Hamilton County Business Magazine June/July 2020

JUNE • JULY 2020

Coping With Corona

How the pandemic has changed business in Hamilton County

PLUS…

• HC’s Last Pandemic • Why Caring is Good for Business

• Erika’s Place Eddie Sahm and Briana Ogiego practice non-contact food delivery.

Letter from the Editor June • July 2020

It’s good to be back. I’ve had several people mention that they miss my column in this magazine, which I discontinued last year when we cut our page count in response to a drop in ad revenue. The revenue hasn’t come back yet, so pages aren’t back up, but I managed to carve out some space in this edition anyway because I miss writing this column.

And, like most everyone, I seem to have time on my hands these days. The coronavirus threat has intruded into our lives so profoundly that we will be living with its effects for years to come. This magazine goes to press two weeks before you receive it in the mail and things change so rapidly on this topic that we can’t hope to offer any timely news. You’ll have to look to your newspapers or online for that.

Mike Corbett Editor and Publisher

But we can offer some perspective from Hamilton County businesspeople who are faced with the task of reopening after a historical economic shock that took a majority of businesses to the mat. Hamilton County isn’t unique in its suffering but I think Ann Cinnamon does a good job with our cover story of distilling a cross section of our business community.

A few thoughts I know many people, especially in the business world, feel the strategy of closing down the economy was an overreaction to the coronavirus threat. I can’t disagree with that; we probably did overreact. But under the circumstances I can’t blame those decision makers for erring on the side of caution. The virus is an invisible killer that was infiltrating our social circles before we even knew it was happening. Drastic measures were called for and it’s hard to second guess someone who is infringing our freedoms in an effort to save lives.

Presumably we’ll know more next time and will be able to take a more measured approach.

It amazes me this took 100 years to happen. Apparently the last pandemic of this magnitude was the Spanish flu in 1918. How in the world did we manage to skip five generations before it happened again? Especially when you consider how easily people have been moving around the world over that time…much more easily than when air travel was in its infancy. I guess we were lucky…until we weren’t.

It’s still early in the recovery, too early to tell what the long term effects will be. I’m an optimist by nature and I have an abiding confidence in the capitalist system, the character of America’s business community and in the American consumer. The fundamentals of our economy remain strong and I predict the recovery will be the much-anticipated V-shape: a quick recovery after a quick decline. You can quote me on that.

We continue to publish this magazine on our regular schedule but we have delayed our other publication, the annual Welcome to Hamilton County Community Guide. It serves the tourist, service and dining industries, which have been severely impacted by the pandemic.

Now that those businesses are reopening they need marketing more than ever, so we’ll publish that this summer and we are happy to offer generous payment terms to help those businesses get back on their feet.

I want to personally thank our advertisers who are sticking with us on this roller coaster ride. They are among those who will be best-positioned to take advantage of the upside as we emerge from the tunnel. You’ve heard it before but it bears repeating: we’re all in this together, let’s help each other thrive in the coming months and years.

See you around the county,

Editor and Publisher mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com 317-774-7747

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June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Here for you when relationships matter most.

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June / July 2020

www.hamiltoncountybusiness.com Published six times per year by the Hamilton County Media Group PO Box 502, Noblesville, IN 46061 317-774-7747

A sign of the times

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Mike Corbett

Features

10

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Bridget Gurtowsky

bridget@gurtowskygraphics.com CORRESPONDENTS Ann Craig-Cinnamon jandacinnamon@aol.com John Cinnamon jlcinnamon@aol.com Samantha Hyde samantharhyde@gmail.com Patricia Pickett pickettwrites@gmail.com Lynn Spencer

The New Normal

14 Dining Out:

mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com

Erika’s Place

16 Pitch-In 17 Chamber Pages

Columns 6

Management Dr. Charles Waldo

7

Ethics Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow

8

Technology J. David Shinn

22

History David Heighway

CONTRIBUTORS David Heighway heighwayd@earthlink.net J. David Shinn david@shinntechnology.com Dr. Charles Waldo cnwaldo@comcast.net Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow cfwester@iupui.edu

Please send news items and photos to news@hamiltoncountybusiness.com Submission does not guarantee publication

Subscription $20/year To subscribe or advertise, contact Mike Corbett at

mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com Copyright 2020 Hamilton County Media Group.

All rights reserved.

Cover photo by Stan Gurka 4

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

5

Management

Charles Waldo

How About Some “Good Stuff?”

Words of wisdom In these trying times, I thought HCBM readers could enjoy and get a lift from reading and reflecting on insights and inspirations on life and business from a variety of sources, some ancient and some current, each short and to the point, and each with the potential to brighten your day just a bit.

Enjoy. This is “good stuff.” *** 1. Only those who risk going too far

will ever know how far they can go. (anon) 2. Keep your fears to yourself; share

your courage with others.

(Robert Louis Stevenson) 3. A smile is contagious; be a carrier.

