August 29, 2023 — Fishers

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Founded Jan. 25, 2011, at Fishers, IN Vol. XIII, No. 30

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Fishers’ proposed 2024 budget totals $164 million

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

The proposed City of Fishers’ 2024 budget includes a half-cent property tax reduction and uses some of the city’s approximately $73 million in reserves for special projects, such as a grant program for local teachers.

million for operating and capital expenses, and $35 million for debt service, totaling $164 million. Compare that to the 2023 budget, which totals $144 million.

GOVERNMENT

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and his administration presented their 2024 city budget to the Fishers City Council Aug. 21. During a media opportunity earlier that day, Fadness said the city is in a strong financial position.

“It’s been a decade of being very disciplined financially about what our plans are and trying to adhere to best budgeting practices,” Fadness said. “This budget reflects not only historic investments in our neighborhoods, but also a good tax policy.”

The property tax reduction would bring Fishers’ rates to .7065 cents per $100 assessed value, keeping them the lowest in Hamilton County. Fadness said the city has been lowering property taxes for the past couple of years, and the proposed reduction would bring the city below its 2020 rate.

He said the city can afford to lower property tax rates because of increased development throughout the community and rising assessments. However, he predicted that assessments will start to plateau, with single-digit increases expected in the coming year.

The 2024 spending plan calls for $129

500 Festival opens KidsFit registration —

Registration is open for the 10th annual 500 Festival KidsFit Program for the 2023-2024 school year. According to the festival, this free program is available to Indiana schools and groups grades K-6 and teaches youth how to pursue an active and healthy lifestyle through a mix of running and walking, inclass lessons and activities. The program meets the Indiana Department of Education’s Indiana State Academic Standards for Health and Physical Education. Students will complete lessons centered around the 500 Festival and the Indianapolis 500 and will run or walk a mile each week using the “Start Your Engines” training plan. By the end of the program, students will complete a total of

Some of the additional expenses for 2024 are new police officers, new firefighter positions, extended longevity bonuses for both police and firefighters, new parks department staff and new positions in the Department of Public Works.

Fadness said the budget also includes $3 million for fleet equipment, but a lot of that will go toward one new ladder truck for the fire department.

“The last ladder truck we bought several years ago was probably around $900,000,” he said. “And this year, a new ladder truck costs $1.8 million (and) it takes three years for delivery. So, our fleet prices have gone up significantly. And this is true in every city; we’re not unique.”

Fadness said the proposed budget uses about $12 million of the city’s reserves for one-time costs.

“It really focuses on three main areas — expanding trail conductivity and engagement to neighborhood and community vibrancy, and the third one is innovation in our schools,” he said.

To address trail connectivity, Fadness said he wants to spend $2.2 million on sidewalks and trails to ensure pedestrians can walk safely through as much of the community as possible. He also proposes a $100,000 “trail node” adjacent to the Nickel Plate Trail at Hub & Spoke, which will provide public restrooms.

“There are no public restrooms on the

DISPATCHES

13.1 miles — the equivalent distance of a half marathon. KidsFit participants are invited to accomplish their final 3.1 miles in their own wave at the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K on May 4, the same morning as the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in downtown Indianapolis. Interested teachers and group organizers should register their school or group at IndyMini.com/KidsFit.

Immunization clinic set — The Hamilton County Health Department offers Back-ToSchool Immunizations as part of a statewide effort to help families easily access school immunizations. The final immunization clinic is 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Hamilton County Health Department, 18030

Nickel Plate trail today, and we have thousands of people using it on a weekly basis,” he said. “We’re really grateful that Delaware Township is looking to put bathrooms at 131st Street. We think (also) having some on the southern side of our trail section makes all the sense in the world.”

To address neighborhood and community vibrancy, sidewalk and street repairs are planned, he said, and he wants to nearly double in one year the amount of sidewalk repairs done over the past five years.

Fadness also proposes increasing the neighborhood matching grant program. Through that program, the city has traditionally offered $100,000 annually for matching grants that go toward neighborhood improvement projects. The 2024 budget increases the amount available for grants to $750,000 and makes it an 80/20 split rather than 50/50.

To encourage innovation in public schools, Fadness said the budget proposes $500,000 in grant money for Fishers educators with ideas about improving education.

“We know that our teachers have great ideas. We also know that they’re resource-constrained,” he said. “Well, we as a community have a responsibility and we have the opportunity to support them.”

Fadness said the intent is to have that grant program led by a committee of retired educators.

The 2024 budget will be reviewed by the city’s finance committee. The budget will come back to the council for a first reading and public hearing on Sept. 21. A second public hearing and adoption of the budget is scheduled for Oct. 9.

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Pursuit Institute plans Back to School Kickoff — The Pursuit Institute leaders and program partners will give a presentation Aug. 30 about programs offered for the 202324 school year and new programs that are in the pipeline. The presentation is from 8-9:30 a.m. Aug. 30 at Noblesville Schools Community Center, 1775 Field Dr., Noblesville. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Register at bit.ly/3KKu6Vs.

Fadness

JOIN A COMMUNITY TRADITION.

The Race Across the Reservoir is Saturday, September 16th. There's still time to register to walk, run, and volunteer!

Finisher Medals + T-Shirts + Beer Garden

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County Council floats property tax/income tax plan

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

The Hamilton County Council has approved an ordinance that would increase the county’s homestead property tax credit, effectively lowering property taxes for some residents, but at the same time would increase the county’s income tax.

increase would essentially offset the state’s tax reduction, so county residents wouldn’t pay more overall than they have been.

GOVERNMENT

To be implemented, the ordinance must be approved by at least 51 percent of the vote shares on the county’s Local Income Tax Council, which includes representatives from the county council and eight communities. Each community represented on the LIT has a share of votes that reflects its population.

The county council holds 6.25 percent of LIT votes. The other communities and their share of the votes are Arcadia, .44 percent; Atlanta, .20 percent; Carmel, 28.71 percent; Cicero, 1.53 percent; Fishers, 28.49 percent; Noblesville, 20.03 percent; Sheridan, .89 percent; and Westfield, 13.36 percent.

The ordinance calls for raising the county income tax by .1 percent annually and using the revenue from that additional income tax to go toward the county’s homestead property tax credit.

The ordinance states that the new tax rate would first be applicable in 2024 and would continue until it is rescinded or modified. Hamilton County Councilmember Brad Beaver, who came up with the plan, said the intention is for the county tax increase to accompany a state income tax reduction.

State lawmakers in 2022 voted for a gradual income tax reduction over seven years. During this year’s session, however, they amended that to speed up the time frame, and now the individual state income tax rate will decrease incrementally from the current 3.15 percent to 2.9 percent over four years.

Beaver said the county’s income tax

He said the primary goal is to offer relief to senior homeowners through the homestead property tax credit. During a presentation of the ordinance to the Westfield City Council, Beaver said throughout the county, assessments continue going up. That means property taxes are rising even though the rates are not.

“The county has not raised rates in over a dozen years,” he said. “It’s my feeling that the people that are impacted the most through the double-digit (assessment) increases we’ve had over the last two to three years — who is mostly impacted by this is retired people on a fixed income.”

