HAMILTON COUNTY Hamilton County’s Hometown Newspaper www.ReadTheReporter.com REPORTER Facebook.com/HamiltonCountyReporter TodAy’S Weather Friday, May 28, 2021 Today: Showers likely, with some thunder possible. Arcadia | Atlanta | Cicero | Sheridan Tonight: Mostly cloudy and less humid. Carmel | Fishers | Noblesville | Westfield NEWS GATHERING Like & PARTNER Follow us! HIGH: 68 LOW: 46 Carmel cuts ribbon on solar project Memorial Future savings on utility bills estimated at $1.8 million Day traditions I can’t help but be and lessening carbon emissions, COLUMNIST The REPORTER excited about the up- The City of Carmel, Carmel another goal of the project is coming holiday week- Utilities and Telamon Corpora- to help make Carmel Utilities end. Memorial Day tion cut the ribbon Tuesday on a more self-sufficient in times of has always been spe- new solar array project – nearly grid outages due to weather, cial to me. It’s become 3,000 solar panels at two loca- mechanical failure, cyber-at- more important and tions – that will provide power tack or any other interruption. emotional as I’ve got- to the City water plant and save Construction on the $1.7 ten older and grown to about $1.8 million in future million project began in 2020 truly understand what AMY SHANKLAND City utility costs. and features the installation the holiday means. Sandwiched The ribbon cutting and ded- of 2,988 panels that produce I remember the ication was held at the solar ar- 365 watts of power each. In traditions we had growing up to celebrate ray located at 4915 E. 106th St., addition to the project site at Memorial Day in Mishawaka. Most every- just east of Gray Road. 106th Street and Gray Road, one in the city – and I mean EVERYONE “We are very excited to a second location has been – watched some or all of the Memorial Day see this project come online established near 106th Street parade. My siblings, niece, nephew, friends, and provide us with a source and Hazel Dell Parkway. The and I marched in it every year when we of clean, effective energy that combined locations are already were in the Mishawaka High School band. will save our taxpayers mil- generating enough electricity My great-nephew will march in it one last lions in future utility costs,” that could power about 1,230 time Monday. Mayor Jim Brainard said. “We homes per year. It was so much fun to march through are proud to join Telamon, one The project was financed downtown past the old Uniroyal factory. of our longtime corporate part- through a combination of a You could always count on family mem- ners in this project that will low-interest loan from the In- bers or friends hollering “Hi!” and waving benefit the environment for diana Finance Authority’s State as you walked by. many years to come.” Revolving Fund program and a Some of us got to participate in a small- Carmel-based Telamon water utility bond. Carmel Util- er ceremony before the parade at Battell served as the city’s consultant ities will see energy cost sav- Photo provided Park near my house. This was always an during the construction process. ings of $140,000 per year and Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard celebrated the opening honor, but the morning was typically hot In addition to saving money, the average life of a solar panel of the new solar panel array that’s expected to save and one of us usually locked our legs and being environmentally friendly is 25 to 30 years. approximately $1.8 million in utility costs. practically fainted. That person was me my senior year! Thankfully I did not pass out. After the parade, Mom and Dad always had family over to the house for a cookout Humane Society for Hamilton featuring foot-long hot dogs. I absolutely adored them! For some reason they tasted better than regular hot dogs. When Mom County holding career fair June 2 mentioned she wasn’t going to serve them one year, I practically had a conniption. The REPORTER cility in Fishers. sentatives Candidates are encouraged Thankfully she came to her senses. The Humane Society for HSHC is looking for qual- • Development director to bring resumes and any sup- Hamilton County (HSHC) will ified candidates to fill the fol- • Sponsorship and events porting documents. The career See Traditions . Page 2 hold a career fair from 11 a.m. lowing position(s): manager fair entrance will be at the west to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2. • Marketing interns – sum- HSHC staff will be available entrance in the Rebecca M. Ste- HSHC is seeking to fill sever- mer and fall during the career fair to review vens Education Center. al jobs in its brand-new 40,000 • Kennel attendants resumes, interview candidates Learn more at hamilton- From the desk of square-foot state-of-the-art fa- • Customer service repre- and answer questions. humane.com. Hamilton Heights