Clarification — In the July 14 edition of Current in Carmel, an article about the Carmel Police Dept.’s response to recent allegations and demands stated that the group Carmel Against Racial Injustice supports a petition demanding police reforms. While CARI’s website links to and encourages people to sign the petition, CARI does not support all demands listed in it, including a complete prohibition of chokeholds and defunding of local police.
Current newsletter to launch – Current Publishing will launch a newsletter July 27. The newsletter will collect the most important story from all Current communities and deliver them to email inboxes every weekday at 7 a.m. Included will be recipes, best bets for fun activities in each community and more. Subscribers will also receive breaking news directly in their inbox. To subscribe, visit youarecurrent.com/morning-briefing/.
KinderCare approved — The Carmel Plan Commission’s commercial committee voted 3-0 to approve plans for a KinderCare Learning Center at 10910 N. Michigan Rd. The 11,985-square-foot childcare facility is on 1.33 acres south of the newly-constructed Weston Pointe Drive. The committee had final voting authority on the matter and will not send it back to the full plan commission.
Volunteers needed — Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County is seeking volunteers as requests for the service continue to rise. The meal delivery service has seen a 48 percent increase for service between March and May. There is no contact between clients and volunteer drivers. Meals are left in coolers on the front porch. Volunteers pick up deliveries from either Ascension St. Vincent Carmel Hospital or Riverview Health Hospital in Noblesville. For more information on donating or volunteering, visit mealsonwheelshc.org or call 317-776-7159.
CCHS virtual event — The Carmel Clay Historical Society’s speaker series will feature “Indy Women Changing History: A Short Look at Madame CJ Walker” by Dakota Burks. CCHS will share the lecture on its Facebook page at 6:30 p.m. July 23.
Model UN team honored — The University of Alabama’s Model UN team, which includes Margaret Woodard of Carmel, ranked on Best Delegate’s list of the Top 25 Collegiate Model UN teams in the World Division for the first time. UA ranked No. 25 for strong performances throughout the 2019-20 academic year. According to Best Delegate, UA’s showing at the McGill Model United Nations Assembly in Montreal in January, the second largest Model UN conference, was among the top performances in an evenly matched field.
New inclusive playground –– Conner Prairie has debuted Ag Adventures at the Estridge Family Park, a newly constructed playground that will provide access to all visitors. This fully inclusive play area was designed with guests of all abilities in mind. The playscape is accessible for visitors with physical or developmental disabilities who may have been unable to fully engage with Conner Prairie’s previous playground. The playground was made possible through the support of the Estridge Family Foundation — a fund of the Hamilton County Community Foundation — and the Conner Prairie Alliance. Learn more at connerprairie.org.
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.
Predictive Partner acquired — Carmel-based Predictive Partner has been acquired by California-based Jobvite, which offers an end-to-end talent acquisition suite. Predictive Partner CEO Morgan Llewellyn will serve as chief data scientist at Jobvite and oversee a team that leverages artificial intelligence through automation, predictive analytics, data science, machine learning and more. Learn more at jobvite.com.
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.
