Founded Jan. 29, 2008, at Noblesville, IN Vol. XVIII, No. 21
Copyright 2024
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All Rights Reserved.
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West Clay at 131st & Towne Rd
Former Hoosier governors stress need for respectful dialogue to move forward
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Three former Indiana governors — including one former U.S. vice president — sat down for a discussion about public service and leadership in front of a packed OneZone Chamber luncheon Jan. 12 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton conference center in Noblesville.
POLITICS
Gov. Mitch Daniels, governor from 2004 to 2012; Vice President Mike Pence, elected governor in 2012 and vice president in 2016; and Gov. Eric Holcomb, elected governor in 2016 and 2020, spoke with OneZone President and CEO Jack Russell to an audience of about 600.
During the discussion, Pence said he was proud of the Trump-Pence administration, even if it didn’t end the way he wanted it to.
After President Trump lost his bid for reelection in 2020, Pence defied Trump’s call to not certify the results of that election. Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, then stormed the U.S. Capitol where that certification was taking place.
Pence said at the June 12 forum that it was a privilege to serve as vice president. Without referencing current events, he added that he believes that the future of democracy depends on civility, character and respect.
Daniels agreed, stating that there are many examples of people in public office who treat their jobs with dignity and respect — even when they vigorously disagree with each other — and that he didn’t think those attributes would remain permanently out of fashion.
“It’s not that long since I left elected office in such a different world (than) today,” he said. “I hope that we’ll have people who, once again, embrace the idea that — yeah, having the right answers, the right policies, that’s important. But character is, too.”
Daniels said Pence displayed “remark-
able character” during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and the audience applauded in agreement.
Holcomb, who was recovering from losing his voice during an Indiana Pacers game the night before, agreed that civility will come back — but only if people work to make it happen.
Russell asked his three guests to name the most important issue facing Indiana. Holcomb said there are many issues, but if forced to pick one it would be workforce readiness — making sure Hoosier students are ready for the future. He added that Hamilton County is doing a good job with that.
Pence said the top current issue was the Pacers winning the NBA Finals, eliciting another round of applause from the audience. He noted that the two teams — Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder — are a metaphor for what’s happening in the country, with a stronger focus on the heartland.
Daniels agreed that Indiana is in a good position with a growing population and more college graduates choosing to stay. He said the challenge is to maintain that momentum in the face of what he said will be tough economic times ahead.
When asked to recall moments that made them proud to be Hoosiers, Daniels noted times when he traveled the state following floods or tornadoes and was inspired by the people who showed up to help.
Pence said balanced budgets and strong
policies are important, but agreed with Daniels that the most memorable times were when state residents showed what Hoosier hospitality means.
“If you run (toward) the sound of guns, you actually get to see people in their worst settings at their best — and those are Hoosiers,” he said, adding that his hope for the future is rooted in his faith in God and in the goodness, decency and character of the American people.
Holcomb agreed with his colleagues, adding that one of his proudest moments was hosting guests at the annual Indy 500 race, which he called a crown jewel of the state.
Closing out the forum, Russell said his three guests had made important contributions that shaped the course of the state.
“But more than policies or headlines, what they share is this — a deep belief in Indiana’s potential, a willingness to make hard decisions and a legacy rooted not in politics but purpose,” he said. “They didn’t just occupy the office of governor — they used (the role) to lead and to move Indiana forward. These three men showed us true leadership. Now it’s our turn to learn from these three great leaders, because the next chapter in Indiana’s story won’t be written by one person in one office. It will be written by the people in this room.”
Russell encouraged audience members not to wait for a title or for conditions to be perfect before they become a leader, and to help create solutions to the challenges Indiana faces in the future.
Former Indiana governors Mitch Daniels, left, Mike Pence and Eric Holcomb answer questions from OneZone President Jack Russell during a June 12 forum. (Photo courtesy of OneZone)
The SWEETEST SANDWICH of the Summer.
This summer, we’re celebrating Tenderloin Tuesday’s Sweet Sixteen! Over 50 Hamilton County restaurants will offer special deals and savory spins on Indiana’s favorite sandwich on Tuesdays from June 24th to July 29th . Claim your passport at TenderloinTuesday.com to redeem deals at your favorite tenderloin spots. Let’s celebrate 16 sweet years of Tuesday tenderness!
Westfield Wellness Day connects community with resources
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Hundreds of people attended the inaugural Westfield Wellness Day June 13 at Westfield Washington Public Library and the Westfield Washington Township building.
EVENT
The drop-in event, sponsored by Westfield Washington Township, brought together a variety of local resource services, including health and wellness providers, education, emergency services and service organizations. The event included free wellness checks, the Hamilton County Health Department mobile clinic, safety demonstrations, raffles and activities for children.
“We wanted to bring awareness to Westfield, to our community, of all of the resources that are available to them,” Westfield Washington Township Community Outreach Manager Megan Marquardt said. “Personally, I didn’t know about the township and all the things that the township does. My kids missed out on so many things growing up because I didn’t know about it. There is so much available, and
people don’t know about it. So, the idea was to bring everyone together, to bring our community together and let them know of the resources.”
Organizers said planning began with collaboration with the Westfield Police Department and Westfield Fire Department and eventually included several local organizations that serve the township.
Besides first responders, booths were set up by Westfield Washington Township; Westfield Washington Public Library; Ascension St. Vincent YMCA; Core and More with Rich Ford; Dawes Fretzin Dermatology Group; Flex in the City with Lindsay
Westfield Washington Township recently hosted a wellness day event at the library in Westfield. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Sprunk; Grand Heart Cardiology; Hamilton County Health Department; Heart and Soul Free Clinic; Solid Wellness; Sunshine Pediatrics; Via Women’s Health; Westfield Ambulatory Center; Westfield Counseling Collective; and Westfield Youth Assistance Program.
“We were trying to find someone with every specialty, really including everyone with a little niche, if you will,” said Chelsea McCarty, marketing manager for Westfield Washington Township.
In Indiana, one of the main roles for townships is to provide assistance — something that was previously known as
poor relief. Township representatives said the township serves as a connector — if there is a service they cannot provide, they can connect members of the community to the right people. Westfield Wellness Day brought some of those resources to one place for the day.
“We are kind of a one-stop shop,” Marquardt said. “If you need assistance, whether it’s something that we can help within our township assistance or if it’s just a connection that they need for community resources, we are that one-stop shop. They can come in and say, ‘I really need help with (something)’ and we can point them in the direction of where they can find them.”
Besides assistance, Westfield Washington Township has summer camps, educational classes and activities for children and adults.
“Any age, from preschool age to 55 and older, there’s something at the township,” Marquardt said. “We have the OWNN Guide, they can check that out and everything’s included.”
Learn more about Westfield Washington Township at westfieldwashingtontwp.us.
Census workers needed
CITY NEWS news@youarecurrent.com
Applications are being accepted for special census workers in the City of Westfield.
