June 27, 2023 — Fishers

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Board renews most HSE administrator contracts

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

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Renewing contracts for school administrators is usually routine, but it became contentious in the days leading up to the June 14 Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees meeting.

Abby Taylor from the HSE Education Association said she had received numerous emails from educators in the district worried about their professional futures.

GOVERNMENT

Contract renewals were listed on the June draft agenda, which was released a month prior to the actual meeting. But administrators were told the day before the meeting that those with two-year contracts would not be renewed as scheduled. The community’s response was swift online and through social media.

In the end, all but five of the HSE school district’s two-year administrator contracts were renewed in a unanimous vote. An amendment to include those five contracts in the final vote failed 3-4 with board members Ben Orr, Tiffany Pascoe, Juanita Albright and Dawn Lang voting no.

The five administrator contracts that were not yet renewed were redacted on the board document available online. A comparison of that document to individual contracts listed on the district’s website shows that the missing names are Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Dowling, annual salary of $153,165.12; Chief Operating Officer Jimmie Lake ($149,691.96); Matthew Kegley, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning ($154,945); Kimberly Lippe, assistant superintendent of staff and student services ($151,195); and Rosalie Nataki Pettigrew, chief equity and inclusion officer ($102,468).

The board heard from a handful of constituents before the vote who were critical of the board’s actions regarding administrator contracts.

Parent Laura Cole said administrators are the glue holding the district together. She was happy that most of the contracts were back on the agenda for approval, but said elected officials need to consider their actions carefully, and whether they are doing more harm than good.

“The concern about not having their administrators makes teachers unhappy and makes them want to leave,” she said, adding that the board’s actions disrupted the entire district. “We depend on you. Please do the right thing.”

Jocelyn Vare, who is a Fishers City Council member, suggested that the board look inward for ways to improve.

“I’m simply asking you to look in the mirror,” she said “Check yourself. Tidy up and let’s work together.” Administrator contracts were on the consent agenda, which usually is a collection of uncontroversial items that a board approves unanimously in one vote without discussion. However, Board President Dawn Lang chose to have a vote on each of the six consent agenda items.

The first five passed unanimously with no discussion. The sixth was the contracts. Orr said he wanted to “give some clarity” about what had happened over the past 36 hours.

Orr said he and three other board members elected in November are still learning how things work in a school district. He said when he saw that the two-year contracts were expiring in 2024, he didn’t understand why they would be renewed a year early, which is why he wanted to postpone that vote.

“I said, ‘Let’s make sure we take care of the contracts that are expiring,’” he said. “We should renew all the contracts that are up for renewal (this year). We can wait to look at others that are further down the road.”

Orr said he didn’t know that it was traditional to renew two-year contracts at the mid-point. He said he’s “still not thrilled” about the practice, but he’s learning.

Lang said the board had no details about individual contracts until June 8.

“So five days’ preparation,” she said.

DISPATCH

Youth mentoring fundraiser earns $40,000 — Fishers-based Youth Mentoring Initiative hosted its annual Wines Around the World fundraiser, presented by RQAW, Taub Family Selections and First Internet Bank, on May 19 at the open-air rooftop patio of First Internet Bank. The crowd raised approximately $40,000 to support YMI’s mission to connect Hamilton Southeastern School District students with a vol-

“Last Friday until today was our time to go through every contract.”

Lang said the board never planned to not renew contracts. Some members simply wanted to postpone the vote, particularly because the contracts total about $20 million.

“We’re trying to be good tax stewards,” she said. “I can say, we could have done this much better. But know without a doubt that we value all employees.”

Board Member Sarah Donsbach made the amendment to include all of the two-year contracts, instead of leaving five for future consideration. She said four of those administrators are crucial to the school district’s planned tax referendum, which likely will go before voters in November. Donsbach said it’s not fair to exclude them from the list of contract renewals and then ask them to go above and beyond in their work for the district.

Board Member Sarah Parks-Reese seconded the amendment. She added that the board had a month to ask questions, and members should have done their due diligence earlier. She noted that the more recently elected members also could have asked board members with more experience about how contract renewals worked.

When asked by email why the five contracts were not included in the June 14 vote, Lang said: “I requested that the five administrators who’s (sic) contracts were not voted for be tabled for a future board meeting so that we have time to discuss between the board and admin leaders. There were many questions raised between the board and admin about the district contracting process, which yielded even more questions as a result. The board is simply requesting more time to discuss and review before bringing forward for a vote.”

The five contracts are not on the draft agenda for the HSE Board of Trustees’ July 12 meeting.

The board has an executive session set for 6 p.m. June 28 to discuss performance evaluations. The employees to be discussed are not named.

unteer mentor once a week. The event featured wine tastings provided by Taub Family Selections, beer tasting provided by Mashcraft Brewing, hors d’oeuvres from Sangiovese and Geist Charcuterie, and live entertainment from Sara & the South Bend Sound and Hill & Oaks Band. More than 250 guests attended. For more, visit ymionline.org.

Lang

Parks-Reese

The Fishers City Council approved a plan to move forward with a new $60 million community center. (Image courtesy of the City of Fishers)

Council OKs $60M community center CITY NEWS

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

The City of Fishers’ proposed $60 million community center plan was approved by the Fishers City Council on June 19, but the vote wasn’t unanimous.

Fishers announced June 13 that it plans to build a 105,000-square-foot community center at Johnson Farms on Hoosier Road near 121st Street. The recreation-focused center’s design includes amenities such as a 2-acre dog park, indoor playground, indoor walking/ running track and an aquatics facility.

The council’s June 19 vote authorized Mayor Scott Fadness to move forward with the plan.

Councilmember Jocelyn Vare wanted to delay authorization for one month to allow the city to provide a full financial review of the project and for additional public input. She said she’s enthusiastic about the proposal, but wants to be careful.

“I want it to move forward, but in the right way, responsibly,” she said. “Before this body approves $60 million to be allocated, I want to make sure we do our due diligence. I’m concerned about the overall debt. I know there’s been thoughtfulness here, but there’s a lot to consider.”

Councilmember Crystal Newman seconded the motion to postpone, saying that she, too, embraces the project but wants to see the numbers. The motion failed, with Vare and Newman casting the only yes votes.

The main motion to authorize the project then passed with only Vare dissenting.

According to a summary of the council’s recent finance committee meeting, the facility will be paid for in part through a 20-year property tax bond, with the first payment set for 2026. Fadness told the council that the bond debt will start as other debt is paid off, so there should be no tax increase because of the project.

The 2023 Race Across the Reservoir

is September 16!

The Geist Half Marathon & 5K is back and more exciting than ever! This year's races are walker-friendly, feature scenic courses across Geist Reservoir, and a new 5K course through the Geist Waterfront Park Plus, VIP registration, a post-race party, finisher medals, and new race t-shirts. Secure your spot at the starting line today!

Health-science company opens in Fishers

news@currentinfishers.com

A global health-science company announced the opening of a new laboratory in Fishers. Thermo Fisher Scientific’s One Lambda Laboratories will provide services for transplant patients who need regular testing and monitoring.

HEALTH

According to an announcement from the company, the lab is certified through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which allows it to accept human samples for diagnostic testing.

“The opening of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s One Lambda Laboratories will increase accessibility to post-transplant monitoring, and (will) expand patient access to noninvasive diagnostics designed to improve care and clinician decision-making,” the company states. “The lab opening reinforces a position of leadership in transplant innovation for Thermo Fisher.”

Transplant recipients require regular monitoring because they are medically immunosuppressed. That reduces the risk of rejection but can increase the risk of viral infection and other diseases like cancer. The new lab offers noninvasive diagnostics for those diseases mostly through urine samples, which is an alternative to the traditional biopsies for monitoring.

“We’re looking forward to becoming part of the Fishers business community,” said Nicole Brockway, president, Transplant Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “This lab represents our next big step to making care for transplant recipients more accessible, more actionable and, at the same time, less invasive.”

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. reports an annual revenue of more than $40 billion, according to the announcement.

“Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer,” the company states. “Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD.”

