Columbus Magazine | Spring 2018

Spring 2018 | VOL 7, ISSUE 1

A city in bloom

Becky Church and other experts will help your garden grow

goodwill» Foundation for Youth recreation» Fun in Brown County Taste» Derby party fare

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A non-profit, faith-based, financially secure community N AT I O N A L LY A C C R E D I T E D BY C A R F – C C A C EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

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contents

Spring 2018

44 Feature story

Foundation for Youth A welcoming place for all children

On the cover

Becky Church, photographed at Whipker’s Market & Greenhouse by Angela Jackson.

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Columbus Magazine

Advanced Cancer Care Has Never Been Better. Or Closer.

Seeing patients within 48 hours.

Oncology & Hematology Specialists, a Franciscan Physician Network practice, is providing services in Columbus.

Meghana Raghavendra, MD, Eric Rubenstein, MD and Alison LaFlower, ANP, are seeing patients daily at our downtown Columbus medical office building.

MEGHANA RAGHAVENDRA, MD

S. ERIC RUBENSTEIN, MD

ALISON LAFLOWER, ANP

Oncology & Hematology

Oncology & Hematology

Oncology & Hematology

123 2nd Street

I Columbus, IN 47201

Chemotherapy and a full range of infusion services are available to treat cancer and non-cancerous conditions. Patients will be seen within 48 hours – next day in most cases.

Appointment information

(855) 837-8831 FranciscanHealth.org/Columbus

COMPREHENSIVE HEART CARE Welcoming patients 5 days a week in Columbus

Board-certified cardiologists with Indiana Heart Physicians are providing comprehensive heart care in Columbus five days a week. They specialize in the diagnosis, management and treatment of heart and vascular disease, including: Arrhythmias Atrial Fibrillation Cardiomyopathy Cardio-Oncology Coronary Artery Disease Heart Failure

SOO H. PARK, MD

RYAN P. DALY, MD

DAVID O. KOVACICH, MD

SUNIL S. ADVANI, MD

JASON C. FLEMING, MD

I Columbus, IN 47201

High Cholesterol Peripheral Arterial Disease

Visit us in our new location: 4035 Mimosa Drive

Heart Valve Disease

Structural Heart Disease

FranciscanHealth.org/Columbus

Syncope

Appointment information

(800) 992-2081

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10 12 14 16 18

What do you think?

Events For what it’s worth Book Nook Trends

20 Host a Derby Party taste

24 Brown County is for recreation

Families

32 New Harmony Worth the Trip

38 Time to Grow Home

24

The Melchior Marionettes

Sun hat, $30. Boutique Elise

44 Foundation Goodwill

for Youth

in every issue

52 60

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our side of town The Big Picture

Columbus Magazine

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Spring 2018 | April 25, 2018 Volume 7, Issue 1

Publisher

AIM Media Indiana Chuck Wells

Editorial

Editor Paul Hoffman Copy Editor Katharine Smith

Henry Social Club is a unique culinary gem in the heart of Columbus, Indiana. Since opening in late 2014, the HSC staff, under the direction of owner and chef Gethin Thomas, have presented an exciting selection of large and small plate dishes, including steaks, homemade breads, pastas, salads, and desserts. The beverage program includes an extensive selection of ďŹ ne spirits, creative cocktails, and a world class wine selection.

With a warm, sleek interior, a private event space, and an open concept kitchen, Henry Social Club offers the kind of restaurant experience you would ďŹ nd in a large city, right in our hometown.

Designer Margo Wininger Contributors Rebecca Berfanger, Carla Clark, Sara Clifford, Ali Hendricks, Bud Herron, Angela Jackson, Sara McAninch, Jon Shoulders, Glenda Winders

Advertising

Advertising Art Director Amanda Waltz Advertising Design Dondra Brown, John Cole, Ashley Curry, Julie Daiker, Jessica Dell, Kassi Hattabaugh, Josh Meyer, Tina Ray, Robert Wilson Advertising Operations Manager Kathy Burnett Advertising Operations Coordinator Cat Cooper Account Executives Rhonda Day, Maranda Morgan, Cody Penrose

(812) 799-1371 | 423 Washington St. Dinner Hours: Opens at 5PM, Tuesday - Saturday Call us to schedule your next private event in our Clandestine Room.

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Columbus Magazine

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A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE!

Spring 2018 | April 25, 2018 Volume 7, Issue 1

Exceptional food Remarkable hospitality Incredibly fun Surprisingly beautiful Charming and affordable banquet rooms

Reader Services

Mailing Address P.O. Box 3011 Columbus, IN 47202 Advertising Inquiries (812) 379-5655 Story Ideas jelig@aimmediaindiana.com

St. Peter’s Lutheran School 155 years of providing Christian education to our community

Voices Please send letters to the address above or to ColumbusMag@therepublic.com.

Be sure to include your full name, city, state and phone number. Letters sent to Columbus magazine become the magazine’s property, and it owns the rights to their use. Columbus magazine reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length.

Back Issues To order back issues of Columbus magazine, please send $5 per issue (includes S&H) to the mailing address above or call (800) 435-5601. Please include the address to which your copies should be sent. PDF files are available for a fee of $20 per page and are permitted for personal use only.

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719 5th St., Columbus • 812-372-5266 Columbus Magazine

©2018 by AIM Media Indiana All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited.

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What Do You Think?

In each issue of Columbus, we ask local folks or visitors for their opinions on a variety of topics. This month’s question:

What’s the coolest thing about Columbus?

Compiled By Carla Clark

“I love that it is a friendly little community; everybody seems to be real pleasant. A lot of opportunities here as far as working. My income has increased tremendously from where I come from.

This seems to be a very pleasant place.”

“The infrastructure is very good, the roads how they have been constructed is very good, and it is a very calm place. Aadith Rajesh (child in photo) likes The Commons playground.”

— Meera Raman

— Robin Perkins

“The coolest thing about Columbus is it is rich in architecture.

It has a lot of famous buildings that were built by famous architects from around the country and the world.”

— Philip Forkert

“I like the old architecture, the old downtown.”

—Ron Smith

“I think the coolest thing about Columbus is that it is a small town that does not act like one. It acts like a town much bigger than what it is.

People are surprised when they come here.

I love the artwork, the outdoor art. My favorite is “Ancestral Way” on Third Street; my husband’s favorite is the lady, “Eos,” by the Cummins building and parking lot. We actually bought at auction a picture of it, and we have it in our house. It is cool that we had the chance to do the art symposium last year with all of the stuff around town that we could go in and experience.”

— Lori Thompson

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Columbus Magazine

“I like biking on the People Trail. Out by Haw Creek

by Rocky Ford there is a little nature area with a lot of trails; I like biking through there. It is a lot of fun. I also like how they are adding bike paths onto the roads. It’s a little bit interesting, but I think once people get used to it they will really like it.”

— Nathan Gibson

“It brings people together, with all the architecture stuff and Exhibit Columbus, too. I like that people have been coming to experience it. We have a sense of community. I think that is really cool.”

