June 11, 2024 — Noblesville

BUSINESS IS BLOOMING

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Founded Sept. 15, 2009, at Noblesville, IN Vol. XV, No. 39

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Artists compete in one-day maker event

By Jennifer A. Haire news@currentinfishers.com

Fishers Library’s Ignite Studio hosted its first artist make off in early May, when 10 area artists competed in an event inspired by reality shows, such as the “Great British Baking Show.”

CONSERVATION

The idea was conceived by Hamilton East Public Library Arts Engagement Coordinator Kris Hurst, who said Ignite Studios was looking for a bigger event to engage the Fishers community and showcase the studio’s possibilities.

“These are actual artists in the field that are doing things, and to see the art process I think is really cool,” Hurst said.

The theme was sustainability. About 35 artists applied, and how their piece would bring awareness to environmental issues and reduce waste through use of recycled or reclaimed materials was part of the selection criteria. In addition, they were tasked with incorporating the use of studio equipment and supplies.

Over the course of six hours, each artist gave new life to items often considered trash.

First-place winner and Noblesville resident Craig Helming owns a woodworking business and has been a high school art teacher for 16 years. His found object and mixed-media piece told a narrative about protecting Mother Earth.

“I’m kind of flipping the narrative of the idea of Mother Earth and the mother being the nurturer, the protector, the provider and how we are not taking care of Mother Earth,” he said.

Second-place winner and former Ignite Studio artist-in-residence Kassie Woodworth created a sculpture out of packaging foam.

She said she painted it to look like concrete and used an origami kit to add “smaller paper sculptures in areas to make it look similar to when dandelions come out of the cracks of concrete. The concept is basically just using discarded materials

Craig Helming of Noblesville won first-place prize for his found-object and mixed-media piece about protecting Mother Earth. (Photo by Jennifer A. Haire)

in a society that uses a lot of shipping material.”

The flowers contain seeds, along with a message about sustainability.

Recently relocated from Evansville, wearable and sustainable clothing artist Emily Gartner was the third-place winner. Her mosaic skirt reused old hotel key cards.

“I love to challenge myself,” she said. “And I use materials that I’ve never used before. I’ve been saving these hotel keys (from) my art shows that I did on the road for 25 years.”

As a final touch, she added a HEPL library card as the belt buckle.

Angelita Hampton and Mary Mindiola made collage pieces. Her portrait incorporated pressed flowers, toilet paper rolls, paint chips and gel-printed newspaper and magazine clippings.

“I am really conscious of pollinators, so all the flowers were cut flowers that were from an event that were going to get

thrown away,” Hampton said.

Wanting to bring awareness to milkweed and how it’s needed for butterflies, artist and gardener Mindiola created a collage that incorporated gel printing, quilling, origami and calligraphy.

“The problem (is) with the chemicals that are killing the milkweed and making it hard for the monarchs (to reproduce),” Mindiola said.

Paul Williams designed his piece to connect memory and renewal.

“This was a log from a tree from a home I grew up in, in Noblesville,” he said. “So, this serves as both a tribute to my late mother who passed away in October (2023), but also as a testament of the enduring spirit of nature.”

Williams used Ignite Studio’s 3D printer and laser engraving machines to help create the piece.

Artist Andria Elliott took a more traditional approach, with a painting on canvas using watercolors and mineral-based paints.

Bringing attention to the plastic and waste in the oceans, artist Plum Virtu created an octopus sculpture from found objects.

The common thread among the artists was that everything has potential to be art.

“It makes it hard to throw things away, because as soon as I do, I’ll start a project and I’m like, ‘If I only had that,’” Virtu said.

Artist and art therapist Gina Baird created a light sconce to represent healing.

“My first thought about sustainability was the Phoenix, because I have just recently completed a very aggressive cancer treatment,” she said. “I grew up on a farm and because of those environmental toxins, it proceeded to give me health challenges until I realized I had cancer. I have been in the ashes close to death so many times, but I always rise above and while I’m not immortal, I do feel like I am sustainable and that we as a people are sustainable.”

The artists’ work will be on display at Ignite Studio through June 15.

DISPATCHES

Correction — The Ferrari Festival, presented by Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano, will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 23. This information was incorrect in an advertisement in the June 4 addition of Current in Noblesville.

Hamilton County Express — Hamilton County Express, a lifeline for individuals with disabilities, seniors and the economically disadvantaged, will add six new minivans to its fleet this fall. IndyGo, the largest public transportation provider in the state of Indiana, has awarded Hamilton County with a grant worth $453,000. The grant award will facilitate the acquisition of six low floor minivans that will be accessible for individuals with disabilities (including wheelchair users). The smaller vehicles will also provide easier navigation through city streets and parking lots than the larger buses operated by HCE. Delivery of the new vehicles is expected in early fall. Hamilton County Express operates Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. A one-way ticket is $3. For more, call 317- 773-2688.

DCS recognized — The Indiana Department of Child Services received national recognition in May for its Indiana Family Preservation Services program, which provides in-home support to strengthen families and improve outcomes while reducing the number of children entering the foster care system. The program, which launched in June 2020, has been designated a promising practice by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. The program was also highlighted as an example of how new approaches to child welfare practice can enhance child and family well-being in an April report by the Christensen Institute. The program is designed to keep children in their home when it is safe to do so, and provides other support and financial assistance to families. Since its inception, Indiana Family Preservation Services has served more than 27,000 children and 14,000 families.

John Lennon exhibit — CV Art & Frame in Zionsville will host a special exhibition of the art of the late legendary Beatles singer-songwriter-guitarist John Lennon now through July 6 at its gallery on Zionville’s historic brick Main Street. Admission is complimentary and open to the public. For more, visit cvartandframe.com/event/ give-peace-a-chance-the-art-of-john-lennon.

Boat races return to White River

news@noblesvillecurrent.com

The White River Alliance, which works to improve and protect water resources in central Indiana, has announced this year’s White River Paddle Days and Festival Races.

FESTIVAL

The events will take place June 14 at Canoe Country in Daleville, June 15 at Frank’s Paddlesports Livery in Indianapolis and June 16 at White River Canoe Co. in Noblesville. Check-in begins daily at 8:30 a.m., and buses will leave for the starting line at 9 a.m.

According to the WRA, professionals or people new to being out on the water are welcome to participate in the canoe and kayak races. Participants can choose between canoe, tandem kayak or solo kayak categories, and the White River Alliance will provide the boats with registration.

