Hendricks County Home Magazine, Volume 1 Issue 7

Home HENDRICKS COUNTY

August 2014

Anthony vs. Bank of Goliath One man's fight to keep his home...pg 17

What you need to know to stay healthy...pg 5 Outstanding! Local production hits its mark...pg 12 Nature's Color Wheel, How to Use it in your Yard Design...pg 27

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Hendricks County Home

FROM THE EDITOR

hendrickshome.com | August 2014

A Call to Writers and Bloggers!

Seeking Hendricks County carpenters, do-it-yourselfers and those that are handy or skilled in home improvement. If you love to share your stories and know-how, then we want to talk to you: www.hendrickshome.com/contact-us/opportunities/writing/ or editor@hendrickshome.com.

A Call to Homeowners!

Seeking owners of unique, interesting or historic homes/buildings here in Hendricks County. We would like to feature your building in an upcoming issue. Please contact us at editor@hendrickshome.com.

Once again, we appreciate all of the feedback, both back patting and finger wagging about our efforts and our content. We would like to thank those that have taken the time to tell us about how you feel about our work and would like to offer you the opportunity to continue to give us your thoughts by emailing us at editor@hendrickshome.com.

Let us know!

If you or someone you know is working on something that you believe makes the place we live better for everyone, then please contact us at editor@hendrickshome.com so that we can share their work with everyone.

Become an Advertiser!

If you would like to join our growing list of advertisers and reach Hendricks County and other Central Indiana readers with your message, then please contact us at advertising@hendrickshome.com, visit our advertising page for details and complete an easy form.

We encourage everyone to follow us on Facebook/hendrickscountyhome, on Twitter/hendrickshome (@hendrickshome) and to visit the website at www.hendrickshome.com.

Finally, as you enjoy the content of this magazine and as you wish to continue to receive each issue month after month, please patronize our advertising partners and tell them that you found out about them through Hendricks County Home Magazine.

Our greatest wish is for your peace and prosperity and for the health of you and those you love.

In Loving Memory Irene Nesbitt, loving mother, grandmother and wife passed away July 4th, 2014 at the age of 77. You may remember the cover story, "A Time for Reflection", from our May issue in which we discussed the passing of John W. Nesbitt. John and Irene spent 55 beautiful years together. They each were able to lead fulfilling lives and we will be forever grateful that we had them as long as we did. Although it's tough losing your last two grandparents within months of each other, we take comfort in knowing that they have been reunited forever. Theirs was a never ending love, now for eternity. We will miss them immensely.

We also recently lost our beloved pug, Walter. He was as sweet, loyal and loving as anyone could ever hope for from a companion. Tragically, just after his 10th birthday, Walter was diagnosed with cancer and even after a surgery removing a dozen tumors from his tiny body, we could not manage to do more than delay the progress of the disease.

While this loss is hard, we would like to take time to thank Brownsburg Animal Clinic for their compassion and sympathy. Without the exemplary and loving care that both Dr. Brady and Dr. Walther provided our Walter and the thoroughly researched information that they provided us, we would certainly not have had the last few months that their treatment afforded. We simply cannot say enough to praise the staff who are always courteous and always caring, each and every one.

Good night, Walter. We love you.

Dave Giltner

Editor/Publisher

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FROM THE EDITOR

Hendricks County Home

Follow Up

We check back in with the subjects of recent stories for an update on their progress

New Studio: Melissa Cain

Follow up from our story, “Positive Thinking” from May 2014 We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Melissa Cain on her new studio which is set to open soon at 68 S. Jefferson Street, Danville at the former Diggity Dogs location. Melissa said, “It will be an art studio and gallery. I will have a gallery/retail space up front where I will display/sell the works of a few different artists each month – then classroom space at the back. I will be starting out with 6 classes per week plus the option of private events at my location or theirs. I am also going to be looking to hire some other teachers after I open so I can offer even more classes.” The

building should be ready by the 1st week of September. Additional information will be forthcoming.

We encourage you all to visit her new location and of course, If you are interested in learning more about Melissa and her story directly or if you are interested booking an fun, reasonably priced “In-Home Wine and Painting Party” or great kids party, then contact her at (317) 513-8309 or by mail at cainmj@live.com or visit her page at facebook/InspiredImagesIndy or twitter.com/MelCain.

Making Progress: Family Promise of Hendricks County Follow up from our story, “Family Promise of Hendricks County” from February 2014 We spoke with Meghan Stritar, new board member of Family Promise.

She said, "The biggest news is that we've got a location which is just north of the Avon Library (on 267).

We had a zoning board meeting and they approved us. That would be our Day Center for our families to come in and get registered. While they are there during the day, we will have the director put them with organizations - if they need counseling, if they need budget help or if they need child care or whatever it may be to help them out of homelessness. They will stay there during the day and then they will take the van to the host congregation for that week. We are hoping in the next couple of months [to be up and going]. Right now there is some

clean up at the house that we are always looking for volunteers for."

This is a great way to make a big difference in the lives of your neighbors. If you or your congregation would like to get involved, then you can call (317) 296-FPHC(3742).

Visit their website (www.familypromisehendrickscounty.org), sign up for their email list here or email them. Feel free to contact us here at Hendricks County Home (317) 6090225 and we will get you in touch with someone who can assist you.

Hendricks County Home

HEALTH & NUTRITION

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Your Fitness Plan

What you need to know to stay healthy

By Alicia Chrapek An extremely common question is, “What do I need to do to stay or get healthy?” While everyone is different there are some daily and weekly activities that will not only help you reach your goals, but promote a healthy and long life. Some activities do not need to be done every day, while you can still benefit from extra days. These guidelines will give you a recommendation that is more attainable, less overwhelming, and may take time to work up to.

Resistance exercise stimulates the development of small proteins in muscle cells, which will in turn enhance your muscles' ability to generate force.

The goal is to work your major muscle groups 2-3 days per week, 2-3 sets per exercise and 8-12 repetitions to improve strength and build muscle. If you do 15-20 repetitions you will improve muscular endurance, which is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to sustain repeatWeekly Activities: ed contractions against a resistance • Cardiovascular Exercise for an extended period of time. You Cardiovascular exercise, also called should wait at least 48 hours becardiorespiratory exercise, involves tween resistance training sessions. movement that increases your heart rate in order to improve oxy- • Stretching gen consumption by the body. Stretching is a form of physical exAn essential part of every exercise ercise in which a specific muscle program, cardio not only helps you or tendon (or muscle group) is lose or maintain weight, it helps you deliberately flexed or stretched build endurance so you can remain in order to improve the muscle's active for a longer period of time. elasticity and achieve comfortable muscle tone. The result is a feelThe goal is to reach at least 150 min- ing of increased muscle control, utes per week of moderate exercise. flexibility and range of motion.

This can be split up throughout the week as your schedule allows. You should work on stretching 2-3 One suggestion is 30-60 minutes days per week. Holding the stretch of moderate intensity cardio 5 days 10-30 seconds to the point of tightper week or 20-60 minutes of vigor- ness or slight discomfort. Each stretch ous intensity cardio 3 days per week. should be performed 2-4 times.

• Resistance Exercise Resistance exercise is also known as strength training, It is performed to increase the strength and size of muscles, bone density and metabolism. It is important for you to gain sufficient muscle strength, because it can help you perform daily activities with ease.

You should work on motor skills 2-3 will be nothing stopping you from days per week 20-30 minutes per day. reaching your goals of achieving a healthy and fit lifestyle! Make goals Daily Activities: based on the recommendations.

• Myplate.gov will ask you some Work with your schedule to find specific questions and generate time to focus on your health and your specific nutritional needs happiness. Having a friend, spouse, on a daily basis. or family member set and work to• General nutrition recommenda- ward goals will help to hold you tions: accountable and stay motivated.

1. 2-3 cups of fruits and vegetaThis is a great time to start working bles per day with a personal trainer to help you 2. Consume lean proteins such as see where you are at physically and chicken, salmon, turkey, or lean what time frame you should have ground beef in mind when setting goals. Don’t 3. Consume mainly whole grains over complicate being healthy.

4. Drink 8-10 8oz. glasses of water Follow the recommendations per day and you will be a healthier you!

• Keep moving and staying as Alicia Chrapek is a Tri-West High School active as you can. Take the alumna and a native of Pittsboro. She stairs, park a little further away, received her Bachelor of Science in Dior walk or ride your bike to a etetics and Nutrition, Fitness and Health nearby location you are going with a minor in Psychology from Purdue to.

University. She's a personal trainer and

• Neuromotor Exercise Neuromotor exercise is also known as functional fitness training, where you use motor skills such as balance, agility, coordination, and gait. Yoga is one practice that can work all of the motor nutrition counselor at Anytime Fitness skills. You can use resistance train- By following this outline of healthy of Brownsburg. She can be reached ing to work these motor skills too. weekly and daily activities there at aliciachrapek@gmail.com

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Hendricks County Home

More than just a Conversation Crit Confirm Entertainment

Photo courtesy Crit Confirm Entertainment

We spoke with someone not too long ago that told us that when he was growing up, he felt isolated from some of the other kids he knew because he loved to read comic books, even in high school.

Luckily, we live in a dynamic place in an amazing time. If you like cool cars, if you like knitting and crochet, if you like sports, if you like guns and hunting, if you like food, if you like hiking and the outdoors, if you like model trains, whatever it is, you can almost always find it. Here in Hendricks County, in the same day, you can visit a sewing circle, visit a century old county jail and go to a festival dedicated to celebrating not just a television show but a community and before the day is done. You can stop by and find David (The Bubbernauth, CJ (Ceej), Cody (T-Spoon) and Leslie (Moxie), the squad from Crit Confirm Entertainment pod casting live from Android's Dungeon comic book store in Avon. These four are

the incredibly entertaining quartet that make up what can only be described as an exciting and innovative company with an approach to communicating specifically to gamers, geeks and nerds that will leave you grateful for pressing play. Moreover, you can be age 7 or age 97 and never feel alone again in your love for games and comics thanks in part to efforts of these champions.

