July 18, 2023 — Zionsville

COMMUNITY

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Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XII, No. 17

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Opinions

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

Polo at Sunset benefits variety of nonprofits

By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com

Hickory Hills Polo Club once again is hosting multiple charity events for nonprofit organizations this summer.

Authorities investigate double drowning

news@currentzionsville.com

Tragedy struck a Zionsville neighborhood July 10 when two people drowned in a pool.

FUNDRAISER FATALITY

Co-owner Greg Chandler took over Hickory Hills Polo Club, 7551 E. 100 N., in 1990. His son, Austin, is the president. They began hosting events for nonprofits to get involved in the community and help raise money and awareness for the nonprofits in the area.

“We are three generations into this,” Austin said. “Once my son is old enough, he will take over the club too.”

Polo at Sunset, a night for charities to raise money and awareness during polo matches, takes place every Friday night through October.

“We have been dubbed the Friday night football of the summer,” Austin said. “We used to do one or two events each year, but for the past 15 years, we have held multiple events and house up to 30 organizations a year.”

Gates open at 5 p.m. every Friday. The nonprofits customize the experience, such as having a VIP tent, holding auctions, doing bourbon pulls or having dinner before polo begins.

“The organizations are the backbone of what we do. It is a fun interactive evening designed for the whole family,” Austin said. “Along with watching members and teams play polo, nonprofits get to design the event while we act as a venue.”

Austin said Hickory Hills Polo Club has 17 members that play polo every Friday, and sometimes out-of-state teams come to play.

Nonprofits organize their payment struc-

Polo at Sunset matches are presented every Friday night through Oct. 6. (Photos courtesy of Hickory Hills Polo Club)

ture for the events, but there is always a general admission section that charges a fee of $40 per carload.

“Our facility can hold up to 2,000 people,” Austin said. “We love interacting with everyone at the event, and our family enjoys supporting local and multinational organizations.”

After the events conclude in the fall, an information session is held at Zionsville Town Hall for new and returning nonprofits to learn more about how the events work. An application form opens that night for organizations to apply.

“We close applications mid-November,” Austin said. “Our whole family sits down and goes through every application to choose which nonprofits we want to host the following year. We like to choose both small and large organizations.”

Polo at Sunset runs through Oct. 6. For more, visit indypolo.com.

CALENDAR

July 21: Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources and Main Street Productions- Basile Westfield Playhouse

July 28: Hendricks Regional Health Foundation

Aug. 4: Indiana Youth Rugby Foundation and Progress House

Aug. 11: Riverview Health Foundation

Aug. 18: Indiana Hands and Voices and Indianapolis Children’s Choir

Aug. 25: Central IN Police Foundation

(IMPD Mounted Patrol Association)

Sept. 1: Isenhower Family Education Fund and Watch Us Farm

Sept. 8: Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. and Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN)

Sept. 15: Circle City Clubhouse and Craine House

Sept. 22: Special Olympics Indiana

Sept. 29: Oxford House and Indiana Ballet Conservatory

Oct. 6: Ronald McDonald House and Zanmi Fondwa

The drowning victims were Roland Lucian, 74, of Zionsville, and Patricia Mock, 68, who was visiting from Brazoria, Texas.

A 911 call reported two individuals unresponsive in a pool on Larkspur Court in Zionsville, at approximately 3:30 p.m. July 10. Upon arrival, first responders discovered the victims had already been pulled from the pool by one of Lucian’s two daughters.

Lucian and Mock were pronounced dead at the scene.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear and are under investigation. Authorities are working to determine the cause of the double drowning, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Assisting agencies were the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Zionsville Police Department, Zionsville Fire Department and the Boone County Coroner’s Office.

DISPATCHES

Artists needed — The Zionsville Cultural District has issued an artist call-out for a mural to be painted on the northwest side of the Cripe building at 45 N. Main St. in Zionsville. Proposed renderings should be artistically engaging and sufficiently stimulating to ignite conversation, foster interaction and evolve appreciation by the general public. For more, visit zvillecd.org. Submissions must be sent to markn@zvillecd.org in PDF format by 5 p.m. Sept. 1.

Zionsville Street Dance — Zionsville’s biggest street party is the Zionsville Street Dance. The street dance will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 5 in downtown Zionsville on Main Street. The bands this year are The Janeways, followed by headliner Mike and Joe. The street dance will have a kids area and local food trucks, wineries and beer on-site. For more, visit zionsvillechamberofcommerce.growthzoneapp.com.

Stehr will run unopposed, all council seats contested

Zionsville Town Council District 1 are Republican Bon Harris and Democrat Tim McElderry. The town council District 2 candidates are Republican Jason Alan Plunkett and Democrat Jason Duane Ramer. The District 3 council candidates are Republican Craig J. Melton and Democrat Monisha Mitchell. The District 4 council candidates are Republican Sarah Esterline Sampson and Democrat Tim Casady. The District 5 council candidates are Republican Brad Burk and Democrat Tiffany Stoner.

Kiddie Academy of Holliday Farms – Zionsville

463-252-9252

3650 Marketplace Drive Zionsville, IN 46077

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Free Family Concerts in Lions Park

No Democratic candidates ran in the primary, and none filed before the July 3 deadline to be on the Nov. 7 ballot. Incumbent Mayor Emily Styron, a Democrat, is not seeking reelection after serving one term.