Beaver said the income tax increase and homestead credit increase would be phased in over the same timeframe. By the end of the process, he said, the county would have an annual revenue increase of $53 million to apply to the homestead property tax credit. That credit is available to people who own and live in a home on land not exceeding 1 acre. Rentals, commercial property and farmland are not eligible.

Beaver said about 105,000 households applied for the county’s homestead credit in 2022.

In response to an email asking for clarification, Beaver said the county’s property tax is less than 10 percent of the total property tax throughout Hamilton County, so adjusting that part of the equation wouldn’t make a big difference to individual homeowners. The homestead credit would have a bigger impact on those who qualify.

He plans to talk to the governing bodies of each of the LIT community members to answer questions about the proposed ordinance. Beaver said it would need approval from a majority of the county’s LIT by Oct. 1 to take effect in 2024.

DISPATCH

Solar power presentations planned — Carmel Green Initiative has planned a series of presentations for residents in Hamilton County to learn about solar power options, the Hamilton County Solar Co-op and the 30 percent tax credit for solar offered through the Inflation Reduction Act. Presentations are planned for 6 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Carmel Library and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Fishers Library. A webinar is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Visit carmelgreen.org for more information. The co-op closes to new members Sept. 30th.

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HSE, CCS superintendents explain need for referendums

By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com

Superintendents of two local school districts asking voters to renew operating referendums in November presented their case Aug. 16 to members of the business community.

HSE reduce its class sizes by hiring more teachers and staff, add counseling opportunities, eliminate program participation fees and increase the supply budget. Renewing the operating referendum will allow those efforts — and others — to continue, she said.

EDUCATION

Yvonne Stokes, superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools; and Michael Beresford, superintendent of Carmel Clay Schools, presented updates on their respective districts at OneZone’s State of the Schools luncheon at Ritz Charles in Carmel.

HSE voters approved a referendum rate of 22.75 cents per $100 of assessed property value in 2016; the proposed renewal rate is lowered to 19.95 cents.

“We strive in everything we do to be above average,” Stokes said. “So, we believe our funding source should also support that above-average expectation.”

Stokes said the 2016 referendum helped

CCS is asking voters to renew its operating referendum rate of 19 cents per $100 of assessed property value. Voters initially approved the rate in 2017. Without the renewal, Beresford said the district would lose nearly 20 percent of its education fund, which is primarily used to pay teachers and provide benefits.

Besides asking voters to renew the referendum, Beresford said community members can make a difference by countering inaccurate information and narratives and work to “elevate the teaching profession.”

“There’s a lot of bad narratives out there,” he said. “We need people to stand up and say, ‘Wait, I had great teachers. My kids had great teachers. Teachers are awesome. Don’t talk smack about my teachers.’’

DISPATCH

Home energy analysis offered — Duke Energy offers a Home Energy House Call program for eligible customers, who can schedule a free home energy assessment. An energy specialist will analyze their home energy usage. They will check for air leaks, examine insulation levels and review appliances and heating/cooling systems. The specialist will give homeowners a custom-tailored report detailing steps to increase efficiency and lower energy bills. Customers will also receive a free energy efficiency starter kit, which includes an energy-efficient shower head, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators, hot water pipe wrap and weatherstripping. The company’s energy specialists can install the items during their visit. The Home Energy House Call program is offered to Duke Energy customers who have owned a single-family home for at least four months and have an electric water heater, electric heat or central air conditioning. Mobile homes and rental properties do not qualify. For more, visit duke-energy.com/SummerAssessment or call 844-346-4366.

Yvonne Stokes, superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, speaks at the State of the Schools luncheon. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

Michael Beresford, superintendent of Carmel Clay Schools, speaks at the State of the Schools luncheon. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)

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Westfield resident produces annual Dancing with Our Stars

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

The names and audience members change, but there is one constant for Lorenda Carr in producing Dancing with Our Stars.

FUNDRAISER

“It really has remained consistent in the way we structure the event,” said Carr, who has been the producer since the event’s start. “The crowds are mostly new every year because the contestants are different every year, so we don’t really feel the need to change too much. We have incorporated more social media and technology over the years, but the show itself has remained consistent. One of the things that our show is known for is the videos made to introduce each couple, just like on the TV show (‘Dancing with the Stars’).

“People really look forward to those because they are always really clever and entertaining.”

The ninth annual Dancing with Our Stars event is set for 6 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Noblesville. The fundraising event, whose presenting sponsor is Community Health Network, benefits Meals on Wheels in Hamilton County.

Carr is the founder and co-owner of Dance Innovations and owner and executive director of Circle City Dance Productions. As a producer and performer, she enjoys seeing the event all come together.

“I also enjoy connecting to and working with so many amazing people in the community,” Carr said. “I especially love that we are able to raise money for such an important cause.”

Carr said her role with professional dancers is to match them with local celebrities. She works with a videographer to get all participants set up for their shoot and works with the audio/visual company to design lighting for each dance. She plans the opening and closing of the show and serves as stage manager during the show.

The business-casual event features professional dancers paired with some wellknown Hamilton County residents who compete for the ultimate prize of being named champion. Audience members vote for their favorite dancer or dancers to win the night’s People’s Choice Award.

Lindsey McVey said being one of the danc-

Lorenda Carr has been the producer of Danc ing with Our Stars since its start. to courtesy of Lorenda Carr)

ers is a special challenge.

“(It’s) something completely out of my comfort zone but also something I’ll never get the chance to do again,” McVey said. “I’m also super proud to be doing something that’s so beneficial for the community.”

McVey enjoys all aspects of participating.

“The preparation has been a blast,” said McVey, who owns Just Lagom, a women’s retail boutique in down town Noblesville. “The song and routine are really fun, and my partner, Rob Jenkins, has been an amazing teacher. It’s definitely been challenging, though. Two practices a week for an hour each is no joke. And the routine is not easy.”

Fishers residents dancing include Sherese Martin, human relations manager at Rolls-Royce, part-time HR director with Conduct Curb Autism Behavior Center and associate faculty member at IUPUI, and Deb Kurtock. senior clinical research advisor at Pearl Pathways.

Carmel resident Debby Pileri, a competi tive amateur tennis player and USTA umpire, is also competing.

Other celebrity dancers are Mimi Huang, ophthalmologist at 20/20 Eye Physicians; Jody Adams, Indy regional platform manager for Napleton Auto Group; Andrew Bradford, vice president and chief advancement officer at Conner Prairie; Steven DeLee, physician with Riverview Health; Kyle Moser, co-owner of Dance Innovations; and Alec Wolf, member of Wolfpack Restaurant Group.

Along with Jenkins, professional dancers include Scott Shook, Adam Trogdlen, Ed Godby-Schwab, Xavier Medina, Natasha Cox, Yulia Shook, Diana Miller, Olga Cansino and Kristen Motz.

To register, purchase tickets, donate, or vote visit mealsonwheelshc.org/ dancing-with-our-stars/.

McVey

P LEIN AIR PAINT OUT

SEP T 15 –17, 2023 C ARM E L, INDIANA

CURRENT SEPTEMBER FISHERS COMMUNITY CALENDAR

BLUES FEST KICKS OFF SEPTEMBER

The City of Fishers Parks and Recreation Dept. is planning the annual Blues Fest, set for Sept. 1 and 2 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in downtown Fishers. The event is free and registration isn’t required. Each night, music starts at 5 p.m. and runs through 10 p.m. There will be vendors on site. For more, visit npdamp.com/157/ Blues-Fest.