Races span 6.5 to 7 miles down the White River, and finishing times average an hour.

Participants compete in the 2023 Paddle Day event. (Photo courtesy of Grace Hobbs)

Registration is $40 per single kayak and $80 per canoe/tandem kayak for two-person teams. The fee includes canoe and kayak rental, food and refreshments, entertainment and support for the WRA’s conservation efforts.

Awards will be given to the top three finishers by boat type, and a team spirit award will be given for themed outfits or costumes. Those who race in all three events will receive a participation award. If inclement weather or unsafe river conditions occur, the races will be rescheduled for June 21 to 23.

For more, visit thewhiteriveralliance.org.

Ruoff announces summer lineup

By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com

Ruoff Music Center at 12880 E. 146th St. in Noblesville kicked off the 2024 concert season May 23. The center has several concerts lined up for the 2024 season. For tickets, visit ruoffmusiccenter.com.

MUSIC

2024 CONCERT SCHEDULE:

• June 11: James Taylor

• June 14: Dierks Bentley: Gravel & Gold

• June 20: Kenny Chesney: Sun Goes Down Tour

• June 22: Maroon 5 Live In Concert

• June 23: Santana and Counting Crows: Oneness Tour 2024

• June 27: Tyler Childers - Mule Pull ‘24 Tour

• June 28-29: Dave Matthews Band

• July 5: KIDZ BOP LIVE 2024

• July 6: Third Eye Blind with Special Guest Yellowcard

• July 10: Train & REO Speedwagon — Summer Road Trip 2024

• July 11: Halestorm & I Prevail

• July 12: Bret Michaels - Parti Gras 2024

• July 13: Niall Horan: “THE SHOW” LIVE ON TOUR

• July 19: Dan + Shay

• July 20: Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago: Heart & Soul Tour 2024

• July 21: Loserville 2024: Limp Bizkit, Bones, N8Noface, Corey Feldman, Riff Raff

• July 25: Red Hot Chili Peppers: Unlimited Love Tour

• July 26: Styx & Foreigner with John Waite — Renegades and Juke Box Heroes Tour

• July 27: Alanis Morissette - The Triple Moon Tour

• Aug. 2-4: Phish

• Aug. 6: SLIPKNOT: “Here Comes the Pain” 25th Anniversary Tour

• Aug. 7: Cage The Elephant: Neon Pill Tour

• Aug. 8: Thirty Seconds To Mars - Seasons World Tour

• Aug. 10: Creed - Summer of ‘99 Tour

• Aug. 16: Five Finger Death Punch

• Aug. 17: The Doobie Brothers 2024

• Aug. 20: Imagine Dragons

• Aug. 23: Human Musical Group Sensations GLASS ANIMALS: TOUR OF EARTH

• Aug. 25: New Kids On The Block with Paula Abdul & DJ Jazzy Jeff

• Aug. 26: Pearl Jam

• Aug. 30: Sammy Hagar

• Aug. 31: Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper

Noblesville students win government award

news@noblesvillecurrent.com

Noblesville students Alden Newby and Connor Lehman recently received work ethic awards from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.

ACHIEVEMENT

According to Marnie Cooke, director of marketing and communications for Noblesville Schools, the students are the first to receive the Governor’s Work Ethic certificate.

Cooke stated that the award recognizes outstanding achievements, the ability to persevere through challenges, a positive attitude, service to others and commitment to school and community.

Newby and Lehman are part of the Noblesville Schools Limitless program for young adults with special needs. According to Cooke, they logged more than 200 hours of work training with Wyndham Hotel, Embassy Suites, Fueled for School, Noble Cause Food Pantry, Salvation Army and Perkins Restaurant.

“Limitless students lobbied state representatives, the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to have their work training efforts be recognized,” Cooke stated. “Thanks to their efforts, future Limitless students will also now qualify for consideration.”

Noblesville Schools recognized the two students at a class celebration.

Alden Newby, left, and Connor Lehman at a class celebration. (Photo courtesy of Marnie Cooke)

Grill: Thurs: 5-7, Fri and Sat: 10-1

“Seek and you shall find” Matthew 7:7 - 8

206th and Cumberland

“Seek and you shall find” Matthew 7:7 - 8

We need your help!

Thursday, June 13 3p - 7p

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Thursday, June 16 4p

Saturday, June 15 9a - 1p

“Seek and you shall find” Matthew 7:7 Grill: Thurs: 5-7, Fri and Sat: 10-1

Friday, June 17 8a

Saturday, June 18 8a

1p

“Seek and you shall find” Matthew 7:7 - 8 www.BethelLutheranChurch.com

206th and Cumberland Road, Noblesville Info at 317-773-4315 or visit us at www.BethelLutheranChurch.com

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Explore our 16 SHOPPING AREAS including: office supplies, school supplies, kitchen ware, books, electronics, clothing, crafts, seasonal, toys furniture, and outdoor gear. Come enjoy food at The Grill and don’t forget our Bake Sale inside!

Come enjoy food at The Grill from 10AM-2PM (benefits Youth)

Explore our 16 SHOPPING AREAS including:

Don’t forget our Bake Sale inside!

Don’t forget our Bake Sale inside!

Youth)

New railway bikes bring fun to City of Noblesville

By Conrad Otto conrad@youarecurrent.com

Nickel Plate Express celebrated its new railbike rides during a May 30 VIP event.

ATTRACTION

Located in Forest Park, Nickel Plate Express is an educational nonprofit that provides a family-fun experience to preserve the railroad history within northern Hamilton County.

According to Nickel Plate Express, the railbikes are “specifically designed to sit on the rails of the tracks, and each bike seats up to four passengers.” The bikes are powered by foot, and the trail runs parallel to the train tracks that are still operational, creating a more authentic rider experience.

Two different tours are offered. The first, White River Family Cruise, is an hour-anda-half ride that allows families and tourists to explore downtown Noblesville. The ride is 20 minutes to downtown and 20 minutes coming back and costs $30 for one person or $109 for four people.

The second tour, Forest Park Rail Adventure, is a two-hour, 8-mile round trip through the woods of northern Hamilton County. The cost is $45 for one person or $129 for four people.

Nickel Plate Express Executive Director Emily Reynolds, who led the project, said early feedback has been positive.

“We’ve had people come from five hours away just to drive these bikes,” Reynolds said. “It’s really exciting to be a leader in this industry for something that nobody

else does (in the state).”

