RYAN DENHART’S PASSION FOR PLANTS PERSISTS AFTER 35 YEARS AT COUNTRY HARMONY HOME & GARDEN CENTER
Slammin’ Success
Cameron Hollins Jumps Into a Unique Career Path
With Honors
Hendricks County Honor Guard Celebrates 25-Plus Years of Local Service
7 HORTICULTURAL HARMONY
Ryan Denhart’s Passion for Plants Persists After 35 Years at Country Harmony Home & Garden Center
12 SLAMMIN’ SUCCESS
Cameron Hollins Jumps Into a Unique Career Path
18 MARCH EVENTS
21 WITH HONORS
Hendricks County Honor Guard Celebrates 25Plus Years of Local Service
PUBLISHER
DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
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CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine? PLEASE
This year at Avon Orthodontics we are celebrating Dr. Gregory Johnson’s 30th year of service to the Hendricks County community.
Over the last 30 years Dr. Johnson has treated hundreds of patients, and helped them achieve the smile of their dreams.
Our office is full of friendly smiles from our team, including the occasional tail wag from our office dog, Karma.
Some of the employees here at Avon Orthodontics have been working for Dr. Johnson for over 20 years! Our practice has a fun, easy-going atmosphere to welcome patients in during their visit.
Whether it is your first appointment with us, or you are a current patient, we will make it our priority to ensure you are comfortable at your entire visit with us.
Within the last year, Avon Orthodontics has welcomed another doctor into the practice, Dr. Lauren Wright. Dr. Lauren graduated from the Mayo Clinic just as Dr. Johnson did, so their practicing techniques are very similar.
As our practice continues to grow, we are blessed to have Dr. Lauren as a part of our team.
Dr. Johnson & Dr. Lauren
Office Mascot: Karma
HORTICULTURAL HARMONY
RYAN DENHART’S PASSION FOR PLANTS PERSISTS AFTER 35 YEARS AT COUNTRY HARMONY HOME & GARDEN CENTER
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographer / Amy Payne
Ryan Denhart is celebrating 35 years at Brownsburg’s Country Harmony Home & Garden Center.
That’s right - born and raised in Brownsburg, he started working there as a freshman in high school and simply never left.
“It was your typical high school job,” he said. “I have always been interested in plants and wanted to go to school for landscape design
and architecture. I thought a garden center would be a good place to learn.”
He was right, and he’s learned a lot in 35 years, explaining that the industry has come “quite a long way since the beginning. With crossbreeding and genetics, you have to study each year because there’s so many new things on the market from colors to materials. I like to read books and magazines about the newest things on the market and it sticks in my head
because it’s my passion. There are so many more varieties now than there used to be - I’d say 1,000 times more.”
Country Harmony opened in 1974 on 10th Street with several owners at the time. When the Woods family purchased it in 1978, they moved the business to Brownsburg, and to their current location by 1980. When they retired, Denhart purchased the company and has owned it for 20 years now.
Looking back, he’s proud of the expansion of products, particularly in the interior of the store.
“One of my main focuses at first was the interior, which had been neglected,” he said. “I wanted to bring that back to life and I think it worked really well. We brought in home decor, seasonal decor, candles, cards, and seasonal products like candy, peanut brittle and popcorn. We also created what we call the food porch with salsas, dips, spices and other gourmet foods.”
Another change Denhart made was to offer year-round hours and an ever-evolving seasonal rotation, with unique items and oneof-a-kind finds.
As the weather warms and the outdoor patio opens, Country Harmony offers vegetables, shrubs, trees and perennials. They have container pots and hanging baskets, and they’re ready to help each customer with their gardening and landscaping questions.
Customer interest has only increased in recent years.
“COVID brought a lot of people to gardening and house plants,” Denhart said. “We’re
doing a lot of growing our own food with the increased cost of everything. It can also be stress relieving and therapeutic in some ways.”
