Avon April 2017 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

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APRIL 2017

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MAGAZINE

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. AVON MAGAZINE FRANCHISE PUBLISHER Darren Boston

Darren@AvonMagazine.com / 317-755-7747

PUBLISHER Tom Britt

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PRESIDENT Jeanne Britt

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ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Robert Turk

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SERVICE WITH A SMILE: NOAH KEENER

An Avon teen, sweetly dubbed “The Cookie Guy” by his co-workers, is proving how capable a person with autism can be. Noah Keener, 19, wraps the cookies and brownies you see on the counter at the McAlister’s Deli at the corner of U.S. 36 and Raceway Road. He began working at McAlister’s through a work study program at Avon High School but was hired as a paid employee in May 2016.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Austin Vance

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Alex Segal / Leslie Brooks

EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown

Josh@TownePost.com

APRIL WRITERS

Aaron Tevebaugh / Christy Heitger-Ewing Damar Services / Heather Chastain Josh Brown / Suzanne Huntzinger

APRIL PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alex Holland / Brian Brosmer Kyle Duell / Stacey Coughlin

6 Welcome to Avon 8 When Cancer Strikes Twice 10 Business Spotlight:

36 The Best Help for Breast Health 38 Crossword Puzzle 42 Q & A With Dr.

11 Moody’s Butcher Shop: Delivers

45 College Mentors For Kids Honors

Claire-Anne Aikman

Farm Fresh Food and Local Fare

14 Avon Roborioles 16 Avon Author Featured In Latest “Chicken Soup for the Soul”

18 April Events 22 Hamilton Heights High School

Indiana’s Only Student-led Food Pantry

24 Colts COO Pete Ward

Reflects On 36-Year Career

31 Service With A Smile: Noah Keener

Margaret Hoernemann

Community Leaders At 2017 Inspire Awards

50 Luckiest Hoosier Alive: Leah

Blackford Beats Three Brain Tumors

53 Avon 2017 Mom of the Year Finalists

56 Town of Avon Spring Tree Sale Returns!

SHOP LOCAL! Help our local economy by shopping local. Advertising supporters of the Avon Magazine offset the costs of publication and mailing, keeping this publication FREE. Show your appreciation by thanking them with your business. BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS ARE SPONSORED CONTENT

The Avon Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Avon area residents. Magazines are distributed via direct mail to more than 16,500 Avon area homeowners and businesses each month.

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For Advertising, Contact Darren Boston Darren@AvonMagazine.com / 317-755-7747

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Avon Town Council: Front row: Steve Eisenbarth, Greg Zusan, Aaron Tevebaugh Back row: Beverley Austin & Marcus Turner

Welcome to Avon Writer / Aaron Tevebaugh Avon Town Council President

Whether you are a lifelong Avon resident or have implanted yourself here over the last few years, there always seems to be mass confusion regarding the structure and operation of our local government. So, as we look to warm weather and begin to get out and about around the town, I thought it may be helpful to provide a quick overview of the Town of Avon. I am joined on the Avon Town Council by Vice-President Steve Eisenbarth along with council members Beverly Austin, Marcus Turner and Greg Zusan. The town council meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7 p.m. at Avon Town Hall. Joining us as elected officials are the town clerk-treasurer Sharon Howell and the town judge Maureen Owen. The daily operations of town business are handled by the town manager Mr. Tom Klein, and he is assisted by an entire staff as well as two department heads, Ryan

Cannon and Jodi Dickey. Mr. Cannon is responsible for parks and public works, while Mrs. Dickey oversees the offices of planning, building and zoning. Last, but not least, we have our police department that is responsible for all law enforcement within the town limits. Led by Chief of Police Sean Stoops and Assistant Chief Brian Nugent, our police department answers on average approximately 14,000 calls for service per year within the town while also assisting the various surrounding public safety agencies. Assisting the Avon Town Council are the various boards and commissions, which are staffed with volunteers from our community. Some of the appointments to the boards and commissions are made by the council as a whole and others by the council president.

Finance or TIF Fund, the Advisory Plan Commission, which oversees policies regarding growth and development of the community, the Economic Development Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, which hears and votes on requests for zoning variances, the Police Merit Board, which is responsible for codifying all hiring, promotions and discipline for the Avon Police Department, and the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Council, which makes recommendations to the town council regarding parks, trails and green space. A complete description of all the Town of Avon departments as well as boards and commissions can be found on our website at avongov.org. I hope this brief overview has been helpful. If you have any questions, comments or concerns I can always be reached by email at atevebaugh@avongov.org.

The Avon Boards and Commissions include the Re-Development Commission, which is responsible for managing the Tax Increment Have a great spring! 6 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

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When Cancer Strikes Twice One Woman’s Journey with Breast Cancer Becomes a Passion for Helping Others Writer / IU Health West Hospital . Photographer / Esther Boston

“I had been sleeping a lot but I was still tired Avon resident Ginger Shirrell remembers the exact moment her doctor called with the all the time,” Shirrell recalls. results of her very first mammogram. It got so bad one day that she found herself struggling to stay upright. She headed Shirrell was 42, in good health and had no straight to an urgent care center, where family history of breast cancer. She wasn’t doctors discovered a tumor on the wall of worried. She’d faced cancer as a teen. She wasn’t going to get it twice. But when the call her chest. came, she heard the words she hadn’t even “It wasn’t until I had open heart surgery considered fearing — she had breast cancer. that they realized the tumor was actually wrapped around my heart,” Shirrell says. A routine mammogram revealed a small tumor in her breast. After a biopsy, her breast care team at Indiana University Health West Shirrell had open heart surgery to remove the tumor that had encompassed her Hospital determined that she had Stage heart, followed by a year of chemotherapy II DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) breast and radiation. And it worked. Ginger had cancer. That’s a non-invasive cancer where beaten Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was abnormal cells are found in the lining of the breast milk ducts but have not spread into the cancer free. surrounding breast tissue. Flash forward two decades and Ginger’s Ginger was no stranger to being a cancer cancer care team suspected that the radiation during her first round of cancer patient. She faced cancer once before treatments may have contributed to the while in high school. That time she battled development of her breast cancer. Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 8 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

“It turned out that I should have started getting mammograms in my late twenties because I was at elevated risk, but I had no idea,” she says. Still, Shirrell didn’t want to dwell on her bad fortune. “I just wanted to know what I needed to do next,” she says. According to BreastCancer.org, one in eight American women (about 12 percent) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. In 2016, more than 245,000 new cases of intrusive breast cancer are expected to be identified in women in the U.S. Ginger didn’t have to go far to find the right team to treat her breast cancer. She was well acquainted with the sanctuary of healing that the caregivers at IU Health West offered their patients. She was one of those caregivers herself, a labor and delivery nurse with the maternity unit.

The IU Health oncologist she met with told her that while her cancer had been caught early (stage 2), it had spread to her lymph nodes.

later, she found herself struggling. “Labor and delivery is a very physical job, and my arms hurt all the time,” Shirrell says.

“I love being able to help the patients that are coming in for biopsies by telling them exactly what they are going to experience in detail,” she says. “Sometimes Shirrell discovered that the Women’s I’ll let them that I have been there, so I “A lumpectomy was out the question Diagnostic Center at IU Health West was know what they’re going through. I let because I couldn’t get any more radiation, looking for a breast health coordinator. Not them know I will be with them the whole so I decided to have a double mastectomy,” only would the job be easier on her physically, time and hold their hand so they have Shirrell says. it was the type of position she’d wanted ever somebody with them during the actual since graduating from nursing school. procedure. I try to distract them as well. She also chose to get tissue flap I do their discharge teaching after the reconstruction. After removing her breasts, Now Ginger spends her days meeting procedure so they know what to look for if the surgeon would immediately rebuild them with women who come to the clinic for there are any problems.” using fat taken from Shirrell’s abdomen. a mammogram to assess their risk of developing breast cancer. She also works Though Shirrell does still experience some “I feel that I have always had a lot of with those who need a biopsy following side effects from her surgery, she’s happy compassion, but having cancer twice opens their mammogram, explaining the to be in good overall health now. And even your eyes to be more forgiving and less procedure and assuring them she’ll be there though cancer struck twice, she refuses to judgmental,” Shirrell says. during the procedure. Shirrell says her own let it affect her outlook on life. experience being diagnosed and treated for When she returned to her job as a labor and breast cancer has enhanced the relationship “My mother has always said I have nine delivery nurse at IU Health West six months she has with her patients. lives!” she jokes.