Before launching his candidacy for mayor, Stehr was a lead anchor for WTHR Channel 13 in Indianapolis. He retired in 2019 and served as an officer on the Zionsville Park and Recreation Board, where he now serves as president.

Several other elected offices in the general election are contested. The candidates for

ZIONSVILLE

Project: Templin Road Bridge

reconstruction

Location: The Templin Road bridge over Eagle Creek was inspected and an engineering firm has been hired by the Boone County Highway Dept. to work on design of a complete bridge replacement. The project is expected to begin mid-May. Templin Road will be closed during construction with a detour route posted.

July 23, 2023

Municipal Band

Director: John Marshall

Burk serves as council vice-president and is an at-large representative, and Plunkett serves District 2 and is council president. Melton serves District 3.

Voters will decide between two Republicans and two Democrats to fill the two atlarge seats on the council. The Republican candidates are Evan M. Norris and Joseph (Joe) Stein. The Democratic candidates are Amanda Rubeck and Richard Graef.

Republican Samantha Spencer is running against Democrat Judith (Judi) Coffey for Zionsville town judge.

Roundabout

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

Location: A full closure of Oak St. is scheduled from June 5 to Sept. 1. After the road reopens, work will continue through the fall. The roundabout will replace the existing traffic signal at this intersection. Over the last several months, utilities within the area have been relocating their facilities in preparation for the road construction work.

Expected Completion: Nov. 29.

CARMEL

Expected completion: Mid-September.

Project: INDOT’s 421 Forward

Location: The proposed project will begin approximately 2.91 miles north of I-465 (just north of Greenfield/Templin Road) and extend north for approximately 2.9 miles along US 421 to a point approximately 2.86 miles south of Ind. 32. The proposed project is anticipated to consist of various roadway improvements including pavement rehabilitation, addition of auxiliary lanes, intersection improvements, pedestrian facilities and storm drainage enhancements.

Expected Completion: Nov. 6.

Project: CR 800 E. and Oak St.

Project: Roundabout construction

Location: 111th Street and Spring Mill Road. The intersection will be closed for three weeks at the entrance to the Bridges development and Spring Mill Place neighborhood.

Expected completion: August

Project: Reconstruction of N. College Avenue

Location: N. College Avenue between 96th and 106th streets

Start date: Utility work may begin this summer with construction beginning in the fall

Expected completion: Spring 2025

one invention at a time.

Lowry launches bid for Indiana House District 24 seat

By Matthew Kent matthew@youarecurrent.com

A Westfield resident will run for the Indiana House District 24 seat next year.

POLITICS

Josh Lowry, a Democrat, recently announced a bid for state representative in District 24, which encompasses portions of Westfield, Carmel, Sheridan and eastern Boone County. The seat is held by Republican Donna Schaibley, who has served in the role since 2014.

“I am running for state representative for the same reason that my wife and I became foster parents. I want to provide the children of our community a better life,” Lowry said. “These years of fostering and adopting have shown me the impact we can have on the community when you decide to take action instead of just hoping things will get better. Unfortunately, we are running out of room to adopt more in our house, but I know I can keep impacting lives for the better as District 24’s state representative.”

Lowry, a native of Martinsville, is a trial attorney who spent five years as deputy attorney general practicing constitutional law and defended state agencies such as the Indiana Department of Child Services and the Indiana State Police. Lowry moved to Westfield in 2009 after meeting his wife Alexis at Indiana University.

Alexis Lowry is a Democratic candidate who is seeking the District 4 seat on the Westfield City Council and will face Republican challenger Patrick Tamm during the Nov. 7 general election.

Lowry previously ran for Indiana State Senate in 2022, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Jim Buck, who represents District 21.

“Although I came up short, as we knocked on thousands of doors, we came across so many Hoosiers that shared the same vision for Indiana – supporting our public schools and amazing teachers, increasing access to affordable healthcare and growing career opportunities here in Indiana so our kids can grow up and afford to stay,” Lowry said. “And it was all based around one simple principle – Hoosier Hospitality. That is more than just treating others with respect. It means helping those in need.

“It means showing compassion and kind-

ness to others, even when we disagree. Most importantly, it means that when someone is different from us, we still greet them with open arms and let them know that one Hoosier always has another Hoosier’s back,” Lowry said.

Lowry said he is seeking the District 24 seat in part because he and his wife are foster parents and wants to have a positive impact on the community as the couple does through fostering. He said many people choose to live in the Hamilton County area because of its highly ranked school districts.

“Right now, a lot of the laws being passed are trying to divert funds from the public schools to private schools,” Lowry said. “Private schools are great, but we have to make sure that we keep public schools great so that everybody has the same opportunities.”

He also pointed out that the state of Indiana is $11,000 below the national average for salaries, adding that there needs to be “more legislative priorities that help grow good paying jobs so not that people who are already here can find good jobs, but we want our kids to find good jobs and stay here.”

Lowry said he is in favor of putting Hoosiers first, noting that he believes many politicians at the Statehouse are trying to score political wins rather than helping others around them. If elected, Lowry said he would work across the aisle with other lawmakers regardless of their political party.

He pointed to the work of State Rep. Victoria Garcia-Wilburn, D-Fishers, in passing mental health legislation for first responders by working with her fellow colleagues.

“There’s absolutely the appetite for people to work across the aisle on 90 percent of the issues,” Lowry said. “Most issues are not partisan … and there’s a lot of stuff that really we can work together to find ways to do it.”

