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TROJANS ARE DYN-O-MITE: LOCAL BARN GETS FRESH COAT OF CGHS TROJAN SPIRIT 42 YEARS LATER
Center Grove Juniors loading the buses for the 20th annual Junior class Day of Caring thought they were in for just another typical community service project. One group was headed to a local barn to repaint a message left on it more than 40 years ago. They had no idea what they were in for.
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NOVEMBER WRITERS
Christy Heitger-Ewing / Michelle Kaufman Jon Shoulders / Matt Roberts Suzanne Huntzinger / Kara Kavensky
NOVEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Brosmer / Amy Payne
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The Teal Canary: Local Art Studio Provides A Place To Create
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The Center Grove Community Magazine is published by Towne Post Network, Inc. and is written for and by local Center Grove residents. Submit story ideas to PR@atCenterGrove.com.
Trojans Are Dyn-o-mite: Local Barn Gets Fresh Coat Of CGHS Trojan Butler Basketball Head Coach Spirit 42 Years Later Lavall JordanLooks To Continue Winning Tradition November’s Luckiest Hoosier Alive: Zeke Sodrel Well Grounded: Brickhouse Coffee Celebrates Grand Opening Cardinals Seek Breakthrough A Fresh Start: Newk’s Eatery Opens Season First Indiana Location In Straight Shooter: Janet Holcomb Greenwood Talks Art, Entrepreneurship and The Broken Skull: Center Grove Becoming a Gun Safety Instructor Alum Competes On Reality Show
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The Teal Canary LOCAL ART STUDIO PROVIDES A PLACE TO CREATE
Hommell believes making art with a friend, family member or oneself is purposeful time to create something. She says the space has turned into more than she ever imagined, and the space is available to rent for parties and showers.
Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photographer / Amy Payne
Amy Hommell has been working on her craft since childhood and opened an art studio in downtown Greenwood to provide a bigger space to share her love and passion for art with the community.
I’ve always been an artist my whole life,” Hommell says. “When I opened, I envisioned it to be a space for me to do my art and sell my murals and my personal art. I One of the most impactful moments in thought, ‘well, I’ll throw in some classes here Hommel’s career came when she was and there, and we’ll call it a day.’” approached by a man who wanted a private art lesson for he and his wife’s third Her art studio became a gathering place anniversary. The event was on Hommell’s for other artists and a place for her to have son’s birthday, but she made it work. lessons and host classes.
During the lesson at Vino Villa, Hommell “Little did I know that it was going to learned the couple did missions work, which completely turn into this business of She opened Teal Canary in 2013 after giving impacting people’s lives through visual arts or is something she had always private art lessons for several years in her even just impacting their lives through them creating,” Hommell says. home. “I’ve always painted, I’ve always drawn,
4 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2017 / atCenterGrove.com
wanted to do. “They kind of started getting emotional, and we all got emotional for a second. He said, ‘we’ve been praying for an artist for two years [to go on a trip],’” Hommell says.
Street next to DeBaun’s Auto Service. More than 300 community members showed up to help paint the mural, and Hommell finished the higher areas.
Hommell travelled to Nicaragua, where she did art with orphans. She had a translator, but the kids watched her movements and picked up the red when Hommell did.
Hommell describes the feeling of driving by the mural as surreal and something that makes her happy. People will text her to tell her they think of her when passing by it or send her photos of their kids in front of the mural.
“It was indescribable, really, you can’t describe what you see,” Hommell says. “Most of those children had never even touched a paint brush before, let alone saw canvas. They don’t even really have stores there. Their hearts are so full, though. It was probably the most incredible experience I’ve had as an artist — to be able to share my knowledge with people.”
“It’s a representation of the beautiful things that we see, and the things that we all experience,” she says. “We all experience agriculture and we all experience education. All of the things that the community foundation gives back to, we are all experiencing every day. It just makes you happy to see a symbol on one of those mandalas.”
Hommell also won the Color the County Contest in 2016 that was put on by the Johnson County Community Foundation. Hommel’s mural design of eight mandalas represent the eight fields of interest areas that the foundation gives money to, such as education, agriculture and health and human services.
