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Decking the Capital Halls
Writer / L S Miller
Julia Reynolds in the East Room of the White House designed as a snow globe
Few people have bragging rights to the year 2024 like Julia Reynolds.
For the most part, life just followed its normal ebb and flow. She closed out her third year at Greenwood Public Library, where she serves as community relations specialist, saw her two sons, aged 11 and 13, through their respective school years, and then she was offered an opportunity she had only dreamed about - decorate the White House for the holidays.
So how does a librarian from the Midwest end up living out her wildest Martha Stewart-esque fantasy, wielding tulle and trimmings at our nation’s capital?
“I put my name in a lottery online to be chosen,” Reynolds says. “I entered that lottery for six straight years. Every year when my name wasn’t pulled, I really wasn’t disappointed. I just figured I would throw my name back in the hat the next round. So I think when my name was pulled, it was almost hard to believe it was really finally happening. I mean, I’m sure there are people who enter their name for years and years before being chosen, if chosen at all.”
Reynolds says she originally stumbled across the opportunity online six years ago while reading the blog of a florist who had accepted an invitation to the White House to serve as a member of the Christmas decorating committee.
“It was just so interesting to read his account of the experience,” Reynolds says. “To think that you just hop on this website and enter basic information about yourself. It is all just for fun, but a few months later you very well could be stringing lights on the Christmas tree
that the president of the United States is going to look at this holiday season. It’s such a neat opportunity.”
Admittedly, being called up to the duty of decorating may not be every American’s dream. But Reynolds grew up loving crafts. By the time she was a young adult, the DIY craze was just catching on. It was a social trend she could get behind.
“I just really enjoy all the things that one would associate with, let’s say, being a day-to-day homemaker, or even just as an adult, building a comfortable home to live in,” she says. “I love decorating, fashion and interior design. It all makes me happy, I just enjoy it so much.”
Reynolds was chosen to be part of the group that served on the premises but also was privy to a White House storage warehouse facility - a place, she says, that was a gold mine of “any and everything you could need to decorate for the holiday.”
There, she and her team packed and organized the items they wanted to decorate with. The secret service screened everything before being moved to the White House.
“We did some crafting at the warehouse, then had it shipped over,” she says. “But for the most part, we would get back to our respectful areas of assignment and get our projects busted out. This was a 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day there type of experience. And you were doing physical labor. But you’d be moving right along on your project and then just kind of stop and remind yourself, ‘I’m looking at George Washington’s dishes,’ or, ‘I’m standing in the same room as the painting that Dolley Madison saved when the White House was burning at the hands of the British.’”
East Corridor of the White House decked out in bells
Julia Reynolds in the White House Library
Carousel Tree in the Blue Room which required the removal of the chandelier due to its height
And to witness such things in a year that saw political divide in preparation for an election? “Political preference played no role,” she says. “It was an incredible experience. And how cool to be someone with an opinion on politics, in a room with many people who also have their own personal opinions on politics, literally standing in our nation’s capital, all together, getting along, discussing Christmas decorations of all things? Being chosen and then being able to participate will forever be a core memory for me. Doing it during an election year, this election year of all years, and it being a peaceful, fun experience - that part I never want to forget. That is a really cool thing.”
The rear entrance of the White House
The front entrance of the White House
RUFF DAYS
MEET HOPPER, THE NEW FACILITY DOG FOR CENTER GROVE SCHOOLS
Writer / Lauren Casey Bemis
The newest addition to Center Grove Community Schools stands on four legs, and is on a mission to make a paws-itive impact on the culture and climate inside classrooms.
“When he is in his blue vest, he is a working dog,” says Christy Berger, executive director of student services and one of the handlers. “If he doesn’t have his blue vest on, he’s just my pet. It is amazing how they can tell the difference.”
Hopper is almost 3 years old, is a proud graduate of the Indiana Canine Assistant Network or ICAN, and now serves as Center Grove’s facility dog.
A facility dog, like Hopper, is different from a therapy dog. Facility dogs participate in at least two years of specialized training - in his case, with ICAN - where incarcerated men and women train the dogs. It is a rigorous process as they undergo a series of evaluations outside of the prison walls to ensure they would make a good fit as working facility dogs. The program looks to make an impact on both sides of the leash.
“He has learned some cues to help us with students or staff who might be upset,” says Berger. “He visits them, which means he puts his head on their lap while they might be upset. Or if a kid is falling asleep, he can nudge them on their leg and wake them up. So they train them specifically to be a facility dog or a service dog.”
Hopper did especially well with experiencing new environments, which made him a perfect match for Center Grove schools, where he travels from building to building throughout the day with his handler to wherever he is needed.
