May 30, 2023 — Zionsville

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Residents decry response to lighting violations

By Natalie Gargiulo Natalie@youarecurrent.com

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TOWN NEWS

Residents of a Zionsville neighborhood to the southwest of East 300 South and U.S. 421 have been speaking out against lighting violations since `construction of a gas station at Appaloosa Crossing earlier this year.

The complaints are about lighted storefront signage in the plaza and lighting on a BP gas station canopy.

The Sonatrach Sonarco Oil and Gas Project was cited by the town April 6 for using .13-foot-candle above the allowable level at the property line, according to Cameron Harris, zoning technician for the town. Foot candle is a measurement of light intensity.

According to Section 194.113 of a Zionsville zoning code ordinance, lighting shall not cause illumination beyond any lot line or onto any right-of-way, based upon the zoning district of the real estate on the opposite side of such lot line or right-of-way, in excess of 0.1-foot candle.

Residents say the lighting issue has disrupted their quality of life and privacy because the bright lights shine directly into their homes and backyards as at night.

“Not only is the lighting an eyesore, but it represents a broken promise made by zoning members of a strict adherence to no-light trespass into our homes,” resident Alison Bash said. “Despite repeated complaints, the entire development continues to flout established regulations, pushing boundaries at every turn. The gas station is just one example of this.”

Appaloosa Crossing is bound by Section 194.113 of a Zionsville zoning code ordinance, which outlines specific standards and requirements for outdoor lighting fixtures in Zionsville and the Michigan Road overlay, accoding to Cameron Harris, zoning technician for the Town of Zionsville.

In code 194.113, all lights within gas station canopies and adjacent to residential areas shall be of a “down lighting” type with the light element completely shielded on all sides and top. According to Harris, Appaloosa Crossing is required to follow the code.

Sonatrach Sonarco Oil and Gas Project had 10 days after the citation to correct the issue.

According to section 194.113 lighting standards, the fine for a first citation for a civil

zoning violation is $50. A second citation is $100, a third is $150 and a fourth is $200. Each additional citation is $300, not to exceed $2,500.

The operator of the gas station, Paul Singh, confirmed that Sonatrach Sonarco Oil and Gas Project received the citation but has not been fined. Harris declined to say why a fine was not issued.

“We are planning to fix the lighting soon and have plans to uphold the appropriate lighting standards,” said Singh, who declined to give a timeline for when the lighting violation would be corrected.

Despite sending emails and letters since the beginning of March to the Zionsville Town Council, some residents said no action has

been taken to address their concerns. In response to the concerns, town council members have stated they are aware of the situation and are working with the gas station operator to address the lighting violation.

“It is my understanding that a notice/ letter indicating an ordinance violation was sent to the gas station owners on April 6,” Zionsville Town Council President Jason Plunkett said. “Within that letter was a request for correction citing a timeline, as well as potential fines and corrective actions. It’s important for me to express that silence, in this case, isn’t indicative of inaction.”

Amanda Vela, public information officer for Zionsville, said the town is taking steps to correct the situation.

“The Town of Zionsville is actively involved and working with the property owner to address the exterior lighting and resolve the complaints,” Vela said. “I will add that I don’t have the specifics of the timeline, but both parties — us and the property owner — are working toward a resolution.”

Residents are calling on town council members to take swifter action to address the violations.

“We are just asking for the tacky lighting to be turned down as it’s obscenely bright,” resident Jerod Leman said. “But since the start of Appaloosa Crossing, we have been constantly disappointed by the town council’s rubber-stamping absolutely every variance made to the overlay by this development without considering nearby residents or aesthetics.”

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

Bash

Inside a resident’s home as lights from Appaloosa Crossing shine inside at night.

Outside view of the BP gas station in the evening at Appaloosa Crossing. (Photos courtesy of Alison Bash)

BHI to demolish Crawford Manor, assists relocating residents

By Natalie Gargiulo Natalie@youarecurrent.com

Hoosier Village, a senior living community in Zionsville, recently announced plans to demolish Crawford Manor — a 100-unit HUD-subsidized senior housing facility — and will relocate more than 100 seniors to other communities across the state.

SENIOR LIVING

According to Baptist Homes of Indiana, the decision to demolish Crawford Manor was because of a change in its mission and vision for its communities, along with the age of the building.

A demolition date will be determined after all residents have relocated.

Crawford Manor residents had 16 months’ notice to prepare for the move.

Built by Baptist Homes of Indiana with funds from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, the facility was established 40 years ago, with the commitment to provide affordable housing for 40 years, according to BHI.

“Over the forty years, our mission has become focused on large life-plan communities,” President of Public Relations for Hoosier Village Nancy Nelson said. “This certainly was not an easy decision, but (Crawford Manor is) not our business focus, so we did make the difficult decision not to renew the low-income housing. It is an aging building.”

As the 40-year mark approaches, Hoosier Village officials said many of the residents at Crawford Manor require additional assistance and have opted to move to assisted living communities since the announcement.

“Many of the longtime residents of Crawford Manor have lived here independently, but for some of them, this is the right time to get assisted-living services,” Nelson said. “Some are even moving to one of our other communities in Frankfort (Wesley Manor), where these residents will get very comprehensive services now. Meals, medication reminders and personal care assistance are just a few amenities they will gain from this move.”

Recognizing the emotional and logistical challenges involved, Hoosier Village has partnered with various organizations to provide support.

Zionsville Presbyterian Church has offered resources to aid in packing and moving the affected seniors.

“They are such a blessing and always have been,” Crawford Manor Property Manager Cheryl Onate said. “They have been so kind and generous to my residents, helping them in any way that they can. One volunteer from the church spent three days packing up one of the resident’s homes just to help her.”

Despite the efforts, the announcement of Crawford Manor’s demolition has not been without controversy.

The public has expressed concerns regarding the displacement of low-income senior citizens who rely on the affordable housing provided by Crawford Manor through social media and other platforms.

According to Nelson, Hoosier Village has undertaken several measures to ensure a smooth transition for the affected seniors, including helping residents relocate and secure the necessary funding for their expanded care and move.

“Throughout this process, we have helped residents to get the additional Medicaid waivers needed to get the assisted living services,” she said. “We’ve provided transportation to take residents to our other communities to have lunch and tour the area.”

Onate, who has been the property manager for 10 years, said she spends every day helping residents with property applications, waitlist issues and viewing other properties for the residents since the announcement of the demolition.

“When I first found out about this, my first thought was that I needed to help them as much as I possibly can,” Onate said. “These residents are my family, my home away from home. The residents are part of my life. When my daughter went to the prom, one of the residents hemmed her dress.”

LOTS OF FUN ACTIVITIES

Each child gets a FREE book from Indy Book Project.

Rain Date: Tuesday, June 13 from 10 am to Noon

Brittany’s story.

After her diagnosis, Brittany needed all the support she could get.

Nelson

Crawford Manor in Hoosier Village in Zionsville.

Photo by Natalie Gargiulo.

Event allows elementary students to apply, demonstrate knowledge

By Natalie Gargiulo Natalie@youarecurrent.com

depth so the students could take what they learned to a new level, which they did, and they showed that at the showcase.”

Third-graders held a book fair for the Indy Book Project to gain knowledge about how to reduce, reuse and recycle.

