Avon Magazine July 2024

Stick-ing to It

Avon Lacrosse Club Continues to Attract

Participants

FRUITFUL FESTIVAL

BEASLEY’S ORCHARD REMAINS A LOCAL AND REGIONAL FAVORITE FOR UPCOMING SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL AND MUCH MORE

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Abigail

HER STORY

KYLA RUSSELL TALKS

JOURNALISM JOURNEY AND ROLE AT WISH-TV

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography WISH-TV & Provided

Avon since grade school. She attended Kingsway Christian School and then Covenant Christian High School, and today she is one of the faces you see reporting the news on Indianapolis television station WISH-TV.

Her path has taken her across the country, through some major events in history. Through a series of opportunities and her hard-working nature, she’s living the journalist’s dream.

Even Russell is surprised at how things have turned out.

“I thought I might want to go into journalism, but I didn’t entirely understand what that would look like,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed storytelling. My mom says my first interview was when the washing machine broke and

throughout her childhood, but it wasn’t until Russell was navigating her senior year of high school in 2020-2021 amid a global pandemic that she knew there was something more to her storytelling ambitions.

“Everyone was keyed in on the news,” she said. “We kept talking about all the numbers and the doom and gloom, and I really wanted to see the human component to these stories.”

More surprising and shocking moments were to come.

Before graduating high school, an internship brought Russell to Washington, D.C. She was there on January 6, during the U.S. Capitol attack.

“It’s a day you don’t forget,” she said. “It was a crazy moment. You’re witnessing the best and worst of journalism, and I could see how this work matters. It definitely led me to really want to get serious about journalism.”

She began her freshman year at

Taylor University and things just took off from there. Jumping in with both feet, Russell became the news editor for the school paper, The Echo, and a second internship in Washington, D.C., introduced her to the digital side of media - something she was able to bring back to college and implement at the paper.

As a sophomore at Taylor and editor in chief of The Echo, Russell launched a small, weekly broadcast component to the campus news.

It didn’t matter if the subject was a new local coffee shop opening or the aftermath of an attack on the U.S. Capitol; to Russell it was all important.

“At the end of the day, we’re all grown-up boys and girls that want to hear about something that matters in our community,” Russell said. “Media will always be around in some capacity and will always be necessary.”

She interned that summer with WISH-TV and was involved in covering the special legislative session, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and the mass shooting at Greenwood Park Mall.

“That was an impactful summer,” she said. “The girlfriend of the man who was dubbed the

good samaritan shooter was in Columbus and no one could get a hold of her. I was convinced she had a story to tell. I convinced one of the reporters to drive down there with me. After two or three days we found her, sat down and talked, and she agreed to an on-camera interview. I think we’re the only people she’s spoken to, to date.”

That motivation and drive caused leadership at WISH-TV to notice, and led to an offer for a semesterlong position with the digital news team. She knew it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

“Much to my mom’s surprise, I decided to not return to Taylor,” she said. “It was a huge leap of faith and uncharted territory.

I was on the assignment desk, getting experience in everything that happens in a newsroom.

I covered 25 shootings that semester. The best way to learn journalism is to do it.”

By the end of the summer she had decided to transfer to Indiana University to continue in the broadcast program. An apartment lease was signed and her belongings were packed, but another opportunity caused Russell to change course once again.

“I got an internship at CNN

in Atlanta and came back to work the summer at WISH-TV,” Russell said. “From there, I received an internship at NBC News for the entire school year. I was living in New York City and working at 30 Rock until April of this year.”

Every step of the way, the ambitious journalist continued taking college classes and learning everything she could about her field.

It didn’t take long before Russell had a chance encounter that brought her back home to where it all started. At a holiday party last year, Russell visited friends from WISH-TV and it led to a job offer: a three-year, on-camera contract for the Indianapolis station.

What does life look like today?

She’s still finishing her degree at IU (she’ll graduate in December) and working 70 hours a week for WISH-TV. It’s busy, but she wouldn’t want it any other way.

“It’s one of those things that in the

moment it’s rough, but it’s so worth it,” she said. “I think a lot of it is a God thing. I’ve worked hard, but these opportunities that keep knocking on my door are unbelievable.”

It doesn’t hurt that she’s back in her hometown, surrounded by friends and family - a gift she didn’t anticipate any time soon.

Most young journalists get their start in smaller towns with less notoriety. She’s 10 years younger than anyone else in the newsroom, yet she’s stepped into an impressive position before even having a diploma in hand.

“It was never on my radar to start in Indy because I’ve not seen that done,” she said. “I would never assume I’d waltz into a place and get every opportunity. I assumed I’d work hard and perhaps that would be rewarded, but this is amazing.”

