The Second Annual ExtravaBandza!, a Carmel Clay Schools showcase concert featuring 1,150 middle and high school band students, will be held on May 20th in the Carmel High School Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m.

The concert will feature two special numbers performed by all 1,150 students in a mass band: The National Anthem and The Stars and Stripes Forever. In addition, students will perform in groups of grade and ability level: 6th graders; 7th graders; 8th graders; 9th graders and CHS Wind Symphony III and IV; CHS Wind Symphonies I and II; and a solo performance by Wind Symphony I. The percussion sections of the mass ensemble will also present a ‘special’ percussion piece.

Internationally renowned composer, Michael Sweeney, is the guest conductor for the concert. Sweeney is currently Director of Band Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of the largest publishers of printed music in the world. Since Sweeney joined the company in 1982, Hal Leonard Corp. has published more than 500 of his compositions and arrangements. He is a 1977 graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington).

ExtravaBandza! will also be the final concert conducted by Richard Saucedo, Carmel High School Performing Arts Chairman and Director of Bands. Saucedo will retire after 30 years of teaching at Carmel High School at the end of May. A reception in honor of Saucedo will be held in the main cafeteria following the concert.

The The National Anthem, which will open the concert, was arranged by Saucedo, with specially-written parts added for 6th – 8th graders. The reverent and moving arrangement has been performed since 2001 by the CHS Marching Band, in honor of victims of 9/11.

Tickets for ExtravaBandza! are available to the public online at: https://www.totalgatesolutions.com/SportingEventTicketCalendar.aspx?schoolId=279 Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. Children under 5 will be admitted free.

Ariel Hune during a track meet.

Ariel Hune and her mom, Tammy Wilson Hune, have a great deal in common other than just their solid mother-daughter relationship. Tammy Wilson was a two-time All American women’s basketball player at Central Missouri State University and a superb performer in track. Maybe it will be another one of those mother-daughter scenarios you often hear about. You know – like mother, like daughter.

“Being around mom gives me a lot of additional energy and enthusiasm to excel. It instills a lot of confidence in me. I want to be great like she was,” Ariel, a senior at Carmel High School, says matter of factly. “I want to win state in the 400 this spring (she was fifth last year). I want to help our 4×400 relay win.” Ariel is one of 3 runners back, and she’s the only runner back from the 4×800 relay team that won state. Carmel’s 4×800 relay teams have won four straight state championships. “Our relay members look at this like the girls championship swim team members do about winning all those (27 straight) titles. We don’t want to be the class that is the first to lose (in the 4×800),” Ariel said in a confident and determined manner.

Then she paused, put a hand over her mouth, and chuckled while talking about her mom. “Mom says ’That’s my DNA over there’ when I do well. That’s her way of letting me and everyone else know how proud she is of my accomplishments. And mom says there’s no reason for me to lose this season – that all the ones who beat me last year have graduated – and with my work ethic and determination there’s no reason I shouldn’t achieve all my goals.” Ariel certainly has good genes.

So does her bother, Kendall, a 6-2, 240-pound sophomore who throws the shot put and plays football and wears size 14 shoes. He was mentored last season by Langston Newton, an all-state athlete in football who won both shot put and discus at state in 2012 and is now at the University of Kentucky.

And Ariel’s youngest sister, Regan, is a 12-year-old sixth grader who is a whiz-bang performer in basketball, soccer, and track according to dad, Ken, who moved his family from St. Louis to Carmel four years ago.

The DNA certainly runs deep. Ken played all the major sports in high school and even competed in the Armed Forces, where he’s a veteran of the first Gulf War. He didn’t play sports in college after finishing his service obligations, though he met his wife of 20 years in college.

Ariel says she gets much of her work ethic from her mom; and though pretty easy going, Ariel made it clear that she does not like people who doubt her.
“I’ll do whatever is needed, whatever is asked of me to excel. Don’t tell me I can’t do something, because I’ll do my best to prove you wrong,” Ariel said.

Said Nick Brattain, IU Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist at IU Health Sports Performance, and Ariel’s personal trainer at the popular Carmel facility: “Ariel is a tremendous athlete. She is someone who is naturally gifted but does not rely on that. She is willing to out work anyone, male or female, whether it be on the track or in the weight room.
She needs no added motivation. She knows what her goals are, and she works every day to get them, said Brattain. “In the past year, she has overcome injuries and setbacks that never stopped her or deterred her from her goals. She is a great athlete and person, and I am grateful for the privilege to work with her.”