For more visit, thermofisher.com.

A fireworks display during a previous Fishers Fourth of July celebration. (Photo courtesy of the City of Fishers)

Fishers plans July 4 fireworks

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

As the City of Fishers wraps up its multiday Spark!Fishers celebration, it’s gearing up for the fast-approaching Fourth of July.

the city. Deckert said one is at Cyntheanne Park, with viewing in the park and from nearby Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/Junior High.

CELEBRATION

The community has three opportunities for fireworks viewing on Independence Day. Parks Director Marissa Deckert said one of the locations is at Geist Reservoir, and the fireworks will be launched from a barge out on the water near Geist Marina.

“It’s great viewing if you’re on a boat, or if you live around there,” she said. “But there’s not necessarily a destination viewing location if you don’t live in that area, or you don’t have a boat.”

Deckert said the community used to organize a daylong festival on the Fourth of July called Blast on the Bridge. That involved shutting down the bridge and rerouting traffic for much of the day, she said, and in the end most people showed up just for the fireworks, anyway. So, Deckert said, they shifted their efforts to focus on fireworks and no longer close the bridge on the Fourth of July.

For residents who don’t live along the waterfront, or don’t have a boat, there are two other fireworks displays presented by

“And then the third location, which I think is the most fun and most going on, is at the Nickel Plate District,” she said. “We actually shoot the fireworks from Holland Park. And there’s good viewing at Holland Park, so we stripe the perimeter of Holland Park, and you can park there, or you can walk over and bring a chair and view the fireworks from Holland Park. Or you can watch from the Nickel Plate Amphitheater.”

Deckert said a concert is planned that night at the amphitheater featuring the band Karma, starting at 8 p.m. and lasting until the fireworks begin.

“They are a fan favorite, so we brought them back,” she said of the band. “They’re a high-energy dance-party band and they cover ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and current music. So, they’ve got a little pop, little rock, little rap and funk.”

Deckert said there will be food and beverage vendors on-site at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater starting around 7 p.m. so people can get some refreshments and settle in before the music begins.

All three Fishers fireworks displays are set to start around 10 p.m., each lasting about 15 minutes.

DISPATCH

Fishers named one of the best places to live — The City of Fishers has announced that Fishers has been named one of the best places to live in America by Livability. Ranking No. 8 on the list, and in the top-three cities in the Midwest, Fishers scored well in the categories of economy, health and safety. The Livability article also cites key amenities such as the Nickel Plate District, designated as a Statewide Cultural District in 2018, along with the City’s WeCare program, Launch Fishers co-working space, and Hub & Spoke, home of Fishers Parks and the Fishers Maker Playground.

Fishers announces $120M plan for South Street developments

news@currentinfishers.com

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HOUSING

The City of Fishers has partnered with two developers to create a new look for downtown Fishers’ South Street, and on June 19, the Fishers City Council unanimously approved incentive packages to move both proposals forward.

In a June 15 announcement, the city stated it is working with HighGround, a subsidiary of Carmel-based Hageman; and Rebar Development, a Fishers-based development firm.

“I’m excited to see the dynamic facets of these developments breathe new life into this area of the Nickel Plate District,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said. “The transformation of this area will be incredible with high-end architecture and new spots for small businesses to call home, all bringing a variety of people together from the corporate headquarters location to the 55-plus community to visitors enjoying the amenities.”

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HighGround’s City View will be a $90 million mixed-use building on 116th Street at Lantern Road. The six-story building will include 184 luxury apartments targeting the 55-plus community; 16,000 square feet of commercial space; potential for outdoor restaurant seating; and a 280-space parking structure with electric-vehicle charging stations.

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Rebar plans to break ground on District South in fall of 2023 and will welcome tenants in early 2025. The approved incentive package for that development includes $9.4 million in city-backed bonds, and the contribution of some city-owned land.

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Shelby Bowen, president of Rebar Development, spoke to the council before the vote. He said public-private partnerships is the business model for Rebar, and he’s excited to partner with the City of Fishers.

According to the city, City View will break ground in February 2024 and is slated for completion in spring of 2026.

Tom Dickey, president of HighGround, spoke to the council June 19. He said the design follows the Nickel Plate development plan guidelines, and addresses an identified need: housing for the 55-plus demographic.

He stressed that the development will not be assisted living. It’s for active, independent residents who want to live near people their own age.

The incentive package for City View includes $25 million in developer-backed and city-backed bonds, and the contribution of city-owned land.

Rebar’s $32.5 million District South will redevelop the south side of South Street between Lantern Road and the Nickel Plate Trail. Six vacant properties will become a mixed-use four-story building. The development will feature the new headquarters for Annex Group; seven small-business retail

“You’ve created a dynamic demand for people who want to be here,” he said. “People really want to be a part of what’s happening in Fishers.”

One of the commercial tenants will be Indianapolis-based developer and contractor Annex Group. As part of its relocation to Fishers to support its business growth, the company anticipates adding 40 full-time employees by 2028.

Although both developments received unanimous support from the council, there was concern about additional traffic on 116th Street. Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner told the council that both developments have taken that into consideration when designing the entry and exit points for the projects.

The redevelopment of the Nickel Plate District was identified as a priority in the Fishers 2040 plan, developed by a resident-led committee in 2015. Since 2015, more than $500 million in new development has occurred with more than 30 retail units, 11 new businesses, and several new public gathering spaces.

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CURRENT JULY FISHERS COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FISHERS NICKEL PLATE DISTRICT AMPHITHEATER HOSTS CONCERTS

The City of Fishers offers free concerts each Tuesday through the summer season, with some ticketed concerts scheduled, as well. Concerts start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Coming up in July is a free concert by Karma on July 4, with the performance running from 8-10 p.m., followed by a fireworks display; Street Pennies performs for the free Tuesday series on July 11; and on July 15 is a ticketed performance by Ripe with special guests Coyote Island. On July 18 is a free performance by Groovesmash, and rounding out the month is a free concert by Hank Ruff. For more information and to buy tickets, go to npdamp.com/188/Calendar-Tickets.

CHECK OUT A HUMAN BOOK

Hamilton East Public Library is hosting a Human Library from 1-4 p.m. July 15. According to the library, this event for adult readers offers an opportunity to learn more about diverse populations directly through people with lived experiences of stereotyping, bias and prejudice. Through the program, patrons can borrow a person who is a “Human Book,” and have a 30-minute conversation

about their story.

JULY STORYWALK BOOK IS “GO FISH”

Join Fishers Parks and Hamilton East Public Library for a guided storytime hike and themed craft activity celebrating the July Storywalk book, “Go Fish” by Tammi Sauer. The story time and craft are scheduled for 10 a.m. July 5 at Flat Fork Creek Park. This event is free, and all are welcome. Registration isn’t required.

HEPL CELEBRATES HAMILTON COUNTY’S BICENTENNIAL

Hamilton East Public Library is launching a “Taste of History” celebration of Hamilton County’s 200th anniversary in July. The series of events include a tasting tour of early Noblesville restaurants, set for 6:30 p.m. July 18 at the Noblesville Library; a presentation on area farming ancestors, including a sample of a local farm’s harvest, set for 11 a.m. Aug. 12 at the Noblesville Library; a lesson on the history of fishing in the area, set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Fishers Library; and a presentation about teetotalers and bootleggers in Hamilton County during Prohibition, set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Fishers Library.

Epcon offers 50 new homes

By Kiersten Riedford kiersten@youarecurrent.com

Midwest housing development company Epcon Communities is taking reservations for 50 homes in Fishers off of Southeastern Parkway in a new community called the Courtyard of Fishers.

HOUSING

Robyn Crawford, regional president for Epcon Communities in Indianapolis, said Fishers has a large population of people who want to either downsize within the city or return to Fishers to live closer to family.

The Courtyard of Fishers will offer buyers four luxury ranch-style floor plans ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 square feet, Crawford said. The homes are designed with private outdoor courtyard spaces that connect people inside the home to the outdoors.

To set themselves apart from other developments, Crawford said homeowners in Epcon Communities do not have to choose between social connections and outdoor privacy.

