December 6, 2022 — Zionsville

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Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XI, No. 39 Copyright 2021. Current Publishing, LLC All Rights Reserved. 30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444

County nonprofits receive grants on Day of Giving

By Elle Kreamer elle@youarecurrent.com

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

On Nov. 22 the Community Foundation of Boone County celebrated its fourth an nual Day of Giving back by awarding a total of $25,000 to area nonprof its, including six Zionsville organizations.

NONPROFIT

The organization’s annual Day of Giving Back was established in 2019 by CFBC Ex ecutive Director Jodi Gietl. When charged with planning for Giving Tuesday, an annual event where nonprofits worldwide typically ask for donations, Gietl said she felt it was more appropriate for the CFBC to give back to the nonprofits the organization serves.

The CFBC is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting donors and nonprofits in Boone County.

“I had this crazy idea and said, ‘Well, I think we’re going to give money back in stead of asking for it,’” Gietl said. “I had only been there a few days, and I think the staff thought I was crazy, but the grants commit tee and the board of directors told me to go for it.”

For the first year of the Day of Giving Back in 2019, Gietl said she and other CFBC employees simply drew names out of a hat and traveled across the county giving $10,000 to 10 random organizations they served.

In 2020, the CFBC gave money specifically to health care providers and libraries, plac es it felt needed help during the pandemic. In 2021, it gave to the parks departments and chambers of commerce in each of the municipalities it serves.

This year, the CFBC gave back to organi zations that hadn’t received grants from the nonprofit in the past. Gietl said the grants committee set aside more money, and the organization gave a total of $25,000, more than doubling the $10,000 it gave in past years.

“A lot of (the organizations) had tried to request funding that year and they just didn’t get the opportunity to get those grant dollars,” Gietl said. “We wanted to recognize them and say, ‘Hey, we see you. We know you’re working hard. We know that you need the funding.’ And so, here’s our way to give back.”

This year, the organization made stops at 10 locations in Boone County, including six in Zionsville.

Checks in the amount of $2,500 were awarded to Shalom House in Lebanon; Boone County Mentoring Partnership in Leb

anon; Center Stage Community Theatre in Lebanon; and Advance Food Distribution in Advance. In Zionsville, grant recipients were Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Center; Pack Away Hunger; Indiana Diaper Bank; Indiana Wish; SullivanMunce Cultural Center; and Watch Us Farm.

Members of the In diana Diaper Bank pause with mem bers of the Commu nity Foundation of Boone County after receiving a check for $2,500. (Photos courtesy of the Com munity Foundation of Boone County)

Members of Indiana Wish pause with members of the Community Foun dation of Boone County after re ceiving a check for $2,500.

Members of Sulli vanMunce Cultural Center pause with members of the Community Foun dation of Boone County after receiving a check for $2,500.

Members of Watch Us Farm pause with members of the Community Foundation of Boone County after receiving a check for $2,500.

Members of Morn ing Dove Therapeu tic Riding Center pause with mem bers of the Commu nity Foundation of Boone County after receiving a check for $2,500.

“It was so much fun to see the sheer sur prise on their faces when we came walking in with a check for $2,500, especially at the end of the year when folks really, really need it,” Gietl said. “We always tell people, the best way to love is to serve, so that’s what we strive to do each and every day.”

F r o m i n t i m a t e d i n n e r s t o l a r g e p a r t i e s , o u r c h a r c u t e r i e b o a r d s a r e a g r e a t a d d i t i o n t o a n y h o l i d a y g e t t o g e t h e r .

S o u p s a n d c h i l i m a d e f r o m s c r a t c h ; a v a i l a b l e T u e s d a y t h r o u g h S a t u r d a y , f r o m 1 1 a m - 4 p m .

C a l l u s t o r e s e r v e o n e o f o u r n e w i g l o o s f o r a w a r m , o u t d o o r d i n i n g e x p e r i e n c e !

N o w b o o k i n g p r i v a t e e v e n t s f o r u p t o t h i r t y p e o p l e .

Looking

Our tins make great gifts! Stop by the store to pick up or visit our website for shipping.

Former substitute teacher convicted of child seduction

news@currentzionsville.com

Former Zionsville Community Schools substitute teacher Shawn A. Martin II was found guilty Nov. 23 of two counts of child se duction, a Level 5 felony. The conviction followed a contested bench trial in front of Boone Circuit Judge Lori Schien.

ed in a release. “There are no words that can express my gratitude to the victim, the victim’s family, and the prosecution team.”

CRIME

The charges stem from sexual acts Martin, 28, of Zionsville perpe trated upon a juvenile victim in Nov. 2020 at a location off of school property. Martin met the juvenile victim while work ing as a substitute teacher for ZCS.

The prosecution team was led by Special Victims Prosecutor Heidi Jennings, co-counsel Deputy Prosecutor Lind say Adams, Victim Advocate Jenna Crick and Boone County Sheriff’s Detective Brad Dunn.

“Martin was in a position of trust and had a responsibility to our chil dren. He broke that trust and will now be held accountable,” Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood stated. “Thank you to our victim for being a strong young person and thank you to our prose cution team for giving this juvenile a voice.”

Martin’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 19 in Boone Circuit Court.

Fire dept. responds to house fire

“Martin used his position of authority to prey upon a juvenile and it is our duty to do everything we can do to protect them,” Spe cial Victims Prosecutor Heidi Jennings stat news@currentzionsville.com

The Zionsville Fire Dept. was dispatched 11:48 a.m. on Nov. 25 to a house fire at 12202

crews arriving. On arrival, firefighters saw smoke and flames coming from the roof of the residence. Crews were able to bring the fire under control after 30 minutes.

FIRE

Daugherty Dr. in Zions ville. Smoke could be seen from several miles away and multiple 911 calls were placed while crews responded, indicating it was a work ing fire, according to the ZFD.

