Broad Ripple Magazine May 2017

MAY 2017

SERVING MERIDIAN HILLS, WILLIAMS CREEK AND NORA

MEET MAYOR JOE HOGSETT INDY’S MAYOR TALKS GUN VIOLENCE, INDY MINI AND THE 500

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MEET MAYOR JOE HOGSETT: INDY’S MAYOR TALKS GUN VIOLENCE, INDY MINI AND THE 500

Mayor Joe, as he is known, grew up in Rushville. His father was a WWII veteran who naturally inspired his son with a strong sense of serving. Since being elected Secretary of State, Mayor Joe practiced law but remained active within the Democratic party. Prior to running for Mayor, he experienced success in the US Attorney General’s office.

6

33

Alex Segal / Leslie Brooks

EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown

Josh@TownePost.com

MAY WRITERS

Carrie Petty / Christy Heitger-Ewing Jon Shoulders / Kara Kavensky Stephanie Duncan

MAY PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian Brosmer / Ed Stewart Stephanie Duncan

SHOP LOCAL!

6 Butler Bound: Broad Ripple High

School Senior Receives Full-ride to Butler

9 Case Design/Remodeling of

Indianapolis Opens Second Area Location

10 Musical Excellence: The

Indianapolis Men’s Chorus

11 Year After Year, Perennials Keep Coming Back!

14 Rays Awareness: Outrun the Sun

Co-founder Talks Sun Safety and Melanoma Awareness

17 Comfort Option Announces

Partnership With Conor Daly

23 Meet Mayor Joe Hogsett: Indy’s Mayor Talks Gun Violence, Indy Mini and the 500

26 May's Luckiest Hoosier Alive: Jeff Hull

29 Genesis Sports Performance: Local Go-to For Athletic Training

Help our local economy by shopping local.

Advertising supporters of the Broad Ripple Magazine offset the costs of publication and mailing, keeping this publication FREE. Show your appreciation by thanking them with your business.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS ARE SPONSORED CONTENT

The Broad Ripple Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Broad Ripple area residents. Magazines are distributed via direct mail to more than 10,198 Broad Ripple area homeowners and businesses each month.

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P.O. Box 36097, Indianapolis, IN 46236 317-288-7101 / Fax: 317-536-3030

33 City Councillor Colleen Fanning

Talks Broad Ripple Developments

36 A Heart for Art: Joyce Sommers

Reflects on Career as Indianapolis Art Center Executive Director

atBrip.com / MAY 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 5

atBRip.com TownePost.com

BUTLER BOUND Writer / Jon Shoulders . Photographer / Brian Brosmer

When Broad Ripple High School senior Ty Brown learned that he had been accepted to Butler University last November, the news came as a pleasant surprise. However, a bigger shock was still to come some three months later.

After becoming accepted, Brown had been nominated for a full tuition scholarship to Butler along with a few other accepted

applicants and sat for an interview with school officials. A few weeks later in February, he was called to the front offices of BRHS in the early morning of what was, until then, a routine day at school.

As he descended the staircase, his mother Jennifer and girlfriend Alexa, a few Butler representatives, a Fox 59 news crew and even Trip the bulldog, Butler’s official mascot, awaited. Brown found himself on live television accepting a scholarship worth $40,000 per year.

6 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / MAY 2017 / atBRip.com

“At first, I was kind of speechless and shocked, and then when it set in I realized that this was something that would affect my life for a long time,” Brown says. “Right after it happened my phone was blowing up all day with family members texting and calling. I was telling everyone that I was at school but they were saying, ‘We don’t care, we just wanted to congratulate you.’

Everyone was really excited.”

Butler awards its academic scholarships each

school year based on grade point average, extracurricular activities and community service involvement.

A native of Danville, Illinois, Brown moved with his family to Indianapolis during his second grade year, attending Crestview, Indian Creek and Skiles Test through his elementary school years. After a freshman year at Lawrence North High School he transferred to BRHS, and has since stayed busy keeping his grades up and participating on the school’s football, baseball and swim teams. The senior is currently participating in Tufts University’s EPIIC (Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship) Symposium, a program through which students represent individual countries and work to solve simulated global problems.

“AT FIRST, I WAS KIND OF SPEECHLESS AND SHOCKED, AND THEN WHEN IT SET IN I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD AFFECT MY LIFE FOR A LONG TIME”

Brown’s response when asked how he celebrated on the night he received news of the scholarship is itself a testimony to the sort of work ethic that landed him the scholarship in the first place.

“I actually had a sectional meet for swimming that night, so I had to gear up for that,” he says.

“So, there wasn’t much time for celebrating.

My schedule is always pretty busy.”

After graduating this June, Brown plans to stay busy working as a lifeguard and spend time with Alexa, who will also attend Butler.

“My downtime is very limited, but I do like to play and watch sports,” Brown says. “I’m a big basketball and football fan. Other than that, I enjoy hanging out with friends and playing video games.”