She’s a powerful runner, whether in short or distance events. Said her high school coach, Tim Mylin: “Ariel is unique in that she is primarily stronger (in the 400 and 200), but last year we moved her up to the 3,200 relay. She works primarily with the sprint group, but I move her to my group 1-2 days a week throughout the season.” The 4×800 relay under Mylin has won 9 of the 17 IHSAA state titles since its inception in 1996. Dan Shoop is Ariel’s sprint coach.

Such a transition in events has not been a problem for Hune, who has a full scholarship offer from Ball State but says she’s still looking at some other schools, including Purdue and Notre Dame.

Ariel strained her hip flex in the middle of the 2012 season. She was injured at the start of the conference (MIC) season and right before the postseason got underway. Amazingly, she still finished second in the conference 400. She also placed first in the Hamilton County meet, sectional, and regional before finishing 5th at state in the 400, running her best outdoor time of 57.3.

Ariel says that training with the Greyhound boys track team in the summer helped make her better and tougher. She played basketball as a freshman, and honed her game against the boys on the outdoor courts. But she realized she wanted to devote all her time to track. “I’m expected to train as hard as the boys, and I do. The boys, at times, would try to take it easy on me. I told them not to be soft on me – that I can take it, and I can dish it out,” said Ariel, who serves as a Greyhound Mentor helping incoming freshman learn the ropes and do the right things in the classroom and on and off the school campus. And she works with the Outreach Program for homeless youth.

She might have become a little emotional had the conversation continued on about the homeless youth. “It’s just sad, a sad thing. It’s not right when you see these kids and learn of their struggles. No one should be dealt such a hand like they have been dealt,” she said, shaking her head. “They’re good kids, and they just want a chance.’’

Ariel, too, just wants a chance to excel, make her mark, and, hopefully, be like mom. Some how, some way, you just know mom will be at the finish line ready to give her daughter a high-five and a big hug each time she breaks that tape.

By Elaine Voci, Ph.D.

Elaine Voci, Career Coach

Life can be miserable if you’re in the wrong career. The days are long when you spend your time in a place you don’t want to be, doing work in which you don’t have your heart. I am here to tell you that it is not only possible to change, but people are making that leap every day. I have assembled three key tips for making a career change. So if you are seriously thinking of making a new start, keep reading.

Tip One: Take the time to know yourself. Your next career is not going to come to you in a lightning bolt, but it will result from your research, soul searching, and a thorough review of your strengths, what challenges you, what is meaningful to you, what suits your personality and values, and what fits into the future you want to create. It is tempting to think that we can find instant gratification for everything, including a new career. But if you are serious about changing your life, you will need patience and a willingness to commit the energy and time it will take to pinpoint the good, the bad, and the ugly about what you never want to do again and what you would love to do more in your work.

Tip Two: Listen to the wisdom of your heart, and let it lead you. There is an unseen common thread that links what you care about, what you know about, what you are curious about, and what you are good at doing. When you begin listening to your heart, the link becomes apparent to you and generates a momentum of energy that opens up a world of possibilities. You begin to see how your passion and unique gifts can be placed in the service of something greater than yourself. That leads to happiness – the kind composed of optimism, courage, love, and fulfillment.

Tip Three: Know what it will cost you to change your career. I don’t just mean in money – but in time, risks, relationships, inconvenience, and ego. You may have to convince your spouse, for example, that this career is worth pursuing. But other people, money, and time are not going to be your problem; how you feel about these issues is what will turn them into obstacles or not. When you create a plan that helps you confront and manage these concerns, you will liberate yourself from your fears and be able to work on achieving your career goal while keeping a roof over your head.
There are other steps to be taken as you pursue the work you were meant to do, but these three are the foundation you need in order to make the rest happen.

Here are two books that offer inspiration and practical ideas: What Color Is Your Parachute? A practical manual for job hunters and career changers by Richard Bolles (look for the 2013 edition). There is also an iPad app called What Color Is Your Parachute? Job-Hunter’s Workbook Tablet Edition. What’s Next? Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job, by Kerry Hannon for those seeking an encore career.