(anon) 4. Wisdom only comes with experience

and experience only comes with time. (anon) 5. Did he have seventeen years of

different experiences or the same

one year of experience repeated

seventeen times? There is a big difference. (anon) 6.

There are two types of people—those who come in a room and say, “Well, here I am,” and those who come in and say, “Ah, there you are.” Who will have the most influence?

(Frederick Collins)

7. Beware of small expenses. A small

leak can sink a great ship.

(Benjamin Franklin) 8.

If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t been in a pup tent with a mosquito.

(Anita Roddick)

9.

Don’t worry about becoming a success; but rather try to become a person of high value.

(Albert Einstein)

10. Courage is contagious. When a

brave person takes a stand, the

spines of others are stiffened.

(Rev. Billy Graham) 6

11. Have you ever seen a fish mounted

on a wall with its mouth shut?

(anon) 12. That which is used develops and

strengthens. That which is not used

wastes away. (Hippocrates) 13. The best way to forget your own

problems is to help someone else

solve theirs. (anon) 14. If there’s no wind, row. (anon) 15. If your horse is shot out from under

you, get off and get another one.

(Apache Indians) 16. You will never bypass your

predecessor by following in her footsteps. (Irish proverb) Related:

Do not follow where the trodden

path may lead. Go instead where

there is no path and leave a new trail. (Muriel Strode) 17.

Truths that some children have learned: # No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats; # When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don’t let her brush your hair; # You can’t trust dogs to watch your food; # You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

18. To feel sorry for the needy is not the

mark of a good person—to help

them is. (Frank Clark)

Some Secrets to Happiness •

Forgive and Forget.

•

Admit your errors, shoulder the blame, apologize.

•

Keep your temper…and your word.

•

Make the most of the deal you’re dealt.

•

Maintain high standards.

•

Put the needs of others before your own.

•

Think before acting. (anon)

19. Courage is not limited to the

battlefield or the Indy 500 or

catching a thief in your house.

The real tests of courage are

much quieter.

They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody’s looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you’re misunderstood.

(Pastor Charles Swindoll)

20. The Creed of a Doer: # Do more than belong…participate. # Do more than

care; actively help. # Do more than

just believe; put your belief into practice. # Do more than be fair;

be kind. # Do more than forgive— forget. # Do more than dream; work.

(William Ward) *** The above “Good Stuff” quotes are from various issues of Good Stuff Magazine, a wonderful, 24 pages, pocket-sized collection of insights and inspiration for better living from a wide variety of authors. 13 issues per year.

Well worth the $28.99 sub cost. From Progressive Business Publications, Inc. Call 800-220-5000 to order or get a sample. Subscriptions make good gifts for employees, customers, and family or anyone who needs a quick lift from time to time. And who doesn’t? HCBM

Charles Waldo, Ph.D., is Professor of Marketing (ret.) in Anderson University’s Falls School of Business. He can be reached at cnwaldo@comcast.net.

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Ethics

Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow

The Ethics of Caring Helping others in crisis is good business The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on local, regional, national, and global economies. Employees and business owners are tackling financial declines, the likes of which they have never seen before.

In times of turmoil, positive thinking and proverbs like “a setback is set up for a comeback,” often ring hollow and inadequate. Understandably, it is hard to stay calm and remain optimistic when the magnitude of the current fiscal downturn has rocked and disrupted businesses and markets around the world. Even some of the most experienced and prudent business owners and entrepreneurs strategically may have pivoted too quickly or lost touch on how to move forward. On the other hand, as the COVID-10 lockdown continued, businesses, offices, and schools, like the hustle and bustle of everyday life, were brought to a virtual standstill.

Unfortunately, the lack of ethical principles of responsibility and accountability to stakeholders has caused some businesses to incur long-term liabilities, such as losing relationships with employees and customers. The moral duty to care, however, can help business leaders and entrepreneurs remain calm under pressure and rebound to seize opportunities to survive and thrive eventually.

According to the originator of the Ethics of care, Carol Gilligan, individuals and organizations have an ethical duty to avoid any action that could harm others. They also have a responsibility to provide empathy and support to those harmed by crises until the difficult times pass.

How can organizations and businesses of all sizes instill ethics of caring to create viable strategies and innovative alternatives that embody and provide qualifiable optimism and quantifiable economic recovery for the future?

Provide for Your Employees Well-Being

the organization is looking out for their best interest.”

Now, with millions of people who are unemployed or underemployed and even more required for the first time to work from home, employees are stressed about their jobs. Moreover, a new poll by Save the Children found that families are concerned about their children. Sixtyseven percent of parents are somewhat or extremely worried about their child’s emotional and mental wellbeing because of the virus. In addition, children are also extremely worried: “When children were asked how they were feeling, approximately half reported being bored (52%) or worried (49%), and fifty-two percent of children are worried that they will not learn enough to be ready for school in the fall. One in three reported being scared (34%), and one in four reported being anxious (27%), confused (24%), stressed (23%), and unhappy (22%).