— Chloe Hundley

Celebrating 40 Years in Real Estate “In April 1978, I started building my real estate career on a Client First foundation. Since then, I’ve remained committed to making my clients my priority by investing time and resources in continued education, marketing and embracing changes that will better equip me as a real estate professional in the new millennium.” Jan

JAN BRINKMAN

812.371.3215 JBrinkman@C21BR.com

BREEDEN REALTORS www.JanBrinkman.com

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Events

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Painting the town Columbus Sunrise Rotary Plein Air Paintout launches in May

By Jon Shoulders

Take a stroll around Columbus on Mother’s Day weekend in May, and you’re likely to find many an artist stationed around town painting images of the city’s parks, streets and architecture on canvas out in the open air.

It won’t just be a coincidence. The Columbus Sunrise Rotary Club is officially launching its first plein air painting (from the French “en plein air,” meaning “outside” or “open air”) competition, which will run from Friday through Sunday and culminate with a gallery exhibition and awards ceremony dinner.

Bob Anderson, event co-chairman and owner of Stillframes Photography, feels the competition will provide a much-needed focus on local artists. He says Sunrise Rotary decided to launch the event not only to help fund the programs it supports but also to build on the city’s recent national exposure “Those attending the event on from the 2017 Sunday will have drama film “Coan opportunity to lumbus” and the mingle with the launch of the Exartists and get to know them and hibit Columbus why they chose art installations. what to paint in “Rotary was our community.” looking for a way — Priscilla Scalf to help support the arts in Columbus, not necessarily to just raise money but create an event that would provide exposure for artists themselves and allow them to put their work on display for everyone in the city,” says Anderson, adding that the event is also inspired by the successful inclusion of plein air painting at the 2015 and 2016 Columbus ArtFest.

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Columbus Magazine

Columbus Sunrise Rotary Plein Air Paintout

Ann Fahey, of Columbus, paints outdoors.

When: Artist time frame for plein air painting: 9 a.m. May 11 until noon May 13; gallery showcase: 3 to 6 p.m. May 13; awards ceremony and dinner: May 13.

Where: Factory 12 Event Loft, 1235 Jackson St. Artist registration deadline: April 30 “We really don’t have much in the way of galleries or two-dimensional art going on in the community, and this event is a way to help that along.”

After having their canvases time stamped by Anderson at Stillframes, registered artists can set up shop wherever they wish within the city limits on the event weekend. All artists are required to submit completed and framed paintings by noon on Sunday, prior to Sunday’s gallery showcase and awards dinner provided by Catering by Karr.

“We think it will be a fun way for people to get outside and even observe the artists while they work over the weekend,” Anderson says.

First-place honors comes with a $500 award, and second- and third-place awards are $300 and $200 respectively.

All paintings will be for sale. Proceeds from ticket sales, artist registration fees and commissions from the sale of the artwork will be allocated toward programs championed by Sunrise Rotary

members, such as Fill the Bus, which supplies local students with school supplies, and the annual CANstruction competition, which benefits Bartholomew County food banks.

“Those attending the event on Sunday will have an opportunity to mingle with the artists and get to know them and why they chose what to paint in our community,” says Priscilla Scalf, Rotary president and event co-organizer.

“Having the opportunity to see and purchase never-before-seen paintings of Columbus is something you won’t want to miss. Since it is Mother’s Day, it would certainly be a nice way to treat that special mom to dinner and buy her a nice piece of art.”

Contact information: (812) 372-0762 or banderson@ stillframes.com Jinsheng Song, of Florida, paints during ArtFest 2016.

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For what it’s worth

»

On my high horse

Hooves preferable to tires on any track

By Bud Herron

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Columbus Magazine

I like horses.

A statement such as that is near blasphemy in Columbus in April and May each year. Most of the good people who live here seem to spend these months in glorious anticipation of 33 screaming alleged-cars monotonously circling a 2.5-mile oval 43 miles to the north — spreading toxic exhaust fumes and destroying eardrums while thousands of people get drunk.

I prefer the event 78 miles south — where men in tailored suits and women in huge hats gather to watch 15 to 20 horses run 1.25 miles in front of thousands of people who have been there all day losing their money and getting drunk.

Still, the horses — no matter how many times they have failed me — are my passion. And while I cannot work the price of a Derby day ticket into my budget, I go to Churchill Downs three or four times a year to watch other races.

I love to study the Daily Racing Form, pick the winners and place a few dollars on each race. I maintain a strict, preset “loss limit” and keep $20 in the toe of my shoe in case I need gasoline to get home. This avoids bankruptcy and the expense of divorce proceedings.

In case you have now decided that I am addicted to gambling and need therapy, let me point out that I have no interest in one-armed bandits, Power Ball lottery tickets or Ponzi schemes that require me to convince people they can get rich by raising earthworms in their basements. As for poker, I don’t know a straight flush from a porta potty.

What I am addicted to is the pageantry, beauty, tradition and pace of horse racing. Unlike the Indianapolis 500, the Kentucky Derby offers fans a chance to figure out who is leading the race without updates from the public address system.

In fact, unlike at the Indianapolis 500, all the fans at the Derby can actually see the winner cross the finish line.

And then there is the drama of it all. Few sporting events can match the excitement of searching the racing form for a thoroughbred with just the right combination of breeding, speed and distance — going off at 20-to-1 odds in an obviously overrated field — and with a name like Lucky Sixty-Six, in a field of six, out of the sixth post position on the sixth day of the month.

Struck by the almost divine convergence of thorough research, alignment of

the planets and the intervention of fate, a friend checked his money clip, only to discover the losses of the day had left him with exactly sixty-six dollars. His heart pounded and his palms moistened as he put the whole kit and caboodle on Lucky Sixty-Six to win.

In a matter of minutes the public address announcer shouted, “And they’re off” in a deep baritone hum that made my friend’s knees weak. Lucky Sixty-Six broke from the gate and pounded to the front. Within seconds the long shot was out to a six-length lead.

That is what horse racing is all about: drama, excitement and anticipation that can never be matched by mechanical devices nonsensically circling a concrete oval. Give horse racing a chance. It is spring. Give the Kentucky Derby a try.

(Note: In the spirit of honesty and full disclosure, it should be noted that Lucky Sixty-Six finished sixth.)

Bud Herron, left, waiting for the horses at Churchill Downs.

Bud Herron is a writer and former editor and publisher for various newspapers and magazines in Indiana and Texas. A native of Hope, he retired in 2007 as group publisher for Home News Enterprises, the former owner of The Republic.

He and his wife, Ann, live in Columbus.

Columbus Magazine

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Book Nook

“Alternate Side”

by Anna Quindlen

“Look Alive Out There: Essays”

by Sloane Crosley

Random House (283 pages, $28)

MCD/FSG

» Anna Quindlen made her reputation as a keen observer of women’s lives (among other things) while an award-winning columnist for The New York Times. Her novels continue to reflect that skill. In “Alternate Side,” she tracks Nora Nolan at a pivotal time of life: children raised, mostly; career solid, mostly; marriage intact, mostly.