Hommell says there is still more to do in the community, and her love for art comes from confidence in her ability. She’s a visual person and knows others learn visually, too.
The mural was designed and sketched by Hommell on the side of a building on Main
“I think that when you can teach someone visually or give someone a visual picture, it just speaks louder than words can,” Hommell says.
Amy Hommell opened the doors to Teal Canary in 2013. atCenterGrove.com / NOVEMBER 2017 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / 5
Writer / Suzanne Huntzinger Photography provided by CGHS and Brian Brosmer
Center Grove Juniors loading the buses for the 20th annual Junior class Day of Caring thought they were in for just another typical community service project. The class of almost 600 students was split up into 35 groups and headed to various locations for their projects. One group was headed to a local barn to repaint a message left on it more than 40 years ago. They had no idea what they were in for. Meresa Girdley, a Special Services Assistant at CGHS, was on the bus with the kids that day. As she heard them shout comments asking what’s so important about painting a barn and what’s the big deal, she decided to take the opportunity to share the story with the kids. She told them about the day back in 1975 when she was there painting the barn. Girdley was Meresa Baker back then, and she and her cousin Russell had gotten permission from Forest Stewart, the owner of the neighboring property that sits on the corner of Smokey Row road and 144, to paint a school spirit message on his barn to support the Trojan basketball team as they prepared to play in the regional championships. Showing school spirit was a big deal back then. “Fans decorated their cars with window paint,” Girdley says. “They put streamers on their cars and went to the game in caravans. Trojans showed their pride everywhere.” So, when Meresa and Rusty came to ask their neighbors, the Stewarts, for permission to paint the barn, Forest didn’t think it was unusual. He strongly supported it, because like Meresa and Rusty, he too was a Center Grove alum.
Not only were Meresa and Rusty surrounded by fellow alum, they lived within a block of most of their extended family who were also Center Grove grads. Meresa’s grandfather, uncles and cousins all had homes near each other. “I grew up having my extended family all around me,” Girdley says. Through the years, her family has remained in the area. As her grandparents’ home changed hands,
she acquired the home and is living back in the house where she grew up. Her children live close by now too, and though Forest Stewart has passed on, his family still lives on the Stewart farm.
Center Grove history by bringing an icon back to life,” Girdley says. “I told them it’s important for them to learn the traditions of the past to look forward to what could happen in the future.”
As Girdley conveyed her story, the students began to get a sense of history and community.
When the kids got off the bus with a renewed sense of tradition and dove into their mission as a community. They repainted the barn exactly as it was in 1975. The message on the barn, fading but still present, came back to life. As the kids put a fresh coat of paint on the words, “Center Grove Trojans are DYN-O-MITE” (A nod to JJ in the 70s sitcom Good Times), they began to remark that it was awesome and how cool it was to be a part of history.
“I explained to them how important it is that they know they’re making a part of
Girdley says she’s nostalgic by nature, but being present in 1975 and again on that day this year was incredible.
In a world of change, our focus is steadfast.
“Students don’t always realize the importance of history, but now they see the impact,” she says. “Tradition means a lot to me. My parents were 1946 and 1949 grads who never missed a basketball game until 2005. The school honored them on one of their parade floats, and my husband and I were honored as alumni of the year in 2011.” Next year’s Day of Caring projects have yet to be determined. Spanish teacher Adam Gaff has coordinated the projects for 10 of the last 20 years. Gaff too didn’t realize at first what an impact the barn painting project was going to have. “I was approached by local historian and Center Grove alumnus, Jeff Beck, about doing the project,” Gaff says. “I knew Meresa and the Bakers, but I had no idea at first they were the ones to paint the barn in the 70s. It was a great day and I’m delighted everyone really enjoyed it.” No matter what the students do for next year’s Day of Caring, Russell Baker says he’s just happy the kids are showing their Trojan pride.
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“It would be great if kids showed their school spirit with a message of their generation to pass down to future generations,” he says.
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NOVEMBER'S LUCKIEST ALIVE Zeke Sodrel SUBMIT YOUR STORY ONLINE AT TOWNEPOST.COM! If you are chosen, you'll win dinner for two at the Homestretch Steakhouse and $100 each in gambling comps. You must be 21 years of age or older to participate.
