Lil' Dynamo
Carmel singer-songwriter Chris Stone is carving a new niche with her first original CD
Current in Carmel

After years of performing seemingly everyone else’s work, a diminutive performer with a powerful-yet-polished vocal prowess that belies her physical stature is about to debut her first CD.  And this one is all her.

Carmel resident Chris Stone – “lil' c” to her friends – relentlessly dedicated nearly every spare minute of the last year to writing and recording the project, Leftover Grooves, which is due out in the next few weeks.

Stone, for now, perhaps is best known on the greater Indianapolis music scene for fronting any number of local cover bands, including her own Jayne Bond & the Pink Martinis. She currently works with up to a dozen bands. That’s how this thoughtful, engaging and rascally woman with a ready smile and a quick belly laugh makes her living. One may try, but keeping pace with her nearly is impossible. Consider it this way: Another night, another stage. It’s her lifeblood. It’s who she is and what she does, and, by all accounts, she does it very well.

Born to musicians Tom and Bea Berry, Stone was raised on music. Her father may be gone, but his music lives on in a clip Stone sampled for her own album. The influences of her childhood can still be heard in Stone’s soulful tunes; she says she favors the stylings of Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone and The Pretenders, among others.

Stone says she can remember all the way back to singing in the back seat of her parents’ car. Her career as a cover singer began straight out of Carmel High School, when Stone answered her first classified ad seeking a vocalist.

“I was first trained as a classical singer, but as I began answering ads I eased into rock,” she says. “Rock was new to me, and my voice teacher would always say he could tell I’d been ‘singing that rock music,’ because my voice was raspy.” 

More than 20 years later, Stone still is singing other writers’ songs. While she has no intention to send her cover work to the sidelines, Stone says the monotony of it spurred her to try something different.

“I was bored out of my mind with cover material,” she says. “I think I’ve sung ‘I Will Survive’ so many times I’m almost resentful.”

If she is, it’s not nearly evident. Only someone truly passionate about music and singing can do what she has for so long.

“I think I would be bitter if I were trying to make it big,” Stone says. “But the reality is I’m just going to be another artist out there, because the music business is so hit-and-miss. There are so many talented artists out there who deserve to make it and never will.” Many would put her in that class.

With “low expectations,” Stone began work on her original album in the time she had between preparing for working other gigs. She also had to work around the schedule of her collaborating musicians on the project, including her husband of 20 years, Jeff Stone, a bassist for the highly regarded Healing Sixes. It was a discarded bass line from one Jeff’s other projects that became the start of Stone’s title track.

“I’m just really happy she’s finally getting around to her own original project,” Jeff says. “She has wanted to do this for a long time, and it’s gratifying that she was able to latch on to something I wrote and like it.”

But Stone says she believes her new endeavor won’t change her day-to-day routine. She’ll continue fronting her own band and other cover bands, but she says she hopes to perform her original work with the Chris Stone Band as well.

Stone is finishing the final mixing of her eight original tracks and two covers. Then the album will be ready for mastering and printing of 750 to 1,000 copies. The CDs will be available locally at Indy CD & Vinyl and Karma, or online through CD Baby and iTunes.

 “It just seemed like everyone else had a CD,” she says, “so I wanted one, too.”

Can't wait for the CD?

Chris Stone’s CD project, Leftover Grooves, can be heard on Myspace.com/ChrisAStone, on Facebook under Chris Stone Band, or at her Web site, ChrisStoneBand.com.

Where is Chris?

Among the bands Chris Stone fronts or lends her considerable vocal talents to include: Jayne Bond & the Pink Martinis; The Band ETC; Steve Allee; Filter Kings; Barometer Soup; Coldfusion; The Meatball Band; Tastes Like Chicken; Festival; Keith Claghorn; Jaz Deco; and Henry Lee Summer.