She loves New York City, even as it’s settled down, like the edgy girl in college “who showed up at the reunion with a blow-dried bob and a little black dress, her nose-piercing closed up as though it had never existed.”

But when a neighbor with anger issues beats the neighborhood’s Hispanic handyman with a golf club, the incident becomes a lever, prying open questions about truth and loyalty, stereotypes and ambitions, love and tepid coexistence. The plot here is less important than the character sketches.

Quindlen is at her best in the regular exchanges between Nolan, who oversees the popular but artistically disregarded Museum of Jewelry, and a not-really-homeless man who nonetheless begs on its steps. They charge each other with inauthenticity, and their rationalizations illustrate how life can be made easier or more difficult depending upon how much you really care. We know Nora cares, because we are meant to identify with her. We care, right?

So her difficulties ring true. How she sorts them out is both curious and, ultimately, affirming.

Mostly.

» Established writer and best-selling author Sloane Crosley is back with a second book of essays. Ten years after the debut of “I Was Told There’d Be Cake,” Crosley delivers 16 new stories with her trademark sense of humor and wit.

“Look Alive Out There” is a book about accepting whatever life may throw your way.

Through personal anecdotes, Crosley invites readers to first laugh at her extenuating circumstances and then join her as the crazy, unimaginable details unfold. We trudge through the tales of an obnoxious teenage neighbor in New York and a mountain climbing trip gone terribly wrong in Ecuador. Readers follow along as Crosley interviews her ‘70s porn-star uncle, learns to navigate vertigo and addresses the ailments of an epileptic dog.

Although the book is peppered with a variety of essay lengths and topics, one thing remains true: Crosley’s voice is original, sophisticated and full of humor. Look no further than the stories about the British man who stole her website identity or the hippie couple who invited her to participate in amorous activities. Through all of these outlandish ordeals, it’s plain to see why Crosley has been compared to both Nora Ephron and David Sedaris.

“Look Alive Out There” is a delightful collection of hilarious essays that manage, in some cases, to point to relatable life lessons. It’s equally smart, creative and hilarious. Crosley teaches readers not to sweat the small stuff in life. Hold things loosely, crash the shiva, be true to yourself and laugh accordingly.

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Associated Press

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Columbus Magazine

“Bizarre Romance”

by Audrey Niffenegger and Eddie Campbell

“Every Note Played”

by Lisa Genova

Abrams ComicArts (158 pages, $24.99)

Scout Press (320 pages, $26)

» In these 13 stories of love, disappointment, loyalty and magic, Audrey Niffenegger (“The Time Traveler’s Wife”) and her husband, cartoonist Eddie Campbell (“From Hell”), give us an attic infested with angels, a suspicious wife, some dead cats and (of course) some time travelers.

All of these characters are looking for love, though not always of the romantic kind (despite the title). Niffenegger has a weird and fertile imagination, which makes these tales absolutely delightful. Despite the fantastic circumstances and the otherworldly characters, each story focuses on the vulnerability, desires and humanity of her characters (even the dead ones).

Some of these quirky stories are written as prose pieces, with illustrations. Most are comic strips, though, and Campbell’s brilliant illustrations range from whimsical to funny to realistic.

The illustrations and the words complement each other nicely. These stories remind us of how powerful and unsettling — and, yes, sometimes bizarre — love is.

» Richard Evans is a classical piano virtuoso, but not much of a husband or dad. That’s fine with him as long as he can perform for audiences worldwide. But then his body betrays him. What starts as occasional weakness in his fingers is diagnosed as ALS, a degenerative disease that will shut down his body bit by mortifying bit.

The man who needed no one is going to need help with everything.

Lisa Genova, the neuroscientist and author who riveted audiences with her tale of early onset dementia in “Still Alice,” delivers another gripping journey through a dread disease in “Every Note Played.” This time she trains her masterful storytelling skills on ALS as it plays out in a fractured family.

When denial no longer works, Richard is forced to move in with a most unlikely caregiver: his ex-wife, Karina, a thwarted jazz pianist with a trove of blame banked from years of marital discord. Between his infidelities and her deceits, the former family home is a hothouse for resentment.

Genova continues to refine her niche of using fiction to describe the scientific and emotional impact of disease on the stricken person and their caregivers. This time she enriches the medical story with the power of music, capturing in words what sound feels like.

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Columbus Magazine

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trends

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Mom Approved Check out these fun gifts for Mother’s Day on May 13.

By Ali Hendricks

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Handmade, All Natural Truffles with Custom Gift Boxes Available, $2.95 each. Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories, 433 Washington St., Simply Southern T-Shirt, $24. Lockett’s Ladies’ Shop, 426 Washington St. Vinrellas — Wine Bottle Umbrella, $25. Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories Light Blue Floral Embroidery Dress, $48.

Boutique Elise, 408 Washington St. Gorjana 14k Gold Dagger Studs, $35.

Minash Boutique, 915 Washington St. Lip Gloss, $15. garb2ART Cosmetics, 1516 Central Ave. Lollia Hand Lotion Set, $46. Lockett’s Ladies’ Shop Pea Pod Necklaces in Varying Sizes, $92 and up. Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories Wanderlux Kimono, $59; Z Supply Tank, $38; Gorjana 14k Dainty Stone Pendant Necklace, $50. Minash Boutique Bath Bomb, $6. garb2ART Cosmetics Vintage Havana Mules, $38. Minash Boutique Insulated Wine Glass, $16. Boutique Elise

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Taste

And they’re off!

T

Host a Kentucky Derby party at your old Indiana home

by Sara McAninch

The first Saturday in May every year may not be all that special to some, but to others it’s the day of a heart-pounding, two-minute, 1¼ -mile, 20 horse race called the Kentucky Derby. The first of three races in the coveted but rare Triple Crown, the Derby is more than a mere race: It’s tradition wrapped up in a garland of roses, decorated hats, mint juleps and an opportunity to socialize.

Held every year at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, the Derby draws a crowd of more than 150,000 people. Many more watch remotely and celebrate in a variety of ways.

“It’s really exciting, and it’s visually very appealing with the hats and the fashion, and the long tradition of foods and drinks. It’s a really good party,” says Amy Holmes, director of operations at Henry Social Club.

If you can’t make it to Churchill Downs but you still want to engage in the festivities, here’s what you need to host the ultimate Derby get-together.

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Columbus Magazine

Equine Decor Creating the atmosphere for your perfect party starts with horses and red roses. Both are symbols of the Derby and should be included somehow.

Cassie Stolze, outside event sales specialist at Harrison Lake Country Club, uses horse head statues at the club’s annual members-only Derby Day party. If statues aren’t to your taste or if you can’t get your hands on some, consider purchasing some racehorse cutouts, horseshoe confetti or plastic horse miniatures to add some whimsy to your gathering.

The Derby’s winning horse is awarded, among other things, a garland of more than 400 red roses. It includes “the seal of the Commonwealth on one end and the Twin Spires and number of the race’s current renewal on the other,” according to the Kentucky Derby’s official website. The red rose became the official flower of the Derby in 1904, and it has been a mainstay ever since.