"We've been trying to highlight the things that are important in the geek/nerd community that need more attention drawn to them.

We've been going out to brand new stores... We demo games and have a really good time. [We were seen] at Android's Dungeon for their free comic book day. Quite a spectacle. Just the experience overall was memorable. People were not just coming out to talk about comics, they were coming in to talk with us - finding out 'What's a

podcast? What are you doing here?

Why are there microphones?' Microphones can be scary but after a few minutes of talking with us, they forget about the microphones and they realize that we are real people and we are not doing anything crazy - we are just trying to capture the words that are being said." David told us.

When asked to define the audience of the podcast, David said, "The funny thing about the geek and nerd community is, it is everyone. Everyone is passionate about something.

Everyone is tied in, in some facet.

It doesn't have to be comic books and trading cards. It could be cars. It could be the military. Some people are just really into things." T-Spoon chimed in, "It could be just talking."

David Continued, "That is one thing about us. We really enjoy talking. It just so happened that our hobbies coincide with what we talk about. I am a long-time Magic the Gathering

player. I've been playing for almost 11 years now. I talk about it with some of my friends - It's not their cup of tea. We like board games we talk about that. Our most comfortable zone is role playing. We have right around 34 years of experience with role playing. That's leaps and bounds above most groups - most people can't say that unless they've been around preGary Guygax trying to plan some things. It's our comfort zone. It's something we like to do. The stigma of role-playing, D&D (Dungeons and Dragons (tm) isn't that bad."

T-Spoon said, "Everyone should do it once because there is such a negative aura when people talk about it or bring it up in conversation that it is just not that at all."

Ceej added, "Everybody who hasn't actually gotten down and played it or seen what it is all about - they just picture a bunch of sweaty nerds

Hendricks County Home

LOCAL BUSINESS

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sitting in a basement" T-Spoon picked up saying, "Or bunch of guys sitting around a Ouija Board or something like that. Either or."

them. That is role playing. Every day that you go to a job that you hate and put on a smile for your boss and for your customers that is role playing. The difference is When pressed about the nature of that we sit down and slay dragons." that negativity and stigma, Bub- Bubbernaut and T-Spoon told us. bernaut (David) added, "Its relevance greatly appeared from the We considered the health benera what we call the 'Guygaxian efits that this point brought up.

Era.' But that is really just the 70's Does role play offer a healthy way or early 80's when D&D (tm) started of expressing stresses? Shineyato become more prominent. That reavoices.com tackled this queswas from Dave Armeson and Gary tion in part with these posiGuygax, the creators of D&D (tm). tions from their article, Seven They were heavier set, nerdy guys Benefits of Roleplaying Games: that geeked out on things like Star Wars and high epic fantasy. They sat • Role players learn about how in basements and they play tested story works in an interactive way. these games with other people who • Roleplaying gives you a safe were 'less conventional' - it is the place to explore moral decisionpeople that were not the 'jocks' making without hurting anyone. they weren't popular - they weren't • Roleplaying gives you a wealthy. They were just people who chance to be in somebody were trying to have a cheap, good else’s shoes for a little while. time for countless hours outside of • Roleplaying often spurs learning. television. A lot of times these peo- • Roleplaying forces you to ple have a lot of things in common. work together as a group.

For example, reading. A lot of peo- • Roleplaying can be about ple who are into D&D are big readforming good values. ers. It is another source of creativity • Roleplaying spurs and imagination. It is the comradyour imagination. ery of getting together and telling a story." And tell a story they do. In Director Jeff Kanew’s movie, Revenge of the Nerds, we are exposed "Everybody role plays every day, to the extraordinary lives of misfits whether or not you realize it that who are bullied and tormented for falls on you. ‘I don't role play.’ What their differences. As a result of their do you mean? You have a job? ability to gather together and orWhere do you work? 'I work in re- ganize, they were able to stand up tail.' Well, you role play more often for themselves. To a great degree, than the regular person does be- this is what the conventions like cause you can be sure that there is GenCon, Starbase Indy and Indithat one customer who is going to ana Comic Con have been doing for make you want to punch them in years – breaking open that stereothe mouth - well, you don't punch type of “regular people” vs. “nerds/ them in the mouth, right? Why? 'Be- geeks” and opening the door for cause I don't want to lose my job.' people to be able to out themselves Exactly. [You] tell them that they as being into sci-fi or gaming. Crit are right. [You] apologize and pre- Confirm Entertainment offers an tend that you don't want to punch enhancement to that community

Photo courtesy Crit Confirm Entertainment

"I'm the biggest nerd - I love comic books and stuff like that! I don't have any friends who are actresses. I only had one girlfriend when I was growing up. Most of my friends were boys. I was such a tomboy. I enjoyed doing guy things."

- Megan Fox, American Actress and Model by having a group of people open- Crit Confirm Entertainment can ly voicing these conversations. be found by going to www.critconfirm.com. We strongly recomWhen talking about growth, Moxie mend that you visit the clever said, “We almost can't keep track “Crew” tab to find out more about how fast it is growing. Just keeping these characters. Once there, you track of the people we talk to, con- can find their Facebook page, ventions, convention owners, artists, their twitter account, their Youfinanciers, artists... the list goes on Tube Channel and their Soundand on. We talk a lot about kids and Cloud or subscribe to their feed. helping out kids but it is also about Of course, follow their blog as well. local artists. I love this independent network that we are growing."

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Hendricks County Home

Flowered Occasions

Remarkable Local Florist with Historic Building

Bank Vault - The area houses antiques. Most of the items are for sale (though some are displays.) In days gone by, the building had a number of occupants including a bank.

"My husband wanted me to look at it." Kelly said. "I fell in love with it."

Completed in 1900, the building once held a barbershop, the post office a mercantile store, a bank, a lodge and an opera.

Kelly Dick, the owner of Flowered Occasions in Plainfield took a few minutes to show us their beautiful, historic building in downtown Plainfield. If you are not yet familiar with Flowered Occasions, they are masters at providing floral arrangements for weddings, funerals, dances or just because. Of course, in our effort to highlight local businesses and local architecture, we have a gold mine here in Hendricks County with Kelly having both. Kelly told us that she had been looking at purchasing the building at 115 W. Main

Street in Plainfield but for a number of reasons had shied away until one day all of the pieces fell into place.

Previously located on Vine Street for 5 years, she has more than 20 year experience in the industry. Now in the current building for 3 years, not only are Kelly running a successful small business but she and her husband are working to restore the the 3rd story. We will be featuring other floors of the building in future issues and as work is completed. When you stop in, you will want to ask Kelly more about the building’s history.

The Wedding Area is set up so brides-to-be can get ideas for their wedding on table bouquets, decorations, table linens, accessory arrangements and many other features.

Hendricks County Home

FAMILY

The 'X' and the 'Y'

By Lynn Clinton My husband is at Boy Scout camp this week with our oldest son. He is transporting and supervising a group of 2nd grade boys while the camp counselors lead activities. He enters the house at 4:30 and heaves a hefty sigh of exhaustion, and sinks into the chair as if he has just finished carving Mount Rushmore with a toothpick. Let’s take a moment of silence to honor the exertion my husband has put forth for can?” Then our second X says “xactthree full days now. Ok, I couldn’t ly.” I firmly believe the reason my type that with a straight face. husband doesn’t track on schedules, fullness of our Tide bottle, How is it our male counterparts can and when our mortgage is due is go through a few days walking in because I do. He has been blessed our shoes (although not really, be- (also not typed with a straight face) cause theirs are comfortable and with a wife who can tackle such practical and ours were spawned things, so his mind can be used by the devil) and it is somehow on more important things like… worthy of a ticker tape parade and well, whatever he thinks about.

Medal of Honor, but for us… it’s just Wednesday? What is in our This is a vast generalization and second X chromosome that makes does not apply to all XX XY couples, us capable of handling a day of ac- but is very common, based on my tivities (lead by us) while making extensive research (aka Girls Night dinner, doing the laundry and fin- Out conversations). His Mars speaks ishing it all by 6:00 football practice? to our Venus because we kind of like doing it all, and they kind of Honestly, I think the Y in the XY like letting us. We are yinning their stands for “Y do it when your spouse yang while we stand in our kitchen

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THIS...

IS LYNN CLINTON'S ARTICLE.

mesmerized that they were able to set their coffee mug on the counter OVER the dishwasher, blissfully unaware that it needs to go IN it to get clean. Better to not wonder why or worse, be annoyed, and just accept that our DNA differences translate into the ability (or lack thereof ) to listen to a conversation while watching TV. My punishment for being a highly capable woman married to an XY is that it leads straight to the Z, as in La-Z-Boy. Lynn Clinton is an Avon woman who traded her career and stilettos for children and sneakers. She almost never looks back. Would you like to read more? Lynn also writes over on her own blog, Love, Laughs and Lice...Stories from my life.

SHE'S PRETTY POPULAR. IN FACT, OUR MOST POPULAR ARTICLE LAST ISSUE. MAKING THIS SPACE PRIME ADVERTISING FOR YOUR BUSINESS OH, AND IT'S AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

America's only Hendricks County.

Hendricks County's only home magazine.

(317) 609 - 0225 advertising@hendrickshome.com

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hendrickshome.com | August 2014

FAMILY

Hendricks County Home

Love and Repairs

By Michele O'Mara Without warning, my car stopped working. Everything was plugging along nicely and then BAM, nothing. No matter how hard I pressed the gas pedal, my car wouldn’t budge. I suspected my transmission went out. Unfortunately, I was right. It’s times like these where being right is grossly overrated.

I don’t know much about automobiles, except that a long time ago I did discover that they are similar to relationships. What happens to my car often teaches me a lot about what happens to relationships. Fundamentally, relationships and automobiles are both vehicles designed to transport people from where they are to where they want to be as safely and enjoyably as possible. Both require the participation of people to make them work. They need maintenance and care, and without it they are at risk of getting rusty, working ineffectively or not

at all. Accidents can, and often do, happen. The better care you take of relationships and automobiles, the better they work. The better company you choose to include in your relationship, or your car, the more enjoyable the ride. What you invest in your vehicle (gas, time, energy, love, etc….) is directly related to what you can expect to get in return.