Two residents were home at the time of the fire and were able to escape prior to

ZFD investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental and estimated damage costs to exceed $150,000.

The Whitestown Fire Dept., Pike Twp. Fire Dept., Carmel Fire Dept., Indianapolis Fire Dept. and Zionsville Police Dept. also assist ed on the scene.

NO ONE HAS MORE CREDIBLE REVIEWS THAN US.

Martin

The Zionsville Fire Dept. responds to a house fire Nov. 25. (Photo courtesy of the Town of Zionsville)

JINGLING ALL THE WAY DOWN MAIN STREET

This year’s holiday celebrations were her alded by the annual Parade Day on Nov. 26, followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree. Visitors had the chance to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with other holiday figures and local groups. Above, A reindeer traverses the bricks of Main Street during the parade. Left, Santa and Mrs. Claus wave to visitors during the Nov. 26 tree lighting event. (Photos courtesy of Tell the Story Photography)

Receiver hauls in award

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Lutheran High School receiver Micah Mackay had quite the finish to his high school football career.

FOOTBALL

The Zionsville resident caught four passes for 93 yards, including a 14-yard touch down pass, as the Saints marched to a 30-13 victory over Adams Cen tral Nov. 26 in the Class A state championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was the second consecutive 15-0 season for the Saints, who also beat Adams Central in the 2021 state final.

Mackay said winning again was even sweeter.

“It’s awesome to win your last game as a senior and go 30-0 (over two seasons),” Mackay said. “Not a lot of people can say that they did that.”

Mackay then learned after the game that he won the IHSAA Blake Ress Mental Attitude Award for Class A. Ress is a former IHSAA commissioner.

“I didn’t think I would win it. I think there are better people on the team that could have won it, but I’m glad they chose me,” Mackay said. “They recognize I have some positivity in my life.”

Lutheran coach Dave Pasch said Mackay was the perfect fit for the honor.

“Mental attitude, he is the guy,” Pasch said. “He lives it with every aspect of his life. He’s a high-aca demic guy. He’s a high-community guy. He’s well rounded in every facet of life. He’s a kid that is going to have some outstanding experiences and successes in his life.”

Mackay, who has a 4.1 grade point av erage, is a member of the National Honor Society and is a Student Ambassador at Lutheran.

Mackay, who also plays basketball, is considering playing football or baseball in college.

Mackay finished with 69 catches for 1,496 yards and 17 touchdowns. He had 41 catch es for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior.

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ZIONSVILLE STUDIO 117 S. First Street Zionsville, IN

Mackay

Santa to visit neighborhoods

news@currentzionsville.com

Dec. 15

• Blackstone, Eaglewood Drive, Stone gate, Pemberton, Hampshire, Old Hunt Club Road Dec. 16

HOLIDAYS

Santa will once again return to the streets of Zionsville atop a fire engine for the Zionsville Fire Depart ment’s Area Familiarization with Santa.

The nightly routes will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end no later than 9 p.m. Dec. 11 through Christmas Eve, according to the ZFD. Res idents should be on the lookout for emer gency lights and holiday music heralding Santa’s arrival.

Although Santa might not be able to visit every street, the ZFD will attempt to visit as many locations as possible as time permits. Routes and times are subject to change, and emergency runs take priority. In the event of a cancellation because of an emer gency run, the ZFD will attempt to cover missed neighborhoods at a later date.

A link to the ZFD Santa Tracker will be on the ZFD Facebook page each evening so that families can keep track of Santa’s location.

Nightly routes are as follows: Dec. 11

• Taylor Avenue, Pine Ridge, Timberwolf, Mallard Point, Saddlebrook Farms, Pleas antview Lane, The Woods at Hudders field, St Claire Estates, Countrywood, Fox Run Dec. 12

• Willow Glen, Brookhaven, Fieldstone, Willows (West) Dec. 13

• Willow Springs Drive, Brittany Chase, Austin Oaks Dec. 14

• Hunter Glen Townhomes, Independence Village, The Sanctuary, Zion Hills, Oxford Woods, Valley Meadow Drive, Clarkston, Coventry Ridge, Colonial Heights, North view, Ravinia , Holliday Farms, Hidden Pines, Bridlewood

• Shannon Springs, Enclave, Cooper Heights, Lexington Hall, Cheval De Selle, Hunt Coun try Lane at Hunt Country Preserve Dec. 17

• Royal Run Dec. 18

• Winterfest at Mulberry Fields, Sycamore Bend, Ashburn, Cobblestone Lakes Dec. 19

• Spring Knoll, Preserve at Spring Knoll, Rock Bridge, Horseshoe Drive at Allen Acres Dec. 20

• Zionsville Meadows, Sugarbush Hill, Clifden Pond, Oldfields, Irishman’s Run, Roundstone, Fox Hollow, Huntington Woods, Soaring Hawk Circle, Pineview Drive at Pineview Estates Dec. 21

• The Rail at 1380, Village Walk , Deer Ridge, Lakeview Drive, Russell Lake, Spring Hills Dr., Thornhill, Irongate, Olde Dominion, Trotwood Lane at Hunt Club Village, Hunters Glen Apartment Homes Dec. 22

• Inglenook, Vonterra, Hoosier Village, The Oaks, Reserve at Williams Glen, Domain at Bennett Farms, Aria of Zionsville, Tim ber Ridge, Raintree Place, Mayfield Lane Dec. 23

• Benderfield Drive, Bloor Woods Court, Terrace Drive, Williamsburg Court, Ben nington Drive & Blackstone Place, Pine Meadow Drive & Colony Court, Colony Woods, Camden Dr. Scranton Ct, Colony Way, Mulberry Place, Buttondown Farms, Oak Ridge, Smith Meadows, Cedar Bend, Equestrian Way at Pleasant View Dec. 24

Zionsville Village

Hamilton Southeastern senior linebacker ‘tackles’ success

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Hamilton Southeastern senior outside linebacker Clayton Allen found it easy to pinpoint his biggest improvement — tackling.

