Page 20 Food Truck Nights to return with more vendors, extended hours
Proudly Endorsed By:
Sue Finkam
Public safety is my highest responsibility, and our residents expect nothing less. With the support of our city’s Fraternal Order of Police, I’m proud to endorse Dustin Dixon for Hamilton County Sheriff. He has the experience, the plan, and the commitment to support our officers and keep our community safe.
Doug Carter
Hamilton County Sheriff and Retired Indiana State Police Superintendent
Dustin Dixon is the right leader for Hamilton County. His integrity, character, and commitment to public service are unmatched. He has built strong relationships within the community and among his peers, and his extensive background in law enforcement has prepared him to lead the Sheriff’s Office with professionalism and accountability. I strongly believe his leadership will serve the citizens of Hamilton County well.
Our community deserves leadership that prioritizes the safety of every resident and visitor and supports the men and women who serve to protect us. We are proud to endorse Dustin Dixon for Hamilton County Sheriff. His experience, integrity, and dedication make him the right choice to ensure Hamilton County remains one of the safest places to live in Indiana.
- Council President Matthew Snyder
- Council Vice President Ryan Locke
- At-Large Councilor Jeff Worrell
- Councilor Teresa Ayers
- Councilor Shannon Minnaar
- Councilor Tony Green
- Councilor Adam Aasen
Former
Carmel Mayor
Retail scrapped, office space expanded at proposed Proscenium III development
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Plans for the Proscenium III mixeduse development have changed since the Carmel City Council approved $19 million in tax increment financing bonds in September 2024 to help fund it.
The $123 million project, a collaboration between developer Birkla Investment Group and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission, is still set to contain a 128-room luxury hotel with an upscale restaurant, office space for a corporate headquarters and more than 150 apartments.
But at the April 20 city council meeting, CRC Director Henry Mestetsky said the retail component has been eliminated, office space has expanded from 63,000 to 100,000 square feet, apartments reserved for renters age 55 and older have been decreased from 40 to 26, and parking spaces have been reduced from 508 to 440 spaces.
Architectural changes include a publicly available tower attached to the multifamily building that will provide a viewing deck overlooking the newly completed Kawachinagano Japanese Garden south of Carmel City Hall.
City Councilor Adam Aasen said he likes some elements in the new proposal, but he questioned the point of the city approving bonds for a project when it could undergo significant changes
without council knowledge or approval.
“This isn’t the same project,” Aasen said. “In my head, I’m trying to think, ‘Is this better, or is this worse?’”
Mestetsky presented the changes while explaining two ordinances on the agenda that would vacate the public roadway between the original Proscenium and the Proscenium III site. Currently, the roadway connects Range Line Road to Veterans Way and provides parking for city vehicles and overflow parking for Carmel City Hall.
Mestetsky said the major components of the project — and the city’s financial commitment — have not changed.
“At no point would the CRC ever move on something that wasn’t discussed at council and approved at council,” he said. “We previously said that we would be back with the vacation. So, now we’re back, and we are specif-
ically referencing every single change that happened. So, your vote for the vacation is essentially an approval of the slight changes from last year, but the bond amount didn’t change, and the nature of this mixed-use project is the same.”
Another change impacts the financial structure of the public-private partnership, as Birkla Investment Group is now set to receive all tax increment financing funds generated by the project. Previously, the city was to receive 5 percent of the funds to invest in other redevelopment efforts.
Councilor Rich Taylor said the state property tax law implemented in 2025 is a key reason for the financial restructuring. Under the new law, the assessed value deduction of multifamily housing will increase for the next several years, topping out in 2031 at a more than 33 percent.
That means fewer tax dollars will flow to the city each year as the deduction grows. Taylor asked Mestetsky if he was aware of any developers planning to subsidize or reduce rents because of the tax break they will receive.
“I’ve never seen developers not take a benefit to their own bottom line,” Mestetsky said.
The council’s Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee is set to discuss the vacation ordinances and project changes at its May 13 meeting at Carmel City Hall.
About us
Founded October 24, 2006, at Carmel, IN Vol. XX, No. 26
Copyright 2025
Current Publishing, LLC
All Rights Reserved.
525 North End Dr. Ste. 175 Carmel, IN 46032
317.489.4444
Contact the editor
Have a news tip, calendar item or photo to share? Contact Managing Editor Ann Marie Shambaugh at AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com or call 317.489.4444. You also may submit information at currentincarmel.com. Our print deadline is eight days prior to publication. Submissions for online accepted daily.
Share your thoughts
Letters to the editor may be sent for consideration to letters@youarecurrent. com. Letters have a maximum word count of 300 words. Please include your city of residence and a contact phone number for verification. Current Publishing may refuse letters.
Advertise your business
If you’re interested in reaching the Carmel market (35,089 households), you may obtain more information by emailing ads@youarecurrent.com (subject: Carmel advertising) or by calling 317.847.5022.
Join our community facebook.com/youarecurrent x.com/youarecurrent instagram.com/youarecurrent
Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in Carmel are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
A 128-room luxury hotel is proposed at the south end of the Proscenium III site.
Proscenium III is set to include a luxury hotel, corporate headquarters office space and an apartment building with a viewing tower overlooking the Kawachinagano Japanese Garden. (Renderings courtesy of the City of Carmel)
SUNDAY, MAY 3
2026 | NOON – 5 PM
Come celebrate our partnership with sister city, Kawachinagano, Japan Food
Council OKs U.S. 31 corridor subarea plan
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
The Carmel City Council met April 20 to approve a new subarea plan for the U.S. 31 corridor, hear feedback from residents regarding a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office that recently opened in the city, authorize the purchase of land adjacent to planned roundabouts and honor two Carmel Police Department officers for lifesaving efforts.
WHAT HAPPENED: The council approved a new subarea plan for the U.S. 31 corridor.
WHAT IT MEANS: The subarea plan, which is part of Carmel’s Comprehensive Plan, creates a framework for future redevelopment along the Meridian Corridor. The area stretches north to south throughout the city and includes several areas with increasingly vacant office buildings that have been identified as potential redevelopment sites. Learn more about the plan and view it at carmelcomprehensiveplan. com/section/sub-area-plans.
WHAT HAPPENED: Several residents spoke during public comment about the ICE office that recently opened in Carmel, with all but one expressing concerns about it.
WHAT IT MEANS: City Council President Matt Snyder told meeting attendees that the city does not have any authority to prevent a private landlord from leasing office space to a federal entity. Several public speakers said they understood that but encouraged the council to issue a formal statement or resolution denouncing ICE’s presence in the community.
WHAT’S NEXT: The city added information about the ICE office in Carmel to a FAQ on its website at carmel. in.gov/m/faq.
WHAT HAPPENED: The council authorized the purchase of properties valued at more than $25,000 needed for roundabout and related projects.
WHAT IT MEANS: The city plans to install roundabouts at Smoky Row
Road and Ironwood Drive and 116th and River Road and needs to acquire at least portions of adjacent parcels to have enough space for the new intersections. City code requires the council to approve the purchase of any parcels that could be valued at more than $25,000.
WHAT’S NEXT: The city will work with property owners to negotiate land sales.
WHAT HAPPENED: CPD Chief Drake Sterling presented Life Saving Awards to officer Mary Potvin and Sgt. Jeremy Meier.
WHAT IT MEANS: Potvin and Meier used CPR and an AED to save the life of an unresponsive man in his Carmel home late March 4. They administered lifesaving efforts until first responders from the Carmel Fire Department arrived and transported the man to a hospital for treatment. Sterling said the medical team at the hospital reported that without the officers’ efforts, the man would not have survived.
No Gimmicks, Just Growth
FRIDAY - SUNDAY | MAY 1–3
CELEBRATE THE CONCLUSION OF THE PARADE OF HOMES WITH A BEHIND THE SCENES PREVIEW OF HOME-A-RAMA! The 2026 McComb Pella Window & Door Home-A-Rama will be held at Wild Air, the newest community in Zionsville, this September. Get a sneak peek of behind the scenes builds of some of the top builders in Central Indiana.
Vehicle accident causes sewage leak into ponds
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
The City of Carmel coordinated efforts to clean up a sewage leak caused by an April 21 single vehicle crash that damaged sanitary sewer equiptment near 126th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway.
The accident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. when an alleged drunk driver struck equipment that was part of a sewer lining project underway in the area, according to Kelli Prader, Carmel Utilities senior project manager. No one was injured in the accident.
A Carmel Police Department spokesperson said an adult male was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and criminal mischief.
Some of the sewage entered nearby ponds before the leak was contained, according to an April 22 City of Carmel press release. There is no immediate risk to public health or safety, according to the city.
Remodeling Seminar Kitchen & Bath
People and pets are urged to avoid direct contact with the affected ponds, which will be marked with cones and signage. The city will remove the signs once tests show the water is back to normal levels.
