April 11, 2023 — Westfield

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Meet the District 3 council candidates

Compiled by Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Two Republican candidates are seeking the Westfield City Council District 3 seat in the May 2 primary election. Joe Duepner, an attorney, will face Justin Griffiths, who works in retail at White’s Ace Hardware Carmel. Current asked both candidates a series of questions. Their responses are below.

Name: Joe Duepner

Age: 41

Occupation/brief employment background: Attorney and business owner, Duepner Law

Previous elected positions: NA

Name: Justin C. Griffiths

Age: 30

Occupation/brief employment background: Retail at White’s Ace Hardware Carmel

Previous elected positions: None

Why are you running for office?

Duepner: I believe it is important to get ahead of future development through proactive planning. My vision for Westfield is to be a city that values having ample opportunities for residents and businesses to thrive now and in the future. I am focused on making conservative financial decisions around smart growth and the infrastructure that supports it. I am also committed

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to diversifying Westfield’s tax base while ensuring our Downtown maintains its own unique personality and amenities.

Griffiths: As Westfield continues to grow, I want to make sure that the people have a voice on the Council. I’m young, not a politician, and it’s time for a breath of fresh air.

What are some of your priorities if elected and how do you plan on tackling them?

Duepner: As a Westfield City Councilor, I will make fiscally conservative financial decisions based on the anticipated growth of the city. I grew up in Westfield, and I am deeply invested in Westfield’s community. I am passionate about the city’s future and want to ensure Westfield never loses sight of its roots. Downtown Westfield has the opportunity to be a desirable destination for residents and visitors.

Griffiths: Residents need to be heard and I plan to hold HOA meetings, listen to concerns and take that information back to the council to act on those concerns. As the city grows, our police and fire departments need to grow as well. I want to make sure that we approve a budget that gives our first responders the equipment and facilities necessary to do their jobs effectively.

What do you think the council’s role should be concerning economic development?

Duepner: The council has to prioritize strategic and smart decisions around growth. We need to diversify our tax base to provide for the needs surrounding infrastructure and public safety while making up

for where we are currently lacking in those areas, build a commercial tax base that supports quality jobs and companies that reflect Westfield’s vision. There should be a strategy around economic development and the plans for bringing new companies into the city.

Griffiths: First and foremost, the (city’s) comprehensive plan needs an overhaul before trying to tackle the best economic development plan. The city can ill afford to put the cart before the horse.

How can the city incentivize housing and development projects in Westfield?

Duepner: We first need to have a plan. There should be some variety to housing options like mixed use options. If there is a better plan for different entry points for the community, we could offer more diverse options.

Griffiths: Again, there is a lot of work that needs to be done in the development of the comprehensive plan and with that initiative, it’s my hope that there will be opportunities to incorporate incentives with regard to housing and future development within that plan.

What is Westfield doing well?

Duepner: We have created a great community over the years and a thriving place for our young children. I want to make sure we stay true to our roots as we go forward. Ensuring our continued quality of life in Westfield is crucial.

Griffiths: We continue to emit the hospitality of that Indiana small-town feel.

Duke Energy rate decrease OK’d

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Duke Energy customers will see their electric bills drop starting this month after a rate decrease was approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

Duke Energy officials said that customer electric bills were higher in 2022 primarily because of soaring fuel costs that affected the cost of power utilities produced as well as what they purchased on the energy markets.

UTILITIES

The utility company had filed a request to drop rates nearly 16 percent with the IURC in early March, which was approved by that agency March 29. For residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month, the decrease reflects a drop of $26 a month.

The latest rate decrease, which will continue through June, follows a 5 percent drop in rates that went into effect in January.

In addition, officials pointed to volatility in the energy markets worldwide to labor shortages at railroads that delivered fuel that caused fuel costs to increase.

“Fuel and purchased power can account for as much as 25 to 45 percent of an average residential customer’s bill, so when the markets are volatile, it can have a big impact on energy bills,” Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar said. “We’re starting to see costs stabilize, and the Indiana Util-

ity Regulatory Commission has approved our request to pass those savings along to customers.”

Utilities adjust prices based on fluctuating fuel costs four times a year, which must be reviewed and approved by state utility regulators, officials said.

“Fuel rate adjustments are not permanent; fuel costs rise and fall, and utilities pass those costs to our customers with no profit, so customers pay what their utility provider pays,” Duke Energy said in a statement. “Duke Energy’s priority is to purchase fuel at the best possible price, through steps such as long-term contracts and using a diversity of suppliers.”

The views of the columnists in Current in Westfield are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of

this newspaper.

Duepner

Griffiths

County to offer language assistance

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Hamilton County has partnered with LUNA Language Services to provide interpretation and professional translation services.

UTILITIES

The subscription service will allow Hamilton County employees to contact a native linguist to help translate for individuals with limited English proficiency.

“Our community is changing and we’re serving more immigrants, refugees and non-native speakers,” said Steven Rushforth, safety and risk manager for Hamilton County. “We want to ensure we can provide topnotch service to our entire community regardless of fluency in the English language.”

The service will also help the county meet requirements for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, officials said. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in any program or activity that receives Federal funds, which includes service to persons with limited English proficiency.

LUNA provides services in more than 200 languages, including American Sign Language. It estimates more than 100 different languages are spoken in different dialects in Indiana alone.

The on-demand service will provide county employees with an interpreter over video or phone as needed.

“LUNA even offers industry-specific language expertise in a wide range of professional topics,” Rushforth said. “For example, our nurses at the health department will now have access to a translator with medical knowledge to avoid confusing, and potentially harmful communication errors. The same goes for others dealing with legal documents.”

DISPATCH

Ivy Tech to host Ivy Tech Day April 11 – Ivy Tech Community College will host Ivy Tech Day April 11 starting at midnight as part of its Day of Giving. The college hopes to secure 600 gifts to celebrate its 60th anniversary. To donate, visit ivytech.edu/giveday.

Rushforth

Compiled by Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Two Republican candidates are vying for the District 4 seat on the Westfield City Council in the May 2 primary election. Scott Frei, the incumbent Republican who has worked as a senior district sales manager at Toshiba America for more than 20 years, is seeking reelection and is being challenged by Patrick Tamm, the owner of Tamm Capital Group. The Republican winner of the primary election will face Democrat Alexis Lowry during the Nov. 7 general election.

Current asked all three candidates to respond to a series of questions.

What are some of your priorities if elected and how do you plan on tackling them?

Frei: Responsible financial stewardship and transparency will be at the core of everything I do. I will work with a new administration to create a cooperative relationship. One where updating the UDO and the Comprehensive Plan becomes a mutual priority. Additionally, we need to identify top infrastructure improvements that can be fast-tracked and direct needed funding to make these a priority.

Lowry: I will focus on diversifying the tax base by encouraging more commercial development. Many Westfield citizens are voicing concerns about if infrastructure is keeping pace with the rapid development in Westfield. I am committed to finding ways to accommodate balanced growth while maintaining adequate infrastructure. Westfield government has been described as dysfunctional in recent years. I know that Westfield citizens want a government that cares for residents and will work together to make Westfield the best it can be, and I am committed to helping make that happen.

Tamm: A unique and well thought out plan for Westfield should reflect a city that prides itself on a high quality of life. Westfield can lower taxes for residents through a diversified

tax base that includes attracting businesses and unique organizations to our city. A council that approaches each decision with a commonsense approach will make Westfield a successful city.

