Discover Hancock County 2017

2017

2018

Discover

Hancock County

www.remax.com GREENFIELD OFFICE 1797 N. State St. Greenfield

317-462-5533

Chris Boerner 317-697-4691

Brittany Burke/Rod Brown The Star Team 317-498-7847 317-468-5466

Patty Calder 317-945-5875

Jeff Clark 317-318-5539

Philmia Cole 317-498-0464

Julie Dishman 317-727-7033

Toni Dudley 317-409-5735 tonidudley@remax.net

Megan Ennis 317-318-3688

megansellsindy@yahoo.com

Eileen Gibson 317-431-0225 gibs144@gmail.com

Mike Hancock 317-498-0188

mike@michaelhancock.com

Sharon Muncy 317-508-5701

Phil Olson 317-709-4769

Steve Sanford 317-716-8679

Diane Sheets 317-374-9477

Sharon Smith 317-496-3870

juliedishman@aol.com

sharonmuncy@remax.net

cboer1962@gmail.com

polson@remax.net

steve.sanford@remax.net

patty.calder@yahoo.com

dshouses@aol.com

suemize@remax.net

markdudley@remax.net

Sandy Alender 317-372-1858

sandy@mark-your-home.com

Sue Mize/Owner 317-947-8334

Mark Dudley/Owner 317-409-5605

jclark0378@gmail.com

ssmith3000@comcast.net

Jill Collins 317-586-0121

Linda Cox 317-627-4241

Laci Hardy 317-432-4057

Lance Hollan 317-462-4662

Mark Howe 317-714-7744

Nick Spegal 317-498-0986

Kayla Walker 317-364-8183

Michele Willard 317-649-0096

philmia@att.net

jillianrenee87@gmail.com

laci1031h@gmail.com

lancehollan@gmail.com

npspegal@gmail.com

kayla.walker@remax.net

lcox1929@gmail.com

mark@markhowe.com

mwillard@myninestar.net

NEW PALESTINE OFFICE 5040 W. US 52 New Palestine

317-861-5533

Debbie & Bill Yozipovich The Yo Team 317-498-5879 317-498-0846

Michelle Collings 317-512-0865 michellecollings@remax.net

DR-31987764

Doug Harvey 317-695-1217 doharv@aol.com

Edie Horan 317-850-1292 ebuss80275@aol.com

Sue Miller 317-213-5533 sue3miller@yahoo.com

Tamera Trout 317-796-4577

tamerasellshomes@gmail.com

Jeff Williams 317-696-9087

jeffwilliamssold@gmail.com

ROOF IT. SIDE IT. UPDATE IT. ADD IT.

Since 1981

1739 N 600 W, Greenfield

317-894-0152

DR-31987855

Roofing Siding Windows Doors

www.customexteriors.com

contents Deborah Smith works on her chalk drawing on the Courthouse Plaza square during the 5th Annual Chalk fest. Area artist gathered in and around the plaza to work on their artistic impressions. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

22 W. New Road Greenfield, IN 46140 317-462-5528

4 8 13 16 22 24

Welcome Our Communities Events Area Parks Area Markets Arts Organizations

FEATURES

28 Community Spotlight 48 Initiatives in Faith 74 Educational Development 98 Sports 114 Advertiser Index

Published by All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the publisher.

4 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

publisher Chuck Wells Editor Noelle M. Steele advertising director John Senger contributors Kristy Deer Rorye Hatcher Kris Mills Samm Quinn Anne Durham Smith Rich Torres Caitlin VanOverberghe photographer Tom Russo

DR-31987857

welcome

W

Welcome to Hancock County, a growing collection of communities where neighbors still know one another by name.

The Daily Reporter proudly serves all cities and towns within the county’s borders, highlighting the unique people and happenings here.

Each year, our Discover Hancock County guide seeks to introduce visitors — and remind longtime residents — just what makes this place so special.

Inside this annual edition, you’ll learn about local schools, events, culture and hotspots our residents enjoy. And for those who live in Greenfield or its surrounding communities, you’ll likely see many faces you know.

Welcome home.

—Noelle Steele, editor

Chuck Anderson submitted this photo of his great-niece, Harper Wigal, who visited Hancock County Veterans Park in downtown Greenfield with Anderson’s wife, Leigh Ann Anderson. He writes, “Leigh Ann wanted to show Harper the memorial and explain the importance of remembering those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and to always thank those that have served and currently serve.”

6 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Auto • Home • Life • Business • Annuities • Farm

When things change, your insurance should, too.

YOUR HANCOCK COUNTY AGENTS GREENFIELD OFFICE

McCORDSVILLE OFFICE

540 Green Meadows Dr.

5933 W. Broadway

(317) 462-9255

(317) 335-4448

Steve Foreman

Jerry Rogers

Betsy Bly

Evan Fout

Steven Hall

Adam Christenson

DR-31985991

A lot can happen in a year, and usually does–things change. When they do, your insurance should, too. No matter who you’re with, your local Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance agents can help you understand what you have. To get started checking your coverage, contact one of our Hancock County agents today.

Our communities Fortville

McCordsville

Shirley Wilkinson

70

Cumberland

Greenfield

40

Charlottesville

New Palestine

Charlottesville

Charlottesville, platted in 1830, is a quiet little town on Hancock County’s east side in Jackson Township. Described by those who live there as a closeknit community, Charlottesville is home to Eastern Hancock Schools, the smallest of Hancock County’s four public school corporations.

Cumberland

The town of Cumberland straddles both Hancock and Marion counties, with a population estimated at 5,500 people, according to the latest U.S. Census. The town was established in 1831 along East Washington Street, or U.S. 40, also known as part of the Historic National Road. Main Street is still considered the main thoroughfare connecting Cumberland with Indianapolis to the west and with Greenfield to the east.

Fortville

Fortville, a town incorporated in 1865, is located at State Road 67 and Fortville Pike in Vernon Township. The town is named after Cephas Fort, who platted the original settlement on his land in 1849. Fortville has a vibrant Main Street divided by a rail line; the tracks are a prominent feature of town, both visually as well as audibly, as trains pass through daily with their whistles blowing.

Fortville’s population was 3,929 at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census.

8 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Our Providers are Here for You Committed to the health of the community Accepting new patients and most insurance plans.

James Brinkruff, MD

Stephanie Kinnaman, MD

Dennis Lawton, MD

Thomas O’Connor, MD

Talessa Powell, MD

Andrew Daluga, MD

Family Medicine

Family Medicine

Family Medicine

Family Medicine

Family Medicine

Family Medicine

WalK wiTH a DOc

TAKE A STEP TOWARD BETTER HEALTH-

Make Walking a Part of your Routine

Join us every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 5:30pm-6:30pm

family medicine & specialty care services located in Greenfield 3 0 0 Ea st Boyd Avenue | Sui tes 1 00 & 1 1 0 | Gr e e nfie ld, I N | 3 1 7.4 6 2 .5 2 5 2 | www. a hni . co m

Our communities Greenfield The heart of Greenfield is centered at State Road 9 and U.S. 40, an area dotted with local antique stores and small businesses. Its population is just more than 21,000. Selected as the county seat of Hancock County in 1828, it was incorporated in 1876. Greenfield was once a stop along the old Penn Central Rail Line, on which presidents and the Liberty Bell traveled, historians say.

McCordsville McCordsville, one of the fastest-growing towns in Indiana, is located in the northwestern corner of Hancock County. It grew more than 27 percent from 2010-2016, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The heart of this town of more than 6,400 is at State Road 67 and County Road 600 West (also known as Mt. Comfort Road). Local leaders are working on a network of trails with neighboring communities, such as the neighborhoods surrounding nearby Geist Reservoir.

New Palestine Nestled on the southwestern edge of Hancock County, the town of New Palestine is a quaint, quiet town with a population estimated at just more than 2,100 residents. The town sits along U.S. 52, about 20 minutes east of downtown Indianapolis. New Palestine was established in 1838. It first consisted of 15 blocks and 36 lots.

The area became incorporated as a town in 1871.

Paul Norton took this photo outside the Hancock County Courthouse. Norton, a seasonal employee with the Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department, is known to some area residents as “The Flower Guy” for tending to the hanging flower baskets in downtown Greenfield.

Shirley Shirley was established in 1890 when the Cincinnati, Wabash and Michigan railway extended to the area. The town’s name comes from Joseph A. Shirley, a railroad official. With about 830 residents, the town straddles the Hancock and Henry county lines, claiming both Brown Township in Hancock County and Greensboro Township in Henry County.

Wilkinson Located in the northeast corner of Hancock County, Wilkinson boasts a population of 449, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. State Road 109 runs through the heart of this small town, connecting it with Anderson to the north and Knightstown to the south. Celebrated aviation pioneer Harvey Weir Cook was born and raised in Wilkinson. The town’s favorite native son is often called a flying ace for his distinguished career during World War I. 10 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31992116

Smart911 is a national service that protects 32 million residents across the country. Sign up today to provide information to 9 1 1 and first responders before an emergency happens, so they can better help you during one.

1585 N. State Street (1.5 miles south of I-70 on State Road 9) • Huge Banquet Rooms Available For Large Groups

DR-31992115

• Home of the HUGE Hand-breaded Tenderloin

• Delicious Steak, Chicken, Seafood & Baby Back Ribs Entrees

Sunday - Thursday 11-8:30pm

• Famous All You Care To Eat Buffet & Dessert Bar

Busses Welcome

Open

Friday - Saturday 11-9:30pm

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 11

F.C. Tucker Company, Inc.

Real Agents, Real Answers • Indiana’s Largest Real Estate Company - Since 1918

DR-31991612

28 Yorkshire Blvd • Cumberland, IN 46229 • (317) 891-0100 • www.TalkToTucker.com

Jeff Miles Office Manager 317-946-0601

Leigh Turner Office Manager 317-538-5288

Anthony Team Realty East 317-716-6679

Dennis Bruce 317-509-3769

Linda Carpenter The Rininger Group 317-691-1926

Monica Clark 317-345-2705

Kali Cooper 317-413-6264

Josh Ember 317-317-418-7176

Scott Fidler 317-442-1015

Bob Gordon 317-445-0745

Molly Hadley Team 317-446-7656

Cathi Hampton/ Anthony Realty East 317-503-4519

Julie Preston-Hofmeister 317-443-7429

Lynette Hofmeister Julie & Associates 317-800-2133

Mary Hoover The Rininger Group 317-657-8198

Bob Hornett Pam Hornett Realty Group 317-362-1715

Pam Hornett 317-938-0147

Art Johnson 317-501-5194

Sherri Keaton 317-626-9600

Donna Kreps 317-590-0468

Luis Llerena Jr. The Ember Group 317-361-6200

Nicole Marie 317-937-8148

Rick Mathes 317-902-3755

Paula Meyers/ The Ember Group 317-739-7447

Sarah O’Donnell 317-292-3882

Mike Perkinson Williams Property Group 317-727-3602

Stephanie Reid 317-429-7706

Shanda Releford 317-828-4286

Gina Rininger 317-997-4663

Jeremy Sandlin 317-441-4675

Annie Scott Williams Property Group 317-902-8622

Keegan Shreve 317-430-6304

Kurt Simmons 317-432-8048

Evan Sutton Sutton Realty Group 317-864-4805

Tammy Sutton 317-671-5093

Ruth Teskey The Rininger Group 317-523-8407

Matt Thalmann The Ember Group 317-945-8329

Carol Vittorio 317-443-6084

Kim Watkins 317-679-4102

Sally Wilburn 317-408-1177

Kim Wildman/Sutton Realty Group 317-431-2354

Ric Williams 317-509-7867

Festivals, celebrations offer food, entertainment Hancock County has festivals and events for every season of the year and in every corner of the county. Here is a sampling of Hancock County area events, festivals and fairs.

Riley Festival rileyfestival.com

The works of Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley are the focus of the annual Riley Festival, but even folks who aren’t familiar with his poetry can find something to their liking during this four-day celebration, which coincides with Riley’s Oct. 7 birthday.

The festival features entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, a Riley Festival Queen, carnival-style food and contests in poetry writing, photography, running, fiddling, baking and more.

Highlights include the Parade of Flowers, in which children place flowers Friday at the base of the Riley statue north of the Hancock County Courthouse, a large parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning, and an entertainment tent.

The theme for the 2017 festival, set for Oct. 5-8, is “After the Frost.”

Learn more at rileyfestival.com.

ChalkFest

Shirley Founders Day

Greenfield Christmas Festival and Parade of Lights

Marching bands, crafts, show cars, gospel music and plenty of food can be found at the Shirley Founders Day celebration in downtown Shirley.

The annual event, typically held in mid-August, includes a parade, talent show and the presentation of the David L. Estell Civic Award. For information, see Shirley Historical Society on facebook.com.

rileyfestival.com

Cumberland Arts Goes to Market

facebook.com/ CumberlandArtsGoestoMarket Bringing together more than 100 art, craft and farmers market vendors together, this event also includes entertainment, children’s activities, food vendors and a silent auction. It takes place near Cumberland Town Hall. Visit Facebook. com/CumberlandArtsGoestoMarket for more information.

hancockcountyarts.com/events/ sidewalk-chalkfest

New Palestine Fall Festival

ChalkFest attracts people to downtown Greenfield with colorful — albeit temporary — art and musical entertainment. Chalk artists spend hours creating sidewalk drawings for visitors to enjoy. Artists of all ages and abilities are invited to participate for cash prizes. For more information, visit hancockcountyarts. com/events/sidewalk-chalkfest.

The festival, which takes place annually on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday after Labor Day, is a community homecoming to New Palestine residents. Organized by the New Palestine Lions Club at its community building at 5242 W. U.S. 52., it features music, a parade, karaoke, entertainers and a merchants’ tent.

nplions.com

Downtown Greenfield lights up for Christmas in early December with the Parade of Lights and the arrival of Santa Claus by fire truck. The event typically includes craft vendors, a dinner, musical entertainment, the lighting of the plaza tree during opening ceremonies and a live nativity scene. Following the parade and entertainment, children can visit with Santa in his house on the plaza to share their Christmas lists. More information can be found at rileyfestival.com.

Will Vawter Juried Art Competition hancockcountyarts.com

The Will Vawter Juried Art Competition, conducted as a celebration of Vawter’s April birthday, features a juried art exhibit as well as a plein aire competition designed to capture scenic Hancock County on canvas. This event is organized by the Hancock County Arts and Cultural Council. For more information, visit hancockcountyarts.com.

Strawberry Festival fpcofgreenfield.org

A full week of preparation goes into the annual Strawberry Festival at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greenfield.

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 13

festivals, celebrations and entertainment

Proceeds from this early June event are combined with other food fundraisers to donate $3,000 to $5,000 to local organizations such as Edelweiss Equine Assisted Therapy and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hancock County.

The fundraiser, started in 1984 by the church’s men’s group, relied on local hand-picked strawberries.

Today, frozen berries are mixed with fresh berries to pour on the top of shortcake and ice cream. For more information, visit fpcofgreenfield.org.

Entertainment on the Plaza gbcbank.com

The Pennsy Trail Art Fair and Music Festival features local and regional artists.

Music fills the air at the Hancock County Courthouse Plaza on Friday nights during June and July. Free concerts sponsored by Greenfield Banking Co. take place at 7 p.m. downtown as they have since 1987.

We know Hancock County, and we know Greenfield!

Proudly serving Hancock and surrounding counties for over 53 years!

The concerts feature musicians performing everything from oldies to patriotic marches and Southern Gospel. The performances feature artists such as the Wright Brothers, New Odyssey and Greenfield’s own Brandywine Wind concert band.

Learn more about the series by logging on to gbcbank.com. Click on “Connect,” then “Sponsored Events.”

Ball Day

mvoptimist.com Mt. Vernon Optimist Ball Day gives families and other residents a chance to get outside in the parks and watch local children play baseball and softball.

The event includes a parade and vendor booths. Ball Day is scheduled for June through a partnership with the FortvilleMcCordsville Area Chamber. For more information visit mvoptimist.com.

ty ing oun s! v r C Se ock year nc 32 Ha for

Chuck Walton & Brad Arthur

DR-31991219

Wilson & Associates 1726 North State Street Greenfield, IN 46140 Office: (317) 462-8200

www.c21wilson.com

14 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Since 1985, Bradford Builders has specialized in design/build custom remodeling projects: • Additions • Major remodeling projects • Light commercial remodeling

317-462-0606

Learn more at bradfordbuilders.com

Pennsy Trail Art Fair and Music Festival

Hancock County 4-H Fair

yourhancockfairgrounds.com This annual event celebrates the achievements of children and teens who have spent months preparing to show animals and complete a wide variety of projects including foods, tractor maintenance, sewing and model rocketry.

Fairgoers can enjoy the projects on display in the 4-H building in addition to checking out the fun at the baby contest, pet parade, tractor pull and talent show.

Family-centered fun also includes live music, carnival rides and fair food. From tangy barbecue to gooey grilled cheese and refreshing lemon shake-ups, there’s something to satisfy any hankering.

The 2018 Hancock County 4-H Fair is scheduled for June 22-29, 2018. For more information, visit yourhancockfairgrounds.com.

facebook.com/ pennsytrailartfair/

Artists, musicians, authors, runners, craft beer enthusiasts and local food vendors combine for the Pennsy Trail Art Fair and Music Festival, traditionally taking place near the end of July. Visitors can peruse a range of artistic offerings from pottery and basketry to chic jewelry and fine art. The festival features interactive art therapy activities for children and adults, arts and crafts vendors and live music. The event is a benefit for Mental Health Partners of Hancock County. Find out more at facebook.com/pennsytrailartfair.

715 East Lincoln Street, Greenfield, IN 46140

317-462-2404

St. Thomas Festival stthomasfortville.com/festival

The parish festival of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Fortville traditionally takes place the first weekend in August. Features an over-21 Monte Carlo Night on Friday and a family-oriented festival on Saturday, with the latter offering carnival games, live entertainment, food and tours of the 1916 church building.

Lord’s Acre Festival mccordsvilleumc.org

The festival, which traditionally happens over the second weekend of September at McCordsville United Methodist Church, features a fish fry, live entertainment, vendor booths and children’s activities. The event, started in 1952, takes its name from the concept of farmers donating proceeds from an acre’s crops to the church.

Are you looking for a SAFE and POSITIVE place for your child?

Are you looking for individuals to give your child a SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP? Are you looking for a place for your child to have FUN? Are you looking for a program in which your child will have OPPORTUNITIES and EXPECTATIONS? Are you looking for a place where your child will receive RECOGNITION?

DR-31987950

LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE ...

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 15

Area Parks

By Caitlin VanOverberghe | Daily Reporter cvanoverberghe@greenfieldreporter.com

Cumberland

Fortville

Lions Park

Memorial Park

This 6.5-acre park features a baseball field used by the Cumberland Cardinals Youth baseball league for home games and practices. The various facilities, or the entire park (except for the baseball fields), may be rented. All shelters have electrical outlets. The small shelter is located near the parking lot, and the large shelter is located at the west end near the large playground. The park includes one baseball diamond, playground equipment, one tennis court, one basketball court, one sand volleyball court and rentable shelter.

This 25-acre community park is situated at the junction of Stottlemeyer Ditch and Jackson Ditch that creates rolling hillsides and running water.

The park also has many facilities for activities and recreation as well as playground equipment. Amenities include four shelters, three playgrounds, two tennis courts, two softball/ baseball diamonds, a basketball court, foot trails and sledding.

301 Buck Creek Road

Beckenholdt Park in Greenfield.

9088 W. County Road 1025S

Landmark Park 200 E. Church St.

This 3.2-acre park is in a more urban setting, as it is centrally located onehalf block from the main street in town.

It has an area adjacent to Fortville United Methodist Church for passive recreation with paved walks through the landscaped setting and a gazebo.

It also has a soccer/football field.

Hampton Field

400 block of West Church Street This six-acre park includes two tennis courts, a picnic shelter, paved parking, concession station (in season) three baseball diamonds, seven bleachers, playground equipment and six picnic tables.

Greenfield Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department 280 N. Apple St.

Beckenholdt Park in Greenfield.

16 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

The city’s parks and recreation department offices are located in the Patricia Elmore Center in Greenfield.

For more information about activities and events available throughout the year, visit greenfieldin.org/ recreation or call 317-477-4340.

Hancock Family Medicine

Hancock Immediate Care

Greenfield

Greenfield, IN | (317) 468.4357 Knightstown Health Care Center

Scott Capen, MD Julia Degler, MD Amanda Goldstein, MD Tara Wakefield, MD Laura Rife, MD Janet Beeson, NP Tracy McBride, NP 300 E. Boyd Ave., Suite 120 Greenfield, IN | (317) 462.3441

Greenfield

Riley Park

Carmen Cudiamat, MD Lori Deemer, MD Gary Sharp, MD Matthew Surburg, MD Cynthia Montgomery, NP

Apple Street and U.S. 40 Riley Park, the feature park of the city, is 40 acres and offers a 7,200-squarefoot skate park, two basketball courts, six tennis courts, five baseball fields, playground equipment, sledding hills and plenty of open areas for play and fishing along Brandywine Creek. In addition, located within the park is the Riley Park Shelter House, Riley Park Pavilion, Riley Pool and the Patricia Elmore Center.

300 E. Boyd Ave., Suite 250 Greenfield, IN | (317) 467.4500

Saneera Ilmudeen, MD Meg Fitzsimmons, MD

Hancock Surgical Group

7375 W. US 52 New Palestine, IN | (317) 861.4171

Hancock Counseling and Psychiatric Services

Brandywine Park 900 E. Davis Road

Melinda Cobb, MD, Psychiatrist Renee Gill, MD, Psychiatrist Benjamin McAllister, DO DeLynn Williams, MD Michael Miller, Ph.D Kevin Knot, LCSW Jennifer Luchtefeld, LCSW Shane Seabourn, LCSW Rebecca VanDenburgh, LCSW

Brandywine Park is a 60-acre sports complex offering 20 soccer fields, three softball fields (two adult, one youth), playground equipment and a wooden trail along Brandywine Creek.

Commons Park 856 W. Fifth St.

120 W. McKenzie Rd., Suite F Greenfield, IN | (317) 468.6200

Commons Park is a small residential park, measuring less than one acre, offering playground equipment in a quiet setting.

Knightstown Health Care Center Donna Timblin, NP

Henry B. Wilson Park

Hancock Pediatrics

McCordsville

Elizabeth Blachly, MD Kristin Bagley, MD Brad Hirsch, MD Amy Diersing, NP

Beckenholdt Park includes a large pond with a fishing pier, wetland with an observation deck, a two-acre dog park, walking paths, interpretive signs, a picnic shelter and more.

300 E. Boyd Ave., Suite 208 Greenfield, IN | (317) 477.6500

120 W. McKenzie Rd., Suite H Greenfield, IN | (317) 462.2335

New Palestine

2770 N. Franklin St.

Thomas M. Jones, MD. FACOG Lawrence J. Lo, MD, FACOG Molly Strong, MD Kim Heim, NP Danae L. Young, NP

Paul Halter, MD Roger Roberts, MD Lori Wean, MD Allison Wiesman, MD Erin McMurray, NP Ashley Sevenbergen, NP

8535 N. Clearview Dr., Suite 200 McCordsville, IN | (317) 477.6400

Beckenholdt Park

Hancock OB/GYN

Jeff Heise, MD Manuel Lozano, MD Kevin McAree, MD Thomas Meads, MD One Memorial Square, Suite 100 Greenfield, IN | (317) 462.3255

Hancock Internal Medicine Greenfield Manish Chheda, MD Michael Fletcher, MD Robert Klinestiver, MD Bijender Kumar, MD Amy Wooldridge, MD Megan Bradshaw, NP Barb Pescitelli, NP One Memorial Square, Suite 2200 Greenfield, IN | (317) 462.6662

McCordsville Nalini Bangalore, MD Michael Fletcher, MD Kristen Irwin, MD Rona Mustaklem, MD Suresh Seshan, MD 8535 N. Clearview Dr., Suite 400 McCordsville, IN | (317) 335.6930

224 W Main St. Knightstown, IN | (765) 345.5572

East end of Martindale Drive at Greenfield Village subdivision

This 14-acre park offers mulched walking trails in a wooded setting along Brandywine Creek. Future development plans include fishing piers.

DR-31987961

Providing quality medical care throughout Hancock and surrounding counties. hancockphysicians.com

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 17

area parks

Mary Moore Park 951 N. Franklin St.

Mary Moore Park is an eight-acre nature park offering mulched trails running through a wooded setting. Information markers are located along the trails with plant and bird life points of interest.

Thornwood Preserve County Road 200 South and Morristown Pike

The park boasts 40 wooded acres.

Attractions include trails, benches and an overall emphasis on the natural features and wildlife. Herb and Judy Brown of Greenfield donated the land to the city in 2009 with the hope of providing solitude and nature education for generations to come.

McCordsville

New Palestine

McCordsville Town Hall Park

Southeastway Regional Park

This two-acre park is filled with green space and offers shelters for rent.

This 188-acre forested park features hiking trails, a prairie preserve and wildlife and is often the site of local educational programs.

