Avon Magazine December 2021 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

DECEMBER 2021

MAGAZINE

INDIANA LYONS UNDERTAKE FOURTH SEASON HE’S GAME

Introducing Avon’s New Athletic Director Josh Larsh ALL ABOUT ATHLETICS

Nicole Abernathy is Enjoying AJAA Executive Director Role

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THE REASON FOR THE SEASON At Franciscan Health, we believe in joy, hope and the gift of life. This Christmas, we celebrate the miracles, moments and traditions that bring Christ’s light and love into our lives. From all of us at Franciscan Health, may this season be filled with inspiration for you, your family and loved ones, and may God’s peace be with you in the coming year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

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DECEMBER 2021

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HE’S GAME

Introducing Avon’s New Athletic Director Josh Larsh

Visit Hendricks County Helps to Navigate Wintertime Shopping and Entertainment

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BREATHING LIFE INTO THEATER The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation Supports Youth Participation in Theater

ALL ABOUT ATHLETICS

Nicole Abernathy is Enjoying AJAA Executive Director Role

HEAR THEM ROAR

Indiana Lyons Undertake Fourth Season KEY CONTRIBUTORS AMY PAYNE / AARON TEVEBAUGH / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING / JOSH DUKE KEVIN CARR / DR. EMILY CHA / RAINDANCER STUDIOS / TOPPLEVEL PHOTO

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A Few Upcoming Events with the Town of Avon 11 - Library Book Sale 16 - Board of Zoning Appeals 20-31 - Avon School Break 24-27 - Town of Avon Offices Closed for Holiday 31 - Town of Avon Offices Closed for New Years

2022 is here!

13 - Town Council Meeting with Work Session 17 - Board of Zoning Appeals 24 - Plan Commission 27 - Town Council Meeting

Scan the QR code for more events and details in the new Avon E-Newsletter! 6 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

HE’S GAME

Introducing Avon’s New Athletic Director Josh Larsh Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography / Amy Payne

The phrase “Find something you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life” certainly resonates with Josh Larsh, Avon

High School’s new athletic director (AD). Though he logs a ton of hours, he’s having the time of his life settling into his dream job.

of Colfax, Indiana, claims he was never a great athlete, but that didn’t stop him from playing sports. He especially loved baseball and basketball.

Larsh, who grew up on a small farm outside

“I was always really small for my age, but I

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / AVON MAGAZINE / 7

8 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

loved sports,” says Larsh, who got involved in multiple ways throughout high school and college. For instance, he was a manager for his high school’s football team. He also filmed the basketball games. While at Purdue University, he acted as student manager of the men’s basketball team from 1999 to 2003, going above and beyond when it came to fulfilling his responsibilities. “I spent every day in the basketball office at Purdue, all summer and during vacations, because I loved it so much,” Larsh says. Following graduation, he became a teacher and a coach, coaching everything from basketball to track to baseball to volleyball. He worked for eight years as the AD at Western High School in Russiaville, Indiana. He thoroughly enjoyed his time there, but when the opportunity arose to apply for the AD position at Avon, he couldn’t pass it up. “Avon is one of the best high schools in the

state with one of the best athletic programs in the state,” he says. “Those opportunities don’t present themselves very often. It was always a goal of mine to be at a 6A school. I wanted to know what it was like to be in the Indianapolis doughnut with that caliber of athletes.” Larsh was appointed as Avon’s AD in the summer of 2021, embracing the school’s mantra, “We are Avon. We are one.” As such, he appreciates the team approach of his colleagues, including Lance Larkey, assistant AD; Amy Lex, athletics treasurer; Sarah Hancock, athletics secretary; and Tiffany Trusnik, building access supervisor. “Working with these people every day makes the job fun and rewarding,” Larsh says. “I know some people like to work by themselves, but I’m not one of those people.”