EDUCATION

Eagle Elementary School in Zionsville held its Learning Showcase Night on May 18. The event shows how students across all grade levels learn how to make a positive impact on their communities.

The event provided a platform for students to display and present what they’ve learned while demonstrating their enthusiasm for real-world learning by working with several community partners in the town.

“Our learning showcase is built on the idea of taking learning to a deeper level and empowering students to apply that learning in an authentic and meaningful way,” Eagle Elementary School Principal Andrew Foreman said.

Each grade level showcased different projects that reflected their diverse areas of exploration.

“There was a lot of team and teacher collaboration to look at our standards and take those standards to what we wanted the outcome to be,” said Marissa Grant, literacy coach at Eagle Elementary School. “The teachers spent a lot of time making sure the projects were meaningful and in-

“It was fun to see the community partners get involved and attend the event,” said Molly Haas, STEM instructional coach and teacher at the school. “The Indy Book Project, for example, posted on Facebook how to donate to our third-graders’ book project.”

Students researched the Indy Book Project nonprofit and learned how to host a book drive.

First-graders at Eagle Elementary School focused on how to become authors and collaborated with Hussey-Mayfield Public Library by creating posters to promote books that they felt changed them.

“The day after the showcase, it was cool to see the kids take the posters they created and walk them over to the library with joy on their faces,” Haas said.

This was the second year of the learning showcase at Eagle Elementary School and the school said it plans to continue it annually.

(Top left) Third-graders and teacher Kathryn Werner clean along Eagle Creek to prevent trash from entering waterways. (Top right) Heidi Shutt was among a group of fourth-graders who learned the importance of taking care of themselves through yoga. (Photos courtesy of Eagle Elementary School)

ZCD gives out 176 dahlias at farmers market

Commentary by Donna Monday

The Zionsville Farmers Market kicked off May 20, and that could only mean one thing to the Zionsville Cultural District — it was time to give away dahlia tubers, something it has done faithfully since 2018. The project came about as a way to add beauty to the town while also connecting to its history. In the early 1930s, Zionsville was called Dahlia City, as it was known as the place to buy the most beautiful dahlias. That was thanks to two nurseries in town: Tudor Gardens, which was at what is now 5th and Ash streets, and Parkway Gardens, which is where Eagle Elementary is now. Parkway was owned by Fred Gresh, whose hybrid dahlia, Zion’s Pride, claimed the Gold Medal Award at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago.

ABOUT TOWN

The organization purchased 200 tubers through generous grants from the Village Garden Club and the Boone County Master Gardeners. Leftover tubers will be returned, and remaining funds will be set aside for next year, according to Patel

“We gave one tuber per family,” Patel said. “We ask that they bring in a bloom on September 16 for our Dahlia Showcase. That’s the project in which the blooms are all displayed on a table for all to see toward the end of this year’s market. The table will be located in front of Midwest Jeweler’s and Estate Buyers at 190 S. Main.”

The ZCD intends to continue the tradition and members hope more dahlias will be seen blooming throughout Zionsville each and every summer.

This is Patel’s third year as chair of the project, and it brings her joy.

Although Zion’s Pride can no longer be found, dahlias abound in sizes and colors. The ZCD gave away 176 tubers May 20 in 31 varieties, according to project chairperson Mamata Patel. The group operated out of the community booth at the market. The booth is sponsored by Edward Jones each Saturday morning of the market to a different nonprofit.

“We got the booth the first Saturday because we needed to get those flowers planted,” Patel said.

“I love it, because I get to meet so many people, some who are expert gardeners and some who are new to gardening,” she said.

“I enjoy the part of making Zionsville beautiful by having people grow these beautiful flowers.”

Erika Revercomb, left, from the Zionsville Cultural District gets a dahlia tuber for Linda Pearson, who chose a purple one. (Photo by Donna Monday)

Donna Monday is a longtime Zionsville resident. She can be reached at dmonday8698@ att.net

CONGRATULATIONS

CURRENT JUNE ZIONSVILLE COMMUNITY CALENDAR

2023 MISS INDIANA PARADE

Sixty-seven Miss Indiana and Miss Indiana

Outstanding Teen contestants will be joined by 2022 Miss Indiana, Elizabeth Hallal, and 2022 Miss Indiana’s Teen, Kayla Patterson, in a parade along Zionsville’s Main Street at noon June 17. The parade, organized by the Zionsville Lions Club, begins at the Eagle Elementary School at noon More convertibles are needed for the event. To help out, contact Lion John Wilkins at 317-408-7515 or by email at jw6222@earthlink.net.

ZIONSVILLE MEMORIES ON MAIN

The second Zionsville Memories on Main is set for June 22 throughout the day on Main Street. The event raises funds for the Alzheimer’s Association and has more than a dozen local businesses that participate by donating a portion of their sales for that day, hosting drawings and more. For more, visit memories on main.org.

ZIONSVILLE CULTURAL DISTRICT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

The ZCD has announced its summer concert series which runs June 7 through July 26 at Zionsville Lions Park, 11053 Sycamore St. every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Concerts at Lincoln Park will be presented Aug. 2 through Aug. 30

ZIONSVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION HOSTS EVENT

Albion College

American University

Arizona State University – Tempe

Ball State University

Baylor University

Belmont University

Butler University

Canisius College

Clemson University

College of Charleston

College of the Holy Cross

Colorado State University – Fort Collins

Cornell University

DePauw University

Dominican University

Earlham College

Grinnell College

Hanover College

High Point University

Holy Cross College

Howard University

Indiana University – Bloomington

Indiana University-Purdue University –Columbus

Indiana University-Purdue University –

Indianapolis

Ivy Tech Community College

Johnson and Wales University – Charlotte

Juniata College

Lourdes University

Loyola University – Chicago

Lynn University

Marian University

Marquette University

Mercer University

Mercyhurst University

Miami University – Oxford

Michigan State University

Morehouse College

Pepperdine University

Purdue University – Fort Wayne

Purdue University – West Lafayette

Rockhurst University

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

St. Catherine University

Saint Edward’s University

Saint Louis University

Saint Mary’s College

The Ohio State University

The University of Alabama

The University of Findlay

The University of Tennessee –Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee –Knoxville

Trine University

United States Air Force Academy

United States Military Academy

Preparatory School

United States Naval Academy

University of Cincinnati

University of Colorado – Boulder

University of Dayton

University of Evansville

University of Indianapolis

University of Kentucky

University of Miami

University of Michigan –Ann Arbor

University of Mississippi

University of Missouri

University of Notre Dame

University of Redlands

University of South Dakota

Valparaiso University

Wabash College

Washington University in St. Louis

Wellesley College

Western Michigan University

Xavier University

The Zionsville Parks and Recreation, in partnership with Traders Brewing Co., are hosting a fundraising event called Barns and Brews June 15 and June 29. The event will highlight a different speaker and a local brewery at Maplelawn Farmstead. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The event is for guests 21 and older. For more, visit zionsvillein.myrec. com/.../program_details.aspx.

ZIONSVILLE FARMERS MARKET

The Zionsville Farmers Market will be presented every Saturday in June from 8 to 11:30 a.m. It will offer baked goods and freshly prepared food by vendors. The market is on the historic Main Street in Zionsville.

