May 16, 2023 — Westfield

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Pacers’ NBA G League team to call $36.5M Noblesville arena home

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

The Mad Ants, an affiliate in the NBA G League, plans to relocate to Noblesville from Fort Wayne as part of a plan that will result in an 85,000-square-foot arena being constructed at Finch Creek Park that city officials say could provide a major economic boost and transform the city’s east side.

SPORTS

The city and Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced a partnership May 8 that will result in a 3,400-seat arena being developed. The city is committing $36.5 million and will be responsible for issuing bonds to finance the design and construction of the facility, according to a 10-year partnership agreement.

The agreement, which was approved by the Noblesville Common Council May 9, includes $5 million in cash investment from Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which will also lead an effort to secure another $5 million in naming rights and signage over those 10 years, in addition to $36.5 million from the city to build the arena.

Under the agreement, the Pacers will rent the event center for 10 years with a one 10-year option with average rent averaging $500,000 annually over the 10-year term.

“We are excited to welcome Pacers Sports & Entertainment to Noblesville along with the players, coaches and staff of the G League team,” Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen said. “The Pacers are an iconic brand with deep roots in central Indiana. Partnering with such an impactful organization opens numerous opportunities for our community and drives forward our efforts for a larger sports and entertainment district with enhanced partnerships.”

The new arena is anticipated to open during the 2024-25 season, and the Mad Ants would play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the interim, officials said. City and team officials said they are working through due diligence steps with local partners and plan to build the arena at Finch Creek Park near the Mojo Up Sports Complex, which generates nearly 1 million visits per year.

Jensen said he expects the arena, which would be owned by the city, will draw 65,000 fans annually to Noblesville and Finch Creek just for games, which is already the second-most visited area in Hamilton

Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Rick Fuson speaks during a press conference May 8 at Finch Creek Park in Noblesville about a partnership between his organization and the city that will result in an 85,000-square-foot arena. The arena will bring the Mad Ants, an affiliate in the NBA G League, to Noblesville and is expected to open during the 2024-25 season. (Photo by Matthew Kent)

County for sports visitors. He called the upcoming project “a game-changer” for the City of Noblesville.

“We had to make sure the deal worked for everybody and we’re there,” Jensen said.

Jensen said the city is working with the Pacers and other partners on programming options for the arena on days it is not used by the Pacers. The facility would be available for events like IHSAA tournaments and competitions, concerts, conferences, corporate events and graduations, he added.

Jensen also said the city wants to use the arena as a catalyst for further development at Finch Creek Park, noting that the public will see additional amenities added into the city’s master plan for the area.

“Further steps are being taken to finalize development and programming partners, which may also incorporate additional project features and recreational amenities,” Jensen said.

Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Rick Fuson said the franchise will remain the Mad Ants through the 2023-24 season. A new mascot will be unveiled prior to the 2024-25 season, he said.

Fuson said the partnership between PS&E and the city resulted after some conversations with plans eventually coming together quickly.

“It was always an opportunity for us to come together to do something for economic development, for the central part of the

state, for Indiana,” Fuson said. “Anytime you can bring your name into one of the fastest growing cities in our state, it’s a great opportunity for us to build fans, but at the same time, it’s an opportunity for economic development and it’s important for us to be a part of the community.”

Fuson said he thinks the arena could be a boost for the city ranging from more industries and additional restaurants, in addition to fans being able to see NBA-level talent in Noblesville.

“You’re going to see a lot of different folks playing here that play in the NBA,” he said.

Fuson said the Mad Ants’ name will be retired, although no determination has been made on what the new name will be. According to the Fort Wayne Gazette, in 2020, the Mad Ants ranked 10th among the G League’s 28 teams in average attendance.

That figure was just below the leaguewide average of 2,245 fans, the newspaper said. A message was left with Fort Wayne city spokeswoman Elizabeth Webb seeking comment on the pending move.

“The G League is world-class basketball, and PS&E is proud to bring that to Noblesville as we strengthen our basketball operations and enhance player development in one of the state’s most vibrant and growing communities,” Fuson said. “We are excited about the way this partnership fits into the bold vision for economic development Mayor Jensen has laid out, and we can’t wait to continue growing our NBA and G League fan base right here in Hamilton County.”

Noblesville Common Council President Aaron Smith lauded the partnership.

“We welcome the new partnership with the Pacers,” Smith said. “The administration and council have made proactive, smart investments to assist with the financing of this partnership. We are excited to continue the strategic growth on the east side of our city and provide a new attraction for our residents and guests.”

BY THE NUMBERS

85,000: Number of square feet the arena will have when completed

3,400: Number of seats

36.5: Millions of dollars the city will pay to build the arena

30: Number of G League teams

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

State

Jump start your

.

Goodrich launches bid for Congress

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

A state lawmaker from Noblesville has launched a bid for Congress.

said he is “absolutely rooted in Indiana” having met his wife here before raising four children.

POLITICS

Chuck Goodrich unveiled his plans May 5 at the Mill Top Banquet and Conference Center in Noblesville, where he was joined by his family and supporters in announcing his candidacy to represent Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. The district covers much of Hamilton County, in addition to Delaware, Grant, Howard, Madison and Tipton counties.

U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, who occupies the seat, isn’t seeking reelection. Goodrich, who also serves as president and CEO of Indianapolis-based electrical contractor Gaylor Electric, has been a state representative since 2018.

Goodrich said he has been able to grow his career and life with conservative Midwestern values, saying he has focused on grit, hard work, humility in raising his family. He said he plans to carry that with him to Washington, D.C., if elected.

Goodrich told the estimated crowd of more than 75 people that rising health care costs are “killing our nation” before adding that workforce development, inflation and illegal immigration “is just crushing our companies.”

“I want to bring my conservative perspective to that conversation in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “That’s the reason I want to go to D.C.”

Goodrich, who has worked at Gaylor Electric for 28 years and rose through the ranks to become the company’s top leader,

“I can tell you that anything’s possible and that’s exactly why I want to go to Washington, D.C., because I know this: I know that I can help,” he said. “People say I can’t, but I’ve been through it, and I know I can help.”

Goodrich said if elected, he plans to be “the conservative voice for all of you” and other individuals living in the 5th Congressional District.

“The reality is that your voices aren’t being heard and it will be heard when I get to Congress,” Goodrich said.

Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen, who spoke at the event, also criticized President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, saying their policies are not working.

“If you are a businessperson like Chuck Goodrich is, when it comes to workforce development, they are miserably failing,” Jensen said. “Who better to send to Washington, D.C., who knows a thing or two about that?”

Jensen also said he’s ready to advocate for Goodrich in his campaign.

“I can think of no better credential than Chuck Goodrich out in Washington, D.C.,” he said.

State Rep. Todd Huston, R-Fishers, who is Speaker of the House, also backed Goodrich’s campaign.

“I know Chuck will be a phenomenal 5th District representative,” Huston said.

Other than Goodrich, Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings, a Republican, also plans to run for the seat.

Rep. Chuck Goodrich, R-Noblesville, announced May 5 at Mill Top Banquet and Conference Center that he is running for Congress.

(Photo by Matthew Kent)

Developer plans to add more homes

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

A developer is seeking to add more than 40 homes to an existing active adult residential community targeted to individuals 55 and older.

HOUSING

Pulte Homes of Indiana is seeking approval from the City of Westfield to add 43 homes to the Kimblewick community that would be built on 16 acres at the southwest corner of Towne Road and West 156th Street. Jon Dobosiewicz, a land use professional with Carmel-based law firm Nelson & Frankenberger LLC representing Pulte Homes of Indiana, told the Westfield City Council during its May 8 meeting that the city had initially approved the development in 2019.

