Founded Jan. 29, 2008, Noblesville, IN Vol. XIX, No. 20
Copyright 2026
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By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Indiana has a shortage of child care centers, with a rising demand that leaves Hamilton County short by approximately 3,216 openings for children, according to Invest Hamilton County CEO and President Mike Thibideau.
IHC, a nonprofit economic and workforce development organization, recently launched a Child Care Action Dashboard to assist residents in navigating child care options and data in the county. As of last month, Hamilton County had 14,758 licensed child care slots across 124 programs against 18,360 children under 6 whose parents work, according to the dashboard.
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The organization previously released a child care action and investment plan in 2025.
“The action and investment plan was built on a funding landscape that’s no longer the operational reality within the state for many providers,” Thibideau said. “Because the landscape overall has been shifting so much, we wanted to provide a source where anybody in the community could access the most up to date information and see how it compares and contrasts with the findings within the action plan.”
The dashboard tracks local data, including licensed capacity, child care slots per 100 children, the total number of licensed programs, children utilizing vouchers and median infant tuition rates. It also uses data ratios to factor in alternative family choices for child care, like nannies.
“We don’t want to project a false demand,” Thibideau said. “We’re able to visualize this in a methodologically sound process, and we’ll update it quarterly to see where we’re at.”
Another significant child care issue is cost. In Hamilton County, families pay $22,052 annually for center infant care, which is 17.1 percent of median household income, according to the dashboard.
Thibideau said the dashboard ensures every socioeconomic bracket is effectively tracked and supported in Hamilton County.
“Sometimes, when you have these really big challenges in front of you, it’s hard to grasp, especially when your community has as much diversity as
ours does,” Thibideau said. “We have been working on making sure we’re not just serving the middle and the top, but we’re serving everybody.”
Thibideau said one positive indicator in Hamilton County is that the median posting duration for open child care positions is down to 23 days, which is four days lower than the rest of the Indianapolis region.
“We’re continuing to see the hires and separations ratios stay within a healthy clip, and while staffing is still a concern for many of our providers, it’s much lower of a volume than it was two years ago,” Thibideau said.
Child Care Answers, a nonprofit resource and referral agency in Indianapolis, is attempting to provide support for Hamilton and surrounding counties. CCA Executive Director Mollie Smith said the organization is partnering with United Way of Central Indiana to pilot a Central Indiana Child Care Alliance, which will provide shared back-end infrastructure to child care providers who cannot afford independent administrative staff.
A tiered soft-launch is scheduled for Hamilton and Boone counties between July and September.
CCA also has submitted a Letter of Intent to the Hamilton County Community Foundation requesting funding assistance for child care resource specialists who will connect families with early education programs, financial
assistance and support services.
“(Counties) know child care is a challenge, but they are not the experts (who) know where to make those connections and what to do about it,” Smith said. “(CCA) will be in Boone, Hendricks and Shelby counties, and hopefully in Hamilton County, as we work to make sure we’re supporting the community as needed.”
IHC will share its next child care update in November.
“We want to continue to promote expansion of supply so families are able to access seats and quality care,” Thibideau said. “We have a lot of diversity within our residential base, and that diversity needs to be reflected within the supply so everybody has a chance to be employed and work at their full potential.”
For more, visit investhamiltoncounty.com/childcare-dash.
Hamilton County officials have been discussing plans for a child care center for county employees for several years.
Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman said although they have not committed to building a center, one is being designed.
“Once the design is complete, we will be able to estimate the costs and present (it) to (the county council), along with an operations plan,” Altman said.
M OV I E S IN T H E P L A Z A
J un e 10, 2 4 ; Jul y 22 ; A u g u s t 15 . 7:3 0 p.m.
Grand Junction Pl a z a | 225 S. Union St.
C R E E K S T O M P S
Th u r s d ay s, June 11–J uly 3 0 . 10 –11 a.m.
Grand Junction Pl az a | 225 S. Union St.
Registration: $8 | Reserve your spot!
presented by Williams Creek Management
K IDS S U M M E R S E R I E S
Tu e s d ay s, J une 16–J u l y 28 . 9:30 –11 a.m.
Grand Junction Pl a z a | 225 S. Union St.
OW L P E L L E T DISSEC T I O N S
June 17; July 15 . 10 –11 a.m.
Grand Junction Plaza | 225 S. Union St.
Registration: $8 | Reserve your spot!
W IF F L E BA L L AT T HE P L A Z A
June 10, 24 ; July 8, 22 . 10–11 a.m.
Grand Junction Pl a z a | 225 S. Union St.
Registration: FREE | Reserve your spot!
TOU C H-A- T R U C K
Wednesday, J une 17 . 4:30 –7:30 p.m.
Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus (Lot F) 19000 Grand Park Blvd.
SENSORY N AT U R E WA L K
Saturday, June 20 . 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Midland Trace Trail
Between Simon Moon Park & Hazel Dell Elementary
Don't miss out this summer!
westfieldin.gov/programs
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Shane Michael Angier, 33, was arrested May 22 by the Westfield Police Department on 10 felony counts related to child sex crimes.
Angier was charged with eight counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and two counts of possession of child sex abuse material. All are Level 5 felonies. Court records indicate Angier has a Noblesville address. The Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force, which investigated the case, listed Angier as a Westfield resident.
According to a press release from the Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force, it received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child sex abuse material involving prepubescent children. Five files had been uploaded.
Detectives with the task force served a search warrant on Angier’s Kik account and found several images of child sex abuse material. Additional images were found following a search of his residence.
Angier had been incarcerated in the Hamilton County Jail, but is no longer listed as an inmate. Angier’s trial date is set for Sept. 14.
The task force is headquartered at the Fishers Police Department. It focuses on internet crimes against children and investigates child exploitation cases in Hamilton, Hancock, Madison and Tipton counties.
APC June 1 meeting canceled — The June 1 meeting of the Westfield Advisory Plan Commission was canceled. A discussion of the Northpoint PUD was canceled when the item was withdrawn. Another discussion on The Lakes at Freemont PUD was continued to a future meeting and it tentatively set to be discussed at the next scheduled APC meeting June 15.
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
The Westfield City Council unanimously approved the creation of an Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs during its May 26 meeting.
The new council will advise city government on policies, programs and initiatives that impact veterans, active-duty service members and military families.
“(Advisory council members) are going to focus on improving the lives for veterans who call Westfield home, so it will be a variety of different things and initiatives that they’ll task or that they’ll tackle,” said Mayor Scott Willis, a former U.S. Marine. Willis said his executive assistant, Zach Carver, will take the lead in forming the council.
to Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and other community initiatives.
• Promote public awareness and appreciation of military service and encourage community engagement with veteran-related initiatives.
• Identify gaps in services, resources, and support available to veterans and military families within the community and provide recommendations to address such gaps.
• Foster relationships and coordination between the City and organizations that provide services to veterans.
Goals for the Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs include:
• Develop, support and provide recommendations for programs, ceremonies, and events that honor, recognize, and celebrate military service, including but not limited
• Recommend policies, procedures, or initiatives for the City to consider that recognize individuals entering, serving in, or completing military service, as well as organizations that support veterans and military families.