THE ZIONSVILLE LIONS CLUB

The Lions Club is hosting its second Stories in the Park for children preschool through fourth grade from 10 a.m. to noon June 9 in Lions Park. The purpose of our program is to increase literacy and to promote a lifelong love of reading. For more, visit zionsvillelions.com.

BCSS honors graduates who will serve in the military

By Natalie Gargiulo Natalie@youarecurrent.com

He started the Boone County Senior Salute with Dr. Jim Haines, founder of Zionsville Eyecare who is also a U.S. Navy veteran.

“These young adults have raised their hand and said, ‘I am prepared to give my life for the country,’” Haines said.

RECOGNITION

The Boone County Senior Salute, a local nonprofit, honored 2023 high school graduates who will serve in the U.S. military at the third annual Senior Salute May 15.

The event was held at American Legion Post 79 in Zionsville.

“Our mission is to bring to light and recognize the courage and commitment of high school graduates in Boone County who have decided to serve our country,” said Matt Weinheimer, BCSS chair and a U.S. Navy veteran and physician at Zionsville Eyecare.

Weinheimer, who founded the organization, was inspired by a similar program that was started in his hometown of Sullivan.

The program included keynote speaker Ron May, a veteran and author.

“This group before us is a noble group to whom we will be forever grateful,” May said.

The event included a cake ceremony, an Army tradition where two soldiers cut cake together using a military saber.

The two soldiers who joined in the cake ceremony were Clyde Mulligan, 98, and Kailyn Meyer, 18, a Zionsville Community High School graduate and U.S. military recruit. A tribute to Bill Shoemaker, a veteran who died in 2022, was also part of the event.

For more, visit bcseniorsalute@gmail.com.

Brittany’s guide.

Nurse Diana even helped with little things like scheduling appointments.

Veterans with the 2023 honorees. Seated, front from left, are Richard Pruitt, Brendan Baker, Diego Torres, Fionn O’Neal, Kailyn Meyer, Charlie Hodges, Hayden Burton, Josh Barrett and Asher Klooz. The cake ceremony at the 3rd Annual Senior Salute May 15. Left is Zionsville Community High School recruit Kailyn Meyer with veteran Clyde Mulligan. (Photo courtesy of BCSS)

CHS senior infielder finishing with strong hitting season

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Carmel High School senior infielder Case Sullivan has watched his batting average climb considerably for his final high school season.

Sullivan hit around .220 last season. He is hitting about .400 for the Greyhounds, who were 17-8 as of May 23.

“I did a ton of development with my summer team, Canes Midwest, being around a lot of high recruits,” Sullivan said. “I think we had 11 Division I recruits. My coach, Jeremy Honaker, helped me through it. Playing at that high level, you feed off the energy from those guys. I had the opportunity to play against a lot of tough competition. I gained 15 to 20 pounds and gained strength before my senior year. I was just really ready to get after it.”

Sullivan started off the 2022 season stronger, but an injury caused him to miss some games and threw off his timing.

“Then I fouled a ball off my face about

MEET CASE SULLIVAN

Favorite subject: Math

Favorite athletes: David Ortiz and Mookie Betts

Favorite movie: “The Sandlot”

Favorite musician: Morgan Wallen

seven or eight games into the season,” he said. “I broke my orbital floor, my nose and six stitches on top of my eye. I had to come back from that and didn’t get back to the point, but I think I still put us with a chance to win a sectional title last year.”

Sullivan said he struggled with confidence after coming back from the facial injury.

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“Having the summer that I did (was beneficial) and (now I’m) just trying to be a leader for a lot of these guys my last high school season,” he said.

CHS first-year coach Ty Neal is impressed with Sullivan’s leadership.

“Case has embraced the new culture and expectations the coaching staff has implemented,” Neal said. “Case is an excellent leader and is passionate about the game and his teammates.”

Sullivan started the year at third base, but has played shortstop most of the season.

“I’m fortunate to play with JD Stein and we switch,” Sullivan said.

Stein, a sophomore, has committed to play baseball at the University of Louisville.

Sullivan will play for Marshall University next season in the Sun Belt Conference.

“So it will be a lot of warm-weather baseball,” said Sullivan, who plans to major in business and entrepreneurship.

Sullivan has played some recreation basketball and soccer.

“But ever since I was little all I wanted to be was a baseball player,” said Sullivan, whose father, Corey Sullivan, played golf at Indiana University.

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Case Sullivan is hitting .400 for the Carmel High School baseball team. (Photo courtesy of Case Sullivan)

Sullivan

ZCHS STUDENT EARNS SPOT IN MAGAZINE

Rendering of Oak Street pathway corridor study. (Rendering courtesy of the Town of Zionsville)

Town begins pathway study

news@currentzionsville.com

The Town of Zionsville has started a pathway corridor study along Oak Street to explore options to add multi-use pathways. It began May 22.

The corridor study was one of Mayor Emily Styron’s priorities coming into office and has been a priority of Town Council President Jason Plunkett.

TRAILS

The study’s scope spans from Oak Street to the Blackstone subdivision, on the west end, to C.R. 950 East.

It is anticipated the study will take place over the next few months.

The Zionsville Department of Public Works engaged V3 Companies to develop the study.

The 2016 Strategic Trails Implementation Plan identified the majority of requests for new pathways, including routes along Zionsville Road and Oak Street and completing the Big-4 Rail Trail to the north and south.

With the Zionsville Road project complete and the Zionsville Road Trailhead under construction, and the Big-4 Rail Trail north and south expansion nearly complete, the town is now beginning the Oak Street corridor study.

“We have heard from residents who live in the western areas of town that they want to be able to bike and walk to downtown Zionsville and enjoy the shops, restaurants and special events,” Mayor Emily Styron stated. “I am pleased this corridor study has started — an important first step to understanding the feasibility of added connectivity along Oak Street.”

Because a pathway on Oak Street would take years to develop, it is anticipated that the pathways will be added in phases.

A combination of off-road pathways and on-road pathways for cyclists will be considered.

“The entire corridor is a multi-year construction project and will likely be broken into phases to make them affordable,” DPW Director Lance Lantz stated. “Because some segments will require additional right of way purchased, timelines for future construction are not known at this time.”

ZPD OFFICERS TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

Zionsville Police Department Det. Jacob Shelburne, right, and Sgt. David Byrum participate in memorial events and other activities May 15 in honor of National Police Officers Memorial Week in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of the Zionsville Police Dept.)

Autumn Peper, a Zionsville Community High School student, had her Chineselanguage essay, “My Favorite Trip,” accepted by the Juhe supplement, an annual magazine that publishes Chinese-language essays written by individuals learning Chinese as a foreign language. The magazine promotes the study of Chinese in North America. Peper displays a copy of the magazine.

Brittany’s backbone. And her ancé Adam was right there every step of the way.

(Photo coutesy of Zionsville Community High School)

Keeping an eye on bluebirds

Commentary by Ward Degler

I’m not a real bird watcher. You know, the kind who leaves his house wearing a floppy hat with mosquito netting, carrying at least three notebooks, a half-dozen pencils, two bird books and a pair of binoculars. Having said that, I have been watching birds recently.

PLAIN TALK

A couple years ago, my friend the “bird man” (the guy I buy my bird seed from) installed a couple bluebird houses in my front lawn. He carefully explained that bluebirds are extremely particular about their nesting places.