Forty-nine percent of children are worried a relative will contract the virus.”

When You Give Back, They Come back

Gallup recently published the results from a meta-analytics study that gauged global citizens’ worries, fears and confidence during nearly every major crisis of the past eight decades—including “the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor and World War II, the Kennedy assassination, upheavals and riots in the 1960s, 9/11, the 2008 global financial crash, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.”

A straightforward rationale for a business or organization to care and give during a crisis is simply this—it is the right thing to do. Moreover, helping and serving others is a positive way to help counter anxiety, fear, and stress, all of which are natural reactions to changing and uncertain situations.

In addition to making the world a better place, consumers prefer to buy from companies that help others because it makes them feel good. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Association of Advertisers, 56% of consumers reported being happy to learn how brands are helping in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, when customers feel good about purchasing from businesses that are charitable and clearly support the public good, they tend to continue to buy from and advocate on behalf of these businesses to potential new consumers.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our society will face daunting challenges that require decisive action, significant innovation, and ethical leadership. One yardstick of an enterprise’s greatness is its legacy of ethics during and in the aftermath of a tremendous crisis. The ethical duty to care actualized by acts The Gallup study found that businesses of giving can provide a win-win for and organizations that successfully overcame crises primarily did two things. everyone and, in the future, make the world a better place to live, work, and First, leaders consistently implemented have a good life. HCBM innovative strategies, processes, and products. Second, innovation was a direct by-product of leaders consistently and openly caring for their employees’ Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow teaches well-being in several areas, including career, social, financial, community, and management and business law at IU’s Kelley School of Business and is President physical. “A key predictor of low worry of ChangePro LLC, a leadership developand high confidence is whether each employee believes, and experiences, that ment consultancy.

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Technology

J. David Shinn

Tech Talk: All About Email Ray Tomlinson invented electronic mail in early 1970. America Online and Prodigy came along in the 1980s and offered public access to email through their subscription services. By the 1990s, new companies (like YAHOO) offered free email.

Email types POP (Post Office Protocol) - downloads email messages from a server to your device.

This is the oldest type of system and works well but does not sync emails across all your devices.

Industry email systems America Online and YAHOO email systems have not kept up with security practices to keep spammers from using their systems. ShinnTech often advises our clients to discontinue the use of these email systems. Note: YAHOO now encompasses the AT&T family of emails to include Ameritech.net, att.net, pacbell. net, prodigy.net, and SBCGlobal.com.

getting the domain removed. This can take many days and can be quite costly.

Visit the link below to find out if an email domain or website is on a blacklist. https://www.spamhaus.org/lookup/ Note: Many email providers have numerous company domains hosted on one shared server. If one of those companies is a spammer, it will get the whole server blacklisted. If your company domain is on that server, your email system is shut down.

Blacklists are lists of IP addresses, email servers, or domains known for suspicious or malicious activity.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) - allows you to access email messages without downloading them to your device. They are stored on a server. Each of your devices will show the same email structure.

Web Mail - a user can access their email via a browser on any device that is connected to the Internet. It does not download email to a device but can be limited in functionality.

Microsoft Exchange Exchange is a Microsoft based system that keeps all the emails in the cloud/ server. You can access your account through Outlook Web Access (OWA) or set up in a mail program like Outlook.

No email downloads to the local device.

Exchange is an enhanced system that has email, calendar, contacts, and tasks.

Each of your devices displays the same information. Office 365 is our choice for client email.

Technical support is almost non-existent with these companies.

Gmail (founded in 2004) and Microsoft Outlook (started in 2012) are systems that have been well supported to limited spam use. If you want a professional and secure email address, these are free and good choices.

Note: Google recently implemented a Less Secure setting that needs to be enabled for you to use Outlook to check email. You must also enable POP/IMAP.

Blacklist servers

Internet blacklist servers were implemented to help reduce spam email and block websites. Blacklists are lists of IP addresses, email servers, or domains known for suspicious or malicious activity. There are currently eight blacklist servers that perform this service…

Spamhaus being the largest. When an Email configuration address is on a blacklist, any email from All email systems have specific settings it is automatically blocked, regardless of that need to be entered for a device. Con- what the messages contain. sult your provider’s help section for those If your company domain is added to a settings. Exchange is the easiest to set up blacklist server, you will have to hire an as it requires only the email address and IT support company to work through password to configure.

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Whitelist / Blacklist

Most email service providers have a way for you to enter email addresses that you want to receive emails from or email addresses that you want to exclude.

Check with your provider for whitelist and blacklist setups. Note: If a person trying to email you is on an industry blacklist, their email will be deleted BEFORE it ever gets to your email system—so adding them to a whitelist will not help.

