Avon Magazine November 2022

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ASSURANCE RESTORATION & REMODELING PUTS HOMEOWNERS FIRST

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

Last spring Kristy Dunn, her husband and their three boys were beyond excited to move into their very first home. Tragedy struck, however, when their house caught fire on the day the family was set to take possession. Heartbroken but eager to get their dream back on track, Dunn contacted

Brandon Adams, owner of Assurance Restoration & Remodeling, who came out that same night and got to work on smoke removal. Throughout the entire restoration process, Dunn has been pleased with Adams’ work ethic, knowledge and kindness.

“Brandon and his crew have been very helpful and have done a wonderful job of

making me aware of everything that’s going on,” Dunn says. “They’re a great company to work with.”

Not everyone understands what a restoration company is all about. Following a fire or a flood, Assurance Restoration & Remodeling, which handles both water and fire restoration, comes in to secure the house. They start by boarding it up, then immediately cleaning as well as removing items that may be saved. Adams’ primary objective, however, is ensuring that the homeowners are OK. He recognizes that their lives have just been turned upside down by a fire or flood, and they are often emotionally spent.

“They don’t want to stay away from their home for long,” Adams says. “They want to get back to normal so we move as quickly as possible to help that process along.”

Teaming up with the Hendricks County Firefighters Local 4406, Adams distributes vouchers from local hotels to assist in getting families somewhere to stay. Families are also supplied with gift cards so they can get back on track until they can make contact with their insurance company.

Adams and his team can typically get the homeowner back into their home within four months, depending on the size and scope of loss.

Adams has estimators on staff who are retired insurance adjusters. That alone helps eliminate a lot of lag time, given that adjusters are often overworked and understaffed.

“I’m using the same estimating software as all major carriers, and then my estimator writes it up in their language,” Adams says.

“We’re able to move on projects so much faster than our competition because we

work with the insurance company, not against it.”

Assurance Restoration & Remodeling, a service-connected, disabled-veteranowned company, is a full-service business with Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification credentials. This means Adams and his staff have completed specific training to learn each standard, and the science that defines each standard. Companies that hold these certifications are expected to uphold a high standard of efficiency and excellence during the restoration process. These standards include, but are not limited to, fire cleaning and restoration, structural drying, water damage, sewage cleanup and mold remediation.

Adams stresses that the business is a restoration company, not a construction company. This means their job is to save and restore things. Just because carpet and/or drywall gets wet doesn’t mean it always has to be torn out. In fact, contrary to popularly belief, once wet drywall is thoroughly and properly dried, it’s actually stronger than in its original phase because the gypsum inside the drywall compacts. As for carpet, while the pad will have to go, carpet can be salvageable if treated quickly. The major factor in a flood is response time.

“It’s kind of like a sponge in that the longer you wait, the more those building materials absorb that water and the longer it takes to dry,” says Adams, who helps teach water restoration at the Restoration Academy in Noblesville with Owner Bryan Brainerd.

In the class he demonstrates how today’s two-by-four isn’t the same as the two-byfour of yesteryear, by placing an old and a new two-by-four in water. By the end of the day, the brand-new one will wick up to 5” of water like a straw because building materials used today will absorb and hold water. Adams, however, has specialized equipment to inject heat and use thermal energy, to get water molecules to release and get everything dry.

“Many people think that they can throw up a box fan and be fine,” Adams says. “That’s a big mistake because while things may dry on the surface, it’s what’s wet underneath that causes problems.”

Problems can arise in what you don’t see - the wet subfloor, the wet seal plates,

the wet drywall. The insides of those wall cavities gets wet, and if they aren’t properly and thoroughly dried in a timely manner, that’s where you can get mold and microbial growth. This is why, as soon as Adams receives a call from a homeowner, he arrives at their house within one hour to start extracting water, even if it’s the middle of the night. They start by pinpointing the source of the water. Is it from a crawlspace? Sewage? Contaminants and pathogens in water can cause sickness.

“A lot of the chemicals we use to treat mold is not the stuff you pick up at Lowe’s, nor does grandma’s theory of bleach water work,” Adams says. “It’ll take the surface of it off, but unfortunately the roots are already in there and will come back.”

Adams, a member of the Indiana Roofing Contractors Association, is also contacted following severe storms, particularly those

that produce damaging hail. Assurance Restoration & Remodeling is one of the very few certified roofing contractors in central Indiana certified to install Malarkey shingles.

