CONSERVATION ASPIRATION
July 30, 2024
Current in Zionsville currentzionsville.com
Zionsville Scout reaches merit badge milestone
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
A Zionsville Eagle Scout has gone above and beyond when it comes to learning a variety of the skills that Scouts are often known for.
ACHIEVEMENT
Molly Simmons, a 2024 graduate of Zionsville High School, joined Boy Scouts of America in 2019 when rules were amended to allow girls to participate. A member of Troop 171 in Indianapolis where her mother, Cathy Simmons, is Scoutmaster, Simmons earned the rank of Eagle Scout in September 2023. Her final project was an ADA-accessible community garden she built at Heritage Trails Park that includes six garden beds, six garden tables and a Free Little Library. She was assisted by her teammates on the ZCHS swim team and other Scouts.
But Simmons reached a different milestone in 2024, earning every merit badge available in BSA.
“You only need 21 merit badges to be an Eagle Scout, but there are 139 badges,” she said.
Merit badges are earned when Scouts learn about different topics such as sports, crafts, science, trades, business and future careers and participate in related activities.
“When I joined Scouts, my first summer I went to camp and I thought it was really fun,” Simmons said. “I went around to each of the stations and I only took five badges that first summer. But there were so many, I wanted to try them all.”
So, beginning in June 2019, Simmons challenged herself to earn the whole lot. She achieved the milestone in March 2024, only two weeks before her 18th birthday. She said it’s hard to pick which of the badges is her favorite, but there are some standouts.
“Scuba was one of my favorite ones,” she said. “Being someone who has lived in Indiana her whole life, it isn’t really something I’m exposed to. But I got scuba certified. For climbing, I took a class with my family in the Grand Teton (National Park in Wyoming). The guides we were with were surprised at how in-depth it was to earn badges, but I was still able to earn badge information from them plus their tips and tricks.”
Besides being active in BSA, Simmons also spent four years on the high school swim team and is an avid outdoor enthu-
siast. She’s spent much of her life hiking and camping with her family, making some of those swim or outdoor related badges right up her alley.
But others were a challenge, which she was excited to take on.
“Going into a bugling merit badge or a horsemanship merit badge, I know nothing about those subjects,” Simmons said. “Being able to learn from those people and see their passion for such a subject was super fun.”
Simmons said besides being able to earn badges, BSA has given her life skills that will translate to the real world.
“Scouting has always been a part of my life,” she said. “Our troop pulls from about 15 schools in the Indianapolis area, so I got to build connections with people from other schools outside my town. Every Wednesday night, I got to meet with a completely different group of people and
hear about their experiences. I think a lot of people don’t know the niches you can find in Scouting. Some people might think, ‘I’m not the outdoorsy type, so it’s not for me.’ But there are leadership aspects and service aspects.
“Everyone has a passion and there are so many areas that you can explore. You can have your own journey.”
Simmons will attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison this fall in the pharmacy program and will be a member of the Badgers’ women’s swimming and diving team. She said she hopes to participate in Scouts as an adult mentor as she gets older.
“All of the leadership for our troop, seeing the impact they made on me and the girls around me made the Scouting journey what it was,” she said.
Learn more about BSA Troop 171 at troopwebhost.org/Troop171Indianapolis.
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Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XIII, No. 18
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30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444
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Molly Simmons of Zionsville earned all 139 badges available to Boy Scouts of America members. (Photo courtesy of BSA Troop 171)
MEET ME ON MAIN
Second Saturday of each month; 4 – 8 p.m.
CarmelArtsAndDesign.com
BIKE CARMEL
Family Fun Ride: Aug. 10
Slow Roll Dinner Cruise: Aug. 13 & 27
Roundabout Ride: Sept. 14
BikeCarmel.com
CARMEL FARMERS MARKET
Saturdays, through Sept.; 8 – 11:30 a.m.
CarmelFarmersMarket.com
MOVIES AT MIDTOWN
Through Oct.
Tuesdays – noon and 6 p.m.
Thursdays – 6 p.m.
MidtownPlazaCarmel.com
SUMMER FAMILY CONCERT
SERIES AT THE GAZEBO
Wednesdays, May 29 – Sept. 11, 7 – 9 p.m.
CarmelGazeboConcerts.org
LATE NIGHT ON MAIN
Aug. 17
CarmelPorchFest.org
BREWS ON THE BOULEVARD
Aug 3; 5 – 9 p.m.
CarmelBrewsAndBarrels.com
CARMEL JAZZFEST
Aug. 9 – 10
CarmelJazzfest.org
ARTOMOBILIA
Sept. 7; 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Artomobilia.org
CARMEL ON CANVAS
Sept. 13 – 15
CarmelOnCanvas.com
CARMEL PORCHFEST
Sept. 15; noon – 6 p.m. CarmelPorchFest.org
CHINESE MOONCAKE FESTIVAL
Sept. 21; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. ExperienceCarmel.org
CARMEL INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
Sept. 28 – 29
CarmelArtsFestival.org
OKTOBERFEST
Oct. 4; 6 – 10 p.m. CarmelOktoberfest.org
For more information about events and activites in Carmel, visit ExperienceCarmel.org
Event details are subject to change. Visit the City of Carmel, Indiana Government on Facebook for the latest event updates or cancellations due
Artomobilia
Carmel PorchFest
Oktoberfest
Chinese Mooncake Festival
Zionsville’s new deputy mayor embraces role
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville’s new deputy mayor said he’s ready to hit the ground running.
TOWN NEWS
Mayor John Stehr appointed Justin Hage to the role July 16 following the resignation of Deputy Mayor Kate Swanson. Hage will assume the role Aug. 5.
Hage has experience in local, state and federal government. He worked in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and on staff for the Committee on Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives. A practicing attorney, Hage worked as a director of government relations for Findhelp, a Texas-based technology company in the social services sector. He said his experience in government and government-adjacent sectors has prepared him for his new role.
“I’m able to leverage that experience to help find multiple different ways to help citizens, whether that be more effective and efficient ways to make sure that we’re delivering services, making sure that there is cooperation between different departments within town government, and also making sure there is collaboration between town government and key stakeholders like the schools, the chamber, the business community,” Hage said. “We’re going to figure out ways that we can partner and be a team and also be a good steward of taxpayer dollars.”