During Thanksgiving break, while the halls were empty, Hopper toured each building so he could experience the sights and smells without students and staff. His calming presence can now be part of difficult conversations with students, staff and even parents. Berger also says Hopper can cheer up students throughout the school day or act as a motivator for students to excel.
“It’s been amazing just in the last few weeks that we’ve had him, just how much happiness and joy he’s brought to our central office building and staff,” says Berger.
“ If our brains aren’t primed and ready to learn, then we can’t learn new things or do our jobs. We’ve all had days that are really tough and we know that for some of our students, that’s more their norm. So if this can give them a purpose of coming to
school, or just help them feel relaxed when he’s in school, then he is doing his job.”
The idea of bringing a facility dog to the schools to make an impact on the mental health of students and staff started with Center Grove Middle School Counselor Ruthie Leeth. Berger says Leeth dove into the research at least four years ago, and when Dr. William Long became superintendent, she pitched the idea to him, knowing how much he advocates for mental health in the district.
Center Grove and Hopper were matched up, and the school leaders hope Middle School North will get an additional dog specifically for their building soon. They are also waiting for one more for another part of the district. The facility dogs are funded through a federal grant, and veterinary services are provided free of charge to the district by a local veterinarian, Dr. Chad Hennessy with Franklin Animal Clinic.
“He’s a little spunky at times,” says Berger. “I joke that he’s a sassy teenager because he’s two and a half. He’s done a great job with all of the staff and people that he’s met. I’ve just been impressed by his abilities.”
Follow along with Hopper’s journey as a facility dog on Facebook @HopperCG, on Instagram @hopper.centergrove, and at centergrove.k12.in.us/hopper.
Our dedicated team provides a variety of essential legal services focused on Elder Law matters such as Long-Term Care Planning, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, and Trust and Estate Administrations. With an understanding of the complexities of aging, we offer comprehensive solutions aimed at securing peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Our personalized approach is tailored to safeguard your assets and well-being.
HIKING IT UP
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
HIKER MATT CHAMBERS RECOUNTS HIS GRUELING BUT REWARDING EXPERIENCE
Writer / Teena Catt
The Appalachian Trail (AT) traverses through the Appalachian mountain range from Georgia to Maine. It crosses through 14 states totaling nearly 2,200 miles. Hiking it entirely is a mammoth undertaking. It is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. Each year thousands of hikers attempt a thru-hike, and only about one in four complete the journey. To do so earns you the title of “2,000 miler.”
Former Franklin resident and 2012 Franklin Community High School grad Matt Chambers is now in the “2,000-mile club.”
He started his thru-hike on March 24, 2024, and completed the hike on August 17, 2024. Chambers was a SOBO hiker, meaning he started in Maine and hiked south to Georgia. This hike was not his first attempt. In 2022 he had hiked 421 miles when his quest was cut short, due to a nasty fall that left him with both bones in his right forearm shattered. That injury resulted in two surgeries and a year of physical and occupational therapy, and permanent nerve damage in his hand. Despite that, he knew he would return to the trail.
To prepare for the demanding endeavor, Chambers read nearly every book he could get that was related to the trail, including those that detailed failures. Preparing for the physical demands of the hike included long hikes every weekend and trail runs multiple times a week. Hiking the trail includes 20to 30-mile days. Chambers knew that many people hurt themselves by trying to push themselves too hard too fast. He made a rule for himself not to go more than 15 miles in the first two weeks on the trail, and then once he knew he had no nagging pains, he felt confident enough to up his mileage to 20 to 30 miles per day.
He set out on the trail solo, but commented that he was never alone. There is a term known as tramily, meaning trail family, used among the hikers. Those are the people who hike at your pace, who have similar goals, and who you click with and can spend hour upon hour with each day - those become your trail family. Among the hikers a special camaraderie evolves, and a unique set of hiker phrases and terms become everyday language while on the trail. Each hiker earns a trail name, and his became Colonel Popcorn.
Packing for a trek such as the entire trail included planning out all he would need for living in the woods for an extended period. His pack would weigh between 30 and 35 pounds, depending on the amount of food he carried, and would include: tent, sleeping bag, water filtration system, first-aid kit, one set of hiking clothes, one set of emergency backup clothes, a mid-layer jacket, a puffy jacket, a cook set, and a rope to hang food out of reach of bears at night.
Throughout the hike, Chambers hiked through every imaginable type of weather including snow. He crossed paths with all types of wildlife. He came within yards of a few bears and had one scary encounter with a rattlesnake. At one point he wound up with Lyme disease. He was lucky that he was treated early, but prior to receiving antibiotics, he had some of his most physically hard days on the trail. He was exhausted and unable to do even half of his normal pace, and his chest was so constricted that he said it felt like he was breathing through a straw. Throughout the trail he dealt with adversities such as battered feet, relentless chafing and twisted
ankles. He took a hard fall, ripping out a chunk of his forehead. Super glue became the substitute for needed stitches. He has a nice scar souvenir from that experience.