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CLAIRE-ANNE AIKMAN 10332 E US Hwy 36 Avon, IN 46123 317.345.6640 caikman@callcarpenter.com claireanneaikman.com

Envisioning your future in a new home can be both exciting and overwhelming. For many people, choosing to buy or sell a home can be an inherently stressful process, especially as buying a home is typically one of the biggest purchase decisions people make in their lives. When you’re deciding where to raise your family or how much you can afford, the decision to move out, move on and move into a new home is a personal one, so your experience with a Realtor should be, too. For almost a decade, Claire-Anne Aikman has been delivering results to central Indiana home buyers and sellers with unmatched accuracy and speed. “For every client I have, I make their mission my own. I love a challenge, but I love even more getting to know my clients and what their unique needs and wants are so we can find the perfect home together,” she says.

As a top-producing, award-winning, sales and listing leader, she has helped clients overcome the stressors they face with professionalism, poise, and—most importantly—a plan. “I believe that proper preparation can evaporate so much of the stress people feel. By being thorough, honest and attentive, I eliminate a lot of the unknowns,” she says. This preparation includes unparalleled knowledge of the local market to ensure homes are priced accurately and the drive to negotiate fairly so each client gets the results they deserve. “Claire-Anne took time to know my wife and I, and what exactly we were looking for. When we steered away from what we wanted she did a fantastic job of redirecting. Claire-Anne always had time for us, and was quick to respond to questions no matter what time of the day,” says Derreck, a satisfied homebuyer.

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MOODY’S BUTCHER SHOP Delivers Farm Fresh Food and Local Fare Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

A fifth-generation Indiana farmer from Montgomery County, Adam Moody has been a fixture in the Indianapolis community for years, having farmed for more than five decades and, for the last 14 years, running Moody’s Butcher Shop. Moody first got into retail in the late 1990s when he cashed his hog check at the bank, then went to the grocery store to buy a ham for Easter dinner and found he couldn’t afford it. “I realized that something’s wrong with this system if the people raising food can’t afford the food they’re raising,” Moody says.

That’s when he decided to take the farm in a different direction, growing his animals, having them processed and selling them directly to consumers.

The company raises and harvests the animals. They dry age the meat on the beef side. They make their own sausages, smoke their own bacon and set the fresh meat case daily.

Moody and his wife, Lucy, started selling at the farmers market in Zionsville and Lafayette in 1997 — the first vendors to bring meat to the venue. In 2000, Moody and his dad purchased the harvesting facility where they had been processing their animals for the farmers market. Moody, eager to learn how to run a retail meat case with perishable products, began schooling himself on business practices. Back then, he had two employees. Now, 17 years later, he owns stores in Avon, Zionsville and Geist and employs 38 people.

“That’s where our uniqueness comes in,” Moody says. “The control we have over the product and the knowledge base that’s there from gate to plate.”

AvonMagazine.com / APRIL 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 11

Customers appreciate the story behind the product. They like learning about where the food comes from and how it was made because such knowledge is lacking in today’s world. “We’ve had this chasm that’s been driven between ‘agri’ and ‘culture’ in our society,”

There’s a big difference between what something costs and what something is worth.

Moody says. “It’s my passion to bring those two back together so people can reconnect with their food supply again.”

from Batch No. 2, spicy pickles from Indiana Pickle Company and yogurt from Trader’s Point Creamery.

Moody refers to his business as a “simple, old-school system” that isn’t According to the USDA, local food is the fastest growing sector of food, and according to the National Grocers Association, local is layered in depths of distributorship and transfer of lines. The meat is the only growing sector of food. not sitting in warehouses or being hauled across the interstate. “We’re reverse pioneering the food system by [only engaging] the farmer, the processor and the retail store,” says Moody, who references a study that found that 92 percent of the food Hoosiers eat comes from outside the state. “It’s my passion to lower that number.” One way Moody aims to do so is by enticing customers with his state-of-the-art smoking facility where he smokes sides of pork bellies, hams, pork loins and six specialty bacons, including threepepper bacon and sweet bacon. “We also make killer jerky,” Moody says.

“So, this is an exciting and challenging time for local food purveyors,” says Moody, who shares the time a man came into his store, perused the case and asked why the rib-eyes cost so much. Moody replied, “I’ll tell you why they’re worth so much.” Then he proceeded to explain how diligently his small team works to create such savory goods. Ultimately, the customer bought four rib-eyes and told Moody that he wasn’t charging enough. “There’s a big difference between what something costs and what something is worth,” Moody says. “There’s so much more benefit to the community, to the land and to your people with a small, local and regional food system.”

Moody’s Butcher Shop not only sells a selection of beef, pork, chicken and occasionally lamb during holiday seasons, but they also Moody’s Butcher Shop is located in Avon at 235 N. SR 267, in Zionsville at 20 E. Cedar Street, and in Geist at 10106 Brooks market high-quality Indiana products from artisanal growers that School Road. complement their meat offering. These items include condiments

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AVON ROBORIOLES AHS ROBOTICS CLUB ENCOURAGES STUDENTS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Writer / Heather Chastain

One of the largest robotics clubs in the area resides at Avon High School. The Avon Roborioles, as they are called, is a competitive club that designs, programs, fabricates and controls robots. For the past seven years, students have had an opportunity to work together in teams to build, create and compete. An extensive application is required to be part of the team. The group has grown to about 60 students and 20 mentors. The mentors are teachers, parents, technicians and engineers who work all over the city. The robotics club gives these students a chance to solve problems within STEM.

However, students say they are learning so much more than science and technology. “This experience has given me the chance to work with people who think in a different way than I do.” says Stephanie Stegemann, a senior at Avon High School. “It’s been a great opportunity to be able to sit down and really talk about different ideas as a team. I think this experience will put me well above my peers.” A three-year veteran of the program, Stegemann plans to go to Trine University in the fall to study mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering. Stegemann says she wants to work with the military and help make their Humvees and other equipment safer. 14 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

The student-led group is overseen by 2017 Teacher of the Year Chris Hill. Hill modestly credits his students for the honor, but principal Mathew Schokley is eager to give Hill more credit. “Students with unique talents and interests in the STEM field are now able to find their niche and their home in a high school of 3,000 students,” Schokley says. “Even more than that, they are able to showcase their passion and pride at the local, state and national level, proudly representing our school community. It IS cool to love math, science and technology.” Hill says the Roborioles are like a lot of teams – they have students dedicated to specific areas of skill and interest. They have “pit

4103

crews’, a driver, an engineer and a designer.

dinner three nights in a row,” she laughed.

One of the most exciting goals for the team this year was to utilize infrared vision to control their robot. Freshman Garett Ivie explained how he, along with the team, worked to create an infrared light to measure the robot’s distance from objects and how it computes the information.

Other students agreed it was many long hours, but none of them seemed to mind.

“Being part of robotics is fun because I get to build a small component of a robot,” says sophomore Caleb Whitesell. “It’s fun seeing how the robot can go from one small part to the final design.” Just days before the team competed in a district competition at Harrison High School in Lafayette, the team was at the school at 7 p.m. testing their robot to make sure it was ready for competition. Students were making adjustments, discussing ways to improve the robot and trying to resolve issues.

One mentor, Steve Blaske does not have a student on the team, but offers his time and mechanical talents to help them. Blaske works for United Technologies and is a veteran robotics competitor. He competed in FIRST Robotics growing up in Rochester, Michigan. “I wanted to extend my experiences to the kids,” Blaske says. “It’s great to have this student-led group. The seniors are setting a great example to the younger students about how this group should work.”

Building the robot, as well as the competition fees, are expensive. The team runs on a budget of $20,000, so they rely on donations and sponsors. This year, the team had the support of United Technologies, Rolls Royce, Stegemann said it’s not uncommon to spend Alarie, Allison Transmission, MPG, PPG, many late nights at the school when you’re Sullivan’s Tires, Nucor Plate Mill and Steel part of the Roborioles. Dynamics, Inc., among other private donors. “I think one week I spent 54 hours at school, If you would like more information on the including my time in school and the time Roborioles, or would like to get involved, I put in after. I’m pretty sure I ate pizza for contact Hill at CMHill@avon-schools.org. AvonMagazine.com / APRIL 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 15

Avon Author Featured In Latest “Chicken Soup for the Soul” Writer / Heather Chastain

CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING MAKES SIXTH CONTRIBUTION TO THE FAMOUS BOOK SERIES The latest anthology of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” features a contribution from an Avon author. Christy Heitger-Ewing has contributed to the book series five times before but says the latest story is her favorite. “It’s about perspective and how that perspective shifts in the face of love, loss and immeasurable appreciation,” says Heitger-Ewing, a freelance writer for more than 15 years. The heartwarming story was released in March. In it, she shares her frustrations and gratitude to a mother she lost 4 years ago.

