Founded Jan. 29, 2008, at Noblesville, IN Vol. XVIII, No. 8
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Construction begins in April through downtown
ROAD WORK news@youarecurrent.com
Construction along Ind. 32 through downtown Westfield resumes in April, which will result in the complete closure of the downtown intersection at Union Street and Ind. 32.
Closures begin on or after April 7.
INDOT contractor Rieth-Riley Construction will close a portion of the road as part of 32 Connects, a project to add travel lanes in both directions between Westfield Boulevard/Poplar Street and Timberbrook Run, including the addition of a roundabout at East Street and Ind. 32.
The city and INDOT entered a cost-sharing agreement for the $22 million project in 2018, with the city controlling design while the state’s share covers land acquisition, utility relocation costs and construction.. Closures will include:
On/after April 7
• Ind. 32 will close until early October between Poplar Street and Union Street for reconstruction. The posted detour will connect traffic via U.S. 31 and Ind. 38. The roundabout at Poplar Street and Shamrock Boulevard will remain open.
• Union Street will close from south of Penn Street to north of Jersey Street through late June, including the intersection of Union Street and Ind. 32. The official detour — 181st Street/ Hoover Street, Sun Park Drive, Ind. 32, Wheeler Road/Westfield Park Drive and 169th Street — will be posted.
• Ind. 32 will remain open east of Elm Alley with traffic shifted. Beginning in late June/early July
• Union Street will be open to traffic. Ind. 32 will close through early October between Poplar Street and west of Union Street. The posted detour will connect traffic via U.S. 31 and Ind. 38. The roundabout at Poplar Street and Shamrock Boulevard will remain open.
• Ind. 32 traffic shifts north between east of Union Street and east of East Street
Construction will take place in multiple phases. Reconstruction of Ind. 32 west of Union Street, as well as the southern half of Ind. 32 east of Union Street, will take place in 2025. The remainder of the project is slated for completion in 2026. Additional reconstruction work will occur later in 2025 and throughout 2026. Besides road widening and the addition of the East Street roundabout, the con-
struction will add improved pedestrian facilities, crosswalks, signage and landscaping throughout the corridor. The project aims to improve safety and mobility on Ind. 32 and prepare for future growth. During construction, motorists are reminded to slow down, avoid distractions and use extra caution when traveling in and near work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.
Learn more and sign up for updates at 32connects.com.
PAVING WORK TO BEGIN APRIL 1
As the Indiana Department of Transportation gears up for a major overhaul of Ind. 32 through downtown Westfield, a second project west of U.S. 31 has been announced — one that will coincide with the major work to the east.
Paving of Ind. 32 between Spring Mill Road and U.S. 31 is scheduled to start on or after April 1 with milling work. Besides paving, crews also will complete refur-
Ask the mayor — The City of Westfield launched a new series, “Ask the Mayor,” to give residents a chance to have their questions answered directly by Mayor Scott Willis. Residents are encouraged to ask direct questions about local government, Selected questions will be answered via a video series and posted on the City of Westfield’s social media pages. Submit questions at tinyurl.com/yc78e8mh.
DISPATCHES
bishment of curb and ADA ramps and signal work.
Drivers can expect mobile daytime operations with lane closures and restrictions. Short-term intersection closures will be possible at driveways and intersections as paving progresses. Turning movements also may be restricted.
Construction is anticipated to continue through July, weather permitting.
Coroner’s office pacemaker program — The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office is participating in the My Heart Your Heart pacemaker donation program, an initiative dedicated to providing lifesaving cardiac devices to underserved populations worldwide. Spearheaded by the University of Michigan in collaboration with medical institutions and humanitarian organizations, the program collects, sterilizes and reuses pacemakers to help patients in need. The coroner’s office will facilitate the recovery and donation of pacemakers from deceased individuals, with the consent of their families, to give others a second chance at life.
Road work through downtown Westfield begins on or after April 7. (File photo)
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Road and trail projects coming to Westfield
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Construction of a $3.5 million roundabout to replace the stoplight at 161st Street and Spring Mill Road will begin on or about May 1, according to a recently released City of Westfield’s 2025 road project schedule.
CONSTRUCTION
The city put the project out to bid in October, following an agreement in August for land acquisition on the northwest corner of the intersection. The parcel was the last right-of-way the city needed to acquire before a construction schedule could move forward. Although the parcel briefly went to eminent domain, the city was able to negotiate with the property owner — Shrewsbury, LLC — a settlement agreement of $252,435 without going to trial.
The construction will require a 60-day full closure of the intersection. Traffic will be detoured via 156th Street south of the intersection or 169th Street north, to Oak Ridge Road to the east or Ditch Road to the west
Morphey Construction is the contractor on the project.
