Contact Managing Editor Alicia Kelly at alicia@ youarecurrent.com or submit it at youarecurrent. com/newstips. Our print deadline is eight days prior to publication. Submissions for online accepted daily.
Delivery questions
To request, update or cancel your home delivery, scan the code below or visit: youarecurrent.com/subscribe
Advertise your business
If you’re interested in reaching the Brownsburg market (10,405 households), you may obtain more information by emailing ads@youarecurrent.com (subject: Brownsburg advertising) or by calling 317.418.1279.
Obituaries & Legals
To place an obituary or legal notice, visit: youarecurrent.com/classifieds
Share your thoughts
Send letters (300 words max) to letters@ youarecurrent.com. Include your city and phone number for verification. We reserve the right to refuse submissions.
Follow us Find
Opinions
Columnist views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of this newspaper.
Railroad crossings to affect traffic
news@youarecurrent.com
Railroad crossing construction at Northfield Drive East, Grant Street, Green Street and Northfield Drive West will disrupt traffic patterns starting June 15 with Northfield Drive East per the Town of Brownsburg alert system. The other intersections will begin construction June 16.
Unaffected Brownsburg crossings include Raceway/Coline Road, Lucas Oil Raceway, Hunter Road/1000 E, US136/C.R. 900 E., Odell Street and Jefferson Street.
The maintenance is part of a flurry of construction that CSX will begin along the railroad, starting on Tansel Road in Clermont June 15 and continuing through Elmore Street in Crawfords-
ville on June 25.
Although no official detours are expected, each closure can be avoided by utilizing East Main Street to go further north or south and then turning in the desired direction.
CSX anticipates each crossing will be closed for 48-72 hours for resurfacing, weather permitting.
The locations of each closure. (Graphic by David Jacobs)
Every Race Requires a Strong, Supportive Pit Crew
The Willow Center’s team of professional, master’s degree-level counselors are ready to support you through the most challenging “races” of life, including depression, anxiety,
Biohazards place 2nd at Operator’s Challenge
By David Jacobs david@youarecurrent.com
The Brownsburg Biohazards, a team of four wastewater department staffers, finished second at the Indiana Water Environment Association’s 2026 Wastewater Operator’s Challenge May 18-19. Twelve teams from across the state competed.
With the finish, the Biohazards advanced to national competition in West Texas in September. They have qualified for nationals in five consecutive years.
The team consists of supervisor Matt Huckstep, plant operator Shane Russell, collection system technician Nate Ballard and wastewater laborer David Lewis.
“It’s a good team-bonding event,” Huckstep said. “A lot of these events we do year in and year out, we have no idea what we’re walking into. It could be an event that none of us even have experience in.”
The IWEA challenge comprises seven
hands-on events across wide range of subjects with an added written portion. Scores are tallied to determine the overall winning team.
The Biohazards’ strongest performance was in the residuals and recovery event, which they won.
Team members credited preparation for extending their national-qualifying streak.
“One of the unseen benefits is the time we put into training and studying,” Lewis said. “It’s a learning experience and growing understanding of the new technology that comes into the industry — things that we can bring back to our plant to help elevate or improve performance.”
Team members often used lunch breaks and worked long after their shifts to prepare.
“We’re trying to get ourselves better for the Town of Brownsburg,” Huckstep said. “We have a group of four people (who) push each other and ask questions to bring back a lot of knowledge.”
From left, Shane Russell, David Lewis, Nate Ballard and Matt Huckstep with their second-place trophy. (Photo courtesy of the Brownsburg Biohazards)
Grant funds trail improvements
news@youarecurrent.com
The Brownsburg Parks Department has received a $7,000 grant from the Parks Foundation of Hendricks County to support improvements along the B&O Trail, town officials announced.
The funding will be used to install a new bicycle repair station at the Green Street trailhead, which will become Brownsburg’s first repair station located directly on the B&O Trail.
Town officials said the addition is intended to improve safety and convenience for the thousands of cyclists who use the trail each year by providing access to tools for quick repairs and routine maintenance.
The repair station will allow riders to address common mechanical issues, including flat tires and minor brake or derailleur adjustments, helping cyclists
return to the trail more quickly and safely.
