Tuesday, May 26, 2026
youarecurrent.com
West Road neighbors hope speed humps will improve safety
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IU fans gather to hear coaches speak at Palladium
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Daughter helps find father lost 5 days in Arizona desert
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Page 11 Volunteers connect with opportunities through website
Page 16 Rehab facility proposed on Illinois St.
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Carmel residents who live along West Road hope the addition of speed humps will slow and deter a longtime problem of vehicles cutting — or racing — through their neighborhood.
The Carmel City Council on May 18 unanimously approved the addition of several speed humps along the west Carmel road between 121st and 131st streets.
Before the vote, several people who live in the area said speeding vehicles have led to unsafe conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians, and for children playing outside. Many of the drivers are attempting to avoid traffic jams on nearby Michigan Road, according to Luke Edgerton, who said his family has owned property along West Road since he was a child.
“People are using it during rush hour, which makes sense to bypass traffic jams, but they’re using it at rush-hour speeds,” Edgerton said. “We’re talking 55 and 60 miles an hour on a 30-mile-anhour residential street.”
In addition, a quarter-mile stretch of the road is often used as a “drag strip,” he said, especially in the evenings and in the middle of the night.
Several speed humps will be installed this summer along West Road between 121st and 131st streets. This image is representative of where they could be placed; exact locations and total amount are still to be determined. (Image courtesy of the City of Carmel)
“They wake up the entire neighborhood,” he said.
Sarah Cooper said she has had multiple vehicle accidents end up in her backyard. She does not allow her child to ride a bike through the neighborhood because she feels the speeding traffic is too dangerous.
“It’s just a matter of time before something tragic happens,” she said.
Neighbors completed a lengthy process to petition the city for speed humps. They collected signatures of support from more than 75 percent of affected homeowners and worked with city officials to determine whether the installation of speed humps is justified.
City Councilor Jeff Worrell said he believes speed humps should have been installed along West Road long ago.
“You have a hardship in your neighborhood because of someone else,” he said. “I think that’s a shame, and I think we should acknowledge it.”
City Engineer Bradley Pease said he expects the speed humps will be installed this summer.
Homeowners who signed the petition in support of the speed humps will be responsible for covering the cost of removing them if they choose to do so within five years.
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
The Hamilton County Commissioners approved an ordinance May 11 that prohibits reckless driving exhibitions.
According to Hamilton County Director of Administration Mike Hubbs, the ordinance aims to protect citizens from
unsafe traffic conditions and public safety risks caused by certain reckless driving maneuvers.
Hubbs said there has been a recent increase in “burnout parties,” where groups of people gather to perform activities like doughnuts, drifting and wheelies” in their vehicles.
Hubbs said it has recently become a
major issue in the northern part of the county, as well as on Ind. 37 and I-69. He said the county’s ordinance is similar to one approved in Carmel in 2024.
The ordinance sets a $500 fine for a first offense and $2,500 for subsequent offenses, with the possibility of having the vehicle impounded.
The ordinance will go into effect June 10.
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By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
The Carmel City Council met May 18 to advance plans for the Proscenium III mixed-use development, approve the Home Place subarea plan and adjust its short-term rental ordinance.
WHAT HAPPENED: The council approved the vacation of a public roadway that will become part of the future Proscenium III redevelopment site just east of Carmel City Hall.
WHAT IT MEANS: The $123 million project, a collaboration between developer Birkla Investment Group and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission, is set to contain a 128-room luxury Tapestry hotel with an upscale restaurant, office space for a corporate headquarters and more than 150 apartments. It will also include a publicly available overlook tower.
WHAT HAPPENED: The council amended its comprehensive plan to incorporate a subarea plan for the Home Place area.
WHAT IT MEANS: The city spent more than a year fine-tuning the plan, which includes Home Place building standards, recommended improvements in the business district and other measures to guide long-
term development in the area. Learn more at yard.mysocialpinpoint.com/ home-place.
WHAT HAPPENED: The council amended its short-term rental regulations to align with state law.
WHAT IT MEANS: The state legislature passed a law earlier this year that essentially voided Carmel’s short-term rental restrictions. The amendments require owners who occupy the dwelling they seek to rent to receive a permit from the city and requires those seeking to rent a non-owner-occupied dwelling to receive a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
WHAT HAPPENED: The council introduced an ordinance and several resolutions that would refinance existing debt to take advantage of lower interest rates.
WHAT IT MEANS: Most of the debt was acquired in 2016, but it also includes a 2020 stormwater bond. Zac Jackson, City of Carmel chief financial officer, said the city is expected to save between $9 million and $11 million by refinancing the debt.
WHAT’S NEXT: The council’s finance committee will review the measures before sending them back to the full council for a vote.
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
Carmel High School students spent the entire school day during finals week on campus instead of being released at lunch, the fallout of a fight that occurred during winter finals week last year.
Previously, during finals week, called ACE — Assessments and Culminating Experiences — students went to school in the morning to take exams or work on projects and were dismissed at lunch. They could go home or study in public locations, with many opting for the Carmel Clay Public Library across the street. However, a fight on Dec. 16, 2025,
prompted a change in the structure. Only a few students were involved in the fight, but hundreds of students were in the room.
The weeklong influx of students at the library was cause for concern for library administrators. CCPL Director Bob Swanay told Current in December those concerns were brought to CCS’ attention. CCS spokesperson Emily Bauer said the large community response to the incident at the library led the district to reevaluate its finals week schedule.
Now, students remain on campus and alternate between ACE blocks and study halls. Bauer said they’ll reevaluate the policy in the future.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
When Indiana University football coach Curt Cignetti arrived on campus in 2024, he wasn’t always recognized around town.
“I thought it changed after our first season, little did I know,” he said. “My wife will tell you I’m boring and I never want to do anything. She can’t understand the fascination.”
The Hoosiers finished 11-2 in 2024 and followed that up by going 16-0 and winning the College Football Playoff national title in January.
Cignetti, basketball coach Darian DeVries and athletic director Scott Dolson separately addressed a full audience at a fan engagement event May 14 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Don Fischer, who has been the IU play-by-play radio announcer since 1973, was the host. Fischer said the event, which included cheerleaders and the Bison mascot, sold out in 36 hours.
Cignetti, naturally, drew the most applause.
“I think this team was ready for every moment,” he said.
Cignetti said the team was prepared for its first major test at Oregon and the Big Ten championship game against Ohio State.
“I give our team so much credit for their consistency and preparation, day in and day out,” he said. “This
is the most consistent football team I’ve ever been around. We had a lot of high characters — smart guys, good players — and they were very close and complemented one another.”
One of the most impressive sights to Cignetti was the sea of red at the three playoff games, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.; Peach Bowl national semifinals in Atlanta; and CFP national championship game in Miami.
“IU has the largest alumni base in America and I think America is starting to feel that,” he said.
Cignetti said a team can’t do what his Hoosiers did without great support from IU President Pam Whitten
and Dolson.
“You can’t do great things without a commitment from the top and total alignment in your organization,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep working hard every day, stay hungry and keep getting better.”
Entering his second season, Hoosiers basketball coach Darian DeVries talked about assembling nearly an entire roster for a second consecutive season. Before the 2025-26 season, DeVries had limited time after getting the job to find players in the transfer portal and freshmen who hadn’t committed.
