SHOWING THE WAY
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About us
Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XIV, No. 46
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Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in Zionsville are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
Insurance costs continue to rise for ZCS
The district will pay more than $930,000 for property coverage this year
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville Community Schools will spend nearly $1 million on property insurance this year, according to Matt Doublestein, assistant superintendent of operations.
The School Board of Trustees for ZCS renewed its property insurance agreement with Liberty Mutual last month. It will cost the district more than $930,000.
That’s a 7 percent increase from 2025 and part of a years-long trend many schools are experiencing across the state, Doublestein said.
“We think a lot of these increases are tied to a lot of the natural disasters folks have experienced,” he said.
Insurance is paid out of a school’s operations fund, the pot of money that pays for utilities, custodians and transportation.
It’s also the fund supported by property tax revenue and the cause for concern from many school administrators due to the expected impacts of Senate Enrolled Act 1.
Taxing entities expect to collect less revenue than previously projected while costs of transportation, utilities and insurance continue to climb.
“All that stuff impacts our ability to keep the lights on, and I wish our legislators could really follow it down the trail,” Doublestein said. “We’re just trying to keep kids lit and warm.”
Ryan Secord, a broker and government affairs consultant for Hub International, an insurance brokerage, said storm damage is one of the main drivers for rising insurance rates for schools.
And it’s happening more frequently, according to Secord.
When an insurance company must pay out several claims, the losses are spread out over the entire pool of clients, leading to increased rates year over year.
Insurance costs increased 22 percent
“We’ve seen significant losses across the Midwest and across the country, and, unfortunately, that translates to increases for schools.”
– RYAN SECORD
in 2024 for ZCS. It increased another 18 percent in 2025.
“We’ve seen significant losses across the Midwest and across the country, and, unfortunately, that translates to increases for schools,” Secord said. “Insurance companies will come back for those payouts next year.”
The cost of repairs and the labor and materials have also risen. Secord said the costs are penciled into quotes schools receive from insurers. Insurance also is a profit-driven industry.
Liberty Mutual was the only insurer to give ZCS a quote. The plan also includes liability, casualty and crime insurance.
Doublestein said they typically get two or three quotes. The school’s insurer from four years ago no longer covers schools.
“There’s not a lot of players, and they leave, too,” Doublestein said.
Secord said there are approximately five insurers for schools in Indiana, and the lack of competition does not help prices because there are many risks associated with schools. For example, someone could slip and fall on their way up the stands at a rainy football game. Some schools have swimming pools. Students are on school buses every day. There also are potential civil rights cases.
Those are all items that require insurance. And insurance is a profit-driven industry.
Secord said limiting what a school could be sued for and preventing schools from being sued both at a state and federal level for the same case would limit risk.
“If you want public schools to continue operate as they do today, there has to be some sort of reform,” he said.
DISPATCHES
Zionsville Board of Zoning Appeals — The board of zoning appeals meets at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at Zionsville Town Hall, 1100 W. Oak St. The board considers relief from the requirements of Zionsville’s zoning ordinance.
Movie screening at Hussey-Mayfield — Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library will host a screening of “The Librarians” from 5-7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Community Room at the Whitestown branch. The documentary examines how librarians in public and school libraries navigate the First Amendment. Library director Kristin Shelley will moderate a Q&A after the film. Reserve a seat at bit.ly/4sApLZs or visit HMMPL.ORG.
Salem Methodist Church rummage sale — Salem Methodist Church of Zionsville will have a rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 7. A variety of items will be available. The buyer sets the price for most items. All proceeds benefit various mission projects of the church. The church is at 6701 S. 775 E.
Witham award nominations open — Witham Health Services is accepting nominations through Feb. 6 for its Boone County Healthcare Professional of the Year award. It is open to doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, and anyone else who works in the healthcare industry. To nominate someone, visit http://www. witham.org/boone-county-outstanding-healthcare-professional. The award will be presented at the Boone County Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet March 5.
Zionsville school board — The School Board of Trustees for Zionsville Community Schools meets at 6 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Educational Services Center Boardroom, 900 Mulberry St.
CFBC scholarships available — The Community Foundation of Boone County is accepting scholarship applications for the Class of 2026. Boone County seniors planning to pursue higher education are encouraged to apply. For more, visit communityfoundationbc.org/search-and-apply.
Doublestein
New bike trail coming to Overley-Worman Park
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
A new 4-mile mountain bike trail will be added to Overley-Worman Park this year.