Dobosiewicz said plans are being developed to extend the 245-acre project, which he said is a Del Webb community anchored by a multi-million-dollar activity center that includes a 14,000-square-foot indoor facility, an interconnecting trail system and open space areas.

Dobosiewicz said when the project is fully developed, it will represent a $200 million investment in Westfield. A dog park, outdoor kitchens, bocce ball and other amenities are planned, he added.

The homes are expected to average $400,000 each, according to documents filed with the city.

Dobosiewicz said officials also plan to hold a neighborhood meeting this month to discuss the project. The proposal will go before the city’s Advisory Plan Commission during its 7 p.m. meeting for a public hearing June 5 at Westfield City Hall, 130 S. Penn St.

A map of the proposed location for the Kimblewick community. (Photo courtesy of City of Westfield)

Claiborne Farms (Kimblewick)

Former NFL center Hardwick shares at dad’s meeting

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Former NFL center Nick Hardwick figured he had it made.

PARENTING

“I retired after 11 seasons with the same team,” said Hardwick, who played with the San Diego Chargers before the team’s move to Los Angeles. “I made a massive amount of money. I was the team captain the last five years I played. I had a retirement press conference. The entire news media was there. My whole team was there. I had the most dream-like career you could have.”

Hardwick announced at the 2015 news conference he was going to be working as a disc jockey on a classic rock station for three hours a day.

“Two months later, I called my boss and quit,” he said. “I walked inside and told my wife she could take everything but a million dollars and I’m going to Nicaragua. I had two boys, then 3 and 1 years old. It took me a long time for me to realize what I was saying is, I’m going to Nicaragua to kill myself.”

His wife, Jayme, told him he wasn’t leaving his boys and they would get him the help he needed, and they did.

Hardwick, now a Westfield High School assistant football coach, shared his story at the first meeting of the Men of Westfield May 7 in at the West Fork Whiskey Co. in Westfield. The group was created for fathers to share ways to be better dads. Hardwick’s son Hudson is 11 and Teddy is 9.

Hardwick, a 1999 Lawrence North High School graduate, moved to Westfield three years ago. He coached in Westfield youth football leagues the first two years. He was an IHSAA state wrestling runner-up in the 171-pound class at Lawrence North but didn’t play football.

Inspired by Purdue University’s 2000 Rose Bowl season, he walked onto the Boilermakers’ football team in 2001 after his sophomore year. He played one year at defensive tackle before moving to the offensive line. He was a third-round pick in the 2004 NFL draft.

Hardwick now provides support for NFL players who have difficulty transitioning after retiring.

“I’ve had three former teammates in the last five years, not kill themselves but die

from alcohol and drugs,” he said. “The way fans look at players is probably the way a child looks at his father. A dad is impervious, like a wall. Your will is unbreakable, but there I was, about to kill myself after an amazing career like that.”

Hardwick had to retire because of a serious neck injury. He also suffered six concussions but said he doesn’t believe those were the main issue behind his suicidal thoughts.

“The things that affected me were losing my identity, losing my passion and purpose, losing my teammates, losing a goal, losing the urgency and losing the fanfare factor of it,” he said. “Going from that speed of life to a 9 to 5 job in a place where I’m not outside and fighting was challenging.”

Hardwick, who runs a weight-loss company called Train Like A Lineman, does a podcast called “The Hardwick Life Podcast.” Before leaving San Diego, he worked on the Chargers radio broadcasts for three years.

Hardwick said he agreed with the changes to make the NFL less violent to curb concussions. He compared the changes to parenting.

“I grew up in a hard house,” he said. “My dad was old school. His dad was old school. He probably thought he was taking it easy on me, but he wasn’t. It felt like I got spanked every night for years. But the dad game has changed. Parenting has changed. Society has changed. The social construct is different than it’s ever been, but it can still be pretty awesome. It’s only going to be awesome if we change with the change.

“We’re here for the evolution of being a better dad. I struggle with this: how do we give the essence of what our parents gave us, tough, respectful, hard-working but evolve it to bring in more components, kindness, empathy, compassion.”

Nick Hardwick spoke at the Men of Westfield meeting May 7 at West Fork Whiskey Co. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)

WESTFIELD

Project: Library/township office construction

Location: Corner of Park and Poplar streets

Expected completion: Work is expected to continue through the end of the year with the library expected to open in early 2024.

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

Project: New roundabout

Location: A new roundabout at the intersection of 171st Street and Eagletown Road is now open. However, there will be periodic lane restrictions in the coming weeks due to utility relocation and pavement striping. Please use caution in the area.

Project: Academy Sports & Outdoors

Location: Drive in front of the building will close for renovations, while the left turn lane from eastbound Greyhound Pass will be closed to avoid traffic turning into the worksite. Closure is expected to last eight months. Motorists should use Thatcher Lane or Cool Creek Park Road as a detour. Expected completion: To be determined

ZIONSVILLE

Project: I-65 reconstruction and widening Location: INDOT is reconstructing and

Want

widening I-65 from north of Ind. 32 to north of Ind. 47 in Boone County. The project will add one lane in each direction and reconfigure the I-65 and Lafayette Avenue interchange near Lebanon. Construction began in March 2021 and will continue until late this year. INDOT also is considering a new exit on I-65 at West County Road 300 North, although a timeline and financial details haven’t been made public. Expected completion: The added lane and reconfiguration will be complete late this year. A timeline for the new exit hasn’t been announced.

Project: Templin Road Bridge reconstruction

Location: The Templin Road bridge over Eagle Creek was inspected and an engineering firm has been hired by the Boone County Highway Dept. to work on design of a complete bridge replacement. The project is expected to begin mid-May. Templin Road will be closed during construction with a detour route posted.

Expected completion: The project is expected to be completed mid-September.

CURRENT Q&A

Getting to know Kurt Frederick

Kurt Frederick is an assistant principal at Westfield High School and has also worked in the classroom as a special education teacher. Before coming to Westfield Washington Schools, Frederick was the transition coordinator for MSD of Wayne Township in Indianapolis. He serves on the board of directors for Limitless Ability, a planned adult day care program that will provide speech, occupational and physical therapy services, behavioral supports, with a targeted opening date of September 2025.

What is your best habit, and what is your worst?

I work out every weekday morning at the Fishers YMCA between 6:15-7:15 a.m. I’ve maintained a consistent morning workout routine for seven years now.

My worst habit is that I can’t sit still for long. I rarely take time to pause, reflect, or rest.

Do you have a hidden talent?

I am a decent cook. I make a couple restaurant quality dishes -- mainly breakfast foods (chocolate chip pancakes, cinnamon sugar french toast sticks, banana break). My wife and I enjoy taking cooking classes together.

What do you do when you’re stuck?

I either change scenery (go to a different room, location, etc.) for a switch in perspective or ask a colleague, my wife, my kids, or a friend for help.

What is your dream vacation?

Italy, for sure. I would love to take in the rich history, beautiful landscapes, delicious food and potentially connect with family.

How do you relieve stress?

Exercise, music, and family time are my go-to stress relieving strategies. I am so grateful to have a supportive and encouraging wife who brings out the best in me. My kids are so much fun and always make me laugh. My parents and sister have always been there for me to talk or give advice as well.

Hamilton Southeastern softball player possesses a powerful bat

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Hamilton Southeastern High School senior third baseman Payton Fox credits her power surge to weight-lifting classes.

