entertainment, recreation, and plus outdoor adventures on the interconnected trail network.
• Pickleball Courts
• Golf Simulators
• 3,000 sq. ft. of Fitness
• Zero-Entry Pool with Spray Jets
• Miles of Walking Trails
• 4-Acre Dog Park
• Coffee Shop
Scoreboard Sponsors
Zionsville Little League
• Dick’s Sporting Goods
• Duke Energy
• State Farm Insurance - Garrett Wietholter
• State Farm Insurance - Ron Schulte
• Mite E Ducts
• Hope Plumbing
1K Plus Sponsors 2024
• C and J Well and Water Company
• Cornwell Plumbing
• Duke Energy
• Great Lakes Ace Hardware
• McDonalds Whitestown
• McDonalds Zionsville
• Nicholson Orthodontics
• Next Era Energy Resources
• Romas Family Dental
• State Farm Insurance - Garrett Wietholter
• State Farm Insurance - Ron Schulte
• Subway Boone Village
• Zionsville Eyecare
• Zionsville Lions Club
• Zionsville Optimist Club
The Zionsville Little League wants to thank all Parents, Players, Umpires and Volunteers for a great Extended Fall season. In spite of the challenges this year, we were able to have a successful season for all who participated…
• Zionsville Psychiatric Medicine LLC
In addition, we offer a special thank you to the following Sponsors. Without their support, the program would not be possible…
2024 Backstop Banner Sponsors
• Manny’s Remotes
• 4th Generation Flooring
• Cornwell Plumbing
• Masters Heating and Cooling
• A.A. Huber & Sons, Inc.
• Ferris Property Group
• Akard True Value
• Next Era Energy Resources
• Subway Boone Village
• Ashcraft & Frazier Orthodontics
• C and J Well and Water Company
• B Paul Consulting
• Basham Baseball
2024 Concession Stand Sign Sponsors
• Buchanan & Bruggenschmidt, P.C.
• A A Huber and Sons
• Carter Van Lines, Inc.
• Basham Baseball
• Cedar Street Builders
• Buchanan & Bruggenschmidt, P.C.
• Cobblestone Zionsville
• City BBQ
• Dairy Queen Zionsville
• CMS (Community Management Service)
• Dick’s Sporting Goods
• Duke Energy
• Cobblestone Grill
• Geenex Solar
• Control Tech
• Godley Family Orthodontics
• Dairy Queen
• Great Lakes Ace Hardware
• Guardian Pediatrics
• Damage Doctors
• Dick's Sporting Goods
• Jeremy Page-Carpenter Realtors
• Marietta CPAs
• Price/Baker (Zionsville Underground)
• Roundtripper Baseball
• Village Orthodontics
• Witham Hospital
• Duke Energy
• Zionsville Dentistry
• Ferris Property Group
• Zionsville Eyecare
• Fundae's Ice Cream & Sweets
• Zionsville Lions Club
• Zionsville Psychiatric Medicine LLC
• Greek's Pizza
• GreenCycle of Indiana
2024 Spring and Fall Sponsors
• Humston Machinery
• Ashcraft & Wong Orthodontics
• Indiana Vein Specialists
• B Paul Consulting, LLC
• Inspire Foundation
• Barthuly Irrigation
• C&J Well Company
• Jeremy Page-Carpenter Reality
• Carter Van Lines, Inc.
• Kern Brothers Shoes
• Cedar Street Builders
• Control Tech
• KSM Consulting-for Challenger league
• Driving Wind Farm
• Robert Stevens Roofing
• Romas Family Dental
• Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling
• St. Alphonsus Church
• The Snider Group, Inc.
• Wigand Insurance Group
• Mitch Young Construction
• Williams Comfort Air & Mr. Plumber
• Mobile Wash Xpress
• Zionsville American Legion
• Newman Dentistry
• Zionsville Eyecare
• Zionsville Lions Club
• Nicholson Orthodontics
2024 Spring Sponsors
• Olympia Stone
• Burn Boot Camp-Zionsville
• Price Baker Enterprises. LLC
• Dbat Zionsville
• Pro-Tek Photography
• Dr. Christopher Dull
• Greeks Pizza- Zionsville
• Restore Life Chiropractic
• Green Cycle
• Robert D. Stevens Roofing
• Humston Machinery - Jerry Schultz
• Kern Brothers Shoes
• Romas Family Dental
• Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Indiana
• Roundtripper
• Protek Photography
• Laviolette Real Estate Group, LLC
• Dr. Gretchen Hoagland
• LHD Benefits
• Mite E Ducts
• Village Orthodontics
• Marietta CPAs
• Olympia Stone
• McDonalds
• Mister Quik
• Rush On Main
• Rainbow Restoration
• Stifel Investment Services
• Second Nature Landscapes Inc.
• Tiffany Lawn & Garden Supply
• Shelbourne Knee Center
• The Scoop
• Zionsville Psychiatric Medicine LLC
• St. Alphonsus Liguori Church
• State Farm Insurance(R Schulte/G Wietholter)
• Stifel Financial
• Stonegate
• Subway
• Summers
• Taylor Oil
• The Scoop
• The Snider
• Wildman
• Witham Health
• Wright PC
• Zionsville
• Zionsville
• Zionsville
• Zionsville
• Zionsville
• Zionsville
October 8, 2024
Current in Zionsville currentzionsville.com
About us
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
A new medical practice in Zionsville is focused on bringing back the close relationship that doctors once had with their patients.
Dr. Adam Henry, Dr. Luke Pittman and Dr. Rachel Trupe met at the IU School of Medicine. After more than a decade of working in different health care systems, the trio began discussions about opening a new practice for direct primary care.
The result — Valiant Primary Care, 262 S. Ford Rd. in Zionsville — opened in June 2024.
The founding partners said direct primary care means they are present for their patients by design, encouraging patients to advocate for themselves and become more actively involved in their care rather than just taking doctor’s orders.
“It means patients have more access to their primary care physician,” Henry said. “They can call and text their physician. We’re not told what to do by insurance. We have freedom to refer to different places and we have more time with patients with same day appointments and longer appointments. It’s a focus on the relationship between the patient and the physician, more so than the patient-insurance-physician relationship.”
The primary care model essentially cuts out health insurance companies and allows patients to sign up for the service based on a fixed fee. Valiant Primary Care operates on a monthly fee — $150 for individuals; $100 for a second member; $50 for a third; and a cap of $400 for families of four or more.
The doctors said with traditional primary care, patients are often shuffled and transferred within the corporate system while trying to reach their doctors. But with direct primary care, there is no middleman.
The doctors said in those bigger health
care systems, where patients are often scheduled in 15-minute increments, it can be difficult to recognize a patient’s immediate issues, especially when patients have to navigate the corporate system before they can even speak with their physician.
