DECEMBER 2018
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DECEMBER WRITERS
SLEIGH BELLS STILL RINGING: CIRCLE CITY SANTA TALKS 40 YEARS OF SPREADING CHEER TO INDIANAPOLIS & HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITIES
He’s made his list, and he’s checked it twice. Santa Claus is coming to Hamilton County. For 40 years, Larry Shaw has donned the red suit, bringing cheer to children all around Indianapolis. For Shaw — joyfully known around Indy as the Circle City Santa — it all began in 1978.
7 Ride the Rails: Nickel Plate Express 22 Meet Sarah Sandquist: New Celebrates Grand Opening, Offers Local Train Excursions
9 Health Spotlight: Orangetheory Fitness
10 Larger Than Life: Local Artist
Pamela Bliss Talks Painting the Iconic, 60-foot Tall Reggie Miller Mural In Indy
14 Sleigh Bells Still Ringing: Circle
City Santa Talks 40 Years of Spreading Cheer to Indianapolis & Hamilton County Communities
20 The Quilting Bee: Local Guild
Makes Quilts For Hospital Patients
Fishers Parks & Recreation Director Brings 15 Years of Experience
26 Cheer Up!: There Are Plenty of
Holiday Events Around Hamilton County
30 United In Faith: Local Resident
Creates Fishers Multi-faith Community for Compassion to Bring People of All Faiths Together
33 Spreading Christmas Cheer:
Good Samaritan Network Annual Christmas Drive Returns Dec. 8 to Hamilton County 4H Fairgrounds
36 Winter Works of Art: Fishers Winter Wonderland Exhibit Features Artists Throughout December
atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 5
Josh Brown / Jocelyn Vare Jon Shoulders / Julie Young Kelsey Musick / Shelly Bergman Suzanne Huntzinger
DECEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bradley Kercheval / Brandy Hornback Brian Brosmer / Michael Durr / Ron Wise
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RIDE THE RAILS N I C K E L P L AT E E X P R E S S C E L E B R AT E S G R A N D OPENING, OFFERS LOCAL TRAIN EXCURSIONS Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Ron Wise
Looking to change things up a bit from your normal weekend social routine of dinner and a movie or drinks with friends at the local watering hole? Hop aboard the Nickel Plate Express, which covers 12 miles of historic train track between Atlanta, Indiana and Noblesville and was officially launched on September 15.
Hamilton County-based Hoosier Heritage Port Authority (HHPA), Hoback began the process of procuring and restoring 1956 Santa Fe El Capitan high-level passenger train cars for the project, which feature two levels and seven-foot windows. The cars originally traveled between Chicago and Los Angeles.
“Tom was very lucky to find these trains,” says Dagne Zupin, Nickel Plate Express communications coordinator. “They were Two years ago Tom Hoback, former CEO made as two-level trains because airplanes and founder of the Indiana Rail Road were getting popular back then so railroads Company, discussed the idea of a non-profit, felt they needed to have something new tourist railroad experience with Brenda and exciting to compete with the airlines. Myers, CEO of Hamilton County Tourism, I don’t think anyone but Tom could have Inc. After Hoback and a group of fellow secured these trains because he’s so deep organizers secured the proper operating into the railroad world and has great agreement with the track’s overseer, the connections.” atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 7
The Nickel Plate Express, which comprises 12 of the 37 miles of historic track between Tipton and Indy managed by the HHPA, runs from downtown Atlanta to 216th Street in Noblesville and will operate year-round. “The 12 miles that we’re running on is the part of the 37 miles that’s been restored,” Zupin says. “Twelve miles of track doesn’t sound like a lot, but because a passenger train moves 10 or 12 miles an hour, that 12 miles of track makes for a one-hour-and-15minute round trip, which is kind of a sweet spot for excursion time.” A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held during the September 15 grand opening. The Uncorked Express and Ales & Rails rides
will feature drinks from local wineries and breweries respectively, and around Christmas time families can take their kids on a Reindeer Ride with Santa onboard amidst decorative lights adorning the train cars. The train is also available to be rented out for private events such as company retreats, family reunions and birthday parties. The dining and lounge car has a capacity of 58 and the entire train has a maximum capacity of 200. “It seems like people are really excited to have a train back in the county because it’s been such a long part of this area’s history,” Zupin adds. “Especially in the northern towns like Arcadia, Atlanta and Cicero where the train hasn’t been here in five or seven years. I think people are excited to see a train finally rolling through again.” For more info on the Nickel Plate Express and to purchase tickets, visit nickelplateexpress.com or call 317-285-0682.
