October 4, 2022 — Zionsville

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Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XI, No. 30

Copyright 2021.

Current Publishing, LLC

All Rights Reserved.

30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444

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

West Clay at 131st & Towne Rd

Celebrate fall with a Campfire!

The pizza that won the Best Classic Pizza in America at the World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy!

Mayor Styron presents 2023 budget proposal

By Elle Kreamer elle@youarecurrent.com

Mayor Emily Styron introduced a proposal for Zionsville’s 2023 budget during a Sept. 22 budget workshop.

Fire Dept. that will fully fund salaries and benefits for six firefighters over three years, allowing for the department to meet opera tional safety standards.

Styron’s proposed budget also included the following expenses for 2023:

DISPATCHES

Correction — In the Sept. 27 edition of Current in Zionsville, a photo of Indiana House of Representative District 25 can didate Jen Bass-Patino was misidentified.

BUDGET

Styron stated that the town is ending 2022 with more than $57 million in fund balance, which is greater than the starting fund balance in 2020. The initial draft of the 2023 budget accounts for an anticipated $34,525,806 in revenue and $41,569,569 in expenditures.

“This proposed budget allows us to main tain our healthy general fund balance and create an operationally sustainable budget, with a focus on capital expenditures that we have long saved for,” Styron said.

A review of the proposed budget was scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at the next Town Council meeting. A public hearing and final adoption of the proposed budget will occur at 8 a.m. Oct. 17.

To meet state deadlines, the budget must be adopted by Nov. 1.

According to the proposal, 55 percent of the budget would go toward public safety.

The budget allots for an increase of $5 million for police and fire, including the hir ing of five additional police officers, which would provide three additional officers for schools and two for field patrol.

Zionsville Police Dept. Chief Michael Spears said with the 160 percent increase in Zionsville’s population from 2010 to 2020, and a projected increase in growth, the police department aims to maintain security in schools without reducing presence in the community.

The proposal also accounted for the hiring of three additional firefighters but does not consider the $1.6 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) SAF ER grant recently awarded to the Zionsville

• One position for the finance department

• One position for the planning department

• Three positions for the Dept. of Public Works

• Construction of a new roundabout at Oak St. and CR 800 E.

• Conducting initial planning and design for a public safety building

• Replacing or purchasing critical public works equipment

• Financing the construction and/or planning of multiple pathway projects

• Construction of new salt barn, down town planters, and wayfinding signage in coordination with Parks Dept.

• Replacing expiring police equipment, as well as purchasing additional equip ment and vehicles for new officers

• Replacing dated fire equipment and vehicles, and purchasing equipment for new firefighters

The proposal also includes an allotment of funds that will provide a 4 percent costof-living increase for town personnel. Sty ron said this “will not keep up with inflation but will keep up with the maximum amount of dollars available to put aside for staff.”

Town Council President Jason Plunkett said he was pleased with the discussion at the bud get meeting.

“It was good to see the high-level budget details, and for councilors to share the needs of our constit uents,” Plunkett said. “I’m hopeful that the needs of our districts will be included as we move the budget process forward.”

Cathedral a National Blue Ribbon School — Cathedral High School in Indi anapolis was recently recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for overall academic performance. The occasion marks the fourth time Cathedral has earned in the recognition. Cathedral is the only private school in Indiana that was recognized this year. “We owe it to our community that we always get better,” Cathedral President Rob Bridges said. “Building a culture of continuous improvement drives us every day. We are humbly grateful for this high honor. As we like to say, ‘today is the best day yet, and tomorrow will be even better.’” With its 39th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools.

Send us your stories and photos — Please email story suggestions on new businesses, interesting residents, up coming events and photos to Current in Zionsville Managing Editor Elle Kreamer at elle@youarecurrent.com. For photo submissions, please provide the full names of individuals, along with a short description of the event, location and the date of when it took place.

Princess Program applications — The 500 Festival is accepting applications for the 2023 500 Festival Princess Program. Applications are available at 500Festival.com/Princess. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Jan. 8, 2023. The program provides 33 women from Indi ana colleges and universities with the opportunity to make an impact during their college years as ambassadors of the 500 Festival and its mission to en rich lives and positively impact the com munity. Each 500 Festival Princess will also receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Styron

Plunkett

Meet ZCS school board candidates for Union

Age: 50 Education: B.S. Human Resource Management –Training and Development, Oakland University 1994

Occupation: Stay-athome mom of 4, weekly volunteer at HVAF (Helping Veterans And Families –homeless shelter in Indianapolis) and Chris tamore House Guild (house in Haughville in Indianapolis) that supports a preschool, after school care and scholarships to graduates.

City of residence: Zionsville

How long have you resided in your school board district? Nine years

Immediate family: Husband, Kevin; chil dren: Lily, 20; Noah, 18; Marcus, 14; Chris, 13 Website or best way for voters to learn more about you: valentine4zcs.com/

Previous political experience: None

Why do you want to run for school board? I am driven to represent the many families of the community that support the excellent history of our school system and want to see ongoing improvement and growth.

What are your qualifications for this office? I have been involved in various capacities with Zionsville schools since we arrived in 2014.

What are the top three issues that your

Age: 50

Education: B.S Aero nautics and Astronautics

Engineering from Purdue University

Occupation: Chief engi neer for manufacturer of fire protection and munici pal pumps

City of residence: Zionsville

How long have you resided in your school board district? My family and I moved into Zionsville more than 20 years ago.

Immediate family: My wife Tracy and I have four childrenl. Our two oldest chil

By Elle Kreamer elle@youarecurrent.com

Twp. Coussens

campaign will focus on? 1. Championing our teachers as highly-qualified educators.

2. Prioritizing Mental Health efforts to make sure that students know it’s ok to not be ok. 3. Advocating that Everyone Belongs Here.

What do you see as strengths at Zions ville Community Schools? Administrators and teachers. Communication and safety at all campuses has been well-thought out and my kids have never felt anything other than confident heading into school. Families move to Zionsville because of our great schools and the partnering culture between families, teachers, and schools.

What do you see as areas of improve ment at Zionsville Community Schools? Collaboration of school leaders and the school board. I appreciate different perspec tives; I encourage all different ideas to be brought up and discussed, and I think that everyone should have a voice. The board members are representing the different townships in our school district and there fore vote as a representative of their dis trict. I expect to work with and learn from others on the board with differing opinions.

How do you believe public school dis tricts should address diversity, equity and inclusion matters? Talk about them. Normalize having difficult discussions with kids and allowing them to ask questions.

dren are Zionsville Community High School graduates, and our two younger daughters currently attend ZCHS.

Website or best way for voters to learn more about you: coussensforzcs.com.

Previous political experience: For al most four years I have been honored to rep resent the entire school district as a school board member.

5October 4, 2022 Current in Zionsville currentzionsville.comCOMMUNITY Member FDICbusey.com Building Business. Growing Wealth. Since 1868. HOPWOOD WINERY/DISTILLERY/VINEYARD 12 E CEDAR ST. ZIONSVILLE, INDIANA 46077 hopwoodcellars.com • 317-873-4099 "Spirit of the Year" Voted "Best Cabernet Sauvignon" "Sweet Lailah takes Platinum Trophy" 143 medals & trophies Continued on Page 7 Why do you want to run for school board? I feel that a refocus of support to the students and staff of ZCS is needed rather than a focus on school board and

Jennifer Valentine, Michael Coussens and Marcus Such are running for the Union Township seat on the Zionsville Community Schools school board. Read more at currentzionsville.com.

