Carmel Magazine January 2022 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

MAGAZINE

JANUARY 2022

Meet the Bellomo Family IN THE PERFECT SPOT TO BUILD COMMUNITY

SPRINGHETTI DENTISTRY PREVENTION IS THE KEY

CARMEL CHRISTKINDLMARKT VOTED USA TODAY’S #1 HOLIDAY MARKET IN THE USA! A VISUAL TRIBUTE

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IN THIS ISSUE

JANUARY 2022

OWNER/PUBLISHER GARY WEITZEL gary@townepost.com 317.366.8198

DISHING IT OUT

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is Becoming a Carmel Favorite

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Visit the Village of WestClay

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VISIT THE VILLAGE CENTER BUSINESS AREA OF THE VILLAGE OF WESTCLAY

SPRINGHETTI DENTISTRY Prevention is the Key

MEET THE BELLOMO FAMILY

In the Perfect Spot to Build Community

CARMEL CHRISTKINDLMARKT VOTED USA TODAY’S #1 HOLIDAY MARKET IN THE USA!

COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS

BEHN ART GALLERY

A Visual Tribute

Local Gallery Owners Share a Mutual Passion for Art and Community

A TRUE JOY

Joy’s House Provides Hope, Respite and a Sense of Community

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Carmel Clay Public Library Renovation Promises Exciting Additions and Features

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KEY CONTRIBUTORS

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BETH MAIER PHOTOGRAPHY / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING / GARY W. WEITZEL HEATHER HUNTER / JUSTIN SICKING / MATT KEATING ROBEN BELLOMO / RYAN KENNEDY

SPRINGHETTI DENTISTRY PREVENTION IS THE KEY Writer / Gary W. Weitzel

10485 North Michigan Road, #150 Carmel, IN 46032

In November and December 2021, our readers were introduced to Dr. Aaron Springhetti, DMD of Springhetti Dentistry serving West Carmel, the Village of WestClay and Zionsville. He’s talked about his four-step commitment to patient care: Education; Diagnosis; Attention to Detail and Generosity. In December, Dr. Springhetti spoke about Preventive Dentistry. This month, he helps the reader further understand how the foods and beverages we consume affect our teeth and gums - a key to understanding good oral health and overall health. Here are the basics for understanding simple sugars and acidic beverages:

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LEARN MORE ABOUT PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

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FOOD TYPES TO LIMIT IN DIET: Food w/ simple sugars-anything that contains fructose(sugar in fruit), galactose(sugar in dairy), or sucrose(table sugar) needs to be moderated. Always refer to the nutrition facts/ingredients section on the packaging;

hygiene regimen. The pH of pure water is 7.0. Water is the best thing you can drink to cleanse your teeth and prevent acid erosion of the enamel. Your family can reduce the acid in the mouth after eating or drinking acidic beverages by simply brushing teeth or thoroughly rinsing your mouth with pure water. It’s even OK to swallow afterward if you wish! Dr. Springhetti gives this advice from an endurance athlete’s perspective; “It is impossible to avoid sugar and acid in training and racing; in fact, it is imperative to optimize your intake of nutrition for performance benefits; however, it is important to drink plenty of water as well not only for rehydration but also to help cleanse your teeth. If you’re an endurance athlete, ask your dentist about prescription toothpaste that you can use after big training days or long races where consumption of sugar and acid is high. Also, a water flossing device should be rudimentary in your oral hygiene regimen whether an athlete or not. There is no better tool to cleanse your mouth.”