Fast-forward one-and-a-half weeks, which is apparently equivalent to four days in transmission-speak as I was told, “It will take four days to fix ma’am.” I got a call from the friendly folks at unnamed (sheer kindness on my part) shop. He cheerfully shared that I could come on down and reclaim my car. With my pockets $2,650 lighter, I got behind my familiar steering wheel and headed home. Like vehicles, when our relationship is ailing, it is wise to seek help. Whether it is a conversation with trusted friends, reading selfhelp books like Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix, or seeking

counseling, the point is, don’t ignore As if to humor me, transmission guy the problem. It usually gets worse. says, “We will keep your car here and have someone look at it tomorrow.”

I got about five miles from the shop Two days later (remember, we’re on when my car stopped working. Not transmission shop time) I hear back just a little not working, a lot not that, “Your car definitely has a probworking. I was unable to steer, brake, lem,” as if this was new information or accelerate. After seeing my life for me. Some harness wire thing on flash before me as I navigated my the top of the transmission (clearly way out of traffic (okay, so that was a I know all about this) was bad and little dramatic, but it was very scary), contributed to the spontaneous I decided it wasn’t fixed after all. shutdown of my car. So they replaced that. Relieved, I once again I promptly called the friendly folk reclaimed my car and have been at unnamed shop to see what to driving it since, without incident. do. “Try to restart the car, ma’am,” I’m told. Uh, okay. Sure enough, Important lessons: Never get in it starts. “Can you bring it back a vehicle, or a relationship, that is here so we can take a look at it,” I’m known to be unsafe. Pursue soluasked. Against my better judgment, tions until you get the help that I agreed. After all, I did just sponta- works. We do not control our veneously and unexpectedly lose all hicles, or our relationships; we incontrol of my vehicle without warn- vest in them, care for them, and ing. This did not feel safe to me, trust that by doing so we will get and I was unsure what else to do. from them exactly what we need.

I was told that they have sophisticated scanners that can read my engine and my transmission for codes that explain exactly what the problem is. While there are no fancy scanners for relationships, there are people who can be objective and experienced in seeing common issues for couples. As it turns out though, the fancy scanner revealed no problems. Nada. Nothing. Not so fancy if you ask me.

The transmission guy says, “I am 100% confident it was just a fluke and you will be safe.” To which I respond ed, “I am 100% confident that my car spontaneously stopped in the middle of traffic, and I will not feel safe in that vehicle until we know why.”

As a Board Certified Sex Therapist and a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, Dr. O’Mara brings expert help to the Hendricks County area by providing men and women with supportive relationship care. With a non-traditional style of counseling that is heavily influenced by the field of life-coaching, Dr. O’Mara applies a non-judgmental attitude in all of her work, and seeks to understand who you are, who you wish to become, and how you want your life and relationships to look.

Hendricks County Home

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Hendricks Civic Theater A Family Maureen Conner, President of Hendricks Civic Theater spoke with us about the jewel that is the county’s civic theater. She said, "The Civic Theater has been an organization that has been around for over 30 years. It was started by a group of people with a love of theater and that wanted to perform. They got together - about 6 started it originally.

They got the rights to shows, found places to perform in store fronts and churches - any place that would open their doors and let them come in. They did all of the work - all of the acting, all of the directing, all of the producing, all of the publicity. Since then, the organization has grown in a lot of ways. We do finally have our own home. Within the last five years [we] took a church that was donated to us probably 20 years ago and it’s been renovated. That is what used to be known as Maplewood Church [but] now is Long Street Playhouse.

Most of our performances are there.

Then we have 3 productions a year at other venues. There are two children's productions that we try to do - one in spring and one in fall. Then we try to do a family musical in the summer. Those we usually have to try to find other venues for because our Long Street Playhouse has the capacity for approximately 75 seats and not a large stage. When we have a large cast, such as a children's production and we have the potential for large audiences, we find it necessary to move to other locations."

"I personally got involved about 16 years ago. We had friends that were involved with Hendricks Civic Theater that we attended church with.

They invited us to a production.

They were performing at the Royal Theater. They did the musical, Carousel. My daughter who was 5 at the time just fell in love with the stage and the idea that people could be up on stage and they could sing and they could dance and the audience would clap for you. She decided that it was something that she would like to be involved in. So that very next December, she got a part in a Children's production of the Velveteen Rabbit which was also at the Royal Theater. Since she was 5, she needed a ride to and from. I didn't just drop her off or leave her there. Just by sitting around and watching them do their thing, I just pitched in because there were things that needed to be done.

They needed costumes sewed and they needed mailings stuffed or help moving things or painting sets - because it is all volunteer.

Once [we] got involved, we have from. I can't emphasize enough been ever since." Maureen told us. the family feel of it. Family is huge to Hendricks Civic Theater. We call We were curious how someone ourselves a family. We feel like we might volunteer or participate. are family. My daughter is 21 - when Maureen said, "At this time, people she got involved in this met several will contact us through our website. other kids her age that had a love They'll find us online by Google. for theater. Since then, they have We have people contact us all the grown into young adults in coltime to find out how they can get lege. They all went to different high involved. Probably 90% of the in- schools but through that whole volvement we have is from people time frame, they kept in touch. They who have auditioned for shows or got together for things outside the have family members [in the show] theater. They have parties together." like myself. Because it is all volunteer, there is always something Maureen went on to tell us that for someone to do regardless. You the very best way to support the can answer phones or paint sets theater is to attend performancor build sets or do lighting. We es. With reasonable ticket prices, don't turn anyone down. We always that part should be easy. An anfind something for them to do. nual ticket for an adult is $60. She That is where the volunteers come said that there are costs that many

people may not consider like the cost of acquiring the rights of the show, the utilities of building sets, costumes, lighting, website maintenance, materials and promotion –even venue fees if the production will be too large for their own theater. Another way that one might support the theater is to become a patron. Visit their website at www.hendrickscivic.com, click the Friends of HCT tab and click the link to Become a Patron.

You can contact the theater for information at (317) 252-9626. For reservations, email: reservations@ hendrickscivic.com – for information email: info@hendrickscivic.com The theater is located at: 4998 N County Road 100 E Danville, Indiana 46122

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Hendricks County Home

OUTSTANDING!

The Biz Academy of Musical Theatre’s Production of Les Miserables

By Dave Giltner Victor Hugo’s story, Les Miserables is set in 19th century France. The title of Les Miserables translates to English as “The Miserable” or “The Wretched.” In this school concert edition of the musical, an extraordinarily talented cast performed the various roles primarily standing at the microphones set along the front of the stage and then returned to a seating in the choir.

The musical opens with Jean Valjean, the tortured hero of the story earning his freedom after having spent a length of time under the whip of Javert, the unyielding, overly rule abiding antagonist. His crime?

Stealing a loaf of bread. After breaking his parole, Jean Valjean is hunted relentlessly through virtually the rest of his life as Javert chases him,

swearing to catch him no matter the cost. A number of twists and turns land Jean Valjean as a surrogate father to an orphaned girl and ultimately corner him in a backdrop of revolution.

Caulk were both simply excellent. In what is best described as powerful and moving, each performer portrayed their role in what we found to be a highly entertaining and brilliant execution of the musical.

The cast, from elementary school age to collegiate, performed beautifully. From Tyler Benware’s unflinchingly sober performance as Javert to Zach Decker’s humane rendition of Jean Valjean, the audience could all agree that emotion was palpable.

David Vornholt’s refreshing slapstick Thendier was equally matched

by Grace Fillip’s sassy and smart portrayal of Madam Thenardier. Other notables included young Graham Hartley’s Gavroche’s death scene abd Hannah Boswell’s heartwrenching Fantine. Sweet young Cosette as played by Katie Hartley and then the older Cosette played by Shelby

Notably, we were told that the cast came together to perform the piece in only 10 days. If a performance of this high quality is with such a short rehearsal schedule indicative of what these young people are capable of, we are left unable to wait for what comes next.

Cast, Staff & Acknowledgements

Jean Valjean: Zach Decker Javert: Tyler Benware Fantine: Hannah Boswell Cosette: Shelby Caulk Eponine: Chase Stephen Young Cosette: Katie Hartley Thenardier/Convict: David Vornholt Madame Thenardier: Grace Fillip

Gavroche: Graham Hartley Enjorlas/Convict: JT Wood Bishop/Bamatobois: Bryce Conway Police/Army Officer: Adam Decker Factory Workers & Lovely Ladies: Allison Barker, Bailey Rae Harmon, Jess Hornaday, Helen Karas, Audrey Kays, Emily Keith, Jennifer King, Aria Martin, Abby Moyers, Emily Sharton, Megan Sharton, Cassidy Shelton, Renee Maynard, Lexie Conner Foreman/Joly/Convict: Jon Abshier Grantaire/Convict/Farmer: Adam Decker Combeferre/Convict/Constable/Pimp: Josh Maldonado Students: Henry Hartley, Abraham Rittenhouse Director/Musical Director: Craig Whitcombe Producer: Jan Van Paris Assistant Producer: Lisa Decker Set Design: Craig Whitcombe Costumes: Barb Ashler, Sheri Maldonado Bio Boards: Carrie Fillip, Deena Conway Spotlights: Tifani Harmon Sound Technicians: Ray Claus, Craig Whitcombe Special Thanks: Greg Steward - Priority Enginerring Parents, Relatives and Cast Location: Harmony Baptist Church 5697 Broyles Road Avon, IN 46123 (317) 745-0011

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Family Promise Duathlon

1st Annual Event to Benefit Efforts to Support Local Homeless Families The First Annual Family Promise of Hendricks County Duathlon and Family Fun Event will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Charleston Pavilion, Hummel Park, Plainfield, Indiana. The race will begin at the Charleston Pavilion with a 2 mile run, transition to a 10 mile bike race in the surrounding countryside and finish with a 3 mile run back at Hummel Park/Charleston Pavilion. Athletes may checkin beginning at 7:30am. There will be a Pre-Race Meeting at 8:15am with the Race Start at 8:30am.

is partnering with local congregations to provide shelter for families of school-aged and preschoolaged children, who find themselves in this challenging situation. The families will receive an individualized array of services to help them obtain housing that they control and to regain their independence.