Valentine

Jennifer (Jen) Valentine

Michael (Mike) Coussens

Continued from Page 5

administrators.

What are your qualifications for this office? The past three-plus years have re ally opened my eyes to what it takes to be on a board for a public school in Indiana. In addition to this on-the-job training, my en gineering background has helped me to look at each problem or opportunity from a very analytical perspective.

What are the top three issues that your campaign will focus on? Academics, safe ty, and financial responsibility.

What do you see as strengths at Zionsville Community Schools? A key strength of ZCS is the ability of the families to come together and to support and make a differ ence in the lives of the students.

What do you see as areas of improvement at Zionsville Community Schools? An area for improvement would be to help ensure there are programs and paths for students that may not be college-bound after graduating ZCHS. Additionally, there are concerns raised about the transparency and trust between parents/guardians and

Age: 35

Education: Graduate of Carmel High School, bach elor’s in actuarial science and in mathematics, mas ter’s in business admin istration, Fellowship with the Society of Actuaries

Occupation: Vice presi dent and senior actuary

City of residence: Zionsville

Such

the Board of Trustees and Administration. .

How do you believe public school districts should address diversity, equity and inclusion matters? ZCS has been on a journey to create Strong in Every Way (SIEW) since 2016. One of the domains is focus on Developing Cultural Understand ings in age-appropriate ways, I believe in these programs and support them with my actions by volunteering with our performing arts departments and in our community.

How can public schools help student test scores reach pre-pandemic levels?

I believe that if we expect our students to catch up to our pre-pandemic academic standards, we need to ensure our students are mentally healthy, which sets them up to successfully learn.

How do you feel about Zionsville Community Schools’ efforts to address student safety? What changes, if any, would you like to see made? Monitoring our facilities and cultivating strong working relationships with our police partners at ZPD and BCSO are key factors to keeping our students and staff safe. I would like to see these relationships strengthened.

Marcus Such

demic excellence compared to other schools in Indiana.

What do you see as areas of improve ment at Zionsville Community Schools? ZCS needs to be more open with parents re garding curriculum, plans and timelines for policies and projects, and intent surround ing controversial topics. The school board and administration must listen and consider the voices of the community in governing the school system.

How long have you resided in your school board district: Three years

Immediate family: Wife Dawn, son, An drew, 6, and daughter, Amelia, 3.

Website or best way for voters to learn more about you: Suchforschoolboard.com

Previous political experience: None

Why do you want to run for school board? I would like to make the school system better by leveraging my skill set and experience and making sure that par ents have a voice in the education of their children.

What are your qualifications for this office? Business and finance background while leading organizations and teams, strong education, parent of ZCS student.

What are the top three issues that your campaign will focus on? Academics, ac countability and transparency.

What do you see as strengths at Zionsville Community Schools? ZCS has some great teachers and routinely achieves aca

How do you believe public school dis tricts should address diversity, equity and inclusion matters? All students should feel safe and accepted at ZCS and within our community. I believe public school dis tricts should rely on parental responsibility in educating our children on these matters, as they will be the best equipped to under stand their child’s maturity level and ability to understand the complexity of the topic

How can public schools help student test scores reach pre-pandemic levels? Reevaluation of curriculum and how it has changed since pre-pandemic times, and the shifting of SEL and DEI education to being a parental responsibility such that teachers can focus on academics.

How do you feel about Zionsville Com munity Schools’ efforts to address stu dent safety? What changes, if any, would you like to see made? I believe some efforts have been made, however there is always room for improvement.

JON

Commentary by Ward Degler

I miss my dog Brutie. He gave me 15 years, and in dog years that was a lifetime, of course, but I still miss him.

PLAIN TALK

Mostly, I miss his per sonality quirks. Especially the ones that came from the border collie side of his family.

Border collies herd. It’s an instinct with them. Bring a border collie face-to-face with

Fond memories of my buddy, Brutie

a group of anything, and they will automat ically start maneuvering them into a tightknit pile.

Technically, Brutie was a mutt. Shepherd, husky, collie and probably a half-dozen other breeds brought Brutie into the world, but his personality was pure border collie. Whenever we had family gatherings, Brutie would be in our fenced-in backyard look ing for opportunities to crowd everyone together.

In the house, he would sit and stare at

me, waiting for orders to go outside and round up the sheep. He couldn’t believe we didn’t have any.

When we would take walks togeth er, he would try to herd the flocks of Canada geese that summered around the retention ponds in the area.

After the birds chased him away a few times, he lost interest and focused instead on the multitude of starlings that gathered around the neighborhood.

gether and our 3-year-old granddaughter got separated from the rest of the kids and alone in a part of the backyard that was loaded with weeds. Brutie im mediately began edging her toward the back door.

– WARD DEGLAR

After the birds chased him away a few times, he lost interest and focused instead on the multitude of starlings that gathered around the neighborhood. He seemed gen uinely puzzled when the birds rejected his advances and took to the sky.

He had a short-lived fascination with the squirrels in the backyard, but they just took delight in tormenting the poor dog from the trees.

Brutie did have one glorious moment of herding success. It was a family get-to

Judith Mary (Anderson)

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Whenever she

would head toward open spaces again, the dog blocked her path. Slowly, step by step, Brutie herded her toward the door and ulti mately into the arms of her mother. Five minutes later, he was circling the yard in search of other strays.

OBITUARY

Atkinson passed away peacefully on September 15, 2022 at the age of 83. Judith was born in Malden, MA and spent her youth and young adult life there. She was a trailblazing graduate in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. She was one of the very few women in her class and graduated near the top, a great source of pride. She started her career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and then transitioned to Raytheon and subsequently worked for various other companies, taking several years away to raise her children. She moved to Newburyport, MA with her husband Donald and raised two daughters there. Judith was quite the community activist, much to the consternation of those who fell within her sites. She lobbied hard for the school district to add algebra to the middle school curriculum so that students would be prepared for advanced STEM classes in high school and beyond. Later, she would become a thorn in the side of Canadian officials as she demanded they do their job and clear the beach of errant boats. She was even featured in the local newspaper for her efforts. She and Donald eventually retired to San Antonio, TX. Subsequent to Donald’s passing

(August 16, 2014), she moved to Zionsville, IN to be closer to her daughter and two grandchildren. Judith was a force: fiercely independent, unwavering and extroverted with boundless energy for her passions. Her upbringing was unmistakable, as she never lost that strong New England accent. She enjoyed traveling, cooking and do-it-yourself projects like knitting, making jewelry and drawing. She loved spending time in her beloved house in Nova Scotia and searching for sea glass for her jewelry making (along with fighting her Canadian government battles).

Judith is survived by her two daughters: Emily Atkinson Ward (Tom) of Zionsville, Indiana, Crossland Atkinson Belongia (Blake) of Celina, Texas and two grandchildren, Ava and Peter Ward. Judith also leaves behind two sisters Karen Anderson Landry (Roger) of Hingham, Massachusetts and Faye Anderson (Joyce) of Quincy, Massachusetts.

Judith was never the wallflower at events. She would be the first on the dance floor at any affair, to the embarrassment of her teenage daughters. She continued that throughout her life, and as her daughters matured, it is now a sacred and treasured memory.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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.

Judith Atkinson (center) with her daughters Crossland Belongia (left) and Emily Ward.

Racers gear up for Strides for Diabetes race

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

As a retired endocrinologist, Dr. Mel Prince is quite familiar with the effects of diabetes.

Prince said diabetes is often misunderstood.

AWARENESS

Prince, a Zionsville resident who has been with the Zionsville Lions Club about six years, serves as diabetes technical advisor for Lions Club International Foundation for the U.S. and Canada. Prince had the idea to hold a Zionsville event to raise awareness.