How to send mass emails The best way to mass email your sphere is to use services like Mail Chimp or Exact Target. They work with blacklist servers and adhere to strict rules of sending an email. Mail Chimp has a free service that allows for 2,000 contacts and up to 10,000 emails per month.

How do I get off an email list?

If a company adheres to email regulations, there should be a one-click unsubscribe link at the bottom of their email.

Others, you will have to add to your blacklist.

J. David Shinn is President of Shinn Technology Services Corp specializing in technology consulting and support for small business. Shinn is also an author and technical editor.

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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Cover Story

Hamilton County Businesses Adjust to a Post COVID-19 World

By Ann Craig-Cinnamon 10

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

o say businesses in Hamilton County, like everywhere, have been negatively affected by COVID-19 is the understatement of the century. While some have shut down permanently, many others have reopened with significant adjustments in the way they do business. We talked to business owners and managers from a wide range of industries in an informal survey to learn how much harm the virus has caused and what their plans are moving forward.

Sahm’s Restaurant Group Sahm’s has been in business since 1986 and has multiple locations. Owner-Operator Eddie Sahm says during the statewide shutdown, they offered curbside pickup at five of their locations in a contactless marketplace concept, and they developed a system for delivery. Their catering side became a second hub for Second Helpings, and they served over 100,000 meals to those in need.

to provide safe working environments.

Estridge offices were closed during the shutdown with staff working from home.

He says despite slower customer traffic, they are finding that many people still need to find a home or are interested in moving for a variety of reasons, including taking advantage of low-interest rates.

Clint Mitchell

Mitchell says Estridge is ramping up a different model for house shopping. “We have taken this time to make it easy to shop for our homes remotely, via 3D virtual tours, live video, and private and safe home tours.

Going forward, we are also looking at ways we can create even more options for our buyers to work-from-home and have multiple private work and living spaces in their home.”

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Hair Salons

Eddie Sahm

Sahm says the virus has shown how fragile the restaurant industry is. His company’s future plans include expanding ways to get people food, designing new packaging for carryout, and offering grocery options that include their own baked and brewed goods and homemade sauces.

His company prides itself on being neighborhood-based and hopes people recognize restaurants are more than just food and drinks. “We provide texture to the fabric of a community.

A place for people to gather, celebrate, escape, grieve, and make connections.”

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, with locations in Fishers and Carmel, opened in 2007.

Co-owner and stylist Tanya Foster says her business has been both positively and negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We touch people. The fear that we could have given anyone this virus was scary. On the positive side: Our level of Tanya Foster service is better than ever,” she says.

The salons were closed from March 23rd to May 11th, and no income was generated during that period, but she says they utilized that downtime to create many new systems to make their business better. The future will be technology-driven.

“We will depend more on our technology for appointments and checkout procedures,” says Foster.

Travel Leaders Carmel Travel Leaders has been in business for 37 years, and franchise owner and President Ann Waters says within the course of two weeks, her company faced a 95% drop in business as well as cancellations of nearly all of the business previously created. “We continue to have to navigate daily changes to policies by governments Ann Waters and our suppliers worldwide plus a reluctance and even the inability to travel internationally on the part of our clients,” she says.

Waters envisions more work being done remotely in the future, which opens up the possibility of reducing facilities costs and putting those funds into training and client support.

Estridge Homes Estridge Homes has been in business for 50 years. Vice President Clint Mitchell reports construction is deemed a critical industry, and home construction continued but at a slower pace June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Market District Carmel Market District opened in October of 2015 and is part of Giant Eagle. Jim Griffith, Executive Store Leader, says the pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on retailers across the grocery industry. He and his team have worked around the clock to meet the significant increase in demand and have developed new processes.

Jim Griffith

Numerous steps have been taken to ensure a safe environment. Store hours were adjusted to create time for restocking and enhanced sanitization. We have integrated plexiglass safeguards, transitioned to one-way aisles and safely spaced checkout lines, introduced an online community resource, and offered increased curbside pickup and delivery, to name a few.

“As we continue to serve as a beacon to our community, we remain focused on providing critical access to food, fuel, and medications in the safest ways possible,” says Griffith, adding that it’s an evolving situation.

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Cambria Hotel Westfield The Cambria Hotel in Westfield opened for business two and a half years ago.

Director of Corporate Sales Robin Turner says the shutdown caused by COVID-19 was devastating to her hotel, resulting in nearly a million dollars in lost revenue from canceled reservations. She says they kept their doors open for essential Robin Turner business travelers, but the hotel experienced a drop in occupancy from an average of 75% to less than 10% each week, and as a result, most employees have been furloughed.

“During the pandemic, to ensure the safety of our staff and hotel guests, we enhanced disinfecting and cleaning public areas from three times each day to hourly; overnight guest rooms are deep cleaned and disinfected before and after each guest rental; and we also limited our hotel services to ensure we are practicing social distancing,” says Turner, who adds that the restaurant, meeting rooms, fitness center, game room and pool were all closed.