DREAM HOME
McCordsville, Zionsville, and more!
plishments have been, where there is opportunity for public input,” Hage said. “I think that’s very important, whether that be part of the comprehensive plan process and in terms of what are the interests for new paths in our community as it relates to the redevelopment commission (and) what we really need to do to bring new businesses to Zionsville and bring additional investments.”
Hage’s duties as deputy mayor include assisting with administrative functions and coordination of operations outside of the parks department, including administration and enforcement of ordinances, policies, directives and annual budgets.
Hage said he plans to focus on how the town can better utilize technology to more efficiently deliver services to residents. He said his plan is to work with Stehr to make sure there is open communication with residents of Zionsville across all issues.
“(We want to) make sure there is transparency and communication to citizens of the town in terms of what the various boards and commissions are doing — what their objectives are, what their accom-
Hage moved to Indiana in 2011 and has lived in Zionsville since 2018. He is the vice president of his homeowners association, serves on the board of Communities in Schools Indiana, and is the vice state lead ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. He was appointed to the Zionsville Pathways Committee in 2018, where he was chair in 2022 and 2023.
“My wife and I are really proud to call Zionsville home,” Hage said. “I think it’s important when you feel strongly about something to be able to give back and use your talents to help make our town a better place. I think there are lots of different ways that we can grow our town and bring investment but also maintain that charm that has brought so many people here over the years.”
Deputy Mayor Justin Hage with his wife, Christina, and son, Henry. (Photo courtesy of Justin Hage)
Hage
DISPATCHES
School assistance for children of veterans – Operation Back to School — also known as the Military Family Relief Fund Back to School Program — provides financial assistance to Hoosier veteran families experiencing financial difficulties. Offered by the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, the program provides $500 of assistance per qualified dependent for backto-school supplies and other school-related expenses. Applications are accepted through Aug. 30. Learn more at in.gov/dva.
IndyCar two-seater experience –Thrill-seeking philanthropists will have the chance to fly around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 180 mph while fundraising for fellow Hoosiers. ‘Speed for Community Need’ takes place Oct. 9 at the speedway benefiting United Way of Central Indiana. Interested parties must commit to raising $1,500. United Way has teamed up with the Indy Racing Experience for the fundraiser. Participants 18 and older who meet the height and weight requirements will ride behind a professional IndyCar driver for two speed laps around the track. Learn more at uwci.org/ speed-for-community-need.
‘Good Night Forest’ exhibit – The Indiana State Museum’s newest exhibit, “Good Night Forest,” is open through Oct. 31. The playful experience was created especially for little ones, with beautiful artwork and engaging activities designed to help children build confidence and cultivate scientific curiosity as they discover nature and learn about animals that emerge after dark. “Good Night Forest” is free for members and included with museum admission, which is $20 for adults, $14 for youth ages 3-17 and $18 for seniors. The museum is located at White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. Learn more at IndianaMuseum.org.
Scholarships available – High school students who want to pursue work-based learning and credentials can now apply for a Career Scholarship Account. Hoosier students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades at a state accredited public or private school can receive up to a $5,000 state-funded scholarship to pursue apprenticeships, applied learning experiences, work-based learning and credentials attainment. About 2,000 spots are available for the 2024-2025 school year. Students can apply for a Career Scholarship Account until Oct. 1. Learn more at in.gov/tos/csa.
Zionsville, Purdue grad wins world robotics championship
By Conrad Otto conrad@youarecurrent.com
When the 2024 VexU Robotics World Championship kicked off this spring at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, more than 8,000 participants around the world competed for the top prize. The international competition pits student-built robots in head-to-head matches.
TECHNOLOGY
For Dominic Holifield of Zionsville, the competition was his last at the collegiate level — and his best.
Holifield, a 2020 Zionsville Community High School graduate and a 2024 Purdue University graduate, came up short of winning at the competition twice — once in high school and once in college. Things changed this year.
At Purdue, Holifield was a member of SIGBots, a student organization special interest group that builds robots each year to enter into the VEX Robotics World Championship — the largest robotics competition in the world.
Holified said his team’s goal was to create a robot that could go up against other robots in a sports-like battlebot competition, tossing balls into an opponent’s goal. In a best-of-three matchup, Purdue SIGBots won two, earning the world championship. It was a moment Holifield almost missed.
“I was trying to have a more relaxing year, since I’ve been doing robotics for so long,” Holifield said. “But the guys convinced me to come back.”
Holifield’s team, which included fellow ZCHS grad Alex Lam, first built a 3D model of their robot. They used the model as a blueprint to laser cut parts to build the actual robot that was entered into the competition.
“In the second semester, we had the whole team sit down,” he said. “Everyone knew exactly what they were doing, what each robot was going to be, and laid out the plan for every day up until worlds.”
To qualify for the world competition, the SIGBots competed first in regional events, where it had to either win or earn an excellence award to move ahead. The excellence award is given to teams whose performance in the event is based on strategy, documentation and togetherness
while competing.
Holifield’s was on one of two teams that made it to Dallas. The teams shared a practice lab on campus in West Lafayette, totaling nearly 200 hours.
Holified’s mother, Dawn Holifield, said the event was raucous, with fans using blow-up noisemakers, a live DJ and a light show.
“I never knew there was so much hype for robotics,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect. It was super cool.”
His mother said robotics has taught her son the importance of never giving up.
“The life skills you get from (competing), you learn so much to keep at it,” Dawn Holifield said. “Every time something failed, I think it actually got him to build it better and figure out a different solution. I actually got to see him enjoy it.”
Learn more about the competition at vexrobotics.com/competition.
Dominic Holifield of Zionsville holds the 2024 VexU Robotics World Championship trophy. (Photos courtesy of VEX Robotics Competition)
The Purdue SIGBots team is the 2024 VEX Robotics World champion.