The B&O Trail is one of central Indiana’s most heavily used recreational corridors, connecting communities throughout Hendricks County and be yond. Brownsburg officials have contin ued expanding amenities along the trail system in recent years as trail usage and cycling activity increase.
The new station will join several existing bicycle repair stations already maintained by the town. Current stations are located at Virgil Park, Cardinal Park and along the White Lick Creek Greenway.
Each station includes tools designed for basic bicycle maintenance and emergency repairs.
Officials have not yet announced a timeline for installation of the new repair station at the Green Street trailhead.
AeroCore opens HQ, manufacturing facility
news@youarecurrent.com
AeroCore Technologies has opened a new global headquarters and advanced manufacturing facility in Brownsburg, marking a major expansion for the aerospace technology company and its sister company, ReNu Technologies.
The new campus spans more than five acres and includes a 65,000-squarefoot facility designed to support the company’s growing manufacturing, engineering and service operations. Company leaders said the expansion reflects increasing worldwide demand for AeroCore’s patented Nucleated Foam Technology, which is used to restore aircraft engine performance without removing them.
Founded in Indiana, AeroCore has experienced rapid growth over the past five years, transitioning from operating in shared industrial space to establishing a fully American-made production campus. According to company officials, all parts used in its systems are sourced and assembled in the United States to meet domestic manufacturing and security standards required by cus-
tomers and industry partners.
The company said demand for its aircraft engine restoration services continues to increase globally. AeroCore projects its service volume will double annually and expects to establish operations in more than 30 locations worldwide before the end of the year.
The Brownsburg facility will function as the company’s primary center for research, design, manufacturing and operational support as it expands internationally. The campus also will support growth for ReNu Technologies, which provides engineering and sustainment services for energy producers, turbine facilities and refinery operations.
“This is a proud moment,” said Jorge Ivan Saenz, founder of AeroCore Technologies. “Our continued growth reflects the measurable impact of AeroCore’s incredible team and technology in delivering customer value, reducing operating costs and improving energy efficiency. This new campus gives us the infrastructure to support our design, manufacturing and service needs as we continue to scale globally.”
Hendricks Co. 4-H Fairgrounds Sponsor of the Day Pavilion 1900 E Main St, Danville, IN Thursday, July 23 11 AM-7 PM
Hendricks Power Member Appreciation & Annual Meeting event at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds! Enjoy a safety demonstration, face painting, balloon animals, Silly Safaris animal shows, and the Board of Directors election. Cast your votes for the Board of Directors in July!
SAFETY, MEET STYLE
Four families file lawsuits tied to Brownsburg day care abuse case
By David Jacobs david@youarecurrent.com
Four families have filed civil lawsuits against a Brownsburg day care in connection with a 2025 child exploitation investigation.
Attorneys Catherine Michael, Connell Michael and Tammy Meyer filed the lawsuits on behalf of four families whose young children were allegedly sexually abused while attending Main Street University 4 Kidz.
The filing comes two weeks after daycare owner Nancy Milton received a three-year sentence. Prosecutors said her sentence could be modified to home detention after one year in prison, with the remaining year to be served on probation.
Milton admitted to neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony, and failure to report child abuse, a misdemeanor. Both counts stemmed from an investigation into former day care employee, Gabriel Garner, who faces 48 felony counts related to alleged sexual exploitation of children.
Authorities said they found numerous explicit images on Garner’s phone, some of which allegedly involved children at the day care.
Garner is not named as a defendant in the civil suit.
Current contacted Connell Michael for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
garage at
Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center, currently under construction. Applications are due by July 5, and an artist will be selected by July 31. The mural will be painted in early 2027, ahead of the facility’s opening. Interested applicants can attend a virtual workshop June 15 to learn more about the project. Apply online at indyarts.grantplatform.com.
Hendricks Regional Health EMS launches initiative
news@youarecurrent.com
Hendricks Regional Health Emergency Medical Services has created a grant-funded initiative designed to enhance the safety and care of newborn infants delivered outside of a hospital setting.
The program equips ambulances with AEGIS Neonate Medical Wrap devices, enabling newborns to be transported safely in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers to the hospital. The approach supports key factors in improving outcomes in the first moments of life, including critical early bonding that helps regulate the infant’s temperature and breathing.