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Central Indiana Orangetheory Owners: Carolyn and Shaun McDonald (Carmel, Fishers-Geist, West Carmel-Zionsville and the future Fishers-Nickel Plate), Katie Douglas (Greenwood and Downtown Indy), Lyle Feigenbaum (Avon) and Jennifer Haas (Ironworks and the future Broad Ripple).
Writer / Julie Young Photographer / Bradley Kercheval
Looking for a total body workout that adheres to your schedule, offers guidance not guesswork and helps you continue your path to progress long after the workout is over? Then Orangetheory Fitness may be the perfect fitness solution for you. “We have classes scheduled throughout the day with nationally certified coaches who monitor your progress and make sure you are not over or under training,” says Carolyn McDonald, owner of Orangetheory studios in Carmel, FishersGeist and West Carmel-Zionsville. The newest studio, Fishers-Nickel Plate, is set to open in January 2019 directly across from Fishers City Hall. Shortly after, a Broad Ripple/Butler area studio will open at the intersection of Kessler and College in Indianapolis. Developed by former Pilates instructor, Ellen Latham, Orangetheory is a sciencebased workout that gets results. It is centered on the principle of EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) that suggests if one challenges their body at the correct intensity, they will experience an effect that keeps them burning calories even after the workout is over.
“If you spend 12 or more minutes of the hour-long workout in the ‘Orange Zone,’ which is at 84 percent or more of your maximum heart rate, you will experience the afterburn,” says Katie Douglas, owner of Orangetheory studios in Greenwood and downtown Indianapolis. “You don’t have to work out every day because your body will be burning calories even as it recovers.” With 1,000 locations throughout the US (and seven here in Central Indiana), Orangetheory is designed for all fitness levels and they boast a diverse community of clients with a variety of fitness goals. Staff members and coaches take the time to get to know each member, build a rapport and assure them that they will get the maximum benefit from the Orangetheory workout. McDonald says each member wears a heart rate monitor that tracks their progress in real time throughout the class and gives them (and their coach) insight into their performance. Orangetheory takes the guesswork out of your fitness regimen and creates a reciprocal relationship between you, your coach and other Orangetheory members. Plus, the workout changes every day and that variety keeps members engaged. “The level of community created in each studio is one of my favorite aspects about the Orangetheory program,” McDonald atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 9
says. “The coaches work hard to ensure that every member is comfortable and they are wonderful about offering modifications as needed to ensure everyone feels successful in their workout.” Everyone on staff is trained to offer a welcoming, energetic environment and each location offers a robust schedule of between 60-70 hours of training each week, so Orangetheory is ready whenever you are. “Members schedule classes during the times most convenient for them either in person or with our app,” Douglas says. “In addition, because all Orangetheory memberships are reciprocal, members are welcome to take classes at any studio in the country.” McDonald believes Orangetheory is the future of fitness and she is proud to be part of it. “We have grown so quickly over the past four years here in Central Indiana and our members are constantly building on this incredible TEAM OTF community and culture,” she says. “For local residents, your first class is free, so why not come by and see what we are all about?”
Local Artist Pamela Bliss spent more than a month completing the Reggie Miller mural.
Local Artist Pamela Bliss Talks Painting the Iconic, 60-foot Tall Reggie Miller Mural In Indy Writer / Josh Brown Photographer / Michael Durr
As Pamela Bliss walks by the now famous 60-foot tall mural of Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller she stops, like most people who pass by, and stares up at the work of art. Her admiration for the mural is a bit more personal than the average passerby. Bliss is the local artist who was tasked with painting the Reggie Miller mural. After more than a month of hard work, she completed the masterpiece in mid-October. Now, for those who see the intricate detail of the massive mural portraying Reggie lining up a three-pointer with his trademark jump shot, it might be hard to believe that Bliss didn’t even start painting until she was 30 years old. Her uncanny knack for art all started with a turkey. “My mother will tell you I started drawing when I was two years old,” Bliss says. “I painted a turkey at Thanksgiving, and she said it wasn’t the typical scribble that a child might make. You could really tell it was a turkey, and that was unusual for a two-year-old. For as long as I can remember, I always had a pencil and paper in my hands. I never considered it could be a career, though. But by the end of college, I knew I wanted to go into art. I’ve always paid great attention to details. “I had a teacher in high school that told me I couldn’t paint. She was an English teacher filling in as an art teacher that year. I always knew I could draw, but I never knew really if I could paint. I took a four-day workshop when I was 30 years old, and I realized that I could. I just needed to be shown how to mix paints.” Bliss grew up in New Castle and went to high school in Cambridge City, Indiana. Aside from moving and finishing her last two years at a high school in California, Bliss has been a lifelong Hoosier. She earned her undergraduate degree from IU’s east campus and her masters from IU Bloomington. She has been an Indianapolis resident since 2001.