Larsh maintains that the most enjoyable aspect about a career in athletics is watching student-athletes succeed. Success is not to be confused with winning, as he insists that the joy is not in the number of wins one collects. “Our job is to help facilitate positive experiences for student athletes - COVID reminded us that things can be taken away from us and that so much is totally out

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of our control,” says Larsh, whose heart breaks for those students who lost a season of sports in the spring of 2020. “We had to learn how to work within the guidelines and parameters we had, and to try not to get discouraged. It would be naive to say we’ve done an excellent job of all of that because for everybody in the education world, it’s been a challenge. We’ve all had our bad days, sometimes for stretches at a time, but you stay the course and I think that’s what leaders have to do to the best of their ability.” Larsh strives to make it to as many sporting events as possible, whether at home or away. This might mean spending 30 minutes at a tennis match, then catching 10 minutes of boys soccer, before taking in the tail end of a volleyball game. “Also, you have to know that for months you are giving up your weekends because girls basketball bleeds into football, which bleeds into boys basketball,” he says. “Then

after spring break you get into spring sports where everyone plays on Fridays. That’s the expectation, but it’s also a lot of fun. Honestly, if you don’t enjoy going to athletic events and watching kids compete, this definitely is not the profession for you.”

and Symphony on the Prairie shows. However, most of his free time is spent at sporting events.

As an AD, Larsh wears two hats - that of event manager as well as human resources director. Working through the details and intricacies of planning so many athletic events is a big part of the job. On the human resource side, he and his staff handle the expectations of their athletes, coaches and parents.

“I like school,” he says.

In his free time, Larsh likes to travel and relax with a good book. The hobby that most surprises people when they hear about it is that he is a professional pyrotechnician - something that he does primarily in the summertime when he shoots off fireworks for the Indianapolis Indians games, Purdue football games,

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While some people count down the days until they get to leave school, Larsh looks for opportunities to stay.

That’s due in part to the environment in which he was raised. His dad was a high school principal, and his grandmother worked in the front office. “School is always something I enjoyed,” he says. “I don’t look at it as going to work. I look at it as getting to go to school.” It seems, then, that he will continue “not working,” as he’s loving every minute of his life.

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EXERCISE YOUR HOLIDAY OPTIONS

Visit Hendricks County Helps to Navigate Wintertime Shopping and Entertainment Writer / Josh Duke Photography Provided

We’ve done it - we’ve reached that time of year that might as well be called shopping season. But don’t fret. We are here to help at Visit Hendricks County, where we encourage limiting your online and bigbox retail purchases to support some of our locally-owned, small businesses here in Hendricks County. You might just be surprised by the unique gifts you’ll find.

As you hopefully know, our organization also helps support our local attractions, and has become known for our popular events calendar and providing local options. So, let’s get to all the great places to shop and fun activities for this winter.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Yes, our Holiday Gift Guide is back, for which we highlight the best 20 gifts unique to Hendricks County for the year, after scouring our locally-owned and -operated

DECEMBER 2021

businesses. Please help support these businesses if you can. They really need our help now more than ever. I really don’t want to give too much away here, because you can learn much more about each specific gift and where to find them at visithendrickscounty.com/gift. You will find food, fashion, experiences, home decor and much more, but what this Gift Guide truly intends to do is give you a sneak peek of what you can find in our locally-owned stores. Once you walk into the doors of these businesses, I promise you will find much more for those special people

on your holiday shopping list.

INDOOR WINTER ATTRACTIONS I’m limited on space so I will keep this section to just three recommendations, one for each of our larger towns, but there is so much more to do than what I will cover below. You can check out all the options at visithendrickscounty.com/ winter.

PRESS PLAY GAMING LOUNGE, BROWNSBURG Press Play quite literally has something for every member of the family. This large indoor facility in a former grocery store has tons of room to spread out, including family pods with televisions equipped with gaming systems and streamable channels. This indoor experience also has eight virtual reality stations with numerous games, a foam war area, a three-point shootout and a BEAM system for young visitors, as well as

DECEMBER 2021

food, a bar and much more.

THE TIE DYE LAB, AVON Offering a fun, all-inclusive, do-it-yourself experience for individuals or groups, The Tie Dye Lab helps participants color T-shirts, hats, socks, bandanas and other attire. You choose your design and colors, and the experts there guide you through the process. The tiedye process is both easy and mess-free, and within an hour you get to leave with your creation.