Each transporting ambulance in Hendricks and Putnam Counties, along with select EMS agencies in Boone and Montgomery counties, will have the AEGIS devices equipped in transit.
Dr. Michelle Fenoughty, president and CEO of Hendricks Regional, is a former OB-GYN and stresses the importance of skin-to-skin contact following childbirth.
“(Having) delivered thousands of babies over three decades, I can’t stress how important safe, skin-to-skin bonding is during the first moments of life, especially in emergency situations,” Fenoughty stated. “This program will not only improve clinical outcomes for the most vulnerable members of our community but also support the crucial emotional connection between mother and baby during a critical time.”
Implementation of the medical wraps was driven through grant support from the Hendricks Regional Health Foundation and contributions from the Joseph Mulholland III Memorial Fund for Children’s Needs.
“This initiative reflects the ongoing commitment of Hendricks Regional Health and the Hendricks Regional Health Foundation to advancing patient-centered care,” stated Joel Harbaugh, executive director of the Hendricks Regional Health Foundation. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to impact the health and wellness of everybody in our community, whether they are in the hospital or not.”
The AEGIS Neonate Medical Wrap demonstration May 13 at Plainfield Fire Territory Station 121 13. (Photo courtesy of Town of Plainfield)
SWEET START
Kiwanis Strawberry Festival returns to Town Hall Green
By Alicia Kelly alicia@youarecurrent.com
Strawberry shortcake, local shopping and family-friendly entertainment will once again take center stage when the Brownsburg Kiwanis Strawberry Festival returns June 11 to the Brownsburg Town Hall Green.
The annual festival, held in conjunction with opening week of the Brownsburg Farmers Market, will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at 61 N. Green St. and is expected to draw large crowds to downtown Brownsburg for one of the community’s signature summer traditions.
Hosted by the Brownsburg Kiwanis Club in partnership with the Town of Brownsburg and Brownsburg Parks, the festival serves as both a community celebration and fundraiser supporting youth programs and local outreach initiatives.
“This is the seventh year we’ve hosted the Strawberry Festival, and it continues to grow every year,” Brownsburg Kiwanis President Rick White said. “The first year we sold about 300 strawberry shortcakes, and last year we sold just shy of 800.”
This year, the event is expanding beyond Brownsburg.
“We’ll also be participating at the Pittsboro Farmers Market on June 10 and during three nights of the Hendricks County Fair,” White said.
Visitors can expect the event’s signature strawberry shortcake, along with live music, children’s activities and dozens of local vendors offering everything from baked goods and produce to handcrafted gifts and specialty items.
The Brownsburg Farmers Market, sponsored by IU Health West Hospital, operates weekly through Aug. 27 and features more than 30 Vendors each Thursday evening. The Brownsburg Public Library also hosts hands-on activities for children throughout the season, helping make the market a weekly destination for families.
Locally, the Brownsburg Kiwanis Club supports youth leadership organizations including the Brownsburg
High School Key Club and Brownsburg Middle School Builders Club. The club is part of Kiwanis International, whose mission centers on serving children and communities around the world.
Festivalgoers can also expect convenient amenities designed to make the evening accessible for families. Free parking will be available in the public parking lot on Adams Street behind Town Hall, at Arbuckle Acres Park and inside The Arbuckle parking garage.
Market organizers said multiple payment options will be accepted throughout the market, including cash, credit and debit cards, as well as SNAP benefits. However, shoppers are encouraged to carry cash because some vendors may only accept cash payments. Vendor booths will display signage indicating accepted forms of payment.
The market also welcomes well-behaved dogs, provided they remain short-leashed and are comfortable
around crowds and other animals. Organizers ask pet owners to keep dogs away from vendor products and displays and to properly clean up after pets.
The Brownsburg Farmers Market is considered a rain-or-shine event,
though organizers said markets may be canceled in cases of severe weather, dangerous heat conditions or if more than half of vendors cancel. Weather-related updates will be posted through Brownsburg Parks social media channels, the town website and the market’s weekly e-newsletter.
Throughout the summer, themed market nights will continue with events including Barkin’ in the ’Burg Night, Shop Local Night, Market to Table Night, Kid Biz Night and the annual Corn Roast.