STILL FEARLESS AFTER FIVE ACCIDENTS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
Zeke Sodrel is only 21 years old, but according to his mom, Angie, she estimates that he’s already burned through most of his nine lives. He was just 14 years old when he was messing around on his dirt bike. After taking a jump, he had a fight with gravity on his way back down to earth when the handle bars went between his goggles and his helmet, crushing his septum upon landing.
pole. Because Zeke’s window was rolled down, his face scraped the wooden pole. Splinters punctured his face, which also sustained multiple fractures. “My face hurt and was swollen for a couple of months,” he says. It was another situation where had his body been positioned just an inch in a different direction and the impact could have been fatal.
“The doctor said Zeke’s nose was crushed worse than any he’d ever seen other than a drag racer he had worked on who had crashed into a wall,” Angie says. “The doctor also made it clear that had the handle bars hit just a half an inch upward, he would have died instantly because they would have been driven into his brain stem.”
“Thankfully, God kept all my kids safe that day,” Angie says.
After repairing the septum, Zeke was told no contact sports for eight weeks. Not that recovery slowed him down much. It seems nothing does.
Despite these near-misses, Zeke, landscaping manager for Sodrel Lawnscapes, LLC in Greenwood, hasn’t taken his foot off the gas pedal of life. He still approaches every day, fearless and full of highenergy spirit.
“He’s a fearless kid with a high tolerance for pain,” says Angie, who describes her son as a hard worker who also likes to have fun to the extreme. An avid fisherman and hunter, Zeke likes to build wheeling rigs, which he takes to off-road parks. He also races dirt bikes on the weekend at various motocross races. Zeke admits that he’s got a reputation for pushing the limits. “Everybody does kind of call me a daredevil,” he admits. It turns out that the high pain tolerance is a characteristic that has served him well through the years. In July 2013, Zeke was riding in the car with his sister, who was driving, when suddenly a squirrel darted in front of the car. She reflexively jerked the steering wheel in the opposite direction, overcorrecting and sideswiping a telephone
And that wasn’t the only day the divine intervened on Zeke’s behalf. When he started driving, he took a corner too fast in the rain and totaled his truck. He also totaled two other vehicles in two separate accidents — each time walking away without a scratch.
“Honestly, none of these accidents have altered my son’s personality in the slightest,” Angie says. “In fact, he just broke his ankle a month ago in a dirt bike race. He goes for it — always living life to the fullest. In doing so, he’s given me a lot of gray hairs.” Zeke was unaware that his mom had even entered him in the Luckiest Hoosier Alive contest until she delivered the news that he had won. “That’s awesome!” he says of learning that his prize winnings include going to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino for an evening of gambling and a free dinner for two. Perhaps he’ll take his mom. I think mothers everywhere will agree that she’s earned it.
CARDINALS SEEK BREAKTHROUGH SEASON Writer / Matt Roberts Photography provided by Ball State Athletics
Entering their fifth season under Coach James Whitford, Ball State University basketball may be poised for a breakthrough.
“(Recruiting in-state) is critical,” Whitford says. “Indiana is such a talent-rich hotbed. The talent here is one of the main reasons I wanted to come to Ball State.” The Cardinals return a wealth of experience in the backcourt including junior point guard Tayler Persons. Whitford credits Persons with speeding up the team’s offensive tempo last year.