Reynolds presided over the May 30 VIP event, which included officials from Indiana communities such as Noblesville Deputy Mayor Matt Light and Tipton Mayor Kegan Schmicker.

The project began in 2017 and took six years to complete. Reynolds said the goal was to create an additional level of tourism by using the open train rails to showcase the city and what Indiana has to offer. She said one of the design challenges was putting the bikes on the rails.

“Each bike weighs 260 pounds, and moving eight separate bikes onto the track was quite difficult,” Reynolds said. “However, once that task was done, the reward paid off.”

Of those enjoying the new experience was Hamilton County Tourism President Brenda Myers, who said she has seen Reynold’s idea grow, especially in the past year.

“Words cannot express how much I appreciate Emily,” Myers said. “This is a brilliant idea. You’re in the perfect location, in the perfect park. What an amazing experience.”

Myers has volunteered to oversee the project. She said she is proud to see the work pay off.

According to Myers, railbikes have been a growing national trend for tourism, with states such as Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and now Indiana offering them.

For more, visit nickelplateexpress.com/

The new railbikes at Nickel Plate Express. (Photo by Conrad Otto)

Scout troop honors member

ACHIEVEMENT

Noblesville Scouting America Troop 222 for girls awarded Abigail Vance, 17, of Carmel, her Eagle Scout rank June 1, during a Court of Honor ceremony at Cool Creek Park in Carmel.

In January, Vance, an incoming senior at Carmel High School, achieved the highest rank in Scouting America with her Board of Review.

According to Troop 222 Assistant Scoutmaster Kris Julius, Vance’s Eagle Scout project involved garden renovations at Janus Developmental Services in Noblesville, where she built new raised planting beds and replaced the bricks surrounding garden beds at the facility.

“In order to earn the rank of Eagle, Scouts participate in outdoor activities, earn merit badges and assume leadership roles in their troop,” Julius stated. “Each rank leads the Scout through the process of learning and leading other Scouts.”

Vance was a founding member of Troop 219 in Zionsville and joined Troop 222 in Noblesville in 2023. Julius stated that as

left, Troop 222

Jenny Sherrill and Committee Chair Stuart

a member of Troop 222, Vance serves as the Senior Patrol Leader, the highest youth position in the troop.

“Abby is National Youth Leadership-trained and is a member of Order of the Arrow,” Julius stated. “She was a member of the Crossroads of America Council contingent to the National Scout Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve in West Virginia in 2023.”

Troop 222 is Noblesville’s only female BSA troop.

The Zionsville, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield Lions Clubs are seeking volunteers to assist with Lions 2024 fall student vision screening program. Over 15,000 students in some 70 schools will receive a free eye screening and we need your help!

LEARN MORE: ZIONSVILLELIONS.COM/VISION

TRAINING PROVIDED: ZIONSVILLE LIONS CLUBHOUSE 115 S. ELM ST., ZIONSVILLE, IN. 46077

MONDAY, JULY 15TH, 7:00-8:30 PM

CONTACT: DAN DUMBAULD, ddumbauld@outlook.com

From

Scoutmaster

Hilbert presented the Troop Eagle plaque to Abby Vance, center, June 1. (Photo courtesy of Kris Julius)

Outlook Hamilton to hold open house celebration

EVENT news@currentnoblesville.com

Outlook Hamilton, a 55-and-older luxury community at 12975 Harrell Pkwy. in Noblesville will celebrate its oneyear anniversary this month. A public celebration will take place June 13.

The event will be from 4 to 7 p.m., where local singer Matthew Lamping, who recently appeared on NBC’s “The Voice,” will perform a free concert. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Lamping, a solo artist who will perform a variety of music.

Food and beverages will be part of the celebration.

“Matthew has performed here before, and the residents really like him, so when it came time to plan our anniversary event, we decided to invite him back,” stated Michele Clemen, real estate associate for Greystar, which manages Outlook Hamilton.

Guests will also have the opportunity to tour the community, which has one- and two-bedroom models, a fitness center, movie theater, sports lounge and resort-style pool. Resident ambassadors will be available to answer any questions about Outlook Hamilton.

For more, visit Outlookhamilton.com.

DISPATCHES

Sheriff’s office releases crash statistics — Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office recently released statistics that highlight common causes and locations of vehicle crashes in Hamilton County. The top three reasons for crashes in 2024 so far are following too closely, failure to yield right-of-way and animals or objects in the roadway. The top three crash locations are 146th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway, 146th and River Road and 146th and Allisonville Road.

Miller Ambassadors — Noblesville Schools graduated the seventh class of Miller Ambassadors this year, making more than 160 community leaders who have been through the program. Applications are now open for the Class of 2025 this summer at noblesvilleschools.org.

Allisonville Road now open

news@currentnoblesville.com

The Hamilton County Highway Department has announced the reopening of Allisonville Road at the intersection of 146th Street. The road was scheduled to reopen June 9, marking the end of a 90-day closure.

CONSTRUCTION

According to Tammy Sander, Hamilton County communications director, the $44 million project, which began a year ago, aims to reduce congestion and enhance safety by transforming the intersection into a grade-separated interchange.

According to the Highway Department, the project is on schedule despite minor rain delays and eclipse-related work stoppages mandated by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

“We are excited to reopen Allisonville Road,” stated Matt Lee, the Hamilton County Highway Department bridge program engineer. “There will be no left turns allowed in any direction, but through-traffic and right turns will be permitted in all directions. We also plan to set the bridge beams before Allisonville reopens to avoid

overnight closures in the near future.”

Sander said a temporary signal will be installed to manage traffic until the Allisonville Road roundabout becomes operational.

“We are very pleased with how the project is advancing,” Highway Director Brad Davis stated. “Our team has worked diligently to stay on schedule, and we are optimistic about completing the entire project by July 2025. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during this construction period.”

Sander said the worksite speed limit is 35 mph.

For more, visit streamline146.com.

The Hamilton County Highway Department expects the entire Allisonville Road construction project to be completed by June 2025. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Sander)

Hamilton County teens earn scholarship dollars – Seven Hamilton County Class of 2024 graduates were honored during the Hamilton County Youth Service Awards May 28. Awards are presented by the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs as part of its ongoing effort to recognize outstanding service by youth in the community. Keegan Connor of Westfield High School earned the top award, a $1,000 scholarship. Sydney Schultz from Carmel High School, Drew Wheeler from Fishers High School, Andrew Morrison from Hamilton Heights High School, Gloria Lane from Hamilton Southeastern High School, Maya Narsinghani from Noblesville High School and Gage West from Sheridan High School were each awarded a $300 scholarship. The Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs is dedicated to preventing and reducing underage drinking and illegal drug use in Hamilton County. Learn more at hamiltoncounty.in.gov under the “government” tab.

