Registration is required.
Presenter: Norman Mindrebo, MD
When: Thursday, August 17, 6-7 p.m.
Location: Riverview Health, 395 Westfield Rd., Noblesville, IN 46060 Krieg DeVault conference room (entrance 3)
Registration: To register, visit riverview.org/classes, call 317.776.7999 or scan the QR code
The City of Noblesville has approved the selection of a developer for a planned events center and parking garage near Interstate 69 as part of a project tied to the developmental league team of the Indiana Pacers.
Patch Development, based in Westfield, was selected from among the two bid proposals submitted to the city, which sent out requests for proposals and qualifications June 7. In May, the city and Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced a partnership to build an 85,000-square-foot arena being developed at Finch Creek Park, where the Pacers’ G League franchise, the Mad Ants, would play in the 2024-25 season.
The Mad Ants will relocate to Noblesville from Fort Wayne as part of the plan. The city and the Pacers struck a 10-year agreement earlier this year, but the selection of Patch Development as developer marks the latest update tied to the project since plans were announced earlier this year.
“This is the first major milestone for us to hit since the city and Pacers Sports & Entertainment came together on May 8 to announce a transformational partnership to bring the second most prominent men’s basketball league in the world to Noblesville,” Mayor Chris Jensen said.
The city plans to commit $36.5 million toward the project, which includes a 3,400seat arena that would be rented by the Pacers for up to 40 days a year. However, the RFPQ sent out by the City of Noblesville specified “that the events center and parking garage must be located in the city with a preference to a location east of State Road 37 and in proximity to exit 210, Finch Creek Park, and Hamilton Town Center,” said Matt Light, deputy mayor with the city. Patch Development was chosen over a proposal submitted to the city by Card & Associates, officials said.
“The committee met on multiple occasions in executive session to review and discuss the responses and requested clarifications and additional information from the respondents as deemed necessary to inform this recommendation,” Light said.
“The committee also received input from consultants hired by the city to analyze economic impact, tourism impact, feasibil-
ity, parking operations, construction budgets and construction timelines.”
“Mayor Jensen’s vision for how our G League team and this facility fit into Noblesville’s economic development strategy illustrates why we are so excited about this partnership,” said Rick Fuson, chief executive officer of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. “We look forward to continuing to work through this process with him, his team and City of Noblesville leaders.”
Light said the shift from Finch Creek Park to a new site near I-69 was done for several reasons. Among them include the economic impact of having the events center and parking garage within Innovation Mile with its proximity to I-69, Hamilton Town Center, existing and planned hotels and restaurants, Ruoff Music Center and other amenities and planned developments, according to a memo recommendation to the Noblesville Board of Works and Safety.
Innovation Mile is a master-planned business district along 141st Street between Olio Road and Prairie Baptist Road. Officials also said Patch Development’s proposal would generate 2 ½ more in net spending and local taxes while also creating 30 percent more jobs.
“Additionally, the placement of the events center and garage as an anchor site within Innovation Mile provides a faster return on investment of phase one infrastructure expenditures and smart utilization of
resources already planned and available,” Light said.
Light said a formal agreement with Patch Development will need to be approved by the Board of Public Works and Safety and the Noblesville City Council. The city and Patch Development have also worked on Washington Business Park, located on Ind. 37, through a public-private partnership, Light said.
The city plans to work with Patch Development to negotiate and award a professional services agreement, using the Build-Operate-Transfer, or BOT, procurement method. This agreement will further define the scope, design services, engineering and architectural services, programming, flexible use components, financing structure, and total costs of the project, consistent with the RFPQ and applicable law, according to the city.
The budget for the events center is estimated not to exceed $45 million, while a budget for the parking garage is estimated not to exceed $35 million, according to the city, which plans to fund the projects through bonds. Under the proposed plan, officials are seeking to build a parking garage adjacent to the events center that would have at least 600 parking spaces.
The Pacers G League team will play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the interim until the new arena is completed.
devices that heat a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale, commonly referred to as vaping.
“Unfortunately, most e-cigarettes contain nicotine and flavorings which are highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain. We believe the installation of vape detectors may help slow the use of vapes and provide a learning opportunity for the students using them,” Greer said.
Greer said the vape detectors are placed in school restrooms and work similar to smoke detectors. The detectors can differentiate between vaping, THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects, and aerosols, like deodorant or cologne, students use to mask the smell of marijuana and scented vapes, according to Greer. When a detector picks up on a vapor it sends a text to school administrators identifying which bathroom it is in, she added.
EVENT
The Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville will host its eighth annual cornhole tournament Aug. 4 in Noblesville. The event will take place at Forest Park, 701 Cicero Rd., with check-in beginning at 11:30 a.m. The first round of play will begin at 12:30 at Shelter No. 1.
The afternoon will consist of a three-game guarantee to include a double-elimination tournament and a “toilet bowl” bracket. Competitive play will culminate in a championship game paying out cash prizes to first and second place winners.
Each participant will receive a commemorative tank top and an entry into a door prize drawing. All players are invited to bring their own adult beverages, and multiple silent auction packages will be offered, officials said.
“Last year, over 60 teams competed in the event to support our youth programs,” said Tony Eslamirad, community center director at the Boys & Girls Club of Nobles-
ville. “Those who attend not only have the opportunity to network and relax on a Friday afternoon under the shade of Forest Park, but they are making a difference in the lives of thousands of local kids that utilize the club’s services. In the past seven years, the event has raised over $65,000 to support affordable after school programs for our local club kids.”
The registration fee per team of two will be $80 with all proceeds benefiting Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville. Teams can register online at bgcni.org.
For more, contact the club by calling 317773-4372 or email teslamirad@bgcni.org.
Noblesville has approved an interlocal agreement with Hamilton County for the purchase and installation of three automated external defibrillators and stations that will be placed on park trails.
Under the agreement, the city will receive $20,000 for the AEDs and will be responsible for the maintenance of the equipment, said James Macky, emergency medical services division chief with the Noblesville Fire Department. Macky said one of the AED stations will be placed on the Midland Trace Trail by the end of the year.
However, discussions about where to place the other two AEDs were still being determined, he added. Noblesville is the latest city to approve AEDs after the City of Westfield approved a similar agreement in June to place AED stations at Grand Junction Plaza, in addition to the Midland and Monon trails.