The Zionsville Board of Parks & Recreation voted last month to add the trail, which will increase the total of mountain bike trails in the park to 5.25 miles.
The addition will be a beginner-rated trail, which is a needed amenity in the park, according to Parks Director Jarod Logsdon.
Existing mountain bike trails installed in the park are considered difficult. Those have been adjusted, Logsdon said.
Volunteers with the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association will build the new trails. The parks department has a working agreement where both maintain the trails at Overley-Worman.
Construction is expected to begin this spring. It will likely in the fall.
The addition of a beginner-friendly trail is expected to draw more folks to the park.
“I do think it’s an opportunity to invite younger families and those just getting interested in the sport to have an enjoyable time in the woods and throughout Overley-Worman Park,” Logsdon said.
The beginner trail will tie into the more intermediate- and advanced-rated trails, creating separate loops people can ride, depending on preferred diffi-
Hand-drawn rendering of the addition of a beginner-rated mountain bike trail at Overley-Worman Park. (Rendering courtesy of Zionsville Board of Parks & Recreation)
culty, according to the proposed plan.
The plan also calls for improvements to the intermediate trail and adjusting the flow of the advanced trail.
Logsdon said he’d like the mountain bike trails to be a destination for the metro-Indianapolis region.
“Much like our disc golfers and some other park amenity hobbyists, they will travel for new experiences in their hobby or sport,” he said.
The new trail is not expected to have a major impact on the disc golf course. It also is expected to help mitigate invasive species.
Tax prep voluteers wanted
news@youarecurrent.com
Purdue Extension is looking for volunteers to adequately staff its free tax preparation service this season.
The Boone County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides free, high-quality tax preparation and filing services for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes.
Volunteers are sought to provide services to more people. Last year, 250 people utilized the service but another 100 were turned away because of a lack of volunteers.
People can volunteer in two ways.
They can be a tax preparer, with training provided online, which helps individuals claim tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit while also offering financial education resources. Experience isn’t required.
Volunteers also can be greeters, who intake documents and information from the taxpayer.
Volunteer time is flexible. Tax preparation will take place between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Feb. 17 through April 7.
For more information, contact BooneCoTax@gmail.com or 765-279-0873.
Woman pleads guilty in fatal drunk driving crash
A woman charged in a drunk driving crash that left a man dead in 2023 pleaded guilty to six felony counts Jan. 23.
The Boone County Prosecutor’s Office announced Jessica Carapia-Cortez, 25, of Frankfort, pleaded guilty to the following charges
• Causing death while intoxicated.
• Causing death when operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration more than .08.
• Two counts of causing catastrophic injury while operating a vehicle with an ACE of more than .08.
• Two counts of causing catastrophic injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The charges stem from a Sept. 23, 2023, crash when Carapia-Cortez was driving northbound on Ind. 39 in Boone County. The woman drove off the right shoulder, overcorrected and crossed the center line and rear-ended Michael P. Weber, of Forest in Clinton County. Weber died from his injuries.
Carapia-Cortez’s vehicle collided with another.
The passengers with Carapia-Cortez’s vehicle suffered catastrophic and permanent injuries, according to the prosecutor’s office.
An investigation revealed signs of intoxication, along with a pronounced smell of alcohol. A blood draw revealed Carapia-Cortez’s blood-alcohol content was more than the legal limit.
“Mr. Weber lost his life, and Adolfo Vasquez-Sanchez and Judith Ortiz-Sanchez sustained catastrophic, permanent injuries that have left them wholly disabled and dependent on others for all aspects of daily living,” Deputy Prosecutor Kelsey Lenox stated. “With today’s plea, the defendant has formally acknowledged her guilt for the devastation she caused.”
Carapia-Cortez will be sentenced at 1 p.m. April 9 in Boone Superior Court 2.
Carapia-Cortez
Humane Society’s Fur Ball set for Feb. 21
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
The Humane Society for Boone County is going bigger for its 13th annual Fur Ball fundraiser.
Animal shelter staff want to raise $100,000 during its annual Mardi Grasthemed event, set for 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 21 at The Sixpence in Whitestown.
“We’ve really upped our game this year,” Executive Director Kristen Pulice said.
Last year’s event raised $70,000.
There will be a dinner buffet from Carmel-based Jonathan Byrd’s Catering, Mardi Gras-themed desserts, a cash bar, music, tarot card readings and caricature art.
Dress is smart casual. Guests are encouraged to embrace the Mardi Gras spirit.
Tickets are $85 per person and $600 for a table of eight.