The third Strides for Diabetes Awareness 5K and 10K Walk/Run, sponsored by the Zionsville Lions Club, is set for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 15. The event debuted in 2019 and was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then returned last year. The course begins at Lions Park Clubhouse and goes through Zionsville for the 5K. Prince said those competing in the 10K repeat the course.

Packet pickup is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 14 and 7 to 8:15 a.m. Oct. 15 at Lions Park Clubhouse.

“The major focus is to enhance the awareness about diabetes,” Prince said.

“The event is growing year by year.”

Prince said Tuxedo Brothers will manage the event, so he said organizers are antici pating their best year yet as far as partici pation. Medals are awarded, and there will be T-shirts for all participations.

“Our funding in the past has just been sufficient to cover the event itself,” Prince said. “But as we continued to have in creased participation, we’d like to donate to various diabetes groups and send money to various diabetes screening that Lions Club does. As funds continue to increase, we would like to be able to support diabetes research in some fashion.”

“Occasionally, it’s looked on as not being much of a problem,” he said. “It’s just a high blood sugar issue and they don’t under stand the magnitude of the public health concern. On the other end, people may see a relative who had diabetes who had compli cations and they are very afraid of diabetes and may not want to know if they have diabetes.”

Prince said diabetes is the seventh-lead ing cause of death in the U.S. He noted that 11 percent of people have diabetes and up to 25 percent might not even be aware.

“Although diabetes can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, the good news is that with good control of the disease, blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, through a healthy lifestyle and medications, these complications can be delayed or pre vented,” Prince said.

Prince said 1 in 3 people have diabetes, and for people older than 65, nearly 50 per cent have pre-diabetes.

For more, search Strides for Diabetes Awareness on getmeregistered.com.

A smile, firm handshake and quality, honest work. Visit our website for

offers and to meet our team.

WHEN:

Saturday, October 15, 2022

8:30 AM 5K/10K Run/Walk start time

WHERE:

Zionsville Lions Park

115 S. Elm Street, Zionsville, Indiana 46077

WHY:

Diabetes is a leading cause of death in the U.S. We need your help to raise awareness and reverse this devastating trend.

QUESTIONS:

Email zlcdiabetes@gmail.com or call 317-873-5540 if you have questions.

REGISTER: https://www.zionsvillelions.com/events/strides-walk-for-diabetes

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Runners begin the first Strides for Diabetes Awareness 5K and 10K Walk/Run race in 2019. (Photo courtesy of Roger Manning)

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Now, more than ever, we want you to remember that when you’re part of a community, you’re never alone. Let’s start the journey together at eCommunity.com/cancer

Dealer sentenced in Zionsville man’s drug overdose death

news@currentzionsville.com

of Boone County Superior Court 1 sentenced Russell to 25 years in prison Sept. 26.

CRIME

An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in the death of Max well Timbrook of Zionsville, who died after overdosing on fentanyl-laced heroin on Jan. 17, 2020.

Kurt Russell, 52, delivered the drug to Timbrook. According to an autopsy, Timbrook’s death was the result of acute drug intoxication due to the high level of fentanyl in his system.

On Aug. 9, after a two-day trial, a Boone County Jury returned a unanimous verdict convicting Russell of Dealing Causing Death as a Level 1 felony. Judge Matthew Kincaid

“Far too often the narrative surrounding illegal drug cases is that they are nonvio lent, victimless crimes. This narrative must stop,” Prosecutor Kent Eastwood stated in a press release. “Just ask Maxwell Timbrook’s family and friends if illegal drug cases are victimless crimes. In reality, much of the crime prosecutors see on a daily basis is directly tied to illegal drug use. It is time that the crim inal justice system begins to hold drug dealers accountable for the devasta tion that they inflict. We hope this verdict and sentence will help begin to send that message.”

COMMUNITY Donations being accepted for trees planted along Rail Trail — The Zionsville Parks Dept. will plant 68 trees along the northern extension of the Rail Trail that will connect to Whites town. Individuals and businesses interested in donating $600 for a tree can have their name or the name of a loved one featured on a group commemorative plaque on the trail. According to a press release, the trees will be planted starting as early as fall 2022. For more, visit zionsville-in.gov/trailtree.

The Midwest's only international school is right here in Indianapolis.

This International Baccalaureate (IB) World School takes a different approach to education. With immersion and dual language programs in French, Mandarin, Spanish, and English and enhanced cultural experiences, our students are ready for whatever the world has to offer. After all, why stop at the Crossroads of America when you ’ re prepared to go anywhere?

Now accepting applications, 3 year old through high school. No language experience required. Upper School language classes available in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Meet Current in Zionsville Managing Editor Elle Kreamer from 10 a.m. to noon each Friday at CoHatch, 75 N. Main St., Zionsville. Suggest story ideas, ask questions and learn more about Current in Zionsville. For more, email elle@youarecurrent.com.

After his time at ISI, Victor attended the University of California Berkeley to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science During his time in college, he co founded Afi Health, a non profit dedicated to providing accessible pediatric patient education He is currently back at the University of California Berkeley completing his Master of Business Administration degree

"I didn’t realize it at the time, but in hindsight I see so many benefits of my time at ISI Being at ISI was the first time in my life that I was out in a very diverse setting, working with kids and teachers from backgrounds all over the world. "

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Russell

Fishers senior tennis player benefits from controlling emotions

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Fishers High School senior Reese Knoder er used to be his own worst enemy.

That’s not been as much of a problem this season.

“He’s learned to con trol his emotions better,” Fishers tennis coach Dave Heffern said. “He’s really talented but he’s always kind of gotten in his own way. Now, he doesn’t get too down on himself when he makes a mistake. That was his problem before. He would make a mistake and get so down on himself that he would make two more.”

Knoderer captured the Hoosier Cross roads Conference Tournament title at No. 1 singles for the first time by beating Ham ilton Southeastern senior Rohan Golla, in straight sets. It was the first time Knoderer had beaten Golla.

“Our conference is so tough to win, I was proud of him last weekend,” Heffern said.

Heffern said Golla had beaten Knoderer in

MEET REESE KNODERER

Favorite Athlete: Carlos Alcaraz

Favorite TV show: “Breaking Bad”

Hobbies: Hanging out with family and friends, playing basketball

straight sets earlier in the season.

“I think I have improved the most in my mentality, which has decreased my level of play the most throughout my career,” Knoderer said. “It’s a frustrating sport, but if you can keep it under control, it gives you a greater advantage.”

Knoderer said it’s easier for Heffern to coach him when he’s level-headed.

“The experience of playing against No. 1 singles players is really great since there are so many high-level players,” said Knoderer,

who had a record of 18-3 through Sept. 26. “It was very fun to be playing No. 1 since freshman year since I got to play really good senior players so young. This gave me so much experience starting out my high school career since I played many players that went on to play (NCAA) Division I In college.

Knoderer said he plans to play college tennis, but his goal is to play at the Division I level.

“I am trying to figure out where I want to go to college,” Knoderer said. “I plan on graduating from high school a semester early to get a better shot at a scholarship at Division I level,” Knoderer said.

Heffern said he believes Knoderer has enough talent to play at a Division I level.

“Attitude is even more important in col lege,” Heffern said.

Knoderer grew up mostly playing baseball and tennis.

“But I had to choose between the two at 10 years old when I had a stress fracture in my lower back,” he said. “I also played soc cer and basketball.”

Knoderer’s older brother Nic, a 2019 FHS graduate, also played No. 1 singles for the Tigers.

