Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XIII, No. 42
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The views of the columnists in Current in Zionsville are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
Zionsville creates advisory committee on disabilities
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
The Zionsville Town Council recently approved the creation of the Town of Zionsville Advisory Committee on Disability.
INCLUSIVITY
The committee will recommend priorities and strategies to the Zionsville Town Council that address the challenges and needs facing the disability community and promote inclusion and accessibility.
District 24 State Rep. Becky Cash, a Zionsville resident and parent of children with disabilities, and Lauren McNamara, A Zionsville resident with disabilities, spoke to the Zionsville Town Council last month, asking that the committee include people with disabilities.
“I would like to propose that a minimum number of people with disabilities be required to be on the committee,” Cash said. “I assume there will be no shortage of people to take these spots. People with disabilities can speak for themselves. My perspective comes both from being a parent and also from seeing committees filled with professionals as opposed to those with lived experiences and their parents who have a very different lived experience.”
McNamara said people with disabilities should have a voice in setting an agenda to support inclusion.
“Marganilized groups need to be able to speak for themselves,” McNamara said.
Tom Easterday, a former Zionsville Town Councilor, president of ILADD, Special Olympics coach, former commissioner of the Indiana Disability Rights Commission and former chair of the Central Indiana March of Dimes, said about 19 percent of Indiana’s population has a disability, which statistically averages to 6,000 Zionsville residents.
“(The establishment of the disability committee) will reinforce to Zionsville residents with disabilities and those with disabilities who work, visit and shop in Zionsville that Zionsville is and will continue to be a welcoming community for the disabled,” Easterday said. “We recognize people of all abilities as vital members of our town.”
Easterday said the establishment of a committee also benefits the town economically, providing an avenue to apply for
additional grant funding.
The committee will include five voting members and up to five nonvoting advisory members with lived experience, including individuals with experience in advocacy, inclusion, and service to individuals with disabilities.
The committee has specific directives, including:
• Provide strategic input, direction and guidance regarding the town’s Disability Awareness Month campaign and events, ADA transition plan and programming pertaining to disabilities.
• Review and provide input and advice regarding the town’s current services, policies and practices regarding those with disabilities.
• Review and provide input and advice regarding proposed projects, services, policies and practices that may impact individuals with disabilities.
• Work in partnership with local area employers, businesses and economic development organizations, schools, and service providers for individuals with disabilities to increase employment and meaningful work opportuni-
ties for individuals with disabilities.
• Collaborate with disability stakeholders, community partners and local leaders to foster a culture of inclusivity, develop and recommend proposals to address the needs of individuals with disabilities including transportation and housing needs.
The committee will meet quarterly and prepare a written report at the end of each calendar year.
Councilor Craig Melton said the committee fills a need in Zionsville.
“As someone who has battled a learning disability all my life, I’m excited to see this come forward here in Zionsville,” Melton said. “All calibers of people can have different disabilities, whether it’s physical, mental or learning like mine. I think that we struggle with it at different levels, and having a committee of different people — whether they are business people or somebody that is involved in town government or somebody who just expressed their life story as somebody with a disability — I think this is great. I think it’s important that the Town of Zionsville listens to this group and I’m excited to support this.”
The Zionsville Advisory Committee on Disability will help the town council address the challenges and needs facing the disability community. (Photo by Marney Simon)
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Zionsville Town Council officers chosen
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
The Zionsville Town Council held a brief online meeting Jan. 6, forgoing an in-person meeting because of inclement weather.
GOVERNMENT
The council unanimously approved the reappointment of Jason Plunkett as council president for 2025.
“I’ve enjoyed serving and I appreciate the opportunity to continue that,” Plunkett said. The council also approved the appointment of Brad Burk as council vice president.
Per Indiana municipal code, the council elects a president and vice president at the first meeting of each calendar year. The council president is the presiding officer at all meetings, with the vice president serving in that role should the president be absent.
The Zionsville Town Council’s second January meeting was canceled because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The next town council meeting is at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Zionsville Town Hall, 1100 W. Oak St. in Zionsville.
DISPATCH
Blood donations sought — Versiti Blood Center of Indiana has issued an emergency plea for blood donations. Winter weather and a rise in illness have significantly disrupted donations, resulting in less than a day’s supply of critical blood types for patients at local hospitals. Donors can give blood six times a year. Although all blood types are needed, O negative — the universal blood donor type — is in lowest supply. Donors must be 16 or older and in good health, and parental consent is required for donors aged 16 to donate. Versiti Blood Center donation sites include 726 Adams St., Suite 150 in Carmel; 11005 Allisonville Road in Fishers; and 3450 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis. Schedule at appointment at Versiti. org. Walk-in donors are also welcome.
Plunkett
Burk
Splash pad coming to Zionsville
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville will add two new public parks with the addition of the Wild Air subdivision on the town’s west side.
PARKS AND RECREATION
The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Board approved a resolution Jan. 8 to waive $1 million in park impact fees at Wild Air, in lieu of development of two park properties.
Wild Air is a project of Old Town Companies. The development at Oak Street and Marysville Road includes 386 single-family homes and 289 multifamily units. The development includes Johnson preserve — formally named The Woods of Elizabeth and Sylvester Johnson of Wild Air Farms — a 30-acre woodland owned by parks and recreation.
The developer requested the park board waive impact fees in lieu of development of improvements in the Johnson preserve, as well as development of Archer Park. Archer Park will be privately owned by Wild Air, but with a perpetual public easement making the park open to the public. Improvements at the Johnson preserve are restricted to a perimeter rustic trail and signage.
“The intent is truly to have a preserved piece of woodlands,” Zionsville Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jarod Logsdon said.
Signage, fencing, the trailhead, the trail and parking at Johnson preserve are estimated at $514,310.
Archer Park, slated to include a splash pad, playground, benches, public restrooms, paths and sidewalks, lighting and parking within two acres east of Marysville Road, is estimated at a little more than $1 million.
Maintenance of the two park areas will be the responsibility of Wild Air. The properties must be completed within two years.
Board member Anna Schappaugh expressed some concerns that the general public might not realize that the two properties are open to the public and not reserved for use by Wild Air residents.
Schappaugh also said she was concerned with trading impact fees for park development overseen by developers.
Logsdon said the parks will be visible from Marysville Road and will utilize signage approved by the department. The parks department also will actively promote the properties.
“We want to make sure that it is blatantly obvious that it is not an HOA clubhouse that (the public) is not invited to. We want to make sure that this is known as a public park,” he said.
Logsdon also said it is not unusual to waive park impact fees in lieu of park improvements. The Vonterra subdivision on Zionsville Road completed the south end of the Big-4 Rail Trail in lieu of park impact fees, as well as the acreage associated with Overley-Worman Park, also within Vonterra.
“This is not uncommon for park systems or Zionville’s park system,” Logsdon said. “We just don’t necessarily have a standard or a framework for how that looks in every situation. So, we’re curating the terms with every new opportunity. One of my goals for the 2026 budget is to contract with a third party to develop those design standards so that we can hand any of these (developers) a booklet to say, ‘we want it designed to these standards’ and that is when we would waive (impact fees).”
The resolution was approved 6-1, with Schappaugh voting no.