While undecided on a university major, Brown is interested in studying criminology and political science. He says Butler’s size, in addition to the range of coursework it offers, is what attracted him to the university.

“When I moved to Broad Ripple I went from around 1,000 students per class at Lawrence North to around 100 per class,” he says. “I like the small-school feel much better and wanted that going into college, and Butler will give that to me. Everyone is super friendly on campus, and that familyfeel drew me to it. I’m really excited.” atBrip.com / MAY 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 7

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CASE DESIGN/REMODELING OF INDIANAPOLIS OPENS SECOND AREA LOCATION MERIDIAN KESSLER NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN STUDIO TO SERVE RESIDENTS OF MERIDIAN KESSLER AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

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Case Design/Remodeling of Indy is thrilled to announce the opening of their second Greater Indianapolis location, in Meridian Kessler. Case’s original location, which serves as the company headquarters and remodeling showroom, is located in Carmel. Case has been serving homeowners in the greater Indianapolis area for over 13 years providing full scale residential remodeling services including kitchens, bathrooms, additions, whole house remodels, interiors and outdoor spaces.

“The plans to open a second location have been in the works for about a year, and we are so excited to see it all come together with our new Meridian Kessler location,” said Larry Greene, Case Indy President. “We chose Meridian Kessler because we work with many homeowners in the area and felt that we can better meet the demand of these loyal clients as well as many of their neighbors with a studio conveniently located in their neighborhood”. The Meridian Kessler office will serve residents in Meridian Kessler, Williams Creek, Meridian Hills, Butler Tarkington, and Broad Ripple.

The new office, called a Neighborhood Design Studio, boasts a storefront space like the original office in Carmel. This allows for street level visibility and easy access for those planning a visit to the studio. Walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged. The studio features hundreds of products including flooring, countertops, cabinets, fixtures and tile, just to name a few. It is the perfect place to explore, get ideas, and see the latest and greatest remodeling design trends whether thinking about remodeling now or down the road. And there is always a remodeling design expert on hand to listen to your goals and share ideas with you.

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There are several events planned for the coming months to celebrate the grand opening of the new Case Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Design Studio including a Kitchen and Bath Seminar and Launch Party as well as participating in upcoming neighborhood events. “We are so excited for the opportunity to get more intimately involved in the Meridian Kessler community now that we will have a presence in the market with our new studio,” said Greene.

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE: THE INDIANAPOLIS MEN’S CHORUS Writer / Kara Kavensky Photographer / Ed Stewart

Founded in 1990, The Indianapolis Men’s Chorus (IMC) has evolved over its nearly three decades of existence. Originally part of the Crossroads Performing Arts, the IMC spun out as its own nonprofit a year ago. Created to entertain, educate and promote inclusive community through musical excellence, the IMC is made up entirely of volunteers with a shared passion for their mission.

“I am really proud of being part of a group that is committed to artistic excellence and social responsibility,” says Greg Sanders, IMC Artistic Director. “We pride ourselves in having a strong voice of an inclusive community in Indianapolis, and we love putting on a great show.”

The Indianapolis Men’s Chorus was born out of a desire for acceptance and equality, while providing a safe place for voices to be heard and provide a means of artistic expression through song.

Currently, there are around 60 members of the chorus.

Blice Edwards artist Jon Edwards, joined the IMC for Christmas 1999 and has performed off and on ever since.

“I enjoy the entire experience of being a member of the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus,” Edwards says. “The singing and learning of the music, the camaraderie and friendship — it is fun, keeps my brain sharp, and I have made some nice friendships.”

Visit IndianapolisMensChorus.org for tickets to upcoming performances and additional information.

10 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / MAY 2017 / atBRip.com

YEAR AFTER YEAR, PERENNIALS KEEP COMING BACK!

Writer / Carrie Petty

This is the time of year to plant flowers!

Flowers bring extra beauty and happiness into our world, and the best kind of flowering plant is the kind that keeps coming back year after year — the perennial.

plant has been there awhile, so there is more of a chance to bring home disease, too. Also, believe it or not, I often smell the soil. It should be earthy and fresh smelling, not sour or decaying in smell.

equal distances, this way there is easy rhythm in the design and the eye move freely through the plot. This is more of an English gardening technique.

Growing perennials is one of the easiest ways to garden. I have more than 40 varieties of perennials in my yard, I just love them because they give me a great ‘cutting’ selection all growing season long in which to make beautiful floral arrangements.

In the summer months, entertaining and gardening life go hand in hand.

In addition, when picking the right plants to purchase from your local nursery, check the foliage for any disease. Look for the red spider mites or white aphids, which kind of look like cotton. If there is any indication, find another flowered friend!

I give perennials a good watering when I get them home. Then, trim off any tired foliage or blooms. I like to plant in the lowest heat portion of the day, usually in the morning.

Roll the round edges of the plastic container on the ground to loosen the soil, and then tip the pot to gently lift out the root ball into your hand. Check the root system, claw away some of the dirt so that the roots become loose and free to branch out when planted in the soil.

