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Founded Jan. 29, 2008, at Noblesville, IN Vol. XIX, No. 7
West Clay at 131st & Towne Rd
Hortonville Tree Coalition part of opposition to Ironstone project
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
The proposed Ironstone planned unit development that would be built on three plots of land near Hortonville has been a major topic of discussion for area residents. As of the Feb. 17 Westfield Advisory Plan Commission meeting, 79 emails regarding the project were listed for the public record on the agenda packet.
Among those who have contacted city officials is the Hortonville Tree Coalition, organized by Hortonville resident Kit Werbe. She said the organization has a few dozen members who communicate via email.
“Kit really headed this up to which I’m extremely grateful,” said Hortonville resident Angela Westerman, a coalition member. “She took the time to organize and really put these things together for us. But it didn’t take a lot for us to really come together around the issue, because we do care.”
The Hortonville Tree Coalition is focused on a 6-acre grove of trees north and east of the Monon Corner subdivision. The trees also border the property of Greg and Theresa Sherley’s farm to the east and north.
In the original Ironstone plan presented in October 2025, the trees would have been removed because of the addition of a retention pond.
“Once you take (the trees) down, you can’t get them back,” said Theresa Sherley, who estimates that the tree grove is more than 100 years old and predates the 120-year-old farmhouse on their property. “A lot of the development around here likes to just take things down and start with emptiness instead of trying to keep the natural habitat that’s already there.”
The Hortonville Tree Coalition is disappointed with how developer Platinum Properties has addressed their concerns.
According to Werbe, a Nov. 21, 2025, meeting took place between Platinum Properties and neighbors, during which a revised tree preservation plan was presented to residents. The Hortonville Tree Coalition didn’t think the plan went far enough. In a Dec. 15 APC meeting, Platinum Properties made a revised proposal Werbe said was different from the one presented in November.
“The December APC meeting presented a whole different plan that had not been communicated to us, that represented even fewer trees being saved,” Werbe said. “It’s really unfortunate that Platinum (Properties) did that because now we just don’t trust what Platinum (Properties) is going to do.”
Current reached out to Platinum Properties owner Paul Rioux for comment, but he did not respond.
In January, Platinum Properties presented another plan that would save 97 percent of the trees in the grove. The lost trees would be the result of the link to be built from Ironstone to Monon Corner at Ann Arbor Lane.
“They’re going to save 97 percent of the trees, but it begs the obvious question, why not just save them all?” said Werbe, who also is concerned about who provides oversight to make sure the tree preservation plan is adhered to.
“Because of all the land at Platinum’s disposal here, the main message that we want to send is there is zero need for any trees to be torn down.”
The next Ironstone-related meeting will be an APC workshop session scheduled for March 16.
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Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in Westfield are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
The grove of trees that the Hortonville Tree Coalition wants to save stands just outside the Monon Corner subdivision near Hortonville. (Photo by Todd Golden)
Werbe
Shaw running for judge in new Court 8
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
As an attorney and director at a local nonprofit, Emily Angel Shaw has worked for years to address needs in the community. The Carmel resident is running for judge of the newly established Hamilton County Superior Court 8 in the May 5 democratic primary election. She believes her background and community ties will serve her well in that position.
“Becoming a judge has been a career-long dream of mine, and one that I realize will come with a significant amount of diligence and dedication,” she said. “I’m up for the challenge, and I’m ready to bring my years of real courtroom experience, sound judgment and deep commitment to fairness to the bench.”
Angel Shaw is the director of family law services at Kids’ Voice of Indiana, a nonprofit that provides support for children. Her role includes advocating for children in family law cases and training others in the field.
Since 2014 she has run her own law firm, which focuses on family law matters. She also has experience with probate, criminal and business court cases.
Angel Shaw is a graduate of Arsenal Tech High School, the University of Evansville and the Indiana University McKinney School of Law. She earned a Master of Laws in Children’s Rights and Family Law from Ireland’s University College Cork. She and her husband have three children.
Angel Shaw is unopposed in the primary election. She will face Republican Danica L. Eyler in the Nov. 3 general election.
CORRECTION — Dr. Peter Bustamante is the Ascension St. Vincent North Region’s chief medical officer. He was mis-identified in the Feb. 24 edition of Current in Westfield.
Shaw
COMMUNITY
Trace Commons proposed for Westfield’s east side
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
A proposed mixed-use planned unit development was introduced during the Feb. 23 Westfield City Council meeting and had a public hearing at the March 2 Westfield Advisory Plan Commission meeting.
The Trace Commons PUD is proposed on the south side of Ind. 32 at the intersection with Shady Nook Road. The 16.53-acre development would have two access points to the Midland Trace Trail on its southern property line.
Matt Skelton of Church, Church, Hittle and Antrim, the law firm representing developer Level 2 Development, said the projected investment is $80 million. The proposal includes a roundabout for the Ind. 32 and Shady Nook Road intersection, which City Councilor Joe Duepner questioned.
“We’ve got (roundabouts planned for) Carey (Road), Gunther (Boulevard), and now you’re proposing a Shady Nook (roundabout),” Duepner said. “It just seems like a lot of roundabouts in a short space in between the roundabouts.”
According to improvetomove32. com, an INDOT website, roundabouts are planned for Carey Road and Gunter Boulevard to the west of the Trace Commons development and for Gray Road to the east, but not Shady Nook Road, which ends at Ind. 32.
APC member Omar Khan supported the roundabout.
“I risk my life and my children’s life when I turn on that street to get them to preschool,” Khan said. “It’s one of the most needed roundabouts in Westfield. I live down the street in Shady Nook. I can tell how grateful we would be for that.”
The project would include 25 townhomes near the trail in the southern portion of the development. Two apartment buildings would be built — one in the southeast portion of the property near the trail, the other a four-story building in the middle of the property — that would have a total of 302 combined units. There would be commercial space on the bottom floors of the apartment buildings.
The northwest portion of the property, adjacent to Ind. 32, would have
28,100 square feet of commercial space, with concepts for commercial space that would include a brunch house, a craft coffee roastery, a neighborhood-focused specialty market and cafe, a specialized trail and adventure gear outfitter and a studio.
Three residents voiced opposition during the APC meeting regarding a developer promise land with trees wouldn’t be developed. They also voiced environmental concerns and overcrowding on the Midland Trace Trail.
Trace Commons will have an APC workshop session April 20.
Trace Commons would be at Ind. 32 and Shady Nook Road. (Screenshot from City Council agenda packet)
Candidate ‘motivated’
to run again in 5th District
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Carmel resident Deborah A. Pickett has filed to run for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District seat. Republican Victoria Spartz is the incumbent. Pickett, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully against Spartz for the seat in 2024. Spartz received 56.6 percent of the vote and Pickett received 38 percent.