• Support efforts to better identify and connect with veterans and military families in the community in order to improve communication, outreach and participation in available programs and services.
Reported Scholarship Offers of More Than $65.6 million! WHERE IS THE CLASS OF 2026 GOING?
American University
Anderson University
Arizona State University
Ball State University
Bellarmine University
Belmont Abbey College
Benedictine College
Butler University
Columbus College of Art & Design
Colorado School of Mines
Clemson University
Dartmouth College
DePauw University
Eastern Michigan University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Southern College
Fordham University
Gannon University
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Grand Valley State University
Hanover College
Hope College
Huntington University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University
Indiana University - Indianapolis
Indiana University - Kokomo
Indiana University - Southeast
Jefferson Community & Technical College
John Carroll University
Louisiana State University and A&M
Loyola University - Chicago
Marian University
Marquette University
Miami University
Mount Saint Mary’s University
Norwich University
Ozark Christian College
Pratt Institute
Purdue University
Rock Valley College
Saint Mary’s College
San Diego State University
Syracuse University
Taylor University
Tennessee State University
The College of Wooster
United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Military Academy
University of Arizona
University of California - Berkeley
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado - Boulder
University of Dayton
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Evansville
University of Georgia
University of Illinois - Chicago
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Southern California
University of Saint Francis
University of Tampa
University of Tennessee
University of Wisconsin
Wabash College
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
Wheaton College
Xavier University
Young Harris College
Westfield Wellness Day — The second Westfield Wellness Day will take place at the Westfield Washington Township office at 17400 Westfield Blvd. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 12. It is a free event open to all ages. Attendees can enjoy free screenings through the Hamilton County Health Department mobile clinic, including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and BMI checks; free bike helmets provided by the Westfield Fire Department on a first-come, firstserved basis; raffle prizes from community partners, and more. Community members can explore booths and interactive resources from a variety of local organizations, including Blossom Yoga + Pilates, Community Health Network, Dawes Fretzin Dermatology Group, Ella Community Pharmacy, Everbowl, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, Hamilton County Health Department, Heart And Soul Clinic, Indiana Donor Network, Mommaopathy, Pure Barre, Riverview Health, Simplify with Cindy Organizing, Timbar, Via Women’s Health Collective, Westfield Counseling Collective, Westfield Fire Department, Westfield Police Department and the Westfield Youth Assistance Program.
Kids Summer Series — The City of Westfield’s Kids Summer Series will take place on select Tuesdays from 9:30-11 a.m. at Grand Junction Plaza through July 28. Each week will feature alternating appearances by balloon twisters and airbrush tattoo artists, and Kona Ice will be at every event. Featured performers are:
• June 9 — Mr. Dan the Music Man
• June 16 — Jump and Hop!
• June 23 — Hedgehog Hannah
• June 30 — Bongo Boy
• July 7 — Mr. Dan the Music Man
• July 14 — Ruditoonz
• July 21 — Jump and Hop!
• July 28 — Magic Man Rusty
Motor District Ferragosto! event
— Motor District, located at 1516 W. Tournament Trail in Westfield, will host a celebration of Italian automotive passion, design and performance called Ferrogosto! from noon-2 p.m. June 13. The gathering brings together a collection of Italian automobiles. All ages are welcome at the event. Guest access without lunch is free. Guest access with lunch is $35. To register, visit artomobilia.org/ store-2026sq/p/ferragosto-2026.
news@youarecurrent.com
The Indiana Department of Transportation will host a public hearing June 10 regarding a proposed corridor improvement project on Ind. 32 in Westfield and Noblesville.
The event will take place at Westfield’s Prairie Waters Event Center at 4130 Westfield Rd. (Ind. 32). Doors will open at 5 p.m. to allow the public to view displays and talk with the project team. A presentation will be at 5:30 p.m., with a public comment session immediately after.
The hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to interact with the project team, review features of the proposed roundabout project, and provide official public comment. Project documents are available for review at improvetomove32.com.
The project area is between East Street in Westfield and River Road in Noblesville. The proposed project in-
cludes adding lanes to accommodate two lanes in each direction, removing all traffic signals within the project limits, and constructing roundabouts at the following intersections with Ind. 32: Carey Road/Grassy Branch Road, Gunther Boulevard, Shady Nook Road, Moontown Road/Gray Road, Pebble Brook Boulevard, Hazel Dell Road/Little Chicago Road, and Mill Creek Road. All verbal statements recorded during the public hearing and all written comments submitted prior to, during and for a period of two weeks following the hearing date, will be evaluated, considered and addressed in subsequent environmental documentation.
Written comments can be submitted within the comment period to Nick Batta, CMT, 8790 Purdue Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268 or sent via email to SR32HamiltonCounty@cmtengr.com. INDOT requests that comments be submitted by June 26.
We know how priceless moments at home are. That’s what sets our approach to home building apart. We have a deeper commitment to making sure the experience – and final result – is everything you imagined. We take care of you the way we’d want to be taken care of so you can live the most rewarding home life. That’s The Weekley Way!
Westfield resident is part of committee for inaugural St.
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Westfield resident Jennifer Streitmatter speaks from experience when she lauds the lifesaving work St. Jude Research Hospital does for children.
Streitmatter, who is on the committee for the inaugural St. Jude Evening of Hope Indiana Gala June 13 at The Bluffs at Conner Prairie in Fishers, is a former St. Jude patient. She will speak at the fundraising event.
Streitmatter, who grew up in Princeville, Ill., was diagnosed with what was suspected to be a cancerous cyst in her right arm when she was 5. She was treated in a St. Jude Hospital in Peoria, Ill., and at the main St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
“It wound up being benign, thank goodness, but I still had about two years of on-and-off treatments and blood tests,” said Streitmatter, 54. “I had to have surgery in my right arm, where they removed that bone and put a cadaver bone in.”
Streitmatter doesn’t recall much of her treatments but remembers how supportive the St. Jude staff was in making her as comfortable as possible. Supporting the hospital has been her passion.
“St. Jude has always been a huge part of my family, not only because of what we went through, but growing up outside of Peoria, with having the Midwest affiliate right there, you know, it was just always something that we did whether it was telethons or fundrais-
ers,” Streitmatter said.
Streitmatter moved to Westfield in 2001. She later founded Blooms and Designs by Jennifer, which specializes in custom container plantings, flower gardens and smallscapes by appointment.
As for the gala, it is the first for St. Jude in the Indianapolis area.
“We’re obviously fundraising, but (the gala) is just to get the St. Jude name out even more than what currently is here in the Indy area,” Streitmatter said.
