Correction — In the July 7 edition of Current in Carmel, the hospital system where Dr. Tracey Ikerd works was incorrect. Ikerd works at Ascension St. Vincent.
Robbery suspect sought — Carmel police are seeking information about a robbery that occurred July 7 in the 600 block of E. 96th Street. Police said at approximately 10 a.m. the victim saw a black male stealing items from the victim’s work truck. When approached, the man pointed a gun at the victim and drove away in a white Ford van. No one was injured in the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Carmel Police Dept. at 317-571-2500.
2020 graduates — Carmel residents Amelia Happel, Tayrn Lopez, Kyra Caldwell, Raquel Garcia, Catherine Smiley and Annie Goldstein are among the 720 Indiana Connections Academy 2020 graduates. Indiana Connections Academy is a K-12 virtual charter school authorized by Ball State University that offers students statewide a tuition-free, public education option.
Golf fundraiser — The Evan R. Hansen Legacy Foundation will hold its second golf outing on July 25 at Pebble Brook Golf Course in Noblesville. The foundation was established to carry out philanthropic activities in memory of 2015 Guerin Catholic graduate Evan Hansen. Visit erh32.org to purchase tickets or sponsorship for the golf outing.
4-H Photo Challenge – The 4-H Photo Challenge is open to youth in third through 12th grade. Participants should take photos fitting the monthly theme and submit entries online at bit.ly/hamco4hcameracorp by the last day of the month. Monthly themes for 2020 include: July – Let Freedom Ring; August – Fairs. Festivals, Fun; September – Community; October – Sunset to Sunrise; November – Occupations; December – Holiday Happenings.
Midwest Academy scholarships — Midwest Academy has scholarship opportunities available for students in grades three through six. The school offers students in grades 3-12 a small, engaging educational setting for those diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, high-functioning autism, receptive and/or expansive language or processing challenges resulting in school anxiety. For more information contact Assistant Head of School Katie Erdmanis at [email protected].
Summer Reading Program – The Carmel Clay Public Library Summer Reading Program began June 1. For the first time, the entire program will be held online. Participants will be eligible to have overdue fines erased from their accounts and reading prizes will result in food donations. Learn more at carmelclaylibrary.org/event/4283330.
Educator Honor Roll – Nominations are open for Carmel Education Foundation’s Educator Honor Roll, which recognizes Carmel educators for their positive impact. Nominees will receive a personalized certificate and be listed on the CEF website. Nomination donations fund grants for every school and scholarships for graduating seniors. Make a nomination at ccs.k12.in.us/foundation/events/honor-roll.
Newcomers Club – Newcomers Club of Carmel, a nonprofit social club, connects its members with friends, engages in fun activities and explores the community. Monthly activities include a welcome coffee, a luncheon event and 32 interest group meetings. Membership represents Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville and Indianapolis. For more, visit carmelnewcomers.com or call 317-564-8349.
Former chief joins Veracity — Former Carmel Police Dept. Chief Tim Green has joined the staff of investigators at Veracity IIR. Green retired from CPD in 2017 after 35 years of service. Carmel-based Veracity IIR’s team of former FBI agents investigate fraud, theft, hacking, negligence and other matters.
June home sales — The Carmel residential real estate market was quieter in June 2020. According to F.C. Tucker Company, the average home sale price in Carmel was $441,024 in June 2020, down .2 percent compared to June 2019. Carmel homes also left the market slightly slower, spending one more day on the market than this time last year. However, the average price per square foot for a home in Carmel continued to increase, up 5 percent to $161.06, compared to June 2019.
New showroom — Glass House Gallery is set to open a showroom in September on the first floor of the Indiana Design Center, 200 S. Range Line Rd., featuring product lines carried by Lorenzo Finestre and Franklin Window and Door. Lorenzo Finestra was originally set to open a showroom on the second floor of the design center but decided to partner with Franklin Window and Door for a combined space when the ground floor space became available.
Grand reopening — Kits & Kaboodle Classic Toys will hold a grand re-opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 17 at 723 Hanover Place in Carmel City Center. The event will begin with a flash dance performance of “Mary Poppins Medley” by the Brownsburg Ballroom Swing Kids followed by a ribbon cutting with Mary Poppins, who will be available for photo ops from 10 to 11:15 a.m. The store has a Mary Poppins theme. Adults will be required to wear a face mask during the event, and children are encouraged to wear one as well.