Zionsville Lincoln Lights — Lincoln Park in the Village sparkles with festive holiday lights, presented by Hometown Lawns. Residents and visitors are invited to enjoy the lights and take photos. The lights are on display through Feb. 16 at Lincoln Park, 41 S. Second St.
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Johnson Preserve and Archer Park will be constructed at Wild Air on Marysville Road and open to the public. (Image courtesy of Town of Zionsville)
DON’T RISK CHOOSING THE WRONG LOT!
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Join our President, Matt Huffman, for a complimentary private pre-lottery lot walk. This personalized experience will help you confidently identify your top choices, so you’re fully prepared for the big day.
Schedule your pre-lottery lot walk today and take the first step toward building your dream home at Bradley Ridge in Zionsville!
Orchard Woodland Prairie
Wetland
Wildlife Food Plot
Bicycle route connects
Zionsville to northwest Indiana
news@youarecurrent.com
Bicyclists have a new designated pathway between northwest and central Indiana.
TRAILS
The U.S. Bicycle Route System — an organization that assists with the development of a national network of bicycle routes connecting urban and rural communities across the nation — recently announced that trails and connections in Zionsville and Carmel have been added to its trail map as part of a 186.9-mile trek that connects the Erie Lackawanna Trail in Hammond to the Monon Trail.
USBR 37 is a designated bicycle route consisting of city streets, country roads, off-street trails and multiuse paths.
The newly designated route combines suburban and rural landscapes through the Hoosier state, passing through Indiana Beach in Monticello, Battleground, West Lafayette and Lafayette before connecting to the Big-4 Rail Trail. The route follows the Big-4 Rail Trail through Zionsville then connects to the Monon Trail via 106th Street.
In Carmel, USBR 37 connects to USBR 35, which connects Indianapolis to the Michigan border to the north and Louisville, Ky. to the south.
“USBR 37 is the first designation of its
kind in Indiana after the publication of INDOT’s Planning Public Involvement Plan,” Indiana Department of Transportation Statewide Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator Brandon Burgoa stated. “Through multiple rounds of public comment, we received meaningful feedback from Hoosiers that resulted in direct changes to the route, optimizing the safety and comfort of regional bicyclists.”
The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a developing national network of officially designated, numbered and signed routes that use existing roads, trails and other facilities appropriate for bike travel. More than 18,000 miles of trail connections exist through 34 states and Washington, D.C.
The goal is a network of 50,000 miles of routes that would open new opportunities for cross-country travel, regional touring and commuting by bike. The trail network benefits communities by providing new bicycle routes, enhancing safety and increasing tourism and economic activity.
Digital maps for all designated bicycle routes are available to the public for free via the nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association, an organization that promotes bicycle travel and assists with coordination and national development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System.
View the trail network at adventurecycling.org under the navigate tab.
The Big-4 Rail Trail through Zionsville and Whitestown is part of a 189-mile bicycle route connecting northwest Indiana to the Monon Trail in Carmel. (File photo)
Carmel Winter Games
J anuary 2 4 – 25
This event builds real team spirit through on-ice, non-skating competitive games like:
Human Hungry Hippo
Human Curling Ice Trike Relays
S enso r y-Friendly Skate Day
Wednesday, January 29
A sensory-friendly event for families, especially designed for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder or any type of special need.
Free admission and skate rental for the entire family. Wheelchairs are welcome on the ice and ice walker supports are available to share. Rink will be closed to the general public. Guardians must accompany on ice.
New picnic tables installed
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Board held its first meeting of 2025 Jan. 9. Parks Superintendent Jarod Logsdon reported that 12 new recycled-lumber picnic tables were recently installed at Mulberry Fields. The tables were paid for via a Boone County Solid Waste District grant. The change included up-cycling of the replaced equipment.
PARKS
stalled at Mulberry Fields Park. (File photo)
“We were able to take those antiquated wood tables, re-sand them, reseal them and now they are going out into our natural parks,” Logsdon said. “They are popping up in Overley-Worman and Turkey Foot and other places that really need a place to relax. So, we’re repurposing what we have and allowing for additional opportunities
for those who have mobility issues or who just want to take a seat out in the woods.”
The board also approved the appointment of officers for 2025, including Ryan Cambridge as park board president, Kris Barksdale as vice president and Kimberly Lane as secretary.
DISPATCHES
Political signs limited at town hall — The Zionsville Town Council recently approved an ordinance to limit the number of political signs that can be displayed at Zionsville Town Hall. Councilors expressed concerns that the abundance of signs placed at town hall — a polling location — could create distractions for drivers in the town hall parking lot, block clear lines of sight for law enforcement working at town hall and create fire hazards. Per the ordinance, candidates will be limited to two signs, no larger than 24-inches by 36-inches in size. The measure was approved unanimously.
Donations accepted at Menards — Menards stores are serving as drop sites for local food pantries through the end of March. The company announced that stores also offer nonperishable food items for sale that can be donated. Menards has stores throughout the Midwest, including Carmel, Fishers and Indianapolis.
500 Festival Miler Series dates announced — Registration is open for the 500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy, through Feb. 2. The series, held at Fowling Warehouse Indianapolis, includes three races designed to help participants train for the IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. The Miler Series kicks off with a 3-Miler Feb. 8, followed by a 6-Miler March 8, and concludes with a 10-Miler April 5. For more, visit IndyMini.com/Challenges.
State police recruits graduate — Thirty members of the 86th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy graduated recently during a ceremony in the Indiana State Capitol Rotunda. The graduation and swearing-in ceremony followed 22 weeks of intense training which totaled more than 1,100 hours. New recruits studied criminal and traffic law, deescalation, emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, firearms, impaired driving detection, scenario-based training, and a host of other academic subjects related to modern policing. Among the graduates are Samuel Miller of Fishers and Jarison Solomon Wood of Noblesville, who were both assigned to District 52 –Indianapolis. District 52 includes Marion, Hamilton, Boone, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson and Hendricks counties.
Boone REMC youth tour to Washington, D.C. — The Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., is an all-expenses paid trip available to accepted applicants who are high school juniors whose families are Boone REMC members. The trip is June 15-22 and includes tours of historic sites and monuments meetings with U.S. representatives and senators. Participants also tour Gettysburg and the Flight 93 memorial, visit Arlington National Cemetery for the changing of the guard and a night cruise on the Potomac River. Apply at indianaec. org/programs/youth/youth-tour. The application deadline is March 3.
Twelve new picnic tables were recently in-
Goodwill plans new store
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana is finalizing plans to build a store in Zionsville.
RETAIL
The proposed store would be built on a vacant property at 5900 W. 96th St., on the northwest corner of 96th Street and Zionsville Road just south of I-865. The location was formerly part of the Dow Chemical plant.
The petitioner went before the Zionsville Board of Zoning Appeals Jan. 7 with a request to adjust the landscaping to be more consistent with adjacent properties. The request for a development standards variance would allow buffer yard landscaping in the 15-foot waterline easement along Zionsville Road.
A variance was approved last month by the BZA to adjust the parking lot. Attorney Matt Price of Dentons in Indianapolis, representing Goodwill, said the change in the parking meant that the landscaping needed to be adjusted. Price said Goodwill has been working with the easement holder — Citizens Energy Group — to work
through those plans.