Admission to the festival is free, although food and vendor prices will vary.
ON THE COVER: A
WHEN: Thursday, June 11
TIME: 4-7 p.m.
WHERE: Town Hall Green, 61 N. Green St., Brownsburg
ADMISSION: Free
PARKING: Free parking available behind Town Hall on Adams Street, at Arbuckle Acres Park and in The Arbuckle parking garage.
Festivalgoers can expect a variety of vendors, including:
• A Little Flour
• Cor Leonis Coffee Company
• Honey Dragonwood LLC
• Jewelry & More By KristiCo
• Kilted Bee Farms
• Mary D Jellies and Preserves
• MKONO Farm
• Nana’s Cottage Bakery
• Opulent Radiance
• Papaw’s Ice Cream
• Robert Foreman Fine Woodworking
• Rub It Up Spice Blend
• S.E. Art and Designs
volunteer prepares strawberry shortcake during a previous Brownsburg Kiwanis Strawberry Festival at Town Hall Green in downtown Brownsburg. (Photo provided by Studio 13 Photography)
Community members browse vendor booths during a previous Brownsburg Kiwanis Strawberry Festival in downtown Brownsburg. The annual event supports local Kiwanis programs benefiting children and families in the community.
Residents visit vendor booths and enjoy strawberry shortcake during a previous Brownsburg Kiwanis Strawberry Festival at Town Hall Green in downtown Brownsburg. (Photo provided by Studio 13 Photography)
The 12-minute exercise that can lower blood pressure
Commentary by Farah Myers
Exercise is a cornerstone of blood pressure control, yet meeting current evidence-based guidelines can feel overwhelming. While these recommendations remain the gold standard, emerging research suggests an easier entry point: isometric exercise.
Isometric exercise involves contracting a muscle without visible movement. While it may seem simple, the benefits on blood pressure are significant. Studies show that isometric training can lower systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 5 to 10 mm Hg in people with diagnosed hypertension. This is an effect that rivals traditional aerobic or resistance exercise alone.
a wall as if in an invisible chair. Or handgrip squeezes where a low-cost handgrip device works well. For handgrip exercises, the squeeze should feel “moderately hard,” about 30 to 40 percent of maximal effort.
The total time commitment? Roughly 11 to 12 minutes per session! These exercises can be done while watching TV, during a work break or in the carpool lane, making exercise especially accessible.
The most widely studied approach is refreshingly practical. The guideline-endorsed prescription includes four two-minute holds, with a one-minute rest between efforts, performed three times per week. You can start with a simple wall squat where you sit back against
How does it work? Repeated muscle contractions improve blood vessel function and reduce resistance in the arteries, which allows blood to flow more easily over time. Isometric exercise has been shown to be safe, even in older adults with hypertension, when performed correctly and without breath-holding.
That said, this is not an “either-or” proposition. The standard recommendation remains at 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity, plus resistance training. These evidence-based recommendations offer broader benefits for heart health, metabolism, strength and longevity. But for people who are short on time, limited by mobility or simply struggling to get started, isometric exercise is an effective tool with the evidence to back it up.
Carmel Comedy Club to open at The Cat
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Debbie Hughes has a vision of regular comedy shows in Carmel.
She founded Carmel Comedy Club, which will open at 7 p.m. June 27, at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way. Dobie Maxwell is the headliner while Hughes, known as “Lady Wisecrack,” and Indianapolis comedian Chris Cline will be the opening acts.
Cline, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was the 2023 recipient of the NFL Salute To Service Award. He helped veterans work through trauma through the power of comedy. He will perform at 7 p.m. when the club opens.
Vocalist Sadie Cohen, who will be a senior at Carmel High School this fall, will close the show with Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
Hughes, a Carmel resident, connected with Maxwell through a Facebook group and they formed a friendship. Maxwell originally wanted to play professional baseball, but the left-handed pitcher chased another dream after being cut from a Kansas City Royals tryout.
