Tuesday, June 30, 2026
youarecurrent.com
CCS referendum $62M to appear on Nov. ballot
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Christopher Cross fulfills hospice patient’s wish
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Centenarian reflects on 100 years living in Carmel
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CCHS seals letters in time capsule for next 50 years
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Founded: Oct. 24, 2026 • Vol. XX, No.37
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By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
A referendum supporting Carmel Clay Schools will be on the ballot this fall.
The school board unanimously approved a resolution June 24 setting a referendum rate not to exceed 42.74 cents per $100 of assessed property value, which would raise nearly $62 million annually for the district. The referendum would be in effect for eight years.
If approved by voters, the referendum would replace two already in effect: A 19-cent operating referendum,
and a 5 cent school safety referendum.
CCS is seeking increased referendum funding because of 2025 changes in state law that cut property tax bills for homeowners and significantly reduces the amount of taxes flowing to school districts and municipalities.
The district had been considering a referendum that would generate up to $72 million annually but decided to advance a less expensive option. Board member Greg Brown proposed setting the rate at an amount that would collect $59 million annually, but his measure did not advance.
“I understand the financial constraint predicaments that we sit in
when it comes to looking at a higher rate, but all we’re doing right now is saying, ‘Are we prepared to ask the voters of our community to let them make this decision,’” board president Jon Shapiro said. “As others have said, this is the best example of local control that exists. Let’s allow the voters to make that decision. Since 2010, they have said, ‘This is important to us’.”
The referendum funds will cover school resource officers, retention of teachers and staff, and student safety and mental health programs.
Learn more at ccs.k12.in.us/services/ business/schoolfinance/referendums.
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton County GOP officials are calling for a criminal investigation into 10 fake signatures found on a petition to place former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on the November ballot for Indiana secretary of state.
Hamilton County GOP Chair Mario Massillamany said in a June 18 statement that Indiana State Police and the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office should investigate and prosecute the person who submitted the fraudulent signatures.
The petition is part of an effort to collect the required voter signatures to add Ballard to the November election ballot.
“The irony cannot be overstated,” Massillamany stated. “Greg Ballard is running for the very office charged with protecting Indiana’s elections and a volunteer on his campaign has been caught committing election fraud. If you cannot run an honest
petition drive, you have no business running the office that safeguards our elections.”
Ballard’s campaign released a statement in response, noting that the “rogue individual” has been removed from the campaign.
“This is the system working exactly the way it’s supposed to,” the statement added. “It’s why all signatures are verified by the counties and why each signature gatherer has to sign each petition sheet attesting to the validity of the signatures on it.”
Ballard’s campaign stated that the 10 signatures represent about .02 percent of the more than 35,000 collected and turned in at that time.
Ballard served two terms as mayor of Indianapolis from 2008 to 2016. He is running as an independent candidate.
Hamilton County Elections Administrator Beth Sheller confirmed that a nominating petition had included some potentially fake names.
“We had someone who dropped off many pages of petitions,” she said in an
email. “During the certifying of these signatures, we found one page that appears to possibly be fraudulent.”
Sheller said Indiana State Police picked up the petition about two weeks before the county GOP’s statement was released.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joshua Kocher said in a June 18 email that he was aware of Massillamany’s statements related to the collection of signatures for a political candidate’s ballot access.
“The integrity of the election process is fundamental to our maintaining public trust in our democratic institutions,” Kocher said. “As with any allegation of criminal conduct, our office will review any information provided and work with the appropriate investigative agencies to determine if criminal charges are appropriate in Hamilton County.”
In a June 23 announcement, the Ballard campaign stated that it had submitted about 64,000 petition signatures to county clerks — more than the 37,000 required —and would continue collecting signatures through the end of the month.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Carmel’s Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts and musician Christopher Cross made a terminally ill patient’s wish come true.
Patrick Armstrong’s wish was to see Cross perform live with a longtime friend, Carmel resident Traci Runge, by his side. Armstrong, 57, is in hospice care at Morning Light in Indianapolis. Morning Light’s Making Memories Program’s mission is to grant wishes for its terminally ill residents.
Cross’ music, particularly his hit song “Sailing,” had become a constant companion throughout Armstrong’s illness. Armstrong has said when he came out of anesthesia, he had “Sailing” going on in his head.
Julia Shildmyer, director of education for Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts, learned of Armstrong’s wish a few days before Cross’ June 21 concert at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at the center and began to find a way for him to attend.
“The concert was sold out, but we were able to make arrangements to not only have Patrick attend but put him in a great box with his friend and caregivers,” Allied Solutions Center President and CEO Jeffrey McDermott said. “To say the stars and heavens aligned was not much of an exaggeration.”
After learning about Armstrong and his wish, Cross and his team invited Armstrong and Runge to visit on his tour bus before the performance.
“He hung out with Patrick and shot the breeze and talked about life for half an hour,” said Nick Wood, Making Memories Program manager at Morning Light. “He’s an absolutely awesome guy. Cross made a magic evening even more magical.”
McDermott said since the COVID-19 pandemic Cross doesn’t do meet-andgreet events because of the health risk.
“He was so moved by this that he reached out and coordinated with Patrick and his care team to make it happen,” he said.
McDermott said he and the staff were moved by Armstrong’s story as well.
Armstrong and Runge attended high school together in northern Indiana.
“Patrick kept saying how blessed he was to have the opportunity to meet Christopher and attend the concert,” Runge said. “He mentioned that it wasn’t just meeting someone whose music meant so much to him but how genuine he was. He said he was shocked that he shared personal stories about his own health journey and it really connected with him, and that was like talking to a friend.”
Runge said attending the concert with Armstrong was special.
“Knowing this is his last concert he ever attends and understanding that our time with him is limited made every moment even more meaningful,” Runge said. “It was a reminder to cherish the people we love and the memories we create together. When Christopher Cross began singing ‘Sailing,’ I found myself in tears because I knew how much that song meant to Patrick.”
Wood said Armstrong is a down-toearth guy.
“He says the proudest thing that he’s ever done is he’s lived this life without hurting anyone,” he said. “He can look himself in the mirror and know that he’s been a good man. Unfortunately, he kind of fell through life’s cracks when he got sick and was living on his own. He went through a tough life. His sister rescued him and got him to Morning Light.”
“We were proud to work with Morning Light to make the wish come true,” he said.
Morning Light, based in Indianapolis, provides a safe place, at no cost, for individuals in hospice and in urgent need of housing and care.
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam shared about city accomplishments, potential redevelopment projects and financial pressures caused by new state laws during a June 12 Indy Chamber Spotlight on Carmel breakfast at Ritz Charles in Carmel.
Finkam highlighted the city’s frequent appearance among rankings of the best places to live and said it’s a result of longtime collaboration between different entities.
“It’s our community making these events authentic and meaningful and fun. It’s not (just) the city,” she said.
“Not everything has to be a .gov solution, everything should be a .gov, .org, .com — and now .ai — solution, working together to create incredible opportunities, whether it be development or programming or solutions for our community.”
The mayor highlighted the Midtown area as a success story. The public private partnership created what has become one of the most popular gathering spots in Carmel, and the city is aiming to create similar but distinct plazas in future redevelopment projects.
The U.S. 31 corridor is among areas of town set for redevelopment, as office vacancy rates are as high as 40 percent in some buildings, Finkam said. In Midtown, the vacancy rate is nearly nonexistent. The city expects some buildings in the corridor to be demolished and rebuilt, while other redevelopment could occur by infilling parking lot spaces.
“If we don’t pay attention and take action, it could become a ghost town through here,” Finkam said. “That’s exactly what we don’t want.”
Another site that could soon be redeveloped is the former CNO headquarters on Pennsylvania Street. Finkam said an “A-plus developer” has reached an agreement to acquire the property and is actively “going through the due diligence process” before a deal is finalized.
Redevelopment of the CNO property could include space for corporate headquarters, a conference center, hotel and small amphitheater.
“We’re super excited about this,” Finkam said. “It offers our west side
residents and those traveling on U.S. 31 access to a premiere property and continued investment in Carmel for our entrepreneurs and our corporate users and others looking for space.”
