City council rejects proposal to expand senior living center
New law requires Carmel, Fishers to end rental caps Page 3
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Community helps flooded school quickly relocate
13 National award has extra meaning for studio designer
14 Robotics, STEM center now open along 116th St.
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FEBRUARY & MARCH DINE IN DEALS!
136th & Meridian or 131st & Towne Rd
Council turns down Restoracy expansion
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
A road that doesn’t exist yet and unresolved flooding issues led the Carmel City Council to vote against a plan to expand The Restoracy of Carmel senior living facility on City Center Drive.
The Carmel Plan Commission and the council’s land use committee previously voted in favor of the project, but city councilors said they had too many questions about long-term plans for the area that can’t be answered before the end of a 90-day window to vote on the project.
Without a council vote, the plan commission’s decision to approve a rezone for The Restoracy to add two 12-bed cottages east of its existing site would stand.
One concern for several councilors and nearby residents is the proposed expansion’s impact on plans to extend Richland Avenue south to City Center Drive. The new road is set to travel between The Restoracy and the Concord Village neighborhood to the east.
The Restoracy expansion as proposed would shift the Richland Avenue extension east, which would require the removal of five homes in the neighborhood instead of two.
The city doesn’t have funds identified to extend the road, and it’s not clear when it would occur. But city councilors said they didn’t feel comfortable approving the project without a better understanding of how it would impact surrounding neighborhoods.
“I don’t believe development should override long-term planning,” City Council President Matt Snyder said. “I don’t want there to be this disproportionate tradeoff between 24 beds for a for-profit expansion versus the potential displacement of homeowners.”
Concord Village resident Allie Missler said she has documented more than 20 years of frequent flooding in the neighborhood caused by “a decades-long infrastructure failure that continues to worsen.” She said her home sustained
The yellow line shows the approximate route of a proposed extension of Richland Drive to City Center Drive. The road extension is in the city’s comprehensive plan, but the city does not have a timeline or funds identified for the project. The proposed road is set to run between The Restoracy of Carmel and the Concord Village neighborhood. (Map Data: Hamilton County GIS)
more than $140,000 in water damage last year that insurance won’t cover because the flooding has been happening for such a long period of time.
“The correspondence with the city officials over many years reflects the same pattern: Acknowledgement of the problem, promises of future fixes and continued flooding,” Missler said. “The results have been devastating.”
Missler asked the city to fix the flooding problem before approving additional development in the area.
Councilor Teresa Ayers, whose district includes the area, said her top concern is the health and well-being of Carmel residents, including her constituents in Concord Village.
“They have been passed along for years,” Ayers said. “I would like to see this issue fixed before anything else moves on.”
The council voted 7-0, with Anita Joshi abstaining, against the proposal. City code requires petitioners to wait at least one year after a rezone is denied before requesting another rezone on the same site.
Bryan Lindsay, executive director and founding partner of The Restoracy, told the council the expansion would help meet an identified city need for housing that allows Carmel residents to age in place. He said The Restoracy owns three of four senior care homes in Indiana using a small home concept.
“We are swimming upstream,” he said. “I am on a mission to change senior care, because I know that the general population is not happy with senior care.”
Snyder encouraged The Restoracy officials to continue working with city planners to develop an alternative expansion proposal. He said they may be able to apply for a waiver to request a rezone within a year.
COUNCIL APPROVES ILLINOIS ST. REZONE FOR TOWNHOMES
The Carmel City Council unanimously approved rezoning 4.4 acres on the east side of Illinois Street to a planned unit development to build 27 townhomes.
The proposed development by Pulte Homes is between Forte Sports Medicine and Orthopedics to the north and a plastic surgery center and insurance building to the south.
Councilor Adam Aasen said he was initially against the rezone, and he
thanked Pulte Homes for continuing to work with Carmel residents and officials to refine the proposal.
“Sometimes these processes start off, ‘We’re not there yet,’ there’s a negative recommendation,” Aasen said. “But then when you work together, you get a really nice project across the finish line that I think is going to benefit a lot of people.”
Pulte Homes is aiming to break ground on the project this fall.
The Restoracy of Carmel
eCommunity.com/cancer
Byron H., patient
New state law nixes Carmel’s rental cap
By Leila Kheiry and Ann Marie Shambaugh leila@youarecurrent.com annmarie@youarecurrent.com
A state bill that prohibits rental caps like those recently adopted by the cities of Carmel and Fishers was signed by Gov. Mike Braun March 12, although the two local governments can continue to enforce the caps through January 2028.
The new law was included in House Enrolled Act 1210, a 400-page tome that also includes language incentivizing data centers and addressing how governments provide public notices.
Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam said she plans to have discussions with city councilors in the coming weeks about how to move forward regarding rentals. The council approved the city’s rental registry and 10 percent cap in June 2025.
“It’s just a very challenging point where we’re trying to roll out a program and it gets the legs taken out from underneath it,” Finkam said. “However, if the intent of the statute is to lie down this program, I believe that’s what we
Finkam said she expects the city will maintain its rental registry, as it allows officials to efficiently reach a property
owner when issues arise.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, who spoke against the rental-cap language when the bill was still going through the Statehouse, said the city will continue to enforce its rental cap while it can.
“And then, we’ll monitor the legislature and we’ll continue to try to work to see if we can’t get the language changed so we can continue on,” he said.
“But, either way, even if we can’t, our intention is to maintain the registration.”
The City of Fishers rental ordinance, approved in April 2025, is similar to Carmel’s. As of late January, the city reported 95 percent compliance with the registration requirement.
