May 2, 2023 — Westfield

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WHS student club to host May 6 event

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

A student club at Westfield High School is hosting an event open to the public to raise awareness of teen mental health and suicide prevention.

EVENT

The event by Robbie’s Hope Club, “Where Flowers Bloom, So Does Hope,” will be from 7 to 9 p.m. May 6 at the IMMI Conference Center, 18880 N. East St. Admission is free. A dinner, silent auction and student speakers are part of the event.

Robbie’s Hope, a national nonprofit based in Colorado, was created by the parents of Robbie Eckert, who died by suicide at the age of 15 in 2018. The organization seeks to cut teen suicide rates in half by 2028.

Kari Eckert, founder of the national organization of Robbie’s Hope and mother of Robbie Eckert, will attend the gala to speak

on the importance of mental health and awareness. She said students in Westfield bring passion and creativity to their work and commended their efforts.

“The students at Westfield High School involved in the Hope group are actively bringing awareness, tools and resources to their community,” she said. “They are working to create an environment for teens where it is OK to talk about their feelings of depression and anxiety and ask for help if they are struggling. Advocacy for youth mental health is very powerful and prevents student deaths by suicide.”

A year ago, the student club raised more than $14,000 during its first gala that was used to organize a Save a Life Walk in the fall, in addition to creating opportunities allowing students to learn how they can cope with their mental health struggles, organizers said. Funds raised from this year’s

event will help the club continue its efforts helping teenagers at Westfield High School.

Originally, there was going to be a charge to attend this year’s gala, but various sponsorships and proceeds from last year made the event free for members of the public to attend, said Ashley Knott, executive director of the Westfield Education Foundation.

Drew Collins, who serves as the student body president at Westfield High School, also recognized the club’s work.

“They have worked tirelessly toward a common goal, and it continues to raise awareness of teen suicide. I am honored to be invited to this year’s gala, and I can’t wait to see what else Robbie’s Hope Club has to offer to our community,” Collins said.

For tickets, which must be reserved in advance, visit bit.ly/2023WHSRobbiesHopeGala.

City announces summer concert series

news@currentinwestfield.com

Westfield Welcome has announced the inaugural Jams at the Junction concert series that will take place on select Fridays starting in June.

ENTERTAINMENT

The concert series, which will continue through September, will take place at Grand Junction Plaza, 225 S. Union St., on the Great Lawn. All concerts are free and open to the public.

“We’ve been asked over and over if we are going to host concerts at Grand Junc-

tion Plaza, and we are excited to be able to deliver a great lineup of shows this season. We can’t wait to see families and friends gathering to make these concerts a new tradition,” stated Kayla Arnold, director of Westfield Welcome.

Performances include:

• June 2: Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band featuring Kassey King at 6 p.m.

• June 9: Toy Factory

• July 14: Living Proof

• July 21: Jambox

• Aug. 25: Six Figures

• Sept. 1: Jai Baker Band

• Sept. 8: Flying Toasters Concerts begin at 7 p.m. that and feature kid-friendly activities. Food trucks will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. A free shuttle service will pick up and drop off attendees at Chris United Methodist Church, 318 N. Union St., and at Grand Junction Plaza from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Public parking for events will be available in the parking lot at the southwest corner of Poplar Street and Park Street and in designated on-street spots. For more on upcoming events, visit westfieldwelcome.com/events.

Robbie’s Hope Club, a student organization at Westfield High School, is planning a May 6 event at the IMMI Conference Center in Westfield. The event, which is free and open to the public, is being held to raise awareness of teen mental health and suicide. (Photo provided by Ashley Knott)

Princess embraces duties

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Grace Worcester’s experience as a 500 Festival Princess has been a flurry of activities.

But it has been all highs for the Guerin Catholic High School graduate from Westfield.

“It’s been like a rollercoaster from the end of February when we met the Princess orientation until now. I’ve been to so many different schools and nursing homes, coffee shops and restaurants,” Worcester said. “I’m meeting people who are race fans and some that are not. I’m teaching them the importance of the 500 Festival and how important racing is to Indiana. That’s been the most fun part about it, meeting so many people.”

Worcester said she is most excited for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 May 28.

To be a Princess, individuals ages 18 to 23 must apply through an application process and are required to attend college full time in Indiana. Those who are selected are evaluated based on their leadership, academic stewardship, community involvement and embodiment of the Hoosier spirit, according to the 500 Festival Princess program website.

Worcester’s voice was hoarse at the April 22 Princess reception at The Club at Crosspoint in Fishers.

Worcester

“I’ve had five outreaches in the past few days, so my voice is gone,” she said.

Worcester also said getting to know the other 32 Princesses has been a favorite part of the overall experience.

“I already feel at home with them,” she said.

““I’ve been going to the 500 ever since I was little,” she said. “I haven’t been to the parade yet, so that is something I’m also most looking forward to, along with getting to spend time with the other girls and meeting them.”

Worcester, a Butler University sophomore majoring in sports media, plans to go into sports marketing after graduation. Her mentor for the 500 Festival is Roger VanDerSnick, chief sales and marketing officer for the Indianapolis Colts.

Worcester said she has more outreaches planned this month, including the Westfield Washington Public Library and a few more schools in the area.

Bourbon raffle set for May 5

By Jessica Todd news@currentinwestfield.com

Carmel Tri Kappa will hold its third annual bourbon raffle on Facebook Live at 1 p.m. May 5.

500 FESTIVAL EVENT

The event is a fundraiser for high school scholarships for Carmel and Westfield high school seniors who will attend an Indiana college or university. The scholarship covers the first year of college expenses.

“We hope to get a lot of interest and ticket sales through the rare bourbons that we’ve had donated to us,” said Nanette Foster, vice president of Carmel Tri Kappa. “We want to find those in our area who need help with college costs.”

Only 300 tickets will be available for purchase. Tickets are $75. Participants will have the opportunity to win a bottle of bourbon.

“One of our most-sought-after bourbons is Pappy Van Winkle,” Foster said.

Raffle sales will conclude May 4, and the winners will be drawn the following day.

The drawing will be on the sorority’s Facebook page.

“One hundred percent of the money we raise at our event goes to help fund scholarships,” Foster said. “How many we give out depends on the amount of money we can raise.”

Tri Kappa is a Greek service sorority that is only in Indiana. It focuses on charity, culture and education. It has 8,000 members across 140 chapters in the state.

“We aim to choose charities that do not get a lot of support,” Foster said.

The sorority’s Carmel chapter works specifically within the Carmel and Westfield areas. It serves the community by volunteering at events such as the Carmel International Arts Festival and the Carmel Marathon.

