Avon Magazine December 2017 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

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DECEMBER 2017

LOCAL GIRL CONTINUES BATTLE WITH CANCER

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DECEMBER WRITERS

GIA'S FIGHT: LOCAL GIRL CONTINUES BATTLE WITH CANCER Every evening Adriana Muro tucks six of her children into bed before lying down beside her 7-year-old daughter Gia, who, since kindergarten, has been battling acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive type of blood cancer.

7 Avon Education Foundation

Supports Creativity, Excellence of Students

10 AHS Work Study Program Gives

Students Confidence, Skills Outside of Classroom

14 A Sure Sign of the Giving Season: Salvation Army Bell Ringing

16 Gia's Fight: Local Girl Continues Battle with Cancer

22 Sculpting a Legend: Local Artist Talks About Creating the Peyton Manning Statue

26 Santa Loves a Gardener 29 December Crossword Puzzle 30 Have Yourself a Heart-Healthy Holiday

32 Barn Doors & I Do's: Popular Avon

Wedding Barn Donates Percentage of Profits to Missions Organizations

38 Polictically Speaking: Rob Kendall

is An On-Air Personality with a Fresh Take on Politics

42 Holiday Saving Tips for Shoppers 45 December Word Search 46 Helping the Hungry: Mary Lee Maier Community Food Pantry Provides Food for Families

49 IU Basketball Begins New Era Under Archie Miller

52 December’s Luckiest Hoosier Alive:

Carrie Petty / Christy Heitger-Ewing Heather Chastain / Jamie Hergott Lynda Hedberg Thies / Matt Roberts

DECEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Brosmer / Dorian McDaniel Jamie Sangar / Jeremy Haynes Sarah Crail

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For Advertising, Contact Darren Boston Darren@AvonMagazine.com / 317-716-8812

David Mroz

60 Beauty in Brokenness: An Avon Family Embraces God’s Many Miracles

4 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

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Well, it’s that time of the year again. The holidays are approaching, the weather is colder and the days are getting shorter. That is usually when unexpected problems arise to add to the already stressful and hectic pace that accompanies the season. As the end of the year nears, there are a few things we can do to prepare and ensure that we do not bring on any unwanted issues. This is always a great time to check your smoke detectors. Most people assume that unless they are making that annoying chirping sound, all is well. That is not necessarily true. Everyone should test their detectors at least two times a year. Most systems installed in the 80s and later are electric with battery backup. They have a communication system that ties them together so when one goes off, it will alert the whole home. There should be one installed in every bedroom, common hallway and each floor including the basement. One thing most home owners do not realize is that smoke detectors only have a life span of 10 years before they are expired. The detector may still test properly, but that does not mean that they can be trusted. This is something that you do not want to take a chance with. In the event of a fire, insurance companies may do a forensic test when determining the cause and what prevention was available, and the age of the unit is one of the check points. You can determine the date of most detectors by looking on the inside where the electrical connection is.

If you do not have an electric powered smoke detector, a battery operated one is the next best choice. They do have smoke detectors with carbon monoxide detection built into them, which can be another great life saving device to have installed as well. If you are missing smoke detection or feel that yours may be inadequate, your system can be added on to or replaced if needed up to today’s current codes and standards. Another item worth having checked is your home’s wiring. During the winter months, many electrical systems experience heavier loads than normal. Most homeowners do not think of having their electrical system checked until something fails. At that point repair costs increase and safety issues occur. One of the most common items we find faulty and can be a safety issue is the outlets. No matter how new your home is, approximately 90 percent of the time the plugs were installed in what is called back-stabbing. This is when the wires get pushed into the back of the wiring device, and it is supposed to pinch the wires in. This is done as a time saver during the construction process. I must say that this is not a code violation if done to the manufactures specifications,

however, this method has proven time after time to be unreliable and come loose. Once the wires are loose, the plug will stop working or heat up, and can eventually cause a fire. Many times, it’s not even the outlet you have something plugged into. It just happens to be the weakest receptacle in that circuit, perhaps that hidden one behind the dresser or bed. The way to fix this

situation is to use the side screw terminations on the plug and wrap the wire around it. If you are unsure of your plugs installation, do yourself a favor and have them inspected by a licensed electrician. It is our hope that by sharing some of these common safety issues we can help homeowners prevent any unfortunate situations over the holidays. It is our pleasure to serve the Hendricks County community and we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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AVON EDUCATION FOUNDATION SUPPORTS CREATIVITY, EXCELLENCE OF STUDENTS Writer / Heather Chastain Photography provided by Avon Educational Foundation

Avon Community Schools is fortunate to have a non-profit organization devoted to supporting educational needs in all 12 of its schools. It’s called the Avon Education Foundation (AEF). Created by longtime public education supporter Pam DeWeese in 2007, this organization exists to support the creativity, innovation and excellence of Avon students. After the failed referendum in 2011, the AEF became very important to the vitality of Avon Schools. Because of the AEF, several programs exist at Avon that would otherwise not be possible. Specifically, the orchestra for sixth grade students. Dean

Westman made this program possible. Westman was paying for this program out of his own pocket to start. He then submitted a grant to the AEF, and they were able to give him more money than he requested to maintain the orchestra. “Even though the orchestra program is still young, it’s highly respected,” says Sara Bender, AEF Executive Director. The program began with 38 students and has grown to more than 700 orchestra students grades 6-12, taught by three fulltime Orchestra Directors in five buildings. The Avon High School Orchestra is made up of 230 String Players placed in four orchestras. The High School Orchestras have performed at Walt Disney World, AvonMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 7

Chicago, New York City and will be taking a European Tour this June to perform in Rome, Florence and Salzburg Austria at the Mozarteum. The Avon High School Symphony Orchestra placed 3rd at the ISSMA State Orchestra Finals in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and was the State Runner-Up at the 2017 ISSMA State Orchestra Finals. “Unprecedented growth and achievement for a program just starting our 11th year, and none of it would have happened without that initial support from the Avon Education Foundation,” Westman says. “And that support is why I joined the AEF Board and continue to serve to this day.” Another program funded by AEF is the Evening of Excellence for the Top 25

seniors. The Evening of Excellence is a banquet celebrating seniors. Each senior can bring two teachers who helped them along the way. Typically, it’s a teacher from a younger grade and one from the high school level. AEF also funds the Freshman Orientation that allows the school to be open the evening before the first day to give parents and students an introduction to the school.

Sarah Bender presents Superintendent Maggie Hoernemann with funds for scholarships & grants.

“The need for outside funding has never been greater. We want to make sure these programs don’t stop,” Bender says. To date, AEF has provided $500,000 back to Aon Schools. “However, when you know our schools have faced $56M in cuts, that amount is just a drop in the bucket,” she adds. This year has been a banner year for AEF. This fall, AEF has been able to provide $55,000 in scholarships and grants with plans to award another $17,000 in the winter. More than 20 percent of funding comes from individuals. If you want to help, you can attend and support a fundraising event like Monte Carlo night and make a donation through United Way’s “Donor’s Choice” option, purchase an Indiana Motor Vehicle Education License Plate with a portion designated to AEF, Honor an Educator, donate used musical instruments for re-use or support the performing arts programs with donations to the DeWeese Performing Arts Fund.

Westman and Yo-Yo Ma on Avon Orchestra Chicago Trip.

“No donation is too small for us,” Bender says. You can donate either money, school supplies (to support their S.O.S. – Supply Our Schools) or in-kind donations. All donations are tax deductible. “We have the best teachers, and this [AEF] is a resource that, as a community, we want to support as much as possible,” Bender says. To learn more about the education foundation, visit avoneducationfoundation. org or find them on Facebook or Twitter.

Westerman & students at 2017 State Awards Ceremony.

