May 30, 2023 — Noblesville

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Senior housing project underway in Noblesville

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Work on a housing community targeted to people 55 and older in Noblesville near Ind. 32 and Little Chicago Road is underway.

DEVELOPMENT

Officials recently broke ground on the project, Promenade Trails, on a 30.25-acre site that is being developed by Indianapolis-based The Justus Companies. Promenade Trails will feature 59 single-story cottage homes, in addition to 151 apartments.

Promenade Trails will be adjacent to Promenade Apartments, which opened in 2020.

“Aptly named Promenade Trails, this new pedestrian-friendly community will feature both individual cottages and apartment homes spread across a beautiful campus of mature trees, sparkling ponds, a central park area and walking paths connected to nature trails,” said Walt Justus, president and CEO of The Justus Companies.

Construction on the cottage homes, which will have two bedrooms and two baths ranging from 1,297 to 1,467 square feet, began this month. The first cottage residents are expected to be in place later this year, officials said.

A community building, which will feature a wellness center, pet space, vista clubroom, a pub, fireside lounge, life enrichment center and more, is expected to be ready by the middle of 2025. A dog park, walking paths, nature trails and ponds will also be included.

“The active adult over 55 population is part of a multi-faceted generation who desires lifestyle choices,” said Angela Miller, executive vice president and chief operating officer at The Justus Companies. “ Our goal is to create an inclusive, safe, convenient and accessible community that empowers residents to do what they want to do when they want to do it without the responsibilities of home ownership. With decades of

experience serving the senior community, we look forward to using our knowledge to provide the city of Noblesville and surrounding areas with this one-of-a-kind, 55-plus community.”

The city approved $1.9 million worth of infrastructure improvements last year for Promenade Trails that officials said could result in $50 million in development activity over the next two years. A 90,000-squarefoot Meijer store is also planned at the corner of Ind. 32 and Little Chicago Road near Promenade of Noblesville, which is also being developed by The Justus Companies. For more on Promenade Trails, call 317564-0255 or email info@promenade-trails. net.

Noblesville Schools recognizes Miller Ambassador graduates

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

• Shawn Blades

• Marne Burkett

• Katie Flannagan

• Tom Gang

• Ariane Haile

• Jana Hile

ACHIEVEMENT

Noblesville Schools has recognized 21 new members who have graduated as Miller Ambassadors as part of the district’s community engagement program.

“The Noblesville community is such a strong supporter of our schools and I want to thank all of our Miller Ambassadors for making the commitment to learn more about us and what makes us so special,” said Marnie Cooke, executive director of marketing and communications. “We love engaging with the community and having this opportunity to share the why and how behind what we do.”

Miller Ambassadors is a year-long learning experience for community leaders and district parents representing their

Noblesville Schools has recognized 21 new members who have graduated as Miller Ambassadors as part of the district’s community engagement program. (Photo provided by Noblesville Schools)

schools, Cooke said. Those who participate in the program are exposed to all aspects of running a school district, including academics, business management, student services, and operations with the goal of providing a better understanding of Noblesville Schools, she added.

The following 21 individuals were recognized by the district:

• Scott Baldwin

• Lindsey Bennett

• Ethan Hoover

• Jordan Huffman

• Janet Leonard

• Matt Light

• Paul Mumaw

• Jennifer Orr

• Bret Richardson

• Bill Russo

• Amanda Sheets

• Connor Sullivan

• Kelsey Sweet

• Pooja Thakkar

• Jessica Tomasino

Applications for the class of 2024 will open this summer. For more, visit noblesvilleschools.org/millerambassadors.

A housing community targeted to individuals 55 and older in Noblesville near Ind. 32 and Little Chicago Road is underway. (Photo provided by The Justus Companies)

Event to raise money for BGCN

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Bed racing will make a return to downtown Noblesville June 2 that will help raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville.

DOWNTOWN

The organization’s annual Darlington Bed Race will be at 7 p.m. on the square, with all proceeds benefiting youth programs that take place during out of school times for the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville. The event will also serve as June’s First Friday event for Noblesville Main Street, officials said.

“Last year, the Bed Race raised over $20,000 to fund scholarships for our youth programs,” said Abby Stutesman, director of operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville. “These scholarships provide positive, engaging activities for local kids and are needed now more than ever.

More than 1,000 spectators are expected to attend through the course of the evening.

“Kicking off summer and putting school to bed has always been our motto,” Stutesman said. Funding from the Bed Race

Participants get ready to race in a previous bed race event. This year’s event will be held at 7 p.m. June 2 on the square in downtown Noblesville. (Photo provided by Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville)

helps provide scholarships for individuals attending programs through the club and the city’s parks and recreation department, including Camp Crosser, Camp Daybreak and full and half-day camps, according to the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville.

Teams, which are made up of four or five people ages 16 and up, can reserve their spot in the event by visiting the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville website at bgcni. org. Registration is open through June 1 with a $50 fee for no bed supplied, while there is a $100 fee for a borrowed bed with supplies being limited.

For more, contact Stutesman by emailing astutesman@bgcni.org.

Noblesville announces summer concert series

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

host eight free concerts between June 10 and September 23. Below is a list of events:

Summer Concert Series:

June 8 – Cosmic Situation

June 15 – Roughouse

June 22 – Jai Baker 3

DOWNTOWN

The Noblesville Parks and Recreation Department has announced the performers for its Thursday night summer concert and Concert at the Commons series. Both series are presented free to the public.

The Summer Concert Series will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays in June and July at Dillon Park, 6001 Edenshall Lane, while the Concert at the Commons series will be from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday evenings at Federal Hill Commons, 175 Logan St.

“We are excited to continue to provide free live music at Dillon Park and Federal Hill Commons throughout the summer. I believe we have two great lineups that provide our residents and guests with a wide variety of musical genres and tribute bands,” Noblesville Parks Director Brandon Bennett stated. The weekly Summer Concert Series will kick off June 8, while Federal Hill Commons will

June 29 – Not Your Average Boy Band

July 6 – Groove Smash

July 13 – The Toons

July 20 – Hairbangers Ball

Concert at the Commons:

June 10 – The Eagles Project (Eagles tribute)

June 24 – Shoot to Thrill (AC/DC tribute)

July 8 – Crush (Bon Jovi tribute)

July 15 – No Fences (Garth Brooks tribute)

Aug. 12 – Chicago Rewired (Chicago tribute)

Aug. 26 – Earth to Mars (Bruno Mars tribute)

Sept. 9 – American English (Beatles tribute)

Sept. 23 – Trippin Billies (Dave Matthews Band tribute)

For more about Noblesville Parks’ events and programs, visit noblesvilleparks.org.

Brittany’s story.

After her diagnosis, Brittany needed all the support she could get.

THIS SUMMER, LET’S MAKE HISTORY!

washington township signature event

WESTFIELD BASH!

June 1, 5-8 p.m.; June 2, 8-10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m.

Grand Junction Plaza, 225 S. Union St., Westfield | FREE

June 1, 5-8 p.m. At the Westfield Farmer’s Market, enjoy free entertainment, dozens of vendors and Westfield Washington Schools’ American Pie concert (“Coming Back to Indiana”).

