Avon Magazine February 2022 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

FEBRUARY 2022

A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

MAGAZINE

DAN SMITH SERVING HIS FINAL YEAR AS LOCAL FIRE CHIEF AWARENESS MAKES A DIFFERENCE

AWARE Campaign Puts Focus on Cognitive Disabilities for First Responders 7 DATE IDEAS FOR A MEMORABLE VALENTINE’S DAY

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IN THIS ISSUE

FEBRUARY 2022

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A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

Dan Smith Serving His Final Year as Local Fire Chief

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STEPS TO HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE

7 DATE IDEAS FOR A MEMORABLE VALENTINE’S DAY

AWARENESS MAKES A DIFFERENCE

AWARE Campaign Puts Focus on Cognitive Disabilities for First Responders

MAKING THE CUT

Local Youngster Starts Business, Helps Others

READY TO SERVE

The Hendricks County Medical Reserve Corps Helps in Times of Crisis

KEY CONTRIBUTORS AMY PAYNE / ABIGAIL HAKE / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING DR. KATSIARYNA TSAROVA / JAMIE HERGOTT / J. SHALLOW PHOTOGRAPHY

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A New Year of Adventures As we venture into a new year, there are many things to be excited about. New opportunities. New experiences. New adventures. 2022 is no different. Now that we are a full month into it, we look forward to some of the many possibilities that are on the horizon for the Town of Avon! The Avon Nova awards is continuing to showcase the amazing people that live and work here, while also giving the community an opportunity to say 'Thank You' to those that never ask. The Public Works team is focusing on making sure that not only

the roads are safe secure, but also FULL + andBLEED neighborhood traffic is flowing properly. The Avon Police Department is growing by leaps and bounds. New officers are coming on board, and we couldn't be more proud of each and every man and woman on the force. Our Parks and Recreation team is preparing for new and exciting community events all year long while our Building and Planning department works diligently on making sure that the image and structure of Avon continues to improve visually and for the long term. Lastly,

we can't thank enough those that make this town, THE Town of Avon. We are talking about YOU. That mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, neighbor, friend... who goes out into the world to make it just a little better than when they started. Avon is focused on the good, and you are the good.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING AVON HOME!

A Few Upcoming Meetings with the Town of Avon 10 - Town Council Meeting with Work Session 17 - BZA Meeting 21 - RDC & RDA Meeting 24 - Town Council Meeting 28 - Plan Commission

2 - Stormwater Meeting 10 - Town Council Meeting with Work Session 17 - BZA Meeting 21 - RDC & RDA Meeting 24 - Town Council Meeting 28 - Plan Commission

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A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

DAN SMITH SERVING HIS FINAL YEAR AS LOCAL FIRE CHIEF Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography / Amy Payne

8 / AVON MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

hen Dan Smith was growing up, he watched his dad serve as a volunteer firefighter. Though he found the job admirable, Smith never really considered following in his father’s footsteps. In 1980 he chose to open a landscaping business called Smith Lawns and Landscapes. One day, however, fate intervened, causing the trajectory of Smith’s life to shift. He was with his friend Steve Matthews, owner of Matthews Mortuary, when an ambulance run came in. At the time the mortuary ran the ambulance service for Lizton, Pittsboro and Avon. “There was a bad accident north of town and Steve asked if I wanted to ride along,” Smith says. “I agreed and found that I really enjoyed it, so Steve paid for me to go to EMT school.” In 1985, about four years after attending emergency medical technician school, Smith began working as a volunteer firefighter for Brownsburg.