“We have more control over everything here, we can say, ‘OK, I’ll see you tomorrow’ to a patient,” Henry said. “The relationship part is the most important. The access is the most important. That can keep you out of the hospital or getting injured or having something worse happen.”
When it comes to signing up, Pittman said that while some patients want to come in and be guided through the process, others are comfortable enrolling on the website. And, he said, either option works.
“One of the interesting things about the direction that health care is going generally, health care in general is improving at empowering consumers,” Pittman said. “In a lot of other industries, you can appreciate the marginal benefit relative to the marginal cost. In health care it’s really
hard to do that, because the marginal cost is obfuscated and it’s also unknown until you’re several bills deep having already received the services.”
Patients still use their health insurance for hospital visits, specialists and prescription coverage, but most low-cost labs and imaging are included with the membership.
The doctors said that while emergencies are nonnegotiable — critical care requires a trip to the hospital — overall wellness is something that patients can be more involved in with direct primary care.
“It’s kind of cool that patients are being more well equipped, because they come with different questions and different degrees of investment in their own health,” Pittman said. “I think some of the era of, ‘I am the doctor, you are the patient, you do what I say’ may exist in certain niches, but it’s less common now. With our patients, we’re partners and advocates. When you have time to actually spend with people, you can dig into things a little deeper, but you can also be a little more tailored to their care plan.”
Learn more at valiantprimarycare.com.
Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XIII, No. 28
Copyright 2023
Current Publishing, LLC
All Rights Reserved.
30 South Range Line Road Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444
Contact the editor
Have a news tip, calendar item or photo to share?
Contact the Managing Editor Marney Simon at marney@youarecurrent.com or call 317.489.4444. You also may submit information at currentzionsville. com. Our print deadline is eight days prior to publication. Submissions for online accepted daily.
Share your thoughts
Letters to the editor may be sent for consideration to letters@youarecurrent.com. Letters have a maximum word count of 300 words. Please include your city of residence and a contact phone number for verification. Current Publishing may refuse letters.
Advertise your business
If you’re interested in reaching the Zionsville market (12,138 households), you may obtain more information by emailing ads@ youarecurrent.com (subject: Zionsville advertising) or by calling 317.847.5022.
Obituaries obits@youarecurrent.com
Legal advertising legals@youarecurrent.com
Delivery questions
circulation@youarecurrent.com
Join our community facebook.com/currentinzionsville x.com/youarecurrent instagram.com/youarecurrent
Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in Zionsville are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville centenarian Russ Nicoles and the Zionsville Optimist Club were honored during the “Breakfast with Champions” event Sept. 28 at the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home in Boone County for dedication and service to the organization.
IUMCH is celebrating its 100th year this year. The organization serves youth in crisis by providing a group home campus to assist children who are experiencing academic or behavioral difficulties in educational settings; have a history of alcohol or drug abuse but are not in need of inpatient substance abuse treatment; or who have completed inpatient psychiatric or drug/ abuse treatment and need transitional placement.
Nicoles, a resident of Hoosier Village, was this year’s recipient of the Agape Award. The award is given annually to someone who shows an agape love — love that is selfless, unconditional and often universal — for children at the home. Nicoles has been an active supporter of
IUMCH for several years. He said the award is humbling.
“I think the program is helping children who need kind of an environment to grow in to be able to adapt themselves to the world,” Nicoles said. “The educational program is set up for the world as it truly is. It seems that the students are truly im-
(Below) Zionsville centenarian Russ Nicoles was honored by the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home with the Agape Award.
pressed with the school.”
The Zionsville Optimist Club also was honored at the event with the Community Partner Award. The award goes to a company, government agency or nonprofit that has made a significant impact — be it financial, volunteer or advocacy — on the lives of youth at IUMCH.
“Everything the Optimist Club does is about youth,” ZOC member and former president Tim Ottinger said. “You hear about things on the news about neglect and abuse, broken families. Where do those kids go? Who helps? For a child to find themselves in a very difficult life situation to end up (at IUMCH) that has been so successful, I’d have to call that a blessing. This home turns the lives of kids around who come from broken situations.”
ZOC has supported IUMCH since 2019 with financial support and exposure.
IUMCH was the club’s spotlight organization for the 41st annual “Hit the Bricks” fun run in 2023, earning $7,500 to fund the purchase of computers for youth at IUMCH.
IUMCH is in Lebanon. The breakfast honored 100 years of service of the home’s volunteers and supporters and the youth it has served.
The home offers a therapeutic family-style, noninstitutional environment with family teachers that have specialized training in the teaching-family model. Each youth receives a private, fully furnished bedroom.
Learn more at iumch.org.
Janaé, Breast Cancer Survivor
In January of 2021, Janaé was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to a routine mammogram, Janaé’s care team at Community Health Network was able to detect her cancer early, and by May of that year, she was cancer-free.
Janaé often wonders what she might have missed had she not had her annual mammogram, including the births of her seven grandkids. It’s simple, it’s convenient and it can save your life.
Schedule your annual mammogram today at eCommunity.com/mammogram
news@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville-based coworking center zWORKS recently announced the addition of two new board members.
Chelsea Linder, vice president of innovation and entrepreneurship at TechPoint, and Kate Swanson, vice president of community development at Applied Research Institute, joined zWORKS effective Sept. 15, bringing the board to seven members.
“The new board members will bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership in the municipal, nonprofit, entrepreneurial and startup sectors to zWORKS,” Board President Paul Dreier stated. “We are delighted to have these enormous talents on our board and know that Chelsea and Kate will help to successfully grow zWORKS within the ecosystem.”
Linder began her career with Angie’s List in Indianapolis, where she served as operations manager. She later served as vice president of operations and partner at gener8tor — a small business accelerator — where she assisted with opening more than 20 offices. She has been with TechPoint since 2023.
Swanson was the founding director of zWORKS from 2017 to 2019, after which she served as the executive director of the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation. Swanson became administrative director at zWORKS startup 120Water in 2020. She served as deputy mayor in Zionsville in Mayor John Stehr’s administration from January to March 2024 before starting with Applied Research Institute.
zWORKS is a nonprofit founded in 2015 as an economic development engine for the Zionsville area. zWORKS provides shared workspace in downtown Zionsville along with programming and resources to accelerate the establishment and growth of entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers and remote workers.
Learn more at zWORKS.org.
Sat, October 12, from 11 AM- 2PM
$2,500,000 • 2705 S 975 East, Zionsville, IN 46077
A property like this in Zionsville is unmatched. Discover this enchanting 15-acre estate with a modernized log home. The 4-bedroom residence features spacious living areas with three fireplaces, an XL dining room for family gatherings with direct access to the outdoor kitchen, a cozy den, and a secret loft. This serene property includes private woods, ravine views, elevation changes, a gunite pool, all along Eagle Creek. Additional highlights include a man cave with bunkhouse potential, a large pole barn and workshop, and a detached 3.5-car garage. With two parcels and potential for another home site, this estate offers both privacy and entertainment space. Schedule your tour today!