“It’s a little different. I like this year a lot better,” he said. “You got your full staff in place (to evaluate and recruit).”
IU has added three freshmen and seven college transfers, six from high-major Division I programs, including Markus Burton, who averaged 18.5 at Notre Dame; 6-foot-10 Aiden Sherrill (11.1 ppg at Alabama); Bryce Lindsay (12.3 ppg at Villanova); and 7-2 Samet Yigitoglu (10.7 ppg and 7.9 rebounds at SMU).
“I think you are going to love the guys we have coming in,” DeVries told the audience. “We wanted to make sure we had guys that had proven at this level. You could see what it would look like because they had already played in a high level league.”
DeVries said they were able to address the lack of size last year’s team had.
“I think our guys fought hard, but we knew we had to get more size and depth at the position,” he said.
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By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Esther Dora took an unexpected trip from Carmel to Arizona last month when she learned her father had been missing in the wilderness for two days.
It took another harrowing few days before she and some of her siblings found him. Mark Young, 76, was exhausted and dehydrated but in better health and spirits than anyone expected.
“It was emotionally overwhelming,” Young said of being found by his children. “We wound up weeping for love and joy and relief.”
Dora described the experience as “a miracle.”
“It was a complete God thing,” she said. “The sheriff said every other person they have found that has gotten lost has been in a body bag. So, we’re not taking this lightly. Not everybody has this happy ending.”
An avid hiker, Young, who lives in
North Carolina, had set out alone April 16 to explore a remote area of Yavapai County between Phoenix and Sedona. He grew up in Arizona and had hiked the area twice before.
“Arizona is like his home. He loves it there,” Dora said. “This is a normal thing for him to do, to go off and be alone with his thoughts and spend time with the Lord.”
So, his wife didn’t worry until he failed to show up for a dinner engagement the next day. She contacted local authorities but didn’t alert her seven children until the following morning.
As soon as she heard the news, Dora began preparing to fly to Arizona. She hoped she’d be visiting her father recovering in the hospital when she arrived that evening, but instead she joined the search team, which included her six siblings and many members of the local community.
Early April 19, Dora and some of her siblings headed toward Bloody Basin,
Continued from Page 6
a rugged area where their father was believed to be. But their search that day turned up nothing.
So, they headed out again the following morning. Soon, Dora and her brother heard a distant cry for help echoing through the canyon. After additional searching, two of her other brothers were the first to find their father about a mile away — six miles away from his parked car.
“We watched my brothers, Josh and Paul, hike up to where my dad was just underneath the shade,” Dora said. “He said, ‘I need to take it slow. I’m hurting.’”
Soon, a helicopter evacuated Young to the hospital. Dora visited him several hours later after hiking out of the canyon and driving back to civilization.
“We got to the hospital, and he had already gotten fluids on the helicopter and gotten more fluids at the hospital,” Dora said. “He had eaten and gotten to shower and he was discharged with us. That same day he got to go back to the Airbnb we had rented.”
Dora said her father was very sore and dehydrated, but otherwise unharmed. His worst complaint was the bug bites that covered his body after several nights of sleeping on the ground.
‘NONE OF THAT MATTERS’
Young, a Vietnam War veteran, relied on his faith and skills he learned in the Army to survive the ordeal.
“He didn’t feel like he was going to die, but he also had a lot of conversations with God, saying, ‘If this is my time to go, then it’s my time to go,’” Dora said. “But until then, he felt like he needed to move every day. He knew that he needed to get off this ridge and
go back down to where water would be.”
Young’s water ran out after three days and he drank his own urine to survive. He also stoned a rattlesnake to death that startled him as he walked along a trail.
“The third day and night was the roughest,” Young said. “(But) I just felt like the Lord was with me. I felt his presence. I really didn’t think I was going to die.”
Young said he doesn’t plan to give up hiking — although he will take additional precautions in the future, especially in remote areas.
Back in Carmel, Dora, a photographer and mother of four, said the experience brought her big family even closer together than they were before.
“Something like this puts everything in perspective,” she said. “Little things that you might get annoyed about, or stuff you might have held onto as far as unforgiveness, none of that matters.”
Her father agreed.
“What’s important is people, your faith and your family,” Young said.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Mt. Vernon High School junior Parker Althoff is getting his first taste of high school baseball and he loves it.
Althoff was homeschooled until this year.
Mt. Vernon coach Brad King said Althoff has been a nice addition to the program.
“Parker came in during fall workouts and immediately made an impression on our coaching staff,” King said. “He was present at each workout, brought the same work ethic each day and is receptive to coaching. Parker is athletic, versatile and brings a skill set not a lot of high school players have. Parker has played middle infield, outfield and is now in our pitching rotation. Offensively, he has hit throughout the lineup and been consistent at the plate and runs the bases very well.”
Through May 16, Althoff had a .279 batting average with three doubles and one home run. The right-hander
Favorite athlete: Ken Griffey Jr.
Favorite movie: “Interstellar”
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite genre of music: Country
Favorite vacation spot: Panama City Beach, Fla.
has a 1-0 record with a 3.36 earned run average.
He will play for the Central Indiana Arabians during the travel season. He previously played for USA Prime.
“I’ve always kind of wanted to play high school baseball and go to high school, but it hasn’t always been the best decision in my parents’ eyes, so we decided to start off with home school.
Then over the years, I slowly convinced them to let me go to high school, and a big part of that was the high school baseball program and how that would help set me up for the future.”
Althoff said the goal is to be a pitcher in college.
“At the start of the year, it was a little bit more pressure starting off for the high school team because it was my first time seeing that level of competition, because I’ve been homeschooled since middle school,” he said.
Althoff, who mostly plays second base when not pitching, said there was some added pressure, as he wanted to start varsity and the coaches didn’t know him well. He had known a few teammates from travel baseball.
“I’d say I’ve made the most improvement on the mound, honestly,” he said. His favorite pitch is curveball, and his fastball has been clocked at 87 mph. At 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, he is hoping to get bigger and stronger. Baseball is the only sport he has ever played.
“My dad played baseball and my mother played softball in high school,” Althoff said.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Indiana-Kentucky All-Star basketball series doesn’t draw the attention it once did, but it is still important to Carmel High School’s Evan Harrell.
“This is one of the biggest achievements you can get, so it’s been a big goal of mine,” Harrell said. “I still think it’s a big deal for someone to make this team, and I’m definitely grateful to be on it.”
deserving of the All-Star honor.
“But since we won the sectional championship, I think that put me in that category even more,” he said.
Carmel (18-6) upset Class 4A No. 1 Fishers 50-49 in the sectional final. The Greyhounds then lost to Fort Wayne Snider in the regional opener.
Greyhounds coach Ryan Osborn said Harrell’s mental approach was his biggest improvement.
Harrell and his fellow Indiana Boys All-Stars will play in the annual boysgirls doubleheaders against the Kentucky All-Stars June 5 in Lexington, Ky. and June 5 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The All-Stars will play the Indiana Junior All-Stars June 3 at Mt. Vernon High School.
The 6-foot-8, 205-pound Harrell, who will play for Bellarmine University next year, averaged 15.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the Greyhounds. Harrell said he thought his season was
“His junior year was challenging with injuries and production and not necessarily the wins we wanted,” he said. “I thought he took a mature approach in the offseason and recalibrated.”
Harrell played on the Grand Park Premier travel team with Noblesville’s Baron Walker and Plainfield’s Noah Smith, who also made the All-Star team.