SKY ZONE INDOOR TRAMPOLINE PARK, PLAINFIELD Dubbed the ‘ultimate 3D play experience for almost any age, shape or ability,’ Sky Zone boasts wall-to-wall trampoline fun. You can play Sky Zone dodgeball, dunk a basketball at SkySlam, show off your moves in their open trampoline area, leap over winding poles, test your ninja skills, or even perfect your craft as you practice flips in the foam pit area.

OUTDOOR WINTER ACTIVITIES Again, we have many options that I could highlight here, but I will limit it to just a couple of our top recommendations, and you can find more at visithendrickscounty.com/ winter.

PENGUIN PARK, AVON Head out to Washington Township Park in Avon and check out Penguin Park, where you can go ice skating on a synthetic rink, rent an igloo with a small bonfire for a gathering or birthday party, or even try curling at the skating rink. Park officials are also planning special public events there throughout the season. Natural Valley Ranch, Brownsburg Natural Valley Ranch offers guided horseback rides year round, weather permitting, but there is just something fun about bundling up and going out in the fresh, crisp air for a horseback ride. Those interested need to contact the ranch in advance to make a reservation before arriving.

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BREATHING LIFE INTO THEATER The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation Supports Youth Participation in Theater

“We didn’t have time to think about it,” Aimee Albright says. “We were dumped in the deep end first.” Four and a half years later, Rosalie was their surprise baby who unfortunately arrived with a surprise of her own. She also had CF. There is no cure for the chronic disease, and while advances are being made to improve the lives of those who have it, according to Cystic Fibrosis News Today, the average life expectancy of a person with CF in the U.S. is approximately 37.5 years.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

When Aimee Albright and her husband Robert (aka R.D.) started a family, they knew there was a one-in-four chance for their children to be born with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs. Both Aimee and R.D. carry one copy of the genetic defect, but since no previous family members had ever been diagnosed with CF, the couple wasn’t overly concerned, especially after their firstborn son, Adam, was born perfectly healthy. Two years later, they were pregnant again. When their daughter, Melanie, only gained 10 ounces in her first four months of life, alarm bells sounded. Upon examination, Aimee and R.D. were told that their daughter had CF and pneumonia, and admitted her to the hospital on the spot.

Facing the fact that two of their three children would likely have their lives cut short was traumatic, but the couple’s strong Christian faith helped them process the news. “Having that faith in God and trusting him, knowing that this is his plan and I don’t have to like it but that he knows more than I do, that is what got us through,” Albright says. When Rosalie was diagnosed, they already knew what to do and what to expect. “CF was already a part of our lives - everything was now times two,” says Albright, who homeschooled her kids in order to better take care of their needs.

DECEMBER 2021

This was important, given that every time one of the girls got sick with a cold, they were in the hospital for two to three weeks on intravenous antibiotics. This typically happened three to four times per year. When they weren’t sick, however, they were happy and busy. When they were young, they both gravitated towards the arts and loved participating in Christmas pageants and other church programs. While Rosalie delighted in performing on stage, Melanie preferred the behind-the-scenes action like painting, set building and applying makeup. In 2012, the sisters got involved with the Hendricks Civic Theater’s (HCT) production of “Aladdin Jr.” Shortly after that, the Biz Academy of Musical Theatre opened and the girls did “Beauty and the Beast.” Melanie painted sets and helped with props. Rosalie was cast as the Enchantress, Marie, and was in the ensemble. Albright volunteered to be stage manager. By this point, the family was officially captivated by community theater. In 2012 Melanie got extremely sick. Her lung function was at about 25% and she needed to be on oxygen all the time. She waited for double lung transplant that never came.

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The theater kids - her “tribe” as Albright calls them - visited Rosalie in the hospital, sent constant texts, FaceTimed with her, and prayed. Six months to the day after Melanie’s passing, she received a double lung transplant.

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Her first day back at rehearsal, the director told Rosalie to take it easy, but she didn’t know how to do that. Her energy had returned, and she was ready to expend it. The following year, she landed her first lead - Margo in “Legally Blonde.”

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Rosalie did well for a year before her body began to reject the lungs. Rosalie was in a hospital in St. Louis when the family received the devastating news that her donor lungs were failing. Rosalie, 15 at the time, opted not to have a second lung transplant, and her parents respected her choice.