“We offer both lifestyles in one community,” Crawford said. “This is a significant

A floor plan for the Palazzo-style home, which ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, is one at the planned Courtyard of Fishers development off Southeastern Parkway. (Photo courtesy of Epson Communities)

difference that Epcon celebrates and we’re proud to bring to Fishers.”

Crawford also noted that the new development is close to parks, restaurants and medical care, making the location of the homes desirable to those who want to be connected to the city.

For more, visit epconcommunities.com/in/ fishers/the-courtyards-of-fishers.

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Pure Pharmacy expanding to Fishers

news@currentinfishers.com

The Fishers City Council approved a plan June 19 to bring Carmel-based Pure Pharmacy to Fishers.

ECONOMY

The business’ planned expansion includes $2.5 million in capital investments and increasing the number of employees by 50 by the end of 2027. According to the city, those new jobs will focus on the compounding, compliance, dispensing and support areas of the company.

The council unanimously approved a tax-abatement incentive for the company to open a facility in Fishers. That five-year abatement includes zero property taxes in the first year, with the amount gradually increasing each year. According to city documents, the incentive is worth about $71,000.

The new facility will be at 6950 E. 96th St.

“We are very excited to expand our operations to Fishers and appreciate the support that the city has given us,” said Ryan Hayes, co-owner of Pure Pharmacy.

Pure Pharmacy is a compounding pharmacy that focuses on health, wellness and innovative therapies, according to the city. It is part of the growing health and wellness sector, valued at $3.4 trillion.

Compounding pharmacies create tailored medications for patients using base ingredients, rather than distributing ready-made medication.

“It’s incredible to see the life-science innovation that is happening in central Indiana right now,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said. “With the addition of Pure Pharmacy, Fishers’ I-69 corridor is competing across the life-science industry in new technologies, and the momentum is just getting started.”

The life-sciences and biotech industries in Fishers have grown exponentially since 2020, with $750 million in investment and nearly 2,000 jobs established or committed to in the next three years.

Pure Pharmacy opened in late 2019. The new facility will be located at the Patch Development building under construction at 96th Street and Masters Road.

For more about the company, go to purerxcompounding.com.

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Fishers’

Amphitheater hosts numerous events. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)

Boutique bank celebrates one year in Indy

By Edward Redd

edward@youarecurrent.com

A commercial bank in Indianapolis celebrated its one-year anniversary with partners and customers.

MILESTONE

On June 13, CF Bank hosted a networking event at its 4729 E. 82nd St. location in Indianapolis. Guests were given the opportunity to meet the bank’s partners and learn about the boutique banking experience.

The bank serves clients throughout the greater Indianapolis area, including Hamilton County and Lawrence.

CF Bank offers the standard banking experience, such as setting clients up with personal checking and savings accounts. In addition to the standard services, the bank provides boutique banking services.

Head of finance at CF Bank Jeff Kosla said the boutique banking experience distinguishes itself from traditional banking by providing a personalized experience.

“We customize our product based on the customer’s needs.” Kosla said. “When you go to McDonald’s, not everybody likes their cheeseburger the same way, right? That’s the analogy I like to use.”

Bankers might start out by introducing clients to their set product. The client then has the option to add services until an account suits their financial needs. Clients also have direct access to decision makers regarding loans, as opposed to the bank needing approval from an underwriter.

The bank has more than 100 clients and works to manage and grow their finances. Other services include treasury management, nonprofit banking, business equipment and loan leasing, and Home Equity Lines of Credit.

Head of Finance, Jeff Kosla, left, and Vice Presidnet Indy regional Manager Kelly Leddy. (Photo by Edward Redd)

REACHING OUT

Fishers Fire Department cul-de-sac drills boost community engagement

By Kiersten Riedford kiersten@youarecurrent.com

Giggles echoed in the cul-de-sac between Bristlecone Drive and Moss Woods Drive June 16 during a Fishers Fire Department’s cul-de-sac drill.

Firefighters drove to the cul-de-sac to meet with residents and their families and answer questions. They also taught the neighborhood children how to use a firehose and let them take a peek inside the firetruck.

FFD Public Information Officer John Mehling said the event was one of 60 cul-de-sac drills the fire department has planned this year. Last year, as a pilot program, the fire department did 15 sessions and there was an overwhelming positive response as residents asked for more drills.

The point of the drills, Mehling said, is to give firefighters an opportunity to create a dialogue with the community before an emergency occurs.

“If you have questions, we want you to feel comfortable asking us and we’ll get you an answer,” Mehling said. “The other part of it is to (work) with the kids. We don’t want to meet the kids for the first time in an emergency situation. That’s a scary situation all by itself, and you throw in big firefighters, all the gear, all the noise — it doesn’t get any less scary in those situations.”

Mehling said the drills also help let children know it’s OK to go to firefighters when they are in danger.

“(My favorite memory from the drills is) seeing the look on the kid’s face when they look at these firefighters and knowing that these people are there for them,” Mehling said. “In that moment, we’ve made it a safer place for them.”

Lauren Gray, a firefighter for the FFD, said her favorite part about cul-de-sac drills is meeting children in the community in a positive way.

“A lot of times, our job involves doing things that are sometimes not the happiest of things,” Gray said. “So, this is one

of the days that we get a chance to see the community in a really positive way and get a chance to hang out with them.”

Gray said that with the growth of Fishers in recent years, the FFD also has grown. She said because of the growth, the department receives and listens to public feedback on ways to improve safety.

“Their feedback on us, and their feedback towards the city itself, is always helpful for us,” Gray said. “We are the employees of the city, so it means a lot that they understand who we are and what we do, and doing cul-de-sac drills helps people understand who we are.”

Mehling said the FFD uses the hashtag #thishouseprotectsmyhouse to illustrate that when the fire department and the community work together, most emergencies can be prevented. He said the fire department needs to create a dialogue to inform citizens of what they need to do to make their lives safer and what to do in case of an emergency.

“We’re a phone call away,” Mehling said. “We are here for you, whether it’s calling 911 for an emergency or calling our non-emergency lines to get additional information to get help with smoke alarms (or) to learn how to do maintenance to your home to make things safer. We would love to talk to people and help them live a safer, better life.”

The FFD is not taking reservations on cul-de-sac drills, but they will visit more neighborhoods for drills and community engagement through August.

To learn more about the FFD, go to fishers.in.us/219/ Fishers-Fire-Department.

ON

FISHER FIRE DEPARTMENT CUL DE SAC DRILLS RUN THROUGH AUGUST

The Fishers Fire Department’s cul de sac drills started June 9 and run through Aug. 28, according to the department’s website. Below is the posted 2023 schedule of when firefighters will visit different neighborhoods throughout Fishers:

June 28: Vermillion: Wheatley Court and Kensington Lane

June 30: South Avalon: Bellingham and Woverton

July 7: Thorpe Creek: Bustic Ridge Court

July 8: Plantana: Dearborn Circle; The Hawthorne: Talnuck Circle/ Great Blue Trace

July 10: Heritage Green; Ashbury Circle; Metropolitan Apartments: Falling Brook Drive and Eller Road

July 14: Hunters Run: Bellevue Circle; Flat Fork: Deepwood Court and Portage Trail Lane

July 15: Anderson Hall: Helios Circle; Gray Eagle: Tavernier Drive/Elgin Court

July 17: Covington: Tudor Court; The Pines: River Oak Lane and Pineridge North Drive

July 18: Conner Knoll: Knollwood Place

July 19: Sunblest Farms: Tanner Drive

July 20: Berkley Ridge: Blackhorn Court

July 21: Canal Place: Kemp Court and Waterway Boulevard

July 22: Sedona/Canyon Ridge: Van Buren Place; The Bristols: Jaguars Drive/Vikings Lane

July 24: Northfield Estates: Sheffield Court and Northfield Place; Whelchel Springs: Latana and Nettle Lane

July 26: Oakhurst: Cloverbank Drive and Oakhurst Lane

July 27: Bradford Knoll: Brothers Court

August 3: Tremont: Preston Court

August 4: Sunblest Farms: Ashton Lane; Intercostal at Geist: Keel Road and Newbury Port Drive