Acids cause inflammation in your body - in your gut, your mouth, and acid is just as bad for systemic health as your oral health. • Processed foods, boxed/packaged foods; Because of acid and the resultant cavities • Candy; and, and gum tissue damage due to poor diets • Acidic drinks. These are key and hygiene, fluoride in our city water and contributors to poor oral health. fluoride supplements from your dentist are so important to help strengthen enamel that Studies show enamel starts to demineralize has been compromised from acidic erosion or soften at a pH of 5.5 and below. This and decay. is when cavities start to form. Starting as small white spots, over time cavities grow Here is a simple pH level guide to improve and become yellow, brown then black as your family’s overall health. Be aware that they acquire stain and the decay process pH level is rarely found on the nutrition becomes more extensive. Continued intake labeling on packaging. of acids and food, along with the bacteria in plaque can get caught in the soft and porous • Drinks with a pH level less than 7 are enamel and further accelerate the decay acidic. Avoid them or brush/rinse process. • Drinks with a pH greater than 7 are Pure water is the savior of teeth and water is an essential part of your whole mouth 4 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

basic. • A pH of 7 (water has a pH level of 7) is

considered neutral • Demineralization (loss of tooth enamel) generally begins at a pH of 5.5 • A one unit change (i.e. 3.0 to 2.0) in pH is associated with a 10 fold change in the acidity • Battery Acid has a pH of 1.0 • Stomach Acid is between pH 1.5-3.5— think about how important stomach acid is for breaking down your food and degrading harder substances. Some drinks that we ingest are more acidic than stomach acid!!! i.e. Coca Cola(2.8 pH!!) Vitamin Water!? (3.34pH-not very beneficial for your heath-misnomer w/ Vitamin!) Do your best to avoid, or at least properly brush/rinse following the consumption of these basic categories of acidic drinks: 1. Sodas(diet and regular)—even diet soda is very acidic: a common misconception is that diet sodas don’t have sugar so they don’t cause cavities when, in fact, they are just as bad for your teeth as regular soda due to the acidity. 2. Energy Drinks3. Sparkling Water4. Seltzer Water and Alcoholic Beverages 5. Bottled Water!!! Yes, even bottled water can be terrible for your teeth: (e.g. Dasani Plus—3.04) 6. Citrus Drinks: Lemonade, OJ, etc. 7. Sports Drinks: Gatorade, Powerade 8. Popular alcoholic Drinks like ‘White Claw’: have pH of 3.1!!!

EAT THE BEST AVOID THE REST Spend time enjoying natural, whole foods. These are the real deal and are not overly processed. Keep eating those veggies, grains, meats, cheeses, fruits (but watch the natural sugars and the citrus), and WATER. Remember to brush or rinse with pure water(and fluoride toothpaste of course), but do wait at least 30 minutes before brushing after ingesting acidic foods or drinks.

GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE IS NECESSARY AND AFFORDABLE

CHOOSE SPRINGHETTI DENTISTRY! Enjoy Life - Enjoy Healthy Foods and Remember to Brush and Rinse! It is what it is! Common sense leads us to moderation and remediation. Enjoy food and beverages in moderation and remediate with a rinse or drink of pure water. Instilling

the discipline of good oral hygiene with your family will allow them to enjoy life while protecting them from cavities and more serious dental diseases. Education, discipline and prevention are keys in dentistry, and reducing acids and sugars will help with systemic health and controlling weight as well.

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What instrument is Mayor Brainard playing?

Who are these skaters?

Beth Maier Photography

CARMEL WHO’S THAT? WHAT’S THAT? PLAY THE GAME TO BENEFIT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Photographers / Justin Sicking and Beth Maier Photography

CHRISTKINDLMARKT VOTED USA TODAY’S #1 HOLIDAY MARKET IN THE USA! A VISUAL TRIBUTE Maria Murphy, CEO and Market Master paid tribute to everyone who voted for our Christkindlmarkt, “The 2021 Carmel Christkindlmarkt reception by people far and wide has been absolutely amazing this year! I am so grateful to everyone who voted to help us win USA Today’s 10 Best contest in the category of Best Holiday Market in the USA! Wow! Truly grateful!”

Can you identify the people or featured items in this collage of pictures from 2021 Carmel Christkindlmarkt? Play “Who’s That?” and What’s That?” by correctly identifying the people and items and sending your answers to Gary Weitzel at gary@townepost.com. Just correctly answer three of the questions to qualify for the drawing. All correct responses will be eligible for a drawing. The winner of the drawing will choose their favorite nonprofit organization for one free nonprofit spotlight in Carmel Magazine anytime during 2022. For example, a story about the Carmel Streets Department would be AWESOME. Have fun!