Multiple city departments are working with outside agencies to recover and treat the leaked sewage, flush and clean the impacted storm sewer system and conduct water quality tests.
Join us for a complimentary seminar covering today’s top kitchen and bath trends, budgeting tips, and design insights to help you plan your next remodeling project with confidence.
What You’ll Learn
WEDNESDAY MAY 13 | 7 - 8:30pm Scan to Call: 99 E Carmel Dr | Carmel Showroom Limited Seating | RSVP by May 11th Call 317 846 2600 to claim your spot
Budgeting & Timeline Expectations
Kitchen & Bath Design Trends
Permits & Planning Tips Q&A with Designers
Trusted by Central Indiana homeowners for 25+ years
A sign alerts passersby April 22 of possible contamination of a pond near 126th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)
SCAN ME
COMMUNITY
Sheriff candidates: Same party, different priorities
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Two Republicans with lengthy careers in local law enforcement are vying to become the next sheriff of Hamilton County.
Although there are many similarities between John Lowes and Dustin Dixon, they took different paths to their current roles in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and offer competing views on top priorities for the agency. Lowes places more emphasis on addressing national issues at the local level, while Dixon stresses community partnerships.
Local leaders have taken notice. Lowes has been endorsed by Hamilton County Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush, who is leaving office because of term limits, Westfield Mayor Scott Willis and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita. Dixon has endorsements from Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen and the police unions representing the four largest cities in the county.
Lowes and Dixon will face off in the May 5 Republican primary. The winner is on track to become the next sheriff, as no other candidates in any other parties have entered the race.
Lowes joined HCSO as chief deputy in 2019 after the newly elected Quakenbush recruited him from the Westfield Police Department, where he had worked for 19 years.
His work at HCSO includes overseeing day-to-day operations and managing a $34 million budget.
“The executive level experience really sets me apart (from Dixon), because that’s something that he doesn’t have at the agency,” Lowes said.
Dixon, a U.S. Army veteran, joined HCSO in 2002 and worked his way through the ranks to become a lieutenant. During that time, he said he’s “done virtually every job (the) agency has” and built relationships with officials across the county.
“Really getting to know the people and the concerns and the needs and their issues regarding public safety is something you can’t learn in an office
in seven years,” Dixon said. “It’s something that has to be built by 25 years of frontline experience.”
Both men said under their leadership, HCSO would continue to partner with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement efforts in the county. But there are differences in their motivations.
For Dixon, it’s primarily a matter of following Indiana code.
“The state legislature changed the law in the last year or two to where essentially all county sheriffs are now required to honor any detainer from (ICE),” Dixon said. “We’re certainly going to follow the law.”
Lowes lists securing the U.S. border among his campaign platforms on his website. Although Indiana isn’t a border state, Lowes said communities throughout the nation are impacted by people in the U.S. illegally and that Hamilton County has seen an increase in this area in recent years.
“We have to enforce the law,” Lowes said. “In communities that don’t support ICE, we see that it seems like things are falling apart. So, when a federal agent — whether it’s ICE or (the) FBI or whatever it is — requests help, we have to be ready to assist them.”
Lowe’s said he supports continuing recent efforts to address and support HCSO employees’ mental and physical health. He also wants to continue to look for ways to protect taxpayer dollars.
“Leadership matters, and how we run the department really determines whether it becomes (financially) bloated, or are we able to look for efficiencies,” Lowes said, adding that HCSO has spent below its budget in recent years.
Dixon said he supports resuming HCSO training alongside law enforcement officials in the county’s smaller northern towns, a practice he said ended during Quakenbush’s tenure. He also would like to dedicate an officer to managing active arrest warrants and create units to focus on traffic enforcement and patrolling county waterways.
“We don’t even own a watercraft to be able to patrol those areas,” Dixon said. “We have to borrow a good citizen’s boat or wait on DNR.”
Dixon Lowes
Veteran Who Served Our Country Leader Focused on Public Safety Strong Community Relationships
Proven to Deliver for Hamilton County
Endorsed by 4 FOPs Endorsed by 3 Hamilton County Mayors
• Sue Finkam, Carmel Mayor
• Scott Fadness, Fishers Mayor
• Chris Jensen, Noblesville Mayor
Endorsed by Doug Carter, Retired Indiana State Police Superintendent and Hamilton County Sheriff
Vote on or before May 5th
5th District Dem candidates participate in forum
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Hundreds of community members packed the Fishers Arts Center theater April 15 for a 5th Congressional District Democratis candidates forum presented by the Hamilton County Democratic Party.
All seven candidates, Tara Nelson, J.D. Ford, Steven “Avit” Avitabile, Dylan McKenna, Deborah Pickett, Jackson Franklin and Phil Goss, attended.
The primary election is May 5. The winner will face Republican incumbent Victoria Spartz or Republican Scott A. King in the general election. All candidates said they would support the Democratic primary winner, with many wanting to see Spartz defeated.
“I absolutely support my fellow Democrat colleagues here,” said Pickett, a Carmel resident. “I see so many fabulous Democrats that are out there running for office. We will prevail in November.”
During the forum, community members wrote questions on notecards, which were then presented to candidates by moderators Laura Merriwether Wilson and Robin Winston. Questions covered health care; women’s reproductive rights; labor; ethics and campaign finances; immigration enforcement; and affordability and energy costs.
All candidates said they support pro-
tecting women’s reproductive rights. Westfield resident McKenna said more needs to be done to keep the government out of individual health care decisions.
“What I would do even to go further would be to introduce programs or enhance programs that give young mothers the support they need so they don’t feel like pregnancy is the end of their professional life or personal life so that maybe they don’t choose abortion in the first place,” McKenna said.
McKenna also supports fighting for Hoosiers’ rights to Medicare and Medicaid, saying Spartz has “essentially resigned her job.” Nelson, a Carmel resident, agreed, saying that Mexico recently approved universal health care for all, which Americans also deserve.
Candidates also discussed their strategies to ensure Indiana receives its fair share of federal investment, and described specific steps they would take to promote the creation of high-wage union jobs in the 5th District. Franklin, a Muncie resident and former combat medic, said he believes everyone has the right to unionize, and living wages should be at least $25 an hour across the nation.
“I think if Jeff Bezos (and) Elon Musk have enough money to go to outer space, then I know damn sure that
From left, 5th District Democratic candidates Steven “Avit” Avitable; J.D. Ford; Jackson Franklin; Phil Goss; Dylan McKenna; Tara Nelson; and Deborah Pickett at the April 15 forum. (Photos by Jessica Todd)
COMMUNITY
Continued from Page 10
they have more than enough money to pay all of their workers a living wage,” Franklin said. “We need to stand up for our unions and stand up for the working class people, not just the billionaire class.”
A significant topic in Hamilton County has been actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some residents have been concerned following reports of an ICE office that opened in Carmel near I-465 and U.S. 31. Many candidates support the abolishment of ICE, while others say border security is needed, but not in the way it is being enforced. Avitabile said ICE has overstepped its bounds to the point where they have “poisoned themselves.”
“I would be in favor of abolishing ICE and reestablishing a new agency in its place,” Avitabile said. “If we do have people that are here illegally that are criminals, yes, I want them gone, but I don’t want mass, roving gangs of armed thugs posing as law enforcement on the streets.”
Campaign finances were also a topic of discussion. Goss, a Noblesville resident, said campaign finance is what keeps politics going, but he disagrees
with the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. He said transparency regarding financial disclosure must change.
“Other countries have done this — where there’s online, instant verification of who does what with what monies,” Goss said. “We tend to be stuck in this country, in some old analog system, where it’s filed once every quarter. This should be real time. We have the technology, we can do better, we must do better. When we can verify people’s financial receipts, we can understand whom they really represent.”
District 29 State Sen. J.D. Ford, a Carmel resident, said his platform is based on affordability, accountability and the people. Among other topics, Ford supports helping residents with rising utility costs, saying he’s already taken action.
“We passed House Bill 1002, which is a sweeping change and a win for Hoosiers,” Ford said. “Part of that bill included language that I had about making sure that we’re not disconnect ing service from Hoosiers, particularly in the summertime when it’s over 95 degrees.”
Early voting is under way at select locations.
Expanding Community in
More healthcare opportunities in your neighborhood.
Community Health Network is increasing its presence in Carmel. By revitalizing our facility at 12188A North Meridian Street, we are able to add additional services and providers to our team. So you and your family have access to primary care, integrative medicine and pediatric care — without having to travel far from home.
Whether you’re looking for annual checkups, management of chronic conditions or integrative healthcare services, our expert team o ers it all. With more options in your neighborhood, receiving exceptional care just got easier.