Lowry said if elected, he would represent everyone within District 24 regardless of their political affiliation.

“It’s more than just the politics. If we want to stop being so divisive as a community, then we have to stop being divisive as a community and that starts with one conversation to the next,” Lowry said.

For more on Lowry’s campaign, visit lowryforindiana.com or email hello@lowryforindiana.com.

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Lowry

WE BELIEVE YOUR ROOF SHOULD LAST AT LEAST AS LONG AS THE COMPANY THAT INSTALLS IT.

Paint Out returns Aug. 5

By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com

The 21st annual Paint Out event will kick off Aug. 5 at the SullivanMunce Cultural Center.

ARTS

SullivanMunce Cultural Center and the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association partner to bring the event to Zionsville.

Rain or shine, artists will gather in the Village of Zionsville for outside painting. Participants will create artwork in any medium they choose.

Race in-person or virtually

Fundraise for PAWsome prizes

Leashed & in-stroller dogs welcome

Shirt, medal and swag for all participants

Proceeds benefit HSHC's Survivor Program and h d d f i l i d

Scan

Saturday, August 12, 2023 | Four Day Ray, Fishers Register at WoofstockRocks.com or scan below! DECLAN 2022 Top Fundraiser

Before the event starts, adults and teenagers must have their canvases or multi-media supplies stamped or tagged.

A canvas and paint will be provided to youth artists, while teenagers aged 12-17 can bring their own supplies or use provided materials. If using personal supplies, they must get stamped before the artist can begin painting.

The event is free for SullivanMunce and IPAPA members and children 17 and younger. There is a $25 registration fee for nonmembers. Advance registration isn’t required.

The event is open to artists of all ages

and skill levels. Artists must register or check-in between 7 and 10 a.m. at the SullivanMunce Cultural Center, 225 W. Hawthorne St., Zionsville, the day of the event.

All stamped or tagged art completed by 2 p.m. the day of the event will be eligible for judging and will be available for sale at the SullivanMunce Cultural Center immediately after the Paint Out awards ceremony.

Monetary prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place professional artists. For more, visit sullivanmunce.org or call 317-873-4900.

Anyone from 6-month-olds to seniors can get COVID protection with safe vaccines and boosters that are free whether you have insurance or not. Find an Eskenazi Health Center near you at EskenaziHealth.edu/FreeVaccines Please scan to learn more.

Donna Shortt was the 2022 Paint Out winner. (Photo courtesy of SullivanMunce Cultural Center)

Recollections of the war effort

Commentary by Ward Degler

I’m old enough to have been involved in World War II. From a kid’s perspective, of course.

about wartime radio.

When the war broke out, men were drafted, and women went to work in defense plants. This left a nation of turnkey, unsupervised after-school kids.

PLAIN TALK

I was in the first grade when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. While I wasn’t sure where Japan was, and had no clue what Pearl Harbor was, I joined all the other kids in the U.S. in supporting the war effort.

I planted, tilled and harvested a victory garden. Growing vegetables allowed food producers to provide meals for the war. Millions of military K-rations were the result.

I bought war savings stamps. In addition to war bonds, the government issued 10cent and 25-cent stamps for kids to buy.

A couple of us collected scrap metal and paper. Somehow, it was all recycled for the war effort.

Coming home from school every day, I’d run into the paper boy and ask, “What are the headlines?” He would pull a paper from his bag and read, “Marines invade Iwo Jima.”

And I listened to the radio. Several years ago, I was digging through some magazines at the library when I ran across an article

President Roosevelt recognized this as a problem — kids left on their own can get into trouble. He invited the heads of the nation’s broadcasting companies to a meeting at the White House. Would they be willing to put together short serial broadcasts of adventure stories for kids? Fifteen-minute adventures that started at 4:30 in the afternoon?

The broadcasters got to work, and we literally ran home from school so we could tune to the adventures of “Captain Midnight,” “Jack Armstrong – All American Boy,” “Tailspin Tommy” and “Terry & the Pirates.”

This didn’t help win the war, of course, but it kept a nation of kids from trouble while our dads fought overseas.

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

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VIP Ticket: $250

Individual Ticket: $175

POLO at SUNSET

MYSTERY SNAPSHOT CHALLENGE

Hey there, folks! Take a good look at this zoomed-in image we’ve snagged from a spot in Zionsville. We want you to channel your inner Sherlock and head over to youarecurrent.com/mysterysnapshot to submit your best guess about where this photo was taken. Ready for the challenge? Check back next week for the answer.

Friday, August 11, 2023

6 p.m. at Hickory Hall Polo Club

Join us for a night of polo to support the Riverview Health Foundation. Sponsorship levels include a variety of different options. New this year is a VIP hospitality suite. Scan the QR code to learn more.

The wooden art butterfly outside the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library was constructed and painted by Helena Streib, 16, and Hensley Krieble, 16. The structure is titled “Galactic Garden” to represent the combination of nature and space. (Photo by Kiersten Riedford)

MYSTERY SNAPSHOT CHALLENGE JUNE 27 SOLUTION

Summer Concert Series — The Zionsville Cultural District summer concert series will continue now through Aug. 30. This is the 10th anniversary season with genres ranging from bluegrass to jazz. Concerts are held Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. July concerts take place at Lions Park, 11053 Sycamore St., and August concerts will be held at Lincoln Park, 41 S. 2nd St. Registrations are appreciated but walk-ins are welcome.

