Boone County Magazine March 2022

MAGAZINE

MARCH 2022

MAKING THE CALL VETERAN IHSAA, BIG TEN AND NFL OFFICIAL MARK BALTZ TALKS LOVE OF THE GAME

FEELING LUCKY

Lebanon Leprechauns Basketball Team Set to Launch

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café Makes Customers Feel at Home

TownePost.com

A LETTER FROM WHITESTOWN TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENT Welcome to Whitestown! As always, one of my favorite things to say. I enjoy getting a chance to welcome new people to our town.

Our community has seen growth across the board for the last several years, and we are always excited to share the good news!

As the Boone County Magazine expands to all corners of our county, we here in Whitestown would love to show you all what we have going on. Our economic development is still leading the way in Boone County with significant amounts of new investment announced this last year.

Over the next three years, the construction and completion of the Homefield Youth Development will be a game changer!

We also have a number of community activities year-round. Whether you like to get a taste for the past with our Viking Fest; enjoy an exciting Patriotic evening with our Independence Day Fireworks on July 3rd; or getting into the festive spirit with our events like Easter Egg Hunt, Brewfest in the fall, or Santa’s Workshop in the winter; we have an event for everyone. This year we will even be rolling out new events from our Parks Department including a 5K and Superheroes in the Park. We also boast a wonderful splash pad at our Main Street Park, along with a number of other parks around town.

I know our community is in a great place and great shape right with all of our planning and preparation. Be sure to follow the Town of Whitestown on social media to see all we have planned for 2022. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Clinton Bohm Town Council President

A LETTER FROM THORNTOWN TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENT Hello and welcome to the Town of Thorntown, one of the most desirable, rural places to live in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area. Thorntown is located in the Northwest Corner of Boone County, Indiana, at the corner of SR 47 and SR 75. We are just a 45-minute drive to Indianapolis and 45-minute drive to Lafayette, but you wouldn’t know it when you arrive. Thorntown is blessed to be situated in a rural portion of the metro. As a result, our community’s small-town culture is still very much alive. The award-winning Western Boone School System serves Thorntown, and Thorntown Elementary School is located within the town’s boundary. In addition, the town is home to the Tom Johnson Memorial Park, Sugar Creek Arts Center, Big Four Trail, Carnegie

Library, and special community events such as the Thorntown/Sugar Creek Annual Fish Fry Fundraiser and Festival of the Turning Leaves. But one of the most extraordinary things about Thorntown, which I love the most about our community, is our people and their pride in their community. All that Thorntown is and will become is rooted in our people’s talents, dedication, and hard work. If you already live in our town, thank you for the value you bring to our community! If you are considering a relocation soon or out and about and considering a visit, please do! Please stop by one of our fabulous boutiques, such as The Bargain Boutique or Wyld Roots, and enjoy a unique dining experience at The Farmers Table or Stookey’s Restaurant. If you’re just passing through, make sure to check out

our incredible carry-out dining option with J.C. Cocina, located behind Sugar Creek Art Center. I can assure you that you will be glad that you did.

With kind regards, Sara Fairfield Thorntown Town Council President

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CONNECT BOONE COUNTY NOW LIVE

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL THINGS VOLUNTEER RELATED The Community Foundation of Boone County (CFBC) has been pouring into local Boone County communities for the past 30 years. Since 1991, CFBC has granted out more than $28 million to address local, unmet needs. In 2021 alone, CFBC collectively and collaboratively granted $1.1 million to impact several areas of need, including developing local trails, delivering warm meals to elderly and others in need, helping single parents with nowhere else to turn, offering mental health therapy programs, and supporting scholars pursuing multiple types of degrees and careers.

CFBC recently received grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. to focus on community engagement, community surveying, and responding to the survey results in a way that the Foundation is positioned to lead our community. The common need identified in the community surveys is something CFBC continues to hear from nonprofits and residents: the desire for a centralized hub to connect our local communities. “We want local residents to feel included in local opportunities that exist right here in Boone County, have a voice in our collective future, reach their own potential, and know that a broader community outside their circle of friends and family cares about them”, says Jodi Gietl, CFBC President & CEO. “We believe this will happen through Connect Boone County!”

The Community Foundation of Boone

County is proud to announce the launch of Connect Boone County, a website and mobile application for all things volunteer related and a one stop shop to connect nonprofits with volunteers. Connect Boone County exists to unite local nonprofits with local resources. “Being able to have volunteer opportunities, nonprofit events, and nonprofit needs (both monetary & in kind donations) all in one place is going to help the forward movement of Boone County”, says Gietl. “We believe in the power of bringing people together. We can now connect people, philanthropy, and organizations both physically and digitally.”

CFBC engages the community, invests in people, programs, and organizations, and leads a vision for collaborative solutions.