Elaine Voci is a published author and a career coach located in Carmel at Elaine Voci Life Skills Coaching, LLC. Read more of Elaine’s musings on her blog located at www.elainevoci.com

The author enjoys breakfast in bed.

by Lori Goldsby

“Breakfast in Bed”…one of my favorite phrases! May is always a special month in our family. So much to do, and so many things to celebrate! This year, you should be able to “get your drink on” whether it is a frozen margarita for Cinco de Mayo or a traditional mint julep for the Kentucky Derby. I was born on Mother’s Day, so some years it is two or three celebrations in one! I always take my mom down to the St. Margaret’s Designer House and Gardens Tour as her Mother’s Day activity (3050 North Meridian Street, April 27-May 12, www.showhouseindy.net) There are always graduations and bridal showers galore, it seems, and last – but not least – our beloved race festivities.

The other day, I was wandering around the Carmel Arts District looking for inspiration for some of our many celebrations this spring. I popped into Pillow Talk (23 East Main) where owner Rachel Davidson showed me some beautiful French blue pjs that would be so cute as bridal shower gifts, but more importantly, so comfy for that upcoming breakfast in bed! Crossing over the street into the Carmel Old Town Antique Mall (38 West Main Street), I found a beautiful wicker bed tray with a magazine slot (to hold my atCarmel issue!) and a recessed drink cup! (Helpful hint when carrying a bed tray: if the surface is a slick wood, put a pretty dish cloth under your plate to keep it from sliding as you walk!) Then over to Joe’s Butcher Shop (111 West Main) where I picked up a package of Spinach Balls and some Smoking Goose bacon. Spinach balls? I know! Compressed spinach wrapped around a cheese center. I just knew that they would make an excellent base for a breakfast dish.

What was supposed to be a quick jaunt into Vine and Table (313 East Carmel Drive) to pick up some St. Germain’s ($5 per 2-ounce sample bottle, $39 for 750 ml) and more Smoking Goose bacon — this time, lamb, which is better for a late evening after-party snack — turned into a lovely discussion and some samplings from the cheesemonger and scotch samplings. So happy I always carry a small thermo cooler in the car to keep my just-purchased spinach balls fresh!

At home, it didn’t take much tinkering to get the proportions correct. I recommend this recipe because it is simple and easy but fresh and delicious. The kids can help smash the balls, whisk the eggs, etc. If you are too busy on Mother’s Day, then I recommend you pick a morning after the kids (and/or hubby) are off to school, put on your favorite pjs, grab your back issues of your favorite magazines, fix this fabulous frittata, mix a “Mama’s Elixir” for yourself, and go have Breakfast in Bed!

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Mother’s Day Breakfast Frittata
2 pkgs of Spinach Balls
1/2 can of fire roasted tomatoes, drained and pressed dry
8 eggs
¾ c. of Half and Half
Butter or non-stick spray for 12-cup muffin tin
½ t. salt and 1/4t. white pepper
Preheat oven to 450.
Drain tomatoes in a fine mesh strainer, using a wooden spoon to push water out. Drain on paper towels and pat dry.
Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray. Smash 2 spinach balls into the bottom of each cup.
Whisk together eggs and cream, add tomatoes and stir. Pour ¼ c. into each tin.
Bake at 450. Set timer for 14 minutes.

Mama’s Elderflower Elixir
1 oz St. Germaine elderflower liqueur
2 oz champagne, prosseco or any sparkling beverage
(or for a non-alcoholic version, IKEA sells elderflower syrup and you can mix with sparkling apple juice)
Garnish with a raspberry, strawberry, edible flower, or thyme sprig

The Third in an Occasional Series about Carmel War Veterans

By Ray Compton

Guy Able with Karen Shatley (left) and Tammy Lee (right) of VFW Post 10003.

“There has never been a military operation remotely approaching the scale and the complexity of D-Day. It involved 176,000 troops, more than 12,000 airplanes, almost 10,000 ships, boats, landing craft, frigates, sloops, and other special combat vessels – all involved in a surprise attack on the heavily-fortified north coast of France, to secure a beachhead in the heart of enemy-held territory so that the march to Germany and victory could begin. It was daring, risky, confusing, bloody, and ultimately glorious.”
Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation

You would be seriously challenged to uncover a better poster soldier than Guy Able if you were to create a commemorative Memorial Day drawing of our heroes from World War II. In some ways, his military resume was typical. In other ways, it was mind boggling.