Learn more about Indy Chamber’s series at indychamber.com/series/ spotlight-on.
Read the full story at youarecurrent. com/?p=272892.
-Kathy
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
An Indianapolis woman received a six-year sentence June 24 for escaping police custody after being arrested for theft Jan. 3 in Carmel.
Rickia Wills pleaded guilty last month in Hamilton County to felony escape and felony theft as well as misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement and leaving the scene of an accident. Initially, Wills faced 13 charges.
In addition, Wills pleaded guilty to a separate Hamilton County theft that occurred on Dec. 29, 2025, and received a 2 1/2-year sentence to be served concurrently with the sentence in the other case.
The six-year sentence includes four years in jail followed by two years in a residential work release program. Wills is also required to pay $1,000 in restitution.
In the January case, Wills fled from police after stealing merchandise from Lululemon in Clay Terrace, striking another vehicle and a police vehicle, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Police arrested Wills after a vehicle pursuit, and on the way to the Hamilton County Jail she claimed to be having a medical emergency. When the officer stopped the vehicle to check on her, Wills fled into a nearby restaurant, where she was detained again with the assistance of off-duty officers.
Wills remains in the Hamilton County Jail.
CCS support staff hiring event — Carmel Clay Schools will present a Support Staff Hiring Event from 3 to 5 p.m. July 8 at Clay Middle School, 5150 126th St. The district is hiring bus drivers and bus aides, instructional assistants, childcare workers, food services staff, custodians and substitute teachers. This event will include on-site applications, interviews and background check submissions to help streamline the process. Learn more at ccs.k12.in.us/careers.
Oakley Horton, Phyllis Horton Rockhill’s father, opened Horton’s Meat Market with his brother, Floyd, in 1926 and Horton’s Grocery in the 1930s.
(Photo courtesy of the Carmel Clay Historical Society)
By Piper Bailey piper@youarecurrent.com
For 100 years, Phyllis Horton Rockhill called Carmel home.
When she was an infant, her family relocated from Noblesville to Carmel, where she lived until May before moving to an assisted living facility in Fishers.
Rockhill, 102, was about five years old when she began helping her parents deliver groceries and work in her father’s Main Street store, Horton’s Meat Market.
Carmel in the 1930s and 1940s was “quiet, peaceful and friendly,” Rockhill said. She has fond memories of playing hopscotch and hide-and-seek with the kids in her neighborhood and counting horses on the streets.
“We knew our neighbors back then. I could go down the road and tell you who lived in every house, and you can’t do that anymore,” Rockhill said. “You don’t know your neighbors. (The city) has gotten too big. I liked it when it was small.”
During the Great Depression, Rockhill’s father often exchanged groceries for labor, while most families made do with little. Rockhill wore dresses sewn from sugar sacks and often played with her hollyhock doll.
She walked to school every day until she got a bike in high school. In 1943, she graduated from Carmel High School after spending the last six weeks of her senior year teaching third graders.
Rockhill attended Butler University year-round and earned a bachelor’s
degree in education in three years. She described herself at this time as “naive,” having rarely ventured into Indianapolis before riding the bus to classes and work on campus.
The bus drivers knew her well enough to drop her off in front of her home. One day, she met two U.S. Navy sailors on their way to Bunker Hill Naval Air Station. One of those sailors, Myron Rockhill, would become her husband of 75 years. He died in 2021.
After graduating from Butler, Rockhill taught for two years in Indianapolis before returning to Carmel, where she spent nearly 30 years teaching fourth grade.
She taught her first class of fourth-graders in the basement of Carmel Friends Church before Orchard Park Elementary School opened in 1956. The basement had no telephones and only one bathroom for 34 children. She transferred to Carmel Elementary when it opened in 1974 and retired in 1980.
“I had a great time, and I loved my kids,” Rockhill said. “Some of them I still correspond with … On Tuesdays (I have lunch) with the class of ‘55. They’re all (still) my kids, but they’re 80 years old now.”
Rockhill stopped driving a few years ago because she no longer recognized the city she once knew.
“I went to the back of Main Street and there were all these apartments being built and the garages out there,” Rockhill said. “I’d say, ‘Wonder where I’m going to come out to?’”
An exhibit at the Carmel Clay History Museum commemorating Carmel’s 50th anniversary as a city. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
The Carmel Clay History Museum is celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial and Carmel’s 50th anniversary as a city with exhibits commemorating the milestones.
Carmel Clay Historical Society Collections Manager Andy Wright curated the exhibits, which are on the second floor of the museum at 211 1st St. SW.
The exhibit marking Carmel’s semicentennial highlights symbols the municipality has used since being incorporated as a city in 1976 (Carmel was founded as a town, previously known as Bethlehem, in 1837). It includes city flags, campaign memorabilia and other documents.
“I don’t think that people really know why and what the symbols are on the flag, what they stand for,” Wright said. “We’ve had lots of different symbols that we’ve used over time.”
Wright said it was more difficult to curate the exhibit marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, as Carmel doesn’t have many known Revolutionary War or Colonial connections.
So, Wright highlighted the story of Barbara Burget, the daughter of German American immigrants who traveled Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Trail into Kentucky during the Revolutionary War. She was captured after the British army and their Native American
allies defeated the Kentucky settlers in a battle aimed at preventing colonists from westward expansion.
Burget was adopted by a Native American woman and spent the rest of her life with the Lenape tribe, settling along the White River in approximately 1810 in what is now Carmel.
“Because she spoke both English and the Lenape language, she was well suited for the fur trade and became an influential figure, because she could communicate with everybody,” Wright said. “She had a trading post where the White River and (what is now) 96th Street meet.”
Wright said Burget and some of her family members are well documented in local historic records.
“(They) remained in Carmel 10 years after the settlers came, so they are in court records and land records, and the settlers wrote about them,” Wright said. “It’s remarkable that we know so much about the Lenape who lived specifically here in Carmel.”
Eventually, Burget and the Lenape tribe were forced west to reservations in Missouri, Kansas and finally Oklahoma. Wright said Burget likely lived to be approximately 100 years old.
The Carmel Clay History Museum offers free admission and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Learn more at CarmelClayHistory.org.
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Refreshed section of Monon to open — The public is invited to celebrate the opening of Monon Boulevard improvements between City Center Drive and Walnut Street during a ceremony set for 11:30 a.m. to noon July 3, just before CarmelFest opens for the day. The event will be at the new music-themed playground on the Monon Greenway just north of City Center Drive and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The $14 million expansion project, a collaboration between the City of Carmel and Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation, includes a 12-foot-wide paved trail, open green space, landscaping and more.
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Guerin golfer places second in state — Guerin Catholic High School golfer Eli Wessel was the state runner-up in the IHSAA state golf finals June 17 at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Wessel finished tied with Westfield’s Hudson Kutchma with a two-round 142 total. Kutchma won a two-hole playoff. Wessel, a recent graduate, will join his brother, Leo, on the University of Cincinnati team next season. The Golden Eagles finished third in the team standings with 596 strokes. Westfield won with a 592 total, one less than Center Grove.
National History Day project awards — Carmel High School students Katie Zhao, Olivia Lim, Stephanie Tan and Valerie Fu earned first place in Senior Group Website for their project, The War Powers Resolution: Redefining the Separation of Powers in the Vietnam Era, at the 2026 National History Day national contest held June 14 to 18. Other CHS top 10 finishers were Katelyn Chen, who placed ninth in Senior Individual Website for Resisting Hate: Notre Dame Students’ Revolutionary Reaction to the Ku Klux Klan; and Evyn Arockia, Jeonghu Yang and Luke Zhang, who placed 10th in Senior Group Website for The Wounds of Labor Justice: Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in the Indianapolis Streetcar Strike of 1913. Learn more at IndianaHistory.org/historyday.
City’s rating reaffirmed — This month, S&P Global Ratings reaffirmed the City of Carmel’s ‘AA’ rating. The affirmation from S&P is among the highest ratings currently given to any similarly sized city in the state.
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
During a visit to the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana, artist Jim Brune was surrounded by scenery that captured the natural beauty of the United States.