“They are two of my good buddies, so it will be cool playing with them,” Harrell said.
The day after the All-Stars, Harrell will report to Bellarmine in Louisville.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Throughout the year, Current, in partnership with the Carmel Rotary Club, will publish columns from community members reflecting on Carmel’s 50 years as a city.
Commentary by Jason Randlett
As Carmel celebrates its 50th birthday as an incorporated city this year, the community is reflecting on the rapid transformation of our landscape, from quiet fields to a world-class suburban destination. But while the city is officially half a century old, one of its most vital civic anchors has been quietly laying the groundwork for our “service soul” for nearly 90 years.
When the Carmel Lions Club was chartered in 1936, Carmel was a modest collection of fewer than 800 residents. As Carmel transformed from a quiet agricultural stop into a premier American city, the Lions Club provided a much-needed sense of continuity.
But our work begins even earlier. Through the KidSight program, our members use specialized digital screening technology to help detect amblyopia (often called “lazy eye”) and other vision threats in preschoolers. To date, we have screened more than 10,000 students.
Our annual Fish Fry, established in 1939, isn’t just a fundraiser; it is the longest-running community tradition in Carmel. It serves as a living bridge between generations — a place where residents who remember the gravel roads of the 1950s sit alongside newcomers who moved here just last month.
Our international motto, “We Serve,” is perhaps most tangibly felt in our commitment to Carmel’s youth. For the past 20 years, the Carmel Lions have been a fixture in our local schools, conducting state-required vision screenings for students in first, third, fifth and eighth grades.
Our members are proud to provide consistent, direct support to the Carmel United Methodist Church Food Pantry and the Merciful Help Center. In a city known for its wealth and infrastructure, we work to ensure that no neighbor is left behind. For us, success isn’t just measured by new developments but by the strength of the safety net we build together.
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Longtime Carmel resident Allie Missler has volunteered with a variety of local organizations over the years, and recently it’s become easier to get involved with many of them.
That’s thanks to a partnership between the City of Carmel and JustServe. org, a website that allows users to easily search, sort and sign up for local volunteer opportunities. The Carmel City Council approved a resolution in support of the initiative in July 2025.
Anyone can search volunteer opportunities on the site, but users must create a free account to sign up for specific events and roles.
“It’s easy, and it’s fast,” Missler said. “You can log on at your leisure and look through the opportunities. There really is something for everyone.”
Missler used the site to sign up as a volunteer host at a gathering for City of Carmel employees and for a similar role at a city event for real estate agents. Other types of volunteer opportunities include event set-up and tear down, photography, social media ambassador, survey administrator and more. Events with city ties currently seeking volunteers include EidFest, CarmelFest and Bike Carmel.
Patty McCauley, who described the signup process as “convenient,” served with Missler at the city employee event. She enjoys volunteering as a way to connect with friends and neighbors.
“You get to meet new people; that’s really the reason I’m doing it,” she said.
The city has seen an increase in volunteer hours since it began posting opportunities on the website.
“Carmel is lucky to have so many great events and services for our residents, and volunteers are a big part of what makes them happen,” Mayor Sue Finkam said. “To keep these going and grow even more opportunities, we’re always looking for more helping hands. The good news is our call for volunteers is already getting a strong response.”
Learn more at justserve.org.
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
The second EidFest will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. May 30 at One Civic Square.
At the free festival, which showcases Muslim heritage and traditions from around the world, attendees can watch cultural performances, enjoy food from local restaurants, try henna art and connect with other members of the community.
The event is organized by the EidFest committee in partnership with the City of Carmel.
“This celebration is an invitation for all neighbors to experience the beauty of our traditions, firsthand,” stated Ashhar Madni, festival organizer. “By sharing our stories, food and art, we continue to strengthen bonds of friendship and understanding that make Carmel such a
Attendees visit a booth at the inaugural EidFest in 2025.
(Photo courtesy of the City of Carmel)
welcoming place to call home.”
Eid-al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday, commemorates the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which ran from Feb. 18 to March 19 this year. Another holiday, Eid-al-Adha, which honors the spirit of sacrifice, will be May 27.
Community members on the EidFest committee represent more than 15 nations, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Guinea, Iraq and Libya.
Learn more at carmel.in.gov/471/ EidFest.
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By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Retired minister Jerry Zehr examines the role of sacred rebels in society.
To Zehr, sacred rebels use their voice to pursue justice and equality in society.
The Carmel resident’s “Sacred Rebel: Fierce Love in a Fearful World” will be released at a book launch event from 2 to 3 p.m. May 31 at the Carmel Clay Public Library, 425 E. Main St.
we can speak for justice and equality?” and “How do we find our voice and our own authentic voice for what we believe?”
“This won’t be a traditional kind of a book talk,” said Zehr, who served as Carmel Christian Church lead pastor for many years. “I’m going to have a couple individuals who are sacred rebels, who kind of embody what the book is about, and they’re going to share a little bit of their own story.”
Zehr said there will be a question-and-answer portion about some of the themes of the book, such as “What is a sacred rebel?,” “How do we engage in the world with courageous compassion and fierce love?,” “How do we challenge our institutions, so that
Zehr, a co-founder of the Carmel Interfaith Alliance, has been working on the book for approximately two years. His previous book, “The Peacemaker’s Path: Multifaith Reflections to Deepen Your Spirituality,” was about similarities in faith traditions.
“This book is about how do you live out the teachings of all of our major religions,” he said. “Because I believe all of those who are founders of the major religions were all really sacred rebels themselves, challenging the institutions.”
Zehr said the book discusses everyone finding their own voice in connection to the divine.
Zehr said he is trying to examine how people can share their point of view while respecting other points of view and finding common ground. For more, visit carmelclaylibrary. org/event/16137692.
Commentary by Cindy Muse
In its 14th year, the annual Earth Art Contest gives Carmel Clay elementary and middle school students a platform and voice, empowering them to inspire our community to live sustainably.
More than 180 young people submitted eco-friendly artwork. Students were recognized in an awards ceremony in late April at the Carmel Clay Public Library. Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam presented certificates to the winners. They are:
• Rey Aihara – kindergarten
• David Jaramilla-Malov – first grade
• Harper Grogg – second grade
• William Solik – third grade
• Veronica Kao – fourth grade
• Hunter Kramarz – fifth grade
• Simone Downer – sixth grade
• Gwyenne Villaneda – seventh grade
• Neve Spicer – eighth grade
Additionally, fourth-grader Eve Hermann received a special Solential award for art depicting solar power. First-grader Ella Gilreath and
fourth-grader Pravindi Dharmarathna’s artwork garnered the most likes on Facebook.
To see photos of the semifinalists and winners’ artwork, visit carmelgreen.org/live-and-learn/art-contest.
Park designed to bring veterans, families together
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
U.S. Army veteran Rock Effron had a key imperative as a member of the steering committee helping to plan a new park near Carmel VFW Post 10003.
“It’s a veterans park, but it’s not about veterans,” Effron said. “It’s for veterans, their families and the community. That was the premise that started the whole thing.”
Instead of featuring a solemn memorial, Effron said he and other local veterans wanted a place where they could gather and get to know one another and other park visitors. That desire is reflected in designs for Veterans Park, which were unveiled at Carmel City Council and Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation board meetings this month.
