November 29, 2022 — Zionsville

Current in Zionsville currentinzionsville.com

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Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XI, No. 38 Copyright 2021. Current Publishing, LLC All Rights Reserved.

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Jane Burgess campaigns for development, public safety

By Elle Kreamer elle@youarecurrent.com

values and recruiting businesses to secure economic opportunities.

DISPATCHES

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

POLITICS

Jane Burgess, a former longtime member of the Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees, has an nounced her candida cy for Zionsville may or. Burgess said she is campaigning on a foundation of smart economic development, fiscal responsibility, leadership and public safety.

“When I was asked to consider running, I felt like it was an import ant time to really step up in order to make a difference,” Burgess said. “By running for mayor, I hope to have a positive impact on our town going forward.”

Burgess, who is vying for the Republi can nomination with John Stehr, said her local knowledge makes her an excellent candidate. In addition, she said her 12 years serving on the school board and two years as its president have given her a unique perspective on the inner-workings of Zions ville’s government.

Following her career in education, Bur gess said she made an effort to stay in volved in the community.

“It’s been amazing to see just how the experiences I’ve had brought me to this point,” Burgess said. “The greatest dream of mine is really bringing people together through collaboration and cooperation. I think that’s very much needed right now in our town.”

Burgess, who is seeking to unseat in cumbent Democrat Emily Stryon, said she has deep concerns about the direction of the community and wants it to function as a part of a local government that works out differences and works in the best interests of the town.

Burgess said her top campaign platform is founded in smart economic development and job growth. She said she would accom plish the objective by expanding and diver sifying the tax base, protecting property

Burgess added that her time on the school board also gave her an opportu nity to be actively involved in the town’s development. In 2013, when she was serving on the ZCS board she said the board approached the town with an idea to buy 91 acres from the Dow Chemical Co., which ended up benefiting the town economically.

“Preserving our Main Street is extremely important,” Burgess said. “It’s what makes Zionsville unique and special, but it’s also important that we rec ognize our progress and have a vision for our town.”

Burgess said that if elected mayor, she would help facilitate the development of a master plan five to 10 years out to address the town’s needs.

“As Zionsville continues to grow, we also look at our infrastructure and make sure that our roads, parking and sewers are able to accommodate that growth,” Burgess said.

Burgess said fiscal responsibility and leadership are also priorities of her cam paign. She said those goals are attainable by championing ethics and accountability in leadership and restoring efficient, effective and transparent government operations.

In addition, Burgess said she will cam paign for public safety by way of a five-year plan aimed at helping the police and fire departments keep pace with the town’s growth. She said the departments would re ceive the training and equipment they need.

Burgess also noted her intent to increase focus on school safety.

“The mayor is the person that really is the future of the community,” Burgess said. “They’re someone who has an impact on so many areas of our town government. I think we have such an amazing community, and I would be so honored and excited to get to lead as its mayor.”

Correction — On the event calendar published in the Nov.22 Holiday Gift Guide, the location for the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce’s Gift Wrap Week end from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3-4 was listed was incorrect. The correct ad dress is Encore Sotheby’s at 76 S. Main St. in Zionsville.

The Giving Tree at St. Alphonsus Church — St. Alphonsus Church at 1870 W. Oak St. in Zionsville is hosting The Giving Tree, a collection of Christmas gifts for teens in need in Boone County. Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at the Caring Center truck in the St. Alphonsus parking lot on the weekends of Nov. 26-27 and Dec. 3-4, or into marked boxes at St. Francis Church in Zionsville, Akard True Value Hardware in Zionsville or the UPS Stores at Boone Village or Whitestown Parkway anytime through Dec. 4.

Rail Trail Closure — A Rail Trail develop ment project will begin early 2023 and will repair and widen the existing Rail Trail from Heritage Trail Park south to Starkey Avenue and create a uniform 12-foot-wide trail with a 2-foot soft shoulder on each side for runners. For Phase I in early 2023, the Rail Trail will be closed from Heritage Trail Park to the Mulberry Street tunnel. Updates will be posted at zionsville-in.gov/666/Big-4Rail-Trail-Extension. Questions can be directed to Supt. Jarod Logsdon at jlogs don@zionsville-in.gov.

Whiskerfest — Whiskerfest will return to the Indianapolis Car Exchange at 5161 S. Indianapolis Rd. in Whitestown Dec. 3. The popular seasonal craft show ben efiting the Humane Society for Boone County and The Arc of Greater Boone County will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Funds raised during the holiday craft show will benefit HSforBC’s mission to rescue homeless dogs and cats as well as The Arc’s programming to assist persons with disabilities. For more, visit hsforbc.org/whiskerfest.html.

Burgess

uwci.org

Former coach sentenced to 40 years for child molestation

the fall of 2020, and authorities were then notified.

Kenneth A. Arnold, a former gymnastics coach at a Zionsville athletics facility, was sentenced Nov. 21 by Boone County Superior Court II Judge Bruce E. Petit to 40 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised probation on three counts of child molestation as a Level 1 felony.

Following his release from prison, Arnold, 34, of Crawfordsville, will have heightened restrictions and registry requirements for life, as he was determined to be a sexually violent predator because the nature of the offense.

Acts Arnold committed between Jan. 2014 and Dec. 2016 as a gymnastics coach at InterActive Academy in Zionsville led to the charges. The victim, who was under the age of 14 at the time of the criminal acts, disclosed the abuse through counseling in

According to a release from the prosecu tor’s office, Arnold had previously been the subject of two investigations of sex-crime-related charges in 2016 that were alleged to have occurred during the same time frame. The jury was unable to reach a verdict in one of the cases, and in the oth er, a plea agreement was reached after consultation with the parents of the victims.