“I went to a comedy open mic, and I thought, ‘These guys are terrible, I can do this,’” he said. “I got up and was worse than both of them, but I learned that’s what I wanted to do. I worked towns and I worked my way up to headliner. Then I had a car accident when I was 30, flipped my convertible over, almost died. I had to learn to walk again, broke my sternum and (had) my jaw wired shut. I was asked at a continuing education place in Milwaukee if I wanted to teach a comedy class. I said, ‘You can’t teach comedy. You either have (it) or you don’t.’ They said, ‘We’d be willing to pay you a few bucks.’ I said, ‘Tuesday at 7 o’clock we’re having a comedy class.’”
Since then, he has taught approximately 3,000 students from around the world at Zanies Comedy Club classes in Chicago.
(Below) Debbie Hughes is the founder of Carmel Comedy Club. (Graphic courtesy of Debbie Hughes)
“I was their exclusive teacher for 25 years until COVID came and shut down the world,” he said.
Maxwell has performed in 49 states and was a morning radio host in several cities, including Chicago’s 97.9 FM called “The Loop.”
“I think I really like teaching as much as performing,” he said.
Maxwell, who had a Dry Bar comedy special in 2025, performs a clean comedy act with profanity. He also avoids politics, figuring a comedian risks angering half the crowd.
Maxwell is the booking agent, comedic educator of the Stand-Up Comedy course set to start in September at The Cat. He said Hughes is an expert on the business part.
“I needed someone like her for many, many years,” said Maxwell, who now lives in Kenosha, Wis.
Hughes graduated from Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts’ four-week comedy class in February. She headlined the final show and takes remote and in-person lessons at Second City in Chicago.
Maxwell will return as headliner for the July 11 performance at The Cat. Comedian Todd Hunt will present “The Making of I Love Lucy” July 25 and 31 at The Cat. Hunt is a nostalgic
humorist and Lucille Ball historian.
“He’ll be telling all the behind-thescenes that nobody knows on how they prepared to make the shows,” Hughes said.
Video clips of classic episodes of “I Love Lucy” will be shown.
For more, visit carmelcitycomedyclub.com.
DUGAN RETURNS
Longtime Carmel comedian Dave Dugan, who has made more than 200 appearances on the “Bob and Tom” radio show, will perform his “Busting Out with Laughs!” shows at 7:30 p.m. June 5-6 at The Cat. Dugan has performed comedy nights at The Cat over the past several years.
Dugan also specializes in clean comedy and has performed a Dry Bar Comedy special.
Carmel Comedy Club booking agent Dobie Maxwell said Dugan is Indiana comedy royalty and can work with or for the club anyway he chooses to participate.
“We welcome him with an open microphone,” Maxwell said. For more, visit thecat.biz.
‘PEFORMANCES FOR A PURPOSE’
Hendricks Youth Assistance Program presents “Performances for a Purpose” at 7:30 p.m. June 6 at Hendricks Live! In Plainfield. For more, visit hendrickslive. org.
York Automotive Concert Series presents Corinne Bailey Rae at 7:30 p.m. June 9 at Hendricks Live! In Plainfield. For more, visit hendrickslive.org.
‘CINDERELLA’
“Cinderella” runs through July 12 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
’ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA’
Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre presents “Antony and Cleopatra” at 7 p.m. June 5 and 5 p.m. June 6 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.
’SECRET GARDEN’
Main Street Productions presents “The Secret Garden” through June 7 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
Carmel PorchFest sets schedule — Carmel PorchFest Inc. will host four events in 2026, including three Late Night on Main in the Arts & Design District. Carmel PorchFest will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 20. Late Night on Main returns to Carmel’s Main Street on the third Saturday of each summer month. The street party begins at 6 p.m. The Late Night on Main are Jai Baker Trio, a country band, June 20; Blair Clark and The Fun Factor Band, July 18 and DUDE!, a five-member dance pop band from Indianapolis, Aug. 15. For more, visit carmelporchfest.org.
CORINNE BAILEY RAE
(Above) Dobie Maxwell will be headliner for the Carmel Comedy Club opening show June 27 at The Cat in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Dobie Maxwell)
THE SONGBOOK ACADEMY® IN CONCERT
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HARRY CONNICK, JR.
