August 15, 2023 — Lawrence/Geist

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Founded Jan. 27, 2015, at Fishers, IN Vol. IX, No. 28

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Lawrence council withdraws ARPA funding proposal from further consideration

A proposal to spend about $3 million in American Rescue Act Plan funds for 2023 City of Lawrence projects has been withdrawn from consideration following the Aug. 7 Lawrence Common Council meeting.

GOVERNMENT

The proposal had been co-sponsored by council members Sherron Freeman, a Democrat serving District 3; and Tom Shevlot, a Republican serving District 5. During the July 19 council meeting, Freeman withdrew her name as a sponsor. On Aug. 7, Shevlot also withdrew his name, which removed the proposal from council consideration. There was no discussion of the topic during the meeting.

In a telephone interview Aug. 8, Shevlot cited delays as the primary reason for withdrawing the proposal. He said it first was brought forward in January and wasn’t placed on the council’s agenda until early May. Now, it’s August, he said, and it has remained in committee the entire time.

The proposal called for amending the city’s ARPA spending plan to fund specific projects. They were:

• $1 million to match a state grant for street improvements, which would free up funds to repair other roads.

• $280,000 to match a grant for trail development and improvements.

• $1.6 million to replace public safety vehicles.

• About $50,000 for public safety education and training, and facility repairs for the fire department’s training tower.

• About $95,000 for police cameras, and for the police department’s new-hire and promotions process.

Shevlot said it seemed that other council members preferred to wait for the results of the November election before allocating ARPA funds, so it seemed pointless to keep the proposal on the agenda. He said it was a frustrating situation.

“The people that this hurt are public safety and constituents” who have been waiting to have their roads fixed, he said.

The City of Lawrence received about $11.2 million through the federal ARPA pandemic

relief plan. In 2022, the city allocated about $5.5 million for sewer and stormwater infrastructure, street paving and other projects.

COURT CASE DISCUSSED

Also during the Aug. 7 meeting, councilmember Rick Wells brought up the ongoing court case filed by Mayor Steve Collier’s administration naming Lawrence Common Council members as defendants.

Collier’s court petition seeks a determination of powers. The council filed a counterpetition in response, and recently added Lawrence Fire Department Chief Dino Batalis as a co-defendant to that counterpetition. Wells said he wants his name removed from anything related to Batalis, or for the council to remove Batalis as a co-defendant.

Wells’ comments were interrupted by the council’s attorney, Kristina Wheeler, who said they shouldn’t be discussing a sensitive legal matter in a public forum. She added that Batalis has not been served with a summons.

The fire chief was added as a co-defendant through an updated motion from the council submitted to the court for consideration. The presiding judge on the fivejudge panel, Kurt Eisgruber, approved the update on July 13. A summons for Batalis was approved on July 17.

In an email response to a question, Wheeler said that while the the summons

“Until the fire chief is ‘served’ with the summons (meaning given formal/official notice from the council per the court’s rules), it is not effective,” she wrote.

Collier’s administration filed the petition March 23 in Marion County Superior Court over the council’s decision to appropriate $250,000 to investigate who was at fault when the city’s 2022 budget was not submitted to the state by deadline in late fall of 2021 and reverted to the previous year’s budget.

The council started the investigation in late 2022-early 2023 after learning that the city had been operating for all of 2022 under the 2021 spending plan.

Collier’s petition asks the court to declare the appropriation null and void, based on state statutes that say an appropriation cannot be made without the mayor’s recommendation. Collier’s petition also asks the court to rule that the council was at fault for the 2022 budget issue, alleging that it failed to provide details needed for that budget to be submitted on time.

In its response to the petition, the council alleges that through the petition and other actions, Collier’s administration is attempting to avoid investigation. The council’s response denies specific allegations in the mayor’s March 23 petition and includes counterclaims against the mayor’s office.

For more stories on this topic, search for “Lawrence Court Case” at youarecurrent. com.

School foundation offers funding opportunities Lawrence celebrates 26th annual National Night Out

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EDUCATION

Lawrence Township School Foundation is accepting applications for its 2023-24 Creative Impact Grants and its 2023 Susan Jordan Scholarship.

Creative Impact Grant applications are due by Aug. 31, and grants will be awarded

EVENT

Neighborhoods throughout Lawrence celebrated the community’s 26th annual National Night Out Aug. 1 with first responders and city officials. For about four hours, law enforcement and public safety officials

Furever Homes

Dog Adoption Event

Accident reignites conversation about Spyglass Falls entry/exit

We invite you and your dog to celebrate National Dog Day at Epcon’s Furever Homes Dog Adoption event. Join us on Saturday, August 26th from 12-3pm at The Courtyards of Westfield. At our Furever Homes Dog Adoption event, the Humane Society for Hamilton County will bring dogs that are available for adoption. We’ll also have a photographer getting some glam shots of your four-legged family member and goodies and prizes. Plus, you’ll get to explore our incredible low-maintenance community with your pup, so there’s something for everyone, canine and otherwise.

We want to extend a special thank you to the Humane Society for Hamilton County for helping make this event possible.

A recent deadly vehicle accident on 116th Street prompted a nearby neighborhood to again reach out to the City of Fishers for help establishing a second, safer entrance to their community.

Spyglass Falls on 116th Street just east of Cumberland Road was built in the early 2000s, according to information from the city. It has one entry and exit point onto 116th Street, an extremely busy corridor with fast-moving traffic.