“The defendant has finally been held accountable for the heinous acts he com mitted. We are grateful for the courage demonstrated by the young victim in this difficult case,” Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood stated in a release. “Results such as this are a testament to the dedi cated efforts and teamwork consistently displayed by law enforcement and investi gative agencies in Boone County.”

Arnold

Zionsville Police Dept. receives national accreditation

news@currentzionsville.com

The Zionsville Police Dept. achieved full accreditation Nov. 19 through the Com mission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA. According to the CALEA website, the accreditation programs provide public safety agencies with an opportunity to voluntarily meet an established set of professional standards.

AWARD

The CALEA accreditation, which the ZPD will maintain for four years, is considered the national gold standard in law enforce ment accreditation. The ZPD is one of only 15 municipal police agencies and four sheriff’s departments to have received the honor out of a total 500 law enforcement agencies in the state.

“The award of this accreditation recog nizes the professionalism, outstanding work and dedication to duty exhibited on a daily basis by the men and women of the Zionsville Police Dept.” Chief Michael Spears stated in a release. “I am extremely proud

of each member of our agency and am hon ored to serve with them.”

The accreditation came after a voluntary multi-year review of the department that involved reviewing documentation, public feedback and interviews with department personnel and community stakeholders to ensure the department was in compliance with public safety principles.

From left, ZPD Captain Drake Sterling, Sergeant Joshua Samuelson and Chief Michael Spears pause after receiving their CALEA accreditation.

Noblesville fullback gets boost from added size, strength

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

At 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, Noblesville High School junior Logan Shoffner is still an undersized fullback. Shoffner has put on 20 to 25 pounds since his sophomore season.

“I feel like in the off season I got a lot stron ger, and this allowed me to power for some extra yards and allowed me to get a little faster,” Shoffner said. “The hits didn’t hurt quite as much, and it helped me get some extra hard-fought yards. I feel I was playing with more confidence.”

This season, Shoffner rushed for 1,414 yards on 189 carries and nine touchdowns for the Millers (4-7). As a sophomore, he ran for 1,270 yards on 148 attempts with four touchdowns. He set the school single-game rushing record with 347 yards against Mt. Vernon in the opening game of his sopho more year.

“Logan has a drive to be great, not only in football, but also in the classroom,” Millers

MEET LOGAN SHOFFNER

Favorite subject: Math

Favorite athlete: Jonathan Taylor

Favorite types of music: Country and R&B

Favorite movie: “Grown Ups.”

football coach Dave Sharpe said. “He is a model citizen, great leader and incredibly hard worker.”

Sharpe said Shoffner has special qualities as a running back.

“He does not lose speed while making subtle cuts,” Sharpe said. “His vision and processing of information is the best I’ve

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ever seen from the fullback position.

He contortions his body to burst through small running lanes. His balance is un matched. He just doesn’t go down on the first tackle attempt. He always gets that extra yard or two after contact.”

Sharpe said Shoffner is an even better blocker than he is a runner.

“He is definitely a complete football play er and will be our captain and leader as we head into this offseason,” Sharpe said.

Although fullback is his primary position, Shoffner said sometimes when the offense rotates to other formations, he’s a halfback.

“Through elementary school, I was a run ning back,” Shoffner said. “In middle school, I shifted away from running back and played cornerback on defense. But I’m glad I went back to (running back).”

Noblesville improved to 4-7 in 2022 after finishing 2-8 in 2021.

“I feel like we are working on chemistry,” said Shoffner, who wants to play football in college. “We lose some offensive linemen, but we have a lot of returning starters that will help us take that extra step.”

Shoffner also plays baseball for Noblesville.

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Noblesville junior fullback Logan Shoffner rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the sec ond consecutive season. (Photo courtesy of Dave Sharpe)

Shoffner

Recalling a snow job

Commentary by Ward Degler

Winter came early this year. We had more than an inch of snow last week and another dusting three days ago. Because our temps had been in the 70s, however, the snow melted within hours of falling. Meanwhile, Upstate New York was re cently buried under 3 feet of snow, and forecasters say more is coming. All of this is weeks earlier than normal.

PLAIN TALK

That was also the time I made a serious miscalculation with my snowplow. I had a big Massey Harris tractor that came with the farm when I bought it, and it had a snowplow blade mounted on the front. So far, so good.

The problem was, I plowed the snow into a tall embankment on one side of my drive way. The error was, I picked the wrong side, the one that faced the prevailing wind. As a result, the snow drifted from the embank ment back into the driveway every night.

A lot of people remember the winter of 1978. Everything ground to a halt across the Midwest as snow accumulated in feet rath er than inches.

I was living on a farm in Minnesota that winter. It was the year I seriously consid ered strapping a snow shovel to the hood of my car and heading south. I figured when I got to a place where someone asked me what that thing was, I would be safe from snowstorms.

The problem was, even if I had been se rious, I probably couldn’t have gotten my car out of the driveway. Actually, the snow was so deep I’m not sure I could have even found my car.

Even after plowing out the drive, the coun ty plows routinely tossed snow from the road into a 6-foot pile blocking the entrance to my driveway — a mound that was too tall to plow. I had to dig it out with a shovel.

I sold the farm the next year and moved to the more tropical environment of Indiana. That next winter, the Hoosier state had re cord snowfall.

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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ZCHS band marches to winter season

By Elle Kreamer elle@youarecurrent.com

Following the Zionsville Community High School marching band’s second-place finish at the 2022 ISSMA Scholastic Finals, the marching band’s director, Tom Landrum, said the students’ work is not finished as the winter season is underway.