June 2, 8-10 a.m. Enjoy the Westfield Fire Department’s Pancake Breakfast on Park Street and check out vintage vehicles! (Cost for breakfast.)

June 2, 6-9 p.m. Before they head out on their international tour, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band takes the stage at Grand Junction Plaza! Local artist Kassey King opens for this FREE concert.

ALSO IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP:

June 1 & 2 | Find the Oldest Tree in Your Neighborhood

June 2 | A Day in the Life “Rocks!”

June 3 | Mainstreet Productions’ Westfield Founders, Weekends at Barker Cabin, and Historic Downtown Walking Tour

June 23 | Family History and Art Activity Day

June 30 | Cool Creek Bicentennial Concert

Hamilton County Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit

FREE | Learn about all five of our Bicentennial themes: Arts, Diversity/Inclusion, Education, Historic Preservation, and Parks/Environment. Visit hamcoturns200.com/events to see where the exhibit is scheduled to be on display.

noblesville township signature event

HAMILTON COUNTY FABRIC ARTS SHOW

August 4-September 1, with open reception August 5 Noblesville | FREE

Hosted in partnership with Nickel Plate Arts and the Noblesville Township Representative, this art show will showcase artists and techniques for different fabric arts. Check out heirlooms and new pieces and vote for your favorite. Still accepting submissions!

ALSO IN NOBLESVILLE TOWNSHIP:

Daily in July | Fun At The Forest Park Carousel and Tom Thumb Golf Course

July 8 | Hamilton County Military & Veterans Celebration and Resource Fair

July 15 | American Legion Post 45 Reopening

July 19 | Taste Of History: Early Noblesville Dining And Recipes

July 22 | History Faire, Political Celebrities And The Vote Ice Cream Social

July 29 | Light Up The Night, Gibson Guitar and Mandolin Company Traveling Instrument Tour

FALL PREVIEW signature events

FALL CREEK TOWNSHIP and DELAWARE TOWNSHIP join forces and partner with Conner Prairie to create a permanent reminder of the Hamilton County Bicentennial! Attend the Bicentennial Marker Unveiling at Conner Prairie on SEPTEMBER 9.

Access the entire 2023 BICENTENNIAL EVENT LINEUP and get event/program details: HamCoTurns200.com

wayne township signature event

FARMING PRESENT AND PAST

August 13, 2-5 p.m., Clarksville Christian Church, 16600 Lehr St., Noblesville | FREE, some food for sale

Join lifelong farmers Donald and David Zeller as they discuss how farming in Wayne Township has changed over the decades. This will include a show-and-tell of artifacts. Inside the church, enjoy history displays about Clarksville and surrounding areas.

Outside, experience the Hamilton Southeastern Schools FFA “touch a truck” area with old tractors alongside new Reynolds farm equipment, and old Ford trucks and Model T’s alongside new trucks off the Don Hines dealership lot. Free refreshments, with the Wayne/Fall Creek Lions Club offering food for sale.

ALSO IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP:

August 12 | Taste Of History: Finding Your Farming Ancestors

CLAY

o

Maps of Carmel, an artistic map of Clay Township’s farms and homesteads during the early 20th century. Maps are a keepsake and will be available for free THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER.

TOWNSHIP

rganizers present Vintage

Foundation names grant recipients

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

The Hamilton County Community Foundation board of directors has approved grants for Hamilton County nonprofits, projects and initiatives totaling $164,500.

RECOGNITION

The grants will support projects and initiatives within the foundation’s three community leadership pillars -- behavioral health, family and youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth -- and are aligned with its mission to mobilize people, ideas and investment to make this a community where every individual has an equitable opportunity to reach their full potential -- no matter their place, race or identity, officials said.

“Our foundation is thrilled to support the initiatives of these 14 change-making community partners. We’re excited to see this funding translate into visible and measurable impact within Hamilton County,” said Tom Kilian, president of the foundation. Organizations receiving support include the following:

Noblesville Main Street ($15,000) – The grant will support Noblesville Main Street’s staffing, promotional costs, and day-to-day operating expenditures. Noblesville Main Street is an organization that serves its historic downtown district with the intention of creating inclusive programming to bring members of the community into the downtown square.

The Villages of Indiana, Inc. ($17,000) – The grant will enable The Villages of Indiana to hire an additional bilingual staff member to support families enrolled in their Healthy Families program in Hamilton County. The staff member will remove the language barrier that these families may experience when receiving referrals and services. The Healthy Families program is an accredited Healthy Families America affiliate that works with families with children prenatally up to age 5.

Westfield Washington Educational Foundation, Inc. ($20,000) – The grant will provide additional services, support,

and capacity for the current caseload of students receiving mental health services in the school system as well as increase the availability of these services to other students in need. Officials with Westfield Washington Schools say they have seen an increased need in mental health services and mass referrals to their school-based behavioral health provider. In addition, WWS has reached caseload capacity for current services and have had to pause all new referrals, according to the district.

Other award recipients broken down by category, organization, program/need and funding amount include:

Behavioral health

Partnership for a Healthy Hamilton County – Stronger Veterans, Stronger Communities ($5,000)

Humane Society for Hamilton County –Pets Healing Vets – ($17,500)

Trinity Free Clinic – Breaking the Barriers to Behavioral Health Access ($20,000)

Family and youth empowerment

Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank –Grow Meat and produce Access through Food Procurement Coordinator Staffing ($7,500)

Midwest Food Bank – 2023 Operating Support ($7,500)

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Inc. –General Operating Support ($7,500)

Sheridan Community Schools NHC Academy – Start-up ($10,000)

Faith Hope and Love Community, Inc. – Hamilton County Program Expansion ($10,000)

The Villages of Indiana, Inc. – Healthy Families Hamilton County ($17,000)

Inclusive economic growth Keep Noblesville Beautifu – Keep Noblesville Beautiful Part-time Executive Director ($7,500)

Indiana Peony Festival – Indiana Peony Festival – Transforming a Community ($7,500)

Family Promise of Hamilton County – Family Promise of Hamilton County Resource Center ($12,500)

Noblesville Main Street – Noblesville Main Street Support ($15,000)

Jump start your savings.

CURRENT JUNE NOBLESVILLE COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FIRST FRIDAY AT NICKEL PLATE ARTS

Nickel Plate Arts in Noblesville, 107 S. 8th St., will open its doors for its First Friday event from 6 to 9 p.m. with “The Melting Pot” exhibit in the Judge Stone House gallery. The Stephenson House on Nickel Plate Arts’ campus will feature a showcase from Liz Hamstra with the event also featuring music from the band Identity Crisis. Admission is free.

FARMERS MARKET AT FEDERAL HILL COMMONS

Bread, meat, produce and other items are available through various vendors set up at the Noblesville Main Street Farmers Market every Saturday at Federal Hill Commons, 175 Logan St. The farmers market runs from 8 a.m. to noon through Oct. 14. For more, visit noblesvillemainstreet.org.