“I wanted something that really set my roofing division apart from my competitors, and exclusively installing Malarkey shingles has done just that,” Adams says. “These shingles are the real deal, and I mean that.”

Unlike standard shingles that can become brittle and crack relatively quickly, Malarkey shingles are made of rubberized asphalt, upcycled rubber and plastics, and smog-reducing granules. One average-sized Malarkey roof takes approximately five used tires or 3,200 plastic bags from our landfills. Besides the sustainability aspect, the quality and durability of these shingles are second to none. Adams recently filmed a video of his team shooting these shingles from close

range with full soda cans, out of an AR15 canister, to simulate intense hail. The shingles sustained no damage.

Locals might recall the size of the hail that hit New Palestine and areas on the north side a couple years ago. The year prior, Adams installed a dozen roofs in one neighborhood that took a direct hit. Although siding was severely damaged, cars sustained dents and windows were busted, Adams’ roofs fared just fine.

Many insurance companies give significant discounts for using these shingles because they don’t have to worry about high winds and hail.

Visit Assurance Restoration & Remodeling online at assurancerestore.com, or call them at 317-440-6915 for more information.

AVON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EARN HONORS FROM COLLEGE BOARD NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAMS

Writer / Kevin Carr Photography Provided

Thirty-four Avon High School students have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications. This honor meaningfully connects students with universities across the country, helping them stand out during the admissions process. Through College Board’s Student Search Service, colleges and scholarship programs recognize students through the following National Recognition Programs: African American, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Rural and Small Town.

The

included in the

Board’s

Program

Martha Abraham, Kehinde Adeleke, Adeboye Adenuga, Yotam Ainom, Hundre Askie, Kanyinsola BankoleBrown, Chloe Crenshaw, Olivia Fahy, Tristyn Frazier, Anthony Goines, Madisyn Harris, Jailen Johnson, Nolan Kersey, Madison King, Victor Ogunsanya, Zainab Okunola, Nathaniel Patterson, Payton Rhinehart, Darrius Sayles, Robert Sykes, Olorunkorende Tokan-Lawal, Sasha Watson, Makayla Weems, Ifeoluwa Windapo and Hannah Wright.

Eight students included in the College Board’s Hispanic Recognition Program are Joaquin Adair, Gerry BaltierraBurgara, Brooke Christ, Crystal Garcia, Dillon Hess, Luke Howard, Kyle Roberts and Arizely Marte Valencia.

Malina Harris is included in the National African American and National Indigenous Recognition Programs.

“We’re thrilled that our students have earned this recognition,” says Principal Matt Shockley. “We are very proud of them for their achievements in their classrooms and on College Board assessments. Any university in the nation would be lucky to have these outstanding students.”

Students who may be eligible have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, and have excelled on the PSAT/ NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score

Harmony

“THIS PROGRAM CREATES A WAY FOR COLLEGES AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS TO CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS WHO THEY ARE HOPING TO REACH.”

- TARLIN RAY

of 3 or higher on two or more advanced placement exams.

must be African American, Hispanic or Indigenous, or

high school in a rural area or small town.

Eligible students apply during their sophomore or junior

and are awarded at the beginning of the following school year. Students receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications.

“We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs,” says Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture.

“This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students who they are hoping to reach. We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big futures.”

Dr. Elizabeth Allspaw

Spirit

INDIANA BLUE STAR SALUTE HONORS AND SUPPORTS MILITARY FAMILIES

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

For years, Ralph “Zoc” Zoccolillo, an Army veteran, has been a member of the Avon American Legion Post 145. One day the post commander told Zoccolillo about a national program called Blue Star Salute, designed to honor military families. Nobody had initiated any such program in Avon, so he asked if Zoccolillo would be willing to do so. He was all about it.

“I’ve volunteered for the last 50 years with various organizations that help those in need -

places like the United Way and the Red Cross,” he says. “Volunteering is the highlight of my life. I love every minute of it.”

Zoccolillo held the first Avon Blue Star Salute in 2006. Though the mission was to honor military and veteran families, organizers recognized that they had military and veteran families that extended beyond Avon, so the following year they changed the name to Hendricks County Blue Star Salute. Zoccolillo created an executive board, and the program was so well-received that they expanded to cover the entire state. That’s when the name

transitioned to Indiana Blue Star Salute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Though the majority of members are from central Indiana, they have families from as far as Evansville and Fort Wayne.