The roundabout is one of several projects that total more than $40 million.
“My administration is focused on improving our infrastructure and projects like these are vital to our community,” Westfield Mayor Scott Willis stated. “The construction season has a limited window in Indiana, and there will be record investment in much-needed improvement projects occurring this summer.”
The City of Westfield announced the following 2025 road projects. Start dates of all projects are approximate:
• Bridlewood subdivision — concrete
patching
Midwest Paving will complete the $145,812 project, slated to begin no later than mid-April and be finished by May 30. No closures will be necessary.
• 151st Street and Towne Road — roundabout construction
Slated to begin no later than April 7, the $1.9 million roundabout will be constructed by Midwest Paving. A full closure will be in effect for 80 days with a detour posted.
• 181st Street and Wheeler Road — roundabout construction
Construction with a full closure of the intersection and posted detour expected to last 45 days will begin no earlier than May 27. Calumet Civil Contractors will serve as the contractor on the $1.3 million project.
• Old 146th Street and Towne Road — roundabout construction
Slated to begin summer 2025, the $3 million project will last approximately 120 days.
• 171st Street and Ditch Road — roundabout construction
A 90-day closure is expected for the construction, anticipated to begin summer 2025. A final price and contractor have not been determined.
• Mule Barn Road — road widening
Scheduled to begin in fall 2025 with an estimated cost of $2 million, the project will widen the road at the intersection of Ind. 32.
Work on trails scheduled to begin in summer or fall includes the $8 million Monon Trail tunnel project at 161st Street; the 161st Street trail from Oak Road to Carey Road for $250,000; and the 151st Street trail from Oak Road to the Bridlewood subdivision, with a cost to estimate of $900,000.
Construction of a new roundabout at Spring Mill Road and 161st Street is slated to begin May 1. (Image from Google maps)
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WESTFIELD APRIL EVENTS
WESTFIELD’S QUAKER ROOTS EVENT
The Westfield Washington Historical Society & Museum will host featured speaker Thomas Hamm, professor of history and Quaker scholar in residence from Earlham College in Richmond, Va. for a special program at 7 p.m. April 15 at Westfield City Hall, 130 Penn St. Hamm will discuss Quakers, the Underground Railroad and the anti-slavery movement in Hamilton County. The event is free to attend. RSVP at facebook.com/WestfieldHistory.
SPRING SWING
Westfield Welcome presents Spring Swing, presented by Centier Bank, April 19 at the Bridgewater Club. The event will combine previous Daddy Daughter and Mother Son dances with the addition of a new “Someone Special” session, for groups such as whole families, youths with mentors, grandparents and grandchildren, daughters and mothers, sons and fathers and any special someone. The day will feature three sessions — Someone Special at 2 p.m.; Mother-Son at 4:30 p.m.; and Daddy-Daughter at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and go on sale March 19. Learn more at westfieldin. gov/393/Spring-Swing.
GREEN DAY IN WESTFIELD
The City of Westfield Parks and Recreation Department will host a free Green Day event to combine the celebrations of Earth and Arbor Day from 1 to 3 p.m. April 26 at Grand Junction Plaza. Activities will include local organizations and vendors sharing tips and techniques that highlight green practices and initiatives to practice at home and around the community. The City of Westfield will be giving away free native tree saplings, while supplies last, courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
ROCK STRONG
The Rock Strong Award presented by the Westfield Education Foundation is a quarterly award given to school and operations employees to recognize teachers, instructional assistants, coaches, secretaries, bus drivers, substitute teachers, food service staff and operations staff for the great work they do for WWS. Each quarter, all schools and operations will review nominations from staff, students, families and the community and select someone who represents its values and culture to receive the Rock Strong Award and a special gift. Nominate a WWS employee at tinyurl.com/ kcex4w63.
Westfield Youth Assistance Program issues annual report
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Westfield Youth Assistance Program recently released its annual impact report for 2024, highlighting the events, successes and milestone moments that WYAP experienced last year.
SERVICES
The report emphasizes the multiple aspects of how WYAP operates and connects with the Westfield community.
“I am honored to present the accomplishments of the hard work and dedication that our early intervention advocates, board of directors, donors and community partners continually put into our nonprofit to support our youth and their families,” WYAP Board of Directors Tammy Havard stated.
The report is issued annually to inform the community of WYAP’s impact and highlight the number of youths the organization serves via mentoring programs, tutoring, camps, enrichment activities and mental health counseling.