On July 22, a Fishers man died when the motorcycle he was operating on 116th Street collided with a pickup truck turning west out of the nearby Spyglass Hills neighborhood.

Rob Glinke is the Spyglass Falls Homeowners Association president. He said that accident demonstrates how dangerous it can be trying to exit onto 116th Street. While Spyglass Hills residents have an optional exit at Cumberland Road, Spyglass Falls residents have no choice.

“Our neighborhood was constructed with the intention of having two exits, one on Cumberland Road and one on 116th Street, and a little bit of maybe corporate greed kind of got the better of them,” Glinke said. “Instead of using the egress on the Cumberland roadside, they went ahead and put a house there instead. So, we’ve been stuck with that single exit on a 116th Street.”

He said there have been a lot of accidents there, mostly fender-benders. The recent deadly accident spurred the neighborhood to try to find a solution again.

This isn’t the first time Spyglass Falls HOA has approached the city for assistance. In 2016, the city’s then-engineer Jeff Hill submitted a detailed report on that topic following a request from residents. The report talks about various potential solutions, including a roundabout or traffic lights to slow oncoming traffic, and closing the median to eliminate left turns into and out of the neighborhood.

Two options Glinke said the HOA wants to see explored are building the originally planned connection from Spyglass Falls to Cumberland Road, or expanding what is now a footpath between Spyglass Falls and Spyglass Hills to allow access to the Hills’ Cumberland Road exit.

Spyglass Hills residents have opposed

Spyglass Falls neighborhood off 116th Street east of Cumberland Road is again seeking help from the City of Fishers to create a second entry/exit point, citing safety concerns. (Image courtesy of the City of Fishers)

allowing that additional traffic, citing safety concerns.

Glinke said he understands why the Hills residents oppose it.

“It’s a dangerous area in their neighborhood right there,” he said. “People park on both sides of the road. It’s really narrow at the top of a hill so you can’t really see the oncoming traffic and it in itself is a dangerous situation. I have offered to donate (Falls) ground there to them. So it moves the curb back and allows an extra lot for parking. So, it gets those cars off the street and widens the road.”

He said that suggestion was made during a recent Spyglass Falls HOA meeting that a City of Fishers representative attended. Glinke said that representative indicated the city would reach out to the Spyglass Hills HOA with that idea.

However, that was not the understanding of the city official.

“Spyglass Falls held an HOA meeting and a member of our staff attended,” City of Fishers Director of Community and Public Relations Ashley Elrod said in response to a request for comment. “We attended the meeting to hear the proposal from Spyglass Falls but we are not facilitating conversation between the two (HOAs).”

Elrod added that the city does not have a position on how to resolve the Spyglass Falls entry and exit problem.

COMMUNITY

LAWRENCE

Project: Franklin Road

resurfacing

Location: Resurfacing of Franklin Road from Pendleton Pike to 56th Street is scheduled to start the week of Aug. 14, weather permitting. Franklin Road will remain open to traffic in both directions with lane restrictions in place.

Project: IndyGo Purple Line Construction

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

Location: Northbound on Post Road between Pendleton Pike and the CSX Railroad will be closed during IndyGo Purple Line construction. Southbound will remain open.

Expected completion: The entire project will be completed in 2024

Expected completion: Oct. 15

Project: Street repairs

Location: Midwest Paving will be working on the following streets starting in mid-August: 50th Street from Richardt Avenue to Mitchner Avenue; 51st Street from Richardt Avenue to 50th Street; Elmhurst Drive from 49th Street to 52nd Street; Longworth Avenue from 47th Street to 49th Street; Sadlier Drive from 49th Street to 50th Street; 49th Street from Longworth Avenue to Franklin Road; 49th Street from Elmhurst Drive to Sadlier Drive.

Expected completion: Mid-November

Project: Sanitary sewer main capacity improvements

Location: Harrison Park Drive from the south end of the GetGo gas station to the east side of Harrison Park Lane will be closed starting July 31.

Expected completion: Spring of 2024

Project: Drainage Improvement project

Location: Drainage systems on Rainbow Lane north of Indian Lake are currently under construction.

Expected Completion:

Project: Water main replacement

Location: 46th Street (between Franklin Road and Shadeland Avenue); Richardt Avenue (between 46th and 56th streets); Woodcroft Avenue. (between 46th and 47th); Elmhurst Dive (between 46th and 47th); Kingman Drive (from 47th south to dead end); McGuire Court (46th north to dead end)

Expected completion:

Project: Florida Road

Location: Florida Road is closed to re align the S-curve. Local traffic only will be allowed between 113th Street and Southeastern Parkway.

Expected completion:

FIRST-RESPONDER PROMOTIONS

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Four boys charged with Kia dealership break-ins

news@currentinfishers.com

black Kia Soul that was headed northbound in the southbound lanes of Ind. 37.

CRIME

Four boys between the ages of 14 and 16 were arrested Aug. 6 for allegedly breaking into vehicles at the Napleton Kia of Fishers parking lot, 13417 Britton Park Rd.

According to the Fishers Police Dept., officers were called at about 5 a.m. Aug. 6 to the car dealership. The business has a security video monitoring system on the property, which notified the Hamilton County Communications Center that several subjects appeared to be breaking into vehicles.

“Officers arrived in the area to investigate and observed one suspect running north across the property,” according to Fishers police. “At the same time, officers observed a black 2014 Kia Soul exit the parking lot.”