The site plans include a 15,300 square foot retail building with parking.
Goodwill operates dozens of stores in central Indiana, including in Whitestown, Westfield, Carmel, Fishers and Indianapolis.
The plan requires approval of the Zionsville Plan Commission before construction can begin.
AES opens Westfield location
news@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville-based AES Restaurant Group recently opened their first local Arby’s restaurant near the entrance to Westfield’s Grand Park.
NOW OPEN
The fast-food restaurant, 1399 Chatham Commons Blvd., serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Besides the restaurant, AES has committed funds to Westfield by way of a donation to the police department.
In July 2024, AES Restaurant Group donated $25,000 to the Westfield Police Department to secure a new K-9, named RB. The dog, which was provided by Westfield-based Ultimate Canine LLC, is specially trained in narcotics detection, tracking, criminal apprehension, evidence search and recovery.
AES Restaurant Group owns and operates 188 Restaurants in 16 states, including sites in Lebanon, Kokomo and Lafayette. The Westfield restaurant is the company’s first in Hamilton County.
“We are so excited to finally have a restaurant in our own backyard,” AES Restaurant Group president Jay Bedrosian
stated. “With multiple members of our leadership team residing in Westfield, we cannot wait to share the AES Restaurant experience with the community.”
A grand opening event is planned for spring.
AES Restaurant Group is one of the largest franchisees in the Arby’s system and was recognized as the Franchisee of the Year in 2019, and serves local communities through the AES Foundation. Learn more at aesfoundation.com.
Goodwill plans to open one of its signature thrift stores on 96th Street in Zionsville. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Arby’s is now open at 1399 Chatham Commons Blvd. in Westfield. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Brookelyn Grayson’s collegiate future is on the softball diamond.
But for now, she is enjoying her final season on the Noblesville High School girls basketball team.
“I love the girls and atmosphere,” said Grayson, who will play softball for Duke University next season. “We’ve been really successful, and this year we were kind of the underdog. A lot of people counted us out. We have a better record than we did at this time last year. This year has been fun to be a part of.”
Grayson, a 5-foot-5 backup guard, encourages younger girls to be versatile.
“You can be really good at your main sport, but if you enjoy basketball, or even another sport, you can still develop and play that sport,” Grayson said. Grayson doesn’t play high school softball but concentrates on travel softball. She plays for the Indiana Shockwaves’ 18-and-under team, coached by her father Tommy Grayson. Her older sister, Cameron, is a sophomore pitcher for the University of
BROOKELYN GRAYSON
Favorite athlete: Sydney
McLaughlin-Levrone
Favorite TV show: “The Vampire Diaries”
Favorite musician: Rihanna
Favorite vacation spot: California
Minnesota.
During basketball season, Grayson and the Shockwaves practice Sundays at Indiana Baseball Academy.
Brookelyn Grayson primarily plays shortstop but also can play second or third base. She batted .570 for the Shockwaves last season as the team’s leadoff hitter.
“I like hitting leadoff because I’m the
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Brookelyn Grayson, who signed to play softball for Duke University, plays basketball for Noblesville High School and travel softball. (Photo courtesy of Callie Grayson)
first one out there,” she said. “I think my (softball) IQ is really high, so I can see the pitcher’s spin and what she’s trying to do, whether she is trying to work one side of the plate or try to mix it up. Even if I don’t get a hit or get on, I can try to help my teammates have an advantage when they come to bat.”
She said playing travel softball is an advantage because the Shockwaves play in tournaments in the South during the spring.
“Schools in the South play high school softball in the fall instead of spring,” she
said. “We get a team of girls who don’t play high school softball and we go down to Georgia maybe once every three weeks or once a month. I’m still getting live at-bats and more reps.”
Grayson said she chose Duke because it has strong academic and athletic programs.
“I was getting a top 10 education with a top 10 softball program,” said Grayson, who plans to major in biology and pursue a career in dentistry.
She is working on sharpening her softball skills.
“Once I get to Duke, I know I am going to have to prove myself, because they are at such a high level, I’m going to have to make an impact right away if I’m going to see playing time,” she said. “My goal is to work on my game and continue to be a leader on my team. From a hitting standpoint, I want to make sure I am hitting the ball hard.”
Grayson, a first-degree black belt in Taekwondo, began playing softball when she was 5 years old.
To nominate a high school student for Athlete of the Week, contact mark@ youarecurrent.com.
Some Zionsville residents are asking the town’s parks and recreation board to take a closer look at the management contract at the town-owned nine-hole golf course.
TOWN NEWS
Management of the Zionsville Golf Course was contracted to a private management company — Zionsville National — in 2024.
Residents approached the members of the Zionsville Parks and Recreation Board Jan. 8 worried about a proposed fee increase at the course at 10799 E. 550 S. Some residents expressed frustration with the new management team.
“It’s a town jewel and it always has been. It’s always been great for the youth and the children,” resident Don Pearson said. “It was always Zionsville Golf Course, now it’s ‘Zionsville National.’ What does that mean? It’s not TPC Sawgrass, we’re not professionals. We’re a local community and the people who were really key to getting that golf course going and maintaining it and the proper attitudes are no longer there. The rates are going up, the discounts are going away. It’s just not right.”
The private management team that operates the Zionsville Golf Course will present a management report to the parks board in February. (File photo)
Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jaron Logsdon said the contract with Zionsville National allows for the park board to retain oversight of the course.
“The contracted management firm is allowed to update pricing according to the consumer index, but any price increases in addition to that do have to come before (the park board) before they would be applied,” Logsdon said.
Representatives from Zionsville National will provide a management report to the parks board in February. The parks board meets at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Zionsville Town Hall.
DISPATCHES
AARP accepting grant applications — AARP Indiana is accepting applications from eligible nonprofit organizations and governments for the 2025 AARP Community Challenge grant program. The program funds quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital connections and more. Grants are part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for all residents, especially those age 50 and older. Applications are accepted through March 5 and projects must be completed by Dec. 15. Learn more at AARP.org/ CommunityChallenge.
Melt the Trail registration open — Registration is available for the 10th annual Melt the Trail 5k run/walk race at 10:30 a.m. March 1 at Grand Junction Brewing Co. in
Westfield. The race makes its way through Westfield on the Monon Trail and over the bridge at Ind. 32. Registration includes a long sleeve race shirt, finisher’s medal, postrace snacks and drinks, one free drink ticket for participants 21 and older, a timed route and a chance to win an award. After the race, there will be food available for purchase from Grand Junction Brewing Co. Guaranteed shirt deadline is Feb. 11. Register at westfieldwelcome.com/melt-the-trail.
Rummage sale to benefit Haiti — St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church, 1870 W. Oak St. in Zionsville, will host the annual rummage sale to benefit its twin parish, St. Anthony of Padua, in Croix Fer, Haiti. Proceeds directly support essential services and community needs in Croix Fer. Donations can be dropped off at the church from 2 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 23. The sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 24 and 8 a.m. to noon Jan. 25.