August 5: Pleasant View: Raven Court

August 7: Spyglass Falls: Kingston Court

August 8: Spyglass Hills: Mainsail Court

August 11: Heritage Meadows: Legacy Court; River Highlands: Highlands Place and River Highlands Drive

August 12: Britton Ridge: Ramsgate Court; Brooks Chase: Star Drive/131st Street

August 14: Avalon of Fishers: Avalon Boulevard and Ely Road

August 16: Bridger Pines: Gaylen Court and Gallatin Way

August 18: Sunblest Farms: Rush Court; Berkley Ridge: Tarragon Court and Willow Ridge

August 19: Somerset: Saltford Circle (South); Walrond Estate: Walrond Road in the cul de sac

August 20: Hawks Landing: Hawk’s Nest Drive/Hawks Landing Drive

August 21: Turnberry: Fernie Circle

August 25: Fawnsbrook Woods: Fawns Run and Fawns Brook Drive

August 26: Springs of Cambridge: Golden Ridge Lane and Springstone Road

August 28: Silverton: Betton Place

Firefighter Lauren Gray gets ready to race with a child through the firehose water. (Photo by Kiersten Riedford)

THE COVER: Lt. Anthony Biggs shows neighborhood children how to use a fire hose. (Photos by Kiersten Riedford)

‘BROUGHT TO LIGHT’

have been removed. He said the negative reviews began appearing soon after Southland fired an executive pastor, identified by several former Southland attendees as Ryan Fox, who CJ Johnson said, “left really poorly.” CJ Johnson did not explain how Fox “left really poorly” in the meeting and did not respond to questions from Current about it.

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

When Steve Poe, longtime Northview Church senior pastor, introduced his successor, CJ Johnson, at a meeting in August 2021 for church members to approve the hire, Poe told the congregation that rumors circulating online about financial fraud and other misconduct at CJ Johnson’s previous church in Minnesota had been fully vetted and found to be untrue.

“We are 110 percent convinced that there’s absolutely nothing to these false allegations,” Poe said at the meeting.

“That’s all they are.”

Several people, however, who served at CJ Johnson’s former church, Southland City Church in the Minneapolis suburb of Lakeville, tell a different story, one they said they suspect is repeating itself — at least in part — at Northview.

They accuse CJ Johnson, 38, of speaking dishonestly from the pulpit, lacking transparency about church finances and threatening or manipulating those who questioned his ideas or leadership. They watched as most of Southland’s staff quit — without new jobs lined up — within a couple of weeks in late 2020.

Michelle Creasman, who served as an elder at Southland from 2018 to late 2020, said she feels it’s important for those attending Northview to know what happened at CJ Johnson’s previous church, which ceased to exist soon after he left.

“My motivation is not to aid in a hit piece on CJ but rather hold him accountable at his new church and also educate the congregation so they can make an informed decision on where they call home,” Creasman said. “His actions impacted many people who are still recouping from what happened whether it be emotional, spiritual or financially, so I wanted to make sure this was brought to light.”

Northview, whose website listed 145 people on staff as of June 16, has also experienced a staff exodus, though not as extreme as at Southland, since CJ Johnson began working there in the summer of 2021. Several former Northview employees and attendees said they are aware of more than 40 church staffers who have left their jobs because of issues or concerns — which echo some of those raised at Southland — about the new senior pastor, and they believe that total to be an undercount.

One former Northview employee, who requested anonymity because of fear of retribution and continued work in local ministry, compared Northview’s situation to the fate of the Titanic.

“We are on this thing that feels (comfortable), yet those who are in the belly of the ship know that we’ve hit some-

thing and there’s water gushing in, but nobody’s acknowledging it,” the former employee said. “I care about Northview, and I don’t want it to sink. But I think it’s sinking, and if something doesn’t happen, if there’s not enough humility, grace and openness or willingness to have this conversation, it’s going to go down.”

TRUST ISSUES

Northview, a nondenominational megachurch based in Carmel with — according to its website — more than 8,800 weekly attendees among its dozen campuses, declined multiple times over several months to allow CJ Johnson, Poe, church elders or anyone else from its leadership team to be interviewed for this story. Northview leaders also declined to respond to specific questions sent by Current.

In a prepared statement sent to Current on behalf of Northview’s elders, executive team and Poe, Executive Pastor Jason Pongratz said the church’s elders conducted a full “due diligence process” when hiring CJ Johnson and that church leadership “did not take this task lightly.”

“Everyone involved has worked hard to ensure that the selection of the senior pastor was a person that they could confidently stand behind as the person God has for the church for the next chapter in Northview’s history. What has been a great turn in the story is that members of Pastor CJ’s former staff have recently reached out to own their parts of the distortion of truth and have begun the reconciliation process with Pastor CJ,” the statement read. “We believe that it is in the best interest of all involved for our church to respect the former staff members’ privacy and give them the space to heal with Pastor CJ. We do not wish to reopen old wounds or compromise the privacy of those involved. At this time, and for this reason, Northview will not be commenting further or providing any additional information.”

Northview elders, who finalized the decision to hire CJ Johnson, either didn’t respond to Current’s request for comment or directed Current to Pongratz for a response. Pongratz declined to comment beyond the statement he provided.

In the August 2021 Northview member meeting, however, CJ Johnson addressed the allegations posted in several reviews of Southland City Church on Google — which since

In that same meeting, Poe read a letter purportedly from Southland’s elders stating that the severance agreement with Fox contained standard nondisclosure clauses, meaning Southland could not share with its congregation specific reasons for the termination.

“This resulted in much frustration among the executive pastor’s family, friends and fellow staff,” the letter stated. “Within days of his termination, accusations against Pastor CJ began to circulate online.”

Fox did not respond to Current’s multiple requests for comment. Northview declined to provide a copy of the letter from Southland’s elders. No one contacted by Current who was on the Southland elder board at the time CJ Johnson left for Northview agreed to comment for this story. Creasman said her husband, who remained a Southland elder until the church dissolved, did not sign the letter or know it existed before it was read at Northview. No former Southland employees contacted by Current agreed to speak on the record for this story.

While the late-2020 firing of Fox may have been the final straw that spurred some of the events mentioned in the Google reviews — such as the mass exodus of Southland’s staff — problems at the church began well before that.

Josh Johnson said his young family attended Southland for several years in the 2010s, helping to launch the youth group and volunteering in various capacities. It was after Southland moved into its own building in 2017 that Josh Johnson said he began to develop serious concerns. He said there was constant pressure to donate money to the church, leading him to question how the funds were allocated and spent.

“I went directly to CJ, questioning how the monetary donations (were) being distributed within and outside of Southland,” Josh Johnson said. “CJ directed me to Ryan Fox, who was in control of the church’s finances. He would not return my calls, texts or emails. I would get crickets. When I would corner them in person, they would deflect or refuse to answer questions regarding money.”

Greg Reis, who attended Southland from 2016 to 2018, had a similar experience. He said his concern about the leadership at the church sparked after CJ Johnson — from the pulpit — embellished a story in 2016 about Reis making a donation.

“He (effectively) said, ‘It was so big, I reached out to Greg, and I had a conversation with him to make sure he wanted to donate this much money,’” Reis said. “For a moment, I thought, ‘What? He never called me,’ and I just let it go. But he used that (claim)

Northview Pastor CJ Johnson preaches on June 18. Northview services are available to follow live online or watch later at northviewchurch.online.church. (Photo by Zach Ross) Poe

Northview Church stands behind senior pastor in wake of allegations of dishonesty, manipulative behavior

Reis

COMMUNITY

Continued from Page 16

to raise a whole bunch of money, and it worked. After we bought a building, he told us that the weekend when he made that announcement, the money just started rolling in. So that was the first lie.”

Eventually, after several incidents he said he found concerning, in 2018 Reis decided to confront pastors CJ Johnson and Fox about Southland’s finances.