For more, visit stjude.org/get-involved/find-an-event/dinners-and-galas/evening-of-hope---indiana.html
Touch-A-Truck — Touch-A-Truck is coming to the Droplight Grand Park Campus from 4:30-7:30 p.m. June 17. The free event will take place in Lot F and there will be a sensory hour from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Kids can get up close with their favorite vehicles and sit in the driver’s seat. Among other vehicles will be emergency and construction vehicles. Westfield Welcome seeks vehicles to be part of the lineup. For more, visit westfieldin.gov/398/Touch-A-Truck
Westfield Washington Township introduces INternHC — Westfield Washington Township has partnered with Invest Hamilton County and the Westfield Chamber of Commerce to launch the Hamilton County Intern Collaborative. This is a new workforce initiative designed to attract, connect, and retain talent across Hamilton County. INternHC was created to help recent high school graduates and current college interns build meaningful connections with peers, local employers, and the community. INternHC will host a kickoff networking and career readiness event from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 4 at Shamrock Station at 333 W. Hoover St. in Westfield. The event is for recent Hamilton County high school graduates, ages 18 and older, who completed an internship during the school year, as well as current college interns who live and/or work in Hamilton County. For more, visit wwtownship29.in.gov/ about/internhc/index.php
Golf cart inspection appointment slots opened — The Westfield Police Department has opened additional appointment slots for golf cart inspections and registrations. If you operate a golf cart in the City of Westfield, this is an opportunity to get your golf cart inspected and obtain your official registration sticker. Inspections cost $100. To schedule an appointment, go to tinyurl.com/36efkydz
Sensory Nature Walk — The Westfield Advisory Council on Disabilities and the City of Noblesville Advisory Council on Disabilities have partnered to host the second Sensory Nature Walk. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 20 on the Midland Trace Trail between Simon Moon Park in Westfield and Hazel Dell Elementary School in Noblesville. Participants may park and access the trail from the three designated areas listed below.
• Simon Moon Park, 3044 E 171st St.
• Behind Red Habanero, 17417 Carey Rd.
• Hazel Dell Elementary School, 3025 Westfield Rd.
Police officers will assist with traffic control when the walk crosses over Gray Road and Carey Road. We request no bicycles are used during this program. In the event of inclement weather, activities will be moved inside Hazel Dell Elementary. To learn more, visit westfieldin. gov/wacd
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Four road projects in Westfield were approved during the May 27 Board of Public Works meeting.
• A traffic signal for the corner of Grand Park Boulevard and Tournament Trail. The winning bid — $399,860 — was submitted by Midwestern Electric with a bid of $399,860. Installation is expected by October but could be completed sooner, according to Westfield Director of Engineering Michael Pearce.
“We recognize that there’s a substantial accident risk there at the intersection, just because of sight distance and some other issues at that location,” Pearce said.
• The intersection at Ind. 32 and Mule Barn Road will be reconstructed. The project will include widening of Mule Barn and Ind. 32. INDOT will contribute funds for the Ind. 32 portion of the project. Midwest Paving submitted the winning bid. Contract information was not pro-
vided. Construction is expected to begin next month.
• Widening of 191st Street north of Grand Park includes a roundabout at Grand Park Boulevard and 191st Street as well as the Monon Trail bridge over 191st Street, which will be widened between Tomlinson Road and Grand Park Boulevard. Morphey Construction submitted the winning bid of $10.17 million. Pearce said the project would begin in August and sections would be phased through to 2027.
• Two roundabouts were approved for Casey Road at 186th Street and 193rd Street. Butler, Fairman and Seufert won the design contract with a bid of $823,585.
- Federico Fellini
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Guerin Catholic High School boys lacrosse team benefited from an experienced senior class.
The Golden Eagles repeated as Indiana High School Lacrosse Association Class 1A state champions May 30 with a 19-10 victory over Evansville Memorial at Brownsburg High School.
“This was the first group of seniors that started in third grade and worked their way all the way through eighth grade at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which is our feeder program,” said Charlie Barry, who is in ninth season as Guerin’s coach. “It’s the dedication of (players) Barrett Hahn, Gabe Bergland and J.B. Ford who started in third grade, and then some of the seniors who joined along the way. In fifth and sixth grade, Ethan Lehtinen and Vinny Elliott started and pushed this group to find that success. They were very dedicated, very motivated to end their chapter and their legacy with the program on the highest note.”
Junior Gavin Soucie led the way with six goals and two assists for the Golden Eagles, who finished with a 13-7 record. Elliott had four goals and four assists. Ford and sophomore Mason Walosin each had three goals.
Soucie set a school record with 120 points, 86 goals and 34 assists. Elliott was second with 61 goals and 33 assists. Walosin had 34 goals, followed by Lehtinen 23 goals and Ford 20.
The Golden Eagles topped Evansville Memorial 18-12 in the regular season.
“Nineteen goals is a lot,” Barry said. “I expected a 12-10 or 14-11 type of game because Evansville Memorial has some really talented players, but we jumped out to a 6-1 lead after the first quarter. We scored five goals before Memorial scored and we never slowed down. I was expecting a tighter game.”
Hahn plans to play at Wabash College, an NCAA Division III program.
It was Guerin Catholic’s third state title as it also won in 2021.
Second-ranked Bishop Chatard got off to a big lead early and held on for 1514 victory over No. 1 Guerin Catholic in the Indiana Girls Lacrosse Association Class 2A state final at Zionsville Community High School.
“I’m proud of the girls for coming back from down seven in the second quarter,” Golden Eagles coach Joseph Bellflower said.
Junior Claire Flannagan scored nine goals in the state final. Junior Caroline Ford and Corrine Karlander each had two goals.
Guerin beat Chatard 11-7 in the regular season.
The Golden Eagles (16-5) advanced to the final with a 9-8 victory over Carmel in the semifinals.
It was the fifth consecutive year Guerin was in the state final. The Golden Eagles won in 2022 and 2023 and placed second in 2024 and 2025.
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
The Hamilton County Commissioners reviewed bids for 2026 mechanical special projects and approved an agreement and resolution at their May 27 meeting.
The next commissioners meeting is at 1:45 p.m. June 8 at the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center in Noblesville.
WHAT HAPPENED: The commissioners approved an agreement with the vendor OCV LLC, which administers the Hamilton County Emergency Management’s smartphone app for Android and IOS systems.
WHAT IT MEANS: Hamilton County Emergency Management Director of Operations Ryan Tennessen said the app has about 18,300 users. The app allows the department to send push notifications and weather alerts and share preparedness information with the public. It also allows the department to receive damage reports from residents after events like storms.
WHAT’S NEXT: The agreement is for four years and will cost $5,027.50 annually.
WHAT HAPPENED: The commissioners approved a resolution regarding the use of a generative artificial intelligence policy as part of the county’s governance risk and compliance manual.
WHAT IT MEANS: The policy was adopted into the GRC manual by the commissioners last year. The update incorporates minor revisions that outline the county’s preferred AI platform, Microsoft Copilot, because the Microsoft license is held by the county.
WHAT’S NEXT: The policy contains language stating that it will be reviewed on an annual basis due to the evolving nature of technology.
news@youarecurrent.com
Westfield High School conducted its 2026 commencement ceremony at the Grand Park Events Center May 22 for its 715 graduates.
During commencement, WHS Principal Alicia Denniston reflected on the class’s impact and the many ways students embodied the district’s mission of becoming Life Ready.
“This is a class that has embraced leadership and has modeled the values of the Westfield Way: kindness, respect, positivity, and gratitude,” Denniston stated during her address to graduates. “You have truly made WHS history.” WWS did not recognize valedictorians and salutatorians. Instead, it collectively recognized the 65 distinguished graduates with grade point averages of 4.3 or higher.
