Final designs revealed for Phase 1 of Embrace Downtown / P3 German native pursues music career in Noblesville / P17
New city crosswalks installed / P7
PAGES 19-24 Caterpillar Inc. coming soon / P13
“WE
FALL
& WINTER EVENTS
westfieldin.gov/events | westfieldin.gov/programs
BARKTOBERFEST
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
ASA BALES PARK | 205 W. HOOVER ST. 11 A.M. - 2 P.M.
Presented by Community First Bank
SENSORY FALL FEST: SIGHTS, SCENTS, & SOUNDS OF FALL
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15
FREEDOM TRAIL PARK | 500 DEER WALK TRACE
5 - 7 P.M.
TRICK-OR-TREATING IN THE PLAZA
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24
GRAND JUNCTION PLAZA | 225 S. UNION ST.
5:30 - 8 P.M.
Presented by Centier Bank & NSPIRE Church
HALLOWEEN COOKIE DECORATING WITH BECKY THE BAKESTER
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29
GRAND JUNCTION PLAZA CAFE | 225 S. UNION ST.
6:30 P.M.
CITY OF WESTFIELD
VETERANS DAY CEREMONY
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11
IMMI CONFERENCE CENTER | 18880 N. EAST ST.
7:30 - 10:30 A.M.
Presented by Citizens Energy Group
WESTFIELD IN LIGHTS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
GRAND JUNCTION PLAZA | 225 S. UNION ST.
3 - 6 P.M.
Presented by The Farmers Bank
COMMUNITY
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
City of Noblesville officials revealed the final designs for Phase 1 of Embrace Downtown, a multiphase project that aims to improve infrastructure and enhance pedestrian safety, at a public open house Sept. 29 at City Hall.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Phase 1 will focus on a single city block section of Logan Street between 8th and 9th streets. Construction will begin in February 2026. It is expected to be completed before the holiday shopping season next year.
Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen said repairing historic underground infrastructure was a driving factor for the project.
“Some of our goals (are) to try to help mitigate that going forward before we find ourselves in a tough spot as a community that we’ve seen other communities have where there’s an underground type situation and sinkholes,” Jensen said. “We’re trying to be well ahead of that conversation with this project going on.”
Phase 1 focuses on improving pedestrian traffic downtown, with narrower driving lanes and shorter crosswalks. Sidewalks will be wider, and downtown businesses will have the opportunity to use extra space for outdoor dining and sidewalk sales.
and tan pavers and star bricks will be installed as decorative accents.
Project leaders and city officials also have spent time choosing the correct pavers and brick for the project. Curbs will be made of granite, streets will be paved with red brick, sidewalks will feature a combination of gray and tan pavers and star bricks will be installed as decorative accents.
Phase 1 will be funded by the Downtown Development Fund, which the city created
Sidewalks will be widened, creating more accessibility for pedestrians and amenity space for merchants. (Rendering courtesy of RATIO Design)
in 2016 to support downtown enhancements. Future construction phases will be programmed based on balancing city priorities, available funding and an economic impact analysis.
Jensen said he is prepared for the impact of Senate Enrolled Act 1, the state’s new property tax law, on funding for future phases of the project.
“This is a project that once it gets going, we’re going to complete it,” Jensen said. “This pot of money was set aside for this piece. Going forward, though, we are massively restricted. I imagine we’ll continue this momentum. I’m not wanting to stop the project halfway through. But it will delay other pieces.”
For more, visit embracedowntownnoblesville.com.
About us
Founded Sept. 15, 2009, at Noblesville, IN Vol. XVII, No. 4
Copyright 2025
Current Publishing, LLC
All Rights Reserved.
525 North End Dr. Ste. 175 Carmel, IN 46032 317.489.4444
Contact the editor
Have a news tip, calendar item or photo to share?
Contact the Managing Editor Jessica Todd at jessica@youarecurrent.com or call 317.489.4444 You also may submit information at currentnoblesville. com. Our print deadline is eight days prior to publication. Submissions for online accepted daily.
Share your thoughts
Letters to the editor may be sent for consideration to letters@youarecurrent.com. Letters have a maximum word count of 300 words. Please include your city of residence and a contact phone number for verification. Current Publishing may refuse letters.
Advertise your business
If you’re interested in reaching the Noblesville market (22,087 households), you may obtain more information by emailing ads@youarecurrent.com (subject: Noblesville advertising) or by calling 317.748.2662.
Legal advertising legals@youarecurrent.com Obituaries obits@youarecurrent.com
Delivery questions
circulation@youarecurrent.com
Find us on social media facebook.com/youarecurrent x.com/youarecurrent instagram.com/youarecurrent
Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in Noblesville are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
Phase 1 of Embrace Downtown will focus on Logan Street, creating narrower roadways and more sidewalk space. (Rendering courtesy of RATIO Design)
Curbs will be made of granite, streets will be paved with red brick, sidewalks will feature a combination of gray
(Photo by Jessica Todd)
Former border patrol agent discusses security issues
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Former Chief Border Patrol Agent Chris Clem spoke at the Hamilton County Republican Party’s Great Outdoor Party at Forest Park Sept. 26 to discuss how border security issues impact the nation, including Indiana.
POLITICS
Clem is the former chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol in Yuma, Ariz. He retired in 2022 after serving more than 27 years. He said strong border security is necessary for national security, public safety and agricultural safety.
“When you have thousands upon thousands of people that get caught, that have no records in the United States, and we don’t know if they are criminals getting processed and released into communities like Indiana, you’re basically putting people here that could cause harm,” Clem said.
Clem said weak border security allows drug cartel members to enter the U.S. Hamilton County Republican Party Chair Mario Massillamany said unsecure borders have had lasting impacts on communities since 2004, with one being the nation’s rising fentanyl problem.
“That’s why (border security) is so important, because when you can control what comes in, you can control what goes out, and you can keep bad things from getting to your community,” Clem said.
Massillamany said border decisions from Democratic administrations also have exposed the nation to sex trafficking. Clem said he spent the first 100 Days of President Donald Trump’s second term in Washington, D.C., working as a senior advisor to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., helping care for unaccompanied alien children, which is anybody 17 or younger that enters the United States without an adult or legal guardian.
“There’s 479,000 unaccompanied alien children that entered the United States illegally under the President Biden-Kamala Harris administration,” Clem said. “Our No. 1 job was to protect these kids and put them in a safe environment to make sure they don’t fall right back into that same trafficking vortex that they were in. Because when you are 12 years old, you don’t make independent decisions, you’re being controlled by a trafficker.”
The Department of Homeland Security reported in 2024 that 300,000 undocumented children were unaccounted for. Clem said it is because the Biden administration wouldn’t authorize charging documents 100 to 120 days after they were placed with a sponsor, which is a parent or legal guardian, an adult relative, an unrelated adult or the foster care system.
Massillamany said charging documents allow immigration courts to have jurisdiction over children.
“The charging document is what allows for the child to then be placed in immigration court for any sort of legal proceeding,” Massillamany said. “Otherwise, the child just literally disappears. There’s nothing in the system that tracks them or monitors to make sure that they’re taken care of.”
Clem said under the Biden administration, those in-depth checks for sponsors who claim to be the relatives of the kids were not authorized.
“(There were) 65,000 notices of concern left unchecked in the last 18 months of the Biden administration,” Clem said.
Clem said 25,000 children have already been recovered, more than 400 sponsors have been charged with criminal offenses, and 27 children were found to have died.
“Geographically, Indiana may not be a border state, but without border security, every state’s a border state,” Clem said. “We’ve seen that play out because we have hundreds of thousands of criminal aliens that are all across this country, and Indiana is not exempt.”
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025
AT 5PM
Present this coupon to the Caesars Rewards Center at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino to redeem 15% off dining, $15 Race Wager, $15 Free Slot Play, or $25 Free Table Play.
be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448). ©2025 Caesars License Company, LLC.
Hamilton County Republican Party Chair Mario Massillamany, left, and former Chief Border Patrol Agent Chris Clem speak at the Hamilton County Republican Party’s Great Outdoor Party at Forest Park Sept. 26. (Photo by Jessica Todd)
Hamilton County shelter overcrowded with dogs
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
The Humane Society for Hamilton County’s space for surrendered and stray dogs has been above capacity for the last couple of years and HSHC President and CEO Rebecca Stevens doesn’t see an end to the issue anytime soon.
ANIMALS
While there also are many cats and kittens brought to the shelter at 10501 Hague Rd. in Fishers, Stevens said the primary and continuing capacity challenge has been with dogs. The shelter, new in 2021, was designed based on projected needs to last through 2036. But its 124 kennels — including 18 small short-term kennels — started filling up in late 2022 and early 2023. As of late September, Stevens said, the shelter had 142 dogs.
“So, there are 18 dogs that are living in spaces that are really not great long-term housing spaces,” she said. “Most of those dogs are in offices. They’re in cat visiting rooms or dog visiting rooms — that are meant to be visiting rooms. I know every office that is in this building, with the exception of maybe a couple, has a dog in it. And that’s not the plan. That was never the plan.”
Stevens said while some of the uptick in surrenders is from Hamilton County, she said the shelter also has seen a number of Marion County residents who either found and rescued a stray or had a pet they needed to surrender. She learned that Marion County had implemented a new policy a few years ago requiring appointments — sometimes several weeks out — to drop off a rescued stray. Appointments for owners to surrender pets took even longer.
That policy has led to fewer dogs at the Indianapolis shelter, but it didn’t reduce the number of dogs that needed a place to go. Marion County residents desperate to surrender a dog immediately were directed to neighboring county shelters, Stevens said, which explained why Hamilton County suddenly started to see more and more dogs from Marion County.
HSHC’s mission is to serve Hamilton County. Its employees try to turn away the Marion County residents who show up with pets, Stevens said, but sometimes there’s no choice.
“We reserve whatever spot we might
have for the oldest, the most at-risk, the one that’s literally going to drop dead if it doesn’t get help and the ones — I had one that some guy threatened to shoot,” she said. “So, we take those and have to say no to the rest. This is our life and it’s horrible — and it’s not going to stop, because Indianapolis has no reason to stop doing it.”
Another factor contributing to the shelter’s overcrowding is fewer adoptions. She said adoptions have been trending down in Hamilton County since early 2023.
“People are making the choice to go elsewhere for their pets,” she said. “That perception that (shelter) animals must be broken — there’s something wrong with them. None of it’s true. Some of them are broken — who isn’t? And, you know, we have a lot of bully breeds. So, the pit bull thing.”
Stevens said there are many breeds other than pit bulls at the shelter — including the popular doodle dogs — although she noted that pit bulls tend to have the best temperaments. She said it’s up to community members to show kindness and compassion to the shelter animals who are waiting — sometimes many months — for a loving home.
She said people interested in a new pet should start at the shelter and get rid of preconceptions.
“Don’t limit yourself to it being … a doodle or this big or blue eyes or whatever,” she said. “And if you do that, I’m going to go find you the most amazing pet you’ve ever had. … What we do best is matchmaking. We complete families. It’s part of our mission and if (people) give us that chance, they’re not going to regret it. It’ll be the best pet they ever had.”