“I lived a block and a half from the fire station,” Smith says. “That was back in the day when they set the siren off to let people know when there was a run. Being so close, I was the first to the station for every run.” He worked as a firefighter, 24 hours on duty followed by 48 hours off duty, and landscaped on his days off. Though he enjoyed the work, his landscaping business suffered because he was spending so much time making volunteer runs. When Brownsburg began changing from a volunteer to a combination fire department, Smith was grateful to be one of the first career firefighters hired. “I liked feeling like I had a positive impact on someone who was having a bad day,” says Smith, who stayed at Brownsburg for nine years before moving to the Washington Township/Avon Fire Department in 1996. Smith acted as fire chief from 2002 until 2005, at which time he returned to working on the fire truck. Eleven years ago, however,

his boss Don Hodson asked him to fill the chief position again, and he’s been acting in that role ever since. Smith maintains that the fire department is a vocation that’s deeply entrenched in tradition. “It started out strictly as an organization that provides a service to insurance companies

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to put out fires,” he says. “Now we are an allhazards organization. The old adage, ‘When people don’t know who else to call, they call the fire department,’ rings true.” This is why the department has become increasingly geared toward emergency medical service (EMS) duties. Smith estimates that between 80 and 85% of the department’s runs are EMS runs. In recent years their run load has increased substantially. Prior to three years ago, they saw a 3 to 4% increase from the previous year. Last year they saw a 10 to 12% increase. This year they are close to a 20 to 25% increase in run loads. “Geographically we’re right in the center of the county,” Smith says. “Consequently, we make a lot more EMS runs to surrounding departments.” This is partly why a new fire station is being built on County Road 900 East that’s slated for completion in March of 2022. “We built it because of the increased population growth that we have experienced in that area, in addition to the need to reduce response times,” Smith says. The department takes care of everything from cardiac arrest patients and mothers in labor to individuals struggling with behavioral health issues. “I’ve been on runs where patients didn’t need to go to the hospital, but they did need somebody to talk to or pay attention to them,” Smith says. “With behavioral health being what it is, a lot more of what we do revolves around that. Every day our department looks for ways that we can be more effective at meeting all the needs of our community, because it’s not just about putting out a fire.” For instance, during the pandemic the department partnered with the county and the state board of health to help with a program called Homebound Hoosier, for which they took vaccines to the homes of seniors who didn’t have transportation to get to a vaccine clinic. Smith, who has now worked in the firefighting industry for a total of 40 years, TownePost.com / FEBRUARY 2022 / AVON MAGAZINE / 11

will retire in December of 2022. Though he welcomes some free time, there are certainly things he’ll miss - namely, helping people on a daily basis.

“Taking care of those two places should keep me busy, though I’ve also kicked around the idea of getting back into landscaping work,” Smith says.

understood that sacrifice, but once I retire I look forward to spending more time with my kids and grandkids and just enjoying life a little more.”

“To be able to tangibly see the difference you’re making in someone’s life by what you’re doing has had a huge impact,” Smith says.

His wife works with Hearts for the Homeless, a nonprofit organization that clothes and feeds the homeless, and he assists with that too.

Smith is quick to acknowledge that the success of his career is due to his colleagues.

He’ll also miss the relationships he’s built with the guys on his shift. “When you work shifts that are 24/48 hours, these people become your family away from family,” Smith says. In addition, he’ll miss the people who work for the township, as well as all of the wonderful community partners he’s befriended in local schools and businesses. In his retirement, Smith plans to spend more time on his 60-acre cattle ranch. He and his wife Shelly also own property in northern Indiana so they’ll make more trips up there.

“They use firewood in the wintertime to help keep warm, so I split a lot of firewood in my free time,” Smith says. While many first responders thrive on the adrenaline rush of the job, he relishes the notion of having some freedom to set his own schedule. “It sounds nice to not have to work evenings and weekends all the time because when you’re on a 24-hour shift, especially early in your career, your family pays the price,” Smith says. “You’re not around for Christmases and birthdays. My family

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“Our people are what make our department what it is,” he says. “I don’t think they get enough recognition for the things they do. It’s easy to look at the fire chief as an elevated position, but I see myself as a tool. My job is to make sure my people have the resources they need to do their job.” He’s grateful to Hodson and the board members he has worked with during his tenure, all of whom have been supportive of the programs the department has implemented. “We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our community,” he says.

