City court move — Carmel City Court has relocated to a new location a few blocks west of Carmel City Hall, where it had been situated on the second floor. The new courtroom and all court offices and functions are now at the City Court Building at 481 Gradle Drive. The court clerk’s telephone number will remain 317-571-2440.
County council changes — Amy Massillamany has been elected president of the Hamilton County Council. Steve Schwartz will serve as vice president. Election of officers is an annual practice at the first meeting of each year. Massillamany was elected to the Hamilton County Council in 2011. She represents District 2 which includes Delaware, Fall Creek and Wayne Townships. Sue Maki and Steve Nation joined the council for their first meeting. The pair won at-large seats in the November election.
Uber pickup change — The City of Carmel has collaborated with popular ride-sharing firm Uber to designate a specific location for pick-ups and drop-offs that occur late at night and early in the morning in the Midtown area to reduce traffic and noise for nearby residents. The new location for customers to connect with their rides is on Elm Street, next to Midtown Plaza, directly behind the big video screen. This location will be used between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. The city is also working with Lyft, another ride-share firm, to have them make this change.
Poe presentation — The Indiana University Kokomo Library outreach program is celebrating the birthday of writer Edgar Allan Poe, who was born in January 1809, with a free program at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 on Zoom. Dr. Mark Canada, author of the Audible Original “Edgar Allan Poe: Master of Horror” will explore Poe’s strange and fascinating fiction. Register for the event at go.iu.edu/3rBw.
Programming competition — Carmel resident Steven Platt was part of a team from Bob Jones University that finished second in the U.S. and 59th in the world at virtual programming competition IEEEXtreme 14.0. The team placed first in the Southeast region. BJU’s second-place national ranking is the best the South Carolina university has performed at that level.
New state troopers — Hamilton County residents Benjamin Beyler and Erin Fillenwarth are among 36 probationary troopers who graduated from the 80th Indiana State Police Academy on Dec. 19, 2020. Beyler and Fillenwarth are assigned to the Indiana State Police Post in Indianapolis. The probationary troopers will undergo a three-month field training period riding with veteran troopers.
Donation drive assists veterans — Residence Inn, 11895 N. Meridian St., and SpringHill Suites, 11855 N. Meridian St., in Carmel are collecting donations to support veterans at the Dr. Otis Bowen Veteran House and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing of Indianapolis. Items to be collected through Jan. 15 include laundry detergent pods, paper products, coffee K-cups, individually wrapped breakfast items and small household items. Items may be dropped off in the hotel lobbies.
Engraved bricks — The Humane Society for Hamilton County is selling personalized, engraved bricks in the memorial plaza. Brick orders are due by Jan. 15 to be included in time for the spring 2021 grand opening of the facility. Learn more at hamiltonhumane.com/new-facility-building-brighter-future/bricks.
Indefinite city closures — As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, Mayor Jim Brainard has extended the closure of City Hall until further notice. The mayor will continue to closely monitor the situation and determine if City Hall can safely be reopened to the public in the coming months. In the meantime, all city services will continue. and meetings will be held virtually unless specifically noted otherwise. The Household Hazardous Waste Center is also closed indefinitely.
Virtual Holiday Home Tour — The Carmel Clay Historical Society’s Holiday Home Tour’s virtual tour began Dec. 10 and will run through Jan. 30, 2021. Four of the homes are in Carmel and one in Madison. For more, visit carmelclayhistory.org.
Feed the Frontlines returns — Carmel is gearing back up its Feed the Frontlines initiative to help provide hot meals from local restaurants to frontline workers at IU Health North and Ascension St. Vincent Carmel Hospitals. Feed the Frontlines Carmel launched in April but was suspended in late May when the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations subsided. The program remains funded through community donations collected in the spring. The City of Carmel is partnering with the Rotary Club of Carmel and Rotary District 6560 Foundation to coordinate the program. Restaurants interested in participating may contact Teresa Lewis at [email protected].
Free math, science homework help — Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s free AskRose homework helpline is available to help middle and high school students get a head start on understanding their math and science homework problems through a simple phone call, email or chat session. Rose-Hulman students are available Sunday through Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. during the school year to help youth in grades 6 through 12 review math and science concepts. Connections can be made at 877-275-7673 or AskRose.org.
The Great Dine Out — Hamilton County Tourism, in partnership with locally-owned restaurants, is presenting The Great Dine Out restaurant promotion through Jan. 31. This new winter campaign is designed to help restaurants during the tough winter season when business is typically slower. More than 30 participating Hamilton County restaurants are offering deals and discounts for both dine-in and carryout meals. Customers must use a smartphone to redeem the offers. Visit DineOutHamiltonCounty.com and register to receive the mobile passport. For more, visit DineOutHamiltonCounty.com.
Antigen testing available — Integrative Medicine, Laser & Aesthetics at 106th Street and Michigan Road is now offering COVID-19 antigen testing in its West Carmel office. The FDA-authorized test provides results of current infections in 15 minutes and costs $99. Packages are available for families and employers. Patients must have an appointment to receive the test with early morning and evening appointments available. To schedule an appointment, call 800-538-5513 or schedule online at intergrativemla.com.
COVID-19 testing site moves — Aria Diagnostics has moved its COVID-19 testing site from Carmel United Methodist Church to Faith Apostolic Church, 1212 E. 116th St. in Carmel. Testing is available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Aria also operates a testing site at Trader’s Point Christian Church in Whitestown.
Blood donations needed — Versiti Blood Center of Indiana is encouraging Hoosiers to make an appointment in January to donate blood. All blood types are needed, especially O-negative blood, which is the universal blood type given to patients in emergency situations and those undergoing surgery. In Carmel, a blood drive is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 30 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 1045 W. 146th St. Appointments may also be scheduled at the Versiti donor center in Carmel at 726 Adams St., Suite 150. To schedule an appointment, call 317-916-5150 or visit versiti.org/Indiana.