HEA1210 permits homeowners associations to set rental caps and states that only residents using their property within an HOA as a homestead may vote on the issue. Finkam said she supports this part of the law, as some HOAs with large numbers of rental properties have had trouble reaching a quorum to vote on the matter.
Fadness said March 16 that the city also is following potential federal legislation that could limit the ability of large corporations to buy residential property as investments — which was the primary driver for Fishers’ cap.
Pro bowler arrested
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
A professional bowler featured in a Ben Stiller documentary was arrested March 5 in Carmel.
Carmel police arrested Cameron Crowe, 24, of Orland Park, Ill., after discovering marijuana and cocaine in his vehicle during a traffic stop at 96th Street and Aronson Drive.
Police stopped Crowe’s vehicle at 12:20 p.m. for an improperly displayed and expired license plate, according to a probable cause affidavit. During the traffic stop, the officer discovered marijuana products on the front passenger seat and floorboard and a plastic bag containing
cocaine residue in the center console.
Crowe admitted to the officer he had previously used cocaine but said hasn’t done so “in at least a year,” the affidavit states.
Joe Wyckoff, an attorney representing Crowe, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office charged Crowe with possession of cocaine, a felony, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. A trial is set for Aug. 26 in Hamilton County Superior Court 6.
Crowe is one of four professional bowlers featured in “Born to Bowl,” a five-part series that premiered March 16 on HBO.
Finkam Fadness
Community helps school find space after flood
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
On Feb. 9, teachers at Coram Deo Academy in Carmel arrived at work to find water gushing into the building and several inches already covering the floors.
Eight days later, the school’s 199 students returned to classrooms at two temporary church-affiliated locations that quickly were made available after community members heard about the flood.
Head of School Jason Barney said he was “incredibly surprised” Coram Deo was able to begin holding classes again so soon.
“I would attribute it to, in part, the warm outpouring of love and support from the general Carmel and Hamilton County community, all of our parents and their churches,” said Barney, who walked through a dozen potential meeting locations within days of the flood. “We feel like God really opened doors for us and made something possible that — humanly speaking — we would not have been able to make happen otherwise in our obviously distressing situation.”
A burst water line beneath the school’s slab caused the flood, Barney said, leading to up to 7 inches of water in some parts of the facility.
“The whole 47,000-square-foot building had water filled at least to 2 inches and pouring out every entrance,” Barney said. “So, you could imagine the damage that caused. We had to immediately cancel school and group up and figure out what we were going to do.”
Coram Deo, a private school that offers classical Christian education, moved into its building at 525 Congressional Blvd., before the 2022-2023 school year. But for its first 14 years, it operated out of Carmel Friends Church on Main Street, which is now providing space for the school’s kindergarten through fourth-grade classes.
“Part of doing what Jesus calls us to do is love our neighbor and to help, if we can,” Carmel Friends Church Pastor Ben Snyder said. “I have a background in education. I knew how difficult it was going to be just to make the transition, let alone to find a good place for the kids to be somewhere safe and secure. It’s
been a real blessing to both the church and the school to be able to help them out.”
The school’s fifth- through 12th-grade students are temporarily meeting at The Union Chapel at Northview near 86th Street and Keystone Avenue. Carmel-based Northview Church recently bought the building and is using it for its ministry and leadership school, Barney said.
Northview Church did not comment for this story before publication.
Coram Deo is planning to move back into its building before the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Before the flood, Coram Deo had been working to eventually double its student population at its existing campus. With students unexpectedly out of the building for six months, some of the updates it wants to make to the facility may happen faster.
“In some ways, we’re hoping that this provides us with an opportunity to rebuild and restore in a way that fits our long-term master campus plan,” Barney said.
Coram Deo has a long-term lease for the property and eventually plans to purchase the building.
Barney said school leaders are “incredibly grateful to God” for the quick restart after the flood.
“It is a tragic circumstance that has happened to us, but we’re doing well in our new temporary locations,” he said. “We’re looking forward to a successful rebuild and reinhabiting of (our) space.”
BATH
A burst pipe flooded Coram Deo Academy in early February. Within eight days, the school moved into two temporary locations in area churches. (Photo courtesy of Coram Deo Academy)
Delph aims to reclaim seat
By Ann Marie Shambaugh annmarie@youarecurrent.com
Former State Sen. Mike Delph wasn’t looking to get back into politics. Since losing his longtime seat in the legislature to Democrat J.D. Ford in 2018, the Carmel Republican had been focused on writing and recording music, working as an attorney and teaching leadership courses.
But starting last summer, Delph, 56, began hearing from supporters who wanted him to run again in District 29, which includes parts of Carmel, Zionsville and Indianapolis. He wasn’t initially very interested, but that changed when Ford announced he would run for U.S. Congress this year.
balanced budget without tax increases, a strong Indiana National Guard, maintaining private property rights and support of President Donald Trump.
“I don’t agree with all the things that the president does or says, but he’s the leader of the party, and Republicans need to respect him, in my opinion,” Delph said. “He’s going to be president for three more years, and we should not be fighting with one another.”
Delph said he wants to restore conservative leadership in the state legislature, which he believes have become increasingly influenced by special interest groups.
Delph and his wife have five daughters and two grandchildren.
“Once it became an open seat, then I had the floodgates open, people calling me up saying, ‘We need you back,’” Delph said. “So, I said I’d do it.”
Delph, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, describes himself as a proven conservative leader with common sense. His campaign priorities include a
Other candidates in the District 29 Republican primary May 3 are John Ruckelshaus, who previously served in both chambers of the state legislature, and V. Roni Ford. Democratic candidates are David W. Greene, Demetrice Hicks, Kristina Moorhead and Kevin Short. The general election is Nov. 5.
