Church to distribute potatoes – St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 4780 E. 126th St. in Carmel, will distribute 40,000 pounds of free potatoes from 8 to 10 a.m. Oct. 8. The event is held in partnership with the Society of Saint Andrew, a nationwide organization dedicated to gleaning produce that would otherwise go to waste. Food pantries and other agencies should contact Stephanie Cohen, [email protected] to advise how many pounds of potatoes they need. Individuals may show up without registering in advance.
Christkind essay contest – The 2022 Carmel Christkindlmarkt Christkind essay contest is officially open for the 2022 market season. The contest provides a unique opportunity for a female high school or college student to participate in the Carmel Christkindlmarkt as the iconic Christkind, and winners are also awarded scholarships. This year’s essay prompt invites applicants to explore the traditions of Christmas cuisine. The essay question and qualifications can be found at carmelchristkindlmarkt.com/christkind-contest. Applications are due by Oct. 11 at 11:55 p.m.
Grant to help preserve history – The Carmel Clay Historical Society has received $4,999 through the Indiana Historical Society’s Heritage Support Grants program to provide proper storage of the City of Carmel archival collection. The project focuses on rehousing approximately 4,000 photographs and negatives donated to the historical society from the City of Carmel. Through the grant program, the IHS awarded more than $50,000 in the second half of 2022 to 12 local historical societies and organizations representing 11 Indiana counties.
Synergize benefits Dying Defiantly – Synergize held its most recent 4:30 Meetup Aug. 23 at 3Up Rooftop Bar in Carmel to benefit Dying Defiantly, founded by Marshall Morris, a Synergize Legacy member. Morris set up the nonprofit, which provides strategic resources, counseling and community for those facing a terminal diagnosis, eight days after being diagnosed with stage 4 bile duct cancer. In January he was told he had six months to live but has beat the prognosis. The event raised $2,625 for Dying Defiantly. The next 4:30 Meetup will benefit the Indiana Health Fund. Learn more at synergizeindy.com.
Same as U Golf Tournament – The second Same as U Golf Tournament is set for 11 a.m. Sept. 23 at Pebble Brook Golf Club, 3110 Westfield Rd. in Noblesville. Check in begins at 10 a.m. A box lunch will be provided by Divvy’s, and dinner will be from Big DOg’s SMokehouse BBQ. Learn more and register at sameasu.org/golf-outing-2022.
Food truck festival – Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church will host a food truck festival from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 on the church campus at 146th Street and Oak Ridge Road in Carmel. There will be 10 food trucks, games and inflatables for children, information about ministries and opportunities for fellowship. There is no cost for admission.
Submit candidate debate questions – The Indiana Debate Commission will host a single debate between U.S. Senate candidates Todd Young (Republican, incumbent), Thomas McDermott (Democrat) and James Sceniak (Libertarian) at 7 p.m. Oct. 16. Anyone can submit questions for consideration in this debate, which will be moderated by Laura Merrifield Wilson, an associate professor of political science at the University of Indianapolis, and also a commission board member. She previously moderated a gubernatorial debate in 2016. Questions can be submitted online through Sept. 30 at indianadebatecommission.com.
County bond rating affirmed – S&P Global Ratings recently affirmed its AAA long-term rating of Hamilton County, which is the highest rating that can be given. In addition, the agency assigned its AAA rating to the county’s bridge improvement bonds that are scheduled to close this month. The outlook is stable. The bond proceeds will be used to finance a new bridge project over the White River. This will be done in conjunction with the City of Noblesville. This is the second year the county has received a AAA rating. Hamilton County is the only county in Indiana that holds a AAA rating from S&P.
County updates board appointment process – The Hamilton County council has a new online process for nominating appointments to county-run boards. In the past, appointments have been made through word of mouth. The online process will list each of the county-appointed board seats along with their roles and responsibilities. Anyone interested in filling a county-appointed board seat will need to complete an online form with their credentials and experience. When any of the seats on the county-appointed boards need to be filled, the council can easily review the applications in the online portal. Learn more and apply at hamiltoncounty.in.gov/1755/Interested-in-Appointment-Opportunities.