PURCHASING PERENNIALS

Different sizes of containers will yield more or less bloom. The bigger the plastic pot, the older the plant, thus, more blooms. Check the roots for an established root system with lots of little root ends showing. If roots have become root bound, which looks like rope wrapped around the base of the plant, choose another specimen. A root-bound

SUCCESSION PLANTING

When one plant is finished blooming and the last bloom fades, I always design my gardens so that another plant begins to bloom. This keeps the garden in perpetual motion, with color consistently ever-present. It is called, succession planting. Another great tip is to design the flower garden with plants low in the front and high in the back. I also like to repeat a perennial three times in the garden plot, spaced apart from each other but in atBrip.com / MAY 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 11

DIGGING A NEW HOME

Place root ball in the prepared hole. The top of the dirt from the pot should be level with the top of the hole at soil grade. Backfill the dirt into the hole and gently press to firm up the plant. This also helps remove any air pockets. Water in well.

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OUTRUN THE SUN CO-FOUNDER TALKS SUN SAFETY AND MELANOMA AWARENESS

Writer / Jon Shoulders Photography / Brian Brosmer

After the last remnants of winter and early spring chill have seemed to vanish for good, it’s tempting to dash out the front door and bask in as much of the sun’s warmth as possible. Understandable, yes, but statistics show that plenty of precautions should be taken to avoid the potentially serious health consequences a few seemingly harmless rays can cause.

May is National Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness month, and according to Anita Day, co-founder and executive director of Outrun the Sun, an Indianapolis-based organization dedicated to promoting awareness, research and education of melanoma and other skin cancers, close to four million cases of skin

cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. – more than breast, colon, prostate and lung cancers combined.

protect yourself and reduce risk.

While there is ultimately no way to fully eliminate the chance of developing one of the three major types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma – that can result from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds, there are many ways to

Day says the advent of tanning beds has exacerbated the already widespread problem of melanoma and other skin cancers.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, individuals who use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk of melanoma by 75 percent.

“Here’s a really scary statistic – if you get one sunburn as a child, just one, it really increases your risk for developing melanoma later in “Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer life,” Day says. “There’s really no such thing in America,” Day says. “While different as safe tanning. If you’re going to be at things types of skin cancer aren’t considered to be life-threatening like melanoma, it still like your kid’s baseball game in the bleachers requires some extensive surgery and they for three hours, it’s all about hats, sunglasses, can be life threatening if left undetected long sleeves and of course sunscreen. You and untreated. It’s a much bigger issue than have to be cognizant of how long you’ve been out and reapply sunscreen often.” people realize.”

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“Tanning beds are a big problem, and the notion that getting a base tan will protect you from sunburn is a myth,” Day says.

“You see a lot of students who are heading down to Florida for spring break and they head to the tanning booths beforehand to get that base tan, but it doesn’t protect you. Whether it comes from the sun or an indoor tanning bed or what have you, tan skin is damaged skin. And with the fact that everyone grows up thinking that you need to be tan to be attractive, it’s tough to go up against that when you’re trying to decrease the incidents of skin cancer.”

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Outrun the Sun is now in its fourth year partnering with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), and this year at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29 guests can receive free sunscreen and UV wristbands that change color when exposed to light and also view public service announcements on the IMS video boards featuring Outrun the Sun spokesperson and Verizon IndyCar Series driver Josef Newgarden.

“It’s been a far-reaching program, and we’re thrilled to work with IMS on the initiative,” Day says. “It’s such a big event with a lot of people out in the sun all weekend, so it’s great to have some presence and keep people informed and aware of protecting themselves.”

Outrun the Sun will hold its 13th annual Race Against Melanoma at Fort Harrison State Park on June 17, consisting of a five-mile competitive run, a five-kilometer run/walk and a one-mile fun walk, beginning at 6 p.m.

Proceeds benefit Outrun the Sun’s research and education programs.

“Along with the race there’s a sunset festival and there will be music, food trucks, games and activities for all ages, and we encourage everyone to come out,” Day adds.

For additional information on Outrun the Sun, including ticketing and registration details for the Race Against Melanoma on June 17, visit outrunthesun.org.

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MASSAGE ENVY GIVES YOU MORE WAYS TO BE YOUR BEST

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Massage Envy recently launched a new campaign focused on the simple idea that whether you’re 17 or 70, caring for your body is an important part of reaching your personal best, allowing you to do more of what you love.

The “Making the Best of Every Body” campaign celebrates the benefits of total body care with a two-pronged

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communication approach. The campaign highlights the value of Massage Envy membership, which comes with services that range from massage to skin care and, coming soon, innovative services like stretch therapy. To reinforce the message that body care is important for “every body,” the campaign features people, like extreme wheelchair athlete Aaron Fotheringham, who get physical and emotional benefits from massage therapy.

The campaign also features some of the more than 25,000 Massage Envy massage therapists and estheticians.

These valuable people tell their stories of helping members feel and be their best every day.

