Brownsburg Magazine August 2022 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

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AUGUST 2022

Catching Up With Kasey Coler of Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park GIVING HEARTS

Local Outreach Ministry Feeds the Homeless NOW WE’RE COOK-ING

Deb Cook Serves as Town Manager

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Local Outreach Ministry Feeds the Homeless

Catching Up With Kasey Coler of Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

GIVING HEARTS

HOPE AND HEALING REAL-TIME ANALYTICS Scan the QR code to see this magazine’s real-time reach and distribution numbers.

Local Charity Event Series Raises Funds and Awareness for Suicide Prevention

THE SKY’S NOT THE LIMIT

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Marie gifting a quilt to those in need.

GIVING HEARTS LOCAL OUTREACH MINISTRY FEEDS THE HOMELESS

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

In November of 2015, Marie Dugan and her husband Scott felt a pull to do something to make the world a better place. They began volunteering at Wheeler Mission. “Though God put it on our hearts to do something to help, I heard him say, ‘Go to the source,’” Dugan says. “The first time we went out, we asked God to take us where he wanted us to go.” The couple pulled up to a building and followed a trail that led straight to a homeless camp. “A great big, burly, bearded man came out and did not seem happy

6 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2022 / TownePost.com

we were there,” Dugan recalls. By the time the couple left the camp, however, the man reached out for a hug. “It’s hard to explain, but my heart changed in that moment,” Dugan says. “I knew that’s what I was meant to do.” That’s how Hearts for the Homeless got started. The street outreach ministry became a 501(c)(3) organization in February of 2017. Dugan posted to Facebook and people started donating coats and blankets. The pair went every week to camps, delivering food, clothing, hugs and hope. Unlike many outreaches, they don’t park and expect the homeless to come to them.

Scott was diagnosed with melanoma in 2018 and passed away in February of 2019. Dugan took a yearlong hiatus from the outreach to grieve. When she started volunteering again, she found the experience healing. She also met a host of new characters, like a young girl who would stand in the background cursing God, and shouting at Dugan and her crew that she hoped they all went to hell. “We’re not faith-based but we share the Gospel wherever we go,” Dugan says. “We don’t push it on them, but if they ask, we’ll pray for them.”

“I wanted to see where they were living and talk to them where they felt comfortable,” says Dugan, who notes that their purpose is to befriend, which they do by sharing food. “It’s the heartbeat of our Saturdays. We want to build relationships.”

One day this foul-mouthed girl found her way into Dugan’s prayer circle. Before long, she was attending church services with Dugan. Ultimately, she accepted the Lord and was baptized on her birthday. Others were left dumbfounded by the transformation and asked Dugan what she had said to turn the girl around.

These people are often hungry not just for sustenance, but also for interaction.

“I didn’t say anything,” Dugan says. “God told me to love her, so I did.”

“Certain people will gravitate to specific people on our team,” Dugan says. “It feels good when people’s faces light up when they see you.”

Ashley Brackin began volunteering with Hearts for the Homeless in February of 2021. The fact that she started just a few days after Valentine’s Day seemed serendipitous, because she instantly found a love for the team and for the friends they serve. Prior to joining

TOWNEPOST.COM / AUGUST 2022 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / 7

Hearts for the Homeless, Brackin was focused on mission ministries, primarily in Africa.

Brackin wants people to understand that the homeless do not start their lives any differently than anyone else. The only difference is their journey, and much of it can’t be helped. “We could all be in the same position very easily,” she says.

“Because of that focus, I was missing the needs right here at home,” she says. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, caused her to re-evaluate her plans. From the first Saturday she joined the ministry, she felt a strong sense of belonging. “I knew I had to go again,” she says. “Hearts for the Homeless is so much more than the food being served. It’s the conversations, prayers, love and hope. We have seen some beautiful transformations I just can’t put into words.”

Hearts for the Homeless serves people in Hendricks County and surrounding areas. The nonprofit is 90% supported by the communities in Hendricks County. “It’s been amazing to witness,” Dugan says. “Our community is awesome.” Dugan and her team of volunteers hand out between 45 and 70 meals per week. Sometimes these meals are bagged lunches. Other times they include a pot of spaghetti or chili. Chick-fil-A often provides them with 20 sandwiches to compensate if they run low on food. “It’s worked out every time,” Dugan says. “We’ve never run out of food.”