“I was motivated to run again because my constituents are hurting and feeling the pain of a chaotic year,” Pickett said. “I feel a great desire to restore order, integrity, decency, and competence in Congress. For the past year, we have seen an administration run roughshod over the Constitution, violate laws, grab authority from Congress, insult and threaten allies, withdraw from critical treaties, impose punitive tariffs, and dismantle and defund important agencies and programs.”
Pickett is a crowded is a crowded Democratic primary that includes Steve Avit, J.D. Ford, Jackson Franklin, Phil Goss, Dylan McKenna and Tara Nelson. Spartz faces Scott A. King in the Republican primary.
The primary election is May 5.
“It is exciting to see all the candidates. It is democracy at its best and it shows that lots of people are unhappy with U.S. Rep. Spartz,” Pickett said.
Pickett said “it’s imperative to restore funding and to rebuild government agencies with knowledgeable and experienced people.”
Pickett said her policy initiatives include long-term funding for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; humane immigration reform; a regulatory framework for technological innovations; well-funded medical and scientific research; and restoration of environmental protections for public health, among others.
For more, visit pickettforcongress. com.
Pickett
Democratic State Senator J.D. Ford speaks to a crowd during a town hall at Westfield Washington Library
March 2.
Democratic candidate Ford conducts town hall
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
State Sen. J.D. Ford, one of the seven Democratic candidates running for Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District seat, conducted a town hall March 2 at Westfield Washington Library.
The event was presented by Indivisible Westfield, an organization with close ties to the Democratic Party.
Ford, who represents Indiana’s 29th District in the State Senate, answered six prepared questions, from a survey conducted by the campaign, and then took questions from the audience.
On immigration, Ford disagreed with current Trump administration policy. He wants federal officials to work better with local officials and for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be more accountable for their actions.
“We have a choice between a system that treats people like political props, or, we have a choice to treat them like neighbors. I’m choosing our neighbors every single time,” Ford said.
Ford also tied the U.S. bombing of Iran, which started Feb. 28, to midterm election concerns and whether President Trump will uphold a commitment to democracy.
“(Trump) said that if we are in a war, we’re having no elections,” Ford said. “And what did we do this past weekend? Kind of coincidental, don’t you think?”
Ford said war in Iran should be a
matter for Congress to decide.
“Military intervention must be a last resort reserved for imminent threats to the United States and must be authorized by our Congress,” Ford said.
When Ford took questions, he spoke about his support to impeach Trump, reforming housing in Hamilton County to make it more affordable and said he would not take money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Ford, the first and only openly LGBTQ+ state legislator in Indiana, also talked about how he would parry attack ads that would attempt to turn his sexual orientation into a campaign issue.
“I say bring it up,” Ford said. “I will stand up for LGBTQ Hoosiers and Americans, as I have done that in the State Senate and I will do that as the United States member of Congress. They cannot wait on their own policies. They can’t win on their own votes. So, what do they do? They scapegoat Americans, and I’m sick of it, so bring it on.”
Ford, an Indianapolis resident who said he plans to move to the 5th District, which includes Hamilton County, is one of seven District 5 candidates on the Democratic primary ballot. The others are Steve Avit, Jackson Franklin, Phil Goss, Dylan McKenna, Deborah A. Pickett and Tara Nelson.
Incumbent Victoria Spartz faces Scott A. King in the Republican primary.
(Photo by Todd Golden)
DISPATCHES
Public Safety Night — Westfield Washington Township and Westfield Washington Schools are teaming up to host Public Safety Night from 6 to 8 p.m. March 11 in the Township Community Room at 17400 Westfield Blvd. From 6 to 7 p.m., connect with community partners, including the Hamilton County Health Department, Prevail, Inc., Westfield FIre Department, Westfield Police Department and Westfield Washington Schools. At 7 p.m., Det. Tyler Mitchell of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will lead a parents-only Internet Safety presentation focused on online risks, trends, and practical tools to protect children. To RSVP, visit form.jotform. com/260544912164051
Hassle-free Home Ownership for Active Adults (62+)
Now is your time to make a change for the better. That’s because hassle-free home ownership is coming for active adults (62+)! Why worry about maintenance and costly repairs when you can be doing things you enjoy instead? Whether you are retired or still working, the Village Cooperative of Westfield i is Coming Soon to the area and offers everything you want including a better lifestyle in a community of peers with the freedom to do as you please.
•Reserve now and choose your home and interior finishes
•Homes are selling quickly Don’t wait!
•Home ownership with no maintenance
•Annual appreciation on your investment
•Get your best price now before construction starts!
College fair — Local high school students have an opportunity to attend the Greater Indianapolis Northside College Fair from 6 to 8 p.m. March 11 at the Carmel High School Greyhound Activity Center, 2400 E. Smoky Row Road. The free event will provide access to college information and feature more than 100 colleges/universities. Students are encouraged to register for the fair in advance at StriveFair.com. Registered students will receive a barcode they can bring with them to the college fair to share their information with admission reps electronically.
Shamrock Drop — The Westfield Shamrock Drop will take place noon to 3 p.m. March 14 at Grand Junction Plaza. Shamrock Drop is a free, family-friendly event featuring live Irish music, paid carnival games, a scavenger hunt, festive crafts, airbrush tattoos and food and beer vendors. Attendees are invited to stop by the Westfield Welcome tent during the event to pick up their shamrocks. Drop shamrocks into the big cauldron for a chance to win one of five “pots o’ golds,” each filled with prizes from local businesses.
Whale Of A Sale — The Whale Of A Sale event will take place March 19-22 at the Grand Park Event Center at the Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus. Whale Of A Sale is Indiana’s largest kids consignment event. It features clothing, toys, strollers, sporting goods, furniture and more from over 800 families. For tickets, visit https://bit.ly/40aKXIl
Towne Road Crossing PUD
approved by city council
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
The Westfield City Council approved an amended proposal for the Towne Road Crossing Planned Unit Development during its Feb. 23 meeting.
Developer Platinum Properties Management Co., LLC, sought an amendment to update the PUD, originally passed in 2007, to develop 144 acres south of Ind. 32 and west of Little Eagle Creek. The development will include retail businesses along Ind. 32 as well as single-family homes and townhomes directly south of the commercial district.
The vote was 6-1. Council Member Victor McCarty cast the dissenting vote.
Towne Road Crossing amendment was originally proposed in March 2025 but was opposed by nearby residents during a meeting. The Westfield Advisory Plan Commission voted against recommending the project in December 2025.
Following the APC’s decision, the petitioners were granted a 90-day extension to bring a new proposal forward to amend the PUD, which they did. The revised proposal includes more detail about the Ind. 32 portion and requires a 20,000-square-foot anchor building east of Towne Road.
The amended PUD also has a limit of five drive-thru restaurants and seven multitenant drive-thru businesses along the Ind. 32 corridor. A minimum of two multitenant buildings will be constructed. Moreover, only one gas station in the Ind. 32 portion of the Towne Crossing will be allowed. Prohibited uses along Ind. 32 include auto sales, tire sales, oil change businesses and liquor stores.