During his senior year in 1943 at Indianapolis Tech, the 18-year-old Able received his draft papers from the Army. A few weeks later, the son of a mail carrier left home for the first time and reported to the Aberdeen (Maryland) Proving Grounds. Following six months of training, Able returned to his Indianapolis home on Congress Street for a furlough.

After seven days, he headed to the theatre in Europe and would eventually join the final drive to defeat Nazi Germany. Able was part of the early wave of Allied soldiers to enter France via the beaches on Normandy. His unit’s landing at Omaha Beach came shortly after the first soldiers landed on the sandy battleground.

“There on the beaches of Normandy, I began to reflect on the wonders of these ordinary people whose lives were laced with the markings of greatness.”
Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation

As Able recalls, there was no greatness involved. There was only the confusion and terror offered to thousands of American teenagers. The sun was bright, the water was deep, and some of the dead were still not buried.

“It was scary,” he remembered. “You didn’t know what was going on when you got there. You got out of the boat, and you headed to the beach. They told us to keep going. You were not sure how far and where you were going. You kept moving.”
And that he did.

One of the first major stops for Able was Belgium and the densely-forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia. And waiting for him and the Americans, Canadians, and British were the Germans who launched a major offensive attack on their rivals. The 40-day confrontation became known as the Battle of the Bulge. The battle was regarded as the longest and bloodiest staged in World War II. A total of 610,000 Americans were involved. Over 19,000 were killed, 62,000 were wounded, and 26,000 were missing or captured.

Able was among those who continued the march to Berlin in the spring of 1945. Under the guidance of General Omar Bradley, his unit crossed the Rhine River in pontoon boats and closed in on the capture of Germany’s last bastion. But while the Americans and British were advancing from the west, the Russians of Joseph Stalin were entering Berlin from the East. It was the Russians who entered the city first. “We always joked that we had to get permission from Stalin to enter Berlin,” said Able. “We met the Russians, but we’re not sure what they said.”

But what all parties witnessed were the horrors of war. Berlin was in shambles.
“Berlin was one of the biggest cities in the world,” remembered Able. “But it was really torn up. It was bad, real bad.

“While I was in England, I really admired the British people and all of the bombing that they suffered and went through. People in the United States have no idea what war is like. I don’t care for any of it. I wish we did not have more wars.”

Sadly, the clock is now ticking for Able, 88, and his comrades of World War II. According to government figures, 16,112,566 Americans served in the wars against Germany and Japan. We now have only about 1.4 million survivors from that group. Their median age is 92, and over 700 die daily. Our first-hand storytelling from fathers and grandfathers is rapidly evaporating with time.

That situation was the inspiration behind the book World War II Duty, Honor, Country: The Memories of Those Who Were There, authored by Steve Hardwick of Carmel and Duane Hodgin of Indianapolis. The two area educators interviewed 84 Hoosier men and women who served during the war. Hodgin noted that all appeared very similar to Able.

“They were all ordinary people who did extraordinary things,” assessed Hodgin, whose father, Everett, was among the interviewees and who died at 94 in 2011. “What struck us the most was the humility that all of them had and the sense of duty and honor that they had.

“All of them had great pride in their country and a resounding sense of faith and hope. They were homesick, and they had fear. But they sensed a greater purpose than themselves. Many of them don’t hold resentment even though they went through hell. They didn’t consider themselves heroes. They all had pride in serving their country.” Hodgin noted that many veterans still tear up when recalling their wartime experiences.

For Able, the military chapter ended in 1945 when he returned to the bus station in downtown Indianapolis. It was time to go home. “I was all by myself, and I have never been so lonesome as I was at the bus station,” he said. “I was hoping to catch the trolley, but a taxi driver pulled up and gave me a free ride home. I will never forget that moment.”

The next stop for Able was a 13-year stay in Silver Lake, Indiana, where he had a welding shop. He married his wife, Virginia, had two daughters, and would eventually move to Carmel and work for Citizens Gas for over two decades. He admits the war in Europe has been challenging to forget.

“You were constantly hearing and seeing bombers and fighter planes over there,” Able said. “The noise was awful. When I came home, I would want to jump under the table when I heard an airplane overhead. You don’t easily forget the war.”