Dugan herself has endured a lot in life. She was abused in her younger years, became addicted to drugs, and couch-surfed at times when she didn’t have a physical address to call home. “It’s hard for normal people to understand homelessness when they see folks standing on corners, mumbling and begging for money, but they all have stories and every single one of them is heartbreaking,” Dugan says. “The biggest misconception about homeless people is that they are where they want to be. That’s not the case. They’re there because of their past.” For many, their issues date back to childhood. Dugan shares the story of a man who ran away when he was 6 years old. His parents beat him, his mom died, and he has been on his own ever since. Dugan also describes a girl who was baptized on her birthday. She was placed in foster homes where she was raped and abused, so she ran away when she was 9 years old, knowing that if she stayed uncaught until the age of 18, she would never have to go back into the system. So that’s what she did. “It’s truly about survival,” Dugan says. “They don’t know rules and they don’t know love. This is all they know.” Because this is all many homeless people know, sometimes they’re hesitant to leave it. For instance, after the girl was baptized, Dugan invited her to stay at her house for a week. After just three days, however, she was ready to go back to the homeless camp.

They use SignUpGenius for people to sign up to provide a meal. Dugan then picks up the meals on Friday nights so they are ready to be distributed on Saturday mornings. In addition to meals, Dugan collects flashlights, batteries and hygiene products. Dugan says one of the best ways to help someone who is homeless is to carry water, snacks and chapstick in your car to hand out. Dugan used to put bottles of water in her freezer before bedtime in the summertime, and then pass out frozen waters to people on the interstate on her way to or from work. “People loved it,” she says. More than anything, Dugan implores people to just be kind. She mentions a homeless man she knows who is schizophrenic. Because of his erratic behavior, people assume he’s on drugs. “I’ve seen people throw things at him and trip him,” Dugan says. “We have no idea what’s in people’s hearts and minds. We don’t know what they’ve experienced, so at least don’t be mean to them.” As for Brackin, she says she can’t express how thankful she is to be a part of this outreach. It truly has shifted her perspective. “I’ve found that a beautiful smile has nothing to do with straight teeth, white teeth or no teeth at all,” she says. “Their smiles come from the heart.” Donations to Hearts for the Homeless may be sent to: P.O. Box 91, Lizton, IN 46149. For more information or to sign up to provide a meal, call 317-869-7281 or visit heartsforthehomelessindy.org.

8 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2022 / TownePost.com

HOPE AND HEALING

LOCAL CHARITY EVENT SERIES RAISES FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Described by his mother Shannon Shirven as “the defender of the underdog,” Gunnar Shirven was a sweet, charismatic guy who couldn’t stand to see anyone picked on or bullied. “I think he felt that on a personal level, so he reacted by defending them,” Shirven says. “He was smart, funny and charming.” After graduating from high school in 2016, he joined the Marines. “We were really proud of that decision,” Shirven says, speaking of her and her husband Rick, a veteran Indianapolis firefighter. Gunnar served until 2018. Sadly, at age 22 Gunnar took his life, leaving Shannon and Rick stunned and heartbroken. As they wrestled with the

tsunami of emotions that followed, they held tight to the good memories - like the fact that he was the class clown who loved to make people laugh. He could quote many comedies from start to finish, and perfected different dialects so that he could deliver movie lines using various accents and voices. Besides being a brilliant entertainer, he was a phenomenal friend to many. “It didn’t matter your status, if you had money or any of that,” Shirven says. “If Gunnar was your friend, he was your friend through thick and thin.” As Shannon and Rick processed their grief, they turned to each other, God and their community to heal. The family decided early on that they would honor Gunnar’s legacy by choosing not to focus on his death, but rather on the laughter and joy AUGUST 2022

he brought to others. Not long after his passing, the Avon American Legion reached out to Shirven to let her know that they were doing a motorcycle fundraiser for veteran suicide. They asked if they could use Gunnar’s story to help spread awareness and she agreed. “You have to positively direct your pain,” she says. “You can lie in bed and be depressed and angry, and look for people to blame, but nothing good comes from that. We decided that every day we were going to choose joy because that’s what Gunnar would want, not only for his own life, but for ours.”