The event will include online and live auctions for items that include event tickets, experiences, gift cards, adventures, pet items and home decor.
The online auction starts at noon Feb. 16. Those interested in participating should follow the humane society’s Facebook page or check /hsforbc.org/.
For an additional $75, guests can take part in the Paws and Pour Reception from 5 to 6 p.m. with Humane Society board members. It includes gourmet hors d’oeuvres, early access to event activities, a special gift and VIP parking.
The animal shelter is fully funded by donations, grants and fundraisers. It does not receive tax revenue. Pulice said
the Fur Ball helps support feeding animals and vaccine clinics.
“The fundraiser event is huge for us, because it helps us continue,” she said.
Tickets can be purchased at secure.qgiv.com/for/humanesocietyforboonecounty/event/ furball/.
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Trusted by Central Indiana homeowners for 25+ years
Humane Society for Boone County will host the 13th annual Fur Ball fundraiser Feb. 21. (Photo courtesy of Humane Society for Boone County)
Trio earn ISSA Hall of Fame honors
Editor’s note: Current entertainment editor Mark Ambrogi was inducted into the ISSA Hall of Fame in 2023.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Indiana Sportswriters & Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame class of 2026 will feature two honorees with longtime Carmel ties and a Current Publishing editor.
Rick Morwick, Current newsroom director, will be joined by former sportswriter Jim Russell and sportscaster Vince Welch. Russell has lived in Carmel since 1983, and Welch lived in Carmel for more than 30 years before moving to Cicero last year. The group will be honored April 12 at Valle Vista Golf and Banquet Center in Greenwood.
Morwick, 63, left the Daily Journal in 2016 and joined Current newspapers. After graduating from Purdue University, Russell, who has lived in Carmel since 1983, worked for the Greenfield Reporter, including three years as sports editor. He worked for Indiana Sports Weekly, a statewide weekly, before joining the Indianapolis News. During his 13 years at the News, he covered the Colts, high school sports, golf, tennis and the men’s basketball competition at the 1987 Pan American Games. Russell, 72, was the No. 2 Colts beat writer from 1986-90.
Morwick, a Perry Meridian High School and IUPUI graduate, joined the Daily Journal in Johnson County in 1991, became assistant sports editor in 1997 and sports editor in 2004.
As part of his responsibilities, Morwick covered the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers for 25 years. He covered the Colts in the Super Bowl in 2007 and the Pacers in the NBA Finals in 2000. He covered several Indianapolis 500s, including the 100th running, and multiple IHSAA state finals. He conducted the final interviews with Johnson County legends George Crowe (Indiana’s first Mr. Basketball) and his brother Ray Crowe (Crispus Attucks High School fame) before their deaths.
Morwick, an Indianapolis resident, was named the ISSA Corky Lamm Sportswriter of the Year in 2014.
Morwick said the Hall of Fame selection was a complete surprise.
“This honor would not have been possible had I started my career anywhere but the Johnson County Daily Journal, a ‘small paper’ that did big things,” he said. “I was extremely fortunate to have worked with and learned from some of the best editors and reporters in the state. I’m indebted to those early mentors who took a chance on hiring me and did so much to advance my career.”
“More than anything, I loved covering high school basketball,” said Russell, a two-time winner of the ISSA’s Sportswriter of the Year Award.
Following his tenure at the News, Russell served as sports information director for the IHSAA from 1994 to 2001. Russell, who has been the football press box public address announcer since 1975, then was executive vice president for Delta Tau Delta Fraternity until retiring in 2018.
Welch, 61, spent 5 1/2 years on the WISH-TV sports team before moving to WNDY-TV, which featured IHSAA state championships and Indianapolis Indians games. He also broadcast his alma mater Ball State University’s basketball games for several years and covered the IndyCar Series on television or radio from 1996 through the 2014 season. Welch did 23 years of network TV, including 15 at ESPN and eight at Fox, primarily broadcasting motorsports.
“I did some college basketball work at Fox, which I really enjoyed,” said Welch, who retired after the 2023 NASCAR season.
Welch said he appreciates the Hall of Fame selection.
“I’m honored certainly to be in the company of so many terrific announcers, writers and broadcasters that are in the Hall of Fame,” he said.
Terry Hutchens, a Lawrence Township resident, will be inducted posthumously. Hutchens, who covered Indiana University sports for the Indianapolis Star and CNHI, died in 2018 at age 60.