Financial planning partnership — Argent Financial Group, an independent fiduciary wealth management firm, is partnering with Todd DeKruyter and DK Financial. DeKruyter, a Carmel resident, has worked in the family financial planning industry for more than 10 years and will serve as a family wealth strategist on behalf of Argent’s Family Wealth Services division, assisting families across the nation with charitable and legacy planning needs. DeKruyter is a managing partner at DK Financial and previously served as president of Family Meridian, an educational organization that provides resources to help high net worth families thrive. He has also worked as an executive at Larson Financial Group and as a pastor.
OneAmerica internships — OneAmerica Financial Partners has 18 interns, including Sarah McDanell of Carmel, who are working virtually this summer. During the 12-week assignment, interns provide support to various departments. The interns have been collaborating on critical operations and community projects.
Firm acquired — Carmel-based Electrical Maintenance & Testing has been acquired by Maryland-based Potomac Testing, a TechPro Power Group company. Potomac Testing was established in 1985 and provides low, medium and high voltage electrical equipment services. Learn more at potomactesting.com.
Gifts of Comfort — Uplift Intimate Apparel, 711 Veterans Way, has created Gifts of Comfort as a way for people to provide hope and encouragement to nurses – male and female – on the front line of serving COVID-19 patients in Carmel. Each gift, valued from $100 to $150 and costing $50, includes at least one item of intimate apparel. Uplift is aiming to provide 500 gifts in the area. Purchase the gifts at upliftintimateapparel.com/uplifting-one-a-gift-of-comfort.
Cancer Awareness Debit Card — Indiana Members Credit Union has selected Little Red Door Cancer Agency as the new member-nominated beneficiary for its Cancer Awareness Debit Card. The IMCU Cancer Awareness Debit Card provides members an opportunity to support a different cancer-related organization each year. A portion of each signature transaction made with this card through Feb. 28, 2021, up to $10,000, will be donated to Little Red Door Cancer Agency.
Visitor restrictions eased — Indiana University Health will begin relaxing some of the temporary visitor restrictions June 15 put in place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The revised guidelines allow for one visitor per patient, per day in inpatient areas. Each visitor will be screened and given a mask, which must be worn at all times inside the facility. Visitors must be 18 or older. No visitors will be allowed for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. Learn more at iuhealth.org.
Medical scholarship — David Tulkop of Carmel High School is among seven Hamilton County students to receive the Dr. and Mrs. Malcom Bray Medical Scholarship from the Riverview Health Foundation. The scholarship was established in 1993 and is awarded to a graduating senior from each of the public high schools in Hamilton County wishing to pursue a career in the medical field. Each recipient is awarded a one time $1,000 scholarship. More than 175 scholarships have been awarded to students since its inception.
Blood donations needed — The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate in the weeks and months ahead by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-733-2767 or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
COVID-19 antibody test available – Aria Diagnostics has secured an FDA-approved test for antibody testing for COVID-19. An antibody is a protein which the body produces in the late stages of infection and can remain for months or years after a person has recovered. Drive-up testing will be offered at Aria Diagnostics, 5635 W. 96th St. in Indianapolis, and Northview Church, 12900 Hazel Dell Pkwy. in Carmel. The test costs $75 and a doctor’s order is not required. Results are available within 48 hours. Schedule a test at ariadxs.com.
Plasma can help COVID-19 patients – As coronavirus or COVID-19 continues its spread across the globe, Versiti Blood Center of Indiana has begun collecting plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients throughout Indiana to help treat those diagnosed with the virus. This blood-related treatment, approved by the FDA as an emergency investigational new drug, could offer hope to the hundreds of patients who continue to be diagnosed. This treatment would be used by hospitals for the most severely affected patients. For more, visit versiti.org/Indiana.
Hospice volunteers needed – Anew Hospice is recruiting volunteers to visit patients in facilities in Carmel, Noblesville and elsewhere in the Indianapolis area. Volunteers provide assistance by listening and reminiscing, comforting, reading and playing music. For more information, call 317-300-2292 or visit AnewCare.com.
Hearing loss group – The Indianapolis Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America holds meetings from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month at Irvington Public Library, 5625 E. Washington St. in Indianapolis. Learn more at hlaa-indianapolis.org.