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Deputy Chief Joe Aldridge (Plainfield) Major Andy Watts (Brownsburg) Captain Jack Sadler (HCSD) Deputy Chief Brian Nugent (Avon) Sergeant Chase Wilson (Danville PD)

AWARENESS MAKES A DIFFERENCE AWARE CAMPAIGN PUTS FOCUS ON COGNITIVE DISABILITIES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

For years Officer Brian Nugent, deputy chief of the Avon Police Department, has acted as the Hendricks County law enforcement liaison to Project Lifesaver, which is a proactive response to identifying individuals who tend to wander away from their caretakers. As the program’s liaison, Nugent regularly fields questions from families who inquire as to whether they qualify for the program. Though a number of these individuals have cognitive

disabilities, they do not meet the criteria for “We have no way of knowing if somebody in needing a 24/7 caretaker for their loved one. that vehicle may have a cognitive disorder,” Nugent says. “We have no clue what that “I saw that as a gap,” says Nugent. diagnosis could be, what the limitations are, or the best practice for engaging that Though the police department has been particular individual that may have a mental integrating mental health awareness into disability and cognitive disorder.” trainings for years, there is always room for improvement and growth. However, Even if officers approach a vehicle or there are multiple variables at play. Nugent residence with a toolbox full of resources, explains that when officers stop a vehicle or there is no way to immediately know which respond to an emergency call, they are up tool or resource to apply first. against the unknown. “I realized that we needed a simple, FEBRUARY 2022

meaningful, identifiable way to be armed with information, and a sticker on the back of a vehicle seemed like a good way to do that,” Nugent says. Since police officers put about 30’ of distance between their cruiser and the vehicle they are stopping, the emblem needed to be large enough for officers to see when getting out of their car. Hence, Nugent created the AWARE emblem, a 4” circular sticker that adheres to cars (and doors of homes) to let police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel know that someone inside is likely to have a cognitive disability. The sticker provides information before any words are even exchanged, and that’s key. In an emergency situation, an officer or EMS worker may show up to a serious accident and find the caregiver incapacitated. If an individual in the car is acting irrational, the AWARE sticker can empower first responders to assess the matter with more information. That’s important because irrational behavior is often correlated with criminal behavior or perhaps substancerelated impairment when, in these instances, that’s not the case. “We are branding this AWARE emblem to be a de-escalation and a mental health awareness platform for law enforcement,” Nugent says. There are programs within the dispatching center that allow one to enter what is called a premise hazard. This is data the public can enter that may state, for example, “I live at 123 Main Street. If you respond to this residence, please know I have an

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elderly male with dementia.” This lets law enforcement officers and first responders know, while en route to a residence, what they will encounter upon arrival. Creating a program that transcends those limitations to provide visual recognition upon arrival on the scene can be tremendously helpful. Nugent feels confident that such a tool will make a difference. He recently got a call from Arin Sparger, a local mother whose 8-year-old daughter Emma is part of Project Lifesaver. She shared with Nugent that she was recently involved in a car accident in which she was rear-ended. Though it wasn’t a serious collision, her kids were shaken - particularly Emma, who is hearing impaired and has Down syndrome. “I was concerned about my daughter’s safety and what was going on with her physically, but unless you understood her health history, there was no way to identify our situation,” Sparger says. “I felt like if there was some way to convey what was going on without having to explain it, on top of all that I was processing with the accident itself, there would have been tremendous value in that.” Sparger mentioned to Nugent that she wished the AWARE program had been in place when she had her accident, as she knows it would have made a traumatic situation much better. Sparger also has a father with Alzheimer’s, and she’s thrilled this program will benefit so many different demographics. A critical piece to this program is figuring

out how to get the AWARE stickers into the hands of those who need them, so the Avon Police Department has created a physician referral form. “Anyone who thinks they qualify to get this emblem for their vehicle or residence can ask their physician, counselor or therapist for a referral form,” Nugent says. “They would then bring us that form and we would give them the emblem.” The physician referral forms can be found on the program website at awareprogram.info. This program is free to the public and free for agencies to join. Agencies just have to make the decision to support it, and designate someone to accept physician referral forms to obtain the emblems. Part of the Central Indiana Police Foundation’s mission is to support law enforcement officers, both personally and professionally. Therefore, according to Executive Director Lisa Rollings, any time they can help create a positive experience between citizens and officers, they want to do so. “Backing this program was a no-brainer,” Rollings says. “By supporting and promoting this program, we hope to influence positive interactions between officers and folks who have cognitive disabilities.” The Central Indiana Police Foundation initially funded the program to help it gain FEBRUARY 2022