The following year the Danville American Legion hosted a fundraiser. Shirven decided to make it an annual event, adding a jeep ride to the mix since Gunnar loved jeeps. “I’m a party planner by birth,” she says with a chuckle. “That’s my special gift.”

That gift has served her well, as she created the Gunshow Charity, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit event. Through trial and error, Shirven has learned what works and doesn’t work with fundraising. This year she and her family have decided to spread out their fundraisers across the summer, including one in July, one in August and three in September. Opting for several small events

AUGUST 2022

as opposed to one giant annual event seemed to make more sense (see sidebar for this year’s scheduled fundraisers). “Gunnar loved so many things so we wanted to make a cycle of giving to honor our child, create fun activities and ultimately serve our community,” says Shirven, who has lived in Hendricks County for 23 years. She’s quick to point

Gunnar & Mom, Shannon

out that none of it would be possible without the help of her amazing group of friends. “I have a vision, but I have an army of people behind me who help get it all done,” she says. “Every year I pray, ‘Lord, just let us make $1 more.’ ” So far that prayer has been answered. They raised $10,000 the first year, $12,500 the second year, $15,000 the third year and $26,000 last year. Beneficiaries include the Danville Community Education Foundation, Danville Pee Wee Baseball, and items for Ellis Park. “It’s such an honor to be able to give to our community while talking publicly about suicide and the residual effects it has on family and friends,” Shirven says. “It’s always shocking how many people come up to us during these events to share their stories. There’s a great need to talk about suicide, the stigma behind it and, of course, prevention.” Part of this year’s funds will go toward Ellis Park again. The family wanted to do something that could not only memorialize Gunnar’s life, but also help anyone who is suffering loss. One of Rick’s fellow Indianapolis firefighters, Clyde Pennington, makes large-scale art. He’s creating a 20’x12’ tree out of stainless steel and copper that will be a permanent memorial art fixture at the park. “People can buy a laser-cut leaf, and over the years it will become this massive windchime tree,” Shirven says. “The tree will be lit up from within for nighttime viewing, and will be surrounded by benches so loved ones can sit and reminisce.” They’re also donating some of this year’s funds to the Lexi Fund in honor of Lexi Riggles, a recent Danville graduate who passed away last year. The Lexi Fund is paying for new cat condo structures at Misty Eyes Animal Center.

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Start a conversation with a doctor and care team at ascension.org/StVincentHealthScreenings or call 833-478-1261

“The reason we do this fundraising is to AUGUST 2022

IN MEMORY OF GUNNAR SHIRVEN AND SAM ARNONE, CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE FOLLOWING LOCAL EVENTS: Poolside Paint & Sip - August 6 at 4 p.m. with Danville’s Kerry Trout. Located at 601 West Mill Street in Danville. Enjoy beer and wine, music, and art. Jeep Ride - September 10. A 100-mile scenic ride starting at Gary Eakin Park in Danville. Arrive at 9:30 a.m., with a 10:30 a.m. departure. Golf Cart Parade - September 11 at 1 p.m., at Ellis Park in Danville. Pickleball - September 18 at 1 p.m., at Ellis Park in Danville. Benefit Concert - September 24 at 6:30 p.m., at the Royal Theater in Danville, featuring Straight Davis and Josh Chalfant.

To purchase tickets to any of these events, become a sponsor, purchase a Gunshow Charity T-shirt or make a donation, visit thegunshowcharity.squarespace.com.

bring joy to others,” Shirven says. “Plus, the way I see it, anywhere you go, you’re going to pay money for a concert, food or whatever. This way, 100% of the money goes back into our community. That’s a win-win-win from every angle.” Every year since Gunnar passed away, Shirven has felt her son’s presence on his birthday, often in her dreams. This year, however, she woke up despondent because she didn’t dream of Gunnar. But then she checked her phone messages and found that a friend of a friend

had just lost her son to suicide, and she didn’t know who to talk to. “I thought, ‘That’s Gunnar, trying to help the underdog,’” says Shirven, who, after receiving that message, reached out to the mother of Sam Arnone, the young man who took his life. She shared her story and invited the mom to be a part of the Gunshow Charity. Shirven understands now, more than ever, her son’s propensity to help others, as she has found that the best way to navigate the grief process is by helping someone else heal.

