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manufacturing career have made clear to him how important the industry is.
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Since receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indiana Manufacturers Association in October, Mike Lunsford, 70, a Zionsville resident and retired CEO of Dart Controls, has had time to reflect on his career.
Lunsford said he was shocked he received the award, and it took a couple weeks for him to fully comprehend its significance.
“I told my brother about it, and he said something like, ‘Humility isn’t necessarily denigrating your skill set. The true humility is coming to grips with who you are,’ and I thought that was pretty profound,” Lunsford said. “Ultimately, I came around to the fact that it was quite an honor for me, and there was no way around it.”
Lunsford said his interest in manufacturing began during his college years at Purdue University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management with a minor in industrial engineering. He participated in an internship program with a company called the Federal Paperboard Co., which promptly hired him following his graduation.
Since that time, he worked for Honeywell and for Cynergy, which eventually became Duke Energy. Lunsford said he earned his MBA while working at Cynergy.
Many years later, in 1997, Lunsford was hired as president of Dart Controls, a manufacturing company based in Zionsville, before moving on to become its CEO in the years before his retirement in June.
Lunsford said at his core, he has always been a salesman and enjoyed that aspect of the job.
“I’ve always totally enjoyed interacting with customers, trying to persuade and educate those people who might be in a position to buy the product, whatever it was at the time. I found that energizing, challenging and rewarding,” Lunsford said.
Lunsford said his experiences during his
“I truly believe manufacturing provides so many good jobs and has plenty of applications for technology,” he said. “Manufacturing in general is just so good for society and creates a plethora of opportunities.”
Christine McKay, director of finance and accounting at Dart Controls, said she has known Lunsford for three years and said he made every day of work something to look forward to.
“When one measures a company, it is most often by its people,” McKay said. “Dart is like a family, and Mike’s retirement left an empty chair. However, he carefully planned his departure and made sure he left Dart better than he found it.”
Besides the fond memories, Lunsford said he is most grateful for the people he worked with and is honored to have been trusted to run the company.
“Leadership is all about supporting the team that you’re responsible for,” Lunsford said. “It’s not telling people what to do, it’s all about empowering them and making sure they understand you believe in their skill set.
“What a wonderful, long tenure I had. I am grateful to have worked with so many wonderful, very, very smart people.”
Current was unable to reach Adams for comment by press time.
TOWN NEWS
During the Dec. 5 Zionsville Town Council meeting, councilman Bryan Traylor announced that the town’s chief financial officer, Kellie Adams, resigned Dec. 2 after less than eight months in the role. Her last day in the office was Dec. 5.
“At our last finance committee meeting, our CFO — former CFO at this point — had brought up that there were some additional appropriations that needed to be done by Dec. 15,” Traylor said during the meeting.
According to Town Council President Jason Plunkett, Adams’ resignation was another example of an employee leaving town government that he said calls into question bigger issues — such as what he said is a lack of leadership in the mayor’s office — that may be contributing to Zionsville’s frequent employee turnover.
According to Plunkett, the town has also had recent turnover in the CFO position with the resignation of Tammy Havard earlier this year and the resignation of former planning director Wayne DeLong over the summer.
“We have department heads who are leaving jobs that they thought were going to be careers,” Plunkett said. “When you’ve got directors of departments who are leaving, and the only direct report they would have is to the mayor, this tells me there is a lack of leadership.”
Plunkett said frequent employee turnover also has cost the town a significant and unprecedented amount of money that could not have been planned for in yearly budgets. Current has reached out to the Town of Zionsville for further information regarding detailed costs associated with employee turnover in recent months.
From minor check-ups to major illnesses, visiting the doctor is hardly anyone’s idea of a good time. But it should be a simple one.
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Our commitment to simple care means you always know that when you need answers, we’re here to listen. When you need support, we’re here to help. And when you need care, we’re here to deliver.
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A groundbreaking ceremony was held Dec. 5 to mark the start of construction on the expansion of the Boone County Justice Center at 1905 Indianapolis Ave. in Lebanon.
Boone County Commissioners President Jeff Wolfe said the center, which was originally built in 1992, will greatly benefit from the expansion project in the long term.