For more, visit hamiltonhumane.com.
Humane Society for Hamilton County dog kennels are full. (Photo courtesy of HSHC)
City crosswalks installed
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Two new crosswalks have been installed in downtown Noblesville.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The first runs across Logan Street, connecting Federal Hill Apartments to Kroger. The second fronts the entrance to Kroger on Nixon Street, where a new trail connects Federal Hill and Forest Park.
Noblesville Common Council Member Aaron Smith, who represents District 3, said when the city made the initial investment in Federal Hill, it activated an area that had little foot traffic.
“That added activity has added pedestrian traffic and car traffic,” Smith said. “If you drive through there on a Saturday, either before the farmers market or for a concert, there are people that are running across Logan Street, and it’s a safety issue.”
Smith said another reason for the crosswalks is the new trail.
“Since it is a pretty short segment, we wanted to bring attention to the fact that there’s a trail there,” Smith said. “As a dad of two, I would never put my kids on a trail that wasn’t safe to cross the street.”
The new crosswalks have safety mea-
sures such as pedestrian signals. Smith said the city also added artwork, tapping Noblesville resident Haley Vergon to help with designs. She has sold acrylic paintings at the Noblesville Farmers Market for the past three years.
“(The city) pretty much gave me creative freedom,” Vergon said. “It was about a year in the making between all of the changes, final guidelines and when they put it in.”
For the crosswalk on Nixon Street, Vergon was inspired by Forest Park. The design features a train to represent the Nickel Plate Express, as well as other elements inspired by the park’s golf course and sports courts and the Forest Park Aquatic Center.
The second crosswalk was inspired by the Noblesville Farmers Market and features fruit, corn, a sunflower and music notes and comedy masks inspired by the stage at the commons.
Vergon made the graphic designs, which were sent to a third-party asphalt company to print.
“Now that it’s pieced together, it’s supposed to last about eight years,” Vergon said. “I was so excited to be thought of and picked for such a permanent piece. I loved collaborating on something the entire community (will) be able to enjoy and utilize.”
DISPATCH
Beekeepers club — North Central Beekeepers Club meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at Cool Creek Nature Center in Westfield, 2000 E. 151st St. Meetings are free to attend for all levels of beekeepers located north of Indianapolis. Those interested in becoming beekeepers are welcome. Topics of the Oct. 15 meeting are developing accessible apiaries and winter candy boards for beehives. Learn more at facebook.com/groups/ ncbclub.
The crosswalk inspired by Forest Park. (Photos courtesy of Haley Vergon)
The crosswalk inspired by the Noblesville Farmers Market.
State of Indiana
Land Auction
Local woman wins contest
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
PRODUCTION
Noblesville resident Breanna Helms recently won a playwriting contest conducted by Irvington companies 4th Wall Players and Bonna Makerspace and Venue.
Now, 4th Wall Players is producing her play, which will be presented during the Irvington Halloween Festival in Indianapolis, Oct. 25-26 and Oct. 30-31, at 5635 Bonna Ave.
Initially, Helms said she was doing social media promotion for the contest but then chose to write a submission. She wrote for Underdog Theatre in Noblesville before it shut down and has self-published two books.
Helms said the instruction was to write a 30-minute, one-act play about Lenore, a character in American poet Edgar Allen Poe’s stories “The Raven” and “Lenore.”
Her play, “Lenore: The Silent Muse,” follows the relationship between a fictional version of Poe and Lenore as they navigate the obstacles that keep them apart.
“In the play, Lenore struggles with prophetic dreams of her death, as well as Poe, who warns her of such things,” Helms said. “On top of the dreams, Lenore is forced to marry Guy, who seems to have secrets unknown to the people around him.”
“One night, I couldn’t sleep, and I kept thinking about the contest,” Helms said.” So, at about 2 a.m., I decided to write up the entire play, which took me about four hours. Once I started writing, I couldn’t stop. It was like I already had a skeleton of the story in my brain without even realizing it, and once I started putting pen to paper, it was easy to keep letting it flow.”
As one of four contest finalists, Helms had her show performed at a reading where a live audience voted for the best show. She won $200 and the opportunity to have her show produced and performed.
The cast of “Lenore: The Silent Muse” consists of Emma Gedig, Jy’Ierre Jones, Kyvaille Edge, Alice Graves and Tracy Wu Herring. Josh Gibson will direct the play, with Helms serving as the creative consultant.
Helms
ZCHS girls soccer player embraces goalkeeping pressure
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville Community High School senior soccer player Izzy Gibson embraces the pressure of being a goalkeeper.
“I enjoy being the person my team relies on,” she said. “I like to have the weight of the game on my shoulders because I like the excitement and rush I get when I make every save.”
Rob Klatte has watched her development in his two years as Eagles coach.
“Izzy has grown in her self-confidence,” Klatte said. “She trusts herself and her decision-making, having been through so many of the situations during her high school and club experiences. She has grown in her resilience (and is) able to overcome mistakes and (is) able to refocus and play in the moment. Her range, ability to distribute, shot stopping and voice provide a great defensive foundation for our team.”
MEET IZZY GIBSON
Favorite athlete: Hope Solo
Favorite TV show: “Grey’s Anatomy”
Favorite musician: Rihanna
Favorite sports teams: U.S. Women’s National Team, specifically the 2015 World Cup champions
In the first 15 games, Gibson has allowed less than half a goal a game.
“I think I’ve made the most improvement in my confidence, which has flowed into my ability to consistently make big saves and smart choices,” Gibson said.
The 5-foot-9 Gibson said she has worked on decision-making for the past few years.
“Honestly, it’s something that you devel-
Zionsville Community High School goalkeeper Izzy Gibson has committed to Belmont University. (Photo courtesy of Leslie Pollie)
op as you play more and as you get more confident,” she said. “It’s probably the most important part of the game because when you make good decisions, your team trusts you behind them and they trust what you tell them to do.”
As of Sept. 30, the Eagles were 9-0-6.
“This is definitely the strongest and best-coached Zionsville team I’ve been on, and I think we will go very far in the postseason.” she said.
Gibson began playing soccer when she
EXPERT SPINE CARE NOW IN WESTFIELD
Peter Swiatek, MD is a fellowship-trained Spine Surgeon who specializes in the comprehensive care of the spine. Dr. Swiatek tailors his treatment plans to the needs of each of his patients, with a focus on non-operative management whenever possible. Dr. Swiatek graduated with honors from Harvard University and the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his residency at Northwestern in Chicago, IL and a spine surgery fellowship at the world-renowned Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, PA.
• Treatment of back and neck pain, sciatica, spinal stenosis, herniated discs and work-related injuries
• Less invasive techniques for faster recovery and less post-operative pain
• Experienced, Compassionate, Fellowship-trained Spine Surgeon
• Same-Day and Next-Day Appointments
• No referral necessary*
was 7 years old. She did track and field in middle school, but that was the only other sport she played. She began playing goalie when she was approximately 9 years old.
Gibson has made a verbal commitment to play for Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
“I chose Belmont mainly because their core belief system is very similar to that of mine in the fact that they are very much faith-based,” she said. “I also love the coaching staff and players so much and it’s honestly just an overall great environment and my goal was always (NCAA Division I) and to have found a tremendous school and team that wanted me at that level was amazing.”
Gibson plans to study pre-med with a goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
“I’ve broken several bones, and I’ve just found it so fascinating how they regrow,” she said. “I also want to work with athletes in orthopedics because I know how they’re feeling because it’s happened to me plenty of times.”
To nominate a high school student for Athlete of the Week, contact mark@ youarecurrent.com.
To schedule an appointment, call:
Gibson
Group stresses protecting principles of Constitution
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Noblesville resident Brian Jonasen, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who served 30 years, spoke at last month’s Constitution Day Democracy Festival in Carmel.
EVENT
The event was presented by Voices4Democracy, a grassroots organization.
“It’s a group of Hamilton County residents who are trying to make a nonpartisan response to a lot of the things we see happening that we feel like are challenging our democracy,” said Sharon Boller, a Carmel resident who is the lead organizer for Voices4Democracy.
At the festival, Jonasen discussed how the world has changed since World War II.
“Today, we have the opposite tug at the soul of America,” he said. “Instead of service before self, we find our leaders, from the president on down, instituting policies and messages of self before service. Instead of leaders working for the benefit of others, we
have leaders using their power and authority to gain self-enrichment and accumulate more power. Instead of America investing in the world’s greater good, we are enacting isolationist policies and turning our backs on countries we have long called allies.”
Jonasen said during World War II, the U.S. joined the Allies to fight against authoritarian regimes.
“We are becoming what we once fought to overthrow,” he said.
Jonasen said the First Amendment right of free speech is under fire for citizens, businesses, universities and media.
“Fourth Amendment rights for unlawful search and seizure are being ignored,” he said. “Fifth Amendment rights are being infringed against undocumented persons and U.S. citizens who have been caught up in Gestapo-like sweeps. Birthright citizenship, codified in the 14th Amendment, is under attack, and voting rights for minorities and women in the 15th and the 19th Amendments are also under attack.”
For more, visit voices4democracy.com.
Man charged with indecency
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
An Indianapolis man has been charged with a misdemeanor of public indecency and three misdemeanors related to public nudity after he was arrested Sept. 24 in Noblesville.
ARREST
The accused, Johnnie Long, 36, is being held in the Hamilton County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
vit, Chandler said during school hours Sept. 24, he viewed Long on the internal video surveillance system at Ivy Tech masturbating with his genitals exposed in public areas of the school.
An officer with the Noblesville Police Department took a statement Sept. 24 from Ryan Chandler, the director of public safety for the Hamilton County Ivy Tech State College campus, where the incident happened.
According to the probable cause affida-
According to the probable cause affidavit, Long appeared in a state of nudity in a common area of the school near the gymnasium.
The probable cause affidavit states Long admitted to openly masturbating by the gymnasium. He said he was the one on the video, stating he spoke with a female who was in a study room and followed her to the gymnasium, where he began to masturbate just outside of the gym door, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Long’s pretrial is set for Nov. 25.
Tinsel & Tails — Tickets are on sale now for the Humane Society for Hamilton County’s Tinsel & Tails Holiday Petacular from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 20 at 502 E. Carmel Dr. Tinsel & Tails will feature a silent auction, dinner, a golden ticket raffle and a presentation of the year’s rescue stories. All funds go to helping the shelter fund daily operations and life-saving efforts. For tickets, visit hamiltonhumane.com/events/tinsel-tails-2.
CARDS • POKÉMON
2025 Dates
September 20, 2025
October 18, 2025
November 29, 2025
December 20, 2025
CARDS • POKÉMON
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
2025 Show Dates
American Legion Post #470 9091 E. 126th Street, Fishers IN 46038 Jeff Meyrose • 317-504-8110
FREE ADMISSION! Kids are always welcome! Show Hours: Saturday 8AM - 2PM
Choice Fieldhouse 11825 Technology Drive, Fishers, IN 46038
Saturday, Oct 4, 2025 12PM - 8PM EST Sunday, Oct 5, 2025 9AM - 3PM EST
$10.00 ADMISSION • 10 & UNDER FREE $25.00 VIP ENTRANCE 1 HOUR EARLY BOTH DAYS
PSA, JSA, CGC, SGC, BECKETT, COMC FANATICS LIVE SUBMISSIONS ZION CASE SALES AND RENTALS
Purchase a select David Weekley Quick Move-in Home in the Indianapolis-area community of Marilyn Woods from September 1 to November 16, 2025, and enjoy up to $30,000 in Weekley Buyer Bucks to use toward your choice of a home discount, appliances/blinds or financing incentives*!