Heavy Trash Collection — The Department of Public Works and Priority Waste will provide the annual Heavy Trash Collection in August for residents in the urban service district. Starting the week of Aug. 7 and continuing through the week of Aug. 28, residents may place up to three heavy trash items curbside on each of their two non-recycle weeks in August. Items must be placed curbside by 7 a.m. on your nonrecycle week to guarantee collection. For more, visit zionsville-in.gov/152/ Heavy-Trash-Collection.

Citizen’s Fire Academy — The Zionsville Fire Department will host a free Citizen’s Fire Academy on Tuesday nights from Aug. 22 through Oct. 10 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Citizen’s Fire Academy is a free public education program designed to increase the participant’s fire and safety awareness. Visit zionsville-in.gov/636/Citizens-Fire-Academy for more information.

Junior Indiana Master Naturalist — Junior Indiana Master Naturalist is a program to connect kids ages 9 to 12 to Indiana natural resources through hands-on learning, field experiences and volunteer work. The weeklong program will cover many topics, like local plants, animals and ecosystems. Participants will also give back to the natural world through service projects throughout the week. The program takes place July 31 through Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Zionsville Nature Center. To register, visit bit.ly/3NTgaJH.

Second-Most Purchasing Power —

SmartAssest released its annual study on the places with the most purchasing power. According to the study, Boone County ranked second in Indiana with a purchasing power index of 76.20. The study measures the places where average living expenses are most affordable for people living there by measuring the cost of living relative to local income in each county.

Brought to you by and

FOR THE HEALTH OF IT

NBA dance team member returns home to inspire Zionsville youth

By Kiersten Riedford kiersten@youarecurrent.com

Meredith Miller, a nurse and member of the Timberwolves Dancers — the official dance team of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves — visited Zionsville Middle School in late June to teach the Zionsville Dance Team Elite, Zfit dancers about mental health in dance.

Designed for girls in kindergarten through eighth grade, the Zfit program is geared to build dancers’ hip-hop skills and confidence in a fun atmosphere, according to Michele Teague, head coach of Zfit.

Miller, 29, who has been with the Timberwolves Dancers for one year, spoke to the girls in the program about the importance of balance and encouraged them to not be discouraged. She stressed the importance of putting effort into dance.

A Zionsville Community High School graduate and former varsity dance team captain, Miller said returning to her hometown to talk to the dancers and choreograph a dance with them was an honor. She said she was able to teach lessons to the dancers that she wished she could have learned when she was younger.

Miller, an ICU nurse in Minnesota, said she

told the students that it is OK if they don’t get selected for a team they tried out for. She said most of the time, dancers won’t get an answer on why they didn’t make it, but younger dancers tend to assume it is because they weren’t good enough — which she said isn’t always the case.

“It could have been your hair wasn’t the color they wanted,” Miller said. “(The judges) wanted somebody with a little bit different style or maybe they needed a male and not a female. Always keep your individuality and (don’t think) your individuality isn’t good enough.”

Emilia Johnson, a 10-year-old dancer on the Zfit dance team, said she was excited to learn from Miller.

“I learned from Meredith that every ‘no’ you get in life makes you stronger for when you get a ‘yes,’” Johnson said.

Miller said Teague’s dance program sets the young dancers up for success. Dancers only meet in person once a week but have mandatory online practices they must complete.

Teague said the dancers earn their performance spots based on how well they practice at home, attend practices and participate in mentoring their peers.

“If they don’t practice, that’s going to show, and if they don’t look like they’re ready to perform, they aren’t going to perform,” Miller said. “That’s not a punishment. That’s if you didn’t put in the work, you’re not going to reap the benefit of being able to show off what you know. And I don’t think that’s harsh, I think that’s right reality.”

Miller said Teague shows the dancers reality in a “very loving way,” which Miller said is not always the case in the world of dance.

“It cultivates this work ethic in them, but also this desire to keep getting better,” Miller said. “That will apply to them for so many things of their life, as far as dance, but also their job or school, or whatever it is.”

Miller said maintaining mental health can be a tough battle for young students, especially in the dance world. She said she remembers vividly what it was like when she was a young dancer and was delighted to have a chance to share her experiences with the Zfit team.

“I was excited to be an older voice that I felt like they would listen to because I’m not their mom or dad,” Miller said. “And then also to just create a fun environment where they got to learn a really cool dance and

LEARN MORE

perform it and feel good about it (was) really awesome.”

Miller said she left the practices with teary eyes because she was proud to see the girls’ growth over the course of the week. She said she is grateful for the opportunity to speak into the dancers’ lives.

“When they put their minds to things, they can do them,” Miller said. “And that’s something I think we have to be reminded of is that they can. They might not be able to right now, but they can.”

ON THE COVER: Meredith Miller, a Zionsville Community High School graduate, is a member of the Timberwolves Dancers, the dance team for the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves. She recently returned to Zionsville to teach a Zfit dance team choreography. (Photo courtesy of Meredith Miiller)

Meredith Miller, back row middle, with the Zfit Dance Team. (Photo courtesy of Michele Teague)

Challenges of sticking together

Commentary by Terry Anker

Funny you should ask…

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

ESSAY

There are more than a handful of handy, intuitive inventions that, once discovered, seem to have been with us from the beginning. We wonder how humans might have survived before the simple, elegant and eminently useful ideas, gadgets and solutions came along, but each one had an origin point in some dreamer imagining a resolution to a vexing problem, with prototypes, refinements and collaborations until a stable and replicable process took hold. Someone rubbed sticks or sparked a particular kind of stone to carry fire in their pockets. Someone imagined and built a box to hold and store — then someone else fabricated a pair of wheels to make the whole thing mobile.