After posting fewer than eight wins in each of his first two years, the next two seasons ended with the Cardinals winning more than 20 games each and enjoying “We’ve always tried to play fast, but we were postseason play for the first time since 2002. better on offense and Tayler Persons is a really good point guard,” he says. At least part of the reason for the turnaround may be the Cardinals’ success Whitford’s greatest concern is a scarcity of at recruiting Indiana high school players. options in the post. Over the course of his four years in Muncie, Whitford has landed eight Indiana “If there’s something that keeps me up at All-Stars. In the 10 years immediately night it’s our depth in the frontcourt,” he prior, Ball State signed only two. Those 10 says. “We really can’t afford injuries there. years resulted in only one winning season We have (Tahjai) Teague and Trey Moses, and no postseason berths. but after that we go sophomore-freshmanINDY METRO / NOVEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com
freshman. Those guys are going to have to contribute this year.” The Cardinals lost two starters to graduation from last from last year’s 21-13 team in Franko House and Indianapolis Roncalli product Ryan Weber. Though both will be missed, Whitford worries more about replacing House. “Ryan was a good player, but we have a little more depth there,” Whitford says. “We’re pretty deep in the perimeter. Franko was a unique player. He was a playmaker from the 4 and 5 spot, so we’ll have to make up for him by committee.” The 2017-18 season opens with several tough tests, including dates with Oregon, Dayton, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. Mid-November has the Cardinals bouncing between Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania over the course of just eight days.
“There’s no question that this is our toughest schedule by far,” Whitford says. “It’s really difficult not only with the competition but with the travel. “Since I got here, I’ve been trying to get involved in the more high-profile ESPN events. It’s not that hard for us to get games with major schools on the road, but it’s very hard to get them at a neutral site, and it’s hard for us to get on ESPN.” With increased success and higherprofile opponents come higher fan expectations. The last time Ball State played in the NCAA tournament, most of the current roster was in preschool. It’s quite a leap from the College Basketball Insider Tournament (CIT) to the NCAA. But with consecutive 20-win seasons capped by postseason play, the Cardinals may be ready for the next step.
TownePost.com / NOVEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO
STRAIGHT SHOOTER JANET HOLCOMB TALKS ART, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BECOMING A GUN SAFETY INSTRUCTOR
Writer / Kara Kavensky Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Walking the grounds at the Penrod Arts Fair on #IndianasNicestDay, First Lady Janet Holcomb readily points out the artistic technique used by one of many talented artists.
to 10 years in 4-H. She was also a Girl Scout. Her drawing cultivated her desire for creativity, which she says applies to her decision-making and many areas of her life.
“During college, I took business classes, having been influenced by my parents and grandparents, who are small business owners,” says Holcomb, who earned “This is encaustic painting, which involves her undergraduate and master’s degrees a method of warming wax, adding colored in Fine Art from Ball State University. pigments and applying on a specially treated “I understood the importance of canvas or wood,” Holcomb says. “It gives the entrepreneurship as a supplement to a painting depth.” potential career in the arts.” A few feet behind us, the artist is encouraging other attendees to touch his painting, for it is approachable. The term “approachable” also describes Holcomb. She is walking around Penrod with her niece, relatively under the radar, for few people recognize her and she is quite comfortable with this.
Holcomb has served as Vice President of her family’s business, R&R Engineering, headquartered in Summitville, Indiana. Due to her responsibilities as Indiana’s First Lady, she needed to step away from R&R to take on an entirely different role, yet in some ways she is coming full circle with her passions.
Growing up near Muncie on a horse farm, Holcomb’s first loves were horses, ponies and drawing. The equestrian passion led
Upon her husband taking the oath of office, one of Holcomb’s first meetings was with the Indiana Arts Commission. INDY METRO / NOVEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com
“The Arts are so important. It enhances the quality of life in our community, shows a richness of culture and diversity, and there is so much talent in Indiana to celebrate,” Holcomb says. “Art adds so much to our lives and shows us new things. An experience with the arts has a tremendously positive impact.” A serendipitous moment occurred at Penrod Arts Fair when the First Lady visited with local artist Jessica Green, who does a lot of plein air painting in and around Indianapolis. The First Lady commented that Green might enjoy painting at the Governor’s Residence some time. This simple suggestion became a reality a couple weeks later. Armed with paint brushes, a small army of en plein air painters set up their easels around the exterior of the Residence, capturing the beauty of the grounds. Green, alongside six other Indy painters, went to work painting a scene in the garden. Green is known for her fresh and modern style, utilizing bright colors.