The Fund Development Committee of Family Promise of Hendricks County is holding the First Annual Duathlon and Family Fun Event to raise money to support the efforts to help families.

Family Promise of Hendricks County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization supporting children of families facing homelessness, in our county.

Family Promise of Hendricks County

Registration for the Duathlon is available online at www.familypromisehendrickscounty.org/duathlon. Registration fees are: Individuals-$45 ($33 for active USAT

members); Teams (of 2)-$70. Please bring your Driver’s License and if you are a USAT member, your membership card. Athletes will receive a tee-shirt and goodie bag (deadline in order to obtain tee shirt is Sept 19th). Staff will be available for Same Day Registration (no guarantee of tee shirt).

The Family Fun Event is free and begin at approximately 9:00am. It includes a Bike Safety Rodeo for children ages 5-12 sponsored by the Plainfield Police Department.

Each child will be fitted for a bike helmet to take home, courtesy of IU Health West (limit 100 helmets).

Lunch will be provided to all athletes and all kids and their families.

The Fund Development Committee is seeking Title Sponsorship ($2000), as well as additional sponsorships of Gold-$500, Silver-$250, Bronze-$100.

Please contact Debi Campbell, Fund Development Chair at debi@ familypromisehendrickscounty.org.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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Kiwanis: Serving the Children of our Community Worldwide organization to expand its reach within the county

By Eric Ivie In January of 2012, I made We all have different talents and one of the best decisions ways in which we contribute to of my life: I joined Kiwanis. the club, but we all share the one and only requirement to be a KiWhat is Kiwanis? (Don’t feel silly for wanian: we care about children. asking. I get this question all the time.)

Where We Are Who We Are There are Kiwanis clubs all over the The official defining statement is world, and in a stroke of good forthat Kiwanis is a global organiza- tune, Kiwanis International is headtion of volunteers dedicated to quartered in Indianapolis – right improving the world, one child here in the heart of central Indiana. and one community at a time.

In fact, Kiwanis turns 100 years old In plain-speak, Kiwanis is a commu- in 2015 and will hold its Internanity service organization that focus- tional Convention and 100th Annies on benefitting children. Kiwanis versary Celebration in Indianapolis clubs raise money and perform on June 25-28, 2015. This is an excitservice within each of their com- ing event that will bring over 10,000 munities with the sole intention Kiwanians from more than 80 counof providing a better life for kids. tries into our neck of the woods.

We are everyday men and women of all ages and all walks of life who want to do good things for kids.

There is no secret handshake or password or initiation ritual to join Kiwanis. You don’t have to be rich or hold a fancy position within a certain industry to be a Kiwanian.

My Kiwanis club has among its members business owners, an attorney, a pastor, several stay-at-home parents, retirees, school administrators and principals, a travel agent, a daycare provider, a real estate agent, an insurance broker, a town official, an employee of the local parks and recreation department, an employee of the local public library, and more.

As for me, I’m “just” a stay-at-home dad. I’m not some CEO of some high-falutin’ Fortune 500 company.

There are Kiwanis clubs in Avon, Brownsburg, Danville and Plainfield, and I’m currently building a club in the North Salem or Pittsboro area to serve the North West Hendricks School Corporation. It will be chartered by the end of September, and I’m actively seeking charter members. Will you be one?

Once the Kiwanis Club in North West Hendricks is built, I’m turning my attention to building a Kiwanis club to serve the Mill Creek School Corporation.

What We Do – Raising Money Globally, Kiwanians raise money for the Eliminate Project, designed to rid the world of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) – an

excruciatingly agonizing death for newborns and mothers that can be prevented by a simple and inexpensive series of vaccinations.

Through the efforts of Kiwanians, MNT has already been entirely eradicated in four countries, but we still have 24 countries to go.

Within the Indiana District of Kiwanis, Kiwanians raise money to support Riley Children’s Hospital of Indianapolis. It’s difficult to find a Hoosier who doesn’t know a Riley kid or have one of their own, so we all know how important Riley Hospital is to children.

We give college scholarships to graduating seniors from Danville Community High School. We sponsor four programs within Danville schools: Bring Up Grades (B.U.G.), the K-Kids Club at Danville South Elementary School, the Builders Club at Danville Community Middle School, and the Key Club at And within each club, Kiwan- Danville Community High School. ians do a tremendous amount of good for their own communities. Through those four programs, we strive to better the children For example, my home club is the of our community and help build Kiwanis Club of Danville. We raise them into service-oriented leadmoney by working with the Kiwanis ers of tomorrow. One of Danville’s Club of Plainfield to sell elephant K-Kids from South Elementary was ears at the Hendricks County 4-H just awarded the Kiwanis InterFair and at the Hendricks County national Foundation Leadership Ribfest. We hostquarterly Kiwanis Award for all of the great work she Klassic Family Movie Nights at the has done within our community Royal Theater in Danville, and we partner with the Danville Girls Soft- Our club sponsors Sheltering Wings, ball Association to host an annual the Hoosier Burn Camp, UnderAll-Star youth softball tournament. neath It All, Danville Little League, the Danville Girls Softball AssociaWe contribute some of the mon- tion, the Hendricks Elite Aquatics ey we raise to the Eliminate Proj- Team, the Winterland light display ect and to Riley Children’s Hos- at Ellis Park every holiday season, pital in support of Kiwanis at the Summer Lunch Bunch, Breakinternational and state levels. fast with Santa, local Boy Scouts troops and service projects, a wide The majority of the money our variety of Danville school clubs club raises, though, gets pumped and activities, and much more. right back into our community.

And that’s just our club. Each club has

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its own projects and beneficiaries. Why We Do It The Kiwanis Club of Avon is holding its annual Masquerade Mayhem on October 4 – a fantastic fundraiser that benefits Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center. The Kiwanis clubs in Brownsburg and Plainfield have their own special projects and beneficiaries throughout the year.

Kiwanis is incredibly rewarding.

Through our community service, we develop lasting friendships and business connections with each other. We routinely bring guest speakers to our meetings to talk about organizations and events going on in our community, turnWhat We Do – Community Service ing us into informed citizens.

Kiwanis isn’t just about raising money, though. It’s also about community service.

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Danville stuff 10,000 plastic Easter eggs every spring, spread them out in Ellis Park, dress up in an Easter Bunny suit, and put on one of the best-known Easter egg hunts in Hendricks County.

We work with children through the B.U.G. Program and the three service leadership programs that we sponsor in Danville schools. We work at the Summer Lunch Bunch, making and handing out lunches to local families. We work at the softball tournament we co-host, which in 2014 brought 27 youth softball teams and hundreds of families into Danville for an unforgettable weekend promoting camaraderie, teamwork, physical fitness and sportsmanship.

We host an annual daddy/daughter dance, we put on an annual art contest in Danville schools, we bring family movies to the Royal Theater four times a year, we work at Danville’s July 4th Fest, we collect and distribute food to less fortunate families during the holidays, and we host an annual veterans’ appreciation dinner every Veterans’ Day at Dave’s All-American Pizza and Eatery in Danville.

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"Art in the Street" New mural program announced

Danville, IN - The Hendricks County Arts Council (HCAC) is sponsoring a new mural program titled, “Art in the Street”. The ultimate goal of “Art in the Street” is to have several murals around the county that will become part of a mural Most importantly, though, we see trail throughout Hendricks County. smiles on children’s faces and know that we put them there. We see lo- However, first things first for the cal children grow up to be produc- mural project! The search is on to tive adults, and we know that we find the building site for the very helped them succeed. We look in first mural. The HCAC is asking the mirror and know that we have property owners to nominate their done great things for our communi- building to serve as the canvas for ty and for the future of our society. the first mural. It is anticipated that the first mural will be completed by the end of December, 2015.

Become a Kiwanian and Make a Difference The mural site must have visibilWould you like to learn more about ity from the street. All expenses are the four existing Kiwanis clubs covered by the HCAC, including in Hendricks County or become insurance. Owners are welcome to a charter member of the Kiwan- contribute but are not required to is club serving North West Hen- participate financially. The builddricks schools? How about becom- ing owner will serve on the selecing a charter member of the club tion committee for design. Final that will serve Mill Creek schools? design and location is contingent upon approval of town or counSimply contact me at ty applicable regulatory bodies. eric@redzonewriting.com.

The deadline for application is I encourage everyone to make Ki- September 5, 2014. Application wanis a part of who you are and to forms can be accessed via a link join in improving the world, one at the bottom of the HCAC homepwww.hendrickscountyarts. child and one community at a time. age, As it was for me, it will be one of the org. The form can also be accessed best decisions you make in your life. under the Special Events/Programs tab at the top of the homepage.

Eric Ivie is a Danville resident, the immediate past president of the Kiwanis Club of Danville, and the The form can be filled out, saved Lieutenant Governor of the Circle City Division of the and then emailed to the HCAC at Indiana District of Kiwanis. He oversees the Kiwanis clubs in Hendricks County, as well as four other clubs info@hendrickscountyar ts.org. in Morgan and Johnson Counties. He is the first The form can also be filled out, member of the Kiwanis Club of Danville to serve as a printed and mailed via the United Lt. Governor within the Indiana District of Kiwanis.

States Post Office to the Hendricks

County Arts Council, P.O. Box 315, Danville, IN 46122 A picture of the site must accompany submission of the form for consideration.

Forms can also be picked up at Gallery on the Square, located on the east side of the Court House, 51 S. Washington Street, Danville, IN 46122.

The winning site location for the first mural will be announced by October 7, 2014.

For tact Arts

more information conthe Hendricks County Council at 317-979-4468.

Hendricks County Arts Council (HCAC) is a community organization that strives to provide financial support, services, and other programs for a variety of arts organizations and/or individual artists and the community as a whole.

HCAC’s objective is to enhance the quality of life in local communities and raise awareness of the arts.