Kayla Arnold, director of Westfield Wel-
come, told the Westfield City Council that the city planned to purchase four AED stations with its funding. Arnold told the council that the city launched a crowdfunding campaign in February that raised about $2,400 and received a grant from Bolt for the Heart to purchase the AED stations.
“With this interlocal agreement, we will be able to complete all pieces and be able to have those AED stations installed later this summer,” Arnold said in June.
Noblesville has approved an agreement with a landscape architectural firm to create a master plan for the Nickel Plate Trail.
The $182,475 contract with Indianapolis-based Rundell Ernstberger Associates calls for the firm to develop a plan for the Nickel Plate Trail and updating the city’s alternative transportation plan, said Denise Aschleman, senior planner with the city.
“Construction on the Nickel Plate Trail began this summer and due to that change, there is a desire to look at the length of the new trail and develop a land use plan for the future,” Aschleman said.
She also said as part of the firm’s work, the plan will also “plan and prioritize neutral segments” along the trail while filling in gaps on the trail and sidewalks nearby. In addition, Aschleman said Rundell Ernstberger Associates will also update the Noblesville Alternative Transportation Plan to allow for an update to the city’s park impact fee
later this year.
Park impact fees are paid by residential property owners to help fund new park infrastructure projects. Those fees are paid by individuals who are seeking a building permit to construct new residential structures, such as single-family dwellings, an apartment, condominium or mobile home within the city limits, according to the city.
The city’s alternative transportation plan is currently updated every five years and is primarily used to look at zoning changes, in addition to changes in land use, in Noblesville, according to Aschleman. Funding for the alternative transportation plan will be paid by park impact fees, while the Nickel Plate Trail plan was already included in the Noblesville Planning Dept.’s 2023 budget, she added.
She said updates to the city’s alternative transportation plan are expected to be completed by the end of the year, while work on the Nickel Plate Trail plan is targeted for completion by next spring. For more on the city’s alternative transportation plan, visit noblesvilleparks.org/176/ Noblesville-Alternative-Transportation-P.
We like to think shingles started getting installed the right way back in 1989. That’s when Bone Dry hung out its own shingle. The very reason the company has endured over 30 years of rain, wind and hail . . . is because our roofs have. Other roofers come and go like a flash of lightning. For a roof that’s going to be around a long, long time, call Bone Dry. We’ll not only answer our phones tomorrow, we’ll answer them the year after tomorrow.
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WE BELIEVE YOUR ROOF SHOULD LAST AT LEAST AS LONG AS THE COMPANY THAT INSTALLS IT.
WE BELIEVE YOUR ROOF SHOULD LAST AT LEAST AS LONG AS THE COMPANY THAT INSTALLS IT.The city of Noblesville will install three automated external defibrillators and stations on park trails. (File photo)
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Noblesville artist Leslie Ober sees the importance of holding the Art Fair on the Square.
EVENT“It’s an opportunity for artists in our community and outside of our community to connect with patrons,” Ober said. “It’s an opportunity to exhibit their work and to sell their work.”
The 19th annual Art Fair on the Square will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 5 on the Noblesville Courthouse Square. It is a joint partnership of the Hamilton County Artists’ Association and Nickel Plate Arts and is the biggest event HCAA holds each year.
Ober, an HCAA member who is helping coordinate the event, is one of the more than 60 artists participating. Ober said most of the artists are from central Indiana, but there are some from other parts of the state.
The artists’ works will all be under tents during the free event.
Vocalists Steve Newby and Andy Schomburg will provide the entertainment. There will be face painting by Fabulously Fun Company. There will be art demonstrations along with the exhibits.
“One year, I had people scan QR codes and guess what medium it was,” Ober said.
The Conner Prairie Youth Volunteers’ spinners will be creating scarves for the public to view.
Ober said there are no vendors because there are plenty of food and drink options in businesses on the square.
All painting mediums will be represented, along with sculpture, pottery, jewelry and more.
Admission is free but donations are welcomed. For more, visit hcaa-in.org/ art-fair-on-the-square.
U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz spoke about a wide range of issues, including appropriations, Ukraine, health care and the VA, during a July 22 town hall in Noblesville. The town hall, which was held at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, drew more than 60 people to hear from Spartz, a Republican who represents Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. The 5th District covers an area encompassing Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Marion, Muncie, Anderson and Kokomo.
Spartz addressed questions from attendees about ongoing issues in Washington, D.C., the United States and internationally. Spartz, who announced earlier this year that she is not seeking reelection in 2024, told those in attendance that the town hall was an opportunity to hear from her about various topics.
“You might like it, you might not like it,” Spartz said. “I’ll tell you the truth.”
Among the key issues in Washington, D.C., she said, include legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration for the next five years. That legislation, H.R. 3935, was something she voted against because no amendments were allowed to be passed in the committees of jurisdiction or rules.
Spartz said she thought there should have been time for debate on the floor, adding “that’s how it should be,” referring to discussion regarding legislation. The legislation passed the House and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
“I was absolutely upset they didn’t allow any amendments,” Spartz said. “I mean, this is unacceptable.”
In a statement released to the media, Spartz also expressed frustration surrounding the matter.
“Unfortunately, the D.C., swamp prevailed again – back to ‘four-corner’ deals among Republican and Democrat leadership from both chambers,” Spartz said. “No amendments were allowed to pass in the committees of jurisdiction or rules. Just a few conservative amendments were allowed for messaging on the floor, which were meant to be defeated. They even figured out how to use some archaic and hard-toexplain rule to kill an amendment. I cannot support this charade and hypocrisy from
Republicans.”
Spartz, who also addressed a question regarding health care provided at the VA, acknowledged ongoing issues at the agency.
“It’s very, very complicated,” she said. “I think people should be able to get the best health care. I’m going to see how we can help.”
Spartz pointed out there are “a lot of problems” at the VA, but said she continues to support veterans and their needs.
“I don’t support institutions that are failing us,” she said.
Spartz was also critical of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, also a Republican, saying that 70 percent of spending is not authorized by Congress. In a letter addressed to McCarthy released last month, Spartz said she was expressing her “utmost dissatisfaction with the lack of leadership dealing with the fiscal state of our nation.”