“Indy has a great, thriving arts community,” Green says. “It’s a pleasure to have our First Lady be so supportive of the arts.” Harrison Arts Center resident Justin Vining was among the painters. Vining is a renowned landscape painter with a specialty in architecture. Artists Addie Hirschten, Alicia Zanoni, Donna Shortt, Stephanie Thomson, and Jed Dorsey were also engaged in creating landscapes alongside one another. “The grounds are beautiful all year long,” Holcomb says. “It is wonderful to capture the spaces on canvas by these talented artists.” “It’s surprising where this (creative approach) intersects: with cooking, decorating at home, business decisions. It is all bound by a common thread of creativity,” adds Holcomb, who sees elements of her formal art training as a creative problem solver. Another passion of Holcomb’s was facilitated by an unpleasant experience, and one that illustrates her strength and resilience. A few years ago, while Holcomb and her husband were asleep, their home was burglarized and her purse stolen. The police told them that it was for the best that they did not wake up during the home invasion, as the suspects were likely armed. Holcomb had been afraid of guns but decided to take a gun safety class. The experience did not end there, because she enjoyed it. This led to several more classes and becoming an instructor. She focuses upon the safety and responsibility, proper usage and education of fire arms. “I felt vulnerable and violated,” says Holcomb, who realized she had several thousands of dollars charged to her credit cards by the time she woke up after the burglary. “We need a way to defend ourselves. I had reached out to some friends who were into shooting sports and took some classes.” TownePost.com / NOVEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO
This year, for the first Gridiron Dinner since her husband took office, one of the best jokes of the evening centered around First Lady Janet Holcomb and her accomplishment of being an experienced markswoman. “The barricades that used to line the front lawn of the Governor’s Residence have been replaced with signs of Janet Holcomb holding a gun that read, ‘Go ahead, make my day!’” shared the pundit, garnering one of the biggest laughs of the evening. Holcomb, who was not present for that dinner, smiles and says, “Yes, I heard about that!” Given her many interests, which include entrepreneurship, gun safety, Veterans affairs, and the arts, Holcomb is thoughtful in her approach as her role as First Lady with defining her agenda. She thoroughly enjoys being in public and meeting fellow Hoosiers. One of her favorite moments was meeting 4-H students at the Indiana State Fair who share the same passion that she had as a young girl. Holcomb and her husband proudly attend events all over the state and around the world, yet perhaps the most popular Holcomb family member has four legs. With his own social media following, the First Dog, Henry, a Miniature Schnauzer, tends to steal the show when accompanying the Holcombs. You can follow Henry on Twitter at @FirstDogHenry and the Holcombs at @FLJanetHolcomb and @GovHolcomb. INDY METRO / NOVEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com
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TO P G O L F SW I N G S I N TO F I S H E R S WITH GAMES, FOOD AND FUN Writer / Jon Shoulders Photography provided by Brian Brosmer & Topgolf Fishers
Topgolf, a restaurant, entertainment and golfing venue with more than 30 locations nationwide, opened its first Indiana location on October 13 and is now in full swing on 116th Street in Fishers across from IKEA and Portillo’s.
The 65,000-square-foot, all-ages complex features more than 100 climate-controlled hitting bays on three levels where guests can play computerized golf games using balls equipped with microchips. Topgolf hired 500 full-time and part-time employees to staff the facility, which offers membership packages and will be open year-round except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. TownePost.com / NOVEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO
“We have games for beginners, or you can play more advanced practice games if you’re a golfer,” says Adrienne Chance, director of corporate communications for Topgolf. “There’s the rooftop terrace where you can just come and enjoy a drink and live music. We also have pool tables in the lower-level lounge. And you can change the channel on the TV in your hitting bay to watch whatever game you want. It’s a very unique
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venue and experience.” Chance says long-time demand for an Indy presence made the decision to open a Fishers location easy for the company. “The Midwest is a huge market that we had barely tapped into, and Indianapolis had been on our radar for a long time,” she says. “We’ve had messages coming through on social media for years asking when we are going to build a location in the Indianapolis area.”
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“When we started exploring this area, Fishers was consistently recognized as a top place to live, work and play, and there’s lots of businesses coming here,” says Chance, adding that Topgolf Fishers offers free gaming sessions Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for high school golf teams and any charity serving youth. “So, we wanted to be part of this community.
