The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of fun here in Lawrence. September is packed with opportunities to enjoy our city’s vibrant Fort Ben Cultural Campus.
Saturday, September 14, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. In partnership with Arts for Lawrence, the city will host this year’s 6th Annual BBQ & Blues on the Fort Ben Cultural Campus, meaning you won’t have to pay the Fort Harrison State Park entrance fee to get your BBQ on.
Recommended attire: stretchy pants! BBQ options will be delicious and plentiful, and you’re going to want to try them all. But it won’t just be people in tight pants singing the blues, as the event stage will feature lots of local blues talent. Wear a decent pair of sneakers and you can visit Fort Harrison State Park afterwards to hike off all that BBQ!
Saturday, September 21, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. – One week later, the Fort Ben Cultural Campus will host one of the largest and most popular Oktober Fests in central Indiana, when the City of Lawrence and Indiana On Tap present Lagers in Lawrence Oktoberfest. Tickets are available at lagersinlawrence.com. Attendees will be allowed pours of more than 100+ craft adult beverages, and those who want a bigger pour can bring a bigger beer stein!
Recommended attire: lederhosen, of course! Unless you’re a wiener dog, in which case you should wear your favorite hot dog costume and participate in the wiener dog races! Singing, dancing, feats of strength, and soft pretzels – Lagers in Lawrence has it all.
September 28, noon – 4 p.m. – Experience more cultural delights the following Saturday with Día Latino de Lawrence sponsored by the City of Lawrence and MSD of Lawrence Township at the Fort Ben Cultural Campus. This vibrant community event celebrates Latino culture through food, dance, and art, and features live performances, community vendors, and local organizations.
Recommended attire: clothes you can move in – at Día Latino de Lawrence, the rhythm is gonna get you!
In addition to these events, Fort Ben Farmer’s Market will continue at the Cultural Campus every Thursday from 4-7 p.m. through October 3rd.
Fun is Brewing this Fall at The Fort!
IN 2024 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Mayor Deborah Whitfield
Oktoberfest
COMMUNITY
State official breaks down Open Door Law
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A one-person state agency is tasked with helping state and local government officials maintain transparency and that one person has been doing the job for the past 11 years.
PUBLIC ACCESS
Luke Britt was appointed as the state’s nonpartisan Public Access Counselor in 2013 by then-Gov. Mike Pence. The Lawrence resident spoke about the state’s Open Door Law during the Aug. 20 Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon.
Britt said his role has been to ensure that Hoosiers are informed about what their governments do with the public’s money.
“I draw a salary from the state; I have programming that I spend money on,” he said. “Every single dollar that I spend as a government official — that came from someone’s pocket who earned it and remitted it to the state in the form of a tax. In order that I be a good steward of that trust and of those resources, I make sure that my daily operations and what I do on a regular basis is transparent, so they know they’re getting the benefit of the bargain as far as what I do and also that I’m the right person for the job.”
Britt said that same transparency is important for all government agencies, state and local. One way he makes sure Hoosiers understand the Open Door Law is through outreach and education.
“Education is the No. 1 thing,” he said. “I love to go out and talk statewide to folks. I’ve been in (the) four corners of the state and everywhere in between. It is a joy and delight to talk to people face-to-face — that is kind of my wheelhouse. I make sure I get out about 50 times a year to various different communities and it’s a pleasure to be here in my hometown now.”
Britt also reviews and investigates complaints from citizens who believe the state’s Open Door Law has been violated by public officials. Most of the time, he said, his investigations show officials are doing what they’re supposed to do, but sometimes he issues an opinion of noncompliance.
To keep compliance problems at a minimum, Britt said he acts as a resource to not only the public but to public officials. The PAC website has resources about how officials should conduct meetings, what
counts as a meeting and what records need to be made available to the public. He also is available by phone for people with questions about public access rules.
“I think people like it that they can call up a state agency and get the agency head really quickly,” he said. “About 55 percent or so of all those requests for assistance actually come from other public officials. So, that’s satisfying as well, knowing that they’re trying to do the right thing.”
Britt said transparency can seem like a burden to government officials because it takes time and effort, but it’s important to show the public how and why decisions are made.
“We just have to go through certain steps to make sure that everything’s on the up-and-up,” he said. “I tell elected officials, ‘Use this as an opportunity to show off a little bit, to show your voters and your constituents that, yeah, you made the right choice in putting me in office, and here’s why.’”
Britt said the Open Door Law applies to public meetings of government agencies. That includes not only city councils and school boards, but plan commissions, finance committees, zoning boards and any other government-related bodies.
“What the Open Door Law says is that anytime a majority or a quorum are discussing or deliberating or taking action on public business, then that discussion has to be open to the public,” he said.