In 2022, Boone County residents will see CFBC 1- launching Connect Boone County, 2- supporting the continued growth of The Big 4 Trail, bisecting the urban and rural landscape of Boone County - connecting us all, and 3- awarding milestone impact grants to address local unmet needs in the areas of arts & culture, community development, disabled, education, elderly, human & health services, mental health, scholarships, and youth development. “Our 220+ funds award grants to nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in Boone County by contributing to the development of each community, addressing community needs, and investing in solutions that strengthen and improve our community”, says Gietl.

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CONNECT “Over the past few years, we’ve truly focused on making a large impact in different ways, such as awarding $150,000 in surprise grants to the local 3 public school corporations to help with COVID response, bringing two new murals to the towns of Advance and Jamestown, and injecting over $1 million every year into this county we call home.”

Connect with us today to get involved!

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BOONE COUNTY

Since 1991, the Community Foundation of Boone County has granted over $28 million from its various funds to nonprofit organizations and programs working to solve critical challenges in Boone County.

Through the generosity of donors, the Community Foundation currently holds over $30 million in net assets. In the past 30 years, we have worked with donors to create permanent funds for charitable giving. The establishment and growth of permanent endowment funds will strengthen Boone County for generations to come.

A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR OF ZIONSVILLE shops, restaurants and businesses within one convenient corner of town. Head a few miles west on Oak Street for more shopping, dining and retail options.

If you prefer a walk in the woods, venture out to one of our many nature trails that enable visitors to experience our community’s natural beauty preserved in corporate parks, neighborhoods and along riverbanks. With 500+ acres of parks and a variety of amenities, it will not take long to see that our recreational and special event opportunities are geared toward every walk of life.

Zionsville is home to a thriving, growing business community.

When the school bell rings and the workday concludes, the Village Business District transitions from the place to find the perfect gift or bottle of wine into a remarkable selection of dining and recreation options. Come spend an evening with Little League baseball and softball teams playing in Lions Park until after dark, with residents walking their dogs on pathways and trails and with visitors exploring our vibrant community.

On behalf of the Town of Zionville, we welcome Boone County Magazine (formerly Zionsville Magazine) to our local publication assets. As you read the stories within this publication, and learn more about our community retailers, restaurants and amenities, I invite you to explore all that Zionsville offers.

Grab a meal, coffee or dessert from one of our many distinctive restaurants in the heart of downtown Zionsville and then take a stroll through our Main Street shopping area. In the span of one city block, you can learn how to crochet, stomp grapes and find a one-of-a-kind antique or handmade gift. If you are starting a project, find the right tools and expert advice at our family owned and operated local hardware store in Boone Village, plus other local

Home to five (soon to be six) elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, Zionsville is approximately 70 square miles big. But you would never guess our size based on the charming identity we have maintained through decades of growth and changes. We are the proud home to the businesses and organizations you will see featured in this publication. As a community, we strive to strike a balance of embracing innovative growth and protecting the sense of place our residents cherish.

I look forward to reading the stories about our residents, businesses and schools within this publication. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office to share your story.

Mayor Emily Styron

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Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café Makes Customers Feel at Home

Lebanon Leprechauns Basketball Team Set to Launch

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

FEELING LUCKY

GRAPHIC DESIGNER ROBBY BERRY

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COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS

Lebanon Holds Special Place in Owners’ Hearts

Schakolad Chocolate Factory Opens in New Location

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MEET YOU AT ARNI’S

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Veteran IHSAA, Big Ten and NFL Official Mark Baltz Talks Love of the Game

The Cabin Counseling & Resource Center Opens New Location in Lebanon

MAKING THE CALL

PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH

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A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR OF LEBANON beautiful parks, and welcoming new businesses, neighborhoods and residents, Lebanon’s next chapter is certainly worth telling. I have no doubt that the years ahead will be prosperous ones for our City.

New amenities like the Waterford Neighborhood and the Lebanon Fieldhouse will both be monumental additions to our community.

Waterford is a 2,100-acre, mixed-use development that will include a 27-hole golf course and luxury living, while the Lebanon Fieldhouse will be a premiere location for indoor athletics.

Planned development is being coupled with the City’s desire to improve existing attractions. Lebanon’s trail system is being enhanced. The city’s portion of The Big 4 Trail will extend from one side the city to the other, moving closer to the goal of the trail stretching from Lafayette to Indianapolis. Lebanon’s more than 130 acres of parks continue to be upgraded. An ADA playground, new lighting, fishing and boating opportunities, as well as a community meeting space are all in the works!

Lebanon, Indiana, the county seat of Boone County, has had, and will continue to have a captivating story to tell. I for one am thankful that Boone County Magazine is willing to serve as one of our City’s authors. Lebanon has incorporated “This Is Home” into its everyday conversations because Lebanon IS “home” to; wonderful people, quality schools, available jobs for all skill levels, and wide-ranging events that are fun for the entire family!

Lebanon is a great place to raise a family. It’s where my wife and I have chosen to raise ours. Thank you, Boone County Magazine, for settling down in Lebanon, and calling our community “home.”

I look forward to Boone County Magazine’s wonderful blend of crisp stories and expressive images being shared throughout this wonderful county – and beyond!