HARVEST FEST CELEBRATES FALL AND ART

The Fishers Arts Council has scheduled its annual Harvest Fest for noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at Fishers Heritage Park at White River, 10595 Ellen Rd. The free event features artists and artisans, live music, gardens and tours of the Ambassador House.

FISHERS LIBRARY EVENTS

At Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers, a few of the special events in September include Read to a Therapy Dog every Saturday at 11 a.m.; the Raccoon Lake Sax Quartet presenting the history of the saxophone through music, starting at 2 p.m. Sept. 9; a presentation about the history of fishing in Fall Creek and the Geist area, starting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13; and a presentation about the lost town of Germantown, set for 11 a.m. Sept. 23. For a more detailed calendar, including registration information, visit hepl. evanced.info/signup/calendar

FISHERS GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

Some of the scheduled government meetings coming up in the City of Fishers are:

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For more info, email Anne O’Brien at aobrien@Carmel.IN.gov or call 317 - 571-2787 • CarmelOnCanvas.com

• Fishers Plan Commission, 6 p.m. Sept. 6 at the LaunchFishers theater, 12175 Visionary Way.

• Fishers City Council, 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at the LaunchFishers theater, 12175 Visionary Way.

• Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. Sept. 19 and 27 in the Board Room of Hamilton Southeastern Schools Central Office, 13485 Cumberland Rd.

• Hamilton East Public Library’s Board of Trustees meets at 6:15 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Fishers Library, 5 Municipal Dr. FISHERS

ARTS COUNCIL |PRESENTS SECOND FRIDAY

The Fishers Arts Council’s Second Friday in September is a reception and awards ceremony for the juried exhibit of Hamilton County artists. The reception begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Fishers Arts Council’s Hub Gallery, 11810 Technology Dr. The awards ceremony begins at 7:15 p.m.

2022 Carmel on Canvas Best of Show Melinda Spear - Huff

Competitive drive fuels Hamilton Southeastern setter

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

In Hamilton Southeastern High School volleyball coach Jason Young’s view, there are several things that make his senior setter Macy Hinshaw special, but one quality stands out.

“She is probably one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever had in our gym,” Young said. “She wants to win, and she knows every drill who wins. She is keeping score.” Macy said she gets that drive from her mother and two older sisters.

“I am very competitive in everything I do,” Macy said.

Her sisters Kenzie and Makayla were varsity athletes at HSE. Kenzie, a 2017 HSE graduate, then played volleyball at the University of Tennessee Martin.

“I loved watching my sister play and we would always play together at home, too,” Macy said of Kenzie. “It was great having her as a role model.”

MEET MACY HINSHAW

Favorite subject: Science

Favorite athletes: Volleyball players Madison Lilley, Nicklin Hames. Favorite TV shows: “Gossip Girl,” “One Tree Hill”

Favorite musicians: Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan

Makayla, a 2022 HSE graduate, played basketball in high school.

“Makayla played volleyball as well until she was a freshman, and then she decided to focus more on basketball, but I think she regrets not playing volleyball, too,” Macy said.

Their mother, Tisha Hinshaw, played basketball at Southern Illinois.

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Hamilton Southeastern senior setter Macy Hinshaw helped lead the Royals to the Class 4A state title last year. (Photo courtesy of Macy Hinshaw)

Macy has committed to play volleyball at Santa Clara University, choosing it over Fresno State and Utah State.

Young said Macy has been a strong defender for the team her entire career.

“She’s gotten better over the years with her decision-making,” Young said. “She always made good decisions, but I’ve seen

It become a next-level thing. She’s a great teammate. She is someone the kids respect a great deal. When she speaks, people listen.”

Macy has four teammates who have committed to NCAA Division I programs. They are senior middle hitter Breonna Goss, Duke University; senior outside hitter Lauren Harden; University of Florida; senior middle hitter Tiffany Snook; University of Memphis; and senior libero Sophie Ledbetter, Ball State University.

The Royals are the defending Class 4A state champions.

“It would be amazing to do a repeat, but that isn’t our main goal,” Macy said. “We are focusing on getting better as a team and enjoying our journey instead of worrying about our end goal.”

Hamilton Southeastern uses two setters because of its depth.

“I enjoy being on the court, of course, as much as possible,” Macy said. “However, with the talent we have at HSE, we have figured out what’s best for the team and how to be successful. It worked for us last year, so that’s what we are going to continue to do because it is best for our team.”

Hinshaw

Todd E. Schmidt, MD Interventional Pain Management

Vincent Alentado, MD Neurosurgeon

New

Humane Society for Hamilton County took in 344 senior dogs in 2022. That’s a 14 percent increase.

HSHC awarded grant for senior dogs

news@currentinfishers.com

at a second chance.”

NONPROFIT

The Humane Society for Hamilton County was one of 90 animal welfare organizations to receive a grant through the Grey Muzzle Organization.

According to an announcement from the HSHC, there were 370 applicants nationwide. The 90 groups chosen will receive a combined total of $848,000 to help save or improve the lives of at-risk older dogs. Of that total, HSHC received $10,000.

“We have seen such an increase in owner-surrender cases of senior dogs,” stated Lily Pesavento, Community Engagement Manager for HSHC. “This grant will help us provide the necessary and sometimes emergency medical and dental care these dogs need. No one is more grateful or loving than an old dog, and we’re looking forward to giving more senior dogs their best chance

The national nonprofit Grey Muzzle Organization improves the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries and other nonprofit groups nationwide. For more, visit greymuzzle.org.

According to Grey Muzzle’s website, HSHC also received grant funds in 2018 and 2019, and 2021 to 2023.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County is an open admission facility serving Hamilton County. According to the announcement, HSHC saved the lives of over 4,000 animals in 2022 — including 344 senior dogs. That’s a 14 percent increase in senior dogs — ages seven and up — surrendered by owners. Funding from Grey Muzzle will provide the medical care these dogs require.

HSHC’s shelter is at 10501 Hague Rd., Fishers. For more, visit hamiltonhumane.com.

(Photo courtesy of Grey Muzzle Organization)

COVER STORY

HISTORY UNDERWATER

Presentation to focus on community at the bottom of Geist Reservoir

By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com

For more than 100 years, a small farm community bridged the county line between Hamilton and Marion counties. Founded in the 1830s, families lived and farmed in Germantown until Clarence Geist implemented his plan to create a reservoir that would help supply the water needs of a growing Indianapolis.

Geist, through his Indianapolis Water Co., bought out all the homes and land, and the reservoir — which opened for business in 1943 — flooded the area Germantown once occupied.

Robert Bowling is with the Fishers Historical Society and will co-host a presentation about Germantown at 11 a.m. Sept. 23 at the Fishers Library. He said the event will focus on what life was like for the residents of Germantown before Geist Reservoir, and he hopes descendants of those residents will attend and share their own family stories.

“One of the things that we’re trying to do is make it a little bit more personal, not just kind of retell the history, but see if we can get a human perspective of the people who lived there and what life was really like in Germantown,” he said.