There are a few exceptions. If a government body is discussing a lawsuit, for ex-
ample, the Open Door Law allows members to meet in executive session. But that meeting still needs to be advertised so the public knows it’s happening.
A majority of a board could gather for a social event without notifying the public, he added, as long as they don’t talk about public business. Even then, though, it’s better to err on the side of caution and avoid any appearance of violating the Open Door Law.
Britt said public records also need to be easily accessible and agencies need to document pretty much everything they do. He noted that the public can access most local and state financial records through the Indiana Gateway portal, gateway.ifionline.org.
Alternatively, citizens can go to their city, town or county offices and request documents. Some documents are not public information, however, such as health records.
Britt said whenever there’s a question about whether to provide information or meet publicly, government should err on the side of transparency. He also had advice for the public.
“Go to meetings, make public records requests, know your way around some of those online resources like Gateway, make sure that I’m held accountable, make sure that the city’s held accountable,” he said. “I think that when there’s apathy on the part of the constituency, that allows government to cut corners and to run amok a little bit.”
For more, visit in.gov/pac.
September 3, 2024
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Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt spoke during an Aug. 20 Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce luncheon. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
Play Lacrosse!
Boys & Girls | K - 12th Grade
Adult Mens Division
Indoors @ Grand Park
Fall League Starts October 28th
All Experience Levels Welcome
Learn more at mcflylacrosse.com
Lawrence moving forward with Trades District
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
The City of Lawrence is taking steps toward completing the first phase of the long-planned Lawrence Trades District development project, including expansion of a street to provide a more direct path from Pendleton Pike to Franklin Road.
DEVELOPMENT
Economic Development Director Keith Johnson gave an update during an Aug. 22 Lawrence Redevelopment Commission meeting, He said Mayor Deb Whitfield decided to prioritize the Records Street expansion project. The city will apply for grant funding to pay for the road expansion, which will include purchasing property.
The City of Lawrence Trades District has been an ongoing economic development plan since 2016. The 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 initial development already has taken place.
A 2021 update of plans for the district called for road and utilities improvements, along with a screen wall to reduce noise from the rail tracks. The plans also call for securing additional real estate in the area to redevelop. The first phase of the longterm master plan will cost an estimated $15 million.
In a phone interview after the meeting, Johnson said the Records Street expansion was partially designed before Whitfield and her administration took office early this year. He said the administration has been figuring out how and whether to prioritize the project.
“And we’ve decided, yeah, we’re going to pursue it,” he said, noting that the process to get matching federal grant funding through the Metropolitan Planning Organization will take some time.
A matching grant would pay for 80 percent of project costs. The city would have to issue bonds to fund the city’s portion, if the application is successful. Johnson said he will submit a grant application by mid-September. A bond would go before the Lawrence Common Council for approval. Johnson said the Redevelopment Commission will need to amend the Trades District master plan to specify which parcels it wants to acquire for development. The updated plan also will go to the Lawrence Common Council for approval, but he said that will take a couple months.
Johnson said he’s excited to move forward with the Trades District project, which he hopes will attract more employment opportunities within Lawrence.
“The idea is that you’ve got to start somewhere in terms of bringing more jobs and residents to the Pike,” he said. “It’s the gateway to our city.”
For more, visit chooselawrence.com.
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)
The Lawrence Common Council’s midmonth meeting Aug. 21 included a budget update. (File photo)
Council hears budget update
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
The City of Lawrence’s budget deficit is not in the millions, but there still will need to be some new appropriations, according to City Controller Humphrey Nagila.
GOVERNMENT
Nagila spoke to the Lawrence Common Council Aug. 21, and while he had some updates about the budget, he said a full presentation will have to wait until the council’s first meeting in September.
During the council’s Aug. 5 meeting, Nagila said city expenses had been higher than anticipated. Through June, the city had spent about 64 percent of its appropriated $27.4 million general fund. Expenses should have been closer to 50 percent at that time. The 14 percent in additional spending equals $3.8 million.
However, Nagila said on Aug. 21, appropriations needed to balance the 2024 budget should be less than $1 million. He did not have exact numbers to share at that time.
In other matters, the council approved a resolution honoring Cole Hocker, a former Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township student who recently won an Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Hocker grew up in Indianapolis’ Geist area. He attended Fall Creek Valley Middle School and graduated from Cathedral High School. He won gold in the 1,500-meter race.
The resolution was the only action item on the council’s agenda for Aug. 21.
The next Lawrence Common Council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St. The meeting will be on a Tuesday rather than the usual Monday meeting due to the Labor Day holiday.