The summer brings larger flowers such as zinnias and sunflowers. The fall features mums and pumpkins to name a few, and in the winter the shop transforms into all things Christmas.
“We have themed trees, gift options, decorating options, live greens, wreaths and greenery pots,” Denhart said. “I make the greenery pots by hand. They are evergreen branches with berries and twigs set into dirt. You can put them in your containers for winter versus just having empty pots.”
Most of all, they pride themselves on quality customer service and a knowledgeable staff.
“The sole focus of the business is our customer service,” Denhart said. “We’ll drop anything we’re doing to help you and guide you to the correct plant choice for the environment you have. We don’t want you to just buy a plant.
We want it to succeed and thrive. We can help you with the details - when to prune, water and fertilize.”
When preparing to purchase your spring gardening products, Denhart said one of the first questions they’ll ask is, ‘What is the light situation?’ Lighting conditions are key to selecting the right plant for you.
“The first question out of the gate will be about lighting - if it’s in full or partial sun, or in the shade,” he said. “The second question is measurements. If you want to do some landscaping, remember to take measurements of the area and snap a picture on your phone so we can see it. From there we can help you with spacing, and it really opens up more possibilities and helps us guide you in the right direction.”
They also watch the Invasive Plant Species list published by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and do not carry plants that are deemed unhealthy for the area. Though the Town of Brownsburg might be accustomed to Country Harmony’s presence in the community, Denhart said through the years he’s come to realize that not everyone has a local plant and landscaping shop near them.
Located near Interstate 74, they often receive customers from across the country.
“We actually get more out-of-town business than local now,” Denhart said. “It’s a destination spot for some. People stumble upon it and they stop in, and others make it a point of stopping in Brownsburg so they can shop here and in Brownsburg’s other small businesses. It’s fun to see those people passing through, as well as our local customers.”
He’s watched Brownsburg change exponentially over the years, but some things have remained the same. With a local small business, Denhart does his part in supporting the community in the best way he knows how - through plants.
The business works with the Friendly Garden Club, the Town of Brownsburg, Brownsburg Community School Corporation and others
through donations and partnerships.
They’ve also reached beyond Hendricks County.
“We do an herb garden at the White River Botanical Gardens,” Denhart said. “There’s a plaque there representing Brownsburg. I like to think about someone from Brownsburg seeing it, or someone who has never heard of Brownsburg maybe stopping to look us up.”
For Denhart, the first job he landed in high school ended up becoming a career and lifelong passion.
“I’d like to thank our customers for supporting us through the years,” he said. “It’s amazing to still be around. I didn’t intend on this turning into my life. It was an interesting high school job, and now I own it and we’re still here. It’s surreal to me but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
While Country Harmony is open year-round, hours are adjusted based on the season. Call 317852-8661 to verify before your visit. Also go to countryharmonyhomeandgarden.com.
SLAMMIN’ SUCCESS CAMERON
HOLLINS JUMPS INTO A UNIQUE CAREER PATH
After graduating from Avon High School as a trackand-field star and drummer in the Avon Marching Black and Gold in 2014, Cameron “Cam Jam” Hollins ran track for Indiana State University.
He decided he wasn’t a huge fan of college, prompting him to begin searching for career options. He was bartending, modeling professionally and looking for his next opportunity.
Hollins said he could have never predicted where he ended up.
After hearing of a special team who entertained at Indiana Pacers home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, he decided to apply, and like many endeavors in life, it wasn’t without setbacks.
“I tried out for Pacers Power Pack and I was bad my first time, but they let me come to practice,” he said. “I think they saw potential in me but I wasn’t really ready to hit the ground running. I made sure at every practice I was showing improvement, and getting the
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographers / Aurora Anderson & Matt Kryger
next thing down as good as possible.” Pacers Power Pack performs at the end of the third quarter at all home Pacers games. The high-energy dunkers spring off of trampolines in acrobatic moves. Each performance is different and Hollins has now been a member of the team since 2021.