To learn more, visit eCommunity.com/Carmel
Senate District 29 candidates speak at town hall
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
The Hamilton County Democratic Party presented a town hall April 17 at Clay Middle School in Carmel that featured candidates for the Indiana Senate District 29 race.
Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Josh Lowry was the host. Between 75 and 100 people attended.
Lowry asked eight questions of each candidate. Each had two minutes to answer. The primary is May 5.
The candidates are Indianapolis residents David Greene, Demetrice Hicks and Kevin Short and Carmel resident Kristina Moorhead. Democrat J.D. Ford, who is running for the Democratic nomination in Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District seat, is the incumbent.
Senate District 29 encompasses the west side of Carmel, Zionsville and Pike and Wayne townships in Marion County.
Moorhead said she wants to make sure the district stays with the Democratic Party.
“I entered this race because I think the seat is incredibly important for us to hold this election,” Moorhead said. “I am ready to defend this seat this year against the Republicans, so that we hold it and we can start picking up more seats across the state.”
Hicks is the Pike Township Board president.
“I am running on a platform of health, not harm,” Hicks said. “Right now, we have too many elected officials in office that are harming our community by passing poor policies because they are backed either by the Indiana chamber or a different special interest group.”
Short said he teaches construction management at Ivy Tech and worked with numerous social agencies but did not say why he is running.
Greene is the senior pastor at Purpose Of Life Ministries in Indianapolis.
“I see things not through a political lens, only a political challenge, but it’s moral issues,” Greene said. “So, when we don’t fund public education and ask
our teachers to do more with less, that’s a moral issue. When we’re willing to take 25 million gallons of water out of Eagle Creek and bring wastewater back to it (for the LEAP project), that’s a moral issue. When we’re willing to allow ICE to come into our schools or in our churches and snatch people out, that’s a moral issue. I truly believe that the budget is a moral document, and our budget is $22 billion, and I would suggest it does not represent the values of most Hoosiers.”
The candidates were asked what bill they would introduce if they could only introduce one.
Democratic candidates for Indiana Senate
District 29, from left, David Greene, Kevin Short, Demetrice Hicks and Kristina Moorhead listen to a question from moderator Josh Lowry during the Hamilton County Democratic Party Town Hall April 17 at Clay Middle School. (Photo by Todd Golden)
“I would pass a bill that would kickstart the constitutional amendment process to allow voter-led ballot initiatives in Indiana,” Moorhead said.
“It would be the relief bill,” Hicks said. “What that would look like is it would fully fund child care in Indiana and it would make sure we are using a percentage of our surplus every year to fund Medicaid.”
“I would eliminate the (Indiana Economic Development Corp.) or get them to be accountable,” Short said.
“My bill would be the local control and community investment act,” Greene said. “I believe we need to restore local control to our cities.”
BUILT FOR THIS
BENCH.
MAY E VENTS
COFFEE ON THE MONON
May 1, 8 - 10 a.m.
Midtown Plaza
JAPAN SPRINGFEST
May 3, 12 - 5:00 p.m.
City Hall
YOGA
May 8, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. City Hall Gazebo
NEIGHBORHOOD POP-UP
May 21, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Southeast District
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
May 22, 9 - 10 a.m. Veterans Memorial Plaza
GAZEBO CONCERT SERIES
May 27, 7 - 9:00 pm City Hall Gazebo
Entire Career Practicing Every Area of Law Superior Court 4 Handles.
Trampas Whalin for Hamilton County Superior Court 4 Judge
Proven Courtroom Experience in Family, Civil and Criminal Law
Committed to Safe Communities and Justice for All
Served as Judge Pro Tempore in most Hamilton County Courts
Respected Leader in our Community
FAMILY FUN RIDE
May 9, Starts at 8:30 a.m. Carmel Elementary School BikeCarmel.com
MIDTOWN BLOCK PARTY
May 9, 2 - 5 PM Midtown Plaza
BIKE TO WORK DAY
May 15, All Day BikeCarmel.com
PURE BARRE
May 16, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
MOVE WITH THE MAYOR WALK
May 29, 3 - 4 PM City Hall
EIDFEST
May 30, 4 - 8 PM Civic Square
CARMEL MARATHON May 31, Races begin at 8 a.m. Carter Green CarmelMarathon.com
Experience the artistry of Japan firsthand at Springfest with free, hands-on activities such as origami and Japanese calligraphy. Try the delicate craft of paper folding or explore the expressive beauty of brush and ink, two timeless art forms that celebrate creativity, precision and tradition.
Hurdles no obstacle for Hamilton Southeastern senior
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
About a month after competing in the 300-meter hurdles for the first time, Hamilton Southeastern High School senior Chloe Senefeld had instant success.
Senefeld placed second in the 300 hurdles at last year’s IHSAA girls state track and field meet.
Now, she is ready for an equally impressive encore as a senior.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish in the 300 hurdles this year now that I have much more experience,” Senefeld said. “I was so new to hurdling last year, so I feel like I will improve a lot this season. I have trained so much and been working with my coach since the summer. I’m also excited for both our 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. I think we have a lot of potential in both and are even looking to break school records.”
Senefeld’s goal is to break the state record in the 300 hurdles.
“This would require a big (personal record), but I don’t think it’s necessarily out of reach,” she said. “The record is
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
MEET CHLOE SENEFELD
Favorite athlete: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Favorite vacation spot: Turks and Caicos
Favorite subjects: Anatomy and psychology
Favorite movie: “Deadpool & Wolverine”
41.36 (seconds), and I ran 42.62 last year. However, that 42-second run was only my sixth time ever running the 300 hurdles. So, I believe this season, after all the work I’ve put in, this is an attainable goal.”
Royals girls track and field coach Julie Alano said Senefeld developed quickly.
(Photo by Mike Kepner Photography)
“If a strong sprinter is willing, it’s better to learn the hurdles later because then you have the strength and speed to do well in them,” she said. “She was able to take that 400 and 200 training and just transfer right over to the 300 hurdles.”
Senefeld is now working on the 100 hurdles, which she didn’t compete in last season because she hadn’t developed the proper form for the higher hurdles.
“The 300s are 3 inches lower and don’t
necessarily require the precise form that the 100s do, at least not when you’re starting out,” she said.
Senefeld ran the 400 hurdles in 2025 at the Nike Outdoors Nationals, her first time running.
“She just missed All-American. She was ninth and the top eight are All-Americans,” Alano said.
Alano said Senefeld is very coachable.
“She leads by example and does everything we ask her to do,” Alano said. “She’s usually the last one here because she is still working out in the weight room or somewhere — she is always trying to get better.”
Senefeld committed to the University of Iowa in late October 2025.
“I absolutely loved the coaching there,” she said. “All the coaches are extremely qualified and have a ton of experience. I also feel like Iowa is more of a hurdle-focused school compared to some others I visited. The head coach is also the hurdle coach, which I love since my high school head coach, Coach Alano, is also my hurdle coach. She really sets the standard high for my future coaching.”
Hamilton Southeastern High School senior Chloe Senefeld is a top hurdler.
Prevail honors partners
news@currentincarmel.com
Prevail, a Noblesville-based nonprofit that advocates for victims of crime and abuse in Hamilton and surrounding counties, honored first responders and community partners April 15 during its Community Partner Awards.
The event recognized individuals and organizations whose work supports survivors and helps build a safer, more supportive community ahead of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 19-26.
“Together, we are creating a powerful network of trauma-informed (responders) for survivors in our community, ensuring they have the resources and support to heal after trauma,” Executive Director of Prevail Tami Wanninger stated.
2026 award recipients include:
• Survivor Leader of the Year: Jessica Alston
• Officer of the Year: Carmel Police Department Lt. Katy Malloy
• Prosecutor of the Year: Elizabeth Pagel, Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office
• Health care Partner of the Year:
Jim Ginder, Hamilton County Health Department
• Mental Health Provider of the Year: Myechia Hudson, NobleACT
• Community Nonprofit Partner of the Year: More Than a Phone
• School Health Educator of the Year: Chad Ballenger, Hamilton Heights High School
• Community Partner Service Award: First Noblesville United Methodist Church
• Volunteer of the Year: Sandy Dupree
For more, visit prevailinc.org/donate or call 317-773-6942.
Current editor wins SPJ award for education reporting
news@currentincarmel.com
Current in Carmel Managing Editor Ann Marie Shambaugh has been recognized for her work by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Shambaugh won a third-place award in SPJ’s 2025 Best in Indiana Journalism Contest in the Education Reporting category. SPJ presented awards at an April 17 gala at the 502 Event Centre in Carmel.
Her award-winning story, “Not Great Expectations?”, is an in-depth examination of controversial grading practices at Carmel Clay Schools that created a divide between teachers and administrators.