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Amy Hills AUGUST 2022

The Sky’s Not the Limit

T WO F E M A L E H E N DR IC KS C O U N T Y AVI ATO R S TA KE F L IG H T Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

she owned her own airplane was even more rare.”

Airplanes have always fascinated Amy Hills. In 2017 her husband bought her a discovery flight through Hendricks County Aviation. This meant she got to fly around the area in a small aircraft with an instructor.

At the time Hills didn’t have a plane of her own, and she logged flight hours with Smith.

“There are very few women pilots in the world - fewer than 7% - so to find out there was another female pilot in Hendricks County was great,” Hills says. “To learn that

This past June, Smith and Hills competed in the Air Race Classic (ARC), a 2,500mile women’s race during which pilots experience changes in terrain, weather,

“Every weekend I’d fly for an hour or two and ask Amy if she wanted to go,” says “It was the greatest thing I’ve ever done in Smith, who flies on evenings and weekends my life,” Hills says. Although it was meant just for the fun of it. A significant number to be a one-time joy ride, Hills knew, deep of general aviation pilots fall into that boat down, that she was just getting started. She (or plane, as the case may be). Smith isn’t went on to get her private instrument rating, looking to make a career out of it. She just ground instructor rating, commercial rating, likes the time-machine aspect of flying. and ultimately became a certified flight instructor, making her the only female flight “This past weekend I flew up to see my sister instructor in Hendricks County. She also in Chicago,” Smith says. “That’s typically a got an airplane. three-and-a-half- to four-hour drive, but in the air it’s an hour going up and an hour and “My husband and I still laugh about how 20 minutes coming back. Flying gives you that was the single most expensive gift he’s back so much of your time.” ever given me,” she says. Hills, a former software engineer, agrees, Her two daughters were so young when as she and her husband like to fly up to Hills began flying that they don’t know life Michigan to see family for the day. Her without airplanes. In fact, whenever it’s time favorite endeavor, though, is taking people to go visit their grandparents, the girls ask, up in the air for their first ride. “Are we taking the plane or the car?” “It’s such a thrill - especially children,” she Hendricks County resident Joelene Smith says. was bit by the flying bug nearly three decades ago. In September of 2017 she She recalls a little girl’s description of the purchased a Beechcraft Bonanza A36 and land’s topography from a bird’s-eye view. was showing it off at the Hendricks County Airport during an annual chili cook-off. “She had a big grin on her face as she looked When Hills met Smith, it was friendship out the window and said, ‘Wow, the trees fate. look like broccoli!’” Hills says.

AUGUST 2022

Amy receiving her pilot’s license

winds and airspace as they fly throughout four days in June. Participating in the ARC is one of the first topics Hills and Smith discussed when they became friends. “It takes this highly skilled female pilot population, which is spread out across the country, and puts us all in one place at one time,” Hills says. The annual race, which began in 1929 and typically attracts about 120 women per year, has a route that changes yearly. This year’s race began in Lakeland, Florida, and ended in Terra Haute, Indiana, which enabled friends and family members to cheer the pair on at the end.