“We’ve kind of outgrown it over the years,” Wolfe said. “Boone County has been a fast-growing community. We’ve nearly doubled in size, population-wise, since this jail was built.”
Wolfe said the county plans to implement programs for rehabilitation, offering as many or more hours of mental health treatment than any other justice center in the state or the nation.
“The project is designed to allow the jail to move people through the system and (allow inmates to) take advantage of those treatments,” Wolfe said. “We’re really excited and looking forward to moving this project forward.”
Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielsen said the county has been attempting to launch the project since June of 2014.
“We’ve spent the past two years trying to convince the council and do everything we need to do to get the funding to build this
project,” Nielsen said.
According to Nielsen, the building has gone from a $7.5 million project to a $60 million project since it was first proposed.
“I think this is going to set the Boone County community up for many years to come,” Nielsen said.
The project is expected to be completed by February of 2025.
Here’s more than you ever wanted to know about money.
We didn’t coin our own money until our government passed the Coinage Act of 1792. Until that time, we continued to use English money even though we hadn’t been on speaking terms with the British since whipping them in the Revolutionary War.
The first American currency was two coins — the cent and half-cent copied from the English penny, which the British appropriated from the German pfennig. To save face, the English minted the two-penny coin, which they called the twopence.
The dime comes from the French word disme, meaning one-tenth, or tithe. It started from the French practice of folding their paper money into tenths. In 1796, the U.S. glommed onto the disme and changed the name to dime.
The nickel was originally known as a halfdime, minted in silver. When the Civil War erupted, the precious metal was needed for the war effort, and for the duration we stopped minting the coin. After the war, we began producing the half dime from a nickel-copper alloy, dropped the half-dime moniker and started calling it a nickel.
The dollar originally was the thaler, short for joachimsthaler, a coin minted from silver mined near Joachimsthal, Bohemia, in 1519. From that day forward, dollar coins were made of silver.
The Morgan silver dollar was arguably the most popular and had the most checkered history of any American currency. It was minted from 1878 to 1904. Huge stockpiles of the coins prompted the U.S. Treasury Dept. to melt them down, only to turn around and mint them again for one year in 1921.
Our dollars today are paper. We call them by their denominations — ones, singles, fives, fins, 10s and 20s.
We also express our feelings in terms of money, adding our two-cents worth to a conversation. How about the Brits: “I say, old man, might I add my twopence worth?”
The Central Collection has room to spare! It’s time for the greatest gift you could ever give yourself: a new home in a community that’s packed with things to do! This featured home has a bonus room with a full bedroom and full bath. Offer available on select to-be-built Central Collection homes (Brookville, Monroe and Shafer floorplans) and select Central Collection inventory homes when you sign a purchase agreement now through 12/31/22 and close.
by LennarContact him at ward.degler@ gmail.com.
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180 acres with proposed 3 miles of walking/biking trails
An abundance of outdoor living with front and rear covered porches available Stunning clubhouse with soaring 2-story fireplace, lounge area, fitness area, pool and multiple gathering spaces Full schedule of fun-filled events and activities Quartz
This special offer makes the Osborne Trails lifestyle even more desirable. For more information, please contact Carol Feipel, Greg Randolph, Sunny Salmon, Tamywa Thurman, Kim Yoder and Anastasia Brasco at 317-659-3230
procedures that demonstrate the intent to operate as age 55 or older housing, and comply with HUD’s rules for age verification of residents. In other communities, all residents must be age 62 years or older (with limited exceptions). You are encouraged to review community documents and disclosures for applicable restrictions before purchasing. Please consult with a Lennar New Home Consultant regarding any questions regarding this community’s age policies. Features, amenities, floor plans, elevations, and designs vary and are subject to changes or substitution without notice. Items shown are artist’s renderings and may contain options that are not standard on all models or not included in the purchase price. Availability may vary. Plans to build out this neighborhood as proposed are subject to change without notice. Please see your New Home Consultant and/or home purchase agreement for actual features designated as an Everything’s Included feature. Sq. ft. and acreage are estimated; actual sq. ft. and acreage will differ. Garage/bay sizes may vary from home to home and may not accommodate or be accessible to all vehicles. Models/lifestyle photos do not reflect racial or ethnic preference. Scenes may be of locations or activities not on a Lennar property. All product and/or company names are trademarks TM or registered trademarks ® of their respective owners, and use of these marks does not imply any sponsorship, endorsement, support, or affiliation between the trademark owners and Lennar. This is not an offer in states where prior registration is required. Void where prohibited by law. Copyright © 2022 Lennar Corporation. Lennar, the Lennar logo, Everything’s Included and the Everything’s Included logo are U.S. registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Date 12/22
Noblesville High School sophomore Meredith Tippner has had a memorable calendar year.