“We wanted to have a conversation about money. We were in there for a good hour, and we didn’t get anywhere. We could not get an answer out of them,” Reis said. “At the end of our conversation, it was basically, ‘If you can’t trust me with your money, you can’t trust me.’ And we were done that day. We quit going (to Southland).”

‘I’VE ASKED PEOPLE TO LEAVE FOR LESS’

Creasman, the former Southland elder, said she also was shocked by a story she heard CJ Johnson tell from the pulpit during a Southland service. Creasman said that in mid-2018, CJ Johnson described how, a year earlier, a family in the church had given $1 million just in time to secure financing for Southland to move into a new building.

She knew the story was about her family, but she also knew it involved a $1 million loan — not a gift. Her brother had taken out a line of credit backed by the equity in a storage business their family owned, and they fully expected it to be paid back.

“Several times CJ got up on that platform and he told the congregation that someone gave them a million dollars. So that’s when we were first like, ‘Oh, that’s not correct. Why is he saying that?’” she said.

Creasman wasn’t the only one to question CJ Johnson’s story about the $1 million gift. Bob Clatterbuck, Southland’s former volunteer head of security, said the story about the funding kept changing, so, on behalf of others who also had questions about the situation, he decided to ask CJ Johnson and Fox for clarity.

“The next thing I know, I get called in by CJ, and he wants me to come into the church,” Clatterbuck said. “He basically threatened to kick me out of the church. His words were something to the effect of, ‘I’ve asked people to leave for less.’”

Current could not vet Clatterbuck’s comment, because Northview would not make CJ Johnson available to do so.

Clatterbuck said CJ Johnson didn’t give a reason for the threat other than stating that his questions were causing problems or divisions in the church. Clatterbuck said he was caught off guard and apologized, but the incident left him unsettled. After several other concerning events, his family left the church later that year.

‘ALL THEY CARED ABOUT WAS THEIR NAME’

After loaning the church $1 million, Creasman said she and her husband were asked to join Southland’s elder board. Their position gave them an inside look on happenings at the church, including in late 2020 when Fox was fired and most of the other employees quit.

With the church in crisis after losing most of its staff, the Creasmans reached out to the Minnesota District Council of the Assemblies of God, which governed Southland’s denomination in the area. Its leaders conducted interviews with remaining and former staff members and soon presented

the findings to the church.

It was during that process Creasman stepped down from the elder board, as she could not agree with the Assemblies of God’s decision to not put CJ Johnson on a leave of absence.

“I resigned because I saw the Assemblies of God, all they cared about was their name,” Creasman said. “They’re supporting CJ. They’re not even doing any discipline.”

After she stepped down as an elder, Creasman said her husband remained on the board because he said he believed the situation had not been fully investigated. He wanted to ensure an audit was done and was prepared to pay for it himself.

Another organization took care of that, however. Emmanuel Christian Center, an Assemblies of God church in the area, agreed to fund an audit after it helped transition what remained of Southland — which had shrunk in attendance as well as staff — into a new campus of its own in the summer of 2021.

The audit was not complete before CJ Johnson was hired by Northview, according to Creasman and other sources. Current asked ECC and Northview officials for a copy of the audit but neither responded to the request. Officials from ECC and the Minnesota District Assemblies of God did not respond to Current’s multiple requests for comment.

‘LOOKING AT THE NEXT PASTOR’

CJ Johnson started working at Northview on Sept. 1, 2021, after beating out six other finalists selected by VanderBloemen, a Christian executive search firm, Poe told Current in October 2022. VanderBloemen did not respond to Current’s request for comment.

Poe said he told the elders and search firm that he wanted his replacement to be young, have leadership skills and be a “very strong communicator.” He said the choice became clear as soon as he and his wife watched a sermon from each of the finalists.

“I got to CJ’s, and I got emotional. I actually left the room, collected myself and came back,” Poe said. “My wife said, ‘What’s the matter?’ I said, ‘We’re looking at the next pastor.’”

Poe, who retired in October 2022 and is now Northview’s legacy pastor, said he asked the elders to watch the same seven sermons and that all of them ranked CJ Johnson as their top choice.

A former Northview employee, who asked not to be named because he still works in local ministry, said initially he was encouraged by the “spirit of unity” in the unanimous choice. He had seen the negative Google reviews of Southland, but he said he trusted church leaders when they said the allegations had been fully vetted and proven false.

Over time, however, he began to have concerns about his

new pastor. For example, he said he witnessed CJ Johnson largely inflate the number of people in a service who raised their hand to indicate they gave their life to Christ at a Northview service.

Clatterbuck, who had a view of the entire worship center at Southland as part of the security team, said CJ Johnson frequently embellished numbers there, too.

“I would be behind him, watching out while he did this. I saw the number of hands, then I heard the inflated numbers,” Clatterbuck said. “That is definitely something he has done time and time again.”

Current spoke with eight former Northview employees or attendees, all of whom left the church — or were asked to leave — because of concerns about CJ Johnson or church leadership. Most said they took their concerns to church elders or other leaders, many of whom were not willing to seriously discuss the matter with them or act on it, the former employees said.

“Part of why (CJ Johnson) was able to create so much confusion and gaslighting of our staff was by making us feel like we were wrong for being interested in his past,” a former employee said. “At one point during an all-staff meeting, he referenced the fact that people had been looking into his past, and he made a joke onstage about how disgruntled people from his previous church are trying to bring him down. So, he would publicly diminish these things that we were trying to shed light on almost as a way of discrediting some of the accusations being made.”

Another former employee said his efforts to discuss his concerns with church leaders went nowhere, leading him to conclude they don’t have a “willingness or (the) humility” to address the matter.

“It’s not about me being right or wrong. I just want to have the conversation and handle this biblically,” the former employee said. “If, at the end of the day, everything comes out and CJ was right, great. That is a win for everybody, the best-case scenario. But (Northview’s) handling of it this way makes it worse, because then everybody’s going, ‘Well, they’re playing the deck of cards we all thought they would play.’ And that doesn’t end well for anybody. It hurts the church and the staff and friends and family more than anything.”

HOME ADDRESS DISCREPANCIES

CJ Johnson, Northview Church senior pastor, has been accused of speaking falsehoods from the pulpit, and it appears he has been inaccurate on public documents, as well, according to discrepancies in public records.

In Northview’s business entity report filed March 28 with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, CJ Johnson’s address is listed as a home in Fishers assessed at $259,000 and owned by Jacqueline Lucas and Jonathan Swift. Lucas is an executive assistant at Northview whose parents were elders at Southland City Church, where Johnson previously pastored.

Documents filed with the Hamilton County Recorder’s Office state that on March 30 CJ Johnson and his wife signed paperwork for a $1.5 million mortgage on a 6,454-square-foot, six-bedroom home on 10 acres in Noblesville. The property includes a pole barn and an in-ground pool.

Neither CJ Johnson nor Lucas responded to Current’s requests for comment.

The building that previously housed Southland City Church in Lakeville, Minn. It is now a campus of Emmanuel Christian Center. (Photo courtesy of Bob Clatterbuck)

Clatterbuck

Nature of good and evil

Commentary by Terry Anker

Better not safe than sorry

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

ESSAY

For those of us involved in agriculture, or who spent our youth so engaged, these warm, sunny summer days are a bit of a paradox. Although we may enjoy them recharging after a long, cold winter, we might be rightly worried about the lack of rain. We’re a couple of inches down for the year, give or take, in most places. And for those of us who eat, we are legitimately concerned about the plight of Hoosier farmers. Their success keeps us fed. Still, we have not yet arrived at a crisis point, and with good luck, rain will fall as needed and averages will return to average.

In the meantime, we can take some solace in the benefits of the hot, dry weeks. Aside from improving our bodily vitamin D supply, we may notice a reduction in nuisance insects. Relying on standing water in ditches and nearly anything that holds a thimbleful of liquid, mosquitos and other pests have declined some with the dry weather. Still, we carry gallons of “repel-

lant” to our family picnics, outdoor concerts and sports activities for the hardy few that emerged despite the dry conditions. But why? For the hardy few that have made it this far, what would be strong enough to repel them from dinner?