ZIONSVILLE AUGUST CALENDAR
STREET DANCE
The Zionsville Street Dance, presented by Coca Cola Consolidated, is from 6 to 11 p.m. Aug. 3 in Main Street. Advance tickets are $20 for ages 11 and up and $5 for 10 and under. Zionsville’s biggest party features a professional concert at the North end of Main Street. Zionsville’s very own The Janeways is the opening act with featured headliner The Dundies. Beverages from local breweries, wineries and distilleries, food trucks and a kid’s area are included
The annual event draws up to 6,000 attendees. Purchase tickets and sign up to voluneer at zionsvillechamber.org.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Saddleridge Estates
Side-Load
Trails
The Zionsville Cultural District hosts the 2024 summer concert series each Wednesday at Lincoln Park, 41 S. 2nd St. Featured performers include Brenda Williams Aug. 7; Melodies & Memories with Ron Wells Aug. 14; Rob Dixon Trio Aug. 21; and Zionsville’s Got Talent/Back to Rock and the Juan Douglas Trio Aug. 28. Learn more at zvillecd.org.
GOLDEN RETRIEVER SHOW
Join a fairground full of Golden Retrievers as they go for the gold, competing for show points and obedience ribbons at the White River Golden Retriever Club Annual Specialty Show and Obedience Trials from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 10; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Boone County Fairgrounds, 1300 E 100 S in Lebanon. For more information, call 317-216-4363.
POLO AT SUNSET
Pack your picnic baskets and join the Light for Levi Foundation for Polo at Sunset, 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at Hickory Hall Polo Club, 7551 E. 100 N in Whitestown. This family-friendly evening includes a polo match, airplane candy drop at half time, a wine and bourbon pull and a 50/50 raffle. General admission is $40 per car and sponsorships are available. A nonprofit organization, Light for Levi Foundation raises funds to assist individuals 21 and younger who have been diagnosed with a brain injury. Learn more at lightforlevi.com.
BREW FEST
The 10th annual Whitestown Brew Fest takes place from noon to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Whitestown Municipal Complex. The event is open to anyone 21 years old and older and will feature a multitude of Indiana breweries, wineries and distilleries from all over the state. Brew Fest includes
an Indiana homebrewer competition, live music and food trucks. VIP tickets are $45. General admission is $35. Buy tickets in advance at whitestown.in.gov under the community/parks & rec tab.
BICYCLES FOR VETERANS
The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church in Zionsville will partner with St. Vincent de Paul in Indianapolis to provide bicycles to veterans and the homeless. Community members are encouraged to donate old or unwanted bicycles, regardless of condition. Bicycles are refurbished before being distributed to those in need. Drop off is noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 17, 18, 24 and 25 at the sports field parking lot at the church, 1870 W. Oak St.
BOOK PRESENTATION
Boone County Republican Women will host an open meeting at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 21 featuring author Scott Walter discussing an overview of his book, ‘Arabella: The Dark Money Network of Leftist Billionaires Secretly Transforming America.’ The evening will begin with a book signing at 5:30 p.m., followed by a meet and greet from 6:30 to 7 p.m. and Walter speaking about the book at 7 p.m. The free event takes place at the Golf Club of Indiana, 6905 S County Road 525 E in Whitestown.
SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING
St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church will host suicide prevention training session from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 24 at the parish hall. The training session will be conducted by the Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide and will include insights and practical strategies to identify warning signs of suicide as well as intervention strategies. The free event is open to all members of the community. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Learn more at indianaprevention.org.
QUILT EXHIBITION
Talking in Circles, a quilt exhibition by the Charm Club, runs through Aug. 29 at SullivanMunce Cultural Center, 225 W. Hawthorne St. in Zionsville. The Talking in Circles exhibition will have quilts in two theme categories from The Charm Club — talking, which features quilts that use words or letters somewhere on the quilt; and circles, which features quilts that use anything that seems round or circular. SullivanMunce Cultural Center is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Learn more at sullivanmunce.org.
Summer reading program concludes at HMMPL
news@youarecurrent.com
Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Zionsville is wrapping up its summer reading program with grand prizes awarded to this summer’s most voracious readers.
LIBRARY NEWS
Grand prizes include an electric bicycle, a kayak, a Coleman Evanston screened tent for eight people and a child’s bicycle. Prizes were made possible by donations from community partners, including eBoom Electric Bikes, Friends of the Library, Zionsville Rotary Club and a community resident who wishes to remain anonymous.
The final day for turning in reading logs is July 31. Participants who record 15 hours or more of reading completed between June 1 and July 31 are automatically entered into the grand-prize drawing, which will take place in the coming weeks.
The grand prize, an electric bicycle, was donated to the library by Lee Ann McKay, owner of eBoom Electric Bikes. The bicycle is a low-step frame Navigator S model made of strong, lightweight aluminum. The eBike can achieve a top speed of 25 mph
with pedal assist, or 20 mph with throttle. It includes front and rear fenders, a rear rack, 48V/2A charger, kickstand, integrated front light, AAA battery operated rear light and a bell, with a maximum load capacity of 300 pounds.
The bicycle is on display at the library’s Zionsville Branch.
This is the second collaboration between the library and eBoom Electric Bikes. In 2018, the library worked with the fledgling company to design and create an electronic book bike, which has been ridden by librarians to local schools and appeared in the Zionsville Fall Festival parade.
Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library staff, from left, Lauren Kniola, Katie Warthan, Becky Stuck and Kaki Garard showed off this year’s summer reading grand prize during a recent farmers market. (Photo courtesy of HMMPL)
The winner of the youth bicycle grand prize will be able to select a bike fit for their size from a selection of available new bikes.
Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library has branches at 250 N. Fifth St. in Zionsville and 3610 Albert S. White Dr. in Whitestown.
HMMPL serves the residents of Whitestown, Zionsville and Worth Township with programs, special events, Bookmobile visits and a broad collection of materials to borrow. Additional services include free streaming services, a maker studio and a ‘library of things’ in each branch.
For more, visit hmmpl.org.
ZIONSVILLE AMERICAN LEGION MEMBERS VISIT NORMANDY
Zionsville residents and American Legion Post 79 members, from left, Christian Stafford, Doug Stafford and Steve Broniarczyk attended the dedication of the Dwight D. Eisenhower statue in Sainte-Mère-Église in Manche, a coastal French administrative division in Normandy, during the 80th commemoration of D-Day June 6. Eisenhower served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II. Sainte-Mère-Église was a key location on the road to Omaha Beach June 6, 1944. During the Normandy invasion, 30 paratroopers from the U.S. 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne divisions landed in the town of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, engaging in a battle with a German garrison that was later memorialized in the 1962 film ‘The Longest Day.’ Sainte-Mère-Église was among the first towns liberated by Allied forces. (Photo courtesy of Steve Broniarczyk)
Smock appointed to Whitestown Town Council
news@youarecurrent.com
Courtenay Smock has been appointed as the Whitestown Town Council member representing District 3. He will fill the position held by Councilor Tanya Sumner, who died May 24 following a battle with colon cancer.