David Weekley Quick Move-in Home in the Indianapolis-area community of Marilyn Woods between September 1, 2025, and November 16, 2025 (the Program Period). Homes must close by December 29, 2025. Marilyn Woods – The Signature Collection is excluded from this offer. Weekley Buyer Bucks incentive amount varies by home collection and is not to exceed $25,000 in Marilyn Woods – The Courtyard Collection and $30,000 in Marilyn Woods – The Classic Collection. Appliances and blinds selections must be made through the David Weekley Homes Design Center in Indianapolis, IN. Homebuyer must pay full price for any Design Selections in excess of the incentive amount. Any excess of the incentive amount cannot be applied to the financing incentive or any other credit. *Financing incentive offer only valid for Homebuyers who purchase a David Weekley Quick Move-in Home in the Indianapolis-area community of Marilyn Woods during the Program Period and finance the home purchase with a mortgage loan from a Preferred Lender (Mike DeWitt at Highlands Residential Mortgage or Jon Knight at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation). Contact loan officer for details on rate buydown or other financing programs. Borrower must meet lender’s qualification criteria. Incentive is in addition to the Financing Incentive in the Purchase Agreement. Total Financing Incentive may not exceed regulatory limits on Seller contributions. If the incentive amount exceeds the allowable Seller contribution limits, the remainder cannot be applied as a discount to the Purchase Price of the home or any other
•
•
•
•
Caterpillar Inc. coming soon
news@currentnoblesville.com
The City of Noblesville has announced that Caterpillar Inc. will establish a hightech operation at Innovation Mile, a hub for innovative and advanced industries, health care, sports and technology-driven businesses near I-69.
INNOVATION MILE
Caterpillar Inc., a global leader in manufacturing and technology, will soon open a motor prototyping facility at 13975 Westinghouse Dr., west of The Arena at Innovation Mile. Caterpillar Inc. invests in the advancement of energy solutions and electrification, helping customers meet sustainability goals and needs, according to the company.
“We’re excited to expand our presence in Noblesville and contribute to a community that shares our focus on innovation and opportunity,” stated Brian Dersham, vice president of engineering at Caterpillar Inc. “This facility will allow us to advance our manufacturing technologies while leveraging the region’s strong talent base and
supporting the development of tomorrow’s workforce.”
Caterpillar Inc. will move into a facility previously occupied by BorgWarner. BorgWarner announced it was closing its Noblesville center and consolidating it with its Kokomo center last year. Built in 2018, city officials said the facility offers a strong foundation for continued innovation and collaboration.
Caterpillar Inc. will focus on the development of advanced electric motor technologies and is expected to bring approximately 25 jobs to the community. The initial investment includes leasing the 103,000 square foot space and acquiring existing equipment already on-site.
“This is exactly the type of project we envisioned when we launched Innovation Mile,” Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen stated. “Caterpillar investing in Noblesville brings together innovation, advanced manufacturing and meaningful high-wage job creation in a way that aligns with Noblesville’s long-term vision for strategic, sustainable growth.”
For more, visit innovationmile.com.
NOBLESVILLE ROTARY CLUB
HELPS FUND NOBLESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS CLUB
For the fourth consecutive year, the Noblesville Rotary Club has donated proceeds from its annual BrewBBQ event to the Noblesville High School Robotics Club. This year’s $5,000 donation brings the Rotary’s total investment in the students to $16,000. The funds have helped the 40-plus member robotics club purchase equipment and attend competitions. (Photo courtesy of Noblesville Schools)
DISPATCHES
Current employee chosen for Kokomo Art Association — Jennifer Nichols, advertising traffic manager for Current Publishing, has been selected as a Kokomo Art Association gallery artist. Her artwork will be displayed and sold at Artworks Gallery, 210 N. Main St., Kokomo. Nichols draws her inspiration from the beauty of nature, music and architecture and spends her free time painting when she is not working on a commissioned pencil piece. She also does custom paintings. You may contact her at seejennirun@comcast.net. For more on Nichols’ affiliation, visit kaaonline.org. To view a collection of her works, visit illustr82dv8.etsy.com.
Fundraiser — The Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville will present a night of costumes and competition at its 12th annual Trick or Trivia fundraising event Nov. 4 at the Noblesville Moose Lodge. Guests are encouraged to come in costume and enjoy a night featuring themed trivia rounds, raffles, prizes and food. Teams of up to eight players will compete for the title of the evening’s trivia champions. All proceeds from Trick or Trivia directly benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville. Teams can register their group of four, six or eight participants at BGCNI.org or by contacting nhelm@bgcni.org.
Ind. 32 and Hague Road now open to traffic
Ind. 32 and Hague Road are now open to traffic as construction continues for the Reimagine Pleasant Street project in Noblesville.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The entire intersection is anticipated to open to traffic this month, weather permitting.
The intersection of Ind. 32 and Hague Road has been reconstructed to a multilane roundabout. Construction continues on Pleasant Street from River Road to the new roundabout.
“Opening State Road 32 and Hague Road is an important milestone for the Reimagine Pleasant Street project,” Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen stated. “We look forward to fully opening Pleasant Street to traffic later this year and celebrating the lasting impact it will have on our community.”
As part of the construction, new pedestrian tunnels were installed under Ind. 32 and Pleasant Street to provide safe crossings for the Midland Trace Trail and Hague Road Trail. Since this is an active construction site, pedestrian tunnels are closed until later this year.
Construction continues on Pleasant Street from 13th Street to 16th Street. When it opens to traffic this fall, Pleasant Street will provide a critical east-west connection for Noblesville from Ind. 32 to Ind. 37, according to the city.
For more, visit reimaginepleasantst.com.
Ind. 32 and Hague Road are now open to traffic. (Photo courtesy of the City of Noblesville)
• Can be used with Sensitive Fabrics
• Removes Oil & Grease
• Aids in removing Water Soluble Soil
• Virtually Odorless
• Compatible with Fabric-Finish Additives
by drycleaners. Since that time, DF-2000 Fluid has gained widespread acceptance and today is used in thousands of drycleaning plants in the United States alone.
The growth of DF-2000 Fluid has outpaced all of the alternative technologies offered for drycleaning. This is a result of many factors including health, safety and environmental benefits, excellent cleaning performance, proven equipment technology, commercial practicality, and a reduced regulatory burden.
DF-2000 Fluid provides you with the peace of mind that comes from a well-developed, broadly supported technology with a track record of proven performance.
• Proven Cleaning Performance
When used with properly designed processes, additives and equipment, DF-2000 Fluid provides cleaning performance comparable to perchloroethylene.
• Consistent, Premium Quality
DF-2000 Fluid is manufactured and packaged to high standards of consistency and purity to deliver the same high-quality performance time after time. DF-2000 Fluid remains stable through multiple distillation and reclamation cycles.
• Virtually Odorless
Solvents with a higher level of aromatics contain more solvent odor. DF-2000 Fluid has the lowest aromatic content of any HFHC drycleaning solvent.
• Gentle on Dyes, Safer on Trims
The gentle cleaning action of DF-2000 Fluid is safer for most dyes and trims, so you can rely on it to safely clean a wider range of fancy and fragile articles with less risk of dye bleeding.
• Cost Effective
There are no usage, franchise or royalty fees required. In states where a solvent usage tax has been imposed, DF-2000 Fluid is either exempt or the usage tax per gallon is minimal. When coupled with effective processes and additives, labor and production costs are reasonable.
• Proven Equipment Technology
Equipment makers have more experience with DF-2000 Fluid than any other alternative solvent. Modern filtration, distillation, solvent recovery, water separation and safety technologies are refined and well developed to give you reliable, trouble-free operation.
• Proven Additive Technologies Detergent and fabric finish additives are essential to provide important enhancements to cleaning performance in any drycleaning
•
Level Up 31 construction to begin
ROADWORK
Construction for Level Up 31 — a plan to address regional growth and traffic congestion that affects efficiency at the Meridian Street-U.S. 31 interchange — was to begin Oct. 6. Phase 1 includes multiple ramp closures, local access restrictions and detours in the two-mile improvement area. Closures include the southbound U.S. 31 ramp to 106th Street through late-December; eastbound 106th Street at U.S. 31 through late-December; and the eastbound I-465 ramp to southbound Meridian Street through mid-December.
Through traffic on U.S. 31 northbound and southbound, and traffic from I-465 eastbound and westbound to U.S. 31 north will be unrestricted.
The speed limit on I-465 and U.S. 31 will be reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone while activity is occurring, and delays are expected.
During two community meetings in fall 2024 and spring 2025, INDOT noted adjustments to the interchange are a direct result of growth in Hamilton County. That growth has rendered previous future traffic estimations moot. In 2015, INDOT estimated that by 2035, traffic counts though the interchange would total 92,930 vehicles per day. However, as of 2023, that daily count had already exceeded 83,000.
The project will be completed in four phases, anticipated for completion in late 2027.
Detour routes will be posted. Learn more at LevelUp31.com.
INDOT
FINDING HER RHYTHM
German native pursues music career in Noblesville
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
When Aura Ray moved to the U.S. three years ago from Germany to pursue her music career, she imagined her journey would eventually lead back to her small hometown near Frankfort.
Instead, it brought her to Noblesville.
Ray, 23, is a pop singer and songwriter who is working on her debut album. She has recorded several singles that are available to stream on apps like Spotify and Apple Music.
Ray plays guitar and sings with her boyfriend, Sean Noel, at venues such as Bar Ellis in Noblesville and Songbird Social House in Carmel. Noel collaborates in the song-writing process and produces some of Ray’s music.
Ray also writes music.
“Music is a kind of therapy for me,” Ray said. “I think every artist may say that, but it’s true. Writing music has helped me through so many phases of my life.”
One of those phases includes the aftermath of a tragic accident in 2015. While waiting in line to enter a public pool in Germany, Ray was struck by a car. She suffered two brain injuries and a broken foot. A person standing next to her was killed.
“I luckily survived, and that changed my perspective on life,” Ray said. “I decided I didn’t want to follow the typical system of graduating high school and going to college. I wanted to see the world and experience more.”
She said the accident also changed her perspective on music.
“I tried therapy, and nothing really helped, but music did,” Ray said. “That’s when I realized music was the only thing that would help me out of that traumatic experience.”
Noel marvels at Ray’s music skills.
“I met Aura in 2022,” said Noel, who also sings and plays trombone with Ray. “She is an incredible talent that makes me look good. Her voice is super soulful and uniquely potent.”
As an up-and-coming artist, Ray said she faces the challenge of trying to stand out.