The Class of 2026 included numerous students recognized for exceptional academic performance:
• 36 Honored Graduates (grade point average between 4.2–4.29)
• 2,117 AP exams taken, including this year’s testing cycle
• 89 percent AP passing rate thus far
• 166 AP Scholars thus far
In addition, a record number of students participated in internships throughout the community, gaining hands-on experiences connected to future careers and Life Ready learning.
Movies in the Plaza — Westfield’s Movies In The Plaza is set to begin on select evenings from May to August at Grand Junction Plaza. The free summer series will feature outdoor movie nights featuring popular films for all ages. Mov-
ies will begin at 7:30 p.m. Here is the 2026 schedule:
• June 10: “Ghostbusters” (1984)
• June 24: “Kicking & Screaming”
• July 22: “Brave”
• Aug. 15: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
Dr. Lindsay Moore
Summer is here. For children, this often means long days spent swimming, riding bikes, playing outside, and enjoying family gatherings. As a pediatrician, I spend a lot of time discussing safety with families this time of year. A few simple precautions can help prevent injuries and allow everyone to focus on making great summer memories.
Helmets Playing outdoors often means bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and roller skates. One of the easiest ways to protect your child is by making sure they wear a properly fitted helmet every time they ride. Keep in mind that last year’s helmet may no longer fit. Children’s heads grow quickly, and a helmet that is too small or too loose may not provide adequate protection. The helmet should sit level on the forehead, about two finger widths above the eyebrows. The straps should form a “V” shape directly under the ears, and there should be about one finger width of space between the chin and the strap. Taking a few moments to check helmet fit can go a long way toward protecting a growing brain.
Water Safety
Water activities are a favorite part of summer,
but they also require constant attention. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in children and can occur quickly and quietly. Consider swim lessons to help your child develop confidence and strong swimming skills. Most importantly, never leave children unsupervised around water. I encourage families to assign a designated “water watcher”—a responsible, sober adult whose sole job is to actively supervise children in or near the water. If you want to socialize or relax, make sure another adult takes over that responsibility before you step away.
Sun and Heat Safety Summer sunshine is wonderful, but too much exposure can lead to sunburn, dehydration, and heat-related illnesses.
For babies younger than six months, keep them covered and out of direct sunlight whenever possible. For older children, use lightweight clothing that covers exposed skin, UV-protective sunglasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside and reapply at least every two hours, or more often after swimming or sweating. If your child has sensitive skin, consider sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Try to limit strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day, generally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors and encourage children to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
For many families, summer celebrations include fire-
works around the Fourth of July. While fireworks can be exciting to watch, they are also a common source of serious injuries.
I recommend keeping children away from home fireworks whenever possible. Burns and injuries to the hands, arms, face, and eyes occur every year. Even sparklers, which many parents consider harmless, can reach temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The safest option is to enjoy fireworks at a professional community display. I hope you and your family have a fun, healthy, and safe summer.
As a direct primary care pediatrician, I love that longer appointment times allow me to discuss these important safety topics in detail with families. Whether we’re reviewing safety or talking through age-appropriate activities, every child and family deserves personalized guidance. Having a physician who takes the time to answer questions and build a relationship with your family can help you approach summer—and every season—with confidence. Contact Information: FreedomDoc Westfield 15229 Westfield Blvd Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 763-2131
Doyle Akin
Benjamin Alcantara
Cari Andrade Perez
Caroline Appel
Aspen Arnold
Liam Arnold
Duygu Arseven
Sruti Atluri
Gabriella Avila
Odie Bargeron
Adriana Barlow
Kothe Birge
Karmen Bond
Alexis Bow
Daniel Boytsov
Joshua Brady
Sidney Brittingham
Laurel Buttrick
Aaron Cahn
Sophia Cahn
Cooper Cammack
Lexi Canter
Lukas Canter
Ryan Castetter
Sarah Coleman
Sam Commons
Noah Cortez
Lady Carrington Craig
Gabby Culp
Sydney Culp
Sterling Davis
Tyler Davis
Patrick Dennis
Kendall Ehnes
Madie Encinia
Mack Feeney
Megan Gleason
Laurel Gough-McKeown
Blake Gray
Isabella Gray
Scout Griffiths
Paige Gross
Hannah Grubbs
Cael Head
Juana Helou
George Hennessey
Anya Hicks
Cora Hill
Styler Hogg
Max Holbrook
Reilly Housman
Delaney Hutchison
Annie Ingersoll
Vidhatri Iyer
Philip Jacobs
Jack Koschnick
Nirupama Krishnamurthy
Ked Laborsky
Riley Lawyer
Quin Litke
Bruno Lukin
Naaima Mahmood
Becca Masoncup
Josh McGee
Elizabeth Merisotis
Bella Miller Krigger
Amelie Mock
Faisal Mohamud
Cam Molina
Harris Nachlis
Simon Ngo
Leah Norvell
Rishi Paranjape
Kennedy Payne
Lindsey Porter
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Samantha Purdie
Nick Quinto
Caleb Reed
Finlay Reid
Meg Rohloff
Quincy Russell
Jacob Shearer
Jaiden Shin
Nick Shockley
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Stephenson
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Nia Williams DJ Willis
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DJ and producer Disco Lines will perform during the LIV Golf Indianapolis event in August at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield.
Disco Lines, whose real name is Thadeus Labuszewski, will take the stage at 4 p.m. Aug. 22, the third of the four-day LIV tournament.
All grounds pass and hospitality ticket holders for Saturday’s third round can en-
joy Disco Lines’ live concert. Country music artist Thomas Rhett will perform Aug. 21. Disco Lines’ hits include “No Broke Boys” and “Baby Girl.”
Tickets for the Aug. 20-23 LIV Golf Indianapolis tournament are available at LIVGolf.com. Children 12 and under receive complimentary grounds pass admission (one per paying adult).
A select number of additional premium hospitality spaces for the After
Play will be released in the coming weeks, offering exclusive views and an unbeatable atmosphere for the performance. Further details on the entertainment schedule and fan activities for LIV Golf Indianapolis will be announced soon. Tickets are available at LIVGolf.com.
For the full 2026 schedule and musical lineup, visit LIVGolf.com/ Schedule.
NFL FLAG Championships — The 2026 NFL FLAG Championships, presented by Toyota, will take place at the Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus July 23-26. Register with NFL OnePass for free entry or at NFL.com/ FLAGChampionships
Congratulations, Dr. Christina Kim, Breast Surgical Oncologist, and the team behind this first for women in Indiana.
With one small incision, Christina Kim, MD, just brought the leading edge of breast surgery to Ascension St. Vincent Fishers.
The first ever performed in Indiana, this new approach combines a single-port robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, immediately followed by reconstruction by a plastic surgeon. This procedure is designed to support a more natural appearance with fewer procedures and a smoother recovery. Thank you, Dr. Kim and the entire team, for leading the way for women in our community.
Scan or call 317-751-7661 to book a first consultation or get a second opinion
Ascension Medical Group St. VincentFishers Breast Care
13914 Southeastern Parkway, Suite 302 Fishers, IN 46037
Enjoy an in-store discount of 20% off furniture & accessories, and 15% off all regularly priced decorative lighting all month long.
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Virginia Tate might be retired, but she’s not slowing down anytime soon.