HCAC is a 501c3 organization.

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CULINARY

hendrickshome.com | August 2014

Hendricks County Home

Bob Hanson's Chocolate Cobbler The Perfect "Sweet, but not too Sweet" Sweet!

Is it too soon to have chocolate? Not possible. One of the easiest and most delicious chocolate desserts you can make is Bob Hanson’s Chocolate Cobbler.

If you are looking for something that is rich without being ridiculous, something sweet without being cloyingly sweet and you want something chocolate, then you’ll want try this recipe as soon as possible. If you enjoy it or if you have suggestions, always feel free to write us at editor@ hendrickshome.com – place the recipe name in the subject line.

Difficulty Level: 5 / 10: This has a few ingredients and some instructions to follow but school aged children should be able to handle this recipe.

Ingredients 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 7 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder, divided 1 ¼ cups sugar, divided ½ cup milk (can substitute non-dairy milk) 1/3 cups butter – melted (can substitute non-dairy butter) 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cups light brown sugar, packed 1 ½ cup hot water OPTIONAL: 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (for a tiny kick) Switch the milk and butter to non-dairy milk/butter for a vegan option Tools 2 Large Mixing Bowl 8” baking dish Food gloves (optional) Stirring utensil Measuring utensils Serves 4 (unless you love chocolate and then it may only serve one) Time Approximately 60 minutes total – 20 to prep (max) and 40 to cook - Time varies by skill and practice and humidity – check center to make sure cooked completely.

Directions (1) Prepare your ingredients as directed (2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F) (3) Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder and ¾ cup of white sugar in one bowl. Mix thoroughly. Reserve the reaming cocoa powder and sugar.

(4) Stir in the milk, melted butter and vanilla to the flour mixture. Mix until completely smooth.

(5) Pour the mixture into an ungreased 8” baking dish.

(6) In the second bowl, mix the remaining white sugar (should be ½ cup) and the remaining cocoa powder (should be 4 tablespoons.) Then pour the dry mixture over the smooth batter.

(7) Read carefully here: Pour the hot water over the top of the dry mix which is now over the batter. Do NOT stir!

(8) Bake for about 40 minutes or until the center is set.

(9) Remove from oven and let set for about 20 minutes to cool.

NOTE: If using the optional spice, then add in with cocoa powder.

NOTE: Best served warm.

Caution: Do NOT try doubling the recipe.

Caution: Do NOT try eating as soon as it is out of the oven – could be too hot.

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Hendricks County Home

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Anthony vs. Bank of Goliath One Man's Fight to Keep His Home

“It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.”

– John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

By Dave Giltner Drive along about 20 minutes from Brownsburg and as you come around the bend in the road, you can see it standing there on the left - an unfinished house that is surrounded by trees and cornfields.

When you look at the house at first glance, like anyone else driving past, you might think to yourself how great it is that someone is getting new siding or that they are building a new house. But for those that drive by regularly, they know that the house has been in this state for years. Sadly, it is a sort of Americana that has somehow become common now in our generation.

The recent Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case has frequently been criticized as making corporations people. According to the National Library of Medicine, Antisocial Personality Disorder is defined as “is a mental health condition in which a person has a longterm pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others. This behavior is often criminal.” – Now hold that thought in the back of your mind for a moment.

Google the term, “Bank of America foreclosure nightmare.” Pages of articles will populate with titles such as, “Foreclosure Nightmares – CNN

Money”, “Simple BofA refi turns into foreclosure nightmare – LATimes.com”, “Tables Turn: Deputies and Movers show up at bank to seize property for homeowner – WINKNews.com”… Page after page of titles such as these testify to numerous fiascos one worse than the next. In fact, Jonathan Weil of BloombergView writes in his article, “Bank of America’s Foreclosure Frenzy,” about how bank employees testified in federal court as to how they were “instructed to mislead customers on the verge of losing their homes and stall their applications for loan modifications…” He goes on to quote William Wilson, a Bank of America underwriter and manager from Charlotte, NC 20102012 as saying, “Justifications commonly included claiming that the homeowner had failed to return requested documents or had failed to make payments,” he said. “In reality these justifications were untrue.

I personally reviewed hundreds of files in which the computer systems showed that the homeowner had fulfilled a trial period plan and was entitled to a permanent loan modification,” but was nevertheless declined during a blitz. “On many occasions, homeowners who did not receive the permanent modification that they were entitled to ultimate

ly lost their homes to foreclosure” Here we have a story of a friend, a neighbor, a father, who found that Have you ever met someone who is perfect place to build that dream, kind even when they are wronged? but somehow, try as he might, that The kind of person who is able to dream could be taken from him. Is it smile sincerely and remain calm and the same story as some of these othtrue even when they are wounded? ers? Is it a “foreclosure nightmare?”

If not, let us You be introduce the judge. you to Anthony HickWhen Anman – starry thony first eyed, all spoke with American us, in the – Nelson Mandela guy next most human door who and bluntly has a dream – a dream that many factual way possible, he said, "What Americans share, a dream that I can't tell you is that I've gone many here in Hendricks County through all of this hardship and are blessed enough to achieve. He that we've worked things out and wants to have a plot of land to farm, that I found a way to complete the build a little house where he and his house and I am embarking on orfamily could live and try to make a ganic farming and having a happy living and go to sleep at night in a ending." Anthony was discussing comfortable and safe, secure home. his 203(k) Rehabilitation Loan and

“It always seems impossible until it is done.”

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the series of calamitous events that unfolded in what turned out to be an epic struggle to save his dream against a river of incompetence, misinformation, hassles, run-arounds, finger pointing, ball-dropping, bank mergers, paper shuffling, litigation, hope, fear, a void of human compassion and literally of survival. He continued, “I've got 10's of thousands, well in excess of a hundred thousand dollars now invested in it and it isn't done." He paused soberly, reflecting on the truth of his words, "I am very afraid of losing everything.”

"I am dealing with a bank and HUD that says, 'Sure, we did wrong. But, legally it is a different story. Legally, we win - you're stuck.’" Anthony said, smiling in exasperation.

FEATURE makeshift cooking area in what is supposed to be his kitchen. Beams of light shine in through openings in the board walls. We asked him how it began. "I found an old country home. I was planning to try to buy it and fix it up.” He said looking up from his task. “That is something that I've been versed at in the past.

I grew up doing that with my father and my family. Bought the house with the renovation loan with the intention to expand the foundation, changing the footprint, changing the whole upstairs. We were taking it down to a shell and having 3 existing walls and then redoing all the walls and an all new floor plan and expanding the house."

Anthony continued on recounting the plans for the home to us.

Hendricks County Home

If you are not familiar with what a 203(k) loan, here is a quick primer:

According to HUD.gov, “Section 203(k) insurance enables homebuyers and homeowners to finance both the purchase (or refinancing) of a house and the cost of its rehabilitation through a single mortgage or to finance the rehabilitation of their existing home… Section 203(k) insures mortgages covering the purchase or refinancing and rehabilitation of a home that is at least a year old. A portion of the loan proceeds is used to pay the seller, or, if a refinance, to pay off the existing mortgage, and the remaining funds are placed in an escrow account and released as rehabilitation is completed. The cost of the rehabilitation must be at least $5,000, but the total value of the property must still fall within the FHA mortgage limit for the area. The value of the property is determined by either (1) the value of the property before rehabilitation plus the cost of rehabilitation, or (2) 110 percent of the appraised value of the property after rehabilitation, whichever is less.”

HUD Handbook 4240.4 REV 2, 203K Handbook section 1-4: “[a] report from a licensed structural engineer is required statThat sounded like it fit the guide- ing that the existing foundation is structurally sound and calines above, so we asked him what pable of supporting the proposed construction of the dwelling.”

Anthony walked around in the area of the first floor furthest from the door, gracefully working in his happened? Anthony took in a

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Hendricks County Home

deep breath, exhaled partially and said, "It took half a year to get the purchase agreement and the loan finalized and closed. Then when I got the loan, my general contractor passed on the project because it took too long to close, and therefore had to take on other work. I had to scramble to find someone else.

To make things more complicated, the foundation was completely inadequate and there was no way we could build on it." Anthony told us that it wasn't revealed in the appraisal, and the lender hadn't required any sort of inspection or report for the foundation even though guidelines require one. The foundation can be a big, big deal when having this kind of a loan because again, guidelines demand that the existing foundation system is not affected and will still be used.

Anthony provided a document to us which was completed by a HUD Consultant telling the bank that the house had essentially been leveled because of the foundation issues, and that the project was no longer a renovation but a rebuild. Aware of this, the bank then released draws a total of 6 times. That means that 6 times, the bank opened up Anthony’s file and then someone there ignored or overlooked the information at least on some level.

But then…

"What happened was 6 months later - we are now in June/July of 2009 after we finally got the house framed and the roof was partially complete, it was a shell of a box.

We paid for demolition, foundation, framing and had $67,000 into it." Anthony told us as tenHere is where things get sideways. sion built in his voice – his face flat.

That is when the bank decided to stop everything. Anthony said, "The bank said, 'We are not releasing any more money.” He paused, shaking his head slightly and continued, “We are going to release one more draw [Draw 6] and that is it, but the house has to be done. We don't like your contractor. We don't trust the way this is going. Either work with him or find a new contractor. The HUD Consultant said, 'Absolutely NOT Do not lose your contractor because there's no one going to pick this up."

Now with both of the parties that were supposed to be supporting and helping him complete this project at odds with one another, Anthony was at an impasse and thus, without the remaining funds there to complete the project, the light at the end of the tunnel was snuffed out and Anthony was left holding the bag.

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Meanwhile, Anthony had been living in a tent on the property - autumn, winter, spring and now into summer – a tent. "I literally lived in a tent from go. -13 degrees, yah. I was still going to work. I was still taking care of my two-year old who was three miles away in my old house with my ex. The plan was that we were going to work things out and this was going to be a fresh start for us." He said matter-of-factly.