Parental influence

In her own words, here’s signer-songwriter Chris Stone on how her father and mother play key roles in her upcoming CD project, Leftover Grooves: “My father, Tom Berry, sang and recorded at Capitol Records with jazz great (drummer) Gene Krupa.  A portion of one of the songs he recorded, ‘Dreams are a Dime a Dozen,’ fades out of one of my songs on the CD. … My father is no longer with us, so it means so much to hear his voice on my project.  My mother, Bea Berry (Carmel), comes out to every open-to-the-public gig to hear me sing. She enrolled me in classical voice lessons at a young age, and I learned how to breathe properly so I don't blow my voice out singing rock music.”

Messer files to run in Fifth District Republican Primary
Fifth District Congressional Candidate Files Declaration of Candidacy Paperwork on First Filing Day 
For Current in Carmel

Republican Luke Messer today filed his paperwork to declare his candidacy for the 5^th District Congressional Primary. U.S. Congressman Dan Burton, who has announced he is seeking a 15th term, currently holds the seat. The district includes all of Miami, Wabash, Huntington, Grant, Tipton, Hamilton, and Hancock counties, as well as parts of Howard, Marion, Shelby, and Johnson. 

“The morning after one of the biggest upsets in American political history, I am excited to announce my run in this Congressional primary,” Messer stated.  “From town hall meetings to tea parties to last night’s election, voters in this country are trying to send Washington a message.  They are tired of leaders who don’t listen.  They are tired of the wasteful spending that threatens the future of our country.  And, they want bold new leaders who understand that government is not the answer to every problem.” 

Messer, who began his campaign in April, has led the pack of potential challengers from the start, raising over $330,000 as of the October quarterly report and receiving the endorsements of over 600 key grassroots supporters and elected officials throughout the district.  His campaign has reported more than 800 total contributors, including contributors from all 11 counties in the district.  He is also running an active e-campaign, connecting to thousands of supporters each week through his Facebook pages, web page and email. 
 
“The people of America spoke last night,” Messer exclaimed.  “Against all odds, Scott Brown won, sending a clear message that Democrats need to stop the backroom deals on health care.  But, Republicans need to learn from last night as well and send our own message of reform.”  Messer continued.  “The movement for new leaders is just starting.  People are tired of business as usual in Washington and politicians who talk a good game, but don’t deliver.  We want real leadership, a focus on jobs and the economy - and reform.” 

At least five challengers and the incumbent Congressman have expressed an interest in the 5^th District Congressional Race.  “We’re ready to run no matter who is in,” Messer concluded.

 
About Luke Messer

Luke Messer, 40, is a lawyer in Shelbyville and served in the Indiana General Assembly from 2003-2006. As a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Messer helped Governor Daniels craft the state’s first balanced budget in eight years that, without a tax increase, turned a $600 million deficit into a $300 million surplus in a single year. As a member of the House Education Committee, Messer’s work on high school dropout prevention was featured in Time magazine and on the Oprah Winfrey Show.  Messer is also a former Executive Director of the Indiana Republican Party. 
 

Messer is co-founder of a not-for-profit organization called Child Share Indiana that advocates for Indiana foster children and their foster families. He is also an elder at this church and the author a children’s book about Indiana entitled Hoosier Heart.  Luke and his wife Jennifer are raising their two daughters and a son in Shelbyville.    To learn more about the Messer campaign, log onto www.lukemesser.com  

 

Sarah Panzau will give ‘Living Proof’ talk to Hamilton County students, parents
'Dead wrong' driver lives to tell teens sobering truth

By Zach Dunkin
Current in Carmel


On a steamy, August night in 2003 Sarah Panzau and her so-called friends made a very bad decision. After a few hours of drinking, the athletic, 21-year-old from Belleville, Ill., chose to get behind the wheel of her ’96 Saturn and drive home. Her so-called friends let her.

Precariously inebriated and moving along at 70 mph, Panzau missed her exit on Interstate 64 in East St. Louis and rolled the car four times before it tumbled to a rest upside down. Her blood alcohol level was .0308 when a policeman found her unconscious, lying on the road, ejected from the rear window, which ripped away her left arm. That’s four times the legal limit in the state of Illinois.

“I thought I was invincible,” she often tells her listeners. “I lived like I would never die.”