She has already been a part of state championships in soccer and basketball and now is off to a strong start in the 2022-23 basketball season. In games through Dec. 3, the 5-foot-10 Tippner was averaging 16 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.6 assists for the Millers, who were 7-2 during that span.
“Meredith has been awesome for us this season,” Millers coach Donna Buckley said. “She is a stat stuffer. She scores, rebounds, defends and has the ability to impact the game in so many ways. She is an unbelievable talent and an even better kid.”
Tippner said her biggest improvement has been rebounding, inside post presence and using her body to establish position.
Noblesville captured the IHSAA Class 4A girls state title in February. Prior to this
Favorite athlete: Steph Curry
Ideal vacation spot: Florida
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite TV show: “All American”
school year, Ashlynn Shade, who has signed with the University of Connecticut, transferred to La Lumiere, a prep school in La Porte.
“Ash cannot easily be replaced,” Tippner said. “But I think the best way we replace her contributions is as a team. We all need to score more efficiently than last year, rebound more and defend at a high level. I
have been focused on trying to make the best decisions for my team. I feel like that’s what we all need to focus on in order to make another run. A better decision, a deflection, an extra pass, these are the things that make winning teams.”
Tippner already has collegiate basket-
ball offers from Ball State University, the University at Buffalo, Butler University, the University of Evansville, Purdue University Fort Wayne, the University of San Francisco and the University of Toledo.
In soccer, Tippner scored 15 goals for Noblesville’s girls team, which captured the IHSAA Class 3A state title Oct. 29 at Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.
Tippner loves both sports, but basketball is her favorite because she said she is always in a position to make a contribution.
“With a soccer field being so large in comparison, the action may be 40 yards away,” Tippner said. “But in basketball, I’m always just feet away from making a difference, even if it’s just getting into a passing lane, bumping a cutter, or taking a charge.”
Tippner said one sport helps the other with vision, explosion, judging speed and direction of teammates and opponents and making something a player could do on their own easier by combining with a teammate.
“Both sports are actually very similar as far as what it takes to win,” she said.
Tippner said being part of two state championships was exciting.
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.
R., Goodman Campbell Patient
Community Foundation announces promotions — The Community Foundation of Boone County announced two promotions that, according to the nonprofit’s CEO Jodi Gietl, will move the organization forward. Julie Reagan was promoted to Vice President of Advancement and Ali Maxey was promoted to Director of Education. “These two team members are key to The Community Foundation of Boone County’s success in maintaining and growing permanent endowment funds to strengthen Boone County forever,” Gietl stated in a release. For more on the organization’s efforts, visit communityfoundationbc.org.
St. Alphonsus Liguori announces annual rummage sale — The annual rummage sale at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church is set to take place Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. to noon. Proceeds from the annual sale will benefit the community of St. Anthony of Padua in Croix Fer, Haiti. Anyone who would like to donate items prior to the event can drop them off at St. Alphonsus Parish Hall, located at 1870 W Oak St., on Jan. 25 from 2 to 8 p.m. or Jan. 26 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more, visit zionsvillecatholic.com.
Whitestown receives INDOT grant for road repairs — The Town of Whitestown has received a Community Crossings Grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) in the amount of $675,141, according to a Dec. 7 press release. The funds will be used to improve county road E. 500 S. from Main Street to county road 575 E. Upgrades will consist of subgrade improvements, repaving, and drainage improvements. The completion date will be determined after a contractor is selected. For more, visit whitestown.in.gov.
Rail Trail Closure — A Rail Trail development 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-4-RailTrail-Extension. Questions can be directed to Supt. Jarod Logsdon at jlogsdon@zionsville-in.gov.
news@currentzionsville.com
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has awarded $1.9 million to the Town of Zionsville to be used for the Zionsville Gateway Area project, a plan several years in the making that seeks to optimize land usage in the Zionsville area.