During my time as Mayor, improving the lives of those who call Lebanon “home” has always been my number one priority. From the revitalization of our downtown, helping improve the quality of our roads and sidewalks, helping make significant upgrades to our

6 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

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TASTE THE DIFFERENCE HOMEMADE ICE CREAM & BAKERY CAFÉ MAKES CUSTOMERS FEEL AT HOME Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

Walking into Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café, located on North Michigan Road, is a lot like stepping into your grandma’s kitchen - the aromas, the pies in the oven, the leather couch and lounge chairs, the fireplace ablaze and the view onto the pond. Everything is neat and clean, and the table is set with ceramic plates and silverware.

It’s the holidays at Homemade Café.

Charles Hensley, chief executive officer of Homemade Cafés, LLC, says he’s glad customers feel that way. He’s also happy the new Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café has turned out to be a great new addition to the chain of successful businesses.

“We opened on August 2, 2021,” Hensley says. “Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café [homemadecafes.com] is a brand-new concept. Many people are starting to call us ‘Homemade.’ We tried to create a brand that kept all the very popular dessert products from our Pie Kitchen concept [piekitchen. com] that has been operating in Louisville for over 30 years. We wanted to combine

it with a menu of quality soups, salads and sandwiches based on what we learned when we brought McAlister’s Deli to central Indiana back in 2003.”

Hensley adds that until his team sold their McAlister’s Deli restaurants in 2015, the deli concept was extremely popular, with a wide variety of quality products that people enjoyed, combined with an emphasis on friendly service.

“We wanted to combine the best of those two brands - a popular assortment of great food products mixed with quick and friendly service - and operate the concept out of a very comfortable bakery cafe environment,” Hensley says. “We think we accomplished our goals.”

The Zionsville/Carmel/Village of WestClay location on the Michigan Road retail corridor fits in perfectly with the company’s future plans.

“Zionsville is a great place to conduct business, with very favorable residential and business demographics,” Hensley says.

“The quality of the area, combined with the favorable attributes of the specific location, were instrumental in making the decision to TownePost.com / MARCH 2022 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / 9

open in Zionsville.”

Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café can be somewhat hard to see from Michigan Avenue traveling north or south. Just focus on the east side of the road while approaching Weston Pointe Drive and Michigan Road.

Hensley believes customers will appreciate the wide variety of menu options at Homemade.

“I think what people will grow to enjoy from their local Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café is the variety and quality of baked goods and desserts that you don’t find in a normal bakery or grocery store,” Hensley says. “It’s like seeing jewelry in a jewelry store when you walk into our store, and immediately see our glass display cases full of fresh-made fruit and meringue pies, layer cakes, cookies and pastries.”

Homemade has trained bakers who are busy working in front of guests, keeping the display cases full of fresh desserts and the atmosphere filled with delicious aromas.

“The bakers designed their recipes to resemble what your grandmother may have

made back in a time when baking in the home was more commonplace,” Hensley says. “I remember my mother making tasty chocolate meringue pies for special occasions, or my grandmother always having an apple or blueberry pie on the counter to enjoy. Homemade offers items that you can’t find everywhere. If you want a loaf of bread or a doughnut, you won’t find it at Homemade. We offer those items that you enjoy but seem to never find time to make yourself.”

The Homemade staff simply wants to produce food and desserts that are affordable, taste great, are consistent, and remind customers of home and family.

“Although the prices we pay for our quality ingredients and skilled labor seem to be increasing daily, we have engineered our products with the hope to keep prices affordable for our guests,” Hensley says.

Homemade is also a very cozy place.

“We designed the restaurant to be a comfortable place to sit and relax by yourself, in a lounge chair, in front of the fireplace or with family, eating on our patio overlooking the pond,” Hensley says. “Our Zionsville store has a large folding door that can open up to the patio when the weather cooperates. We hope the smell of freshbaked cookies, pies or croissants creates a pleasant environment to enjoy your slice of pie, coffee, or soup and sandwich.”

Hensley says the desserts are very popular.

“Our top seller at our Pie Kitchen stores in Louisville is the Caramel Dutch Apple pie,” he says. “You can ask for it to be heated and include a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It will become one of your favorites. People enjoy our Chocolate, Coconut, and Lemon Meringue pies. Our cakes have been very popular.”

Hensley adds that the ice cream is as close to homemade as customers will find.

“We make it just like your grandfather may have made it, with milk, cream and sugar,” he says. “We don’t include eggs like our

competitors. As a result, the texture is still very creamy but slightly icier than others serve. I happen to enjoy it more than the heavy ice cream that others serve.”

Hensley stresses that Homemade’s menu is new.

“The Chicken Croissant sandwich is very popular as well as the French Dip,” Hensley says. “I don’t want to use the standard slices of roast beef for our French Dip. I prefer the beef to be quality, pulled pot roast. We marinate the beef overnight to enhance the flavor. We also have several soups and salads that are popular and are served with a freshbaked croissant. Also, we make Buckeyes daily, along with Cake Drops that are very popular for parties and events.”