The 79-year-old Fishers resident volunteers regularly with the Fishers Arts Council and for various events and programs run through City of Fishers departments. She leads third-graders on tours of City Hall, is a park steward at Cheeney Creek Park, helps out during the Geist Half Marathon and helped pick lettuce for Indianapolis Zoo animals at the Fishers AgriPark.
Tate, a former speech and language pathologist, moved to Fishers about seven years ago. Soon after she arrived, she decided to check out City Hall — the old building that has since been replaced by the Fishers Municipal Center.
“I went in and there’s all this art on the walls, and I thought, ‘This is interesting,’” she said. “And somehow I connected with one of the board members, and I said I would really like to be a part of this, if I can.”
That’s how Tate got involved with the Fishers Arts Council, where she contin-
presented by
tired that volunteering and travel and keeping myself fit and healthy would be my my three major things,” she said. “And so, that’s what I’ve been doing. And Fishers Arts Council was one of the initial ones, but it sort of bled into other things.”
vendors were. And then, they have a children’s activity, a craft activity for kids. They’d have one table for the free bags and another table for the children’s activity. And I would help with the children’s activities.”
As a park steward for Cheeney Creek Park, Tate uses a grabber and a pail to pick up trash and keeps an eye out for any maintenance that needs to be done. She’s also helped plant trees at Holland Park and the AgriPark, helped decorate for the city’s fall festival and much more.
ues to take on volunteer roles, helping out during exhibit receptions, special events and more. Through that work, the gregarious senior met other people and got involved in more volunteer opportunities throughout the community.
It was all part of her retirement plan.
“I had kind of planned when I re-
Tate helps out at the Fishers AgriPark, primarily greeting and directing visitors. She has volunteered with the Fishers Health Department, manning a booth at events like the weekly farmers market, where she’s also staffed the Parks Department booth.
“They were always looking for volunteers,” she said. “I said, ‘Sure, I’ll come. You tell me what you need me to do.’
And they’d give me a little apron, and I’d give out flyers. I’d give out the free bags. Tell them where certain other
She hopes to find a volunteer niche at the Fishers Library, too — maybe reading to children.
Tate likes variety in her volunteer work and likes to stay active while contributing to her community.
“It’s satisfying to me that I can be (active) at this point in my life and still be a vibrant part of things,” she said, adding that volunteering benefits her, as well. “I do lots of stuff. I’m in a good mood most of the time. It gives me a good feeling, and it connects me with parts of the community that, when I was working, I didn’t have time to do that.”
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
When people think of libraries, they often think of quiet places to read or study.
But on the second floor of Westfield Washington Public Library on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Sunday afternoon, the quiet is replaced by the click-clack of tiles while visitors play the game of mahjong.
Tuesdays are reserved for lessons taught by Westfield resident Marie Ancich. Wednesdays and Sundays are available for open play. It’s often standing room only in the WWPL game room for mahjong.
“We have other things that we do here, like euchre and bridge, but mahjong is ridiculously popular,” WWPL Assistant Director Of Operations Sara Perry said.
Mahjong is a four-player game that has its origins in China. The object is to draw tiles — there are 144 — until a winning hand is gained.
Ancich started playing after the death of her husband 13 years ago. She liked it so much she began to teach it to get more players involved. She teaches 12 players at a time on Tuesdays and now has a waiting list.
“I knew I had a problem when in January of this year I had more people sign up than I can handle,” said Ancich, who has volunteers assist with the class.
Mahjong has increased in popularity nationally in recent years. Eventbrite, an event-management website, reported in 2024 that there was a 179 percent increase in mahjong events nationwide and a 365 percent increase in internet searches fof mahjong. Hallmark Channel even aired a romantic comedy “All’s Fair In Love And Mahjong,” based on the game in May.
Among many reasons, the social aspect of the game is tied to its popularity, especially among seniors.
“In the older age group, there is the need to learn more cognitive skills at working puzzles and mahjong gives you a different set of skills to help you
think, which helps a lot in the aging process,” Ancich said.
Ancich said as many as 45 players participate in one session at WWPL.
“It’s so challenging,” said Westfield
resident Sheila Ward-Lowe, who assists Ancich with her class. “There’s so many nuances to this game, written rules or unwritten rules. There’s a lot to learn and I thought it was good for
When the Westfield Washington Public Library opened in 2024, it was hoped that the public gathering space on the second floor of the southeast side of the building would be a popular feature.
It has proven to be so and the library was deliberate in making mahjong part of the appeal. WWPL Assistant Director of Operations Sara Perry said that the library purchased several mahjong playing boards for public use and made sure there were square tables for mahjong in the gathering space.
“People are like, ‘Why do we still need libraries? Everything’s on the internet.’ You could play mahjong on the internet, but it’s not the same, you need real people interaction,” Perry said.
The Westfield Washington Public Library gathering space hosts many activities for those interested in playing games or solving a puzzle. The library provides an assortment of puzzles. (Photo by Todd Golden)
The library also offers puzzles and board games.
“I wish more libraries would have a game room,” Westfield resident and mahjong player Sheila Ward-Lowe said.
“I come early on Tuesdays (before mahjong is played) to play euchre, too.”
my brain, but I also liked the camaraderie with people.”
Ancich stresses the social rather than the competitive aspect at WWPL. Players switch tables to play new opponents for the chance to meet more people.
Suneeta Banakar, who recently moved to Westfield from Carmel, heard about Ancich’s lessons and decided to give them a try. She enjoyed them so much she traveled regularly from Carmel to play before she moved to Westfield.
“I think Westfield is the only library that has a place like this,” Banaker said. “(Mahjong) is played in other libraries, but there’s not a dedicated space like there is here.”
Ancich welcomes those who are curious to try mahjong or just come watch it being played.
“The appeal is that you meet new people, you have the camaraderie, you’re learning a skill, and you’re having fun,” Ancich said.
ON THE COVER: Marie
Hi, I’m Brian. I do the marketing. If you’re reading this, we’re basically besties.
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By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Westfield-based Community Health Network Dr. Claire Edelman, an OB/ GYN, wants to make sure women are informed about perimenopause and menopause care.
Edelman recently spoke at the Women’s Business Conference Luncheon in Kokomo to address myths surrounding menopause. Menopause starts for most women between the ages of 4555. Perimenopause symptoms often are felt a decade prior to when menopause begins because of fluctuations in estrogen levels. And one myth is that menopause symptoms will eventually stop.
medical residencies to teach ‘hormones are bad’ messages to their trainees and, therefore, about 20 years of medical trainees did not learn how to prescribe hormones.
“Researchers now understand that healthy women who begin MHT near the onset of menopause often have a much more favorable risk profile than the older population studied in the original WHI trial.”
Another myth Edelman cited is that hot flashes are the only ways menopause manifests itself.
“I often hear my patients say, ‘I already went through menopause’ like it is an illness from which they have already recovered,” Edelman said. “One’s hot flashes might go away and some symptoms may improve as the body adapts to less hormones, but the effect of nonfunctioning ovaries is forever unless they are started on menopause hormone therapy.”
Edelman said it can be a challenge to get women to try hormone therapy. She cited a Women’s Health Initiative press conference in 2002 that suggested hormone replacement therapy was a cancer risk.