MUSIC

“I was proud of the way the students bought into the potentially boring theme of wood,” Landrum said. “They worked really hard and put in a lot of time. The last two weeks before state finals, the band and the color guard made tons of progress and cer tainly peaked at their state performance.”

The Zionsville Marching Eagles placed second in Scholastic Class A at the ISSMA Scholastic Finals Oct. 22 at Franklin Central High School for their wood-themed perfor mance. Songs in the performance included “Songs from the Wood” by Jethro Tull, “Knock on Wood” by Amii Stewart and “Nor wegian Wood” by the Beatles.

Landrum said a majority of the band’s seniors graduated last year, so this year’s performance was largely composed of

freshmen and sophomores. The band missed first place by one point, Landrum said, but it earned the most points in the music category.

Although the marching band season is

over, Landrum said the winter competition groups include indoor percussion and win ter guard, and many of the same students from the marching band are gearing toward the Dec. 2 Holiday Concert at ZCHS.

DISPATCH

More Events for Zionsville’s Winterfest

— The parks dept. has released additional information about this year’s Zionsville Win terfest. To see the full event calendar or to register for events, visit zionsvillein.myrec. com/info/activities.

• Stranger Things Skate — Dec. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mulberry Fields Park, for all ages

• Halloween on Ice — Dec. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mulberry Fields Park, for all ages

• Campfire & S’mores — 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 9-10, Dec. 16-17, Dec. 23-24 and Dec. 30-31 at Mulberry Fields Park - $5 entry fee for residents and non-residents

• Homeschool Day — Dec. 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at Mulberry Fields Park, ages 4-16, $3 for residents and $4 for non-residents

• Winter Break Camp: Ice Exploration — Dec. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Mulberry Fields Park, ages 6-12, $38 for residents, $42 for non-residents

• Scout Day — Dec. 30 from noon to 4 p.m. in Mulberry Fields Park, ages 6-14, $3 for residents, $4 for non-residents

• Noon Year’s Eve — Dec. 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Mulberry Fields Park, ages 3 and up, free to all

The ZCHS Marching Band performs during the Oct. 22 ISSMA Scholastic Finals at Franklin Central HIgh School. (Photo courtesy of Tom Landrum)

Zionsville begins redistricting process

news@currentzionsville.com

During its Nov. 21 meeting, the Zionsville Town Council passed a resolution to adopt redistricting guidelines. Redistricting determines which residents are represented by a respective town council member based on their residential address within the Town of Zionsville.

TOWN NEWS

The redistricting process follows Indiana code’s requirement that the council redraw its legislative districts every 10 years fol lowing the census to ensure each district is equal in population. Redistricting of council districts last occurred in 2019.

“Zionsville has consistently had fair and equitable council districts since our found ing,” town council President Jason Plunkett stated in a press release. “It’s one of the many reasons why our citizens have been engaged in the growth of our town. We will continue in that approach as we evaluate our districts per our town organization guidelines.”

Based on Zionsville’s population, each of its five districts is projected to have a popu lation of about 6,120 residents.

Residents can submit objections or written comments to Municipal Relations Coordinator Amy Lacy regarding the Coun cil’s redistricting guidelines until noon Nov. 29. Residents can submit their own plans to Lacy until noon Dec. 2. A public hearing to review the plan will be held Dec. 7 at 7:30 a.m. at Zionsville Town Hall.

The council’s redistricting guidelines can be found at zionsville-in.gov/redistricting.

DISPATCH

2022 leaf collection schedule — This fall, the Zionsville Department of Public Works will provide curbside leaf collection for residents in the urban service district. DPW asks res idents to rake leaves into long narrow piles along the curb no more than a few feet away, and to not place non-leaf objects in the piles to prevent damage to leaf vacuums. Residents should park cars off the street if possible. Leaf collection will take place through Dec. 2, and may be extended to mid-December, if necessary, weather permitting. For questions, contact DPW at 317-873-4544. For more, visit zionsville-in.gov/153/Leaf-Collection.

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By Elle Kreamer elle@youarecurrent.com

A volunteer at the Hussey-Mayfield Me morial Public Library has been ‘conducting’ the trains that run around a 6-by-8-foot tabletop model railroad in the youth section since the table was built in fall of 2020.

Mike McClanahan, affectionately known as “Mr. Mike the Train Guy,” has devoted his retirement to volunteering at the library, maintaining the display and cultivating imagination in the minds of people of all ages.

McClanahan’s nephew, Zionsville resident Brian Hull, was hired by the library in 2020 to build the table that the railroad would sit on. When the library asked Hull if he could add a model train display to the table, Hull called on his stepfather, Westfield resident Bill McClanahan, and Mike McClanahan, Bill’s brother, to help design and build the display.

To keep the children engaged with the ta bletop display, McClanahan, 73, said he has them look through catalogs for scale model scenery, giving them notecards where they can write down item numbers for any new pieces they would like to add.

“I want the kids’ imaginations to come alive,” McClanahan said. “That’s why I keep adding things like zombies, ‘Where’s Waldo,’ a yeti, a Sasquatch, mermaids, dragons. That’s all stuff the kids asked for, and if they ask for something, there’s a reason why they wanted it.”

McClanahan, a Carmel resident who retired from a long career in radio and television, said although many people visit to see the train display, children often show the most enthusiasm, running to the table and climb ing onto the benches to watch the trains and search for intricate details in the scenery.

“Seeing those faces, that hits you,” said McClanahan, holding back tears. “I’ve never seen that before, but it happens every day.”

McClanahan traces his passion for model trains to experiences from his own child hood growing up in Indianapolis. He recalled a trip to Union Station in downtown India napolis in the 1950s with family members.

