December 31, 2024 — Lawrence/Geist by Current Publishing

LOOKING AHEAD

This year, instead of sending holiday cards, I’ve decided to send some very special thank-you notes to the people on my list:

1. Thank you to everyone who attended one of the many wonderful City of Lawrence events and festivals throughout 2024! From the total eclipse celebration in April to the opening of our new Winter Market in November, 2024 was a banner year for City of Lawrence events both new and old. Community volunteers joined city staff in July to fill 400 backpacks with school supplies for our city’s first-ever Back to School Cookout and Backpack Giveaway, and we collaborated with our friends at Heartland Film Festival to launch the inaugural Starry Nights Films at the Fort free outdoor movie series. For the first time, September’s BBQ & Blues event was hosted outside Ft. Harrison State Park, making it free for all to attend. And Winterfest 2024 promises to be the best yet, with a holiday parade culminating in the lighting of this year’s real Christmas tree! Thank you to everyone who’s made our City of Lawrence events such a success in 2024.

2. Thank you to our City of Lawrence Parks Department and the many partners and volunteers who ensure our city’s parks are wonderful, welcoming places for our city’s residents. This includes Casper Jones and all the volunteers from Skatepark Respect who’ve transformed the graffitied surface of our Lawrence Skate Park into a giant work of public art; the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Next Level Trails program for their support of the Lee Road Park Trail extension; and everyone at Indy Urban Wilderness who helped secure funding for our planned Fall Creek Greenway expansion. Thank you for all your efforts!

3. Thank you IndyGo for bringing Bus Rapid Transit to the City of Lawrence via the Purple Line! Thanks to your hard work and collaboration, fast, efficient, and clean public transit is finally a reality in our community, and I can’t wait to witness all the opportunities the Purple Line unlocks for Lawrence residents and visitors.

4. Thank you, friends and neighbors in the City of Lawrence, for your commitment to this community. You are the heart and soul of this city and the reason every member of my administration shows up to work every day ready to serve. You are the people who make this place special. Thank you!

Best wishes for your holiday season,

IN 2024 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

December 31, 2024

Current in Lawrence/Geist geistcurrent.com

Lawrence council ends 2024 with more financial concerns

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

GOVERNMENT

About us

Founded Jan. 27, 2015, at Fishers, IN Vol. X, No. 47

Concerns about the City of Lawrence’s finances were again a topic of discussion during the Dec. 18 Lawrence Common Council meeting, with one councilor calling for a forensic audit of the city’s finances and another suggesting a lower limit on what the mayor’s administration can spend without council approval.

Councilor Zach Cramer (D-District 5) opened the meeting with a request that the rest of the council consider contracting for an in-depth, independent review of the city’s financial status.

“I am asking the council to appropriate funds for a forensic audit of our city’s finances,” he said. “This request is not made lightly, but rather out of a deep responsibility to our residents to deserve clear answers about how their tax dollars are being managed. A forensic audit will allow us to thoroughly review our financial operations, identify any inefficiencies or discrepancies and implement measures to strengthen our fiscal oversight moving forward. This is an opportunity to restore confidence in our financial practices and demonstrate our commitment to accountability and stewardship.”

The council did not take action on Cramer’s proposal. Council President Betty Robinson (D-at-large) noted that she recently met with Mayor Deb Whitfield and members of Whitfield’s administration to talk about the city’s finances.

In an email response to a message seeking additional information, Robinson stated that they discussed bank reconciliations during the meeting and reviewed bank statements, and it appeared the city is operating with a positive cash flow.

Newly hired Chief of Staff Greg Goodnight told the council that accounting firm Baker Tilly has been working toward reconciling accounts with the city’s controller’s office, which Goodnight said has been shorthanded.

The mayor’s office received a memo from Baker Tilly Dec. 17 that Goodnight shared with the council, noting that the firm identified the city’s 14 bank accounts, accessed the city’s accounting system, obtained bank statements and reconciled the city’s accounts, among other tasks.

Goodnight said Baker Tilly’s memo shows that, as of Oct. 31, the city had about $65 million in its various bank accounts.