In 1941 a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral was walking his dog and, annoyed by the burrs sticking to his woolen socks and the animal’s thick fur coat, was inspired to eventually create hook and loop fabric strips that became Velcro. The relatively modest leap in engineering became a global blockbuster. Now, the product is every-

where, connecting everything. For Mestral, inspiration came from burdock seeds. Others have been initiated by Mestral’s Velcro to push the limits of its uses. Still more have applied the ubiquitous awareness of the straightforward function and utility of Velcro as a metaphor for countless other interactions.

Why is it that some people are like Velcro? We seem to stick to them quickly and effortlessly. Even if life pulls us apart over time and geography, when together again we reconnect as if we’d never been separated. And in parting once more, we don’t harm one another. Yet for others, no matter how great the effort, we cannot attach. Is it because there needs to be a hook-andloop to have the effect? Is it our differences that make this work? Or consistency? Or providence?

Love the hate mail

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

I’ve got mail! Hate mail, to be precise. Two avid readers have finally had enough of my nonsensical shenanigans and chosen to share their loathing with me. One was an honest-to-god handwritten postcard! Talk about your old school. I love the commitment, Carol! (This is not her real name, of course. Or is it?)

HUMOR

There was a time when notes like these would have sent me into either a defensive spiral or rage haze, both entailing creative combinations of swear words and harsh adjectives. But I’ve been doing this for more than 16 years. Sixteen! And I’ve seen some stuff, readers. This is nothing. I’m honestly rather flattered that two women took the time from their clearly busy lives to have a go at me. I matter, I really do!

I was disappointed, however, in the level of critique. There were no righteous accusations of spousal, child or alcohol abuse; no cruel indictments of my un-American stupid liberal politics; no brutal declarations that my hopefully-soon-to-be afterlife be spent in, ‘Hell-o operator, give me No. 9.” Come on! If you’re going to dish it out,

make sure it’s got meat on it. Mean-girl correspondence should be juicy, people. No, my new special friends simply think I’m boring, irrelevant and a waste of paper space. They’ve been reading me forever but can’t stand another minute of my dumb column and they’re vowing to, from now on, throw me out with the trash where I belong.

Beverly, I hear you, I do (again, this is not her real name. Probably). But I also thank you because mail is mail, hate or otherwise. I’ll take it! Peace out.

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

Through the years, I have written about 1,200 columns. I find that people are curious about the humor-writing process. So, this week and next will not be humor columns; they will be columns about humor. Here are some of the most common questions I get.

HUMOR

Do you write about things that really happened, or do you make all this stuff up?

You know how sometimes a movie begins with this phrase, inspired by a true story? That’s pretty much like my column. The idea is always based on something real. A week or so ago, I fell out of a small bed at a downtown inn where we were staying for our anniversary. That was 100 percent true. As soon as my head hit the floor, I knew I had a column. And a headache. Did I exaggerate the story just a bit? Of course.

Have people ever been angry at you for a column you wrote?

Yes. Here’s an example:

Several years ago, I wrote about why my wife never mows the lawn. In the piece, I suggested that I didn’t want her to mow because it would jeopardize her femininity as evidenced by other women in the neighborhood who were outside grunting and sweating as they pushed their mowers. I got a lot of nasty notes from the ladies on our street. My wife said I had to go apologize to each of them. I had a better idea. We moved.

You make fun of your wife, Mary Ellen. Is she OK with that?

The truth is that in most of my columns, I make fun of myself, not her. Self-deprecating humor is the best form of comedy. About 75 percent of President Barack Obama’s jokes at the 2012 annual White House Broadcasters Dinner were mocking himself. Trump only managed self-deprecation 30 percent of the time when he had his turn. Even Biden has now started to parody his advancing age. I recently wrote a column about all the dumb questions Mary Ellen asked me about baseball. Truth is, I couldn’t answer any of them myself. I was poking fun at myself for pretending I was an expert. The last line of your story is my favorite part. What’s the key to a good ending?

I once had a newspaper (no name) whose copy editor chopped off my last several sentences when he needed the space. That’s when I started believing in capital punishment. People were telling me they liked my columns but didn’t understand the endings. The last line or two of a humor column are crucial. It ties it all up and goes back to something I may have mentioned maybe 400 words ago. I work really hard on that. I hope you like the ending to this one.

Do you ever run out of funny ideas?

I did this week. That’s why you are reading this column.

POLICIES

Letters to the editor: Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 150 words. Letters must be thoroughly vetted prior to submission. Current retains the right to reject or return any letter it deems to carry unsubstantiated content. Current also retains the right to edit letters, but not their intent. Send letters to info@youarecurrent.com. Writers must include a hometown and a daytime phone number for verification. Guest columns: The policy for guest columns is the same as the aforementioned, but the allowable length is 240 words. Guest columns should address the whole of Current’s readership, not simply specialinterest groups, and may not in any way contain a commercial message.

