Races canceled — In response to the ongoing public health concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 10th anniversary running of the Carmel Marathon Weekend officially is canceled. The weekend encompassing Oct. 17 was to have included the marathon, a half marathon, 10K and 5K races and a marathon relay. Organizers also said the Donut 5K scheduled for December also has been canceled, as the City of Carmel has canceled all events of more than 250 people for the remainder of 2020. The 2021 Carmel Marathon is set for April 3.
Creekside teacher honored — Creekside Middle School teacher Angela Snyder has been named a recipient of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Snyder has been an educator for more than 30 years and has taught at Clinton, Berry, Carmel and Lafayette Jeff high schools. She is president of the Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics and on state STEM leadership teams.
Commission appointment — Gov. Eric Holcomb has appointed Bill Estes of Carmel to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Estes will serve through Dec. 31, 2023.
HCCF awards grants — The Hamilton County Community Foundation has awarded $278,395 in grants to Hamilton County not-for-profit organizations as part of a four-pronged approach to the coronavirus pandemic that has shaped community need in 2020. The grants are funded through the Endowment for Hamilton County, LINK Youth Advisory Council and the newly created Hamilton County Crisis Response Fund. For more information about contributing to the Hamilton County Crisis Response Fund or requesting support, visit HamiltonCountyCommunityFoundation.org/COVID-19.
New board members — The Indiana Humanities board of directors has elected seven new members. New board members from Carmel are Rayvon Fouche, professor of American studies at Purdue University, and Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, director of religion, spirituality and the arts at IUPUI Arts and Humanities. Indiana Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that encourages Hoosiers to think, read and talk by participating in humanities programs and activities.
NCAA scholarship — Grace Haigh of Carmel is among 42 spring sports student-athletes and 21 women from all three NCAA divisions earning the NCAA’s Postgraduate Scholarship. The one-time non-renewable scholarships of $10,000 each are awarded each fall, winter and spring to 21 men and 21 women each season. Haigh earned four varsity letters as a member of the Tigers’ tennis team and served as the president of DePauw’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee starting with the 2017-18 academic year. She also was an admission ambassador and senior intern.
White River grant — A branding initiative to raise awareness for the White River in Central Indiana will get under way later this year thanks to a $275,000 grant from The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. The two-year grant will fund an initiative to raise awareness of how to access the river at the dozens of parks, boat ramps and cultural attractions along the 58-mile stretch of the river in Hamilton and Marion counties. The project will begin Fall 2020 and be completed by Spring 2022.
Current newsletter launches – Current Publishing launched a Morning Briefing newsletter July 27. The newsletter collects the most important story from all Current communities and delivers 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/.
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.
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.
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: 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].
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.
Tearoom to close — Tina’s Traditional Tearoom will close on Aug. 30 after operating for six years at 30 N. Range Line Rd. Tearoom fixtures, fittings, teacups and more will be for sale on Sept. 5. Owner Tina Jesson is selling the business to manager Heather Buchanan, who will operate a tea party catering service. Learn more and make a reservation at tinastraditional.com.
Veracity IIR adds office — Veracity IIR, a Carmel-based private investigations firm founded by former FBI agents, continues to grow. The company will open a branch in West Lafayette at 3000 Kent Ave., Suite 2562, this month. Heading up the new location will be a former Tippecanoe County Sheriff and a former FBI special agent Tracy Brown. The office has also hired Rich Davies, who spent 22 years with the FBI. Learn more at veracityiir.com.
Forever Gallery Tattoo opens — Forever Gallery Tattoo, a custom tattoo studio and art gallery, opened July 29 at Carmel City Center’s Nash Building, 858 S. Range Line Rd. The store is co-owned by Michael Hockman and Matt Correl, both longtime tattoo artists. Guest artists will hold exhibits in the gallery. For more, visit 4evergallery.com.
Carmel facility to close — Horton Inc., which produces engine cooling systems, plans to close its facility at 201 W. Carmel Dr. The closure will be phased and be complete by the end of the year, leading to the elimination of more than 60 positions.
SePRO leadership changes — Carmel-based SePRO Corporation has announced that founder, President and CEO Bill Culpepper is transitioning to chairman of the board of directors, which will allow him to focus on the strategic growth of the company. SePRO creates specialty aquatics, turf, landscape and ornamental products and services for the agrichemical industry. Effective Aug. 1, Tyler Koschnick will become the company’s president. Michael Puckett has been promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer.
Bank offers educational series online — Centier Bank has launched the bank’s online financial educational series, “Centier To You,” online. Centier has hosted in-person community events about financial wellness and education in the past—at branches, local libraries and other locations in communities across the state. But now, Centier is offering the series online, so visitors can access them on their own time, from anywhere. The site contains financial tips, exercises and information on identity theft, homebuying, credit and more. Learn more at centier.com/financial-education.
Uplift nominated for honor — Uplift Intimate Apparel in Carmel City Center is one of more than 300 nominees for the 2020 Best Retail Award by Intima Magazine, the global premiere industry magazine. The award ceremony will be a virtual event on Aug. 2. The recognition is given to the best performing lingerie specialty stores in North America under a variety of categories. Judging of the finalists is done by a professional jury composed of both domestic and international famous lingerie brands.
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.
Kidney care program launches — CarDon & Associates and DaVita Post-Acute Services are partnering to bring an on-site, kidney care program to CarDon’s Carmel Health & Living facility. The on-site dialysis center is exclusively available to residents of Carmel Health & Living, including long-term care and rehabilitation residents. DaVita dialysis patients who require short-term care at Carmel Health & Living will be able to access traditional or home treatment options. Learn more at cardon.us.
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.