While all that sounds like enough to deter a person, Chambers said he never considered quitting. He knew what it felt like already to fail, as he recalled his injury from 2022. “The feeling of not being able to finish my thru-hike was far worse than I ever felt during my [previous] hike, so quitting never crossed my mind,” he said.
Hiker hunger is a trail term that refers to an insatiable hunger that all hikers eventually experience. “When it hits, you can eat whatever whenever, and practically will not get full,” Chambers said. “It is a blessing and a curse.” Chambers said he was burning 4000 to 6000 calories a day. He packed the most calorie-dense food he could find, which included protein bars, peanut butter, ramen, spam packets, candy, meat sticks, and anything made by Little Debbie. Town food can be a whole different story
that did not fill him up, then he would
and
“I’d regularly order two entrees and an appetizer, all for myself,” Chambers said. If
he said that if he was in town for an extended period of time, he would do the same thing for all three meals. When he got home all he really
according to Chambers. When a hiker hits a town along the trail, a thru-hiker becomes a restaurant’s MVP (most valuable patron).
walk to the nearest ice cream shop
eat a pint of ice cream. On top of that,
wanted was a home-cooked meal, and his parents delivered, he said.
Part of what makes the trail so special are the culture and traditions around it. Chambers explained that Trail Magic involves acts of kindness by people (known as trail angels) to thru-hikers. “I’ve seen people lug a grill out into the middle of the woods so they could grill up burgers for the thru-hikers, I’ve seen coolers filled with drinks left at crossings, and I’ve had fully home-cooked meals from people who spend their summers off cooking for and feeding thru-hikers,” he said.
Chambers said the best part of his trip was the friendships he made along the way. He has already made plans to travel with them again in the future. There are other long trails through other parts of the country he would like to explore, and he is interested in pursuing a cross-country backpacking trip someday. He does not have plans to hike the AT again, but he said “never say never.”
Carefree Living with CarDon
With winter weather and the new year upon us, now is a good time to think about making the right move for you or your loved one.
CarDon & Associates’ Aspen Trace Senior Living Community offers comfortable, carefree living, especially desirable during the winter months.
“At our communities, you don’t have to worry about shoveling walkways or digging your car out of the snow,” said CarDon’s Director of Marketing Susan Bonner. “We provide all maintenance, inside and out — from keeping the communities warm to clearing away the snow. We also offer scheduled and unscheduled transportation so residents don’t have to worry about navigating the winter wonderland.”
CarDon’s communities are also among the best places to be safe and cozy and avoid the winter doldrums. Help is just down the hall, and friendly faces are around every corner.
Aspen Trace features the following:
• Weekly housekeeping and flat linen service
• Three delicious restaurant-style meals served daily
• Kitchen with microwave and refrigerator
• All utilities (including phone and cable television)
• Social, cultural, and educational programs and activities
• Beauty salon / barber services
Aspen Trace works hard to keep residents active and in good spirits. Residents can stay busy with engaging daily activities (such as craft-making, bingo tournaments and musical performances), as well as community parties and outings.
Aspen Trace is ready to give more seniors a warm welcome to a new home this winter!
“I love it here,” said current Aspen Trace resident Marti Lee. “My kids have noticed it too. They say, ‘Mom, you seem so happy!’ I really am.”
For more information about Aspen Trace, please visit cardon.us or call 844-4-CarDon.
Healthy You
A Note from the Publisher
A MONTHLY INITIATIVE FOR TOTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Happy New Year!
While we shake our heads at how quickly, yet again, another year came and went, it’s also an opportunity to be thankful for the gift of a brand-new year and envision the possibilities.
As we step into the new year, there is no better time to prioritize our wellbeing and take control of our health - mentally, physically, spiritually and beyond. New Year, New You is a dynamic monthly initiative from Center Grove Magazine designed to empower you, our readers, with the knowledge and resources needed to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Each month we will focus on a different aspect of health, offering expert advice, tips and local business recommendations to help you thrive in that area.
Throughout the year we’ll dive into a wide range of health categories, from physical health to mental and emotional well-being, spiritual growth, financial health and more.
We understand that health is not just
about diet and exercise; it’s about balancing all aspects of life, and every piece of the puzzle contributes to your overall happiness and success. By breaking these categories down month by month, we’ll help you to focus on what matters most to you, one step at a time.
Each month we’ll highlight a specific area of health, exploring its importance and offering practical ways to help. Additionally, we’ll introduce you to local businesses and experts who specialize in that month’s theme, providing you with the tools and support you need to succeed. Whether you’re interested in exploring hobbies for health that foster relaxation and creativity, seeking advice on career counseling to align your professional life with your passions, or learning strategies to boost intellectual health and keep your mind sharp, we’ve got you covered.