Learn more at mikedelph2026.com.
No Gimmicks, Just Growth
Delph
He loves a parade
Longtime volunteer key to 500 Festival’s annual event
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Al Wurster’s passion for the 500 Festival Parade began at an early age.
“When I was 8 or 9 years old, I went down to the parade to help my uncle sell programs,” he said. “The programs used to (feature) the floats, the history, that sort of thing. So, that was my first taste of being at the parade.”
The 63-year-old Zionsville resident became a volunteer with the seating committee in 1987.
“I worked my way up to chair of the parade and then moved on to the 500 Festival board for eight years,” he said. “I started with that role in the fall of 1999, with the first race being the 2000 (Indianapolis 500) race. My last race and time on the board was 2007, the year after I was chairman of the board in 2006.”
Wurster has remained involved with the parade, serving as track liaison coordinator. He also serves on the 500 Festival Foundation board.
“It’s a great community event,” Wurster said. “The biggest event the 500 Festival does is the Mini-Marathon, and the second one is the parade. I’m engaged in logistics and where to stage things. I don’t get to see a whole lot of the fans because the fan experience starts at North Street and Pennsylvania Street, where I am. I see the first section of the crowd. But to see the kids and the energy there is really cool.”
As track liaison, Wurster helps get the 33 Indy 500 drivers from the drivers’ meeting at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the parade in Indianapolis.
“I coordinate the activities that happen at the track,” he said.
After getting the drivers there, Wurster said he parks his car and heads to the starting line of the parade to work with longtime volunteer Chris Rehme to make sure everything is in order.
“I’ll absolutely do it as long as they’ll have me, as long as I don’t screw up,” Wurster said of volunteering.
Laura Bliss, vice president of operations for the 500 Festival, said Wurster’s contributions are major.
“Al’s dedication to the 500 Festival has been unwavering for decades,” Bliss said. “From his time on our board of
directors beginning in 1999 to his continued involvement on the Parade Committee today, he has remained deeply committed to the success and tradition of the parade. His passion for the 500 Festival and our community truly embodies the spirit of this event.”
Wurster has attended all but two Indy 500 races since 1987, and one of those was 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic that kept fans from attending.
Prior to moving to Zionsville 2 1/2 years ago, Wurster lived in Noblesville.
Wurster is a commercial general contractor for Wurster Construction, a family business based in Indianapolis.
“I’m third generation and my son (Max) is fourth generation,” he said.
Max, a Westfield resident, has been a 500 Festival Parade volunteer since graduating from college. Wurster has two other children, daughter Madison and son Fritz, who are not involved in the business. His first wife, Sally, died of breast cancer in 2016. He started dating his second wife, Marsha, in 2019 before they married in 2022.
FOND MEMORY
One of the neat things Al Wurster experienced while serving on the 500 Festival board was taking celebrities around the track for a parade lap before the race.
“One year I had actor Patrick Dempsey around the track,” Wurster said. “I knew he was on a TV show, ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ but I didn’t know he went by the nickname ‘McDreamy.’
And as we were going around the track, everybody was yelling ‘McDreamy.’ He was just getting the biggest kick out of that. He was a great guy. There’s a lot of great people I’ve gotten to meet.”
Al Wurster is a longtime 500 Festival Parade volunteer. (Photo courtesy of Al Wurster)
� Say Goodbye to maintenance
Now is your time to connect with the people, places and things you enjoy most. Learn more about the Village Cooperative of Westfield – a community coming soon specifically for Active Adults (62+)!
See below for details about our upcoming FREE informational seminar or to learn more…
DISPATCHES
Missing Middle Housing presentation — The Carmel Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Housing will host a public presentation “Missing Middle Housing,” at 9 a.m. March 26, featuring nationally recognized housing expert, architect and urban designer Daniel Parolek, founder of Opticos Design. Parolek’s presentation will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. The event will be at Carmel City Hall, 1 Civic Square. Findings from the Missing Middle Housing Study, presentation and discussions will inform the commission’s work to expand housing choices that are accessible to residents and compatible with Carmel’s existing neighborhoods. Learn more at missingmiddlehousing.com.
The Village Cooperative of Westfield is a new community for active adults (62+) who want home ownership and no maintenance or worries! Discover the advantages of carefree living...
Informational Seminar Thursday, April 16th at 1pm
Author to speak at bookstore — Author and historian Scott Ellsworth will appear at 3 p.m. March 28 at MacArthur Books, 2169 Glebe St., Suite 100A, in Carmel, for a discussion about his latest book, “Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America.” Following Ellsworth’s talk, his book will be available for purchase. Ellsworth is the author of five books on a range of topics, including civil rights and basketball.
Folds of Honor scholarships — Folds of Honor Indiana, which provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled military personnel and first responders, is accepting applications through March 31. The scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school, and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. For the 2025-26 academic year, the Indiana chapter awarded 83 educational scholarships, providing more than $376,000 in direct educational impact. Learn more and apply for a scholarship at foldsofhonor.org/scholarships.
CCA Gallery featured artist — Encaustic paintings by Noblesville artist Carrie Baxter will be featured April 1 to 26 at CCA Gallery, 111 W. Main St. in Carmel. Visitors can meet the artist from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 11 and 25. Encaustic paint is made from melted beeswax, damar resin and pigments. It is heated to a molten state and applied with brushes and other tools. Learn more at ccaartgallery.com.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana held a naturalization ceremony March 11 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium. During the event, 222 people from nearly 50 nations became U.S. citizens. (Right) Milap Patel, the youngest person to become a U.S. citizen during the ceremony, leads the Pledge of Allegiance. View more photos from the event at youarecurrent.com. (Photos by Ann Marie Shambaugh)
Everwise Credit Union
Opens New Branch for Zionsville-Carmel Community
Everwise Credit Union is expanding to serve the ZionsvilleWest Carmel community with its fifth full-service branch in Hamilton County and its 19th branch in the greater Indianapolis region. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on April 21 at 10920 North Michigan Road.