DRAMA PERFORMANCE SET FOR JUNE 8-11

The Hyperion Players will perform its historical drama, “Call Me Sister,” June 8-11 at Ivy Tech Community College’s Auditorium in Noblesville, 300 N. 17th St. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. June 8, 9 and 10, while 2:30 p.m. performances will be on June 10 and 11. Cost is $12 per person with general admission seating. For more, visit hyperionplayers.com/tickets.

CITY TO HOST SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Get ready to unwind with music during the month of June. The Summer Concert Series will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays in June and July at Dillon Park, 6001 Edenshall Lane, while the Concert at the Commons series will be from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday evenings at Federal Hill Commons, 175 Logan St. Summer Concert Series performances include Cosmic Situation (June 8); Roughouse (June 15); Jai Baker 3 (June 22); and Not Your Average Boy Band (June 29). Concert at the Commons performances include The Eagles Project (Eagles tribute) (June 10) and Shoot to Thrill (AC/DC tribute) (June 24). Admission is free.

NICKEL PLATE EXPRESS TO HOST JURASSIC EXPRESS

Hop aboard the Nickel Plate Express for Jurassic Express June 10-11. The 90-minute trip, which is available at 1 and 3 p.m. each day, will allow visitors to see artifacts and excavate dino eggs. Cost is $32 per person. For more, visit nickelplateexpress.com.

UNICORNS, DRAGONS AT UPAINT POTTERY STUDIO

If you’re looking for some fun with unicorns and dragons, look no further than uPaint

Pottery Studio June 13. The studio, 13901 Town Center Blvd., will allow children to paint a castle mug with a dragon or unicorn theme during the event that runs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more, visit upaintpotterystudio.com or call 317-773-4880.

KILN CREATIONS OFFERS POTTERY, MEDITATION

Visitors to Kiln Creations in Noblesville have an opportunity to participate in reiki meditation and pottery painting June 15. The event from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kiln Creations, 60 N. 9th St., requires registration and costs $60 per person. For more, visit kilncreations.net.

EVENT TO BENEFIT HUMANE SOCIETY

The Humane Society for Hamilton County will host its 15th annual Wine Wags & Whiskers event June 16. The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Noblesville, 13700 Conference Center Dr. S., and will feature a silent auction, heavy hors d’oeuvres and alcohol tastings. Cost is $95 per person. For more, visit hamiltonhumane. com.

HATCH

FEST SET FOR JUNE 17

HATCH Fest, formerly known as the Maker Faire, will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the Juneteenth Celebration and the St. Michael’s Strawberry Festival in downtown Noblesville. The event will showcase the work of local artists. Admission is free. For more, visit nickelplatearts.org/hatchfest or call 317-452-3690.

DADS AND DONUTS EXPRESS

Nickel Plate Express will host “Dads and Donut Express” June 17 that will offer a 65-minute train ride on Father’s Day. Each ticket includes a train ride, a donut and coffee or orange juice. Train rides are available at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Tickets start at $28 per person. For more, visit nickelplateexpress.com.

THEATER CAMP PLANNED AT ARTISAN ACRES ESTATE

A week-long theater camp will be held June 19-23 at at Artisan Acres Estate, 1503 N. 10th St. Those who attend will learn from Barcia Alejos with topics covering stage and theater etiquette, improvisation, character development and more. Cost is $390 per person for the entire week for the camp, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For more, visit artbyspartz.com/summer.

Fishers, Carmel, Westfield, Zionsville make top 10 for safety

news@currentinfishers.com

Crime rates for violent crime and property crime in Indiana are decreasing, according to Safewise, a national organization that looks at crime statistics.

CRIME

The top 10 safest cities in Indiana include Zionsville, coming in at No. 2; Carmel at No. 4; Fishers at No. 5, and Westfield at No. 7. Carmel and Fishers also were included in the Safewise top 10 list of safest cities to raise a family; and Zionsville was No 81 on the list of top 100 safest cities in the United States.

The No. 1 safest city in Indiana, according to the Safewise list, is St. John, located in the northwest part of the state. Also on the list are Dyer (third), Brownsburg (sixth), West Lafayette (eighth), Huntington (ninth) and Greenfield (10th).

Safewise reports that Indiana is one of 17 states that experienced decreases in both violent crime and property crime during the

past reporting year, and both of those state crime rates fall below the national average. However, surveys of Hoosiers indicated that 5 percent more Indiana residents were concerned about violent crime than the prior year, and gun violence concern rose by 8 percent.

Property crime concerns among Hoosiers also rose, with most respondents especially concerned about package theft.

“About 61 percent of Indiana residents feel concerned about package theft, and property crime comes in second at 53 percent” the announcement states. “Hoosiers worry less about violent crime (49 percent) and gun violence (49 percent), which makes sense because our survey respondents were more likely to have experienced property crime than violent crime.”

Natural disaster concerns also were included in the survey, and Hoosiers worried most about strong winds.

For more, see safewise.com/blog/ safest-cities-indiana/#city1

Noblesville lawyer recognized for work

news@youarecurrent.com

A partner at the Church Church Hittle + Antrim law firm in Noblesville has been selected as a Distinguished Barrister in the 2023 class of Indiana Lawyer’s Leadership in Law awards.

Award is presented to candidates who have a long record of service, have an exemplary standing and have made exceptional contributions to the Indianapolis legal community.

ACHIEVEMENT

Henderzahs graduated from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1990.

“I am privileged to serve many organizations and communities who serve others,” she said. “Thank you to the Indiana Lawyer for recognizing this talented and remarkable group of leaders. I am truly honored to be included.”

Henderzahs

Leslie Craig Henderzahs, who has been a partner since 1992 and was the first woman to do so, was recognized May 18 at the Indiana Room Ballroom in Indianapolis and was among 15 individuals who were named as Distinguished Barristers. She serves in the litigation, mediation and family law sections at Church Church Hittle + Antrim.

The award by The Indiana Lawyer honors outstanding members of the legal community who have demonstrated dedication to their profession, as well as their clients and communities, according to a news release. The prestigious Distinguished Barrister

She has served as president of the Indiana State Bar Association, president of the Hamilton County Bar Association, the Indiana Bar Foundation and has also served on the boards with the Riverview Health Foundation, the Riverview Women’s Foundation and the Noblesville Boys & Girls Club.

“Without a doubt, Leslie’s professional credentials speak volumes, but it is what Leslie does quietly, persistently, between all of those roles that sets her apart,” said Emily Schmale, who also works at the firm with Henderzahs.

Indy Eleven to field a pro women’s team

CONGRATULATIONS TO

THE CATHEDRAL CLASS OF 2023 Where the Cathedral journey is taking the Class of 2023

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Indy Eleven’s commitment to growing the sport of women’s soccer recently took another major step.

Record-breaking reported scholarship offers of more than $73 million!