Ghosts and Goblins registration open – The 14th annual Carmel Education Foundation Ghosts and Goblins 5K/2K Race will kick off at 9 a.m., Oct. 22 at Carmel High School. Strollers are welcome and costumes are encouraged. Early bird pricing is available through Sept. 15. Individual registration (age five and older) is $20 and Carmel Clay Schools students are $10. Pre-ordered race shirts are $10 for short sleeves and $15 for long sleeves. Prizes will be awarded to age category winners. Proceeds from the race benefit CCS students and teachers through the award of CEF Great Idea grants. Learn more and register at GhostsandGoblinsRun.com.
Republican Women’s Club – The Hamilton County Republican Women’s Club will meet at Oct. 4 at Hamilton County FOP 103 Lodge, 7201 E. 196th St. in Noblesville, to hear a speaker from Prevail talk about domestic violence. On Oct. 24, the group will host a craft night to make Christmas cards for nursing homes and veterans. The craft night will be at Hamilton County FOP 103 Lodge.
‘I Voted’ sticker competition – Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan is encouraging K-12 Hoosier students to use their creativity to help design ‘I Voted’ stickers for Indiana’s upcoming general election. The competition is open to all Indiana students and is divided into three groups based on age level: Kindergarten – third grade, fourth grade – eighth grade, and ninth grade through 12th grade. An overall winner will be selected for each group in addition to recognition for second and third place entries. The winning designs will be printed and used for official “I Voted” stickers, distributed to Indiana county clerks for use on Election Day. Students can download a submission form and email their completed design to [email protected]. Entries must be received by Sept. 18. Learn more at in.gov/sos/2022-i-voted-sticker-design-competition/.
Voting info for college students – The League of Women Voters of Hamilton County is reminding college students to plan ahead to be able to participate in voting on Election Day on Nov. 8. College students living away from home may use absentee ballots to cast their votes, but they should allow time for applying for the ballot and receiving it by mail at their campus location. The deadline to request absentee ballots is Oct. 27, but students are advised to request a ballot as soon as they have their campus mailing address. Students who opt to vote in local races in college towns must change their permanent address on their registration to that of their campus residence. Learn more and request an absentee ballot at IndianaVoters.org and Vote411.org.
State’s cutest dogs – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, the Indiana Destination Development Corp. and Indiana’s First Dog, Henry, are searching for adorable dogs in great locations across the state through the Visit Indiana Cutest Dog Photo Contest. A different winner will be selected every week for one year. Each winning dog will get a note from Indiana’s first dog, an exclusive ‘More To Discover IN Indiana’ dog bandana, a feature as one of the Cutest Dogs IN Indiana on the Visit Indiana social channels. To enter, upload a photo or video of your dog to Instagram, tag @VisitIndiana and use the hashtag #DogsINIndiana. Entries must include the location where the photo was taken.
Care-oke to benefit United Way program – United Way of Central Indiana is hosting a karaoke competition this fall to benefit its ReadUP childhood literacy program. Registration is open for soloists and musical groups interested in competing for a spot to perform live at Care-oke on Nov. 9 at Old National Centre in Indianapolis. The top 12 fundraisers will automatically qualify for the finale, and the remaining performers will be selected at random. Individual performers commit to raising at least $250, and groups commit to raising $500. The competition is open to singers across the state of all ages. The deadline to register is Oct. 10. Learn more at uwci.org/careoke.
Trade invasive species for trees – Via a trade-in program, Hamilton County property owners can show proof of removal of an invasive species on their Hamilton County property and receive up to three, three-gallon native trees or shrubs for free. Landscape plantings of callery pear species, burning bush, Japanese barberry and Norway maple are the preferred species for removal, but any from the Official Indiana Invasive Species Council Invasive Plant List is acceptable. Trades are limited to one per address. Learn more and apply at hcinvasives.org.
Sidewalk Repair Grant funds available – In 2020, the Carmel City Council established a Sidewalk Repair Grant program to help keep residential sidewalks across the city in good shape and safe. This program was initially funded by a $50,000, non-reverting fund and there are still funds available for property owners to apply for assistance with sidewalk repairs. The fund assists residents who own and occupy their homes with the expense of repair/replacement of sidewalks and for removal of trees located on their private property that are affecting sidewalks by reimbursing up to 50 percent of the project cost, up to $3,000. Learn more and apply at carmel.in.gov/government/departments-services/community-services/sidewalk-repair-grant.