Despite fears of retribution, several teachers expressed concerns that the new practices would lower academic expectations and achievement, while some top administrators disagreed. Shambaugh, who joined Current Publishing in 2015, was awarded in a competitive category for publications
Current in Carmel Managing Editor Ann Marie Shambaugh won third place in the Education Reporting category in the Indiana SPJ’s 2025 Best in Indiana Journalism contest. (Photo courtesy of Indiana SPJ)
with circulations above 10,000. She also won a third-place SPJ award in 2018 in the Investigative Reporting category for 30,000-plus circulation publications.
Current Publishing Vice President Steve Greenberg lauded Shambaugh’s work and commitment to journalism excellence.
“(Current Publishing President) Ben (Weir) and I are extremely proud of Ann Marie,” Greenberg said. “This is yet another in a long line of achievements she has deservedly earned.”
Read “Not Great Expectations?” at youarecurrent.com/?p=261945.
Award winners and Prevail staff at the April 15 Prevail Community Partner Awards. (Photo courtesy of Prevail)
*APY = Annual Percentage Yield. ¹Earn 3.75% APY on an 8-month CD with an interest rate of 3.68%. Offer APY as of 1/27/2026. $1,000 minimum balance required to open CD. New money only not on deposit with Centier Bank in the last 90 days. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Unless redeemed within the grace period, the CD will automatically renew on the maturity date to the 6-month term at the current rate for that term at the time of renewal. Limited Time Offer. Rates are subject to change without notice. ²APY is accurate as of 2/03/2026. $50,000 minimum balance required to receive the 3.75% APY. The Money Market APY will be paid on the entire balance in your account: $0 - $9,999.99 - earn .10%
CHS, Prairie Trace asst. principals named
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
The Carmel Clay Schools board approved new assistant principals for Prairie Trace Elementary School and Carmel High School at its April 15 meeting.
Katie Kelly, returning to her roots, will be the next assistant principal at CHS. The CHS graduate spent 14 years at the high school as a social studies teacher and instructional coach. She has been the assistant principal of student services since 2022 at Southport Middle School, where she oversees grade-level discipline.
Amanda Spurgeon is the new assistant principal at Prairie Trace. She was a third-grade teacher and kindergarten through fifth-grade resource teacher at Carmel Elementary School and is an instructional coach at Prairie Trace.
Kelly Spurgeon
“We are confident that her leadership, dedication and passion for student and staff success will make her an outstanding addition to the administrative team,” Herrera told the board.
“She is a familiar name to many,” said Holly Herrera, CCS assistant superintendent of staff and student services.
Spurgeon is a specialist in literacy and student support. She led districtwide development on the science of reading and helped implement MultiTiered Systems of Support, which is a framework for providing students targeted academic, behavioral and social-emotional support.
DISPATCHES
Teacher of the Year — Kourtney Eisberg, who teaches fourth-grade math, science, reading, social studies and religion at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School in Carmel, has been selected as the Indiana Teachers of Tomorrow Teacher of the Year. Eisberg will receive $500 to support classroom needs, along with free professional development through SimpleK12. She has been named a finalist for the Teachers of Tomorrow National Teacher of the Year award. The National Teacher of the Year will receive $5,000
OBITUARY
for classroom needs and one year of free professional development.
Students earn perfect scores — Several Carmel High School students were recognized for earning perfect scores on the SAT or ACT at the April 15 Carmel school board meeting. Jackson Miller earned a 1600 on the SAT putting him in the top 0.1 percent of all test takers. “It requires a flawless or near flawless performance across the entire exam,” said Kevin McDonough, director of counseling at CHS. Additionally, students Kaitlyn Ho, Kate Jentz, Ankur Kapileshwar, Zaina Khan, Mira Nuthakki, Allen Qian, Deesha Roopesh and Ivy Wei earned a 36 ACT score. A perfect ACT score puts students in the top 0.25-0.50 percent of all test takers.
Ruth Ann (Fleming) (Zehring) Ackerman, 97, of Carmel, IN, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 15, 2026 of natural causes. To view a full obituary for Ruth Ann Ackerman, please head to Flanner Buchanan’s Website or to https:// www.flannerbuchanan.com/obituaries.
CHS Class of 2016 reunion – The Carmel High School Class of 2016 will hold a 10-year reunion at 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W. Washington St. in Indianapolis. The event will include dinner, a DJ, photo booth and more as attendees catch up with old friends, share memories and make new ones. Learn more and get tickets at chs16reunion.com/tickets.
Eisberg
Beating Arnold Palmer a top memory for Carmel golfer
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Doc O’Neal has been a prominent figure on the Indiana golf scene for more than 55 years.
O’Neal, whose given name is John but has been known as Doc his entire life, shared his golf journey April 16 at the Carmel Clay History Museum. The Carmel Clay Historical Society announced the first Carmel Clay History Museum’s Legacy Golf Outing will honor O’Neal Sept. 28 at The Bridgewater Club in Westfield.
O’Neal, who was inducted into the Indiana High School Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1993, was on CHS’ state championship teams in 1970 as a sophomore and 1971 as a junior. Those were the first IHSAA state championships in school history. The Greyhounds were third in the state his senior year, and O’Neal was individual runner-up.
“My dad always thought the Carmel school system was the greatest in the world and it was going to start with sports,” O’Neal said. “It was great for the 1970 team to establish us on the map for Carmel.”
O’Neal was captain of the Purdue University golf team. He went on to help start The Bridgewater Club, which opened in Westfield in 2005. O’Neal is the co-owner of O’Neal Golf Management with his son, Colin.
The Carmel resident was joined by his wife, Carol; daughter, Courtney Bryant; and sons, Colin, Cody and Connor. Courtney’s husband, Josh Bryant, is the Westfield High School boys and girls golf coach.
Colin and Connor played golf at CHS while Cody played baseball. Connor finished runner-up to Patrick Rodgers, now a PGA Tour pro, in 2010.
“Never liked that kid,” O’Neal joked about Rodgers.
Naturally, O’Neal’s top memories are winning the state team championships, but the second was beating Arnold Palmer in 1983 at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel. Palmer and O’Neal’s brother, Jim, were business partners for about 20 years.
“So, I got to play Arnold on many occasions,” he said. “He comes to Carmel to be the Grand Marshal of the Fourth of July parade. We thought if we could
get him to play Crooked Stick while he was here, that would be pretty cool. So, we kept it a secret, and when I walked to the first tee, there were only about 200 people there surrounding the first tee. I was overtaken by it. Oh, my gosh, I’m playing with the king, Jim Farriell, the pro, and my brother, who’s an 18 handicap.”
O’Neal said he was 29 and playing well at the time.
“Arnold said to me, ‘Would you like to have a game?’” O’Neal said. “He said, ‘How many shots would you like?’ I said, ‘I don’t want any shots.’”
O’Neal said the lowest score won $20. The two both shot 35 on the first nine holes.
“I start to get hot and we get to the 18th hole and I’m 3-under (par) for the day and he’s 1-over,” O’Neal said. “I was thinking if I don’t knock it in the water, I should have this. I drive it down the middle and the pin was way back. Arnold said, ‘If you’re really good, you’ll hit a cut shot in there.’ Well, that’s not my shot. I can’t believe he’s still trying to get me. I hit a cut shot with a 4-iron and knocked it about 15 feet away and two-putted for par.”
O’Neal shot 69 and Palmer finished with 74. O’Neal planned to frame the $20 bill but then went to a bar, forgot his intention and paid for his drink with the bill.
“That was not too bright,” he said. He also served as president of Crooked Stick and was chairman of the 1993 U.S. Women’s Open at Crooked Stick.
Doc O’Neal answers questions from the audience at the Carmel Clay History Museum. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
Food truck nights to return
By Samantha Kupiainen news@currentincarmel.com
Carmel Food Truck Nights are set to return for a second year.
The weekly event kicks off from 5 to 9 p.m. May 1 at Ginther Green, 930 N. Range Line Rd. and runs Fridays through early fall.
Married couple Steven and Olivia Guistolise organize the event. They own Stadium on Wheels, a food truck that serves foot-long hot dogs, nachos and lemonades. Ginther Green is owned by Jeff and Libby Ginther, who gave the Guistolises permission to use the lot for the event.
New this year is Taco Tuesday, set for 5 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday through the season. Taco Tuesday will feature Mexican cuisine food trucks at Ginther Green.
“We wanted to add another day, just because they’re so popular on Friday, and we were looking on Sunday,” Steven Guistolise said. “But on Sunday, sometimes we have some (competition) with other local events that are going on, so we chose Tuesday because we
have a lot of Mexican cuisine-type food trucks on our list, and they’re also looking for a spot, so we thought it was kind of perfect to do the Taco Tuesdays.”
Carmel Food Truck Nights will last one hour later this year and feature more vendors onsite each week compared to 2025.