Up to this time, all I knew was that birds built nests, usually in trees, laid eggs, and when the young had enough feathers, pushed them out of the nest hoping they would figure out how to flap their wings on the way down. I assumed bluebirds did the same.

Two bluebird houses were necessary, my friend said, because the female needs to inspect both before choosing one. True enough, this spring we watched from our living room as a pair of bluebirds showed up at our feeder and began visiting the two houses.

Just when I thought they had settled on one of the houses, the female flew to the other one. Then it was back and forth for several days until we finally saw the male bringing pieces of straw and twigs to one of the houses.

Once the nest is complete, the female settles in for the egg-laying mission while the male takes on the job of providing meals. Back and forth he flies, bringing morsels for his mate.

When the eggs hatch and the babies open their beaks to be fed, the male gets even busier.

So far, no one has stuck their beak out of the house, and the parents continue to provide food and flying lessons. I’m keeping a close eye on the house, though.

And sometimes, I use binoculars.

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Ward Degler lives in Zionsville with his wife. He is the author of “The Dark Ages of My Youth ... and Times More Recent.” Contact him at ward.degler@ gmail.com.

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Zionsville safest among communities

news@currentzionville.com

Crime rates for violent crime and property crime in Indiana are decreasing, according to Safewise, a national organization that looks at crime statistics.

CRIME

The top-10 safest cities in Indiana include Zionsville, coming in at No. 2; Carmel at No. 4; Fishers at No. 5, and Westfield at No. 7. Carmel and Fishers also were included in the Safewise top 10 list of safest cities to raise a family; and Zionsville was No 81 on the list of top 100 safest cities in the United States.

The No. 1 safest city in Indiana, according to the Safewise list, is St. John, located in the northwest part of the state. Also on the list are Dyer (3rd), Brownsburg (6th), West Lafayette (8th), Huntington (9th) and Greenfield (10th).

Safewise reports that Indiana is one of 17 states that experienced decreases in both violent crime and property crime during the past reporting year, and both of those state crime rates fall below the national average. However, surveys of Hoosiers indicated that 5 percent more Indiana residents were concerned about violent crime than the prior year, and gun violence concern rose by 8 percent.

More Hoosiers use some form of personal protection compared to the national average, with most favoring pocketknives.

Property crime concerns among Hoosiers also rose, with most respondents especially concerned about package theft.

“About 61percent of Indiana residents feel concerned about package theft, and property crime comes in second at 53 percent” the announcement states. “Hoosiers worry less about violent crime (49 percent) and gun violence (49 percent), which makes sense because our survey respondents were more likely to have experienced property crime than violent crime.”

Natural disaster concerns also were included in the survey, and Hoosiers worried most about strong winds. Understandably, Indiana residents had fewer concerns about hurricanes and earthquakes.

For more, see safewise.com/blog/ safest-cities-indiana/#city1z

M USIC MONDAYS

Tuesdays at noon and 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m. May through October

Visit Midtown Plaza to watch family-favorite movies on the big screen.

July 7: Auditions! Go to the Midtown Plaza Carmel website to learn more and to upload your audition video.

August 12: Audition Deadline

Friday, August 25: Kids starting at 6 p.m.

Saturday, August 26: Teens at 5 p.m., Adults at 7 p.m.

Sunday, August 27: Finals & Award Ceremony at 5 p.m.

Midtown’s Got Talent, presented by Allied Solutions, returns for its fourth year! We are looking for talented vocalists and musicians, age ten and older, with stage presence and charisma!

For details about the competition criteria and program, visit MidtownPlazaCarmel.com and look for the Midtown’s Got Talent logo and link to the registration form. The preliminary schedule above is subject to change depending on number of contestants.

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SWEET MUSIC

Zionsville Cultural District announces 10th-anniversary summer concert series lineup

By Natalie Gargiulo natalie@youarecurrent.com

In celebration of its 10th anniversary of presenting the town’s summer concert series, the nonprofit Zionsville Cultural District recently announced the lineup of performers.

Concerts will be presented every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. from June 7 to July 26 at Zionsville’s Lions Park, 11053 Sycamore St., with a variety of themes and genres. Concerts in August will be presented at Lincoln Park.

Kicking off June 7 is “Golden Oldies” night, a genre that will take listeners on a nostalgic journey through timeless classics, according to ZCD.

The opening act will be Phil Dirt and the Dozers, performing classic rock ‘n’ roll songs of America’s golden years. The Dozers perform the intricate vocal harmonies of the Beach Boys, Four Seasons and the Eagles, among others.

For the first concert of the series, the ZCD has invited members of the Zionsville fire and police departments, the Boone County Sheriff’s Dept., Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron and Zionsville Town Council President Jason Plunkett to recognize them on stage for their efforts in serving the community.

In the past decade, the summer concert tradition has transformed Zionsville into a vibrant hub of music and community spirit, according to organizers.

“The ZCD Summer Concert Series is an integral part of summertime in Zionsville,” said Candace Ulmer, chairperson of the ZCD Concert Series.

The series was presented by the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce until 2013, when the ZCD took over operations. The concert series was previously been presented at Lincoln Park when the chamber organized the series.

With support from sponsors, grants and donations, the ZCD presents the concerts free of charge.

Continuing its partnership, the ZCD is collaborating with Lions Park for the third consecutive year to present the concert series.

In honor of the series’ original location, the ZCD will present concerts at Lincoln Park every Wednesday during August.

Casey Maish, the concert series entertainment coordinator, recruits the musicians and selects from a variety of musical genres, including rock, reggae, ‘70s and R&B, to name a few.

“We are so excited to be kicking off our 10th anniversary season, which begins on June 7 in Lion’s Park with the headliner group Phil Dirt and the Dozers,” Maish said. “We are also bringing back some artists that performed in Lincoln Park 10 years ago.”

Carla Howie, ZCD director of communications, said the concert series committee works tirelessly to ensure the series’ success.

“On behalf of the ZCD board of directors, we would like to extend appreciation to the concert series committee members who work by selecting a diverse musical lineup and entertainment, acquiring financial support from our loyal sponsors, our partnership with the Lions Club and with the Zionsville Parks Department,” she said. “Most importantly, we would like to thank our hundreds of residents and vis-

itors who come to the concert series week after week to enjoy these efforts.”

ON THE COVER: Dude! performs at Lions Park during last year’s summer concert series. (Photo courtesy of the Zionsville Cultural District)

ZIONSVILLE CULTURAL DISTRICT CONCERT SERIES LINEUP

LIONS PARK

June 7 — Golden oldies — Phil Dirt and the Dozers

June 14 — the ’70s and ’80s — Vinyl Escape

June 21 — rock ‘n’ roll and country — Matt Woods and the Natural Disasters

June 28 — reggae, punk and ska — The Operators

July 5 — alternative and indie — The Ballistics

July 12 — jazz, R&B and electronica — Teresa Reynolds and The Slicktones

July 19 — ’60s and ’70s — 3 to 1

July 26 — bluegrass — Mama Said string band LINCOLN PARK

August 2 — jazz — Rob Dixon Trio

August 9 — folk rock — Chad Mills

August 16 — jazz — Murray-Weirich Jazz

August 23 — Great American Songbook — Andra Faye and Scott Ballantine

August 30 — variety — Bach to Rock - Zionsville’s Got Talent

Phil Dirt and the Dozers will open the series June 7.

