Here’s what you can expect from Riley Children’s Health emergency care in Fishers:
n A pediatric emergency unit located next to the existing IU Health Fishers emergency department.
n Spaces designed just for kids—including a children’s entrance, waiting room, eight exam rooms and four observation rooms for patients who may require a longer stay.
n Pediatric providers and nurses staffing the unit 24/7, with support of social workers, respiratory therapists, radiologists, general emergency medicine physicians and more.
Learn more at rileychildrens.org/FishersEmergency
n Child Life Specialists who address the psychosocial and emotional needs of both kids and families in an emergency setting.
SEVEN STUNNING HOMES.
THREE FUN WEEKENDS. ONE GREAT SHOW.
Realtor Day
September 12th | 10am-2pm
Calling all Realtors! Join us for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at each show home before the show opens at noon. Tickets will be discounted for REALTORS only.
A portion of the proceeds will be contributed to MIBOR REALTORS® Polictical Action Committee.
Ticket Cost: $10
September 18th | 4pm-6pm
This is a fan-favorite event with a twist! Join us as we tour each of the seven custom homes, enjoy some wine and hors d’oeuvres and hear directly from the interior designers of each showcase home to learn about the inspiration behind their design.
Limited Space. Reserve your spot today!
Ticket Cost: $60 (includes food and drink)
HOMETOWN HEROES
September 25th | All Day
Join us for a special celebratory event honoring our hometown heroes. To show our appreciation, veterans, first responders, military personnel, healthcare workers, and teachers can enjoy 20% off their general admission ticket price.
Ticket Cost: $16-24
THREE WEEKENDS
THURSDAY - SUNDAY
SEPT. 11–14 SEPT. 18 – 21 SEPT. 25 – 28
Take advantage of early bird pricing to save $5 on your ticket through the start of the show!* *Use Code: HAREARLY Early bird pricing ends 9/10 at 11:59 pm.
Southwest corner of 116th & I-69
HSE Schools kicks off redistricting process
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton Southeastern Schools Corp. has started a monthslong process to redraw school boundaries, partly in response to steadily declining enrollment in the elementary grades and shifting demographics. The HSE Board of Trustees heard a presentation Aug. 13 about how the process will move forward, with a final recommendation expected in December.
EDUCATION
Hamilton Southeastern Schools is redistricting in response to decreasing enrollment, especially in the elementary grades. (Image courtesy of HSE)
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The district has launched a public survey to gather input at surveymonkey.com/r/ NBKTCPS and is accepting applications for focus groups at surveymonkey.com/r/ NBX2ZH3. Both the survey and focus group application period close Aug. 31.
Andrew Bishop with consulting firm Woolpert is helping the district through the redistricting process. He told the board that preliminary numbers show overall enrollment this year is the lowest in the last decade. A chart shows the expected 2025-26 enrollment is 20,644, compared to 20,825 in the 2014-15 school year. Enrollment peaked in 2019, when the district had 22,183 students.
Bishop also showed enrollment numbers at each school in the district. HSE has 13 elementary schools that now have about 6,700 students. Between all the schools, there is capacity for about 1,900 more students, which Bishop said is the equivalent of two schools.
Southeastern Elementary School is the only school over capacity. The schools with the lowest enrollment are Fishers, Hoosier Road, Lantern Road and Sand Creek elementary schools. He noted that Fishers Elementary is going through an expansion project, which is affecting data for that school. Middle school, junior high and high school buildings don’t show the same level of underutilization.
Bishop added that his firm looked into future residential development within the district’s boundaries.
“Woolpert reached out to the county and municipalities for information on known
and approved residential projects early in June,” he said. “Overall, there’s 7,943 new residential units that are being planned within the district, with 78 percent of those units … planned within the Deer Creek, Southeastern and Thorpe Creek boundaries … the most, second-most and fourth-most enrolled elementary schools. So, any new additional residential development within these boundaries will further impact the schools as homes are constructed.”
Those new developments will be considered in the redistricting process, which Bishop said will include opportunities for public input, focus groups made up of residents within the district’s boundaries and community outreach efforts, as well as working with district administrators.
According to a news release from the district, in-person community meetings to review and comment on draft proposals are scheduled for Oct. 20 at Fishers High School and Oct. 21 at Hamilton Southeastern High School. A final recommendation will come before the board in December.
For more about HSE’s redistricting process, visit hseschools.org/redistricting.
SOCIAL MEDIA LAWSUIT
In other matters, the board unanimously voted Aug. 13 to join a national lawsuit against social media companies “to recover costs and expenses that HSE and other school districts have incurred to mitigate the detrimental impacts of social media by students.”
Superintendent Patrick Mapes told the
board that joining the lawsuit will not cost the district anything unless the case is ruled in the school districts’ favor, and it could result in some money coming to the district.
Among the approximately 1,800 school districts nationwide that have signed onto the lawsuit are Carmel Clay Schools, Indianapolis Public Schools, Evansville, South Bend Community School Corporation, Noblesville Schools, Elkhart Community Schools, Fort Wayne Community Schools and Monroe County Community Schools, according to information from HSE.
Parent Connor Haynes spoke on the topic of technology use in schools during public comment. She suggested that the district take the issue of social media and mental health a step further and consider a bell-tobell ban on student cell phone use.
“This would mean student cell phones would be off … the entirety of the school day, including passing periods, lunch and recess,” she said. “This type of policy has been shown to decrease mental health symptoms like depression and anxiety. It can increase instructional time, focus, overall test scores and GPAs, and decrease bullying, behavioral and disciplinary incidents.”
Board Member Ben Orr asked Mapes to explore that kind of policy before the next student handbook update.
The next HSE Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at the district’s central office building, 13485 Cumberland Rd.
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Bible
Education
For Hamilton Southeastern Students
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• Equips kids to know and live out biblical truths and valueslike generosity, responsibility, accountability - in everyday life
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A special zoning exception that would allow a daycare to be built at Cornerstone Lutheran Church on 116th Street near Olio Road was introduced during the Aug. 18 Fishers City Council meeting.
GOVERNMENT
Planning Director Ross Hilleary told the council that the proposed daycare at 13450 E. 116th St. would include a 29,000-squarefoot addition to the church building and an outdoor playground. A special exception to the property’s current zoning is needed for those plans to move forward.
He noted that the plans also call for a new road that connects to 118th Street to take some of the traffic pressure off of 116th Street.
“We went ahead and took the lead that there may be some concerns about traffic,” Hilleary said. “So, (contractor) A&F Engineering has provided (a) memo for you for the level of service for the intersection on 116th Street.”
