October 7, 2025 — Current in Zionsville by Current Publishing

October 7, 2025

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Zionsville siblings decorate porches to raise funds for kids in foster care / P15

Zionsville Parks Board examines finances / P3

Zionsville Community Schools awarded safety grant / P5

Zionsville may consider DORA expansion / P9

ZFD Chief named Fire Chief of the Year / P12

“WE

thank you to our sponsors

Scoreboard Sponsors

Zionsville Little League

• Cornwell Plumbing

• Delineate Consulting

• Dick’s Sporting Goods

• Duke Energy

• State Farm Insurance - Garrett Wietholter

• State Farm Insurance - Ron Schulte

• Hope Plumbing

1K Plus Sponsors 2025

• Cornwell Plumbing

• Duke Energy

• McDonalds Whitestown

• McDonalds Zionsville

• Village Orthodontics

• Romas Family Dental

• Salty Cowboy

• State Farm Insurance - Garrett Wietholter

• State Farm Insurance - Ron Schulte

Zionsville Little League thank you

The Zionsville Little League wants to thank all Parents, Players, Umpires and Volunteers for a great Extended Fall season. In spite of the challenges this year, we were able to have a successful season for all who participated…

2025 Backstop Sponsors

• Cornwell Plumbing

• Village Orthodontics

• Witham Hospital

• Romas Family Dental

In addition, we offer a special thank you to the following Sponsors. Without their support, the program would not be possible…

• Zionsville American Legion

• 4th Generation Flooring

2025 Concession Stand Sponsors $500

• A.A. Huber & Sons, Inc.

• Basham Baseball

• Akard True Value

• Buchanan & Bruggenschmidt, P.C.

• Zionsville Dentistry

• Zionsville Eyecare

• Duke Energy

2025 Two Season Sponsors $500

• Ferris Property Group

• Fundae's Ice Cream & Sweets

• Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church and School

• Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling

• The Rinebold Company

• The Snider Group, Inc.

• Wigand Insurance Group

• Williams Comfort Air & Mr. Plumber

• Mitch Young Construction

• Zionsville Eyecare

• Mobile Wash Xpress

• Zionsville Lions Club

• Newman Dentistry

• Zionsville Optimist Club

• Bryson’s Concrete, LLC

• Ashcraft & Frazier Orthodontics

• B Paul Consulting

• Carter Van Lines, Inc.

• Cobblestone Zionsville

• Basham Baseball

• Dairy Queen Zionsville

• Greek's Pizza

• Ashcraft & Wong Orthodontics

• GreenCycle of Indiana

• B Paul Consulting, LLC

• Humston Machinery

• Bone Dry Roofing

• Barthuly Irrigation

• Nicholson Orthodontics

• Olympia Stone

2025 One Season Sponsors $375.00

• Price Baker Enterprises. LLC

• Boone Village Subway

• Dick’s Sporting Goods

• Buchanan & Bruggenschmidt, P.C.

• Carter Van Lines, Inc.

• Duke Energy

• Cedar Street Builders

• Guardian Pediatrics

• Jeremy Page-Carpenter Realtors

• City BBQ

• Masters Heating and Cooling

• CMS (Community Management Service)

• Price/Baker (Zionsville Underground)

• Cobblestone Grill

• Sani-Bright Carpet Cleaning

• Control Tech

• St. Alphonsus Church

• Dairy Queen

• True Point Financial AdvisorsDonovan Drake

• Damage Doctors

• Dick's Sporting Goods

• Indiana Vein Specialists

• C&J Well Company

• Inspire Foundation

• Control Tech

• Pro-Tek Photography

• Burn Boot Camp-Zionsville

• Restore Life Chiropractic

• Cedar Street Builders

• Jeremy Page-Carpenter Reality

• Dbat Zionsville

• Kern Brothers Shoes

• Driving Wind Farm

• Great Lakes Ace Hardware

• KSM Consulting-for Challenger league

• Mite E Ducts

• Robert D. Stevens Roofing

• E-Boom Electric Bikes

• Romas Family Dental

• Greeks Pizza- Zionsville

• Humston Machinery - Jerry Schultz

• Roundtripper

• Kern Brothers Shoes

• Stifel Financial

• Stonegate

• Subway

• Summers

• Taylor Oil

• The Scoop

• The Snider

• Wildman

• Witham Health

• Wright PC

• Zionsville

• Village Orthodontics

• Laviolette Real Estate Group, LLC

• LHD Benefits

• Marietta CPAs

• Olympia Stone

• Robert Stevens Roofing

• McDonalds

• Mister Quik

• Rush On Main

• Mitch Young Construction

• Protek Photography

• Second Nature Landscapes Inc.

• Shelbourne Knee Center

• The Loya Group

• Tiffany Lawn & Garden Supply

• St. Alphonsus Liguori Church

• State Farm Insurance(R Schulte/G Wietholter)

zionsvillelittleleague.org

• Zionsville

October 7, 2025

Current in Zionsville currentzionsville.com

Zionsville Parks Board examines finances

By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com

Zionsville Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jarod Logsdon presented a draft financial sustainability policy to the park board last month, citing a need to implement a financial framework for the department when it comes to managing the town’s 800 acres of park lands.

RECREATION

Logsdon said besides programming and services, the department is organizing its capital expenditure priorities.