“Our services truly can make a difference for people of all ages and from all walks of life,” said Massage Envy CMO, Debbie Gonzalez. “This campaign celebrates individuality and is a call to action for everyone to take care of their bodies so they can be the best version of themselves and enjoy more of what they love to do.”

The brand’s latest campaign will also serve as a platform to launch its stretch therapy and new skin care services, including chemical peels and Microderm Infusion™ treatments coming to Massage Envy later this summer.

There are 13 independently owned and operated Massage Envy locations in the Indianapolis area. Monthly memberships start at $65 and include one 60-minute massage session or healthy skin facial session per month.

Also, for a limited time, you can give Mom and Dad a free 60-minute facial session or a 30-minute massage upgrade with the purchase of a $125 gift card.

The Mother’s Day promotion runs until May 14, 2017. The Father’s Day promotion runs from May 15 to June 18, 2017.

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"To spread the message of Comfort Option and how much they care about this city and this state is really cool. I love everything about Indianapolis. It has always been my hometown.�

-CONOR DALY IndyCar Driver

Photography provided by Addison Group Creations and Brian Brosmer

Learn More at ComfortOption.com

Comfort Option Announces Partnership With Conor Daly Greenfield based start-up launching local mattress program May 10 Are you looking for a new mattress? If you order from Comfort Option, you may get a surprise visit from IndyCar driver, Conor Daly, who could show up to your front door to deliver your new mattress.

Comfort Option has developed a unique mattress concept that’s exclusively for local Indiana residents. The brand officially launches May 10 and will be offering a full line of engineered sleep products including pillows and a high quality, breathable foam mattress with customizable layers for individual preference. The Greenfieldbased company emphasizes their expertise and knowledge of the product, a focus on personal service, and the importance of being a local brand manufactured in central Indiana.

“People have millions of options for mattresses, but we believe we are positioned to really serve the community in a way larger retailers can’t,” says Chief Marketing Officer Nathan Elliott. “Our vision statement is Serving Local Communities with Sustainable Comfort. Everything is made locally in Greenfield and we deliver exclusively to Indianapolis and its surrounding counties.

That gives us the ability to be very focused on service and customer satisfaction.”

May is not only a big month for Comfort Option but for Indianapolis as well, with the Indy 500 right around the corner.

IndyCar Driver, Conor Daly with Landon Erwin (left) and Nathan Elliott (right) of Comfort Option.

With that in mind, Comfort Option has partnered with local IndyCar driver, Conor Daly, for the launch of the new brand. The company will be a sponsor on Daly’s helmet in the upcoming race and the two will also partner together for local events.

“As a company, we’ve been huge Indy 500 fans for years, but for this launch it seems like a perfect fit,” Elliott says. “Conor is a great individual and ambassador for Indiana. To have a partnership with him can really deepen our reach into the community. We’re excited to support him and cheer him on in May.”

Daly, a Noblesville native, will join Comfort Option for a day to make some of the company’s first deliveries. The IndyCar driver relishes opportunities to support local Indianapolis businesses.

“It will be fun to deliver some mattresses, talk to people, and help out in general,” Daly says. “Either way, to spread the message of Comfort Option and how much they care about this city and this state is really cool. I love everything about Indiana. It has always been my hometown.”

For more information or to preorder your new mattress, visit ComfortOption.com.

2017 SUMMER CONCERT CALENDAR 5/10: Soundgarden with The Pretty Reckless

7/09: Third Eye Blind with Silversun Pickups

5/24: Travis Scott with Khalid, Virgil Abloh

7/19: Tedeschi Trucks Band with The Wood Brothers, Hot Tuna

6/11: Huey Lewis and The News

7/22: Umphrey's McGee with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

6/13: Wilco with Kacy & Clayton

7/25: Goo Goo Dolls with Phillip Phillips

6/23: The Revivalists with Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Marcus King Band

8/02: Howard Jones with English Beat, Men Without Hats, & more

6/28: Dispatch with Guster

8/04: Maddie & Tae with Alex Angelo

6/29: Dirty Heads & SOJA

8/16: Gov't Mule with Galactic

6/30: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Star Spangled Symphony

8/30: Lifehouse & Switchfoot with Brynn Elliott

7/08: MercyMe with Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant, Meredith Andrews

9/19: The Flaming Lips & Mac DeMarco

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MEET MAYOR JOE HOGSETT Writer / Kara Kavensky . Photographer / Brian Brosmer

INDY’S MAYOR TALKS GUN VIOLENCE, INDY MINI AND THE 500 Indianapolis has always been the “place to party. Prior to running for Mayor, he be” during the month of May. It’s tradition experienced success in the US Attorney for the 12th largest city in the country to General’s office. host the largest sporting event on the planet.

Long earmarked by former speaker of the When asked if he’s a race fan, Mayor Joe Indiana Statehouse John Gregg as a sleeper Hogsett smiles and states, “Of course.”

