Concerns over CRC's finances expected to be resolved Monday

The City Council has repeatedly expressed its concerns over the Carmel Redevelopment Commission's management of its finances. Come Monday those concerns are expected to be resolved.

CFD: Change smoke detector batteries

 As the time change approaches on Sunday, March 14^th, the Carmel Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives – changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year.  Approximately every 3 hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms.  Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home safety devices were designed to provide.  The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries.

Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries.  In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire.  Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing our smoke alarms every ten years. 

Students can see Vereen for free

A last minute financial gift by an anonymous donor on Thursday will allow parents to bring their children in grades K-12 to see Ben Vereen at Carmel High School free of charge this Sunday.  College students can get half-price admission. Vereen will appear at Carmel High School’s 1,445-seat Dale E. Graham Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2010.  The Broadway performance/lecture is a fundraiser for Carmel Community Players.
Students high school age and under can receive a free ticket to “An Evening with Ben Vereen” if accompanied by a paying adult.  There is a limit of two free student tickets per adult.  College students can purchase any ticket at half price with a valid student ID. These tickets can be purchased by calling the Carmel Community Playhouse at Clay Terrace box office at 317-815-9387. Tickets will also be available at the door.  Student tickets cannot be ordered online.  For more information, visit www.carmelplayers.org.

131st St. to be named Main throughout

The City of Carmel announced last week that 131st Street will be renamed Main Street for all residents and businesses with Carmel mailing addresses. Currently, sections of this roadway are referred to as Main Street while, in other areas, it is called 131st Street. According to the city’s release on the renaming, the change is occurring to help alleviate confusion for travelers and new residents as well as create a central reference point for cross-city navigation. 

City Attorney explains secrecy in CHS investigation

City Attorney Douglas Haney released the following information in order to help the community and media understand why the City of Carmel is sharing only general information about the alleged incidents involving Carmel High School students at this time. Haney has given an overview of what can happen if too much information is shared about the specifics of the alleged incidents during the investigation.

City Council members still seeking more data on CRC's finances

For weeks, the City Council has been questioning the Carmel Redevelopment Commission’s management of finances. Some answers were provided on Monday night but questions still remain.
Mayor Jim Brainard and the CRC have repeatedly stated that no residential taxes will be used to fund the $150 million Center for the Performing Arts. During the council’s March 1 meeting, Loren Matthes, a partner with the city’s financial consultant H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, again presented information on the city’s tax increment financing (TIF) revenue. Matthes presented the same information during the Feb. 17 meeting of the CRC, but on Monday night more questions arose.

Sharp to propose hiring of consultant on redistricting

City Council president Rick Sharp said last Friday that he anticipated the Council to hire a consultant early this week to aid with the redistricting process, pending the Council's approval at its March 1 meeting.
Sharp said he initiated contact with Carmel-based firm Wabash Scientific, which has experience dealing with redistricting. Sharp said the services of this consultant are necessary to help make the redistricting process more transparent to the public and to keep the Council “at arm's length,” preventing any chances of politics interfering. With races for council seats on the horizon, Sharp said bringing in a third party would be good for both sides.

CPD releases statement regarding school bus investigation

The Carmel Police Department released the following statement regarding the ongoing investigation of assault allegations involving Carmel High School basketball players:
The City of Carmel and Carmel Police Department wish to assure the community that they are working diligently to properly investigate the allegations involving Carmel High School students. This investigation is being taken very seriously and the Police Department is doing everything possible to protect the rights of the child victims involved.  
Michael Fogarty, Carmel’s Chief of Police, today announced that five investigators have been assigned to investigate the matter. These investigators are in the process of interviewing more than 60 potential witnesses. Fogarty emphasized that the allegations are serious and cautioned that the department’s investigation will be thorough and careful.

116th and Keystone to close March 3

Beginning on or after March 3rd, construction crews will close 116th Street at Keystone Parkway for approximately 15 days, weather permitting. The closure will allow crews to finish removing the temporary pavement used to maintain four lanes of Keystone traffic throughout 116th Street’s construction. Cross traffic at 116th Street will be closed and motorists are asked to follow posted detour routes for this short period (please note that utility work on Westfield Boulevard will stop during this period allowing Range Line Road/Westfield Boulevard to be included in these detour routes). Four lanes of traffic will be maintained on Keystone Parkway under the 116th Street bridge during the closure period.
A detour map is shown in this article.

Four CHS basketball players removed from team; police receive another assault complaint

Today it was confirmed that four players on the Carmel High School varsity basketball team have been removed from the team in connection with recent allegations of assault against other students. The team's roster will be updated before its final regular season game tonight against Brebeuf Jesuit.
The Carmel Police Department released word Thursday night that it had received another complaint of alleged assault on Feb. 22. The incident, according to the release, occurred on Jan. 8, but this information was discovered while the police were investigating the incident that occurred on the school bus on Jan. 22.
The release states that the victim, a 17-year-old white male claimed he was assaulted at the school by other students and that this incident is currently under investigation.

Carmel school officials, police chief discuss hazing investigation

Carmel Clay Schools Superintendent Jeff Swensson, Carmel High School Principal John Williams and Carmel Police Chief Michael Fogarty addressed the media at 10 a.m. on Feb. 24. to discuss the ongoing investigation regarding three seniors on the school's basketball team and their alleged involvement in a hazing incident. However no new information came from the news conference.