Beth Maier Photography

Who are these gentlemen?

Who is this? 6 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

Beth Maier Photography

What is Mayor Brainard gifting to the children?

Beth Maier Photography

What famous pottery and glassware is this?

P R I VAT E B A N K I N G

Who are these two famous German characters?

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A True Joy JOY’S HOUSE PROVIDES HOPE, RESPITE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

When Jane Bentley’s husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and it eventually became clear that he could no longer stay at home by himself, she wasn’t sure what to do as she was still working full time and couldn’t afford to lose her job. A friend encouraged her to check out Joy’s House, which offers adult day services, and she was glad she did. “Joy’s House saved my life,” says Bentley, who took her husband there five days per week, never having to worry about his care. “From the first time we stepped through the door, I knew the staff was full of love and compassion, and had a true calling for what they were doing.” Beyond tending to her husband, Bentley was touched by the kindness the staff showed to her as well. “We were four years into the Alzheimer’s

journey when we went to Joy’s House, and that was the first time anyone asked how I was doing, in addition to ‘Tell us about your husband,’” Bentley says. “That small question was huge to me.” The idea for Joy’s House was conceived more than two decades ago by Tina McIntosh after her father had an accident and she was launched into the role of caregiver from afar, as he was located in Fort Wayne and she was in Indianapolis. She saw a gap in care and options for adults living with life-altering diagnoses, so she founded Joy’s House, a nonprofit that provides safety and community to adults 18 and over who can’t stay home alone safely due to basic aging or a variety of diagnoses, including dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and Down syndrome. Several years later, McIntosh realized that caregivers needed more support, so caregiver support services were introduced to the Joy’s House mission. At Joy’s House, clients - referred to as guests - engage in fellowship and programming 8 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

in a safe environment. Because many have dementia, routine is critical. Therefore, each day they start with coffee and conversation, followed by a physical activity such as kicking a ball or doing a chair exercise. After lunch it’s time for creative expression through activities like painting and gardening. That’s followed by some sort of mental stimulation such as trivia, a word game and of course bingo. Sometimes volunteers come to Joy’s House to play instruments for the guests. Others bring their pets for the guests to love on. During holidays local classrooms of kids will drop by to perform songs. All such special events serve to uplift the guests. “When kids and animals come in, our guests’ faces light up,” says Corrina Thompson, community relations manager. “Energies shift and a calm fills the space.” The facility is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and some guests are there all day, every day, while others may

only come twice per week for a few hours. Scheduling is based on each family’s unique needs. “Sometimes our caregivers feel a little guilty at first as there is a lot of emotion wrapped up in dropping their loved one off, but they become family,” Thompson says. Thompson stresses the importance of caregivers taking time for themselves too, whether that involves taking a nap, playing golf or simply going to work worry-free, knowing that their loved one is in good hands. Joy’s House is currently accepting new families. One needn’t reside in Marion County to be a guest at Joy’s House, as they accept Hamilton County residents and residents from anywhere as long as the caregiver can provide transportation. Thompson maintains that adult day services are often underutilized in general, simply because it’s a difficult subject to tackle. “People don’t want to think about this part of life,” Thompson says. “They don’t want to talk about life-altering diagnoses or think about what that dignity looks like as we prepare for the end of life, but it’s important.” Spending time at Joy’s House can make a positive impact. Recently a guest’s son reported that after spending a few days at Joy’s House, his mother started singing around the house again. “Joy’s House is the whole package,” Bentley says. “There is no amount of money that would be enough to repay them for everything they did for us. I will forever consider Joy’s House family and will forever be grateful to them for their all-encompassing support.” Joy’s House is located at 2028 East Broad Ripple Avenue in Indianapolis. For more information, call 317-254-0828 or visit joyshouse.org. TownePost.com / JANUARY 2022 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 9

DISHING IT OUT LOU MALNATI’S PIZZERIA IS BECOMING A CARMEL FAVORITE

10 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided by Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria

Peter Conway, a market partner with Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, says the Carmel community has wholeheartedly embraced the new eatery. “Overall, excitement has been the community response so far,” Conway says. “It’s been such a pleasure to meet and serve so many members of the community, and hear their stories. The Carmel community has given us a very warm welcome. We seem to have a passionate following, and we’re so excited for our new location. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is happy and excited to be here, and we love the Hoosier hospitality.” Conway says the Carmel location is owned by Marc Malnati, the son of Lou Malnati, founder of the franchise. “It’s an incredible product served by incredible people,” Conway says. “Our team members are family, committed to each other and creating a memorable experience for our guests.” Conway says customers feel comfortable at Lou Malnati’s. “It’s an inviting, fun atmosphere, and I love going to work every day,” Conway says. “It’s more than making great pizza - it’s about the company culture and being an authentic brand. We’re passionate about pizza and people, but also proud to serve our legendary deep-dish pizza to hungry fans, and appreciate the support over the years. It’s been our recipe for success.” Conway says the company’s pizza has been TownePost.com / JANUARY 2022 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 11

distinctive since the Lou Malnati’s franchise began in the early 1970s. “Lou Malnati’s original location in Lincolnwood, Illinois, opened in 1971, and we’re approaching our 50th anniversary,” he says. “Almost 50 years later, the foundation has never changed, and we are consistently looking for opportunities to give back to the local communities we serve, and continuing to foster relationships with our team members and guests.” Conway says Carmel is a great location for the new restaurant.

“While this is the first Indianapolis-area location, Lou Malnati’s has several ties to the area,” he says. “Carmel is the hometown of our director of analytics, Corey Bright, who went to Carmel High School. When we started looking in the area, she suggested to our chief real estate officer, Sasha Milosavljevich, who’s also from Indiana and went to Purdue, that Carmel should be one of our first locations. Our president, Heather Stege, went to Indiana University, and our CEO, Mike Archer, has a daughter who attends there. In addition, members of the Malnati family, Marc and Jeanne Malnati, graduated from Indiana University,

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and have a number of close friends currently living in Carmel as well.” Conway says the company’s signature deepdish pizza is made from a family recipe handed down through four generations. “It’s handmade from scratch, using the finest and freshest ingredients,” he says. “We’re passionate about our pizza - there is nothing else like it.” Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is located at 11435 Spring Mill Road, Suite 170 in Carmel. For more info, call 317-975-1980, or visit loumalnatis.com.

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VISIT THE VILLAGE CENTER BUSINESS AREA OF THE VILLAGE OF WESTCLAY

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Meet the Bellomo Family IN THE PERFECT SPOT TO BUILD COMMUNITY distance of a typical art gallery. Roben Bellomo, master photographer and co-owner of Behn Gallery, curated its warm aura on purpose. He displays his personal projects in the gallery, but it’s also the home base for his client-driven business, Bellomo Studios.

Writer / Heather Hunter Photography Provided

Walking into Behn Gallery in the Village of WestClay is an immersive experience. Larger-than-life photo prints line the walls like windows, showcasing viewpoints snapped both close to home and oceans away. The space is bright and is not distracting, but distinctly lacks the cool

“I’m a firm believer that art is for everybody,” Roben says. “We want people to check all their baggage at the door and connect with each other and the art on a fundamental, human level.” WestClay isn’t a traditional spot for a gallery, but Roben and his wife Adrienne knew it was the perfect spot for theirs. The community has been integral to the deeper relationships they like to build with his clients and the people of Carmel.

16 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

“This is the type of atmosphere we wanted for our family and our children,” Adrienne explains. Since their move from San Diego in 2013, they’ve been deeply involved in the Village, frequenting its restaurants and jumping into its community-led activities. The entire family has trained in martial arts at Mountain Martial Arts and Wellness Center, and the couple’s daughter Neva has taken art classes at the Carmel Art Education Studio. Art is something the Bellomos like to share with their neighbors too. “I hear a lot of people say, ‘I’m not good at art. I can barely draw a stick figure,’” Roben says. “I believe everyone is creative, so we facilitate experiences to get people involved in their own way.” Through his space and his work, Roben

creates experiences that make art accessible to everyone, regardless of their artistic experience or the way they perceive their own creativity.