The new branch reflects Everwise’s ongoing commitment to our members and community-focused service, offering convenient access for commuters and families traveling between neighborhoods, downtown Indianapolis and surrounding communities.
Situated along Michigan Road, the branch is intentionally placed to serve growing families, professionals and small businesses whose lives and work frequently cross city and county lines.
“As communities like Zionsville grow, the needs of the people who live and work there continue to evolve,” said Jay Gendics, Chief Banking Officer at Everwise Credit Union. “Having a presence here allows us to meet members where they are and support them with the financial services they rely on.”
Inside, members will find modern digital banking tools and a team focused on one-on-one financial guidance, helping members build long-term financial confidence, whether they are purchasing their first home, refinancing an auto loan or preparing for retirement.
In an era defined by digital banking, Everwise aims to be digitally convenient and humanly accessible.
“Banking has always been personal,” Gendics said. “Technology should make things easier, not replace genuine connection. Digitize the process, but never the relationship.”
Comfortable seating areas, private consultation rooms and integrated digital tools in the branch allow members to move seamlessly between technology and personal interaction. Members can stop in to ask questions, explore options or gain clarity about their next step with Everwise’s experienced professionals.
With a long history of supporting local schools, nonprofits and small businesses in local communities, Everwise is also looking forward to establishing stronger roots in Zionsville and West Carmel.
The organization invests more than $1 million annually into local initiatives including supporting lifelong learning through financial education and scholarships. Everwise’s annual “Day of Giving” mobilizes employees to support local non-profits through hands-on service.
Millers senior softball player ready for leadership role
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.comi
Noblesville High School senior softball player Haley Schatko wants to end her prep career with a flourish.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to show my leadership as a senior,” Schatko said.
“I think everything that we’ve been working on in the offseason is going to prepare us for the level of competition that we’re going to be playing this season. I think the competition in Hamilton County is amazing, and we’re really going to get pushed as a team. The team with better chemistry and better overall training is going to come out on top, and I think we’ve really prepared ourselves for that.”
Millers coach Deke Bullard said Schatko is a positive influence.
“Haley is a great vocal leader who encourages her teammates in practices and games alike,” said Bullard, whose team opens the season March 25 at West-
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
MEET HALEY SCHATKO
Favorite TV shows: “The Bachelorette” and “Love Island”
Favorite musicians: Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish
Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii
Favorite subject: Biomedical inovations
ern. “She pushes them to be better and keeps the mood light and fun. As a senior, Haley will have the responsibility to step up and lead from the senior-level position. We will be looking for her to foster and help her younger teammates succeed at the varsity level.”
Bullard said Schatko will play shortstop, third base and catcher.
Noblesville High School senior Haley Schatko batted .463 last season.
(Photo courtesy of Julie Montgomery)
Schatko said her goal every season is to win a state championship.
“I think we have a lot to prove after losing in regionals,” she said. “I think we want to prove we can go further.”
Schatko batted .463 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 33 RBIs last season. She hit .292 with five doubles and one home run as a sophomore. She hit .333 in 14 games as a freshman.
“I just want to be the best athlete I can for our team,” she said. “I hope I have a good hitting season again and a good defensive season. Last season was definitely one of my best stretches of hitting.
The (stretch was) amazing and that’s a big thanks to my hitting coach, Justin Glass. He’s an awesome instructor and I think I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s prepped (me) for more of the mental size of hitting and making adjustments.”
Schatko travels to Fort Wayne once or twice a week to work with Glass during the offseason.
“He transformed my swing so much,” she said. “It’s a lengthy drive, but it’s worth it.”
Schatko, who will play for Indiana University next season, was recruited as a catcher. She has been a catcher for her Indiana Magic Gold travel team
As a junior, she caught only one game and played every other game at third. She played catcher nearly every game for the Millers as a sophomore before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the first game in the sectional.
“That took me out until mid-July,” she said of the injury. “I think it taught me a lot and I learned a lot sitting to the side and watching my teammates grow.”
Schatko’s older sister, Bella, a 2023 NHS graduate, is a junior infielder for Earlham College’s softball team.
Schatko
FRESH IDEA
By Samantha Kupiainen news@youarecurrent.com
Food banks often struggle to stock enough high-protein items to meet demand, especially fresh eggs and meat.
A Carmel-based nonprofit is working to change that.
HATCH for Hunger, founded in 2015 by Elanco Animal Health CEO Jeff Simmons, aims to provide protein-rich options direct from local farms to area food banks and pantries.
“(The Simmons family) had a long history of volunteering at pantries and food banks, and they always saw that the missing ingredient, so to speak, was animal protein — meat, milk and eggs,” HATCH for Hunger CEO Danny Leckie said. “Outside of diapers, those are the most requested items, and so they sought to build an organization that addressed that gap. We always say we have deep roots here, but we’ve scaled nationally.”
In its first year of operation, the organization had just two employees and a delivery truck. Today, it’s grown to 10 employees working with partners to deliver “a million dozen eggs a month, and a million pounds of animal protein meat a month across the country,” Leckie said.
In 2025, HATCH for Hunger partnered with more than 121 food banks across the nation. A local partner is Gleaners Food Bank, which supports approximately 65 organizations in Indiana.