“I almost doubled my tackles from last season to this season,” he said.

Allen had 76 tackles, including 26 solos and 50 assists for the Roy als, who finished 12-1 after losing to Fort Wayne Carroll in the Class 6A semistate.

Allen had 26 total tackles as a junior and primarily played special teams on varsity as a sophomore.

“He had some medical issues his fresh man year and overcame a lot of adversity and became a really good high school foot ball player,” Royals coach Michael Kelly said. “He’s a smart kid, just an all-around great kid.”

Kelly said one way Allen made improve ment was his commitment to working hard in the weight room.

MEET CLAYTON ALLEN

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan

Favorite subject: Math

Favorite TV show “Riverdale”

“Last year, he was in the battle for a po sition, whether he was going to be a starter and he wasn’t a starter last year, but he kept fighting,” Kelly said. “He came in and was one of our best players on defense.”

The Royals won their first sectional title since 2011 and first regional since 2005.

“We have a phenomenal coaching staff,” Allen said. “Coach Kelly is such a great head coach. He really has instilled a culture of

I’M BACK TO LIVING A NORMAL LIFE.

For Jay, the thing that pained him most wasn’t his back, it was living within the limits his back pain set for him. Skipping workouts. Contorting to pick up a shoe. Avoiding playing with Agnes. Now that Goodman Campbell physicians treated not only his pain, but the underlying spine issues that caused it, Jay is back to living the life he loves.

Learn more about Jay and his story at GoodmanCampbell.com.

”

hard work and dedication in HSE. I think that was key, especially on the defensive side. Our defensive coordinator had us pre pared for every single game. There wasn’t a single game where I wasn’t prepared for what coverage we were going to be in.”

Allen said he is eager to see how the team progresses next season.

Allen competes in the 400 meters and the low and high hurdles for the track and field team, but football has always been his top sport.

Allen started playing flag football in kin dergarten and moved to tackle football in second grade.

“I used to be a running back through elementary (age) and junior high, and then I kind of developed and ended up liking defense more than offense,” said Allen, who became a linebacker as a freshman. “I fit right in at the outside linebacker spot.”

Per his college plans, Allen said he wants to go to a larger school, perhaps in the Big Ten, for education, so he might not play football in college. He is leaning toward majoring in business, but also is considering engineering or computer science.

Jay R., Goodman Campbell Patient

Hamilton Southeastern senior outside lineback er Clayton Allen was key contributor to the Roy als’ 12-1 record. (Photo courtesy of Clayton Allen)

Allen

DISPATCHES

Winter Events in Zionsville — The Zionsville Parks Dept. has released additional informa tion regarding this winter’s event calendar. 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. in Mulberry Fields Park, for all ages

• Halloween on Ice - Dec. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. in 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 in Mulberry Fields Park, for all ages, $5 entry fee for residents and nonresidents

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

• Ice Cream Party - Dec. 20 from 6-7 p.m. in Mulberry Fields Park, for ages 5 and up, $5 for residents and $7 for nonresidents

• Meet the Town - Dec. 21 from 1-3 p.m. in Mulberry Fields Park, for all ages, no entrance fee

• Drop-in Discovery: Winter Wonders - Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Zionsville Nature Center, for all ages, no registration required

• Indy Fuel Day - Dec. 22 from noon- 2 p.m. in Mulberry Fields Park, for all ages, $3 for residents and $4 for nonresidents

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

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

• 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

• Do You Want to Build a Snowman?Jan. 2 from 1-2 p.m. in Mulberry Fields Park, ages 5 and up, $5 for residents and $7 for nonresidents

Rail Trail Closure — A Rail Trail development project will begin early 2023 and will repair and widen the existing Rail Trail from Heri tage Trail Park south to Starkey Avenue and create a uniform 12-foot-wide trail with a 2-foot soft shoulder on each side for run ners. 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-4-RailTrail-Extension. Questions can be directed to Supt. Jarod Logsdon at jlogsdon@zions ville-in.gov.

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For whom the bells toll

Commentary by Ward Degler

I was going to write about dinner bells, the things that signaled field hands to come back to the house to eat.

PLAIN TALK

I discovered that dinner bells were pretty much an American institution. That’s because early American farms, unlike European and Asian versions, were generally large, widespread affairs where workers could be out of sight of the farmhouse. And a bell can be heard for miles.

That, and the fact that most dinner bells were made of cast iron, was all I could find on the subject. Instead, I got sucked into the history, function and purpose of bells.

Like many other elements of daily life whose history is forgotten, bells were born in China, probably around 4,000 B.C., when the Chinese first developed the science of metallurgy. Apparently, the heads of the great dynasties liked the sound of metal against metal.

In Europe, it was the fall of the Roman Empire around A.D. 500 when Italian monks revived the craft of bell making. After that, churches began adding belfries to their structures, and traditions involving church bells flourished. One of the most popular was wedding bells, rung at the conclusion of nuptials to protect the wedding couple from evil.

Most bells were cast in bronze spiced with tin, a combination of metals that produced the strongest tone when struck. Bells were cast thick and then lathed on the inside to tune the bell. Tuning is precise and accurate. A carillon, for example, is made up of a minimum of 23 different bells, each tuned to an exact musical key.

Why is a bell bell-shaped? The answer, it turns out, is the bell tone is actually a chord. The top of the bell is smaller and cre ates a higher frequency. The bottom of the bell produces a much lower tone.

The largest bell ever made was Burma’s Great Bell of Dhammazedi, cast in 1484 and weighing 300 tons. Enemies stole the bell and planned to melt it down to make can nons. En route to the smelter, however, the raft it was on broke, and the bell sank to the bottom of the Burma River.

The largest bell still in existence is the 180-ton Tsar Bell in Moscow, cast in 1737. It

cracked soon after its creation and has nev er been rung.

