.
The nerve of me, pretending to be me. Who do they think I am? Me? I hope I’m doing a good job and not some cheap impersonation.
Here’s another: WE DETECTED SOMETHING UNUSUAL ABOUT YOUR SIGN-IN TO YOUR AOL. IF IT WAS YOU, YOU ARE ALL SET.
All set for what? Another 30 years of AOL and paying for this outdated service? That’s also the end of their text. There is no place to click or call, and nowhere do they ask for personal information. What kind of ineffective rip-off is this? The scamming profession has failed to attract the necessary talent to keep the art of the swindling business alive.
Here’s another area where these con men (and women) are slipping. These are from my spam folder”
• YOUR HULU ACCOUNT MAY BE IN JEOPARDY OF BEING SUSPENDED. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
• YOUR NETFLIX ACCOUNT COULD BE ENDING. GO TO THIS WEBSITE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
• YOUR SIRIUS ACCOUNT MIGHT BE EXPIRING. CALL THIS NUMBER.
“The scamming profession has failed to attract the necessary talent to keep the art of the swindling business alive.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
And my favorite:
• YOU ARE IN DANGER OF OWING $10,000 IN BACK TAXES. CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION.
What a weaselly approach to swindling people. What’s with using words like MAY, COULD and MIGHT? Do you think a Chicago gangster in the 1920s would say to a bar owner, “If you don’t pay the kickback money, we might come back with a sledgehammer, and there is a small possibility that you would be in jeopardy of having your knees crushed. “
If you are going to perpetrate a scam, you need to give your targets the heebie-jeebies. Let me help you would-be criminals out. Here’s a good example of how to do it:
DEAR ED,
YOU OWE $10,000 IN BACK TAXES. WE ALSO HAVE YOUR GRANDSON TIED TO A LAWN CHAIR IN OUR BASEMENT. AND TO MAKE MATTERS EVEN WORSE, YOUR NETFLIX ACCOUNT EXPIRES IN 20 MINUTES. CLICK HERE TO KEEP YOUR ACCOUNT FROM BEING SUSPENDED,
Yes, you slime buckets. Take a course on how to write convincingly. Hone your craft and be the best you can be. For more information. Click here or call: 993-555-0100. Or else.
Dick
Wolfsie
is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
A little harmless talk?
Commentary by Terry Anker
Born the fourth of nine siblings, Kim Wayans found fame as the recurring character Benita Buttrell on the early 1990s TV sketch comedy
ESSAY
“In Living Color,” which was created and produced by older brother Keenen Ivory Wayans. Her catchphrase elevated the segments onto the national stage and into our collective vernacular. “But I ain’t one to gossip, so you ain’t heard it from me,” would naturally precede some of the most toe-curling and juicy chinwags recently overheard in the neighborhood. Ms. Buttrell made it her business intimately to know everyone else’s business. She understood how to use this information to her own advantage and did.
It was all harmless enough, even funny. The skits poked fun at the bride whose choice to wear white may not have been related to purity, or the big spender whose gold watch was likely plated. She was the voice of truth, at least a sort of veracity. Still, her reliability stood in all things except for her claims that she
herself wasn’t a gossip. We all got a laugh from the universality of it all. Who doesn’t know someone like Buttrell and her deserving targets?
Is all tattling harmless, even if a bit tasteless? The Supreme Court of the United States has sprung an unprecedented leak of late. Its classified discussions are not being kept so confidential and appear in the media before adjudicated. So, when does a “leak” become an intentional political tool and the secrets used to gain advantage? Sharing corporate privileged news for benefit is called insider trading and will land the gossip in jail. Martha Stewart can attest. Is there likewise a reason to cage the judicial jay birds? We all use information to gain elevated status, but when does the harm move from middle school busybody to prison jailbird?
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent. com.
LIFESTYLE
*More pictures available upon serious requests
Unique Custom Log Cabin For Sale
Beautiful custom one of kind hand crafted artistically designed square log cabin sitting on 86 acres in Switzerland county Indiana. Property is just off 129, 15 minutes from Vevay, Indiana. Cabin sits on top of the property with a pond view. Full walkout basement with 30’ x 12’ wide porch. There are 2 ponds appx ¾ acre on the property for your fishin pleasure. Creek adjacent to the roadside that you cross for entrance into the property. Half mile gravel driveway. Four wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended. There are trails for riding atvs or just enjoying a hike around the property.