“WE WANT TO SHOW YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS THAT AIRPLANES ARE COOL, WHETHER THEY ARE FLOWN FOR A CAREER OR FOR A HOBBY.” - JOELENE SMITH Amy & Joelene taking flight

“It was an absolutely incredible experience,” Hills says. “We learned so much about flying, about different parts of the country, and what a great flying team we make. We made good decisions and also ones we would change for races in the future, but we made them all as a team.” Nothing is better than fulfilling a lifelong goal, and that’s precisely what Hills accomplished with this race. “It’s been an incredible blessing to be able to participate in an event with the history AUGUST 2022

Amy taking her family for a flight

of this one,” says Hills, noting that they did it to raise awareness about the huge gender gap in aviation and allow women everywhere to see that this field is accessible to all. “I’m so proud to have added my name to the list of the amazing women who have gone before us to pave the way.” Aviation has always been a male-dominated field. Initially, commercial airlines wouldn’t hire women. Since few women are seen flying, many girls likely think it’s not an opportunity for them. Plus, if you don’t log the time you need, you aren’t even eligible for the job. It takes 1,500 hours of flying to even apply for regional airlines. “Women think, ‘I can’t do that so why put in the time, effort and money when they’re just going to tell me no anyway?’” Hills says. “As a child I was told, ‘That’s a man’s field.’ The more people who see me flying an airplane, the more normal it becomes.” Though it’s not uncommon to occasionally field sexist remarks, Hills and Smith are thankful for the support they have received from those at the Hendricks County Airport. “They donated money to sponsor us in the race and came to the terminal to root us on,” Hills says. “They told us, ‘Go out there and show what you ladies can do!’” As a team, Smith and Hills have spent more than a thousand hours flying small aircraft, and regularly volunteer with youth aviation organizations such as the Young Eagles program, which gives youth aged 8 to 17 free discovery flights. “We want to show young girls and boys that AUGUST 2022

airplanes are cool, whether they are flown for a career or for a hobby,” Smith says. “It’s an incredible thing when you can do something that you’re exceptionally passionate about, but also get to expand the community around that,” Hills says. “It’s cool to be able to bring kids in, to bring in new pilots and bring back rusty pilots. I’m blessed beyond anything I could ever have dreamed.” Hills is pleased that she’s starting to see more female aviation students. “The more women pilots who show up, the more normal it becomes,” she says. “Back in the day all pilots used to be men and the ground crew were their wives. We’re changing that, one plane ride at time.”

EXPIRES 9-30-22

Hendricks County Airport-Gordon Graham Field is located at 2749 Gordon Graham Boulevard in Danville. To learn more about aviation lessons, email Hills at amy@hills. training.

AUGUST 2022

UP TO SPEED Catching Up With Kasey Coler of Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

When Kasey Coler was growing up, every Labor Day weekend (which also happens to be his birthday weekend) his dad would drive them to the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park to watch qualifications for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) U.S. Nationals. While Coler enjoyed the fast cars and fun atmosphere, there was something else that caught his attention. “Even at that early age, I was super interested in what brings all of these people together from an entertainment perspective,” says Coler, who noticed that everyone seemed to fall in love not only with the event, but also the pageantry, the celebration and the spectacle. As for Coler, he fell in love with the idea of working in the motorsports industry, so that’s exactly what he pursued. He attended Indiana University and landed an internship at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) during his senior year. Following graduation, he worked at the IMS for four years before transferring across the street to IndyCar for the next six years, primarily working in marketing. Then one day, out of the blue, he got a call with a job offer in Pueblo, Colorado, to oversee marketing for the Professional Bull Riders organization.

Kasey Coler AUGUST 2022

“At the time the organization was growing by leaps and bounds,” Coler says. “I told my wife Laura that that job would teach

me everything about live entertainment.” The couple moved to Colorado in March of 2014. Coler quickly learned the similarities and differences between bull riding and race-car driving. “There’s an entertainment aspect to racing, but it’s not as simple as turning down the lights and shooting off fireworks because racetracks are big and people are spread out,” Coler says. “When you have everyone circled around a singular entertainer, that’s a lot easier than having two and a half miles of activity going on where you’ve got to entertain folks in different areas.” The sports share common ground, however, in the sensory experiences that both provide. “These things don’t translate across a television screen,” he says. “You have to feel it, see it and smell it.” While he was in Pueblo, the NHRA,