Hensley has his own personal menu favorites.

“My personal favorites are the Caramel Dutch Apple pie with a scoop of ice cream, both Chess pies, a slice of German Chocolate, Strawberry or Carrot cake, the French Dip, Homemade Club sandwich, and the California Chicken salad,” he says.

“My all-time favorite from our store is the Butter Pecan ice cream. I love the soft texture, and rarely return to Indy from Louisville without a pint of Butter Pecan to eat on the road. I’ll put it this way - if I get across the Ohio River bridge before the pint is finished, I must have taken an important phone call. It’s great.”

Andy Vasiento, who handles marketing and media for Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café, says the people of Zionsville have been great.

“We continue to build sales, and the initial reviews have been very positive,” Vasiento says. “We hope to become one of their favorite places to eat or grab a dessert over time.”

The holidays are traditionally big weeks for pie stores. Vasiento expects the same for Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café.

“If you are considering a pie, cake or other dessert for the holidays, please contact the

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store and place an order,” Vasiento says.

“Demand will likely be high. Without preordering, don’t assume we will have your favorite item in stock. It’s safer to call the store and place an order for you to simply pick up when you need it.”

Vasiento encourages customers to check out the official website at homemadecafes.com.

He also encourages seniors and retirees to consider working at Homemade, as a great way to spend some time, meet new friends, have some fun and make some vacation money.

“Please check it out and watch our new online ordering system, rewards club, and mobile application to launch very soon,” he says. “We will also have the ability to sell gift cards very soon.”

Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Café is located at 10875 North Michigan Road in Zionsville. For more info, call 317-210-9496 or visit homemadecafes.com.

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GOVERNOR HOLCOMB TO MEET WITH ZIONSVILLE AREA BUSINESS LEADERS AT TRADERS POINT CREAMERY Already, Gov. Holcomb is moving our state forward. He led the way for the largest longterm infrastructure investment in our state’s history with the 20-year Next Level Roads program,

The Zionsville Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Governor Eric J. Holcomb will be the guest of honor on April 18th from 1-2pm at Traders Point Creamery in Zionsville. This ‘fireside chat’ style of event will allow Gov. Holcomb to answer questions presented in advance by attendees.

“We are delighted to welcome Gov. Holcomb to Zionsville to meet with our business leaders,” says Allyson Gutwein, Executive Director of the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce. “This style of event allows interaction between the Governor and the business community that our organization represents. We appreciate his involvement and interest in the Zionsville region and the strong businesses in our area.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb is the 51st Governor of Indiana.

A lifelong Hoosier, Gov. Holcomb is a veteran of the United States Navy, served as the state’s 51st Lt. Governor. He was elected governor in November 2016 and was sworn in on January 9, 2017.

The Zionsville Chamber is pleased to welcome back Brick Street Market on May 7th from 10am to 4pm. This annual artisan fair welcomes vendors from across the central Indiana region. Join us for handmade crafts, food trucks and great live

which will invest $4.7 billion for roads and bridges in the first five years alone. To meet our state’s rapidly changing workforce needs, he unveiled the Next Level Jobs program to help get more Hoosiers into high-demand, high-wage jobs.

He and his wife, Janet, live with their dog, Henry, and cat, Topper, in the Governor’s Residence on North Meridian Street in Indianapolis.

Those interested in attending may register at www.zionsvillechamber.org

He has a mission to make Indiana competitive in the global economy by “bringing the world to Indiana and taking Indiana to the world.” So far, the governor has met with officials and industry leaders in the United Kingdom, Japan, Hungary, France, Qatar and more to showcase Indiana’s assets and build global economic ties.

Throughout his career in service, he has earned a reputation of being a consensus builder. He has traveled extensively throughout the state—talking with folks wherever he goes about how to make Indiana an even better place to live, work, play, study and stay. music. Interested in more about the fair or would you like to become a vendor? Find the link here: www.tinyurl.com/2p86numx Starting this year the Zionsville Chamber, along with AxiaTP and the Zionsville RISE Foundation, have started the STEMz Project. This free educational, hand-on training in STEM education is designed to create a connection between STEM education and the jobs available in the Zionsville region. Participants will be able to build a micro-cart and race the carts for prizes in the Summer of 2022. For more information, go to www.stemzproject.com

12 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

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MEET YOU AT ARNI’S LEBANON HOLDS SPECIAL PLACE IN OWNERS’ HEARTS Writer / Julie Yates Photographer / Jon Ellegood

Arni’s restaurants have been a Hoosier favorite for more than 50 years. Arni Cohen opened the first location in 1965 at Market Square Shopping Center in Lafayette.

Today, his sons Brad and Kurt Cohen are co-owners of the 19 Arni’s locations throughout central and southern Indiana.

Three of the restaurants are franchises, while the Cohens own the other 16. The

family also owns Linarco Distributing, a facility that produces and distributes Arni’s products. However, the Arni’s in Lebanon holds a special place in the family’s heart.