According to the report, WYAP served 214 Westfield youth aged 3 to 17 in 2024, providing 426 camp and enrichment program opportunities to youth. Forty-eight young people were connected with a tutor in 2024, and 34 youth were connected with a mentor. Forty percent of new referrals in 2024 came from Westfield Washington Schools’ representatives.
WYAP services are delivered through a network of over 100 volunteers, with assistance from 19 sponsors and 220 community partners.
WYAP also received two grants in 2024 — a $15,000 from the Arthur Dean Family Foundation to support the tutoring program; and $15,000 from the Hamilton County Community Foundation for mentoring, tutoring, mental health, camp and enrichment support.
Events in 2024 included the 14th annual Youth Recognition Breakfast and the inaugural “The Double” walk/run event.
The Report serves as a way for the community to better understand how WYAP works to serve its mission, “Serving youth ages 3-17 who are facing challenging life circumstances by taking a holistic approach to coordinate the community’s vast array of talents, services and resources to help youth and empower parents and caregivers.”
Since 2009, WYAP has provided services to 1,471 Westfield youth.
Read the full report at westfieldyap.org.
DISPATCH
Road resurfacing coming to Westfield — The City of Westfield recently announced $3.2 million in road resurfacing projects, set to begin throughout the city the first week of April and continue through mid-September. Resurfacing projects include milling the top surface of asphalt followed by a 2- to 4-inch thick replacement layer. Most milling and paving projects take three to five days to complete and require lane restrictions. Repaving will take place in Village Farms; Countryside; Helios; and Timberbrook subdivisions. Repaving is also scheduled on Little Eagle Creek Avenue; 191st Street; East Street; Carey Road; Sun Park Drive; and 161st Street.
WYAP youth Grace, right, connected in 2024 with Westfield business owner Becky Lane, aka Becky the Bakester, to learn about baking and running a small business. (Photos courtesy of WYAP)
WYAP youth Marlon, a budding video game designer, connected in 2024 with idTech’s videogame design course at Butler.
Guerin Catholic senior becomes complete basketball player
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Guerin Catholic High School senior Ryne Paris went from being a defensive stopper off the bench to a complete player in his final prep season.
“The biggest aspect of Ryne’s improvement was his confidence. Not only did it help him but it helped the team,” Golden Eagles coach Bobby Allen said. “We lost four starters from last year’s team and Ryne knew there was an opportunity to be a leader on this year’s team. He took advantage of the summer and improved his game and he became a calming presence for all of our inexperienced players. He made so many big shots for us from the perimeter this season and he had the ability to control the tempo of the game when the ball was in his hands.
“He was a major reason why we won the Circle City Conference and 23 games this season.”
A Westfield resident, Paris averaged 10.4 points per game on a team-high 52 percent shooting from the field, including 35 percent from 3-point range. The 6-foot-2 guard
RYNE PARIS
Favorite athlete: Paul George
Favorite movie: “Step Brothers”
Favorite vacation spot: Jamaica
Favorite subject: History
Favorite musician: Drake
was second on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game and led the Golden Eagles with 2.8 assists per game and 2.1 steals per game. Senior Bryson Cardinal led Guerin with 19.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
“Getting shots up in the mornings, and, of course, confidence allowed me to get better during the season,” Paris said. “I would say I definitely took pride in becoming a leader, because not only did we lose
Guerin
Catholic senior
Ryne Paris improved dramatically in his first year as a starter. (Photo courtesy of Live Action Sports)
four starters, but every single one of them were great leaders.”
Paris averaged 1.7 ppg as a junior.
“We had so many experienced players last year that it was hard to consistently crack in the lineup,” said Allen, whose team reached the Class 3A regional before losing to New Palestine. “But he was always ready to go, and when the opportunity came for him to step up, he took advantage of it and he never let up. By the end of the season, he also became a defensive catalyst for our group. We had a lot of confidence in putting him on one of the other team’s best players and he always was
ready for the challenge.”
Paris knew defense was crucial to earning playing time.
“The only way for me to gain playing time my junior year was to play hard and really lock in on the defensive end,” he said. “I was also able to learn a great deal playing with Rob Sorenson because we played the same sort of position, and he did it at a high level.”
Paris will play for Olivet Nazarene University, an NAIA school in Bourbonnais, Ill.
“I chose Olivet because coach (Nick) Birkey and the staff over there are great and not only run a great program but are amazing people,” Paris said. “I also chose it because it is close to home, and my parents will be able to attend all of the home games.”
Paris played football and baseball before giving those sports up before high school. Basketball has always been his passion.
“I started playing basketball ever since I could walk but started playing team basketball when I was around 6,” he said.