Bowling said Germantown was founded in March 1834 by the Beaver brothers — John, Solomon and George — who moved to the area from Ohio. As far as it’s known, they were not German. Many of the other town residents also were not German, Bowling said. So, why was it called Germantown? He said there are a couple of possible explanations.

“One is that a lot of times towns were named after famous battles,” he said. “The battle of Germantown (in 1777) took place in Pennsylvania. Another plausible explanation is that the Beaver brothers came from Ohio and there was a town called Germantown in Union County, Ohio, and a lot of times when (people founded a) new town, they would name it after a town that they had come from.”

Bowling said there are some myths surrounding Germantown that will be addressed during the library presentation.

“I don’t know how many times I hear people say, ‘Oh, there’s a whole city buried underneath the lake,’” he said. “I’m like, no, not really. There’s not a church steeple poking out of the water.”

Bowling said there might be some foundations buried in the mud, but no buildings remain. In fact, he said, wood from Germantown structures was taken to Fortville and used as building material there.

Another myth is that Germantown was founded by a group of primarily German residents who were upset after an Indigenous Algonquin had been killed in nearby Oaklandon. Bowling said he has been working with a historian for the Indiana German Heritage Society, who told him that doesn’t appear to be plausible.

There is historical evidence about the Beaver brothers as

the town’s founders, though.

The brothers applied for and established the town’s post office in 1837, Bowling said, and in time Germantown had a general store, a blacksmith shop, a shoe repair shop, a flour mill and a sawmill. Bowling said the town lost the post office in 1870, when it moved to Oaklandon.

Bowling said he has applied with the state for a historical marker commemorating Germantown. He’ll find out in September if the marker is approved, and then the Fishers Historical Society will do some fundraising to pay for it. Bowling said they already have a spot picked out at Geist Marina, next to the pier.

According to “A History of Geist Reservoir and Germantown” — an online document compiled by Jennifer Gal — the former Germantown was on Fall Creek’s north bank, with residents in Fall Creek or Lawrence township, depending on which side of the county line their property fell.

“The town consisted of about 20 lots along … Main Street (also known as Germantown Road), now the entrance road to the Geist Sailing Club,” the document states. “The burg (lay) between two bridges, one about a half mile eastward, the other equidistant southward. The former was Fall Creek Township’s first bridge ever to span Fall Creek. It had been built in 1836 by four local residents but was washed away in 1847 by an overflow of the creek. The southern bridge began as a swinging footbridge that the children would cross when walking to Craig School, about a mile south of town.”

Gal’s husband was the owner of Log Cabin Animal Hospital on Fall Creek Road in Fishers. In the document, she explains that the building is the oldest structure in the Geist area and was very close to the former Germantown site. The history intrigued them both, she stated, and they started looking into the history of that community.

The online history compilation, which includes historical photos, can be found at oaklandon.deburger.com.

For more on the library presentation and to register to attend the free event, go to hepl.evanced.info/signup/calendar. Look for the Sept. 23 event called “What’s Lost Beneath Geist Reservoir?”

The Goldsmith Farm is one of the former Germantown homes flooded to create Geist Reservoir. (Photo courtesy of Log Cabin Animal Hospital)

IF YOU GO

What: “What’s Lost Beneath Geist Reservoir?” a presentation by the Fishers Historical Society about the community of Germantown, which was flooded to create Geist Reservoir

Where: Fishers Library — Fishers Center

When: 11 a.m. Sept. 23

A Germantown farmstead before Geist Reservoir was created.

Roberts Mill covered bridge spanned Fall Creek before Geist Reservoir was built. (Photos courtesy of Log Cabin Animal Hospital)

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Kids’ vision vital for success

Commentary by Dr. Kennedy Neukam

gain once a patient reaches adulthood.

OPTOMETRY

The back-to-school list is to keep children happy, healthy and well prepared to excel throughout the next year. This may include visiting the pediatrician, buying school supplies, seeing the dentist and picking out new shoes. Your child’s annual comprehensive eye exam is just as important.

Vision has an enormous impact on social, motor, cognitive and academic achievement. As children’s minds and bodies grow, so do their eyes. Regular eye exams are vital to ensure their prescription, focusing system and neurological pathways are keeping up.

Providing children with all the tools to be successful in school and their extracurricular activities includes maximizing their visual potential. One in every two children whose parents wear visual correction will also need correction. Children with a large difference in prescriptions between their eyes can often focus through their good eye, but this limits their ability to develop depth perception, a skill that is difficult to

School vision screenings, although valuable, still miss up to 75 percent of children with vision problems. Children are adaptive to any circumstance, which makes them so remarkable. Their adaptability also allows them to attempt to navigate life without complaints even with visual correction problems. They may not be complaining about poor vision or tracking because they are unaware of the strain on their system.

Pediatric eye exams are designed to examine children while doing what they do best: playing, inquiring and learning. A pediatric-based practice will provide a comfortable and comprehensive examination (no pokes or pricks — just some cool flashlights and toys) that will ensure your child is ready for all the growth the next year has to offer. Your child’s future is bright. Make sure they see it, too.

Dr. Kennedy Neukam is an optometrist at Little Eyes Pediatric Eye Care in Carmel. Neukam will also see patients at the new Fishers location when it opens in September.

READERS’ VIEWS

Council should admit mistake

Editor,

It seems little old Fishers has gone from sleepy suburbia to national embarrassment in pretty short order, and then quickly backtracked on that action. The recently elected MAGA members to the Hamilton Southeastern Schools board wanted to remove a respected deputy prosecutor because he wouldn’t join with the MAGA appointees of the Hamilton County Council to censor/ban books on the Hamilton East Public Library board.

This all started when the Hamilton County Council appointed, behind some very dubious methods, controversial MAGA Pastor Micah Beckwith. There was legitimate public concern he might go full “anti-woke.” He certainly has confirmed that fear and, coupled with the second County Council appointee Tiffanie Diveltson, the two of them are bringing shame to our community with

their actions on the HEPL board. Thankfully, it appears cooler heads might prevail after a flurry of activity.

But the core problem remains. I am calling for the Hamilton County Council to admit they made a mistake (two, actually) and rescind these two appointees from the HEPL board ASAP. I realize this would be an extremely unusual action but these two have caused extremely unusual harm to our community.

Lastly, the county council is not on the upcoming November ballot. However, there is a candidate on the ballot who is in the middle of this regretful action — Tiffanie Ditlevson for City Council At Large. If you are embarrassed by the recent actions of the HEPL, then she surely does not deserve to be elected to our city government.

Bill Smythe, Fishers

VIEWABLE AND a r t DOABLE

‘Imperfect’ proposal best for property tax relief

Editor,

It is no secret that Hamilton County homeowners were hit hard with higher property tax bills in 2023. Those particularly vulnerable were retired citizens on a fixed income. It was my hope that the state legislature would provide some additional relief during its last session, but there was not significant change.

I have proposed an idea to provide property tax relief, based on the only solution available to local government. Indiana code allows for a Local Income Tax that can be targeted to reduce property tax bills as an additional homestead credit. All decisions regarding the LIT rate must go through the LIT Council, which consists of the Hamilton County Council and all the cities and towns within the county. At our Aug. 2 county council meeting, I proposed, and the council approved, the idea of adopting a .10 percent (annual) LIT increase to go toward additional property tax relief for those with a qualified homestead.