“Lebanon is a great city and location,” Brad Cohen says. “The Arni’s here started out as a franchise. When that franchisee wanted out, we bought it back in 2007. It was important to us that we could continue to maintain and offer our restaurant to the community in such an excellent town. Being in Lebanon

is just great in itself, but the restaurant here is in a fun, old building. We really appreciate the customers. We have a solid business that works - good store, good food and good service.”

Cohen calls Arni’s an “enhanced pizza place,” but it actually offers customers much more. Besides pizza, the menu includes appetizers, salads, burgers, subs, strombolis, soups, pastas and sides. Also available are bottomless soft drinks and indulgent desserts.

“Our most popular pizza ordered is pepperoni and sausage,” Cohen says.

“Nationally, pepperoni is actually the number-one topping choice for any brand, but I feel like our pepperoni is amazing. It’s one of a kind. If you’ve never had one of our pizzas, start there.”

“Although we are most noted for our pizza, a second thing we are famous for is our Arni’s Junior salad,” he continues. “It’s like a chef salad but with chopped ham, turkey and lettuce. We use our own cheese blend, and we offer a variety of dressing but five are still homemade dressings. There’s a lot of folklore about why the Arni’s Junior salad is so awesome. Some might claim it’s

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the cheese or the dressing or the size of the chop, or all of those combined. Even kids who never eat salads love it.”

Monster dessert, constructed of chocolate chip cookies, chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

Arni’s legendary pizza starts with 100% real Wisconsin cheese, with the addition of as many toppings as desired. Patrons can get specialties such as the Hawaiianinspired Maui Zowie, with pineapple, ham, pepperoni and barbecue sauce, or the White Wedding, which features Alfredo sauce, Italian cheeses, bacon and tomato. Sizes available are 7”, 10” and 14”.

This location offers takeout, as well as dine-in with seating for nearly 200 people.

A separate area is also available for more private gatherings. A full menu is accessible on the official website.

For people who want a bigger size than the Arni’s Junior salad, there is also an Arni’s Senior salad with the same great ingredients only larger. Among the seven other salads included on the menu are the Rio Grande BBQ Chicken Salad and the Southern Fried Chicken Salad.

Orders are shipped via UPS, and the cost includes a packing and shipping fee.

“During the 20-plus years of being in Lebanon, we have been active in the community that has been so good to us,” Cohen says. “We do Dine to Donate nights, sponsorships, and have supported a lot of nonprofit organizations and philanthropies.

We employ a lot of local kids. Lebanon has been awesome and we are grateful for their support.”

Arni’s devotees who have moved away from Indiana can take advantage of the restaurant’s willingness to ship nationwide.

To satisfy cravings for Arni’s unique pizza Arni’s is located at 202 West Washington and sandwiches, interested customers can Street in Lebanon. For more info, call 765call 765-447-1108 to get the process started. 485-2764 or visit meetyouatarnis.com.

The rest of the menu truly has something for everyone. More than a dozen appetizers, such as the Garlic Bread with Cheese and the Mac & Cheese Bites, are perfect for sharing. More than two dozen handheld choices of different hamburgers, subs, strombolis and sandwiches ensure there is something even the pickiest of eaters can enjoy. Kids love the family-sized Cookie TownePost.com / MARCH 2022 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / 15

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MAKING THE CALL VETERAN IHSAA, BIG TEN AND NFL OFFICIAL MARK BALTZ TALKS LOVE OF THE GAME Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Robby Berry

You never know how dreams will be born.

In the case of Mark Baltz, it happened in his high school physical education class.

transferred around and later changed jobs, refereeing remained consistent in his life.

When he moved from Ohio to Indiana in 1971, however, it was a bit of an adjustment from a sports perspective.

relocated to Noblesville with his wife Nicki and their two sons, Brett and Brandon.

He got on with a small college football crew.

At the time he was also on a scouting list, trying to work his way up to the collegiate level. That went on for several years until he got on the scouting list for the Big Ten and was finally hired in 1984 by the Big Ten for football, where he worked for five years.

“Crossing the state line where football is king to come to a state where basketball is king was different as night and day,” Baltz says. “Indiana had this history and traditions, huge crowds and everything “Big Ten college football was so enjoyable,” that goes along with it. I mean, 15 of the England noticed his student had a knack Baltz says. “There’s nothing better than a Big 16 largest gymnasiums in the world are in for officiating, so towards the end of Baltz’s Indiana. I had to prove myself all over again.” Ten stadium on a Saturday afternoon.” senior year, England encouraged him to take In 1986 the NFL started to scout Baltz. an officiating class to get licensed.

They hired him in 1989 and that’s where he And that he did. When Baltz lived in Fort stayed for 25 years. He notes that the big Wayne, he joined a local association and In 1966 Baltz received his officiating license started networking with referees. After a difference between Big Ten and NFL games and started refereeing high school football couple of years he became well-established, are the massive crowds that accompany Big and basketball games soon thereafter. After working varsity ball. In 1973 he put together Ten games. The other difference was his college he took a corporate sales job with a small high school crew. Then in 1980 he consistent seven-person crew with the NFL. a glassware manufacturer. Though he was “Our athletic director, Dick England, would throw me a whistle in gym class and tell me to ref the games while he read the paper,” says Baltz, who grew up in Lancaster, Ohio.