When the bank stopped providing draws and releasing the escrowed funds, each day that the money was held back, those dreams of spending time with the family in their new farm house and working an organic tomato farm crumbled. Yet somehow Anthony persisted. He continued staying in the tent and working on the house, but now without a contractor to help him.

"Attorneys and the bank people that I had spoken to said, 'You know,

FEATURE

there's nothing you can really do.

What do you want us to do?' I said, release the money [to finish the house.] They said, 'Well... we can't.

There's nothing we can do unless it is in foreclosure or the house is finished on your own.'” He said.

loan even though there is a notice of foreclosure. He said sadly, "I know that is what they want. They want it [the house.]” Since then, the bank’s legal team has stated that the house will be leveled if the foreclosure process is completed.

We asked Anthony, ‘But what about the money?’ Was he paying his payments? Yes. Anthony showed where he had paid and paid and paid, month after month on a house that could absolutely not be lived in. The bank collected these payments yet all the while, documented conversation after documented conversation with HUD and the bank, Anthony was left to the element. What’s worse, Anthony’s son moved to Tennessee.

He said, "I was writing some responses to questions the other day.

[He thought,] What did the bank really expect me to do? The fact that I've endured and toughed it out this long and paid on it is more than a testament. I have more than enough integrity to pay for where I am living. All the while, I was living in this place, paying $2,000 a month to live in a tent, to bathe with a cold garden hose, to live with people kicking in my back-door while I am living there, thinking that it is an empty house - Living in the cold and the heat not just once or twice but three winters, four winters, you know?" In fact, the number

We sat down on the porch and his dog ran out into the field. Anthony is not in foreclosure now. He said because there is litigation over the

Hendricks County Home

is now coming up on six winters.

Anthony lamented most that his son, then two years old at the time when he purchased the house is now eight. He's never been able to put his son to bed in the house in his own completed and furnished room. He's never been able to sit down to a nice meal prepared in the kitchen and host his family and friends or have Christmas there.

Anthony recounted for us the saga that has been sleeping and bathing in the house. He told us that he had completed some interior structure and flooring and that he had relocated to now sleeping inside the house during the winter.

He said that there were no windows in the openings, but he had managed to make a bed and was sleeping in a below zero sleeping bag, in an area that is to be his son’s room.

The wind was blowing so strongly

Hendricks County Home

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hendrickshome.com | August 2014

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”

- Saint Augustine

as he lay there, cold and alone and in the darkness, he could see the snow come in the window on one side of the house and leave out the window on the other. He could see that the snow was accumulating around him. So he got up and while fighting the frigid wind, he found scraps and nails and spent the rest of the night hammering with gloved hands to keep the snow out until he had to go take care of his son in the morning. “I had many of those nights.” Anthony said.

are only there to protect the bank.

$

$ $ Why advertise with us?

Here's why:

Anthony came across a stone when planting his garden this year. He was reminded of the biblical tale of David and Goliath. With a simple stone, David took down his oppressor. He hopes that his GoFundMe account will be that stone that helps him escape the crippling nightmare that has been this experience. One of the best things about Hendricks County is how we support our neighbors and friends. In this case, Anthony is asking for our help to save his home. A fundraising site has been created to help him do that. We encourage you to help in whatever way you can and by sharing this with friends, neighbors, colleagues and via social media.

1. We cost less than our competitors.

2. We offer better content - better articles, better writing and more interesting topics.

3. Get your brand noticed by about 33,000 more consumers, for the price of some business cards.

4. Get your name out into your community - consumers want to know who they are doing business with.

Finally, water had been plumbed and rather than having to use the hose or go to the gym, Anthony was able to insulate the pipes and use them to bathe, but he said, the winters were so cold in the house that as the water would hit the shower curtain, sheets of ice would form www.GoFundMe.com/SaveOurFarmhouse and slide down into the tub and You can contact Anthony at: even the shortest shower would IndianaFarmHouse@hotmail.com leave heaps of sharp ice at his feet.

Now, 6 years after it all began, the story is the same and Anthony is in litigation to save his home and his dream. The bank’s representatives deny any wrong-doing. They say that they were not made aware of the foundation issues and are dismissive of his pleas to keep his home and finish the work. In practicality, the protections offered by the disclosures and guidelines

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5. People read news magazines, and the ads, instead of just throwing them away.

The bottom line is...you are far more likely to make more money advertising with us than you may without us.

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Hendricks County Home

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COMMUNITY

hendrickshome.com | August 2014

23

Brownsburg SNAP Food from Farmers Helps those in Need SNAP (The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), according to IN.gov’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Frequently Asked Questions document, “SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps). SNAP helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. You apply for benefits by completing a State application form. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores. ” Incidentally, the document goes to some length to discuss and explain how the program is in fact not welfare per the same document, “There is a federal law that states anyone with a drug conviction after 8/22/1996 is ineligible to receive SNAP benefits indefinitely. It is possible for state legislatures to override this federal law. To date, Indiana has not.”

"My role with the market (as well as with any other town undertaking) is to promote it and make sure that all of our residents and area folks know the good things that the town is doing - all of the projects and events that we are doing that impact their lives in any way.

The Brownsburg Farmer's Market is just one of the things that I am lucky enough to get to talk about every week. We agreed to take over management of the market last summer (2013). This is our second year doing the market in partnership with IU West Hospital. They generously support the market so that we can continue to make it happen at Brownsburg Town Hall." Annisa

Rainey, Communications Director for the Town of Brownsburg told us.

We have a great market master in Paula Alkire from BFE Trading Post.

She's a local farmer and so dynamic.

She's been around Brownsburg and Hendricks County farmer's markets for a number of years. She has a great relationship with vendors."

When talking specifically about the SNAP program for Brownsburg's farmer's market, Annisa said, "That's brand new for us. It takes a bit of undertaking to go through the process to become SNAP certified but the USDA made a really big push this year to help make it easier for farmer's markets around the country to become SNAP certified so that we can make fresh, healthy, local, nutritious foods available to more area families in Hendricks County who are served with SNAP benefits. We are fortunate to have the support of town administration to make it happen. We are so happy to be able to say that we accept SNAP benefits. We are working on getting really getting the word out and making a push with community organizations and churches. We also have a number of vendors that are WIC certified so families that get the Women Infant and Children vouchers along with seniors with benefits in the summer can use those at certain vendors."

The USDA website says: "Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy: Foods for the household to eat, such as: • Breads and cereals • Fruits and vegetables • Meats, fish and poultry • Dairy products.

• Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy: • Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco • Any nonfood items, such as: • Pet foods • Soaps, paper products • Household supplies • Vitamins and medicines According to Annisa, "FSSA reported • Food that will be eaten in the store 3,149 Hendricks County households were SNAP recipients in April. That's • Hot foods" nearly 8,000 individuals. SNAP is what used to be called food stamps." In a document titled, “SNAP EBT Handbook for Farmers Markets”

USDA states, “The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has a fundamental interest in ensuring that SNAP households have access to the fresh, nutritious foods available at farmers' markets. Moreover, it is a USDA priority to implement SNAP at farmers' markets. … Farmers' markets play an important role in making fresh healthy produce available to community members of all incomes. Without financial assistance, the majority of farmers' markets will not be able to provide access to SNAP customers.

The USDA supports providing additional funding for SNAP EBT in fanners' markets. … The Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports efforts to increase EBT in farmers' markets. Implementing EBT ensures that SNAP customers have access to the nutritious food available at farmers' markets while improving the income of local farm vendors.”

To find out more about SNAP or about the Brownsburg Farmer’s Market, please visit www.townofbrownsburg.org – then select community, community links and then Brownsburg Farmer’s Market or contact at (317) 852-1120.

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hendrickshome.com | August 2014

COMMUNITY

Hendricks County Home

Building a Miracle Miracle Movers Field

By Dave Giltner On September 20th, 2014 something great is going to happen here in Hendricks County… not just great but a miracle in fact. According to a recent press release from the Town of Plainfield, “Imagine a place where the playing field for special needs children is leveled, where everyone gets a chance to score,” said Clay Chafin, Plainfield’s Parks & Recreation Director. “Think about a game where everyone is on your side, where the cheers are the loudest and the smiles are brighter than ever. This will be the setting for the haves" and "like to haves" were, one softball league we’ll be offering this of the "like to haves" was a facility fall to players under 21 years of age.” or a field that had a synthetic surface on it that could accommodate We spoke with Clay and asked him kids of all abilities and allow them what the project was all about. He to participate in activities. When we said, “About 8 years ago… maybe started designing the complex, we even longer, when the Optimist ear-marked an area for a field such Club was operating two sports pro- as that. When we started putting grams out of Lovell Filed at the cor- together the funds, we realized that ner of Dan Jones and US 40, Duke that field would be a $750,000 field."

Energy [advised] them that they had He told us that they had the money sold the grounds to Meijer and that for the remainder of the complex so they would need to start looking for they focused their fundraising efa place to relocate their operations. forts in that direction. He noted also They came to the town of Plainfield. that those efforts were slowed by During those discussions, the idea the sluggishness of the economy. came up to partner with the Department of Corrections to use the What makes this successful endeavgrounds that facility is currently lo- or, a partnership between local govcated on. The understanding would ernment and a private group, most be that the town would resolve that exciting for the community? We the Parks and Recreation Depart- asked Clay and he said, “The comment would maintain and operate munity [has] never had a field of this it to a certain degree, but the Opti- ilk - one that would provide a recremist Club would pay a nominal fee ational outlet... The program will inito help offset some of the mainte- tially cater to those kids who need nance costs. They would continue walking assisted devices or have to offer the programs that they did other special needs. It is a program [previously]. When we sat down for them to be able to play soccer at with them and asked what the "must the same time that their peers are

playing (softball as well). It is just a really neat program that I think we've been lacking for many years.

This just provides that opportunity."

Not just in Plainfield, the program will draw from many areas including the rest of Hendricks County. Clay said, "We are going to have 80 spots available. We are going to open it up to anybody in Hendricks County, Boone County, Marion County, Hamilton County and we are going to try to target Plainfield North and Northeast... even to the West - Terre Haute, if there was someone out there that wanted to participate.