Every year on the second Saturday in December, the Indiana Blue Star Salute leaders set aside a day to honor, support and celebrate military families at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds. At first the idea was simply to salute the families, but as Zoccolillo and others got to talking to these families, they realized many of them were struggling financially.

They changed the format to focus on helping to make the holidays brighter for 16 to 20 families. Known as the Indiana Blue Star Spirit of Christmas, the event is not open to the public because organizers want to keep the atmosphere intimate and special.

Two months prior to the event, Zoccolillo and the board collect names and contact information from the VFW, the American Legion and different branches of military service, to identify families who could use a dose of help and cheer. The children from each family fill out a wish list that includes three items they would like to get from Santa.

“We always get them number one on their list, and depending on funding, may also get numbers two and three,” Zoccolillo says. “We purchase something for the parents too. That might be a dishwasher, a range, an oven or refrigerator.”

One year they gave a combat veteran a used vehicle because he had no transportation to get to work.

Each family gets their own table, each containing their gifts.

“There are tables upon tables upon tables of wrapped gifts,” Zoccolillo says. “The kids get so fidgety because they can’t wait to unwrap those presents. When I give the go-ahead to unwrap, all hell breaks loose.”

Initially the Spirit of Christmas event was held outdoors at the fairgrounds, but after encountering some bad weather one year, in 2017 Zoccolillo asked Steve Patterson, executive director of the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds, to move the event inside. Patterson was happy to help, offering them the Expo Hall.

“I have to say that if it were not for Steve, I don’t know how far the program would have gotten,” Zoccolillo says. “The kind of support he’s provided us all these years has been amazing. Steve provides us the room and anything else we could ever need. He even helps us set up. He’s an incredible person.”

Through the years the Spirit of Christmas has gained a number of loyal sponsorships and

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partners, enabling the Indiana Blue Star Salute to provide for veterans’ and their families’ needs, year round.

“We get a lot done because of the respect we have developed over the years through our organization,” Zoccolillo says.

They limit the event to 20 families because they convert the Expo Hall into an extravagant winter wonderland, by hanging countless red and green lights, decorating multiple Christmas trees and building a beautiful, ornate stage. They also hire face painters for the kids, and have games and videos. What’s most entertaining for children,

however, are the musical performances by Elsa and Anna from “Frozen.” Blue, the mascot for the Indianapolis Colts, also makes an appearance, as does Rowdie from the Indianapolis Indians and Freddy Fever from the Indiana Fever.

“It’s essentially a Christmas carnival for the children,” Zoccolillo says. “We want to make it a festive, incredible Christmas for these families.”

One of the event highlights is made possible thanks to Charlie Walker, who owns Indiana Air Search and Rescue. Walker delivers Mr. and Mrs. Claus via a Huey military helicopter.

They land at the fairgrounds, which is exciting for attendees.

“The younger children start hearing that sound of a helicopter and look up at the sky,” Zoccolillo says.

Margaret Amos, 181st Airman, has more than 15 years of experience working with the Indiana Air National Guard, and serves as family readiness program manager. She says it’s a blessing to have a program such as Indiana Blue Star Salute to support service members and their families, because while many agencies and programs help the activeduty bases, Indiana doesn’t have a significant visual military presence.

“Indiana has community armories with those members who volunteer to be a part of an Army unit or Air Wing that is state and federally tasked,” says Amos, who is also a mother of a service member. “The two Wings in Indiana are appreciative of the support we receive through their programs offered.”

Zoccolillo, 74, has been

blessed to be able to continue

He has lived in Hendricks County for more than two decades, and is happy to have been in the area long enough to have established

network of like-minded, patriotic souls.

matter what a

for,”

says. “I

up the phone

call someone

family,

can

us get whatever it is that

more about Indiana Blue Star Salute, visit

make a monetary donation to Indiana Blue Star Salute, send a check to: 8103 East U.S. Highway 36, Suite 176, Avon, IN 46123.

Zoccolillo would like to personally thank all of the American Legions and VFWs who continue to support the Indiana Blue Star.

Angie Mercer

Matthew Kubal Matthew Mundy

THE FLU: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

common in children than adults.

Every year, millions of people miss work or school because they have the flu. The flu is a very contagious, respiratory viral illness that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It causes mild to severe illness, hospitalization and sometimes death. The flu occurs mostly during the colder months but can occur at other times. You can get the flu multiple times each year.

KNOW THE COMMON FLU SYMPTOMS.

