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Founded March 12, 2024, at Indianapolis, IN Vol. I, No. 14
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Puccini’s Pizza Pasta Puccini’s
The sky’s the limit for Hoosier Village residents
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurent.com
If there is one rule for thrill seekers, it’s that there is no age limit.
SKYDIVING
Twelve residents of Hoosier Village retirement community proved that, when they took to the skies — then promptly fell back to earth — during a skydiving outing at Frankfort Municipal Airport Aug. 12.
The group participated in tandem jumps with instructors from Skydive Indianapolis.
“We have an adventurous population,” said Luke Haskough, life enrichment manager at Hoosier Village. “A few said they’d go if I arranged a trip. We’ve done gliding every year for the past five years, but this is the first time we’ve gone skydiving.”
Rose Conrad has called Zionsville home for 30 years. She moved to Hoosier Village two years ago and said events like skydiving are simply ways to keep adventure alive while also coming home to a comfortable environment for seniors.
“I thought it was a pretty cool idea,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to skydive. I’ve always loved a little adventure in my life. I like ziplining, I like roller coasters. For my 65th birthday I went to Universal in Florida and had to ride that big steel coaster one more time.”
The residents who took the leap ranged in age from 70 to 89. Bill Latimer was the oldest of the group. The outing was his first time skydiving.
“Why did I lose my freaking mind?” Latimer joked. “But, I couldn’t resist it, I just had to do it. I’m excited to be exhilarated with the jump. I was in the service and we had parachute trials jumping, but it was on a string. When you’re close to the surface, it looks scary. But when you’re up in the sky and you look down, it’s just unreal; stepping out into something unreal.”
The outing included an instructional video before the participants were outfitted in proper gear. Tandem skydiving involves exiting a plane at 13,000 feet and free falling at 120 mph before the instructor pulls the
chute. Instructors at Skydive Indianapolis are USPA-certified and take responsibility for pulling, steering and landing softly and safely while the tandem partners enjoy the ride.
For the seniors who took part, the jump was a once-in-a-lifetime event that they simply couldn’t pass up.
“If I don’t do it now when I have this opportunity, I probably never will. So, here I am!” Conrad said. “I want to see the earth from up there unrestricted. Not inside a plane looking out a little window. I just want to see the earth and feel free and fly. That’s what I want.”
A group of 12 seniors from Hoosier Village went skydiving in Frankfort Aug. 12. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Rose Conrad lands after skydiving. (Photo courtesy of Skydive Indianapolis)
Hoosier Village resident Rose Conrad skydives with Skydive Indianapolis. (Photo courtesy of Skydive Indianapolis)
Vinnie Boyd of Hoosier Village skydives with Skydive Indianapolis. (Photo courtesy of Skydive Indianapolis)
Beverage company ‘Swig’ to open two shops in Indiana
By Samantha Kupiainen northindy@youarecurrent.com
The Utah-based beverage company Swig is expanding into Indiana and has announced plans for two new locations in the Indianapolis area.
COMING SOON
The first will be in Indianapolis at 96th and Meridian streets. The second will be on Noggle Way near Emerson Ave, in Greenwood.
Each shop will be about 1,400 square feet.
Swig’s Indianapolis shop is set to open in October. An exact date hasn’t been determined. The Greenwood shop is expected to have a grand opening later this month. A soft opening was expected earlier in the month.
Swig was founded in 2010. Customers can personalize beverages with unique flavorings and add-ons. It’s signature beverage is its Dirty Soda, a nonalcoholic drink made of soda, cream and flavored syrups
or fruit juices.
“The demographics are what we look at,” said Randy Hallam, one of four co-owners of Swig’s two Indiana shops. “We look at everything. You look at the amount of traffic, you look at the visibility from the street, you look at medium incomes, you look at housing values. A whole bunch of demographics go into a location.”
Both Indiana Swig franchises are under the ownership of Hallam, Daron Leblanc, Quinton Leblanc and Gavin Rundell.
“We were looking at places that Swig had available to purchase as a franchise, and Indianapolis ranked the highest as far as soda consumption, so we picked Indianapolis,” Hallam said.
According to World Population Review, Indiana ranks 20th in the U.S. among states with the highest soda consumption.
Swig Drinks has a variety of menu items, including revivers, refreshers, hot chocolate, cookies and pretzel bites.
Not including Indiana, Swig has a combined 64 shops in seven states.