“We have two other townships that we’re trying to one day grow into, so (there are) a lot of exciting challenges ahead,” he said. “If we go in prepared, we have a better chance of reaching those goals.”

Per the department’s five-year master plan, the mission of the Zionsville Board of Parks and Recreation is to create a comprehensive park system to serve residents and improve quality of life with opportunities for active lifestyles and recreational experiences that meet the needs of all residents via parks, greenways, trails and programming.

“The level of which we can accomplish (our goals) far outseeds our financial resources,” he said. “The goal of this financial sustainability policy is to have a discussion about prioritizing those resources to have the greatest impact in our community.”

Logsdon said the four key goals for financial stability are developing a community benefits hierarchy; developing a longrange capital plan; developing diversification of revenue resources; and developing a cost recovery philosophy. Reaching those goals means a focus on future planning, operations, outreach and maintenance.

“All of those compete for the same resources,” he said. “Within this document, I’m proposing that we categorize the impact each of those initiatives can have and we appropriately allocate our finite resources to those means.”

Logsdon said categories would include community benefits; individual benefits; and balanced community and individual benefits. Community benefits are services available to everyone. Balanced community and individual benefits are services that target a finite group within the larger community, such as classes.

Individual benefits would be targeted services that only benefit the people utilizing them directly, like the Zionsville Golf

Course, dog parks or shelter reservations.

Logsdon said funding should be considered when determining the priorities of the department. Public funds should be prioritized for operational and capital expenditures that provide the greatest community benefits, while nontax-based revenue, such as program fees, should lessen public subsidy levels and recover operational for services that provide greater individual benefits. Logsdon said fees for programming establishes cost recovery goals so programs can continue, but not to the detriment of the upkeep of parks or delaying a capital expenditure

“We’re not looking to put fees on the parking lots of our parks. We’re not looking to limit availability of trails. If we’re offering community events, they should not be a financial barrier to anybody in the community,” he said. “But as we (look at) balancing community and individual benefit, it should look to recover most of its costs or lessen the subsidy that we’re providing. Ultimately, with the exclusive use, there’s an opportunity for that to be a revenue generator or a profit center that can then subsidize other programs. Eventually the hope is to develop the programming wing as an enterprise fund so that it can sustainably grow, but not detract from some of the needed resources of our park

Logsdon also noted the implementation of Senate Enrolled Act 1 means the department needs to innovate ways to maintain levels of service to the community, especially as Zionsville grows. He also said the department wants to develop a funding mechanism for capital improvements; a capital replacement plan; and a capital improvement plan.

“A capital improvement plan is a forecast of where we want to invest capital funds in the next five years, since that’s usually our benchmark,” he said. “So, somewhat the needs of the park system, but more equally importantly, listening to the wants and desires of our community and finding a way to make that happen. It’s not always informed by reality or the true conditions of our park system, but everything in that has been supported by our community. It feels good to accomplish those improvements and it has helped us provide the level of service we have today.”

Park board members said the policy would provide a decision-making framework for programming, fees and planning for financial stability.

The board is expected to discuss the draft further this month. Adoption of a fee schedule for 2026 will be considered in November.

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Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XIV, No. 28

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The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department oversees 800 acres of park land, including Overley-Worman Park. (File photo) system.”

ZCS awarded safety grant

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Zionsville Community Schools is one of several local school districts that will benefit from safety grants approved last month by the Indiana Secured School Safety Board. The board approved more than $27.1 million for school safety initiatives at 494 schools or school districts in Indiana.

EDUCATION

Funding includes:

• Zionsville Community Schools

— $92,500

• Traders Point Christian Academy

— $43,166

• Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School

— $75,320

• University High School of Indiana

— $15,246

“School safety is a top priority for my administration. Every student deserves a good education, and that starts with feeling safe and secure,” Gov. Mike Braun stated.

The program is administered by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Funds are provided as matching

grants at 25, 50 or 100 percent. The match requirement is based on average daily membership of the school district, the total amount of the project or what the request covers.

Funds are earmarked to support safety services and programs including hiring of school resource officers; technology; student and parent support services; site vulnerability assessments; bullying prevention; and counseling services. For safety reasons, specifics of each awarded project are not disclosed.

“The funds from this program are a tool for schools to build on their existing security plans,” stated District 24 State Rep. Hunter Smith (R-Zionsville), a member of the House Education Committee who represents portions of Zionsville and Westfield. “Each school is unique, so allowing them to make upgrades where they see fit is a great opportunity for them to keep students and staff safer.”

More than $214 million in state funding has been dedicated to the matching grant program since it was created in 2013.

See the full recipient list at in.gov/dhs/ files/FY26-SSSG-Awards-v3.pdf.

Comprehensive plan to be presented to plan commission

By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com

Zionsville Mayor John Stehr said the town’s comprehensive plan should be ready for a public presentation this month.

TOWN NEWS

Stehr told the Zionsville Town Council recently that an initial draft of the plan has been generated and has been reviewed by three subcommittees and the steering committee.

“After pulling together all the feedback from that, our consultants will have a public draft ready in early October that will be presented to the plan commission for the first time on Oct. 20,” he said. “There will be a public presentation of the plan on Oct. 22 or 23 and then a final draft will be ready in early November. The plan commission is on track to hear it and make a recommendation at its Nov. 17 meeting and then it will come to the council for final approval after that.”

