SoIn 12032015

TOP THREE: Teddy Toss at Clarksville H.S.

EXHIBIT:

'Just Photographin' Around' in Jeff

A News and Tribune Publication

DECEMBER 3, 2015 — Issue 93

E S U A L C E P A C ES le il v n o s r e ff e J in s m roo e p a c s e g in lv o s m le Family opens prob

2 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 | SOIN follow us on

EDITOR

Jason Thomas

DESIGN

Claire Munn

STORY

Jenna Esarey

PHOTOGRAPHY Tyler Stewart

WHERE TO FIND SOIN:

• ON RACKS: We offer free copies of SoIn at numerous hotels and restaurants around Clark and Floyd counties.

• IN YOUR PAPER: Every Thursday in the News and Tribune • ONLINE: newsandtribune.com /soin • ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/YourSoInWeekly • ON TWITTER: @newsandtribune

ON THE COVER:

Owners Audrey Clark, left, and Ronda Efaw, right, are pictured with zombie, Steve Clark, in the mad scientist lab in Jeffersonville’s C. R. Escape Zone off Hamburg Pike. | STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER STEWART

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Escaping in a good way

I

ngenuity is in full supply in Southern How ingenious is that?

Indiana.

In one scenario you have to escape from a When someone has a will, she finds a zombie — which has proven to be the most popuway. Take Ronda Efaw and her daughter, Aular attraction. In another, you match wits with a drey Clark, for example. co-worker in a corporate setting. The third room The women, both residents of Pekin, had no — featuring new vignettes on a seasonal basis — previous business experience, Jenna Esarey currently boasts a Christmas theme. writes in today’s centerpiece, but that didn’t “We wanted to make ours unique,” Efaw told JASON THOMAS stop them from pursuing their goal of opening Esarey.

SoIn Editor their own business.

Just as unique is Efaw’s and Clark’s fortiAfter lots of research, Efaw and Clark tude. Clark has been a stay-home mother to opened C.R. Escape Zone in Jeffersonville, which proher husband’s two younger brothers, whom the couple motes teamwork, problem-solving and deductive reasonadopted two years ago. ing. Three “escape rooms” create live-action situations “Mom had a stroke when I was 15,” she said. “I had to that challenge participants to find a successful resolution. grow up. I’m not spending my life wasting my time.”

They’re perfect for team- and character-building for the Words to live by. corporate world and even families. The business idea is relatively new, with the first appearing in the U.S. in 2011. — Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by Southern Indiana is now home to its first live-action phone at 812-206-2127 or email at jason.thomas@newsandescape scenario business. tribune.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas.

For the love of all that is natural SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: ‘Just Photographin’

Around” by Bob Dorzback exhibit • WHEN: Today through Jan. 31; opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 • WHERE: Jeffersonville Township Public Library, 211 E. Court Ave. JEFFERSONVILLE —The Jeffersonville Township Public Library, 211 E. Court Ave., will host a photography exhibit by Bob Dorzback.

The exhibit “Just Photographin’ Around” will be on display beginning today, Thursday, Dec. 3, through Jan. 31. An opening reception is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in the second floor gallery.

Dorzback has been an avid amateur and semi-professional photographer for over 15 years and currently resides in Louisville, according

to a library news release. He is an engineering graduate of the University of Kentucky, is self-taught in photography, and has served as vice president and president of the Louisville Photographic Society (founded in 1941).

Dorzback has won awards at the Kentucky State Fair Photo Competition and photographs weddings, bar/

bat mitzvahs, and other life-cycle events. His photography centers on his love of the natural, the everyday normal, as well as the unusual, capturing both truth and spontaneity in his images. Dorzback’s images reflect his fascination with the shortlived existence of an image and the ability of photography to capture and preserve it.

SOIN | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015

1

3 TO GO

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Where to go and be seen in Southern Indiana

CAN YOU BEAR IT? • WHAT: Teddy Toss • WHEN: 6 p.m. Dec. 4 • WHERE: Clarksville High School

gymnasium The Student Athlete Advisory Committee of Clarksville High School will be accepting teddy bear donations the night of the basketball game. Those bringing in teddy bears will receive a ticket for a free hot dog and drink during the game. Participants will throw their teddy bear onto the floor between the third and fourth quarters.