“It was just amazing,” he said. “You just don’t see this every day.”
Brune captured the moment, and featured a bald eagle in the foreground, using watercolors on American black walnut wood from Indiana. The end result, “Americana Eagle,” took 175 hours to complete and commemorates the U.S. semiquincentennial. The painting is for sale for $11,000 and on display at Indiana Artisan at 22 N. Range Line Rd. in Carmel.
Although larger than many of his other paintings, the end result aligns with Brune’s signature style. A fulltime graphic artist and father of six, he began painting on wood after his family purchased a lumber saw and he realized that the material could make a perfect canvas.
Ros Demaree, Indiana Artisan president and executive director, described Brune’s work as “hyper-realstic.”
“I often think if I exhale near one, the subject’s features or fur will flutter,” Demaree said. “His stunning pieces stop even many of our other fine watercolorists in their tracks.”
Brune, a Decatur resident, paints on various types of wood, although most of his work is done on maple. The rings and imperfections on the wood often become part of the design.
“The wood really becomes part of it,” he said. “I wanted to do something different. I don’t know of anybody else doing paintings on wood at this level.”
Most of Brune’s work features natural landscapes or animals.
“I’m an outdoor guy,” Brune said. “I live in the woods.”
For now, painting is a part-time endeavor for Brune. He wants to dedicate more time to his art after he retires in a few years.
Learn more by visiting Jim Brune Wood Paintings on Facebook. For more about Indiana Artisan, visit indianaartisan.org.
Mr. 1776 eager for role as parade grand marshal
KidZone features rides, obstacle course, more
Carmel Parents Jazz Ensemble set for festival debut
As we celebrate Carmel’s 50th Anniversary and America’s 250th Birthday, we have a lot to be proud of. For fifty years, Carmel has grown into one of the best cities in our nation, a place built on hard work, innovation, service, and a shared commitment to excellence.
This milestone is also an opportunity to honor the freedoms, values, and opportunities that have made America the greatest nation in the world for 250 years. Together, we celebrate our city’s remarkable journey and our country’s enduring promise.
May we reflect on those who came before us, take pride in what we’ve built together, and look forward with optimism to the generations that will follow.
God bless Carmel, and God bless the United States of America.
JULY 3
Noon to 10 p.m.: Festival open JULY 4
10:30 a.m.: Parade begins Noon to 10 p.m.: Festival open 9:45 p.m.: Fireworks
JULY 3
Gazebo Stage
12: 30 p.m.: Carmel Parents Jazz Ensemble
2:15 p.m.: Cease & Resist
4 p.m.: Kristen Bales
5:30 p.m.: That’s What She Said!
6:50 p.m.: Heartstone Crossing Band
8:35 p.m.: Indiana Wind Symphony
Carter Green
12:30 p.m.: Nauti Yachtys
2:30 p.m.: Steel Petals
4 p.m.: King Bee & The Stingers
5:30 p.m.: Phone Club
7 p.m.: GrooveSmash
8:30 p.m.: Woomblies Rock Orchestra
JULY 4
Gazebo
Groovesmash will perform July 3 at CarmelFest. (Photo courtesy of Groovesmash)
1 p.m.: School of Rock (Carmel/ Fishers/Zionsville)
4:30 p.m.: Circuit Thursday
6:15 p.m.: Touch of Grass
8 p.m.: Carmel Symphony Orchestra
Carter Green
12:30 p.m.: Powerhouse
2:15 p.m.: Naptown Hepcats
3:45 p.m.: Royal Keys
5:30 p.m.: Kickitlester
7 p.m.: Dude!
8:30 p.m.: Soul Street
By Brittney Dial Testin news@youarecurrent.com
For the first time, the Rotary Club of Carmel will sell merchandise from a box truck that will travel the CarmelFest parade route July 4 before the main event begins.
The truck will sell American flagthemed foam sticks that light up and can be used throughout the day.
“You can smack them together and make a lot of noise and cheer on the floats that go by,” CarmelFest chair Stanley Lebron said. “I was just looking for creative ways to fundraise for Rotary Club Carmel and the CarmelFest parade, because, ultimately, the more we can raise, the more we can improve our parade. I also feel like it’s a win-win experience for us and for our guests in the crowd.”
The parade, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will start at AAA Way, head west on Carmel Drive, turn north on Range Line Road and finish on Main Street.
“It’s the first time we’re ever doing
(merchandise sales), and we are going to start selling them about 9:30 a.m., so an hour before the parade starts, and then we’ll work our way down as much as we can before the parade starts,” Lebron said.
The box truck will make its way along the parade route, and attendees are encouraged to wait in their parade-viewing spot until a volunteer approaches the area with merchandise.
“The volunteers are going to be stocked up with tote bags, and then they’ll be restocking from the box truck, so the volunteers will always be on foot and they’ll be closer to the sidewalks where the guests are,” Lebron said. “We don’t want any guests to come to the street. There will be no need for that, because we will come to you.”
Proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club of Carmel, including its youth scholarships and programs.
“It’s a really good cause and (the foam sticks) light up at night, so they’ll be good for the fireworks, too,” Lebron said.
“We’veGotOpenings This Afternoon.”
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Continued from Page 16
L — Meijer
48 — R — State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn
49 — L — Hamilton County Democratic Party
50 — R — Carmel Christkindlmarkt Tap into the Culture 51 — L — Carmel Girl Scouts
52 — R — Dance Fam Color Guard
53 — L — DAR Jonathan Jennings Carmel Chapter
54 — R — i9sa Sports
55 — L — Hoosier Tropical Sno 56 — R — Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
57 — L — Fuego Nuevo Indiana Folkloric Ballet
58 — R — Indy Fuel Nitro & Fishers Freight Bandit
59 — L — 3rd Shot Pickleball
60 — R — State Senator J.D. Ford
61 — L — 104-5 WJJK Morning Show Host Greg Browning
62 — R — Mercedes-Benz of Indianapolis
63 — L — Cincinnati Circus Uncle Sam Stilt Walker
64 — S — Indianapolis Chinese Community Center, Inc. (ICCCI)
65 — R — WISH-TV 8 & WRTV 6
66 — L — Miss Majorettes of Indiana
67 — R — White Rabbit Wraps
68 — L — Nationalities Council of Indiana
69 — R — Indiana Ballet Conservatory
70 — L — Goldfish Swim School
71 — R — Carmel Clay Republican Party
72 — L — Hamilton Co. Republican Party
73 — R — Clay Township Trustee and Board Members
74 — L — Stand Strong Fencing
75 — R — Sewa USA
76 — L — Hot Water Pros
77 — R — We Love our Neighbors Merciful HELP Center
78 — L — Sahara Grotto Mini Patrol
79 — R — Mahrage Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R.
80 — L — Carmel Masonic Family
81 — R — Cub Scout Pack 124
82 — S — Corvette Indy
83 — L — B Sharp Voice and Performance School
84 — R — WellBridge Surgical
85 — L — Papa Fattoush Restaurant
86 — R — Rupp Insurance
87 — L — Flix Brewhouse
88 — R — Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre
89 — L — WTHR Anchor Scott Swan
90 — R — Vive Exterior Design
91 — L — Stewart & Stewart Fire Truck
92 — R — Stewart & Stewart Community Recognitions
93 — L — F3 Indianapolis
94 — R — Garage Night Guys
95 — R — Tribute to Mayberry Barney Fife & Squad Car
96 — R — Hunter of Homes Military Tribute Grand Finale
97 — R — Civil Air Patrol Eagle Composite Squadron
98 — R — US ARMY
99 — R — Model T Army Veteran (Simpkins)
100 — R — Desert Storm Marine Humvee Bill Vickery
101 — R — USMC M151 A2 MUTT
102 — R — Island X4 Navy Seabee
Veterans
103 — R — Hoosier Base Submarine
Veterans
104 — R — Veterans Support Council
105 — R — Veterans Crossroads Corvettes
By Sara Palmer news@youarecurrent.com
Long before he agreed to wear a Revolutionary War-era uniform, Rob Brown had acquired an unofficial nickname among friends and fellow CarmelFest volunteers: Mr. 1776.