“As you know, we can wipe our (expletive) with all letters and grandiose statements we are sending to the executive branch. Only money matters,” Spartz said. “It has been almost a year since we had these discussions as a conference, and no real progress has been made. Therefore, I am planning to oppose all Republican rules going forward until Congress starts exercising its Constitutional duties.”
Her three reasons for doing so, she said, include unauthorized and perpetual automatic spending not being addressed, in addition to oversight not being effective.
“Our country has very material problems and is in dire need of some governing, not messaging and book writing. If not us –there is no one else left to represent the people – not personal ambitions, government control and big money,” Spartz said.
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.
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 rehabilitation of two existing railroad bridges and conversion to pedestrian facilities
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
Hey there, folks! Take a good look at this zoomed-in image we’ve snagged from a spot in Noblesville. We want you to channel your inner Sherlock and head over to youarecurrent.com/mysterysnapshot to submit your best guess about where this photo was taken. Ready for the challenge? Check back next week for the answer.
By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com
Noblesville Main Street presented a street dance July 22 to celebrate Noblesville’s bicentennial year. The free event welcomed people of all ages for a day of fun and allowed. residents to enjoy live music, food and family fun.
Kate Baker, executive director of Noblesville Main Street, said each year the city puts together a street dance to bring the community together. Baker said approximately 10,000 people annually attend.
“The street dance is a long-standing tradition,” Baker said. “We’ve been doing this for years and years. It’s usually a 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. sort of thing.”
According to Baker, Hamilton County and Noblesville share the same founding date.
The Hamilton and Noblesville County Bicentennial committees had been planning events around the same time street dancing would start.
As a result, Baker said it made more sense to plan everything as one big celebration. It began at 1 p.m. and ran until 11
p.m., starting with historical interpreters on the stage on Noblesville’s Main Street dressed as historical figures such as Susan B. Anthony and President Harry Truman.
“They had these historical interpreters to come and speak as these people who have visited Noblesville in the past,” Baker said.
Vendors also filled the downtown square and live music was performed by the Moontown Pickle Stompers, Kelli Yates, Tim Wright and Steel Pedals and The Bishops.
Angela Price and Ron Ogle attended for the first time. They are from Indianapolis and Carmel, respectively. Both said they enjoyed the experience.
“I like these types of things,” Ogle said. “We knew The Bishops would come up here. We came here for them.”
Michael Wells, a Noblesville resident, was one of the two best dancers chosen by the crowd after a dance-off. His dance moves and style were an homage to the late Michael Jackson. Wells said he’s been dancing for seven years, and attending the street dance is a tradition.
He looks forward to returning to the event next year.
“I hadn’t done it in a while,” Wells said. “It was pretty good. It’s a tradition and I have so much fun every time I go.”
For many, the highlight of the Posh Picnic is the tablescape challenge.
By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com
“Each table puts on their idea for a centerpiece,” said Barbara Danquist Mitchell, chair of the event. “You wouldn’t believe what some people come up with. We had one that was a baseball team. We had one that did King Arthur’s time, and they were all dressed up in medieval (attire).”
The Coxhall Guild’s fifth annual Posh Picnic is set for 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 19 under the tent at Cripe Pavilion at Coxhall Gardens. The event is put on by the Friends of the Hamilton County Parks Foundation. Guests choose a theme, decorate a table and enjoy their own food and drinks along with music, dancing and a silent auction. The tablescape challenge offers prizes awarded for “Most Posh,” “Most Creative,” “People’s Choice” and “Most Coxhall-like.”
Mitchell, a Fishers resident, is a former Camel Middle School teacher who has been involved with the Coxhall Guild for three
City officials plan to seek bids for the second and third phases of the Pleasant Street construction project as work is underway.
years.
Mary Robinson, president of Coxhall Guild, said the organizations’s goal is to raise funds for the improvement of the property, along with educating the public about the property.
The optional table setup is from 2 to 4 p.m. The event starts with a cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m. followed by the silent auction results at 9 p.m.
The early bird ticket price is $75 until July 31. After that date, the price is $100. To register, visit friendsofhamiltoncountyparks. org/2023-events.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Cure SMA Walk for Graham started as just a celebration but has become so much more.
Westfield couple Adrienne and Nick Vollmer began the event because their son Graham has spinal muscular atrophy, an inherited disease that affects nerves and muscles, causing muscles to become increasingly weak.
“Our first event was truly just a way to celebrate Graham’s second birthday, a milestone we were told he would never meet,” Adrienne said. “We had such incredible success, not to mention so much fun, the first year, we figured why not make it a tradition.”
The seventh annual Walk for Graham is set for Aug. 5 at Coxhall Gardens in Carmel. The event, which includes music, food and drink and games and prizes for children, begins at 4 p.m. with the welcome and opening ceremony at 6 p.m., followed by Walk and Roll at 6:30 p.m. A silent auction and raffle closes at 9 p.m.
Adrienne said the event has become a
way to celebrate the lives of SMA families across the state of Indiana and to raise awareness in a much bigger way.
Adrienne said the first event in 2017 drew 465 people and raised $81,629.
“Last year in 2022 for our sixth event, we had 876 people and raised $168,918,” Adrienne said. “We have seen year over year growth with each event and hope to continue that trend as our community learns about it and takes part each year.”
This year’s goal is $150,000. As of July 24, more than $107,000 had been raised.
The $115 million road construction project in Noblesville is expected to improve traffic flow and ease congestion when completed, according to the city.
The first phase of the project, which began in November 2022, spans 1.1 miles from River Road to 10th Street and includes work by Hamilton County for a bridge to be built over the White River.
The second and third phases, however, are expected to go to bid Sept. 26, according to Noblesville City Engineer Alison Krupski.
“Phase 2 extends from 11th Street to just east of the 19th Street roundabout. This phase will include the widening of existing Pleasant Street to four lanes and the widening of the 19th Street roundabout,” Krupski said.
Krupski added that the existing structure over the Wilson Ditch will be replaced and said that the city is still in the process of acquiring parcels for right-of-way.
“Construction on Phase 2 will begin in late 2023 and continue through 2025,” she said. “The bulk of the construction in late 2023 and early 2024 will be utility relocation. Phase 2 construction will overlap with Phase 1 construction in 2023 and 2024.”