“She was such a fantastic mom and grandma, but sometimes it was frustrating,” Heitger-Ewing says. “When my son was 2 years old, I was living with my parents while going through a divorce, and it was Christmastime. I was so excited for my boy to come and get me up. I heard his little feet padding down the hall and right past my room to go wake my mom. It hurt my feelings. She was the fun one. And now that she’s gone, I’m really grateful for all she has done.” This story was originally submitted for “Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude: 101,” but was held for the “Best Mom Ever!” anthology.

16 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

YOU CAN BUY “CABIN GLORY” ON CABINGLORY.COM OR ON AMAZON. HEITGER-EWING WILL BE AT THE BARNES & NOBLE IN PLAINFIELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 6 AT 2 P.M. FOR A BOOK SIGNING.

“I feel so grateful for everything my mom did for me. I don’t even know if I would be alive if it weren’t for what she did,” Heitger-Ewing says. At just 12 years old, her mother admitted her to a hospital for treatment for anorexia nervosa. In the book “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks to My Mom,” Heitger-Ewing wrote about how her mother supported her though treatment. She titled the story, “Reclaiming My Sparkle.” She shared how her mother kindly and gently approached her about her condition, not that she wanted to hear it as an eighth grader, and how her mother said to her, “You’ve always had a sparkle about you. That sparkle’s gone.” Heitger-Ewing’s hospital weigh-in revealed she was down to 77 pounds. She credits her mom’s fierce, unfailing love for helping her get healthy and reclaim her sparkle. “I just wish she could be around to see my stories and appreciate it,” HeitgerEwing says. The freelance writer is also a published author. Her book “Cabin Glory” is a series of first-person stories about her family growing up at the cabin. “Anybody who has grown up at a cabin or lake house or cottage can relate to these stories,” she says. “One of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received about the book was from a 97-year-old man. He said, ‘I felt like you told my life story.’”

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APRIL LOCAL EVENTS

Egg hunt is designed to give children a chance to hunt for eggs in a more controlled, quiet and less chaotic setting. Each age group will have a different start time. The event is free, but registration is required. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Washington Township Park Pavillion

Not your average backyard egg hunt! Park Naturalists have hidden camouflaged eggs, filled with nature clues, along two of our family favorite trails. Each trail has a different level of difficulty, meant for different age groups. The clue tucked inside each egg will help you answer a question on your scavenger hunt sheet. Find all of the answers and turn in your worksheet to the Nature Center to claim your prize. Don’t forget to wear hiking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring water! 11:00 a.m. McCloud Nature Park, North Salem

SENSORY EASTER EGG HUNT

NERF WARS

Come to the Washington Township upper park for a nerf competition. We’ll have three events: capture the flag, closest to the target and a shoot-out. You bring your choice of firearms, and we’ll supply the first six bullets free. The event is free, but registration is required. 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Avon Washington Township Park - Upper Park, Near Basketball Court

EASTER EGG HUNT

Pictures with the Easter Bunny begin at 1:30 p.m. Photos are free and will be posted online. The Easter Egg Hunt begins at 2 p.m There will be separate hunting areas for children ages 2-3, 4-6 and 7-9. There will also be separate hunting option for kids with special needs. Immediately after the Easter Egg Hunt, join Danville Parks & Recreation for the Rubber Ducky Race! 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Ellis Park

EASTER EGG HUNT

Amazon John and his animals will provide a live show with the perfect blend of facts and fun for all ages! Silly Safaris keeps the whole audience involved. You’ll see a variety of reptiles, mammals, birds and bugs. 6:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m. Washington Township Park, Pavillion Center

EASTER EGG HUNT

Echo Church is hosting an Easter Egg hunt in the fields behind the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA. We’ll have egg hunts, pony rides, a petting zoo, food trucks (food available for purchase) and fun giveaways! This is a free event that is open to the community, but registration is required! 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Hendricks Regional Health YMCA echochurch.cc/easter

EGGSTRAVAGANZA

ARTSCAPE

Millennial artists and Avon High School artists will showcase their work. The Avon High string quartet led by Dean Westman will perform. Artist Tiffany Black, who did the mural in Danville, is slated to be at the event. A sweet and savory buffet and a silent auction will cap off the evening’s events. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Avon-Washington Township Public Library $15

HENDRICKS SYMPHONY PRESENTS PAMELA FISHER, FLUTE The Hendricks Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Benjamin G. Del Vecchio, presents a free talent showcase featuring Pamela Fisher, Flute. Come and enjoy an afternoon of beautiful flute music. 3:00 p.m. Calvary United Methodist Church FREE

FISH FRYDAY

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18 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

AVON NIGHT LIGHT GLOW 5K RUN/WALK AND COMMUNITY FAIR

RACE FOR THE TASTE

Avon High School Student Government is hosting the Avon Night Light Glow 5K Run/Walk and Community Fair to benefit Hendricks Regional Health Foundation Prenatal and Pediatric Care. The community fair is free and family-friendly. During the fair, there will be a live DJ, six food trucks, booths, a bounce house and games for all ages. Race begins at 7:30 p.m. $15 Eegistration is required. Community Fair 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. FREE Hendricks Regional Health YMCA

Come sample a variety of food from all across Hendricks County! Attendees will have a chance to sample from different restaurants and craft beer distributors. The event will also feature a mixology contest. Bartenders from different restaurants will compete to see whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best bartender. A VIP ticket will get you in the door an hour earlier (3:304:30 p.m.) than general admission. VIP tickets $35, $30 at the door or $25 in advance. VIP ticket holders get in at 3:30 p.m. General admission tickets begin at 4:30 p.m. The event runs until 7:30 p.m. Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds

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HAMILTON HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL

INDIANA’S ONLY STUDENT-LED FOOD PANTRY GLEANERS ENCOURAGES OTHER INDIANA SCHOOLS TO JOIN THE FOLD Writer / Josh Brown Photographer / Alex Holland

You’ve heard the narrative before — a student drops out of high school because their family needs extra income to help put food on the table. Unfortunately, it’s a narrative that still happens too often in the U.S. Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is trying to combat that problem in the Hoosier state.

Currently, there are 53 school-based food pantries in Indiana, but the most impressive one might be right in our backyard in Hamilton County. Arcadia, Indiana is a small town of just under 1,700 people, and it is home to Hamilton Heights High School, which contains the only student-led, school-based food pantry in Indiana. That’s right, the food pantry is completely operated by high school student volunteers. INDY METRO / APRIL 2017 / TownePost.com

“I think that giving back is always a great opportunity,” says junior Madelyn Merrell, president of Service With a Goal (SWAG) and the Hamilton Heights food pantry. “What has been exciting for me is seeing how many students want to get involved and give back to our community.” When the Hamilton Heights food pantry started four years ago, they only had roughly four students involved. At their callout meeting this year, about 60

students showed up expressing interest and an eagerness to volunteer. The food pantry has even gotten the attention of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. On Feb. 28, representatives of Gleaners made the journey down State Road 19 to visit the Hamilton Heights food pantry and host a committee meeting there. “These young people are so committed to service and so proud of what they do in their pantry,” says Debbie Dreiband, Director of Corporate Partnerships for Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. “Hamilton Heights is a great model for school, student and community collaborations. “It is really exciting to get that recognition,” Merrell added. “We are a small school, so I don’t think people see us as one that can do big things like this.”

The food pantry isn’t simply a walk-in closet pantry, either. Hamilton Heights’ pantry is located in an old classroom now stocked with a refrigerator for meats, several shelves of canned goods, cereals and even toiletries, including toothbrushes and toothpaste.

helping, and everyone truly cares about it. The students here have seen the impact and how amazing it is to help people. Even watching the freshmen jump in and get involved, it is awesome.”