A special census is expected to begin in mid-September, with an online self-response period beginning in August. The special census is because of growth to the city since the 2020 census was completed. Although the official census lists the city’s population at 46,000, city leaders said the current population is potentially more than 65,000.
According to elected officials, underrepresentation affects distribution of state and federal funds. The special census is expected to generate $1.6 million in additional annual revenue for the next five years.
The special census will require temporary field representatives to collect data. Duties of field representatives will include:
• Attend and complete in-person training.
• Conduct door-to-door interviews and phone interviews as required within an assigned geographic area.
The City of Westfield will conduct a special census in 2025. (File photo)
• Explain special census materials and questionnaires to residents.
• Canvass and travel around the area to verify living quarters.
• Maintain personal payroll records. Applicants must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years old; have one year of general clerical, office or related experience or two years of education above high school; maintain a residence within the area of consideration that will serve as a duty station; have reliable transportation; and be registered for Selective Service, if applicable. Apply at westfieldin.gov/jobs.
FU N FO R TH E WHO L E FAMILY
June 25 | 4–8 PM
(at participating locations)
Square dancing demo and audience participation | Do-Si-Squares from 6–7 PM
Mobile Piano Performance by Matt Soverns (Don’t miss his show at Feinstein’s on June 27!)
Scavenger Hunt
Store Specials
July 2 | 4–8 PM
(at participating locations)
Musical Performance at Anthony's Plaza
Chad Mills with Grover Parido
Mobile Piano Performance by Matt Soverns
Scavenger Hunt
Store Specials
Work begins on Hamilton County nature theme park
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Site work began this month for a nature-based adventure park at 216th Street and Dunbar Road in Sheridan, west of U.S. 31 and just north of the Westfield border.
DEVELOPMENT
The Sheridan Town Council approved a planned unit development ordinance in May for SkyLake Adventure Park — a recreation facility developed by Monarch Ventures LLC, a division of Carmel-based Circle Property Group.
Lee Coulter, vice president of operations at Circle Property Group, said the idea formed when Phil Sack, the organization’s president, spent time at Grand Park in Westfield with his children.
“He talked to a lot of visitors over the years and repeatedly heard people say, ‘What is there to do around here? What is there to do around here for parents?’ And this began to build an idea in his head,” Coulter said. “Westfield reached out to us and (the city) was very interested in learning more about our project. (But) we had a hard time acquiring land in Westfield. We went through four different parcels and were unable to find any that were acquirable that really fit the bill. And we zoomed out and said, OK, we don’t have to be right next to Grand Park, but within a reasonable distance. And we began looking across the whole of Hamilton County.”
Coulter said the park will be built on 75 of the parcel’s 126 acres. The development comes as the Town of Sheridan works on its own long-term comprehensive plan.
“We’re excited to be an anchor in that part of Sheridan, really setting the tone for how development will occur there,” Coulter said. “The town has been well aware for a very long time that the U.S. 31 corridor is going to be developed. That really is exciting — there’s uniform support from the county of the town to really bring the kind of development that our project is — it’s harmonious with that development zone.”
Site work will include removal of some trees to make way for entertainment areas, a swim pond, detention ponds and a sled hill. Coulter said the sled hill will be 65 feet tall and 600 feet long. More than 1,000 parking spaces will be built, including a paved area and crushed stone and grass
overflow areas.
The nature-based theme park will include a 6-acre natural lake and a 40,000-square foot central pavilion.
Adventure activities include a 40-foot modular slide-and-jump structure; a 300foot floating obstacle course; paddle board rentals; a 6,000-square-foot zero-depth splash pad; a 60-foot-high, 500-foot-long all-season tubing hill; a three-story ropes course; and mini-golf.
The park is expected to open in summer 2026.
“We will have our grand opening in early June (2026),” Coulter said. “It’s really a rapid development to get this all built in that time.”
Although site work is underway, details on access to the park are still being worked out.
A $21 million rehabilitation and widening project of Dunbar Road from Ind. 38 to 226th Street was announced in 2023, but work is not anticipated to begin until at least 2027.
The Hamilton County Commissioners and the Hamilton County Council discussed the road during a joint work session June 9. Although Dunbar Road is a priority for the county for development of the Hamilton County Regional Utilities District, it was not included with initial funding. According to the county, Monarch Ventures LLC proposed assuming responsibility for acquiring the right-of-way, paying for the construction, choosing a contractor and hiring the design firm for inspection. The county would pay for the design. The commissioners approved a measure to start the design process.
Coulter said access to 216th Street from U.S. 31 is expected to be capped.
Learn more at skylakeindiana.com.
SkyLake Adventure Park will be built at 216th Street between Dunbar Road and U.S. 31. (Google Earth image)
Westfield Lions Club welcomes members, installs officers
news@youarecurrent.com
The Westfield Lions Club recently installed the club’s 2025-26 officers.
Council Chair Julia Kozicki from the Noblesville Lions Club administered the oaths June 5 to Craig Cooley, president; Gary Smith, first vice president; Chris Bluto, second vice president; Keith Sanborn, treasurer; Jeff Larrison, secretary; Ron Mangus, Lion Tamer; and Tom Balchik, Tail Twister.
SERVICE
The directors for 2025-26 are Rodney Benson, Bill Nesbitt, Mark Hallett and Ted Engelbrecht.
The club also welcomed new members Dan Stevens, sponsored by Jeff Larrison; Jacqui and Dennis Lloyd, sponsored by Carrie Larrison; and Cheryl Hochgesang, sponsored by Linda Hallett. The new additions bring membership to 72.
The Westfield Lions Club is the longest-serving service club in Hamilton County.
The Lions also heard presentations from
Westfield Middle School students about their recent trip to Washington, D.C. Lions sponsor one student from each of the WMS five teams to attend the trip each spring.
WMS students Neel Patel, Estelle Stroup, Angelina Parrish and Scarlett Finnigan talked about their experiences during the trip. Learn more about the Westfield Lions Club and how to become a member at westfieldlions.org.
Dan Stevens, center, is sworn in as a member of the Westfield Lions Club by, from left, Jeff Larrison and past District Governor Bob Benson. (Photo courtesy of Westfield Lions Club)
Plan to address rape kit backlog clears one hurdle
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
A bill to address the backlog of rape kits in Indiana did not make it to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk this legislative session. But the bill’s author, District 25 Rep. Becky Cash (R-Zionsville), said the effort cleared at least one hurdle in the legislative session.
LEGISLATURE
Cash introduced HB 1413 in January. The bill would have provided grant funding to law enforcement to test the 600- to 800-kit backlog. The bill passed the Indiana House unanimously but stalled in the Senate appropriations committee in March.
Cash said federal funds secured by Marion County several years ago reduced a backlog that, at the time, was approximately 5,000 kits.
“The good news is that we have gotten it down to the 600 to 800, but obviously that’s still a long time for people awaiting justice,” she said. “I was told that the reason why this is happening is because they don’t have enough equipment. They’re also processing all of the other (evidence) — forensic evidence, guns, weapons, clothing — those kinds of things from crimes.”