Guests attend last year’s concert series. (Photo courtesy of the Zionsville Cultural District)

Company to build $6M building in Creekside Corporate Park

By Natalie Gargiulo Natalie@youarecurrent.com

The Zionsville Economic Redevelopment Commission had its meeting May 22 at Zionsville Town Hall and approved a development presented by Kendall Property Group, LLC to purchase a lot in Creekside Corporate Park.

DEVELOPMENT

Kendall Property Group, which manages development, construction and financial risk of multifamily developments, is purchasing Lot 9 for $300,000 and plans to build a new $6 million headquarters consisting of a two-story multi-tenant commercial office building. The company’s current headquarters is in Indianapolis.

J.R. Kendall, president of Kendall Property Group, said it expects to break ground on the new headquarters this fall.

“The plan. process and predevelopment will take about four months,” he said. “Hopefully, we can have plans done around September of this year and then start around Nov. 1.”

The new headquarters will be approximately 20,000 square feet. The company plans to lease out 15,000 square feet.

“We plan to lease to professional service businesses, people that need easy access but don’t need a retail site like accountants and lawyers,” Kendall said. “We’ll be taking

Rendering of lot 9 in Creekside Corporate Park. (Rendering courtesy of Kendall Property Group, LLC) 5,000 square feet of it.”

Kendall said the company plans to invest up to $6 million into building the multitenant building.

The new headquarters will bring nearly 75 employees with average annual salaries of $70,000 to Zionsville, according to Kendall.

“I’ve driven by this lot multiple times a day since we moved to the village 10 years ago,” Kendall said. “I believe that the visibility of the site and the proximity to Main Street will make this a great home for our company. Having easy access to the trail system will provide a great opportunity for our employees and tenants to enjoy the beautiful setting and our great downtown restaurants and shops.”

Kendall has been a Zionsville resident for 10 years and looks forward to living and working in town.

“For me, it’s exciting to be able to live and work in Zionsville,” he said. “I’m ready for a change and to be closer to home.”

Sierra opens on Michigan Road

By Chris Bavender news@currentzionville.com

Sierra, a retailer specializing in active and outside brands, is set to open May 20 in Carmel in the West Carmel Marketplace at 10025 Michigan Rd. It will be the retailer’s first location in Indiana.

for families’ summer active and outdoor essentials as well as a great place to shop top-quality clothes and gear with lower prices,” Hobbs said. “We are looking forward to helping shoppers save big this year.”

RETAIL

“We are excited to become the newest retail option for Carmel’s shoppers, especially as this is our first opening in the state,” stated Gennifer Hobbs, Sierra marketing director.

A part of the T.J. Maxx family of brands, Sierra offers a variety of apparel, footwear and gear – from hiking to camping to yoga and travel necessities – for the entire family, including pets.

“We pride ourselves on being a go-to

The store is set to host a grand opening event May 20 with a DJ, games and giveaways. In celebration of its arrival in the Carmel community, Sierra made a $10,000 donation to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana.

Sierra was founded in 1986 and has 80 stores in the United States.

The Carmel store will feature 18,000 square feet, with 14,400 square feet of selling space. The store is hiring full and part-time associates. Visit jobs.tjx.com to learn more.

Sierra will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Learn more at Sierra.com.

KENDALL COMMERCIAL BUILDING, ZIONSVILLE IN 19 MAY 2023

Chamber hires new director

news@currentzionsville.com

The Zionsville Chamber of Commerce named Mike Hanlon its new executive director May 22.

throughout their service. He managed daily operations, led fundraising and established strong relationships across the state while with USO Indiana.

TOWN NEWS

A Zionsville resident, Hanlon will begin his new role June 5. He replaces Allyson Gutwein, who left in April after accepting the position of executive director of the Boone County Conventions and Visitors Bureau.

As executive director, Hanlon’s responsibilities include driving economic growth, fostering collaboration and advocating for the success of Zionsville Chamber of Commerce members.

Hanlon

Hanlon will be responsible for overseeing the chamber’s daily operations and will work closely with the board of directors and staff to execute the organization’s strategic priorities.

Prior to joining the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce, Hanlon served as the executive director of USO Indiana, a nonprofit that helps Indiana’s military service members stay connected to family, home and country

“As a nearly 15-year resident of Zionsville, I am honored and excited to join the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce as executive director,” Hanlon stated. “I care deeply about the success of our community and look forward to collaborating with our members, community leaders and key organizations to foster a nurturing business environment to drive economic growth and promote the well-being of our vibrant community.”

Hanlon has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Science in communication studies from Northwestern University. He also is a Certified Fundraising Executive and an active Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana Chapter member.

“The Zionsville Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome Mike as our new Executive Director,” stated Angela Upchurch, board president of the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce.

Boone EDC launches new program

news@currentzionville.com

The Boone County Economic Development Corp. announced the recent launch of the Investing In Boone County program in partnership with Mainvest, an investment platform enabling small businesses to harness community investment to fuel their growth.

FUNDING

The program, launched May 18, is a localized initiative that allows individuals to invest as little as $100 directly into Boone County small businesses.

The program is designed to allow individuals to become investors in Boone County’s small business community, providing local entrepreneurs with the capital they need to grow their businesses while deepening their connection with the surrounding community, according to the BCEDC.

“In 2022, the Boone EDC met with over 30 small businesses in the county, and many of the entrepreneurs identified capital as one of their biggest barriers for growth,” stated Claire Collett, the BCEDC’s entrepreneurship and innovation manager.

“Last year, the Boone EDC distributed over $54,000 through our existing Microloan program, but we recognize that this funding source may not fit every business’s needs. It’s our mission to provide entrepreneurs with as many opportunities to be successful in our community.”

Collett

Through Mainvest’s platform, anyone can become an investor in their community, investing with as little as $100 in local businesses and real estate offerings, strengthening the connection people have to their small businesses while providing capital on friendly terms to local entrepreneurs.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities,” stated Jonathan Berk, Mainvest’s vice president of growth and partnership. “They provide us with the food we love, the products we need, and the spaces that build and foster stronger, more connected communities. We’re thrilled to partner with the Boone EDC to give Hoosiers the opportunity to invest directly in the success of their communities and local entrepreneurs.”

For more, visit betterinboone.org.

Business is moving faster than ever.

Our Commercial Bankers are local decisionmakers with the expertise to help your business grow and adapt quickly. Your time is valuable. Count on us to make the most of it.

Calls to post-graduation action

Commentary by Terry Anker

unscathed by the passing years.

ESSAY

‘Tis the season, the graduation season, that is. Just as surely as leaves erupt from barren trees, notices, announcements and invitations burst from our mailboxes carrying tidings of matriculation. Adults, children and young adults of our friends, business associates and family are marking the end of some component of their formal education. Kudos to them. The pursuit of knowledge is always a good thing.