A memo from Director of Engineering Hatem Mekky states that the potential for backups and difficult left turns onto 116th would increase as parents drop off and pick up their children from the daycare. The proposed road to 118th Street wraps around a Kroger store and other commercial businesses just east of the church and leads to Olio Road, where drivers would be able to access 116th with a traffic signal.
Mekky noted that the new road also would provide an alternative access point for emergency vehicles.
Karen Collins from Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., speaking for the petitioner, told the council that the new daycare initially would enroll about 150 children from infants to age 5, with the capacity to expand to 175 children. It would be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Nobody spoke during a public hearing on the proposed ordinance, which will come back to the council for another reading and possible vote.
In other matters, during public comment at the close of the meeting, Casey Crosbie expressed concerns about plans for a new AgriPark on property near his home on
Cornerstone Lutheran Church, bottom, has proposed a 29,000 square foot expansion for a daycare facility. Plans also call for a new access road from the rear parking lot to 118th Street. (Image courtesy of the City of Fishers)
Fishers’ west side.
“I want to say that I’m a very big supportive supporter of the AgriPark. I think it’s a great idea,” he said. “I just think the location is wrong.”
Crosbie said his concern is based on potential lead contamination in the soil, which would become airborne when the ground is disturbed. He said tests of his own backyard showed moderate lead contamination of 162 parts per million, which he believes is from activity related to the nearby Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport. He noted that the city tested soil at the planned AgriPark site, but he never saw any results that were made public.
He asked that the city test the site again and make all test results public before moving forward with plans to develop the site.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, lead naturally occurs in soil in small amounts. Levels can be higher near roadways and industrial areas where lead fuel and lead-based chemicals are used. Levels above 400 ppm are considered hazardous.
Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren confirmed the city did test the site in the spring. “It came (back) at 26.6 parts per million,” he told the council, adding that the city is working on a traffic study for that area and working on a lease with the airport authority.
The next Fishers City Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Fishers Municipal Center, 1 Municipal Dr.
City of Lawrence hires new controller
The City of Lawrence has a new controller who is taking over after former controller Humphrey Nagila resigned in June.
GOVERNMENT
According to an announcement from the city, Mayor Deb Whitfield appointed Terri Leah Falker as the new city controller, effective immediately.
Falker has more than 20 years of accounting expertise, including cost accounting, accounts payable, fixed assets, budgeting and financial reporting, the announcement stated. She also has experience in accounting supervision in both the public and private sectors.
She most recently served as director of finance for Indiana Black Expo, Inc. She previously was a senior staff accountant at Engaging Solutions LLC, chief financial officer for the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Safety and chief financial officer of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.
“We welcome Terri to our team and thank Humphrey for his service,” Whitfield stated. “Terri will pick up seamlessly, working with the entire finance department in the preparation of the 2026 civil city budget.”
Nagila, who served as assistant controller during the previous administration, was promoted to lead the city’s finance department by Whitfield shortly after she took office in early 2024. He faced strong criticism throughout his approximately 1 1/2 years in the position, particularly during the city’s 2025 budget process. During that time, Whitfield consistently supported Nagila, but department heads complained they were not informed of decisions about their own budgets and expressed concern about what appeared to be plans to illegally divert funds. Members of the Lawrence Common Council were dissatisfied with his performance — at one point calling for his dismissal — and the mayor’s chief of staff resigned in protest.
Falker
Hamilton Southeastern Schools celebrates 96%
news@currentinfishers.com
Hamilton Southeastern Schools recently announced that 96 percent of district thirdgrade students passed the 2025 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment, also known as IREAD. The achievement marks a two-point increase over last year and the highest district passing rate in five years, according to the announcement.
IREAD pass rate
qualifying for free and reduced-price meals reached their highest passing rate in four years.
EDUCATION
Ten of the district’s 13 elementary schools met or exceeded Indiana’s 95 percent literacy goal, doubling the number that reached the milestone the previous year. In total, 1,497 HSE third-graders demonstrated proficient reading skills. According to the announcement, gains were seen across all student groups. English language learners achieved their highest passing score in four years; exceptional learners improved by 14 percentage points compared to last year; and students
“Congratulations to our students and to the outstanding teachers who made this achievement possible,” Superintendent Pat Mapes stated. “Their commitment to student-focused education and the science of reading continues to unlock a lifetime of learning for every child in our district. It also reflects the consistent effort of our teachers to provide the world-class instruction our families have come to expect in HSE schools.”
The IREAD results follow the district’s recently announced 2025 ILEARN scores, which showed growth in reading comprehension, writing and communication skills.
“We are not just meeting a state goal — we are raising the bar for what is possible through the collaboration of teachers, leaders, families and students,” Mapes stated.
“This is just the beginning of what we can accomplish.”
HSE seeks HEPL board applicants
news@currentinfishers.com
Hamilton Southeastern Schools is accepting applications to fill the school board-appointed seat on the Hamilton East Public Library Board of Trustees.
APPOINTMENT
According to an announcement from HSE, individuals who live within HSE Schools’ boundaries are encouraged to apply for the unpaid, volunteer, four-year commitment. The deadline to apply is noon Aug. 27.
Juanita Albright, president of the HSE Board of School Trustees, will review applications and designate the appointee.
Applications for the HSE-appointed seat can be submitted at bit.ly/45q1JVW.
The HEPL Board of Trustees meets in the evening on the fourth Thursday of each month. Meetings alternate between the Fishers Library and the Noblesville Library.
For more about the HEPL Board of Trustees, visit hamiltoneastpl.org and scroll down to click on Library Board at the bottom of the home page.
HSE elementary students performed well on the 2025 state IREAD standardized reading assessment. (Photo courtesy of HSE Schools)
Meridian Audiology LLC, a private Audiology practice, was founded by Dr. Alison Wyss, Au.D. and Kira VonBlon, M.S., after working together in an ENT setting for more than 12 years. The seasoned Audiologists strive to consistently provide premier care to patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and auditory processing disorders as well as those who want to protect their hearing from damage.
In stark contrast to the medical audiology world where patients are in and out in quick succession, private practice allows Ali and Kira to spend whatever time their patients need from them for their individual hearing healthcare situation.
While hearing loss and hearing aids are a majority of the work Ali and Kira perform, they also can talk with patients about tinnitus (ringing, buzzing in the ears). Approximately 50 million Americans have tinnitus, a perceived sound in the ear/ head when there is no external sound. It can be extremely disturbing to people, and they are searching for a solution. Tinnitus can be secondary to many things, including hearing loss, medications, cardiovascular disorders, stress. While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are some treatment options as well as counseling that can help some tinnitus sufferers. Whenever a patient comes in for a complaint
of tinnitus, we will perform an audiological evaluation to see if hearing loss is present, if it is we will discuss hearing aids and how they can benefit the hearing loss and potentially tinnitus. We can also provide other recommendations for tinnitus help, all with the primary goal of improving your quality of life! We are also available to speak to your local community clubs about hearing and hearing loss. Dr. Wyss states “We’ve done many presentations to community clubs in the area and the participants always appreciate our time in giving them information about hearing loss, cognitive decline and tinnitus as well as answering their questions.”