“Every Friday, it’s going to be rotating vendors,” Steven Guistolise said. “We usually post our lineup on Sunday nights on our Facebook page.”
Learn more by visiting the Carmel Food Truck Nights pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Attendees enjoy offerings in 2025 at Carmel Food Truck Nights on Ginther Green. (Photo courtesy of Steven Guistolise)
Event attendees try on kimonos at the Kimono Try-On Station at the Cherry Blossom Festival. (Photo by Samantha Kupiainen)
Festival celebrating Japanese culture returns May 3
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
The City of Carmel’s second spring festival celebrating Japanese culture is set to return May 3 with an expanded footprint, lineup and hours.
It also has a new name. Japan SpringFest — rebranded from the Cherry Blossom Festival — is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. in the parking lot south of Carmel City Hall, 1 Civic Square.
“We rebranded it because we know it falls outside of the blossom timeline for the cherry trees, and I think some folks last year were a little surprised the trees weren’t blooming,” said Evan Kreutzer, president of the nonprofit Carmel-Kawachinagano, Japan Sister City, Inc. “Our stated goal is to celebrate Japanese culture and our Sister City relationship while supporting local businesses and artists.”
The free family-friendly event will feature more than twice as many food vendors as last year, and guests can experience hands-on activities such as learning Japanese calligraphy, playing traditional games and trying on kimonos. Attendees can also visit a tent featuring Legos of Japan.
Several groups will perform throughout the event, including martial artists, musicians and dancers.
The festival will also celebrate Carmel’s 31-year Sister City partnership with
Kawachinagano, Japan. From noon to 12:30 p.m., Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Sukiya Entrance Gate at the Kawachinagano Japanese Garden just south of Carmel City Hall. The garden recently reopened after a lengthy reconstruction project.
Kawachinagano was Carmel’s first sister city. Kreutzer became involved with the Sister City program after he and his wife learned it existed while visiting Kawachinagano several years ago.
“We were staying at a little countryside bed and breakfast about 10 minutes from Kawachinagano, and we were reading about Kawachinagano the first night we got there and we saw it was the sister city for Carmel, Indiana,” Kreutzer said. “We mentioned (we were from Carmel) to our server at dinner. She goes, ‘The place with the roundabouts?’”
Fascinated that the woman had heard of Carmel, Kreutzer said he decided to become involved with the committee upon his return.
Besides Japan SpringFest, Kreutzer said the Sister City nonprofit hosts quarterly meetups featuring cultural experiences, such as sushi-making classes, picnics at the Japanese garden or restaurant visits.
Learn more about Japan SpringFest and the Sister City partnership at tinyurl.com/tceyetbr.
DISPATCH
Mayor attends leadership event — Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam convened with mayors from around the world at Harvard University from April 12 to 14 as part of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, joining leaders from 45 cities across 16 nations. The gathering brings together mayors to reflect, share insights, exchange ideas and highlight how they are delivering results for their communities. The initiative provides mayors with research-based insights and tools to solve urban problems and improve outcomes for residents.
Recognition $300 Double the size. Larger photo + 75 words for more impact.
Showcase $550 Quarter-Page feature. Large photo(s) + 115 words.
COMMUNITY
HONESTLY ABE
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Danny Russel has been a professional actor for 42 years, but he found his true calling 20 years ago.
Since that time, the 63-year-old Carmel resident has performed as Abraham Lincoln at schools, museums, historical societies, Civil War reenactments, senior living centers and festivals. It doesn’t hurt that he bears a resemblance to the nation’s 16th president.
“If you can easily memorize such extensive dialogue, you could learn some speeches, grow a beard, and besides, you’re tall and skinny,” he said of why his performance works.
Russel will give a free presentation as Lincoln at 4:30 p.m. April 30 at the Carmel Clay History Museum, 211 1st St. SW.
Russel also performs as poet James Whitcomb Riley and pioneer Daniel Boone, among other famous people with Indiana ties. Lincoln, however, who spent his formative years in Indiana, is much more in demand. Requests have picked up this year with it being America’s 250th birthday.
“I typically do about 250 shows a year, and most of them are Mr. Lincoln, because he’s timeless,” Russel said. “Schools are my bread and butter. I’m in the schools from September to May because one or three of my characters are appropriate. February is my big month with Presidents’ Day and Black History Month. I’ve done as many as five performances in a day, but I try to keep it to three. Three is a good balance — morning, afternoon and evening.”
Russel does his own scheduling.
“I find the job, I book the job and I perform the job,” he said.
Russel recounts how the Lincoln family moved to Spencer County in Indiana when Lincoln was 7 years old because of their opposition to slavery.
“Indiana never had slavery as part of its constitution, but when he goes to New Orleans to sell merchandise and sees a slave auction, it changes his life forever,” Russel said. “His cousin said it ran the iron into him to see human beings sold. Then, he goes to Illinois to become a prairie lawyer.”
Russel then recounts his journey including political aspirations, the debates with Stephen Douglas, the presidency and the Civil War.
Carmel actress MaryAnne Mathews has joined him as Mary Todd Lincoln in recent years.
“Danny might know President Lincoln better than Abe knew himself,” Mathews said. “He really brings the President to life in a charming, approachable way and bases his interpretation on solid research and scholarship. He portrays Mr. Lincoln’s humor but also
his compassion. Children love him and adults of all ages relate to him.”
Russel, who is originally from Maine, has lived in Carmel for the past eight years. He lived in Indianapolis for 33 years.
“I mostly perform in the three states where Lincoln lived — Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois,” he said.
However, he has also made appearances in New Orleans, Iowa and Missouri.
Russel said he doesn’t look at all like Riley, who was much shorter.
“I just try to capture his spirit the way Riley performed,” he said. “I put on a beaver cap and my buckskins when I play Boone.”
Russel also performs at Conner Prairie a few days a month to portray a different time in frontier history. Prior to specializing as Lincoln, Riley and Boone, the Ball State University graduate performed in regional theater and occasionally commercials.
For more on Russel, visit famoushoosiers.com.
ODD REQUEST
The strangest request actor Danny Russel ever had was to perform as Abraham Lincoln at a wedding last year in Carmel.
“She found me on my website, and she wanted me to come to her wedding reception,” Russel said. “She had been in love with Lincoln since she was 6. I go to the reception, and all these centerpieces are stovepipe hats. She wanted a dance with Mr. Lincoln after a dance with her dad and husband. That’s the wildest (thing) that I was there. It was less than an hour, but she insisted on Mr. Lincoln being there.”
Carmel actor specializes in portraying nation’s 16th president
ON THE COVER: Danny Russel is in demand as actor playing President Abraham Lincoln. (Photo courtesy of 2 Slavens Photography)
Danny Russel speaks with students.
Danny Russel portrays President Abraham Lincoln at a Civil War renactment. (Photo courtesy of Danny Russel)
Carmel couple finds right fit with Degree Wellness
mark@youarecurrent.com
Janice Bhavnani and her husband, Rajan Bhavnani, had been seeking the right concept for a franchise for about
“We had vetted out quite a few things like food, hair and workout places and then COVID hit,” said Janice, a Carmel resident and Carmel High School graduate. “We were awarded a few franchise (opportunities), but we just didn’t feel they were a great fit. We’ve been looking and we found this concept (Degree Wellness) through a franchise consultant, and we fell in love because it encompasses so many different services under one roof. We instantly felt like it aligned with what we were passionate
Degree Wellness opened in mid-January at 1685 116th St., Suite 130, in the Muse at the Corner in Carmel. It had a ribbon-cutting ceremony in February. Its services include cryotherapy, infrared sauna, cold plunge, contrast therapy, red light therapy and IV drips.
Janice’s background is informational technology project management, and Rajan has a sales position. Janice, 46, serves as the studio manager, while Rajan, 47, keeps his sales job.
Janice said they visited Jacksonville to see Degree Wellness in person in December 2024. Then they signed an agreement and began looking for the best space.
This is the first Degree Wellness in Indiana.
“We wanted to bring this to my hometown before expanding into other locations,” Janice said.
Janice said they eventually plan to open a second location in Westfield.
“We found we did not get as much recovery for ourselves as we got older and older, we kind of just always focused on the calorie burn or taking calories in and all that stuff that you grew up hearing,” she said.
Janice said most popular services are red light therapy and contrast therapy.
“We have three suites. Contrast therapy is when you go from the sauna to the cold plunge, back to the sauna and back to the cold plunge,” she said. “The hot and the cold (treatment) gives you a lot of recovery benefits. It helps with muscle recovery and helps with metabolism. It helps with energy and focus. They each have benefits.”
Janice said red light therapy is good for skin and joints and can help with mood and energy.
Degree Wellness offers memberships.
“That’s where you see the most value but also allows you to be more consistent,” she said.