The 1.6-acre park will be between the Herron Club, an $87 million luxury 55-and-older residential community set to be built at 12895 Old Meridian St., and Carmel Middle School. The Herron Club is being developed through a partnership between the Carmel Redevelopment Commission and Rebar Companies, which provided the land for the park in lieu of paying a park impact fee.
Design and construction of the $15 million park and nearby trails is funded through the city’s 2024 infrastructure bond.
Veterans Park will include a living room-style terrace with movable seats and a fireplace, lawn space for gatherings, six bubbling fountains and waterfalls representing each branch of the military, a promenade pedestrian entrance, interpretive signage and a boardwalk over a retention pond.
“Input received from our steering committee, comprised of veterans, helped us come up with an inspiring design to honor and celebrate our veterans and their families,” CCPR Director Michael Klitzing told Current. “It creates a vibrant, new greenspace within Carmel’s central core that will be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Two new trails will connect to the park: Autumn Greenway, which is set to run east to west between Old Meridian Street and the Monon Greenway, and Veterans Greenway, which will connect to Autumn Greenway and run north to south on the east side of the park. It is proposed to pass through Oden Woods, which is on Carmel Middle School property.
Klitzing said he plans to present plans for the park and trail to the Carmel Clay Schools Board of Trustees at its June 10 meeting and is optimistic CCPR and the district can reach an agreement to share use of the woods.
The city is planning to move its Gold Star Families Memorial By-Way marker from near the gazebo at Civic Square to Veterans Park. The memorial is in honor of families who have lost a loved one during active
Park,
U.S. military service.
“We would locate it into that plaza to give it a more prominent, more meaningful place,” Klitzing told the CCPR board May 12.
Klitzing said he hopes construction on the park will begin before the end of the year and be complete 18 months later.
Carmel City Councilor Matt Snyder, a member of the park’s steering committee, said he is pleased with the design.
Veterans Park will be constructed east of the Herron Club, a luxury 55-and-older residential community set to be built at 12895 Old Meridian St. (Images courtesy of CCPR)
“We had a couple bumps in the middle where I felt like it was becoming too much of a stormwater project for everyone else, and they fixed that,” he said. “But I am very happy with it. And more importantly, the veterans are very happy with it.”
Effron, who is also a member of the Mayor’s Commission for Veterans Affairs, is looking forward to the park’s debut.
“Hopefully the community will get involved in having a place where they can go and enjoy the day, bring their families and enjoy a beautiful space,” he said. “When I saw the (park) renderings, I went, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s absolutely gorgeous.’”
ON THE COVER: Veterans Park will feature boardwalks over a pond, lawn space for gathering and a living room terrace with a fireplace. (Image courtesy of CCPR)
The Veterans Park design team followed seven priorities as they planned the space:
• Not about veterans but for veterans
• Wet pond over a dry detention pond
• Recognize all branches of service
• Design should engage woods to the south
• Accommodate gatherings of 20 to 40 people
• Interactive water and fire features preferred
• Preference for an experience over an object
Source: CCPR
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Carmel and Fishers comprise one of the top commerce areas in all of Indiana. With no end in sight for growth and development, the cities represent the present and future of enterprise to our more than 1,300 members and tens of thousands of consumers in our midst. Business Guide will publish June 30. It will be distributed to 65,713 households in our two cities. It, again, will be a magazine-style publication and will include a complete chamber membership directory and stories on key topics that drive commerce in our cities as well as a look at the future. Directory listings are free of charge to members.
Space reservations due: Ad content due: June 5, 2026 June 8, 2026
Non-chamber members may participate in these guides. Simply add $385 to your buy and OneZone Chamber of Commerce will process your membership.
For more, contact Your Ad Representative by email at ads@youarecurrent.com or call 317.489.4444
By Samantha Kupiainen news@youarecurrent.com
Since 2022, High School Hustle has been preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. From January to May, students attend six to eight meetings after school and are mentored by an industry leader. From June to August, students run their own business.
The organization, founded by Scott Lingle and Peter Servaas, chips in $100 to each student to help kickstart their summer. From there, the top 10 hustles that earn the most revenue receive a $10,000 check from the organization — no strings attached.
Last year, Jackson Nunery, a Carmel High School sophomore, placed in the top 10. His hustle, High School Solutions, a pressure washing company, grossed more than $25,000 in three months. This year, he’s hoping to place in the top 10 again.
Nunery is set to get his drivers license in June, so for now he predominantly gets to his job sites by walking. He recently purchased a golf cart and sometimes uses his e-bike to get around. On occasion, his mom or dad drives him.
“I knocked on 1,031 doors throughout June and July,” Nunery said. “I tracked every ‘yes,’ every ‘no,’ and every ‘maybe.’ There was a lot of failure, but I learned quickly. I’m working on closing some really big deals and I’m looking at going online next year to pursue this full-time.”
With less than a month until Nunery gets his license, he purchased a truck for his business and is having it wrapped.
Michael Lesher, a junior at Carmel High School, is also competing for a $10,000 check through his business, The Garage Guy.
“I like to think that my service is a unique option for homeowners. I come in, I take out all the stuff in their garage and provide a deep clean of the garage,” Lesher said. “I power wash the floors,
clean the walls and the windows, and then move everything back in how they want. I can get rid of anything they don’t want anymore.”
This is Lesher’s second summer competing in the competition. Last year, in addition to garage cleaning and organizing, he offered various lawn maintenance services but found that his business was “drifting off, and not exactly a garage cleaning business anymore.”
“This summer, I really wanna attack my brand name and make it a garage cleaning business,” he said.
Many of the hustles in the competition are focused on lawn mowing, landscaping, window washing and nail art.
“We’re also seeing a lot of more oneoffs, which I think are really good,” said Hunter Beale, executive director of High School Hustle. “It opens up the horizon to different hustle ideas. We’ve seen dryer vent cleaning, we have seen bird feeder refills, poop scooping.”
Learn more at highschoolhustle. org. To get a quote from Nunery, reach out to 317-993-1217. For Lesher, contact 317-316-6377.
Meals on Wheels names director — Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County has named Tricia Hudson as its new executive director and chief executive officer. Hudson will lead the organization’s mission of serving the elderly or those with disabilities facing food insecurities or unable to prepare food for themselves. Hudson brings decades of nonprofit leadership experience to the role with a professional background spanning human resources, accounting, finance and executive management.
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A 42-bed rehabilitation and therapy facility is planned at 13400 Illinois St. (Rendering from documents filed with the City of Carmel)
AnnMaire@youarecurrent.com
A 42-bed rehabilitation and therapy facility is proposed on 5 acres at 13400 Illinois St. in Carmel.
Florida-based CAH Development is requesting a variance for the project that would allow it to be open 24 hours. The site falls within The Highpointe on Meridian Planned Unit Development, which restricts rehab facility hours to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
The Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals is set to review the variance request at its next meeting, set for 6 p.m. May 26 at Carmel City Hall.
“CAH believes the proposed use and
operation of the facility is consistent and compatible with the other permitted uses that could occur on the Real Estate that do not have any limitations to their hours of operation,” according to a project description filed with the city’s planning department.
Uses that are permitted to operate 24 hours a day on the site include a multi-family housing complex and senior living community.
Surgeries and major medical procedures would not be performed at the facility.