Talk about health screenings with a doctor or care team who listens

Health screenings are important for all of us. Taking care of yourself means being proactive about your health. Talk with your doctor or care team about the screenings that are right for you, based on your age and family history. They may help detect complex issues early, when they are most treatable.

If you need more care, including more advanced treatment options, you are connected to compassionate care teams that are right for you.

Start a conversation with a doctor or care team at ascension.org/StVincentScreenings or call 866-835-4252

From left, Sydney Schultz, Drew Wheeler, Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman, Keegan Connor, Commissioner Steve Dillinger, Gage West, Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt, Monica Greer and Andrew Morrison. Not pictured, Gloria Lane and Maya Narsinghani.

New retail store to open soon

By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com

Go & Do Apparel and Goods, a retail store for women and children dedicated to giving back to the community, will open in Noblesville this summer.

SHOPPING

Lindsey Rinehart, a longtime Noblesville resident, will open the store at 828 Logan St. She said 100 percent of profits will go to local charities.

“We decided to give all the profit to charity, just as kind of a philanthropy dedication,” said Rinehart, the store’s owner. “The store name stands for granting opportunities and dedicated outreach, and that’s been our mission behind the whole place.”

Rinehart, who was formerly a public accountant, will operate the store full time. The retail shop, which she plans to open before the start of the 2024-25 school year, will feature women’s and children’s apparel, home decor and gift items.

Rinehart invites the Noblesville community to play an active role in the store’s philanthropic efforts by suggesting local charities to support.

Lindsey Rinehart outside of the Go & Do Apparel and Goods storefront at 828 Logan St. (Photo courtesy of Lindsey Rinehart)

“We would love to help the Boys & Girls Club, the Red Cross and the Humane Society,” Rinehart said. “We are aware of those bigger names, but we are hoping the community will help us learn about some smaller charities and places that we can help out that may not have as big of a name.”

Rinehart said she looks forward to operating the store in her hometown.

“I think it’ll be a great growth opportunity for me personally and our family by getting my kids involved. It’s an exciting venture for us,” Rinehart said.

For more, visit facebook.com/profile. php?id=61560251450218.

BUSINESS IS BLOOMING

Small business to celebrate first year in Noblesville

By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com

When Karly Elbrecht began selling flowers from her grandfather’s 1984 El Camino two years ago, she never expected it to blossom into a full-time occupation.

Elbrecht owns Camino & Company, a floral shop with a floral design studio at 654 Logan St. in Noblesville. The business will hold a private celebration of its one-year anniversary in July.

“During our grand opening in 2023, we had a lot of small businesses come out and had a parking lot party with live music,” Elbrecht said. “Our anniversary party will be similar to that, but more of a celebration.”

Although the celebration will not be open to the public, the business is also preparing to launch a partnership this summer with Fabee’s Simple Farm, a family-run agribusiness in Cicero that specializes in growing cut flowers.

“We are launching the partnership this summer, but in July, we will have our first public event, which will be an experience where people can go to their farm,” Elbrecht said. “We’ll have workshops, experiences and events to offer the Hamilton County area.”

Camino & Company was started in May 2022 by Elbrecht in the 1984 El Camino that belongs to her grandfather, V.E. Witham, while Elbrecht was still working a corporate job.

“I had just met a flower farmer in October 2021, and we were both newer moms,” Elbrecht said. “We grew a friendship, and I went to one of her flower workshops. Late one night in April 2022, I messaged her and asked if she would ever want me to sell her flowers out of my grandpa’s El Camino. She said she was interested and had some other farmer friends who would be interested, too. So, in a nutshell, that’s how this started.”

Elbrecht’s grandfather has been her neighbor all her life. His El Camino inspired the business’s name.

“My grandfather and my grandma were always super involved in my life, so I feel like the Camino symbolizes them and the support they’ve given me,” Elbrecht said. “I’ve always wanted to be able to tie in my work with my family if the opportunity ever presented itself. When I asked if I could sell flowers out of it, he did not hesitate. That type of support is such a huge part of my life and what I hope to live out with my family.”

Since the company works with local flower farmers, it primarily sells what is in season.

“The most popular are peonies, then coming up, dahlias are usually our big end-of-summer and fall flower,” Elbrecht said. “We have a lot of fun things with dahlias coming up and offerings. With our partnership with Fabee’s Simple Farm, we will have more opportunities for people to see a lot of different dahlia varieties and build arrangements.”

Elbrecht started the business by selling flowers at farmers markets and pop-up events. She contacted the farmers

she first partnered with, and they supplied flowers for customers to build their own bouquets.

An Arcadia native, Elbrecht credits the annual Indiana Peony Festival in May in Noblesville for much of her success, as the event helped her business get noticed.

“The week that I decided to launch and put it on social media ended up being around the time of the Indiana Peony Festival,” Elbrecht said. “The festival gave a lot of traction that I wasn’t necessarily expecting. That is a week I’ll never forget because it was the first week of people asking about Camino & Co., and I was able to connect with various businesses. Throughout 2022, we just kept growing.”

After business grew rapidly, and as a mom to a toddler, Elbrecht left her job in sales enablement in May 2023, opened her storefront and began running Camino & Company full time. Now, the business primarily caters to weddings.

“About 75 percent of our business is now weddings, which I have been thankful and excited about,” Elbrecht said. “We hired our first hire, Maggie Books, in February, and she is our lead floral designer. My mom is also now the co-owner and COO of the company, and she handles the financials and strategic planning.

Elbrecht’s mother, Angie Witham-Dugdale, said it is a blessing to work so closely with her daughter, and she is

focused on supporting Elbrecht’s continued growth and expansion.

“Camino & Company has evolved so much in this short year since the storefront, now a floral design studio, was launched a year ago,” Witham-Dugdale said. “It’ll be fun to reflect on all our adventures so far and share the dreams of those to come at our upcoming anniversary party.”

The storefront is a floral design studio. The business offers bouquet bars for weddings, corporate events, showers and parties, and private events. Elbretch still occasionally sells flowers out of the El Camino, including at the weekly Noblesville Farmers Market.