Cash said the backlog also can be attributed in part to a lack of staffing, because forensic science is more lucrative in the private sector.
Although the grant funding passed through the Committee on Veteran Affairs and Public Safety and the House, it did not make it to the Senate floor. But Cash said funding was able to be separated from the bill and be earmarked for ISP.
“The head of Ways and Means Committee in the House, Rep. (Jeff) Thompson, made a really smart move,” she said. “When it went
before the Ways and Means Committee in the House, he took the money out of the bill and actually put it into (a) line item for the Indiana State Police and the Indiana Crime Lab. The reason was to separate the money from the bill, in the hopes that the language of the bill would make it all the way through the Senate, and the money would already be appropriated.”
Cash said although the bill did not clear the Senate, the funding was appropriated to ISP.
“Indiana had to cut $2.6 billion out of the budget in the last week of the legislative session, but we did not touch the budget line item for the Indiana State Police,” she said. “So, the $2.5 million that was appropriated (for rape kit testing) actually made it through into the budget.”
Cash said the next step is to work with ISP, the crime lab and the House Finance Committee on the proper steps to make sure that funding — which is now part of the overall budget for ISP — is used appropriately.
“I was actually really sad for the Senate that they didn’t get to vote on the bill,” she said. “There really is a strong desire to get that backlog down so that we can actually prosecute crimes, and, of course, exonerate any people who are innocent. But I am hopeful that I’ll be able to work with the Indiana State Police and the crime lab in order to be able to use that money for what it needs to be used for in 2025.”
Cash said she’ll continue to work to get the language of the bill signed into law in 2026.
“The longer it takes for these kits to be processed, the less chance a victim is going to want to keep reliving it and just waiting and waiting,” she said. “The chance of actually getting it through the court system just dissipates over time.”
to $75 for all eligible Hoosier Care Connect members with an INvestABLE Indiana account. To qualify for this incentive, Hoosier Care Connect members must be eligible for an INvestABLE Indiana account and have opened the account within the past 12 months. Learn more at in.savewithable.com.
DISPATCHES
USPS job fair — The United States Post Office will host job fairs at several central Indiana post office locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 26. Available positions include rural carrier assistants with pay up to $20.38 per hour, plus some benefits. Job fair locations include 1900 Pleasant Rd. in Noblesville; 275 Medical Dr. in Carmel; and 107 W. 4th St. in Sheridan. USPS personnel will be available at job fairs to provide information. Applicants must be 18 years of age and be available to work weekends and holidays. Applications are accepted online at usps.com/careers.
Scholarships awarded — The Riverview Health Foundation recently awarded seven high school seniors from Hamilton County the Dr. And Mrs. Malcom Bray Medical Scholarship and Hamilton County Medical Society Scholarship. Established in 1993, the Dr. and Mrs. Bray Medical Scholarship is presented annually to graduating seniors from each public high school in Hamilton County who plan to pursue a career in the medical field. Each recipient receives a one-time $1,000 scholarship. In partnership with the Riverview Health Foundation,
each student received an additional $500 from the Hamilton County Medical Society Scholarship. The students from the 2024-25 school year who received the scholarship include Lainey Adkins, Fishers High School; Bassel Ashour, Noblesville High School; Alex Augustine, Hamilton Southeastern High School; Madeline Linville, Westfield High School; Madelyn Putman, Carmel High School; Elizabeth Smith, Hamilton Heights High School; and Makaley Terry, Sheridan High School.
Hamilton County young professionals golf outing — The Westfield Young Professionals Council, a council of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce that connects young professionals with a network of peers, mentors and regional business and civic leaders, will host its 3rd annual golf outing Aug. 27 at Wood Wind Golf Course in Westfield. The outing is exclusively for professionals 40 and under who live and/ or work in Hamilton County. Tickets include 18-holes and access to the range; two golf carts per foursome; a Bloody Mary Bar; a box lunch; and entry to the 19th Hole Reception. Register at tinyurl.com/4d7dd9ka.
COMMUNITY
WESTFIELD JULY EVENTS
KIDS SUMMER SERIES
At 10 a.m. every Tuesday in July, excluding July 1, kids of all ages are invited to Grand Junction Plaza for music, face painting and play. The series includes Mr. Dan the Music Man July 8; Mr. Mik — Jump for Joy July 15 and July 29; and Magician Rusty Ammerman July 22.
CREEK STOMPS
Staff from the Westfield Department of Parks and Recreation will lead the exploration of Grassy Branch on Thursdays through July 31, excluding July 3. Attendees will learn about watersheds, invasive species, ecosystems and wildlife native to the area. Tickets are $5 per person and space is limited. Register at tinyurl. com/53m6emfh.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AT GRAND PARK
Westfield Rocks the 4th, presented by Citizens Energy Group, returns to Grand Park Sports Campus from 4 to 10:30 p.m. July 4. The patriotic celebration will include live music, inflatables, competitive eating contests and a drone and fireworks show
beginning at 10 p.m. Kids Zone wristbands for access to face painting, balloon twisting, bounce houses, obstacle courses and inflatable slides are available for purchase online for $10 for children 4 and older. Limited parking is available in Lot G for $15 per vehicle. Learn more and purchase wristbands and parking passes at westfieldin.gov/rocksthe4th.
WIFFLE BALL AT THE PLAZA
Swing for the fences during a series of free, family-friendly clinics hosted by the Westfield Parks & Recreation Department from 10 to 11 a.m. July 9 and July 23. Reserve a spot at tinyurl.com/36xdc267.
WATER DAY AT STATION 82
Westfield Fire Station 82 and Westfield Washington Township will host a water day from 1 to 3 p.m. July 22 at the firehouse, 1920 E. 151st St. Children will learn about fire safety; slide down the water hill; splash in the pool; put out a pretend fire using a real fire hose’ and get photos taken with the firefighting apparatus. The event is free but registration is preferred. Register at westfieldwashingtontwp.us under the OWWN Guide tab.
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WHS freshman finishes singles state runner-up
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Westfield High School freshman Alexandra Grilliot is at her best in the biggest moments of a tennis match.
TENNIS
“I feel like I always hit better when there is some kind of pressure or something to earn or work for,” she said.
Your Dream Home
That served her well as she helped the No. 4 Shamrocks advance to the IHSAA girls state team finals before Grilliot got the lone point in a 4-1 loss to No. 3 Jasper. Grilliot reached the state singles championship June 14 before losing to Warren Central junior Samaya Smith 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 indoors at the UIndy Tennis Center.
“Alexandra thrives when competing at a high level, and that showed clearly in the big matches this season,” Westfield tennis coach Trudy Coler said. “Her semifinal match against Riley Trinkle from Providence at state was a great example of how she excels under pressure. Coming back from a set down to win in three sets is a big accomplishment in any match, but to do it at state finals is truly impressive. Throughout the tournament, she handled the pressure very well and stuck to her game plan. She stayed mentally tough, especially during the tight moments, and I believe this experience was very positive for her.”