The teddy bears will be collected by CHS SAAC members and distributed to children in area. Teddy bears must be new with tags still attached.

2

3

WE’LL DRINK TO THAT

ONE PROPER PARTY

• WHAT: Prohibition Repeal Party • WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 • WHERE: Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards • INFO: Call 812-923-9463 or visit huberwinery. com (free) Huber’s and Starlight Distillery are celebrating the anniversary of the end of prohibition with a day of fun demonstrations and delicious cocktails. Take a walk and tour the production facility, get a behind-the-scenes look at how wine and spirits are made, and sample some cocktails. Your journey ends in the Stillhouse, where you can watch Master Distillers at work, taste bourbon straight from the still, or barrel, and buy a cocktail to enjoy.

• WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Sunday, Dec. 6

• WHERE: Culbertson Mansion • INFO: indianamuseum.org/explore/culbertson

Experience a Victorian Christmas at the Culbertson Mansion. Enjoy decorations, live entertainment, refreshments and a self-guided tour. The Corydon Dulcimer Society will perform from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and on Dec. 6, Santa will be in attendance from 2 to 5 p.m. With its hand-painted ceilings, carved staircase, marble fireplaces and elaborate plasterwork, the Culbertson Mansion reflects the affluence of a man once considered to be the wealthiest in Indiana.

GOTTA GO: Interested in seeing your event in our 3 To Go? Email SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com

The G

C.R. Escape Zone in Jeffersonvill

BY JENNA ESAREY newsroom@newsandtribune.com

J

EFFERSONVILLE — What would you do if you were trapped in an evil scientist’s laboratory with a zombie?

Want to find out? Thanks to Ronda Efaw, 53, and her daughter Audrey Clark, 20, you can.

The two opened C.R. Escape Zone in Jeffersonville in September, with two escape rooms. A third opened this month.

The concept is simple: A group of people are locked in a room where they must uncover clues, solve puzzles, locate the code or key, and escape — all within one hour.

“The idea is neat,” Efaw said. “It gets people up doing something and they get to think at the same time.”

A timely escape requires teamwork, problem-solving skills and deductive reasoning.

C.R. ESCAPE ZONE

• WHERE: 4403 Hamburg Pike, Jeffersonville • ONLINE: crescapezone.com; Facebook: C.R.EscapeZone

• PHONE: 812-786-1239 • HOURS: Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Zombie Steve Clark reaches for C.R. Escape Zone participants as they look for a way into the mad scientist’s locked cabinets. | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER STEWART

Great Escape

lle tests problem-solving skills

“It’s good team building for corporations.” Clark said. “And it’s lots of fun for families, too.”

As far as Efaw could find from her research, the escape scenario business evolved from video games that required players to find clues to progress in the game.

She said the first live-action escape scenario business opened in Japan in 2007. In 2011 the first appeared in the U.S., but still, “there are very few of them. We wanted to make ours unique.”

THE EXPERIENCE

The zombie lab is the business’ most popular room.

“There’s someone in there interacting with you so it’s more personal,” Efaw said. “It’s not scripted.”

Guests find themselves trapped in Dr. Tom’s evil lab where he is creating an army of zombies. His latest creation is strapped to a table in the room. Gaining strength, the zombie snaps his restraints one by one.

“You’ve got a live zombie coming at you,” Clark said.

“When you’re in there, it feels real.”

Clark’s husband, Steven, plays the zombie.

“He does it so well,” Efaw said. “The room gets trashed once the zombie’s loose.”

The lab will hold up to 15 people, 20 for a party.

“There’s no real minimum,” Clark said. “But one person by themselves would have a really hard time getting out.”

It’s about teamwork.

“Working together is huge, especially in the lab,” agreed Efaw. “What we’ve seen is, they’ll be working individually at first, and after a few minutes they’re working together.”

The second room is a milder experience, but still a challenge.