8 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

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Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography provided by AHS Work Study Program

Jas smiled, adjusted her Monical’s Pizza shirt and offered a handshake. While it was the middle of a school day, she was already on her way out the door for her internship shift at the local pizza restaurant. Jas is one of 25 students who participate in the Avon High School Work Study Program, which is specifically designed for students with disabilities who are pursuing a Certificate of Completion. The goal of the program is to prepare them as much as possible for vocational opportunities. There are two phases to the program. During the first phase, freshmen and sophomore students attend prevocational classes. As juniors, they are given projects around the high school for about one hour per day. This boosts their skills training and gives them practice in developing a work ethic and following a schedule. Some of these jobs include assisting in the office, running the breakfast cart or helping in the cafeteria. As teachers and job coaches assess the students’ skills over time, these students are then ushered into the second phase: the Work-Study phase, where they are paired with community partners for their senior year. The students go off-campus for two to three hours a day to work with their community partners. “The skills students learn outside of the building are invaluable,” says Kimberly Lobosky, Avon High School’s Transition Coordinator. “Some of these students didn’t speak in middle school, and now they’re independently working at jobs. It gives the student a realistic perspective on how it is to work in the real world.” Lobosky has been teaching for 16 years and has been the Transition Coordinator for two years. She loves meeting parents of young children with disabilities and helping them navigate the many opportunities Avon schools offer.

While all students are provided the support of a job coach in order to learn their job initially, Jas demonstrated independence quickly and is able to do her job under the supervision of the Monical's staff. She then takes the bus back to school when her shift is over.

job coaches, they proudly rattled off their job descriptions. Cameron completed his senior year last year, but has returned to AHS for an extra year to continue to participate in the program. He works cleaning the Wellness Center at the YMCA. Lazarus cleans tables, floors and dishes at McAlister’s. Riley works in childcare at the YMCA, making crafts and spending time with kids. Bailey works in retail at Sweet M’s Boutique, hanging and tagging clothes and unpacking boxes.

Riley, Cameron, Jaylen, Lazarus and Bailey are other students who participate in the program. After some prompting from their

Vocational training has been a part of this program for more than 10 years. Once students graduate, Lobosky connects

“A diagnosis can be heavy at a young age, but it doesn’t have to close doors,” Lobosky says. “We take a kid’s dream and see how close we can get them to that.”

10 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

families to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation so that students can maintain employment. Parents have witnessed their disabled children gain confidence and skills from the program. Elizabeth Camacho’s 19-year-old daughter Annalee is wheelchair-bound, but an adaptive coffee tray for her wheelchair made by a school custodian, Mr. Victor, has allowed Annalee to securely deliver coffee orders to teachers in the building daily. Now Annalee works successfully at the Plainfield Recreation Center, where she folds towels, cleans tables and dusts equipment. “Watching her become more independent and mature is immeasurably valuable to us,” Camacho says. Lori Rice, mother of Cameron, shares a similar story. Cameron was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old. When

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he began going to Avon’s developmental preschool, he was also participating in occupational therapy, speech therapy and play therapy almost weekly. He is now finishing up his work study program, splitting his days between classes and work at the YMCA. “It’s been amazing,” Rice says. “This work study program is just so valuable to enabling a child like Cameron learn to go into the real world. As his parents, we wouldn’t have been able to do that by ourselves.” Lobosky relies on her staff of job coaches, but she also is thankful the community has rallied around this program and embraced the students. “The Work Study Program could not accommodate the number of students we currently do without the partnership of our community hosts,” she says. “Businesses that host a work-study intern not only provide endless prospects for teachable moments in a real-world setting, but many have expressed to us that they have also benefitted.” One such partner is Sweet M’s Boutique in Plainfield. Stacy Maxwell, owner of Sweet M’s, partnered with the work study program this semester and has seen significant benefits on both ends of the partnership. “Bailey comes in every day for two hours, and she is just really good at her job,” Maxwell says. “She can do absolutely anything that is asked of her. The other girls who work here have really embraced her.” Maxwell also noted that Bailey herself has transformed over the past two months. She used to dress in basketball shorts and t-shirts every day. Now she comes to work wearing dresses and makeup. “I have loved seeing her self-confidence grow by working with us,” Maxwell says. While there are many who support the students, Lobosky says that the arms and legs of the program are the job coaches who accompany students to their internships. 12 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

Missy Bell has been working with the work-study program since it began, and she says it’s hard to put into words how rewarding it is to work with the students. “I love my job,” Bell says. “There are so many things that these kids can do. I am always thinking, ‘how can we make this work?’ Their disability should not define them. Believe me, I learn far more from these kids then they’ll ever learn from me.” Each semester, the staff hosts an AHS Work Study Employment Breakfast to honor the work of students and to thank community hosts. Lobosky says it is humbling to see the students’ achievements showcased for all to see. While the program is very successful, there is still plenty of room, and a need to grow. “My dream would be to have a vocational resource center off-site that would be the hub of all vocational training activities for the students in Avon,” Lobosky says.

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A SURE SIGN OF THE GIVING SEASON: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING Like twinkling lights and joyful carols, it simply wouldn’t be Christmas without the familiar ringing of The Salvation Army bells. For six weeks each fall, The Salvation Army asks the public to remember their neighbors in need by dropping spare dimes and dollars in its iconic red kettles. These donations help fund programs and services long after the Christmas trees come down and the last of the snow has melted. From after school programs and summer camp to food pantries and utility assistance, The Salvation Army serves tens of thousands of men, women and children in central Indiana.

One of these individuals was Phyllis, who is rebuilding her life at the Ruth Lilly Women and Children’s Center, located on The Salvation Army campus in the heart of downtown Indianapolis dubbed the “Block of Hope.” Phyllis has no illusions about how dire her situation had gotten. “If I’d sat out there another day, I’d be gone,” she shares, shaking her head at the memory of her last days on the street. Phyllis had been homeless and living at a local bus station, suffering from hyperglycemia because she didn’t have access to medications to treat her diabetes. She weighed only 86

14 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

pounds and had stopped eating when she walked through the doors of the Ruth Lilly Women and Children’s Center. Phyllis was immediately admitted, given food and looked over by a doctor. It wasn’t long before she was back on her medication and sharing her harrowing tale with the shelter staff, which included the sudden death of her husband from brain cancer and the loss of her house. She’d always been taken care of as a wife and didn’t know how to seek employment, handle personal finances or get the psychological care she needed to deal with the loss of her husband.

“This is a place where you can get help,” Phyllis smiles as she gestures at the walls of her new home at the Women and Children’s Center. “They’re helping me through things. I’ve never been homeless before, and it’s really hard. They have a lot of options here. I’m grateful for it because it’s getting me on my feet.”

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Phyllis is now tackling a list of goals, both large and small. From getting her body healthy again to finding employment and saving money for her own apartment, she works every day to get closer to independence. That work includes weekly meetings with her case manager and social worker, sessions with a psychiatrist, money management classes and a new job at a local restaurant. After just two months, Phyllis already looks like a different woman. She proudly tells anyone she meets that she’s up to 120 pounds and has her diabetes under control. While Phyllis will sheepishly admit that she still isn’t “street smart,” she’s learning how to make smart decisions for her future. “They set you up for success – that’s what they do,” Phyllis explains. “I give thanks to The Salvation Army. I thank God every morning that I’m here.” So when you drop a quarter in a red kettle this month or search out the clear ringing of a bell in a crowded shopping mall, remember the thousands of Hoosiers like Phyllis who know The Salvation Army is more than a red kettle at Christmas. It’s hope for tomorrow.

Interested in volunteering to ring a bell this Christmas? Visit RegisterToRing.com and sign up today!