Zionsville’s comprehensive plan is expected to be ready for public review this month.

(File photo)

Stehr said there will be time for the public to weigh in on the plan after its introduction to the plan commission. The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Zionsville Town Hall.

The plan — under development as a collaborative effort between the Town of Zionsville and HWC Engineering — is a communitywide strategic planning effort. Once complete, the plan will guide future investment and development in Zionsville. Learn more at uniquelyzionsville.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025

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

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.

No Gimmicks, Just Growth

Gibson

Interchange work to begin

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The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Sept. 25 that 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 — will 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 di-

ROADWORK ROADWORK

rect result of growth in Hamilton County. Since 2015, the population of Carmel has increased nearly 13 percent, while the population of Westfield has exploded by nearly 60 percent — representing more than 20,000 new residents. 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.

New signal coming at The Farm in Zionsville

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The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Sept. 24 installation of a new traffic signal at U.S. 421/Michigan Road and Pittman Farms Drive in Zionsville, expected to be activated on or after Sept. 30.

The activation coincides with opening of commercial and retail properties at The Farm, a 48-acre development at U.S. 421 and Sycamore Street that includes a mix of retail and apartments on the Zionsville-Carmel border.

Retail tenants include BIBIBOP; Shake Shack; Stock Yards Bank and Trust; Rise’n Roll Bakery; Hollywood Nail Lounge; Piada

INDOT is planning an overhaul of the interchange at I-465 and U.S. 31/Meridian. (Photo courtesy of INDOT) A new traffic signal has been installed at U.S. 421/Michigan Road and Pittman Farms Drive. (Image courtesy of INDOT)

Italian Street Food; Niku Sushi; Prime IV Hydration & Wellness; and West Coast Sourdough. Learn more at thefarmzionsville.com.

•

• Exterior

•

Zionsville may consider DORA expansion

By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com

One year after the Zionsville Town Council approved the town’s first Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, the district could expand.

BOOKS

A DORA is a designated area where patrons 21 and older can purchase alcoholic beverages in a marked container from participating establishments, then carry those drinks within the district.

Mayor John Stehr updated the council on plans to widen the DORA boundary last month. The district was approved in October 2024 and includes the business district of the Village, with the north-tosouth border from Poplar Street to south of 106th Street; and extending west-toeast from Second to Elm streets, with a carve out between Hawthorne and Sycamore streets to include SullivanMunce Cultural Center. The DORA also includes Creekside Corporate Park. The district was approved by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission and went active in April.

“By all accounts, it’s been going well,” Stehr said. “So much so, as a matter of fact, that we have a request from the Zionsville Main Street (nonprofit organization) to expand the borders a bit to include businesses on the north side of

Poplar Street between Main and Maple and the east side of Elm Street at the end of Oak Street.”

Stehr said an amendment to the DORA ordinance could be ready for council consideration in November.

Saturday, Oct. 11 | 1 - 5 p.m. Midtown Plaza

Celebrate the season of fall at The Arts in Autumn, sponsored by Allied Solutions! This free, family-friendly festival features crafts, face painting, balloon artists, an outdoor movie and more! New this year: World Aquatics Swimming World Cup fun with watercolor activities and water-themed photo ops for all ages.

Zionsville will consider expanding the DORA at Poplar Street. (Photo by Marney Simon)

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Funds raised for Lincoln Park

By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com

Zionsville Mayor John Stehr said fundraising efforts have secured thousands of dollars to support the Zionsville Department of Parks and Recreation’s plans to update Lincoln Park.

RECREATION

Stehr updated the Zionsville Town Council on the project last month. The Town of Zionsville and the Zionsville Department of Parks and Recreation launched the “Love for Lincoln” campaign in June — a collaborative initiative between the town and the community to celebrate the legacy of Lincoln Park while raising funds for upcoming renovations. Volunteers participated in a pull-a-brick day Sept. 14 to remove bricks and disassemble the 39-year-old gazebo.

“The parks department sold souvenir pieces of the former gazebo and offered engraved bricks,” Stehr said. “That whole process raised just over $33,000. That money will be used directly in the renovation of the park.”

Planned improvements to the park include a new gazebo, fountain, monument

sign and ADA accessible walks.

In August, the parks board rejected bids submitted for park renovations due to higher-than-expected costs. The board is expected to review a build-operate-transfer proposal — or BOT — for the project this month. A BOT agreement, provided for by Indiana law, allows a municipality to enter a public-private partnership for the development, design and construction of public facilities.

Learn more about the project at zionsville-in.gov/779/Love-for-Lincoln.

New home permits increase

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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 Brownsburg.

The City of Indianapolis is the only municipality to issue more new-home 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.

“Even as individual counties experience ups and downs, the broader central Indiana market is proving its staying power,” stated BAGI CEO Chris Hancock. What stands out this year is how well our builders have adapted. They’re navigating higher costs and shifting buyer expectations yet still delivering homes that support steady growth across the region.”

See the report at BAGI.com/Permits.