According to police, some officers searched the area on foot with a K-9 unit and a drone but did not locate the suspect who ran away. Other officers pursued the

“The suspect vehicle crossed the median before turning south in the southbound lanes near Greenfield Avenue in Noblesville,” a Fishers Police Department news release stated. “Officers deployed tire deflation devices. The suspect vehicle continued south and crashed near SR 37/I-69 near 116th Street. Four suspects fled from the vehicle on foot.”

The driver was taken into custody shortly after exiting the vehicle, according to police. The three passengers were found hiding in a dumpster.

The driver of the Kia Soul, a 16-year-old boy, has been charged with resisting law enforcement, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, auto theft, criminal mischief and operating a vehicle without a license. The other three boys, two 14-year-olds and one 15-year-old, face charges of resisting law enforcement, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, auto theft and criminal mischief.

SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS

The heat is on! And Bone Dry’s highly trained service techs are on the road and fully equipped to get your home’s air-conditioning ready for the season. Call today and ask about our Summer TuneUp Special for only $49.95! We can even be there the same day! Phone 317.454.7412 or visit bonedryhvac.com.

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

A shot in the arm can take a load off your mind.

Westfield golfer’s confidence grows after successful summer

Westfield High School senior golfer Samantha Brown’s main goal remains the same as it has all summer.

“I’m trying to hit as many greens as possible,” Brown said. “I feel like if I’m hitting greens, I have a chance at making putts. The more putts you make, the lower you go.”

The Purdue University-bound Brown won the Indiana Junior Girls PGA Championship at Purdue’s course in June and the Girls State Junior Championship at Coyote Crossing Golf Club in West Lafayette in July and tied for second in the Indiana Women’s Open in July at Kokomo Country Club. She finished third in early June at the Pete & Alice Dye Junior Invitational, a national tournament at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel.

“I feel like one of the big things for me this summer is confidence,” Brown said. “If you know you belong in the big tour-

MEET SAMANTHA BROWN

College plans: Play golf at Purdue University and study business

Favorite subject: English

Favorite athlete: Nelly Korda

Favorite type of music: Country

naments, you can compete at the national tournaments.”

Now, her goal is to finally break through to win the state high school individual title.

“I’ve never played well in the state finals,” she said. “My game just hasn’t been on.”

Brown finished tied for seventh in the IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals at Carmel’s Prairie View Golf Club in 2020, tied for 13th in 2021 and tied for sixth in 2022.

Shamrocks girls golf coach Josh Bryant

said Brown has had a tremendous high school and junior golf career.

“She came into high school as a multi-winner on the Indiana Junior PGA Golf tour,” Bryant said. “She was and still is an elite ball striker.”

Bryant said Brown’s Greens in Regulation percentages are some of the best he has seen throughout her junior golf career.

“This skill alone keeps her in most tournaments she plays in and would be enough to be competitive in every event, but she has taken that ability and pushed herself in all areas of her golf game,” Bryant said. “She has become a real student of the game as she has progressed through high school golf through her work with swing coaches and mentors, which has allowed her to improve off the tee, around the greens and course management.”

Bryant said he is most proud of the progress Brown has made with her mental game.

Brown is optimistic about the fourthranked Shamrocks’ chances of making a run at the IHSAA state championship after they won the State Preview tournament Aug. 5 at Prairie View. Teammate Brown tied for third while teammate Addi Kooi was the medalist.

Although Brown said the team didn’t play its best, it won by 11 strokes. It was Brown’s first high school tournament this season as she had just returned Aug. 4 from the Junior PGA Championship in Hot Springs, Ark.

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

ON THE GROW

Economic development momentum ongoing in City of Lawrence

The City of Lawrence made significant strides in the past decade to boost the local economy, and the effort seems to be paying off with new development coming into the city.

City of Lawrence Director of Economic Development Dan Zuerner said there wasn’t much going on in Lawrence for a long time, but for the past seven or eight years, there’s been “dramatic improvement.”

“When you look at particularly the Fort, there’s not a single parcel of real estate available,” he said. “The Fort now is basically fully redeveloped. It’s the most successful Army-base redevelopment story in the history of the United States.”

Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence closed in the mid-1990s, and the land and buildings were turned over to state and local governments. About 1,700 acres became Fort Harrison State Park, and the rest was developed for the community through the City of Lawrence and the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority.

Zuerner said the city doesn’t offer tax abatements as incentives for businesses to move to Lawrence. It instead offers quality-of-life incentives.

“The companies just want to be here because (of) where we’re located and how we’re cleaning the town and moving crime out,” he said. “I think that’s where the real difference is. It’s our strategic location and, quite frankly, downtown Indianapolis has helped us out since COVID because it’s become less desirable with the issues they’re having downtown and people wanting to move out to us. We’re not the only ones experiencing that. So is Fishers and Westfield and Johnson County.”

Zuerner said there is more crime in downtown Indianapolis now than only a few years ago, prompting businesses and people to consider moving. He said Lawrence officials have done a good job making the community an attractive option for those businesses and people.

“We have more parks and green space than any other city in Indiana,” he said. “And I think people really love the fact that we have the trails and the golf courses and the pickleball courts, and we’ve made huge

investments in those facilities — the ice skating rink in the middle of the Fort in the winter time, the special programs, we have the gorgeous farmers market on Thursday nights and Winterfest and all the different things that we are doing at the Fourth of July Festival that make people really feel a part of the community.”