To nominate a high school student for Athlete of the Week, contact mark@ youarecurrent.com.
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Old Town Design Group partners with St. Jude
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Old Town Design Group recently broke ground in Westfield on the St. Jude Dream Home Showplace — a collaboration of Old Town Design Group, business partners and potential buyers to collect funds for lifesaving childhood cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
FUNDRAISER
The St. Jude Dream Home Showplace is a crowd-funded initiative that raises funds for the hospital. The home in the Springwater subdivision at Union Street and Burlwood Drive is the first such project in Indiana and the 47th in the U.S. Showplace projects are made possible by several local partnerships and five national partners. Indianapolis-based Brizo, a luxury plumbing fittings company, was the first national sponsor with the St. Jude Dream Home Showplace program. Other national sponsors include Shaw Floors, Trane Technologies, Bosch Appliances and Kichler Lighting.
When the home is complete — anticipated by March 2026 — there will be a series of open houses for the community. Once the home is sold, proceeds will be donated to St. Jude.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Area Manager for Indiana Stephanie Dillon said builders like Old Town Design Group partner with St. Jude to become Dream Home Showplace builders, who then fundraise and work with vendors to donate labor, materials and time.
“The goal is to get funding for St. Jude to help our families and continue the research and treatment,” she said. “It’s local, but more importantly, it’s just offering hope. If a child is going to St. Jude, it’s because they’re too sick to be treated in their local hometown. So, they need a whole different level of hope once they get down there. And knowing that an entire community is rallying around them and has their back and is going to support and make sure that they have the money to keep doing the research that they need to do, our researchers can’t thank you enough, and our patient families certainly can’t.”
Dillon said there are currently 289 patients from Indiana that are in some form of treatment at St. Jude. She said the average cost of care for the most common form of childhood cancer — acute lympho-
blastic leukemia — is $450,000. While that would bankrupt most people, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital allows families to face the hardest challenge of their lives without worrying about a bill. St. Jude families do not have to pay for treatment, travel, housing or food.
Old Town Design Group President Matt Huffman said signing on with the project was a no-brainer.
“This is about the kids,” he said. “And there are no apologies from me in how I act when I’m going to ask you for more money. I’m going to continue to ask you and hound you because it truly is not about profit. It’s (about giving) kids some hope. If we can do that through this project and partner up with St. Jude, then that’s what it’s all about.”
Westfield Mayor Scott Willis said the
project matches Westfield’s community spirit.
“When you think of Westfield, when you think about our history, the Underground Railroad, our Quaker (roots), this is a perfect project for Westfield,” he said. “It’s who we are as a community — a community that cares for others; a community that extends itself and sacrifices for others. I mean, this is just a perfect fit.”
St. Jude Research Hospital was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962. At the time, childhood cancer was considered incurable. Today, the overall survival rate for childhood cancers is more than 80 percent, according to St. Jude.
Learn more about Old Town Design Group St. Jude Dream Home Showplace at oldtowndesigngroup.com/ st-jude-dream-home-showplace.
DISPATCHES
Westfield International Festival — Visitors are welcome to explore diverse arts, entertainment, traditions and food from all over the world at the Westfield International Festival — previously Cuisine Connect Culture — from noon to 3 p.m. May 10 at Grand Junction Plaza. The festival includes performances, diverse cuisines, traditions, crafts, products and games from other countries. Learn more at tinyurl.com/3urwcwc3.
Dinner Party on Union tickets available — Reservations are now available for the eighth annual Dinner Party on Union from 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 13, hosted by the Downtown Westfield Association. Tickets are $400 per couple; $1,600 per eight-person table; and $2,000 per 10-person table. Tickets include a cocktail reception; dinner from Prime 47; and assorted desserts. Live entertainment, a live auction and a silent auction round out the evening. Proceeds from the event support the association’s mission of endowing, enhancing and enriching downtown Westfield. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at tinyurl.com/wbch5r6a.
Farmers market applications open — Applications are now being accepted for vendors who wish to participate in Westfield’s 2025 farmers market, from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays May 8 through Sept. 4, excluding July 3. Vendors include farmers, producers and artisans selling honey, bread, produce, baked goods, plants and flowers, cheeses, specialty beverages, meat and pet food. The market also welcomes vendors selling unique, high-end handcrafted items such as candles, ceramics, jewelry, art and soaps. Apply at westfieldin. gov/433/Westfield-Farmers-Market.
Career scholarship program available — Applications are now open for the Indiana Career Scholarship account program. The program is available to Hoosier students in grades 10-12 interested in internships, apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities. CSAs provide $5,000 annually in scholarship funding to students enrolled in an approved program provider for the upcoming school year. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1, 2025. The program is administered by the Indiana Treasurer of State. Learn more at in.gov/tos/csa.