“At the time of the WHI, 40 percent of women were taking systemic hormones,” Edelman said. “Today, the estimate is that only 4 percent of women are on menopause hormone therapy. This initial interpretation of the data also led
“There are a variety of symptoms and everyone can experience them differently,” Edelman said. “Some lesser-known symptoms include sleep disturbances, brain fog, mood changes, anxiety, fatigue, vaginal dryness/pain with sex, heart palpitations, joint pain, skin dryness, altered bowel function, unfavorable body composition, changes in period bleeding pattern, and my favorite symptom, ‘Not feeling like myself.’”
Edelman also said it’s also a myth that weight gain and muscle and bone loss are unavoidable after menopause
Edelman noted that there are hormonal and nonhormonal treatment options available for women, but the first step is to have a professional guide their care.
“Seek care and seek care early,” Edelman said. “Ask if your provider feels comfortable managing perimenopause and menopause. If they do not, ask to be referred to someone who is comfortable with it.”
For more, visit menopause.com.
news@youarecurrent.com
Community Health Network recently named Jerry Yang as its new chief financial officer, effective June 9. Yang brings extensive experience leading finance functions for large, multiregional health systems.
Yang most recently served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Aspirus Health, where he oversaw financial perfor-
mance for a 19-hospital integrated delivery system.
Yang
Previously, Yang held senior health care finance leadership roles at MultiCare Health System in Washington, Beaumont Health in Michigan, Hillcrest HealthCare System in Tulsa, Okla., and LifePoint Health. His experience includes financial operations, system integration and market-level leadership across complex health systems.
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Broad Ripple Seafood Market had a ribbon cutting June 1 for its new restaurant at 31 Park St. in Westfield.
Housed in the former Greek’s Pizza building, it is the fourth restaurant Park Street between Poplar Street and Mill Street in the western portion of downtown Westfield.
“The foot traffic that you get (on Park Street) is intense,” Broad Ripple Seafood Market owner Todd Reisenbigler said. “There’s so much foot traffic, there’s so many people that want to be here and they want to eat in this local area.”
Reisenbigler noted that parking is a challenge at the moment — the south side of Park Street is under construction to refurbish the block — but is confident the issue will be resolved soon, as is Mayor Scott Willis, who attended the ribbon cutting.
“We’ll get through this summer, and then it’s going get fantastic (on Park Street),” Willis said. “In the next three years, we’re gonna have about three to 5,000 people living in this downtown with office space that’s alive and it will just make your business that much
President
stronger.”
The Westfield restaurant is Reisenbigler’s second Broad Ripple Seafood Market. The original is in Broad Ripple but Westfield’s is four times larger.
“There’s just a huge desire for people to locate fresh seafood, and especially when you prepare the right way, which isn’t always easy with seafood,” Reisenbigler said. “We make everything from scratch.”
Broad Ripple Seafood Market had a soft opening May 26 and opened up officially May 27.
news@currentnoblesville.com
First Bank Richmond and The Farmers Bank have announced that, pending shareholder and regulatory approval, the combined organization will operate under the name First Bank Midwest.
The new brand, which will formally launch July 1, also will encompass Mutual Federal, a division of First Bank Richmond, including its six offices in Ohio. The change will apply to all The Farmers Bank locations, including those in Hamilton County.
“This announcement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter,” Christopher Cook, president and CEO of The Farmers Bank, stated. “The Farmers Bank has proudly served communities for 150 years, and it was incredibly important to us that the values, heritage and identity our cus-
tomers know and trust continued forward in a meaningful way. First Bank Midwest accomplishes that. It honors our past while creating a bold vision for the future.”
Alongside the announcement of the new name, the organizations unveiled a new logo that will represent the future of the combined institution.
Upon completion of the merger and pending shareholder approval, First Bank Midwest will operate under the parent company Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc., which trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol RMBI. Richmond Mutual Bancorporation, Inc. will remain headquartered in Richmond. First Bank Midwest will be headquartered in Frankfort.
As part of the transition, the organizations will use the phrase: “Rooted in tradition. Growing toward the future.”
Commentary by Larry Greene
This Noblesville outdoor living project transformed an exposed deck into a comfortable covered porch, creating a destination for relaxing and entertaining.
• Replaced the existing open deck with a spacious covered porch addition.
• Installed low-maintenance Trex decking for lasting beauty and durability.
• Added a vaulted wood ceiling to bring warmth and architectural interest.
• Created a striking fireplace feature using materials from Classic Stone.
• Integrated lighting, ceiling fan, and mounted television for year-round enjoyment.
• Expanded outdoor living space with seamless access from the home.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy. com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Nichole Schmidt experienced every parent’s nightmare when her daughter went missing.
Travel vlogger Gabby Petito, 22, was killed by her fiancé, Brian Laundre, while traveling across the U.S. in a van. The trip began July 2, 2021, and Petito disappeared Aug. 27. Laundrie drove the van home to Florida and wouldn’t answer questions about her whereabouts. He later died by suicide a few days before Petito’s remains were found Sept. 19, 2021, in Wyoming.
Petito’s case drew nationwide attention on shows such as “Dateline,” “20/20,” “48 Hours” and a Netflix three-part documentary series. Schmidt will take part in a “Crime Unfiltered” event at 7:30 p.m. June 18 at the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre in India napolis. Joining Schmidt will be Gabby’s stepmother, Tara Petito. Among the other pan elists is John Ramsey, whose daughter Jon-Benet Ram sey was killed in 1996. Her murder remains unsolved.
“It’s kind of an interesting dy namic for peo ple to be able to come and be so close to us and hear it from our mouths be cause a lot of what they see is media driven or it’s from the creators on podcasts
and sometimes all the information isn’t factual,” Schmidt said. “They might have perceptions of us that aren’t true. They look at us in a different light. We are real families. They are real tragedies that happened to us. We all advocate to prevent this from happening to others,”
Schmidt said there will be a Q & A session.
“It’s important to be able to communicate with people and let them understand that what happened to us is not an anomaly,” she said.
Moab City (Utah) police responded Aug. 12, 2021 to a domestic violence call and Petito was sobbing. Because Petito claimed she hit Laundre first, she was deemed the primary aggressor. A 911 caller had reported a man hitting a woman. Neither wanted to press charges and they were simply separated for a night.
“We feel Gabby’s life would have been saved if she was given a lethality assessment, which is a series of questions that police officers would ask when approaching a domestic violence situation, which is very dangerous for them as well,”
Schmidt said. “So, we push for states to mandate this lethality assessment. We don’t care if they use that one, there are different danger assessments.”
Schmidt said advocates want states to get the training to use it properly, so they can get victims into
the hands of advocates that help them create a safety plan or make them realize they are in a lethal situation.
Schmidt said Gabby’s dad, Joe Petito, worked with law enforcement officials to create a committee for Florida.
“We don’t care if it’s called the Gabby Petito Act, it doesn’t matter as long as they are using it,” she said.
Schmidt said they’ve also helped states pass missing persons acts across the nation to help law enforcement agencies share the information more broadly on missing people.
“It’s something that we hope helps locate missing people faster,” she said.