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She went back on oxygen, continuing to perform in shows and take her dance classes and vocal lessons. In the spring of 2016, the Biz put on “The Lion King” and she was cast in the ensemble. Again, there was oxygen on both sides of the stage, and she wouldn’t let her condition stop her from doing what she loved. When she was off stage, friends sat with her as she got her oxygen. Rosalie passed away on May 4, 2016, a month before her 16th birthday. She requested no funeral service and asked that friends share stories instead. One boy spoke about walking into rehearsals on the first day as the brand-new kid. He saw a circle of kids on the floor, one of whom was Rosalie. She invited him to join them. “That’s who she was - always very inclusive,” Albright says. After her second daughter died of CF, Albright wondered what to do with her life at that point. The family discussed ways they could honor the girls and keep their memories alive. They didn’t want to create another community theater because between the Biz, HCT, and local schools, that was covered. “I said, ‘What if we created a nonprofit to support youth participation in all aspects of theatre?’” says Albright, who is currently a student at IUPUI earning a degree in philanthropic studies. “Everyone loved the idea.” In 2018 they created The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation, with the tagline “Breathing life into theatre.”

They found that what kids need most is help paying for artistic endeavors, including production fees, vocal lessons, dance classes, art lessons and theater workshops. Albright had heard kids say they could only afford to pursue one interest. The foundation’s needs-based and enrichment-based scholarships, however, can help students’ families afford additional opportunities. “We want to make sure that anybody who wants to try anything that’s performing arts related can do so,” says Albright, noting that when it comes to theater, it takes a village to create the magic. People are needed to build sets, take care of props and costumes, do hair and makeup, provide lighting and sound, handle audio-visual elements, play music in the pit orchestra, and more. From its founding until 2020, The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation awarded $750 in scholarships. In 2021 they have awarded $1,400 in scholarships. “Kids can come here, trusting that they have somebody in their corner,” Albright says. “We want to provide a safe place for these kids to be who they are.” For more information about The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation, visit themrafoundation.org, or facebook.com/ MRAFoundation. To register to become an organ donor, visit unos.org.

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HEAR THEM ROAR INDIANA LYONS UNDERTAKE FOURTH SEASON

Owners, Tyrone & Deborah Brown

of all, patrons continued to support them.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by TOPPLevel Photo

As the saying goes, “What’s old becomes new again,” and such is the case for the resurrected American Basketball Association (ABA), a men’s professional basketball league that existed from 1967 to 1976 until the ABA merged with the National Basketball Association (NBA). The ABA relaunched in 2000 and now has 150 teams across the United States, Mexico, Australia and the Bahamas. In 2018, local business owners Tyrone and Deborah Brown started a franchise in Hendricks County when they launched the Indiana Lyons. Little did they know that a global pandemic would surface in two years. Nevertheless, they didn’t let that or any other hurdle deter them.

“It was a challenge but also an opportunity for us to have a season with no setbacks,” Tyrone Brown says. They currently have no restrictions or mandates, though that is subject to change at any time.

Last year they followed the guidance of the Hendricks County Health Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which included reducing crowd size by twothirds, requiring masks, doing temperature checks, and distancing everyone by 6’. They never did have to cancel a game. Best DECEMBER 2021

Navigating the unknown has been the most challenging part of growing this ball club. “We haven’t had a road to follow, but that just means we’ve been able to create our own road,” Brown says. “I think we’ve done a good job, but we can do better. We always try to set a tone of excellence.” The Indiana Lyons are the 2021 ABA North Central Region champions, having ended their regular season last year at 20-4. “It was our first divisional championship,” Brown says. “That’s an accomplishment. That win made us feel like our work was not in vain.” Though a lot of people still aren’t aware that the Lyons exist, as word has spread, community support has swelled, leading to more fans. The Browns know each face that comes through the doors because they engage with fans at every game. “My wife is at the door 99% of the time taking tickets,” Brown says. “We go into the crowd and introduce ourselves and say hello, especially if you’re new. We make sure someone from our organization comes over and speaks to you. We recognize that people can be anywhere on a Saturday at 5 p.m., so for them to come visit us, we think that’s special. We want to make sure they feel special when they come into the Lyons’ den.”