The grant is part of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Indiana Regional Economic Accelerations and Development Initiative. The $1.9 million comes from $20 million in READI grant dollars to the White River Regional Opportunity Initiative partnership, which consists of representatives from three counties and eight communities, including Zionsville.
“With this grant, we are setting the stage for the future transformation of the gateway into our town, a vision that was cast by the public and stakeholders during previous planning phases,” Zionsville Dept. of Public Works Director Lance Lantz stated.
The ZGA project began in 2020 when the town demolished two buildings at the cor-
ner of Main and Sycamore streets. In the fall of 2020, months of public input meetings and stakeholder interviews took place. The resulting ZGA study took a community-serving approach, bringing together a range of options for the downtown area.
Funding from the grant will be utilized in design work for the ZGA. Beginning in 2023, the Zionsville Dept. of Public Works will engage engineers and landscape architects in designing area improvements. This includes considerations for an extension of First Street south of Sycamore Street with intersection improvements, the creation of a pedestrian boulevard, a public plaza area and more.
Design and engineering are expected to be complete in the first half of 2024.
“This infrastructure investment will be a catalyst for implementing this mission and seeing future transformational development that complements the activity and character of the Village,” mayor Emily Styron stated in a release.
LaForge said she and Carroll are attempting to connect other local artists with the Zionsville community by collaborating with area businesses and nonprofits to organize an art show on Main Street and are partnering with Zionsville Pizzeria to organize a wine, pizza and canvas night in the spring. The artists said their overarching goal is to support Zionsville and the art community through their work.
“I’m amazed how open minded (Zionsville residents) are to new ideas,” LaForge said. “I also love how businesses are willing to work together and listen to creative ideas. It’s amazing how much everyone can work together and listen to one another.”
Since purchasing their Zionsville studio in 2021, artists Laura LaForge and Amy Carroll have truly embraced the open-door concept, not only by inviting the public into their studio space, but also by encouraging other artists to join the community.
Their studio space, above Blooms by Dragonfly on Main Street, is completely accessible to the public as there are no doors blocking access to the upstairs studio.
“We stumbled upon the studio space when we were looking in Zionsville,” LaForge said. “When we saw there were no doors, we were just a little hesitant about the idea at first, then we realized it could be cool to have people come up whenever they wanted.”
LaForge, a Carmel resident, and Carroll, who lives in Speedway, were members of The Stutz Artists Association in Indianapolis but left after The Stutz building changed ownership in 2021. The artists, who had both previously held the title of board president of the association, developed a friendship that inspired their decision to look for a studio space they would share.
LaForge, who works as an artist full-time, said she and Carroll fell in love with Zionsville and are attempting to seize the opportunity to create an environment where artists can have a more open and transparent relationship with the community.
“We would love to see Zionsville become known as an artists’ community in Indiana,” LaForge said. “We love the people in Zionsville, and we think it would be a nice mar-
riage to include more artists (in the community) as well, so we are really trying to plant seeds for that.”
The artists said their friendship started at The Stutz but has blossomed since they began working in their Zionsville studio.
“Even though you’re both selling art, you don’t have to be competitive with each other,” Carroll said. “I think that’s the most amazing thing about our relationship. We have such different art that we never feel like we’re competing. Our different styles appeal to different kinds of people.”
Carroll, who also works at the organization Noble of Indiana, works with a combination of ceramics and canvas to paint floral scenes, while LaForge creates depictions of strong women and people that inspire her, experimenting with an array of mediums and bright colors.
Carroll and LaForge said they have grown to enjoy the company of the people who visit them in the studio. They said it gives them an opportunity to share their work with the public while also giving others the chance to participate in the creative process.
“I’ve had adults sit down and have wine and watch me while I paint and ask me questions. I’ve even let them put paint on the canvas,” LaForge said. “I love it, and I think they do, too. It just seems to break down those walls and (make) the world a little bit brighter.”
LaForge said she enjoys showing people how to work with different mediums, including gunpowder, which she has used in many of her pieces.