TownePost.com / MARCH 2022 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / 19

What Makes a Good Referee?

• • • • • • •

They did everything together from August through January including eating out and worshipping on Sundays.

“Those of us that went to church prayed that all the tough calls would be in front of those who didn’t go to church,” Baltz says with a chuckle. “That amazingly improved our church attendance as the season progressed.”

In 1992 Baltz moved to Zionsville.

Baltz, who estimates that throughout his career he has officiated between 4,500 and 5,000 games, was elected president of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

“To be selected to oversee that operation is neat because that place is for the enshrinement of players and coaches who have excelled in high school basketball,”

Good eyesight Sharp concentration Good judgment A thick skin Sound physical condition Respect for the game Good rapport with the players

Baltz says. “It’s not about referees.”

This month he’ll be awarded the Indiana Pacers Silver Medal award, which honors an individual’s contribution to Indiana high school basketball. In addition, later this year he’ll be inducted into the NFL Officials Hall of Fame. Though the accolades are nice, Baltz feels blessed to have had so many wonderful experiences during his officiating career.

“I got to referee for some of the greatest people who ever played or coached basketball in the state of Indiana,” he says.

After 47 years of officiating, he’s witnessed great players, great coaches and great camaraderie. Many have gone on to do bigger and better things such as Brad Stevens, a Zionsville native who coached at Butler before going on to the Boston Celtics where he’s now the team’s general manager.

“I reffed his games here at Zionsville High School,” says Baltz, who also recalls the tragic story of John Stewart, a 7’4”, talented athlete who played for Lawrence North and had plans to play at the University of Kentucky. In 1999, during the regional championship game against Bloomington South, Stewart suffered a fatal heart attack.

Baltz was reffing that game.

“That sticks with me,” Baltz says. “There we were in a gym of 6,000 to 8,000 screaming kids. It was Hoosier hysteria at its best and then John collapses. I don’t ever want to experience a catastrophe like that again.”

People have often asked Baltz what he said to the captains prior to games. Besides

20 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

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insisting on displaying good sportsmanship, he would say, “I’ll make one promise to you. You don’t miss any shots and I won’t miss any calls.”

During his career, Baltz enjoyed officiating both football and basketball.

“They’re both physically demanding, though more so with basketball where you may sprint up and down the floor 20 or 30 times before there’s a stoppage of play,” Baltz says. “In football you run a play for seven seconds and then you get a rest for 35 seconds.”

Since retiring from officiating eight years ago, Baltz has been the announcer of the Polo Club in Boone County. He’s also staying busy working with Kyle Armstrong to develop curriculum materials that will train new young officials, because currently there’s a shortage of officials across the country. The curriculum was recently approved by the Indiana Department of Education, so next year sports officiating will be taught as an elective in Indiana schools.

“We hope this will get more people involved in officiating,” Baltz says. “We want them to learn the right way. We also want them to get involved for the right reasons - not for the money or to stroke their ego.”

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PRESENTS PRESENTS

PRESENTS D I S N E Y ' S AP PP PR RO OA AC CH HT TO O DISNEY'S PRESENTS A DU ISSNIN EYE'SSSAEPX PC RO ALCEHNTCO B E L E SSIE N E S S E X C E L L E N C E DBBIU SUN Y ' S A P P R O A C H T IhNurEsdSaSy, E X C E1L7,L20E2N CEO T M a r c h 2 hursday, March 17, 2022 BUSITTN EM--X huE d0 a5 17 ,m 2L 02E2NCE 8 ::0 p 8r::s3 3S 0aSa ay,m m 5rcC 0h0 0E pL m

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Disney Institute travels to select cities each year, and we’re fortunate that County opportunity on March 17th.

Institute travels toBoone select cities each year, and we’re fortunate that thisthis upcoming willDisney take place here in We are excited to announce that right the Boone County County.

Chamber is bringing The Disney Institute’s upcoming opportunity will County. upcoming opportunity willtake takeplace placeright right here here in in Boone Boone County. renowned course, Disney’s Business Excellence, to Boone Presented professional

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FEELING LUCKY LEBANON LEPRECHAUNS BASKETBALL TEAM SET TO LAUNCH Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Jon Ellegood

Though Preston Myers doesn’t fancy himself much of a basketball player, he’s been coaching the sport at the high school and small-college level for the last 20 years.

Now he’s the president of a new semi-pro basketball team, the Lebanon Leprechauns.

The Basketball League (TBL) is a minor league basketball organization that began operating in North America in 2018 with eight teams. By 2021 it had expanded to more than 30 teams. The team’s inception began with a conversation between Myers and former Indiana University basketball star Kent Benson. Benson has a TBL team in New Castle called the Indiana AllAmericans. Other TBL teams in the state include the Kokomo BobKats and the Medora Timberjacks.