They have a motto: “Once you enter the Lyons’ den, you’re part of the family.” Their top priority is ensuring that it remain a safe, fun, friendly environment. If there is an issue or concern, fans know who to go to. “If we had to stop a basketball game to address a major issue, we would do that,” Brown says. “We are responsible for the Lyons, for what comes in and goes out.” Last season they offered reduced rates for season ticket pricing and created more group tickets, simply because they knew economic times have been tough for many. “We worked hard to make sure we included our seasoned and new fans,” Brown says. “We’re a giving organization and will not turn anyone away. If someone is struggling and wants to get a ticket to a game, reach out to us and we will make sure to accommodate you.” This season the Lyons appointed Indianapolis native Jamarr Kegler

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as the new head coach. Due to COVID-19, this year the team did not hold typical tryouts, as they didn’t want to bring 200 to 300 men together into one space. This year’s team will consist of both returning and new players, ranging in age from 18 to 36.

The goal is to get them noticed by scouts so they may be recruited by other professional leagues. For instance, hometown hero Dillon Ware graduated from Danville High School two years ago and has a great shot of going pro.

Seeing their vision for the team come to fruition has been a blessing for the Browns. They have especially enjoyed witnessing the growth of the players, both on and off the court.

“We play with the 24-second shot clock, 12-minute quarters and 48-minute games,” Brown says. “Playing in an NBA fashion allows scouts to see that talent.”

“I like to see them grow into entrepreneurs and businessmen,” Brown says. “I like to see them embrace adversity.”

The Browns also enjoy watching the camaraderie that develops amongst the players, a few of whom have been with the team since its inception such as Mike Pugh, Mike Carter, Preston

DECEMBER 2021

Case, and Kendric Lee. “Those four guys are fan favorites,” says Brown, noting that spectators travel from Illinois and Kentucky to watch them play. Since they began streaming games, people have watched from Florida, Georgia, Texas and elsewhere. The organization’s leaders decided to stream games in order to give people an opportunity to see the action if they can’t make it to the games in person. It also helps to attract sponsorships. Every dollar earned goes back into player development as there are travel, lodging and equipment expenses. “Streaming gives us a chance to advertise our products and be seen by a larger audience, and to also be taken seriously that this is a semi-pro team in Hendricks County,” Brown says. “We can’t go into every restaurant and store and hand out a business card, but through our streaming we might be able to reach more people.” Of course, they prefer in-person fans because players can get a boost in performance with people there cheering for them. Fans can also interact with the players as they take time after games to take pictures and sign autographs. Sometimes they even allow fans into the locker room for the pregame speech. In

DECEMBER 2021

addition they have ball boys, who engage in pregame activities. “Going forward, we would like to get more young folks involved, from concession to greeters,” Brown says. “We’d like to get them off their tablets and cell phones and involved in the games.” In the off-season, the Lyons host various youth sports camps where registrants are taught life, sporting and mentorship skills. “We want to be humble servants, serving the community in every facet of what we do on a daily basis,” Brown says. The Indiana Lyons play at the historic Bosstick Gym, located at 49 North Wayne Street in Danville. The facility seats 1,000 people, and the Browns would like to see it at full capacity. “When players go into a gym and see that many people supporting them, that makes them feel like there’s nothing they

can’t accomplish,” Brown says. “It also sends a signal to our opponent that this community is behind this team.” If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a few hours on the weekend, come check out the Lyons. Parking is free. Concessions and merchandise are affordable. Fans can have a lot of fun for under $20. “We make sure everyone has a good time, win or lose, from the initial inception into the arena until the time they leave,” Brown says. “I think people will be surprised at the skill level and talent that’s associated with the Indiana Lyons.” This year the team will play a total of 25 games (14 at home and 11 on the road). For information about community programs, sponsorships, special nights, alumni games, internships and gameday opportunities, contact Tyrone Brown at tyronebrown@ indianalyons.com, and visit indianalyons.com.

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Struggling to stay active this winter? Doctors recommend that adults get 150 minutes of activity per week - a goal that can be hard to meet when the weather gets dreary. Staying active is important for your overall health, and can lower your blood pressure, improve your circulation, boost levels of good cholesterol and much more. These four tips will help you prepare for the cold days ahead.

Make a plan.