“In the beginning of my junior year, I would hit a lot of doubles that would one-hop the fence,” she said. “Now, I feel all those doubles from last year are just going out. So, getting stronger helped me a lot.”

Through May 8, Fox was hitting .492 with nine homers and 36 runs batted in for the Royals (14-5).

“She’s definitely a contact hitter, but she has some power,” Royals coach David Cook said.

This is Fox’s second year as a starter. She hit .427 with eight homers and 32 RBIs as a junior. She saw some action as a sophomore.

“She works at the game,” Cook said. “She works hard in the weight room. She is a

MEET PAYTON FOX

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan

Favorite subject: Math

Favorite movie: “Pitch Perfect”

Favorite musician: Giveon

smart kid. She just does all the right things. We’ve moved her over to shortstop a couple of times when we’ve had to pinch-hit.”

Cook said Fox, who will play softball for Ball State University next season, is well suited to play third base.

“She has a strong arm, (is) hard-nosed and tough,” Cook said. “She’s not afraid of it because that’s part of the battle there. It’s

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a tough place to play.”

Fox said she tends to lead more by example than being vocal but has worked on

being more vocal.

“I was put in the Student Athletic Council at my school and that’s really helped me a lot,” Fox said. “We talk a lot about leadership in there, and you have to lead by more than example and you have to hold people accountable. I feel like I’ve been trying to work more on that. Being seen as a leader has made me more of one.”

This is her second year on the Student Athletic Council.

After losing in the sectional the past two seasons, Fox said the team goal is to win a sectional title.

“We have a lot of returning starters and we’ve grown a lot closer as a team, and that helps,” she said. “Last year, it took us (some time) to get that team chemistry, and this year we’re coming in with that team chemistry that we left off with.”

Fox started playing softball at age 7.

“I did dance and gymnastics when I was really little and I did soccer, too,” said Fox, who plans to major in architecture at Ball State. “I played basketball from fifth to eighth grade. I realized in high school I was playing basketball for my friends, but I was playing softball because I love the sport.”

Hamilton Southeastern High School senior third baseman Payton Fox will play for Ball State University next season. (Photo courtesy of Sorna Chockalingam)

Fox

New state law establishes rules for library books

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse;

• Considered as a whole, it appeals to the prurient interest in sex of minors;

GOVERNMENT

A new law approved by the Indiana House and Senate and signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb establishes a set of rules regarding school library materials that will allow any community member to ask for specific items to be removed from the shelves.

House Bill 1447 states that by Jan. 1, 2024, school governing bodies shall establish:

• Procedures for each school to prepare a catalog of materials available in the school library.

• Procedures for each school to allow a parent or guardian, or any member of the community to submit a request to remove material from the school library that is obscene or harmful to minors.

• A response and appeal procedure for each school to respond to such requests.

The procedures must require that the governing body review a request at its next public meeting.

The governing bodies also must publish the catalogs and policies on the website of each school, and make hard copies available, according to the bill. Schools may not make material available that contains obscene matter or matter harmful to minors within a school library.

“Obscene” is defined in state statute. Matter or performances are considered obscene if:

• The average person, applying contemporary community standards, finds that the dominant theme of the matter or performance, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in sex;

• The matter or performance depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct; and

• The matter or performance, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

“Harmful to minors” also is defined in state statute. Matter or performances are considered harmful to minors if:

• It describes or represents, in any form,

• It is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable matter for or performance before minors; and

• Considered as a whole, it lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.

In response to the bill, the Indiana Library Federation issued a statement. The ILF said it supports policies that require publicly available policies that create more transparency.

“At the same time, we maintain that eroding the defenses from prosecution in state law will have an extremely chilling effect on librarians’ efforts to make diverse, age-appropriate materials available to students without government interference,” the ILF said in the statement.

Chad Heck with the ILF explained that the bill removes the educational defense to prosecution. The law has allowed a defense to prosecution for providing content harmful to minors if materials have an educational purpose.

“For example, if a library provided sex-ed materials, those would clearly have an educational purpose and so a librarian could not be charged with the crime of providing content harmful to minors,” Heck wrote in an email responding to a request for comment. “Fortunately, 1447 preserved the defense that librarians cannot be charged if they are acting within the scope of their employment. While librarians can still escape charges, other youth-serving professionals may not with the removal of the educational defense.”

Westfield Washington Schools Supt. Paul Kaiser said the district already has a policy in place.

“Since it’s a state mandate, I would encourage the state of Indiana to tell us what books to put in our library instead of the burden being put on us,” Kaiser said. “It’s a state mandate and we’ll follow the guidelines on that.”

We are forever grateful for the honorable, dedicated and talented individuals who teach our children, keep our streets safe, fight fires, protect our nation and keep us well. That is why May is Epcon’s Hometown Heroes Month. Throughout the month, we are celebrating educators, law enforcement, firefighters, military personnel and medical professionals.

When any of these Hometown Heroes* purchase an Epcon home in any of our Hamilton County communities, they will receive $3,000 towards HOA dues. This is our way of saying thank you and showing our gratitude to our heroes.

We invite you to visit our Hamilton County communities to discover single-level living and a low-maintenance lifestyle.

463.219.2632

GOING THE DISTANCE

Westfield woman completes six world major marathons

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Christi Dee’s first-ever running race was the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in 2006, and it wasn’t exactly by choice.

“I was basically peer pressured by good friends into signing up for that race,” she said. “I probably had no business running it, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. Crossing the finish line was kind of like a feeling I loved.”

Dee ran her first full marathon in 2008 in Chicago. The 42-year-old Westfield resident learned at that time that there was a group of marathons called the World Marathon Majors. At that time, there were five majors: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London and New York. Since then, Tokyo has been added and Abbott has come on as a sponsor for all the majors.

“I put those on my list to run one day,” Dee said of the majors. “There are over 12,000 finishers, and less than 3,500 are female. It’s right about 1,300 female finishers in the United States.”

Dee, who is a business and operations manager for Salon01 in Carmel, moved from Carmel to Westfield 13 years ago. She completed her final major by finishing the Boston Marathon April 17.

“To run the Boston Marathon, you have to produce a qualifying time at another marathon, so it’s a pretty speedy time for your age group,” Dee said.

Her friend, Noblesville resident TJ Dailey, coached her to achieve that qualifying time for Boston.

Dailey said Dee overcame injuries in 2021 and 2022 that might have caused other runners to take a break. Instead, Dee achieved her qualifying time at a marathon near Las Vegas in April 2022.

“Her Boston qualifying race was just another example of that determination,” Dailey said. “She needed to run 3 hours, 40 minutes to qualify, which is 8:23 per mile. Her pace over the first 18 miles was 7:50 per mile, but, at that point, it was getting really hot, and she had developed a blister about half the size of her foot due to the extreme road camber. Her pace fell significantly because of that blister, which would typically result in a DNF, or at best, a slow walk-it-in. She did neither of these things and still nailed her time.”

Dee said overcoming injuries has been part of her accomplishments.

“It feels just surreal that this journey that I’ve been on for so long has come to an end,” she said. “But I just relish every mile that it took to get there — the training miles as well as the races. Every single one of the six world majors was unique in its own way, and I love them all.”

Dee said it has been a great way to combine two things she loves: travel and running. In accomplishing the goal, Dee said she wanted to set a good example for her two stepdaughters, Maren, a senior at Westfield High School, and Mia, a sophomore.

Dee said she wanted to show you can complete a huge

goal if you put your mind to it.

After completing the Chicago Marathon in 2008, she completed the New York Marathon for the first time in 2014 and Berlin in 2019. She signed up to compete in London and Tokyo in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled both marathons. She completed London in 2021 and Tokyo in March, six weeks before the Boston Marathon.