Democratic candidate, Mayor Joe was a key cornerstone for a Democratic rival for Mayor Joe, as he is known, grew up in any office. He zeroed in on Indianapolis’ Rushville. His father was a WWII veteran mayoral race. After publicly announcing he who naturally inspired his son with a would not run for the office, a couple key strong sense of serving. Since being elected events changed his mind.

Secretary of State, Mayor Joe practiced law but remained active within the Democratic Within 24 hours during a July 4th TownePost.com / MAY 2017 / INDY METRO

weekend, seven people were shot in Broad Ripple and in a separate incident, two people pulled out guns, killing IMPD officer Perry Renn as a result of a gun fight involving an AK47. Mayor Joe, based upon these events, concluded that he needed to be a part of the conversation.

He resigned his position as U.S. Attorney and began his campaign.

“Being a federal prosecutor for four years, my office was doing things to help Marion County,” Mayor Hogsett says. “We cannot arrest our way out of gun violence.”

Gun violence plagues every urban area across the country and clearly Indianapolis is not immune. Mayor Hogsett felt the need to be engaged in a deeper conversation of public safety during his race. He was motivated by the educational opportunity for community engagement into gun violence.

“We have an unacceptable level of gun

violence and homicides in our city,” Hogsett says. He and the leadership of IMPD are taking a holistic approach to curbing this violence.

After one of the most aggressive campaigns this state has experienced and given the dominance of social media, Mayor Joe’s ability to reach more of his constituents is unprecedented. His media team is intentional with making him more

accessible to his constituents. Their social media platforms help a great deal with this. Once he became Mayor, the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 approached.

“Of course, the Indy 500 has always been an important part of our city’s history,” Hogsett says. “Last year was exceptional and special, to be mayor and celebrate the 100th running.”

During 2016, Hogsett hosted the national Mayor’s Conference, with 250 mayors from all over the country in attendance, indicating, “Every single one of them said, ‘When are we going to the track?’”

Hogsett is pleased that the public has responded to the historical significance of the Indy 500, feeling that with the new leadership at the IMS, and given the shake up during the 90s of the CART / IRL split, the city has witnessed a recovery.

“Last year, the race was televised locally for the first time,” Hogsett says. “The Indy 500 is always a great opportunity for the city to show off its international flair. We have become more cosmopolitan. We are no longer a fly-over state for many reasons, and thanks to the Indy 500 draw, we are able to prove it.”

During the 90s, under Eliz Kraft Taylor’s leadership at the 500 Festival, the Mini Marathon was rerouted to loop around the track instead of going up and down Meridian Street.

"At that same time, we took the mini out of race weekend and moved it to the first Saturday in May,” Taylor says.

“Race weekend always exhausts our police force, and the change in the mini was greatly appreciated by both the Police Chief and the Mayor.”

“The Hudnut doctrine was ‘you can’t be a suburb of nothing’, which encouraged people to invest in

INDY METRO / MAY 2017 / TownePost.com

Mayor Hogsett talks about how gun violence has plagued Indianapolis and what his administration is doing to combat gun violence in Indy.

downtown so the suburbs, which at that time, were the outlier townships of Marion County,” Mayor Hogsett says.

Continuing along the same path, The Hogsett Corollary is “you can’t be a downtown of nothing” to which Mayor Joe explains, “Hudnut was speaking to the townships. My meaning is that we have to continue to nurture our downtown and invest in the neighborhoods and surrounding contiguous areas.”

Mayor Joe closes with a story: During the early 90s, while he was Secretary of State, he realized he had not registered for the Mini, and at that time it was run on a

Friday morning. Hogsett decided to run the race as a bandit.

“Of course, I fully understood the rules,” says Hogsett with a smile. He jumped into the crowd of runners a little after the start, running among those who formally registered.

As Mayor Joe ran alongside Allison’s, a group of men on break outside in the yard began chanting, “USA, USA.” He ran through a residential area approaching downtown and an elderly woman, seated in her front yard, stood up and walked toward the sidewalk and yelled as he went by, “You’re THIRD!”

This was the first year that the route looped around the track and boomeranged back to downtown. As he approached the track entrance, he was stopped by volunteers wearing yellow and flagging him down, so Joe circumvented his route to 16th street. He was running alone, but this fact did not initially register with him.

“Then it dawned on me that I had accelerated my placement by not running the distance inside the Motor Speedway and realized I needed to avoid the cameras mounted on top of the scaffolding because I envisioned Jim Shella watching in the Channel 8 newsroom muttering, ‘there’s Joe Hogsett and he’s cheating!’” Mayor Hogsett shared.

TownePost.com / MAY 2017 / INDY METRO

Avon resident and the May Luckiest Hoosier Alive winner, Jeff Hull, has had two life-threatening experiences and lived to tell the tale.

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They say “third time’s a charm,” and that’s certainly the case for Jeff Hull, who has cheated death twice and now has been named May’s Luckiest Hoosier Alive by Hoosier Park Casino.

It was 2014 when Hull started experiencing flu-like symptoms that wouldn’t subside.

After enduring multiple digestive problems that landed him in the hospital twice, he traveled to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore for further evaluation.