Colin Fahey Vice President, Commercial Banking

Carole Veatch Vice President, Treasury Management

Scott McDermott Vice President, Private Banking

The gazebo in Lincoln Park, built in 1986, was razed last month. (File photo)

New home permits continue to increase in central Indiana. (File photo)

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 fentanyl has been a major problem in local communities since 2004.

“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 under Democratic administrations, sex tracking in the U.S. also has increased. 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 foster care.

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. Now, he said for every child that comes across the border that’s encountered, an ICE agent shows up and begins a criminal investigation.

“Geographically, Indiana may not be a border state, but without border security, every town’s a border town, and every state’s a border state, and we’ve seen that play out because we have literally hundreds of thousands of criminal aliens that are all across this country, and Indiana is not exempt.”

Hamilton County GOP Chairman 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)

Zionsville Fire Department Chief James VanGorder accepts the award for Fire Chief of the Year at the Indiana Fire and EMS Leadership Conference. (Photo courtesy of ZFD)

VanGorder honored as Fire Chief of the Year

Zionsville Fire Department Chief James VanGorder was recognized with the Fire Chief of the Year Award for the state of Indiana at the Indiana Fire and EMS Leadership Conference last month at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Noblesville. The conference is hosted by the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association.

RECOGNITION

VanGorder’s recognition was for leading a career fire department. He accepted the award on behalf of the men and women of the ZFD.

“We as a community are blessed to have such a professional group of dedicated public safety personnel protecting your family and mine,” he stated.

Established in 1926, the IFCA is dedicated to advancing professionalism in fire service. IFCA provides high-impact educational programs, leadership conferences and statewide networking opportunities for firefighters.

See the full list of 2025 winners at indfirechiefs.org/page/AWARDS.

Hoosier Village craft and bake sale — Hoosier Village in Zionsville will host its annual craft and bake sale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 11. Crafts include pottery and ceramics; stained glass; jewelry; greeting cards; knit and crochet items; embroidered items; quilted bags and totes; placemats and table runners; wooden bowls; paintings; and a “Make It and Take It” booth. Baked goods include breads, pies, cookies and bars.

‘Flava Fresh!’ art exhibition open in Zionsville

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‘Flava Fresh!’ — an annual juried series of contemporary fine art exhibitions held consecutively in multiple venues around Indianapolis — is open to the public through Oct. 25 at SullivanMunce Cultural Center in Zionsville.

CULTURE

The exhibition was created 28 years ago as an initiative to bring greater awareness, appreciation and exposure to visual artists. ‘Flava Fresh!’ supports beginner, newly discovered, early-to-mid career and established artists with a focus on underrepresented artists. Featured artists utilize all manners of discipline and media in their artwork.

‘Flava Fresh!’ has received numerous awards, including the Indiana Governor’s Arts Award in 2023 and the Arts Council of news@youarecurrent.com

Indianapolis, 2019 ARTI, A Full Creative Life for All Award.

The exhibition is free and open to the public at the center, 225 W. Hawthorne St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Learn more at sullivanmunce.org.

Mural dedicated in the Village

A Zionsville Community High School senior has made her mark on the Village.

CULTURE

Amelia Molen, 17, completed a mural on the First Street-facing wall of Robert Goodman Jewelers, 106 N. Main St. in Zionsville, over the summer. The mural — with a country-quilt theme — was dedicated Sept. 20.

“I heard about the opportunity to create the mural through one of my art classes,” Molen stated. “As soon as school ended for the day, I headed directly to the shop, introduced myself and asked Mr. Goodman if I could paint this year’s mural. He immediately said yes so I was hired on the spot.”

Molen said with no plan in place for the blank wall, she was given creative freedom. Besides creating the mural, she also was asked to be one of two local artists to appear in front of the store during the inaugural Zionsville Summer Art Walk in June.

“That was another great opportunity to show some of my work as well as actually create pieces during the event,” she stated.

“We love being able to contribute to the Village’s artistic aesthetic with the mural,” shop co-owner Rose-Marie Goodman stated. “Bob and I are so happy with this

year’s mural and are really looking forward to the upcoming dedication where we can officially and publicly thank Amelia for her time, effort and tremendous talents.”

‘Flava Fresh!’ art exhibition is open to the public through Oct. 25 at SullivanMunce Cultural Center in Zionsville. (Photo by Marney Simon)

Zionsville Community High School senior Amelia Molen paints the mural on the rear of Robert Goodman Jewelers. (Photo courtesy of Robert Goodman Jewelers)

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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 or working on commissioned pencil pieces. She also does custom paintings. For more on Nichols’ affiliation, visit kaaonline.org. View a collection of her works at illustr82dv8.etsy. com. Contact Nichols at seejennirun@ comcast.net.

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.

Literary festival planned — Indiana Humanities will celebrate the power of writing with its second “Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest,” set for Oct. 10 and 11, offering workshops, panel discussions, a book fair and activities for writers, readers and lovers of all things literary. Hosted in partnership with local poets Mitchell L.H. Douglas and Chantel Massey, the festival will take place at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St., in Indianapolis. Registration for the free event is encouraged at events, at humanitix.com/proof2025

Artist visit — Internationally acclaimed artist Maya Eventov will meet with collectors and share her inspirations for her sculptural paintings from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 10 and 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at CV Art and Frame, 110 S. Main St. in the Village in Zionsville. Eventov’s signature impasto technique creates artwork that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. Visitors will meet the artist and hear the inspiration behind her work; experience the depth and texture of her original paintings up close; and have the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces directly from the show and receive personalized dedications. Learn more at cvartandframe.com.