Council meetings are streamed live on the city’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ cityoflawrencein; and its YouTube channel, youtube.com/@visitlawrenceindiana.
Surprise invoices discovered from ’23 Lawrence paving
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Some City of Lawrence road maintenance work in 2023 didn’t go through the proper approval process, resulting in an unexpected expense of more than $100,000 for the Public Works Department’s budget.
GOVERNMENT
Lawrence Public Works Director Chris Wilburn told the Board of Public Works Aug. 22 that the original contract with Midwest Paving was properly approved, but two change orders — additional expenses on top of the contractual agreement — received informal approval from the previous administration’s city engineer. The engineer at that time also served as the public works director.
Board Secretary Renea Rafala said the city apparently received the two change orders from Midwest Paving in October 2023 and the company got approval for those expenses via an email from the engineer. The work was completed and invoices were sent.
“We were processing the final invoices and there wasn’t enough money,” Rafala said. “So, we went digging and found these two change orders that had never been approved by the Board of Public Works. I can’t request a purchase order without (approval).”
Wilburn said the department plans to establish more stringent internal processes to make sure the city doesn’t find itself in a similar situation again.
“There will have to be checks and balances, because this is such an egregious error on the part of the Department of Pub-
The Lawrence Public Works Department recently discovered about $100,000 in paving-related expenses from 2023 that didn’t go through the proper approval process. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lawrence)
lic Works and we take full responsibility,” he said, noting that he wanted to be transparent about what happened. “We want to make sure it’s on the record and it goes through the appropriate process.”
Rafala said the original contract was for $1,735,317. The first change order, which did go through the proper approval process, was for $256,024. The next two, which were not approved first by the board, were for $89,574 and $15,408.
Midwest Paving was the city’s contractor for numerous projects in 2023, including resurfacing various streets within Lawrence.
The Board of Public Works voted unanimously Aug. 22 to belatedly approve the two change orders.
The board’s next meeting is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 12 at Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St. The board’s meetings also are streamed live on the city’s Facebook page, facebook.com/cityoflawrencein; and its YouTube channel, youtube.com/@ visitlawrenceindiana.
EVENT
Watch party fundraiser benefits DV survivors
By Tirzah Rowland tirzah@youarecurrent.com
Fishers-based More than a Phone, a nonprofit that donates cellphones to domestic violence support facilities, will host its seventh annual fundraiser from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, the Indianapolis Colts training facility, 7001 W. 56th St. in Indianapolis. Advance tickets are required.
“This event is really important to us because we only have one fundraiser a year, one annual event, and we try to make it fun and lighthearted,” said Julie Moorehead, More than a Phone’s founder and executive director. “But at the base, we’re still talking about a problem that affects one in four women, one in seven men, and that’s domestic violence.”
Called More than a Tailgate, the family-friendly event will feature entertainment by DJ Gabby Love and 15-year-old DJ Reese Ray; food catered by Ritz Charles’ Simply Served; and two large screens to view the Indianapolis Colts play the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Guests will have the opportunity to participate in silent and live auctions, have access to the Colts training field and participate in activities for all ages, including bounce houses.
Moorehead said silent auction baskets typically range from kid-friendly themes like Nerf and American Girl to Pacer’s tickets or vacation packages. Donations are still being accepted.
All proceeds go directly to More than a Phone. Its goal is to raise $230,000.
Live and silent auctions are part of the More than a Tailgate fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of More than a Phone)
More than a Phone distributes up to 5,000 phones to 125 domestic violence support facilities nationwide.
“What we’re able to do at More than a Phone is provide survivors with a smartphone that’s reliable and safe and four months of data service, talk and text so that they can communicate with family, friends, counselors, work, schools, the people that they need to and not have the fear of being tracked or stalked by a potential abuser,” Moorehead said. “Sometimes, that’s one of the last things that a survivor needs to do to break free from her abuser.”
More than a Phone partners with Verizon to provide service for donated phones. Moorehead said her team of four is thankful for several corporate sponsors.
“What we really need is a lot of small supporters and to spread the word,” she said.
Tickets for More than a Tailgate are $25 for kids and $75 for adults. Adult tickets include bar drink selections.
To purchase tickets or donate, visit morethanaphone.org
DISPATCHES
IU Health to open offices in McCordsville — IU Health is opening a new location in McCordsville, an outpatient physician office development that will offer primary care, OB/GYN and cardiovascular services. The opening is set for 4 p.m. Sept. 4 at 5986 Main St., McCordsville. The new location is part of IU Health’s $300 million project that includes a significant expansion of the IU Health Saxony campus and services and the addition of offsite, outpatient access to primary care and specialists. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the new facility will be available.