Alongside posters for long-distance train rides was an architect’s model of a building with a smokestack that he said still stands at the northwest corner of Fall Creek Park

way and Keystone Avenue.

McClanahan said pushing a little red button below the glass pane containing the diorama sent a miniature steam engine out from behind the building pulling train cars filled with coal.

“There was gravel, grass, trees, bushes and pieces of wood,” McClanahan recalled. “It all looked so real that I found myself on the other side of that glass watching the train. There was nothing like this.”

McClanahan’s work at the library is aimed at inspiring wonderment in children that he said reflects the fascination with the trains that he once had.

“If there’s something that they want, I’ll try to find it,” McClanahan said. “If I can pro vide it for them and it helps them imagine, then that’s them getting their dream, and I’m all for that.”

Robyn Bowers, a children’s librarian at Hussey-Mayfield, said McClanahan has made the youth section of Hussey-Mayfield into a destination for children and their families.

“He has such a passion for this, and he

shares that with the kids,” Bowers said. “He wants the kids to feel ownership for it. He spends so many hours, more than a lot of people work in a week, to make this special for them, and he wants to teach them how to run it.”

Children 8 and up who come in to learn how to control the trains can log hours with McClanahan to become Junior Engineers. When they complete their training, they earn a badge that allows them to operate the trains with adult supervision when Mc Clanahan is not there.

“I just thank God that my nephew built this table,” McClanahan said. “If someone else would have built it besides him, I’d probably be at home playing solitaire on the computer all by myself. I wouldn’t have drawings (from the kids) all over my refrig erator and my cabinets. I wouldn’t have a reason to get up in the morning.”

ON THE COVER:Mike McClanahan overlooks the model train display during a shift at the library. (Photo Elle Kreamer)

THE STORIES BEHIND THE SCENERY

According to library volunteer Mike McClanahan, the train display in the children’s section of The Hussey-May field Memorial Public Library has plenty of stories to tell, and more are added every week. Below are just a few of many stories:

A pink unicorn, which McClanahan said two young girls requested, stands in an enchanted forest under a rainbow made of ribbon.

A father sits next to the pond with his son on his lap. McClanahan, who has spent his retirement as the ‘conductor’ of the model trains, said the figurines represent him and his father, who died before his own retirement.

A model Thomas the Tank Engine passes by the model farmers market in the dis play. McClanahan said the valley around which Thomas travels is home to an old er couple who settled in the area before it was developed.

Hussey-Mayfield volunteer inspires minds of all ages through model railroads

From left, Mike McClanahan teaches Liv Lewallen, 4, and her sister, El Lewallen, 7, of Carmel how to operate the model trains. (Photos by Elle Kreamer)

ESSAY

Stating facts

Commentary by Terry Anker

We identify those in the room we believe to be prevaricating and, as if we are honor bound to do it, call them out for their transgression. “Not true,” we exclaim, demanding a fact check — at least one that is confirming. Those who stand accused strike back, pointing the finger of deceptive conduct right back at us. The “facts” — those concrete arbiters of reality — can be surprisingly fickle. Any first-year law student will tell you that whosoever frames the case will eventually win it. Laying claim to data by showing that it supports our point of view is a powerful first-mover advantage. By the more nuanced second year of study, that same would-be attor ney can effectively argue the identical evidence with multiple possible out comes. Could the same data be used to prove diametrically opposed positions? Experience answers with an unequivo cal affirmation.

Now, more than ever, it is easy to find supporting information to prop up our “facts.” The internet delivers study after study dedicated to building — and then destroying — the accepted under standing of what is happening in our world. Some directly use propaganda to lead us down the primrose path. Others, assured in their intellectual superiority, use their position of legitimate or in fluenced authority to prevent disagree ment with their perspective. Many with draw entirely, not thinking, reflecting, or learning past some point of saturation that may have passed decades ago. As such, who is to be believed? And does it really matter?

Most of us hope it does. We innately seek veritas but get fatigued in pursuit. Perhaps our journey to find certainty would be improved with a few simple rules: Don’t intentionally intend to mis lead; don’t assert as truth what is likely an opinion; and don’t use our mouths to tell your lies — asserting your presump tive knowledge of our view.

CURRENTOON

‘Tis the season for tension

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

It’s that time again, friends, when a major holiday throwdown is almost in evitable in my household. Will it be over tinsel? Perhaps, though 2022 is clearly marked as a year for the most glorious sparkly adornment ever created by man. No, my money’s on the tree itself. Real or fake?

Normally, we hold a forced-family out ing to Ace or Lowe’s where we choose the tallest, fattest fir in the lot. My hus band, Doo, will struggle to get it tied to the minivan, and I’ll nearly forget I have it atop the car when I pull into the ga rage, and then we’ll wrangle that sucker into the living room and pray to all that is holy that we won’t be yelling “timber!” or “fire!” anytime soon.

But last December, we headed over seas and decided on scaled-down deco rations, including a 12-foot fake Frazier that came in seven separate parts, each of which folded up like an umbrella. I ba sically assembled it by myself, no fuss, no mess. A veritable Christmas miracle in my book, though everyone else im mediately dubbed it “The Imposter” and accused me of essentially ruining their lives.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK POLICIES

— MAHATMA GANDHI

I suppose it’s no real surprise then that 5 of 6 Wilsons polled said there is no way on god’s green earth that my perfect plastic tannenbaum will ever see the light of day. I’d argue, of course, that a happy mom is a happy home, and that a little artificial foliage is a small price to pay for Yuletide peace and goodwill.

‘Tis the season for tinsel and tension, with a real-versus-fake tree throwdown clearly on the horizon. We shall see! Peace out.

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.

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

Danielle

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

“Where there is love there is life.”