Today, Able has “three homes.” There is the Carmel apartment where he continues a hobby of painting; local VFW Post 10003 where he ritually eats lunch and shuffleboards in the summer; and the gymnasium at Carmel High School where Able and his friends have watched the hometown Greyhounds perform for over 30 years. That stretch of round ball includes watching this year’s 4A championship team.

“They were very good,” said Able, frequently welcomed to the games by coaches and players. “They were not selfish, and they were great team players.”

Just as Able and the rest of his soldier friends were many years ago.

Josh Brown, near his office in the Village of West Clay.

Henry Ford. Walt Disney. The H&R Block Brothers. Conrad Hilton. Harland Sanders. Ray Kroc. Steve Jobs. Familiar names. Legends. People who changed the world through the fulfillment of a dream.

In Josh Brown’s case, it was a childhood dream to become a lawyer like his dad and other family members. Josh graduated from the Valparaiso School of Law in 2006. Since then, he has worked with many great lawyers and an appellate judge, all of whom inspired and assisted him along the way. Josh also won many awards for excellence including being named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. He even argued a case before the Indiana Supreme Court while studying for the Indiana Bar Exam.

But Josh had bigger dreams – to combine law with his love for small businesses to help others achieve their dreams. “I have always enjoyed helping others,” says Brown. “Being able to help individuals succeed with their small businesses or franchises is a privilege and something I care deeply about. My personal philosophy for success is a simple three words: Dream. Build. Grow.” Naturally, it’s now the mission statement for his new firm, the Law Office of Josh F. Brown, LLC.

Nestled in the picturesque new Village Center in the Village of West Clay, Josh’s new practice is completely focused on small business and franchise matters. “Doing this provides me with a tremendous opportunity to help a lot of Hoosiers realize their dreams of building a legacy while fulfilling one of my own,” states Brown.

Indiana small businesses totaled 474,239 in 2009. They represent 97.4 percent of all employers and employ 48.4 percent of the private sector according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Across the U.S., there are over 825,000 franchised businesses which provide nearly 18 million jobs contributing $2.1 trillion to the economy. A new franchise business opens every 8 minutes. Almost 4% of all small businesses in the U.S.A. are franchises according to the International Franchise Association. This represents an estimated 3,000 different franchises (from fast-food chains, to lawn services, to hair salons).

“Franchises are sophisticated small businesses,” says Brown, “utilizing a trusted legal advisor to help guide them from start-up to growth to sale can prove to be extremely valuable.” My law firm was founded with a spirit of positivity and possibility,” comments Brown. “Too often, attorneys are called to deal with the aftermath of bad situations. And while this type of practice is noble and necessary, my practice helps passionate, focused, and driven individuals build and grow their business in a pro-active manner so they can enjoy the fruits of their labor while, at the same time, limiting liability and mitigating risk.”

Brown continues. “The goal is always to provide ultimate value to my clients. In my view, the only way to do this is to provide exceptional and focused services at a reasonable price. After all, getting great legal advice should not require you to take out a loan.” “Focusing on a couple areas of law that I am passionate about and have experience in, as opposed to all areas, allows me to provide better service and, in turn, better value,” suggests Brown.

Brown’s feelings are echoed in a recent issue of a publication sponsored by the American Bar Association. “In this competitive environment, lawyers must distinguish themselves from the competition in order to claim a bigger piece of the pie. One way to do this: Build a niche law practice.”

Josh concludes confidently, “If you have a dream to build and grow a successful small business or franchise and a focused desire to achieve it, I can likely help you along the way.”

For more, contact Josh at indyfranchiselaw.com

The 18th hole at Crooked Stick.

Carmel, Indiana, boasts some of the best golf courses in the state, featuring designs by two of the most renowned golf course architects in the world. Crooked Stick Golf Club and Plum Creek Golf Club are both Pete Dye designs. Prairie View Golf Club is the only course in Indiana designed by the acclaimed Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Throw in Woodland CC, Twin Lakes CC, and Brookshire Golf Course and that’s a great variety of quality golf. But what’s the best of the best? What’s the one hole on each course that will test your skill and nerve and have you spending your time in the 19th hole either toasting your abilities or drowning your sorrows? We asked each of the club pros what they thought was the best hole on their course, and why.