What do you think the council’s role should be concerning economic development?

Frei: Council does not oversee the economic development department. That said, council encouraged an increased economic development budget which should result in increased activity and hopefully increased opportunities. The council can be proactive by identifying potential locations for opportunities, and ensure initial improvements are completed to make that location prime for the next opportunity.

Lowry: The city council should ensure that the comprehensive plan allows for a balanced mix of residential and commercial development. The city council should also make sure that there is adequate infrastructure in place for all kinds of development. Collaborating with schools to make sure students are graduating with the skills needed to fill jobs that pay well will encourage economic development in the area.

Tamm: Westfield is lagging behind other cities. We need a council that is competent, collaborative and team-oriented. The new council must make it a top priority to revisit and update the comprehensive plan. We have to have an economic development plan to create new job opportunities. Investing in making our city more accessible and creating pockets of mixed-use developments can make our city more attractive.

How can the city incentivize housing and development projects in Westfield?

Frei: The single most important incentive that Westfield can offer is to maintain its unique identity. We should not try to be Carmel, and we should not try to be Fishers or anywhere else. We need to focus on being the best Westfield that we can be.

Lowry: There is a current backlog/pipeline of thousands of homes in the area. Good schools is the main incentive for housing development. There may be a need for some incentives for working class or “starter” homes in the area.

Tamm: We can use innovative strategies to diversify and enhance the community with a focus on making fiscally responsible financial decisions.

Medical office project underway in Westfield

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

jewel for the whole corridor.”

DEVELOPMENT

Construction of a 60,000-square-foot medical office building is underway in Westfield that will include space for surgeries, a wound care center and a radiology department.

The project adjacent to the Westfield Washington Public Library building also under construction at Park and Poplar streets is being developed by Colorado-based NexCore Group, which develops medical office buildings across the nation. A groundbreaking for the medical office building took place March 29.

Nedra Moran, a consultant with Indianapolis-based Healthcare4Tomorrow, initially presented details of the project to the Westfield City Council in October 2022 and was among those in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony. The building will feature an ambulatory surgery center, cardiologists, wound care specialists, a laboratory and more, Moran said.

“We’ve been very, very blessed throughout the whole time we’ve been working on this project,” she said.

Mayor Andy Cook said the facility will be a major benefit to Westfield when it is completed.

“This facility will go a long way in helping people,” Cook said. “This will be a crown

Kai Chuck, economic development director for the City of Westfield, told the council in the fall that the three-story development was a $34 million investment that would bring 32 new jobs with an average wage of $35 per hour. About 100 to 125 employees will be in the building when it opens, officials said.

It is one of several spaces tied to the Grand Millennium project, a mixed-use development with residential, entertainment and multi-family components.

One of the anchors of the $190 million Grand Millennium development is the new Westfield Washington Public Library. The 55,000-square-foot building will also house the Westfield Washington Trustee’s Office and is on track to be completed by the summer of 2024, according to officials.

Steve Latour, president and CEO of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, described the groundbreaking as an exciting day for Westfield and noted that he and the chamber’s board of directors look forward to the project.

“We just want to see Westfield grow and bring great services to the community,” Latour said.

The medical office building was initially expected to be completed by December 2023, but a handout at the groundbreaking indicated the project would be completed in the second quarter of 2024.

GRAND MILLENNIUM MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING Westfield, Indiana Schematic Rendering

A groundbreaking ceremony was held March 29 for the construction of a 60,000-square-foot medical office building in Westfield. (FIle photo)

Fishers junior baseball player seeks return to state title game

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Fishers High School junior pitcher/ outfielder Jack Brown’s goal for the baseball season is single-minded.

“The goal for this season is to win as many games as we can,” Brown said. “Every person on this team wants to be celebrating on Victory Field at the end of the year.”

Fishers lost to Jasper in the 2021 IHSAA Class 4A state championship baseball game at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

“Losing in 2021 was definitely tough, but the loss in the sectional championship in ’22 was more motivating,” Brown said. “Last year’s loss left a very bad taste in our mouth.”

At the plate, Brown hit .429 with 29 runs batted in last season. On the mound, he had a 5-2 record with a 2.89 ERA.

Through the first five games this season, Brown was hitting .538 and had a 1-0 record

MEET JACK BROWN

Favorite athlete: Gerrit Cole

Favorite subject: Oceanography

Favorite movie: “End of Watch”

Favorite musician: Lana Del Rey

with a 2.33 ERA.

Fishers coach Matthew Cherry said Brown gets better each year.

“He is obviously a very gifted and talented young man,” Cherry said. “He came in as a freshman already physically strong and ready to compete at a high level. Jack has a high baseball IQ and is very self-aware about his strengths and weaknesses and

PATIENT-CENTERED BRAIN AND SPINE CARE—CLOSE TO

try to do too much. He stays true to himself and hits line drives all over the field and allows extra-base hits to just happen.”

Brown said his biggest improvement has been becoming a better all-around baseball player.

“I made time to be a better pitcher, better hitter and I’ve gotten faster,” Brown said. “I love being a two-way player because I’m on the field every day. I like having an impact on the game in multiple ways, every time we play.”

Cherry said Brown has also grown as a leader.

about his own throwing and swing mechanics. Jack has really grown into a baseball player who can make adjustments to his swing and throwing mechanics at any point in the offseason, during the season, in the middle of a game, etc.

“He has always been a hitter who doesn’t

“He is very comfortable with who he is and has started to emerge as more of a vocal leader,” Cherry said. “His leadership is not so much of a ‘rah-rah’ kind of leadership as much as talking 1-on-1 with his teammates about their grips on their pitches or some tweaks guys could make in their swings. Jack does a good job of talking 1-on1 with his teammates, and together they’ve continued to learn and grow as players.”

Brown committed to the University of Louisville in the fall of 2021.

“Louisville checked all the boxes I was looking for in a place to go,” Brown said.

The nation’s most accomplished brain and spine team is right here in Central Indiana. Goodman Campbell physicians, physician specialists, and collaborative care teams deliver exceptional care that keeps you at the center.

YOU.

Fishers High School junior Jack Brown had a 5-2 record last season. (Photo by Sharon McPeek)

Brown

Bicentennial events in April

news@currentinwestfield.com

1050 S. Pearl St., Cicero

• Cost: Free

CELEBRATION

The Hamilton County Bicentennial Commission will celebrate Jackson Township, located in the middle of the northern section of Hamilton County, during the month of April. It is home to the towns of Atlanta, Arcadia and Cicero. The commission will celebrate Jackson Township events from cemeteries, vintage sports, the train and more.

More details and other events can be found on the commission’s online calendar by visitinghamcoturns200.com/events.

Nickel Plate History Express

• April 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Hobbs Station, 825 Forest Park Dr., Noblesville

• Cost: $20

Celebrate the history of the town stations along the Nickel Plate line! Get on board at Hobbs Station in Noblesville’s Forest Park, travel north through Cicero, Arcadia and Atlanta. Once in Atlanta, disembark for a break and refreshments, then travel back for a round-trip experience. Tickets can be found by visiting nickelplateexpress.com.

Jackson Township Historical Tour Open House

• April 15, 2-5 p.m., Hamilton Heights student activity center, 420 W. North St., Arcadia

• Cost: Free

With a smartphone and QR codes, participants can unlock the past with this interactive self-guided driving tour. Students from Hamilton Heights Middle School have put together videos about historic buildings and places in Jackson Township. Signs installed in front of these buildings give participants the chance to see history, and on April 15, several of these buildings will be open to the public, including the mini-museum at the Student Activity Center in Arcadia!

