Senior selected for All-Star team — Bridget Dunn of Carmel High School is one of 14 players selected for the 2021 IndyStar Indiana Girls All-Stars. Dunn, who is injured and not expected to play in the game, is a 6’3” forward who has committed to Kent State University. The team will play an exhibition game against the Indiana Junior All-Stars in June and two games against the Kentucky All-Stars.
Talk of the Town webinars — The City of Carmel is holding “Talk of the Town” virtual interactive discussions as part of an effort to update the city’s comprehensive plan. Remaining discussions are noon March 26 (Unlock community growth) and noon April 9 (Shape the growth). Registered participants may submit questions during the webinar. Register at us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q6vAg25hQxKagmGKe_efsA. The sessions will be recorded and posted on the city’s YouTube channel and project website.
Weed Wranglers — The Hamilton County Invasive Species Partnership will debut Weed Wranglers events this year to remove invasive species at various locations. Volunteers will learn how to manage a targeted invasive species and work as part of a collaborative effort to improve a natural area. Learn more at hcinvasives.org/weedwrangle. Registration is required.
Diversity and racial equity grants — Hamilton County Community Foundation announced a one-time grantmaking round exclusively for grassroots organizations promoting and leading diversity and racial equity work in Hamilton County. Funding is provided by the Community Leadership Innovation Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, and administered in partnership with HCCF. The deadline to request support is April 2. Learn more and apply at hamiltoncountycommunityfoundation.org/racial-equity-app-2021/.
Kelly Trent to share story at breakfast — Carmel resident Kelly Trent, mother of late Purdue super fan and cancer activist Tyler Trent, will share a message of faith, challenge, pain and hope at the YMCA’s 52nd annual Good Friday Breakfast, which will be held virtually at 8 a.m. April 2. After Tyler lost his battle with cancer in January 2019, Kelly began traveling the United States sharing her family’s story. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Register at indymca.org/events/52nd-annual-ymca-good-friday-breakfast-apr-2-2021.
Golf course to celebrate 50 years — The City of Carmel’s official municipal golf course, Brookshire Golf Club, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year with a new logo, upgrades to the 18-hole public golf course and new features to the two-year-old Brookshire Clubhouse. The city purchased this golf course in 2007 to preserve it as a public amenity, rather than being replaced by private development. The new logo incorporates the golf course’s history with an updated look. Upgrades to the course include new bridges and paved cart paths all the way around the course. New golf simulators will be installed in the clubhouse. Learn more at BrookshireGolf.com.
Elections administrator completes training — Hamilton County Elections Administrator Beth Sheller recently completed a Certificate in Election Administration, Technology and Security through Ball State University. She graduated from the program on March 5. The program, in cooperation with the Secretary of State’s office and the Indiana Election Division, serves to professionalize interest in election administration, provide instruction and troubleshooting on various voting systems, provide information on technology, security, election personnel training, management, election law and election day reporting. Sheller received a scholarship from the Secretary of State’s office to cover the cost of tuition.
Congressional Art Competition — U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz is encouraging high school students in the 5th District to enter the Congressional Art Competition. Winning artwork will be displayed for a year in the U.S. Capitol. Deadline to enter is April 23. Learn more at spartz.house.gov/services/art-competition.
County receives AAA credit rating — Hamilton County has received the highest possible credit rating, AAA, from Standard & Poor’s. It is the only county among the 92 counties in the State of Indiana to receive such a rating. The rating agency uses four categories of criteria: economy/tax base, finances, management and debt/pensions. It affirms Hamilton County’s ability to pay its debts and weather uncertain economic times.
Pop-up shop fundraiser — Donatello’s Italian Restaurant, 9 W. Main St., will host a pop-up shop with items such as jewelry, masks, purses, market bags and kikoy available for purchase to benefit the women and children of Western Kenya. The event, called Jubilee Spree, will be held in the side room at the restaurant from 3 to 7:30 p.m. on March 24 and March 25. The items for sale are created by women and girls in Kager, Kenya, and the sales will benefit their community in a variety of ways. Learn more at jubileespree.com or email [email protected].
Scholarships offered – Tru Direction, Inc. will award scholarships of $500 to $2,500 per qualified applicant as determined by the scholarship committee. Scholarships may be used for any related expenses for college, university, trade school or technical school. Applicants must be attending school a minimum of nine hours, or the equivalent, per semester. However, preference will be given to those attending at least 12 hours. Applications are due by March 31. Learn more at trudirection.org.
Fish fry — The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays through March 26 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 10655 Haverstick Rd. Carry-out and curbside pick-up is available. Cost is $11, which includes a choice of baked salmon, crabby cakes or fried pollock. Each meal includes sides and a cookie. Kids meals are available.
Graduate school scholarships — The Beryl Showers Holland Fellowship will offer a $3,000 first place and $2,000 second place scholarship to graduating seniors at Indiana University who will attend graduate school in the fall. Learn more and apply at trikappa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BSH-Application-2021-Packet-FF-2.pdf.
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.
Centier Bank appointments — John Marshall has been appointed as a mortgage loan originator for Centier Bank in the greater Indianapolis area. Marshall, a Carmel resident, joined Centier in February after spending more than 20 years in similar roles at other financial institutions. The bank also appointed Joshua Stuckey as business banking officer in the Carmel office. Stuckey, a Noblesville resident, joined Centier in October after serving in various roles at financial institutions for the past 22 years.
Pierce Aerospace lands Air Force contract — Carmel-based Pierce Aerospace and the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Research Computing was awarded an Agility Prime contract from the U.S. Air Force for “Decentralized Remote ID for Air Vehicles: Optimization of Low Latency, Scalable Data Networks Via Emulation, Modeling, and Simulation.” This award comes on the heels of Pierce Aerospace’s recent advances with Flight Portal ID, a Remote ID and Combat ID technology suite. In addition, Pierce Aerospace recently received a matching grant through Indiana’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer program.
New hire at MJ — Carmel-based MJ Insurance has added industry veteran Leea Ashfeld-Schwarz to its benefits consulting team, where she will serve as an employee benefits client executive. In her new role, Ashfeld-Schwarz will work to develop and execute the most cost-effective and strategic benefits options for both new and existing clients. She will lead and support the internal team to ensure the timely delivery of each segment of MJ’s value proposition.
Woodhouse Day Spa expands — Terri Smith, owner of Woodhouse Day Spa in Carmel, is opening a new location March 23 in the Bottleworks District in downtown Indianapolis. In addition to traditional spa treatments, the new location will offer halotherapy and sound wave therapy. Smith, a Butler University graduate, also owns Woodhouse Day Spas in Fishers and Zionsville.