The support from the community’s been incredible.” Zariah Lombroso, marketing manager for Topgolf Fishers, says one of the company’s strengths is the diverse experience it can offer patrons. “Topgolf is for everyone – all ages, all skill levels,” Lombroso says. “We want to be a place where the community can come together and have a great time. Whether it’s a family night out, a meeting or first date, Topgolf is a place for all. “The majority of the food is made from scratch daily, and we strive to make awesome food for every occasion,” she adds. “Topgolf isn’t your typical bar food, and we can’t wait for guests to experience it.” The Fishers City Council approved construction of the facility in January of 2016, and Chance says Topgolf ’s economic output is projected to be $264.5 million over a 10-year period. “The biggest thing I can tell those who have not been to Topgolf is be prepared to have a great time,” Lombroso adds. “You do not have to be a golfer to enjoy Topgolf. In fact, half of our guests are non-golfers. We have many different entertainment options for all to enjoy.” Topgolf is located at 9200 E. 116 St. in Fishers. For more information, call 765-212-3488 or visit topgolf.com/us/fishers.
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BUTLER BASKETBALL HEAD COACH LAVALL JORDAN LOOKS TO CONTINUE WINNING TRADITION Writer / Matt Roberts
Butler University basketball has been remarkably resilient through its last six coaching changes. From Thad Matta to Chris Holtmann, the Bulldogs regularly promoted assistant coaches to the top job and continued to enjoy success. New Coach LaVall Jordan spent last year at the University of Milwaukee, but that doesn’t mean he’s a stranger to the program. After playing at Butler under coach Todd Lickliter, Jordan served as an assistant coach at Butler for four years. He then joined Lickliter’s staff at Iowa and moved on to Michigan before accepting the head coaching
job at Milwaukee. That team won only eight games during the regular season and lost its last nine in a row. But entering the Horizon League tournament as a 10-seed, the Panthers won three games and lost to eventual champion Northern Kentucky by six points.
the mark of a champion. “I give that group a lot of credit. There were a lot of reasons not to believe, losing nine in a row, but when we won the first game (in the tournament) it was like, ‘Hey, we just did it the way we wanted to all year.’”
A first-year head coach might be expected to question his coaching philosophy after such Working with multiple successful coaches a tough start, but Jordan believes staying has provided Jordan with an opportunity to true to the process facilitated the late-season absorb distinctive strengths and styles. turnaround. “I’ve been fortunate with the type of people “Nothing changed,” he says. “Which is I’ve been around,” Jordan says. “They’re all what allowed us to have good results. If great human beings. With Barry Collier, guys didn’t believe in what we were doing, it was instilling values and holding people if we hadn’t been consistent as a staff, we accountable. Thad was an unbelievable wouldn’t have advanced. Consistency is motivator who just had a gift for getting
TownePost.com / NOVEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO
guys ready. Todd was terrific at team building. He got a lot of respect from the locker room because players knew he cared about them. Brad’s (Stevens) organizational skills are off the charts. Coach Beilein is a great tactician. I really learned how to run a program from him. “I still lean on them all now,” Jordan adds. “The nice thing is, they’re just a phone call away.” Jordan was named Butler’s head basketball coach in June, which left only a few weeks to verify that all the freshmen were staying and make arrangements for the team’s trip to Spain. The Bulldogs got four games against international competition and the trip provided a good opportunity for the team to gel with its new coach. “That was really beneficial,” Jordan says. “We had 10 days just to be together and build relationships, especially with the freshmen. It was also good to be able to go
against an opponent. Because in practice, you’re trying to figure out if it was good offense or bad defense. Facing somebody else and having some adversity and seeing who was communicating, having guys make some important shots and seeing what the freshmen can do.” Jordan will put his own stamp on the team, but don’t expect any wholesale changes to
INDY METRO / NOVEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com
“The Butler Way.” “We’ve always been opportunistic here, but valuing the basketball has been a staple,” he says. “We’ve always been rated pretty highly in fewest turnovers, and that won’t change. If it does, we’ll have to have some conversations. And playing unselfishly has always been a staple, I don’t see the way we play changing that much.”