“Last year, we worked with Reins of Grace to help support their mission of providing horse therapy to children with special needs,” Foster said.

To purchase a raffle ticket, contact Foster at nanette.r.foster@gmail.com.

Man charged with murder in shooting

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

A Tennessee man has been charged with murder after authorities said he was connected to the shooting death of a man found near the driveway of a Noblesville home in April.

Ruai Ngundeng Pal, 22, of Franklin, Tenn., was charged April 17 by Hamilton County prosecutors with murder, burglary, two counts of armed robbery, intimidation and pointing a firearm. The charges follow an April 6 shooting involving an 18-year-old Georgia man, Grayson Aubrey Rhue, who was found dead near a driveway of a residence after authorities responded to 21506 Raccoon Ct. in Noblesville in response to a report of shots being fired.

Police said they found a man later identified as Rhue, who was from Roswell, Ga., who appeared to have suffered several gunshot wounds. Rhue came to the front door of the residence and rang the doorbell, leading to a brief conversation between the parties before Rhue walked away, according to authorities.

However, a few seconds later, Rhue returned to the front door, entered the home and allegedly drew a handgun and aimed it at the individuals inside the home, authorities said.

“One of the house guests reportedly drew his handgun and fired several rounds at Rhue. Rhue appeared to immediately flee the house before collapsing just feet from the end of the driveway,” NPD Lt. Bruce Barnes said.

Officers arrived on the scene a short time later to find Rhue deceased.

Three individuals who were inside the home at the time of the incident housesitting while the homeowners were away provided statements to police, authorities said.

Pal was arrested by the Franklin (Tenn.) Police Dept. and was booked into the William County Jail and remains in their custody. Police investigators said they believe Pal is the subject that accompanied Rhue at the incident earlier in April.

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Guild marks 150 years helping area elderly residents

By Edward Redd news@currentinwestfield.com

Since 1873, the Little Sisters of the Poor have worked to provide a home for elderly residents in need in central Indiana. The charity, which relies on volunteers from Hamilton and Marion counties, will celebrate 150 years of serving the community this spring.

NONPROFIT

The Little Sisters of the Poor is an organization of Roman Catholic nuns founded in 1839 by St. Jeanne Jugan. Its guild provides homes and services for the elderly in need. Internationally, the group serves more than 9,900 people in 31 nations and 164 homes.

Sister Maria Cecilia of Little Sister of the Poor in Indianapolis said worldwide, the guild has approximately 1,300 sisters as well as Jeanne Jugan association members.

“It is such a joy to have the guild members with us,” Cecilia said. “We always have people to turn to who are part of our big family. It is really a blessing. We cannot do this mission without the support of our volunteers and benefactors.”

The organization has been in Indiana since 1873. Its first home was at 500 E. Vermont St. For more than 50 years, its home has been at 2345 W. 86th St. in Indianapolis.

Most of the home’s residents are in their mid- to late 80s. Many are Roman Catholic, but the home accepts men and women of all faiths. It welcomes low-income elderly of at least 65 years of age, regardless of race or religion. Although the majority of its residents are from Indiana, the home has also taken in residents from out of state and overseas.

The St. Augustine Home Guild of Indianapolis has full-time and part-time staff members and more than 300 volunteers who work to create a loving home for approximately 100 elderly residents. Forty percent of its guild members, who are also volunteers, live in Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, Fishers, Zionsville and Lawrence.

Sister Maria Cecilia said residents live as a family. The Little Sisters are committed to living out their vocation, giving joy to residents each day and adding meaning to their lives.

“The residents here at St. Augustine are elderly, but they don’t come here to die. People think this is a nursing home for the elderly and they come here to die. What we

are doing is striving to make their last days full.” Cecilia said.

A normal day for a SAHG resident begins at 6 a.m. when they are awakened by a nun who makes their bed as the resident showers. Breakfast is served at 7 a.m. Daily mass is at 11 a.m. and lunch is at noon.

SAHG Member Colleen Yeadon said residents can have company any time of the day. The Little Sisters stay in contact with visitors that come to see residents, to make the environment feel more like a home. Learn more at littlesistersofthepoorindianapolis.org/st-augustine-home-guild.

HATS OFF TO SPRING

The St. Augustine Home Guild of Indianapolis will celebrate 150 years of providing a home for elderly residents in need with the Hats Off to Spring luncheon and fashion show, set to begin at 10:30 a.m. May 3 at Ritz Charles in Carmel.

Each year, the event serves as a fundraiser for the guild. This year, organizers want to raise at least $150,000. The cost to operate the home each month is $250,000, according to the SAHG website.

Linda Bear, a SAHG member, said the organization heavily relies on donations to keep the home running.

“Many don’t know that the residents there can pay 45 percent, maybe at the most, of revenue for the home,” Bear said. “That’s why we have so many fundraisers.”

The event will open with a champagne social and raffles. In the afternoon there will be a fashion show presented by Secret Ingredient. Learn more at littlesistersofthepoorindianapolis.org/ st-augustine-home-guild.

From left, Linda Bear, former president of St. Augustine Home Guild, Sister Marie Christine and Mary Patout, 2023 St. Augustine Home Guild president. (Photo courtesy of Colleen Yeadon)

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Hoosier Adult Baseball League seeks older players

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The Hoosier Adult Baseball league is looking for a few good men — or at least enough to field two more teams.

The 48-and-older baseball league is seeking to expand from six teams to eight, league president John Dearth said. The season begins Aug. 1 and ends Oct. 17. There are 12 games in the regular season, followed by the playoffs. All games are played at Grand Park in Westfield.

Dearth, a Carmel resident, said most of the players are from Hamilton County with some from Zionsville and Indianapolis.

“For me, personally, someone who has loved baseball since I can recall at age 4, playing in this league has been some of the most fun I have ever had playing baseball,” Dearth said. “We are there to compete, but our goal is to place a premium on sportsmanship, and fun. I have met some terrific people in the five years this league has been around. Grand Park is a terrific facility, and it helps to make the baseball experience that much better to play on top-of-theline fields.”

The league was started in 2018 by Todd Eschmann and Dwight Podgurski. Dearth said Eschmann couldn’t play because of an injury. Podgurski was president and Dearth became vice president. When Podgurski moved to Colorado, Dearth became president midway during the 2020 season. Each team has 12 to 16 players.

“The reason we put a limit on the high side is guys get to play,” Dearth said., The oldest league player last year was 76, but the 53-year-old Dearth said most play-

ers are in their early to mid-50s.

Dearth said the competition is very good, and players have really embraced the culture.