Fundraising event for local parks – Zionsville Parks Foundation will host a fundraising breakfast, Parks & Pastries, at 8 a.m. Oct. 25 at Zionsville Town Hall. Participants will learn about the foundation’s work and vision for the future of Zionsville’s parks and green spaces. The event will feature remarks from Mayor John Stehr and keynote speaker Martha Hoover, founder of the Patachou Foundation.
Established in 2020, the Zionsville Parks Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to support preservation, enhancement and growth of green spaces in Zionsville. Tickets to Parks & Pastries are $50 per person. Register at tinyurl. com/5646se5e.
Holiday organization workshop – Westfield Washington Township and professional home organizer Cindy Garloch will host a “Simplify Your Holidays” workshop at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at the township building, 17400 Westfield Blvd. in Westfield. Participants will learn how to create a stressfree, joyful holiday season with practical tips and tools to help you declutter, save time and find peace in the busiest season of the year. Registration is $37 and seats are limited to 15 participants. Register at westfieldwashingtontwp.us under the program registration/special events tab.
Scam alert — Indiana State Police has received an increase in reports of a common email extortion scam. These scam attempts target a victim by including the person’s name, address and sometimes a photograph of their home. In the email, the scammer claims to have installed Pegasus spyware on the victim’s phone and attempts to extort money from them. Report cybercrimes like this by visiting ic3. gov. More information about cybersecurity is available at in.gov/cybersecurity. A resource to learn about scams or to check a suspicious email is ScamTracker.com, operated by the Better Business Bureau.
Halloween event in Whitestown – The annual Trick or Treat Trail takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at Anson Acres Park, 4671 Anson Blvd. in Whitestown. All ages are invited to dress in costume and walk the spooky trail to trick or treat with local businesses, enjoy a hayride and roast s’mores over a bonfire. Admission is free. Learn more at whitestown.in.gov under the community tab.
The 500 Festival has announced Indiana University Health as the new title sponsor of the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. This partnership leverages IU Health’s commitment to community wellness and its longstanding support of the 500 Festival and its events. The two organizations’ aim is to enhance the positive impact on health, wellness and fitness among Hoosiers statewide. OneAmerica previously served as the sponsor.
“We are thrilled to welcome IU Health as the title sponsor for the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon,” stated Bob Bryant, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “Their commitment to health and wellness has been instrumental in the growth and success of our events. We look forward to collectively expanding our initiatives to inspire fitness and active living across Indiana for all Hoosiers.”
IU Health has supported the Mini-Mar-
athon in prior years, providing wellness services to runners throughout the race.
As the presenting sponsor for the 500 Festival Education Program since 2014, the organization has impacted more than 274,000 students, promoting health and fitness amongst younger generations.
More than 700 IU Health employees have participated in the 500 Festival Employee Wellness Challenge, and more than 100 volunteer annually for the Mini-Marathon and 5K.
Riley Hospital for Children, part of the IU Health network, welcomes the 500 Festival Princesses to its annual Indy 500 party. Many princesses choose to complete their outreach events at IU Health locations statewide. A child life specialist from IU Health also contributes to the selection process for the Princess Program, underscoring the deep integration of IU Health in the festival’s initiatives.
The IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, scheduled for May 3, 2025, attracts thousands of participants.
Joyce Lee Davis, 89, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, was called home to be with the Lord on September 19, 2024. She was born October 13,1934, in Lexington, Virginia, daughter of the late Leonard Nicely and Lucy Wright Nicely. She lived the first twelve years of her life on a farm in Collierstown, Virginia, with her parents and grandparents, before moving to Naugatuck, Connecticut. She graduated from Naugatuck High School in 1953 and matriculated at Ohio Wesleyan University where she studied elementary education and served as a lay minister in the United Methodist Church.
interim minister for a local church, was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and active in the Zionsville Lions Club, leading a summer concert series program.
After graduation, Joyce traveled by ship to Germany and married Dr. W. Harold Davis, on August 31, 1957. Harold was serving as a veterinarian in the Air Force at Toul Rosiere Air Base in France.
Joyce helped manage the Davis Animal Hospital and volunteered as PTA President in the Concord Schools, later serving as a member of Governor Robert D. Orr’s Indiana State Education Advisory Board. During the early 1980s, Joyce created a seminar for women called “You Can Be a Cinderella at Any Age.” She was also active in helping her husband during his tenure as President of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association. Upon retirement, she served as
For those that have known Joyce or have been fortunate to meet her for a brief time, all have felt her genuine love, care, concern and heartfelt listening ear with helping others in their moment of need or to share in their times of joy. Joyce has always embraced life with tremendous zeal in her love for music, the arts, Broadway shows, time with family, entertaining friends, afternoon tea and taking time to rest quietly with a book. She was a kind soul; always wanting to care for others with a faith-filled heart. She was a devoted servant to the Lord.
Joyce will be put to rest in the Collierstown Presbyterian Church cemetery. She is survived by her children, Melinda Davis Lanham and Dr. Todd Davis, and their spouses and children.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sharing a financial gift to the Alzheimer’s Association, American Diabetes Association, or the Zionsville Lions Club Park.
Visit www.krausefuneralhome.com website for more information regarding a Celebration of Life.
Food festival in Indianapolis – The Chick en & Beer Festival returns for the fourth year to University Park in Indianapolis from 2 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19. The festival features 50 local food and craft beer vendors. By blending cuisines from Filipino, Venezuelan, Indian and American comfort food with local breweries, the festival creates a space that fosters inclusion and celebrates the power of food to bring commu nities together. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $45 for VIP entry. Purchase tickets at chickenandbeerindy.com.
Film festival – The Torchfire Film Festival returns to the Artcraft Theatre in Franklin at 7 p.m. Oct. 17. The official selection of the festival is the short film “Physical Mat ters: directed by Kurtis Aaron Bowersock of Indianapolis. The event also features the feature film “Pears” and the short film “Gunslinger,” directed by Hoosier natives Ryan McCurdy and Lincoln Reed, respectively. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 each. Buy tickets at torchfirefilmfestival. com.
American Senior Communities recogniz es program graduates — American Senior Communities and Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County recently rec ognized 16 graduates of the Opportunities to Nursing Excellence Program during a luncheon at The Bridgewater Club. The pro gram helps caregiver staff become LPNs and RNs while maintaining their current jobs. Participants commit to work for an HHC/ASC facility for an agreed upon period post-graduation. ASC operates Allisonville Meadows in Fishers, Maple Park Village in Westfield, Riverwalk Village in Noblesville, and Zionsville Meadows in Zionsville, as well as numerous other facilities in Indianapolis and throughout the state. For more, visit asccare.com.