Crooked Stick pro Patrick White:
I believe our par-4 18th hole is the best hole on the golf course. The tee shot and second shot are very demanding. The hole reaches back to 457 yards with water along the right-hand side of the fairway. Once you get onto the green, there are four quadrants of the green. If you are on the wrong quadrant, it becomes a very difficult putt to make. Pete Dye was spot on when he designed this hole.”

The 8th hole at Brookshire.

Brookshire pro Brian Ballard:
I think our best hole would be the 8th. It’s a par 5 with good risk/reward. Players’ tee shots need to stay short of the creek. If a player puts the ball in play, there is a chance to go for the green in two but with little room for error. The green is protected by trees and a green side bunker. I’ve seen many good rounds go sideways on this hole.

Plum Creek pro John Pielemeier:
Our par-3 16th hole can be pivotal. It plays about 215 yards from the back tees, over water, with out-of-bounds left and water right. And you’re usually hitting into the prevailing wind. You can come to 16 with a pretty good score and end up emptying your bag in the water.

Prairie View pro Donnie Rogers:
The tee shot on the sharp dogleg left par-4 10th calls for anything from a hybrid to driver, depending on which tees you play. Too far, and you go through the fairway. Not far enough, and you have to lay up with your second shot. Even a perfect drive leaves you a significant iron shot to a green well guarded by bunkers.

Twin Lakes pro Jim Keithley:
Our 18th hole is a reachable par 5 that plays about 520 yards for the members. If you put your drive in a good position, you can go for the green in two. But there’s a large pond on the front right of the green and tall fescue grass behind. It’s high risk and high reward.

Woodland pro Pat Welch:
The par-4 18th is our best. The 394-yard finishing hole has the narrowest fairway on the course. Only 25 yards wide in the landing area, there’s a bunker on the left side and water all the way down the right.

by Ann Craig-Cinnamon

Graham Rahal

He is the youngest driver ever to win a major open wheel race; he has raced in 5 Indy 500s, coming in third in one of them; he has a foundation that has raised over a million dollars for causes that benefit children; and he has hung out with the likes of Paul Newman and David Letterman. Those are pretty cool accomplishments for anyone of any age, but when you consider that the individual in question is still only 24 years old, it’s actually pretty incredible. Graham Rahal, the son of Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, is a pretty impressive guy. When we met him recently at his home in Carmel, I had 2 immediate impressions: he’s very tall to be a race car driver, and he’s very mature to be just 24 years old.

The other thing you should know is that, despite his pedigree, he has made his way in the racing world on his own. In fact, Graham says his father didn’t actually encourage him to follow in the family business. “If anything, he always discouraged me from doing it. He didn’t want me in the sport, necessarily. But once I started to get serious about it, he was fully hands on and gave me all the tools that were necessary to be successful. But at the start, he wasn’t pushing me by any means,” says Graham who started racing go carts when he was 10 years old and says that there was never anything else he wanted to do other than race. He thinks that his dad didn’t encourage it because he knew there would be a lot of pressure on the son of someone who achieved so much success.

And Bobby Rahal has, indeed, been successful. He won 3 championships and the 1986 Indianapolis 500 as a driver. As an owner, his Rahal Letterman Racing team won in 2004 with Buddy Rice at the wheel. Their team also launched Danica Patrick’s Indy career in 2005 when she led 32 laps, thus becoming the first woman to lead the Indy 500.

Rahal relaxes in his Carmel home.

After driving for Rahal Letterman in the Indy 500 back in 2010, Graham is now racing for his dad’s team full time for the first time. He has raced for Newman Haas, Dreyer & Reinbold, Sarah Fisher, and Ganassi before joining Rahal Letterman. He raced for the other teams first to try to build his own name. “If I had just jumped in with my dad, I think there would have been some respect issues,” he surmises.

Graham says the collaboration is going well. “I think it’s been great so far. We’ve had our ups and downs without a doubt. We’ve had some trying races, and we’ve had some great ones. But at the end of the day, it’s where we want to be. Dad and I have wanted to be together and working together. We have had a very special close relationship, and so for us we’ve always had our eye on this. It was always a matter of time how we do it and make it happen and make it work successfully,” Graham says and adds that his dad is here in the Indy area a lot since their team is headquartered in Brownsburg. And, of course, another reason for his visits is that his son lives in Carmel.