Representatives from Old Town Design Group, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the City of Westfield and the Westfield Chamber of Commerce participate in a groundbreaking event for the St. Jude Dream Home Showplace March 18. (Photos by Marney Simon)
Old Town Design Group will build the first St. Jude Dream Home Showplace in Indiana in Westfield. (Image courtesy of Old Town Design Group)
Painted benches installed
ART news@youarecurrent.com
The City of Westfield is making an artistic statement in some of its recreation areas — all while giving visitors a chance to stop and rest. The city recently unveiled the results of its latest public art initiative, the Artistic Bench Program. Launched in summer 2024, the program provided selected artists who submitted their design plans with $1,000 to create “eye-popping artwork designed with the city’s park and trail system in mind, with the intention of paying homage to the city’s heritage,” according to the application put out last year. The program was made possible by a 2024 Indiana Arts Commission Arts Project Support grant.
Four concrete benches were painted with murals and placed throughout the city — two at Hadley Park; one on the Monon Trail north of Ind. 32; and one on
City of Westfield)
the Midland Trace Trail near Gray Road.
According to a news release, the collaboration with local artists Andre Parnell, Kathy Garnes, Chris Blice and various artists from Janus Developmental Services highlights Westfield’s commitment to supporting and promoting local talent.
DECA members qualify for international competition
SCHOOL NEWS news@youarecurrent.com
Several members of Westfield High School’s DECA program will compete at the international competition this month in Orlando, Fla., following an impressive performance at the 2025 Indiana DECA State Career Development Conference in Indianapolis in March.
Westfield’s 106-student delegation competed against more than 2,000 Hoosier high school business students in real-world business challenges, from marketing and finance to entrepreneurship and hospitality.
DECA — formerly known as Distributive Education Clubs of America — is a nonprofit career and technical student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in high schools and college around the world for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. DECA students participate in competitive events that surround business management and administration, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and tourism, marketing and personal finance.
“Our students performed incredibly well, not only in competition but in their
professionalism and teamwork,” WHS DECA Advisor Michelle Goudy stated. “They truly exemplified the Shamrock Way, and I’m excited to see them continue their success on the international stage in Orlando.”
The following placed at the state competition and now move to the international competition:
• Lauren Pickett – 2nd place, professional selling
• Nitya Sachdeva – 4th place, principles of business management
• Avyanth Arun – 3rd place, principles of entrepreneurship
• Logan Daggy – 4th place, principles of marketing
• Vahishrit Kale – 4th place, entrepreneurship series
• Charlie Naas – 1st place, quick-serve restaurant management
• Lindsey Cassady – 3rd place, retail merchandising series
• Otto Drake – 2nd place, sports and entertainment marketing series
• Cooper Bohn and Pranesh Raghavendran – 1st place, financial team decision making Westfield DECA participant Stella Neale also was elected as the 2025-26 Indiana DECA vice president of marketing.
“Westfield Blossoms” painted by Chris Blice of Indianapolis-based art gallery Blice Edwards is one of four painted benches recently installed in Westfield. (Photo courtesy of
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OLD TIMEY CHARM
Acorn Farm Country Store sells antiques, embodies history
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Nestled deep in a wooded lot next to Cool Creek Park, Jill Sweet Mead tends a country store packed with antiques, collectibles and rare vintage finds.
The store opened 30 years ago and is a part of the history that tells a tale of the property’s past as visitors wind their way up the crushed limestone driveway.
Acorn Farm Country Store, 15466 Oak Rd., opened in 1995 when Mead, her husband Mic and her daughter Becky moved back to Indiana from California after her parents, Herb and Dee Sweet, retired.
The estate derives its name from Acorn Farm Camp, which called the property home for more than four decades. The Sweets acquired the property in 1935 to become the permanent home for the day camp, which was a traveling enterprise for two years prior.
“This started out as a day camp for children in 1933,” Mead said. “It ran for 45 years, and 15,000 kids came to camp here. It was the first day camp in the United States. There were overnight camps but not day camps.”
Mead said the property was once the Fry farm, but little is known about its history. The property was on County Road E 25 — which Herb Sweet later named Oak Road. The property became the perfect location for the camp with a combination of dense wooded areas and open fields, with Cool Creek running through the northwest corner.
Most of the buildings on the property were once part of the camp. There’s a workshop, a mess hall, a horse barn and the chimney from a log cabin that no longer exists.
Mead and her sister, Judee, attended the camp as children.