The outside of Swig Drinks’ Indianapolis location. (Photo by Samantha Kupiainen)
Film screening scheduled — A screening of the short film “Sometimes I Imagine Your Funeral” by Fishers native Vince Dixon is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 21 at Butler University’s Schrott Center Theater, followed by a panel discussion. This event will promote Community Fairbanks Recovery Center’s “Family Connections” program, which supports family members of those struggling with substance abuse disorders.
Operation School Bell — The Assistance League of Indianapolis is seeking donations to support its Operation School Bell program, which provides apparel and shoes for thousands of underserved students in Indianapolis. Each student receives a duffel bag that includes a winter jacket, socks, shirts, pants, toothbrush and
more. Learn more and donate at alindy.org/operation-school-bell-mailer.html.
School assistance for children of veterans — Operation Back to School — also known as the Military Family Relief Fund Back to School Program — provides financial assistance to Hoosier veteran families experiencing financial difficulties. Offered by the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, the program offers $500 of assistance per qualified dependent for back-to-school supplies and other school-related expenses. Applications are accepted through Aug. 30. Learn more at in.gov/dva.
Heart center named top hospital — Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center has been ranked the top hospital
in Indiana and second in the nation for cardiac care by Money Magazine in its 2024 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care. The ranking compared all short-term, acute care hospitals in the nation that offer deep expertise with highly experienced cardiologists and heart specialists and have earned a four- or five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Best Hoosier state parks — Indiana is home to three of the Top 50 state parks in the U.S., according to travel and vacation website hometogo.com. Indiana Dunes State Park, Turkey Run State Park and Potato Creek State Park were recently listed by the website as No. 6, No. 18 and No. 34 state parks in the nation, respectively.
When you need heart care, it’s reassuring to know that the expert cardiac specialists from Ascension St. Vincent are right here. Not only are we the #1 heart program in the state, but the Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center is #2 ranked in the nation for cardiac care. Best of all, our highly skilled cardiac care teams, advanced treatment options and commitment to safety get you home faster to the ones you love.
Find a specialist close to home at ascension.org/StVincentHeart Your heart will thank you.
Firm launches AI solutions
Samantha Kupiainen NorthIndy@youarecurrent.com
For 25-plus years, Josh Ross has been an entrepreneur by building, growing and scaling companies. His most recent company, KLaunch, is based in Fishers and is a subsidiary of Kerauno holdings.
TECHNOLOGY
KLaunch, a conversational artificial intelligence firm, is rooted in innovation, bridging gaps, forging genuine bonds and “driving a future where technology enhances every human interaction,” according to Ross.
solutions that, according to Ross, connect people “to their communities and interests using AI, envisioning a future where tech mirrors human touch.”
“What we’ve done with this platform is, we incubated this out of another telecommunications company that I owned and sold to private equity in October 2020,” Ross said. “We’ve taken our technology platform that we started building in 2014, and that platform is now our conversation AI platform that we have available to clients.”
According to IBM, 34 percent of companies use AI and 42 percent are exploring AI.
“Our mission statement is, we help people by creating a culture that fosters personal, professional and spiritual growth that leads to life changing relationships,” said Ross, the company’s owner and CEO. “We want to use AI for good and we want to be able to connect people to the central services and to the benefits. That’s the purpose of our technology.”
KLaunch’s mission is to advance human interaction. It does so by creating
Ross said he founded KLaunch largely because of his customers.
“We had built our own unified communication software solution, and our customers were giving us feedback about the future and where they wanted to see things go,” Ross said. “It’s really customer centered, customer centric, coming from the customer themselves as to how they want to connect with people and engage.”
For more, visit klaunch.io/.
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Ross
State official breaks down Open Door Law
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A one-person state agency is tasked with helping state and local government officials maintain transparency and that one person has been doing the job for the past 11 years.
Luke Britt was appointed as the state’s nonpartisan Public Access Counselor in 2013 by then-Gov. Mike Pence. The Lawrence resident spoke about the state’s Open Door Law during the Aug. 20 Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon.
Britt said his role has been to ensure that Hoosiers are informed about what their governments do with the public’s money.
“I draw a salary from the state; I have programming that I spend money on,” he said. “Every single dollar that I spend as a government official — that came from someone’s pocket who earned it and re-
mitted it to the state in the form of a tax. In order that I be a good steward of that trust and of those resources, I make sure that my daily operations and what I do on a regular basis is transparent, so they know they’re getting the benefit of the bargain as far as what I do and also that I’m the right person for the job.”
