Zionsville Monthly-July 2021

MONTHLY

ANNABELLE PANCAKE

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JULY 2021

ON TEEING UP HER FUTURE

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We help you turn someday into right now.

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MONTHLY

25 COVER STORY

Annabelle Pancake: On Teeing Up Her Future This month, we are pleased to feature on our cover Zionsville resident and former Eagle Annabelle Pancake.

Pancake is a sophomore at Clemson University who just recently won the IWGA State Amateur Championship at Prairie View Golf Club. To say thar Pancake lapped the field is an understatement. Pancake defeated her nearest competitor by an astounding 14 shots. Pancake’s finish broke the IWGA State Amateur Championship 54-hole record and was the most shots any player has ever won by in an IWGA event. While her performance showed that Pancake is an outstanding golfer, we found that she is also an outstanding individual.

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Cover photo // Trevor Ruszkowski

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ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY

Zionsville Community Schools Are All Together Again The Artomobilia Team Proudly Presents Its Newest Event: Revolanté

12 Fuelicious 2021: A Celebration of Meals and Motorcars 14 What Is Arto-Palooza?

17 Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program Presents

PUBLISHER / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803 PUBLISHER / Lena Lucas lena@collectivepub.com / 317-501-0418

‘Saturday Night Fever’

DIRECTOR OF SALES / Lena Lucas lena@collectivepub.com / 317-501-0418

20 Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael Proudly Presents: Franc D’Ambrosio and Stephanie Lynne Smith

28 Little League International Opens Its New Central Region Complex in Boone County

HEAD WRITER / Janelle Morrison janelle@collectivepub.com / 317-250-7298 JULY WRITERS / Janelle Morrison

30 Azionaqua’s Make a Splash Anniversary Event Is a Go!

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Boone County Health Department is not requiring us to do permissions for events [clubs, athletics, performing arts and special event] or to reduce the size of events at this point,” Robison shared. “I think this is very positive, and it gets us back to that sense of ‘normalcy’ that we want.”

Robison is strongly advising parents to do their part and keep children home if they are ill and to report to the school when COVID-19 positives are known to help maintain the “safe zone” going forward.

WILL MASKS BE MANDATORY?

Zionsville

Community Schools Are All Together Again Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Janelle Morrison and submitted

What a summer it has been! And as we look at commencing the 2021–22 school year that resembles more of a prepandemic start, I spoke with ZCS Superintendent Dr. Scott Robison about what families, students and educators can expect on the first day of school and beyond beginning Aug. 3, 2021.

BACK TO “NORMAL”

P

er ZCS’ communications: All plans for the start of school on Aug. 3, 2021, are subject to change based on public health data, guidance, state and/or county directive and the responsibility of the ZCS board of trustees to govern the local public school program.

Robison confirmed that all ZCS schools will be back to in-person five days a week.

“Our position is we’re going to be all in-person,” Robison said. “We are offering a school program that looks like 2019 in terms of schedules and the ability for stu-

dents to access the curriculum in-person, every day, with our teachers.”

Unlike last year, the plans that Robison submitted and were approved by the ZCS board of trustees for this school year did not need the approval of the local health department—another sign that our county is moving in the right direction with regards to vaccinations and COVID-19 positivity numbers.

“With the vaccination rates being so high and the very low impact thus far on young people who are unvaccinated—obviously that is something that will continue to be monitored as we go forward—the

ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY

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The governor’s order for masks in all school facilities ended on June 30. The ZCS board of trustees decided at their July 12, 2021 meeting to “strongly recommend masks to be worn indoors for people who are not fully vaccinated.”

Masks will be required on all school buses and other transportation as required by federal mandate, and mitigation protocols of handwashing, hand sanitizing, enhanced HVAC recirculation, closed water fountains, etc., will continue until further notice.

A recent message from Robison to the entire ZCS school community stated, “Masks strongly recommended indoors for people who are not fully vaccinated.

Our Board of Trustees was singularly appointed by the Governor to make the final call regarding masks in schools. They and our C19 Task Force continue monitoring for the possible CoVID-19 spread implications of summer travel and the increasing opening of life as we used to know it. And all protocols related to CoVID-19 mitigation in our schools will be subject to ongoing virus spread statistics, public health and governmental officials’ directives, and Board of Trustees responsibility to oversee the public school program in ZCS.” For the record, vaccines are not required for anyone by ZCS, though they are strongly recommended for all who are eligible by ZCS administrators and by the Boone County Health Department.

ZCS will continue to comply with health authorities’ request that they supply daily information on reported COVID-19 positives and will continue with contact tracing and implementation

JULY 2021

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A NEW YEAR AMID NEW CONSTRUCTION

of quarantines/isolation periods during illness. The state and county departments of health maintain the right to shut down the schools in the event of an outbreak, and the ZCS school board reserves the right to implement mask requirements if a virus spread compels this action.

Amid the pandemic and everything that has gone along with it, Robison is pleased to announce that the renovations and expansion to ZCHS are on schedule.

As I have previously reported, a second east-west corridor will be created for students to get from one end of the building to the other. Additionally, a new dining commons area will be created to improve efficiency to the way in which meals are provided to the school’s population.

Lastly, the biggest item on the plans is switching the high school’s main entrance from the north side (Mulberry Street side) to the south side facing the ball fields. An additional 35 classrooms will be created out of new and existing spaces in the high school, and the building’s capacity will be expanded from 2,450 to 3,050 students once the construction is completed.

“It’s a well-coordinated event,” Robison stated. “We are pleased with the progress that has been made so far and feel really good about where we are at this point.

Our new elementary building is also look-

ing great. They have wrapped the exterior and its internal work at this point and feel that it will be on time for August 2022.”

Robison shared his thoughts on kicking off a positive, productive and safe start to a new school year.

“I always find the start of school to be a really exciting time,” Robison expressed.

“There are new things, experiences and affiliations that are only going to be sweeter this year because last year was so truncated and disrupted in so many ways.