A Carmel native and local businessman, Brown will serve as grand marshal of the CarmelFest Parade July 4 as Mr. 1776. The honor comes during a year that marks Carmel’s 50th anniversary as a city and America’s 250th anniversary, with Brown acting as an ambassador for the celebration.
For Brown, Independence Day is about far more than fireworks and festivities.
“When I think of Independence Day and 1776, I think of Paul Revere, the Continental Army, the anonymous dead,” Brown said. “The guys that fought with no shoes. They were starving. They were freezing. They died, and they didn’t even get buried.”
Brown graduated from Carmel High School in 2004. Today, he operates insurance agencies throughout central Indiana and is raising three daughters with his wife.
His connection to CarmelFest runs nearly as deep as his roots in the community.
Brown has attended CarmelFest since childhood and has long regarded it as one of the city’s signature annual events.
“CarmelFest was all we had when I was a kid,” he said. “I’ve always been so proud of it.”
For decades, Brown and his father have watched the CarmelFest Parade from the same spot along Range Line Road. This year, his father, wife and children will be waiting there as he passes by as Mr. 1776.
“When I get to the part where me and my dad have sat every year, he’ll be there with my wife and kids and probably my mom, and it will be a cool moment,” Brown said.
As a volunteer, Brown has taken on a variety of roles behind the scenes at CarmelFest.
“Whatever they need me to do to make it be a consistently great event, I was willing to do,” he said.
Brown jokes that over the years he
A document in Rob Brown’s collection signed by President James K. Polk and Secretary of State James Buchanan, who
has become “the chalk line guy, the firework guy, now Mr. 1776.”
The nickname reflects more than Brown’s volunteer work. A longtime student of American history, he has spent years collecting presidentially signed documents and other historical artifacts, including a letter signed by President William Howard Taft after securing the Republican nomination in 1912.
“I didn’t buy them to put them in a box,” Brown said. “I want to share and inspire people to love American history and be proud of it.”
By Samantha Kupiainen news@youarecurrent.com
The CarmelFest KidZone returns July 3 and 4 with activities for toddlers to teenagers.
Set up just south of City Hall, the KidZone will include rides, an obstacle course, rock climbing and more.
“We’re really excited,” said Meg Gates Osborne, CarmelFest KidZone manager. “KidZone is going to have inflatable rides, a couple mechanical rides. We are excited to announce this year that we are in a relationship with Meijer, and there’s going to be a Meijer Land area. Those will have free rides for kids. That’s really exciting to have new this year.”
Tickets for the other rides are $3 and
can be purchased at on-site booths. Ticket packages also are available.
KidZone rides include Toxic Meltdown, Kiddie Lego, Swings, Dual Slide, Leap n Bound, Rainbow House, Animal Oasis and more. There also will be pony rides and a station to feed animals.
The KidZone stage will feature a variety of performers, including Indiana Bellydance Collective, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, Duck and Cover, Mr. Daniel, Master Yoo’s Tae Kwon Do, Mudra Dance Academy and more.
“We’re really excited about it,” Osborne said. “It’s going to be probably the best year.”
For more about the CarmelFest KidZone, including schedules, visitcarmelfest.net.
By Samantha Kupiainen news@youarecurrent.com
Nearly 50 food and beverage vendors will be onsite at CarmelFest this year, providing a range of options to keep attendees refreshed.
Choices will range from sweet to savory and include traditional fair fare such as elephant ears and lemon shakeups, as well as French pastries, pizza, gyros and more. Guests 21 and older can purchase local and regional beers and wine.
Food may be purchased with cash or a credit card.
Vendors are:
• Aunt Jeans
• Le Macaron
• Dragonwood Honey
• Ben and Jerry’s
• Chick-fil-a
• Greek Tony’s Pizza
• Kona Ice
• Dead Pie Pizza
• Bryan’s Funnel Cakes
• Ballerina Sweets and More
• Wilson’s Sweet Corn
• Bangkok House
• F&F Concessions
• Rita’s Italian Ice and Custard
• McWaters Concessions
• Triple Boba and Sweets
• Samano’s Mexican
• Urick Concessions
• Dipping Dots
• Island Noodles
• Bryan’s Concessions
• Stix
• Stephenson Family Concessions
• S&R Lemonade
• Papageorge’s Greek
• Red Barn Elephant Ears
• Chef Oscar’s Kitchen and El Patron
CARTER GREEN
• Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse
• Tokyo Crispy Chicken
• Everbowl
• 1947 Eatery and Lounge
• Aachaa Chai Tea
• Hoosier Cruiser Ice Cream Trike
• Sable Sweets
• Urick Concessions
• M&B Concessions
• Stephenson Family Concessions
• Bryan’s Mexican
• Georgia’s Kitchen
• Dori Rolled Ice Cream
• Big Bear Shaved Ice
• Indi Taco
• Mega BBK Tea
• Thai Prime
• Dolce Vita
• Almost Paradise Farm Grill
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
David Commanday looks forward to experiencing CarmelFest, a two-day event celebrating Independence Day.
Commanday, who officially starts his second stint with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra as music director and conductor July 1, previously served in the role for the 2023-24 season, but his tenure didn’t begin until October.
“It’s a wonderful stirring setting of ‘Johnny Comes Marching Home,’” Commanday said.
An arrangement of “American Frontier” includes traditional American songs in a medley.
For Commanday, the opportunity couldn’t come at a better time. CSO will perform at 8 p.m. July 4 at the CarmelFest Gazebo stage, right before the fireworks begin.
“I’m thrilled to be on the podium for the 250th birthday,” said Commanday, whose return was announced earlier in June. “This is a great moment in our history, and I’m thrilled to be leading the Carmel Symphony on that special day.”
CSO will start with Morton Gould’s “America Salute.”
“Then I have something of a mini-jazz suite, where we have some George Gershwin and Duke Ellington and some music from the musical, ‘Chicago,’” Commanday said. “In my mind, jazz is the quintessential American music.”
Following intermission, CSO will perform a suite from “Star Wars.”
“It’s a nod to John Williams, one of the greatest composers for film,” he said. “It’s inspiring. It’s wonderful, great music.”
The concert wraps up with “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The CSO concert ends at 9:40 p.m.
CSO will soon begin its 50th season. The first of five 2026-27 concerts at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center Performing Arts will be Oct. 10.
SCHEDULE
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Carmel Parents Jazz Ensemble is ready for its biggest gig yet.
The group will perform at 12:30 p.m. July 3 at the Gazebo Stage at CarmelFest. So far, it has mostly played at senior living facilities.
“The members are all very excited about the opportunity to perform for the local community,” ensemble memeber Kevin Seibert said.
Seibert, 58, a vice president at Eli Lilly who plays alto saxophone, said the group started in January 2024.
“We decided to take a stab at playing jazz as many of us did in high school and college,” he said. “We’re mostly members of the Carmel High School Parent Pep Band, a group dedicated to principally supporting the high school marching band through spirited music for sendoffs, the time used for the marching band members to collect their things and to load buses on their way to competitions. We spend the fall dedicated to that effort and continue to play up through the holidays, then usually take a break in the spring, the marching band’s offseason.”
Seibert said the jazz ensemble was formed from members of the Parent Pep Band along with some friends and acquaintances to fill in all the parts and
“We were very lucky to have a conductor, Mark Harris, join our group, also a parent of a marching band member who studied music and currently conducts the music program at a local church,” Seibert said. “We’ve grown into a full size jazz band. This year we have 22 members made up of a rhythm section, saxophones, trumpet and trombones, as well as Harris.”
Seibert is also in Odd Man In, a smaller group of Parent Pep Band parents playing jazz.
The Carmel Parent Jazz Ensemble practices weekly at the high school or Coxhall Gardens.
“About one-fourth of the members have active children still playing in the band. The vast majority are
ing no affiliation with the Carmel bands program but are friends and colleagues of other band members,” Seibert said. “The parent band is a volunteer opportunity for the band parents, but most enjoy the activity so much they stay on well past their children’s graduation, with our oldest members having children that graduated more than 20 years ago. Nearly all of the members either marched and or played jazz in high school or college. Several of the members are currently professional music educators and musicians in a number of other ensembles around town.”