Superintendent Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council celebrates Derek Arrowood Update #61 from COLUMNIST Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Dr. Derek Arrowood, Superintendent, Ham- ilton Heights School International Movies at Midtown series Corporation. Submitted tage Month. This film serves said CMYC member Tsion prised of high school students As we successfully Enjoy outdoor movies in to educate the Carmel com- Daniel. “Perhaps this can pro- who wish to make a tangible wind down the school Carmel with a foreign flair at munity on Korean culture and mote cross-cultural dialogue impact on the City of Carm- year, we are grateful International Movies at Mid- will be shown at 2:30 and 7:30 and awareness in our increas- el. The CMYC is an initia- that we have been able town Plaza, hosted by the Car- p.m. this Saturday, May 29. ingly diverse city.” tive started by Carmel Mayor to offer some of our tra- DR. DEREK ARROWOOD mel Mayor’s Youth Council The CMYC film series ini- The health and safety of Jim Brainard to empower the ditional end of the year Heights Superintendent (CMYC). tiative began as an opportuni- the community remains at the youth community. Through- activities and events to The international film se- ty for the Carmel community forefront. Please be mindful out each term, members or- highlight and celebrate the achievements of ries, launched in 2020 on the to view films they might not of current COVID protocols ganize charitable events, the Class of 2021. This graduation season big Midtown screen, presents normally see. while attending. participate in numerous vol- feels exceptional because of all we have this month’s showing of The “Not only are these films The Carmel Mayor’s unteering initiatives, as well been through as a school district and all we Way Home to celebrate May’s entertaining but they also Youth Council is a completely as stay involved in local gov- accomplished despite the unprecedented Asian Pacific Islander Heri- serve as an educational tool,” youth-led organization com- ernment. challenges we faced along the way. As we ready for graduation next week, practice for those seniors planning to par- ticipate in commencement ceremonies be- gins at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 2, Two more musical guests added to ISO’s followed by the baccalaureate program at 6 p.m. Both will be conducted at the high school gymnasium. Due to distancing and Kroger Symphony on the Prairie 2021 season limited capacity requirements regarding The REPORTER Voodoo daddy continues its They will be joined by Josh ny on the Prairie website for COVID-19, each family of walking grad- The summer just got a little decades-long mission to cel- Kaufman, the 2014 winner of available reserved seating. For uates will receive five tickets to attend the more fun as Big Bad Voodoo ebrate and revitalize jazz and Season 6 of The Voice, whose more information on any Indi- in-person commencement ceremony on Daddy and the Nauti Yachtys swing music – America's orig- music has been described as anapolis Symphony Orchestra Saturday, June 5. We invite the communi- featuring Josh Kaufman have inal musical art form – and a mash-up of pop, rock, folk, indoor or outdoor presenta- ty to enjoy the ceremony for the Class of been added to the 2021 season bring joy to audiences around and jazz with an underlying tions, call the Hilbert Circle 2021 online beginning at 6 p.m. Click here of Kroger Symphony on the the world. soul base. Theatre Box Office at (317) to view it live. Prairie. Tickets for these shows On Aug. 13, the Nau- Gates for both shows open 639-4300 or online at India- As a reminder, registration for students went on sale Thursday. ti Yachtys featuring Josh at 6 p.m. and concerts begin at napolisSymphony.org. attending Hamilton Heights for the 2021- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Kaufman are guaranteed to get 8 each evening. The Indianap- Special thanks to generous 22 school year was last Friday, May 21. It is scheduled for July 23 and audiences in the mood to set olis Symphony Orchestra, in partners at Kroger for contin- is crucial for all returning students to be 24. The group is a perennial sail back to the 1980s for clas- partnership with Conner Prai- ued support of Symphony on registered before the end of this school year favorite of Kroger Sympho- sics from legends like Michael rie, is in high gear in prepara- the Prairie. The ISO is also in order for our staff to process all infor- ny on the Prairie audiences; McDonald, Hall & Oates, Ger- tion for the return of this year’s grateful for the continued sup- mation and to ensure a smooth transition the 2021 show will mark their ry Rafferty, Christopher Cross, summer series, which begins port of Huntington Bank as the into the new school year including medical, seventh appearance.