This initiative is all about making 2025 the year you commit to
becoming the best version of yourself. Together, let’s embrace the journey of health, explore new possibilities, and build habits that will benefit every aspect of our lives. It’s not just about starting fresh; it’s about making sustainable, meaningful changes that last.
So, join us on this transformative journey and get ready to take control of your health in ways you never imagined. This is the year to invest in yourself. New Year, New You starts now!
Cheers, Fredda Kovacs Center Grove Magazine Publisher
RESOLUTE for 2025
A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION GUIDE
Writer / Devon Dean
“I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me.” -The Mountain Goats, This Year
2024 is in the history books, and we’re now collectively bundled up and ready to tackle 2025. Each time the ball drops in Times Square and people uncork the Korbel, it’s a chance to reset the balance and state some good intentions for the next 365 days.
A recent study by the American Psychiatric Association showed some 76% of adults in the U.S. will make resolutions this year, and more than a quarter of these (28%) are focused on mental health, with many of us setting our sights on improving wellness through both mental and physical/habit changes:
GOAL-SETTING STRATEGIES
• Keep goals anchored in values. What is most important to you will help you stay motivated when initial enthusiasm may wane, and the impact of achieving your goal will mean the most to you when you reach it.
• Stay positive with a healthy balance of discipline and self-compassion; even the most driven people benefit from grace, and you can support yourself best if you stay in a positive frame of mind. In fact, studies of happiness show that we are not only in a better mood, but we are actually more productive and effective when we keep a positive outlook. Also, keep in mind that self-care is critical, particularly with winter in full swing.
• Consider counting steps. A large goal can be less overwhelming if broken into components or sequential steps, even micro steps, toward change. While it’s healthy to dream, we want to set our sights on a balance of vision and achievability to keep positive success realistic and within our reach.
• Write goals and progress down. You will not only keep yourself accountable, which usually serves to help with motivation, but you can count steps toward progress that support and reinforce the excellent impact your efforts can have.
Finally, use positive self-talk. Reminding yourself of your power and emphasizing your progress can be especially powerful.
New Year, New You
Johnson Memorial Is Here to Help You Focus on Health
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
A fresh year is the ideal time to focus on your health and wellness. As a Johnson County resident, you ’re lucky to have a wealth of seasoned health experts right in your backyard at Johnson Memorial Health (JMH).
CANCER SCREENINGS
Cancer diagnoses have been on the rise in recent years. According to the American Cancer Society, two million patients were diagnosed with cancer in 2023, up from 1.9 in 2022 and 1.8 in 2021. This is why
it’s crucial to get early detection screenings.
Experts now advise you to begin getting colonoscopies at age 45. If no abnormalities are found, you won ’t have to get another one for ten years. Women should begin getting annual mammograms starting at 40. Men should get prostate screenings at 50. Visit a dermatologist regularly for skin checks. If you’re between 50 and 80 and have a smoking history, get a lung screening.
JMH also offers heart scans. While they’re designed to look at your heart, they get a picture of your lungs too.
“I’ve had several patients who were getting a routine heart scan, but we found lung nodules that turned out to be lung cancer,” says Dr. Stephen Eberwine, oncologist at JMH. “They had no symptoms, but this scan enabled us to catch the cancer early.”
Some people avoid getting screened out of fear.
“Most people assume if they have cancer, they’ll have to endure caustic treatment, but that’s not true,” Eberwine says.
While chemotherapy works well against fast-growing cancers, an alternative to chemotherapy is targeted immunotherapies like Keytruda, which is now approved to treat 20 to 25 different types of cancer. Eberwine recently treated a patient who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Keytruda melted away his cancer, and he’ s been in remission for nearly five years.
LIFESTYLE MEDICINE
Dr. Joanna Campodonico, a family medicine doctor with JMH, helps patients with obesity management. “Obesity is now being viewed as a disease, so treating it is becoming more accepted,” says Campodonico.
She treats from a holistic perspective because so many factors can lead to obesity, including poor lifestyle habits, limited access to nutritious food, little physical activity, not enough sleep, excess stress, medications and genetics.
“If you can prevent obesity and/ or help someone achieve a healthy weight, that could prevent a lot of diseases down the road, including 13 types of cancer that are associated with obesity,” Campodonico says.
It’s wise to take a comprehensive approach to weight loss by asking
questions like: How much sleep do you get? How’s your stress level? How’s your mental health? Do you stop eating when you’re full? Do you avoid eating in front of the television? Do you try to eliminate processed foods? How much do you exercise?
Significant weight loss can result in pain reduction, increased energy and overall mood enhancement.