To add red roses to your already equine-themed shindig, Holmes recommends incorporating individual vases along with some fresh greenery and maybe other flowers. “If you’re looking for a centerpiece for your buffet or something like that, a bouquet of roses can be really expensive,” she says.

Oh those accoutrements!

The attire at the Kentucky Derby is one of the most critical elements to get right.

Fashionable dresses, bow ties and decorated hats abound both on the racetrack and off, and your party should be no exception.

Acceptable women’s attire ranges from sundresses to cocktail dresses and more formal day suits. Southern belle inspired hats, complete with wide brims, are a must. While there are no rules around the type or what it’s decorated with, a hat must be worn indoors and out. Typical adornments include feathers, fake flowers, pearls and even eccentric themes.

For 2018 the hot headpiece is a fascinator: a hat alternative with a decorative design typically attached with a band or a clip. Whatever your female party guests’ style, the word “optional” should not be included in the invitation when you mention wearing a hat.

Men’s fashion can also include hats, although they tend to veer more toward a 1920s’ style bowler hat or fedora. Men should also wear slacks or khakis, a button-down shirt and a blazer of some sort. To round out the outfit, a tie or bow

tie should be worn. Shirt and tie styles can vary from plain to patterned depending on the individual’s taste, but make sure your male guests know to dress for the occasion.

Spirited Games If you really want to get your guests into a party mood, set up some interactive party games. Wagering games – whether for money, candy or bragging rights – are the most common for a Derby party. The official website has some suggestions, such as the Derby Hat Draw and Lucky Longshots, and it includes instructions on how to play them.

Columbus Magazine

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taste

Hat making is a fun way to get your guests engaged if you want to host a little pre-Derby gathering. Stolze recommends having a few cocktails ready to sip while decorating the fashion centerpieces.

Holmes advises that you should set up a hat-making station.

“If you are crafty, or if your friends are crafty, you don’t need to go spend a couple hundred bucks on a fascinator or anything like that. You can go to a local craft store and pick up fake flowers or whatever and create your own,” she says.

If you want to bring together the wagering and hat-making portions of your party, consider having a hat competition.

Ah, the Food Most likely your guests will be mingling before, during and after the race so you should serve foods that can be eaten in one or two bites and aren’t hard to carry.

“I would recommend doing small things because people walking around aren’t going to want to carry a large plate. Finger foods are absolutely the right way to go,” says Stolze.

For its party, the country club serves hors d’oeuvres, shrimp cocktail, bruschetta and meatballs with mozzarella cheese and homemade marinara. Other ideas for at-home party foods include small finger sandwiches, like grilled cheese cut into triangles, soup shots, cupcakes, mini desserts and sliders.

Holmes recommends some twists on the traditional party finger food: Kentucky hot brown sandwiches, fried chicken biscuit sliders with bourbon honey butter, pimiento cheese straws, vinegar slaw and “bourbon in everything, especially desserts,” such as bourbon balls and bourbon pecan pie.

“You want to have finger foods, wa-

tercress finger sandwiches, things that are easy to eat in one or two bites. The race is really fast. You’re going to want to be able to circulate with your cocktail and your appetizers in the other hand,” Holmes says.

A Julep, of Course The Woodford Reserve mint julep is the signature cocktail of the Derby, and in the

When

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Columbus Magazine

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week leading up to the race Henry Social Club offers it as one of its $11 signature cocktails. Served in a copper mug to keep the beverage ice cold, it consists of muddled fresh mint, squeezed lime juice, homemade simple syrup, Woodford Reserve bourbon and crushed ice.

For an at-home Derby party, Holmes says it’s fashionable to have a signature concoction. She recommends serving it as a punch so guests can help themselves. She also suggests making a homemade ice ring to keep the punch cold throughout the party. “Use a Bundt cake pan and make the ice ring, and put fruits, mint, herbs, dill, whatever looks pretty in there,” she says.

Stolze recommends keeping the cocktail offerings to no more than five and to serve at least one fun drink. For previous Derby parties, Harrison Lake’s unique cocktails have included things such as

peach or bacon-infused bourbon.

Another cocktail option is the Finlandia Oaks Lily. The drink was introduced in 2006 at the Kentucky Oaks, a race for 3-year-old fillies held the day before the Derby, and it quickly became the traditional drink of that race. It consists of Finlandia vodka, sweet-and-sour mix, Triple Sec and cranberry juice. Like its bourbon-based counterparts so often served at the Derby, the Lily can be made in batches ahead of time.

If you have guests who want a non-alcoholic option, consider serving pitchers of sweetened and unsweetened tea, water and lemonade.

Regardless of the food, fashion or games at your party, remember you’re there to have fun. For the two minutes of the race, it’s all about the horses, but the rest of the day is for smelling the roses and having a cocktail or two.

Finlandia Oaks Lily The official drink of the Kentucky Oaks Ingredients

1 ¼ ounces Finlandia Vodka 1 ounce sweet and sour mix ¼ ounce Triple Sec 3 ounces cranberry juice Preparation

Once the ingredients are mixed, place the pinkish cocktail in a stemless wine glass with crushed ice, add a straw and garnish with a blackberry and lemon wedge.

Helping People Carry the Load

TR-32030637

5555 Inwood Dr. Columbus, IN 47201 www.toyotaforklift.com

Columbus Magazine

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Recreation

Let your kids take the Reins Entertainment options for families abound in Brown County

By Sara Clifford

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Columbus Magazine

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Recreation

Are you and your family ready to get out of town but not go all that far? Nashville’s plentiful shopping might not appeal to all ages, but how about swimming?

What about riding a train, or a horse, or looking for treasure?

These are some of the activities your children might enjoy. Bonus: Some of them are free.

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DEER RUN PARK

This is Brown County’s headquarters for youth sports. Here you’ll find baseball/ softball fields, soccer fields, a basketball court, archery range, playground equipment, a shelter house and lots of room to run around and burn off energy. Bring your own ball. From the downtown stoplight (by the leaf sculpture), head west on Main Street, which becomes Helmsburg Road. Just a half-mile from the center of town, turn left at the sign for St. Agnes Catholic Church, and just over the hill is the park.

SALT CREEK TRAIL

This three-quarter-mile-long trail connects the Brown County YMCA and downtown Nashville via a quiet, paved walk along Salt Creek. Bikes, scooters, strollers and skaters are welcome here.

Park for free at the YMCA. There are picnic tables and benches along the way, too.

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CHAINSAW CARVING

Chris Trotter isn’t your typical artist. His instrument of choice is loud and potentially dangerous, but in his hands, a chainsaw is like a magic wand. Visit the alley behind the Brown County Playhouse to watch him turn a tree trunk into a bear or other such creature.

HISTORY CENTER

This building on East Gould Street is the place to go to learn how adults and kids lived long before iPads and “Minecraft” and free time even existed.