“I’ve always liked people, so I loved having a lot of playmates,” she said.
One building visitors pass by on the trip up the driveway to the country store previously served the then-Town of Westfield from 1855 until it was set to be dismantled in 1957. Herb Sweet purchased the building and reassembled it at Acorn Farm.
“It was the first store between Lebanon
and Noblesville, and when they were going to tear it down, my dad and his nephew saved the building and brought it here,” Mead said. “My mom and dad wanted the campers to see what an old country store was like and do programs there.”
Mead said her parents rebuilt and decorated the store to give campers the experience of a real country store, even selling goods out of it. They soon outgrew the little building and built a house further up the drive, which serves as the current Acorn Farm Country Store
The Sweets built the store as a standard-design, two-story house, according to Mead. Items were sold on the first floor, and the rooms on the second floor were staged as “model rooms” so customers could see how homes could be furnished with the store’s unique furnishings and
antiques.
The model rooms are no longer used in the same way, but the store is packed to the brim with items that could catch anyone’s eye — from furniture, plates and silverware to handcrafted jewelry to patterned glass and metalware.
“We have things for everybody,” Mead said. “We’re antiques, gifts and decorative accessories. An antique has to be 100 years or older. Then there’s the whole market of collectibles.”
Mead stays occupied with the ins and outs of running a small business. Customers range from locals looking for something eclectic to folks who used to spend their summers at the camp.
“We have people that came to camp — and there were thousands of them — they come back to relieve those memories,”
THE HISTORY OF ACORN FARM
Acorn Farm on the Westfield/Carmel border was home to the first day camps in the United States.
Jill Sweet Mead, who operates Acorn Farm Country Store on the property at 15466 Oak Rd., said her parents, Herb and Dee Sweet, started a traveling camp for children in 1933, then acquired the property on Oak Street in 1935 to house the camp permanently.
Mead said her father named the
camp Acorn Farm Camp after a common saying, “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow,” that can be traced to philosopher A.B. Johnson’s 1841 work, “The Philosophical Emperor: A Political Experiment.”
The history of the camp was cataloged in the 2010 book “Mighty Oaks” by Becky Bowles. Copies of the book are available at Acorn Farm Country Store and through the store’s website, acornfarm.com.
Mead said. “There’s been a store here for over 60 years. It’s a favorite place for people to bring guests from out of town, because it’s not like going to the mall. It’s a little bit different — kind of ‘Indiana flavor.’ I think it’s fun when somebody comes to your state for the first time to do something ‘Indiana.’ People are fascinated by the history, and they love the property.”
Mead said her family shares the property with family and friends for small get-togethers. Although certain times are busier than others, with fewer customers on cold, wet days compared to warmer ones, she remains constantly busy.
“I love working,” she said. “I’ve thought, ‘If I didn’t have this store, I wouldn’t have to get up. I guess I could lay in bed and read.’ But that’s not me. I have to be busy.”
Mead said she’s watched Westfield and Carmel explode with development over the past 30 years, but there’s no real secret for how Acorn Farm has remained an untouched gem among the shopping centers, eateries and expanded roadways that surround it.
“Just by not changing,” Mead said, laughing. “We came here from California because we love the property and we love the area.
Acorn Farm Country Store is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
ON THE COVER: Acorn Farm Country Store sells a variety of antique, vintage and eclectic goods.
(Photo by Marney Simon)
Acorn Farm Country Store is on Oak Street near the Westfield/Carmel border. (Photos by Marney Simon)
Acorn Farm Country Store opened in 1995. It is the second store to occupy the building built by Herb and Dee Sweet.
Fishers youngster gets campy role in ‘Ruthless!’
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Kathleen Horrigan has found a great fit to play a bad seed.
Horrigan is directing Carmel Community Players’ productions of “Ruthless!
The Musical,” which runs April 4 to 13 at The Switch Theatre at Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy, 10029 E. 126 St., Fishers.
Olivia Cook plays 8-year-old Tina Denmark, who seems adorable but is a sociopath.
“She’s a powerhouse,” Horrigan said. “She’s amazing.”
Horrigan described “Ruthless! The Musical” as a dark comedy version of the 1956 movie “The Bad Seed.”
“I like playing the role because it can bring out two sides, a good sweet little girl but can bring out a shockingly mischievous little girl, “said Cook, a fourth-grader at Fishers Elementary School. “I like that I get to wear a fun wig and I like my costume and stuff. It’s just a really fun character.”
Cook, 10, said she hadn’t been in a play of late and was looking for an acting opportunity.
“My audition coach had given me ‘Born to Entertain,’ which is a song from this show that she said would be good for me in an audition and they are actually doing the play,” Cook said.