Common symptoms of the flu include fever, feeling feverish/chills, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. Not everyone with the flu has a fever, and some people have vomiting and diarrhea, which is more

THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COMMON COLD AND THE FLU.

The common cold and the flu share many of the same symptoms. The flu is typically worse than the common cold and symptoms appear more abruptly. You should seek medical attention for high fevers, or if you have other medical conditions that put you at increased risk for serious complications, including diabetes, asthma or congestive heart failure.

TAKE STEPS TOWARDS FLU PREVENTION.

Each year, scientists develop a new flu shot to cover the most common strains of the flu. The first step in preventing the flu is to get the most current flu vaccine. Getting a flu

shot may not make you completely immune from getting sick, but it can significantly lessen the severity of your symptoms. You can also take everyday measures to limit the spread of germs. Stay out of close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, limit contact with others, especially those at increased risk of severe illness. Remember to always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cover your coughs and sneezes, and do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. If you do get sick with the flu, antiviral medications prescribed by your health care provider may help reduce the time you are sick and may also help prevent serious flu complications.

If you are feeling any flu-like symptoms, make sure you discuss them with your health care provider immediately.

Writer / Jane Forni, MSN, RN, CIC, Infection Preventionist at IU Health West Hospital

Photography Provided

DEPRESSION: SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND WHEN TO SEEK HELP

Writer / Gary Wharton Photography Provided

If there is anything we have learned throughout the past few years, especially during the pandemic and economic downturn, it’s the seriousness of mental health. Just the thought of some of today’s headlines can make anyone feel helpless and hopeless. Having a bad day is one thing, but there is cause for concern when those feelings continue for long periods.

Persistent feelings of intense sadness, loss of joy, and indifference can and often do interfere with everyday life. Episodes of this nature differ from daily mood fluctuations and may be signs of depression. Depression is common and can have serious consequences. It can negatively affect thoughts, actions and feelings. The negative impact of depression reduces overall function and may cause severe health conditions. Worst of all, depression can even lead to suicide.

Depression can be caused by adverse life events such as a traumatic event or loss, having a blood relative with depression, experiencing a significant life change, or even a medical problem. Depression can happen at any age, and depression is nearly twice as common in females.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION INCLUDE:

• Low mood for most of the day, nearly every day

• Finding little pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable

• Trouble falling asleep or sleeping too much

• Overeating or eating very little

• Feeling tired with a loss of energy

• Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness or worthlessness

• Increased body aches and pains

• Poor concentration or indecisiveness

• Thoughts of death, self-harm or suicide

If you have experienced at least five of these symptoms over a two-week period, it may be time to talk to a qualified health care provider. Treatment for depression often includes medication management, and/or psychotherapy or talk therapy. You can help reduce symptoms of depression by improving your diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding alcohol and illicit drugs, improving the quality of your sleep, and making positive choices to reduce overall stress. Depression can be serious and can quickly worsen. If you feel down and are showing any signs listed above, please seek professional help immediately.

Gary

MSN,

Gary is the owner of Avon Mental Health. He can be reached at (317) 556-0309.

GIVING THANKS: A BUCKET LIST

Writer / Claire-Anne Aikman Photography Provided

“Thank you.” Two little words that, when said, can positively boost someone’s mood for a day, week, month or longer. Saying it is great, but putting words into demonstrated action is amazing. The best part is that this does not have to be expensive. Check out this list of easy-to-do, thought-filled activities that you can implement to show someone just how much you appreciate having them in your life.

• Write a letter and let them know how much they mean to you. Do you love how funny they are, how they interact with their kids (or yours), or that they are always the friend that can be counted on? Write it down and send it to them.

• Invite them to join you for a walk. While catching up, tell them how much you appreciate them.

• Too cold to walk? Invite them over for coffee.

• Make and give cookies. I delight in baking during fall and winter months, and my family accuses me of trying to fatten them up - I tend to bake faster than they can consume. Now I portion off treats to give to friends and neighbors, which enables me to keep baking. It is a win all around.

• Give someone you appreciate a plant (or veggies/flowers from your garden).

• Are you crafty? Give them a piece of your handiwork. My kiddo and I make crafts from kits to give, often picking a craft with a specific person in mind. As an added bonus, the kiddo learns, we work on it together (it is not always a bonding moment because…teenagers) and a friend gets a cool item.

• Make a compliment jar. Write down all the things you love about them on pieces of paper, fold them up and place them in a jar. Give them the jar and tell them to pull out a piece of paper to read whenever they are feeling overwhelmed. It is sure to boost their spirits.