We certainly know more about COVID-19 now, and we certainly have our allies and the health department guiding us should matters change and we have to communicate some sort of alteration in the [school year] plan.”

For more information on ZCS schools, schedules, pandemic protocols and reporting, construction plans or other school-related information, visit zcs.k12.in.us.

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Artomobilia

The Artomobilia Team Proudly Presents Its Newest Event:

Revolanté Wrapping up Artomobilia Weekend, John Leonard and his team will debut their newest event: Revolanté. This event will take place at the beautiful Bridgewater Club in Westfield on Sunday, Aug. 29, from noon until 5 p.m.

Introducing Revolanté

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evolanté will celebrate revolutionary automotive machinery, their visionary designers and courageous drivers, that have forever influenced the direction of road and race cars, and the many lines directly intersect with the heritage of the Racing Capital of the World. In its first year, Revolanté is an invitation-only event for entrants and a ticketed event for guests.

Entrants will delight in a variety of automotive events throughout the Artomobilia Weekend, and guests will enjoy nearly 100 of the most storied automotive legends of the road and track… all presented on the lavish grounds of The Bridgewater Club.

Writer // Janelle Morrison Photography // Courtesy of Artomobilia, Laura Arick and submitted

“We are going to start with a comparatively small number of significant cars—80 to 100—that will come from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (IMSM) and from collectors in the Indianapolis and surrounding markets,” Artomobilia Event Director John Leonard explained. “We will have the Jim Clark [Lotus Type 34] car that ran in the Indianapolis 500. And in keeping with this year’s theme, there will be Lotus cars on display—including the Lotus Evija. This will be our first event on grass [on a 23-acre driving range]. The tickets will be $33 per person—12 and under are free. And 100% of the ticket sales will go to support the programming of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.”

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Artomobilia

Leonard explained the importance of the Artomobilia team collaborating with IMSM to garner financial support and to create further awareness about the museum’s purpose and exceptional programming.

“There are very few automotive museums that have 100 years of stories,” Leonard stated. “It’s a huge opportunity for the museum and for Artomobilia as a participant supporting one of the most compelling museums in terms of content and history—and it’s right here in our own backyard [central Indiana].”

Supporting One of Indiana’s Greatest Automotive and Auto Racing Treasures The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (IMSM), uniquely situated inside the historical 2.5-mile oval track, is recognized as one of the most highly visible museums in the world dedicated to automobiles and auto racing. Through world-class storytelling, ingenuity, the arts and design, IMSM brings alive emotional experiences capturing the essence and cultural impact of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

We spoke with IMSM Curator of Vehicles Jason Vansickle about teaming up with the Artomobilia team and the importance of fundraising for this remarkable institution.

“It’s an interesting dynamic with the museum and the overall cultural fabric of what the Indianapolis 500 is to the state of Indiana,” Vansickle stated. “We are a separate entity from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, from the Penske Corporation and from the Hulman Family when they owned the track. We are a 501(c)3, on par with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the Indiana State Museum and the Eiteljorg Museum. Philanthropic support is vital for an organization like ours, and by collaborating with folks like John [Leonard] and his team at Artomobilia, it’s a win-win for everybody. What they’re bringing out is really going help us establish this inaugural event and help set the foundation for Revolanté. I think it’s really an exciting time, and we are looking at raising the

bar and really put an exclamation point on the [Artomobilia] weekend. There will obviously be an IMS vehicle on display.

We are looking at our collection and will be bringing some showstoppers out!”

On March 1, IMSM opened its “Rocket Rick Mears” exhibit, presented by Racemaker Press. In addition to its extraordinary exhibits, track tours and guided museum tours, IMSM provides exclusive opportunities to its members. IMSM is currently doing a membership drive that will go until Sept. 1, 2021. One lucky IMSM member will be selected for an exclusive meet-and-greet with Hélio Castroneves—a four-time Indy 500 champ.

For more information about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, visit imsmuseum.org.

Attracting Renowned Collectors Artomobilia Weekend has built a solid reputation among automotive enthusiasts and collectors alike over the last decade plus. Renowned collectors include such notables as Gary Bartlett, who lives in Indiana but spends a great deal of time exhibiting and competitive driving in Europe and has participated in America’s premier automotive concours: Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Bartlett has also exhibited at Artomobilia several times and has been awarded “Best in Show” and “Best in Class.” The very first car that he exhibited at Artomobilia was a 1974 BMW 2002.

A collector of Jaguars, Bartlett’s exquisite automotive collection also includes

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Artomobilia

a 1967 Shelby GT500 and a 1968 Ford GT Mk III—one of three Ford GTs in his possession.

Carmel Monthly featured one of Bartlett’s Ford GTs on our cover in 2018 as part of a special focus on a rare and special collection of Ford GTs representing all the historical and modern-day Ford GTs. When asked what attracts Bartlett most to Artomobilia and why he is compelled to bring not one but THREE of his Ford GTs to Revolanté its inaugural year, Bartlett replied, “After talking with John [Leonard] about Revolanté, it sounds like a really fun event, and that it’s going to be more in the tradition of events like Amelia and possibly Pebble Beach. By doing it at that level, it just moves Revolanté up another level and into another category from the other Artomobilia events. And it’s a charity event—I always enjoy doing things like that.”

Bartlett is bringing three amazing Ford GTs from his collection that will be ex-

hibited at The Bridgewater Club during Revolanté.

“I’ve got a Mk III Ford GT40—the original—and there’s a second version that was done for Bill Ford and Ford’s 100th anniversary in 2003 that was designed by Camilo Pardo. When Bill Ford saw what Pardo had designed, he decided to produce them, and I got one of the first ones.

I was doing stuff with Jaguar at that time, and Ford owned Jaguar, which is how I got one of the first ones. I’m bringing all three [Ford GTs], a red one, a blue one and a white one—very ‘All American.’”

For more information on all the Artomobilia Weekend events, including ticket and registration information, visit artomobilia.org.