Councilor Rick Wells (D-District 2) repeated a suggestion he’s made several times that the council limit how much the mayor’s office can spend before coming to the council for approval. Early in 2024, the council voted to increase that amount from $5,000 to $50,000. Wells said the council should vote to return to the $5,000 limit.

The council did not take action on Wells’ proposal.

The city’s finances have been an ongoing topic during public meetings, with numerous concerns raised and questions left unanswered or partially answered. For more news reports on that topic, visit

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It was with great anticipation that Current Publishing debuted Current in Geist, now Current in Lawrence/Geist, on Jan. 27, 2015. There was a gratifying amount of excitement from our audience and advertising partners. Hyperlocal news presentation was the order of the day and nothing has changed in that regard. As time passed, we grew circulation, which, concurrently, gave our editors a wider berth for pursuing meaningful and useful content. Everything was firing on all cylinders, as the saying goes.

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In other matters, the council approved an updated ordinance governing stormwater management to comply with new state and federal regulations. The council also approved an ordinance establishing salaries for appointed officers and nonunion employees. The ordinance does not include raises for 2025.

Deputy Chief of Staff LeAndre Level expressed disappointment with the council’s decision to not include 3 percent wage increases for city employees, noting that the council supported raises for police officers and firefighters in their new contracts.

“Tonight’s vote is likely to strike many of our civilian employees as confusing and unfair,” Level said. “While the administration respects the council’s authority to make these fiscal decisions, the impact of the proposed salary increase for civilian employees in the 2025 budget would have been minimal. Many of our civilian employees have given decades of service to the city’s daily operations. We share in their disappointment over the decision the council has made and will continue to advocate for them as we move forward into the new year.”

In a previous meeting, council members cited concerns about the city’s finances as a reason for rejecting proposed raises for nonunion city employees.

The next Lawrence Common Council meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St.

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Cramer Robinson

Wells

Muston completes 12 years on MSDLT board

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

The MSD of Lawrence Township Board of Education said farewell to Board President Wendy Muston, who chaired her last meeting Dec. 16 before stepping down.

EDUCATION

Muston, who has been the District 1 representative on the board for the past 12 years, did not seek reelection this year. Shaila Mulholland is the newly elected representative for that seat.

Muston was honored for her service to the district during the last board meeting of 2024 with an award and a video with various district officials praising her leadership over the years. Superintendent Shawn Smith said it has been a privilege working with her.

“You’re always going to be one of my favorites,” he said. “You ask challenging questions and you’ve had a thirst for making this district the very best. The students in this district truly have benefited from Miss Wendy Muston. She has asked questions, she has brought innovation, but most importantly, ladies and gentlemen, she loves this community.”

Muston said it has been an honor to serve the district and the community’s children.

“You all know that you mean the world to me and you mean the world to me because we all worked together so closely to make this district a place where our children and our families thrive,” she said. “We have the best teachers, we have the best administration, we have the best families.”

The MSDLT board will vote on new leadership within the board during its next meeting, set for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Lawrence Education and Community Center, 6501 Sunnyside Rd. Meetings also are streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@msdltvideo.

New Lawrence Township schools operations chief picked

Grant Nesbit will be the new chief of operations for the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township following a

SCHOOL NEWS

Dec. 16 vote by the district’s school board.

Nesbit will start his new job July 1, 2025, when current Chief of Operations Rodger Smith officially retires.

district’s executive leadership team and we wish him all the best in retirement,” the announcement stated.

Nesbit has served as director of operations at MDSLT since 2015. Prior to that, he was athletic director and assistant athletic director at Lawrence North High School. He previously taught social studies at Greenfield Central High School and was the head wrestling coach.

Nesbit

According to an announcement from the district, Smith served 42 years in public education — 16 of those years with MSD of Lawrence Township — and has led the district’s ongoing Blue-Ribbon Facilities plan over the past decade.