OBITUARY
Tamalyn Jane (Haines) Glasser
November 11, 1945 – January 10, 2025
POTOMAC - Beloved wife, mother, sister, and grandmother Tamalyn Jane (Haines) Glasser, 79, of Potomac, MD, and a longtime former resident of Morehead, KY and Topsfield, MA, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2025 due to complications associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Born in Greene County, Indiana to Malcolm and Wilma (Miller) Haines on November 11, 1945, Tammy graduated from Pike High School in Marion County, Indianapolis, IN. She loved music, singing, and playing the clarinet and piano. While in high school, she won a local radio station contest allowing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet The Beatles backstage at a concert in Indianapolis. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Butler University in 1966 and a master’s degree in English from the University of Cincinnati in 1968.
liver transplant in 1999 at the University of Kentucky Hospital. This life-saving event had a profound effect on her and her family, and her full recovery to health accentuated her wonderful loving spirit and her ability to recognize joy, to laugh, and to share gratitude for others and for the blessings of life. She advocated for her fellow transplant patients and doctors by founding an organization on their behalf, the Kentucky Alliance for Transplantation, and by appearing on various media in support of this life-saving procedure.
Tammy and her husband, Dr. Marc David Glasser, married in 1970 after meeting in Oxford, England during the summer of 1966. They moved to Morehead, KY in 1972 where they lived for 30 years, raising their two daughters, Deidre and Dara.
While in Kentucky, Tammy taught English at Rowan County Senior High School where her classes on such classics as Crime and Punishment and The Iliad were known to be challenging but entertaining. She also made sure that ALL her students knew their prepositions. Tammy carefully crafted letters of recommendations for her accomplished students, who were often accepted into some of the most prestigious universities in the nation. As a testament to her writing skills, admissions office staff often wrote back to compliment her on the quality of the letters she wrote. One of her students, after winning a Presidential Scholarship, invited her to accompany him to meet President Reagan in the Rose Garden in Washington, DC. In light of her strong educator skills and beloved status, she later won the honor of being selected as the Kentucky High School Teacher of the Year.
Devoted to her teaching, Tammy also loved learning. She earned a National Endowment for the Humanities Scholarship at Tufts University to study the Greek language to understand better the original texts of her teachings. She earned another NEH award to study different types of intelligence at Yale University.
After a progressive, years-long illness in her 50’s from an autoimmune liver disease, Tammy received the gift of new life via a
Tammy was also a prolific writer and volunteer. She wrote many essays for one of Kentucky’s statewide newspapers and continued writing for a local newspaper after moving to Massachusetts with her husband in 2001. In Massachusetts, Tammy was a devoted member of the New Meadows Garden Club and enjoyed organizing its role in the Strawberry Festival for several years. She also served as a docent at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. Tammy loved the North Shore of New England, fully embracing its foliage, antiques, gardens, beaches, art and food. Despite her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she loved her Route 1 trots with her husband by her side.
Throughout her illness leading to the transplant and the ten final years of her progressive dementia, Tammy was fortunate to be treated by expert doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. None were more helpful to her than her two long-serving caregivers: Cecilia Carpela and Lorena Vaughn. Angels.
Tammy is survived by her husband of 54 years, Marc, her brother Timothy Haines of Indianapolis, IN; daughter Deidre Duncan and her husband James of Bethesda, MD; daughter Dara Murphy and her husband Mark of Erie, PA; as well as four grandchildren, Maxwell David Murphy, Cameron Davis Murphy, Sophia Claire Duncan, and Andrew James Duncan as well as many nieces, cousins and in-laws. She is predeceased by her parents.
ARRANGEMENTS: A Graveside service for Tammy took place on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 12:00 P.M. at Pine Grove cemetery in Topsfield, 8 Haverhill Rd, Topsfield, MA 01983. A memorial service honoring Tammy’s remarkable life will be held at a later date. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62) DANVERS. In lieu of flowers or gifts, her family would prefer donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.
January 21, 2025 Current in Zionsville currentzionsville.com
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE TOWN OF ZIONSVILLE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Notice is hereby given of a Public Hearing to be held by the Town of Zionsville Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Zionsville Town Hall, 1100 West Oak Street, Zionsville, Indiana 46077 to consider the following Petition:
Petition # 2024-52-DSV, filed for Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church, requests Board of Zoning Appeals Approval for a: Variance of Development Standards to provide for or permit: Development Standards Variance pursuant to Section 194.078 (H)(4) to reduce the side yard setback in the Urban Office (B-O) and Urban US 421 Michigan Road Overlay zoning district.
The property involved is commonly known as: 11250 North Michigan Road, Zionsville, IN 46077 and is legally described as:
Part of the Southeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 1 of Township 17 North, Range 2 East and part of the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 6, Township 17 North, Range 3 East of the Second Principal Meridian located in Boone and Hamilton County, Indiana, described as follows:
Commencing at a rebar with cap at the Southwest corner of the Southeast Quarter of said Northeast Quarter (being the Southeast corner of the plat of Long Brook per the plat thereof recorded as Plat Record 6, Page 61 in the Boone County Recorder’s office); thence North 00 degrees 00 minutes 51 seconds West (being based on the Indiana State Plane Coordinate System, West Zone, NAD 1983) along the West line of said Southeast Quarter-Quarter (being the East line of said plat of Long Brook) a distance of 702.04 feet to a rebar on the West extension of the South line of Timber Ridge as recorded in Plat Book 4, Page 193 in the Boone County Recorder’s office; thence North 84 degrees 22 minutes 46 seconds East along the South line of said Timber Ridge a distance of 120.00 feet to a (5/8 inch diameter rebar with yellow cap stamped “Firm 0001”, hereinafter referred to as rebar) at the Point Of Beginning; thence continuing North 84 degrees 22 minutes 46 seconds East along said South line a distance of 1260.19 feet to the centerline of U.S. Highway 421; thence South 16 degrees 15 minutes 15 seconds East along said centerline a distance of 594.43 feet; thence South 73 degrees 44 minutes 45 seconds West perpendicular to said centerline a distance of 50.00 feet to the West 50 foot right of way line of U.S. Highway 421; thence South 28 degrees 44 minutes 45 seconds West a distance of 35.36 feet; thence South 73 degrees 44 minutes 45 seconds West a distance of 424.89 feet to the South line of said Southeast Quarter-Quarter; thence South 84 degrees 30 minutes 22 seconds West along the South line of said Southeast Quarter-Quarter a distance of 711.77 feet to a rebar (being distant North 84 degrees 30 minutes 22 seconds East 360.00 feet from the Southwest corner of said Southeast Quarter-Quarter); thence North 19 degrees 23 minutes 26 seconds West a distance of 720.16 feet to the Point Of Beginning. Containing 19.370 acres, more or less.