For residential properties, there will be a minimum of three builders for single-family homes. Masonry will be required on all home elevations and there will be a separate HOA for the townhome area. Rental restrictions are in place with no more than 10 percent of the homes available for rent.
Debate among councilors was related to whether the PUD had been amended to the point that it was significantly different enough that it had to go back before the APC, but that suggestion was rejected.
“I think the PUD ordinance itself that the planning commission voted on has not changed. That is the same,” Westfield Community Development Director Kevin Todd said. “What is new is (an) additional layer of commitments that petitioners (are) volunteering outside of the PUD ordinance.”
DISPATCH
Egg My Yard fundraiser — The Westfield Youth Assistance Program has announced that registration is open for our 2026 Egg My Yard Fundraiser. WYAP has partnered with the National Charity League to stuff and hide the Easter eggs, funded by the generous sponsorship from Volovic Orthodontics. Each egg will be filled with a variety of chocolate and nonchocolate sweets. Only those in the Westfield Washington Schools district are eligible. Cost is $25 for 25 eggs, $50 for 50 eggs and $75 for 75 eggs. Proceeds go to WYAP. Deadline for registration is March 29. Eggs will be hidden starting at 7:30 pm on April 4. Register at https://bit.ly/4rZG4y3
Spring Is Almost Here — And So Is Allergy Season
For many families, warmer weather brings more than sunshine. It signals the start of spring allergy season — weeks of congestion, itchy eyes, restless nights, and children who just don’t seem like themselves.
Seasonal allergies are extremely common, yet many people assume they simply have to live with the symptoms. The good news is that allergies can often be managed effectively with the right plan. Symptoms to Watch For Allergies can look different in adults and children, but common symptoms include:
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy nose
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Coughing or mucus drainage down the back of the throat
Children may frequently rub or push up their noses with the palm of their hand in an effort to relieve itching — sometimes called the “allergic salute.”
If symptoms last longer than 1–2 weeks, resemble
frequent “colds,” or worsen eczema or asthma, allergies may be the underlying cause.
Start With Reducing Exposure
• Simple environmental changes can make a significant difference:
• Monitor local pollen counts and limit outdoor time when levels are high
• Remove shoes when entering the home
• Change and wash clothes after time outdoors
• Keep windows closed and run air conditioning, changing filters regularly
• Shower before bed to avoid sleeping in pollen Reducing exposure inside the home often lessens symptom severity.
Treatment Options
Many patients find relief with over-the-counter antihistamines, eye drops, or nasal sprays. However, not all medications are appropriate for every age group — and some are not designed for long-term use. Certain nasal sprays, if used incorrectly, can even worsen symptoms.
Other medications work best when used daily and started before symptoms peak. In some cases, prescription medications are needed. Allergy testing may help identify specific triggers, and for individuals with persistent or severe symptoms, allergen immunotherapy (“allergy shots”) can provide long-term relief
by gradually modifying the body’s response to allergens. Because every patient is different, having an individualized plan matters.
Seasonal allergies are common — but unmanaged symptoms don’t have to be.
Dr. Moore cares for children and adults of all ages and works closely with families to create personalized treatment plans that fit their needs and lifestyles. By keeping a small patient panel, she is able to offer prompt appointments when symptoms flare and the time needed to answer questions thoroughly. That accessibility and attention are invaluable when tailoring care for both children and adults.
If your family is struggling this allergy season — or if you’re looking for a physician who provides individualized, accessible care year-round — Dr. Moore would love to care for you. Because better health starts with being heard. Contact Information: FreedomDoc Westfield 15229 Westfield Blvd Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 763-2131
Dr. Lindsay Moore
Rendering of the proposed Towne Road Crossing development. (Screenshot from City Council agenda packet)
Census to reflect growth
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Mayor Scott Willis expects to have a clearer picture of Westfield’s growth and future needs when the city’s special census is completed sometime this month. The process began in fall 2025.
“It’s certainly going to tell (residents) that we’re growing rapidly,” Willis said. “I don’t think that’s going to shock anybody who’s lived here for any amount of time.”
accuracy in Westfield’s transition to a second-class city, which will occur Jan. 1, 2028. When that happens, the city council will increase from seven members to nine, adding a Sixth District member and one at-large member.
Willis said census data won’t be publicly revealed until later in the spring. He isn’t sure what the population figure will be but expects it to increase.
“With the special census, I think we’re going to get a number that rivals Noblesville (estimated 2026 population of 77,000). And I don’t think anybody looks at Westfield like we’re on the same playing field as Noblesville,” Willis said.
Noblesville’s population was 69,604 in the 2020 census. Westfield’s population in the same census was 46,410.
The Westfield City Council approved a $1.8 million appropriation for the special census in September 2024. It was estimated that rising population would generate $1.6 million in additional annual revenue for the city in alignment with its population growth.
Federal government shutdowns slowed the census process.
The census information is needed for news@youarecurrent.com
“We’re going to have to get a little bit more (population) clarity, or the city is going to have to take some matters in its own hands, because we’ve got to redistrict,” Willis said.
Willis ruled out an additional census specifically for redistricting purposes, citing the cost.
“We’re doing (the special census) because of the tax dollars that we’re losing because of what (the state and federal government) think our population is (based on the 2020 census),” Willis said. “But the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone is, we have to redistrict. Having real data from the federal government showing us what (population) looks like is a safer way to go than it is to use Geographical Information System data (from property record).”
Willis said he expects the census will confirm that Westfield is one of the state’s fastest-growing cities.
“I think people are starting to realize that Westfield is going to continue to grow, and it’s going to become a player, at least in Indiana, for businesses and restaurants and family entertainment and all the things that cities have that we haven’t historically had,” he said. “So, I’m really excited about it.”
Gala to take place May 1
The City of Westfield will host the second Mayor’s Grand Gala, presented by Card and Associates and Keystone group, from 6 to 9 p.m. May 1 at Westwood Vowery and Estate at 18342 Spring Mill Rd.
The Mayor’s Grand Gala is centered on community, generosity and support for local nonprofit partners, according to event organizers. It will feature a plated dinner, a DJ, silent and live auctions and interactive experiences Guests can also drive race simulators. The evening also will feature a reverse raffle for a 2026 Cadillac XT5 through a two-year lease, donated by Chariot Automotive Group in Kokomo.
Employee Pricing
Company owner, Rex Gingerich, is a Westfield resident and supporter of the community.
Proceeds from the Mayor’s Grand Gala support nonprofit partnerships through the Advancing Westfield Foundation. Funds raised in previous years have supported CICOA, Heart and Soul Free Clinic, and Westfield Youth Assistance Program.
Grant applications for 2026 funding will open June 1 and close June 30. Applications will be coordinated through the Hamilton County Community Foundation.
Tickets start at $200. A limited number remain. For tickets or information about sponsorship opportunities, visit westfieldgrandgala.com.