Albion College

American University

Arizona State University – Tempe

Ball State University

Baylor University

Belmont University

Butler University

Canisius College

Clemson University

College of Charleston

College of the Holy Cross

Colorado State University – Fort Collins

Cornell University

DePauw University

Dominican University

Earlham College

Grinnell College

Hanover College

High Point University

Holy Cross College

Howard University

Indiana University – Bloomington

Indiana University-Purdue University –Columbus

Indiana University-Purdue University –

Indianapolis

Ivy Tech Community College

Johnson and Wales University – Charlotte

Juniata College

Lourdes University

Loyola University – Chicago

Lynn University

Marian University

Marquette University

Mercer University

Mercyhurst University

Miami University – Oxford

Michigan State University

Morehouse College

Pepperdine University

Purdue University – Fort Wayne

Purdue University – West Lafayette

Rockhurst University

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

St. Catherine University

Saint Edward’s University

Saint Louis University

Saint Mary’s College

The Ohio State University

The University of Alabama

The University of Findlay

The University of Tennessee –Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee –

Knoxville

Trine University

United States Air Force Academy

United States Military Academy

Preparatory School

United States Naval Academy

University of Cincinnati

University of Colorado – Boulder

University of Dayton

University of Evansville

University of Indianapolis

University of Kentucky

University of Miami

University of Michigan –Ann Arbor

University of Mississippi

University of Missouri

University of Notre Dame

University of Redlands

University of South Dakota

Valparaiso University

Wabash College

Washington University in St. Louis

Wellesley College

Western Michigan University

Xavier University

SOCCER

Indy Eleven announced May 17 its commitment to the USL Super League, a new professional women’s soccer league kicking off in August 2024. The Eleven will join an initial group of 10 to 12 markets as pioneering members of the first division league in women’s soccer.

Indy Eleven President/CEO Greg Stremlaw said Indianapolis will join the USL Super League when the new stadium is ready.

“It’s important to us to complete Eleven Park and the new stadium for both the men’s and women’s teams to play there,” he said.

Stremlaw, a Noblesville resident, said groundbreaking will happen soon, but the club is not getting locked into a date when the stadium will be finished.

“If the stadium is fully operational in 2025, it’s our intention to enter the league at that time,” he said. “The premiere of an elite level, top-tier women’s pro league launching at the same time we are breaking ground on an elite level, top-tier stadium is more than fate and coincidence. It’s what happens when great ideas and hard work hit the calendar at the same time.”

Indy Elemostly of USL W League team, a pre-professional team made up mostly of college players, went undefeated with a 100-2 record in its inaugural regular season in 2022. The team will play its 2023 home opener against Racing Louisville at 7 p.m. June 2 at Grand Park Events Center in Westfield.

“Our focus and commitment to women’s soccer was part of our vision and mission from Day 1,” stated Indy Eleven founder and Chairman Ersal Ozdemir, a Carmel resident. The league will include teams from Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Lexington, Ky., Phoenix, Spokane, Wash. Tampa Bay, Tucson, Ariz., and Washington, D.C. Indianapolis is one of five cities slated to join in subsequent seasons.

Stremlaw

COMMUNITY

NOBLESVILLE & NORTH

Project: Pleasant Street

Location: 1.1 miles west of River Road to 10th Street and includes work by Hamilton County for a bridge to be built over the White River.

bilitation of two existing railroad bridges and conversion to pedestrian facilities

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

Expected completion: End of 2024

Project: Pleasant Street

Location: Various locations; Eighth Street and Pleasant Street will be closed after Memorial Day (motorists are advised to use detour routes or visit www.reimaginepleasantst.com for more information)

Expected completion: Work will be ongoing

Project: Stony Creek pedestrian trail

Location: Under Ind. 37

Expected completion: Construction will continue this year with the trail expected to open by early summer.

Project: Roundabout construction

Location: Ind. 32 and River Road

Expected completion: End of summer

Project: Nickel Plate Trail

Location: The city of Noblesville will construct its portion of the Nickel Plate Trail from 146th Street to Pleasant Street. Trail will be 12 feet wide and include the reha-

WHO WE ARE

Expected completion: By Thanksgiving

WESTFIELD

Project: Library/township office construction

Location: Corner of Park and Poplar streets

Expected completion: Work is expected to continue through the end of the year with the library expected to open in early 2024.

Project: New roundabout

Location: A new roundabout at the intersection of 171st Street and Eagletown Road is now open. However, there will be periodic lane restrictions in the coming weeks due to utility relocation and pavement striping. Please use caution in the area.

Project: Academy Sports & Outdoors

Location: Drive in front of the building will close for renovations, while the left turn lane from eastbound Greyhound Pass will be closed to avoid traffic turning into the worksite. Motorists should use Thatcher Lane or Cool Creek Park Road as a detour.

Expected completion: Fall 2023

NOBLESVILLE SCHOOLS RECOGNIZE GRADUATING SENIORS AT HONORS NIGHT

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Noblesville Schools recently recognized 300 graduating high school seniors during honors night for having a 3.5 GPA or above and more than $5 million in scholarships awarded. (Photo provided by Noblesville Schools)

COMMUNITY

CHS senior infielder finishing with strong hitting season

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Carmel High School senior infielder Case Sullivan has watched his batting average climb considerably for his final high school season.

Sullivan hit around .220 last season. He is hitting about .400 for the Greyhounds, who were 17-8 as of May 23.

“I did a ton of development with my summer team, Canes Midwest, being around a lot of high recruits,” Sullivan said. “I think we had 11 Division I recruits. My coach, Jeremy Honaker, helped me through it. Playing at that high level, you feed off the energy from those guys. I had the opportunity to play against a lot of tough competition. I gained 15 to 20 pounds and gained strength before my senior year. I was just really ready to get after it.”

Sullivan started off the 2022 season stronger, but an injury caused him to miss some games and threw off his timing.

“Then I fouled a ball off my face about

MEET CASE SULLIVAN

Favorite subject: Math

Favorite athletes: David Ortiz and Mookie Betts

Favorite movie: “The Sandlot”

Favorite musician: Morgan Wallen

seven or eight games into the season,” he said. “I broke my orbital floor, my nose and six stitches on top of my eye. I had to come back from that and didn’t get back to the point, but I think I still put us with a chance to win a sectional title last year.”

Sullivan said he struggled with confidence after coming back from the facial injury.

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“Having the summer that I did (was beneficial) and (now I’m) just trying to be a leader for a lot of these guys my last high school season,” he said.

CHS first-year coach Ty Neal is impressed with Sullivan’s leadership.

“Case has embraced the new culture and expectations the coaching staff has implemented,” Neal said. “Case is an excellent leader and is passionate about the game and his teammates.”

Sullivan started the year at third base, but has played shortstop most of the season.

“I’m fortunate to play with JD Stein and we switch,” Sullivan said.

Stein, a sophomore, has committed to play baseball at the University of Louisville.

Sullivan will play for Marshall University next season in the Sun Belt Conference.

“So it will be a lot of warm-weather baseball,” said Sullivan, who plans to major in business and entrepreneurship.

Sullivan has played some recreation basketball and soccer.

“But ever since I was little all I wanted to be was a baseball player,” said Sullivan, whose father, Corey Sullivan, played golf at Indiana University.

Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine is a world-class neurosurgery team pioneering best practices and providing collaborative, patient-centered care—and

Case Sullivan is hitting .400 for the Carmel High School baseball team. (Photo courtesy of Case Sullivan)

Sullivan

Brittany’s circle of support.