traction in the state of Indiana. The initial rollout began in November. In addition to the Avon Police Department, all law enforcement agencies in Hendricks County are participating in the rollout of this pilot program. Ultimately, as the program garners support over time, Nugent hopes to make it a statewide and nationwide campaign. So far he has reached out to Hendricks County physicians as well as Indiana Disability Rights, Mental Health America of Hendricks County, accessABILITY, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, to spread the word. “This is an opportunity for us to lead the way in Hendricks County, in the state and perhaps across the nation, to show people that we have to make intentional efforts in terms of our training and being proactive,” Nugent says. “It is incumbent upon us to find higher levels of accountability for ourselves and for this profession.” For more information, visit awareprogram. info.

THE HENDRICKS COUNTY MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS HELPS IN TIMES OF CRISIS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was created to organize and train groups of volunteers to aid existing community response teams in the event of national, regional or local emergencies. Needless to say, they have kept busy during the COVID-19 pandemic running vaccination clinics and testing sites. Since its inception in 2007, the Hendricks County MRC has seen an ebb and flow to their volunteer pool. When COVID-19 vaccination clinics were ramping up, they put out a call-out, requesting volunteers since, at the time, they had just 75 members. “We expected maybe 30 people to respond, but we added 500 members,” says Jeff Corder, public health preparedness coordinator and MRC coordinator. On December 19, 2020, Hendricks Regional Health set up their first clinic, which utilized MRC volunteers. The MRC held their first vaccine clinic on February 1, 2021, and have been running weekly vaccination clinics ever since. MRC and hospital volunteers put in nearly 24,000 volunteer hours at clinics and related activities between December 2020 and December 2021. Due to the enormous time commitment by so many Hendricks

County residents, the MRC recently held a recognition ceremony to present those who put in more than 100 hours with a presidential volunteer service award. Those who worked 10 to 99 hours received a special coin. In addition, they gave an award to Gail Douglas, a retired registered nurse, who in 2021 logged more than 500 hours with the MRC. Douglas, a nine-year MRC volunteer veteran, enjoys the camaraderie of working alongside like-minded people. “I had a great role model in my mother, who demonstrated a love of community service,” Douglas says. “She never stopped volunteering until dementia took over. In her 80s she still wrote letters and painted fingernails on nursing home ladies’ hands.” Response following a disaster situation is critical. It’s not a matter of hopping in a car and taking off. To be helpful, coordination, communication and an action plan are needed. For instance, in a disaster situation, Dawn Mason, the emergency management director for Hendricks County, would reach out to Corder, letting him know that she’s setting up a shelter with a volunteer reception center. Then Corder would deploy his volunteers, telling them where to go and what to do. “Following the tornadoes that devastated Kentucky in December, a bunch of people self-deployed and drove down there on their own,”

FEBRUARY 2022

Corder says. “Though it’s a good thing that people want to help, it’s not good when you can’t organize those volunteer efforts.”

supplies, then call the Red Cross to request one person to oversee the shelter.

By setting up a volunteer reception center, however, volunteers know precisely where to go to get checked in. Plus, there’s a system in place to scan driver’s licenses for a quick sex-offender registry check.

“We contact them because they have the experience and knowledge that goes along with setting up shelters,” Corder says.