6280 W. County Road 800N

Old School Park

County Roads 600W and 750N The three-acre park features four picnic tables, playground equipment, green space, a baseball field, one tennis court and a basketball court.

5624 S. Carroll Road

Sugar Creek Township Park

4136 S. County Road 700W The park includes shelters, playground equipment, a nine-hole Frisbee golf course, soccer fields, a fitness trail and a veterans memorial.

Overall the park includes 88 acres, with development on 35 acres.

Family Medicine and Pediatric Care - Geist 8150 Oaklandon Road, Suite 130 (at Fox Road)

317.621.1111 geistfamilymedicine.com

Looking For an Exceptional Patient Experience?

Family Medicine and Pediatric Care - Geist

• Same-day appointments • Sports physical DR-31991594

• MyChart online patient portal for results, appointments, etc.

• Early morning and Saturday appointments

18 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Jacob Schramm Nature Preserve

Malcolm Grass Memorial Park

Thirty acres of the Schramm Woods were donated as a nature preserve.

Jacob Schramm came to Indiana in the mid-1830s from Germany.

This small park features a seating area, a war memorial and a memorial to former Hancock County Sheriff Malcolm Grass.

Shirley

Wilkinson

Shirley Park 200 Second St.

Weir Cook Community Park

Shirley’s main park offers an outside shelter, a community building available for rent, playground equipment, two baseball diamonds, an outdoor stage, one volleyball court and two basketball courts.

About a half-acre, the only park in Wilkinson offers playground equipment, two shelters, open green space, a veterans memorial, a Weir Cook memorial and a basketball court.

1586 S. County Road 600W

201 Main St.

147 N. Main St.

178 E. Martindale Dr. Greenfield, IN 46140 Truly Yours®

(317) 467-9999

Inviting rooms are just ahead Soft, cozy bedding • Free breakfast • Warm, welcoming rooms • Swimming pool • Free internet access • Fitness center • Laundry facility on site

FREE to all guests:

DR-31986282

• • • •

Hot Breakfast • Coffee Local Calls • Weekday Newspaper Indoor Heated Pool High-Speed Internet, microwave & refrigerator in all rooms

Guest Laundry Fitness Center Business Center Fax Services Available for Guests

ALL NEW ROOMS !

Convenient Access To: • Indianapolis Zoo

• Childrens’ Museum

• Lucas Oil Stadium

• Indianapolis Motor Speedway

• A wide variety of restaurants & lounges

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 19

Area parks

A

Diving in GREENFIELD

A long-planned addition to the Riley Pool is moving closer to reality.

Greenfield Parks and Recreation Board members recommended to the Greenfield City Council to borrow nearly $2 million to build a splash pad at Riley Park Pool after hearing no objections from the public during a public hearing regarding borrowing the money.

The approximately $1.8 million will go toward the construction of a three-phase splash pad, with zones for toddlers, young

children and older children, said parks superintendent Ellen Kuker. Parks officials have also stood firm on requests for seating and shade areas to be added to the pool’s current offerings.

City officials have long planned to upgrade the Riley Park Pool, which was first built in the 1980s and has seen few upgrades since.

In 2005, a proposal to take out a $3.5 million bond narrowly passed the Greenfield City Council.

We Treat Your Eyes Like Family

1780 West Main Street Greenfield 317.462.5536

DR-31991020

Funerals • Cremations Monuments Pet Services • Gatherings

www.StillingerFamily.com

20 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

• Comprehensive Eye Exams • Optomap Retinal Exam: No Dilation • Contact Lens Exams • Pediatric Eye Care • Cataract Patient Care • Lasik Surgery Consultationand Care • Treatment of Eye Diseases and Emergencies Austin D. Potter, O.D. 5937 W. Broadway, McCordsville • (317) 747-9263 • potterfamilyeyecare@gmail.com

www.potterfamilyeyecare.com

This story previously ran in the July 18, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

We a re y o u r lo c a l d e a le r fo r. ..

Zero Turn Mowers

Sales • Parts • Service Chain Saws • Snow Blowers • Leaf Blowers ZTR Mowers • Gas Powered Trimmers Lawn & Garden Tractors PICK-UP & DELIVERY Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5 • Sat 9-1 • Closed Sunday Extended Summer Hours

317-462-1323 1-866-MOWERS2 www.superiormowers.com

I-70 Airport

SR 9

1791 E. Main St. Greenfield, IN 46140

DR-31987770

That project was to feature a new water park complete with slides and a lazy river. Former Mayor Rodney Fleming vetoed it, saying the cost was too high.

But residents’ requests for updating the pool haven’t subsided, officials say. They’re leaving Greenfield to go to communities that have better pool facilities, city officials say.

Upgrading the pool was a top request among residents surveyed about future plans for Greenfield’s parks about five years ago, and when Mayor Chuck Fewell went door to door campaigning for his post, residents told him time and time again the pool needs new features, he said.

Plans call for a curved splash pad with spray features and dump buckets for kids of all ages, especially youngsters, to be built south of the pool. Construction is expected to begin once the pool closes for the season later this summer.

Building the splash pad will cost nearly $2 million.

More than $1.7 million will go toward construction costs; another $210,000 will be paid out for architecture and engineering costs, estimates show.

Buzz Krohn, the city’s financial consultant, said the loan will have little impact on resident’s property tax bills.

Though he’s still working on estimates for this project, he pointed to Greenfield’s $3.3 million loan borrowed last year for renovations at one of the city’s fire stations.

That loan increased bills by less than three cents, he said.

Property owners who have already reached their tax caps won’t see any increases in their bills, he said.

He said during the hearing that businesses are more likely to be impacted by the bond than residences.

Councilman Gary McDaniel said he hopes residents are supportive of the project and the loan needed to pay for it.

Over time, the splash pad will pay for itself, he said. Many residents are already spending money to visit other pools when they could be spending the money locally, he said.

“This has been wanted and needed for years,” McDaniel said.

E. Main St. (US 40) License Branch

N

"THE ONE-STOP MOWER SHOP" Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 21

Community health care

» Area Markets Cumberland Farmers Market

hoosierharvestcouncil.com/farmersmarkets/cumberland-farmers-market/

Fortville Farmers Market fmacoc.com/communityinfo/farmers-market/

8 a.m. to noon Saturdays May-October at Cumberland Town Hall, 11501 E. Washington St., Indianapolis Contact: Renee Michael, 317-8946203; or Barb Smith, 317-697-0508

4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, mid May to September, 701 S. Maple St., Fortville (Church of the Nazarene parking lot) Contact: Nancy Strickland 317-485-0410, chamber@ fortvillemccordsville.com.

Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds

Healthy Harvest Mobile Farmers Market

hoosierharvestcouncil.com/ farmers-markets/farmersmarket-at-the-fairgrounds/

8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, May to October, at the Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds, 620 N. Apple. St., Greenfield 8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, July through mid-October, at the fairgrounds 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. first and third Saturdays, November through April, in the heated show arena at the fairgrounds Contact: Barb Smith, 317-697-0508; or Jeniece Miller at 765-561-8265

behealthy365.org

The Brandywine Creek Farms produce truck makes stops around the county on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the summer harvest season.

Contact: Amanda Everidge 317-468-4177

Hoosier Harvest Market: hoosierharvestmarket.com

Online food hub to connect with local producers.

22 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Hancock Health system, the healthcare company encompassing Hancock Regional Hospital, Hancock Physician Network and Hancock Wellness Centers around the county, endeavors to improve the health of county residents in a variety of ways. Its effort to improve health at all levels and keep residents from needing to be hospitalized, titled Healthy 365, has manifested in such efforts as a city-wide weight loss contest, mobile low-cost and free produce delivered to communities without nearby grocery stores and a ranking of the most at-risk patients.

Three teams target workplace wellness, mental fitness and making healthier choices available to the community

Hancock Health Congregational Network Right Weigh Healthy Harvest

Dr.

brenD

Dr .

brenD

Dr . Ja son Lewis Potr zebowsk i

Family

Medicine

1675 Dr N Main .

&

Car

Street • La Ja s o

765.534.3127

Potr zeb

Family 1675

N

Me

Ma

765.534.3

Healthcare for your entire family Dr. Jason Lewis &&Dr. MereDith DR. JASON LEWIS DR. Dr.Dr. Jason Jason Dr. Lewis Jason Lewis Dr.& Lewis Jason Dr. & Dr. Dr. MereDith & Lewis Jason MereDith Dr.MEREDITH MereDith &Lewis Dr. MereDith & Dr. MereDith Dr .

Ja so at three convenient locations.

Potrzebowski Dr. Jason Lewis & Dr. MereDith r.Potrzebowski Jason Lewis & Dr. MereDith Dr. Jason Lewis & Dr. MereDith Dr. Jason Lewis & Dr. MereDith POTRZEBOWSKI Potrzebowski Potrzebowski Potrzebowski Potrzebowski P otr zeb

Potrzebowski otrzebowski Potrzebowski Potrzebowski Family Medicine Care --Lapel Medicine Care Family Family Medicine Family Medicine Medicine Family Care Care -Medicine Lapel Family Care - Lapel -Lapel Medicine Lapel Care - Lapel Care - Lapel Family Me Dr . brenDan Leroy Family Medicine Care -Lapel Lapel 1675 N Main Street • Lapel, IN 46051 amily Medicine Care Lapel Family Care - Lapel Family Medicine Care If you are looking for a new physician, our doctors can 1675 1675 N Main N 1675 Main Street N Main 1675 • Lapel, Street N • Lapel, Main 1675 • Lapel, Lapel, Street IN 46051 N-Medicine Main 46051 IN • Lapel, Street 46051 IN • Lapel, 46051 IN 46051 1 6 75 N Ma 1675 N Street Main Street •IN IN 46051 1675NN MainStreet Street Lapel, IN 46051 765.534.3127 675765.534.3127 N 765.534.3127 Main Street •Main Lapel, IN1675 46051 N MainIN Street • Lapel, IN 46051 1675 • •Lapel, 46051 L aur a CL a 765.534.3127 765.534.3127 765.534.3127 765.534.

3 765.298.4480 take care of every member of your family and providers 765.534.3127765.534.3127 65.534.3127 765.534.3127

rus s

&

Dr

are accepting new patients at Lapel and Fortville.

Family

Med

125 1 Hunt zin L aur a CL a Pendleton, IN

russ & Dr 765.298.45

• Convenient hours and same-day appointments including Dr . br en Family Med early morning, lunch time, and evening

1251 Huntzin Pendleton, IN

• Free get acquainted visitsbr for new patients en Dr. brenDan Leroy DR. LEROY &Leroy DR. MICA METZ Dr.Dr. brenDan brenDan Dr. brenDan Leroy Dr. Leroy brenDan Leroy Dr. brenDan Leroy Dr .

Dr.BRENDAN brenDan Leroy r. brenDan Dr. brenDan Leroy Dr. Leroy brenDan Leroy • Direct online access to your electronic medical record Family Medicine Care - Fortville 545 Vitality Drive, #A • Fortville, IN 46040 L aurusing aMyChart CL arke, nP 317.621.9220 rus s & Dr . tr aCi a

765.298.45

Family

Medicine

Car

1251 Hunt zinger Blvd., to schedule your appointment todaytoday today Call Call to Call to Call schedule schedule to schedule your to your schedule Call appointment your appointment to schedule appointment your today appointment today your today appointment Pendleton, IN 46064 Call to Call schedule appointment today

Callattoat schedule your appointment Call to nearby schedule today your today appointment today at one of our nearby locations.

Call to schedule your appointment 765.298.4567 one one at of our one our nearby at of one our nearby of locations. atour locations. one locations. of our nearby locations. locations. at of one ofnearby locations. at one of our nearby locations. at one of our nearby locations. at one of our nearby locations.

LaPeL: 1675 North Main Street •765.298.4480 765.534.3127 LaPeL: LaPeL: 1675 LaPeL: 1675 North North LaPeL: 1675 Main North Main Street 1675 LaPeL: Street Main North • 765.534.3127 Street 1675 • 765.534.3127 Main North • 765.534.3127 765.534.3127 Street Main • 765.534.3127 Street • 765.534.3127 LaPeL: 1675 FortviLLe: 717 East Broadway Street •Street 317.621.9220 LaPeL: 1675 North Main Street LaPeL: • 765.534.3127 1675 North Main 765.534.3127 LaPeL: 1675 North Main Street • 765.534.3127 FortviLLe: FortviLLe: FortviLLe: 717FortviLLe: 717 East East 717 Broadway FortviLLe: Broadway East 717 Street East Street Broadway •717 317.621.9220 Street • East 317.621.9220 Street •• 317.621.9220 Street • 317.621.9220 FortviLLe: Broadway Street ••Broadway 317.621.9220 545 Vitality Drive, #A •317.621.9220 317.621.9220 PenDLeton: 1251 S.Broadway Huntinger Blvd., Suite 100Street • 765.298.4567 FortviLLe: 717 East Broadway FortviLLe: Street • 317.621.9220 717 East Broadway FortviLLe: 717 East Street • 317.621.9220 PenDLeton: Blvd., •• 765.298.4567 PenDLeton: PenDLeton: PenDLeton: 1251 PenDLeton: 1251 S. Huntinger S. 1251 PenDLeton: Huntinger S. Huntinger 1251 Blvd., Blvd., S. Suite Huntinger 1251 Blvd., Suite 100 S.Suite Suite 100 Huntinger •Blvd., 765.298.4567 •100 100 765.298.4567 Suite 765.298.4567 Blvd., 100•Suite •317.621.9220 765.298.4567 100 • 765.298.45 PenDLeton: 1251 S. Huntinger PenDLeton: Blvd., Suite1251 100 •S.765.298.4567 Huntinger Suite 100 • 765.298.456 PenDLeton: 1251 S. Huntinger Blvd., Suite 100 •Blvd., 765.298.4567

DR-31991595

Laura CLarke, nPnP Dr. stePhanie LAURA CLARKE, NP && DR. STEPHANIE RUSS & stePhanie Laura CLarke, Dr. stePhanie Laura Laura CLarke, Laura CLarke, CLarke, Laura nPnP & Dr. CLarke, & Laura nP Dr. stePhanie && stePhanie Dr. CLarke, nPstePhanie & Dr.nP stePhanie & Dr. L aur a CL russ & Dr. traCi anDerson aura CLarke, nP & Dr. Laura stePhanie CLarke, nP & Dr. DR. TRACI ANDERSON & LINDA CONNER NPstePhanie CLarke, nP & Dr. stePhanie russ Dr. traCi anDerson russ russ &Laura russ Dr. & Dr. traCi && russ traCi Dr. anDerson traCi &anDerson Dr. russ anDerson traCi & Dr. anDerson traCi anDerson ru s s & D uss & Dr. traCi anDerson russ &Pendleton Dr. traCi anDerson russ & Dr. traCi anDerson Family Medicine Care Family Medicine Care --Pendleton Family Medicine -Medicine Pendleton Family Family Medicine Family Medicine Medicine Family Care Care -Medicine Pendleton Family Care -Care Pendleton Pendleton Care - Pendleton Care - Pendleton Family Me 1251 Huntzinger Blvd., Suite 100 amily Medicine Care - Pendleton Family Care - Pendleton Family Medicine Care -Medicine Pendleton 1251 Huntzinger Blvd., Suite 100 1251 Huntzinger Blvd., 100 1251 1251 Huntzinger Huntzinger 1251 Huntzinger Blvd., 1251 Blvd., Huntzinger Suite Blvd., Suite 1251 100Suite Suite Huntzinger 100 Blvd., 100 Suite Blvd., 100 Suite 100 L 125 1 Hunt z aur a CL Pendleton, INSuite 46064 251Pendleton, Huntzinger 100 1251 Blvd., Suite 100 Pendleton, 1251 Huntzinger Blvd., Suite 100 Pendleton, 46064 IN Pendleton, Pendleton, INBlvd., 46064 IN Pendleton, 46064 ININ46064 46064 Pendleton, IN Huntzinger 46064 IN 46064 765.298.4567 endleton, INPendleton, 46064 765.298.4567 Pendleton, IN 46064 IN 46064 765.298.4567 rus s & D 765.298.4567 765.298.4567 765.298.4567 765.298.4567 765.298 .4 65.298.4567 765.298.4567 765.298.4567

Family

Me

Promoting the arts in Greenfield and Hancock County

Hancock County Arts and Cultural Council

THEATER GROUPS

Address: 20 N. State St., Greenfield www.hancockarts.com Mission statement: “To foster, support, and promote the arts, humanities, education and cultural events in Hancock County and its surrounding areas.”

Showcasing gallery shows and events promoting local art and artists in addition to The Will Vawter Fine Arts Competition and collaborative participation in the annual Chalk Fest and other community events.

CrazyLake Acting Company P.O. Box 672, Greenfield 317-477-ARTS crazylake.com

Volunteer community theater. Rehearsals held in Greenfield’s Memorial Building at 98 E. North St. Recent productions include “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Leading Ladies.” “Noises Off” is planned for the summer of 2018.

Hancock County Children’s Theater Workshop 810 N. Broadway, Greenfield 317-694-9010 pjohnson@gcsc.k12.in.us

Hancock County Children’s Theater Workshop on Facebook.com.

This collaborative performing arts project among the county’s school systems for children in fourth through eighth grades puts on one production a year in early summer.

Interested in becoming involved with transforming the health status of our community?

Visit us online at behealthy365.org

24 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

KidsPlay Inc.

P.O. Box 672, Greenfield 317-477-ARTS

POWERING THE COMMUNITY

KidsPlay Inc. children’s theatre on Facebook.com.

Volunteer theater organization for children in the third through eighth grades. Rehearsals held in Greenfield’s Memorial Building at 98 E. North St. Recent productions include “Elvis Ate Here” and “Team Justice and the City Hall Supervillains.”

Ricks-Weil Theater Company H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts, 122 W. Main St., Greenfield 317-477-8689 ricksweilinfo@gmail.com Ricks-Weil Theatre Company on Facebook.com.

Volunteer community theater group.

Recent productions include: “The Sound of Music,” “Greater Tuna” and “Annie.” Future productions include “Twelve Angry Jurors,” Oct. 27-Nov. 5, and “A Christmas Story,” Dec. 8-17.

ARTS VENUES Creative Arts and Event Center 2 W. Main St., Greenfield 317-477-2288 artsandevent@gmail.com artsandevent.com

One-of-a-kind historic space with top floor grand ballroom in the heart of downtown, offering space for weddings, receptions and banquets. Also home to Red Banana gift shop, Studio 2 Photography, Cross Creative Marketing, Rhythms by Stacey Dancing, and numerous individual art studios. Two gallery areas with juried exhibitions.

BROADBAND • DIGITAL TV VOICE • SECURITY • POWER WATER/SEWER

Ten West Center for the Arts 10 W. Church St., Fortville 317-403-0323 andrew@tenwestcenter.org tenwestcenter.org and on Facebook

With focus on young people, offers art, music and dance classes. The most recent stage production was “The Burnt Part Boys.”

ninestarconnect.com 317.326.3131 Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 25

promoting the arts

Twenty North Gallery 20 N. State St., Greenfield 317-477-7664 hancockcountyarts@gmail.com hancockcountyarts.com

Gallery features local and regional art, rotating every two months.

Call for hours of operation.

Second floor, 1920 N. State St., Greenfield

DANCE Dance East Ballet Academy 28 N. East St., Greenfield 317-318-9266 info@danceeastballet.com danceeastballet.com

Consult our A-Z Recycling Guide to find out where to recycle or dispose of unwanted items. A print version is available at the Purdue Extension Office or online at DR-31991062

www.RecycleHancockCounty.com.

Ricochet Cloggers

Hearts Ablaze Clogging Team

Ricochet Cloggers on Facebook

Directed by Cristy Corwin-Howard 3254 W. County Road 400S, Greenfield 317-498-5566 knowhimjc@heartsablaze.me heartsablazeclogging.com Clogging for ages six through adults, beginner and recreational, teams for all ages. Classes are four nights a week. The Hearts Ablaze Inferno team is three-time national champs and was featured at the Circle of Lights at Monument Circle in 2016. Private piano and violin lessons are also available within the studio.

For more information call 317-462-7605 or visit our website at www.recycle hancock county.com

26 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Friends Church, 323 W. Park Ave., Greenfield, 260-409-3005 anniewing1@hotmail.com Classes available for ages 3 and up.

Competitive and recreational levels available. Available for performance.

Rhythms by Stacey

Directed by Stacey Poe 2 W. Main St. Suite 9, Greenfield 317-627-4750 rhythmsbystacey.com Rhythms by Stacey is a dance and fitness studio specializing in social ballroom dancing, Zumba fitness, Booty Barre and POUND Fitness.

Dr. Sharon Paluga

317-861-4550

4037 S. Arbor Ln. New Palestine NewPalestineGentleDentist.com

DR-31991063

Greenfield Banking Co. Gallery

Classes for all ages in ballet, jazz, modern and tap. Performs “Little Things” during the holidays and a spring ballet performance in April.

Wilkerson Dance Studio 1114 W. North St., Greenfield 317-462-1673 wilkersondance@gmail.com wilkersondance.com

Classes for all ages in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, tap and tumbling.

Performances include at Riley Festival, annual Nutcracker and Holiday Spectacular, and Spring Showcase. Also sponsor of Greenfield Golden Girls and Jr. Blue Fusion dance teams.

MUSIC Brandywine Wind

Call Jerry Bell (317-462-7838) or Gary Davis (317-440-0834)

President: Nancy Moore (317-431-4909) greenfieldcommunitychoir@yahoo.com greenfieldcommunitychoir. com and on Facebook Rehearsals are from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Greenfield Christian Church Fellowship Hall, 23 N. East St. Performs four major concerts a year, including during the Riley Festival, and makes many other appearances.

Hancock County Children’s Choir

hancockcountychildrenschoir.org info@hancockcountychildrenschoir.org 317-620-0096 Performances include the Riley Festival, the Christmas Festival of Lights, and the International Children’s Choir Festival in England in 2016.

Greenfield Community Orchestra Angela Mickler (317-467-7510)

Rehearses at Trinity Park United Methodist Church, Greenfield.

DR-31983042

Greenfield’s all-volunteer community orchestra, it regularly performs in various venues throughout the county.

Greenfield Community Choir

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 27

community Spotlight

Charlie Boldt, 3, plays with his father, Ben Boldt, at their home.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

You’re not alone

C

Book unites families with Down syndrome

By Caitlin VanOverberghe | Daily Reporter cvanoverberghe@greenfieldreporter.com

GREENFIELD

Charlie Boldt is one ball of energy.

The 3-year-old bounced around the living room on a recent Saturday afternoon with a bright smile on his face, giggling as his parents chitchatted, and his older brothers played games.

This hopping around isn’t a bother but a celebrated new development, his parents, Ben and Amy Boldt of Greenfield, said. The little boy only recently learned how to jump, a goal he’d been working toward for months with his therapists; evidence, they say, of the little challenges his Down syndrome presents every day.

28 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

But Charlie, like many who live with Down syndrome, has an energy about him that does make him different, they say. It’s a desire to interact with and put a smile on the face of every person he meets.

The Boldts recently shared their experiences with Down syndrome, about the way Charlie has changed their lives, in a book series called “21 Dreams,” a collection of essays by Hoosier parents of kids with Down syndrome. Tuesday marks the seventh volume of the series, created by an Indiana mother of a child with Down syndrome in an effort to raise awareness of the disorder and acceptance of those who live with it.

This year, it features Charlie’s picture and his father’s essay. The 2017 book is slated to be released Tuesday in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. The international celebration is held

This story previously ran in the March 21, 2017 edition of the Daily Reporter.

Joshua Montgomery plays in the children’s section of the Hancock County Public Library.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

About World Down Syndrome Day World Down Syndrome Day is a global day of awareness marked each year on March 21 by events and fundraisers that promote acceptance of those with Down syndrome.

The date of World Down Syndrome Day serves as a nod to the dismorder most commonly caused by a triplicate of the body’s 21st chromosome.

The day was first observed on 2006 and was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2012.

Source: worlddownsyndromeday.org

annually on March 21 — a nod to the genetic makeup of those with an extra 21st chromosome, advocates say.

Events promoting awareness and inclusion are held across the globe every March. Some serve as fundraisers for further research of the disorder while others aim only to bring the families of those with Down syndrome together.

Shared experiences

Down syndrome is one of the most commonly diagnosed chromosomal conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Each year, about 6,000 babies born in the United States — one in every 700 — have Down syndrome, data show.The disorder comes with physical features, like flattened bridges of the nose, almond-shaped eyes that slant upward and tongues that tend to stick out of

the mouth, experts say. Those who live with Down syndrome are often slow to develop motor skills and struggle with hearing loss, sight disorders and heart defects throughout their lives.

Their life expectancies vary but have improved dramatically in recent decades, jumping from 25 in the 1980s to 60 today, according to the National Down Syndrome Society.

But those born with Down syndrome can live perfectly fulfilling lives, said Jennifer Buechler, creator of the “21 Dreams” book series Buechler’s daughter, Lauryn, was born with Down syndrome. The diagnosis brought great fear and anxiety – a sentiment she now often finds highlighted in the essays that fill the pages of the “21 Dreams” books.