Britt said that same transparency is important for all government agencies, state and local. One way he makes sure Hoosiers understand the Open Door Law is through outreach and education.
“Education is the No. 1 thing,” he said. “I love to go out and talk statewide to folks. I’ve been in (the) four corners of the state and everywhere in between. It is a joy and delight to talk to people face-to-face — that is kind of my wheelhouse. I make sure I get out about 50 times a year to various different communities and it’s a pleasure to be here in my hometown now.”
Britt also reviews and investigates complaints from citizens who believe the state’s Open Door Law has been violated by public officials. Most of the time, he said, his investigations show officials are doing what they’re supposed to do,
but sometimes he issues an opinion of noncompliance.
To keep compliance problems at a minimum, Britt said he acts as a resource to not only the public but to public officials. The PAC website has resources about how officials should conduct meetings, what counts as a meeting and what records need to be made available to the public. He also is available by phone for people with questions about public access rules.
“I think people like it that they can call up a state agency and get the agency head really quickly,” he said. “About 55 percent or so of all those requests for assistance actually come from other public officials. So, that’s satisfying as well, knowing that they’re trying to do the right thing.”
Britt said transparency can seem like a burden to government officials because it takes time and effort, but it’s important to show the public how and why decisions are made.
“We just have to go through certain steps to make sure that everything’s on the up-and-up,” he said.
For more, visit in.gov/pac.
Meridian Audiology puts patients first
By Tirzah Rowland
The seasoned hearing healthcare practitioners at Meridian Audiology in Indianapolis provide personal, attentive care to patients seeking hearing, tinnitus, and auditory processing evaluations and treatment.
With a combined 30 years of experience as licensed audiologists, Alison Wyss, Au.D and Kira VonBlon, M.S., opened their private practice in July 2021.
“Ali and I are very easy to get to know and get along with, and we’re going to do whatever our patient needs to make them happy,” VonBlon said. “We want people to feel comfortable.”
While Meridian Audiology will service all major brands of hearing aids, the group offers the newest Phonak line of hearing aid products, providing patients with automatic sound adjustment, Bluetooth connectivity for up to eight devices, and a first of its kind Deepsonic AI chip technology providing enhanced speech clarity.
you’ll be able to connect to the sound system of that gate, and that will come directly into the hearing aids.” When the technology becomes available Phonak wearers will be able to use the same technology to connect their hearing aids to sound systems at theatres and other venues. Offering chargers, accessories and phone app control capabilities, the Phonak hearing aids come in a variety of colors. In addition to hair and skin tones, patients can choose from red, green and rose gold.
“Ali and I went to the launch for the products earlier in August, and the biggest thing with the products is they’re really improving listening and understanding in noise, which is always the biggest problem for somebody with hearing loss,” VonBlon said.
The newest advancement offered by the Phonak line is Auracast compatibility.
“It’s not really out and about in our everyday settings yet, but it’s something where it’s going to be really useful,” VonBlon said. “Let’s say you’re in an airport and you’re wanting to hear the announcement at your gate,
Beyond hearing aids, Meridian Audiology offers Listening for Communication Enhancement, an independent training, to patients struggling with speech clarity and understanding speech.
Meridian Audiology accepts most major insurances, is independent of other medical practices or hospitals to provide the most beneficial patient care and quick scheduling.
Located at 911 E. 86th St., Suite 035, business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment only. Appointments can be made online at meridianaudiology.com or by calling the office directly. Meridian Audiology works with patients ages 5 and up.
(Photo courtesy of Meridian Audiology.)
VonBlon Wyss
GOLDEN MOMENT
Cathedral High School grad draws attention with stunning Olympic victory
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
While headlines centered on Cole Hocker shocking the track and field world by winning the Olympic gold medal in the 1,500-meter run, there were those who knew he could do it.
Although Hocker had never beaten Olympic favorites Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway and Great Britain’s Josh Kerr, Hocker — a former Geist-area resident and 2019 Cathedral High School graduate — said people in his camp and training partners were the least surprised about his victory.
“It’s some of my closest friends who, after the fact, told me that they had been thinking I could win long before I believed I could win,” he said.
Hocker, a 21-to-1 long shot, won the 1,500 Aug 6 in Paris in an Olympic record time of 3 minutes, 27.65 seconds. Kerr finished second and Ingebrigtsen placed fourth. American Yared Nuguse was third.