Morwick Russell
Welch
SHOWING THE WAY
Special event eases transition for eighth-graders to ZCHS
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
During Zionsville Community High School’s second Academic Transition Night, students Mafer Higuerey and Divya Prem led a group of eighth-graders down one of the school’s main hallways.
“Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher to go somewhere,” Higuerey told them as they passed by some offices.
In the fall, those eighth-graders will be the new faces at ZCHS, where they’ll encounter changes including a block schedule, new graduation requirements and a new building to navigate.
ZCHS’s Academic Transition Night aims to ease the challenges that come with entering high school. Eighth-graders and their families packed the high school Jan. 14 for the event.
High school students gave tours of the building; an academic department fair gave families the chance to talk to teachers about the many programs and departments available to the incoming freshman; and school administrators led informational sessions.
A session on scheduling and graduation requirements provided the most information.
Graduation requirements will change beginning with the class of 2029. Incoming classes must earn 42 credits for the baseline diploma and can choose from one of three seals: enrollment, employment and enlistment. The seals are meant to prepare students for what they plan to do after graduation.
Because Zionsville graduates — about 94 percent — will attend college, much time was spent covering requirements for the enrollment seal.
The seal, literally imprinted on a student’s diploma, requires 49 credits and completing a series of Advanced Placement classes and dual credit courses or a combination of both, among other requirements like upper-level math courses.
“The enrollment honors seal is what they’re looking for in applying to the institution,” assistant principal Maureen Borto told the crowd of students and parents.
A previous version of the new diplomas was widely criticized by Indiana colleges and universities for not meeting admission requirements. The state revamped its model following the pushback.
All students, regardless of paths, must take computer science, personal finance and a communications-focused course.
ZCHS Principal Karen McDaniel said all inbound freshmen will take a yearlong seminar that combines health with Preparing for College and Careers, both required under the state’s high school redesign. The latter course is meant to teach students stress management, persistence and time management.
“The freshman year provides a solid foundation,” Borto said.
The state’s new diploma model em-
phasizes work-based learning, especially for students who opt for the employment track. They must complete 150 hours of work-based learning.
Getting students connected with employers so they can complete those hours remains one of the major challenges schools are working through. Other info sessions covered Advanced Placement and dual credits and the J Everett Career Center in Indianapolis. Throughout the main halls of the high school, upperclassmen showed the eighth-graders around.
“I feel like we were able to give them a good rundown,” said Prem, a senior.
Prem said the campus is easier to navigate with most construction projects wrapped up at the school. She recalled having to text friends where to meet for lunch when lunches were held in three
“If you’re afraid to take AP World (history), definitely do that.”
– MAFER HIGUEREY
different areas. Now, all students eat in one cafeteria.
Asked what advice they’d give for the incoming high school class, Higuerey, recommends taking harder classes. “If you’re afraid to take AP World (history), definitely do that,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to join clubs,” Prem said.
ON
Zionsville Community High
INDIANA’S HIGH SCHOOL REDESIGN
Each of the three seals — enrollment, employment, enlistment — includes a “plus” option that requires more rigor. For the enrollment honors seal, students must either earn AP Scholar with Distinction — scoring a 3 or higher on five AP exams — or the Indiana College Core, a 30-credit block of college prerequisites. They also must complete 75 hours of work-based learning and demonstrate skills in communication, collaboration and work ethic through eight semesters of English. Earning the enrollment plus seal nets a student automatic admission into Indiana’s public higher education institutions.
Eighth-graders and their families attend an academic department fair during the Jan. 14 Academic Transition Night at Zionsville Community High School. (Photos courtesy of Zionsville Community Schools)
THE COVER:
School students lead eighth-graders and their families during a tour of the high school during Academic Transition Night Jan. 14. (Photo courtesy of Zionsville Community Schools)
New liquor store offers variety
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
A new liquor store wants to capitalize on the development along U.S. 421.
Hoosier Fine Wine and Spirits at 3251 U.S. 421 opened in August 2025. It is locally owned and operated by Jobin and Mike Singh. It is their only location.
“There’s been so much built in this area, we thought it would be a great fit,” store manager Stephanie Newell said.
The store features a wide variety of wines and liquors, from staples like Jim Beam and Jose Cuervo along with higher-end products. The wine selection takes up considerable space in the store.
Newell said the selection is one of Hoosier Fine Wine’s selling points.
“You’re not limited in your options here,” she said. “We have what you want in here, and if we don’t I will find it.”
Newell said she has connections within the industry which helps the store secure allocated bottles of bourbon.
The store takes special requests and offers delivery service within a 5-mile radius. Customers can order online and
pick up in store, too.