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Fishers senior tennis player Reese Knoderer won the Hoosier Crossroads Conference No. 1 singles title. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Applegate Photography)

Knoderer

COMMUNITY

Two injured, one arrested following weekend crash — Timothy Kennedy, 41, was arrested following an accident that left the two passengers of his GMC Envoy injured, according to a press release from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The crash occurred Sept. 24 at 7:52 p.m. on County Road 300 S. and County Road 875 E. in Zionsville. The vehicle was reported to have left the road way for unknown reasons and rolled two to three times. The driver and one of the two passengers were ejected from the vehicle. The two passengers, Ora Shockley, 55, and Corey Shockley, 24, of Lebanon were trans ported to a nearby medical facility for eval uation. Kennedy was arrested and taken to Boone County Jail on preliminary charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving seri ous bodily injury, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and refusal to submit to a breath or chemical test in an accident case resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

ILADD Seminar — ILADD, Inc. (Independent Living for Adults with Developmental / Intellectual Disabilities) is offering a FREE Informational Seminar on Government Benefits and Options to Work. This is a free informational meeting for persons with IDD (intellectual/developmental disabilities) and their families. Speakers will include Angie Hoskins and Becky Lohman of Crossroads. The event will be held Oct 6. at Zionsville Town Hall, 1100 West Oak Street from 6:308:00pm. Email program.manager@iladdinc. org to register for the event.

St. Mark’s UMC to offer Free Potatoes Oct. 8 — Free potatoes will be distributed to any individual, family or food pantry who needs them Oct. 8, 8-10 a.m. Forty thousand pounds of potatoes will be available at St. Mark’s Unit ed Methodist Church, 4780 E. 126th St., Carmel, IN 46033. Please enter from Gray Rd. No prior contact needed for individuals. Food pantries and other agencies are asked to advise how many pounds of potatoes they will need by contacting Stephanie Cohen, scohen@stmark scarmel.org (317-846-4912 ext. 215).

Salvation Army volunteer opportunities

– The Salvation Army of Indianapolis is looking for volunteers for the Coats for Kids event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Families who wish to register to receive coats for their kids can visit centralusa.sal vationarmy.org/indiana/coats-for-kids. Any one interested in volunteering can contact Kathy Dalla Costa with the Salvation Army at kathy.dallacosta@usc.salvationarmy.org.

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Zionsville resident developing promising drug that fights cancers, other diseases

By Elle Kreamer elle@youarecurrent.com

Mark R. Kelley, a Zionsville resident and accredited scientist, has dedicated most of his professional career to the development of a drug that has been shown to slow tu mor growth in cancer patients, quell symp toms of neuropathy in patients undergoing chemotherapy and treat retinal diseases, among other applications.

Kelley has devoted more than two de cades to his research and founded Apexian Pharmaceuticals, an Indianapolis-based bio tech company that develops therapeutics for a variety of diseases. He said his path to a research career began when his fifthgrade science teacher instilled in him a pas sion for science that has grown ever since.

“I’ve really just followed that love of sci ence,” Kelley said. “I didn’t start out to have a company. We just wanted to work.”

Kelley has bachelor’s and master’s de grees in zoology and earned a doctorate in genetics from Louisiana State University. He completed his post doctorate at Rockefeller University in 1987.

Kelley has been a faculty member at the Indiana University School of Medicine for more than two decades. He said in 2008, venture capital angel investors helped found Apexian Pharmaceuticals, a small bio tech company, from his body of research.

Kelley also has worked with a variety of organizations to further his research, including Riley Children’s Foundation and the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, among others.

“The unique thing about working in pedi atrics with the Wells Center is that we’re all focused and translational,” Kelley said. “We all say, ‘OK, this is good, basic science, but how is it going to help the patients? How is it going to help the kids of Indiana?’”

Melissa Fishel, is Kelley’s colleague and co-author of their book, “DNA Repair in Can cer Therapy.” She also is one of his former students. She said Kelley played a founda tional role in supporting her career goals.

“He was a really great mentor to me. He’s helped me to develop my ability to think through hard problems and do research and formulate next steps,” said Fishel, who was a doctorate in biochemisty and molecular biology. “I learned from him the skill of not just being caught up in the work I’m doing,

but also always looking to the future.”

Kelley’s research has focused on devel oping a drug that originally was intended to treat tumor growth in cancers, but upon further investigation has been found to have a variety of applications in treating other diseases.

The orally administered drug, referred to as APX3330, has gone through clinical trials for treatment of various illnesses, including cancer, Crohn’s disease, colitis, and various diseases of the eye, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

APX3330 is furthest along in trials for treatment of retinal diseases, where the major issue is angiogenesis, or blood vessels that grow in the retina and block vision.

The drug targets a protein called APE1, which is involved in the growth of the blood vessels and prevents them from developing further while also blocking inflammation.

“Ours are the first and only drugs to tar get this protein that have gone to clinical trials in the U.S.,” Kelley said.

The drug has passed the first phase of clinical trials and is in Phase 2B, which means it is being tested for efficacy and

possible side effects, according to fda.gov.

The drug is also unique in that it is tak en orally, when most diseases affecting the back of the eye require more invasive methods, such as injections. The anti-in flammatory properties of the drug have ap plications in treating other illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s and colitis.

Kelley’s research in developing the drug originally targeted the APE1 protein because of its role in prompting tumor growth in certain cancers. The drug blocks the APE1 protein from causing tumor cells to grow and divide, ultimately halting tumor growth and killing the cells.

APX3330 as a treatment for cancer is still in Phase 1 of clinical trials, which tests for safety and approximates appropriate dos age of the drug.

Victoria Champion, associate director for community outreach and engagement at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Cen ter, said she admires Kelley and his work, particularly as it relates to the treatment of peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Kelley said that each phase of a clinical trial for a drug can take up to a year or more, but that he hopes to see trials for each drug come to fruition over the next five to 10 years.

“When people ask, ‘Well, what do you do as a hobby?’ I say, ‘Well, this is my hobby,’” Kelley said. “There’s the old saying, ‘It’s not work if you love what you do.’ I think I’m a poster child for that.”

• Born in Muncie, reared in Huntington

• Met wife, Sue, at DePauw University, where he was a zoology major, she was a botany major

• Will be married 43 years in December

• Kelley and his wife have two children

• Has lived in Zionsville since 1993

ON THE COVER: Mark R. Kelley pauses for a photo in his laboratory at the Wells Center for Pediatric Research in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Mark R. Kelley)

MEET MARK KELLEY

Mark R. Kelley conducts lab research at the Wells Center for Pediatric Research in 2013. (Photo cour tesy of Mark R. Kelley)

Mark Kelley and colleague Melissa Fishel pause in front of a sign for their co-authored book, “DNA Repair in Cancer Therapy,” at a meeting for the American Association for Cancer Research in 2016. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Fishel)

Mark R. Kelley pauses with his wife, Sue Kelley, at an induction ceremony for the American As sociation for the Advancement of Science March 24, 2022.

A fiery question

Commentary by Terry Anker

Eating out has changed much through the centuries. From medieval banqueting to millennial portability and pressed Peacock to meat-free bacon, we are con tinuing to redefine how we dine. In the days when most restaurants had tables and chairs that were not attached to the floor, we could expect an array of tra ditions that are disappearing into time. The so-called “hostess” stand of the day was often decorated with all manner of treats. There would be the bowl of un wrapped butter mints, a dispenser filled with toothpicks and business cards (so that you’d be able to call for another res ervation before the internet made a call nearly pointless) and a bowl filled with books of matches.