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Artomobilia

Fuelicious 2021:

A Celebration of Meals and Motorcars

Writer // Janelle Morrison Photography // Courtesy of Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana and Artomobilia

Each year, as part of Artomobilia Weekend, John Leonard and his fellow organizers host Fuelicious, an event that features a distinct collection of automobiles in a unique environment and a premium culinary experience to an audience of committed automotive enthusiasts, but also serves as a fundraiser for a selected Indiana nonprofit organization to raise awareness throughout the automotive enthusiast community.

F

uelicious will feature 50 distinct collector cars at the Lucas Estate on Friday, Aug. 27 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

This year, the proceeds from Fuelicious will benefit Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana, which is marking its 50th anniversary with new grant funding and a renewed commitment to our Hoosier community.

What Is Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana?

Founded in 1971, Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana has expanded its services

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Artomobilia “We are passionate about making sure no one has to face the dual crisis of hunger and illness.”

in recent years to include the delivery of medically tailored meals. In 2015, Meals on Wheels joined the Food Is Medicine Coalition to grow its ability to serve Hoosiers with chronic medical conditions.

The organization partners with several Central Indiana health care institutions to prepare client meals.

Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana is marking 2021 with the organization’s 50th anniversary as well as an influx of funding and ongoing fulfillment of its core mission: delivering hundreds of thousands of meals to individuals in Central Indiana who are critically or chronically ill or unable to leave their homes.

Last year, Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana’s volunteers delivered nearly 430,000 meals and 8.9 million meals statewide since 1971.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced unprecedented shutdowns in March 2020, Meals on Wheels’ services continued uninterrupted. During the period from March 2020 to March 2021, the organization’s 400 volunteers delivered 428,913 meals. Meals on Wheels also packed and assembled pantry boxes of nonperishable food for clients during the pandemic, providing 14,000 meals through the boxes.

Requests for financial assistance increased significantly during the pandemic, from $85,000 in 2019 to $220,000 in 2020, a 160% increase.

“The majority of clients that we serve are below the age of 55,” Communications Manager Brandi Sasore shared. “We’re dealing with comorbidities such as diabetes, renal disease, heart disease, cancer and persons with HIV. We are passionate about making sure no one has to face the dual crisis of hunger and illness.”

A Second Layer of Support for Hoosier Families Throughout 2020, the Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana volunteers were even more vital to the organization’s efforts. In addition to delivering meals to those who were homebound, these 400 volunteers provided a second layer of support by assisting with “wellness checks.” While the organization’s typical protocols were adjusted to ensure the safety of both the volunteers and the clients, the efforts were made to assist the client and their families who could not physically check on their loved ones as a result of the pandemic.

“Another aspect of our program that I don’t think a lot of people know about is our volunteers who deliver meals also do wellness checks because that social/emotional connection is so important,” Sasore said. “We are a watchful eye and second level of support for families.”

How Can You Help?

Purchasing tickets to this year’s Fuelicious is one way to assist Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana. The proceeds will go directly to the organization’s financial assistance fund. You can also make donations online and/or sign up to become a treasured volunteer with Meals on Wheels Central Indiana by visiting mealsonwheelsindy.org.

For more information on Fuelicious and to reserve your table/seats, visit artomobilia.org.

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Artomobilia

Excellence What Is Arto-Palooza?

T h e

T r a d i t i o n

o f

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

ARTO-PALOOZA is a series of “events-within-an-event.” Artomobilia’s organizers started with Porsche, and it was a success. So, this year, Artomobilia’s organizers are taking it up a notch with their friends at BMW and Lotus. In each of the “Palooza” groups, nearly 100 cars are featured, and John Leonard and his fellow Artomobilia organizers work with each club to assemble a collection of compelling classes, provide judging criteria and awards. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new acquaintances, enjoy your favorite automotive brand and raise money for each of the respective club’s preferred charitable causes.

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Artomobilia up with the PORSCHEPalooza, we kind of had our own car show within a show, and it was an immediate hit. In 2019, we had to scatter some of the cars around Artomobilia because our [designated] 100 slots were full. It’s a really cool time, and we are still generating money for Alzheimer’s while raising awareness of this marque.”

For more information on The Central Indiana Region Porsche Club of America, visit cirpca.org.

P

ORSCHEPalooza will feature an incredible number of uncommon, common, special, regular, fast, super-fast and not-so-fast Porsches that we’ve come to know and love over the past 70 years.

Rob Fike, president of The Central Indiana Region Porsche Club of America, stated, “Over the years that we did CruZionsville, we donated somewhere north of $90,000 to Alzheimer’s research, which is staggering as we’re still just a little car club. When John [Leonard] came

BMWPalooza will feature large, medium, small, super-powerful, moderately powerful and not-so-powerful five-door, four-door, two-door, one-door and possibly even no-door BMWs to suit every BMW lover’s taste.

BMW CCA Hoosier Chapter Board of Director Steve Pruden shared, “BMWPalooza is a great opportunity to showcase what I call the breadth of the marque. BMW is a relatively small car manufacturer compared to ones like GM, Toyota or Volkswagen, but BMW has a very broad product offering. And

there’s a consistent design language that goes through every BMW regardless if it’s brand-new or 40 years old. We have a fairly large club and diverse group with representation from all over the state.

The entry fees and sponsorship dollars rollback to our [nonprofit] community partners, and the Artomobilia team does an amazing job at making it easy for clubs like ours to participate in those efforts.”

For more information on the BMW CCA Hoosier Chapter, visit hoosierbmw.com.

LOTUSPalooza is all about simplicity and lightness… and Colin Chapman’s philosophy that set a new standard for performance on and off the track. Lotus cars are elegant, modern, athletic, but have a rebellious streak that makes them stand out from the crowd. It should come as no surprise that James Dean and Steve McQueen were Lotus fans; the cars are a mirror of their immortal charisma.

“This is the first year for LotusPalooza, and we are expecting a diverse showcase of beautiful cars and captivating innova-

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Artomobilia

tions made by Lotus over the years,” Young Kim, dealer principal at Gator Motorsport/Indy Lotus, stated. “From the Lotus Super 7 to the Lotus Evija and everything in between, enthusiasts will see the past, present and future of Lotus inside LotusPalooza.