The school-based pantry is also open in the holidays, with students volunteering to provide food for families that need it most. Hamilton Heights provided turkeys for families in need during Thanksgiving last year.

One of the greatest benefits of school-based pantries is they help keep kids in school. Young adults who feel the pressure to drop out early and help put food on the table for their families can instead turn to the food pantry for those essentials.

Merrell says the impact has been noticeably wide-reaching, and it is all because of the work of the students.

Gleaners hopes that more schools will join the fold in providing food pantries. Merrell says it’s an easy decision.

“There have been a lot of people say that it means so much them,” Merrell says. “Some have said that Hamilton Heights is the nicest food pantry they go to. Most are simply grateful to be able to put food on the table for their families. We are all students

“I would encourage other schools to do this because it changes lives,” Merrell says. “If you want to be fulfilled, helping people out is a great way to do that. I get a ton of joy seeing other people happy, and that is what community service does.”

TownePost.com / APRIL 2017 / INDY METRO

COLTS COO PETE WARD REFLECTS ON 36-YEAR CAREER

ZIONSVILLE RESIDENT TALKS HORSEPOWER, NAPTOWN AND COLTS’ FANS Writer / Suzanne Huntzinger Photographer / Brian Brosmer

through a possible move to Arizona, but the deal fell apart.

No one will ever forget that snowy March morning in 1984 when the former Baltimore Colts rolled into town and changed the city of Indianapolis forever. Few people can say they were a part of the ball club from its Indianapolis beginnings. Chief Operating Officer and Zionsville resident, Pete Ward, was part of that unforgettable experience that brought the Colts to a rebirth in Naptown.

“All hell broke loose,” Ward says. “Fans were furious with us.”

“It was March 28, 1984,” Ward says. “They called me into the office and said, ‘take care of your personal business and be back here at 10 p.m. ready to roll.’” Ward was shocked. At one point, Colts’ staff were sorting

The fire died down, then rumors of a possible move to Memphis started flying, followed by more rumors about Indianapolis. Since it was already late March, staff dismissed it all as a ploy to be used as a bargaining tool. Reality hit fast for Ward, a young bachelor who’d been working for the Colts for just three years. Employed as the organization’s administrative assistant, Ward was hired not long after graduating from the University of Virginia. His degree was in Sports Business, a degree for which Ward designed his own course of study since schools didn’t offer a Sports Management degree at the time. INDY METRO / APRIL 2017 / TownePost.com

As a young boy living in Virginia, the Washington Redskins’ team headquarters was close. So, when Ward wanted a summer job, he asked the team if they needed volunteers. They had no openings, so he went up to Baltimore and knocked on their door. The Colts welcomed Ward and put him to work in any spot that needed a job to be done. When it was time for Ward to go back to school, the team still needed help, so they asked him to stay on. So, he took a semester off of school and learned first-hand as much as he could about the business. Ward returned to school and finished his degree, returning whenever possible to the Colts to do whatever the team asked him to do. Upon graduation, he sent out resumes, but no teams were hiring. Ward returned to the Colts to help as he had in the previous summer. His lucky break came one day

when the team’s administrative assistant resigned. Ward was hired on the spot. Ward’s new title meant that his duties were a “catch-all,” involving any job that needed to be done. Sometimes he was asked to take players to and from the airport, fill in at someone’s desk or work in the ticket office. No task was too great or too small for Ward because as far as he was concerned, he was building his dream career. So, on that fateful March day when Ward was asked to take care of his personal business and be ready to depart for Indianapolis, saying no was impossible. The idea of leaving his family, friends and life behind for a city he’d heard of as “Naptown” gave him pause, but Ward was excited by the idea of a fresh start and the promise of pursuing his dream.

metro Baltimore and the DC area. On my first commute to work I thought it must be a state holiday. One night I drove downtown, and pretty much everything was shut down after dark. I remember thinking this city really is Naptown.” But Ward saw the city transform before his eyes. Union Station was revitalized, and soon the entire downtown area seemed to follow suit. Circle Center Mall arrived and everything else grew up around it. “It was nice to think that the Colts were part of that rejuvenation and change,” Ward says. As things changed around him, Ward became more settled. He found a small starter home in Zionsville village in 1987.

The team rolled out of town on schedule, and the news broke to the public around midnight. “I had mixed emotions about leaving the devoted Baltimore fans,” Ward says. “We were leaving a huge fan legacy behind.” But when the team arrived in Indianapolis, Ward says, “We were treated like royalty. The celebration was a bit like the liberation of Paris.” Ward described the time that followed in those early days as a blur because there was so much to do. “It was the hardest time of my life,” he says. “We had the hours of a college kid working long days and getting very little sleep.” The Colts quickly settled into its first headquarters, occupying the former Fall Creek Elementary School on the northeast side. Ward dove right in, helping grow the organization, figuring it all out as he went along. His hard work paid off and he was quickly promoted to Director of Operations. Though there was little time to stop and consider his first impressions of his new city, Ward says, “I do remember noticing how little traffic Indy had compared to TownePost.com / APRIL 2017 / INDY METRO

“I liked the small-town feel and charm of the area,” Ward says. “Plus, the house was $54,000. He had no idea the area would grow so fast or the location of his first home in the village would later become prime real estate. The small-town charm of Zionsville never lost its appeal to Ward. So, he stayed, eventually marrying and raising his family there. “The community is wonderful,” Ward says. “Everyone knows you, and the people are friendly.” The Colts saw many changes in the years that followed. Moving into their new headquarters on 56th street, coaching

changes and more kept Ward constantly on his toes. “After the challenges of the big move, everything else that came our way seemed like a piece of cake,” Ward says. “But times always change. You can’t be complacent. You’ve got to stay ahead of the curve.” The team definitely stayed ahead. With the arrival of Colts’ legend Peyton Manning

Marvin Harrison, Coach Tony Dungy and others, the team’s popularity and success skyrocketed. It was around that time when Ward was named Vice President of Administration. Among the many memories Ward has of the Manning era, he has two that are his favorites. The first was in the 2006-2007 season. “I’ll never forget winning the AFC

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championship game over the ‘evilempire’ New England Patriots,” Ward says. “We were down 21-3 and came back to win it in the final minute, earning our first trip to the Super Bowl. It was Hollywood at its finest.” Another favorite memory is a 2009 game, against the Patriots once again. With two minutes left in the game, the undefeated Colts stopped the Pats on an infamous fourth-and-two attempt and came back to win the game in the final seconds. With a broad grin, Ward says, “The drama and adrenaline in this business is unmatched.” Through the team’s ups and downs, Ward has seen far more successes than failures. Winning Super Bowl XLI and helping host Super Bowl XLVI just a few years after opening the beautiful, new Lucas Oil Stadium (a stadium which Ward played a key role in designing) were certainly proud moments for Ward. It was only fitting that Ward was appointed COO just two years after the opening of Lucas Oil Stadium. “Indianapolis has proven over and over that it can compete on the world stage with the big dogs,” he says. “It is extremely fulfilling to see the Colts playing a role in that.” The Colts compete with the big dogs off the field too. Colts ownership, players and coaches bring their A-game by sharing their winning spirit with the team and by staying involved in the community. “We’re aggressive on all fronts,” Ward says. “We try to touch all parts of our state and even Louisville, with fanfests, school shows themed around such topics as bullying or literacy, fitness camps and youth football clinics. We are also fortunate to have the Irsay family so involved with our community.

“I’M PROUD OF THIS CITY AND WHAT IT’S BECOME.” And of course, now we have Andrew Luck, approaching his sixth season with the team, and he’s an incredible ambassador for us.”

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As nice as it is to reflect on the many successes, Ward never stops thinking about what is next.

Dreams a Reality

“I want to see us win the Super Bowl again, and I’d love to see Indy host it again,” Ward says. “I have yet to see anything excite and bond our community more than our Super Bowl run in 2007, and that’s a feeling you cannot get enough of.” The Indianapolis Colts are now in their third generation of fans, making their time here longer than their time in Baltimore. The fan landscape has changed from the early days when fans in Indy were divided in their loyalties to the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers or the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, of course, Indianapolis fans are united behind the Colts. “It’s fulfilling to know the Colts are a pillar in this city and help make it a place where good people want to live and companies want to come and grow,” Ward says. “It’s also terrific to know Indiana is now a football state just as much as we are a basketball state.” No matter what the next play of the game is by the Colts, Ward is here to stay. “I’m proud of this city and what it’s become,” he says. “People are friendly, and they come together for a cause. I’m proud to say I live here.”