Some people don’t understand the difference between the MRC and the Red Cross. The Red Cross provides the sheltering aspect, but since there isn’t a Red Cross presence in Hendricks County, in an emergency situation the MRC may set up a shelter with cots and

Under the umbrella of the MRC is the Crisis Response Team (CRT), which is deployed in the aftermath of a traumatic event like the death of a student at a school. “Our volunteers aren’t counselors but they’re there to listen,” Corder says. “If we think a student needs additional resources, we

FEBRUARY 2022

can point them in the right direction.” Their CRT trainings were going strong, but the pandemic caused them to put their training plans on the back-burner. They have, however, resumed some classes. For example, they’ve offered Stop the Bleed trainings, Safe Worship trainings, and Animal Issues in Disaster courses, to name a few. For the latter course, sponsored in conjunction with the Board of Animal Health, they partnered with Misty Eyes Animal Shelter. “If there was a flood or tornado in the county, we would assist in setting up a human shelter and Misty Eyes would handle the animal portion of it,” Corder says. Though Misty Eyes can provide refuge for small animals following a disaster, Corder recognizes the portion of Hendricks County that’s rural and has horses, cows and pigs. Therefore, they’re in need of farmers who are experienced in large-animal rescue. “We’re trying to be a resource in all different areas in the county,” Corder says. Even though the MRC has grown in the past two years, they would like to continue to add volunteers. They especially have a need for

translators who are fluent in non-English languages. They’re also interested in recruiting veterans who are likely to be equipped with helpful knowledge and skills. They welcome anybody. “We can use people at any time,” Corder says. “While the vaccine clinics have been the big focus recently, down the road we’ll need volunteers for other things. We hope people will volunteer even if they can only commit to a few hours.” “In the MRC everyone can find a niche to serve,” Douglas adds. The Hendricks County Medical Reserve Corps is located at 355 South Washington Street, #G30 in Danville. For more info and to apply to be a volunteer, visit hendrickscountymrc. org or call 317-745-9214.

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Closing costs and fees are not included in prices shown. Prices, plans, availability, features, terms and options are subject to change without notice or obligation. Measurements and dimensions are approximate. Photographs and renderings are for illustration purposes only and are not part of a legal contract. Please contact a neighborhood sales manager for additional details. Arbor Homes is an equal opportunity home builder.

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STEPS TO HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CAN DECREASE YOUR RISK. By living a healthy lifestyle, patients can help improve their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. This lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke. Manageable habits include consuming healthy foods and drinks, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity and refraining from smoking.

Writer / Dr. Katsiaryna Tsarova, Cardiologist at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 659,000 people in the country die from heart disease each year. Certain health conditions, your lifestyle, age, and family history can increase your risk for heart disease. Patients should not wait to schedule an appointment TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR MEDICAL CONDITIONS. with a cardiologist. IU Health is one of the highest-volume heart If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, you and vascular programs in the country. can take steps to lower your risk for heart disease. Patients should get their cholesterol checked at least once every four to six years. Heart disease can affect anyone. If they have already been diagnosed with high cholesterol or have Heart disease is the number-one killer of both men and women. a family history of the condition, it may need to be checked more It can happen at any age, but the risk goes up as a person grows often. Patients should also have their blood pressure measured older. It is important to take steps earlier in life to prevent yearly after the age of 40, and every three to five years if they are irreversible heart damage that can accumulate over years. younger than 40. KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY. The CDC states that genetic factors play some role in heart disease and other related conditions. The risk increases when traits passed from one generation to another through genes combine with unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking and poor diet.

WORK WITH A HEALTH-CARE TEAM. Patients should work with a health-care team to prevent and treat medical conditions that could lead to heart disease. Those who have been told they are at risk should not wait to see a cardiologist to get ahead of any potential symptoms. For those who have already had a heart attack, health-care team members will work to help prevent another one. Treatment plans may include medicines, surgery or lifestyle changes.

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7 DATE IDEAS FOR A MEMORABLE VALENTINE’S DAY Writer / Abigail Hake Photography Provided

24 / AVON MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

alentine’s Day is coming up, which means it’s time to start planning the perfect date for you and your special someone. Do you prefer a typical dinner with your loved one or would you rather enjoy a Valentine’s Day that’s a little more memorable? Whatever you like, here are a few ideas that you may or may not have thought of before.

1. GO SKATING

Lots of outdoor ice rinks are still open through the end of February so check out your options. Skating under the stars can be very romantic. If outdoor skating isn’t an option, look into skating times at your local indoor rink or even roller rink. Gliding around together and holding hands is always a good time. If you aren’t comfortable with skating, grab some hot chocolates and go watch others do it. This can actually be quite entertaining and definitely leave you with something to talk (or laugh) about!