LotusPalooza is a unique chance for Lotus owners from all over the Midwest to get together and share their passion for Lotus cars. In addition, they have the unrivalled opportunity to showcase their cars next to the future of Lotus, the Lotus Evija. As Indiana’s only authorized Lotus Sales and Service Center, Gator Motorsport is excited to sponsor and be a part of LotusPalooza.”

For more information about Lotus and the Hoosier Lotus community, visit gatormotorsport.com.

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Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program Presents

‘Saturday Night Fever’ Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

What better way to wrap up summer break than by attending a LIVE and FULL HOUSE production of “Saturday Night Fever,” Thursday, July 29–Sunday, August 1, 2021, presented by Civic Theatre’s Young Artist Program (YAP)? Won’t you join us in supporting young artists from all over central Indiana, including Carmel and Zionsville, and Civic’s own YAP Coordinator Anne Beck, along with husband Scott Beck, by purchasing your tickets before they are sold out?

D

id you know that Scott and Anne Beck were in the original Broadway production of “Saturday Night Fever”? Anne is directing and choreographing this show with original Broadway choreography and her husband Scott is a member of this remarkable cast comprised of some of Indiana’s most talented youth.

A Little Backstory Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program (YAP) is a year-round series of workshops and seminars designed just for high school students interested in improving their skills in a professional setting and looking to prepare for college auditions and beyond.

Civic’s YAP production of “Saturday Night Fever” is an all-new version of the musical based on Nik Cohn’s 1975 New

York magazine article “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night” and Norman Wexler’s 1977 film, featuring music by the Bee Gees adapted for high school productions.

This musical adaptation of the ’70s classic film is the story of a talented, streetwise kid from Brooklyn who attempts to escape his dead-end life through dancing. The score to “Saturday Night Fever” includes many disco-era hits by the Bee Gees. Broadway’s “Saturday Night Fever” opened at the Minskoff Theatre in October 1999 and ran for 501 performances.

As members of the original cast of the company and the first national tour of Broadway’s “Saturday Night Fever,” Anne and Scott Beck are bringing their personal experiences and knowledge of the show to YAP’s cast and crew.

Beck shared that YAP’s production was originally slated to open last year. Due

to the pandemic-related restrictions, the show was rescheduled for this year.

Beck and her husband, Scott, were able to participate in a reunion with the original cast of the company in Times Square in NYC in 1999 to celebrate the opening of the original Broadway show’s 20th anniversary.

“We actually went to New York [City] and celebrated a huge Times Square flash mob event where we performed our entire mega mix with the original cast of the company and the first national tour,” Beck shared. “It was just an amazing experience to be in the original company. I also did the whole [national] tour, so it was a part of my life for about three and a half years.

It is also where Scott and I met. We met on the Broadway show and the tour, and then we got married years later.”

Beck credited the original company’s choreographer Arlene Phillips, whose original Broadway choreography will be featured in YAP’s show.

“Arlene was also the original choreographer of ‘Annie’ the movie that featured Aileen Quinn who we all know with those beautiful freckles,” Beck shared. “Aileen played ‘Annette’ on the tour with us, which was super cool.”

Celebrating Some of Indiana’s Most Talented Student Actors YAP’s “Saturday Night Fever” will be the first live performance with full-house capacity at The Tarkington, and as Beck expressed, she and the entire cast and crew are ready to pack the house! In addition to featuring current YAP students in this production, Beck has invited all the former students from central Indiana who graduated last year but were not able to have that senior sendoff and final YAP performance due to the pandemic.

“We invited those who were on that list of students who have participated and grown up in the YAP program but were robbed of that final opportunity to come back and audition,” Beck stated. “Five of the ones we invited took that bite and are part of the cast: Hayden Elefante and Mahesh Gupta who are from Zionsville, Elie Anania and Julia Ammons who are from Carmel and Jacob Schilling who is from Fishers.”

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college and job interviews, and teaches them how to be good public speakers, networking skills and how to carry themselves. The compliment that I hear most from parents is how they saw their kid’s shell open up and how they became much more confident in social situations and in trying new things. The program is artistic, but it’s so much more than that!”

YAP Is About More Than Just Acting Beck shared that working with Civic’s Director of Music and Education Brent Marty on this production has been a “hoot” and that they take pride in preparing their students for life on and off the stage.

“Being able to share this with Brent has been awesome because he enjoys the ’70s as much as I do,” Beck said. “It’s been a hoot because he shares all kinds of tidbits with the kids, and it’s been great. We tell them all the time that while YAP is a preprofessional training program, it’s not just for those who have dreams of being on Broadway. YAP helps them prepare for

For tickets to “Saturday Night Fever” and for more information about YAP and all of Civic’s programs, visit civictheatre.org.

Thursday, July 29 – Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021 www.civictheatre.org/yap-saturday-night-fever

SHOW TIMES

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday @ 7pm Sunday @ 2pm Adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes. North American script co-written and some songs composed by David Abbinanti. North American script co-written by Sean Cercone

CAST AND CREW Tony Manero - Daimon Anderson Joey - Hayden Elefante Bobby C - Jacob Schilling Gus - Maddux Morrison Candy - Julia Ammons Stephanie Mangano - Elie Anania Annette - Emily Chrzanowski Frank Manero Jr. - Louis Rivelli Pauline - Mary Kate Tanselle Monty - Matthew Wessler Double J - Fabio Cruz Frank Manero - Scott Beck Flo Manero - Anne Beck

ENSEMBLE

(Includes additional smaller roles and dance features) McKenna Barr Kylee Booher *dance captain Keegan Connor Anjali Gupta Grace Kubek Mallory Neal Ashley Robbins Katherine Sabens Caroline Ward Liam Bass Hollis Carbrey Brynn Elliott Mahesh Gupta

Cecilia Lopez Matthew Orbaugh Sarah Rolinson Allison Soards Anna Wagner Myah Yost Madeline Blank Emily Carlisle Kate Griffey Liam Hansen Elizabeth Mason Ella Owens Caleb Rubel

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World Class Cabaret at Carmel City Center August 5

DON FARRELL “All The Way:” A Frank Sinatra Tribute by Don Farrell and the Terry Woods Quartet Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael presents “All The Way” A Frank Sinatra Tribute with the one and only Don Farrell. Join us spectacular performance on the Feinstein’s stage celebrating the legend, Frank Sinatra.