PIONEER VILLAGE

Continue your walk through history across the street from the History Center, at the Pioneer Village. The complex includes a log jail, doctor’s office, schoolhouse and other buildings that display what life was like for Hoosiers back in the day.

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SWIMMING

The price of gate admission will get you into Brown County State Park, and for a little bit more per person, you can enjoy the sun-heated outdoor waters of the park’s pool, just inside the north entrance on State Road 46 East. The Brown County YMCA has an indoor pool, and you can get a guest pass to use the facility.

PLAYGROUNDS

Once you’re inside the state park, you can take your pick of five playgrounds, plus one inside the campground. The ones near the Saddle Barn (north gate) and at Strahl Lake (near the Horsemen’s Camp) offer a variety of obstacles for older children, with high slides, shaking bridges and forts built out of giant railroad ties.

(They’ll hold moms and dads, too.)

MOUNTAIN BIKING AND HIKING

You can’t visit Brown County without hitting a trail somewhere. Pick up a trail map at the west or north gates of the state park. Each route is rated for difficulty, so you can predict the likelihood of having to give a piggy-back ride halfway through. If you brought your bikes, an older child or experienced mountain biker will enjoy the trail system that starts in the parking lot just inside the north gate.

Explore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat, on Valley Branch Road, also has bike trails.

FISHING

The price of state park admission also gives you access to two large lakes, Strahl and Ogle. Both have dams on which you can pull up a couple of chairs and relax.

Bring your own pole and bait.

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SWEETS

There’s an ice cream shop on nearly every street in downtown Nashville, not to mention the fudge shops, the Carmel Corn Cottage and a couple of candy stores. You might want to make these your last stops to time the sugar crash to coincide with the drive back home.

NASHVILLE TRAIN

If you have a child between the ages of approximately 2 and 10, good luck trying to leave town without riding the Nashville Express. This “train,” complete with an engineer-cap-wearing conductor, drives around downtown for 2.5 miles, pointing out all the must-see sights. The train boards at Fearrin’s ice cream shop/depot on East Franklin Street.

MARIONETTE THEATER

On Van Buren Street is a small, outdoor stage that’s been delighting children since 1983. The Melchior Marionette Theater puts on multiple shows per day in the summer and fall featuring handcrafted, half-life-sized characters.

GOLD PANNING

Take a drive in the country to seek your fortune. The Gatesville Country Store offers gold panning in Salt Creek, which runs beside it. You can rent all the equipment you’ll need to look for gold, for the entire day if you wish. The store is 9 miles from downtown Nashville at 4545 Salt Creek Road.

GEOCACHING

Have you ever been on a hunt for buried treasure? Several “caches” are hidden all around Brown County. Go to geocaching. com to get GPS directions to each one.

And though what you find inside might just be a plastic Army guy or a hair tie, isn’t searching for it the most fun part anyway? If you don’t have a handheld GPS unit, Rawhide Ranch, on State Road 135 South, rents them.

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GEM MINE

Real treasures can be found in downtown Nashville at the Copperhead Creek Gem Mining Co., in front of the Iris Garden Gallery on Van Buren Street. Buy a bag of “rough” from a real mine and use the water-powered sluice to sift through it for actual gems and minerals.

WATER PARK

A huge indoor waterslide, a lazy river, a whirlpool and water volleyball — that’s all inside the Abe Martin Lodge’s aquatic center. Preference for using it goes to overnight guests of the lodge, but if space is available, armbands are sold for other visitors. Call the lodge ahead of time to make sure you can get in.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Not a fan of hiking? You can still enjoy the trails of Brown County. The Saddle Barn, in Brown County State Park, Rawhide Ranch, on State Road 135 South, and Grandpa Jeff ’s Trail Rides, just outside Brown County on Skinner Road, offer parent-assisted pony rides to kids younger than 7 and trail rides to kids 7 and old-

er. Schooner Valley Stables, on State Road 46 West, and Grandpa Jeff ’s allow young children to double-ride on trails with their parents.

Maximum weight restrictions apply.

ZIP LINING

Two businesses offer zip lining in Brown County: eXplore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat, 8.5 miles from downtown Nashville, and Holler Hoppin’ Ziplines at Rawhide Ranch, 4.5 miles from downtown. Most of the Holler Hoppin’ lines start and end on the ground, strung over ravines; eXplore BC offers more of a treetop canopy tour. Minimum age/weight restrictions apply. You can even zip in the dark, if you wish.

PAINTBALL

Nothing says “family vacation” quite like engaging in a war together. Explore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat

has more than 80 acres of paintball fields, including wooded areas, obstacles and structured game scenarios. Call ahead for hours and pricing; available times and costs vary depending on the day, how many in your group and what kind of equipment you need to rent.

INDIANA RAPTOR CENTER

Just west of Nashville, you can meet and photograph live birds of prey. Tours by appointment only.

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Worth the Trip

New Harmony Inn guest house

Utopia, Hoosier-Style New Harmony has a peaceful past and present

By Glenda Winders

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Photos provided by Visit Posey County, Inc,

Griffin Cemetery

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Worth the Trip

historic past,” says Lynn Clark, president of the New Harmony Business Association and owner of Lowry Hollow, an antique store housed in the historic train depot.

“Sara’s Harmony Way Wine Bar and Pub serves the Rappite recipe for Harmonie Bier, and Firehouse Antiques is housed in the old historic firehouse. In a town of approximately 850 people it takes everyone to help connect the history of the past with the living events of today.”

A look back

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Carol’s Garden

A stone bench in New Harmony bears the inscription, “If we cannot reconcile all opinions, let us endeavor to unite all hearts.” The author of the quote was Robert Owen, who in 1825 was the second person to attempt establishing a utopian community on the idyllic banks of the Wabash River. His experiment failed, but his influence remains, and today his bench and the sentiment behind it provide the perfect place to begin exploring this fascinating town.

History-rich New Harmony, located in southwest Indiana’s Posey County, is an excellent spot for a weekend getaway or a longer stay. And the shops, galleries and restaurants that embrace and celebrate the town’s storied past make the visit just that much more fun.

“Many of the businesses are housed in historic New Harmony Inn buildings, and we all take pride in New Harmony’s

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First a little history to get you into the local spirit: George Rapp and a group of German Lutherans who called themselves “Harmonists” or “Rappites” were the first to settle the town. They hoped to find the isolation that had eluded them at their first home in Pittsburgh. They built an orderly town and set up a successful economy with mills, factories and breweries, but after a decade they returned to Pennsylvania to be closer to other German-speaking people.

Rapp sold the town to Owen, a wealthy Scottish industrialist who had made his fortune in textiles. Owen envisioned a “new moral world” based on social reform and happiness achieved through

equality and enlightenment, science and technology. The ideals were lofty, but individualism soon replaced socialism, and the experiment failed after two years.

Fast-forward to 1941, when Jane Blaffer Owen, the wife of Robert’s greatgreat-grandson, Kenneth, visited New Harmony and fell in love with it. She pledged to restore the town to its original glory, and her effort was a success. Many of today’s must-see spots are the results of her ideas and commissions.