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Gia’s Fight LOCAL GIRL CONTINUES BATTLE WITH CANCER Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Brian Brosmer

Every evening Adriana Muro tucks six of her children into bed before lying down beside her 7-year-old daughter Gia, who, since kindergarten, has been battling acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive type of blood cancer. “I wake up each day,” Adriana says, her voice cracking with emotion. “And the first thing I do is check to see if Gia’s breathing.” It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for the past two years as Adriana and her husband Cruz raise seven children, all under the age of nine — Kimberly (8), Gia (7), Layla (6), Kyla (5), Ramona (4), Cruz (3) and Jonathan (nine months) — while fighting to keep their daughter alive. It all started with flu-like symptoms

that led doctors to suspect strep throat or mononucleosis. But Gia’s condition worsened, landing her in the emergency room multiple times with sky-high fevers. Then one morning in April 2015, Gia stumbled into her mom’s room and collapsed. When she came to, she started throwing up blood. A pediatrician took one look at this sweet, sickly girl and ordered a full lab panel.

of recovering, the family tried to stay positive.

“She has a rare form of cancer,” the doctor said.

“We left our nightmare behind and traveled to another world,” Adriana says. “It was very therapeutic.”

“How can this be?” Adriana asked, fighting back tears. The room started spinning, words became muffled and the air seemed heavy as the family processed the shocking news. Just a few months before, Adriana was told to plug in a humidifier and administer antibiotics to her daughter. Now the doctor was telling her that had she waited a week longer, Gia would not have survived. Given a 60 percent chance 16 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

Gia endured three months of chemo, complete with hair loss, extreme nausea and fevers that spiked to as high as 108. When she reached remission in September 2015, the family celebrated by taking a Caribbean Disney cruise, courtesy of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Gia only enjoyed a brief reprieve before relapsing in April 2016. Unfortunately, her body became immune to previous treatments. She was referred to Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital and put on an experimental drug called CPX, which slowly released medicine into the bloodstream, making it more effective.

Blast cells are immature cells found in bone marrow. Leukemia generally occurs when too many white blood cells remain as blast cells. The goal was to get Gia healthy enough to endure a bone marrow transplant. For that to happen, she needed to be at zero percent blast. After three months of chemotherapy, Gia was ready. Miraculously, two of Gia’s siblings were a bone marrow match. Infant baby Cruz was not a viable option as he spent the early part of his life fighting to survive. Born at just 27 weeks, he weighed two pounds at birth, remained in the NICU for three months and came home with oxygen tanks and heart monitors. His body was too delicate to put him through surgery, but 4-year-old Layla was eager to help her big sister. “Layla has always been so caring,” Adriana says. “She even shaved her head when Gia started to lose her hair.” To prep for a bone marrow transplant, doctors administered double the dose of chemo medicine they give otherwise. “It wiped out her marrow, killing not just the cancer but everything else, too,” Adriana says. Chemo itself is sometimes lethal. Cardiac arrest, convulsions and seizures were also possibilities. With her own marrow destroyed, there was the risk that her body might reject the foreign stem cells when the new blood was introduced. This could result in liver or kidney failure. “So much can happen, but we were left with no choice,” Adriana says. “Cancer really takes your power away as a parent.” The transplant happened in August 2016, and Gia remained hospitalized in Cincinnati for several months. Though the ordeal took a toll on her body, the surgery was a success. In remission, Gia’s energy returned, her labs improved and instead of regular trips to the hospital, she was down to bi-monthly checkups. Still, something in Adriana’s gut told her to have her daughter’s marrow tested one more time.

Gia's sisters showing their support.

AvonMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 17

“I thought that maybe I was just paranoid after everything we’d been through, but my intuition told me otherwise,” recalls Adriana. In early March 2017, just a week after giving birth to Jonathan, Adriana’s worst fears were confirmed. The cancer was back. “I was heartbroken. Gia had already been through the ringer with tons of surgeries, blood draws and chemo treatments,” Adriana says. “I thought that she’d finally caught a break and could be a kid. Now we had to gear back up again.” When Adriana and her husband met with the oncologist, a stem cell expert, and a social worker, they had a list of questions. “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to have to ask how much longer your child has left on earth,” Adriana says. The response was equally nightmarish as doctors speculated a 20 to 30 percent chance of survival. “All blood drained from my face. I started shaking. I completely lost it,” Adriana says. “The way the doctors looked at me told me that moving forward, this was a shot in the dark. Do you know how heartbreaking it is to have to talk to hospice and palliative care teams about your second-grader?” The harrowing ordeal has made Adriana passionate about encouraging parents to advocate for their children’s health.

Hope, whose mission it is to raise funds to accelerate a cure for children’s cancer, only four percent of U.S. federal funding for research goes to childhood cancer. “Parents aren’t given any idea what to look In addition, only one drug has been for when it comes to cancer symptoms in developed for pediatric cancer in the kids,” Adriana says. “That needs to change.” past 20 years, forcing physicians to treat children using outdated drugs. When doctors described Gia’s level of pain, they said it felt like being beaten “It’s tragic enough that kids have to fight repeatedly by a hundred hockey sticks all this battle, but then they’re not even over the body. armed with decent funding to provide hope for finding cures,” Adriana says. “That made me feel so guilty,” Adriana says. “Here I was trying to persuade my daughter In August 2017, Gia suffered another setback. to get out of bed, completely oblivious to At the time, Adriana was hospitalized with how sick she was.” health issues of her own. Her husband called her in a panic with news that Gia was This harrowing two and a half year vomiting blood and gasping for air. Gia was experience has taught Adriana that rushed to the ER where she was put in an pediatric cancer research is severely induced coma for three days. She was then underfunded. According to Flashes of transferred to the hematology floor for tests. 18 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

Currently, Gia is taking different types of chemotherapy — some intravenously, others orally. She’s also getting platelet transfusions three times a week to ready her body for a second bone marrow transplant. Though Gia is a fierce fighter, her mom worries about how much more Gia can endure. In September, while waiting for a transfusion at the clinic, she suddenly started throwing up blood and was rushed to ICU. “She’s a walking miracle, but we’re taking it day-by-day, minute-by-minute, secondby-second,” Adriana says. “So much in our lives right now is unknown, but this much I do know — this is my calling, to bring awareness to childhood cancer in hopes of increasing research funding. We desperately need to find innovative ways to find a cure because precious children are dying daily.”

How You Can Help Dawn Horner, a former teacher of Gia’s older sister, wanted to bring awareness to childhood cancer so she and colleague, Chrissy Stranko, organized several fundraisers in Gia’s honor. In September, they hosted a Chick-fil-A fundraiser. Currently, they’re planning another fundraising event with proceeds benefitting childhood cancer research for Riley Hospital. “Adriana is adamant that donations support childhood cancer research, medicine and treatment for children,” Stranko says. “She wants to increase funding to go toward childhood cancer research in hopes of saving lives.”

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Cathedral alum, Ryan Feeney, landed the Super Bowl of sculpting jobs when he was picked as the lead sculptor of the Peyton Manning statue.

SCULPTING A LEGEND LOCAL ARTIST TALKS ABOUT CREATING THE PEYTON MANNING STATUE Writer / Lynda Hedberg Thies Photographer / Jamie Sangar

His attention to detail and work ethic are legendary. He is humble and kind and has a great sense of humor. He is willing to share the credit for his success, and he has left a legacy in the city. Sounds like Peyton Manning? Meet Ryan Feeney. Ryan Feeney may have never played a day in a Colts jersey, but he won the Super Bowl of sculpting jobs when he was chosen from a very competitive field of artists from both the East and West Coast to create the larger than life statue of the iconic Peyton Manning. Feeney fell in love with art when he was just 5 years old and only 7 when he created his first oil painting. While other kids were out playing games in the neighborhood, Feeney was either working on art projects or taking art classes with his mom. His talent was evident, so his parents enrolled him at Shortridge Junior High School for

their Art Magnet program. While he played sports throughout his childhood, nothing really grabbed his attention, but his parents insisted he participate. Feeney’s involvement in athletics changed when the 5-foot-6 freshman came to Cathedral High School. He knew he was too small to play football, so for three years he ran track and cross country. By his senior year, he was well entrenched in his art classes along with his other academics, but his art teacher, Barb Velonis, took him under her wing and mentored Feeney. She also introduced him to 3D drawing, which sealed the deal on his desire to pursue a college degree in design. But he was also craving the opportunity to play a contact sport, and that is when he discovered rugby. Feeney found a rugby club at Lawrence North but soon realized that the travel time was cutting into his practice time. So, the coaches suggested he start a club at Cathedral. He could have just dropped the idea because he was about to graduate, but that was not Feeney. INDY METRO / DECEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com