Now (I) hear

this

what I did, until this week. Here’s what I discovered:

•  The turn signal makes a clicking noise when you hit the lever.

HUMOR

This week, I purchased a good pair of hearing aids. My wife has bugged me for a long time to do this. Hearing loss runs in my fam ily. My grandmother was born nearly deaf. When she finally got hearing aids, they did little more than raise the vol ume of sounds. “Don’t speak louder, speak slower” she would say. At dinner, she would constantly ask us to repeat things. But when she said something to annoy my father, he’d whisper under his breath to my mother, “What a pain in the butt Mildred is tonight.” Then Grandma would glare at him and say: “You’re a pain in the butt, too.”

When I give a presentation about humor, I tell this joke:

A man reports to his doctor that his wife is in denial about being hard of hearing. The doctor tells him to go home and see how close he has to get to her for her to hear him. That night, he calls from the front door, “I’m home, honey. What’s for dinner?” No re sponse, so he tries calling from every room. “Honey, I’m home. What’s for dinner?” Noth ing. He goes into the kitchen and screams near her ear, “Honey, I’m home. What’s for dinner?”

Wife: “For the fifth time, Edward, pot roast!”

This joke is particularly funny to older women with stubborn hubbies who refuse to face reality about their hearing, claiming the loss is just a part of aging and noth ing can be done about it. That’s kind of

• Leaves do rustle when you step on them.

• At night, rain on the roof can wake you up.

Just joking, of course. My loss was eas ily corrected with the appropriate devices. Severe hearing loss, though, is devastating and life-altering. Helen Keller once said, “If you are blind, you are cut off from things. If you are deaf, you are cut off from people.”

I once did a story about a racecar driver born deaf. He had never experienced the roar of the engines — or the roar of the crowd. After he had a surgical procedure to repair the congenital issue, I took a camera crew to tape his first trip back to the track to watch (and hear) trials at the Indy 500. Oh, the ex pression on his face that afternoon.

I’ve been bragging to everyone about how great my hearing aids are. I took one out of my ear and showed it to my friend Bob.

“What kind is it?” he asked.

“About 4:30,” I told him.

It was a very old joke, but I’ve waited my whole life to find a way to use it.

P.S., did you know bacon makes a sizzling noise when you fry it?

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

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

Helen Keller once said, “If you are blind, you are cut off from things. If you are deaf, you are cut off from people.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

Should

Commentary by Dr. Jeremy Ciano

What is the difference between buying glasses at your local optometrist versus buying them online?

to achieve the most precise prescription possible. Simply put, your prescription needs to be centered perfectly for you to see your best. And the prescription bullseye is not the center of your lenses.

VISION

This is one of my favorite questions to answer, because the answer isn’t obvious — at first.

The single-biggest misconception pa tients have when requesting their prescrip tion is assuming that all the information is in the simple three numbers provided by your doctor, but this baseline only accounts for a portion of your final vision. It’s the equivalent of getting a shoe size only, but not taking into account if you are a tennis player, ballet dancer or in need of hockey skates. These three numbers aren’t all the information you need for an accurate fitting and overall visual experience.

Most online opticals have their own version of how to guesstimate the rest of the information needed to properly fit you. They use combinations of generalized as sumptions and various at-home measuring techniques that are not the most accurate. Your local optician takes very precise and accurate manual and digital measurements

Measurements aside (and they are huge), you also are left to the online retailer’s lens design. This is the equivalent of buying the cheapest tires you can find. Black, round, rubber, they are all the same, right? Not at all! Glasses are customized to your individu al wearing style, visual needs and the frame you select. Choosing off-the-shelf lenses is the equivalent of watching a movie on VHS versus digital Blu-Ray.

So, the next time you are looking for a new pair of glasses, keep in mind that if you want the most accurate prescription, with the best fit and personalized lens design, you should find a trusted local optician to consult with you on the best individualized decisions.

Dr. Jeremy A. Ciano, an international lecturer and published author, is a Current Publishing columnist. For more information or to ask a question, he may be emailed at DrCiano@ Revolution-EYES.com.

An annual mammogram is an essential part of your health routine and gives you the best chance for early detection. With Community, it’s easier than ever to schedule an appointment online. And with multiple, convenient locations, you’re sure to find something close to home. Schedule

DISPATCHES

Initiative benefits truckers — The Indiana Dept. of Transportation’s Trucks Park Here system is a multi-state, regional effort to make interstate travel safer by creating a network of safe, convenient parking areas for truckers with the ability to collect and share real-time parking availability with drivers through dynamic message signs, smartphone applications, and traveler infor mation websites. INDOT has 19 sites in the Trucks Park Here system along Interstates 65, 69 and 70. The routes are among some of the most important corridors in the U.S. with truck volumes already exceeding 25,000 trucks per day and expected to grow.

Finding at-home jobs — For job seekers wanting to work from home, the internet is full of scams. There are so many spam post ings that it’s tiring to sort through them for legitimate opportunities. Two websites do aIndiana is 8th-most federally dependent state – A recent study by WalletHub, a per sonal finance website, shows that Indiana is the eighth-most federally dependent state in the U.S. WalletHub compared the 50 states across three key metrics: Return on taxes paid to the federal government; federal funding as a share of state revenue; and share of federal jobs. To see full study results, visit wallethub.com.

Source: WalletHub.com

Stocks benefit from cancer test break throughs — Amid the race to develop corona virus tests, vaccines and treatments, many investors might overlook another realm of impressive medical breakthroughs. Over the next decade, the diagnostics market is ex pected to soar to more than $50 billion an nually as companies develop early-detection tests to screen asymptomatic patients for cancers. Three promising companies are:

• Exact Sciences (EXAS) had nearly $900 million in total revenues last year, mostly from two products — Cologuard, an alternative to colonoscopies that screens stool samples for colon cancer, and Oncotype Dx, a genomic test that can predict which women with ear ly-stage breast cancer will not benefit from chemotherapy.