GOVERNMENT
Smock most recently served on the Whitestown Redevelopment Commission and is president of the Walker Farms HOA Board. Town leaders said Smock’s community involvement and leadership experience make him well prepared to advocate for the residents of District 3.
“We are delighted to welcome Courtenay Smock to the town council,” Whitestown Town Manager Katie Barr stated. “We look forward to the positive impact he will undoubtedly have on Whitestown.” Smock shared the enthusiasm.
“It’s an honor to be called upon to serve the community that I have worked in, and have called home, for two decades.”
“It’s an honor to be called upon to serve the community that I have worked in, and have called home, for two decades,” Smock stated. “I look forward to collaborating with residents and colleagues alike to continue the legacy and vision of those who have succeeded in making Whitestown a great place to live.”
The Whitestown Town Council consists of five members representing five districts. Members serve four-year terms. Smock will fill the remainder of Sumner’s term, which runs through the end of 2027. The council meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Whitestown Town Hall. Learn more at whitestown. in.gov.
Smock
– COURTENAY SMOCK
ZIONSVILLE WOMAN EARNS MISS BOONE COUNTY TITLE
Marin J. Davis of Zionsville is the 2024 Miss Boone County. She was crowned July 13 at the pageant finals at the Boone County Fairgrounds and reigned over the Boone County 4-H Fair July 20-27 in Lebanon. Davis is a student at Purdue University, where she is involved in Kappa Delta sorority, Old Master’s and Liberal Arts Student Council. She has been named to the dean’s list and is the recipient of several scholarships. She is a 2022 honors graduate of Zionsville Community High School and a 2024 Indianapolis 500 Festival Princess. She is the past president of the Flying Eagles 4-H Club of Eagle Township. Davis will represent Boone County in the 2025 Miss Indiana State Fair Queen Program competition in January, 2025, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. (Photo Courtesy of Miss Boone County)
Welcoming Paul
PAUL GIEFING@SECFEDBANK COM Office 317-324-3154 ext. 9701 Mobile 317-538-7720 CARMEL 12 W MAIN STREET CARMEL, IN 46032
Contact Paul Today!
Free Family Concerts in Lions Park
Director: Edward Zlaty
Paul’s 27 years of experience include stints in the small business, commercial, and middle market levels of banking, working with companies as large as $4B in revenue. He specializes in driving revenue and building brand within target markets. When he is not working, he focuses on family, friendships, and music. His favorite activity is spending time with his spouse, Alrea, his two children, and his Siberian husky, Luna
DISPATCHES
Pharmaceutical collections – Boone County residents can dispose of unused or expired medications at special dropboxes. Locations include Zionsville Police Department, 1075 Parkway Dr. in Zionsville and Whitestown Police Department, 6210 Veterans Dr. in Whitestown. Acceptable items include prescription medications (including controlled and non-controlled pills, liquids and patches), OTC medications, vitamins, supplements and pet medications. Prohibited items include institutional, industrial or business waste, sharps, bloody or infectious waste and thermometers. Learn more at boonecountysolidwaste. com/special-collections.
Prenatal yoga – Witham Health Services is offering prenatal yoga classes from 6-7 p.m. every Thursday at Witham Wellness Center, 2505 N. Lebanon St. in Lebanon. Prenatal yoga is a specialized yoga class that focuses on supporting a pregnant person through the trimesters, while preparing them for birth and the postpartum period. Classes are $20 per session. To register, visit witham.org/event/ prenatal-yoga.
Brooke’s Place seeks volunteers –Brooke’s Place for Grieving Young People is looking for volunteers to serve as support group facilitators for its westside, eastside and northside program nights. Volunteers provide a safe and supportive environment for young people, ages 3-29, and their caregivers, to grieve. Facilitators engage groups through conversation as well as age-appropriate therapeutic activities such as crafts and games. Facilitators serve families twice a month on either Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. To learn more about becoming a facilitator or to apply, contact chelsea@ brookesplace.org or visit brookesplace.org/ grief-support-volunteer.
Recycling event – Boone County Solid Waste Management District will host a tox-drop collection event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Zionsville Municipal Services Building, 1075 Parkway Dr. The event is open to all Boone County residents. Items accepted include antifreeze, motor oil, paint and paint thinner, lightbulbs, household cleaners, and electronics. Recycling is free of charge except for a $20 cash per unit fee for all televisions and computer monitors. See the full list of accepted items at boonecountysolidwaste. com/tox-drop-collections.html.
CONSERVATION ASPIRATION
Plans for Phase 1 of Carpenter Nature Preserve near completion
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Plans for Phase 1 construction to develop the nowclosed Wolf Run Golf Course into a passive nature preserve are tentatively due before the Zionsville Parks and Recreation Board for approval in August.
Carpenter Nature Preserve, just west of U.S. 421 and south of Ind. 32, is a 215-acre preserve designed to be a regional destination with a nature center, trails, boardwalks, a nature-inspired playground and outdoor classrooms.
Tricia McClellan with Rundell Ernstberger Associates said the master plan has undergone some minor changes over the past several months.
“We changed a few of the pathway layouts so that we’re minimizing bridges and minimizing the crossings to the tributaries,” McClellan said. “We’ve also included a paved path that will go all the way down to Eagle Creek. We moved (the tree canopy walk) so that it will be able to come next to the playground. But it will be fully accessible, so you’ll be able to get that tree canopy walk without having to have stairs to get up to it. It takes advantage of the site a little better, and it allows us that woodland behind the nature center, which is one of the best, pure, not damaged woodlands on the site, that will keep us out of that area and allow us to preserve that better.”
McClellan said the prairie pavilion and playground are the main features of Phase 1 development.