2. RECREATE A FAVORITE MEMORY

Whether it’s your first or 15th Valentine’s Day together, there’s probably a memorable moment between the two of you that stands out. Do your best to recreate that special moment. Go back to where you met or where your first date was, and take a walk down memory lane it’s sure to give you all the feels.

3. PLAN A PICNIC

While you might not be able to do this outside, there are plenty of indoorfriendly ways to have a picnic. Set up in the living room in front of the fire, crack open a bottle of wine, and enjoy some light snacks and appetizers while getting to know each other a little better - or, if you’ve been together a while, getting to know each other again.

4. DO A DRIVE-IN DATE

Load up the car with some folding chairs, cozy blankets and lots of snacks, and head to your closest drive-in theater for an evening with a throwback feel. Depending on the weather, you could set this up in your backyard, at the park or even in the basement if the weather won’t cooperate. If you plan to do it at home, string some bistro lights for a little extra magic, and don’t forget the popcorn.

5. ENJOY A QUICK GETAWAY

Getting away is always refreshing for those involved. Whether it’s an evening at the local boutique hotel or a cabin in the woods a couple hours away, enjoy the uninterrupted time together. You might even seek out a treehouse to rent as those have a truly magical and romantic feel, which is sure to make for a memorable Valentine’s date.

6. GET ACTIVE TOGETHER

If you don’t regularly work out together, this might be a fun one to try. Set up a personal training session, go for a run together or plan a hike with a special surprise at the top. Getting the endorphins going together could really help get the sparks going. Plus, it’s always fun to cheer each other on when

doing hard things.

7. CREATE A BUCKET LIST

Bucket lists are always fun to come up with and even more fun to complete. Why not make one just for the two of you? Come up with all the things you can do without the kids, or maybe before you have kids, depending on where you are in the relationship. Make sure to include all kinds of ideas - fun, silly, extreme, romantic, easy and hard. Start by checking one of the items off the list THIS Valentine’s Day. Remember, just because it’s Valentine’s Day, that doesn’t mean it has to be a two-person event. No matter where you are on the relationship spectrum, we’ve all had a crazy past couple of years and we all deserve a little treat. If there’s not a significant other in the picture, or maybe you just can’t be with the one you love so dear, spoil yourself and indulge a bit. Grab some chocolates, treat yourself to a nice dinner, or just take some time for yourself - because you deserve it!

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Making the Cut Local Youngster Starts Business, Helps Others Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / J. Shallow Photography

TownePost.com / FEBRUARY 2022 / AVON MAGAZINE / 27

Fighting Cold & Flu

ster hnique rtified

Cold & Flu Season is already In full force and has been for a few months. Try these immune boosters at the 1st sign of illness or if already sick, to decrease the duration Helps with: of the sickness.

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ost kids are concerned with playing video games, hanging out with their friends and avoiding their chores. Lyric Shallow, an Avon sixth grader, isn’t like most kids. At the tender age of 12, she already WE Accept most all has experience starting and growing a Insurance includingbusiness, and she has no plans of slowing Medicare and Medicaid down.

Care can help withCare can help with In the summer of 2020, at the end of Aches and pains during Achespregnancy! and pains during pregnancy!fourth grade, Lyric and her dad Rob

started Lyric’s Lawn Clippings by taking

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“I really wanted to make money because my favorite spot to visit is California,” Lyric says.

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consult your PCP before taking in Office Office*Always in Office in go back. She has a deep love for the herbs with your current medication. Dr. Danis & Dr. Van Matre Dr. Vicki Dr. Vicki DanisDanis Danis Hendricks Co. Dr. Vicki DanisDr. Hendricks Co.Vicki Hendricks Co. outdoors, and she loves looking at the Hendricks Co.

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28 / AVON MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

city lights of San Diego at night from the mountains.

