New library director – Bob Swanay has been selected as the new director of the Carmel Clay Public Library. He has been with the Johnson City Public Library in Tennessee for 20 years, serving as director for the past eight years.
ASC leaders indicted – Four men have been indicted for their roles in a fraud, kickback and money laundering scheme involving Indiana nursing home chain American Senior Communities. Those indicted include James Burkhart, 51, of Carmel, who formerly served as ASC’s chief executive officer, and Daniel Benson, 51, of Fishers, who served as chief operating officer. The men are alleged to have pocketed millions in kickbacks and fraudulent overcharges that they spent on vacation homes, private plane flights, golf trips, expensive jewelry and more.
Missing woman – The Carmel Police Dept. is asking for assistance in locating Dana Ellen Collins, 37, who was reported missing Oct. 11. She is a white female, 5’6” tall and weighing approximately 125 pounds with red hair and green eyes. Collins was last seen on Oct. 11 at her residence on Lark Drive. Anyone with information is asked to contact CPD at 317-571-2511 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-8477.
Firefighters deployed – The Carmel Fire Department has deployed several firefighters to areas affected by Hurricane Matthew. Deployed firefighters include: Gary Brandt, Scott Tierney, Steve Frye, Kurt Weddington, Cory Anderson, Greg Webb, Brian Hutchinson, and Adam Harrington.
County candidate forum – The League of Women Voters of Hamilton County is hosting a candidate forum at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Noblesville City Hall. This forum features candidates for Hamilton County Auditor, Surveyor, Treasurer, Commissioner Districts 2 and 3; and Council At Large. The public is invited free of charge and will be able to submit questions for the candidates.
Save energy – Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is hosting a presentation at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 on ways a congregation can save energy. These ideas can help free up financial resources that can be re-directed to meaningful ministries. Guest speaker Ray Wilson is an expert on how to save energy in churches and all religious buildings. RSVP at surveymonkey.com/r/PM2DYJ9.
Quilt show – The Orchard Park Presbyterian Church quilters will host their triennial quilt show from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 and 22 in the Pavilion at the church, 106th Street and Westfield Boulevard. Admission is $4 and lunch will be available for $5. A drawing for a queen size quilt will be held at the end of the show. All proceeds will go toward mission work.
Shredding event – A community shredding and electronics recycling day will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 22 at Creekside Middle School, 3525 W. 126th St. A $5 donation is requested per shredding box. Recycle small electronics and computers, along with unused or expired prescription drugs. A $10 fee for glass TV/Computer monitors will be charged.
Country concert – American Legion Post 155, 852 W. Main St., will host Takin’ Back the Country from 3 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 22. Cars 4 Heroes is sponsoring this concert featuring a variety of country bands and emcee Dave “The King” Wilson. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased online at www.angelsanddoves.com/donatebuy.html. Cars 4 Heroes will give away a car.
Swim lesson showcase – Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation will offer a swim lesson showcase from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 22 in the indoor pool at the Monon Community Center. This event is designed to give families an overview of the swim lesson program and evaluate swimming skills for each child to determine placement before registering for lessons. Although the showcase is free, space is limited and assessment blocks will fill on a first-come first-served basis. To register, visit www.carmelclayparks.com.
Town meeting – State Sen. Mike Delph (R-Carmel) will host a town meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Carmel Clay Public Library. Residents of Senate District 29 are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on legislative issues. For more information, or to RSVP, call 317-232-9541.
Rotary after hours – Join Rotary After Hours from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at A Cut Above Catering, 12955 Old Meridian St. #104. This is a networking event benefitting the Villages. Donations of winter coats, hats, cloves, scarves, cash or gift cards will be collected.
Newcomers Club luncheon – The Newcomers Club of Carmel invites everyone to its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at Woodland Country Club, 100 Woodland Ln. Newcomers to the area are encouraged to attend and make some new friends. Even if you’ve been around for a while, come and help us welcome our newest neighbors. For more information, visit www.CarmelNewcomers.com.
Schnabel Scholars named – Carmel resident Andrew Wang was recently named a Schnabel Scholar by the IU School of Informatics and Computing. This is the first year for the scholarships, which were named in honor of Bobby Schnabel, who served as dean of the school from 2007 to 2015.
State press association honors Cathedral student publications – Cathedral High School’s newspaper, Megaphone, and yearbook, Cathedran, have both been named 2016 Hoosier Star finalists. Out-of-state judges evaluate high school publications based on criteria that include the quality of writing, editing, photography, coverage, and design. This marks the third consecutive year that both publications have earned Hoosier Star finalist status.
Coat drive – Local orthodontist, David Judy, DDS, MS, and the Judy Orthodontics Team, are sponsoring Warm Up for Winter through Nov. 30. Donations of new or gently used winter wear such as coats, hats, gloves and scarves can be dropped off at the Judy Orthodontics office at 3965 W. 106th St., Suite 150. Donations will benefit the Julian Center.
Community Garden Representatives – Hamilton County’s new Urban Agriculture Program is developing a list of community gardens to provide representatives with free workshops, networking meetings, technical assistance, and more. Participants of community, school, church, and other gardens are asked to email the location to Andrew Fritz, Urban Agriculture Conservationist, at [email protected] or fill out a brief online form at www.hamiltonswcd.org.