If we are sufficiently hungry, what can drive us from what we need, or believe that we do? Fear of death? Fear of discomfort? Alternatively, we attract moths to the flame, glowing blue bug light. They gleefully surrender, so compelled by attraction to their own demise that they appear unaware of the clear and present danger. Sure, these tiny creatures likely exist on instinct and are devoid of intellect, but do we fare much better? What good repels and what evil attracts in our own lives?

Could use a rest after vacation

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

Friends, I’m pleased to announce that I have survived the annual family vacay to South Carolina, where 27 of us piled into a beach house for one week. The youngest is 2 and the oldest is 78, but we managed to make memories and keep the shanking to a minimum (there was a major blow-up between my four sisters and me, but everything was eventually resolved, or at least suppressed enough that we departed with authentic “I love you-s,” which is saying something considering the amount of wine consumed).

HUMOR

net and turnaround without tipping over. My twin and I didn’t even make it to the semifinals thanks to a poor showing in cornhole, though we felt OK about it since we had to be North Korea (obviously, the kids chose the nations).

Anyhoo, highlights included ideal temperatures, delicious dinners and the first-ever Morris Olympics, which pitted two-person teams representing various countries against each other in multiple events.

Anyhoo, highlights included ideal temperatures, delicious dinners and the first-ever Morris Olympics, which pitted two-person teams representing various countries against each other in multiple events. My nephew Nick, 19, and my niece Georgia, 10, pulled off a stunning victory for Ukraine, in part because of their outstanding performance on the pool kayak course, where they expertly navigated the volleyball

We also enjoyed another competitive Great Beach BakeOff, where first-time participant Keegan, 8, stole the show with his perfectly baked vanilla cupcake; multiple games of charades and truffles; and a movie night of “80 for Brady,” which my mom outwardly, and everyone else secretly, loved.

– DANIELLE WILSON

I never slept well. There was nonstop action and noise, and I had to literally hide on a second-floor back balcony to get my daily dose of “Grey’s Anatomy,” but I survived!

Peace out.

Danielle Wilson is a contributing columnist. You may email her at info@youarecurrent.com.

ABC’S “Prisoners of the Snow” is a true story of a rugby team stranded in the Andes in sub-zero weather after their plane crashed into the side of a mountain in 1972. Also recently in the news, the miraculous 40-day survival of four young children stranded in the Amazon jungle. Imagine finding yourself with no food or water in the hot jungle, or caught in an avalanche, freezing to death beneath a mountain of snow. Many of these brave people survived, but it might have been easier if they were all wearing something called the Paracord Survival Bracelet (also helpful: a cellphone, your GPS, warm blankets, three-month’s supply of food, a Coleman stove and Netflix).

and help finally arrives, isn’t that the first thing you’d think about — who do I need to tie up?

HUMOR

The manufacturer is concerned that people will not want to use the rope in an emergency because making it back into a bracelet is harder than solving the Rubik’s Cube with your feet. That’s why auto safety systems do not allow you to disengage the airbag apparatus. “Push the airbag off button, Agnes. We’re going to hit that truck head-on, but I have no idea how to stuff that thing back into the steering wheel.”

Many of these brave people survived, but it might have been easier if they were all wearing something called the Paracord Survival Bracelet (also helpful: a cellphone, your GPS, warm blankets, three-month’s supply of food, a Coleman stove and Netflix).

The device is called a 550 Cord. This is confusing because that’s also the name of the Levi’s I wear. The bracelet is 90 feet of intricately woven thread crafted into a nifty piece of rope jewelry. First used in World War II by paratroopers, the manufacturer describes it as having a “32-strand woven nylon outer sheath with an inner core of seven 2-ply yarns.” I know, I know, that sounds a lot like Charmin.

Here are two uses suggested by the manufacturer:

• Replace a broken zipper pull: Nothing would be more embarrassing than being rescued after 12 days on a deserted island and being caught with your fly open.

• Detain a person: When you are shipwrecked in the middle of nowhere

– DICK WOLFSIE

Paracord Survival Bracelet used to give a free one if you use its product in a legitimate emergency. Simply send it the story of how you used the rope, along with a photograph demonstrating the life-threatening predicament you were in, such as:

Dear Survival Bracelet Maker:

My wife and I were recently cleaning the gutters on our roof when the ladder tipped over. As I helped her rappel down the side of our house using your nifty piece of jewelry, I tried to get my cellphone out of my pocket to send a picture, thus qualifying for a free replacement. I was too slow, but I am attaching a photo of her on the ground with two broken legs.

Personally, I think this bracelet is a waste of money at $39.95. Better not safe than sorry.

POLICIES

Letters to the editor: Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 150 words. Letters must be thoroughly vetted prior to submission. Current retains the right to reject or return any letter it deems to carry unsubstantiated content. Current also retains the right to edit letters, but not their intent. Send letters to info@youarecurrent. com. Writers must include a hometown and a daytime phone number for verification. Guest columns: The policy for guest columns is the same as the aforementioned, but the allowable length is 240 words. Guest columns should address the whole of Current’s readership, not simply special-interest groups, and may not in any way contain a commercial message.

Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent.com.

Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.

Powers to share songs, stories at Feinstein’s

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Wayne Powers has a lifetime of stories to share.

The singer/actor/comedian had a few appearances on “Laverne & Shirley” and starred in his own NBC hospital sitcom, “13 East,” for two seasons. He appeared in episodes of “ALF,” “Full House,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.” “Murder She Wrote” and “Simon & Simon,” among others. He also once worked for composer Henry Mancini as an administrator of his music publishing and worked in improv comedy clubs with Robin Williams in the 1970s.

Powers will perform with his All-Star Trio of Kevin Anker (piano), Fred Withrow (acoustic bass) and Mike Kessler (drums) at 7:30 p.m. July 22 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel.

“I’m mostly singing. I’ll tell a few stories and there’s a little comedy,” Powers said. “I’m excited because that venue could have been built for me. It’s the old supper clubs that I first started singing in at age 16 in New York. Those supper clubs are gone now, but Michael (Feinstein) had the vision and knowledge to bring them back because he understood what makes them work.”

Powers will perform standards from the Great American Songbook. He recently released an album, “If Love Were All,” which also is the name of one of the songs on the album.

Last year, Powers performed a show at The Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis and did some guest spots there this year. He lives in Muncie but plans to move.

“It was kind of a bucket-list thing,” he said. “I was looking for a historic mansion to live in and restore. I looked all over the country and found this incredible mansion in Muncie. I bought and restored it. It’s 10,000 to 12,000 square feet, built in 1902. I’ll never get out what I put into it, but life changes happen. I’m going to put it on the market.”

Powers did network television shows for approximately 15 years but decided to move to Charlotte, N.C., with his then-wife

and two younger sons.

“I wanted a place where my kids could have a childhood,” he said.

He had already been contemplating a move when the car his sons were being transported from a private school in was hit by stray bullets by rival gangs in Los Angeles.

Then, an earthquake happened in the early 1990s. The family got out of the home in time, but it was destroyed.

“I looked up at God and said, ‘I hear you, we’re going now, don’t send me any more signs,’” he said.

Powers started on WBT, a radio station in Charlotte, as a guest host and in special programming. After 20-plus years, he hosted his own radio talk show at WKZO in Kalamazoo, Mich., for a few years before moving to Chicago.

He performed in one of the lead roles of ‘The Sunshine Boys” in Kankakee, Ill., in 2019.

“It’s one of my favorite shows. I want to do that show again,” he said. “That response was incredible. It’s so fresh. It’s Neil Simon and it’s hilariously funny.”

Five years before that, he had a different theater role at the request of his close friend, the late Paul Sorvino.

“He was like my brother,” Powers said. “He was the godfather to both of my sons.”

Powers wanted to learn the song “Mama” in Italian so he could sing to his mother, who was turning 90. So, Sorvino agreed to teach him but wanted a favor in return.