Grilliot finished with a 29-1 record.
Grilliot said beating Fishers senior Mischa Briggs gave her a lot of confidence. Grilliot defeated Briggs in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference tournament and regular-season dual match.
Although disappointed with not winning the state title, Grilliot said she was happy with how she performed overall as a freshman.
“I had some big accomplishments as a team and individual,” she said. “I feel my biggest strength is my mental toughness. I will always think I’m winning. Other than that, my biggest strengths are my consistency and my touch. I have good volleys and good drop shots.”
Grilliot is preparing for a national hardcourts girls 16 tournament in San Diego in August.
“Alexandra came into the season with a lot of tournament experience, which definitely gave her an edge,” Coler said. “Playing the No. 1 singles position as a freshman means facing some of the top players in the state, so that experience certainly helped her this season. She came in focused and ready to compete from the first match, which was important since we opened the season playing No. 2 Carmel. Alexandra’s hard work, preparation and mental toughness under pressure really set her apart this season.”
“I want to play more aggressively at the net because I do like my volleys,” she said. “I want to finish the point at the net more. I want to work on always using my legs every single point and every single shot.”
Grilliot started playing tennis when she was 4 years old. Her older sister, Juliette, a junior, played No. 3 singles for Westfield.
“I always try to beat everyone I play,” Alexandra said of competing with her sister. “But she definitely did push me because she was always with me on the court. It was good to have someone to train with.”
DISPATCH
Scholarship for Sheridan High School grads available — Ivy Tech Community College Hamilton County recently announced the Timothy J. Burton Memorial Scholarship, a newly established fund that will support Sheridan High School graduates pursuing careers in the skilled trades. Burton, who worked as a carpenter, died in 2024. The scholarship will provide tuition costs at Ivy Tech. Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made at ivytech.edu/givenow.
Alexandra Grilliot finished as the state singles runner-up.
(Photo courtesy of Trudy Coler)
Get to Know: Home-A-Rama announced
EVENT news@youarecurrent.com
The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis recently announced that the 2025 Lee Supply Corp. Home-A-Rama will be presented in Chatham Hills in Westfield Sept. 11-14, Sept. 18-21 and Sept. 25-28.
Home-A-Rama is a showcase of some of central Indiana’s premier custom-home builders’ state-of-the-art homes in one of the region’s most sought-after communities. Announced builders include Custom Living; AR Homes; McKenzie Pierrot Homes; aaNovo; Randy Shaffer Custom Homes & Kent Shaffer Homes; Scott B. Campbell Custom Homes and Development; and Sigma Builders.
“We are thrilled to bring Home-A-Rama to Chatham Hills this year with a lineup of incredible builders who are raising the bar in design, detail and innovation,” BAGI CEO Chris Hancock stated. “This event not only showcases the best in homebuilding — it’s also a celebration of community, creativity and craftsmanship. We can’t wait to welcome guests to experience these remark-
able homes firsthand.”
Located on Westfield’s north side, Chatham Hills includes a championship golf course designed by the late Pete Dye.
“Westfield is a city on the move,” Mayor Scott Willis stated. “While we’ve had significant growth over the last decade, we’ve worked hard to ensure that Westfield remains a safe, welcoming city with nationally recognized public schools and family friendly activities.”
Home-A-Rama attendees will tour custom homes featuring the latest trends in architecture, interior design and smart home technology. The event is open to those looking for inspiration, planning a future build or exploring high-end home designs.
The 2025 show is presented by BAGI and titled by Lee Supply Corp., with support from industry-leading sponsors including McComb Pella Window & Door, 84 Lumber and Centier Bank. Showhomes range from $1.85 million to $4.59 million.
Tickets for the 2025 Lee Supply Corp. Home-A-Rama go on sale Aug. 1 at bagi. com/event/home-a-rama.
Chestnut returns to Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
COMPETITION news@youarecurrent.com
Westfield resident and competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut will return to Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July following a one-year hiatus. Chestnut did not participate in the contest in 2024 because of a sponsorship deal with plant-based Impossible Foods that temporarily made him ineligible.
“This event means the world to me,” Chestnut posted to X June 16. “It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture and a huge part of my life. While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear: Nathan’s is the only hot dog company I’ve ever worked with. I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I’m grateful we’ve been able to find common ground. I’m excited
Indiana’s auto dealer SERVICES division
If you are in the business of manufacturing, selling, or salvaging a vehicle in Indiana, you are licensed and regulated by the Auto Dealer Services Division (“ADSD”). A person needs a license issued by ADSD if they:
to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands!” Chestnut has won the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 16 times.
A California native, he has lived in Westfield since 2021. In December, he set a new world record in the St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium, consuming 21 pounds of shrimp cocktail in eight minutes.
• Sell, offer to sell, or advertise for sale at least 12 vehicles or watercraft within a 12-month period.
• Acquire salvage vehicles for the purpose of restoring, reconstructing, or rebuilding the vehicles and resells, offers to sell, or advertises for sale the vehicles for use.
• Manufacture or assemble new motor vehicles or major component parts of motor vehicles.
• Sell, offer to sell, or advertise for sale at least three new or used manufactured homes in a 12-month period.
Common Consumer Questions:
TITLE DELIVERY
Indiana law requires that a dealer provide a purchaser (or their financer) with title to a vehicle within 31 days. This ensures that the purchaser can register the vehicle with the BMV well within the 45 days that a paper tag is valid for.
CONVENIENCE FEES
As of July 1, 2024, the BMV has approved a maximum convenience fee of $22.50 for title transactions. The convenience fee should be identified as its own line item on a bill of sale or purchase contract.
TEMPORARY (“INTERIM,” “PAPER”) TAGS
Upon the sale of a vehicle, a dealer is authorized to issue one temporary, paper registration tag to the purchaser. This tag is valid for 45 days. Except in limited circumstances, a dealer may not issue a second tag to a purchaser for the same vehicle.
DOCUMENTATION
(“DOC”)
FEES
As of July 1, 2024, the Division advised dealers that it will not take enforcement action for doc fees at or less than $245.28. The doc fee must be identified as a separate line item on a bill of sale or purchase contract.
Westfield resident Joey Chestnut has won the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 16 times. (File photo)
SLOW ROLL
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
Consideration of an ordinance to expand golf cart use on trails in Westfield was delayed last month. But Mayor Scott Willis — a strong proponent of the measure — said a reworked ordinance could come to the Westfield City Council in July.
The ordinance was pulled from the agenda May 27 two weeks after several members of the community came to the council with concerns about allowing golf carts on trails, specifically potential safety hazards for pedestrians and enforcement of the regulations.
Melody Jones, who previously served as Westfield’s park director, questioned if the city could allow golf carts on trails that had been improved using federal grant dollars.