So, in 1992, Feeney’s senior year, he started a Rugby Club at Cathedral. He found a couple of coaches, and he advertised the program and invited anyone to play so long as they did not have a school program, they could sign up for the Cathedral program. The first season the program finished in the middle of the pack. Today, the club is one of the premier programs in the country. Royal Irish Rugby, a 25-year-old program, has won four National Championships in the past six years and played the championship game both years they didn’t win. “There is no way to truly measure what rugby has done for this community because it constantly grows. What started as a small club here on the northeast side of Indy has now become a dominant program that has held the number one ranking for most of the last seven years,” says Dave Snyder, Royal Irish Rugby Coach. Feeney’s legacy with the rugby program has led the club to create a “Ryan Feeney Founders Award,” given to players that need support to keep playing the game.

Feeney went to Miami University of Ohio to study Art and Design but was also able to continue playing rugby while a student there. The focus of his time at Miami was working on his skills. He even received his first commission when he was a senior there, and his professors supported him through the process. He graduated from Miami with a Bachelors of Fine Arts and a double major in graphic design and sculpture. He started his career working in the art and graphic design department for a corporation and soon realized that he did not have as much time to work on doing what he loved, which involved designing statues. In 1999, Feeney joined the Indianapolis Fire Department because the 24 hours on, 48 hours off gave him the flexibility to spend more time sculpting. By the time he launched his design business, Indy Art Forge, he already had four bronze statues out around the city. “Most guys at the station had a second job mowing lawns and landscaping, mine just happened to be in a studio,” Feeney says. By the time the Colts announced that they were going to build a Peyton Manning statue, Feeney already had 15 public statues on his resume. But this job was the biggest he had ever tackled, and his competition had bigger portfolio’s and even a staff of people to work on the project. Feeney was working as a firefighter and is a married father of two children, but he went for it anyway. The interview process proved intimidating and the competition’s portfolio’s daunting. Colts Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward told him he had the weakest portfolio of everyone, and the other sculptors had even submitted a scaled down sculpture of Peyton. “I don’t have the portfolio as these big-city sculptors that have five other artists working for me to do the work,” he recalls. ‘How could I compete,’ he thought to himself?” But then he noticed that all the sculptors had left off the helmet. Knowing Peyton

was the ultimate detail person, he promised a statue to them in three days and returned with the replica wearing a helmet and even included the wire strap, which the others had left off. So, he thought he got their attention. “We will not go to step one or step two without your approval or go from two to three without your approval,” Feeney told Pete Ward. “I said, ‘If you hire me, living local, you can have input and involvement at every stage. I won’t get it right the first time, if I do, I’m lucky, but I always like to have other people look at it and tweak it.’” Feeney’s reputation, attention to detail and physical location gave the Colts unprecedented access to work closely on the project without the expense of travelling to another state. They also loved that his vendors worked in the city, which meant it would benefit the community. They chose Feeney and arranged for him to fly to Nashville, Tennessee to photograph Manning in a conference room at the hanger to begin the process. His first meeting was a bit intimidating, but he got right to work as the Colts photographer snapped more than 400 photos. Throughout the process of building the 9-foot-1 Manning figure, he worked with the Colts Equipment Manager, Ward and others to ensure that at every stage everyone was happy with the process and his progress. Like other projects he had worked on, he had a team of people involved, and when he was finished, he was confident Manning would like it but had to wait until the public unveiling of the project before he knew for sure. On Oct. 9, around 25,000 people gathered in Indianapolis to participate in the unveiling. The unveiling ceremony included A-list dignitaries, including David Letterman, former Governor Mitch Daniels, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Colts owner Jim Irsay, former coach Tony Dungy and General Manager Bill Polian along with former players such as Jeff Saturday. Feeney was beyond thrilled. He felt confident

that Peyton would like the statue because he had so many people that participated in the project along the way. Peyton came to the podium, looked over at Feeney and said, “Good job” before delivering his speech. Immediately after the ceremony, Manning, who had been all business at the meeting in Nashville, greeted him warmly and thanked him for his effort. He then asked if he could introduce him to his mom, Olivia Manning. She greeted Feeney warmly and said, “The profile is perfect from where I stand, if he didn’t have the number or name on the jersey, even if it was a silhouette in the middle of the night, just in that stance alone, I would know it was Peyton.” Feeney knew that no one knows Peyton better than his mom, so to have her approval meant a lot.

FOR THE

HEAVY-HITTERS

The day concluded with a private reception. “It was so cool, I felt like an A- lister,” Feeney says. Before any of the accolades could go to his head, he knew his fire station pals would make sure to bring his feet back to earth. Still, Feeney has taken time to reflect on his success. “Enjoy what you do because then it won’t feel like work,” he says. “Money is money until you work at a job you hate. I have two jobs, I’m not rich, but I love what I do.”

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TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO

SANTA LOVES A GARDENER Writer / Carrie Petty

Gift giving can be hard. Don’t you think? But for the gardener or nature lover on your list, it is pretty simple. Make no mistake! Gardeners are always thinking about growing. Give a gardener a new shovel, and she’s happy. I promise. Christmas gifts for a gardener are always about quality and durability. Spend your money on the best tools, not a plastic handled, thin metal cheep-o. Your gardener will appreciate the quality of Felco Pruners or English made, wooden handled Haws Stainless Steel Garden Fork or Trowel. Gift sets are easy to find in the Gardening Centers around Indianapolis. Some items are already wrapped too. I love Allisonville Nursery, Altum Gardens and Habig, just to name a few. These are great gifts and show your gardener that you get it. After all, gift giving is about understanding your recipient fully and showing your love through the well, thought-out gift that you have selected just for them. When the clock strikes midnight on New Years 2018, a gardener will be dreaming of digging. Planning tools and guides are some of the very best gifts for the gardening mindset. We are always looking for better ways to organize our seeds, sketch out our thoughts or study what grows best in the shade or full sun. Sketchbooks and quality drawing tools are a must. As well as reference books and growing guides A subscription to the Indiana Gardening Magazine is a gift that is, “Hyper Local” in the words of editor Michelle Walsh. It is a bi-monthly magazine, full of incredible local gardening content.

CREATE YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETS

You can use a great terra cotta pot and fill it to the brim with seeds, tools, a journal and some good gardening gloves. And don’t forget the sunscreen and hat in your gift basket. Keeping your loved one protected. Gardening gloves with a packet of seeds tied up in ribbon make excellent hostess gifts for a gardening friend, (hint, hint!) Or they can make a great stocking stuffer too. Books and antiques for the garden are another great way to show your friends you understand their love for the green stuff. Make sure you sign the inside of any book. I have several that bring a smile to my face just remembering a friend’s gift. All a part of helping you, “Grow a Beautiful Life.” Merry Christmas to all of my green thumb people out there, keep planting.