She has completed 39 marathons.

“I’ve met an incredible network of people in the running community, especially here in central Indiana,” she said. “Everyone is really supportive of each other.”

Dee said local runners are fortunate to have trails such as the Monon and Midland to train. She also has competed in ultra-marathons, most of which are 50 kilometers, or 31 miles.

“I’ve also run 50-milers,” she said. “I ran 40 miles on my 40th birthday on my own around here on June 25, 2020. I had friends with me parts of the 40 miles.”

NEXT GOAL

Having completed the six major marathons, Christi Dee has established as her next goal to run marathons on the rest of the continents.

She has completed marathons on three continents: North America, Europe and Asia. She has plans to complete marathons in Africa, South America, Australia and Antarctica.

She plans to save Antarctica for last, hopefully the year she turns 50.

In the meantime, she will run the Chicago Marathon for the 13th time in October.

“Chicago holds a special place in my heart, but I think my favorite marathon has been Berlin, which was my first International marathon and I performed really well that day,” she said. “It was amazing to feel like I was taking this giant step forward, eventually reaching my goal.”

ON THE COVER: Christi Dee participated in the Berlin Marathon in 2019. (Photo courtesy of Christi Dee)

Christi Dee with her medal after completing the Boston Marathon in April. (Photos courtesy of Christi Dee)

Christi Dee displays her six star medals for completing the major marathons.

COMMUNITY An keen eye on sports

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Dry eye has been a growing concern in the eye care industry.

VISION

Dr. John Abrams, an ophthalmologist, said patients experiencing dry eyes are like complaints of back pain to a general doctor.

“There’s lots of causes of back pain. There are no great diagnostics for it,” said Abrams, whose main Abrams EyeCare Center is in Carmel. “You kind of take a stab at what might help them, and then it doesn’t work, and they try something else. Well, dry eyes have been like that for us for a long time. We’ve not had really good diagnostics at all for it.”

Abrams said approximately 40 percent of his patients have symptoms of dry eye, and he believes much of it is caused by environmental factors, medications, an aging population and hormonal changes in women, or LASIK procedures.

Abrams, a former Carmel resident who now lives in Westfield, helped co-found a company in Israel that developed the Tear Film Imager, a diagnostic tool, which is now being used in his Carmel office. The tear film covers the ocular surface and helps protect and lubricate eyes.

“So, we’ve developed this camera that takes a picture of the tear film, and it does it down to such small amounts down to a nanometer, which is a very, very small amount,” Abrams said. “We can actually image the layers of the tear film, and nobody’s been able to do that before. So, the thought process of this camera and this technology is that it will help with the diagnosis. But that’s not really what I think the main importance of it is. It might allow us to see what layer of the tear film has the problem and direct treatment to that problem, so we would have more specific treatment. We can monitor our treatment and see if the tear film has improved or the area we were addressing has improved.”

Abrams said the FDA-registered device is not ready for use in any office, because it’s too costly and is built by hand and not fully automated. Abrams said product designers are working on automation now.

“I have the only one in private practice anywhere in the world,” he said. “Most of them are in university ophthalmology departments for research purposes.”

Abrams said a lot of drug companies have purchased them because they want to show how their new dry eye drugs or therapies work.

Abrams said his office has just started using it. It can’t be submitted to insurance yet because it’s too new.

“We’re probably going to do it for next to nothing to get it out there,” he said. “It could revolutionize how dry eyes are treated and how people are cared for going forward.”

Kylene Polhamus, an Abrams EyeCare optometrist, said she is already using the Tear Film Imager with patients.

“It is very interesting to see how my patients’ symptoms correlate with what reports we get from the TFI,” she said. “Then (it helps) direct our treatment and monitor and manage how they’re responding to the treatments. It’s really quite user friendly. It’s not not difficult to use. It’s quick, non-invasive.”

Polhamus said dry eye is generally a multifactorial eye disease. Symptoms include vision fluctuations, dryness, burning, itching and watery discharge.

“Being on computers and our phones, we are not blinking as much as we used to,” she said.

Abrams said he added Polhamus to the practice about six months ago because of her experience with dry eye treatment. Polhamus, who had been working in the northern part of Indiana, was moving to the area and looking for work

“Dry eye has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember,” the Fishers resident said.

Dr. Kylene Polhamus, an Abrams EyeCare optometrist, uses Tear Film Imager. (Photo by Adam Seif)

Firm to relocate to 1st on Main

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Law firm McCarter & English has announced it is set to become one of the first tenants at 1st on Main, a mixed-use development under construction on the northeast corner of Main Street and Range Line Road in the heart of Carmel’s Arts & Design District.

LAW OFFICE

Katherine Althoff and Amy Fisher joined McCarter & English in May 2022 when the East Coast firm decided to expand into the Indianapolis area. Althoff and Fisher serve as co-office managing partners of the Indiana office in Carmel, where they work out of a coworking space at Industrious, which is less than a mile south of 1st on Main.

Althoff said the firm is expected to move to its new 9,100-square-foot space Sept. 1.

“We are very excited to see the finished product and have enjoyed being involved with our architects and designers in selecting finishes and other interior details,” Fisher said. “That process has been underway since the beginning of the year. The designers were able to accommodate our

aesthetic, modern-industrial style.”

Althoff said the local management at Industrious has been amazing.

“The space has suited our needs for individual offices, collaboration space and on-demand conference rooms,” Althoff said. “The Industrious space, as well as our upcoming 1st on Main offices, facilitate a healthy lifestyle, whether that is walks on the Monon at lunch or riding a bike to work, with access to showers and other amenities.”

Learn more at mccarter.com/locations/ indianapolis.

ClusterTruck returns for area food deliveries

By Edward Redd edward@youarecurrent.com

After a brief hiatus, ClusterTruck is back to making deliveries to the Carmel and Fishers areas.

FOOD

In the early spring of 2022, ClusterTruck had a mutual agreement with Kroger to end their partnership because of differences in business goals.

ClusterTruck President Janet Monroe said it paused delivery services in Carmel and Fishers until it could find new locations for its kitchens.

ClusterTruck ensures fresh food by making quick deliveries to its customers, according to Monroe. Short delivery routes are designed to minimize driving time.

Monroe said she was unable to find new kitchens suited for a restaurant but wanted to start delivering to customers.

“We decided, you know what? We have this kitchen here (Carmel and Fishers area). Let’s just serve the customers we have out there in Carmel and Fishers and see how it

goes,” Monroe said.

That was toward the end of March, Monroe said, and now the company is using the kitchen at 4737 East 82nd St. to deliver to the two communities.

Business has returned to the entire Carmel zone, and nearly half of the former Fishers zone. The location also offers a pickup option.

For more, visit clustertruck.com.