Veterans Day contest – The City of Carmel is sponsoring a Veterans Day contest for students in grades K-12. The theme is Respect, Honor and Gratitude. Students in grades K-5 can design a poster and may win a $50 prize. Students in grades 6-12 can write an essay and may win a $100 prize. Entry deadline is 4 p.m. on Oct. 19. For details, visit http://www.carmel.in.gov/index.aspx?page=557.
State Reps candidate forum – The League of Women Voters of Hamilton County is hosting a candidate forum at 7 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Noblesville City Hall. This forum features candidates for State Representative Districts 24, 32, 37, 39, and 88, State Senate Districts 20 and 30. The public is invited free of charge and will be able to submit questions for the candidates.
Youth Leadership applicants sought – United Way of Central Indiana is now accepting applications for the 2017 Youth Leadership United Program. This program teaches high school students about the nonprofit sector and how to serve on a nonprofit board. High school freshmen, sophomores and juniors who live in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion or Morgan counties may submit their application through the United Way website, www.uwci.org/programs/youth-leadership-united. Deadline is Oct. 24.
District 5 candidate forums – The League of Women Voters of Hamilton County is hosting a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 at Shamrock Springs Elementary School, 747 W. 161st St., Westfield. This forum features candidates for US Congressional District 5, including Susan Brooks, Republican, Angela Demaree, Democrat, and Matt Wittlief, Libertarian. The public is invited free of charge and will be able to submit questions for the candidates.
Indiana House internships – The Indiana House Republican Internship Program is accepting applications for the 2017 legislative session. Internships are open to college sophomores, juniors and seniors, graduate students, and recent graduates of all majors. This paid program allows interns to immerse themselves in the legislative process by working directly with state representatives. For more information, visit www.IndianaHouseRepublicans.com. Application deadline is Oct. 31.
Taste of Carmel – Orchard Park Elementary is gearing up for the 14th annual Taste of Carmel on Mar. 2. The PTO is seeking sponsorship from area business, and individuals. Packages range from $250 to $3000 and can be customized. Due to continued growth, Taste of Carmel has moved to a new location, 502 East on Carmel Drive. Attendance is expected to exceed 1,000 guests, with more than 45 vendors. Registration for vendors will begin Nov. 1. For more information, contact Jennifer Penix at 317-258-5665 or [email protected].
Arts & Crafts Marketplace – St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 126th Street and Gray Road, will host the Arts & Crafts Marketplace from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 5. Twenty-five vendors will offer a variety of unique items including quilts, handmade jewelry, doll clothes, Kiwanis wooden toys, bath products, wood-turned items and more. Snacks and a light lunch will be available in the Candy Cane café and homemade treats will be for sale in the bake shop.
Preservation conference – Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society will host its 23rd annual conference from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 5 at 502 East Event Centre. Titled Preservation: Keeping What We’ve Got, Restoring What We’ve Lost, this event is open to anyone with an interest in native plants, conservation, botany, landscaping, and wildlife habitat. For more information or to register, visit www.inpaws.org.
Straight ticket voting changes – Straight party voting has changed in Indiana. Hoosiers will still be able to cast a straight ticket on Nov. 8, but that vote will not count for any individual candidate for county council or town council at-large. Voters now need to select each candidate they wish to elect for at-large county council and town council seats.
Community service awards – From now through Nov. 8, all middle school and high school students are invited to the apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards if they have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service within the past 12 months. The application is available at http://spirit.prudential.com and www.nassp.org/spirit. One student winner will be announced at each middle school, while four winning students will be announced at the high school. Winning students may move onto the state competition and be eligible for an award of $1000 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C.
Beauty Lounge trunk show – The Beauty Lounge, 2325 Pointe Pkwy, Suite 110, is hosting a trunk show from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 featuring items for purchase and artwork from local artists. Items will be featured from Robert Goodman Jewelers and Chan Luu, a Los Angeles based contemporary lifestyle brand offering handcrafted designer jewelry, scarves and apparel. Rascia’s Creative Cakes will provide light desserts.
Free parenting class – The Indiana Montessori Academy presents a parenting class titled Introduction to Love & Logic for Parents from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. The class is free to attend. The Indiana Montessori Academy is located at 12760 Horseferry Rd. in Carmel. For more information, call 317-569-1290.
Winter art contest – The Carmel Arts Council is announcing its winter art contest for artists in grades K-12. All entries must be winter themed original artwork on 8 ½ x 11 paper and submitted to SoHo, 620 S. Range Line Rd., by Nov. 20 at 3 p.m.
Bolt for the Heart 5k – The fifth annual Bolt for the Heart 5k run/walk will be held on at 9 a.m. on Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving Day) at the Palladium Center Green, 355 City Center Drive. All proceeds will go towards purchasing AEDs for Indiana State Trooper patrol cars. A virtual race option is available for those unable to participate locally. Visit www.BoltForTheHeart.com for more information.
Scholarships available – Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Indiana Scholarship Program offers students the opportunity to apply for one of four scholarships honoring the applicant’s heritage to celebrate the growing diversity in Indiana. Applications are being accepted from eligible high school seniors in one of four ethnic categories: Asian, Hispanic, African-American, and all others. Applications are due by Jan. 18. For more information, visit www.rmhccin.org.