“It is very regular to have a conversation while on the base paths, with guys complimenting each other on a hit or a defensive play,” said Dearth, who played baseball at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis. “I have been very impressed by the players’ attitudes and the willingness of the guys who played at a higher level to help those who may have never received the coaching or had the opportunities to play beyond grade school or junior high. We are more of a rec league, and we try to find a home for anyone who wants to play.”

Dearth said there are a few rules that help older players, such as no stolen bases and limited leadoffs. Pitchers are limited to five innings per game.

Board members include Chris Kania, vice president, and Tom Hayes, secretary. Jeff Schmitt and Robert Newton are at-large members. Tom Weesner is a former vice president but stepped away this year because of a shoulder surgery.

For more, visit hoosieradultbaseball.com.

Carmel resident Scott Metzinger, a former Butler University pitcher, pitches for the Monarchs. (Photo courtesy of John Dearth)

Westfield’s No. 1 golfer’s sharper mental skills provide boost

By Mark Ambrogi  mark@youarecurrent.com

Westfield High School senior golfer Alec Cesare views his mental game as his biggest improvement.

“I don’t get down on myself when I hit bad shots and make big mistakes,” Cesare said. “I know if I have a bad hole, I can make it up.”

The right-handed Cesare plays in the No. 1 spot for the top-ranked Shamrocks. His brother, Jake, a sophomore, plays the No. 2 spot. “Alec has made a huge commitment to his physical strength the past couple of years, which is allowing him to hit the ball higher and farther than ever before,” Shamrocks coach Josh Bryant said. “Alec has also improved his course management through pre-round preparations on his own and in-round adjustments that allow him to score well even when he doesn’t have his best stuff.”

Cesare has lofty goals for himself and his team.

MEET ALEC CESARE

Favorite subject: Accounting

Favorite athlete: Cameron Smith

Favorite movie: “Happy Gilmore”

Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii

“My goal is to win state finals individually and as a team,” Cesare said.

Cesare, who has signed to compete for Ball State University, is one of the state’s top-ranked players.

“Alec has focused on continuous improvement during his time at Westfield,” Bryant said. “He arrived already having a decorated junior golf prep career, including a trip to the Drive, Chip and Putt national

finals in Augusta (Ga.) in 2019. He continues to push himself every day individually to maximize the most out of his ability, which, along with our senior class, pushes the rest of our program to new heights.”

Last year, the Shamrocks won conference, sectional and regional championships and placed second in the IHSAA state finals, losing to Guerin Catholic by one stroke. Cesare finished tied for 15th among individuals. He finished tied for 12th in the state finals as a sophomore.

“It was honestly disappointing last year to see the way it ended,” Cesare said. “We played great and we let it slip away on the backside. We’re still frustrated and upset about that. We’ve worked and practiced even harder to win it (this year).”

In the summer of 2022, Cesare finished tied for 11th in the Indiana Amateur. He has won 35 junior golf tournaments through the years.

Cesare, who picked up golf at an early age, played on the freshman basketball team for the Shamrocks before deciding to concentrate on golf. He committed to Ball State in July and plans to major in finance or sports management,

“I really liked the head coach (Mike Fleck) and the way he coaches,” he said. “The golfers are all good guys. I’ve grown up playing against them. It was a no-brainer decision.”

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Alec Cesare is the No. 1 golfer for the topranked Westfield High School boys golf team. (Photo courtesy of Alec Cesare)

Cesare

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Westfield Winds performing arts group wins championship

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

A competitive indoor winds performing arts group at Westfield High School was recently named the 2023 WGI Open Class World Champion. Westfield Winds won first place in the Scholastic Open Winds division for its show, “Falling Through Forever,” that was performed April 22 in Dayton, Ohio, during the Winter Guard International competition. The latest win caps off a season that included being named for the third consecutive year IPA Scholastic Open Class State Champions, second year as WGI Indianapolis Super Regional finalist, WGI Indianapolis Super Regional Open Class champion and second year as WGI World Championship finalist, said Kelly Alford, vice president of communications for the West-

field Band Boosters organization.

Andrew Muth, director of bands at Westfield High School, said WGI championship marks the culmination of a four-year journey for the Westfield Winds program.

“The unparalleled determination of our students, staff, parents, school and community made this possible. It is extremely gratifying to know that the constant pursuit of excellence has propelled us to the upper ranks of our activity,” Muth said.

Muth said the Westfield Winds’ success is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the students, staff and community that support them.

“This achievement is a source of pride for the Westfield community, and the Westfield Band Boosters are thrilled to celebrate the success of their talented performers,” Muth said.

For more, visit wgi.org/scores.

A competitive indoor winds performing arts group at Westfield High School was recently named the 2023 WGI Open Class World Champion. (Photo provided by Kelly Alford)

DISPATCHES

Author to speak at tea — Noblesville resident, columnist and author Janet Hart Leonard will speak at a tea sponsored by the Orchard Park Presbyterian Women at 3 p.m. May 7. The public (including children) is welcome to attend. The church is at 1605 E 106th St. in Carmel. Contact oppc@orchardpark.org with questions or RSVP at bit.ly/OPtea23.

Jury duty scam calls — The Hamilton County Courts are warning residents about a jury duty scam that has bilked dozens of people out of thousands of dollars. Scammers are calling residents and telling them they missed jury duty and have to pay a fine. Victims have reportedly lost upwards of $2,000 to $3,000 through gift cards and mobile payments like Zelle and Venmo. When in doubt, Court Administrator Jill Acklin recommends residents hang up and call 317-776-8589.

500 Festival volunteers needed — The 500 Festival is seeking thousands of volunteers to fill positions as part of the 2023 500 Festival Volunteer Program. The nonprofit invites individuals and groups to be part of the behind-the-scenes action of the Month

of May by lending their time and talent to support a variety of 500 Festival community events and programs. With more than 100 areas of volunteer opportunity, there are over 7,000 positions available, providing a role to fit every interest and ability. Learn more at 500Festival.com/Volunteer.

Breakfast at the Brickyard — Tickets are on sale to the general public for the 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, set for 9 a.m. May 20, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Gallagher Pavilion. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett will host and honor more than 70 mayors from across Indiana for their work in advancing Hoosier communities. Guests will enjoy a traditional breakfast and hear from Indianapolis Motor Speedway executives and 500 Festival leaders. Purchase tickets at 500Festival.com/Breakfast.

Hamilton County Democratic Women meetings — The Hamilton County Democratic Women will meet May 20. The meeting will be from 9:10 to 11 a.m. at the Delaware Township Trustee Building, 9090 E. 131st, Fishers. All Hamilton County women are welcome.