Containing 20 or so cardboard strips coated on one end with a dollop of phosphorous sulfide, they were given to guests who were expected to light a cigarette, or a few, at the end of the meal. Even if a voracious smoker, the patron would leave with 15 or so unused matchsticks and a handy reminder of the evening spent. The best places would of fer wooden matches in tidy pocket-sized boxes. Folks collected, even prized, the tokens, with a 1927 Lindberg one selling for more than $6,000 in 2015.

One might imagine that the restaura teur sent the matches out into the world to strike thousands of little fires, remind ers to return and dine again. They might have concentrated their money into a single bonfire, with all the matches piled high. But would a fire, even one visible from miles away, have the same impact? Are we better to build and rely upon a single great act, or is our story told best through 1,000 little flames? When we interact with those around us, do we construct grand bonfires or pass out simple matchbooks?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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.

HUMOR

Have internet, will travel

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

Friends, I’ve just spent two solid hours frolicking on Expedia and Kayak, planning dream vacations to Machu Pic chu, the Caribbean and Toronto. I know! But over the summer, my youngest and I orchestrated an extreme family challenge: Whoever pitches the best summer 2023 trip come Christmas will get the greenlight to proceed with the actual booking, provided, of course, they’ve stayed within certain travel and budgetary guidelines. Oh, it’s on.

To date, I have nine legitimate possi bilities, including the ones above. Most are within the U.S. because, unfortu nately, airfare is ridiculous right now, especially out of Indy. I had to forgo such amazing locations as Israel, India, and the entirety of Southeast Asia sim ply because flights alone would surpass the designated cost per person. Alaskan and Mediterranean cruises are no-goes for the same reason, as is beautiful and surprisingly affordable once-you-getthere Kyrgyzstan. Europe is predictable and easy and, therefore, not worthy of my consideration. Yeah, I said it.

Which leaves the Western Hemi sphere, and specifically American cities, as the frontrunners in terms of pure bang-for-your-buck. Charleston, W.V., Ni agara Falls and Bar Harbor, Maine, could prove entertaining, though certainly not the glamourous gallivanting I’d en visioned back in July. If I time it right, I can get us on a short cruise to Cozumel, and I did find a Belize all-inclusive that might work. The Peru adventure involves four days of trekking at altitude, which I’m not even sure I want to do.

Eventually, I’ll have to decide on which vacay to pitch, but frankly, it’s irrelevant. The countless hours spent daydreaming and internet surfing has already been a win!

Peace out.

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

Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC.

may email him at terry@ youarecurrent.com.

“The way prices are rising, the good old days are last week.”

— LES DAWSON

VIEWS

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

Hi! This is Dick Wolfsie’s newest cell phone. The old phone talked to you many years ago, but since I have taken over the job, I wanted to update everyone on how things are going.

He has misplaced me 43 times in the past 18 months. Of course, I was never really lost. I knew exactly where I was (I have GPS).

This past week has been something. On Sunday, I was at a movie with Dick and his lovely wife. First, I was in his back pock et, then he placed me in the little cupholder next to his seat. Then he walked out of the movie without me, but he came back into the empty theater and called me from Mary Ellen’s phone. Success! By the way, I loved the movie.

Before we headed home, he tossed me into the car, and I fell between the seats. He started looking for me while driving. This is more dangerous than texting. He found me — and also his lost AARP card and a $100 Blockbuster gift card.

Monday morning, after he showered, he put me in the pocket of his bathrobe, since he was waiting for a call. I knew where I was going to spend the entire night. In the bathroom.

Tuesday morning, he started looking for me. He checked every dresser drawer, under the bed, and even the freezer (where he once left me for three days). He called me from his landline but my battery was dead

from having spent the night in the bath room. I tried to muster every ounce of ener gy. I even tried to vibrate a little. No luck.

Wednesday, Dick finally found me in his robe pocket when he showered again, but later he threw me in his briefcase on the way to a speech he was giving. I landed in a divider compartment. I was well hidden for days and he couldn’t find me.

By Saturday, he was desperate. Dick headed to the cell phone store to buy a replacement. His contract was almost expired, so they made him a deal on a sexy new model. It looked like the end of me. I was going to be cellular non grata.

– DICK WOLFSIE

When Dick got back to the car, he had a flash of insight. He grabbed the briefcase, turned it upside down and shook it. I tum bled onto the driver’s seat. I was OK, but I had no charge. I was spent.

Sunday, we headed back to the phone store to return the new phone. He had found me and wanted me back. I was touched. My circuits welled up.

Last night, Dick stuck me in his sweat pants pocket while he was exercising in the basement. I’m now in the bottom of the laundry basket. Don’t expect to reach Dick anytime soon. He only does the laundry once a week.

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

Before we headed home, he tossed me into the car, and I fell between the seats. He started looking for me while driving. This is more dangerous than texting.

Story Cottage coming to WestClay

By Sammy Bredar news@currentzionsville.com

Banking at The National Bank of Indianapolis is personal, local and rooted in expertise. You

receive personalized service from one of our experts who will advise you through complex financial situations and provide

banking solutions.

HEALTH CARE

Story Cottage is an exclusive memory care option with facilities in Indianapolis and Carmel. The facility is opening a third lo cation in WestClay this month at 1840 W. Main St., Carmel. The other Carmel location is on the southeast corner of Carey Road and Beech Drive in the Maple Acres neighborhood.

Story Cottage Vice President Carrie Cash said Story Cottage is unlike other memory care options.

“Our mission with Story Cottage is to create flourishing moments for those with memory loss,” Cash said. “With the small number of residents and caregiver-to-resi dents ratios not found anywhere else with in the industry, it is easy for our care team

to know and understand each resident’s story, (such as) where they were born, what their career looked like and how many chil dren they had.

“This allows our caregivers to draw from those stories to create moments.”

Story Cottage also aims to offer unpar alleled comfort for its residents, according to Cash.

“What sets Story Cottage apart is the fact that we have built homes within neigh borhoods,” Cash said. “For one client in particular, when caring for his wife became too difficult, he was able to move her to Story Cottage within his own neighborhood and can drop by daily to share a meal or to walk with her throughout the neighborhood that they have called their own for nearly 30 years.”

Visit storycottageliving.com/ to learn more about Story Cottage.

Look for dividend-paying stocks — Divi dend-paying stocks tend to hold up better than the overall market during volatile times and economic slowdowns. But many large-cap, blue-chip dividend payers such as McDonald’s and Procter & Gamble have already experienced big gains the past year, so they may not provide the downside protection you would expect. A better defensive strategy is to invest in dividend-paying medium-sized companies -- those with stock market values between $2 billion and $10 billion. Their businesses are mature enough to pay reliable dividends but still have the ability to grow much fast er than large companies. Also, their stocks are bigger bargains. To find attractive dividend-paying, mid-cap stocks, look for companies with steady recurring revenues, little or no debt, leading market positions in their niches and strong enough cash flow to increase dividends at least 10 percent annually for the next five years. Dividend growth is the best indication that earnings are growing and that management believes they will continue to grow.

Source: BottomLineInc.com

Free smoke alarms and tests – The Amer ican Red Cross Home Fire Campaign is a multi-year effort to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent. People of all ages are vulnerable to home fires. The Red Cross encourages everyone to

New car replacement insurance — Typical insurance policies only pay a depreciated value for your car if it’s totaled in an acci dent. Recent ads offering full replacement cost are very common. They don’t, however, tell the whole story. Full replacement cost coverage will increase your premium by at least 15 percent and is only good for a limit ed time period, or specific number of miles. It might not be worth the extra premiums given the chance of totaling your car is less than 1 percent in a year.