“He will be missed as a member of the

“Dr. Nesbit has learned a great deal over the course of the past decade while training under Mr. Rodger Smith,” MSDLT Superintendent Shawn A. Smith stated. “His broad range of experiences alongside his commitment to the students and staff of the MSD of Lawrence Township will facilitate a seamless transition into this new role.”

Board President Wendy Muston completed her last MSD of Lawrence Township board meeting Dec. 16. (Photo courtesy of MSDLT)

COMMUNITY

LAWRENCE/GEIST JANUARY EVENTS

‘THE NAKED TRUTH’

Arts for Lawrence presents a new gallery exhibit, “The Naked Truth,” featuring figure drawings created during the regular figure drawing studio sessions. “In the tradition of classical artists like Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Degas and Picasso, these works celebrate the timeless beauty and challenge of drawing the human form,” according to the Arts for Lawrence website. Many of the drawings feature images of nude models. An opening reception is set for 5 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Arts for Lawrence Visual Arts Center, 8970 Otis Ave.

CHAMBER EVENTS

• Water Cooler Wednesday is set for 7:45 a.m. Jan. 8 at FC Pride, 11960 E. 62nd St. Co-workers and guests are welcome. To register for any Lawrence Chamber event, visit greaterlawrencechamber.org.

• Chew on This, a monthly luncheon, starts at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at Indian Lake Country Club, 10502 E. 75th St. The speakers will be Matti McCormick and Lisa Wall of the ProPEL Indy team, which is conducting a study of I-65 and I-70 for the Indiana Department of Transportation.

URBAN LINE DANCING

A class teaching urban line dance skills is

set for 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 14 and 28 at the Arts for Lawrence Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Ave. For more and to register, visit artsforlawrence.org.

FORT BEN WINTER MARKET

The Fort Ben Winter Market provides space for local vendors to showcase crafts, creations and goods. Upcoming Winter Markets will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 16 and 30, and Feb. 13 and 27 at Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St.

JANUARY GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

The following Lawrence government meetings are scheduled during the month of January. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings take place at Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St.

• Lawrence Common Council — 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 and 15

• Utility Service Board — 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14 and 28

• Parks Board — 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8

• Board of Public Works — 5 p.m. Jan. 9 and 23

• Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township — 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13, work session and reorganization; and 7 p.m. Jan. 27, board meeting, both at Lawrence Education and Community Center, 6501 Sunnyside Rd.

DISPATCHES

Community Health implements visitor restrictions — Visitor restrictions have been implemented at all Community Health Network hospitals in response to an increase in flu activity monitored by the Marion County Public Health Department. The temporary restrictions are meant to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses within hospitals. They include: no visitors under age 18; visitors are limited to immediate family or as identified by patients; no more than two visitors at a time per patient; visitors must wear masks in patient rooms when requested; no visitors with respiratory symptoms.

Golden Hour Game Days launched — The City of Lawrence is hosting a social opportunity for seniors with games and activities every Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon at Lawrence Community Park’s community center, 5301 N. Franklin Rd. Activities include card games, board games.

Assistance available — The Office of Law-

rence Township Trustee Steve Talley can help residents facing a financial emergency. Residents in need of assistance can apply for financial help by visiting the office at 4455 McCoy St. or going online to lawtwp. org. After submitting an application, someone from the office will be in contact to schedule an appointment with a case manager. For more, call 317-890-0011.

Move cars for better snow removal — When snow accumulates, City of Lawrence snow removal teams will be out. Residential neighborhoods with cars parked in the street may not be plowed until the vehicles are moved off the street. Residents are asked to park cars in the driveway or garage when snow is in the forecast. For any issues related to snow removal, contact the City of Lawrence Street Department at 317-823-8959 or go to cityoflawrence.org, click on City Government, then Street Department and then on Report a Street Issue or Pothole.