The most famous cracked bell, of course, is the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. It was rung for the first time in July of 1776, to de clare American independence. It cracked in 1835 while tolling the death of Chief Justice John Marshall.

At one time in our history, you could find a dinner bell on just about every farm in America. Today, they are mostly decorations in our front lawns.

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.

DISPATCHES

Boone County Justice Center Groundbreaking — The Boone County Commission ers, on site with Hagerman Construction, The Veridus Group and other stakeholders, held a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. for the expanded Justice Center project at 1905 Indianapolis Ave. in Lebanon.

Miler Series registration open — The 2023 500 Festival Miler Series running/walking events will start at a new location: Fowling Warehouse Indianapolis. The series features courses at 3-mile course on Feb. 11, a 6-mile course on March 4, and a 10-mile course on April 1 to help participants prepare for the organization’s Mini-Marathon, which is 13.1 miles, in May. Registration for the series is open at IndyMini.com/Milers.

Princess Program applications — The 500 Festival is accepting applications for the 2023 500 Festival Princess Program. Appli cations are available at 500Festival.com/ Princess. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Jan. 8, 2023. Each 500 Festival Princess will also receive a $1,000 scholarship.

State’s cutest dogs — Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, the Indiana Destination Develop ment Corp. and Indiana’s First Dog, Henry, are searching for adorable dogs in great locations across the state through the Visit Indiana Cutest Dog Photo Contest. To enter, upload a photo or video of your dog to Instagram, tag @VisitIndiana and use the hashtag #DogsINIndiana. Entries must include the location where the photo was taken.

By Elle Kreamer elle@youarecurrent.com

This holiday season, Dan Killinger, owner of Intelligent Living Solutions in Zionsville, seeks to garner support for a nonprofit that helped his family during one of its hardest times.

Indiana Wish helped Killinger’s daughter by making a dream trip to Disney World come true after a hard-won fight against Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Now, Killinger wants to pay it forward by raising awareness during the Dec. 15 Christmas Crawl.

The Christmas Crawl is an annual Christ mas in the Village event, but this is the first year that Intelligent Living Solutions, a home automation and security firm, will be a stop along the way. Although Killinger opened his business in downtown Zionsville this year, he said he felt it was important that he give back with more than just a yearly donation, partnering with Hotel Tan go to make the event truly special.

Intelligent Living Solutions is granting one wish a year to support Indiana Wish. Hotel Tango is donating proceeds from Christmas Crawl Cocktail sales to Indiana Wish.

“When you’ve been touched by something like that, there’s a whole different meaning behind why we want to support the organi zation,” Killinger said.

When Killinger’s daughter, Leah, was 7, she had what he and his wife thought was just a cold. When the cold-like symptoms continued for months, they took her to a pediatrician multiple times before she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a can cer of the lymph nodes.

Killinger said that after Leah’s diagnosis, he and his wife took shifts at Riley Chil dren’s Hospital while Leah underwent sev eral months of chemotherapy.

“We had been in those medical environ ments for nine months, and when our family was in that, being entrenched in that for long periods of time, it really had a strain on normal family life,” Killinger said. “(Indiana Wish) came after we were getting on the tail end of that, and Leah was able to re quest a wish.”

Leah’s wish to go to Disney World, Kill inger said, was an experience that money couldn’t buy. He said Leah, who is now 15, was made to feel like a celebrity, as she and their family got special access to rides,

stayed in a resort and were driven around in a limousine.

“What’s amazing is that donors pay for all of that, and that’s what inspired us to grant wishes,” Killinger said. “So, we’ve started as a company granting a wish a year so we can kind of pay it forward to other fami lies who have been impacted like we have through that type of disease.”

Indiana Wish was founded in 1984 with a focus on granting wishes to Hoosier chil dren ages 3-18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal illness, according to the organization. With a staff of only four individuals, the organization has granted more than 3,500 wishes to kids since its establishment.

J’Lynn Cooper, the organization’s exec utive director, said a significant challenge the nonprofit faces is the misconception that it is involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. At the time of its launch, MakeA-Wish did not have a presence in Indiana,

so Indiana Wish was founded with the goal of serving Indiana children.

Cooper said the cost to grant a child’s wish ranges between $10,000 and $12,000, so all attempts to raise awareness for its efforts and bring in more donations make a big difference. She said the organization also seeks support from businesses willing to do nate time or efforts to make a wish happen.

“We are a staff of four. We’re a small little group of people trying to make a dif ference,” Cooper said. “We don’t have an advertising budget, per se, so for somebody to continually put our name out there like Dan does is priceless for us.”

Killinger said he hopes Intelligent Liv ing Solutions being involved in this year’s Christmas Crawl will encourage others to give beyond just a one-time donation.

“I think telling a story is a lot more im pactful as to why someone should consider supporting (Indiana Wish) other than just sending a mail-in donation,” Killinger said.

When: Dec. 15, 5-9 p.m. Where: Main Street in Zionsville Stop in at Intelligent Living Solutions during this time to visit with Dan Killinger and get to know more about his family’s journey and how to sup port Indiana Wish. Hotel Tango will be serving Christmas-themed cocktails at the event, and all proceeds from cocktail sales will be donated to Indi ana Wish.

“What we want to do is create awareness for our story and for the organization and what it does for the community.”

Zionsville business owner raises awareness for Indiana Wish

CHRISTMAS CRAWL

ON THE COVER: Owner Dan Killinger pauses in the Experience Center kitchen at Intelligent Living Solutions.

(Left) From left, L.J., Dan, Leah, Noah, Jen and Eli pause with Mickey Mouse at Disney World in 2015. (Above) Leah pauses in the pool at Disney world. (Photos courtesy of Dan Killinger)

ESSAY

Give or take?