“They tore me apart,” says Hull, noting that he had pancreas problems, an enlarged spleen and a liver that was being destroyed by cirrhosis because one of the main bile ducts was completely closed and doctors could not get it open. Diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, the reason he felt so lousy was because his liver was getting bombarded by waste that his body couldn’t expel.

Shortly after the diagnosis, Hull’s gastrointestinal specialist performed extra analysis when taking samples for a biopsy and found abnormal cells, indicating the early stage of cancer.

“Very few people survive once cancer is in the bile ducts,” Hull says. “The prognosis wasn’t looking good.”

They needed to act quickly.

Physicians at Johns Hopkins told him he

needed a new liver, pronto, and they advised Thanks to Julie’s goodbye kiss, her keen him to go back to Indiana to wait for one. observation and the fast-working ER staff, Hull survived again.

“You have one of the best transplant facilities in the country in your backyard “If I had laid there and taken a nap for at IU Health,” they said. “You’ll get a several hours, I likely would have gone into transplant much faster there.” a coma or died before my family returned home from the movies,” Hull says.

They were right. It turns out that the silver lining to Hull’s grave prognosis was a Needless to say, he feels extremely lucky. dramatic jump up on the transplant list to No. 4. Though a lot of patients spend 5 to Hull and his wife own three Massage Envy 10 years on the list, Hull was blessed with a clinics in the area in Greenwood, Evansville healthy liver three weeks later. and Lafayette. Julie, with an MBA and a background as a nurse practitioner in health With a new lease on life, Hull was feeling and wellness, runs the clinic while Hull pretty fantastic for a stretch of time. In handles the financial matters.

December 2016, however, two years after his transplant, he suffered a new health Hull learned about the Luckiest Hoosier scare while taking steroids for inflammation Alive contest when reading a copy of a following a colonoscopy. Though he had Towne Post magazine. been on steroids in the past with no adverse reaction, there’s always that slight chance “People tell me every day that they can’t that complications can arise, and they did. believe what I’ve been through and how fortunate I am to be alive,” Hull says.

One afternoon, Hull wasn’t feeling well so he decided to take a nap while his wife, Though he typically doesn’t care for the Julie, took the kids to the movies. When she spotlight, he was compelled to enter a kissed her husband goodbye, she noticed his nomination for the Luckiest Hoosier Alive breath had a sweet smell to it, a sign of high contest because he’s grateful that Hoosier blood sugar. They rushed to the emergency Parks Casino is recognizing people’s good room and found that Hull’s blood sugar had fortune and sharing uplifting stories with reached nearly 600, which is on the cusp of area readers. entering a diabetic coma.

“I’m 57 and I’m still here when I could have “My heart rate spiked to over 200 beats a been dead — twice,” Hull says. “The staff at minute, sending me into diabetic trauma,” IU Health is a big part of the reason I’m here Hull says. “The ER team was expecting me today. They handled both of my situations to code at any minute.” and I couldn’t be happier for it.”

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GENESIS SPORTS PERFORMANCE: LOCAL GO-TO FOR ATHLETIC TRAINING BISHOP CHATARD ALUM, GRAHAM WILKERSON, IS EXPERIENCING FAST GROWTH WITH NEW TRAINING COMPLEX Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Brian Brosmer

The fitness industry has become rather competitive in recent years with Crossfit, Pilates and 24-hour gym facilities sprouting up like clockwork. Nevertheless, Graham Wilkerson, owner of Genesis Sports Performance on North Tacoma Avenue, took the industry by storm less than three years out of college.

In 2012, after pursuing a history degree at DePauw University where he lettered in football during all four of his undergraduate years, Wilkerson took a job selling medical devices. A long-time athlete and fitness enthusiast, he soon realized that the strength and conditioning world was where he belonged and began exploring the possibilities of opening his very own training center.

he recalls. “After about a year of that sales job I knew I wanted to take the leap and do my own thing.”

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Wilkerson began sports early, enjoying football, basketball and wrestling while attending Saint Matthew grade school on 56th Street.

After graduating from Bishop Chatard High School, where he achieved All-State status as a football player, he went on to graduate Cum Laude from DePauw.

While acquiring the necessary certifications, including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Certified Physical Preparation Specialist and USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sport Performance Coach, Wilkerson leased a space at an existing gym during his first year as a professional trainer, building up “I always wanted to open up my own facility, a clientele of local high school and college and in my high school yearbook, under athletes. After securing a position as Bishop dream job, mine says NFL Strength Coach,” Chatard’s strength coach, he officially opened atBrip.com / MAY 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 29

the doors at Genesis in December of 2015.

Since then, Wilkerson has wasted no time expanding his client base, which currently consists of junior high, high school and college athletes as well as a few National Football League players during their offseason time – including Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys, his brother Nick Martin who plays for the Houston Texans and Ted Karras of the New England Patriots. Earlier this year, Genesis expanded to a total of 3,000 square feet of turf flooring, strengthbuilding implements, cardio equipment and not many places to sit and rest.