Earlier last year, Bliss was approached by Ben Jafari — the owner of the office building at 127 E Michigan Street — about possibly painting a mural on the side of his building. Jafari, a lifelong Pacers fan, knew he wanted a Pacers legend to be painted. The decision for the mural to be Reggie Miller came quickly, but the process took much longer. Jafari and Bliss had plenty of hoops to jump through to get the mural approved, between approval from Miller himself for the use of his likeness, the city of Indianapolis to the Indiana Pacers and the NBA. Bliss worked on the mural many hours a day, often from early morning up until dark, for more than a month. She says the hardest part, aside from dealing with cold or rainy weather, is being up so high to paint the mural. “It’s the tallest mural I’ve ever done,” Bliss says. “I have a fear of heights actually. I just have to zone out. I always get butterflies in the beginning when I start. I use a lift to get up there and all of them are different. Some are jerky. After a few days, I realize I’m not going to die, and I can carry on and focus more on the painting. I start from the top down because paint drips. So I’m high up from the very beginning, which helps get the highest part over with.” This isn’t the Hoosier artist’s first rodeo with murals. Those walking along Mass Ave have marveled for years at the detailed mural of one of Indy’s most famous authors, Kurt Vonnegut. Hoosiers have Bliss to thank for that masterpiece as well. Bliss has also painted the jazz musicians that can be seen along Indiana Avenue. She has even worked with the Pacers in painting a Hall of Fame mural, which resides in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. But her most recent mural might be her favorite of all. “I’ve been wanting to paint Reggie for years,” Bliss says. “He deserves it. I’m just honored to have been selected to do it. This isn’t just a mural of Reggie Miller. It also depicts a moment in time when Hoosier hysteria was at its height with the Pacers. This mural ranks No. 1 for me. Part of the reason I wanted to move to Indianapolis back in 2001 was to paint large murals around the city.” The responses from the community, as you can imagine, have been overwhelmingly positive for Bliss. Indy residents, tourists visiting the city and more have flocked to stop by and see the mural, and they never leave without first taking a selfie. The response has been so positive, Jafari says they may soon add a selfie station on the corner for guests that stop by. The building owner couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. “Only Reggie could fill this space,” Jafari says. “I always see people stopping to take pictures. It has really been great for the community of Indianapolis. I’m just honored to have the mural 12 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / atFishers.com
on our building and grateful to Pamela for creating this amazing piece of art.” Perhaps the highest praise for Bliss came from Miller himself. After seeing images online of the finished mural, the Pacers legend took the time to reach out to Bliss and congratulate her. “He called me one day and said, ‘This is fantastic. I can’t wait to come back and see it in person and give you a huge hug,’” Bliss says. “That was really amazing. Most people are critical about pictures of themselves, much less a painted portrait. I was surprised, honestly, when Reggie even gave the approval for me to do it. I’m very happy that he is happy with it.” As for the future, Bliss isn’t sure what will be next. She says she would love to paint other legendary Indiana sports figures like Peyton Manning or Tamika Catchings, among other non-sports figures. For now, she is happy to have her most recent masterpiece completed. Either way, she’s sure to have a paintbrush in her hand for whatever project comes next. The Reggie Miller Mural is located downtown at 127 E Michigan St. For more information on Bliss or to view more of her artwork, visit pamelabliss.gallery.
Upcoming Admissions Events: *
December 7: Storytime December 12: Welcome Wednesday January 9: Welcome Wednesday January 17: Preschool - Grade 4 Info Night February 1: Storytime
*as reported by the Indiana Commission of Higher Education
For more information visit heritagechristian.net | 317.849.3441 | 6401 E. 75th St. Indianapolis, IN 46250
I n s pi r i n g Ed u c at i o n | P r e s ch o o l -1 2 atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 13
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, his wife Aunna and children Hudson and Lincoln get an early visit from Santa.