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ART GARFUNKEL: WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD CELEBRATION CONCERTS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BRIAN SIMPSON, JACKIEM JOYNER AND JESSY J 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
STEWART COPELAND: HAVE I SAID
TOO MUCH
7:30PM | THE TARKINGTON
GLADYS KNIGHT
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
“PSYCHIC” COMEDIAN PETER ANTONIOU
7:30PM | THE TARKINGTON
THE CENTER CELEBRATION 2026
FEATURING THE BACON BROTHERS
5PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MICHAEL BLAUSTEIN: THE TASTE ME TOUR THE FINAL LEG
| PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LOU GRAMM: THE ORIGINAL VOICE OF FOREIGNER
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
RUMOURS ATL: A FLEETWOOD
MAC TRIBUTE
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DEMOLA LIVE!
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE & PABLO CRUISE
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE BILLY JOEL LEGACY: CELEBRATING THE PIANO MAN
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BECKY ROBINSON: THE BEASTS IN ME TOUR
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS: INDIGO PARK TOUR
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE WAR AND TREATY
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE SIXTIES SHOW
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
INVINCIBLE: A GLORIOUS TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DANIEL EMMET: THIS THING CALLED LOVE
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
NILADRI KUMAAR: THE SPACE BETWEEN THE NOTES – HONORING ZAKIR HUSSAIN
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MICHAEL CARBONARO: WONDERBOY
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE SHARPE FAMILY SINGERS: THE BEST OF BROADWAY 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HASTA LA MUERTE
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BLKBOK
7:30PM | THE TARKINGTON
YEFIM BRONFMAN, PIANO
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
RYAN AHLWARDT: CRYING IN THE CANYON RELEASE PARTY
8PM | THE TARKINGTON
THE FOUR PHANTOMS IN CONCERT
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BONEY JAMES
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
A CONVERSATION WITH AMY SEDARIS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SIMPLY THREE
7PM | THE TARKINGTON
MAVIS STAPLES
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AN EVENING WITH BERNADETTE PETERS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HOOSIERS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
SCREENING WITH Q&A
3PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PUNCH BROTHERS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND: LEDBETTER HEIGHTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHS: TEN THOUSAND HOURS
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY’S WILD & SWINGIN’ HOLIDAY PARTY
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LESLIE ODOM, JR. THE CHRISTMAS TOUR 2026
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN IN COMING HOME: THE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HOLIDAYS IN HARMONY WITH GIRL NAMED TOM
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS CHRISTMAS TOUR 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ALAN CUMMING: UNCUT
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LIVE AND LET DIE: THE MUSIC OF PAUL MCCARTNEY FEATURING TONY KISHMAN
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BIG BANG BOOM
3PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE MONTEVERDI CHOIR AND ORCHESTRAS PERFORM BACH’S ST MATTHEW PASSION WITH MASAAKI SUZUKI
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MARCUS MILLER
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MICKEY DOLENZ: 60 YEARS OF THE MONKEES 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO DE AMALIA HERNÁNDEZ
7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS WITH CONRAD TAO
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE MUSIC OF THE BEACH BOYS FEATURING PET SOUNDS LIVE 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
PAVLO AND BAND IN CONCERT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
VICTORIA CLARK: IMPROBABLE INGENUE
MUSIC DIRECTOR, TED SPERLING
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
VITALY: AN EVENING OF WONDERS
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JOHN MALKOVICH AND THE VIENNA
ACADEMY ORCHESTRA: ROLL
OVER BEETHOVEN
7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SPYRO GYRA WITH SPECIAL GUEST STANLEY JORDAN
8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
KRUGER BROTHERS 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
DIONNE WARWICK: OVER AND OUT A FAREWELL TOUR 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BROOKLYN CHARMERS: A TRIBUTE TO STEELY DAN 8PM
CATS’
ITZHAK PERLMAN IN RECITAL 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AMY SEDARIS
MARCUS MILLER
BERNADETTE PETERS
ALAN CUMMING
HASTA LA MUERTE
GLADYS KNIGHT
LESLIE ODOM, JR.
Civic features ‘Chess’ music
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Michael Krauter admitted he knew nothing about “Chess” when he heard Civic Theatre was staging a concert with songs from the musical.
“Everyone said, ‘(What about) ‘One Night in Bangkok?’ I never heard that song before in my life,” Krauter said. “And now I’m all too familiar with the music. There are like five different versions of the music and recordings of the show. The music is incredible.”