January 21 and March 29, 2026,
Willis
WWHS volunteer has passion for history
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
When volunteer Sharon England unlocks the door of the Barker Cabin at the Westfield Washington Historical Society, her passion for what’s inside the historical building is evident to visitors.
She immediately turns to the artifacts in the cabin and describes their purpose, whom the pieces belonged to in Westfield’s pioneer days, and what the WWHS has done to keep the pieces alive for new generations to learn from.
Teaching also is one of England’s passions. When the WWHS conducts field trips for schools and other guests, England, 78, tells the story of Barker Cabin.
“I just love history, and I love Westfield history, and it was a way for me to learn more about it. I love being with children, and I think, as if you’re well matched as a volunteer, you get more
out of it than you give,” England said.
England began volunteering at the WWHS after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I love watching the kids. I like watching them interact,” England said.
“The children are never repulsed thinking about 11 people living in a cabin, and no bathroom in the same room. They’re just very curious. And I love that. It’s
Westfield resident
Sharon England is passionate about teaching students and visitors about the Westfield Washington Historical Society’s Barker Cabin. (Photo by Todd Golden)
fun to watch. And I love to see that the teachers have prepared them for what they’re going to see, and they ask good questions. It’s just lovely.”
Volunteers are vital for the WWHS, which does not have dues-paying members.
“For the kids, it’s very important for somebody to be enthused and have an
Community Member
Spotlight presented by
understanding of what’s in there and how to explain it and have the patience to do it,” Westfield Washington Historical Society President Jeff Beals said. “She’s very available to help out and do just about anything in terms of volunteer work for the Historical Society. We’re totally dependent on volunteers, so it’s important to have people like Sharon.”
The fulfillment for England in volunteering comes in imparting Westfield’s history to a new generation of Westfield children, but she learns a lot from the experience, too.
“I don’t know nearly as much about Westfield as many people do, but it’s fun to learn about it, and I hope that more people will be interested in how unique the history is here,” England said.
CHS swimmer perseveres en route to state title
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For Carmel High School senior swimmer Carter Hadley, perseverance has been essential to his entire season.
Hadley suffered a broken ankle on Nov. 1, 2025, and came back to swim in Junior Nationals in December. He missed a month of training.
“I was learning to walk again then learning to swim again and now winning a state championship,” he said.
Hadley captured his first individual state title by winning the 100-yard backstroke in 48.41 seconds in the IHSAA boys swimming and division state finals Feb. 28 at the Indiana University Natatorium at IU Indianapolis.
“He was resilient after his second place in the 100 free to win the 100 back, and he stayed committed in the last 25 (yards) to win,” Greyhounds coach Chris Plumb said.
Hadley said Plumb told him to keep persevering after finishing second in the 100 freestyle.
“I got it done in the 100 back and it meant the world. It’s everything I’ve
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
MEET CARTER HADLEY
Favorite athletes: Tyrese Haliburton and Steph Curry
Favorite subject: Physical conditioning
Favorite movie: “Cars”
Favorite musician: Morgan Wallen
Favorite vacation spot: Any place with a beach
been working for this season,” he said.
As a junior, Hadley finished third in the 100 freestyle and fourth in the 100 backstroke.
“Carter has been so close for two years,” junior teammate Trent Allen said. “I thought he was going to win the 100 free. He got second again, but then
Carmel High School senior Carter Hadley captured his first individual state title by winning the 100-yard backstroke.
(Photo courtesy of CHS athletics)
to see him punch it again in 100 back was crazy. I was screaming and yelling for him.”
Hadley also was a member of the winning 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.
“It’s just doing everything I can to leave a legacy for myself and passing it on,” said Hadley, who was on two state-winning relays as a junior. “This is probably the closest-knit team and biggest brotherhood I’ve been a part of. It’s just the next man up working to beat each other in practice. That’s where that depth comes from, just wanting to
EXPERT SPINE CARE NOW IN WESTFIELD
be the best selves we can be.”
Hadley started swimming in the Carmel Swim Club program when he was 7 years old. His older brother, Griffin, was already in the program.
“I followed in his footsteps my whole career,” he said.
Griffin, a 2021 CHS graduate, swam for the University of Tennessee, graduating in 2025.
“He won state titles on multiple relays, but not individually, so I made it my goal to redeem him,” Carter Hadley said.
Hadley said his younger brother, Blake, who will be a freshman swimmer next season, now can try to top him.
“He’s going a different route. He’s a breaststroke, (specialist) which is abnormal for the family,” he said.
Hadley will continue his swimming career at Southern Methodist University, which is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“The team culture presented by the coaches and unity on the team is somewhere I wanted to go,” said Hadley, who plans to major in business marketing and minor in sports management.
• Treatment of back and neck pain, sciatica, spinal stenosis, herniated discs and work-related injuries
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Climbing facility to open at Grand Park March 21
Grand Park Sports & Entertainment, the management company that operates the Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus, announced that the TreeRunner Adventure Park will open March 21.
TreeRunner Adventure Park will be in the tree line north of Lot G.
In September 2025, Grand Park announced the partnership with TreeRunner Adventure Parks.
The park will have zip lines, Ninja
© Ascension 2026. All rights reserved. news@youarecurrent.com
climbing elements and elevated outdoor experiences designed for families, school groups, sport and corporate teams in the Indianapolis metro area.
“TreeRunner Adventure Park is a meaningful addition to our campus and an early step in our broader vision to position Grand Park as a premier destination for both traveling teams and our local community,” co-CEO of Grand Park Sports & Entertainment Greg Stremlaw stated. “As we continue to grow, our focus remains on enhancing
Rendering of where the Tree Runner Adventure Park will be at Grand Park. (File photo)
the overall visitor experience while creating new opportunities for residents to engage with and enjoy Grand Park in
fresh, exciting ways.”
The Grand Park location will be TreeRunner’s fifth. It has parks in Michigan, New York and North Carolina.
“Opening at Grand Park offers families, teams, and groups an outdoor experience in a forest setting that has been missing from central Indiana,” Jeremy Fishman, Partner of TreeRunner Adventure Parks stated.
For more, visit grandpark.org/ and treerunnerparks.com.
Our hearts are in it
Keeping
Indiana
Heart Strong
Indiana’s heart beats strongest when we do it together. Neighbors, families, caregivers, and communities. Every simple step toward heart health, every connection, every story adds up. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier Indiana for generations to come.
Together, we’re keeping Indiana Heart Strong. Learn more at ascension.org/StVincentHeart
Lane closures set for U.S. 31
INDOT’s Level Up 31 construction project at I-465 and U.S. 31 is moving into its second phase.