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SAFETY IN MIND

Expanded lanes,

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Residents in Noblesville say planned improvements between the city and Westfield on Ind. 32 by the Indiana Department of Transportation will be a major benefit as the state agency looks to ease traffic flow and reduce the number of crashes along the corridor.

The $80 million project, which isn’t expected to see construction begin until 2026, will expand the number of lanes from two to four and will add seven roundabouts at different intersections, said Nick Batta, design project manager with Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, an engineering firm in Indianapolis.

The federally funded project is being driven by ongoing congestion along the corridor, in addition to crashes that have been seen in the area with an average of about 110 per year, according to Batta, who spoke during an INDOT public meeting May 17 about the project at the Prairie Waters Event Center in Westfield.

“That’s a big part of the foundation for the need of the project,” Batta said. “The alternative we proposed here is specifically targeting rear-end crashes, delays people have to (face) when they’re sitting in traffic today and reducing the amount of time it gets from downtown Westfield to downtown Noblesville.”

Preliminary design work and environmental studies as part of the project with planned construction kicking off in 2026 that will continue in 2027, according to INDOT.

As part of the project, roundabouts are being proposed at Carey Road/Grassy Branch Road, Gunther Boulevard, Moontown Road/Gray Road, Pebble Brook Boulevard/Hazel Dell Elementary School, Hazel Dell Road/Little Chicago Road, Mill Creek Road, in addition to one being added at Hague Road and the Pleasant Street extension that will be constructed by the City of Noblesville. The roundabouts will ease the flow of traffic and provide better access to side roads as well, Batta said.

An 8-foot asphalt path will also be added along both sides of the roadway, according to INDOT. The expanded lanes should also allow traffic to move more quickly through the corridor, Batta said.

“There’s so much traffic on (Ind.) 32, one lane each direction is not enough to handle it, so another lane is needed,” he said.

Noblesville’s portion of the project will be constructed at the Mensa Drive intersection, while improvements will continue down the corridor to the East Street intersection in Westfield. Batta said officials don’t know yet the order of construction on the project.

“It’ll be in some sort of phases, exactly the phases, we don’t quite know yet, but we’ll know by the end of the year,” Batta said.

Noblesville resident Jessica Thomas is among those who

of $80M Ind. 32 project

East-Central District, said the agency is in the “communication and conversation phase of construction” regarding the project. The current goal is to understand what the public wants as well, Cramer said.

Noblesville City Engineer Alison Krupski said the project is one that the city is excited about and noted that congestion remains the biggest issue in Noblesville.

“That is a big cause of accidents when there’s a lot of congestion,” Krupski said. “Even driving here, you could see traffic backed up all the way from Noblesville to Westfield, so this project is very much needed.”

The Hague Road roundabout that is planned at Pleasant Street and Ind. 32 won’t be completed until 2025, according to Krupski. There will be routes to get around Ind. 32 construction into downtown Noblesville since the Pleasant Street improvement project will be completed at that point, she added.

look forward to the improvements, especially since her family lives right off Ind. 32, with the expanded number of road lanes.

“I’m more curious to see how we’re going to get in and out of our neighborhood and how they’ll be able to improve that,” Thomas said. “I have a daughter who’s about to start driving and I have a little bit of a concern of getting out of the neighborhood some days, and it’s just stop-and-go to get to and from places quickly. It’ll be nice if they can move if (traffic) can move a little more efficiently.”

Other residents, such as Jane Kirkwood, also welcomed the planned changes by INDOT. Kirkwood has lived in Noblesville with her husband Mitch for 35 years and lives about a half-mile off Ind. 32.

“Access to (Ind. 32) concerns us,” Mitch Kirkwood said. “Something’s got to be done and I’m in favor of the improvements, but I’m concerned about our access.”

Jane Kirkwood agreed that the proposed improvements will be a major help once they are in place, although she said she wasn’t sure about INDOT’s projections tied to ongoing housing developments with apartments and houses being built were correct and the amount of traffic that will create.

Still, she said she wanted more information on the amount of traffic and the number of cars traveling between Noblesville and Westfield each day.

“What kind of traffic are we experiencing right now? It’s obvious it’s terrible,” she said. “We’re hoping for turn lanes so we don’t have worry about getting rear-ended when we want to make a right or left turn and you can’t expect a roundabout at every street.”

Kyleigh Cramer, public relations director for INDOT’s

AN OVERVIEW OF THE IND. 32 PROJECT

Roundabouts at intersections:

• Carey Road/Grassy Branch Road

• Gunther Boulevard

• Moontown Road/Gray Road

• Pebble Brook Boulevard/Hazel Dell Elementary School

• Hazel Dell Road/Little Chicago Road

• Mill Creek Road

• Hague Road/Pleasant Street extension (to be constructed by city of Noblesville)

Pedestrian paths:

• 8-foot asphalt paths along both sides of the roadway

• Grass buffer between path and road where where space permits

• Connection to paths in Westfield, Noblesville and Midland Trace

Crash rates:

• Average of about 110 crashes per year

• Approximately 70% of crashes are rear-end incidents

• Approximately 14% of crashes involved incapacitating injuries

More information: improvetomove32.com.

roundabouts planned as part

Motorists travel along Ind. 32 in Westfield. (Photo by Adam Seif)

ON THE COVER: Motorists travel along Ind. 32 in Noblesville May 20. The Indiana Dept. of Transportation is planning improvements along the corridor between Noblesville and Westfield that will eventually expand the number of lanes from two to four and add roundabouts at various intersections. (Photo by Adam Seif)

Calls to postgraduation action

Commentary by Terry Anker

‘Tis the season, the graduation season, that is. Just as surely as leaves erupt from barren trees, notices, announcements and invitations burst from our mailboxes carrying tidings of matriculation. Adults, children and young adults of our friends, business associates and family are marking the end of some component of their formal education. Kudos to them. The pursuit of knowledge is always a good thing.

ESSAY

Many of the traditions surrounding these events have changed. We find ourselves stuffing the congratulatory envelopes with more cash than a few years back, and guests are just as likely to wear shorts and flipflops as neckties. But still, the graduates themselves don the slightly ridiculous mortarboard cap and long robe. They march in line, receive diplomas and recognitions and move the tassel right to left signifying attainment of their degree. Even more, the speechifying, recognitions and charges to those assembled have largely remained unscathed by the passing years.

Faculty and staff make final remarks to fully mint their nascent progeny. Dignitaries drawn from community leaders and exemplar alumni take the podium to impart their accumulated wisdom. Sometimes, they are poignant, entertaining, inspiring and memorable. Sometimes, they are not. Almost always, there is a charge to the gathered class. “Go forth and…” is the general idea. It is in these words that we find reflected our current trends. Go forth and prosper. Go forth and contribute. Go forth and be vulnerable. Go forth and embrace change. Go forth and defend tradition. Go forth and build a fortune to donate to this school.

Each of the varied and disparate from above reflect speeches heard just this year. Some miss the mark and others are on target. Given the microphone, what would we say?