“It’s really fun and I think people look forward to it,” he said. “We might do a front flip with a half turn, and toss the ball to another person. Maybe five or six of us are in a line and the last guy dunks, or we’ll do rapids where each of us take a turn. We’ve even had fans throw passes from their seats.”
It’s fun to watch from the stands, and it might surprise others to learn how much work and effort go into their performances. The team gathers twice per week to practice new moves, and just like any sport, there’s time needed for weightlifting, yoga and more.
“You have to train your body to be conditioned to pull these skills off,” Hollins said. “You have to work to be mentally and physically prepared.”
Hollins has traveled with Power Pack, performing in stadiums across the globe with the Pacers and the U.S. national team.
He also joined specialty team and current champions, MOB, for SlamBall; the professional event brings dunkers from all over the country to compete against each other in Las Vegas.
“With the Pacers it’s more about entertainment and showmanship,” Hollins said. “With SlamBall, it’s on ESPN highlights and focused on skill. I’d love to do it again. I love the challenge. I love finding new things to try and learning new things. It keeps me coming back for more.”
When Hollins saw the joy brought to audiences through this form of entertainment, he wanted to expand the options for himself and others by creating
his own dunking company, Leaping Legends.
Why not make dunking a full-time job and bring fellow dunkers along for the ride?
“With Leaping Legends, we don’t have a set number of teammates,” he said.
“Depending on where the shows are, I know a couple of guys performing with NBA teams all over the country. I want to give them opportunities to do this and make a living. We want to give back to the community and show that anything is possible if you stay dedicated and focused. There’s nothing you can’t do.”
Besides, how much fun would it be to take their dunking skills on tour and share their love of the sport with the world?
With his own dunking company, Hollins said he’s having fun expanding what can be done with these skills and entertainment options.
You don’t have to have a gymnasium to book a performance either. Hollins has a portable rim and trampolines, which means Leaping Legends can go to any function in any space.
“There’s so much creativity,” he said. “We push the limits. We’re dunking over a car or jumping over the principal in the high school gymnasium to dunk the ball. We want to do things that you couldn’t imagine until you saw it.”
In fact, he takes it as a challenge.
“This grew into something I love and something I never thought I’d be doing,” Hollins said. “Let’s push the limits and find in reality, we often think with a mental block. We can do far more beyond our wildest dreams.”
Hollins said it all started in Avon.
“To look at everything I’ve done, it’s all been a stepping stone to get further in life,” he said. “Track kept up my athleticism, and the drum line with the marching band taught me showmanship and presentation. Everything builds from there. It’s crazy how things come together.”
A quick search on YouTube with the name Cameron Hollins will share something else positive in Hollins’ life. He recently got engaged at a Pacers game to his longtime girlfriend, Jada.
“This is the dream I didn’t know I wanted,” he said. “There are so many opportunities in the dunk world. The NBA sent us to Brazil for 10 days, I did a tour across America to do dunk shows and I’m headed out to Paris for a Pacers versus Spurs game in just a few weeks. I hope to do more, especially in my hometown.”
Learn more about Leaping Legends on Instagram @leaping_legends, or email leapinglegends2@gmail.com.
2025 TOX-AWAY DAYS
April 5
Brownsburg East Middle School
May 3
Hendricks Co. Fairgrounds (Enter at Gate 5)
Aug 16
July 12 Hickory Elementary School, Avon
Hendricks Co. Fairgrounds (Enter at Gate 5) Oct 18 West Side of Hummel Park, Plainfield TOX-AWAY
Hendricks County households are encouraged to use Tox-Away Days to recycle and dispose of chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, medicines, medical sharps, tires, electronics, and appliances Regulations prohibit wastes from businesses or other organizations from being accepted at Tox-Away Days
Fees are charged for the recycling of TVs ($20/$25), appliances ($5/$10), and certain tires. Cash and check only.