Hamilton Heights Athletic Events

• April 19, 5 to 8 p.m., Hamilton Heights High School, 25802 State Route 19, Arcadia

• Cost: Free

Learn about the evolution of girls sports at Hamilton Heights and their new Unified Sports initiative where students with all levels of intellectual and physical abilities play on the same teams. Watch softball, both track and Unified Track meets, tennis, and a throwback baseball game.

Day at Red Bridge Park

• April 21, 7 to 9 p.m., Red Bridge Park,

Festivities will include a showing of the Ball State PBS Special “Now Entering Cicero” as well as a Hoosier Hot Shots movie. Join them for local music and be sure to enjoy a meal at local restaurants offering historically inspired desserts at discounted prices. Scavenger hunt prizes will also be given out on this date. Open through April 17, find the instructions for the hunt here: ciceroin.org/ event/hamilton-county-bicentennial/

Atlanta’s

History Showcase

• April 22 & 23 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Atlanta Town Hall, 105 E. Main St., Atlanta

• Cost: Free

The Town of Atlanta is taking a dive into its rich past by going back in time. Mail a historic postcard, and tour historic homes and businesses downtown. On Sunday at 9:30, attend a church service with the three Atlanta area churches. Afterwards, enjoy activities and ride the Caboose.

Vintage Baseball Match

• April 22, 1 to 4 p.m., Bishop’s Park, 7661 E. 256th St., Arcadia

• Cost: Free

Hamilton County Parks will host a vintage-style baseball game. There will be displays on the history of the park, along with a kettle corn vendor and other activities. Bring a picnic lunch and get your “baseball cards” signed by the players.

Jackson Township Cemetery Lantern Walk

• April 22, 7 to 9 p.m. | Cicero Cemetery, 5 Morse Court, Cicero

• Cost: Free

Help honor those that have passed by remembering the impact they made on our community. Hamilton Heights High School theater students will showcase research on people buried in cemeteries around Jackson Township, and will portray these notable citizens as visitors walk through the cemetery. Lanterns at each headstone will light your way along the path.

Sheridan Elementary Bicentennial Celebration

• April 27, 7 p.m., Sheridan Elementary School, 24975 Hinesley Road, Sheridan

• Cost: Free

The 2nd and 4th grades will be joined by the First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir for a Bicentennial Celebration concert that showcases historical songs from throughout time.

County formalizes process for receiving election complaints

By Jeff Decker news@currentnoblesville.com

During the 2022 general election, the Hamilton County Election Board received 15 complaints of alleged voting improprieties.

ELECTIONS

That’s far more than typical, said Kathy Kreag Williams, Hamilton County clerk and the secretary to the election board. Previous election cycles would see one or two complaints, she said, perhaps more in a presidential election year.

The county election board had been considering formalizing its complaints process before the uptick, which Williams attributed to interest in local school board races that included several first-time candidates. The increase in allegations prompted the board to act to create the form.

“This is just standardizing the process to make sure we get the information we need to proceed with their complaint in an efficient manner,” Williams said.

The Election Board Grievance Form is

CURRENT Q&A

available at hamiltoncounty.in.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17910/Election-Board-Grievance-Form?bidId=. The form also can be mailed or emailed upon request by contacting the clerk’s office at 317-776-9629.

The form asks for information about the complainant, including contact information, and includes space for details about the complaint, election rules and statutes that allegedly have been broken, names and addresses for those against whom the complaint is directed, and names and addresses of any witnesses who might support or dispute the allegations. The form must be signed and warns that false claims could result in penalties of perjury.

The form is aimed at ensuring that the information the election board receives is more uniform “rather than getting it in various forms, some less formal than others,” Williams said.

The new process isn’t expected to result in a decrease in complaints, Williams said.

Get to know J.R. Sandadi

J.R. Sandadi of Carmel left the corporate world several years ago to focus on volunteer service. His efforts have included running marathons to raise money for charity and serving as a board member of the Carmel Interfaith Alliance.

How do you motivate yourself to keep going on marathon training runs or races?

Having a meaningful purpose for each marathon. For example, running to support a particular cause or charity can provide extra motivation to train harder and perform better during the race. Whatever the cause, having a purpose beyond personal goals can provide a sense of fulfillment and help to stay committed to training and performing at one’s best.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Never stop learning. My dad

always used to say, life is a journey of continuous learning and growth. Stay curious, explore new things and embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and improve.

What is your dream vacation?

Banff and Jasper National Parks with serene lakes, stunning trails and abundant wildlife is a favorite vacation of mine. A close second is Iceland, a place of magically haunting beauty that mesmerized me with its stark landscapes and surreal natural wonders, with cascading waterfalls, vast glaciers and mesmerizing Northern Lights. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Healing powers. The ability to heal others would be a valuable superpower for situations where people are suffering from physical or emotional pain.

Fairyville events scheduled

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Nickel Plate Arts will celebrate the return of spring, creativity and youthful adventurers with its annual Welcome to Fairyville event throughout April.

ARTS

Welcome to Fairyville will feature crafts and activities for all ages and will be on the Nickel Plate Arts campus in Noblesville, 107 S. 8th St. Most events are free to attend or participate.

“Welcome to Fairyville is our most joyous celebration of the year, a time when we celebrate the return of spring, the endless creativity of our community, and the youthful adventurer inside our own hearts,” Nickel Plate Arts Director Ailithir McGill said. “The magic of Fairyville is that it brings out the kid in all of us and inspires wonder and curiosity that help us see beautiful downtown Noblesville in a whole new way.”

The event is centered on Earth Day and places a heavy emphasis on outdoor, na-

ture-themed activities, officials said. In addition to the scheduled events that will take place throughout downtown Noblesville, participants also can enjoy walk-in and take-home projects through local arts partners.

McGill said the event is a fun celebration that promotes the mission of Earth Day while also supporting local businesses and artists.

“My team looks forward to Fairyville every year because it gives us an extra outlet for all sorts of creativity. From identifying the best ways to include dozens of different artists and merchants, to figuring out how to build a giant salamander puppet, this program is a wonderful challenge,” McGill said. “We, along with the more than two dozen businesses and organizations who team up to bring Fairyville to the community, look forward to welcoming everyone to the Fairyville Trail.”

For more, visit nickelplatearts.org/ fairyville/.

WELCOME TO FAIRYVILLE EVENTS

Nickel Plate Arts, along with its partners and other local businesses, will host various events and activities for Welcome to Fairyville. The events are open to the public.

April 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Queen Titania’s Fairy Ball: Join the Queen of Fairyville at an enchanting ball for her beloved mortal friends at the Lacy Arts Building, 848 Logan St. (by invitation only, $100 per ticket).

April 19-April 22 – Fairy Home Show: The full collection of Fairy Houses made by local artists of all ages will be on display and open for voting on the Nickel Plate Arts campus, 107 S. 8th St., on April 19 and Thursday, April 20 from noon to 5 p.m.

and will move to the Fairyville Trail for Fairy Friday and Sprite Saturday. Visitors are encouraged to get a map on campus before beginning their tour of the Fairy Home Show (free).

April 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. and April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Fairy vendors: Fairy-inspired wares will be sold on the Noblesville Courthouse Square (individual booth costs).