STEP BY STEP

Zionsville siblings decorate porches to raise funds for kids in foster care

By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com

Zionsville siblings Noah and Abigail Triplet of Zionsville have big hearts — and a knack for all things fall.

The pair has been able to combine those things for a good cause — supporting foster children in transition in Boone, Hendricks, Marion and Montgomery counties.

The siblings’ mother Leah Triplet said her children learned about Isaiah 117 House while attending Vacation Bible School at the Zionville United Methodist Church this summer. One of their teachers, Jodi Burns, is the location leader at the Isaiah 117 House Boone County location. Isaiah 117 House is a network of foster care transitional facilities in 13 states. The homes provide physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting placement.

“I explained to the kids what we do and how we serve kids and what we can do to help them,” Burns said. “I explained that sometimes, they can volunteer, their parents can volunteer, they can volunteer their time to donate things. Then (Triplet) called me and she said (they) could decorate with pumpkins. And I said, ‘That’s amazing.’ We love when kids are involved in our organization and can help us.”

Triplet said the children first considered a lemonade stand.

“But then I asked them, ‘Why don’t we think bigger?’ And we started to talk about fall and they said, ‘Let’s do some pumpkins,’” she said.

Triplet worked with some local farmers on donations of pumpkins, and the children got to work first selling the pumpkins, then providing a service. Triplet set up their “business” page for Porch Light Collaborative, a porch decorating venture where all proceeds are donated to Isaiah 117 House. After decorating the porch at Isaiah 117 House in Boone County, they were asked to decorate Hattie’s Coffee House in Whitestown, The Scoop in Zionsville, Pure Life Chiropractic in Zionsville and City Barbeque in Whitestown. The siblings have since begun decorating for residents.

The children said the work has been meaningful.

“I like decorating people’s porches and giving the money to Isaiah House,” said Abagail, 6, a kindergarten student at Union Elementary.

Noah, 8, a third-grade student at Union Elementary, said he just likes to help people.

“I learned people at Isaiah House don’t have money and some don’t have stuff,” he said. “I thought it would be nice to let them get a few more things if they want, like new clothes and that stuff.”

Triplet said so far, the children have raised around $600. That money will be used by Isaiah 117 House to purchase supplies — from backpacks and clothing to toiletries and toys — for children in their care.

“Whatever need they have, they fund it for them, so they leave with stuff that’s their own,” Triplet said. “They have a transition space, so they’re not just in this cold office building.”

Burns said the children will have a chance to voice their opinions about how the funds are used.

“We’re 100 percent nonprofit,” she said. “We rely on our community to raise funds and to donate to us, and so we always offer kids, when they donate, how they’d like the proceeds to be used. We’ve had kids make blankets from different schools to help us. They’ve made tie blankets. Or we have them donate clothing or do toy drives. And once they donate the proceeds, I’ll ask them what they want to use the money for.”

Children who come through Isaiah 117 House are given a new bag filled with clothing and toys. Burns said it costs

and Noah Triplet are spending the fall decorating front porches while raising money for

between $300 and $400 to service every child that comes through.

“We have a whole giving room with brand new items with tags on them, all sizes of clothing,” she said. “They get three to four pairs of clothing, pajamas, toiletries, undergarments. And then we have brand new toys that they can choose from, school supplies.”

The facility also offers car seats, packand-plays and beds for foster families.

Burns said about 30 children came to Isaiah 117 House in September, and more than 200 children have transitioned to foster care through the facility since it opened two years ago.

ABOUT ISAIAH 117 HOUSE

Isaiah 117 House in Boone County is one of six facilities in Indiana, with two more under construction and a third in the planning stage.

Opened in September 2023, the Boone County facility — which does not advertise its exact address for safety and security purposes — assists children in transition in foster care.

“Most of the time they’re just re-

moved from their home,” said Isaiah 117 House Boone County Location Leader Jodi Burns. “Caseworkers remove them for a variety of reasons, and instead of going to the office, they’ll come to us. A lot of times they need baths, and they need food, they need a place to sleep. We’ve had kids who come in from all situations.”

Learn more at isaiah117house.com.

“I think a lot of people don’t know that it’s a need,” she said. “That’s what I hear more from anybody is that they just don’t know. They don’t even know that there’s a need for children, that they sit in offices and wait to go to foster families. So, what we provide for the kids is a safe place physically and emotionally while they wait for foster placement. They get to come to our home, and we provide them anything that they need. We have volunteers who engage with them while the case workers work to find placements. I think just finding out about what we do as a transitional home for kids is what most people didn’t even know was a need.”

Triplet said the Zionsville and Whitestown communities have embraced the opportunity to help by donating funds for Noah and Abagail’s services.

“We just have had a lot of community support for their endeavors, but I think the best part was when they got to decorate Isaiah 117 House,” she said. “They just really kind of saw this is a house that really helps kids, and that really encouraged them even more to continue this.”

Burns said she is grateful for the help.

“It’s a really amazing thing that they’re doing for us,” she said. “We love when kids are involved. We’re a home for kids, so when we have kids involved and can share our mission, it really warms our hearts.”