based out of Los Angeles, offered him a job taking over their marketing. Since Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is in Brownsburg, they told him he could work from there. Coler started at the NHRA as vice president of marketing, before moving to the track side full time and becoming vice president of track operations and management. Coler, who also carries the general manager title for Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, manages a total of three tracks (Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, and Pomona Raceway in Pomona, California). He focuses most of his energy, however, on the Brownsburg track, which was built in 1961 and whose layout has remained untouched. That’s about to change, however. With support from the Town of Brownsburg, they are building a new boulevard that will serve as the facility’s new front door off of Ronald Reagan Parkway. Currently the front door is off AUGUST 2022

of Crawfordsville Road, where guests always have to pass over active railroad tracks. “That becomes a bit of a hazard, especially when traffic starts to back up,” Coler says, noting that in addition to traffic patterns, the leaders of the project are thinking about parking lot drainage, concession stands and building upgrades. “It’s all part of a multiyear plan by the NHRA to modernize the facility and continue to reinvest in this property,” Coler says. He and Laura have twin 5-year-old daughters named Emerson and Leighton. In their free time the family likes to go hiking, biking and scootering. A downside to working in Coler’s business is having to put in a lot of hours during prime vacation time. “If you enjoy going to the lake every weekend in the summer, then working at a racetrack is probably not the right

career for you,” Coler says, noting that the track’s busy season is considered April 1 through October 31, though Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is open yearround as they host many non-motorsport events. For instance, they host municipal voting, and for a stretch they hosted COVID-19 vaccination clinics. They also host 5Ks and hospitality events. “In doing these things we attract new folks to the facility,” Coler says. “With as much acreage as we have here, it’s nice to be able to host so many diverse events.” Not everybody knows that Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park was built with three components. “We’re known for our quarter-mile drag strip because we host the world’s biggest drag race, the U.S. Nationals, over Labor Day weekend,” Coler says. Each year more than 1,000 competitors move into Brownsburg for about a week, creating almost a city within a city. In addition, they host more than 120,000 fans throughout the course of five days. They AUGUST 2022

also have an oval track that originally started off as a dirt track, and spans seven-tenths of a mile. It’s where A.J. Foyt won his first-ever race. “That oval track has as much history as the drag strip from the folks who came out here, raced and won,” Coler says. “Many careers have started out there and transferred over to IndyCar or NASCAR.” Finally, they have a two-and-a-half-mile road course that has sat dormant for the past 10 years. The road course also has a lot of history, as it hosted IndyCar’s first-ever road course race. This is where Mario Andretti won his first IndyCar race. Each year between 300,000 and 400,000 people pass through the gates of Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, some coming from a few miles down the road while others trek from across the country. “We’re in a unique position because Brownsburg has become a hub from a drag racing perspective,” Coler says. “This is where the racing industry lives.” It’s true. Roughly 90% of the professional teams are based here or have some type of footprint here. This is why, if you go out to lunch in Brownsburg on any random day, you’re bound to run into someone from the drag racing or general racing community. Coler notes that when they host Wild Wednesdays, when pedestrians can bring their street cars and go down the drag strip, a number of professionals usually bring their kids to participate. “We just take it for granted that, ‘Oh yeah, that might be Antron Brown right next to me,’” Coler says. “That’s pretty cool.” Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is located at 10267 East U.S. Highway 136 in Indianapolis. For more information, call 317-969-8600 or visit raceirp.com. AUGUST 2022

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HERE WE GO AGAIN… A NEW SCHOOL YEAR Writer / Dr. Akaber Elkhamra, Riley Children’s Health Pediatrician at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

The 2022-2023 school year has just started. You are just getting over the enormous effort you put into getting your kids ready for this school year. Here are a few things to keep in mind for a successful school year:    • SLEEP AND SCHEDULES: Do your best to establish healthy routines, the same bedtime, and the same wakeup time to help your child do better in school, even on the weekends. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine provides general guidelines for total hours of sleep a child needs within 24 hours, including naps. For example, 6- to 12-year-olds need between nine and