“It’s so hard nowadays to make it as a musician and show your artistry and songs,” Ray said. “I feel a little bit of pres-
sure, especially with social media, which is challenging as a musician.”
Despite the challenges, she said landing in Hamilton County has provided her with an abundance of resources.
“It’s so beautiful what Carmel has become, and even downtown Noblesville,” Ray said. “America is the scene for music, and Hamilton County reminds me so much of my home country. The music scene has developed, and I love seeing local musicians perform. It is really inspiring to see so many local restaurants support local music.”
Bar Ellis co-owner Lisa Wampler said having local artists perform at the business creates a special connection between guests, the community and music.
“Getting to know Aura not just as a performer but as a person has been such a joy,” Wampler said. “Her talent and personality bring an energy that truly adds to the (Bar Ellis) experience. Supporting local artists is at the heart of what we do.”
Ray is working on writing her debut album and hopes to complete it by May of next year. She recently traveled back to her home nation to participate in “The Voice of Germany,” a reality talent show. Her season premiered Sept. 25, and viewers can watch at Joyn.de.
“I applied in September last year just for fun to see if that would be a possibility, and I got a call back,” Ray said. “It’s a whole process with interviews, but eventually they asked me to come to Germany
to participate.”
Although Ray cannot talk much about the outcome of her time on the show, she said it was a good steppingstone for her career.
“I just want to keep writing music,” Ray said. “I’ve written songs from missing home to certain relationships, and I want to keep doing that and for people to resonate. Music is my Plan A, and there is no Plan B. I will stick to it until I am not on this earth anymore.”
For more, visit instagram.com/ auraraymusic.
ON THE COVER: Aura Ray is featured on Season 15 of the “The Voice of Germany.” (Photo courtesy of Aura Ray)
DEBUT ALBUM
Aura Ray plans to release her debut album next year. She released her latest single, “Virtual Hug,” in June.
She said she enjoys the process of making and album, but it involves a lot of overthinking.
“You get to collaborate with a lot of musicians and make beautiful connections that will last forever,” Ray said. “Making an album is like a chaotic roller coaster because I want to have the perfect album, but in the end, I just want to make something I am proud of.”
She said her long-term goal is to bring her original songs to the stages of Nashville’s music scene.
“It would be great to have the financial possibilities to move to Nashville, and it definitely would be a dream of mine to study there,” Ray said. “I would love to continue music there and bring my songs to life on those stages.”
Ray also hopes people will appreciate her dedication.
“When you are releasing songs, it takes so much effort, money and sleepless nights,” Ray said. “I hope to feel appreciation at the end of this project.”
Aura Ray performs on “The Voice of Germany.” (Photo courtesy of Joyn/André Kowalski)
Sean Noel, left, and Aura Ray perform music around Hamilton County and surrounding communities. (Photo courtesy of Aura Ray)
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
PROFILE IN COURAGE
Fishers resident stays positive through cancer fight
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Fishers resident Leah Hempfling, a phone triage nurse for Riley Children’s Health Neurology in Carmel, is no stranger to the heavy physical and mental strains of life-threatening medical battles — including her own.
A three-time cancer survivor, Hempfling, 55, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2009. She was in remission for 12 years before being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.
Since then, she has had two recurrences. Yet, she has remained strong throughout her healing journey and is resolute in her fight against the disease.
“I think some of the positives is that my breast cancers have been found early, and it’s treatable,” Hempfling said. “I hold on to the hope that as long as I stay strong and keep a positive mind, I’m going to get through this. I’m not going down without a fight.”
Hempling’s oncologist, Dr. Nawal Kassem, said her unwavering strength and determination helps her with treatment.
“Throughout the time I’ve known her, if anything came up or she was concerned about something, she would let me know,” Kassem said. “Staying positive has helped her tremendously throughout all of this. She’s a perfect example of resilience.”
Hempfling was initially diagnosed with right breast cancer and chose to have a right lumpectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a small tumor or lump from the breast.
Continued on Page 18
Fishers resident Leah Hempfling during cancer treatment. (Photos courtesy of Emma Packard)
Kassem
“You can’t just put it off.”
Heather, Breast Cancer Survivor
Life is known for throwing curveballs, which is why it’s important to plan ahead. This includes prioritizing your annual mammogram. The simple screening takes about 15 minutes, and with Community Health Network, you have the option to schedule ahead of time or visit one of the walk-in clinics. When it comes to a reliable, safe and certain way to prioritize your health — and your peace of mind — you can count on the experts at Community Health Network.
Annual mammograms are an essential part of your health routine. Something so simple and convenient can save your life.
Schedule your screening mammogram today or find a walk-in location near you at eCommunity.com/mammogram
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
Hoosier Breast Cancer Advocates helped organize “Pink Out the Statehouse” in spring to bring awareness to lawmakers. (Photo courtesy of Heather Pirowski)
Advocacy group works to improve laws, save lives
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Breast cancer survivor Heather Pirowski co-founded Hoosier Breast Cancer Advocates in part because of her son’s high school AP research project, which showed most women didn’t understand that the legally required dense breast tissue notification means cancer is more difficult to see and they might want to get a more thorough screening.
Pirowski said she was one of those women.
“I didn’t realize that when, if you have dense breasts, mammograms don’t really work because dense breasts hide and mask cancer,” she said. “If I would have been told that I needed additional diagnosis testing, who knows if I would have been Stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer when I was officially diagnosed?”
Pirowski teamed up with another breast cancer survivor, Carrie Cagnassola, to form Hoosier Breast Cancer Advocates and together they were able to convince state lawmakers in 2024 to change the notification, making it clearer, and to improve the standard of care provided to people with breast cancer.
This year, she said, they worked with lawmakers to establish a state fund to support breast cancer research. The fund doesn’t have any money in it yet because of fiscal challenges, she said, but creating it was a first, important step in the process. She hopes that in the near future, funds will be made available to help save lives.
“Over 5,500 Hoosiers are diagnosed with breast cancer every year — That’s the entire town of Cicero diagnosed with breast cancer every year,” she said. “And over 900 of us die, which is the town of Shipshewana, dead every year of breast cancer.”
Pirowski said she’ll “talk about boobs” anytime to help raise awareness among lawmakers as well as the general public. To that end, her group helped organize “Pink Out the Statehouse” in March, which brought more than 20 breast cancer organizations to the capitol for a program that included an audience of 48 state lawmakers. It was so successful, she said another “Pink Out the Statehouse” already has been scheduled for Feb. 17, 2026.
Hoosier Breast Cancer Advocates is “small but mighty,” Pirowski said, with only three organizers who coordinate the group’s volunteers and advocates throughout Indiana. She added that they plan to launch a new “Pink Out” podcast to share survivor stories, information about research and more.
For more, visit hoosierbcadvocates.com.
Early detection, doctors give woman new outlook after cancer
By Samantha Kupiainen news@youarecurrent.com
[Editor’s note: To protect her medical privacy, Current is not publishing Melissa’s last name.]
When Melissa’s doctor told her that her routine mammogram turned up “something that we just need to keep an eye on,” she knew in her gut what it was. She didn’t need to wait for further testing to know she had breast cancer.
“I didn’t want to dwell on it,” said Melissa, a breast cancer survivor. “I was ready to take those next steps before we even knew that official diagnosis.”
Doctors had a hard time staging her cancer because it was caught so early. Throughout treatment, she was never given a stage. Prior to her annual mammogram, she had virtually no signs or symptoms that anything was wrong.
According to the National Institute of Health, most breast cancers are most commonly detected through mammograms, an X-ray of the breast that can detect cancer before signs or symptoms surface.
Dr. Samuel Heiser, a surgeon at Riverview Health and a member of Melissa’s care team, said finding breast cancer early is key because that’s when it’s most treatable.
Currently, there are four ways to treat breast cancer.
“Surgery is used first, either just a lumpectomy where we remove just the tumor, or it can be a mastectomy, where the whole breast is removed,” Heiser said.
Additional treatment options include radiation or chemotherapy. For Melissa, her case required radiation. According to Mayo Clinic, “Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be used to treat many types of cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.”
“We’re lucky enough now to have very specific testing that can indicate whether or not chemotherapy might be successful for a particular person,” Heiser said. “Not everybody by any means gets chemotherapy for their breast cancer, but we can test to see what the probability is that chemotherapy would be helpful.”
Lastly, in some cases, endocrine therapy or hormone blocking therapy is a successful option in treating breast cancer.
The American Cancer Society reports “about 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women” in 2025. Melissa began treatment at the beginning of June 2025 and was
cancer-free by the end of July 2025.
Throughout the treatment process, Melissa stayed active and didn’t require much downtime, which she said was a blessing and helped her stay positive throughout.
Looking back on her cancer journey, Melissa said the three main components that helped were her care team, a positive mindset and not a lot of downtime. She also kept the circle of people who knew about her diagnosis small, which she did intentionally so others wouldn’t voice opinions or foment fear.
“I’m a pretty big faith-based person, so having that trust that it was going to be OK,” she said. “I didn’t feel down. I never had that ‘woe is me.’ I moved through the process and they (doctors) kept me very informed. I think getting that information makes you feel like you know what to expect and it doesn’t make it scary anymore. I think that’s why there’s such a stigmatism. It doesn’t have to be scary.”
When Melissa was diagnosed, she got a second opinion.
“I needed to know that that was where I was supposed to be,” she said.
She received her treatment through Riverview Health, where she was first diagnosed. Doctors there encouraged her to get a second opinion.
“It is a very different feeling when you go to different places, and maybe some place that was comfortable for me might not be comfortable for everybody else, but you have to find that,” she said. “I think that makes a big difference on your road, your recovery, all of the procedures.”
Melissa recalls her care team calling her on weekends to check in. She also said she felt comfortable asking questions and appreciated being able to call her nurse navigator whenever she needed her.
“I think having a support group that you trust is a huge part of the process and recovery,” Melissa said. “For me, it was my family, my doctors — all of them, down to all of the therapists. I felt very comfortable asking any question that I had and they made me feel very comfortable asking any question.”
Now that she’s cancer-free, Melissa looks forward to the future and has a positive outlook.
“It’s been, I think, a really good experience,” she said. “That sounds crazy to say, but I think sometimes things like this are wakeup calls, not only to make sure you’re taking care of yourself but making sure you’re prioritizing what needs to be prioritized in your life. I can’t say that I’m great at it because I don’t know anybody that’s great at it, but making sure what is important is really front and center of my life.”
Heiser
Continued from Page 15
“Of course, the first time I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was in shock and had a hard time with it,” Hempfling said.
Following surgery, her doctors, including Kassem, a breast oncologist specializing in genetics at the IU Health Joe & Shelly Schwarz Cancer Center in Carmel, discovered her cancer had advanced.
Hempfling underwent four rounds of high-dose chemotherapy and 15 radiation treatments. She also started endocrine therapy, a type of cancer treatment that uses hormones or drugs to alter the hormone balance in the body.
Following treatment, in 2022, doctors discovered she had a tumor in her left breast.
“The second time, I was even more shocked,” Hempfling said. “I just have to have a positive attitude. I can’t let cancer define who I am, and I can’t sit at home feeling sorry for myself.”