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INDY METRO / DECEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com

DECEMBER CROSSWORDFootball PUZZLE Presented by Park/ Square Manor Manor Presenter Park Square ACROSS 1. In thing 4. Cherry leftover 8. Dances to jazz 12. White alternative 13. Surfing need 14. Cinema sign 1. BACKFIELD 15. So far 2.16.BLITZ Served perfectly? 3.17.BLOCKER Claim innocence First name in rock 4.18.CENTER Salon job 5.20.CHAINS 21. Engine attachment 6. CHALLENGE 23. Pull strings? 7.25.DEFENSE Pays to play 8.27.DOWN Down, so to speak Cause of some aches 9.28.END ZONE 31. EXTRA Surround-sound 10. POINT device 33. Middle of the road? 11. FACEMASK 35. Capsule 12. START 36. FALSE Big rig feature 13. GOAL 38. FIELD Unbending 39. FORMATION Rose petal oil 14. 41. Form of pachisi 15. FUMBLE 42. Face-to-face exams 16. GAIN 45. Three-toed animal 17. 47. GOALPOSTS Become dull 48. HALFTIME Brouhaha 18. 49. HANDOFF In vitro fertilization 19. (abbr.) 20. HELMET 52. Proctor's call 21. INCOMPLETE PASS 53. In addition 22. 54. INTERCEPTION Not even a little 55. KICKOFF Dispatch, as a dragon 23. 56. LINESMAN Bit of fowl language 24. 57. Golfer Brewer

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Park Square Manor

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HAVE YOURSELF A HEART-HEALTHY HOLIDAY Decadent desserts, sweet treats and caloriepacked sides, oh my! Maintaining health goals during the holidays is no easy task. If you have a packed winter season (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?), give the first gift to yourself – the gift of heart health. The heart and vascular specialists at Indiana University Health West Hospital recommend these tips for having a heart-healthy holiday season.

INCORPORATE SMALL CHANGES Focus on small modifications in habits, and avoid changing too much too soon.

current snacks for healthy snacks. Make a goal to incorporate walking into your daily lifestyle – whether it’s before work or after a meal. Encourage your family to tag along.”

“I encourage people to incorporate more movement and small changes in food selections,” says Joni Fiscus, registered dietician at IU Health West Hospital. “Instead of eliminating snacking altogether, switch up

Fiscus also suggests substituting one snack per day with a serving of fruit, putting away the salt shaker, eating oatmeal for breakfast to help you stay full longer and setting aside three dessert-free days per week.

30 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

STAY ACTIVE It’s easy to stay active when it’s warm outside, but don’t fall into a sedentary trap when the temperature drops. “Maintaining a healthy lifestyle yearround improves heart health, physical conditioning and body weight,” says Dr. Ziad Jaradat, cardiologist at IU Health West Hospital. “Whether you choose inhome workouts, a new gym membership or a daily walk at the mall, do what works for you.” Walking is an easy way to maintain activity levels. Set a step goal to ensure you’re moving, and make it part of your regular routine.

BE CONSCIOUS OF FOOD HABITS Whether you’re spending time with friends or family, festive social gatherings

can be fun. Don’t devoid yourself of these once-a-year treats. Instead, be conscious of what’s on your plate. As you plan get-togethers, be sure to include nutritional variety – proteins, vegetables, carbs and fats. Fill up your first-round plate with protein and veggies. This gives you a good base, and you’ll be less likely to overeat on those caloriepacked sides and desserts. When it comes to your favorite treats, limit yourself to two servings. Fiscus also suggests filling up on fiber. Fiber helps with digestion and satiety, while also lowering cholesterol and decreasing your risk of heart disease. “When planning a meal, look for recipes that include berries, broccoli, beans, oatmeal, whole grains, nuts or seeds,” Fiscus says.

BE AWARE OF HEART DISEASE The heart is the center of the cardiovascular system and is responsible for just about everything the body needs — ranging from blood circulation, transportation of oxygen and the success of your immune system. However, food choices and activity levels can drastically affect heart health. “Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death in men and women nationwide,” Dr. Jaradat says. “Maintain regular appointments with your primary care provider to stay on top of blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol screenings. Discuss your risk of heart disease with your primary care provider and learn what you can do to decrease your risks of developing heart disease.” The highly skilled experts at IU Health West Hospital offer heart and vascular scans to eligible patients. To learn more about these convenient, simple screenings, visit iuhealth. org/heart-scan or call 317.217.3070.

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The Avon Wedding & Event Barn in Avon hosts indoor and outdoor weddings on their 7-acre farm.

Barn Doors & I Do’s Popular Avon Wedding Barn Donates Percentage of Profits to Missions Organizations Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographers / Sarah Crail & Jeremy Haynes

Darinda and Jim Dragon were sitting on their front porch one Sunday afternoon when a car pulled into their driveway. The passengers rolled down their window and asked, “Hey, any chance we could hold our wedding at your barn?” The Dragons chuckled until they began fielding the same request time and again from multiple sources. Finally, Darinda turned to her husband and said, “Maybe we should consider doing this.” In 2010, they renovated their century-old barn and started booking nuptials. The third one they held was for their daughter. Following that celebration, the Dragons got flooded with requests. “It spread like crazy because back then we were one of the first barns in the state holding weddings,” Darinda says. Now that rustic ambiance is in vogue, however, the competition has turned stiff. Still, wooden rafters and stacks of hay does not an authentic barn make, and many venues are newly-built structures. Not so of the Dragons’ property. The 103-year-old barn is rich with history. “This used to be an active dairy farm,” Darinda says. “Where the brides get dressed is where the milking station used to be.” Later, the barn housed Belgium Draft horses. Craig and Nancy McKinney, who lived on the property prior to the Dragons, let the horses run free on the pasture land. “For five years after we bought the place, mowing the yard was a major pain because it was super bumpy due to massive hoof dents,” Darinda says.

James Hornaday’s home was located where Kingsway Christian Church now sits. But his grandparents (the Ferrees) lived down the street at the Dragons’ place and were the original owners who built the homestead. Because Hornaday (who is now 68) liked to help his grandpa with early-morning farm chores, he pretty much lived on their property. And who can blame him? The place feels magical. Darinda has noticed that when guests file into the barn prior to the ceremony, they often look up at the rafters, their mouths agape, as they take in the beauty of this structure, which was erected in 1914 by the Amish using hand-hewn timbers and large pegs rather than nails. Nine times out of 10 when she asks these guests if they have a barn in their history, they nod and say, “Yeah, I grew up on a farm,” or “Yes, my grandpa was a farmer,” or “Yup, my buddy and I used to play in a barn.” Darinda also hears from a good number of local male guests who claim they used to work in this very barn. It seems a lot of local boys were once hired by Mr. McKinney to do landscaping or help with the horses. “It’s like the community barn,” Darinda says. The Dragons understand others’ admiration of the barn because they, too, grew smitten when they first laid eyes on it — and each other. “Our third date was at a square dance in this barn,” Darinda says. “Fifteen years later when the place came up for sale, my husband said, ‘We’re buying that barn!’” For a time, the Dragons used the building to store their RV as well as some medical equipment for FAME, a nonprofit organization on the east side of Indy that partners with international missionaries and churches to empower medical evangelism worldwide. It’s an organization that’s dear to their hearts as the couple is passionate about mission work worldwide. That’s ultimately why they decided to repurpose the barn. They realized it was a great way to generate revenue that could go towards missions.

Darinda & Jim Dragon

“We give a lot of our profits to missions who focus on evangelism,” says Darinda, noting that they donated a large chunk of their money to start Light and Truth, a theological school in the Dominican Republic. “We pay for lights, books, rent, salaries,” Darinda says. “A huge amount of money goes there every month to keep that college rolling.” Eliezer DeLeon, a professor at the college, is grateful for the ongoing support. “[Our] students are very poor but [are] full of desire to make a difference,” DeLeon says. Darinda acknowledges that on days when work is demanding and allconsuming, she focuses on the students in the Dominican Republic. 34 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

“I think of those college graduates and what they’ll do with their lives,” says Darinda, her voice breaking with emotion. “That’s what keeps me going.” The Dragons also provides funding for a hospital in a rural area of Mexico that serves the forgotten people in small villages. “The Dragons’ [aid] has been instrumental in changing the lives of thousands of Mexican people,” says Esly Fuentes, who spent his teen years in Avon and attended Avon High School before becoming a doctor and working in the hospital the Dragons helped build. “We are blessed for the continuous encouragement and financial support of Jim and Darinda, who believe and see the blessing of building a hospital in Mexico that will continue to impact and share the love of Jesus to our patients.”