August 6 & 7

CAROLE J. BUFFORD “You Don’t Own Me: Fearless Females of the 60’s and 70’s”. This evening will feature some of the greatest songs of the two decades like “You Don’t Own Me,” “Killing Me Softly,” and more! Experience Carole’s powerhouse vocals and hear your favorite songs in a whole new way. Carole J. Bufford has become one of the most sought after young performers in the New York cabaret & jazz scene. Carole is the recipient of a Nightlife, Bistro and BroadwayWorld Award for Outstanding Vocalist.

August 13 & 14 MARK WILLIAM

“Come Croon with Me” Direct from his sold-out run on 42nd Street, comes the show that inspired Album of the Year and garnered national awards for Best Debut, Best Album, and more. This can’t miss evening of The Great American Songbook, Broadway, Pop, and more, is packed with songs from Jerry Herman to Henry Mancini, to Peter Allen, with every moment in between filled with sparkle, panache, and genuine charm from Mark William.

August 20 & 21

LIBERACE & LIZA: A TRIBUTE David Saffert & Jillian Snow Harris share the stage as Liberace & Liza Minnelli, creating an exhilarating night of musical and comical fireworks. Delighting in the costumes, music, and glamour of show business’s wildest entertainers. Conducting the entire show is Bo Ayars who toured with “Lee” for 13 years as his arranger and music director.

August 27 & 28

August 26

BILLY STRITCH ATI and Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael proudly present Mr. Billy Stritch! Billy is an award-winning pianist and singer and known to audiences across the country for his many solo concert performances and as accompanist and musical director for Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett, Marilyn Maye, Linda Lavin and Christine Ebersole to name but a few. Expect to hear music by Cy Coleman, Hoagy Carmichael, Barry Manilow, Rodgers and Hart as well as original compositions and selections from the Brazilian bossa nova canon.

A 2018 performance in London prompted the critic for the London Jazz Times to rave, “Billy Stritch is one of the finest, most entertaining piano players and singers on the planet!”. This special one-night engagement performance is underwritten through a generous donation by Rob and Natalie Manges.

FRANC D’AMBROSIO

“Back to Broadway” Join us for an evening of Broadway’s most memorable classics and revivals with an entertainer known for his record-breaking run as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning musical The Phantom of the Opera. (See our exclusive interview with Franc in this issue)

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1 Carmichael Square, Carmel, IN For tickets go to feinsteinshc.com or scan QR

2021-07-20 2:54 PM

Friday August 27 and Saturday August 28 Doors 5:30pm, Start 7:30pm Feinstein's Cabaret - Carmel, IN

Proudly Presents:

Franc D’Ambrosio and Stephanie Lynne Smith Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Baldwin Hardware/ Jack Pei Photography and Laura Arick

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oin us for an evening of Broadway’s most memorable classics and revivals with an entertainer known for his record-breaking run as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Franc D’Ambrosio played the role of Anthony Corleone, the opera-singing son of Al Pacino and

Diane Keaton’s characters in Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather III, just re-released as Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone by Paramount Pictures in December 2020. D’Ambrosio lived and studied with famed tenor Luciano Pavarotti in the summer of 1991, later founding the Lorenzo Malfatti Vocal Academy in Lucca, Italy, for students of opera and musical theatre.

Accompanied by Stephanie Lynne Smith, who has toured with legendary Broadway singer/actor Franc D’Ambrosio since 2012, Ms. Smith is proud to be a collaborator, musical director and pianist for D’Ambrosio’s critically acclaimed oneman shows in venues throughout the United States.

Prepare to be dazzled with songs from some of Broadway’s greatest hits like Kiss Me Kate, Hamilton, Jersey Boys, Wicked, and more. You don’t want to miss out on an unforgettable night! For tickets and additional information, visit feinsteinshc.com.

Editor’s Note: On February 3, 2020, Franc was knighted by order of the President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, in a private ceremony at the Italian Consulate General in San Francisco. His official title, “Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia” is the highest honor the Italian government can bestow on a foreigner and is conferred upon Italian expatriates who have greatly contributed to the preservation of the Italian spirit, culture and national prestige abroad. In May 2018, Franc was honored to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the third annual Cannes Global Short Film Awards Gala during the 71st Annual Cannes Film Festival.

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Janelle Morrison: Being able to return to live performances has been incredible for the audiences who’ve been craving live entertainment and the humanity that happens throughout these shared experiences. I can only imagine what it’s like for the performers. I would like to thank you both for coming to Carmel— this is a big deal for our community.

Franc D’Ambrosio: It’s a big deal for us because it’s our first show back since the pandemic. I’ve known Michael [Feinstein] for many years. So, we can’t think of a better place to perform than at one of Michael’s places and in Indiana where I’ve played so many times and have always enjoyed being there.

Stephanie Lynne Smith: Our last live performance [before COVID-19] was at Feinstein’s in San Francisco and our first performance back will be at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael!

D’Ambrosio: I have friends who have performed in that room, and they love it. So, it’s getting around the Broadway and theatrical community that it’s a destination.

JM: I understand that your family are generational bakers and that you grew up in Bronx, New York, over the family bakery. How did you go from working in the bakery to performing arts?

D’Ambrosio: I come from seven generations of Italian bakers. My family came to America from Sicily. Music was always a part of family. There was always opera or some type of music on in the bakery. As young as I can remember I was working in the bakery. By the time I was 14, I was working nights on the weekends from 7:00 o’clock at night till 7:00 o’clock in the morning on Friday and Saturday nights.