Traffic impacts already underway include:
• Full-time inside shoulder closure and intermittent stoppages on I-465 eastbound and westbound from Spring Mill Road to College Avenue and Meridian Street northbound and southbound at the interchange
• A new traffic pattern at southbound U.S. 31 at the I-465 ramp and Meridian Street split
• Southbound U.S. 31 reduced to a single lane between 106th street and the I-465 interchange
In addition, the westbound I-465 ramp to southbound Meridian Street is set to close March 15, and eastbound 106th Street underneath U.S. 31 is set to close March 16. Both closures are expected to last through late spring.
Beginning on or after March 9, westbound 106th Street is expected to close underneath U.S. 31 for one week.
Level Up 31 closures are planned at 106th Street, I-465 and U.S. 31. (Image courtesy of INDOT)
A detour route for motorists traveling on 106th Street takes motorists north to 111th Street, which can be reached from Pennsylvania Street to the east of the closure and Illinois Street west of it.
INDOT encourages motorists traveling from westbound I-465 to southbound Meridian Street to take Exit 125 onto 106th Street, use the roundabout to reenter U.S. 31 southbound/Meridian Street and travel south toward Indianapolis.
The speed limit is 45 mph in the construction zones on I-465 and U.S. 31.
Learn more at LevelUp31.com.
WFD extinguishes chicken coop fire
news@youarecurrent.com
The Westfield Fire Department extinguished a large chicken coop fire on the evening of Feb. 25.
WFD units were dispatched to the area of 193rd Street and Mule Barn Road in Washington Township. The first engine to arrive extinguished the fire and prevented spread to nearby buildings and the surrounding wooded area. Two chickens died in the fire.
There were no injuries to residents or firefighters reported.
In a separate call Feb. 25, WFD responded to a call in the afternoon of a struck gas line at 196th and Chad Hittle Boulevard. The call came from the construction site where the Towns at Chatham development is being built.
WFD performed air monitoring and remained on scene until CenterPoint Energy secured the leak. There were no injuries.
DISPATCHES
The Union parking garage enforcement — The City of Westfield announced that active enforcement of parking rules at The Union parking garage began March 2, ending a grace period that had been in effect. To park in the garage, motorists must register vehicles even if staying less than three hours and parking is free. Registration helps ensure fairness and availability. Visit westfieldin.gov/ parking for more.
Westfield Fire Department firefighters respond to a chicken coop fire at 193rd Street and Mule Barn Road on the evening of Feb. 25. (Courtesy of Westfield Fire Department)
NO PASSING FANCY
Former Shamrocks standout develops into Purdue great
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Braden Smith had about eight mid-major NCAA Division I basketball offers when Purdue University coach Matt Painter offered him a scholarship after his junior season at Westfield High School.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Painter hadn’t even seen the 6-foot point guard play in person when he was offered in April 2021. Painter will be the first to admit Smith had surpassed all expectations.
“I saw he understands angles, he plays passing lanes,” Painter said. “He’s competitive. He looked like the total package to me, but I only saw him on film. Braden has got a chance to be the all-time assists leader in the history of the NCAA. When you sign players, you don’t think that. But after watching him and talking to certain people, I thought this guy could be really good from Day 1.”
Entering the final two regular-season games, Smith, who has started every game in his four-year career, is fourth on the NCAA career assists list with 1,011. Former Duke University standout Bobby Hurley has the record with 1,076.
“He’s a fabulous player,” Painter said. “Everything he gets, he deserves. He’s put a lot of time into it. He’s sacrificed a lot. It’s been an honor to coach him.”
Smith’s philosophy has remained consistent.
“I have a team around me that supports me and has the confidence in me to go out and make plays and score the basketball or pass the ball,” he said. “Whatever the defense gives me, that’s what I take.”
Smith leads the Boilermakers with per-game averages of 15 points and 8.7 assists.
Smith’s basketball roots run deep as his parents, Ginny and Dustn Smith, played at Arkansas Tech University, an NCAA Division II school. Ginny is a former Westfield High School girls coach. Dustin is the director of the Grand Park Premier AAU program and also coaches the 17-and-under top team and eighth-
grade son Maddox’s team.
“I think more than anything, his parents’ passion became Braden’s passion,” Painter said. “When you grow up in a basketball family and are around it all the time, that is really all you know. He’s worked really hard, but he has also been driven. That’s the way he’s wired. He’s very competitive.”
A 2022 Indiana Mr. Basketball win-
ner, Smith led Westfield to its first sectional championship as a senior.
“I knew he was going to be a good player and prove people wrong,” Shamrocks coach Shane Sumpter said. “He always plays with that chip on his shoulder. I have to sit back and pinch myself a little bit and it seems surreal he’s doing what he’s doing. He’s arguably the best point guard in the
“Gaining that time allowed me to be at all of Braden’s games,” said Ginny, a WHS assistant athletic director. “Over the past four years, we have missed maybe four or five games total. Of those missed, it was primarily due to weather cancellations out of our control. I wouldn’t change that decision for anything. This has been an incredible journey that we’ve been able to be a part of, and it is not taken for granted on our end.”
Ginny said Braden has handled all pressure from being in the spotlight.
“Braden is an incredibly kind kid by nature,” Ginny said. “He’s soft-hearted and a bit of an introvert — very different from the player you see on the court — so we have always worried a little about how he would handle the level of criticism/pressure that comes with being who he has become. Ultimately, he has learned that the only opinions that matter are the ones of the people he has in the room with him. And he loves the reality that having the amount of pressure he feels really is a blessing, not a curse. Without expectation there is no pressure, and he
country.”
In fact, Smith earned the Bob Cousy Award for top collegiate point guard for the 2024-25 season. He also was a consensus first-team All-American.
understands that. He understands that the pressure is a privilege. So, yes, we are very proud of his growth and maturity in how he continues to carry himself despite the outside noise.” His father, Dustin Smith, said Braden sets goals for himself.
“In order to obtain those goals, he has had to stay focused on his teammates and development, not what others are saying,” he said. “The only voices that matter are the ones that are in the locker room daily. I knew Braden was going to be a really good college player, but I didn’t know he was going to be this good. This is from him believing in his craft, working on his craft and keeping that chip on his shoulder.”
A Westfield Middle School eighth-grader, Braden’s brother, Maddox, benefits from his big brother’s advice.
“When he has time to get to my games or when he comes home, we always talk about basketball,” Maddox said. “We have had some battles in our backyard. Sometimes when I go up to stay with him at Purdue, he takes me to the gym to play 5-on-5 with them. He and I also have the same trainer, so we get to work out together and he gives me tips then.”
ON THE COVER: Purdue guard Braden Smith celebrates with teammates Feb. 14 after a win at Iowa. (Photo courtesy of Purdue athletics)
From left, Smith family members are, Maddox, Dustin, Braden and Ginny. (Courtesy of Smith family)
Ginny Smith gave up coaching Westfield High School girls basketball before her son Braden started college.