“I have a lot of Division I college athletes come in here, and also a lot of DePauw boys,” says Wilkerson, who somehow finds time to work out seven days a week himself despite daily training duties at Genesis and Bishop Chatard.

Genesis offers three products including one-on-one, personalized training as well

as adult fitness classes, which typically include strength training and metabolic conditioning. The third, Wilkerson’s sports performance group classes, are what he calls the “bread and butter” of Genesis.

“With the sports performance classes we have a whole athletic training program that I’ve put together, and we have seventh graders up to college athletes,” Wilkerson says. “It’s a weekly, monthly and yearly progression that I do.”

According to Wilkerson, it’s his systematic, exhaustive record-keeping approach that sets Genesis apart from other training complexes. Clients are tested monthly in speed, power and strength and can consistently check boards mounted on the wall where the statistical details of their progress and improvements are posted.

“Every athlete that is coming here consistently has improved greatly,” Wilkerson says. “I think when they see these huge improvements and go back to whatever school they’re at, their teammates see it, and that’s how I’ve acquired business. When we first opened there were probably 10 football players that came in, and all of them contributed significantly to varsity football at their schools. Then, this past season it was a flood of players coming in.”

Wilkerson also strives to provide a learning atmosphere, particularly for his younger clients, and instill the value of hard work and accountability.

“I want to have an impact on the kids as they grow, so there’s a characterbuilding component of it,” he says. “We have early-morning workouts on the weekends, and the kids can get focused on a structured activity here that’s beneficial for them versus a lot of other things that they could get into.”

This May, Wilkerson will finish a master’s degree from Ball State in Athletic Coaching Education, and he hopes to further develop his clientele and eventually expand Genesis in the long term.

“I have one other staff member who trains here, and the plan is to continue to grow and hire more trainers,” Wilkerson says. “It’s been a great ride so far, and I think there’s certainly room to grow.”

For additional information on Genesis Sports Performance, visit genesissportsperformance.com.

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CITY COUNCILLOR COLLEEN FANNING TALKS BROAD RIPPLE DEVELOPMENTS One of the biggest changes in Broad Ripple is the landscape in general. It seems like Colleen Fanning, one of our city councillors overnight the landscape of Broad Ripple that represent District 2 of Indianapolis, has changed dramatically, and Fanning is one of 25 members that make up the is optimistic about what all these new Indianapolis city council. She is also a Broad developments can bring to Broad Ripple.

Ripple resident. Recently, there have been Firstly, there’s the addition of the new some major and exciting developments in grocery store Fresh Thyme along with Broad Ripple, and Fanning is here to make The Coil, new luxury apartments that sure everyone gets up to speed. are located along the Canal towpath on College Ave. The Coil isn’t easy to “As a resident of Broad Ripple, I’m miss with it now being one of the tallest passionate about Broad Ripple since it’s my buildings in Broad Ripple. home neighborhood,” Fanning says when asked about what motivates her as a city “The Coil project is currently renting. council member. “It’s just such a unique They’re going to fill up, which is exciting cultural district in the city. A lot because they are going to give us so much of people don’t know this, but Broad great foot traffic,” Fanning says. “That will Ripple was actually the first cultural support all the small businesses, restaurants district in Indianapolis.” and retail shops that we love and really add to the character of the village.”

There is much planned for the future of Broad Ripple, and there’s no one better to She is also excited about the new Fresh ask than Colleen Fanning.

Thyme grocery store.

“As an Indianapolis City Councillor, I represent District 2, which includes “We already have a great natural food Broad Ripple, Nora, Greenbriar, grocery at The Good Earth, and now we Riverwood, Meridian-Kessler and have Fresh Thyme, which has a little bit of Glendale,” Fanning says. everything,” she says.

Writer & Photographer / Stephanie Duncan

atBrip.com / MAY 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 33

One thing Colleen noticed about becoming the councillor for District 2 is how engaged everyone is.

“To be able to support our infrastructure and our businesses, we have to add people who will spend their money here,” Colleen says. “Broad Ripple Village is really one of the only places in Marion County where you can walk to your grocery store, your bank, your post office. And we are becoming increasingly bike and pedestrian friendly that it really is like living in a small village in the middle of a large city.”

Another exciting project in the preliminary stages is a Broad Ripple Avenue Beautification project that will go from College to the Monon Trail. Colleen hopes it will almost become like a mini Georgia Street, where Broad Ripple can host tent parties and festivals right in the heart of the district.

“We really see Broad Ripple as the vibrant center of the North side and Midtown by connecting all these awesome neighborhoods,” Fanning says.

One way they plan to connect Broad Ripple and surrounding neighborhoods more is with a faster, more efficient transit system. The Redline, which will be a rapid transit system going up and down College, will be one of the three rapid transit systems that will be put into action soon.

“Transportation is so important to our communities, and it’s going to connect people to jobs, education, health care, its just going to give them another option,” Fanning says.