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Service With a Smile

9 Noah Keener Writer / Heather Chastain . Photographer / Kyle Duell & Stacey Coughlin

Avon teen is flourishing in the workforce An Avon teen, sweetly dubbed “The Cookie Guy” by his co-workers, is proving how capable a person with autism can be. Noah Keener, 19, wraps the cookies and brownies you see on the counter at the McAlister’s Deli at the corner of U.S. 36 and Raceway Road. He began working at McAlister’s through a work study program at Avon High School but was hired as a paid employee in May 2016. “It’s such a blessing for our family,” said his mom, Jen Keener. “We didn’t know this could turn into a paid position.”

Noah takes his job very seriously. The teen typically works three days a week, two hours at a time and wraps hundreds of cookies per shift. The most cookies he’s ever wrapped is 504 cookies in one, two-hour shift.

“He’s diligent,” said his dad, Ryan Keener. “He stays focused, and he doesn’t take breaks.”

“Noah’s an amazing person,” said General Manager Mike Bredlow. “He gets along with Noah’s face lights up when he talks about his everyone at work. He always brings a smile, duties. He said wrapping the chocolate chip which is contagious, and everyone at work cookies are his favorite. enjoys seeing him every day. He’s just a great human being.” “There’s a lot of work to do,” said Noah, with a big smile. Fellow employees said Noah has boosted morale around the restaurant and has become an important part of the He often is assigned other tasks such as portioning the cheese and chicken, and McAlister’s team. putting the labels on the tea jugs. AvonMagazine.com / APRIL 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 31

receive vocational training. Jen said he worked the breakfast cart his freshman and sophomore year. “There were four different jobs: cart pusher, stocker, door knocker and money taker,” she said. Some of the internships Noah had through the AHS Work Study Program are working at Gleaner’s Food Bank, Avon Education Foundation Bookstore, AIS West Cafeteria, Plainfield Aquatic Center, Avon YMCA, coffee delivery services at AHS for teachers and McAlister’s Deli. Jen credits Avon Community School Corporation for Noah’s education and helping him become as independent as he is today. “The best thing that ever happened to us was moving here and getting him into the Avon school system,” Jen said.

“Noah’s an amazing person. He gets along with everyone at work. He always brings a smile, which is contagious, and everyone at work enjoys seeing him every day. He’s just a great human being.” -McAlister’s General Manager, Mike Bedlow

“We’ve thanked them [the managers] so many times and told them what a blessing it is for Noah to work there, and they’ve told us the blessing goes both ways,” Jen said. The Keeners said it’s not just a great work environment for Noah, but they are proud McAlister’s supports Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism and advocacy organization. In August 2016, the fast food chain turned its fan-favorite famous sugar cookies blue, the organization’s signature color, and $0.75 from each cookie sold supported Autism Speaks mission: funding scientific research, increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorder and advocating for the needs of people with autism and their families.

Originally from Bloomington, the Keeners didn’t plan to move to Avon. “I know why God brought us to Avon – for Noah’s education,” Jen said. “All the people we have met along the way have influenced Noah.” The family moved to Avon when Noah was 4-years old, 2 years after being diagnosed with autism. When Noah aged out of First Steps, his parents enrolled him in the Developmental Preschool. Jen said he had a solid foundation in elementary school and intermediate and middle school before entering high school. As a member of the AHS Work Study Program, Noah had the opportunities to 32 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

Avon High School Resource Department Transition Coordinator Kimberly Lobosky said Avon Community Schools has a cutting-edge program to help those with disabilities. “It’s not cookie cutter,” Lobosky said. “We can provide a hybrid of services to help meet any of the different needs of each student.” His family said the relationship Noah fostered with one of the teachers at Avon has made an enormous impact on his life. “I first met Noah in third grade and we were re-introduced in sixth, and he has been part of my story ever since,” Lobosky said. “This year has been especially profound for me, getting to be involved in the planning of Noah’s future. I have truly been blessed to have moved up through the years with him to witness Noah’s personality come to fruition. He has grown from a rigid, clockwatching kid that giggled when stating people’s names wrong on purpose, to a dependable, flexible, proactive worker who is compassionate and funny all at the same time.”

“I know why God brought us to Avon – for Noah’s education. All the people we have met along the way have influenced Noah.” -Jen Keener

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AvonMagazine.com / APRIL 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 33

Recently, Noah also began another workstudy internship at the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA. He assists in the wellness center by folding towels and wiping down machines. The teen has diverse interests including playing the keyboard, guitar, rooting for the Pacers and IU. “Someone recently asked him if he wanted to go to a Colts game and he said, ‘no, thank you,’” Jen said. “But if you asked him to go to an IU game, he’d be in the car!” Worshipping at Traders Point Christian Church is also important to Noah. He even went to a special needs prom last fall with a neighborhood friend. The prom included a meal, a karaoke area and games. “They made everyone feel special, it was very cool,” Ryan said. Noah even got up and sang karaoke in front of 200 people. “It was way out of the box for him to do something like that,” Jen said.

“He sang ‘What Does The Fox Say’ and danced.” While Jen is incredibly grateful for everything, she is quick to say more advocacy needs to be done for the families. “It’s been difficult to get all of the information we need,” she said. “It’s interesting what we know and other families that have children with autism know that we don’t know and vice versa. There needs to be some kind of central location, a pamphlet or something, that tells us the things we need to know when transitioning out of school and into the community as an adult.” For example, applying for Noah’s social security. “You have to wait until they are 18 and one month, and then you can apply for social

security,” Jen said. “It’s important for him to have money so he can learn you don’t live for free,” Ryan said. “He buys some of his own food, he pays us a little bit of rent. It teaches him responsibility.” Noah’s enthusiastic, go-getter attitude makes him a pleasure to be around, Jen said, and has helped other people gain a more positive outlook. “We could all learn a lot from Noah,” she said.

We are Damar. Remarkable people. Remarkable results. We support people facing life’s greatest challenges, including intellectual & developmental disabilities and autism. We’re parents. We’re caretakers. We’re friends.

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THE BEST HELP FOR BREAST HEALTH

DR. ANNE MATTINGLY SHARES ADVANCEMENTS IN BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

On April 29, when participants gather for the 2017 Komen Central Indiana Race for the Cure, Dr. Anne Mattingly will be at the starting line, waving the flag to signal the start of the event. It seems fitting that Mattingly should be there, cheering for breast cancer patients and survivors because she has devoted her life to caring for patients who have battled the disease. Every day Mattingly, a breast surgical

oncologist at the Hendricks Regional Health Breast Center, sees patients with various issues — from benign breast disease and lumps to cancer and everything in between. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, regardless of race or ethnicity. Mattingly knows what patients go through to regain their health, which is why she’s honored to be included in this year’s race. 36 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

“It’s an empowering moment for breast cancer patients and their families,” Mattingly says. “These people have gone through treatment and come out the other side. It’s also encouraging for patients who are currently undergoing treatment or dealing with a new diagnosis to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.” It’s a light that has grown increasingly bright over the past 30-plus years as advancements in breast cancer have improved dramatically.

