Rise Up for Kids Breakfast — The Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide will welcome Erin Merryn as the keynote speaker for the virtual Rise Up For Kids Breakfast set for 8 a.m. April 29. Merryn is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and will share her story of overcoming this abuse and empowerment she gained. Join the event at fb.me/e/55bhNhQDb. Learn more at erinmerryn.net and indianaprevention.org.
INDOT public meeting — INDOT will conduct a public meeting to educate residents and gather feedback on the environmental assessment for the interchange project at U.S. 31 and 236th Street. The meeting is set for 4:30 to 7 p.m. March 30 at the Sheridan Community Center, 300 E. 6th St. in Sheridan. Learn more at in.gov/indot/3831.htm.
Tree City of the World — The Arbor Day Foundation has named Carmel a Tree City of the World. Tree Cities of the World is a program founded by The Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to recognize cities around the globe that have committed to growing and maintaining their urban forest. Through this recognition, Carmel will join a network of like-minded cities who recognize the importance of trees in building healthy, resilient and happy cities. Learn more at TreeCitiesOfTheWorld.org.
Dye Junior Invitational — The Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel will stage the Pete and Alice Dye Junior Invitational from June 6 to 8. The national event, inaugurated in 2020, honors Crooked Stick’s founders – champion golfers and world-renowned golf course designers Pete and Alice Dye. The field for the event showcases top-ranked national and international boy and girl competitors facing off in 54-holes of medal play at Crooked Stick. Learn more at dyejuniorinvitational.com.
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. The final discussion is at 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.
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.
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.
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.
Donatello’s to close — Donatello’s Italian Restaurant’s last day of operations will be April 3. Owners Pat and Beth Aasen, who have worked in the restaurant business for 40 years, plan to retire from restaurant ownership to spend more time with family and traveling. The restaurant at 9 W. Main St. has served the Carmel community for more than 10 years.
INDOT career fair — INDOT will host an online, virtual career fair from noon to 1 p.m. April 1. INDOT is recruiting applicants for open full-time and seasonal positions in highway maintenance, fleet services, construction engineering and construction project inspections. INDOT offers $250 sign on and $500 retention bonuses for eligible candidates. Visit bit.ly/3tRIiB2 to attend the career fair. Advance registration is not required.
New chairman announced — The National Bank of Indianapolis has announced that Michael S. “Mickey” Maurer will retire as chairman of the board of directors after 28 years of service. He will continue to serve as a board director for the bank. Board director Greg Maurer has been named as the new chairman of the board.
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.
State income tax filing date change — The Indiana Department of Revenue is extending individual income tax filing and payment deadlines to align with the Internal Revenue Service deadline of May 17. The original due date was April 15. Individuals who are not able to file by the May 17 deadline can file an extension directly with DOR or with the IRS. Learn more at dor.in.gov.
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.
Vaccines for homebound residents — The Carmel Fire Dept. is working with the Hamilton County Health Dept. to administer COVID-19 vaccines to people who are unable to leave their homes. Last week, 18 homebound residents were vaccinated in Carmel. The program is part of the Homebound Hoosier EMS Vaccine Administration Program and provides vaccines to at-risk, hard-to-reach and immobile residents. To schedule a visit, call 1-800-986-3505.
Free rides to vaccine sites — Indiana University Health is offering free rides to any COVID-19 vaccine site in the state. Many Hoosiers at higher risk of getting COVID-19 want the vaccine but don’t have access to convenient transportation they need to get to their appointment. Ride services are available to anyone in Indiana. The appointment does not need to be at an IU Health vaccine clinic. Those needing transportation can contact 1-888-484-3258 to set up a ride.