BRICKHOUSE COFFEE CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING
Jared Stayton’s Brickhouse Coffee celebrated the grand opening of its first retail location on Oct. 21. atCenterGrove.com / NOVEMBER 2017 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / 25
Writer / Matt Roberts Photographer / Brian Brosmer
If you were opening a brand new, independently-owned coffee shop, would you open it 1,000 feet east of one of the highest-grossing Starbucks outlets in the Indianapolis area? Jared Stayton would. “I love it”, he says. “We’ll follow wherever Starbucks is, because they’ve done all the market research. Besides, Starbucks paved the way for guys like us to do oldworld style coffee roasting. It’s like craft beer. Some guys still drink Miller Lite, but there’s a growing segment of the population that loves small-batch brewing. “It used to be that people would drink anything - McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, Maxwell House - but then they taste ethically-sourced, properly roasted coffee that’s prepared well, and they can taste the difference.” Brickhouse Coffee opened its first retail location in August located in the former Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria building. The business grew out of the Stayton family’s mission effort in Spain. Jared and Lora Stayton met in Bloomington and occasionally thought about opening a coffee house on the Indiana University campus. After they got married, they went on a mission trip to Spain to assist with a fitness facility in a community center there. After the center opened, the expansion plans included a coffee house.
with their two daughters so Jared could attend barista school. When they went to Spain to help open the coffee shop they encountered visa problems. So, they returned to Indiana to pursue coffee roasting here. “We’ve been roasting coffee for four years now,” Jared says. “We started with a 1912 coffee roaster in an old brick house at our church’s property. It used to be a ministry of our church community. But I wanted to move it off the church property, so we got our church’s blessing to take it here, and that removed a financial burden from the church.”
9 p.m. on weeknights and 10 on Saturdays because we want to provide that night time coffeehouse where you can have a game night. We’re partnering with local restaurants like Jockamo’s Pizza so you can order their food and have it delivered here. “Six days a week this is our mission field. It’s not a Christian coffeehouse, per se, but we hope to build relationships in the community,” Jared says. Brickhouse Coffee is located at 100 Byrd Way in Greenwood or you can give them a call at 317-550-0034.
When the Staytons decided to expand the business into retail, they began looking for a space that was big enough for both the roastery and the coffeehouse and could accommodate delivery of 1500-pound sacks of coffee. “We needed semi-accessibility to deliver the coffee beans,” Jared says. “And when my partner showed me this space, we felt like it was a good fit.” Brickhouse celebrated its grand opening October 21. Patrons can enjoy a relaxed family atmosphere with coffee roasted on site. “Most coffee places in Indy close by six or seven o’clock,” Jared says. “We’re open until
Jared and Lora came home to Indiana
26 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2017 / atCenterGrove.com
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This location provides specialized care for women’s health, aquatic therapy, pediatrics and athletes of all levels.
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You may self-refer for a physical therapy evaluation. Exercise your freedom, call 317.535.4075 to schedule an appointment or visit eCommunity.com/physicaltherapy.
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atCenterGrove.com / NOVEMBER 2017 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / 27
A FRESH START NEWK’S EATERY OPENS FIRST INDIANA LOCATION IN GREENWOOD
packaged or preserved. Proteins such as chicken, salmon, shrimp and steak are sliced and grilled fresh daily. Newk’s menu offers a variety of options, such as sandwiches, kettle-made soups, salads and desserts, including 12-layer cakes.
Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Operating Partner Kent Mabe has been in the restaurant business for almost all his life. He says other concepts he’s worked with have all come to the north side first and then to Greenwood as a second thought. Guests place their order at the counter and then sit down, where food is brought to “When I had the opportunity to take the them. After the food is served, staff checks Newk’s Eatery brand here to Indianapolis, in with them as they eat and clears away I wanted to give Greenwood the first shot,” dishes. Mabe says. No food at Newk’s Eatery comes in pre-
“There are no busing areas or trash cans for guests. Once you’re finished eating,
you get up and you leave,” Mabe says. “We don’t accept gratuities either, so that’s another benefit that helps, especially college students and people who don’t have the extra disposable income.” Newk’s can seat 145 people inside and an additional 45 on the patio. There is a GrabN-Go cooler section filled with fresh-made sandwiches, salads, soups, desserts and beverages. Co-founder and CEO Chris Newcomb added Newcomb family recipes to the menu, such as chicken salad and Tippah
28 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2017 / atCenterGrove.com
County caviar, which are marked by a special logo on the Newk’s menu. P
One of the unique features of Newk’s is The Roundtable, where guests can add ingredients such as house-roasted garlic in Italian extra virgin olive oil, breadsticks, house-made croutons and bread-and-butter pickles.