“I know at least three phases of the Monon Trail, and I believe one phase of the Midland Trace Trail was paid for with transportation enhancement grants, which are federal grants (that) restrict motorized vehicles on trails,” she said. “There is nowhere in the (allowable) requirements to qualify for a transportation enhancement grant (for trails) that allows motorized vehicles on the trail, so I believe you would be in violation of federal guidelines.”
Willis said the city paused consideration of the ordinance in part to investigate Jones’ comments on the grant funding.
“While we had done our homework, I told the council, ‘Let’s go back one more time and look at every nook and cranny,” Willis said. “We don’t want to create a problem in the ordinance. So, they’re just going back and sharpening their pencils. I believe there will be some changes and I’m fine with changes. (But) I don’t believe the concept will change — we are trying to expand the use of golf carts in the community.”
Willis said although critics have been vocal, he doesn’t think opposition to the ordinance is an accurate reflection of how the proposal is viewed by the majority.
“I try to look at it from a data standpoint. I’m an engineer and I’m a data guy. That’s (a few hundred) people out of 65,000 people,” he said. “We have over 1,000 golf carts in Westfield. So, if you want to concede the
Mayor
golf cart ordinance will come for vote
fact that you own a golf cart, you’re probably pro golf cart. I think that’s a fair statement. If you’re going to register it to get it on the roads in Westfield, you probably are pro-golf cart. So, if I have 1,000 people for it and (a few hundred) against it, I still feel confident that there are more people who want it than those who don’t.”
Willis also said many comments the city has received through email or on social media against the ordinance are from Carmel residents who don’t want golf carts to cross into Carmel. Willis said the ordinance would only apply to Westfield, and golf
carts would not be allowed to be driven into neighboring municipalities.
Willis said there’s little evidence that golf carts would be a safety hazard. “That’s the fearmongering that’s going on about these golf carts has really gotten carried away,” he said. “I’m on the trails probably five or six days a week, and I’ve done that for the 20 years I’ve lived in Westfield. I’ve never had a negative interaction with a golf cart. I’ve never had a near miss with a golf cart. I can tell you as a runner, I’ve been bitten on the trails many times by dogs — pet owners who don’t
GOLF CART OBJECTIONS
Several members of the Westfield community approached the Westfield City Council in May to voice their objections to the golf cart ordinance.
“I think it’s dangerous. I don’t think it’s necessary,” said Sharon Rice. “Those of us that walk (the trails) enjoy the peace and the tranquility that you can have, just getting away from all this construction and getting out for five minutes to walk on those trails and not
have to worry about getting hit by a golf cart. I’m hearing impaired, I can’t hear them coming. My mother is in an electric wheelchair. She can’t get out of the way fast enough.”
The council opted to delay the vote — originally scheduled for May 27 — to reconsider any changes that might be made. Although Mayor Scott Willis said a vote may come in July, an exact date for consideration has not been announced.
have their dogs on a leash or don’t control their dogs. I’ve been run off the trails several times by bikers. Bicycles go way faster than golf carts do.”
Willis said since golf carts were approved for travel 10 years ago on portions on the Midland Trace Trail, there have only been two calls to the Westfield Police Department.
“Both of them were, ‘Do you realize somebody’s driving a golf cart on our trail?’ Which was legal, they just didn’t realize it,” he said.
Willis said golf carts are unlikely to drive over the speed limit on trails, since trails can have unexpected bumps — such as cracks from tree roots — that force drivers to keep their speed low. He said he knows the possibility exists for some golf cart drivers to have negative interactions with trail users. But, he said, the city should not ban golf carts based on what-ifs.
“You put human behavior into any situation, you’re going to have problems,” he said. “So, I’m not naive to think that over the next decade that we won’t have issues on our trails because of golf carts. But it’s not to a level where you say we’re just going to take that freedom away. I’m a freedom-loving guy. Have fun and be free as long as I don’t negatively impact other people. And I think this fits in nicely. If you look at how society is shifting into e-bikes and scooters and golf carts, people want another way of getting around and golf carts is a great way to do it.”
Willis also said he expects golf carts to be on the trails at hours where there are not as many pedestrians. He anticipates golf carts to travel the trials most frequently in the evening hours.
“Most people don’t go for a workout or a stroll from 6 to 9 on Friday and Saturday night,” he said. “They’re out with their families having fun, going out to eat, doing what they do. And that’s where you’ll see most of that usage and interaction would be in that window. People aren’t getting on a golf cart at 7 in the morning putzing around the trails.”
confident
ON THE COVER: A family in a golf cart travels down the Midland Trace Trail in Westfield. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Golf carts are allowed on portions of the Midland Trace Trail east of Grand Junction Plaza. (File photo)
Presenting on a state of health care panel are, from left, Westfield Chamber of Commerce
Director Courtney Albright, President and CEO of Riverside Health Dave Hyatt, Community Health Network Vice President and Hospital
Administrator Derek McMichael, IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy and Ascension St. Vincent Carmel President Chad Dilley. (Photo by Marney Simon)
Health system leaders discuss access to care in Indiana
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
More than 200 people attended a June 5 panel discussion at Prairie Waters Event Center in Westfield on the state of health care in Indiana, hosted by the Westfield Chamber of Commerce.
WELLNESS
President and CEO of Riverside Health Dave Hyatt, Community Health Network Vice President and Hospital Administrator Derek McMichael, IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy and Ascension St. Vincent Carmel President Chad Dilley spent more than an hour answering questions about access to care; preventative care; controlling costs; collaborating with other health care providers; health care solutions for employers; Medicare and Medicaid; telehealth; legislation that affects health care; and workforce shortages in health care.
Murphy said IU Health provides 50 percent more trauma care than any other system in the state and treats 80 percent of children with pediatric cancers.
“Our goal at IU Health is to make Indiana one of the healthiest states,” he said. “We’re really making sure that for these very specialized things, you don’t have to leave Indiana to get your care.”
The leaders said a key component for best health outcomes is access to care.
“If we have six month wait times when you can’t get into your primary care doctor, that’s unfortunately when you’re going to end up in the emergency department, and that is going to lead to higher costs,” Hyatt said, adding that Riverview has worked in the past two years to advance its primary
care and gastroenterology specialties.
In terms of workforce, panelists said they often focus on people within their own systems to retain talent.
“We’re all competing for the same workers and the same resources, and it’s hard because there aren’t enough in the state,” said McMichael, adding that Community Health has started a pipeline for nurses, imaging professionals and behavioral health specialists, among others, to grow within the system.
Dilley said technology, like telehealth, is key to access for all.
“I don’t think about it from a convenience standpoint, I think of it from an access standpoint,” he said. “There are significant challenges with getting care to rural (communities) and I think telehealth is a way to navigate that. (Most of us) are optimistic, and as leaders we are charged to figure these solutions out.”
The overarching message was that health care needs to reach all Hoosiers in order to have a healthy Indiana.’