Like all matters, many of the traditions surrounding these events have changed. We find ourselves stuffing the congratulatory envelopes with more cash than a few years back and guests at the ceremonies are just as likely to wear shorts and flipflops as neckties. But still, the graduates themselves don the slightly ridiculous mortarboard cap and long robe. They march in line, receive diplomas and other recognitions and move the tassel dangling from the square academic hat from right to left signifying attainment of their degree. Even more, the speechifying, recognitions and charges to those assembled have largely remained

Faculty and staff make final remarks to fully mint their nascent progeny. Dignitaries drawn from community leaders and exemplar alumni take the podium to impart their accumulated wisdom. Sometimes, they are poignant, entertaining, inspiring and memorable. Sometimes, they are not. Almost always, there is a charge to the gathered class. “Go forth and…” is the general idea. It is in these words that we find reflected our current trends. Go forth and prosper. Go forth and contribute. Go forth and be vulnerable. Go forth and embrace change. Go forth and defend tradition. Go forth and build a fortune to donate to this school.

Each of the varied and disparate from above reflect speeches heard just this year. Some miss the mark and others are on target. Given the microphone, what would we say?

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

I ‘May’ not survive this invasion

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

It’s May, people, and you know what that means. No, not the race. Race, schmace. I’m talking about the life-altering phenomenon that occurs when college kids return. And though we technically only have one coming back, my wonderfully quiet house and relatively full fridge are about to take a beating. Somehow, I must find the will to survive the next 10 to 12 weeks.

time. But now there will be another human being in the mix, someone with actual opinions and perceived needs and a history of staying up until dawn playing Xbox.

HUMOR

We’ve already had “the talk.” You know, the one that makes parents sound like Old Man Get-Off-My-Lawn Wilson. “So long as you are under my roof … blah blah blah.” Curfews, chores, driveway spot — basic family responsibilities and expectations. But even assuming he abides by all the rules, his mere presence, while enjoyable in small doses, changes the dynamics of our humble abode. For starters, my husband Doo and I have grown quite accustomed to being empty nesters. No constraints on dinner, TV, bed-

I’m particularly concerned about his ability to consume vast amounts of calories. While hitting Meijer in anticipation of the ensuing food shortage, I saw several other moms filling carts with Pop-Tarts, Cheeze-Its and various other “luxury goods” that our coeds cannot afford. It’s like a plague of locusts has arrived for the summer, and no kitchen is safe from its destructive gastronomical path.

How will we survive this temporary home invasion? I’m not sure. And it’s still only May. Stupid May. Peace out.

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

“It’s like a plague of locusts has arrived for the summer, and no kitchen is safe from its destructive gastronomical path.”

– DANIELLE WILSON

Well, there went her ticket to sainthood

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

must have me confused with my husband.”

“Ma’am, your license plates are expired.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“There’s a little sticker on the plate. It says 2022.”

HUMOR

My wife, Mary Ellen, is vacationing with my sister in North Carolina. This trip worries me. If my name comes up, no one in that car will take my side.

Mary Ellen was just pulled over for a minor infraction. She never breaks rules, believing they were made to be followed. This kind of harebrained notion caused a rift in the way we raised our son. To her credit, in more than 35 years, Brett has not spent a single night in jail.

Getting stopped by the police has crushed her, ruined her clean record and put a damper on her vacation. My wife’s life has been exemplary. She never had detention, never cheated on a test, never told a lie, never even hot-wired a car. The woman was a saint. Until now.

When you have a clean past, being followed by a police officer is a perplexing and nerve-racking experience. I’ve studied how to deal with the cops when getting pulled over for speeding. For example, I know that saying, “Officer, I was running out of gas, so I had to get home quicker,” doesn’t work.

Mary Ellen has no experience in this area. When she noticed the lights flashing behind her, she waved the policeman around her … for about 23 blocks. Then it dawned on her that he was after her.

“When you stop crying, ma’am, may I see your license and registration?” the officer asked.

“Oh, there must be some mistake, officer,” Mary Ellen said. “I’ve never done anything wrong in my entire saintly life. You

“Well, how can you expect me to see that from the driver’s seat?”

I actually tried that line myself once, hoping to get a laugh from a cop. I got a sobriety test instead.

Now, back to the phone call from Mary Ellen right after she was stopped.

“Dick, I was just pulled over by the police.”

“Why didn’t you let my sister drive the getaway car?”

“Look, this is no joke. Up until 20 minutes ago, I had a perfect record. I had never done anything wrong in my life. Do you know what this stain on my reputation means?”

“A big celebration at the convent! You’ve moved a lot of the sisters into first place.”

This event apparently created some soul searching on Mary Ellen’s part.

“Dick, this brush with the law has given me a new perspective. I’ve led too sheltered an existence. In fact, marrying you is really the only questionable thing I’ve ever done until today.”

“Hey, marrying me was not exactly committing a crime.”

“No, but it’s probably the closest I’ll ever come.”

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.

“She never had detention, never cheated on a test, never told a lie, never even hot-wired a car. The woman was a saint. Until now.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

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

New Works to present three premieres at Palladium

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Saxophonist Cecily Terhune is eager to perform a new piece in a special setting.

PERFORMANCES

“The opportunity to perform a new work for the New Works project is monumental,” the Carmel resident said.”I’m honored to be able to experience the Palladium’s precise acoustic capabilities as a solo performer performing a piece I’m passionate about.”

Terhune’s project is one of three selected for the second season of New Works: An Arts Commission Project, an initiative of the Carmel-based Center for the Performing Arts to promote and sustain central Indiana’s working artists and arts communities in an inclusive way by supporting the creation of new works across the arts disciplines. The three winning proposals, selected by judges, will be presented in a free presentation at 8 p.m. June 10 at the Palladium, followed by a talkback discussion.

Instrumental and electronic music composer Katie Madonna Lee of South Bend composed “Boon Bestowed” for Terhune.

“We worked together to conceptualize the piece and she wrote the motifs,” Terhune said. “‘Boon Bestowed’ is composed of four separate movements and is 10 minutes long.”

Each movement will feature one instrument from the standard saxophone quartet: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Each movement represents a powerful female archetype: nurturer, leader, activist and teacher.

“The visual component began as a slideshow but is now a series of short videos representing each of the powerful female archetypes,” Terhune said.

Terhune, a 2011 Carmel High School graduate, teaches private woodwind lessons

for CHS and Noblesville High School students. She performs regularly with Audiodacity and other groups.

Another New Works is Emily Franks’ original dance piece, “Suits.” She developed it with the help of Noblesville-based En Pointe Indiana Ballet, where Franks is a part-time instructor. Franks, who lives in downtown Indianapolis, previously was a dancer for Dance Kaleidoscope.

“This was my first time being able to create a longer piece, which has always been a dream of mine,” Franks said. “After retiring from dancing professionally, I wasn’t sure where I would find my artistic outlet, but choreographing and creating works has been such a fun and new experience for me. I’m falling in love with it.”

The narrative is a mystery about a sto-

len document, set amid the human dynamics of corporate culture.

“I’m naturally more introverted, so I tend to be more of an observer than a talker,” she said. “I’ve always loved to people-watch and imagine their stories and lives. I imagine the people around me that I don’t even know live some pretty cool lives. After thinking about the corporate workforce, I wanted to tell a story through movement that would be close to watching a movie. I really wanted it to be accessible to all, where it wasn’t very abstract and anyone could see a plot line in the movement.”

The piece is made up of seven sections and runs 18 1/2 minutes.