Meridian Audiology accepts most major insurances, offers convenient scheduling via phone, email, or online and are independent of other medical practices or hospitals. Hours are 9am-4pm Monday-Friday by appointment only. They are located at 911 E. 86th Street, Suite 035. Phone 317-731-5386. Email info@meridianaudiology. com Website: www. meridianaudiology.com
County floats plan to implement vote centers
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
A proposal to use vote centers rather than precinct-based polling locations on Election Day drew mixed reaction at the Hamilton County Election Board’s Aug. 13 meeting.
ELECTION
Of Indiana’s 92 counties, 67 use Election Day voting centers, which allow voters to cast a ballot at any polling location within the county. In Hamilton County, they must vote at their assigned precinct.
Moving to voting centers would eliminate one of the most common problems to arise on Election Day: Voters showing up at the wrong precinct and being turned away. Board member Greg Purvis described this as “a persistent and real problem.”
“This happens at every polling place in every election. Some of those people end up finding where they need to go and voting, but we have people coming five to
10 minutes (before the polls close),” Purvis said. “So, those people, unless their correct polling place is very close — have no chance to vote.”
County officials are proposing 52 vote centers, less than half the number of polling locations open during the most recent election. Based on the number of voters in Hamilton County, state law would only require 26 vote centers.
“We felt (52 centers) gives us an extra cushion for any concerns of not being enough machines out in the county,” said board member Kathy Kreag Williams, a Republican who also serves as Hamilton County Clerk.
The plan calls for each center to have at least 10 voting machines, more than typically available at precinct voting sites. The total number of voting machines available is not expected to drop.
A switch to vote centers would allow the county to hire fewer poll workers. Cur-
Continued on Page 9
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rently, 500 to 700 workers are needed, but with the proposed model only 400 to 500 workers would be required.
A switch to vote centers would allow malfunctioning voting machines to be replaced more quickly, as backup machines would be programmed with all ballots rather than a ballot for a specific precinct. This would also allow additional machines to be sent more quickly to voting centers experiencing heavy traffic.
Purvis, the lone Democrat on the three-member board, said he is concerned the reduced number of polling locations could lead to longer lines and overwhelm workers.
During public comment, Keith Johnson, who moved to the county five years ago from Washington state, shared some of those concerns. He said under the existing system, many residents live within walking distance of their polling location, and he’s concerned the move to a reduced number of sites could lead to more difficulty getting there and longer lines for those that do.
“There’s a good chance that the (center) that’s the most convenient to the most people is going to be overwhelmed at
some point, and you’re going to have the same situation that we had with early voting, with an hour’s wait to get in to vote,” he said.
However, most people who provided public comment spoke in support of the switch to vote centers.
Noblesville resident Lisa Dick, president of the League of Women Voters of Hamilton County, said she believes vote centers will lead to “greater engagement.” She said the system has been proven to work well in much of the state.
“We are not a guinea pig in this process,” she said. “This is not something revolutionary.”
For the county to switch to vote centers, the election board must vote unanimously for the change. The Hamilton County Council and Commission must also vote in favor, although a unanimous vote is not required.
If the plan is approved, Hamilton County expects to begin using vote centers for the May 5, 2026, primary election.
Hamilton County residents may submit written feedback on the proposal through Sept. 13 by emailing Williams at Kathy.Williams@hamiltoncounty.in.gov. The plan is posted on the county’s website. The next election board meeting is Sept. 18.
Kevin D. Ward, D.D.S. Molly E. Dwenger, D.D.S. info@fishersdentalcare.com
Ward, D.D.S. Molly E. Dwenger, D.D.S. info@fishersdentalcare.com
Email: kwarddds@fishersdentalcare.com
HSE senior’s consistency key to volleyball success
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton Southeastern High School senior Madi Miles comes from a volleyball family.
Madi and twin sister Raegan are seniors on the volleyball team, and their younger sister, Morgan, is on the Royals freshman team.
They were introduced to the game by their mother, Olivia, who played in high school.
“I started playing recreation league at the end of third grade and started club in fourth grade,” said Madi, who has committed to play at the University of Illinois. “I played some other sports, but it was always volleyball. I just thought it was really fun. Playing club and all the tournaments is a fun experience.”
Madi, who is 6-foot-1, is in her fourth year on varsity.
“She is incredibly hard working,” Royals coach Jason Young said. “Madi is a tremendous teammate and role model to
MEET MADI MILES
Favorite athlete: Indy Ignite’s
Anna Debeer
Favorite TV show: “Gossip Girl”
Favorite musical performer: Taylor Swift
Favorite vacation spot: On the beach in Florida
many of our younger players. Illinois is getting a fantastic volleyball player and an even better person. “
Madi said she has become a more consistent hitter through the years.
“I think my biggest improvement is consistency in keeping the ball in play, hitting different shots and not just hitting it to one spot and being predictable,” she said.
“That comes with experience.” Naturally, Madi’s goal for the season is to win another state championship. The Royals captured the IHSAA Class 4A
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state title in 2022 and 2023 and lost in the semistate championship in 2024.
“We need more leadership this year since we graduated some really good players,” Madi said. “I’m a quieter player, but I’m really encouraging my teammates and try to keep a positive attitude.”
She plays club volleyball for Boiler Juniors.
“We have a really successful team,” Madi said. “We’ve won nationals two times.”
Madi has mostly played on the same team with her twin sister, who is a middle hitter for the Royals. Raegan has committed to play for Taylor University next season.
Madi committed to Illinois in the summer of 2024.
“I went to a camp there and I loved being coached by them,” she said. “They were great. The (Big Ten) conference is obviously competitive. Being in the Big Ten, my parents can go to games, which is something I really wanted.”
To nominate a high school student for Athlete of the Week, contact mark@ youarecurrent.com.
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From left, the Miles sisters, Madi, Morgan and Raegan. (Photo courtesy of the Miles family)
FISHERS SEPTEMBER EVENTS
LIBRARY CARD SIGNUP MONTH
Hamilton East Public Library invites the community to celebrate Library Card SignUp Month. HEPL’s Show Your Library Card and Save campaign runs Sept. 1–30. Community members who sign up for or renew a library card at the Fishers or Noblesville branch will be eligible for discounts at participating local businesses by showing their card. For more, visit hamiltoneastpl. org.