Commentary by Terry Anker

Giving Tuesday has now officially passed, although the requests for the “final” gift of the year continue to flow in. Private philanthropy is a good thing. People make direct and immediate choices about the world around them and decide how they are willing to do nate their own labor to contribute to the cause. Instead of showing up hammer in hand to help raise the barn, most of us these days choose to spend the day at our own toil, whatever it may be, and forgo the benefit to ourselves and our families, and instead giving the fruit to some cause of our liking.

While it is important to follow laws regarding government revenue, one cannot claim a personal moral gold star if the tax collector eventually comes, gun in hand, to take from us the product of our labor. Conversely, there is honor to be had in working voluntarily for the benefit of others. We might contribute from excess, from gratitude, from a hope that others might care for us if we were in need, or from a genuine charity, agape. Whatever the motivation, we have worked so that some other — un able, unwilling or un-situated — does not. There is no exchange. There is little market. There is no expectation of inter est paid.

Even so, as some give, others take. Many of us hold our philanthropy to in clude direct service on boards or in the soup kitchens of nonprofits, in addition to our financial contributions. So, we be come both benefactor and beneficiary. What roles do — and should — we play? Is it right to expect gratitude from the takers? Is it right to expect gifts from the givers? Are there strings attached? Should there be? If Giving Tuesday is a mirror to Taking Tuesday, how do we make sure that doing the right thing is doing the right thing?

You may email him at terry@ youarecurrent.com.

CURRENTOON

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

POLICIES

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HUMOR

It was nice while it lasted

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

I’ve been an empty nester officially now for three months, two weeks, and five days, and I have loved every single glorious moment. The quiet evenings, the relatively clean kitchen (my husband, Doo, still doesn’t seem to understand that we have a dishwasher), and the peace of mind that can only come when your babies-turned-youngadults are no longer underfoot have been simply magical. Which is why I am somewhat dreading the holidays, as my college kiddos will once again be home.

Don’t get me wrong, it’ll be great to see them, especially our twins who are studying in Colorado and California. But why, sweet mother, do classes not resume until the end of January? Why must universities start second semes ters so ridiculously late? Do they not realize the disruption these extended breaks will cause to my beautifully crafted, long-awaited parental mile stone? This is enough time to form ac tual habits, like 1 a.m. muffin baking and sleeping ‘til noon. This will enable my newly independent offspring to rejoin the dole, which in turn will fundamen tally alter our Meijer bill and undoubted ly drive me bat-poo crazy.

And one of them is bringing her cat! I haven’t even begun to wrap my head around how a temporary pet is going to add to the chaos. No, my only chance at survival will be to convince them to return early. Perhaps between a few white lies (“We’re vegetarians now” and “The dryer’s broken”) and guilt trips about their jobs (“The lab really needs you there!”), I’ll manage to convince them to leave ahead of schedule.

Fingers crossed! Because I have grown to love being an empty nester. Peace out.

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

Danielle

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

“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.”

— LOUISA MAY ALCOTT

Present company withstanding

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

The Hammacher Schlemmer Christmas ’22 gift catalog just arrived! It’s the lon gest-running mail-order retail er of its kind, its pages filled with unique (if not quirky) selections. Here are some of my favorites. Who knows, maybe this holiday you’ll receive…

ry building, a jail, cops and police dogs. At kids’ bedtime when toys must be put away, parents can post a sign that says, “Decon struct the police.”

HUMOR

John Wayne’s Canvas Rancher Jacket: This hand-crafted jack et features a notched corduroy collar. I guess the notches each rep resent some poor soul Duke wasted in a mov ie. Do the five buttons denote the people he eliminated in his real life for not embracing the Second Amend ment? None of these jackets were returned, with customers saying, “You’ll have to pry that coat from my cold, dead hands.”

The Electronic Tag Game: This is a modern version of tag, where kids wear LED lights so they can see who has been tagged. Huh? When I was a kid, I wasn’t smart enough to reduce a fraction, but I sure didn’t need a light to know who was “it.”

This giant plush pachyderm sings, “Do your ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro?” At 8 years old and first discovering my body, that’s not how I sang the words.

The Warming Cat Bed: “Recommended by veterinarians,” says HS. But only two vets could make an honest endorsement — the only two small enough to fit in the bed. The catalog says it can also be used for a small dog — but I’d take the cat out first.

The Side Sleepers’ Ergonomic Pillow: Ideal for someone who is sleeping with someone on the side. The pillow adjusts to your head and neck, providing support (pro viding support is what you will have to do if you get caught).

The Perfect Spiral Robotic Quarter back: This training tool loads footballs and launches them 75 feet. You pump each ball, putting in as much air as you like. Endorsed by Tom Brady.

The Lego City Police Station: The 680-piece Lego set comes with a three-sto

– DICK WOLFSIE

The New York Times Jigsaw Puzzle of Your Birthdate: Ever wonder what the front page of the New York Times looked like the day you were born? Me, either. This 600-piece puzzle tests your concentration and pa tience. Remember the New York Times slo gan, “All the news we print will fit,” unless the dog chewed a piece.

The Personalized Animated Singing Elephant Chair: This giant plush pachyderm sings, “Do your ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro?” At 8 years old and first discovering my body, that’s not how I sang the words.

One favorite item from a past holiday edi tion is still available:

The Soft Kangaroo Wallet: This billfold is made from the hide of a kangaroo. How ironic that here’s an animal, one of the few on the planet with an actual pocket that can carry something, and we made him into a wallet.

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

Stocks that benefit from rising inflation — The last time the annual inflation rate topped 2.5 percent was 2011, when it hit 3 percent. Rising costs can eat into profits for some companies, and that can push up interest rates, which hurts bond prices and tends to pull investors away from stocks, depressing those prices. Cushion the effects of swelling inflation by investing in companies that benefit from global economic expansion and ris ing prices. Good candidates can be found in the materials and industrial sectors, such as:

• Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), the world’s largest copper miner, will see stronger profits due to a 60% jump since last spring in the price of copper—-essential for home construction and electric-vehicle production. Recent share price: $24.63.