Kassem said a biopsy showed estrogen receptor-negative ductal carcinoma.
“When we see that, it essentially tells us that this is a Stage 0 breast cancer, and usually the treatment is going in for surgery to see if there’s an invasive disease in the vicinity,” Kassem said.
Hempfling chose to have a double mastectomy, a surgical procedure to remove both breasts. Kassem said when she went in for surgery, the mass was larger than expected.
“Quite frankly, the biopsy didn’t even give us a clear indication,” Kassem said. “It was not Stage 0. It was triple-negative breast cancer.”
Kassem said the goal was to do 18 chemotherapy treatments, but Hempfling was struggling with wound healing following surgery, so she only completed 12.
“It was toxicity from chemotherapy, in addition to the fact that she had complications post-surgery, in addition to the fact that she’s had several rounds of chemotherapy in the five- or seven-years prior,” Kassem said.
Following a reconstructive surgery in 2023 and the removal of her chemotherapy port in 2024, Hempfling received more devastating news — a recurrence of right breast cancer.
“It was a little shocking,” Hemp-
fling said. “I was told if I had the double mastectomy and went through chemo and radiation, it would help put me in remission. So, finding the cancer, especially back in my right breast, was really surprising. But I finally was able to tell myself that I’m at peace with this.”
Hempfling had a right axillary lymph node dissection, a procedure that involves removing lymph nodes from the armpit. She chose not to undergo more chemotherapy.
“She had a significant number of positive lymph nodes when they did the surgery,” Kassem said. “I wasn’t enthused about her doing chemotherapy, and I told her I did not know how much benefit, if any, that she would derive from it.”
Hempfling now takes two cancer drugs, tamoxifen and verzenio, to stop cancer cell growth. She said although she carries herself well, her cancer journey has been difficult.
Hemplfing encourages cancer patients to take things day by day.
“I would tell other patients to make sure they feel comfortable with their medical team and ask a lot of questions,” Hempfling said. “I know sometimes it can be hard. I do have my days when I’m not feeling very well, but I’m able to get up every morning and go to work. I just want to continue living.”
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
How cosmetic tattoos help restore wholeness after surgery
Commentary By Kait James
The journey of healing after breast surgery extends far beyond physical recovery. It encompasses emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects, as well.
For individuals undergoing nipple reconstruction through cosmetic tattooing, the process of healing is not only about restoring physical aesthetics but also about reclaiming a sense of wholeness and self-confidence. It is a profound journey of healing during the post-cosmetic tattooed nipple phase, highlighting the importance of self-care, emotional support and embracing the beauty of resilience.
Nurturing the healing process following the cosmetic tattooing of nipples, the initial phase of healing begins. This period is characterized by sensitivity, as the skin adjusts to the pigmentation and the body initiates its natural healing mechanisms. It’s crucial during this time to prioritize gentle care, ensuring that the treated area remains clean, hydrated and protected from external irritants.
PRACTICAL
TIPS FOR HEALING
Keep the area clean: Follow the aftercare instructions provided by your cosmetic tattoo artist diligently. Gently cleanse the treated area with mild soap and water to prevent infection and promote healing.
Moisturize regularly: Apply a recommended moisturizer or healing ointment to keep the skin hydrated and prevent dryness or cracking.
Avoid sun exposure: Protect the treated area from direct sunlight and UV radiation, as exposure can cause fading and affect the longevity of the tattoo.
Avoid abrasive activities: Refrain from engaging in activities that may irritate or traumatize the healing skin, such as rigorous exercise or wearing tight clothing.
Patience is key: Understand that the healing process takes time; be patient with your body as it adjusts to the cosmetic tattooing.
EMBRACING EMOTIONAL HEALING
Beyond the physical aspects, the journey of healing also involves emotional resilience and self-compassion. For many individuals, undergoing cosmetic tattooing for nipple reconstruction is a deeply personal and empowering experience. It’s essential to acknowledge and honor the emotional journey, allowing
oneself to feel a range of emotions from gratitude and joy to vulnerability and sensitivity.
COPING STRATEGIES:
Seek support: Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family or fellow survivors who can offer empathy, understanding and encouragement.
Express yourself: Journaling, art therapy, or engaging in creative activities can provide an outlet for processing emotions and expressing oneself authentically.
Practice self-compassion: Be gentle with yourself during this vulnerable time. Practice self-care rituals that nourish your mind, body and spirit, whether it’s meditation, gentle yoga or spending time in nature.
Celebrate milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate milestones in your healing journey, whether it’s the completion of the tattooing process or small victories along the way. Stay connected: Stay connected with your cosmetic tattoo artist for follow-up appointments and ongoing support throughout the healing process. They can offer guidance, reassurance and touch-ups as needed.
THE BEAUTY OF RESILIENCE
As the body heals and the cosmetic tattooed nipples settle into final appearance, there’s a profound beauty in the resilience of the human spirit. Each scar, each imperfection, tells a story of survival and strength — a testament to the journey of transformation and renewal. By embracing the process of healing with compassion, patience and self-love, individuals can emerge from their cosmetic tattooed-nipple journey with a newfound sense of confidence, wholeness and beauty.
Healing during the post-cosmetic tattooed nipple phase is a multifaceted journey that encompasses physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions. By nurturing the body with gentle care, embracing emotional healing with compassion and self-expression, and celebrating the beauty of resilience, individuals can navigate this transformative process with grace and empowerment. Ultimately, the journey of healing is not just about restoring what was lost but also about discovering newfound strength, self-acceptance and beauty in the journey itself.
Kait James is the owner of Lux in the Village of WestClay in Carmel. She is a licensed esthetician, as well as an Indiana University graduate with a degree in psychology and a Kelley School graduate with an MBA in business health care management. For more information, email her at luxurydebeaute@gmail.com.
James
Leah Hempfling, a three-time cancer survivor and a phone triage nurse for Riley Children’s Health Neurology in Carmel, said she won’t go down without a fight.
(Photo courtesy of Emma Packard)
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
Supporting your senses during chemo: an Ayurvedic path
Commentary by Rachel Greenberg
SOUND: RESTORING HARMONY
While chemotherapy is one of modern medicine’s greatest gifts, it also places deep demands on the body. It calls for strength, resilience and patience while testing the spirit in equal measure. Yet, the human body is not fragile; it holds a profound intelligence with the capacity to heal and regenerate. As recipients of chemotherapy, our central priority is stress reduction through lifestyle choices that support the body’s natural healing intelligence.
Ayurveda, the ancient science of balance from India, offers gentle practices that complement medical treatment. By being intentional about what we eat, see, hear, touch and smell, we can invite steadiness, comfort and joy into daily life. These shifts become a way to reclaim agency, nurture body and spirit, and move with greater ease through the challenges of cancer treatment.
TASTE: FOOD AS MEDICINE
What we eat directly affects energy, digestion and comfort. During chemo, appetite may shift, but gentle nourishment can make a difference.
• Favor: Warm, cooked meals such as soups, stews and porridge; root vegetables; mild spices like ginger, turmeric and cinnamon; and soothing teas such as chamomile or licorice.
• Reduce: Cold or raw foods, heavily processed meals, fried or spicy dishes, alcohol and excess caffeine.
SIGHT: CREATING CALM
The eyes influence mood and stress levels more than we realize. Surroundings that feel chaotic can heighten anxiety.
• Favor: Natural light, soft colors (such as green and blue), simple and uncluttered spaces, flowers, or time spent looking at trees, sky or water.
Sound directly impacts the nervous system. Gentle choices help regulate mood and energy.
• Favor: Calming music, such as acoustic or soft instrumental; nature sounds; short periods of quiet and gentle, guided meditations.
• Reduce: Constant exposure to screens, harsh lighting, clutter and distressing media.
• Reduce: Loud television, aggressive or fast-tempo music, constant background noise and overstimulation from multitasking.
TOUCH: COMFORT AND GROUNDING
The skin is a gateway for soothing the body. Gentle touch can ease tension and promote rest.
• Favor: Soft clothing, warm baths, weighted blankets, or light self-massage and extra hugs from loved ones.
• Reduce: Synthetic fabrics that irritate the skin, harshly cold environments, or overstimulation from rough textures.
SMELL: HEALING AROMAS
Scent connects directly to memory and emotion, offering quick relief from stress or discomfort.
• Favor: Lavender, rose, sandalwood, or peppermint essential oils; the aroma of warm herbal teas; fresh flowers; or clean, natural air.
• Reduce: Strong chemical cleaners, synthetic fragrances, cigarette smoke and overpowering scents that may worsen nausea.
A GENTLE REMINDER
Ayurveda does not replace medical treatment, but it does offer supportive tools. By favoring sensory experiences that nourish and reducing those that overwhelm, you can create more ease during chemotherapy and give your body and spirit steady ground to heal.
Rachel Greenberg is an Ayurvedic health counselor. For more information, you may email her at bookofrach@gmail.com.
Greenberg
New bistro now open
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Red Bridge Bistro opened last month at 109 W. Jackson St. in Cicero.
General Manager
RESTAURANT
Tom Paris, a Westfield resident, describes the menu as elevated pub food.
“We try to take everything that’s a simple item but do it in a unique and different way, and we were very strategic in building our menu,” Paris said. “For instance, we don’t sell regular deviled eggs. We do fried deviled eggs.”
The menu includes buffalo chicken grilled cheese — a combination of roasted chicken in a cream cheese buffalo mix; and a fried bologna sandwich, made with thin-sliced mortadella served on sourdough bread with a spicy maple mustard sauce.
“Our pot roast sliders are our No. 1 seller,” Paris said. “We braise our own chuck roast in a liquid with some vegetables and herbs, and that goes for four to five hours. Once it’s all tender, we strain out that liquid and serve it on the side of the pot roast sliders as a dip. So, it’s like a play on a French dip, but our style.”
Paris got his start in the restaurant business washing dishes when he was 14.
“After graduating from Carmel High
School in 1995, I went to culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu French Culinary Academy down in Florida,” Paris said.
Paris worked in several fine-dining restaurants and hotel kitchens, including as a restaurant chef for a 1,500-room Hilton resort, before moving back to Indiana. After taking time away from the culinary world to spend time with his children, Paris was approached by his childhood friend with an idea — creating Red Bridge Bistro.
For more, visit redbridgebistro.com.
New home permits increase
news@youarecurrent.com
The latest monthly review of new home permits issued in central Indiana by the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis shows a 3 percent year-over-year increase in August — a number BAGI officials said signals buyer demand and market adaptability.
GROWTH
According to the report issued late last month, total new-home permits issued in the nine-county Indianapolis region for August were 7,048, versus 6,822 in 2024. Although Noblesville outpaced Westfield in new-home permits issued in August — 87 in Noblesville versus 78 in Westfield — the City of Westfield has issued the most permits in suburban Indianapolis overall in 2025, totalling 860 since Jan. 1.
New-home permits issued since January include 413 in Noblesville; 270 in Fishers; 176 in Carmel; 445 in Whitestown; 150 in Zionsville; 66 in Lawrence; and 227 in
New home permits continue to increase in central Indiana.