Cook previously portrayed Violet in “Willy Wonka Jr.” and Gretl in “The Sound of Music” for the Belfry Theatre.
Cook said the lines are challenging but “I have it down.”
Her mother, Melissa Cook, said her daughter has been working hard.
“This is the only one she’s done where she is the only kid and everyone else is an adult,” Melissa said. “So, this is definitely special. There’s a little bit of adult content. She understands it’s acting and not real life.”
Horrigan, a Fishers resident, said it was a challenge to find a little girl who was fine with being a villain, too.
“But (her) mother has been understanding and supportive,” said Horrigan, who
retired as a Lawrence Central High School theater teacher in 2023 and now works at Ji-Eun Lee Academy. “It’s a musical and it’s a parody.”
Jonna Kauffman plays Judy Denmark, Tina’s mother. Kauffman, who lives in downtown Indianapolis, has been performing at Footlight Musicals.
“I love musicals,” Kauffman said. “My whole family has done musicals my entire life. My sister does it professionally in Chicago, so that’s how we got into it. But I just do it for fun, and I love working with Kathleen.”
Kauffman wasn’t familiar with the musi-
cal but heard the music before auditions.
“I wanted a small part and ended up with the mother, which is one of the main roles,” she said. “It’s super campy. You can’t be too much over-the-top in this show, which I appreciate.”
Kauffman said there is a great deal of memorization.
“Of the probably 100 pages, I probably have 80 to 85 of lines,” Kauffman said. “There’s like eight or nine songs in it, too, that I sing. So, it’s a lot, but it’s been really fun and different from what I usually do.”
For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
‘JERSEY BOYS’
“Jersey Boys” runs through April 13 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
‘SPRING EQUINOX’
Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre presents “Spring Equinox” at 7 p.m. April 4 and 5 p.m. April 5 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.
‘SPIDER’S
WEB’
Main Street Productions presents Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web” from April 3 to 13 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“Esque: Burlesque at Feinstein’s” is set for 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. April 4, followed by Adam B. Shapiro presents “With a Twist” at 7:30 p.m. April 5 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
EMMYLOU HARRIS
Emmylou Harris will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 3 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
“DANCING IN THE STREETS’
Indiana Wind Symphony’s “Dancing in the Streets” concert is set for 4 p.m. April 6 at the Palladium at Allied Solutions Center. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE
Pure Prairie League will perform at 8 p.m. April 5 at the Palladium at Allied Solutions Center. For more, visit thecenterpresents. org.
DISPATCH
Mummies concert set — Here Come the Mummies will perform Aug. 9 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers. Tickets are on sale at npdamp.com. Here Come the Mummies is an eight-piece funk-rock band with members dressed as Egyptian mummies.
MUSICAL
Fishers resident Olivia Cook plays Tina Denmark in “Ruthless! The Musical.” (Photo courtesy of Duane Mercier)
Croce to play Palladium
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
A.J. Croce views music as the heart of humanity.
CONCERT
It’s also the purest way for people to connect with one another, he said.
Croce will share that connection at 8 p.m. April 4 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
in the early ‘70s.
Croce’s latest album was produced by Shooter Jennings and the first single released was “I Got A Feeling,” followed by “Hey Margarita.”
The tour is named for the album “Heart of the Eternal,” which was released March 7.
“Like any artist, you have a tour with a message or concept or album you’re supporting,” Croce said. “You share new music and old music. This is a lot like (last year’s) ‘Croce Plays Croce’ tour but it’s kind of turned on its head. It’s geared more toward me than my father.”
Croce’s father, Jim, died in a 1973 plane crash. Croce was only 2 years old at the time of his father’s death. Jim was on the cusp of stardom with a string of hit songs
“I play so much guitar on the album as well as piano,” Croce said. “But it’s an evolution. I feel really proud of this project. I think it’s very representative of where I am now as far as songs, the messages, the ideas that are shared in the songs. I feel like it’s one of the best things I’ve done.”
Croce said it depends on the audience how many of the 11 songs he plays in concerts.
“A lot of people have been requesting the singles,” he said. “I want the show to flow. I want it to be energetic. Obviously, people are coming to hear songs from 10 other albums of mine as well as music that my father recorded. I try to keep a really good mix. If I had to stick with one setlist and never deviate, I don’t think I would do this.”
For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
DANCING IN THE STREETS
Croce
A.J. CROCE: HEART OF THE ETERNAL TOUR FRI APR 4 AT 8PM THE PALLADIUM
PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE SAT APR 5 AT 8PM THE PALLADIUM
CHS junior to perform with IWS
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Carmel High School junior Jasmine Choi was judged the winner of the Indiana Wind Symphony’s inaugural Concerto Competition.