• Caterpillar (CAT) is a global leader in producing heavy ma chinery. Rising commodity prices will lead Caterpillar’s cus tomers, ranging from industrial metal-mining firms to agri cultural companies, to buy more of Caterpillar’s excavators, backhoes and bulldozers. Recent share price: $180.96.

• Cummins (CMI), this century-old company will see demand rise for diesel engines that power big-rig trucks and trains used to haul commodities and other goods. Also, investors are underestimating the profit potential of Cummins’s new “clean–energy” engines that use fuel cells and hydrogen technology. Recent share price: $224.31.

Source: BottomLineInc.

Cryptocurrency risks — With cryptocurrencies continuing to attract headlines, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson wants to remind Hoosiers to be cautious about such invest ments. Common cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Unlike traditional currency, these have no physical

form and are not backed by tangible assets. They are not in sured or controlled by any central authority and are subject to very little regulation. As a result, the potential for fraud is high. To learn more, visit IndianaMoneyWise.com

Hiring a tax professional — In most states, including Indiana, tax preparers do not have to meet any licensing standards, so you need to do your homework if you plan to hire a professional to do your taxes. Ask about any professional certifications, such as a CPA or Enrolled Agent. Find out what your recourse against the preparer is if you get audited and penalties are as sessed. Finally, ask for references and check them out.

Source: BottomLineInc.

Beware the free tablet — If you switch cellphone carriers, you might be told that you qualify for a free tablet, but you might not be told that it will have its own service plan. That plan could add an extra $10 to $20, or more, per month, to your bill. This little detail is often hidden in the fine print and is easily overlooked. If offered a free tablet, make sure you understand all the potential costs.

Source: BottomLineInc.

Indiana is 8th-most federally dependent state — A recent study by WalletHub, a personal 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

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Zionsville resident raises awareness for pancreatic cancer

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

After losing her husband Jeff Ledman to pancreatic cancer two years ago, Sarah Led man has been committed to raising awareness about the disease.

“Due to Jeff’s quick diagnosis and knowing that heredity plays a factor, it is extremely important to raise awareness,” said Ledman, who lives in Zionsville. “I have two little girls, Hannah (2 1/2 years old) and Madeline (1 1/2), who I am concerned about being diagnosed with this awful disease in the future. It is important to learn more about pancreatic cancer to be able to diag nose it early and increase the survival rate. The current five-year survival rate is just 11 percent.”

November was Pancreatic Cancer Aware ness Month.

In September of 2020, Jeff began to have abdominal and back pain, both of which are symptoms of pancreatic cancer, Ledman said.

“Jeff went to his doctor and thought it sounded like gallbladder issues, which run in his family,” Ledman said. “On Oct. 19, 2020, during our first family vacation to North Carolina, the pain was too intense for Jeff to handle. I took him to the ER where a CT scan was performed and saw tumors in his liver and right lung. From there, we came back to Indiana for a visit to his doc tor, who referred him to an oncologist. It was on Nov. 12, 2020, that Jeff was given

the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.”

Then he was admitted to the hospital two days later for jaundice because his bile ducts were blocked from the growth of the tumors. He stayed in the hospital, and was eventually moved to the ICU until he was released to come home on hospice care Nov. 21, 2020. He died one day later at age 37.

“Things progressed rapidly with Jeff. It was to the point where when he was given chemo, we had to sign papers acknowledg ing that we understood the risks and that he was going to pass away with or without the chemo,” Ledman said. “During his time in the hospital, the doctors and nurses of ten said that he was the youngest patient that they cared for with pancreatic cancer.”

Ledman said she is involved in the Pur pleStride walk which takes place in April.

“We currently fundraise money through donations of friends and family,” she said. “Many of our family members will donate to PanCan Action Network in memory of Jeff in lieu of a birthday or Christmas present for Hannah and Madeline. We also wear purple throughout the year, but more in November to help bring awareness.”

A first-grade teacher with the Metropol itan School District of Wayne Township, Ledman said she has no plans to leave Zionsville.

“Jeff’s dream was to live here due to the small community feel,” she said. “I was be yond amazed at the support I received from neighbors and complete strangers during one of the hardest times of my life.”

RESEARCH

Sarah Ledman pauses with her daughters, Hannah, left, Madeline right. ((Photo courtesy of Sarah Ledman)

currentnightandday.com

Marie Osmond to make her Palladium debut

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

For Marie Osmond, Christmas is about memories, not possessions.

my sixth decade of music performing con sistently, which is crazy, so I’ll do a few things that people will enjoy.”

Osmond said she will share stories of her career during the concert.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’

“I feel people need a little bit of hope, a little bit of laughter and some love,” she said. “They actually need to be togeth er. My philosophy has always been, ‘Do you remember what you got for Christmas five years ago?’ But I do remember the time I spent with friends and family, going to events and having dinner. Those are the things that make memories, and those are the things I like to provide for people.”

CONCERT

Osmond wants to add to the audience’s memories with an 8 p.m. concert Dec. 10 at the Palladium at the Center for the Per forming Arts in Carmel. It is Osmond’s first visit to the Palladium and is part of her symphonic Christmas tour.

“I’ve been associated with Christmas since I was a fetus,” Osmond said. “I started out with Andy Williams’ Christmas shows at 3. I did my first Bob Hope Christ mas show when I was 13, and he kind of became a second dad. I did USO Christmas shows and then Donny and Marie and Os mond Family (shows), so I know a little about Christmas. It’s super fun.”

Osmond will perform a couple of songs from her 2021 album “Unexpected,” which feature a collection of Broadway and opera classics that debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Classical Crossover Albums Chart.

“It blew my mind,” she said. “I didn’t think it would do anything. It was me spend ing 25 years learning to sing legit opera.”