SUPPORT SYSTEM
Purdue guard Braden Smith runs the offense during a Feb. 20 game against Indiana at Mackey Arena. (Photo courtesy of Purdue athletics)
Bird flu found in county, low risk to humans
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that bird flu has been found in waterfowl in Hamilton County but noted that the risk to humans is low.
DNR biologist Eli Fleace said avian influenza, or HPAI, has been found in geese in the Indianapolis area. She said that weather and extended snow cover are unhealthy for birds because there is less food available, which affects their immune system’s response to disease.
Fleace also said bird flu is more common in the winter because migration is exhausting for birds and reduces their immune response. The virus itself also is more stable in cold weather.
Fleace said the risk to humans from infected waterfowl is low but precautionary measures should be taken.
“It is still best to keep distance from waterfowl when possible,” Fleace said. “Folks should not feed waterfowl to prevent congregating those birds and to prevent exposure to them.”
Fleace said waterfowl caracasses also should be avoided.
“If people encounter a carcass, it is best to leave it alone,” Fleace said. “If the carcass is in an area where it must be removed, like someone’s backyard, the carcass can be safely removed by double bagging it and putting it in the trash. If people handle the carcass for disposal, they should wear gloves, and then wash their hands with soap and warm water immediately after.”
Hamilton County Health Insurance Navigator — The Hamilton County Health Department now has a certified Health Insurance Navigator available. Appointments take place in a private setting at the Health Department. Residents should bring necessary documentation such as birth certificates or proof of income to their appointment. To schedule, email health.navigator@hamilton.county.in.gov.
Heart to stop at Fishers Event Center
By Dave Gil de Rubio edtitorial@yourecurrent.com
In 1975, Watergate came to an end with the sentencing of John Mitchell, H.R. Halderman and John Ehrlichman, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft and a little show called “Saturday Night Live” debuted on NBC. And in September of that year, Heart’s debut album “Dreamboat Annie” was released.
Fast forward a half century, and Heart is still around, hitting the road again for their Royal Flush Tour, which will stop at 7:30 p.m. March 15 at Fishers Event Center. The string of dates was originally set to be performed last year until lead singer Ann Wilson was diagnosed with cancer. According to sister Nancy Wilson, her sibling underwent treatment and the band is back on the road.
“She’s actually really doing 100 percent great — looking good, sounding good, feeling good,” Nancy said. “She really did all the homework and got herself really well. Now, it’s back to the loud office, back to the rock job. We’re really happy to get out and finish what we started last year. We were really just getting our million thrills on stage every night, and then it was like (sad trombone music). We were getting into our groove big-time until we had to go home and twiddle our thumbs for a few months.”
Over the course of the tour, Heart has brought out several different opening acts, including Lucinda Williams — who opens at the Fishers Event Center concert — and Squeeze, Starship and Cheap Trick, and has played some shows without an opening act. In either setting, the depth of Heart’s catalog allows for a lot of latitude in choosing the songs to perform.
“We’re going to have a real flexible set,” Nancy said. “You could do the rocked-out, big hits at the beginning and then do more acoustic, less rock in the second half or something in-between. It’s nice to have all these cool songs to look at, pick from.”
Although both sisters readily admit that The Beatles’ appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” were a major inspiration for them to become professional musicians, theirs was a household where myriad forms of music filled the air from the big bands of the 1940s to folk and pop of the day.
“Growing up, the culture was kind of in a late ‘50s/jazzy cornball turn for music,” Nancy said. “(Frank) Sinatra was awesome. We grew up on Ray Charles, Judy Garland, Patti Page and all those late ‘50s guys like that. Harry Belafonte’s ‘Live at Carnegie Hall’ was a favorite and we knew all those show tunes from musicals like ‘West Side Story.’ We were deeply steeped in every style of music from blues and jazz to classical and then The Beatles happened. I was maybe eight or nine years old and it was a message from above.”
That cosmic sign set the Wilson sisters on a path that led to 16 studio albums, 20 Top 40 singles and 35 million albums sold worldwide, in addition to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Although it hasn’t been easy, Nancy doesn’t complain and attributes Heart’s longevity to a combination of discipline and being able to laugh at themselves.
“We have a sense of humor around all the insanity, stress, drama and static that comes with the position we
have as leaders of the band,” she said. “Leadership is not an easy position to be in, and you don’t want to be the leader if you don’t have to, but we are anyway. I think the other thing is just military, dogged, stick-to-it-iveness. Call it a dogged work ethic. Getting there, showing up on time, not being a flakey musician. Being a consummate, reliable and capable musician.”
As for the future, creativity continues to be the fuel that drives Heart forward. Not unlike their heroes in Led Zeppelin, the Wilson sisters love the idea of juxtaposing heavy and light dynamics in their music.
“There is some new material,” Nancy said. “Ann has got a new song we might try from her writing with her Tripsitter (solo band) guys. I have a new song that I want to try maybe with Heart. I’ve tried to push the agenda on the band. Everybody was up for it — an acoustic Heart album being our next idea. That’s one thing as a rock band like Led Zeppelin — we can rock with the best of them — but having the ability to do both of those things, the acoustic part as well as the heavy rock stuff, kind of sets us apart. And people have always asked when we’re going to do an acoustic album. It might be a cool, fun thing to put together.”
For more, visit fisherseventcenter. com.
‘PRETTY WOMAN’
“Pretty Woman” runs through April 4 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards. com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
Feinstein’s cabaret presents the Dave Matthews Tribute Band March 12, followed by “The Wizard and I: The Music of Stephen Schwartz” March 13 at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc. com.
‘VANITIES’
The Belfry Theatre presents “Vanities” through March 15 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat. biz.
‘SCARLET LETTER’
Civic Theatre presents “The Scarlet Letter” March 13 through 28 at the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘GET UP, STAND UP’
“Joshua Henry: Get Up, Stand Up” is set for 8 p.m. March 13 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘SONGS OR ENIGMA’
“Gregorian: Pure Chants featuring the Songs of Enigma” is set for 8 p.m. March 14 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘MUSIC & LEGACY OF THE EAGLES’
“The Music & Legacy of The Eagles” tribute act set for 7:30 p.m. March 15 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
Heart will perform March 15 at Fishers Event Center. (Photo courtesy of Criss Cain)
Indy Opera to feature Italian connections
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For Indianapolis Opera General Director David Starkey, partnering with the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana was a natural fit.
“Libiamo!, A Renaissance of Taste and Tempo” is set for March 21 at the Basile Opera Center. 4011 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis. A VIP reception for the fundraiser is set for 4:30 p.m., followed by cocktail hour at 5:15 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Libiamo translates to “let’s drink” but can mean “let’s toast.” The event will include several opera singers, including Indianapolis opera star Angela Brown.
“We have been excited about expanding relationships with a lot of cultural institutions,” Starkey said. “The Italian Heritage Society is connected to some of the most significant influences of the history of Indianapolis and immigration of all kinds of different cultures that have come to our region.”
A Geist-area resident, Starkey said the Italian Heritage Society was looking to expand its artistic footprint.
he said.