The state is cutting income tax by .25 percent over the next four years, reducing

it from its current level of 3.15 percent in 2023 to 2.90 percent by 2027. My proposal would increase the county income tax rate (LIT) by identical amounts, keeping the total income tax rate (state and local) the same as 2023.  This would create roughly $53 million in today’s dollars that could be used for property tax relief to qualified homeowners within the county. This LIT would provide approximately 12.7 percent in property tax relief for a qualified homestead.

The next step is for the communities to review and discuss the proposed plan. It takes a majority of the LIT Council to make any changes to the current rate. I have offered to attend the various city council meetings throughout the county to facilitate discussions on the proposed solution. Is this the perfect solution? No. However, I believe it is the best solution available to provide much-needed relief to homeowners who have seen property taxes increase significantly in recent years.

Brad Beaver, Noblesville Hamilton County Council member

INDULGE YOUR ARTISTIC SPIRIT by immersing yourself in the vibrant world of public art and engaging in creative activities such as u-paint classes and art events across the county. Unleash your inner artist as you embark on a journey of self-expression and discovery.

August 31

September 8–10

September 9

September 10

September 15–17

September 23–24

September 23–24

Palladiscope, Carter Green, Carmel Jupiter Balloon Flights, Conner Prairie, Fishers

Artomobilia, Carmel Arts & Design District

Harvest Fest, Heritage Park at White River, Fishers

Carmel on Canvas, Carmel Arts & Design District

Carmel International Arts Fair, Carmel Arts & Design District

Atlanta New Earth Festival

What’s up with all our stuff?

Commentary by Terry Anker

VIEWS

Bet that’s funny-tasting beer

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

ESSAY

Recently, newspapers reported the overdose of a 25-year-old film star. He often portrayed a drug user, and it appears that art imitated life. We all invite others, who we will never meet or get to know, into our lives. We learn about them, what they think and how they dress. Whether actor, politician, musician or other, we ride along with them as if we are friends, even feeling great loss at their passing.

When gone, the times that we might have seen them in concert or attended the opening night of their masterwork become the stuff of folklore. Many remember the moment with far greater detail than our own graduations, weddings or the arrival of children! Tony Bennett on the apron of the Palladium singing a cappella, the return of Def Leppard’s drummer after losing an arm in an automobile accident, meeting Darth Vader at the opening of “Star Wars,” or maybe witnessing comedian George Carlin at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with

eviscerating observations about Americans and our stuff, such as, “Everybody’s got to have a little place for their stuff. That’s all life is about. Trying to find a place for your stuff,” sticks with us.

In the five-minute YouTube Carlin “stuff” clip, he makes a point that is even more poignant today. We have stuff in our garage. We have stuff in our inboxes. We have calendars packed with stuff. We are stuffed with stuff. We might wonder, are we hedging our bets that there might be a catastrophe or reassuring our insecure selves that we matter because of how overwhelmed we are? Is the memory of Carlin just another bit of stuff? Does our stuff define us anymore than the lack thereof would? If life ended today, what would happen to all our stuff? Would it matter that much?

I don’t remember the last time I cleaned out the fridge in our basement. It’s kind of my fridge. My wife, Mary Ellen, keeps her distance.

HUMOR

Addicted to subtitles

Commentary by Danielle Wilson

Lewis Chablis. In fact, that’s why most of you men have never even heard of Three Stooges Beer. For years, a dedicated band of women were buying this product and dumping it at chemical waste sites.

When women shop for food, they prefer brand names likes Mrs. Paul’s and Sara Lee. But, honestly ladies, did your Aunt Millie or Mama Mancini ever make you laugh?

So, in my opinion, more food should be named specifically after old-time comedians. Sadly, I don’t think Madison Avenue would take the chance of alienating women shoppers. I asked my wife if she’d ever buy Abbott and Costello Jell-O.

“Not a chance, Dick. I don’t want my food to taste funny. But I would buy Brad Pitt Olives. And I’d love some Idris Elba Macaroni. I already have stocked away 14 bottles of Paul Newman’s Own salad dressing.”

HUMOR

Hi. My name is Danielle and it’s time to come clean. I’m addicted to closed captioning. When did it start? Hard to say. I suppose like most things, my dependence on subtitles was gradual. I used them infrequently at first, finding excuses like, “It’s just while Andrew’s banging around in the kitchen” and “I’ll turn them off as soon as Doo finishes his phone call.” But then I became so used to their blocky, black-and-white presence covering the bottom quarter of my 58-inch Panasonic that I found myself overwhelmed whenever they weren’t on. “Meredith Grey’s got legs?” Too. Much. Screen.

Now, I’m to the point that I become enraged when CC isn’t available, and even worse, I’ve noticed myself jonesing for them when I’m not watching television, like when I’m in a faculty meeting or sitting in a crowded restaurant. “What the heck are you people saying?”

Luckily, I think I’ve hit bottom. I went to

see comedian Leanne Morgan perform down in Louisville recently. She speaks with a thick Knoxville accent, and from my seat in the balcony of a huge theater, I couldn’t understand roughly 20 percent of her show. My frustration drove me to contact her demanding a refund and/or a promise to install jumbotrons with voice-to-text capabilities for the remainder of her tour. “Your fan base is old, we can’t hear!” Clearly, I’ve lost my gosh darn mind.

It’s been quite the journey, to be sure, but I’m finally working on accepting the things I cannot change and garnering the courage to either learn lip reading or acquire hearing aids. My name is Danielle, and I’m addicted to closed captioning. Peace out.

It was when I finally removed one of the vegetable bins for a quick hosing that I first set my eyes on it. Now, I know the excitement Louis Leakey must have felt when he gazed upon the skeletal remains of our early human ancestors. There, wedged behind the Hidden Valley Ranch on the bottom shelf, was an unopened bottle of Three Stooges Beer. Moe, Larry and Curly were grinning at me after several years chilling out in the back of our Whirlpool. Yes, gentlemen, there once was a Three Stooges Beer. No longer. No Curly Light or Moe Extra Dry, either. Sorry! The bottle was part of an assortment of exotic brews I received years ago for emceeing a fundraising event. Why didn’t I know about this beer when I was in college? Why would I sprawl out on my dorm room bed with a can of Budweiser when I could have drunk myself stupid with the world’s funniest threesome?

So, what happened to Three Stooges Beer? Forgive me, but I blame the ladies. Stranded in the Sahara Desert, mouth parched, near death, no woman would drink a Three Stooges Beer. You know this, of course. We all instinctively recognize that women hate anything that has to do with The Three Stooges. If they won’t laugh at them, they certainly won’t chug them. You might as well offer them a Jerry

Personally, I’d buy Laurel and Hardy Beef Stew. Doesn’t John Cleese Cream Cheese sound good? And wouldn’t a bottle of Betty White Vinegar look good on your pantry shelf?

I know what you are wondering: “Dick, will you open that rare treasure and guzzle what might be the last bottle of Three Stooges Beer?

I might. But I’ll regret it. And then I’ll smack myself upside the head.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES

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

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.

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.

“There, wedged behind the Hidden Valley Ranch on the bottom shelf, was an unopened bottle of Three Stooges Beer. Moe, Larry and Curly were grinning at me after several years chilling out in the back of our Whirlpool.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

“I’m to the point that I become enraged when CC isn’t available.”