“We’re trying to do something new with our studio that we haven’t seen anywhere before,” LaForge said. “We want people to be able to come into a professional artist’s working studio and see what it’s actually like.”
Where are they from?
LaForge: Wisconsin
Carroll: Missouri
What inspires their art?
LaForge: “I always have a positive message in my paintings. When I see someone connect to one of my paintings, that inspires me and is the backbone for my passion.”
Carroll: “The emotions and feelings of experiences and memories are my inspiration. Just close your eyes and think of the last time you saw flowers, saw clouds over an Indiana field, or smelled lilacs blooming. That feeling you get when you remember that moment, that is my inspiration.”
What is their artistic style?
LaForge: Contemporary Carroll: Impressionistic
Commentary by Terry Anker
Among the many blessings of aging is that along with the extra pounds and fine lines comes a considerable amount of perspective. Although a few of us get a bit crankier as our bones begin to creak, there are just as many that come to better understand the difference between the truly unacceptable and the merely inconvenient. Life is long, and much learning occurs. Things that we found to be beyond the pale in the rigid certainty of ignorant youth come to light with greater nuance as we travel through life. The “I will nevers” of a teenager become the “I can understand whys, even tolerate” of a fully developed adult.
Despite social media, politics and the 24-hour news cycle, this is a season to pull together. What does it really matter if Aunt Jane disagrees with us on the genesis of the pandemic if she makes killer sweet potato pie? And even if Uncle Mitchell demands that we defund this or that, he still used to attend all of our childhood softball games, cheering the loudest.
If Ecclesiastes has it right and “to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven,” why can’t this be a season of acceptance? If we are so certain in our position or simply too immature to get over ourselves, can’t we just overlook the disagreement and seek to find commonality for a few short weeks? With the cold, gray days of February, we can return to disliking each other again. But maybe, just maybe, we will have realized that it all didn’t really matter as much as we thought. Grandma only had one brother, and it would make her very happy to know that he came over for dinner — even if he is a Patriots fan!
Friends, you’ll never believe what happened this weekend. No, I didn’t win the Powerball, but it was like hitting the lottery in some ways. I slept through the night! I know, a true Christmas miracle.
Prior to having children, I could sleep eight hours without even turning over. Solid, deep, delicious ZZZs almost every single night. I’d awake rested, energized and generally in good spirits. Pregnancy changed all that, what with raging hormones and an ever-growing belly that made staying in bed for more than 120 minutes a pipe dream. Then of course, once the rugrats arrived, my time became their time. Feedings, diapers, bad dreams, sudden coughing and the random thunderstorm all colluded with my little ones to ensure I never reached REM sleep.
The tween and teen years were no better, as my kids became independent creatures of the dark. I’d jolt awake to a toilet flush or a microwave beep, possibly a poorly concealed guffaw. And once they started driving, it was always the post-curfew garage door opening that thrashed my hopes of uninterrupted slumber.
Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@ youarecurrent.com.
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.
And despite being an empty nester now, I still generally wake up two to three times. Basically, the combination of motherhood and middle age has made me a perennial light sleeper with superhuman hearing and little bladder control. Go figure.
Which is why I am rejoicing this morning. I went to bed at 9 p.m. and can’t remember seeing the clock until 5 a.m. What? I had to confirm this tremendous feat with my husband because I simply couldn’t believe it. My sleeping through the night?
Peace out.
Danielle Wilson is a contributing columnist. You may email her at info@youarecurrent.com.
“Never
This kind of thing could only happen to me (in a way, that’s good, because if things like this happened to you, you’d have your own humor column).
The other day as I got into my car and pressed the button to start the engine, it fired up as usual. But wait: My key fob was not hanging on its little knob where I always put it.
I went inside the house, and sure enough, there it was on the table. How could my car start without the fob?
It was way out of range. It meant anyone could get in my car and drive off.
I was on my way to visit my friend, Bob. I said to him, “My car started this morning, but it wasn’t supposed to.”
“Were you out of gas?”
“No, my car is not supposed to start without the fob inside.”
“Your fob was not inside?”
“Yes, it was inside — inside the house.”
Bob was no help. He reminded me that a month ago I drove around with my cellphone on the hood of the car, so this didn’t surprise him. He suggested I go to the dealership.