April 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. - Fairyville After Dark: Join Nickel Plate Arts at various locations around downtown Noblesville for an adult-oriented experience that will include face and body effects painting, acrobatics and fire performing, Celtic music and dancing, and more. (free).

Nickel Plate Arts will celebrate the return of spring, creativity and youthful adventurers with its annual Welcome to Fairyville event throughout the month of April. (Photo provided by Nickel Plate Arts)

CASHING IN ON INNOVATION

Westfield High School seniors look to grow company after winning $2,000 prize through innovation competition

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Two Westfield High School students plan to continue work on developing their technology company and apps after recently winning an innovation competition that came with a $2,000 prize.

Seniors Edgar Medina and Liam Lloyd were among 18 teams of students participating in the challenge, which was showcased at a Westfield Chamber of Commerce luncheon in March at the Chatham Hills Country Club in Westfield. Ideas ranged from a pencil with a built-in fidget to a magnetically detachable tube that extends to a water dispenser into a water bottle. The 18 competing groups were narrowed down to three through a voting process by those in attendance.

Medina and Lloyd were among the finalists and gave a presentation about Red Applications LLC, which they described as a cutting-edge technology company designed to help high school students through software. Their products include Tutor Us, which is meant to help students find peers to help them in tutoring sessions; Ed Social, which helps students become involved in extracurricular activities; and a calendar that helps students advertise school, club and student events.

Medina and Lloyd, who were eventually selected as this year’s winner and came to Westfield two years ago from Mexico, were all smiles after learning they would walk away with a $2,000 prize, which they plan to invest back into their company to continue developing their software. Lloyd and another student, Alexa Jimenez, won the regional Innovate WithIN competition in 2022 after developing the Tutor Us app.

“It’s really exciting to be able to continue growing our business,” Lloyd said. “Last year, we had an idea, and it was a good one, and I think we’ve gone a long way from last year and it shows that we’re happy with this award and I

Lloyd said over the last year, he has learned that developing connections and talking with others is important in the business world. It was something he tried to focus on during the chamber luncheon rather than the presen-

“I really tried to meet people here because they’re all amazing people that can help me, and I really prioritized getting to meet people and remembering them and

for them to remember me,” Lloyd said.

Lloyd said the Tutor Us app is meant to help other students with tutoring when needed, he added.

“We just saw a series of problems in high school that we just are really passionate about and really want to find solutions to,” Lloyd said.

Lloyd, who is graduating this year, plans to attend Butler University to study economics and entrepreneurship, while Medina plans to attend Indiana University in Bloomington. The pair eventually want to sell their products to help as many students in Indiana as possible and need around $50,000 to get things off the ground.

But Lloyd said for him, the competition wasn’t necessarily about winning and noted the experience was a good way to talk with others about his idea while developing strong working relationships.

“I thought since we won last year, they would pick someone else, but apparently, they really liked our idea and we should push forward with it,” he said.

Lloyd and Medina’s efforts haven’t gone unrecognized by top leaders at Westfield High School. Assistant Principal Kurt Frederick described the pair as “go-getters” who care about making their products the best they can be.

“They presented it a year ago and spent so much time getting feedback and trying to take it to market, so I think it’s just cool to see their persistence,” Frederick said. “Not only do I see the commitment with the product … I think the biggest thing is that they get some commitment from schools to actually put it into practice, and I think maybe in a year, we’ll be talking about it.”

John Moore, who teaches entrepreneurship classes at the high school, also said that Lloyd and Medina are two of the hardest-working students that he has and commended their efforts.

“They are going to great colleges and both studying business and entrepreneurship, and they’re going to take what they’ve learned and make it so much better,” Moore said.

ON THE COVER: Westfield High School seniors Edgar Medina and Liam Lloyd display a replica check after winning an innovation competition that came with a $2,000 prize. (Photo by Adam Seif)

RED APPLICATIONS APPS

• Tutor Us: Software that helps students find fellow peers to help them in tutoring sessions rising their academic standards.

• Ed Social: Software dedicated to helping students be involved in extracurricular activities in their high schools, creating a better curriculum for them.

• Calendar: Software that helps students be a part of the student life, advertising school events, club events and student events.

Learn more by contacting WHS teacher John Moore by emailing moorej@wws.k12.in.us.

Westfield High School seniors Liam Lloyd, left, and Edgar Medina give a presentation about their software designed to help high school students with tutoring during a Westfield Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Chatham Hills Country Club in Westfield. (Photo by Adam Seif)

Raising Cane’s plans grand opening

By Mark LaFay news@currentinwestfield.com

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is expanding its store count in central Indiana with its latest opening in Noblesville.

RESTAURANT

The grand opening for the store, at 13020 Campus Pkwy, is set for 10 a.m. April 13. There will be a DJ and free giveaways. Anyone in line before 9:30 a.m. will be entered in a raffle for a chance to be among 20 winners of free Cane’s for a year.

Cane’s is a national chain founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge, La. Besides the U.S., the chain has stores in Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, among other Middle Eastern nations. In addition to Noblesville, its

Women of Vision luncheon — The 19th annual Women of Vision luncheon will be held April 27 at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. Without Borders Boutique, Bash Boutique and Carolyn’s Corner Gift Shop will be in attendance to showcase their new spring clothing lines. Shopping begins at 10:30 a.m. with lunch and the program following at 11:30 a.m. featuring

other Indiana restaurants are in Avon and Bloomington.

Justin Lawson of Fishers, store leader for the Noblesville location, said the menu is simple.

“We only have four items,” he said. “Chicken tenders, french fries, toast and coleslaw.”

Lawson said Cane’s chicken tenders are wildly popular, the menu is wildly simple, and every team member, from corporate back office to local frontline, knows how to run the fryer and the register. He said the emphasis is on product consistency and quality customer service.

The Noblesville store will be open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

motivational speaker and comedian Amy Dee. Register by visiting donate.riverview. org/23WomenofVision.

IMCU donates to IWIN — Indiana Members

Credit Union members recently presented a check for $10,000 to the Indiana Women In Need Foundation. Learn more at imcu.com.

CLIMB exercises help Parkinson’s patient

By Mark Ambrogi  mark@youarecurrent.com

When John Guilliam found out he had Parkinson’s disease, it was definitely a harsh blow.

four times a week.

FUNDRAISER

“It was like a punch in the throat,” he said.

But the Noblesville resident found a way to adjust with the help of Indiana Parkinson Foundation’s CLIMB exercise program.

“You just deal with it the best way you can, and you’ve got to have a positive attitude,” he said.

Guilliam, 71, will participate in the 1-mile walk April 29 in Indiana Parkinson Foundation’s 11th Annual Choose to Move Race to Beat Parkinson’s in Fishers. The fundraiser also is designed to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease.

Guilliam was diagnosed in December 2014. His neurologist suggested the CLIMB program would help him get through Parkinson’s disease by exercising right and stretching. He has been going ever since at LivRite Fitness in Fishers. Guilliam goes

“We do stretching our legs and arms and everything and movement, and that’s two days a week,” he said. “Then we have a dance class two days a week where we do more movement and coordination.”

Guilliam said the exercise has definitely slowed down the progression of the disease.

“I know if I don’t go I’d get so tight that I couldn’t move,” he said.

Guilliam said he takes medication four times a day.

Guilliam’s late mother had Parkinson’s disease in her late 70s.