Writer / Josh Brown . Photographer / Brian Brosmer
e’s made his list, and he’s checked it twice. Santa Claus is coming to Hamilton County. For 40 years, Larry Shaw has donned the red suit, bringing cheer to children all around Indianapolis. For Shaw — joyfully known around Indy as the Circle City Santa — it all began in 1978. That year, his daughter’s school — St. MichaelSt. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School — was in need of a Santa to come visit the kids. Shaw, whose family was a part of the church, was pretty well known around the community and got asked to put on the red suit. He and his wife Karen happily agreed.
“As a Santa, you feel like Superman or something. All these kids adore you and come up to you, grabbing your legs and yelling, ‘Santa, Santa!’ Who wouldn’t want to be Santa Claus? The kids are fun.”
“At that time you didn’t necessarily look for the guy with the beard, you looked for the big guy, which I wasn’t really at the time,” Shaw says. “I’m still not that big compared to most Santas. My wife and I went as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, though. She absolutely loved it and convinced me to go to other classes in the school.” That first year sparked a passion in the Shaws to continue bringing joy to people each Christmas season as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. From there, they branched out to other local schools and nursing homes. It wasn’t long after that before friends and coworkers began asking the Shaws to stop by for home visits with their families. Shaw, who retired from the United States Postal Service in 2011 after 35 years as a mail carrier, really began pursuing the Santa role professionally around 10 years ago as he neared retirement. Today, 90 percent of the events and neighborhood appearances he does are in the Geist, Fishers, Carmel and Noblesville communities. This year, he has plenty of appearances lined up, especially in Geist and Hamilton County neighborhoods. Shaw is also a part of Fishers’ jolliest event of the year — Winter Wonderland. He will be on hand at that event Dec. 1. He will also be available for photos with Santa Dec. 4-5 at The Pavilion in Fishers. Shaw always enjoys his visits to the northside. However, living closer to the Indianapolis Airport, he says, the biggest challenge is the drive up. It’s not quite the North Pole, but it is a trek. And, yes, even Santa has to deal with the traffic. atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 15
- Larry Shaw -
“I wish I could take my sleigh out and use it all year long,” Shaw laughs. “Like I tell the kids, I have to get a special permit. The only time I can fly my sleigh is on Christmas Eve. My car is the Santa Patrol Car and has a great, big bow on it that I show the children. I always let them know that it belongs to the elves and they let me borrow it or they drive me around when I can’t use my sleigh.” The gig never gets old for Shaw, who enjoys the new memories made each year. “As a Santa, you feel like Superman or something,” Shaw says. “All these kids adore you and come up to you, grabbing your legs and yelling, ‘Santa, Santa!’ Who wouldn’t want to be Santa Claus? The kids are fun.” Shaw’s very first outfit all those years ago consisted of a Kmart suit and strap-on beard. He’s come a long way since then. Today, he dons a professional suit and a convincing beard, not too mention the time spent in preparing for the role. Shaw has attended Professional Santa Claus School in Colorado to hone his skills. He also founded the Hoosier Santas group in 2011. The group is made up of more than 300 members, including around 150 Santas. They meet once a month somewhere in Indiana, sharing stories and creating friendships. In the offseason, Shaw created the “Inside the North Pole Rehearsal.” The best Santas, Shaw says, make sure to practice at it and stay on their feet. “It is a rehearsal for the holiday season,” Shaw says. “We will all get together and pull from a jar some questions that you might get from the kids. You have to stay in character for two hours as we go around the room, rolling a dice to see who goes next. It helps Santas build their backstories, too. If you are Santa, you have to know what he eats for breakfast, what he likes to do and incorporate some things from your life to make it authentic.” Shaw came from a humble family, but, as you can imagine, he grew up just as excited as the next kid when Christmas rolled around. His parents always made sure the house was fully decorated each season. Those Christmas memories are a part of his story today. “My mom and dad loved Christmas, and we really had great Christmases,” Shaw recalls. “That’s probably why I love it so much today. We had one shed in our backyard that was completely dedicated to Christmas stuff. They always got us involved with decorating the tree. I always made my list and wrote to Santa what I wanted each year.” 16 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / atFishers.com
Shaw has plenty of stories over the years talking with kids. He’s had children ask him just about every question imaginable, never once breaking character. He’s also visited homeless shelters as Santa, going out of his way in some cases to make sure those children get gifts. As for what kids ask for most often, Shaw says it has changed in recent years. “These days, the kids don’t ask for toys really anymore,” he says. “It’s cellphones. They all want a phone. ‘Give me a phone,’ they say. I always tell them, ‘Well, I can get you a phone. The elves know how to make cellphones, but your mom and dad will have to pay for the phone bill. Santa can’t pay for that.’” As the holiday season rolls around, like you, Shaw has his favorite Christmas movies. He does enjoy Tim Allen’s “The Santa Clause” if he’s going for comedy, but his all-time favorite Christmas movie is “Miracle on 34th Street.” Shaw recently turned 69 years old. The long-time Santa doesn’t see himself ditching his sled and reindeer anytime soon, though. “I always said, when this becomes a job, I’m quitting,” Shaw says. “That has never been the case. The kids’ eyes still light up when they see Santa. Sometimes, when I’m not even in costume, I might go to eat and hear kids at another table whisper, ‘Look, there’s Santa!’ It’s great. I can see myself laying out in a coffin in my Santa suit when it’s all said and done.” For more information on Circle City Santa, visit circlecitysanta.com. Check with your local neighborhood HOA to find out if Shaw or another Santa is making an appearance soon. Fishers families looking to get photos with Circle City Santa on Dec. 4 or 5 at The Pavilion can visit playfishers. com/218/Winter-Wonderland to reserve a time slot.