12 hours of sleep, while 13- to 18-yearolds need between eight and 10 hours. Children who sleep well tend to behave well and do better in school. • HOMEWORK TIME: Set a daily time for your child to finish homework. It will be a lot easier to spend 10 minutes daily over five days than to spend close to an hour in one evening in order to finish all work needed for the week. Have a quiet area in the house to finish homework, away from distractions. • ESTABLISH HOUSEHOLD RULES ABOUT SCREENS AND TV TIME: Set priorities for your family. Carve out time for meals, talk about your day, and have time for homework and extracurricular activities. Daily exercise will help your children sleep better. If you have time left over, you may allow screen AUGUST 2022

time, which should be no more than one hour daily, and that includes screen time to finish work. Spending time as a family, whether it is during mealtimes, doing chores or folding laundry, creates strong bonds and opportunities for conversations and discussions. • TEACHER TIME: Touch base with your child’s teacher on a regular basis. Monitor grades and homework completion. Take action during the first quarter of the year - don’t wait! Finally, take a moment to pat yourself on the back for being a parent. Parenting is not easy. Remember, it is a marathon, not a sprint. Build on progress and good habits. If your child is struggling, reach out to your pediatrician. We are always happy to help. Cheers to another successful school year!

ASSESSING THE PROS AND CONS OF THE CURRENT HOUSING MARKET Writer / Claire Anne-Aikman Photography Provided

I was recently pulled into a debate between some dear friends (parents and their recent college grad kids) when the topic of one of their out-of-state friend’s home-buying woes came up. The parents felt that their friend was exaggerating their homebuying (or rather their inability to buy) journey. They added that mortgages are given too freely, rates are so low, and because of this the market is going to crash like it did in 2007 to 2009. When the parents stated that there are so many more neighborhoods and homes now than 15 years ago, and everything is selling without an issue, the kids threw their arms up in exasperation and were at a loss for words - so I shared the following. My lender friends know this is not the same market. I have often heard Dan Runge, a local Caliber Home Loans guru, explain to buyers that they must be more credit worthy and ready to purchase than they needed to be five to 10 years ago. To ensure that a buyer is truly ready, there are more checks and balances (ask any buyer about the amount of information their lender required, and you will be amazed). All this reduces the credit risk (and the potential for another burst in the market). Also, the increased interest rates that are meant to help balance and steady the market have not necessarily slowed buyers, as many still see the value in purchasing even with an increased rate. From his perspective, the loan volume is still high, and so is the competition to get a home. As for the “plenty of new homes” point, I could not dispute that there are more homes, but the population in Hendricks County

has also grown and is now the ninth most populated county in Indiana (according to datacommons.org). The result of more people moving helped push the building boom that we have been experiencing - all of which has not relieved the shortage of homes. That shortage has increased demand, and that demand has increased prices year over year for 10 years. These last few years reflect a faster increase in prices than we have seen. For giggles, I shared that in 2012 the median home price in Hendricks County, according to MIBOR, was $118,000. Everyone gasped. In 2022 it is $245,000, and we are only halfway through the year at this writing and that will likely increase. I reflected back to when I helped the parents purchase their home and reminded them that it was a “buyer’s market” - there was ample supply, and buyers could actually ponder the pros and cons of each home while sellers slowly and methodically packed. Since the tail end of 2012 we started to see that monthly supply dwindle, and since 2018 it has been seriously low. It was a fun discussion. The parents shared that their first home cost $81,000 and the interest rates were in the double digits. We broke out calculators (because we are all a bit geeky), and calculated and commiserated because, at the end of the day, it is a challenge to buy a home, yet the rewards are still worth the challenges. Claire-Ann is a West Side Realtor helping people make Hendricks County their home. You can reach her at 317-345-6640 or thepointinrealestate@gmail.com

TOWNEPOST.COM / AUGUST 2022 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / 25

Town Council member Brian Jessen, Clerk-Treasurer Ann Hathaway, Town Manager, Deb Cook, Town Council Vice President Ben Lacey, Town Council President Travis Tschaenn, and Town Council member Matt Simpson

NOW WE’RE COOK-ING DEB COOK SERVES AS TOWN MANAGER Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

It’s wonderful to have a town manager who is knowledgeable about economic infrastructure and community development, but it’s extra cool to have one who knows how to live off the land and appreciates life’s creature comforts.