Buechler said she created the publication hoping to bring comfort to families facing a Down syndrome diagnosis, while also growing a community around the disorder.

She hopes those who read the book, especially families facing the diagnosis, see it as a tool to meet other families, seek help and advice and celebrate their children.

“It makes this big, big world seem a lot smaller,” Buechler said.

Learning lessons

The Boldts learned Charlie had Down syndrome minutes after he was born – a rarity, as most couples receive the diagnosis during the pregnancy.What felt like moments after her baby’s delivery, a doctor came to Amy Boldt’s bedside. He asked if Charlie looked like her two older sons; if his eyes were the same shape as theirs had been when they were born, if they also stuck out their tongues at such an early age.

She answered his questions, a sense of fear rushing over her. She listened as the doctor told her his suspicious, that Charlie likely had Down syndrome. She cried.

Ben Boldt said he remembers his mind going blank.

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 29

community Spotlight

Charlie Boldt

About “21 Dreams” “21 Dreams” features the stories of 21 Hoosier families whose children live with Down syndrome.

The publication features essays penned by parents and photographs of their children.

Creator Jennifer Buechler started the book series to promote awareness and inclusion of people with disabilities. Each volume’s cover features a portrait of her young daughter, Lauryn, who was born with Down syndrome.

Copies of the series’ seven volumes can be purchased at www.21dreamsproject.com.

Source: www.21dreamsproject.com

“When you hear the words, ‘Down syndrome,’ …that’s really all you hear,” he said. “All of sudden, your mind starts racing with all these questions they can’t possibly answer because they don’t have all the information.”

As Charlie grew, he taught his parents and siblings patience and understanding as the little boy worked to overcome developmental hurtles.

It took Charlie ages to learn how to crawl or to say his first words, his parents said. For a long time, he wouldn’t eat certain foods if he didn’t like the texture, living off of crackers and refusing to touch a banana.

They continue to rely on therapy centers across Central Indiana to help Charlie develop the motor skills most kids learn on their own. He participates in different speech lessons and

Richards Insurance Agency 317-462-7760

Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co. © 2013 Allstate Insurance Co.

30 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

130178

1105 W. Main Greenfield scottrichards@allstate.com

programs that will help ready him for preschool.

“Everything takes longer,” Ben Boldt said. “He’ll get there; he just needs more time to do the things other kids learn very quickly.”

Working for inclusion

Kenney and Cindy Montgomery of Greenfield — whose son, Joshua, was featured in last year’s “21 Dreams” book — learned their son would have Down syndrome 18 weeks into their pregnancy. Doctors noticed an abnormality on an ultrasound that made it appear as though their son had something wrong with his head. They quickly ordered special tests, warning the couple that, at worst, the baby would live only a few hours after birth. They spent one horrible night together awaiting the results,

before doctors reported back to say Joshua would survive, though he would live with Down syndrome.

The Down syndrome diagnosis brought the Montgomerys great relief because it meant their son would live, but, like the Boldts, they had serious questions about what day-to-day life for Joshua would be like.

The Montgomerys rely on local nonprofits, like Families United for Support and Encouragement (FUSE), to help them connect with educational programs to further Joshua’s development. Joshua, now 7, spends school days in a special education classroom at J.B. Stevens Elementary School, where he gets a lot of one-on-one attention, they said.

Joshua also attends art, music and gym classes with children his own age,

something his parents are grateful for as it helps him develop friendships while his peers learn to be inclusive.

Joshua’s siblings aid that process, too, the Montgomerys said: their 9-year-old daughter, Emily, regularly talks with her friends about Down syndrome and gives presentations on the disorder during her classes.

The Montgomerys regularly attend Down syndrome- centered events that allow them to get together with families who truly understand what living with the disorder is like, Cindy Montgomery said.

Writing an essay for “21 Dreams,” reading the essays penned by families year after year, has helped in the same way, she said.

“It’s nice to know you’re not alone,” Cindy Montgomery said.

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 31

community Spotlight

The people who remember Community gathers to remember first local man killed in Vietnam

By Samm Quinn | Daily Reporter squinn@greenfieldreporter.com

Members of the Greenfield American Legion Post give John Modglin a 21-gun salute during a ceremony to honor his death 50 years ago in the Vietnam War.

32 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

This story previously ran in the July 20, 2017 edition of the Daily Reporter.

B GREENFIELD

Veterans and community members gather at the Hancock County Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

By the time supporters back home learned John Modglin had been critically injured in the Vietnam war, the young marine was already dead.

Pvt. 1st Class Modglin was 18 when he died July 18, 1967, aboard the hospital ship, USS Repose, from an injury he received while guarding a naval base in Vietnam.

Two days later, the Daily Reporter printed a story stating the young man’s family had learned he’d been seriously hurt in the war. There were no other details released at the time, and the family doesn’t dwell on them now. It wasn’t until July 22, 1967, that the county learned Modglin hadn’t survived.

This week, dozens of veterans and citizens joined to remember the county’s first Vietnam casualty, 50 years after he took his final breath. They’ll come together 11 more times in the next three years to honor the other county servicemen who gave their lives to the war, which ended in 1975.

The local American Legion post and several other veterans organizations are teaming up to host the services at the Hancock County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where each casualty’s name is listed, along State Road 9.

More than 58,000 men and women were killed in battle between February 1961, when the United States’ military involvement in the war began, and May 1975, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Among them were 12 Hancock County natives, said American Legion Post 119 commander Kurt Vetters.

As the 50th anniversary of each of their deaths passes, Hancock County will stop to remember them, holding memorial services for each to honor what they gave to protect their loved ones back home, Vetters said.

Tuesday’s ceremony was short but meaningful, a mirror of Modglin’s life, organizers said.

Modglin, who grew up in Greenfield and attended Greenfield schools, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in November 1966, just a few months before his 18th birthday. After completing basic training in San Diego, he arrived in Vietnam in spring 1967, writing to his mother to report it was “terribly hot,” newspaper clippings show. Just a few months later, Modglin was dead.

Butch Miller, the local American Legion post’s adjutant, led Tuesday’s ceremony, telling those gathered July 18, 1967, was also a Tuesday.

Miller was in the army then, stationed in Hawaii. That morning, he didn’t wake up worried about dying.

Across the world, Modglin probably wasn’t worried, either, Miller guesses.

Records list his death as non-hostile, meaning he didn’t die in battle, but that listing understates the importance of his sacrifice, Miller said.

“He was doing what his country asked him to do,” Miller said.

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 33

community Spotlight

When Modglin died, the war came to Hancock County, Vetters said. A family was torn apart, and a community mourned the loss of one of its own.

Modglin’s niece, Regina Morse, was living with his mother, Jewel Modglin, when he died. She was only 4 years old, but 50 years later, she vividly remembers the line of police cars pulling up to the family’s home on Fourth Street in Greenfield. Officers knocked on the door and told her grandmother they had terrible news.

“That’s something you don’t easily forget,” Morse said Tuesday as she reflected on that day.

Those gathered prayed for Modglin and other servicemen and women who gave their lives in defense of America’s way of life. Marines present laid a wreath for their comrade at the

At a glance

Eleven Hancock County men died during the Vietnam War, and one was missing in action. They were:

John Modglin on July 18, 1967 Rodger Haste on December 22, 1967 Frank W. Marks on March 9, 1968 Elvin Gose on March 18, 1968 Michael Ebert on March 21, 1968 Vaughn Brown on July 1, 1968 William Brees Jr. on Feb. 10, 1969 Huger Phelps on Feb. 10, 1969 Michael Terry on Oct. 12, 1969 Norris Borgman on Jan. 6, 1970 Mark Draper on July 22, 1970 Robert Harlan II, missing in action on Oct. 25, 1965

Highest Quality Eyewear at the Most Affordable Price

DR-31982465

Your full service eyecare professionals. We offer top of the line lens types & materials including Varilux progressive lenses & Crizal anti-reflective coatings with a full 2 year warranty. Services include complete visual examinations including cataract and glaucoma evaluation. Prescriptions for eye glasses and/or contacts if needed.

Examinations are performed by Dr. Paul Joyner, an independent licensed optometrist with 39 years experience in optometry.

Zoey Woods has specialized in contact lens care and handling, frame selection, and dispensing of eyewear for 22 years.

Christina Farina has 21 years experience in optical. Christina is looking forward to helping you with your eye care needs.

Katherine Lowder has been an optician for 31 years and is American Board of Opticianery certified. Katherine manages the in-store finishing lab and specializes in the fabrication, fitting, dispensing, adjusting and final inspection of eye wear.

Dr. Joyner, Katherine, Zoey, and Christina would like to thank all of our loyal patients. You are the reason for our continued success.

Please stop in to see our expanded frame selection or call to arrange an appointment today.

Thank You.

34 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

1250 N. State • Marsh McKenzie Plaza

462-5949

Veterans pay tribute to John Modglin.

memorial. The Veterans Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute.

As taps rang out through the memorial, Morse wiped tears from her eyes.

She was surrounded by all of her uncle’s

closest living relatives, all of them grateful for Tuesday’s turnout.

Kenneth John Modglin never met his Uncle John, but he grew up learning all about the man whose name he bears

and went on to serve the years his namesake never could, spending time in the army. And when Kenneth had a son of his own, he decided on John for his middle name, vowing to never forget a family member who died too young. And that young man was drawn to military life, too; Kaleb John Modglin now serves in the U.S. Navy.

Seeing dozens of people turn out to memorialize their loved one reminded the family they’re not alone in carrying on Modglin’s legacy.

Remembering the sacrifices Modglin and others made in defense of freedom is the least the community can do on the anniversaries of their deaths, Vetters said, and their fellow veterans will lead those efforts.

“This is who we are,” he said. “We’re the people who remember.”

Maintenance Free Living

New Palestine

Amenities: Community Pool Clubhouse • 24hr Exercise Room • Indoor/Outdoor Fireplace • Large Entertainment Area Landscaped and Irrigated Lawns and Common Areas

Exterior Maintenance by HOA Low Cost Association Fees Nature Area With Paved Walking Trail and Recreation Space

450 W. & 400 S., New Palestine

317-623-7191 | buildgateway.com Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 35

community Spotlight

Thousands gather for the Women’s March on Washington, D.C., ending at the White House on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. (Carolyn Cole | Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Raising her voice

Greenfield native inspired national march

By Caitlin VanOverberghe | Daily Reporter cvanoverberghe@greenfieldreporter.com

36 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

I

WASHINGTON, D.C.

It all happened in a whirl of pink and picket signs.

She’d been feeling discouraged in the days following the presidential election and took to Facebook to invite a few dozen of her friends to demonstrate – not to be political but to stand shoulder to shoulder, to remind themselves of that self-evident truth: All people are created equal.

Teresa Cooper Shook’s idea to bring women to Washington, D.C., for a march for equality spread like wildfire, igniting the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of people who showed up to the nation’s capital last weekend.

Press coverage from across the globe about the Women’s March on Washington – a rally held in D.C. on Jan. 21 following Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States – has credited Shook, a Greenfield native, as being the woman who inspired it all.

This story previously ran in the Jan. 28, 2017 edition of the Daily Reporter.

She’s back home in Hawaii now, her bags unpacked, her cellphone finally silent after what seemed like months of ringing, and Shook’s only now getting a chance to appreciate everything that transpired last weekend.

With an innocent click of a mouse, her thought to take to the streets in a sign of solidity went viral, leaving the little town in Hawaii she now calls home and spreading quickly around the world.

But she said she never imagined a throng of more than 500,000 women would descend on Washington, D.C., with hundreds of thousands more gathering in similar marches around the world — in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. In Indianapolis, just 20 miles from her hometown. They marched in Paris, London and Sydney, too, according to the The Associated Press.

Shook admits the march was her idea, but she’s hesitant to take full responsibility for the outcome; it was a team of activists from across the country who nurtured the idea and helped it grow, she said. But she’ll proudly wear the title of its matriarch, the figurehead behind it all.

G​ reenfield native ​ Teresa Cooper Shook​ addresses a crowd of thousands during the Women’s March on Washington in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21. Below: Cooper Shook’s speech is broadcast to the crowd.​

“I still can’t wrap my mind around it,” Shook said. “I’m humble and honored; it’s something I’ll never forgot.”

Shook grew up in Greenfield and graduated from what was then Greenfield High School in 1969.

After receiving a bachelor’s degrees in English literature and secondary education, Shook decided to attend law school, became an attorney and practiced law in Indiana for about a decade before moving to California and later Hawaii.

She spent her career providing legal advice to people she felt were underserved members of her communities, particularly domestic violence victims who were seeking help and safety.

It’s most likely that experience, her desire to stand up for the marginalized, that inspired the march, she said.

In the hours after the election, Shook

began noticing many of her friends were taking to the Internet to vent frustrations. She wanted to do more, she said; to find a way to help and uplift those who were feeling the most discouraged.

Though Shook didn’t agree with the results of the November presidential election, she respected them, she said; it wasn’t so much Trump’s plans for the country that she disagreed with but the rhetoric he used during the campaigns, particularly the comments about women, minorities and people with disabilities, that had troubled her most.

So, Shook created a Facebook event — a private one that allowed only her friends to invite their friends — asking 40-some friends and colleagues from Hawaii, California, Indiana and other areas of the country to join her in Washington, D.C., the morning following Inauguration Day. She thought, perhaps, if a few dozen felt passionate enough to go, they might bring some attention to their cause.

But by the next morning, 10,000 women had been added to the group, and 10,000 more were waiting for permission to join, Shook said. Her email inbox was flooded with messages, some from woman already thanking her for creating the event and many

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 37

community Spotlight

others offering to lend a hand in the planning if they could.

The page continued to grow in the weeks that followed, and Shook was eventually contacted by professional activists who wanted to help her turn her idea into a rally, a full event with a series of speakers, performers and a social media presence that would help the message spread far and wide.

Shook agreed and willingly signed up to be a member of the national planning committee, while small state committees also formed around the country.

Her role become more akin to motivator-in-chief, she joked. Whenever members of the group began to worry — What if the weather was poor? What if they didn’t receive the proper permits in time? What if no one showed up? No one listened? — Shook stepped in, replying to their comments on the event’s message board with positivity and

Cooper Shook​p​ oses for a photo with Gloria​​Steinem.

The pair met during the ​ Women’s March on Washington in Washington, D.C. ,on Jan. 21.

Our mission is to increase the appreciation of nature and the enjoyment of the outdoors by creating year-round recreational, educational, and camping opportunities for the youth, families, and communities of Hancock and surrounding counties.

JENSEN'S PAWN SHOP

DR-31991589

38 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31991596

2675 S 600 E, Greenfield

www.namelesscreekyouthcamp.com

encouragement, even when she shared the same reservations.

With a plane ticket purchased and a hotel room booked, Shook spent the day before the march traveling the nearly 5,000 miles from Hawaii to Washington, D.C. Her fears that no one would show up on Jan. 21 melted away as she took the stage that morning and looked out over the sea of people gathered — outnumbering the crowd that turned out to see Trump be sworn into office, experts say.

She never could have imagined it would grow so big.

Throughout the hours-long rally and the march that followed, Shook met famed actresses, musicians and politicians, posed for photos with the likes of Gloria Steinem, a feminist activist who gained national recognition in the women’s rights movements of the 60s and 70s. She clasped hands with and accepted hugs from hundreds of women

who called her an inspiration, a new generation’s Susan B. Anthony.

Across the globe at satellite marches in every state of the union, even more women were expressing their appreciation for the movement Shook inspired.

In Indianapolis, where Shook was born, thousands of people gathered for a march near the Statehouse. In Hana, the little Hawaiian town she now calls home, about 120 of the city’s 1,000 residents took to the streets, many of them friends of Shook’s who were moved by her message of unity, said Doris Buckley, a friend from the island.

Then, it was over a quickly as it started, the signs put away, the marchers gone home.

But what she started resonated.

Shook’s certain the movement the march’s organizers have promised will be life’s next big adventure for her.

She’s not sure what exactly that ad-

venture will look like, but she’s waiting for it with arms open wide.

Those who knew Shook as a teen say they aren’t surprised the lively girl from the final graduating class at Greenfield High School went on to do great things.

Marciann McClarnon-Miller of Greenfield said she remembers Shook, her former classmate, as an accomplished and hardworking young woman.

Shook often describes herself, even now, as a wanderer, McClarnon-Miller said. As years and miles separated them, McClarnon-Miller said she watched with admiration as Shook continued to follow her dreams, even as they took her far away from her Indiana home and put her in the march’s national spotlight.

“She never stopped herself from going where her heart was leading her,” McClarnon-Miller said, “and her heart certainly led her to this.”

Schedule your next service appointment with us today (317) 462-7068

DR-31985615

MUEGGEINC.COM

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 39

community Spotlight

Feeding a need

Nonprofit farm partners with AARP to battle hunger

By Rorye Hatcher, Noelle Steele and Samm Quinn dr-editorial@greenfieldreporter.com

Keely Butrum, board chairman of Brandywine Creek Farms, left, and Jonathan Lawler, executive director.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

40 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

This story previously ran in the May 11, 2017 edition of the Daily Reporter.

A special cart available for seniors to use while harvesting fruits and vegetables. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

H GREENFIELD

Hers was a heartbreaking story.

The woman told Jonathan Lawler she had to choose between paying for her medication or her food. Every time she ran out of her monthly Social Security benefits, she resorted to buying cans of dog food — the only ones not marked “unsafe for human consumption” — from a nearby convenience store.

It was a story that spurred the founder of nonprofit Brandywine Creek Farms to seek out a way to help senior citizens facing poverty put food on their tables; this week, the farm announced a partnership with the Indiana AARP to do just that.

The AARP Education Garden, a 14-acre plot of land on the 77-acre farm at 5332 N. County Road 400E in Greenfield, is dedicated to cultivating food reserved for aging Hoosiers who might not be able to afford healthy fresh fruits and vegetables.

The garden will serve as part of Brandywine Creek Farms’ Still Growing Seniors program,

which educates seniors about growing their own food while helping to provide them with fresh produce.

Seniors are encouraged to take part in planting and tending to the garden, but they are not required to do so in order to purchase or receive produce, Lawler said.

The latest effort is two-part; primarily, the garden will cultivate crops specifically for seniors who face poverty or are at risk of poor nutrition. AARP Indiana will work with the farm to identify Hoosiers in need.

Additionally, the program will offer opportunities to AARP volunteers both young and young at heart to help with the planting and harvesting, part of the AARP’s mission to keep aging citizens active.

Work on the garden has already started, and volunteers are invited to join the Lawlers for the inaugural planting day at 10 a.m. Saturday at the farm.

People of all ages are invited to help plant some 100,000 tomato plants and 75,000 pepper plants; if they don’t want to or can’t dig in, they’re welcome to tour the farm instead. About 15 AARP Indiana employees and volunteers have pledged to come and lend a hand on Saturday, communications director Jason Tomsci said.

The garden, in its first season, builds on an ongoing effort by the Lawler family to grow food for struggling Hoosier families. Lawler’s effort to create a local farm to feed the hungry began in fall 2015 when his son told him about the makeshift food pantry at Eastern Hancock High School.

Students stock the pantry for peers who might otherwise not eat during weekends or breaks from school.

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 41

community Spotlight

“They are very unlikely to say, ‘I’m hungry. I need food.’

Part of it is pride, and part of it is they came from a generation where you just don’t walk around talking about your needs and what you don’t have.”

— Linda Hart

DR-31991340

Lawler had a vision: he could turn his farm into a nonprofit effort, growing food to be donated to local food pantries to feed his neighbors struggling to put food on the table. Now, the produce grown at the rural Hancock County farm is split three ways — one-third is sold wholesale, one-third is sold at about half market price through a low-income access program, and the remaining third is donated to individuals, county food pantries and soup kitchens.

The first goods were harvested in 2015; today, the farm provides some 411,000 pounds of fresh produce and farm-fresh eggs to area agencies dedicated to feeding Central Indiana families.

Since launching, the farm has partnered with dozens of organizations and agencies across the region,

including Hancock Regional Hospital and others.

Lawler said in the beginning, he had no idea how many Hoosiers struggle with food insecurity — or not knowing where their next meal will come from.

But it became clear to him and those working for the farm the first time they made a delivery directly to the people eating the produce, he said. They were shocked by the need — and the thankfulness — of the clients of Good Shepherd Lutheran Community, an organization providing food and other needs to seniors and people with disabilities. When Brandywine Creek Farms representatives arrived with fresh produce, about 70 people were lined up, waiting for their share.

No more sticky denture creams and pastes!

Fletcher Dental has a comfortable, secure alternative to those messy denture adhesives. The Mini Dental Implant System is placed in less than two hours and can be followed by your favorite lunch.

Celebrating your Anniversary?

Welcoming a new bundle of joy?

This minimally invasive surgery is performed in one office visit and usually requires no sutures or recovery time.

Just Got Engaged?

Call us today for more information! 317-477-3246

42 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31958590

No matter the occasions, let us help you share this excitement!

We offers different ad size options to help announce your special day the way you want!

Call for your complimentary consultation.

James Fletcher, DDS Matt Fletcher, DDS 86 W. Muskegon Drive, Suite A, Greenfield, IN 46140

317-462-6560

“That outpouring of gratitude was a light-bulb moment for us,” Brandywine Creek Farms board member Keely Butrum said.

Nearly 15 percent of Indiana families don’t have regular access to nutritious and affordable food, according to the Food and Research Action Center.

One in 12 Hoosier seniors doesn’t know when they will eat their next meal, the Central Indiana Council on Aging adds.

Fixed incomes, unreliable transportation and medical problems can hinder seniors’ ability to purchase and prepare food on their own, the agency reports.

Linda Hart, executive director of Hancock County Senior Services, knows well the challenges many of the county’s aging residents.

She lauds any effort to make it easier for seniors to get the things they need, especially since many are hesitant to ask for a handout, she said.

“They are very unlikely to say, ‘I’m hungry. I need food,’” she said. “Part of it is pride, and part of it is they came from a generation where you just don’t walk around talking about your needs and what you don’t have.”

Giving seniors more access to nutritious food is a practical way to support them, Hart added.

Butrum said seniors often refuse to accept free food, and the low-income access program allows them to spread their food dollar farther while maintaining their dignity.

But perhaps more important is the farm’s status as a volunteer site, officials said.

Encouraging seniors to get out and stay active — even for just a brief volunteer project, like picking vegetables — has long been a part of Senior Services’ mission, and the garden at Brandywine Creek Farms complements that effort to keep seniors connected to their communities, she said.

“Once (seniors) get to where they cannot drive, their world actually becomes more and more narrow,” she said. “Isolation becomes a real issue.”

Lawler said working with national agencies like the AARP gives him hope that his project to provide food to the hungry could take off across the country.

“I believe diversified agriculture can feed everyone in this country,” he said.

“The American farmer is the solution to end hunger.”

We care about our

Community.

It is a pleasure serving you and we appreciate your business over the years.

DR-31991600

We are here to help you grow your business & keep you updated on your community.

317-462-5528 www.greenfieldreporter.com Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 43

community Spotlight

Making memories

A

Nonprofit camp funds outdoor opportunities for youth

By Rorye Hatcher, Noelle Steele and Samm Quinn dr-editorial@greenfieldreporter.com

Kids attend the Plug Into Nature summer camp at nonprofit Nameless Creek Youth Camp.

HANCOCK COUNTY

Austin Kincer spotted three white-tailed deer darting through the woods on the very first day.

When his mom picked him up from camp Monday afternoon, he chattered on about the encounter all the way home. Later that week, Austin used a quick-setting plaster to capture the impression of a deer’s footprint in the wooded acres of Nameless Creek Youth Camp, locking his memory into a keepsake.

Those experiences are at the heart of the nonprofit’s mission to support local families each year with an experience that, for those who can’t afford it, doesn’t cost them a dime.

Austin, 11, and his brother, Caleb, 12, attended the Plug Into Nature summer camp for the first time this week in the

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

PUBLIC WELCOME

Collaborating with community partners to promote mental wellness and fight addiction.

• 18 Holes • Driving Range • Specialize in Golf Outings and Fundraisers Availability 7 days a week • Children’s Clinics

98 E. North Street, Suite 204 • Greenfield (317) 462-2877 Office.mhphc@gmail.com mentalhealthpartnershc.com

44 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31991343

DR-31991614

SUICIDE PREVENTION • NAVIGATION SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT

Ask about our Customer Value Card

600 N 400 E • Greenfield 326-2226 www.arrowheadgc.com

This story previously ran in the July 14, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

Imagin GREENFIELD-CENTRAL SCHOOLS... more.

GR E E N F I E L D - C E N T R A L S C H O O L S . . .

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL GREENFIELD-CENTRALSCHOOLS...

SCHOOLS...

Imagine Imagine Imagine more.

Imagine more. more.

Explore Imagine more. more.

GRE E N F IE L D - CE N TRAL SCH O O L S...

Explore Explore more.

Explore more. more. Imagine more.

Explore Explore more.

Achiev more. Achieve more.

Achieve Achieve more. more. more. more.

Explore Schools, In Greenfield-Central Achieve Achieve more. more.