Source: BottomLine.com

Prevent catalytic converter theft — Jiffy Lube of Indiana and Indianapolis Metropol itan Police Dept. have partnered to launch the Catalytic Converter Identification Initia tive to combat a trend of catalytic converter thefts and support vehicle safety. Through this initiative, Hoosiers that visit a Jiffy Lube store in central Indiana can opt to have their technician engrave the last 8 dig its of the vehicle’s VIN on the catalytic con verter and add a stripe of high-temp paint, which adds an extra layer of protection to any vehicle at no additional cost (and no purchase necessary). Services will remain in effect indefinitely.

“THE

SERVICE AND ATTENTION ARE UNMATCHED BY OTHER BA NKS.”

call 1-888-684-1441 to make an appointment to test existing smoke alarms and/or install free alarms in your home.

IU Health staffers give day of service

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Beth Rayfield was glad to be part of the IU Health North surgical services team vol unteering at Coxhall Gardens in Carmel.

VOLUNTEERISM

“This park has a special meaning to me because this is where my friends come and walk,” Rayfield said. “Getting to be part of something we get to enjoy makes it mean that much more.”

Rayfield, director of sterile processing and central supply for IU Health North, was part of an IU Health North members team that planted flowers and put down mulch at a street entrance of Coxhall Gardens.

The 14th annual Day of Service is an opportunity for team member volunteers to take the IU Health mission beyond the hospital walls.

Volunteers worked on several community projects from Sept. 5 to Sept. 30.

Caitlin Vendely, a community outreach consultant for IU Health North in Carmel and IU Health Saxony in Fishers, helped the sur gical services team with the Coxhall project. Vendely, a 2015 Noblesville High School graduate and a Carmel resident, previously worked in September on improvements on Cool Creek Park in Westfield.

Vendely said she was involved in service projects throughout childhood.

“Being involved with this with my job is

great because it’s always something I felt passionate about,” she said. “It’s a good team-building initiative, for one thing, but it’s also great to get out of the hospital walls and have an impact on the communi ties we serve and that we live in. We try to address our communities’ key health priori ties. One of Hamilton County’s key priorities is maintaining active lifestyles in order to prevent chronic diseases and chronic ill nesses. One reason we try to beautify land scapes is that it will increase walkability in the park and encourage more people to be active in our parks. That will help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. We’ve been working with Hamilton County Parks for 13 years now.”

IU Health North staff members worked on the Coxhall Gardens maze earlier in September.

Rayfield said when she was working out of IU Health West, she helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity. In previous years, she has worked on Cool Creek Park projects.

“This is such a wonderful way to give back to your community,” the Indianapolis resident said. “We have people stopping us thanking us for making their park beautiful.”

There were other IU Health Day of Service opportunities that team members could choose from in Hamilton County, including Morse Park Beach improvements in No blesville, where members spreading gravel, planted trees and native grasses and rein forced the seawall.

From left: Caitlin Vendely, Sydney Lofland, Kathleen Boswell and Beth Rayfield unload mulch for the Coxhall Gardens project. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)

Mathis celebrates long career with ‘Voice of Romance Tour’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Johnny Mathis has one main reason he is out on tour in his 66th year as a record ing artist.

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’

“The Addams Family” is set for Oct. 6 to Nov. 20 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indi anapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

’THE CURIOUS SAVAGE’

CONCERT

“It’s my living. I have to eat,” he said, jokingly. “I do it because I love it.”

Mathis, 87, will bring his “Voice of Ro mance Tour” to the Palladium at the Cen ter for the Performing Arts in Carmel at 8 p.m. Oct. 15.

“Every time I step on the stage, I think of the one person who was so meaning ful to my career, (and) that was my dad,” Mathis said. “He was the first person I heard sing.”

Mathis’ father never sang in public.

“He was too busy having children. There were seven of us,” Mathis said. “We had no money. All we had was each other. Fortu nately, we grew up in San Francisco and all you had to do was embrace the public. Before I knew it, I was making records.”

Mathis grew up competing in track and field as a high jumper and a hurdler.

“The only claim to fame is that I broke the great Bill Russell’s high jump record (6 feet, 5 1/2 inches in 1955) in college (University of San Francisco),” Mathis said. “The next thing I knew, I was on a plane to New York signing a contract with Colum bia Records.”

Mathis was offered the contract the same week he was supposed to leave for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. He chose music, signing a five-year deal with Columbia in 1955. He remained friends with NBA legend Russell, who died at 88 in July.

Mathis’ first album was jazz.

“Then I met (legendary producer) Mitch Miller, who liked my voice but didn’t like what I was singing because it was too jazzy,” Mathis said.

Soon, Mathis said he was recording songs like “Chances Are,” “It’s Not For Me to Say” and “Misty.”

After Mathis had some success as a singer, he got to meet the late Nat King

Cole.

“I got to tell him I grew up listening to his singing and how he influenced me in so many ways,” Mathis said.

In 2021, technology allowed Mathis to sing a duet with Cole on a Christmas album.

Mathis said at one point in his career he ran out of ideas as far as what to sing.

“I lived in Europe for a while. I sang in French, German, Italian, Spanish, but that didn’t go over so well here (in the U.S.),” Mathis said. “Mostly, I listened to what I thought the record company thought would sell as my singing was concerned. That was my guide. I got an opportunity to work with some of the greatest musicians in the world and some of the greatest singers, too.”

In 2017, he released “Johnny Mathis Sings The Great New American Songbook.”

Mathis said he started trying to sing songs that the audience was familiar with during a concert.

“Then later on, I realized what they really wanted was to hear songs that I wanted to sing,” he said. “So that is how I evolved as far as what I sing and when I sing it. I’m a big fan of musicians, and over the years (I’ve performed) with some of the greatest musicians in the world. In fact, (composer/pianist) Henry Mancini and I toured the world together for many years. That’s where I get most of my en thusiasm, working with other musicians.”

When he was younger, Mathis said he developed a workout regimen that he has maintained through the years.

“That has been a good foundation for my singing,” he said.

For tickets, visit thecenterpresents.org. For more, visit johnnymathis.com.

Main Street Productions of “The Curious Savage” runs through Oct. 9 at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit west fieldplayhouse.org.

‘RENT’

Civic Theatre’s production of “Rent” will run Oct. 7-22 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

MASTERWORKS 1

Carmel Symphony’s Masterworks 1 concert will feature vocalist/pianist Clarice Assad and the band Pavel & Direct Contact Live at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.

‘A PROCESSION, A FESTIVAL, AND A SINFONIA’ Indiana Wind Symphony will present “A Procession, A Festival, And A Sinfonia” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit indianawindsymphony.org.

CHS grad earns spot on ‘The Voice’

@youarecurrent.com

Morgan Taylor Koontz, a 2019 Carmel High School graduate, earned a spot on Season 22 of “The Voice” during her blind audition that aired Sept. 26 on NBC.

All four judges turned around to signify approval of her performance of Lizzo’s song “Cuz I Love You.”

Koontz, who performs as Morgan Taylor, was selected as a Songbook Academy final ist in 2019.

Koontz selected John Legend to be her coach. Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and Camilia Cabello also wanted to coach her. Koontz is studying commercial music/voice at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.

Johnny Mathis will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Johnny Mathis)

IWS to visit Studio Theater

By Mike Beas editorial@youarecurrent.com

The Studio Theater in Carmel is the quaintest of musical venues, seating approximately 200 spectators.