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Campodonico says. “Continuing to help someone maintain their weight is just as important as the loss.”
OVERCOMING JOINT PAIN
More than 50 million people in the U.S. experience joint pain related to arthritis. That’s about one in five adults, or 20% of the population.
“If people don’t experience arthritis, they may not realize how it debilitating can be,” says Dr. Nicholas St. Germain, orthopedic surgeon at JMH. “It can take away a person ’s independence and sense of self.”
Arthritis, which is the leading cause of disability in the United States, is inflammation inside the joint space. More than 100 different forms of arthritis exist. However the three most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the degenerative loss of cartilage over time. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that tends to affect multiple joints within the body. Post-traumatic arthritis occurs after an injury to
the bone surrounding the joint or to the cartilage itself, and becomes degenerative in nature over time.
The first way patients should try to overcome joint pain is through lifestyle modification. “Often patients need to switch from high-impact exercise like running to lower impact exercises like swimming and cycling,” St. Germain says. “Weight loss can also significantly improve joint pain.”
When lifestyle modifications and assistive devices like canes and walkers don’t help, you can try non-steroidal antiinflammatories such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and Naproxen, or COX-2 inhibitors, which can cause fewer gastrointestinal issues. Cortisone injections, directly injected into the painful joint space, can help to decrease inflammation.
When nonoperative modalities fail to improve pain and function, the next step is joint arthroscopy. With advanced arthritis, however,
Healthy You
the only viable option is joint replacement surgery. St. Germain performs direct anterior hip replacements as well as robotic joint replacement.
St. Germain had a patient in his early 50s who had advanced boneon-bone hip arthritis. After having anterior hip replacement surgery, he reported that his life completely changed.
SOUND SLEEP
Nearly a quarter of the population struggles with getting a good night’s sleep, which then affects daytime alertness, focus and energy. Poor sleep may be due to many factors, but topping the list are sleep apnea and insomnia.
Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing during sleep due to blockage in the windpipe. Left untreated, these people suffer mood disorders and sometimes fall asleep while driving. Those with
moderate or severe apnea are at greater risk of heart issues, high blood pressure and strokes. To diagnose sleep apnea, you must do an at-home sleep test to see how many interruptions in breathing you experience per hour.
of adults occasionally experience insomnia
According to the Sleep Foundation, two-thirds of adults occasionally experience insomnia. At JMH’ s sleep center, doctors can help reset circadian rhythms using cognitive behavioral therapy for those who struggle with delayed sleep phase syndrome (staying up late and waking up late) and advanced sleep phase disorder (getting sleepy early in the evening and waking up early in the morning).
“You want to modulate that sleep cycle to fit in with the rest of society,” says Dr. David Kristo, pulmonary and sleep medicine specialist at JMH.
Following a good sleeping plan requires rising first thing in the morning and getting a lot of bright light to set your internal clock. Avoid caffeine after midday and use dim lights at night. If your eyes pop open in the middle of the night with racing thoughts, get out of bed and read a boring book until you feel drowsy. “And definitely turn the clock away so you’re not amping up anxiety,” Kristo says.
Kristo has seen patients who needlessly suffered with insomnia or sleep apnea for years.
“Poor sleep doesn’t have to be a way of life,” Kristo says. “We can help you.”
Sleep Foundation
Dr. Joanna Campodonico
Dr. Stephen Eberwine
Dr. Nicholas St. Germain
“There is no health without mental health,” says Tricia Duncan, mental health counselor at JMH. “I think people forget that.”
According to Mental Health America, roughly 23% of adults (or 60 million Americans) experienced a mental illness in the last year, while one in five youths had at least one major depressive episode.
trauma, substance abuse, and grief, which includes the death of a loved one or pet, a job loss, or a divorce. It’s important to improve your physical well-being by getting proper sleep, eating healthy and exercising regularly, which can be as simple as going for a walk around the block.
“Just getting out in nature can have a positive effect on your mental health,” Duncan says. She also suggests implementing meditation, relaxation techniques and therapy.
and helps patients navigate the mental health system. She’s had patients who have gone to the emergency room because they thought they were having a heart attack when it was actually a panic attack. After working with Duncan, they now know how to harness the power of their mind to manage their anxiety when they feel panic attacks coming on.
of adults experienced a mental illness in the last year
MENTAL HEALTH 23% Mental
Common issues facing people today are anxiety, depression,
“Often people envision therapy as lying on a couch talking about childhood problems, but there’ s a practical side to counseling that can help you further develop coping strategies,” she adds.
Duncan, who is on the Suicide Prevention Coalition for Johnson County, does crisis interventions, handles suicide risk assessments,
“It’s a great relief when people realize that they have control over some of this and the power to do something about it,” Duncan says.