5K to benefit transplant patient — A 5K run/walk to help Adriel, a 3-year-old Indianapolis-area child who had a heart transplant is set for 8 a.m. Sept. 14, at Roy G. Holland Memorial Park, 1 Park Dr., Fishers. Adriel recently received a heart transplant at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Funds raised through the Children’s Organ Transplant Association event will assist with transplant-related expenses. A virtual option is available. To register, visit cota.org/cotaforadriel/events.
Fishers HS wide receiver a star for all seasons
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Fishers High School senior wide receiver JonAnthony Hall’s first love was basketball.
“I feel like I picked that up first, but football came along pretty fast and took over,” Hall said.
Hall, however, enjoys the best of both worlds.
The three-sport standout was a key starter on the Tigers’ Class 4A boys basketball state championship team in March. Then he helped FHS capture the IHSAA boys state track and field championship in June. Hall finished second in the long jump and was on the third-place 4x100 relay.
“That thrill was unreal,” Hall said. “The buzz around the school and support was amazing and you just had to be there to experience the whole thing. It was so unique.”
Even though he has verbally committed to Stanford University to play football, Hall plans to play both sports this season be-
MEET JONANTHONY HALL
Favorite athlete: LeBron James Favorite movie: “Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse” Favorite subject: Strategic marketing
Favorite music genre: Rhythm and blues
cause he doesn’t want to miss a thing.
“I think in long jump I have a really good chance of being a state champion, and our basketball team is looking really solid again this year, so there’s definitely potential to go back-to-back,” he said.
FHS football coach Curt Funk is confident in Hall’s ability
“JonAnthony Hall is not only a great player, but also a tremendous person,”
Funk said. “He is a leader in our school, a strong student in the classroom and an elite three-sport athlete. JonAnthony Hall is the total package when it comes to student-athlete.”
Hall has a grade point average of 3.85. He hasn’t decided on a major yet at Stanford.
Fishers High School wide receiver JonAnthony Hall has committed to Stanford University. (Photo courtesy of Curt Funk)
COVER STORY
GOLDEN MOMENT
Former Geist resident draws attention with stunning Olympic victory
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
While headlines centered on Cole Hocker shocking the track and field world by winning the Olympic gold medal in the 1,500-meter run, there were those who knew he could do it.
Although Hocker had never beaten Olympic favorites Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway and Great Britain’s Josh Kerr, Hocker — a former Geist-area resident and 2019 Cathedral High School graduate — said people in his camp and training partners were the least surprised about his victory.
“It’s some of my closest friends who, after the fact, told me that they had been thinking I could win long before I believed I could win,” he said.
Hocker, a 21-to-1 long shot, won the 1,500 Aug 6 in Paris in an Olympic record time of 3 minutes, 27.65 seconds. Kerr finished second and Ingebrigtsen placed fourth. American Yared Nuguse was third.
“I think what surprised me the most was that this was my first time executing my race exactly how I wanted to on the world stage in a global championship,” Hocker said. “In previous years, I just did not have the fitness to run with the best guys in the world. But this year, I knew I had the fitness, but I had yet to truly prove it on the day. I knew I was capable of a race that fast but it’s one thing to say it and it’s another to actually do it.”
Hocker enjoyed the attention focused on Ingebrigtsen and Kerr.
“I think the headlines not being centered around me definitely didn’t hurt me,” Hocker said. “Although I had a feeling that I was being left out of the conversation, it was again a matter of proving it on the day.”
Hocker said he has improved year by year, but there have been big dips in training because of injury in each of the past three years. He finished sixth in the 1,500 meters in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
“After Tokyo, the next season was plagued by injury and I missed the U.S. world team that year, and then in 2023, I had a very truncated season where I qualified for the World Championships but was not in the shape that I knew I could be in,” he said. “This year was uninterrupted by injury or sickness and I think that is
why I had such high expectations for this Olympics.”
Hocker said the attention has created endorsement opportunities. Following his gold-medal performance, he appeared on the “Today” show on NBC and “SportsCenter” on ESPN.
“I’m looking forward to fully capitalizing on what I’ve done in this sport and reaping
all of the benefits of my accomplishments,” Hocker said.
Hocker, 23, was second in the IHSAA state cross country meet in 2017 and won the state title in 2018. He was state champion in the 800 and 1,600 in the IHSAA state track and field meet.
Jason Moyars, who was Hocker’s assistant track coach at Cathedral and assis-
ANOTHER REMATCH
Cole Hocker has never backed away from a challenge.
“I’m looking forward to racing the best guys in the world as many times as I can,” he said. “I still have a lot of goals in this sport that I know I need to continue to work extremely hard for. The guys on the circuit right now are the best to push me to do that.”