For more, visit camino-and-company.com.

Camino & Company

was presented the “People’s Choice” award at last month’s Indiana Peony Festival in Noblesville.

“They had a number of floral designers do installations at the park for the event, and we ended up winning the vote,” Elbrecht said. “Our floral designer, Maggie Books, designed the installation.”

The company also had peonies painted on its storefront to honor the festival.

ON THE COVER: Karly Elbrecht selling flowers from her grandfather’s El Camino. (Photo courtesy of Karly Elbrecht)

Maggie Books, left, and Karly Elbrecht

Karly Elbrecht’s grandfather’s El Camino.

The Camino & company studio at 654 Logan St. (Photo courtesy of Karly Elbrecht)

currentnightandday.com

Farrell to add Buffett to list of tribute shows

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

It all started with Don Farrell paying tribute to the songs of Frank Sinatra in April 2021.

CONCERTS

That success had him follow up with Barry Manilow in 2022 and tributes to Tony Bennett and Neil Diamond in 2023.

Farrell, a co-founder of Actors Theatre of Indiana who left the company in 2023, will celebrate Jimmy Buffett with “Bubbles Up!” performances at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael June 21 and July 18 with Terry Woods, Steve Greenberg and Jim Lamson. A third “Bubbles Up!” is set for Aug. 17 with the lineup not yet set.

“We’re just going to tell the stories and celebrate Jimmy Buffett, who we lost last year,” Farrell said. “I love Jimmy Buffett. As I started delving more into his life, I looked at his journey and what he took to become this kind of a latter-day folk hero. And all the entrepreneurial businesses he started after the big hit, ‘Margaritaville’ and the stories that go behind it. We’re going to try to conjure up that world of sun, saltwater and nonstop parties.”

Farrell, who runs Crossroads Entertainment LLC, said the setlist will include escapist songs, such as “Margaritaville,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.”

Farrell said they will share the stories on how Buffett came up with his songs. Farrell describes it as a “docu-cabaret.”

“It’s all the great songs you expect,” he said. “We try to create whatever world and environment in Feinstein’s for the artists we’re celebrating. Sometimes, even aficionados walk away saying, ‘I didn’t know that.’”

The shows are launched at Feinstein’s and then occasionally Farrell and Woods take the show on the road to other sites and Georgia, where Farrell grew up.

On the third Thursday of each month, Feinstein’s has a “Don Farrell Presents” show.

“It can be bands I’m presenting or our new shows,” Farrell said.

It started in April with the music of

“Grease.”

“I had four other performers join me on stage and tell the backstory about the musical ‘Grease,’” Farrell said. “We created an environment where people were showing up in poodle skirts and leather jackets. We had a dance contest. It was a big party.”

In May, Farrell had the area band Ten Branches perform a concert. “A Thank You for the Music, a tribute to ABBA,” is set for June 20. Logan Hill, Maya Mays, Danny Kingston and Antony Winfrey will join Farrell.

Farrell will perform his Neil Diamond show July 20 with “Sweet Caroline: The Life & Music of Neil Diamond.”

Farrell will present “Simply the Best — A Celebration of Tina Turner,” Aug. 22 with Tiffany Gilliam performing Turner’s songs.

“I’m trying to find other artists who deserve a shot at the Feinstein’s stage,” Farrell said.

Farrell also will present Summer Music with Woods Band July 29 at Sugar Creek Winery in Carmel.

For more, visit feinsteinshc.com and crossroads-ent.com/team.html.

‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” runs through July 7 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

JAMES TAYLOR

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter will perform at 8 p.m. June 11 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Noblesville students Eleanor Wilson and Tyler Cowan presents “Your Heart is Home” June 13, and Dueling Pianos presented by Brittany Brumfield June 15 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Both performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

DIERKS BENTLEY

Dierks Bentley’s concert is set for 7 p.m. June 14 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.

DISPATCH

Songbook Academy features area participants — From hundreds of applicants nationwide, 40 high school students from 14 states have been selected to participate in this year’s Songbook Academy, a weeklong summer intensive program that immerses young performers in America’s musical heritage and helps them develop as artists under the guidance of Broadway stars and other entertainment professionals and music educators. Among the 11 Indiana finalists are Carmel residents Sadie Cohen, Emmaline Colvin and Isaiah Henderson; Zionsville residents Izzy Casciani and Phoebe Sidebottom; Westfield residents Keegan Connor and Journee Woodley; and Noblesville resident Addie McMillan. Now in its 15th year, the Songbook Academy is the flagship education initiative of the Great American Songbook Foundation and its founder, performer and preservationist Michael Feinstein. Songbook Academy 2024 will take place July 13-20 at the Foundation’s headquarters at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

Don Farrell, left, with Terry Woods from “All The Way: A Frank Sinatra Tribute.” (Photo courtesy of Don Farrell)

CCP season features variety

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

SONGBOOK ACADEMY IN CONCERT SAT, JUL 20 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

AVERAGE WHITE BAND:

A FUNK FINALE SAT, AUG 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

JEROME COLLINS: REWIND–

A JOURNEY TO MOTOWN & BEYOND FRI, SEPT 13 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

VERONICA SWIFT

SAT, SEPT 14 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

CENTER CELEBRATION 2024

FEATURING CHRIS BOTTI SAT, SEPT 21 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

NICK CARTER: WHO I AM TOUR

THURS, SEPT 26 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

LEONID & FRIENDS: THE MUSIC OF CHICAGO AND MORE FRI, SEPT 27 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DAMIEN ESCOBAR: VICTORY LAP TOUR

SAT, SEPT 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BEN FOLDS: PAPER AIRPLANE REQUEST TOUR

THURS, OCT 10 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

#IMOMSOHARD: LADIES’ NIGHT!