One of the things that we tried to take into consideration was the day that we offered the league and the time of day that we offered the league... It is not going to be convenient for everybody, but based on the recommendations we received, those were the days and times that typically were the most popular and would draw the biggest crowd."

from primarily local companies in Plainfield and in the county. They were able to raise about 1/3 of the money for the complex from those efforts. There were a number of major contributions including from the Department of Corrections for the land and infrastructure work from Duke Energy and for the complex itself from Mr. and Mrs. Al and Jan Barker. The field is a combination of individuals and foundation donations that funded that 1/3.

The Town of Plainfield states, “Visitors will find access in and out of the park convenient on US 40 and Vestal Road. An ample amount of parking is available to accommodate players, family members and friends.

The Al & Jan Barker Sports Complex is located at 451 South Vestal Drive, Plainfield. For details or additional information, contact Clay Chafin at 317-839-7665 or send an e-mail to cchafin@town.plainfield.in.us.”

Interested parties can find more information on the Miracle Movers website: http://optimistmiraclemovers.com/miracle movers-field-sof tball-league/

Players can be registered right According to Clay, a commit- on the site as well by going here: tee was formed initially to build http://optimistmiraclemovers. the complex that solicited funds com/athletes/player-registration/

Hendricks County Home

COMMUNITY

hendrickshome.com | August 2014

25

Nothing in Life is Free...

Except...Hugs?

On July 15, 2014 at around 9:00 in the evening, while driving north in Brownsburg on 267, something unusual caught our eye. A young man was standing on the side of the road holding up a sign offering, “Free Hugs.” That is just not something you see on the road very often. We had to investigate.

We stopped and spoke with Garret Dunbar and his grandmother, Betty Dunbar who had been supervising the effort. Garret said that he had been inspired to offer the free hugs and to stand there that evening with a sign.

Garret, a 10 year old Delaware Trail Elementary student, had been standing there for about an hour and in that time, he had some takers - including an officer with the Indiana State Police. He said that a friend had given him the idea.

“He got the idea off YouTube. I

might be doing it again later.” time my plane landed back in Sydney, all I had left was a carryon bag full of When asked about the motiva- clothes and a world of troubles. No one tion behind the offer for free hugs, to welcome me back, no place to call Garret told us, “You mean, spread- home. I was a tourist in my hometown. ing kindness? Because I feel great about it. It brightens [people’s] day. Standing there in the arrivals terJust a kid on the side of the road minal, watching other passengers with a sign that says ‘Free Hugs.’” He meeting their waiting friends and went on to tell us that he thought family, with open arms and smilit would spread because people ing faces, hugging and laughing towould go and tell the people that gether, I wanted someone out there they know. Turns out, he’s right. to be waiting for me. To be happy to see me. To smile at me. To hug me.

We did a little background research.

The Free Hugs Campaign was start- So I got some cardboard and a ed just over 10 years ago in June of marker and made a sign. I found the 2004 by an Australian man named busiest pedestrian intersection inthe Mann. According to Freehugscam- city and held that sign aloft, with paign.org, the official home of the the words "Free Hugs" on both sides.

Free Hugs Campaign, the story of how it started goes like this: And for 15 minutes, people just stared right through me. The first“I'd been living in London when person who stopped, tapped me my world turned upside down on the shoulder and told me how and I'd had to come home. By the her dog had just died that morn-

ing. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident.

How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling.

Everyone has problems and for sure mine haven't compared. But to see someone who was once frowning, smile even for a moment, is worth it every time.”

Garret Dunbar, for your efforts to make the world a better place and to bring a moment of joy into the lives of the people in your community, we sincerely thank applaud you. Betty Dunbar, for your diligent supervision and encouragement of compassion and community building, we thank and applaud your efforts as well.

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COMMUNITY

Hendricks County Home

Wheels Up Youth Center Life is too short to wait on the lottery anything. It could have been cancer. It could have been something really bad. This isn't great but it is not the worst. Life is too short to wait on the lottery." she told said.

Beth Crawford, Director of Wheels Up Youth Center and primary contact for the organization is someone with great zeal and a spirit of caring for kids in our community.

According to the website, “The goal of Wheels Up Youth Center, Inc. is to empower teens to be able to face life’s challenges through sports and other recreational activities that demonstrate their talents and build their confidence. With the support of the community and mentors, we will strive to impact the teens that are served by the youth center and encourage them in their interests to let them know we believe in them as the future of our community.”

"My youngest son is 14. He's the one that started with the idea. He's been bugging me and his dad for years about wanting to something about the BMX riders and skateboarders to get a skate park here. We have to take him, driving a half hour for an outdoor during the summer. We have to strap 3 bikes to the back of my car and drive him. He's always

been into the BMX tricks. I always thought, 'If I won the lottery, I would build these guys a fantastic skate park and a youth center - a great place for kids to hang out.' That's crazy. I'm never going to be able to do that but in November [2013], he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. He's insulin dependent and will be until they find a cure. That really changed how I thought about things. One day I was going one direction with a healthy kid. The next day, I am trying to figure out how he's going to adjust this big life change. His first question was, can I still ride BMX? Of course, I was like, 'Yes!' Now we are going to have to deal with the fact that you're going to have to take shots every day and you don't even like this needle that they [use.] But that was his question.

I realized that [BMX] is so important to him. I wanted him to know that he can do anything he wants. It just made me realize that when you sit there in an emergency room with your child and suddenly, it could be

She noticed a real need. She said, "I am just so passionate about the teens. I hear him tell me stories about 'this kid got kicked out of his house in the middle of the night (or) this kid doesn't know where his parents are.' They're out on the streets.

They seem to be more of an at risk group. We [his dad and I] are both very involved with him. He is in soccer so he's in some traditional sports but he really just loves BMX riding.

More kids continue to start riding.

It's not going away. The kids aren't going away. The police are tired of fussing with them. The businesses are tired of fussing with them. So, I think what I started to see is that the message was sent to the kids in general was, 'We don't want you.

You're a nuisance. Go away.' From the kid's point of view, this is their passion. What kid wants to be doing something when they are constantly told 'Go away! You don't matter!"? I just decided, regardless of the money, however this was going to work, I was going to try. I just though, as with everything in my life, I will go until I cannot go any more. I haven't hit that point yet.

We asked her how she was running the program and what their goals were. She said, “I had no real money to start with. I've used my own money for the legal parts. We are filing for our 501(c)3 status to be recognized as a charity which could take about a year to get that pro-

cess completed. I just started off by talking to and emailing people on the internet and ran by parks asking questions. They all said, 'Don't do it!

You'll never make money. You'll go under!' Somebody gave me a link to a group in Ft. Wayne that does run their bike park as a non-profit. I got a hold of them and that's when we decided we would go at this from a non-profit stance. I talked to people to find out why these businesses are failing. It is such a popular thing."

She said. She noted that she has two retired military people looking to work with the kids to mentor them. I have two BMX Pro's that are on board with it. It is either poor management or it is started by bikers and skateboarders so they don't really have the business knowledge to keep it going and they let all of their friends come in for free and then pretty soon it will have gone under. It has be be designed and put into a place that is set up for a bike and skate park. You have to have 20 foot ceilings. You can't go into an existing area. Most retail spaces do not have a high enough ceiling. It would have to be like a shipping doc or something. We wanted a free standing building. Half could be a bike park, anything with wheels that doesn't have motor.

The other half could be the youth center with the ping pong tables and some meeting rooms where youth oriented groups could meet."

For more information about Wheels Up Youth Center, visit their website at www.wheelsupyouthcenter.com or email them at wheelsupyouthcenter@gmail.com.

Hendricks County Home

LAWN & GARDEN

hendrickshome.com | August 2014

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Nature's Color Wheel Take cues from nature for your yard's palette

By April Westcott The rainbows in the sky and the path of light from the sun inspired the first ever color wheel created

by Sir Isaac Newton and A.H. Munsell who used colors of nature to explain theories of the light spectrum.

But how most of us are familiar with the color wheel is from grade school art class. We learned about the magic of the color wheel and how every color is derived from a basic six and their various hues and shades. We have always known that the primary colors are red, yellow and blue and the secondary colors are green, orange and purple. We learned that the complementary colors are the colors which are opposite of each other on the wheel.

(Red/Green Blue/Orange Yellow/ Purple) Artists and designers have used the color wheel at its various implementations as the root for basic art and design for centuries. At Christmas we find red and green prominently together. Yellow and purple are found together on a multitude of royal crests, sports team and school logos etc. But how often in landscape planning do homeowners and landscapers refer back to the color wheel for inspiration?

“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

wheel outside your home as well as in, you are able to create a balance in the landscape that is pleasing to the eye and creates a sense of uniformity, comfort and colorful impact.

Red and Green Nature uses red and green together often and many times in the same plant. Poinsettias, Winterberries, Hollies and roses are all examples of favorite plant species that are red and green. The leaves are as interesting as the flower in most cases which make them more interesting plant. The best use of use of this pair in the outdoor built environment is in the landscape around a red brick home. So often, I am asked by homeowners, “How do I match this red brick in my landscape?” The answer is that you don’t. You complement it instead.

The best way to accentuate a red brick home is with several varieties of interesting green plants. Evergreens, broad-leaf plants such as Viburnum, holly, hydrangea, hosta, and even a bright green grass lawn all provide a brick home the balance of textures and shades of green.

The advantage of choosing green plants is that so many of them are great foundation plants and will be green all year providing a platform and self-sustaining canvas for a home and a great backdrop for the addition of other seasonal colors.

Beyond the rainbow, nature has infinite examples of the use of complementary colors that create a balance in the landscape. The contrast of the orange sand on a beach to the blue sky above. The dark green leaves on a bright red daylily. It is this balance that Newton discovered in light and artists like Picasso and Van Gogh use to inspire some of the most bril- Yellow and Purple liant pieces of art. By using the color This is my favorite color combination

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LAWN & GARDEN

Hendricks County Home

in nature. They are both found in the very last moments of a perfect sunset. They are often found together other across the fields of wildflowers and forested areas. Indiana his rich in beautiful fields and varieties of yellow and purple plants that all seem to bloom at the same time. Daffodils with Crocus, Stella and Purple D’Oro Daylillies , Moonbeam Coreopsis with Lavender and Purple salvia, Redbud trees with Forsythia, and my favorite summer combination of Black-eyed Susan’s with Purple Coneflower.