– DANIELLE WILSON

Venson to make area debut in Fishers Blues Fest

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Jackie Venson is eager for her first visit to the Indianapolis area.

‘GRUMPY OLD MEN’

“Grumpy Old Men” runs through Oct. 1 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

LIVE AT THE CENTER

CONCERTS

“I was supposed to (visit) in 2021 but that was the year that touring was really precarious, and the show got canceled,” said Venson, a rhythm and blues and soul artist from Austin, Texas. “I think this will be an excellent way to expose myself to a new audience, and I am excited that it will be my debut Indianapolis show.”

Venson will be the headliner for the first night of the 11th annual Fishers Blues Fest, set for Sept. 1-2 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. Admission is free. Venson will perform from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 1.

“I play blues festivals, but I also play a ton of nongenre-specific festivals and festival-type events,” Venson said. “I enjoy these gigs because I have the potential to be discovered by a ton of people all at once. They usually happen outside, which means the capacity of the venue is always huge. It’s a fun and rewarding experience usually.”

Her set includes several original songs from her albums “Evolution of Joy” and “Love Transcends,” as well as her other two studio albums.

“I will definitely sneak some other selections from other albums into the set as well,” Venson said.

Venson, the youngest of nine siblings, was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and lives there now.

“There’s a very low likelihood that I will leave Austin anytime soon. My whole life is here,” said Venson, whose father, Andrew Venson, was a professional musician for 40 years before retiring.

Cedric Burnside, a blues guitarist and singer-songwriter from Mississippi, will headline the Sept. 2 show with a performance from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Burnside’s has two Grammy-nominated albums, “Descendants of Hill Country” in 2015 and “Benton County Relic” in 2018 Tickets aren’t required for the shows. Chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome. There is no outside alcohol permitted.

Queen Delphine & The Crown Jewels will perform at 7:15 p.m. Sept.2 at the Fishers Blues Fest. (Photo courtesy of Fishers Parks)

There will be food and beverage vendors on-site.

FISHERS BLUES FEST SCHEDULE

Sept. 1

5-6 p.m.: Django Knight

6:30-8 p.m.: Zach Person

8:30-10 p.m.: Jackie Venson.

Sept. 2

Jackie Venson, a rhythm and blues and soul artist from Austin, Texas, will perform from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Fishers Blues Fest. (Photo courtesy of Fishers Parks)

The Sean Imboden Trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 in the Live at the Center at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts Center in Carmel. Tickets are $10 or register for livestream option. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIE

The Symphony on the Prairie series features Aeromyth: The Ultimate Aerosmith Tribute Experience Sept. 1; Pyromania: The Def Leppard Experience Sept. 2; and Voyage: The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band Sept. 3 at Conner Prairie in Fishers. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

Indy Nights with Ryan Ahlwardt & Friends is set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 and Helpling “In the Pocket” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

FISHERS BLUES FEST

The Fishers Blues Fest, a free event, is set for 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 1-2 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers.

DISPATCH

5-5:45 p.m.: Scrapper & Skelton

6-7 p.m.: Yates McKendree

7:15-8:15 p.m.: Queen Delphine & The Crown Jewels

8:30-10 p.m.: Cedric Burnside.

Center for the Performing Arts adds to development team — The Carmel-based Center for the Performing Arts has selected Kathy Pataluch, a veteran of central Indiana’s nonprofit arts community, to be its new director of individual development. Pataluch began work this month as a key member of the development team for both the Center and the affiliated Great American Songbook Foundation. Her responsibilities include managing the Annual Fund; planned giving; major gifts and capital campaigns; developing fundraising campaigns focused on individual donors; and building the donor base locally and nationwide. Pataluch had served since 2019 as advancement director for the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center.

Artists use variety of tools RISE Fest to feature eight bands

Commentary by Randy Sorrell

By Mike Beas editorial@youarecurrent.com

PAINTINGS

The traditional tools of painting and creating works of art are brushes and palette knives. There are hundreds of versions of each with different sizes and materials designed to create various effects. There are brushes for extreme detail, broad brushes for large strokes and covering lots of territory with formal names like round, liner, wash, angular wash and fan. Then there are various materials for the bristle. And the same volume of variety for knives!

Many painters employ nontraditional methods of painting from twigs, window squeegees, spatulas, makeup brushes, wire, combs and plastic, and the list goes on.

But my favorite is a technique employed by Josep Domenech, a Barcelona artist who paints using pieces of cotton fabric and his fingers. He removes instead of adding, and he aims for synthesis. Apparently, this skill set is a result of having to economize on materials as a student when he experimented with old rags that

had been used to polish furniture. Now, he uses cloth of only the highest quality. And his art is amazing!

Domenech’s work can be viewed at Platinum Living Fine Art Gallery in Carmel, with heavy emphasis on the Fine! Tours by appointment only are available through platinumlivingfineartgallery.com.

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Andy Binford has had Sept. 16 circled in his mind’s calendar for some time now. The combination of live bands performing for various good causes with a late-summer backdrop is, in Binford’s mind, a visual that needs no touching up.

FUNDRAISER

Hamilton County RISE Fest celebrates its third annual event on the acreage of Spencer Farm Winery in Noblesville.

Eight bands will perform on two different stages beginning at 1 p.m., with the final bands finishing their sets around 9:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to all ages, with donations and proceeds to benefit a selected nonprofit in each of the county’s four largest cities — Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville and Fishers.

“What RISE stands for is rockers impacting and serving everyone,” said Binford, 52, who lives in Westfield. “In late 2020, I hooked up with some local guys, and one of them knew Duke Tumatoe, who was doing some shows to raise money for Duke’s band.

“We ended up saying, ‘Let’s pick a nonprofit from the four major cities.’ ”

This year, proceeds will go to the following nonprofits: Heart and Soul Clinic (Westfield); Children’s TherAplay (Carmel); Hamilton County Veterans Corp (Noblesville); and HopeAnchor & Crew (Fishers).

In 2022, RISE Fest drew approximately 1,000 people and raised approximately $6,000.

Binford, the vice president of IWIS Drive Systems headquartered in Whitestown, id the event’s executive director.

For more, visit millionairefinancialcoach. com/rise-fest-2023.

Where’s Amy attended the Carmel Community Players’ “Jerry’s Girls” gala fundraiser Aug.

Randy Sorrell, a Carmel artist, can be reached at 317-6792565, rsorrellart@gmail.com or rsorrellart.com.

A painting by Josep Domenech, a Barcelona artist, who paints using pieces of cotton fabric and his fingers. (Photo courtesy of Platinum Living Fine Art Gallery)

Board Meeting will perform at this year’s event at Spencer Farm Winery in Noblesville. (Photo courtesy of Andy Binford)

18 at Woodland Country Club in Carmel. The outstanding musical revue included hors d’oeuvres and a fabulous silent auction of items from local vendors. Don’t miss CCP’s next production, “Amused,” set for Oct. 13-22. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.