Establish a schedule to set yourself up for success. Many prefer to work out right before or after work or school, but decide what feels right for you. Start by thinking about activities you like to do, and see which can be modified to be done indoors or in cold weather. Then, create a routine that outlines what you’ll do on each day and for how long. Making a plan before working out often helps to keep you on track and focused on the activity you’re completing.

Make the small things count.

Whether its opting for the stairs instead of the elevator or parking farther than normal from a store’s entrance, it’s important to make the small things count during the winter months. If your day ends after the sun sets, taking a short walk outside during your lunch break may be the best opportunity to get your daily dose of vitamin D. Make sure to bundle up and dress in layers to stay dry and warm.

Check out online resources.

Today we have a world of resources at our fingertips. See what exercise videos can be found online, and get moving. You can even search for specific workouts like pilates, cycling and yoga. Many studios offer virtual training sessions that can be done from the comfort of your home with little to no equipment. Find what works best for you and you’ll be working out at home in no time.

Join a local gym or recreation center.

Joining a gym or recreation center gives you access to hundreds of training options. From free weights to treadmills and sometimes a pool, these centers give you the freedom of variety to work on all parts of your physical health. Many gyms offer a robust schedule of fitness classes for their patrons to sample. A quick search online will reveal what options are available in your area.

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THE POWER OF INTERPRETATION

Writer / Aaron Tevebaugh Photography Provided

As I look to my last year in office as an Avon town councilor, I have spent some time reflecting on the last seven years. Though I was able to have many moments of accomplishment that I am very proud of, there were also times when I made mistakes along the way. The good thing is that every time I fell short, I attempted to turn the situation into an opportunity for learning and growth. One area I spent a great deal of time learning from was the absolute power that interpretation has over our lives. The broad spectrum of interpretation has always been

at the top of my focus in the leadership development world. We know that conflict often manifests from miscommunication or misinterpretation of information, but is this something we can work to resolve or prevent? Our interpretations in life are based on our frame of reference, our values and beliefs, and our mindset. These create the lens for how we see the world. Have you ever wondered how it is possible that two people can receive the exact information, at the exact same time, in the exact same place, but have completely opposite opinions of what the information means or represents? Political debates are a good example of this. Regardless of your party or views, 30 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

how can two reporters from two different news affiliates watch the same debate and each declare a different candidate to be the winner? How we see the world and how we interpret the words and actions of others has a great deal to do with our ability to be successful. People are human and make mistakes constantly. Some of these are mistakes of the mind, while others are mistakes of the heart. Our mindset further guides how we view these situations. Using the age-old example of whether a cup is half empty or half full, our mindset determines, among many things, how we see others. Our ability to interpret situations and decide if the actions of others are intended to be

malicious impacts how we will react. When we believe we have become a victim and that others are responsible for doing us wrong, we go into blame mode to protect ourselves from any responsibility in the situation. Generally we do not see blaming others as releasing control of our lives, but think about this for just a minute. If we have zero accountability in a situation and the other party has 100%, what can we change to resolve the situation or prevent another from occurring? We have no ability to change or improve because we have unknowingly delegated all that authority to the other party through blame. A more effective alternative to blame is asking ourselves the question, “What part of this do I own?” Now that we have recovered authority for change, we must self-reflect to determine not so much a quantitative amount of ownership, but where exactly we went wrong in the situation. Unconditional self-accountability is probably the most powerful tool a person possesses in leadership. Because we only control what we can control, which is ourselves, we can only be responsible for our own actions. Unconditional selfaccountability can put the control of your life back in your hands, improve trust, and increase the effectiveness of a team’s operations in any situation.

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Can we work to see the world from a broader scope, slow down to think what an opposing party might be thinking or feeling, and strive to ask ourselves what part of any situation we may have ownership in, all while attempting to improve communication of our expectations to others? I believe the answer is yes to all of these. The actual question is, how high of a priority will you make this in your everyday life? Aaron Tevebaugh is a leadership development consultant, trainer, and the owner of Foundations of Leadership. Tevebaugh has been a member of the Avon Town Council since 2015. He can be reached at aarontevebaugh@gmail.com. TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / AVON MAGAZINE / 31