ClusterTruck’s Mushroom Matar comes with fresh roasted mushrooms and green peas served in creamy and savory house-made sauce, seasoned with Indian spices. It is served with rice and topped with cilantro. (Photo by Edward Redd)

From left, McCarter & English attorneys Amy Fisher, Jordan Kidd, Kim Metzger, Katherine Althoff, Sandy Carr and Allyson Emley at 1st on Main, which will be the site of the firm’s new office. (Photo courtesy of McCarter and English)

You’ve got (a lot) of mail

Commentary by Terry Anker

“Thank you for calling,” mollifies the monotone automated attendant, “the number you have reached has a mailbox that is full and cannot take messages.” What are we supposed to do now? How can someone be so inattentive as to not take a moment to delete a few older communications? In our mind’s eye, we see the physical mailbox at the curb stuffed with paper, exploding from its open door and piled on the ground. Is the good homeowner on an extended vacation and neglected to notify the U.S. Postal Service of their prolonged absence? Are they trapped in their home, fallen and unable to get up? Should we notify the authorities? Happily, it rarely comes to this predicament. Most often, folks empty the tin can on a post at driveway’s end with some regularity. Many even enjoy the walk and retrieval. In these digital times, we have come to relish less the incoming ping of “You’ve got mail,” often discovering in it more annoyance than joy. Routinely, callers are met with an outgoing voice message

ESSAY

that proclaims — this mailbox is not monitored, and the interaction will not receive a response. Maybe they want us to text them. Maybe they are simply information overloaded. The crammed inbox rejection is a defense mechanism from the endless onslaught of interaction.

Last week, Microsoft shared that a personal account was dangerously close to running out of space. It reported 400 megabytes available out of 50 gigabytes (if you ask, the internet tells us that to be about 0.8 percent). How is it possible? The calendar goes back awhile, and the old messages list is lengthy. But still, how did it get so bad? Could it be time to let it overflow? What’s the harm of locking the door and hiding inside? Would anyone even notice?

Couldn’t be critically catty — darn it!

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

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

Don’t let your back hold you back.

Back pain, neck pain, numbness in your extremities, and movement disorders can turn everyday tasks into painful challenges.

With self-referral appointment options, Community Health Network makes it simple to start your road to recovery. Find personalized care for your pain at Community.

Learn more about your neurosurgery options at eCommunity.com/neuro

Or call 317.621.2727 to schedule an initial evaluation.

HUMOR

I love weddings. The rituals, the pageantry, the occasional drama. Mostly, I enjoy the people-watching and the opportunity to silently pass judgment on anything and everything, from the food to the timing to the bar placement. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help myself. My mom owned a catering business when I was a kid and is still the queen of party planning. I come by my critical cattiness very naturally.

Anyhoo, my husband Doo and I recently attended a fantastic event where, honestly, I couldn’t find much to complain about. For starters, the ceremony was adorable. The two ring bearers were dressed as mini-security officers complete with briefcases and tactical earpieces. One of the flower girls decided she’d had enough and left mid-vows, just sauntered up the hill and disappeared around the house. And it was the perfect length of time, not too long, not too short. No full Catholic Mass here!

Cocktail hour was also great. Doo and I stuffed our faces with mini mozzarella balls and gorgonzola cheese and met a couple who’d known Doo when he was young. “You were that tiny boy with glasses!” And it didn’t hurt that both the weather and venue were gorgeous. Partly cloudy, temps in the mid-70s, and a classical revival mansion circa 1915? Yes, please!

The only real annoyance was one of our dinner companions, an older gentleman who, when he learned that I’m a U.S. history teacher, immediately asked if I taught that “woke stuff.” Oh, lord, here we go. We have a couple more weddings lined up this spring, so stay tuned, friends. Hopefully, they’ll be spectacularly awful! Peace out.

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

AT WESTFIELD FOOT AND ANKLE, YOU’RE MORE THAN JUST A NUMBER

Sick of this sick room

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

SLIDERS?” suggested Mary Ellen.

She ended up leaving all my meals on a table in the hallway. I had to exit my office, wearing my mask, and then return to my room, quickly shutting the door.

HUMOR

We just got back from Washington, D.C. I was there for a reunion with old college friends who I worked with on The Hatchet, our award-winning newspaper back in the ‘60s at The George Washington University. I was a humor columnist, and that’s where I got my start in journalism.

My wife Mary Ellen and I had a super time, but I hope the event wasn’t a super-spreader. I came home with COVID-19.  Who did I get it from? I don’t know, but even if I did, I am a good reporter. I would never reveal my source.

When we left for D.C., I was excited about the get-together, but meeting up with COVID-19 again was not the reunion I was looking forward to. This was my second bout with the illness.

When we arrived home and I complained of a sore throat, Mary Ellen blamed it on my incessant talking for three days, but she made me take a COVID-19 test. When it was positive, she panicked because she had her own reunion coming up and didn’t want to miss it.

The first thing she did was isolate me in my home office and forbid me to leave it. All our communication was through the closed door. I was never to open it. For a guy who is hard of hearing, this was tough.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR DINNER?” my wife asked loudly.

“Does it have to slip under the door?” I asked.

“YES, HOW ABOUT A DOZEN WHITE CASTLE

“HOW’S THAT SLOPPY JOE?” she asked.

“I dripped a lot all over the carpet.”

“DICK, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE OFF YOUR MASK WHEN YOU ARE EATING.”

Mary Ellen would often ask what I was doing to keep busy. I told her I was watching the National Geographic special about elephants.

“I thought we would watch that together?” She said.

“OK, I’LL WATCH BASEBALL,” I told her. “YOU HATE BASEBALL.”

“DICK, WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?”

“I forgot who was hard of hearing.”

By the third day, I missed seeing Mary Ellen. I heard the shower running, so I figured it would be safe to talk to her outside the glass sliding door. When she saw me, she used her finger to scroll a message on the fogged-up glass. I hoped it would be a note about how much she also missed seeing me. It said: GO AWAY! OK, this was not a “Love, Actually” moment, but at least we were communicating.

I am better now, and Mary Ellen is headed for her reunion. Before she left, I wished I had asked if I could come out of my room.

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

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.

“I didn’t get anything else out of the other doctors I saw except fuse my ankle. Dr. Sullivan took the time to talk with me, examine my foot and ankle, offer the custom made brace as a choice, and explain all of my options. I can’t say enough about him.”

David Ferrin, ankle and wound patient

“I came home with COVID-19. Who did I get it from? I don’t know, but even if I did, I am a good reporter. I would never reveal my source.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

Carmel car collector to sell vehicles to raise funds for nonprofit projects

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Craig Dobbs has more than 30 cars in his collection, but that number will soon dwindle.

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’

“Beauty and the Beast” is set to run from May 18 through July 9 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

‘AN EVENING WITH NATALIE MERCHANT’

PHILANTHROPY

“Some of the cars I’ve had for so long,” he said. “If I haven’t driven it for four or five years, I’ll probably sell it.”

The longtime Carmel resident is consigning three cars to sell at Mecum Auctions’ 36th Original Spring Classic at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The auction began May 12 and runs through May 20. Dobbs is selling a 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback, a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport and a 1970 Chevrolet Nova Super Sport. He estimates the Chevelle will sell for about $70,000. He also is selling two other cars to private buyers.

Dobbs founded Children’s TherAplay, which uses hippotherapy to help children with disabilities. Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational and speech therapy that uses the natural gait of and movement of a horse to provide motor and sensory input. The nonprofit was created in 2001, using Dobbs’ Lucky Farms in Carmel.

“I’m hoping to raise around $300,000 between the five cars,” he said. “We’re doing it for scholarships for the kids who can’t afford TherAplay. Even though all the kids are supposed to have insurance, it doesn’t always work that way. We’ll even pay the deductible for the kids.”

The other objective is to rehab the old Jimtown High School gym to make it a community center for children.

TherAplay started with two horses, one therapist and a barn helper. Dobbs said there are 16 physical and occupational therapists, two speech therapists and two doctors. Dobbs said there is a waiting list of 80 to 100 children.

“We are trying to whittle that down with some of the expansion we did,” Dobbs said. “There are plans for a community outreach center next year.”

Dobbs had a 1970 Nova Super Sport when he was in high school similar to the one he is selling, but it was canary yellow.