He said the city has had a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency since 2019 to clean up “brownfields,” which are contaminated sites. He said that helped Lawrence repurpose land and make it available to businesses such as Meyers Plastics and RaceTrac gas station.

Zuerner noted that Fortune Magazine recently named Lawrence as one of the best cities in the United States to raise a family, which he said shows the city’s efforts have been working.

Some of those efforts enhance residents’ leisure time, such as development of the Fort Ben Cultural Campus. Others are more practical, such as improvements to the city’s water utility. Zuerner said the new Purple Line rapid transit service under construction by the City of Indianapolis’ IndyGo is another amenity that should help continue growth for Lawrence, along with Lawrence’s plans to offer public electric vehicle charging stations and its continued investment in public safety.

The city also is working with the state to make improvements to the Pendleton Pike corridor, including landscaped medians, and plans a new roundabout at Carroll Road and

86th Street to improve traffic flow. Franklin Road will be redone soon, Zuerner said, and a new boulevard will be built in the trades district and a sound barrier wall will be installed along the railroad track between Franklin Road and I-465.

A new project expected to break ground this fall is a five-story mixed-use development at the corner of 56th Street between Lawrence Village Parkway and Melner Drive. The Keystone Group project will offer 248 apartments, 25,000 square feet of commercial space and a parking garage. Zuerner said the $70 million development should be completed by the first half of 2025.

Zuerner said the city hasn’t created a long-term economic development plan at this point, primarily because it’s in the middle

The master plan for the City of Lawrence’s Trades District includes a boulevard and improved pedestrian and bicycle access. (Rendering courtesy of the City of Lawrence)

of an election cycle. How development continues is up to Lawrence’s elected officials following the November election.

No matter what, though, Zuerner said Lawrence is well positioned.

“Lawrence has a really bright opportunity and a bright future, sitting as the gateway to Indianapolis from the east and particularly with all the things that are happening in Hancock County around McCordsville,” he said. “I think Lawrence has a real opportunity to continue to improve.”

ON THE COVER: The City of Lawrence has made improvements the past decade to attract new business, industry and residents to the community. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lawrence)

WHAT’S BEEN BUILT?

Some of the business development that’s come to Lawrence in the past decade include:

• Freije Engineered Solutions, which moved to the Lawrence Trades District from Fishers when it needed to expand its headquarters. Its new building at 7600 Pendleton Pike, which opened in June 2022, includes corporate and warehouse space, plus a training center.

• Science Applications International Corp., or SAIC, at 4422 Bragdon St., a

defense contractor that specializes in technology such as data analytics, digital engineering, information technology and artificial intelligence.

• Meyer Plastics, which opened in 2019 at 5968 Sunnyside Rd. The company manufactures a variety of plastic products and adhesives.

• Harris & Ford at 9307 E 56th St., a chemical distributor with customers in food, personal care, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, water\wastewater management and industrial sectors.

Ivy Tech to offer training for trucking industry

Ivy Tech Community College’s Hamilton County campus in Noblesville is partnering with an Indianapolis truck driving school to provide training and career opportunities in the trucking industry.

providing our students with high-quality education and career opportunities in growing sectors. The trucking industry offers stability, excellent earning potential and the chance to play a crucial role in keeping our economy moving.”

EDUCATION

Ivy Tech will collaborate with DriveCo CDL Learning Center, an Indianapolis-based truck driving school that campus officials said will “address the growing demand for skilled truck drivers and empower individuals with the necessary skills for a rewarding career in transportation.”

“Through this partnership, Ivy Tech Hamilton County students will have access to DriveCo CDL Learning Center’s industry-leading commercial driver’s license (CDL) training program,” according to a news release from Ivy Tech.

Instructors from DriveCo CDL Learning Center will provide hands-on training and instruction, which will cover essential driving techniques, safety protocols and industry regulations, according to Ivy Tech, which said that students will also gain proficiency in vehicle inspection, maneuvering and defensive driving skills.

“We are excited to partner with DriveCo CDL Learning Center to offer our students a direct pathway to the thriving trucking industry,” said Rachel Kartz, interim chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College’s Hamilton County campus. “This collaboration aligns with Ivy Tech’s commitment to

Students who complete the CDL training program will receive a certificate of completion from DriveCo CDL Learning Center that will demonstrate their proficiency and readiness for employment, according to Ivy Tech, which said that students will also sit for the state CDL skills test to obtain their CDL.

“Our partnership with Ivy Tech Hamilton County allows us to combine our expertise in CDL training with Ivy Tech’s reputable educational programs,” said Karen Orosz, school director of DriveCo CDL Learning Center. “We are proud to contribute to the development of a highly skilled workforce that meets the industry’s demands. Through this collaboration, we are fostering opportunities for career growth and economic prosperity.”

The American Trucking Association said that 8.4 million people were employed throughout the economy in jobs that relate to trucking activity in 2022, according to the Washington, D.C.,-based organization’s website. A total of 3.54 million truck drivers were employed in 2022, an increase of 1.5 percent over the prior year, the organization said.

For more, contact Julie Miller by emailing julie.mitchell@driveco.org or call 317-779-0551.

HEALTH

Fishers doctor joins Priority Physicians of Carmel

news@currentinfishers.com

Priority Physicians announced recently that it has added Dr. Jacob A. Brandon of Fishers to its concierge medical practice.