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Sunday, December 2 The Gifts of the Church and the Bible Sunday, December 9 The Gift of the Holy Spirit Sunday, December 16 The Gifts of the Magi Sunday, December 23 The Gift of Jesus
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Monday, December 24, 8:00 p.m. Sunday Worship Services 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. www.LegacyBibleChurchIndiana.org
LO C A L G U I L D M A K E S Q U I LTS F O R H O S P I TA L PAT I E N TS Writer / Julie Young Photography Provided
on campus during the holidays, they could always use another hand.
In May 2015, Diane Peterson nearly died. After two major surgeries in five weeks and a pulmonary embolism she was not supposed to survive, she gradually began to get her life back on track – piece by piece.
“When I heard that, I went back and talked to the Guild and told them that this was a good cause we could put our efforts into,” she says. “That’s how the Quilting Bee began.”
“I was already a long-time member of the Mudsock Quilters Guild making quilts for Riley Children’s Hospital and a volunteer at my church, but I felt that God wanted me to do something else,” she says. During a follow-up visit to the Community Health Pavilion at 146th Street, Peterson met with the volunteer coordinator and asked if the hospital had a quilt program. She was told that the hospital had some volunteers who sewed throughout the year in order to make quilts for those who found themselves in the hospital on Christmas Day but with approximately 150 patients expected to be
In January 2016, 29 members of the Mudsock Quilters Guild convened in a Pavilion meeting room and got to work. Over the next 12 months, they pieced together 143 quilts for the holidays. As word spread about their work, they received a $6,000 grant to continue their efforts and the following year, 50 women completed 240 quilts. Peterson says she has some quilters who have made more than 20 by themselves while others donate the quilt tops and allow the Quilting Bee to finish them. The project has grown to such a degree that the guild now has a storage space at the medical pavilion to hold all their supplies and donations, which 20 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / atFishers.com
continue to roll in month after month. “The biggest thing about this is that it is a win-win for everyone,” Peterson says. “I have the pleasure of being the administrator of the program, so I get to watch the sewers train and fellowship with one another and create something special for someone they will never meet.” A handful of guild members handle the distribution of the quilts on Christmas Eve and Peterson says it is an amazing thing to witness. The patients are often alone and have no idea that anyone is coming to see them, but they light up when they are presented with a handmade quilt of their own. “We still make quilts for the kids at Riley as well, but they get their quilts at discharge due to the hospital’s sterilization rules,” she says. “We also do pillowcases and quilts for DCFS and law enforcement as well.”
Peterson says the Mudsock Quilters Guild is always on the lookout for new members or beginning quilters who want to join the Community North Quilting Bee, which meets on the third Monday of each month from 9:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Community Health Pavilion 9699 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. The Mudsock Quilters Guild hosts its monthly meetings at the Cornerstone Lutheran Church at 13450 E 116th St, Fishers. “We used to teach classes, but now we say if you go to the quilting bee, you will learn,” Peterson says. “We will show you how to cut and sew a simple pattern and even if you don’t finish the quilt off, we have someone who will.” For more information about the Quilting Bee, the Mudsock Quilters Guild or to make a donation to the organization, email Diane Peterson Ddimpfl@comcast.net or visit mudsockquiltersguild.org.
atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 21
NEW FISHERS PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR BRINGS 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Writer / Suzanne Huntzinger Photographer / Brandy Hornback
Fishers is constantly growing and evolving, and the new Parks and Recreation Director is rolling right on through the changes. Sarah Sandquist was recently appointed Director of Fishers Parks and Recreation Department at the end of August and fills the role vacated by Tony Elliot. Sandquist served as Assistant Director of the department since February under Elliot, who left to pursue another directorship in California. “I’m very excited to have this opportunity,” Sandquist says. “Tony had a big impact in the department and in the city, and I hope I can step in and fill his shoes.”