Ultimately, Triplet hopes Abigail and Noah learn a lesson that will grow with them. The children are already brainstorming fundraising ideas for winter and spring and thinking about branching out by supporting more local nonprofits.

“We’re hoping it also teaches them about entrepreneurship and just supporting the community by giving back,” she said. “They’ve been really good helpers. They both have really big hearts. When Noah was in preschool, they did a toy drive (and) he’s always just had a huge heart for giving back.”

Learn more about Porch Light Collaborative at http://bit.ly/3IT6d09

ON THE COVER: Siblings Abigail and Noah Triplet decorated the porch at Isaiah 117 House in Boone County. (Photo courtesy of Leah Triplet)

Abigail

Isaiah 117 House. (Photo by Marney Simon)

Trusted Guidance Through Direct Primary Care

Recent discussions in the news about acetaminophen use during pregnancy and vaccine recommendations have created a lot of uncertainty for families as they navigate healthcare decisions. Establishing a relationship with a primary care physician is foundational for navigating complex health decisions, especially regarding vaccines and medication use.

The American Academy of Family Physicians emphasizes that primary care providers are uniquely positioned to assess vaccine status, address hesitancy, and provide evidence-based recommendations for immunizations and medication use. Trust and ongoing dialogue with a familiar provider are critical, as patients consistently report that a respectful discussion and clear guidance from a trusted clinician are preferred for vaccine and medication decision-making.

• The recent announcement regarding acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy highlights the importance of individualized counseling. Patients, health care experts, and scientists all want to know more about what causes autism. We must be careful about believing simple answers that are not based on

strong research. Decades of research show that autism has many complex causes, and scientists have found hundreds of different genes that may cause autism. Some things in the environment can also change how genes affect development. The best research right now shows that autism is not caused by pregnant women taking Tylenol. The majority of scientific and health care experts continue to feel that Tylenol is safe when used correctly during pregnancy. As further research and scientific discoveries unfold, patients should bring their questions and concerns to their primary care provider to help with decision making.

• The ongoing debate about the benefits and safety of vaccines is shaped by both robust scientific evidence and persistent public concerns. Vaccines are among the most effective interventions for preventing infectious diseases, with their benefits far outweigh the rare risks of serious adverse events. However, concerns about vaccine safety—including fears of side effects, ingredients, and information often circulating on social media—continue to influence public perception and decision-making.

The American Academy of Family Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasize that vaccines undergo rigorous preclinical and clinical testing, followed by continuous post-licensure safety monitoring, to ensure a favorable risk-benefit profile. With that said, given the complexity of vaccine information and the variability in individual risk tolerance, individualized decision mak-

ing with a trusted primary care physician is essential when making vaccine decisions for children and adults. Appropriately, many patients have concerns and would like to discuss these concerns further.

A Direct Primary Care provider is uniquely positioned to provide evidence-based guidance, address specific concerns, and tailor recommendations to each patient’s medical history, values, and circumstances. With a DPC provider, you have the benefit of more time with our physician, and direct access as questions and concerns arise. Rather than a one size fits all approach, your DPC provider can meet you where you are, and support shared decision making. Ongoing, open dialogue fosters trust and enables patients to make informed choices to meet their individual needs. This working alliance fosters open communication, respects patient autonomy, and integrates individual preferences into care, which is essential for navigating nuanced topics like vaccination and medication management.

Contact Information:

FreedomDoc Zionsville Susan Jacob, MD 114 N Main Street Zionsville, IN 46077 (317) 936-3970

Accepting New Patients

Breakthrough T1D walk coming to Boone County

By Samantha Kupiainen news@youarecurrent.com

Ozwell Fitness founder Gemi Ozdemir has been named corporate chair of the 2025 Indianapolis Breakthrough T1D Walk, part of the largest global event for the Type 1 diabetes community.

DIABETES

Ozdemir, whose business is a fitness and recovery center in Carmel, is the father of three children with Type 1 diabetes. Breakthrough T1D is a nonprofit founded in 1970 by families who had loved ones diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The organization has 29 chapters nationwide. The Indiana and Kentucky Chapter hosts the Indianapolis Breakthrough T1D Walk.

According to the organization, Breakthrough T1D strives to “lead the way to more effective solutions by connecting the brightest minds to advance treatments, influence policy, and improve access to care.”

The organization believes that “by driving innovation forward, Breakthrough T1D will make Type 1 diabetes a condition of the past.”

After his oldest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2012, Ozdemir and his family got involved and participated in their first Indianapolis Breakthrough T1D Walk that same year.

Getting involved with the walk was his way to get involved with the Type 1 diabetes community and make efforts to work toward a cure.

“Breakthrough has definitely invested in the right places for management and a cure,” Ozdemir said. “Everything that my kids are using, the Omnipod, the Dexcom, are basically a direct result of them raising funds and distributing and dispersing it to them.”

Ozdemir was named corporate chair in June. The 2025 Breakthrough T1D Indianapolis Walk takes place Oct. 26 at Dull’s Tree Farm and Pumpkin Patch in Thorntown. Saying ‘yes’ to chair the walk was a no-brainer for him because he’s been the walk’s emcee for the last 10 years. His main duties as corporate chair include the goal to raise $20,000 for Breakthrough T1D.