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1
JIM JEFFERIES: SON OF A CARPENTER
CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL, 4602 SUNSET AVE. 7 - 8:30 PM
NFL COMBINE EXPERIENCE
LUCAS OIL STADIUM, 500 S. CAPITOL AVE. ICCLOS.COM
OPEN MIC
HELIUM COMEDY CLUB, 10 W. GEORGIA ST. INDIANAPOLIS.HELIUMCOMEDY.COM
PAWS TO READ
PLAINFIELD-GUILFORD TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1120 STAFFORD RD. 11 AM - 12 PM
Practice your reading with a trained therapy dog! Please register for this event online. plainfieldlibrary.libnet.info
SPRING FLING 5K & 10K
TALON STREAM PAVED TRAIL, 5344 PIKE LN. 9 AM
Prepare for the second race in the Plainfield Run Series: The Spring Fling 5K & 10K! Lace-up your running shoes and hit the scenic Plainfield trails on 9 at 9 AM.
4
SIX (TOURING)
CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL OF BUTLER UNIVERSITY, 4602 SUNSET AVE. 7 - 8:30 PM
From Tudor queens to pop icons, the six wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st-century girl power!
7
BIG TEN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT - SESSION 5
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE 5:30 PM
8
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
LUCAS OIL STADIUM, 500 S. CAPITOL AVE.
6:30 PM
All guests aged 2 and older are required to have a ticket. No costumes for guests 14 and older.
12
2025 TIAA BIG TEN MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ALLSESSION
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE, 125 S. PENNSYLVANIA ST.
14 BROWNSBURG EDUCATION FOUNDATION 2025 RALLY FOR OUR KIDS GALA
BINFORD PAVILION AT LUCAS OIL
INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK, 10470 E. COUNTY ROAD 300 N. 6 - 11 PM
The Brownsburg Education Foundation Rally for Our Kids Gala, presented by Leblanc Nettles Law and Queen Anne’s Lace, is a wonderful celebration of quality education in our community. brownsburg.com
INDIANA COMIC CONVENTION
INDIANA CONVENTION CENTER, 100 S. CAPITOL AVE.
12:30 - 10 PM
Indiana Comic Convention is a must-attend event for fans of pop culture, comics, movies, TV shows, anime, gaming and more. indianacomicconvention.com
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MONSTER JAM 2025DAY ONE
LUCAS OIL STADIUM, 500 S. CAPITOL AVE. 5 PM
All guests aged 2 and older are required to have a ticket. No costumes for guests 14 and older. lucasoilstadium.com
24
SUZANNE VEGA THE TOBIAS THEATER 6:30 PM
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INDIANA PACERS VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE, 125 N. PENNSYLVANIA ST. 7:30 PM
27-30
2025 MIDWEST REGIONAL OF THE NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
LUCAS OIL STADIUM, 500 SOUTH CAPITOL AVENUE. Time TBD. lucasoilstadium.com
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“SWAN LAKE” PRESENTED BY INDIANAPOLIS BALLET & INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
7:30 PM
Ballet’s greatest love story returns! The Indianapolis Ballet partners with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for the second year in a row to produce the classic “Swan Lake”. butlerartscenter.org
WITH HONORS
HENDRICKS COUNTY HONOR GUARD CELEBRATES 25-PLUS YEARS OF LOCAL SERVICE
Writer / Melissa Gibson
If you’ve attended a funeral with military honors, it was likely touching, emotional and full of tradition. The ceremony is meant to show respect and appreciation for those who served our country.
In 1999, a Hendricks County family was looking for a burial with military honors for their family member. The deceased was a prisoner of war during World War II, but there was no system in place to provide the special service and he wasn’t a member of the VFW or similar veteran organization.
That didn’t stop two members of the local VFW from pulling together a team of five volunteers to perform military honors for their deceased brother.
That year, the nonprofit Hendricks County Honor Guard was formed, and members recently celebrated 25 years of service in the county.