Along with a more efficient transit system, there are more plans to connect Broad Ripple with updated and new trails. With the addition of the Broad Ripple Canal Esplanade, which will be a part of the Indy Greenways system and connect Guilford Avenue and College Ave, there are also preliminary plans to make a river walk that will connect the Canal to the River with a bike and pedestrian friendly path. The path will connect Broad Ripple Park to the rest of Broad Ripple.

Colleen is excited for Broad Ripple’s future and encourages people to get involved.

“Everyone in this district is very opinionated,” Fanning says. “We’re the only 50/50 Democrat and Republican district, so that makes us very unique.

We also have the highest voter turnout, which is great.”

If you’re a Broad Ripple resident, chances are you’ll probably run into Colleen Fanning walking her dog, Wile E. Coyote with her husband, visiting all her favorite local stops, like the Brewpub.

“It’s just a fantastic place to live, because there’s always something to do,” she says.

If you want to know more about what’s going on in Broad Ripple, visit ColleenFanning.com, which she keeps up to date with current events.

34 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / MAY 2017 / atBRip.com

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JOYCE SOMMERS REFLECTS ON CAREER AS INDIANAPOLIS ART CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Brian Brosmer

The professional career of Joyce Sommers, former executive director of the Indianapolis Art Center, can be traced back to a single, serendipitous moment.

At age 35, a friend convinced Sommers to join her for drawing classes at a nonprofit operation known at the time as the Indianapolis Art League on 31st Street. An art novice at the time, Sommers became a regular and eventually struck up friendships

with some of the instructors and fellow students at the facility, which was founded in 1934 and became funded during the Great Depression through the federal Works Project Administration program.

It didn’t take long before Sommers, who was then serving as president of the Indianapolis chapter of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), was asked to become a member of the Art League board. By the time the members decided to relocate the facility to Broad Ripple on the White 36 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / MAY 2017 / atBRip.com

River in January of 1976 – five years after reluctantly trying her hand at drawing – she was serving as president.

“I think that moment when my friend, Marilyn Price, got me to take that first art class was one of the defining moments of my life,” recalls Sommers, a Broad Ripple High School alumna. “I really didn’t have any art experience other than taking those classes, but the people were so great that I thought it felt right to get more involved.”

Immediately after relocation to the modest,

“Art can teach people so much because it’s from the inside out. You learn a lot about yourself from the combination of hard work and expressing yourself.”

JOYCE SOMMERS

her former schoolmate at BRHS, to conceptualize the new structure. After several years of tireless community outreach and securing the necessary funds, including donations from the Lilly Endowment and several other corporate organizations, the collective vision of Graves, Sommers and her board members became a reality. The demolition of the existing building and subsequent new construction occurred in two phases between 1994 and 1996, “I seemed to have a knack for raising money, at which point the facility was officially which I never would have thought,” she says. renamed the Indianapolis Art Center.

“I just had the passion for it because I always felt strongly about the Art Center mission.” Not long after the construction process ended, Sommers spearheaded yet another major fundraising effort, this time for an That passion would come in handy by outdoor creativity space on the Art Center the mid-1980s, when Sommers and her grounds that would complement the new colleagues realized the ever-increasing studio structure. Graves was retained number of students at the center would to design the project, and 2005 saw the necessitate a bigger, multi-milliondollar facility. Anything but daunted, completion of ARTSPARK, a 12-acre sculpture garden and open-air studio area Sommers embarked on perhaps her bordered by the Monon Trail. grandest professional task — raising the approximately $8 million needed to “There’s nothing quite like it,” Sommers construct a new building at the League’s says of the outdoor space, which features existing Broad Ripple location. more than 27 sculptures and can be rented Sommers reached out to internationally out for private or corporate events. “The renowned architect Michael Graves, ARTSPARK project and the Art Center a Princeton professor at the time and itself are really representations of the kind of four-studio building in Broad Ripple, referred to informally by students and board members as the art shack, demand for classes skyrocketed, and less than a year later Sommers was officially named the organization’s first executive director. A lifelong Broad Ripple resident, she took to the position with vigor, raising the League’s profile within the community and improving its day-to-day operations in the process.

atBrip.com / MAY 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 37

collective accomplishments that are possible when people come together and form true community partnerships.”

The Art Center currently offers classes in painting, ceramics, glass blowing, jewelry, printmaking and more, hosts the annual Broad Ripple Art Fair – which on May 20-21 will feature more than 225 artists and craftsmen – and provides year-round art education outreach programs for underserved areas of Indianapolis.

Since retiring in 2009 after 33 years as executive director, Sommers has remained busy spending time with her children and eight grandchildren. She also continues taking figure-drawing courses at the Art Center with Price, the same friend who dragged her to that fateful drawing class more than four decades ago. Still a Broad Ripple resident, Sommers believes in the power of art and individual expression now more than ever.

“Art can teach people so much because it’s from the inside out. You learn a lot about yourself from the combination of hard work and expressing yourself,” Sommers says. “I believe in lifelong learning, and that’s what the Art Center is about.”

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