Janice said Degree Wellness takes walk-ins. There is a $25 introductory fee cost for any one service, which is half the retail cost.
For more, visit degreewellness.com/ locations/carmel-in.
at 11595 N. Meridian St., Suite 300. In addition to tax preparation and filing for individuals and businesses, the tax center provides year-round tax strategy and consulting. Learn more at prosperityadvisors.com.
Carmel firm acquired by CCCG — Circle City Capital Group has acquired Damage Claim Services, a specialized independent insurance claims adjusting firm headquartered in Carmel. DCS Claims Director Richard Allen and Operations Director Anita Buhl have made personal equity investments in the company and have become co-owners in CCCG. Learn more at CircleCityCapitalGroup.com.
Janice and Rajan Bhavnani opened Degree Wellness in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Janice Bhavnani)
Group offers info, community for men with prostate cancer
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Indianapolis psychologist John Gallagher began leading prostate cancer support groups about 13 years ago — coinciding almost exactly with the first time he was diagnosed with the disease at age 56.
He had been negotiating a contract to provide support groups through an Indianapolis urology center, and the day before he signed that contract, he received his diagnosis. Since then, he said, he received treatment, went into remission and then was diagnosed three more times, but he’s now been “squeaky clean” — as far as prostate cancer goes — for about a decade.
useful thing that is consistently appreciated by my guys (is) they learn about treatment options that they were never going to hear from their physician.”
Gallagher said most physicians will offer treatments that they know how to provide, which can limit options for patients. He said that over the years, he and others in his groups spent a lot of time researching those options and compiled a list of 14 primary approaches.
Gallagher’s contract with the urology center ended, but his commitment to helping others didn’t. He now leads support groups for men with prostate cancer through the nonprofit Cancer Support Community Indiana, with meetings twice monthly at the center’s north Indy facility, 5150 W 71st St., and at Gallagher’s south side office, with virtual attendance available for those who can’t make it in person.
Gallagher said his personal experience and his ability to research have helped him facilitate the support groups over the years, as well as understanding how men process something as devastating as a cancer diagnosis.
“What happens in a support group with a bunch of guys is different from the stereotype about support groups,” he said. “Men do not come to a support group for people to be sympathetic with them. Men are information-seeking, problem-solving animals, and the very
“We don’t give medical advice, obviously, but what we do is we present a composite of information that pretty much amounts to one-time, one-stop shopping for about everything you might need to know about prostate cancer if you’re embarking on making a decision,” he said.
One of the 14 options is a non-FDAapproved immunological treatment available in Greece that Gallagher credits with eliminating the aggressive form of prostate cancer he had been battling. He added that lifestyle factors can improve outcomes for all types of cancer risks. Those factors include diet, exercise, stress management and social support. And although his support groups are less about feelings than similar groups, he said the men who join value the sense of community — some even continue to participate long after they successfully complete cancer treatment.
Anyone interested in joining Gallagher’s support group can call Cancer Support Community Indiana at 317-257-1505 or email info@cancersupportindy.org for details.
For more about the nonprofit, visit cancersupportindy.org.
DISPATCHES
The Clean Swap Workshop — Carmel Green Initiative will host The Clean Swap Workshop seminar at 6 p.m. May 7 at the Carmel Clay Public Library, 425 E. Main St. The free program will highlight ways to reduce toxins in the home and provide recipes for making cleaning and personal care products. Learn more at carmelgreen. org/live-and-learn/sustainable-living/ the-clean-swap-workshop.
New public transit service offered — One-Call Connect is a public transit service that takes riders between Hamilton and Hancock counties has launched through a Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, Hamilton County Express and RIDE Hancock partnership. To book a trip weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., call 317-327-7433 at least 48 hours in advance.
Commentary by Larry Greene
This Carmel home was expanded with a light-filled sunroom addition, creating a seamless transition to the outdoors while enhancing everyday living and entertaining space.
THE BLUEPRINT
• Added sunroom to extend living space and improve indoor-outdoor connection.
• Clean-lined ceiling with recessed lighting for a seamless, cohesive look.
• Large windows maximize views and bring in abundant daylight.
• Stone fireplace creates a warm, central focal point.
• Neutral palette and layered textures for a timeless, cohesive feel.
• Direct access from the kitchen to the backyard for effortless entertaining and relaxation.
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.
RED, WHITE
Carmel home gets sunny addition
AND BLOOM
CELEBRATE AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!
Etheridge brings ‘Rise’ tour to Palladium
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
It always invigorates Melissa Etheridge to share her music with an audience.
“Having this new album that seems to be received so well, I’m able to do these new songs, so it makes for a new show,” she said. “I was able to rethink some of the older songs, put them together differently and it makes for a new show that me and the band are really enjoying doing.”
Etheridge will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 3 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. She also performed in Carmel in 2018.
Etheridge’s album “Rise” was released in late March. It marked the first time working with Grammy-winning producer Shooter Jennings, son of the late Waylon Jennings.
“I was very, very happy to work with him,” Etheridge said. “It had been about seven or eight years since I did a full studio album on my own of new material. I really wanted to do something different, new, and I really wanted to look at the artists who were making country rock, outlaw country and Americana and all that, all those genres that I’ve always thought were just rock ‘n’ roll. But (Jennings) was just a name that kept coming up and, boy, he was so wonderful. I loved working with him.”
Etheridge, 64, said her new song “Matches” is unique.
“I’ve never allowed myself to kind of write a song with that kind of feel,” she said. “It kind of just rolls along, and it’s a memory that brings us into right now. The last verse I love because it’s now, ‘I’m rolling down the road, pulling into your town,’ and whenever I sing that, the people in the audience, they go nuts and it’s a really fun song to do.”
Etheridge co-wrote a song with Chris Stapleton called “The Other Side of Blue.”
“I first wanted to write with him
because I appreciate and respect his music, his art and him as a person,” she said. “I’ve always felt that he’s got this great presence in music right now and is such a great talent.”
Etheridge, who is based in Los Angeles, said she met Stapleton in Nashville.
“I had never met him before, and we wrote it very easily and quickly,” she said. “He was just very open, very creative. I think he’s an amazing writer. Then after we wrote it, I said, ‘Chris, I really think the world should hear the two of us sing together,’ and so we decided to do it as a duet. I’m just very pleased and very grateful.”
Etheridge said she hasn’t performed the song on the tour yet, but might sing it solo on the tour.
The song deals with navigating grief and finding hope. Etheridge’s son, Beckett, died from causes related to his opioid addiction at age 21 in 2020.
Etheridge said writing that song
Melissa Etheridge will perform May 3 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Primary Wave Music)
and “Call You” provided some comfort.
“Presenting that to an audience, I realize I’m not alone in that (grief), unfortunately,” she said. “It feels very cathartic. It’s a great thing to get off my mind.”
Etheridge has been performing about seven songs from “Rise’ on the tour that began in March
“I do five or six hit songs,” she said. “I do a couple of deeper tracks, so there’s eight of my old songs.”
Some of Etheridge’s biggest hits are “I Want to Come Over,” “Come to My Window,” “I’m the Only One” and “Like the Way I Do.”
Although she wasn’t selected, Etheridge was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time in February.
“It was nice to be thought about and in the room with everyone,” she said. For more, visit thecenterpresents. org.
‘SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN’
“Singin’ in the Rain” runs through May 23 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards. com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“Now That’s Funny: Brian Hicks” is set for April 30, followed by Tim Wright & Steel Petals at Feinstein’s in Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘BROTHERS GRIMM’
The Point Theater presents “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” May 1-3 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thepointtheater.org.
‘RISE’
Melissa Etheridge will perform a concert in support of her latest album “Rise” at 7:30 p.m. May 3 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘SUNSET BOULEVARD’
Actors Theatre of Indiana presents “Sunset Boulevard” through May 10 at the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit atistage.org.
‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’
Civic Theatre presents “Fiddler on the Roof” through May 9 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
ELO EXPERIENCE
The Electric Light Orchestra Experience featuring Evil Woman — The American ELO will perform at 8 p.m. May 2 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
Actor back in familiar opera role in ‘Figaro’
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Rafael Porto is very familiar with “The Marriage of Figaro.”
“It’s one of my favorites. It’s timeless and really fun to do,” he said.
Porto will perform in the famous opera for the sixth time in Indianapolis Opera’s May 1-3 production at The Toby Theater at Newfields in Indianapolis.
tober 2025. They sing in the Lyric Opera in Chicago, one of three full-time opera choruses in the nation.
Porto performed in the same production in 2025 at Northern Lights Music Festival in Minnesota.
Porto, who grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Ben Davis High School, portrays Don Bartolo for the fifth time. He was cast as Figaro once.