Concrete Cleaning

Concrete Sealing

Roof Cleaning Pressure Washing Epoxy Floors

Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent.com.

Flower Market

I ‘May’ not survive this homecoming

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

It’s May, people, and you know what that means. No, not the race. Race schmace. I’m talking about the life-altering phenomenon that occurs when college kids return home. And though we technically only have one coming back, my wonderfully quiet house and relatively full fridge are about to take a beating. Somehow, I must find the will to survive the next 10 to 12 weeks.

We’ve already had “the talk.” You know, the one that makes parents sound like Old Man Get-Off-My-Lawn Wilson. “So long as you are under my roof … blah blah blah.” Curfews, chores, driveway spot – basic family responsibilities and expectations. But even assuming he abides by all the rules, his mere presence, while enjoyable in small doses, changes the dynamics of our humble abode.

For starters, my husband Doo and I have grown quite accustomed to being empty nesters. No constraints on dinner, TV,

bedtime -- we do what we want! But now there will be another human being in the mix, someone with actual opinions and perceived needs and a history of staying up until dawn playing zombie Xbox games.

I’m particularly concerned about his ability to consume vast amounts of calories. While hitting Meijer in anticipation of the ensuing food shortage, I saw several other moms filling carts with Pop-Tarts, CheezeIts, and various other “luxury goods” that our coeds cannot afford. It’s like a plague of locusts has arrived for the summer, and no kitchen is safe from its destructive gastronomical path.

How will we survive this temporary home invasion? I’m not sure. And it’s still only May. Stupid May.

Peace out.

Danielle Wilson is a contributing columnist. You may email her at info@youarecurrent.com.

VIEWS SCAN HERE!

Well, there went her ticket to sainthood

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

My wife, Mary Ellen, is vacationing with my sister in North Carolina. This trip worries me. If my name comes up, no one in that car will take my side.

Mary Ellen was just pulled over for a minor infraction. She never breaks rules, believing they were made to be followed. This kind of harebrained notion caused a rift in the way we raised our son. To her credit, in more than 35 years, Brett has not spent a single night in jail.

Getting stopped by the police has crushed her, ruined her clean record and put a damper on her vacation. My wife’s life has been exemplary. She never had detention, never cheated on a test, never told a lie, never even hot-wired a car. The woman was a saint. Until now.

must have me confused with my husband.”

“Ma’am, your license plates are expired.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“There’s a little sticker on the plate. It says 2022.”

“Well, how can you expect me to see that from the driver’s seat?”

I actually tried that line myself once, hoping to get a laugh from a cop. I got a sobriety test instead.

Now, back to the phone call from Mary Ellen right after she was stopped.

“Dick, I was just pulled over by the police.”

had

never cheated on a test, never told a lie, never even hot-wired a car. The woman was a saint. Until now.”

When you have a clean past, being followed by a police officer is a perplexing and nerve-racking experience. I’ve studied how to deal with the cops when getting pulled over for speeding. For example, I know that saying, “Officer, I was running out of gas, so I had to get home quicker,” doesn’t work.

Mary Ellen has no experience in this area. When she noticed the lights flashing behind her, she waved the policeman around her … for about 23 blocks. Then it dawned on her that he was after her.

“When you stop crying, ma’am, may I see your license and registration?” the officer asked.

“Oh, there must be some mistake, officer,” Mary Ellen said. “I’ve never done anything wrong in my entire saintly life. You

“Why didn’t you let my sister drive the getaway car?”

“Look, this is no joke. Up until 20 minutes ago, I had a perfect record. I had never done anything wrong in my life. Do you know what this stain on my reputation means?”

“A big celebration at the convent! You’ve moved a lot of the sisters into first place.”

This event apparently created some soul searching on Mary Ellen’s part.

“Dick, this brush with the law has given me a new perspective. I’ve led too sheltered an existence. In fact, marrying you is really the only questionable thing I’ve ever done until today.”

“Hey, marrying me was not exactly committing a crime.”

“No, but it’s probably the closest I’ll ever come.”

POLICIES

Letters to the editor: Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 150 words. Letters must be thoroughly vetted prior to submission. Current retains the right to reject or return any letter it deems to carry unsubstantiated content. Current also retains the right to edit letters, but not their intent. Send letters to info@youarecurrent.com. Writers must include a hometown and a daytime phone number for verification. Guest columns: The policy for guest columns is the same as the aforementioned, but the allowable length is 240 words. Guest columns should address the whole of Current’s readership, not simply special-interest groups, and may not in any way contain a commercial message.

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

“She never

detention,

– DICK WOLFSIE

New Works to present three premieres at Palladium

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Saxophonist Cecily Terhune is eager to perform a new piece in a special setting.

PERFORMANCES

“The opportunity to perform a new work for the New Works project is monumental,” the Carmel resident said.”I’m honored to be able to experience the Palladium’s precise acoustic capabilities as a solo performer performing a piece I’m passionate about.”

Terhune’s project is one of three selected for the second season of New Works: An Arts Commission Project, an initiative of the Carmel-based Center for the Performing Arts to promote and sustain central Indiana’s working artists and arts communities in an inclusive way by supporting the creation of new works across the arts disciplines. The three winning proposals, selected by judges, will be presented in a free presentation at 8 p.m. June 10 at the Palladium, followed by a talkback discussion.

Instrumental and electronic music composer Katie Madonna Lee of South Bend composed “Boon Bestowed” for Terhune.

“We worked together to conceptualize the piece and she wrote the motifs,” Terhune said. “‘Boon Bestowed’ is composed of four separate movements and is 10 minutes long.”

Each movement will feature one instrument from the standard saxophone quartet: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Each movement represents a powerful female archetype: nurturer, leader, activist and teacher.

“The visual component began as a slideshow but is now a series of short videos representing each of the powerful female archetypes,” Terhune said.

Terhune, a 2011 Carmel High School graduate, teaches private woodwind lessons

for CHS and Noblesville High School students. She performs regularly with Audiodacity and other groups.

Another New Works is Emily Franks’ original dance piece, “Suits.” She developed it with the help of Noblesville-based En Pointe Indiana Ballet, where Franks is a part-time instructor. Franks, who lives in downtown Indianapolis, previously was a dancer for Dance Kaleidoscope.

“This was my first time being able to create a longer piece, which has always been a dream of mine,” Franks said. “After retiring from dancing professionally, I wasn’t sure where I would find my artistic outlet, but choreographing and creating works has been such a fun and new experience for me. I’m falling in love with it.”

The narrative is a mystery about a sto-

len document, set amid the human dynamics of corporate culture.

“I’m naturally more introverted, so I tend to be more of an observer than a talker,” she said. “I’ve always loved to people-watch and imagine their stories and lives. I imagine the people around me that I don’t even know live some pretty cool lives. After thinking about the corporate workforce, I wanted to tell a story through movement that would be close to watching a movie. I really wanted it to be accessible to all, where it wasn’t very abstract and anyone could see a plot line in the movement.”

The piece is made up of seven sections and runs 18 1/2 minutes.