Graham is from Ohio and could have, of course, chosen to live anywhere. But he says the Carmel area really suits him. “I think it’s a good place to live. Coming from Ohio, the cost of living here is phenomenal. I just really enjoy it here. I like it a lot. And I knew when I moved to Indy that I wasn’t a downtown guy, so I knew that wasn’t going to work for me. I needed some land. I didn’t look anywhere else. I knew this area from just being around, and I knew this was exactly where I wanted to be,” he says.

Exactly where he wanted to be, it turns out, is a home he bought from Casey Irsay and A.J. Foyt the 4th that has some acreage and which Graham has made his own. The house, which he shares with his girlfriend, Laken, is full of all kinds of sports memorabilia that indicates Graham’s interests don’t start and end with racing. Oh, sure, he has the racing stuff, too, such as the helmet his father wore in his last race and a bottle of champagne sent to him by David Letterman after Graham won his first race; but he also has baseball memorabilia from Roger Clemons, Mark McGuire, and Sammy Sosa. And then there’s all the golf memorabilia. He has played in several golf pro-ams and actually won in 2011 and 2012, playing with such golf luminaries as Ricky Fowler and Nick Price. One of his prized possessions is the signed jersey given to him by Tiger Woods’ caddy, Fluff, when Tiger won his first professional tournament. His sports collection is enviable by any measure, and he is obviously proud of it.

A bottle of Dom Perignon, a gift from David Letterman to celebrate Rahal’s first victory as an IndyCar driver.

But the thing that really lights him up, besides racing, is his Graham Rahal Foundation which has raised over $1 million for children to date. He and Laken run it together and it supports kids, cancer research, and Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camp. In fact, Graham got the idea for the foundation when he realized that Paul Newman, who was his first boss in racing, was gone and there was no one on the racing circuit actively supporting his Hole in the Wall charities. He stepped up to fill that void. He also supports other charities and has a golf tournament at the Brickyard on May 23. Last year, the tournament raised $150,000.

And that brings us back, inevitably, to May and the 2013 Indianapolis 500. Graham thinks they can win it. “We do have speed as a team. We’re fast. We have a car that can compete. We have a car that can win. It’s just a matter of putting it all together. I think we’ll have as great a shot as anybody.”

by John Cinnamon

Dave Dugan shares a bench in the Arts & Design District.

When you see comedian Dave Dugan perform, you find out he was an early skeptic of the roundabout intersections in Carmel. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to learn something new,” he tells his audience. “I had just recently caught on to that whole 4-way stop thing.” But he has since had a change of heart. “If I’m havin’ a good time in a roundabout, I’ll stay on it sometimes up to half an hour. Lap 40, I’ve got my shirt off – I’m howlin’ like a wolf.”

That’s the kind of observational, and personalized, comedy that Dugan – a life-long Carmel resident – has parlayed into a stand-up career that started when he first ventured onstage at Crackers Comedy Club on the north side of Indianapolis in 1982. Comedy, however, was not his first professional occupation. That was radio. Other than a brief job in Tampa, Florida, Dugan spent much of the 1970s and early 80s on the air at radio stations here in Central Indiana. Unfortunately, his last two stints at WNAP were tumultuous, to say the least. He credits then-WNAP co-worker Bruce Munson with coining a phrase that summed up Dugan’s situation at the time, a wry take on what you’d see on the workplace fire extinguisher, Munson said: “In case of emergency, break glass and fire Dugan.”

But Dugan used those years in broadcasting to hone his comedy writing and gain the confidence he would need to perform in front of a live audience. During the short time he lived in Los Angeles, Dugan appeared on the popular Arsenio Hall Show, as well as HBO, Comedy Central, VH-1, and he was a regular at L.A.’s famous Comedy Store. The married father of two says he was a shy kid growing up, not the class-clown type, which explains his dry, laidback onstage style – a style that hasn’t changed much over the years. “If anything, I was even more subdued when I first started.” His style would also be considered “clean.” Comedians like Brian Regan and Indiana native Jim Gaffigan have made working clean popular again. And although Dugan believes any kind of classification can run the risk of pigeon-holing a comedian, he says, “I always think clean’s a very positive thing because it’s harder to work clean.”

Dave narrowly escapes a reckless bike rider near the Monon Trail.