• Do something with them that they enjoy, like visiting a museum, shopping or hiking.

• Be helpful. Bring them a meal, offer to help clean, rake leaves or take the pup for a walk.

Give it a go! Chances are, you will discover what I have discovered - once you start, you realize how fun it is and you will look for more ways to show thanks to those you appreciate.

Claire-Ann is a West Side Realtor helping people make Hendricks County their home. You can reach her at 317-345-6640 or thepointinrealestate@gmail.com

FIREFLY CHILDREN AND FAMILY ALLIANCE

VALUABLE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Firefly Children and Family Alliance is the largest child-abuse prevention provider in central Indiana. Through one of their many programs, called Community Partners for Child Safety (CPCS), they offer safe-sleep workshops and car-seat safety programs. They also help people locate transportation services, find employment and access community resources. Plus, they can help

individuals learn how to set a budget, seek mental-health services and increase their knowledge of parenting skills.

“It’s all about keeping children safe,” says Ben Abels, a director at Firefly.

One major misconception about Firefly is that the CPCS program does what the Department of Child Services does. “Actually, it’s exactly the opposite,” Abels

says. “We do everything we can to keep kids safe and in the home.”

Firefly (formerly Children’s Bureau) merged about a year ago with a company called Families First, based out of Indy. Through the years, Children’s Bureau and Families First helped shape human services in central Indiana, as they were two of Indiana’s most established nonprofits, with roots dating back more than 185 years.

Uniting as one organization enables the entities to share resources and expertise, thereby creating a greater impact in order to better serve the community. It’s divided into seven regions that serve Indiana counties. Abels is the director of Region 9, which covers Hendricks, Boone, Montgomery, Putnam, Morgan and Henry counties.

The organization works with almost anyone. The only two factors that exclude participation are if someone has no child in their home from 0 to 17 years of age, or if someone has a child on probation.

Community Liaisons, Natalie Philips & Sarah Orosco

“I’ve never known any program like this,” Abels says. “There’s not a lot that we can’t do.”

For instance, they have paid for kids’ summer camps. They have also helped to find tutoring for students. It depends on the family’s needs.

“If we have a family who is struggling with paying their utility bill or has some kind of need, we will ask our community partners like Family Promise, Hendricks County Community Foundation, or area churches to help,” Abels says. “Our partners are a big help. We have really relied on them.”

Firefly deals with a lot of guardianship cases in which a parent gets arrested, and goes to jail or rehab. Rather than letting a child get thrown into the legal system, Firefly’s CPCS program members step in to petition the court for guardianship, so the grandparents can care for their grandchildren.

“We’ve had some really successful guardianship cases,” Abels says. “We have also had a lot of success stories that have to do with helping people establish housing after leaving a domestic-violence shelter.”

Currently, Firefly offers several classes touching on topics including parenting (kinship) and domestic violence. In the future they may offer some tutoring options as well.

“The kinship classes are so great because we have a lot of grandparents raising grandkids right now,” Abels says. “Many struggle with how to safely navigate the internet. They also aren’t up to date on the lingo in social media, so we talk about trends.”

In December Firefly organizes Hope for the Holidays, which involves a virtual Christmas tree. Liaisons meet with their client families to learn what their children are interested in with regard to books, clothes and games. Immediately following Black Friday, Hope for the Holidays goes live and people can click on a tree and

sponsor a family.

“Folks can buy gifts for the family and drop them off at our office during the first two weeks in December,” Abels says. “Everything is bagged up and delivered the week before Christmas.”

Firefly gets referrals from schools, community centers, hospitals, doctors, churches and other organizations. Once Abels receives a referral, he assigns a case manager who will then come out and meet one-on-one with the person to create goals. Those goals can be expansive. Sometimes referrals are given for people who are facing an eviction and need to find housing.

Someone may need to find employment, get food stamps, figure out Medicaid or seek mental-health counseling. This voluntary case counseling lasts between one and three months, but in some cases, only one meeting may occur.

Statistics tell the story, as 99% of families who have received services within the CPCS program have no reports of abuse or neglect for 12 months following the close of service.

“There really is no reason not to sign up because the program is totally free, regardless of how much money you make,” Abels says. “We just care about keeping kids safe.”

If you would like to donate items to Firefly, feel free to drop off new or gently used clothing, winter coats, diapers, toys, baby wipes, and other baby safety items. To make a monetary donation, and for more information, visit fireflyin.org.

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