Sandquist brings 15 years of experience serving in a variety of roles in parks and recreation. Although she holds a degree in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Sandquist has never worked in a school classroom. Just prior to joining Fishers Parks and Recreation Department, she served as the Recreation Supervisor for the city of Kirkland, Washington. After eight years in Washington, Sandquist was happy to return to the Midwest. “I love being in Fishers,” she says. “It’s a smaller city, but it’s got all the things people are looking for in a community, like the bustling downtown area, vibrant nightlife and plenty of shopping.” 22 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / atFishers.com
She noticed something else that stood out about Fishers. “Working for the city of Fishers isn’t like working for other typical city government organizations,” she says. “Mayor Fadness and Fishers leadership want to get things done. We don’t have to go through a lot of red tape to make things happen. Our marketing and PR department is one of the best I’ve seen in the country. They put out great promotional material and deliver really consistent messaging on social media and in marketing collateral.” In less than a year, Sandquist has been instrumental in making some welcome improvements. Four pickleball courts were just built at Cyntheanne Park.
“I connected with our residents and found we had a lot more pickleball fans than we realized,” she says. “So, instead of building two courts, we built four.” Sandquist also became involved with the reopening of the Nickel Plate Amphitheater, and the change has been met with plenty of positive feedback. “The new stage is bigger, the roof is higher, and the sound system is outstanding,” Sandquist says. “It’s opened the opportunity to bring in great talent. We brought in Manchester Orchestra with Van Williams for the opening act and got tons of great feedback about the level of talent at that concert.” On tap for the immediate future has been planning for holiday activities. The Boo Bash, a giant trick-or-treat extravaganza with plenty of vendors and entertainment, was a big hit again in October. The department also puts on the Winter Wonderland every December.
This year’s holiday event on Dec. 1 featured carolers, special guests, a tree lighting and plenty of festive music. In the meantime, Sandquist and the department are working on plans for the Nickel Plate Trail. The nine-mile, multi-use trail will go from Noblesville to Indianapolis, and 4.5 miles of it passes through Fishers. While the project is in the planning stages, consultants have held community engagement events at restaurants and the farmers market to get
atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 23
feedback from residents. “We don’t have any set plans,” she says. “We want to hear from residents so we know they’ll get the most out of the trail. We want to design and build 4.5 miles that will wow people.” Planners are seeking feedback from Harrison Parkway Elementary and New Britton Elementary since both properties fall along the trail. You can visit the Fishers Parks and Recreation Facebook page for information about facilities and upcoming events.
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IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE - Live Radio Play Presented By: Actors Theatre of Indiana 11/29/2018, 11/30/2018, 12/1/2018, 12/2/2018, 12/6/2018, 12/7/2018, 12/8/2018, 12/9/2018, 12/12/2018, 12/13/2018, 12/14/2018 Actors Theatre of Indiana 4 Center Green, Suite D, Carmel 7:30 p.m. Single Ticket Prices: Single Center: $45.00 Single Side: $43.00 Senior Center: $39.00 Senior Side: $37.00 Wednesday Evening: $25.00 (All Seats!) Student: $20.00 (with valid student I.D.) 317-843-3800
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26 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / atFishers.com
COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Presented By: Stonycreek Farm 11/30/2018, 12/1/2018, 12/2/2018, 12/7/2018, 12/8/2018, 12/9/2018, 12/14/2018, 12/15/2018, 12/16/2018, 12/21/2018, 12/22/2018, 12/23/2018 11366 State Road 38 East, Noblesville No Admission (317) 773-3344
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LOCAL RESIDENT CREATES FISHERS MULTI-FAITH COMMUNITY FOR COMPASSION TO BRING PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS TOGETHER Writer / Suzanne Huntzinger Photography Provided
A diverse community of people of different faiths coming together under one roof. It sounds like a far-off dream, but Fishers resident Muzzafar Ahmad is making it happen. Ahmad, along with some friends, has been creating a group that unites people of Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Jewish faiths and breaks down the barriers of religious stigmas. Ahmad came to the United States 20 years ago from Pakistan and loves this country. “The U.S. is great. I love its freedoms,” he says. “But I have a passion to take those freedoms to the next level and bring diverse people together to do projects, break down barriers and silos and give them a chance to intermix.” The pull to create a multi-faith community
became stronger for Ahmad when his daughter expressed that she felt uncomfortable about revealing her Muslim faith when asked about it by a classmate. “We have to eliminate that stigma in people of all ages,” he says.
community and take it mainstream,” he says. Ahmad has already launched the first steps for creating the group and already has 20 adult members. Mayor Scott Fadness met with a group of faith leaders in September, expressing his support for the Fishers Multi-faith group. More than 50 people showed up for the September breakfast with the mayor.