Osmond, 63, said the type of Christmas music she performs fits well with an orchestra.

“It’s going to be musi cally diverse, eclectic,” said Osmond, adding she will mostly perform Christmas songs. “It’s

Osmond and her older brother, Donny, ended their 11-year residency at the Flamin go in Las Vegas in 2019. Donny now has a solo residency at Harrah’s in Las Vegas.

“He’s going to die Wayne Newton,” Os mond jokingly said of her brother. “It was lovely (that) people came 11 years to see the show. In my heart, I felt I needed to go to people, especially because traveling is costly right now. I love the road. I’ve probably performed more on the road than anyone in my family, whether it was doing Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘The Sound of

“I think the whole part of the holiday spirit is to interact,” she said. “I think a good location is important. I hand-pick all these areas. I wanted to go to places that I hav en’t been. Although I swear I’ve performed everywhere, from fairs to festivals to honkytonks, I wanted to put this show in places where I felt people would enjoy it.”

Her nephew, David Osmond, will per form with her.

“He’s a phenomenal talent,” she said. “I don’t use him because he’s an Osmond. I use him because he’s terrific. He has an amazing story. He teases me, ‘I know why you have me in the show, so you can make costume changes.’ I said, ‘OK, there you go.’ But, no, he’s terrific. There will be things that bring back wonderful Christmas memories. We’ll have some new

Osmond will perform with local orches

“I believe in (doing) that. There are so many talented musicians,” she said. “Some of them have been performing five or six decades, too. It’s nice to utilize local

One thing that drives

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

‘A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL’

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

‘THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT’

Mud Creek Players’ production of “The Christmas Spirit,” a holiday comedy, runs through Dec. 17 at Mud Creek Theatre, 9740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis. For more, visit mudcreekplayers.org.

‘UH-OH, HERE COMES CHRISTMAS’

Carmel Players will present “Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas” from Dec. 9-18 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.

‘CHRISTMAS AT THE PLAYHOUSE’

“Christmas at the Playhouse” will feature six original one-act plays from Dec. 9-11 at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.

Osmond is

“When we did the show in Vegas, the show would be an hour-and-a-half and my meet-and-greet would be like three hours,” she said. “I’ve been through a lot of difficult things and people know that I understand, so they will come and talk to me about things. God doesn’t care who you are in this life, he cares about how you do your job and how you treat other people. That’s my philosophy.”

For tickets, visit thecenter presents.org.

Marie Osmond will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Palladium. (Photo

‘DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS 25TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS TOUR’

“Dave Koz & Friends 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour” concert is set for 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.

CARMEL HOLIDAY PORCHFEST

Carmel Holiday Porchfest is set from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at Midtown Plaza. The event features holiday music from Doug Resendez at 2 p.m., Elizabeth Lee at 2:45 p.m. and Odd Main In at 3:25 p.m. For more, visit carmel porchfest.org.

‘I’LL

BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS’

Indiana Wind Symphony’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” concert is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Palladium at the Center for the Perform ing Arts in Carmel. There will be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. featuring a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. For more, visit thecen terpresents.org.

courtesy of Marie Osmond)

Commentary by Mark LaFay

In light of the great celebration of car bohydrates also known as the holidays, it is only fitting that we take a look at some great carby, critical charcuterie components (score 4 points for the alliteration). Crackers, bread, and toast are must-haves for a successful charcuterie board. They are delicious on their own. They also serve as excellent vehicles for deliver ing meat, cheese and accoutrements to your mouth. Unlike the ballpark hot dog bun, the crumble of toast and the crunch of a cracker provide additional dimension to your munch ing experience besides having tasty flavors that can be savory and sweet.

CHARCUTERIE

called Rustic Bakery. They make several dif ferent toasts, crackers, cookies and more. In fact, if you go to a wine tasting in California, the odds are good you will find Rustic Bak ery’s flatbread crackers at your wine tasting. Its Sel Gris flatbread crackers are delicious. Thin and flavorful, these crackers pack great flavor and pair wonderfully with anything you could have on your charcuterie board. They also go great alone (and they are great for resetting your palate when wine tasting).

The water cracker is great for meat and cheese because it is thin, light, savory and generally very mild in flavor. Carr’s Water Crackers are a very popular brand, and for good reason. Carr’s has been in business since 1832. The crackers are baked in a tradi tional brick oven, and they are thin, crunchy and tasty! Carr’s crackers are great for providing crunch without overpowering the meat, cheese or jams with additional flavor. Whatever route you go, don’t leave off the crunch carbs from your charcuterie board.

anaballetconservatory.org.

Where’s

Amy?

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

PASEK AND JUSTIN PAUL NIGHT & DAY

Don’t cut carbs this season

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

Toast is a great option for a charcuterie board. You can make your own toast by crisping up some brioche and cutting it into bite sized pieces. You could also opt to get a pre-made toast like Trois Petite Cochon Toast. These toast minis are made in France with natural ingredients and baked off into a crunchy, crumbly bite. These are great for sweet jams or savory toppings. I find the ‘crouton-esque’ nature of these toast minis to be quite pleasing.

In Northern California, there is a bakery

by the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. For

performances,

visit indi

Soloist returns for IWS show

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

After graduating from Carmel High School in 2011, Jessamyn Anderson began perform ing with the Indiana Wind Symphony.

CONCERT

The soprano soloist will appear with the IWS Dec. 11 for two performances at the Palladium at the Center for the Per forming Arts in Carmel. The matinee performance at 2 p.m. will include a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The 7 p.m. performance’s theme is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

“I am most excited about bringing my daughter to the afternoon kids’ show,” An derson said. “It’s wild that I was a freshman in college when I first sang ‘O Holy Night’ with the IWS, and now I’m bringing my baby to the shows. I feel like I’ve grown up, pro fessionally speaking, with this ensemble. For the afternoon show, I will perform ‘Let It Go’ from ‘Frozen’ and our special, epic arrangement of ‘O Holy Night,’ a first for the matinee.”