Years ago, Annette Oeschele and her family traveled with the Dragons to Mexico where they witnessed, firsthand, Darinda and Jim’s commitment to loving others and contributing globally. Therefore, when their son got engaged last year, the decision about where to hold the ceremony was a no-brainer.

Bringing people to Christ is very important to the Dragons. “There are many great organizations in the world, but we want to donate to ones that teach people about Jesus,” says Darinda, who notes that they also support missionary work in India and Nepal as well as through local organizations like Hope Healthcare Services and Get REAL, a non-profit ministry designed to empower fourthgrade through college-aged girls via peer mentor groups.

J J J J

“Jim and Darinda’s passion for missions is such a beautiful testimony,” Oeschele says. “For us, the decision was perfect, undeniably so, because we knew the money we invested had a double purpose. It was a glorious wedding experience but also [an opportunity] to love others and bring souls to know Jesus.” For more information, visit avonweddingbarn.com.

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NEW HENDRICKS REGIONAL HEALTH HOSPITAL OPENING IN BROWNSBURG

Gary Everling, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer and Kevin Speer, President and CEO of Hendricks Regional Health

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

Hendricks Regional Health has been in Hendricks County since 1962. For 10 consecutive years, Healthgrades Operating Company, a comprehensive physician/hospital rating and comparison database, has given Hendricks Regional a 5-star rating, making it one of only 14 hospitals in the country to get such a distinguished assessment. “We are known for our patient experience,” says Gary Everling, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Hendricks Regional Health. Soon a larger portion of the population will get to enjoy that experience as a brand new state-of-the-art hospital is about to open on the northern end of Brownsburg. Though they’ve had a location at the southern end of Brownsburg for nearly 20 years, Hendricks Regional Health has wanted to expand its presence in the area. Four years ago, when construction began on I-74 and Ronald Reagan, it seemed like the perfect time to start making plans. “We did a lot of surveys and focus groups with Brownsburg residents,” Everling says. Kevin Speer, President and CEO of Also, upstairs are OBGYNs, a plastic surgeon, and board certified Hendricks Regional Health, and his planning team concluded that a breast oncology surgeons. As the hospital grows, they plan to retail health care delivery model was ideal. expand their team of specialists. “People want health care to be convenient, simple and cost effective,” Speer says. “We think this building embodies all of those things.”

“Our goal will be if you come in to see your primary care doctor, you can follow up with a specialist in the same building, maybe even on the same day,” Speer says.

When you walk inside the bright, airy building, the first thing you’ll notice is all the glass, which highlights the wide-open spaces. To the The inpatient rooms, also housed upstairs, are designed so that beds right is the lab and admitting area for patients requiring CT or MRI are angled, enabling patients to see outdoors. procedures. That unique space has floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the woods. “We wanted the space to feel as much like home as possible,” Speer adds. “I believe there’s a strong therapeutic component to being outdoors and having a view of the outdoors,” Speer says. “If a When the hospital opens, staff will be utilizing EPIC, electronic patient is doing cardiac rehab or physical therapy, this is the health record software that enable physicians to access all his or her environment to get better.” patient’s records. One exciting feature of the new facility is the side-by-side immediate care and Emergency Room. “One of the greatest costs and most unnecessary expenses is the inappropriate utilization of an ER,” says Speer, noting that immediate care is a more cost-effective model for many ailments. The side-by-side aspect allows a much quicker transfer for an Immediate Care patient deemed to need emergency care. Upstairs is the rotunda. It holds family practice doctors as well as a community room, which can be used by the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club or other community groups that need a place to meet.

“It’s the gold standard in electronic medical records,” Speer says. “Because a patient’s records are all linked, this will mean that when you see your primary care doctor or have to be admitted to the emergency room or immediate care, you won’t have to re-check in each time you go from place to place.” Everling, Speer and countless others are eager for the hospital to start serving the public. “To be able to provide Brownsburg residents with greater access to high-quality, lower-cost healthcare — well, we couldn’t be happier,” Everling says.

AvonMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 37

Interviewing then candidate, Donald Trump

Interviewing Senator Todd Young

ROB KENDALL IS AN ON-AIR PERSONALITY WITH A FRESH TAKE ON POLITICS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

It was a career that was launched at just 18 years old when Rob Kendall began working as an intern at the old WKLU studio in Brownsburg. Soon thereafter, he became the radio producer for the Indianapolis Indians as well as the Butler Bulldogs (basketball and football). Then in 2006, Kendall started a company called Audio Sports Online, which broadcasts high school and college sporting events on the Internet. “We do a lot of work with local schools like Avon and Plainfield,” Kendall says. In 2011, he ran for town council in Brownsburg and, at age 27, became the youngest elected official. At the same time, he worked for the Indiana State auditor for a year. He also worked as the director for the Indiana Board of Pharmacy under thengovernor Mike Pence. “I took the least traveled path to politics,” says Kendall, noting that he only pursued the elected seat after starting his business and learning how much he and his fellow local businessmen were paying in taxes. “I got into elected office because I genuinely wanted to serve the community I love and grew up in.”

In 2015, around the time his term was ending, WYRZ got licensing approval from the FCC, and local DJ Shane Ray offered Kendall a nightly talk show. “I had to decide if I was going to be a politician or a commentator because you can’t do both,” he says. “Talking about politics seemed better than being in it and getting yelled at all the time.” After serving a four-year term, Kendall returned to his first love: radio. “I carried through on the things I promised the community, and I was ready to start talking about issues on the radio and impact people in that way,” says Kendall, who in the fall of 2015 began hosting Central Indiana Today, where he interviewed a different area newsmaker each night. This October, after wrapping the 500th show, Kendall opted to step down in order to devote more time to his personal life (he married Avon native Hailey in August). In May 2016, Kendall had the chance to interview Donald Trump during the Indiana primaries. When he sat down with Trump, however, he approached the talk in a fresh way. 38 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

“Whenever I interview politicians, I strive to get to know them personally, so I can show a side to them that listeners can’t get anywhere else,” says Kendall, noting that he steered clear of queries regarding Ted Cruz, tax reform or Obamacare and instead broached subjects such as pro wrestling and Ryan White. As it turns out, Michael Jackson was staying at Trump’s hotel at the time White died. Trump offered to fly Jackson to White’s house and together they visited with the family. “We talked about what he learned from Ryan,” Kendall says. “I also asked him about his interest in professional wrestling. We didn’t talk one bit about politics.” That interview caught the attention of those at WIBC — a station where Kendall had dreamt of working since he was a boy riding to school with his dad, listening to Rush Limbaugh on the car radio. WIBC — the ninth largest communications company in the world — has been around since the 40s, making it a source of news and information for generations. Kendall was asked to join the station in a part-time capacity. They then started adding responsibilities, and now he hosts “The Rob Kendall Show” from 1-3 p.m. on

Rob Kendall

Sundays and produces “The Chicks on the Right,” a show with more than a million Facebook followers. For that show, he introduces five to seven news stories, then lets the “chicks” comment on the stories. Kendall’s experience in politics enables him to infuse his perspective on state and local government, which balances the national perspective. Kendall also hosts a 30-minute weekly podcast on WYRZ called Capital Happenings in which he and Senator Jim Merritt discuss hot-button topics in Indiana government. “I’ll ask Senator Merritt what’s going on in the session each week. What’s being debated? What’s the potential outcome?” Kendall says. “It’s a way to provide transparency to our state government.” When the Senate is out of session, Kendall hosts guests like Indiana Treasurer Kelly Mitchell, who explained “text 911,”

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designed to encourage individuals to text for help if they spot someone in trouble (without being held liable for reporting it). Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch also discussed the state’s disaster preparedness procedures in the wake of the tempestuous hurricane season. “Radio and politics have both given me such a unique opportunity to learn America’s story,” Kendall says. “I get to learn about people from all walks of life, and I love that. I probably know more about the people in the Hendricks County community than anybody simply because I listen.”