I headed over and spoke with my service advisor, Kevin.
“You have great technicians, right?” I said.
“Only the best, Dick. What’s wrong?”
“My problem is that my car started.”
“Hmmm. In 25 years, that’s the oddest complaint I’ve ever heard.”
Kevin asked where my spare fob was, and I told him it had been missing for several weeks.
“BingoI It must be somewhere in your car,” he said, “Go home and look for it. I have people waiting with serious powertrain issues. I can’t help you now.”
Back in my driveway, I looked for it under the seats, between the seats, under the floor mats. The problem was the fob is black, the seats are black, and the carpet is black. Looking for it in the daylight was not working, so I waited until it was dark out and used a flashlight. Mary Ellen came outside and found me on my knees searching the car. I explained what happened.
“Do you want me to call it?” she asked.
“Jeesh, it’s a fob Mary Ellen, not a cellphone.”
I finally found it, lodged on the track that the seat slides back and forth on. I put the extra key in a safe place, and I felt relieved.
By the way, I’m not the only one in my family who loses things. The next evening, Mary Ellen said she wanted to prepare a holiday dessert ahead of time and couldn’t find our electric mixer that we keep in the basement.
I told her not to worry, that I’d give it a call first thing in the morning.
“Bob was no help. He reminded me that a month ago I drove around with my cellphone on the hood of the car, so this didn’t surprise him.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
Hoosiers are generally a pragmatic lot. We let the East and West coasts try the new ideas and policies first. We would rather see how long the fad lasts before spending our time and money to join the crowd.
ing “rent control” ordinances, which essentially prohibit landlords from raising rents by more than 3 percent in any given year.
All states, including Indiana, are facing a “perfect storm” of increased costs for building new apartment units to meet demand. Supply chain problems, the cost of materials and skilled labor, and well-intentioned regulatory hurdles that exacerbate the primary issue, have combined to create severe apartment supply shortages.
Hoosiers who fall below 80 percent of the area median income ($45,950 for individuals and $65,600 for a family of four) have access to federal programs that make finding an affordable apartment within reach. That is called “subsidized housing.” Cities are struggling, however, to increase the supply of “workforce housing” for those families who do not qualify for any federal housing programs. True to form, many local governments have rushed to “solve” the problem by pass-
A recent national survey of apartment developers by the National Multifamily Housing Council concluded that 87.5 percent of developers steer clear of cities with rent control ordinances when planning new projects. The only sure way to hold down rents charged for rental units is to increase the supply of the product.
There is an immediate need for an estimated 3.8 million new rental units nationwide, and passing heavy-handed regulations, including rent control, is not a solution. The Indiana Apartment Association looks forward to working with city councils and legislators to encourage the expansion of the rental housing supply.
Together, we can make sure the “prescription” actually cures the illness.
Lynne Petersen is a Carmel resident and president of the Indiana Apartment Association.
The Donut 5K run will be a little different this year, since it will take place on Christmas Eve.
are registering together. With Thanksgiving being such a popular day for families to run together, race organizers figured Christmas Eve might be as well.
Packet pickup and a post-race party will be indoors on the courts of the Carmel Racquet Club.
There will be a cash prize for the top three male and female finishers.
EVENT“We’ve always been the Saturday before Christmas, unless Christmas falls on a Saturday,” said Todd Oliver, the president and race director for Carmel Road Racing Group. “This is the first time for the race that Christmas Eve has fallen on a Saturday, and we’re really excited about it.
The race, billed as the “The Sweetest Race in Indiana,” is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 24, starting at the Carmel Racquet Club. Jack’s Donuts will provide treats on the course and at the finish line.
“Before we moved to Carmel, we were downtown at the NCAA (Headquarters),” he said. “When the NCAA was the host venue, the race was always held the third Saturday in December. We switched to the Saturday before Christmas when we made our partnership with the Carmel Racquet Club. We were at the Monon Center for three years and we outgrew the Monon Center, and we went to the Carmel Racquet Club in 2017.”
The 2020 run was held in downtown Indianapolis because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the first time we’ve offered four animal rescues to be the beneficiaries,” Oliver said. “We’ve had three in the past, but we are expanding it to four because of the popularity of the connection of benefiting the animal rescues.”