At the Building Block Toy Company, you and your co-worker, Austin, are up for the same promotion. You want to get him fired so you sneak into his office to dig up some dirt on him while he’s at lunch.

The Office is a bit smaller, holding up to eight players. The little details are not overlooked, and drawer full of file folders contain completed job applications and other forms.

At the end of either experience guests move to the photo room, filled with props and signs, such as “we escaped” and “zombie meat.”

“It’s a new form of entertainment,” Efaw said. “And we want to make sure people are entertained. We want it to be fun.”

SEE ESCAPE, PAGE 8

TOP: Joseph Muntz, left, Michael Whitman, center, and Jason Worley begin their timed escape searching for clues on the mad scientist’s cork board at C.R. Escape Zone in Jeffersonville. Each puzzle within the room leads to the next step in finding the combination for a lockbox which holds the key to the locked exit door.

LEFT: C. R. Escape Zone owners Audrey Clark, left, and Ronda Efaw monitor participants as they make their way through the mad scientist lab. “We make sure they’re being safe, but we can also give them small hints if a group is really struggling,” said Clark.

6 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 | SoIn

ENTERTAINMENT

In support of Scribner House in New Albany NEW ALBANY — The Piankeshaw Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will host an old fashion Victorian Tea and tour the Scribner House from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. The house is located at 106 E. Main St., New Albany.

Tours of the Scribner House will start at 1 p.m. Tea and refreshments will be served.

The house will be filled with salon music.

The gift shop will be open for special Scribner House gifts including the book, “The Scribner House of New Albany,” Scribner House Coloring Book and a Scribner House pitcher for your holiday shopping.

The book includes William Augustus Scribner’s recollections of the early days in New Albany, “The Old House Speaks” by Mary Helen Scribner, a history of the Piankeshaw Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, a walking tour of the house and much more. Chapter members Carlene Price, Pam Peters, Mandy Dick and Anne Caudill worked on the book.

MOVIES: DEC. 4

é “Krampus”

“Christmas Eve”

This week's entertainment releases

ALBUMS: DEC. 4

é “A Head Full of Dreams” by

Coldplay “Black Market” by Rick Ross

BOOKS: DEC. 8 é “Ashley Bell” by Dean Koontz “Secret Sisters” by Jayne Ann Krentz

SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: Victorian Tea and Tour

• WHEN: 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6

• WHERE: Scribner

House, 106 E. Main St., New Albany

This event will give you an opportunity to tour the Scribner House and help preserve New Albany’s oldest house. There will be no charge; however, donations are appreciated. The tea is held as a way to thank the community for their support of Scribner House. Members of the Piankeshaw Chapter, NSDAR hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to tour the house during the Christmas season while it is decorated as it might have been in 1800s.

Scribner House is the oldest house in New Albany, having been built by Joel Scribner, one of the founders of New Albany, in 1814. Members of the Scribner family continued to live in the house until 1917.

Explore the traditions of the world SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: Holiday Traditions • WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8

• WHERE: Strassweg Audito-

rium, New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, 180 W. Spring St., New Albany

NEW ALBANY — The New Albany-Floyd County Public Library will host its annual Holiday Traditions event on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Strassweg Auditorium, 180 W. Spring St., New Albany.

Guests are invited to celebrate the holiday traditions of various countries while enjoying free food, crafts, games and music. The event will feature an assortment of tasty treats, including Scottish shortbread, Swiss hot cocoa, Mexican wedding cake, African sweets, Croatian cookies, and more, according to a library news release.

Guests can learn about how other countries spread cheer during the season with various toys, decorations, and ornaments. Craft stations will be set up for participants to create festive crafts from different parts of the world. The crafts will include candy-filled Christmas cracker toys from Great Britain, a decorative orange with cloves

from Denmark, a vibrant poinsettia from Mexico, and a charming sock snowman from the United States.

Guests of all ages are welcome to attend this free event and no registration is required. For more information about the event, please contact Reference Services at 812949-3523.