his process may be different for each project, me feel like an honorary Italian. When you but he is always mindful of his clients’ ideas, are with them, you are one of the family.” personalities and creativity. They’re involved in the process from vision to completion. In addition to product photography and a full spectrum of masterful portraiture, One experience involved setting up a When he takes senior photos, family photos Bellomo Studios handles branding, events, series of three aerial photographs, then and other commissioned portraits, Roben and commissioned, client-driven fine art. asking gallery visitors to write down their encourages families to plan their day as an It’s highly unusual for one studio to offer so interpretation of the series on notecards. experience. He gets to know his subjects many services. Children and adults volunteered definitions, ahead of time, using vision boards to help drawings, and in one case, a poem. them plan the shoot’s styling and guiding “Everybody will tell you to stick to one them to think about meaningful props and thing, but I wanted to respond to what “We wanted people to interact with it, spaces. people needed instead of staying in one and they did in such an interesting way,” lane,” Roben says. “I’m confident enough in Adrienne says. “It was always fun to talk to “Creating the experience is so important,” my skill set to work in a lot of spaces.” people about what they felt and saw.” he says. “It’s not just about the imagery. How are we going to capture what’s most Even more unusual than Roben’s jack-ofAnother interaction focused on three large important to you and to your family?” all-trades approach is his mastery of many pieces that hung in the front of the gallery. niches. He holds a master of photography Each piece was accompanied by a chair and degree and a photographic craftsman Here’s the Skipper of a headset, which the gallery’s patrons could degree, and is recognized as a certified the Bellomo family! use to listen to a custom score created for professional photographer through the art. Roben worked with local musician Professional Photographers of America Matt Barber to create the scores. (PPA). “It was like an artists’ exchange,” he says. “We collaborated to make tweaks and passed the work back and forth.”

In 2019 Roben was selected for a PPA firstplace Grand Imaging Award from 5,073 entries. This year he’s on the USA team for the World Photographic Cup. It’s the third time he’s competed, making him one of only a handful of photographers who have been selected for the team more than once.

The project took his work from the visual realm into something multidimensional, which he loves to do whenever possible. “I see all types of art as being intertwined,” he says. “Any time I can incorporate poetry and music in my work, it’s truer to who I am as an artist.” Above all, Roben likes to create experiences that help people appreciate each other’s viewpoints. “In my career I’ve focused on building community, creating connections between people, and between them and myself,” he says. Behn Gallery helps him explore that through his personal art, but his commissioned work is another opportunity for him to forge deeper connections with the people around him. Whenever he can, Roben incorporates his clients’ creativity into his work. That means

Despite his growing list of awards, Roben will never be finished learning. His Dr. Doug’s Balms, headquartered in lifelong dedication to his craft means he’ll WestClay, is one of Bellomo Studios’ biggest seize every opportunity to grow. Most commercial clients. The staff likes to be importantly, he, Adrienne and their children heavily involved in Roben’s creation of their will continue enriching the Village of product photography. WestClay with their inclusivity and their passion for creating community. “Roben has an unbelievable talent for telling a story with a photograph, strategically seeks The Bellomos encourage anyone to visit the to understand each project, and formulates gallery to experience some art, or even just a vision on how he can contribute,” says to say hello. Natalie Gardner, president of Dr. Doug’s Balms. “The result is truly remarkable.” “I like getting to know the people I’m around,” Roben says. “That’s how I run my Dr. Doug Strobel, founder of Dr. Doug’s business. Our clients become an extension Balms, appreciates the Bellomos for their of our family.” friendship as well as Roben’s photography. Bellomo Studios is located at 2149 Glebe “When you walk into Behn Gallery/ Street, Suite 100 in Carmel. Call 619-569Bellomo Studios, you immediately feel 6709 or visit bellomostudios.com for more welcome,” Strobel says. “The Bellomos make details or to book a session. TownePost.com / JANUARY 2022 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 17

BEHN ART GALLERY LOCAL GALLERY OWNERS SHARE A MUTUAL PASSION FOR ART AND COMMUNITY Writer / Ryan Kennedy Photography Provided