It seems the town’s original goal, that of isolation, was met: At the time of the 2010 census, New Harmony boasted a population of 789.

In the present

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When visiting, the logical first stop is the Athenaeum, a sweeping white modern building designed by architect Richard Meier, whose designs also include Clifty Creek Elementary School in Columbus and the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

You’ll find a museum, as well as the visitors center, where the walking tours begin. These two-hour tours will bring the community’s utopian past to life and begin at 1 p.m. daily.

During the tour you’ll see some of the original buildings, such as a house built

by Robert Owen and rented to some of his followers; Community House No. 2, a dormitory where single Harmonists lived and which Owen later converted into business space; and the home of Harmonist David Lenz and his family, among others. You’ll visit Harmonist-built Thrall’s Opera House and the Harmonist Cemetery and go for a stroll through the Harmonist Labyrinth, a 1939 re-creation of the original.

Some of these attractions are free and available to see on your own, though not the buildings. Other sites to see independently are the Cathedral Labyrinth, which duplicates the one at the 13th-century Chartres Cathedral near Paris; Church Park, built on the site of two Harmonist churches; Carol’s Garden and Fountain of Life, created as a memorial

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Save some time to browse in the town’s other art galleries, some of which spotlight local, Indiana and Midwestern artists, such as the Hoosier Salon and the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art. There’s also the Women’s Institute and Gallery, so named because of New Harmony’s early efforts toward women’s suffrage.

The Antique Doll Shoppe is a museum filled with dolls and related objects.

Fresh air and fresh shopping

New Harmony

to Jane and Kenneth’s daughter; and Our Lord’s Wood, where the art- and poetry-lined path leads across a turquoise bridge and to a waterfall.

Make sure to visit the Roofless Church, designed for Jane Owen by another famous architect, Philip Johnson. The idea was that the only roof big enough to cover a world full of worshippers was the sky; the “church” is a park enclosed by a brick wall. At one end is a bronze sculpture by Jacques Lipchitz titled “The Descent of the Holy Spirit.” Covered by the cedar dome the sculpture has become a New Harmony icon.

Before you return to the present for more modern shopping and dining, you might want to check out the Working Men’s Institute, which was established

by William Maclure, a business partner of Robert Owen who shared his vision that knowledge should be available to everyone. This functioning library — the oldest continuously operating one in Indiana — also houses rare books, papers 36

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and artifacts, such as a letter from Robert Owen to Abraham Lincoln. The 1894 Victorian Romanesque Revival building also houses traditional and contemporary art galleries.

The Red Geranium

New Harmony is also a perfect destination for anyone seeking outdoor fun, with its miles of riverfront and wooded trails as well as its state and city parks.

Thanks to its proximity to the Wabash, boating, canoeing and fishing are all available, as are golf, tennis and horseback riding. You might want to finish your day with a massage or scrub at the Moon River Spa in the New Harmony Inn, but be sure to call ahead for an appointment.

As you might guess, New Harmony shopping is heavy on antiques. In addition to Lowry Hollow and Firehouse Antiques are the Antique Emporium; Cookie Jar Antiques, where many dealers display their wide variety of offerings; and The Mews, which carries items rang-

ing from antiques to current fashions.

For unusual gift items and fun places to browse, visit Arbor House and Garden, the New Harmony Soap Co. and Creation Station, where if you can’t find what you want they’ll make every attempt to create it for you. The Golden Rose, named for the symbol of the Harmonists, is the place for fresh and silk flowers as well as chocolates and gifts.

Several of these businesses are closed on Wednesdays, so plan accordingly if you’re coming to shop.

The Red Geranium, also part of the New Harmony Inn, has long been a favorite of visitors for fine dining, so when you’re ready for a meal, be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or brunch, you might want to give it a try. The three dining rooms range from casual to elegant, and the menu features American food with Midwestern favorites.

Other good places to eat are Mary Scott’s Kitchen for Southern, Cajun and Mexican dishes; the Yellow Tavern for burgers, pizzas, tenderloins and their signature bread pudding; and Main Café for family-style dining and good pie.

At day’s end there are plenty of places to lay your head, and most of them abound in character. The New Harmony Inn Resort and Conference Center is one popular choice. The A.C. Thomas House Bed and Breakfast Inn features luxurious accommodations in a Victorian home, and Cooks on Brewery Bed and Breakfast offers locally sourced breakfasts and complimentary bicycles. Or rent The Loft on Main, which bills itself as a “home away from home” and is an apartment that sleeps four.

And that’s just a start. For more places to explore, eat and stay and for the many festivals to which New Harmony is host, check out visitposeycounty.com.

“New Harmony is the perfect place to get away to relax, refresh and renew,” says Kari Mobley, executive director of Visit New Harmony. “Our one-of-a-kind arts and architecture and beautiful scenery will leave you feeling enlightened.”

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exterior motives 38

Columbus Magazine

Landscape professionals offer advice for growing endeavors

By Jon Shoulders

Columbus Magazine

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Home

Becky Church, photographed at Whipker’s Market and Greenhouse. Opposite page, Church plants and cares for containers in downtown Columbus.

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If you’ve ever despaired of attaining a colorful landscape and bountiful garden without spending a fortune, you’re probably not alone. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do on your own to achieve those gardening goals without breaking the bank or your back. Grab your gloves and get growing with these tips from a few local plant pros.

Lush Landscapes Alicia Barbour, landscaping coordinator for The Yard Barbours Inc. in Elizabethtown, says a two-pronged approach can go a long way in do-it-yourself home landscaping projects — namely, keep it simple but have a fairly concrete plan before you start digging.

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“Oftentimes I hear homeowners talk about how they ‘just want something,’ so they clean their beds and head for the hardware store,” Barbour says. “As hardware stores generally sell what is in bloom at a given time, this often results in a mess come the following season. Without a thorough plan, this approach will lead to a one-hit wonder in your landscape and leave it lacking year-round appeal.”

When planting your shrubs, hedges and small trees, keep in mind the plants’ dimensions at maturity and the time it will take to reach their full sizes, which will prevent space issues and obstacles to growth.

“A seasonal approach is important to sustain a landscape investment,” Barbour adds.

“Winter color is important for our area, as very little will be in our landscapes come winter. Evergreens are important for this, and consider plants with interesting trunk structure. Overall shape and size can make the difference in the dormant season.”

Barbour has seen a recent increase in the residential repurposing and upcycling of indoor and outdoor objects for landscape enhancement, and she says a few well-worn, well-chosen items can help to spruce up any garden in need of personality — anything from chairs to ladders to boots. If an indoor item finds its way to your flower bed, coat it with water sealant to extend outdoor life.

Flourish with Flowers A little research online and at the nearest nursery or hardware store can help determine which flowers are best suited for your yard’s sunny and shady spots. Becky Church has been overseeing the flower pots and hanging baskets that line several downtown Columbus streets for the last 10 years, and she says lantana, petunias, geraniums, angelonia and salvia work well for sunny locations while impatiens, coleus, begonias, snapdragon, lobelias and fuchsias are great shade performers.