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Gail Robbins is a Zionsville resident and is a past president of the Zionsville Lions Club. Where do you volunteer?

The Zionsville Lions Club.

Do you have any hobbies?

I have several, but long walks are my favorite thing to do.

How long have you lived in Zionsville?

We moved away for a little while and came back in 2002 so, about 21 years this time.

Can you tell us a little about a Lions Club’s program that is the most meaningful to you?

Amongst so many life-changing programs, the eye screening is by far the most meaningful to me. We screen close to 16,000 students each year.

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What do you feel is the best place to visit in Zionsville?

Beautiful Lions Park!

What would you suggest for anyone wanting to join the Lions Club?

I would suggest that they understand our motto, which is we serve, first and foremost.

Anything you would like to add here?

After doing a lot of traveling throughout my life, I can honestly say Zionsville is a dream town to live in.

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Parade tickets on sale — Tickets are on sale to the public for the 2023 AES 500 Festival Parade. Parade tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online at 500festival.com/tickets. Proceeds from all 500 Festival ticketed events help support the organization’s free programming and events for Indiana youth and college students. The parade will take place at 11:45 a.m. May 27 in downtown Indianapolis. The grand marshal is Frank Shorter, Olympic gold medalist and the winner of the first OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.

RED CARPET MOMENT

Westfield High School senior creates short film festival

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

A longtime passion in film and media arts recently led a Westfield High School senior to create a short film festival to highlight students’ work, including her own.

Luci Bluto, 18, presented the Westfield High School Short Film Festival April 22 at the high school that highlighted 10 films created by students that ranged in genres from horror to comedy to drama. The event attracted more than 40 people, many of whom were students, high school staff and other visitors.

Bluto said she developed a love for film at a young age and noted that she often created videos on her mom’s iPad.

“As I got older, I decided I loved creating media with my friends, specifically, and I thought, ‘Why not make a career out of it?’” she said. “So over the last four years, I’ve been moving into directing, filming, making videos in media classes and Westfield has such a great capacity for learning in those fields that most schools don’t.”

Bluto, who encourages other students to get involved in such coursework offered at the high school, came up with the idea to create a short film festival as a way to motivate herself to create more media. She had no shortage of support from those around her, including her parents and classmates, in making her idea become a reality.

“It’s been a great way to come together and experience media together one last time before we graduate,” Bluto said.

Representatives from the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis and Michael Lee, professor and department chair at Ball State University’s Department of Media, attended the film festival, which was held in the school’s Learning Center. Bluto said making connections has always been important for her, something that has always been emphasized by her parents, Chris Bluto and Steph Meyers.

“That’s something my parents have always pushed. Knowing people and creating conversations will get you so much further than anything else in life, and I’ve had really good relationships with a lot of my teachers for a long time,” she said. “And they’ve been supportive of me, and having the support of those adults in my life has allowed me to make events like this. But all these connections have come through conversations I’ve had with adults in my life and things I’ve decided to do just to see what would happen.”

Bluto’s enthusiasm was evident as she managed virtually every aspect of the film festival, ranging from greeting visitors at the door, talking with guests and introducing each of the 10 short films, including her own, “Footnotes.” The 10 short films created and directed by students were judged by WHS teachers and were given awards in different categories.

Bluto’s film was awarded “Best Overall Picture” and also

earned the distinction of “Best Director” as part of a brief awards ceremony at the event, which also featured a red carpet and a backdrop that allowed filmmakers, actors and visitors to get their photos taken.

Bluto’s parents were all smiles as they watched her daughter and commended her hard work.

Chris Bluto said it was helpful that his daughter was surrounded by her friends in helping make the festival a success. He wants her to be happy using her creative talents wherever she ends up in life, he said.

“Whatever I think makes her happy will make her most successful,” he said.

Although Bluto said she loves performing, she said her real passion is being behind the scenes and allowing her friends the opportunity to showcase their work. Bluto, who

plans to attend Ball State University this fall to major in media and digital video production, said she wants to pursue a career in Los Angeles as a director or in Chicago working on film sets, but is also open to possibilities working in publicity.

John Oestreich, who oversees the communications department at the high school, described Bluto as passionate and very driven. He said her motivation was evident at the festival as she had initially approached him with the idea of creating the event.

“The things she’s passionate about, it’s all or nothing,” Oestreich said. “I’ve got to believe when she gets (to Ball State), she’s going to get every opportunity to hit the ground running and I anticipate her doing great things.”

Bluto encourages students at WHS to pursue their ideas.

“Westfield High School has one of the most supportive teachers you’ll ever find and they’re always willing to go for an idea,” she said. “Or if you’re passionate about something, they will never shy away from shining light on that, so don’t be afraid to make those connections with teachers, because if a conversation never happens, you’ll never know.”

Bluto said she couldn’t imagine a better way to end her high school career than creating a short film festival.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to end this any other way,” she said. “I’ve had so (many) amazing opportunities my senior year, but to be able to make this opportunity only for myself and so many others, I feel like I’m leaving a legacy and taking care of the people that mean (the) most to me.”

ON THE COVER: Westfield

School

MEET LUCI BLUTO

Age: 18

Year: Senior

Parents: Chris Bluto and Steph Meyers

High

student Luci Bluto in the Learning Center at the high school. Bluto, a senior, created a short film festival that highlighted 10 films created by students, including her own. (Photo by Matthew Kent)

Luci Bluto, center, with her parents, Chris Bluto and Steph Meyers, during the Westfield High School Short Film Festival.

Westfield High School student Luci Bluto watches a film during the Westfield High School Short Film Festival April 22 at the high school. The high school senior created the festival that highlighted 10 films created by students that ranged in genres from horror to comedy to drama. (Photos by Matthew Kent)

Guided — or misguided — by fear?

Commentary by

Terry Anker

PROVEN EXPERTISE for uncertain markets.

ESSAY

Birth rates among the young, First World and educated have never been lower. It seems that our modern age has determined that the greater privilege is to avoid procreation. Absolutely, babies are not requisite, and a full life is readily available without them. But some would imagine selfish millennials, Gen Zs, or whatever group one might wish to disparage, refusing to share their avocado toast with the hungry, chirping mouths of their fledgling offspring.

Still, isn’t it all too convenient to accuse and malign those generations that follow our own as idle, selfish and rudderless? It has been the sport of the old and aging for centuries. But just as much as those might like it to be true, the evidence pushes to the contrary. The young will come, as they always have, to pick up the yoke of advancing civilization – well, when the elders are willing to get out of the way. In the passing years, experience, maturity and grit inevitably are gained. It is a good system and has served humanity well.