The memory of his brother being killed most likely because of his involvement in a small, persecuted religious minority is heavy on his mind as well. Ahmad has also held Meet Your Neighbor meetings, inviting speakers of different So, for the last six months, Ahmad has spent faith communities to address the crowd time considering an appropriate name, and give them an opportunity to learn listening to other people and their ideas and about different faiths. That paved the coming up with a plan. He sought plenty of way for one-on-one meetings in which inspiration from a close friend and Pastor, two people of different faiths are paired to discuss their faiths and grow in Jerry Zehr. Zehr created a similar group in Carmel called the Carmel Interfaith understanding and compassion. Alliance. The group’s goals are similar, but “This is all about diversity and giving people Ahmad wanted the name to be different the opportunity to meet other people of and to reflect a growth in the presence of different backgrounds, promoting peace interfaith groups in many communities. and building a better city for the next “We have to spread this alliance beyond one generation,” Ahmad says. 30 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / atFishers.com
As the group grows, more meetings and projects will be held for people of all age groups. “We encourage people of all faiths to become involved, even those who don’t attend church or have a faith to call their own,” Ahmad says. “Everyone has a seat at our table.” Ahmad plans to spread the word about the Fishers Multi-faith Community for Compassion with the help of faith leaders and churches in the community. They’ll also spread the word about upcoming events and meetings on their Facebook page, Twitter and website, which is coming soon. For more information about the group and to inquire about getting involved, email fishersmultifaith@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page by searching “Fishers Multi-Faith Community for Compassion.”
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GOOD SAMARITAN NETWORK ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DRIVE RETURNS DEC. 8 TO HAMILTON COUNTY 4H FAIRGROUNDS
Writer / Kelsey Musick Photography Provided
The Good Samaritan Network (GSN), which is a collaborative of nonprofits that assist at-risk and underserved families in Hamilton County, was founded in 1980 by Nancy Chance, a long-time member of the community. Chance, who was well-known for her work with child abuse victims, founded GSN
when firemen from Fishers, Noblesville and Carmel approached her, seeking a centralized system for the distribution of holiday-season baskets. “I started the program and became the central hub of the distributions,” Chance says. “I have always been passionate about people, so I wasn’t intimidated. I wanted to help solve the community’s problems. When the community decided something had to be done, they saw me as the solution.” atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 33
According to Chance, everyone in Hamilton County works together for the greater good, and there is no other community like it. Years back, Hamilton County even received an award for being one of the most innovative counties in the country. “We [GSN] want to take care of people and do a good job,” Chance adds. “We communicate constantly through monthly meetings so that we keep everyone on the same page. We have so many people that
need our services, and we want to make sure everyone gets their fair share of support.” With values and aspirations centered around serving the physical, financial and emotional needs of the community, volunteers are always needed. Those with an interest in volunteering can visit gsnlive.org and signup. According to Chance, a community thrives when its residents can provide for themselves and their families. Meeting the needs of people in emergency situations is GSN’s passion. Last year, GSN served about 26,000 families between Thanksgiving and Christmas, according to Chance. This year, on December 8 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, GSN will hold their annual Christmas Drive. “It’s a distribution,” Chance says. “Not a handout. About 10,000 or so families will come – and all these people are working multiple jobs – and the fairgrounds are all set up like a giant store, so the families can go through and pick out clothes and food, and the children can pick out toys, anything the family might need.” According to Chance, it’s priceless for families to receive help for their children at Christmas, as well as for the parents to receive much-needed food. And through this, the families are teaching their kids to reach across the lines and help those in their community. “People that have an opportunity to share monetary means have the opportunity to give something to a child or family in their community – it’s truly a blessing,” she says. GSN also provides Christmas Eve Meal Deliveries to “elderly, disabled or shutin Hamilton County residents.” The registration deadline is Dec. 1. GSN is located at 12933 Parkside Drive in Fishers. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. The organization can also be reached via phone at 317-842-2603. 34 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / atFishers.com
atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 35
Writer / Jocelyn Vare Artists: Margot Bogue, Simona Buna, John Hollinger
Fishers’ community event to kick-off the December holiday season takes place on Saturday, December 1. This free event, called “Winter Wonderland,” is filled with live holiday music and family activities at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater. Visitors will enjoy the annual tree lighting, ice carving demonstrations, live reindeer, children’s activities and holiday performances by Fishers Music Works and other special guests. But, Winter Wonderland doesn’t end there. The multitude of holiday lights will continue to shine and the celebration of the season will last all month long. The Fishers “Winter Wonderland” will come alive inside the Art Gallery at City Hall during the entire month of December. The Winter Wonderland art exhibit features a number of artists from Fishers and surrounding communities. Here, inside the warmth of Fishers City Hall, visitors
will enjoy snowy scenes and winter themes depicted in a variety of artwork. The work of several artists will be displayed during this month-long, exhibit, including art by Krista Darrow, Meredith Emmons, Alice Harpel and others.