Krupski also said that a full closure of Pleasant Street between 13th Street and 16th Street is expected for Phase 2 construction.
“Detours and maintenance of traffic between these phases will be coordinated and monitored during construction,” she said.
Meanwhile, Phase 3 of the project extends from Ind. 32/Hague Road to just west of River Road, according to Krupski.
“This phase is mostly new alignment outside of the roundabout that will be constructed at Ind. 32/Hague Road/ Pleasant Street,” she said. “The roadway will be one lane in each direction with a landscaped median and the Midland Trace Trail on the north side of the roadway. A new bridge will be constructed over Cicero Creek.”
Krupski said the city is still in the process of acquiring parcels for right-of-way with construction planned in late 2023 that will continue through 2025 on Phase 3 of the project. Phase 3 will overlap with Phase 1 construction in late 2023 and 2024, she added.
Mayor Chris Jensen previously said bridging the White River was an important component in making an east-west connection in Noblesville as part of the project. Construction of the new bridge required the removal of the 200-foot, twospan steel truss bridge that once carried the Midland Railway over the White River, according to the city.
The bridge, which was built in 1893, has already been disassembled. City officials announced a partnership with Conner Prairie to store the bridge while a final location is determined as plans are developed for the bridge to be refurbished and reassembled, according to the city.
Among the most noticeable impacts facing motorists in Noblesville has been the closure of Eighth Street between Washington and Mulberry streets for 150 days that began June 8. That closure was due to the construction of two new roundabouts on Eighth Street, which has led to detours for area drivers.
In addition, Pleasant Street between Sixth Street and Ninth Street, which includes the alley between Eighth and Ninth Street at Pleasant Street, is also temporarily closed, according to the city. The entire Pleasant Street project is expected to be finished by the fall of 2025.
For more, visit reimaginepleasantst.com/.
- ALISON KRUPSKI, NOBLESVILLE CITY ENGINEER“Construction on Phase 2 will begin in late 2023 and continue through 2025,” she said. “The bulk of the construction in late 2023 and early 2024 will be utility relocation. Phase 2 construction will overlap with Phase 1 construction in 2023 and 2024.”
The Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds will undergo a major renovation as part of a $65 million master plan that officials say could bring more visitors and more than double the amount of year-round event space when completed.
The project, which will be done in three phases, will result in the fairgrounds being rebranded as The Silos at 37 Hamilton County: 4-H Fairgrounds. The initial phase that begins this fall carries a price tag of $26.5 million and will include improvements to the existing exhibition center, drainage, llama barn and grounds, in addition to a Bicentennial Pavilion marking Hamilton County’s 200th anniversary.
The project will mark the first time in more than 25 years since any major upgrades have taken place on the 40-acre site.
“The fairgrounds are a gathering place,” Purdue Extension Hamilton County Director Susan Peterson said. “They have connected family and friends for generations. They bring people, too, and are a showpiece for our county. The time is right to invest in the future of this facility.”
The Hamilton County Council has committed $15 million toward the project, while the Hamilton County Extension Board plans to launch a capital campaign to assist with funding. A groundbreaking was held for the initial phase July 20 at the Centennial Pavilion during the first day of the Hamilton County 4-H Fair, where many youths involved in 4-H showed animals throughout the five-day fair.
“We’re calling it the ‘Fairgrounds for the Future,’” Hamilton County Extension Board President Jane Sipe said. “This plan not only enhances our ability to provide more programs, but will also serve as an economic driver, enabling us to host a wider variety of programming throughout the year.”
Sipe said phase 1A will include improvements to the llama barn and an expansion of the maintenance garage, while another phase known as 1B will focus on building a new show arena and expanding the Hamilton County 4-H exhibition center. However, phase 1B will be contingent on funding,
according to Sipe, who wants to raise $3 million to $4 million through the capital campaign but stressed that additional funding would be needed for future phases.
The Bicentennial Pavilion, which is scheduled to open late next year, will replace the O.V. Winks and Annex buildings that will be lost to the expansion of Pleasant Street. The second and third phases of the project are contingent on funding and would include the construction of two silos at the main entrance, officials said.
In addition, the project would include the demolition of seven outdoor buildings to be replaced by eight air-conditioned buildings that could be used year-round, officials said.
“If completed, this plan could more than double the fairgrounds’ year-round rental space and drive additional visitors to our area,” Hamilton County Tourism CEO Brenda Myers said. “The new space will help attract small- and medium-sized events like weddings, consumer shows and conferences that may not fit at larger venues like the Indiana State Fairgrounds.”
Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman also said the renovation and expan-
sion at the fairgrounds is just one component of several that the public can expect to see in the future.
“This is a beginning,” Altman said. “We’re going to have community support. I know we can make this vision come true.”
Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt also described the fairgrounds as “a very special place in our community” for many people within Hamilton County. Heirbrandt said he has enjoyed hearing stories of people who have visited the fairgrounds and how it has enriched their lives.
Heirbrandt also reflected on the overall fairgrounds, which are used for various other functions throughout the year out-
The Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds will undergo a name change and will be known as The Silos at 37 Hamilton County: 4-H Fairgrounds. Work will begin this fall on the initial phase of improvements totaling $26.5 million that will bring improvements to the existing exhibition center, a new Bicentennial Pavilion and more.
side of the annual fair.
“It’s a community place for people to gather,” he said.
Hamilton County Councilor Sue Maki, who serves as a liaison to the county extension board, said officials plan to work with community and philanthropic partners on phases two and three moving forward.
“We’re going to work to make sure it continues to be a valuable part of our community,” Maki said.
ON THE COVER: A rendering of the planned improvements at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds. (Photo provided by Hamilton County)
For individuals and businesses interested in donating to the capital campaign, checks can be made out to Friends of Hamilton County and mailed to the Hamilton County Purdue Extension Office, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville. Information will also be available on the extension website by visiting extension.purdue.edu/county/ hamilton.index.html. For questions, call Jane Sipe, Hamilton County extension board president, at 317-431-1380.
news@currentinfishers.com
OneZone and Northern Hamilton County Chamber have announced a partnership with Westfield Chamber of Commerce on their monthly advocacy event, Eggs & Issues.