Lawrence official recaps 2024 economic accomplishments

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

City of Lawrence Economic Development Director Keith Johnson gave a summary of what’s been accomplished in 2024 during the Dec. 19 Lawrence Redevelopment Commission meeting, the last commission meeting of the year.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Johnson said two of the biggest economic projects for Lawrence in 2024 were spearheaded by other agencies — IndyGo’s Purple Line rapid transit line from downtown Indianapolis to Fort Ben and improvements on Pendleton Pike, led by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Lawrence officials have worked toward identifying targets for future economic development, he said, including finding a new tenant for the former Monarch Beverage distribution facility on Pendleton Pike, choosing parcels along the pike to purchase for redevelopment and finding

partners for new projects.

“I think the completion of some of the things we started will be our task for next year,” Johnson said.

That includes implementing a zoning overlay for Pendleton Pike, landscaping new medians on that roadway and continuing development of the Trades District off Pendleton Pike.

The commission also heard a presentation from Andy Mouser of Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors about the commission’s tax increment financing, or TIF, areas. A TIF captures new assessed value and property taxes for a specific time frame and designates that for projects and other permitted costs within the TIF area.

Mouser said the commission has several TIF allocation areas: Pendleton Pike, Monarch and Meyer Plastics. Revenue from a TIF goes toward paying off bonds and any surplus can go toward future projects.

For more about economic development projects in Lawrence, visit chooselawrence.com.

DISPATCHES

500 Festival Miler Series dates announced — Registration is open for the 500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy, through Feb. 2. The series, held at Fowling Warehouse Indianapolis, includes three races designed to help participants train for the IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. The Miler Series kicks off with a 3-Miler Feb. 8, a 6-Miler on March 8 and a 10-Miler on April 5. For more, visit IndyMini.com/Challenges.

Free smoke detectors — The City of Lawrence Fire Department, in partnership with Koorsen Fire Protection, is offering free smoke detectors to households that don’t currently have one, while supplies last. After a request is received, the LFD Fire Marshal’s office will get in touch to arrange a convenient delivery time. To apply, visit cityoflawrence.org/ smoke-detector-request.

Lawrence has been making progress on plans to improve and develop Pendleton Pike. (File photo)

CHS senior swimmer Shackell caps a golden year

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Carmel High School senior swimmer Alex Shackell had a sweet cap to a special year.

Shackell, who earned gold and silver medals for participating in Team USA relays at the Paris Olympics, had a strong showing at the World Short Course Swimming Championships Dec. 10-15 in Budapest, Hungary.

Shackell was on the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team, which captured the gold with a world record time of 3:25.01.

“Being a part of the world record relay was the most unreal experience,” Shackell said. “Going into the race I had no idea what the world record was. It came as a total surprise. It was great to be able to represent a USA relay at finals again. I’m happy with the two golds I earned but that’s not how I base my success.”

Shackell earned a second gold medal for the 4x100 medley relay since she was a member of the relay in the preliminaries. She won a silver in the 4x100 mixed medley and a bronze in the 4x50 mixed medley and

ALEX SHACKELL

Favorite Athlete: Lilly King

Favorite TV show: “Criminal Minds”

Favorite subject: English

Favorite vacation spot: California

was fourth in the 200-meter butterfly.

“I am pretty proud of my 200 fly prelims swim,” she said. “I thought I swam it smart and was happy with the time. I was actually pretty upset with my 200 fly finals performance. The time I went in prelims would have gotten me on the podium, so I was pretty frustrated. I’ve been working on being able to finish my 200 fly better when

racing elite competition, so this is a good experience for me and the disappointment is only going to make me better.”

CHS boys and girls swimming coach

Chris Plumb served as the USA head coach at the meet.

“Alex had some terrific performances and is now a world record holder,” Plumb said. “At the same time, getting experiences at the world level will continue to help her grow and develop.”

Shackell said Plumb did a great job of leading the national team.

“Although he was head coach, I didn’t really see him any differently,” Shackell said. “We both just kept things as normal as possible.”

Shackell decided to defer her college enrollment for a year and continue training with the Carmel Swim Club for a year after graduation. She originally committed to the University of California at Berkeley.

“Training at Carmel is working for me and I’m super happy with where I am, so for now taking the extra year is best for me,” Shackell said.

Shackell, who has won 11 IHSAA state titles, will seek to add to her total Feb. 15 at the 2025 state meet.