Coats for kids – The Salvation Army of Central Indiana is collecting winter coats, gloves, hats and scarves for the 38th annual Coats for Kids program to serve more than 2,500 children in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. New or gently used coats can be dropped off at Classic Cleaners locations including Whitestown Parkway in Whitestown; Michigan Road in Zionsville; and U.S. 421 in Zionsville. Do nations will be accepted through Oct. 19. Donations will be cleaned and sorted by size for distribution.
Meridian Audiology LLC, a private Audiology practice, was founded by Dr. Alison Wyss, Au.D. and Kira VonBlon, M.S. after working together in an ENT setting for more than 12 years. The seasoned Audiologists strive to consistently provide premier care to patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and auditory processing disorders as well as those who want to protect their hearing from damage.
In stark contrast to the medical audiology world where patients are in and out in quick succession, private practice allows Ali and Kira to spend whatever time their patients need from them for their individual hearing healthcare situation.
devices are reporting easy listening in noise and greater clarity than ever before while wearing these amazing hearing aids,” according to Dr. Wyss.
“We want our patients to know that we are here for them, and we will not rush them out the door so we can get on to the next patient. We love to get to know our patients, and we feel we treat them like we would treat our own family,” VonBlon said. “We’ve had many patients find and follow us to Meridian Audiology and that is a testament to our relationships with them.”
The Meridian Audiology Audiologists pride themselves on keeping up with, and offering the top-of-theline newest technology in hearing aids, tinnitus and auditory processing disorder. They were invited to attend Phonak’s new technology launch in August 2024. “Patients now wearing those
Beyond comprehensive hearing evaluations and hearing aid sales, service and maintenance, Meridian Audiology also offers the LACE AI (Listening for Communication Enhancement) program which improves comprehension of speech, tinnitus management consultations, hearing protection options and auditory processing disorder evaluation and management. We are also available to speak to your local community clubs about hearing and hearing loss.
Meridian Audiology accepts most major insurances, offers convenient scheduling via phone, email, or online and are independent of other medical practices or hospitals. Hours are 9am-4pm MondayFriday by appointment only. They are located at 911 E. 86th Street, Suite 035. Phone 317-731-5386. Email info@ meridianaudiology.com Website: meridianaudiology.com
Current is publishing Q&As with candidates for various seats in our readership area. Below are the responses of Becky Cash, a Republican running to retain the Indiana House of Representatives District 25 seat, which includes Zionsville and Whitestown.
Cash, from Zionsville, is running against Democrat Tiffany Stoner.
The election is Nov. 5.
I have spent the last 18 years advocating for parents and families of children with special and medical needs and helping them to make the educational and medical decisions that are best for their families. I have also advocated for them at the Statehouse, both by contacting legislators and testifying on bills. During the pandemic, I watched families struggle and knew that I could make a difference. In the first two years that I have been in office, I have put forward legislation to better protect our workers and residents in long-term care, to protect our special needs children in schools, to increase the penalty for those who fail to report knowledge of child sexual abuse in sports like at USA Gymnastics and to protect the rights of parents. I am running to continue that work.
Public safety — Public safety is crucial for both our district and the state. As we are watching more and more fentanyl come into our state and into Hendricks and Boone County, we must ensure that our law enforcement has the resources they need to protect our residents. We are also watching crime cross from Indianapolis into the suburbs. We have increased funding, at the state level, for our law enforcement, and I will continue to prioritize this funding.
Rising assessed values are quickly increasing property tax bills, making it more unaffordable to move here (or stay here). How do you plan to address this?
House District 25 is an economically diverse area. I represent from the most affluent to the poorest families in our state. But across the board, regardless of what part of the district people live in, most are asking for property tax relief. I look forward to going back into session in January, rolling up my sleeves and working with my colleagues in the legislature to create meaningful property tax reform. This is essential and I have repeatedly said that I believe that we can get property taxes under control while continuing to uphold the quality of life that Hoosiers expect.
What do you most want voters to know about you?
We have many important issues facing our district and state; however, three that I believe are particularly important right now are:
Protecting vulnerable populations
— The legislation that I have put forward focuses on protecting our children from abuse, our special needs population, those with complex medical issues, our elderly in long-term care facilities, and those who struggle to advocate for themselves.
Property/tax reform — I believe that we can lower property tax costs for Hoosiers while also making sure that we properly find our law enforcement, public safety, schools and community resources. I look forward to helping tackle this issue in the next legislative session.
My husband and I have lived in Zionsville, on the border of Whitestown, for over 18 years. We moved here from Illinois for a safer place to raise our children. As the parent of six children, four of whom have special and medical needs, I am completely dedicated to the parents, children and individuals of our district. I will work to make sure that our schools are as strong as possible, that parents have the ability to make the educational and medical decisions that are best for their children, that our retired and elderly residents have a safe place to grow old and I will work to be fiscally responsible with the tax money that the state receives. I love our great state, and I will work to make sure Indiana continues to be an amazing place to work, play and raise families. I can be reached with questions at info@beckycashforindiana.com and I hope to have your vote on or before Nov. 5.
Current is publishing Q&As with candidates for various seats in our readership area. Below are the responses of Tiffany Stoner, a Democrat running for the Indiana House of Representatives District 25 seat, which includes Zionsville and Whitestown.
Stoner, a Zionsville resident, is running against incumbent Becky Cash.
The election is Nov. 5.
Why do you want to run for this office?
Just like my grandmother before me, I watched my husband leave for war. When he deployed to Iraq, we had three young children in diapers, and suddenly the “man” of the house became our 6-year-old son. Make no mistake — military spouses are also serving our country, holding families together during times of uncertainty. The support I received from the Zionsville community during that challenging time was incredible and deeply appreciated. It’s that sense of community that has inspired me to run for office. It’s my turn to
give back. I have experience working for a large corporation, owning a small business and volunteering passionately. I’m an independent thinker who’s connected with thousands of Zionsville residents. One thing is clear: they want a safe, vibrant community with solid infrastructure and a strong, well-funded school district.
What top three issues is your campaign focused on?
I will prioritize protecting funding for our Zionsville schools, ensuring our children receive the quality education they deserve. I am a firm advocate for the medical freedom of all Hoosiers, believing that health care decisions should be made by individuals in consultation with their doctors and faith leaders — not by 150 legislators in the Statehouse. I will never support legislation that endangers the health and lives of women. Additionally, I will champion local control, empowering communities to make decisions that best serve their residents. With strong local leadership, we can create a state where people want to live and businesses want to invest for
Rising assessed values are quickly increasing property tax bills, making it more unaffordable to move here (or stay here). How do you plan to address this?
Indiana’s current property tax system is failing Hoosiers, placing an unfair burden on families, seniors, and aspiring young homeowners, making the American dream increasingly difficult to achieve. Seniors and families on fixed incomes are struggling to afford their homes, and homeownership is becoming more elusive. In rapidly growing communities like Zionsville, the system exacerbates the challenges of population growth. Essential services such as police and fire protection, infrastructure, and public education are underfunded, stretching local government budgets too thin.