EVENTS
Eggs & Issues gives attendees the opportunity to hear about a variety of topics affecting local cities and towns, the county and the state, according to the announcement. Through this partnership, all three organizations will be able to look at current trends and provide high quality speakers for their membership.
“We live in the most dynamic and fastest growing county in the State of Indiana,” Westfield Chamber CEO Steve Latour stated. “We have topics large and small to discuss and tackle as a business community, as residents and as elected officials. So, when the opportunity was extended to partner with OneZone to co-
host their monthly Eggs & Issues event, we had to say yes, We look forward to having timely topics for the purpose of education but to also begin working together to make Westfield and the other communities in Hamilton County a national standard.”
Jack Russell, president of OneZone and Northern Hamilton County Chamber, said they are excited to welcome the Westfield Chamber to Eggs & Issues.
“As we continue to provide programming that impacts our communities, county and state, it is important to expand our reach,” he said. “This partnership also gives our members the opportunity to meet new business leaders in their community.”
The upcoming August Eggs & Issues event will be 8 to 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14 at The Bridgewater Club, 3535 E 161st St., in Carmel. The cost is $28 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Reservations can be made at onezonechamber. com, or by calling 317-436-4653.
news@currentinfishers.com
Northwest Bank has named Arlicia Robertson as its new Indiana regional vice president and community lending officer.
NEW HIRE
Northwest Bank recently opened its new regional hub in Fishers, in the Ellipse Building at 11 Municipal Dr.
An announcement states that, with more than 16 years of experience in the banking and finance industry, Robertson brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the banking industry. She worked at Mutual Bank for more than 14 years as a teller, teller team lead, personal banker and business development officer.
“As we continue to celebrate the grand opening of our new business office and regional hub in Fishers, Arlicia’s exceptional track record and deep understanding of our customers’ needs make her the ideal
candidate to lead our community lending initiatives in Central Indiana,” stated Jennifer Gibson, Indiana region president for Northwest Bank.
As community lending officer, Robertson will spearhead Northwest’s efforts to provide accessible financing solutions to individuals and small businesses, according to the announcement.
“I’m thrilled to work alongside our central Indiana team as we strive to uphold our commitment to further strengthen our relationships within the community and continue to contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of the region,” Robertson stated,
An Indianapolis resident, Robertson volunteers with Indianapolis Wheeler Mission Food Service, Wheeler Mission Strength of the Streets, MLK Center Indianapolis, Rebuilding Together — South Bend, Muncie Habitat for Humanity and Indiana Region United Way.
Meet Current in Noblesviile Managing Editor Matthew Kent from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Tuesday at CoHatch
13110 Harrell Pkwy Suite 100, Noblesville. Suggest story ideas, ask questions and learn more about Current in Noblesville. For more, email matthew@youarecurrent.com
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BACK TO FEELING YOUR BEST.
Monday, August 21 | 6 pm
IU Health Saxony Hospital Medical Of ce Building | 13100 E. 136th Street in Fishers
Free to attend but registration is required. Register at iuhealth.org/joints or scan the code.
Leonard Buller, MD
EDUCATION
Going to college is a significant milestone and a major life transition for any young adult, but for those living with a chronic health condition, it is even more important to plan ahead to make a successful and safe transition.
Putting the right supports in place and learning self-care are needed tools to achieve independence.
Young adults with chronic conditions should take these important steps before college begins:
• Talk to the Office of Disability Services: Every college has an Office of Disability Services. If you had a 504 plan or an IEP in high school, this office can help you get the support you need to succeed in college; however, colleges do not provide all the same support as high schools. It is important to reach out to the Office of Disability Services to see how they can help you. You will be asked for medical documentation, so start early to allow time for medical professionals to help.
• Make a plan for care: Depending on your condition, medical clinics or providers in your college community may be unfamiliar with your diagnosis or medical needs. Before leaving for college, talk to your doctor about your needs for medication, clinic access, and providers near your college. Your doctor can help make a plan to meet your needs and may connect you with a provider near school.
• Know your stuff: Understanding your own medical information is crucial. Do you have an insurance card and know what it means? Do you know your diagnosis, your medication, and how to contact your doctor? Do you know how to take and refill your medicine? Do you wear your medical I.D. bracelet or tag?
and sanitizing. Even better? Bring your own nail polish, too.
SKIP
PODIATRY
Summer is the time for sandals and opentoed shoes, and who doesn’t love a little foot pampering? While pedicures are great, they can increase your risk for foot infections if you don’t take precautions.
Always ensure the salon and technicians are licensed and follow my six tips for getting a safer summer pedicure.
DON’T SHAVE BEFORE YOU GO
Shaving opens your pores, allowing stray germs to enter your bloodstream. And, even in the cleanest of salons, that can pave the way for infection.
LINE UP!
Before soaking your feet, the salon should always line the foot bath with fresh plastic to decrease your risk of encountering germs from the previous customer.
COME PREPARED
To eliminate exposure to infectious germs or foot fungi, bring your own pedicure tools or check to ensure the salon uses disposable tools or an autoclave for disinfecting
Indiana state law prohibits salons from using razors on the feet to remove calluses or corns. Using razors can lead to an infection, especially if too much healthy skin is removed, and can cause permanent damage.
Square tips make it less likely that the edges of your nail will turn inward, leaving you with an ingrown toenail.
Diabetes can reduce sensation in your feet. If a pedicurist gets too rough or accidentally cuts your foot, you may not notice until an ulcer develops.
while I make a U-turn.
Each day, it seems our technologies deluge us with an array of would-be crooks, ready to steal our hard-earned cash or even our very identities. Through subterfuge and guile, they get us to give that which they could not get, at least not without our agreement: personal information. This kind of crime, as could be supposed, is the same as many others in that the criminal employs deceit and manipulation rather than pistol and dagger. Theft by prevarication may do no less harm to the victim than one at knife point. Sure, most of us would rather suffer the humiliation of an empty bank account than suffer a stab wound, but the emotional damage caused should not be underestimated.