“I retired from dancing professionally in June 2022 due to health reasons,” Franks said. “After getting diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, the athletic career of a dancer was just no longer sustainable. Seeing these incredibly talented students dancing my work up on the stage brings me just as much joy as performing did in my professional career.”

Franks has worked with the En Pointe dancers for several months on the piece.

“They’ve really impressed me with their dedication to their work as such young artists,” she said. “Their passion for the art shines through the choreography I gave them.”

Robert Moore, co-artistic director of En Pointe with his wife Polly Ribeiro, offered advice.

‘Rob has been such a wonderful mentor and watched me work through this process,” Franks said.

The third New Works is Jamey Guzman’s “Open Heart Surgery,” a contemporary opera piece modeled after a TV medical drama. It features three singers and several musicians from Bloomington-based New Voices Opera. Guzman collaborated with librettist Carolina Cao to tell a story of a young doctor caught between her dreams of film and her Immigrant family’s expectations of a career in medicine.

For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘BEAUTY & THE BEAST’

“Beauty & the Beast” runs through July 9 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

‘LIVE AT THE CENTER’

The Live at the Center series presents Public Universal Friend at 7:30 p.m. May 31 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $5 for in-person or register for the free livestream at thecenterpresents.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Zack Zadek, who is working on the project with Discovering Broadway, will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 1 along with Elizabeth Teeter at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Natalie Douglas will sing Songs of the ’60s at 7:30 p.m. June 2-3. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘FAIRY DOLL’

Indiana Ballet Conservatory presents “Fairy Doll” at 1 and 4 p.m. June 3 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit indianaballetconservatory.org.

DISPATCHES

Dugan’s comedy show set — Dave Dugan presents: Comedy at The Cat is set for 7:30 p.m. June 3 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. Dugan is the co-headliner and host. The other co-headliner, Troy Davis, will perform with his daughter CoLee Reyes opening for him. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more, visit eventbrite.com/e/ comedy-at-the-cat-tickets-638831832207.

Two shows added to Palladium — The Center for the Performing Arts, which released its schedule May 22, has added two more shows to the 2023-24 schedule. Roots-rock singer-songwriter Grace Potter will appear at the Palladium for the first time Nov. 3. Actor Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro will present an evening of songs and stories titled “Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret” Feb. 3, 2024.

Saxophonist Cecily Terhune’s New Works piece called “Boon Bestowed’’ will be performed June 10 at the Palladium. (Photo courtesy of Cecily Terhune)

Franks

Duo set to release single

By Mike Beas editorial@youarecurrent.com

The love and heartfelt appreciation Fishers residents Cory Carleton and Travis Brant have for the City of Indianapolis is expressed through their music.

JAZZ

Carleton and Brant, longtime jazz musicians who formed the band Axon Radio in 2019, sought to do so earlier in their career.

Only lately has the timing been right.

“There is quite a history of jazz and jazz musicians here in the city, and I don’t think a lot of people know about the jazz scene in Indianapolis,” said Brant, 48, a drummer who, along with bass player Carleton, 51, recorded the smooth jazz single, “Naptown Hustle,” which will be available to radio June 19.

“We were waiting for the right piece of music and the right musicians to work with,” Brant said.

Carleton and Brant have collaborated for 30 years, including in the band Meet, the forerunner to Axon Radio beginning in 2008.

Their new single features guitarist Paul Brown, whose impressive resume includes

being part of more than 60 No. 1 contemporary jazz radio hits.

Noted saxophone player Darren Rahn, a jazz giant in his own right, produced and co-wrote “Naptown Hustle.”

“It was literally just the two of us, bass and drums, and it was purely for the love of music,” Brant said. “We just played, and that’s the secret.

The jazz duo’s latest single can be streamed starting June 9. For more, visit axon-radio.com,

ATI reading helps playwright

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Emma Rund was delighted when she learned Actors Theatre of Indiana wanted to include her play in its Lab Series.

PLAY

“In the playwriting world, there’s a lot of submitting and never hearing back, so when you finally get that 1-in-50 that is interested in working on your play, it’s extremely exciting,” the 2015 Guerin Catholic High School graduate said. “With this play, it was especially gratifying because I wrote it back in 2017. I submitted it to ATI in 2019, and then let it sit untouched for four years. Getting to pull it back out of the drawer to work on it again as a more experienced playwright was an absolute blast.”

The reading of “Rosemary & Time” was held May 20 at the Carmel Clay Public Library. The play is about Rosemary struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s. When her daughters come home for Thanksgiving, she must face the fact she is losing her grip on reality.”

Rund

“The actors in this reading were absolutely fantastic talents and they did a marvelous job with the play,” Rund said. “My favorite moment as a playwright is hearing audiences talk about how the play affected them. If the play sparks conversation, that’s a good sign in my book, so I think the reading went very well because the talkback afterwards was full of conversation.”

Rund, who grew up in Lebanon, was active in Carmel-based Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program, appearing in three musicals. After graduating from Ball State University, she moved to Chicago to pursue her playwriting career. She works at the University of Chicago in central communications.

The reading helped Rund learn about the audience’s response to some of the comedic moments and their tolerance for the challenging characters.

The talkback definitely also planted some seeds for revisions,” Rund said. “Some of them are larger questions and I’ll need to marinate on them for a little while before I tackle another draft of the play.”

Cory Carleton, left, plays the bass while Travis Brant performs on the drums for Axon Radio. (Photo courtesy of Travis Brant)

‘Still’ an openhearted documentary on actor’s battle

Commentary by Julieanna Childs

Michael J. Fox has never been still. It wasn’t until his battle with Parkinson’s disease that he slowed down and began living in the moment.

the director. When asked what she means to him, he falls silent, then gives one word: “Clarity.”

MOVIE REVIEW

Wickedly funny and self-deprecating, Fox — in the documentary film “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” — recounts his sudden rise to fame in the 1980s and the moment he fell in love with actress and future wife Tracy Pollan, who played Alex P. Keaton’s girlfriend in Season 4 of “Family Ties.” His Parkinson’s diagnosis at age 29 left him depressed and battling alcoholism.

“My first three years of sobriety were like a knife fight in a closet,” he said.

Oscar award-winning director Davis Guggenheim spent a year interviewing Fox for “Still” and observing his family life with Pollan and their four children. The heart of the documentary is his love story with Pollan, whose unwavering support leaves him speechless during a conversation with

The film goes inside Fox’s therapy appointments with doctors unveiling the physical impairments Parkinson’s has taken on him. He walks in a jerky saunter, trying not to lose his balance. But the charisma and charm that made Fox a star haven’t diminished. Recovering from a stumble on a city sidewalk, he says to a passing fan, “Nice to meet you! You knocked me off my feet!”

Fox approaches his disease as a personal journey to help others, refusing to retreat from life: “I’m still me people recognize, just me plus Parkinson’s,” he said.

In 1999, Fox testified before Congress advocating for more research and funding.

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.

Time for farmers markets

Commentary by Mark LaFay

There is quite a bit to love about May in Indiana. The obvious is the passing of the gray gloom and the warming temperatures. The Indy 500 takes us through to the end of the month. Kids wrap up another year of school and plow into summer vacation. Last but not least is the summer farmers market season!