To address this broken system, we need a reform framework that offers taxpayers stability and predictability. I believe property tax bills should not increase by more than 10 percent from year to year and I would support legislation
to the effect. Fast-growing communities must receive the resources they need to support their expanding populations without having to appeal to the state every year. Most importantly, we need to prioritize relief for those at risk of losing their homes and for those aspiring to become homeowners. By making our system more equitable, we can build stronger, more resilient communities across Indiana.
What do you most want voters to know about you?
In about a month, it’s essential that we all play our part, as every election is decided by those who show up! I am dedicated to protecting public school funding rather than redirecting resources to private schools. I will defend a woman’s right to choose what happens to her body, especially since my opponent strongly opposes medical freedom for women. Additionally, I will work to lower gas taxes because we live in the most commutable district in Indiana. Lastly, I’ve been married to a Republican for 28 years, and if we can engage in constructive debate at home, I can certainly do the same in the Statehouse.
Students at Union Elementary School in Zionsville appreciate good old-fashioned communication.
Second-grade students run the in-school mail service Union Express for the 600-plus pre-K through fourth-grade students enrolled at the school at E. 300 S. in Zionsville. The students collect, sort and deliver mail each week.
On Sept. 25, students celebrated the kick-off of the 2024-25 school mail service. During the event, four students were honored as the winners of a stamp design competition. The winning designs will be featured on school stamps used by students and family members to send letters to Union Elementary students, faculty and staff.
Winners Sarah Conrad, Catarina Godinho, Alana Russell and Addison True were awarded a certificate and will have their designs displayed in a gallery of previous
years’ winners. During the celebration, second-grade students learned about the U.S. Postal Service and were sworn in as honorary mail carriers by school resource officer Joe Robinson.
The Union Express program teaches students how to use the postal service and gives second-grade students an opportunity to practice organization and take on an important responsibility to serve the school community.
A Whitestown man faces charges after allegedly firing a gun toward an apartment at the Meadows on Main apartment complex.
The incident happened just after 6 p.m. Sept. 29. Whitestown police officers were dispatched to Meadows on Main on reports of shots fired. According to a news release, Boone County dispatch informed officers that witnesses observed multiple people running following reports of shots fired, two of them white males in hooded sweatshirts.
Shortly after arrival, officers discovered two suspects matching the descriptions and a handgun in the vicinity of the subjects. The individuals were detained and following interviews, police determined that a verbal altercation in the apartment complex led to the two males allegedly firing shots at the victim’s apartment. A second firearm was also located during the field investigation.
Cristopher Croley, 20, was identified as one of the suspects and arrested. He is charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and pointing a firearm.
Bond was set at $3,500 cash in Boone County Court. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Dec. 18.
The second suspect identified was a juvenile who also was arrested and transported to Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center, where he is being held pending charges of intimidation with a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and pointing a firearm.
The Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department was assisted on the scene by the Zionsville Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Carmel High School senior Sophie Mock is headed to the University of California/ Berkeley to play lacrosse, but she still managed to have her best golf season.
“Sophie has become a more consistent player over her high school career,” Greyhounds girls golf coach Kelly Kluesner said. “Her ball striking has improved but overall, her course management and course strategy have improved the most. She is an incredible athlete with so much raw talent, she has really just had to work on fine-tuning her game.”
Kluesner said Mock’s mental toughness has always been a strong asset.
“She has led the team by example, offering support through her past experiences and runs practices with different drills and fun contests,” Kluesner said. “She is a natural leader, a hard one to replace.”
Mock was low scorer for the Greyhounds with a 77 in the IHSAA Regional Sept. 28 at Battle Ground Golf Club near Lafayette. Carmel finished third in the regional to qualify for the IHSAA State Finals, which
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan
Favorite subject: English
Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii
Favorite music genre: Country
was scheduled for Oct. 4-5 at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Mock placed third with a 72 in the Sept. 23 sectional at Pebble Brook Golf Club in Noblesville.
Mock agreed with her coach that consistency has been key,
“I definitely had the most improvement in course management, which has reflected in my scoring,” Mock said. “Trying to avoid big numbers by playing smart has
helped my game immensely.”
Mock finished tied for 10th in the state individual standings in 2022 and tied for 22nd in 2023.
The Greyhounds repeated as the state
golf champions in 2023. Then Carmel captured the Indiana High School Lacrosse Association 2A state title this spring.
“Winning both state titles in golf and lacrosse my junior year is a memory I will cherish the rest of my life,” Mock said. “It was always my dream to win state titles in both sports, and to be able to accomplish that meant the world to me.”
Mock said the 10th-ranked Greyhounds didn’t score as well as the previous two seasons because they lost three top players to graduation from last year’s team.
“But the team has demonstrated a high amount of work ethic and an ability to deal with adversity this season,” she said.
Mock, who was named all-state in golf as a sophomore, was named USA Lacrosse All-American last season.
“It can be very difficult juggling two very demanding sports; however, both of my coaches have been incredibly supportive of my goals which has made managing both golf and lacrosse much easier,” said Mock, who started playing both sports in sixth grade.
Mock said she plans to major in business or economics in college.
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Lacrosse is gaining popularity in Indiana, and McFly Lacrosse is helping lead the surge.
“Lacrosse is North America’s oldest team sport. It was started by Native Americans who used to play lacrosse on mile-long fields for games that lasted days,” said Matt McIntyre, a partner with McFly Lacrosse. “You modernize that many hundreds of years, and we are in modern-day lacrosse.”
McFly Lacrosse hosts camps and leagues at Grand Park in Westfield and Off the Wall Sports in Carmel. Grand Park provides an opportunity for local lacrosse that isn’t available elsewhere — fall and winter indoor leagues played on regulation-sized outdoor fields.
“Even your East Coast lacrosse enthusiasts don’t have the same level of access to the facilities that we do,” McIntyre said. “We are very rare in the sense that Grand Park allows for field lacrosse, which is the outdoor version of the game. We have the ability to play field lacrosse indoors.”
The league — dubbed Max Lax — welcomes more than 1,000 players in each of the fall and winter sessions. The leagues are for any skill level for ages kindergarten through high school.
McIntyre said the game is gaining popularity in the Midwest, enough that the USA Lacrosse Experience chose Indianapolis to host its tournament this month.
“It’s the first time in Indiana that the Olympic version of lacrosse will be hosted,” McIntyre said. “In the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, lacrosse reenters the (games). In this new format, they will play a version of 6-on-6 lacrosse, which looks very similar to a basketball game except your sixth person is your goalie. The game plays very much like basketball and there are a lot of similarities in terms of speed and people at a glance will understand the game.”
The tournament is Oct. 11-13 and features the national lacrosse teams from the United States, Great Britain, Puerto Rico and Columbia. McFly Lacrosse is a designated partner as a local supporter. The weekend also includes a skills clinic for visitors at the IU Indianapolis fields.