NEW HIRE

Brandon joined the Carmel office team on July 31, according to the announcement.

Brandon is board-certified in Internal Medicine and resides in Fishers. His undergraduate studies were at IUPUI, followed by medical school at Indiana University and Ross University School of Medicine.

According to Priority Physicians, he completed his internal medicine residency at Ascension St. Vincent hospital in Indianapolis, serving as chief resident his final year. Before joining Priority Physicians, Brandon served with Ascension in an Indianapolis primary care practice.

“Dr. Brandon is a fantastic addition to our growing team,” stated Joe Rizzuto, chief

operating officer with Priority Physicians. “He absolutely shares in our commitment to delivering personalized attention, professional excellence and unparalleled service for each and every patient that we serve.”

Brandon is accepting new patients at Priority Physicians of Carmel. For more, call Priority Physicians at 317-688-9000.

Priority Physicians is an executive care and concierge family medical practice serving nearly 2,000 members with 11 physicians and office locations in Carmel and Fishers.

Client-members receive a comprehensive executive annual physical, 24/7 direct access to a physician — including same-day appointments and house calls — subspecialty healthcare coordination, emergency room and hospitalization consultations, well-baby check-ups and more.

To learn more about Priority Physicians, visit priorityphysicianspc.com.

“Dr. Brandon is a fantastic addition to our growing team,” stated Joe Rizzuto, chief operating officer with Priority Physicians. “He absolutely shares in our commitment to delivering personalized attention, professional excellence and unparalleled service for each and every patient that we serve.”

DISPATCHES

Health and Wellness Day — The Fishers Farmers Market is hosting a Health and Wellness Day during its weekly market on Aug. 26. The special theme is a partnership between the city’s parks department and the Fishers Health Dept., according to the health department’s weekly newsletter. During that day’s market, there will be a focus on promoting individual and community wellness by incorporating the eight dimensions of wellness — emotional, physical, occupational, intellectual, financial, social, environmental and spiritual. Those attending the market can learn ways to support one another, get materials and resources, and engage in fun activities. The Fishers Farmers Market is 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through September at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater.

Free yoga on Wednesdays — Fishers Parks Dept. offers a free yoga class starting at 9 a.m. each Wednesday. During warm-weather

months, the program is offered at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, 6 Municipal Drive in Fishers. The classes are guided by Roots & Wings Yoga and Wellness. No registration is required, and participants must bring their own yoga mats. When cold weather returns, the weekly program will move indoors at Billericay Park, 12690 Promise Rd. in Fishers.

Volunteers needed for water availability study – The Hamilton County Surveyor’s Office is seeking volunteers for the county’s three-year Water Availability Study. The study is being done by INTERA, the engineering firm employed by the county, and will monitor aquifer levels throughout the county to better understand the groundwater availability within the county. The data will contribute valuable information to the study. If interested, reach out to the Hamilton County Surveyor’s Office at 317-776-8495 or email at surveyor@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.

Navigating the arc of life

Commentary by Terry Anker

We leave the world the same way we enter it, naked and alone — so goes the modern retelling of Ecclesiastes 5:15. For those of us who prefer the original, “As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.” Like much of the accumulated wisdom of humankind, the admonishment is open for some degree of interpretation. Is the crux of the message to inform us that worldly possessions do not pass with us into a next existence — reminding us therefore of the folly to build our entire beings around them? Or it could be to better help us to prepare for the natural arc of life?

ESSAY

tween, we build a family, a home and a career only to arrive at a point no longer filled with mortgage payments, back-to-school nights, anniversaries and early morning staff meetings. We go from a life of leisure to one of great obligation and back again. If this curve is assured, what elements of our youth might we anticipate as we slide down the back end of the slope? Children smile effortlessly. They worry little. They are curious and willing to learn without embarrassment. They largely know no shame. They forgive as easily as they love. They take help as offered and let you know how they feel. They eat as they wish and play with their favorite toys for hours. If our return is guaranteed, could we find joy even as we confront the diapers?

We begin life nearly helpless and often end it almost the same way. We grow, learn and obtain an ever-increasing set of physical skills until we begin to shrink, forget and lose mastery of our corporal self. In be-

Wasn’t exactly fun money

“Have a yard sale!” they said. “It’ll be fun!” they said. Alas, dear readers, I naively fell for their hateful lies and recently turned my driveway into a B-grade flea market smelling of sweat and desperation. I did make around $500 and managed to purge more than a decade of accumulated trinkets and trash from our basement and several forgotten closets, but fun?

wanted, nay, needed, a semi-broken train set circa 1998 or a collection of mismatched Christmas mugs. I even meticulously stickered every item with pink price tags in anticipation of a fast-paced, crowded Saturday.

HUMOR

Absolutely not.

For starters, I spent days sifting through boxes and containers sorting everything from old college textbooks to my husband Doo’s outdated hunting equipment into three categories: Throw Away, Keep and Sell/Donate. The thrill of rediscovering a beloved wedding photo was vastly outweighed by the hours hunched over baskets full of discarded Barbie accessories and probable exposure to mold.

Next, I had to haul the junk upstairs, wipe away dirt and spider webs and arrange charming vignettes in such a fashion as to draw the buyer in, to make them think they

Of course, then it rained. I nearly stroked out last-minute prepping in my hot, humid garage before finally deciding to postpone it until the following day, when I had to compete with dumb church services and family lunches. Ugh. Where are all the people?