I didn’t realize that I could actually sing until I was about 16. My sister’s got an

absolutely gorgeous voice and she was singing to the radio. I mimicked her and all of a sudden, I realized I could sing and that’s literally how I discovered my voice in that way. I realized that I had a huge passion for it and found that I enjoyed utilizing the lyrics so that I could merge both the musical and the dramatic intent and not just sing the song but live truthfully under the imaginary circumstances of the song. Every song is not just a song sung, to me, but a monologue or a scene that I put myself in the character to make it personal to me.

JM: You were one of 2,000 people that auditioned for the role of Anthony Corleone in Godfather III—the last film of an iconic trilogy. How did you prepare for this role?

D’Ambrosio: I had 10 auditions and two screen tests, and it wasn’t until the 8th audition that they told me that I was auditioning for Godfather III. It was called the “Secret Journal II”. The casting director called me and said that they wanted me to come in and sing and read for Francis [Coppola] and I was like OK—what’s going on? The director told me, “You don’t know? Well—this film is Godfather III.” I was told that Francis Ford Coppola and Paramount Pictures wanted an actual singer and didn’t want someone to lip sync. A lot of people in Hollywood wanted this role too—not just actors from all over the world. It’s probably the only time that I will ever beat out Tom Cruise for a role.”

JM: As this was your first experience working on a film, what was it like working with iconic talents such as Al Pacino, Andy Garcia, Diane Keaton and Eli Wallach?

D’Ambrosio: It was beautiful. I had never been in a film before, had never auditioned for a film before and they all took me in underneath their wings.

They all mentored me and knew that I was open to learning so they were very willing to help me.

JM: Speaking of mentoring, the famed tenor Luciano Pavarotti also became a mentor of yours. What—beyond technique—did he teach you about life?

D’Ambrosio: I spent three months

with him at his summer villa in Pesaro, Italy, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. It is absolutely beautiful. I drove up on a Vespa scooter to the villa gates and Pavarotti was laying on a hammock, smoking a cigar. He told me that he had listened to the prerecorded tapes that I sang for the Godfather [film] and was very interested in my voice. He was very gracious. We spent the whole summer together. One time, he was talking about balance and his life, and he said to me, “Franc, if you ever have to stop living to sing—stop singing.”

I think he saw very early on how ambitions and tenacious I was. He realized that I was probably so hyper focused and that was some advice that I needed to take. He was correct.

When I did over 2,100 performances of “Phantom” there were times when I clearly had to step out of life for long periods of time in order to give an opening night performance—every night. That was my commitment I made. I never disrespect my audience and that experience. I couldn’t live with myself if I did.”

Smith: I’ve been touring with him for about 10 years, and he does not only stage performances but there’s a lot of private dinner parties and private events.

Franc does not disappear into the backroom and appear later. He eats dinner with everyone and talks to the guests.

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He is part of the party. That’s something that I really appreciate touring with him. He’s very generous and has to shake every hand. He really took Pavarotti’s advice to heart and is very authentic with people.”

JM: Barry Manilow also played a big part in your artistic development. In what way did he improve your showmanship?

D’Ambrosio: I was performing on the Copacabana [pre-Broadway] tour in New York City and Barry came over from London. I had a hard time being an “entertain-

er”. At that point, I’d only been a singer and an actor. Barry looked at me and said, “Franc, you’re a better singer than I am.”

I said, “Well, that’s a nice compliment— thank you.” Then Barry added, “But I’m a much better entertainer than you are. I’m going to show you how to do this.” And for five weeks in NYC, we took a ½ hour of each day, went to the studio and Barry would perform and show me what he does, and how he communicates with his audiences. I learned that from him.

JM: After 2,100 performances as the

“Phantom”, you and your character must have evolved from the first performance to the end of your extraordinary run.

When it was all over, what did you take away from that experience?

D’Ambrosio: What a lot of audiences don’t understand or always appreciate is that even though we’re acting up there, we are feeling every emotion. What you witnessed the Phantom having up there, I was feeling. I always say that the most important thing is to have an intimate relationship with your audience. Intimacy—as I define it—is growing, revealing, and discovering yourself in the presence of another individual.

Throughout my run of the Phantom, I realized that I needed to be that vulnerable and have that level of intimacy so that I could live truthfully underneath the imaginary circumstances and to let the audiences witness me growing, revealing, and discovering myself throughout the evening.

The audiences weren’t voyeurs to my pain. I was giving them a portal to their own experiences. That is what I learned.

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For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for Performing Arts Box Office, call 317.843.3800 or visit atistage.org.

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On Teeing Up Her Future A n n a b e l l e

P a n c a k e :

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Trevor Ruszkowski and submitted

This month, we are pleased to feature on our cover Zionsville resident and former Eagle Annabelle Pancake. Pancake is a sophomore at Clemson University who just recently won the IWGA State Amateur Championship at Prairie View Golf Club.

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ancake shot an impressive 36-hole total of 13-under-par 131, a new IWGA State Amateur Championship record, to have a 9-shot lead going into her final round where she finished at 16-under-par for the tournament, defeating her opponent, Haylin Harris, by an astounding 14 shots.

Pancake’s finish broke the IWGA State Amateur Championship 54-hole record

and was the most shots any player has ever won by in an IWGA event.

GOLF IS IN HER GENES The Pancakes are no strangers to the game of golf. Pancake’s parents, Tony and Libby Pancake, both played collegiate golf. Libby played at Arizona State, and Tony played at the University of Alabama. Ironic since his daughter is a

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Clemson Tiger. Like mother, like daughter, Libby won the Indiana Women’s Amateur in 1985. Pancake’s aunt, Kelli Akers, won that same tournament. Tony Pancake is the director of golf at Crooked Stick Golf Club. Pancake’s brother TJ and sister Allie also played college golf, and her brother Trent managed the Purdue golf team in college.

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to have it be the first girls state title for Zionsville. We were all really proud of that.” Pancake’s high school athletic career wasn’t without its trials and tribulations, however. She suffered a broken ankle after winning state and had to sit out for three months while recovering.