Photographer Roben Bellomo wants people to know that BEHN Gallery is not a traditional fine art establishment. Bellomo moved to Carmel with his family in 2013. In 2014 he opened his own photography studio, Bellomo Studios. At its inception, Bellomo Studios focused primarily on fine artistry portraiture everything from headshots for actors and actresses to family portraits and large-scale prints. Over time, Bellomo Studios began doing branding for businesses as well as fine artwork commissions. “As an artist, those three tiers of service were great,” Bellomo says. “They evolved really well. The challenge as an artist is you’re always looking for ways to grow creatively, and be able to exercise the things that are in your head and your ideas. Those three tiers of business were very servicedriven, which is great, but I needed a creative space to evolve a little bit myself. That was what kind of spawned the idea of having a gallery.” Bellomo befriended fellow photographer Jim Hamel, and the two artists found that 18 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

they shared a similar vision. “Part of the vision for the gallery was to have not just a fine art gallery, where there’s limited edition artworks for the collectors, but a place where we were offering an experience through art as well,” Bellomo says. The pair decided to open a gallery together, and BEHN Gallery was born. The gallery’s name comes from the first initials of the two children Bellomo has with his wife Adrienne - Bodhi and Neva - and the two children Hamel has with his wife Susan - Hannah and Elizabeth. “We wanted to make sure we kept our focus in the right place and remember that our families are a big part of our personal journey,” Bellomo says. The artwork on display in the gallery rotates on a quarterly basis. The current collection, which was on display through the end of 2021, is Bellomo and Hamel’s “Perspectives Series: Ireland.” The collection is the result of the two weeks the photographers spent in Ireland in September of 2019. The collection feature 26 pieces - 13 from Bellomo and 13 from Hamel.

“We went to the same places and we had a very different experience,” Bellomo says. “It really calls into question, ‘Do any of us see the world the same at all?’ If in fact we don’t see the world the same way, maybe instead of trying to tell everybody how our world is, we could actually start asking each other about their world and how they see the things that they see. It’s very relevant to what we’re doing living in this world right now.” Bellomo believes that BEHN Gallery is about more than just the artwork on the wall - it’s also about the experiences patrons have with the artwork. “When you’re trying to offer experiences with our work, you can’t just hang pictures and expect that’s going to be enough,” he says. One of the ways Bellomo hopes to facilitate memorable experiences is by integrating drinks and live music into the collection exhibits, when possible. Bellomo and Hamel brought in a three-piece traditional

Irish band to celebrate the “Perspectives Series: Ireland” collection, and partnered with WestClay Wine and Spirits to host an exclusive Irish whiskey tasting at the gallery.

guest artists both locally and from around the world. He says he’s been paying close attention to community feedback and talking to people about what inspires them.

In addition to being a place where people can engage with and purchase fine art, Bellomo, who taught for 10 years and has a master’s degree in education, wants BEHN Gallery to be an education hub for the community. He and Hamel plan to host workshops to educate people on the arts.

“We’re trying to help people live better through the artwork that we’re creating,” he says. “The artwork is created with them in mind. The way you help people live better through art, at least in our heads, is you offer them ways of thinking and you allow them a space to be vulnerable and actually let themselves go to those places.”

“We’ll probably evolve to having some small workshops for some of the youth in the community, and talk about photography or try to make some more connections with other artists,” Bellomo says. “What we’re trying to do is be an art center, and really education is a huge part of what we do.”

BEHN Gallery is located in the Village of WestClay at 2149 Glebe Street, Suite 100 in Carmel. For more info, call 619-569-6709 and visit behngallery.com.