The vacant land proposed for the site is surrounded by the Parks at Springmill and Bentley Oaks neighborhoods, the Highpointe on Meridian Apartments and U.S. 31.
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
A preschool “all about me” assignment revealed Zach Schwarz’s love for Colorado started early.
It’s something his parents, John and Lynn Schwarz, found while going through his things. Zach Schwarz died by suicide in 2024 at age 20, but not before he realized his dream of being a ski instructor in Colorado.
A 5K fun run set for next month at CrossFit AFCO, 10650 Bennet Pkwy. in Zionsville, will ensure others can enjoy the mountains and follow their passions like Zach Schwarz did.
The 5K, set for 9 a.m. June 6, will raise money for the Zachary Schwarz Mountain Fund, which assists aspiring ski instructors in Telluride, Colorado.
His parents, who own Schwarz Packaging in Carmel, established the fund to benefit those in the Telluride skiing community, where their son was an instructor.
The fund was originally meant to help cover costs associated with ski in-
structor certifications, as training can be expensive, and so is living in or commuting to Telluride.
“It’s hard to live in the town,” Lynn Schwarz said.
The 5K is the result of a last-minute get together organized by Zach Schwarz’s friends last year.
Lynn Schwarz trains at CrossFit AFCO. When the gym’s CEO, Casey Good, heard about the event, he offered to host the next one.
The 5K is free to attend. Donations will be accepted at the event and can also be made at raisedonors.com/ telluridefoundation/zsmf.
Commentary by Larry Greene
This Hawthorn Hills addition in Fishers transformed a dark, closed-off layout into a light-filled family room designed for connection, comfort, and everyday living.
• Expanded the main living area with a spacious new family room addition.
• Added soaring ceilings with warm wood beams for architectural character.
• Floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace creates a bright, inviting focal point.
• Large windows and sliding doors flood the space with natural light.
• Seamlessly connected indoor living to the covered outdoor porch.
• Soft finishes and airy tones bring warmth, openness and modern simplicity.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling. You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The 2026-27 Center Presents season will include two new series, some favorite repeat artists and first-time performers at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
A May 18 season announcement party at the Payne & Mencias Palladium revealed 71 shows for the season.
“It’s as robust as we’ve ever had at the beginning of the season,” Allied Solutions Center President/CEO Jeffrey C. McDermott said. “We’ll typically add a few shows during the season as well. We’re defining two new shows as well as part of the season.”
The two new series are the Spotlight Series and Tribute Series.
“We’ve done tribute shows in the past, and what we’ve tried to do is package them into one series,” he said. “We know there are a lot of people out there who enjoy a tribute show. We don’t go out and get any tribute artists and do these, we go out and make sure we get the top ones we can find.”
The tribute shows include Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Sept. 27; Billy Joel Oct. 8; Michael Jackson, Oct. 16; Paul McCartney, Jan. 30, 2027; The Beach Boys, March 5; and Steely Dan, April 2.
The Pop/Rock shows include first time appearances by Lou Gramm, who was Foreigner’s original lead singer, on Sept. 26 and Mavis Staples on Nov. 12. Staples is the only surviving member of The Staple Singers.
“Mavis has had a legendary career and we’re very excited to have her,” McDermott said. “She’s 86 and still performing and still putting new music out.”
Some other new performers include The War And Treaty, a new husband and wife soul duo, Oct. 28; Arrested Development, hip hop group, Feb. 5, 2027; and Marcus Miller, jazz bassist/ bandleader, Feb. 26.
Broadway legend Bernadette Peters returns Nov. 13. Among the returnees in the 2027 portion of the schedule are Mickey Dolenz with his 60 Years of the
Lou Gramm, the original voice of Foreigner, is set to debut Sept. 26 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium. (Photo courtesy of Allied Solutions Center)
Monkees Feb. 27 and Dionne Warwick March 20.
McDermott said the Spotlight Series are primarily non-music events,
“It doesn’t have to be music to be art,” he said. “The spoken word is an art form. We are bringing in comic actress and writer Amy Sedaris (Nov. 7), who is funny and brilliant. Something we’re doing is a screening of the movie ‘Hoosiers’ (Nov. 15) on its 40th anniversary of the release. We’ll have the actor who played Buddy and the actor who played Jimmy Chitwood and the writer and director to answer questions about the making of the movie.”
The Police drummer Stewart Copeland will bring his “Have I Said Too Much” show Aug. 2 to The Tarkington. The series includes cabaret and TV star Alan Cumming, from “The Traitors” Jan. 28, 2027.
McDermott said the two new series will likely draw fresh audiences.
“Our data shows when somebody comes here for the first time, there is an 80 percent chance they will return,” he said.
The artists enjoy returning as well.
“There’s a good reason for that is they like being here,” McDermott said. “Bringing (artists) back isn’t always easy because you have to get schedules to line up, but I think we’ve become a venue of preference.”
No one has appeared more than Michael Feinstein, naturally, since he is the Allied Solutions Center artistic director.
Instead of his usual concert in the spring near the end of the season, Feinstein will perform a Dec. 4 holiday concert.
“Michael is usually doing holiday shows in New York City, and this year we have asked him to do a holiday show here,” McDermott said.
Singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin will return with his holiday show Dec. 11, followed by saxophonist Dave Koz the following day. Koz & Friends are scheduled to make a 13th appearance overall and 12th with the holiday show in Carmel.
Two comedians, Michael Blaustein (Sept. 24) and Becky Robinson (Oct. 9) will make their Carmel debuts.
“We love doing comedy here. Every time we bring a comedian here it brings in a new audience,” McDermott said.
One of the new concerts McDermott is excited about in the Classical Series is actor John Malkovich and the Vienna Academy Orchestra March 18, 2027.
“I think that is going to be a very interesting, unusual and a really entertaining performance,” McDermott said.
Violinist Itzhak Perlman will return to the Payne & Mencias Palladium April 8, 2027.
Following the Songbook Academy concert to open the season July 18, Harry Connick Jr. will perform July 20.
The Encore Series opens with Art Garfunkel July 24, followed by Gladys Knight, Aug. 8; Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Oct. 11: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Nov. 21 and Ben Folds with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, May 7, 2027.
For a full list of shows, visit thecenterpresents.org.
“Cinderella” is set for May 28 to July 12 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards. com.
“Now That’s Funny, Headlining Maggie Hughes DePalo” is set for May 28, followed by “All The Way Frank, A Sinatra Tribute” May 29 and “Thank You for the Music! An Abba Party” May 30 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. All performances start at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
’THE
The Drama Department will present the school edition of “The Addams Family” May 29-31 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more visit thecat.biz.
‘SECRET
Main Street Productions will present “The Secret Garden” from May 28 to June 7 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
New Works show set — Four Indiana performing artists and one visual artist have been selected to receive cash awards and public premiere opportunities through Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts’ annual New Works commission project, now in its fifth season. The 2026 New Works Premiere Performances will take place at 7 p.m. May 30 at The Tarkington and will be livestreamed on Allied Solutions Center’s website and social media accounts. Free tickets are available at TheCenterPresents.org and 1-317-843-3800. The event also will include the unveiling of this year’s winning visual artwork. Each winning proposal receives a $2,500 cash award and technical support in adapting the piece for the stage.
THE SONGBOOK ACADEMY® IN CONCERT
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HARRY CONNICK, JR.