Three CHS alumni are in the group. Jeff Wolfert, a trombone player, graduated in 1982. Baritone saxophonist Joe Chiappetta, a 1996 graduate, went on to march with Ball State University after high school. Priya Young, one of the newest members and a vocalist, graduated in 1993. She wasn’t in the band at Carmel but was a member of the Ambassadors show choir.
Seibert played in concert, jazz and marching band through high school growing up in Colorado, and met his wife, Sherri, also a member of the Carmel parent pep band, in high school marching band.
Seibert’s daughters, Sarah and Laurie, played in concert, jazz and marching band at CHS. Sarah graduated in 2019 and Laurie in 2022. Both have since graduated from Purdue University. Laurie has settled in Carmel and will now also be joining the Parent Pep Band this year.
JULY 4, 9:45 PM
Commentary by Thomas Oestreich
As the community comes together to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation and the 50th anniversary of Carmel, it is a profound privilege to look back at the journey that shaped this remarkable city.
A beautiful part of the Carmel story is how a growing community maintains such a close-knit feel. And proudly, a powerful force that keeps this city so deeply connected is our shared identity as Greyhounds. We are Carmel schools, and that means everyone here is a Greyhound. That name carries a legacy of resilience, pride and an unwavering commitment to excellence that connects generations of residents.
Long before Carmel became the thriving city it is today, the schools were laying the foundation for this community. On Jan. 4, 1869, 47 high schoolers and 60 lower-grade students entered the Carmel Academy, which was later renamed Richland High School. Just like the city itself, the schools began with incredibly humble beginnings. Over the decades, those modest classrooms,
along with the dirt roads and farmland, have transformed into the world-class public school district of this vibrant city.
This deep historical connection is a major part of what makes Carmel great. Our schools are woven directly into the fabric of daily life. We are on Main Street and in our neighborhoods. As Carmel grew, so did our schools. Together, we welcomed more families, more educators and more connections.
The incredible quality of life found here is a direct result of our vital public institutions working hand in hand. Our schools stand alongside our award-winning parks, our beautiful libraries and our visionary city government as essential pillars of the community. Yet, it is the people who make Carmel truly special. The schools reflect the very best of this city.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The late Indianapolis owner Colts Jim Irsay was known for his charitable acts.
So, to help celebrate Carmel’s 50th year as a city, the Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness Day is set for Aug. 5.
A Carmel resident, Irsay died in May 2025.
“It’s very important to me that as many entities in the community come together to do something special on behalf of the members of the community, simple acts of kindness, and to really make that a special day,” said Richard Markoff, a Rotary Club of Carmel member and the Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness chair. The event received approval from the Colts organization.
work together. Congregation Shaarey Tefilla and Congregation Beth Shalom and ALL Property Group also joined the efforts.
Trevor Nicholas, president of the Kiwanis Club of Carmel, said his club was formed in 2017 with a mission to do as much service as possible, especially with children.
Nicholas said there will be two main events. First, Pack the Cruiser, at the Kroger store at 1217 S. Range Line Rd. will accept donations to benefit the Merciful HELP Center. The Carmel Police Department will loan a cruiser to fill.
The Kiwanis Club of Carmel and Rotary Club of Carmel agreed to cooperate on joint endeavors for the Acts of Kindness Day.
Markoff said Ascension St. Vincent Carmel and IU Health North will
“We’ll have volunteers from our local high school help collect food and help sort them into two-day back sacks for snacks for children,” Nicholas said. “Then in the evening, we’ll create 1,000 snack sacks for Seeds of Caring.”
For more about the Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness Day, contact Markoff at Carmelrotaryclub@gmail.com. or Nicholas at carmelkiwanisclub@ gmail.com.
Meridian Audiology LLC is a private Audiology practice, founded by Alison Wyss, Au.D. and Kira VonBlon, M.S. in 2001 after working together as Audiologists in an ENT setting for more than 12 years. The seasoned Audiologists strive to consistently provide premier care to patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and auditory processing disorders as well as those who want to protect their hearing from damage.
Kira and Ali are available to evaluate your hearing and walk through your many options if you are a hearing aid candidate. They will spend the time explaining the differences in hearing aids, the best options for the hearing concerns you have, and will even have their billing company call to verify if you have a benefit or discount plan for hearing aids through your insurance. We believe we can make the difference in you feeling comfortable and confident with your individual hearing loss action plan.
loneliness, anxiety, falls and a quicker rate of cognitive decline in those predisposed to dementia. Hearing loss is an easily treated piece of your total health puzzle. Let us help you find your solution!
Y Your hearing is more important than you may realize: Research is consistently showing us that hearing loss is related to diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, autoimmune diseases and arthritis…and untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation,
U UPCOMING EVENTS:
SEPTEMBER 15, 2026: Our next Auditory Rehabilitation Class This class is perfect for those who still have frustrations and communication issues that exist beyond their hearing aids
OCTOBER 6, 2026: Lunch and Learn with ReSound hearing aid company an opportunity for you to try hearing aids in a dynamic environment.
Meridian Audiology is located in Nora and is open 9am-4pm Monday-Friday by appointment only. We accept most major insurances, offer convenient scheduling via phone or email and are independent of other medical practices or hospitals When calling the office, Michael can schedule your appointments and answer many of your questions!
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
When Carmel became a city in 1976, life looked much different than it does today.
Calls were made by telephones anchored to the wall, record players spun the latest hits, and very few homes, if any, contained a personal computer. The city was known as a quiet bedroom suburb of Indianapolis, and it only had four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.
Today, Carmel is home to more than 100,000 people, and its bustling urban core and other redevelopment efforts have consistently landed it atop rankings of the best places to live in the U.S.
As the city celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Carmel Clay Historical Society collected letters about modern life in Carmel that were sealed June 13 in a handmade wooden time capsule. The box will remain on display at the Carmel Clay History Museum until 2076, when it will be reopened to celebrate the city’s centennial.
Before sealing the time capsule, CCHS held a dedication ceremony at the museum attended by community members as well as some of the local dignitaries whose letters are inscribed on wood from Hamilton County trees and stored in the box.
“Here we are, 50 years later, celebrating the origins of our city, as well as the 250th (anniversary) of our country,” CCHS Historian Andy Wright said at the ceremony. “Now, it’s our turn to undertake a significant project to add meaning to these celebrations, and we wanted to do something that would both honor the past and consider the future.”
CCHS commissioned Noblesville resident Adam Horbett, owner of Sunflower Woodworking, to design the time capsule. Horbett visited the museum several months ago to draw inspiration for its design.
“We want it to be on display in the museum for the next 50 years, so it needed to be a work of art,” Wright said.
The time capsule has an art deco design inspired by a 1920s-era auditorium seat installed in Carmel High School, an item on display on the third floor of the museum. The detail around the edges of the time capsule mimics the cornice that encircles the museum’s exterior, and the oaken box complements wooden features throughout the museum.
Horbett, a father of seven, said he enjoyed collaborating with Wright to come up with the design and see it
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come to fruition.
“My favorite thing (to make) are custom projects, and people reach out for those because it’s hearing their ideas, hearing what their vision is, and then getting to be a part of creating that,” Horbett said. “That’s the best part, is seeing their vision come to life.”
CCHS asked approximately a dozen local dignitaries and community members to write letters for the time capsule, including Mayor Sue Finkam, Carmel Clay Schools Superintendent
Thomas Oestreich, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation Director Michael Klitzing, basketball legend Billy Shepherd and recent CHS graduate Maggie Winings. Their contributions — as well as an excerpt of a 1936 letter by Carmel resident Mahlon L. Haynes — were etched on wood and slid into custom storage slots in the time capsule.
Dedication ceremony attendees had an opportunity to write a note on paper to add to the time capsule, along with letters previously written by area children.
“Today is a chance to honor the peo-
Woodworker Adam Horbett builds the time capsule. (Photo courtesy of Andy Wright)
ple, the ideas and everyday moments that helped shape Carmel into the vibrant, forward-thinking city we are today,” Finkam said during the ceremony. “The items and letters preserved here, and the exhibits we see displayed in glass cases, remind us that ordinary moments become extraordinary with time.”