One of the best advantages of this combination is that most are native and require very little maintenance or water and return every year . Yellow is such a brilliant color and in large quantity, it creates an amazing curb appeal without a need for variety or cost of exotic plants to create a beautiful clean grand entry. From the beginning of spring to the very end of fall, there are countless combinations of these two colors that can create a color balance Combining the Color Pairs in the landscape. Pick your favor- Just because you have chosen to folites and use them is mass quantity. low the color wheel, doesn’t mean that you can’t combine several pairings in one landscape. The combiBlue and Orange From space, these two colors com- nation of four colors that consist of plement each other. They are the two sets of complementary colors is colors of Earth and Water. They are called Tetradic Color Harmony. This the colors you see whenever the is a rich grouping that offers many sky meets the ground or the sand opportunities for variations. Allowmeets the ocean. Planning blues in ing one of the 4 colors dominate the landscape can seem intimidat- will make this planning work well. ing. Hardscapes provide multiple Yellow is a very common dominant opportunities. Brick patios next to color in the landscape and plays Blue Spruces or waterfalls against this role well. Pay close attention to the orange earth-tones of green the relationship between the warm county boulders are the perfect and the cool color palettes as well. matches. Many broad-leaf plants and evergreens have nice blue foli- Harmony is the best way to design age. Hostas, Spruces, Blue Star Ju- if you like every color in your landniper and Elijah Blue Fescue bril- scaping. The best way to approach liant blue color that complements this is to first choose the plants you an earth-tone hardscape. Orange love and the desired affect and

function of the landscape. Then taking those basic plants and listing their color and blooms time so that you can look for additional plants that will make those on your wish list stand out even more.

Resources: http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory

There is no denying that color in the landscape is a critical element and is the thing that catches our attention first most of the time. However it is important to not dwell on color alone and lose sight of other design basics such as form, function, shape, symmetry, smells, textures and plant requirements. With a balanced color design, there becomes and easiness on the eye and well as a welcoming sincerity for your visitors. Take the advice and examples of Mother Nature and Sir Isaac Newton and find the balance that best suits your style and environment.

http://www.naturephotographers. net/articles0113/ab0113-1.html

http://munsell.com/color-blog/sirisaac-newton-color-wheel/

April Westcott, ASLA, is an Avon mother of two and a landscape architect working as the Manager of Design and Specifications at Irrigation Design Source in Fishers.

She's a Member-At-Large and National Public Relations Rep for the Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects where she also serves as the Continuing Education Chair.

Question for April? Send them to us at editor@hendrickshome.com.

FAMILY

Hendricks County Home

Family Nature Club - Migration Where: Avon Outdoor Learning Center When: Sat, Sept 10th, 9:00-11:00 AM Who: Families How: Just show up Cost: Free For more info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Avon-Outdoor-Learning-Center/128428043852680

hendrickshome.com | August 2014

Recreation Celebration Where: Avon Washington Township Park When: Sat, Sept 6th, 9:00 AM Who: All Ages How: Just show up Cost: Free For more info: www.washingtontwpparks.org

For more information visit Big Day at Hummel Park Where: Hummel Park, Plainfield When: Sat, Sept 13th, 1:00 PM Who: All ages, movie is PG-13 How: Just show up Cost: Free, Cost for Food/Vendors For more info: http://www.hummelpark.net/park_ events

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Fair on the Square Where: Downtown Danville When: Sat, Sept 13th, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM Sun, Sept 14th, 10:00AM - 4:00 PM Who: All ages How: Just show up Cost: Free, Cost for Food/Vendors For more info: www.danvilletrikappa.org/fair-on-thesquare.html

hendricks.macaronikid.com

Quaker Day Festival Where: Al & Jan Barker Athletic Complex and Friends Meeting House Grounds When: Sat, Sept 19 thru Sun, Sept 21, Who: All Ages How: Just show up Cost: Free, Cost for Food/Vendors/Rides For more info: http://quakerdayfestival.weebly.com/

Avon Community Heritage Festival Where: Downtown Avon & Washington Township Park When: Sat, Sept 27th, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Who: All Ages How: Just show up Cost: Free, Cost for Vendors For more info: www.washingtontwpparks.org

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hendrickshome.com | August 2014

INTERIOR DESIGN

Hendricks County Home

5 Tricks to Make Small Spaces Feel Larger What to do with those smaller rooms in your home

In this Plainfield dining room, a large, solid wood dining table and sideboard anchors an otherwise normal sized dining room. To look at this room empty, you'd never think these pieces would fit, but utilizing the concept of fewer, larger pieces, along with using only key wall pieces, makes the room appear larger.

By J.D. Nesbitt Almost everybody has that one room in their home. That one room that's just a little too small and/ or too awkward to utilize properly.

under-utilize a small space because of furniture by utilizing pieces you don't see any other purpose. that serve multiple purposes. An upholstered ottoman can serve Here are five tricks you can as additional seating, a place use to take back those small to put up your feet and, with spaces in your own home. a tray, serve as a coffee table.

In my home, it's a spare bedroom. My house is over 100 years old and it was originally a guest bedroom. During that era, people weren't guests as frequently or for as long as they are today. As such, the guest bedroom wasn't designated very much space in the home, since it was rarely used.

1. Light-Colored Walls Keeping the paint colors on your walls light helps the walls visually recede. The lighter colors will also better help light bounce around the space and will better distribute any lighting in order to give the room an airier feel.

So, what do you do with these space? For my small space, I utilize it primarily as a storage room for all those extra items that don't have yet a place in the home. It's small enough to keep those extras from getting too out of control.

Many of you may do the same thing,

Some furniture manufacturers build-in lots of purposes for their pieces. Some coffee or sofa tables come with ottomans that store underneath to hide extra seating.

There are several ottomans that have removable tops to access storage for blankets or slippers and that have tops that you can flip With lighter walls, you can lay- over to use the built-in tray top. er in some darker colors in the form of a piece of furni- A large bookcase can serve as a tv ture, accessories or artwork. stand, but can also serve as storage for your books, or display for your favorite accessories or momentos.

2. Multipurpose Furniture In order to keep from crowding a small room with many pieces of Keep in mind what your needs furniture, cut down on the amount are in the space when furniture

shopping so you can be creative in the multiple uses a piece can serve.

3. Mirrors Like lighter colored walls, mirrors help refract light around the room.

In addition, mirrors help trick the eye into visually expanding the space, since you can see the room in a properly placed mirror, giving the illusion that there is more room beyond it.

Now, this doesn't mean you can just hang a small mirror on the wall and expect it to visually expand your space.

Try a large floor mirror leaned against the wall at the end of a hallway or at some other major juncture in your space.

Turn the mirrors into a piece of art by hanging a small grouping of mirrors along a large wall.

Another great solution is to

INTERIOR DESIGN

Hendricks County Home

In this Plainfield living man serves not only as

room, we utilized extra seating when

fewer, guests

larger seating pieces to anchor the edges come over, but with trays it also serves as

have mirror cut and mounted to the with glass, you've accomplished rear of a bookcase or built-in cabinet. the same goal. The same goes for end tables and even table lamps. I 4. Visually Lightweight Furniture love using glass table lamps in my Nothing blocks sight lines more designs. They don't even have to than furniture. A dark, wood ta- be clear glass. Using a smoked or ble can easily impede the visual colored glass works just as well. impact of the size of your room.

5. Fewer, Larger Pieces When possible, select furniture that Contrary to popular belief, usis visually lightweight. You can't ing large pieces in a small room easily change the fact that a sofa or is far better than filling a small other larger seating piece takes up a room with many, smaller pieclot of space. Instead, swap out your es of furniture. By utilizing largdining chairs for some ghost chairs, er pieces, the eye perceives the made of acrylic. Select a coffee or room as larger than it is actually. console table made of clear acrylic, or that has thin legs and top. The For instance, in a small bedroom, eye will disregard this lightweight a queen size bed will work if done furniture, making the space ap- correctly. By using a queen bed pear larger and with less pieces in it. and two night stands but forgoing a huge dresser, your brain will Not a fan of acrylic? No problem! By recognize the queen bed and then simply swapping out a heavy wood automatically perceive the room coffee table for one that it topped as large. This bedroom is a pretty

hendrickshome.com | August 2014

31

of the space. A large ottothe coffee table for the space.

good size if it has this queen there is never really a right or bed in it and I can still move wrong answer. You'll never know around. See how that works? if you don't try it. Expand your horizons and try out different furniSo, in a smaller space, making smart ture arrangements in your space. selections of a few, larger pieces Swap out accessories, lighting will get you a lot further visually and furniture from other areas of than filling the space with lots of your home. You just never know smaller pieces. Also, just because what may end up working better the room is small, doesn’t mean than you ever thought it would. you should place all your furniture on the perimeter walls. You may So, the next time you think that think that leaving all that space your spaces are too small and open in the center will increase the you’re beginning to feel claustrosize visually, but it won’t. It actu- phobic; try some of these tricks ally has the opposite effect. In fact, to get more use out of your small you should always try to bring your spaces as well as to make them apfurniture out away from the walls pear larger than they actually are! in any room, if possible. The only exception is bedrooms, as in most J.D. Nesbitt is the Co-Founder and cases you will want your head- Lead Interior Designer at Brownsboard to be placed against a wall. burg residential interior design firm, J.D. can be The key thing to always keep reached at (317)286-3521 or at in mind with design is that i n f o @ a e s t h e t e d e s i g n s . c o m .

Aesthete

Designs.

Find your path.

Come join us!

Credo Discussion 9:00 am Sunday Services 10:00 am Coffee & Conversation 11:15 am Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Hendricks County 95 North Jefferson Street Danville, IN 46122 (317) 745 - 9978

www.uucchc.org