SAFETY DAY
The Fishers Fire Department will be at the Fishers Farmers Market 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 6 providing safety demonstrations, meet and greets with first responders, opportunities to connect with local organizations and more. Learn more at Fire. FishersIN.gov/SafetyDay.
GLOW IN THE PARK
Face painting, live DJs, dancing, neon splash zones, black lights, fog machines and lasers will light up the night for the annual Glow in the Park Sept. 26 and 27 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. Tickets are required and are available at FishersParks.com/Glow.
RECYCLING DAY
The City of Fishers will host a free City Recycling Day for electronics, household electronic or metal items and household hazardous waste from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 27 at Billericay Park, 12690 Promise Rd. For a full list of accepted items, visit FishersIN. gov/Recycling.
POLICE OPEN HOUSE
The Fishers Police Department will host an open house to meet officers, learn about specialty units and more, set for 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Fishers Police Department, 4 Municipal Dr. For more, visit Police.FishersIN.gov.
GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
The following Fishers government meetings are scheduled during the month of September:
• Plan Commission — 6 p.m. Sept. 3, Fishers Municipal Center theater
• City Council — 7 p.m. Sept. 15, Fishers Municipal Center theater
• Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees — 6 p.m. Sept. 10 and 24. All meetings are at 13485 Cumberland Rd.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Fishers Pride nonprofit second Pride Festival
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Fishers Pride is organizing its second Pride Festival, set for noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at Billericay Park, 12690 Promise Rd. Cathi White, marketing director for Fishers Pride, said the event will have live music with a variety of performers and a DJ to spin tunes in between acts, which includes students from School of Rock. There also will be booths for vendors and information, along with food trucks and an area for children with crafts and games.
EVENT
“We just want people to be able to walk around and enjoy themselves at kind of their own pace,” she said. “Kids can drop in at the kids section and do arts and crafts there. Parents can enjoy visiting the nonprofits and the different local vendors — we just want it to be really a festival atmosphere.”
Last year’s event took place in a field next to Holy Family Episcopal Church, but that space has since been sold to a developer. White said Fishers Pride organizers were happy they were able to connect with the City of Fishers to arrange for Billericay Park as the new venue.
She said the primary message to festival attendees is, “Come as you are, you are loved, you are accepted — this is someplace that you can be yourself and have a good time.”
The festival is in September rather than June — which is Pride Month — because there is so much going on in June. White said that this year, Fishers Pride members participated in the Indy Pride and Spark!Fishers parades and hosted a fundraising drag brunch, which was a popular event they plan to bring back this winter.
Last year’s Fishers Pride Festival featured drag performances. Organizers don’t plan to include drag performances during the upcoming Sept. 13 event, but will host a drag show the evening before. Details will be announced later.
The Fishers Pride Festival is sponsored by Intrinz, which also is providing two sign language interpreters for stage performances.
Fishers Pride hosts activities year round for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, their families and friends. For more, visit fisherspridefestival.com or facebook.com/ fisherspride.
The second Fishers Pride Festival is set for noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at Billericay Park.
Fishers Pride Festival performers and organizers at the 2024 event. (Photos courtesy of Fishers Pride)
LifeWise offers religious instruction to HSE students
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A religious nonprofit organization that provides Christian-based curriculum nationwide has partnered with local organizers to offer its free programming to Hamilton Southeastern Schools elementary students one day a week during students’ lunch and recess times.
RELIGION
LifeWise Academy Hamilton Southeastern Program Director Larry Renihan — himself a retired public school teacher and administrator and a Fishers resident since 1980 — said he heard about LifeWise from a former student who now runs a similar LifeWise program in Westfield.
“I was a teacher when they took the Bible out of the classroom and I was a principal when they asked us not to have prayer any longer,” he said. “And so, when I heard that there was a way that parents who desired biblical education for their children could legally ask for it, I was very much encouraged and excited about it.”
House Bill 1137 was approved by the Indiana Legislature in March 2024. It requires public schools to allow students to attend religious instruction during the school day, if it’s requested by parents or guardians.
HSE Director of School and Community Relations Emily Pace Abbotts stated in an email that HSE does not have a formal affiliation with LifeWise Academy, which operates independently of the district. She confirmed that LifeWise has contacted some schools to coordinate off-campus religious instruction.
“Under Indiana Code 20-33-2-19, public schools are required to honor a parent’s written request to release their child for off-site religious instruction for up to 120 minutes per week,” she stated. “The law also calls for principals to work collaboratively with families and/or the outside provider to identify a time that causes the least disruption to the student’s academic schedule.”
For its first year, the LifeWise program is available for students in four HSE elementary schools — Thorpe Creek, Fall Creek, Southeastern and Fishers elementary schools — but Renihan said the goal is to eventually expand it to all 13. He said LifeWise students will give up just one combined lunch and recess per week —
about an hour — to not cut into their instructional time at school.
“They would go to the cafeteria and get a sack lunch, like they’re going on a field trip,” he said. “Then they would board one of our buses … and then go to a local church.”
Three local churches have provided space for the program — Pennington Park Church, Crossroads Church and Prairie View Christian Church. While there, students will have lunch, hear a Bible story and participate in activities before heading back to school to finish that day’s regular instruction.
Renihan said the LifeWise curriculum focuses on building character.
“We’ll have a video and then we’ll have a character word of the week — it may be responsibility, it may be obedience, it may be love, it may be hope, maybe honor,” he said. “The activities are … sometimes physical, like jumping and hopping and doing things, or sometimes just like coloring and writing and cutting, using markers, etc.”
Two events to answer questions from parents interested in the program are scheduled for Aug. 28 and Sept. 4, both at 7 p.m. at Cyntheanne Christian Church, 13151 Cyntheanne Rd.
Similar LifeWise programs have been implemented in Carmel, Westfield and Sheridan, Renihan said. In addition to the HSE program, a new LifeWise also is launching this semester at Lawrence Township schools.
Renihan said the free program is funded through donations. He added that everyone involved has had FBI and local background checks.
Registration is open and Renihan said the program begins in September.
For more, visit http://bit.ly/3JpUZ3d.
Lifewise Academy is offering off-campus religious programs for HSE students. (Photo courtesy of Lifewise)
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Friends hope to break record for racing in group costume
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
There are some challenges related to running while connected to three other people in a caterpillar costume, like keeping a steady pace, coordinating when making a turn and — maybe the most difficult of all — not laughing so much that you run out of breath.
CHALLENGE
If they manage to overcome all those challenges and finish the Sept. 13 Geist Half half-marathon race course in less than 1 hour, 41 minutes and 37 seconds, Zachary Davenport, Zach Burton, Ian Leatherman and Kaid Hutchinson will have broken the Guinness World Record for the fastest half-marathon in a four-person costume.