Writer / Kevin Carr Photography Provided

Perhaps no one is better suited to mentor and encourage others than someone who knows what it’s like, and who has endured difficulties and survived. Someone who has developed resilience, character and strength is someone you can trust to turn around and help you take steps to get to where they are. That’s the idea behind Rise, a reading and mentorship group for sixth-grade girls, created by Katherine Langford. The program has begun its third year at Avon Intermediate School (AIS) West and is quickly spreading to area school corporations. “Self-confidence is the greatest need I see in the lives of the girls I spend time with,” Langford says. “Self-confidence can either be the greatest obstacle or strength in a young girl’s life. It will affect her choices, her relationships, what she thinks she can or cannot do, and virtually every part of her life.” Langford has done her research. She points out studies from Harvard and Psychology Today reporting that teachers interact with boys 10% to 30% more than their female classmates, middle school girls are only half as likely as boys to admit that they like themselves, and 75% of girls between ages 14 to 19 feel like they are seen as a sexual object or feel unsafe at school. These facts drove Langford to action. As a lover of books and someone who has walked a mile in the shoes of the sixth-grade girls in the group, Langford is passionate about the mission of Rise. “By creating trust through a mentorship program, Rise inspires girls to see their worth and to lift each other up,” she says. “Rise uses literature as a springboard for young women to not only see the strength in others, but also for them to see that strength in themselves.” Langford has big plans for the group that include shortterm goals of increasing outside reading among participants,

strengthening participation in group discussions, and educating others about the importance of this type of activity for girls. Her long-term goals include expanding Rise to other schools (so far this includes Plainfield schools), training mentors to lead groups in other schools, and making a lasting impact on girls’ middle school experiences. She’s already making progress. “I’m in awe when I see the members of the group participating,” says AIS West Principal Amber Walters. “These are girls who in their classrooms lack the confidence to participate and engage, and could slip through the cracks, but they are participating eagerly in the discussions Katherine leads. She is an incredible person, and she has such a gift for helping the girls feel comfortable, engaging with them, and helping them see their true self-worth.” Rise meets at AIS West, and participants are nominated by their teachers and school administrators. Between each of the 12 sessions, the girls read a curated selection of books designed to help them discover who they are, strengthen their relationships, and make big contributions to the world around them. “In the past I’ve had to copy and distribute excerpts from books - passages I knew would be relevant and helpful,” Langford says. This year that won’t be necessary, because Avon Community School Corporation’s Mental Wellness Coordinator Krista Fay

32 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

has partnered with Langford to provide Project AWARE funds to purchase books for the participants. “What Katherine is doing is incredible,” Fay says. “The impact she is making on the young women she’s mentoring is exactly in line with the important work we are doing for the mental wellness of students across the district.” Fay notes that she sees in Langford a picture of what she hopes the young women in our district become - strong, creative, bold, self-assured, and focused on making our schools and community stronger and better by helping others. “I want to support what she is doing and see it be multiplied across and beyond Avon schools,” Fay says. Langford is already off to a strong start this fall, armed with her own passion and experience, the support of school and district administrators like Walters and Fay, and boxes full of books that will open the door to life-changing conversations for several young women. In a few years, no doubt inspired by Langford’s example, several of these young women will be ready to turn around and help other girls who are where they once were.

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / AVON MAGAZINE / 33

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ALL ABOUT ATHLETICS NICOLE ABERNATHY IS ENJOYING AJAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROLE Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by Raindancer Studios

Nicole Abernathy lived out many a Hoosier girl’s dream when she became a college cheerleader for Indiana University. Halfway through her collegiate career, however, she fell ill with chronic pancreatitis, a condition that typically plagues older individuals who suffer from alcoholism. As an otherwise healthy college sophomore, doctors were perplexed. “They didn’t know what to do with me,” Abernathy says. “It got to the point where I was told, ‘We don’t know when this next attack is going to kill you.’ ” One conclusion all experts agreed on was that she would be unable to bear children. “That was hard news to swallow,” Abernathy says. In 2008 she was presented with a glimmer of hope when her gastroenterologist told her about a promising surgeon in Minnesota who had helped a number of young girls who suffered from the same condition. He removed her pancreas and spleen, but warned her prior to the surgery that doing so would cause her to become diabetic. Something else happened that year that nobody saw coming. Abernathy got pregnant and gave birth to her son Jackson in 2009, making her one of two women in the world who has had a child with this illness. For 18 years Abernathy worked for an aerospace engineering firm, the last five as chief executive officer. In her free time she