The 5K is limited to 2,000 people, and Oliver said it is on pace to sell out again. Oliver said the cap is to ensure everyone receives a medal, shirt and the famous Donut Me stocking hat.
Oliver said because the event is on Christmas Eve, large groups and families
“It’s considered one of the fastest 5Ks in the state,” Oliver said. “The reason for it is we have a lot of former collegiate and professional runners who come home for the holidays.”
Since many participants walk with their dogs, there is a costume contest for the dogs. There also are awards for fastest and biggest dog.
To register, visit donut5krun.com.
currentnightandday.com
Celtic Woman violinist Tara McNeil views the group’s Christmas Symphony Tour as special.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” runs through Dec. 23 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
“It’s a very different show than our spring tour,” McNeil said. “We get to perform with these incredible orchestras around the states. Every city has incredible musicians we get to share the stage with. It’s such an honor, especially for me because I’m from a classical background. As a violinist, I performed with orchestras at the start of my professional career. It’s special to make music with these people who have given their lives to it from a very young age.”
The “Celtic Woman: A Christmas Symphony Tour” concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
The 16-show tour, which began Dec. 2, ends Dec. 22 in Waterloo, N.Y.
“It’s been three years since we were last out on our Christmas tour (because of the COVID-19 pandemic),” McNeil said. “We missed it because I had got used to it being part of my Christmas routine. We are very grateful to be back. The Christmas music is always so much fun and everyone is in great spirits, especially the audiences.”
McNeil said the show begins with “Ding Dong Merrily On High,” a very energetic number.
The group will perform songs from their new EP, “Christmas Cards from Ireland.”
“We have songs that have never been performed that we are doing on this Christmas tour,” she said.
The songs include “The Toys’ Waltz” and “I Saw Three Ships.”
The concert includes new arrangements of “O Holy Night” and “Silent Night.”
“It’s going to be great to perform them,” McNeil said.
There are traditional Celtic Woman songs such as “Danny Boy” and “Amazing Grace.”
“Even though it’s not Christmas music, I don’t think it would be a Celtic Woman show without those two,” McNeil said. “We
wanted to include them, otherwise people might be kicking up a fuss.”
Celtic Woman formed in 2004. McNeil joined the group in 2016 and is now the longest-running member.
Hannah Traynor is making her first tour with Celtic Woman. Murgen O’ Mahony is making her first Symphony Tour.
McNeil replaced Mairead Nesbitt, the only other violinist for Celtic Woman. Nesbitt left to pursue solo projects.
“Celtic Woman is a combination of Irish traditional music,” McNeil said. “It brings in classical musical elements and brings in musical theater. It’s always been the platform for Irish women to perform and showcase their talents across the world. It’s always been made to be this platform for us. It’s always been about the music, and the music is the priority. We’re trying
to give a little piece of Ireland and our history. I think it will continue, and I hope it does for a long time.”
The group performs nearly 90 shows in the spring in North America. Typically, it tours Europe and China in the fall, but the pandemic has curtailed that the last three years.
“With our big 20th anniversary coming up (in 2024), I’m hoping we can do a worldwide tour,” McNeil said. “I feel very lucky to be part of Celtic Woman. I admired the women who were in the group before me. I wanted to find a way to showcase my talents. I feel lucky with these talented singers. They are some of the closest friends in my life.”
For tickets, visit thecenterpresents. org. For more, visit celticwoman.com.
Civic Theatre presents “A Christmas Story, The Musical” through Dec. 24 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
Feinstein’s Cabaret will present “Celebrate the Holidays with ATI Live!” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-16 at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
Carmel Community Players will present “UhOh, Here Comes Christmas” through Dec. 18 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
‘‘Michael Bolton: Greatest Hits & Holiday Favorites’’ concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
The Indianapolis Children’s Choir will have four performances of “Gloria” from Dec. 1618 at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. For more, visit icchoir.org.
Indianapolis Symphonic Choir’s “Festival of Carols will present concerts at 8 p.m. Dec. 16 and 3 p.m. Dec. 17-18 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
Vocal groups get Songbook honors — The Great American Songbook Foundation has selected three acclaimed vocal groups as its 2022 Songbook Hall of Fame inductees. The Lennon Sisters, The Manhattan Transfer and Straight No Chaser took part in a video induction ceremony and will be honored throughout the coming year with programming.