• Guardant Health (GH) makes liquid bi opsy kits that test for mutations in the tumors of advanced cancer patients to enable proper therapy selection.

• Natera (NTRA) tests monitor for relapses in breast and lung cancer and can identi fy recurrent tumors months before tradi tional methods such as CT scans.

Source: BottomLineInc

‘Holiday Pops’ to feature variety of performers

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

For Leah Crane, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s “Holiday Pops” show will be a special showcase.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’

“It’s a Wonderful Life” runs through Dec. 23 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianap olis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

LIVE AT THE CENTER

ORCHESTRA

“The tunes I’m doing are really great pieces,” said Crane, who is a singer with Pavel & Direct Contact. “I love holiday music. Most people do. I’m just excited to be a part of a show that has so many different artists and a dance group involved, and the India napolis Children’s Choir and Josh Kaufman is incredible. I feel it’s going to be a great revue of Indianapolis talent.”

The CSO “Holiday Pops” performances will be at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

“This will be Leah’s third time with the CSO in a year,” CSO Artistic Director Janna Hymes said. “Because she is a crossover artist, meaning she sings classical, pops and Latin music, she has fit into many of our programs. Leah knows many of the other artists, which makes for a nice mu sical experience.”

Crane performed with Pavel & Direct Contact in a Latin music celebration in a Masterworks concert in October. She previously performed with CSO at Cedar Creek Winery and Brew Co. in Martinsville in 2021.

For the holiday concert, Crane will sing two songs arranged by Chicago-based arranger/producer Paul Langford.

“He helped me to produce and arrange an album this year, so I got to release my first solo album with him,” Crane said. “He’s a great friend and fabulous arranger.”

Crane will perform arrangements of “O Holy Night” and “The Christmas Song.”

“(Langford arranged ‘The Christmas Song’) specifically for me to do for a couple of years with Anderson Symphony Orches tra, and it has a bossa nova feel to it,” Crane said.

Crane will sing two duets with Kaufman, performing on “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas,” which she will perform for the

first time.

“Josh has such a soulful voice, and he has really incredible range,” Crane said.

Crane said she and Kaufman did some caroling gigs, where the singers dressed in madrigal costumes.

“Before he won ‘The Voice,’ maybe the year before is the last time I’ve done any thing with him,” Crane said.

Kaufman was the winner of the sixth season of “The Voice” in 2014.

“It’s always great to be backed by a full orchestra and the Carmel Symphony Orchestra is phenomenal,” Kaufman said. “I really like a lot of the slower, softer, tradi tional carols, too, but for a show like this you tend to want more of the high-energy stuff.”

Kaufman said he likes performing classic soul pieces like Donny Hatha way’s “This Christmas” and “Someday at Christmas.”

This is the first time Kaufman has per formed with the CSO.

“I was rooting for him, on ‘The Voice,’”

Hymes said. “When I came to work in Car mel, I was happy to learn Josh lived here. I went to the Jazz Kitchen to hear him a few years ago and we met at that time. The rest is history.”

Hymes said each year she tries to pro gram a concert that features Indianapo lis-area talent.

“Often, audiences know these artists and seem to appreciate the collaborative effort,” Hymes said. “Having younger performers, such as NZ TapZ and ICC, is a wonderful way of bringing them onstage to work with professional musicians and also to introduce them to our audience. I enjoy working with young people and this is often a highlight of the concert.”

Hymes said the show usually has a vari ety of new numbers each year.

“We play ‘Sleigh Ride’ every year and that is always a hit,” Hymes said. “When we arrange music especially for a concert, I always enjoy bringing it to life for the first time.”

For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.

The Live at the Center series will feature the Marrialle Sellars Band at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Studio Theatre at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $5 for in-person. To register for free livestream, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘A

CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL’

Civic Theatre presents “A Christmas Story, The Musical” from Dec. 2-24 at The Tarking ton at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.

‘HOLIDAY & MORE’

Ashley Nicole Soprano’s “Holiday & More” concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.

‘THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT’

Mud Creek Players will present “The Christ mas Spirit,” a holiday comedy, from Dec. 2-17 at Mud Creek Theater, 9740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis. For more, visit mudcreekplay ers.org.

‘ALL

IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914’

“All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” is set for 8 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’

The Belfry Theatre presents “The Sound of Music” through Dec. 4 at the Ivy Tech Audi torium, 300 N. 17th St., Noblesville. For more, visit thebelfrytheatre.com.

“HOLIDAY POPS”

Carmel Symphony Orchestra will hold “Holi day Pops” concerts at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Palladium at the Center for the Perform ing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit carmel symphony.org.

‘A MOTOWN CHRISTMAS’

“A Motown Christmas” concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

Vocalist Leah Crane will perform in the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concert. (Pho to courtesy of CSO)

CHS senior gets dream role

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

This dream has come true for Allie Hanning.

LEGAL

November 29, 2022

Current in Zionsville currentinzionsville.com

NOTICE OF DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC ELECTRIC VEHICLE FAST CHARGE (EVFC) RATE

DANCE

“As a young dancer in the role of a tiny unicorn watching the Sugar Plum Fairy, I knew I wanted to take on that role so badly but never thought my dream would become a reality,” the Carmel High School senior said. “Growing up and watching her perform was always such a magical experience.”

Hanning will perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Carmel-based Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s G2 company’s performanc es of “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Pike Performing Arts Center, 6701 Zionsville Rd., Indianapolis. The dancers are from G2, the pre-professional GHDT company for ages 13-19 and students from The Academy of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre.