Starkey expects the event to return.
“It’s brought in a completely new excitement and crowd,” he said. “I think next year is going to be ‘Libiamo 2.0’ or something like that.”
“You have the inspiration of the Olympics in Italy and inspiration of the significant Italian operas we are highlighting this season,” Starkey said. “On top of that, the Italians are really big into fashion, food and auto sports in our city, and opera is the connection.”
Dallara manufactures the chassis for IndyCar. Founder Giampaolo Dallara, is a passionate opera fan, Starkey said
“I’ve met him and got to introduce him to a lot of my opera friends,” Starkey said. “Then there is the Ferrari Club of Indiana, (which) is going to be part of the event. They are big into opera with Ferrari. You have Graham Rahal Performance expansion into Ducati motorcycles.”
Starkey said five top Italian restaurants in Indianapolis and the area will be part of the event. There are Italian fashion designers for female performers’ gowns and male singers’ attire.
Indianapolis resident Carol Faenzi, president of the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana, said the fundraiser is a natural collaboration.
“We both are nonprofit organizations who have many activities that are geared toward scholarship, student education and vocal camps for the opera,” Faenzi said. “In the Italian Heritage Society’s case, we provide a lot of community activities such as lectures on Italian subjects and the celebrations we have to preserve the culture and heritage of Italy. So, the benefits from the fundraising on Libiamo will be to support those kind of activities in both organizations.”
“We’ve just found an amazing new signature event celebrating opera’s international cultural influence and tying into all these other elements of culture,”
Indy Opera will present “The Marriage of Figaro” May 1-3 at The Toby Theater at Newfields in Indianapolis.
For more, visit indyopera.org.
Angela Brown will be among the performers at the Indy Opera fundraising event. (Photo courtesy of Tom Mueller)
Starkey
Cole Porter show premiere set
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Magic Thread Cabaret founders Dustin Klein and Tom Alvarez feel fortunate to have Ann Hampton Callaway headline a concert.
“She’s a friend of ours and she graciously offered to do a benefit for us and, of course, we are paying her,” said Klein, a music teacher at West Clay Elementary School in Carmel.
Callaway will present the world premiere of “I Get A Kick Out of Cole” at 7:30 p.m. March 20 at The Cabaret in downtown Indianapolis.
“I am excited to hear Ann, one of the most renowned interpreters of music from the Great American Songbook, sing in a premiere of a program consisting entirely of that music of composer-songwriter Cole Porter,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said it’s fitting the premiere of her Porter show is in Indiana.
bring in a lot of big names, Broadway performers.”
Proceeds from the concert benefit Magic Thread Cabaret’s operational expenses and production costs associated with “Cabaret Latino, Songs of the Americas,” which celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. That concert is set for Oct. 3 at Hendricks Live! in Plainfield.
“Our mission is to spotlight central Indiana talent because we feel there is so much talent here that doesn’t get the spotlight,” Klein said of Magic Thread Cabaret, which was founded in 2016.
“Where better to pay tribute to his work than in the capitol of the state in which this Peru, Indiana, native was born and raised,” he said.
Klein said The Cabaret is a special venue.
“It feels like you are in Old Hollywood; it’s like a glamor venue from the 1930s,” he said. “It’s stellar, and they
“We’re kind of an incubator. I coach them musically, vocally, and I serve as the music director and piano accompanist. Tom co-writes the shows and he’s good at marketing. It’s not about us. It’s about trying to help an income stream for performers to keep them in Indianapolis and help coach these young people to pursue their passion. We’ve worked with probably 100 artists, performers, musicians, costume designers and tech people. We have paid them all since we started, but we have to rely on donors and sponsors. Ticket sales only cover, like, 40 percent.
“We also want to inspire. We’re all about diversity and inclusiveness.”
For more, visit magicthreadcabaret. com.
Dustin Klein, left, and Tom Alvarez started Magic Thread Cabaret in 2016. (Photo courtesy of Dustin Klein)
Films get Oscar nods
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Heartland Film Festival Artistic Director Greg Sorvig has a personal favorite contender at the upcoming Academy Awards.
“I’m rooting for ‘The Singers’ to win Best Live Action Short as it would be the first short film to take home an Oscar that qualified directly through the (2025) Indy Shorts Film Festival,” he said.
The Academy Awards are set for March 15 and will be telecast by WRTV-6.
“This is another year that a major event title at the Heartland Film Festival is nominated for Best Picture and additional categories. ‘Train Dreams’ was our centerpiece film nominated for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography and Original Song,” said Sorvig, a Carmel resident.
Sorvig said he was surprised that Joel Edgerton was not nominated for Best Actor in “Train Dreams.”
“I was also surprised that the 2025
Indy Shorts Grand Prize and Oscar-qualifying short film, ‘Éiru,’ was not nominated for Best Animated Short Film,” he said. “I was hoping Brendan Fraser might get another lead nod for his acting in the 2025 Heartland Film Festival Opening Night film, ‘Rental Family.’ This won the Narrative Special Presentation Audience Award.”
Sorvig said he hoped for nominations for the Heartland Film Festival’s 2025 Closing Night film, “Nuremberg.”
“Our audience also really loved this film as it won the Overall Audience Choice Narrative Award,” he said. “I was surprised the film didn’t receive nominations in the best supporting actor categories, especially for Russell Crowe.”
Sorvig said Heartland Film Festival, which is held each October in Indianapolis, showcased four of the five Best International Film Feature nominees, including the forecasted favorite “Sentimental Value” as its International Closing Night film.
Sorvig
ATI comedy reading set
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
David Taylor Little started out with a radio play on Indiana Public Radio in Muncie in 2003.
“(The station) does a radio drama every year at the holidays, and this was the second time I had written for that,” said Little, a Ball State University associate teaching professor of theater.
“Then I kind of set myself the challenge of not writing a musical but writing a piece that has original music in it, and that’s what this play has become. There are five original songs in it, and some are fairly brief.”
show,” Taylor said.
The premise is Dorothy Sullivan, a major Broadway star, who returns to her hometown of Argyle, Ind., in 1947 to save the local radio station and its annual Christmas broadcast. The radio station owner is her childhood friend Jack Edwards.
A performance of the one-act play was staged at Muncie Civic Theatre in December 2025.
Now, Actors Theatre of Indiana will present “All Out for Christmas: A Showbiz Radio Fable” as part of its Lab Series at 2 p.m. March 14 at Carmel Clay Public Library. Tickets are free with registration at atistage.org.
“I have continued to work on it, so this is the third public draft of the
Jim Rhinehart wrote the music for the songs, and Little wrote the lyrics.
ATI Associate Artistic Director Darrin Murrell, who will take part in the reading, said ATI was attracted to the story because of its sweet nostalgic depiction of Indiana in the mid-20th century as well as the setting of a small-town radio station with a Broadway connection.