“ WE ARE MUCH BETTER EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH BREAST CANCER AND MUCH BETTER AT DIAGNOSING AND FINDING IT AT A MORE TREATABLE STAGE.” Mattingly notes that while a breast cancer patient in 1970 or 1980 was left with only one option, a mastectomy, now at Hendricks Regional Health they offer breast conserving surgery, newer medications and chemotherapy options, targeted therapy and breast reconstruction choices following a mastectomy. They also have a state-ofthe-art 3-D mammogram unit that is more accurate at diagnosing cancer and reduces the number of false positive results. The Center for Breast and Bone Health at Hendricks Regional Health has also started a high-risk program where, on the same day as the mammogram, staff input the patient’s personal history into the computer system and, through population study algorithms, the software creates a risk score. If a patient is identified as higher risk (meaning more than a 20 percent chance of developing breast cancer in his or her life), he or she is offered a no-charge, same-day appointment with a nurse practitioner, who reviews the patient’s history and discusses options going forward. “We are the first in the state to offer such a service,” Mattingly says. To reduce the risk of breast cancer, Mattingly encourages women and men to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes sustaining a healthy body weight, engaging in physical activity, following good nutritional guidelines and refraining from smoking. She also suggests having a general breast awareness. “Understand the lay of the land so that if something changes in your breast, you can alert your doctor before it becomes

serious,” she says. “We are much better equipped to deal with breast cancer and much better at diagnosing and finding it at a more treatable stage.” Though breast cancer is rare in males, Mattingly stresses that it can happen. So, should a man find a lump or something unusual, he shouldn’t ignore it. “Once you have a male breast cancer in the family, that person and their treatment is going to significantly increase the risk of all their family members, both female and male,” says Mattingly, who hails from Lafayette where she grew up with six brothers and sisters and an ophthalmologist father. Though growing up Mattingly admired that fact that her father was a surgeon, “I wasn’t all that excited about eyeballs,” she says. What did excite her, though, was the idea of taking someone with a devastating diagnosis and curing them with surgery. “There aren’t a lot of fields out there with that kind of opportunity,” Mattingly says. “Plus, I like developing relationships with patients and following them over time.” That timeline begins as soon as a breast cancer diagnosis is made. Once somebody is diagnosed, a meeting with a breast surgeon or breast surgical oncologist is scheduled within 24 hours. It’s an eye-opening consultation and one in which Mattingly AvonMagazine.com / APRIL 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 37

recommends patients bring along a trusted family member or friend. “A lot of what we talk about will go in one ear and out the other because it’s so overwhelming,” Mattingly says. “It’s a journey. The patient is going to see me at least every 3 to 6 months for five years.” Mattingly appreciates her role at the starting line on April 29. The flag she will hold symbolizes hope, healing and humble steps forward. It’s the same way she hopes her patients and their families see her role in their care.

The 2017 Komen Central Indiana Race for the Cure will be held at Historic Military Park on April 29, 2017. For registration information, visit www.komenindy.org.

Football CROSSWORD Football PUZZLE

Presenter / Park Square Manor

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Q&A WITH

Dr Margaret Hoernemann Writer / Heather Chastain

Dr. Margaret Hoernemann came to Avon Community School Corporation in 2000 and has been superintendent for the past 5 years. She sat down to speak with us about how Avon is leading the way in progressive educational techniques despite limited funding. AFTER THE FAILED REFERENDUM, WHAT KIND OF CHANGES DID THE SCHOOL CORPORATION MAKE? We had to become as lean as possible without sacrificing quality. Since 2009, we have 27 fewer teachers, 20 fewer custodians, six fewer administrators but 931 more students. Our goal is to keep the quality of public education high. That’s tough when the budget proposed is lower than inflation. We’re financially stable, but we’re not in great shape. I’m very proud of what is happening instructionally. It’s very progressive. We are now using a more collaborative approach. Classrooms today look very different. We have small groups of kids working together on project, problem based learning. The key to learning today is to identify and manage different ways to get the right answer. Opportunities that used to be occasional, special activities are becoming a more regular part of our curriculum. It’s hard and time consuming to teach this way. We want more critical thinking. We don’t want our students to just regurgitate information. Our kids are more than a test score. We’re proud to say there’s something for everyone at Avon. We have high engagement in our extracurricular activities. I think we do a really good job with all of our kids.

HOW ARE AVON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ALSO COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY? This is a challenging time for public education, but I believe we have gained the confidence of our community. We have fabulous support from the town of Avon. A group of us — including the Town of Avon, the Avon-Washington Township Library, the Avon Chamber of Commerce and other taxing entities — began meeting to see how we can work together to help each other. We believe if we collaborate, we can be a stronger community. We work hard at these relationships, and I’m really happy with how they have developed. We’re all part of the community and we can all be successful in what we do if we work together. This is a fabulous school system because we are a reflection of the community. We serve great kids, have great parents and a dedicated staff. We succeed because of the people. We are very fortunate. WHAT’S NEXT FOR AVON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS? We are embarking on some major renovations for Intermediate East. The building was originally built as an open concept, but it’s outdated for the way we are doing things now. Most of the classrooms don’t even have any natural light coming in. We are excited to have a nice environment that’s equitable for our kids. WHAT WAS ONE OF YOUR GREATEST EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES? Studying at the University of Dijon in France. I was able to do that through a Rotary Scholarship. I’m so grateful for those experiences and will always be indebted to the Rotary Club for that scholarship.

42 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

Dental Implants May Offer a Practical Solution to Tooth Loss

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Easter Egg Hunt COUNTRYSIDE MEADOWS

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COLLEGE MENTORS FOR KIDS HONORS COMMUNITY LEADERS AT 2017 INSPIRE AWARDS College Mentors For Kids recently hosted its 2017 Inspire Awards at a packed ballroom in the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis. The awards ceremony saw seven community leaders named Mentors of the Year in their respective fields. Allison Melangton, Senior Vice President, Hulman Motorsports Corporation, also took home the Lifetime Achievement Award in Mentoring. Melangton, who has given her time and talents for many years to mentor youth and business leaders, delivered a teary-

eyed, thank you speech to the hundreds in attendance. “Allison Melangton is an exceptional leader and mentor in our community,” said Shelley Hunter, Executive Director of College Mentors For Kids. “The impact she has made on young professionals and other business leaders is remarkable. She is an incredible asset to Indianapolis, as a mentor, as a business professional and as a leader of events that bring significant economic impact to the community.” The 2017 Mentors of the Year include:

TownePost.com / APRIL 2017 / INDY METRO

JASON REESE

ACCOUNTING, LEGAL & FINANCE MENTOR OF THE YEAR Jason Reese is a partner at Wagner Reese. As an accomplished lawyer, he encourages other young lawyers in their careers and has also used his expertise to teach legal professionals in Rwanda how to fight corruption and represent the underprivileged in their communities. As an EDGE mentor, Jason regularly meets with six, young men to encourage them as

they grow personally, professionally, and spiritually, inspiring them to pass it on. “Jason is humble in his approach, but he is abundant in what he has to give,” said one mentee. “His actions inspire the people that he gets in touch with, who then pass on that inspiration, positive energy and actiondriven mindset to someone else.”

DON KINSEY,

BUSINESS, RETAIL & SERVICES MENTOR OF THE YEAR Don Kinsey is the Facility Manager at Caterpillar. He is described by many as a “model of integrity” and a “terrific leader of leaders.” Kinsey believes that people are his greatest asset, so he consistently treats them with dignity and respect. Through his commitment to community involvement and service, he has inspired others to make individual commitments to become involved

in the community where they live and work. “Don is a leader who provides opportunity for growth by investing in the people that he leads,” one mentee said. “He has always taken time to help me grow as a person and a leader. Don encouraged me to take challenging roles and get out of my comfort zone.”

JONATHAN BAKER

EDUCATIONS, GOVERNMENT & NONPROFIT MENTOR OF THE YEAR Jonathan Baker is a sergeant with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Baker was introduced to a hopeful but anxious police academy applicant by a friend at church. Without hesitation, Jonathan guided him through the application process, spending hours answering questions and preparing him. His support and encouragement continued once his mentee was accepted to the academy, through training and even now as INDY METRO / APRIL 2017 / TownePost.com

a police officer. “Being a police officer is a unique job that often puts you in stressful and dangerous situations,” Baker’s mentee said. “On several occasions, I have called Jonathan after witnessing a horrific scene or situation. He has helped me process what I’ve experienced in a healthy and helpful way. I know without his discussions with me over the past few years, I would have struggled.”

JIM WIESLER

CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY MENTOR OF THE YEAR Jim Wiesler is an Associate Senior Consultant Engineer at Eli Lilly & Company. Wiesler is the lead recruiter for Purdue Engineering because he has a passion for helping young engineers find their strengths and discover opportunities to thrive in their careers and lives.

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SARA BARNETT HEALTH & HEALTH SCIENCES MENTOR OF THE YEAR

Sara Barnett is a Child Life Manager at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. She cultivates the passions of each team member, incorporating their ideas into her vision for excellent patient care and seamlessly balancing the needs of the hospital with the needs of her employees. “Sara has been a listener, a coach, a confidant, a professional ethics consultant, and a cheerleader,” her nominator said. “She has provided honest feedback including ways to improve in all aspects of professional service. She is responsible for supporting my aspirations and for pointing out potential opportunities to develop all areas of professional and personal expertise.”