SoIn | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015

|7

LOCAL SOIN HAPPENINGS Feeling left out? Send your establishment’s and/or organization’s upcoming events/new features/entertainment information to SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@ newsandtribune.com

LIVE MUSIC AT HUBER’S

WHEN: Saturday, Sunday WHERE: Huber Winery 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Sunday, Dec. 6: Joe Dotson [huberwinery.com]

LIVE MUSIC AT WICK’S

WHAT: Live on State WHERE: Wick’s, 225 State St., New Albany Friday, Dec. 4: What Ever Will; Saturday, Dec. 5: Bella Blue Band; Friday, Dec. 11: The Rocking Dead; Saturday, Dec. 12: Gas Money; Friday, Dec. 18: Goldylocks; Saturday, Dec. 19: Juice Box Heroes; Saturday, Dec. 26: The Killer Lips

LIVE MUSIC AT NAPH

WHERE: New Albany Production House, 1736 E. Main St., New Albany Thursday, Dec. 3: Preston Lacy (Jackass), Tom Garland, 7 to 11 p.m., $10 advance/$12 door, all ages; Friday, Dec. 4: Samuel Powers, The Phat Maggies, Lame, Niles Kane and The Kids Born, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., $6 advance/$8 door; Sunday, Dec. 6: UWA Wrestling, 5:30 to 10 p.m., $10 (free admission with toy); Wednesday, Dec. 9: Dylan Holland, Nick Tangorra, Jacob Resch, Mason Osborne, 7 to 11 p.m., $12 (all ages); Saturday, Dec. 12: ToyFest, 20 bands, 2 stages, 1 great cause (all proceeds benefit Toys for Tots), $8 advance/$10 door; Monday, Dec. 14: 4 Door Theatre, An Honest Year, Monday’s Mona Lisa, T. Hex, Meadow Ryann, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., $6 advance/$8 door; Friday, Dec. 18: Alienation, Adalid, 2ILL, TTE, Kidd Breezy, Sasha Renee, Demintid, Kid Lou, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., $8 advance/$10 door; Sunday, Dec. 20: Austin Jones, Run2Cover, Gnarly Quinn, Lucy, 7 to 11 p.m.; $12 (all ages) [naproductionhouse.com]

LIVE MUSIC AT BIG FOUR BURGERS + BEER JEFFERSONVILLE

WHERE: Big Four Burgers + Beer, 134 Spring St., Jeffersonville WHEN: Friday and Saturday Friday, Dec. 11: Nick Dittmeier

CRAFT EXPO

WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 WHERE: Fraternal Order of Eagles, 113 W. Maple St., Jeffersonville Fraternal Order of Eagles, 113 W. Maple St., Jeffersonville, will host a craft and expo event, noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, at the lodge. Admission is free with plenty of items for sale, including Norwex and Avon. Table rental space is available for $20. For more information call 502-727-0250 or 502-439-7380.

ANIMAL SAFARI

WHEN: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5

WHERE: Clarksville Branch of the Jeffersonville Township Public Library, 1312 Eastern Blvd. Clarksville Animal Tales will bring six exotic, live animals to the library and teach families interesting information and facts about each one. Participants will not want to miss the opportunity to get “hands on” at this event. This educational program is guaranteed fun for the whole family. For more information, visit jefflibrary.org, Events Calendar; or call 812-285-5640.

BREAKING NEWS. WEATHER ALERTS. LOCAL SPORTS. AND MORE!

RIGHT NOW.

COOKIE STROLL

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 WHERE: Downtown Jeffersonville Enjoy going from shop to shop in Historic Downtown Jeffersonville collecting one cookie from each participating shop. This is also the same day of the Walk the Bridge event.

Holiday party

VISIT FROM SANTA

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 WHERE: Southern Indiana Rehab Hospital, Pediatric Therapy Clinic, 1329 Applegate Lane, Clarksville Santa will fly down from the North Pole, 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, to the Southern Indiana Rehab Hospital, Pediatric Therapy Clinic, 1329 Applegate Lane, Clarksville, to bring joy to children in a low-key atmosphere designed for children with sensory processing disorders. Special needs children of all ages and their families are invited to enjoy the free holiday.