Johnson Memorial Health’s main campus is located at 1125 West Jefferson Street in Franklin. They also have locations in Whiteland, Greenwood and the Center Grove area. For more information, visit johnsonmemorial.org
Tricia Duncan Dr. David Kristo
Health America
VICTORY STRENGTH & FITNESS
Writer \ Christy Heitger-Ewing
Victory Strength and Fitness is home to the Victory Transformation Program. The facility and program was created by Bruce Salazar. Years ago, Bruce Salazar suffered a terrible knee injury that left him inactive, which resulted in weight gain. Through his rehabilitation and recovery journey, he began to see a positive difference not only in his physical wellness, but also in his mental well-being. As it turned out, others took notice too.
“People observed the change happening in me and asked for advice on how they could get in better shape,” says Salazar, who at the time was studying to become a minister. A light bulb went off, and he decided to also become a certified personal trainer with an emphasis on nutrition and movement.
“I figured this was a great way to have access to people’s lives in order to help
them mentally, physically and spiritually,” Salazar says. In 2012 he and his family moved to Greenwood where he opened Victory Strength & Fitness.
Due to the program’s popularity, Victory has expanded, and is currently located on State road 135 next to Ella’s Frozen Yogurt.
“After the new year a lot of people end up going on crash diets in an attempt to drop the pounds they gained between Halloween and Christmas,” Salazar says. “We want to help them create sustainable lifestyle habits so that when they see results, they maintain them.”
Salazar developed the program called Victory Transformation based off the best of everything he’s learned personally from multiple worldrenowned coaches. It combines strength training, cardio and nutrition, and the facility is the only place in the state that offers the specialized system. When a client first comes to Victory Strength & Fitness, their fitness level is assessed so coaches can find the best place to start. Coaches then customize an individualized program that offers the appropriate challenge, then gradually develops from that point.
“It’s known as progressive adaptation, as week after week weights increase,” says Salazar. “Clients surprise
themselves at what they can do as the program progresses.” They also highly stress teaching proper lifting techniques to prevent injury.
Nutrition is a big piece of creating sustainable lifestyle habits, so the system includes recommendations on the proper amount of protein, carbohydrates and water one should consume daily, as well as how to avoid addictive foods. This will maximize the results that one can achieve.
“We help people overcome obstacles and develop better disciplines,” Salazar says. “We’ve seen people of every age and every ability lose as much as 125 pounds, to those who want to tone up and lose a stubborn 10 pounds.”
Clients can either choose one-onone personal training or sign up for a small group (capped at seven students), which also still offers personalized coaching based on each person’s individualized program. Many people prefer the group format to make friends. Smaller class sizes of seven ensure no one gets left behind or feels like just another number.
“People are desperate for connection
and often join gyms to find that community,” Salazar says.
“That’s the accountability component that’s missing in a lot of places,” Salazar says.
The top goal for many people is to get leaner and stronger, and improve endurance.
“People tell us they get winded going up a flight of steps or they get gassed playing with their children,” Salazar says. “They want to improve their quality of life.”
He’s seen that happen time and again. For instance, a 70-year-old client was sharing how thrilled her granddaughter was because they could now ride bikes together. A 56-year-old client endured 14 orthopedic surgeries and struggled to find anyone who would help him stay safe but get stronger, until he found Victory
Strength & Fitness. “He’s been with us for over three years now and is incredibly strong,” Salazar says.
A lot of women in their 50s, 60s and 70s have been diagnosed with some type of osteoporosis, so they come to Victory Strength & Fitness to start a strength training and resistance program.
“It’s exciting when they come back and tell us how their scans have improved,” says Salazar. “With bone density no longer an issue, they report that they can cease their meds. We’ve seen similar things for those with high cholesterol or high A1C levels. After learning our system, many have been able to reduce or remove meds, or prevent going on them, because they trust the process and do the work.”
317-721-2821 520 IN-135 | Suite I Greenwood, IN 46142 victorystrengthandfitness.com
Healthy You
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
RENEWED WELLNESS
Writer / Kimber Hercest
RENEWED WELLNESS EXPANDS OPTIONS FOR A HEALTHY 2025
The new year often brings a renewed interest in improving one’s mental and physical well-being. For many women, improving that well-being also means addressing long-ignored health concerns like urinary or vaginal issues due to childbirth or aging that can disrupt daily life.
Renewed Wellness in Greenwood offers a unique solution to help alleviate these concerns.
The EmpowerRF Machine is part of the Revived V program offered exclusively at Renewed Wellness. The minimally invasive, FDA-approved platform offers three treatment options to address various feminine health concerns:
• VTone is a nonsurgical, non-hormonal treatment that uses electrical muscle stimulation to strengthen and rehabilitate pelvic-floor muscles. The applicator mimics Kegel exercises during the treatment but at a much higher intensity. Patients see improvement in stress, urge, and mixed
urinary incontinence, along with enhancement in intimacy response. A noninvasive treatment, Vtone does not require anesthetic. Patients report immediate symptom relief after the first treatment and continue to see improvement for up to four months.