“There’s a component we all do related to public health, whether that’s advocating for smoking cessation programs and increasing the cigarette tax or how we think about infant and maternal mortality and having programs that are out in the community (for) prenatal and post-natal care,” Murphy said. “I think there’s a huge portion of what we do that is public health related, largely because there is not a huge infrastructure for that in the state and it falls to (health care providers) to really think about those things that are not directly related to receiving care but are critically important to the health of everybody in the community.”
THE SONGBOOK ACADEMY® IN CONCERT SAT, JUL 19 AT 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS MAN ON THE MOON TOUR
WED, AUG 6 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS & OTHER DELIGHTS
THU, AUG 7 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BURTON CUMMINGS OF THE GUESS WHO A FEW GOOD MOMENTS TOUR
SUN, AUG 10 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
STORIES AND SONGS WITH ROGER MCGUINN SAT, SEP 13 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
AN EVENING WITH BRIAN MCKNIGHT FRI, SEP 26 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JAY LENO SAT, SEP 27 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
RICK BRAUN & MINDI ABAIR
SAT, OCT 4 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
IL DIVO BY CANDLELIGHT
THU, OCT 9 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MATTHEW MORRISON: RHYTHMS & REVELATIONS FRI, OCT 17 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AN EVENING WITH TOMMY EMMANUEL, CGP SAT, OCT 18 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
VIENNA BOYS CHOIR SUN, OCT 19 AT 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS: JAZZ FROM THE BACK O’ TOWN FRI, OCT 24 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY SAT, NOV 1 AT 8PM & SUN, NOV 2 AT 2PM PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LISA LOEB & JOAN OSBORNE FRI, NOV 7 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
TITO PUENTE JR. AND HIS LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE SAT, NOV 8 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
SAMARA JOY FRI, NOV 14 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PEABO BRYSON FRI, NOV 21 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH DAVID FOSTER & KATHARINE MCPHEE TUE, DEC 2 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS FRI, DEC 5 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND CREOLE CHRISTMAS MON, DEC 8 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS FRI, DEC 12 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
CHRIS ISAAK SAT, DEC 13 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA WITH RAY CHEN FRI, JAN 30 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
WAYNE NEWTON: UP CLOSE & PERSONAL SAT, FEB 14 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JAY LENO BRIAN MCKNIGHT
DAVID FOSTER & KATHARINE MCPHEE SAMARA JOY JAKE SHIMABUKURO AIDA CUEVAS
Automate Your Front Desk
Community First Bank adds to leadership team
Community First Bank of Indiana recently announced four new hires for its Hamilton County operations.
Bryan
Mitzelfelt of Kokomo joins as vice president, retail sales administrator. Mitzefelt, a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, has 17 years banking experience with a background of sales and branch leadership in Hamilton County.
Stars
Rana Sayre is the new vice president, director of human resources. A resident of Brownsburg and IU Bloomington graduate, Sayre has four decades of HR expertise spanning talent management, training, benefits and organizational development.
Scott Stars is the new vice president, commercial lender. Stars, of Brownsburg, has 18 years of lending experience, including 14 years in commercial lending.
Steltenkamp
Whitney Steltenkamp joins CFB as vice president, residential mortgage sales manager. Steltenkamp, of Kokomo, has 27 years of industry experience with expertise across every stage of the mortgage process. A graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University, Steltenkamp also serves as Treasurer of the Home Builders Association of Howard County and as a commissioner for the Kokomo Housing Authority.
Community First Bank of Indiana has offices in Westfield, Fishers, Noblesville, Kokomo and Indianapolis. Learn more at CFBIndiana.com.
You-pick at Spencer Farm
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
The you-pick season has begun at Spencer Farm, 7177 E. 161st St. in Noblesville.
Spencer Farm co-founder Mark Spencer said the business has been offering youpick options since it opened 43 years ago.
“At one point in time, the farm operated solely as a you-pick strawberry farm,” Spencer said. “Everybody’s craving activities like this because most people are working inside and in offices. When the weather’s nice, it’s nice to be able to get out and do activities like (this) with the family. We get a lot of younger kids and their (parents) coming out to pick various amounts.”
The farm has strawberries and raspberries available in its you-pick fields.
“We’ve been picking our early season variety of strawberries for about 2 1/2 weeks, and in the next few days, we’re hoping to get started with our late season variety. We just started picking raspberries, which will be available until the first frost.”
The farm offers various you-pick options
at the farm depending on the season.
“We do you-pick asparagus in the early spring, so that season has come to an end,” Spencer said. “In mid-August or so, we’ll have you-pick table grapes, and then we do the pumpkin patch and all the fall festivities that usually start in the middle of September through Halloween.”
Spencer said he anticipates you-pick sunflowers to be available in late July.
You-pick strawberries are $7.50 a quart, which Spencer said is about 1.5 pounds. They are $29 for a 4-quart container, which is about 6 to 8 pounds, and an 8-quart container is $43. You-pick raspberries are $7.75.
For more, visit spencerberryfarm.com.
Mitzelfelt
Sayre
You-pick strawberries and raspberries are available at Spencer Farm at 7177 E. 161st St. (Photo courtesy of Spencer Farm)
Blueprint for Improvement: Noblesville kitchen gets
Commentary by Larry Greene
This Noblesville kitchen evolved from a dark, cramped galley into a bright, pattern-rich space that celebrates both color and character.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The dramatic renovation replaced dark cabinets and plain counters with sage green cabinetry and crisp white quartz surfaces.
• Eye-catching geometric floor tiles create visual interest, while a classic subway tile backsplash adds timeless appeal.
• The arched doorway was preserved as a charming architectural feature.
• Warm wood window trim and vintageinspired lighting, including a stunning stained- glass pendant, infuse the space with personality and warmth.
• The result is a kitchen that feels both contemporary and timeless.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
After
Before
Urban set to perform ‘High and Alive’ tour at Ruoff
By Alan Sculley editorial@youarecurrent.com
Keith Urban has always been an artist willing to take chances musically, to leave room in the recording studio for creative spontaneity that allows songs to go in unexpected directions and take on dimensions he didn’t anticipate.
Urban will perform his “High and Alive” tour at 7 p.m. June 28 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville.
As such, Urban’s albums have generally included at least a song or two that ventured beyond his signature rock-and-popinflected country sound or incorporated production approaches that veered from the norm of mainstream country music.
But as Urban turned his attention to making his follow-up to “The Speed Of Now Part 1,” he wondered if he should rein in his tendency to go off script in the studio. So, he purposely sought to create a more structured environment with the recording sessions.
Urban followed his plan and recorded all the songs for the album, which he planned to name “615” after the area code for Nashville where the album was recorded. That’s when something happened that Urban had never experienced before. With all the songs finished and ready for sequencing, Urban didn’t like what he heard and he scrapped the album.