“The first dancer (Abigail Lessaris) I saw in that role in 2013 is now coaching me on the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, which makes my experience even more special,” Hanning said. “I hope to be that inspiration

to the young dancers as she was to me when I was just a unicorn.”

Hanning has been performing in GHDT’s production of “The Nutcracker” since she was 8 years old.

“My favorite part of this role is getting to play such a delicate part,” Hanning said. “I love feeling like a princess when I’m danc ing, and not only does the costume reflect that, but the movement does as well.”

For more, visit gregoryhancockdancethe atre.org.

DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Duke Energy Indiana”) hereby provides notice that on or around December 2, 2022, Duke Energy Indiana, in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10, will submit a request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (Commission) to update its Electric Vehicle Fast Charge (EVFC) tariff, Rider 28, under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines. The tariff revision will be an update to the EVFC rate based on the revised statewide average, as of November 2022, for EVFC charging offered by individual fast charge stations in Indiana that charge a consumption-based fee, are greater than 50KW in charging capacity and are available 24 hours a day. This submission is expected to be approved approximately thirty days after filing, unless an objection is made. Any objections may be made by contacting the Secretary of the Commission, or Randall C. Helmen with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers:

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

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

Duke Energy Indiana, LLC By: Stan Pinegar, President

Allie Hanning, left, and Leigh ton Metcalfe will perform in Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s G2 company’s presentation of “The Nut cracker.” (Pho to courtesy of GHDT)

Westfield country singer River James, center, continues to write and perform music after being diagnosed with anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastocytoma, a form of brain tumor that occurs most frequently in children and teenagers, in March. He is set to start his second round of chemotherapy in early December. (Photos courtesy of River James)

Westfield country singer perseveres despite brain tumor

By Mike Beas editorial@youarecurrent.com

County flavor.

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY BENJ PASEK AND JUSTIN PAUL 12/2-12/24 ACS Ad for The Current.indd 1 11/10/2022 1:33:07 PM

MUSIC

The scenario that sculpted the name James Will Watson has used the past eight years could be mistaken for lyr ics to a country song: Young guy in a Corpus Christi bar ordering a drink; attractive young lady serving him doesn’t hear his name correctly because of the loud music playing; mispronounces it; and River James it is.

A Dallas native who grew up mostly in Wills Point, Texas, a town of 3,500 tucked away in the state’s northeastern corner, the 32-year-old now resides in Westfield, where he writes and plays country music.

James, who aspires to eventually use his talents on an acoustic guitar to entertain and inspire larger audiences with his brand of outlaw and folk country, understands the importance of a positive attitude to achieve his objective.

If the past eight months are any indica tion, he’s well on his way.

In March, James was diagnosed with an aplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, a brain tumor that occurs most frequently in children and teenagers.

“During the scans, they discovered a tumor,” said James, who said the tumor is on the right side of his brain. “I did have the chemotherapy and radiation starting back in July and finished it in August. My dad passed away 17 years ago of a brain tumor. They were on the hunt for his medical re cords but have kind of hit a dead end.

“I haven’t once gotten down about it. I’ve got the Big Man upstairs on my side.”

James has lived in Indiana since 2017, his years here carrying a very distinct Hamilton

James worked as a barn hand in Sheridan prior to his chemo treatments, formerly lived in Noblesville and is now in Westfield. He used to paint houses and perform other tasks to earn a living, all while continuing to write and perform music. The latter is a love born from a lifelong love of country music, and his Uncle Dave’s rather unique instruction.

“When I was 18, he heard me singing and said, ‘You need a guitar in your hands,’” James said. “He told me I needed five beers before I would even pick up a guitar. He thought that would keep me loose and from getting frustrated.”

Five Keystones later, James was hooked on concocting lyrical hooks.

On Oct. 1, the Benefit for River James con cert was performed in Carmel, raising ap proximately $2,000 to help with his medical bills while away from work.

He begins his second round of chemo therapy in early December.

James, who through age and circum stance, admits he has mellowed greatly from the man he was in his shot-glass-raising 20s.

At the same time, he wants to musically give Indiana a taste of Texas.

“This has made me a more spiritual per son,” James said. “I have an appreciation for the ground I walk on. I’ve been given a second chance. I have a spark beneath me, and I won’t settle for second. I’ve made some good connections here in Indiana, and they’ve helped me get back on my feet.”

James, whose single “Ballad of a Drinkin’ Man” is available on Spotify, is determined to make the most of it. For more, James’ Facebook page contains covers of other songs.

Koz to perform holiday show

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Dave Koz never expected to have a 25th anniversary tour.

Peter White, Keiko Matsui and vocalist Re becca Jade.

Koz said a new album, “Dave Koz & Friends: Christmas Ballads,” is a companion piece to the tour.

CONCERT

“This started out in a very small way, never thinking it would last this long,” Koz said. “We were just doing it in the beginning to go out and play some shows. We’ve managed to be here for a long time. We’ve seen people bring their kids and now their kids bring their kids.”

Dave Koz and Friends 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour concert is set for 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Palladium at the Center for the Per forming Arts in Carmel.

Saxophonist and bandleader Koz has regularly brought his high-energy Christmas show to Carmel.

The show’s opening act will be bass play er Bethany Robinson and vocalist/keyboard ist Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin. Both are Noblesville residents. Robinson is the jazz band director at Noblesville High School.  Joining Koz will be musicians Rick Braun,

Koz

Koz’s friend David Benoit, a jazz pianist, had the idea for the tour.