“It’s a training opportunity for anyone interested,” McIntyre said. “You can get tickets to the games and tickets to the skills training elements downtown Indianapolis during that weekend. Lacrosse is taking over greater Indianapolis.”
McIntyre said youth wanting to learn about lacrosse will also get a chance in Zionsville, when the Zionsville Youth Lacrosse Club hosts a Pick Up & Play Clinic, an annual event sponsored by USA Lacrosse where lacrosse fundamentals are taught at dozens of clinics across the U.S. The clinic is Nov. 3 during National Celebrate Lacrosse Week.
“It’s an opportunity for anyone anywhere in the state to come to Zionsville and play lacrosse and get an introduction to the sport. It’s a free event,” McIntyre said.
The opportunity means all youth interested in lacrosse
in central Indiana will get a chance to explore and engage with the sport. Pick Up & Play clinics play a crucial role in National Celebrate Lacrosse Week, providing youth with a chance to experience the sport and establish connections with local lacrosse organizations. It’s the second year that the clinic will come to Zionsville.
“Last year, our clinic introduced over 50 kids to the sport of lacrosse, and we are excited to host another Pick Up & Play for these young athletes,” said Aaron Walton, president of Zionsville Lacrosse Club. “This event will provide youth with a fun and interactive experience while fostering their
interest in the sport.”
During the event, Zionsville Youth Lacrosse Club will use USA Lacrosse resources — including equipment, curriculum, insurance, branding and marketing — to provide a well-rounded lacrosse learning experience.
“These resources will allow us to provide a comprehensive and enjoyable experience for the participants,” Walton said.
The Pick Up & Play clinic is Nov. 3 at Stadium 875, 4650 S. 875 E. in Zionsville. Individuals of all skill levels kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to join. Register at tinyurl. com/yvmmxsd6.
Learn more about the Pick Up & Play event and the USA Lacrosse Experience at usalacrosse.com.
sport in the United States. While more popular on the East Coast, the sport is making gains in Indiana.
“Girls lacrosse just got designated as an emerging sport from the IHSAA,” he said. “That means starting in 2025-26, girl lacrosse will be named as an emerging sport on its way to being sanctioned if more schools get involved. Really, what the emerging sport status does is allow lacrosse to be part of the conversation with high school athletic directors who are considering bringing the sport to their school. That’s a pretty big step for this growing sport.”
Lacrosse is a club sport in Indiana, but McIntyre said it often is supported as a sanctioned sport. He said the sport has gained popularity with younger participants.
“There are similarities to almost every sport,” he said. “Basketball, football, soccer, hockey, all seem to have a translation into the game of lacrosse at different parts. One could argue that with lacrosse being the oldest
team sport, other sports are the ones that benefit from lacrosse first.”
McIntyre said there are several ways for parents to introduce their children to lacrosse, from participating in USA Lacrosse-sponsored events to signing up for local leagues.
“I would say, consider lacrosse now because it’s only going to get more popular,” he said. “I think the parents of an athlete — no matter what sport they were interested in before — could make an impact on a lacrosse field very easily. The athleticism is high, but it’s the same as any sport.”
McIntyre said adult leagues also are showing potential for growth in Indiana.
“I am very optimistic about the future,” he said. “I’m enthusiastic about it. I think it’s one of the most athletic, creative, physical, mindful sports out there that blends a lot of great things from many other sports into one.”
Learn more at mcflylacrosse.com.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley try to find humor in the most trying moments of motherhood. The comedians will present their “#IMOMSOHARD: Ladies Night” show at 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. It’s the fourth national tour for the friends.
“It’s a two-person standup tour,” Hensley said. “Jen and I just hit all the topics that resonate with women and moms. We talk about stuff that would normally make us cry. We try to make it funny, so everyone feels a little better about the hard stuff.”
The friends began by producing videos online, which built a following.
“When we started, we had babies at home. They were like little, tiny people, and that provided its own material,” Hensley said. “Now, we have these teens and tweens and we have all new material to write about. It’s evolved over the course of the four tours.”
The comedians’ web-series, “#IMOMSOHARD,” started out in 2016.
“Our first video, Jen forgot her daughter’s name and that’s when the videos took off,” Hensley said. “It was a lightning strike in the right direction, ‘Oh, wow. Women like this.’ They like seeing our friendship and what we have to say. We’re not trying to teach them anything or try to show them how to do anything better. We did really sexy videos about hemorrhoids, body hair and the coup de grace we did was our swimsuit video. That one went globally viral and did not garner one modeling contract.”
From there, Hensley said the act became a television pilot, a bestselling book, a children’s book, a podcast and a wine line.
“It’s just been this boulder rolling downhill that we’ve been really happy to be a part of,” Hensley said.
After the series took off, Hensley and Smedley realized they needed to have a
live comedy tour.
“We had to go see these women that are commenting on (us) and see them face to face,” Hensley said. “Jen and I are both comedians. We were like, ‘Let’s put this on the stage in front of thousands of women,’ and it’s been a blast.”
Hensley and Smedley grew up in Nebraska but didn’t know each other there.
“We separately moved to Los Angeles to pursue (careers),” Smedley said. “We finally met after a show in Los Angeles.”
Smedley was doing a comedy show and Hensley was encouraged to attend by a friend with offers of free beer.
“We were drinking beers in the parking lot afterwards because we’re both from Nebraska and we like tailgating,” Hensley said. “A friend said, ‘Did you know you’re both from Nebraska?’ The number of names we started dropping and how high we went in pitch started to break glass because we had all the same friends and knew all the same people but had never run into each other. We became fast friends and the rest is history.”
The comedians’ videos are on Facebook and YouTube,
“When social media really took off eight or nine years ago, everyone was talking to women on how to do a better job of what they were already doing,” Smedley said. “Or scaring us with stories
Kristin Hensley, left, and Jen Smedley will bring their comedy show to the Palladium. (Photo courtesy of Allied Solutions Center)
of here is what can happen if you don’t do things the right way. We were like there is nothing for a mom who is up late at night that will just make her laugh. We get messages from mothers and grandmothers of, ‘Where were you when I was a mom? I needed someone to voice what I was feeling in a lighthearted way and make me laugh about it.’ I think it was a realization that cavewomen dealt with what we’re dealing with but just without iPads.”
Hensley said they love when women bring their husbands to the shows.
“They’re usually terrified when they show up,” Hensley said. “We like it that way. We also know some women who decided they are going to buy themselves a ticket and go and they end up with 10 new friends.”
Smedley said life creates an array of new material.
“There are a lot of hormonal changes from parents and kids,” Smedley said.
The comedians, who each have two children, often take questions from the audience. But they don’t share advice, just laughs
“When we’re home, you can pretty much be sure we’re on a soccer field somewhere,” Hensley said.