“The main entrance drive that goes back to the clubhouse, we’ll have that gated so that it can be opened if there’s an event at the amphitheater. Really, we want to guide people to the prairie pavilion where there will be restrooms and seating and a playground,” McClellan said. “We have a paved path that goes out to the overlook, and that’s one of the best overlooks over Eagle Creek. If you look north, you can see pretty far up Eagle Creek. It is elevated quite a bit from where Eagle Creek is. There is a paved path that also goes all the way out to the amphitheater.”
The amphitheater is also included in Phase 1, as well as an overlook and lawn area just west of the amphitheater, which is anticipated to attract formal gatherings.
“People will maybe want to have weddings or small ceremonies there, because it is an area that looks out over the valley of this site,” McClellan said.
Board member Chad Dilley said his main concern with the development is financing.
“Will we have the budget to operate this as effectively as we want to, and I think these are worthwhile discussions,” Dilley said. “I think we need a line of sight as we’re tacking on these nice features. Will (parks and recreation) be able to maintain them long term?”
Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jarod Logsdon said the department has already been working with the town council on long-term operational planning. The parks department will use grant funding, $75,000 of American
The revised master plan for Carpenter Nature Preserve includes two overlooks, trails, an amphitheater and a playground. (Image courtesy of Zionsville Park & Recreation)
The tree canopy walk will be placed near the center of the preserve. (Image courtesy of Zionsville Park & Recreation)
Rescue Plan funds and money raised by the nonprofit Zionsville Parks Foundation.
“We’re trying to find different opportunities for revenue generation,” Logsdon said. “That’s why we passed the naming rights policy. That’s why we have a sponsorship policy, a memorial bench and tree program, and we’re always looking for those partnerships. We realize that we can’t do it all alone and also our general fund is not grow-
ing at a rate equal to our parks system.”
Board members said their goal is to maintain an open dialogue on funding for long-term maintenance to ensure the success of Carpenter’s Nature Preserve. The operational budget for parks and recreation is ultimately set by the town council.
Board members also said parks and recreation will be included in the town’s comprehensive plan, which is in development.
Construction documents for Phase 1 construction will come to the board in August. A ribbon cutting for the preserve is anticipated in 2026.
Meanwhile, the board approved the first of three funding agreements for the preserve, specifically targeted on what will not be developed. The parks department applied for several grants for the development. The next step is to create a conservation easement within the preserve.
“This is that last step with the DNR before we could procure the $3 million reimbursement for the acquisition of Carpenter’s Nature Preserve. These funds are vital for us to move forward with construction,” Logsdon said.
The easement is 173 acres of the preserve’s total 215 acres. That $3 million in funding is from the Indiana Next Level Conservation Trust, a land acquisition funding mechanism of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
“That was purposely coordinated with the DNR so our future nature center and potential White Oaks Common multiuse space would not conflict with the conservation easement, where the priority of that is to maintain open spaces, outdoor recreation and natural habitat,” Logsdon said.
The parks department was also awarded a Land Water Conservation Fund grant from the Indiana DNR and is pursuing additional DNR funding to provide a third conservation easement on site. While there are multiple grant programs, the Indiana Next Level Conservation Trust agreement was the only document before the board for approval in July.
The agreement gives the park board the authority to approve that conservation easement pending final review with the attorney and the DNR.
ON THE COVER: The prairie pavilion will include seating and restrooms. (Image courtesy of Zionsville Park & Recreation)
ABOUT CARPENTER NATURE PRESERVE
Carpenter Nature Preserve, formerly Wolf Run Golf Course, was purchased in 2021 by Jim and Nancy Carpenter, who came up with the vision to preserve the area for future generations.
In May of 2023, the Zionsville Town Council purchased the property for $4.52 million via a bond for the preserve and to fund the cost of engineering, surveys
and construction documents for the first phase of construction.
A panoramic drawing of the proposed outlook of Eagle Creek is available at view.mylumion. com/?p=35vtds5i5fph94js.
Learn more about the preserve at zionsville-in. gov/733/Carpenter-Nature-Preserve.
Antonia Bennett eager for jazzy Carmel Symphony Orchestra performance
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Antonia Bennett had the benefit of learning from the best.
Not only did the jazz vocalist perform with her legendary father, the late Tony Bennett, since she was young, but she also was exposed to many of his famous friends.
“Especially in Beverly Hills at that time, there were a lot of talented people that lived (nearby), like Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney,” she said. “Our neighbor was songwriter Sammy Cahn, who lived right across the street. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were within walking distance. When my parents would have parties, they would all be there and get us to sing around the piano. There was a lot of exposure to people who were at the top of their craft who loved what they did and got to do it. It just became a possibility for me.”
Bennett will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 9 with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. She is the opening-night headliner for the Carmel Jazz Festival, set for Aug. 9-10. She will sing songs by George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Saxophonist Bryan Thompson, who performs as B. Thompson, will have a one-hour set at 6:30 p.m.
The 50-year-old Bennett said she is excited to work with Carmel Symphony and Joel Smirnoff. Bennett said her relationship with Smirnoff goes back several years because he was good friends with her father.
“It’s nice to do something together,” she said. “To celebrate Ellington and Gershwin is very meaningful.”
Bennett said some of the arrangements are Smirnoff’s and some are her own. Smirnoff is working on an arrangement of Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing.”
In addition to performances, Bennett has plans to release a holiday album.
“We’re just finished that and are in the process of mixing it now,” she said.
A single will likely be released from it this fall, followed by a full release near the holidays.
“I’m excited about that because the holidays were always such a big deal in my family,” Bennett said. “I got to record a lot of the songs that I grew up singing. In a way, it’s a tribute to my father. He loved holidays so much and I think he made two or three holiday records over his career span.”
Bennett said she and her dad sang a duet on “I’ve Got My Love to Keep me Warm” on one of his holiday albums.
“Just to be able to redo some of those classic holiday songs helped me to honor him,” she said. “This is a way to keep him close to my heart.”
Tony Bennett died July 21, 2023, at age 96.
She has another album called “Expressions,” which she plans to release after the holiday album. One of her original songs, “Right On Time,” has already been released as a single. She said likely one more single will be released this year
“We’re going to maybe release one
more single this year and then at the beginning of the year, drop another single,” she said. “Then sometime in that year, we’ll release the rest of the record. That album is a really good reflection today of who I am as an artist because it’s half standards and half original songs. It’s a nice compilation and a very strong record of things that I love.”