Nice spacious front and back covered porch 34’ x 12’.
has an open concept style. One full bath in the main level with a Custom cedar king bed and custom cedar couch and chair. Main level overlooks a pond with multiple large windows. Living room area has a propane fireplace faced with creek rock. Poplar saw milled log floors, Full kitchen with custom hickory kitchen cabinets all on main level. Loft upstairs with a half bath.
recreational vehicles etc.
Bonus smaller cabin!!! - small hunters cabin/lodge with a 16.8 front porch with small garage appx 16 x 16.
Bonus Bonus! - electric hookups for campers at the base of the property across from the creek
This property is a must see dream home for the ones that want to enjoy the great outdoors!
Enjoy the wildlife with your morning cup of joe. Turkeys and deer visit often for your viewing pleasure. If you’re a hunter then this property is made for you as well. Permanent tree stands made within the property or just for viewing wildlife. Sportsmans paradise!
*Rising Sun Casino - 29 miles - 45 minutes FOR
*Pre-approval before showing required *Serious inquiries only please
Cabin has 3 levels with 2 full bathrooms and 1 half bath. New green metal roof December 2023. Main level
Downstairs open concept with full bath. Downstairs kitchen area has a double sink with lower cabinets and fridge. Sleeping area has a full-size custom cedar bed and fireplace with washer and dryer located downstairs. The downstairs room walks out on the back porch which overlooks the pond. Cistern water tank holds 2,000 gallons. Water is available in town for you to haul and propane furnace. 24 x 40 Barn located just off the side of the cabin for storage of large equipment,
*Attractions close by Belterra Casino 13 miles - 23 minutes
*Historic Madison IN 20 miles
37. Lessens
38. Marion County city
41. Missionary’s target, perhaps
44. Indiana State Prison weapon
45. Estate beneficiary
49. Poker declaration
51. Pacer’s Cleveland foe, briefly
53. Indianapolis Bridge Center card
54. Marion County city
57. Cut with a beam
59. Noblesville lodge member
60. Like most Pacers players
61. Capital of Japan
62. ___-friendly
64. Marion County city
67. Blown Away Hair Salon job
68. Jousting need
69. Usual force on Earth, for short 70. Back talk 71. Take-out order?
72. Fiddling emperor Down 1. Cul-de-___ 2. Wisely cautious
3. Set one’s sights on 4. Dining room furniture 5. Prefix for “graph”
100% 7. Indy Zoo sounds
Daybreak 9. Whirlpools 10. Playground game
11. Writes hurriedly
12. “Have we started yet?”
13. Overnight flights
18. Footnote abbr. 22. At no time 24. Fannie ___ 26. Life’s conclusion
29. ___ de cologne
30. Belfry Theatre play parts
33. Bygone IND carrier
35. LBJ’s veep
36. It’s a long story
39. Beginning
40. Indiana Fertility Institute cells
41. I-69 multicar accidents
42. World’s fourth-largest inland body of water
43. I-69 rubberneckers
46. “Piece of cake!”
47. Become frozen
48. Fishers HS color
50. Facilitate
52. YouTube journal
55. Angela Buchman weather forecast, maybe
56. Justice Kagan
58. “Rubber Capital of the World”
61. “Of ___ I Sing”
63. Real-estate ad abbr. 65. IV units 66. Sense of self Answers on Page 23
4A STATE CHAMPIONS
Lawrence Central Girls Basketball
MARION COUNTY 4A CHAMPIONS
Lawrence North Baseball
MARION COUNTY ATHLETE of the YEAR
Bryson Luter
Lawrence Central
4A REGIONALS CHAMPIONS
Semi-State Runner Up
Lawrence North Boys Basketball
A Winning Tradition.
STRONG SCHOOLS. STRONG COMMUNITY. STRONG STAFF. Now Hiring All Positions.
With over 16,000 students and 2,300 employees, the MSD of Lawrence Township offers a wide range of opportunities Pre-K through Grade 12. We are currently seeking high quality candidates for all positions.
The MSD of Lawrence Township provides competitive compensation, opportunity for professional growth, continuing education hours, and a comprehensive benefits package.
View current openings at LTschools.org and apply today.