“I think subconsciously I was wondering if sometimes my albums feel a bit scattershot and hard to define what they are,” Urban said. “And I thought, well, maybe I need to have more focus and definition for a specific kind of sound and a certain kind of song, and so I started recording those kinds of sounds and songs and I didn’t really, it didn’t allow for as much spontaneity as I’ve done on every other record — and exploration. The result was something a little bit too linear for me.”
Urban reluctantly set aside the album, but he now realizes he had been doing the right thing all along by allowing for spontaneity in the studio. And he set about making an album that felt right.
“The very first song we wrote after
that was ‘Chuck Taylors,’” Urban said. “It’s probably not coincidental why that song is so buoyant and high energy because I felt liberated after the ‘615’ experience. I’m like, ‘OK, well, I’ve confirmed how I don’t want to make records and I’d rather do it this way.’”
Urban named his new album “High” to represent the joy he felt during the project. And the music feels worthy of the enthusiasm the 57-year-old guitarist-singer-songwriter expresses about the album.
“High,” which was released in the fall of 2024, opens on an especially upbeat note with “Straight Line,” a rootsy tune with an irresistible groove, perky acoustic instrumentation and plenty of hooks that will feel instantly familiar to Urban’s fans. The same can be said of hefty ballads like “Daytona” and “Messed Up As Me,” two songs brought over from the “615” album that feel like prototypical Urban tunes. But Urban stretches out with other songs. The aforementioned “Chuck Taylors” combines the organic tones of acoustic guitar and a peppy synthetic beat to create a fresh and catchy sound, while “Laughin’ All The
Way To The Drank” punches up the beat and goes even more high octane when it hits an instrumental segment with banjo, violin and guitar solos. Taken together, “High” is a diverse, well-rounded effort that offers both musical comfort food and adventure.
Urban was happy with his latest album. But as he started planning for his tour in support of “High,” he sensed it was time for another change. He parted ways with three members of his touring band — Grammy nominated drummer Terence F. Clark, guitarist/keyboardist Nathan Barlowe, and most notably, guitarist and band leader Jerry Flowers, who had worked side by side with Urban since 1997.
“It was really born of the fact that I wanted to be literally out of a comfort zone of familiarity,” Urban said, adding that he and Flowers will always remain close friends. “I kind of have to just keep creating new things and creating with new people creates new things. It just does. And I was wanting to do that at some point when it just was the strongest sort of voice, and this year felt like the voice was speaking the strongest. It was like get out of your comfort zone. Throw yourself into a completely unfamiliar musical environment and see what happens.”
Known as one of country’s best live performers, Urban promises fans who see his “High and Alive” shows this summer will come away happy with the experience.
“We’ve got obviously new songs to put in there from the new record,” said Urban, who has 24 No. 1 singles on his resume, “(We’re) looking back into the catalog and finding some things we haven’t done in a long time or maybe ever, finding acoustic moments to do spontaneous things each night.
“I want it to be a high-energy night, so we come out of the gate swinging with the first couple of songs. I just want everybody to release. I just want everybody to forget about their lives for a couple of hours and just have a great time and leave feeling better than they came. That’s my mission.”
For more, visit ruoffmusiccenter.net.
‘THE LITTLE MERMAID’
“The Little Mermaid” runs through July 13 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“An Evening with Matt Soverns” is set for June 27, followed by “Bubbles Up! Let’s celebrate Jimmy Buffett” June 28 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Both performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘THE COTTAGE’
Red Barn Summer Theatre presents “The Cottage” June 25-29 and July 2-6 at the Frankfort venue. For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.
‘THE RETURN OF THE KING’
“The Return of the King,” an Elvis Presley tribute show, is set for 7 p.m. June 27 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘ELTON AND ME’
“Elton and Me,” featuring songs by Elton John and singer-songwriter Salvadore Liberto, is set for 3 p.m. June 29 at the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
DISPATCHES
Tenderloin Tuesdays are back — Tenderloin Tuesdays return to Hamilton County June 24 to July 29, featuring more participating restaurants than ever. Fifty local businesses will offer deals and discounts each Tuesday during the promotion, spanning a variety of establishments throughout Hamilton County’s cities and towns. For more, visit TenderloinTuesday.com.
CSO receives $20,000 grant — The Carmel Symphony Orchestra has been notified it will be receiving a $20,000 grant from the Allen Whitehall Clowes Charitable Foundation for operational costs for 2025. The funds will help the symphony fulfill its mission to provide family-friendly concerts and engage youth through education.
Keith Urban will perform his “High and Alive” tour at 7 p.m. June 28 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. (Photo courtesy of PFA Media)
‘The Cottage’ is set for Red Barn Theatre
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Red Barn Summer Theatre Artistic
Director Michael Taylor and Associate Artistic Director Luke McLaughlin took an immediate liking to “The Cottage” after seeing it on Broadway.
PLAY
“’The Cottage’ is fresh off Broadway, and the Red Barn is fortunate to be one of the first theaters in the Midwest to have the privilege of producing this play,” McLaughlin said. “As soon as the rights became available, I mentioned that Michael (Taylor) should try to scoop it up because it would be a hot property for theaters nationwide. We both cannot wait to share this hysterical, unique theatrical experience with our audiences.”
Red Barn presents “The Cottage” June 25-29 and July 2-6 at the Frankfort venue. McLaughlin, who will direct, said Taylor also attended a regional production in Chicago to determine if it would be feasible to present the show in a theater of Red
Barn’s size.
Katherine Abel and Michael Taylor rehearse a scene from “The Cottage.” (Photo courtesy of Luke McLaughlin)
“‘The Cottage’ is a farce with a style entirely of its own,” McLaughlin said. “It will be a great challenge for our company this year.”
McLaughlin said the play is fast paced.
“(The play is) filled to the gills with wit and keeps the audience on their toes from the moment the dialogue begins,” he said. “It’s been a long, long time since I’ve laughed as hard as I did during my first viewing.”
Taylor, a Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate who is a Frankfort High School theater teacher, portrays Beau in the production.
“Timing is the true challenge,’ McLaughlin said. “British wit demands a cadence that requires time and practice to perfect. With only 10 days to put the show together, the company knows it will take additional time and effort to polish the dialogue for our audiences. “
The cast consists of three men and three women.
For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.
BUFFETT | Presented by Don Farrell
B ROADWAY BRUNCH! A SING-ALONG & OPEN MIC EXPERIENCE
NOW THAT’S FUNNY | Comedy show for ages 16+
Many remote possibilites
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
My birthday is coming up — in about 9 months — but don’t give it any thought. I have already bought myself the perfect gift from the Brookstone website: the Brookstone Pillow Universal TV Remote Control.
HUMOR
Yes, someone finally had the brains to sew a TV remote inside a throw pillow. Brilliant! The people who wasted valuable time thinking up Windows 11 or the new iPhone must be kicking themselves. Really, what man hasn’t spent 15 minutes looking for his clicker, then wondered why he couldn’t change channels with something he never misplaces — like his can of beer. Hey, there’s another place to put a remote.