Children will have the opportunity to make crafts and visit with Santa in a pressure-free, sensory-friendly environment.

They will able to visit with Santa whenever they are ready, without having to wait in a line. Reservations can be made by calling 812-283-5992.

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CHRISTMAS BOOK SALE

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 WHERE: New Albany-Floyd County Public Library Annex Building, 180 W. Spring St., New Albany The Friends of the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library will be bringing holiday cheer with their annual Christmas Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Library’s Annex Building. Guests are invited to stock up on books, music, and movies to enjoy this holiday season or to give as presents.

The sale will feature many Christmas-themed books selling for regular prices of $1 for hardback and 50 cents for paperback. A large selection of Christmas music CDs and movies will sell for 50 cents. The children’s room will feature a treasure trove of holiday items for kids at extra low prices.

Come early for the best selection. For more information, call the library at 812-944-8464 or e-mail friends@nafclibrary.org.

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CHRISTMAS CONCERT

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, 222 Walnut St., Jeffersonville The Jeffersonville High School chamber and concert choirs, under the direction of Leslie Rajchel, will present a Christmas concert, 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, at First Presbyterian Church, 222 Walnut St., Jeffersonville. The concert is free and open to the public. A freewill donation will be received to help support the school choirs.

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8 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 | SOIN

Jarred body parts sit on the counter of the mad scientist escape room at C.R. Escape Zone in Jeffersonville. | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER STEWART

ESCAPE: Third room features holiday theme CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

ROOM FOR MORE

The third room — featuring new vignettes on a seasonal basis — currently boasts a Christmas theme.

The scenario: You’ve snuck into Santa’s workshop to sneak a peek at the infamous Naughty/Nice list. Now you’re locked in and Santa will be back soon. Can you escape before the big man catches you and relegates you to the naughty list permanently?

After the holidays the room will be converted into a nuclear meltdown scenario.

With roughly 2,000 square feet to play with, Escape Zone has room to expand. “We’re hoping to have six rooms in a year,” Clark said.

“We’ll have five steady rooms with one seasonal. I’ve got ideas for Halloween, Easter, you name it.”

So far, the ladies have depended on word-of-mouth advertising.

“We handed out a few flyers during the Halloween parade in Louisville,” Clark said. “We’ve seen some response from that. Around Halloween it was very easy to promote.”

“We’ve got a Facebook page and we’re on Yelp,” Efaw said.

It was a challenge to make it

challenging.

“We want the puzzles to be hard enough, but easy enough that you should have had them quick,” Efaw said. “You should look back at it and say, ‘why didn’t I see that before?’”

The puzzles took a lot of research.

“There’s been a lot of trial and error,” Clark said. “It was hard getting friends and family in to test it.”

“Once you know the answer, it’s hard to get past that and pretend it’s new,” Efaw said. “We’ve made changes. And we made an easier set of clues for younger kids’ parties.”

TOP: Michael Whitman, left, Jason Worley, center, and Joseph Muntz search for clues at one of the mad scientist’s work stations at C.R. Escape Zone in Jeffersonville.

BOTTOM: Zombie Steve Clark works to free his arm from a strap while a participant continues his search for clues to a puzzle at C.R. Escape Zone in Jeffersonville.

A DREAM FULFILLED, A DREAM BEGUN

The women, both residents of Pekin, have no previous business experience.

“I’ve been wanting to open a business for years,” said Efaw. “When I was doing the research I came across this idea and really liked it.”

Efaw is a tech service rep for a paint company, where she still works full-time. She hopes to grow Escape Zone to the point where it is open seven days a week.

Clark has been a stay-home mother to her husband’s two younger brothers, whom the couple adopted two years ago.

“One day I will open a doggy day care,” Clark said. “I want to get paid to play with dogs.”

Clark is getting on with life.

“Mom had a stroke when I was 15,” she said. “I had to grow up. I’m not spending my life wasting my time.”

“This gives her business ownership experience,” Efaw said. “She’s not waiting until she’s 50-something like I am to do what she wants.”