Before being diagnosed, Guilliam said he was moving slow and didn’t feel right.

“I just brushed it off,” Guilliam said. “I just thought I’m slowing down a bit.”

Then people noticed his gait was different and he was carrying his arm up around his chest.

“When I first went to a regular doctor, he thought I had tendinitis. I wish it was that,” Guilliam said. “Some friends suggested I go to a neurologist, and as soon as I walked in, he said, ‘You have Parkinson’s’”

There are 20 people in his CLIMB class, and they support each other.

“It’s just like family,” Guilliam said. “We all talk to each other. We all see how everybody’s doing. It’s just a weird disease. We’re all at different levels. Some people come to do the exercise and more or less socialize. It’s a good group. I enjoy it. We don’t get out and socialize like going to a restaurant because everything’s a chore. Sometimes I can walk in (a restaurant) and then when I get ready to leave, then I’m just baby stepping, and people are helping me get out the door.”

In addition to the class, Guilliam regularly walks with his dog, a Boston terrier, around his neighborhood.

Guilliam retired in 2018 from Citizens Energy Group in Indianapolis. He and his wife, Kacy, moved to Noblesville from Carmel 10 years ago.

Guilliam has five adult children, 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He said he often is joined by family at the Choose to Move Race. In addition to the 1-mile walk, there is a 10K run and 5K run/walk. For more, visit indianaparkinson.org/choose-to-move-race/.

QC Kinetix opens in Carmel

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

QC Kinetix, which specializes in natural healing, has opened a clinic in Carmel at 13450 N. Meridian St. Suite 244. The franchise is coowned by Mike Sample and Drew White.

NOW OPEN

Medical technicians at QC Kinetix practice regenerative medicine, using only what occurs naturally in the body to help relieve pain.

“All we do is concentrate those ingredients in a centrifuge, isolate them from the rest of the plasma and other stuff that your body doesn’t need,” Sample said. “We concentrate (it) and put it exactly where your body is asking.”

According to Sample, when the body suffers an injury, its natural response is to call healing agents such as proteins, blood platelets and stem cells to the injured area.

“That’s how your body goes about healing itself,” Sample said.

Learn more at qckinetix.com/indianapolis/ carmel.

Guilliam

Vision tech Part 3: MD screenings

Commentary by Dr. Kim Hall

In this third (and final) column exploring pre-testing equipment at the optometrist’s office, we would like to uncover two more tests you may encounter. Both are significant in detecting early forms of macular degeneration and other ocular diseases.

VISION

Another flicker/clicker-type machine now exists, similar to the visual field I wrote about last week. It is called the macular pigment optical density tester, or MPOD. This flicker varies in intensity, is circular and is mostly in the center of your field of view. It is measuring the amount of protective pigment you have in your macula based on the sensitivity at which you can detect various wavelengths of light.

This is very important to know as we have learned that blue light coming from all our devices may also be damaging to our eyes. The sun is no longer the only offender! When this value starts decreasing, we must consider measures to boost up the good pigment that absorbs these harmful high energy short wavelengths of the light spectrum. Similar to sunscreen, the more

pigment and protection we have, the better. Here’s a fancy name for another pre-test: optical coherence tomography. This machine has been around for some time now but was mainly utilized by specialists during diagnosis and treatment of many eye diseases. It allows the retina, and other structures of the eye, to be viewed cross sectionally at a microscopic level.

It is now becoming standard of care, and OCT may even become part of the screening process in your pre-test room. Why shouldn’t it? It is the best anatomic map and pulls the puzzle pieces together when viewing all of the images of the surface of the eye.

We hope these brief intros to optical tech can give you a better understanding of all of the details and importance that go into your eye exam pre-testing instruments.

SUN WILL BEAT ON IT. WINDS WILL RIP AT IT.

YOU’RE GONNA NEED SOMEONE WHO IS GOOD AT IT.

Riverview Health names new CEO

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

Riverview Health has promoted its chief operating officer to serve as its new president and CEO.

Warren had served in the top leadership position for Riverview Health since 2016.

LEADERSHIP

The hospital announced the appointment of Dave Hyatt to the position March 31 after the Riverview Health Board of Trustees conducted a search for its next leader.

“We’re excited to name Dave Hyatt as our president and CEO,” stated Greg Murray, chairman of the Riverview Health Board of Trustees. “As Hamilton County continues to experience rapid growth, Riverview Health remains committed to providing high-quality health care to those we serve. We believe Dave has the experience and expertise needed to lead Riverview Health through this growth so we can positively impact the health of our communities.”

The hospital system named Keith Jewell as its interim president and CEO in January following the resignation of Seth Warren, who left the position in December 2022.

Hyatt joined Riverview Health in January of 2022 as chief operating officer and has previous health care experience. Prior to his arrival to Riverview Health, he spent nearly 15 years with Indiana University Health in various roles, officials said.

During his tenure with IU Health, he served as president of multiple hospitals, including Blackford Hospital and Jay Hospital, officials said. He also held other executive roles during his tenure with IU Health, including vice president of strategy and ambulatory services for IU Health La Porte Hospital and vice president of operations for IU Health Starke Hospital.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Riverview Health,” Hyatt stated. “During my time as COO, I’ve learned what a special organization this is with so many outstanding physicians and staff providing care to our patients every day. We will continue that tradition of high-quality care amidst our growth and the rapidly changing environment we navigate in health care.”

Mother Nature can be a real mother. Especially when it comes to roofs. That’s why you should consider a roof that stands the test of Father Time. Bone Dry. We’ve been around for over 30 years because we install roofs that last just as long. Nothing weathers the weather quite like a Bone Dry roof.

Dr. Kim Hall is an optometrist at RevolutionEYES. She graduated from Purdue University in 1999 and the Indiana University School of Optometry in 2005.

Hyatt

Assessing value of AI wisdom

Commentary by Terry Anker

The Pursuit Institute Programs Focus on Our Earth

“Earth Month” started as a movement to resist the abusive consumption of leaded gas the 1960s. Since its inception, each April is designated as an opportunity to be proactive and environmentally conscious. It seems fitting that with “Earth Month” upon us that we share some of the innovative and collaborative high school programs that are being afforded to students in the upcoming school year, which focus on the Earth, our environment and agriculture.

The Pursuit Institute has developed four programs in partnership with Conner Prairie Living History Museum that focus on exposing students to the natural world around us through hands-on educational opportunities. Each of these programs are designed to introduce students to environmental issues and interdisciplinary techniques for addressing environmental problems. Students will make new intellectual and emotional connections to the world around us as they explore current environmental challenges through scientific, social, economic, philosophical, ethical and political perspectives.

issues and viable solutions. Students will explore and engage with our local environment and learn more about the world of agriculture, horticulture, plant and animal science, and landscape and turf management. These programs are designed to give students hands-on opportunities to clarify and refine their career interests, as well as assisting in cultivating opportunities to define college majors, and future career options.

Carrie Lively, Executive Director, The Pursuit Institute

Hands-on field experiences, such as investigating water samples and aquatic microorganisms, measuring and monitoring plant and animal growth and maturity, and testing and applying theories of plant sustainability, will open students’ eyes to a whole new view of the environment and develop understanding of the interconnected complexities of our society and the world at large.