“You raise money for things all the time across the board, and you know, obviously it’s personal for me,” Ozdemir said. “I’m hoping in the next 3-5 years, we’re done. People get a shot, done. They’ve reversed it. That’s what I’m hoping for. That’s the goal here. I believe that with Breakthrough. I do believe they’re going to just based on their history.”

Visit /www2.breakthrought1d.org/site/ TR?fr_id=10293&pg=entry to register for the walk, donate, or for more information on Breakthrough T1D.

Dr. Susan Jacob

that of Dr. Susan Jacob and FreedomDoc.

Gemi Ozdemir speaks during a previous Breakthrough T1D Indianapolis Walk. (Photo courtesy of Gemi Ozdemir)

Heartland film focuses on Ignite’s 1st 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.

“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 athome 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 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.

“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.

‘HEARTBREAK HOTEL’

“Heartbreak Hotel” runs through Oct. 12 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.

‘WORSHIP NOW’

Air1’s “Worship Now’ tour will stop at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Fishers Event Center. For more, visit fisherseventcenter.com.

II DIVO BY CANDLELIGHT

II Divo, a quartet, is set to perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

FEINSTEIN’S CABARET

“Fire & Rain: A James Taylor Experience” is set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.

‘SOMETHING ROTTEN’

Civic Theatre’s production of “Something Rotten” runs through Oct. 18 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.

’50 YEARS SINGING TO MEXICO’

“Aida Cuevas: 50 Years Singing to Mexico” is set for 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.

‘MOONLIGHT BALLET’

A fundraiser for Indiana Ballet Conservatory featuring live dancing and musical entertainment is set for 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at 6663 Silver Creek Dr., Indianapolis. For more, vist indianaballetconservatory.org.

‘DRAMA! BEETHOVEN & BRAHMS’

Carmel Symphony Orchestra presents“Drama! Beethoven & Brahms” at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.

’SERENADE’

Indiana Wind Symphony will perform “Serenade” at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit indianawindsymphony.org.

DOCUMENTARY

Juan Guillen, left, and Brian Hansen co-directed the documentary “Ignite the Fire.” (Photo courtesy of Indy Ignite)

Mohler

Play centers on life of Riley

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Keith Miller got the idea for his play while visiting Paris.

READING

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

teur. He 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.

“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.”

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 racon-

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 classic composers

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Kelly Corcoran is excited about the repertoire of her Carmel Symphony Orchestra guest conducting stint.

CONCERT

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.”

kind of fun to be presenting programs that 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.

“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.

“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

“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

Country show set at Feinstein’s

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

Maggie Baugh made her Carnegie Hall debut at age 12 playing violin with an orchestra. However, she saw her future as a country performer.

CONCERT

“That (classical training) was so helpful,” she said.

Playing violin helped her learn other musical instruments.

“Once you know one, you know them all,” she said.

The 25-year-old rising country star and her band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel.

“There’s everything from 1990s country music, rock ‘n’ roll and everything in between,” she said.

“Everyone has loved the title track of the record,” Baugh said. “It’s been so fun being able to go on tour because there are so many people singing my song back to me.”

Baugh has performed with Keith Urban in some of his shows, including this year and last year.

“Last year, I was on tour with him a lot more,” she said. “I’m his utility player, meaning I play guitar, acoustic guitar, electric, mandolin fiddle, banjo and I sing all the duets in the band.”

Baugh has become a viral sensation on TikTok and has appeared on several TV shows.

Baugh’s debut album, “Dear Me,” was released in 2024. She also will play some songs from her upcoming album “Entertainers Heart,” which she said will be released soon. The single “Entertainers Heart” and some other singles already have been released.

For more, visit feinsteinshc.com and maggiebaugh.com.

Maggie Baugh will perform

Oct. 17 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael.

(Photo courtesy of Maggie Baugh)

‘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.

MUSICAL

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.

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.

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

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 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.

Sarnak

Treem

VIEWS

READERS’ VIEWS

Charlie Kirk was not a hero

Denise Abshire has been in the banking industry since 1985. Denise has a passion for her clients and has been privileged to provide

totaling over 100 million dollars in her

Editor,

After mass Sept. 21, I noticed the flags at the entry to St. Alphonsus Church were flying half-staff. I called the parish on Monday to ask why, although I was pretty sure I already knew — they were for Charlie Kirk. The pastor told me whenever the president calls for flags to fly at half-staff, they do so. Then, I see inCurrent in Zionsville that there was a memorial service held for him at Mulberry Fields which drew some 1000 people.

Like all Americans of good will, I condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk. It is tragic that a young man was gunned down for speaking his mind, especially in front of a group of young students.

However, the desire by some to glorify Kirk and ignore what he truly stood for is troubling. Charlie Kirk was a sexist, racist, homophobic individual. He said many cruel and divisive things.

On June 27, 2025, he said this about a justice of the Supreme Court: “Ketanji Brown Jackson is a diversity hire. She is only there because she’s a black woman.”

“No

He was a proponent of “replacement theory,” a once-fringe conspiracy theory positing that Jews are trying to replace white Americans with nonwhite immigrants. That ideology motivated the gunman who killed 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018.