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who finished fourth in the Olympics in the 1,500 meter race, won and Hocker was second in an Aug. 22 race in Lausanne, Switzerland,
On Sept 5, Hocker, Great Britain’s Josh Kerr, American Yared Nuguse and Ingebrigtsen will compete in a Zurich race.
All should keep Hocker on the path for his next goals.
“I would love to make a legit attempt at attacking the world record, but it’s something you cannot take lightly and you must 100 percent prepare for,” Hocker said. “As far as 2028 goes, in the athlete’s mind that’s a lifetime away and I’m focusing on tomorrow and the next day, and so I can’t really allow my mind to think four years ahead, but it would be an incredible honor to compete in my third Olympic Games in my home country.”
The 2028 Olympics will be in Los Angeles.
tant cross country coach, said he realized how special Hocker was during the summer before his senior year.
“We went to a national meet with a distance medley team, and we were 12th when he got the baton and he got us all the way to third,” Moyars said. “That’s when I started to see how special a runner he was. His senior year he continued to excel. Freshman year at (the University of) Oregon is when I really saw that true talent that came out with winning the indoor 1,500 and 3,000 that year.”
Hocker ran for Oregon from 2019 to 2021, winning the NCAA outdoor title in the 1,500 meters in 2021. He left Oregon early and turned pro that September.
Hocker’s father, Kyle Hocker, ran at Lawrence North High School, but said he was usually at the back of the pack.
“He’s definitely a student of racing, so I never have an input. I only tell him one thing before the race. I just say, ‘Run fast,’” said Kyle, a former Lawrence North teacher. “It takes all the emotion out of it to just run fast and I think that’s what he does.”
ON THE COVER: Cole Hocker celebrates his gold medal victory in the Olympics in Paris. (Photo courtesy of USA Track and Field)
Cole Hocker celebrates his gold medal victory in the Olympics in Paris. (Photos courtesy of USA Track and Field)
Join Us for a Dedication Ceremony and Open House To commemorate the completion of our High School renovations. • Sunday, October 6th •
Lawrence Central High School • 7300 E 56th St. Dedication 1:30PM • Open House 1:30PM-3:30PM
Lawrence North High School • 7802 Hague Road Dedication 2:30PM • Open House 2:30PM-4:30PM
September 15, 2024 12pm - 6pm
Come Enjoy Live Music and Barbeque at the Fort Ben Cultural Campus
Lynyrd Skynyrd forges on to continue legacy
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Lynyrd Skynyrd began The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour in 2018, but soon decided to forge on.
Then when Gary Rossington, the last of the band’s founding members, died in March 2023, some speculated the band would call it quits soon.
“Gary never wanted to see the band’s legacy and, of course, the music, over time fade,” guitarist Rickey Medlocke said. “He wanted Johnny (Van Zant) and I to keep the music alive. With millions of fans, he just thought it was well worth it for us to carry it on. He all but made us promise. Here we are, we’re out there and having a great time with it.”
The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, featuring ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd, returns at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 to Ruoff Music Center. The two groups played together at Ruoff in August 2023.
“One thing that is important when you carry on the legacy of a band is being committed to the songs and playing them like they are supposed to be played,” Medlocke said. “The integrity of the song has to be kept. If you play it great and right at what the original band did live, I think the fans love the music.”
During the band’s song “Skynyrd Nation,” there is a line about three generations of fans.
“I look out and I see four or five generations of fans,” Medlocke said. “When you see fans come out from 8 years old to 80, you can’t argue with it. What that is about is iconic songs. The songs will be out here a lot longer than we all are. Maybe in a thousand years if the old Earth is still here, someone will dig up a jar and it will have Lynyrd Skynyrd music in it. I just know people want to hear the songs no matter how many times they’ve heard them. They love coming out to experience it live.”
Medlocke’s first stint with Lynyrd Skynyrd was from 1971 to 1972, when he played drums and sang lead on a few songs. Not feeling he was a strong
enough drummer, he left to rejoin his previous band, Blackfoot, where he was the lead singer and guitarist.
Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, died in a plane crash in 1977 and everyone else suffered serious injuries. The band reformed in 1987 with Johnny Van Zant replacing his brother as lead singer. Medlocke, 74, returned to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996.
Medlocke said when asked what his favorite of the band’s songs is, he always says all of them. Two of his favorite songs to play in concert are “The Needle And The Spoon” and “Tuesday’s Gone,” when the band does a video tribute to Rossington.
“We try to pick a well-rounded set,” Medlocke said. “We could be out there four or five hours with all the ones people want to hear.”
ZZ Top is a perfect travel partner, Medlocke said.