“They’ve been a partner in a big way with us since about 2021,” Leckie said. “Initially, we worked independently of Gleaners. Why we started to work with them is everywhere I saw our truck going, there was a Gleaners truck. I thought, ‘That makes no sense. We can do this more cheaply, and we can do this more effectively if we work together.’”
Leckie said HATCH for Hunger has a “very strong working relationship” with Gleaners that allows the two organizations to make a “larger impact in the community.”
Sam Krouse, co-CEO of MPS Egg Farms in North Manchester, described HATCH for Hunger as “an essential partner.”
“They provide a reliable source of protein for food banks who desperately need it and are a reliable customer to companies like MPS,” said Krouse, a HATCH board member. “HATCH is truly changing the game on hunger and nutrition, and our partnership helps MPS to live out our core values of nourishing our world and creating growth and opportunity for all.”
HATCH for Hunger has embarked on a $25 million capital campaign to help it expand its ability to pro-
vide nutritional education.
“What we’re looking to do over the next three to four years is focus in on three core areas,” Leckie said. “We want to provide a million protein meals a day across the country. We want to double the amount of animal protein in food banks and pantries across the country, and we want to triple the impressions on nutrition education and advocacy work.”
Its educational efforts will focus on the benefits of consuming protein.
“We’re really working on changing eating habits,” Leckie said. “That’s the big goal that we have. We hope doubling animal protein and educating families on why it’s important will allow us to change eating habits of children by age 9. Children by age 9 start to set up what the next 10 years of their life will look like, and if they don’t consume the right food, they’re a lot more susceptible to chronic illness and disease.”
Learn more at hatchforhunger.com. Learn more about food assistance in Indiana at in.gov/fssa/dfr/ food-assistance-availability-map.
HATCH for Hunger, a Carmel-based nonprofit that provides fresh protein to food banks, recently expanded its board of directors to support its growth and longterm vision.
Joining the board this year are:
• Mitch Daniels, former Indiana governor and Purdue University president
• Chuck Conner, former U.S. secretary of agriculture
• Donnie Smith, former CEO of Tyson Foods
• David Ahlem, former CEO of Hilmar Cheese Co.
• Sue McCloskey, co-founder of Fair Oaks Farm
• Rob Sheffer, CEO of Zinpro Corp.
• Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of the division of agricultural sciences and natural resources at Oklahoma State University
The new board members join chair Jeff Simmons, Susanne Wasson, Tim Hassinger, Bailey Rayford, Alan Dorantes, Sam Krouse, Tony Wesner and Mitch Frazier. HATCH also has established key governance committees to provide strategic guidance, financial oversight and fiduciary leadership.
Carmel nonprofit delivers meat, eggs to food banks nationwide
Eggs and other pantry items distributed by HATCH for Hunger. (Photo courtesy of HATCH for Hunger)
ON THE COVER: HATCH for Hunger CEO Danny Leckie, right, with his son and volunteers. (Photo courtesy of HATCH for Hunger)
HATCH BOARD EXPANDS
Studio 33:3 at Grand Rapids First. (Photos courtesy of Haverstick Designs)
National award has extra meaning for studio designer
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
This award was truly special for Gavin Haverstick’s company.
Carmel-based Haverstick Designs won a National Association of Music Merchants TEC award, which stands for technical excellence and creativity, for studio design for a church in Grand Rapids, Mich. The studio was a dream of pastors Sam and Brenda Rijfkogel’s late daughter, Sarah Rijfkogel, the Grand Rapids First worship leader. The Pentecostal church is affiliated with the Assemblies of God.
“Sarah got diagnosed with colon cancer, and they asked her what she wanted to do, and it was to raise up the next generation of worship leaders by creating a studio where worship leaders from around the world could come and record their music,” said Haverstick, a Carmel resident.
Haverstick Designs specializes in high-end recording studios, church performance halls and home theaters. The company started the project at the Grand Rapids church in 2022.
“Sarah’s life verse was Psalm 33:3, so that’s why it’s Studio 33:3,” Haverstick said. “That verse says you ‘Shout for joy and sing a new song to the Lord.’ That’s how she lived her life. She had a tattoo of ellipses on her wrist that (indicated) her story will go on even after she passes, and this was a way to do that and help generations to come.”
Haverstick never got to meet Sarah, who died at age 27 in January 2022.
“I wish I had met her, because everything I heard of her, she was just an amazing person,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know her family well, and throughout the whole project I just wanted to do it justice and make sure that she was honored through it. It used to be a
science laboratory in an old school that they had no use for. It was kind of the perfect setup for a studio because it had tall ceilings and wide-open spaces.”
Haverstick said it was a long process and, coincidentally, the project took 33 months from start to finish. The grand opening was Nov. 1, 2024, which would have been Sarah’s 30th birthday.
Haverstick said he has designed studios for Ringo Starr, Twenty One Pilots and Coldplay.
“We’ve worked in 45 states and 27 countries,” Haverstick said. “We’re a team of eight people, and I often say we’re like the interior designers for sound. We’ve designed spaces for famous musicians where this is what they do for living, and some high-end hobbyists.”
The company had been nominated for the award twice, but this project definitely meant more.
“I told people that we won one for Studio 33:3. I don’t care if we win another one the rest of my career, because this is the one that is more special to us,” he said. “I really wanted to win for Sarah and her family.”
Sarah’s parents and five other members of the church came to the late January banquet in Anaheim. Calif.
From left, Gavin Haverstick, Grand Rapids First Pastor Brenda Rijfkogel, Pastor Sam Rijfkogel and Pastor Drew McElhenny at the TEC Awards banquet.
