Carmel in brief — December 29, 2020

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Commissioner elected treasurer — Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt was elected 2021 treasurer of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners by county commissioners across the state. As treasurer Heirbrandt will represent the elected county commissioners in the 92 counties of Indiana.  Heirbrandt will be treasurer of the IACC’s board of directors, which determines policies and legislative goals for the Association.

Safest Place to Raise a Child — The City of Carmel has been named the 4th Safest Place to Raise a Child in America by Safewise.com based on an analysis of numbers and statistics from the FBI and other sources that tell the story of how communities rank in matters of safety, graduation rates, sex offender stats, violent crimes and property crimes. Carmel scored the highest of any city in Indiana. Fishers came in eighth place. All of the cities on the Safewise list have violent crime rates more than three times lower than the national average, according to the report. Read the report at safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-to-raise-a-child.

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.

CPD hiring — The Carmel Police Dept. is accepting applications from certified law enforcement officers. Applications close at noon Jan. 8. Apply at bit.ly/3naXEOh.

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].

Bulk item pickup fee increase — Republic Services has increased its fee for bulk item pick-up from $10 to $20 and raised the fee for bulky landscape waste from $10 to $45 per pickup. This does not affect the free weekly pickup of up to 20 bags or bundles of landscape waste offered from Oct. 15 to Dec. 15 and in April and May. Schedule bulk item or bulky landscape pickups by calling 317-917-7300.

Scholarships available — Midwest Academy has scholarship opportunities available for children in third through fifth grade. The population MWA serves generally includes students diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, high-functioning autism, receptive and/or expansive language or processing challenges resulting in school anxiety. A major change like remote learning can be extremely challenging for a student who has come to feel safe in their school environment. For more information about admissions at Midwest Academy, contact Katie Erdmanis 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.

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.

Centier Bank recognized — Centier Bank has been recognized as the top-ranked “Best Bank to Work For” in the state of Indiana by American Banker. For each of the past eight years, Centier Bank has placed alongside financial institutions across the country on the nationwide list. Centier Bank ranked 11th out of 85 banks in the U.S. Learn more at americanbanker.com and centier.com.

Unemployment rate drops — Despite the continuing economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carmel continued to show progress in its unemployment rate, which has decreased for the fifth consecutive month – coming in at 3.6 for the month of November, down from 4.0 in October. The new number was released Dec. 21 by the State of Indiana’s Dept. of Workforce Development. Indiana’s overall November unemployment rate is 4.9 and the U.S. rate is 6.4. The unemployment rate peaked in April in Carmel at 8.8 percent.

Identity theft webinar — In observance of National Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month, Centier Bank has published a free webinar about identity theft, now available for public view on its Facebook Page. “Learn How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft” provides viewers the opportunity to learn about identity theft as part of Centier Bank’s Online Financial Education Series, Centier To You. The webinar is available to view at Facebook.com/Centier. For more information visit centier.com/financial-education.

Headphone donation — Carmel-based ISOtunes is donating 225 pairs of its certified hearing protection headphones to three Indiana colleges and the trade programs each school supports. The donation, which is retail valued at nearly $15,000, will provide hearing protection to students who are in loud working environments. Students enrolled in specific trade programs at Indianapolis Ivy Tech Community College, Fortis College and Lincoln College of Technology will be receiving a donated pair of ISOtunes headphones. Learn more at isotunes.com.

Telamon receives grant — Carmel-based Telamon Corporation is among 31 Indiana businesses to receive a Manufacturing Readiness Grant presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. in partnership with Conexus Indiana. Telamon, which primarily designs, builds and installs telecommunication networks, received a grant for $64,250. The grants are designed to stimulate manufacturing investments that will position Hoosier operations for future growth and prosperity.

New name, office — Effective, Jan. 1, 2021, Herman & Kittle Properties, Inc. will become Kittle Property Group, Inc. The company has also moved its corporate headquarters, purchasing a new, larger office building adjacent to its previous location in the Parkwood Crossing Office Park on 96th Street in Carmel. Kittle Property Group owns and manages more than 18,000 apartment homes in 19 states, providing homes to more than 30,000 family people.

Healthiest workplace — Carmel-based MJ Insurance has been recognized as one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America by Healthiest Employers, powered by Springbuk’s Healthiest Employers Index on employee health and wellbeing. MJ received recognition as a Healthiest Employer in Indiana and Arizona.

New leader selected — Carmel-based public accounting firm Katz, Sapper & Miller recently announced the election of Tim Cook, a 17-year KSM veteran, as its next firm leader. Cook will succeed managing partner David Resnick, effective Jan. 1, 2021. As KSM’s new CEO and president and the first non-CPA to lead the 78-year-old firm, Cook will draw on both his training as an attorney and his experience growing two highly successful practices within the firm. Resnick will succeed Curt Miller, one of KSM’s namesakes, as chair of the board.

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.

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 issuing an emergency appeal for blood donations as communities throughout the state face a potential crisis. Ideally, Versiti strives for a three-day supply of blood available to its partner hospitals. Schools and businesses are typically Versiti’s largest source of blood donations this time of year. Because of remote work and virtual schooling, many of those drives have been canceled. Compared to an average year, Versiti is down more than 50 percent in donations – or nearly 20,000 units of blood – from those key contributors. Blood donations may be made in Carmel at 726 Adams St., Suite 150. Make an appointment and view blood drives at donate.indiana.versiti.org.

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.


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