Cook says. “I don’t want to go back to that lifestyle, but I could survive in the wilderness if I had to.” Cook met her husband, Jim Staton, in 2008 when they were completing coursework through the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

Deb Cook, who grew up close to MorganMonroe State Forest near Lake Lemon, describes her dad as a pseudo-survivalist who taught his family how to hunt, fish and grow a prospering garden. They owned several acres and lived without indoor plumbing, central heat, a washer or a dryer.

“It’s like a boot camp,” Cook says. “You go three separate years. I was finishing a weeklong session, and on the last day Jim worked up the nerve to introduce himself.” The pair instantly hit it off and were married several years later. They now have five children and four grandchildren between them.

“I remember my mother hanging laundry out in the winter, and when she brought our clothes in they were frozen solid,”

Every Friday night they enjoy a date night, rotating through different local restaurants for dinner. They frequent several of the 26 / BROWNSBURG MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2022 / TownePost.com

establishments so often that the servers bring them drinks when they walk in because they know what the couple orders. They are avid walkers and regularly traverse the trails in Hendricks County like the B&O Trail. “Moving is good for you, both physically and mentally,” Cook says. “It’s how I process things and clear my mind. If I have a complex issue at work I’m trying to solve, I get moving to get all the noise out of my head. Then things fall together.” Walking also gives her the opportunity to interact with members of the community everyone from children to teenagers and the elderly. Saturdays are spent taking six-mile walks with their German shepherd, Ragnar, then coming home to their Maine coon, Odin. “We’ve watched Viking lore way too

much,” Cook says with a chuckle. During her career, Cook, who holds degrees in business management and public management, has worked in economic and community development for the City of Bloomington as well as the City of Kokomo. She was CEO of the Kokomo Housing Authority before getting back into economic development. In October of 2019 Cook and her husband bought a house in Brownsburg. In January of 2020 she was hired as the town’s economic development director. When the town manager left his post, she and the assistant town manager became co-interim town managers. In January of 2022 Cook took over as town manager, making her the first female to ever secure the position in Hendricks County. Cook notes that the Town Council’s priority is building the 3% tax base, which comes from commercial, industrial and retail development.

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“Brownsburg has been a bit behind in that development compared to some of our neighbors,” Cook says. “With the tax caps, you get 1% for residential, 2% for multifamily and 3% for commercial/ industrial/retail.”

Deb speaking at a recent chamber luncheon.

Cook, who has a lot of experience with new development, came into this position with contacts. With that came success. Last year the town had almost $145 million committed in capital investment in real property. Personal property was about $12 million. That generates tax revenue to provide the amenities that residents want such as parks, pools and community centers. Historically, Brownsburg has been behind in building that tax base, so the goal is to build it, given that the majority of growth in Brownsburg has been residential. “That’s great, but 1% with exemptions, even if you have a lot of it, with the tax caps it doesn’t generate the tax revenue

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to provide the services you really need,” Cook says. She and the Town Council are strategic about what they try to attract to Brownsburg. “I don’t respond to any dirty manufacturing leads,” she says. “I want to keep a nice, clean development here. We have a lot of beautiful green space, and I don’t want to fill it with smokestacks.” The Town Council has been very supportive. “You couldn’t get anything done without all of us pulling together in that direction,” Cook says. “We just want to continue smart growth, and we’re looking forward to being able to provide those amenities that growth and that tax base will fund.” Cook is thrilled to be serving as town manager because she loves immersing herself in the community, knowing that she’s making a positive difference. “Economic development is about getting the tax base and capital investment, but at the end of the day it’s about people,” she says. “You’re creating job opportunities for folks that will change their lives.” Human capital is precious because individuals spend money at other local businesses, thus supporting the hairdresser, the mechanic, the dance company and others. Many also bring their talent by volunteering, perhaps by coaching a youth league, serving as a Scout leader or helping out at a local church. Everyone brings different perspectives. Cook has worked in the public sector all her life, and she acknowledges that it can be rough sometimes, with so many different perspectives and feelings on what should be prioritized. “You’ll never make everyone happy, but I do the best I can,” Cook says. “I love that I’m helping to change my community for the better and effecting change from the inside.”

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