“I went to church camp and broke my ankle, and having played sports my whole life, I hated sitting out,” Pancake expressed. “I was like, you’ve got to be kidding me. But that ended up being a time in my life when my faith really grew with God, and I learned a lot about patience— that is huge in golf. I feel like that is what really changed the trajectory of my game.

I realized that [golf] is not the most important thing in my life. God is the most important thing, spending time with my family and then golf. So, I reprioritized things in my life and got a new perspective on golf. But I was determined to stand as soon as I could and then putt and chip as soon as I could!”

GOALS AS A CLEMSON TIGER

THE EARLY YEARS Many of us started out playing golf by practicing putting in our backyards with a primary-colored, plastic Fisher Price club set, but when asked if this was an accurate depiction of her first years as a toddler on the green, Pancake smiled as she reflected and replied, “It wasn’t plastic—it was real. It was a real set with a little pink bag. I’ve had a club in my hand since I was 3 and played in my first tournament when I was 3 at the Little People’s Golf Tournament in Illinois.”

Like most preteens, Pancake was not sure about her future and truthfully loathed golf for a period.

“All of my friends will tell you that when I was 9–13, I hated golf,” Pancake admitted. “When I was 13, my mom told me that I had to decide what I wanted and that [golf] was my deal. They weren’t going to force me to go to the golf course.

I had to want it. They told me that I could play in college if I worked hard enough, and I decided to take it and make it my

own [deal]. I went out and practiced every day. A lot of sacrifices were made as a kid in order to play well. And it’s all been worth it.”

PLAYING AS A LADY EAGLE As a lady Eagle, Pancake’s passion for golf only grew stronger, as did her incredible talent for the game. Pancake finished in the top 10 of the Indiana State Tournament all four years of high school.

Pancake and her fellow teammates had remarkable high school careers while playing for Zionsville Community High School and won the Girls Golf IHSAA State Championship in 2017— her sophomore year.

“We showed up at state all four years of high school and made the podium every year we made it,” Pancake shared. “That was the goal—our high school coach [former head coach Jeff Anderson] would say, ‘Just get on the podium, that’s all we want,’ and we did it. I’m really proud of what the girls did, and it was also cool

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Though her first thought was to follow in her dad’s footsteps and play for Alabama, after numerous college visits, Pancake realized that Clemson is where she wanted and needed to be.

“God put a hand on that and had a different plan for me,” Pancake shared. “I realized that Clemson is where I wanted to be, and I love the community, the school and the coaches. I connected so well with the girls on the team and did really well there my freshman year. So, it’s all worked out.”

While growing as a collegiate athlete and improving her game on the course, Pancake is studying health science with a focus on the behavioral and social sciences.

“I think being a functional medicine doctor might be cool,” Pancake shared.

“Anything to do with preventative medicine, I’m all for because I’ve had so many injuries and health problems—I’ve had a lot of experience.”

With regards to her future as an accomplished and talented golf player, Pancake is open to what her future holds.

“Obviously, it’s every player’s dream to go on tour,” Pancake said. “I would love

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© 2021 Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All rights reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty Logo are service marks licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC and used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated.

it, but I’m just going to follow what God has planned for me. If that is going on tour, then that’s awesome. If it’s to go into functional medicine, then that’s great. I’m going to work as hard as I possibly can to get to that point and would love to get there [on tour].”

Pancake concluded, “I think that the biggest thing that I’ve learned is that no matter what, it’s all going to work out how it’s supposed to. And as hard as 2020 was, I learned that when things are thrown at you, you’ve just got to fight through it. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and we just have to remember that.”

Edwards Realty Group | 317.508.1806 • edwardsrealtygroupzionsville.com • robbin.edwards@encoresir.com ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY

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lessons that build stronger individuals and communities. Each year, millions of people follow the hard work, dedication and sportsmanship that Little Leaguers display at Little League’s seven baseball and softball World Series events, the premier tournaments in youth sports.

FLEXING THE NEW FACILITIES

Little League International

Opens Its New Central Region Complex in Boone County

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball

The sounds of the crack when a bat meets a ball, and enthusiastic cheers from the dugouts and stands, along with the tastes and aromas of concession favorites can now be enjoyed by teams and fans at the new Little League Central Region Complex in Whitestown, Indiana. The complex officially opened on June 26, 2021. After three years of planning and construction, the Little League International staff, board of directors, Gov. Eric Holcomb, Whitestown Town Council President Clinton Bohm, dignitaries from Hendricks Regional Health and other members of the community/county who have been supporters of the construction and development process attended the complex’s grand-opening celebration.

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ollowing the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Little League hosted the first game at the complex with a Little League Challenger Division game between Zionsville Little League and Brownsburg Little League Challenger. The Challenger Division is Little League’s adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges.

ABOUT LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL Founded in 1939, Little League is the world’s largest organized youth sports program with approximately two million players (ages 4–16) playing baseball and softball in communities across every U.S. state and more than 80 other countries.

Operated by more than one million volunteers, Little League believes in the power of youth baseball and softball to teach life

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The new 15-acre complex is located at 7185 South Indianapolis Road in Whitestown, Indiana, just west of I-65 at Exit 130.

It features the Central Region Headquarters administration building, a gift shop, concessions stand, restrooms, batting cages and a full-size, lighted Little League field with stadium seating, bleachers and a press box.

The new complex will serve as the home of the Little League Softball Central Region Tournament (July 25–29) as well as the Little League Baseball Great Lakes and Midwest Region Tournaments (Aug. 7–14).

Zionsville resident Nina Johnson-Pitt, Little League’s former Central Region director and current senior strategy executive, spoke with us about what makes Little League’s facilities so unique.

“Little League has five regional sites around the country,” Johnson-Pitt shared.

“The reason why we build facilities that are unique to us is because we are, in fact, unique. And we have these regional sites because it’s really hard to find existing facilities that would be able to accommodate the infrastructure to accommodate these tournaments as well as the ESPN crew that comes in to televise these games.”