From left, “Jerry’s Girls” cast of Diane Tsao (Fishers), Georgeanna Teipen (Greenfield), Jill O’Malia (Fishers), Vickie Phipps (Carmel), Susan Smith (Carmel) and Heather Hansen (Zionsville). (Photo by Amy Pauszek)

Amy Pauszek is a photographer, award winning film producer and scouting and casting associate for Talent Fusion Agency in Indianapolis. She can be reached at Amy@ youarecurrent.com. To see more of her photos, visit currentnightandday.com.

‘Shortcomings’ explores relationships

Commentary by Julianna Childs

Admit it, you’ve done it. I’ve done it. We’ve all done it. For anyone who’s stalked an ex on social media comes a wickedly funny film, “Shortcomings,” about the crazy ends we’re driven to by love. In his directorial debut, Randall Park turns the awkward moment when you and your partner decide to take a breather from your relationship and spins it into a comedy of errors.

Meet Ben (Justin H. Min), the night manager of a Berkeley movie theater, and his girlfriend Miko (Ally Maki), young urbanities living in the Bay Area. Their relationship is strained because of his pessimistic and pretentious attitude toward life. When Miko gets an internship opportunity in New York, they decide to take a break.

Left to his own devices, Ben pursues excitement with an oddball co-worker, Autumn, and then a grad student, Sasha. When neither fling works out, he shadows Miko on Instagram as she explores her new city. As their communication fades, Ben decides to take matters into his own hands and visit her in N.Y. Little does he know, he’s about to get a crash course in closure, Big Apple style. Surprise, Miko is living her best life with her new beau.

Rejected and obsessed is never a good combination. Still, Ben recruits Alice (Sherry Cola), his expressive lesbian sidekick, to join him in N.Y. and gather intel. The two shadow Miko, lurking through the city streets with enthusiasm and shady decision-making, leading to a series of comic events.

Based on his acclaimed graphic novel, writer Adrian Tomine delivers a dramedy with sharp-witted characters and somehow endears the audience to Ben’s messy and hypercritical personality. In an auspicious directorial debut, Park skillfully weaves together the heartbreaking and heartfelt moments of the story.

Nut, fruit spreads add flavor

Commentary by Mark LaFay

The Indiana State Fair has ended, and I am happy to report back that my team took home third place in the barbeque competition. The top three were close in points and it was an exciting awards ceremony, to say the least!

Our team incorporated several jams into our barbecue glazes, and this got me thinking about an often-overlooked condiment on charcuterie boards: nut and fruit spreads. Often, I think we get hung up on keeping savory with savory and sweet with sweet. In reality, savory components almost always magnify or enhance the sweet.

Here are a few yummy spreads to check out. You can find them in the cheese section of local grocers Joe’s Butcher Shop, Tasteful Times, Cork and Cracker, Old Major Market and other area locations:

• Dalmatia Fig Spread: This is a staple item for every charcuterie board, made with figs from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. This spread has a smooth texture with pops of crunch from the fig seeds. It is sweet but

not overpowering. It goes great with nuts, crackers, brie, blue cheese, sharp cheddar and more.

• B-Happy Peanut Butter: This crew started in Zionsville, making nut butters with wild flavor combinations. Their joy to the world is honey roasted peanuts, dark chocolate, white chocolate and dried cranberries. Spread it on crackers with apples or pears. They have several other flavor combinations. Browse to find one that suits you best.

• Food For Thought Cherry Habanero: Tim Young started this brand about 25 years ago in Michigan, utilizing local ingredients. This is a tasty sweet cherry jelly that has a kick from habanero and red pepper flakes. It is fantastic with goat cheese, cheddar, brie, prosciutto and mild salami.

Mark LaFay is a butcher, certified sommelier and founder of Old Major Market, 4021 Millersville Rd., Suite 107A, Indianapolis

During the past 14 years, Julieanna Childs has worked as a film studio representative, contracting for all the major Hollywood studios. Her film reviews can be found at TheJujuReview.com. She is a Hamilton County resident.

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CHS senior overcomes hearing loss to follow her passion

By Mark Ambrogi  mark@youarecurrent.com

Carmel High School senior Sophia Stephens has had hearing issues her entire life. In seventh grade, she failed a school test and learned she had a cholesteatoma, an abnormal collection of skin cells deep in the ear. She had surgery to remove it, but she remains deaf in her right ear.

MUSIC

That hasn’t stopped her from singing and writing songs.

Stephens, 17, has been writing songs since first grade, but got serious when she was in eighth grade. She has written approximately 300 songs.

Some of the songs are pop and some are more of the indie genre.

“It’s hard to put a name on my style because I write so many different songs because I like experimenting with different things,” she said.

Her favorite songs to write are rock, but those aren’t the ones on her EP (extended play) recording that she released in June called “Remnantal,” featuring four songs.

“My dad got in touch with some producers, and the producers helped to take some of the instrumental pieces we already had and combine it with my voice to put it on these websites,” she said.

The producers were from London, Portugal and Nashville, Tenn.

Stephens said her brother, Jack, wrote the piano piece for her song “Familiar” when he was 10, and it kept evolving. Stephens wrote the guitar part for “Never Spoke.” Jack, 14, wrote the piano part for “Submerge” when he was 10, too, and it’s still developing.

Stephens has been refining her songwriting throughout high school.

“I just wanted to really focus on getting stuff out there and sort of developing my brand before I go to college,” she said.

Stephens performs in the Blue and Gold choir. She has performed a few gigs at farmers markets and restaurants in Zionsville.

“I’m hopeful that I’ll have more gigs in the future because it’s really fun, and there’s a lot of good opportunities in Carmel, especially to go perform,” she said.

Stephens enjoys the choir because she gets to meet more musicians and other songwriters.

“It’s also good to help develop my sing-

ing,” she said. “I started out at Carmel being a soprano and focusing on my high register, and last year because of choir I’ve gone into an alto range and developed more of my lower vocals, which is where I sing on most of my EP. It just helps me develop my vocal cords, I guess, and focus on different elements of singing.”

Stephens, who carries a 4.2 grade point average, is a member of the National Honor Society, is ambassador for the Hamilton County Bicentennial and is co-president of the Singer/Songwriter Club. She takes lessons from voice coach Blair Clark.

Stephens said songwriting is therapeutic as far as writing out her thoughts.

Stephens started singing in fifth grade when she got the lead in her school musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” in Cincinnati. She didn’t know she could sing well before that because she didn’t have any training.

Stephens plans to at least minor in music while earning some type of business degree.

“I want to do something with music in the future,” she said. “Even if it’s just like playing at bars and stuff like that, just to be able to keep doing it.”

Stephens is designing a setlist with more cover songs, but mostly has been performing her original songs.

She has several albums she wants to release in the future with different themes with songs she has already developed.

Stephens has social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Her music is on Spotify among other sites.

Sophia Stephens released an EP this summer. (Photo by Margaret Fallin)

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Pirates always beat snakes

Commentary by Curtis Honeycutt

Let’s talk rivalries. Everyone has an opinion on Coke versus Pepsi. How about werewolves against vampires? Do bears beat Battlestar Galactica? Hufflepuff or Gryffindor? DC versus Marvel? There are so many good matchups to entertain.

GRAMMAR GUY

In this case, we need to think about snakes versus pirates.

Increasingly I’ve heard people throwing around “there is” or “there’s” when they ought to say “there are.” Does this matter? Of course! After all, singular subjects need singular verbs; likewise, plural subjects get plural verbs. This is called subject-verb agreement.