GRE E N F IE L D - CE N TRAL SCH O O L S...

students imagine and explo In Greenfield-Central Schools, students imagine and explore amazing avenues for achievement—from preschool through gradu In amazing Greenfield-Central Schools, students imagine and explore avenues for achievement—from preschool through graduation.

In Greenfield-Central Schools, students imagine and explore

more.

amazing avenues for achievement—from preschool through graduation. avenues forRibbon, achievement—from preschool • National National Blue Ribbon, Four Star, and “A” -Rated Schools •amazing Blue Four Star, and “A”through -Ratedgraduation.

Schools • •National BlueofRibbon, Four Star, and “A”-Rated Schools Four tiers developmental learning approaches: K–3, 4–6, 7–8, 9–12 • Four tiers of developmental learning approaches: K–3, 4–6, 7– Schools National Ribbon, Four Star, and “A”-Rated •• •Four tiers ofBlue developmental learning approaches: K–3, 4–6, 7–8, 9–12 Specialized programs for the full spectrum of exceptional learners In Greenfield-Central Schools, students imagine and explore • •Specialized Four tiers of developmental learning approaches: K–3, 7–8, 9–12learn Specialized programs the full spectrum of4–6, exceptional •• forinthe fullfor spectrum of exceptional learners Innovativeprograms academics science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) amazing avenues for achievement—from preschool through graduation.

• •Innovative Specialized programs for theathletic, full spectrum of exceptional learners •• academics in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Award-winning music, drama, and academic teams Innovative academics in science, technology, engineering, and m National Blue Ribbon,drama, Four Star, and “A” -Rated Innovative academics in science, engineering, math (STEM) •• •Award-winning music, athletic, and academic teams6–12 students imagine andand explore 1:1 blended learning environment fortechnology, students inSchools grades •• Four Award-winning music, drama, athletic, and academic teams tiers oflearning developmental learning approaches: K–3, 6–12 4–6,teams 7–8, 9–12 • 1:1 blended environment for students in grades Award-winning music, drama, athletic, and academic amazing avenues for achievement—from preschool through graduation.

Important Dates: ••• Specialized 1:1blended blended learning environment for students in grades 6–12 programs forenvironment the full spectrum of exceptional learners 1:1 learning for11th students in grades 6–12 Kindergarten Round-Up opportunities on April and 13th.

Important Dates: • High-Ability Innovative academics in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) • National Blue Ribbon, Four Star, and “A” -Rated Schools testing (grades 1–9) for students new to G-C on May 6th.

Kindergarten Round-Up opportunities on April 11th and 13th.

Important Dates: Important Dates: • Award-winning music, drama, athletic, and academic teams High-Ability testing (grades 1–9) forlearning students new to G-C on May 6th.

• Four tiers of developmental approaches: K–3, 4–6, 7–8, 9–12 In Greenfield-Central Schools, students and explore Kindergarten opportunities Aprilimagine 11th and 13th. has Open Enrollment • Greenfield-Central 1:1 blendedRound-Up learning environment foronstudents inApril grades 6–12and 13th.

Kindergarten Round-Up opportunities on 11th amazing avenues for achievement—from preschool • Specialized programs for the full ofthrough exceptional High-Ability testing (grades 1–9) forspectrum students new to G-C graduation. on May learners 6th.

Achieve more.

In Greenfield-Central Schools,

through August 1st.

Greenfield-Central has(grades Open Enrollment High-Ability testing 1–9) for students new to G-C on May 6th.

Important Dates: • Innovative academics inFour science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM •through NationalAugust Blue Ribbon, Star, and “A”-Rated Schools 1st.

Kindergarten Round-Up opportunities on April 11th and 13th.

Registration begins on July 20th.

Greenfield-Central has Open Enrollment • Four tiers of developmental learning approaches: K–3, 7–8, 9–12 • Award-winning music, drama, andto academic teams High-Ability testing (grades 1–9) forathletic, students new G-C on 4–6, May 6th.

Greenfield-Central has Open Enrollment begins1st. on Julyfull 20th. through August •Registration Specialized programs for the spectrum of exceptional learners • 1:1 Contact blended learning environment for students in grades 6–12 G-C Schools to learn August 1st.

•through Innovative academics in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Greenfield-Central has Open Enrollment

more. more. more. more. more. more. more.

Registration begins on July 20th.

•Contact Award-winning music, athletic, and academic teams through August 1st. drama, G-C Schools to learn Important Dates: begins onfor July 20th.

•Registration 1:1 blended learning environment students in grades 6–12 Kindergarten Round-Up opportunities on April 11th and 13th.

Registration begins on July 20th.

Contact G-C(grades Schools tostudents learn new to G-C on May 6th.

Important Dates: High-Ability testing 1–9) for Kindergarten Round-Up opportunities on April 11th and 13th.

Contact G-C Schools tonewlearn High-Ability testing (grades 1–9) for students to G-C on May 6th.

Greenfield-Central has Open Enrollment 110 West North Street , Greenfield, IN 46140 317.462.4434 through August 1st.www.gcsc.k12.in.us Greenfield-Central has Open Enrollment Contact G-C Schools to learn 317.462.4434 www.gcsc.k12.in.us

110 West August North Street through 1st., Greenfield, IN 46140

Registration begins onwww.gcsc.k12.in.us July 20th.

317.462.4434 Registration begins on July 20th.

G-C Schools full-pg Ad_Daily Reporter.indd 1

110 West North Street , Greenfield, IN 46140 317.462.4434 www.gcsc.k12.in.us

G-C Schools full-pg Ad_Daily Reporter.indd 1

3/28/17 10:30 AM

3/28/17 10:30 AM

110 West North Street , Greenfield, IN 46140 Contact G-C learn Contact G-CSchools Schools totowww.gcsc.k12.in.us learn 317.462.4434

G-C Schools full-pg Ad_Daily Reporter.indd 1

DR-31991001

nonprofit summer camp’s seventh year.

A record 50 third- through fifth-graders joined six teenage counselors and a small army of volunteers for the event, a weeklong immersion into nature, outdoor activities and sports for county children who might not otherwise be able to afford a summer camp experience.

Austin and Caleb’s mother, Amber Seacat, calls the opportunity a blessing.

She learned about the camp -- and the scholarship opportunities for youngsters who qualify -- from Jerry Bell, president of the camp’s board of directors, she said.

She was excited to learn about the program, thinking it would be a great opportunity for her sons to be able to attend camp. Without the funding made available for families in need, attending this week wouldn’t have “Every day is a been a possibility. Instead, story they get the single mom has been to tell and a delighted all week by her sons’ stories. memory they “Every day is a stoget to keep.” ry they get to tell and a memory they get to keep,” — Jerry Bell she said.

Campers learn about topics relating to the outdoors from experts all week long at the 30-acre site, 2675 S. County Road 600E. This year, they learned bicycle and campfire safety tips and received a demonstration on outdoor cooking.

Along the way, the campers learn skills that don’t make it onto the activity list -- when to lead and how to follow, organizers said.

But of course, there is plenty of time for fun.

Charlottesville Fire Department firefighters helped end the week with the much-beloved water day, which includes a water balloon fight, squirt gun battles and splashing in the creek.

110 West North Street , Greenfield, IN 46140

G-C Schools full-pg Ad_Daily Reporter.indd 1

3/28/17 1 3/28/17 10:30 AM

G-C Schools full-pg Ad_Daily Reporter.indd 1

317.462.4434 www.gcsc.k12.in.us

110 West North Streetwww.gcsc.k12.in.us , Greenfield, IN 46140 317.462.4434

110 West North Street , Greenfield, IN 46140 G-C Schools full-pg Ad_Daily Reporter.indd 1

G-C Schools full-pg Ad_Daily Reporter.indd 1

3/28/17 10:30 AM

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 45

3/28

community Spotlight

County school officials help camp leaders connect with children who could benefit from a scholarship to attend, said director Martha Haynes. Later, enrollment is opened to anyone else who wants to join, she said. About half of the youths attending the camp received partial or full scholarship funding, Bell said.

The campers aren’t worried about who got to come to camp in what way -- they are more interested in finding deer and raccoon tracks and trying their hand at arts and crafts alongside newfound friends.

And that’s just how organizers want it to be.

They work hard to find funding for the summer camp, getting donations from churches, local philanthropic organizations and applying for grant

funding, Haynes said.

“It’s an absolutely remarkable achievement for people in the community,” said Benny Eaton, vice president of Nameless Creek’s board of directors.

Nameless Creek boasts an all-volunteer staff, and no tax money is used for the operation of Plug into Nature camp, Eaton added.

It’s more than just kickball and camp songs, Bell said. The kids who come back year after year learn about topics that could lead them down a career path, and they forge friendships with both fellow campers and their counselors, he said.

Caleb and Austin have come home telling tales of their activities and their triumphs during the “X Games,” the playfully competitive sports portion of camp, Seacat said. And every morn-

Pendleton Family Dentistry

is a place for extraordinary service and beautiful smiles.

We strive to provide a positive dental experience for families, and we are now accepting new patients. Complimentary consultations and second opinions are welcomed!

Dr. Jennifer Southard

DR-31991059

Dr. Leland C. Wilhoite

7073 S. State Road 67, Pendleton, IN 46064 765-778-2176 PendletonFamilyDentistry.com

46 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

ing, they’ve been eager to clamber into the family car and spend another day playing and learning at the southeast Hancock County camp.

Campers had to head home early on Tuesday because of the stormy weather, but most of the kids took the thunder and lightning in stride, said board member Lymon Thompson.

He gave the credit to Haynes, who he said is ready for any turn of events at the youth camp, weather-related or otherwise. He said the camp is lucky to have such an organized leader who is willing to volunteer her time.

Campers and counselors alike are already making plans to come back next year. Caleb loved playing sports with friends and spending time in the woods.

“It’s a great place to be,” he said.

Hancock County Senior Services

Hancock Area Rural Transit

In-home non-medical support service for older adults and those with disabilities.

Transportation for county residents birth to 100+ years of age.

Homemaker, Respite/ Assisted Care Outreach, Volunteer Services Information & Referral, and Handyman

Passenger transportation to appointments, grocery shopping, food pantries, and other destinations.

317.462.3758 317.462.1103

Reservation Required

Serving older adults and disabled residents of Hancock County since 1978 with special services and programs to help them maintain their pride, self-worth, and independence.

1870 Fields Boulevard, Greenfield, IN 46140 www.hcssi.org

DR-31987479

Youth Services Boys and Girls Clubs of Hancock County

Hancock County 4-H

P.O. Box 115, 715 E. Lincoln St., Greenfield, IN 46140 Contact: Chad Hudson, 317-4623704; chudson@bgchc.com

802 North Apple Street, Greenfield, IN 46140 Contact: 317-462-1113

extension.purdue.edu/hancock/ pages/default.aspx

bgchc.com

Nameless Creek Youth Camp

Boy Scouts of Hancock County

namelesscreekyouthcamp.com

crossroadsbsa.org

Contact: Keri Robi, 765-489-4552 ext. 340; krobi@crossroadsbsa.org

Girl Scouts of Hancock County

2675 S. County Road 600E P.O. Box 452, Greenfield, IN 46140 Contact: president Jerry Bell, 317-652-2033

hancockcountygirlscouts.org girlscoutsindiana.org 230 W. North St., Greenfield, IN 46140; 317-462-5402

Welcome Home

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

A beautiful setting to come home to each day.

Featuring custom home sites and builders who care.

You Can Make a Difference

in your community and your world Become a part of the Rotary Club of Greenfield

davesegobuilders.com carringtonhomes.com daveparishhomes.com joynerhomesonline.com DR-31983071

DR-31987952

(Meets at Noon on Thursdays at Ponderosa)

Learn more about the Rotary experience... contact Gray, 317-462-5536 Learn Jeannine more about thePresident Rotary experience… or Linda Evans, Membership Chair 317-605-6057

Visit us at www.rotaryclubgreenfield.org

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 47

initiatives in faith

Cultivating Hope

T

Center taking shape to help women exiting trafficking

By Anne Durham Smith | Daily Reporter annesmith@greenfieldreporter.com

INDIANAPOLIS

Throughout the years, the former Marion County Home at U.S. 52 and Carroll Road has housed different types of people with dreams. In the late 1990s, Russian orphans learned sewing and carpentry there. In recent years, college students have prepared there for standardized exams to earn credit.

Hubert Nolen hopes the 210,000-square-foot center at 11850 Brookville Road (U.S. 52) will one day house a new set of dream-seekers: women escaping sex trafficking and finding the skills to live healthy, productive lives.

Experts call it called modern-day slavery — the victimization of people in trafficking for labor or, often, sex. The National Human Trafficking Hotline points to 5,748 human trafficking cases reported in 2016. According to its website, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Trafficking in Persons, Indiana ranked in the top half of the states. It finished behind 21 other states and the District of Columbia with 66 cases.

“I think what (many people) would find most surprising is the prevalence,” said Jeanne L. Allert,

48 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

founder and executive director of The Samaritan Women, a Christian organization in the Baltimore area that ministers to survivors of human trafficking. “We would like to think that if we’re just more educated, or we live in the suburbs or we have a certain amount of income, that we would be exempt from this.”

Nolen wants to offer a place where women exiting trafficking can begin healing and obtain education and training to help them pursue careers.

Volunteers have been at the site this month cleaning and preparing. Nolen estimates it could take as much as $35,000 a month to operate the center — possibly more as professional staff are added. But he said as early as October that half to two-thirds of the 2017 funds were in. “It enables us to hit the ground running,” he said.

In February, he stepped away from his role as lead pastor of Brookville

This story previously ran in the January 14, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

Road Community Church, the job he’d had for 33 years since the church’s founding. He said he did so because he felt God was prompting him to lead a new effort, the Hope Center. Less than a year later, the Hope Center has a campus.

In late 2016, Nolen secured an agreement to lease the campus at 11850 Brookville Road. The site includes dorm rooms — some of them furnished — and a kitchen, cafeteria, coffee shop and auditorium. The campus also features a barn and a greenhouse.

Melissa Yao, spiritual care director of The Samaritan Women, has toured the Hope Center site and likes what she sees.

“It’s got tremendous potential,” she said. “It has a tremendous amount of challenges as well.”

Nolen’s lease agreement with the Illinois-based Institute of Basic Life Principles runs through Dec. 31.

What follows after that is the option of renewing the lease or buying the property after that with help from donors. The institute owns the property and operated the International Home for Children that once housed Russian orphans here. More recently, it was home to Verity, a faith-based program to help college-age students earn credit through standardized tests.

Meanwhile, Nolen has been leading a weekly study for people to learn more about the issue. He’s asking those who want to volunteer at the Hope Center after the women move in to go through this training, even if they’re offering to help clean or work in some other less interactive role.

At last count eight churches are represented at the study. About 10 churches are pledging support to the effort. Their contributions are vital, as Nolen anticipates it will cost $1,500 per woman per month to provide

Hubert Nolen talks about the Hope Center in the auditorium of the facility at 11850 Brookville Road. He led hundreds of potential donors on tours of the facility over several months while he worked to secure a lease agreement. With that in place, he feels even more support will materialize.

Learn more

Find out more about the Hope Center at hopecenterindy.com or at the Hope Center Indy page on Facebook.

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 49

initiatives in faith

Donated clothes and accessories stock a second-floor “boutique” where women can select free clothes when they arrive at Hope Center Indy. A firstfloor boutique, Redefined Hope, sells clothes, shoes and jewelry to the public to raise money for the center.

education, health care, food and other needs.

In addition to contributed funds, Nolen hopes to raise money and awareness through 5Ks and further defray costs through the coffee shop and through the online shop portion of hopecenterindy.com, where supporters can offer a $50 sponsorship to help a woman or buy a T-shirt or tumbler for themselves.

Staff will be another cost of operating the center. Nolen anticipates hiring a program director and a mental health counselor. Each woman will develop an educational plan, and volunteers will help tutor the women.

If there are several women with a common need, say a particular level of English or math class, the center will work to arrange that.

The eventual capacity of the facility could reach up to 150 women, but Nolen anticipates 12 or fewer in the first pilot group.

Yao and Allert recommend that Nolen and his team start small — they see about six beds at the average facility — and carefully define their mission and program before bringing in residents.

“You have to literally script out what’s happening every hour of the day,” Allert said. “When law enforcement is looking to make a placement, they want to know what your program is.”

For the moment, though, the focus is on preparing the facility.

Volunteers have been at work already

You have a choice... for your child’s education

St. Michael Catholic School Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade Children of all Faiths Welcome Send your child to a faith based school that provides a quality learning experience!

DR-31987957

Government vouchers are accepted at St. Michael.

Call us to find out how you can use your voucher at St. Michael.

For more information contact Ruth Hittel, Principal 317-462-6380 www.stmichaelsgrfld.org

50 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

in the first weeks of 2017 preparing the site — painting rooms, shampooing carpets, washing and folding linens and arranging furniture.

Sheila Sexton, Hope Center volunteer coordinator, said more than 50 people have helped there over the past four weeks. When the focus shifts from facility to programming, she said, “the need for volunteers will continue, but the type of volunteers will change once the building is together.”

Allert said those who want to support such a facility need to be careful to ask what is needed and not assume what is needed; trying to drop off unneeded items, for example, would only complicate the work.

“The support from the community needs to be the right kind of support,” she said.

Calvary Baptist Church

• • 1450 W. Main Street Greenfield, IN 46140 • 1450 W. Main Street IN 46140 1450 W.317-462-4586 Main Street, Greenfield, • Greenfield, IN 46140 317-462-4586 Pastor Roger Kinion • 317-462-4586 cbc@cbcgreenfield.org • Pastor Roger Kinion www.cbcgreenfield.org Pastor Roger Kinion

Calvary Baptist Church Associate Pastor Paul George cbc@cbcgreenfield.org cbc@cbcgreenfield.org S CHEDULEwww.cbcgreenfield.org OF S ERVICE S www.cbcgreenfield.org

Sunday

Many of the rooms in the Hope Center’s dormitory area already have furniture in them.

Ages 2 through kindergarten Preschool A 2Beka Curriculum • •and Ages 2 through kindergarten Ages years through 4th grade 6 am - 6 •pm, Monday through Preschool and AFriday Beka Curriculum • Preschool and A Beka Curriculum Private Christian Kindergarten • 6 am 6 pm, Monday through Friday • 6 am - 6 pm, Monday through Friday Daycare Registered• Registered Daycare since 1994since 1994 • • Before Privateand Christian Kindergarten after school care PARENTS ALWAYS WELCOME!

Wednesday

8:00 am - Early Worship 6:30 - Bible StudyS Schedule ofpm Services CHEDULE OF ERVICE 9:15 am - Sunday School FUEL (Student Ministry) Sunday Wednesday 10:30 am - Morning Worship Friends, 8:00 am Early 6:30 pm--Bible Bible Study Study 6:00 pm8:00 - Evening am --Worship EarlyWorship WorshipMission 6:30 pm 9:15 am -- Sunday SundaySchool School RA’s, GA’s FUEL 9:15Ignite am FUEL

S Sunday

S

Wednesday

(Children’s Ministry) (Student Creative Ministry) Worship (StudentMinistry) Ministry) (Student 10:30 amArts - Morning

10:30 am - Morning Worship 6:00 pm - Evening Worship Ignite Ignite

Children’s Choir/Ministry 6:00 pm - Evening Worship

DR-31987844

Children’s Choir (Student Creative ArtsMinistry Ministry) Children’s Choir/Ministry

Special Sections - Discover 2013 Calvary Baptist half pg process wn

Noah’s Ark Daycare is a full-time daycare program sponsored by Calvary Baptist Church for children ages 2 years through 4th grade. Our dedicated staff works to provide quality care for children of working parents in a safe, loving and Christian environment.

Mission Mission Friends, Friends, CIAGA’s RA’s,

(Children in Ministry) Action) (Children’s

• • Transportation Registered Daycare since 1994 to and from school is available

Director ofday Noah’s Ark Daycare: care through summer and breaks • • Full PARENTS ALWAYS WELCOME! (Fall,Jodie Winter, Spring) Fuller • PARENTS ALWAYS Director ofWELCOME! Noah’s Ark

Daycare:

Fuller Jodie Fuller Director of Noah’sJodie Ark Daycare:

317-467-0744

www.noahsarkdaycare.org

317-467-0744

www.noahsarkdaycare.org

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 51

initiatives in faith

From left, Lois Hoff, Mary Lou Trees and her daughter, Mary Jo McConnell, pose in the garden at Faith Lutheran Church.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

Bountiful blessing Church garden yields harvest of sharing

By Anne Durham Smith | Daily Reporter annesmith@greenfieldreporter.com

52 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

A GREENFIELD

About 10 years ago, a few friends at Faith Lutheran Church looked at the grassy area behind the church building and thought it could be something more.

“We had three acres back there,” said church member Mike Schildmier. “We were either paying somebody to mow it or had to mow it.”

What the friends envisioned instead was a garden. Mary Lou Trees admits that first attempt was “kind of pitiful,” really just a row of tomatoes coupled with some cucumbers grown by her daughter, church secretary Mary Jo McConnell — some of the best cucumbers Trees has eaten.

But the garden plot, later dubbed the “Garden of Eat’n,” would expand from that starting point — in rows planted, variety of vegetables grown and number of people fed.

These days, a couple of acres north of the church annually bear cabbage, green beans, tomatoes, lots of sweet corn, and other plantings that may change from year to year.

This story previously ran in the June 17, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

The garden at Faith Lutheran Church

Produce grown by members of Faith Lutheran Church is often shared with the congregation. Those who take home vegetables donate to help cover garden costs. Some of the produce is also shared with organizations that serve the hungry.

This year’s garden includes lima beans, beets, kale, cabbages, onions, lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, zucchini and more than 50 tomato plants.

Other churches also have dug up part of their land for gardens. Last year New Hope Church of the Nazarene east of Greenfield offered 20-by20-foot garden plots to community members, encouraging growers to donate a portion of their produce to service organizations.

Members of St. John United Church of Christ tend a few garden plots at their church in the Cumberland area.

Delores Davis, 77, of Greenfield said church members wanted to start a

garden, so she jumped in and is part of it. A church member plows the field for the group in the spring.

Davis plants a few vegetables to use for her own family’s Thanksgiving meal. She rents the church building for the day and prepares the family meal there because their home in Greenfield is too small, she said.

Another woman at the church plants corn to sell as decoration in their fall festival.

At Faith Lutheran, members may grow a parcel for their own use, but much of the acreage is for growing food that is shared with the congregation and with organizations feeding the hungry.

Those who tend the garden try to pick the produce on Saturdays so it’s fresh for the congregation Sunday morning. A couple of tables inside hold crates filled with ears of corn lined up in a row, piles of green bell peppers, heads of cabbage and other vegetables.

Members who take some of the vegetables home make a donation, which helps buy seed for the next garden.

Occasionally a local business donates plants as well.

The gardeners also take vegetables to Hancock County Food Pantry and Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen.

Tom Ferguson, president of Hancock County Food Pantry, said the

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 53

initiatives in faith

How to help

Find out more about helping out at Faith Lutheran Church’s garden by calling the church at 317-462-4609.

and corn, onions and peppers are frochurch has over the years provided zen. Relish and salsa also are made at a significant amount of fresh garden the soup kitchen from the harvest. produce, such as a pickup truck full of “We are very grateful to get the prosweet corn. duce because fresh is “This allows our “We’re recruiting new always nutritionally shoppers access better than frozen to fresh garden people. We’ve got a or canned,” Ebbert produce and even few. We need more. wrote in an email to enough to freeze for the Daily Reporter. future use,” he wrote It’s very enjoyable “Most of the time, in an email to the work ... It’s just kind enough produce Daily Reporter. of evolved from a comes in to also give Jill Ebbert, execusome to the patrons tive director of Kenlittle thing. We just to take home. Faith neth Butler Memorineed to keep it going.” Lutheran Church is al Soup Kitchen, said indeed a great blessher organization has — Phyllis Kingen ing to us.” also benefited from Grateful for that gift of fresh Faith Lutheran’s bounty, which yields produce, volunteers from the soup fresh produce and herbs for the kitchkitchen helped church members pick en. The herbs are dried for seasoning, tomatoes are made into juice for soups, green beans last summer. Their labor

BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH 1610 S. State Street, Greenfield www.BethelBCG.org Service Times Sunday Morning Early Worship 8:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 AM Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 PM Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 PM Home of

"The Living Word"

Pastor Randall Parker

DR-31987768

Broadcast every Sunday morning 10:30 am on WHMB

"Your source for old-fashioned Gospel preaching!"

54 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

was welcomed by the gardeners at the church, who range in age from their sixties to their nineties.

“It’s an old group out there, but we love it,” said Trees, 93. She remembers helping tend the family garden and fruit trees as she was growing up in Fortville. These days she grows some tomatoes at the church for her own canning but mostly gardens there for others, finding her garden work to be a way to give even if she doesn’t have a lot of money to donate.

“I just like to go down there and work when I can,” she said. “You feel like you’re helping people — that’s the main thing.”

Schildmier, regarded by many of the garden crew as its core, works the land each year, getting it ready for planting. In his mid 60s, he’s one of the younger gardeners.