Ultimately, I made some cash and cleared our storage room by half, and Goodwill received two van loads of decent artwork, toys and glassware. But my friends are big, fat liars. Because having a yard sale was definitely not fun.

Peace out.

“I had to haul the junk upstairs, wipe away dirt and spider webs and arrange charming vignettes in such a fashion as to draw the buyer in.”

– DANIELLE WILSON

CONSU M E 2023

FALL DINING GUIDE

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A different word for everything

STYLE SHOW & LUNCHEON Autumn Elegance

Riverview Health Auxiliary invites you to the Autumn Elegance Style Show & Luncheon featuring the latest fashions by The Secret Ingredient.

When: Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Where: The Bridgewater Club, 3535 East 161st Street, Carmel, IN 46033

Registration & Shopping: 10:30 a.m.-noon Style Show & Luncheon: 12 p.m.

Sponsored by Riverview Health Medical Staff

$60/ticket

HUMOR

One of the things on my bucket list is to be fluent in another language. My wife Mary Ellen and I are planning a trip to Mexico this winter, so I decided to look into the many apps that you hear advertised on the radio like Babbel, a lousy name for an application that claims to help you speak a new language clearly. There was also Rosetta Stone and Duolingo.

I opted for Duolingo and am achieving some success. Up until now, the app has been pretty good, so long as I speak only in the present tense and want to order only beans and rice at a restaurant. It also gives me different scenarios and then provides the terminology I might employ in those situations, like at a library or a café. Here’s one:

• You are walking down the street alone. You see a stranger. You ask for directions and then strike up a conversation. You suggest having a drink where you can talk, maybe get to know each other better and then plan to have some fun together.

This sounds to me like a chapter from “Spanish 101 for Street Walkers.”

Now, in my sixth month of study, I get the feeling that Duolingo is running out of new things for me to translate from English to Spanish. The sentences below are actual examples from Unit 14 along with a few editorial remarks by me. All are 100 percent true. Totalmente Cierto!

• Yesterday, the birds cleaned the kitchen.

• (What about the bottom of their cage?)

• The horse and the cow went out for dinner.

• (Good luck. It’s hard to find a good vegan restaurant in Indiana)

• My cat cleans the house.

• (But his litter box is still a disgusting mess)

• The duck learned to use the toilet.

• (But never flushes or puts the lid down)

• The pig wrote a letter to his grandmother.

• (How many pigs still have a living grandmother?)

• The horse is taking lessons in German.

• (But is having trouble putting on the lederhosen)

• The cats are learning Chinese.

• (Big deal, they are Siamese cats)

• Pigs can learn to spell.

• (Yes, and they think “farm” is spelled E I E I O.)

I doubt I will ever have to use any of these phrases, but it’s always good to be prepared. For example, right now I have to wrap up this column quickly. There is a lot going on in my house and I need to attend to it now…

• Mi cerdo y mi vaca estan en la computadora pidiendo una pizza de anchoasa entregar.

• (My pig and my cow are on the computer ordering an anchovy pizza to be delivered)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES

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“I opted for Duolingo and am achieving some success. Up until now, the app has been pretty good, so long as I speak only in the present tense and want to order only beans and rice at a restaurant.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

CCP’s musical revue seeks to raise funds for permanent home

The Carmel Community Players will celebrate its 30th birthday Aug. 16.

‘SOPHISTICATED LADIES’

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

PAULSON AND SCHARBROUGH

PERFORMANCES

A nice gift would be a new home. The acting company has not had a permanent home since it had to leave Clay Terrace in 2018.

Carmel Community Players will hold a two-night fundraiser featuring a musical revue of the works of Jerry Herman called “Jerry’s Girls” Aug. 18-19 at Woodland Country Club of Carmel in the grand ballroom. The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. with the performance at 7:30 p.m. each night. There also will be a silent auction and prizes. Proceeds benefit the CCP Capital Fund.

“For the next 30 years, we hope we only have one new home,” longtime CCP board member Rich Phipps said.

Since April 2018, after its lease was terminated at Clay Terrace, CCP has performed at four different venues: 17 productions at The Cat in Carmel, four productions at the Ivy Tech Auditorium in Noblesville, three productions at the Switch Theatre in Fishers and one at the Carmel Friends Church

CCP was issued a certificate of incorporation as a nonprofit corporation on Aug. 16, 1993, by Indiana Secretary of State Joe Hogsett, now Indianapolis mayor. CCP performed its first production, “Once Upon a Mattress,” later that month at what was then Carmel Junior High School.

Phipps, a Carmel resident who has been on the board since 2009 and is CCP’s treasurer, attended the first public meeting of the Carmel Community Players in early 1993 before it was incorporated.

“I went to the meeting expecting this group would be saying they are going to put on a show, but they were much more ambitious than that,” Phipps said. “Right from the get-go, they wanted to put together complete theatrical seasons with productions of all ages with musicals, comedies and youth shows. The emphasis

was really on community.

“It’s not just the name, it was fundamental to the whole identity of the organization. CCP people started participating in everything from the CarmelFest Parade, Carmel International Arts Festival and they sang at the farmers market.”

In the past 30 years, CCP has performed 137 shows, along with more than 30 cabarets, talent shows and fundraisers.