“I would suggest starting out with a couPhoto by Angela jackson

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ple of flower pots that hold a good amount of soil so you’re not watering all the time, and choose plants that do not require a lot of tending to,” Church says. “For example, begonias, petunias, geraniums and lantana — these are great plants for beginners.”

Church recommends the thriller (tall vertical plants), filler (plants that stay compact) and spiller (plants that trail over their pots) method to add variety and says while bed planting can be enjoyable for anyone willing to bend and crouch for an extended time, pots offer plenty of visibility for neighbors and passersby, and provide an option for those who have trouble working at ground level for prolonged periods.

Weigh the pros and cons: Pots require more water and trimming, and tend to dry out quicker than beds, while beds require more weeding.

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“If you are new to gardening and flowers, start out small so your chances of success are greater,” Church says. “Talk to friends and family that garden so they can share some of their success stories and help you to choose plants for your home or space.”

Veggies and Fruits and Herbs, Oh My When getting your flowers, evergreens and box hedges established, why not start growing some veggies and herbs while you’re at it? Put together a simple raised bed, which can be fashioned with unused fencing or wood planks from your nearest hardware shop, and you might be surprised at what you can get growing right outside your back door. Try leafy greens, radishes, strawberries and spring onions,

all of which are relatively hassle-free, as are chives, cilantro, rosemary and thyme in the herb category.

If your ground is simply unsuitable for growing veggies and you don’t feel like starting a raised bed, Doug Whipker of Whipker’s Market and Greenhouse offers a simple and cost-effective solution.

“Choose an area along the back of your fence, buy some bags of topsoil, lay them flat and cut the top open, and plant your plants right into the bag,” he says. “It works fine, and you don’t have to worry about sandy or clay ground for what you’re growing.”

Ultra-tight on space? Tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms and micro-greens, which come from the seeds of a variety of plants like mustard greens and Swiss chard, all typically grow well in pots

outside and even on your windowsill.

Also consider a trellis system, through which you can make efficient use of vertical space with veggies like cucumbers, tomatoes and peas.

For more on container and raised-bed gardening, visit extension.purdue.edu/new/ ho-200.pdf.

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Consider Composting The key to any thriving lawn or garden lies in its soil, and the healthiest, most productive soils need plenty of organic matter to flourish. You can jumpstart that process by collecting unused food material for your own compost, from vegetable parings and tea leaves to fruit peels, egg shells and coffee grounds. Save a few bucks by constructing your own compost bin from unused fencing, cinder blocks or wooden pallets (see URL below for pointers).

Keeping a container on the kitchen counter makes it easy to capture unused food material; just avoid meats and fats.

In the yard, pulled weeds can go into your compost, as well as tender prunings and spent garden plants. Kris Medic, Bartholomew County Purdue Extension educator, says finished compost will look and smell like soil, and it’s normal to have a few undecomposed items around the edges.

Leave those in the pile for the next round.

“A compost pile is powered by live decomposers,” she says, adding that piles and bins should be watered at about the same rate as a garden. “New piles do better if they are inoculated with microbes from an existing, healthy pile. Get a shovel or bucket full of finished compost from a friend or neighbor. Starter microbes are available commercially, but they don’t come with over-the-fence conversation and relationship building in the neighborhood.”

For more on building a homemade compost bin, visit www.therockpile.com/ wp-content/uploads/2010/01/OhioStateFact-Composting.pdf.

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Goodwill

Forever young 90-year-old Foundation For Youth continues to support generations of children in Columbus

By Rebecca Berfanger Photography by Ali Hendricks

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Goodwill

Many people who spent their childhoods in Columbus or who have lived in Columbus with school-age children, have had some affiliation with the programs of Foundation For Youth, also known as FFY, celebrating its 90th year in 2018.

But they might not have memorized FFY’s mission: “Inspire and Enable Our Youth, Our Community.”

The opportunities have existed and continue to exist regardless of socio-economic status, geographic location or aca-

Chuck Kime

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demic background of the children when they participate thanks to the generous support of community sponsors and grants, including funds from United Way. Chuck Kime has been the executive director since 2012. He has been involved with the organization for more than 20 years, starting as someone who rented the camp for an organization that worked with at-risk youths and was later hired to work there for FFY. Working for FFY, he says, “I don’t think of it as working with at-risk youth anymore, but working with kids from age 0 through adulthood, some who are at-risk and some who are not at-risk at all,” he says.

Regardless of where the kids are coming from, he says, “it’s important to me because kids are our future. Because our programs are so varied, I’ve started telling people we help raise their kids.

Sometimes it’s by coaching them on a basketball team, sometimes it’s through the camp programs, and sometimes it’s something else.”

Angela Force, secretary for the board of directors and a strategic projects manager for Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. in Columbus, has been involved with the organization for about five years.

She also has three young children who participate in FFY’s athletics programs.

“I think our community may be unaware of how many programs are housed under the FFY umbrella,” she says. “Overall, we’re making sure we can measure success of how well we are doing to support, engage and promote youth development by providing opportunities for all of our kids.” She says that includes meeting the capacity needs for the Boys and Girls Club, a long-term master plan for the organization as a whole, looking at new ways

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Goodwill

to serve more than the traditional users and “continue to support and inspire and enable our youth, our community.”

Programs at a glance Boys and Girls Club serves about 230 children ages 5 through 18, and it is at capacity in its space, but still hoping to be able to keep up with demand from new participants.

“Across America, the goal is to help kids graduate from high school. We’re trying to accomplish that by making sure they get education and support. In addition, it allows parents to work. Productivity usually goes down after 3 p.m. because parents are worried about kids getting home from school,” Kime says, adding that by knowing their kids are at a Boys and Girls Club, they don’t worry as much and focus more on work.

He adds that not only does he want the participants to finish high school, but also to be set up for success beyond graduation, whether that is going to college, learning a vocation or entering the workforce.

Another long-standing program is Columbus Youth Camp, 137 acres located west of Columbus. The camp was “founded on March 28, 1935, with Q.G. Noblitt presenting Foundation For Youth with the deed to the property and a sizable donation for development. The Civilian Conservation Corps began work on a lake, several trails, and six log cabins,” according to its 2017 annual report, released at an official event on April 10.

The camp has programming yearround, including organizations that rent the space. There are now at least seven miles of trails, a mountain biking trail, 11 cabins, a lake, science lab, outdoor theater and conference center. The camp has an on-site wastewater treatment system, a

recycling program, solar oven and other amenities to make it more environmentally friendly.

“Our goals out there are similar to the Boys and Girls Club,” says Kime. “It’s about providing education, but more about exploration and independence.

It’s a different kind of learning than you get indoors. … There’s a summer camp, but we also have mentoring programs in schools, the camp’s staff offers [alcohol and other substance abuse] prevention programs. What I think makes us stand out is it’s not just about recreation. It’s using recreation as a means to learn something bigger.”