Recently, a 30-something and highly successful professional proclaimed his intention to soon marry. Wedding arrangements were being made and life decisions were firming. “No kids,” he proclaimed, continuing, “We cannot, in good faith, bring a child into this terrible world.” The jarring turn from flowing optimism to intense cynicism is increasingly common with the demographic. Climate, war, pandemic, bad political leadership, the loss of Tom Brady, and the inescapable looming zombie apocalypse have led many to the brink. Kidding aside, there are legitimate and concerning matters. Besides, who cares how others choose to live? And what defines a good life, anyway? Yet, why are so many opting out so soon? If fear dominates our decisions, are we selling ourselves short? Are we dying before we’re dead?

Not the same ‘old’ feeling

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

suddenly back on tour (“Um, Mrs. Wilson, I think you mean Maluma, not Madonna”).

HUMOR

Most days, friends, I don’t feel my age. Sure, I can’t sleep through the night anymore without multiple potty runs and hot flashes, and my knees have wrinkles, but generally I go about my business as if I’m a seasoned 30-something. Recently, however, I was forcibly reminded that I’m nearly eligible for full AARP benefits. What happened? I hosted a bridal shower for one of my best friend’s daughters. Her daughter! The horror!

And what’s next? Babies? For the love of all that is holy! It seems crazy to me that I could realistically become a grandmother at any time. Not that I wouldn’t be amazing. Are you kidding me?

I’m on the other side of 50, and if I’m not wearing my readers, party games become powerful time warps where long-retired ‘80s pop stars are suddenly back on tour.

How is it possible that our kids are old enough to get married? That my own children are technically “grown-ups” and that, like my friend, I might soon be hunting down a pair of 1996 champagne flutes so the happy couple can toast with the same glasses their parents used. But that’s the world I’m currently operating in. I’m on the other side of 50, and if I’m not wearing my readers, party games become powerful time warps where long-retired ‘80s pop stars are

I’d be the best gosh-darn mamaw that ever lived.

But the point is, the person in the mirror doesn’t look like someone’s mother-in-law, let alone a grammy.

Anyhoo, the shower was certainly a reality check, and one that I’m not entirely sure I’m OK with. Despite the slightly elevated cholesterol and random white brow hairs, I just don’t feel that old! Peace out.

- DANIELLE WILSON

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

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

Funny things about Washington

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

I am going to a get-together of the folks who worked on my college newspaper, The Hatchet, in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s at The George Washington University. As I reread some of my stuff almost 55 years later, I realized my writing then wasn’t really very good. My journalism teacher said my column was sophomoric, which I took as a compliment because I was only a freshman at the time.

All those attending submitted a brief summary of what he or she has accomplished since graduating. I was a little intimidated by some of these, but I also thought many had rambled on and not stuck to the suggested length of 500 words. I opted for brevity. The sign of a good humorist is being succinct. Here’s my employment history in a few words:

• Hired

• Fired

• Hired

• Fired

• Rehired

• Fired again

• Hired

• Retired

In my bio, I did mention that I had recently been elected to the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame. I wanted my GW friends to know this as soon as possible. I was concerned that by the time I got to the reunion, they might take back the award.

My friend Seth has visited 46 countries, enjoying all the different cultures based on his interest in anthropology. Another classmate became an executive editor of

the Chicago Sun Times. The more I read these mini resumes, the more I knew that being a goofy field reporter and a humor columnist was not going to get me selected to address the group on the topic: How I changed the world.

By the way, I saw an old girlfriend from back in the ‘60s on the invitee list who I hadn’t seen or heard from in 55 years. I sent her an email telling her I hoped she was coming to the reunion.

“I’m sure I will recognize you after all these years,” I told her.

“I bet you will,” came the response.

“I’m still 6-foot-2 with a full-length beard.”

I had sent the email to Seth by mistake.

DICK

Just a final note. Ten years ago, a similar reunion was held. My wife and I were excited to return to Washington, D.C., for a visit.

I made the hotel arrangements, which I seldom do because I always mess something up. A week before the trip, Mary Ellen asked me to confirm the reservations and to be sure we were near The White House, a site we planned to visit, and close to the restaurant where the reunion dinner was to be held. I called.

“I’m just confirming our rooms and I wanted to know how far we are from The White House,” I said.

“About 3,000 miles,” the hotel clerk said.

I had booked a hotel in the state of Washington.

POLICIES

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

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

In my bio, I did mention that I had recently been elected to the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame. I wanted my GW friends to know this as soon as possible. I was concerned that by the time I got to the reunion, they might take back the award.

–

WOLFSIE

CHAMBER MARKS OPENING OF SOMETHING SPLENDID

Alcohol-free shop expands

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Sisters Andrea Marley and Kristin Patrick saw a need for more alcohol-free options.

OPENING

So, in July 2022, they launched Loren’s Alcohol-Free Beverages as an online store before opening a retail store Aug. 20 at Main Street and Hazel Dell Parkway in Carmel.

Marley, a Westfield resident, said sales have exceeded their expectations. Thus, a second store will open May 6 at 12770 West Market St., Suite 105 in the Village of WestClay.

“The second location is much smaller than our Hazel Dell store,” Patrick said. “We will be running products between the two stores for deliveries and local pickup orders.”

Patrick said the WestClay location sprang from customer demand, as Loren’s has been making a lot of deliveries to the west side of Carmel since launching lorensaf.com.

“People kept telling us how nice it would be if we had another location on the other side of the city,” Patrick said.

Patrick said customers are embracing the Be a Better Host concept of offering nonalcoholic choices.

“We are incredibly touched whenever someone comes into the store to buy for a visiting friend or family member,” Patrick said. “Also, we love helping people create a fun mix of drinks for parties. More people

are recognizing the value of offering alcohol-free options.”

The sisters have been listening to feedback from customers for their stock.

“We’ve gained extensive product knowledge in the fields of wine, spirits, craft beers and adaptogens in the previous eight months,” Marley said. “It’s an exciting time to grow. The demand is there.”

Patrick lives in Fishers. The sisters, who are Carmel High School graduates, named the store after their late father, Loren Marley.