Most importantly, Russell is working to bring accurate, honest and interesting stories to Indianapolis, and she knows she’s made the right decision.

“I think it’s exhilarating and scary,” she said. “I tell people all the time, a lot of us are adrenaline junkies and that can manifest in a thousand different ways, but for me, the rush is getting that story, doing it well, getting it out there and knowing it’s making an impact.”

From the 7-year-old girl asking the handyman a list of questions to paving her way to broadcast media, Russell is grateful for the road she’s on.

“Indianapolis is my favorite city in the world - the best city in the world in my opinion - and the surrounding areas are home to me,” she said. “I’m so immensely grateful for Avon and central Indiana. I couldn’t name a better place to grow up. I see it every day. There are good, hardworking, loving people, and it’s the best place.”

NATIONAL UV SAFETY MONTH

WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF MELANOMA

Writer / Dr. Lawrence Mark, Dermatologist at IU Health West

July is National UV Safety Month, a time to raise awareness about the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays and how to protect ourselves from them. One of the most significant risks associated with UV exposure is melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer. Understanding the importance of sun safety and taking preventive measures can greatly reduce your risk of developing melanoma.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, but it is also one of the most preventable. UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds is a major risk factor for melanoma. UV radiation damages the DNA in skin cells, leading to mutations that can cause these cells to grow out of control and form cancerous tumors.

BEHAVIORS CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF MELANOMA.

Reducing the risk of melanoma starts with protecting your skin from UV radiation. Here are some tips to help you stay safe in the sun:

1. USE SUNSCREEN: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed skin, even on cloudy days. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

2. SEEK SHADE: Limit your time in direct sunlight, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest. Seek shade under trees, umbrellas or canopies.

3. WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Cover up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Dark, tightly woven fabrics offer the best protection.

4. AVOID TANNING BEDS:

harmful UV radiation that can increase your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. Opt for sunless tanning products instead.

5. CHECK YOUR SKIN REGULARLY:

monthly self-exams to look for any changes in the size, shape or color of moles or other skin lesions. If you notice anything suspicious, see a dermatologist promptly.

SCREENINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

In addition to these preventive measures, regular skin cancer screenings are important. These screenings can detect melanoma in its early stages when it’s most treatable. During a skin exam, a dermatologist will carefully examine your skin for any signs of skin cancer and discuss any concerns you may have.

EARLY DETECTION IS KEY. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving the prognosis of melanoma. If caught early, melanoma is highly treatable, with a five-year survival rate of around 99% for localized melanoma. However, if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the prognosis is much poorer.

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STICK-ING TO IT

AVON LACROSSE CLUB CONTINUES TO ATTRACT PARTICIPANTS

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography / Simply Photos

t began as a Native American contest in as early as the 12th century. By the early 1900s, the game had spread across Canada and the United States as high

But Lacrosse didn’t come to Hendricks County until 2014.

You may have driven by a field and wondered what the teens were playing with their helmets, pads and sticks. Those men and women would likely tell you that they, too, were curious, and once they gave it a try, they were hooked.

It’s a high-energy sport for both men and women, and the object of the game is to shoot the solid rubber ball into the opponent’s goal. The stick can be used to catch, carry and pass the ball. The team with the most points wins.

It’s sort of like a mix between all the sports you’re familiar with, rolled into one fast-moving, exhilarating game.

Boys and girls games are played slightly differently.

Boys, coached by Mitch Molloy, have 10 players: a goalie, three attack positions, three midfield positions and three defenders. Girls, coached by Ronn Mesarosh, have 12 players, adding a player for both attack and defense.

The Avon Lacrosse Club was brought to the town in

2017 by founders Mesarosh and Mike Griffin.

Mesarosh’s daughters attended a 2014 clinic in Brownsburg and fell in love with the sport.

As the Brownsburg youth team grew, it was recommended the ladies from Avon branch off to form a new team, including Mesarosh and Griffin’s daughters, and the two fathers began the program.

Though fairly new to Avon, the sport is growing and offers plenty of opportunities for youth to get involved.

“It’s not yet sanctioned through IHSAA so it’s still considered a club, but that also means it’s open,” said Tiffany Green, Avon girls lacrosse assistant coach. “If you’ve played other sports or never played a sport, you can come out and learn.”

It’s an opportunity to learn more about the sport before it becomes official - something many Indiana coaches hope is just around the corner.

There are currently 60 boys varsity programs and 40 girls varsity programs in the state, and in the past three years the Indiana Girls Lacrosse Association has added eight new teams.

“If you don’t know someone who has played it can feel strange because we haven’t seen lacrosse as much as some of the other sports, but once you learn about it, you want to become more involved,” Green said.

Green found lacrosse in her Ohio high school and went on to play in college, even participating in a women’s adult league in the northwest after college.