Less and except the following described property conveyed to the State of Indiana, by virtue of a deed, recorded February 23, 2001 in Instrument No. 20010101957; a part of the Southeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 1, Township 17 North, Range 2 East, of the Second Principal Meridian, Boone County, Indiana, and being all that part of the owner’s land lying within the right of way lines depicted on the right of way parcel plat of parcel 35, also described as follows:
Commencing at a rebar with cap at the Southwest corner of the Southeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of said Section 1 (being the Southeast corner of the plat of Long Brook per the plat thereof recorded as Plat Record 6, Page 61 in the Boone County Recorder’s office); thence North 0 degrees 36 minutes 48 seconds East 213.982 meters (702.04 feet) along the West line of said quarter-quarter section (being the East line of said plat of Long Brook) to a rebar on the West extension of the South line of Timber Ridge as recorded in Plat Book 4, Page 193 in Boone County Recorder’s office; thence North 85 degrees 00 minutes 25 seconds East 36.576 meters (120.00 feet) to a 5/8” diameter rebar with yellow cap stamped “Firm 0001”, said rebar marking the Northwest corner of the owner ’s land; thence North 85 degrees 00 minutes 25 seconds East 367.718 meters (1206.42 feet) along the Northern line of the owner ’s land to the East line of said Section 1 and the Point Of Beginning of this description; thence South 00 degrees 23 minutes 49 seconds West 21.356 (70.07 feet) along said East line of said section; thence North 15 degrees 48 minutes 20 seconds West 21.646 meters (71.02 feet) to said northern line of the owner’s land; thence North 85 degrees 00 minutes 25 seconds East 6.067 meters (19.90 feet) along said northern line to the Point Of Beginning and containing 0.006 hectares (0.016 acres), more or less.
Being the same premises conveyed to Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church LC-MS Inc., an Indiana nonprofit corporation, by virtue of a deed from Bennett Family Farm, Inc., an Indiana corporation, dated August 25, 1995 and recorded September 5, 1995 in book 255, page 557, in the office of the Recorder of Boone County, Indiana.
A copy of the Petition for Board of Zoning Appeal Approval, and all plans pertaining thereto are on file and may be examined prior to the Public Hearing from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for Holidays, in the Planning & Building Department in the Zionsville Town Hall, 1100 West Oak Street, Zionsville, Indiana, 46077. Written comments in support of or in opposition of the Petition that are filed with the Secretary of the Town of Zionsville Board of Zoning Appeals prior to the Public Hearing will be considered. The Public Hearing is open to the public. Oral comments to this Petition will be heard at the Public Hearing. The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time as may be found necessary. Further, and as allowed by the laws of the State of Indiana, members of the public will be afforded the opportunity to attend the Board of Zoning Appeals Public Meetings via a form(s) of electronic communication IF indicated in the Agenda (as amended from time to time) associated with the Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting.
Upon request, the Town of Zionsville will provide auxiliary aids and services. Please provide advance notification to the Technology Department, assistance@zionsville-in.gov or 317-873-1577, to ensure the proper accommodations are made prior to the meeting.
Chairman: Kathi Postlethwait
Secretary: Mike Dale
Publish: January 21, 2025
Carmel resident saved by AED shares experience
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Danny Rhoad has a lot to be thankful for.
WELLNESS
In May 2016 at age 13, Rhoad was playing at Grand Park in Westfield as part of a travel baseball team, when a freak accident caused him to go into cardiac arrest.
weeks later.”
Rhoad was back playing baseball by June 2016 and has had no long-term adverse effects from the incident.
“A ball ended up hitting me in the chest,” he said.” What ended up happening is called commotio cordis. It actually sent me into cardiac arrest for about three minutes.”
Commotio cordis is a rare medical emergency caused when a hard object strikes the chest directly over the heart at a specific time in the heartbeat cycle. That action causes a disruption to the heart’s rhythm, leading to sudden cardiac arrest. It is the same condition that caused Buffalo Bills safety Demar Hamlin to go into cardiac arrest on the field during a game in 2023.
Now 21 and a senior at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Rhoad — a resident of Carmel — is sharing his story as part of the message of the nonprofit Bolt for the Heart, a Carmel-based organization that raises funds to purchase AEDs — automated external defibrillators — in Indiana.
Quick action by first responders saved Rhoad’s life in 2016. An AED located at one of Grand Park’s concession stands was used to restart his heart.
“I was transported to (Riley Hospital for Children) downtown and was in the hospital for about a week,” he said. “I was actually cleared. I had to do a stress test a week or two after the incident. They put you on the treadmill and put all these wires on you. I was cleared about three
Rhoad
But his experience prompted his family to connect with Bolt for the Heart, including the annual 5K fundraising event held each November in Carmel.
“That’s something my family and friends have been doing pretty much every year ever since,” he said.
AEDs explain to the user how to apply it to someone suffering from cardiac arrest. Bolt for the Heart — an extension of Heart Reach Michiana — has raised nearly $4 million since 2010, donating nearly 3,300 AEDs across the state including to the Indiana State Police, 92 Indiana sheriff’s departments and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The National Institutes of Health estimates that bystander use of AEDs saves up to 1,700 lives annually in the United States.
Rhoad opened up about his experience for the first time in 2024, advocating for Bolt for the Heart and the distribution of AEDs for public use.
“I’ve never actually got up there and told my story, I think because I was young,” he said. “It’s kind of a scary thing to talk about. I was only 13. Through maturing, I’ve definitely kind of learned that it’s such an important thing.”
Rhoad added that his experience has led him to be grateful for every day.
“You really never know. So, I have a lot of gratitude,” he said. “Being able to kind of wake up every day and know that I have a chance to kind of just live my life to the fullest.”
Learn more about Bolt for the Heart at boltfortheheart.com.
DISPATCH
Missing Children’s Day poster contest — The Indiana State Police and the U.S. Department of Justice will sponsor the 2025 National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest. The contest provides an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and parents to discuss and promote child safety. Established in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan, the day is dedicated to encouraging the community to make child safety a priority. The contest is open to Hoosier students in fifth grade, with a limit of one submission per child. Artwork should reflect the theme “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.” Contest rules can be found at tinyurl.com/bdfwdbsthere. Submission deadline is Feb. 21.
NATURE’S PLAYGROUND
Zionsville Parks and Recreation celebrates a successful year
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
The Zionsville Department of Parks and Recreation increased its programming and attracted more visitors in 2024.
The parks and recreation board was presented a 2024 year in review report by Zionsville Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jarod Logsdon and Zionsville Director of Recreation Services Mindy Murdock Jan. 9.
The department presented 408 programs and 16 special events in 2024, supporting more than 18,000 participants.
“That is well over one program per day,” Logsdon said. “We’re offering things for all ages and abilities throughout the year. Whether it’s rain or shine or 9 inches of snow, we have programming for our community.”
Program fees, grants and sponsorships totaled $72,612 in 2024. Those funds were added to the parks and recreation department 2025 operating fund. Program fees include nature center entry fees and participation fees.
Murdock said total contacts with the community — the number of individuals the parks and recreation department had contact with via programing, nature center attendance, outreach and events — totaled more than the population of Zionsville at 34,230, a 3.2 percent increase over 2023.
The Zionsville Nature Center, located inside Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library, had 15,525 visitors, a 1.5 percent increase over 2023.
“We are continuing to see an increase and I think that will (get larger) as we continue to grow our events,” she said. “We did average about 1,250 (visitors) to the nature center each month throughout the year.”
Murdock said park programs in 2024 included 8,117 creek-stomper participants between March 30 and Nov. 2; 360 summer camp attendees; 2,500 Mulberry Fields visitors during the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse; and 1,013 party in the park participants.
Creek Week participants removed more than 160 pounds of trash from Eagle Creek in August.