There are numerous farmers markets within a short Saturday morning drive. We (Old Major) sell at the Zionsville, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Garfield Park and Broad Ripple markets every Saturday morning. You can also find us at the Wednesday SoBro market and the Thursday Westfield market. The Thursday Westfield market is roaring back to life this year thanks to the hard work of Nick Stepaniak and the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. This year you will find 50 vendors every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Grand Junction Plaza. Here are a handful of vendors that you should check out:

• Tulip Tree Creamery – Great local creamery making great cheese in the Dutch tradition. Check out their trillium, it is similar to brie and it wins lots of awards!

See them at the Saturday Carmel market.

• Pig’s Tale Charcuterie – These guys make great snack sticks, summer sausage and dry-cured salamis. New to the scene and definitely a great addition to your charcuterie board. See them at the Westfield Thursday market.

• Circle City Sweets – Check them out at the Carmel Saturday market. Great baked goods. My favorite is the ham and cheese croissant.

• Old Major – Great bacon and sausage, with pork, chicken and beef options, including beef bacon and pork bacon. Local and delicious. Visit us at Westfield this week.

• My Dad’s Sweet Corn – I detasseled corn for Alan Baird when I was 13 years old. They grow fantastic sweet corn that comes in season by the Fourth of July. Check them out at the Carmel Market.

FOOD

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4201 Millersville Rd. Suite 107A.

INSIDE & OUT

Blueprint for Improvement: Complete basement transformation

Commentary by Larry Greene

Built in 1989 in Carmel’s Queen’s Manor neighborhood, our clients were ready to transform their basement from an unfinished storage space into a fully functional extension of their home, with room for everyone.

THE BLUEPRINT

• A warm beige, tan and sky-blue palette provides an airy, warm and welcoming ambience, despite being subterranean.

• The entertainment center cabinetry provides plenty of storage space and feels more like furniture thanks to details like crown molding and beadboard backing.

• Sky blue stain on the cabinetry in the wet bar area provides a touch of style and subtle hint of color.

• Even the tiniest occupants in this home were taken into consideration in designing this space. The area under the staircase transforms into the perfect playhouse — complete with a tiny Dutch door, mail slot and window boxes.

• The built-in bookcase serves a dual purpose, providing storage and display space while disguising the door leading to the mechanical closet.

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.

Flowery language in full bloom

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

As spring turns to summer, I love taking leisurely laps around my house to see what’s in bloom. Nearly every day, I find a new flower opening its doors for business to bees and butterflies.

got a drink of water from the water fountain. Depending on where you grew up, you could also say Judith got a drink from the drinking fountain or the bubbler.

GRAMMAR GUY

Sorry to get so gushy about flowers, but native perennials are kind of my thing.

Flowery language is characterized by the abundant use of lengthy, occasionally outdated vocabulary and the inclusion of figurative expressions. In general, the jury is in on flowery language; it says, “Don’t use it!” I’ll be the judge of that.

Let’s see some examples. “As Judith languished in her cotton-mouthed state, she laboriously approached the silver oasis that promised aqueous vitality. As she painstakingly summoned the spirit to press her dainty thumb against the fountain’s operative button, water flowed like a river into her eagerly awaiting mouth.”

Whew. Glad you made it, Judith. A straightforward way of writing the above paragraph is: Judith was thirsty, so she

How about this one: Rik raced faster than a cheetah on the hunt toward the falling, hurtling white sphere. As the ball neared the blades of grass at a rapid clip, Rik sprawled out to secure it in the safety of his leather mitt.

Simply put, Rik made an exceptional diving baseball catch. Whether the play ended up on SportsCenter’s top plays or not, perhaps we’ll never know.

Using a blend of direct and flowery words is the secret sauce to make writing interesting and easy to understand. Writers should aim to inform but also entertain. If you go all-out with flowery language, it’s easy for the message to get lost in translation.

Visit to the September 11 Memorial & Museum

Commentary by Don Knebel

ered largely intact.

Foundation Hall at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Reflecting pool at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

TRAVEL

Today, in the last (for now) look at often-overlooked places in New York City, we visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, remembering the 2,977 people killed at the site by the Sept. 11, 2001, attack and the six killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

President Barack Obama and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg dedicated the memorial and museum on May 15, 2004. The memorial includes a wooded park on the World Trade Center site, with two 1-acre reflecting pools occupying the footprints of the destroyed twin towers. The names of the 2,983 victims are inscribed on 152 bronze panels on the pools, which include the world’s largest man-made waterfalls, masking city noises. The museum occupies 110,000 square feet beneath the park, extending to bedrock 70 feet below ground level. Visitors descend to Foundation Hall, the largest section of the museum, on a ramp adjacent to a stairway that 9/11 survivors took to safety, moved to the underground museum after being recov-

At the bottom of the ramp is an evocative work by artist Spencer Finch, comprising 2,983 individual paper panels of varying shades of sky blue, with a quote from Virgil: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.” Along one side of Foundation Hall is a slurry wall that was designed to hold back the Hudson River from the towers and survived the attack. Among the 14.000 artifacts on display are a fire engine destroyed in the attack and the 36-foot-tall Last Column, the final column removed from the wreckage that includes a variety of inscriptions and messages. Twisted steel beams reflect the enormous temperatures from burning fuel that led to the towers’ collapse. For me, the most sobering part of the visit was the chance to talk with survivors, who volunteer to recount the horrors of Sept. 11.

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

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

5. Support beam 10. Evansville winter hrs.

13. “Jingle Bell Rock” singer (born in Bloomington)

15. Hinkle Fieldhouse cheer

Jose

30. Part of TGIF 31. May honoree 32. Ex-Pacers coach and broadcaster (born in Terre

Haute)

37. Immigrant’s subj.

38. “Family Feud” reruns channel

39. Have sushi at Chiba

41. Burn a bit

45.

46.

50.

53.

59.

60. ___ Zeppelin

24. 2023 March Madness winner, briefly

26. Texter’s “Ta-ta!”

27. Indiana School for the Deaf subj.

30. “Ghosts” playwright

31. Hoosier National Forest growth

33. Start 34. “I” problem 35. Smell bad 36. Challenge 40. Colts stats 41. Capital of Minn. 42. Poker declaration 43. Caught in the act 44. Close 45. Rush headlong 47. “Silas Marner” novelist 48. Low-pitched

51. Indiana Supreme Court garb

44. Refusals

Cow collection

New employee

British nobles

Misery

Greater in size

Feel unwell

54. Indianapolis Ballet spins

58. Waste not

Real-life “Hoosiers” star (born in Pierceville)

61. Eye problems

62. Website with homemade Indy 500 jewelry

1. UK TV network

2. Tic-tac-toe win

3. Lots of ozs.

4. CVS medical exam administered on the forearm

5. Via, for short

6. WRTV’s “Duffy’s Diner” creator: ___ Duffy

7. Stomach woes

8. Break into pieces

9. Indiana tax ID

10. Certain Greek

11. French philosopher Jean-Paul

12. Pulsates

14. Governor Robert Orr’s alma mater

19. US President with two Grammys

20. WTTV schedule abbr.

21. A Simon

22. Butter substitute

Evansville’s County

52. They go with gals

54. WFYI net.

55. Egyptian boy king

56. Ambulance letters

57. KGB job Answers on Page

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