Mary Lou Trees and her daughter, Mary Jo McConnell, walk in the garden at Faith Lutheran Church.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

“We’re just kind of doing it for fun,” he said. “As of right now, we enjoy it.”

Still, planting, weeding and picking everything is a big job. He says they’re trying to recruit some younger garden assistants to join the effort and share that enjoyment.

“We’re recruiting new people.

We’ve got a few. We need more,” said Phyllis Kingen.

“It’s very enjoyable work ... It’s just kind of evolved from a little thing.

We just need to keep it going.”

Saturday Praise Service 6:00pm

Sunday Traditional Services 8:00 & 10:30am Education Hour: 9:15am

DR-31987772

6513 W. 300 S., New Palestine | 317-861-4210 | www.zionnewpal.org

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 55

initiatives in faith

Making ripples

56 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

T

Hundreds of volunteers offer help around community

By Anne Durham Smith Daily Reporter

annesmith@greenfieldreporter.com

Serve Day volunteers (from left) Kate Stanfield, Lyla Parker, Lyla’s mother, Elise Parker, and Tori Parker (no relation to Elise or Lyla) spread sealant on a footbridge at Thornwood Preserve, 2770 Morristown Pike. Teams worked at more than 50 community projects during the day of service organized by Park Chapel Christian Church.

Their mom quipped they might not have been much help with landscaping.

But 3-year-old Hayden Lawson and little sister Mackenna Lawson, 1½, found their own important job to do.

The siblings and their mother, Karrie Lawson, were part of a team of volunteers who visited Golden LivingCenter — Brandywine to offer a helping hand and some cheer on a recent Saturday morning. Some group members worked outdoors on grounds upkeep; others went inside to visit with the seniors who live in the facility.

Hayden and Mackenna walked the halls with their mother, handing out ice water and greeting residents, to whom a glimpse of youngsters was a welcome sight.

“All the residents were just eating them up,” Karrie Lawson said. “You could see everyone’s face light up.”

The Lawsons were among more than 900 volunteers who went out into the community July 15 to tackle tasks during Serve Day. The annual event is organized by Park Chapel Christian Church in Greenfield. Most of the volunteers are members of the church, although organizers said individuals from at least four other churches offered to serve too and were welcomed.

After giving cups of cold water, the Lawson children plopped onto a couch while their mother and Maxine Rich chatted in the lobby with resident Fannie Dunn, 92, and her daughter Amy Condo.

Later they went to the dining room, to join part of the Serve Day team that was coloring with residents at tables. Nearby, others were painting fingernails.

Resident Alga Lois Ivey was glad for the visit. “I love people,” she said, as

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 57

initiatives in faith

Clockwise, Judith Gearlds paints the face of Elena Purcell at the close of Serve Day. Teams of volunteers gathered at Park Chapel Christian Church for a community hog roast that featured a bounce house, bean bag toss and other activities. Amanda Thorne and son Kade sort food donations. Serve Day crews wait in line .

Melissa Anness painted Ivey’s nails.

Anness, a recent New Palestine High School graduate, said she had wanted to participate in Serve Day for a long time and had told her family they needed to volunteer together.

“God has called us to love others and serve others,” Anness said. “We have so much — why not give others at least our time, if not more?”

The help at the facility was one of more than 50 projects tackled by volunteers. In addition to the volunteer labor offered, the church gathered items leading up to the event, such as jars of peanut butter for Hancock County Food Pantry and shoes for the Changing Footprints ministry.

58 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Danny Curry, spiritual development minister at Park Chapel, said the church was grateful to all the groups who welcomed volunteers. He also said many members participate in community service throughout the year, but Serve Day is an opportunity to do so together, “a way for us all to express what we really want to be about.”

Connections happen from the event, he said, whether between people and an organization or between church members getting to know each other better.

“It’s a day that makes ripples,” he said.

Teams offered help and encouragement at nursing homes, yard work at schools in three local districts and

organization for donations at Hancock County Food Pantry. The influx of labor also provided a way for local organizations, some of them facing small staffs and/or limited resources, to check a number of tasks off their to-do lists.

For example, several teams worked at parks — painting playground equipment at Commons Park, clearing flood debris in Riley Park, installing bollards at Brandywine Park and sealing boardwalks and observation decks in Beckenholdt Park and Thornwood Preserve.

Ellen Kuker, superintendent of Greenfield Parks and Recreation, said such work extends the life of park infrastructure and saves money that can be invested in other projects and amenities.

Larry Freeburg paints a swing set at Commons Park, 856 W. Fifth St., Greenfield. He was part of a team from Park Chapel Christian Church giving a fresh coat to the playground.

St. Michael Catholic Church

Connecting in Faith Growing in Grace Serving in Love Sharing in Hope

Bradley United Methodist Church

519 Jefferson Boulevard Greenfield, IN 46140 Office 317-462-4240

WORSHIP SERVICES - SUNDAY 8:30 & 11 AM (Deaf Interpretation Available) Bradley Beacon Cafe - 8:00 am & 9:30 am CHURCH SCHOOL - SUNDAY 10 AM Community Outreach - Youth Activities - Monthly Senior Activities Small Groups - Prayer Groups - United Methodist Women Choir - Handbells

Prayer Devotion Line: 5pm - 7am

St. Michael School since 1954 Serving Grades Pre-K - 8 Ruth Hittel, Principal • (317) 462-6380

BRADLEY PRESCHOOL: 317-462-8858 Rev. David Scifres DR-31986937

DR-31987948 DR-31987948

Sunday Mass Schedule 5 P.M. Saturday • 8:30 A.M. & 11 A.M. Sunday Fr. Aaron Jenkins, Pastor

info@BradleyUMC.org

317-462-2662 • 210 W. Main St., Greenfield

BradleyUMC.org

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 59

initiatives in faith

Melissa Anness, a recent New Palestine High School graduate, paints the fingernails of Alga Lois Ivey, at Golden LivingCenter Brandywine, during Serve Day.

FORTVILLE OF THE

Church

HRM

Nazarene

WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH FAMILY & COMMUNITY!

Insurance Services

Phil Edwards – Lead Pastor Justin Wells – Worship Leader Sara Whitaker – Visitation Pastor

701 S. Maple Street • 317-485-6443 • www.fortvillenazarene.org

Alan Hammons Brent Robertson Dennis Andrews Julie Lucas

DR-31987779

DR-31991131

Mission: Bringing Glory to God! Vision: Creating Opportunities for EVERYONE to Experience God Values: PRAYER – Service, Worship, Outreach, Relationships & Discipleship

“Park Chapel’s Serve Day is such a benefit to the Greenfield Parks Department,” she wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter. “They are able to take projects that are labor intensive for our small staff and knock them out in a day as they bring so many out to volunteer.”

Candace Sexton, unit director for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hancock County, mentioned the benefit of a large volunteer force to the club’s two full-time staff members. Serve Day volunteers cleaned two of the organization’s three vans for transporting children, organized and deep cleaned throughout the facility and painted a fence around a Dumpster.

Thank you to all of our customers and community for 26 years of support!

We look forward to serving you in the future. From all of us at Moore’s Repair Service

18 E. Main Street • New Palestine (317) 861-7524 www.hrminsurance.com

New Palestine Vet Clinic Full Service Vet Clinic • Grooming Available Monday - Friday 7AM-6PM • Saturday 8AM-12PM

MOORE’S REPAIR SERVICE

“More For Less”

317-462-7734 www.mooresrepair.net

60 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31987784

DR-31985107

2980 N. STATE RD. 9 GREENFIELD, IN (1/2 MILE NORTH OF I-70)

5237 West US Highway 52 New Palestine

861-4423

“Between (Executive Director Chad Hudson) being out in the community raising funds and me being in the ‘trenches’ with our kids and running the facility, sometimes it can be hard to keep up on day-to-day maintenance, so we are very grateful for groups and individuals like those who came and helped us,” she wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter.

In the board room at the club, Amber Hudson was wiping down seats. She described Serve Day as a favorite day on the calendar.

“Our mission at Park Chapel,” she said, “is to share the love of Jesus by serving ... and maybe expose them to a type of love they’re not familiar with through serving.”

Karrie Lawson (right) and Maxine Rich visit with Fannie Dunn (left) and her daughter Amy Condo at Golden LivingCenter - Brandywine.

Homeless Shelter • 317-467-4991

Trusted Legal Services Since 1980

Serving Hancock, Shelby, Henry, and Rush Counties

317.462.7787

The donations of clothes, shoes, linens, household hardgoods, furniture and other items are sold in our store with all of the money raised going to support our homeless program.

35 F., Pierson St.- Greenfield 317-477-0213

DR-31987854

THRIFT STORE

6 West South Street Greenfield, IN 46140

317.335.4LAW 8023 N. 600 W., Suite 101 McCordsville, IN 46055

www.brandmorelocklaw.com We are a debt relief agency

Sunday Services

Sunday Services

Traditional Worship 8:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Contemporary Worship 10:45 am Youth Groups (K-12 grades) 4:30-7:00 pm Classes offered for After School Care (M-F) until 6 pm ages 3-5

Traditional Worship 8:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Contemporary Worship 10:45 am YAC • (K-5 grades) 5:00-7:30 pm Fusion • (6-12 grades) 5:00-7:30 pm

• Direct Mail Marketing • Variable Data Printing • Brochures • Books • Catalogs • Sales Flyers • Design & Layout Services • Many more services available DR-31990926

Classes offered for ages 3-5 Lisa Boaz, Director/Teacher Jennifer Burton, Teacher

Lisa Boaz, Lead Teacher Jennifer Burton, Teacher Assistant

7293 North State Road 109, Wilkinson, IN 46186 765-781-2585 www.wccin.org • wcc@wccin.org

Special Sections Church Directory 2013 Wilkinson 1/4 wn

7293 N. State Rd 109 Wilkinson, IN (765) 781-2585 • www.wccin.org • wcc@wccin.org Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 61

initiatives in faith

I

GREENFIELD

Westward expansion

It was a long commute to church on the west side of Indianapolis, but Jake Hughes and his wife were willing to make the drive. They were worshiping with family members, and they figured they’d be moving to the area soon themselves.

Then they found “the” house in Greenfield. Now that they were staying, they wanted to find a church here, too.

Hughes remembers one Sunday nearly four years ago when they visited Realife Church. One of the founders met them at the front door, said “hi” to them and remembered their names.

That welcome impressed them, and so did the atmosphere of the church. Hughes said they liked its mission and felt they could really get support it.

Since then, several hundred more people have visited the church at 971 W. U.S. 40 and also decided to stay. The congregation has grown so large that church leaders are taking steps to make room. In the short team, that means adding services; in the long term, that means a move.

Realife Church buys land, plans new building

By Anne Durham Smith | Daily Reporter

annesmith@greenfieldreporter.com

BRADLEY PRESCHOOL

Flowers & Boutique 51 W. Main Street • New Palestine

210 W. Main Street Greenfield, IN 46140

www.theroseladyind.com

Teaching ages 3-5 since 1976.

Go to

317.861.9660

DR-31987774

Flowers for All Occasions • Sympathy Arrangements, Seasonal Gifts • Home Decor • Tuxedos • Weddings Hours: Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri 9:30 am - 5:00 pm, Wednesday 9:30 am - 2 pm, Saturday 10 am - 1 pm

62 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

www.bradleypreschool.com or call 317-462-8858 for additional information or to register your child.

DR-31985407

This story previously ran in the Feb. 25, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

Faith Lutheran Church 200 W. McKenzie Rd.

Gathering in Hope • Receiving God’s Grace Responding in Love • Living in Christ

The Members of Faith Invite You to Worship:

Weekly Divine Service: Sunday School: Adult Bible Study:

Sunday, 9:15 a.m.

Sunday, 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, 11:00 a.m.

For more information phone us at:

(317)462-4609

Find us on the web at: www.faithgreenfield.org DR-31985805

Mt. Comfort United Methodist Church Pastor Alex Stone Sunday Worship Times 9:15 AM Christian Education 10:30 AM Traditional Worship

• After-School Ministry • Kids Chimes • Handbell Choir • Chancel Choir • Bible Studies • Youth & Children Ministries • Christmas Cantata

• Retiree’s Ministry • Small Groups • Community Outreach • Food Pantry Collection • Missions Outreach • Pre-School & Childcare Ministry • Operation Christmas Child

Special Events

Holiday Bazaar and Community Car Show Upward Soccer DR-31990940

The church has purchased 17 acres at U.S. 40 and North County Road 525 West. In late January the church launched a twoyear giving campaign, hoping to raise $3 million to build a building at the new site.

“Our vision is over the next three years to have a new church building that we’ll move into,” Hughes said.“We’re trying to ‘create a place that people love so they can experience a loving God,’” he added, quoting a slogan from the church’s Imagine giving campaign.

Right now the church is in the middle of a 21-day spiritual journey that includes prayer, devotional readings and — for those who choose to participate in this aspect — fasting. That focused phase began Feb. 12 and concludes March 5.

During weekend services March 4 and 5, those pledging money to the building campaign will turn in their pledge cards, and the total pledges will be announced in services two weeks later.

The church is making plans for a new building because “We’re just kind of busting at the seams,” said member Meghan Britt. “It’s a wonderful problem to have, but it’s just not holding the congregation anymore.”

The Rev. Adam Detamore, Realife’s lead pastor, said there were 45 cars on a recent Sunday parked in the grass next to the parking lot. Church members volunteering as parking attendants were trying to help drivers find parking spaces before the second Sunday morning service. But the lot was so full that a few drivers pulled out of the lot and left.

Special Services

Easter, Honor Veterans & Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service with Luminaries

3179 N. Mt. Comfort Road (600 W) • 317-894-8965 www.mcmethodist.com One half mile north of I-70 on Mt. Comfort Road Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 63

SPONSORED

CONTENT

TOURISM IN HANCOCK COUNTY –

A new face and a new place than running the Rick’s Theater.

Scott will remain on staff for the HCVB, a 501c3 nonprofit, as a part-time theater manager. Now, the HCTC will supervise all of the tourism efforts in the county – as well as the new executive director.

While an agency in charge of tourism has been around in Hancock County since 2002, this year marked some big changes in tourism efforts.

Starting in 2017, the Hancock County Visitors Bureau (HCVB) stepped away from being the point group for tourism, and the Hancock County Tourism Commission (HCTC) – a government-appointed agency – took charge. HCTC has been partially involved in tourism since its inception in 2011, where their primary duties have been overseeing the disbursement of the innkeepers tax and giving grants to nonprofit organizations involved in tourism efforts. The HCVB has traditionally held the job of doing two things: owning and operating the H.J. Rick’s Centre for the Arts, which is a major tourism draw for the county, and overseeing the executive director of tourism, who was Dave Scott. With the change in 2017, the HCVB will not be involved in tourism at all other

NEW Place

Tourism and Visitor Center Office: 119 West North Street, Greenfield NEW Face

Executive Director, Brigette Cook Jones

In January of 2017, Brigette Cook Jones took over the position of executive director of tourism for Hancock County. She is a lifelong Hancock County resident who previously had experience in the administration of two of Hancock County’s historic tourist attractions: the Hancock County Historical Society and the James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum.

Jones brings a passion for Hancock County as well as a wide variety of expertise and other abilities to the job. She is a published author, an award-winning photographer and has an extensive background in marketing, event-planning and administration.

Jones looks forward to promoting her home county and can say that she knows all of its communities well.

Jones will be working out of a new location with the opening of the new Hancock County Tourism and Visitor Center, located at 119 W. North St. in Greenfield. Folks who may remember the old tourism office – a place located

up the stairwell in the Rick’s theater – will be pleased to find that the new visitor center is all located on the ground floor. There is a lobby area, the executive director’s office and a conference room as well as storage. Even when the visitor center is closed, there is a kiosk out front that contains all of the local brochures, maps, guides and the Discover Hancock County book, so there is 24/7 access to tourism information.

This is just the start of new things to come with tourism, but this is a transitional year. The tourism and visitor center will be gradually making changes to some of the programs and projects that the HCVB used to do, while retaining some of the old. In the near future, look for a new website, new brochures and other projects and programs that will be coming out of the Hancock County Tourism and Visitor Center office.

317.477.8687 www.hcvb.org

NEW! Facebook Page:

Hancock County Tourism and Visitor Center Be sure to LIKE it!

SPONSORED

CONTENT A brand is an identifying mark – something that is uniquely your own that labels this item or thing as yours.

Ranchers and cowboys are what come to mind when you think of a brand – a shape or identifying mark that was burned into the hide of cattle. A brand made sure everyone knew who owned that cow. Today, a brand is still an identifying mark, but it is more closely aligned with creating a logo, a look or even a tagline for a company or community.

Branding a single community is hard, but what if you have several communities – let’s say like in a county?

That is even harder. How do you pick something that makes you totally unique yet is still broad enough to speak to all of the communities it is supposed to represent?

This is the challenge that was faced by a focus group of individuals who were selected by the Hancock County Tourism and Visitor Center office to pick a “brand” for Hancock County tourism. Each major community in Hancock County had a representative: McCordsville; Fortville; New Palestine; Wilkinson; Shirley; and Greenfield. All of the individuals who were involved in the focus group were either a member of a Hancock County nonprofit

HANCOCK COUNTY INDIANA –

Create your story

organization that was tourism-related or had a tourism background. They met at the Hancock County Visitor Center and were provided with three different designs created by Hirons Advertising of Indianapolis. Only one design was chosen and recommended by the focus group to the Hancock County Tourism Commission to be selected as the brand and logo for tourism in Hancock County.

The design that was chosen features an ornate, monogram “H” with a quill pen along with modern block lettering spelling out the county’s name, along with the tagline, “Create Your Story.” It is a combination of old and new. The quill pen and the “Create Your Story” tagline speaks to Hancock County’s literary heritage without hitting you over the head with it. It is a nod to the county’s namesake – John Hancock, the signer of the Declaration of Independence, as well as recognition of the county’s rich literary heritage with James Whitcomb Riley. While Riley was noted for creating stories about his hometown, tourism today involves creating opportunities for visitors to make their own memories and create their own stories – in ALL of Hancock County’s communities. Therefore, the juxtaposition between the modern block letters and the tagline speaks to those opportunities. As a result, the brand has a broad theme that could mean many things for different people in a lot of different places – while still giving it a unique twist with a Hancock County flavor.

Create your story envisions a tourist’s opportunity to make memories, have fun and remember the communities that framed those events. Whether you are visiting the Octagon House in Shirley; going to SummerFest in New Palestine; playing soccer with a travel team at the McCordsville Sports Park; attending a cruise-in in Fortville; visiting the Weir Cook Memorial in Wilkinson; or coming to a play at the H.J. Rick’s Centre for the Arts in Greenfield, all of those places and events offer you the opportunity to “create your story.” *Watch for the new Hancock County Tourism logo and brand on anything that is sponsored/funded by the tourism office, and it will appear on all informational pieces, brochures, electronic media, etc., that come out of the tourism office.

Watch for the new Hancock County Tourism logo and brand on anything that is sponsored/funded by the tourism office, and it will appear on all informational pieces, brochures, electronic media, etc – that come out of the tourism office.

TOURISM IN HANCOCK COUNTY –

What is it?

Tourists – who are they? Where do they come from? And, why would they come to Hancock County? Many people ask me these questions on a regular basis.

However, I think you need to really think outside of the box when it comes to tourism to Hancock County – because there is more going on in this county than what you might think.

Brigette Cook Jones

while attending a convention, conference or sporting event in Indy. Hancock County is VERY attractive to tourists for the many opportunities and events – both large and small – that it offers. And each time a person visits or stays here, they usually do more than what they originally planned to do. They buy their gas before they leave; they might eat at a restaurant after a ball game; they might stop in one our shops or businesses while they are here.

Really, there are three types of tourists that tend to come to Hancock County.

1

Those who are staying overnight – for business or pleasure.

2

Those who are day-tripping – for those one-tank trips for a special event or a location.

3

Those who are here for only part of a day – a short jaunt for a specific reason, a leisure visitor.

In all of these scenarios, we need to define a tourist as “someone who comes from outside of the county into the county for a “‘destination experience.’” If the event or location draws you here, and you don’t live here, then you are a visitor and even a tourist. A visitor or tourist could do many things: spend an evening out with friends at one of Hancock County’s fine restaurants or pay a visit to one of our many unique shops; attend a festival, fair, sporting event or program; tour one of our historic museums or homes; stay overnight in one of our great hotels

From Executive Director of Hancock County Tourism

They might even spend the night because the drive is too far to go home. Tourism is an economic benefit to the county.

things for guests to do while they are here. There are historic locations to tour, places to walk or ride your bike, free concerts and events in our downtowns or at our libraries, and you can see a movie, go bowling, roller skating or go out to eat or shop.

Day-trippers are the second group that makes its way to Hancock County. The county boasts several events that can take up an entire day to visit. The Riley Festival is the second-largest craft festival in the state. In October, it consumes the entire downtown area of Greenfield and lasts four days. With live music and performances; all sorts of booths; two parades; art, crafts and photography contests; as well as a ton of food options, there is a lot to see and do at the Riley Festival. However, this is not the only festival in the county.

Hancock County benefits from being very close to Indianapolis.

Our hotels frequently get the overflow guests from the large conventions and sporting events in Indy. While most of our hotels are located in Greenfield, there is also the quaint Ivy House Bed and Breakfast in Fortville. These locations are safer than downtown Indianapolis with many restaurants nearby, and the parking is free. Furthermore, the room rates are generally less expensive, and Greenfield is only 30 minutes from downtown via I-70.

The Lord’s Acre Festival in McCordsville; the Fall Festival in New Palestine; Founder’s Day in Shirley as well as the Pennsy Art Fair & Music Festival also in Greenfield bring day-trippers to our county.

Plus, Hancock County offers many other

The Indiana High School Rodeo has held

In addition to festivals, there is the Hancock County Fairgrounds, which hosts all sorts of conventions, animal shows, auctions and other events for those who might be looking to spend the day in Hancock County.

This location on the east side of Greenfield has something going on in one of its buildings or property areas several times a month.

SPONSORED

CONTENT a rodeo there for the past several years. The Hops for Hope for the Hope House, and the Steak’n Bake’n Raffle for the Greenfield Rotary Club draw people from the county and surrounding areas for a fun evening out.

Then there are the conventions and shows, which are held in the exhibition hall or one of the barns. The Indiana Gourd Show is looking to return in the near future. The Greater Indianapolis Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show is in its 41st year while the fairgrounds saw the inaugural Elkridge Band Blue Grass festival this year.

Animal shows are also held out at our fairgrounds: The Katahdine (hair) sheep show and the Annual Hoosier Great Dane Club show are both held out at the fairgrounds. And the Central Indiana Caged Bird Club hosts their bird fair two times a year at the fairgrounds. This is in addition to auctions, flea markets and the Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds that happen year round. Of course, the largest event at the fairgrounds is the more than week-long Hancock County 4-H Fair, which is held in late June every year.

The last group of visitors to our county comprises those who stay less than a day; or leisure visitors.

These are the people who generally live close by but are looking for something to do in the evening or on the weekend. This is where Hancock County’s many restaurants shine. We are unique in that we have several restaurant establishments that are not a part of a restaurant chain: Foxgardin Kitchen and Ale; Indulge; and Taxman Brewing Company in Fortville; or Carnegie’s; Griggsby’s Station; Tour of Italy; Hometown Classic Pizza or the Wooden Bear Brewing Co. in Greenfield.

Likewise, leisure visitors may come to our county to shop.

We have the shopping experience cornered in both small and large shopping options. In recent years, several small unique boutiques and shops have popped up in Fortville, McCordsville and Greenfield. These along with some of our tried-and-true places – including the largest Hallmark store in the United States – at Cynthia’s Hallmark in Greenfield – bring people to our county for that special shopping spree.

People who come to Hancock County might not fit the traditional idea of a “tourist” – a person who comes to visit some large attraction and will spend the night or stay several days. However, that does not mean that Hancock County does not have tourism – anyone who doesn’t live here but comes to the county for a destination experience is a visitor to our county – and we welcome their visit.

Agritourism Agriculture and tourism – how do the two fit together? Well rather nicely - especially in Hancock County. Here in Hancock County, we have a rich history with agriculture that continues through today. In the most recent agriculture tally from 2012, there were 604 farms located in Hancock County with the average size of 275 acres. This means that agriculture is still big business in our county, and combining that with a tourism aspect brings a unique twist on an old business model.

pumpkin patch and chopping down your own Christmas tree. However, today agritourism has taken on a whole new twist. Now it is a culinary experience with a chef on the farm using locally grown produce. It is yoga and wine classes. It is taking the kids to the farm, and then watching “Charlotte’s Web.” It is also riding a train through the corn on your way to pick your pumpkin.

Agritourism can mean many things.

Some of the traditional modes of agritourism are: Picking your own produce; touring a vineyard and sampling wine; picking out a pumpkin from the

All of these and more are events and opportunities that are hosted and held at one of Hancock County’s many agritourism locations. Agritourism is the “farm experience” for young and old

by interacting and experiencing agriculture as a tourist. Check out some of these great agritourism locations.