However, with a subject like “there,” how do we know if the subject is singular or plural? Let’s use an example: There is/ are many ways to get to this afternoon’s drum circle. But wait a second: “There” can’t possibly be the subject, can it? No, it’s not. In fact, the subject is “ways,” although it’s not clear when we’re beginning the sentence.

Think of it this way: there are = pirates. Pirates say “ARRRRR!” There is = snake. A snake says “HISSSS!” One snake is singular. Multiple pirates are plural. Let’s substitute “there” with “snake” and then “pirates” into our sentence: Snake is many ways to get to this afternoon’s drum circle. Pirates are many ways to get to this afternoon’s drum circle. Although they both sound ridiculous, “pirates” sounds better.

A snake (which goes HISSSS!) is singular. Pirates (which go ARRRRR!) are plural. There is = singular. There are = plural. In a battle between one snake and a crew of pirates, I’d put my doubloons on the pirates; one snake couldn’t possibly take a whole pirate posse down. Pirates beat snakes. There’s plenty of room for argument here.

Letter written by George Washington accepting the presidency.

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DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC

DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Duke Energy Indiana”) hereby provides notice that on or around September 8, 2023

Duke Energy Indiana in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10 will file a request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) for approval under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines to revise its Standard Contract Rider No. 33, SL - Street Lighting Service. This rate is no longer available to customers and this revision clarifies the transition to new lighting options when a street lighting unit reaches the end of its useful life or becomes obsolete. The Company will replace the street lighting unit with an available similar lighting unit and customer will be billed on Rate LED. This submission is expected to be approved approximately thirty days after filing, unless an objection is made. Any objections may be made by contacting the Secretary of the Commission, or Randall C. Helmen of the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers:

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission - PNC Center 101 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 East Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407 317-232-2703

Duke Energy Indiana, LLC

Visiting Indiana University’s Lilly Library

Commentary by Don Knebel

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor - PNC Center 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-232-2494

By: Stan Pinegar, President

LEGAL NOTICE OF DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC PILOT RATES UPDATE

DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC (“Company”) hereby provides notice that on or around September 8, 2023, Duke Energy Indiana, in accordance with 170 IAC 4-4.1-10, will submit a request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (Commission) to update its Pilot Rates tariffs under the Commission’s thirty-day administrative filing procedures and guidelines. The Company’s Pilot program will no longer be available as of September 30, 2023. Rider 91 CS - Critical Peak Day Pricing and Rider 94 RS – Critical Peak Day Pricing will no longer be available. Customers currently in the Pilot program will return back to a standard base rate. This submission is expected to be approved approximately thirty days after filing, unless an objection is made. Any objections may be made by contacting the Secretary of the Commission, or Randall C. Helmen with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at the following addresses or phone numbers:

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission - PNC Center

101 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 East Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407

Telephone: 317-232-2703

Duke Energy Indiana, LLC

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor - PNC Center 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South Indianapolis, IN 46204

Telephone: 317-232-2494

By: Stan Pinegar, President

TRAVEL

With our tour of Alaska over, we will visit often-overlooked places an easy drive from Indianapolis. Today, we explore the Lilly Library in Bloomington. By 1950, Josiah K. Lilly Jr., then president of Eli Lilly & Co., had amassed an extraordinary collection of rare books, manuscripts and works of art. Between 1954 and 1957, he donated thousands of those items to Indiana University, forming the nucleus of the Lilly Library, which opened in 1960 in a limestone building just south of Showalter Fountain. Hundreds of thousands of items have since been added to the collection, many donated by collectors. When the 52,516-square-foot building was reconfigured in 2019 to accommodate its growing collection, murals were added to the reading room.

The Lilly Library’s 450,000 books include one of only 11 Gutenberg Bibles in the United States; the “Nuremberg Chronicles,” an elaborately illustrated account of the history of the world published in 149; the first printed edition of “The Canterbury Tales;” the first folio of Shakespeare’s collected works,

published in London in 1623; and Thomas Jefferson’s personal copy of the first printing of the Bill of Rights. The 8.5 million manuscripts include those for “Peter Pan” and “Auld Lang Syne” and two letters written by George Washington, one to Patrick Henry turning down a proposed stock gift and the other accepting the presidency. Sixteen-thousand miniature books, the world’s largest collection, include tiny versions of the Bible and Bhagavad Gita. Many of the 30,000 mechanical puzzles are displayed in the separate Slocum Room, with some available for solving. An eclectic collection of Americana includes two locks of Edgar Allen Poe’s hair — one sent in a letter to a lover just before his death — and four Oscars won by director John Ford.

The Lilly Library is open for research by appointment only. Guided tours are available every Friday at 2 p.m.

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

Curtis Honeycutt is a national award-winning, syndicated humor writer. Connect with him on Twitter (@curtishoneycutt) or at curtishoneycutt.com.

Folio of Shakespeare’s collected works in Indiana University’s Lilly Library in Bloomington.

(Photos by Don Knebel)

Across

1. Look bad when worn together

6. Sci-fi vehicles

10. Hamilton County appraiser’s map

14. Biathlon need

15. Band mate of Crosby, Stills and Young

16. Wander Indiana

17. Hammerin’ Hank

18. Early Peruvian

19. Mayberry boy

20. Smith’s Jewelers buy

22. Indianapolis Indians, for the Pittsburgh Pirates

24. Architect IM

25. Passion

26. Scrooge’s cry

29. Towel embroidery

31. Indianapolis Opera voice

35. Pacers’ initial league, initially

36. Crackers Comedy Club bit

37. Part of a Classic Cakes cake

38. Chapel with a famous ceiling

40. Alka-___

42. IND luggage attachment

43. Shoe part

44. Shoe width

45. Ogles the Colts cheerleaders

46.

23. Ceiling-hung art

26. Herb

27. Tolerate

28. “___ makes waste”

30. Squeeze (out)

32. Small, medium and large

33. Show disdain

34. Mythical monsters

36. Picture puzzle

39. Herb

40. Distress signal

41. Tribal leader

43. Pearly Gates gatekeeper

46. Decontaminate

49. Kind of cavity

51. Stop from flowing

52. Joe’s Butcher Shop steak choice

53. Computer input

54. Showbiz awards “grand slam”

55. A horseshoe, for the Colts

57. Fiddle sticks?

Case for a Roudebush VA Hospital doc 47. Soon-to-be grads at FHS 48. Accumulated, as expenses

Westfield summer hrs. 53. Indy street between Pennsylvania and Alabama 56. ___-rouser 60. Spellbound

Spot, plot or lot 63. Responded to a cattle call

Like some orders at

amount

Not married

Large amount

Old harp

Super annoying Down 1. Ocean Prime selection

2. Boone County Court perjurer

3. Big ‘do

4. Regatta racer

5. Therefore

6. Half of bi-

7. Showy display

8. Tinseltown trophies

9. Pottery fragment 10. Extend

11. Carmel Equestrian Center gait

12. Nike alternative

13. Abound

3

2

5 Actresses Named Jennifer First Word in a Dictionary after HOOSIER

58. Onion’s kin 59. Whirlpool 62. “She” sheep Answers on Page 18

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