She plans to continue these practices and make changes to foodservice as well.

Belfry Theater The Belfry Theater in Noblesville has been performing stage plays since June 14, 1968. Kyle Blowers, the President of the Administrative Board, says all remaining shows have been canceled through 2020.

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They are exploring ways to utilize technology for a more streamlined and accessible theater-going experience.

“While nothing is capable of replicating the live theater experience, technology is allowing theaters to provide patrons with virtual experiences and expand the overall theater experience for patrons.

Kyle Blowers We continue to evolve with the times to provide our great patrons with the excellent theater productions The Belfry Theatre is known for.”

ClusterTruck ClusterTruck is a delivery restaurant and has been in business since 2015. CoFounder and CEO Chris Baggott says they have lost office crowds, which was about 40% of their business but have gained lots of families trying ClusterTruck for the first time at home.

Baggott says his business was built with Chris Baggott social distancing from the start. “Our kitchen is closed to the public and drivers, which minimizes the risk of random people cross-contaminating our kitchens.

Food is handed directly to drivers, and the customer takes the food from the driver curbside,” he says, adding that from a prepared food consumption standpoint, he feels behaviors have changed forever.

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Noblesville Family Chiropractic Brad Dahlager has been in private practice for 30 years, with seven of those in Noblesville.

Chiropractors were designated as essential, so Dr. Dahlager’s clinic remained open through the shutdown but shortened hours due to less demand because of fear of the virus.

Dr. Brad Dahlager With better information and the lifting of restrictions, his business is increasing again.

Dahlager says the biggest impact on his practice has been the need to educate himself so that he can keep his patients informed properly and dispel fears. “In the immediate future, I fully expect that my patients will continue to need good information about how to protect themselves and their families and about how to promote their health and immune function,” he says, adding that chiropractic has a vital role to play in that.

Cyclebar Fishers Cyclebar, an indoor fitness cycling studio, opened in Fishers in December of 2019. Franchise owner Amanda Moor says the studio had grown to about 500 members before having to shut down in March. She then froze memberships but came up

with ways to generate revenue, including renting bikes, selling virtual memberships, and selling face masks online.

Moor points to an advantage her business has in that there is only one touchpoint.

“When you come in to workout with us, you don’t rotate to other equipment and are in better control. You book your spot Amanda Moor ahead of time, check in for your class on your phone or at the front desk, and only have to touch the bike,” she says, adding there will be fewer bikes temporarily.

Mathnasium of Carmel Mathnasium of Carmel, which offers K-12 math tutoring, opened six years ago. Owner Brett Baltz says there have been opportunities to grow, adapt and retain memberships during the COVID-19 shutdown, primarily through a new online platform called Mathnasium@home, which he says is here to stay even after the crisis is over.

Brett Baltz “It replicates every aspect of Mathnasium’s amazing in-center service.” He adds that all local centers will continue to offer this membership option to families who previously found it challenging to maintain a schedule that included frequent weekly visits to the center. HCBM

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June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

13

Dining Out

Erika’s Place

By Lynn Spencer Photos by Stan Gurka rika’s Place is more than just a spot to grab a delicious meal in a laid-back atmosphere—it’s the culmination of a friendship that goes back more than 25 years.

Erika Flanders first met Cheryl Hunter when she worked for Cheryl’s parents at their truck stop in Westfield. Fast forward, and the duo teamed up to open their first restaurant, Erika’s Place, in 2011, Cicero.

“We were both working locally here in Cicero and decided that we wanted something more for ourselves and that we could do this,” Flanders said.

Once that decision was made, they had to decide on a name. And, more importantly, whose name would be featured.

“Cheryl and I talked and thought that since I had worked here in Cicero for 12 plus years that it would benefit our business to name it Erika’s Place,” Flanders said.

Less than a year later, the business partners opened a second Erika’s Place in Westfield.

“We happened to be driving through Westfield and saw the building was available and thought, ‘What a prime location,’” Flanders said. “We need to bring Erika’s Place to Westfield, also.”

The Cicero location has around 25 employees, while the Westfield eatery has about 15.

Hunter said the plan is to reopen June 14 at 75 percent capacity at both locations— with some staff coming back. They hope to be running at full capacity by July 4.

“We are all trying to remain positive and work together as we always have.

“Several of our employees work back and forth at both locations,” Flanders said.

The Pandemic Unfortunately, half of their employees were laid off when shutdowns from COVID-19 hit home.

“Usually we have three or four people working in the back of the house. Currently, there are only two each shift,” Hunter said.

“And, we have the same amount in front of the house and are now only using two out front.”

We just miss being able to communicate with all of our regulars each day,” Hunter said. “We are looking forward to getting things back to a relatively normal operating situation.”

While the Cicero location remained open A typical operating situation has Hunter and Flanders dividing the duties of for carryout, the Westthe business. field site was closed.