Hoosier Fine Wine hosts tasting events each weekend. Visitors can sample different wines, tequilas and bourbons. The sampled product can be purchased at a 5 percent discount.
The store also has bourbon club. Newell said she hopes to eventually add a wine club.
Once per quarter, the store hosts a series of vendors for sampling, and sometimes food vendors as well.
Hoosier Fine Wine and Spirits is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. For more, visit hoosierfinewine.com/.
Goodwill opens new location
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville’s very own Goodwill is now open.
The retail thrift store opened Jan. 20 at 5900 W. 96th St. A line of people waited outside on the chilly morning to be some of the first customers.
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Donations are accepted during regular business hours.
Goodwill was first announced in early January 2025. The 14,000-square-foot building is at the corner of 96th Street and Zionsville Road. The location was formerly part of the Dow Chemical plant.
“Our presence here serves a dual purpose: It acts as a sustainability hub for the town, helping residents keep high-quality goods out of landfills, while simultaneously creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals who face significant barriers to work,” stated Travis Darden, senior director of retail operations
The store is expected to employ more than 50 people, according to a news release. Goodwill provides employment for those who face barriers to the workforce such as disability, criminal background or lack of a high school education.
The company also provides workers with education opportunities through the Excel Center and help for first-time mothers, pairing them with registered nurses through its Nurse-Family Partnership.
The new Goodwill store recently opened at 5900 96th St. (Photo by Spencer Durham) for Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana.
Newell is the manager for Hoosier Fine and Spirits. (Photo by Spencer Durham)
Commentary by Larry Greene
This southeast Indianapolis home addition was designed to expand living space and improve everyday flow, adding a new dining area, opening the kitchen for countertop seating and incorporating a bathroom and covered porch to better support modern living.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The expanded layout creates a dedicated dining area while improving overall flow between the kitchen and living spaces.
• Opening the kitchen wall added countertop seating, increasing functionality for casual meals and entertaining.
• The new bathroom adds everyday convenience and improves the home’s overall layout efficiency.
• A covered porch extends the living space outdoors and provides year-round usability.
• The final design feels cohesive and intentional, blending seamlessly with the existing home.
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.
Indy addition expands living space
‘Mr. Las Vegas’ set to share memories in Allied Solutions Center debut
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For legendary singer Wayne Newton, performing has always come naturally.
“The truth of the matter is, I’m probably the most comfortable on stage than I am anywhere in the world,” Newton said. “So, performing is something I’ve been doing since I was 3 years old, so there is no reason to change it unless there’s some physical reason and there isn’t. So, I just keep on keeping on.”
Newton will perform on his “Memories & Melodies” tour at 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. It will be Newton’s debut at the Palladium.
Newton, 83, has a three-day-a-week residency at Bugsy’s Cabaret at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel in Las Vegas.
“It’s good for me and also my group that we don’t get married to just doing Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays,” Newton said.
The Flamingo was the first casino where Newton headlined.
“Being back at the Flamingo is like coming home,” he said. “I’ve played Caesars Palace. I played almost every hotel in Las Vegas over the years and being back at the Flamingo is really special for me.”
Newton, nicknamed “Mr. Last Vegas,” has built a global fanbase from his decades of performing.
“We’ve been in Vegas so long that we have built a pocket of people who follow us, no matter where they are living in the United States,” Newton said.
Newton’s signature song is “Danke Schoen.” Other hits that are concert staples are “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast” and “Summer Wind.”
“We work all of my earlier hits into the show,” he said. “Depending on the audience, (the setlist) changes every
night, but it’s primarily those songs I get asked for constantly.”
Newton started performing in Las Vegas at age 15.
“We did six shows six nights a week, and that went on for five years,” he said. “Then I graduated to (larger rooms), and that’s two shows a night, seven nights a week when it started. It’s only in the last two to three years, Vegas has gone to one show a night. I’ve probably done in excess of 40,000 or 50,000 shows there.”
Newton said he talks about the people who have been instrumental in his career.
“I mean, major stars who stepped up when I needed some help,” he said. “The show is really about the memories and the melodies.”
Besides music, Newton’s other passion is Arabian horses. He owns between 30 and 35 on a 35-acre ranch. He said he has bred and sold more than 500 Arabian horses through the years.
Newton was born in Virginia but moved to Arizona when he was 8 years old because of bronchial asthma.