Programs offered in conjunction wth Conner Prairie Living History Museum for 2023-24 include:

• AGRI-SCIENCE

• HORTICULTURE

• LANDSCAPING

• NATURAL RESOURCES

Most of us find our inboxes filled every day with offers, newsletters, promises and threats, nearly always unsolicited, from folks we’ve not heard of and don’t know. “The nation’s leading dietician recommends this tree bark to melt fat,” shouts the headline. Maybe, but probably not. Regardless, we find ourselves confronted with claims to be sorted. This week, a dear friend, unknown until now, named Hadley, urged reading of her recent study that discovered that 1 in 3 good Hoosier workers fear that artificial intelligence, or AI, will take their jobs. While Hadley insinuates that the closeness of our imagined friendship is all that is required to establish her expertise, a reasonable person might question the veracity of her findings.

Still, AI is worthy of further consideration. While it is likely premature to prepare “Terminator” movie-style for the coming hordes of occupying machines, we can see clearly that many of the mundane human tasks of a generation ago have already been supplanted by “smart” devices. Automobiles do

not require tuning, and long-distance telephone calls occur without the intervention of an operator. Good. Rather than lament the emerging technology as cataclysmic, is there a path to its use that benefits those of us who might be replaced? Could this column have been written by a smart bot? Probably, and some will assert that it would be better. Would it follow then that some AI “writer” might build a following and celebrity? Would we send letters of praise and criticism? Or would we recognize that arguing with an algorithm is unlikely to advance humankind?

If so, does the human element remain essential? Can AI, with all the data in the known universe, come to “feel”? Will it know fear, hope, longing, pride or envy? Will it teach us how to swim yet never touch the water?

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

It’s been a hard day’s night

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

Students will be immersed in an active, collaborative and transformational educational experience with a primary goal to engage students to help them understand the interdisciplinary nature of environmental

To learn more about these programs and others offered through The Pursuit Institute, scan our QR code. There is still time to register for these programs for the 2023-24 school year. Talk to your school counselor today!

To learn more about The Pursuit Institute, visit thepursuitinstitute.org

HUMOR

Friends, most of you know that I am not a night person, nor even really an evening one. My ideal dinner time is 5 p.m., with bed around 8 p.m. If I can’t adhere to this schedule, let’s just say I degrade rapidly. And if sleep deprivation is already in the house, well, god help you all.

Such was the case recently when I headed over to a fancy steak restaurant with my sisters-in-law to celebrate one of their milestone birthdays. I’d slept terribly and was running on cheese sticks and willpower when I showed up for the 6:30 reservation. We had to wait another 20 minutes to be seated before receiving notably slow service and didn’t place our orders until 7:30. Seven. Freaking. Thirty. Can you feel my pain? See preferred timeline above. I could sense myself becoming more withdrawn from the conversation, falling into a familiar flight or fight space where

I’m trying to calm my panic and figure out a polite way to bail. Should I tell the truth and leave? Is that rude? Should I suck it up and persevere? It’s her birthday! Ugh. Oh, lord, what if they want dessert?

Ultimately, I pulled it together and stayed to split the check. But the lateness of the meal and the day was simply too much. I stomped into the house at 9:30, growled at my husband, Doo, and grumpily hit the sack, wearing full-eye makeup and a cloak of bitterness.

Anyhoo, this is why I’d rather eat an afternoon frozen pizza on the couch and then make my way to bed before dark. Everyone’s happy, no one gets hurt. Peace out.

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

I could sense myself becoming more withdrawn from the conversation, falling into a familiar flight or fight space where I’m trying to calm my panic and figure out a polite way to bail.

— DANIELLE WILSON

All dad jokes aside …

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

father.”

And now, a 100 percent true story of how I really did humiliate Brett some 30 years ago.

HUMOR

A British researcher has come up with a fascinating theory. His premise is that when fathers tell dumb jokes and lame puns, it prepares their kids to deal with awkward circumstances, giving them a little experience in life with embarrassing and demeaning situations. So, were the jokes I told my son bad, and if so, was that a good thing?

I called Brett, who is now an adult, to share the story I had just read.

“Brett, it’s Dad. I need to tell you something.”

“Geesh, Dad, I’m 35 years old. Not another juvenile joke!“

“That’s just what I was hoping you’d say. I read an article that claims my telling dumb jokes to you when you were a kid helped you grow into a well-adjusted adult.”

“It’s true, Dad. I never thought you were funny, but reacting to your lame puns really did help me deal with other awkward experiences down the road.”

“Brett, that is exactly what the British psychologist said. Are there any jokes that were particularly bad that might have really led you to a more productive and satisfying life?”

“Well, I remember one about the duck who walked into a pharmacy and said, ‘I need some lip balm, and you can put it on my bill.’ Now, Dad, that’s just a dreadful joke. I found it demeaning and insulting for both of us.”

“Thank you so much for saying that. How lucky you were to have such a humorless

Brett was in the fourth grade, and I was doing field reporting for WISH-TV. The Broadway show “Cats” was playing at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, and I thought it would be fun to have the makeup artist apply the same cosmetics on me as she did for the actors in the show. The process took quite a while. When I looked at myself in the mirror some two hours later, it was bizarre feeling like my normal self but staring at a cat in the reflection. That’s when I had an idea. I would go to my son’s class and surprise the kids with my new feline face. When I reached the school, I checked in to the main office, explained my plan and made my way to Brett’s room. After getting the teacher’s attention through the tiny side window and identifying myself, I slithered in through the door.

The kids went wild — screaming, laughing, meowing. “Who is it?” asked one kid in the front row. No one knew who I was, of course, with one notable exception.

From the back of the room came my son’s voice dripping in embarrassment, “Probably my father.”

POLICIES

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

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Presenting Sponsor:

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

When I looked at myself in the mirror some two hours later, it was bizarre feeling like my normal self but staring at a cat in the reflection.

— DICK WOLFSIE

UIndy professor’s Faulkner-inspired piece to debut at CSO Masterworks concert

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Composer John Berners’ admiration for author William Faulkner inspired a piece called “In Rowan Oak.”

‘AN AMERICAN IN PARIS’

“An American in Paris” runs through May 14 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

‘THE

SPITFIRE GRILL’

MUSIC

“I wanted to write a dramatic, new romantic-kind of Gothic-sounding piece,” said Berners, a Greenwood resident and music professor at the University of Indianapolis. “The title came after I was already working on music. But Faulkner is described as a Southern gothic writer, and his books are all set in Mississippi in the early 20th century. There’s lots of tension in that society, for sure. There is a tragic aura hanging over everything, and that does match the music. I named the piece after his home in Oxford, Mississippi.”

Berners wrote the original piece for a chamber orchestra.

“I reworked the whole thing for a full symphony orchestra,” Berners said. “I tore out half of it and replaced it, so all of it has been rewritten. It’s not really the same piece anymore, even though the title is the same and some of the themes are the same. It was pretty much comparable to writing a whole new piece.”

The world premiere of the composition will be included in Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks 5 concert at 7:30 p.m. April 22 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

Berners is married to CSO principal flute player Tammy Thweat.

“I heard John’s music online and was immediately attracted to it,” CSO Artistic Director Janna Hymes said. “There is an angular, percussive sound to it with a compelling result.”

Berners wrote the original piece more than 12 years ago.

After talking with Hymes, Berners decided to expand the piece to include a full brass and percussion section.

“So that became my summer project of 2022,” he said. “The original piece had things that Janna liked and things I liked,

so I didn’t want to just discard it. I wanted to rejuvenate that material. We made it bigger, and we think it will have more drama to it with the full orchestra and the huge concert hall because it is gothic music.”