“(He said) ‘In a couple of months I’m doing ‘King Lear’ in New York and I’m directing and playing Lear and I want you to play the Fool opposite me,’” he said. “I hadn’t done Shakespeare since I was in college. I said, ‘I don’t know if I could do it,’ and he said, ‘Of course, you can.’”

Sorvino convinced Powers to join the cast with Shrunken Shakespeare Company because they already had a strong chemistry that was necessary for the role.

Sorvino died in 2022 at age 83.

“He was my mentor,” Powers said. “It’s still hard for me to get over losing him. I miss him a lot.”

For more, visit waynepowers.com.

‘BEAUTY & THE BEAST’

“Beauty & the Beast” runs through July 9 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Adam Pascal will perform Broadway hits at 7:30 p.m. June 30 and July 1 at Feinstein’s cabaret in Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinhc.com.

‘BOEING BOEING’

Red Barn Summer Theatre’s presentation of “Boeing Boeing” runs through July 1 at the Red Barn Theatre in Frankfort. For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.

‘NEWSIES JR.’

Jr. Civic Theatre presents the final two performances of “Disney’s Newsies Jr.” from June 27-28 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.

‘STAR-SPANGLED SYMPHONY’

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will present “Star-Spangled Symphony’’ at 8 p.m. June 30 to July 3 in the Symphony on the Prairie series at Conner Prairie in Fishers. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.

DISPATCH

Musical theater camp returns to Noblesville — The Point Theater, formerly Christian Youth Theater, returns to Noblesville with musical theater day camps for youth between the ages of 4 and 11. The camps are offered at Emmanuel Methodist Church, 1600 Cumberland Road, during the week of July 17. With a “Beauty and the Beast” theme, the camp places students in groups by age, then rotates them through interactive stations in vocals, dance, acting and props each day. The week culminates in a Friday performance for family and friends. Seasoned actors and dancers lead the camp, with Point students rounding out the staff as counselors. To register, visit thepointtheater.org.

Actor/singer Wayne Powers, right, with his close friend Paul Sorvino. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Powers)

Dizgo to perform at Palladium

By Mike Beas mark@youarecurrent.com

Two letters separate the band’s name from a word mostly synonymous with the late-1970s.

MUSIC

Carmel High School graduate Patrick Milescu is too young to have experienced the short-lived — and, yet, somehow enduring — musical phenomenon that was disco, but he’s doing the next best thing.

Milescu, 29, manages the Bloomington-based band Dizgo, a quartet known for blending jamtronica with funk, soul and psychedelic rock to create a sound that is danceable and introspective.

And now, Dizgo is coming home.

Back to Milescu’s home, that is.

Dizgo, comprised of guitarist Andrew Pickel, bass player Kevin Hinnefeld, drummer Jacob Powell and keyboardist Jake Evatt, will perform June 28 in the Live at the Center series at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9. Dizgo is expected to play between 10 to 12 songs.

Milescu looks forward to bringing the band, with its unique sound, showmanship and playlist, to the Palladium.

“Oh, it’s awesome. We’re very excited to play at a theater like that,” said Milescu, who was born in Montreal, moved with his family to Carmel when he was 7, and now resides in Bloomington. “My parents loved going there to see shows and then would tell me about it afterward.”

To purchase tickets, visit dizgoband. com or thecenterpresents.org. Tickets are pay-what-you-can with a $5 minimum. Patrons also can register for a free livestream option.

From left, Andrew Pickel, Jake Evatt, Patrick Milescu, Kevin Hinnefeld and Jacob Powell form Dizgo, which will perform June 28 at the Palladium in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Dizgo)

Barbershop chorus in harmony

By Jeff Decker editorial@youarecurrent.com

When she was younger, Carmel resident Barbara Birnbaum had performed in her school choirs. But as an adult, Birnbaum didn’t have time to keep singing with a group.

MUSIC

In 2006, friends convinced her to attend guest night with Harmony Magic, a central Indiana-based women’s barbershop chorus.

“I really was enamored with the idea,” she said of performing again.

When Birnbaum arrived at guest night, a group member greeted her with a hug.

“And it was, ‘OK, I’m hooked,” she said. Birnbaum and other members of the chorus, between 25 and 30 strong and under the direction of Janet Foster of Greenfield, competed in the Harmony Inc. area convention and contest beginning June 8 in Bloomington-Normal, Ill. At stake was a berth in an international competition Nov. 8-11 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Harmony Magic was one of six choruses to qualify for the competition, called Pure Harmony.

“We really couldn’t have asked for better,” Birnbaum said.

Harmony Magic prepared for the contest on Thursday evenings at Woodland Terrace in Carmel. For the competition, they performed “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” from the musical “Annie,” and “When I Fall in Love,” a standard from 1952.

Harmony Magic performs four-part harmony a cappella versions of songs from many styles and eras and sings while executing choreographed movements.

“We really like to sing,” she said. “We want to entertain people.”

The group is a nonprofit, paying its way through performances (about 20 a year), sponsors and fundraisers.

Indy Shorts lineup set

editorial@youarecurrent.com

world have this designation.

FILM

Heartland Film has announced the lineup for the sixth annual Academy Award-Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival, running July 18-23. Less than 4 percent of the films submitted to the festival are selected. This year, a record 3,900-plus shorts were submitted, and from those, 165 shorts from 21 countries were programmed. The lineup includes 18 world premieres, 19 U.S. premieres, 54 Midwest premieres and 47 Indiana premieres. Screenings will be at Living Room Theaters (indoor), Newfields (indoor and amphitheater), Fort Ben Cultural Campus (indoor and outdoor) and virtually.

The 2023 festival is embracing a summer camp vibe that promises more than 165 short films that are curated into 29 themed programs, with 100 filmmakers expected to attend for Q&As following the screenings. Fest Pass and tickets are on sale at IndyShorts.org.

Indy Shorts is also an Academy AwardQualifying Film Festival in all three short film categories: Live Action, Documentary and Animated. Only 34 film festivals in the

With a track record of 33 nominations and 10 Oscar-winning shorts, there’s a good chance attendees will see the next Academy Award-contending films first in Indianapolis. Last year, an Indiana Spotlight film, “Stranger at the Gate,” won the Grand Prize for Best Short Documentary receiving its Oscar qualification. The film was then nominated for an Academy Award.

“With last year’s Oscar track and this year’s record number of submissions, the enthusiasm behind the Indy Shorts International Film Festival is unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” stated Hearland Film Artistic Director Greg Sorvig, a Carmel resident.

“I can’t wait for Indianapolis to meet the filmmakers and explore the wide variety of stories showcased in the 29 themed programs.”

More than $30,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to filmmakers July 22. Selected award-winning films will be showcased at Newfields’ Amphitheater for the Summer Nights: Award Winners Program. Before the films, attendees can enjoy free HotBox Pizza and camp-themed activities.

Harmony Magic has qualified for an international barbershop competition. (Photo courtesy Susan Spencer)

Blueprint for Improvement: A modern makeover in Zionsville

Commentary by Larry Greene

Built in 1977 in Zionsville’s Colony Woods neighborhood, this home’s owners wanted to update the living room with modern finishes.

THE BLUEPRINT

• The fireplace became the room’s focal point, accented by dynamic porcelain tile that gives the appearance of metal but without the maintenance.

• Custom built-ins with sleek acrylic laminate cabinets, quartz countertops and floating poplar shelves provide the perfect place for displaying family pictures, keepsakes and décor.

• The carpet was replaced with luxury vinyl plank flooring for an elevated aesthetic with exceptional durability.

After

Corpus Christi for Unity and Peace

JULY 28 | 6 PM

JULY 29 | 8:30 AM

SATURDAY: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND 7 TALKS

NORTHSIDE EVENTS, INDIANAPOLIS

REGISTER:

Beyond Barriers is a campaign that through philanthropy and partnerships, addresses health equity in Central Indiana.

eskenazihealthfoundation.org

A trip on the Alaska Railroad

Commentary by Don Knebel

Today, in our continuing visit to Alaska, we travel the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks toward Denali National Park and Preserve.