Almost all the Hallmark Channel movies remind us of the danger of a “stolen” heart. Some handsome Lothario or lovely Maleficent wiles their way into the good graces of the naïve, unassuming hayseed. Ultimately, the ruse is exposed and hard lessons
learned. The cardiac muscle is not actually taken but the trusting nature of the mark is forever changed, hardened. We wrongly give away our hearts. They are not robbed. It is said that once educated, no one can take the knowledge from us. But does the nature of what it means to hold knowledge shift as time passes? Can we go from being a computer expert and a decade later become obsolete? Can Father Time steal our skills just as easily as our youth? Or do we have the opportunity to replace our waning talents by updating or new learning? Is vigilance always required? Clicking on a link in a random email, falling in love too hard or too quickly, and believing that we have completed our education once the degree is in-hand — each opens us welcomingly to invited thievery.
Avid readers may recall my family’s December 2022 vacation competition, when we each pitched a potential destination (within a given budget and time frame, of course) and then voted on our favorite. Our younger son won with his beautiful PowerPoint presentation of Iceland and a promise of Northern Lights and breathtaking landscape (in case you’re wondering, I finished dead last with my Costa Rica all-inclusive. Whatever. My kids are idiots).
“Managing one person, it turns out, is way simpler than wrangling four young adults (and on occasion, a man-child husband) as they prep for international travel.”
So, we purchased airline tickets out of Chicago, booked an Airbnb and wasted many a weekend searching for affordable snowmobiling and volcano tours (of which there are none). But in May, I learned I’d be attending a teaching conference in Seattle that ended less than 25 hours before our pseudo-Arctic adventure began. It seemed silly for me to fly home when I could just reschedule my flight to meet everyone in Reykjavik. So, that’s what I did. Obviously. This meant that for the first time in nearly 25 years, I prepared for a big trip with only me in mind. I know! No pre-buying plane snacks for picky eaters, no making sure everyone has clean clothes and appro-
priate footwear and no triaging electronics chargers and sunscreen on the kitchen table. Tough stuff, offspring! You’re on your own!
And that made a huge difference in my stress level. Managing one person, it turns out, is way simpler than wrangling four young adults (and on occasion, a man-child husband) as they prep for international travel. Packing, passports, protein bars –not my problem.
I still wish our destination was a tropical paradise with unlimited Rum Runners, but fjords and glaciers are cool, too. Iceland, here I come. Alone. Peace out.
Danielle Wilson is a contributing columnist. You may email her at info@youarecurrent.com.
I subscribe to several health publications, and most of them offer some advice on avoiding medical scams. A few years ago, a dermatologist in Southern California avoided jail time by the skin of his teeth. He had been marketing an app for smartphones that emitted a bluish light, which he claimed would cure acne. Dr. Smith sold about 20,000 of these. Now, ironically, he has a blotch on his once-unblemished medical record.
Most of the experts agreed that these lights can’t hurt you, but if a kid is holding his Android or iPhone against his pimply nose while driving, he’s likely to back the Volvo into a mailbox. No instructions were provided with the app, so one of the difficulties was knowing exactly how far from the problem area to hold the device. Some of Dr. Smith’s accomplices — I mean, associates — are now thinking of adding a GPS, a global pimple searcher, that will automatically zero in on any facial imperfections.
Nine out of 10 teenagers with zits will believe anything you tell them if they think it will clear up their faces. That is why I spent most of the ninth grade with lemon wedges and a heating pad on my forehead at night. Another researcher was equally concerned, noting, “I am worried about this because bacteria on the phone could lead to other skin infections.” Wait! There are germs on cellphones? That’s the last time I’ll hold my iPhone between my teeth
The app emitted 660 nanometers of light, which anyone with a post-doctoral degree in laser technology knows can’t hold a candle to a good glob of Clearasil. If you are one of those people who paid five bucks for this cyber rip-off, it still might not be a bad idea to rub the smartphone across your forehead. Maybe the smart part will rub off on you.
Even the people at Apple were concerned about the legitimacy of this application, warning customers that it’s “for entertainment purposes only.” Yes, this warning comes from the same people who now offer an app to notify you if you’re going to have a bad hair day, or one that tells you the best time to hit the john during a movie so you don’t miss any plot development, which I have used with great success.
Dr. Smith claimed if he had gone to jail, he would have taken the punishment like a man. He’s been directed by his PR people to say, “Breaking out is not an option.”
His wife was worried that even a short prison sentence would jeopardize their marriage. Dr. Smith confirmed their love. “She’s my main squeeze,” the dermatologist told everyone. Which is not something his PR agency wanted him to say.
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 specialinterest groups, and may not in any way contain a commercial message.
– DANIELLE WILSON
“Wait! There are germs on cellphones?
That’s the last time I’ll hold my iPhone between my teeth while I make a U-turn.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Bethany Robinson is confident the inaugural Carmel Jazz Fest will spark more interest in jazz year-round.
“Sophisticated Ladies” runs through Aug. 20 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
CONCERT
“This will provide different options to hear live jazz,” she said. “Hopefully, it will spark interest in people coming to The Jazz Kitchen.”
The Noblesville High School music teacher said it will benefit her students to have opportunities to see several different jazz bands perform during the festival because so much jazz is played in 21-and-older bars or clubs.
“I’m really excited to get my students to as many events as possible,” she said.
Robinson and Sarah Scharbrough will perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11 in the Carmel Jazz Fest at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts. The twoday festival, held at indoor and outdoor venues, ends Aug. 12.
“It will be my first time playing The Tarkington and I’m most excited to be playing among Indiana jazz legends,” said Scharbrough, who lives in Noblesville. “Bethany and I pull from our backgrounds incorporating jazz standards, pop classics with twists and I write lots of original tunes for our performances.”
Scharbrough said the two started performing together in 2009 and have played hundreds of times together.
“I think a fun thing that happens when we’re together is that we both bring our training — reading, lessons, disciplined musical study and then allow our ears and intuition to bend that construct,” Scharbrough said. “It’s a fun mashup of planned and off the cuff. We enjoy playing all kinds of events and styles. This coming event will have more of a jazz vibe but, per normal, with our own take on it. It’s going to be fun.”
Robinson said they will play some of Scharbrough’s original songs and some of their favorite jazz standards.
Robinson, who plays upright and electric bass, said keyboardist Scharbrough performs lead vocals. Robinson provides backup vocals.