WHAT’S YOUR HOME WORTH?
Robotics center opens
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For Vinod Agrawal, Carmel was the right place for his business.
Kids Explore Robotics & STEM Learning Center recently opened at 1743 E. 116th St. in Woodland Shoppes.
Agrawal is the president and co-founder along with his son, Aarov, a Purdue University mechanical engineering student and a 2024 Center Grove High School graduate.
community (is) amazing,” he said. “Many parents were asking for regular classes and camps.”
The center is designed for students aged 6 to 18, Agrawal said.
“I have a lot of friends and relatives in Carmel and have been coming here for a long time,” Agrawal said. “Since we started doing the classes I saw the largest amount of interest in this area. We’ve been doing the camps in Carmel for the last few years.”
Agrawal works with Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation to deliver programming at several Carmel Clay Schools elementary campuses, and he runs after-school classes at University High School.
“The amount of support I got in the
“It is for them to explore, discover and create,” he said. “I wanted to create a space where kids can actually learn a lot of different things. They learn robotics from the get-go. They don’t get a kit with instructors to build it. We start with individual parts and components. They learn about how the motors work, how the controllers and all the different parts you need to build a robot (work). We explain the how and why behind it.”
Agrawal said there is a design lab where the young students can create their own robots.
Programming includes weekly robotics classes, hands-on workshops, summer camps, STEM birthday parties, project-based learning experiences and field trip opportunities for groups.
The hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more, visit kidsexplorerobotics.com.
Agrawal
Direct care allergy, asthma practice opens
By Samantha Kupiainen news@youarecurrent.com
Dr. Anita Sivam recently opened Inspire Allergy and Asthma, a direct care practice at 10255 Commerce Dr., Suite 212, in Carmel.
The direct care model does not accept insurance; rather members pay a monthly, quarterly or annual fee. It covers most services, including clinical and laboratory costs, consultations and more.
nect with them on a different level that I hadn’t been able to when I was seeing 18 to 20 patients a day.”
Sivam was largely inspired to specialize in allergies and asthma because of her own struggles with both. She enjoys helping children and adults find relief.
An allergist and immunologist, Sivam chose the direct care model because of the simpler, more personable approach it offers. She and a part-time nurse run the practice.
“I was with a large-group allergy practice for about six years, and I learned so much,” Sivam said. “I loved my colleagues and my patients, but I just wanted something more. I went back and forth on whether to do something traditional like insurance-based versus something like direct allergy care. I decided to go the direct allergy care route just so I could spend more time with patients and be able to con-
“Oftentimes, allergies run in families, so I get to see the whole spectrum of ages and diseases, and that’s what made me really fall in love with allergy,” she said. “Not many medical fields do you get to see all ages.”
Sivam treats seasonal and environmental allergies, food allergies, asthma and eczema. She also sees patients experiencing hives and swelling, sinus issues, drug allergies and immune system concerns.
Sivam grew up in northern Indiana.
“When my husband and I were trying to figure out where we should come back, we both had some education in the Indianapolis area and just really wanted to come back to the area,” Sivam said.
Learn more at inspireallergyandasthma.com.
Kids’ glasses ‘explosion’
Commentary by Dr. Frannie Fiechter
Have you ever wondered why you are seeing more and more children wearing glasses than when you were a kid? Or, more so than even a decade ago? A lot of this is thanks to early detection by pediatricians and school screenings. However, a higher need for glasses is also attributed to the growing number of children developing and having accelerated nearsightedness versus previous generations. Our technology-savvy world is helpful for so many different aspects of life. However, for the young developing eye, in some patients it drives up the prevalence of nearsightedness. As we all can agree, screentime is at an all-time high, and excessive accommodation during screen time can increase this phenomenon. Thus, more kids are needing contacts and glasses at an earlier age. And even more alarming is the rate of change and severity of these prescriptions. Thankfully, we can now help to slow
the progression of nearsightedness and help lower the final glasses prescription with a lot of newer technologies, therapies and breakthroughs that weren’t available even a few years ago. Pediatric specialists have special contact lenses and therapeutic eye drops that can significantly slow the progression of a child’s nearsighted progression.
In addition to specialty contacts, we are thrilled to add a therapeutic glasses option, designed for this exact reason. It was just approved by the FDA in fall 2025 and the results have been fantastic. These glasses have shown excellent results prior to approval worldwide — we are so excited to be able to use this technology now in the U.S.
Dr. Frannie Fiechter is the pediatric specialist at Little Eyes.
Sivam
Chair yoga business grows
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Kira Shemesh was ready for a change. A former recreational director at a senior living home in Indianapolis, the Carmel resident wanted to spend more time leading activities.
“It became about paperwork and not so much spending quality time with the residents at the nursing home,” she said. “Occasionally, I could lead a class or teach exercise. So, I started to think outside the box. What could I do where I could still work with the elderly?”
Ten years ago, Shemesh started her own chair yoga business with herself as the only trainer.
Her business has grown to nine employees, teaching 80 to 90 classes a month at more than 30 locations.
“We really focus on the movement and whatever the resident feels they can do with their body,” Shemesh said. “Then the importance of the meditation part because there are some health benefits, like to lower their blood pressure and anxiety, enhance their memory, improve sleep quality and reduce chronic
pain.”
She created a program called Seek the Sun, a 30-minute class.
“We try to incorporate upbeat oldies music into the program, so that we’re keeping everyone engaged,” she said. “We have a quiet meditative portion where we incorporate aroma therapy.” Shemesh said her oldest student is 101 years old.
For more, visit seekthesunchairyoga. com.