The May 6 opening of the new store will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The tentative plan is for the WestClay location to be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The Westfield Chamber of Commerce celebrated the opening of Something Splendid April 19 with a ribbon cutting. The business is at 217 Mill St. in Westfield. From left, Allison Pirtle, Westfield Mayor Andy Cook, Elyse Petruzzi, Erynn Petruzzi and Evan Petruzzi attend the event. (Photo by Adam Seif)

From left, sisters Kristin Patrick and Andrea Marley will open a second location of Loren’s Alcohol-Free Beverages in the Village of WestClay. (Photo courtesy of Andrea Marley)

Carmel Symphony Orchestra shows respect to Queen of Soul in concert

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Shaleah Adkisson’s respect for the Queen of Soul’s talent has only grown since she joined a tribute group.

“It really gave me an opportunity to dig into Aretha Franklin’s music in a way that I hadn’t before,” she said. “I feel like she and her music are so pervasive in our culture. So, we know who Aretha Franklin is and her songs on the radio, but having to perform and perform at such a high level really required me to learn more about the songs themselves and where they came from and who wrote them. Was it a cover and how long after the original cover was it recorded?”

Shaleah Adkisson and two other Broadway vocalists, Tamika Lawrence and Melvin Tunstall III, and pianist and music director John Boswell form Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin. The group will join the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. May 6 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. It is part of the pops concert series and the final CSO concert of the 2023-24 season.

“A lot of the arrangements we’re doing are in her original keys, which in a lot of cases she didn’t even perform in her original keys once the albums were recorded,” Adkisson said. “So that is definitely a challenge. It’s just having to dig in and learn about the songs, then really figuring out how to navigate them in my own voice and make them my own.”

Adkinsson said that challenge has been one of her favorite parts of the act.

Adkisson said the singers have solo numbers, and some are duets and some are all together.

Adkisson enjoys singing “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

“That is my favorite Aretha song by far and my favorite Carole King song,” Adkisson said. “It’s just so iconic, and every time I get to sing it, it’s really special.”

Adkisson said she enjoys “The House

that Jack Built.”

“I don’t think I heard it before this concert,” she said. “Actually, when I first started working on the show, there was another singer that sang it, and I always thought it was so much fun. That song was handed to me this year. It’s a lot of work and it’s a very quick tempo. So, it really requires a lot of memory, which sometimes fails me. But I really like the song a lot.”

Adkisson no longer performs full time. She became an arts administrator as the manager of school programs in the education program at New York City Center in the fall of 2021.

“I have friends that have since the pandemic stepped away from it completely, but I know that I need to feed my artistry, regardless of circumstances,” she said.

“So, this really gives me a great outlet to just sing and to be in front of these really amazing symphonies with these large audiences. It’s really soul-feeding and helps me to continue to practice my artistry

even though I’ve shifted my focus.”

CSO Artistic Director Janna Hymes looks forward to the joint performance.

‘I grew up with this music. My older brothers played it all the time, so it is all familiar to me and I love them all,” Hymes said of Franklin’s songs. “I could never pick a favorite Aretha song because they are all unique and wonderful.”

Hymes said the pops concerts have been a popular part of the CSO seasons. An Earth, Wind & Fire tribute act joined the CSO in January.

“I think the community of Carmel is mixed, and the Carmel Symphony Orchestra is providing variety in all of our programming from music selected for kids of all ages, more traditional classical concerts, music written by living composers, pops concerts with music from familiar bands like The Beatles and great vocalists like Frank Sinatra and Aretha, American music and much more,” Hymes said For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.

‘AN AMERICAN IN PARIS’

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

‘MR. CONFIDENTIAL’

Actors Theatre of Indiana’s world premiere of “Mr. Confidential” is set to run May 3-14 at the Studio Theater at at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit atistage.org.

‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’

Civic Theatre’s production of “The Sound of Music” runs through May 13 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Brent Marty and vocalist Amy Rafa present “The Carpenters Project: An Offering” at 7:30 p.m. May 4 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Clint Holmes will perform the songs of Peter Allen at 7:30 p.m. May 5-6. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

EVIL WOMAN: THE AMERICAN ELO

Evil Woman: The American ELO, a tribute group to Electric Light Orchestra, will perform at 8 p.m. May 5 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘RESPECT: A TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN’

Carmel Symphony Orchestra presents “Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” at 7:30 p.m. May 6 in a pops concert at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.

“ALMOST, MAINE”

The Carmel Apprentice Theatre’s production of “Almost, Maine” continues May 4-7 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.

“CRIMES OF THE HEART”

The Belfry Theatre’s production of “Crimes of the Heart” continues through May 7 at the Theater at the Fort in Lawrence. For more, artsforlawrence.org.

MUSIC

Shaleah Adkisson performs in an Aretha Franklin tribute band. (Photo courtesy of CSO)

‘Unity’ concert designed to showcase the power of music

By Mike Beas editorial@youarecurrent.com

MUSIC

The Indianapolis Children’s Choir makes the turn toward summer with two concerts scheduled for May.

On May 6, the presentation entitled, “Unity,” takes place at 3 p.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street, Indianapolis. The ICC features, “Celebrations,” at 4 p.m. May 21 at the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, 6501 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis.

Joshua Pedde, the ICC’s artistic director, looks forward to both concerts.

“The ‘Unity’ concert will showcase our youngest singers, who are in kindergarten, through high school,” said Pedde, a Carmel resident. “Then we are bringing in other choirs, from Anderson and Columbus, and they will be part of the concert. It’s an opportunity to see the breadth of the Indi-

anapolis Children’s Choir.”

The show also features the Directors’ Jazz Orchestra, a talented group of musicians which has roots in Madison County, and is the resident band for the Pendleton Heights Jazz Festival.

The full ICC family of choirs will be on display, bringing the total number of participants to approximately 400.

“Unity” is named in honor of music’s generations-long knack of being able to unite while celebrating hope and joy, Pedde said, adding that the concert will debut two new pieces of music.

Later this month, “Celebrations” will be its own unique musical showcase.

“The concert will be our high school singers accompanied by a chamber orchestra,” Pedde said. “The text is based on Walt Whitman’s poetry, and it’s some really neat music.

For more or to purchase tickets, visit icchoir.org/tickets.

Film adaptation of classic novel worth the wait

Commentary by Julianna Childs

The carefree dog days of summer in 1970s New York City evolve into traditional American family suburban life in Kelly Freemon Craig’s charming adaptation of the landmark novel, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Judy Blume’s avant-garde novel has impacted generations with its timeless coming-of-age story and insightful humor for over 50 years.

MOVIE REVIEW

In one of the year’s most anticipated movies, Abby Ryder Fortson (“Ant-Man”) plays the title pre-teen role, whose awkward stage is magnified when she moves from NYC to a New Jersey suburb with her family. As they pack up the family car, Margaret whispers to God, “Please don’t let New Jersey be too horrible.”

Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie play Barbara and Herb, Margaret’s parents, who struggle with their identities while adapting to a spacious home, yard sales and PTA meetings.

Margaret acclimates to her new life by

navigating a series of conflicting moods about buying her first bra, crushing on boys and joining a secret club. As she and her friends wait to see who will get their period first, they try to rush puberty along by landing training bras and reciting, “I must, I must, I must increase my bust.”

Craig films these scenes with affection for the girls, never illustrating them as silly.

Oscar-winner Kathy Bates plays Sylvia, Margaret’s free-spiriting, judgment-spouting grandmother who makes for some of the film’s more entertaining scenes. With its timeless themes and tender approach to complicated emotions, audiences will find “Are You There God?” a familiar and enjoyable film adaptation of Blume’s classic novel that was definitely worth the wait.

During the past 14 years, Julieanna Childs has worked as a film studio representative, contracting for all the major Hollywood studios. Her film reviews can be found at TheJujuReview.com. She is a Hamilton County resident.

Music by RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II

Book by HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSEL CROUSE

Suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp

Pedde

NIGHT & DAY

Conductor set for ‘Magic Flute’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Scott Schoonover has a long history with “The Magic Flute.”

worked with Indianapolis Opera. However, Schoonover had worked with Indianapolis Opera General Manager David Starkey at Asheville (N.C.) Lyric Opera.

“When I was in college, I played piano for the opera class, and that was one of the first operas I ever learned,” he said. “It’s kind of fun to go back to it now. Those things that you learn in college really stick in your head in a certain way differently than things that you learned later. It’s really fun to work with those again. I’ve conducted two productions of it. The last time was 2007.”

Schoonover, founder and artistic director of the Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis, is serving as the guest conductor for the Indianapolis Opera’s production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” May 5-7 at The Toby Theater at Newfields in Indianapolis.

This is the first time Schoonover has

Schoonover said he likes the music and the story of “The Magic Flute.”

“It’s always interesting to see what different companies do with it,” Schoonover said. “The music is super accessible. It’s got a lot of drama, but it is also very beautiful and lyrical. It’s interesting, I think, for people who haven’t seen a lot of operas. There are songs, and then in between the songs, there are lines, which is a little different than most of the things that Mozart wrote, which was just all music up to that point.”

Schoonover said the songs are not long and the pieces are very different from one another.

“It presents a lot of different styles, and there’s really something for everybody in this particular opera,” he said.

For more, visit indyopera.org.

En Pointe dancers excel in YAGP

OPERA BALLET

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

Dancing has been in Joey Moore’s family for many generations. His parents, Christopher and Anne Moore, have co-owned En Pointe Indiana Ballet in Noblesville since 2016. His uncle and aunt, Robert Moore and his wife Pollyana Ribeiro, are the studio’s co-directors.

Joey Moore performed the “Male Swan Lake Classical” at the 2023 Youth America Grand Prix competition March 16-19 at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. He earned top honors in the men’s senior classical solo.

Youth from Hamilton County presented the award-winning performances.

Moore, 16, began dancing at age 9. After his first year of dancing, he won his first competition at a BellaMoxi dance competition in Kentucky. Since then, dancing has been a passion.

“I was kind of at this spot (BellaMoxi) where I was like, ‘Do I really want to keep doing this or is it just a hobby of mine?’” Moore said. “Winning first place for my cat-

egory really pushed me to understand that this is what I want to do.”

Moore, a Noblesville resident, said his dream is to join a ballet company and be either a principal dancer or a soloist.

John Paul Pack, a Carmel resident, took first place in the 2021 and 2022 Midtown’s Got Talent competition in Carmel. He finished second in CarmelFest Has Talent in his age division in 2022. At the 2023 YAGP, he performed the “Paquita” dance and placed in the top 12 in the junior division.

Pack, who was 13 at the time and is now 14, said he has been dancing for seven years. The YAGP was his first dance competition.

Pack said he fell in love with dance after seeing “The Nutcracker” at age 7. He has trained at En Pointe for six years. He said he loves dance but has little interest in performing competitively.

“I’m not really a competition dancer, so I haven’t really looked into any competitions,” Pack said. “But I really enjoyed this one.”

Pack will appear in “The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland” May 12-13 in Anderson, performing as the door mouse. He plans to return to YAGP in 2024.

Schoonover Pack

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Where’s Amy?

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Where’s Amy attends “The Four Phantoms in Concert”

Where’s Amy attended “The Four Phantoms in Concert” April 21 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The concert brought together four stage actors who have played the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning “Phantom of the Opera,” which recently closed in New York. The powerful performance featured many hits from “Phantom of the Opera” as well as songs from other Broadway favorites. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

Amy Pauszek is a photographer, award winning film producer and scouting and casting associate for Talent Fusion Agency in Indianapolis. She can be reached at Amy@ youarecurrent.com. To see more of her photos, visit currentnightandday.com.

From left, Asheley Harris (Noblesville), Brittany Webber (Geist) and Kristie Cassidy (Noblesville). (Photos by Amy Pauszek)

From left, Jordan and Janel Jensen (Fishers) with their children, Hannah, Carter, Eliza and Emma.

Blueprint for Improvement: Basement built for entertaining

Commentary by Larry Greene

Built in 2018 in the Hidden Oak section of Indianapolis, this home’s unfinished basement began as a blank canvas and was ready to be optimized for gathering and entertaining.

THE BLUEPRINT

• A wet bar, fridge and dishwasher were added to make prep and clean-up a breeze

• From movie night to gameday, this space was redesigned to provide plenty of room for any size crowd. A snack bar with waterfall edge, custom sectional and table with builtin bench seating ensure there’s room for everyone.

• Built-in shelving offers more than meets the eye, serving as both a display feature and as a hidden entry to the storage room.

• An industrial-style light fixture, stone walls and brass finishes perfectly compliment the warm and transitional aesthetic of the space.

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.

A visit to the Negev

Commentary by Don Knebel

Today, during our last stop in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, we come to the Negev, a rocky desert and semi-desert region that has several connections to the Hebrew Scriptures, which Christians call the Old Testament.

Canaanites and their cities when they eventually entered near Jericho. In about 1,200 B.C., the Israelites built a fortress at Arad near the original Canaanite city.

TRAVEL

The Negev, between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and Jordan in southern Israel, includes about 55 percent of the land of the State of Israel, but only about 8 percent of its people, about one-fourth of whom are Bedouins. Near the southern end of the Negev is the Wilderness of Zin, which scholars believe is the biblical Kadesh Barnea, where Moses struck a rock to get water for his parched followers and their animals. Bedouins have long known that porous rocks in the area absorb water, which can be released by striking the rock.