To nominate a high school student for Athlete of the Week, contact mark@ youarecurrent.com.

Carmel High School senior Alex Shackell won two gold medals at the World Short Course Swimming Championships Dec. 10-15 in Budapest, Hungary. (File photo)

Hospice care offers dignity, remembrance

By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com

Embracing grief and remembering loved ones during the dark days of winter was the theme of the annual Tree of Life event Dec. 8 at Compassus inpatient hospice, 8450 N. Payne Rd. in College Park in Indianapolis.

GRIEF

During the hourlong service, visitors remembered loved ones who died in the past year. The names of the more than 400 people who died at Compassus in 2024 were read aloud while friends and family members placed dove-shaped ornaments on a tree in the hospice chapel.

Compassus Indianapolis hospice Chaplain Christopher Suder said grief plays by its own rules — popping up and invading people’s lives at the drop of a hat. Events like Tree of Life provide a way to embrace those moments.

“The goal is to provide the bereaved another opportunity to honor their grief journey, recognizing that not all things are accomplished with grief at the funeral,” Suder said. “We’re offering ongoing support for them and opportunities for them to remember. Every year in December, we honor and remember those who we have cared for.”

The hospice services are designed to provide end-of-life comfort, peace and dignity by managing symptoms, providing practical help to families and offering emotional support.

BeBe Denton’s family said hospice was a blessing in a difficult time.

Denton’s father, Richard Besore, died as a hospice inpatient in February 2003. Her mother, Carol Jean Besore, died in hospice

Compassus Chaplain Christopher Suder speaks during the Tree of Life event Dec.

through Compassus at Denton’s home in May 2023. Denton said her mother had kidney failure and was prepared to die, and hospice care made the experience easier for everyone.

“It was a great experience, frankly,” she said of her mother’s care. “They did a great job. The wonderful thing about Compassus is, they are as involved as you want them to be. So, they have a lot of services and you can sort of pick and choose what you need or don’t need, what you want or don’t want.”

Denton advocates for everyone to consider hospice care for themselves or a loved one.

“They treat the pain but they don’t treat the illness,” she said. “It’s all about making the person comfortable and taken care of. It’s just a great thing of celebrating someone’s life while they are dying. It’s a weird thing to say, but I would recommend it. People don’t know about hospice and I think what they don’t know sometimes scares them. We were very lucky.”

Suder said there is a misconception that hospice equates to the last moments of life, when it can mean extended care for days, weeks or even months.

“One of the things that people don’t recognize about hospice is that not only are we caring for them physically, we’re also caring for the spiritual and social needs of the patient and their family,” he said. “Hospice means hospitality. It means a resting place on the way to the final journey. It can have a negative connotation, but I think that’s changing. The real benefit of hospice is peace and comfort by recognizing the whole person, not just the physical.”

Learn more at compassus.com.

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8 (Photo by Marney Simon)

COVER STORY

LOOKING AHEAD

The Corner commercial development breaking ground at Fort Ben in 2025

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

A new commercial development is coming to Fort Ben in 2025, offering a mix of restaurants and retail that will complement new and existing offices and residential properties in Lawrence’s downtown.

The Corner at 56th Street and Lee Road is spearheaded by Lawrence-based Foamcraft, Inc., a family-owned company. Nathan Elliott, Foamcraft’s chief marketing officer, said they had been looking for ways to expand the company and initially planned to build a small retail space to sell the company’s mattresses.

“We were ready to kind of grow that, but as we were kind of looking around, it was just like, well, land is very expensive and we might need to build a little bit of a bigger building in order to actually make the whole financial aspect of it work,” he said. “Then we kind of started thinking, ‘OK, what if we build a building with a few tenants?’”

After some initial hiccups, the corner site at Fort Ben worked out, which Elliott said is great for the company because for them, Lawrence is home.

“It’s been pretty fun to get to see the vision kind of grow beyond just what Foamcraft wants to do into what we think can help the city that we’re headquartered in,” he said. “And we plan on being headquartered there for as long as the company is around. I’m a third-generation owner, along with a brother and two cousins, and we want the fourth generation to have some unique opportunities as they grow up. And so, this is an opportunity to diversify the company, but also kind of keep our roots deepening in this area that we have been headquartered.”