Kira Shemesh teaches a chair yoga class. (Photo courtesy of Kira Shemesh)
‘Exodus’ returns to GHDT for third time
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre returns to what Executive Director Gregory Hancock calls perhaps one of his all-time favorite pieces that he created.
“Exodus” is set for 7 p.m. March 27 and 5 p.m. March 28 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
This is the third time “Exodus” has been performed. The last time was in spring 2022.
“It is also an important piece, and more relevant than ever with our world in so much chaos,” Hancock said. “It is a cautionary tale about not learning lessons from the past, but it is also filled with hope, strength and freedom. When I created ‘Exodus,’ the most important moment was when the mother sets her child adrift on the river and sacrifices her happiness so her child could be saved and have a better life. The piece is driven by this sacrifice for love.”
Hancock said his adaptation was inspired by the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, but the setting is the contemporary world.
“It includes the contemporary plagues of desecration of the Earth, gun violence, racism, war, poverty, crime, social media, government, selfishness and death of the firstborn,” he said. “Some of the plagues are difficult to watch and perform due to the content, but art is intended to challenge at times. The Moses character is named The Chosen and is represented as female. This was a choice I made due to the sacrifice of her mother and my personal experience of having a strong, independent, powerful mother who sacrificed for me. While there are many hardships represented in ‘Exodus,’ it is ultimately a story of love and sacrifice of a mother and the resilience of the human spirit and its capacity to find beauty and hope amid sorrow and despair.”
Hancock said the production contains powerful and athletic choreogra-
phy that pushes dancers to new levels of performance and endurance.
“Images of the river, the burning bush and the voice of God are all represented through humans, which makes for incredible visuals through the fulllength piece,” Hancock said. “If audiences have not experienced a GHDT performance, ‘Exodus’ is a perfect entry being a full-length story piece driven by an epic story, powerful imagery, stunning music, dramatic lighting and costuming and tour-de-force performances from dancers. Presented a week prior to Passover, ‘Exodus’ reminds us to remember and learn from our past.”
“Exodus” features eight company dancers, 20 additional dancers from throughout Indiana and seven young dancers. Company dancer Olivia Payton will reprise her role as The Chosen, and company dancer Thomas Mason will reprise his role as The Oppressor.
“It is wonderful to see how both dancers have evolved into the characters much further this time,” Hancock said. “The beauty of repeating a role is finding new depths in the characters and imbuing more personal life experiences into the roles.”
Payton is eager to return to the role
“’Exodus’ is truly a production like none other,” she said. “I have been so lucky to be a part of this masterpiece every time it has been performed. This show is incredibly demanding physically, which makes the rehearsal process very challenging, but rewarding. From a visual standpoint, this production will immediately draw the audience in. The set pieces are minimalistic but incredibly powerful. The visuals of the burning bush and the river are captivating.”
She said the story’s cultural relevance is an impactful part of the production for her.
“The story is heavily inspired by the biblical story of ‘Exodus,’ but with modern plagues and other relevant imagery, audience members are sure to find parallels to our current world,” she said. “Getting to portray The Chosen is one of the biggest honors. This role pushes me physically and emotionally. It means a lot to me to show young women that they can be strong, powerful, soft and beautiful all at the same time.”
For more, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.
‘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 “Now That’s Funny: Joey Villagomez” March 26, followed by Morgan James March 27-28 at Feinstein’s in Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. The performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘SCARLET LETTER’
Civic Theatre’s production of “The Scarlet Letter” runs through March 28 at the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
‘THE
DROWNING GIRLS’
Main Street Productions’ presentation of “The Drowning Girls” runs through March 29 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
‘AND
THEN THERE WERE NONE’
The Carmel Apprentice Theatre will present Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” March 27 to April 4 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.
THREE ITALIAN TENORS
“Direct from Rome: Three Italian Tenors” is 7 p.m. March 29 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
DISPATCH
Connick set for Carmel concert — Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer, composer and actor Harry Connick Jr. and his band are set to perform at 7:30 p.m. July 20 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center. Tickets are on sale at TheCenterPresents.org.
Olivia Payton returns in the role of The Chosen in Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s production of “Exodus.” (Photo courtesy of Lydia Moody)
Illusionist performance set
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
There is one constant during a performance by illusionist Rick Thomas
“My show is centered around my ‘Mansion of Dreams,’” he said. “I wanted to create an evening where I invite the audience into my home or mansion and take them from room to room throughout my ‘Mansion of Dreams’ and show them how my dreams become a reality. I do the same in reverse by sharing with the audience how they can follow their dreams as well. The theme of the show is nothing happens until you dream.”
Thomas will perform at 8 p.m. April 4 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
Thomas has received the highest award in the industry, the Illusionist of the World, presented by the World Magic Awards.
“I’m not a guy up there doing tricks,” Thomas said. “This goes far beyond magic and it’s a relationship that audiences will never forget.”
Thomas, who has won Entertainer of the Year and Show of the Year awards in Branson, Mo., has been a professional illusionist for 45 years.
“I was in Las Vegas for 20 straight years, and I had the most successful show for families in the history of Las Vegas,” he said. “I received a key to the City of Las Vegas.”
About 13 years ago, singer Andy Williams died and Thomas was asked to take over the 2,000-seat Moon River Theatre in Branson. Thomas now performs in the 700-seat Americana Theatre in Branson.
“I decided to go out there for one year
and help them out,” he said. “Now, it’s our 12th year anniversary and I call Branson home. I know why Andy Williams called it home. He left Hollywood and never returned. It’s a beautiful part of the country. It gives me a chance to raise my family as I so desire and I get to tour the world because Branson is closed about three or four months a year.”