Arad, on the eastern edge of the Negev, is where the Bible says the Canaanite king of Arad barred Moses from entering the Promised Land, leading God to promise that the Israelites would be allowed to destroy the

In 1962, archeologists unearthed a temple within the fortress, dating to the time of King Solomon and built to honor Yahweh, the invisible God of the Israelites. Unlike other temples to Yahweh, this one also included a shrine to what many scholars believe was Asherah, a Canaanite goddess. Beersheba, today a city of about 20,000 that is the administrative capital of the Negev, marked the southern boundary of the United Monarchy of David and Solomon.

South of Beersheba is Makhtesh Ramon, a 1,500-feet-deep crater created by geologic forces that is the largest of its kind in the world. Wildlife in the Negev includes the ibex, a once-endangered wild goat.

Dr. Jeremy Ciano OD Dr. Katherine Schuetz OD Dr. Hannah Wilson OD

Dr. Kimberly Hall OD

Makhtesh Ramon in the Negev in Isreal. (Photos by Don Knebel)

A Bedouin home in the Negev.

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

Across

1. Curly coif

5. Spooky

10. *Hive sound

14. Tattle

15. *Crucifix

16. Sheltered, at sea

17. Recipe word

18. Some Butler exams

19. Wildebeest

20. Phone button

22. Region including Lebanon and Turkey

24. Common swab

26. Actor Brynner

27. Former “American Idol” judge

30. Indy winter hrs.

33. Old Russian rulers

37. *Prairie View Golf Club warning

38. Like Hanukkah celebrants

40. “The Raven” writer

41. Half and half

42. Ma and pa

43. Debtor’s letters

44. Fleece-lined boots brand

45. Trepidation

46. *Colts throw

47. Not the winner

49. Rap’s Dr. ___

50. Helpful clues

51. Rep. rival

53. In need of a map

55. Assembly of delegates

60. Opens a bottle

64. Medicinal plant

65. Trolley bell sound

67. Harvest

68. Benjamin Harrison’s VP: ___ Morton

69. *Ensnare

70. The E in HOMES

71. *Merchants Bank of Indiana offering

72. Turn away

73. Dictionary entry...and what can be added to the answers to the starred

clues to make more Down

1. Ind. or

29. Bottom-of-the-barrel stuff

31. *Take an oath in Hamilton County Court

32. Christmas tree decoration

34. Bee-fitting description?

35. Pigeon perch

36. Children’s Dr. ___

38. Indy’s coldest month, usually

39. Sault ___ Marie

42. Less diluted

46. Brickyard 400 quickchange artists

48. Squeeze between

50. QVC alternative

52. Muslim holy city

54. Should

55. Ump’s “safe” or “strike”

56. Bread spread

57. Flaring star

58. Croat or Serb

59. Fill

61. Aviation prefix

ETA

2. Ice chunk

3. Surprise attack

4. Muscle targeted by side planks

5. Bacteria that led to the temporary closing of Carmel’s Flowing Well

6. Goof

7. Hoosier Park horse color

8. Speck in the ocean

9. Fishers HS writing assignment

10. Einstein Bros. ___

11. Arm bone

12. Greek god

13. Citrus peel

21. Hawks on a Pacers scoreboard

23. ___ Chris Steak House

25. Gazed

27. Run ___ of the law

28. Drum type

Easley Winery Wines

Indy Zoo

62. Two twos, say

63. Raced around I-465

66. Major ATM maker Answers on Page 18

Wth

WE DO CONTACTLESS EXTERIOR ESTIMATES

TIRED

Classifieds

GROUNDHOG STUMP REMOVAL

Professional & Economical

Remove tree stumps, ugly tree roots, stumps in and around chain link or wood fences. We also remove tree stumps that are protruding up onto sidewalks and around sidewalks. We grind them and/or remove. Please Call & Text at 816-778-4690.

VACATION PROPERTY RENTAL

Do

NOW

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SHOP TO CALL HOME?

Integrity Automotive is looking for a full time automotive technician. In business for 28 years in downtown Carmel with a solid, happy customer base and a positive, goodnatured work environment.

The best candidate is a motivated, well-organized technician with at least three years hands on experience in automotive diagnosis, problem-solving and repair. Able to interpret and apply diagnostic/repair information from computerized databases and other sources. Also able communicate clearly and effectively with your supervisor, your fellow employees and, as needed, with customers. A complete job description is available with a request to frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net.

We offer competitive pay with a Monday through Friday work week and (after 90 days) up to four sick/personal days per year and paid holidays.

To schedule an interview, send your resume with contact information to: frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net 40

With Baker Scott

Hondo’s Hideaway on beautiful, serene Bald Head Island, N.C., is a new-tomarket, exquisitely decorated 3 BR/2.5 BA in prime location. Close to beach, shopping, market and dining. Owner’s suite on first floor with ensuite bath, tile shower, dual sinks and two closets. Second floor has two bedrooms with Jack-and-Jill bath, each with private sink and tile tub/shower. Two four-passenger golf carts, bicycles and kayak. Spacious screened porch. Additional queen air bed will accommodate two additional guests. Temporary club memberships to both Shoals Club and BHI Lifestyle Club. Kitchen is fully equipped with top-of-line large and small appliances as well as every culinary necessity you would need to prepare the most elaborate meal.

Additional details and photos: https://www.bhiturtletimevacations. com/vacation-rentals/rental/6988/

SPLUNK DVLPMNT ENG’R

for Kinney Group (Carmel, IN). Architect, deploy & configr Splunk products. Reqs BS in CS, IT or rel +5 yrs progrsv exp in IT systs admin us’g Splunk (incl Splunk Admin, Search Proc language, Report’g & Dashboard Creatn). (In lieu of above, will accept MS in CS, IT or rel +2 yrs of stated exp). Also reqs Splunk Entrps Cert Admin & Splunk Core Cert Power User certs. Reports to Carmel, IN & may work remote & travel to unanciptd clnt sites. Apply @ bill.carson@kinneygroup.com

We

12555 Gray Road Carmel 46033

Immediate opening for full time experienced dental laboratory technician. Position offers full benefit package Please forward inquiries and resume: khunterlab@gmail.com

HELP WANTED

Looking for an entry level employee to join our help desk.

Primary duties include inbound tech support calls and emails utilizing a project management, ticket tracking software. This is a part-time position, depending on experience and demand (15+ hours), in a flexible work environment. Available shifts are mid-day 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. and evenings 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Please send resumes to info@theankerconsultinggroup.com