“Jim is skilled at breaking down complex topics in ways that a beginner can understand,” one mentee said. “He gives positive feedback at even the smallest milestones, providing encouragement to continue learning. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience, which he generously shares with others.”

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BRIAN HAIRSTON

YOUTH MENTORING MENTOR OF THE YEAR Brian Hairston is a 4-H Agent at the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Hairston invests time, understanding, love and kindness in all of the youth who come through the Virginia 4-H program, treating them as members of his own family and empowering young leaders to know they can make a difference in the community.

“Brian has been one of my greatest motivations and mentors throughout my entire life,” one mentee said. “I have never met someone who genuinely cares about those he is mentoring as much as Brian. He has taught me so many skills and helped me turn from a shy, young guy to a confident young man.”

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Sonya Hopkins is the Coordinator of Academic Services for Athletics at Butler University. She is described as selfless and humble. Hopkins makes sure that student athletes have the tools they need to accomplish their goals, and her support has resulted in impressive results of graduation and career success. She also engages the student-athletes in community service, modeling The Butler Way. “Her passion is seeing young people graduate, and she has firmly planted herself in the trenches with the students,” her nominator said. “She offers sound advice and gives unconditional support. Her passion and pride in her job are on display every day, and that is contagious around the department.”

3RD SATURDAY IN MAY EMPOWER TODAY’S YOUTH TO BECOME TOMORROW’S ENTREPRENEURS. It’s fun, easy and FREE! Lemonade Day helps kids of all ages experience entrepreneurship by planning, starting, owning, and operating their own business: a lemonade stand! Plant the seeds for the young entrepreneurs in your life by signing them up for Lemonade Day!

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PAIN IS REAL, but so is HOPE. Join Northview Church for the HOPE series, kicking off EASTER WEEKEND,

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FOR A CUSTOM QUOTE, CONTACT:

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TownePost.com / APRIL 2017 / INDY METRO

Leah Blackford with her husband Chris

APRIL'S LUCKIEST ALIVE Leah Blackford

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LEAH BLACKFORD BEATS THREE BRAIN TUMORS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

In March 2016, Leah Blackford was playing cards with her family and husband, Chris, when suddenly she threw the deck across the table, went stiff as a board and stopped moving. At first Chris thought she was joking around. When she didn’t respond, however, he began to panic. Thirty seconds later, Leah’s eyes popped open, though they were unfocused, and she seemed disoriented.

what happens, remove the tumors through surgery, or take medications to slow tumor growth. Without hesitation, Leah asked when she could schedule surgery.

Named the Luckiest Hoosier Alive winner this month, Leah received a prize package to Hoosier Park Casino, which includes dinner for two at Homestretch Steakhouse as well as $200 in comps for gambling.

The diagnosis provided answers to nagging questions that Leah had prior to the “We are really looking forward to a night seizure, such as why she was struggling to out, I can’t tell Hoosier Park ‘thank you’ understand the tasks she was to perform at enough,” added Leah. the new job she’d started three weeks earlier. Not that Leah needs to roll the dice or “It didn’t make sense that I was having such play the slots because she’s already defied “I don’t remember any of it, but apparently a hard time because I’ve been in accounts the odds. She was supposed to be in the for 30 minutes I was asking a bunch of payable my whole life,” Leah says. “I knew it hospital for seven days — she was out in strange and repetitive questions,” Leah says. wasn’t normal to be having trouble learning four. She was scheduled to be off work for my job.” six to nine weeks, but she was back in less Chris insisted they go to the hospital. than three. She beat not one brain tumor Within four weeks of her seizure, Leah was but three. The ER team wasn’t initially concerned, on the operating table. Chris paced the chalking the bizarre experience up to the hospital floors, waiting anxiously as the “I’m just grateful for how it all turned out,” body’s need to “reset” itself from time to surgery, scheduled for three hours, took a Chris says. “The brain tumor was in the time, the way a boxer does after getting whopping six and a half. The doctor said best place it could be. It was accessible. We knocked out. A CAT scan, however, that in order to reach one of the tumors, he were blessed.” revealed something more ominous. had to remove a small piece of Leah’s brain. Six months post-surgery, Leah was given “When the doctor walked in…” Chris When Leah woke up an hour later, she was the all-clear, enabling her to suspend whispered, his voice cracking with disappointed to find she didn’t have a bald medication and resume driving, flying and emotion, “You never want to see the head. even parasailing. When she and Chris went look that doctor had on his face. I knew to San Diego, she eagerly signed up for the something was very wrong.” “I was kind of looking forward to having exhilarating activity. part of my head shaved,” says Leah with a More tests were done to confirm the chuckle. “You can’t even see my scar!” “I was like, ‘I’m doing this!’” says Leah, diagnosis, but ultimately, an MRI revealed who admits that she now has a new that Leah had not one, but three tumors on What you can see, however, is the appreciation for life. “I’m so thankful for her brain — each the size of a large marble. tremendous support she’s gotten from her everything I have.” The pressure the tumors were putting on husband, mother, coworkers and friends. the outside of her brain was what caused the Leah was listening to WZPL 99.5 FM radio memory loss and seizure. “I consider myself tremendously lucky just and heard the commercial with Towne Post to be married to this great guy, who has been Publisher Tom Britt asking for people to “That’s when your heart drops,” Chris says. with me every step of the way,” Leah says. submit their story for the “Luckiest Hoosier “We’ve been together a long time and have Alive Contest.” She heard the commercial The good news: the tumors were not learned that if you can’t change something or and said, “I’m going to do that!” cancerous. The specialist offered the couple fix it, you learn to live with it. We’ve always three possible options: do nothing and see taken life and rolled with it together.” A true winner, indeed.

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DATE: FRIDAY, APRIL 21 TIME: 7:00-9:00 PM LOCATION: INDIANAPOLIS SAILING CLUB (11325 Fall Creek Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46256)

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JULIE KELLER Nominated By: Robin Bryant, who says:

Both of us worked full-time jobs with also having two kids together, it wasn’t easy for her a lot of times managing and taking on this big responsibility, but she did. Today, My mother is the most caring, selfless, I’m glad to say, with her help, through the awesome, philanthropic, babysittin’ years both boys graduated from Avon High choir-singing woman I know! She began School — one went to the Marines and the a Hendricks County group that sings for hospice patients on the threshold of life. She other went to the University of Missouri. Both girls have graduated from Avon High loves to make a difference and help others School and both are currently attending through her volunteer work. She has even IV Tech, then they will be transferring to read magazines and grocery ads for the state colleges this year and next year. Please blind. She is definitely the perfect pick for consider Katrina Love to be nominated 2017 Mom of the Year. as Mom of the Year because of her commitment to two kids that she didn’t KATRINA LOVE give birth to but was as a mother to them Nominated By: Jonathan Love, who says: as though she did. Being a wife of a blended family has its many challenges and demands all by its SPONSORED BY: self. Katrina has mentally managed to delay her own personal goals and wants for the best of two boys both ages 10 and two girls ages seven 12 years ago due to marriage.

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THE BENEFITS OF HIRING WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES Indiana, he helps adults with disabilities find But the impact of hiring a worker with a disability goes beyond that individual. Once jobs and live in the community. Burger King Manager Cindy Joseph knows hired, people with disabilities usually carry one thing for sure: Six days a week, 37-year- “When I’m asked why employers should their fair share of the workload, become an old Robert Burcham will be at the store by inspiration and encouragement to others on hire people with disabilities, I always ask, 5:15 a.m., eager and ready to work. He helps ‘Why not?’” McCoy says. “While our clients a team, and provide a cheerful connection to get the kitchen prepared for the day, fires often need support with the application and to the community. up the fryers, flips outdoor signboards and interview process, once hired, they excel happily takes on extra tasks. In addition, once they have a job, people at the job. The sense of pride they feel for with disabilities pay taxes, pay for housing, having been chosen for the job helps them “He’s focused, and he doesn’t take to perform to the best of their ability day in purchase goods and services and, generally, shortcuts,” Joseph says of Robert. “He’s also and day out.” become contributing members of society, reliable. He doesn’t miss work unless he’s just like everyone else. really sick.” McCoy points out that no potential employee is ever perfect, everyone has flaws. “That’s what our clients want, and that’s What goes unspoken is the fact that Robert Once employers accept that and begin to what we’re trying to help them achieve,” lives with developmental disabilities. consider both the strengths and weaknesses McCoy says. “They want to be a part of their community, to contribute and participate of all of their potential hires, people with Joseph has learned what other employers in everyday, independent living. Given the disabilities often offer the best option. who hire people with disabilities have chance, they show their appreciation by learned — if you are willing to accommodate “The sense of pride people with disabilities working hard.” some initial hurdles that might come with an feel for having been chosen for the job employee’s disability, you will be repaid with helps them to perform to the best of their And, often, by showing incredible loyalty. a loyal and dedicated employee. ability day in and day out,” McCoy says, Certainly, Burcham is a great example of adding that they also can bring to a job Donnie McCoy has seen this dynamic again strengths not found in other prospective that. A few months ago, he gained a little and again. As the Director of Independent extra “bling” on the black apron he puts hires. “For example, people with autism Living for Damar Services, which serves on every morning: a gold-and-gemstone can demonstrate excellent attention to people with developmental, intellectual and detail, which is incredibly valuable to most pin honoring his 20 years working for behavioral disabilities throughout Central Burger King. hiring managers.” Writer / Damar Services