“It’s been incredible being with the guys because we have a long history with ZZ Top,” Medlocke said. “Lynyrd Skynyrd’s history with ZZ Top goes back
to the ‘70s. One of the longest tours we did was in 1999 going into 2000. We did the Millennium Tour and we played New Year’s Eve night in Houston at the arena. If you remember, people thought the world was going to come to an end (with Y2K computer issues at the turn of century). We thought, ‘What a way to end the world, playing (a concert).’ We did 103 shows with those guys, which was a long tour.”
Medlocke said he was supposed to spend his 50th birthday in Hawaii, but had to give those plans up because the tour was extended.
Medlocke will keep playing as long as his band does.
“I promised Gary when I came back (in 1996) that I would be there until the last note in ‘Freebird’ was played,” Medlocke said. “I hoped he would still have been here to see it through. The creator above had other plans and Gary got off the bus. He saluted us. I’m still here and I hope I’m there until the last note in ‘Freebird’ is played, so I can fulfill that promise.”
For more, visit livenation.com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
DISPATCHES
Civic Theatre fundraiser set — Civic Singsation Family Karaoke Night is set for 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 13 at Carter Green outside the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The family-friendly fundraiser features a karaoke raffle for chances to sing your favorite songs and sing along as friends sing. The event is hosted by Civic Theatre’s Brent Marty, director of music and education. Advance admission tickets are $35 and karaoke raffle tickets are $10. The more raffle tickets a person purchases, the greater the chances to perform. Food trucks will be available to purchase food, beverages and treats and, after dark, the evening will end with a glow party. Tickets at the entrance will be $45. This is a cashfree event. For more, visit givebutter.com/ Singsation2024.
Children’s music series begins — Families can introduce young children to the joy of live performance through Carmel’s Center for the Performing Arts’ monthly Peanut Butter & Jam series, which begins a new season Sept. 14 with Soulful Music and Melodies with Allison Victoria. The fun and informal sessions designed specifically for ages 1-7 takes place one Saturday each month from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., in the Palladium’s Robert Adam Room or across Carter Green in the Studio Theater. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
Lynyrd Skynyrd members Rickey Medlocke, left, and Damon Johnson perform in concert. (Photo courtesy of Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Come
Beef & Boards plans new shows
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s 2025 schedule will feature five new shows for the Indianapolis venue, headlined by the Broadway hits “Jersey Boys” and “Waitress.”
SCHEDULE
won the Tony Award for Best Musical.
“Church Basement Ladies,” a musical comedy, runs from April 17 through May 18. Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” returns from May 22 through July 13. As the season’s family show, tickets are discounted by $10 for all children ages 3-15.
“Waitress” will open July 17 and conclude Aug. 31. The musical centers on Jenna, a talented piemaker and waitress whose goal is to leave her small town.
“Heartbreak Hotel” follows the legendary ascent of Elvis Presley. The musical, which runs Sept. 4 through Oct. 12, features more than 40 of Presley’s hits.
“New shows are controlled by the theatrical licensing houses,” Beef & Boards owner Doug Stark said. “We were lucky to have so many new shows become available to us and felt that this was the perfect year to do them — regional premieres in central Indiana. I believe ‘Waitress’ and ‘Tootsie’ have played in the Broadway series, but this will be the regional premiere and ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ will be brand new to our audience.”
The first show to make its Beef & Boards debut is Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” which runs Jan. 9 to Feb. 9.
The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is featured in “Jersey Boys,” which runs Feb. 14 through April 13. The musical
“Tootsie” opens Oct. 16 and runs through Nov. 23. To land his dream role, out-of-work actor Michael Dorsey disguises himself as actress “Dorothy Michaels.”
Back for the holidays is the original variety show “A Beef & Boards Christmas,” which runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 31.
“The thing I love about this season is its diversity,” Stark said. “There’s something for everyone, from kids to grandparents, to rockers and everyone in between.”
For more, visit beefandboards.com
NIGHT & DAY
Artomobilia gears up
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Artomobilia founder John Leonard tries some new elements each year.
EVENT
“Some we keep and some we say, ‘Let’s not do that again,’” said Leonard, who also is executive director of the annual Carmel car show.
Artomobilia, which started in 2008, is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 7 in the Carmel Arts & Design District with the awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at the Indiana Design Center parking lot.
Voloce, featuring collector cars and aircraft, begins at 7 p.m. Sept 6 at the Indianapolis Executive Airport in Zionsville.
Leonard, a Carmel resident, said a new element this year is the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge. He said there are 12 or 13 cars coming from Porsche dealerships across the U.S.
“They’ve all been restored and Porsche will judge them and then decide which one they think will be the best at Artomobilia at Porsche-Palooza,” Leonard said.