The time capsule is on display on the second floor of the museum at 211 1st St. SW. Learn more at CarmelClayHistory. org.
“This year, Carmel High School won its 40th girls’ swimming and diving state championship. As we daydream about 2076, we have to wonder whether the streak reached 90 consecutive wins?”
– Thomas Oestreich, superintendent of Carmel Clay Schools
“Hopefully the seeds we planted in the park system’s earliest years germinated, creating solid roots for you to attain an enduring happiness.”
– Michael Klitzing, director of Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation
“From my perspective in 2026, I hope and expect that our libraries and freedom of speech/freedom to read will have endured. Indeed, I hope this value has been reinforced, reaffirmed, and celebrated.”
– Bob Swanay, Carmel Clay Public Library director
“At the present increase in speed, it won’t be long until you can travel from Carmel to California after breakfast and get back in time to wash the breakfast dishes. Or, if you can’t spare those few moments, just step over to a device in the wall, push a botton and mother will be there by television from Los Angeles.”
– Mahlon L. Haines, published in the Noblesville Daily Ledger in 1936
“Carmel had not won a sectional title in forty-one years until I hit a game winner at the buzzer to beat Noblesville in the final during my sophomore year. The community and school went crazy!”
– Billy Shepherd, Carmel High School Class of 1968
“Beauty matters because people matter. Every person, regardless of economic circumstance, deserves the opportunity to live in a place that uplifts them, that reflects dignity, and that offers a sense of belonging.”
– Jim Brainard, mayor of Carmel from 1996 to 2024
“Carmel has changed a lot since I was born, which is mostly seen in the influx of roundabouts. However, some places are still the same.”
– Maggie Winings, Carmel High School Class of 2026
as U.S. celebrates 250th anniversary
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Sue Ackley became interested in living history at the perfect time.
Over the last couple of years, she’s learned how to make Colonial-era clothing, operate an 18th-century printing press and portray Mary Katharine Goddard, the only woman whose name appears on the Declaration of Independence.
“This is such a wonderful time with America (celebrating its 250th anniversary) to be able to present the information, because people are willing to listen,” Ackley said. “It’s a really good time to try to make history come alive for the kids and the adults.”
A Carmel resident, Ackley helped coordinate the third annual Colonial Fair held June 12 and 13 on the grounds of the Daughters of the American Revolution Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter House and Museum in Indianapolis. She is a member of the chapter along with event chair Jen Tousey, a Fishers resident who said she spends about half of her life with “one foot in the 18th century.”
“It’s 1776, so we are talking about dangerous ideas and intrigue (at the fair),” Tousey said. “We are honoring the 250th of the Declaration, of course, but also the 250th of the publication of (Thomas Paine’s influential pamphlet) ‘Common Sense.’”
The fair featured a fictional Colonial village, Middletown. Attendees visited booths to learn about everything from spycraft to tanning to cooking methods from volunteers in character. Ackley educated guests about Goddard’s role in the printing of the Declaration of Independence.
A Baltimore native, Goddard grew up in a family of printers and learned the family business. She kept the press running after the death of her parents, although she didn’t initially publish under her full name, because she was a woman.
“When she was tasked to print the Declaration of Independence, she decided if these men are willing to commit treason by having their name on this,
she was going to do the same thing,” Ackley said. “So she put Marie Katharine Goddard, and continued to print information.”
Ackley, a graphic designer and retired teacher, also demonstrates the art of weaving.
“It kind of harkens back to my teaching days,” she said. “I also have a theater background, so I get to be a new person, so all of those things combined fit nicely with my interests.”
Learn more at cshnsdar.org.
ON THE COVER:
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
One of Carmel’s oldest buildings in the Arts & Design District recently got a refresh.
Last summer, Adam McNeil of Turnkey Communities purchased the building on the north side of Main Street that houses Fayrouz restaurant, Atlas & Temple watch shop, Carmel Dance Atelier and, for now, State Farm Insurance. McNeil lives nearby and became tired of watching the structure fall into disrepair.
“I drive by it, so it’s more than just an investment property,” McNeil said. “I wanted to have it look nice when I drive by.”
So, he quickly got to work cleaning, updating and restoring the exterior. One of the first steps was removing vines growing across much of the building. Then, he and his crew chiseled out and replaced old mortar and stained every brick by hand.
“We did multiple coats on each brick, so it’s time intensive and costs a lot more,” McNeil said. “The staining is soaked into the brick and becomes the brick. Longevity and maintaining the historical (aspect), it is the way to do it.”
McNeil restored limestone elements that had been removed over time and replaced and standardized tenant signage along Main Street.
State Farm Insurance is planning to relocate after a new tenant is found for its space, and Carmel Dance Atelier in the upstairs space is shrinking its footprint. So, McNeil is looking for a new
tenant or two. He said he’s received interest from a variety of businesses, including a bagel shop and beauty salon, but a new lease has not yet been signed.
“I would like to find somebody that’s getting walk-in (customers),” McNeil said.
Teresa Chapman, who has operated the State Farm Insurance office in the building for more than two decades, said the business will relocate to the Meridian Village retail center near U.S. 31 and 136th Street by the end of the year, which is when her lease expires. The agency will expand from a 980- to a 1,600-square-foot space.
“There’s nothing negative that I can say about Carmel Main Street,” Chapman said. “It really just is a space issue for me.”
Chapman said she is prepared to relocate as soon as a new tenant is set to move in.
“I pray that the person who occupies my space after me has as much love and success for that area as I have had for the last 20 years,” she said.
Turnkey Communities primarily updates multi-family communities. Several years ago, the company renovated a 1920s-era apartment building in Indianapolis. So, McNeil knows the challenges — and rewards — of working with older structures. He doesn’t plan to make them his focus, but he said he would be interested in doing similar work again.
“That’s been my cup of tea over the years, is I find properties that need improvements, regardless of if it’s in an old historical building or not,” McNeil said.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
This will be Indianapolis Opera’s 16th annual Lobster Palooza and will be special because it’s the last one. Indianapolis Opera General Director David Starkey said the rising cost of lobsters the last several years will force the organization to find a new signature fundraiser. Lobster Palooza is set for 6 p.m. July 11 at Basile Opera Center, 4011 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis
“Lobster is a traded commodity around the world, so it is very volatile to global economic influences, which is a very interesting novelty of lobster,” Starkey said. “So, in our 16 years there have been periods where lobster is very available, it’s very affordable and there are times where it’s very expensive. It’s very expensive now and that doesn’t align very well when you are trying to raise money.”
Starkey said Indy Opera is welcome to new ideas people have presented to the organization.
“We need to put this theme aside and welcome the next theme, which is going to be around a festival idea, but build upon this great excitement that we have been able to influence for these last 16 years,” he said. “There’s still a lot of people that remember it fondly, but we need to grow into sort of the next evolution of how we partner with people.”
Starkey said there will be pictures and stories from the past about how Lobster Palooza started.
The idea came from Jimmy and Muffi James, who designed the event. Jimmy James, who died in 2021, owned 21st Amendment liquor stores. The opera supporters convinced NBA legend Larry Bird, then the Indiana Pacers president of basketball operation, and his wife, Dinah, to be honorary chairs.
“There were other celebrity people involved from the Pacers and the neighborhood,” Starkey said. “I was told that in the early years that people would come from other parts of the
country just to meet Larry Bird.”
The first Lobster Palooza was held in the back parking lot of the Basile Opera Center under a circus tent, the former site of GreekFest.
“Seventy percent of the people that visit our building will remember they attended GreekFest sometime in their lifetime,” Starkey said. “One of the things about (Indy Opera) doing Lobster Palooza outside and putting up the massive circus tent was to reflect on that festival environment that used to be on the property.”
Jimmy James’ mother was a longtime member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, which was formerly in the neighborhood. The church and GreekFest moved to Carmel in 2009.
Muffi James was on the Indy opera company board for more than 20 years.
The event was held at Daniel’s Vineyard in 2021 and 2022.