MUSIC

At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, the Indiana Wind Symphony takes center stage at Studio Theater in Carmel with “A Procession, a Fes tival and a Sinfonia,” seven pieces showcasing anywhere from six to 24 musicians playing at once.

“It puts us in the intimate setting of the Studio Theater,” said Charles Conrad, musi cal director of the Indiana Wind Symphony. “Literally, the front row is six feet away from me, the conductor. I can look right into the eyes of the people in front of me. I don’t even use a microphone.”

Conrad, however, won’t be conducting. He continues to recover from surgery on his right eye for a detached retina. IWS’s concert featuring film score composer John Williams’ music set for Sept. 25 was post poned because of the surgery.

Taking the baton will be Darin Sorley, di

rector of the Indiana Brass Choir.

The pieces to be performed are, in order, “Concerto for 23 Winds,” “Music for the Tem ple of the Night” and “Zephyrus” before a short intermission. After that, it’s “Sinfoniet ta in D minor,” “Second Suite” and “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral.”

A recently discovered march from 1928 by Fred Jewell, the famous composer who hailed from tiny Worthington, Ind, who died in 1936, will close the show. Interestingly, Jewell served as musical director for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1908 to 1911.

Although his vantage point will be much different, Conrad looks forward to the show.

“Our chamber concerts are genuinely unique because we’re really the only group in the area that does this,” Conrad said.

“Just the fact we play a repertoire that nev er gets played, that’s the reason we created this series. It’s really Grade A music. In a sense, they wrote for smaller performing ensembles.”

For tickets, visit indianawindsymphony. org/events.

Actress embraces role of Morticia

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

It seems to be Jill Kelly Howe’s destiny to be cast in the role of Morticia Addams in “The Addams Family.”

the word mortician.”

Howe will play Morticia in the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production Oct. 6 to Nov. 20.

MUSICAL

After all, the Indi anapolis resident’s family owned a funeral home for four generations.

“The Schilb and Sons Funeral Home was started in 1857 by my great-great-grandfather Andrew J. Schilb. He was an embalmer as well,” Howe said. “However, upon his un timely passing, my great-great-grandmother Jemima Margaret Schilb, his wife, got her embalming license and became the first licensed woman embalmer in the United States (on) Oct. 17, 1902. Therefore, she also became the first female mortician in the U.S. Four generations later, my grandmother sold the funeral home to the Dooley family after my grandfather’s death.

“Because of my family history, I think it is humorous and fitting that I have the oppor tunity to portray Morticia, who has a love of the macabre and is obviously named after

“I really enjoy exploring what makes her vulnerable and what makes her strong, what brings her joy and what does not,” Howe said. “For example, she abhors bright colors, and she cuts the heads off of roses before putting the stems into a vase to enjoy. She sees the world differently than most. She is always polite, but she’s unafraid to state her opinions. She loves her family fiercely and sees no reason to apologize for her family’s unusual lifestyle. Better yet, she sees it as completely normal.”

Howe said she imagined in the past what it would be like to play the iconic role.

“Most of my life I’ve had long, very dark hair, so people have often referred to me as a ‘Morticia, Wednesday, or Bettie Pagetype,’” Howe said. “Also, not unlike how I would imagine Morticia to feel, I personally would much prefer to watch an episode of ‘Dateline’ than a romantic comedy.”

For more, visit beefandboards.com.

Howe

Conrad

IBC to present ‘Bordeaux and Ballet’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Indiana Ballet Conservatory Artistic Director Alyona Yakovleva figures wine and ballet are a perfect mix.

FUNDRAISER

“I am very ex cited about our fundraiser ‘Bordeaux and Ballet,’ as this is an exclusive preview of our annual production, ‘The Nutcrack er’,” the Carmel resident said. “‘The Nutcracker’ is set for Nov. 26-27 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. There will be a special accompaniment by the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. Step outside the Palladium, and the Christkindlmarkt is in full swing, adding to the festive holiday spirit and mak ing this a great tradition for all families.”

“Bordeaux & Ballet” is scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 8 at Lee Supply, 415 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel. In 2021, the Carmel-based IBC hosted “Bourbon & Ballet,” a slightly differ ent take on the event

“Since we are a nonprofit organization, fundraisers such as this enable us to im prove our stage props and costumes for pro ductions,” IBC Marketing Director Elizabeth Warn said. “Also, we have donation opportu nities at this event that can be more personal. For example, guests can choose to sponsor costumes that will appear in our ‘Nutcracker’ pro duction. Finally, we have increased enrollment this year and we are looking to expand and create an ad ditional studio in our current space. Building costs are more than in the past, so fundraising is crucial.”

The performance will be 30 minutes. There also will be music and a silent auction.

Lee Supply, home of a luxury kitchen and bath showroom, has its own chef, Benjamin Lierman, who will create unique dishes to complement the evening.

Cocktail attire is recommended for the event for ages 21 and older.

For more, visit indianaballetconservatory. org.

‘Barefoot in the Park’ set to open

By Sammy Bredar editorial@youarecurrent.com

The Hyperion Players Executive Artistic Director Ian Hauer wanted to choose fall play that would appeal to a broad audience.

COMEDY

So, Hauer will direct Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park,” a romantic comedy, which will run Oct. 6-8 at The Switch Theatre, 10029 E. 126th St., Fishers.

This is the second play for the new com munity theater in eastern Hamilton County and the first of its 2022-23 season. The non profit previously held “The Glass Menagerie” in February.

“We’re still a very young theater, so pro ducing a few tried-and-true scripts that people recognize works to our advantage,” said Hauer, a Noblesville resident who is co-founder of The Hyperion Players. “Also, since our goal is to provide a little bit of ev erything in our lineups, we think ‘Barefoot’ is a great start to a varied season.”

McCordsville resident Anna Himes, who has a lead role of Corie Bratter, is excited to be a part of The Hyperion Players.

“I believe in the people who have started

this company,” Himes said. “After I’ve met everybody else who’s working for this nonfor-profit, I think all of them are devoted to bringing acting as an art form to the community.”

Hauer is confident The Hyperion Players will be a cultural asset to the community.

“I absolutely love that moment when the house lights go down, the stage lights come up, and the audience begins to share that one-night-only experience,” Hauer said.

For more, visit hyperionplayers.com.

Anna Himes and Zach Catlin are the lead per formers in “Barefoot in the Park.” (Photo courte sy of Ian Hauer)

Yakovleva

CHS grad brings film to Heartland

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

As a Carmel High School student, Laura Palmer Graham’s film teacher took the class on a field trip to the Heartland International Film Festival.

MOVIE

Laura, a 2010 CHS graduate, is the executive producer of “Always, Lola.” Her husband Jeff Graham wrote and directed the film.

“In that way, it’s special to be bringing this film home because it’s a full-circle mo ment,” Laura said.

The film will be shown at the Heartland International Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 6 to 16 at various venues in the India napolis area. “Always, Lola” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at Glendale Landmark 12 and at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at DeBoest Lecture Hall in Newfields.

The film was shot in August 2021 in 11 days in Indiana and Ohio.

“Most features are much longer shoots, but we were fortunate to have excellent actors and excellent crew who were up to the challenge,” said Laura, who is a human interest producer on the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show.

The film debuted in June at the Marina Del Rey (Calif.) Film Festival, winning the best picture award.

“It’s a small ensemble dramedy in the vein of ‘The Big Chill’ or ‘The Breakfast Club’,” Jeff said. “ The story was personal for me because it was loosely based on the death of my best friend from high school.”

The film follows five friends who are mourning and celebrating their friend Lola, who died of an overdose the year before on an annual camping trip.