For more, visit thecenterpresents.org and imomsohard.com
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” runs Oct. 10 to Nov. 24 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
Leah Crane and Pavel Polanco-Safadit will perform Oct. 9 at Union 50 in Indianapolis. The fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. with a three-course dinner. For more, visit indyopera.org.
Lee DeWyze will perform Oct. 10, followed by Paul Hughes Oct. 11 and Richard Cortez Oct. 12 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. All three concerts are set for 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
Carmel Community Players presents “Steel Magnolias” through Oct. 13 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
‘RIPCORD’
Main Street Productions presents “Ripcord” through Oct. 13 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse. org.
Civic Theatre’s production of “Kinky Boots” runs through Oct. 19 at The Tarkington at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
‘PAPER
Ben Folds’ “Paper Airplanes Request” tour is set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Grand Funk Railroad burst on the music scene in 1969. In 1971, it sold out Shea Stadium in New York City in 72 hours, breaking the box office record of The Beatles.
Now, more than 50 years later, the band is still going.
“I never dreamed I would be doing it in my 70s with grandkids,” said Don Brewer, one of two original members still with the band along with bassist Mel Schacher. “I feel blessed. It’s been an amazing life. I get out on stage and start singing ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ and I look at the audience and sometimes it’s grandchildren, children, parents and grandparents and they are all singing along to the song.”
Grand Funk Railroad will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The band is using the tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Gold-selling single, “The Loco-Motion.” Brewer, 76, is a drummer/vocalist.
“It’s the love of doing it,” he said. “What
(Photo courtesy of Gregg Roth)
else am I going to do at this particular time in my life? If I can do what I’ve loved doing all my life, that’s what I’m going to do.”
The band typically plays concert halls and casinos, but sometimes appears before much larger crowds at festivals.
“We do three or four shows a month usually,” Brewer said. “We’re not like the guys that get on the bus and do 100 shows. We’re kind of weekend warriors. We fly out, play Friday and Saturday, and fly home.”
Brewer wrote “We’re an American Band,” the band’s No. 1 single in 1973. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Michael Husain grew up watching the Indiana Pacers in the American Basketball Association.
“The ABA was a bit of a renegade league that broke barriers,” said Husain, a Zionsville resident. “I didn’t realize those ABA players were struggling.”
p.m. Oct. 19 at Living Room Theatres.
Husain served as director, producer, narrator, writer and interviewer. Geist resident Amy Pauszek and Indianapolis resident Bryan Boyd were co-producers.
Dr. John Abrams, a Carmel ophthalmologist, and attorney Scott Tarter co-founded The Dropping Dimes Foundation to help struggling ABA players financially and to help get them proper recognition.
“When I heard about Dropping Dimes and the work they were doing, it became important to me to follow that story,” Husain said.
The result is “The Waiting Game,” a 90-minute documentary that will have its world premiere at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Heartland International Film Festival at The Tobias Theater at Newfields in Indianapolis. There will be a second showing at 12:15
The NBA agreed to pay $24.5 million in July 2022 to former ABA players.
Four ABA teams — the Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, New York (now Brooklyn) Nets and Denver Nugget — joined the NBA in 1976. The other teams disbanded.
Husain said after recounting Dropping Dimes’ mission, the documentary tells the story of why the ABA was so impactful and worthy of recognition. The ABA was founded in 1967.
Former Pacers players Bob Netolicky and Darnell Hillman are among those interviewed in the documentary. Other featured interviews are Bob Costas, Julius Erving and sociologist Harry Edwards. Indianapolis filmmaker Ted Green, who was involved with Dropping Dimes, was interviewed as well.
For more, visit heartlandfilm.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Doug Stark was a young man the first time he played Tevye in “The Fiddler on the Roof.”
The 75-year-old Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre owner first played Tevye in 1973 or 1974 at Enchanted Hills Playhouse in Syracuse, which he owned and operated with his friend and business partner, Bob Zehr.
He will now portray Tevye for the eighth time at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre from Oct. 10 to Nov. 24 at the Indianapolis venue. Tevye is a poor milkman who wants to find good husbands for his five daughters.
“Thinking about it, it’s like ‘Sunrise, Sunset,’” Stark said. “When I first played it, it was the beginning of my career, and now it’s at the end of my career.”
Stark said Tevye was his favorite role from the first time the played it.
“I have always felt Tevye was a part of me, and I am a part of him — ask any father,” said Stark, who has three children: Nick, Elizabeth and Josh. “It fits on all levels — especially family and Tevye’s relationship to God.”
Stark previously portrayed Tevye at Beef & Boards in 1981, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2014.
Time has given Stark more perspective on the role.
“As I experience more of life, I am able to bring that knowledge to the role,” he said. “It is much easier today to act tired, hurt, angry, centered on the family and loss, because I have experienced all of it.”
Stark also has learned to appreciate small things about the role.
“I enjoy sitting down a lot more,” he said. “Like when I sit on the milk can — I enjoy it a lot more.”
Stark said “today more than ever” the musical resonates with audiences.
“It’s about family, tradition and relationship to God,” Stark said. “It’s about people finding happiness in the face of adversity and the ability to survive.”
Stark said his favorite song is “Far From The Home I Love.”
“It’s not Tevye’s (song), but it touches me every night,” he said. “It’s universal.”
For tickets, visit beefandboards.com
Zionsville-based AES Restaurant Group recently announced several key leadership appointments and promotions within its organization.
AES founder and CEO John Wade said the changes reflect a commitment to fostering talent from within and making sure the right leaders are in place.
Jay Bedrosian, previously the COO, steps into the role as president. Bedrosian has been with AES for two decades.
Robert Bird will transition from the role of vice president to COO. Jonathan Hetler has been promoted to Director of Training.
In addition, twelve leaders have been named as partners with AES. The new partners are Luke Prifogle, Jonathan Hetler, Robert Bird, Melissa Lindsey, Jason
Bowman, Brandi Fry-MacNeill, Rebecca Griffin, George Onisa, Wes Hoffman, Steve Roberts, Mindi McKeeman and Mary Spears.
“Each of these leaders has made significant contributions to our organization and exemplifies the values and dedication that AES stands for,” Wade stated. “Their new roles and responsibilities will not only strengthen our leadership team but also position us for future growth and innovation. This is a momentous occasion for AES, and I am proud to continue to lead this amazing team into the future as we continue to grow and succeed together.”
Founded in 2004, AES operates Arby’s restaurants in 16 states. Its newest location is under construction in Westfield near Grand Park.
AES is Arby’s third-largest franchise group. Learn more at AESRestaurants.com.
