Mail letters to Santa – Four custom-made mailboxes have been placed around Carmel for letter delivery to Santa and his elves at the North Pole. Letters can be sent from Dec. 1 to 10. The mailboxes are at:
- Arts & Design District – next to All Things Carmel store (110 W. Main St. #104)
- Midtown Plaza – outside of Sun King (351 Monon Blvd.)
- City Center – next to Hotel Carmichael (1 Carmichael Square)
- Indiana Design Center – at Santa’s House (200 S. Range Line Rd.)
Pickleball tournaments — Grand National Racquet Center will host pickleball tournaments at Grand Park Event Center in Westfield through at least 2028. It begins with a Holiday Pickleball Festival this month. For more, visit holidaypickleballfestival.com. It will be followed by the APP National Collegiate Pickleball tournament from Jan. 2 to 7, 2024. For more, email John Moorin at [email protected]. Grand National Racquet Center is nearing completion on the infrastructure on 191st Street directly north of the Grand Park Event Center. The facility will house indoor pickleball, tennis, squash and other racquet sports, expected to open in late 2024 to early 2025.
Sister City committee members sought – The City of Carmel is looking for volunteers to serve on a new not-for-profit Sister Cities Committee for Rueil-Malmaison, hauts-de-Seine, France, and invites any resident of Carmel to attend an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Carmel City Hall council chambers. The committee will oversee and help to promote and facilitate cultural exchanges between Carmel and Rueil-Malmaison.
Person of interest – The Carmel Police Department is looking to identify the person in this photo, who is a person of interest in a recent case of battery. Anyone with information on this person is asked to contact CPD Officer N. Schuck at 317-571-2500 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477. Reference CPD case number 2023-00078962.
Skate with Santa – The Ice Skating Club of Indianapolis will host Skate with Santa from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Carmel Ice Skadium, 1040 3rd Ave. SW. Attendees can ice skate, visit with Santa, meet his elves and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. ISCI club members will be on hand to assist first time skaters and demonstrate their skating skills. Cost is $12 per person or $30 for a family of four and includes admission, skate rental, cookies and hot chocolate.
Restaurateur dies in plane crash – Nathan Finney, president and owner of Finney Hospitality Group, and flight instructor Warren Bruhl died in a plane crash at 4:50 p.m. Nov. 22 in a field near Shelbyville. Bloomington-based Finney Hospitality Group owns several restaurant brands, including Social Cantina. No one else was aboard the plane.
Silver Pen Writing Competition – The Stratford is presenting the 11th Annual Senior Living Communities Silver Pen Writing Competition. The senior living community will award cash prizes up to $3,750 to assist three local high school seniors with post-graduate plans. A panel will judge 1,000-word essays exploring the topic of what new subject the author proposes be taught for the rest of the school year. Essays must be submitted by Feb. 15, 2024. For the full rules and to submit an essay, visit Silverpen-SLC.com.
Visual artwork proposals sought – Indiana-based visual artists are invited to submit proposals for a $2,500 commission from the Center for the Performing Arts and a one-year display of the resulting work in the main lobby of the Palladium concert hall. The initiative is an extension of the Center’s New Works performing arts commission project, now in its third year. The winning visual arts work will be unveiled June 1, 2024. Proposals will be accepted through Jan. 5, 2024. Learn more at TheCenterPresents.org/NewWorksVisualArts.
Recycle holiday lights – Carmel residents may recycle holiday lights at White’s Ace Hardware & Garden Center, 731 S. Range Line Rd. through Jan. 19, 2024. For the first time this year, the shop will offer 10 percent off a purchase of LED holiday lights when an old set is dropped off to be recycled. The program is a partnership between Carmel Clay School’s Green Teams, Carmel Utilities, the City of Carmel, Technology Recyclers and White’s Ace Hardware & Garden Center. Learn more by calling Carmel Utilities at 317-571-2673.
Leaf, landscape waste removal – Carmel residents may leave up to 20 bags or bundles of landscape waste, including leaves, for pickup each week through Dec. 15. The bags should be left out on the regular waste pickup day. The service is provided free of charge.