“It felt like a classic comedy film from the era of Katherine Hepburn, Carole Lombard, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Frank Capra and George Cukor,” Murrell said. “It is a wholesome and comforting look back at a simpler time filled with colorful and endearing personalities and a familiar setting.”
Cynthia Collins, one of ATI’s co-founders, portrays Sullivan.
JUNE 5-6
Rituals of familiarity
Commentary by Terry Anker
For thousands of years, we humans have imagined, developed and followed rituals. Some of them are as simple as the daily steps involved in brushing our teeth in the morning. Perhaps it begins with floss. Perhaps not. Maybe we take the top off, apply the paste to the brush and return the lid to the tube and carefully replace the tube to the location and position where we found it. Or maybe we simply drop it to the vanity, lid rolling to the floor and paste oozing out onto the counter. Either way, it is our ritual, repeated each day and coming from years of habit.
Other rites, routines and practices are more complicated. Certainly, religious and governmental ceremonies are studied — efforts of pomp and circumstance. The most recent U.S. presidential inauguration registered at more than $200 million; and many higher education institutions have a full-time staff, often led by the chief marshal, whose sole responsibilities are to keep and propagate these
rituals. Weddings, driving in roundabouts, city council meetings and Thanksgiving dinners all carry some combination of expectation and obligation to all who would participate.
Those more free-spirited among us might imagine ourselves to be devoid of the obligation to the past or to our own absent-minded adherence to these habits. But can anyone really escape our natural proclivity for the familiar? If we started each day with absolutely no plan for dental care, would we be able to get the job done? Could it be that we simply accept that ritual is a necessary and inseparable component of human existence? If so, could we also accept that even as we dismantle one ritual it is summarily replaced with another -and an imperfect tradition may not be improved by substitution?
Terry Anker is an associate editor of Current Publishing, LLC. You may email him at terry@youarecurrent.com.
Why can’t I DIY?
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
My doctor’s office is not very up to date with magazines. Recently, I had the opportunity to read the last print edition of Newsweek from 2012. Last year, I breezed through Life magazine right before my EKG.
One piece of reading matter that caught my attention was Family Handyman. Here were the cover stories:
• Measure once/ panic twice
• My drill keeps screwing around
• I built a gate and, yes, I nailed it
is a Do-It-Yourselfer. Another entry was titled, “How to Make a Hidden Cutting Board.” I can never find ours when we need it, so I decided to skip that kitchen improvement project.
“The lead story was, “Five Great Sawhorse Designs.” I couldn’t wait to read it, because off the top of my head, I could only think of four.”
– DICK WOLFSIE
• Why my door and I are both off our hinges
The lead story was, “Five Great Sawhorse Designs.” I couldn’t wait to read it, because off the top of my head, I could only think of four. Also, on the cover was, “How to Make a Screw Organizer from a Leftover Piece of PVC Pipe.” I didn’t want to read too much exciting stuff like this since it can temporarily raise your blood pressure before they slap the cuff on you.
I turned to a feature story about what to do if your Gorilla Glue gets hard in the tube, and also one on how to dig post holes in sandy soil. I read both of those carefully. After 46 years, my wife Mary Ellen and I are always looking for something new to talk about. There was a three-page spread on “How to Cure a Sick Ceiling Fan.” What would the fan be complaining of? Periodic dizziness?
One piece was called “Best Advice for DIYers.” I thought it was about how to successfully drink beer and drill at the same time. Then I learned that a DIYer
“Maintaining Your Chimney” begins with a list of what you’ll need to do the job, items found around most houses. You need brushable crown sealer, chimney water repellent and a stainless-steel chimney cap. I had all of that in the garage except for the brushable crown sealer, the chimney water repellent and a stainless-steel chimney cap. Another article started, “Trying to run fish tape through an insulated stud bay can be a nightmare.” You have to have a pretty dull imagination if this is what you have bad dreams about.
The regular monthly column was “How to Make Your Own Tools.” The author showed how to take a long flexible piece of tubing and attach a flashlight at the end for working in dark, hard-to-reach places, as in a do-ityourself plumbing project. It was really a neat gizmo, but I ripped the page out and tossed it in the trash. My next colonoscopy is coming up later this year, and with all the cost-cutting in medicine, the fewer doctors who know about this, the better.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES
Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent. com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
16. Creme-filled cookie
17. Hawaiian island
18. ___-friendly
19. Between half and all
20. Annual basketball event
23. Observe
24. Another Broken ___ Cafe
25. Battleship letters
28. Banned pesticide
30. US 31 road goo
31. Air fryer sound
34. URL starter
36. Equipment
38. Vote in
40. Annual local basketball event
43. Not illuminated
44. Fine spray
45. Bit of hair
46. “___ Haw”
47. “Help!” at sea
49. Business card no.
51. Prefix with lead or read
52. LBJ successor
53. “You’ve Got Mail” co. 55. Annual basketball event
61. Desire
63. Wedding words
64. Like many bathroom floors
66. Dan Patch Stakes pace
67. Lincoln ___ (classic building toy)
68. Orange Muppet 69. Weigh by lifting 70. North Carolina university
71. Ball State VIPs DOWN
1. Actor Mineo
2. Pack tightly
3. “Frozen” princess
4. Hamilton County Court perjurers
5. Cleared a frosty windshield
6. Buddy
7. Space org.
8. Wasn’t colorfast
9. Eye part
10. Chinese menu phrase
11. God of love
12. Marks out
13. Toddler
21. Natural fence
22. White River wader
25. “You bet!”
26. Gem
27. Shoulder wrap
29. Purdue semesters
30. Romantic rendezvous
31. Syringe contents, perhaps
32. Bookstore section
33. Colts figs.
35. Butler frat letter
37. Tuna type
39. Allow
41. “Who’s there?” response
42. Pilfer
48. Recorded and stored
50. Sent skyward
52. “Gone With the Wind” name
54. France’s longest river
55. End-of-workweek cry
56. Fan favorite
57. Aborted, at 7-Down
58. Part of NBA (Abbr.)
59. Forearm bone
60. Bridle strap
61. “Gross!”
62. “Norma ___”
65. ___ Moines?
ANSWERS ON PAGE 27
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ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
If you or a loved one need an extra pair of hands to meet daily care needs, Clarity Care Givers may be exactly what you are looking for. Our service provides:
• Companionship • Assist with daily care tasks • Light housekeeping • And, so much more
FREE SUPPORT
Come join us every 4th calendar Tuesday at 7050 E. 116th Street, Suite 150 in Fishers, IN from 2:00 until 4:00. Witness and participate in SUSTAIN. It’s a time of respite for those who provide care to share and to gather tips from others facing same or similar concerns.
We do one thing only and we do it better than anyone else. We provide exceptional care. Come join us. That’s why Clarity Care Givers is Trusted, Requested – Preferred.
MODEL HOME Grand Reveal
MARCH 21 ST