(File photo)
The City of Indianapolis is the only municipality on the list to issue more newhome permits than Westfield, with 1,117 from January through August.
According to BAGI, month-to-month performance varied across central Indiana, but overall growth reflects builder resilience amid ongoing economic pressures, including interest rate fluctuations and inflation concerns.
“Even as individual counties experience ups and downs, the broader central Indiana market is proving its staying power,” stated BAGI CEO Chris Hancock.
See the report at BAGI.com/Permits.
Brownsburg.
Pot roast sliders at Red Bridge Bistro. (Photo courtesy of Red Bridge Bistro)
A deep dive into the season’s artistic offerings
HEARTLAND PREMIERES ‘IGNITE FILM’
Heartland serves up documentary on Ignite’s first season
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Brian Hansen got his first exposure to professional volleyball while running the video replay system for the Indy Ignite.
“I hadn’t had a lot of exposure to volleyball before and as I’m sitting there on the sideline, I’m just floored with how physical and athletic the game is,” he said. “As a documentarian, I’m always looking at angles. I’m looking at the coaches and how excited they are (and how) engaged everybody is on the sidelines. I’m thinking, ‘We need to get some cameras and audio in there and we need to capture this because this is too good to pass up.’”
That’s when Hansen approached Indy Ignite officials about producing a documentary on the expansion team’s first year at Fishers Event Center. Hansen has directed nearly 30 documentaries — a mix of full features and shorts.
around,” Mohler said. “I think it’s so cool to capture the inside of what we’re doing, and you wouldn’t guess it, but I love being the center of attention sometimes. After about five seconds, you forget they’re even there. Obviously, our main focus is volleyball. I’m just focusing on what we’re doing and knowing that they are capturing every moment of it.”
Mohler said she is glad the season was captured in a film.
“This documentary is going to show every up and down that we faced throughout the season because a lot of the times we would forget they were even in there and just carry on with our normalcy,” she said. “From an outside eye, people wouldn’t have expected such a successful season, but I can tell you from being in the gym for the first week in December, we knew what we had was special. We had a special group that was very passionate, very mature, very driven.
“Ignite the Fire,” a 79-minute documentary, was selected as part of the 34th Heartland International Film Festival, which runs Oct. 9-19 in Indianapolis. The world premiere of “Ignite the Fire” will be at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Living Room Theaters in Indianapolis. Tickets for those screenings are sold out. An additional screening of the film will be at 5:30 p.m. Oct.16 at the Indianapolis Art Center. Tickets for that screening and at-home streaming are available at HeartlandFilmFestival.org.
In their first season, the fourth-seeded Ignite lost to Orlando 3 games to 1 in the Pro Volleyball Federation championship in May. The league’s name was changed to Major League Volleyball following the season. Hansen said the team was thrilling to watch on and off the court.
Hansen, a longtime Fishers resident, and Juan Guillen, were the film’s co-directors
“In terms of a documentary standpoint,
they were creating storylines just by playing every game, players getting injured, players having awesome games,” Hansen said. “Stories were everywhere.”
The coaches wore microphones during the matches. Players wore microphones during practice.
“Then we went into the locker room after some of the matches and captured all the fun that was in there,” he said. “We also interviewed players and captured the press conference feeds.”
Hansen said his two daughters, now in their 20s, were involved in music and marching band,
“So, I had never had a front row seat to this kind of female athleticism, this type of action and grit that these women are putting out there every night,” he said.
Hansen said he ended up with around 40 hours of footage which took about 300 hours to edit.
Ignite middle blocker Blake Mohler, who wore a microphone during practice, said she is eager to see the film in its entirety.
“I’m so used to cameras being around, and if I’m being honest, I love cameras being
“I think showing our authentic self is what fans really love.”
Carly Klanac, vice president of marketing and game day experience for Indy Ignite, was the film’s producer
“The story of the inaugural season of the Indy Ignite is one that needs to be told,” Klanac stated. “It shows the grit of a team, full of rookies and undersized ballers, that came together and came up with an unexpected second-place finish in their first-ever season in Major League Volleyball.’
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR
Heartland Festival will present the world premiere of “Sweet Lorraine in Auschwitz” at 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Tobias Theater at Newfields. The feature-length documentary tells the story of Holocaust survivor Frank Grunwald, who lived in Fishers for more than 25 years and was deeply active in the Indianapolis arts and civic community until he died in 2023 at the age of 90. The film’s writer and director is Fishers resident Philip Paluso. Westfield resident Amber Maze is the writer-producer. For more showings, visit heartlandflim.org.
EVENTS CALENDAR
‘SOMETHING ROTTEN’
Thru Oct. 18
At The Tarkington in Carmel, visit civictheatre.org for more.
PHIL WICKHAM- AIR1 WORSHIP
NOW TOUR
Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
At the Fishers Event Center, visit fisherseventcenter.com for more.
IL DIVO BY CANDLELIGHT
Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
‘TOOTSIE’
Oct. 16 - Nov. 23
At the Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, visit beefandboards.com for more.
AIDA CUEVAS: 50 YEARS SINGING TO MEXICO
Oct. 10 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
CROWDER, PASSION MUSIC, LOUIE
GIGLIO, KARI JOBE CARNES & CODY
CARNES
Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
At the Fishers Event Center, visit fisherseventcenter.com for more.
Juan Guillen, left, and Brian Hansen co-directed the documentary “Ignite the Fire.” (Photo courtesy of Indy Ignite)
Daniel Wilke, left, and Jacob Schilling perform as brothers in Civic Theatre’s production of “Something Rotten.” (Photo courtesy of Joshua Hasty)
Mohler
SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS BRINGS ORIGINAL SOUND
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Squirrel Nut Zippers features a combination of jazz and swing music with roots from a bygone era.
“It’s the showmanship of an early show biz or vaudeville show as well,” said James “Jimbo” Mathus, a founding member. “We’re known for writing, composing our own numbers. It’s not a historical recreation. It’s all original material, varying influences but between the 1930s, ’40s era of swing jazz, hot jazz, Harlem jazz, gypsy jazz and all the early weird American music. I channel all that together. If you heard it, you might think the songs are old songs. Well, they are now.”
Mathus co-founded the band in 1993 while living in North Carolina. He is the only founding member remaining.
Squirrel Nut Zippers will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. It’s the band’s first appearance at the venue.
“We do a lot of historical theaters,” Mathus
said. “Our main venues are auditoriums or theaters or performing arts centers. We’re just basically a jazz band at heart, so we’re easy to mix (acoustically). We try to pick the venues that best suit the people that want to come and see us. They are not necessarily diehard jazz fans. Some of these people have been listening to us for 25 years and have children that have grown up listening to us. We like it a little lively and a little rowdy. A proper jazz band should have an element of danger, in my opinion.”
The name “nut zipper” is derived from a Prohibition-era drink of bootleg moonshine. The band came up with the name from a newspaper headline of an intoxicated man climbing a tree. The music style has roots in the Back O’ Town neighborhood in New Orleans. Most of the band lives in New Orleans, but Mathus lives in Mississippi. Mathus said they have done a few cover albums.
“But most of the songs we’re known for are our own compositions,” he said. “I think that’s
International Violin Competition of Indianapolis
Rosamunde QuaRtet
Tuesday, October 21 | 7:30 PM
Indiana Landmarks Center
In this collaboration with Ensemble Music, the all-star members of the Rosamunde Quartet feature a recital of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Pulitzer Prize winning composer George Walker.
dances & Romances!
Tuesday, January 27 | 7:30 PM
Indiana History Center
As the first Gold Medalist in IVCI history, Mihaela Martin holds a special place in the organization’s legacy. She joins pianist Chih-Yi Chen in a recital inspired by rhythmic folk traditions and passions.
2022 Gold medalist siRena HuanG
Thursday, February 19 | 7:30 PM
Indiana Landmarks Center
2022 Gold Medalist Sirena Huang and 2017 APA Winner Drew Petersen unite for a thrilling recital in this collaboration with the American Piano Awards.
what sets us apart. We have the musicianship and the skill of a proper nine-piece jazz band.”
Most of the songs contain vocals, Mathus said.
“We’re known for our lyrics and our kind of subversive humor and stuff like that,” he said. “We’ve always done a few instrumentals, but they are mostly vocal numbers.”
Mathus, who is often the emcee, said he shares the microphone with four other singers.
“We like to keep it moving,” he said. “There is so much talent on stage, I love to share the spotlight.”
Mathus said the band packs a lot into its 90-minute show, including all the fan favorites.
The band’s most recent album, “Lost Songs of Doc Souchon,” was released in 2020. The band has sold more than 3 million albums.
The band plays 40 to 50 shows a year.
“We don’t want to wear out the excitement,” he said. “When we do get together, it’s a little run once a month or every couple of months.”
For more, visit thecenterpresents.org and snzippers.com.
2018 lauReate sHannon lee
Tuesday, March 24 | 7:30 PM
Indiana History Center
In her highly anticipated Indianapolis recital debut, 2018 Laureate Shannon Lee pairs with acclaimed pianist/composer Arseniy Gusev in a captivating 20th-century program.
an eveninG witH tessa laRk, cHaRles YanG & PeteR duGan
Tuesday, April 14 | 7:30 PM | The Cabaret
Join 2014 Silver Medalist Tessa Lark, violinist Charles Yang (Time for Three) and pianist Peter Dugan (From The Top) at The Cabaret in an evening of classical, jazz and pop fusion. (Note: Reserve early - this concert will sell out!)
Squirrel Nut Zippers will perform at the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Allied Solutions Center)
EVENTS CALENDAR
MATTHEW MORRISON: RHYTHMS & REVELATIONS
Oct. 17 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
AN EVENING WITH TOMMY EMMANUEL, CGP
Oct. 18 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
VIENNA BOYS CHOIR
Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
ROSAMUNDE QUARTET
Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
At The Indiana Landmarks Center, visit violin. org for more.
SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS: JAZZ FROM THE BACK O’ TOWN
Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
‘YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN’
Oct. 24- Nov. 9
Presented by Actors Theatre of Indian
At the Studio Theatre in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.com for more.
A MODERN GOTHIC VAMPIRE BALLET
Oct. 24-25
At The Tarkington, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org for more.
JESSE COOK: LIVE IN CONCERT
Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.
At The Tarkington in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY
Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 2 at 2 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
HEATHER LAND LIVE
Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.
At The Tarkington in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
SEAN CHEN & ESCHER STRING QUARTET
Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
At the Indiana Landmarks Center, visit pianoawards.org for more.
LISA LOEB & JOAN OSBORNE
Nov. 7 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
TITO PUENTE JR. AND HIS LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.
At The Tarkington in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
THE VOICE OF WHITNEY: A SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION
Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
WITH HEARTS OF GRATITUDE
Nov. 9 at 4 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium, visit indianawindsymphony.org for more
BRANDON WOODY’S UPENDO
Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
At The Tarkington in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
SAMARA JOY
Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
JOHN LEGEND: GET LIFTED - 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
At the Fishers Event Center, visit fisherseventcenter.com for more.