SPONSORED

CONTENT

AGRITOURISM

LOCATIONS Daniel’s Vineyard 9061 N Carroll Rd McCordsville 317-248-5222 www.danielsvineyard.com Lark Ranch 1611 N Meridian Rd Greenfield 812-295-9000 www.larkranch.com Lost Forty Tree Farm 4499 N 400 E Greenfield 317-326-4670 www.lostfortytreefarm.com Piney Acres 1115 E 1000 N Fortville 317-326-1700 www.pineyacres.com Sambol’s Tree Farm 7783 N SR 9 Fortville 317-850-0135 www.sambolstreefarm.com Tuttle’s Orchard 5717 N 300 W Greenfield 317-326-8674 www.tuttleorchard.com

SPONSORED

CONTENT

Historic

Hancock County Preserved Of course, every location has a history; however, if it isn’t preserved that story is lost. Thankfully, Hancock County has a rich history that has been preserved in some local museums and historic buildings that are open to the public.

Most of these museums are volunteer run – and this means that there are limited resources, and sometimes limited hours that they are open. However, it does not mean that the stories they tell about the people of Hancock County’s past are uninteresting or dull.

On the contrary, visitors to Hancock County’s museums and historic places will find some very dedicated docents who have a wealth of knowledge and will share some wildly fascinating information about the people of Hancock County’s past. Just be aware that you may need to call ahead – especially for the smaller organizations. However, the best thing about Hancock County’s museums is they are very reasonably priced—all less than a movie ticket, and some are even FREE! Of course, Hancock County’s one claim to fame is the Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley, the author of “Little Orphant Annie.” Be sure to check out the newest addition to honor Hancock County’s native son—the “Reading with Riley” statue in front of the James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home. Visitors can visit the bronze life-sized statue of the Hoosier Poet, and sit right next to him. It is a perfect setting to capture that selfie and create a story about your visit to Greenfield.

MUSEUMS & HISTORIC HOMES Hancock County Historical Society **Located at the Old Log Jail and the Chapel in the Park Museums

28 N Apple Street (Mailing address P.O. Box 375) Greenfield 317-462-7780 www.hancockhistory.org Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House 400 S Railroad St Shirley https://www.facebook.com/ JRROHF/ James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum 250 W Main St Greenfield 317-462-8539 www.jwrileyhome.org

New Palestine Main Street and Museum 11 E Main St (Mailing address P.O. Box 407) New Palestine www.facebook.com/newpalestinemainstreet Shirley Historical Society **Located at the Shirley Railroad Depot Museum and Dr. Wilson’s Office Museum

204 Railroad St Shirley 317-294-5582 www.shirleyindiana.com

SPONSORED

CONTENT

Sports

Crazy

Hancock County is unique in that it has the ability to offer a wide variety of sports activities to visitors. There are a variety of indoor and outdoor facilities that provide opportunities for visitors to get their “sports fix.” For the outdoorsy type, you can bike, jog or walk the Pennsy Trail or other local community bike trails, or take a leisurely stroll through one of our many parks. There are outdoor basketball courts and tennis courts available for public use in Riley Park. If golfing is

your thing, there are three 18 hole golf courses, one 9 hole course, and a driving range—all within the county’s borders.

For those who would prefer to stay inside, there is a bowling alley, a skating rink, and several different places where you could work out.

Sometimes, it is the sport that actually brings you to Hancock County. Several travel teams visit the county on a regular basis, whether you are playing soccer or

field hockey at the McCordsville Sports Park, or playing baseball against the Greenfield Bandits or a Greenfield Youth Baseball Association team. There are many sporting events that bring people to our communities to create those sporting memories.

One of the newest sporting ventures is Elite Athletic Trend (EAT) started by former pro-football player Junior Aumavae, EAT holds an annual skills developmental camp that involves community engagement, free food and fun for families.

Student Athletes came from all over central Indiana to partake in the first EAT skill camp last year where they received mentorship from former and current collegiate and professional athletes and coaches. Plans are to make this camp an annual event along with several other programs targeting student athletes.

SPONSORED

CONTENT

Hancock County offers several different types of lodging for those who are wishing to spend the night. Whether you want to find a room in one of our great hotels, a bed and breakfast or even a farm house, Hancock County certainly has many different options.

One of the great benefits to staying in Hancock County is that most of our

hotels are located very near the I-70 interchange. This means that within 20 minutes of leaving your room, you can be in downtown Indianapolis. Due to the proximity to Indy, Hancock County’s hotels see the “overflow” from events happening in Indy. Whether you are in town for a Colts game, the Indianapolis 500, Gencon, or the National FFA Convention, Hancock County’s location, its less expensive rates, free parking, with lots of nearby amenities make it an attractive option for out of town guests.

Stay for the Night

Maybe you aren’t interested in the standard stay at a hotel? Hancock

County also has two unique overnight options: The Ivy House Bed and Breakfast in Fortville and the Tyner Pond Farm House in rural Greenfield.

Both offer a more intimate home-like setting—in addition to the ease of access that the other major hotels offer.

Whether you are planning a stay in Hancock County for one of our great festivals, fairs, sporting events, or local attractions, have business to do with one of our major companies, or are just passing through, we offer many opportunities to create your story in our great communities and warm and welcoming overnight accommodations.

HOTELS / MOTELS Budget Motel 1310 W Main St. Greenfield 317-462-4493 Comfort Inn 178 E Martindale Dr. Greenfield 317-467-9999 www.choicehotels.com Country Inn & Suites 2070 N State St. Greenfield www.countryinns.com Greenfield Inn 2180 N State St. Greenfield 317-318-1719 www.greenfield-inn.us Hampton Inn 2271 William Way Greenfield 317-467-0700 www.hilton.com/hampton_inn Holiday Inn Express and Suites 321 Barrett Dr. Greenfield 317-318-9859 www.hiexpress.com

Quality Inn 2270 N State St. Greenfield 317-462-7112 www.qualityinngreenfield.com Super 8 2100 N State St. Greenfield 317-462-8899 www.super8indy.com

BED & BREAKFAST Ivy House Bed and Breakfast 304 N Merrill St. Fortville 317-485-4800 www.ivyhousebb.ccom

FARM HOUSE Tyner Pond Farm House 7408 E. County Road 200S Greenfield 1-888-640-7929 www.tynerpondfarm.com

educational development

74 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

This story previously ran in the January, 7, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

Opening strong

Second school district launches preschool, citing childcare shortage

T

By Samm Quinn | Daily Reporter

GREENFIELD

Lukas Salee, Fisk Sherman and Will Forsman, preschoolers at Greenfield-Central’s new Cougar Club, play together during their first day of school. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

The preschoolers spent the morning pairing names with faces.

Thursday was full of introductions for the youngsters as they learned who their new classmates and teachers are, and when assistant superintendent Christy Hilton asked if the kiddos remembered her name, a little hand shot up.

“Dr. Woman!” Jordynn Deckard declared with certainty. The grownups in the room laughed.

On Thursday, as Greenfield-Central students and teachers returned to class after Christmas break, they welcomed a handful of new little learners to the school system. The district opened its doors this week to a new preschool housed in its educational services center, which also houses the corporation’s new alternative school.

Nine 3- to 5-year-olds are enrolled in the program for the spring semester, and that number is expected to grow to at least 27 students by fall with plans to expand in the future. The school, open Mondays through Fridays, offers both part-time and fulltime child care options.

Greenfield-Central is the second county school district to implement its own preschool program, citing limited state-licensed options in the area. Last fall, Mt. Vernon opened its Mini-Marauder early learning academy and welcomed 85 students in August.

There are only a handful of preschool sites across the county: a few ministries teach preschool; the Greenfield Parks Department hosts a class, and there are two licensed child care centers

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 75

educational development

Emerson Metz plays at a play kitchenette during the first day of preschool at Greenfield-Central.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

focused on early childhood learning in Greenfield.

Greenfield-Central is able to help fill that void, Superintendent Harold Olin said, especially for its staff members.

When Greenfield-Central Schools purchased the building at 700 N. Broadway St. next to the high school last school year, educators began brainstorming whether opening a preschool in the space would benefit staff members. For years, employees have voiced concerns about difficulty finding childcare with a focus on early education.

A portion of the building — which most recently housed the First Church of God — was renovated over the summer to house the district’s alternative school, which provides a flexible learning environment to about 30 high school students.

At that time, educators decided to open a preschool catering to district staff members, though families who don’t work for the corporation may also enroll their students, Olin said.

The cost for a child to attend is $100 per week.

,LLC

Estate Planning, Probate, Divorce Real Estate, Business Law and Family Law

Sarah M. Wolf

swolf@wolf-lawfirm.com jswooldridge@wolf-lawfirm.com

www.wolf-lawfirm.com Six East Main St. P.O. Box 495 | Greenfield, IN 46140 Phone (317) 462-9225 | Fax (317) 462-9220

76 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31986950

DR-31987773

J. Scott Wooldridge mba

cx_grnf@countryinns.com

In recent weeks, district officials put the finishing touches on the portion of the building that houses the preschool, and on Thursday, director Kari Sherman welcomed the inaugural class.

Just nine children are enrolled in the preschool now — the perfect number

for starting out, Sherman said.

Nearly 30 families are interested in enrolling their students for next school year, and there’s room in the building to expand even further if demand exceeds the space, Olin said.

Now, educators are taking steps

Clockwise, Will Forsman looks through a magnifying glass. Freshly sharpened colored pencils. Lukas Salee, Fisk Sherman and Will Forsman, preschoolers at Greenfield-Central’s new Cougar Club, play together during their first day of school. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

Catering | On-Site BBQ | Delivery | Online Store

317-448-5873 BBQNFOOLS.COM

“More than a funeral home… a family friend”

GREENFIELD DR-31987846

DR-31987958

When it comes to BBQ, we’re not fool’n around!

FORTVILLE

(317) 467-4918

(317) 485-5138

www.erleweinmortuary.com Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 77

educational development

to become a licensed preschool site through the state, a process expected to take a few months.

The space is equipped with a sensory activity table, a toy kitchenette, a reading corner and plenty of colored pencils, markers and crayons.

The youngsters will spend their days exploring the classroom and engaging in activities they’re interested in, from art to science.

The district hired Sherman, who makes a salary of about $43,000, earlier this year to help launch the preschool, and she’s charged with shaping the curriculum. She comes to the district with plenty of experience after spending the past few years teaching at preschool centers in Lawrence and Indianapolis, Hilton said.

Preschool director Kari Sherman poses for a photo taken by her son, Fisk Sherman.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

brandywine Experience the Golden Difference.

(317) 462-9221

DR-31987833

745 N. Swope St. Greenfield, IN GoldenLivingCenters.com

Wilkerson Dance Studio

     

Ballet • Tap • Jazz • Modern • Hip-Hop Pre-Dance • Contemporary • Tumbling Ages 2-Adult

Performance Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017

May Spring Showcase May 11-12, 2018

1114 W. North Street • Greenfield, IN 46140 317-462-1673 • wilkersondance@gmail.com www.wilkersondance.com DR-31985817

78 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

She’ll follow an early childhood education approach that allows students to direct their own learning, with the teacher following each child’s interest.

The approach encourages students to find the answers to their questions rather than seeking them from their teacher, Sherman said.

Organizers also plan to collaborate with Greenfield-Central’s advanced child development class by inviting high school students to visit the preschool to complete coursework that requires them to work with children.

Sherman is looking forward to watching her students grow through those experiences.

“It’s always been a passion of mine to help students learn,” she said. “I’m excited to watch this expand.”

Lukas Salee plays with a puzzle at Greenfield-Central’s new preschool. Jordynn Deckard plays with Fisk Sherman during the first day of preschool at GreenfieldCentral. A tray of art supplies.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

Inspired Brands TM Intelligent World

Please visit our website for information about our town, community events, organizations, and the heart of our town - The People.

Label and Graphic Materials Division

Strawberry Festival - Third Saturday in May Mud Bog - June 17, 2017 Founders’ Days’- Third weekend in August.

Christmas Walk - Saturday after Thanksgiving

www.averydennison.com

The Octagon House Christmas Walk - December 2&3, 9&10

www.townofshirley.com

DR-31987959

DR-31987859

870 West Anderson Blvd.

Greenfield, Indiana

Facebook - Shirley, Indiana

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 79

educational development

Celebrate with them 80 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

This story previously ran in the May, 19, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

Mt. Vernon School Superintendent Shane Robbins leads the way during a parade lap around the track at Mt. Vernon Middle School for the start of the Union Champion Field day events on Wednesday May 17, 2017. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

N FORTVILLE

Field days promote inclusiveness, bring together special education students and their peers

By Samm Quinn | Daily Reporter

Nicholas Swallers threw his arms in the air as he made his way around the track.

Finally, it was time.

The Mt. Vernon Middle School student had been looking forward to participating in track events all day.

As 1 p.m. grew closer, Nicholas could hardly sit still, his mom said.

He joined some 200 Mt. Vernon School Corp. students who came together this week for track-and-field events promoting inclusiveness, where taking home top honors mattered less than encouraging athletes of all abilities.

This year, Mt. Vernon joined Unified Champion Schools, a Special Olympics program that encourages schools to be inclusive, planning programs and events that join students enrolled in special education classes and their peers enrolled in general education programs.

Just 32 Indiana school districts participate in the program.

Mt. Vernon hosted three field days for preschool, elementary and middle schoolers, partnering special education students with their peers to compete in events including the standing long jump, 50-meter run and wheelchair races.

The field days hosted this week as part of the program welcomed all students, regardless of their athletic, intellectual and physical abilities and gave students with disabilities a chance to

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 81

educational development

Joel Huber poses with his first-place ribbon he won for the tennis ball throw .

participate in school events that aren’t always open to them, organizers said.

Some raced to the finish line, while others walked hand in hand with classmates, stepping gingerly toward the end of the course. But for each and every one came applause.

Middle school students competed in events for first-, second- and thirdplace ribbons, while elementary and preschool students played for fun.

The middle school events focused on track events, and at the elementary level, the event took on a traditional field day feel, with students having a choice to participate in a range of activities, including balance beam walks, tunnel races and parachute games.

The day started with an opening ceremony — much like the Olympics — with Superintendent Shane Robbins carrying a torch as students waving tiny American flags took a lap around the middle school track. As they walked, their names echoed from the press box.

They stood for the National Anthem, and students recited the Unified Champions Oath: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Juanita Swallers, Nicholas’ mom, watched from the stands as he took to the field, inhibitions to the wind.

(317)477-4188 www.greenfieldcc.org

82 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31986951

DR-31987963

One Courthouse Plaza Greenfield, IN 46140

Brandi Zimmer General Manager

tel: 317.467.0700 mob: 317.629.6993 • fax: 317.467.0777 hamptongreenfield@ipdhospitality.com

From left: Riley Chambers, Jessie Goen, April DeFrain and Gracee Gibson take part in the 50-meter run.

Gradyn Furnas uses a laundry basket to catch balls.

Stephanie Daily, right, holds the hand of student Andrew Mize.

Chasyn Hart crawls through a tube.

DR-31987858

Family owned and operated since 1971

1309 W. Main Greenfield 317-462-6470 4 am-Noon, 7 Days A Week!

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 83

educational development

Kids participate in the 50-meter dash.

A field day is right up Nicholas’ alley, she said. He already participates in Special Olympics but doesn’t often get the chance to compete among his peers without disabilities.

The middle school student council helped put on the program, setting up events, helping to declare winners and cheering on participants.

Kenzie Alka, an eighth-grade student council member, said she appreciated that the first-time event brought everyone in her school together. Even if students didn’t participate in the events, they hollered encouragement to others or helped their peers with disabilities.

As each event ended, winners were announced and presented ribbons. They were squeals, high-fives and hugs.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 We exist to make, mature, and mobilize disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Heating & Air Conditioning Electrical & Plumbing

Home of Alpha & Omega, a before & afterschool program Kindergarten-6th graders in Greenfield schools

SALES-INSTALLATION-SERVICE

888-WORTMAN

84 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

(317) 462-4303 • info@trinitypark.net

Join Us on Sunday Mornings:

Worship Service at 9:00 am (traditional) & 11:15 am (casual) Faith Groups at 10:15 am 207 West Park Avenue, Greenfield IN 46140 www.trinitypark.net

DR-31985873

DR-31991341

(967-8626) Fax 765-763-6055 jrwortman.com

Lindsay Tomamichel, assistant director of special education, who helped plan the events, said the field days were a blast for students and their teachers.

As the program grows, she hopes it becomes more popular.

“It’s been a really good time,” she said.

Sixth-grader Rachel Lorsung signed up to participate in the event because she wanted to cheer on her peers with special educational needs.

Everyone should be able to compete in events at school and earn prizes, she said.

“People with disabilities don’t get the opportunity to compete often,” Rachel said. “They get a day to feel accomplished... We’re going to celebrate with them.”

DR-31987771

Family Law Personal Injury Criminal Defense General Civil Litigation Commercial Litigation Bankruptcy Business Law Estate Planning & More

Contact us today (317) 462-3455 www.awmlaw.com email: kgh@awmh.net Five Courthouse Plaza • Greenfield Serving Greenfield & Hancock County Since 1918

Ella Prazeau smiles as she takes part in the tennis ball throw.

The first step to finding the home of your dreams is choosing a Realtor you feel at home with.

Amy Borgmann Broker/Owner

(317) 462-4216 1133 W. Main St., Ste. E Greenfield, IN 46140

info@borgmannrealty.com • www.borgmannrealty.com Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 85

educational development

Eastern Hancock grad promotes agriculture during FFA Week

I

Purdue student defers college to serve in year-long ambassador program

By Rorye Hatcher | Daily Reporter rhatcher@greenfieldreporter.com

What is National FFA Week?

Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate FFA week by sharing with local, regional and national audiences what FFA is and the impact it has on members.

Some of the national initiatives taking place this week include a fundraiser at Tractor Supply stores to fund grants for FFA chapters, service projects being conducted by FFA chapters, Give FFA Day on Feb. 21, which encouraged members of the public to support various needs impacting FFA members and National Wear Blue Day on Friday for FFA members to show their organizational pride.

Source: ffa.org

86 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

TRAFALGAR

It’s no surprise Leah Jacobs leaned toward a career in agriculture -- or that she’s spending the year telling students why such careers are important to Hoosier families.

Jacobs took her first agriculture class in seventh grade at Eastern Hancock Middle School -- and she was hooked. Last month, she took that passion on the road as the recently named Indiana FFA state reporter during National FFA Week, Feb. 18 to 25. Jacobs, who traveled to FFA chapters across east central Indiana, estimated she would drive more than 900 miles to promote agriculture and the FFA program.

Jacobs, 20, was named to the prestigious Indiana State FFA officer team in June. The intensive ambassador program requires its seven participants to defer college for one year and move into an FFA-owned home in Trafalgar; the students live and work together, traveling across the state putting on leadership conferences for FFA members and supporters.

The goal of National FFA Week is to promote FFA to the public and schools and to celebrate the importance of FFA and its history, Jacobs said. How the ambassadors do that depends on what school FFA officials request.

“Each school has different ways they celebrate,” said Jacobs, who graduated from Eastern Hancock High School in 2015. “It varies day to day.”

This story previously ran in the February, 22, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

Leah Jacobs

DR-31991061

OIL SEALS, SHAFT SEALS, HYDRAULIC SEALS, O-RINGS, SEAL KITS, HOSE ASSEMBLIES 6169 West Stoner Drive, Greenfield, IN 46140

THINKING THINKINGABOUT ABOUTBUILDING BUILDING AACUSTOM CUSTOMHOME? HOME? 317.866.5000 ARE YOU YOU LOOKING LOOKING FOR FOR AA DISTINCTIVE DISTINCTIVE CUSTOM CUSTOM BUILDER? BUILDER? She and her fellow state leadership team mem- ARE THINKING ABOUT bers use a curriculum focused on growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture, BUILDING You You aren't aren't thinking thinking about about building building which is based on the FFA vision statement.

A CUSTOM HOME? a acustom customhome homebecause becauseyou youwant want Their talking points include talking about how students can grow as leaders, how they can build something something ordinary. ordinary. You've You've been been ARE YOU LOOKING their communities and use their own career, whether dreaming dreaming of of a distinctive a distinctive home home that that is is a a FOR A DISTINCTIVE it’s as an educator, an engineer or a farmer, to proCUSTOM BUILDER? perfect perfect fit fit for for you you and and your your family. family. mote agriculture.

Watching Jacobs grow in her own leadership skills Carrington CarringtonHomes Homesoffers offersa avariety varietyof of has been gratifying, said Jacobs’s father, Scott Jacobs, services services forfor your your needs. needs.

NoNo matter matter what what an agriculture teacher at Greenfield-Central High School. your yournext nextbuilding buildingproject projectmight mightbe,be, “From a dad’s perspective, it’s rewarding to see my Carrington Carringtoncan canprovide provideservices servicesand and child gravitate to something I feel is important and support support to to get get the the job job done. done. develop those leadership skills that will be used in whatever career she chooses in the future,” he said.

Leah Jacobs, who is majoring in agriculture eduwww.carringtonhomes.com www.carringtonhomes.com cation at Purdue University, took a year off of college You aren’t thinking about building a custom home because you want something ordinary. You’ve been dreaming of a distinctive home that is a to serve with the state FFA leadership team. Though perfect fit for you and your family. she is provided housing, a stipend and mileage, the Carrington Homes offers a variety of services for your needs. No matter position is primarily volunteer -- but it’s been worth what your next building project might be, Carrington can provide services it, she said. and support to get the job done right.

“It’s a great opportunity to go to so many agriculwww.carringtonhomes.com CONNECT CONNECT WITH WITH USUS CONSULT WITH WITH USUS ture businesses, meet FFA chapters and hopefullyCONSULT become a role model,” she said. “It’s crazy busy, but we info@carringtonhomes.com info@carringtonhomes.com CONSULT WITH US: 317-336-8002 • 317-557-5819 317-336-8002 317-336-8002 love every minute of it. info@carringtonhomes.com 317-557-5819 317-557-5819

HOW HOWCAN CANWE WEHELP HELPYOU? YOU?

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 87

educational development

The former Doe Creek Middle School.

N (Tom Russo| Daily Reporter)

Coming home Southern Hancock officials consider reopening former middle school, shuttered in 2010, to accommodate student body growth

By Kristy Deer | Daily Reporter

88 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

NEW PALESTINE

The halls of the former Doe Creek Middle School haven’t heard the footfalls of students in more than seven years.

Save for janitors and occasional visits from maintenance staff, there is little traffic in the building that closed as part of a cost-cutting measure in 2010.

But by fall 2018, the schoolhouse could reopen to students and staff as leaders at Southern Hancock look for ways to accommodate a growing student body in the district, where two of the district’s three elementary schools are nearing capacity, officials said.

School leaders this week announced plans to invest about $2.5

This story previously ran in the April, 15, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

It’s our pleasure to serve you!

1-800-453-5575

DR-31987769

• Residential & Commercial Waste Removal • Residential & Commercial Recycling • Gravel, Stone & Asphalt Products • Onsite Document Destruction • Portable Toilets & Hand Sanitizer Stations

www.cgsservices.com

Miller’s Jewelry specializes in providing quality diamonds, fine jewelry, watches, class rings, clocks and gifts at reasonable prices. Their knowledgeable sales staff will help you select the piece of jewelry that is right for you. Repair service is available for jewelry and watches.

Miller’s also offers remounting, custom gold nuggets and other creative ways to give your old jewelry a new look. Miller’s Jewelry looks forward to assisting you with your jewelry needs.

"Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1959” Founded by: Gerald & Winifred Miller

DR-31988344

million in renovating the facility at 2279 S. County Road 600W — built in 1975 — and hiring some $760,000 in additional staff to reopen it to seventh- and eighth-grade students in August 2018. The proposal goes before the school board May 8 for approval.

Superintendent Lisa Lantrip said the $2.5 million estimate — taken from the district’s general and rainy day funds could easily rise; she said the district has not broken down the exact cost for renovations and will update parents along the way.

“That’s the bare minimum,” she said. “But we don’t know the ceiling on that at all.”

Personnel costs could also be impacted by enrollment, she said.

Southern Hancock enrolls roughly 70 new students annually, which grew the overall student body to about 3,400 students this year; that’s a nearly 7 percent increase since 2013, data shows.

Much of that growth is at the elementary level, which rose from 1,561 students in 2012 to 1,745 in 2016.

The district is the second school system in the county to announce plans to renovate buildings to meet growing enrollment needs. Last fall, Mt. Vernon unveiled plans to expand Mt. Vernon Middle School, citing a similar space crunch.

The former Doe Creek Middle School was shut down in 2010 after officials determined the district couldn’t afford to continue operating both a middle school and an intermediate school.

District officials shut down the former middle school, moving the

60 W. McClarnon Drive, Greenfield 317-462-6365

Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-5 • Fri 9-6 • Sat 9-4 www.millersjewelrygreenfield.com • Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 89

educational development

By the numbers

Student-body growth at the elementary level has prompted Southern Hancock school officials to consider opening the former Doe Creek Middle School, which has been closed since 2010. Here’s a look at the number of new students the district’s elementary schools have added annually in recent years: 2013-14: Plus 12 students 2014-15: Plus 32 students 2015-16: Plus 55 students 2016-17: Plus 85 students Overall enrollment has also risen steadily: 2012-13: 3,217 2013-14: 3,226 2014-15: 3,290 2015-16: 3,350 2016-17: 3,437

Fortville Vernon Township

PUBLIC LIBRARY

seventh- and eighth-grade students the proposal before heading to Brier who formerly attended there to Brier Creek Intermediate in the fall of 2018 Creek Intermediate School, which with the rest of the district’s fifth and then adopted the Doe Creek Middle sixth-graders.