• FormaV is a non-hormonal, nonsurgical, noninvasive treatment using radio-frequency heat to build collagen and elastin in the vaginal canal, increase lubrication, and improve symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. Recommended treatment protocol consists of a series of three 30-minute sessions.
• Morpheus8V is the latest innovation in women’s health that helps to address the most common feminine health concerns. As women age, they start to experience reduced collagen and elastin production, impacting not only the quality of the skin, but also internal organs such as the vaginal canal. Morpheus8V uses advanced microneedling combined with radio-
frequency heat to stimulate collagen and elastin production, to help build healthy vaginal tissue and improve urinary incontinence, intimacy, blood flow, and increased lubrication. During the treatment, the provider will use a variety of numbing options to ensure the patient is comfortable.
Owner Amber Fair says patients are all ages and come from all walks of life, from a 23-year-old who has just given birth and lost elasticity, to an elderly woman who wants to alleviate urinary incontinence and minimize trips to the bathroom.
Fair became interested in offering Revived V as a service at her business while considering her own postpartum journey and then hearing about others with the same concerns. Many start experiencing both stress and urge incontinence after having children, and this progresses with age. Some are wearing liners while in their 30s and wonder what it will be like when they get to 70. Before treatment, a patient said she could only run in the morning
before consuming liquid because of concerns of incontinence.
Fair says she and her team strive to create a safe space for women to feel empowered to talk about concerns that are normally somewhat hard to broach. “We want to help avoid those embarrassing episodes that come with aging and childbirth,” she says.
When a new patient comes in, Fair says her team does a comprehensive consult that touches on all aspects of physical and mental well-being, with the goal of a plan that will yield longevity, symptom management and nutritional balance so patients can live their best lives - no matter their age. “We take your data, story and history into account to paint a picture of your health and how we can create a healthier you,” she says.
RENEWED WELLNESS OFFERS A WEALTH OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICAL OPTIONS:
• Massage therapy
• Hormone replacement therapy
• IV/nutrition infusions
• Peptide therapy
• Ozone/UBI therapy
• Morpheus8 face and body therapy
• Medically supervised weight loss programs
• On-site blood draws
You can follow Renewed Wellness on Instagram @renewedwellness_ambernp and on Facebook @RenewedWellnessCG.
A DENTAL OFFICE DESIGNED AROUND YOU
Check Out Upcoming January EVENTS
Live Music At Tried & True Alehouse
January 2, 3, 4, 9, 16, 23 & 30 | 8PM - 11PM
2800 S. SR 135, Greenwood
Enjoy live music, scratch-made food, and dang cold beer. triedandtruealehouse.com
First Fridays In Franklin
January 3 | 5PM - 8PM | Jefferson St. | Downtown Franklin
More than 25 stores and restaurants will be open late for this shopping and dining event. Enjoy live music, artists and other fun. facebook.com/DiscoverDowntownFranklin/events
Center Grove Community Schools
January 7
Students return after winter break. Start of second semester.
Southside Art League Exhibit
Featuring David Shockley
January 8 - 31 | Wed to Sat 11AM - 3PM
299 E. Broadway St. | Greenwood
Guest Artist David Shockley will be exhibiting a collection of his “Treasured Trinkets”, which are glass-like art pieces that are molded from acrylic or epoxy. Meet David Shockley during the SALI open house on Friday, January 10 from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. | southsideartleague.org
Buti & Booze at The Barn at Bay Horse Inn
Featuring David Shockley
January 15 | 6:30PM - 7:30PM
1468 W. Stones Crossing Rd. | Greenwood
Work out with Studio You Yoga. Kick off the evening with a high-energy fusion of yoga, tribal dance and plyometrics. Bring your own mat. Preregistration is required. | studioyouyoga.com
Comedy Night at The Barn at Bay Horse Inn
January 18 | 6:30PM - 10:30PM
1468 W. Stones Crossing Rd. | Greenwood
Enjoy a night of food, fun and entertainment to support the Center Grove Bantam Football League. Comedian Taylor Tijerina will perform and there will be a silent auction, food from The Haven and Antilogy, and a cash bar.
Submit your event to our online calendar for free!