Yes, that’s a thing. The current record was set in 2022 by a group from Denmark. Burton, of McCordsville, said he came up with the idea while scrolling on Instagram. He saw a post about a group running a race in a caterpillar costume.
“I was like, ‘You know, there’s got to be a record for this somewhere,’” he said. “I looked up the record and I sent a screenshot to Kaid and Ian. I was like, ‘Guys. Hear me out.’”
Leatherman, a Fishers resident, said he initially thought it was a joke, but just in case it wasn’t, he thought about it before saying yes.
“I didn’t think it was going to go anywhere, but Zach kind of took it and ran with it, and I was happy about that,” he said. “I’m kind of excited. I think it’ll be a fun story to tell my kids.”
Davenport, of Pendleton, said he didn’t have to think about it.
“Why would I not want to do this?” he said. “Kaid (also of Pendleton) texted me at 6 a.m., I woke up at 6:15, read the message, and I’m like, ‘I want to do this.’ … And then I went back to sleep.”
Burton said the group has a couple of sponsors — Athletic Annex, which has stores in Fishers, Carmel and Nora; and Puma. Athletic Annex helped acquire the costume, Burton said, which is basically a series of fabric pop-up cylinders used for kids’ play tunnels, connected with straps. There are some antennae on the “head,” where Burton will be, and Leatherman will bring up the rear.
The group has had a few practice runs
to work out the challenges of running in a group costume. They learned the importance of communication and pacing, especially when making a turn. They also attracted a little attention.
“We went to Hawthorns on a Saturday morning when we didn’t think a lot of people would be out. We just wanted to see how it would go,” Burton said. “The hardest part about this, in my opinion, is — obviously running a half-marathon is not an easy feat — but laughing the whole time you’re running a half-marathon is a lot more challenging. We just found ourselves cracking up, because whenever we’d pass somebody, they’d smile or say something funny to us, and we just couldn’t hold it together.”
To qualify for breaking the world record, the group has to not only beat the previous record but document it by filming the entire race and having witnesses on record. Davenport, a photographer, said he’ll have a couple of small cameras strapped to him for the whole race, along with some drones. Burton added that Athletic Annex plans to make a mockumentary-style film about their experience.
All four have individually run half-marathons in a shorter time than the world record they hope to beat. Whether they can do it together in a caterpillar costume remains to be seen.
For more about the Geist Half race series, visit geisthalf.com.
Front to back, Zach Burton, Kaid Hutchinson, Zachary Davenport and Ian Leatherman practice running in their caterpillar costume. (Photo courtesy of Zach Burton)
A NEW HOME
MSD of Lawrence Township celebrates opening of administrative building
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township school officials were joined by current and former Lawrence educators, administrators, elected officials and community members Aug. 17 to celebrate the grand opening of the Lawrence Education and Community Center administrative building.
The building was completed not quite two years after construction began in September 2024. The $20 million bond-funded project was intended partly to bring administrative offices into Lawrence’s downtown Fort Benjamin Harrison area and, at the same time, open up classroom space at the former Craig Middle School building on Sunnyside Road, where offices had been located for more than a decade.
MSDLT Superintendent Shawn Smith told the crowd gathered for the ceremony that the district has grown significantly since it was established in 1959, now serving a student population of more than 17,000.
“Here we are today celebrating a building that is a symbol of education excellence,” he said before introducing MSDLT Board President Amy Norman, who noted that the vision for the new building started long before construction began.
Norman thanked the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority, which donated the land for the facility, and said the location helps to better connect the district with the community.
“Our school buildings reside on their own special campuses, (but) this building spills out into the City of Lawrence,” she said. “You can look out the window here and see the furry patrons of the veterinarian office. You can smell Jockamo Pizza from here — and that’s not a plug. You also have Fitzgerald’s and so many other wonderful community partners. You can just walk out the doors and go to the library. So, this is an amazing tie into our local, Lawrence city.”
Norman added that while the new building doesn’t house students, it plays a vital role in educating them.
Smith thanked various people who supported the project, such as City of Lawrence elected officials, Indianapolis
City-County Council members and current and former MSDLT board members, including former Board President Wendy Muston, who served 12 years on the board and didn’t seek reelection in 2024.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Muston said she was impressed with the new building.
“It’s open, it’s bright, it’s beautiful, it’s welcoming and it will serve the community in many ways,” she said. ”The 12 years I served on the board, we went from about 13,000 students to 17,000 students. Craig (School) was built originally as a school and we need it to be a school again. Our population is growing. We need more
space for our students. So, this was the logical next step.”
Jeff Vest, a former MSDLT teacher, served on the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority when the land donation was approved. He said he grew up in Lawrence. Now 63, he remembers when the administration building was on the site that now houses Belzer Middle School’s athletic fields. When those offices moved to Sunnyside Road, he said, he wanted to bring them back to downtown Lawrence.
“I wanted … the school to have a presence on the town square,” he said. “This is the middle of the middle of the middle. Now, don’t get me wrong — I had five
ABOUT THE NEW BUILDING
The new Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township Education and Community Center is 46,300
In addition to administrative offices, the building has a large meeting space that will serve as the board room and for activities, such as professional development training sessions as well as community meetings or events.
The two-story building at 5720 Wheel-
er Rd. is next to Lawrence Civic Plaza and easily accessed by the IndyGo Purple Line. The exterior has public parking lots and its landscaping includes rain gardens to help filter stormwater and provide a pollinator habitat. It was designed by Schmidt Associates. Other construction partners were civil engineers JQOL, Core Redevelopment and contractor C Garcia Associates.
board members. I was only one vote. It wasn’t easy when we floated the idea of having the (district) not pay for the land, but with Keystone’s project, Foamcraft’s project, It’s a win-win for the city.”
Vest was referring to two nearby developments: The Corner at Fort Ben, a commercial development owned by Foamcraft, Inc.; and the Keystone Group’s mixed-use development, The Benjamin.
“I just think it’s exciting and it’s the perfect fit,” Vest said of the new administration building. “You know, schools are the community … and this here is a sense of community. It’s the people’s house. Sounds corny, but it is. It’s truly the people’s house.”
After the ceremony, members of the public were invited to tour the new building and get free ice cream or slushies from the Lawrence-based Moo & Lou Frozen Treats food truck in the parking lot outside.
ON THE COVER: Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township school officials and guests cut the ribbon Aug. 17 to officially open the new Lawrence Education and Community Center administrative building. (Photo
courtesy of MSDLT)
square feet.