It could be said that Joshua Pedde saw the light when contemplating options for a potential theme to upcoming Christmas shows.
As a result, the India napolis Children’s Choir’s “Gloria” will be performed four times from Dec. 16-18 at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis.
“Every year we look for a new theme of what our Christmas show should be,” said Pedde, a Carmel resident who is in his seventh year as the artistic director for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. “The word ‘Gloria’ just kept coming up, and when I looked at the defini tion, it’s the abundance of light.
“As we continue to find our way out of the pandemic, it’s how we are coming back together, that sense of joy that we experi ence during the holiday season.”
The Dec. 16 performance of “Gloria” starts at 7 p.m., followed by shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 17.
The final “Gloria” will be presented at 4 p.m. Dec. 18.
Indianapolis Children’s Choir is comprised of 600 kids ranging in age from kindergarten through 12th grade. The afternoon shows will feature 400 singers, with 200 taking part in the lone evening performance.
In every performance, the choir will be ac companied by a 15-piece chamber orchestra.
Performance pieces include “We Need A Little Christmas,” “What Child is This?” and “A Tribute to Carols.”
All performances will be inside the church’s main sanctuary.
“I think the joy that I see, not only from the audience, but from the singers, is absolutely wonderful,” Pedde said. “I think it goes back to me having wonderful teachers, so to be able to do that for other students is just a great blessing.”
For more or to purchase tickets, visit icchoir.org or call 317-940-9640 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The Whistler is a tart and refreshing cocktail featuring Hiatus blanco tequila, elderflower, grapefruit soda, lime.
To see a video of this drink being mixed, scan this QR code.
Sometimes, a little refresh is all a room needs to give it an entirely new look and feel. That was exactly the case with this Meridian-Kessler home. The previously-updated kitchen needed a style upgrade to transform the room into a brighter, more modern gathering space.
• Zellige hex tile was used to transform the backsplash, providing a subtle yet vibrant pop of color, reflective of the homeowner’s style.
• Granite countertops were replaced with quartz for a more durable work surface with less maintenance and a more seamless, sleek appearance.
• Brass hardware was added to the existing cabinets, giving them an instant upgrade that blends classic warmth with modern style.
• New floating wood shelves provide additional storage and display space, with a rich chestnut stain that adds dimension to the bright space.
• The existing sink was replaced with a farmhouse sink, including a built-in soap dispenser and a goose-neck faucet that provides a more contemporary look.
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Commentary by Don Knebel
Chicago has many excellent places to visit, any one of them justifying a trip to the nation’s third-most populous city. Today, we visit two of them — Navy Pier and the Chicago River for an architectural tour.
Navy Pier is Chicago’s second-most visited site (after Millennium Park), drawing about 9 million visitors each year. The pier, extending 3,300 feet into Lake Michigan, opened in 1916 as both a dock for ships carrying freight and passengers and a waterfront recreation site. Originally known as Municipal Pier, it became Navy Pier in 1927 in honor of Chicago’s World War I veterans. The name became literal during World War II, when the United States Navy used the pier as a training center, employing about 10,000 people on its 50 acres.
After the war, use of the pier for shipping declined and it was reimagined, opening to the public in 1995 as a place for dining, relaxation and entertainment. Among its most popular attractions today are the Chicago Children’s Museum, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, a botanical garden, a large Ferris wheel and a drop tower. A variety of tour boats leave from Navy Pier, some offering dinner cruises.
The most popular cruises, departing from both Navy Pier and near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, tour the Chicago River and explore the city’s history and unique architecture. Probably the most informative of these tours is run by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. The 90-minute tour includes a description of 50 landmark buildings visible from the river, including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Marina Towers, the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower and the Montgomery Ward Complex.
Knowledgeable guides explain how the flow of the Chicago River was reversed to keep sewage from flowing into Lake Michigan and how some of the buildings along the river are perched above rail lines.
Don Knebel is a local resident. For the full column visit donknebel.com. You may contact him at editorial@ youarecurrent.com.
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