Besides programs in 2024, parks department volunteers completed 1,127 native plantings and logged 2,354 hours. The year
ended with 128 shelter rentals, 72 garden lot rentals and 208 dog park memberships.
The parks department also added 90 acres to the parks system in 2024.
Logsdon said the parks and recreation maintenance team completed more than 4,400 hours of maintenance work in 2024.
Of more than 4,700 work orders created last year, 91 percent were completed. Maintenance work included 18 ADA improvements in seven parks — including parking lot upgrades and bench installations.
“Just an outstanding effort from our very small team,” Logsdon said. “We finally have the capacity to truly begin preventative maintenance. Over 3,000 hours (of mainte-
nance work) was preventative to maintain what we have. There are also going to be reactive work orders created if there is vandalism or a storm or something like that. But (the team) is truly doing a fantastic job and carrying on the objectives and the missions of the department.”
Logsdon said the department’s natural resource division completed 48 acres of restoration projects in swales, basins and open prairies as well as reforestation efforts.
“That’s only going to continue to grow as we continue to have more of an ability to convert areas from invasive wetlands into pristine and viable habitats,” he said.
ALL ABOUT PARKS
The Zionsville Department of Parks and Recreation oversees several properties and facilities, including:
HERITAGE TRAIL DOG PARK — Located at 4050 S. 875 E, the 3.5 acre dog park has separate areas for small and large dogs with onsite amenities including benches, shade areas, pet waste stations, a water fountain with a dog bowl attachment, picnic shelters, paved walking trails, a playground and community gardens. Dogs require a permit to enter.
ZIONSVILLE NATURE CENTER — Located inside the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library, the nature center encourages families to take an active role in their native environment through educational and inquiry-based programs and activities.
AMERICAN LEGION TRAIL CROSSING — The 2-acre site at 721 Ford Road provides access to the Big-4 Rail Trail. An onsite sculpture honors those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
BIG-4 RAIL TRAIL — The parks department is responsible for eight miles of the paved trail, from the border with Whitestown to the Zionsville Road trailhead. Trailhead parking and amenities are available at Zionsville Road, Nancy Burton Trailhead, Zionsville Town Hall, American Legion Trail Crossing, Carter Station and Heritage Trail Park.
LINCOLN PARK — A half-acre park in the Village, Lincoln Park
In capital projects, the parks department completed widening projects along the 5.5mile portion of the Big-4 Rail Trail that runs through Zionsville and entered a contract to complete year-round restrooms and a concession stand at Mulberry Fields.
The department also entered a contract for Phase 1 at Carpenter Nature Preserve. Expected to break ground this year, Carpenter Nature Preserve will be constructed at the now-closed Wolf Run Golf Course. Designated as a passive nature preserve, the 215-acre park just west of U.S. 421 and south of Ind. 32 is designed as a regional destination with a nature center, trails, boardwalks, a nature-inspired playground and outdoor classrooms.
Follow Zionsville Parks and Recreation’s events and activities at facebook.com/ zionsvilleparksrecreation.
ON THE COVER:
was the site of a visit of President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. ELM STREET GREEN — Located on 15 acres adjacent to Eagle Creek and the Village, Elm Street Green includes shelters, an adventure play space, a story walk, garden plots and a kayak/ canoe launch.
CREEKSIDE NATURE PARK — The 18-acre park at 11001 E. Sycamore St. borders Eagle Creek with trails and access to Lions Park.
MULBERRY FIELDS PARK — The 38-acre park at 9645 Whitestown Rd. includes paved paths, picnic shelters, a skate park, multiuse athletic fields, pickleball courts, sledding hill, splash pad and access to the Big-4 Rail Trial and Maplelawn Farmstead.
OVERLEY-WORMAN PARK — Located in the Vonterra subdivision off Zionsville Road, the park includes access to Eagle Creek and the Big-4 Rail Trial, mountain biking, disc golf, paths and a playground.
STARKEY PARK — A wooded bottomland along Eagle Creek, Starkey Park includes more than three miles of natural surface hiking trails. Access to the park is available from the Big-4 Rail Trail and at the trailhead at 667 Sugarbush Dr. View complete list of Zionsville’s parks facilities at zionsville-in.gov/684/Parks-Trails.
The Zionsville Department of Parks and Recreation oversees several parks and facilities, including the 18-acre Creekside Park on Sycamore Street. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Participants in Creek Week in August 2024 cleaned 160 pounds of trash from Eagle Creek. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Cheap Trick founder promotes vodka brand in Carmel visit
By Ken Severson editorial@youarecurrent.com
Even when he talks on the phone, Cheap Trick founder and lead guitarist Rick Nielsen wears his trademark baseball cap and jacket.
And that’s what he’ll wear for his appearance from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Niemann Harvest Market in Carmel, to promote his new spirit, ROCK’N Vodka.
Nielsen will sign bottles of ROCK’N Vodka and possibly flick guitar picks at customers, too, another trademark of the veteran rocker who used to toss used picks at concert goers in the 1970s.
This isn’t the first time Nielsen has invested in a business.
An investor in the Hard Rock Casino in his hometown of Rockford, Ill., and a longtime owner of Piece Brewery & Pizzeria in Chicago, Nielsen partnered with ROCK’N Vodka founders Andy and Isabelle Roiniotis in 2020 to help the married couple establish the brand and lift the community.
“I wanted other people to have jobs,” Nielsen said. “And good quality vodka and ROCK’N Vodka is the hottest new vodka on the market.”
ROCK’N Vodka has won several awards for quality, which Andy Roiniotis attributes to a unique distilling process incorporating sugar cane.
“There’s only a few sugar cane vodkas in the world,” Roiniotis said. “Our customers are going to get a top-shelf vodka at a reasonable price.”
Nielsen initially started out as a spokesperson but is now an equal investor.
“He’s been amazing for our brand,” Roiniotis said.
Few bands in the world have toured more than Cheap Trick.
Formed in 1973 in Rockport, Ill., Cheap Trick has toured nonstop for six decades and performed more than 5,000 shows. Throughout its history, the band has
played venues ranging from bowling alleys to rib fests to Olympic arena.
“I’ve been playing longer than Cheap Trick,” said Nielsen, 76. “I’m too dumb to quit.”
Cheap Trick, whose hits include “Surrender,” I Want You to Want me” and “Dream Police,” was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
On the personal front, Nielsen recently finished playing some gigs with his family band, The Nielsen Trust, with his sons Miles and Daxx.
“I still play all the time and just played three straight nights,” Nielsen said. “I like what I do, and I like when other people like it.”
And he’s still throwing out those ubiquitous guitar picks of all colors and designs.
Cheap Trick returns to the area Aug. 9 when it opens for Rod Stewart at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville.
As for the Carmel event, Nielsen will sign bottles of vodka and visitors can bring their hat and jacket.
“I’ll be there,” Nielsen said. “Just take your cap and jacket off.”