Scharbrough’s husband, Jeff McLaughlin, a Westfield High School music teacher, will play drums for the group during the festival. Scharbrough’s brother, Stephen, plays guitar.
Robinson plays with different groups and artists around the Indianapolis area, including Katherine Nagy, who performs folk, Americana music and Irish music.
“Bass is so versatile that the thing that I love about it is I can play every genre any night of the week,” Robinson said. “It’s really fun to play so many different types of music.”
Robinson, a Fishers resident, is the Noblesville High School jazz band program director and assistant band director. She has been with the school district for 18 years.
Scharbrough’s daughter was a freshman in Robinson’s jazz band this past school year.
As a Yamaha Performing Artist, Yamaha
sponsors Robinson when she speaks at music conferences or as a guest artist at schools.
“I spend a lot of evenings and weekends not being bored,” she said. “Most of the time I’m able to do it around my school schedule and don’t have to take time off.”
Robinson was the 2022 Grammy Music Educator Award finalist. She was the 2015 Noblesville Schools Teacher of the Year and 2014 Indiana Jazz Educator of the Year.
Jazz groups from the University of Indianapolis, Butler University, Ball State University and Indiana University will perform Aug. 12 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts.
A small group of Robinson’s jazz students from Noblesville will open as a combo for Spyro Gyra, which is the Carmel Jazz Fest headliner at 8 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts. Spyro Gyra is a separate ticket event through thecenterpresents.org.
For a schedule and tickets, visit carmeljazzfest.org.
Brittany Brumfield presents Baby Grand Dueling Pianos at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘THE SOMEWHAT TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD’
Main Street Productions presents the youth production of “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood” through Aug. 6 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
‘LA CASA AZUL’
Gregory Hancock’s production of a concert of “La Casa Azul” will feature the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.
‘MURDER
The Carmel Community Players’ production of Ken Ludwig’s “Murder on the Orient Express’’ is set from Aug. 6 to 13 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
DAVE DUGAN
Carmel comedian Dave Dugan will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Echo Room, 124 S. Lebanon St., Lebanon. For more, visit madhattershows.com.
Indy Shorts issues awards — The 2023 Indy Shorts International Film Festival, presented by Heartland Film, concluded July 23 with a record number of film submissions (more than 3,900). The festival’s three grand prize-winning films, “We Were Meant To” (Tari Wariebi, United States), “Oasis” (Justine Martin, France) and “Rosemary A.D. (After Dad)” (Ethan Barrett, United States), will receive Academy Award qualification in their respective categories and $5,000 in cash prizes.
Wine Tasting • Designer Shopping
Delectable Bites • Incredible Auction Items
FRI DAY, AUGUST 2 5 11AM - 3PM at Lucas Estate, Carmel IN
ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons has a unique perspective on transitioning from a solo tour in Europe right into a huge multi-city tour.
“When (giving) the topic of good times due consideration, the main catalyst is definitely live, loud music,” said the 73-year-old Gibbons, the band’s guitarist and primary vocalist. “ZZ maintains the position to generate that exact kind of good time for audiences across the board. The offshoot of the ZZ outfit does best by staying out there keeping it turned way up. Rock ’n’ roll stays hard on its own as a special reward worthy of multiple gold stars.”
The blues rock band joins Lynyrd Skynyrd on “The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour,” which includes an Aug. 20 appearance at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. Uncle Kracker opens the concert at 6:30 p.m.
ZZ Top has a long history with Lynyrd Skynyrd, so it’s fitting the groups are again touring together.
“We’ve known ‘The Skyn’ since forever and it’s great always reconnecting any place, any time,” Gibbons said. “Working with the Skynyrd outfit maintains a strident reward, renewing again and again.”
ZZ Top took a three-year break from touring in the late 1970s as drummer Frank Beard dealt with a substance abuse issue. All three band members were also exhausted from the grind of touring.
“Each of us knew that peculiar break was necessarily temporary,” Gibbons said. “We came back realizing the same wavelength resonated with a crazy fashion of chin whiskers and valuable views of a common world. The mission, which we chose to accept, was and is to get out and make big noise. It’s a time-tested formula for fine
Friday, August 11, 2023 6 p.m. at Hickory Hall Polo Club
Join us for a night of polo to support the Riverview Health Foundation. Sponsorship levels include a variety of different options. New this year is a VIP hospitality suite. Scan the QR code to learn more.
times on deck.”
Gibbons and late-bassist Dusty Hill came back from the hiatus with their famous beards, and their status grew even larger with MTV videos.
“Quite unexpectedly, millions felt in touch with the ongoing offerings of ZZ Top videos,” Gibbons said. “Quite a league of followers liked what we were doing. It expanded the band’s horizons with a searing, serious reach. That, and the real Texas get-down approach became obvious — truly, a cross-cultural, cross-generational big bang.”
Hill died in 2021 and was replaced by Elwood Francis, who Hill had recommended as his successor. Francis had previously been the band’s guitar technician.
“La Grange” is always a special moment in the concert, Gibbons said.
“The two numbers delivering an unexpected personal charge is actually a collision of ‘Waitin’ For The Bus’ and ‘Jesus Just Left Chicago,’” Gibbons said. “That pairing wasn’t written as a combo. Tracks 1 and 2 on ‘Tres Hombres’ wound up without separation, which unexpectedly melded as a seamless single to the luck of the mastering slip of the blade. We took that coupling forward making certain they co-join with each performance.”
Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE:
Toms: BRADY, CLANCY, CRUISE, HANKS, PETTY, SELLECK;
Stores: LULULEMON, NORDSTROM, POTTERY BARN, SEPHORA, TIFFANY; Body Parts: EYE, FUR, PAW, TAIL; Towns: TELL CITY, TERRE HAUTE, TIPTON;
Beers: CORONA, MODELO; Station: WRTV
Commentary by Mark LaFay
The Indiana State Fair is coming back around. I love our annual celebration of Hoosier agriculture. The animals, the competition, the fried food, it is all great! This year is going to be extra special because it will be the first post-pandemic year for the backyard barbecue competition. Team Old Major took home the grand champion prize in 2015 and 2017. We are champing at the bit for a rematch and have been putting in the work to prep for this year’s competition! Here are three ideas to get the juices flowing as you are dreaming up what to get on the grill this weekend!