Plans to build in Fort Ben started in 2022 and after they close on the property in January 2025, Elliott said they plan to break ground in spring. They have been talking with potential tenants, with plans for one high-end restaurant — but not too expensive — an ice cream shop, a drive-thru doughnut shop, the company’s mattress retail store and one other smaller retail shop. Elliott said they’re looking for tenants who will add to what’s offered in the area, rather than directly competing with estab-

lished businesses.

Lawrence Economic Development Director Keith Johnson, who works with the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority and the Lawrence Redevelopment Commission, said construction for The Corner should wrap up in 2026, around the same time as the nearby Keystone Group mixed-use development The Benjamin, which will offer luxury apartment and commercial space at 56th Street and Lawrence Village Parkway.

Keystone Group had its ceremonial groundbreaking for that project in October 2023, with an initial completion date of fall 2025. However, construction was delayed and, while work has started, the comple-

tion date now is expected sometime in 2026.

About a block away, another development on the Fort Ben campus is expected to be completed in 2025. Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township kicked off construction of its new administrative building in fall 2023 in what was a large grassy field at 5710 Lawrence Village Parkway. The property was donated to the school district by the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority.

The new $20 million facility — funded through bonds — is set to open in early 2025 at the Fort Benjamin Harrison campus. When administrators move into the

THE TOWNS AT FORT HARRISON

Another new development in Lawrence will bring 18 townhomes to the Fort Ben area in 2025.

Davis Homes is building The Towns at Fort Harrison at the corner of Britz and Hawkins roads. The development comprises five three-story buildings, with three or four attached townhomes in each building.

According to Davis Homes, the three-bedroom townhomes are about 2,000 square feet each, include garages and start in the low $400,000 range.

For more, visit davishomes.com/ community/the-towns-at-fort-harrison.

new building, their offices at the MSDLT Lawrence Education and Community Center will be renovated to house the new Craig Prep Academy, a small-school concept with a focus on African American culture.

Johnson said there are a few other parcels on the fort that can be developed, and the FHRA will continue looking for partners to make it a vibrant area for residents and visitors. The authority also will consider purchasing the Ivy Tech building, which the community college has announced it will close and sell.

The city’s redevelopment commission is focused on the city’s Pendleton Pike area, which is home to numerous businesses. Johnson said that in 2025, the commission plans to fund landscaping for new medians along the pike that are part of the ongoing Indiana Department of Transportation road project.

“(INDOT) will finish sometime in the spring and maybe the summer — we’ll do plantings in the fall,” he said.

The commission also will continue with plans to develop the Trades District, 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.

ON THE COVER: The Corner will be a new commercial development by Foamcraft, Inc., at 56th and Lee Road, offering restaurants and retail. (Rendering courtesy of Nathan Elliott)

The Towns at Fort Harrison by Davis Homes will offer three-story townhomes, with plans to open in 2025. (Map courtesy of Keith Johnson)

The Keystone Group will continue construction on its Fort Ben mixeduse development, The Benjamin, in 2025, with plans to open in 2026. (Rendering courtesy of Keith Johnson)

The new MSD of Lawrence Township administrative building is scheduled to open in spring 2025 on the Fort Ben campus. (Rendering courtesy of Keith Johnson)

Coral Reefer Band veteran McAnally set to keep party going at Palladium

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The night before Jimmy Buffett died in 2023, he had a special message for band members Mac McAnally and Mike Utley.

McAnally said they all understood the end was near.

“He was in as good a spirit as someone who just won the lottery,” McAnally said. “He was smiling that smile Jimmy Buffett always had on his face and talking about what a hell of a ride his life had been. He specifically said, ‘Keep the party going.’ He never wanted anyone to be sad. He liked to spread joy. In his particular case, he left a body of work that is going to keep spreading joy for generations and we get to be part of that.”