“I think what surprised me the most was that this was my first time executing my race exactly how I wanted to on the world stage in a global championship,” Hocker said. “In previous years, I just did not have the fitness to run with the best guys in the world. But this year, I knew I had the fitness, but I had yet to truly prove it on the day. I knew I was capable of a race that fast but it’s one thing to say it and it’s another to actually do it.”
Hocker enjoyed the attention focused on Ingebrigtsen and Kerr.
“I think the headlines not being centered around me definitely didn’t hurt me,” Hocker said. “Although I had a feeling that I was being left out of the conversation, it was again a matter of proving it on the day.”
Hocker said he has improved year by year, but there have been big dips in training because of injury in each of the past three years. He finished sixth in the 1,500 meters in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
“After Tokyo, the next season was plagued by injury and I missed the U.S. world team that year, and then in 2023, I had a very truncated season where I qualified for the World Championships but was not in the shape that I knew I could be in,” he said. “This year was uninterrupted by injury or sickness and I think that is why I had such high expectations for this Olympics.”
Hocker said the attention has created endorsement opportunities. Following his gold-medal performance, he appeared on the “Today” show on NBC and “SportsCenter” on ESPN.
“I’m looking forward to fully capitalizing on what I’ve done in this sport and reaping all of the benefits of my accomplishments,” Hocker said.
Hocker, 23, was second in the IHSAA state cross country meet in 2017 and won the state title in 2018. He was state
champion in the 800 and 1,600 in the IHSAA state track and field meet.
Jason Moyars, who was Hocker’s assistant track coach at Cathedral and assistant cross country coach, said he realized how special Hocker was during the summer before his senior year.
“We went to a national meet with a distance medley team, and we were 12th when he got the baton and he got us all the way to third,” Moyars said. “That’s when I started to see how special a runner he was. His senior year he continued to excel. Freshman year at (the University of) Oregon is when I really saw that true talent that came out with winning the indoor 1,500 and 3,000 that year.”
Hocker ran for Oregon from 2019 to 2021, winning the NCAA outdoor title in the 1,500 meters in 2021. He left Oregon early and turned pro that September.
Hocker’s father, Kyle Hocker, ran at Lawrence North High School, but said he was usually at the back of the pack.
“He’s definitely a student of racing, so I never have an input. I only tell him one thing before the race. I just say, ‘Run fast,’” said Kyle, a former Lawrence North teacher. “It takes all the emotion out of it to just run fast and I think that’s what he does.”
ON THE COVER: Cole Hocker celebrates his gold medal victory in the Olympics in Paris. (Photo courtesy of USA Track and Field)
ANOTHER REMATCH
Cole Hocker has never backed away from a challenge.
“I’m looking forward to racing the best guys in the world as many times as I can,” he said. “I still have a lot of goals in this sport that I know I need to continue to work extremely hard for. The guys on the circuit right now are the best to push me to do that.”
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who finished fourth in the Olympics in the 1,500 meter race, won and Hocker was second in an Aug. 22 race in Lausanne, Switzerland,
On Sept 5, Hocker, Great Britain’s Josh Kerr, American Yared Nuguse and Ingebrigtsen will compete in a Zurich race. All should keep Hocker on the path for his next goals.
“I would love to make a legit attempt at attacking the world record, but it’s something you cannot take lightly and you must 100 percent prepare for,” Hocker said. “As far as 2028 goes, in the athlete’s mind that’s a lifetime away and I’m focusing on tomorrow and the next day, and so I can’t really allow my mind to think four years ahead, but it would be an incredible honor to compete in my third Olympic Games in my home country.”
The 2028 Olympics will be in Los Angeles.
Cole Hocker celebrates his gold medal victory in the Olympics in Paris. (Photo courtesy of USA Track and Field)
Sunday, October 6
12:30-4pm Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center (the Colts practice facility)
Hosted by and benefiting:
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Discover Feinstein's, where extraordinary live entertainment meets upscale dining & craft cocktails in an unforgettable intimate venue!