Clean works just fine for Dave Dugan, who now uses his hilarious, yet inoffensive, material to entertain corporate audiences nearly every week of the year. Specializing in what is known in the trade as “corporate comedy,” Dugan does the majority of his work these days for company functions like conventions, sales meetings, awards banquets, and holiday parties. Companies like McDonalds, Toyota, and Conseco have hired him for their private functions. To prepare for those performances, Dugan researches the company to mine material he can gear to that specific audience. “I enjoy that part because I think I like writing sometimes as much as performing,” he says. “To customize a show for each one of those groups that’s going to best relate to them not only is going to make me feel more comfortable, but hopefully personalizes it for them and they realize they’re not just getting a cookie-cutter situation where ‘here’s a guy doing his club act everywhere he goes.’” Even though he has plenty of material prepared, he still likes the unpredictability of the interplay with his audience. He says some corporate speakers and comedians find interaction with the audience distracting to “the prepared routine.” But he welcomes audience participation and involvement, saying it makes it all more human.

He always makes it clear to his corporate clients that he is not a sales trainer or any kind of motivational speaker. “There’s nothing about me that motivates,” says Dugan with a self-deprecating laugh. He will, on occasion at the request of a client, inject a short message on behalf of the company: ’Here’s what our company’s been going through…’ something like that is easy enough to do,” he says. “But if I have to be serious for very long, it’s not going to work.”

Dugan at one of his new favorite hangouts.

When it comes to the changes he’s seen in his hometown over the years, Dugan says he really likes a lot of what Carmel has become. “Although I don’t know much about art, other than knowing I have always liked that picture of the dogs playing poker – if you look real close, you can tell the Schnauzer is cheating – I think the Arts & Design District is impressive and fun.” And his change of heart on the roundabouts? In an ironic twist, Dugan says two years ago he had the honor of being the corporate comedian at the National Roundabout Conference (yes, there really is such a thing). So, clearly, his new-found appreciation of our circular intersections became a professional benefit…in a roundabout way.

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See Dave in person: Thursday, May 16th at The Royal Theater in Avon
Wednesday – Saturday, June 5-8 at Crackers Comedy Club in Broad Ripple
Thursday, June 13th at the historic Irving Theater

For more information about Dave or to book him for your corporate event, visit www.davedugancomedy.com or www.duganspeak.com

Mother of six thought nomination was a hoax

by Ann Craig-Cinnamon

Amy McHaffie: Mom of the Year.

Amy McHaffie obviously loves children. She says she knew that she wanted to be a teacher since she was in junior high, and graduated from IU with degrees in both Elementary and Special Education. While at IU, she was the foundation chairman of the Delta Gamma Sorority and developed fund raisers to benefit blind and visually-impaired students. These events still exist today.

She married her husband, Tom, after graduation. They both wanted a large family, which is not too surprising when you realize that she is a twin and the third of nine children. But she and Tom began to wonder if they would ever have a family. It wasn’t until after they sought the advice of a fertility specialist and started looking into the possibility of adoption that they learned they were expecting their first child. Karrmann Elizabeth was born 5-½ years into their marriage but was quickly followed up by Griffin, Gabriel (Gabe), Jacqueline, and Asher; all about two years apart. Then in the summer of 2005, they learned they would be having their 6th child, Landon Thomas, who Amy describes as the light of their lives.

Amy had been a stay-at-home mom for the last 24 years and just recently returned to teaching. About her large family she says, “Our family life is one of togetherness. As with any big family, it can be chaotic. At times, it is like Grand Central Station with people’s schedules and a house full of the kids’ friends. The times we most cherish, though, are the times we are together, whether it is going to church together, attending a sibling’s sporting event or musical performance, boating all day in the summer, playing games at night, having heart-to-heart conversations, or playing guitar and singing together (all of which we do often). Our family life is one that reflects a mutual love, respect, and support of one another.“

Tom and Amy McHaffie.

They have also set an example of caring and service by being involved in mission work in Haiti for the last 9 years. In fact, they have opened their home and their hearts to several Haitian children who have come here for medical care.

Amy says when she learned she had been nominated for Carmel Mom of the Year, she thought it was a hoax until her husband confirmed that he had nominated her, a gesture that she says touched her deeply. And as for being a mom, Amy sums it up beautifully, “I think that being a parent is a high calling. What an awesome privilege and responsibility it is to nurture and direct another’s soul!”