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ART GARFUNKEL: WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD CELEBRATION CONCERTS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BRIAN SIMPSON, JACKIEM JOYNER AND JESSY J 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
STEWART COPELAND: HAVE I SAID
TOO MUCH
7:30PM | THE TARKINGTON
GLADYS KNIGHT
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
“PSYCHIC” COMEDIAN PETER ANTONIOU
7:30PM | THE TARKINGTON
THE CENTER CELEBRATION 2026
FEATURING THE BACON BROTHERS
5PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MICHAEL BLAUSTEIN: THE TASTE ME TOUR THE FINAL LEG 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LOU GRAMM: THE ORIGINAL VOICE OF FOREIGNER
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
RUMOURS ATL: A FLEETWOOD
MAC TRIBUTE
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DEMOLA LIVE!
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE & PABLO CRUISE
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE BILLY JOEL LEGACY: CELEBRATING THE PIANO MAN
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BECKY ROBINSON: THE BEASTS IN ME TOUR
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS: INDIGO PARK TOUR
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE WAR AND TREATY
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE SIXTIES SHOW
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
INVINCIBLE: A GLORIOUS TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DANIEL EMMET: THIS THING CALLED LOVE
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
NILADRI KUMAAR: THE SPACE BETWEEN THE NOTES – HONORING ZAKIR HUSSAIN
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MICHAEL CARBONARO: WONDERBOY
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE SHARPE FAMILY SINGERS: THE BEST OF BROADWAY 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HASTA LA MUERTE
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BLKBOK
7:30PM | THE TARKINGTON
YEFIM BRONFMAN, PIANO
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
RYAN AHLWARDT: CRYING IN THE CANYON RELEASE PARTY
8PM | THE TARKINGTON
THE FOUR PHANTOMS IN CONCERT
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BONEY JAMES
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
A CONVERSATION WITH AMY SEDARIS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SIMPLY THREE
7PM | THE TARKINGTON
MAVIS STAPLES
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AN EVENING WITH BERNADETTE PETERS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HOOSIERS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
SCREENING WITH Q&A
3PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PUNCH BROTHERS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND: LEDBETTER HEIGHTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHS: TEN THOUSAND HOURS
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY’S WILD & SWINGIN’ HOLIDAY PARTY
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LESLIE ODOM, JR. THE CHRISTMAS TOUR 2026
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN IN COMING HOME: THE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HOLIDAYS IN HARMONY WITH GIRL NAMED TOM
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS CHRISTMAS TOUR 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ALAN CUMMING: UNCUT
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LIVE AND LET DIE: THE MUSIC OF PAUL MCCARTNEY FEATURING TONY KISHMAN
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BIG BANG BOOM 3PM |
THE MONTEVERDI CHOIR AND ORCHESTRAS PERFORM BACH’S ST MATTHEW PASSION WITH MASAAKI SUZUKI
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MARCUS MILLER
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MICKEY DOLENZ: 60 YEARS OF THE MONKEES
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO DE AMALIA HERNÁNDEZ
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS WITH CONRAD TAO
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE MUSIC OF THE BEACH BOYS FEATURING PET SOUNDS LIVE 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
PAVLO AND BAND IN CONCERT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
VICTORIA CLARK: IMPROBABLE INGENUE
MUSIC DIRECTOR, TED SPERLING
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
VITALY: AN EVENING OF WONDERS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JOHN MALKOVICH AND THE VIENNA
ACADEMY ORCHESTRA: ROLL
OVER BEETHOVEN
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SPYRO GYRA WITH SPECIAL GUEST STANLEY JORDAN 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
KRUGER BROTHERS 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
DIONNE WARWICK: OVER AND OUT A FAREWELL TOUR 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BROOKLYN CHARMERS: A TRIBUTE TO STEELY DAN 8PM | THE
CATS’
ITZHAK PERLMAN IN RECITAL 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Civic Theatre’s 2026-27 schedule will include some blasts from the past, some new shows and a surprise to be named later.
The 112th season opens with “Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, The Musical” Oct. 2 to 17 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. All but one of the five shows will be at The Tarkington.
The musical is inspired by Morissette’s groundbreaking album and is about a modern family navigating love, identity, addiction and healing in an increasingly complicated world. The Tony Award-winning show features iconic songs including “You Oughta Know,” “Hand in My Pocket” and “Ironic.”
“The first show has become for us where we are doing the edgier, socially relevant or something like ‘Something Rotten,’ which is newer and was just a fresher piece than some of the things we do,” Civic Theatre Executive Artistic Director Michael J. Lasley said. “This is definitely relevant. It hits home for a lot of people about mental health and addiction and belonging and fitting into families and mixed feelings.”
The show is based on Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” album.
“There are not many albums like it that had so many hit singles,” Lasley said. “As jukebox musicals go, I think it does a better job of integrating songs into the narrative, not performing the songs the way they were written. There is a lot of choral work written into them.”
Filling the holiday spot is “Annie” from Dec. 4 to 26. Civic has been rotating “Elf,” “A Christmas Story” and
“White Christmas” in recent years. “We’re struggling to get the rights to one of the three shows we have in the rotation,” Lasley said. “We talked for a number of years about ‘Annie’ being the obvious holiday alternative. It’s a family-oriented show and it ends with a Christmas scene. It certainly fits our brand.”
The last time Civic presented “Annie” was in 2017. Brent Marty, Civic Theatre director of music and education, said it also has the benefit of having children in the musical, which helps with Civic’s younger performers.
The 2027 portion will open with what Lasley described as a fun, new comedy Feb. 5 to 20. Lasley said the title announcement will come out in mid-October because of contractual issues.
“Steel Magnolias,” a story about deep friendships between six women in Louisiana and heartbreaks, is set for March 3 to 27 at the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center. Civic Theatre last performed the play in 2014. The off-Broadway play was turned into a 1989 movie, which featured Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah and Olympia Dukakis.
The season will close with “Mean Girls” from April 30 to May 15. This is the first main stage showing by Civic, however, Civic’s Young Artists Program presented it in 2023.
“It’s a great, fun piece of theater,” Lasley said. “The musical has not been around that long, but the movie came out more than 20 years ago.”
Subscriptions will be available beginning May 27 and single tickets July 23. Tickets can be purchased at civictheatre.org or by calling or emailing the Box Office of the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts at 317-8433800 or tickets@thecenterpresents.org.
will continue to support the organization as media specialist.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
“Antony and Cleopatra” will have a fresh look when it returns to the stage.
Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre first presented the piece in 2022.
“I am adding four characters that represent different Egyptian gods,” GHDT Executive Artistic Director Gregory Hancock said. “These gods appear throughout the concert in human form and interact with the characters adding to the concept that we as humans may not always be in control of our fate.”
GHDT will present “Antony and Cleopatra” at 7 p.m. June 5 and 5 p.m. June 6 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
Hancock wrote the performance to be gender fluid with company dancer Thomas Mason returning in the role of Cleopatra.
“The roles are designed so that any dancer can play them, as their character attributes and purpose for the storyline are more important than their sexual identity,” Hancock said “This allows audience members to connect with and see themself in any character, which assists in them melting into and becoming engaged in the storyline.”
Abbie Lessaris revives her role as Octavia. The role of Marc Antony is being danced by Isaac Jones, formerly of the Dayton Ballet.
Hancock said the other returning dancers are in different roles.