“I retired from dancing professionally in June 2022 due to health reasons,” Franks said. “After getting diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, the athletic career of a dancer was just no longer sustainable. Seeing these incredibly talented students dancing my work up on the stage brings me just as much joy as performing did in my professional career.”

Franks has worked with the En Pointe dancers for several months on the piece.

“They’ve really impressed me with their dedication to their work as such young artists,” she said. “Their passion for the art shines through the choreography I gave them.”

Robert Moore, co-artistic director of En Pointe with his wife Polly Ribeiro, offered advice.

‘Rob has been such a wonderful mentor and watched me work through this process,” Franks said.

The third New Works is Jamey Guzman’s “Open Heart Surgery,” a contemporary opera piece modeled after a TV medical drama. It features three singers and several musicians from Bloomington-based New Voices Opera. Guzman collaborated with librettist Carolina Cao to tell a story of a young doctor caught between her dreams of film and her Immigrant family’s expectations of a career in medicine.

For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘BEAUTY & THE BEAST’

“Beauty & the Beast” runs through July 9 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

‘LIVE AT THE CENTER’

The Live at the Center series presents Public Universal Friend at 7:30 p.m. May 31 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $5 for in-person or register for the free livestream at thecenterpresents.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Zack Zadek, who is working on the project with Discovering Broadway, will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 1 along with Elizabeth Teeter at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Natalie Douglas will sing Songs of the ’60s at 7:30 p.m. June 2-3. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘FAIRY DOLL’

Indiana Ballet Conservatory presents “Fairy Doll” at 1 and 4 p.m. June 3 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit indianaballetconservatory.org.

DISPATCHES

Dugan’s comedy show set — Dave Dugan presents: Comedy at The Cat is set for 7:30 p.m. June 3 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. Dugan is the co-headliner and host. The other co-headliner, Troy Davis, will perform with his daughter CoLee Reyes opening for him. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more, visit eventbrite.com/e/ comedy-at-the-cat-tickets-638831832207.

Two shows added to Palladium — The Center for the Performing Arts, which released its schedule May 22, has added two more shows to the 2023-24 schedule. Roots-rock singer-songwriter Grace Potter will appear at the Palladium for the first time Nov. 3. Actor Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro will present an evening of songs and stories titled “Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret” Feb. 3, 2024.

Saxophonist Cecily Terhune’s New Works piece called “Boon Bestowed’’ will be performed June 10 at the Palladium. (Photo courtesy of Cecily Terhune)

Franks

NIGHT & DAY CCP schedule offers laughs, thrills

By Mark Ambrogi mark@yourarecurrent.com

ATI reading helps playwright

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

PRODUCTIONS

Carmel Community Players’ 2023-24 schedule is designed to produce a lot of laughs and a few chills.

“Each show explores a very different era and location, but there’s a shared theme of striving for genuine human connection,” said Hannah Janowitz, CCP’s artistic director and a Carmel resident. “We can all benefit from listening to one another’s stories. Each show’s main characters demonstrate that, be it through laughs or thrills or song. We have four strong plays, one beautiful musical, and one Rising Star Production play for younger actors.”

Trgovac and Tonya Rave, April 26-May 5, 2024 at The Cat; “Anne of Green Gables” (Rising Star Production) based on the novel by L.M. Montgomery, directed by Amber Roth, June 28-July 7, 2024 at The Cat and “The Woman in Black,” based on the novel by Susan Hill, adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, directed by Lori Raffel, Aug. 16-25, 2024 at The Cat.

Janowitz

“I’m especially eager for our season-opening production of ‘aMUSEd,’ which is written by local playwright Megan Ann Jacobs,” Janonwitz said. “An abridged version of the play premiered at the Indy Fringe Festival in 2019. This will be the first full-length production of the play in the state of Indiana, and we’re happy to lift up local talent.”

Emma Rund was delighted when she learned Actors Theatre of Indiana wanted to include her play in its Lab Series.

PLAY

“In the playwriting world, there’s a lot of submitting and never hearing back, so when you finally get that 1-in-50 that is interested in working on your play, it’s extremely exciting,” the 2015 Guerin Catholic High School graduate said. “With this play, it was especially gratifying because I wrote it back in 2017. I submitted it to ATI in 2019, and then let it sit untouched for four years. Getting to pull it back out of the drawer to work on it again as a more experienced playwright was an absolute blast.”

“The actors in this reading were absolutely fantastic talents and they did a marvelous job with the play,” Rund said. “My favorite moment as a playwright is hearing audiences talk about how the play affected them. If the play sparks conversation, that’s a good sign in my book, so I think the reading went very well because the talkback afterwards was full of conversation.”

Rund

Rund, who grew up in Lebanon, was active in Carmel-based Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program, appearing in three musicals. After graduating from Ball State University, she moved to Chicago to pursue her playwriting career. She works at the University of Chicago in central communications.

The schedule includes: “aMUSEd” by Megan Ann Jacobs, directed by Kelly Keller, Oct. 13-22 at the Switch Theatre, Fishers; “Moon Over Buffalo” by Ken Ludwig, directed by Elizabeth Ruddell, Dec. 8-17 at The Cat, Carmel; “Violet,” (musical) music by Jeanine Tesori, book by Brian Crawley, directed by Kathleen Horrigan, March 1-10, 2024 at the Switch Theatre; “The Dinner Party” by Neil Simon, directed by Matt

Janowitz will co-produce “Moon Over Buffalo” with CCP’s Rich Phipps.

“Ken Ludwig plays are usually a crowd favorite, so this wacky comedy will be perfect to enjoy around the holidays,” Janowitz said. “In contrast, ‘The Woman in Black’ will be great for anyone who loves ghost stories or sitting on the edge of your seat. We haven’t done a chilling production like this in a while.”

“I’m especially eager for our season-opening production of ‘aMUSEd,’ which is written by local playwright Megan Ann Jacobs. An abridged version of the play premiered at the Indy Fringe Festival in 2019. This will be the first full-length production of the play in the state of Indiana, and we’re happy to lift up local talent.”

The reading of “Rosemary & Time” was held May 20 at the Carmel Clay Public Library. The play is about Rosemary struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s. When her daughters come home for Thanksgiving, she must face the fact she is losing her grip on reality.”

The reading helped Rund learn about the audience’s response to some of the comedic moments and their tolerance for the challenging characters.

The talkback definitely also planted some seeds for revisions,” Rund said. “Some of them are larger questions and I’ll need to marinate on them for a little while before I tackle another draft of the play.”

Time for farmers markets

Commentary by Mark LaFay

There is quite a bit to love about May in Indiana. The obvious is the passing of the gray gloom and the warming temperatures. The Indy 500 takes us through to the end of the month. Kids wrap up another year of school and plow into summer vacation. Last but not least is the summer farmers market season!

There are numerous farmers markets within a short Saturday morning drive. We (Old Major) sell at the Zionsville, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Garfield Park and Broad Ripple markets every Saturday morning. You can also find us at the Wednesday SoBro market and the Thursday Westfield market. The Thursday Westfield market is roaring back to life this year thanks to the hard work of Nick Stepaniak and the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. This year you will find 50 vendors every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Grand Junction Plaza.