“EVERY KID MY AGE SHOULD HAVE A BUSINESS, IT WILL MAKE THEM MORE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE BECAUSE THEY LEARN EARLY WHAT THEY’RE CAPABLE OF.” -LYRIC SHALLOWIt’s not just a trip to California she wants. Her tastes are a little more expensive than clothes and gift cards. “I also wanted a Corvette - a ’63 Corvette split-window - and a motorcycle,” she says. Instead of being overwhelmed at the size of her wants, she decided to do something about it by starting her business. She was inspired by her dad, who used to mow lawns for $5 a yard when he was little.

NOW ! OPEN

As adventurous and fearless as she is, knocking on doors was, and still is, the scariest part of the job. “The first time I knocked on a neighbor’s door I was scared to death,” Lyric says. “You never know who’s going to answer. I’m still scared of it.” Their very first knock led to their first client, and things have hardly slowed down since. She and her dad continued knocking on doors through the first summer, eventually creating fliers and passing them out. Their services, all included in their price, were lawn mowing, trimming, weed removal, hedge trimming, shrub removal, seasonal cleanups and mulch application. “Then we got big enough where people noticed us,” Lyric says. “My dad quit his job for this business. At the start of the 2021 season we got our first zero-turn mower and a 6’x10’ trailer.” She loves to tell the story of how she’s better at driving the zero-turn mower than her dad, laughing as she describes her dad driving it for the first time right

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“My favorite thing to do is go in circles and make tire marks all over the driveway,” Lyric says. Lyric still had to attend school like any other 12-year-old, but the minute she got home, her dad was thankful to have her tag along and help him finish jobs until dark. Even though it’s hard work, Lyric loves it.

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“I love meeting new people,” Lyric says. “I’m actually not that social as a person, but I do enjoy meeting clients. When I’m cutting the lawns, I love listening to my favorite music.” While growing a business and working has been challenging, Lyric embraces the process. “I love getting it to go farther and pushing harder,” Lyric says. She uses her money as a typical kid might, buying herself things like a moped, a motorcycle and new shoes, but that’s not all she does with her income. She also uses it to support local nonprofits like Family Promise of Hendricks County and Racing With Crohn’s, a charity organization that advocates and raises funds for Crohn’s disease through racing. Helping others has been something she’s done for a long time. For the last five years, Lyric and her dad have gone to Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis with pizza or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and simply walked the streets passing food out and praying

for people. Even now, they still try and do this on holidays.

“I love playing percussion because you’re the leader of everything,” Lyric says.

Lately there haven’t been many homeless people on the Circle, but Lyric still wants to help. She and her siblings go to 36 Barber Lounge for haircuts regularly. During a recent visit, they noticed a collection box for Family Promise of Hendricks County.

Lyric has big dreams for the future. She intends to have a huge property where she’ll build her dream house. On half of her land, she will build a community of small houses for homeless people and their families to live in. She’ll also have exotic animals like tigers and monkeys.

“Every kid my age should have a business,” Lyric says. “It will make them more successful in life because they learn early what they’re capable of.” For more info on Lyric’s Lawn Clippings, go to facebook.com/lyricslawnclippings.

“We didn’t get to do our normal thing on Thanksgiving,” Lyric says. “We wanted to help out, so we went to the Dollar Tree and pretty much bought all their gloves, mittens and hats. We left a couple things to be nice and we donated it all.” For Lyric, her business allows her to afford her own fun items while also helping others. It’s not one or the other for her - it’s both. “I love helping people,” she says. “It feels good inside. I also love the other part of it - saving for things and rewarding myself. It’s fun.” The lessons she’s learned along the way are invaluable, and that’s not lost on her. She says she’s learned about saving money, spending money, how to talk to clients and how to use equipment. Her mother Jaclyn has seen tremendous growth in her daughter and says it has brought her closer to her father.

JAZZ UP YOUR LUNCH

“This is a great outlet and a good way to steer her energy,” Jaclyn says. “She and her dad are two strong personalities, so it’s funny when they’re having business meetings at the dinner table. It’s definitely been good to direct her energy to something productive.” The business seems to fit Lyric’s personality. She loves being outside, playing in the dirt, riding her moped and motorcycle, and listening to music. Even in her passion for percussion, her leadership skills can’t help but make an appearance.

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