Dobbs, a managing director with the investment firm Graystone Consulting, has cars stored at his other properties, in Kosciusko County, in a maintenance facility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Florida.

Dobbs purchased six cars from one Mecum show in Indianapolis, the only time he has made purchases at that show.

“Mecum has been good to me,” he said.

Many of Dobbs’ purchases have come from estate sales.

“I’ve sold and upgraded a little bit of what I have in the collection,” Dobbs said.

“I’m trying to find more things that I will drive.”

Dobbs, 58, owns several muscle cars.

“When I was younger, I wanted to buy a GTO Judge convertible and I have one now,” he said. “I grew up with them and couldn’t afford them, but I love to have them. The Corvette I have is 1964, the year I was born. My uncle was married that year and he built that. He sold it to me for $20,000, which is what he had into it, with the promise I couldn’t sell it until he passed away. I have a 1967 Lincoln Continental with suicide door.”

For more, visit mecum.com.

“An Evening with Natalie Merchant: Keep Your Courage Tour” will stop at 7:30 p.m. May 16 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘ALICE IN WONDERLAND’

Central Indiana Dance Ensemble will present “Alice in Wonderland” May 20-21 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit cidedance.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Jeremiah Cosner will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 18 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. A performance of Jim Caruso’s Cast Party with Billy Stritch at the Piano is set for 7:30 p.m. May 19-20. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘LOW BRASS TO THE FORE’

Indiana Wind Symphony presents “Low Brass to the Fore” at 6:30 p.m. May 21 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit indianawindsymphony.org.

Art of Wine set for May 20 -- Art of Wine returns to the Carmel Arts & Design District from 5 to 10 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend the event, which includes entertainment, unique art and shops and restaurants. Visitors must be 21 or older to purchase wine or wine tasting tickets. Wine tasting tickets and the VIP prime jour tickets are available at CarmelArtofWine.com. More than a dozen Indiana wineries will be on site with a variety of wines to purchase or to sample with a wine tasting ticket. The wineries will offer reds, whites and several different fruit flavors. There will also be several local food vendors available including 317 Charcuterie, Rita’s Italian Ice. Bier Brewery will also be in attendance selling beer as an alternative to wine.

Craig Dobbs with a 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback. (Photo by Adam Seif)

‘Beauty and the Beast’ set

By Mark Ambrogi  mark@youarecurrent.com

MUSICAL

Elizabeth Stark Payne treasures the family shows at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.

“Maybe because I have young children or maybe because I’m still a kid at heart,” Payne said.

Payne will direct “Beauty and the Beast,” which runs May 18 to July 9 at Beef & Boards in Indianapolis.

“Being surrounded by talented people all day, creating Disney magic, envisioning those little kids dressed as Belle or Beast with smiles, what’s not to love and look forward to?” Payne said. “I stage managed the last production back in 2016 while I was pregnant with my first daughter. My mother (Suzanne Stark) played Mrs. Potts, so it was a special time. I also did props and was the company manager for this and the previous 2005 production.”

Payne, a Fishers resident and Carmel High School graduate, is a Beef & Boards co-owner along with her father Doug Stark

and two brothers.

“Every theater has their own special quirks that may be considered challenges, but I like to think of it as thinking outside the box,” Payne said. “Many Disney productions have a lot of spectacle to them, meaning big sets, big costumes and lots of effects. We are an intimate venue, so we don’t necessarily have the space for what you would find in a big Broadway proscenium house. So, I like to think outside the box to give the audience the spectacle they want within the intimate setting. I think it works out great, especially because it gets the kids up close and personal to the characters.”

Payne said “Beauty and the Beast” is probably her second-favorite musical behind “The Little Mermaid.”

“I have three daughters and they each like something different, but my youngest, who is 3, wears a Belle dress weekly,” Payne said. “I’m not kidding.

The last Disney show she directed after “The Little Mermaid” in 2019 was “Newsies” in 2021.

For more, visit beefandboards.com.

Bootlegged copies of early rock and roll, blues and jazz recordings that were etched into used X-ray film for underground sharing among music fans in the former Soviet Union, where Western music was illegal. (Photo courtesy of Great American Songbook)

Bone records on display

By Mark Ambrogi  mark@youarecurrent.com

The Great American Songbook Foundation’s most unusual display has fittingly found a home at Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Carmel.

EXHIBITS

Forté Sports Medicine is a title sponsor for the exhibit, which features bootlegged copies of early rock ‘n’ roll, blues and jazz recordings that were etched into used X-ray film for underground sharing among music fans in the former Soviet Union, where Western music was illegal. Although the film is cut into the disc, with a cigarette used to burn a spindle hole in the center, the images of ribs and other bones are still clearly visible.

In 1958, an American doctorate student, Richard Judy, joined one of the first exchange programs with Moscow State University. When he arrived in the USSR, he quickly discovered that Russian students were listening to American music available on flimsy X-rays from back-alley merchants. Judy was fascinated by the bone records and bought several during his time in the

USSR. The Indianapolis doctor donated six or seven bone records to the Great American Songbook Foundation in 2013. After Judy died in September 2020, his wife, Jane Lommel, donated the rest of the 18-record collection.

“Prior to the donation of the Judys, I was not aware of bone records,” said Michael Feinstein, founder of the Greater Songbook Foundation. “It was extraordinary to learn not only about the history but the technology and how they figured a way to bring music to the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It’s amazing how music, culture and history all conflate.”

Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics CEO Marty Rosenberg said his company was looking for something that resonates with the community besides sports.

“We have X-rays and we’re an orthopedic group,” Rosenberg said. “We have an opportunity to partner with a local organization with a national footprint. We’re an independent group and this is the spirit of independence. It’s been the perfect partnership.”

There also is a display in the south lobby of the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

Payne

Concert all about that brass

By Mike Beas editorial@youarecurrent.com

Charles Conrad recalls being wide-eyed the first time he watched and heard trumpeter Doc Severinsen perform musical magic.

A 12-year-old in the mid-1960s, Conrad, like so many others during television’s three-channel era, had turned the dial to watch “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” on NBC.

Something about Severinsen’s performance clicked with Conrad, who all these years later is confident the Indiana Wind Symphony’s upcoming concert, “Low Brass to the Fore,” has the potential to inspire current and even potential tuba players in the same manner.

The Indiana Wind Symphony concert is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 21 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

“The biggest thing is that we’re doing a premiere of a new work,” said Conrad, musical director of the Indiana Wind Symphony. “It is a tuba concerto, and the soloist is Tony Kniffen of the Indianapolis Symphony

MUSIC BALLET

Orchestra. The conductor is James Beckel, and he’s a former member of the Indianapolis Symphony.”

The new piece is “Look Through a Window.” Beckel, now retired, had been with the ISO since 1969.

Kniffen has been the principal tuba player with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra since 1997.

“It is a spectacular new work that every young tuba player should hear. They will be inspired by it,” Conrad said.

For more, visit indianawindsymphony.org.

Dancer does double duty

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Aurora Ausserer is not only playing the lead role in Indiana Ballet Conservatory’s “Fairy Doll,” but she is teaching the younger dancers.

“That, honestly, is more rewarding to me than the dancing for the shows like this,” Ausserer said. “I just see myself when I was 3 and 4 (years old) and being able to help them get on stage and do that (is rewarding). In the piece we’re doing this year, I’m dancing with them, so it’s really fun to be able to share that with them.”

Ausserer has the title role in “Fairy Doll,” set for 1 and 4 p.m. June 3 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The classical piece is about a mechanical doll that comes to life.

Dancers ages 3 to 7 play bunnies and porcelain dolls in the Carmel-based IBC production.