Besides Gershwin and Ellington, Cole Porter is another of her favorites.
“I grew up with all those songs and watched a lot of musical theater and plays growing up,” she said. “My parents did a great job of exposing me to all the arts. I used to watch shows like ‘Oklahoma!’ and I would memorize all the songs in one weekend. I was doing that constantly because there are so many great musicals and songs. When you have such a rich library to pull from, there is always something new to do. You can do the same song over and over and it never gets old because the lyrics are so rich and meaningful, and the harmonies are so beautiful that you can tell the story slightly differently each time you do it.”
For more, visit carmelsymphony.org and carmeljazzfest.com.
‘LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL’
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” runs through Aug. 25 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIE
Evil Woman: The American ELO will perform Aug. 2, and A1A: The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show will perform Aug. 3 at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Both performances start at 8 p.m. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
PHISH
Phish will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2-4 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
LIVE AT THE CENTER
The Live at the Center series will feature the Brandon Meeks Quintet at 7:30 p.m. July 30 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $10 or register for a free livestream at thecenterpresents.org.
DISPATCHES
Home Free set for holiday concert — All-vocal country group Home Free will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts this holiday season on its “Any Kind of Christmas” tour. The a cappella quintet has amassed 750 million views and 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube. Tickets are on sale at thecenterpresents.org.
Broadway star to lead master classes — Best known for originating roles in “SIX” and “The Great Gatsby” on Broadway, Samantha Pauly will lead two in-person choreography master classes Aug 22 at Grace Church in Noblesville. Classes are recommended for ages 12 and up. Pauly will teach choreography from “SIX” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and from “The Great Gatsby from. 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more, visit discoveringbroadway.org.
Antonia Bennett will perform Aug. 9 with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at the Palladium. (Photo courtesy of Antonia Bennett)
CIDE celebrates 25th season
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Central Indiana Dance Ensemble co-Ar-
tistic Director Ashley Jacobs has had a close-up view of the program’s growth.
DANCE
After all, her mother, Suzann DeLay, founded the organization, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
“It has been at the top of my priority list to continue my mom’s legacy,” said Jacobs, who was 12 when her mother started CIDE.
The company has become a pillar in the community and is known in the central Indiana area as having the best training in the state.”
“On staff we have three alumni who have been trained by her, which is really exciting moving into the next 25 years with their past experience with CIDE.”
A gala celebrating the anniversary is set for Jan. 25, 2025.
“As we go into the next 25 years, I am extremely proud and excited of artistic staff and the continuance of my work.” said DeLay, who serves as executive
director.
DeLay has been awarded the Outstanding Citizen Award from Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam and Distinguished Hoosier honor from Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Jacobs, who serves as co-artistic director with Michael Casey Clark, stopped dancing upon graduating from Indiana University in 2009 with a degree in dance performance.
“This is also the summer my mom opened up Central Indiana Academy of Dance, so I went straight into teaching and was hired as the youth company director,” she said.
Jacobs had been teaching since the age of 17 and has been assisting since she was 12.
The season opens with “The Nutcracker” Dec. 13-15 at Star Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville. MixedRep is set for March 9, 2025, at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
The premiere of a new ballet, “Beauty and The Beast,” choreographed by CIDE resident choreographer Paul Tillman, is set for May 17-18, 2025, at The Tarkington.
For more, visit cidedaance.org.
Saturday, August 10, 2024 | Four Day Ray, Fishers Register at WoofstockRocks.com or scan below!
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 hundreds of animals in need
MUSICAL THEATRE
Saxophonist excels on TV show
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Bryan Thompson received some rave reviews for his national TV debut.
The saxophonist, who performs as B. Thompson, made it to the next round of “America’s Got Talent” as all four judges gave approval in an episode that aired in early July.
MUSIC
eventually became the last one to give his approval.
Thompson, an Indianapolis native who now lives in Los An geles, will perform a one-hour set before Antonia Bennett’s show with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Bennett is the opening-night headliner at the Aug. 9-10 Carmel Jazz Festival.
For his “America’s Got Talent” audition, Thompson played a sax solo of “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” on the episode that aired July 9. Judge Sofia Vergara called his performance “sexy.” Vergara and judge Howie Mandel were the most enthusiastic about his audition. Simon Cowell
“He’s a tough cookie,’ Thompson said. “It’s hard persuading people the world deserves to see you in a few minutes. I’m grateful for the chance to do more. To give a captivating performance without giving your all is difficult to achieve. You want to have more for future rounds.”
Thompson has been performing as part of Babyface’s band. Kenneth Brian Edmonds, who goes by Babyface, also is an Indianapolis native.
Thompson has performed at the Palladium but has never played his own show with his own band.
“This will be the first time I can create something to entertain at the Palladium,” Thompson said. “It’s sort of my favorite venue in the Indianapolis area. I’ve seen a lot of favorite artists there (such as) Brian Culbertson, Kenny G, Boney James and Dave Koz.”
For more, visit bthompsononline.com and carmelsymphony.org.
Clarinetist returns to Jazz Fest
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Dave Bennett started playing the clarinet at age 10.
CONCERT
“This is the honest-togod truth, when I started playing, I knew this is what I was meant to do in life,” he said. “I didn’t know beyond that, but something clicked perfectly. I started playing professionally when I was 13 and started touring when I was 14. It’s been an amazing life. Thus far, all my dreams have come true.”
The Dave Bennett Quartet will perform at 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at Carter Green stage on the Center for the Performing Arts grounds in Carmel. The free concert is part of the Aug. 9-10 Carmel Jazz Festival.
Bennett, 40, performed at the inaugural Carmel Jazz Fest last year.
“We had a wonderful time and the ovation was fantastic,” said Bennett, who is from Waterford, Mich. “They treated us really well. It’s a great honor to be coming back. We perform in Indiana quite a bit, so it’s like coming home. (Carmel is) a beautiful town.”
Most of Bennett’s songs are instrumental, but he said a few have vocals.