“This allows the dancers to stretch their wings and dig into a new character,” he said. “We also have new dancers in the company now as several dancers have retired since the original 2022 production. So, there are a lot of fresh faces. The current company dancers have been together now for a full season, and they are moving as a dynamic team bringing new heights of artistry and technique to the stage.” Hancock and composer Cory Gabel collaborated on the piece and also have worked together on “The Casket Girls.”
“Working with Gregory is always a lot of fun, because he brings such a strong visual and emotional imagination to everything he does,” Gabel said. “At this point there’s also a real level of trust between us creatively, which makes it exciting to keep building these productions together and pushing them into new territory.”
Gabel said he hasn’t made any dramatic tweaks to the music.
“The score remains very true to the original production, but we’ve revisited portions of the mix and mastering to give the music even more depth and clarity for this staging,” Gabel said.
Gabel said the music recently has been released on Spotify. Hancock said it’s always great to work with Gabel.
“I think it’s a beautiful story, and in classic Shakespearean style, it is packed in tragedy, betrayal and death,” Hancock said.
For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Mike Lipphardt saw a production of “The Secret Garden, The Musical” when he was in high school.
“I immediately fell in love with the music and always wanted to perform in it,” he said. “Vocally, it’s just such an amazing challenge when it comes together.”
The Noblesville resident got his wish as he will play Archibald Craven in the Main Street Productions presentation of “The Secret Garden” May 28 to June 7 at Basile Westfield Playhouse.
“It’s one of the prettiest scores I think in musical theater and an amazing opportunity to sing some really good songs with the cast,” Lipphardt said.
Based on the 1911 children’s novel, the music is by Lucy Simon and book and lyrics by Marsha Norman.
“The story is very beautiful, but the music is where it really shines,” Lipphardt said. “I think ‘A Bit of Earth’ that Archibald gets to sing is one of the better male solos in the musical genre.”
Kata Ewigleben, a Geist resident,
plays the ghost of Lily.
“Lily is still in the manor because Archibald, her husband, is still in love with her,” she said. “She is the keeper of the garden. She watches over things but she’s unable to interact physically. I think I have maybe five lines, but they are all from the past from Archibald’s memories. But most of the time Lily just sings.”
Ewigleben, 37, said this was one of the first musicals she ever saw.
“So, I have loved the musical since I was 10 or 11 years old,” she said. “I love the book. It’s really lush, beautiful music and a dream of mine to sing in any capacity in the show.”
For more, visit westfieldplayhouse. org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Danny Kingston will take a turn in a different role in “Cinderella” for Beef & Boards.
After appearing as the Steward in 2011, Kingston will play the Herald from May 28 to July 12 at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis.
“(It’s) a really fun role,” he said. “I get to open the show with the song, ‘The Prince is Giving a Ball.’ I also get to be silly and dance with the stepsisters.”
small standout moment and to dance in the sweeping waltz scenes.”
While it’s just the second time he has acted in “Cinderella,” he choreographed a production of the classic musical for Carmel Community Players in 2007.
Kingston, a 2006 Westfield High School graduate who lives in downtown Indianapolis, was a recent college graduate for the last “Cinderella” performance.
“I enjoyed being able to further my experience in professional theater,” said Kingston, whose legal last name is Keivel. “I was much younger and still learning all I could about performing. Playing the role of the Steward back gave me the opportunity to have a
Kingston has performed in more than 20 Beef & Boards shows through the years.
“I’ll never forget my first show back in 2009, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’” he said. “I had just graduated from the American Musical and Dramatics Academy (in New York City) and I was ready to start my career as a professional performer.”
Kingston said he has happy memories from performing in many of the Pyramid Players productions for children. Highlights include Joe in “Blues Clues” and Peter in “Pinkilicous.”
Kingston is a member of Indianapolis Men’s Chorus and works part time in the Beef & Boards box office. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
U P C O M I N G S H O W S
J E D H A R R E L S O N
D U E L I N G C H E F S X D U E L I N G P I A N O S
B U Y T I C K E T S A T F E I N S T E I N S H C . C O M
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
My wife says I’m not a spiritual person. The most spiritual thing I do is occasionally shop at Whole Foods, a place for people who seek organic, pure, chemical-free food. Personally, I prefer food that has preservatives. At almost 80 years old, I can use them, and they are cheaper than a facelift.
My wife loves Whole Foods. But for a long time, I wasn’t a fan. Whenever I was in that area of town, I always stopped by just to pass the big window in the front of the store and laugh at people eating tofu pizza. After all, it’s all about the journey, isn’t it? See, I’m getting more spiritual, already.
Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Plan Commission meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 6 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1 Civic Square, 2nd Floor, Carmel, Indiana, 46032 will hold a Public Hearing upon a primary plat, development plan and design approval for a Townhome Subdivision with 27 Townhomes, open space/common areas. The site is located at 220 W. 106th Street, Carmel, IN and is known as the Illinois Street Townhome ORDINANCE Z-703-26, as amended. The application is identified as Docket Number PZ-2026-00066 PP/DP 27 Towns Subdivision and Docket Number PZ-2026-00067
ADLS. The real estate affected by said application is described as follows (tax ID parcel numbers): Parcel: 17-13-02-00-00-024.000
All interested persons desiring to present their views on the above application, either in writing or verbally, will be given an opportunity to be heard at the above mentioned time and place. Filed by Brandon Burke on behalf of Petitioner, Zach Burton of Pulte Homes.
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Carmel, Indiana (the “City”) will hold a public hearing at 10:00 AM EDT, on June 3, 2026, in the Council Chambers located in Carmel City Hall, 1 Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032, concerning a recommendation to award a public-private agreement for the development, construction, operation, and transfer of the Merchants Square Area Road and Utility Improvements Project, to be located in the City and in accordance with Indiana Code 5-23, et seq. (the “Act”). After review and analysis of proposals received pursuant to a request for proposals in accordance with the Act, a recommendation has been made to the City to award the public-private agreement to Avenew, Inc. (the “Developer”) of Indianapolis, IN. Copies of the proposals and a written explanation of the basis upon which the recommendation is being made are with City Engineering and are available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the City Engineering Department, 1 Civic Square, Carmel IN, 46032, phone (317) 571-2441. This notice of public hearing is required by Indiana Code 5-23-5-9. The public is invited to comment on the matters herein noted, and all taxpayers, residents or interested parties who appear will be given a reasonable opportunity to express their views on the recommendation.
Dated this 8th day of May, 2026.
I don’t like buying food at places where you can also buy a hammer, a microwave oven or an unassembled bed. So, I avoid shopping at Super Target, Walmart and Meijer. These are not whole-food stores; they are half-food stores.
At Whole Foods, most everything on the shelves is edible. Except for those things that are fat-free, sugar-free and gluten-free, which it seems is pretty much everything.
Last week, I was intrigued by a display touting a new organic product. I picked up the shrink-wrapped bar and tossed it into my basket. The next morning, after I showered, I told Mary Ellen I didn’t think the soap lathered well. “Of course not,” she said. “That wasn’t a bar of organic soap; it was a bar of organic cheese.” I must have smelled pretty good, because when I went out for a jog, several mice followed me around the block.