Operation School Bell – The Assistance League of Indianapolis is seeking donations to support its Operation School Bell program, which provides apparel and shoes for thousands of underserved students in Indianapolis. Each student receives a duffel bag that includes a winter jacket, socks, shirts, pants, toothbrush and more. Learn more and donate at alindy.org/operation-school-bell-mailer.html.
Remove invasives, receive free plants – The Hamilton County Invasives Partnership and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District will provide up to three, 3-gallon native trees or shrubs for free to Hamilton County residents who show proof of removal of an invasive species from their property. Learn more 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 for all levels of beekeepers located centrally north of Indianapolis. Those interested in becoming beekeepers are welcome. For more information, visit facebook.com/ncbclub.
Ash & Elm Cider Co. coming to North End – Ash & Elm Cider Co. is set to open a new restaurant and tasting room in late spring 2024 in Carmel in the North End development, 525 North End Dr. The plan is to open in late spring 2024. The company has been making and serving its craft ciders in downtown Indianapolis since 2016. Its presence at the Carmel Farmers Market since 2021 and at northside retail stores has made Carmel one of its largest sales territories outside of downtown Indianapolis. Learn more at ashandelmcider.com.
IMCU donates to CHS athletics – Indiana Members Credit Union recently presented a check for $1,500 to Carmel High School athletics as part of an ongoing school spirit debit card program. The partnership allows Carmel fans the opportunity to show their school spirit and support the athletic program by signing up for a Carmel Greyhounds-themed debit card. Every time the card is used as a signature-based transaction, Carmel athletics benefits. Since beginning the program in 2013, CHS athletics has earned $17,331 through this program.
The Stratford receives honor – The Stratford in Carmel has been certified as a Great Place to Work for the fourth consecutive year. The certification is based on an anonymous survey completed by team members at The Stratford. In addition to being Great Place to Work, The Stratford was named a Fortune’s Best Companies to Work for in Aging Services. As a result of the Great Place to Work certification, The Stratford was eligible for Fortune’s list, which details companies who prioritize employees.
Gourmet Tastings at Regalique – Regalique, 110 W. Main St., Suite 120, in Carmel, is hosting Gourmet Tastings from 5 to 8 p.m. on Fridays. At the free event, guests can sample gourmet products, including chocolates, honey, cheese and more. Learn more at Regalique.com.
Surgeon joins Franciscan – Breast surgeon Dr. Jamie Murphy has joined the cancer care team at Franciscan Physician Network Breast & Melanoma Specialists. Murphy received her training at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada. She completed her residency in general surgery at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis and her fellowship in breast surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Franciscan Physician Network Breast & Melanoma Specialists is located at the Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 104; and at 12188-B N. Meridian St. in Carmel. For more information or to make an appointment, call 317-781-7391.
Fresh Encounter donates $81K – Needler’s Fresh Market via parent company Fresh Encounter Inc., in collaboration with valued customers, announced an $81,000 charitable contribution to local food banks and mental health organizations in alignment with Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28. This donation is part of the company’s commitment to address food insecurity and promote mental well-being in the community, with a total contribution exceeding $160,000 toward building a brighter and more sustainable future. Customer donations combined with a donation from Fresh Encounter will be distributed among eight local food banks and 21 mental health organizations, including Gleaners Food Bank, Hancock Health and NAMI Greater Indianapolis.
Vaccines available – Kroger Health is offering vaccinations for flu, RSV and COVID-19 at Kroger grocery and Little Clinic locations, including in Carmel at 1217 S. Range Line Rd. and 10679 N. Michigan Rd. While customers can choose to walk-in to receive vaccines, they are also welcome to make an appointment. To learn more or to make an appointment, visit kroger.com/vaccinations.
Hospice volunteers needed – Brighton Hospice in Carmel is looking for volunteers to help office staff perform a variety of office duties such as organizing admission paperwork, filing, preparing and sending mail, answering phones, stocking supplies and helping with special projects and events. Hours and days for this volunteer opportunity are flexible and training will be provided. To learn more, contact Katresha Taylor, volunteer coordinator, by calling 317-798-2160 or by email at [email protected].