“The doctors insisted my parents move, so we did,” he said. “I lived there until I was 15, and that’s when I came to Las Vegas. The asthma really hasn’t been a problem since I moved to Arizona. If I’m in a place with inclement weather, I make sure I don’t spend more time than I should. That is about a two-week window.”
For tickets, visit thecenterpresents. org. For more, visit waynenewton. com.
‘THE MOUSETRAP’
“The Mousetrap” runs through Feb. 15 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards. com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“Because of You … A Tribute to Tony Bennett” is set for Feb. 5, followed by “Forever Simon & Garfunkel: Feb. 6-7 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘LUCKY STIFF’
Actors Theatre of Indiana presents “Lucky Stiff” through Feb. 15 at the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit atistage.org.
“THE GREAT GATSBY”
Civic Theatre presents “The Great Gatsby” Feb. 6-21 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” is set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6-7 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.
‘AN EVENING OF LOVE & HOPE”
Anthony Nunziata’s “An Evening of Love & Hope” benefit concert, featuring members of Actors Theatre of Indiana and Ashley Nicole Soprano, is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 6 (rescheduled from Dec. 13) at Broadway United Methodist Church, Indianapolis. For more, visit atistage.org.
‘ALMOST, MAINE’
Main Street Productions presents “Almost, Maine” Feb. 5-15 at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
Wayne Newton will make his debut Feb. 14 at the Allied Solutions Center in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Allied Solutions Center)
ICC plans for Carnegie Hall
editorial@youarecurrent.com
The Indianapolis Children’s Choir, which is celebrating 40 years in central Indiana, is preparing for a trip to Carnegie Hall in June.
More than 180 ICC singers from kindergarten to ICC alumni will travel to New York City to present “Jubilate Deo,” a master work that was commissioned for the ICC by renowned composer Dan Forrest. The choir will present pieces of “Jubilate Deo” March 8 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis.
“This is not only a celebration of 40 years of song, but it’s a display of the amazing musicianship that has been cultivated over this time that we continue to instill in our current singers,” stated Carmel resident Joshua Pedde, executive artistic director of the ICC. “This type of opportunity to sing on one of the most famous stages in our city, and then again on an even bigger stage, is something that the ICC takes great pride in providing.”
The performance at Carnegie Hall will be the culmination of the choir’s
40th anniversary season, sponsored by Everwise Credit Union. Tickets, which aren’t on sale yet for the June performance, can be purchased for the Indianapolis presentation of “Jubilate Deo,” which was commissioned to celebrate the ICC’s 30th anniversary.
“Bringing this massive piece back to life will be incredibly special for our singers,” Pedde stated. “It has seven movements, most in different languages, and all accompanied by an orchestra. It’s a challenge to learn, and a true joy to listen to — something that I think any audience will be wowed by.”
ICC is hosting a Day of Song for children from preschool through eighth grade Feb. 21 at the ICC Performing Arts Center. This event introduces kids to new musical skills appropriate to their ages, and older children will also work with guest clinician and accomplished choral conductor, Roger David.
Programs will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free song demonstrations will be at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. for families. Free public tours will be ongoing from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more, visit icc.org.
Making the arts accessible to all
Commentary by Jeffrey C. McDermott
When we think about a live arts or entertainment experience, we often imagine the excitement of the performance, the beauty of the venue and the joy of community. But for many of our neighbors, that experience comes with challenges most of us never consider.
At Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts, we’re working to change that reality with accessibility upgrades that reflect a simple but powerful belief: the arts should be welcoming to everyone in our community, regardless of ability.
People with autism, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD and other conditions often find everyday sounds, lights and crowds to be overwhelming or even painful. But now at our flagship venue, the Payne & Mencias Palladium, visitors can obtain sensory bags containing noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses and fidget tools to ease anxiety. Signs mark “Headphone Zones” where loud sounds might be encountered and a designated quiet room where anyone feeling overwhelmed can take a break. Our
And we didn’t stop there. While our venues have always been ADA compliant, we wanted to go beyond those minimum requirements. We hired a consultant with disabilities to experience our events firsthand and provide feedback, resulting in meaningful changes: We’ve doubled our accessible parking spaces. We’ve repositioned automatic door buttons to be more reachable, installed touchless door openers in restrooms and updated our elevator signage with braille and high-contrast type.
Upcoming improvements will include assistive listening technology and safety handrails. Our website has gotten an accessibility makeover too, with the addition of an on-screen UserWay widget that gives visitors more control over their browsing experience.
is the president and CEO of Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts staff receives annual training to better serve guests with sensory needs.
Jeffrey C. McDermott
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