Mabe thinks Newk’s will be well-received in Greenwood and that its residence will help the brand grow across the state.
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Customer service is another major focus of Newk’s. “The overall service and the hospitality that you’re going to receive in our restaurant will set us apart from everybody in the area,” Mabe says. “I’m mostly excited just to take care of guests. Every guest that walks in. I cannot wait to give them the Newk’s Eatery experience. What we have to offer, it’s a home run. We just have to do our part and execute.”
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“If you take care of people with great food and great service, they’re very loyal and they pass the word quickly,” Mabe says. Mabe plans to open 15 more Newk’s locations across Indiana in the next 7 to 10 years. 1279 N. Emerson Avenue, Suite A-1. Greenwood, IN 46143 Phone (317) 882-2300
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CENTER GROVE ALUM COMPETES ON REALITY SHOW Writer / Matt Roberts
in an endurance challenge.
As a college sophomore, Center Grove graduate Brooke Van Paris was leading a pretty good life. As she drove through an intersection close to the Indiana University campus on October 29, 2009, her uppermost thought was how good a turkey sandwich would taste when she got home.
“It was 25 degrees outside, and we had to do 10 burpees, then submerge in an ice bath, get out, do 10 more and get back in the ice. I made it nine rounds, but then passed out with stage three hypothermia.”
Moments later her life changed drastically when she was struck by another car in a head-on collision. Over the next two years, Van Paris wore elbow-to-fingertips casts. The former gymnast and cheerleader couldn’t feed, bathe or dress herself. After graduation, she took a job in Indianapolis and resigned herself to a more sedentary life. Finally, a co-worker’s “pestering” convinced her to enter a 3-mile obstacle course race in Ohio. “I’d never run a mile without stopping in my life, and I probably failed 75 percent of the obstacles,” she says. “But it changed my life. Nobody judged me. People were all at different fitness levels, and everybody helped me over obstacles. Over the next nine months, I ran 48 races and lost 40 pounds.” Van Paris was contacted by the Fox Television Network and selected to compete in Season 1 of “American Grit”, a fitness competition and reality show. In the second episode she was chosen to compete
Van Paris lost all motor control and remembers hearing the other competitors ask if she was dead. “I remember thinking, ‘I just did this for some stupid reality show?’” she says. After she recovered and returned home, Van Paris decided to add body building to her fitness regimen. In April of 2017, she took first place in her first competition. Representatives of another reality show had noticed the obstacle-course-racing bodybuilder, and she signed on to compete in Season 5 of “The Broken Skull Challenge,” hosted by former WWE wrestler Steve Austin. The show began in late September, with Van Paris first appearing in an episode in early October. “One of my biggest life lessons is to take opportunities as they come up,” she says. “If I’d never done an obstacle course race, I wouldn’t have been on American Grit or lost the weight. If I’d never done bodybuilding, I wouldn’t have gotten invited for Broken Skull. I just want to live every day and wake up with a smile on my face.”
Brooke Van Paris recently appeared on an episode of “The Broken Skull Challenge,” hosted by former WWE wrestler Steve Austin.
30 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2017 / atCenterGrove.com
Making Your Dream Project a Reality
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“My midlife crisis wasn’t a sports car. It was a heart attack.” – dave r.
He had just turned 49. He had just been to the gym. He had no idea he was about to have a heart attack. But within 25 minutes of entering the ER at Community Hospital South, Dave had a stent in place and disaster was averted. All because he knew the warning signs and took quick action. Now he encourages everyone to get an annual health screening. Like the ones Community Health Network holds at the elementary school where Dave is principal. Living proof you’re never too old to learn. Exceptional care. Simply delivered.