Anderson said she convinced IWS Music

Director Charles Conrad that kids would love the drama of the piece.

In the evening, Anderson will sing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “It’s the Most Wonder ful Time of the Year” and “O Holy Night.”

“It has been a joy to watch and hear her develop over those years into an outstanding operatic sopra no who has tremendous versatility,” Conrad said. “I am certain that we will be seeing her on stages around the world in the next few years. She is a wonderful artist with which to collaborate.”

Anderson and her husband live in Colum bia, Tenn., near Nashville.

“We love it in Tennessee, but I do miss being close to my family — and round abouts,” Anderson said.

The guest conductor for the concert is Catherine Maloney, who is the band teacher at Pendleton Heights Middle School. She has been accepted to be the next conductor of the Indiana National Guard Band following recent auditions. She has played flute with the IWS since 2013.

For more, visit indianawindsymphony.org.

Anderson

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Anya Stephenson is eager for the chal lenges of portraying the Snow Queen. “Snow Queen has always been one of my favorite roles,” Stephenson said. “I enjoyed the music of the snow scene. I’ve been working with the snow pas de deux with my partner and it’s been a new challenge for me. I like working on a new character to bring to life for the audience.”

the Snow Queen has many entrances at the end of Act 1.”

Stephenson plays other roles in the scenes in the two shows when the other dancer, Indianapolis resident Miriam Danek, portrays Snow Queen. Stephenson is Snow Queen in the final two performances.

Stephenson Farley

“It’s one of my favorite ballets to watch and to dance in,” Stephenson said. “I love learning new chore ography every year and it never gets old.”

The Carmel High School freshman will appear in the Ballet Theatre of Carmel Acad emy’s production of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 16-18 at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville. The shows are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18.

“Something that has been important to me is building my stamina,” Stephenson said. “The choreography is very intricate and there is a lot to think about because

Ciara Farley, a homeschooled junior from Carmel, will perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the first two performances. She has been with BTCA for 11 years.

“This is one of my dream roles and I’m ex cited to have been cast as Sugar Plum,” Far ley said. “One of the things I look forward to is the artistry of the performances. I love ‘The Nutcracker.’ It has so many memories. It’s a magical experience.”

For more, visit ballettheatreofcarmel.org/ nutcracker/.

Visiting Chicago’s Millennium and Maggie Daley Parks

Commentary by Don Knebel

Keeping watch for sasquatch

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

My daughter has started roaming the streets looking for Bigfoot clues. Accord ing to her kindergarten classmates, Big foot only comes out at night, and that’s when he drops clues around the neighborhood. While on walks with our puppy, my daughter finds interesting rocks, oddly shaped pieces of mulch and even the occasional rusty shard of unknown garbage. All of these items are clues. My friend Byron (the con spiracy theory enthusiast) is thrilled by my daughter’s new Bigfoot obsession.

GRAMMAR GUY

abominable snowmen to adnominals, or adnouns. No, these aren’t nouns you find in popup ads on websites; adnouns are adjectives used as nouns. While I’ve written before about the “verbification” of nouns; now we’re going to “nounify” some adjectives.

Here’s an easy example to understand adnouns: “…the land of the free and the home of the brave.” At the end of “The Star-Spangled Banner” (an unfortunate na tional anthem because who has that kind of vocal range?) we find two adjectives used as nouns. “Free” and “brave” stand alone as adnouns here.

In the “Sermon on the Mount” in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Here again we see an adjective — the word “meek” — standing alone as a noun.

Today, we visit Millennium Park and Mag gie Daley Park, which each year draw mil lions of people, including fami lies, to the heart of Chicago. Millennium Park lies just west of Lake Michigan, between Randolph and East Monroe streets. Named for the third millennium, the 25-acre park opened in 2004, four years behind schedule.

TRAVEL

The park cost $475 million to construct, about half provided by private donors in exchange for naming rights. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion features a band shell designed by architect Frank Gehry, with 4,000 perma nent seats and lawn space for 7,000 more. The AT&T plaza features “Cloud Gate,” a three-story sculpture designed by Anish Kapoor. Nicknamed “The Bean” because of its shape, the sculpture, made from 168 sheets of polished stainless steel, reflects the nearby skyline. Crown Fountain, named for Chicago’s Crown Family, includes a black granite reflecting pool between two glass brick towers. The 50-foot-tall towers display videos of the faces of about 1.000 Chicagoland residents, with water appear ing to flow from the subject’s mouth about every five minutes. The 2.5-acre Lurie Gar den, named for philanthropist Anne Lurie, features perennials, trees, grasses, shrubs and trees.

Maggie Daley Park is named for the wife of longtime Chicago Mayor Richard Michael Daley. She died of cancer in 2011. Lying be tween Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive, the 20-acre park is linked to Millennium Park by the BP Pedestrian Bridge, a winding footbridge over Columbus Drive. The park

includes many attractions for families and children, including a quarter-mile ice-skat ing ribbon, rock-climbing walls, tennis courts and a miniature golf course featuring Chicago highlights. A 3-acre Play Garden for children 12 and under includes the popular Enchanted Forest.

In 2021, Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park collectively attracted about 25 million visitors, making them among the top 10 most popular destinations in the United States.

As a kid, I wasn’t as concerned about Bigfoot. Instead, I lost sleep over the Okie Ogre, a nocturnal monster who ate family pets and spit out their bones in the driveway. Was the Okie Ogre merely a freakishly large raccoon, or had the abominable snowman missed a left turn at Albuquerque? Was it even real? It’s hard to say. Perhaps I should have been getting ready for a yeti or keeping watch for a sasquatch.

It’s time to make a hard pivot from

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

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

The “Cloud Gate” sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Don

Don Knebel at Maggie Daley Park in Chicago.

Crown Fountain in Millennium Park.

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