Another new feature is a Porsche Macan Electric vehicle that will be on display.
“It will be undercover and then revealed at noon by the team at Tom Wood Porsche,” Leonard said. “It’s their smaller sports utility vehicle but this is the first all-electric one.”
The Porsche display is on North Rangeline Road, north of Main Street.
Another new event is the Artistry & Elegance Ladies Luncheon for approximately 50 women at Anthony’s Chophouse.
Leonard said it’s open to anyone but it is
Sept. 7
intended for husbands with cars who bring their wives. There will be two speakers, Stephanie Kim, chief administrative officer of Telamon, and Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam.
Leonard said there will be a VIP area hosted by Evans May Wealth at 3UP above Anthony’s Chophouse.
There will be approximately 500 cars.
“We’ll move south into Midtown,” he said. “We did that for the first time last year and it seemed like it worked.”
Four major groups are Porsche-Palooza, BMW-Palooza, Lotus-Palooza and Mercedes Monumental.
Adam Hoffman, who owns Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse in Westfield, will have his 13 Porsches on display at Artomobilia.
Leonard said Ferraris and Lamborghinis will be on the west end of the show.
Voloce will be held at the airport hangar for the second year.
“That will be fast cars and fast jets,” Leonard said of the event, partnered with Ruth’s Chris Steak House. “We’ll likely have 400 to 500. The beauty of that (site) is if we have another 100 people, it’s no problem.”
For more, visit artomobilia.org.
FREE EVENT HARVEST FEST
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 Fishers Arts Council will hold its Harvest Fest from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 8 at Fishers Heritage Park at White River, 10595 Eller Rd. Attendees will have the opportunity to browse and shop the creations of local artists and artisans, enjoy live music, try local food and walk the gardens of the historic Ambassador House. Food truck operators are partnering with local nonprofits and to donate a portion of their proceeds. For more, visit fishersartscouncil.org/ event-info/harvest-fest-1-2.
OTHER FREE AREA EVENTS
VIP CARNIVAL — The Zionsville Lions Club will host a VIP Carnival from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 6 at Lions Park in Zionsville, 11001 E. Sycamore St. The event is for kids of all ages who have special needs, their families and their caregivers. The VIP Carnival will include carnival rides and games, dinner provided by Chick-Fil-A, music, balloon creations, face painting and more. For more, visit eventbrite. com/e/2024-vip-carnival-tickets-972909637917
JEROME COLLINS: REWIND– A JOURNEY TO MOTOWN & BEYOND FRI, SEPT 13 AT 8PM THE TARKINGTON
NICK CARTER: WHO I AM TOUR THURS, SEPT 26 AT 7:30PM THE PALLADIUM
VERONICA SWIFT SAT, SEPT 14 AT 8PM THE TARKINGTON
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
Artomobilia returns
in the Carmel Arts & Design District. (Photo courtesy of Artomobilia).
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Broadway actress share songs, stories
THE PALLADIUM
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Center Celebration 2024 presented by Ice Miller is SOLD OUT! We’re so grateful to the many generous people and companies who have signed on to support the Center’s wide range of arts and educational programming, from big-name concerts to classes and lectures to free events for schools to our Prism Project arts camp for youth with disabilities – and the list goes on.
Even if you missed this opportunity, you can still join us in continuing to bring these programs to the community. Just visit our website at TheCenterPresents.org/Donate to make a tax-deductible donation to the Center and its mission.
MUSIC
Samantha Pauly took some personal days off from her role in “The Great Gatsby” on Broadway. So, what did she do during the break? She attended a Discovering Broadway “Great Gatsby”-themed reception in Indianapolis.
Pauly answered questions from Discovering Broadway founder Joel Kirk, a 2012 Carmel High School graduate, and sang a few songs with pianist Adam Cole Klepper Aug. 21 at Laurel Hall. The following day, she taught master classes at Grace Church in Noblesville.
“Sometimes opportunities like this come up, and if I take a personal day and go get paid for my time, do something different, meet new people, come back to the Midwest, I always come back here,” Pauly said. “I love being with Adam and performing with him.”
Pauly and Klepper performed in 2023 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel.
“I really love doing the solo shows, but it’s just not as consistent as when I’m in a long-running show that I think ‘Great Gatsby’ is going to be,” said Pauly, who made her Broadway debut as Kathrine Howard in “Six.”
Proceeds benefit the Center’s arts and educational programming
Special thanks to our community partners, including Ice Miller, First Merchants Bank, Aaron Wealth Advisors, Open Gate Design, the Payne & Mencias Group, Studio M Architecture, Will and Yasmin Stump and Shiel Sexton
“When you are singing the same thing every day in a show (it’s repetitive). I don’t always get the opportunity to sing some of these songs that we love to do together,” Pauly said. “So, it’s a nice chance for me to sing something different for a couple of days.”