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

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

“If you’re going to dish it out, make sure it’s got meat on it. Mean-girl correspondence should be juicy, people.”

– DANIELLE WILSON

“As soon as my head hit the floor, I knew I had a column. And a headache. Did I exaggerate the story just a bit? Of course.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

Pavel & Direct Contact to bring Latin flavor to Carmel Jazz Fest

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Pavel & Direct Contact will present its unique Latin jazz sound in a prime spot in the Carmel Jazz Fest.

‘SOPHISTICATED LADIES’

“Sophisticated Ladies” runs through Aug. 20 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

CONCERT

“We’re always excited to bring exposure to the culture to different parts of the city and state,” said Pavel Polanco-Safadit, a pianist who grew up in the Dominican Republic. “As far as I know, we are the only Latin-flavored band this year in the Carmel Jazz Fest. I give it up to (the organizers) to do something different, to do some Latin jazz.”

The Indianapolis-based Pavel & Direct Contact will perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 12 on the Carter Green stage. The twoday festival is set for Aug. 11-12 at six sites.

Vocalist Leah Crane said the band is known for its high-energy performances.

“Sometimes, it’s hard to follow that much energy, so I think it’s good we’re going to close out the night,” Crane said.

Evelyn “Champagne” King will perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 12 on the Gazebo stage. King had a hit disco single, “Shame,” during the height of disco’s popularity in 1977.

Polanco-Safadit said the band’s music features Afro-Cuban rhythms during the set.

“What people love is we take cover songs that people know and put a Latin rhythm to it,” Crane said. “I’ll sing songs in Spanish, and some of the songs have both English and Spanish in it.”

One cover they usually put a spin on is “I Will Survive.”

Polanco-Safadit said the band also will feature its Latin jazz originals.

Direct Contact’s music contains an experience of Latin jazz, salsa and Latin-infused American pop songs.

“For us, it’s very important to connect cultures,” Polanco-Safadit said. “Sometimes, they hear the rhythms. Some might say I don’t know that song, in particular, but I like it. They recognize the rhythms.

We have amazing musicians for this.”

Besides Polanco-Safadit and Crane, the band consists of Steve Dokken, bass; David Allee, trumpet; Rob Dixon, saxophone; Freddie Mendoza, trombone; and Matt McGraw, percussion. Allee is the owner of The Jazz Kitchen and has been the band’s trumpet player for more than 15 years.

“We had the opportunity to come to Carmel when we played for the Carmel Symphony Orchestra,” Crane said. “That was the first time they ever had a local Latin band.”

Polanco-Safadit said that to say the

band has been very busy of late is in an understatement.

“In this past year, we’ve traveled to different countries -- the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Canada,” Polanco-Safadit said. “We’ll be doing the Indy Jazz Fest (in September). We’re doing a lot of private gigs as well.”

Polanco-Safadit will join Blair Clark at 11 a.m. Aug. 13 at Feinstein’s at the Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

For tickets and the complete lineup, visit carmeljazzfest.org.

“The Piano Man: A Billy Joel Tribute” is set for 7:30 p.m. July 20 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. ATI Live presents Un5Gettable at 7:30 p.m. July 21, and Wayne Powers will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 22. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS’

“Broadway Under the Stars” will be presented at 8 p.m. July 21-22 in the Symphony on the Prairie series at Conner Prairie in Fishers. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.

SONGBOOK ACADEMY IN CONCERT

The Great American Songbook Foundation’s annual Songbook Academy, a summer intensive program, will conclude with a concert at 7 p.m. July 22 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

DISPATCH

Indy Shorts presents ‘The Hoosier Way’ —

The Indy Shorts International Film Festival, set for July 18-23, will hold a free, all-ages screening of “The Hoosier Way” at The Toby Theatre in Newfields, 4000 N Michigan Rd., Indianapolis, at 5:30 p.m. July 23. Using a tapestry of clips from more than 40 16mm educational, promotional and home movies, the program features people, places and events that make Indiana unique. Footage includes the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911; Oscar Robertson leading Indianapolis Crispus Attucks to become the first all-Black high school sports team in the U.S. to win a state championship; Kurt Vonnegut at home; behind the scenes inside Gary’s steel mills; and more. The program will be introduced by curators/directors Jennifer and Jon Vickers and will be followed by a brief Q&A with filmmakers and Indiana University archivists. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for interactive 16mm film handling demonstrations. For more on Indy Shorts schedule of films, visit heartlandfilm.org/indyshorts.

Pavel & Direct Contact members, from left, David Allee, Freddie Mendoza, Matt McGraw, Leah Crane, Pavel Polanco-Safadit, Rob Dixon, Gerardo Becerra and Steve Dokken at the Palladium. (Photo courtesy of Mark Sheldon)

Pavel Polanco-Safadit and Leah Crane performing with Pavel & Direct Contact. (Photo courtesy of Larry Goshen)

Beat the heat with lighter fare

Commentary by Mark LaFay

Foreigner set for farewells

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

FOOD

It appears the summer heat and humidity have finally found us. I normally like to avoid the heat and humidity, unless there is a frosty beverage in my hand and some water nearby. But even in the absence of such vacation-esque accommodations, I still love to be outside as much as possible.