“Business had slowed sig- “Cheryl does a lot of the business behind nificantly before the car- the scenes things. I feel like I am the face/ ryout only order was put personality of Erika’s Place,” Flanders into place. We attempted said. “We both also still wait tables; we one day of carryout only, feel that it is very important to be ‘seen’ and it wasn’t good. Rather in our business as we are 50/50 partners.” than string it out, we decided it would not benefit us to struggle to do the carryout,” Hunter said.

“We do, however, believe

14

we will be able to build the Westfield business back up once the dining room is allowed to reopen.”

Home Away from Home Erika’s Place is family-oriented and has been described by many as “the modernday version of Cheers, minus the beer.”

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

“We feel like Erika’s Place is the gathering place of Cicero, here everyone knows everyone, and, if not, you will have made a new friend by the time you leave,” Flanders said. “We feel that our customers are family. For some people, this is all the socialization they have, so it warms our hearts to see these people meet here every day.”

Lending to that feeling of family, the decor at both locations of Erika’s Place is “rustic, shabby chic,” according to Flanders.

“We wanted everyone to feel like they are at home here,” she said. “Cheryl and I both have the same taste in things in decor, so that helps.”

Erika’s Place is known for its home-cooked comfort foods. Top customer favorites include the homemade biscuits & gravy, the chicken fried chicken, and one of the signature items—the handbreaded tenderloin.

Other items worth noting on the menu include the fried bologna and eggs, the corned beef hash, and the tater barrels—jumbo tater tots stuffed with bacon, cheddar cheese, and chives.

“I wouldn’t say that we are known for one specific meal,” Flanders said. “People love the fact that they can come here anytime, day or night, and get breakfast food.” And find not only delicious food at a reasonable price (the average cost is $10) but a home away from home.

“We believe we play a big role in the community as far as being a gathering place for people who may have lost a loved one and have no one else, and they meet up with others daily for the company,” Flanders said. “We see all the youth sports teams in and out between games, or the Friday football morning with 30 plus boys at 6 a.m. ready to eat.”

You can learn more about Erika’s Place at erikas-place.com, or on Facebook.

We will Gather as a Community Again…

Slowly….carefully….but most assuredly….Hamilton County will rebound, and we’ll again be able to enjoy the lifestyle we cherish.

When we do, the Welcome to Hamilton County Community Guide will be there, welcoming visitors and newcomers, as well as long-time residents who love to explore.

As the county re-opens, place your marketing message in a trusted source that’s been welcoming people to Hamilton County for 12 years.

We recognize how the pandemic has affected cash flow and will offer generous payment terms to get our businesses back up and running.

We’re all in this together.

This year’s edition will publish mid-summer.

Deadline: June 26 Call or email today for details mcorbett@hamiltoncountybusiness.com • 317-774-7747

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Published by the 15

Pitch In Notes from all over the county Hamilton County created a Workforce Recovery Task Force to jumpstart a recovery plan for Hamilton County businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members include Bob DuBois, President and CEO of the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce; Jack Russell, Interim President of OneZone Commerce; Nick Verhoff, President of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce; County Commissioner Mark HeirHamilton County Community Foundabrandt, County Councilor Amy Mastion awarded grants totaling $105,000 sillamany; Dan Clark, President of Ivy to seven not-for-profit organizations: Tech Noblesville; Carol Sergi, Director Children’s Bureau, Inc. $14,000; GCC of Workforce Strategy at HCEDC; Chuck Foundation $5,000; Gleaners Food Haberman, workforce consultant; Rob Bank of Indiana, Inc. $10,000; Hoosiers Kneberg, Executive Director of HamFeeding the Hungry $5,000; Second ilton County Workforce Innovation Helpings $9,000; Shepherd’s Center of Network; Ed Miller, Work One; and AnHamilton County $10,000; Trinity Free gela Acrey, VP of Human Resources at Clinic $16,000. The board also approved Helmer Scientific. the foundation’s continued support of the LINK Advisory Council ($15,000) and a The Fishers AgriPark at 113th Street contribution to the Community Scholand Florida Road, one of the nation’s largest urban farms, plans to open this arship Fund ($10,000).

The Southeastern Program of Recreational Team Sports (S.P.O.R.T.S.) changed its name to Mudsock Youth Athletics, as part of a large-scale rebranding initiative. The “Mudsock” name comes from the historic “Battle of the Mudsock” and, more recently, from the yearly football game and contests between Hamilton Southeastern High School and Fishers High School.

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Hamilton County Leadership Academy (HCLA) promoted Carmel native Andrea Marley to Executive Director after nearly two years as Program Coordinator.