Arts & Culture digital passport – The recently launched Indiana Arts & Culture digital passport encourages visitors to discover new places and enjoy some of Indiana’s creative spaces. Sign up online for the passport and receive custom prizes for visiting multiple destinations across the state. Visitors need to check-in from a smartphone at one of the designated passport locations. Participants earn more by visiting more locations. For more information, visit VisitIndiana.com/arts or follow Visit Indiana on social media at @VisitIndiana on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Hamilton County Democratic Women meetings— The Hamilton County Democratic Women meet every third Saturday of the month at the Delaware Township Trustee Building 9090 E. 131st, Fishers. Conversations begin at 9:30 a.m., the meeting is from 10 a.m. to 11. All Hamilton County women are welcome.
Weed Wrangles clear invasive species – The organizations of the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership are inviting volunteers to help clear local parks of invasive species by participating in Weed Wrangles. During the Weed Wrangle, teams of volunteers, supervised by guides, will locate and uproot unwelcome plants such as bush honeysuckle, garlic mustard, autumn olive, English ivy and winter creeper. Learn more and sign up to volunteer at hcinvasives.org.
Monthly beekeepers meeting – The North Central Beekeepers Club meets the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000 E. 151st St. in Westfield. Meetings are free to attend by all levels of beekeepers located centrally north of Indianapolis. Those interested in becoming beekeepers are welcome. For more information, visit facebook.com/ncbclub.
Home sale statistics – Carmel continued to see a solid August residential real estate market, with prices increasing and homes selling steadily. According to F.C. Tucker Company, Carmel’s average home sale price increased 7.4 percent to $572,640, compared to August 2021. The average price per square foot was $214.81, an increase of 10.6 percent over this time last year. Homes sold in an average of 13 days, the same as August 2021.
CRC director recognized – Carmel Redevelopment Director Henry Mestetsky has been named to the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis’ first 36 Under 36 List. Honorees include outstanding Jewish young adults who make a difference in their professional work, volunteering and involvement in the community. The inaugural class will be featured in the Jewish Federation News magazine in a special section later this year. Mestetsky has been executive director of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission since November 2017. Prior to that, he was a real estate and economic development attorney for Dentons Bingham Greenebaum. Born in Ukraine, Mestetsky and his family moved to Indiana in 1994.
Prevent catalytic converter theft – Jiffy Lube of Indiana and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Dept. have partnered to launch the Catalytic Converter Identification Initiative to combat a trend of catalytic converter thefts and support vehicle safety. Through this initiative, Hoosiers that visit a Jiffy Lube store in central Indiana can opt to have their technician engrave the last 8 digits of the vehicle’s VIN on the catalytic converter and add a stripe of high-temp paint, which adds an extra layer of protection to any vehicle at no additional cost (and no purchase necessary). Services will remain in effect indefinitely.
Winter seasonal hiring events – INDOT will host winter seasonal hiring events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 28 at 13 locations across the state. Winter seasonal positions run between Nov. 1 and April 1. Pay starts at $20 per hour for full-time operations and $14 per hour for snowplow-only operations. Job duties include performing general highway maintenance, traffic maintenance, snow and ice removal and other duties related to winter operations. A valid CDL is required to be considered for a seasonal role. Registration is not required to attend. For a list of hiring fair locations, visit bit.ly/INDOTHiring. Interested candidates may text INDOT Careers to 468311 to receive additional job postings.
500 Mile Challenge – Registration is open for the Indianapolis 500 Mile Challenge, an online fitness program that encourages participants to complete 500 miles of physical activity, the same mileage drivers complete during the Indianapolis 500. Participants also have the option to complete 250 miles of physical activity in the Gasoline Alley 250 Mile Challenge. The challenges, which benefit the 500 Festival, kicked off June 13 and runs through Oct. 31. Registration is $65 and includes a shirt, finisher medal, hat and more. Register for either challenge at IndyMini.com/500Miles.
Hospice volunteers needed – Anew Hospice is seeking volunteers to spend time with hospice patients throughout the Indianapolis area. Volunteers visit hospice patients to provide companionship through music, reading, doing puzzles, life review or just being a hand to hold. To learn more, call 317-300-2292 or email [email protected].