Schmidt said there should be domestic violence registries similar to sex offender registries. She said Gabby’s case drew attention because of the video footage available from the trip.
“Everybody that saw on screen connected with her and thought this girl seemed so sweet and so kind,” Schmidt said. “Gabby was also tough and she stuck up for people. She wasn’t afraid to speak up to what was right. She had a really great backbone and I think Brian broke that down because the Gabby I saw in the Moab video was not who Gabby is. She is not the kind that’s going to take responsibility for something she didn’t do and apologize for being mean because I know she wasn’t mean.”
Schmidt said the FBI told the family that it was the biggest missing person case they had ever worked on.
“I do feel like it’s Gabby in her spirit and she wasn’t going to let Brian not be held accountable for this,” she said. “I think that was her doing. She did want to be a famous vlogger. I said, ‘You did it, Gab, everybody knows your name now.’ We miss her so much, but we’re so grateful that we had the outcome we did because we work with families that their loved ones are never found and we get to bring her home and have her with us.”
For more, visit crimeunfiltered.com.
Nichole Schmidt, mother of murder victim Gabby Petito, is one of the speakers at a “Crime Unfiltered” event in Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. June (Photo courtesy of Crime Unfiltered)
“Cinderella” runs through July 12 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
“Bubbles Up! Let’s Celebrate,” a celebration of Jimmy Buffett, is set for 7:30 p.m June 12 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
Civic in Concert will feature music from “Chess” at 7 p.m. June 13 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
The Carmel Community Players Rising Star production of Disney’s “Descendants: The Musical” is set for June 12-21 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
“The German Tropics” is set for June 10-14 and 17-21 at Red Barn Theatre in Frankfort. For more, visit redbarntheatre.net.
Discovering Broadway concert set — Discovering Broadway, a pre-Broadway incubator, has announced the stars and concert date for the untitled Zack Zadek musical, which is part of their inaugural musical commissioning initiative, newly named First Listen. Sophia Anne Caruso (“Beetlejuice” on Broadway, Netflix’s “One Piece”) and Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter Justin Jesso (Stargazing) will lead the June 26 concert event, presented in collaboration with The Cabaret in Indianapolis. For more, visit discoveringbroadway.org.
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Fox is on the run again. That would be Winston A. Fox, the stuffed fox mascot of St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis.
Journeyman Distillery and Rare Saint Whiskey, a part of Huse Culinary, have partnered to create a new whiskey named after the iconic fox.
The whiskey will debut June 16 at a dinner at St. Elmo, followed by a dinner June 19 at Journeyman in Valparaiso.
“It’s been a great partnership with Huse over the years and certainly we view (St. Elmo) as Indiana’s most iconic restaurant, so it’s a real treat to be able to partner with it,” Journeyman owner Bill Welter said.
This is the second whiskey featuring Winston A. Fox. Welter said several years ago there was a blend of Journeyman’s five rye whiskeys.
The one is called Winston A. Fox: The Story of Six Fine Ryes.
“The first one we had like 300 bottles, and this one will be a little more widely distributed, and I think we’re going to have around 1,000 bottles,” Welter said.
Welter said they are popular collector items. The people attending the dinner will have a chance to buy bottles.
The whiskey will have six blends, adding Rare Saint’s rye whiskey. The six uniquely different rye whiskies are composed of whiskey aged 10, 8, 8, 7, 5 and 5 years, respectively, and were finished together for an additional nine months in Madeira casks. It is being released at 100 proof.
The bottles are $89,99 and available for purchase at all Huse Culinary restaurants, including 1933 Lounge in Carmel and Fishers.
The Journeyman dinner will include St. Elmo’s famous shrimp cocktails and Linz steaks, which St. Elmo uses. Chris Clifford, vice president of business development for Huse Culinary and Rare Saint partner, said Winston A. Fox is in the 1933 Lounge at St. Elmo. He was stolen once but returned the same night after a news report.
“Winston A. Fox is exactly the kind of project Rare Saint was built for – an exceptional whiskey, a great meal and a story worth pouring,” Clifford said.
Clifford expects the Winston A. Fox whiskey to sell quickly.
“We’ll have it until we run out,” Clifford said. “We don’t have anything left of the first batch.It’s been gone for years.”
For more on the Indianapolis dinner, visit winston-bourbon-dinner-zzbu8. tripleseattickets.com/registration/select. For more, visit journeyman.com.
Back, from left, Sydney Weitz as Evie, Lyric Kemp, Mal. Front, from left, Hang Doan, Jay, Finn Gough, Carlos, (Photo courtesy of Tanya Haas)
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Tanya Haas figures Disney’s “Descendants” would be a good fit for a Carmel Community Players’ youth production.
“My kids were older, so they weren’t big ‘Descendants’ fans growing up, but (I) had a niece that was in the show and some friends who were in different productions,” Haas said. “So, I went to see a couple of the stage productions and then watched the first of the movies.”
Haas saw how much fun the young actors were having and thought the show would be fun to direct. And she will direct the CCP Rising Star production of Disney’s “Descendants: The Musical,” set for June 12-21 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel.
“I don’t like to cut anyone who auditions and give everyone some role,” the Carmel resident said. “I know this was a show that had plenty of roles.”
Sydney Weitz, who will be a junior
at Carmel High School, plays Evie, the daughter of Grimhilde, the evil queen from “Snow White.”
“She was castaway on the Isle of the Lost, where all the villains go, but then she got chosen to go where all the good people are,” she said.
Weitz said Evie grew up evil, but she chooses good in the end.
“The challenge is her mother is really focused on vanity rather than education,” she said. “When she goes to Auradon, she realizes she is more than the stereotype her mother has fit into.”
Nixon Gough, who will be an eighth-grader at Carmel Middle School, plays Ben, the prince of Auradon, son of Belle and The Beast.
“It’s really fun and allows me to express myself that different roles haven’t let me do before,” he said. “I think this role really speaks to me. I definitely watched it when I was younger, so it’s exciting to be in it.”
For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
I have just received my 175th issue of AARP magazine. That’s how I keep track of my age. The lead story is: 8 tests will reveal how quickly you are aging. There is a series of questions and activities compiled by the AARP to compare how old you tell people you are with what your body and lifestyle might indicate. If you want to feel younger, you can either take their advice for personal improvement or lie in your answers. One of those options worked for me. I’m 58 now.
The first instruction is based on this question: How would you describe your walking pace? The study suggests that people who said “brisk” will live longer, according to the Mayo Clinic. I think it’s hard to judge your own speed. I tell people I “run” 2 miles every day. When I say this, my wife Mary Ellen frowns and makes a slight correction. “He does not run. He lumbers.” The research also says that if I increased my pace a bit, it would lead to “longer leukocyte telomeres in my white blood cells.” That
was the motivation I needed.
The next test was titled: Can you scratch your own back? This is a method for measuring your physical flexibility, is a good indicator of your lifespan. They ask you to extend your left arm over your right shoulder, then place your other hand on your back and see how close you can bring the fingers of each hand together. I think I got that right.
I was trying this when Mary Ellen walked in.
“What in heaven’s name are you doing?” she said.
“I want to see how long I will live.”
“Well, it looks like you are about to choke yourself to death, so I’m going to say about 90 seconds.”