Interviewing Governor Eric Holcomb

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era retailers have noticed that shoppers tend to come in with web research on brands and prices. They buy and leave. This decrease in browsing relates to less impulse buys.

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RESEARCH THE BEST STORES AND PRICES IN ADVANCE Scour the newspaper circulars and search online. Don't just buy from the first store you shop. If you are informed before you step foot in the store you are more likely to get more for your dollar.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOLIDAY PROMOTIONS Many businesses offer tremendous sales and offers, which are targeted to attract the impulse buyer. First ask yourself if it's something you need and will use or will it likely sit on a shelf waiting for the summer garage sale. If you answered yes to the latter, then move on. Remember, you don't want to go broke saving money on useless things.

USE CASH AND LEAVE THE CREDIT CARD AT HOME Shoppers who use cash end up spending 20 percent less on average. You don't want to overspend and find yourself still paying for

SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS Prices fluctuate over the holidays and many go down after Christmas day. Most businesses will only allow a return or refund the price difference with a receipt.

never redeem the full value of the card. In addition, 40 percent of shoppers will redeem the card for items at full price because they don't see it as valuable as they would cash in the same amount.

PUT OFF CERTAIN PURCHASES TILL JANUARY Calendars for example, will drop as much as 50-70 percent in January. If you can wait just two to three weeks to buy one you'll keep more money in your pocket.

as possible. Take advantage of the steep discounts and stock up on any decorations, wrapping paper and cards you'll need again in just 11 more months. The most important advice to enjoy the holidays is to simply take a deep breath, slow down and enjoy the time with your family and friends.

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HELPING THE HUNGRY MARY LEE MAIER COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES FOOD FOR FAMILIES Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

Holly Clark, a first-grade teacher at Cedar Elementary, is the board president of the 501c3 of the Mary Lee Maier Community Food Pantry. The pantry, which opened over Labor Day weekend 2016, was formed when like-minded individuals came together. Two teachers — Sarah Tuttle from Sycamore and Kayla Kuepper from White Oak — had started a program called “Branches,” which met the food and security needs of students at Maple. In the meantime, Clark and her principal, Kevin Gray, were looking to do the same thing at Cedar, so they teamed with Gleaners to start the “backpack program” where kids were provided with food for the weekend. It was all good. Just not enough. “We knew we needed to do more,” says Clark, who met with Margaret Hoernemann, Avon’s superintendent. She connected both groups and together they met with Mike Cunningham, owner of Cunningham Restaurant Group, who

agreed to help them create a school-based food pantry. (The board consists of Nikki Harrison, Kevin Gray, Kim Woodward, Hoernemann and Krist Kerr.) The pantry, open every Thursday from 4:30-6 p.m. when school is in session, serves families who have students in the Avon school system. Though families can come every week, the amount of food each family gets is dependent on the size of the household. For four or fewer per household, they can fill two reusable grocery bags. For those with more than four per family, they can fill three bags per week. “We completely rely on donations from the community to keep our pantry stocked,” Clark says. “We’re grateful to get donations from schools, businesses, Girl Scout troops, clubs, organizations and individuals.” Monetary donations enable the pantry staff to purchase perishable items like milk, eggs and meat each week. Beyond that, it’s mostly hopes, prayers and pleas 46 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

for help. In early October, for instance, when shelves were frighteningly barren, Hoernemann posted to social media, asking the community to help ensure that kids could be fed through the two-week fall break. Ultimately, community members donated more than seven pallets of food and toiletry items. “We were blown away by the donations that poured in,” says Clark, who has found that the pantry tends to be busier towards the end of each month. “This shows me the amazing things we can do when we come together. I feel blessed to live in this community. Avon is an amazing place.” The Mary Lee Maier Community Food Pantry is located at Maple Elementary, 7237 E US Hwy 36. Enter Door #4. Drop off donations either at Maple Elementary or the administration building. The pantry is always in need of laundry detergent, boxed meals, personal hygiene items, kid cereal, and snacks. For more information, contact Holly Clark at hmclark@avon-schools.org.

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n Tom Crean’s final season as head basketball coach at Indiana University, almost 40 percent of the shots were taken by three players now on NBA rosters. On IU Basketball Media Day, reporters asked new head coach Archie Miller an obvious question: Where will the Hoosiers’ scoring come from in the 2017-2018 season? “I think De'Ron Davis is a very gifted offensive player,” Miller says. “He has terrific footwork, amazing hands and great touch. I think he can score the ball for us. Robert Johnson is a proven scorer and will continue to do that, too. “Juwan (Morgan) has to become more of an offensive-minded player from a production standpoint,” Miller adds. “He's got great skills. I look at Devonte (Green) as a guy that can get his own shot, a guy that create for himself off of ball screens, and get to the basket and get to the free throw line. As I look at the shooting on our team, guys like Curtis (Jones), guys like Collin (Hartman), those guys have made shots.”

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Offense has not been a problem at Indiana in recent years, but there were times when Indiana fans cringed on every defensive possession. Last season, the Hoosiers led the Big Ten in points scored but managed a conference record of only 7-11. Miller recognizes the need to improve defensively but avoided setting any expectations for a quick fix. “We're building,” he says. “We're not as sophisticated as we're going to be, but I think from a base perspective, our team is learning what we're about, especially in the half-court. “I think we'll be a team that hopefully can continue to really improve. Sometimes it's going to take games. These guys are going to have to experience it in a game, see it on film in a game, and that's kind of what's happened throughout my coaching career. You develop defensively as a team just as well as you do offensively.

This is probably as challenging of a schedule as anyone has ever faced. It's going to put a real tax on the bodies. But our early schedule is going to provide a lot of information on what we're going to need to do to be successful through the course of the regular season in Big Ten play. You're playing against major teams who have really good players and great coaches.

I don't expect on day one we're going to be the steel curtain, so to speak, but I think we're going to be a team that prides ourselves on that. Our guys know that and individual defenders will improve just like they do on offense. “But we're sticking to the script,” Miller adds. “I think from our practice perspective right now, we're going to try to be great on both, but we're spending an abnormal amount of time on it.” With early season games scheduled against perennial powers like Duke, Louisville, Notre Dame and Michigan over a two-week stretch, Miller figures to learn quickly about how Indiana has to improve to compete in the Big Ten. “This is probably as challenging of a schedule as anyone has ever faced,” Miller says. “It's going to put a real tax on the bodies. But our early schedule is going to provide a lot of information on what we're going to need to do to be successful through the course of the regular season in Big Ten play. You're playing against major teams who have really good players and great coaches. “We're going to figure out how we respond to those things,” Miller adds. “I think it's going to teach us what we're going to need to be this year.”

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The Hoosiers play Notre Dame on December 16 as part of the Crossroads Classic at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse. TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO

DECEMBER'S LUCKIEST ALIVE David Mroz SUBMIT YOUR STORY ONLINE AT TOWNEPOST.COM! If you are chosen, you'll win dinner for two at the Homestretch Steakhouse and $100 each in gambling comps. You must be 21 years of age or older to participate.

MR. INVINCIBLE Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

The track-and-field students he coaches at Center Grove High School call him “The Tank,” and for good reason. Over the past several years, David Mroz has plowed through countless medical hurdles, one after another. Despite them all, he maintains an optimistic outlook and gratitude for life. His indominable spirit was groomed in high school. Besides participating in track, football and basketball, Mroz also meticulously studied his dad’s “Muscle & Fitness” magazines. “I thought it would be great to have massive muscles like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno,” says Mroz, who later competed in Strong Man competitions.