“I’m leaving this year, so it’s like a last

hurrah with all my friends and also all my students,” Ausserer said.

Ausserer, who graduated high school from online classes in December 2022, became a full-time teacher this year.

“It’s making sure they’re working hard and learning but also falling in love with ballet,” she said. “At that age, it’s what it’s all about. You can’t scream and yell at them too much. You just want to nurture their love for it. It’s been fun to see all the little kids get excited for their roles.”

There is more acting in this show than “The Nutcracker” and other smaller IBC shows, Ausserer said.

“The technical stuff is fun to work on, but being able to tell the storylines through acting and working with lots of different people and characters to make it all come to life is really fun,” she said.

Luke Derksen, a Carmel resident, plays the roles of the Postman and Harlequin Doll.

“It’s fun to do a lot of different things,” he said.

For more, visit indianaballetconservatory. org.

Tony Kniffen will perform as a tuba soloist with the Indiana Wind Symphony. (Photo courtesy of Indiana Wind Symphony)

Ausserer

Derksen

Carmel Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director Jenna Hymes said 2023-24 offers variety. (Photo courtesy of CSO.)

CSO’s 2023-24 schedule features variety

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

dy Mlady, our 2022 Whiskers d Pet" ckage

CONCERTS

Carmel Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director Janna Hymes sees the 2023-24 schedule as having something for everyone.

The orchestra will present a total of 13 performances during its 48th season, beginning with its traditional patriotic concert July 4 at CarmelFest at Carmel Gazebo. All other CSO concerts are scheduled at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts.

“What I like about the Masterworks is there is a wonderful array of music throughout the season,” Hymes said. “Similar to this year, I programmed familiar classics like ‘Beethoven’s 7th,’ with new works like our opening piece, a commissioned work by Caroline Ahn. Our Carmel audience will hear an epic choir piece with ‘Verdi’s Requiem’ and a Charlie Chaplin silent film performed to live music. These are just some of the dynamic offerings for the 2023-24 season.”

The Holiday Pops’ two concerts will feature Broadway veteran Ben Davis and teenage vocalist Amelia Wray, who grew up in Carmel.

“Any time I can present a young, polished performer to our audience I am thrilled because I know what it means for them as they are launching their career,” Hymes said.

Other highlights include visits by Cirque de la Symphonie and Jeans ‘n Classics in 2024,

“I know the Cirque de la Symphonie has

stunning music and that the artists are equally magical and mesmerizing,” Hymes said. “This concert will be different from anything we have ever done and a spectacle for our audience. From our recent pops concerts, I know the Jeans ‘n Classics concert will be fun, upbeat and pure joy. People love this music because it is familiar, danceable, brings back memories and they know the lyrics.”

The schedule includes: Oct. 7: Masterworks 1: Modern Classics with guest artist Gabriela Martinez, piano; Oct. 22: Sounds Exciting! – Classical Kids Live: Gershwin’s Magic Key; Nov. 11: Masterworks 2: Unity, Veterans and America (selections by Coleman, Ravel, Ives and Still); Dec. 10: Holiday Pops! Featuring Indiana Ballet Conservatory and Second Presbyterian Church Choir; Jan. 27, 2024: Artistry of Cirque de la Symphonie; Jan. 28: Family Fun Concert with guest conductor Thomas Chen of Carmel High School; Feb. 10: Masterworks 3: Symphony Goes to the Movies with guest artist Francisco Fullana, violin; March 16: Masterworks 4: The Firebird & Bohemian Delight (featuring selections by Smetana, Stravinsky and Dvorak); April 13: Masterworks 5: Verdi Requiem featuring the Anderson University choirs; April 21: Side-by-Side with CHS Orchestras and May 4: Jeans ‘n Classics “Soulful” showcasing 50 years of R&B, Motown, funk, disco and pop selections.

Season tickets will be available soon at the Palladium Fifth Third Bank Box Office, 317-843-3800 or at thecenterpresents.org. Tickets for individual performances will go on sale this summer. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.

, g ack for a night of fun, including:

Wine, beer, bourbon & vodka tastings. A Silent Auction featuring experiences of a lifetime. Adoptable animals just waiting to steal your heart.

Friday, June 16, 2023

6 - 9:00 p.m.

Embassy Suites Noblesville Tickets available at dWhiskers.com

Benefiting the Humane Society for Hamilton County

Blueprint for Improvement: Chic Carmel kitchen

Commentary by Larry Greene

Built in 2000 in Carmel’s Fairgreen Trace subdivision, this home’s owner was ready to update and upgrade the kitchen. A new appliance layout, optimizations and fresh design aesthetic helped transform this room from cramped to chic. THE BLUEPRINT

• The dark backsplash in a herringbone pattern provides the perfect contrast to the chic white cabinets. Brass hardware and fixtures give the space a touch of warmth and luxury.

• Decorative columns were replaced with a cabinet wall, increasing storage space and overall square footage of the kitchen.

• A reworked layout for the appliances improved both form and function. Placing the range in a central location and moving the sink to an adjacent wall helped improve the room’s sight lines and create a more efficient workflow.

• A new, larger island allows for additional prep, serving and gathering space, for both daily use and entertaining.

• Extending the cabinets to the ceiling adds visual height, making the ceiling feel higher and the room feel more spacious.

LEGAL NOTICE OF STANDARD CONTRACT RIDER NO. 52 LINE EXTENSION – ADVANCE DEPOSIT DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC

DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Duke Energy Indiana”) hereby provides notice that on or around May 12, 2023

Duke Energy Indiana in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10 will submit its Standard Contract Rider No. 52, Line Extension – Advance Deposit (“Standard Contract Rider 52”), to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) for approval under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines. This filing of Standard Contract Rider 52 provides updated terms for customer deposit requirements for line extensions for High Load Factor and Low Load Factor customers.

This submission is expected to be approved approximately thirty days after filing, unless an objection is made. Any objections may be made by contacting the Secretary of the Commission, or Randall C. Helmen of the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers:

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission 101 W. Washington St. Suite 1500 East Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407 317-232-2703

Duke Energy Indiana, LLC

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor PNC Center 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-232-2494.

By: Stan Pinegar, President

LEGAL NOTICE OF STANDARD CONTRACT RIDER NO. 58 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC

DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Duke Energy Indiana”) hereby provides notice that on or around May 18, 2023 Duke Energy Indiana in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10 will submit its Standard Contract Rider No. 58, Economic Development (“Standard Contract Rider 58”), to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) for approval under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines.

This filing of Standard Contract Rider 58 allows the Economic Development reduction period to be extended from five years to ten years for customers with > 20MW demand. This filing also updates the repayment terms for customers who cease operations or fail to meet performance terms. This submission is expected to be approved approximately thirty days after filing, unless an objection is made. Any objections may be made by contacting the Secretary of the Commission, or Randall C. Helmen of the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers: Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission 101 W. Washington St. Suite 1500 East Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407 317-232-2703

Purr more and snarl less

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

words can change the trajectory of the conversation, for good or for better.

GRAMMAR GUY

This is the age-old debate. Dogs tend to be extroverted and needy, while cats are generally independent-yet-murderous. Pick your poison.

My wife and I made the ill-informed decision to get a dog last year. After our third child was born, we thought it would be a great idea to add a puppy to the mix. Enter Socks the cockapoo. Socks is cute — bless his heart — but he’s not that smart.

At this point, I’m not going to stay neutral on the dog-cat divide, nor am I going to pick one or the other. Rather, I choose the third option: neither. I don’t think I’m a pet person, although I am the primary person to feed the dog, clean up after the dog and take the dog to vet and grooming appointments. Go figure.