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deliver trees free to in-town residents. Tree sale information and order forms can be obtained on AvonGov.org, under the “Recent News” and “Announcement” tab or picked up at Town Hall. Avon has achieved Tree City USA status, awarded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Division from 2007 to the present. The award is bestowed upon communities that dedicate resources to developing a tree-care program. Thanks to all our residents for helping make it happen! For more information about the 2017 Spring Tree Sale, please contact the Town of Avon at 317-272-0948.

56 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

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Beautiful Music At An Affordable Price The Hendricks Symphony Orchestra

58 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

Benjamin Del Vecchio first stepped onto the podium at 16 years old. Now, some 58 years later, he’s still there, conducting, instructing and mentoring as the music director for the Hendricks Symphony Orchestra. Del Vecchio founded the non-profit volunteer organization in 2007 with a vision to provide great masterworks of the orchestral repertoire for area residents at a reasonable cost. At $15 a ticket (that’s the maximum charge as discounts are provided for seniors, students and advanced purchase), the price is a dynamite deal. The Hendricks Symphony Orchestra puts on six subscription concerts a year, in addition to five, free talent showcases. Plus, every summer they offer a three-hour Fourth of July concert in Hummel Park where they perform Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, among other classics. “Cannons fire. Fireworks explode. It’s an event not to be missed,” says Del Vecchio, noting that typically between 25,000 and 30,000 show up for the celebration. Even last year’s rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the performers or the audience. “People got wet, but everybody stayed,” he says. Past shows include the Messiah, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Brahams’ Requiem, Debussy’s Iberia, Poulenc’s Gloria, Schubert’s “Great” and Stravinsky’s Petrushka. In February, they performed Peter and the Wolf. Next up ( May 5 and 7) is a semi-staged performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta, The Pirates of Penzance. “I always try to do music that the soccer mom will enjoy,” says Del Vecchio, referencing the “every man” or “every mom” of the community.

He succeeds in this mission by creating modern musical arrangements. “I love it when people who have never been to a symphony concert come up to me afterwards and say, ‘I didn’t know I liked this kind of music,’” Del Vecchio says. The 60-member community orchestra are volunteer players who practice every week for 2 and a half hours. Though Del Vecchio has worked with lots of volunteer groups in his day, he says the ones in Hendricks County are the best. “Not only do they make great music, but they are the nicest people,” Del Vecchio says. There’s also a Hendricks Symphony Chorus consisting of three dozen people who sing the choral masterpieces. Sometimes the orchestra and choir perform separately and other times together. Del Vecchio says that the highlight of his job is getting people involved in the arts. “I believe in my heart that the arts make us who we are,” Del Vecchio says. “Seriously, if you look at societies, the great ones are the ones with great art.” To view the season’s schedule, or to learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit hendrickssymphonic.org. PIRATES OF PENZANCE IS SET FOR EARLY MAY

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60 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

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922 E. MAIN ST • BROWNSBURG ROCKSTARPIZZA.NET AvonMagazine.com / APRIL 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 67

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Come ride the trails!

30, 60 and 90 minute trail rides available 7 days a week! 317.852.6615 BROWNSBURG

E CR 350 N

E CR 300 N Rockville Rd

AVON

Ride more than 50 acres of trails on our 78-acre Ranch. Our horses are available to take you on a guided trail ride along the banks of White Lick Creek which winds through our property plus wooded trails, meadows,our property, plus â&#x20AC;&#x201D; wooded trails and meadowsâ&#x20AC;Ś

Natural Valley Ranch has it all! Make your reservation today! /NaturalValley

naturalvalleyranch.com

NaturalValleyRanch1

/NaturalValleyRanch

of Avon

New Furniture & Accessories Now Available

30% OFF

off any new furniture or furniture order over $750 Not valid with any other offer or discount. Expires 5/31/17. Avon Magazine.

(317) 602-3950 9307 E. US HWY 36 Across from Wal-Mart by the red auto detailing sign

68 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

25% OFF

any new furniture piece or furniture order over $250 Not valid with any other offer or discount. Expires 5/31/17. Avon Magazine.

15% OFF ANY PURCHASE

Not valid with any other offer. Valid at Avon, IN location only. Exp 5-31-17. Avon Magazine.

$5 OFF ANY CAKE

Not valid with any other offer. Valid at Avon, IN location only. Exp 5-31-17. Avon Magazine.

$2 OFF

ANY SWIZZLE OR SMOOTHIE

Not valid with any other offer. Valid at Avon, IN location only. Exp 5-31-17. Avon Magazine.

7565 E US HWY 36 (317) 272-5323

Open Daily from 11am–10pm

FREE DESSERT

Present this coupon to receive a FREE Dessert with the purchase of any 2 dinner entrees. Up to a $7 value. Not valid with any other offer. Exp 5-31-17. Avon Magazine.

UP TO $5 OFF $1 OFF any purchase over $5 $2 OFF any purchase over $10 $3 OFF any purchase over $15 $4 OFF any purchase over $25 $5 OFF any purchase over $30 (Price is before tax)

Valid with coupon only. Excludes alcohol. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one coupon per customer. Exp 5-31-17. Avon Magazine.

Authentic Italian Restaurant

1028 E. Main St. • Brownsburg • (317) 858-8700 350 E. Main St. • Plainfield • (317) 837-8800 360 S. Indiana St. • Mooresville • (317) 831-0775

AvonMagazine.com / APRIL 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 69

$4.00 off 2 Wednesday Night Adult Buffets

$5 OFF ANY $30 PURCHASE

Exp 5-31-17. Avon Magazine.

*with Beverage purchase

THE TRADITION CONT

INUES • EXPERIENCE

FRANK & MARY’S “O

CHECK OUT OUR LUNCH & DINNER SPECIALS DAN JONES RD

MAIN ST

ROCKVILLE RD

RIGINAL RECIPE” CA

P IT S T O PBBQ ANDG RILL.COM 932 E. MAIN ST. BROWNSBURG • ( 317) 858-8370

TFISH

Fa m il y Fr ie nd ly

INNOVATIONS FOR COLOR BRILLIANCE

$10 OFF COLOR *New Clients Only

$5 OFF WOMEN’S HAIRCUT & STYLE *New Clients Only

$3 OFF MEN’S HAIRCUT

317-271-8000

*New Clients Only

8250 ROCKVILLE ROAD (AT COUNTRY CLUB ROAD)

Not valid with any other offer. Exp.5-31-17. Avon Magazine.

DEWEESEDESIGNSALONINC.COM

70 / AVON MAGAZINE / APRIL 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

FREE Regular Fries

Buy One Get One FREE Hotdog

with any sandwich & drink purchase

of equal of lesser value

*Not valid with any other offer. Valid only at the Avon, IN location. Expires 5-31-17. Avon Magazine.

10240 E. US Hwy 36 (Just west of Best Buy) Avon

(317)273-1833

Expires 5/31/17 â&#x20AC;˘ Avon Magazine

AVON

7722 E US Hwy 36

(Just West of Dan Jones Rd)

(317) 272-1801 Avon Magazine

Avon Magazine

B HungyHowiesAvon We Deliver Open For Lunch Now Hiring

AvonMagazine.com / APRIL 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 71

ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE

PAID

Lebanon Junction, KY Permit No. 942

P.O. Box 36097 Indianapolis, IN 46236-0097

MAGAZINE

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