“We both lost a parent within a few weeks of each other,” Koz said. “I was interviewing him for a radio show I host. He just said it as an idea to go out and play some Christmas shows and deal with our emotions that way.”

Koz said one thing that keeps the tour fresh is the lineup changes every year.

“You’re not necessarily seeing the same people every year,” Koz said. “It gives people a chance to see different combinations and different artists. The songs we get to play have so much meat on the bones, we can do so much with them.”

Koz said the concert will be a mix of songs from the album and traditional favorites.

“We do a Hanukkah medley every year,” Koz said.

For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

From our bar to yours. The ready-to- pour St. Elmo Old fashioned is now available! Formally known behind our bars as the “Pop’s Old Fashioned,”

This libation can now be enjoyed in the comfort and convenience of your home or anywhere you choose to indulge. Now available in Indi ana grocery and liquor stores.

To see a video of this drink being mixed, scan this QR code.

(Photo courtesy of

Huse Culinary)

BEHIND BARS: ST. ELMO READY-TO-POUR OLD FASHIONED

Blueprint for Improvement: Modern kitchen makeover

After

Built in 1956 in Indianapolis’ Crooked Creek neighborhood, this kitchen was raising its hand for a glow-up. The space not only needed a cosmetic overhaul, the function and flow also no longer met this family’s needs. The owners sought more room to store, prepare and entertain while also incorporating Mid-centu ry-inspired modern style, honoring the home’s history.

THE BLUEPRINT

• Clean lines throughout the design — from the custom cabinetry to the minimalist hardware and sleek appliances — make all aspects intentionally constructed to make the space feel larger and provide doses of Mid-century style.

• Relocating the appliances improve the room’s flow and function, while the new island adds work and gathering space.

• Removing the soffit makes the room feel open and airy while also creating space to extend the upper cabinets, increasing both the room’s visual height and storage space.

• The statement backsplash provides the perfect accent to the room’s neutral palette, providing bold color pops with modern appeal.

Before

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.

Commentary by Larry Greene

Visiting Keeneland, Claiborne Farms

Commentary by Don Knebel

In our second day in Lexington, Ky., we visit two of the world’s most fa mous thoroughbred racing establishments.

TRAVEL

As we noted last week, in the first half of the 19th century, Henry Clay raised champion thoroughbred horses on his Ashland estate outside Lexington. Lexington recognizes horse racing’s debt to Clay in the Ashland Stakes, run annually at the Keeneland racecourse, opened in 1936 by Jack Keene, son of a wealthy thorough bred owner. Each year since, Keeneland has hosted some of the nation’s most mem orable races and has become one of the nation’s most recognizable racing venues. Keeneland hosted Queen Elizabeth in 1984, and most of the scenes of the movie “Sea biscuit” were filmed there.

Keeneland is also famous for the four auctions it holds each year, where own ers from around the world bid millions of dollars on horses they hope will become champions. Many of those champions have been bred or raised at Lexington’s Claiborne Farms, established near Lexington in 1910. Its owner imported breeding stock from Europe and quickly became among the nation’s most successful horse breeders.

Claiborne Farms stallions and their progeny have won 22 Kentucky Derbies, 20 Preak nesses and 22 Belmont Stakes. Twenty-two members of racing’s Hall of Fame have been foaled and/or raised at Claiborne Farms. Secretariat, the famous 1973 Triple Crown winner who stood stud at Claiborne Farms, is buried there.

Keeneland and Claiborne Farms offer guided tours of their facilities. The Keene land tour allows visitors to get close to the

track, where hopefuls often work out. The Claiborne Farms tour includes a visit to the stallion barns and breeding shed, where mares are bred with Claiborne Farms’ stal lions, with a fee of up to $100,000 or more for a 10-minute encounter.

Today, Lexington is the unquestioned center of the thoroughbred industry in the United States, with hundreds of horse farms.

Embracing idea nouns

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

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

In elementary school, we learn a noun is a “person, place or thing.” Rabbit. Cere al. Toilet. Especially toilet. Words like “toilet” make Mad Libs a hit with my kids when we take road trips.

GRAMMAR GUY

However, at some point down the line, we learn that an “idea” is also a noun. I don’t know which governing English lan guage body decided this or at what point it became part of the school curriculum, but I’ll bet it was met with the same backlash as Pluto being relegated to a lower-level planet.

Yes, ideas are nouns, and they’re my favorite types of nouns. These ideas were the ones the Founding Fathers often capi talized, and that the Bible extols: joy, hon esty, freedom, loyalty, wisdom, truth and friendship. Sam the Eagle would be proud. Pride — there’s another one.

The above examples were all positive words (except “pride,” depending on context). What about some negative idea nouns? I’m all too familiar with disap

pointment, failure, misery, sadness and underachievement. I find these negative idea nouns as real mood-lifters in the Mad Libs road trip game: It’s time for your summer failure; don’t forget to pack dis appointment and plenty of misery in your suitcase!

You can’t have idea nouns without “-isms,” which, again, are great Mad Libs head-scratchers: communism, antidis establishmentarianism, totalitarianism, fascism, absolutism, materialism and even patriotism: It’s time for your summer fas cism; don’t forget to pack communism and plenty of materialism in your suitcase!

Although idea nouns can change the trajectory of a Mad Libs game, they do share a common characteristic: Idea nouns aren’t concrete nouns. Idea nouns are abstract nouns. You can’t touch “peace,” but you can experience it.

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

Grave of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat at Claiborne Farms in Lexington, Ky. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Breeding shed at Claiborne Farms in Lexington, Ky.

Grandstands at Keeneland racecourse in Lexing ton, Ky.

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Again: Only skilled carpenters need apply.

For immediate consideration, call Gary Simpson at 317.703.9575.

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