CONCERT
That affords her the opportunity to be a guest soloist with the IWS in its “Dancing in the Streets” concert at 4 p.m. April 6 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“I am so excited to be able to play with such a high-level band that consists of extremely talented musicians, and very thrilled to be performing on a large stage, as I have never experienced this before,” Choi said.
UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN SAT APR 12 AT 8PM THE PALLADIUM
Choi, who plays the flute and piccolo in the Carmel High School Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, will perform “La Flute De Pan” by Jules Mouquet.
“There were lots of challenges in trying to play this piece in terms of technique and intonation,” said Choi, who moved to the U.S. from South Korea in 2023. “I tried to improve my playing by practicing areas
I struggled a lot with.”
IWS Music Director Jay S. Gephart said there were seven submissions for the Concerto Competition
“With this being our inaugural event in the Concerto Competition, I think it’s very appropriate that a Carmel High School student is the winner, especially considering our home base is at the Palladium,” Gephart said.
Gephart said the concert has a great mix of pieces.
“We have a wide variety from ballet to 1940s swing dancing,” Gephart said. For more, visit indianawindsymphony. org.
Carmel High School junior Jasmine Choi will perform with the Indiana Wind Symphony. (Photo courtesy of Jasmine Choi)
Blueprint for Improvement: Zionsville dining room transformation
Commentary by Larry Greene
Nestled in the charming Eagle Village neighborhood of Zionsville, this dining room underwent a stunning transformation. What was once an unstructured space is now a refined and intentional area designed for both everyday meals and elegant gatherings. A bold navy accent wall with custom paneling adds depth and character while sleek lighting, rich leather chairs and thoughtful decor bring warmth and style.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The focal point of the room is the custom navy panel wall, providing hidden storage while elevating the aesthetic.
• Designed with a push-pop mechanism, the storage doors open effortlessly with a light touch, eliminating the need for handles and maintaining a sleek, modern look.
• Rich leather dining chairs, a sleek black table and a modern chandelier create a refined yet inviting atmosphere.
• Light drapery and neutral walls keep the space bright, balancing the bold contrast.
• Thoughtful details like the navy bench with nailhead trim and warm wood flooring complete the transformation, making this dining room both stylish and highly functional.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
After
Before
Across
1. Billy Joel song: “We ___ Start the Fire”
6. Crease
10. Not that
14. Money-saving, in brand names
15. Indianapolis Opera solo
16. Actor Grant or Jackman
17. Former “Dateline NBC” co-host (from Warren Central HS)
19. “___ and Janis” (comic strip)
20. Picnic pest
21. Business abbr.
22. Like trucks going up or down a steep hill
23. Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime entertainer (born in Gary)
27. Rub clean
30. Eiteljorg Museum groups
31. Fast-food chain with the Frosty
33. “Woe is me!”
34. Cry of dismay
37. Secondhand
38. Fox-and-hounds pursuits
40. Put in order
41. Food additive letters
42. Flubs
43. Reverence
45. Artist’s workplace
47. Disinfectant brand
48. First female to drive in the Indy 500
52. French farewell
53. Bundle of bills
54. Indiana tax ID
57. Kind of mark
58. First woman to serve as commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (born in Indiana and a graduate of Manchester and IU)
62. Help with a heist
63. Wicked
64. NCAA men’s basketball champs in 2023 and ‘24
65. Fiddling emperor
66. Snitch
67. Word before mouth or training Down
1. ___ vu
2. Volunteer’s offer
3. Terse warning
4. U-turn from SSW
5. The art of sculpted shrubbery
6. Spigot
7. Magic, on a Pacers scoreboard
8. Commit perjury in Hamilton County Court
9. 24 hours
10. “Much obliged!”
11. Flings
12. Arctic house
13. Aired on WTHR
18. ___ Arbor, Mich.
22. Decorates a cake
23. Director Apatow
24. IndyGo: public ___ agency
25. Reject abruptly
26. Belittle
27. Swim, swam, ___
28. Prefix with pool or pit
29. Force on earth, for short
32. Shoulder gesture
34. Female deer
35. Popular snack since 1912
36. Web designer’s code
39. Pakistani language
40. Eyelid affliction
42. “___, Brute?”
44. Move a page in a PowerPoint presentation
45. Hope that one may
46. “C’est la vie”
48. Home of Carmel’s Sister City of Kawachinagano
49. Pueblo brick
50. More kind
51. Hinkle Fieldhouse cheer
54. Bratty kid
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