McAnally, a longtime Coral Reefer Band member and frequent Buffett songwriting partner, will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 10, 2025, at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The concert is nearly sold out.

“I give Mr. Buffett credit for selling tickets for me from the great beyond,” McAnally said. “A lot of Jimmy’s fans have graciously supported those of us who are still going on and playing.”

McAnally said the plan is for the Coral Reefer Band to play some shows later in 2025.

McAnally tours with percussionist Eric Darken, another former Coral Reefer member.

“He makes a drum kit out of pots and pans and auto parts,” McAnally said. “Eric brings a whole lot to the table. We did almost 80 shows, just Eric and myself. We love traveling together and making records together.”

The setlist includes a mix of Buffett songs and McAnally’s solo work.

“Sometimes, the mix gets influenced by a particular crowd on a given night,” McAnally said. “We try to be light on our feet. If it’s a night when everyone wants to sing Jimmy’s songs, we’ll do that.

We’re always going to sing some, but we’ll steer that more if everyone enjoys singing along.”

McAnally said there might be a crowd that wants to hear some of McAnally’s solo songs or songs he wrote for other country artists.

“I’m happy to go in any direction,”

McAnally said. “I’m fortunate that I’ve had a lifetime of work that I’m not only proud of but fortunate to be connected to.

I’ve been fortunate to open shows with some of my heroes and make records with some of my heroes, then on top of that be able to tour several decades with Jimmy to the point that he’s just basically my big brother. It’s been truly a blessing and I’m just celebrating that every night I play.”

McAnally likely will play some songs from Buffett’s final album, “Equal Strain on All Parts,” which was finished shortly before he died.

“We’re always going to do ‘Bubbles Up’ because the fact that he wrote that song when he was going through the toughest time of his life and the hardest thing he had to deal with, he wrote such a positive message,” McAnally said. “I think it’s

as good as anything he ever wrote.”

McAnally said Buffett worked as hard as he had ever seen him work on the last batch of songs. Paul McCartney played bass on one of the songs, “My Gummie Just Kicked In.”

“You would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the music world or out of the music world that ever spent time around Jimmy that didn’t love the guy,” McAnally said.

McAnally said an example is the diverse group of performers who appeared in the Hollywood Bowl tribute show to Buffett in April. McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi, the Eagles, Kenny Chesney and Brandi Carlisle, among others, performed.

“His fans are loyal in the way that almost no one’s fans can compete with,” McAnally said. “There are Parrotheads clubs that are doing good charitable work based around his music.”

McAnally said the first song he wrote that Buffett recorded was “It’s My Job.”

“It’s the first song we sang together and it turned out to be the last song we ever sang together,” he said. “I’ll always have that in my show.”

For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Story: The Musical” runs through Jan. 5 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

“Elton, Billy & Barry — They Write the Songs” is set for 7:30 and 10:45 p.m. Dec. 31 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

GREGORY’S XIT

Gregory’s Xit performs at 7 p.m. Jan. 4 at The Tarkington at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.

Scharbrough makes children’s series debut

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Scharbrough

Professional musician-songwriter Sarah Scharbrough will make her first appearance in the “Peanut Butter & Jam” series at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 4 at the Studio Theater at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Scharbrough’s interactive show features singing, rhythm and movement.

“Our aim is to make this show both fun and instructional,” the Noblesville resident said.

Tickets to the program, which is designed for ages 1-7, are $10 per child and include two free adult admissions.

“It’s been an incredibly busy holiday season,” she said. “I kicked off the season with my annual Christmas shows at the Jazz Kitchen, then I hit the road with gospel music group Point of Grace for a national tour (which ended Dec. 21).”

For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

Singer-songwriter Mac McAnally will play at 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Mac McAnally)

Across

1. Victory Field snack

8. Banned pesticide

11. Where to watch “Family Feud” reruns

14. Horse back in the pack

15. “Days of ___ Lives”

16. Rock genre

17. 2025 Pantone color of the year

19. ___ King Cole

20. Part for a Civic Theatre performer

21. Guarantee

23. Use UPS