Carmel still seeking 96th and Keystone funding

In September, the City of Carmel submitted a 25-page application to the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) seeking a $78.3 million TIGER grant, which is part of the stimulus act. The money was intended to fund construction of a two-level roundabout at the intersection of 96th Street and Keystone Parkway, but after not receiving the grant, Carmel is left searching for other options to fund the project.

CHS Dance Marathon celebrates another milestone

Approximately 1,100 students participated in the fifth annual Carmel High School Dance Marathon on Saturday, February 20, and celebrated a record $174,545.72 contribution for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital for Children. The event is the nation’s largest high school dance marathon according to Children’s Miracle Network.

Spanenberg files for school board

Carmel resident, Layla Spanenberg announced that she will be a candidate for the District 1 Carmel School Board seat.
Mrs. Spanenberg grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana, moving to central Indiana in 1994. She is a 1994 graduate of Purdue University School of Pharmacy and received her Masters in Biology in 1995 from Purdue as well. As a pharmacist, Mrs. Spanenberg worked for Walgreens as a pharmacy manager and also Wishard Hospital. Currently she proudly serves as a volunteer in the Carmel community.

Help wanted: Current Publishing seeks high school interns

Current Publishing is seeking a motivated high school student eager to learn more about working in community journalism through an internship. The company produces three weekly newspapers - Current in Carmel, Current in Westfield and Current in Noblesville - as well as a montly business publication, Carmel Business Leader, and can provide a wide range of valuable work experience. There are no specifications for age or previous experience, but a good attitude and reliable, independent transportation are required. Those interested should contact Assignments Editor Kevin Kane at kkane@currentincarmel.com.

COMMENTARY: Coats is the wrong man for the job

It was a shame to see Indiana Democrats attack Former Senator Dan Coats for the wrong reasons, upon his decision to run for his former seat.  Within hours of his announcement came the accusations that Coats hasn’t lived in Indiana in some years, that he’s recently worked as a Washington lobbyist (and is, therefore, a dreaded “Washington Insider”), and that his lobbying firm represented, God forbid, the democratically-elected head of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez.   

First pair of Ben Vereen tickets awarded

Daniel Homan of Carmel has won the first pair of main floor tickets to "An Evening with Ben Vereen" being held at Carmel High School on March 7. Carmel Community Players and Current Publishing are giving away four pairs of main floor tickets with one winner being named each week. The winner of the VIP grand prize package will be selected March 2.
To register for one of these prizes or to learn more about the giveaway, visit http://carmelplayers.org/current-tickets-giveaway/ or simply click the ad on the right side of this page.

Section of Westfield Blvd. to close

The City of Carmel Utilities will be installing a new 36-inch water main along Westfield Boulevard between 106th Street and the entrance to Central Park. Pipe and other supplies are scheduled to be delivered as soon as Friday, February 12th.  Depending on weather conditions, construction could start as early as Wednesday, February 17th.  The total construction period will last approximately one month.

RPAC names concert hall

The 1,600-seat concert hall currently under construction in Carmel has
been named The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, announced Executive Director, Steven Libman.
The name, determined by the Regional Performing Arts Center Foundation, was decided upon after much discussion and research, including the input of focus groups which were conducted with residents living in both Indianapolis and Carmel.

Jeff Stone visit postponed

Carmel resident and Internationally published author Jeff Stone was scheduled to visit Carmel Clay Public Library Feb. 9 as part of his National Book Release Celebration. The event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 4. 
Stone will be promoting and signing copies of his seventh and final book, Dragon.

Sorrell elected Chamber board chair

Randy Sorrell has been elected the 42nd Board Chair of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce. Sorrell is President and founder of Surroundings by Natureworks+, a 17-year-old Carmel-based landscape and home improvement firm, and 2004 Carmel Chamber Applause winner as business of the year. 

Sorrell is a past president of the Carmel Rotary Club and Habitat for Humanity of Hamilton County. A member of numerous not-for-profit organizations, Randy lives in Carmel with his wife of 26 years and his two daughters. A graduate of Ball State University, he began his career in employee benefits at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. That led to Sorrell’s first entrepreneurial success – Superior Benefits – that was acquired by a national company.
 

Tom Wood dies at 77

Well-known auto dealer Tom Wood died Thursday morning, one day before his 78th birthday. Wood, the chief executive officer of Tom Wood Automotive Group, had been battling lung cancer for three years.
Wood is survived by his wife Julie and sons Christopher and Jeffrey. Christopher is a resident of Carmel and Jeffrey is expected to take his father's place as the company's next CEO.

COMMENTARY: Make the most of your run with these 10 tips

Indiana has long been one of the worst states for obese/overweight adults and children. Whether overweight or not, we can all improve our health and self esteem. I’m not a dietician or nutritionist, but I’d like to share a few tips about my favorite form of exercise: running. 
 

Dillinger: more cuts likely in 2011

As if dealing with a $5 million-plus budget cut for 2010 weren’t difficult enough, Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger expressed concern today during his State of the County address for what lies ahead in 2011 and 2012.

“Our financial advisor predicts we’re going to have to cut our budget again next year to cover a shortfall of about $4.5 million,”  Dillinger said in his 22nd State of the County address during the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon at the Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel. “That could mean cutting into basic services, and that is not good.”

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