MSDLT Superintendent Shawn Smith speaks during the grand opening of the new Lawrence Education and Community Center administrative building. Also pictured, from left, are board members Amy Norman, Crystal Puckett, Shaila Mulholland, Jessica Dunn and Marta Lawrence. (Photos by Leila Kheiry)
The new Lawrence Education and Community Center administrative building at 5720 Wheeler Rd. is in Lawrence’s downtown Fort Benjamin Harrison area.
Contact lenses can be for
Commentary by Dr. Frannie Fiechter
Contacts really can be for everyone. Whether you are an avid biker, weekend pickle ball player or just want contacts for a glasses-free night out with friends, there are contacts for you.
VISION
There are so many new and innovative options for our patients right now. With huge options in daily disposable contacts, finding the most state-of-the-art, medically, and technologically superior lenses for you is now easier than ever.
The top reason individuals stop wearing contacts is poor comfort due to dry eyes, but with modern advances in moisturizing agents and smoother surfaces, these can be remedied in most cases.
There are many new contact lens materials and choices that have emerged in the past few years to suit many needs.
This is a great time to try contacts if you have never done so in the past, or if you haven’t had the best previous experience. Some of the newest technologies for astigmatism, multifocal and dry eye lenses have come to market in just the past few years.
You can now have the confidence to tackle your world and hobbies with your new vision options well taken care of.
Many individuals are hesitant to try contacts because the unknown can be difficult. It is sometimes easier to do what you have always done. We are in an age of so many technological advances constantly emerging. The same is true for contact lenses.
If you haven’t been successful in the past due to dry eye or some other reason, we will work with you to get you into some of the best materials for your comfort and success.
Whatever your reason, consider giving contacts another shot, you may be surprised by how easy it is and how happy you will be when we find the perfect fit for you.
currentnightandday.com
Concert to feature film composer Zimmer’s famous scores
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
German composer Hans Zimmer has a huge haul of honors through this career. Zimmer has been honored with two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, five Grammys, an American Music Award and a Tony Award. That legendary repertoire will be represented in “The World of Hans Zimmer: A New Dimension” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Fishers Event Center. This is the first North American tour for the production.
Zimmer, 67, does not perform on stage but is the show’s curator, producer and musical director. Matt Dunkley, who has worked with Zimmer for more than 20 years, conducts the performances.
“The idea is that this is a journey through his film music from over 40 years of film scoring from the early days of ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ and ’The Rock’ right up to the present day like the Bond movie ‘No Time to Die’ and the second ‘Dune’ movie,” Dunkley said. “It’s just taking the audience through the amazing body of work. It’s just a wonderful evening of music nearly three hours long and a fantastic group of soloists and orchestra. It’s an amazing sound.”
Dunkley said Zimmer has a show where he performs with a band and a small orchestra.
“But it’s more of a rock and roll kind of show almost, so the idea was to recreate the scores live with a large ensemble with visuals and effects and make it a real sort of arena experience,” Dunkley said. “We’ve played in Europe for a few years and it’s been hugely successful, so this is the first time we’re bringing it to the states, so it’s very exciting.”
Dunkley said the program includes a wonderful solo cellist in Timothee Berte Renou. Zimmer’s crew learned about Renou through his YouTube posts.
After Renou missed earlier attempts to contact him through Facebook, the
native of France was contacted by email by Zimmer’s team about the possibility of auditioning.
“My first message back to them is ‘I’m pretty sure this is a scam and I’m not interested,” Renou said. “It just seemed so huge and exciting that I couldn’t believe it was even true.”
He was given 48 hours to send a recording from Zimmer’s “Hannibal” movie with all the musical instrument digital interface files.
“That’s when I knew it was the real deal,” he said. “I went in the studio and worked really hard to get that recording down. At the time, I was living in the states for 12 years and working graveyard shifts at the railroad. I stayed up for 30 hours trying to get the recording done. I guess I got really lucky. I still feel extremely lucky to be part of this production. Being able to play for so many people, such beautiful music, it’s just a blessing.”
Renou, who went to Indiana University for a master’s degree when he first moved to the U.S., joined approximately a year ago and has been through two tours in Europe.
Dunkley has conducted several of
Zimmer’s famous scores in the recording studio, including music from two of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, “No Time to Die” and “The Dark Knight.”
“But to be able to conduct this music in front of a large audience brings a whole different direction to it,” he said. “You look around the audience and you see people crying. They are really moved by the experience.”
Dunkley said it’s a real privilege that Zimmer asked him to conduct those shows. The performance includes film clips, but they are not shown all the time.
“It’s a good mix of innovative visuals that represent the music but quite abstract,” he said. “Then we have live cameras that pick out our soloists, so they really connect with the audience. Then we mix the visuals from the movies as well. It’s a really creative mixture.”
In addition to the soloists and the orchestra, there are four singers and a small chamber choir.
“You get your money’s worth with this show with a stage full of musicians,” Dunkley said.
For more, visit fisherseventcenter.com and worldofhanszimmer.com
‘WAITRESS’
“Waitress” runs through Aug. 31 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“Now That’s Funny — Comedy Night” is set for Aug. 28 and “The Magic of David Ranalli” Aug. 29 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Both performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
FISHERS BLUES FEST
The Fishers Blues Fest is set from 5 to 10 p.m. Aug. 30 and 31 at Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers. For more, visit npdamp.com.
DISPATCH
Glick Art donation supports CSO’s Music Matters concerts — The Carmel Symphony Orchestra announced Glick Art has awarded funding to support the orchestra’s Music Matters concerts, which bring live symphonic music to more than 1,000 schoolchildren across central Indiana. Two Music Matters concerts will be performed Oct. 27 in the Payne & Mencias Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The concerts are designed for fifth- and sixth-grade students and introduce young audiences to the sights, sounds and stories of the orchestra. “By funding the Music Matters concerts, Glick Art continues to champion access to cultural experiences that enrich lives and strengthen communities,” said Marianne Glick, founder and CEO. Nancy Sutton, the CSO board chair, said “Thanks to Glick Art’s generosity, we can continue providing transformative live music experiences to children who might otherwise never have the chance to hear an orchestra in person. This support allows us to inspire the next generation of musicians, patrons and arts advocates.” The Music Matters program aligns with the CSO’s mission to engage the community through outstanding musical performances, education and outreach.
Matt Dunkley is the conductor of “The World of Hans Zimmer.” (Photo courtesy of Frank Embachler)
The Center Celebration 2025 presented by Ice Miller with headline performance by Richard Marx is SOLD OUT! We’re so grateful to the many generous people and companies who will join us to support Allied Solutions Center’s wide range of arts and educational programming, from big-name concerts to classes and lectures to free events for schools to our Prism Project arts camp for youth with disabilities – and the list goes on.