School name.

VanderWal Wilson originally The new plans call for the district’s thought the district should avoid three elementary schools (currently moving the seventh- and eighth-gradK-6) to house kinderers to a different garten through fourth school. But the more The new plans call for grade. Fifth- and she learned, the more the district’s three sixth-graders would supportive she became elementary schools move to the current of the plan. The athletic (currently K-6) to Doe Creek — which facilities at the old Doe house kindergarten would revert to its BriCreek, for example, through fourth grade.

Fifth- and sixther Creek Intermediate are better-suited for graders would move to name — and the sevolder students, as the the current Doe Creek enth- and eighth-gradbuilding was originally — which would revert ers currently housed designed for middle to its Brier Creek there would transfer to school programming.

Intermediate name the old Doe Creek.

District officials — and the seventhDistrict officials pointed to growing and eighth-graders posted basic details of enrollment at the discurrently housed the plan over social trict’s three elementary there would transfer media this week, generschools as the impetus to the old Doe Creek. ating discussion among for the change. The local families. district picked up 85 new elementary Donna VanderWal Wilson of New school students this year, pushing Palestine has two daughters in the class sizes at Sugar Creek and New school system. Her youngest, Lauren, Palestine Elementary schools above is a fourth-grader at Sugar Creek, the 25-student limit at some grade where she’ll stay next year under levels, Lantrip said.

625 East Broadway Fortville, IN 46040 317-485-6402 Fax: 317-485-4084 www.fortville.lib.in.us

SERVICES:

Books, DVDs, compact discs, public internet access, Wi-Fi, and ebooks DR-31990875

HOURS:

Mon-Thurs 10A - 8P Fri-Sat 10A-6P

90 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Century & A Half Club Sponsor of Fall Creek Heritage Fair

September 7 & 8, 2018 2018 will be our 43rd year For booth space phone Lana Barton at 765-778-3183

Every grade at Sugar Creek currently averages 26 students per class; the fourth grade is the issue at New Palestine Elementary, where there are 28 per class. District-wide, the average elementary classroom size is currently 24 students per class, leaving little room for growth, Lantrip said.

Moving the fifth and sixth-graders to Brier Creek Intermediate will give the district room to take in more than 900 new kindergarten through fourth-graders in the future while keeping classroom sizes manageable, officials said.

If the reopening is approved, district leaders plan to start renovating the old Doe Creek structure as soon

Tables, computers and other items sit in the former Doe Creek Middle School cafeteria.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

Stop By for a t our of o ur facility!

While your child is in our state-licensed center, families can be assured our exceptional teaching staff will offer any support & encouragement your child needs to learn & thrive.

Children will be able to play, explore, create & investigate in their developmentally & age-appropriate classrooms, in our indoor gym & in our 11,000 square foot outdoor environment!

• Degreed ECE teachers • Daily preschool curriculum • School transportation • Enriching after school & summer programs for school-agers • 6-foot privacy fence surrounding outdoor play area • Secured front entrance • Video security system We

“ExpEriEncE ExpEriEncE

ExpEriEncE

thE quality,

thE caring,

All staff members (full-time) are over 21 years old. Lead teachers have either a Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree, or CDA. Assistant teachers have a minimum of 3 years experience in the Early Childhood Education field.

All staff members are CPR, First Aid, and Universal Precautions trained. Our cooks are SERVSafe certified, with additional USDA & DOE nutritional training. For added safety, all staff members have been through rigorous pre-employment screenings.

DR-31990836

LEVEL 3

thE diffErEncE!”

welcome children with special needs!

1295 N. State St., Greenfield, IN 46140 PHONE (317) 477-KIDS FAX (317) 462-STAR

We know you have a choice in Preschool AND child care...let us show you why we are different from the rest!

CCDF Accepted

Children ages 6 weeks through 12 years old welcome.

A safe & secure environment specially designed & created just for children.

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 91

educational development

At a glance

Southern Hancock school officials estimate they will put about $2.5 million into renovating the former Doe Creek Middle School in order to reopen it to students by fall 2018.

A breakdown of how that $2.5 million will be spent has not been released, but school officials said needs are expected to include the following: » LED lights » Flooring » Paint for the interior » Technology infrastructure » Camera system » Phone system » Life skills classroom updates

» Kitchen equipment » Office computers » Media center upgrades, equipment » Furniture » Parking lot repairs, lights

as summer, though it won’t open until fall 2018.

District officials have already begun making their to-do list for the building.

The school needs new lighting, floor coverings, fresh paint and repairs to its parking lot. Technology upgrades, such as to the media center and the building’s security system, must also be considered, officials said.

“At the old Doe Creek — my goal is to make it look new,” said Bob Yoder, assistant superintendent.

District leaders don’t plan to hire many new teachers, but some new staff positions will be created using $760,000 earmarked for the transition.

A TRUSTED LOCAL NAME FOR OVER 65 YEARS!

SM

STEVE • MILLIS • ELECTRIC • INC Large or Small - We Do It All Commercial • Industrial • Residential

DR-31987765

DR-31992929

(317) 462-7225

Sprinkle CPA, LLC Your Hancock County Tax Professionals

Come and see our wide selection of Annuals • Perennials •Vegetable Plants Custom Planters Fall Mums & Asters

- Tax Preparation - Individual & Business - Payroll Services - Tax Planning - New Business Setup & Planning - QuickBooks ProAdvisor® Consultant - Bookkeeping Services

“Over 70 Years Combined Experience” Michele D. Sprinkle, CPA C. Ann Beard, CPA Susan E. Connett, CPA Leo Burkhardt April Ashley Jill Martin

DR-31991024

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS! 32 S. STATE ST., GREENFIELD, IN 317-477-1040

1.5 Miles East of S.R. 9 on 700N, Greenfield, IN• 317-326-3129

92 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31991345

4056 S. ARBOR LANE, STE. 200, NEW PALESTINE, IN | 317-861-8742

www.sprinklecpa.com

The district expects to hire a principal, office staff, a clinic assistant, a social worker, four art teachers, two custodians and maintenance personnel. Those staff members will work at Brier Creek.

School board member Craig Wagoner said growing enrollment numbers illustrate the need for change, and he believes district officials have thoroughly considered their options.

Reopening the old facility is financially feasible, he said.

“It would really give us 10 plus years of good growth potential,” he said. “As a corporation, it sets us up for success.”

The gymnasium inside the former Doe Creek Middle School. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

Great Movies at Great Prices

Beauty + Quality + Value = Westport Homes New Homes in Hancock County locations & beyond

Digital 3D & Dolby Digital Sound Stadium Seating In All Auditoriums Check out our website for time & listings

www.LegacyCinema.com

DR-31987828

2347 W. Main • 317-462-2006

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 93

educational development

Middle school earns four-star honor 4-star awards honor county’s top performers

By Samm Quinn | New Palestine Press

A NEW PALESTINE

Another Hancock County school has been recognized as a four-star institution after the Indiana Department of Education released a second list of four-star schools using criteria previously considered for the award.

On their last day of work before summer, one day after students headed home for break, Doe Creek Middle School staff members received some unexpected good news.

When Principal Jim Voelz met with teachers recently to review end-of-the-year reminders, he told them their hard work had paid off; the state education department listed the New Palestine middle school as one of the state’s top performers — honors the school has received every year since the 2011-12 school year.

The Southern Hancock school was the only local building to be added to the list of four-star schools, which must show excellence in test scores, student progress and more. Eden Elementary School in Greenfield received the nod earlier in May.

94 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Forty-one schools across the state first earned the designation several weeks ago. The number of schools qualifying as four-star dropped significantly from years prior because the DOE used tougher criteria to evaluate schools, prompting outcry from educators who felt their staff and students’ hard work had been overlooked.

Two weeks later, the department issued a news release announcing a second round of recipients, some 200 more schools that qualified under the former requirements and who the department determined would receive the honor again this year.

The change brought the total number of schools qualifying for the designation from 41 to 248.

“After receiving feedback from the field, we re-evaluated our criteria in an effort to ensure we captured all schools deserving of four-star recognition,” a news release states.

The Four-Star School Award was created in 1988 to recognize the state’s best schools. In 2012-13, seven county schools received the designation.

This story previously ran in the May, 31, 2017, edition of the Daily Reporter.

We repair ALL makes & models & we’ll work with your insurance company!

317-462-0077

DR-31985804

165 W. Muskegon, Greenfield (Behind Aldi’s)

FREE ESTIMATES • Monday-Friday 8:00 - 5:00 Visit Our Showroom!

REPAIRS:

Masonry • Flashing • Crowns • Stainless Steel Liners • Heat Shield Liner Sealant Brick Work • Stainless Steel Chase Covers

CLEANINGS:

Chimneys • Dryer Vents • Air Ducts

SALES & INSTALLATIONS:

Woodstoves & Inserts • Rain Caps • Dampers Waterproofing • New Chimneys

317-462-4759 DR-31987777

Last year, eight schools were recognized — the most in the past decade — including all four county high schools.

To be named a four-star school, schools must receive an “A” on the state’s A-F accountability system, test well on ISTEP, carry a high graduation rate (at the high school level) and show success in closing achievement gaps.

This year, 80 to 85 percent of students were required to pass the ISTEP for schools to earn the designation.

Previously, schools had to perform in the upper 25th percentile on the exam — historically a lower threshold, officials said.

Voelz said the news about earning the designation was a pleasant surprise after staff members were disappointed they hadn’t made the first cut.

When Superintendent Lisa Lantrip emailed Voelz to congratulate him, he “We have one thought she was joking.

He’d been frustrated the of the best staffs school wasn’t included on around. They the first list, and that was a work hard to sore spot, he said.

He thought Lantrip was truly support teasing him. students.”

“I was super excited to get that email,” Voelz said.

— Jim Voelz “We’re a little disappointed it didn’t come sooner.”

Lantrip said the entire district is excited for Doe Creek, which she called an outstanding school that maintains a fun atmosphere while also being caring and supportive of students.

Teachers were able to celebrate a little, though they will forego a school-wide celebration because students are out for summer break, Voelz said.

Still, the recognition reinforces what he’s always known about his school, he said.

Students come every day ready to learn, parents prioritize education and the school is full of great teachers.

“We have one of the best staffs around. They work hard to truly support students,” he said.

Quality Auto Body Repair & Painting

www.tjschimneyservice.com

Member Central Indiana

866 S. State Street • Greenfield, IN 46140 Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 95

educational development

District Information

Greenfield-Central 110 W. North St., Greenfield, IN, 46140 317-462-4434 2016-17 Enrollment: 4,521 2015-16 graduation rate: 91 percent

2015-16 accountability grade: B The district: Children in Center and Green townships attend Greenfield-Central schools.

School Board:

Retta Livengood Kathy Dowling Steve Menser Daniel Brown Hillary Close Administration:

Eastern Hancock Class of 2017

Eastern Hancock

Superintendent Harold Olin holin@gcsc.k12.in.us 317-462-4434 Associate superintendent Ann Vail avail@gcsc.k12.in.us Assistant superintendent Christy Hilton chilton@gcsc.k12.in.us Business manager Tony Zurwell tzurwell@gcsc.k12.in.us

10370 E. County Road 250N, Charlottesville, IN, 46117 317-936-5444 2017-16 Enrollment: 1,211

Schools:

2015-16 graduation rate: 93.3 percent Eastern Hancock High School 10320 E. County Road 250N, 2015-16 accountability grade: B Charlottesville, IN, 46117 The district: Children in Blue River, 317-936-5595 or 317-467-0095 Brown and Jackson townships Dave Pfaff, principal attend Eastern Hancock schools. dpfaff@easternhancock.org School Board:

Thomas Younts Michael Lewis Scott Petry James R. Jackson Jr. Scott Johnson Administration:

96 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Greenfield Central Junior High School 1440 N. Franklin Road, Greenfield, IN, 46140 317-477-4616 Dan Jack, principal djackgcsc.k12.in.us Greenfield Intermediate School 204 W. Park Avenue, Greenfield, IN, 46140 317-462-6827 Devon Marine, principal dmarine@gcsc.k12.in.us Maxwell Intermediate School 102 N. Main Street, Maxwell, IN, 46154 317-326-3121 Jobie Whitaker, principal jwhitaker@gcsc.k12.in.us Eden Elementary School 8185 N. State Road 9, Greenfield, IN, 46140 Phone: 317.326.3117 Melia Hammons, principal mhammons@gcsc.k12.in.us Harris Elementary 200 W. Park St. Greenfield, IN, 46140 317-467-6731 Jan Kehrt, principal jkehrt@gcsc.k12.in.us

Eastern Hancock Middle School 10380 E. County Road 250 N, Charlottesville, IN, 46117 317-936-5324 Dave Pfaff, principal dpfaff@easternhancock.org

Eastern Hancock Elementary School Superintendent 10450 E. County Road 250N, Vicki McGuire Charlottesville, IN, 46117 vmcguire@easternhancock.org 317-936-5829 317-936-5444 Amanda Pyle, principal apyle@easternhancock.org

Schools:

Greenfield-Central High School 810 N. Broadway St., Greenfield, IN, 46140 317-462-9211 Jason Cary, principal jcary@gcsc.k12.in.us

The Greenfield-Central Class of 2017

J.B. Stephens Elementary 1331 N. Blue Road, Greenfield, IN, 46140 317-462-4491 Matt Davis, prinicpal mdavis@gcsc.k12.in.us Weston Elementary School 140 Polk Street, Greenfield, IN, 46140 317-462-1492 Shane Bryant, principal shbryant@gcsc.k12.in.us

Southern Hancock P.O. Box 508, New Palestine, IN, 46163 317-861-4463 2016-17 Enrollment: 3,532

Schools:

New Palestine High School 4485 S. Victory Drive, New 2015-16 accountability grade: B Palestine, IN, 46163 The district: Children in Sugar Creek 317-861-4417 and Brandywine townships attend Keith Fessler, principal Southern Hancock schools. kfessler@newpal.k12.in.us 2015-16 graduation rate: 96.9 percent

School Board:

Matt Ackerman Brian McKinney William Niemier Craig S. Wagoner Dan Walker

Mt. Vernon Class of 2017

Mt. Vernon

Administration:

1806 W. State Road 234, Fortville, IN, 46040 317-485-3100 2016-17 Enrollment: 3,933 2015-16 graduation rate: 94.9 percent 2015-16 accountability grade: C The district: Children in Buck Creek and Vernon townships attend Mt. Vernon schools.

School Board:

Mike McCarty Shannon Walls Kellie Freeman Tony May Barb Smith Administration:

Superintendent Shane Robbins shane.robbins@mvcsc.k12.in.us 317-485-3100 Assistant superintendent Tim Long tim.long@mvcsc.k12.in.us 317-485-3100 Director of special programming Scott Shipley scott.shipley@mvcsc.k12.in.us 317-485-3100 Director of elementary education Heather Noesges heather.noesges@mvcsc.k12.in.us

Schools:

Mt. Vernon High School 8112 N. County Road 200W, Fortville, IN, 46040 317-485-3131 Greg Roach, principal greg.roach@mvcsc.k12.in.us Mt. Vernon Middle School 1862 W. State Road 234, Fortville, IN, 46040 317-485-3160 Ben Williams, principal ben.williams@mvcsc.k12.in.us Fortville Elementary 8414 N. County Road 200W, Fortville, IN, 46040 Stacy Muffler, principal stacy.muffler@mvcsc.k12.in.us

Superintendent Lisa Lantrip llantrip@newpal.k12.in.us 317-861-4463, ext. 117 Assistant superintendent Robert Yoder byoder@newpal.k12.in.us 317-861-4463, ext. 111 Director of instruction Miles Hercamp mhercamp@newpal.k12.in.us 217-861-4463, ext. 118

Doe Creek Middle School 5613 W. County Road 200S, New Palestine, IN, 46163 Jim Voelz, principal jvoelz@newpal.k12.in.us Brandywine Elementary 413 E. County Road 400S, Greenfield, IN 46140 317-462-7396 Rhonda Peterson, principal mpeterson@newpal.k12.in.us New Palestine Elementary 4801 S. County Road 500W, New Palestine, IN, 46163 317-861-5287 Katy Eastes, principal keastes@newpal.k12.in.us Sugar Creek Elementary 2337 S. County Road 600W, New Palestine, IN, 46163 Kari Shelton, principal kshelton@newpal.k12.in.us

2017 graduates of New Palestine High School

McCordsville Elementary 7177 N. County Road 600W, McCordsville, IN, 46055 317-336-7760 Stephanie Miller, principal stephanie.miller@ mvcsc.k12.in.us Mt. Comfort Elementary 5694 W. County Road 300N, Greenfield, IN, 46140 317-894-7667 Casey Dodd, principal casey.dodd@mvcsc.k12.in.us

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 97

Sports

From left, New Palestine softball coach Ed Marcum has made leading the top-ranked Dragons a family affair with his daughters, Michelle (Marcum) Hokl and Alyssa (Marcum) Dillard.

Family Affair

T

It’s a longtime tradition when it comes to softball and the Marcums

By Kristy Deer | Daily Reporter kdeer@greenfieldreporter.com

98 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

NEW PALESTINE

The team huddled together at the end of a recent batting practice at Chix-Fastpitch indoor hitting facility.

New Palestine High School softball players and their coach, Ed Marcum, meet there often to work on their hitting and pitching skills.

Marcum built the indoor hitting facility, located inside a barn at 5528 W. U.S. 52 — just behind the house where he grew up — in 2001, when his two daughters were young and playing travel softball.

Now his team uses the barn to hone their batting and pitching skills.

The coach had gathered his team at

This story previously ran in the May 20, 2017 edition of the Daily Reporter.

DR-31991592

1990 N. Meridian Rd. Greenfield, IN 46140 (P) 317.318.1015 www.fianolandscapes.com

INDOOR PISTOL & ARCHERY RANGE - FIREARMS - AMMUNITION - TRAINING

FIREARMS TRAINING AVAILABLE

123 N. State Street., Greenfield 317.462.6290 MON - SAT 10 AM - 7 PM • SUN 10 AM - 4

DR-31991613

the end of recent practice to watch a funny video on a cellphone.

“Keep watching the home plate area,” he said.

Within a few seconds the group erupted in laughter, with their coach grinning from ear to ear — the video shows one of the girls accidentally hitting a teammate on the head as they celebrate at home plate. Marcum loved seeing the reaction to the video, which recapped a funny moment from a recent game.

It was particularly special, he said, seeing his daughter, Alyssa (Marcum) Dillard, right in the middle of the group, smiling broadly.

“We’re really more “I thank God like a big family than a team,” the coach said. every day for the “It’s so awesome.” opportunity to Family is what Marcum is all about. coach with my Marcum, 55, is in his girls. I just feel 14th season leading the glad they like it Dragons. He coached in his 400th game Wednesas much as I do.” day, May 10, a non-con— Ed Marcum ference game against Fishers, winning 16-9.

With the win, Marcum compiled a sparkling 346-58 record.

It includes three state, seven sectional and six regional championships, with his family at his side every step of the way.

Marcum was able to coach both daughters, Alyssa, 27, and Michelle (Marcum) Hokl, 25, together back in 2008, when they played for the Dragons and won a state championship together.

It’s a time he remembers with pride, he said. But, he’s enjoying the present day just as much because his whole family is on the same playing field once again.

PM

WWW.HIGHSMITHGUNS.COM Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 99

Sports

New Palestine head softball coach Ed Marcum speaks to his team after hitting and pitching practice.

This time his daughters are helping him coach the Dragons. The family affair includes his wife of 33 years, Becky Marcum, who has always been his sounding board and team scorekeeper, and his father, Ray Marcum, who attends nearly every game.

“I thank God every day for the opportunity to coach with my girls,” Ed Marcum said. “I just feel glad they like it as much as I do.”

Bell Mortuary and crematory • shangrila chapel ROYSTER• ASKIN• SANDROCK CHAPEL

Jeff and Lynette Bell Funeral Director and Owners

Fountaintown IN 46130

DR-31990922

(3 miles East of New Palestine)

T: 317.861.6153 F: 317.861.8067

Royster-askin sandrock chapel 2310 W. Washington St., Indianapolis IN 46222

T: 317.637.4309 F: 317.861.8067

www.bellmortuary.com

100 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31990923

SHANGRILA chAPEL

Alyssa is her dad’s assistant coach and handles first base coaching duties, while Michelle works with the players in the dugout.

While both girls are grown and married, they all live in close proximity to each other in New Palestine, with Alyssa living the farthest away — about three miles.

Alyssa, a teacher, is also the mother of two boys. She’s been coaching on a limited basis with her dad since 2009, when she was in college. She took on a larger role and stepped up to the varsity assistant job in 2014.

Michelle, a nurse, found she, too, still loved the game and slowly got into coaching last year. She jumped on board as an assistant this season.

“I’d always come to the games and watch, but it’s so much more fun being involved in them than watching,” Michelle said.

Michelle is expecting her first child, who Ed Marcum hopes will be his first granddaughter. After all, he wants to coach the child someday, he said.

When he coached his daughters, Ed Marcum tried to treat his girls just like any other players. Now they’re both helping him call the shots.

Woodland Group Properties, LP Give us a call today for help with your office space needs.

From left, Ray Marcum, Ed Marcum, Brayden Dillard, Becky Marcum, Bryson Dillard, Sue Furlani, Michelle Hokl, Jeff Hokl, Jeremy Dillard and Alyssa Dillard.

Locally owned & managed professional office space in Greenfield

Call Brad Arthur • 317-462-6362 woodlandgroupproperties.com

DR-31991129

5-STAR KNOWLEDGE

IN A JEANS & T-SHIRT ATMOSPHERE

Lady Payne Accounting Tax Services, Bookkeeping, Payroll & Notary Public

Call Regina Payne E.A. 317-936-5863 www.ladypayneaccounting.com Free E-Filing & Direct Deposit 5 Day Drop Off Service.

DR-31991043

“Heck, Alyssa — she really wants my job,” the coach said with a laugh. “But, I’m not hanging ’em up anytime soon.”

Becky Marcum said she has enjoyed watching her girls grow up playing softball, head off to college, start their own families and have things come full circle to where it all started.

“To see them still enjoy and love the game is so special,” she said.

Ed Marcum said he loves having his daughters coach the team with him because they bring a sense of been-theredone-that and can relate to the players in ways he can’t.

He’s the authoritarian on the team, as is Alyssa, the family said.

They say Alyssa has more of a laid back personality off the field, like her mother, but becomes more intense — like her father — on it.

Michelle, on the other hand, is like her father off the field, but likes to have a little more fun in between the lines.

Together there isn’t much the family can’t figure out in a game. Plus, it’s great having coaches on the field who know exactly what the head coach is thinking and having a mom who can offer sound advice from the stands, they said.

“It’s ultimately my decision on things, but I always want their input,” Ed Marcum said.

Having his daughters around has given the head coach — who’s intense

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 101

Sports

and always looking to win — a chance to lighten up and enjoy the games a little more, he said.

Game time is a great time for the Marcum family. Ed Marcum’s father, his sons-in-law and Alyssa’s two boys try to come to each contest.

When the softball season is over, it’s more family fun on the field. The whole family travels around the country visiting Major League Baseball parks and has been to 22 so far.

They’ll take in major league games in Georgia and Florida this summer, but softball is never far from their thoughts.

“It’s either superheroes, Marvel movies or softball,” Alyssa said with a laugh.

“We really like hanging out together.”

Ed Marcum

1965 North State Street Greenfield Indiana DR-31987832

317-462-8850 Georgia Knotek dds, pc

317-403-4321

We’ll pamper you with gentle dental care!

A Caring Commitment To Health From Kids To Senior Citizens

• Orthodontics

• Teeth Whitening • Bonding

102 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31991591

DR-31987839

• Crowns & Bridges

• Root Canals & Dentures

• Cosmetic Dentistry Day, Evening & Saturday Appointments

www.georgiaknotekdds.com 317-462-5181 • fax 317-467-0539 1852 Fields Blvd. • Greenfield

Marcum celebrates with Ashley Prange at third base after she hit a home run during a game this year.

Marcum’s Impact Ed Marcum coached in his 400th game for the Dragons, here is his record break down in those games.

2004: 29-4 state champ 2005: 22-5 2006: 28-2, state semifinalist 2007: 22-5 2008: 29-3, state champ 2009: 30-1, state champ 2010: 28-4, state semifinalist 2011: 22-7, regional champ 2012: 22-7 2013: 20-7 2014: 24-4 2015: 24-4 2016: 24-3, sectional champ 2017: 22-2

4 BARBERS 7 COSMETOLOGISTS 2 NAIL TECHNICIANS 2 MASSAGE THERAPISTS 2 SKIN CARE CONSULTANT

DR-31987853

Salon & Spa, LLC

Your Kemper Team: Willie McKinney, CPA Mike Manship, CPA, MBA Emily Schenk, CPA David Hoover, CPA 332 East Main Street Greenfield, IN 46140 Phone: (317) 462-3401 kempercpa.com

Serving All Your Memorial Needs.