“We have a couple originals of ours that have gained popularity now,” Bennett said. “As far as classic things, we have some (pieces) by Benny Goodman we’ve throw in. A lot of times we’ll close with a Jerry Lee Lewis song because it really brings the house down and it’s a lot of fun to do that.”
Bennett said it’s been one of his busiest years. He usually performs three or four times a week. He has performed at the Elkhart Jazz Festival for 22 years, which was held in June this year.
For more, visit davebennett.com and carmeljazzfest.com.
Dave Bennett will play at Carter Green at 9 p.m. Aug. 9 as part of the Carmel Jazz Festival.
(Photo courtesy of Dave Bennett)
Swanky fundraiser benefits Make-A-Wish
By Jennifer A. Haire news@youarecurrent.com
The second Wine, Women and Shoes event benefitting Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 16 at Lucas Estate in Carmel.
NONPROFIT
MAW Director of Donor Advising Leslie Scott said the event “brings together up to 500 of central Indiana’s women of influence (to fulfill their) promise to grant wishes for local critically ill children who are already waiting for their wish to be granted.”
Guests can enjoy select culinary samplings from local restaurants and visit wine stations throughout the property. VIP ticketholders will also have access to a private bar and reserved lounge seating. The event includes a runway fashion show.
“The fashion show this year is hosted by Macy’s, and they’re showcasing their highend brands,” Scott said.
Long-time wish granter and friend to Make-A-Wish, Nicole Pence Becker, owner and operator of Pence Media Group, will
Local high-fashion clothing retailers will be on-site with their latest items available for sale. Moyer Fine Jewelers will bring its most popular pieces.
“Twenty percent of the proceeds that they raise, they donate back to Make-AWish. So, ladies are shopping with a purpose,” Scott said.
The afternoon includes remarks from Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam and Carmel resi-
dent and MAW alumna Elizabeth Miller, who will share what the wish experience meant to her.
Additional activities include a live auction, 100-bottle “wine wall” raffle, and a Key to the Closet raffle where one winner will go home with up to $20,000 in prizes. Each raffle entry receives a Moyer Fine Jewelers $100 store credit.
Guests are encouraged to dress in their best fashion-forward attire to be eligible
to win prizes for “Best Dressed” and “Best Shoes.”
There are currently 224 promised wishes for central Indiana children.
“They are counting on us,” Scott said. “We look to our guests in attendance to help us try to grant as many as 40 with the event.”
To purchase tickets, donate or become a sponsor, visit one.bidpal.net/wws24/ welcome.
Champagne is available for purchase at the bubbly wall. (Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana)
The main stage at Lucas Estate in Carmel. The event features a wine wall raffle.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 TH , 2024
11AM to 3PM at Lucas Estate, Carmel, IN
oki.wish.org/wws
TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE
Rail Trail celebrates history
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Deeply rooted by its connections to the past, the Big-4 Rail Trail provides nearly 9 miles of a flat, paved 12-foot-wide trail winding through Zionsville and Whitestown that is perfect for walking, running and cycling.
A connecting section between Whitestown and Zionsville was completed in 2023, providing continuous access between 500 E. in Whitestown and the Zionsville Road trailhead in Zionsville.
The Big-4 was home to railroad tracks operated by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway from 1852 to 1962.
On May 1, 1865, the body of Abraham Lincoln traveled through Zionsville and Whitestown as the assassinated president returned to Illinois for burial.
Historic references can be found throughout the stretch between Zionsville and Whitestown, including a marker where the depot once stood in Zionsville and a plaque honoring Lincoln and Whitestown namesake U.S. Congressman Albert Smith White in Whitestown.
The trail provides connections to multiple
TAKE A HIKE!
neighborhoods and parks, including Starkey Park, Overley-Worman Park, Mulberry Fields and Heritage Trail and features two painted tunnels and benches.
Trailhead parking and amenities are available at Zionsville Road Trailhead, Nancy Burton Trailhead, Zionsville Town Hall, American Legion Trail Crossing, Carter Station, Heritage Trail Park and downtown Whitestown.
Learn more about the Big-4 Rail Trail at zionsville-in.gov/701/Big-4-Rail-Trail.
DISPATCHES
School vaccinations – Children entering kindergarten, 6th and 12th grades are required to receive age-specific immunizations prior to the start of the school year. The Boone County Health Department, 116 W. Washington St. in Lebanon, will host a vaccination clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 31. Walk-ins are welcome and no appointment is needed. A list of required vaccinations can be found at in.gov/ health/immunization under the ‘children and teen immunizations’ tab.
United Way announces medical debt relief program — A joint investment of over $1.7 million from United Neighborhood Centers of Indianapolis and United Way of Central Indiana will relieve more than $239.6 million in medical debt for more than 112,000 people across the region. The effort began after an anonymous donor gave $1.2 million to the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to abolish more than $169 million of debt for 74,013 people in Marion County. United Way of Central Indiana contributed an additional $500,000 to Undue Medical Debt to abolish more than $70.4 million of additional debt for more
than 38,000 people in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties. Undue Medical Debt uses donations to buy medical debt in bulk at a discount. Then, rather than collect the debt, the nonprofit abolishes it. For more, visit unduemedicaldebt.org.
Resources available for those in recovery — Individuals recovering from addiction or with prior justice involvement — or facing mental health challenges in general — can access new, detailed resources at no charge from the Wellness Council of Indiana to help them maintain their current employment or re-enter the workforce. The organization also has support for employers with the latest best practices to work toward becoming a recovery-ready employer. WCI is a subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, which has prioritized the health of Hoosier individuals, workplaces and communities through Indiana Prosperity 2035, its recently released long-term visioning plan for the state. For more about the WCI, visit wellnessindiana.org.
The Big-4 Rail Trail is a continuous paved trail between Whitestown and Zionsville. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Tips and assorted rising fees
Commentary by Terry Anker
Some of us check restaurant bills very closely, as if we are expecting to find some hidden plot against our wallets. Others simply toss a credit card into the folder without a glance at the total, assuming no nefarious intent on the part of servers. Most of us fall somewhere in between. We scan the bill expecting an approximate range but don’t review the culinary choices and associated expense of our guests. Easy when the receipt is only for a drink or two, it becomes predictably more difficult with multicourse meals for multiple diners. We average the sum divided by those gathered and, if close, offer payment.