IF YOU GO
WHO: Rick Nielsen, founding member of Cheap Trick
WHAT: ROCK’N Vodka bottle signing
WHERE: Niemann Harvest Market, 2140 E. 116th St., Carmel
WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 25
Customers are encouraged to arrive early and there will be a cutoff point. Prizes will be awarded. Nielsen will sign bottles purchased and one other item. For more, visit rocknvodkas.com
‘MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS’
“Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” runs through Feb. 9 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
‘EVOLUTION
OF JONI MITCHELL’
“The Evolution of Joni Mitchell Starring Lauren Fox” is set for 8 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘DESCENDANTS THE MUSICAL’
The Drama Dept. presents “Descendants The Musical” Jan. 24-26 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.
‘BREAKIN’ CLASSICAL’
Carmel Symphony Orchestra will be joined by breakdancers from FLY Dance Company at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
WYNTON MARSALIS
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis is set for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“The Magic of David Ranalli” is set for Jan. 23 with comedian-musician Heyward Banks Jan. 24-25 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. All three performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, feinsteinshc.com.
DISPATCH
CIDE’s 25th anniversary gala set — To commemorate its 25th anniversary, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble will host an anniversary gala Jan. 25 at Iron & Ember in Carmel. The event will be emceed by Carmel City Councilor Jeff Worrell and will include refreshments and a performance by the senior company. Proceeds will support the future growth of the nonprofit. For tickets, visit cidedance.org/25th-anniversary-gala.
Cheap Trick founder and lead guitarist Rick Nielsen will sign ROCK’N Vodka bottles. (Photo courtesy of ROCK’N Vodka)
NIGHT & DAY
Pianist ready for Carnegie
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For pianist Clare Longendyke, this won’t be just any concert appearance.
MUSIC
The Fishers resident and flutist Lindsey Goodman will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 24 in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City.
“Carnegie Hall is such a recognized venue and name that every musician hopes to have their moment on the stage,” Longendyke said. “I’m excited (my moment) is aligning with a wonderful collaborative colleague in Lindsey and sharing music. It’s going to be a formative moment and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
past two years.
“This is the second project we’ve worked on together and the most extensive project we’ve been able to undertake together as far as number of performances (and) there was a CD recording,” Longendyke said.
This concert will feature selections from their 2024 Navona Records release, “In the Company of Music.”
“Navona is a very well-respected label for new recordings by living composers,” Longendyke said.
“They were able to prioritize this project and then get us a spot at Carnegie.”
Longendyke said there are pieces for flute and piano and pieces for solo flute.
Longendyke said Weill Hall is known as a chamber music hall.
“So, it’s a more intimate setting,” she said. “A duo is perfect for Weill Hall.”
Longendyke was on Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall stage as a Boston University choir member several years ago.
Longendyke and Goodman, based in Columbus, Ohio, have collaborated for the
“I’m doing a world premiere of a solo piano piece by Los Angeles-based composer Dika Chartoff, called ‘Retrospects in Reverb,’” she said.
Longendyke, who has a master’s degree and doctorate from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, has lived in Fishers since 2022. She previously lived on the north side of Indianapolis.
For more, visit clarelongendyke.com.
AAA Hoosier Motor Club named official partner of Devour Indy
editorial@youarecurrent.com
The Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association recently announced that AAA Hoosier Motor Club is the official partner of the Devour Indy Restaurant Week. The partnership highlights AAA’s commitment to supporting local businesses and enriching the vibrant culinary landscape of central Indiana and beyond, according to the organization.
DINING
Devour Indy Restaurant Week, the premier dining event in Indianapolis, brings together food enthusiasts to experience special menus and exclusive offerings from some of the city’s top restaurants. The event runs Jan. 20 to Feb. 2 and showcases the culinary talents of participating establishments while driving community engagement and economic growth.
“We are proud to partner with AAA Hoosier Motor Club as the official sponsor of Devour Indy,” stated Patrick Tamm, president/CEO of InRLA. “Their dedication to sup-
porting local businesses and enhancing the experiences of Hoosiers aligns perfectly with the mission of Devour Indy. Together, we’re creating an event that not only celebrates our city’s thriving hospitality scene but also strengthens our community.”
As the official partner, AAA Hoosier Motor Club will play an integral role in promoting Devour Indy, bringing its resources and extensive membership network to support participating restaurants. AAA members also will enjoy special perks, including a sneak peek of restaurant menus prior to the public launch.
“AAA Hoosier Motor Club has a longstanding tradition of advocating for local businesses and enriching the lives of our members,” stated Matt Goins, president/ CEO of AAA Hoosier Motor Club. “Partnering with Devour Indy is a natural extension of our commitment to the central Indiana community, and we are excited to help highlight the incredible culinary talent our region has to offer.”
For more, visit devourindy.com.
Longendyke
Cirque du Soleil shows set
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Emily McCarthy saw her first Cirque du Soleil performance when she was 12 and immediately knew she wanted to be part of it one day.
PERFORMANCES
By age 16 in 2012, she had joined the Canadian-based entertainment company.
McCarthy is an acrobat on Cirque du Soleil’s “CRYSTAL,” which will be on the ice Jan. 2326 at the Fishers Event Center.
McCarthy started gymnastics at age 6 and moved to acrobatic gymnastics when she was 11. She competed for the Great Britain team for acrobatics from ages 13 to 16.
McCarthy has been a part of the creation of “CRYSTAL,” which started in 2017.
“I play one of the Crystal. The male Crystal is an ice skater and I do an act called hand-to-trapeze, which blends the acrobatic skills and ice skating together,” McCarthy said. “It’s a beautiful number where Crystal gets to tell a piece of the story.”
McCarthy said the story is very relatable.
“Not just for young women, but for every human being that has felt like they
Emily McCarthy is an acrobat in Cirque du Soleil’s “CRYSTAL.” (Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil)
don’t fit in or feel misunderstood. That’s the narrative of Crystal’s story,” she said. “She doesn’t fit in at school and her family thinks she’s a bit weird. The whole show she is trying to figure out who she is and find the love for herself and find the beauty of the quirks. I do love the show for that reason. I also get to blend my acro-sport background and my arial skills.”
Besides ice dancing, pairs and solo skating, synchro and extreme skating, there are more than seven Cirque du Soleil disciplines in the show, including banquine, handto-hand, acro/tumbling, juggling, trapeze, poles, chair balancing and aerial straps. For more, visit fisherseventcenter.com.
CSO presents ‘Breakin’ Classical’
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Growing up in Paris, Mélisse Brunet always stopped to watch the breakdancers in the streets.
PERFORMANCE
How-
ever, Brunet never dreamed she would conduct a concert with breakdancers.
The Carmel Symphony Orchestra will perform with FLY Dance Co., an all-male theatrical hip-hop group from Houston, for “Breakin’ Classical” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Brunet is the guest conductor.
classical music with breakdance, so it’s interesting for me to combine the two with some of the most popular classical music,” she said. “It will be songs everybody knows, and then there is going to be some breakdancing on top of it.”
Brunet said to have hip-hop breakdance mixed with orchestra brings a lot of communities together.
“Breakdancing is an art form, which is real physical,” said Brunet, who will have three hours to rehearse with the dance company earlier on the day of the performance.
The music will be timed to give the dancers rest.
“It is mesmerizing to see two very distinctly different art forms combine for a totally new experience,” CSO Executive Director Anne Marie Chastain said. “This is exactly what is needed to ignite the senses during the winter months.”
Brunet said the breakdancing competition in the Summer Olympics in Paris last year renewed interest in the art form.