The higher heat and humidity do cause some behavior modification in me, if only in what, and how much, I eat. Maybe you’re like me and you gravitate toward the lighter fare in the hot weather. We tend to consume more fresh fruit and vegetables in this weather, and meals can often look more like party grazing than a proper meal. You don’t have to eat like a rabbit to eat lighter and fresher in the warm weather. There are several different fruit, vegetable, meat and cheese combos that we like to assemble for a filling but lighter approach to dinner inside and outside, such as:

Prosciutto and cantaloupe: Pork and melons are two things you can find plenty of in Indiana. This combo is, however, very Italian in origin. Once in Italy, we enjoyed fresh, ripe cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto, with a little high-quality olive oil drizzled over the top. Sweet and savory, but overall, somewhat mild in flavor and not heavy in the belly. Try LaQuercia Acorn Prosciutto.

Sharp Vermont cheddar and apple slices: I’m sure you’ve heard of apple pie with cheddar cheese slices, right? If not, try crisp Granny Smith apples and thin slices of Vermont cheddar cheese. The sharp and savory nature of the cheddar pairs nicely with the tart and sweet apple. The difference in texture is nice as well — crunchy and creamy. Try Cabot Sharp Cheddar.

Grapes and brie cheese: Another classic light snack is grapes and brie. The sweet nature of the grapes goes wonderfully with the brie, which can be, at times, a little sharp with a bitter edge. Try this with Point Reyes Quinta, Tulip Tree Creamery Trillium or an imported triple-cream cheese from France.

CONCERT

With Foreigner’s heavy touring schedule for the past 18 years, keyboardist Michael Bluestein knows it’s appropriate that this tour “feels like the last time” for the band.

“There certainly is a collective exhaustion that has crept up in the band,” Bluestein said. “I mean, we’re proud of the fact that we still put on a killer show, but there’s a sense that the ability to do that won’t go on forever, and we’d like to ‘go out on top,’ as they say.”

Foreigner will perform at 7 p.m. July 21 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. Loverboy is joining Foreigner as a special guest on the tour, which began July 6 and extends into 2024.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Bluestein said. “We’re all proud of what we’ve done and very excited to give it all on this farewell tour, but we’ll certainly miss performing for our awesome fans and miss playing these fantastic songs with each other.”

Keyboardist Michael Bluestein has been with Foreigner since 2008.

(Photo courtesy of Live Nation)

Bluestein said he always looks forward to performing “Juke Box Hero” and “Long, Long Way from Home” because they are hard-driving rockers that always pump up the band and the fans.

Guitarist Mick Jones is the last original member still with the band, which started in New York in 1976. Kelly Hansen replaced Lou Gramm as the lead singer in 2005. Bluestein has toured with the band since 2008.

“It has been touching to see how special this band has been to so many people,” Bluestein said. “We have people practically begging us not to stop touring, and that definitely is moving.”

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4021 Millersville Rd., Suite 107A, Indianapolis.

YAP takes on ‘Mean Girls’

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Keegan Connor is taking a break in her duties as Miss Indiana’s Teen to explore her love of theater.

“I’ve never played a super-mean character like her,” Kauffman said. “She’s horrible. It’s definitely fun because in real life, I don’t act like her, so it’s kind of challenging for me.”

MUSICAL

Connor, who will be a Westfield High School senior, captured the title June 17 and since then has done some TV shows and personal appearances.

“It’s been crazy since I was crowned,” said Connor, who recently was in a parade and sang the national anthem at a South Bend Cubs baseball game. “But I found time to prioritize the show because I wouldn’t have signed up for it if I didn’t think I could handle both.”

Connor is now preparing for her lead role of Cady Heron in Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program’s production of “Mean Girls,” set for July 27-30 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

“I think Cady is relatable from the get-go, even if you didn’t move from school to school to school,” Connor said. “She resembles a lot of people who are going through high school life, because no matter, what you are going to get picked on, going to get judged. She does have a big character arc. By the start of Act 2, she steps into (queen mean girl) Regina’s role, and I think that shows how you can be influenced by people around you. Peer pressure is really real.”

Connor said this is the largest role of her career. The musical is based on the 2004 movie.

“I’m very honored and humbled to step into this role,” said Connor, who saw “Mean Girls” on Broadway and twice on tour. “A lot of the things from the movie are pulled into the musical as well, with iconic lines. I think the musical is a lot better than the movie, in my opinion. It brings more sense of community by the end of it all.”

Connor started with Jr. Civic when she was in seventh grade. She performed in “The Sound of Music” on the main stage this spring.

Claire Kauffman, who will be a Zionsville Community High School junior, plays Regina George.

Kauffman said her favorite song is “Someone Gets Hurt.”

Kauffman has been in several shows for YAP and Jr. Civic, including YAP’s “42nd Street” in 2022 and “Matilda the Musical” on the main stage last year.

Kauffman played the title role of “Annie” at Beef & Boards in 2018. She also performed in “Annie” at Civic Theatre.

Maddux Morrison, a 2023 Noblesville High School graduate who will attend Ball State University to major in musical theater, plays Cady’s gay friend, Damian.

“I was a fan of the movie, and then when it became a musical and went to Broadway, I was a fan of that as well,” Morrison said. “Damian is a fun role to play. He’s very confident and sassy. He really knows who he is. Playing the character has helped me as a person. He’s helped my confidence as a performer and also in real life. Something I love about the show and also this character is the show doesn’t take itself too seriously. When I was in high school, I took everything seriously. I didn’t stop and have fun that much. Doing this show and role has helped me to explore that side of myself.”