TRAVEL

The Alaska Railroad runs 470 miles between Fairbanks, in the middle of the state, to Seward, on the southern coast. The railroad, built by the United States government to facilitate settlement and commerce in the Alaska Territory (not a state until 1959), opened upon completion of the Mears Memorial Bridge over the Tanana River near Nenana. On July 15, 1923, Warren G. Harding, the first president to visit Alaska, drove a golden spike at the north end of the bridge. Harding briefly visited Mount McKinley National Park (now Denali National Park and Preserve) and then traveled by train 100 miles north to Fairbanks, where residents in their Sunday best turned out to greet him.

Today, the Alaska Railroad, now owned by the state of Alaska, makes daily trips between Anchorage and Fairbanks, stopping at Denali National Park and Preserve, where

17 percent of the visitors come by train. The trip from Anchorage to the park takes about 7 1/2 hours, and from Fairbanks, about four hours. Each year between mid-May and mid-September, Wilderness Express engages the Alaska Railroad to pull its extra-large glass-domed cars, featuring dining rooms and bars, through the picturesque countryside, often with snow-capped mountains in the distance. Guides explain to passengers what they are seeing. Among many interesting sites along the route is a marker near the tiny village of Nenana, identifying the site of the famous Nenana Ice Classic. Thousands of people each year try to guess the minute the ice in the river will begin to break up, with the winner (or winners) pocketing about $300,000. A tripod set on the ice stops a clock at the instant the ice begins to move.

Mears Memorial Bridge over the Tanana River near Nenana, Alaska. (Photos by Don Knebel)

Wilderness Express cars on the Alaska Railroad.

Don Knebel is a local resident. For the full column visit donknebel.com. You may contact him at editorial@ youarecurrent.com.

ESKENAZI HEALTH FOUNDATION IS GRATEFUL TO Sharon Barner & Haywood McDuffie FOR THEIR LEAD GIFT

1. Medical insurance grps.

5. Indy Women in Tech Championship links org.

9. Palladium seater

14. Strong wind

15. Paperless test at Purdue

16. Entrap

17. Money drawer

18. “My treat!”

19. Welsh dog

20. Tiny

22. Owner’s document 24. “Once ___ a time...”

25. Forrest Lucas product 27. Stick out

29. Bisected 33. Catch some rays 35. Carmel Winter Games mo.

38. Any time now 39. “Shoo!”

41. Cream of the crop 43. Put in order 44. Autumn color (Var.)

46. “Terrible” tsar

47. Beneath

49. Footnote abbr.

50. Blood line

51. Omaha-to-Zionsville dir.

52. Modern warfare threats, briefly

54. In a timid way

56. Sagamore Club instructor

57. Nile reptile

58. Competent

61. Door sign

64. Indiana Senate helpers

69. Lavish meal

71. Door sign

73. Henhouse

74. Takes a break

75. Pacers foe

76. “___ Karenina”

77. In first place in the Hoosiers Crossroads Conference

78. Org. whose local museum can be found on

33. Thai currency

34. Gillette brand

35. Spark!Fishers charity race distance, briefly

36. Online commerce

37. Butler’s ___ Golson Jazz Festival

40. Sent a dupe email

42. Like WTHR’s evening newscasts

45. Hoosier National Forest trees

48. Prez before GHWB

53. Boone County Fair barn sound

55. Clean air org.

56. Matteo’s basil-garlic sauce

57. “West Side Story” role

58. Bushy ‘do

59. “___ there, done that”

60. In the cellar in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference

62. Ivy League school

63. Lilly corporate VIP

65. Optimist’s credo

6 Articles of Clothing

4 Peppers

5 European Capitals

DeKalb County’s (Colorful) County Seat

the Downtown Canal and in the puzzle’s circles

79. Loch ___ monster Down

1. Town name abbr.

2. Disfigure

3. Earthen pot

4. Exchange for cash

5. London lav

6. Gearshift letters

7. Victory Field event

8. Sheltered, at sea

9. New Big Ten sch.

10. Pig’s nose

11. ISO stringed instrument

12. Word before a conclusion

13. Hoosier Park bridle strap

21. Cyber chuckle

23. Wedding reception entertainers, initially

26. Words before a conclusion

28. Guitar’s little cousin

29. Current edition 30. Middays

31. Unruly crowd

32. Poker stake

3 Indiana Reservoirs

2 Indy Area Codes

66. Finished

67.

68.

70. Recipe amt. 72 IND ID checker Answers

on

NOW HIRING HIRING-CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

Royal Dental Labs, Inc

Position involves two main responsibilities: data entry and providing exceptional customer service through phone and email interaction. Other responsibilities may include general office tasks and possible help in other departments. Full time position, Monday through Friday. Great work environment w/ excellent pay including quarterly bonus potential. Three years data entry and/or customer service experience required.

Starting pay $17 to $20/hr. Send resume to alan@royaldentallabs.com

SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANT W/ ENVISTA LLC

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Submit CV and cover letter to David Jensen, Sr. Mgr, 11555 N. Meridian Street, Ste 300, Carmel IN

ENVOY, INC. SEEKS PRECONSTRUCTION MANAGER

to guide design team members through the preparation of programmatic, schematic, design development and construction documentation, as well as maintaining, updating and validating strict estimate adherence. Position based in Fishers, Indiana. Requirements: Bachelors Degree in Construction Management, Building Construction, Engineering, or similar field, as well as at least 3 years experience in construction, commercial development, and/or estimating. Also requires knowledge of MS Project, Gmail, Google Drive, Project Management software applications Procore, Prolog, Constructware and PDF annotation. Send resume to Amanda Good, 8890 E. 116th St., Suite 250, Fishers, IN, 46038

HIRING-DELIVERY DRIVER/ PACKING & PROCESSING ASSOCIATE

Royal Dental Labs Inc

Looking for a team-oriented individual to fill a part-time and a full-time position as Delivery Driver/Packing and Processing Associate. Candidate will be responsible for ensuring timely delivery and pick up of cases to dental offices throughout the Indianapolis, IN metro area, reviewing orders prior to delivery, packing and processing cases for UPS/FedEx shipping, printing shipping labels, and various office support roles. Must have excellent driving record. If you’re interested in taking on a new challenge at a growing company, we encourage you to apply today. Starting rate of pay $14 to $15 an hour with quarterly bonus potential. Retirees welcome to apply. Send resume to alan@royaldentallabs.com

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

Updated Office Locations

Updated Office Locations

West District Office

West District Office

Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Clothing: BLOUSE, COAT, JACKET, PANTS, SHIRT, SLACKS; Capitals: ATHENS, BERLIN, OSLO, PARIS, ROME; Peppers: BELL, CAYENNE, JALAPENO, SERRANO; Reservoirs: EAGLE CREEK, GEIST, MORSE; Area Codes: FOUR SIX THREE, THREE ONE SEVEN; County Seat: AUBURN

5540 Pebble Village Ln. Suite 400

Noblesville, IN 46062

West District Office 5540 Pebble Village Ln. Suite 400 Noblesville, IN 46062

5540 Pebble Village Ln. Suite 400 Noblesville,

Phone: (317) 848-0201

Phone: (317) 848-0201

East District Office 420 S. High St. Mailbox 14 Suite 207 Muncie, IN 47305

East District Office 420 S. High St. Mailbox 14 Suite 207 Muncie, IN 47305

Phone: (765) 639-0671

Phone: (765) 639-0671

Services Provided:

Services Provided:

Services Provided:

• Help with a Federal Agency

• Help with a Federal Agency

• Help with a Federal Agency

• Social Security issues

• Social Security issues

• Social Security issues

• Medicare claims

• Medicare claims

• Medicare claims

• Veterans issues

• Veterans issues

• Veterans issues

• Passport assistance

• Passport assistance

• Passport assistance

• IRS questions

• IRS questions

• IRS questions

• Tours and Tickets

• Tours and Tickets

• Tours and Tickets

• Assistance with Federal Grants

• Assistance with Federal Grants

• Assistance with Federal Grants

www.spartz.house.gov

www.spartz.house.gov

www.spartz.house.gov

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