Here’s another: Stand up, sit down, live longer.
Sit in an armless chair, cross your arms, and time how long it takes to complete 5 repetitions of standing up and sitting back down. I have to admit, I had some trouble standing up, but sitting back down was easy. I guess I’m in better shape than I thought.
Commentary by Terry Anker
Engaged with Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, in 1767, the French intellectual Voltaire (nee François-Marie Arouet) remarked that, “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but ‘certainty’ is absurd.” While he was likely referring to the events of the day and not our current infatuation with artificial intelligence, his point may be salient as we struggle to make sense of the looming changes likely to accompany technological advancement. How can we hope to harness that which we can scarcely imagine? Its powers could bring strict dogma, censorship, and authoritarianism — or free expression, religious tolerance and the primacy of reason in public life. For now, most of us are simply worried about whether our jobs are secure. It is no wonder that we are agitated. In 2018, Google CEO Sundar Pichai proclaimed, “AI is one of the most important things humanity is working on. It is more profound than, I dunno, electricity or fire.” Really, AI is bigger than fire? If this doesn’t get our attention, what would? Since then, we’ve collec-
Also, social contact with younger people can lead to a more positive perception of aging. I play pickleball, and I’m about the oldest on the court. In my book club, I’m the senior member, and at the mini marathon a few weeks ago, I was one of the oldest people sitting there watching.
Finally, a shout-out to the dedicated scientists. The lead researcher is Dr. Zhe He, director of the Institute for Successful Longevity. He is from China. They must be fans of Abbott and Costello and baseball over there because when the committee announced that
Sealed proposals for Horton Road Reconstruction Project will be received by the City of Westfield, Indiana, at the Westfield Public Works Building, 2706 E. 171st Street, Westfield, Indiana, 46074 until 11:00 a.m., local time, on Friday, June 26th, 2026
Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bids received later than the above time and date will be returned unopened. No conditional bids will be considered.
Project generally includes road reconstruction, subgrade treatment, maintenance of traffic, and striping of Horton Road within the City of Westfield.
the good doctor would be the opening speaker, they put this on the poster outside the auditorium.
Sealed proposals for Freedom Trail Park Improvements will be received by the City of Westfield, Indiana, at the Westfield Public Works Building, 2706 E. 171st Street, Westfield, Indiana, 46074 until 2:00 p.m., local time, on Friday, July 10, 2026. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bids received later than the above time and date will be returned unopened. No conditional bids will be considered.
tively spent billions, likely trillions, on finding ways to make use of the nascent tech. And many of us have been preparing for the singularity — the moment when AI surpasses human intelligence. Some assume nirvana and others see apocalypse.
Earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman adjusted the narrative by saying, “I’m delighted to be wrong about this. I thought there would have been more impact on entrylevel whitecollar jobs being eliminated by now than has actually happened.” If AI is a wunderkind, it’s slow out of the gate. For now, it requires enormous natural resources, considerable care and feeding by its human creators, and reliability remains a concern. Tech stalwart MIT Technology Review reported in 2026 that hype didn’t match reality. Even before singularity, are we already AI’s servants?
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent.com.
Bids shall be properly and completely executed on the Proposal Form obtainable at the office of the Owner. Each bid shall be accompanied by Form 96 Contractor's Bid for Public Works, including Non-Collusion Affidavit as prescribed by the State Board of Accounts, completely filled out, signed, and notarized as required by the statutes of the State of Indiana, Section III of Part II of Form 96 titled "Contractor's Financial Statement," and acceptable bid security. The bid security shall be a certified check made payable to the Owner or satisfactory bond by an incorporated surety company in good standing and qualified to do business in the State of Indiana in an amount equal to 5% of the bid, said deposit being for the purpose of ensuring the execution of the contract for which bid is made. Any bid not accompanied by the above required items shall be deemed to be a non-responsive bid by the Owner.
No consideration for escalation on prices can be considered; therefore, contractors are advised to not include any such escalation clauses in their proposal for this project.
The Contractors to whom work is awarded shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, each in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price, and they shall be acceptable to the City of Westfield, Indiana.
No bidder may withdraw their proposal within a period of 60 days following the date set for receiving bids. The City of Westfield, Indiana reserves the right to retain the three lowest bid proposals for a period of not more than 90 days, and said proposal shall remain in full force and effect during said time.
The City of Westfield, Indiana further reserves the right to waive informalities and to award the contract to the lowest and most responsible bidder or bidders, all to the advantage of the City of Westfield, Indiana, or to reject all Proposals.
The Contract Documents and drawings will be available to all interested parties from: Repro Graphix, 437 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or at eplanroom.reprographix.com.
Please direct all questions regarding this project to Michael Pearce, City of Westfield, Department of Public Works, 2706 E. 171st Street, Westfield, IN 46074, (317) 473-2917, mpearce@westfield.in.gov
By: Michael Pearce, City of Westfield
Project generally includes construction of a park restroom building, pickleball courts, court fencing, sidewalks, asphalt and aggregate trails, signage, electric service, planting, and other site improvements, amenities, and furnishings. Bids shall be properly and completely executed on the Proposal Form obtainable at the office of the Owner. Each bid shall be accompanied by Form 96 Contractor's Bid for Public Works, including Non-Collusion Affidavit as prescribed by the State Board of Accounts, completely filled out, signed, and notarized as required by the statutes of the State of Indiana, Section III of Part II of Form 96 titled "Contractor's Financial Statement," and acceptable bid security. The bid security shall be a certified check made payable to the Owner or satisfactory bond by an incorporated surety company in good standing and qualified to do business in the State of Indiana in an amount equal to 5% of the bid, said deposit being for the purpose of ensuring the execution of the contract for which bid is made. Any bid not accompanied by the above required items shall be deemed to be a non-responsive bid by the Owner.
No consideration for escalation on prices can be considered; therefore, contractors are advised to not include any such escalation clauses in their proposal for this project.
The Contractors to whom work is awarded shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, each in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price, and they shall be acceptable to the City of Westfield, Indiana. No bidder may withdraw their proposal within a period of 60 days following the date set for receiving bids. The City of Westfield, Indiana reserves the right to retain the three lowest bid proposals for a period of not more than 90 days, and said proposal shall remain in full force and effect during said time. The City of Westfield, Indiana further reserves the right to waive informalities and to award the contract to the lowest and most responsible bidder or bidders, all to the advantage of the City of Westfield, Indiana, or to reject all Proposals.
The Contract Documents and drawings will be available to all interested parties from: Repro Graphix, 437 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or at eplanroom.reprographix.com.
A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at the Westfield Department of Public Works, 2706 E. 171st Street, Westfield, IN 46074 on Monday, June 15th at 2:00 p.m
Please direct all questions regarding this project to Chris McConnell, City of Westfield, Department of Public Works, 2706 E. 171st Street, Westfield, IN 46074, (317) 473-2917, cmcconnell@westfield.in.gov
By: Chris McConnell, City of Westfield
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23. Dish in a lab
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61. “Stars and Stripes Forever” composer
62. Chest muscles, for short
63. Actress Russo
64. Piano specialist
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56. Summer hrs.
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59. Choose ANSWERS ON PAGE 31
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