She also enjoys teaching.
“I really didn’t get into that until the pandemic, which kind of forced me to make money and do something,” Pauly said. “Now that I can do things in person, I love teaching.”
Samantha Pauly and Joel Kirk at a Discovering Broadway reception. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
Fishers company launches
AI solutions
Samantha
Kupiainen news@currentinfishers.com
For 25-plus years, Josh Ross has been an entrepreneur by building, growing and scaling companies. His most recent company,
TECHNOLOGY
KLaunch, is based in Fishers and is a subsidiary of Kerauno holdings.
KLaunch offers artificial intelligence communication tools.
“Our mission statement is, we help people by creating a culture that fosters personal, professional and spiritual growth that leads to life changing relationships,” said Ross, the company’s owner and CEO. “We want to use AI for good and we want to be able to connect people to the central services and to the benefits. That’s the purpose of our technology.”
KLaunch’s stated mission is to advance human interaction.
“What we’ve done with this platform is, we incubated this out of another telecommunications company that I owned and sold to private equity in October 2020,” Ross said. “We’ve taken our technology platform that we started building in 2014, and that platform is now our conversation AI platform that we have available to clients.”
According to IBM, 34 percent of companies use AI and 42 percent are exploring AI.
KLaunch allows users to build autonomous bots for communication. It developed software for businesses to reach customers via text messages. KLaunch also is leveraging its technology in the philanthropic space by allowing nonprofits to reach more people.
Ross said he is passionate about helping nonprofits, because of his own previous struggles raising a young family when they relied on food programs for assistance.
“As I built and established organizations and grew and scaled and sold companies, it became really important for me to be able to give back to our society in the same way that I was helped,” Ross said. For more, visit klaunch.io/.
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Ross
Blueprint for Improvement: Elegant bathroom makeover in Carmel
Commentary by Larry Greene
Tailoring each project to our clients’ unique needs and style is always our top priority. For this Village of West Clay bathroom remodel, our clients opted to forgo the traditional soaking tub in favor of a luxurious walk-in shower and expanded closet space — resulting in a more functional layout, enhanced aesthetics and additional space for the adjoining primary closet.
THE BLUEPRINT
• Removing the soaking tub allowed for a complete reimagining of the room’s layout — including larger quartz-topped vanities that provide practical storage.
• The new zero-entry, dual-head shower features a sleek hidden niche and built-in bench, transforming daily routine into a luxurious experience.
• A frosted glass pocket door replaced the standard door to the water closet, allowing light to filter through while maintaining privacy and enhancing the room’s flow by eliminating the door swing.
• Matte black hardware adds depth to the room’s serene palette, while crystal accents on the knobs and pulls bring a touch of sparkle.
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.
Sunday, October 6 12:30-4pm Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center (the Colts practice facility)
Join us for an upgraded watch party experience of the Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars away game! Enjoy tailgate food, an open bar, bounce houses for kids and more, all while supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
Learn more at morethanaphone.org.
Hosted by and benefiting:
MVP Sponsor:
LIFESTYLE
Poems of praise
Being bad, in a way, on
Slight character flaw 37. Where the Pacers play the Celtics in TD Garden
38. Negligible amount
39. Yemen neighbor
41. List-ending abbr.
42. Kids’ “magic words”
45. Like den walls, often
46. Letters of gratitude, in a text
49. Hosiery mishap
50. Some bank transactions (Abbr.)
54. Mogadishu native
57. Manicurist’s extension
59. Not digital
60. Kids’ “magic words”
61. Quit one’s job
62. Straightens up Down
1. IndyCar dashboard letters
2. “The Time Machine” people
3. Parts of speech
4. Really bothers
5. Cape Town’s country (Abbr.)
6. Balkan capital
7. Gives a double cluck of reproach
8. “You bet!”
___ kwon do
Swiss peak
Cry while playing tag
“That’s my cue!”
Kind of PU prof
Top-rated
Infectious disease
Never
Noble Coffee to-go vessels 27. Frequently, in verse
Whig’s rival
29. “Ta-ta!”
32. List entry
33. ISO music bit
34. Glendale Town Center health supplement co.
36. Bra spec
37. Victory Field event
39. Spencer’s county
40. Skin pigment
43. Navy rank
44. Fewer than 100 shares of stock
46. Old Russian ruler
47. Sharpen
48. Dec. 25, briefly
51. Raison d’ ___
52. Reel-like device
53. 1974 CIA spoof film
55. Boxing legend
56. Fireplace wood
“This ___ test” Answers on Page 19
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