Jessica Williams Schnelker joined Church Church Hittle + Antrim’s Litigation Practice Section as a trial lawyer.

summer. It will feature public fields and gardens, managed by Fishers Parks, and free admission. Residents can pick seasonal produce and cut flowers to take home at no charge. Along with providing u-pick opportunities for residents, a portion of the produce grown will be donated to local food shelters. An animal area will offer opportunities to encounter traditional livestock, such as cows, chickens, and goats. Open fields and a farm-themed play structure, constructed in partnership with Reynolds Farm Equipment, will provide discovery and play spaces for Fishers’ youngest residents. A programming barn will serve as an educational space for both public and school-based programs with HSE Schools. The park will also offer seasonal experiences, such as a corn maze and pumpkin patch in the fall.

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

THANK YOU TO OUR LEGACY SPONSORS:

11 WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT NOBLESVILLE BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW 1. SHOP LOCAL.

As you probably know, many restaurants are offering delivery and curbside options right now.

There are also other businesses offering these same services — clothing stores, game shops, and even flower shops.

2. GO SOCIAL.

Social media plays a big role in supporting local businesses. Take five minutes each day to share a post about one your favorite small businesses. Don’t forget to tag #LOVEHC and #Noblesville and follow the Chamber on Facebook and Twitter.

3. GRAB A GIFT.

Purchase gift cards now from your favorite stores and use them later.

4. ENGAGE IN NEW WAYS.

Many businesses have shifted in-person services to online services, including yoga studios, therapists, tutors, and financial planners. You can still take advantage of these businesses’ services via virtual meeting software like Zoom, Skype, or Facetime.

5. TIP BIG.

If you have the means, make sure to give generous tips to service workers.

6. SHARE YOUR TALENTS.

Do you have ideas for local businesses? Consider lending some creative brainstorming to friends with businesses or even better — lend your skills: graphic design, website and social media help, or even good old fashioned word-of-mouth recommendations.

7. KEEP THE CHANGE.

Was a class or workshop you had recently paid for canceled? Consider telling the business to keep the registration fee as a donation.

8. USE WHAT YOU NEED, SHARE WHAT YOU CAN.

If you have purchased extra toilet paper or hand sanitizer, consider giving some to one of the businesses you think might need it.

9. STAY CONNECTED.

Continue to pay for memberships, subscriptions, or other services that aren’t able to function traditionally.

10. KEEP IT CLEAN.

Use credit cards instead of cash. That twenty-dollar bill in your wallet has passed through dozens of hands. Instead, use your debit or credit card to minimize germ exposure.

11. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

If you’re feeling sick, stay home. Don’t risk potentially infecting others. Call on some friends or family members to bring you food or groceries instead. By doing your part to stay safe and healthy, you are helping your neighbors and family members to stay healthy as well.

Noblesville Chamber of Commerce | P.O. Box 2015 | Noblesville, IN 46061 | (317) 773-0086 | noblesvillechamber.com

Updated Events

Remember to register online at onezonecommerce.com

Carmel State of the City Ritz Charles Wednesday, November 4th 11:30am - 1pm

35th Annual Golf Classic Woodland Country Club Monday, August 17th 11am to 5:30pm

Fishers State of the City Embassy Suites Tuesday, September 15th 11:30am - 1pm

Business Expo & Food FORUM FORUM Events Center Wednesday, September 30th 4:30pm - 7pm

Leadership Investors

18

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Welcome all of our New Members!

Health & Science Innovations Indy's IT Department Knepp Financial Group Lewis Estate Management MET Construction Moser Consulting - Gold Investor Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill Raymond James - Andre Logan The Gilday Group - Keller Williams WRTV ARC Energy Easy Benies Jaggers

Peak XV Marketing Peril & Pearls Parlor Savor Monon & Main Zotec Partners - Gold Investor Ascend Indiana F.C. Tucker Commercial - Matt Heiligstedt Michael A Reuter Consulting Services Nerds to Go R E Donica & Associates Tax Professionals TMG Construction Management VA On The Spot ConsortHR Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services

WATCH. READ. LISTEN. During this health crisis we want you to know we are here for you. We have put together a new video series, blog, and podcast for you and your team to share how the business community can use your services.

New Video Series

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

New Blog

New Podcast

19

NORTHERN HAMILTON COUNTY 20

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70 Byron Street, Cicero, IN 46034 • (317) 984-4079 June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

The Blue Book Building & Construction Network 1557 Avondale Dr. Westfield, IN 46074

JUNE 2020 EVENTS June 4 Westfield Young Professionals 5:30-7:30pm TBD June 6 Coffee with the Chamber 8:00-9:00am Hampton Inn June 18 Luncheon 11:00-1:00pm The Bridgewater Club June 25 Business After Hours 5:00-7:00pm Office 360

KW Commercial—G2 Real Estate Group 3306 Carey Rd. Westfield, IN 46074 Mr. Right Renovations, LLC 15665 Westfield Blvd.

Carmel, IN 46033 Senior Living Advisor Lona@seniorlivingadvisory.com

Want to add your name to this list?