“I love the comedic elements of the role,” he said. “I think (Bartolo) is a guy who is not trying to be funny. The comedy comes from him thinking he has everything figured out and knows how to work the system, and he doesn’t realize he’s getting played like a fiddle. The fun side is he thinks he’s quite serious and brilliant.”
Porto said the comedy comes from the audience seeing the plan he and Marcellina have is falling apart.
Porto’s wife, Cara Collins, plays Marcellina. The couple were married in Oc-
“We also had the same director (A. Scott Parry) and the same Figaro (Jason Cox) and Countess (Rebecca Krynski Cox) in this production,” Porto said. “It will be very fun to do it with them again because that’s more of a rarity. It’s a really good group of people with good chemistry.”
The first time Porto appeared with Indianapolis Opera as a chorus member was at Butler University, and then his first principal role was in “Madame Butterfly” in 2011.
“It’s been a company that’s just been a part of my life for my whole artistic journey,” said Porto, who earned his bachelor’s degree at Butler and master’s degree at Indiana University.
Porto has been a freelance performaner for several years.
“It’s always nice to come back to Indiana because that was a place that gave me a lot of chances when I was starting up,” he said.
For more, visit indyopera.org.
Comedy shows added — Two comedians, Michael Blaustein and Becky Robinson, have been announced for the 2026-27 season at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. Michael Blaustein’s “The Taste Me Tour – The Final Leg” is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 24. Robinson’s :”The Beasts in Me Tour” is set for 8 p.m. Oct. 9. Both shows will be at the Payne & Mencias Palladium. Tickets are on sale at thecenterpresents.org.
Billy Strings rescheduled — The Billy Strings concerts originally scheduled for April 24-26 at the Fishers Event Center have been rescheduled to August 6-8 Ticket holders should retain their tickets as they will be honored for the rescheduled dates.
OUTDOOR PAVILION
APR. 24 - MAY 10
Porto
MUSIC BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
BOOK & LYRICS BY DON BLACK & CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON STARRING
JUDY FITZGERALD & DON FARRELL
Brad and Meg Osborne Cornelius Martin and Kate Marvel John and Camille Murphy
FRiddler on the oof
Musicians end 50-year run
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The time seemed right for Carmel Symphony Orchestra members Jan Brill and Ann Manship to retire.
The close friends were both 24 when they joined the CSO when it was founded in 1976.
“We talked several years ago that since we came in together, we’re going to go out together,” Brill said. “So, we decided 50 years was a good time to pass our bows on to younger musicians.”
The two performed their final concert as full-time CSO members April 17 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. They were honored for their contributions at the show. Brill plays the cello and Manship is a violinist.
Manship said they made the decision in the summer of 2025 they would retire after 50 years.
“It’s been a memorable and varied musical run for me,” Manship said.
Manship was a pharmacist in Carmel when CSO started. She moved to the Geist area in 1984. She eventually retired as a full-time pharmacist in 2016 but still works part time.
“I have been a church choir member since 1984, which has also been a wonderful musical experience,” she said. “The variety of music performed as well as the special events were the most exciting part. Every time I rehearse or play a concert, my love of music comes to the forefront.”
Brill, a Carmel resident, taught in the Westfield Washington Schools district for 22 years before retiring in 2018. Pri-
or to that, she gave music lessons when her children were younger.
“The best part is all the places I’ve gone physically, emotionally, intellectually with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra I never would have traveled if not for the Symphony,” Brill said. “I can say I played ‘The Nutcracker’ on ice when you are on the stand on ice while ice skaters dance or playing in the bottom at the bottom of a quarry. We’ve had very unique experiences.”
Brill said they started in a church basement with around 20 people.
“It’s been incredible to see how we’ve evolved from humble beginnings,” Brill said.
The CSO has performed in several venues in the Indianapolis area.
“We got lifetime tickets to the Carmel symphony and neither of us are going to stop playing,” Brill said.
Brill said she would fill in if CSO needed a cello player.
“I think Ann is in the same boat. We will continue to play, but not sign the contract for the whole year,” she said. “Ann and I still play together in a quartet and I got a trio. We are both in the stage of our lives where we like to travel, and when you have a concert in the middle of every month that makes it difficult.”
Brill’s daughter, Zionsville resident Catherine Brill Moser, plays the cello and has performed with the CSO in the past and played in the Carmel High School Orchestra.
“My mom played cello and I’m giving my granddaughter Alena cello lessons, so we’ll have four generations of cello players in the family,” Brill said.
From left, Jan Brill, Ann Manship and CSO Board Chair Nancy Sutton. (Photo courtesy of Jay Brill)
Connect with compassion
Commentary by Jeff Worrell
Over the last two weeks, we have explored the first two pillars of a healthy Internal Posture: Goodwill, the choice to assume positive intent and the Humility to recognize that we don’t necessarily possess the only truth. This week, we conclude our series on the Project Civility value of Humanity with the third and final pillar: Compassion.
When our Internal Posture is rooted in compassion, we stop treating people as “issues” to be managed and start treating them as neighbors to be heard.
– JEFF WORRELL
one’s family, livelihood, or way of life. When our Internal Posture is rooted in compassion, we stop treating people as “issues” to be managed and start treating them as neighbors to be heard. It allows us to stay at the table even when an agreement seems impossible. We can say, “I disagree with your conclusion, but I hear your concern, and I care about your well-being.”
If Goodwill is the start and Humility is the space we create, Compassion is the “reach.” It is the bridge that keeps us connected when a conversation gets difficult. Compassion literally means “to suffer with.” In the context of our community discourse, it means looking past a neighbor’s heated argument or political slogan to see the “why” behind their words.
Often, behind a rigid stance or a flash of anger is a deep-seated fear. Fear for
By consciously adjusting our Internal Posture and leading with Goodwill, leaning in with Humility and reaching out with Compassion — we don’t just change how we talk; we change the culture of Carmel.
Jeff Worrell is a Carmel City Council member and a civility proponent. To contact him, you may email JeffWorrell@ projectcivility.com.
Getting a handle on birthday mugs
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
Last month, I celebrated my 79th birthday. My wife Mary Ellen and son tried to find me the perfect gift. But I am a very difficult person to shop for. I know this because my mother started telling me this when I was 3 years old.
To help them, I Googled “Gifts for men in their 80s.” I still have a year to go, but I wanted to give my family a good start on the next decade.
Here was the first recommendation: “The gift should convey to the celebrant that he is still loved, respected and appreciated.”
I don’t want to be a celebrant. It’s bad enough that many consider me an irritant.
Another suggestion: “Why not a collage of stamps from that person’s birth year? Can you think of a better present?” Yes. How about a gift certificate for my next colonoscopy? By the way, a postage stamp in 1947 cost 3 cents, which was expensive at the time. That’s why my father didn’t want to send out my birth announcements.
Then there also were several ideas for personalized coffee mugs: “What about an eye-catching cup with a list of all the famous people born on their birthday?” I thought that sounded like a good idea, so I did a little research about March 5 on AI. Amazing how many notables share my birth date:
• Tang Gonghong (Chinese weightlifter)
• Jef Eygel (Belgian basketball
LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
player)
• Olusegun Obasanjo (former president of Nigeria)
But how long will that priceless gift last before someone swipes it?
Here’s another hint: “A coffee mug decorated with the names of famous people who died on your birth date.”
I’m surprised Starbucks never thought of this. It seems tasteless, but it’s nothing compared to their scones.
I Googled a list for those who said their final goodbyes on March 5.
• Jay Silverheels (Tonto on the “Lone Ranger”)
• Patsy Cline (Country singer)
• William Powell (Movie star)
I’d suggest they add dictator Joseph Stalin, who also died on March 5. Anything to brighten up that mug.
Just before my birthday, Mary Ellen and I went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. I saw her eyeing one of those little books on the gift rack that features statistics from the year you were born. The stand starts with 2005 at the top, and the years work their way down the
COLUMNIST ON THE WEB
This week’s commentary by Current Publishing essayist Terry Anker may be read at youarecurrent.com.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION
Docket No. PZ-2026-00082 OA
Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Advisory Plan Commission will hold a public hearing upon a proposal to amend the Carmel Unified Development Ordinance (“UDO”) pursuant to documents filed with the Department of Community Services as follows: Amend the Unified Development Ordinance to establish fees related to Zoning and Development applications and violations for the City’s Engineering Department and to amend Section 1.29 Filing Fees to comply with HEA 1001.
Designated as Docket No. PZ-2026-00082 OA, the hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers, Carmel City Hall, One Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032. The file for this proposal (Docket No. PZ-2026-00082 OA, may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents – Laser Fiche, or at the Carmel Department of Community Services, Division of Planning and Zoning, Carmel City Hall, Third Floor, One Civic Square, Carmel, IN,46032.