There were 23 productions, all plays, at 15th 1st Street NE in Carmel, a 60-seat venue fondly referred to as “Studio 15,” Phipps said.

There were 25 productions, mostly musicals, at the former Carmel Performing Arts Center at 575 West Carmel Dr., which is now Piano Solutions.

Then there were 46 productions at Clay Terrace’s Playhouse, which had approximately 120 seats. The first one was presented in October 2009 and the final one began in February 2018.

“(Clay Terrace) was almost like a permanent home, but we always knew it was year to year on the lease,” he said.

There are several advantages to having a permanent home.

“Some directors only really want to direct shows where they can release on location,” Phipps said. “To pick up a show from a rehearsal site and only move in a couple days before opening night, it limits what you can do. It limits what kind of set

From left, Vickie Cornelius Phipps and Susan Smith (with Marilyn Monroe) in CCP’s 2007 production of “Nunsense” at Clay Middle School. Both actresses will be featured in “Jerry’s Girls” at the CCP Fundraising Gala. (Photo courtesy of CCP)

you can have. You can’t be as ambitious in your vision of the show.”

The Cat, for instance, has a smaller stage, so it limits the cast size.

“From an audience perspective, it gets confusing where you are going to be,” he said. “We lose patrons that way because senior citizens, in particular, might not want to drive all over the place to try to find us.”

Phipps said it’s hard to find directors if they don’t know the production site.

“I’ve only directed a few shows, but I’d never want to direct a show without knowing where we were going to put it on because it impacts everything in terms of the staging and how much room you have and what kind of set you have,” he said. “That’s probably the biggest driver along with controlling your own destiny in putting on the shows when you want to put them on.”

“Jerry’s Girls” features six women with ties to CCP and Herman’s shows, such as “Hello, Dolly!” and “Mame.”

Phipps’ wife Vickie is one of the six performers, along with Susan Smith from Carmel. The others are Fishers residents Diane Tsao and Jill O’Malia, Heather Hansen of Zionsville and Georgeanna Teipen of Greenfield.

Tickets are $75 or $500 for a table of eight. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.

Joe Paulson and Sarah Scharbrough will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Freeform Concert Series presents Steve Everett with Jefferson Rinck at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Admission is free for this series. There is a $25 food and beverage minimum per person. Deception: An Event of Magic & Lies’ is set for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17 and Nicolas King & Seth Sikes —The New Belters will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIE

The Marshall Tucker Band will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 18 and Unforgettable Fire: U2 Tribute Show is set for 8 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Symphony on the Prairie series at Conner Prairie in Fishers. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.

“FOUR

OLD BROADS’

“Four Old Broads” will be featured Aug. 1827 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.

DISPATCH

Documentary set for PBS showings — “The Addict’s Wake,” a documentary on the opioid crisis in Brown County, is being released nationally on PBS this month. It will show at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 26 on WIPB, the Ball State University PBS station and at 9 p.m. Aug. 31 on WFYI, Indianapolis’ station. Amy Pauszek, a Geist resident whose photo column Where’s Amy appears in Current newspapers, and former Fishers residents Lisa Hall were the producers, and Zionsville resident Michael Husain was the director.

Where’s Amy?

Where’s Amy attended the one-night only performance of “La Casa Azul” Aug. 5 at the Palladium at the Center for The Performing Arts in Carmel. The production was a collaboration with Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre and the Carmel Symphony Orchestra on

Gregory Hancock’s musical about the life of artist Frida Kahlo. The night ended with a VIP reception where guests had a chance to mingle with the cast, board members and crew. For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

Where’s Amy attends

Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE:

Months: APRIL, AUGUST, JULY, JUNE, MARCH, MAY; Majors: DENTISTRY, LAW, MEDICINE, OPTOMETRY, PHARMACY; Lakes: LEMON, MICHIGAN, MONROE, WAWASEE;

Desserts: CAKE, COOKIE, CUSTARD; Deserts: GOBI, SAHA-

Time for fall beers

The kids are going back to school, and in my opinion, that means it’s fall. I know it isn’t officially fall yet. I mean, we haven’t had Labor Day weekend, and the temperatures are still ebbing and flowing between 80 and “make it stop.” But we are deep in the heart of August. Currently, we are wrapping up fall guides, pumpkin beers are coming back on tap, and the smell of pumpkin-spiced bacon (yes, that is a thing) can be faintly detected on the easterly breezes.

One of the many things I love about fall is the food and the beverage. I don’t drink much beer anymore, but I love a good Oktoberfest and pumpkin beer. Judge me. I don’t care. Generally speaking, these Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers are only available this time of year. If you don’t have a favorite, here are four options to get you going.

UPLAND

OKTOBERFEST

Upland makes killer beer. Champagne Velvet is my favorite beer. This is a delicious beer that is more of a märzen than a true fest beer. It is malty, crisp and deli-

cious. Grab one at their new tap house in Clay Terrace (opening soon).

NEW

HOLLAND ICHABOD

New Holland is in New Holland, Mich. The pumpkin beer, Ichabod, is out of control. It is brewed with real pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg and it is lower in alcohol, which I prefer. This used to be bottle-only but is now available in cans.

BIG LUG

OKTOBERFEST

Available primarily at the brewery and various Sahm restaurants, this is a traditional fest beer that is fuller bodied than a pilsner, light in color and absolutely delicious.