Molloy found the sport in a similar fashion. “I was someone who played every sport growing up,” Molloy said. “A lot of my friends started

lacrosse the year before and seemed to really enjoy it, so I signed up in the sixth grade. From the first practice I was hooked.”

For those who have found it, it’s not uncommon to continue their lacrosse journey to college and beyond. Many members of the Avon boys and girls lacrosse clubs have gone

on to college while continuing their pursuit of the game. Colleges such as DePauw University, Indiana University, Purdue University and others offer lacrosse teams.

Gretta Mesarosh graduated from Anderson University having playing lacrosse for four years, and even returned to Avon to as a varsity assistant coach.

“I was initially drawn to the uniqueness of lacrosse,” she said. “I love the competitive nature of the game and how much I’ve been able to be a part of a growing sport.”

Once she graduated, Mesarosh essentially aged out of lacrosse programs in Indiana and found that coaching allowed her to pass on her knowledge and love for the game.

“I love that I now have the hindsight and knowledge to help show girls what I didn’t know at their age,” she said. “I have loved getting to know the young women on the

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team, and it has been so cool watching something you’ve coached translate onto the field and watch them all improve. It has reconnected me with lacrosse in ways I never expected, and it’s very exciting to continue to see where it goes.”

In addition, scholarships are available for athletes who want to continue playing in college through the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

“Indiana coaches need players and it’s definitely a good option for sport scholarship opportunities,” Green said. “As a club, we also offer the Noah Pillow Scholarship, covering the cost for players who might not be able to participate due to registration fees.”

They practice in the fall and then participate in the spring competitive season, often putting in two hours per day of practice and nearly 20 games per season - and they’re successful too. The Avon girls team won the 2019 Great Midwest Bearpaw Shootout, winter Max Lax

2022 and winter 2024 Max Lax junior varsity division.

The Avon boys team was runner-up in the Max Lax junior varsity division twice in the past five years, and have risen in the ranks, from 50th to 19th in the state.

As with most sports, the athletes learn far more than just playing a game.

“I think all team sports require you to work with others,” Green said. “This game is very fluid so you learn to predict and adjust accordingly, adapt and read people so you can be where you need to be for your teammates.”

Whether someone is looking for a new sport or is a multi-sport athlete, a lot of skills from other sports transfer to the lacrosse field, and the benefits are similar too.

“I look for guys who have played multiple sports other than lacrosse,” Molloy said.

“Lacrosse pulls skills from a lot of other sports, and having an athletic IQ is huge to being a successful lacrosse player.”

If nothing else, the benefits of participating in a team sport builds character, confidence and teaches more than athletes may realize.

“They learn a lot about themselves,” Green said. “It’s amazing to watch kids come in and

not know the sport at all, and there might be some fear there because it’s new and different - but the growth that happens and watching how they start to trust themselves and gain confidence is amazing.”

As the sport continues to grow, interested athletes will find summer camps, clinics and additional teams popping up around the county.

Tox-Away Day

JUL Y 2 27 | 8 A M-1P M

Hickory Elementary School 907 Avon Avenue, Avon

Hendricks County households are encouraged to use Tox-Away Days to recycle and dispose of chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, medicines, medical sharps, tires, electronics, and appliances. Regulations prohibit wastes from businesses or other organizations from being accepted at Tox-Away Days.

Fees are charged for the recycling of TVs ($20/$25), appliances ($5/$10), and certain tires. Cash and check only.

Call ( 317 ) 858 - 6070 or visit RecycleHendricksCounty.org formoreinformation.

The USA Lacrosse Experience will come to Indianapolis from October 11 to 13. Watch a game, participate in educational and training opportunities, and meet local coaches and players.

Follow the Avon Lacrosse Club on Facebook and Instagram for details on upcoming clinics and other events.

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FRUITFUL FESTIVAL

BEASLEY’S ORCHARD REMAINS A LOCAL AND REGIONAL FAVORITE FOR UPCOMING SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL AND MUCH MORE

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Have you ever seen a field of sunflowers?

It’s the sort of thing seen on a road trip when you pull the car over and snap a few pictures. Now, Beasley’s Orchard is giving residents a chance to enjoy sunflowers close to home.

Beasley’s Orchard is a third-generation farm in Danville, started by Milton and Irene Beasley in 1946. Over the years, what began as a livestock farm on 80 acres eventually became a 165-acre agritourism destination.

By the 1980s families were taking trips to Beasley’s each fall to enjoy a traditional hayride and U-pick pumpkins in preparation for Halloween. In 1986 the first Heartland Apple Festival was held on the farm and quickly became a community tradition.

When the youngest generation of Beasleys came home from college in 2015, there was a huge shift to invest in agritourism, and in fact the family was one of the first in central Indiana to adopt the agritourism business model.