Any written comments or objections to the proposal should be filed with the Secretary of the Plan Commission on or before the date of the Public Hearing. All written comments and objections will be presented to the Commission. Any oral comments concerning the proposal will be heard by the Commission at the hearing according to its Rules of Procedure. In addition, the hearing may be continued from time to time by the Commission as it may find necessary.
Bric Butler, Administrator Carmel Plan Commission (317) 571-2417
rack. By the time she reached 1947, she was on her knees. This is a marketing mistake. When you are a senior, everything you want to buy should be at eye level. If CVS stocked Depends on the lower shelf, they’d never sell a single package.
Mary Ellen ended up giving me a coffee mug: TO MY FAVORITE SEPTUAGENARIAN
I don’t like being in my 70s. It certainly doesn’t sound as much fun as being a sexagenarian.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Department: Board of Public Works and Safety
One Civic Square City of Carmel, Indiana 46032
Project: Carmel Fire Department Vehicles IFB 2026
IFB-2026-008
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Public Works and Safety for the City of Carmel, Hamilton County, Indiana, will receive sealed bids for the above-described “Carmel Fire Department Vehicles IFB 2026” via the City’s e-Procurement Portal, https://procurement. opengov.com/portal/carmelin, until 9:00 am on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 and commencing as soon as practicable thereafter on the same date such bids will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Council Chambers of City Hall. No late bids will be accepted.
The Project consists of, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:
Two (2) Groups of Carmel Fire Department Vehicles, namely:
GROUP 1: Three (3) 2026 Chevrolet Traverse LT AWD
GROUP 2: Two (2) 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe SSV 4x4 5.3 V8
Bidders may bid on either or both of these Groups. The specifications are attached and set forth in detailed documents on file via the City of Carmel's e-Procurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/carmelin.
Questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted to the portal prior to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. All responses will be publicly posted to the portal. Please call Carmel Fire Department administration at (317) 571-2600 Ext: 2609 to confirm whether any such written questions and/or responses exist.
No bidder may withdraw any bid or proposal within a period of thirty (30) days following the date set for receiving bids or proposals. The City of Carmel reserves the right to hold any or all bids or proposals for a period of not more than thirty (30) days and said bids or proposal shall remain in full force and effect during said period. The City of Carmel reserves the right to reject and/or cancel any and all bids, solicitations and/or offers in whole or in part as specified in the solicitations when it is not in the best interests of the governmental body as determined by the purchasing agency in accordance with IC 5-22-18-2.
Any contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Jacob Quinn, City Clerk
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
City of Carmel, Indiana Department Board of Public Works and Safety One Civic Square City of Carmel, Indiana 46032
Project: 26-ENG-04 Range Line Improvements
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Public Works and Safety for the City of Carmel, Hamilton County, Indiana will receive sealed bids for the above described “Range Line Improvements” via the City’s e-Procurement Portal, https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/carmelin, until 9:00 am on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 and commencing as soon as practicable thereafter on the same date such bids will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Council Chambers of City Hall. No late bids will be accepted.
All bids and proposals shall be properly and completely executed on the proposal forms provided with the plans and specifications, which will include the non-collusion affidavit as required by the State of Indiana.
A bid bond or certified check in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount bid must be submitted with each bid. A one hundred percent (100%) performance and payment bond will also be required of the successful bidder. It is intended that actual construction of all work divisions shall be started as soon as practicable, and each bidder shall be prepared to enter promptly into a construction contract, furnish a performance bond, and begin work without delay in the event the award is made to him. The Project consists of, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project involves the reconstruction of a portion of the northbound lane of Range Line Road from Executive Drive to City Center Drive. The project includes the removal of existing full depth pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, and drive approaches. The project includes the construction of on-street parking spaces, infiltration basins, raised crosswalks, lighting, and a HMA multi-use path.
Contract Documents and drawings for the Project can be found in this solicitation and the attachments section. The specifications are attached and set forth in detailed documents on file via the City of Carmel e-Procurement Portal using the link below.
https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/carmelin. Bidders shall assure that they have obtained complete sets of drawings and Contract Documents and shall assume the risk of any errors or omissions in bids prepared in reliance on incomplete sets of drawings and Contract Documents.
This Project will be funded by the City of Carmel. A Non-Mandatory pre-bid conference for discussions of the Project, the bidding requirements and other important matters will be held on May 6 at 1:00 P.M. in the Caucus Room on the 2nd Floor of City Hall (One Civic Square) and offered virtually. Virtual meeting instructions available on the City's e-Procurement Portal. Microsoft Teams:
All prospective bidders are invited to attend the pre-bid conference. The pre-bid conference is Non-Mandatory.
For special accommodations needed by handicapped individuals planning to attend the pre-bid conference or public bid opening meeting, please call or notify the city of Carmel, Engineer’s Office, at (317) 571-2441 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior thereto.
No bidder may withdraw any bid or proposal within a period of thirty (30) days following the date set for receiving bids or proposals. The Carmel Board of Public Works and Safety reserves the right to hold any or all bids or proposals for a period of not more than thirty (30) days and said bids or proposal shall remain in full force and effect during said period. The City of Carmel reserves the right to reject and/or cancel any and all bids, solicitations and/or offers in whole or in part as specified in the solicitations when it is not in the best interests of the governmental body as determined by the purchasing agency in accordance with IC 5-22-18-2. Jacob Quinn, Clerk
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
14. Florida city
15. Kinky coiffure
16. Start to an “udderly” ridiculous riddle
19. Typical Westfield HS student
20. Negative prefix
21. Too big for one’s britches?
23. Off-Broadway award
25. Colts’ QB stat
27. Keen
29. I-69 roadside assistance org.
30. NHS subj.
31. Jazz Kitchen instrument
32. A Kardashian
34. Unconscious condition
36. Take a timeout
37. Part 2 of the riddle
40. Mafia boss
43. Tesla’s Musk
44. Customary
48. Be too generous at a garage sale
50. Eiteljorg Museum tribe
52. Pacers’ current org.
53. James Whitcomb Riley works
54. Cigar residue
55. “The King and I” setting
56. USN rank
57. Pencil filler
59. Defeat decisively
61. Riddle’s answer
66. Grandson of Adam and Eve
67. God of Islam
68. ___ King Cole
69. Rajah’s wife
70. Personal records
71. Org.
DOWN
1. Clay Terrace shoe store letters
2. “Go Greyhounds!”
3. Three-dimensional
4. Lymph ___
5. Easily identifiable
6. ___ ‘n’ cheese
7. Become swollen
8. [Boring!]
9. Cruel person
10. ET’s craft
11. Abundant
12. Recital pieces
17. Purgatory Golf Club
peg
18. “Hogan’s Heroes” setting
22. Send a brief message
23. Zionsville street between Cedar and Pine
24. Scrooge’s cry
26. Politely
28. Apt rhyme of “courts”
30. Red or Dead
31. B-plus beater at Butler
33. Scents
35. Yoko ___
38. Cups, saucers, sugar bowl, etc.
39. Coloration
40. Geist inlet
41. One who rights old wrongs
42. ___ non grata
45. Bringing together
46. Pacers’ former org.
47. Hasty escape
49. First female Speaker of the House
51. Larynx locale
54. “Skyfall” singer
55. Tom Wood offering, briefly
58. “Moby-Dick” captain
60. ___ and aahs
62. Freight weight
63. Columbus Crew org.
64. Fishers Farmers Market corn unit
65. Some Indy 500 drivers’ sponsorship letters ANSWERS ON PAGE 35
WE DO INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINTING ESTIMATES
Waterstone Neighborhood Wide Garage Sale
Tons of homes participate. Make sure you get to all four neighborhoods!
Designer clothing, furniture, housewares, kids stuff, and incredible deals!
This sale is too good to miss!
Waterstone is east of Gray Road between 116th and 126th
Entrances to neighborhood are at 116th, 126th, and Gray Road
Includes:
Bayhill, Brookfield,Stonewick, and Windpointe
Thursday April 30th 8-5
Friday May 1st 8-5
Saturday May 2nd 8-2
GARAGE SALES
Endorsed by the men and women who protect our community. Dustin is
The members of Carmel Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 185 overwhelmingly voted to endorse Dustin Dixon for Sheriff. We are confident he will stand shoulder to shoulder with our officers, support law enforcement, and provide the leadership necessary to keep Carmel and Hamilton County among the safest communities in the country.
- Carmel Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 185
As your next Sheriff, Dustin Dixon will keep our families safe by:
✔ Focusing resources on violent offenders to keep dangerous criminals off our streets
✔ Recruiting, retaining, and properly equipping officers to strengthen the department
✔ Increasing visible patrols in parks, trails, and recreational areas to protect families and visitors
✔ Strengthening coordination with local law enforcement and community leaders
✔ Expanding technology to improve efficiency, response times, and effectiveness
✔ Ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and prioritized for public safety