PEABO BRYSON
Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
WISH YOU WERE HERE: THE SIGHT AND SOUND OF PINK FLOYD
Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
LES ARTS FLORISSANTS VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS AT 300
Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
‘A BEEF & BOARDS CHRISTMAS 2025’
Nov. 28 - Dec. 31
At the Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, visit beefandboards.com for more.
PLAY CENTERS ON LIFE OF RILEY
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Keith Miller got the idea for his play while visiting Paris.
A friend recited a line from a James Whitcomb Riley poem, and he finished the line. The friend, from Boston, wondered how Miller knew that, and he explained that Riley was from Greenfield
“We all used to learn Riley, but I don’t think he’s taught as much in schools,” said Miller, a Carmel resident who grew up in Indianapolis “So, I’m reintroducing him to this generation.”
started out on a traveling medical circuit, so he was quite the character.”
Miller’s play features a fictional backstage conversation with Riley and assistant stage manager Caleb Johnson. The play, directed by Richard J. Roberts, features Paul Hansen as Riley and Nolan Daugherty as Johnson.
Miller’s two-person play will be part of Actors Theatre of Indiana’s Lab Series reading of “An Evening with James Whitcomb Riley.” The 75-minute free reading is set for 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at Carmel Clay Public Library.
The play is based on Riley and Mark Twain’s joint appearance in 1894 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“Mark Twain hated performing with Riley because he upstaged Twain,” Miller said. “(Riley) was a bon vivant. He was a raconteur. He
Miller said Roberts has been a huge help
“I’ve done eight revisions of the play and it’s a much better work now because of his involvement,” Miller said. Miller, 68, has always wanted to be a writer. He has had more time to write since retiring three years ago from his job in cardiac surveillance sales.
Following the Lab Series reading, the play will be presented by ATI in a fully staged production as a benefit for the Riley Children’s Hospital Foundation and the James Whitcomb Riley House. The benefit performance will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 19, 2026, at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Anyone interested in attending the reading should register at bit. ly/42QiJnU.
CSO FEATURES CLASSICS
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Kelly Corcoran is excited about the repertoire of her Carmel Symphony Orchestra guest conducting stint.
Corcoran will conduct “Drama! Beethoven & Brahms” at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. The 2025-26 season-opening concert features Ludwig von Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture,” Edvard Grieg’s “Holbert Suite, op. 40” and Johannes Brahms’ “Symphony No. 1, op 68.”
are really, truly rooted in what makes classical music great.”
This is the first of Corcoran’s three guest-conducting appearances for CSO this season. She also will conduct concerts in February and April in 2026.
“These are like the greatest hits in terms of classic composers, right?” Corcoran said. “So, I think just leaning into the beauty of great orchestral music and presenting that with commitment and passion and artistry and great music-making like that is what people will hopefully experience if they come in October just to hear great orchestral music that you don’t get to hear live every day. I just think it’s kind of fun to be presenting programs that
“Each of them on their own are wonderful pieces,” she said, “All are representative of these composers and their musical language. In Brahms’ ‘Symphony No. 1,’ you hear the lyricism, you hear drama, you hear maturity. I just love Brahms, in general. It’s one of my favorite pieces.”
Corcoran was a CSO guest conductor in 2017.
“I’m looking forward to working with everybody again and being in that beautiful venue,” she said.
Corcoran, director of a contemporary music ensemble in Nashville, Tenn., typically guest conducts on the road once a month. She occasionally conducts with the Nashville Symphony, including a Nov. 15 concert with country artist Randy Travis.
For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
Miller
Corcoran
BLUES TRAVELER, GIN BLOSSOMS EVENT SUPPORTS SCHOOLS
editorial@youarecurrent.com
Two hitmakers from the 1990s are teaming up for a night of hits when Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms perform live Feb. 20, 2026, at the Fishers Event Center in Fishers for the second of a Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation Legacy Celebration. A portion of proceeds will benefit the staff and students at Hamilton Southeastern Schools.
More than 35 years ago, the four original members of Blues Traveler — John Popper, Chandler Kinchla, Brendan Hill,and the late Bobby Sheehan — gathered in their drummer’s parent’s basement in Princeton, N.J., to jam. From those high school sessions emerged a band that would go on to release 14 studio albums, four of which have gone gold, three platinum and one six-times platinum. The band has sold more than 10 million units worldwide.
eler’s Blues,” was nominated for a Grammy in the category of “Best Traditional Blues Album.”
Blues Traveler has played more than 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people and, in “Run-Around,” had the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history, which earned it a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Gin Blossoms are an American alternative rock band formed in 1987 in Tempe, Ariz. The band rose to prominence following the 1992 release of its first major-label album, “New Miserable Experience,” and the first single released from that album, “Hey Jealousy,” became a Top 25 hit and went gold.
The band’s movie credits include “Blues Brothers 2000,” “Kingpin” and “Wildflowers,” among others. The has been featured on “Saturday Night Live,” “Austin City Limits” and VH1’s “Behind the Music,” and have the record for the most appearances of any artist on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
Blues Traveler’s latest effort, 2021’s “Trav-
“New Miserable Experience” eventually went quadruple platinum, and three other charting singles were released from the album, including “Allison Road” and “Until I Fall Away.” The band’s follow-up album, “Congratulations I’m Sorry” (1996), went platinum and included the Grammy-nominated “As Long as It Matters” and the top 10 single “Follow You Down.”
Tickets are on sale at fisherseventcenter.com.
Indianapolis Children’s Choir Gala Set
The Indianapolis Children’s Choir will be decked out in red for its annual fundraising gala from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. This year’s ICC Gala will be aptly themed for its 40th anniversary, “A Touch of Red,” with a nod to the traditional ruby anniversary gift. “This is always one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” stated Joshua Pedde, the ICC’s executive artistic director. “This gala will be extra special as we look back at the past 40 years and raise funds to continue our music education legacy for many more years to come.” Guests can expect a silent auction of crafted baskets from choir members and local business merchandise, photo ops, a whiskey pull, live entertainment, themed food items and a signature cocktail and mocktails, the Scarlet Serenade and Rhapsody in Rouge. ICC singers will tell their personal stories to guests and also present a live performance. The fundraising goal is $70,000, and funds raised will go directly toward the ICC’s programs and outreach. The ICC serves about 2,000 children from ages 18 months to 18 years through multiple choirs and programs throughout central Indiana. Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets are $125. Tables of eight are also available for $1,000. The deadline to purchase a ticket or a table is Oct.10. For more, visit icchoir.org/gala.
CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR! WE WILL CHOIR
YOU! AN EPIC QUEEN SING-ALONG
THU, OCT 2 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
RICK BRAUN & MINDI ABAIR
SAT, OCT 4 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
IL DIVO BY CANDLELIGHT
THU, OCT 9 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AIDA CUEVAS:
50 YEARS SINGING TO MEXICO
FRI, OCT 10 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MATTHEW MORRISON: RHYTHMS & REVELATIONS
FRI, OCT 17 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AN EVENING WITH TOMMY EMMANUEL, CGP
SAT, OCT 18 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
VIENNA BOYS CHOIR
SUN, OCT 19 AT 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS: JAZZ FROM THE BACK O’ TOWN FRI, OCT 24 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JESSE COOK: LIVE IN CONCERT
SUN, OCT 26 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON
BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY
SAT, NOV 1 AT 8PM & SUN, NOV 2 AT 2PM PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
HEATHER LAND LIVE SAT, NOV 1 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
LISA LOEB & JOAN OSBORNE FRI, NOV 7 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
TITO PUENTE JR. AND HIS LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE SAT, NOV 8 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
THE VOICE OF WHITNEY: A SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION
SAT, NOV 8 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BRANDON WOODY’S UPENDO SUN, NOV 9 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON
SAMARA JOY
FRI, NOV 14 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PEABO BRYSON
FRI, NOV 21 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
WISH YOU WERE HERE: THE SIGHT AND SOUND OF PINK FLOYD
SAT, NOV 22 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LES ARTS FLORISSANTS
VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS AT 300 SUN, NOV 23 AT 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH DAVID FOSTER & KATHARINE MCPHEE
TUE, DEC 2 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SONGBOOK FOUNDATION HOLIDAY SCREENING THU, DEC 4 AT 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS FRI, DEC 5 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND CREOLE CHRISTMAS MON, DEC 8 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SAMANTHA FISH, CEDRIC BURNSIDE, AND JON SPENCER: SHAKE ‘EM ON DOWN TOUR
WED, DEC 10 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS FRI, DEC 12 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SEASON SPONSOR
CHRIS ISAAK SAT, DEC 13 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
LET’S SING TAYLOR:
AN UNOFFICIAL LIVE TRIBUTE SHOW SAT JAN 17 AT 2PM & 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
NEKO CASE: NEON GREY MIDNIGHT GREEN TOUR THU, JAN 22 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MAC MCANALLY
FRI JAN 23 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA WITH RAY CHEN
FRI, JAN 30 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
CECE TENEAL’S DIVAS OF SOUL SAT, JAN 31 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
WAYNE NEWTON: UP CLOSE & PERSONAL SAT, FEB 14 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MARIACHI HERENCIA DE MÉXICO LA NUEVA GENERACIÓN TOUR FRI, FEB 20 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
GREAT AMERICAN CROONERS: A JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS PRODUCTION WED, FEB 25 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PEKING ACROBATS
THU, FEB 26 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE SUN, MAR 1 AT 3PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
CHRIS BOTTI
FRI, MAR 6 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JEROME COLLINS: REWIND A JOURNEY TO MOTOWN AND BEYOND SAT, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON
ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA & MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN SAT, MAR 7 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
GOITSE SUN, MAR 8 AT 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JOSHUA HENRY: GET UP STAND UP FRI, MAR 13 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
GREGORIAN: PURE CHANTS WORLD TOUR FEATURING SONGS OF ENIGMA SAT, MAR 14 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
STEP AFRIKA! THE EVOLUTION TOUR SUN, MAR 15 AT 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ONE NIGHT IN MEMPHIS: THE NUMBER ONE TRIBUTE TO PRESLEY, PERKINS, LEWIS AND CASH THU, MAR 19 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET FRI, MAR 20 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
DIRECT FROM ROME: THE THREE ITALIAN TENORS SUN, MAR 29 AT 7PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
ILLUSIONIST RICK THOMAS SAT, APR 4 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT: BEING ALIVE THU, APR 9 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
CHRIS THILE FRI, APR 10 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN FRI, APR 17 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
JOSHUA BELL THU, APR 23 AT 7:30PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
SNARKY PUPPY SAT, APR 25 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA EXPERIENCE SAT, MAY 2 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
AN EVENING WITH JAKE SHIMABUKURO FRI, MAY 8 AT 8PM | PAYNE & MENCIAS PALLADIUM
PEABO BRYSON
SAMARA JOY JAKE SHIMABUKURO AIDA CUEVAS
BRANFORD MARSALIS
DAVID FOSTER & KATHARINE MCPHEE
HAMILTON COUNTY RISE FEST RETURNS
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton County RISE Fest, a free music festival where 100 percent of proceeds and donations benefit selected Hamilton County nonprofits, returns to Spencer Farm Winery in Noblesville from noon to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 18.