“We’re trying to make Indiana a TBL hotbed, and truth be told, there’s no better place for this to work than Indiana,” Myers says.

Originally from Lebanon, Myers thought the league would be a great fit for Lebanon.

“I love basketball and love my city, so starting this team is really a love letter to my hometown,” says Myers, who has had a blast building the league, from designing uniforms to finding cheerleaders, mascots and players.

“It’s been pretty exciting playing fantasy basketball on a new level,” says Myers, who has been all over the country at TBL open combines and scouting events looking for players. The moment the announcement came that a team was coming to Lebanon, he began getting calls and emails from agents and players - roughly 70 per week.

TownePost.com / MARCH 2022 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / 23

“I got so many that I couldn’t keep up,” he says. Ultimately, he found several great local folks and also pulled in talent from other states including Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas, California, Illinois and Massachusetts. “We’re really trying to piece something together that will hopefully be super successful, but if nothing else interesting.”

Though 20 players were invited to training camp, only 12 made the final roster.

building this team is not what it takes to find a good player, but what it takes to settle on advancing the right kind of people for this opportunity,” he says. “I’ve turned away a ton of talent based on that gut instinct that they aren’t right for this organization.”

Though talent is abundant, Myers says he would much rather lose with the right people than win with the wrong ones.

“Character is just as important as the jump shot, if not more important,” says Myers, “The thing that has surprised me most about noting that the men who made the team

have an incredible work ethic. While the goal of many players is to play in the NBA, there are other ways dreams can come true.

“Here in Lebanon, that might be making a connection with a local kid who asks you for your first pro autograph,” Myers says.

He came up with the team name because he’s always considered himself incredibly lucky. He also liked the idea of having the opening game coincide with Saint Patrick’s Day, or close to it. March 18 is the season opener. The City of Lebanon is planning to organize a post-game downtown celebration to kick off the season.

“We’d love to have a standing St. Patty’s Day home game,” Myers says. “That would be a great tradition to start in year-one and continue in perpetuity.”

Former NBA player Brian Rowsom coaches the team. Drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the same year as Reggie Miller, he went on to play with the Charlotte Hornets, then finished his career playing in Europe before transitioning to coaching. He’s won three international championships in the last 10 years, playing in Japan, Indonesia and Qatar.

“I’m confident that with the coach I’ve hired and the players I’ve found, we will put a good product on the floor,” Myers says.

Head Coach Brian Rowsom

While there’s no way to predict how many people will fill the stands, Myers is banking on the fact that basketball fans will come see what the Leprechauns are all about.

He hopes to create an entertaining, family24 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

friendly atmosphere like the Indianapolis Indians, where spectators can watch a great game of basketball but also enjoy the pomp and circumstance of a pro game, complete with cheerleaders and T-shirt guns.

“The experience has got to be appealing to everybody,” Myers says. “If it’s just basketball, I don’t know that it would be successful. If Lebanon and Boone County

embrace us, these guys could potentially put the Boys & Girls Club. down roots and be contributing members of our organization for years to come.”

“People don’t know what they’re going to see that first night, but I think they’ll be Community buzz is growing for the blown away by this level of basketball,” Lebanon Leprechauns. Not only are Myers says. individuals and families buying tickets and merchandise, but the team also has some For more information about the Lebanon core supporters who have bought blocks of Leprechauns or to see the 2022 game tickets to give to youth organizations like schedule, visit lebanonleprechauns.com.

TownePost.com / MARCH 2022 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / 25

FULL OF FLAVOR

Todd and Mindy Polizotto

SCHAKOLAD CHOCOLATE FACTORY OPENS IN NEW LOCATION

Writer / Renee Larr Photographer / Jon Ellegood

The best gift for any occasion is always chocolate, according to Todd and Mindy Polizotto. The couple owns Schakolad Chocolate Factory on West 86th Street.

They recently moved their thriving boutique chocolate business from the Traders Point area.

“We did our due diligence and did some research,” Todd Polizotto says. “We noticed about 25% of our business was coming from the Zionsville zip code. We looked at it as if we were moving closer to a good chunk of our business.”

when they realized they were paying an astronomical amount in child care for their three children. They realized they needed careers with more flexibility for their family.

you order them,” he says. “They do take a little extra time, but we have a small area for guests to wait with a coffee drink or a hot chocolate.”

What sets Schakolad apart from other chocolatiers is the promise that each item is hand-dipped, on-site. The owners are allowed the flexibility to be creative and customize their products for their unique customer base. This sometimes takes a little extra time, but Polizotto says it’s worth the wait.

Being a franchisee allows the Polizottos to create and sell their own custom creations.

“If you come in and want six hand-dipped strawberries, we’re going to dip them when

“We have some items that we’ve created that have been just as popular as some of the base items,” Polizotto says. “It’s great from a franchise standpoint because we can tailor our products to our clientele. In the fall we can make and sell caramel apples and cotton candy.”