“In 2024 we did 67 funerals, and since our existence in 1999, we’ve performed 1,238 funerals or roughly five per month,” said Michael Ries, vice commander. “We do it to give the families closure and to recognize their service.”
Twelve members serve for each military funeral if possible.
There is a benediction by the chaplain, firing team commander, seven firing team members and a bugler. After the firing of the three volleys and playing of “Taps”, two members of the branch the veteran served in present a folded flag and 21 spent rifle cartridges to the family. The final act of honor is a salute toward the veteran’s remains.
“It’s a tradition that every veteran with honorable discharge is entitled to,” said Andy Eldridge, commander. “They should receive the respect they deserve.”
With the loss of a loved one, many veteran family members are unaware of how the ceremony and honorable service works. It’s important to have the personal information available so the Honor Guard can perform their duty.
In order to be recognized, the family must have the veteran’s DD214 discharge papers.
“A lot of family members don’t know about this or know where it is, but it’s a very important document,” Ries said. “When you go to the funeral home to plan the funeral, you take it with you and the funeral home will contact us and the respective branch of service.”
Once notified by the funeral home with details, Ries said they begin contacting volunteer members with the date and time of the service, pulling together a team to perform the ceremony.
Participating in a flag retirement
They’re also involved in community events and volunteer to provide various services across the county. In addition to funerals, the Hendricks County Honor Guard participates in Fourth of July parades, Memorial Day services, flag-raising presentations and retirements. They present the colors at local events, ceremoniously displaying the American flag and the Indiana state flag.
For example, you can count on a team of members to serve at Indy Honor Flight events several times per year.
They support the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and they serve at the annual Wreaths Across America program, Vietnam veteran dinners and more.
“We have two primary missions,” Eldridge said. “We want to make sure our veterans receive the honors they deserve, and secondly, we want to support the county at civic and community events.”
For those who have never served, it’s a bond they might not understand.
Ries served in the U.S. Navy for four years during the Cold War period, and Eldridge served in the Air Force for more than 25 years.
In fact, they come from a long line of family members who have served their country. Ries’s father and uncle served in Vietnam. Eldridge’s grandfather, father, son, and now grandson, have all served.
“The national anthem at a ball game can be emotional,” Eldridge said. “You’ve served and helped your brothers and sisters in arms, and some of them never came home. For me personally, ‘God Bless America’ is always emotional. You just think about those men and women who served with you, those who are currently serving and those who will serve after you. It makes you tear up.”
Ries plays “Taps” on the bugle at most of the funeral services with military honors.
“Every time I play ‘Taps’ it chokes me up,” he said. “‘Taps’ is the hardest. It’s important
because this is giving back to the veterans who gave me the freedom to be able to serve my country.”
Eldridge said veteran organizations are often filled with lively banter, teasing and a common understanding, due to their shared experience. However, it’s all in good fun. They’ll be there for each other when the opportunity presents itself.
Ries agrees. “Whether you served in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines, we like to joke around about the different branches, but when it comes down to it, we’re all one family,” Ries said. “We have each other’s back. Andy can pick up the phone and the entire squad is at his door.”
Ries and Eldridge said the families they serve are always appreciative of their service, and donations come in from local American Legion locations, VFWs and the DAR. However, volunteers are always needed.
“Getting a full team is sometimes a
challenge,” Eldridge said. “Some of the older members go to the south for the winter, some are dealing with medical issues, and half of us still work full time.”
They also have a positive relationship with surrounding honor guard units and will aid each other if there are multiple funerals in one day.
Joining in their mission won’t cost the volunteers a thing, other than their time.
“We do not charge the family for our services and we operate strictly on donations,” Ries said. “One of the misconceptions is you have to have prior military experience in order to participate. We welcome civilians and we’ll properly train everyone. We also provide our volunteers with head-to-toe uniforms. There is no monthly membership. It’s just having the heart to volunteer.”
If you are interested in getting involved, call 317-726-6701.
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