FRI, OCT 11 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY

SAT, OCT 12 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SUN, OCT 13 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD

SAT, OCT 19 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

SPACE ODDITY: THE QUINTESSENTIAL

DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE

SAT, OCT 26 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DANA & GREG NEWKIRK’S

HAUNTED OBJECTS LIVE SUN, OCT 27 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON

VITAMIN STRING QUARTET: THE MUSIC OF TAYLOR SWIFT, BRIDGERTON AND BEYOND SUN, OCT 27 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

ZAKIR HUSSAIN & RAHUL SHARMA

FRI, NOV 1 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BONEY JAMES

SAT, NOV 2 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE MAGIC OF MICHAEL GRANDINETTI–EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC

SAT, NOV 2 AT 2PM & 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

GRUPO NICHE

FRI, NOV 8 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE PIANO GUYS

SAT, NOV 9 AT 4PM & 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BUCKETS N BOARDS SUN, NOV 17 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE STEPCREW FRI, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

AN EVENING WITH LESLIE ODOM JR. FRI, NOV 22 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

CANADIAN BRASS SAT, NOV 23 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DIONNE WARWICK SUN, NOV 24 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES:

WWII TIKI XMAS CANTEEN

THURS, DEC 5 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE FOUR PHANTOMS: HOLIDAY SHOW FRI, DEC 6 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

JANE LYNCH’S A SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS SAT, DEC 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS

CHRISTMAS TOUR 2024

FRI, DEC 13 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

SAT, DEC 14 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

MAC MCANALLY

FRI, JAN 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

YESTERDAY AND TODAY: THE INTERACTIVE BEATLES EXPERIENCE

SAT, JAN 18 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE EVOLUTION OF JONI MITCHELL STARRING LAUREN FOX

FRI, JAN 24 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

HEART OF AFGHANISTAN

FEATURING THE FANOOS ENSEMBLE SAT, JAN 25 AT 8PM || THE TARKINGTON

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS SUN, JAN 26 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE KINGS OF QUEEN SAT, FEB 1 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

PETER SAGAL: HOST OF NPR’S WAIT WAIT...DON’T TELL ME! FRI, FEB 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

FOLSOM PRISON EXPERIENCE: LEGENDARY 1968 JOHNNY CASH

CONCERT SAT, FEB 15 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH STEVE WARINER FRI, FEB 21 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

KALANI PE’A: GRAMMY-WINNING SINGER, SONGWRITER SAT, FEB 22 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DON WAS & THE PAN DETROIT ENSEMBLE FRI, FEB 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BROOKLYN CHARMERS:

A STEELY DAN TRIBUTE FRI, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

WELCOME BACK: THE RETURN OF EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER FRI, MAR 21 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DUSTBOWL REVIVAL: A LAUREL CANYON RETROSPECTIVE FRI, MAR 21 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

THE RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS SUN, MAR 23 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON

GRIMMZ FAIRY TALES SUN, MAR 23 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

LANG LANG FRI, MAR 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE SAT, APR 5 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

UNITED STATES ARMY FIELD BAND & SOLDIERS’ CHORUS WEDS, APR 9 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN SAT, APR 12 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BACHELORS OF BROADWAY: GENTLEMEN OF THE THEATRE SUN, APR 13 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

ITZHAK PERLMAN IN RECITAL THURS, APR 17 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

MICKY DOLENZ OF THE MONKEES: AN EVENING OF SONGS & STORIES FRI, APR 25 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BLACK VIOLIN SAT, APR 26 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

OUR PLANET LIVE: A NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES WITH DAN TAPSTER TUES, APR 29 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES THURS, MAY 1 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

CELEBRATE THE SONGBOOK: MICHAEL FEINSTEIN WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS CHAMBER

ORCHESTRA SAT, MAY 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

iLUMINATE SUN, MAY 11 AT 4PM | THE PALLADIUM

Carmel Community Players will present some familiar plays along with some new titles.

SCHEDULE

“This upcoming season is a mix of classics and newer pieces, an ebb and flow of ‘sit back and relax’ and ‘sit up and listen,’” CCP Artistic Director Hannah Janowicz said. “We anticipate a lot of laughs and a lot of gasps.”

“Ruthless! The Musical” is a dark comedy about a sociopathic child actor. It runs April 4-13 at The Switch Theatre in Fishers. “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing,” a modern-day fairytale about triplets, is the season’s Rising Star Production and is set for June 13-22 at The Cat.

Janowicz

“Steel Magnolias,” which opens the season Sept. 27 and runs through Oct. 3 at The Cat in Carmel, was staged by CCP in 1999 and 2013.

“So, I look forward to hearing the story with a new vision and generation of performers,” Janowicz said.

“Clue,” a funny murder-mystery inspired by the board game, is set for Nov. 15-24 at The Cat.

“Pride and Prejudice,” based on the classic Jane Austen novel, opens the 2025 portion of the season Feb. 28 and runs through March 9 at The Cat.

The premise of “American Son,” which centers around a missing Black teenager who might have been picked up by the police in Miami, closes the season Aug. 8-17 at The Switch Theatre. His parents, an estranged interracial couple, anxiously await news.

“I’m especially eager for our season closer, ‘American Son,’” Janowicz said. “It premiered on Broadway less than 10 years ago, has a powerfully relevant script and will definitely be a strong acting challenge for its small cast. It’s always fun to explore different time periods and eras in history, but ‘American Son’ draws us right back to the present day and demonstrates the importance of education through storytelling.”

For more, visit carmelplayers.org.

RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY

NICK CARTER

LESLIE ODOM JR.

MARTY STUART

LANG LANG

Red Barn to present premiere

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Luke McLaughlin has known Michael Clossin for a large part of his life.

COMEDY

Clossin said he is “apprehensively eager” to see the premiere.

“Michael and Luke are working with a talented group of young actors, so I’m pretty eager to see it come to life,” Clossin said. “The apprehension comes in from hoping I did my job well enough.”

“In fact, it was his rendition of ‘Leader of the Pack’ at Frankfort High School that made me fall in love with theater as an elementary student,” McLaughlin said. “Michael wears many hats for the Red Barn. He serves on the board of directors and coordinates all the musicians for our ‘Music on the Lawn’ pre-show programming. The Red Barn would not be what it is today without him. He was with the Barn when it first started and continues to play a major role in bringing our seasons to life.”

So, it’s fitting that McLaughlin will direct the world premiere of Clossin’s “Keep the Change” June 12-16 and June 19-23 at Red Barn Summer Theatre. Michael Taylor is the Red Barn’s artistic director and McLaughlin is its associate artistic director.

Clossin said Taylor organized a table read with some Red Barn actors who encouraged him to keep working on it. Clossin said Jennie Otterman directed a staged reading at Basile Westfield Playhouse in October 2023 with actors from the Noblesville area that was very helpful.

“‘Keep the Change’ is my first opportunity to direct a world premiere, and though it is completely different from anything I’ve ever done theatrically, it is exciting to put my stamp on this script and fun collection of characters,” McLaughlin said.