FHS alum realizes lifelong dream
By David Jacobs david@youarecurrent.com
MUSIC
Blake Liller was first introduced to the drums when he was 4 years old, messing around on an old drum set in his basement. Slowly getting more involved with music as he grew up, Liller has signed on to tour with cinematic rock band City of Sound.
“I pretty much grew up on the game Rock Band,” he said. “I started getting into church bands at Mercy Road (in Carmel) in fifth or sixth grade, and that was great practice because you have to play live on stage. Throughout high school, I did marching band and got to learn a lot through that.”
Upon graduation from Fishers High School in 2023, Liller and several friends from his Mercy Road church band formed their band — separate from the church — and performed throughout Indiana, mostly at youth group camps and retreats.
You can still join us in continuing to bring these programs to the community. Visit TheCenterPresents.org/Donate to make a tax-deductible donation to Allied Solutions Center and its mission.
Liller’s church connections continued to pay dividends as one of his producers at Mercy Road connected him with City of Sound lead singer and Carmel resident Jordan Wright once he learned Liller had been a fan of the band’s music.
“It’s just a surreal opportunity,” Liller said. “Jordan and I are huge gamers, so I watched him play Rocket League (on YouTube). So, to be watching somebody like that, and then one random day, you wake up and they’re like, ‘Hey, come play some events for us.’ It’s just crazy to even think about.”
As Liller prepares for his debut slated for Aug. 28 at Dragon Con — a pop-culture, sci-fi, fantasy and gaming convention — in Atlanta, Ga., he never thought he would be playing on such a big stage.
“To play an event as big as Dragon Con as my first event with them, that’s a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity,” Liller said.
For more, visit cityofsoundmusic.com.
Blake Liller first performed on stage at Mercy Road Church in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of City of Sound)
Fishers musician plans debut
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
As a Fishers resident, Tommy Baldwin is naturally eager for his first opportunity to perform in the Fishers Blues Fest.
BLUES FEST
“First off, I love that Fishers supports the blues, because honestly, in my opinion, it is one of the most important genres of our time because it created rock, it created pop, and all these genres that are massive now,” Baldwin said. “There are a bunch of blues festivals that tons of people show up to, which I love.”
Baldwin is tentatively scheduled to open the two-day 13th annual Fishers Blues Fest at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. The Aug. 30 headliner is Ruthie Foster and the Aug. 31 headliner is D.K. Harrell. Admission is free.
“When I learned about it years ago, I was like, ‘How do I get on that?,’” Baldwin said. “It’s finally time to jump on it and hopefully do it justice.”
A North Central graduate, Baldwin is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. Brad Thomas Ackley, a Grammy Award-winning mixing engineer and producer, is the bassist. Elijah Pollard is on drums and Baldwin’s mother,
Tommy Baldwin, a singer-songwriter and guitarist, is set to make his debut in the Fishers Blues Fest.
(Photo courtesy of Rich Voorhees)
Lisa Baldwin, is on keyboards. Baldwin, 29, said the band will play mostly original songs with a couple of covers. His recently released second album is called “Nappy Headed White Boy.”
The tentative schedule is Aug. 30: 5-5:45 p.m.: Tommy Baldwin; 6-7 p.m.: Danny Garwood; 7:15-8:15 p.m.: TBA and 8:30-10 p.m.: Ruthie Foster. Aug. 31: 5-5:45 p.m.: Rebekah Meldrum: 6-7 p.m.: Gordon Bonham Blues Band: 7:15-8:15 p.m.: Solomon Hicks and 8:30-10 p.m. D.K. Harrell.
“This year’s lineup showcases a rich mix of talent, combining seasoned artists with emerging musicians,” said Marissa Deckert, who helps run the event as Fishers Parks and Recreation director.
For more, npdamp.com and tommybaldwinmusic.com.
ICC’s ‘Voyages’ set to launch
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Indianapolis Children’s Choir is opening its 40th season, and executive artistic director Joshua Pedde has been a fixture with the organization for much of that time.
MUSIC
Pedde, a Carmel resident, is in his 10th year as artistic director and 25th year as an ICC employee. His first position was a student conductor for ICC founder Henry Leck.
that the ICC has toured to every continent, except Antarctica.
He said there are several choirs participating in “Voyages,” including Beginning Level Choirs that have locations in Carmel, Fishers, Hendricks County, Boone County, Johnson County, and in Indianapolis at Butler University and the ICC Performing Arts Center. The concert also will include the ICC’s more advanced singers in Lyric Choirs, Indy Voice and Master Chorale.
Pedde
The season-opening concert, “Voyages,” is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville.
“All of the music is repertoire from past ICC tours around the world, so they will be a great reflection of this special aspect of being a member of the ICC,” Pedde said. “One of my personal favorites is ‘The Castle of Dromore’ from the very first tour that I participated in as an ICC director, which was to Ireland.”
Pedde said he loves to share the fact
“We plan on having some very special guests that are going to elevate the performance to give a taste of the cultural experience that our singers get when they travel abroad on tour,” Pedde said. “We are still finalizing our guests, and they won’t be past directors or necessarily ICC members, but current arts partners from the community.”
Season tickets and single concert tickets are available for the 2025-26 season. The ICC gala, “A Touch of Red,” is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at Ritz Charles in Carmel.
For more, visit icchoir.org
CHARTING AMERICA’S FUTURE Annual Event
An Evening of Big Trends, Bold Thinking, and Purposeful Leadership MITCH
of
Thursday, September 11, 2025 5:30 - 8:00 PM (ET) Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN
Editor,
I voted for Trump to lower costs, to do something about immigration and to end the wars.
I did not vote for all this uncertainty — tariffs up then down — costs will go even higher now.
I did not vote for Stephen Miller ordering ICE to capture 3,000 non-white people a day and throw them into detention centers for who knows how long.
I did not vote for Elon Musk to cut funds and protections that ordinary, hardworking Republicans rely on, like Medicaid, public schools, rural hospitals, FEMA, health research, etc. Maybe Social Security and Medicare will soon be slashed.
Why did you vote for Trump? Perhaps for the same reasons. We need to be better informed and to think for ourselves. We should all be independent thinkers right now, because not any one party does all things right.
I may not like everything Trump is doing, so what happens if I voice my op-
position? Will I be silenced or arrested? I feel like my rights are slowly eroding.
We are not the Republican Party of past years. It is now a party of billionaires who want power over everyone else. They want tax breaks instead of helping the middle class. While Trump wants full power to do anything, especially getting revenge on his enemies and making deals to enrich himself and his family, it is the billionaires who wrote the playbook, and they’re doing it one executive order after another.
I want a Republican president who believes in my rights and freedoms, keeps inflation down and increases good-paying jobs. I love this country, and I want it to be free for my children and grandchildren, too.