I often get asked my preferred method of cooking a sausage. It isn’t an easy answer. It depends on what sausage I’m cooking. I love smoking Old Major Jalapeño Cheddar Brats. In 2015, we won the loin category by making a fresh jalapeño cheddar brat with pork loin. I also love grilling brats, Argentine chorizo and boerewors over hardwood charcoal!
Our default burger is a blend of Hoosier beef and Old Major Bacon. But there is more to burgers than beef! Shoup’s makes a pork burger that is as easy as it gets. Joe’s Butcher Shop in Carmel also has ground pork and beef. Bulk sausage is great for making patties and grilling on charcoal. Breakfast burgers with runny egg? Yes, please.
Entire books have been written about this, so I’ll be brief. Find a nice brisket, don’t over-trim it. Season it based on the weight of the brisket: 1.5 percent salt, 0.75 percent brown sugar and 0.25 percent ground black pepper. Rub it down. Wrap it in plastic. Rest it for 24 hours. Smoke it at 215 degrees with hickory or pecan wood until the temperature of the point is 195 degrees. Don’t wrap it at all while cooking.
Where’s Amy attended the Heartland Film’s Indy Shorts International Film Festival kickoff party July 20 at High Alpha in Indianapolis and attended the awards ceremony July 22 at Tinker House Events in Indianapolis. The festival included short films and filmmakers from around the world. Next up is the Heartland International Film Festival, set for Oct. 5-15. For more, visit heartlandfilm.org.
Blame it all on my British roots, but I’ve never preferred coffee. I like hanging out in coffee shops. I don’t mind smelling like I’ve hung out in a coffee shop all day. But, for me, I like tea. Every morning, I need my Barry’s Irish Breakfast Tea with a dash of milk and sugar. Without this, I will be a Grumpy Gus. Don’t give me Lipton or Twining’s — these are not the same.
for “incomplete sentences.” A complete sentence includes a verb, makes sense on its own, and communicates a complete idea. After all, writing is all about communication.
In case you were wondering, yes, I do bring my preferred tea with me when I go out of town. And, while I like a good morning cuppa, I’ve never understood kombucha tea.
What is kombucha, anyway? I know you were already thinking about it. Kombucha sounds like either someone sneezing or the thing someone says after someone sneezes. Kombucha is like the kale of liquids. Does anyone really enjoy it?
The grammar gods strongly advise against writing sentences in fragments. “Sentence fragments” is industry-speak
Here’s an example of a sentence fragment: Because he lives near the ocean.
If the sentence read, “He lives near the ocean,” we’d be in good shape. However, adding “Because” to the beginning makes this fragment a dependent clause. We need the “why” to follow the “because.”
Let’s finish that sentence:
Because he lives near the ocean, he collects shells that look like Cher.
That’s completely strange; it’s also a complete sentence.
We speak in fragments. Constantly. We use them either to express a casual style, to create rhythm in our writing or to emphasize a point.
Commentary by Don Knebel
In our continuing tour of Alaska, we stop at Icy Strait Point, about 30 miles west of Juneau, which provides a great experience and is a wonderful economic and cultural success story.
at Icy Strait Point each summer, providing an enormous economic boost to nearby Noonah, a town of about 900, most of them indigenous Tlingit people.
Icy Strait Point is a privately owned tourist destination on Chichagof Island, the fifth-largest island in the United States, which reportedly contains more bears per square mile that any other place in the world. In 1996, the Huna Totem Corp., owned by 1,300 indigenous Alaskans, purchased the 23,000-acre site using proceeds received under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. They named the area, which includes a beach front and a temperate rain forest, after Icy Strait, which separates Chichagof Island from the Alaskan mainland, and began trying to convince cruise lines going to Juneau to stop there. In 2004, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship did stop, opening the way for other lines to make Icy Strait Point a regular destination on their Alaska cruises.
Today, more than 100 cruise ships dock
Visitors to Icy Strait Point have a variety of things to do. A building on the site that once housed the Hoonah Canning Co., now includes a museum, a restaurant, shops and some original fish-canning equipment. Whale watching trips leaving from Icy Strait Point guarantee that passengers will see whales. A $30 million gondola transporter, completed in 2022, takes visitors to the top of Hoonah Mountain, where they can explore the rain forest or ride a mile-long zip line dropping more than 1,300 feet, considered one of the longest and highest in the world. Visitors can also take a 30-minute walk to Hoonah, where they can see authentic totem poles and experience the Tlingit culture.
Across
1. Pitch a tent at McCormick’s Creek State Park
5. “___, Brute!”
9. Big Hoffa’s BBQ rib order
13. Sheltered, at Geist
14. Mattress size
15. Scarlett of Tara
16. Start of an apt description of the Indiana State Fair 18. Bonkers
19. “In the ___ of the Night”
20. Worked hard or fast 22. IND posting 23. Vienna’s land 26. Yank’s rival 28. PC key 29. Butler frat letter 30. Botch it
31. Potter’s Bridge Fall Festival mo.
32. Abound 34. Stately tree
36. Words of understanding
38. State Fair description, continued
42. Waterpark feature
45. Fishers Farmers Market veggie
46. Emailed a dupe to
50. Colt foe
51. Photo ___ (media events)
54. Crater’s edge
56. Yes vote
57. Unrefined metal
58. Slangy refusal
60. DVR button
61. Made-to-order item?
63. Collectible print, briefly
65. Moral principle
66. End of State Fair description
69. Chilling
70. Repel (off)
71. Shoe part
72. Folk story
73. Carmel Racquet Club match units
74. Small bills Down
1. Traveling tot’s spot
2. Some
3.
35. Broom closet item
37. Col. Sanders’ chain
39. Newborn
40. Shore bird
41. “Who ___ that?!”
42. Sellout inits.
43. Petty or grand crime
44. “For real!”
47. Tim Campbell drawing
48. Mask feature
49. Solves a cryptogram
52. Indiana Statehouse figure, briefly
53. Shows derision
55. Jell-O shaper
59. Concur
62. Ivy ___ Community College
64. In that case
65. Car czar Wood
67. Colts QB mistake
68. Some Current staffers, for short
Answers on Page 18