The cast has eight performers, including Westfield resident Lisa Warner Lowe. For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.

BATHROOMS

KITCHEN

Clossin McLaughlin

Flower Market

Anchor Health to expand

By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com

Anchor Health Chiropractic, which specializes in neurologically based chiropractic care, has announced it will soon expand its building space.

CHIROPRACTIC

The facility at 14300 Mundy Dr. in Noblesville opened in 2017. The business next door recently closed, freeing up space for the practice to expand.

“We’ve always had a passion for serving Noblesville in a big, big way, and the expansion allows us to have more space, to serve more families and continue to grow our business as best we can, to serve the community over time,” said Mitchell Borgman, a chiropractor and owner of Anchor Health Chiropractic.

According to Borgman, Anchor Health Chiropractic is a neurologically focused, family-based practice focused solely on the nervous system to provide total body wellness over time.

With the expansion, Anchor Health Chiropractic is looking forward to continuing its service to Noblesville and the surrounding

communities, according to Borgman. The goal is to maintain and expand its client base, ensuring that more people can benefit from its specialized services.

“We’re just excited for the opportunity to continue to thrive in Noblesville, which is a city that we’ve come to love,” Borgman said. “We’ll continue to serve big, and if anybody needs any help, we are obviously willing to serve them in any way we can.” For more, visit anchortohealth.com.

Community to expand in Westfield

news@currentnoblesville.com

Community Health Network, which has a health pavilion and outpatient surgery center in Noblesville, will build a new health care campus in Westfield.

HOSPITALS

The $335 million, 425,000-square-foot facility near 196th Street and U.S. 31 will feature an ambulatory surgery center, medical office building, emergency department and six-story patient tower. Services will include women’s health, integrative medicine, orthopedics, primary care, behavioral health and specialty services.

“This expansion reflects our responsiveness to Westfield’s growth and needs,” stated Jason Fahrlander, Community’s chief operating officer. “This new state-ofthe-art health care campus aligns with our mission to enhance health and well-being in the communities we serve.”

The project includes the renovation of two existing buildings at 19800 and 19900 N. East St. to house medical offices, clinical specialties, an ambulatory surgery center, an emergency department, support services, outpatient imaging and cardiovascu-

lar care.

An additional 100-bed inpatient tower will also be constructed.

Renovating the existing buildings is expected to save more than $50 million compared to building new, an effort that Community representatives said aligns with the network’s sustainability goals.

Completion of the medical office building is expected in the first quarter of 2025.

The surgery center, hospital service building and hospital tower are projected for completion in mid-2026.

Anchor Health Chiropractic at 14300 Mundy Dr. (Photo courtesy of Mitchell Borgman)

Plans for a new Community Health Network hospital will be presented to the City of Westfield for a public hearing this summer. (Image courtesy of Community Health Network)

New coffee shop now open

By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com

Noblesville city officials, members of Noblesville’s Life Church campus, employees and some local residents gathered for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony June 4 for LC Coffeehouse in Noblesville, 2166 Sheridan Rd.

DINING

Life Church purchased the coffee shop’s building in 2018 to provide a space for community and connection. Life Church Noblesville’s Pastor Micah Beckwith said he hopes the coffee shop will be a place for residents to meet their neighbors.

“We are thankful for all the hard work and dedication from the church and staff,” Beckwith said. “It takes care of so many people in our culture when you have somebody to do life with. It just makes the world easier.”

Life Church Lead Pastor Nathan Peternal said LC Coffeehouse has formed a partnership with Project Rescue, whose mission is to “rescue and restore victims of sexual exploitation through the love and power of God.” All proceeds will go to Project

Noblesville Deputy Mayor Matt Light, Ray Adler with Adler Attorneys, Noblesville Chamber of Commerce President Bob DuBois, Life Church Director of Operations Maria Davis, Pastor Beckwith’s wife Susan Beckwith, Pastor Micah Beckwith, Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen, Noblesville City Council member David Johnson, Pastor David Wigington and Pastor Nathan Peternel at the June 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo by Jessica Todd)

Rescue.

The coffee shop offers a full food and beverage menu and has conference rooms that can be rented online. It is open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more, visit lccoffeehouse.com.

Meijer to open this summer

news@currentnoblesville.com

Meijer recently announced that its new 90,000-square-foot store will open July 11 at the Promenade of Noblesville, 5956 Promenade Shops Blvd. It is Meijer’s first “grocery format” store in Indiana, according to the company.

COMING SOON

“Meijer has been providing an exceptional shopping experience to customers across Indiana for 30 years, and the Meijer Grocery in Noblesville will further solidify our commitment to the Hoosier State,” stated Travis Bernath, Noblesville Meijer Grocery’s director.

According to Greta Snell with Dittoe Public Relations, Meijer launched its grocery format in 2023 with the opening of two stores in southeast Michigan. The Noblesville location is the retailer’s third Meijer Grocery store.

Snell stated the grocery store simplifies the customer shopping experience with all categories customers need for a weekly trip to restock the home, including:

• Produce and grocery

• Fresh meat cut daily

Rendering for the Noblesville Meijer Grocery at 5956 Promenade Shops Blvd. (Rendering courtesy of Greta Snell)

• Bakery equipped with in-store cake decorators

• Full-service deli

• Pharmacy

• Health and beauty

• Baby, pets and consumables

• Cards, party and floral

According to Snell, the Noblesville Meijer Grocery store will also offer the same savings and shopping technology customers expect from a Meijer supercenter, including mPerks, Shop and Scan and Meijer Home delivery and pickup.

There are still hourly, part-time and fulltime opportunities available for the Noblesville location. Those interested can apply online at jobs.meijer.com/stores.

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

HUMOR

A league of our own

A small, framed photo in my office corner is more than 60 years old. It’s a picture of my All-Star Little League team from New Rochelle, N.Y., back in 1959 -- all of us posed in our individual team uniforms and bound for the state championships in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Two more victories there, and we’d be headed to Williamsport, Penn., for the Little League World Championships.

I wrote about this years ago, but doing a replay seems appropriate. Despite my love for baseball, I had not attended a major league game in many years. The other day, with my friend Joe, I went to Cincinnati to see the Reds play the Cardinals at the Great American Ball Park. Sitting there, sipping a beer, smelling the field, hearing the crack of the bat and watching players round the bases brought back memories of 1959.