A week after the shoulder surgery, he developed an abscess, which had to be surgically removed. Then came more TIAs, this time leaving him blind in the left eye and numb in the right arm. He couldn’t catch the proverbial break. A month later, Mroz got a call from his doctor letting him know that he needed to see a vascular surgeon immediately.

focused on his wife Pam, children Lauren, Luke and Andrew, and grandson Aden. He also felt great pride as a coach. In 2015 and 2016, one of his students won state in disc, winning the school record, too.

“I had a track meet to coach the following day, so I figured I’d see the surgeon the day after, but my doctor said, ‘Nope. Now,’” recalls Mroz, 45 at the time but with a 99 percent blockage in both carotid arteries.

“I knew it was a heart attack,” Mroz says.

“You’re a walking time bomb,” the doctor told him. After having both carotid arteries cleaned out in May, he described himself as Frankenstein.

In 2016, just before heading to his son’s football game, Mroz turned ghost grey and began sweating profusely.

He was right — 100 percent blockage required another stint. Like a page out of a horror movie, a week later while watching TV, his face started drooping and his right arm went numb. A brain scan revealed that he had suffered a series of seven strokes due to a blood clot.

Though Mroz missed his son’s destination wedding in Jamaica, he was relieved to He joined the Indiana University track team survive yet another health scare without as a walk-on. While at IU, he studied health, “My neck was cut all the way down with metal suffering any debilitating consequences. nutrition and business finance. Post-college, staples binding it,” Mroz says. “Not pretty.” This year, he’s had a third stint put in as well Mroz owned a Gold’s Gym, where he as a knee replacement. trained clients. He’s also worked as a roofer, The following month he learned he had and in 2010 began coaching track at Center an enlarged gall bladder. Determined to Mroz is not sure why he’s been plagued Grove Middle School and three years later whip himself back into shape following that with so many health issues, but doctors at the high school. credit his lifelong exercise habits for having surgery, Mroz made a bet with his son that by the end of basketball season, he’d be able bounced back from so many crises. His In 2013, he had a shoulder replacement — a to dunk again. He was making great strides attitude, no doubt, is a huge factor, too. chronic injury that had bothered him ever when suddenly his left bicep detached. since falling off a roof in 2000. On his way “I enjoy what I’m doing. I love coaching and to the surgery center, Mroz’s right arm went “I looked like Popeye with a unicep rather watching the kids have that ‘a-ha’ moment,” completely numb. says Mroz, whose perspective is predicated than a bicep,” says Mroz with a chuckle. on genuine gratitude. “While we’re on this “I didn’t think much of it because it went earth, we should do our best to impact He continued to keep his positive spirit away after a few moments,” says Mroz, who despite another infection followed by more the people around us. If we can change later learned that he’d suffered a TIA or somebody’s world in a positive way while chest pains and the discovery of another mini stroke. we’re here, that’s what life’s all about.” 90 percent blockage. Through it all, Mroz

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AvonMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 59

BEAUTY IN BROKENNESS AN AVON FAMILY EMBRACES GOD’S MANY MIRACLES “But I need to move my head,” Mike insisted places. He’d also sustained a broken clavicle, as he raised his right hand to reposition his a cracked sternum and five broken ribs. It was Father’s Day 2016 when Kathy made tilted head. Doctors vacuumed out the powder bone, a simple request to her husband, Mike. replacing the shattered vertebrae with She asked him to move a boxed 4-drawer “No!” Kathy reiterated, pushing his arm cadaver bones. They also screwed two rods dresser up a flight of stairs so that they could down. “Stay still.” and a plate into his skull to keep his neck assemble it. Mike got the dolly from the stable. Miraculously, Mike was back to work garage and tied the box onto it, then began A CT scan revealed news that was both just two months later. the slow ascent up the steps. unsettling and shocking. “I’m a few inches shorter now and have Mike had just made it to the top step when “Your husband’s C1 and C2 vertebrae at the a limited range of motion, but I can’t his hand slipped. Instinctively, he reached base of his skull are shattered into powder,” complain,” says Mike, recognizing his good out and his arm got caught in the dolly’s the doctor reported. “How his spinal cord is fortune. handle. He did a somersault and was thrown intact, we have no clue.” forward, landing at the bottom of the stairs. Kathy says Mike’s accident is a reminder to Had Mike moved his head even a quarter not get hung up on making plans. Kathy heard the crash and came tearing of an inch, he could have died because the down the steps to find her husband bleeding spinal cord at the C1/C2 level controls “Sometimes God has other plans that but still conscious. we need to be open to,” Kathy says. She breathing. knows because they’ve been through it “Don’t move a muscle,” she commanded. twice before. As it was, his back was broken in three Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

60 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

In 2003, Kathy went to China. While there, she visited an orphanage and was overwhelmed by how many children needed love, guidance and care. When she returned home, Mike said, “Why don’t we adopt one of them?” Kathy’s eyes widened. “Are you nuts?” she said. “We already have three children.” (Their kids—Rachel, Eddie, and Cheryl — were grown with children of their own.) Mike broached the subject several more times but finally dropped it after facing repeated resistance from his wife. Then one day Kathy felt the Holy Spirit speak to her as she was driving to work. “I heard a voice ask, ‘Why not?’” Kathy says. That’s when she started arguing with the Lord — listing all the reasons why adopting wasn’t feasible.

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AvonMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 61

“We don’t have the money. And what would people say? We’re old!” (Kathy was 48 at the time. Mike was 50.) The voice said softly, “Whatever you do for one of the least of these, you’re doing for me.” When Kathy came home from work that night, she told Mike about what had happened. He didn’t seem surprised in the least. Instead, he replied, “I’ve been praying that God would soften your heart on this matter. So, what do you think?” “I think we have to do this,” Kathy said, shocked to hear the words fall from her lips. In July 2003, they began the long process of filling out adoption paperwork. The following July, they brought home their 20-month-old daughter Elizabeth. “Elizabeth adjusted beautifully to our family,” Kathy says. In 2010, the Perry’s hearts were moved again after seeing a photo of a 3-year-old special needs girl with spina bifida. God then proceeded to send clear signs to nudge the Perry’s toward action. For instance, Kathy, unsure as to whether they should dive into another adoption in their mid-50s, turned on the radio to the Steven Curtis Chapman song “Dive.” (Chapman has also adopted children from China.) The next day a friend asked Kathy about her hesitation. “I’m waiting to seek God’s direction,” Kathy said. “Do you really think God’s going to tell you no?” the friend inquired. “He tells us to take care of widows and orphans.” That sealed the deal. The Perry’s submitted their letter of intent and nine months later, in February 2011, they brought home Kimi. This time around, the acclimation process was much rougher.

in a crib being fed baby formula through bottles. As a result, she didn’t know how to eat or talk, and her mouth was full of cavities. She was also unable to walk and suffered multiple developmental delays. But their biggest concern involved her inability to connect with people. “I wanted to bond with my little girl,” says Kathy, who recruited the help of speech, occupational, feeding and language therapists.

travels around to different tournaments. “The first time she saw this team in action, she was hooked,” Mike says. “She liked seeing that there were other kids her age in wheelchairs.” Reiterating the need to resist making plans, Kathy says she can now see the ways that God was preparing her all along for what was to be.

“Life is a tapestry,” Kathy says. “You don’t know what the end picture is going to Now, Kimi, 10, can talk, walk, eat and even look like. And if you think you know, “I’d never seen such terrible neglect,” Kathy play basketball. Enrolled in a special co-ed says. Kimi was almost four years old and still basketball league for kids in wheelchairs, she you’re wrong.” 62 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

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66 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / AvonMagazine.com

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AvonMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2017 / AVON MAGAZINE / 67

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A GIFT THAT’S STRAIGHT FROM YOUR HEART TO THEIRS. If your loved one is overweight, smokes, or has a family history of heart disease, we have the perfect gift idea: a $49 Heart Scan Gift Card from Indiana University Health. There’s no better way to tell them how much you love them, and it might just save their life. To purchase a $49 Heart Scan Gift Card, go to iuhealth.org/heartcard Avon

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