Never again will you ask, “Where’s the remote?” Instead, your wife will ask why there is mustard on her pillow. One fan commented, “It looks like the regular pillow I cuddle with.” OK, that is a little creepy, but I was still intrigued.
There are some safety warnings — like a minor possibility of being electrocuted if you drool on the thing. It shuts off after two hours of inactivity. This is not going to happen because most men are persistent channel surfers. However, falling asleep on the pillow is a pressing problem, so to speak. A few customers complained that one minute they were watching a documentary about FDR on the History Channel and minutes later woke up to “The Simpsons.”
As I mentioned, the significant benefit is that you will never lose the remote again. I’m not optimistic that this is a surefire solution for me. Most people when they play golf occasionally lose a golf ball. The last time I played, I lost three clubs. At Kroger, I typically spend 20 minutes shopping and another 20 looking for my car. The designers of this pillow state that the gadget is idiot-proof. But when I paid 40
“Yes, someone finally had the brains to sew a TV remote inside a throw pillow. Brilliant! The people who wasted valuable time thinking up Windows 11 or the new iPhone must be kicking themselves.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
bucks for this contraption, I think I proved them wrong.
My wife Mary Ellen wondered if she could start the dishwasher with the pillow, but I had to put my foot down. This kind of laziness is ruining our country, although it would be awesome to get Orville Redenbacher popping in the microwave by just leaning back in bed right before the movie starts. But I’d be afraid that in the morning, when I turned over for a final few zzzs, it would tun on the car in the garage. Cause of death: exhaustion.
Mary Ellen and I decided not to wait for Christmas and ordered the pillow remote online. We don’t have the same taste in television shows, so we often have a little spat about what we should watch on our big-screen TV. Now that we have this new cushy gadget, it has added some spice and excitement to our marriage.
Never underestimate the value of a good pillow fight.
Contact
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Hysterics of incivility
Commentary by Terry Anker
Especially those with a limited vocabulary and after an adult beverage too many, angry people often begin their interactions with a bit of an accusation, an accusation based upon some sweeping generalization or brutal stereotype. Maybe this explains why so many social media posts begin with an indictment of one sort or another. “You people who are clearly phobic, stupid, of a different point of view than ours, or in any way otherwise wrong-minded, need to know how deep our contempt for you is.” There is no other approach to this abundant truth, at least in their minds. The world, one can assume for those few followers to whom they affiliate, that the scrivener is no friend, Facebook or otherwise, to those who’ve read the accusations and self-identity.
ESSAY
It does invite a question. Does anyone really see themselves in the rant? “To all you Nazi-lovers out there” one began, then the poster went on to describe their own view of the definition and what they
hoped might happen to the “lover” and their progeny. Does the aspirated person making the declaration actually believe that any of the 473 people who they know and that have chosen to follow them on social media are actual lovers of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei – i.e., the National Socialist German Workers’ Party? If so, is it the hope that their “friend” sees the message and regrets their life plan? Is the expectation that their non-Nazi-loving friends see the post and feel camaraderie? Much like a person standing on the street corner cursing into the wind, what is it hoped to accomplish? Is it intended to persuade, to virtue signal, or simply to rant? Maybe each has value in its own way. But, too, it fills the air with vitriol and the smoldering stench of incivility. Where is the balance?
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent. com.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker.
him at wolfsie@aol.com.
LIFESTYLE
Across
1. Arctic floating mass
5. Really put one’s foot down
10. Poker declaration
15. Man’s palindromic name
16. Not as bright
17. Gives a hoot
18. Start of a sleepyhead’s pun
21. Tuna type
22. Appliance brand
23. Downtown Carmel map phrase: “You ___ here”
26. Poet Maya
29. Guitar’s kin
33. “Break a leg out there!”
35. Approves, informally
36. Like some adult films
38. Watched
39. Brickyard Billiards stick
40. Indy Zoo beast
41. Chicago’s overhead rails, briefly
42. Pun, part 2
46. Clean air org.
49. $, initially
50. NBA tiebreakers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Notice is hereby given that the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on the 28th day of July, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1 Civic Sq., 2nd Flr., Carmel, IN 46032, will hold a Public Hearing upon a Development Standards Variance application to:
UDO Section 5.02(b)(1) - Minimum 25 ft front setback behind front line of principal building; 80 ft. in front of building is requested.
UDO Section 2.04 - Maximum 18-ft accessory building height allowed; 30 - 35 feet requested.
UDO Section 2.03 - Permitted Uses - Accessory Dwelling use not permitted; Accessory Dwelling Requested.
With the property being known as:14350 Shelborne Road, Carmel, IN 46074
The application is identified as Docket No. PZ-2025-00106V, PZ-2025-00107V & PZ-202500108UV.
The real estate affected by said application is described as follows: Parcel Number 17-09-1900-00-004.101
The petition may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents - Laserfiche.
All interested persons desiring to present their views on the above application, either in writing or verbally, will be given an opportunity to be heard at the above-mentioned time and place.
Leigh Anne Ferrell PETITIONERS
51. Solemn vow
55. Hoosier Park victory margin
57. ___ Rigo Mexican Bar & Grill (Carmel eatery)
58. Cut drastically
59. Alternative to Rover
60. Mimic
63. Sound of relief
64. Healing plants
66. Knee injury inits.
68. End of pun
76. Killer whales
77. Arm bones
78. Geist inlet
79. Pacers three-pointers
80. Director Welles
81. Comprehended Down
1. Droid cousin
2. Biblical verb ending
3. GPS suggestion
4. Painter of IMA’s “Three Majos and Three Majas Dancing”
5. Homeland of 4-Down
6. Mai ___
7. Elderly
8. Most of the periodic table
9. WRTV teaser
10. Desktop image
11. “Deck the Halls” snippet
12. Magic, on a Pacers scoreboard
13. New papal name
14. Clay Terrace shoe store letters
19. Bogus 20. Social blunder
Amaze 24. Fountain County town:
Rob ___
25. Female sheep
27. Zionsville Farmers’ Market squash or pumpkin
28. ___ out a living
30. Eiteljorg Museum tribe
31. ___ Aviv
32. Current staffers, briefly
34. Big name in ice cream
37. Sleep stage
39. Couch component
40. Anthem rival
43. Victory Field ump cry
44. Cheer for the Shamrocks
45. Costa del ___
46. Santa’s helper
47. Architect IM
48. Plus
52. Hoosier Motor Club letters
53. IND safety org.
54. LBJ’s veep
56. “Scram!”
57. Expel from law practice
58. Religious offshoot
61. Mass Ave bar
62. “___ Care of Business” (BTO hit)
65. Minus
67. Sure bet
68. Drunkard
69. Indiana governor (1981-89)
70. Fishers Event Center
rink surface
71. WIBC revenue source
72. AFL partner
73. “___ voyage!”
74. Abel’s mom
75. Morning moisture Answers on Page 23
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Trash Removal & Odd Jobs
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