Karina Willats, chief development officer, adds that the camp gives the — Chuck Kime participants a chance to “find out who you are and test yourself. … It helps you with resilience, helps you know what you’re capable of.” She adds that it’s also a safe environment.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is another large program FFY has been supporting for several years. “It’s a simple concept: Kids need someone to look up to and give them one-on-one attention,” Kime says.

It is free to participants. The “littles” are identified by teachers, parents or another caring adult in their world who think they could benefit.

FFY also offers several opportunities for athletics for youths and adults, including basketball, volleyball, swim-

“It’s a simple concept: Kids need someone to look up to and give them one-on-one attention.”

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ming, running and the Columbus Challenge Triathlon and Duathlon, which will take place the first weekend of August.

“The goals of these programs are not to raise superstars; they are participation leagues,” says Kime. “We’re making sure kids get a chance to play and maybe learn some fundamentals, but more important is that they learn sportsmanship, cooperation and teamwork.”

One of the newer programs is Girls on the Run, which is based on a national model and focuses on girls in third through eighth grade. “It includes running but is really about setting goals.

The girls also get to talk about challenges they face, whether it’s bullies or body image,” says Kime. There is also a group for boys with a similar model, Trailblazers. Both groups aim to promote healthy habits for a lifetime of fitness.

Board President Mary Stroh, who participated in athletics programs at FFY

when she was growing up and is now an attorney at Sharpnack Bigley Stroh & Washburn LLP, says that the organization also advocates for youths.

“In Columbus, a lot of times people don’t realize there is a need, that there are at-risk youth,” Stroh says. “FFY provides a place where they feel safe and provides children with role models in adults they can look up to and come to for help if they need it. There’s also a deeper impact.

It’s not just the things you know about, like athletic programs, but there’s also an advocacy piece.”

For instance, the organization helps with the Safe Space program as a facilitator for situations where children are in trouble, says Kime. FFY is also part of Communities That Care – a substance abuse prevention program. Plus, FFY serves as the backbone of the Council for Youth Development, an association of several organizations in the Columbus area that work with youths.

For anyone who wishes to volunteer for FFY, says Stroh, they can give anywhere from an hour to a year or more. In 2017, the organization benefited from more than 4,500 volunteers giving a total of almost 35,000 hours, an economic impact of more than $800,000.

Volunteers can be mentors in Big Brothers Big Sisters, which is at least a one-year commitment, coaches for the athletics programs, presenters for classes or workshops, including opportunities in the Maker Studio, assist with camp maintenance, or even present FFY with their own ideas.

“The other thing we’re looking for more and more because it’s been around for so long are people whose lives have been impacted or part of their growing up experience,” says Stroh. “We’ve been reaching out to hear from those people.

Why they enjoyed their time with FFY. Anyone with those stories can reach out to Chuck and Karina.”

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our side of town

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Dancing With The Stars Columbus Style Jan. 27 The Commons 1. Winners Nathan and Sarah Frasier 2. Martha Parshall Richards and Nate Otte perform.

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3. Diane Clancy and Alejandro Rosales 4. Polly and Chris Frasier 5. Gina and Tom Wetherald 6. Patsy and Roger Schooler, Regina Allman and Christian Williams

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7. Charli and Kordell Reid 8. Melissa Wilson, Tracy Kiser, Jana Bartels, Stephanie Seaborne, Shawna Netser and Heather Pickup 9. Dancing With The Stars Columbus Style filled The Commons.

10. Diana and Jim Roberts 11. Jeff and Edie Logston, Jason and Candi Hester with Diana and Tony Gambaiani 12. April Williams and Steve Rosenberg 13. Charli Reid and Clover Jackson Reid

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14. Donnie Ritzline and Katrina Ketcham-Hardwick 15. Brittany Gray and Matt Nieman 16. Randy Weinantz, LuAnn Burt, Brittany and Zach Purtlebaugh 17. Arriann Custer, Whittney Loyd and Robin Gill

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Ivy Tech Foundation Presents Dueling Pianos Jan. 19 The Commons 2

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1. Jamie and Ryan Doughty, Ulisses Meza, Amanda Foldenaur, Jeanine Scheidler, Brock Biehl, with Scott and Shannon Poling 2. Kelly Benjamin and LuAnn Welmer 3. Amy Buchanan sells raffle tickets.

4. Ken and Christy Langston, Therese Copeland, Geri Handley and Jesse Brand 5. Ron Luther and Margaret Powers 6. Erin Vance and Jr Smith 7. Robert Steigerwalt, Greg Streit and Lori Steigerwalt

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8. Heather Baker, Steven Combs and Dick Gaynor 9. Roger Clark, Brenda Sullivan, Norma and Jerry Flodder, Theresa and Ross Westerfeld 10. Carolyn and Bob Massengale, Pam Clark, and in back, Rhonda and John Fewell with David Gabbard 11. Julie Blount and Jerry Gentry 12. Dueling Pianos featuring Dan Loisell and Noel Leaman

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13. Chelsae and Matthew Medley 14. Jonathan Sweet, Steven Combs, Katie Clouse, Justin Underwood, Shaney Smith and Nia Pontius 15. Mike, Jill, Dortha and Lowell Anderson

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kidscommons’ Carnivale USA Feb. 10 1. Event co-chairs Eric and Missy Neal with Doug and Deb Roese 2. Tammy Freeland and Diane Robbins 3. Gretchan and Tom Hashimoto 4. Ryan Fisher serves hot dogs.

5. Alan Trisler and Chuck Wells 6. The Tiptonians performs.

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7. Ashton Wischmeier, Brandon Goecker, Maeve Wischmeier, Cory Lehman, Zane Wischmeier and Kristen Goecker 8. Tim and Katrina Barr with Michelle and Gary Critzer 9. Roger Banister and Kim DeClue 10. Jenny and Matt Penrod 11. Kevin Winkler and Britt Kinder 12. Rafael and Mayra Rodriguez with Adrian and Miriam Martinez 13. Marten and Trisha Dane, Autumn and Ben Chastain and Brooke DeWeese

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14. Tracey Gallion and Richard McCoy

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Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake March 4 Columbus Bowling Center 1. Dustin Craig, left, and Matt Sanders, right, are interviewed by emcee Alan Trisler 2. Sanders bowls to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

3. Dustin Craig prepares to bowl against Matt Sanders.

4. Students on the Smith Elementary School team dance

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5. Katie Kime and Chuck Kime 6. Ada David, handing out raffle tickets, poses with Ricky and Jessica Galliher.

7. Kaity Day and Norma Mendez 8. Brittany Gray, Jeff Zike, Kelly Backmeyer and Dana Phillips 9. Front: Allison Stidam, Jennifer Lee, Becky Brown. In back: Jeff Backmeyer and Tony Butiste

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10. Madison and Bently Zike 11. Melissa and Mike Wilson with Max, Lucy and Jude Wilson 12. Chad Phillips, Jim Roberts, Teresa Heiny and Gina Pleak

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The Big Picture

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State Street Bridge Photo by Mike Wolanin

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