Schakolad specializes in more than 85 different molded chocolates, truffles, creams, assorted chocolate novelties and corporate gifts. The name combines the originator’s last name, Schaked, and the word “chocolate.” Baruch Schaked, the cofounder of Schakolad, has been a chocolate maker since 1969. He began his career as a chocolatier in Argentina working for his father-in-law, Gustavo Bar, owner of one of South America’s largest chocolate factories.

The pair got into the chocolate business 26 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

He says corporate gifts are also very popular with customers. They create a mold of a company’s logo and then use it for molded chocolate gifts. There is no minimum fee for a corporate gift order.

“While customers coming in and buying items from our case is important, corporate business is equally important to us,” Polizotto says. “They love the convenience of being able to call us and have us turn around a gift in 48 hours. We have some who only need three boxes, and we have some who call and need much more. We can accommodate both.”

Polizotto says regulars have been able to find them, and they’ve attracted new business with more foot traffic in the new spot.

Schakolad Chocolate Factory is located at 6010 West 86th Street, Suite 136 in Indianapolis. For more information, visit schakoladindianapolis.com.

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PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH

THE CABIN COUNSELING & RESOURCE CENTER OPENS NEW LOCATION IN LEBANON Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Justin Sicking

Ask any mental health professional and they will likely tell you that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a mental health epidemic.

“It’s overwhelming the number of folks who are struggling with anxiety, depression and loneliness coming out of the quarantine,” says Deidra T. Rausch, executive director of The Cabin Counseling & Resource Center.

She notes that when going through events that are uncontrollable and unpredictable with no end in sight, anxiety can go off the rails.

“If someone says, ‘We can see you in three months,’ that doesn’t really help when you’re going through a dark time now,” Rausch says. “When someone needs care, it they have to wait more than a week to be seen, that feels unacceptable to me.”

Lebanon.

The Cabin first opened in 1999. Through the years, as demand for services has increased, Rausch has added offices and therapists, going from 13 up to 24 currently.

In January of 2021, she opened The Retreat on East Pine Street in Zionsville to provide affordable seminars and workshops for groups, versus one-on-one counseling.

The goal at The Cabin is for all individuals, regardless of their financial situation, to receive care. They can utilize the Samaritan Fund, which pays the difference between the full fee and the calculated sliding-scale fee.

In 2021 The Cabin counselors logged more than 11,000 counseling hours, up significantly from years prior to the pandemic. For instance, in 2019 they did 6,000 hours.

“For two years we’ve persistently been in a state of unpredictability and uncontrollability,” she says. “Not knowing what’s next is really wearing on people.”

According to Rausch, suicide rates, particularly for those in their 20s, has grown exponentially. One silver lining is that there appears to be less stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues than in years past. The downside, however, is that with an increased demand, people are having a hard time getting in with a therapist. This is true all across the country.

“The numbers have continued to supersede the year prior by 30 to 40% in terms of the demand,” Rausch says. “Just looking as an organization from year to year, the growth has just been mind-blowing and a little exhausting. When I ran expectations for next year, without including the newest therapists, we’re over 15,000 hours.”

Therefore, Rausch elected to open a fifth location in January of 2022 - this one in

“I think the excitement always is to try and satisfy both cost and access, which tend to be deterrents for people to get care,” Rausch says.

“The person is more important than the bottom line,” Rausch says. “I don’t want to worry about whether we are making enough money. I want to concentrate on helping folks achieve their optimal mental fitness.”

The Cabin utilizes different modalities including adventure therapy, expressive arts therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, a technique that serves to greatly reduce anxiety brought on by a traumatic event.

“I think with the trauma of COVID-19 and isolation, it just really triggered a lot of those early life adverse events that folks have had,” Rausch says.

They also have an Enneagram coach, who

30 / BOONE COUNTY MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

works with companies and families to help them better understand one another’s strengths to work more productively and effectively as a team.

Soon after opening The Retreat, Rausch found that though they could cultivate great programming, what people really wanted was to share their needs with the staff and have them create programming to meet those needs. That will be their goal in the new location as well.

“In Lebanon, we will continue to listen to the needs of the Lebanon community so we can become an integral part of helping them have a healthy mental-health community,” says Rausch, who suspects that though The Cabin is well-known for one-on-one, couples and family therapy, their ability to provide wellness programs is lesser known.

“I think the pandemic has caused business owners to recognize that whether their employees were previously extroverts

or introverts, both are struggling now to engage with other humans,” Rausch says.

“There was a negative mental-health effect with quarantines, Zooming and isolation.

Corporations are recognizing that they need to attend to behavior needs of their employees if they want to have a productive employee.”

The Cabin joined the Boone County Chamber of Commerce and in November staff presented at a breakfast called “Better You in ’22,” which was all about making sure women are mindful of taking care of

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Following the presentation, The Cabin staff were approached by a number of people asking if they could come to their businesses to provide training and workshops.

“We’re eager to participate in company and corporate opportunities,” Rausch says. “We are all about being a partner in helping folks achieve their best mental fitness.”

For more information and location details, visit thecabin.org.

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