Thomas said he recently performed in England and Florida.
Thomas was the magician for Disneyland Hotel for two years when he began his career.
While in Las Vegas residencies at different casinos, he performed two shows a night for six nights for about 50 weeks a year.
“I (perform) about one month a year now in Las Vegas just to keep my name in Vegas,” he said. “But what’s funny about Las Vegas is the longer you are there the less of the world knows who you are. There are entertainers in Vegas who have been there for ages and outside of the Vegas community, if you’re not out there touring and traveling beyond Vegas, you almost disappear.”
Thomas has conducted five world tours in more than 50 nations.
For more, visit rickthomas.com and thecenterpresents.org.
Illusionist Rick Thomas will perform April 4 in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Rick Thomas)
Amateur advice cramps my style
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
I have leg cramps. I know the last thing you want to hear about is the medical problems of some two-bit humorist.
Sometimes, my calf cramps into a knot at night and the pain becomes unbearable. My hands also cramp, along with my fingers. Sometimes, it’s my thigh. Keep reading this column; it’s about to get funnier. I promise.
I was tempted to go online for advice. AI also seemed like a good option, assuming that AI stood for arthritis information.
By pure chance, I was downtown the other day to see my accountant about taxes. While in the elevator, I saw an old friend.
“Hey, Dick, how ya doin’?” he said.
“Joel, I don’t like to complain, but at night I get these terrible …”
“Don’t tell me ... leg cramps. Me, too. Here’s what I recommend: Take vitamin E three times a day. It’s like a miracle.”
I’ve never trusted the internet for health information, but I am always eager to take advice in an elevator. To be certain, I called my doctor to ask for his opinion. He told me that vitamin E was not good for me because of an interaction with another medication I am taking for my cholesterol. Then he asked me exactly where I had gotten this faulty data. I told him the 14th floor of OneAmerica Tower.
“That’s a really stupid place to get medical advice,” he said. “You couldn’t wait another minute to get to Skyline Club? At least you’d have a good dinner before a bad night’s sleep.”
I went back to see my accountant later that week with some more forms. On the same elevator, I bumped into another old buddy.
“Hey, Dick, word is out you are having leg cramps.”
“Wow, word sure travels up and down fast in this building. Well, what do you think? I’m always open to a second-floor opinion.”
“My dad had leg cramps, then he started drinking a gin and tonic every night before he went to bed, and he never had cramps again.”
“What did the trick? The gin or the tonic?”
“Who cares? It worked.”
It seems my legs tend to cramp after vigorous exercise. I’m not a doctor, but I am prescribing myself a complete lack of physical activity for the next six months. And a shot of gin before going to bed. I’d take it with tonic water, but I don’t believe everything I hear in elevators.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES
Public Notice
Patch Development, 6950 E. 96th Street, Fishers, Indiana is submitting a Notice of Intent to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management of our intent to comply with the requirements of the Construction Stormwater General Permit to discharge stormwater from construction activities associated with the HQ3 project at 9786 Masters Road, Fishers, Indiana. Runoff from the site will discharge to Heath Ditch – White River. Please direct questions to Patch Development at (317) 213-3006 or ALEX@PATCH-DEVELOPMENT.com. For more information regarding the CSGP, please contact the IDEM Stormwater Program staff.
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16. Fishers N-S Road
17. ___ State Park (featuring water under the bridge)
19. Bad blood
20. Non-Rx
21. Herb that tastes like licorice
23. Wagering option, briefly
26. Secretary of State Rubio
30. Plow guy
31. ___ fatale
33. Zionsville Farmers’ Market corn unit
34. Smart-alecky
35. Arctic floater
36. Two-thirds of AOL
38. ___ State Park (featuring a big drop of water)
42. “Enough!”
43. Rapper on “Law & Order: SVU”
46. Group of plotters
50. IU conference foe
51. Delight
52. Connect
53. Front-wheel alignment
55. Nutritional fig.
56. Capital of Colombia
58. Point to pick
60. Tehran’s land
61. ___ State Park (featuring a water source not found in a waterbed mattress)
68. Stick with it!
69. Attention getter
70. Untidy
71. Boilermakers’ list of games, for short
72. Stately splendor
73. Battery terminal Down
1. Texter’s “incidentally”
2. ___ and aah
3. Lanka lead-in
4. Palindromic boy’s name
5. “Let’s get together”
6. Tuna type
7. AFC South, e.g.
8. Squeeze (out)
9. Soft ball brand
10. Eye part
11. Some skirts
12. Indiana State Prison long-term residents
13. Like a varied “crew”
18. Hoosier Dome sponsor, for awhile
22. Ford flop
23. Switch position
24. Business card abbr.
25. BSU hotshot
27. Lease
28. Caribbean music
29. Hole in the head?
32. Pacers Hall of Famer Daniels
36. Frequently, in verse
37. ___ King Cole
39. Part of an archipelago
40. Abner’s adjective
41. Evidence of an old wound
44. IND gate info
45. Mad Hatter’s drink
46. Ark measures
47. Winter coat
48. Galoot
49. Made amends
51. Puzzling situation
54. Brown County lodge
57. Letters of urgency
59. IRS employees
62. Chao Vietnamese Street Food soup
63. Sleep acronym
64. Little devil
65. Monument Circle music grp.
66. ‘60s psychedelic
67. Alkaline cleaner
Answers on Page 23
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OUR STEAKHOUSE IN YOUR BACKYARD
SEASONING STRAIGHT FROM THE ST. ELMO STEAK HOUSE KITCHEN. JUST ADD A GRILL.