And finally, as a Christian, I am sad how America has lost its compassionate heart to help others. If we keep hating each other, we will destroy our souls and our world.
Diane Crawford, Fishers
A fabufantastic museum
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
“Indianapolis doesn’t have a bad reputation; it has no reputation,” says retired award-winning journalist Will Higgins. He’s only half kidding, which means he is half right.
HUMOR
According to Will, the quirky, eccentric stories about his home city have never been really celebrated. Higgins learned of some of these untold tales by listening to old-time reporters back in the ’90s as they recounted their experiences tracking down stories. “We’ve got a freaky cultural history, and I want to tell it,” Higgins proclaims.
The result is the Museum of Fabulosity on the southeast side of Indy in the Garfield Park area. The exhibit is part of a contemporary art museum called the Tube Factory at 1125 Cruft St. The neighborhood is dotted with charming businesses like a tattoo parlor, a vintage clothing store, a retro kind of hardware store and coffee shops.
Inside Will’s space are some 16 displays that reflect the cheeky history of the Circle City. As you enter the museum, a myriad of “props” draws your attention to stories that Will has written in his inimitable style.
For example, the pole in the corner of the room is not the actual pole that Mauri Rose Kirby sat atop in 1958 for almost a year as part of a restaurant promotion, but the story is true, all 71 feet of it. While the artifacts are not authentic, they direct you to the stories that chronicle a rich history of unconventional and unusual Hoosiers.
No, it’s not the real pack of Pall Malls that Kurt Vonnegut once smoked, but it gives Will an opportunity to reflect on this unhealthy aspect of the celebrated author’s life. In Will’s words:
“Kurt Vonnegut smoked Pall Malls nearly his whole life… This would have given him time to smoke 1 million Pall Mall cigarettes….8.8 percent of Kurt Vonnegut’s time on earth.” By the way, Vonnegut threatened to sue Brown & Williamson because he
“Then there’s the fascinating story of Elfrieda Mais, a racecar driver wannabee who often ran a few laps prior to regional races around the nation to demonstrate her prowess.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
didn’t die from smoking, despite the package warning.
It’s also not the actual purple velour shirt worn by the flamboyant and convicted pimp, the late Jerry Hostetler, whose equally ostentatious house on East Kessler Boulevard was not a sight for sore eyes, but an eyesore for many years. And still is.
Then there was the so-called hanging farmer from Illinois who came to Indy to assist in the execution of George Barrett, convicted of killing an FBI agent. The Illinois man was summoned because he, well, let’s say, knew the ropes.
Then there’s the fascinating story of Elfrieda Mais, a racecar driver wannabee who often ran a few laps prior to regional races around the nation to demonstrate her prowess. Maybe she was the country’s first female racecar driver. She also walked on the wings of planes, possibly the air-apparent of future stunt women.
And then there’s John Dillinger, whose proficiency at baseball led to his learning how to rob a bank.
The exhibit is only open till Sept. 20. Will Higgins is pleased with the success of his exhibit and is thinking of doing a future display of Indy 500 off-beat memorabilia. How will he pull that off? Where there’s Will, there’s a way.
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.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
LIFESTYLE
foe
Deadly sin
15. Rock music genre
16. Butler dorm alternative 17. Flower part
18. ___ Severin Hotel
19. Fishers Arts Council monthly event
meas.
37. Move like a bunny
40. KGB counterpart
42. Toy bricks
43. “Sweet!”
46. Put on WTHR
47. Beast of burden
48. Fancy footwear
49. Daily journal
51. “Well, ___-di-dah!”
53. Short time, for short
54. Surf with a remote
58. Bigfoot’s Himalayan kin
60. Smoothie berry
61. Cherry centers
64. Tied
65. Engine knock
66. IU conference foe
67. “The Way We ___”
68. Org.
69. Religious offshoot Down
1. DOJ branch
2. Neither’s partner
3. Hamlet or King Lear, e.g.
4. Minimal amount
5. Model X maker
6. Door sign
7. Declare
8. “Good heavens!”
9. Wild animal track
10. Cinnamon blend for a Thanksgiving recipe
11. Raggedy doll
12. Hit the slopes
20. Part of 66-Across
21. Unexpected problem
22. Indiana Statehouse VIP
23. Sellout inits.
26. U-turn from WSW
27. Banned pesticide
29. Tuna type
30. Indianapolis Opera voice
31. Picks up the tab
34. Indy Zoo beasts
35. Fruit trees
38. ___ del Rey, Calif.
39. Indiana State Road that runs from Angola to Lawrenceburg
40. Rogue
41. Midafternoon, on a sundial
44. Browns, on a Lucas Oil
Stadium scoreboard
45. PC key
48. LBJ’s veep
50. German river
51. Tilts
52. Set straight
55. California wine valley
56. WTTV military drama
57. Musical composition
58. It sounds like you
59. Night before
62. Pampering, briefly
PUZZLE ANSWERS
large Roku TV’s!
This is a 2nd floor unit with wide exterior stairs.
We have Fall and Winter Snowbird discounts for longer stays that you can’t pass up. To rent, you must be 25.
Please email for pricing and we will send you a link to the photos of the condo and its location. mcnallygroupllc@gmail.com
What sets Riley Children’s Health emergency care apart?
Riley Children’s offers a holistic approach to care for pediatric patients and their families, prioritizing both the physical and emotional well-being of each child that comes through our doors. With 24/7 access to specialized care for patients ranging from infancy to 18 years old, families can rest assured that their child will receive our highly skilled pediatric expertise—now without having to travel far from home.
Why does a dedicated emergency space make a difference?
Emergencies are a stressful situation for anyone, and creating comfortable environments just for kids helps them better cope with the new and unknown. A dedicated pediatric space, created with kids and families in mind, can significantly impact the emergency experience in a positive way.
What level of coordinated care can be expected?
Learn more at rileychildrens.org/FishersEmergency
If a child needs to follow up with a pediatric specialist after visiting a Riley Children’s emergency medicine location, they will have coordinated access to our nationally ranked specialized care. For cases in which a higher level of care is needed, our team will facilitate a seamless transfer to a Riley Children’s hospital location, such as Indiana’s longest standing Level I Pediatric Trauma Center.
n Emergency medicine services for kids, 24/7, now conveniently located in Fishers.
n Dedicated child-friendly spaces built with kids’ comfort in mind, including a children’s entrance, waiting room and twelve patient rooms.
n Staffed by pediatric providers and nurses, and supported by a team of Child Life Specialists, social workers, respiratory therapists, radiologists, general emergency medicine physicians and more.
IU Health Fishers 13000 E. 136th St. Fishers, IN 46037