This year’s event will feature nine bands on two stages:
• Noon: Kam ‘n Jett’s Jammin’ Duet
• 1 p.m.: The Founders
• 2 p.m.: Traci and Jimmy Friends Band
• 3 p.m.: Curt Cannabis & The Highflyers
• 4 p.m.: Broken Reins
• 5 p.m.: Days of My Youth
• 6 p.m.: Rhino Down
• 7:15 p.m.: Naptown Hepcats
• 8:30 p.m.: The Amanda McClaran Experience
Proceeds will benefit Chairs of Honor (Westfield); Children’s Theraplay (Carmel); The Cooper House (Noblesville); and Hamilton County Veterans Corp. (Fishers).
Hamilton County RISE Fest Executive Director Andy Binford said this is the fifth year of the event.
“Back in late 2020, during COVID, a lot
of local musicians and bands weren’t able to perform,” Binford said. “We wanted to do an event with lots of bands and stream it and take donations for Hamilton County nonprofits. It took a little bit to get the event organized, and by the time we got it put together it was May of 2021. Things were opening up. So, we picked September of 2021 to do the first event in person.”
Binford said the event continues to grow, with 1,000 people attending last year compared to 500 in the first year.
“Our goal is to be family friendly and dog friendly,” Binford said. “Even though it’s a winery, we promote that it’s for all ages. We have a food truck in addition to wine that the winery sells, and Bier Brewery will have beer. We don’t expect anybody to have to spend a dollar. They can just come out, bring a blanket and enjoy as much or as little music as they want.”
There also will be a silent auction, with items such as signed sports memorabilia.
“Our big item this year is a custom-made electric guitar that’s called a Stratocaster,” Binford said. “It’s going to be signed by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp.”
For more, visit risefest.net.
Coral Reefer Band’s McAnally to return to Carmel
Following a sold-out show in January, singer-songwriter Mac McAnally will return Jan. 23, 2026, to the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. A longtime member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, McAnally has written dozens of hits for artists including Alabama, Kenny Chesney and Sawyer Brown and has recorded with such names as Toby Keith, Linda Ronstadt, George Strait and Dolly Parton. He has won the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year title a record-setting 10 times and has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. His solo recording career began with the Top 40 single “It’s a Crazy World” and has grown to 14 album releases. The 8 p.m. performance is part of the Center Presents Season sponsored by Allied Solutions and the Printing Partners Encore Series. Tickets are now on sale at thecenterpresents.org.
Attendees enjoy a previous RISE Fest. (Photo courtesy of RISE Fest )
‘A BEAUTIFUL MIND’ CONCERT SET
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Discovering Broadway founder Joel Kirk has been eager for Discovering Broadway’s next incubation project for some time.
The musical is being created by composer-lyricist Zoe Sarnak and book writer Sarah Treem.
“When she (Sarnak) told me she was adapting ‘A Beautiful Mind’ into a musical several years ago, I immediately was excited and told her Discovering Broadway would love to be the first stop on the show’s journey,” said Kirk, a 2012 Carmel High School graduate. “So, for us to pick as an incubating institution when the property inside is so high profile, coming from the film that won the Academy Award for best picture, it speaks volumes to what we’re all doing in Indiana with this program to earn the kind of renown.”
The film is based on the story of John Forbes Nash, a gifted mathematician who battled mental illness. Sarnak met Nash as a child and her father, Peter Sarnak, a math professor at Princeton University, was in the book about Nash by Sylvia Nasar. Sarnak is writing the musical to honor Nash and her father.
Discovering Broadway will present a concert featuring songs from “A Beautiful Mind’ at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Tobias Theater at Newfields in Indianapolis.
EVENTS CALENDAR
AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH DAVID FOSTER & KATHARINE MCPHEE
Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.org for more.
GREGORY HANCOCK DANCE THEATRE WINTERFEST
Dec. 4 - Dec. 14
At The Florence in Carmel, visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org for more.
SONGBOOK FOUNDATION HOLIDAY SCREENING
Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.com for more.
AMY GRANT, CECE WINANS, & MICHAEL W SMITH: CHRISTMAS TOGETHER
Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
At the Fishers Event Center, visit fisherseventcenter.com for more.
Kirk said this is the seventh Broadway-bound musical incubation process for Discovering Broadway. The musical’s creative team will meet at a retreat to workshop the music and script before the concert. Bryan Perri, who will join the Indianapolis-area retreat, is the musical supervisor.
“We want Zoe and Sarah to use this retreat to motivate and give them a good circumstance in which they can really give birth to the first draft of the show,” Kirk said.
Kirk said the creative team wants to cast four Indiana actors for roles in the concert.
“The role of Nash and his wife will be cast from actors based in New York,” Kirk said. “We’ll have four local musicians from Indiana playing music.”
For tickets and information on VIP packages, visit discoveringbroadway.com.
‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’
Dec. 5 - 22 (select dates)
At the Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, visit beefandboards.com for more.
JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Dec. 5 at 8 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.com for more.
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND
CREOLE CHRISTMAS
Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.com for more.
SAMANTHA FISH, CEDRIC BURNSIDE, AND JON SPENCER: SHAKE ‘EM ON DOWN TOUR
Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
At the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel, visit thecenterpresents.com for more.
Sarnak
Treem
YouTube offering
“Death of a Salesman”
equipment
35. Buffalo hockey team
37. Carmel nature center
40. Stephen King classic
41. Sales pitch
42. “Woe is me!”
43. Clarifying words
45. Hamilton County N-S road
49. Colts’ org.
50. MassageLuXe, e.g.
51. Misery
52. Fishers nature preserve
56. Silently understood
59. Bible book
60. Young fox 61. Debacle
62. Equal (with)
63. Old info?
64. Current space seller
65. Bronte’s Jane
farm
66. Raptors, on a Pacers scoreboard Down
1. Top monks 2. Trail
3. Spanish lady
4. Santa’s helpers
5. Grim film genre
6. Kids recreation organizer: Carmel ___ Club
7. Hearty dish
8. African grassland
9. Son of Seth
10. Moyer Fine Jewelers jewel
11. Doc bloc
12. Thesaurus entry (Abbr.)
15. Hubbub
21. Zionsville Farmers’ Market merchants
22. Waterproof fabric
25. Result of some heavy petting?
26. About 3,300 ft.
27. Leak sound
29. Payment proof
30. Flub
31. Hoosier honkers
32. Patch on a Pacers jersey
34. Col. Lilly
36. Indy Zoo beast
37. Leg part
38. Kind of hygiene
39. AQI monitor
40. Crown Liquors beer container
44. Village People song: “___ Man”
46. Observe
47. Rainbow color
48. Caplinger’s Fresh Catch mollusk
50. Abs exercise
51. Informed
52. Abundant
53. Sharpen
54. “Best Record-Breaking Performance” is one of nine won by Peyton Manning
55. Calendar span
56. IND search party?
Trilogy Travel Trilogy Travel
Meyer Najem Construction, LLC seeks Senior Estimator in Fishers, IN, to be responsible for development of conceptual budgets and management of those budgets throughout all design phases through finalization of contract value. Interested candidates should visit. https://meyer-najem.applicantstack. com/x/openings
Options Schools, Inc. seeks English Specialist/Teacher in Noblesville, IN to deliver effective, high-quality instruction that includes rigor and relevance at the high school and college level in an effort to produce measurable results of student achievement. MS in Edu or rltd field & 3 yrs of rlvnt secondary or postsecondary Eng teaching exp req’d. Add’l specific skills req’d. For position details & to apply, visit: https:// optionsschools.org/jobs/.
*** Attention Personal Trainers ***
Join our exciting and supportive team serving older adults in a non-franchise, local fitness facility. We are looking for an experienced, part-time trainer with the possibility of moving to full-time. Clients are provided, so there is NO SELLING. BA/BS 4-year or greater degree in exercise related field required. If you have a passion for changing the lives of older adults, you will want to be part of our welcoming environment. Send resume and cover letter to info@motion4lifefitness.com
THE PERFECT WINTER RETREAT
4 bedroom, 4 bath condo overlooking breathtaking views of the gulf in Navarre Beach, Florida. Our condo is fully stocked and has multiple balconies to relax upon. Each bedroom is equipped with an ensuite bathroom and internet TV. Special snowbird pricing available. Please contact beachlifenowfl@gmail.com or 850-293-4588 for more details!
PUZZLE ANSWERS
Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE: Sweet: CAROLINE, DREAMS, POTATO, SIXTEEN, TALK, TOOTH; Offerings: FEATURE, FILM, FLICK, MOVIE, PICTURE; Luggage: CARRY-ON, DUFFEL, ROLLER, SUITCASE; Fruits: APPLE, CHERRY, PUMPKIN; Currencies: EURO, POUND; Lt. Governor: MICAH BECKWITH
& PHOTOGRAPHERS
Current Publishing is seeking talented freelance reporters and photographers to join our team. We’re looking for passionate storytellers who can write compelling articles and capture highquality images that bring our local news to life.
FREELANCE REPORTERS
Research, interview and write engaging articles on a variety of local topics.
Requirements: Experience in journalism, a portfolio of published work, excellent writing and communication skills and a strong grasp of journalistic ethics.
FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHERS
Capture impactful photos for news, features, portraits and events.
Requirements: Proven experience, a strong portfolio, proficiency with camera equipment and the ability to meet tight deadlines.
HOW TO APPLY: Send your resume, a brief cover letter, and a link to your portfolio or writing samples to zach@youarecurrent.com. No phone calls, please. EOE.
MARTIN
Starting at: $1659
Available as: sofa, loveseat, chair, ottoman
THE MONACO
Starting at: $1759
Available as: sofa, loveseat, chair, ottoman, chaise
Starting at: $1699
Available as: sofa, loveseat, chair 1/2, chair, ottoman, chaise
GET STARTED: SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION
1 2
Book a complimentary in-showroom meeting with our design team.
DISCUSS YOUR DESIGN
Meet your designer and review the space, budget, and style vision.
3
CONFIRM DESIGN & INSTALL
Give your final approval and our team will schedule your install day!
The Envision collection is available as a sectional, sofa, chair, or ottoman.
The Envision collection is available as a sectional, sofa, chair, or ottoman.
Choose fabric, arm style, seat depth, back height, silhouette, back pillow and seam detail, base and wood finishes.
The Envision collection is available as a sectional, sofa, chair, or ottoman.
The Envision collection is available as a sectional, sofa, chair, or ottoman.
Choose fabric, arm style, seat depth, back height, silhouette, back pillow and seam detail, base and wood finishes.
back height, silhouette, back pillow and
Custom order yours today!
The Envision collection is available as a sectional, sofa, chair, or ottoman. Choose fabric, arm style, seat depth, back height, silhouette, back pillow and seam detail, base and wood finishes.
Custom order yours today!
,
RG DECOR.COM (317) 873-6139
RG DECOR.COM (317) 873-6139
RG DECOR.COM (317) 873-6139
RG DECOR.COM (317) 873-6139
RG DECOR.COM (317) 873-6139
KAREN KING, OWNER
KAREN KING, OWNER