DR-31987856

* Reviews and Compilation * Tax Planning and Tax Return Preparation * Small Business Consulting * Payroll and Payroll Tax Services * Business Valuations * Property Taxes * Retirement Plan Administration * Sales and Use Tax Consulting * Estate Planning * Quickbooks Installation and Advising

• Monuments • Markers • Mausoleums • Statuary

• Columbariums • Etched Portraits • Ceramic Pictures • Vases Flowers

DR-31991344

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 103

Sports

More than Just Sports

Local fathers and sons bond during basketball clinic

By Rich Torres | Daily Reporter

Cooper Bechtel, 4, watches the action during a father and son basketball clinic at Eastern Hancock along with his dad, Brett. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

rtorres@greenfieldreporter.com

CTION COLLISION

“We take ACTION & pride in our service”

118 W. Main Street, Greenfield • (317) 318-1792

901 E. Broadway St., Fortville • (317) 747-4910

Proudly Serving • Locally grown non-GMO chicken • Locally produced chorizo from Tyner Ponds

Including...

21 S. WESTSIDE DR. NEW PALESTINE

• Our Signature Lincoln Square Pancakes • Skillets, Scramblers and Hand-Crafted Omelettes • Made-Fresh Biscuits, French Toast and Waffles • Fresh homemade all-natural strawberry and blueberry jams • Freshly-Squeezed

ORANGE JUICE!

317-861-1500

• Our Famous Greek Gyro Pita • Fresh from the Garden Salads • Homemade Soups Offered Every Day • Huge Selection of Wraps, Melts and Sandwiches

104 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31987780

Featuring...

DR-31987851

DR-31987787

FULL SERVICE BODY SHOP WITH 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Smith Insurance 53 West Main St. New Palestine, IN

317-861-6861

www.smithagencyins.com

This story previously ran in the July 12, 2017 edition of the Daily Reporter.

A

A CHARLOTTESVILLE

Aaron Spaulding spun his gaze a complete 360 degrees as he stood at center court inside the Eastern Hancock Elementary School gymnasium.

Just wrapping up his 19th annual Royals Father-Son Youth Basketball Clinic on Monday night, the veteran coach let his whistle dangle around his neck freely as nearly a dozen youngsters drove the lane and chucked jumpers with their dads.

With the hour-and-a-half long hoops session complete, few fled the hardwood for the parking lot after Spaulding dismissed the group. Instead, they maximized the opportunity to bond, one dribble at a time.

“These kids’ No. 1 coach up until junior high really is going to be their dad. The players that have become the most skilled, for the most part it’s their dads that have really worked with them,” said Spaulding, the athletics director and head varsity boys basketball coach at Eastern Hancock High School.

“If dads didn’t necessarily grow up playing basketball or haven’t had any experience coaching, we want to give them some things to work on with their sons,” Spaulding added. “And any time you can get a dad and a son doing

L CAL AD AHE F OR VE DR I !

U THR

» Full Service Retail Pharmacy

» Private Patient Consultations

Fast Friendly Service & Great Value Buffet

» Most Insurance Plans Accepted

Two Locations to Serve You!

» Convenient Drive-thru » Fast, Friendly Service » Competitive Prices » Easy Access

Dave Bush, P.D. Local Owner

GREENFIELD & MCCORDSVILLE

We’ll always make time for you.

MONDAY » THURSDAY • 11:00AM – 9:00PM FRIDAY » SATURDAY • 11:00AM – 10:00PM

1588 N State St., Greenfield (317) 462-7877 www.medicap.com Monday -Friday: 8:30am - 6:30pm Saturday: 8:30am - 12:30pm Sunday: Closed

SUNDAY • 11:00AM – 9:00PM

1031 N. STATE ST. • GREENFIELD

(317) 462-3131

DR-31982443

DR-31987850

things together, it’s good stuff.”

Open to youths in kindergarten through fifth grade, the Royals yearly hoops clinic achieved its goal. Dads and sons listened attentively throughout the evening as Spaulding, who has

5917 W. BROADWAY • MCCORDSVILLE

(317) 335-3131

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 105

Sports

Steve Brooks has fun with Gabe, left, and Ross Smith.

(Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

coached the Royals since 1999, outlined step-by-step instructions on dribbling, shooting, passing and defending.

Once Spaulding set up a practice drill, the fathers lined along the floor took charge and became the coaches, guiding their pint-sized hoopsters on form and fundamentals.

For Chris Zeilinga, an assistant varsity tennis coach at Mt. Vernon High School, the tips and basketball knowledge received from Spaulding was much appreciated. Attending the clinic with his son, Luke, 8, who is a third-grader at Fortville Elementary School, the tandem has spent their recent summers around a backboard.

“I’ve known coach Spaulding for a while, and I love the way he teaches,” Chris Zeilinga said. “(Luke is) really

Greenfield Parks & Recreation Go to www.greenfieldin.org to check out these programs and more!

-Gymnastics - toddler to 12 years of age -Art Classes - adult & youth -Pre School - ages 3-5 -Pee Wee Athletics Instructional Class - ages 3-5 (track, golf, football, tee ball, soccer, basketball, karate) -Nature Programs - families -Slow Pitch Softball Leagues - adults -Zumba Fitness - adults - all fitness levels welcome

“We treat you like family!”

(317) 467-1555 www.grayauto.com

DR-31987790

DR-31987860

2260 W. Main St. • Greenfield

Connecting Opportunities to Economic Success www.hancockedc.com

Call us first! 317.477.7241

Hancock County Businesses HEDC is here to serve you!

HANCOCK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

• Site location assistance • Cost of doing business analysis • Liaison between local government & business community • Economic impact modeling and much more Follow us on:

106 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

DR-31991066

DR-31986848

1 COURTHOUSE PLAZA GREENFIELD, IN 46140

Patricia Elmore Center 280 North Apple St. • (317) 477-4340

starting to get into it over the last year, and the first time we came here last year was part of the reason that he kind of really enjoyed it.”

The duo also participates in a similar clinic put on at Mt. Vernon by Marauders head varsity boys basketball coach Travis Daugherty. As a result, Luke has become active with his school team and playing summer ball, Chris Zeilinga said. And a big part of his interest in the sport is because of the time he gets one-on-one with his dad.

“It’s fun and I like learning about basketball,” Luke Zeilinga said. “I like basketball a lot. I like shooting and when you get to try to win the game. It feels good to do that.”

Learning new ways to beat his dad is a bonus, Luke joked.

Our Specialty is Ribs!

“I try,” Luke said. “I usually beat him.”

On Monday, everyone was a winner, including the Zeilinga’s as they ran the court in unison, worked on two-hand passing drills, transition layups and stopped to talk over the basics with a few laughs.

“That’s the most important thing, having a good time and having fun.

If they can pick up some good basketball knowledge, then that’s a bonus,” Spaulding said.

Beyond the occasional blown whistle

by Spaulding echoing around the fourwalled white, brick bandbox, encouraging chatter followed every missed shot and mishandled pass.

“I don’t care how bad it looks. I just want to see you attempt it,” Spaulding

Ethan Wilson shoots with his dad, David Wilson

THE GRILL 2

HAS EXPANDED

A great place to live, top schools, nearby recreation and dining, all with a small town feel. And, it’s just a short drive from Greenfield, Indianapolis and Fishers.

Come check out our new look!

PRIVATE DINING FOR ALL OCCASIONS HOLIDAY PARTIES | BANQUETS | MEETINGS | LUNCHEONS DINNER SERVICE AND BUFFET AVAILABLE

JOIN US FOR OUR DAILY LUNCH, DINNER & DRINK SPECIALS! MONDAY NIGHT: Trivia TUESDAY NIGHT: Kids Night — Kids eat free 6-8 p.m.

We Also Cater!

(must be accompanied by an adult)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: $3.00 You Call Its (on selected items)

THURSDAY NIGHT: Steak Night — 6 oz. bacon wrapped filet with 2 sides $9.99

Come visit us.....you’ll like what we have to offer!

• FULL LINE OF SPIRITS AVAILABLE • • SEASONAL PATIO DINING AVAILABLE • • CATCH ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS ON 22 TV’S •

317-336-4700

OPEN DAILY 11AM-10PM MON-SUN VISIT US AT WWW.THEGRILLATMCCORDSVILLE.COM

mccordsville.org

Gift Cards Available!

FAMILY FRIENDLY!

DR-31990964

6621 W. BROADWAY MCCORDSVILLE

Find us on Facebook

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 107

Sports

Eastern Hancock Boys Varsity Basketball coach Aaron Spalding gives instructions

called out as several fathers helped their sons situate their shooting pocket and guide hand placement.

“There you go. You’re getting it,” Spaulding exclaimed. “We want you and your dad to be on the same page.”

The common theme was evident at every corner and around each of the six rims set at varied heights: constructive support and cultivation trumps criticism.

“Nice job,” a few fathers added.

“Good work!”

Spaulding never rushed the pace of the kids or their dads as he moved the clinic along with more than eight specific drills offered.

“I’ve done this every year I’ve been here,” Spaulding said. “I was an assistant under Scott Heady at Warren Cen-

Cars, Trucks, Farm, Lawn & Garden and Industrial Tires

Earning Your Trust and Loyalty Everyday INSKEEP FORD

317-462-1470 2651 W MAIN ST GREENFIELD, IN 46140 inskeepford.com

DR-31990924

108 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

tral, and he did it, so I got it from him.

I just grabbed the idea when I came out here and have been doing it ever since.”

In years past, Spaulding pulled double duty, instructing the clinic and working with his twin sons, Jacob and Silas, who are entering the seventh grade this fall. It was a special experience, Spaulding said, one he hopes every one of the families involved with the clinic shares.

“I had them come out here all the way through their elementary years,” Spaulding said. “I even talked them into helping last year.”

Spaulding and his father, Bob, 79, spent countless moments together on the baseball diamond in Aaron’s youth.

Today, they remain on the same path with Bob Spaulding keeping the varsity

“If dads didn’t necessarily grow up playing basketball or haven’t had any experience coaching, we want to give them some things to work on with their sons,” — AAron Spaulding

team’s statistics on game nights.

Sports and their bond through athletics, Aaron Spaulding said, was the key.

“One of the main connections I have with my dad was with basketball and it still is one. He’s been our bookkeeper here since 2003,” he said. “With my sons and my daughters, it’s been a real fun connection working together.”

Sports make an impact, Spaulding noted, and it did during the clinic as a few youths came over to the coach to say “thank you” before heading home with their dads.

“We’ve had a lot of our players come through this at some point, so it’s paid dividends,” Spaulding said. “It’s a good way to get to know the kids, the families and the dads.”

OPEN

SUPER MARKET

624 Madison Street Fortville 317-485-4061

8:00AM to 8:00PM • 7 days a week

Super Savings Every Day!

Fresh Cut Meat Daily!

Every Tuesday is Senior Day 10% OFF

check our everyday sale prices Stroughs Super Market We Accept WIC & EBT Money Orders

DR-31991783

Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 109

Sports

Lifting Off Local kindergarten teacher qualifies for national Strongwoman competition

T

By Kris Mills | Daily Reporter kmills@greenfieldreporter.com

GREENFIELD

The officials were gone. The competitors left. Feeling somewhat bitter, Samantha Gable sat next to the shot put ring all alone.

As someone who built a reputation for never shying away from a challenge, Gable was far from content. Her

Samantha Gable finished second overall in her weight class at the 2017 Strongest Southern Belle competition in Kentucky in February.

Estab

lished • Fire & Water Damage Restoration • Spot Removal in 1995 • Carpet/Fabric Protection • Mold Mitigation Establis hed • Spot Removal re & Water Damage Restoration • Call for a FREE Estimate • Carpet & Upholstery Specialists in 1995 Establis Establis hed hed • Carpet/Fabric Protection old • Spot Removal storation • Spot Removal ire &Mitigation Water Damage Restoration in & 1Water Damage Restoration in 1995 • Spot Removal 995 ServiceMaster by• Fire Fentz • Carpet/Fabric Protection • Call for• Mold aProtection FREE Estimate arpetMitigation & Upholstery Specialists • Carpet/Fabric Mold • Carpet/Fabric Protection Mitigation (317) • Call for a FREE Estimate cialists • Carpet & Upholstery Specialists • Call for a FREE Estimate Estimate Carpet & Upholstery Specialists • Call for a FREE

467-6571

Establis hed in 1995

ServiceMaster

by Fentz www.myservicemaster.com/1585

aster by ServiceMaster Fentz

by Fentz

ServiceMaster by Fentz Restoration • Spot Removal (317) Establis hed (317) (317) • Carpet/Fabric Protection • Mold Mitigation • Spot Removal & Water Damage Restoration in 1995 www.myservicemaster.com/1585 www.myservicemaster.com/1585 www.servicemasterindy.com• Carpet & Upholstery Specialists cemaster.com/1585 www.myservicemaster.com/1585 • Call for a FREE Estimate • Carpet/Fabric Protection Mitigation 3041 W. US 40

467-6571 67-6571 467-6571

3041 W. US 40 • Greenfield, IN 46140 • Fire & Water Damage

3041 W. US • Greenfield, IN 46140 • Greenfield, INW. 46140 3041 US 4040 • Greenfield, Greenfield, IN 46140IN 46140

et & Upholstery Specialists

467-6571

3041 W. US 40 • Greenfield, IN 46140

by Fentz • Call ServiceMaster for a FREE Estimate (317) 467-6571

ServiceMaster Fentz Pence by Brooks Bolander & Shepherd www.myservicemaster.com/1585

(317) 467-6571 INSURANCE3041 W. US 40 • Greenfield, IN 46140

www.myservicemaster.com/1585

Commercial

Personal

3041 W. US 40 • Greenfield, IN 46140

Benefits

Financial

802 East Main Street • Greenfield, IN 46140 317.462.9204 shepherdins.com

110 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

This story previously ran in the March 31, 2017 edition of the Daily Reporter.

Establis h in 1995

Free camera inspection with this ad!* * Some restrictions apply

Growers of Fine Quality Annuals, Perennials & Flowering Plants We stock Northern Grown Nursery Stock FULL LINE GARDEN CENTER

One of The Largest Retail Greenhouses in the Midwest

DR-31991003

23rd-place finish at the IHSAA State Finals as a sophomore, to her standards, was simply not good enough.

“She came up to me and looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘I don’t ever want to feel that way again,’” former Greenfield-Central head track coach Jan Hacker said. “She sat there for a long time.”

After advancing to state in just the shot put her first two seasons of high school, Gable kicked her training into another gear. She would qualify for state in both the shot put and discus her junior and senior seasons.

Now, nearly a decade after graduating in 2008, Gable still sits atop the record book at Greenfield-Central.

Her throw of 44 feet, 10 inches in the shot put remains the best in school history. In the discus throw, Gable is tied for second with a toss of 135 feet, two inches.

“It was a rough season after having a solid freshman year,” said Gable, who eventually finished a personal-best fourth overall at state in the shot put as a junior. “I was pushing myself to be the best, so I put a lot of pressure on myself.

“That is a part of athletics, but I pick myself up and keep going — no matter what happens.”

After throwing 36-02.5 as a sophomore, which was down nearly 2 feet from her state throw as a freshman, Gable tossed the shot put 44-03 at state as a junior. She would finish seventh overall as a senior (42-03.25).

And although she is officially done with high school track and field, Gable has found a way to stay busy. After a successful five-year career throwing at Miami University in Ohio, Gable, who teaches kindergarten at Eden Elementary and coaches junior high track at Greenfield Central, needed another activity to remain physically active.

With a background in track and a workout routine still intact, Gable has participated in three Strongwoman competitions the last two years. In

3710 W. US 40 • Located 3 Miles West of Greenfield on US 40

317-462-2228 • Gift Certificates Available Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 111

Sports

Gable lifts the Viking Press, finishing second overall in her weight class. She lifted the 150-pound press 23 times.

February, she finished second overall in her weight class at the 2017 Strongest Southern Belle competition in Kentucky to qualify for the national meet in Michigan on June 25.

“I have been lifting four days a week for 13 years now, I started lifting before high school,” Gable said, who first started with her father. “All I had to do was keep my training going, my heavy weight lifting, and on some Saturdays I would do Strongman training.

“This meet (in Kentucky), everything was timed so it was more of cardiovascular training than anything, which makes it harder than some of the other meets I have done.”

The events, Gable explained, are similar to that of a Strongman competition and include familiar lifts like

DR-31990920

1229 W Main Street 35 W Main Street 8365 Keystone Xing Ste 202

Greenfield 317.462.7292 New Palestine 317.861.4411 Indianapolis 317.334.3743

w w w. s h i a g e n c y. c o m

Homeplace Catering LLC

CYNTHIA’S HALLMARK

Home Cooking at its Best

Cynthia's Hallmark and Boutique is the largest Hallmark Store in the Country right here in Greenfield.

Cynthia's has over 15,000 feet of Fashion, Jewelry, Collectibles, Gifts, Seasonal, Gourmet, Candles, Home Decor and More.

Thanks for shopping local and keeping our local economy strong.

Family Owned since 1985.

Green Meadows Shopping Center (317) 462-6749

www.cynthiashallmarkstores.com

112 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Whether for a gathering of friends or a more formal affair, we’ll make your occasion special!

C a l l U s To d a y !

317.696.1617 www.homeplacecatering.net DR-31991065

DR-31990998

the Viking Press, the Atlas Stones and the Farmer’s Walk. There was also a sandbag carry and a chain drag medley, where competitors drag a chain hooked to a big tire. Gable took third in both the chain drag, finishing in 24.61 seconds, and the Farmer’s Walk, carrying 175 pounds in each arm 60 feet in 9.61 seconds.

However, Gable’s best finishes of the day were in the Atlas Stone carry and the Progressive Deadlift, finishing second overall. She lifted the 185-pound stone 11 times and did 18 repetitions up to 295 pounds on the deadlift in one minute.

“I wanted to get back into a sport,” Gable said. “Weightlifting in a gym by yourself is fun, but there is no competition aspect to it. Some people at the

Joyce Holmes 5117 N. 300 E., Greenfield

gym suggested I would be good at it, and I started training and doing meets.

“It is really just a lot of time management. Sometimes I wake up and do cardio before school and go back to the gym after school and track practice.”

Hacker, who is now retired from coaching after a long career with Greenfield-Central, said she is not surprised Gable has remained close to athletics.

“By (Gable’s) nature, she is a very driven, very competitive person,” Hacker said. “She keeps striving until she reaches her goal. She has always had that type of personality, and she pushed herself to another level. She just inspires other people to be better.

“She is like that with everything she does.”

Gable explained that the Strongwoman world is small but continues to grow. She saw only saw four girls when competing in 2015 and seven girls last year. At her most recent competition, there were 35 girls.

It is so small, in fact, that Gable actually took second in Kentucky to a girl she competed against in college.

Mekayla Breland, who was on the track and field team at the University of Cincinnati, was a familiar face for Gable.

“We threw quite a bit against each other in college,” Gable said. “When I saw her, it took me back to competing in track. It was really cool to see her and compete against her again.”

Her freshman season at Miami University, Gable qualified for junior

nationals in the hammer throw and went to the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a junior.

Now, Gable, who said she plans to keep active with the sport for as long as her body allows, serves as a positive role model for the junior high track team and young students at Eden Elementary. She said some of her athletes and students have shown interest in her life outside of coaching and teaching.

“I show them videos, and I try to get the young girls involved,” Gable said.

“There is a stigma that girls can’t lift weights and can’t be strong. It is the complete opposite.

“All kids needs to learn at a young age that women can be strong, and you shouldn’t be afraid to do anything.”

Celebrating 10 Years in Greenfield!

DIGITAL MARKETING SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS Website Design | Social Media Management | & Much More

MOWERS IT’S SO MUCH MOWER

4267 East US 40 • Greenfield, IN Get started today.

Call (317) 477-3238.

(317) 462-2555

www.mid-statetruck.com Discover Hancock County 2017 • Daily Reporter 113

Advertising Index

Allen Wellmen McNew Harvey, LLP All Pets go to Heaven Crematory American Health Network

85 100 9

Greenfield Beverage Company

106

Greenfield-Central Schools

45

Greenfield Daily Reporter

42, 43

Nu Flow Indy

111

Opti Vision 20/20

34

Action Collision

104

Greenfield Granite Company, Inc.

103

Pence Brooks Bolander & Shepherd Insurance

110

Another Addison Auction

102

Greenfied Parks & Rec Dept.

106

Pendleton Family Dentistry

46 23

Armstrong Garage Doors, Inc.

92

Golden Living Centers - Brandywine

78

Pendleton Family Medicine Care

Arrowhead Golf Course

44

Hampton Inn

82

Ponderosa Steakhouse

46

PostNet 42

11

Avery Dennision

79

Hancock Area Rural Transit

BBQ’N Fools

77

Hancock Co. Public Library

83

Potter Family Eye Care

20

100

Hancock Co. Senior Services

46

Remax Realty Group

116

Bethel Baptist Church

54

30

14

Hancock County Solid Waste Management District

Richards Insurance Agency Allstate

Bradford Builders, Inc.

26

Bradley United Methodist Church

59

Bradley Preschool

62

Bell Mortuary

Borgmann Realty, LLC

85

Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock Co.

15

Brand & Morelock

61

Calvary Baptist Church

51

Carrington Homes

87

Century 21 Wilson & Associates

14

Century & a Half Club CGS Services, Inc. Chicago’s Pizza

90 89 105

Comfort Inn

19

Country Inn & Suites

76

Custom Exteriors Cynthia’s Hallmark Digital AIM Media Dr. Georgia Knotek, DDS

3 112 113 102

Erlewein Mortuary

77

Faith Lutheran Church

63

FC Tucker Company, Inc. FC Tucker Company, Inc. East Fiano Landscapes Fletcher Dental

2 12 99 42

Fortville Church of the Nazarene

60

Fortville Family Medicine Care

23

Fortville Tire Center, Inc.

108

Fortville Vernon Township Public Library 90 Gateway Communities Preserve at Sugar Creek

35

Geist Family Medicine

18

Gray Auto Brokers

106

Greenfied Area Chamber of Commerce

82

Greenfield Banking Company

27

Greenfield Banking Company – Wealth Management

27

Hancock County Tourism & Visitor Center

64 – 73

Hancock Economic Development Council Hancock Health

106 115

Hancock Physician Network

17

Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation

24

Hancock County Sheriff’s Department

11

Highsmith Guns

99

Homeplace Catering

112

Hope House HRM Insurance Services Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Inskeep Ford

61 60 7 108

Jensen’s Pawn Shop

38

J. R. Wortman Co, Inc..

84

Kemper CPA Group, LLP

103

Lady Payne Accounting

101

Lapel Medical Arts

23

Legacy Cinema

93

LIncoln Square Pancake House

104

Medicap Pharmacy

105

Mental Health Partners of Hancock Co.

44

Mid-State Truck Equipment

113

Miller’s Jewelry

89

Mitchell-Fleming Printing, Inc.

61

Moore’s Repair Service

60

MSP Seals, Inc.

87

Mt. Comfort United Methodist Church

63

Muegge Heating, Plumbing & Electric

39

Nameless Creek Youth Camp

38

New Palestine Gentle Dentist

26

New Palestine Vet Clinic

60

NineStar Connect

25

Noah’s Ark Daycare

51

114 Daily Reporter • Discover Hancock County 2017

Rotary Club of Greenfield

47

Rusty Lowe’s Collison Center

95

ServiceMaster Restore

110

Shining Stars Child Care Academy

91

Shirley Community Visionaries

79

Smith Insurance

104

Springhurst Health Campus

31

Sprinkle CPA, LLC

92

Steffey Hatoway Insurance

112

Steve Millis Electric

92

Stillinger Family Funeral Home

20

St. Michael Catholic Church

59

St. Michael Catholic School

50

Stone Ridge

47

Strough’s Supermarket

109

Sunnyside Greenhouses

92

Superior Mowers

21

Sweet Shop

83

The Grill 2

107

The Rose Lady

62

TJ’s Chimney Service

95

Town of McCordsville

107

Trinity Park United Methodist Church Union Savings & Loan

84 5

Walmart 102 Wells Nursery & Greenhouses

111

Westport Homes

93

Wilkerson Dance Studio

78

Wilkinson Church of Christ

61

Wolf Law Firm

76

Woodland Group Properties, LP

101

Ye Olde Head Shoppe

103

Zion Lutheran Church and School

55

Kindness.

THE CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY. RIGHT HERE.

THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. DO.

What can you expect from Hancock Health? Quite a bit.

Here you’ll find big city hospital services and medical expertise right in your backyard. The comfort that comes from health and wellness services that are easy to reach and visit. We’re committed to this community, and its health and well-being. So we give more, try harder, and, by doing so, provide you with a level of care designed to meet -- and far exceed -- your expectations.

HancockRegional.org HancockWellness.org HancockPhysicians.com

Mobile: 317-997-4663

Mobile: 317-919-4198