For more, visit heartlandfilm.org.

the Heartland Film Festival announcement party

Not your mom’s canned seafood

Commentary by Mark LaFay

Canned seafood. When you hear that, what comes to mind? If you are like me, you think about canned tuna, maybe anchovy flats in soybean oil or smoked oysters. Did you know there is a world of canned seafood that is more than fodder for mom’s tuna salad?

Portugal and the Mediterranean coast of Spain are home to some of the world’s most refined tinned seafood called conservas. Let’s be honest, “conservas” sounds better than canned seafood, so we will go with that.

The next time you entertain with some charcuterie, consider a couple nice conser vas to bring some variety to your spread. One fantastic producer of conservas is Jose Gourmet. Jose Gourmet works with Portu guese fishermen who source seafood sus tainably and process and pack the finished product.

JG Spiced Octopus in Olive Oil would be a great addition to your charcuterie board. This conserva is chunks of octopus caught in the Atlantic Ocean and delightfully ten der. It is packed in olive oil with piri piri

peppers, a popular pepper from South Afri ca. Serve on crostini, or flatbread crackers with spicy mustard or curried mustard. Add in pickled shallot or cornichon for some ad ditional acidity.

JG Spiced Calamari in Ragout Sauce is another great option. These bits are much larger and sliced so you can get smaller bites. The squid is tender and delicate, the flavor is phenomenal! It’s combined with to mato pulp stewed and spiced with pepper, clove onion and red wine. The bits go great on toast with soft spreadable cheese like Boursin, or a Tulip Tree Fromage Frais. You could even pair with thin slices of Grana Padano or aged parmesan.

Surprise your guests, or yourself. Try these two items with your next charcuterie spread. You will find that you are standing at the top of the rabbit hole. The question is, will you find how deep it goes?

Where’s Amy?

Where’s Amy attends Carmel International Arts Festival

Wind Symphony presents

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

Attendees fill the streets Sept. 24 opening day of the Carmel International Arts Festival in the Carm el Arts & Design District. The two-day family-friendly annual event included live music, food and an opportunity to view and purchase original art from several local and international artists. (Photo by Amy Pauszek)

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4011 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis.

Blueprint for Improvement: Bathroom exudes modern allure

After

Built in 1968 in the Colony Woods neighbor hood of Indianapolis, the owners of this home were ready to add a little style and luxury to their primary bathroom, while staying true to their home’s modern architecture.

THE BLUEPRINT

• A wet room was created by bringing the stall shower and tub into a single waterproofed enclosure — maximizing comfort and simplifying cleanup.

• Updated cabinetry, luminous tile and cleanlined, modern fixtures ensure the aesthetic blends seamlessly with the home’s modern architecture.

• Cambria surfaces on the vanity countertops and in the wet rooms provide the look of natural stone without the maintenance.

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.

Before

26 October 4, 2022 Current in Zionsville currentzionsville.com INSIDE & OUT A A A A A A PRESENTED BY childrensmuseum.org/haunted-house #HauntedTCM Oct. 12–30 • Sleek custom poplar cabinets provide ample storage space with a dose of modern style.

Commentary by Larry Greene

Eerie etymologies of Halloween

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

status and crossed the pond to the U.S., where we still enjoy them.

Visiting the John F. Kennedy

Presidential Library and Museum

Commentary by Don Knebel

Today, on the way back from Cape Cod, we visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

TRAVEL

Just before his assassina tion on Nov. 22, 1963, President Kennedy began considering the possible location for a future presidential library. He and his family selected a spot in Cambridge, Mass., near where he had lived during his time at Harvard, from which he graduated cum laude in 1940. A year after his death, the family announced that I. M. Pei, then a relatively unknown architect, had been se lected to design the library facility. In 1975, after a series of delays and objections from Cambridge residents, the Kennedy family decided to build the library on the site of a former garbage dump in Boston’s Dorches ter area, with a view of downtown across Dorchester Bay. The building, designed by Pei, was completed at a cost of about $21 million, and the facility was dedicated by President Jimmy Carter and members of the Kennedy family on Oct. 20, 1979.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, like other presidential librar ies, seeks to take people back to the time of the president. It contains a display of appliances from the early 1960s and 1960 campaign memorabilia, including a banner welcoming Kennedy to Indianapolis. Visitors can listen to a once-secret recording of Kennedy and his advisors seeking a peace ful resolution to what became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Television monitors highlight some of Kennedy’s most important speeches, including the one on Sept. 12,

1962, at Rice University, explaining his goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade. What most impressed me was the museum’s ability to remember the spirit of optimism and hope that Kennedy and his young family created for the nation, a spirit that is sadly now missing.

Did you know the concept of jack-o’-lan terns comes from the Irish? Any root veg etable can be carved into one, but turnips and pumpkins were the most popular in the field.

GRAMMAR GUY

Where do we get this name for a carved, lit autumn gourd? You can slice or dice your theories and legends as many ways as you can slice a pumpkin pie, but here are the most common theories.

Back in the 1600s, English people called any general man “Jack,” kind of like how we call men “guys.” Night watchmen were called Jack-o’-lanterns, a shortened ver sion of “Jack of the lantern.”

Somehow by the 1800s, the term jack-o’-lantern was the word for a hol lowed-out pumpkin with a candle inside. Theories from Ireland suggest that jack-o’lanterns were similar to will-o’-the-wisps. These phosphorescent lights came from gases in rotting plants in swampy, marshlike areas.

Whatever their etymological origin, jack-o’-lanterns lost their proper name

Halloween once boasted its own inter esting apostrophe. Originally known as All Hallows’ Eve or All-hallowmas, Halloween was the day before the Catholic holiday All Saints’ Day. This holiday pretty much covered up the pagan Celtic festival of Samhain, and I’ll let you look that up on your own time. Alholowmesse was the Middle English word for “All Saints’ Day.” From there you can see how we get the “eve” of “Alholowmesse.” All Hallows’ Eve ning. Hallowe’en. Halloween. Words drift and evolve like this all the time.

I love how many of the terms associ ated with Halloween come from Ireland, Scotland and England (from whence my people hail). Even the word “eerie” has its roots in these lands.

A banner on display welcoming JFK to Indianapolis during his 1960 presidential campaign. (Photo by Don Knebel)

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

1960s-era appliances in a display case in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

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

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Indiana Stamp Club

host the INDYPEX 2022 Stamp Show Oct. 7-9, 2022. Hamilton Co. 4-H Fairgrounds and Exhi bition Center, 2003 Pleasant Street, Noblesville. Hours 10-6 on Fri., 10-5 on Sat., 10-3 on Sunday. Exhibits and approximately 40 dealers as well as beginner/youth tables. A U.S. postal station is expected. Indiana Stamp Club and the Indiana Postal History Society information tables. Displays and cachets featur ing this year’s show theme “Title IX.” Website:www.indianastampclub.org

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

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IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR SKILLED CARPENTERS!

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Construction Services has so much work that it must hire five people for residential remodeling NOW. The skilled carpenters we select will have strong abilities in bathroom remodeling, but also with respect to kitchens, decks, basements, wood and tile flooring, doors and windows, interior and exterior painting, drywall, plumbing and electrical, siding and room additions.

Again: Only skilled carpenters need apply.

For immediate consideration, call Gary Simpson at 317.703.9575.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SHOP TO CALL HOME?

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

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

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

To schedule an interview, send your resume with contact information to: frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net 40 S Rangeline Rd Carmel Indiana 46032 www.IntegrityAutomotive.net

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Healthcare is bigger than a