Campbell graduates from premier banking school – Janelle Campbell, senior vice president at Community First Bank of Indiana, is among 159 recent graduates of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. Throughout the 25-month program, Campbell was immersed in a mix of traditional and nontraditional models of coursework on financial management and strategy, innovation and engagement, leadership and culture, and lending — all through a community banking lens. GSBC’s mission is to empower banking professionals by providing coursework that covers banking essentials, builds organizational and community leaders and provides each student the skills to act innovatively and think critically to lead their organizations into the future.
class at least once in the surveyed threemonth span for child care-related reasons and 40 percent of parents that experienced such employment disruptions in the prior year reported leaving the workforce as a direct result of childcare-related issues. The report notes that childcare is a central determinant in how reliably a parent can participate in the labor force. Indiana ranks 27th in labor force participation relative to other states. View the full report at indianachamber.com/education.
Childcare challenges for workers – The Indiana Chamber of Commerce recently released a report examining the impact of child care challenges on Indiana’s state economy. The study showed Indiana misses an estimated $4.22 billion annually for the state’s economy, including a $1.17 billion annual loss in tax revenue, due to childcare issues. Additionally, 57 percent of parents of young children missed work or
Berger named IMA president/CEO – The Indiana Manufacturers Association recently announced the selection of Andrew Berger as its new president and chief executive officer. Berger will replace Brian Burton, who announced his retirement plans earlier this year. Berger has served as a lobbyist at the IMA for the past 10 years and was most recently the senior vice president of Governmental Affairs. He received his undergraduate degree from Hanover College and his law degree from Indiana University – Indianapolis. Berger previously served as legislative director at the Association of Indiana Counties from 2007 to 2014. Berger assumes the new role Jan. 1, 2025.
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
There are two filling stations near me where prices sometimes vary by as much as 40 cents per gallon. These two establishments are right across the street from each other. I wouldn’t drive downtown to save four bucks on a new car, but I sure would venture 300 yards to save a few dollars on a tank of gas. I want a job pointing out to people who drive into the more expensive gas station how they can save some good money. I’d charge them three cents a gallon. I told my wife Mary Ellen I’d find a good-paying hobby when I retired. By the way, they are no longer called gas or filling stations. Oil companies prefer the term convenience store. A real gas station, including someone to pump your gas, is only a distant memory for baby boomers like me. Back in New York, when I was young and virile and could pump my own gas, an attendant did it for me. Sixty years later, I have two bad knees, a sore elbow and a bad back. Now, I’m supposed to do it myself. This was abysmal planning on everyone’s part.
I still don’t know what side of the vehicle my gas tank is on. I drive into the station and try to look in my sideview mirror, but I can’t see the gas cap. So, I take a chance and pull up to the pump. Wrong side. Then I return to the car and drive completely around the pump to the other side. Wrong side again. OMG, someone stole my gas tank. I thought the little arrow on my dashboard was telling me where to look out the window.
Now, how about that gas pump. It’s always asking me questions:
Do you want to pay inside? No!
Do you want a car wash? No!
Do you want a receipt? No, no!
Do you want a Krispy Kreme doughnut?
Let me think about that one.
Do you want us to turn off that stupid
“I still don’t know what side of the vehicle my gas tank is on. I drive into the station and try to look in my sideview mirror, but I can’t see the gas cap. So, I take a chance and pull up to the pump. Wrong side.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
music video? Yes!!!!
Do you want to know why the gas price went up while you were pumping the gas? Oh, yes!
Inside a service center, milk costs are not quite so erratic, but be prepared for this as you enter for a future fill-up:
• Whole milk: $2.39 and 9/10 cents per gallon
• 2 percent milk: $2.34 and 9/10 cents per gallon
• 1 percent milk: $2.28 and 9/10 cents per gallon
• Half-percent milk: $2.17 and 9/10 cents per gallon
• White-colored water: $1.02 and 9/10 cents per gallon
I figured out last night that mouthwash would cost about $150 a gallon and computer ink would cost and about $4,000 per gallon.
I hope that makes you feel better about gas prices.
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.
1. Indy 500 sponsor 4. Large African antelopes 10. Chills
14. Indianapolis trio?
15. University that plays at Blackstock Stadium
16. Herr’s wife
22. Some WTHR fare
24. 1492 ship
25. ___ King Cole
27. Produce a molar
28. Give the cold shoulder 29. Hog food 31. Balkan native 32. Dog in Oz 34. Civic Theatre play start 36. Apt. units
37. University that plays at Scheumann Stadium
40. ___/her pronouns
43. Noblesville HS swimming competition
44. Fill-in worker
46. “A Fish Called ___”
48. Part of IMPD (Abbr.)
50. Gov. Holcomb
53. Heavenly spirits
55. Ray Skillman Northeast Kia model
56. Nixed, at NASA
57. Pacers foe
59. Fills
61. “Terrible” czar
62. “And others,” in Latin
64. Haberdasher’s item
65. Tax assessment
66. College that plays at Little Giant Stadium
67. Half and half
68. Angers
69. Begins
70. Wood Wind Golf Club standard
1. Herb and Mel 2. Man’s jewelry item
Pesto ingredient
Like some Oliver Winery 17. Fellows 18. Obstruct 19. Common houseplant 20. Shoe style
Revise a story for Current
Seafood restaurant offering
Hamilton County Court do-over
Scot’s refusal
Clothes
UNLEASHED SCOOPING
Save your back and your time!
Family/locally owned dog waste scooping service with 16 years of experience. Prices start at $16/week for one visit for up to two dogs. More frequency also available. Email: UnleashedScooping@gmail.com.
Phone 317.764.4777.
C&H TREE SERVICE
FIREWOOD SALE
Topping – Removal
Deadwooding – Landscaping
Stump Grinding – Gutter Cleaning
INSURED – FREE ESTIMATES CALL STEVE 317-932-2115
GROUNDHOG STUMP REMOVAL
Professional & Economical
Remove tree stumps, ugly tree roots, stumps in and around chain link or wood fences. We also remove tree stumps that are protruding up onto sidewalks and around sidewalks. We grind them and/or remove. Please Call & Text at 816-778-4690.
Lessons Parent-Child Lessons I teach improvisation for all instruments. Gift Certificates Available Read my LinkedIn bio/About near Carey Road & 146th Carmel 317-910-6990
Junk Removal
Yes, I can take that. 317-460-4586
Firefighter Owned
LAWN CARE & LANDSCAPING
Locally Owned/operated over 43 Years
• FALL CLEAN-UP
• LEAF REMOVAL
• MOWING
• FERTILIZING
• TEAR OUT/REPLACE
FREE ESTIMATES CALL 317-491-3491
LANDSCAPE SERVICES
Patios
Landscape
Fire Features
Pergolas
* Decks
* Retaining Walls
* Design / Build
IndyScapes.com Fidel Lopez 765-208-6008
LOVE DOGS?
HUNT CLUB BOARDING KENNEL
SEEKS Part-Time Kennel Assistant responsible for the daily care of dogs, kennel maintenance, and other duties, as assigned. Starting $15/hr. Exceptional customer service and good communication skills via in-person interaction. Team Member availability includes weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Interested candidates submit resume to: huntclubkennel@gmail.com.