MOONTOWN

KING OF TROY

This isn’t a fest beer, it is essentially a Dortmunder in style, which is not as rich as beer. But it is lights-out delicious, and I’ll drink it year-round.

Hard look at lazy words

Because Americans value efficiency, we combine multiple words into one super word. One way we do this is through contractions. These words include don’t (do not), we’ve (we have), and can’t (can not). Yes, contractions increase our efficiency, so we have more time to manage our burgeoning stock portfolios while refilling our Big Gulps (for free). But some contractions can be tricky.

GRAMMAR GUY

Have you ever been tripped up by “should’ve?” Should’ve is a contraction for “should have.” For example: I should’ve worn sunscreen when we were at the zoo.

What about “should of”? As Americans, sometimes we talk so quickly, we say things like “shoulda,” which is an even shorter way of saying “should’ve.” Many people mistakenly think this phrase is “should of.” “Should of” is incorrect and should never be spoken, typed, or otherwise communicated. The same rule applies for “must’ve” (not must of), “could’ve” (not could of), and “would’ve” (not would of).

If someone you care about uses “should of,” wait until you have some one-on-one time with them, calmly sit them down, and then gently correct them. Please don’t correct them in public; that’s the quickest way to lose friends and end up with a house full of cats (I believe the politically correct term is “fur babies”).

In general, contractions like “should’ve” are still regarded as informal speech, so, if you’re writing your doctoral dissertation or cover letter to be hired as a lawyer, avoid these shortcut words. However, in everyday conversations, feel free to contract away. After all, the first amendment grants us free speech and since it’s the first one, that probably means that it’s the best.

What do you think? Are shortcut words like these lazy, efficient or a mixture of both?

A visit to Ketchikan

Today, in our continuing tour of Alaska, we make the first of two visits to Ketchikan.

TRAVEL

Ketchikan is on Revillagigedo Island at the southern end of Alaska’s portion of the famous Inside Passage, a waterway that snakes around the islands and fjords in Alaska’s Panhandle and along the coast of British Columbia.

Before Europeans came onto the island, the indigenous Tlingit people used it for a fish camp. In 1885, an Oregon canning company sent Mike Martin to Revillagigedo Island to establish a salmon cannery, which soon supported a town. Ketchikan, named after the Tlingit name for a creek running through town, was incorporated in 1900. In 1903, the town enacted an ordinance banning brothels from the downtown area, west of Ketchikan Creek. Until they were shut down in in 1954, a number of brothels operated along Creek Street, a boardwalk perched above the east side of Ketchikan Creek in what was then disparagingly called “Indian Town.”

Today, Ketchikan is a picturesque city,

with a population of about 8,000. Each summer, cruise ships make about 500 stops in Ketchikan’s harbor, bringing in about 1 million visitors. Ketchikan bills itself as “Alaska’s First City” and the “Salmon Capital of the World.” Because of its rainfall, Ketchikan is also sometimes called the “Rain Capital of Alaska.” Ketchikan and the surrounding area include the largest collection of standing totem poles in the world. Until recently, the Chief Kyan pole in Whale Park near the center of town was featured on Page 25 of U.S. passports. The historic buildings along Creek Street have been restored. The Star Building, named for the star in the center of its maple dance floor, was once the largest brothel in town and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dolly’s House, another former brothel on Creek Street, is now a museum.

39. Pacific Island nation

41. Convent dweller

42. Like a neglected garden

43. “...ish”

44. The Melting Pot concoction

46. Sandra or Ruby

47. “Later!”

49. Flub

50. There are 220 in 44-Down (Abbr.)

51. Corydon’s Spring Wine Walk mo.

52. Jockey rival

54. Coach Parseghian

57. Senior member

59. In addition

63. Purdue campus quarters

65. Lin-___ Miranda of “Hamilton”

67. Local company whose CEO’s name can be found in the puzzle’s circles

68. Mountaineer’s tool

69. Tide type

70. “People Puzzler” channel

71. Pompous walk Down

1.

26. Ray Skillman inventory

27. Fashion Mall unit

28. Taste or touch

31. Demanding attention

32. Finished

33. Eyelid woes

36. “Becoming a vegetarian is a big missed steak,” e.g.

37. Make beloved

40. “The Naked Maja” artist

42. “Those ___ the days”

44. Hoosier Park distance

45. Grecian pot

48. Basile Center performance

52. Macho guys

53. More logical

54. Yemeni port

55. Civic Theatre part

56. Kind of code

58. IU Health VIPs

60. Hawaiian feast

61. Send some pixxx?

62. Bullring bravo

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Fenced Yard

24 Years

Experience

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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SHOP TO CALL HOME?

Integrity Automotive is looking for a full time automotive technician. In business for 28 years in downtown Carmel with a solid, happy customer base and a positive, good-natured work environment. The best candidate is a motivated, well-organized technician with at least three years hands on experience in automotive diagnosis, problem-solving and repair. Able to interpret and apply diagnostic/repair information from computerized databases and other sources. Also able communicate clearly and effectively with your supervisor, your fellow employees and, as needed, with customers. A complete job description is available with a request to frontdesk@integrityautomotive. net. We offer competitive pay with a Monday through Friday work week and (after 90 days) up to four sick/personal days per year and paid holidays. To schedule an interview, send your resume with contact information to: frontdesk@integrityautomotive.net

40 S Rangeline Rd Carmel Indiana 46032 www.IntegrityAutomotive.net