Here are a handful of vendors that you should check out:

• Tulip Tree Creamery – Great local creamery making great cheese in the Dutch tradition. Check out their trillium, it is similar to brie and it wins lots of awards!

See them at the Saturday Carmel market.

• Pig’s Tale Charcuterie – These guys make great snack sticks, summer sausage and dry-cured salamis. New to the scene and definitely a great addition to your charcuterie board. See them at the Westfield Thursday market.

• Circle City Sweets – Check them out at the Carmel Saturday market. Great baked goods. My favorite is the ham and cheese croissant.

• Old Major – Great bacon and sausage, with pork, chicken and beef options, including beef bacon and pork bacon. Local and delicious. Visit us at Westfield this week.

• My Dad’s Sweet Corn – I detasseled corn for Alan Baird when I was 13 years old. They grow fantastic sweet corn that comes in season by the Fourth of July. Check them out at the Carmel Market.

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4201 Millersville Rd. Suite 107A.

– HANNAH JANOWITZ

Blueprint for Improvement: Complete basement transformation

Commentary by Larry Greene

Built in 1989 in Carmel’s Queen’s Manor neighborhood, our clients were ready to transform their basement from an unfinished storage space into a fully functional extension of their home, with room for everyone.

THE BLUEPRINT

• A warm beige, tan and sky-blue palette provides an airy, warm and welcoming ambience, despite being subterranean.

• The entertainment center cabinetry provides plenty of storage space and feels more like furniture thanks to details like crown molding and beadboard backing.

• Sky blue stain on the cabinetry in the wet bar area provides a touch of style and subtle hint of color.

• Even the tiniest occupants in this home were taken into consideration in designing this space. The area under the staircase transforms into the perfect playhouse — complete with a tiny Dutch door, mail slot and window boxes.

• The built-in bookcase serves a dual purpose, providing storage and display space while disguising the door leading to the mechanical closet.

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.

Flowery language in full bloom

Commentary by

Curtis Honeycutt

As spring turns to summer, I love taking leisurely laps around my house to see what’s in bloom. Nearly every day, I find a new flower opening its doors for business to bees and butterflies.

got a drink of water from the water fountain. Depending on where you grew up, you could also say Judith got a drink from the drinking fountain or the bubbler.

GRAMMAR GUY

Sorry to get so gushy about flowers, but native perennials are kind of my thing.

Flowery language is characterized by the abundant use of lengthy, occasionally outdated vocabulary and the inclusion of figurative expressions. In general, the jury is in on flowery language; it says, “Don’t use it!” I’ll be the judge of that.

Let’s see some examples. “As Judith languished in her cotton-mouthed state, she laboriously approached the silver oasis that promised aqueous vitality. As she painstakingly summoned the spirit to press her dainty thumb against the fountain’s operative button, water flowed like a river into her eagerly awaiting mouth.”

Whew. Glad you made it, Judith. A straightforward way of writing the above paragraph is: Judith was thirsty, so she

How about this one: Rik raced faster than a cheetah on the hunt toward the falling, hurtling white sphere. As the ball neared the blades of grass at a rapid clip, Rik sprawled out to secure it in the safety of his leather mitt.

Simply put, Rik made an exceptional diving baseball catch. Whether the play ended up on SportsCenter’s top plays or not, perhaps we’ll never know.

Using a blend of direct and flowery words is the secret sauce to make writing interesting and easy to understand. Writers should aim to inform but also entertain. If you go all-out with flowery language, it’s easy for the message to get lost in translation.

Foundation Hall at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Reflecting pool at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Commentary by Don Knebel

Today, in the last (for now) look at often-overlooked places in New York City, we visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, remembering the 2,977 people killed at the site by the Sept.11, 2001, attack and the six killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

TRAVEL

President Barack Obama and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg dedicated the memorial and museum on May 15, 2004. The memorial includes a wooded park on the World Trade Center site, with two 1-acre reflecting pools occupying the footprints of the destroyed twin towers. The names of the 2,983 victims are inscribed on 152 bronze panels on the pools, which include the world’s largest man-made waterfalls, masking city noises. The museum occupies 110,000 square feet

beneath the park, extending to bedrock 70 feet below ground level. Visitors descend to Foundation Hall, the largest section of the museum, on a ramp adjacent to a stairway that 9/11 survivors took to safety, moved to the underground museum after being recovered largely intact.

At the bottom of the ramp is an evocative work by artist Spencer Finch, comprising 2,983 individual paper panels of varying shades of sky blue, with a quote from Virgil: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.” Along one side of Foundation Hall is a slurry wall that was designed to hold back the Hudson River from the towers and survived the attack. Among the 14.000 artifacts on display are a fire engine destroyed in the attack and the 36-foot-tall Last Column, the final column removed from the wreckage that includes a variety of inscriptions and messages. Twisted steel beams reflect the enormous temperatures from burning fuel that led to the towers’ collapse. For me, the most sobering part of the visit was the chance to talk with survivors, who volunteer to recount the horrors of Sept. 11.

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

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

5. Support beam 10. Evansville winter hrs.

13. “Jingle Bell Rock” singer (born in Bloomington)

15. Hinkle Fieldhouse cheer

16. San Jose resident 17. Botch 18. Escapes capture 19. “The Simpsons” bus driver 20. “___ Were the Days” 23. Tart pie filling 25. Suspenders alternative

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37. Immigrant’s subj.

38. “Family Feud” reruns channel

39. Have sushi at Chiba

41. Burn a bit

45.

46.

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59.

60. ___ Zeppelin

24. 2023 March Madness winner, briefly

26. Texter’s “Ta-ta!”

27. Indiana School for the Deaf subj.

30. “Ghosts” playwright

31. Hoosier National Forest growth

33. Start 34. “I” problem 35. Smell bad 36. Challenge 40. Colts stats 41. Capital of Minn. 42. Poker declaration 43. Caught in the act 44. Close 45. Rush headlong 47. “Silas Marner” novelist 48. Low-pitched

32. Ex-Pacers coach and broadcaster (born in Terre

51. Indiana Supreme Court garb

44. Refusals

Cow collection

New employee

British nobles

Misery

Greater in size

Feel unwell

54. Indianapolis Ballet spins

58. Waste not

Real-life “Hoosiers” star (born in Pierceville)

61. Eye problems

62. Website with homemade Indy 500 jewelry

1. UK TV network

2. Tic-tac-toe win

3. Lots of ozs.

4. CVS medical exam administered on the forearm

5. Via, for short

6. WRTV’s “Duffy’s Diner” creator: ___ Duffy

7. Stomach woes

8. Break into pieces

9. Indiana tax ID

10. Certain Greek

11. French philosopher Jean-Paul

12. Pulsates

14. Governor Robert Orr’s alma mater

19. US President with two Grammys

20. WTTV schedule abbr.

21. A Simon

22. Butter substitute

Evansville’s County

52. They go with gals

54. WFYI net.

55. Egyptian boy king

56. Ambulance letters

57. KGB job Answers on Page

FINE BATHROOMS