Bellomo and Hamel haven’t made a decision regarding what comes after their “Perspectives Series: Ireland” collection. Bellomo hopes to eventually bring in

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A WHOLE NEW WORLD CARMEL CLAY PUBLIC LIBRARY RENOVATION PROMISES EXCITING ADDITIONS AND FEATURES

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Justin Sicking

It’s fun having something to look forward to. By the end of this year, the Carmel Clay Public Library’s building project, which began in September of 2020, will be complete. When Bob Swanay joined the team as the library’s director, one of the first things the board told him was that the teen area was too small. As the board and staff began having internal conversations, they realized they were facing other space issues as well since the building was nearly two decades old. “We went through a process of reevaluating our space and how it was being used,” says Swanay, noting that the largest programming space, accommodating roughly 100 people, was no longer adequate given that Carmel’s population has increased to approximately 100,000. “With more than 2,000 programs offered a year and an attendance of around 70,000, there was an obvious need for more space.”

a row of computers,” Swanay says. “What we’re going to be getting is an area six times as large that has a lot more lounge seating.” The space will also include dedicated study rooms, some of which will be soundproof so that teens who want to practice a musical instrument can do so. In addition, library leaders plan to have an artist-in-residency space that will host a different teen artist each semester, giving them a quiet place to create. A versatile programming space, to be known as the community room, will hold close to 400 people versus 100, enabling librarians to use it for gaming, book discussions, guest speakers and more. This larger room will be able to divide into two to allow for multiple activities at once. “Each of the half-rooms will be larger than the old one we had,” Swanay says. Another exciting element to the remodel is the addition of a dedicated outdoor space, which the library team is calling the event lawn, and which will accommodate movies, story times and musical performances.

When the new version of the library opens, the teen area will be substantially larger.

“No area of the library has been left untouched,” Swanay says.

“What we had before was the size of a living room with some chairs, a few tables and

Parking has also been expanded, including a parking garage in the same place the main TownePost.com / JANUARY 2022 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 21

Katherine Huddle, Joyce Winner West Branch Manager and Bob Swanay, CCPL Library Director

parking area was on the south side of the library. Not only did the garage increase spaces from 230 to 430, but it also enabled a skybridge on the second floor so people can enter the library without having to face the elements. The other cool addition in the parking garage is a locker area where patrons can pick up their holds, similar to Amazon lockers. “The advantage is that items can be picked up independently of library operating hours, so if super early in the morning or late at night is the most convenient time for someone, they can do so,” Swanay says. “They’ll be super easy to use. Just scan your library card and the locker door will pop open. When you take your books out, it instantly checks you out.”

Greg Maiers, former board president and current board member, notes that the Joyce Winner West Branch has been a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. “It’s so inviting,” says Maiers, who loves to check out books and movies digitally. “It has a fireplace. You can come in, lounge, and browse through books and magazines.” According to Maiers, the Village of WestClay has about 5,000 people, and the library offers fun activities for kids in the neighborhood. “The village is a diverse group of folks, and there are a lot of school buses around every day,” Maiers says. “The library has become a real focal point for them and a great addition to the neighborhood.”

Swanay has been pleased by the warm In a 2017 community survey, staff learned reception by the Village of WestClay that many people like the breadth and depth management and residents. of the library collection but expressed a desire for a west branch. “It’s nice being in the village,” he says. “You get a lot of families who walk from their Jeff Terp, executive director of the Village homes. It’s a nice neighborhood feel.” of WestClay Owners Association Trustees Hall, says several people were interested in The Carmel Clay Public Library is located developing the vacant space in WestClay at 55 4th Avenue Southeast in Carmel. For that once served as a deli, but businesses are more information, call 317-814-3900 or pleased that the Joyce Winner West Branch visit carmelclaylibrary.org/main-library. moved in. These beautiful photos are taken at the Joyce “It brings in traffic,” Terp says. “People are Winner West Branch Library located at pleasantly surprised to see a library in this 12770 Horseferry Road, Village of WestClay, space.” Carmel, Indiana 46032. 317-814-3965 or visit carmelclaylibrary.org/west-branch. 22 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

January 3-31, 2022 Dining out and carry-out from local restaurants is easy, safe, and sanitized. Plus, if you check in at least eight times at participating restaurants using the digital passport, you’ll get a $25 local restaurant gift card (while supplies last). To get started, claim your digital passport at DineOutHamiltonCounty.com

TownePost.com / JANUARY 2022 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 23 dine out and carry-out locations. Visit DineOutHamiltonCounty.com for more information on local

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