To learn more, contact info@westfield-chamber.org

WESTFIELD

NEW MEMBERS

www.westfield-chamber.org

2020 UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

JULY 2020 EVENTS July 9 Westfield Young Professionals 5:30-7:30pm TBD July 14 Coffee with the Chamber 8:00-9:00am Community First Bank July 16 Luncheon 11:00-1:00pm The Bridgewater Club July 23 Business After Hours 5:00-7:00pm David Weekley Homes

For details and online registration, please visit: www.westfield-chamber.org or call 317.804.3030

June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

Follow Us:

Westfield Chamber of Commerce 116 E. Main St. Westfield, IN 46074 317.804.3030

21

Hamilton County History

David Heighway

Revisiting the Last Epidemic Cholera was the culprit in the mid-1800’s s we struggle to deal with the impact of COVID-19, it’s interesting to look at the same sort of battles in the past. One hundred seventy years ago, Noblesville had to deal with a similar crisis—the cholera epidemic of 1850.

It was part of a worldwide cholera epidemic of the 1840s and 1850s. (A probable major factor in the spread of the disease was the growth of the British empire.) We have very little information about the Noblesville outbreak. The only newspaper account is a report in the Evansville Daily Journal on September 3, 1850, that said, “We learn that the cholera is prevailing to a considerable extent in Noblesville, in this state.”

Most of the information that we have is from the 1901 history of Hamilton County by Augustus Finch Shirts. He had been 26 years old at the time of the epidemic. According to Shirts, Patient Zero (as we would call him today) was Lucius H. Emmons, a 42-year-old former Noblesville newspaper editor who had been serving as a postal clerk in Washington, DC. He had left his position and was returning to Noblesville to start a

new newspaper. He came back to town via the Ohio River to Lawrenceburg and most likely contracted the disease there. He arrived in Noblesville on July 20 and died four days later, along with his one-year-old daughter Abigail. This was mentioned in a report in the State Sentinel newspaper on August 1. Interestingly, Emmons may also have been Patient Zero for an outbreak in Indianapolis in August, having passed through there going to Noblesville.

Shirts wrote in his history: “As soon as it became known that cholera had attacked Mr. Emmons, fear and consternation overcame many of the good citizens of the town. Some quickly made it to the country while others stayed away from where they supposed the disease would likely infect them. It was a long time before people recovered from the shock. Aside from the fearful loss of life, the town suffered in the loss of trade. It was a long while before the people of the surrounding country would visit Noblesville.”

The outbreak seemed to run from July to September, but we have no precise data.

Shirts identifies some of the victims by name in his book. I’ve added their age and date of death.

Adolphus Hare – age 1 (son of Abraham), July 30 Andrew Passwater – age 23, August 2 Daniel Hare – age 36, August 3 Elizabeth Hare – age 28 (wife of Daniel), August 3 Elizabeth F. Hare – age 59 (mother of Daniel), August 3 Eliza Garver – age 24, August 5

22

Julius Garver – age 3 (son of Eliza), August (no date) Daniel W. Hare – age 10 (son of Daniel), August 10 Abraham Hare – age 28 (brother of Daniel, son of Elizabeth), August 10 Martha A. Ross – age 29, August 10 Other victims, or possible victims, include: Nancy Mallory – age 68, August 19 Henry Cole – age 1, September 3 Rebecca Ann Wilson – age 4, September 18 Jane Reynolds – age 18, September 21 This information comes from working with Noblesville Township Riverside cemetery records, where most of the victims are buried. There may be more buried in other townships. Daniel Hare and his son were buried in White River Township.

April • May 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

The Noblesville population in 1850 was 664, making the 16 deaths a 2.41% death rate for the city. The Noblesville Township population was 2,308, and the county population was 12,684. At the same time, Indianapolis suffered an estimated 50 cholera deaths out of a population of 8,091.

There were, however, many noble men and women who gave aid and comfort to the stricken ones during all their days of

be considered basic hygiene was the best way to eliminate the virus. In the 1850s, Noblesville was fortunate to have an excellent doctor in town, Haymond W. Clark. Dr. Clark was a Freethinker and eccentric who made trips to Cincinnati twice a year to acquire the newest medical books.

Shirts says that there was a second wave of sorrow and trouble. In the end, the comthe epidemic in 1853; munity survived, however, we have no and the outbreak -Augustus Finch Shirts details regarding date, is forgotten today. duration, or deaths.

Even at the time, it Shirts simply says, “…the attack was not was not all grim. Despite people initially so fatal.” Hamilton County went unmen- fleeing from the disease, Shirts wrote: tioned in a report about cholera epidem- “There were, however, many noble men ics listed in the Indiana State Medical and women who Society in 1854. gave aid and comfort to the stricken A vaccine for cholera was not developed ones during all their days of sorrow and trouble.” HCBM until the 1880s. However, by that time, society had found that what today would

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June • July 2020 • Hamilton County Business Magazine

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