CENTER GROVE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP
Writer / Kevin Conrad, CG Sports Network
/ Misty Brown; Tony Pironello; Provided
GIRLS BASKETBALL
WINS COUNTY TITLE
Center Grove High School (CGHS) girls basketball began the 2024-2025 season with nine straight wins, and two of those victories came in the Johnson County Tournament. The Trojans beat Indian Creek in the county tourney semifinals 62-26 at Greenwood. Junior Gracyn Gilliard led the Trojans with 24 points, and seniors Lilly Bischoff and Ava Grant each added 13 points. CGHS squared off against Franklin in the finals, beating the Grizzly Cubs 57-
29, giving the Trojans’ Head Coach Kevin Stuckmeyer his sixth county title in eight seasons. Gilliard netted a season-high 33 points and had eight steals in the victory.
“Congratulations to our seniors and this team on winning the county,” said Stuckmeyer. “It’s a blessing to win championships. We don’t take them for granted; these girls have earned it. This senior class has put some hardware on their
shelf and earned it, and hopefully they continue that. I know they have bigger goals moving forward. It’s a process day by day, and getting better toward the end of the season.”
The Trojans’ ninth win of the season came on their home court against the Plainfield Quakers, 58-48. Once again, Gilliard paced CGHS with 23 points, and she scored her 1,000th career point in the game.
Photographers
CG girls basketball seniors Emerson Vlcan, Lilly Bischoff, and Ava Grant celebrate the Trojans’ 2024 Johnson County Championship win over Franklin
CG girls basketball junior Gracyn Gilliard scored her 1,000th career point in the Trojans’ home win over Plainfield
FOOTBALL
MAKES ANOTHER STRONG RUN
The class 6A number-seven Center Grove Trojans won their seventh-straight regional title - the 18th under head coach Eric Moore and 19th overall. The Trojans won the regional number-four final at Warren Central, 23-15. CGHS senior running back Jack Browning led the Trojan attack with two rushing touchdowns. Sophomore Drake McClurg contributed a 74-yard punt return for a score, and sophomore kicker Dallas Cornpropst added a 30-yard field goal. Junior Cooper Pio had two interceptions, junior defensive lineman Jeremy Stanley had two sacks, and junior defensive lineman Lincoln Bright and senior linebacker T.J. Williams each had six tackles.
The Trojans hosted the class 6A numberfour Brownsburg Bulldogs in the southern semi-state championship. It was the first meeting between the schools on the gridiron since 1990. CGHS lost the final-
four battle to the Bulldogs, 31-27. Senior quarterback Gabe McWilliams threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, and his top target was senior wide receiver Tristan Baxter, who had 111 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. Junior running back Nolan Rees led the ground attack with two rushing touchdowns. Williams once again led the Trojan defense with 12 tackles. Brownsburg won the 6A state title the following week over Westfield, 22-17.
CGHS concluded the season at 8-5, and were regional and sectional champions. Trojan offensive lineman C.J. Scifres was named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 All-State Team. Baxter, McWilliams and Williams were each named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 6A Senior All-State Team. McClurg and junior tight end Dom Berry were named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 6A Junior All-State Team.
CG senior linebacker T.J. Williams and senior defensive end Augie Argbah make the tackle on a Brownsburg player in the Semi-State championship game
CG senior running back Jack Browning had two rushing touchdowns in the Trojans’ Regional championship win against Warren Central
WRESTLERS RANKED AMONG THE VERY BEST IN THE STATE
The Center Grove boys wrestling program has been one of the strongest in the state in the past two seasons, with state runnerups in 2023 and 2024, championships in the 2023 semi-state, regional and sectional, as well as the 2024 sectional title. The third-ranked Trojans began the 20242025 season with wins over Lawrence Central, Columbus North and sixth-ranked Cathedral, and first-place finishes in the Bloomington and Zionsville tournaments.
“When you graduate the last couple of years nine or 10 really good varsity starters, guys have to fill those spots,” said CGHS wrestling Head Coach Maurice Swain. “Some of our new guys are getting a chance to wrestle at a more optimal weight and are performing well. The team is starting to come together and gel together.”
The Trojans will compete against the best in the Team State Duals on January 11 at Brownsburg. CGHS will compete in the state tournament in February, beginning with the sectional at Mooresville on February 1.
SWIMMING AND DIVING WINS HALL OF FAME CLASSIC; DIVER SETS SCHOOL RECORD
The CGHS boys and girls swimming and diving teams combined to win the Hall of Fame Classic. The boys placed first among eight teams, and the girls finished third. Besides the Hall of Fame Classic victory, the fifth-ranked boys have defeated Plainfield, Whiteland and Columbus North. In the win over Plainfield, CGHS freshman boys diver Dathan Schramm set the six-dive school record with a score of 298.15. The boys will compete in the sectional at Franklin on February 22. The Trojans will be vying for their 30th sectional title. The 29th-ranked girls will host the sectional on February 8. They have won three straight sectionals and will aim to win their 30th sectional title overall.
CG freshman diver Dathan Schramm sets the six-dive school record with a score of 298.15 versus Plainfield