Whole Foods has an interesting
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Docket Nos. PZ-2026-00046 UV; PZ-2026-00105 V; PZ-2026-00106 V; PZ-2026-00107 V;PZ-2026-00108 V; PZ-2026-00109 V Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on the 22nd of June, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.in the Carmel City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 1 Civic Sq., Carmel, IN 46032 will hold a Public Hearing upon a Use and Development Standard Variance application to: (UV), (V) 10415 Cornell Ave 4-Unit Use Variance and Variances. The applicant seeks the following use variance and development standards variance approvals for a new 4-Unit Dwelling on a vacant lot:
UDO Section 2.11; Residential Permitted Uses, two-family dwelling allowed; 4-unit requested.
UDO Section 2.11; Maximum 35% lot cover allowed; 63-65% requested.
UDO Section 2.12; 5.0 lots/acre Maximum Density allowed, 1.15 lots allowed for this site; 4 lots/units requested.
UDO Section 5.28(G); 25-ft required for minimum two-way aisle width for a 90-degree angled parking space; 12-ft and 23-ft requested.
UDO Section 2.12; Minimum 30-ft front yard setback required; 16-ft requested.
UDO Section 5.19; Perimeter Bufferyard/Landscape standards required per Bufferyard C; standards not met. On the property being known as: 0 (10415) Cornell Avenue (Vacant Parcel)
The application is identified as Docket Nos. PZ-2026-00046 UV; PZ-2026-00105 V; PZ-2026-00106 V; PZ-2026-00107 V; PZ-2026-00108 V; PZ-2026-00109 V.
The real estate affected by said application is described as follows: Acreage .23, Section 12, Township 17,Range 3, HOMEPLACE Lot 35, Parcel Number 17-13-12-01-03-014.000
The petition may be examined on the City's website, through Public Documents - Laserfiche. All interested persons desiring to present their views on the above application, either in writing or verbally, will be given an opportunity to be heard at the above-mentioned time and place.
KBSM Capitol, LLC by David Gilman PETITIONERS
display of magazines. One selection featured the headline: THE ROAD TO RENEWAL. That intrigued me until I realized it was just an ad to get you to sign up for another year of the subscription. My favorite was another new age magazine with the headline: WHAT TO TAKE ON YOUR JOURNEY.
I was finally starting to feel spiritual. What would be on this list? Self-reflection, a measure of introspection and a positive attitude?
No, it was sandals, a swimsuit, underwear and plenty of sunscreen. Congrats to Viking Cruises for a wellplaced ad!
Editor,
In regard to the May 19 article in Current in Carmel about condos coming to Monon Square: So, Mayor (Sue) Finkam is “physically pained” to tell people we don’t have enough multi-million dollar residential homes available. Why is she not physically pained that there are no entry level patio homes that would
bring young families that would support the tax base for years to come, or house residents that have already raised families for 50 years and have to move to Fishers to downsize? When is anyone going to care about those demographics? I’m physically pained every time I hear the word luxury!
Nancy Wilhelm, Carmel
Editor,
I want to thank you for your May 5 Current in Carmel article “Carmel residents explain support for local ICE office.”
Many of us who live in Carmel have been concerned about the frequency of “marches” and “protests” and letters to your publication expressing personal opinions regarding government actions with no real facts or balanced information. This is, of course, every citizen’s prerogative within the law.
As we have seen Carmel’s population
grow to over 100,000 people, so will the diversity of opinion. There are also many of us who don’t take time off work or school for marches or speeches for many reasons, including not having the time to research the facts on every issue. So thank you to all those who did take the time and do know the facts and pointed out that having an ICE office in Carmel provides no threat to law-abiding, legal citizens and that the employees of ICE are fulfilling the responsibilities of their jobs.
Ellie
Timberman, Carmel
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent. com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
Yours and mine
15. Preserve, in a way
16. GPS reading 17. Mind-bending puzzle
19. “___ alive!”
20. Indiana locale of the “Limestone Capital of the World”
21. Ball State bigwig
23. Squeeze (out)
24. O. Henry: “The Gift of the ___”
26. 007 portrayer Roger
27. Unlit
29. Adam’s grandson
32. Flat Fork Creek Park winter coaster
33. Kimono sash
36. Poet’s “soon”
38. Current revenue
source
39. Indiana locale of the “Covered Bridge Capital of the World”
42. Salt & Light Wellness
44. Move, in Realtor lingo
45. Hawaiian garland
46. Difficult
48. BBs, e.g.
50. Some jeans
54. Computer key
56. Playground comeback
59. ___ Fridays
60. Hamilton County Court officer
63. Indiana locale of the “RV Capital of the World”
65. Notre Dame sports org.
66. Neighborhood shopping sites
68. Blues group, for short 69. Polar covering 70. “The Simpsons” girl 71. “Golly!”
72. Abhor
73. Right on an Indiana map DOWN
1. Went up and down 2. “Aha!”
3. Stock exchange worker
4. “In your dreams!”
5. Jordan tourist attraction
6. Anxious
7. Hoosier Dome sponsor
8. Brewer’s oven
9. Addict
10. Antitoxin
11. Doritos company
12. Spoken
13. Plants anew
18. ___ de plume
22. Distress signal
25. Out for days
28. Campground letters
30. Lennon’s love
31. Spirit
34. “Turn up the heat!”
35. Fishers furniture chain
37. Opposite of SSW
39. Proton or electron
40. Hoosier National Forest tree
41. Up to, briefly
42. The whole ___
43. Pizazz
47. NJ neighbor
49. Some Swiss watches
51. Latin list ender
52. Way out
53. Occupies, as a table
55. Unyielding
57. Caught some Zs
58. Approves
61. Confront
62. Guitar ridge
64. In good shape
67. Top card
ANSWERS ON PAGE 27
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John Kirk Furniture
JOB TITLE: Furniture Sales Person
DUTIES:
• Interacting and assisting customers in a furniture retail sales environment.
• Determining needs and advising customers on their purchases.
REQUIREMENTS:
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in sales. PAY: Competitive Disccused at interview.
LOCATION: Carmel Indiana CONTACT: Call 317-846-2535 ask for Nick.
Carmel area law firm needing Legal Assistant experienced in personal injury & medical malpractice.
5+ years of experience preferred. Must be reliable, have a positive attitude, understand legal & medical terminology, and can thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Salary at top of scale commensurate with experience, 401k with matching, fully paid health, dental, and vision benefits. Send resume to cyount@hovdelaw.com.
No phone calls or walk-ins accepted.
Automotive Window Tinter Pay Negotiable.
Work available 7 days a week
Apply via email: dan@dansdetail.com
Full-time receptionist needed for busy law firm located in Carmel. $20+/hour depending on experience. Previous experience working in the legal field required. Health, dental, vision, and 401k available. Send resume to cyount@hovdelaw.com. No phone calls or walk-ins accepted.
Seasonal Landscaping and maintenance position. Two available. Location: 146th St & Towne Rd. in Carmel
• Perform general landscaping duties including mowing, edging, trimming, and blowing
• Maintain lawns and garden beds by mowing grass to specified heights and ensuring a neat, professional appearance
• Operate and maintain landscaping equipment such as lawn mowers, string trimmers, edgers, and leaf blowers
• Assist with seasonal tasks including mulching, weeding, pruning shrubs, and debris removal
• Work efficiently both independently and as part of a team in various weather conditions
• Ensure job sites are left clean and customer-ready after each visit with an emphasis on quality over quantity. $15/hr, flexible hours with adequate notice. Email resumes to: kreg.fisher@gmail.com