DAVE HAUSE | Punk-rock, Americana and Pop-Rock Cove rs
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN RETURNS
PAUL HUGHES | Tributes to Frank Sinatra, Bobby Dari n, Dean Martin & Nat King Cole
JAZZ BRUNCH | Presented by Blair Clark Featuring Ca thy Morris
INDY NIGHTS WITH RYAN AHLWARDT & FRIENDS | Straight No Chaser Alumni
DRAG ME TO BRUNCH: 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW | Hosted by Pat Yo’ Weave
SUMMER NIGHTS: THE MUSIC OF GREASE | Presented by D on Farrell
FRANK SINATRA: THE TRIBUTE | Presented by Don Farre ll
ADAM B. SHAPIRO IN HOLLYWOOD OR BUST | Songs From T he Silver Screen
AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN | Emmy & Grammy A ward Nominee
DECEPTION | An Evening of Magic & Lies with David R analli
DUELING PIANOS | Live Jukebox Experience Presented by Brittany Brumfield
ATI performer well in tune with Johnny Cash musical
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Appearing in his seventh production of “Ring of Fire,” Kevin M. Lewis joked that he is starting to get it.
PERFORMANCE
Lewis is performing and directing in Actors Theatre of Indiana’s production of “Ring of Fire” Sept. 13 to 29 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“I play the older but wiser Johnny Cash,” Lewis said. “I act somewhat like a narrator. The way our story unfolds, Johnny comes to the end of the line, and he’s come to a heavenly portal that for him looks just like a train station. And he goes through a lot of the memories of his life and I’m the one representing that older Johnny looking back at all the things that have happened.”
Lewis, who lives in New York City, said each production is a little different but he always plays Johnny at the end of the show.
Brandon Alstott, an Indianapolis resident, has played Cash in three ATI productions of “Million Dollar Quartet.”
Although he portrayed a young Cash in that show, in this production, he plays Cash from a younger age through his 40s.
“He’s one of my favorite artists of all time, so any chance I get to portray him in some form of fashion on stage, I absolutely want to,” Alstott said.
Alstott said “Cry, Cry, Cry” is one of his favorite songs because it was Cash’s first big hit.
Sarah Hund plays all of the women in Cash’s life, including first wife Vivian and his second wife, singer June Carter, and a mother figure. Hund said she wears four different wigs and outfits.
Hund appeared in a production in Utah earlier this year.
“This is a lot different from the last production I did because in that previous production there were several women, so I just got to do a few of the things,” Hund said. “This time I get to do all of the roles. The great thing about this show is just the music. I’m happy I get to play some Johnny Cash songs, too.”
Hund, also a New York City resident, plays several instruments, including the fiddle, guitar, upright bass and ukulele.
Mike McClure, an Atlanta resident, plays
the roles of several different people Cash encountered in life.
“This is a smaller production, so I get to wear a lot more hats,” he said. “I think it will be a lot of fun.”
Jordan Simmons, a Noblesville resident and 2002 Carmel High School graduate, plays Mark, among other roles.
“I’m primarily the string bass player,” Simmons said. “I play pretty much all of (Cash’s) friends, including some he’s up to no good with. I’m just kind of always there.”
Simmons has never been on stage, usually playing bass in the orchestra pit.
“I love Johnny Cash and I love singing Johnny Cash,” Simmons said. “When I found they needed a bass player who liked Johnny Cash, that gave me the courage to sing and be in front of a lot of people. I’m very excited because it’s a new experience that I haven’t previously had the opportunity to do, so hopefully (I’ll) have more to do.”
Nathan Perry, a north side Indianapolis resident, is the music director and keyboardist.
“I’m also elevated in the show with some lines as the train station master,” said Perry, who has been in several shows with ATI.
Usually in the orchestra pit or background, Perry said he has been on stage on occasion in a similar role.
The show features more than 30 of Cash’s songs.
For more, visit atistage.org.
From left, Nathan Perry, Brandon Alstott, Sarah Hund, Matt McClure, Kent M. Lewis and Jordan Simmons appear in “Ring of Fire.” (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
Blueprint for Improvement: Elegant bathroom makeover in Carmel
Commentary by Larry Greene
Tailoring each project to our clients’ unique needs and style is always our top priority. For this Village of West Clay bathroom remodel, our clients opted to forgo the traditional soaking tub in favor of a luxurious walk-in shower and expanded closet space — resulting in a more functional layout, enhanced aesthetics and additional space for the adjoining primary closet.
THE BLUEPRINT
• Removing the soaking tub allowed for a complete reimagining of the room’s layout — including larger quartz-topped vanities that provide practical storage.
• The new zero-entry, dual-head shower features a sleek hidden niche and built-in bench, transforming daily routine into a luxurious experience.
• A frosted glass pocket door replaced the standard door to the water closet, allowing light to filter through while maintaining privacy and enhancing the room’s flow by eliminating the door swing.
• Matte black hardware adds depth to the room’s serene palette, while crystal accents on the knobs and pulls bring a touch of sparkle.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