portraits of people and animals. She shares her progress at msboguepaintings.blogspot. com and on Instagram @msbogue.
Artist Margot Bogue included her paintings of snowy Fishers scenes in the Winter Wonderland art exhibit. Her artwork depicts frozen moments at Heritage Meadows and Cheeney Creek Natural Area in Fishers. As a new resident in the community, she enjoys the chance to exhibit her artwork in a local space.
Simona Buna is another Winter Wonderland exhibiting artist whose artwork tells a unique story of nature and landscapes. She lives in Noblesville, and two of her favorite paintings that are included in the exhibit are “Frozen City” and “Snow Cover.” Buna is a self-taught artist who grew up in Romania where she learned about painting from her father. She moved to America in 2013 and became a professional photographer. She began painting with acrylics last year and is now a member of Nickel Plate Arts and an accepted member at Hoosier Salon. Her work can be found online at simonabuna.com.
“I appreciate the support I have received from the community since moving to Fishers a little over a year ago,” Bogue says. “The Art Gallery in City Hall allows viewers to see my artwork in the way it was intended. To see art up close lets viewers into the brushwork, color and light of a painting.” Bogue is inspired by the American landscape and still life subjects and creates 36 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / atFishers.com
“I find inspiration every day in my new home in Indiana,” Bogue says.
“I focus on getting the complexity of the world into my paintings so when people see it they can understand all of an object’s intricate parts or watch a landscape in all of
MARGOT BOGUE
its moment glory,” Buna says. John Hollinger is a Fishers resident whose artwork includes photography and laser engraving of wood and acrylic. His favorite subjects are landscapes, wildlife and natural beauty. His linocut print, “Ethereal,” is one of his favorite contributions to the December art exhibit. This artwork depicts a snow scene of his neighbor’s home in Fishers. Hollinger took a printmaking class and laser engraved the linoleum before running it through a roller press. “I am self-taught in creating art,” Hollinger says.
JOHN HOLLINGER
Earth Discovery Center, where he had a photography exhibit of 35 nature photos. This is his second time exhibiting his work in the Art Gallery at City Hall. The appropriately-named art gallery is presented by Fishers Arts Council, Nickel Plate Arts and the City of Fishers. The gallery space includes both floors of the Fishers City Hall’s large atrium and showcases dozens of different pieces of art, each one is usually available for purchase. The Fishers Arts Council advocates, supports and cultivates arts opportunities that educate, enhance and enrich the community. The non-profit organization has been devoted to this local art gallery since it began seven years ago.
But, he is no beginner. He has taken more than 40,000 photos. Recently, Hollinger was Tom Rich is the Vice President of the Artist of the Month at Eagle Creek Park’s Fishers Arts Council and is helping to
atFishers.com / DECEMBER 2018 / FISHERS MAGAZINE / 37
SIMONA BUNA
develop the 2019 season of exhibits for the Art Gallery at City Hall. “After a successful season of 12 exhibits this year, the gallery will offer new themes and new artists in 2019,” Rich says. “The upcoming exhibits will also offer more interactivity, longer viewing hours and connectivity with city events.” Local artists who would like to be considered for an upcoming exhibit in the Art Gallery at City Hall should email the Fishers Arts Council at tomrich1952@ yahoo.com or sknox0031@comcast.net. As the winter season drifts into Fishers, follow the outdoor holiday lights into the warmth of Fishers City Hall. There, a vibrant exhibit of an artistic Winter Wonderland will greet you.
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