Civic in Concert will present “Chess” at 7 p.m. June 13 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The evening is a fundraiser for Civic.
The music was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA. The lyrics are by Tim Rice.
Krauter plays a Russian grandmaster chess player named Anatoly Sergievsky during the Cold War era.
Krauter’s character has two main songs, including “Where I Want to Be,” which is about his chess-playing ability and how he’s being pulled in different directions. The other song is “Anthem.”
“It’s about his loyalty to his country, to his family, to his relationships and to the game,” he said. “So, it’s a really
moving song at the end of the first act.”
Following that song, Sergievsky defects to the U.S.
“He feels he’s being used, which he very much is,” said Krauter who grew up in Carmel.
Mackenzie Foulks plays Florence Vassy, the American chess player Freddie Trumper’s assistant who falls in love with the Soviet Union defector.
“She is divided on her allegiances and her ambitions,” said Foulks, who lives on the northeast side of Indianapolis. “Her heart is getting pulled in every which way.”
The only song she knew prior to the show was “Someone Else’s Story” from an audition book in college.
Brent E. Marty, director of music and education for Civic Theatre, is the music director while Civic Executive Artistic Director Michael J. Lasley will direct. Marty and Lasley were fans of the music from the musical, which was released in 1984 before “Chess” made its debut in 1986.
“It came out when we were in high school and college. The CD, I wore that thing out,” Marty said. “The music is so beautiful and so catchy in places, and I was already an ABBA fan. Tim Rice’s lyrics are brilliant.
For more, visit civictheatre.org/ civic-in-concert-chess.
PUZZLE ANSWERS
Krauter Foulks
Assorted unfinished basement business
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
My home office is downstairs. It was just a cellar when we moved into this house in 2018, but we invested a little money to fix it up, so it became a basement. I guess you could call it a finished basement. Well, it will be finished if we ever finish paying the mortgage.
Apparently, it wasn’t finished enough. A designer we hired said that for a few extra bucks, she could add a few finishing touches, and then we could truthfully call it our lower level. We didn’t have that kind of money, so it’s still a basement.
Our original plan was to make it a beautiful room for entertaining guests, sipping white wine and discussing good books. That hasn’t happened. I occasionally invite people downstairs to see my huge Laurel and Hardy statues, and my wife once let the neighborhood yoga group practice balasana, uttanasana and savasana. By the way, that last one is called a corpse pose, and it scared me half to death when I peeked in on the class. Did I leave the gas on?
In my office, I have lots of my TV memorabilia. I’m in every single photo. Then there are photos in the rest of the cellar that my wife, Mary Ellen, took on our vacations and later had them blown up and framed. I am not in one of these pictures. Fair is fair.
All of this reminded me of the last basement in our previous home.
WELLNESS & MASSAGE THERAPY
& Massage Therapy For The Whole Family.
We had a pool table, but we seldom played pool. We used the cue sticks to wrangle cobwebs from the ceiling. I stored a dozen suitcases under the base, and the table’s top became a perfect nesting place for a year’s supply of Campbell’s Soup. Each side pocket held a flashlight. Corner pockets? Duct tape, Scotch tape, masking tape and electrical tape. And my wife said we’d never use the pool table. Jeez, what a pessimist.
We got rid of the exercise bike because we couldn’t hang enough clothes on the handlebars to make it worthwhile.
Two years ago, we bought a ping-pong table. We played ping-pong once. We took a break when the score was 9 to 6. We had hoped to finish the game before race day. Right now, it is the perfect place for 16 cans of Bush’s Baked Beans.
Let me sum up the current state of our lower level. We have an exercise bike that needs a little exercise, a rowing machine that has been left adrift and a ping-pong table that is seldom pinged or ponged.
It’s about time we finished the table tennis game that we started.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
PUZZLES
13. Colts shutout, in a boxscore 14. Taboos 15. French water
16. Restrain some Emmy award nominees?
19. Chiding sound
20. Todd Young, 53; Jim
Banks, 46 21. Hinkle Fieldhouse
22. ISU mascot: Sycamore
23. Dict. entry 24. Texter’s “However...” 27. On the briny 30. List-ending abbr. 34. Poultry buy 36. Merit