Right now, you’re wondering, ‘Hey, Grammar Guy, what’s the word?’ Today we’re tackling the dog-eat-dog world of snarl words and purr words. You see, when it comes to arguments (like cats versus dogs), snarl words and purr

A snarl word is like a growling dog — baring its teeth to try to intimidate and demean its opponent. You’ll see snarl words in online debates and political… ahem…discourse. When people throw around terms such as “bigot,” “fascist,” “terrorist” and “pineapple-on-pizza lover,” they’re lobbing snarl words like they’re verbal grenades. Whether snarl words hit their targets or not, they never win the war. In fact, these growling dogs only further the divide between the opposing parties. Remember that when you’re debating politics with your Uncle Rik at Thanksgiving dinner.

Purr words, on the other hand, are used to establish a positive and calming tone in a conversation. Think of Mr. Rogers or Bob Ross entering into an argument.

A visit to the Morgan Library & Museum

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed proposals for Westfield Trails Projects will be received by the City of Westfield, Indiana, at the Westfield Public Works Building, 2706 E. 171st Street, Westfield, Indiana, 46074, until 1:00 p.m., local time, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bids received later than the above time and date will be returned unopened. No conditional bids will be considered.

The Westfield Trails Projects include the 156th Street and Westfield Blvd Trail Connectors Project and the Midlands Trace Trail Project. The 156th Street and Westfield Blvd Trail Project is generally grading, asphalt trail construction to connect existing trails, drainage structures, concrete driveway construction, and mulched seeding. The Midlands Trace Trail Project is grading and asphalt trail construction to connect existing trail segments.

Bids shall be properly and completely executed on the Proposal Form obtainable at the office of the Owner. Each bid shall be accompanied by Form 96 Contractor’s Bid for Public Works, including NonCollusion Affidavit as prescribed by the State Board of Accounts, completely filled out, signed, and notarized as required by the statutes of the State of Indiana, Section III of Part II of Form 96 titled “Contractor ’s Financial Statement,” and acceptable bid security. The bid security shall be a certified check made payable to the Owner or satisfactory bond by an incorporated surety company in good standing and qualified to do business in the State of Indiana in an amount equal to 5% of the bid, said deposit being for the purpose of ensuring the execution of the contract for which bid is made. Any bid not accompanied by the above required items shall be deemed to be a non-responsive bid by the Owner.

No consideration for escalation on prices can be considered; therefore, contractors are advised to not include any such escalation clauses in their proposal for this project.

The Contractors to whom work is awarded shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, each in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price, and they shall be acceptable to the City of Westfield, Indiana.

No bidder may withdraw their proposal within a period of 60 days following the date set for receiving bids. The City of Westfield, Indiana reserves the right to retain the three lowest bid proposals for a period of not more than 90 days, and said proposal shall remain in full force and effect during said time. The City of Westfield, Indiana further reserves the right to waive informalities and to award the contract to the lowest and most responsible bidder or bidders, all to the advantage of the City of Westfield, Indiana, or to reject all Proposals.

The Contract Documents and drawings will be available to all interested parties from: Repro Graphix, 437 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or at eplanroom.reprographix.com.

Please direct all questions regarding this project to Michael Pearce, City of Westfield, Department of Public Works, 2706 E. 171st Street, Westfield, IN 46074, (317) 473-2917, mpearce@westfield.in.gov

By: Michael Pearce, City of Westfield

Commentary by Don Knebel

uscripts, Egyptian art, Renaissance paintings, Chinese porcelains and much more.

TRAVEL

Today, in our continuing series about New York City’s often-overlooked gems, we visit the Morgan Library & Museum, formerly the Pierpont Morgan Library, located in the Murray Hill neighborhood on Madison Avenue between 36th and 37th streets.

John Pierpont Morgan was a financier during the so-called “Gilded Age.” Between 1890 and 1913, his company organized or financed 42 major American corporations. In about 1890, Pierpont, as he preferred to be called, began collecting important manuscripts and works of art from around the world. In 1902, he engaged McKim, Mead & White, renowned architects, to design a building in the same block as his home to hold his collection. When completed in 1906, the classic marble building cost $1.2 million (about $30 million today) and featured marble blocks cut so precisely that they did not require mortar between them. The library opened in 1910, with Belle da Costa Greene, the African American heroine of 2022’s “The Personal Librarian,” its librarian and curator. By the time of Morgan’s death in 1913, his massive collection included ancient man-

After Morgan’s widow, Frances, died in 1924, his son, John Pierpont Morgan Jr., known as “Jack,” created a public institution to own the library and its collections. Today, the Morgan Library & Museum houses the nation’s second-largest collection of musical manuscripts, including the score for “Symphony No. 35,” autographed by Mozart, and Bob Dylan’s notes for the lyrics to “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Other highlights include a 15th-century picture Bible from France, a 15th-century Gutenberg Bible, the journal Henry David Thoreau used in writing “Walden Pond,” and a manuscript of “A Christmas Carol,” with Charles’ Dickens’ handwritten changes. My personal favorites include 1-inch cylindrical seals from ancient Sumer that can be rolled to create detailed, three-dimensional images.

Inside the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City.

(Photos by Don Knebel)

Exterior of the Morgan Library & Museum.

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

Curtis Honeycutt is a national award-winning, syndicated humor writer. Connect with him on Twitter (@curtishoneycutt) or at curtishoneycutt.com.

1. Fox’s feet

5. Panda Express request

10. Joe’s Butcher Shop cut

14. Tropical fish

15. Be indebted

16. Mackey Arena crowd sound

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20. Ambulance letters

21. Hung around

22. Covered in foliage

24. Butler frat letters

28. Moving ahead

31. Utah state flowers

32. Achilles heel, metaphorically 36. GPS reading 37. Sky light

39. Cut into cubes

40. Observe

41. Greek letters that sound like “news”

42. Residence

44. Rundown

46. Patella

50. How Hoosier Lottery numbers are chosen

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55. Stages a historical event at Conner Prairie

58. I-69 semi

59. Antique Fan Museum site

62. Indiana Fever’s Cannon

63. Against

64.

27. Chicago-to-Indy dir.

29. Carpenter’s groove

30. Milk choice

33. NHS subj.

34. Quick kiss

35. Norse god

37. Bird feeder fill

38. Drug addict

40. Mellencamp song: “Women ___”

41. CIA relative

42. Force measures

43. Pastures

45. “Shucks!”

47. Museum of Miniature Houses site

48. Indy Zoo inhabitant

49. Missionaries’ targets

51. Trump’s Secretary of Education

52. Chilling

53. Neighbor of Sicily

Eightsome

65. Tilt

66. “Hey, over here!”

67. Clothing lines

68. Misfortunes Down

1. Grapefruit kin

2. Tarzan’s “kin”

3. Hallmark Ornament Museum site

4. That girl

5. Polite denial

6. County adjacent to Putnam, Morgan, Monroe, Greene and Clay

7. I-465 ramp sign

8. ___ throat

9. Attendees

10. Baby’s bed

11. Texans on a Colts scoreboard

12. Hoosier Park feedbag morsel

13. Not post19. Dillinger bank job

21. Old harp

23. Babe in the woods

25. Storybook monster

26. “___ to self...”

Jobs on a Film Set

Hoosier Crops

Indiana Peony Festival Site

56. Chowder bit

57. ___ Montana Grill 59. Electrical jolt

Elected ones

61. NBA tiebreakers

62. Col. Lilly Answers on Page

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