ESSAY
Sticker shock is precipitated by our own advancing years. How can a cup of coffee be $6 when we remember a time when it was a buck? Or in the short term, we might recoil at the rapid increases delivered by inflation. That $6 hot beverage was $5 last week. Still, we keep up nominally with the general price
of things. Even so, there are new obstacles to confront. When it was once anticipated to provide 10 percent for expected service and more only for exemplary, it is now routine for the bidding to begin at 20 percent. Self-help kiosks nudge us to give, one can only assume, to the unseen folks in the back who are making the drink. Now, we include automatic “donations” to causes selected by them. We can opt-out but must demand to be and then wait until the check can be recreated, being wrongly shamed along the way. Hotels bundle “amenity fees” whether we benefit or not. Quietly added without notice or option, many restaurants in our nation’s capital are including an “administrative fee” of 5 percent to offset the cost of recent increases in wage costs.
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent. com.
Three remarkable people
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
Dr. Ruth Westheimer was a spunky 53-year-old who gave explicit sex advice to listeners of her radio show from her studio in New York City beginning in 1981. I was hosting a morning TV show, and while listening to her program on the way to work, I was so impressed with her candor that I encouraged my producer to book her as a guest.
HUMOR
When I interviewed Dr. Ruth, her first question to me was, “How is your sex life?” I kiddingly responded that it was not her business. We both laughed because the truth is, that’s exactly what her business was. Dr Ruth died recently at age 96. I first met Richard Simmons while hosting an evening talk show in Columbus, Ohio, in the late 1970s. My wife Mary Ellen was unsure about the exercise guru, questioning whether his public displays of compassion and empathy for those with weight problems were sincere. It seemed a bit showbizzy.
Mary Ellen came to the studio the night Richard was to appear. After the show, while searching for a restroom, she passed a dressing room where Richard sat with a young lady who was struggling with her weight. Richard was holding her hand, consoling her while she sobbed. That’s who Richard was.
Back in New York City the next year, I was on location preparing to tape a segment with Richard. A woman pulled up in her car and told Richard that her mom was a huge fan but was presently in the hospital. She requested an autograph to take to her. Richard jumped in the woman’s car and headed off to see the ailing mother. I was left there with my crew. That’s who Richard was.
A photographer saw Richard jogging with me in Central Park. The snapshot he took appeared on the front page of a well-
“When I interviewed Dr. Ruth, her first question to me was, “How is your sex life?” I kiddingly responded that it was not her business.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
known tabloid. View it on my Facebook page.
Years later, Richard came to Indy. He arrived in a limo at my home, where I was doing my WISH-TV segment live at 5:30 a.m. Visit this link mail.aol.com/d/ compose/1643587137 and view David Barras, the morning anchor, convulsing in laughter. Richard appears at the end of the edited clip.
Batting third for this column is the late Willie Mays, arguably the greatest baseball player of all time. His home in New Rochelle, N.Y., was only a couple of miles from my house. I never had the nerve to knock on the door for an autograph, even though I am sure he would have happily obliged. Willie had a touch of Yogi Berra in him. My favorite Willie quote went something like this: Never assume the other guy will never do something you would never do. That seems like too many negatives for one sentence.
But when I think about Ruth, Richard and Willie, I know they are three people I will never, never, never forget.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
1. “Moby-Dick” captain
5. Where to watch “House of the Dragon” 8. Colts foe 14. Tijuana region
15. Noah’s boat
16. Family members
17. Carbon (on the periodic table) + dog show participant = Warrick County town
19. Gold (on the periodic table) + scorch = DeKalb County city
20. Barracks boss 21. Gab 23. Deploys 24. Indy Zoo beast 26. Guitar forerunner 29. ___ and flows 33. University of Illinois locale
35. Burro’s kin 38. Grow dim 40. Tree part 41. Rebel Guevara
42. Packed like sardines?
43. Geological time
44. Fiber-___ cable
46. Simon Property’s David Simon, briefly
47. Approximately
49. Sidekick
50. Scolding sound
51. Hall and Oates, e.g.
53. Dollar bills
54. Reject
55. Neither’s partner
57. Pacer foe
60. Depressed
62. Wipe clean
67. Holmium (on the periodic table) + former Indy mayor Peterson = Lake County city
70. Tungsten (on the periodic table) + Victory Field area = Lake County town
72. Meeting plan
73. Wide shoe letters
74. Croaking critter
75. Strive to achieve
76. Summer hrs.
SCAN HERE
77. “Hamlet” soliloquy starter Down
1. Preschool lessons
2. “lol”
3. Slightly open 4. Blast sound
5. “2001” computer
6. US Supreme Court justice
7. Gumbo veggie
8. Nashville based awards org.
9. Texans, on a Colts scoreboard
10. Permeate
11. Outback birds
12. Hoosier Cab charge
13. Indiana tax IDs
18. Narc’s org.
22. Barry Bagels choice
25. “Bad gardeners are rough around the hedges,” e.g.
27. Albuquerque college, initially
28. No-no
29. Royal decree
30. Afflictions
31. Boron (on the periodic table) + chess piece = Newton County town
32. Glide across Geist
34. Vampire’s craving
35. Actinium (on the periodic table) + 2,000 pounds = Marion County community
36. “Rocky” actress
37. Splinter groups
39. Marry hastily
43. Awards statuettes in Peyton Manning’s trophy case
45. Ramen Ray menu item
48. Indy City-County Councilor Gibson
49. Dove call
52. Boxers and briefs, briefly 54. Imbibed
56. Hinkle Fieldhouse whistle blower
57. The last Indiana native to win the Indy 500
58. ___ stick
59. Lyft rival
1 Purdue Star with 8 Olympics Gold Medals
61. Spellbound
63. Schism
64. Aviation prefix
65. Messy person
66. Upper hand
68. Nutrition fig.
69. Body art, for short
71. Westfield HS volleyball court divider
Answers on Page 23
Looking for p/t front desk manager for health care office in Carmel Indiana. Must have strong people skills to work in pleasant, low stress clinic setting. Competitive wages and retirement funding. Please email or fax resume to Terri at: Indyspinect@gmail.com Fax 317-817-9903