For those who may not know, Little League play is different than, say, high school baseball and softball. Johnson-Pitt pointed out that high school teams play on a 60/90 diamond and Little League plays on a 46/60 diamond.

Johnson-Pitt added, “Another unique thing about our field is the skinned infield. We play our softball tournament first [on the skinned infield], and then the eight days between the two tournaments [softball and baseball], we convert the field into a baseball field.”

In addition to the gift shop and concessions that are located within the complex, Little League’s administration building is also located on-site.

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SUPPORTING LITTLE LEAGUE CENTRAL REGION Suffice it to say, one does not just show up to a tournament that has magically come together. Behind the scenes are numerous dedicated volunteers that assist the small but mighty Little League staff.

“We really only have a handful of employees and paid staff here at the central region,” Johnson-Pitt said. “The staff does

all of the organization and planning, but then when it’s time to actually execute the tournaments, we bring in an army of volunteers and the machine starts rolling.

Everyone from the umpires, scorekeepers, people picking up trash and parking cars are all volunteers. Some are local and some come in from out of state and use their vacation time to help us with these tournaments. It really does take a village to run these [tournaments].”

Johnson-Pitt concluded, “We make it more about the [entire] experience and not just about the game. And anybody that comes out will have a lot of fun and will experience that at every game.”

To learn more about the new Little League Central Region complex, how to support the complex and more, visit LittleLeague.org/Whitestown.

Be sure to follow Little League (@LittleLeague) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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“It is the brain of the central region,” Johnson-Pitt stated. “We operate from this location and assist the almost 800 leagues in the 13 states of the central region, year-round.”

Tracy Wright Team | 317.218.0347 • tracywright.net •tracy.wright@encoresir.com ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY

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Azionaqua’s

Make a Splash Anniversary Event Is a Go! Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Azionaqua

It came as a huge disappointment but no surprise when it was announced that the highly anticipated 60th anniversary celebration for one of Zionsville’s most beloved amenities, Azionaqua Swim Club, was officially postponed to Aug. 21, 2021, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A

nd so, it is our pleasure to announce that the Make a Splash fundraiser celebrating Azionaqua’s 60th + 1 anniversary is a “go” for next month!

This event will celebrate the incredible local history of Azionaqua, multiple generations of members and six decades of staff. The goal of the Make a Splash Event is to provide the necessary funding to allow the facility to remain relevant for our future generations to come.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF AZIONAQUA SWIM CLUB The Azionaqua Swim Club

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A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER BOARD

was established by a group of Masonic Lodge brothers, Virgil Knapp, Henry Beard and Herman Gettle, and has been a longstanding summer tradition in Zionsville for more than half a century. The pool was built in the summer of 1960, and its first day of operation was Aug. 6, 1960.

More than six decades later, Azionaqua continues to be a membership-based club focused on aquatics education, safety, physical fitness and family fun. The 50-meter by 25-meter pool offers lap swimming, a diving well with two springboards and aquatic sports and fitness programs for all ages.

Azionaqua’s past and present boards have and continue to be comprised of dedicated volunteers who remained committed to maintaining the club’s facilities as well as growing its membership. The board’s primary focus is on making every swimmer’s experience a fun, safe and memorable one while spending time as a master or student swimmer/diver training at the pool or as a recreational member enjoying the dog days of summer at Azionaqua. The club’s astute board continues the tradition of seeking input from its members and adjusting its sails based

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on what the members want and need. This was recently exhibited throughout 2020, when the club’s board members and its extraordinary aquatics director Ginger DeCoursey and staff pivoted (in conjunction with the governor’s COVID-19 orders) and provided a safe and fun escape from the constraints of the pandemic.

Two of Azionaqua’s current board members, Andrea Nicholson and Molly Burton, shared their thoughts on the club’s current board of directors and on the importance of hosting this year’s fundraiser that is honoring the 60th + 1 anniversary but has the potential to evolve into an annual affair and revenue generator.

“We have a great board that is very well respected, and we’re working very well together,” Nicholson stated. “We decided to title the fundraiser ‘Make a Splash’ and give it an [official] name because if it is successful and people like it, we want to be able to do it again, and not just every 60 years.”

Burton added, “Memberships alone don’t fund everything that needs to happen at the pool. It’s a great pool and functions really well, but just like anything—especially something that’s 60-plus years old—there are things that come up that have to be repaired from time to time.”

FUNDRAISING FOR THE PRESENT AND FOR THE FUTURE Azionaqua is fully funded from its membership base and operates as a nonprofit facility. Every dollar of the club’s membership fee goes directly to pool maintenance and staffing. What many may not know about the club is that it offers several programs to its members AND nonmem-

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bers! Fee-based programs such as swim lessons, scuba lessons and more are offered to adults and kids regardless if they are current club members or Zionsville residents.

The goal of this year’s fundraiser is to not only celebrate the club’s remarkable 60th + 1 anniversary but to raise funds for future improvements such as modern water features, poolside cabanas, facility updates including changing rooms and locker areas that serve the

400–800 members and guests that attend Azionaqua’s facility every summer day.

This year’s Make a Splash event will feature a cocktail hour and appetizers beginning at 6 p.m. at the Golf Club of Indiana at 6905 South 525 East Whitestown, IN 46075 and will feature dinner, live music by The Papercuts Band, dancing, silent and live auctions and fellowship with members and nonmembers who wish to support one of Zionsville’s greatest treasures!

VIP and standard tickets are for sale, but seating is limited! VIP tickets include priority seating, unlimited bar and one raffle ticket for a FREE membership for the summer of 2022! ALL proceeds will go directly to pool improvements. This event is for ages 21 and over.

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Join us in celebrating the past, present and future of Azionaqua. Buy your tickets now to ensure your seat is reserved. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

The link for this event is: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ azionaqua-make-a-splash-celebration-tick-

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ets-162811183633?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utmsource=cp&aff=escb.

For more information on Azionaqua memberships and/or programs, visit azionaqua.org.

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