We were a motley crew: Jews, Hispanics, Italians, Blacks and Ryan, our Irish second baseman. We were all animals: Cubs, Panthers, Colts and Tigers -- our team names from regular-season play. Money was tight, so the city couldn’t dress us in spiffy new

uniforms for the All-Star games. We couldn’t afford hotels, so the league arranged for us to stay in the homes of local residents. In the first game, I was thrown out at third base. I looked up to question the umpire’s call and it was the guy whose house I was staying in.

Our team was small in stature but big in talent. Our shortstop, Larry Seidman, absorbed every grounder and flicked it sidearm to first base. Pete Wagner threw a curveball that mystified every batter. Dickie Lipson majored in home runs. And then there was Dave Enoch, our other pitcher. He struck out the hitter or struck him … on the arm … on the back … on the head. He was so wild that when the other team had runners on base, we sometimes put one of our outfielders behind the catcher.

In the first game, the score was tied in the ninth. The coach told us all to bunt, so we laid down the perfect dribbler four times in a row. It worked. We won by one run. The other team called us wimps, but the Daily News called us winners. In the final game, we lost badly. I made an incredible catch in center field, so we only lost by 10 runs.  Look at the picture on my Facebook page.

“Money was tight, so the city couldn’t dress us in spiffy new uniforms for the All-Star games. We couldn’t afford hotels, so the league arranged for us to stay in the homes of local residents.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

See the faces of 14 boys who never considered race, religion or family heritage as an issue. We were a team. And a good one. As a result of those experiences, my guess is that most of these young men grew up free of prejudice — the kind that may someday destroy our country. That photo makes me feel better about who we can be. And it makes me love baseball that much more.

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES VIEWS

Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@ youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.

Just because they can?

Commentary by Terry Anker

Through a spokesman, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently issued an ominous warning to we U.S. citizens. It seems that the tenacious Ukrainians have made use of some American-made weapons that we shared in humiliating their would-be occupiers and spurring an exasperated Putin to threaten the United States with “fatal consequences” and global conflict for not standing on the sidelines as Russia expands its boundaries as and when it sees fit. Threatening planet-wide thermonuclear war may seem a bit excessive. But who is going to stop him?

ESSAY

Closer to home, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett recently reversed direction on his once-effusive support for the local professional soccer team Indy Eleven to instead pursue a more grandiose script with “undisclosed” partners for a “confidential” plan. The flip-flop is supported by a few, elicits incredulousness from many and confounds almost everyone. The move by the local politician and attorney to become a real estate mogul may seem a bit of an

unexpected left turn. But who is going to stop him?

Others cheat on, or beat on, their spouses, because “what are they going to do about it?” The same is true for taking up multiple parking spaces, dishonesty in a business deal or kicking a dog. Justifications might include that they”deserved” it; the car was new; it is “only” business; or the canine was in our way. They all conceal the ugly truth of our motivation. Most of us act — occasionally, anyway — not from the pious nature of our moral character but from impulse. We bully and threaten just because we can. Do we enjoy the rush we get from the exercise of power, imagined or otherwise, more than we care about the dissolving social and institutional restraints on our desires? If we cannot stop bullying, all of us lose.

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

a set of Entry, Advanced or Premium Technology hearing aids. Offer expires 9/30/24. 911 E. 86th Street, Ste 035, Indianapolis, IN 46240

Blueprint for Improvement: Bold basement in Carmel

Commentary by Larry Greene

Built in 2016 in the Village of West Clay, this home’s finished basement provided ample space but lacked intention. Our team got to work, transforming the layout to include distinctive spaces and purpose.

THE BLUEPRINT

• Wall-to-wall carpeting was replaced with luxury vinyl plank flooring, providing the look of natural wood with added durability and minimal maintenance.

• Poplar cabinetry stained a deep indigo, paired with glossy porcelain tiles in the same shade, makes a bold and stylish statement.

• With a dishwasher, beverage fridge and microwave, the new wet bar provides everything needed for effortless entertaining.

• Indigo wood paneling not only helps to protect the wall from errant darts, but also makes a style statement that hits the bullseye.

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.

38. State agency in charge of highways, airports and railroads, briefly

39. “___, Brute?”

40. French water

41. Pun reaction, perhaps 42. Wicker material

43. Lose weight

45. Daniels School of Business deg.

46. Mapmaker ___ McNally

47. Maine’s capital

51. Churchill Downs event

54. Corroded

56. “___ the season...”

57. ISO woodwind

58. Ice cream treat at Indy

Zoo

60. Tra-___

61. Frequently

62. Apt anagram of “evil”

63. Third largest city in France

64. Unemotional

65. Rapper-turned-actor Down

1. Prepare to “Wander Indiana”

2. Butler frat letter 3. Northside reservoir 4. Indiana tax ID

5. Shallow water hazards

6. Big name in insurance

7. Mirror image?

8. Generational development studied by Darwin

Sleep acronym

Forgo

Coca-___

Scent

Angry verbal outburst

Civic Theatre play opener

30. Learning method 31. Guided trip

32. Honey bunch 33. Spoken 34. Hawaiian island

35. Winter road blocker

38. Crooked Stick golf club

39. Jacob’s twin

41. Aussie’s greeting

42. IU Health delivery doc

44. Comic British character who rarely speaks

45. “___ on the Bounty”

47. Colorado ski resort

48. Showing no emotion

49. Owner’s document

50. Thing of value

51. Barbie or Ken

52. Where a signed copy of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five” sold for $240

53. Caramel-filled candy

55. ___ no good

58. Two, in Tijuana

59. Roman 506 Answers on Page 23

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Integrity Automotive is looking for a full time automotive technician. In business for 28 years in downtown Carmel with a solid, happy customer base and a positive, good-natured work environment. The best candidate is a motivated, well-organized technician with at least three years hands on experience in automotive diagnosis, problem-solving and repair. Able to interpret and apply diagnostic/repair information from computerized databases and other sources. Also able communicate clearly and effectively with your supervisor, your fellow employees and, as needed, with customers. A complete job description is available with a request to frontdesk@ integrityautomotive.net. We offer competitive pay with a Monday through Friday work week and (after 90 days) up to four sick/personal days per year and paid holidays. To schedule an interview, send your resume with contact information to: frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net . 40 S Rangeline Rd Carmel Indiana 46032 www.IntegrityAutomotive.net

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