Indianapolis Opera purchased the building at the end of 2020 and started a renovation. But the previous owner sold the parking lot separately.
“In 2023, we redesigned the event to be part of the restored building, the historical renovation of it, and to incorporate the 1-acre footprint that we are on today,” Starkey said.
Starkey said the new theme will be announced later.
“I know we’ll have a festival environment in the summer and we’ll have singers,” he said.
For more, indyopera.org.
“Cinderella” runs through July 12 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
“Esque, Burlesque” is set for July 3, followed by 2000’s Night BBMak, a British pop trio, July 7 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
“Wait Until Dark” concludes July 1-5 (except July 4) at Red Barn Theatre in Frankfort. For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.
Carmel to become Songbook City — The City of Carmel is transforming into Songbook City next month to recognize the Carmel-based Great American Songbook Foundation and its work to preserve and celebrate the history of popular music. Founded in 2007 and headquartered at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts, the Songbook Foundation is known for its preservation efforts through the Songbook Library & Archives and its annual Songbook Academy summer intensive. Running from July 6 to 31, the Songbook City activation will include the temporary substitution of select street signs with the names of music legends, such as songwriter Cole Porter and vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. This year’s Songbook Academy, which starts July 11 includes three public events at the Payne & Mencias Palladium, all of which will also be livestreamed: There will be a free public masterclass at 2 p.m. July 13 followed by Songbook Showcase at 7 p.m. July 16 and Songbook Academy in Concert at 7 p.m. July 18. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Indy Shorts Film Festival will have something for the tastes of all filmgoers.
“We have a wide range of world-class short films,” Heartland Film Artistic Director Greg Sorvig said. “You are going to get a grab bag of different types of things, whether it’s a comedic short film made right here in Indiana or animated films that are meant for kids and some not meant for kids.”
we continue to grow?’”
“The Sinners” was Oscar-nominated as a live action short through Indy Shorts last year and went on to win the Academy Award.
Sorvig said the magic of short films is they don’t need a huge budget to produce.
Heartland Film announced June 25
Indy Shorts will feature 266 films across 40 theme programs, such as horror, comedy, love and dating, music and sports. The screenings, set for July 2126, will be at the Indy Art Center, Living Room Theaters and Newfields. The films are 40 minutes or less, Sorvig said.
“We’re coming off a historic run with the most Oscar-nominated shortlisted films that we organically had at our festivals,” Sorvig said. “Every year we think, ‘How do we get bigger, how do
Comedian-actress Janeane Garofolo appears in “My Bird is Sick.” Comedian and actor Tony Cavalero stars in two U.S. premiere films, “American Rampage” and “Please and Thank You.”
Carmel filmmaker Ashton Gleckman’s world premiere of “Sylvia” focuses on the death of Sylvia Likens in 1965 in Indianapolis. Likens, 16, was tortured to death by her caregiver Gertrude Baniszewski and her children and some neighbors.
Filmmakers are competing for more than $35,000 in cash prizes, including three $5,000 Grand Prize Awards. The three Grand Prize winners also will receive their Oscar qualifications in their designated categories at the July 25 awards program.
Owner: Carmel/Clay Board of Parks & Recreation 1411 East 116th Street Carmel, Indiana 46032
Project: Monon Community Center Paving Replacement Project Notice is hereby given that the Carmel/Clay Board of Parks and Recreation (the “Owner”), will receive sealed bids for the above referenced Project at the Board’s Administrative Offices located at 1411 East 116th Street, Carmel Indiana 46032 on July 29, 2026 at 1:00 pm local time, and as soon as practicable thereafter on the same date, the Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Conference Room of the Administrative Offices. The outside of the sealed envelope in which the Bid is enclosed, shall be clearly marked “BID – MONON COMMUNITY CENTER PAVING REPLACEMENT PROJECT” and as otherwise set forth in the Bid Documents. Any Bid received after the designated time will be returned to the Bidder unopened. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference for discussion of the Project, the bidding requirements and other important matters will be held on July 15, 2026 at 3:00 pm local time at the Administrative Offices located at 1411 East 116th Street, Carmel Indiana 46032; 2700 W 116th Street. and, weather permitting, shall conclude with a visit to the location where the Work is to be performed. Prospective bidders are encouraged, but not required, to attend the pre-bid conference. For special accommodations needed by individuals with disabilities planning to attend the pre-bid conference or public bid opening meeting, please notify Michael Krosschell at krosschellm@weihe.net or at (317) 414-7398 least forty-eight (48) hours prior thereto. In general, the Work for the Project consists of brick paver and concrete demolition, concrete paving, integral color concrete paving, and bollard installation, all as set forth in the Contract Documents for the Project which, except for those items not included due to timing, size or other factors, have been assembled into a Project Manual and includes the Bid Documents. The Project Manual and any and all full size drawings may be examined at and obtained from the office of Eastern Engineering Supply Company, 9901 Allisonville Road, Fishers, Indiana 46038; Phone: (317) 598-0661. The plan charge will be listed on the online plan room. Payment may be made by check, credit card, or cash. NO DEPOSITS ACCEPTED. Make checks payable to Eastern Engineering. All payments and costs of Contract Documents and related supplemental materials are non-refundable. Bidders shall assure that they have obtained complete sets, whether hard copy or electronic, of the Project Manual and drawings and shall assume the risk of any errors or omissions in Bids prepared in reliance on incomplete sets. Bids must be submitted on the forms in the Project Manual, must contain the names of every person or company interested therein, and shall be accompanied by:
(1) Properly and completely executed Form 96 (revised 2013) prescribed by the Indiana State Board of Accounts which includes a financial statement, a statement of experience, a proposed plan or plans for performing the Work and the equipment the Bidder has available for the performance of the Work;
(2) Bid Bond in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total Bid amount, including any alternates, with a satisfactory corporate surety or by a certified check on a solvent bank in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the Bid. The Bid Bond or certified check shall be evidence of good faith that the successful Bidder will execute within ten (10) calendar days from the acceptance of the Bid, the Agreement as included in the Project Manual. The Bid Bond or certified check shall be made payable to Carmel/Clay Board of Parks & Recreation;
(3) A Non-Collusion Affidavit complying with the requirements of Ind. Code §36-1-2-4. Owner reserves the right to hold any or all Bids for a period of not more than sixty (60) days after the date on which the Bids are opened and, for such sixty (60) day period, all such Bids shall be in full force and effect. Any Bid may be withdrawn prior to the scheduled closing time for the receipt of Bids but no Bidder shall withdraw a Bid within the sixty (60) day
(10)
The Bid Bond or certified check shall be made payable to Carmel/Clay Board of Parks & Recreation;
(3) A Non-Collusion Affidavit complying with the requirements of Ind. Code §36-1-2-4. Owner reserves the right to hold any or all Bids for a period of not more than sixty (60) days after the date on which the Bids are opened and, for such sixty (60) day period, all such Bids shall be in full force and effect. Any Bid may be withdrawn prior to the scheduled closing time for the receipt of Bids but no Bidder shall withdraw a Bid within the sixty (60) day period after opening of the Bids. All bid security of unsuccessful bidders will be returned by the Owner upon selection of the successful Bidder and execution of the Agreement, and provision of the required Performance Bond and Payment Bond. In the event that the total amount of the contract awarded to the successful Contractor is $300,000 or more, the successful Contractor must be qualified under either Ind. Code §4-13.6-4 or Ind. Code §8-23-10 before doing any work on the Project.
Pursuant to Ind. Code §5-22-17-6, Owner reserves the right to specify in the contract with the successful bidder one or both of the following: 1. 2. Early performance of the contract will result in increased compensation;
Completion of the contract after the termination or designated completion date(s) will result in a deduction from the compensation.
A Performance Bond and Payment Bond with good and sufficient surety, acceptable to the Owner and Architect/Engineer, shall be required in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the Agreement. The surety of the Bonds may not be released until one (1) year after the Owner’s final settlement with the Contractor. Retainage will be as required by Ind. Code §36-1-12 et seq. A three (3) year Maintenance Bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the Contract Price shall be required upon completion of the Project.