Nicole Abernathy, AJAA Executive Director 36 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

volunteered with the Avon Junior Athletic Association (AJAA) because her son played on the Avon Baseball Club. She served on AJAA board for two years until the previous executive director left the position in the fall of 2020. In his absence, Abernathy stepped in to help out and was officially appointed as executive director in April of 2021. “I decided to completely flip my world upside down [by taking the job], and I’m so glad I did,” says Abernathy, who has been blown away by the intricate day-to-day details that accompany the position. “I don’t think people realize how many details go into getting a sports program kicked off and through. I certainly didn’t.”

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Abernathy lives by the mantra, “Seek first to understand.” “It’s so easy to make assumptions,” she says. “I ask people to just take the time to listen because those assumptions may be false. It adds a sense of understanding when you have knowledge of all those details.” Going forward, she strives to be proactive rather than reactive in nature. That’s why when she first started, she sent out a community survey to get a pulse on what people wanted. Many requested year-round basketball, so the AJAA leaders are looking into that. The AJAA can only function with volunteers. The lack of volunteers is what delays programs every year. “That was something I didn’t understand when I was a parent,” Abernathy says. “Every time a season kicked off and got delayed a little bit, I was like, ‘What’s going on? Why are they not organized?’ The ability to get coaches is so difficult.” The organization has also experienced a major shortage of umpires across the nation, and this predates COVID-19. Plainneld

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The AJAA staff and volunteers like to get involved in community activities as much as possible. For instance, when bridges and trees at the Avon Outdoor Learning Center were vandalized earlier this year, AJAA volunteers went out to scrub off the spray paint. In the fall when Avon High School experienced flooding, Abernathy’s team hustled over to the school to donate T-shirts for those who got drenched.

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The AJAA, which has been around since 1963, first started as a baseball league. Through the past 58 years, it has grown to include 4,000 children and 22 different programs. Basketball, which currently includes 1,100 kids, gets capped out early every year due to gym space. Besides basketball and football, other popular sports are rugby, junior runners and volleyball. When COVID-19 hit, the entire spring program shut down. Once winter sports rolled around, students got to play, but spectators weren’t allowed in the gyms. “It’s hard as a parent to not be involved in watching your kids play so their understanding and patience was appreciated,” Abernathy says. “There is so much we don’t have control over.” The pandemic has had a financial impact on the organization. “AJAA runs on a lot of donors and sponsorships, but our normal sponsors were unable to contribute because of their own circumstances,” Abernathy says.

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Besides teaching perspective and patience, COVID-19 was also a reminder for just how much sports can affect physical, emotional and mental well-being. The social aspect alone for kids can be significant. “I remember going to a T-ball game and watching kids in the dugout,” Abernathy says. “When they are around one another, their moods lighten and that’s exactly what they need right now - laughter and fun.” Six years ago Abernathy and her husband adopted Indy, an all-grey Great Dane, into their family. Earlier this year, they added to the family when they adopted Stella. “The dogs fill that void since I couldn’t have more children,” she says. “They are everything to me.”

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The family chose to adopt Stella when Abernathy suffered a health setback in the summer of 2021. “I’m a brittle diabetic, meaning that I don’t feel my lows until I pass out,” she says. “In June that happened when I was driving.”

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“I started to freak out knowing that Great Danes tend to live an average of five to seven years,” Abernathy says. As luck would have it, she learned of someone who had a Great Dane puppy in need of a new home. Enter Stella. “She’s a hot mess, but sometimes you need something light and fun in your life,” Abernathy says. “Indy and Stella make us laugh every day.” The Abernathys love to take their pooches to Washington Township Park and let them run around in the creek. Biking is another favorite activity. “During COVID we found a path to the Dairy Queen in Brownsburg,” Abernathy says. “We mapped it out and did that route often. It takes 24 minutes.”

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Biking for ice cream. Hoosier dreams continue. The AJAA offices are located at 866 South County Road 625 East in Avon. For more information, call 317-839-5480 or visit ajaaonline.com.

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