It seems like every year something new is added, from U-pick opportunities to festival days. The annual Sunflower Festival is a threeweek event in late July or early August.

“We started the Sunflower Festival in 2020,” said Jim Finley, marketing manager. “We wanted something fun for guests that would arrive a little earlier than our well-known fall season.”

Residents in Hendricks County and visitors across the state welcomed the addition wholeheartedly. More than 10,000 people

typically visit over the three weekends. This year Beasley’s will be open throughout the week for the sunflowers too. The vast fields are something to behold, if for no other reason than to see them, but there are other benefits as well.

“There are over eight acres of sunflower blooms,” Finley said. “They get to be four and a half feet tall, and I think just scanning over the tops of all of those flowers amazes people. Most of them are yellow but we also have red, orange and multicolored flowers. It’s hard to have a bad time when you’re surrounded by a bunch of sunflowers.”

Visitors can cut one sunflower free with the cost of a ticket, but there are options to pick a bouquet in the unlimited stem bucket for an additional fee.

Like much of the agricultural world, the Beasley’s staff members don’t know exactly when the bloom will happen until a week or two ahead of time, so things often happen quickly, from announcing the festival to lastminute entertainment. What they know for

sure is the festival includes highly anticipated activities visitors look forward to year after year.

Thousands want to have their photo taken against the beautiful backdrop of sunflowers and sunset, or the clear blue sky and colors of yellow, green and more.

Given the wild popularity of photo opportunities, Beasley’s has made a little change to the usual guidelines regarding photography. Typically, professional photographers are required to schedule and pay a fee for use of the farm. For the Sunflower Festival, it’s fair game.

“We ask that everyone pays their admission and photographers are welcome,” Finley said. “It’s not uncommon for photographers to have three or four sessions per day and we want to keep it easy for everyone.”

In addition, the sunflower event will bring all of the fun expected for fall festivals.

“There will be food trucks, beer and wine

INVEST IN YOURSELF

vendors, snacks, and the Barnyard Bonanza will be open,” Finley said.

The Barnyard Bonanza features the jumbo jumping pillow, sports target toss, cornhole, apple cannons and other activities for the entire family.

In addition, the Civil War-era Barn Market will be open, and will feature homegrown produce from the farm as well as locally sourced produce, including homemade apple cider (an award winner), homemade baked goods and more.

“It’s quite a bit of maintenance,” Finley added. “We’re fertilizing, watering and weeding during the hot summer season. Every aspect of the farm takes a lot of maintenance. Mother Nature often has her own game plan so that can be a challenge.”

All of the maintenance and care put forth at the farm will pay off as Beasley’s moves into the fall season.

The popular U-Pick season begins in late May

and June with U-pick strawberries. In June and July visitors can participate in U-pick raspberries. The sunflowers then emerge along with U-pick apples by mid-August.

They’re particularly looking forward to apple picking season.

“There are multiple reasons to visit the farm all year long,” Finley said. “Over the past three years the farm was severely impacted by a late spring frost. It sort of diminished the apple crop. This year we did not have that late front so we’re excited that the apple crop looks phenomenal. I think we’ll have more apple picking than we’ve ever had in 2024.”

Also new this year, the fall festivities will begin a week earlier than usual on September 14. Opening weekend is September 14 and 15, and will include hayrides, a trip to the pumpkin patch, the popular corn maze with a bicentennial theme, apple cannons, straw mountain and

other Barnyard Bonanza activities.

Hometown Heroes will return on September 21 and 22, with a focus on expressing thanks to local first responders and military personnel. Those men and women receive free admission and their immediate family members receive 50% off of admission.

The Heartland Apple Festival is September 28 and 29, and October 5 and 6. Enjoy two full weekends featuring live music, craft vendors, balloon magic, face painting and other activities.

Dog Daze at the Maze is October 12 and 13, and brings furry four-legged friends to the farm. The weekend includes pet costume contests, talent shows and local animal rescue groups.

Finally, Halloween festivities will be on the horizon, October 19 and 20, and October 26 and 27, with pumpkin carving contests,

pumpkin picking, candy giveaways and costume contests.

Even when the fall comes to a close, visitors can still catch Christmas at the Orchard, offering a special holiday-themed event. It makes Beasley’s a go-to location, more than six months of the year.

Finley said one of their most common questions is regarding the four-legged family members in our lives. Beasley’s is pet friendly. Just keep your furry friends on a leash and pick up after them.

“Our slogan is ‘Harvesting Family Memories,’” Finley said. “When you do all of this hard work and then see the customers come out and truly enjoy the farm, it makes it all worth it.”

Visit beasleys-orchard.com for more information or to purchase tickets.