All out-of-state entities must have a certificate of authority to do business in the State of Indiana. Application forms may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of State, State of Indiana, Statehouse, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
Owner reserves the right to (1) cancel this solicitation pursuant to Ind. Code §5-22-18-2 and/or (2) reject any offers, in whole or in part as specified in the solicitation when Owner determines in accordance with applicable Indiana laws including but not limited to Ind. Code §36-1-12-4, that such action is in the best interests of the Owner. Owner reserves the right to delay the opening of the Bids pursuant to Ind. Code §36-1-12-4. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Owner reserves the right to waive any of the terms, conditions or provisions contained in this Notice to Bidders or the Bid Documents or any informality, irregularity or omission in the bid process or in any Bid which waiver is deemed in the Owner’s discretion to be to the advantage of the Owner and which does not afford any Bidder a material competitive advantage over other Bidders. Except as specifically otherwise provided herein and as allowed by applicable Indiana law, a contract for the Project shall be awarded in accordance with this Notice to Bidders, Ind. Code §5-16-13 et seq. and Ind. Code §36-1-12 et seq., to the lowest responsible and responsive Bidder whose bid does not exceed the funds available for the Project. The Owner shall have the right to accept any Alternates in any order or combination or accept on the basis of the Base Bid alone, unless otherwise specifically provided in the Bidding Documents and to determine the lowest responsible and responsive Bidder on the basis of the sum of the Base Bid and Alternates accepted. Questions regarding this Project should be directed to Michael Krosschell by email only at krosschellm@weihe.net.
Carmel/Clay Board of Parks & Recreation
Michael Klitzing, Director
Publication: Carmel Current on June 30 and July 7, 2026
Hamilton County Reporter on June 29 and July 6, 2026
The year 2016 marked Carmel’s 40th year as a city. This was the year my husband, Marty, and I moved to Carmel from Illinois. And now 10 years later we prepare to celebrate Carmel’s 50th year.
On a walk along Main Street in 2016, I ran into a woman who cautioned me by saying, “Honey, don’t tell anyone you’re a Democrat down here.” That phrase struck me, as I am a strong believer in civil discourse and in voting for the best candidates.
We joined the Hamilton County Democratic Party to get involved in ways we could work to help create greater balance in government at the local, state and national levels. We began to
Carmel Clay Schools is submitting a Notice of Intent to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to comply with the requirements of the Construction Stormwater General Permit to discharge stormwater from construction activities associated with the Smoky Row Elementary School Project located at 900 West 136th Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032. Stormwater runoff from the project site will discharge to Williams Creek. Questions or comments regarding this project should be directed to Tyler Barker of The Skillman Corporation, at 317-474-2288.
Ordinance Z-707-26
NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS CARMEL, INDIANA
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE REGARDING FEES
Z-707-26
Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the City of Carmel and Clay Township, Hamilton County, Indiana, that the proper legal officers of the City of Carmel met at their regular meeting place, Council Chambers, Carmel City Hall, One Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032, at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 15th, 2026, and adopted the following:
Ordinance Z-707-26, amending the Carmel Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to establish fees related to Zoning and Development applications and violations for the City’s Engineering Department and to amend Section 1.29 Filing Fees to comply with HEA 1001.
Ordinance Z-707-26 affects all properties within the City of Carmel, Indiana.
The entire text of Ordinance Z-707-26 is available on the City’s website in LaserFiche – City Clerk Public Records, or in the Department of Community Services, Division of Planning & Zoning, Third Floor, Carmel City Hall, One Civic Square, Carmel, Indiana.
Per IC 36-4-6-14, an ordinance increasing certain fees on new development must delay the implementation of the fee increase for a period ending ninety (90) days after the ordinance is published. The fee increases outlined in Section 1.29 become effective on Monday, September 28, 2026.
City of Carmel June 30, 2026
see that more “D’s” were evident on our ballots.
I grew up in Gary in the 1960s when some very corrupt city leaders were lining their pockets instead of working to keep the city a strong and vibrant community. They were all Democrats, and many went to prison for corruption. Poor governing occurs when we become complacent as voters. When we vote at record numbers and learn about what the candidates’ positions are, we are able to vote for those who will stand up for our needs and we hold them accountable regardless of their political affiliation.
We will have an opportunity to vote this fall for people who will represent us. Let’s speak with respect and base our ideas on facts.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CITY OF CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION Docket Number PZ-2026-00118 PUD NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Carmel Plan Commission will conduct a meeting on the July 21, 2026 at 6:00pm, at the Carmel City Hall, Council Chambers, One Civic Square, 2nd Floor, Carmel, IN 46032, to hold a Public Hearing regarding an application identified by Docket Number PZ-2026-00118 PUD (the “Request”). The subject site consists of approximately 9 acres, is identified by the Hamilton County Auditor’s Office as Parcel Identification Numbers 17-09-28-00-00-021.000 and 17-09-28-00-00-017.001 and is located north of 131st Street and west of Dunbarton Street (the “Real Estate”).
The Real Estate is zoned S-1/Residential and is surrounded to the north, south and east by existing residential development. The applicant, Christopher Scott Homes, is seeking to rezone the Real Estate to the “Hampstead Planned Unit Development Ordinance” in order to develop a for-sale single-family residential community consisting of thirty-six (36) homes.
The Request and the associated plans and exhibits may be examined on the City’s website, through Public Documents – Laser Fische.
All interested persons desiring to present their views on the above Request are encouraged to submit written comments to bbutler@carmel.in.gov, up to 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting, via email to Bric Butler Administrative Assistant City of Carmel Plan Commission, and/or, present their comments in-person by attending at this Plan Commission meeting. The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time as may be found necessary. City of Carmel, Indiana: Bric Butler, City of Carmel Plan Commission Administrative Assistant Carmel City Hall
One Civic Square Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: (317) 571-2416
Email: bbutler@carmel.in.gov
Attorney for Applicant Christopher Scott Homes: Fredric Lawrence, Attorney
Jon Dobosiewicz, Professional Land Planner
Nelson & Frankenberger, LLC 11350 N. Meridian Street, Suite 320
briefly
16. Butler sports org. 17. I wanted to buy a pair of camouflage pants, but
20. Filming location
21. Still contending
22. Buenos ___
23. Lake County city
25. Actress de Armas
26. I used to hate facial hair, but ___
33. Repeat
34. UN workers’ agcy.
35. Objectives
37. “Evil Woman” band, for short
38. Puffy dessert
42. Meadow
43. IU basketball all-American Benson
45. Blackhawks and Blue Jackets grp.
46. Metallic sound
48. I used to play the piano by ear, but ___
52. Pacers’ tiebreakers, briefly
53. Trip odometer’s initial reading
54. Soft leather
57. Neutral shade
59. GI’s address
62. I never thought orthopedic shoes would work for me, but ___
66. Refuse
67. Santa’s laugh
68. Destroy documents, in a way
69. Historical periods
70. Brian Wilkes winter forecast
71. Rips
DOWN
1. WTTV military drama
2. In the past
3. Kind of point
4. Alphabet run
5. Salon01 offering
6. Big name in smooth jazz
7. Start of a play at The Cat
8. Disagreement
9. ___ Friday’s
10. “Popcorn Capital of the US”
11. Wound mark
12. Downfall
13. Hamilton County Council votes against
18. Scandal sheet fodder
19. Prefix meaning “billionth”
23. Safari sight
24. Puts on WIBC
25. MP’s quarry
26. Arduous journey
27. Singer Reddy
28. Budget, in brand names
29. Biathlon need
30. North Pole worker
31. 1954 basketball state
champ that inspired the movie “Hoosiers”
32. Revise
36. ___ Fifth Avenue
39. Burden
40. Sounds of hesitation
41. Off-the-wall feedback
44. 48 hours
47. Thai neighbor
49. Fla.-to-Calif. highway
50. Rob of “NUMB3RS”
51. Part of BYOB
54. “West ___ Story”
55. Addict
56. Sicilian volcano
57. PU business course
58. Salmon type
59. Gillette razor
60. Social equal
61. Hoosier Park postings
63. Some batters, briefly
64. Fishers winter hrs.
65. Revolutionary Guevara ANSWERS ON PAGE 35
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