He was critical of gay and transgender rights and the separation of church and state. He encouraged students and parents to report professors whom they suspected of embracing what some on the right refer to as “gender ideology.”

That a goal of Charlie Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, was to “capture” the minds and hearts of young people is actually a pretty awful thing. Many suggest he was a good Christian role model. No true Christian would engage in “othering” everyone different from himself, stoking anger and resentment and using polarizing and de-humanizing language in talking about so many of us also created in the image and likeness of God.

May he rest in peace, Cynthia Starks, Zionsville

– CYNTHIA STARKS

Kirk’s tragic passing doesn’t erase his messages

Editor,

It was noteworthy that Charlie Kirk’s death inspired a local vigil with such a large and emotionally exercised turnout. His death was tragic and unnecessary, but mourning his violent death is not inconsistent with recognizing that much of his speech was hate-filled and deliberately designed to foment mistrust for the “other.” His stances are truly patriotic, from an 18th or 19th century lens. Not so much if one is Black, brown, gay, female, a preg-

nant child, a mass shooting victim, a Muslim, an atheist, an immigrant, transgender, Jewish, a female in power, an environmentalist, or a Democrat, to name a few of the “others” he enthusiastically vilified.

Perhaps an equally vigorous gathering is warranted for the many completely innocent victims of the gun violence that Mr. Kirk himself publicly embraced as necessary sacrifices at the altar of the Second Amendment.

Andi Simmons, Zionsville

A case of mistaken identities

Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

For almost 20 years, I had the privilege of doing field reporting every weekday morning for WISH TV’s morning news program “Daybreak.” Back in the studio was our anchor, Dave Barras, and weatherman Randy Ollis. Now that we’re all retired, I thought we should have lunch together. We hadn’t done that in …? Gosh, the last time was …? I think we went to …? Come to think of it, we never had lunch together. We had families and a grueling work schedule (well, they did), so it never happened.

HUMOR

After lunch, we posted a picture on Facebook. In the photo, Dave held an 8-by10 glossy that he used to kiddingly boast was in great demand. Randy gripped a half-eaten frosted doughnut, a symbol of his admitted addiction to the treat. I had a stuffed dog, a tribute to my long-departed beagle, Barney, who accompanied me on almost 2,500 shows. You can see this photo on my Facebook page.

On Facebook, Meta AI anticipates possible questions someone might have about your post. In this case, the questions were for those who didn’t watch morning TV back in the ‘90s. Then, META AI attempts to answer its own questions by utilizing its extensive research capabilities (you can see the photo on my Facebook page).

Meta Question 1: Who are these people?

Meta answer: The three men in the photo appear to be Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Benito Mussolini of Italy and Adolf Hitler of Germany. We were a team, but not the Axis team. This is a good example of why you shouldn’t show AI a blotch on your skin and ask if it is cancer.

How could AI make this mistake? Well, Dave sports a mustache, but that doesn’t make him look like Hitler. Groucho, maybe. And Dave is not German, although there was once a rumor that behind his anchor

“Meta also questioned if the dog was real because it was wearing a bow tie. That didn’t prove much. I once put Barney in a tuxedo.”

– DICK WOLFSIE

desk, he wore lederhosen.

I assume Randy was Mussolini, maybe because Meta thought his pastry was a bomboloni, an Italian cream-filled doughnut.

I was Hirohito. AI must have discovered that I ate ramen every night for dinner in college. And now I’m hooked on sushi.

Meta also questioned if the dog was real because it was wearing a bow tie. That didn’t prove much. I once put Barney in a tuxedo.

Meta Question 2: Does the photo depict a happy family?

Meta answer: It’s hard to tell because only two of them are wearing a hat.

I have no clue what that means. Dave would often watch me on TV and laugh at what I was doing. That can hurt a guy. My relationship with Randy varied from day to day. It had its highs and lows. Very unpredictable.

All three of us are now happily retired. But I was curious what AI thought our legacy would be. So, I asked.

Meta answer: You guys did not win that war.

Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.

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READERS’ VIEWS

Inclusion push excludes

Editor,

I commend Mr. Story for his recent opinion piece in the Current.

As a former Illinois resident, I can attest firsthand to how the LBGTQ lobby vilified parents who disagreed with them and bullied local school districts and communities into adapting their policies.

The core issue is that what begins as a push for “pride” quickly devolves into the unfair demonization of anyone who holds a dissenting view. I have witnessed this activism translate into troubling school policies, such as allowing biological males into girls’ private facilities — like locker rooms — forcing the girls whose privacy is compromised to change their accommodations.

Similarly, events like drag shows (evidently now a common thing at Pride events) are now being presented as a wholesome way to read books to young children. Really?

The next battleground is the effort to include biological males into girls’ sports.

some

“The core issue is that what begins as a push for “pride” quickly devolves into the unfair demonization of anyone who holds a dissenting view.”

– TONY MORAN

This push for total inclusion has already resulted in physical injury, disruption, and the cancellation of games, fundamentally undercutting the purpose of women’s sports. Despite claims of tolerance, the reality is that this movement often seeks to impose its beliefs and enforce compliance on anyone who does not agree with its demands.

Tony Moran, Zionsville

Across

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Hubbub

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54. “Best Record-Breaking Performance” is one of nine won by Peyton Manning

55. Calendar span

56. IND search party?

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