Morrison has been performing at Jr. Civic and YAP for eight years.

Amelia Schoeff, who will be a senior at Lebanon High School, plays Cady’s friend, Janis.

“She’s a goth and a victim of Regina,” Schoeff said. “I’ve never played a goth before, and it’s so different from me in real life. She’s so fun. She has a hysterical, dry sense of humor. She’s also relatable to a common high school experience for girls where she has been picked on by the main character.”

This is her first performance with Civic Theatre.

“Everyone that works on the show and the cast members are all incredible,” Schoeff said.

For more, visit civictheatre.org.

Kauffman

Morrison

Connor

Schoeff

Lead and Assistant positions are available ages 2 through Kindergarten.

From Seward to Juneau

Commentary by Don Knebel

Today, in our continuing tour of Alaska, we travel by ship from Seward to Juneau, Alaska’s capital, where we make the first of two stops.

TRAVEL

Disenchantment Bay, a narrow inlet at the head of Yakutat Bay, is a popular stop for cruise ships sailing to or from Seward’s well-equipped port on the Gulf of Alaska. It was named for Spanish explorer Alejandro Malaspina’s disappointment that it did not lead to the legendary Northwest Passage.

Ship captains now willingly sail to the end of Disenchantment Bay to take passengers to see Hubbard Glacier, North America’s largest tidewater glacier. The 76-mile-long glacier is 7 miles wide and 600 feet high where it meets the water, with 250 feet below the water line. The ice in Hubbard Glacier moves forward at about 1,000 feet per year, which means that the ice at the face is 400 years old. Some of the so-called “calves” that constantly break off and fall into the water are more than 100 feet tall, creating hazards for

ships in the area.

Juneau, about 200 miles southeast of Hubbard Glacier, includes both an area lying between the base of Mount Juneau and Gastineau Channel, and Douglas Island, across the channel. Surrounded completely by mountains and water, no roads connect Juneau with the rest of Alaska. Visitors and goods come and go only by ships or planes. Despite its location, Juneau has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, and efforts to move the capital have failed.

Today, Juneau has a permanent population of about 32,000, making it the third-largest city in Alaska after Anchorage and Fairbanks. In the summer, about 6,000 people a day enter the city from cruise ships. Many of them take the Goldbelt Tram from the cruise ship dock up 1,800 feet to get a spectacular view of the city.

• Our Staff is passionate about building life-long learners through a play-based and faith-focused early childhood education program.

• For more information and to apply visit: www.geistwdm.org/our-staff or call 317-578-4591

Juneau, Alaska, from Goldbelt Tram. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Douglas Island near Juneau.

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

1. Prime Palladium seating spot

5. IU grad

9. A/C measure

13. Black, to 15-Across

14. Anthony’s Chophouse steak order

15. Masters of rhyme

16. Indiana’s “Summit City”

18. Fairy tale meanies

19. 12th grader at Fishers HS

20. Rhino relative

22. Hawaiian island 25. Shirt part

28. Butler anatomy class display 32. Miss Indiana pageant accessories

33. Kind of band or story 34. Windshield device 36. Colts punt path 37. “I smell ___!”

38. Fancy tie

39. I-69 sight

40. Big ___ Conference

41. What dogs and babies do

42. Speak

43. Mattel rival

45. Document file format

47. Covets

48. Genesis patri-ark?

49. “Ghosts” playwright

51. Bird in some clocks

56. Crooked Stick pro shop purchase

58. Indiana’s “Wagon City”

61. ___ Hospital for Children

62. German wife

63. Author Bagnold

64. Mine finds

65. Amazes

66. Goes bad Down

1. Hinkle Fieldhouse

5.

6.

7.

9.

partner

28. Criticize harshly

29. Seoul man

30. Indiana’s “Pocket City”

31. Permit

35. Salk’s vaccine target

38. Stood up

39. Colts QB stat

41. Formally attired

42. Slangy affirmative

44. Holy books

46. Desert plant

50. Website warning letters

52. Radio-active trucker

53. Numbers game

54. “Step ___!”

55. Hoosier Park race figures

56. Sis’ sib

57. Number one cause of inflation?

59. Spanish gold

60. GM labor group

Answers on Page 19

whistle blowers

2. ISO woodwind

3. Weather-beaten

4. Opposed

Landfall for 48-Across

“Now I ___ me down...”

IMA vase

8. Noblesville HS swimming competition

Isn’t up to par? (Var.)

10. Indiana’s “Queen City of the Wabash”

11. Eiteljorg Museum Western tribe

12. Leak sound 15. Indiana state tree, by another name

17. Suitor 21. Liability’s opposite 23. “In what way?”

24. Mythical horse with a horn

26. Polygon’s corner

27. Zionsville HS prom

6 WRTV Storm Team Words 4 German Cities 3 Indiana State Fair Barns 2 Adhesives

5 Royal Titles

1 “Libations by the Levee” Festival Site

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Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Words: CLOUDY, COLD, RAIN, SNOW, TORNADO, WINDY; Titles: BARON, DUKE, EARL, MARQUESS, VISCOUNT; Cities: BERLIN, FRANKFURT, HAMBURG, MUNICH; Barns: CATTLE, SHEEP, SWINE; Adhesives: EPOXY, GLUE; Site: RUSHVILLE