“I love dance, but you don’t see a lot of
“You cannot have them dance nonstop, otherwise we would have dead men instead of dancing men,” she said. “We’ll alternate with big classical tunes that people will know from movies or commercials or on the radio. (They are) very beautiful melodies.”
One piece will be Georges Bizet’s “Carmen Suite,” which celebrates its 250th anniversary in March.
For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
Brunet
Blueprint for Improvement: Effortless elegance in Carmel
Commentary by Larry Greene
Built in 1999 in Carmel’s Laurel Lakes neighborhood, this home’s kitchen was due for a contemporary facelift. Our team envisioned a timeless transformation featuring a classic palette, thoughtful storage solutions and strategic appliance placements, resulting in a functional and effortlessly elegant space.
THE BLUEPRINT
• A classic palette featuring tones of white, taupe and gray offers a versatile backdrop that adapts beautifully to evolving trends.
• Organic warmth is introduced through wood barstools, seagrass dining chairs and iron accents.
• Functionality is significantly enhanced by relocating the range off the island, providing additional prep and entertaining space.
• The removal of an impractical desk makes way for additional cabinetry, streamlining sight lines and increasing counter and storage space.
• The design is elegantly finished with a double-basin apron front sink, crown molding and brushed nickel hardware, bringing both charm and practicality to the forefront of this kitchen transformation.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
Cheers to sparkling wines
Commentary by Terry Anker
Some among us are halfway through a journey of “dry” January. Whether it is overindulgence, a desire to meet the New Year’s resolution of lower body fat or a need to jump on the bandwagon, many are giving up their favorite cocktails, wine and even beer for the month. While some might argue that taking a pass on imbibing adult beverages for 2.5 days per month works out about the same, devotees are committed to the cause and talking about it.
ESSAY
As such, it may be the wrong time to opine about hooch. Abstinence is on the rise. We’re all hoping to be better versions of ourselves. This is necessarily good. Still, “Tiny bubbles in the wine. Make me happy. Make me feel fine.” How can we survive for a month without them? 1970s Hawaiian singer Don Ho indelibly imprinted these simple, almost sing-songy lyrics — and they have remained a hallmark of his era and of South Pacific culture.
But did he tap into something more important? Why do bubbles make us happy? They tickle our noses and signal that nothing serious is about to happen. There have been few fistfights ever recorded in champagne bars. So, if whiskey tends to fuel our more aggressive natures (American author and champion drinker Ernest Hemingway once posited, “Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk -- that will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”), does sparkling wine make us a better version of ourselves?
Maybe it is the alcohol and only the alcohol that lifts our spirits. But unlike the hard stuff, where the intention may be inebriation, do sparkling wines lift our spirits more because of what they signal or the punch that they deliver? Is the cork pop a starting pistol for celebration?
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent. com.
Blast from my comedy past
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
Thanks to an old friend, Bob, who, while researching a story about our high school alma mater, New Rochelle High School, found online an old student newspaper where I had written a humor column — possibly the first I had ever attempted.
HUMOR
Here it is, word for word. Be kind. I was barely 17 years old. Typos and misspellings are as they were. Catch any?
ROAMING AROUND
By Dick Wolfsie (Sept.
5, 1964)
Teachers at this school are distorting world history. Rome fell due to a traffic problem.
In 478 B.C., the problem created by thousands of chariots was unbearable. Maximus Speedlimit attempted the first solution to the problem—the license plate. Although many generals applauded the idea, the problem remained. Since Roman numerals were used exclusively, the plates were so long that everybody went into the snow plowing business.
(Note from me in the present day. I should mention here that it hardly ever snows in Rome, and no Roman Empire existed in 478 BC. Also, Mary Ellen told me no one would get that joke. I wish she had told me that 61 years ago.)
Unable to cope with the traffic problem, one famous general invented parking meters. However, soldiers wearing those funny skirts had no pockets for coins and often had their chariots towed away.
( A note from me: If I had that Google machine back then, I would have known that these skirts were called pteruges.)
The Romana then invented the stop sign. Traffic never moved. Romans waited for the sign to say GO. As you can see, nothing helped. They revoked all junior licenses and painted a white line down the Apian
“Here it is, word for word. Be kind. I was barely 17 years old. Typos and misspellings are as they were. Catch any?”
– DICK WOLFSIE
Way. They started breeding horses with less car power.
Finally, in the year 476, the Romans pleaded to their friends, The Huns, for help.
“Dear Huney,” Maximus wrote, “Please come to our aid.” The Huns’ plan called for an unmarked chariot to catch traffic offenders, but when that did not work, they decided to march to Rome. They were then confused by the funny-shaped signs telling them to stop. They were frightened by a brigade of snow plows, and the white line down the Apian Way confused them.
Soon, their friendliness returned to hostility. They saw slave girls standing near the meters. Some of the generals thought that for a few coins, the girls would go somewhere and park with them. This misunderstanding touched off the Gallic War. To sum up, our teachers at this school are teaching us baloney. This was the real cause of the fall of the Roman Empire.
***
I know the column isn’t very funny. I wonder if I have improved as a writer over 61 years. When Bob sent me the article, he mentioned reading my stuff weekly on the Internet.
“You haven’t changed,” he said. “You’re the same Dick Wolfsie you’ve always been.” Well, I guess that answers my question.
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Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
Across
1. “Who’s there?” reply
6. Fever or Colts, e.g.
10. Birth-related
11. Planets’ paths
14. *”No more delays!”
16. Circuit 17. F1 neighbor
18. Practice for the Indiana Golden Gloves
20. Boone County Fair barn mom
21. Pie ___ mode
23. Sends an invitation for 25. Ludicrous
27. “Sorta” suffix
28. King Wok soup
29. Chaos
31. Robber
33. *”My Heart Will Go On” singer
35. Disreputable
37. Leniency
38. White River snakelike fish
39. Letter #26
41. Giraffes’ cousins
45. Mason’s tool
47. FedEx rival
48. IND posting
49. Employ
50. Mass Ave public art: “___ Dancing”
52. Turn upside down
53. *116th St. bagel guys
57. Sketched again
58. Make ___ of (botch)
59. Lays down the lawn
60. “Old MacDonald” refrain...and a hint to the answers of the starred clues
Down
1. Visiting, so to speak
2. Some Chevy SUVs
3. Big first for a baby
4. Fire & Flow Yoga class need
5. Col. Lilly
6. Little piggies
7. Jong and Wheeler
8. Tummy muscles
9. Belarus capital
12. Rotation on some tennis shots
13. Wrap snugly
15. ___ culpa
16. Hawaiian garland
19. House top
21. Study closely 22. Jeans maker Strauss
24. Running gags, e.g. 26. Attention-getting sound
27. Frozen treat
30. “My treat!”
32. Georgetown athlete
33. Dieter’s concern
34. Let fall
35. Adam’s third son
36. Spookier
40. Tickled pink
42. First female Speaker of the House
43. “That’s correct”
44. Tree fluid
46. Meanders
47. Half of bi-
51. Defunct Indy newspaper
52. At no cost
54. Sellout letters
55. Scot’s denial
56. Fat stat, briefly Answers on Page 23
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