She was nearly dead-wrong. Clinically dead at the scene – no pulse, no bleeding – she was given no chance of surviving before being airlifted to the hospital Several months of hospitalization and more than 35 surgeries later to repair multiple fractures, lacerations and a partial scalping, Panzau is dedicating her second chance in life to speaking to teenagers and parents across the country about the perils of drunk driving

She will deliver her emotional “Living Proof: Drinking and Driving has Drastic Consequences” at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 in Hamilton Southeastern High School’s Leonard Auditorium. (Attendees are requested to park in the south lot on Olio Road and enter through door 13).

During the 90-minute presentation with its crowd-silencing video Panzau shares her own experience of being a two-time junior college all-American volleyball player before she began making wrong choices. She describes the physical and emotional pain of a life and talks about determination, perseverance, peer pressure, the “wrong crowd” and the meaning of “real” friends.

“We wanted to give the kids a real-life example,” said Lisa Wissman, director of SNAP Into Action & Parents in Partnership. “When you’re young, you think it can’t happen to you.

“So, the more times you can put the memory of something about someone they heard who actually went through what Sarah did, maybe that will make them think about the choices they are making and the consequences.”

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. In Hamilton County, there were 1,418 crashes involving teens (ages 16-18) in 2008.

Panzau’s appearance is a county-wide collaboration between SNAP, a grassroots organization focused on changing the attitudes and behavior of families in Hamilton County on drinking and drug use; Prevail, Inc., a Hamilton County-based organization assisting victims of crime and families in crisis; the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs.

“We worked hard at spreading the word all over Hamilton County,” said Wissman, a Fishers resident. “All schools in Hamilton County were notified.

“We wanted the evening event to be open to the parents, too. The auditorium seats 999 but we’d be delighted to get more. Wouldn’t that be a great problem to have?”

$500,000 gift pledged to Regional Performing Arts Center
Frank and Katrina Basile to lend resources and name to Center
For Current in Carmel


The Regional Performing Arts Center (RPAC) in Carmel announced yesterday that local philanthropists, Frank and Katrina Basile, have pledged a $500,000 gift to the Center. In recognition of this substantial contribution, the RPAC will name the gift shop and café, which will be located in the Center’s concert hall, for the Basile’s. 
 

Frank Basile, who is a professional speaker and writer and retired executive of the Gene B. Glick Co., joined the Regional Performing Arts Center Foundation’s board of directors in November of 2009. His wife Katrina is a Realtor. 
 

“We are pleased that the Basiles have come forward with this generous gift,” said Steven Libman, Executive Director of the RPAC. “They have a long-standing tradition of supporting the arts in Central Indiana, and we are honored that they have opted to continue this tradition by contributing not only their financial resources, but also their time and talents in support of the Regional Performing Arts Center.” 
 

“Katrina and I believe that the Regional Performing Arts Center will help increase the audience for all of the performing arts in Central Indiana as well as their donor base,” said Basile. “That’s why I agreed to serve on the board and make a financial contribution. I believe that this will be an exciting addition to the arts scene for the entire region.” 
 

The official names of the café and gift shop, which have yet to be determined, will be chosen collaboratively by the Basiles and RPAC executives. Construction on the café and gift shop will be completed in January of 2011 when the concert hall is slated to open. 
 

When asked why he and his wife chose to make their contribution towards the gift shop and café, Basile said, “When Steven Libman asked what we would like to name in recognition for our contribution, we selected the gift shop, particularly because we feel that a gift shop helps to reinforce the organization’s mission by the merchandise it carries while also providing people with the opportunity to take away a piece of the organization in the form of their purchase.” 
 

“The generous gift of the Basiles, particularly during these challenging economic times, is a sign of their great leadership and desire to strengthen the arts here in Central Indiana,” said Libman. “It is the hope of the Basiles and the Regional Performing Arts Center that their gift will act as a springboard, encouraging others to support the Center as well.” 
 

Libman added that there are a number of ways to support the Regional Performing Arts Center including additional naming opportunities for other facilities within the Center.