Hymes said she loves premiering new works.

“There is always an excitement about playing a world premiere, a piece that has never been played before as there are no expectations or comparisons to other performances,” Hymes said. “It’s always a treat to work with living composers.”

Cellist Sterling Elliott will be a special guest at the concert, performing on selections from Camille Saint-Saens and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

“Sterling is an amazing young man,” Hymes said. “At 23, he is mature, calm and has an extremely warm heart. His playing is spectacular with a depth and sophistication beyond his years. This will be our third time working together. I just performed with him in a concert in Arizona and he was brilliant.”

Hymes said Elliott possesses tremendous charisma.

“I know our audience is going to fall in love with this young musician and his extraordinary abilities,” she said.

Elliott learned to play the cello at age 3 and made his concerto debut at age 7. He is a student at New York’s Juilliard School of Music

For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.

Main Street Productions will present “The Spitfire Grill, a musical, will run from April 13 to 23 at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.

MARC COHN & SHAWN COLVIN

Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 13 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

ABILENE

Abilene will perform at 8 p.m. April 15 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘HOLLYWOOD

MUSICAL MAGIC’

Indiana Wind Symphony’s “Hollywood Musical Magic” concert is set for 6:30 p.m. April 16 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

DISPATCHES

Celebrate Opera Day is set — Indianapolis Opera is encouraging fans to participate in Celebrate Opera Day April 19 to play opera, post about opera, talk about opera, and support opera. The Indianapolis Opera’s Facebook and Instagram will provide updates, feature short videos, opportunity to compete in contests and win prizes. Fans are encouraged to watch #CelebrateIndyOpera and share favorite operatic moments with the Indianapolis Opera For more, visit indyopera.org.

Son to discuss artist Nancy Noel documentary — Alex Noel Kosene will speak April 13 at The Bluffs of the Chinese House at Conner Prairie in Fishers. The speaker is a filmmaker whose forthcoming documentary is about his late mother, famed artist, Nancy Noel, whose studio was in Zionsville. The Contemporary Club of Indianapolis event begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and viewing of N.A. Noel Gallery works.

Elliott

John Berners’ reworked his piece “In Rowan Oak” for a full orchestra. The piece will make its world premiere at Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks 5 concert April 22 at the Palladium. (Photo courtesy of CSO)

Director’s fondness for ‘The Spitfire Grill’ heats up again

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Brenna Whitaker has a lasting connection to “The Spitfire Grill.”

MUSICAL

“I love the show,” Whitaker said. “I was in it (as Shelby) and vocally directed it 10 years ago (at the Belfry Theatre). It has stayed in my head the last decade, so I was thrilled to be a part of it again.”

Whitaker will direct Main Street Productions’ presentation of “The Spitfire Grill,” a musical, April 13-23 at Basile Westfield Playhouse.

Whitaker was originally slated to be the vocal director, but when the director had to withdraw, she took on both duties. This is the first time the Noblesville resident has directed with Main Street Productions.

“There aren’t any songs that you want to skip because it’s just lovely music,” Whitaker said. “I always love a small-cast musical. There are seven members in the cast. You bond in a way that is really remarkable with a smaller cast. I think that every character has such an interesting arc that they go through. For me, it’s just such a lovely story of redemption and second chances. It has stuck with me, and when I saw that it was on the schedule, I wanted to be a part of it.”

The musical is based on the 1996 movie. Westfield resident Chrissy Crawley plays the role of Percy Talbott, who was just released after serving five years for manslaughter. She sees a photo of Gilead, Wis., in and old travel book in prison and decides that would be a good place for a fresh start.

“Every character is trying to take a step forward and figure out who they are, change and continue to grow,” Whitaker said. “It’s the story of rebirth and starting over for everyone, not just Percy.”

Crawley said Percy shows up and thinks she might have made a mistake because people aren’t nice to her and gossip a lot.

“She thinks, ‘Did I make a mistake? Was this really a good place to start again?’”

Crawley said. “Then over time, they warm to her, and she grows a tight-knit little family and decides to stay long term.”

Crawley said she had never heard of the musical or the movie it was based on.

“I’ve never done a show with audio tracks before. I’ve always either had  a pianist or a small string orchestra,” she said. “So it’s kind of a learning curve for me. We have

songs and then there’s dialogue and then there’s more songs and there’s more dialogue, so the timing has to be so precise. That’s been the biggest challenge for me. I think the (lines) memorization kind of comes back to you like riding the bike.”

Crawley said she took time off because her son turned 2 in January.

“I thought I wanted to get back into (acting) now that we have things under control,” she said.

Crawley said the show is her first serious musical.

“I love all the songs in the show. They are really catchy,” she said.

This is Crawley’s first show since moving to Westfield. Her most recent performance was in “Mamma Mia!” at Civic Theatre of Lafayette in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.

Crawley, who started singing in her school choir in third or fourth grade, performed in musicals and choir at Crown Point High School. She performed in a choir at Purdue University, where she met her husband, who also is a singer.

Georgie Teipen, Greenfield, plays Hannah, who owns the restaurant where Percy works. Like Crawley, Teipen hadn’t seen the musical before.

“I think audiences are going to be moved by it,” Teipen said. “It’s funny. It’s heart-touching. It’s about issues that face all of us and coming to a place of forgiveness. There’s lots of very meaningful songs.”

For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.

From left, Georgie Teipen, Chrissy Crawley and Katelyn Maudin rehearse a scene from “The Spitfire Grill.” (Photo courtesy of Teresa Skelton)

Women of Vision Luncheon with Amy Dee | April 27, 2023

Join us to hear from master storyteller and brilliant comedian, Amy Dee . Laugh out loud. Think in bold, new ways. And remember your power to change...everything.

IWS’s Hollywood concert set

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The Indiana Wind Symphony is going back to the movies for its next concert.

CONCERT

Earlier this year, the IWS performed a tribute to film composer John Williams.

Register online by April 13 at riverview.org/23WomenofVision.

For questions , contact Polly Craig at pcraig@riverview.org or 317.776.7938.

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The “Hollywood Musical Magic” concert set for 6:30 p.m. April 16 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel and will feature Williams along with other famous composers such as Max Steiner, Meredith Willson, Bernard Herrmann and Ennio Morricone.

“It’s going to be a wide range,” IWS musical director Charles Conrad said. “We’re going to hit some big early film scores like ‘Gone with The Wind,’ ‘Citizen Kane’ and “The Wizard of Oz.’”

Conrad said the concert will include a piece from “Lawrence of Arabia,” a 1962 film.

“Then we’ll do some more recent ones like ‘The Mission,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Cowboys’ and ‘Titanic,’”

Fishers resident Ellen Huckabee, the sym-

phony’s principal oboe player, will be the featured soloist on Morricone’s “Gabriel’s Oboe” from “The Mission.”

The concert’s guest conductor Todd McCready had served as the director of concert bands at Fishers High School for eight years, and 14 years overall in the Hamilton Southeastern Schools district. He is now a project management consultant with BCforward in Indianapolis.

“All the film scores on this concert are fun, but I am probably looking forward to the ‘Suite from Titanic’ by Jari Villanueva,” McCready said. “It’s a 15-minute, four-movement suite that includes a whole range of memorable music from the movie, and of course it ends with ‘My Heart Will Go On.’ The band sounds great, and I’m honored to get to work with them on this concert.”

McCready also is conducting a piece from “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.”

Conrad said he is intrigued by Hermann’s “Citizen Kane” overture, which he didn’t remember.

For more, visit Indianawindsymphony.org.

ISO’s concert series set

editorial@youarecurrent.com

Media Sponsor

Heartfelt Thanks Golf Tournament benefiting Riverview Health Foundation

June 7, 2023, at Pebble Brook Golf Club in Noblesville

11 a.m. shotgun start

Register at riverview.org/23Golf. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Polly Craig at 317.776.7938.

MUSIC

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Conner Prairie announced April 4 the 2023 season of Kroger Symphony on the Prairie starting June 23 at the Conner Prairie Amphitheatre in Fishers.  Tickets to the general public will go on sale April 11 on the ISO website. Tickets can also be purchased at central Indiana Kroger stores, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office at 45 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, or by calling the box office at 317-639-4300. A new feature this year is those purchasing tickets to three or more concerts automatically receive a 10 percent discount, with no code needed. The discount is calculated at checkout.

The schedule is as follows (*denotes concerts featuring the ISO):

*June 23-24: The Music of Harry Potter with conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez.; *June 30-July 3: Star-Spangled Symphony, patriotic celebration, complete with fireworks. Featuring Conductor Alfred Savia and vocalist Vanessa Thomas;;*July 7-8: “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” in concert featuring the ISO led by former ISO Assis-

tant Conductor Jacob Joyce. The original film will be shown on the large screens as the orchestra performs the soundtrack. Program starts at 8:30 p.m.;  *July 14-15: Arrival from Sweden: Music of ABBA with Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly leading the ISO; *July 21-22: Broadway under the Stars. Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly leads a performance of Broadway favorites featuring vocalists Victor Robertson, Katie Swaney, AshLee Baskin, and Jim Hogan; July 28-29: Face2Face: A Tribute to Elton John & Billy Joel; Aug. 4: Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston (not associated with the Estate of Whitney Houston); Aug. 5: Tusk: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band; Aug. 11: The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute; Aug. 12: Here Come the Mummies with Rock E Bassoon (featuring musicians of the ISO); Aug. 18: Marshall Tucker Band.; Aug. 19: Unforgettable Fire: U2 Tribute Show; Aug. 25-26: One Night of Queen with Gary Mullen and the Works; Sept. 1: Aeromyth: The Ultimate Aerosmith Tribute Experience; Sept. 2: Pyromania: The Def Leppard Experience; Sept. 3: Voyage – The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band.

For more, visit IndianapolisSymphony.org.

Location: Ritz Charles Carmel

Skip to the endonym

Honeycutt

Don’t you love when linguistics and geography collide? No, I’m not talking about the town of Noun, Alaska, where people, places, things and ideas live in harmony; I’m talking about different names for different places. Different pen strokes for different kin folks, I suppose. And, just so you know, Noun, Alaska, is not real (although it should be).

Based on my one semester as an English major and my finalist status in the fourth-grade geography bee, I am completely qualified to cover the intersection of the two topics.

Visiting historic Jericho

Commentary by Don Knebel

We should start with the world’s tallest mountain, although it will be all downhill from here. Famously, Mount Everest was named after 19th-century Surveyor General of India George Everest. Although I can confirm Everest never climbed his eponymous mountain, legend has it that he never even set eyes on it. Mount Everest is the mountain’s exonym, while its Tibetan endonym is Chomolungma, and the Nepali endonym is Sagarmatha.

Regarding some of the world’s largest capital, their inhabitants and fellow countrymen have local names (endonyms) for them, while in the U.S. and elsewhere, we have other names (exonyms). For instance, Rome (exonym) is known locally as Roma (endonym). Russia’s capital city of Moscow (exonym) is known internally as Moskva (endonym).

TRAVEL

Today, in our continuing tour of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, we come to Jericho, a city with biblical significance and many historic firsts.

Jericho, with a population of about 20,000, is in the Palestinian Territories just west of the Jordan River and about 20 miles east of Jerusalem. Although located within the Judean Desert, Jericho has long been known as the City of Palms because of its lush tropical landscape, watered by underground springs. Nomads attracted by those springs founded Jericho in about 10,000 B.C., creating what many believe is the world’s first permanent settlement. In about 9,400 B.C., Jericho residents erected the world’s first city walls. A cylindrical stone tower in Jericho, built in about 8,000 B.C., was the tallest man-made structure in the world until about 2,650 B.C., when it was surpassed by the stepped pyramid of Djoser in Egypt. At 846 feet below sea level, Jericho is the lowest city in the world.

Jericho is the site of the biblical story where Joshua “fought the battle” and the “walls came tumbling down.” Most archaeologists today believe that the walls of Jericho were destroyed by an earthquake hundreds of years before the presumed time of Joshua and that Jericho was not occupied at that time. Jericho is near where the Bible says Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights before he began his ministry. The Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Temptation in the hills above Jericho, a popular tourist destination reachable by cable car, remembers that story. Jericho is

the eastern terminus of the treacherous Jericho Road leading to Jerusalem that was the setting for Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. Jericho is also the site of the story of Jesus healing the blind beggar and dining with Zacchaeus while on his way to Jerusalem for the last time.

Today, we’re delving into the world of endonyms and exonyms. If that sounds Greek to you, that’s because it is! Endonyms and exonyms are both toponyms, or “place names.” The suffix “-nym” translates to “name,” while “endo-” and “exo-” respectively mean “in” and “out.”

This means endonyms are place names used by people inside a place, while exonyms are those used by people outside a place. How about some examples?

GRAMMAR GUY

Commentary by Curtis

Monestary of the Temptation in the hills above Jericho in the Palestinian Territories. (Photos by Don Knebel)

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

A camel in the streets of Jericho.

The Jericho Road in the Palestinian Territories.

40. Woolly mama

41. Gaucho’s lasso

43. Kind of cord

45. Barrel maker in an I-69 city?

48. Lip-puckering

49. ___ and downs

50. Mideast land

53. Analogy words

55. Sports grp. with an office on the Downtown Canal

Walk

59. Scoundrel

60. Toilets in a Dubois County city?

63. “Evita” role

64. Those opposed

65. IRT or PU, e.g.

66. Rep. rival

67. “It ___ me!”

68. French impressionist

Down

1. Genie’s home

2. Trendy berry

3. Silent assents

4. Indianapolis Opera highlight

5. ___ and outs

6. Call off

7. “Fernando” foursome

8. Mercy from a Hamilton County Court judge

9. “___ Haw”

10. Blunder

11. Cookie with the same colors as a crossword

12. Metric weight

13. Spiral shape

18. Japan’s third largest city

22. “Evita” role

23. Albuquerque college (Abbr.)

25. Suitable

26. Spy org.

27. Sent by jet

28. Competed in the Mini-Marathon

29. ___ Wednesday

30. Out-of-town fan at the Big Ten Tournament, maybe 31. Geneva’s river

32. Nicky Blaine’s smoke producer

33. Footnote abbr. 34. “Not guilty,” for one

creators

buddy

waiting

6 Comic Strips 4 Eye Parts

5 IUPUI Math Classes

3 Broad Ripple Restaurants

2 U.S. Neighbors

1 Indiana City Known As “Athens on the Prairie”

“bone” or “breaker”

61. “Wheel of Fortune” buy

62. US Rep. Banks

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